2014 O Cup #7 - Provincials at Horseshoe - Sept 21

Still cleaning up after this one!  Muddiest race for me EVER!

Caution Slippery.  That's what the sign said.  

Didn't have a great start off the line - was a little hesitant - wondering how all this is going to feel under my tires & almost wiped out just on the start loop!  But saved it...and had lot of those 'moments'...and kept saving it so kept on going a little faster, passing people along the way as I got more comfotable with the muck.

Got a full on glimpse of how much my riding has changed in a year.  Last year I was too scared to race here.  I chickened out!  I pre-rode & found it way too hard.   Sure I was expecting lots of hills but it was the technical level of the course that was too much for me last year.  Lots of steep downs & ups & tight switchback corners & rocky stuff that was just over my head.  When I pre rode I felt like I was about to crash every 20 feet.  No control.  Way too scary.

This year when I pre rode - first lap felt awful climbing just because I was getting over a cold but the trails were FUN!  Next pre ride lap a little less awful climbing and the trails & downhill sections even more FUN!

And then the mud element...I was a bit unsure how I'd feel...and with each corner...wow the skills work (thank you Peter)...I am in control!  Riding steep downs & ups & stuff through trees in the mud...in control!  Not scary anymore.  Still hard...but fun instead of scary.

And then I caught up to Michelle.  Through the woods & out to the big fire road climb that goes up the whole ski hill...and I was able to pass her at the very top steepest section! wow!  (thank you again Peter)

I was psyched! I knew I was near the front (turns out I was in 2nd then)and on a mission to make space and catch up to 1st.  Until...while riding down the super fun downhill part...my chain came off.  Oh no!  Tried all those tricks - pedalling & shifting to hook the chain in between corners.    Had to stop to get it back on.  Even had my bike upside down trailside to figure it out!  

And...they all passed me back..ugh....(and Michelle took a moment to ask me if I was ok - yup she's awesome)  Oh well.  Got it back on & back on track to go get them again.  I think I was just a couple minutes & maybe I could still catch up...

Well I caught up to 3rd!   Then in the woods my chain came off again.  This time it refused to go back in place.  I was trailside for probably 10 mins this time & I just couldn't get it to stay on & just as I was about to surrender & hike back...another racer stopped and helped me!  Totally would never have expected that (maybe its Karma?) and he was able to get it to work & I was able to finish!!  Thank you Angry Johnny jersey man!!

Then it was over...and the sun came out...and I joined the line to hose off my bike.  48 mins later (yes they really need more than 1 hose!) done spraying a layer of muck off my bike & I stopped to cheer for the winners today & overall results for the season.  Turns out I didn't finish last like I assumed after all my trailside tinkering!  

 Finished 4th for the day & 3rd Overall Women's Master Sport 40-49!

Just 4 pts apart for 2nd & 3rd!  Love it! 

2014 Ocup #6 Mountainview Midland

Racing at Mountainview summed up so much of the things I love about mountain biking & racing.
It was hard & fun & felt badass!

 Mountainview ski area is like a place out of a movie.  Old & funny & like a secret hideout hidden in a forest behind a mall.

On Saturday - pre ride day - I arrived early to get my ride in because it was supposed to rain in the afternoon.   But...just as I headed out it had already started to rain.  The first few minutes of riding the trails were fantastic & grippy - but by the end of my lap I was completely soaked & totally muddy.  During my muddy ride I met up with another friend slip sliding through the forest & we laughed silly like kids riding & sliding our way to the end in the pouring rain & mud.  So I was lucky...got a fun lap in before the course was closed.

And then it rained more.  Lots more.  I went home & cleaned up my muddy mess.
And it kept on raining all day.

In spite of the rain I was feeling excited and confident about racing on Sunday.  Even though I knew I was going to line up to race on a slippery course again (like Nationals! Yikes!).  I was feeling good about my prep (tires at low pressure!) and after a fun time pre riding on Saturday in the heavy rain - followed by some very enjoyable socializing in the funny Mountainview chalet/secret hideout - I was in an awesome positive mood!

Lining up on Sunday...not very many of us girls brave enough to race after the deluge (50mm as per Superfly racing).  I was in 'bring it on!' mode anyway so didn't matter who was there.  I was good to go & just focused on the trail ahead.
Some sections - especially the downhill stuff on narrow tight edges and the big steep switchbacks for sure last year I would not have ridden.  In fact I doubt very much I would have even lined up to race!  But this year instead I was feeling all confident and badass - and rode those sketchy downhill sections clean with people cheering & blowing horns!  In wet slippery conditions too!  Yeah! Bring it on!

Such a challenging & interesting bunch of trails. So cool to be so completely focused the race felt like it was only 5 mins.   Until I crossed the finish line & it hit me.  Totally spent - get me some chocolate milk - that was awesome!

And to top it off...this!  Woo hoo!!

Can't get broken

Lots going on since Nationals & another Ocup coming up!


July 26 was the Trek Women ride at Copeland forest - such a neat place - I am looking forward to one day having time to go figure it out since there are no signs in there.

Should be a stream crossing on this one

Then on Saturday Aug 2 a bonus pre ride for Ocup#6 coming up at Mountainview in Midland - bonus because it's not open for regular riding & another place I've never been to.  It is awesome!  Super hilly but fun & challenging with lots of twisty climbing and descending & lots of rocks of all sizes!

ER doc not impressed I took this pic 

All fun & games until someone breaks a hand...one of those Mountainview rocks was not so kind to my hubby.

Pretty sure it was Aug 9 when we got there

Now as the remaining fully functional parent I can't get broken!!...so rode a lot more cautiously on the last Trek Women ride of 2014 on August 9th at Buckwallow...but still had a fantastic time because it's so much fun in there!




 And now this weekend coming up Ocup #6 at Mountainview... my plan is to ride strong & fast & smart!

2014 Canadian Nationals at Hardwood

Wow.  What an exciting, tough, challenging, fun, exhausting weekend!

For 2014 I arrived ready & super excited. I was able to spend lots of time practicing the course (living nearby sure helps!) and I was feeling happy and good to go!

And off we went...up the new loose gravel start hill which is steep and nasty...and I wasn't as fast up it as I would have liked but my wheels were spinning out so to keep traction down I pedalled smooth & as hard as I could & kept with the pack getting to the woods.  Then about 5 mins into the singletrack...boom!   I slipped out and was down!  Up again as fast as I could to catch up...and then another 5 mins or so...boom!  Again!  and then again a couple more times - I think 3 or 4??  Crazy!  What the heck!  It wasn't really muddy but the roots were pretty slick and many were down to the white..but this hasn't really bothered me before. I just couldn't keep on my wheels!  It was like I was riding on ice!  And it didn't help I was upset about losing everyone & being so far behind & super spent from picking myself up so many times and it was only part way through the first lap!  Ugh!

So it wasn't a good race for me.  But maybe it was...I sure learned lots...and

Smiling for my family who came to cheer & take blurry pictures

was super thankful for my family and so many friends who were all over the course shouting to me!  I was struggling & hearing everyone cheering & hollering encouragement was so amazing & really helped!

This sure wasn't the race I was expecting when I lined up!  But I am sure happy I was able to finish it with just a few dozen new bruises and some new things to practice & prepare better for next time!

2014 O cup #3 - Sir Sam's - All about the rocks

My first time to Sir Sam's!   I loved it!
The terrain & course was totally different - more technical & rough & steep!  Like nothing I have raced before!

Pre riding on Saturday - first lap around - I found the climb up to be not as bad as it looked from the bottom, the twisty trails at the top to be pretty rough/rooty/rocky so really happy for full suspension, and the downhill to be really pushing the edge of my comfort zone for steep downhill switchback corners plus general steepness!

 And...one other thing...a BIG pile of rocks on a bmx section at the top near the chairlift that concerned me.  First lap of pre-ride I checked it out but decided to save riding it for pre-ride lap 2 when I was riding without stopping to chat so much and had more of a riding flow.  All I decided about it at that point was that it looked like the right side was the better way over.

Then pre-ride lap 2 happened with no chance to try the BIG pile of rocks. By then they were running Eliminator races and had the section closed off!  So....I watched a whole lot of people ride over it (mostly Elite riders who make everything look easy) and noticed that the line I was thinking to ride over looked best.

So I finished pre-riding Saturday thinking the start hill wasn't too bad, the BIG pile of rocks was concerning but I had a plan and have ridden so many piles of rocks lately (though not with such BIG boulders!) I was confident I could get over it, the twisty trails at the top were all good & fun, & the downhill I was respectful of & a touch nervous of.  Those double black diamond  & caution signs on the downhill trails were having full effect on me!

Then on Sunday....race day...

I had a terrible start!  Total opposite of Mansfield!  I was called up to the front row again (so cool - love lining my wheel up like that!), they said go...and a whole bunch of people zoomed ahead of me!  Bleah!!  So I had to settle in to climbing up the ski hill and try to pass whenever I could.   The past 2 O cups had nice wide start hills so easy to pass...this time it was not easy at all because the trail up was like a goat path switchbacking upward with just a few wider spots.   But...I was able to pass a few people on the hardest sections of the climb - there were 2 extra steep sections my bike made me climb faster - no jet pack super power - just because of having fewer gears -  I had no choice but to suck it up & pedal!

Yeah! 

Then it seemed like 2 mins later we were at the BIG pile of rocks.......and......

Oh yeah - I was pretty pleased!  And suddenly conquering those BIG rocks made me see the whole rest of the technical stuff on the course as fun instead of scary.  Especially the downhill & all those switchbacks.  Yahoo!  Still thinking about the downhill trail.  So much fun...and with all that the blur of a race still on....and another 5th place finish!

2014 Ocup #2 - Mansfield

Time flies when you're having fun!
Ocup #3 at Sir Sam's in Haliburton was last weekend (June 9)...which reminded me I hadn't reported on #2!

So before I write about Sir Sam's... here is my Mansfield story...

Waiting in the start pen...I was feeling hyper & anxious to get the yucky first hill climb over with.  In case you haven't been to Mansfield it's on the escarpment and the start is always straight up.  Every year my fitness has improved and the climb has been a little less awful...so I knew it wouldn't be as bad as last year but racing hard straight up it is always tough!

I made sure to get there in time to get a good start spot - I didn't want to start at the back again like the first Ocup. And then the coolest thing happened...because I finished 5th last race...I got called up!  My first time having that happen!   I lined my tire up in the front row right next to Michelle.  Hee hee.  It's on baby!!

Go time!
 So cool like never before I felt powerful as if I had a jet pack on or something.  I just pedalled strong & even changed gears a couple times for more speed (harder! going up? yeah!) & found myself on the back wheel of super fast Shannon.  2nd spot all the way up to the singletrack...the whole rest of the pack behind me...WOW!  Even cooler than getting called up...having everyone behind me on the Mansfield start hill!

Then we hit the singletrack.  I was trying my best to be smooth, flow,....breathe....I couldn't breathe....Shannon was so fast in the trail!  So awesome.   I was so totally cooked from my super fun & awesome start hill bonanza.  The rest of the race was kind of a blur while I paid for killing it at the start...trying to not lose too many positions... (my sad snail speed through the feed zone wasn't helping).  Definitely not the smartest race tactics...or maybe not too bad??   For sure was fun & good for another 5th place finish!

Happy & barely standing up spent!

2014 O Cup #1 - Woodnewton

So some of you know already...I've been "training with Peter" (yes the famous Peter Glassford from the Trek Canada MTB Team)  for about 6 months now and so I was pretty curious to see how all this Smart Athlete stuff comes out in a race situation.  I've been feeling good on the bike & actually really good in general - sort of an overall strength & goodness feeling.  Actually ever since getting back full-bore into mountain biking I have improved my fitness generally every season but felt like I kinda hit a plateau last year & was sliding backwards by the end of last season.  And after asking around for help & suggestions...Barry Near (also quite famous big cheese of Trek Toronto/Aurora/Barrie) suggested I get in touch with Peter...and now here I am...learning tons about cool stuff I never even thought of...and doing lots of burpees and eating sweet potatoes.

And after a long winter - rarin' to race bikes again in the woods!!

Lookin serious on the wooden stairs...forgot to smile!

Finally my chance... the first Ocup!

In the start corral I probably visited with the other girls a bit too much...as usual.  Was hanging out at the back of the class chit chatting & waiting for the start...like usual...

Then GO time!

I flipped into race mode & possibly after my start lap in 10000 bikes experience at last years Summer Solstice I just started weaving quickly through the traffic & within probably 1 minute had worked my way up to the front group.  Cool!  Then around a corner to a flatish section...then up again but steep...and caught a couple more riders!  Way cool!

I found myself chasing Denise.  I know she has been training to do the 24hr race solo so she's in fine form. And Michelle was chasing me...this year on a 29er...plus her awesome singletrack skills - I was feeling stoked to be monkey in the middle...and working to not let her catch me while keeping Denise in sight!

We were like this all the way to the big rock garden at the end of the lap where I am a chicken.  What I mean is I can do the chicken line (around the rock garden) pretty fast & way faster than I can ride through the rocks so that was my plan.  Michelle was chasing...we split...and I beat her!  Oh yeah!  Now for sure she will be on me like glue so I put everything I had into keeping her from catching me.

I almost died for sure on the steep part of the start climb next lap - but I could see Denise near the top of the hill & could hear Michelle probably a couple bike lengths behind me...had the 'why am I doing this. it's so hard. I could just walk a bit & catch up. I wish I had an easier gear.' conversation in my head...fought it off just to keep Michelle from catching me.

And the rest of the lap...same order - Denise, monkey me, Michelle...all 3 of us fighting to get the other...until back to the big rock garden near the end again.  I chose to stick with my same plan...gave the chicken line all I had...and this time Michelle pinned it through the rocks like a shot and totally got me. Awesome.  High fives!!  (and a 5th place finish for me!)

Wow! What a great race!  And for the first time - I was racing it the whole time & not just surviving to get the laps done.  Yay Smart Athlete!    Wicked Fun!

Cali baby!

Oxnard, California
February 2014
6 girls
3 sunny warm perfect days for riding bikes
1 awesome coach & guide

Peter Glassford (Trek Canada MTB team) slowed down for a few hours each day to take us out riding on some really cool trails.
Brave man!  The 6 of us are all +40 Moms...and we can be quite the handfull!

In addition to guiding - Peter helped us with skills.  Like this....ha!

Ahhhhh the views!

Joyride Women's Weekend 2014

This year was my first time coaching at the Women's Weekend and I knew it was going to be really fun but had no idea how many brave and determined girls I would get to help!  What a great time!!  I was so proud to be able to help!

I was there on Saturday coaching all day in the "Learn to Joyride" section (#1) with Katlyn Dundas.  I was really happy Katlyn had done this before and had a good plan how to get everyone going & how to speak really loudly so everyone could hear!  My guess is we had about 30 girls arrive at our section first thing Saturday so we were busy busy!!

Being in the beginner section was amazing.  I was so impressed!   The range of ages was very cool too.  I think the youngest girl was about 7...all the way up to my age....over 40 ish...(ahem).  

I even had my phone with me so I could take some cool pics to post.
But...ended up taking pictures of people using their own phones...forgot to use my own! Duh!

My first Joyride instructor's shirt!
We got purple...and the participants got black!

130 women riders woo hoo!!

NEW BIKE

Went to the Trek store today...and look what was there....

Oh my!!

 So pretty.  So shiny.
My 5 min stop in turned out to be muuuuuch longer.  Just couldn't leave...had to keep looking...I am in love...

Yes yes yes!!

C'mon spring....

Canadian winter - this time it's for real.

So might as well embrace it...and get out there for some fresh air (it's extra fresh right now too)!
Just like Moms everywhere kicking kids outside - it will make you feel better - really it will - even if all it does is make that coffee, hot bath, fire, stew, etc even more awesome.

And a great way to get hot on a crazy cold day....go snowshoeing!  And since spring is coming soon (I hope) snowshoeing is great cross training for all the cycling that will be happening really soon (I hope) & WAY easier to figure out than XC skiing.  I know because I've tried XC skiing... and I seriously need help...but that will be another story.

Meanwhile - I was very lucky to sneak in a short trek in the woods this morning and somehow managed to be out during the only sunny part of the day!

Goggles totally needed for the field crossing to get to the forest.

In the woods...not feeling the -1000 coldness out of the wind & making my own trail in deep snow! Hard work - stopped to switch to thinner mittens!

 Had to cross this skinny bridge VERY carefully.  It's the width of one snowshoe & the crosses over a stream flowing 10 feet below.  Still thick with ice from the famous ice storm so kind of rounded on top so not feeling stable even with snowshoes....glad I made it across but was freaking out a bit!!