Monthly Archive for July, 2010

A meal

Published on July 27, 2010 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

A simple meal.

That’s it.

I had the opportunity to make dinner for Craig et al. last night and it was a joy. I was able to share my passion and enjoy some good company.

If there is one thing I do in my life, I want to be able to take my passions and talents and share them with those around me. I have been listening to the Mosaic podcast, with Erwin McManus speaking on Ecclesiastes and Solomon’s struggles in life. He was granted more wisdom than any other human and yet did not know what to make of this world and this life. Ok, so there’s been a lot more to it, but Solomon wondered why he worked so hard and acquired so much, just to lose it all when he died.

But if you think of others and think of how you can take all that you have and all that you know and share that and use it to help people and to make a difference… then it’s all worthwhile!!

In that light, I have been thinking too much… or maybe just riding too much… but I’ve been thinking about what my passions and talents really are. And more importantly how I can use them to make the world a better place. I don’t know everything. And I’m certainly not perfect. But I can be the best version of me and I can make a difference.

The little things matter. Everything you do matters. The choices you make. The people you talk to. The work you do. Everything matters!

::SAdamson

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For Sale

Published on July 25, 2010 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Cleaning up the garage… lucky for you!

As I go through all the stuff in the garage, I have some good deals for you:

2007 Kona Zing Supreme

It was a great bike that I got to use for one year and my dad used for two years. Still, whenever I picked it up to put it in the car, I remembered how great it was; stiff, light, fast, nimble. It has a full Dura-ace 7800 grouppo, Deda bars, Bontrager stem, Raceface seatpost, San Marco Concor Light saddle, Specialized bottle cages, Shimano RS-550 wheels (not pictured), great bike, great value. $1300!

Dugast Typhoon 32mm

One tyre, brand new, never been used. $80.

Dugast Rhino 32mm

One set (2 tyres), brand new, never been used. $150 for both or $80 each.

Dugast Pipistrello 34mm

One set (2 tyres), Glued once, used in only 2 races, sidewalls have been aquasealed. $120.

2006 Shimano WH-7801 Carbon Tubular Wheels

$1000.

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Challenge

Published on July 20, 2010 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

As cyclocross season continues to come up, I can see it on the horizon. I have sent out many sponsorship packages and have had many positive responses. One company who answered the call and I have set up a great deal with is Challenge. They have been around for a while and started innovating and pushing the limits with tires and I am grateful to be able to use these awesome tires!

After much deliberation with Adam and my dad, I settled on using both Grifos and Fangos. Luckily, with the new UCI rules I didn’t have any real decisions to make with width and am going to ride all 32mm tires.

Cyclocross, here I come! Thanks Challenge!!

::SAdamson

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"I love life"

Published on July 18, 2010 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Qoute of the day care of Luc Mahler… We were riding back in along the Gatineau River, just riding our bikes in beautiful places, joking around, having fun… who could not love life at that point?!?!?

It was a great ride today with the Scott Boys and Vicki! I got to ride some new roads through Quebec as we wound our way by MacGregor Lake. We made a pit-stop in the very cool town of Wakefield at a bakery with spectacular Nanaimo bars!!

Good times in Ottawa!

::SAdamson

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Not that bad

Published on July 17, 2010 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

I certainly can’t say that I was looking forward to waking up for the 7:45am start of the OBC Grand Prix today. Especially given how terrible I felt riding home from work last night…

I was kind of worried, but I felt ok this morning and when I got on my bike, I was good.

But that first lap was hard! I pulled out the climb on each lap in my file and I thought the last lap was the hardest, but nope, it wasn’t even close. It was mostly a race of attrition. I covered lots of accelerations and tried to make all the splits. I felt really good on laps 2 through 5, but I just could not hang on the last time up the climb. I suffered as much as I could and was rolling through in the chase, but we just couldn’t close it.

After a wheel-finding adventure, we were all hurtin’ a little bit and made a pit-stop at Kettleman’s Bagel Co. for some food. My first time there for lunch, and it hit just the right spot. Aaaanndd, while we were eating the wind picked up and the skies started just dumping all kinds of rain, making me quite glad that we actually started at a ridiculous hour of 7:45 in the morning.

I had heard stories about the OBC Grand Prix and when we walked in the house Marc said, “So, Shaun, you did your first OBC Grand Prix…” and I joked, “Yup, now I’m good, I can die tomorrow and be fulfilled.”

Thanks to Peter and all the volunteers and commissaires for a great race. It was good, hard, fun. That is all I can ask! Thanks!

::SAdamson

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Can't shake it

Published on July 14, 2010 in Biking and Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

I was listening to Shane Hipps speak on the Mars Hill podcast while I was riding earlier this week. He was speaking on Jonah. It was the second sermon in the series and he summed up the story in less than a minute at the beginning…

God called Jonah to Ninevah. He didn’t want to go and tried to run away to Tarshish. That didn’t work and he gave in, heading to Ninevah. However, he thought he could just do a half-hearted job and gave what was basically the worst prophecy ever, thinking that would just get him out of the job. But no, everyone in Ninevah repented immediately and fully.

You can try and run from God’s calling on your life, but you won’t get very far.

That really hit home with me in the last little while as I continue to search for what God wants me to be doing with my life. I am continuing the search for support in my cyclocross campaign this year. *If you are interested or able, here is my sponsorship package* As I have done this for the past few years with little success, I have had to wonder if this is truly what God wants me to do.

On the flipside, if you look at how well and easily everything fell into place to bring me to Ottawa, to Scott Racing, to live with Marc and Vicki, how could it not be where I am supposed to be this summer. There was much deliberation last fall as the opportunity presented itself and I presented my case. I did have a few decisions to make and when I committed myself and my abilities, it was out of my hands. One of my great mentors sat with me and said that if I get the call it’s meant to be, and if I don’t get the call it’s probably not. Then I got the call.

Smooth Ride is slowly growing and opportunities continue to present themselves, so I continue to wonder what it all means.

At this point, all I can do is trust that this is where I am supposed to be and that God will continue to show me what is coming next and to prepare me for it. I certainly thank you for all your support in this as well!

::SAdamson

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Back… home?

Published on July 9, 2010 in Biking and Life. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

I’ve had a few days to get settled back into my routine in Ottawa. I had a few days completely off the bike and am getting back into the second half of the road season and thinking about cyclocross. I’m getting excited!

I’m back at The Cyclery, helping out wherever I can. But with the current torrential downpour, I am not looking forward to riding my bike in to work… hmm…

In other news, there is a profile of me over at Ottawa Bikes. Thanks Jay!

::SAdamson

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Canada Dry reflects

Published on July 8, 2010 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

I started writing this post on Monday night at Dave’s house…

Then I opened it up again at the Boston airport…

And it’s been in an open tab ever since I got back to Ottawa…

I felt pretty good going into Monday’s crit at Fitchburg. I was able to race conservatively for the first half and use as little energy as possible. As the race progressed, I stayed nearer the front. A good-looking break went at 14 laps to go, so when I felt the chase slow, I jumped hard and almost caught them in half a lap, but then I eased coming down the hill and struggled to close the gap. That break came back within a few more laps, so it really wasn’t that big of a deal.

I tried to put myself in a position to throw down in the last few laps, but couldn’t quite make it happen. So I settled in for the sprint and just finished in the group, while Jim finished 2nd on the day!

I ended up losing 11th to the guy who got 3rd on the day and was tied with me on GC.

All in all, I can be happy with my race in Fitchburg this last weekend. I learned some things. I know what I should have and could have done. I have come away a better bike racer and I will take all those things with me into my next races.

And a huge thanks goes out to everyone who took care of me this weekend. Dave for hosting me and driving me around, Landen for driving, his parents for support and feeding, and all the NEBC team. And thanks to Vince and Scott Racing for letting me off the hook for a few days… Oh, and of course my parents and all those who have emotionally supported me!

Now my thoughts turn to the second half of the road season and Cyclocross!!! If you want to help me out or know somebody who might, check out my sponsorship package or the S.Club. Anything and everything is always greatly appreciated!

::SAdamson

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The Great White Hope

Published on July 4, 2010 in Biking. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , .

Landen came up to me in the race yesterday and said, “Our great white hope is that you can time trial…”

I tried, but I couldn’t quite get onto the podium…

I rode a good race, put down some good numbers, caught 3 guys, but I could only manage 7th. Although that did put me in 11th overall…

Now, if I had only raced the first two stages a little better, then I would be where I think I should. However, as Jamie said, “If my hindsight was my foresight, I would be in the protour.”

Tomorrow we’re gonna crit it up!!

::SAdamson

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Wachusett what?

Published on July 4, 2010 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Stage 2 of the Fitchburg took us by Wachusett and through Princeton 7 times yesterday. It was bound to be a hard race with no real separation on the GC from first stage.

And hard it was. Just steady, solid effort. I got a little bit anxious with some of the breaks (what else is new?!?). After spending maybe a little too much energy, I was able to settle comfortably. I was suffering a little bit on the climb past the climb (ie. through the feed zone), but I was also able to easily make up lots of spots on the descent.

In the last few laps you could see that guys were suffering and the strong guys were stringing out the field on the false flats. I was trying to cover the accelerations, but most people weren’t attacking and just riding hard.

In the last 5k, there were more attacks and I was able to cover some of them. Nothing was sticking; I wasn’t sure if nobody wanted to dig deep or if the chase was just a little too strong still. In the last rollers before the climb (ie. the last 2-3k) I tried a couple attacks and got a gap, but couldn’t quite hold it. Then I was suffering on the last climb and just tried really hard to not let any gaps open to not lose too much time.

I guess I didn’t do such a good job of that… I ended up losing about a minute to the stage winner, but with time gaps all over the place, it wasn’t that bad. That leaves me 1:22 down going into today’s ITT. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens…

In hindsight, should I have just sat there in the last 5k and waited for the sprint? Should I have attacked harder? Should I have attacked earlier?

I don’t know forsure, but I do know that I wasn’t just going to roll over and let race happen to me…

::SAdamson

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