Been a while...

OK.. .. so i said that i would make Posts more often... shame on me... there's just nothing really interesting to write about!!!

so here's the update... training in the basement is going well (mostly because of Olympic motivation)... riding outside is getting better and longer.... Madone has yet to feel the pavement.... Fuel has yet to feel the dirt... kids are good... been skiing a lot lately... making it a family sport and everyone is getting a lot better - Luke can do any run on Dagmar or Lakeridge, Jake just wants to go fast and i have to chase him, and Sue has been improving a lot and is much more confident with everything....

so i'll be part of a March Break Training Camp.... we'll be riding through beautiful Uxbridge, Port Perry, Clarington and maybe even make our way over towards Stouffville.... length of rides and routes will vary daily but the weather will remain constant.... COLD. I may also have to hit JoyRide150 again over the break....

the kids wanted to "Look like Mark (Batty)" the other day... so this is how they ended up... too funny...

Next post will be soon.... and will be the first installment of The Faster Master - How to be Fast and Stay Married.

Resistance (Training) is Futile...

So i've been keeping my head down and getting my training done... not as much time outside this year since it's been darned cold lately... but still feeling pretty good... don't feel as strong as i did last year.... but that could just be me.... my wattages are where they were last year and i'm comfortable during the harder efforts. Jake had a bit of a sick week... so i was a part time teacher... and he was in need of a nap (and me a ride) so i tossed him into the Chariot.... 43lb kid, 32lb trailer, 32lb bike and some good hills = tempo for 2hrs.... not fun during the ride but felt great after. so ... interesting things as of late.... hmmmm... just finishing doing Dance with my kids at school, so i'm basically lightly sweating at endurance HR for most of the day (doing skipping next so that should be good for the calves), starting to ride to and from school again (wind chill dependant) so i have my nights to myself again, booked a weekend away with the family just before march break to actually play in the SNOW at Deerhurst, and skiing lessons with the kids are going great... little kids have no fear... "OK Jake... just follow daddy and we'll practise our big wide turns...." ... look back over my shoulder and don't see him... look over the other (downhill) shoulder and see him taking off like Steve Podborski.... "ahhh man.... " ... so i start to skate after him.... get going pretty quick... slowly gaining as i hear people on the chairlift "Whoooh.... Whoooooh....".... almost got him.... "Holy cow, we're going pretty fast...."... reach down and catch him just as he catches an edge.... to the cheers of people on the chairlift.... "Jake... what were you doing? you were supposed to follow me... you could have gotten really hurt... "... "It's okay daddy... i saw your shadow and knew that you would catch me".... Creepy kids....During our 2hr hike on the weekend... those are "Heart Hands" for Valentine's day....

A VERY Hooked Up Old Guy...

so... i stopped into the store the at the end of last week.... and it felt like the best Christmas I ever had!!! only a few weeks ago i stopped in and picked up my new road bike.... sweeeettt.... and it's really fast!!!! even though i've only ridden it on the trainer.... and last week i picked up my mountain bike... sweeeeeetttttt.... the new Trek Top Fuel 9.9.... light, smooth, beautiful.... and i'm sure really fast also!!!

so with a huge smile on my face i make my way for the door.... "Man Barnes... this is awesome!!!".... and then barry finds a box with my name on it... FULL of tires ... "OK.... this is getting even better!!!".... and then barry passes me my new shoes... WHITE Bontrager RXL's... AND a few pairs of gloves.... AND some arm warmers and Stan's.... "So.. if i stand here longer, will barry also slide me a TTX?".... after 15 years of racing, i have never been so well taken care of... now on Trek Canada.... only 5 of us since Emily has hit the Bigger than Big Leagues with Trek World

(congrats.... and also congrats to Mark for hitting the Big Leagues with his new team Spider-tech PB Planet Energy....)

.... all the more reason to put my head down on the trainer and watch the sweat drip onto the floor.... i'm smiling already...