Durham CX

Had a great day for a CX race.. and my last of the year.... down at Heber Downs in Durham.... rode over in 15min as a warm up and had a great ride... wasn't sure how the legs would respond after a week fighting a cold, but things turned out well.... got off to my usual "In Contact With The Lead Group" start as we began the first of 9 laps... and 9 times up a hill that would not have been too bad but was VERY TOUGH for me with my non-climbing gears... had to stand it from top to bottom and crank out 50rpm....

Start of the 2nd lap, and Steve "Rango" Heck slipped out on the short power climb by the parking lot and then dropped his chain, followed by Mark Brusso dropping his chain in the same spot which gave me a great line through the middle to attack.... "Hey Barnes... it's pretty early to take off on those guys.... good idea?"

So i just settled into a strong pace that i could hold and kept an eye on the time gap... kept it around 25sec for the first half of the race.... until i saw Ed Makurchuk chasing me.... "Time to GO Barnes!!!!"  Rocked the down hill... most of the time ... looking smooth and fast....

.... until i touched the rear brake a bit too hard and layed out the Durham Drift..... impressive because i didn't eat gravel or bark....

...."Yeah.... I meant to do that... cool eh?"...

Held off Ed and Mark for the 2nd CX win of the year with a gap of 25sec.... "Rango... we're just going to race some 'cross for fun, right?"... Yeah Right....
I was actually upset that they lost the Mill St. Beer Sponsor.... i had every intention of pouring one back to celebrate the end of the season.... i guess Recoverite will have to do....
Thanks again to Jon Safka from cyclingphotos.ca for the support, cheers and pics....

MacGiver Move!!!

Out riding CX bikes in Durham forest a few days ago and got a stick caught around my cassette. Got jammed way in there so I couldn't pick it out and couldn't find a small enough stick to pull it out.
"Hmmmm.... C'mon Barnes. What do you have that is small enough to pull it out?"
ClifShot Gel. Not just for for adding oomph to your legs....

Dearly Beloved....

... we are gathered here today to remember a loved one who has been part of our hearts and dreams for years... the Top Fuel 100.... She has had a wonderful existance, bringing memories, smiles and enjoyment to the lives of all those who rode her.... Her smooth back end and graceful movements were appreciated during the long haul, and she has conquered many contests in many locations, easily becoming everyone's choice... and her performances will not be forgotten.

Smoothing out the bumps at Highlands Provincial Championships....

 Busting some air at the Trek Store Canada Cup at Hardwood Hills....

 She was invited to dinner in Ste. Feliciene to talk race strategies....

 Large or small rock obstacles become a thing of the past...

 I rode her to a pair of National Championships at Ste. Feliciene....

 She helped me show Geoff "K-Bomb" Kabush the fast lines.....

She joined me at the East Coast Open and graced the cover of Blue Mountain's Pamphlets....

 She became the subject of my Pro Card and tackled Tremblant's rocks, roots and hills many times...

 she stuck to the ground and provided plenty of traction for the famed "Son of a Pitch" ....

We have enjoyed the company of Olympian Emily Batty and Trek Canada's Adam Morka...

and taken me to 8 Provincial Championships in the last 10 years....

She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed..... and will live on in the legacy of the Fuel EX .....

But we must look past our saddness and our future love on the horizon .... and welcome with loving arms the arrival of the Trek Superfly 29'er... i'm sure i have enough love in my heart for both of them....

CX Provs are FUN!!!!

After 1 CX race under my belt... i thought that it would be a great idea to head up to Barrie and race in the Provincial Champs last weekend.... i did have some good training in my legs, but i'm not sure i could find a course that was LESS suited for me.... only 1 hill that was a Run-Up and everything else was Big Gear Flat Power.... but it was a pretty good day considering i didn't have the snap in my legs that i needed...

 had a great start and was in the front group of 5 for the 1st of 5 laps, and then we were caught by Andrew Croutch....OK ... so this guy doesn't Pre-Reg so he has to beg the OCA to let him race, and i'm sure he payed a huge fee and was called up Dead Last in our group of 45ish riders.... took him less than a lap to catch up to the front group and exactly 1 lap to pull away from us.... If he wasn't such a nice guy, i'd hate him...

Rolled around the course pretty well and felt alright, but was not able to Dig Deep and chase people down... was in a battle for most of the day with Edgar Apse who was riding Super Strong on the first half of the race but i was able to make time on him in all the corners on the 2nd half... so i had a location chosen to attack and stay away.... but hence my plan failed....

 instead i decided to wash out the front end on a sandy corner and take a Shoulder Roll and give him all the space he needed to stay away.... but it Fun to Play in the Mud after the short Run-Up .... finished up in 5th spot and happy with that.... Might throw in One More Race at the Durham CX race next weekend... hoping for good weather for it....

Loving every minute of it...

The Freedom of the Cyclocross bike cannot be compared.... ripping the gravel roads, rolling the pavement or blazing some trails... the Trek XO1 (now known as the Trek Cronos) lets you do whatever you want to do...

The leaves are fully ablaze in Durham Forest and the weather is perfect ... as long as you dress properly... but sometimes it's nice to go slower and stop more often.... training CAN be fun!!!

The only down-side of riding at this time of year is the early Sunsets... which can make for some dark rides home if you forget your lights... but also makes for some spectacular views on the way....

Get 'em while you can!!!

Doesn't happen very often so don't miss this one!!!!  Trek Store Toronto is having a CLEARANCE Sale this coming weekend... will be great deals on bikes and accessories.... but they won't be around long at these prices!!!  Mountain bike, road bike, Specialty bike.... get one of each!!!!

First 'Cross is always Horrible....

The warm weather finally brought me out for have some Fun on the 'Cross bike... and Albion Hills offered one of the best courses i have raced... a bunch of tough Kicker Climbs, Sandy Beach, Speed and Sunshine... good enough for Steve "Rango" Heck to make an appearance!!!!  Still dizzy from Angry Johnny's Spiral of Death...

 Playing in the Sand is always fun... as long as you make it across without Dabbing...

 Posing for the camera... Rango is still sitting so i wasn't going THAT hard....

 Rode the Mark Brusso Train for almost the entire race... was hoping to send out some fireworks and make an exciting finish but very willing to let Brusso take the W... he earned it... but he was cooked from dragging us around all day and let us go... he's a Good Man that Brusso...

 Celebrating the fact that i can stop the pain... and the Win i guess...

 Could be some "Fun" races in the future with these boys...

Is that a smile or the lip curl that occurs before passing out from lack of oxygen...?
Props to John Safka www.cyclingphotos.ca and Peter Kreiker www.kreikerphoto.com for their Awesome pics and support... great guys who watch too many races through a lens...