Xprezo Women's XC MTB Team

Le Tour!

2011-07-22T08:59:00.001-07:00

(l-r) Jeanine, me, and Jean Ann getting excited about the Tour over breakfast and coffee.

Cardiac Classic - June 26

2011-07-05T07:39:00.001-07:00

Elite women's podium. Jean Ann and Sandra 1-2.

by Sandra

Racing the Cardiac Classic was a bit of a last-minute decision, but since I had some race pace intervals on my training program, I thought: "What better way to do race pace than during an actual race?" So Jean Ann, Ryan, and I lined up on a sunny Sunday morning on Burnaby Mountain, ready to suffer. I was running some new fast tires and I had just managed to cut a pound off of Piglet II. He weighed in at a svelte 21.7lbs. I was feeling pretty pumped, as the Cardiac Classic is all about climbing.

I started off a little more conservatively than I did last year when I killed myself on the first climb and never really recovered. This time, my pace was much more sustainable, and I kept Jean Ann and Ryan in sight all the way up Cardiac. They were able to put down more power on the flat section at the top before the singletrack DH started, but I didn't worry. I zoomed down the smooth and newly groomed top section of Gearjammer and caught back up to Ryan and JA near the bottom. Another short gravel climb, some fun singltrack, and then back into the open, and my two beacons were still in sight on the feed zone climb, where Jeanine gave me a pro right-hand feed and Mike Charuk provided me with a split. Thanks guys!

The second time up Cardiac was much the same. Jean Ann and Ryan in sight, I felt pretty steady, but not strong enough to bridge the gap. They gapped me again at the top, but this time I did not catch them on the DH, and I think at that point they were gone. I didn't see them anymore on the climb and I kind of had a feeling of futility - and fatigue - set in. I just felt plain old tired. I went through the motions and finished off the climb as best I could, counting on the singletrack to boost my spirits - which it did. Then it was the home stretch through the feed zone, I carried as much momentum as I could along Dead Moped, popped back up onto the Trans Canada Trail, and then cruised down the sketchy gravel. The rollers at the bottom were quite taxing. One more piece of greasy singletrack to go before the finish. I cruised across the line in second place behind defending Cardiac champ Jean Ann. "As long as one of the two of us wins, it's all good," I said. Ryan ended up having an awesome race, dropping JA and going on to finish third in his category. Woohoo!

Master 30-39 podium (Ryan on the left in 3rd)!

Complimentary burgers, some beautiful medals designed by Alyssa Drown, and a fruitful draw prize session made all the suffering worthwhile. And then we stopped for cappuccinos, baked goods, and paninis at Il Divano in Port Moody on the way home... ah, racing close to home is sweet! Thanks to the organizers for a great event, and to Neaner for the feed!

Home again and The Test

2011-07-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

by Sandra

Coming home from the spring Canada Cups in the east was a bit of a relief, because there's nowhere else you want to be when you're sick. It took me a while to recover from that nasty cold that had me out for the count at Hardwood, but a recovery week and quality time with friends helped a lot. The weather we were having still left a lot to be desired, but I guess I was used to it and riding in the mud was the norm. I finally found the time to ride my backyard trails on Burke and was surprised at how greasy they still were! On that ride I encountered a young deer buck, a big black bear (!), and a coyote. That week seemed to be a big week for the wildlife. I also saw several more deer, two bears woke me up one night as they munched on the grass outside my bedroom window, Jean Ann and I saw a racoon during a training ride, and we saw a bunny on a Saturday road ride. Anyway, back to biking....

(l-r): Brandi, Catharine, and Jean Ann on the podium.

Test of Metal - June 18
The Test of Metal in Squamish is the biggest race in BC. Over 800 riders show up to the start, most of whom are weekend warrior types looking for adventure. The Test receives more spectators than a World Cup and it's a 67km loop. Super cool!

Ryan and I drove my parents' 1991 VW camper van up to Squamish on the Friday night so we were able to sleep in and basically roll out of bed and onto the start line. I felt kind of groggy during my warm up despite the good sleep, but I woke up with the fast mass start on the road after the singing of Oh Canada. I was feeling pretty good and set my own sustainable pace. I could see Ryan and Jean Ann just ahead and Mike had already passed me on his orange 'cross bike. I wasn't worried, it was a long race....

Steve, Jean Ann, and Mike hangin' out post-race.

I was enjoying the roots and twists of Jack's Trail when all of a sudden my left foot unclipped - or so I thought. When I looked down, I saw that, in fact, my pedal was no longer attached to my crank, but still clipped to my foot. I stopped and pulled over to rectify the problem, fearing my crank threads were stripped. After some careful work, I managed to get the pedal threaded in properly with no damage to the crank or pedal. Whew! But by that time, many many people had blown past me. In the Test of Metal, if you're not in the top 100 at the start, you are inevitably stuck in a bumper to bumper traffic jam in the singletrack, because there is just such a huge volume of riders and it's impossible to pass. I managed to jump back in line and enjoyed an easy stop-and-go ride all the way to Alice Lake, where the course opened onto a short section of paved and then gravel road. At that point, I knew I was out of the running, but I still wanted to make up as much time as I could, so I focused on moving up through the field.

On the gravel road after Alice Lake, I saw Cory Wallace (Kona) sidelined. I slowed as I approached him and heard him ask: "Do you have a 10-speed chain pin?" In fact, I did. Ryan had insisted I take it along right before the start, so I stopped and handed it to him, warning him that if I broke my chain, I would not be happy.

Basically the entire way to the feed zone was a series of traffic jams in singletrack where I was able to coast and recover, followed by accelerations whenever it opened up where I would pass as many riders as I could. It was kind of fun, because basically I was passing people all day long.

On the 9-mile climb, I was able to just set my own really solid pace and pick off riders one by one. Finally, I saw my Local Ride buddies Paul and Ryan J. I gave them a friendly greeting and promptly powered past.

I caught up to Joele on the Plunge and we rode together through the second feed where Sharon and Alex handed me a bottle. (Thanks guys! I owe you!) I followed Joele into Crumpit Woods, where she decided to switch on race mode. Suddenly it was on. Joele was always two or three riders ahead of me through the singletrack and she was pushing hard to get rid of me. I always felt a step behind. I had to refocus and be more assertive, because I was in a mindset where I was content to follow a wheel, even if it was slower than I wanted to go. When I exited onto the pavement, Joele was a ways up the road, but I latched conveniently onto the wheel of a fellow who happened to pass me at just the right time. He essentially pulled me right onto Joele's big wheel, where I was content to stay until we entered Smoke Bluffs. I recognized that the short gravel popper was the absolute final uphill of the day and I decided to take a chance. I attacked hard up the climb and then gave 'er down the other side, gaining a small gap on Joele. The end of the race, however, was an extended wide, flat gravel path to the finish, and I knew she would be hunting me. It didn't take her too long to catch me again and she quickly went by me at which point I jumped back on her wheel. Joele looked over her shoulder and accelerated. I kept on her wheel. We were running out of course. Entering the final left-hand corner to the finish, I tried to go on the inside, but Joele, an experienced cyclocross racer, got the jump on me. Despite a big sprint effort, she stayed ahead of me to the finish, but it was an exciting battle and a great way to end a race that I had thought would be a bust after my initial mechanical. I still got in some real racing even though I was way off my target time. You can always count on the Test of Metal for a good time!

Jean Ann had a solid race, finishing third behind winner and record-setter Catharine, and local star, Brandi. Oh, and Mike beat me on his 'cross bike, finishing exactly one spot ahead of me. Argh! :-P

Canada Cup #3 Report – Hardwood Ski & Bike - June 5

2011-06-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

So the team plan was for me to win this weekend, since Jean Ann got it last weekend. After all, fair’s fair. But, unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. It started on Tuesday with a sore throat. Despite frequent and faithful salt water gargles, the pain persisted and the infection moved to my sinuses. Ugh. Let’s just leave it by saying I felt pretty miserable and just walking up a flight of stairs had me wheezing. Even so, I was determined not to let this bug stop me from racing.

Race day conditions were ideal. Temperatures were in the low 20s, with clear skies and low humidity. Thundershowers the previous day had packed the course down and made it super-fast and grippy. With Emily, Amanda, and Mikaela back from Europe – not to mention Jean Ann (who told me even though I was supposed to win, she wouldn’t just let me win), Catherine, and Brandi – I knew it would be a tough race.

As usual on the Hardwood course, the pack stuck together for the first bit, a wide open chip trail section that kicks up slightly before it hangs a right into a narrower trail and another steeper uphill kicker. I was fine and dandy and well-positioned in the pack until things starting pointing uphill and then my lungs started to burn and I couldn’t maintain the effort required to go that fast. By the time we reached the first singletrack, a whole bunch of girls had passed me and I was resigned to ride my own pace.

Every time I tested my legs on a little climb, I would be wheezing and struggling to recover at the top. My cold was really affecting my lungs and ability to recover. I kept on riding, however, focusing on riding the singletrack fast, smooth, and clean. As long as I concentrated on that and not over-exerting myself on the climbs, I was actually able to have some fun. I eventually did reel in a few of the girls that had gone out faster as they faded and I remained steady.

At the front, Jean Ann tried to stay in contact with leaders Emily, Amanda, Catherine, and Mikaela, but eventually things splintered and everyone finished alone, in the same order. I finished ninth.

Jean Ann relaxes on the deck after the race.

Congrats to everyone. It was a good race on a fun new course. Looking forward to Nationals in 2013/2014! Thanks to Dawn and Ron for the pro feeding job, as well as the usual five-star accommodations and hospitality!

Dawn prepares the post-race meat!

What I’m really looking forward to now is spending some quality time at home and getting healthy. Maybe some sweet BC singletrack is the cure….

Jean Ann and Sandra’s Canada Cup #2 Race Report – Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec - May 29

2011-06-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Canada Cup #2 in Baie-Saint-Paul, QC could not have gone better for the Xprezo-Borsao Race Team. Despite torrential downpours throughout the week and race course that resembled a filthy slip-and-slide, all three of the riders finished in the highest possible positions on the podium. Matt topped the elite men’s field, and Jean Ann and Sandra packed a 1-2 punch in the elite women’s race. As the cherry atop a muddy Sunday, both Matt and Jean Ann now hold the Canada Cup leader’s jerseys.

The elite women’s race was fast from the gun, with Catherine Vipond, the leader after the first race, setting a quick pace through the start loop and into the initial single-track. Jean Ann positioned herself right on Catherine’s wheel, while Sandra got caught up in some traffic in the tight and slick trail, and lost contact. The first lap was a bit of a shot in the dark, as the course had changed drastically from the previous day’s pre-ride. Lines that had been perfectly rideable on Saturday had turned into knee-deep mud bogs in places, requiring much dismounting and running.

About halfway through the first lap, Jean Ann was able to get a small gap on Catherine, through utilizing her skills of running with a bike, honed over the winter cyclocross seasons. After the first lap of four (shortened from the original five due to the extreme conditions), Jean Ann had a 30-second lead on Catherine, with Sandra chasing close behind. The order remained the same, until Sandra caught Catherine on the descent of the third lap. With more rain falling on the trails through the course of the race, the terrain literally turned to a river of mud. Many people struggled with mechanical issues associated with hub deep mud, and slippery and blind descents, including previous series leader Catherine.

Sandra and Jean Ann are stoked about their 1-2 podium finish, and are super happy with how well the XTR Dyna-Sys worked for them in the extreme conditions. They are looking forward to checking out the new race course at Canada Cup #3 in Hardwood Hills on June 5.

Thanks to Xprezo's David and Jef for the feed and umbrella-holding in the start box. So pro! :-)

Sandra :)

World Championships - Mont Saint Anne QC

2010-09-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Sandra and Jean Ann raced the World Championships in Mont Saint Anne QC, last Saturday. It was a great race, with a competitive Canadian contingent. Catherine Pendrel was Canada's top finisher, with 4th place in a very tight race. Marie Helen Premont also placed well, finishing 9th. Amanda Sin and Mical Dyck were 28th and 29th. Jean Ann placed 40th, Catherine Vipond 42nd and Sandra 43rd, in a field of about 70 riders. Here are some photos from the race. There will be a race report to follow shortly.

Team Canada photo by Canadian Cyclist (www.canadiancyclist.com)

Sandra drops into one of the sandy chutes. Photo from www.canadiancyclist.com

Sandra on one of the switchback climbs - Photo from www.canadiancyclist.com

Jean Ann - Photo by Marek Lazarski - www.lazarskiphoto.com

Jean Ann and Sandra are Going to Worlds!

2010-08-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's official: Jean Ann and Sandra will represent Canada at the 2010 Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC on September 5! The two fast girls are thrilled at the news.

(l-r) Jean Ann and Sandra proudly don the Canadian team uniform.

"Every time I get the news that I've been chosen to wear the maple leaf jersey and race for Canada, I get goosebumps and tear up," said Sandra. "It's such an honour to be named to the team and I'm so excited to be able to share the experience with Jean Ann."

Photo: Marek Lazarski/lazarskiphoto.com Rider: Sandra rips it up at the Canadian Nationals in Canmore.

Ever since the site of the 2010 MTB Worlds was given to the Canadian venue of Mont-Sainte-Anne, the duo have had the race in their sights. "It was announced several years ago that Sainte-Anne would get the Worlds in 2010, and it's been a goal of mine this whole time," said Jean Ann. "It will be amazing to represent Canada on home soil."

Photo: Marek Lazarski/lazarskiphoto.com Rider: Jean Ann is all focus on the bike.

The Local Ride Women's MTB Team pair will be at the starting line with five other good friends and competitors from Canada, including National Champion, Olympian, and World Cup leader Catharine Pendrel, and frequent training and travel buddy Catherine Vipond. The field will be comprised of the planet's fastest female cross country mountain bikers, who have all been required to meet challenging qualification standards.

"It's inspiring to see the names of the strong and positive women who will be our team mates," said Sandra, who participated in her first World Championships as a junior in 1998 also in Mont-Sainte-Anne, which was the last time Canada hosted the event.

Jean Ann also has strong ties to Mont-Sainte-Anne, having raced there nearly every year of her 10-year competitive cycling career. She has also attended several MTB World Championships as a junior, U23, and now for her first time in the elite category. This will be Sandra's fourth World Championships appearance.

Jean Ann and Sandra have had strong results so far this season, with wins on the provincial road and mountain bike circuits, along with several podiums in the Canada Cup series. Sandra placed fifth at the National Championships and second at the prestigious Squamish Test of Metal. Jean Ann's top performances came on the road, including wins at Local Ride Bike Shop's premiere cycling events: the Barry's Roubaix road race and the Race the Ridge criterium. She also aims to cinch the BC Cup MTB XC title at the series final in Whistler this Sunday.

Stay tuned for more info from the Local Ride Elite Women's MTB Team!

BC Cup Mountain Bike Races and Test of Metal

2010-07-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

Sandra and Jean Ann have had a string of great local results, as together they took both of the top two places in the last two BC Cups, and Sandra also finished 2nd to current National Champion and World Cup Leader Catherine Pendrel at the classic Test Of Metal.

On June the 13th, Sandra and Jean Ann took 1st and 2nd in the Burnaby Mountain Cardiac Classic BC Cup. This race has one very long climb on each lap. The name of the climb is actually Cardiac, from where the race gets it's name. Once at the top riders descend through some fast technical singletrack to the bottom, and do it all over again. Jean Ann had the climbing legs on the day, and took first place, with Sandra following in 2nd. The Local Ride Racing team brought 11 riders to the event that weekend, and Jeanine Ball, Sue Weston, and Steve Devantier also brought home medals.

Sandra places 2nd behind Catherine Pendrel, and Catherine Vipond is 3rd. Photo by Patrick Graham

The following weekend the team raced what is one of the most popular races in BC, the classic Test of Metal in Squamish. It was an elite field of competitors on the start line, which included Catherine Pendrel, the current Canadaian Champion and World Cup leader, as well as Catherine Vipond, the current Canada Cup leader. Jean Ann started fast and aggressively first half of the event, while Sandra paced herself for the long race. Jean Ann eventually double flatted, but Sandra had found her climbing legs and caught her, along with Catherine Vipond who was currently riding in 2nd, and took that place on the podium behind Catherine Pendrel who won for her second year in a row.

Sandra followed up that great result with a win at the BC Cup at Bear Mountain, Mission. This time she started aggressively, and put her fabulous descending skills to work to out pace her teammate Jean Ann and take the win. Local Ride Racers Ryan Newsome and Jeanine Ball also placed on the podium, with Jeanine winning the master women's race, and Ryan placing 2nd with the master men.

On the Podium East and West

2010-06-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

Jean Ann and Sandra are back in rainy BC, and to celebrate their first weekend at home, they raced the prestigious Westside Classic road race - one of Vancouver's biggest cycling events. To continue what is becoming a season trend, the squad made a podium appearance on Sunday with Jean Ann's sprint to finish third in the Cat 1/2/3 women's race. She also turned heads and got lots of announcer time when she snagged the first lap prime and racked up the most points on the hill to take the Queen of the Mountain Prize. Sandra, who also rode aggressively, took second in the QoM and 10th overall.

All four Local Ride Racing ladies near the front of the pack: Julia, Rachel, Jean Ann and Sandra.

The racers enjoyed the luxury of a closed course on a beautiful 10.5km loop around the UBC Endowment Lands, including Sandra's Favourite Road in Vancouver: Discovery Street. "Whenever I've ridden Discovery, I thought: 'Why can't there be more roads like this in Vancouver?' Plus, it was freshly paved, which made it oh-so smooth and fast!" said Sandra.

The Local Ride Racing elite women's road team had four ladies in contention at the BC Cup race. Newcomer to the team, Julia, showed her strength in some early powerhouse attacks and Rachel also supported the team with her extensive race savvy. While Julia and Rachel did not make the decisive split with Jean Ann and Sandra, their efforts for the team made a huge impact on the race. They placed 13th and 14th, respectively.

(l-r) Barry, Sandra, Dave, Jean Ann, Paul, Julia, Rachel. Thanks to everyone for their race-day support!

Backtracking a little, May 30 saw Jean Ann and Sandra on the podium again in the four-lap elite women's race at Canada Cup XC #3 at Hardwood Ski & Bike in Ontario. It was full-on summertime in Ontario with temps in the 30s, but the duo played it smart, backing off a little at the beginning of the race to avoid blowing up due to overheating. They were then able to turn it on at the end and finish strong. Jean Ann placed fourth and Sandra was fifth, so both got to enjoy a little more podium time together - always a blast! Jean Ann is ranked third overall in the series, while Sandra is only 5 points behind in 4th. Things are close!

Fun times on the podium (l-r): Sandra 5th, Mical Dyck 2nd, Emily Batty 1st, Amanda Sin 3rd, Jean Ann 4th.

Sandra and Jean Ann spent the week in Ontario near beautiful Horseshoe Valley, what Jean Ann considers "the nicest part of Ontario." (This is a big compliment!) Their gracious hosts, Dawn and Ron, are also avid cyclists and have spent many a day on the race course or in the feed zone (or both, of which Sunday was an example for Ron - THANK YOU!). They are also the owners of Velocity Bike & Multisport in Orillia - a fabulous independently owned shop with friendly and incredibly knowledgeable staff. Velocity took the edge off of Sandra and Jean Ann's homesickness a little. Sandra said: "Velocity is like Local Ride in Ontario. They should join forces!"

Jean Ann hangs out under the Velocity tent at the Wednesday Night Races at Hardwood, waiting to test ride one of the shop's sweet demo bikes.

BBQ and beer on the patio at Dawn and Ron's. It really did feel like home. Dawn and Ron were lucky to get rid of them!

Amusement on the Road

2010-05-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

From Mont Tremblant we packed up the car and headed to Hardwood Hills Ontario. On the way we had a few adventures. This photo is worth sharing.

There was a plastic 10L water container in the middle of the road, that Sandra figured she could just drive over. Apparently this car does not have the same clearance as the Audi, and the container was caught on the exhaust of our overloaded car.

Canada Cup #2 - Mont Tremblant QC

2010-05-24T11:13:00.001-07:00

Canada Cup #2 was a very close and competitive race, with the addition of Mical Dyck to the start line and the full contingent of racers from last weekend. The start was fast, with Mical unleashing the World Cup start and instantly getting a gap off of the line. Sandra towed the line and took lead the group up into the single track. For the majority of the race Mikaela Kofman, the current Canada Cup leader, trailed Mical, with Jean Ann close behind her, followed by Aleksandra Mooradian of Poland, and then Sandra and Catherine. On the last lap of the race there were some big changes though. Catherine worked her way through the field, and her and Aleksandra joined Mikaela and Jean Ann at the base of the climb. Catherine attacked halfway up the open climb, and no one could follow. She then caught Mical at the top of the final climb. Mical flatted at the bottom of the descent, pitted and got a new wheel. By that time Catherine was gone, and rode in for the win, Mical held off Aleksandra for second, Mikaela was 4th, and Jean Ann and Sandra placed 5th and 6th in a very close race.

Jeanne Ann And Sandra Post Tremblant | Canada Cup #2 Mont. Tremblant on CyclingDirt

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Here are the top ten results:

Elite Women
1. Catherine Vipond (Can) Norco Factory Team 1:38:43
2. Mical Dyck (Can) Trek Canada 0:31
3. Aleksandra Mooradian (Pol) Bedford/Verge/Spin 0:43
4. Mikaela Kofman (Can) 3 Rox Racing 0:51
5. Jean Ann McKirdy (Can) Local Ride Women's Team 1:20
6. Sandra Walter (Can) Ride Elite Womens Team 1:46
7. Cindy Montambault (Can) CVM Val-David 5:25
8. Sue Trimble-Haviland (Can) Norco Evolution 8:27
9. Marie-Claude Surprenant (Can) XPREZO - BORSAO 9:02
10. Caroline Villeneuve (Can) Norco Factory Team 10:20

On the Way to Tremblant ...

2010-05-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

After a fun opener at Canada Cup #1 in Baie Saint Paul, we made the trip over to Mont Tremblant for Canada Cup #2. The week leading up to the race was relaxing and sunny, and we saw some of the dryest and fastest conditions we have ever seen on that course.

Some of the exciting mid week adventures included converting, our travel buddy, Sam's wheels to tubeless. Sandra and I convinced her that tubeless is way better: less flats, supple ride, lower pressure... Of course she did manage to prove to us that tubeless does not mean flat free - when she whacked her rim on some of the sharp pointy rocks on course, bent her rim, and flatted on her first ride. We had to do an emergency pre-race repair. She did have success on her second try, and raced flat-free on Saturday.

Sam's pre-race quote was:

“I’m too klutzy. All I’m going to do is crash the whole time and get flats.” - Samantha Grover (AB) Pedalhead, who flatted twice last weekend in Baie-St-Paul, and again today in pre-ride after converting to tubeless.

Thankfully she had a flat free race and loved her tubeless Maxxis Crossmark tires. High five for no flats!

In addition to some excitement with tires, we also had some great eats this week. We had a delicious pizza feast after the race in Baie Saint Paul, where we experimented with thin crust pizzas on the BBQ. Delicious! We also sampled some great wine, including some Borsaro rose. Princess Sandra also experimented with drinking a post race glass out of her 3rd place chalice. Note the wine stains on the tablecloth.

Other adventures included dress shopping. I'm getting married this fall to Mike Berkenpas (YAY!!!) and I've convinced Sandra to be a bridesmaid. We also fed grass to some lambs, and named and created facebook persona's for our bikes (so productive).

Sandra's bike - aka "Piglet" or Pi Glet ...

Canada Cup #1 Race Report

2010-05-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

Local Ride Elite Women's MTB Team is off to a good start in the Canada Cup Series. Sandra finished in 3rd today in Canada Cup #1 in Baie Saint Paul QC, with Jean Ann following in 4th. The two were part of the initial lead group that gained a gap on the field from the start of the race, with Jean Ann and Catherine Vipond (Norco) setting a fast pace from the start. It was Mikaela Kofman (Can) 3 Rox Racing who took the eventual win over Aleksandra Mooradian (Pol) K.Bedford/Verge/Spin. Sandra was close behind in 3rd, followed by Jean Ann in 4th.

The course consisted of a short 5km lap, with an abundance of rooty rocky singletrack and punchy climbs. It was spectator friendly, technical, and incredibly fun to race. Congratulations Sandra, on the first Canada Cup podium of the year!

Jean Ann's BC Cup #1 Report- Sunshine Coaster

2010-05-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

Anne Yew (2nd), Me (1st), Joele Guenup (3rd)

Last Saturday Steve, Ryan, Jeanine and I hopped the ferry over to the Sunshine Coast to take part in the first XC BC Cup of the season. It was a spectacular day for mountain biking, with the sun finally starting to give some heat making the fun twisty trails dry and fast. After a classic BC Ferries breakfast of oatmeal, coffee and bagel we squashed in an early pre ride and then got ready to race.

Jeanine raced first, and set the team precedent, by winning her race in the Master 30+ women’s category. Ryan, Steve and I all raced together, with Ryan getting a 3 minute head start in the fast-but-not-actually-old Master 30+ category. Steve and I managed to both win our races, in the Senior Men and Elite Women’s races. Ryan set the fastest team time of the day, but because he was racing with those speedy 30+ers he had to settle for 7^th.

It was nice to race some great singletrack, see the friends I haven’t seen since the summer races, and spend the day out with the good company of Steve, Ryan and Jeanine.

Steve's Giant, and my Xprezo T4 in pink.

Steve enjoys a good BC Ferry's dinner.

Now Sandra, Samantha Grover, and I are in Quebec, prepping to race the Canada Cups in Quebec and Ontario. We flew into Toronto and enjoyed a nice stay with our friends Dawn and Ron in Orillia. The single-track near their place is amazingly fun, twisty, fast, hard-packed…ahhh so good. Then we made the long drive to Baie Staint Paul, where we will race the first Canada Cup of the year on Sunday. We just arrived at our nice apartment today, and Sandra is treating us to a yummy curry dinner. Tomorrow we are going to check out the racecourse.

For entertainment value: Mike and Rich raced the 24" tandem in the Escape Velocity TT last Sunday. They were crazy fast, and even more ridiculous and fun.

Race the Ridge - The Jean Annimal Report

2010-05-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

Jean Ann all smiles at Race the Ridge. Photo: Steve Devantier

Race the Ridge is one of my favorite road races, not only because it is my “home race”, but also because the events are always very challenging, varied and fun. This year was no different, with the return of the gorgeous Golden Ears Park Time Trial and exciting Town Core Criterium, as well as the hilly Thornhill Road Race. Although I did not place where I had hoped in the overall general classification, I did find my sprinting legs, and was able to take a stage win in the Town Core Criterium.

The event kicked off with the Thornhill Road Race on Saturday morning. The Cat 1/2 Women’s field did seven laps of the hilly 10km course, for a total of 70km. The race was jumpy from the start, with several attacks going on the hills. Jessica Hannah (Total Restoration Cycling Team) and I were the most active in initiating these attacks, as it seemed we both wanted to have a break start on the hills. Our efforts gained little, as the group continually came back together on the downhill or flats. Eventually it came down to a group sprint up the short uphill finish. I was second wheel coming into the last corner. Claire Cameron (Mighty Riders), who was in front of me, pulled off after the corner so I went for the sprint early, but it was too early and I faded over the last pitch of the climb. Claire’s teammate, Jenny Lehmann, caught me at the line and I had to settle for second. Jasmin Glaesser was a close third. Another highlight of the road races, was watching Local Ride Racing teammate Zach Young get away in an early two-man break in the Cat 3/4 men’s race, and outsprint David Stephens (Team Coastal) for the win.

Local Ride Racing's Rachel Canning sittin' pretty. Photo: Alan Young

I definitely faced the biggest challenge in the Time Trial. Mike and I headed over to my place to get our bikes TT ready, shower, eat and nap, and then we rode over to the start/finish area from my house. It was gorgeous in the park, and the sun was shining, but I was definitely still hurting and did not feel recovered. After 21.5km of suffering, I finished the TT in an unimpressive time of 35:28 and in sixth place. Laura Brown (Total Restoration Cycling Team) schooled us all, and finished in 33:00, a full minute ahead of Jasmin in second. On the men’s side, it was Jamie Sparling (Total Restoration Cycling) who won with a new course record of 28:49. Luckily there were no altercations with the curious bear that wandered out to watch the races, or maybe it’s the reason the times were so fast.

Jean Ann leads the pack in the crit. Photo: Alan Young

I went into the Town Core Criterium, Sunday morning, sitting in sixth place overall, about 30 seconds back of fifth, without a lot of hope to move up with only the crit remaining. My teammate Rachel Canning and I decided we should go for the stage win. I attacked immediately after the first prime sprint, at about the 1/3 point in the race. I gained a significant gap on the group right away, but no one came with me, so I was stuck out in the wind working alone. After a few laps I looked back and saw that Jessica was bridging up to me, so I took a few breaths as she joined me. Later, we were joined by Andrea Bunnin (Devo-Escape Velocity), and close to the end, Claire also bridged up to our group. With three laps to go, the pace in our group began to lag a little as people started to prep for the finish. I was afraid the main group was going to catch us, so tried my best to keep the rotation moving. At the beginning of the last lap there was a lag in the group, as riders began to look around. We only had about 15 seconds on the main group at that point, so I took the opportunity and attacked. I got away with a gap, but Claire chased hard and began to close quickly as we pulled onto the finishing stretch. I was able to dig just deep enough to hold her off by half a bike length and take the win. It was an exciting way to finish off the weekend.

The Jean Annimal strikes in the crit. Photo: Alan Young

Laura took the overall win. Behind her was Jasmin in second, Kristine Brynjolfson (Westwoond Cycle/Cannondale) in third, Sarah Stewart (Total Restoration Cycling Team) in fourth and Jessica in fifth. I finished in sixth place overall. All in all it was a fun weekend, with some great racing!

Natural Disasters in Europe - Sandra's Report

2010-05-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

The first natural disaster of note to this post is the volcano in Iceland that kept hundreds of thousands of flights and passengers earthbound last month, including little ol' me. Funnily enough, I was oblivious to Eyjafjallajökull's shenanigans for the first three days of flight groundings, because I was happily and heedlessly enjoying some quality time with friends at my family's cottage in Naramata, training on the fast and flowy Three Blind Mice Trails during the day, and sleepily sipping local vintages in the sunshine in the evenings.

Our cottage, I should add, does not have internet, telephone, or TV, so it wasn't like I just had my head in the clouds. It was finally Melissa, who after listening to the news on the car radio during the drive over, told me of the happenings.

Enjoying an evening beverage on the deck in Naramata. (The baby bottle is not mine.)

Melissa is forever the optimist, however, and comfortingly parenthesized the news with, "But I'm sure it won't affect your flight."

Eyjafjallajökull, though, was in no mood to be optimistic, and continued to spew jet- engine-destroying ash into the atmosphere, resulting in the cancellation of my flight to England on April 19. After waiting on hold with Air Canada for eons, I was finally able to reschedule for arrival on April 26 - the day after World Cup #1 (very useful). I was told that as flights started to go and airlines added extra flights and larger planes, I was bound to be bumped up in line. I therefore called Air Canada every day at least twice a day only find that planes were still not flying, would-be passengers were piling up, and April 26 was still the earliest available flight... to ANYWHERE in Europe. (Believe me, I had considered flying to Rome, like National Team mechanic, Scott, and U23 athlete, Cody, who then took a train ride of over 1,500km to Brussels, rented a vehicle there, and drove another 700+km and over 8 hours to England.)

When the ash cloud finally dissipated enough for flights to resume, I called again. And again. And again. Nothing new. April 26 was still the day to go. The frustrating thing, however, was that almost all of the other athletes were getting on earlier flights and slowly arriving at Dalby Forest with time to spare before the big race. I felt stranded and frustrated. Why wasn't I getting on these early flights? I soon learned that I had been Tier One'd - a term we (all of us yahoos on the National Team Project) developed to describe when someone with higher "status" (be it elite Aeroplan status or Tier One National Team status) waltzed to the front of the line and scooped up an earlier plane ticket, the last pastry at the bakery, the final massage of the day, or the National Team's Ford Focus fun car. Being Tier One'd is just a fact of life, I suppose. I'm just looking forward to the day I'm on the good end of the deal. :-)

Finally, when I wasn't on a plane by Thursday, I realized the World Cup at Dalby was out. I did make the best of it, however, by getting in some quality training at home and spending time with friends, including one last BOC at Local Ride Bike Shop. Ah, good times!

The second natural disaster to affect me in Europe was the failing of my body in World Cup #2 in Houffalize. Yes, I did finally make it to Belgium. Everything went off without a hitch, I slept most of the way across the Atlantic, and was met at Brussels airport by Amanda and the rest of the team. I prepared as best as I possibly could in the short time before my race (I slept a tonne, ate well [waffles and Nutella - yum!], trained smart, and spent a lot of time focusing and recovering).

My race detonated at the start. My legs felt heavy and slow (like big hands were gripping my quads, squeezing and pushing them down - try pedaling like that!) and I felt like I wasn't getting enough oxygen. By the time I reached the top of the start climb (a 3-minute 19% mother also used in Liege-Bastogne-Liege), my vision was going black around the edges and I was trailing near the back of the pack. My World Cup experience and Frogger savvy allowed me to bound ahead a little once the 125-woman field hit singletrack (which meant "everybody off your bikes!"), but once we all remounted and actually had to pedal, the hands were back on my quads and it was all I could do to move forward. To make matters worse, a cold rainstorm before the race had soaked me to the skin, hindered my warm-up, and made the Houffalize course a slip-slidy mess. Zinging out-of-control around corners did hold an element of excitement, but the steep open climbs (with which organizers decided to replace fun, rooty singletrack ascents from years past) were not-so enjoyable.

Lookin' good in the Canadian kit. Despite everything, it still felt great to represent Canada in a World Cup. It's such a cool feeling to have people yelling "Allez Canada!" as I gave my best on the steep climbs. Courtesy of Marloes Decraemer/MTB-Live.com

In the end, I finished the race (despite the conviction that I would be pulled) and I did not die or suffer injuries other than to my pride and confidence. Leave it to a World Cup race to put me squarely in my place and remind me that everyone who is there has worked as hard as I have and has at least as much talent as I do, and will take advantage of any weakness or lack of focus that I show. It's racing after all. But despite what may sound like a miserable, discouraging experience, a true competitor must dig for scraps of positivity and chalk it all up to learning... and do everything possible to make it better next time.

Over and out from Ontario, where I'm waiting out the (snow) storm and regaining my balance.

Check out that weather forecast! Wicked.

My animalistic team mate, Jean Ann (who recently became engaged - congrats!), and Samantha will join me here on Tuesday as we plan our assault on the Canada Cup series, commencing with race number one in Baie-St-Paul, Quebec on May 16.

Barry's Roubaix Race Report

2010-04-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

Barry’s Roubaix, and old twist on the classic Paris Roubaix, lived up to its name and came through as a challenging, and technically demanding race. I have wanted to win this race, since I first competed in it when I began road racing in 2004. As a racer whose roots are in mountain biking, a road race that is 40% gravel and contains promise of wind or rain is a thrill. The last time I competed in the event, two years ago, I disappointingly flatted on the first lap and spent the rest of the race doing the lonely laps-of-shame.

This year I went into the race with two teammates: Sandra Walter and Rachel Canning. Sandra’s fiery efforts, and Rachel’s race savy, were a huge help in the race. We were able to lead the race and have a large input in dictating its pace.

The race pace was conservative from the start. It had been lengthened from its previous 60km distance, to a longer 100km, and with a smaller field everyone was being cautious with their efforts. After a couple of laps we began to test the field. Everyone was still fresh at that point, and most attacks were quickly chased down. Sandra, however, was able to get a gap from the group early in the race. With Rachel and me following anyone who made an effort to bridge to her, she easily stayed out, and forced some of the other teams and racers to work to bring her back. Eventually the Westwood Cannondale duo of Kristine Brynjolfson and Jasmin Galesser worked together to bring her back.

After what felt like a couple of laps of casual group riding, which almost bored Sandra to death, the pace began to pick up again. With about half way to go, the pace on the dike section was becoming faster, and animated by attacks from our team and Westwood Cannondale. Coming off of the gravel I was finally able to put in an effort in that fractured the group. Claire Cameron (Mighty Riders), Kristine Brynjolfson (Westwood Cannondale), Jennifer Schultz (Fresh Air/ Balance Point Racing), and Marie-Claude Gangnon (Glotman Simpson) and myself gained a gap, and quickly began to work together to increase it.

The only thing that could have made it better would be for me to have a teammate in the group. Luckily for me, Sandra is a feisty red head, who is used to riding with her nose in the wind on her mountain bike. She bridged up to the group, and then I knew I would have someone to cover my back.

With just under three laps to go I attacked on the gravel again, and with Sandra covering chasers, we split the group further. Kristine and I got a gap on the group, and pulled away on the gravel. Clare bridged up to us, and caught us on the road section. Then the race began to be more interesting.

With two laps to go, the pace began to get slack, and I could feel Claire and Kristine conserving for the finish. I figured my race-mates would be more comfortable with a sprint finish. I could see they were more comfortable on the road, and I was hurting them on the gravel sections.

I decided that, going into the last lap, I would attack entering the gravel, and try to solo away for the win. It was a little bit risky, because there was a possibility that they could work together to catch me, but I knew I was much more comfortable on the dirt, and that it would be difficult for them to work together on the loose bumpy surface in the crosswind.

I went into the gravel corner fast, and attacked hard coming out of it. Due to my winter of cyclocross racing, I managed to quickly get a gap out of the loose corner, and then I worked hard to sustain it. My effort had split Kristine and Claire up, and I could see Claire chasing hard behind me. On the 4km gravel section I was thinking “wow, this is great. Maybe I will win.” But when I pulled off of the gravel, and hit the wind on the way back to the start finish, I began to really hurt. I could still see Claire behind me, so I just kept trying to squeeze through the wind, and keep my speed up. I spent a lot of time looking at my stem in the last 6km.

When I finally came around to the finishing stretch, I looked back and saw that I was totally alone. I was able to raise my hands as I crossed the line, in my first ever win on the road. Well I guess in all honesty, it was only 60% on the road. To top the day off I received a bottle of special edition Barry’s Roubaix Gold Brew on the podium.

New Bikes Are Here!!!

2010-04-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

The team's new frames and parts arrived at Local Ride Bike Shop earlier this week. Here is a sneak preview of the bikes. Cycles Xprezo has provided us with two very good looking steel frames which are new to their 2010 bike lineup. The XPREZO T-4 is a cross-country hardtail frame made of Columbus Zona 4130 steel tubesets, which we had the pleasure of riding as prototypes last season.

Thank you very much Cycles Xprezo for the beautiful new bikes, and Cycles Lambert for helping to outfit them with parts.

More photos to come soon of the complete and race ready bikes.

Today Was Fun!

2010-01-23T20:00:00.000-08:00

This morning we woke to sunshine! Such a nice change from the depressing past few days. But the snow line was very low on the mountains...

Ann shoulder checks before veering around a flooded section of road.

Yesterday afternoon I sucked it up and went outside anyway when it looked like the rain had stopped. After one pedal stroke out of the driveway, it started to sprinkle, but I didn't care. I needed to ride! And ride I did. After a few minutes, the drizzle subsided and I rode out towards Trilogy and then to Mecca, avoiding the German Shepherds on Jackson.

Check out the snow!

Mecca was flooded - everyone's yard was underwater along with many streets. The construction zone where we got muddy last week was a bog, but I churned through it all and climbed through the lemon, pampelmousse, red pepper, and lettuce fields with my eye on Box Canyon. Before I could even enter the canyon, I was stopped by a roadblock - the road was closed due to flooding. I considered riding through anyway, but then I looked over my shoulder in the direction of home and saw a huge black bank of clouds moving towards me. Now I'm not that familiar with desert life and flash floods, but a narrow canyon that's already flooded didn't seem like the smartest place to enter, especially with another rainstorm on its way.

I reluctantly headed back. Cruising down towards Mecca, I heard this odd noise that I almost ignored. It was kind of a grunting/heavy breathing. I glanced over my left shoulder at where the noise originated and saw a pitbull givin'er - he was running so hard, he couldn't even bark! Holy crap! I stood up on the pedals and sprinted away. When I sprinted for what I thought was sufficient time to tire him out or bore him, I looked back again, but he was still there and GAINING on me. So I sprinted some more, longer this time. Finally I lost him, but man was I bagged. Riding back through the mud in Mecca I was treated to some catcalls and then it was a slow death march into the headwind that was bringing the storm towards me. It was only a matter of time before the clouds let loose and I was pelted with rain. I hammered all the way home and was very glad to take a hot shower. It felt really good to get out, so I'm glad I went when I did!

That evening, Ann, Leah, and I discovered a new Feat of Strength: shooting apple cider vinegar out of the Coyote Ugly shot glass we bought Leah for her various potions that she's been taking to heal her tummy. She read that drinking apple cider vinegar is good for digestion, so she tried to drink it mixed with hot water, which naturally tasted disgusting and there was no way she
was finishing off the big mug of it one sip at a time. We told her: "Just shoot it." And she said: "I'll do it if you do it." So I said: "Okay." Leah proceeded to pour me a big ol' shot of vinegar, which I then threw down my gullet. My tummy still burns, but it only drew one tear (as illustrated). Leah and Ann both tried it, but I won the feat of strength, because I took the whole thing in one gulp and didn't wince or gag. Must be all those tequila shots I do....

We prepped for our ride today in our own specific ways (see Leah's smorgasbord vs. mine below) with the intention of doing 5+ hours, including White Water Canyon, which I've never seen. On our way from La Quinta (southeast Coachella Valley) to Palm Springs (west) Leah flatted twice because of a worn-out tire. We were running out of tubes and we hadn't even gotten out of Palm Springs yet! We decided to stop at Palm Springs Cyclery in order to stock up on tubes and get Leah a new rear tire (after Ann and I patched the old one with a Clif Blocks wrapper and electrical tape - I never thought I'd be thanking Mike for covering up all of my Felt logos on my stem, bar, and seatpost, but here I am). "Just put it on my tab," said Leah, regarding the tire and tubes.

Leah's various pills, potions, and unctions... yum!

My smorgasbord - perfect fuel for an epic ride! *Note gel is for emergencies only.

Back on the road, we parted ways with Ann and headed on Highway 111 towards White Water straight into a killer strong headwind interspersed with wicked gusts that buffeted us all over the shoulder and threatened to topple us into the cacti and sand - at least it was blowing us away from traffic. I saw the rock and was totally avoiding it, right as a gust swept me into its path and my rear wheel hit it hard. I prayed for a few seconds, but it didn't help, because I quickly heard the telltale hissing noise. Flat number three. I started to fix it, but suddenly a few grains of sand that had found their way under my glasses while riding became incredibly uncomfortable when they started rubbing against my eyeball. Oh joy. Nothing like the feeling on sandpaper on the cornea. It became so painful that I was basically incapacitated. Couldn't even open my eye. I was ready to call it quits, but Leah didn't want to turn back. While cars careened by us on the highway, Leah pried my eye open and squirted water into it from her bottle. She's such a slave driver, but she saved the day. Not only did she fix my tire for me, she also got me my sight back. I owe you, buddy!

Leah fixing one of three flats.

Back on the bikes and back into the headwind, we soldiered on, taking the White Water exit and crossing the I-10. I had no idea how much longer it was to White Water Canyon, so I felt a bit apprehensive, but good ol' Leah assured me it would be okay. We turned up White Water Canyon road and still had the wind in our faces on the climb. There was lots of sand on the road from all the flooding and we had to ride through streams as well, which Leah wasn't happy about, because it was cold.

"Canada House" on the way up White Water Canyon.

Suddenly we were treated to an amazing view of stunning white mountains and soon after we stopped because of a very large river across the road. Cars were driving through slowly, but we definitely would have gotten our feet wet - maybe even our knees....

Flooding!

Taking a dive off the deep end.

The way back was super fun with the tailwind, but we almost got blown off the road because of crosswinds. On Highway 111, Leah and I pacelined at over 50kph. Wheeeee! I was itching to get home, so when I got pulls at the front while riding through Palm Springs, Leah claimed I was going hard. I was just going with the flow. Maybe to get me back for hammering, Leah took me on a (de)tour of Palm Springs, heading north when we were supposed to head south, taking me in circles. Suddenly it was 4:30 pm with only half an hour of daylight left and at least one hour of riding to go.... That's when we pulled into Starbucks and called Ann to get us. Thanks Mom!

Aww... epic adventure buddies.

Now I'm in my jammies (and I've been in them since 6:00 pm) all showered, fed, and warm, and looking for a hot tub before bed. Yawn. Tomorrow we're planning a double day. Nighty night!

Leah riding into the sunset.

A Turn for the Wet in California

2010-01-21T13:24:00.001-08:00

Things have gotten damp in Palm Springs, and I don’t mean like going for a dip in the hot tub! There’s this huge storm front boiling off the coast, which is wreaking havoc as far inland as New Mexico. We’ve ridden everyday despite the precipitation, but today we’re just not gonna do it. It rained all night and it is still coming down. Now you may be wondering: how is it so different from riding in the rain at home? I should be used to it, right? Well, here’s the thing: I’m not prepared for riding in cold, rainy weather. I came south specifically to get away from the winter and to log some long, dry training miles. I didn’t bring warm riding clothes - no leg warmers, booties, or winter gloves! Maybe poor planning on my part, but this is really not typical of the area. The funny thing is, the current conditions are calling this “heavy rain mist.” Now in my experience, “rain” and “mist” are quite different and can’t really be used in the same phrase, especially not related to one another with the word “heavy.” And let me tell you folks, right now, it is anything but misting out. In Vancouver, we would call this “Rain at times heavy.” The pool level is honestly rising and I’m afraid it may overflow!

Okay, enough griping about the weather. We’ve still managed to fit in some good, dry rides, including intervals up Highway 74 on Monday. This is a super long, switchbacking climb that goes on forever. I’ve ridden up it for 1.5 hours in previous years and not reached the top (and it wasn't because I was leaning back, drinking peppermint tea and eating crumpets either). Cool huh? This time, I only did a couple of 20-minute intervals and met up with Ann and Leah at the first viewpoint.

Feeling Zen at the Highway 74 viewpoint.

Great views from the Highway 74 lookout.

We’ve been pretty good at balancing our lives between riding, working, napping, strength training, eating healthfully, and having fun.

Multi-tasking...

Eating well!

Yesterday we went for a three-hour ride, and the entire time we could just watch a grey wall of cloud and rain advancing from the west. Funny thing was, the wind was blowing quite prominently from the east. Leah and I did a team TT interval up Thousand Palms, which was pretty fun, but Leah was killin’ it! Ann stuck to whoever was back wheel the entire time, but I’m convinced she was working harder than the two of us, because every time I saw her, she was just a bit off the back out of the draft. Jean Ann, there may be a new Annimal in town! (I’d like to see that showdown.) We turned back and got smacked in the face with a brutal and relentless headwind all the way home. Boy is that mentally fatiguing, having to battle the wind constantly. Leah and I treated ourselves afterward with hot beverages (a very tasty Americano - 12oz cup, 2 shots, 2/3 full - just the way I like it!) and a banana walnut muffin at Just Java.

Yogi Ann displays proper posture for working at the computer. (She is working on her PhD - seriously.)

After the requisite nap, Leah led me through a very challenging strength/core/stability routine and I discovered I’ve been cheating with the plank. Apparently holding your hands in front of you is easier than not. Darn! We were still feeling pretty antsy afterward, so we headed out into the dark and rain to… Target! Cruised the clothing, shoes, DVD’s, chocolate (found a new flavour of Lindor truffles - dark chocolate raspberry - just finished the bag off), snacks, and vitamins. Back home, we made a big salad for dinner and then watched “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” on DVD, which we had bought for $5 at Target. Score!

My personal trainer, Leah, showing us how it's done.

WEATHER ALERT - It looks brighter out, but still raining. The forecast is better for tomorrow - only 50% chance of precipitation, and by Saturday it should be dry again. I sure hope so! We still have big hopes of doing some epic rides like Idyllwild and Joshua Tree. And most importantly, I still need to get a tan! I don't have a midriff swatch update for y'all, because there is no change due to inclement weather.

All Business in Palm Springs

2010-01-17T19:57:00.000-08:00

The Local Ride Racing Training Camp last week was awesome!

Happy New Year! Momentum is building towards the 2010 season and plans are shaping up. We’re pounding out the endurance miles and we’ve been lucky enough to have a mild and snow-free winter so far in the Lower Mainland that has allowed us to stay on our bikes. Last weekend, Local Ride Racing held a fantastic training camp in Maple Ridge, complete with long, epic rides, feats of strength, and great team dynamics. I am now being royally spoiled (in more ways than one), as I am in Palm Springs staying and training with my girls Leah and Ann. We’ve done three fabulous road rides in jerseys and shorts - without fenders and on our fast bikes. Ah, the luxury!

Our days have been taken up by training (which often involves staying on the lookout for rabid dogs and erratic motorists, and riding faster at the sound of gunshots - this was in Box Canyon, where it seemed people were in the desert doing some target practice). After riding, there’s the quick shower and refuel, followed by sunbathing and hot tubbing. Often we add a nap and a coffee/grocery run and then it’s already time to cook up a healthy dinner, like burritos, salads, or Thai curry. I absolutely love being in a warm locale for a training camp, where I feel comfortable and at home. Thanks so much Leah and, of course, Nels and Dawna!

Paradise!

On our arrival, Leah (who has a new blog: www.lguloien.blogspot.com) picked us up at the airport, out-maneuving (eventually) a North Dakotan to park curbside at our feet. Then, at our request, she took us to Chipotle, where I had a very tasty barbacoa beef burrito. Mmm. Then, when I informed her that I only had my too-big Sugoi one-piece swimsuit with me, she beelined it in the silver Odyssey to Target (pretentiously pronounced “tar-jjay”). With the help of my fashionable sidekicks, I soon had a whole whack of bikinis to try on and was talked into buying two of them. Sigh. The things I do…. We then hit up Ralph’s for groceries, and retired to the hot tub and chaise lounges at Chateau Guloien.

The three of us hangin' in the California sunshine.

Friday was the Box Canyon jaunt, scenic as always. The flat roads through the palm, dill, cabbage, carrot, etc. plantations seemed greener than I remembered, the German Shepherds that chased us aggressively last year didn’t appear (they’re still afraid of me and my yelling), and there was a new roadside taco stand in the middle of nowhere! I am determined to do a recovery “taco” ride one day, as taco stands are often the best sources of good Mexican food. Maybe I’ll risk it at the end of the camp, so if I hit a bad one, it won’t ruin my training!

Ann and Leah riding up through Box Canyon.

Mecca is the gateway to Box Canyon, but it is nothing like its sparkling South Asian counterpart. This is a one-horse farm town with a high Hispanic population. Luckily for us, the main drag was torn up for construction and we got there just as a water truck drove through, I suppose to keep the dust down. For us, it meant muddy bikes and behinds, but also fulfilled the “mandatory off-road” portion of the ride.

Ann and I cruising through the Canyon.

Riding up out of Mecca towards the canyon, we cruised through lemon plantations, which gave off a refreshing natural Mr. Clean scent! Looking to the south, we got a good view of the Salton Sea. When in the Canyon, we definitely knew we were in the desert - hot, dry, and the only colours are different shades of sand. Super cool though.

Early Saturday morning we partook in the group ride, which is notorious for its fast paced ‘A’ Group and often hot headed moves. This time, the three of us did not attempt to contest the first attack of Thousand Palms, but opted for a saner pace, which bode well for me on the Trailhead Climb near the end of the ride. I still had strong legs and made a crafty tactical move (i.e. got a gap in traffic to make the left-hander ahead of a lot of others) that allowed me to be the first woman to the top. Not that it was a race…. All in all, it was fun to ride with a big group of people and socialize a little.

Enjoying a post-ride coffee at Just Java.

Today we cruised around town for a recovery ride in the sunshine, spinning out heavy legs after some days of solid miles. The weather forecast for the upcoming week is not great, because of a big storm front off of the Pacific Coast. With the threat of the impending clouds, Ann and I donned the suits and booked it outside to catch some rays. I must get a tan! Don’t get my wrong, I do have some tan. To my surprise, I noticed I still have leftover tan lines on my pipes and quads from the last time I rode in short sleeves (when was that again?)! But things like my chest, stomach and thighs are white as white can be. So sad. After a serious session in the sun, Yogi Ann (my personal yoga instructor) led me through a very beneficial and painful yoga session. Oooh my shoulders, back and pecs are toit!

This is a "swatch" of a photo of my midriff. Now that is WHITE. Actually, does it look a little blue to you too? Not healthy.

Now it’s time to prep dinner. Steak, yams, and salad yum!

Riding on the Track

2009-11-23T16:38:00.000-08:00

The fall and winter seasons are often a time of change, and restructuring, a time to try some new things, refresh, and pan for the next race season. This fall I once again hit the local ‘cross scene, for some very fun racing with some of my favorite people, but also changed things up by trying out a little riding on the track. The track is what has been the biggest change and newest challenge. After participating in a National Team development camp at the Burnaby Velodrome, and gaining a few basic skills, I was invited to head down to LA to participate in another camp with the National Team, from the 22nd to the 27th. It is a huge honor, to have the opportunity to ride with some world class athletes, especially when being so new to the track. I am really looking forward to facing some new challenges and learning some new skills over the next week.

A little about what I have been doing on the track:

Over the last two weeks at the track, I have spent most of the time training for team pursuits. We have been practicing exchanges, starts, and doing a bit of motor pacing. I also had the chance to do my first night of racing on Friday last week, at the Bare Bones weekend of track racing. I tried my luck in a couple of the Women’s and B Omnium races, which included a scratch race, miss and out, points race, and tempo race. These are all new events to me, and I found they are very fun games.

Here is a little information about what I learned these races are:

Scratch race: this is basically a condensed road race. What really matters is who crosses the line first at the end of the designated lap count. What makes it more exciting than the typical road race, is that on a 200m track, it is faster, tighter and attacks have the potential of lapping the pack.

Miss and out: in this race, every other lap the last rider to cross the line is eliminated from the group. As the group gets smaller, the sprints get more intense at the end of those laps. When it is down to 2 riders, there is a 3 lap to go count, with the winner of that sprint taking the race.

Points Race: This is a race with a set number of laps, and sprints on designated laps, every 10th lap. Points go to 1st (3 points), 2nd (2) and 3rd (1) in each sprint, with the final sprint being worth the most points. Additionally, if a rider, or group of riders laps the pack, they gain 20 points, so lapping the group is a great, if you can do it. I attempted it in the B race, and gained about 2/3rds of a lap, before I began to fade and the pace in the group was ramped back up. It cost me big time, and I was not even able to get back in the group when they came by me. Taking a lap is hard! Especially if you are alone!

Tempo race: This is similar to a points race, except every lap is worth one point, but only to the first rider through (so if you are going to ride at the front or sprint for a lap, make sure you make your effort worthwhile and win it). The last lap is worth more points, and points go to 1st (3 points), 2nd (2) and 3rd(1). I raced this with the women’s group, and actually won! I went into the final lap tied for points, but luckily won the final sprint to gain enough points for the win.

Over the next five days I will be challenged to learn some new skills. I am excited about riding on the track in LA, which I hear is smooth, fast, and 50m longer than Burnaby’s. The warm weather will also be a bonus, as the season of wind and rain has hit the Wet Coast. Last week’s Wednesday night ride at Buntzen Lake felt like a monsoon!

Other notes:
On Friday night this week, I had the privilege of receiving the award for Female Mountain Bike Athlete of the year, which was a good surprise.

Mike joined me for the awards dinner, and won a British Cycling Team vest in the draw prizes.

Jeanine, Pete, Mike and I all raced the Escape Velocity Grand Prix of Cross, in Burnaby last Saturday. Pete won the U17 boy’s race, Jeanine took 2nd in the C Women’s category, and I unfortunately was the only A woman racing, but had a fun time mixing it up with the B men. Good, muddy, wet, cold times. Thanks to the Whalens for the post race coffee! It was much needed and much appreciated.

Pete shows off his prize sunglasses.

My bike, all ready to warm up on the rollers. This is one thing I need practice doing.

Mike "riding the rollers". Gumboots are necessary.

Fall Training in Monsoon Season

2009-11-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

It's not officially called "monsoon" season, but November on BC's South Coast is typically marked by a series of rain and wind storms all running into one another. It rains constantly for days on end, it never really gets light out, fields flood, roads develop lakes... ah home, sweet home! Despite the miserable weather, I will go insane if I don't get outside, so I layer up and brave the storm, just like last night.

Perfect forecast for a night MTB ride. Bring it on!

You think I'm crazy for going out last night with that weather forecast? Nah, I wasn't the only one. If everyone's doing it, it's gotta be somewhat normal, no? That's right, Paul, Jean Ann, Mike, Steve, Ryan N., Ryan J., and I all said "To hell with the weather, we're going biking!" and went for a fast-paced MTB ride at Buntzen Lake. It had to be fast-paced in order for us not to freeze. I rode from home and was soaked to the bone within 10 minutes, despite rain jacket, booties, XC ski gloves, etc.

But lets backpedal to the days where I was not so willing to embrace the rain... yes, it felt like only last week... because it was only last week! I split town, hellbent on staying dry, because I saw the long-range forecast for home and it looked ugly. And I timed it well, I got out just before the insanity started, shooting the gap between weather systems and arriving at my family's cottage in Naramata relatively unscathed. The following morning, I went for the most beautiful, sunny, dry road ride along Okanagan and Skaha Lakes, sans jacket, booties or headband. Ah, such a luxury!

That night, good friend Catherine "Viper", Matt, Jeanine, and Ryan joined me for a weekend of great mountain biking and great company, which included yummy home-cooked meals, fresh bread, apples roasted over an open fire, Naramata wine, heated games of Snakes n' Ladders and Cheat. And did I mention we stayed dry?! We tore it up on the super fun trails in the Three Blind Mice area in Penticton - these paths are twisty, dry, fast, rocky, and often afford great views of Okanagan Lake. Evan made the trip from Peachland one day to join us on the two-wheeled giggle-fest. That day, Evan and Matt both double-flatted and a curious figure was seen running through the woods (see Evan Guthrie's facebook) - was it a Sasquatch???

It was only too-soon before everyone had to go home, but I was still trying to escape the rain, so I headed to Kamloops, where precipitation is low and friends are fast (as in good friends and quick bikers as well). I decided to take a shortcut from the cottage via the "Back Way," a long ascent on gravel road, which meets up with the old Kettle Valley Railway (decomissioned, no more tracks). I followed the KVR for several pot-holed, snowy km's in the Outback to the Kelowna turnoff, and then headed into that city, continued north through Vernon, and then west to Kamloops, where I almost had fresh venison on my hood. Whew, that was close!

Baking Swiss bread with Kika in Kamloops

In Kamloops, I was taken in by Catharine, Coach Keith, Matt, Viper, Olly, Isaah, and Marmalade and they gave me a tour of their local gym and the town. On one mountain bike ride, we were spotted by a photographer, and our photo made it into the Kamloops newspaper!

Riding with the Kamloops yocals...

The trails in Kamloops were dry, tacky, and very strenuous, especially considering Catharine and Viper are riding super fast these days... ouch! It was good for me though, and I had tons of fun railing their trails, many of which they built themselves. On Remembrance Day, a bunch of us went for a very enjoyable ride and I got to sample some amazing pieces of singletrack.

It's always sunny in Kamloops! (l-r): Pete, Catherine, Keith, Catharine.

Catharine prepares post-ride shakes - yum!

Doing some hardcore post-ride recovery in the moon boots...

I headed home on Thursday, as there was already snow on the Coquihalla - the main highway connecting the Interior with the Coast. Thursday was sunny and probably the best day to drive, but not before I squeezed in another sunny ride - this time on the road - with Viper. Catharine joined us for about 35mins, but she pulled the plug early. Guess we were just too fast, eh Viper (we wish)?!

I flatted on some train tracks, but changing a flat isn't so bad when it's sunny out...

... and when you have a buddy to help you pump!

At home, it's back to the grind, and as you can see by the forecast displayed above, back to the rain. It's not all doom and gloom, however. Once in a while it stops raining long enough to fit in a mostly precipitation-free ride. On Saturday, Ryan and I hit SFU and only got drizzled and hailed on a little.... Sunday Leah and I weren't so lucky. How about 4 degrees and pouring? Oh, and how about a little bit of wind (50kph gusts) and snow at higher elevations. We were going to ride Triple Crown on Burke, but we hit snow and weren't able to get traction on the climb... so we turned around and rode Frank's instead before packing it in and opting for hot soup at home. Thanks Mom! :-)

Here are some photos from pre-monsoon rides this fall, when forecasts read more like: "cloudy with a 60% chance of showers" (believe me, this is much more favourable than "rain at times heavy").

Catherine "Viper" and Matt stop by on their way home from Victoria for a sunny MTB ride in Port Moody.

The Local Ride gang of dirt lovers hit up Red Mountain in Mission (l-r): Ryan, Paul, Jean Ann, Jeanine, Mike, Sandra.

Pumpkin Cross and More Fall Fun

2009-10-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

(l-r) Chelsea Bilsbarrow (Local Ride Racing) 4th, Joele Guynup (Island Racing) 2nd, Jean Ann McKirdy (Local Ride Racing) 1st, Sandra Walter (Local Ride Racing) 3rd.

Last Sunday, Local Ride Bike Shop hosted the annual Pumpkin Cross cyclocross race - a Halloween-themed event with scary racing, a free kids' race and great prizes, including Best Costume. It's a total blast and this year's edition was no exception. The Local Ride Racing gang got up super early to mark out a very tricky and entertaining course - thanks to the Maple Ridge Equi-Sport Centre for the use of their cross country field by the North Alouette River. With obstacles like the "Coffin," the "Spooky Forest," and some integrated horse jumps, it was a howling good time!

Local Ride Elite Women's MTB Team's Jean Ann took her second victory in as many days (she also won convincingly at BC Cup #4 in Port Coquitlam on Saturday), chalking up another BC Cup win and adding to her BC Cup Series lead. Dressed as the "Jean-Animal," she played it cool on the first lap, testing her two hangers-on, Joele Guynup of Island Racing and her Local Ride team mate, Sandra. Jean Ann and Joele upped the pace on lap two to shed Sandra (who was dressed up as Super Clean Girl - her own superhero creation), and later the Jean-Animal would attack Joele to take the lead, and eventually, victory.

Sandra makes a special appearance as Super Clean Girl!

Disappointingly, Sandra did not win the people's choice Costume Award. "I guess people are just afraid of what they don't understand," she said. "They chose the Incredible Hulk instead of my original creation. That's okay, I'll try again next year."

For more photos and results, click here.

The Local Ride Racing crew gets ready for Pumpkin Cross 2009!

The Friday before Pumpkin Cross, it's tradition at Local Ride to have a special evening of pumpkin carving and pizza eating.

Jean Ann carves the Local Ride pumpkin!

Sandra's Kicking Horse Coffee pumpkin - thanks for the caffeinated support KHC!

Nothing tops pizza and pumpkin carving!

Also on the menu this fall: fun mountain bike rides! Fall is the best time of year to tear up the trails and spend some quality time on the mountain bike - without a heart rate monitor, but with good friends. Last Sunday - after Saturday's discovery of a new whoop-worthy trail on Burke with Paul and Jeanine - Sandra and Ryan sped up to Whistler in the Subaru for a bout with Comfortably Numb - a 20-something kilometre demanding singletrack epic replete with rocks, roots and twisty trail. Sandra has also been exploring the trails in her backyard and has made some exciting discoveries in the form of new paths and chanterelle mushrooms... mmm....

Sandra nearly tossed her Xprezo off a cliff on the Comfortably Numb Trail: "This trail is not comfortable at all!" Luckily she realized how much she really loves her bike before she let go....

Ryan and Sandra at the end of Comfortably Numb.

Wild Burke Mountain chanterelles... exquisite!

More Wonderful Adventures with Sandra and her Xprezo (and Jeanine)

2009-10-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

I am the opposite of a homebody. As much as I love my digs (I still live in the house where I grew up right on the edge of wilderness - my backyard is a temperate rain forest filled with trails!), I tend to get restless easily. Case in point: less than a week after I got back from the European World Cups followed immediately by a week in Vegas, I was off to discover the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon with my best friend and LRR sista, Jeanine.

The drive down to Oregon went smoothly, courtesy of Jeanine's trusty Yaris named Ronnie and our bikes were safely installed on her brand new Yakima StickUp hitch-mount rack (nice rack, Jeanine)! We were bid farewell the previous evening by our Local Ride Bike Shop and race team colleagues at B.O.C., so it was bound to be a great trip.

On arrival in the town of Hood River, OR, we made ourselves a home in the virtually deserted Tucker County Park campground in the "Pine" campsite, right beside the rushing Hood River. Then we ventured into town for some coffee and exploration. Paul had given us the inside scoop, and we found "Ground" open and welcoming, offering a very acceptable Americano and free wifi.

We happened to be in town for some exciting festivities: The Hood River Hops Festival was well underway, and after being ID'd twice each, we were allowed to imbibe in the sweet, local nectar. Then it was off to a yummy pasta dinner cooked on the camp stove, followed by bedtime, during which we braved a very intense rain storm that left a puddle in the tent and wet sleeping bag on Jeanine's side. Hmm, very suspect.... The day dawned sunny, however, and those were to be the only raindrops of the entire trip.

That day, after the requisite coffee (Kicking Horse Three Sisters roast brought from home - yum!) and stick-to-your-ribs porridge for breakfast, we decided to check out the Mt. Hood National Forest area, where Paul had promised lay some amazing, epic pieces of singletrack. The trailhead was about a 35-mile drive away, and as Ronnie ascended, we were stunned to find traces of snow on the roadside. As we neared 1000m in elevation, the snow got deeper and had collected quite nicely on the unplowed road. We finally decided to turn around after realizing there was still a ways to ascend to the trailhead and the snow was only getting deeper. Not only could Ronnie get into trouble, how were we going to ride in 1/2 a foot of snow?!

When we returned to home base, we made the decision to ride in the Post Canyon area near town - at a much lower elevation. After lots of paved and gravel road climbing, which took us through apple orchards, and a wrong turn or 10, we finally hit the motherlode: a great network of trails near town built for mountain biking fun! There were quite a few moto and quad riders around as the user groups share the area, but we did get on a bunch of mountain bike only trails that were groomed, fast, and swoopy, with some built up berms, bridges, logs, teeter totters, and skinnies. Wheeee! Later in the day, when moto traffic was low, we tried out some of "their" trails, and found ourselves grinning, railing, and whooping as we careened downhill. Wow, my Xprezo felt better than ever - I love that bike!

The next day dawned clear, crisp, and sunny again. Instead of chancing it high up, since the snow really wouldn't have had much time to melt, we took up another of Paul's suggestions: we rode the 4.5-mile section of scenic historic highway (open only to pedestrian and bicycle traffic) that runs along the Columbia River. It was a beautiful golden autumn morning as we cruised to Mosier. From there, we headed up a very long gravel road, which we thought was Paul's off-road route back to Hood River, but after about half an hour of steady climbing, we met with a dead end. Oops! We then descended back into Mosier and asked the friendly barista at 10 Speed Cafe East if he knew the route. As he brewed us a couple of delicious Americanos (oh, the crema was beautiful!), he asked: "Do you have 'cross bikes?" Now when is the last time you were in a cafe and had the barista as you whether you had a 'cross bike - or even known what a 'cross bike was? That's the kind of place we were in. Anyway, he gave us directions, and after enjoying our drinks outside in the sunshine, we continued on our way up Husky Rd.

It was a long climb, and Paul had warned as much, so we were ready. Husky Rd. became gravel quite early on and had a very manageable grade for steady climbing. At one point, after close to an hour of ascending, we hit an intersection - Elders Rd. went to the right and Husky continued climbing to the left. Jeanine wanted to take Elders, but I swore the barista hadn't said anything about that road. He'd said to "follow Husky to the top." Did I mention I'd forgotten Paul's map with the route clearly marked? So we climbed for about another 30 minutes or more, and once I'd eaten half of my last fruit bar, I decided to pull the plug. Jeanine was trailing and looked on the way to being wrecked. We were both running out of water. Frustrated, (I HATE BACKTRACKING - pet peeve), we descended back to Mosier and took the historic highway back to our car. Later, when we checked the map, it was indeed Elders Rd. that would have looped us back to Hood River. Yes, Jeanine, you were right. There, you have it in writing, and published too!

The rest of the week brought more crystal clear days, delicious campsite meals (local mushroom risotto, elk burgers, local cheeses, grapes, wines and beer...), scenic and epic snowy rides in the Mt. Hood National Forest, post-ride milkshakes, and memorable dinners at the local Mexican joint - Hood River Taquira (try the tacos al pastor), and Nora's Fish House - the must-try place where you can savour local specialties like homemade gnocchi with brown butter and chantrelles and cappuccino creme brulee.

All of a sudden, it was Friday, and we were packing up, but not quite heading home. We headed northeast through central Washington and crossed back into Canada via Oroville, WA, and pulled up to my family's cottage in Naramata that night after an all-day drive. Jeanine and I spent the next few days hanging out with my parents and riding our bikes on some super duper trails in the Three Blind Mice network. The weather was beautiful, albeit a little chillier than where we'd been down south. But at least we didn't have to sleep in a tent! After a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, we hitched up our steeds once again and finally turned towards home.

It was a fabulous adventure and I'm looking forward to revisiting the Hood River area sans snow, so I can fully appreciate the plethora of sweet singletrack. The trip was truly a vacation - no races (except with Jeanine) and no set schedule. Now I'm back home and dreaming of my next adventure....

Sandra :)

Jean Ann's Cross Report

2009-10-15T13:16:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy few weeks, with the double header BC Cup on the 3rd and 4th of October, followed by Cross Nationals and the Jim Horner GP of Cross in Edmonton last weekend.

The BC Cup double header was a beautiful weekend. Blue skies, sunshine, and the full Local Ride Racing team out to play on the grassy courses of New Brighton and Vanier Park. The team had great success, with Mike breaking the top 10 in the A's, Junior riders Maggie and Pete finishing 1st and 2nd respectively on both days, and me 2nd on both days.

Last weekend Mike and I made the trip up to Edmonton, to race in the National Championships and the Jim Horner Grand Prix, hosted by Juventus Cycling Club. It was a bit of a shock to the system arriving in Edmonton to sub zero temperatures and snow. I had to re-learn how to dress for the cold. I placed 6th on both days, while Mike was 25th at Nationals, also his first time racing cross outside of BC.

Thanks to Les, Laurie, Hannah, Duncan and Mcayla for standing in the cold to cheer us on, and the Kruschke family for the amazing hospitality and Thanksgiving feast. One highlight of the weekend was seeing Les and Duncan wearing shorts and down jackets during the races on Saturday. They seemed comfortable, but everyone else was freezing! Unfortunately the cold proved a bit much for us, and we brought an unwelcome traveller home with us: the flu. Thankfully, that visitor has been sent on his way, and we are both beginning to feel normal again.

It is now time to start getting the costume ready for Pumpkin Cross, Local Ride's own BC Cup Halloween themed event. The only thing better than winning the race, is winning it in costume.

Here are a couple of photos of the recent activities with Local Ride Racing.

There were a couple of steep icy sections at Nationals. Photo by Patrick Graham.

Paul and Sue show off their new custom Xprezo cross bikes. Paul is loving the disc brakes, and will love them even more come rain and mud!

Training in Golden Ears Park with Andrew and Mike.

Cross Vegas Report and Photos

2009-09-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

Jean Ann took on Vegas less than 24 hours after landing in Sin City after the final UCI MTB World Cup in Austria. Despite jet lag from 2 days straight of travel and a 9-hour time change, the Animal looked fast as she duked it out amongst a very competitive women's field. Barry and Sandra were there for support, running around the convoluted course, cheering her on as she worked her way up the field to 17th after a back-of-the-pack starting position. Nice work Jean Ann! Read her race report on pedalmag.com. Other fellow Canadians were on hand, including Craig Richey (Blue Competition Bicycles) and Tom Skinner (Oak Bay Bikes).

Local Ride Ladies in Vegas!

2009-09-23T06:47:00.001-07:00

Jean Ann and I made it safely to beeeeeeautiful LAS VEGAS last night, after some crazy travel days. Monday consisted of 8 hours in a train (for Jean Ann) or driving (for Sandra) - 800km from Schladming, Austria to Zurich, Switzerland.

After driving in circles for a while looking for our hotel, I finally spotted the Ibis, where I parked and the van spewed its entire contents (luggage, folded cardboard bike boxes, wheels, bike frames) onto the asphalt. Sam (Privateer Project Participant) and I then hopped into the van and embarked on another epic adventure called: "Navigate a minivan through dead end streets, alleys, one-ways, rush hour traffic and rude Swiss drivers in search of a bike box located in a bicycle store that may or may not still be open in an alley somewhere in downtown Zurich without a GPS or a clue of which direction you're headed." The only things you get to take with you are a free map and convoluted Google Maps directions and a co-pilot who is under the weather, has forgotten her reading glasses, and whose strengths do not include map-reading (sorry Sam).

Oh boy. This task seriously was my biggest challenge of the trip (up there with fitting 4 large duffel bags, 4 bike frames, 3 bike boxes, various backpacks and personal items, four grown cyclists, and 10 - yes 10! - wheels into a tiny minivan, albeit the boyz took care of that one with a pro packing job). I honestly thought we would never find the bike shop and I was ready to call it a day, but Sam was insistent. After hitting several dead ends, we finally ditched the vehicle and headed on foot. Success! Transa Bike was still open and they had kindly set aside the largest bike box I have ever seen in my life just for us. Thanks guys! Sam and I then walked back to the car, carrying said box (window man style, except luckily it wasn't made of glass), where we had to fold it to fit it in the Mistubuishi van. Finding the way back to the hotel was surprisingly and thankfully easy, but then it was time to pack bikes, which along with cleaning bikes and toilets, is among my least favourite activities.

The reward waiting for us after that was a dinner on the town courtesy of Pedal Magazine - thank you! However, getting to that point was another adventure all its own. After receiving some very simple directions from the hotel receptionist ("On leaving the hotel, walk straight ahead for 10 minutes and you'll hit the tram line, which leads downtown"), we apparently walked 13 minutes in the wrong direction. I then asked a polite Zurich youth - who even had the courtesy to take out his iPod headphones to help me - for directions. Note, this is the first time I had to ask for directions all adventure! Not bad, I think. Not quite as good as a man, but not bad for a lady.

The Zurich youth instructed us to walk about 15 minutes in another direction, which proved the correct one. I proudly figured out the tramway map and identified which tram line to take. We were in the process of buying tickets for the ride downtown when we realized we did not have enough change between the four of us for four tickets. By this time, it was already nearing 9:00 pm and we were in a bit of a deserted suburb of Zurich, where nothing was open. 24-hour gas stations and convenience stores are not a dime a dozen like in good ol' North Am, so it wasn't a simple matter. By this time, we were bonking and getting hangry. To top it off, Sam was sickly with a nasty cold and looked about ready to keel over. Add in a close shave with a bus and some rapid spiders and it was all I could do to keep the chaos from taking over.

I was insistent that we keep on truckin'. I started begging for change. It wasn't exactly begging, though, because I actually had money to give them in return for the change, but you know what I mean. No one had change, but one lady suggested we head another 5 minutes up the road to an area of town where things might still be open. Note the amount of time we had been walking and the fact that we all had icky post-race, post-travel sensations in our legs. Ugh. We did it, though, and at the top of the hill, a pizza and donair joint beckoned like a warm fire on a cold, cold night. We busted in there, ordered up a pizza margherita (just plain ol' cheese - Sam's fav) and Pete requested a cuppa "heisse Schokolade" to keep him going. I don't think I've ever seen a man drink so much hot chocolate. Quite impressive (not that hot chocolate isn't a manly drink).

After the much-needed sustenance and a transaction that resulted in change, we walked back to the tram line, successfully purchased tickets, and climbed onto the next tram. Whew. Eric then asked "What do we do with our tickets?" He was a little annoyed when I informed him, that Swiss transit works on the honour system, and ticket checks are random. But at least my conscience was clear and I was able to sleep that night because of it.

Once off the train downtown, it didn't take us long to find the action. A small, diagonal cobblestone alley open only to pedestrian traffic was hopping with music and people drinking on outside patios. It was a fascinating melange of establishments: English pubs, strip clubs, calculator shops, fast food sushi joints, trendy clothing stores, and busy restaurants. We walked the strip, taking in some culture and selected a restaurant with dark wooden tables and a high concentration of younger people, as opposed to the place next door with a clientele made up almost entirely of grey-haired men. Finally seated, we ordered a bottle of Valpolicello and an antipasti platter, while I translated the menu. Ahhh, that meal was incredibly satisfying. Sam decided on - surprise, surprise - pizza margherita! Pete had a paleo meal of "woodcutter" steak and salad, and Eric splurged on a loaded burger with fries and salad, while I opted for the club sandwich, celebrating the end of my season with bacon! We hung out there for quite a while, chatting, decompressing, and reminiscing about the good times had by all on the Canadian Privateer Project presented by Pedal Magazine.

Afterwards, we walked back towards the tram station, imbibed in M&M McFlurries for dessert, and rode the rails back to our hotel, where we dove into bed.

Tuesday morning, we loaded up the free hotel shuttle and the Mitsubuishi with all of our gear and headed to the airport. Sam and I did some airport shopping, where she bought a SIGG aluminum bottle (very Swiss) and we ate Birchermuesli for breaksfast (also Swiss) and loaded up our carry-ons with chocolate (Swiss). I also bought my requisite almond croissant from Steiner Beck (mmmm) and purchased 6 fresh truffes du jour from Spruengli (as in Lindt & Spruengli). The flavour of the day was rose petal. I shared these amazing orbs of delight with my good, chocolate-loving friends Jean Ann and Amanda on the flight and we shared minutes of quiet bliss as the treats melted on our tongues. Like eating roses dipped in chocolate, but without the fiber.... Ohhhhh yeahhhhh....

8 hours later, we disembarked and I had to say goodbye to the three people I'd shared the past two weeks with. People who I'd hardly known at the outset, but turned into very good friends and enjoyable company when all was said and done. Thanks Pete, Sam, and Eric for the fun times. It was a very cool to share the experience with all of you! Another 8 hours parked in TO airport and then a 4-hour flight and finally Jean Ann and I arrived at our hometown of the week - Vegas baby!

As I write, I'm sitting in our hotel room (the Animal, is still slumbering in anticipation of Crossvegas this evening)! I have yet to venture out, but it's a little scary. Already boarding the plane, I felt out of place with my mussed travel hair, yoga pants, and lack of make-up, dangly hoop earrings, and high heels. I'm excited about the upcoming experiences, however, and will look for an outlet store where I can maybe buy a Vegas-worthy outfit. Perhaps I will even attempt to apply some lip gloss and eye makeup? Don't colour outside the lines!

Keep checking up on us for more after Jean Ann rocks Crossvegas and we take on Interbike and the City that Never Sleeps! Over and Out. - Sandra :)

Europe in Point Form

2009-09-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

-We are tired
-In theTO arirport for 8 hrs.
-Point form report.
-Switzerland really does make the best chocolate ("I told you so" says Sandra).
- Obigatory almond croissant. Check.
-Fondue. Check.
-Rose truffels taste like chocolate covered roses (don't ask us how we know what chocolate covered roses taste like).
-The Austrians are good at climbing.
- So is Sandra. She climbed with the goats in Schladming and placed 37th.
- She also has four currencies in her wallet.
-Night out on the town in Zurich. Check.
-The Animal is getting psyched for Cross Vegas. But she needs to sleep first.
- 5 countries in 2 days. Check.
- Rode the Eurorail with 13 other lucky Canucks.
-Sandra drove the "elite" squad Mitsubuishi.
-Homemade ghetto rope roofrack included.
- An entire Austrian post race beer. Check.
- Pro Local Ride Race support and cheering squad. Thanks Paul! You rock!

- Europe in two weeks. Success.

Champery Word Cup Update

2009-09-18T01:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of photos of Sandra and Jean Ann racing the World Cup in Champery SWI. Rain the day before made the course slick, and with lots of technical descending it was fun-in-the-mud.

Sandra had her best World Cup race of the season, and placed 35th, while Jean Ann came in 43rd.

Tomorrow the two will hit the mountainside of Schladming Austria, for the final World Cup of the season. It looks to be a climber's course, with lots of grassy slick descending and plentiful mud.

Jean Ann's race report here

Coffee in Switzerland

2009-09-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

It is almost as good as the chocolate, not quite, but almost. Here I am sipping a fresh cup (courtesy of Sandra) and enjoying the view of the Swiss Alps. The mountains here are steep, with roads and villages built right into the mountainsides. Beautiful and picturesque Switzerland.

The race course here is great. Lots of steep chutes, rooty singletrack and steep rocky descents. It is a short lap though, at about 4km, so lap times will be quick. So far things are dry, with only a few damp sections. The forecast is for showers, so we see how how the course holds up. I did a couple of laps today on the new lime green Sub 5, by Xprezo. It was great to be on 100mm of travel (front and rear), on the loose rocky descents. Totaly enjoyable.

There is a strong Canadian contingent here, with 12 racers on the National Team project, four on the Canadian Privateer project organized by Sandra, all of those in addition to those racing with trade teams.

Sandra here, gruezi from Switzerland! It's so nice to be back in my second home country. I arrived here a few days earlier, so I had time to visit my aunt and uncle (who will be coming out to cheer on their favourite Canadians on Sunday) and spend time with my grandparents. I also rode around my old haunts and took advantage of the stellar weather and beautiful views. I picked up my fellow Canadian "privateers" at the airport yesterday and we drove down to Champery, race venue of World Cup #7 this Sunday. We are staying in a homey condo with a view of the imposing Dents du Midi. I'm lovin' being the tour guide here and tasting the plethora of yogurt flavours, chocolates and cheeses. Ah, culinary heaven!

I'm pretty pumped for the race. As Jean Ann mentioned, the course is a blast, with all its twists and turns in the mossy singletrack in the woods. That's it for now. More after the race.....

Back Across the Pond

2009-08-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

The mountain bike season is drawing to a close, but not without one last hurrah. Sandra and Jean Ann are heading back to Europe to finish the race season with the final two World Cups. They will be racing in Champerey SWI on the 12th and 13th, and Schladming AUS on the 19th and 20th. They are both looking forward to finishing the season off strong, in an international field.

For these final two races, Sandra has stepped up, along with Pedal Magazine, to help more riders get the opportunity to race in Europe. She is pooling resources, her extensive experience, local knowledge, fluency in German, and management skills to organize a cost-effective, hassle-free, and fun trip - the inaugural Canadian Privateer Project presented by Pedal, September 9-21. For more information on the project go to pedalmag.com.

After being out of commission, after an injury sustained in a crash during Canada Cup #4 and sitting out a good part of the season, Jean Ann is thrilled to finish the summer with some World Cup racing. She will be competing as a member of the National Team at these races.

Sandra’s U.S. Cup XC #5 - Race Report - August 7 - Mt. Snow, VT

2009-08-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

The drive to Vermont on Thursday with Amanda and Kaesy turned into a 12-hour adventure of its own, including Sheila the GPS taking us on some interesting routes, several pee stops (maybe I shouldn’t have made it a six-espresso day!), and the revelation of the short cup at Starbucks. My first experience with the eastern U.S. has been pretty good. It’s very pretty over here, with lots of green rolling hills and quaint towns that could have been copied directly from the Gilmore Girls.

Amanda and I moosing around in Hoosick, New York.

Vermont felt quite rushed, as we arrived late Thursday night and the race was on Saturday. I only pre-rode one lap of the course on Friday, which was just enough to get a taste of the steep, loose fire road climbs and rooty, rocky singletrack. Several mud puddles ensured there would be no chance of staying clean.

I was pumped for the race as I lined up on Saturday morning under sunny skies and to the thumping beats of pre-race music and an enthusiastic announcer at the line. I felt awesome at the start, easily surging into the top five on the first pitch only to hear Kika busting out the “wooh wooh!” of the Canadian train beside me. Nice! I stayed in contact with the world-class ladies at the front (Kika, Georgia, Katerina, Willow, Heather) into the first singletrack, but eventually had to settle into a manageable pace.

I'm having fun (and so is my ponytail)!

This was finally a race where everything came together - good legs, motivated mind, solid bike handling (although when I got tired in the final two laps of four, those started to go a little…), and no flat tires! I held onto my top 10 position for most of the race, battling it out with many ladies, until the final lap, where birthday girl Zephanie threw down an attack I could no longer respond to. She snagged 10^th and I had to settle for a hard-fought 11^th.

Maybe I paid for my super start effort with some fading at the end, but it was worth it to ride near the front! The nagging deep lung cough for the rest of the day and night reassured me that I had given it my all. Check out www.velonews.com for the Mt. Snow race coverage and a muddy portrait of a smiling post-race me!

The day after the race, I met up with Amanda, Kaesy, and Peter for a skills clinic on the Mt. Snow 4X course. Our instructor, Jay, was awesome, and we definitely benefitted from practicing pumping, cornering, and jumping. We even raced (I won)!

It's a race! Amanda and I racing down the 4X course on Sunday.

Now I’m chilling in a farm house near Windham, NY, doing things like riding my bike (shocking!) and having ice cream and espresso for breakfast (gasp)! I discovered something wonderful at an Italian deli here: espresso soda called Manhattan Special. That also tastes yummy over vanilla ice cream. Mmmmmmmmm…. I race this Saturday in the U.S. Cup final here at Windham Mountain!

Sandra’s World Cup XC #6 - Race Report - August 2 - Bromont, QC

2009-08-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

After some inspirational words from Luna team manager, Waldek, I had my “Grrr” face on for World Cup #6 in Bromont, QC, and I was ready to rumble when the field shot off the start and up the initial 3.5km climb. I felt confident on the 6km course’s many slimy technical sections, and was sure my Bromont demons from 2008 had been exorcised. After a tricky start from a back-of-the-pack call-up, I powered my way into the 20’s, passing riders all through the first lap until the demons reared their ugly heads. I entered the steep, rocky S-turn descent that I’d mastered during training and, with a sinking feeling, experienced déjà vu when my front tire rolled off the rim and immediately went flat. I attempted to re-inflate the tire, but failed, so I rode and ran the flat the remaining 2km to the tech zone at the base of the climb, where Steve and Eric replaced my wheel.

This is me trying to catch up after getting a wheel change. Photo: Marie Devantier

The identical thing happened in the exact same spot at the Bromont World Cup last year, so I was not happy. Once I hopped back on my bike, I focused on the task of catching up, knowing I’d lost a lot of time. I steadily reeled in riders over the next two laps, but was pulled after three laps as the leaders were just about to come through. It was a frustrating experience for me, since I felt on track for a great result, but there’s always another race.

Thanks to Marie and everyone else out there for the encouragement, and to the guys at Xprezo for the tech support and positive energy, and SRAM for the fancy new hollow-pin chain after I bent mine in pre-ride.

Jean Ann is Back on the Bike - And Loving It!

2009-08-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

After an extended period of time off, due to that nasty crash that I had in the Edmonton Canada Cup in June, I was happy to get back on the bike and try out my first mountain bike race since the incident. My friends at Golden Ears Physiotherapy had taken excelent care of me, in rehabing my injury, and with my back 100%, once again, I decided it was time to try out a race.

I headed over to Mount Washington for the BC Cup, with my teammate Ryan, Friday morning, and had a fun time trying to keep up to him on our two lap pre ride. When I asked him what intensity he was riding, he said ofhandedley "oh maybe 60%". Ouch, maybe this was going to hurt me more than I had thought.

The course was in excellent condition, perfectly dry. The last time I had raced at Mount Washington was at the National Championships in 2007, in which the course was slimey with mud and had me running up all of the climbs. Everything was rideable, and so fun.

On race day, the elite women started at the back of the men's field. Catherine Short and Joele Guynup, the current BC Cup leader, set the pace for the start, and then I started setting my own pace up the climb. My climbing legs were pretty good, and was able to start getting a gap right away. From there I was able to slowly extend my lead. It was a short race, only three laps, which had me finishing in about 1h and 15 minutes, nine minutes ahead of second place. I was pleased with this, since I came into the race unsure of my fitness and riding abilities after so much time off the bike. Joele came in second place, with Catherine Short close behind. Joele retains her BC Cup leader's jersey.

Another hilight of the race, was when my teammate Ryan came by me mid race with the lead Master's group. He was looking strong, and came through for his first Expert class win. The other Local Ride Racer there, Chelsea Bilsbarrow, also came through for a win in the Expert Women's class, making it 3 for 3 in the team gold medal count. Ryan is now sitting 2nd in the BC Cup series, and riding strong. We are all rooting for him in the upcommiong BC Cup finals in Sun Peaks on the 22nd.

Ryan showing off some gold.

Pickle won the Expert Women's category.

It was a fun weekend, and great to be back on the bike and able to race again. I will be doing a couple more local races, mostly on the road, in August, and then looking to a full and fun cyclocross season this fall.

Sandra’s World Cup XC #5 - Race Report - July 26 - Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC

2009-07-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

Once again, I made the lonely trip East after a couple of quality weeks at home in sunny, hot BC, where I got to ride my local trails in prime condition. Quebec had been faced with weeks of rain, which ensured the MSA course was slimy and its many roots, rocks, and twists were slick. Pre-riding the course, my legs felt great on the pedaling sections, but I was feeling tentative on the technical. I’ve been spoiled by such a dry summer, I’ve nearly forgotten how to ride wet trails!

Check out my "Grrr face"! Photo: Martin Moreau/www.eyeofglass.com

The skies opened up right before our start, but luckily I had my trusty support team of Steve and Marie to take my rain jacket and see me off on my four-lap, 24km race. I started quite far back in the field, and the start would prove to be super important, as changes to the course meant we hit singletrack bottlenecks early on in the first lap. I felt good, but had a hard time navigating through traffic on my way up the ranks. By the time I entered the first singletrack, a traffic jam meant I had to dismount, and in the second bit of singletrack, we were at a standstill as we waited our turn to continue the race. This was a bit frustrating, but eventually things sorted themselves out, and I was back on my way.

Photo: Martin Moreau/www.eyeofglass.com

For the first two laps, I felt like I’d forgotten how to ride my bike. Every root that it was possible to slip on, I slipped on. Every rock it was possible to ram, I rammed. I was pretty frustrated with myself, because I knew I had the skills to ride all that stuff. Luckily I was pleased with my climbing legs, although I’m questioning whether I took full advantage of them. Could I have pushed that extra bit harder? I hate second-guessing myself, but I think racers are all the same. We’re always aiming to be faster, so it’s natural to try to find spots to improve.

Photo: Martin Moreau/www.eyeofglass.com

On the final two laps, I got my groove back. The course was much easier to ride when it rained harder, as it cleared mud off of roots and rocks and kept the wet earth more liquidy rather than peanut buttery. For most of the race, I battled back and forth with Xprezo team rider M.C. Surprenant, who was flying on the descents and generally out-riding me technically. I had better legs, however, and managed to finally shake her near the end of the last lap.

I finished the race in 36th spot - a vast improvement over my disappointing early-season Euro World Cups, but still not where I want to be. Once again, the racer mentality, but I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing, if I didn’t believe I can get better. I’m motivated by the fact that my form is on the up and up, and I’m really enjoying riding my bike! I’m currently in Bromont, QC, getting ready for this Sunday’s World Cup, and I love the course! Yesterday it was muddy and slick for the pre-ride, but I seem to have found my mojo again!

Sandra’s National Championships - Race Report - July 11 - St-Félicien, QC

2009-07-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

Going into Nationals, I had no idea what to expect of myself, since race day was exactly a week after I finished the seven-day epic BC Bike Race. I knew I wouldn’t be completely recovered, yet on the other hand, I had just ridden nearly 400km of singletrack in one week - very handy on a course that was heavy on twisty, skinny trails.

Photo: Martin Moreau/www.eyeofglass.com

I arrived in St-Félicien late on Thursday, after a long flight to Montreal, followed by a six-hour solo drive north through the woods to the Lac Saint-Jean region. When I arrived, I was chaperoned to the small, hand-built cabin in the woods, only 1km from the race course that was to be my home for the next four nights. Originally, I planned on travelling and bunking with the two other fast women on the team, Jean Ann and Bianca, but the former was still not up to race form after her back injury, and the latter was ill. So it was all up to me to represent the squad.

I loved the 6.5km twisty, technical course that was almost identical to the one I rode at the 2007 World Cup, where I logged my best World Cup result of my career to date. One of the only additions was a waterfall to ride under - a very neat feature. The organizers and trail crew did an amazing job of building and maintaining the course in the Tobo-Ski area, with beautifully manicured berms, bridges, and rock structures, and everyone was raving about the loop, which was also set up perfectly for spectators.

On race morning during my warm up, I went by my cabin for one final pit stop and a new bottle. I was only inside for a minute, when I heard a thump on the porch. I glanced out toward the window and saw that my blue Xprezo was still there, so I didn’t think anything of it. I stepped outside and put my shoes on, followed by my left glove - but where was my right glove? I could have sworn I had taken it off at the same time as the other, but there was only one glove on the porch. Maybe I had taken it off inside…. I proceeded to search the entire cabin, followed by the outside perimeter, but no sign of my right white Time glove. I started thinking of suspects, with the black bear I had sighted, and the puppy that had jumped all over me with muddy paws at the top of my list. I didn’t have time to search any longer, so I hopped on my bike and pedaled back to the race site, where I sought out Keith (my coach), and exclaimed: “The puppy stole my glove!” and raised my naked right hand as proof.

Okay, back to the race… After I donned a borrowed glove of Catharine’s I lined up with the relatively small field of elite women who had travelled north for Nationals, and we raced off under heavy, humid skies on our first of four laps. I had a pretty slow start, coming through in ninth after the first lap, but I was loving the course, looking forward to almost every upcoming section as I rode, especially the “Bike Park,” which consisted of built up rock structures, fast berms, and a pump section.

Throughout the race, I didn’t feel bad, my legs were just a bit flat. I was efficient and smooth in the singletrack and steady on the climbs, but I lacked that punch I needed to stay with people who passed, and to bridge up to those I saw up ahead. I managed to battle up to seventh spot, which I held through to the end - a solid ride for me, which is not bad considering the huge amount of fatigue from the stage race. Once I get fully recovered, I’ll be flying! Thanks to Steve for the feed, Kika for the glove, and Keith, Dan, Johanna, Bruce, Jane, Eric, Elizabeth, Duncan, and everyone else for the cheers. Huge congrats to Catharine on her first National Championship victory - woohoo!

Local Ride Racing at BC BikeRace

2009-07-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

Last week Sandra teamed up with Local Ride Racing brother Steve Devantier to take on BC Bike Race, which boasts seven days some of the best singletrack BC has to offer. They both raced hard, and had a lot of fun ripping it up on the trails in North Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Squamish and finaly Whistler. They finished 4th in the mixed category, against an internationally competitive field. Daily race reports were written by the team and can be viewed at PedalMag.com.

Day 0
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day4
Day5
Day6
Day 7

Also check out Steve's Garmin data for the individual stages at Local Ride.

Bianca 7th in Canmore Canada Cup #5

2009-06-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

On June 20th Bianca had her best Canada Cup race of the season, to finish 7th in the pro/elite category in Canmore AB. This is an excellent result, especially since this is her first year in the category and she was racing in an internationally competitive field. She finished just under seven minutes off of leader Emily Batty, and was the 3rd U23 woman. The team is ecstatic for her, and we are looking forward to all racing together in the National Championships in Saint Felicien QC, on the 11th and 12th of July.

Bianca getting ready to climb like a mountain goat. Photo by Ron Adolf.

And look at her go! Canmore's long climbs and technically demanding singletrack were a great match for Bianca's skills: she is an excellent climber, and fast and experienced on the rooty descents. Photo by Patrick Graham. Thank you Patrick!

Here is Bianca's Race Report:

This race was a blast! It turned out to be one of my best of the season. Going into this race I wasn't really sure what to expect. I didn't set any specific goals, I was just going to do my best. After the last two races (Mt. Tremblant, Quebec and Hardwood Hills, Ontario), which I was kind of disappointed with I really wanted (and needed!) to have a good race. Heading to the race I was really excited, this was my favorite course in the Canada Cup circuit. In the past two years I had done quite well in this race. Even though I was confident I could ride this course well, I wasn't sure how I was going to place against the other more experienced riders in my new category, but it was a good race right off the line. Normally, starts aren't my strength, but I was quite happy with this one. In the first 20 seconds of the race I was holding a solid top six position! Not sure if I was going to be able to maintain it, I settled into a good, comfortable (but tough!) pace. Throughout the entire race I did a bit of switching positions with a few other riders and ended up finishing 7th overall, 3rd U23. I would have loved to place in the top five, but 7th was already an improvement over the past two races were I placed 11th. Cant wait to race on this course again next year, but next up is Nationals in Quebec!

Rollercoaster June

2009-06-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

The Local Ride Elite Women's MTB Team has definitely experienced its fair share of ups and downs this month. We'll start with the good news:

1. Local Ride's 3 Fast Women are back home in B.C.

2. On June 6, Jean Ann and Sandra, along with their Local Ride Racing brothers and sisters Paul, Sue, Ryan J., and Jeanine, congregated in beautiful Squamish for a Test of Metal pre-ride. The weather was pleasant, the trails were phenomenal, the company was fabulous, and the post-ride beer, burgers, and yam fries were priceless. Not only was it a great training ride for the Test (www.testofmetal.com), it was a perfect way for Sandra to start the big countdown until BC Bike Race (www.bcbikerace.com). "BC Bike Race is going to be the highlight of my season," she said. "I'm so excited to do it!" BCBR kicks off June 28 in Vancouver. Stay tuned for more updates and info.

3. On June 7, Jean Ann joined Local Ride Racing's women's road team for the TNA Westside Classic BC Cup #1 and played an integral role in team leader Laura Brown's victory. Jean Ann won the first lap prime, along with the Queen of the Mountains prize, and drilled the pace with the help of team mates Chelsea and Shani, which allowed Laura to unleash her devastating sprint to capture the win. Congrats ladies!

4. Jean Ann and Sandra were recently featured in video interviews at www.pedalmag.com! Watch the videos below for insight on Jean Ann and Sandra's racing so far this season, what's up next, and a peek at their beautiful blue Xprezo hardtails.

Jean Ann

Sandra

5. Sandra spent last weekend training with Coach Keith in Kamloops and Revelstoke. "I had a great time rockin' the trails in Kamloops and Revelstoke with Keith," she said. "I'm feeling so good on my bike right now, especially on the singletrack. The Revelstoke trails were super cool and practicing how to ride those fast will really help me in BC Bike Race, which has a tonne of skinny, twisty trails."

6. Jean Ann had a beautiful photo taken of her by Patrick Graham in Edmonton during last weekend's Canada Cup there. Jean Ann was riding well, moving up steadily on the fourth and final lap of the race, with her sights on third place when disaster struck.

Jean Ann missed the "good" line by millimetres on a very tricky, steep, rooty downhill and took a hard fall, landing with her back against a tree. She bravely shook it off, picked herself back up, and attempted to run to the finish, but she only made it about 10m before her back went into spasm, and she needed to be helped off the course courtesy of a friendly spectator, a paramedic, and a quad. She then spent eight hours in Emerg to discover she had badly strained her back.

Luckily nothing is broken. Jean Ann came home early and will not be well enough to contest the Canada Cup in Canmore this Saturday, June 20. Never fear, however, Bianca will be there to represent and make us proud! Jean Ann is in good spirits, however: "I'm obviously bummed this happened, but I'm optimistic I'll be healed and ready to go for all the big races, which don't start until mid-July." Get well soon Jean Ann!

Stay tuned for news after Bianca takes on the Canada Cup XC #5 in Canmore this Saturday. This is an ideal course for Bianca, who is an excellent sustained climber, and a wicked fast technical descender. Sandra will face some stiff competition at the Test on Saturday. Olympian Catharine Pendrel will be on the start line, and rumour has it that MTB legend Alison Sydor will contest as well. Good luck ladies!

Canada Cup XC #3 - Hardwood - Sandra's Race Report

2009-06-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

Jean Ann 2nd, Sandra 5th, Bianca 11th

(l-r) Sandra Walter (Local Ride Women's MTB) 5th, Jean Ann McKirdy 2nd (Local Ride Women's MTB), Emily Batty (Trek Store Toronto) 1st, Mical Dyck (Trek Store Toronto) 3rd, Amanda Sin (3 Rox Racing) 4th

Jean Ann, Bianca, and I lined up for Canada Cup #3 in cold, windy Ontario and it started to hail?!?! What was that all about?! Luckily, after only a brief spate of the white pellets, it just went back to being frigid with whipping winds again, although according to the Weather Network, only about 30 minutes North of Hardwood it actually snowed! Happy May 31, I guess!

I opted for short sleeves despite the weather, as I am generally warm-blooded (she’s hot blooded, hot blooded!) and I knew I would be overheating before the end of the first lap if I kept my arm warmers on. I was stoked to ride the 9km swoopy, fast course, because it had rained quite violently overnight, but that was perfect for the sand-based loop. On pre-ride the day before, it had started to get a little too loose for optimum speed.

Photo: Marek Lazarski
We started the four-lap race in a pack on a wide chip trail. Jean Ann and I got a front-row call-up, so we were in a good position to see what was happening and mark any would-be attackers. I didn’t feel like hammering off the start like last weekend in Tremblant, which was all Jean Ann “The Animal’s” fault. Luckily everyone stayed calm and let Emily set the pace. After a couple of short popper climbs at the beginning, Emily, Mical, and Jean Ann had already created a small gap, and I was kicking myself for letting it form. I was chasing in fourth and I could see them, but I just couldn’t bring them back. I felt amazing on the fast, twisty, buff singletrack. Railing the corners courtesy of my Maxxis Crossmarks, I would almost regain contact with the front three in the tight trees… so darn close to that comfortingly familiar DT Swiss rear wheel with shiny turquoise spoke nipples so lovingly built by the boyz at Local Ride -- that’s Jean Ann’s wheel I’m talking about! Yet, I couldn’t quite make it back.

So there I was, out in the wind, chasing by myself, pursued by my buddy Catherine. Eventually I lost sight of the front trio on the sinuous course, and Catherine passed me, but I latched onto her wheel, hoping to work with her to get a gap on the chasers behind and make up time on the escapees up front (I believe my exact words to her were: “C’mon, let’s do some damage!”).

Photo: Marek Lazarski

Little did I know, Catherine was having mechanical problems that were seriously hindering her. That sucks, dude! I was forced to pass and go it alone. Somewhere along the way, Amanda blew by me at such a fast pace, I couldn’t match it. Too bad I couldn’t, because for the rest of the race, I maintained a steady gap of 15-25 seconds to her that I was just not able to diminish. I saw her almost the entire time, but that short distance just didn’t get smaller, no matter how hard I pushed.

Dawn and Ron were great supporters, giving me splits, cheering me on, and informing me that my team mate, Jean Ann, was in second! That made me smile and motivated me to keep hammering… so I could share the podium with my friend and show off our beautiful new blue Sugoi jerseys (yes, I know we’ve had them for a week now, but they’re seriously never going to get old)!

According to everyone, Jean Ann was just killing it (Kyle Douglas even called her “Killer” when he cheered, and what Ontario race would be complete without Scotty Dawg spurring on “The Jeananimal”?! She finished less than two minutes behind Emily, who has been putting a lot more time into every other second-place finisher of late. I was pleased with my fifth-place ride, but not ecstatic. You know how it is, we competitors always want more. My legs felt like they were starting to come around after last week’s disappointing ride, but I still don’t feel quite like I’m on top form yet… just you all wait until July! But my steel Xprezo hardtail and I were a perfect team on the fun trails that made up much of the course.

Bianca had a solid ride, once again finishing 11th overall and third U23 rider. She should be very proud of herself. She’s riding incredibly consistently, even though she’s been thrown into the deep end of the elite field for her first season in the Senior category.

Thanks to Dawn and Ron for the wonderful place to stay and the great company and support, David and Antoine of Xprezo for the feed and tech support, and everyone out there for cheering! Next race for me is the Test of Metal on June 20. Jean Ann and Bianca will head to Edmonton this weekend for Canada Cup XC #4, followed by Canada Cup XC #5 in Canmore on June 20, while I’m getting pumped and trained up for BC Bike Race, June 28-July 4 - yeah baby!

Sandra :)

Sandra's Top 10 Reasons to Race in Quebec

2009-06-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

I've had the opportunity to race all over the world, but here are my top 10 reasons why racing in Quebec is cool... possibly cooler than in any other province... maybe...? We'll do a top 10 after the Western Canada Cups and have an East vs. West face-off for the final decision... just like the Stanley Cup except with biking and not hockey... and the teams are all Canadian... and it's way better.

So with no further ado, the top 10 reasons to Race in Quebec are:

10. It's the beer, oui?!

9. Quebeckers make serious burgers!

8. "Telemarketing" with new pals.

7. Alternate pronunciations...

6. The race start can be delayed by 20 minutes and the world doesn't end... in fact, you can even get on the podium - all these ladies did!

5. Handsome gentlemen... wait a minute - these yahoos aren't Quebeckers!

That's better...

4. Le Petit Caribou...

3. Maple syrup and cabines au sucre (sugar shacks, baby)!

2. Bilingualism...

1. Getting to hang out with our new Xprezo friends!

Bianca's Canada Cup #2 Report

2009-05-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Bianca raced her first pro/elite Canada Cup in Mont Tremblant last weekend, where she finished 11th overall, and was the third U23 woman. Here is her race report.

Arriving in Quebec on Thursday, I was pretty excited to get on the Mont Trembant course the following day. It would not be my first time riding the course, but I remember loving it! I had raced the exact same course last year only I was a junior. This year would be different, much different. Their were many more women in my category this year, most of them being older, more experienced riders. This made me extremely nervous, it was to be my first elite race at the Canada Cup level. After the pre ride I was relieved to find out the course hadn't changed a bit, other than it being in much better condition than last year due to much less rain in the previous days.

Before I knew it, it was race day. As soon as I arrived at the race I recognized lots of girls from last year, they were also juniors and had made the jump with me to elite.Most of the girls though were definitely not new to the elite category and this was a bit intimidating! Looking around on the start line I had no idea of where in the pack I was going to fit into at the end. This race was going to be longer and more intense than I was used to. Right off the start the women were aggressive and pushed hard. Starting is not a strength of mine so I found the pace tough.

Eventually everyone sorted themselves out and we headed into the single track. Not sure what position I was holding I settled in. Right from the start I could tell I was having an off day. I struggled to keep my balance and my legs just didn't want to go. Somewhat discouraged by what I was feeling in addition to a whole new pack of girls I cant say I was having a ton of fun. Even though I had a tough time keeping my head in the race I managed to keep riding.

Not even half way into the race I was thrown another curve ball, I went down on a bridge which caused the cable in my rear derailleur to slip out. Now I had no gears in the back except for the hardest one. I wasn't sure what to do. I could just suck it up and push through it till the end of the race or visit the tech zone. After realizing how much pushing such a hard gear was sapping my already tired legs I chose to stop in the tech zone. For the first time ever I found myself standing in the tech zone watching all the women I worked hard to pass during the race ride right past me as I was standing still (literally!). After what seemed like an eternity my bike was ready to go. Still not able to shift properly, it would be good enough to at least finish the race.

After three more laps I crossed the finish line, exhausted and pretty happy to be done the race. Personally, I was not happy with my performance. There were many things that I feel I could have done differently. For one, I could have done a much better job of hydrating! I came across the line only to find I had a pounding headache due to the long race in the heat and a lack of water. This was definitely not the best race of my life, but hey, everyone has a bad race once in a while all you can do it learn from them and move on.

Bianca

Canada Cup #2 - Mont Tremblant QC

2009-05-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

Photo by www.cyclingdirt.org Catherine Vipond (4th), Caroline Villeneuve (3rd), Emily Batty (1st), Karine Travaillaud (2nd), Jean Ann McKirdy (5th)

Last Saturday all three members of Local Ride Women's MTB Team were ripping it up in Mont Tremblant. It was the driest and fastest course in memorable Mont Tremblant history, with only the long descent at the end of the lap having significant mud on it. The race was riddled with mechanical issues for many riders, as the rooty, rocky descending at the end of the lap caused many riders to pit. The elite women raced five laps.

After an intense start and an aggressive first three laps of riding in second place, Jean Ann had to settle for fifth after dealing with an untimely flat. Sandra rode in in a solid 9th. Bianca finished 11th in her first Canada Cup in the pro/elite category.

Next Sunday the team will be competing in round three of the Canada Cup, as it moves to Hardwood Hills Ontario.

Sandra making her way up the long gravel climb. Photo by Marek Lazarski.

LOCAL RIDE RACING Update

2009-05-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

Local Ride at the Races

Jean Ann and Sandra 4th and 5th in Canada Cup #1

2009-05-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

Canada Cup #1 kicked off in Baie Saint Paul QC this Sunday, and both members of Local Ride Racing's Women's MTB Team in attendance were on the podium. Jean Ann finished 4th, with Sandra close behind in 5th.

After what appeared to be heavy rain the night before, the course was actually relatively dry and in good condition. Sunshine, wind and the morning races dried the track out for our 12pm start.

The race start seemed reasonable, after the intense World Cup starts a couple of weeks ago. Emily, Catherine, Amanda, Sandra and Jean Ann all hit the singletrack together, but after about half a lap the order of the top four was established. Sandra picked off a couple of riders in the first half of the race to reach her 5th position, after a mechanical issue in the first lap.

Next Saturday all three members of the team will be racing Canada Cup #2 in Mont Tremblant QC.

Double Good News

2009-05-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

1. It is raining in Baie Saint Paul QC...which means that the Canada Cup #1 tomorrow will be a muddy one. Lots of slick roots and rocks should make the race an interesting one. Elite women are doing 4 laps, men 5 laps.

Previews:
Pedalmag.com
Cyclingdirt.org

2. New kits are in!!! They just arrived at the shop on Wednesday from Sugoi, and are beautiful. We can't wait to race in them. Unfortunately they did not make it all the way to Quebec for Sandra and Jean Ann in Canada Cup #1, but we should be sporting them next weekend. One more race in the retro kit, then bye bye brick...Check them out.

Bianca Wins the Rat Race, Jean Ann 2nd in O-Cup #2

2009-05-14T18:14:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Local Ride Elite Women's MTB Team was ripping it up back in Canada. Bianca won the Rat Race BC Cup in Gibson BC, while Jean Ann mixed it up by racing the O-Cup, put on by Chiko Racing in Albion Hills ON.

Jean Ann placed 2nd in a competitive field of riders, behind Emily Batty and just ahead of Catherine Vipond. Meanwhile Bianca wowed herself and the team, with her first pro race win, in her first pro race ever. Check out Bianca's race report below, as well as some photos from the Ontario Cup.

BIANCA'S RACE REPORT

This year I decided to do the Rat Race on the Sunshine Coast, this would be my first race in the pro/elite category. On top of being in a new category, I hadn't pre-ridden the course, this made me nervous! The whole day started off a little bit rough. Arriving at the race site with not to much time to spare I went to sign up (I missed the cut off by half an hour the night before!) only to find out that my license would not allow me to race pro. About to race in the open citizen category, Steve Lund came to the rescue and upgraded my license. So all was good again! With no time to spare, I hopped on the trainer to do my usual pre race warm up. Not even having the time to finish my warm up it was time to head to the start line. Even though there were only about five other women, they were pretty intimidating... they were older, all in full team kits and no doubt more experienced racers! But to my surprise (and relief!) it wasnt long till I was in the lead. I was so excited to be leading my first pro race! My legs were feeling great and I was confident that I could maintain my position till the end. Not far into the last lap, my chain broke! I didn't really know what to do, I'd never had a mechanical during a race before and I had no idea how far back the other racers were! I knew how to fix a chain, but I want sure if I had the time. I decided to just continue thinking the rest of the lap was mostly downhill. I was kind of right... there was quite a bit of descending, but way more to run than I would have liked! :p

Eventually I crossed the finish line, surprisingly still in the lead! I thought for sure I would drop back at least a couple positions. The best part of the whole experience had to have been the podium, pros get to win money!!! After an exhausting, but great day it was time to catch the ferry back home. I couldn't wait to tell my parents about everything that happened that day, their were some rough patches, but I loved every minute of it!

Bianca

ONTARIO CUP PHOTOS - by Marek Lazarski

Racing on the Other Side of the Pond - Jean Ann's Report

2009-05-05T12:40:00.000-07:00

My first time racing the World Cups in Europe has been a positive and fun experience. Mountain bike racing is a bit of a different thing here. Races take place in town centers. People bus in from all over to watch the races, and cheer on their favorite pros. It is a spectacle, festival, and a lot of fun. The fields are deep, and racers are challenged to race hard for every single position, from start to finish.

Not only was the racing amazing, but being a part of Team Canada was also a special opportunity. The teammates, coach and mechanic were all super positive. We had a fun time with the adventure, beyond just the racing.

World Cup #2: Offenburg Germany
Jean Ann McKirdy 54
Sandra Walter 75

Word Cup #3: Houffalize Belgium
Jean Ann McKirdy 52
Sandra Walter 70

Full results here

Canadian World Cup Team in Offenburg Germany, for World Cup #2.
From left to right: Dan Proux (Coach), Marie Claude Suprenant, Jean Ann McKirdy, Sandra Walter, Mical Dyck, Adam Morka.

The race starts were one of the biggest challenges. The women's field had around 100 starters and the men's over 200! We were both starting mid pack, and the challenge was to make up some places before being funneled into a narrow piece of singletrack where a traffic jam inevitably occurs.

The race courses were rooty, spectator friendly, and always had at least a few very steep chutes. Racing was particularly exciting, as there was always a group of competitors nearby, ready to challenge or be challenged. Here Sandra pedals her way up one of the rooty climbs in Offenburg Germany.

The fans were great. The venues were packed with spectators, beer and waffle stands abounded, and people would line the dirt track encouraging all competitors along the way with horns and bells. Some even wore costumes. Sandra poses between two of the pinkest fans.

The "A" Team
Left is Dan Proux: coach and chauffeur, feeder, manager, all round good guy.
Right is Scott Kelly: mechanic and of course also chauffeur and everything between.
Both quick with a good joke.

Our bikes, lined up, tuned up, and ready to go, Houffalize Belgium.

Besides getting to race some world class events, we also had the chance to see some beautiful places. This is the farm country we were staying in just outside of Houffalize. I loved the quiet roads, hilly farmland and beautiful forest scenery of Belgium.

Local Ride water bottle on the go.

Sandra and I enjoying a good recovery ride in the Belgian countryside. I hope to be back next year!

Bianca's Sea Otter Report

2009-05-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

This year my family decided to drive down to California for the Sea Otter. Last year we flew down, so I wasn't sure what I thought about the whole idea. Driving meant sitting in the motor home for about seventeen hours with my family...yikes. It wasnt so bad though, the whole drive turned out to be a lot of fun! It was also a great opportunity to catch up on any sleep I may have been lacking!

After about a day and a half of driving we finally arrived in Monterey, California and I couldnt wait to get on the course! Within hours of registration being open I signed in, got my plate and off to pre ride the course I went. The course was exactly the same as last year, an amazing 19 mile loop full of amazing scenery, sandy descents and some great climbs! Even though the terrain is way different from what Im used to riding here in BC, I loved every bit of it. After riding the course a few times in the days leading up to the race, I was ready to race it.

Soon it was race day, and it started early! I was one of the lucky ones who got a 9am start time. While sitting on the trainer doing my pre race warm up I looked around at all the other racers trying to figure out who I'd be racing. Being my first year in the u23 category I had no idea what I was in for, I was nervous! But soon after the start those butterflies went away and were replaced with adrenaline, I was in the lead! I wasn't really sure if Id be able to stay in front, but that's exactly what I did. Coming down the tarmac of the Laguna Seca track in the lead was an amazing feeling, what a great race! Comparing my times with the elite womens who raced later that day I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I could have walked away with a top ten finish had I raced in that category, what a huge confidence booster! This race could not have gone better for me, what a great way to kick off the race season!

Bianca

Sea Otter Classic Race Report

2009-04-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

Short Track
The Short Track race on Saturday was a fast, 20 minute plus 3 lap, race on a short dusty, and bumpy loop, with one small punchy climb per lap. Right off of the start there was a crash, in which Sandra unfortunately went down. She managed to pick herself up and continue in the race, but paid for the time down, as well as picked up a few bumps and bruises in the process. Jean Ann got a great start, riding in the top ten, and faded to finish 16th, while Sandra finished 26th out of 31 starters.
Women's ST Start from http://www.cyclingdirt.org/

XC – Cat 1
For Bianca’s first major race of the year, and in the senior age group, she opted to race the Cat 1 event, earlier in the morning. Her winter training has clearly paid off, as she won the race, and posted a lap time that was competitive with the pro women’s lap times posted later that day. It looks like Bianca is ready for the transition to senior elite/pro for the Canada Cups!

1. Bianca Adolf (CAN) Local Ride Racing 1:31:17

XC – Pro
Race day was the hottest day of the week, with temperatures in the mid thirties, and organizers opted to shorten the pro race from two 19-mile loops to one, on account of the heat. About fifty women started, and Sandra was our top finisher on the team, with a top 20 result in a competitive international field.
Photo from Cycling Dirt http://www.cyclingdirt.org/

1. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 1:22:45
2. Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Ra 01:07.0
3. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 01:14.0
4. Kelli Emmett (USA) 03:58.0
5. Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru Gary Fisher 04:09.0
6. Pua Sawicki (USA) 04:15.0
7. Katerina Nash (USA) Luna Pro Team 05:22.0
8. Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru Gary Fisher 06:17.0
9. Jenna Rinehart (USA) Specialized 07:02.0
10. Lorenza Morfin (Mex) 07:37.0
11. Emily Batty (Can) Trek Store 08:08.0
12. Amanda Sin (Can) 3 Rox Racing 08:46.0
13. Catherine Vipond (Can) Norco Factory 09:11.0
14. Allison Mann (USA) Shoair Specialized Nem 09:15.0
15. Kathy Sherwin (USA) Kenda Tomac Hayes 10:19.0
16. Sue Butler (USA) Monavie-Cannondale 10:22.0
17. Lindsey Bishop (USA) Mafia Racing 10:41.0
18. Judy Freeman (USA) Tough Girl-Scott 11:37.0
19. Sandra Walter (Can) 12:41.0
20. Alice Pennington Velaforma/Zym 13:06.0
21. Natasha Hernday (USA) Amgen 13:18.0
22. Melanie Mcquaid (Can) Mcquaid/Sho-Air 13:18.0
23. Amanda Carey (USA) Kenda Tomac Hayes 13:23.0
24. Mical Dyck (Can) Trektorontostore/Ten 13:47.0
25. Aleksandra Rokita (Pol) Spin Rr Donnelly 14:20.0
26. Erin Huck (USA) Tokyo Joes 14:36.0
27. Rebecca Rusch (USA) 15:16.0
28. Sarah Kaufmann (USA) 15:26.0
29. Krista Park (USA) Incycle/Magura/Notube 16:29.0
30. Maureen Kunz (USA) Lost Coast Brewery 17:10.0
31. Sonya Looney (USA) Topeak Ergon 17:19.0
32. Heather Holmes (USA) Kenda Tomac Hayes 19:23.0
33. Jean Ann Mckirdy (Can) Local Ride Racing 19:32.0
34. Athena Kraus (USA) Ellsworth Bicycles/St 20:03.0
35. Anina Aaron (USA) Kenda Kmc Hayes 21:30.0
36. Shannon Holden (USA) 24:19.0
37. Caitlyn Tuel (USA) Tough Girl/Scott 25:07.0
38. Philicia Marion (USA) Kenda Kmc Hayes 25:47.0
39. Erika Krumpelman (USA) 26:00.0
40. Emma Worldpeace Coast Brewery 26:25.0
41. Jamie Stamps (USA) Another Bike Shop 26:41.0
42. Abigail Strigel (USA) Mafia Racing 30:50.0
43. Jennifer Hanks (USA) Revolution Peak Faste 31:32.0
44. Joy Duerksen (USA) Pass Physical Therapy 43:07.0
45. Danae York 43:14.0
DNF Zephanie Blasi (USA) Kenda Tomac Hayes
DNF Chloe Forsman (USA) Luna Pro Team
DNF Sarah Piccolo (USA) Norcal Specialized
DNF Wendy Simms (USA) Kona
DNS Heather Ranoa (USA)
DNS Sara Bresnick-Zocc (USA)

We Love Our New Bikes!!!

2009-04-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

So excited

Sandra loves her new bike :)

The view through the BB shell

A extra big thank you to the guys who helped us get things together. Thank you!!!

Steve built us custom wheels

Mike doing a little on the job learning

Sea Otter Classic

2009-04-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

After a hectic week, hunting down bikes with a shipping company, last minute packing, and a little lost sleep the team is all in Monterey and ready for the Sea Otter Classic.

We have three beautiful Xprezo Blue bikes, ready to race. The team is loving the steel hardtail frames. Sandra and Jean Ann will take two of them for their first race tomorrow afternoon, in the Pro Women's Short Track race. On Sunday Bianca races the Cat1 U23 race in the morning, followed by Sandra and Jean Ann in the Pro Women's XC race in the afternoon.

The team opted to leave out the Super D, and focus on dialing in the new rides and pre-riding for the XC events.

Stay tuned for results and photos.

Coquitlam Now Story

2009-04-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a story in the Coquitlam Now about the team and Sandra and Jean Ann racing the spring European World Cups.

Jean Ann and Sandra Selected for European World Cups

2009-04-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

Breaking news from the Local Ride Elite Women’s MTB Team: Jean Ann and Sandra were recently selected to compete in two World Cup races in Europe with the Canadian National Team! The two will jet off to Europe immediately following the Sea Otter Classic, which takes place April 17-19. The duo is excited to hit up the World Cup circuit’s most competitive races, in Offenburg, Germany, April 26, and Houffalize, Belgium, May 3. “Racing in the European World Cups is a great way for us to gain exposure and experience at the top level,” said McKirdy. “This is the kind of break we need to continue to improve and reach our goals of representing Canada at the Olympics in 2012.” Sandra will then stay on in Europe to race the high calibre Racer Cup Series #3 in Switzerland, May 9.

Local Ride Racing Team Launch Party - Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who celebrated the start of the season with Local Ride Racing (LRR) at the Shark Club Bar and Grill in Vancouver on April 3. The event was a huge success, thanks to the great turn-out, an awesome live acoustic set by Fully Loaded (www.loadedfully.com), and lots of action for the Tacx VR World Championship trainer races. Thanks to Khoa from Cycles Lambert, who ran the Tacx, and Taraxca Jewellery, Creative Outlines Metal Art, Kicking Horse Coffee, Marriott Whistler, Cedar Beach Resort, Jelly Belly, Pitt Meadows Wellness Centre, Local Ride Bike Shop, and London Drugs for donating fabulous silent auction items. See you all there again next year!

Bianca's First Race of the Season - Island Cup Cumberland XC

2009-04-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

The first race of the season is always the most unpredictable. After months and months of training through out the winter I was finally going to get to see if all those miles were worth it, and they were.

The first challenge I faced when I showed up at the Island Series race in Cumberland was deciding which category I should race. Heading to the race my plan was to sign up for whichever category had more girls in it. Looking at the starting lists, both the intermediate and expert categories were pretty even, so I had to pick. I ended up choosing to race expert, I figured this would give me the best idea of what I'd be facing this coming season.

Looking around at all the other women sitting beside me on the starting line I noticed that I was definitely the youngest and started to wonder if I had signed up for the right on. Once the race had begin my doubts disappeared, I was in the lead! Even though I couldn't manage to hold it till the end of the race, I was very happy with my second place finish, especially after finding out that the woman who had beaten me was Wendy Simms! A well known competitor on the racing scene.

This raced proved to be the perfect warm up for my next race, "Sea Otter Classic"!

:) Bianca

Note: Since Wendy Simms chose to race in the expert men's category, Bianca was actually the first placed expert woman. Good job Bianca, on opening up the season with a great race and great result!

Team Launch Party April 3rd!

2009-03-20T12:12:00.001-07:00

Come out to support the team and join us for a fun night at the Shark Club!

Camping Close to Home

2009-03-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Sandra and myself headed over to Victoria for a little training with our teammates on the Local Ride Racing Road Team. The camp was well timed, as the forecast in Vancouver was for snow, and Victoria promised slightly warmer temperatures and a lot more sun. We were not disappointed!

Sandra, Mike, Ryan, Steve and myself headed over on Thursday evening to meet up with Islander teammates Laura "Downtown" Brown, and Chelsea Bilsbarrow (aka "Pickle") who had offered to be our hosts. Roy MacBeth, Jenelle Cassidy and Jeanine Ball also joined us there.

On Friday we headed out for a hilly 4 hour ride, in which the boys (mainly Mike) wasted no time in attempting to rip our legs off. We all arrived home sufficiently tired, and after a little R&R enjoyed a fun dinner out at the Noodlebox downtown.

Laura loves noodles!

On Saturday we started the ride with some EXCELLENT coffee, at Cornerstone. Another great part of coffee there was that they loved all of our bikes parked out front and insisted on us sending them photos so that they could lobby for bike parking from the city.

Mmmmm, coffee....

It was a windy windy ride. We tried some team chase drills in the crosswinds. Lots of learning going on there. We sent Sandra up the road, to try to reel her back, but she was so fast! With Laura and Jenelle's help we did get a better feel for working as a group, and got to know each other a little better as riders.

After the necessary nap time, we all got together to enjoy a big pasta dinner at Pickle's place, and talk about the upcoming season.

By Sunday the boys were starting to look a little tired (this is pre-ride)

Sunday was our last day in the Victoria sunshine. We enjoyed a mellow start to the day, experiencing a little sun, rain, wind and even snow, lots of bathroom stops (to much coffee). After the group had diminished, the remaining group of Sandra, Mike, Steve, Ryan and I headed over towards Highland for some hills. Mike once again fell back to his leg ripping habits, but it was all in good fun, and after some final sprints for city limit signs (which Sandra and Steve took the majority of), we packed up and headed home.

All in all, it was a lot of fun. Everyone went back home feeling good and tired and happy.

It is now time for a necessary week of rest.

-Jean Ann

Bianca's Palm Springs Training Camp Report

2009-03-05T07:02:00.000-08:00

Heading to the camp in Palm Springs I was pretty nervous. I knew that the majority of the riders there specialized in road racing,
where as I had very little road riding/racing experience. Once there, I soon realized that riding in a group wasn't so bad. All the riders there were more than willing to help me out and make me feel more comfortable in the pack. Soon enough I became familiar with all the hand signals and formations that are an essential part of riding in a pack and was able to take in and enjoy Palm Springs. The one ride that stands out was the last one, where we rode through the canyon. It was amazing, it looked like it was right out of the old Road Runner cartoons! Soon,it was time to pack everything up and head home. Sitting on the plane I was truly exhausted, but in a great way. I don't think I have ever ridden so much in such a short period of time! Thanks to this camp I have some new found motivation to get me through to race season!

:) Bianca

Palm Springs Training Camp Report - By Sandra

2009-02-27T07:46:00.000-08:00

My shadow chases me on the way out of Box Canyon.

Jean Ann and I arrived back home in Coquitlam today with a 30-degree drop in temperature. Yup, it was a balmy 0 degrees when we landed at YVR and a light dusting of fresh snow reminded us that it's still February. The distinct tan lines on our limbs, as well as the exponential increase of freckles across the bridge of my nose assured us that Palm Springs had not been a dream.

Our training camp in Palm Springs was a great mid-winter motivator. It got us out of the rainy doldrums of Vancouver and onto some different roads with lots of fresh faces. It's always fun to train with new people and the hours and miles ticked by very quickly, even on those 5+ hour days in the saddle. Jean Ann, Catharine and I were lucky enough to tack on a few extra days after the official Cycling BC camp had finished (unfortunately our team mate Bianca left with the rest of 'em), and benefitted from a few more warm rides and relaxing post-ride poolside recovery sessions at the Guloiens' house (thank you)! In total, we did 10 days of riding in a row, 35 hours on the bike, and 1112 km's. We got a good dose of amazing Mexican food, were chased by dogs, stared at by latino cowboys, climbed some pretty long and scenic ascents, rode by grapefruit, lemon and orange trees, sampled a plethora of locally grown dates, and were inspired by all of our great training buddies.

Riding bikes is hard work, but we're glad to do it! Despite the cold and snow, it's nice to be back home. Although I'm definitely looking forward to returning to California for our season-opening mountain bike race - the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, April 17-19!

- Sandra :)

My heart rate and wattage profile on the "chased by dogs ride". Can you tell when we had the encounter?
The Team
Tired and happy

New Women’s Elite Mountain Bike Team Launched in B.C.

2009-02-26T07:26:00.000-08:00

February 24, 2009 (Coquitlam, B.C.) - The Local Ride Women’s Elite Mountain Bike Team, based in B.C.’s Greater Vancouver Area, are making their debut this season, featuring a roster stacked with talent and poised to contest high-exposure Olympic discipline cross country mountain biking competitions in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

“It’s fantastic to support these three incredibly talented women as they take on the world’s elite this season,” said Barry Lyster, Local Ride Racing Team Manager and owner of Local Ride Bike Shop in Maple Ridge, the team’s title sponsor. “They are such great role models in the community and I find huge value in sponsoring Canada’s future champions.”

For 2009 Local Ride Racing is expanding to include Canadian National Team mountain bike racers Sandra Walter, 28, Jean Ann McKirdy, 24, and Bianca Adolf, 18. They will team up to compete at Canadian and U.S. Cup Series events, as well as selected World Cups, Canada Summer Games, and world-famous provincial events, such as the Test of Metal and BC Bike Race.

“B.C. has some of the best cycling terrain in the world and these three ladies have the good fortune of being able to train here everyday,” said Lyster. “Their success will definitely help draw attention to the huge cycling and tourism potential we have here.”

Between them, Adolf, McKirdy, and Walter have 20 years of racing experience, 15 years on the National Team, seven World Championships performances, four Canada Cup titles, four National titles, and three Canada Summer Games medals.

After four successful seasons in Europe, racing for the Swiss based X.O-Felt team, Walter is excited to be back on home turf. Her career highlights include second in the four-day 2008 La Ruta de los Conquistadores, fourth overall in the 2007 and 2008 Swisspower Cup Series, the 2003 Canada Cup Series title, and eight years on the Canadian National Team. Watch for her to mix it up at the Sea Otter Classic, selected World Cups, Canada Cups, U.S. Series races, and the BC Bike Race.

McKirdy will continue to rip it up with Local Ride Racing after two rewarding cyclocross seasons on the squad, during which she took multiple BC Cup wins. In 2008, she captured the Canada Cup Mountain Bike Series title, and two top 20 World Cup finishes. In 2009 she aims to improve on her World Cup results, and vie for the podium in the Canada Cup and U.S. Series.

After only two seasons of racing and an impressive 2008 season, which saw her finishing sixth at the Junior World Championships, Adolf is proud to join Local Ride Racing for her debut in the elite category. She will focus primarily on Canada Cups and winning a medal at the Canada Summer Games, but watch out for her at some U.S. Series and other international events as well.

The Local Ride Elite Women’s XC MTB Team are racing on custom Canadian frames, hand built by Xprezo Cycles, in Bromont, Quebec. Haywood Securities and Fab-All Manufacturing are the team’s presenting sponsors. The racers are outfitted with MET helmets, Time shoes, pedals, gloves and saddles, Tifosi eyewear, and Gore Ride-On cables. Other sponsors include Sugoi Clothing, Kicking Horse Coffee, and Nature’s Sunshine Supplements.

All of the teams under the Local Ride Racing umbrella (men’s road, women’s road, associate, junior, and mountain bike) will kick off their season with an exciting launch party on April 3, at the Shark Club in Vancouver, B.C., featuring Fully Loaded performing live. Tickets will be available March 1. Stay tuned to the team’s blog and localride.ca for details.

About the Local Ride Elite Women’s MTB XC Team

The Local Ride Elite Women’s MTB XC Team is composed of three talented women, who compete in the Olympic cross country mountain bike discipline: Bianca Adolf, 18, Jean Ann McKirdy, 24, and Sandra Walter, 28. The riders are based on the mountain biking destination of Burke Mountain in Coquitlam, B.C., giving the riders the advantage of being able to train together on some of the best cycling terrain in the world. The team is managed by Barry Lyster, owner of Local Ride Bike Shop in Maple Ridge, B.C.

The goal of Local Ride Elite Women’s Mountain Bike Team beyond winning races, is development. All three racers are at different stages in their careers, with varying levels of experience. The more senior members recognize the importance of mentorship in helping younger athletes develop into champions.

Roster
- Bianca Adolf
- Jean Ann McKirdy
- Sandra Walter

Sponsors
- Local Ride Bike Shop
- Xprezo Bicycles
- Haywood Securities
- Fab-All Manufacturing
- Kicking Horse Coffee
- Nature’s Sunshine Supplements
- SRAM/Avid/Truvativ/Rock Shox
- MET Helmets
- Tifosi Eyewear
- Gore Ride-On Cables
- Time
- Cycles Lambert
- Sugoi Clothing

Day 5 Sun Fun!

2009-02-21T07:52:00.001-08:00

Sandra and Jan: Sandra connects with a German friend.

Sandra connects with a Luna friend.

The Local Ride Racing Women's Mtb team, chilling together mid ride: Sandra, Bianca, Jean Ann.

Living the Good Life

2009-02-20T06:56:00.000-08:00

The best way to start the day, mmmm mmmm, panckake goodness at Chateau Guloien.

The LR bottles ready to go.

Leah, Jean Ann and Catherine pre ride smiles on day 3 of the Palm Springs Training Camp.

Leah and the Joshua Tree, in the Park. Beautiful day 4!

And the secret to a happy ride....eat and drink.

Joshua Tree National Park

Sunshine in Palm Springs

2009-02-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

Members of LRR's women's road and mountain bike team have been enjoying some sunshine and warm weather riding in Palm Springs CA, as a part of Cycling BC's Warm Weather Training Camp.

Local photographer and artist J. Farmer, captured the top two shots. Above, from left to right is Jean Ann McKirdy, Nels Guloien, Catherine Pendrel, Leah Guloien and Sandra Walter.

Above LRR's Chelsea Bilsbarrow and Laura Brown at the front of the women's group ride. All smiles under blue skies. Photo by J. Farmer.

At the top of "the Tram", a rather long and steep climb at the end of the day. Sandra poses in the upper parking lot. Rowwwrrr!!!

Gota love the Local Ride woollies :) Photo by Sandra Walter.

Local Ride Racing Launches Elite Women's Mountain Bike Team

2009-02-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

Local Ride Racing is expanding their current local road, cyclocross and mountain bike team in 2009 to include an elite women's mountain bike team. Sandra Walter, Jean Ann McKirdy and Bianca Adolf will be teaming up to take on the National and US Cup series mountain bike races, as well as selected World Cup's, Canada Summer Games, and of course some of the local races in BC such as the Test of Metal.

After four successful seasons in Europe, racing for the Swiss based Felt X.O team, Sandra Walter has returned to Canada. Her career highlights include 4th in the Swiss Cup Series in 2007 and 2008, Canada Cup Series winner in 2003 and eight years on the Canadian National Team. Watch for her to be mixing it up at events such as the Sea Otter Classic, selected World Cups, Canada Cups, US Cups and at the BC Bike Race.

Jean Ann McKirdy will be continuing to rip it up with Local Ride Racing after two successful cyclocross seasons on the team, in which she took multiple wins in the BC Cup Cross Series. In 2008 she won the Canada Cup Mountain Bike Series, and two top 20 World Cup finishes. In 2009 she hopes to improve on her World Cup results, and will be racing for the podium in the Canada Cup and US Cup Series.

After only two seasons of racing, and an impressive 2008 season, which saw her finishing 6th at the Junior World Championships, Bianca Adolf will be joining Local Ride Racing for her first year racing elite. Her focus will primarily be Canada Cups and Canada Summer Games, but watch out for her at some North American and International events as well!

Sponsoring the team this year is Xprezo Cycles, out of Bromont QC, who will be supplying custom built frames for the team. Haywood Securities and Fab-all manufacturing are also on board as sponsors. The team will be running Met helmets, Time shoes, pedals, gloves and saddles, Tifosi eye wear, Gore Ride-On cables, Sugoi clothing and Sram parts.

Local Ride Racing's Elite Women's mountain bike team is looking forward to an exciting and successful race season in 2009.

Cycling BC Team Report - Bianca Adolf to Race for Local Ride Racing's Elite Women's Team

2009-02-01T13:59:00.000-08:00

The Lund Report
The winter months are usually pretty quiet for Team BC Mountain Bike racers....but there has been a fair bit going on this year! News of riders signing with new teams often dominates the news in the winter and it was no different this year. Team BC’s top MTB riders from 2008 have secured teams for 2009. Junior Men’s XC Champion Evan Guthrie recently signed with the Rocky Mountain Factory Team. He’ll be joining long time Rocky riders and Olympians Alison Sydor, Andreas Hestler and Marie-Helene Premont as he too looks forward to representing Canada on the world stage.

Junior Woman’s XC Champion Bianca Adolf is riding in 2009 for the newly formed Local Ride women’s pro team. She’ll join long time pros Sandra Walter and Jean-Ann McKirdy, she looks forward to racing with the Pro women this year as she leaves the junior category for bigger and better things!

Team BC’s Tyler Alison, the 2008 Canada Cup XC Overall Champion was awarded the Premier’s Athletic Excellence Award. These awards recognize the top male and female athletes participating in the BC Athlete Assistance Program for the period of November 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008. The Premier’s Athletic Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center.

These riders and the rest of Team BC have been training hard through the winter months. Many of he riders live in places where riding on the roads and trails can be difficult in the winter months, but they’ve kept busy riding the indoor trainer, riding on the Burnaby Velodrome, XC skiing, running and of course hitting the gym to work on their strength.

Many of our top Team BC riders are also very gifted athletes and can also be found competing at XC running, soccer, hockey, skiing and indoor climbing competitions in the winter. Many are also planning on attending our second annual Palm Springs endurance training camp, a chance to ride hours upon hours, building their base fitness from February 12-23. Expect a full report and some exciting pictures to follow shortly!

So there many not be a lot of big news this month, but the riders and coaches have all been busy training and planning for what is shaping up to be another great year for Team BC! -Steve Lund

First month of 2009 and it looks like things are off to a pretty good start. Spent 10 days over at the indoor, which was really good. Got to race a pro-am and a BC Cup, but mostly just lots or practice and training. Unfortunately I’ve had a bit of a pulled muscle in my low back, so the weight training has had to take a bit of a back seat for the first half of this month. But I made sure not to over work it and things are feeling all good now, so it’s back to the gym.