2017 NEW YEAR's EVE Reflection Post

What a year...Sitting here having my second Headstock Indian Pale Ale from Nicekl Brook Brewing and feel like i need to just take a step back and reflect.

Last Ride: I believe I am in week four following the feeling of a..."POP" in my left hamstring that occurred after my shakedown ride of the KTM in Limerick Forest. The ride really had to be done. The suspension decided to GRENADE, front AND rear, and needed some TLC. The TLC was provided by SSS tuning in Frankford ON. Joe Skidd is the man! As soon as I got it back, time to see how the bike performed. Loaded it up on a Sunday and off to Limerick Forest where there was a light dusting of snow on all the trails and roads. After about an hour of FUN FUN FUN...I popped out of the trail and was just nonchalantly planting left foot to redirect back into the trail when bike got out from under me and....the sensation I hope to NEVER feel again...*POP* Good news...was close to trailer...picked up bike knowing this may NOT be good and was able to get all loaded and get MOST of gear off(none from below waist), pop tow ALEVE and headed home to assess the physical damange. GREATER NEWS..am sitting here typing after what I thought may have been a much more significant injury and feeling more confident after completing a 5 k brisk walk. Looking up.

Back tracking....

Since the Hammy issue...KTM is now equipped with ice screws from ROYAL DISTRIBUTING (all lugs covered) and have ordered 200 proper GRIP STUDS for the rear. We have legitimate WINTER here and playing has to come with SOME kind of motosport so.....either ice riding or some light trail riding WILL happen. XC skiing will be HEAVY on the itineray for fitness as we have SNOW and LOTS of it.

Recap of 2017: Kinda kicked ass.....First legit season of racing in Vet B and feel I had a chance at the podium in each race except Parry Sound. Have learned that ANYTHING can happen in racing and in hindsite pretty happy with the year. What would I do differently....well...perhaps not drink a NEW energy drink I've never tried before and race a track that I have done dozens of hours of training on thinking the loop would be similar...FreeFLow retribution in 2018 WILL HAPPEN. Easy recap...great experience

2018 GOALS: More FUN, Less structure is the name of the game. Planning events around the KEY one which is the Northeast 24 Hour Enduro. This is the time when I start to go on a tangent about fitness, eating clean...blah blah..blah. Really...Life is short and I dont't PLAY to get PAID so....I will do what I need to do to NOT DIE and make sure I get some running in...some pushups...pullups....core shit...play on the INDO board and certainly get some winter riding in when the weather isn't minus FRICKIN' 30!!!!

So Universe....forecast for 2018? Experience..Plain and simple. Choose the events that are on the calendar that I REALLY enjoyed like RJ's, Anthill, Freeflow and MINI-Pine. THese PLUS the 24 hour are a good base. I will certainly check out a couple others but really want to spend the summer getting the "old guy" out for some casual rides. My father is 70....yeah....its true....and he is enjoying the KTM, as am I, and hope to get some good rides now that he has had a year under his belt. He's ready....who knows...maybe the old guy and I will do some road trips.

2018 Will be GLORIOUS!!!!

First errrrrr waitaminute.....THIRD! WHAT A SEASON

What a season!!! FREEFLOW XC was final race of the Offroad Ontario XC season and it brought with it some drama!! I went into this one feeling as cocky as one could with this being my home track and all...I could link this course in my head an knew every corner, rock and undulation. This, however, proved to be my fatal flaw...

I got the holeshot and just hammered out of the gate leaving my Vet B crew turns behind me going in to the woods. Felt like this could be the day I stood up one or two steps on the podium. Then....it got weird.....I always cut left near the road of the second section where I was supposed to go straight which resulted in cutting out a couple km of trail. The section just before it was slick and I never put another thought into it because that was the corner I've ridden dozens and dozens of times. Brutal.......a stupid error done 6 TIMES!!!!!!!! If only there was someone in FRONT OF ME during one of these laps to show me the err in my ways....The end result could have been worse. This could have been a DNF but once I realized....hmmm...no I don't run faster laps that the fastest PRO...I had to figure it out. A quick scoot out with Robin Brant confirmed the error. I quickly confessed it and the ruling to bump me down to third was gratefully accepted. A DNF would have been catastrophic! I'm pretty sure the guy who was sitting 4th overall in the series would have loved my DNF to enable him to bump into 3rd overall but no go. He'll get his crack at some podiums next year...I'm going to either be bumped or voluntarily move myself into Vet A for next season...First start on the line with a clear path until the fast Novice B's catch me sounds like a good way to go me thinks.

PODIUM BABY!!!! 3rd Cochranes XC

I had nerves festering all week up to this event....in hindsite....I'm thinking it was the aticipation of crushing my best finish of the year :) The quick and dirty is this..The top two guys showed up and knew there was only one other spot for the taking. A few new faces on the line and having never ridden Cochranes I decided to just ride smooth. As the saying goes..Smooth is Fast and Fast is Smooth. There were some glimmers of greatness in this race. Bike was handling a bit odd. The front forks need some looking into and not quite sure if it is stiction or something else going on but they were pretty stiff. All in all the course was DREAM LIKE with cake like conditions and some nice changes in vertical.

I recall getting off of the line....OK...I wasn't really motivated to grab the holes shot when I knew the fast two guys were just going to pass me anyway but did get surprised by rider #649 when he got in front of me on the second turn. This made me focus a bit as he had beaten me on Day 1 of Walton and I beat him on Day 2 of Walton....my podium was in threat. Not entirely sure why he let me pass later in the second lap but I took it and never looked back.

Not really much to comment on. Bike is running like a firebreathing MONSTAH ever since I cut some big ole holes in my airbox. Look forward to checking my plug. 53 hrs on this beast and it looks like I am having my first issue I need to deal with....have had to top up the rad after this race as well as my last ride...can't see where i am loosing coolant. May just leave it to the experts!

Day after...Feeling more fatigued and sore than any other event from this year. Testament to this guy givin'r I guess. One more race to go next weekend to seal up 3rd with a potential for 2nd....

Hmmmm.....3rd overall with 2 to go....GIDDY UP

Place Number Name Class Events Mfg Work Points Total RJ P Sound Anthill Wingham Walton 1 Walton 2
1 621B Scherk, Chris VET B 5 KTM 120 1 1 1 1 3
2 635 Heslinga, Justin VET B 5 KTM 99 13 2 2 2 1
3 646 Bragdon, John VET B 6 HUS 97 4 8 7 4 5 4
4 605 MacDonald, Derrick VET B 6 KTM 93 6 4 8 5 6 5
5 617 Toneguzzo, Michael VET B 5 KTM 84 5 2 6 3 10
6 649 wilton, james VET B 5 KTM 69 11 9 6 4 7
7 675 Flegg, Kevin VET B 5 KTM 60 12 11 7 7 8
8 627 Kowalchuk, Bryan VET B 4 HUS 49 7 7 12 9
9 660 McDonald, Thomas VET B 2 KTM 41 1 5
10 652 Teerink, Phil VET B 3 YAM 39 10 8 6
11 612 DOBROWOLSKI, DON VET B 2 KTM 38 3 4
11 602 Crawford, Jim VET B 2 KTM 38 2 5
13 671 Weersink, Jeff VET B 2 KTM 33 8 3
14 600 Reynolds, Allan VET B 3 YAM 24 15 11 13
15 542 hughes, johnathan VET B 1 22 2
16 619 middleton, morgan VET B 1 20 3
16 607 Wigdorski, Robert VET B 1 KTM 20 3
18 610 Girndt, Norm VET B 1 KTM 15 6
19 641 Lett, Tim VET B 1 HUS 12 9
19 694B Taylor, Jeff VET B 1 KTM 12 9
21 638 Billings, Ron VET B 1 11 10
21 677 Stewart, Terry VET B 1 KTM 11 10
23 219X Porter, Eric VET B 1 7 14
24 639 Oldham, Allen VET B 1 5 16

WALTON 2-DAY XC

WOW....pretty glad I don't have to drive 4-5 hours for the last 2 event of this OO XC season. The drive to participate in this years Walton 2-day was certainly worth it but I have to admit....after 2 laps in on day one....I was questioning it.

Day1
Brought my Pops with me for the companionship and the experience. Always happy to have him tag along to keep things interesting :) First day was super slick but tacked up as the event carried on. No real battles. Just trying to stay upright and get some laps in. Finished 4th and satisfied.

Day2
It's like that game of golf...you just need that ONE DRIVE to keep you coming back to the teebox. What a pleasure!!! I was waiting to get to a section of the re-routed course that I would mentally mark as "the spot to get through" and look forward to the remainder of the lap and course but....it was ALL FREAKIN GREAT!! Super fast and traction for DAAAAYYYYSSSSS. I became posessed for the last 4 laps and made some passes. Not entirely sure how I was beating the lap times of the dude that shows up and gets a first place every freaking time. I'm actually a little suspicious...if I were a paranoid guy....I would think the top two guys were in cohorts to rig the overall standings WHICH i am holding onto 3rd btw.

Another oddity...the "third place" guy on day one ran slow laps for 6 of 8 recorded and two laps were clearly errors or course jumps...oh well...my fault for trusting and not checking and the guy not OWNING up to the error..THis was fixed by the coordinator

Not much more to say other than bike ran like it was manic and I enjoyed the traction that was challenging me to control the throttle in map 1.

Next two events are near me and technically....one of these is my "home turf". Now....if I can just get out and ride between now and then...we be laughin all the way to an overall poldium unless unexpected things happen.

Gully Mor XC Vet B 4th place

WHAT A RACE!!! Feeling a taad groggy from yesterday's race and 5 hours of travel to get back from Gully Mor XC but well worth it for the experience!

Temperature and humidity were high, as per the norm with these events so far this year, and the 8.6 km track and trail were freaky fast. Nothing that would beat ya up and loads of space for passing. Managed to get the hole shot (that's 2 out of 4 this year ;) and held first place going into the "woods" again. Managed to frustrate the pack behind me just before getting into the woods because I forgot I was wearing my GOPRO and hadn't turned it on hahahahaha...I was passed almost immediately after that by the guy who eventually came in second place. Trails were just so much fun to ride that I was in my seat vs standing for about 90% of the race! The second area where I was passed came when I got hung up behind this maniac who enters these events on an old school CR 500! It happend so quick. First place dude and 3rd place dude passed me and I never saw them again.

Held 4th place for the remainder of the 8 total laps.

Timing tent through the transition.......so.......I pass through after first lap and it is placing me in third. Thought...huh...that's cool...let's see how this plays out and kept a steady pace for the next lap and then see SECOND PLACE?!?!?!? Thinking WTF...did one of the fast guys DNF?? Unfortunately, for the rest of the race it was showing me as second place when in reality I came in 4th. There was some troubleshoot with two racer's transponders. Oh well.....at least I got to "Feel" what it would have thought to get second hahahah. I would't have done a single thing differently...actually...waitaminute...this is my new thought.

I will get a pretty decent groove in these races and come across a rider that is riding pretty smooth as well. My mistake here that can definitely help me make up time is that, instead of pacing and sitting on their rear, I should pass these riders...when difference between 4th and 1st is a few minutes...this is what I would need to do to get closer to podium.

My next thoughts....I believe I am 3rd overall in series points now from 4th. The next event is located in the same region a.k.a MONSTER drive to/from. I have neglected the family to enter these 4 events this summer now and I am heavily weighing in on whether it's worth my time to attend the next one or pass and participate in the last two events that are close to home....thoughts to ponder....

Pre Gullymor XC thoughts

This coming Sunday will be the Gullymor XC course which looks freaky FAST from the you tube clips that I have been watching. It seems like someone from a purely MOTO background has designed the XC course and I LIKEY!!!!!

I am hoping for a MUD FREE event to really capitalize on my strength of riding the dry. Choosing to avoid riding mud has really put me at a disadvantage in mindset everytime I come across a race with slippery and technical conditions. Hoping it all comes together this time. It's a long drive and yet another full weekend committment to participate in these events and looking forward to one of my best showings yet. Better than 4th will put me on the box.......bike, body and mind are ready. Already prepping mindset for muddy conditions in the event that this happens but....40% chance of rain tomorrow morning and then all butterflies and rainbows through till raceday :) If there is any event I can contend for a podium it's THIS and FREEFLOW so....time to pony up!!!!

Anthill Classic 2017 7th place

Didn't realize how much this race beat me up until the morning after......

To start. I live in Kingston. This event is a solid 4.5 hrs travel away. Next weekend's event is also another 4.5-5 hrs away. Doesn't make it easy but it's amazing what a "junkie" will do to get their fix :)

Recap. Proper rest and hydration was there...kinda...hydration on point. Full believer in pedialyte morning of race and will keep that protocol in place. This race was a little unique in two aspects. 1. The start was Pro class all the way through staggererd in same time frame and 2. the lap was a monster 27 km. In reflection..never did I once say WHEN THE HELL IS THIS LAP OVER? The course wound and weaved to get you to lose all frame of reference where one was. Other than a couple slippery sections, I really did enjoy this event.

Start wasn't as strong as I could have made it. Launched into the first woods section into 4th place off of the line and held onto 7th both times as I went through the timing tent. I'll call this one a success. NO serious wipeouts...seemed to be the major topic post race...and had LOTS of energy left in the tank. I felt SO good actually, that I was hoping for another lap!!! A good marker of my hydration protocol and seat time as well as riding within my limits.

Nothing really remarkable or noteworthy to comment on this race, other than the fact I have come to realize I need to get more comfortable in the snotty muddy terrain. There's really only one way to do this..I need to ride Calabogie more to get more technical mud time.

Haven't seen where this places me in the overall points but anticipate I will be moving up one or two spots from 5th...tba. UPDATE..appears I did move up to 4th with 1 pt separating me from third OVERALL....interesting....motivation is building now for the next event!!

Decided to post this pic to show...actually CAPTURE what the feeling is when I am in this zone(see if link works)....It's a powerful drug....and I am looking forward to my next fix next weekend at Wingham XC!!

Anthill Classic weekend pre race reflections

Race # 3 this coming Sunday. 5 hour drive to get to event and staying overnight in Waterloo tomorrow. Realizing the committment to attend ALL of these events does encroach on family weekend time and cogniscant of this fact as I am sitting at home, alone, as wife and kids are en route to the family cottage to enjoy a weekend with their cousins. I'm making tough calls this summer to do what I had set out to do and that was to go ALL IN for a season of Vet B XC racing and I'm staying course. Speaking of course......

One of my biggest competitors in this group has a bit of an advantage this weekend as it's his home course/club. He has also had a hand in prepping the course as well. Knowing this I have a few strategies....will see which one I will play out after the start.

This course is supposed to be flat and fast. Will certainly crack a cold one tonight and stream a youtube vid of someone who posted their laps at last year's event to get a good grasp. All I know is that it is a 26 k loop with all classes starting staggered at same time. There is not am and pm event. This should be pretty cool as the Pro's and Experts and super fast guys should lap me later in event. Will be wild to see some of these guys rip by.

Hotel is one of the better ones I have booked so will do my best to behave and get a good meal and proper sleep. Looking forward to posting some positive results. Who's kidding who....I'm going for the TOP STEP!!!! Smooth and consistent is my plan.

Parry Sound Round 2 XC.....MUD and RUTS!

Another HOT HOT HOT one at Parry Sound XC yesterday. Walked the moto track before the event and was pretty intimidated by some of the doubles and wasn't quite sure where we were popping in to the woods off of the moto track start. Let's talk start......HOLESHOT!!!!!!!!

Kept first place with a sizeable lead going into the woods where I held 4 th place for the first 2 laps and then saw 6th after completing my third and final lap.

Recap

This bike is a rocket off of the start...e-start and YOWZAAAA...kept the jumps to a minium and doubled the last jump before having to hit the binders to enter the forest...wasn't prepared for that. The "RIVER CROSSING" that was announced at the end of the rider's meeting was definitely in the back of my mind and i actually let off the pace to get one of my Vet B guys to show me the way but didn't need to wait long as the first super slick double downhill section had us caught up the Novice group in front of us. Bikes already strewn all over the place and I was SO SO close to running over a down bike or rider on that first decent. Each pass after that was bike free and a blast to hammer down from there.

River crossing came and went...deepest crossing I've done...check. Cue mud bogs and slippery trail EVERYWHERE?!?!?!?!? Rode most of the first lap in map 1 and changed to Map 2 as soon as I could and what a difference. Completed the first lap and saw I was 4th....confirmed.....Vet B men are uber skilled and talented field this year.

I now mentally prepared myself for the Downhill section....fun and fast....Mud bogs....tractored through...and now all of the climbs and base of climbs were becoming deeply rutted and MUDDY. This is where it got real.

At the end of a grass GP track there were a couple "marshalls" volunteers motioning to slow down...rider in front of me slowed right down and I followed suit. I came to see a bunch of people around a fallen rider who was receiving Chest Compressions...SHIT.....I almost stopped the race right there......He was a silver haired fellow who I later found out was a Vet C rider by the name of Jeff Golden. Rest in Peace Jeff. I recall seeing this guy walk the pits before the event and noted he was an older fellow. Apparently it was a heart attack and he was a true enthusiast who may have left this dimension the way he wanted...doing what he loved. It F'ed with me mentally for the remainder of that lap and it was on my mind intermittently for the remaining 2 laps I finished.

Conditions were degrading REALLY quickly on the third lap. The last section was an especially griding battle with bike eating ruts that stopped you and bike in your tracks. Did I mention it was HOT AS HELL TOO???? So, all things considered, I pulled over after crossing the line at the third lap and I believe Blair Sharpless himself rode over to me to chat to ensure I was doing all right. Decided, it wasn't my kind of conditions...I'm definitely not a mud rider and don't really enjoy slipping around and getting stuck on hills with riders strewn all about. Told Blair it was time for me to pull the pin but an experience nonetheless.

Placing...8th with only 3 laps. 7th place got 4 laps and the leaders managed 5 laps. Good for them. Looking forward to Anthill which is flat and fast...my kind a rrrrrrRACING!

Plan - FREE FLOW XC HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE - in effect

Was a little harder get act together to get out to Free Flow this afternoon. Gathering with friends a.k.a beeeeeeers......managed to escape to get one last ride before the weekend. A great ride. Video tells it all:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2GCdnuS7yE&t=187s

One week from XC race #2 in Parry Sound....seat time NEEDED....ACHEIVED!

I managed to get out to an area that is about an hour away from me, Limerick Forest, to get that much needed 2 hours of riding that will reassure me that we are good to go for next weekend. Some magic happened....I got there and had the forest all to myself for the majority of my ride. The second "magical" componenet was drinking a Red Bull before the ride and the FINAL "Magical" component was deciding to listen to music during a a ride...game changer.....This will be my new approach when I am out riding solo from now ON!

Was going to pack it in after about an hour and half then bumped into a guy who was new to the Rick and gave him a bit of tour. Pass it on I say...have had the opportunity to ride these trails with others who showed ME the way. Always have time for a newbie to the "Rick". A little video of the loop I was looping over and over and over :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1lH7Z5XF-Y

Wednesday Post Work Ride at Free Flow

Been keeping a close ear to the ground as to when the XC trails would open at Free Flow moto and XC park. This past Wednesday I managed to get out after work and get the first loops of the first half of the XC trails. The other half is apparently off limits due to some ditches that were dug for some fiber optic cable..may be a while since they open.

Bought the full access pass for this place in anticipation I would be riding regularly to prepare for this season...mother nature has had some other agenda. Grateful that I still have the opportunity to ride about 5-6 km of the trail whenever I can get out there. Work has been super busy and life with family also has limited any "free time" to ride. Next week is really a write off and probably won't get out until the 16th. That's NUTS?!?!?!?!

Bike is still running well and just noticed that my first crash at the minipine took it's toll on my left foot peg along with the radiator mounts and plastics....it actually DENTED in the front of the peg...GOPRO definitely didn't capture the impact to justice.

So...plan is to get some Mt. Bike crosstraining and the one activity that I dread and doing my best to pretend I enjoy...running....now...if only beer drinking helped fitness....

Catch up entries....minimal....but entries nonetheless

So it's CANADA DAY!!

LAST weekend's XC event was rescheduled due to trail conditions so I brought both bikes up to get a couple rides in. First one was with the POPS for about 45 min-1hr just meandering around a little loop of grass track and a bit of trail. Nothing too tangible. Luckily, I met up with a local land owner who has a pretty technical and challenging XC loop. TS and I connected for one loop of about 12 k. Had a bit of a "get off" the last km which made me realize...HEY...I haven't eaten anything since breakfast and it's nearing 2 pm. Another mistake.....I borught the enduro fanny pack vs camel back and was probably pretty dehydrated. Thanked TS for the ride and headed back to recoup and EAT and DRINK!

Then...the next week was a blur...last minute work trip out East did not help the health in ANY way. Nothing in the way of cardio happened throughout the week so this morning, WOAD session it had to be. Strapped on the Garmin watch and got my neighbourhood run in through some muggy and wet conditions. Still sweating as I type this out. No riding this weekend either UNLESS....we get home in a reasonable amount of time Monday and get a ride in at a nearby track. Think it's time to activate that FREEFLOW all access track pass. 20 hrs on the Husky and still blown away at how amazing this ride is! 3 MORE WEEKS UNTIL PARRY SOUND XC!!!!!!!!!!!

Notable training post

Cottage weekend came and gone. Brought both bikes up to get some ride time in between putting in the steps, platform and section of dock. Managed to "hydrate" along the way as well. Found some pretty sweet trail that can provide legitimate loops for weekend training. It was super hot....so hot, I couldn't trust my high pressure rad cap readings....pulled the pin earlier just to ensure I wasn't overheating but all seemed good in the end.

My 70 year old father got about 45 minutes of riding some perfect grass track with some elevation and a little dive into some dirt double track. The gas in the 144 is definitely not getting burned fast enough...may have to drain it and start fresh.

Here's the interesting piece. I hopped on the 144 for novelty to take a lap. FIrst....holy SHIT it's LOUD and second...I can't believe how much I have to turn the throttle in comparison to the TX. Looking forward to getting the 144 on a moto track to really rrrrring it out!

Local area, Free Flow XC and moto cancelled/rescheduled this weekend's event so...looks like I'll load the bikes up and bring them to the cottage once again. Coordinated a ride with a local there who owns a significant amt of land with a pretty decent XC loop. Plan is to get the POPs all tired out with a few loops and then meet up with this guy. Should be a good one. No more events until middle of next month?!?!?!?!?!? Looking foward to Parry Sound XC. Heard it has a little bit of everything!!

RJ's XC race Vet B 4th place!!!

Time to recap first of 7 XC events for 2017. Other than the "little letdown" of seeing the scoring tent record me at 3rd place when in actual fact....I came in 4th.....pretty fair day on the bike!

Headed up to Barrie the night before to minimize the drive fatigue associated with trying to get there the morning of. Stayed in the NO FRILLS Super 8 with my support guy a.k.a Pops and kept it low key. Morning of, got to RJ's facility around 7:30 to ensure I had LOADS of time to just get ready for the event. Registered and walked the first portion of the track right up to the entrance of the single track. My strategy after watching pretty much ALL you tube clips from the 2016 event was to get a good start to ensure I got in the woods in front of as many of these cats as I could. Start was successful...hit first corner in third place and thought I held this position right until the end?!?!?! Apparently there was another rider who had not been enterred into the system who bumped all of us one place. Bit of a let down at the end thinking I was stepping on the platform but....let's recap and not harp on the unfixable.

Right of the getgo, I followed a guy in the WRONG line and got a faceful of Mud blocking my left vision on my goggle....luckily the heat and dust over time seemed to rectify it. The race was pretty uneventful....I told myself NO CRASHES and did take my sweet time in the tight and twisty and behaved on the moto track.

This TX......don't know what else to say but this is magical. Suspension was dialed. Power then when needed and man on man does it chug. I did stall it on one of the steepest decents but meh....push the button and go time again.

I was pretty happy to see the checkers and did have some moments where I believe it was unsafe for me to still be on the bike on the last 1/4 of final lap. Mentally losing focus and was getting sloppy but all in all a great start to the first of 7 events for this season. NExt one in Parry SOund. Oh...just a 4.5 hr drive to get there but...it will be worth it to battle it out with a few faces and names I now know who I need to ensure I keep in front of ;) Another COors light is beckoning......

UPDATE.....Bryan Kwalchuk is a strong and proven Podium finisher in the Vet B class and he happened to have his GoPro on(i forgot mine) and appears he was right on MY ASS for most of the first lap!!!!!!!! He captured some GREAT footage until he passed me at minute 22 of this footage. THis is where the scoring gets odd...I saw 3rd place EVERY time I crossed the start finish. Bryan apparently crashed on the final lap and I ended up 4th even though the board kept telling me 3rd right up until the end. Sounds like I'll need to get the POPS to keep tabs at the line next event. Regarless......This confirms the competition will be fierce and looking forward to EACH AND EVERY MOMENT!!!!!!

Flick of the switch and NOT looking back!!!

A week away from RJ's XC and was getting anxious around getting 100% comfortable on the bike and lacking necessary seat time to prep for the first legitamate XC race of the season and then it happend....

Kyle sent a msg and a few texts later we were loading up and heading out to Limerick Forest in style. Arrived shortly after 8:30 on a GLORIOUS Saturday morning and met up with a new dude named Hans on his Husky 501. So, two big bore 4 bangers and a big bore 2 stroke out to conqueur every trail that was available and we DID! Hans showing some skills with 4th gear wheelies that were done every time I had to go pro OFF. Introduced to some new trail that I never knew existed on the NOrth side and look forward to hitting those links again in the near.

How's the TX feeling now? LIke a second appendage!!!!!! I finally switched two things today.....ONe, now mixing proper 60:1 vs the 50:1 since it's birth and the most important switch was this.......MAP 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A flick of the switch and it's like swictching into "M" mode on a BMW M3!!!!! The exhaust note sounds crisper and the bike will loft the front at the simple THOUGHT!! I'm now officially in love with this bike and getting giddy to giddy up at RJ's this Sunday!

Hans had to part ways after about 30 k of single track riding and then Kyle had an idea..He's done some exploring out around the RIck and wanted to show me a sand pit. We fueled up and then 60 k later of mud bogging, Sand ripping, rail bed hammering and borderline dehydration.....we were back at the truck and loading up after an EPIC day on the trails.

Super pumped and thankful for riding partnah's like Kyle who push my comfort zones with mud and water crossings. Also thankful for new riding partners like the Hans' of the world to enrichen a ride and learn a few things along the way. SUmmer is off to a bang now. Some bike maintenance is in order for prep. meeeee OUT!!!

Father stepping up to the game...he's just shy of 70 yrs young.....Nutter!!!!

Preparation for the next event at RJ's XC on the 11th is not going as well as I had hoped....too much rain....and not enough seat time. Actually....I did get a Friday solo ride in at Limerick last Friday. Met up with another solo rider and we rode most of the South side probably twice. Loaded up the 144 and brought this to the cottage and introduced my Pops to a ride on Sunday. Yeah, not a misprint...my 70 year old POPS is riding my 144 and he is diggin it. Brought him to the annual Limerick Orientation day and he's looking more comfortable on the bike every time.

The 28th was the annual Limerick Orientation was a day where anybody, and I mean ANYBODY, with an urgency to show their allegance to the network of trails showed UP!!! We showed up a little later and were pretty floored with the representation from all things moto...bikes, 4 wheelers, side by sides and other contraptions inclusive of horses!!

Showed the pops all the double track and had him do some loops of a nice little grass track in the quarry until he looked and reported fatigye.
Took that opp to run the gears through some single track for a bit and certainly feeling pretty groovy now on the TX. Getting ready..

Booked an Air BnB close to the event for following Saturday and recruited the POPs as my "support crew" for the event. Will spend most of tonight watching youtube footage of last year's events and so far.....looks like a BLAST of a course!!! Looking foward to it. Strategy is pretty simple.....stay on the bike and be smooth. 2 hours depending on weather will be managable. THis weekend will be spent buring fuel and riding for 2 plus hours to ensure endurance is on my side. Have to certainly redeem myself from my piss poor showing at the mini pine...

I just saw footage of a 24 hr enduro event stateside.....my wheels are already turning....

Post Mini-Pine recap

I just came to my senses....What I thought was a complicated event became more complicated in my mind thinking it was a complicated event....meaning...If I understand this Mini-Pine event properly it's really just this....CHILL off of the start until the first stage...use that as a great warm up. Take a few minutes to get rid of initial arm pump then ride the first timed section at a smooth "quickened" pace with emphasis smooth. THEN......relax and ride to the next stage in a CHILL manor.....take a minute to stretch/prep and repeat what was done during stage 1....why did i have to make it so difficult and ride faster in the transition stages.

Not going to beat myself up on this though. This event has nothing to do with XC points and it was SUPPOSED to just be a ride to get used to the new bike. How DOES one get used to a 300 2 stroke....getting there ;)

2017 Mini pine recap

This event was a success on the level of a much needed session to learn the limits (more mine) of this new bike, 2017 TX300. The minutesleading up to it were a little hairy with my fellow minute line mates (minute 40) reporting bike issues right up until the night before. We had Cory and Kyle to line up on the line but last minute snafus had Kyle drop out and Cory and I held the line to represent on this Mothers day.

Was feeling pretty confident going in to the event but this confidence quickly waned off after the start. I was back into the old habbit of blipping a throttle that will CERTAINLY respond to the blips. 15 minutes into the event, during the first stage, I connected with a tree and bruised my ego and gave the new gal her first slightly bent rad and broken plastics...luckily the Bullet proof gen 3 guards were on otherwise.....my mini pine experience would have been a 15 minute journey.

Slowly and surely....I figured it out....consitent throttle response and grip the bike LIKE HELL with my knees...third gear was my friend and was slowly getting more and more flow and zoning in. My riding partner, Cory was in a groove and he started to get into race mode only to crash on the 3rd of 4 special stages.....that was a dicey one. I cam across him with is bike blocking trail and him on his back not looking good. Fractured femur ruled out, bike assessment finding all was good...we limped back to the end of this stage. This incident soaked up 19 minutes in this stage and subsequently kept us from placing well. Lesson learned?

THE MINI PINE IS ABOUT SMOOTH AND CONSISTENT....NO NEED TO RACE TO PLACE WELL

Now that I understand this event is truly JUST about the timings in special stages...NEXT year will be approached differently. All in all, great ride and felt way more confident on this bike after the 3 plus hours I was able to grip, rip and roll on this thing. If results are accurate, placed 16th out of 20 showing in my category. I bumped up to Vet B from Vet C this year.

FU Rain

It's that depressing time of year when trail networks start to open but the ability to GET THERE are interrupted with LIFE committments ie work and family over the last couple of weeks. One week and one day until the FIRST event of the season and it's looking like I will NOT be getting any proper seat time beforehand....guess it should be a level playing field for everyone at least. Speaking of MINI PINE ENDURO on May 14th. Enterred and buddying up with a couple righteous riders on minute 40. Decided.....treat this one like a ride aka get used to the TX kind of event. No pressure?......HA....We'll see when the hand drops on each special stage. Better than 5th in a more competitive category?? Hmmm if this happens....season may just blow my mind.

19 day countdown until 2017 MINI-PINE ENDURO

Last Sunday was my first proper test of the 2017 race rig on a nearby moto track. Bayside motocross trail and track is a perfect pre-season playground to get the arm pump figured out and to learn the ropes of this new bike. Arm pump......it was ridiculous at first......but after gaining a bit more confidence, the grip loosened and all settled in. Trails too wet to ride so was limited to the tight moto track to get some saddle time/bike fitness in.

Hour meter was 2.5 start and finished at 3.7 hrs. May need to go back to standard suspension settings for the MINI-PINE as I upped all settings to "sport" thinking the suspension would be too plush. I think I'll welcome the plush over the 90 k ride with 5 special tests May 14th. Going in to this event as an opportunity to get used to the bike before the first XC event, May 21st at Cochranes. Looking forward to getting this season going and more importantly.....riding areas becoming OPEN for practice!!!

Limerick trail clearing day is May 6th....anticipate other areas to follow suit shortly after ie FreeFlow where I am only interested in the XC loop over the moto track. One of the events this year will be on these trails and I am really looking forward to having some "homefield advantage"

Bike prep: All guarded up with bash guards(stockers and full wrap arounds), Stock aluminum skid plate, Bullet proof rad guards, and a carbon fiber pipe guard. Changed the tranny oil as I understand it is wise to do after break in and learned the hard way that removing the skid plate is pretty much essential to doing this with minimal mess...Chain also adjusted to counter the break in stretch and found the rear axle has a monster 32 mm axle nut. Trip to Princess Auto and chain adjusted. Jetting...solid...

ALl that is left now is to prep the body and mind. Looking into goggle roll off system......

Oh yeah....reached "level" 45 today and brought the day in with a solid day at Gym. Need to get my MTB membership to get some more 2-wheel endurance training in...at least a couple rides in before event.

First legit training ride Vet B XC Ontario xc series

All things pointed to green light go for a ride on the new husky TX 300 yesterday. What did I learne from this 30-45-1minute ride? This bike is a torque mastah that not only tries to rip your arms off wIth WOT, but actually tries to take FLIGHT!!! I definitely learned quickly that this bike needs a different way of twisting throttle...ride one gear taller and just work throttle in first half range will be the ticket. One month away from first event....mini pine pine may 14th. 90 k ride with 5 special stages. After my first experience will definitely ride this the proper way hahahahahah. Put efforts just during special stages and casual ride between.

Just a matter of time before free flow trails open up aka new compound for training as I have a seasons pass with all access there this year. They have a great 12 k xc loop that is primo for training purposes. Also need to get on the MTB for some cross training and cont to get some more gym sessions in. Thinking frame of mind is in check as my dream last night was all about doing deadlifts and clean and jerks and being super pumped about the movement. Family time today and gym tomorrow.....unless rain stays away then it's back on the bike to burn some more fuel and get. Orr seat time!!!

Giddy UP!! Trainng is ramping up!!

December 18th was my last post and it's time to set up the UNIVERSE to deliver on this year's XC events. The schedule is out and all entries are inputted into my calendar. Gym is now becoming a regular 2-3x/week success and as weather gets closer and closer to SPRING like conditions, it is only a matter of time before some proper 2-wheel training.