Royal Heat Wave!

When it's this hot I'm more inclined to just rely on existing fitness rather than go out and try to collect more. However, Gerhard and I still managed to sweat out a great preride at Buckwallow on Sunday evening. Man, it's going to be a hot one there. We rode in the evening in an attempt to wait out the traffic, and it was still brutal. Course is super fun though, and I'm looking forwad to a decent race on Sunday. Although touring around my usual blog reading list, it seems like the usual suspects are more often than not opting out! Hope there's a good turnout. If not, oh well, less of you to clog up the 400 on the way home I guess ;)

The weekend was a great trip ... guess I'll get around to posting about it now. We decided to hit up Hardwood (instead of battling the traffic all the way to Buck) on Thursday and enjoyed an awesome Canada Day Ride on favourites like "Serious" and "Radical". Gerhard and I think we need to get some friends up there for a day of fun riding (Nancy, Jules, Birke ... we're looking at you).

A quick beer in the parking lot and then it was off to Bruce County. We arrived in time for a BBQ at my sister's before heading down to the fireworks at the flagpole in Southampton. The rest of the weekend was a wonderful rainbow of outdoor eating, beers, bonfires and "testical toss" (otherwise known as "horse nuts", "scroats and ropes" or just "ladder ball").

Thought I would do more riding than I did, but changed it up instead with a smaller-than-planned hike up at the National Park on the Bruce Penninsula. It was full, so we had to wait our turn before finally opting for a lesser known trail-head further down the Bruce Trail. Not the Grotto, but still fun (and still full). Something rubs me the wrong way about waiting in line for nature, but we had a great day nonetheless. Although I think the boys were all K'd* out by the end.

Ever since getting back to Toronto it's been tough to find the will to train ... maybe that will change tonight ... maybe not. It feels like interval work just to walk between Whitney Block and Main Building so maybe I'll just call it done.

Hope everyone's staying cool!

PS - I saw the Queen today!!

*K'd out: refers to the fatigue incurred after spending the day with me and Kim in top gear.

Mtbthebruce.com

I stumbled on the website mtbthebruce.com a little while ago and was pleasantly surprised to discover mountain biking has come to my old stomping grounds. With five different sites to choose from, how could we not bring bikes home for the weekend?


G and I packed up a couple rigs and headed to Port Elgin Friday night. Found a second wind and ended up staying out a little too late, and drinking a little too much. But what would Saturday be if it didn't come with a hangover? We took our hangovers to Brant Tract to ride them out.


Double Track at Brant Tract

The temperature was perfectly crispy, the trails were nice and tacky, although wet and muddy in some places. We did a nice two hour ride through fall colours and sunshine, even stopping to help out another rider with a flat. The trails were all named, extremely well marked and just challenging enough, with lots of flow. I'd feel comfortable bringing mountain bikers of any level there. My favourite part of Brant was the teeter totter at the trailhead. Thus cured of hangovers, we made merry for another festive night.

Sunday, we decided to take the bikes out again, this time to the beach at Port Elgin and a lap around town riding curbs, stairs, parking barriers and other assorted skinnies. What a great time of year: no need to worry about "training hours" or "intervals;" just spend time goofing around with your favourite people and your favourite toys.


G gets rad at the beach

Besides riding, we spent a glorious three days eating my mom's amazing cooking, nature walking at MacGregor Point Provincial Park, and visiting with family and friends. Weekends like that remind me I've got tons to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!