Don't fight it.

There's nothing to be ashamed of here.  I've done it, and I know there are others of you out there.  I know it can be hard to admit, hard to give up some of your deeply held convictions. 

I discovered this piece of lyrical work written by a well known late 20th century (read 80's) artist named Kevin Cronin who may or may not have been a die hard singlespeed or hardtail rider.  The text doesn't give enough clues to verify this, but from the thinly veiled references in the writing it seems clear that he went through a similar experience to the one I've recently had.

Here are a couple of excerpts that will give you the heart of a man caught in the inexorable slide toward fully suspended, geared mountain biking.  I've italicized some of the key passages that led me to my conclusions about this writer and his passion.

I can't fight this feeling any longer.
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow.
What started out as friendship,
Has grown stronger.
I only wish I had the strength to let it show.

I tell myself that I can't hold out forever.
I said there is no reason for my fear.
Cause I feel so secure when we're together.
You give my life direction,
You make everything so clear.

And even as I wander,
I'm keeping you in sight.
You're a candle in the window,
On a cold, dark winter's night.
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might.

And I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
It's time to bring this ship into the shore,
And throw away the oars, forever.
Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
And if I have to crawl upon the floor,
Come crushing through your door,
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you.
I've been running round in circles in my mind.
And it always seems that I'm following you, girl,
Cause you take me to the places,
That alone I'd never find.

And even as I wander,
I'm keeping you in sight.
You're a candle in the wind,
On a cold, dark winter's night.
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might.

And I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
It's time to bring this ship into the shore,
And throw away the oars, forever.

Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
And if I have to crawl upon the floor,
Come crushing through your door,
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.

(Sniff)  You must admit that's a beautiful emotive piece of writing for a rough and tough rider, but maybe it's that soft artist's heart that lurks in all of us that draws many of us down this path.  It's ok.  If you are feeling caught in the headlights here, exposing things inside that you thought were hidden away, you need to know you're not alone.  We're a supportive community of friends who will listen, care, and some of us (not me) even may have a bike to sell you.

Am I really going to school tomorrow?

Tomorrow is the first day of paid time for me in the school.  We'll have some meetings and take time to finish our bulletin boards and special things to make each child know she is important. 

The one kink in this scheme is that for some odd reason, I've had the insatiable desire for the past three weeks to turn our house upside down.

It all started with this painting we bought in Ethiopia.  We wanted to feature it on a wall with a complementing color.  That led us around the living room, dining room, and kitchen which, now that we looked at them, needed a new coat of paint too. 

First we emptied half the upstairs for painting and did the job.  Next we shopped for tiles for the entrance (which has waited 12 years to get finished).  When we found the tiles at a bargain price at Parkside Lumber, we also saw some incredible hardwood that would make a great replacement for the graying carpet we've trod for those same 12 years.  Brought that home too. 

Today Dad and I test fit and cut all the tiles:

The million dollar tile.  Ever tried cutting one like this?

Every tile in place.  Now to be removed and...

heating wire fastened down. 

 I'm glad for my handy dad.  I would have no idea where to start with the wiring and lots of other stuff.  He can do most anything, and he's bigger than your dad, anyway.  So there.  Thanks, dad!

After this we put down a layer of mortar and hid our nice work.  In a couple of days we'll install the tiles.  At least I would if it weren't for the snag in the plans.  Employment.  

Is this a joke?

I found this bike seat on Winnipeg's Kijiji site.
No, I didn't buy it. Yet.

Goodbye paper volcano

Tristan and I spent the evening assembling this cherry (look) cabinet for our dining room. It replaces a desk which generally overflowed with good stuff like coloring, bills, projects, and all the things of which there are only one in the house.
We were surprised and grateful to find the perfect sized piece at Canadian Tire.

Vino Sip Yo Provincials - Fun and Happy!

I'd like to thank the Happy Fun Racing people for their work to step up and run the provincials last weekend.  It's a big job to run a race, and to do it last minute is hard and stressful too!  Great job!  I love their attitude and philosophy, reminding us why we do this.

We arrived at the Brandon Hills wilderness area early enough to register and preride both the kids and the adult courses.  We were running the course in reverse (counter clock) compared to how I've raced it before, and I really liked the change.  This changed many of the short and nasty climbs into short technical downhills.  Most of the climbing was fairly gradual and not too techy. 

Generally the course was very tight (no 28" bars!) and quite flowing.  Especially the latter half of the course, I just loved the rise and fall, the curves, with a few handlebar grabbing tight squeezes thrown in to test your depth perception and nerves.  The vegetation was looking decidedly fall-like due to the dry summer, and thus a little easier to see around corners.  That helped keep speeds up. 

I toyed with the idea of renaming the race something with the words Poison Ivy but decided it would make a great course and fun day sound too dangerous to the public.  I didn't actually contract any symptoms of the itchy rash, so the anagram generator I found online helped me with a more relaxing and evocative name.  On the other hand, the closest I got to Vino sipping was some nasty strong orange Gatorade.  Maybe In Ivy, Oops Provincials would be more apropos. 

The staging was a bit of a surprise.  We were congregating in the traditional funnel area to await the call when the commissaires told us to go up the trail a bit.  So we all turned south and followed Kevin Braun and Paul Benson.  And they kept going.  We, all 50(?) of us played a little mystery follow the leader up the fire road, like a tentative stuffed-lycra train.  I think I was not alone in thinking Kevin and Paul were playing an August Fool's joke on us all.  It turned out that they started us up there, about 1000 meters before the finish area, on a curvy gradual downhill wide enough for passing and fast enough for sweating. 

The staging order and releasing of groups went smoothly but I was disappointed in the way they broke us up by category/age.  I wanted to race with my comp buddies (Paul, Pierre, Russell, James, and others), but we are spread out between the ages of 22 to 50, so we were released at three different times.  So the test was to try to catch the guys in the group preceding your own.  Too bad.  I wanted a rematch with Paul since he and I were so close last year (and by lap times, it would have been similar this year).   I would suggested staging in the usual Comp/Expert/Elite grouping, and separating the age/category winners afterwards. 

The race itself was a test of internal motivation for me, since I wasn't battling for position with the usual comers.  I had to find ways to push myself into the barf zone, which I didn't really achieve this time.  Pushing at the edges of performance, going past the comfortable zone is a challenge for me.  I think there is a mental game in this that I haven't even close to mastered.  I like having a scary tree-trunk legged man trying to catch me or leave me in his dust to make me work harder. 

I was proud of the kids too.  They did great and Tristan is on the rebound from a summer of less than stellar health.  Good to see him sweating and puffing again.  Paulos is unlicensed, so no race, but I can't wait to see him laying it down again.  He is one intense young racer.  Jaydi soloed in the U11 girls cat this time.

Thanks to Grandma Daisy for the photos!

results

Survey. Speak up if you like the Fall Classic, or watching kids ride bikes!

MCA is asking you to speak your mind regarding a variety of questions.   Click here to go to the survey.  

I especially encourage all readers to consider the question of Adult and Kids race scheduling.  If you are affected by this directly like I have been (you race and have kids who race), you need to make suggestions now.  I know some adults did not race this year because they couldn't make it work with the scheduling (eg Birds Hill on Saturday for kids, and Brandon on Sunday for adults).  I would love to hear from you if that if describes you.  Even if you don't care about when the kids race, you must care about the future of the sport.  I think the kids benefit from seeing you hulking lycra clad athletes having fun, joking around, and giving it your all on the course time after time.  This is their connection to what racing can be.  Not just a kids activity, but a venue for fun, friendship, and healthy competition. 

I would like to suggest this for a scheduling solution, and if you agree, tell the MCA:
Kids races should combine the Youth Cup with KOM races as they did this year.  These races should be combined with the Adult Cup races, either on the same day and same location, or at least the same weekend and same location. 

At Tinker Creek this weekend, the only way to make a kids race happen was to create a new kid's course.  Some of us buckled down and did it.  In most cases it wouldn't take as much to allow kids and adults to race on the same day.  Parents - speak up, and also help the organizers!

This year was a real test of resolve, but we made it to every cup race.  I hope more families can do it next year!

Tinker Creek race report

Where does a guy start describing an event like today's Back 40 race at
Tinker Creek?

For me, it starts with gratitude.

First, the land. It's draped with slim ribbons of trails, gracefully
dipping, diving, stretching and relaxing. The trails allow us a window
into the forest, from the sunny ridges of meadow to the deep dark
places, wet, quiet, cool. What a privilege to travel in the haunt of
deer, beaver, cougar, and all manner of birds. The heights, depths,
waterways, meadows and don't forget the animals are all part of a
God-given thrill ride that we can access by foot, observe from a
vehicle, or dip, dive and speed through on a bicycle. Thanks!

What about access? There was quite a buzz several years ago in the
Tinker Creek clubhouse/shop over the newly accessible Loeppky Quarter.
News of trail ideas came in bits and pieces from the local gurus James,
Gord, and others. It became known as the Big Loeppky. In the second
half of the race course today all the racers would have seen some of the
Loeppkys smiling and cheering us on. They were the happy looking guys
that looked like brothers (they are). Also, if you enjoyed the high
speed meadow thrill ride and subsequent climb through beautiful dappled
forest, you need to thank the Stoesz family. They were there today too,
brimming with delight at the spectacle of this great land use.