sole searching

My second DH bike was a little known Rotwild. I got it second hand. I broke it and had it replaced with a newer Rotwild. I rode this for a couple of years before this too gave out. I miss the bike and in fact, still have the frame as I cant seem to throw it away. I bought my Cannondale Gemini DH because I felt the design was almost exactly the same. To be honest, it wasn't. The Rotwild was a much nicer ride and I liked the fact I was the only one aound to have it.

I just did a search for them and noticed that they are back with a new DH bike. ( for a couple of years they discontinued their big bike for all but their DH team.) I am very curious about it now and am going to start researching about my long lost love. They have introduced a carbon rear end which they have had no problems with, and they just signed Richey Schley from Rocky Mountain this year.

Check it out, I think I am back in love.

back on the bike

I jumped on the bike for a full 30mins!! How exciting. At least it was something. I felt weak when I turned it up a bit, so I tried to just stay at an even pace. I kept the cadence high and that actually helped me as it kept the wattage down which meant I wasnt really busting a gut. Every hill climb I came up to, I made sure I didn't ruin my ryhthm.

I still feel fat.

Tomorrow I am hoping to get out on the xcountry skis but I will see how I feel. If I don't ski, I will be back on the bike.

Goals for next week are to ride the bike 4 days and xcountry on Sunday.

100% - 25% = ?

Still sick.


I will start spinning this weekend and maybe go for a ski. I just started riding to work again and my poor lungs are suffering.
A full two weeks of nothing is starting to get me down, it feels like I have been sick for a century.

Still the saga continues

Both Candace and I are in a serious sick situation. I am barely recovering but Candace is worse! I may end up getting worse again because of Candaces' hideous cough. Our life consists of barely going to work, eating and sleeping. I managed to record some guitar tracks before giving in to sleep. I have watched one movie in the last 3 days and still managed not to see the ending. I am eating well, taking multi vitamins, drinking a ton of water and sleeping way too much for my liking. Hmm its frustrating to say the least.

The day after pill(s)

The day after we got back from Tremblant, both Candace and I became increasingly tired and began in with tiny coughs. By Tuesday we were both on our backs, jacked up on any pill or syrup we could find, and continually in a state of sleep. We slept and slept, we drank a lot of water, had a little soup and hardly anything else and still we are not even 75% better. It's Sunday!

I am temped to go on the spin bike this afternoon for a very light 45 mins - I hate not doing any exersise for so long. Weird, as last year I was content not doing any real exersise for almost 2 weeks! and now I can't even go a week without feeling guilty. Well not really guilt. I want to do something. I am enjoying my exersise now and I miss it.

Maybe I will wait until tomorrow and see how my sickness pans out. I am a believer in "sweating the sick out" even if its not the right thing to do.

I see Vermont ski hills have recieved 6-7 feet of snow. We are planning a trip down there very soon for the weekend should anyone want to go, we have one spot available. Maybe we can make a train and get a few people down for the weekend.
I will get some dates sorted as well as some basic rates for hotel and lift passes.

Weekend update.

Satuday was a scheduled xcountry ski day but our visiting friend arrived very ill and we decided to call it off and save our energy for Tremblant on Sunday.

Tremblant:
Conditions were good to very good. I brought out my big skis and I absolutely adored them. THey were carving well for this type of ski and when the snow got rough these skis really took over. Volkl Mantras they are.

We arrived around 10 and were on the hill for 10:30. We skied until 4 with only a short lunch break. We were all very gnackered.

This week

This week has been what I would call relaxipation. Well, not really. I have been working until8 at night all week and I just didn't have any energy left over for any exercise. I am designing the campaign for 2007's Canada's Walk of Fame. Fun yes, but much too little time to get it all together for presentation on Monday. I will however have it ready.

THe weekend looks promising as a friend from NS is coming up and we are xc skiing on Saturday and DH sking at Tremblant on Sunday. We may get a ski in on Monday before he leaves.

I am looking at a new diet to follow.

Death march

Sunday Feb 4

x country skiid with the fit ones. I was already tired from Saturdays ski so I was unsure how I would fare. Surprising I was not bad. I wasn't leading the pack, but I was infront of Candace. This is a huge bonus. We skiied for 2h 45m with a couple of killer climbs that almost made me cry. Death March was not as bad as I thought but it was at the beginning of the ski. Coming down it was another story. THe other hill climb was about the half way mark. This series of climbs took a lot out of me. I lost a lot of ground to the skier in front and I fell 2 times just trying to get up. My technique was not clever nor pretty and this is why I failed.

My wax was perfect for 3/4 of the ski but the last bit my wax was not working for me. THe temp dipped and then so did I.

DH skiing tomorrow.

Saturday Feb 3

xcountry ski
Decided to get outside for a quick ski - judt do an hour. It was so nice when I got going that I decided to make it more like an hour and 45. I have a big ski tomorrow so I hope I didn't do too much today.

I felt so good today, my technique was the best it has been. My wax was bang on and my hillclimbing has improved. I can't wait to see how al this translates when I go for my first mtb ride in spring.

my winter commuter

It is surprisingly tough. I have gone through 2 sets of brake pad already and will be needing another set in the next week. I must be fat.

My fixie so far

This is my Benotto. It has been resprayed badly so I am currently stripping the frame and concidering getting it painted properly. I have a full shimano 600 groupset for it including biopace. I hear it is trendy for singlespeeders to use it.

I am hoping to have this finished for Spring.

tacx set up

This is where it happens. This is my basement and this is where I get my saddle sores.

Thursday Feb 1

Thursady Feb 1
Tacx ride 30km
ride - hilly


Average speed --km
Max Speed --km
Duration: 1 hour
cadence 95
watt --

It was my first long rides on the Tacx. Okay so its not long. 1 hour + a cool down and stretch.
I took it easy at the start and at the half way point I up the workout. The cadence was flopping around 95 and my wattage was around 200. About 3 km left in the ride the PC crashed and I lost the details - kind of pissed about this. I am becoming a tech junkie.

Generally I am very positive and feel I am improving my fitness. I feel like I am starting to accomplish my goals.

Thursday Feb 1

Thursady Feb 1
Tacx ride 30km
ride - hilly


Average speed --km
Max Speed --km
Duration: 1 hour
cadence 95
watt --

It was my first long rides on the Tacx. Okay so its not long. 1 hour + a cool down and stretch.
I took it easy at the start and at the half way point I up the workout. The cadence was flopping around 95 and my wattage was around 200. About 3 km left in the ride the PC crashed and I lost the details - kind of pissed about this. I am becoming a tech junkie.

Generally I am very positive and feel I am improving my fitness. I feel like I am start to accomplish my goals.