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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Itchin’ for spring

Ran across this ad the other day and it definitely got me itchin’ for spring. The open air, the open road, the catchy music. I just wish I could blast full throttle out of the saddle at all times like people in commercials can. A lot of the views actually remind me of some of what we’ve actually got on our doorstep.

Calgary welcomes BikeBike

It’s not every day you get a new bike shop in town – and definitely not every day you wander into said shop and barely recognize any of the bikes sitting on the floor. I think that’s part of what makes BikeBike so unique, it’s bringing something different to not only the bike scene in Calgary, but in all of Alberta.

I had a chance to sit down with Sean Carter, one of the owners of BikeBike and ask him a few questions:

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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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Lance Armstrong – Comeback 2.0

As one of my b-day gifts this year, my wife gave me Lance’s newest book, ‘Comeback 2.0 Up Close and Personal‘. Instead of another traditional text heavy autobiography format, Lance opted to allow professional sports photographer, Elizabeth Kreutz, VIP access to his life as he mounted his ‘09 tour comeback.

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Behind the Scenes of Life Cycles

A nice look at the two minds behind the upcoming film “Life Cycles.” If the way they strung this preview together is any indication of the quality and style of the actual film, I’m stoked for this one. They’re just hitting post production now, but after perusing the shots and teasers off the site I think this is going to be the type of film I really dig.

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Achilles heel

I usually don’t have sweets in the house – generally speaking I don’t really crave them, but there are some things, when placed in front of me, that have a tendency to disappear in fairly short order. The first are potato chips. Crisp, salty goodness… Should a bag open, it will not be closed until only crumbs remain (which usually doesn’t take long). The second are Guylian chocolates… Aromatic roasted hazelnut praline filling enrobed in silky Belgian milk chocolate… I will literally continue to eat these until I feel like I’m going to vomit. I cannot stop. It’s different for everybody though… Should you find yourself out to dinner with Sheldon and find crème brûlée gracing the menu you’re in for a treat. They might as well serve it with a straw ;-)

More recently Sheldon went to town at McDonalds – A very infrequent binge both he and I used to enjoy when I was living in Edmonton. Since he was going for a record, he posted his attempt: 2 cheeseburgers, 1 medium fries, 6 McNuggets, 1 McChicken, 1 Parm Chicken Wrap and a Coke. Impressive to say the least. So I decided to do the math:
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Lance Armstrong in Edmonton

7:15am. My alarmclock radio goes off, and as I come to, what do I hear? Lance Armstrong is coming to Edmonton! For two days, Aug 25-26, he’ll be in our fair Capital City to raise awareness and funds in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

It’s not every morning you wake up to the news that one of your HEROES is coming to town!

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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