Langk owwi!!!

Langkawi is one of those races that you don’t know about until you start getting into cycling in a big way. It does not have the glamor of the tour or giro or any of the spring classics. It may not even be as well known as some of the staples of the north American race diet like Philly or the TOC. But anyone in the racing scene knows that Langkawi is a jewel of the early season. It is one of the rare high level stage races out there with a long history that is still a strong point to start a truly competitive career. One of the good sort of “testing grounds” for the early season.

I came here hoping for some good results and good legs. Kelly Benefit Strategies has just finished day 5 and we have been competitive against the teams that are here finishing their season with race fitness and some good depth. We have pulled down 3 top 10s in 5 stages which is not fantastic considering the speed we have here but respectable for starting of the year at a 2.HC.

But for me this race as been about pain and suffering. Not because I am not ready…or not fit. Infact, I have felt very comfortable in the group, following moves and racing in general. My problem is I seem to have returned to place I have not seen since my first multi day stage race. I have crashed 3 times in 5 days. 2 have been hard. The frustrating thing is they have all been at the hands of avoidable situations. Today I hit something like 20 unmarked, unmarshaled, fixed traffic cones that where virtually in the middle of the course. No one pointed them out, it is like the front of group just decided “we are just going to ride right into these and see what happens”. And it is not like the race has been irresponsible. I would say the marshaling has been excellent and the organization stellar. Not 1 hour later a serious of cones in a similar position were clearly pointed out by guys waving flags and blowing whistles.

Just my luck. The good thing is I seem to no worse for it going into the last couple days and more importantly heading into worlds.
I thought my days of wrecking multiple times where well behind me. This race has just reinforced my belief that sometimes in this sport luck can just leave you for no reason for a while. You can position yourself right, racing in a race that has great organization, history and marshals, and still go down 3 times, in the middle of long straight flat wide roads. If you are going to race bikes you are going to fall down…and no matter what it is never going to be when you want to.

Double down

Well I got the goods finally..and twice in a row no doubt. It was great to win…let me tell ya. It was particularly important for me because I have never heard the anthem as a result of my own performance before. I have won before, in CALI, last year…but in that case there was a protest, and the award ceremony happened the next day and I had already left to come home. So to hear OH Canada in the laoshan Velodrome twice in 2 days was very satisfying. I also got a huge inflow of support from everyone…it was so good to know the people who have helped me along the way were watching when I was able to pull it off for the first time. I know I don’t update this enough…so I will try get better at this…hopefully I will generate more exciting news like this as the year goes on.

I have not blogged since Sept 8th

Man my bad…I am a totally new person literally well almost literally. I have had all kinds of changes which might explain why I have not bloged.

so here is the list…
I have gotten married
been to hawaii
painted my house
been to LA like 3 times
negotiated a new contract
public speaking for act now BC
build a copper pot rack.
etc.

Now I am in a hotel on Columbia getting ready to compete as a member of the biggest national team contingent I have ever traveled with. It is really something to see all the new faces and people on the cusp of taking the next step in Canada. It is fantastic to be a part of what is turning into a legitimate program. Canadian track cycling is being born again in my opinion. That is not to say we are going to be a dominant team on the world scene right away…but this is the first program worth backing…and the first one I have seen from a national level that has the potential to produce real results. I know Canadians have gotten results before but I think they have done it in large part on their own. I think if any of these young guys medal at major events in the future it will be in large part due to the health of the program. So long as we can continue to grow I think there are a lot of good things in the future of many of these riders here.

When the wheels come off..

Man it has been abrutal month or so on the bike. Things started to slide at the end of July I figured it would be dip in form followed by a re birth later in the year. Boy was I wrong.

I raced a few crits and was helpful for the team. I was not the force I had been early in the year but thats all good. Then came US Pro Crit and Utah.. Well NO utah. I got a bad bronchitis about 2 days befor US pro Crit ad was out of the race by the 30 km. I did what I could but breathing is essential as I have discovered. It has taken me the better part of august to recover from this. Need less to say I got pulled fromt eh Utah line up.

The one ray of light was track nationals. I did pick up 3 of 4 national titles I raced for but I would say the form was mediocre at best. But during this I got the unfortunate news I would not be racing in Missouri either. So I year were I focused my energy on the road lead to a good spring. A crash in Philly, and a total detonation at the end of the year here. Granted planning a wedding and moving mid season seemed to be what broke the back but man I have never felt so out of control of my form before.

Anyway, after some much needed rest and time to refocus I am out racing the Atlanta 100k and then Univest this weekend. In the 100km it was just Jake Keough and I. No spairs and no neutral support. In this bad news blog I am sure you know where this is going. I FLAT like 15km into the race.

The only car in the race hums and haws about giving me someone else wheels they have (as the probably should have).

Gives it to me and after the negotiation and an LOOOONG wheel change I am back on my bike around 1:30 after the flat. No problem the will pace me back, I mean this is a brutal change. SO they pace me for 500m at like 50km/hr up a hill. ad at the top of the hill a race organizer waves them off and says they can’t do that and they take off. SO I nut it for 20km and get the gap down to maybe 45 sec. But at that point they start chasing a break and I am not getting faster and I get pulled by the same race organizer who basically put the nail in my race earlier. I have NOT successfully passed more than 50km of racing since JULY. When the wheels come off they really come off.

I am still in good spirits as the other parts of my life are quite good at the moment. The wedding is coming and we are settled in to a place we are slowly but surly making our own.

I hope to be able to pull down some good rides at univest but at this point it is kind of a race and see what happens scenario for me. I am looking forward to hitting the rest button hard and planning for a new season.

WOW long time

I was checkin out the old web blog and saw that my last post was july 8th, ouch…major apologies for anyone who might want to know what is going on. The honest truth is more has gone on since I last wrote than has happened since…well since qualificaion for the games. I moved into a new place with my wife to be and we have been painting and hanging and cleaning and cooking and doing all those things involved with a new place. I have also done BC super week, elk grove and the Charlotte criterium. This is a list of the some of the richest racing all year. And for me all the activity has pushed me over a lip and bounced me off of what I hope has been the rock bottom of my season.

The tour de white rock and tour de delta are two events I always enjoy coming back to. For me they sort of mark what started my professional career it was these races where I first raced beat and got hammered by some of Canada’s and North Americas best pros. This year I got a chance to be a work horse for my team mate Ryan who was on fire. It was good to just hit the front and ride hard. The rest of the week held little luck for me. I missed the crowed prime in white rock by .02 of a second and I was caught after being in a solo break for 10 laps with 300 m to go in the race…then in the road race an unfortunate miscomunication lead to the tour de Whiterock race basically being nullified when I was in a chase group on the heels of the eventual winner.

From there things in terms of form have gone down hill. I had a good ride in the prologue of elk grove for 5th but the wheels came off the wagon shortly after and I basically held on for the remainder of the 2 days.

I took an easy week and started the Charlotte crits this weekend. The legs were a little better but still not great. But I was able to contribute somewhat…although I still take responsibility to for the collapse of our lead out in the Hanes park crit (sorry jake) It has been the first time all year I have not been really dangerous when I put the pedel down. But it was to be expected I guess. I have held a pretty good form all year even with crashes and injury. I think I am on an up swing though…lets hope so I only have 5 more days in august I am not racing.

Fitchburg Longsjo Classic

With my recent injury in a crash in philly it meant that I had to leave my team mates to handle the Tour de Beauce with out me. (Not that I was needed. Scott Swiz was still able to win the over all…pretty impressive).

This also meant that I had to modify the schedule a bit and head out to the Longsjo Classic in Fitchburg (near Boston).
This is one of, if not the oldest stage race on the NRC I think. This year it was a tough set of stages but no epic climbs so good for the harder sprinters who can suffer up the poppers and rolling hills around the area. After the first stage time trial the team had 3 in the top 4. Unfortunately the one spot we didn’t have was # 1. That belonged to Tom Zirbel from Bissell.

The second stage was struck by a a storm of rain and we went on the attack. I got into the move after a hard attack near the mid way point. I worked hard to keep the move away as I was only down on Tom by 34 sec. We only managed to keep 10 of the seconds our breakaway had earned…still it put me closer. and moved me into 2nd overall.

The third stage was a longer race with 10 1.5 km climbs. A tough day that saw a break go and get brought back and then lots of attacking in the closing laps. The finish was up the hill and I hit the gas at the base…I got a gap and came in the top 5. The gap gave me another 17 or so seconds back on Tom. This meant going into the last crit.

The team let a the break put pressure on the Bissell train. We helped a bit towards the end of to bring the break back to within 20 sec. Then we started to attack. With Scott within 11 sec and me at 6 we had some tools David V launched Scott (after working a lot) and they got a gap and forced Bissell to chase them hard. Then when they where caught I countered and left the field and bridged what was left of the small gap. Once I reached the break there was only 5 laps to go and with a team mate (who was already in the break, Reid Mumford) we drag raced it to the finish and put enough time on the field for me to take the overall. It was exciting to take the lead on the final move. What a good team win…everyone produced and the result was the leaders jersey on the last day.

Double T

We had the nationals Time Trial yesterday. Last year in Beauce. Same course again. I have been 3rd the last 2 years here. in 2007 I was behind Ryder and Svein. In 2008 it was svein and Roth. This year was the first year I came in with a good chunk of road under my belt this year. But also it is also the first year I have had to deal with a significant injury coming into it. At the Philadelphia classic I crashed after blowing my front tire and separated my AC (collar bone).

After the start I felt like I would have to be pretty disciplined about not going to hard to early. The nature of the course out here means you have to pick your battles…push really hard in certain places and almost rest in others.

I think I was able to use my constancy and volume to make the best of it. I went a good 30 sec or more faster than last year. Christian got the better of my by about 30 secs still…little guy has been riding tempo for team mates all year in the big pro tour so I was not surprised to seem him ride well but I was a little surprised to see him go so well. It is good to see the euro program is turning him into the rider we all knew he could be while on Symmetrics.

Svein also smashed it again and took the jersey he much deserves. So I was again the bronze medalist. but I keep inching closer to the top on time. Hopefully next year I will have a little better prep again and can pull something bigger out.

Road race is tomorrow.

More focus on Food

With the first hot days in the lower mainland this year I am doing some more bbq tests before I head away for the Summer of racing. Last night I cooked up and modified that burger recipe I put up last year. This one is new and tasty.

I am calling it a Hawaiian Taco Burger. It will make sense after you make it.

make up the burgers as before
1lb Ground Beef lean
Green onions
Chopped dried cranberries
One egg
3 Garlic Cloves
Roquefort Blue brie Cheese
1 tsp corn starch

now add 2 tbs of teriyaki sauce to the meat as well

this time make the burgers up in a long patty about twice as long as wide.
Cook on medium heat for 12 - 15min
Also once you have flipped the burgers put some fresh sliced pineapple on the grill as well.
Top the burgers with a tsp of cream cheese in the last 2 or 3 minutes of cooking.
Put a basil leaf and a half of a grilled pineapple slice on each patty and serve in a folded over NANN bread (like a taco, this is why the patties are longer instead of round) with what ever other burger condiments you like.

I think you will like.

Willmington and ACT NOW

Well I have been away from the old blog for a while…things are really busy with wedding planning, bike racing, and new global changing sponsors.

Spent the past weekend at the Wilmington GP and Kelly Cup. Both races are sponsored by our tittle Sponsor Kelly Benefits. After winning the Wilmington Race (see photos in my flikr). The team had a benefit dinner put together by John Kelly for our cause, World Bicycle Relief where we raised a lot of money for projects that provide high quality, durable bikes to facilitate transportation for people in 3rd world Africa (more on this in the future the team is just getting started.

Then this week I was home for one day then flew over to Victoria for my training as an athlete ambassador for ACT NOW BC. With this group I will be working at all kinds of schools and events across BC over the next two years promoting Social, Environmental, and Healthy living ideas and lifestyles to people of all ages. I am really excited to be involved with them and hope I can see lots of people getting involved in their great programs. There is something for everyone so check out the site.

I will update more on all this but right now it is heading towards 20 C and sunny in VAN so I wanna get on my BIKE…

Planet Organic YUMM YUMM

So we were down at the planet organic store in Port Coquitlum and picking up some great organic eats and I thought I would mix this with some of the food I tried in Thailand. It turned out so well I thought I would share it with you.

It is call Chicken Soup with Coconut milk. It is a spicy one.

2 cups chicken broth
on can of cocnut milk
3 sticks lemon grass
1 small bulb of Ginger
oyster mushrooms (1 - 2 cups)
chili peppers 3 - 6 depending on taste
2 thin sliced chickn breasts

Boil chicken broth
put in chicken, ginger, lemon grass mushrooms and coconut milk
boil for 5 mins
add peppers to taste and boil 5 more mins

Serve with steamed rice.
Enjoy