Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Enduro time, another six hours then done!




Merry Christmas everybody! Just updating, it's been awhile. Getting ready for the Christmas season and also getting out of the country. My wife and myself are heading to Mexico for Christmas till the 29th. I have been commuting in minus 30 degree Celcius weather...sucks big time! Anywhoo, here is the update on my tattoo; will need another 6hrs and should be done. But, I will continue with some sleeves...I am somewhat an addict. Must be the riding thing.
Is anyone from Team Vassago riding the 24hrs of adrenalin world solo this year in Canmore? If there is anyone, email me. Will be riding my first 24hr solo.



Cheers!

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Pretty mellow


Hey everyone,


It's 9:30pm and everything is great. First, I am almost done my tattoo-around 6hrs and that should be it. Second, my intern is full time and I can work on things like my training and education. I am going back to school to finish up my Masters in Ed. Lastly, I am finally getting most of my parts ready for next year. I have all my single speed stuff ready, I just need another reba fork and a wtb wheelset; so if there is anyone out there that would like to get rid of that stuff, let me know.


Cheers!

Monday, October 8, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hey everyone! Happy Thanksgiving! Way too much eating and not enough riding. I had a few friends come in from out of town. It was good and it's off season. I have been cross training 2x's a week as well as hitting the gym. I will get back into routine here soon. Looking forward to a few races here in town, but I know that it will be cold during these races. But hey, that's cross season!
Will be getting a new camera soon, would like to take pictures of the beautiful fall season in Saskatchewan.

cheers,
Mel

Monday, September 17, 2007

The Rat Race Begins...


Hey everyone! We'll, it's time to get back to the swing of things. When your a teacher that means going to school early and leaving late, sometimes coming in the evenings and weekends. I figure that I put an extra 3hrs hours everyday. So by the end of the workweek, I will have added around 15 extra hours of work. But all well, I guess that's the way it goes. Time to schedule my days to make sure that I dedicate enough time to family, work and myself. I gotta remember to buy that lottery ticket...I really do not want to be working anymore, just wanna ride and train.

Everybody have a good week!

Monday, September 10, 2007

7000ft of vertical climbing...in Saskatchewan, Wow???


The venue for the XC8 bike race was Buffalo Pound Park, which is just north of Moose Jaw. The race format was an 8 hour enduro, which means that riders see how many laps they can do of a prescribed circuit (which, in this case was 8.75 km) within that time frame. Fortunately, the circuit format offers more palatable bite sizes (45-60 minutes per lap) to focus on. As well, the practically non-stop singletrack prevents your thoughts from diverting away from the immediate challenges for very long.
There was 270m (885ft) of vertical per lap, which meant we were constantly climbing or descending. This is not the Saskatchewan that most people get to see. Less than one kilometre of the circuit was straight, flat double track. The rest was twisty, hilly single track, with a new challenge around every turn. From the hill tops, there were spectacular views of the valley. Autumn has arrived here already and the trees are changing colour.

The course is challenging enough on a geared bike, so to do it on a rigid singlespeed is not recommended. Anyway, there was 4 of us (out of 87 riders) who chose to ride the course on a rigid singlespeed. Two on 26er's and myself and another fella on 29er's.

To give you an idea of how clueless I was, I just changed my rear cog the day before and got to ride it to the end of the block and back. So, I had no clue how it would feel on the climbs. I originally bought the bike stock with a 18 in the back and changed the rear to a 21. That's the first thing I noticed. The next was that I have never raced with v brakes and a rigid fork, I have always raced with disc brakes and a front fork. My legs, back were fine. It was my wrists and forearms that were taking the beating. I think that I might have cracked or something because it's annoying me today and a little swollen. Every time I rotate it, there are some spots where its really touchy. If it does not feel good by Thurs. I am going to the doctor's.

Climbing the bike was awesome. It takes awhile to get used to standing for a whole climb and lowering your cadence, but I never got passed as I was always catching up to someone and passing them. I rode with a female partner and we finished 12th overall out of 20 something, but first as a mixed group. Many of the top teams were high lever racers, this was my partners first year really racing. Joanne did an awesome job, a real go getter! My goal is to eventually do something huge like the trans Rockies or trans alp.

I think I know the improvements that I will make for the next marathon race:


  1. Disc brakes-don't have to pull so hard on them.

  2. Front fork w/blow valve lockout-on the climbs your producing so much torque that the fork has to be locked out. But on the descents, especially in a longer race having front sus. will not cause so much fatigue.

  3. Lightweight carbon stuff-I weigh 135 so this benefits me a lot. I had a carbon bar and it helped out quite a bit, not just with weight but also with dampening.
  4. Have my custom Vassago all ready.

Kudos to the out of province racers for supporting the race, it was awesome!



Cheers!

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Single speed Virgin!

Hey everyone! I will be riding a 8hr enduro on my single speed 29er. First time ever! I am running 32 up front and a 21 in the rear. I hope that will be fine for all the climbing. Will let you know how the sufferfest goes!

Cheers!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

No time like the present...

I have my endurance race next week, but I do not have a racing bike prepared. I have sold all my racing bikes to get ready for the next season on my new 29er Vassagos! Cannot wait till, I can get my hands on one. Right now I have a road, cyclocross, and a 29er Peace single speed. I think that I will ride my 29er Gt peace single speed for the race. I will change a few parts to make it as extremely light as possible such as tubes/wheelset/tires, pedals (perhaps crankarms), seapost/saddle, stem/bar-I hope to take off a pound or two, and fool around with what cogset to ride. Right now a 32/18 but the course that I will be on will be extremely steep. I am afraid that on the flats I will spin out extremely or on the hills not be able to pedal up.
Not only do I have this on my mind, I also have work. I teach and have an intern this year. I was at school at 7:30am and left @10:30pm. Long day and the first real day is tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Back to tha grind.

Well, it is time to teach again. Been going to school to organize things and trying to get motivated for the upcoming year. I am a really strict teacher with high expectations. I figure, that my salary pays me to have children come to class and with my guidance get the education to better society... I have a huge responsibility. I found part of a quote, "teachers have the language and words to hurt and to heal." So true!!!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Peace


Hey everyone, I just got my new GT peace 29er single speed. It's awesome! I am mainly using it for commuting and training. It has a 32t ring and 18t cog. It feels alright, but I am wondering what my other teammates are riding this year? I am going to set up one of Vassago's as a 1x9 and the other one as a single speed. It's not white as in the picture, it's a bronze with camo writing...sweet. It's a little muddy now, but I could not resist.

I went on the same trail, that I did with my full sus. 26er. It felt way better on the 29er. It just rolled over everything. I had no problems whatsoever! I still have to play with my saddle height and stuff. But, for $500; how could go wrong getting a complete bike.

My stomach is a little sore, but hell getting a new bike sure did pick up my spirits. After a ride, I usually gorge myself with some food; but I can only have fluids for the next 48hrs. 24hrs to go...I'm so hungry.

2 days of just fluids..

Hey everyone, just got back from the hospital. I was admitted due to abdominal pains. I had surgery around 10yrs ago, where they took 12 inches off of my colon. I have some scar tissue, as a result my bowels were constricted...long story short...painful. But, things have subsided. I got some new painkillers and a new diet for the next two days before solid food. I think this week will be pretty minimal for the intensity.

Cheers!

Friday, August 17, 2007

P.O 'ed!!!

Some person just put a claim for me on paypal. I have over 275 positive feedback from unique users and almost 400 altogether, no negatives! Piss me off man, first I let the guy pay late....hmm no use wasting energy, talking to the paypal guy sounds like I will be victorious. I need the energy for intervals. No negative energy Mel (repeated over and over).

Cheers everyone and have a great weekend! Looking forward to riding, eating and drinking. Livin life!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Selling bikes and more, great deals!!!

Hey everyone,

I am selling my last of my Brodie's. I have a mtb and a road frame/fork/seatpost for sale. They are up on eBay right now. But email me and I would love to do business outside of eBay.

  1. I have Full Sus. Brodie 2005 17" rocket. It has full 9spd Shimano Deore Disc. I will let it go for $900 regular retail is $2300CAD.
  2. I also have a Scandium Brodie Roadie frame/fork/seatpost for sale. It is a 50cm and I am letting it go for $300.
  3. I have a set of Cane Creek Team Ti tubeless wheelset with Titanium spokes and Conti Explorers tubeless installed and have an extra pair of Conti twister tubeless. Letting go for $450. Retail $850USD.
  4. I have a set of Sun Ringle Black Flea, super light and they have 2 set's of Maxxis tires to go along with them. $250.

Here is the link to the items, I still have to put the wheelsets on:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260148303003&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

I forgot how much intervals hurt...

Hey, I finally got my fitness somewhat back and I am beginning to pack on the hours again. That whole house thing is draining. But it is time to build up some good base and get ready for next year. I plan on racing cyclocross or participating in the local races, so I need to get some higher end intervals in.
I was supposed to 4 on and 2mins off, but decided to stack them and do 8mins on and 3mins off. I kept my heart rate in the 170's and it felt pretty good. My max hrt is 195bpm, so I was in a decent higher end for the 8 mins. If I could extend that to 15mins then 1/2hr that would be great for cross season. Cross is basically a time trial with running in it. I find it really hard to keep a constant pace because your on the edge so much.
More intervals tomorrow, will let you know how it goes.

Finally getting settled in...

Hey everyone, I have different perspectives of blogs. But I am going to use mine like my personal diary to drain my thoughts about my training, workday, and life in general. I have 16 more days for holidays, then I go back to teaching. Not too bad.
My wife and I finally feel at home at our new house and the stress level is finally down. I have been training everyday (switching from running/bike/weights), so that feels awesome.
This week, I am starting up with my regular training regimen. Mon. weights, Tues intervals Zone 4/Zone 2 4 mins on, and 2 off/2 sets of 5/ with a 10min break in between sets. Wed. Sprints 30sec. on/3 break zone 2, 3 sets of 6 reps, with a 10min. break in between sets. Thurs. recovery ride. Fri. Power intervals zone 5 for 2.5 mins and a 5 min break, 1 set of 6. Sat. 100km road ride and Sun. easy trail ride for a couple of hours.
As a final note, I sold my last 26er and I am fully committed to the 29er movement. I will have to borrow my friends bike until mine come in. I am going to build a single speed and also a geared version via from my sponsor Vassago. Awesome people work their, they email me, don't mind having conversations on the phone, there gggreat!

One of the coolest quotes ever!

Miyagi: Now, ready?
Daniel: Yeah, I guess so.
Miyagi: [sighs] Daniel-san, must talk. [they both kneel]
Miyagi: Walk on road, hm? Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later [makes squish gesture]
Miyagi: get squish just like grape. Here, karate, same thing. Either you karate do "yes" or karate do "no." You karate do "guess so," [makes squish gesture]
Miyagi: just like grape. Understand?
Daniel: Yeah, I understand.
Miyagi: Now, ready?
Daniel: Yeah, I'm ready.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

singlespeed or geared...to be or not to be...that is the question..

Hmm, ride singlespeed or geared for next year? I have always ridden a geared bike for racing, commuting, etc. I just ordered a GT peace for commuting for this year. I have my trusty ole Kona Kiluea rigid geared that I have been riding all year round for the past 4 years. Most of the other Vassago team riders ride a ss. I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb, but I am definitely intimidated by the single speed phenomenom.

I think that I will do most of my training this fall and winter outside on my GT, but build up a geared and a single speed for next year. I hope that I get my goodies soon. If there is anyone out there looking for high end 26er stuff like wheels, frames, etc. Let me know. I will be getting rid of my stuff.

Well, I got to ride on the road for a few hours today, but tomorrow I am looking forward to put a 5hr day in. It's been so long, because I have been so busy moving and such.

Just giver!

Monday, August 6, 2007

First time ever-Time 2 giv'er

Well, this is my first time ever blogging. This racing season has been very uneventful, due to packing and moving from our first home to our second home. Let me tell you that the experience has been enlightening! I have not gotten on the bike for about a week just because I am way too exhausted moving and organizing our things at home, then trying to get all the service people to come in, people still coming in @ 6:00am to finish painting, etc. etc...
Well, some more positive things. I am happy to say that I will be riding for Vassago bikes this upcoming season. Misty and the rest of the crew, you guys have been awesome to work with thus far and I look to meet you guys soon. Unfortunately, I live way too far to ride with the other team riders Kevin, Brian, and Namrita. I do want to meet up with them for at least one team event next year though.
Off to do more organizing...sucks!