Have a good ride!
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
Enjoying the sunshine
Today, it’s hot! I love it!
Yup, just beautiful!
In other news…
What’s the story here?!?
Yes, Jens
Is Saxo Bank really sponsored by lululemon?!?
That is the lululemon logo
::SAdamson
Or not…
After a day of planning and prep for the OBC ITT tonight, things didn’t quite pan out as planned.
I took the day to finish up some work stuff, talk to the boss, switch my SRM over to my TT bike, dial that in, relax a little bit. I had my route sorted and I gave myself enough time to get there. I had my registration money and I had food, clothes, and water to get home. But I got a little twist-turned-upside-down…
So I ended up riding completely the wrong way for at least 10 minutes. By the time I got it figured out and back to where I was, I knew I was not going to make it on time. But I booked it, trying desperately… and I knew that I at least had to figure out where it was to know for next time. I did eventually get there and when they told me forsure that it was too late to register, I was completely demoralized and all the adrenaline I had pumping through my veins had dissipated… I talked to a few people and then headed home.
Not my best day on the bike to say the least. But life does go on!
::SAdamson
I headed out to the park today to do some more intervals. It started off a little cooler, but I managed to take off my arm warmers and work on my tan a little more. But I really still just can’t believe how many people are out riding bikes in the middle of a weekday afternoon. There are more people than on a beautiful weekend in Edmonton…
Bikes, bikes, bikes
Wednesday Random…
As I was finished my intervals and on my way home, I ran into one of teammates going the other way. I turned around to say hi and ride with him. I realized I haven’t really met any of my teammates other than Marc and I actually had to ask him who he was… it was Mike. So I can at least say I’ve met somebody from the team. He was just starting his ride, so when we came up to the bottom of Pink Lake again I turned around and continued on home.
Thanks for the kit Vince!
More Wednesday Random…
So I was looking at some pictures on facebook and saw a couple with my old friend Ryan Anderson… I wondered what he was up to. Well, I know he is racing with Kelly Benefits, but I didn’t where he was, how he was doing, or what races he is going to next. So I put his name into google; apparently there are a lot of Ryan Andersons in the world…
So for fun, I decided to put my name in there. I found my blog, a couple interviews, and this wikiname website entry…
That is only really funny given that they say that Shaun means, “YAHWEH is gracious” and that I was working on a blog post about grace, especially God’s grace.
…I guess that means I better actually listen to the podcast again and write the post now.
It's so pretty here!
And so green!
::SAdamson
Today turned out to be a gorgeous day here in Ottawa. I thought it was prime time to explore the other direction on my ride and check out the Gatineau park loop.
I had looked at the maps to figure out how I should get there and had advice from both Marc and Vicki on routes. Definitely helpful! I saw lots of people on bike today. That still amazes me! A lot of people ride bikes around here…
I feel like this blog post is super duper short, but I can’t think of what else to say… here are some photos from my adventures in the park:
Pink Lake
Scott at Pink Lake
De La Gatineau Promenade
::SAdamson
but it was dry!
Today was a bit of a late start. I slept in a little bit longer as I was up late watching my UFC fights last night at Paul and Sally’s house. Thanks guys, it was good times. And then it was cold… Vicki decided to take a rest day, Marc was debating riding the trainer downstairs. But I figured what the heck?!?
So after a few hours of work, I mean, um… contemplation, I put on a bunch of clothes and headed out the door. It wasn’t really so bad…
I think I need some self-portrait lessons from J.Sparls
I found a few new roads and had a good ride. I actually can’t believe how good I felt! Unreal!
I came home, ate some food, talked to my parents and did some more work. It seems like I’m not getting anything done, but I’m certainly not bored these days…
Maybe I am actually getting lots done… hopefully…
And another day goes by.
::SAdamson
Sorry for the delay, but I just finished my last 2 exams!! Now I am a bachelor. Ok, I was already a bachelor… but now I’m a Bachelor of Physical Education!!!
But the Spring Series Spectacular went off without a hitch on Sunday. A huge thanks goes out to the volunteers (without whom none of this would have happened), Transcend Coffee and Hammer Nutrition.
The weather was a little threatening, but the worst thing that actually came were some strong winds. But it’s Alberta, what would a road race be without wind?? We had just over 30 racers out on the day, with 10 As, a bunch of Bs, and only 3 Cs. We settled on the As doing 8 laps and the combined Bs and Cs doing 6.
I don’t really know what happened in that B/C race, because the amazing volunteers let me race the A race. So if anybody has any interesting comments or reports feel free to share. But I do have some semi-official results (I’ve been wrong once before, so don’t hold me to it):
The A race was exciting given the fact there were only 10 of us. Adam said it’s kind of like being in the break for 100km. I guess so… Robin and Nick seemed to be the most aggressive and strongest guys. Mr. Barr was his usual wily self. Bruce “TT” Copeland even threw in a couple serious attacks. The race really came down to the 53×12 tailwind stretch and the match sprint-style cat-and-mouse headwind stretch. There were a couple attacks and lots of hard parts of the race, but in the end it mostly came down to the finishing straight. I was sitting on Blaine’s wheel, guttered, thinking I should come around him and sprint for the line. As I thought about doing just that I found him just riding me off his wheel. Then Geoff came around, then Nick came around. So much for a group sprint… how about a group suffer-into-the-headwind-and-slowly-cross-the-finish-line? Yeah… and that’s it how went:
Thanks again to everyone coming out and having a good time. Thanks again to the volunteers who gave up their Sunday morning!!
I also think race organizing is something that everybody should do. Even this small race that didn’t really require that much work is a good experience. My appreciation of the efforts of race organizers and volunteers over the last years has increased, but until you do it yourself, you just don’t really understand. And without all these wonderful people helping out and giving up their time, the wonderfulness of bike racing just wouldn’t happen. So get out, do your part, and thank those who do so much more!!!
::SAdamson
The hits on my blog went way up yesterday! I’m assuming that is from everybody who wants to come race the Spring Series Spectacular!! But I have had a few questions about the course, so here is the mapmyride.com version of the course. The start/finish/parking (which is limited) is on the top-right or Northeast corner.
But I am still looking for some volunteers to make it happen!! If you can help, please let me know!!! It won’t be able to run without you!!!
::SAdamson
Here it comes…
I’m still looking for a few volunteers, so if you are willing and able to help it would be greatly appreciated! I’ll make sure to make it worth your while!!
But it really is going to be good times. Last chance to prep for the Velocity Stage Race.
And I really do owe thanks to Travis and ERTC and Trev and Speed Theory and all their volunteers and everybody who made the first 2 spring series races a success!
I was going to tack on a short report from yesterday’s adventure, but I think I’ll save that for its own post…
See you Sunday!!
::SAdamson
Today we talk with Spencer Smitheman and catch up on what he’s been up to and what his plans are for 2010. We had a few communication delays, so some of the news is a little old, but still good. Enjoy.
SAdamson. I seem to remember you racing with Juventus as a little kid, but then all of a sudden you were at the Junior Road World Championships, the Cyclocross World Championships, then racing on an espoir team in France, then you got on the NOW-MS Society, and now you’re Hagens-Berman… what’s it been like moving around all the time?
Spencer. I’ve actually enjoyed the moving around so far. Of course I enjoy riding with the same riders as you make friendships on every team and it would be nice to stay with a team for longer, but as of right now, forward progress is the goal. It is all about finding opportunities to continue developing and progress in the sport.
SAdamson. How did all those opportunities come about?
Spencer. As a junior I raced in Nice with a French junior team and after a decent ride at Junior Worlds, they helped me find a spot with a high level amateur team, Creusot Cyclisme in central France. It was a great opportunity, especially riding with Jean-Cristophe Peraud who just signed with Omega-Pharma Lotto, but it cracked me a bit as a first year espoir. I decided I would like to try my my luck in the domestic US scene and NOW-MS Society was eager to bring me on. So I spent the 2009 season racing out of LA and while I enjoyed the team and lifestyle, the criterium heavy SoCal cycling calendar didn’t quite suit my abilities. So I noticed Hagens Berman’s program based around NRC and stage race events as well as their history in developing riders into the pro ranks and jumped when the opportunity came to fruition.
SAdamson. So where are you living and training now?
Spencer. Right now I am somewhat homeless, that is I am travelling so much I don’t know where to call home. Right now I am calling Tielt-Winge, Belgium home, but true home is still Devon, AB.
SAdamson. After the National Team camp in Tucson, I saw your name on the list for the Euro campaign… when do you leave? Do you know what races you’re doing?
Spencer. I actually left on Tuesday and have been here in Belgium for a few days now! Our race calender is something I am quite thrilled about. It is based around the three UCI U23 Nations Cups in April – Tour des Flandres U23 in Belgium, La Cote Picarde in France, and ZLM Tour in The Netherlands. The other big race which I am really pumped about is the UCI 1.2 Ronde van Overijssel in Holland at the end of the month. Besides that we’ll race some Belgian National Calendar races and Kermesses.
SAdamson. Where are you basing yourself for most of the season?
Spencer. As I mentioned earlier, I have been all over the place, but for the most part I will be in the Seattle area where Hagens Berman is based.
SAdamson. What races are you doing with Hagens Berman for 2010?
Spencer. Hagens has a great calendar this year. What races I do with them largely depends on the National Team schedule and which projects I am selected for. The team schedule includes Redlands, Tour of Walla Walla, Cherry Blossom Classic, Joe Martin, Mt. Hood, Tour of America`s Dairyland, Cascade Classic, Tour of Utah, Green Mountain Stage Race and Univest.
SAdamson. What were your highlights from 2009?
Spencer. The biggest highlight of last year has to be making the winning break at the National Road Championships, but I also really enjoyed Redlands and Cascade and felt I adapted well to the NRC level.
SAdamson. Where is the national team house in Tielt-Winge? It can’t be that far from where I stayed with Jos the first year I raced cross over there!
Spencer. The national team base is definitely one of the houses you stayed at in Tielt. Jos and Tim are the renters and we have two houses set up here, one for the women’s team and one for the U23.
SAdamson. And you’re slowly working away at school at the UofA? What are you taking? Do you find it hard to pick up and leave for 8 months and then try and get back into the studying habit?
Spencer. Yeah, I tell people I am on the 8 year undergrad schedule. It seems strange to be only half-way through when friends from high school are finishing up. I’m majoring in Linguistics right now; essentially the intricacies and interconnection of language and languages. I actually like the 8 month hiatus because it gives me a chance to focus on one thing at a time and do it wholeheartedly. By the end of the cycling season, I am happy to stimulate my brain, but after a tough semester, I like getting out on the bike for a few hours.
SAdamson. If cycling doesn’t turn into a full-blown career for you what would you like to do? Or maybe a better question is where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Spencer. Cycling is definitely the career I have in mind, but I can see myself working as a journalist. It must be the travel and changing perspective that seems so appealing. I’m only 20, I better still be racing in 5 years!
SAdamson. Haha, ok good. But what do you do when you’re not riding your bike?
Spencer. When I am not riding my bike, I rest like a champion! But honestly I will read, play around on my guitar, watch a movie, and more and more am getting into cooking. I guess it comes with the appetite.
SAdamson. What do you think about while you race?
Spencer. I try to stay in the moment and stay aware of what is going on . Especially as is the case here in Europe, if you start day dreaming, a break will get away without you seeing it or you’ll get caught back in a crosswind section. That said sometimes my mind will wander and in that case the range is rather large.
SAdamson. What’s your favourite quote?
Spencer. “To prepare for a race there is nothing better than a good pheasant, some champagne and a woman.” -Jacques Anquetil
SAdamson. You’ve always seemed to carve your own path, but manage to stay dedicated to it. What advice would you give to any aspiring racers out there?
Spencer. I would advise to find a way to race your bike where it will be the most challenging because that is where you learn the most. That usually means going to Europe. The racing isn’t just fast, but aggressive, technical and extremely tactical. Europe is where you really learn to race your bike.
SAdamson. Is there anywhere that your fans can keep up with your adventures?
Spencer. I have a blog which I update semi-regularly. If you would like to follow me, check it out
SAdamson. Will you come home to Edmonton to race Nationals this year?
Spencer. I have been having dreams of standing on top of the podium at home after racing the roads I ride every day and past the University I attend. So, a very strong YES in response to your question.
Thanks for the interview Shaun!
SAdamson. No, thank you Spencer!!
