Back on track

Just got back from another Cottage Training Camp ... lots of long rides and more hills than you could ever want. A couple days rest before testing out the Top End on the Donut World Champs ... and I was quite happy with how the legs responded to some hard pushes. Chilled on the way back with Steve Rango Heck and heard about his Big Fat Greek Vacation.

Wedding Shinanigans...

OK... so Facebook IS good for something... found these pics on other Wedding Guests pages...

 Got to have some fun leading the group through the Cha Cha Slide... have done it hundreds of times with my kids at school so i was the EXPERT!!!

 Everybody clap your hands!! Clap, clap, clap your hands!!

How low can you go?  All the way to the floor?  Can you go down low?

Don't quite sound like DJ Casper but 'twas lots of fun...

Emily Batty Ribbons painting Brooklin RED

Show your support for Local Star Emily Batty who will represent Canada at the Olympics in August!!! Pedal for Gold Ribbons are available for $6 and can be purchases by calling (905)655-8873 or by visiting 56 Cassels rd in Brooklin. Emily is currently at a Secret Training camp as she prepares for the London Games. You Rock Emily!!!

Manly Weekends

Had a couple Celebration Weekends ... lots of Man-Time with Eric Batty's Stag Weekend consisting of Outdoor Rock Climbing at Devil's Glen and then Downhill MTB'ing at Blue Mountain....

 Mark "The Best Man" Batty ready to pounce on the next route....

 Eric "The Spartan" Batty was smiling all day....

 yes that me... Jon "Spidermonkey" Barnes climbing to the top of the coolest Route i've done...

 Celebrating making to the top without falling to my death... Ryan "Balet Boy" Atkins had me covered...

 Pre-Wedding ride with PG and Rick "Proud Father" Batty.... i love how Non-stressful weddings are for guys....

 A Couple good looking Dudes and a good looking Lady.... Congrats to Eric and Eden...

Even made me get dressed up and put on a pretty face.... although my comment to Sue was "When you pick my clothes before we go out, you always make sure that you look just a Little bit better than me, don't you?"

Missed one... Albion O'Cup

Okay... the weekend before Nats so i forgot about this one... Albion O'Cup in a Nutshell...
- Hotter than Hades ... started the race at 33 degrees
- went into this one tired as i prepped for Nats..
- there super early for Luke's race... he's rockin' the trails lately... genetics???
- spend most of the day chillin' under the Hardwood Hills tent to stay cool while Sue and the kids spend multiple hours in the pool... best $6 we spent...

 - this SHOULD have been my warm up... but i rolled with JJ and the Diva instead...
- had a slow start and found my way into a group with local Hero Mark Brusso and Matt Martindill
- were rolling well until i crashed going UP a hill... really???
- caught Brusso when he crashed... the 1st time....

- could see but didn't catch Martindill.. but happy with how i felt and rode... although legs had no real punch to them on the hills....
- never have been a lover of Albion but this was probably the best course i've witnessed....

You know the Nats story... so now i will catch you up on the Road Provs story... might require Parental Advisery Warning...

Catching Up...

Trying to catch up on missed posts... sorry for forgetting... June 1st was the Annual Trek Store Canada Cup at Hardwood Hills... and as always it was a great day... Saturday we have created a tradition of running Pre-Ride Clinics for Kids and Sport riders, and the turn out was great - even though it was raining!! 

 Subaru did a great job hosting the Poster Signing event, although i found it funny that my kids stood in line to see Emily Batty when we can just ride up to see her at her house!!!  But either way they were thrilled to get their Subaru Cow Bells signed by the team... Extra thanks to Floyd from Subaru for giving my kids 3 Cow Bells Each... that was a GREAT drive home!!!

 Had a great race at the front of the group battling with Matt Martindill chasing down gaps, getting gaps that got chased down until i finally was able to get away with 1/2 a lap to go... earning the Barry Near Congratulations Hug on the Podium...

 Shout out to Steve "Rango" Heck for finishing his first MTB race in 3 years... posing in front of the new Subaru BRZ .... sweet ride and big smiles...

 Was also able to chase down Geoff Kabush (Canadian Olympian) for a pic... cool dude...

 Luke was rocking the early morning race and is getting much better at racing... narrowing the gap to 1st and getting much more comfortable in the trees..... gotta keep working those Skillz....

 Friday before the Big Weekend the Trek Canada MTB team all met up in the New Trek Store Aurora for a Grand Opening / Big Brothers and Sisters ... awesome store and Trek Canada making a donation of $3000 worth of kids bikes to Big Brothers and Sisters over the next 2 years.... that's a LOT of kids on a LOT of Trek Bikes!!!  Thanks to Subaru of Richmond Hill for the Car Background... and to PG for making the Imprezza even Sexier!!!

As always, things turn juvenile and we had a Trek Canada MTB Crit race around the store... on Kids bikes.... Cayley Brooks chopped me in the corner so i kept my elbows up... those U23's need to learn how to respect their Elders!!!!

Back on the Radar

Sorry for the delay between posts.... had a few things on the List:
- finish the last hectic week of school
- pack all the Crap that i've accumulated over the last 4 years
- transport said Crap to new school
- have heart broken by kids crying that i'm leaving
- be very optomistic about new school
- pack more Crap to head to cottage to start summer
- engage in Training Camp aka Family Time at cottage
- try to catch up on missed Tour happenings
- prep for Eric Batty's wedding
more to come later... yes i realize that i've missed a few Races / Events so will update those later...
ps - i agree with Pendrel's reasoning... check her blog HERE