No complaints reported

This afternoon I sure did have a great ride up to Orangeville.  By great I mean one of those rides where I felt strong and was strong.  The temperature was hot, but not overly humid.  No cars passing me too closely, and no dogs chasing me away from their property.  Headwinds from the North going up the hills, and then back was faster than fast. The wind blowing over my face and hair like an 80's Winger video.

Cyclists sharing my route were sparse to non-existent.  The sun was blazing down on my already redneck tanned skin simply added to the evidence of a summer well enjoyed.  My bike was silent, and did what I asked of it.  Almost always in the big ring. Even in the heat it seemed my electrolyte enhanced drinks stayed both cool and somehow near-full, although I don't feel I ignored my thirst at all.  Possibly I experienced one of those perfect rides.  I will be doing the same route again Thursday with the team.


  

Is it just me or does anybody else  love washing their drivetrain and polishing their bikes?

Carpet Crawlers

Yesterday I had planned on racing the Ontario Cup mountain bike race at Kelso in Milton.  It's a crazy hilly course with tons of climbing.  I was not allowed into the the Expert field because I don't actually have a mountain bike racing license.  So I was going to race the sport category.  I think I could have done well and at least made the podium.  When I awoke I couldn't help but notice a strange and new smell in the air.  It was the smell of rain.    The smell of moisture in the air, accompanied by the sound of pounding water on my window.  Now, I don't necessarily dislike riding in the rain.  Not as a rule, but if I am to try and do well and enjoy an XC race there better not be a riverbed for a trail.   So I stayed in bed for another 15 minutes.  In fact, I took the entire day off. Did no riding.   Felt great...........

Shortly I am going to go ride the Heart Lake Road to Hockley Valley route I like so much.  20 minutes from home and they are some of the sweetest, safest roads going.

This delicious and nutritious mid morning meal should give me the quick energy I'll need to escape any aggressive farm dogs or genetically modified snapping turtles.

Good day to you then......

As many of you know or can reason self improvement has always been a passion of mine.  Worldly knowledge, cultural awareness and  acceptance has always been of utmost importance to me as well.  Tonight's post will not feature any evidence of that.

Today I stumbled upon a new beer I haven't tried before.  I only bought it because as I walked by it I noticed the word Belgian on it.  It's called Shock Top Belgian White.  It's brewed in the US.  Strike 1.   Like Blue Moon, which I drank in Florida a few months back, it's pretty much a copy of Hoegaarden.  Maybe not an exact replica but definately trying to appeal to the same crowd with its tasty notes of coriander, and orange peel,  it's near perfect for summer patio drinking fruity aftertaste and its adequate head.  It's somewhat cloudy appearance makes me wonder if it's got something to hide.  But then I remembered that Hoegaarden is also fairly cloudy.  So, like, whatever.

Shock Top is way better than Blue moon , which is brewed or at least owned by Anheuser-Busch. Strike 2*. But it's not as good a Hoegaarden or Dominus Vobiscum+.  Or even Strawberry Fruli.  But it's still pretty tasty. Get a table with a good looking waitress and a plate of nachos and you're aces.    3 out of 5 stars.

* Blue Moon is brewed by Anheuser-Busch,  Shock Top isn't, but I needed a 'strike 2'.
+ Dominus Vobiscum is Canadian

Pinarello News

Andrea Pinarello just died.  The son of Pinarello founder Giovanni and brother of Fausto Pinarello.
A death is always sad, but the way in which he died makes all cyclists sit up and wonder about the sport we do. Andrea was 40 yrs old and was in  supposed good health,  he had just crossed the finish line at an Italian amateur race -The Giro del Friuli when he had a sudden heart attack.  The paramedics were able to start his heart again but he experienced a second one and they were unable to save him.  He was married and had 2 children, also had a long association with the brand.  Pinarello bikes have long been considered one of the top brands in the world , sponsoring such teams as Ibanesto, Fassa Bortolo,Illles Balears-Caissed'Epargne, and now  the Movistar team.

This story story hits home for me as I am on my 4th Pinarello.  Their bikes have always been top notch and been worthy of the huge price tag.  Aside from that small reason I can identify with his undue passing as I am also 40 yrs old, have a child , and like almost all cyclist/racers would, I feel that I have excellent health and would be the last person to suffer a heart attack.  It seems that even the most fit and well taken care of individuals can be felled if their straw is pulled.

As avid cyclists we push minds and our bodies, often past a reasonable point.  Maybe that's why we do it, so we can raise the bar on what our bodies can handle.  Its always sad to hear about someone young dying in a freak circumstance like that.  You never figure the healthy, slim ones will go like that.

My good thoughts go out to Andrea and his family after this tragedy.  I hope all bike racers will pause for a second and remember what his family has done for this sport.

Ciao Andrea

Don't cry for me.........

Although I was all ready to go today there was some communication troubles at home that prohibited me from racing today.  I also figured that with my luck they were giving shirts out today with every advanced registration. Which I would now forfeit .

Anyway, I can't accurately comment on what transpired during today's race except to say it was clear by corner 2 that Jet fuel was probably going to win.

There were about 200 racers in the Open category.

It was crazy hot again.  32 degrees and humid as hell.  Strong winds from the West.

Heading west felt like riding into a sauna, and I was just hanging out watching.

Eric leading the chase group

At least 2 Jet fuel dudes

I was playing at a splash pad in Brampton with my son while these suckers were finishing what looked to be one of the toughest races of the year.  As I type this I am enjoying a Leffe Brun and a slice of pizza.  Marco is probably doing the same.  Maybe Marc and Vic as well.......

Screaming for Vengeance

I hit one of my favorite loops today.  Woodstock/Beachville/Sweaburg.   I wanted a slightly hilly ride but nothing too challenging as I was mostly spinning in the small ring, with a few bursts upwards.  I don't know why there aren't more cyclists out there, possibly because there just aren't any cyclists in the area.  Or just insufficient for me to ever come across one.  If I lived out there again, I would have a serious relationship with those roads.  There's almost no cars, and the ones that did pass didn't even try to run me into the ditch.

a nice climb heading north into the wind

pretty much this is what it looks like everywhere.....

next time I'm going to see where that roads goes

50 easy kilometers .  Just enough to keep the legs fresh for tomorrows  100km battle royale in Terra Cotta.  

Here's what I weighed this morning.  POW!!!!

I haven't been in the featherweight club for a few years, feels good to be back

Maim to please/Terra Cotta reconnaissance

Today I went out to the Terra Cotta course.  I wanted to check the hill out.  After last years bomb I wanted to make sure it was just bad riding and not just a huge hill.  I'm leaning towards the fact that I just sucked last year, because  I think I raped that hill 5 times today.

The wind was whistling through the trees today.  The river rafters were out in full force, with their giant inner tubes, coolers of beer and 22 yr old girlfriends in bikinis.   Maybe the best part of the ride.  I imagine it's going to be another windy race on Monday.   I'm racing the Blue Flame again . The  Pinarello Prince.  Dura Ace drivetrain  and all.  It goes up like a rocket.  Hopefully the engine is full of rocket fuel.

Smashing the sound barrier
break open suns at will
gaining on you faster
leaves jet planes standing still

Art of War/The Baroudeurs Cookbook (part II)

3) Baroudeurs make themselves unbeatable by constant practice. Knowing they can never become totally invincible, their efforts enable them to see the vulnerabilities of their intended opponents.  They are also acutely aware of their own limitations.  They knew the only way to make the enemy vulnerable was by their own practice.

4) To properly defend, the attitude must be that of a thorough attack.  To depend strictly upon defense means that there is not enough strength in your heart .

Tonight I have to look after my little guy. His mother has has gone away for the weekend.  I am forced to train downstairs on the trainer when he is asleep.  I have the Road to Roubaix DVD, and my newish 48" TV.  So it's not all bad.  A sweaty hard ride downstairs should make me appreciate the windy heat outside.

http://www.sportszonephotography.ca/Cycling-2011/Provincial-Championship-RR/110-PM-Races/18214294_kL2wxT#1401131584_zrNL5ZF

Just a pic of me sitting in......

Tour of Terra Cotta

Did some hill intervals today.  Then rode for nearly 3 hrs at tempo.  Most of it in the rain.  July has been so dry, it felt great to get wet like that.  I didn't even care that my bike was covered in crap.  I ate a bowl of pasta and fantastic sauce afterwards with my favorite Belgian style bread, available only at Metro Grocery Stores.  It's like Italian bread but with a much thicker crust.  Really tasty.  I weighed myself today.  I was 150.4 lbs.  I can safely say I am below 150 as I had that entire meal in me, and also had on underwear and shorts.

This Monday is the Tour of Terra Cotta.  Last year I got caught behind a pack of slower guys and got separated from the main pack and fell off with a bunch of other dummies.  There's no way that is going to happen this time. I currently have the best fitness I have ever had and a Samurai's determination to boot.

Shark Week starts this Sunday on discovery Chanel at 9:00pm eastern standard time.   Sharks rule.

Art of War/The Baroudeurs Cookbook (part 1)

I have been reading an interpretation (1 of many) of Sun Tsu's famous handbook on battle.  I can be interpreted for war,  martial arts, hand to hand combat, streetfighting, business, many sports, and cycling etc, etc....  For all intents and purposes we can assume the title 'baroudeur' for the words 'warlord' or 'fighter'.  I think there is a shitload* of translations/interpretations but the version I have lends itself nicely to the tactics and ideals of road and crit racing.

1) Racers who have mastered defense, attack from hidden places and  assure their own success. They know when, where and how to make an attack while defending their positions at the same time.

2) Men of worth see victory in creating difficulty for their enemy.  They foresee victory when the enemy cannot overcome his own inadequacy.

Provincial Championship Master B race. Photo stolen from Heather Shearer!

*my favorite unit of measure

Mid Week Spitting festival

Tonight we won the Mid Week Crit.  Andy took the win with a solo breakaway on the second last lap, dropping a Jet Fuel rider.  I imagine everyone on the team took a top 20 or very near. In fact, I think it's safe to say that we controlled most of the race tonight.  One of the gentlemen from Jet Fuel  noticed and confirmed for me all the strong work I was putting in at the front, and later at the end of the race he came and told most of our team that our performance was fantatic and animated the entire race.  Basically we are really coming along nicely as a team.  Tonight almost everyone was there for the fast race.  Martin, Joe Acardi, Vito, Marc, Andy, Stan, Marco, Shaw, and me.    No crashes either, except for Erik Davis in the early race.   But who was this dick who was spitting on people?

Uh oh, pee pee

Marco in a glorious breakaway

Stan, Boots, me (black and white team kits)

Marc and me moving up the sides

slow day

Well today is another leg shave day.  I began shaving my legs on the advise of a friend back in 88 or 89, I got my first carbon bike from him back then.  It was a Specialized Allez Epic.  It weighed exactly too much.  Easily 20lbs.  It had Shimano 600 Ultegra,  I loved it.  Just didn't have the discipline to put in the kms......and eventually sold the bike.   However, I did keep shaving the legs for most of the next 20+yrs.  Broads dig it.  I normally shave them every other day, but today was after a 3 day stretch.  They somehow get smoother if you wait longer between shaves.

Last night I did a short recovery ride after putting in the 103 kms on Sunday.  I chose the crit course again for it's smooth road, no traffic, and fairly well lit corners.

Last week Vic and I rode there and saw a deer.  The week before the whole team rode a few blocks away and was basically joined by 2 huge deer.  Last nights wildlife sighting was not surprising save for the fact if was a huge skunk.  I am always amazed at how many animals you see when riding , especially in the city.  I have seen mice, snakes, a mole, possums, deer, skunks, racoons, falcons, all at close proximity.  Even an Armadillo in Florida.

Once , while mountain biking I just about hit the biggest deer I have ever seen.  That truly would have sucked.

I just love this picture, it has nothing to do  with anything......

Back in the Saddle

I'm riding, I'm loading up my pistol
I'm riding, I really got a fistful
I'm riding, I'm shining up my saddle
I'm riding, this snake is gonna rattle..................

The Provincial Championships were today just outside Waterloo on what the locals call The Bamberg Loop. We did 7 laps which was just over 100kms.  It contained no climbs but some very nice rollers that seem to appear in pretty rapid succession.  The temperature was a heavy and humid 30-31 degrees and there was a wind coming out of the north.  The race started off relatively slow.  Everyone was doing a little looking around and trying to secure a decent position in the pack.  The organizers were unquestionably clear about the yellow line rule, and that anyone who crossed it would be disqualified.  I heard them warn several people,  including a buddy of mine.  They needed to take into consideration that the tar filling the cracks in the road near the yellow line was nearly  soft as crap and to avoid going down you needed to roll out of the line or risk crashing.


I stayed in the front from the start and tried either keep with the pace or maintain a good pace myself.  I did chase down 1 small attack and try to get into a quickly failed breakaway.  Just before  the start of the 4th lap I found a good line and took Marc up to the front and continued pulling at the very front.  Shortly thereafter I got the word to go back into the pack and take a rest.  Here was my mistake.  I should have moved back 15 places but instead I drifted near to the very back. Back with a pile of guys I didn't want to be near.  There was less than 3 laps left and the speeds were picking up fast, but also the openings and opportunities to move back up to the front were diminishing even faster.  I tried to pick a few wheels to pull me back up front, but they were duds.  I found a lot of guys were content to just sit in and do nothing.  Which in an unimportant crit race that's fine but at the Provincials????  C'mon.  No fun.  From the moment I drifted back into no man's land I was urgently trying to get back up  .  It was just so damn tough as no one was trying to change their position and no openings were appearing.  When the last lap bell rang I resigned to the fact I wasn't going to be able contest the sprint as I had secretly planned, but I was still making up spaces in the pack.  Last corner we all take off .  The only sound is of derailleurs slamming into faster gears.  An unfortunate crash at the very front took out a couple of top contenders and changed the outcome for the would-be top 10ers.  I still had a lot left in my tank and made the best of it.  I approached the line through a maze of riders, many struggling to find their way.  I just kept zigzagging in and around of others until I found the line .   For the team it was a decent day.  Me, a great day.  After 2.5 months of terrible results  and races that I couldn't even finish I pulled off a near top 20.  I was, am, really happy.  I fully intend to continue my progression through the rest of the season by bettering each race result.  


Team Kurzawinski
Sport Category
Martin:16th


Master B
Marc: 12th
Andy:13th
Phil:16th
Trev:23'd
Marco:41nd
Stan:59th (crash)
out of about 85 riders


Master C
Dave:24th

Coach,  with that stupid farmer hat!!!

Andy and Wes

Special thanks to Extreme Road for setting up such a well organized race, and for sharing the Bamberg loop with everyone.  Great job!!!


Racing photos to follow

YYZ

Tonight we did about 80 kms.  It was pretty hot out out.  When it's this hot you don't really feel it on the bike but what makes you notice, is that you are banging through 2-3 water bottles and hour.  We rode from the Brampton Fairgrounds up to the town of Hockley.  Very hilly , and we set a good pace up, and rocketed on the way back.  No motorpacing back to the parking lot.  It was all us.  Nearly killed me tonight.  I worked a fairly tough day in the heat, so I was pretty wiped when we got on our bikes.

Deadliest Warrior

If anyone watches that show on SPIKE called deadliest Warrior , and at the same time was cool enough to also watch Star Trek TNG they will suspect that the narrators voice is the same guy who played Gowron the Klingon.  Since the wickedest show on TV stopped like 15 yrs ago or more I may be wrong , and it may have been Duras and not Gowron.  But it was for sure the Klingon who handed Worf the blade and said " I give his life......to you".  Then Worf said "I choose to spare his life".  Worf was a pretty nice guy.

Worf,  I've been watching you....and i know you've been watching me.....

I just googled that shit, and it was Gowron.  Boom!

Anyways, I am watching that show now.   Sometimes it's cool, but sometimes the results seem fixed.  Like a Samurai loses to a dorky Viking?  Vikings can't can't screw with a Samurai. Vikings are just pissed off longhairs....Samurai's will kill themselves if they screw up.  They never lose.

Last night at the mid was I was instructed to attack not once, not twice but thrice.  Then contest the sprint.  I took  all 4 instructions like one of Lance's domestique's who will later rat him out . Anyways........I had my best race to date.  They said I got 5th,  but in truth I really got 9th or 10th.  They gave Marc 8th and I was behind him.....so maybe he got 5th and I got 8th.  Care noty.

there was a big crash in the warm up lap.  This is all I got....

A bunch of the team

Phil and me trying to get away

big group tonight

Martin on Boots's wheel

Stan and Eric

Yuri, Eric, me

Me and Andy shredding that corner

I'll have more to post tomorrow or the next day................