I decided that it was time to share some of my adventures with anyone who happens to be interested.
So lets get on with it !!! On Saturday I raced my second cross race of the season. After crashing out of the first race of the year a few weeks ago I was stoked to redeem myself. The venue was a cool little park in Port Coquitlam. The course designers had us using the entire park and had a very fun course for us. The highlight was the playground section were everyone had a different line or strategy and the spectators were treated to all sorts of clumsy action. I got a solid amount of pre-riding in prior to the race and felt I had all the tricky parts figured. I could give you the blow by blow race action but I'll save that for your next shop visit. The short version is I was 3rd and quite happy to make it around the course without falling down like I did last time ! Mission accomplished ! A big shout out goes to Squamish local Tony Bachler for winning the first cross race he has ever entered (and kicking my ass !).
The day did not end there....Tony and I were so stoked from our race we decided that we had better get some more racing in our legs so we headed back to Squamish just in time to ride the Lunar Enduro. The Lunar for those that don't know is a 6hr mountain bike race. Tony and I decided we would ride until it got dark. I ripped off a fast lap on my cross bike then hung it up in favor of my mountain bike as it was just more fun that way ! Captain Republic crushed it and won the race wearing the wrestling mask the entire time !!!! I pulled the pin as the temperature dropped and headed home to crash out.
But wait there is more !!!! Sunday Sunday Sunday. I woke up late and thought I was going to have to take a pass on the days racing. Just as I was about to roll over and go back to sleep my phone rang and it's Tony with a "Lets go! I'll drive!" that's all I needed to hear. We pinned it straight to the race in Maple Ridge just in time to have to talk our way through registration. I rolled up to the start just as they were setting up the start grid. So no warm up or course inspection today !!! It was a very cool course laid out on an equestrian cross country course. Lots of cool features but very rough !!! Again I could go into further details but the bottom line is it was not my day. No major issues but just couldn't get going. 6th spot not so bad but I know I can win so it is a bit rough. Oh yeah worth noting I was beaten by a dinosaur, a cave man and Tony (again!). Tony won his second race in a row good job man !
Monday was supposed to be a day off from work and from riding but.....I did some wrenching in the morning and then the sun came out !!!!!! I decided this opportunity should not be wasted and headed up Squamish Valley with Kelly. The legs felt good and it was cool to watch Kelly's face as he discovered the Beauty of the valley for the first time ! Java at the Bean to finish it off proper!
A good few days to say the least !!!!! Only one race this weekend and I feel like it is going to be mine !
Stay tuned,
Armand
Surfing for some pictures of the weekend action and found a few good ones ! Cross is so much fun you will have to come out to an event and check it out ! That is my friend Neils in the 4th photo looking good in the republic jersey !!! Neils kills it on his single speed cross bike....you may have seen him ripping up the a toonie race or two this year. It's all training for cross season !!!
