Though technically the 'next race' will be one of the OBC time trials, those don't really count as they are more of a fitness gauge.
So I think it's about time I do a triathlon.
The one du- that I did I was in the top 10 for the cycling leg and got killed in the run legs. I haven't done much swimming in the past couple of years, but I do have pretty good technique, so with a bit of brushing up on the atrophied upper body muscles, I might be able to do decently again.
The goal is the sprint tri on the Labour Day weekend here in Ottawa. 750m swim, 30k cycle and 5k run, all quite reasonable distances. Even better, the cycle course is basically pancake flat with a slight rise that I have to go over twice, so with my less than stellar power/weight ratio, I should be able to reel in a few people in there.
The trick will be to see if I can survive the run.
Anyhow, the first swim will be tomorrow, the rough training will be for me to continue getting ready for the cyclocross season with a pair of hour or so swimming sessions per week. Since the 'cross training will include some running, that should at least get me fit enough to figure out if I want to participate in this kind of organized torture again in the future.
On a somewhat related note, where related is in the stream of consciousness sense, I will start pulling apart the 'cross bike tomorrow. This will be the first time I embark on a project of a such... mechanical nature. We shall see how this goes.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
So, we're done.
Not where we wanted to, but due to technical problems and time constraints, we have had to call the ride officially over.
The descision was made in Fredericton, when we ended a day with the truck losing air in the brakes. Turns out most of our problems stemmed from a water pump with shot bearings that stretched the belt that spun the alternator and air compressor. Regardless, we lost something like four full riding days with a couple of different garages trying to figure out what was wrong.
Since we didn't carry heavy touring gear, we couldn't really leave the truck behind either. Ah well, t'was about the journey and not the destination.
We're spending the better part of a week in PEI and New Brunswick before hitting up Ottawa on the 14th or so, then back to Vancouver on the 17th for Lance's wedding. Hillary and I are planning on going on short rides most days, though what counts as a short ride may be open to debate now, 'short' means something totally different now. :)
PEI is supposed to have great riding roads, so I'm looking forward to that to say the least.
Anyhow, more updates will come as we get there.
The descision was made in Fredericton, when we ended a day with the truck losing air in the brakes. Turns out most of our problems stemmed from a water pump with shot bearings that stretched the belt that spun the alternator and air compressor. Regardless, we lost something like four full riding days with a couple of different garages trying to figure out what was wrong.
Since we didn't carry heavy touring gear, we couldn't really leave the truck behind either. Ah well, t'was about the journey and not the destination.
We're spending the better part of a week in PEI and New Brunswick before hitting up Ottawa on the 14th or so, then back to Vancouver on the 17th for Lance's wedding. Hillary and I are planning on going on short rides most days, though what counts as a short ride may be open to debate now, 'short' means something totally different now. :)
PEI is supposed to have great riding roads, so I'm looking forward to that to say the least.
Anyhow, more updates will come as we get there.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Atlantic Canada
We are here officially now, Edmundston, New Brunswick.
The road climbed up and away from the St. Lawrence, then rolled over gentle hills for the most part for the entire day. Our longest ride in a week in or two, getting close to six hours of pedalling time and well over 7 hours on the road in total.
It was nice to see a 'Welcome to Quebec' sign as well, since it seems that people crossing from Ottawa to Gatineau are not worthy of being welcomed to la Belle Province. All you see crossing the Ottawa river is a small metal sign with the single word, "Quebec".
Our goal for today is to get somewhere in the ballpark of Perth-Andover which will put us in striking distance of Fredericton for tomorrow. By my calculations we have something like 840km of riding left to us, hard to believe how close we are getting. I for one am looking forward to lobster in Halifax though.
Not much more time now, enjoy the week and all that good stuff.
Out.
The road climbed up and away from the St. Lawrence, then rolled over gentle hills for the most part for the entire day. Our longest ride in a week in or two, getting close to six hours of pedalling time and well over 7 hours on the road in total.
It was nice to see a 'Welcome to Quebec' sign as well, since it seems that people crossing from Ottawa to Gatineau are not worthy of being welcomed to la Belle Province. All you see crossing the Ottawa river is a small metal sign with the single word, "Quebec".
Our goal for today is to get somewhere in the ballpark of Perth-Andover which will put us in striking distance of Fredericton for tomorrow. By my calculations we have something like 840km of riding left to us, hard to believe how close we are getting. I for one am looking forward to lobster in Halifax though.
Not much more time now, enjoy the week and all that good stuff.
Out.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The hills have thighs.
So, as expected, after my last comment on the flatness of Quebec, I am rapidly proven wrong.
Due to some Truck problems, we headed out of Quebec late in the afternoon and thus rode for a much shorter period. We took the official scenic cycling route out east of the city and it was awesome. It was also on the bottom of a ridge the entire way. This meant that while the road was quite tame for the most part, every turn up to the left was ridiculous. I decided that I should ride up one of the hills. 24%, officially, which makes that a Warren Record for steepness.
The climb was about 400m long and while I think the 24% wasn't constant, the average was probably closer to 20%, there were steep bits. Anyhow, that was cool.
The next day brought more, and those were unavoidable. The 362, which seemed on paper a nicer ride, and seemed even better when we saw a group of 20 or so riders coming off the road, was tough.
It started with a 5km climb at 10% and while this was the largest single sustained climb of the road, there were several pitches of 12+. Most of these weren't signed, but given the short climb of the day before, I can start making some good guesses... Suffice it to say, we successfully climbed some 15% and 18%, including one awesome climb up through a small town.
This road was awesome, but brutally hard. We ended up walking when a climb out of St. Irene hit close to 20%, the sign officially called for 18% for 1km, which is really quite silly.
Anyhow, due to further Truck troubles, we are now in Riviere-du-Loup and should hit Edmundston tomorrow, and the Maritimes.
Due to some Truck problems, we headed out of Quebec late in the afternoon and thus rode for a much shorter period. We took the official scenic cycling route out east of the city and it was awesome. It was also on the bottom of a ridge the entire way. This meant that while the road was quite tame for the most part, every turn up to the left was ridiculous. I decided that I should ride up one of the hills. 24%, officially, which makes that a Warren Record for steepness.
The climb was about 400m long and while I think the 24% wasn't constant, the average was probably closer to 20%, there were steep bits. Anyhow, that was cool.
The next day brought more, and those were unavoidable. The 362, which seemed on paper a nicer ride, and seemed even better when we saw a group of 20 or so riders coming off the road, was tough.
It started with a 5km climb at 10% and while this was the largest single sustained climb of the road, there were several pitches of 12+. Most of these weren't signed, but given the short climb of the day before, I can start making some good guesses... Suffice it to say, we successfully climbed some 15% and 18%, including one awesome climb up through a small town.
This road was awesome, but brutally hard. We ended up walking when a climb out of St. Irene hit close to 20%, the sign officially called for 18% for 1km, which is really quite silly.
Anyhow, due to further Truck troubles, we are now in Riviere-du-Loup and should hit Edmundston tomorrow, and the Maritimes.
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