Monthly Archive for July, 2008

What a week!

Published on July 31, 2008 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

I have to say I had a great week at Abitibi this year.  The decision to go as mechanic happened quite randomly at a meeting in March and I don’t think I really thought about it since then.  So I guess I didn’t really know what to expect.

I can definitely say that the life of a mechanic or any project staff does not suit my typical style.  You work hard all day, be a perfectionist, stay up late, drink, and don’t sit or lie down much at all…

After I got over that fact, I think I started to work much better and had a lot of fun.  Once I was able to settle into my routine and work much better.  I got to meet a lot of cool and very helpful people.  I learned a lot about how things work in bike racing.  I think I appreciate a lot more too.

So I have to thank everybody for the opportunity, thanks to all the riders for racing well, and thanks to everybody who taught me something and many things.  You are all great!

Now I just have to hope that my legs can come around and actually race this weekend!

::SA

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Road Rage

Published on July 22, 2008 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

I don’t think I’m usually that angry of a person, but you know what makes me really mad?

When people knowingly butt into a traffic jam!  It just makes me so angry!

I was driving home today and there was a long line of cars waiting to turn left onto 111st from 61ave and 109st.  Things were made worse by the fact that there was only one turning lane and the line of cars went all the way back to the crosswalk by McDonald’s.  That’s not the part that makes me mad though.  The people who know that they have to turn left and still drive up, past everybody else patiently lined up, on the right side and go all the way to front of the line and jam themselves in!  Aaaahhhh!!!!  Why?!?!?!

I was almost shaking with anger when I came and started screaming about the stupid jerks to my dad.  That’s how angry people make me!

It’s fair to say that you’re trying to be efficient and you don’t realize what lane you need to be in, but as soon as you do, stop and put your turn signal on and wait for somebody to let you in.  Don’t keep going all the way to the front–if nobody is letting you in, you’re not doing any better to move further up the line.  As soon as you see the construction sign signalling that the lane is ending ahead, stop and put your turn signal on.  It’s not that hard.

I actually remember one time when I was driving with my dad on the highway and saw one such sign.  The line of cars was long, but what are you going to do???  Some guys were driving up the lane about to end, past everybody patiently waiting, so I pulled all the way into that lane to prevent them from moving further up and the second car actually slowed down, moved into the shoulder to get around me, and continued to drive up to the front!!!!  What the heck is wrong with people?!?!?!??

Just my anger…

Thanks for listening, and DON’T BUTT IN!!!!

::SA

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What am I doing???

Published on July 20, 2008 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Was going to be the title of my blog post today… I was going to complain about how much I put into cycling (energy, life, money, etc.) and how little I have been getting back.  That mostly came from a couple of bad rides.

But it turns out I had a pretty good ride on the beach in White Rock today!  Last night, and even this morning I could have just gone home and not started.  I was suffering a bit in the first couple laps, and even dropped off the back on the third lap.  I chased on with Mark and couple other guys.  Then we got to the left hand turn at the far end of the course, Mark attacked and I went with him.  I don’t actually know if I would even call it an attack, we just rode off the front.  It was fun hanging out there for a couple laps.  Thanks for all the encouragement from everybody!  And hopefully some great pictures from Joe!

I got caught and stayed at the back of pack for a few more laps, got dropped, chased back on, couldn’t corner with the motor bike in my way, got dropped, chased back on…  Then I completely blew!  Wow!  Even though it wasn’t an amazing ride, it was definitely my best one there and especially after the way I felt last night I feel a kajillion times better!  Woohoo!

::SA

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Ow my back!

Published on July 19, 2008 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

My back hurt so bad tonight I couldn’t lift my wheel to get up a curb.  Eeeshk!!!

But first, I have to thank my temporary team for the week and all their support!  Thanks Aviawest!  Thanks Nic, Lennard, and everybody else.  Also, thanks to Joe Sales for being an awesome photographer and a super great guy!

The racing…  I can’t explain it, but I certainly didn’t have a great result tonight.  I barely finished half the race, actually…  I had a great start, was sitting pretty for the first 10 laps, looking out for a prime.  I just slowly kept moving back and back and back.  Then I’m off the back and can’t close the gap.  Oh crap!

I can’t explain last night either.  I didn’t have a good result, not an amazingly improved time.  But I guess I can’t complain much because my power was significantly higher than expected and I had the motivation of Aaron catching me over the crest so I know I went 100%.  I guess that’s more positive than anything…

And in Burnaby I felt great.  Felt like I was positioned well, felt strong.  But then, all of a sudden, I can’t pedal without my chain jumping.  Check the derailleur.  Nope.  Can’t stay in, I’m going to crash or something.  Go to the pit, no free lap.  Ack!  That’s no good.

I guess it’s all on tomorrow, a hilly race with one of the best climbers in the world!  Good luck!

::SA

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A little bit about me

Published on July 18, 2008 in Thoughts. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

I think this might give any of you who care some insight into the way I am and why my expectations of others are what they are…

We were driving down the road the other day, not knowing exactly where we were going, with those signs that say Hwy 99 this lane, straight these two lanes, and merge this lane, or whatever.  You know what I mean.  So I expect people to just follow the rules, listen, and be obedient.  So when the sign says you have to be in this lane, I go to that lane.  That’s just who I am.

::SA

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Gastown

Published on July 17, 2008 in Flavas. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

A classic.

Gastown is a great event!  I think there are many things to be learned about running an event from these guys.  Tons of spectators, great announcers, huge cash, and great stuff for everybody to do during the events…

I felt good, but I had to start right at the back.  I wish I could say I’m strong enough to make up for that, but I’m not.  So I suffered hugely in the pack for a few laps, then worked hard in a small group for a bunch more.  Dang.  It was fast.  Only 44 finishers of 144.  Crazy.

It was pretty wicked using a powermeter too.  I know for a fact that I couldn’t have done a whole lot better.  But it’s super fun going that fast, even if only for 1/3 of the race.  Burnaby tonight…

::SA

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Tour de Delta

Published on July 14, 2008 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Mom and I made it out to the coast safe and sound yesterday.  Then I got my bikes ready (I opted at the last minute to use my TT bike on the advice of Jamie and Chris).  I was pretty excited for the new prologue.  A little bit more my style…

I felt pretty good in my warmup and I felt good on the start.  I could have been a little more aggressive in the corners, but my power was as good as expected!  47th isn’t that bad…

The crit was looking pretty good.  It was warm and sunny and I felt like racing fast.  I had a pretty good start position and mostly just hung out.  I saw the first major crash about to happen and I hit my brakes–I managed to just hit a guy’s bike and get bumped from behind, my chain came off and I took my free lap.  I had to slow for another crash and suffered for a couple laps at the back.  But I mostly just hung out in the pack…  Kind of tried to move up for some primes, unsuccessfully.

With 8 minutes to go I found myself on Kirk O’bee’s wheel.  I knew I wanted to stay there!  But after a couple minutes, he coolly jumped to the front.  Eeeshk!  I ended up just sprinting in the field.

For the road race, I was kind of hurting.  After a couple opening laps my legs opened up and I felt much better.  I was really thinking about conserving as much energy as I could.  I felt good, felt like I was doing well.  On the finishing laps, there wasn’t too much excitement.  It was kind of hard, but not super hard.  Actually, other than the climb it was “easy.”  Then on the last 2 laps Symmetrics put the hammer down pretty hard.  I still felt good somehow.  I even felt good riding right near the front the last time up the climb, as Kirk O’bee attacked.  There was a small gap and Chris closed it for me.  But everybody else was right behind us.  And I thought I was good to go, but it got a little hectic.  Everybody was trying to set up for the sprint and I couldn’t find a hole and the road just got tighter.  So I again sprinted in the middle of the field somewhere.

The weekend was a lot of fun.  No outstanding results, but I felt good and rode consistently.  I’m happy!

Watch out Horner!

::SA

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Dope

Published on July 12, 2008 in Biking and Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

I’ve been wondering this year about if and how much the pro peloton is cleaning up…

New riders/teams are performing well and hanging tough, the peloton is cutting the chases really close, and the field is just splitting up more easily.  Hmm…

The power numbers I’ve been seeing are absolutely astounding, but maybe they are fully human.  Maybe the peloton is cleaning up…

::SA

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Power

Published on July 11, 2008 in Biking and Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

I’ve been enjoying all the discussion that the Tour stirs up.  Especially with the prevalence of power meters, there is a lot of discussion on power.  I just thought I’d let you know that I am 100% sure that I will never race the Tour.

Adam Hansen (not even a star…) will ride for 5 hours day in and day out, at an effort that will kill me after not too long.  Eeeshk!!!

BC Superweek starts tonight!  Woohoo!!

::SA

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My point exactly!

Published on July 6, 2008 in Biking and Thoughts. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

disclaimer: These are just my thoughts on what could become a touchy subject.  Please don’t take them the wrong way or take any offense to them.  I am still a young, naive little man, so keep that in mind when reading on…

It sounds like road nationals was quite the event.  It seemed very exciting.  There were also some outstanding rides.  Meier, for one.  Dave Vukets.  Derrick St. John.  I don’t actually know much of the story so I won’t really comment beyond that…

But as you scroll down the list, look at all the DNFs.  Unbelievable.  It’s one thing if you rode your heart out for the team, but it looks like there’s lots of solo riders down there.  How many of them spent a ton of money to go to one road race and one time trial and not finish.  What did they really gain from that?

Don’t get me wrong, I love nationals.  I think it’s great.  I would have been on the course if it was within reasonable driving distance.  But why spend at least $1500, if I’m not going to win or get selected to Worlds???

I think, in general, money can be much better spent doing more races, closer to home.  Cascade Classic with Levi Leipheimer, BC Superweek with Chris Horner, or even the Stampede Road Race.

::SA

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