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.

2017 OFFROAD ONTARIO PREP TIME!!!!

Ok....enough procrastinating....Yes, I bit the bullet and bought myself the "dream bike". God Bless the wife for enabling me to do this and next season will now be attacking the Vet B vs Vet C class in the Offroad Ontario XC series. Place pretty decent my first 3 events...2 podiums and a 5th place in the Vet C category. This bike is essentially like BUYING SPEED so first day back in GOD KNOWS HOW LONG at the gym to prep and drop some lbs for two reasons....1..the obvious and 2...to ensure I don't need to go up spring rates for suspension. Oldest is harassing me to go xmas shopping so tbc...