Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Looking back on 2008

Well another year has come and gone.. as I look back on 2008 the first thing that comes to my mind is on January 1st of 2008 I rode my bike 145km around Maui with over 4000 feet of elevation climbing... the BEST way to start the new year in my opinion.. what could be better than escaping minus whatever and snow to 80 degrees in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with my favorite Italian carbon friend! Unfortuneatly.. I have to wait another 69 days to do it again, but at least its hopefully going to be a smooth transition to come back here and ride outside immediately... well hopefully... I guess thats what the computrainer is for and my ergvideo training program.. I actually look forward to coming home and looking at what punishment is ahead of me for the evening... today was 6 X 1.5 minutes @ 360 watts with 3 mins rest between each effort.. I was pulling way more watts than that, but the computrainer is regulating the load and wont let me drastically exceed it... 50kmh though @ 118rpm.

2008 race wise, I want to say a big thanks to Tim and Arlene Woodcock for all their efforts for the team... Arlene motorpacing us down River Road was always fun as she always seemed to find the throttle on the hills to make life a little more "interesting" I will pass you this summer.. well Im going to try anyways!!

Overall the season was succesful.. a few wins on the road, some good strong TT rides, a 2nd overall in Minnesota at the Tour of Granite Country, I got better at cyclocross... and of course don't forget my annoying emails every other day about training rides... which were usually met by a select handful of dedicated team mates.. you all know who you are!! If you think you got alot of emails from me this year.... you haven't seen ANYTHING yet... I want EVERYONE out there on the team...

Awards won... Bronze Medal (AGAIN for the past 4 years) in Master A Provincial TT Championships... Silver Medal Provincial Cyclocross Championships, Woodcock TT Series - 1st Overall, MCA Sportmanship award, MCA Road Organizer award to the Woodcock team.

Thats a wrap for 2008... looking forward 2009... especially with my new Cosmic Carbone Powertap wheels!!! Oh yeah.. and Super Record 11 speed...

Monday, December 22, 2008

Parts for Sale!

I am going to be selling a few things, so if anyone knows anyone interested in any of this stuff, please let me know...

FSA Gossamer Cyclocross Crankset 175mm 46/36 with English BB and FSA Installition tool. - SOLD
Thompson Elite 31.6mm Seatpost ZERO setback - SOLD
Spooky Alloy Cantilever Brakeset - SOLD
TRP Time Trial Brake Levers (Carbon model) These are designed for TT base bars. - SOLD
Various 1 inch AHEAD style stems
Oval Concepts Jetstream Aero Road fork. 1 Inch Diameter, lots of carbon steerer remaining. - SOLD
63cm Cannondale 3.0 Frame (Yes the OLD Coke Can size tubes) Repainted Blue in color.. comes with headset.
Time ATAC Carbon MTB Pedals and cleats. - SOLD
Campagnolo Croce D'Aune TOECLIP pedals.. no straps.. collectable!
Salsa Top mount inline brake levers for Cross. Never mounted.

I'll be posting more as time goes... email me camaroz28@shaw.ca for more info, or post on the blog.
Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Chris

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Ok Enough of the cold already!!

I dunno about the rest of you , but enough is enough already!! Even when I go downstairs to ride on the Computrainer it takes 20 minutes of riding at 240+ watts before I actually start to sweat or build up any kind of body heat... the heat is on bt doesn't seem to be doing much... kinda sucks when you are warming up for a ride wearing a longsleeve fleece indoors...
Oh well... 2.5 more months of pain and it will all be over as I cruise the roads of Maui.... now its just a matter of keeping my sanity for another 78 days...

Friday, December 5, 2008

Hey Winnipeg Drivers YOU SUCK!!

Just my vent for the week... I drive to work.... sorry guys, me and cold don't get along too well... anyways, from the airport to my house is 12km.. it took me.. drum roll.. 1 hr and 15 mins to travel this distance for a whopping average speed of... hmm 9.6 kmh.. last time I checked I could probably walk that, or at least jog it... between road construction (I thought THAT season was over... I guess not) and now ohh heaven forbid a little bit of snow so now everyone is scared to to 1/2 the speed limit... I think I should just mount some spike tires on my CX bike and blast by everyone with the one fingered salute!!!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Superpresitige LIVE Sunday AM

http://www.vt4.be/superprestigelive.php

I think it works out to 7:30AM CST... dont take my word for it, but it says 14:30 NED...

I hold no responsibility for anyone missing it!!

Can't get it up?? Better not race!!

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is currently examining whether or not the potency pill Viagra has a performance-enhancing effect in sports. The medication, which was initially developed for special heart diseases and is now mainly used to alleviate erection problems, could then be included in the list of forbidden substances.
"There have been statements to suggest that [Viagra] is performance-enhancing," said WADA president John Fahey to the press after a Foundation Board meeting on November 23. "That is being evaluated. Before any decision to put it on the prohibited list, there has to be a rigorous examination that allows the Committee to make a recommendation. No decision has been made."
The WADA president added that there was "no likelihood that there will be either a positive or a negative decision when examination is ultimately concluded."
The result of the study is expected in February 2009. The drug could be banned from use in high-level sports in September 2009.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Brutal...

Cyclist loses leg in alleged road rage attack
By Rosee Woodland, BikeRadar.com
A cyclist in Toronto has had to have his leg amputated after a row with a cab driver allegedly turned nasty. Police yesterday said the cyclist lost his leg after a cab reversed and pinned him to a utility pole.
It's understood people heard arguing before the sound of a loud collision and then someone screaming for help as a vehicle sped off. Police who rushed to the scene at 2:30am found the man lying in a pool of blood, with his right leg barely attached. His $5,000 cycle was lying nearby in pieces.
The 36-year-old later had to have the leg amputated at a city hospital.
Toronto police Detective Constable Paul Strangways told local paper The Star the cyclist had "a very long road to recovery." Strangways said. "He's still getting treatment for a fractured pelvis and eventually will have to learn to deal with a prosthetic."
The original call to police was followed three hours later by a call from a cab driver who said a cyclist had attempted to rob him at the scene.
However, after questioning the man for more than three hours, officers have since told local reporters that no robbery took place. They linked a Beck taxi with damage to its rear trunk, bumper and tail light to the crash.
Police said in a news release that Sultan Ahmed, 38, of Maple has been charged with:
Criminal negligence causing bodily harmDangerous operation causing bodily harmFail to stop at scene of accident bodily harmObstruct peace officerAggravated assaultAssault with weapon
It is understood the alleged weapon described in the charge sheet is Ahmed's taxi.
Sergeant Tim Burrows told the Ottawa Citizen that Toronto police have charged motorists with using a vehicle as a weapon on previous occasions. "Common? Yes and no," he said. "We had a very similar case in 1995. It's not unheard of."
The incident happened on November 14, but because the cyclist had to undergo three operations and was heavily sedated, it was some time before police could get a clear picture of what happened.
Ahmed was due to appear in court today.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Winter training

Starts Sunday... enter depression mode...

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Looks like winter is here...

Well unfortuneatly it looks like that white ahem crap is here to stay... and its not a nice white sand somewhere warm.. its that evil cold stuff.... Its hard to believe only a week ago we were racing in shorts and shortsleeve jerseys with maybe armwarmers.. looking outside now.. all I see is snow and ice... not cool.. but hey there is still a race today!! My winter cycling gear SUCKS but what can ya do (freeze I guess hey??) Im sensing Im going to be laying on my ass more than once this afternoon!!!

Monday, November 3, 2008

More Supercross Pics


















More images from Supercross... if you see an image of yourself you would like, please email me camaroz28@shaw.ca and let me know... The original size of these images are 2816X2112

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Monday, October 27, 2008

And this week brings....

Yes I've promptly decided I am going to finish the season... for anyone that knows me I'll go down with a fight and I don't quit... which leads to this weeks carnage! BE THERE!



Sunday, October 26, 2008

Ouch..

Well after todays performance, I'm thinking I should end my season now, and suck up my cyclocross woes... I just feel a total lack of power on every aspect of the course... even the flats with a tailwind it felt like my whole bike was dragging and I was pulling twice as much weight as I should have been... I have to admit its been a loooong season, and I'm guessing me starting in the gym the last 2 weeks probably hasn't helped much... evey time I get on the bike it feels like Im in the legpress machine... Ill decide shortly whether to do the last 3 races or just dive right into winter training now... provincials are this weekend... we'll see....

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Menno Cross

Well as the poster said, it may not make you a martyr, but if you do it right its gonna hurt.... and damn it hurt!! It started with the run for your bikes start (Lemans start I think they call it??) Anyways, thanks to my 2 mile long stride I made it too my bike first and was leading for a while until it started getting technical where I was promptly passed by Tomek and Dylan... then caught and passed by a few more until I settled into my uncomfortable zone... the weather looked like it was going to hold until little rain drops soon turned into hail stones bashing us... combined with the strong NW wind (50kmh+) and the occasional crack of thunder (Yes thunder at the end of October)
I can't complain.. I rode once all week, and hit the gym twice... its time to buckle down again for winter training... Looks like tomorrows Psycho Cross at Whittier is going to be more of the same weather as today... strong NW winds 50-70kmh they say, aand only +5 for a high with showers in the morning... looks like by 1Pm when I start the mess is supposed to be passed through...

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The damage from Southern Cross

Well besides me, and lots of mud, the Ultra Torque system got gummed up pretty good... I think it was more from me and the amount of water I jetted at the bottom bracket area.... I cleaned the bike up, but when I was spinning the wheel backwards heard a distinct unhappy light grinding sound... within 5 minutes I had the UT system apart, cleaned, regreased, and reinstalled... god I love Campagnolo! At least my shoes are dry now.. that a good thing.

Upcoming events:






Sunday, October 19, 2008

Southern Cross

Another great race put on today. Maybe I shouldn't have ridden 80km yesterday on the road.. ahh well... enjoy it while its nice right? It was probably the filthiest race Ive ever been in... 3 passes through a ditch with muddy puddles. I've cleaned my bike twice aleady and it still looks like shit! I'm thinking the Campag outboard bearings may get a repack tomorrow as well because of the amount of water I shot at the BB area to clean the bike! As for me... yeah Im filthy as well, the gear is in the wash, and Im going to do the same... pics and results to come I hope!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Turkey Cross

Well Turkey Cross seemed to be a great success. Thanks to all for showing up! The weather initially called for rain all day long, but in typical environment Canada fashion they were wrong as usual.. A few rain drops did make a few of the downhill off camber corners a little greasy. Definately those with gears had the advantage today with the long flat sections. Next race, Southern Cross in Altona... I need to go glue my tubulars now...