So I decided to try EPO…

Well, ok, not really. But despite our ethical views against doping both Sheldon and I have wondered over a beer or three just what it might be like.

Would we instantly feel like supermen and fly past our competition, ascending hills as if immune to gravity? Or would it be something more marginal… An increase based on our training volumes, finally beating those riders that tend to always edge us out?

I think I speak for both Sheldon and I when I say that it was always more of a conversational fantasy over beers rather than a curiosity founded in any type of reality. Whenever I actually think about something like that it kind of makes me a little queasy.

I just don’t think I could do it. It just wouldn’t feel natural. And realistically, at this point in my life, there’s absolutely no reason. I race for the sport and fun of it, any results I get are simply a bonus, not something I live and die by.

Well, it turns out that somebody else had similar thoughts, but actually decided to go through with it. The author takes you on an 8 month journey from a clean amateur cyclist training an average of 15-20 hours a week, to a chemically augmented version of himself.

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Kokanee Sponsors River Valley Cycle XC Race Team

Last night River Valley Cycle hosted its HUGE customer appreciation night, and announced Kokanee as the new sponsor of the RVC XC mountain bike team. It was a very cool night. The store was decked out with wall-to-wall deals on TLD gear and rides, from Santa Cruz, Kona to Rocky Mountain. For a long while there, the place was so packed you had a hard time getting around  to check everything out. Not to worry though, the RVC staff served up a choice open buffet and there was lots of Kokanee to go around!

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TransRockies – Alberta Bound

Just prior to the New Year I learned that the TransRockies was headed home.

In partnership with Travel Alberta the 2010 TransRockies now begins where it once finished. Riders will start in Fernie and ribbon through what is promised to be “the most spectacular scenery in North America” to a finish line in Canmore. For those us of living in Alberta and familiar with riding in the Banff/Bragg Creek area, many of the trails coming in the finish line will certainly feel like home.

I have to say, I’m stoked to hear about this seasons’ route changes. Though not on my schedule this season, I think the changes are due. Comparing last years TransRockies to many of the newer races (i.e. BC Bike Race, Intermontagne, etc.) the TR was a very different beast. You had to earn every checkpoint, there were no free rides from trailhead to trailhead – often resulting in a grind through many kilometres of somewhat dull logging roads. On the flip side, it sure made you appreciate the bombing descents and singletrack when it rolled out before you.

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Ode to a car

As some of you are aware, and many of you are not, I have been without a car for upwards of 7 months. That’s not to say my ‘household’ has been without a car, but we’ve gone from a two car household to a one car household. This was not a conscious choice, and we’re still anxiously awaiting the repair of said car.

When this vehicular challange began in June of last year, I wasn’t too fussed – I ride to work most days anyway, Calgary sees little precipitation in the summer and I thought it would be good for me. As the days grew shorter, the light waned and the mercury dropped, I became a little apprehensive, but not alarmed. I had braved a Canadian winter before and would do it again – Though admittedly with the safety net of a car whenever I deemed it necessary – I would have no such luxuries this winter.

Looking back on the last 6 months, there are three main things that strike me:

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Where it all began

The other day I was forwarded this gallery, and as I went through the photos I was instantly reminded of Sheldon and my first steps towards the Transrockies. One of the defining moments that led up to our decision to taking it on was the series Long Way Round with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman.

Initially Sheldon and I had grand dreams of buying twin BMW 1200 GS Adventure motorbikes and tearing around the globe. Perhaps not tackling the Road of Bones or Mongolia, but maybe rambling through northern BC, or heading up the Pacific Coast.

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Goals for a season

Photo: Simon M. Foster

A small look back at 2009, an analytical look forward to 2010. 5 questions for the boys of Bikeridr. 5 public answers so our readers can keep us honest.
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The Rider

“Non-racers. The emptiness of those lives shocks me.”

As a kind of early Christmas gift this year, my wife gave me a translated copy of Tim Krabbé’s classic Dutch novel, ‘The Rider’. I cracked it same day and had it read cover to cover in very short order, save some note taking I did for this post. Not only is the subject right up my alley these days, but the dry, humorous writing style and tension –building structure makes it a page-turner – I loved it. ‘The Rider’ is a first-hand account of one road race, Krabbé’s 309^th amateur race, the Tour de Mont Aigoual and his all out attempt to crush his arch enemy Barthélemy, and finally chalk up a win. It only took a couple pages and I had to know how it ended!

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The Shift

PUSH PULL from Landis Fields on Vimeo.

So, this short vid got me thinking today. It really resonated with with me seeing this guy push himself into such a deranged state of agony, because all I wanted to do right after, was get my bike and do exactly the same thing… But, why?

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Riding through the pain

One of the best (if not the best) by-product of racing is the environment and people that it puts you touch with. This past year during my first season back racing I was lucky enough to join up with the Deadgoats – an awesome group of guys and gals. I will admit that they’re a pretty hardcore bunch, but it’s been good to get back into the mix, and there’s nothing like riding and surrounding yourself with people that are better than you to raise the bar on your riding. One of my newbie cohorts this season was Kyle Husband. He managed to squeak in every type of racing you can think of, and even won himself a new bike frame at one of the races. In light of his diverse experience I thought I would get him to share some of his thoughts as he looks back on his first race season.

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On Air

While I was struggling not to get lapped in my last cyclocross race of the season (Dairy Queen Double Dipper), I noticed my breathing was out of control! I mean, I was gasping for air and dyin’ out there! This got me talking to myself, which is always a good sign of solid mental health. “Breathe man, c’mon breathe! In, out, in, out!” I kept telling myself and to my surprise, I found when I focused on this, I felt better, though maybe only by a fraction and only until I hit the next hill. So, up popped the obvious questions, am I breathing correctly? Do the pros know a breathing technique of some kind that I don’t and if there was a way for me to improve my breathing technique, could it make me a faster rider?

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