Obreething

Graeme Obree's new book on cycling and training describes his secret breathing technique for high performance oxygen uptake.
1.  Full Breath out/in (emphasize the "out")
2.  Half Breath out/in
3.  Half Breath out/in
4.  Repeat.
Any comments on this from science or experience?  Sounds a bit odd doesn't it, but, thinking out of the box sometimes is good odd thinking.

Power Outage

I don't know about you readers, but the power seems to be out in our area.  Sun not working.

(not sponsored product placement)

Trailhero - the bike

Well, you heard it here first.  Trailhero refers to the bike in these pictures, a Rocky Mountain Trailhead, 2001 model.  My first race bike.

Here pictured in an impromptu skatepark edit from 2008.

Drop in!

On the right side, the bike is a "Rock You" "Trailhero".  Blurry but real.

First experience in a bowl.  Never be bored again!

Photographer Ramona gets artsy

Looking at this session today, I notice both my tires getting flatter as time goes on.  Couldn't quit though.

Front tire so soft!

Beauty and Beast

Which is which?  I think your answer will depend on whether you are a weight weenie, an enjoy-the-ride purist, a pretend weight weenie, or just a weenie like me.
Or an enjoy-the-ride weight weenie purist racer (yes, those are plastic platform pedals).

By the way, net weight gain, only 270g, or half a pound. I was expecting more.  I offset that by removing the left shifter last week.

Actually (Ramona reminds me), the beauty is the one in the picture frame(s) above the couch.

More info and analysis to come.

I just spent a few days laid low by some virus or something.  So last night when my facebook friend Dallas posted this video, I watched it in its entirety (staying up a bit late in the process). 

It is a fascinating depiction of the Iditarod race across Alaska in 2001, especially focusing on the bikers.  Inspiring, but I still haven't signed up for the next race.  Slight language warning on this one.

Weather You Like Oxymorons

Or "Ironic Weather Statement."

I have never heard of blizzards at plus 5 celcius before today.
Time for  a bike ride.

The Energizer Bunny of Fail Videos: Ski, anyone?

This one is a cross country ski race. 

and I laughed....

Anatomy of a Winter Bike Ride

1.  Check weather online.  For today's example,

WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT

• Past 24 hr
• Radar
• Satellite

Current Conditions

-30°C

• °C
• °F

Observed at:

Morden AAFC

Date:

9:00 PM CST Sunday 5 January 2014

Condition:

Not observed

Pressure:

103.6 kPa

Tendency:

falling

Temperature:

-30.4°C

Dewpoint:

-35.0°C

Humidity:

64%

Wind:

WNW 25 km/h

Wind Chill:

-45

1. Look out the window.
2. Check if outdoor wear is dry yet.
3. Look out again.  Check which direction and how fast the exhaust is leaving neighbour's chimney.
4. Layers, in this order:
5. Long johns
6. Socks
7. Tights
8. GoreTex front tights
9. Long sleeved undershirt
10. Fleece sweater
11. Balaclava with wide collar
12. Fleece sweater 2
13. Shell pants
14. Soft shell jacket
15. Windproof jacket
16. Heat packets on toes
17. Moccasins or snowboots (still deciding which is best)
18. Neck warmer or homemade fleece mask
19. Helmet
20. Goggles (clear)
21. Headlamp
22. Heat packets in mitts
23. Pull on mitts and hope I remembered to use the facilities.
24. Go out.

I'd like to add pics but that would require another day of holidays.  :)

Ride the Bike (Detailed in previous post)

Then:

1. Get home
2. Remove goggles and mitts outside
3. Admire rising steam
4. Find a reflective surface and examine frost patterns on headwear especially
5. Take photo of self if possible for later posting online

Spend remainder of day contemplating improvements in layering, moisture management, how to blog/brag the ride, etc.

Any takers?
Anyone have an indoor trainer or rollers you're not using?

Winterize Your Ride

This is what I did on Friday.  Eat your heart out, couch potatoes.

Explanation:  BMX usually have wide slick (unrideable in winter) tires.  Ain't it beautiful?  I think so.

Quinzee... and Foreshadowing

Oops.  Must have been a boy in that shovelful!

Addendum:
I didn't realize that the photo above would tell a larger story than the silly joke I captioned. 
Well an hour later we started hollowing out the quinzee.  We made two entrances and before long, the two boys were in there shovelling.   I was closing off the second door when suddenly snow poofed into my face from the cave and I heard a little yell.  I looked up to see that the quinzee had cracked and collapsed.  I ran around to the other side and could see the jacket of one of the boys (green) and pulled that guy out, then started pushing through the powdery snow to find the other one next to him.  I had to dig a bit but he was out in a jiffy and we all stepped away from the fallen structure.   The boys were both crying and had got a good scare.

New snow cave rules:
1.  Adult must be present.
2.  Let the snow set a bit longer than an hour.
3.  Dig upward first, no thick ceilings allowed.
4.  Only one door - stronger foundation.
5.  Keep praying and have fun!

Thanks God for keeping them safe.

Top Ten Things to do on a Winter Bike Ride

Riding bike in winter is slow, difficult and sometimes cold.  But never boring!

1. ride snowmobile trails (use lighting or bright clothing!)
2. carry the bike
3. carry it again
4. dismount and practice remounting (blind, since your goggles are mostly fogged)
5. don't stop because your goggles will fog up
6. don't go fast because your extremities will chill down
7. find a toboggan hill, try climbing and descending
8. learn the limits of your traction by doing figure eights or circles on ice, snow, or mixed surfaces
9. snow pile bashing: go to a parking lot with a pile of snow.  Take a speed and see how high up it you can get.  Try to turn around and bike down without putting a foot down.  Try to get over the pile.  Try to get air time.
10. Count how many times you use your brakes (today it was once in 40 minutes)

Anyone care to add?

Look mom...

I made Ramona's famous laundry soap. BUT look at that sweet funnel!