On the Bike with My Guys!

Yesterday Doug rented some bikes for he and the boys and we headed up to Nosehill to play. Lots of overgrown single track up there right now with all the rain Calgary has had this summer. We pedaled through it all and some nice clear single track and some gravel pathways before calling it a day.

Today I took Kyle out for a real mountain ride. We met Becky down at the Powderface parking lot and did Little Powderface/Prairie Link. What a great time. It was fun to ride with my nephew and share the trails with him. We took a few videos from my seat post which I'll tinker with at some point and edit into a little video of our trip. The GoPro is fun for watching what Sante does on the trail! She's in her glory out there running with me and dashing off for a drink in the river every so often. Kyle was a trooper and made it through the 360 metres of climbing without any complaining. He did lay down in the grass a couple times though. ;-) Climbing ain't easy! But this trail has plenty of fun downhill as a reward and we had a great time! Our timing was perfect too ... just as we were riding back into the parking lot the skies opened up for a giant rain and hail dump. We hopped in the car and waited it out for 10 minutes before loading the bikes up and heading into Bragg Creek for muffins and hot drinks before heading back to the city.

Nosehill with all three guys.

Turning off the GoPro

Kyle and Sante on Little Powderface

Waiting out the rain.

Puppy love.

A little mini putt at COP Wednesday.

Finally Made it to Race of Spades

Made it!

With Doug and the boys in town, I haven't been on the mountain bike since Friday. I did get that pathway ride Sunday to spin the legs out but the legs were a little uncooperative tonight. Or more like my whole body. I wasn't feeling it tonight at any rate. It's probably a good thing I forgot my heart rate monitor strap so I couldn't see the data. But onwards... 

We climbed up Pneuma to Race of Spades. Fourth time lucky! No missed trails, no massive storms ... dry clear trail. We left the parking lot with 8 riders but I couldn't keep pace with some of the experienced riders so I hung back, hoping to keep the dogs with me -- though Toby kept trying to run with the fast riders. Go figure ...

Just showing what we DIDN'T ride.

Gloria, Wendy, and Suz hung back too, and once we got to the downhill Gloria led us through some of the tricky bits. The top of the trail is above my skill level ... Gloria says it's in the worst shape she's seen it. I found it to be steep with super loose scree and some deeper crevasses through the hard, dry, trail base. I walked most of that section. ... and a few more steep, loose sections. I think about 85% of the downhill track was fun and the rest I managed off the bike just fine. I got caught on the bike on one scree section and surfed the bike safely down the hill ... at least now I know how it's done. Maybe I'll get comfortable with it one day!

I think everybody had a crash tonight in our little group. Suz went down on Race of Spades after catching her handlebar on a tree. I went down on Pneuma before the power station. I have no idea what happened but I managed a nice rolling somersault on some soft pine needle ground. That was pretty entertaining. We didn't get back to the house til after 10pm. Dogs got a wipe down but the dirty bike will have to wait til morning to get its bath. Bedtime!

Earlier in the day Doug and the boys and I went to Chinook mall to see Batman at the IMAX theatre. Nice rainy afternoon activity! Check out the photo of the note Matthew left for Sante outside his room yesterday morning. Lucky dog!

Fun at the Lego store.

Livin' on the edge.

Mmmm... dog cookie.

Hiking Yamnuska!

Friday morning four of us rode Tom Snow and Ridgeback. Lots of climbing on this route (562 metres over 17kms). The downhills don't feel like they last long enough! We had a great time with three doggie friends along and the clouds didn't spill anything on us.

Friday was a late night with a nasty lightening storm re-routing Doug's plane to Edmonton. Instead of arriving at 9:15 I picked him up at 2am. Ouch.

A sleep-in and slow start Saturday. Then Doug and the boys and I headed out to Canmore to see a bunch of my friends racing in the 24Hrs of Adrenaline this weekend. It looks like a fun event. I'll do it next year!

Today I got on my cross bike for the first time in weeks and did a 60km pathway ride with a friend. Nice and easy chat ride. Then the guys and I went and hiked Yamnuska. Now the burgers are on the grill ... life is good!

Jewell Pass and Prairie View

What a great ride today! Linda and I did the Jewell Pass / Prairie View loop. I've hiked this before but never ridden it. The climbing from Barrier Lake is on a simple wide trail with really only one section of tougher grades. Mostly it was a steady rhythm up the switchbacks without much fuss. Well my heart and lungs fussed but the legs were happy with the granny gear. 

Linda hikin' her bike.

While we climbed, the dogs got to chase all the squirrels who dared attempt a tree-to-tree ground scamper. Santé even found herself a nice leg bone to haul around until I made her leave it. It was long enough to give us some spoke trouble if she got close to a wheel! I also was hoping a bear wasn't now missing her lunch and coming looking for it. 

At the top of the climb is a super steep and rocky hike-a-bike. It's actually a tougher job getting through here in winter without a bike on your shoulder. Lots of good footing this time of year. Done with the climbing, we stopped for a snack before starting the descent on the back side of the mountain. 

View to the bottom.

After Linda had some trouble even finding the trail, she did some stop-and-starts in the soggy steep scree before getting some traction. I walked the start. I don't love scree. Then we were into the trees on some super wet rooty bumpin' trail. And I mean rooty. It was a long time before the grade leveled off and the trail showed some dirt in between more roots. I was way back behind my saddle practicing staying loose and using my body to absorb the shock. It was a rush getting through this successfully! My hands and wrists were fatigued and achy by the time it was over. But I was a happy camper. 

Next up! Rocks! (Small boulders?) Lots of wet rocks. If I'm gonna ride rocks downhill I do prefer them solidly stuck in the ground like these were. The maneuvering is more predictable that way but you have to stay ahead on your decision-making to pick your lines. I got behind on that plan at one point and did a slow motion stop and drop. Cranked my shin nicely one one of those solidly entrenched rocks. No biggie. Back on the bike and more downhill. 

I was pretty happy with myself for, not only conquering this trail, but for having a great time doing it. Just a wee healthy smidge of fear to snuff out now and then. Nothing to stop me. At the bottom the dogs got a swim and Linda and I cooled down our legs in chilly Barrier Lake. 

Awesome ride! Here's the map and elevation scoop if you're interested: Strava.

Post-ride eats at Milestones.

Pre-ride fuel.

Mother Nature Spanked Us Tonight

There were three Spin Sister groups in total heading for Race of Spades tonight. One via the road, and our two groups on Sulphur Springs to the Pneuma cutoff (who knew there was a shortcut?!). Since club rides leave the parking lot at 7pm we soon split our group in two so the faster riders could maybe make it up and back in daylight. The slower group could opt to ride back down on Pneuma whenever they wanted. We never saw the slower group again ... hope they made it back to their cars!

Things started out muggy and buggy from the Station Flats parking lot. Climb climb. I'm getting used to this climb but learned of a short cut tonight to gain a little time up Pneuma ... basically skipping part of Sulphur Springs. I'll use this in the future when I want to get up farther in less time. Anyway, here we left the second group behind and did some of my favourite climbing up Pneuma. There's something about the narrow trail through the lodge pole pines, and the grade of the climb that really suits me. It doesn't feel like a lot of work and I keep a decent pace. I'd been lagging behind the two leaders up to this point but wasn't far off their wheels through Pneuma. We got as far up the trail as I've been before: what I think is a power station. This awesome photo of the sky is taken from there. We paused to gather the group and snap a photo and got passed by some of the elite riders I've gotten to know this last year: Craig, Shawn, John, and friends.

Anyway, the cloud looked super cool but I was still thinking we weren't going to get wet. I was wrong. Not only did we ride through rain, we rode in near darkness under the blackest of clouds, pelting hail, lightening and thunder. Oddly I was smiling the whole time, loving the adventure of it all. I even loved the not-usually-there raging little water fall we had to cross. The pictures of all this are in my head because it was really not a good time to pause and pull out the iPhone. I was already starting to worry if it was going to survive the drenching! Climb climb climb ... this was new trail for me too; Upper Pneuma, and it was fun! At some point before Race of Spades we stopped and made the decision to ride down on Moose Mountain Road where it would be safer and faster to get us all back to the cars and dry clothes. I was shivering as soon as we stopped climbing. Not good.

The descent was really cold but fast on the dirt road. I had my wind/rain layer to cut some of the wind and mud spray but I couldn't feel my fingers by the time we got back down. But it was much warmer lower on the mountain and Mother Nature treated us to a double rainbow after the storm. Sweet! What a great night!

Home for a shower (scrape mud out of my eyes and nostrils) and to wash the bike up for tomorrow's ride: Jewell.

Get outside!

Muggy Day

At the top, sitting for some banana.

We got to the trailhead this morning and the parking lot was jammed full. Turns out there was a TransRockies trail running race going on today. The racers were all getting ready. We started before them though so they didn't mind us using their start line. Though, when we came back through and cheered for ourselves crossing the finish line the humourless announcer said something about it being a running race. Duh. Crack a smile dude! Besides, he must not have realized Sante ran with us this morning. :)
Anyway, due to the race we changed our planned route and went up Tom Snow and down Ridgeback this morning. It was muggy and sweaty but the air temperature was actually only in the mid-high teens. Nice! We saw only two fellas at the top of the trail, and two more starting out as we finished. This morning riding is awesome!

I wasn't feeling that well this morning when I got up and contemplated skipping out on a ride today but I'm glad I went. The legs and lungs hung in there and, as always, the downhills were great reward for the climbing! A day or two off the bike is in order now though.

Need some clean-up.

100 Years of Stampede

Fireworks last night from Canada Olympic Park.

7 Rides in 8 Days: Yay for Summer Vacation!

Well, the 8th day and 7th ride is tomorrow but I'm confident it'll happen. If a ride was going to fall off the schedule it would have been today's: Friday the 13th.

The weather has continued to be hot, hot, hot. Thankfully, anyone I've ridden with has been open to riding early. We've mostly been leaving the city at 7am but as early as 6am yesterday. Nice and cool to start but things heat up fast in the pine forests and out on the granite trails. I've been fortunate to find week day riding partners. Suz, Cheryl, and Michele each took days off work to ride. Becky's not working right now. Kate and Erik are on vacation. Awesome! I hope the trend continues! Other than riding I've had some fun mini golfing, shopping, visiting the Calgary Tower, and going to the rodeo for the first time ever.

Yes, I've lived in Calgary for 16 years and managed to avoid the Stampede grounds until yesterday. I was waiting for the 100th anniversary I guess. I have to admit the rodeo was pretty cool. We saw all variety of animals attempting to throw dudes off their backs. We saw the RCMP Musical Ride, barrel racing, calf roping (I didn't so much like this), and ... um ... steer wrestling is it called? At any rate, it was a great show. The scorching hot midway was also enjoyable, with ice cream ...

Becky and Suz resting. Pneuma.

Sante watching Suz climb

Cooling off!

Sante and I going up Pneuma

Cheryl deciding whether to ride the corner root.

Me on Powderface/Prairie Link

Me. Hot.

Erik climbing Prairie Link

RCMP Musical Ride @ Stampede

Calgary's old tallest building and the new one.

Levitating at the top of the Calgary Tower.

Hot riding!

Addendum to Fernie Post: While I was playing in Fernie, Sante was corrupted at the Dude Ranch. Laura and Willow wrapped her -- obviously against her will, she looks so ashamed! -- in Oilers branding. Ok, ok, she looks comfortable and happy ... and spoiled! I need to get her a Penguins hat or something.

Well, things have dried up and heated up here in Alberta just in time for the 100th Stampede! It was 31C today; no doubt that means it was about 40C on the Stampede grounds. Eep! I'm not complaining, just noting.

Crashed while Mom cleans the bike.

Since I melt in the heat, I've been getting out in the somewhat-cooler mornings to ride. Thursday Becky and I headed out to Station Flats after a brief and helpful stop at Bike Bros in Cochrane. I had changed over my wheel set and needed a lesson on adjusting the shifting. A nice young fellow at Bike Bros had me back in the saddle in a jiffy, after oohing and aahing over my Titus with the Magura shocks. He had never seen any in "real life" ... my bike is so much cooler than its rookie rider. LOL! Anyway, I slipped him a few bucks for the lesson and we were off! Becky, Sante, and I had a great morning on Elbow Valley Trail to Sulphur Springs, up Pneuma to the power station (?) thingie and then back down the same way. I was getting my groove back on this ride and really had a great time.

Friday!

Friday was a relaxation day. I ran some errands and mowed the lawn, read a book, and hung out with the pup. I'm sure I did some other stuff but I already can't remember. Vacations are like that. :)

Shady rest after Suz bonked her noggin.

Saturday Suz joined Sante and I for a ride. I wanted to do Pneuma and Sulphur Springs again and take an alternate route down via Race of Spades. We ran into some navigating error though and did some extra climbing all the way up Sulpher Springs. We missed the Pneuma cutoff altogether. So we went back down to find it ... overshot it again. Went back up to find it. Nearly didn't but did, then went on up as far as Becky and I had on Thursday. With the extra heat and the extra climbing we weren't too sure we wanted to try Race of Spades. We decided we'd wait and do that with someone who's familiar with it since we know it's a more technical downhill trail. So back down Pneuma and Sulphur we went (building trail familiarity!)... both super fun downs, though I'm really extra fond of Pneuma -- both up and down. Great trail! Later that afternoon we hooked up again on a patio with Suz's parents and my friend Beth.

Patio food!

I had a few offers last night to join friends for rides today. An easy cruisy road ride with Kelly and Maria, a mountain bike with Michele, a solo spin to recover the legs ... I was iffy on all of them. I thought my legs were in need of a break. Then I got a note from the persuasive Sarah. It wasn't long before she lured me with a new trail and a promise to keep a slow pace and the mileage under 15kms. Ok! I'm in! I dropped Michele a note but she stuck to her bailing.

Post-ride homemade iced coffee!

We met at the Powderface parking lot at 9am. Sarah's been riding a long time and has lots of experience with the trails. She's a great riding partner! She talked me through the whole trail, told me what was coming, how much more climbing, etc and, as I'd hoped, we were actually doing part of the Bow 80 course. (More about that below.) Most importantly, she helped me learn how to ride slower. Yes! I need to work on that. Not that I'm fast -- not at all -- but to keep my heart rate behaving, and not spiking, I've got to climb slower on longer sections. What a great trail Little Powderface is! Lots of creek and river flow for Sante to cool off, totally-manageable climbing (not too technical) and super fun downhills. Maybe I say that a lot but let me just be clear ... some downhills are still a little more challenging than fun. That's all about my skill level. This trail is all fun! Loved it! And my tired legs managed just fine. Though tomorrow they are getting a break for sure. :)

Cows in the Powderface parking lot.

The Bow 80 is THE race I'm training for this summer. It's 65-70kms through the K-Country trail system on September 9th. I volunteered at the race last year and was so inspired by the participants -- yes, the speedy elite riders, of course, but also the ones that doggedly chipped away at the course, making the cutoffs, and trickling over the finish line 4 and 5 hours after the elite racers. That day I thought ... I want to be one of those dogged racers that survives this course and rides across that finish line with a big smile on my face. Not long after that, the Red Bike and I were paired up for just this event. The bike has excellent pedigree and may be the little extra edge I need to get through the Bow 80. So this summer, me and the bike are training for the Bow 80. And having a blast!

More of the cows.