Xterra Boise, the aftermath

We got up Saturday morning  and headed early to transition ad Steph was doing her first triathlon, taking part in the sprint.  Her race started an hour before mine so we both headed at the same time.  I would only see her swim as she would be long on the course by the time my race started. I wad a bit nervous for her, it was her first time mountain biking, beside the 30 minute lesson she got from me the day before as she had decided to race as my friend Lisa happened to have a spare bike fitting her.  although the course wasn't overly technical, I was hoping she' d be fine.  Ultimately she would do awesome, finishing third in her age group!  As for my race, the swim was longer than usual, which did not help me and would ultimately cost me a spot on the podium.  The bike course was 2 laps and was trying to go as fast as I could to make up time.  One technical descent with rocks was on the menu as well as 2 very steep climb.  I would ultimately fall once, on my second lap in the technical section and would have the 9th fastest bike split on the day.  The run course was fast although a 24 %  grade hill would greet me twice.  I would ultimately have the 5th fastest running time.  I finished 12th overall but sadly 4th in my age group, proving that the locals were fast.  Thankfully the weather was overcast so we did not overheat too much.  As usual I can't thank my sponsors enough, Cap's Westwood cycle maple ridge store who always get my race steed in prime shape.  Synergy wetsuit and Gray cycle, Sugoi clothing and Vega.  Not sure what I will be able to squeeze before Xterra worlds races wise but stay tuned for some update and some gear review.  A big thanks to Lisa for loaning her bike, Allison for showing us Boise and Al for cheering although I think he would have much rather be racing.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Xterra Boise

After a few days of cycling in Napa and some wine tasting, Steph and I forged on to Boise for Xterra, the drive was long, hot ad the air con couldn't even cool off the desert heat of Nevada.  We arrived yesterday where I went and rode th course.  It's a fairly fast course with one technical section which is a mix of single tracks and garden rocks.  This 10 mile loop will have to be repeated twice.  The run is a bit if an unknown with a nasty 24% climb, although short will have to be done twice also.  The weather is very warm here but it should still be ok in the morning.  Surprise entry in the sprint race is Steph, like a trooper decided to take part although she hadn't been on a mountain bike.  Our friend Lisa loaned us a bike for Steph and a quick wetsuit rental at the Tri shop and voila!  As for me as per usual, biggest race division with 8 guys, mostly local, yours truly is the token Canadian in the Olympic race.  Stay tuned for the post race result and hope your enjoying your summer.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Gear 2.0 Vega energizer sugar free

Vega is a great nutritional Canadian company.  Using all plant base ingredient, it makes it perfect for gluten free free diet weather it's by choice or by obligation.  Their energizer is a pre workout formula designed to give you some energy and focus.  I have used their regular formula but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by the sugar free version. I'm usually not a big fan of sugar free product but I found that the taste of lemon lime was almost the same weather in its original form or sugar free.  I usually use this pre workout formula when I'm tired before a workout or even before a race.  If  you are curious the regular formula has 12 g of sugar where has the sugar free has, you guest it, 0 g of sugar.  If you look for a pre workout formula, I would highly recommend Vega, personally lemon lime is my favorite flavor.  Stay tuned, Xterra Boise is coming in 10 days.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

From International to local: Squamish Triathlon

I race locally this past weekend, and on the road, to boots!  Squamish is about an hour from where I live and luckily for us, Steph friend Hope was kind to let us stay with them even though she had a full house! This meant for me that I didn't have to get up early to drive there and got a great meal out of the deal!  The Squamish Triathlon is has an Olympic and sprint option.  I entered the Olympic distance which consist of 1.5 km swim, 37 km( Olympic is usually 40) and a 10 km run which was in the trails instead of road run.  The weather has been hot up here and there was rumors that wetsuits might not be allowed.  I was praying this wasn't the case as my speed suit had ripped a few days prior and I need all the help I can get swimming.  This race has two separate transition so aft setting T2 Steph and I rode to T1, which was a great warmup.  I was happy to find out once at Alice lake that wetsuit was a go and I would be able to race with my sleek Synergy wetsuit.  Steph 5 year old nephew came with her parents, he just started doing Tri and wanted to see how a big race moved along.  I was in the second waves and as the gun went off, I settle in my usual swim pace, trying to find someone to draft off.  I would be able to draft a bit but not too much, I exited the water in about 28 min, average for me and headed on the bike.  The bike course is 4 loops, which consists of fast descent , one flat and one long incline.  Still makes for fast course and although I didn't ride my TT bike much this year, it was nice be on it.  I'd book the distance in slightly over and hour averaging 35.1 km/hr which I was happy with.  After a quick transition it was time for the trail run, which was a fast 5 km loop that had to be done twice.  On my second lap,one of the aid station had ran out of cups, I wasn't too happy.  I was happy with my final run time around 46 min or so.  I was unsure where I finished and was pleasantly surprise to find out I was second in my age group and 23 overall. Couldn't have ask for better conditions for a race and was happy to have  Steph, here parents and nephew to cheer me on.  Can't thank enough Caps Westwood cycle for always getting my bikes ready.  Next stop, Boise, Idaho for Xterra race on July 27, where it will be time to hook up with some of the usual suspects for another off road adventure.  Say tuned for Gear 2.0 coming up soon. Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Olympus has fallen

I was greated this morning with a beautiful sunrise and what promise to be a hot day.  Race start was at 11 am so I knew it would be toasty by the time we exited the water.  Had breakfast with the usual suspect, Lisa and Allison, the only two other competitors from North America and good friends.  Mr Nicholas, Xterra Director extra ordinaire was already gone to the site.  I wasn't too sure which race kit I was going to wear.  I have my Canadian and Brand Champion one.  I always feel somewhat pretentious wearing my Canada kit but I opted for it today in Honor of my fiancée.  You see Steph was an Olympic athlete and competed in Greece in 2004 so it was only fitting I would honor her as she could not be here on this trip.

  I went to transition fairly early, wanting to get marked before the rush only to be told no body marking.  I went and set up my transition, went for a light run and was lucky to have pro Ben Allen loaning me a co2 cannister in case I flat.  Airlines don't let you fly with them although the plane is full of them, but I digress.  Water was nice and I was looking forward to race with my cool new Synergy wetsuit.  As the gun went off it was fairly crowded for quite a while, I got kicked on one of my goggle on the first lap and I kept being cut off by a swimmer who kept zigzagging on the second lap, clearly unable to sight.  I got off  the water in about 27 min or so.  I headed on the bike course, and no turtle today but plenty of racers.  First lap went well but the second lap was more laborious as the 3000 feet of climbing total would slowly take its toll.  In typical European fashion, this course was no different, fair amount of climbing and nothing too technical.  I'd book the 30 km in about 1:45. I headed out to the run at a nice 35 degree sunny day and I was flat, I didn't have any juice to give on the run.  Not too sure if I had pushed too hard on the bike or the fact that there were few aid station did not help.  I would booked the 10.4 km in about 58 min, good for a 3:10 overall.  I don't have a clue where I stand as no results were posted but knowing how was the European are, I doubt it will be a podium.  This is been a great race and a special one for me, you see my mother always had wanted to see Greece, unfortunately after she lost her battle to cancer last year, she would never get to see it.  This was my way to honor her memory so close to her birth day, I doubt she was not watching.  So that's why when I saw that Greece was having a race, despite the cost, I had to do it.

Time for some R&R for a few days.  I hope you enjoyed the journey, happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Scouting report from Xterra Greece

It has been an interesting journey so far, bike lost for 48 hours, at one point they couldn't even told me where it was.  Pro and good friend Ben Allen had even offered his bike so I could go practice.  I couldn't take the offer, I would be too scare to brake something.  What a classy move, one that I am convinced you would never see from road triathlete. I finally got my Gray bike today, 20 hours before the gun is set to goes off.  Relieved but also hoping that l wouldn't have more issues.  The bike course is a 2 x15 km lap, so I was able to build my bike quickly and head out.  This is a fast bike course, medium size climbs, couple of single tracks. I predict the pro will be just over an hour for the entire bike course.  I saw a turtle on the course! Had to stop and take a photo, hope the little guy won't be on the trail, someone could think its a rock! The run course wasn't fully mark but what I saw is again a fast course with not much elevation, 2 x 5.2 km.  I didn't swim today but the water temperature is not too cold and thank Zeus, it will be wetsuit legal.

People sometime wonder, why racing so far.  Racing in Greece has a special meaning for me this year but I digress, I'll talk more about that tomorrow.  It's almost bed time for me, forecast tomorrow, sunny and 30 degrees, just the way I like it.  Stay tuned for the post race blog.  The new Gray steed is excite to race, lets see what man and bike can do in a very big field of 32 racers in my age group alone and 180 total.  Hope you're having fun where ever you are and that you take the time to do something outside.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Gear 2.0. Gray 20nine frame

I received my new frame just in time to have it built before my race.  Lets look at the set up:

I'm running SRAM components, XX rear deraileur, crank, shifters.  Front deraileur in X0 .  Breaks are Avid.  Wheel set Easton 90 with Kenda tires, Carbon Handle Bar, Thompson seat post and crank brother egg beater pedales. And off course Gray full Carbon frame, and its sweet looking.  Jason at Cap's Westwood maple ridge built that bike in no time.   I took it for a ride overall really love the bike, I feel more centered and was able to corner and climb better.  There were a couples of issue, the carbon fiber seat clamp, although wickedly awesome and light does not work for me.  I'm a big guy and it couldnt clamp the seat post in place which cause it to slide down. This was easily fixable by using the aluminum clamp from my other bike.  The fork was rattling a bit after the initial ride, again Jason was able to fix that after talking with the great people at Gray.  Can't wait to race the new steed but if you're in the market for a bike or a carbon 29 frame, you would be crazy not to consider Gray.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem