Always a good time...

Went with Jake for a birthday party at Joyride 150... Great spot for kids of all ages to play.

Jake (and the Big Kids) is a fan of  the Foam Pit..... "I get to crash without getting hurt!!!"

Playing around on the Spagetti and practise Rear Wheel Tracking....

4Hrs at Joyride and my legs look like Glassfords....

Last time around...

Hit Durham Forest for the last time the other day.... Was a bit wet on the southern end but got better as I lives north. Always nice to ride the trails in December ... Even if it did require a full bike clean.
Was welcomed to the Forest with a 2wheel slide over a jump crash.... Nice one Barnes...

A bit of a different direction....

So I spent the day yesterday on a picket line for the first time in my life, and hopefully the last.  If you know much about me you will know that I have never been caught up in the fight between teachers and the government as we ask for more money, prep time etc…. I love my job and my kids, and have never complained about the money, hours, prep time or holidays, but this time is different.

I was listening to a talk show the other day on the way home from school, and they brought up a very interesting point, which I will explain.  At this point in history, where everyone in the education world, anyone who has a child or a heart is feeling the pain and suffering that follow the elementary school shooting in the US, it is upsetting to be denying the students a full education.  The point was made by a guest speaker, and one which I agree with, goes something like this (I may have the exact words wrong but the message is there….)

“At this time, where everyone has a heavy heart, it would make sense for the teacher’s union to withdraw their one day Rotating Strike because it is now very obvious how much teachers care for and love their students.  When there are teachers who hid their students in a closet, stowed them under desks and lied about their whereabouts, and were killed for their decisions and actions, it is painfully obvious how committed teachers are to the students in their classes.  These are professionals who, for no fault of the parents, spend more time with these kids than the kids spend with their own parents, and it would be understandable for them to forgo the one day strike and head back into the classrooms because they want to spend time with their students”…..

An interesting thought, and one that I hope the government and the public have been paying attention to…. I’m not sure there are many professionals who would risk their own lives, run to protect and assist others and put themselves in danger if their pharmacy, law firm or bank were in danger…. A bank only contains money, while a classroom contains the hope, future and most precious part of a family…. I can only imagine how those parents, staff and other students feel at a time like this….

So as I get back into school and my 31 kids come back to see me, I will smile at them and tell them that I missed them yesterday, because I did.  For those of us who love to teach, who look for opportunities to improve the skills and knowledge of our youth in every way possible, teaching is about the kids, and these contract negotiations are taking away from the learning and lives of our kids. 

Hang it up for another year....

So the end of the 2012 season has officially passed... i had my 9 days of "Rest" and it's time to start planning / building / preparing for the next season....
It's always good to look back on your season and focus on the Highlights and Challenges so you know what worked and what needs improvement... so here's my Top 10 Highlights of 2012:

#1) Nationals - not just because i won, but because it was a race that i could have easily NOT won after my multiple crashes, and it was probably my most mentally focused race of the year...

#2) Crank the Shield - totally fun race that was still very much a race, and was glad to be part of the Front Group for most of the time - great to change things up and challenge myself in a different way....

#3) Hardwood Canada Cup - my "Home" course, and one that has treated me very well over the years... and it's great to pay back by riding with the Kids and Represent the Trek Store that helps me out so much...

#4) TrekWorld - amazing to be part of the Test Rides, VIP treatment and an amazing Trek Canada Road Trip....

#5) WORS XC in Wisconsin - a great way to finish the trip to TrekWorld and an exciting challenge against a whole new set of competitors....

#6) Tremblant Canada Cup - again, not because i won, but because it's one that i won't forget because of the Crazy Events that happened with Jake on the day before the race - not "ideal" race prep, but sometimes it's just about Guts...

#7) Provincials - one of those races that i should not have won, but a reminder that Consistency and Control are just as important as Power and Preparation...

#8) Family Rides - now that Luke is officially racing, it has changed how i focus myself for the races, and a great chance to get out with the Family to train, which helps my heart in many ways....

#9) CX - was just planning on racing for "fun" but sometimes it's more fun when you are at the front controlling the game - 1st, 5th, 1st is not a bad Fun Season....

#10) Stava - makes Intensity and Intervals just that much more fun....

Here's to looking ahead to 2013 and the excitement that promises to come....

Oh Canada....

So i went for a nice roll today... 2.25hrs in the misty rain and it wasn't that bad... compared to what is coming... but i was quite dis-heartened with the sighting of an abunandance of Beer cans / bottles in the ditches... which got me to thinking during the ride 3 different things: 1) Why do people litter in our ditches?  2) Do people really have the money to throw Refundable / recyclable cans into the ditch?  and most importantly 3) Are this many cans really coming from people who Drink and Drive on their way home from work / parties / other locations? 
All 3 of these questions had answers that upset me... considering i (honestly) saw around 100 cans / bottles in the ditches....
The beer may be Canadian, but the action that put it there certainly is NOT.....

What else do you do on a Saturday morning?

Got to spend some quality time with Steve "Rango" Heck hanging out high above the ground.... fastening Christmas lights to Construction Tower Cranes... did the same thing last year so i think we have a little Business going on here....

The glow of the little Blue Lights with delight the night-time drivers on the 401 at Yonge Street... if you're driving by take a look towards the North East corner of the 401 / Yonge street to see our Handy Work...

Ran 30 sets of Red Lights on the Taller of the 2 cranes... and they look Pretty!!!

2nd crane didn't have the nice wide Internal Walkway as the 1st crane did... so we had to shimmey our way out the Boom along this little cat-walk... not that bad unless you are carrying 40lbs of lights and cords 225feet above the parking lot....

Ran them right up to the Tip Top also....

Wondering if 911 got some calls about "Jumpers" on the cranes that morning....