New personal best on Hill Climb.

Set a new personal best on my regular hill climb (VO2 Max) work out.

3min 31secs, seven seconds faster and 4w more than last year.

And I still feel like I have a lot more room for improvement. Last year I broke my arm just as my form was starting to come on and I had quite the effect on my training.

Touch wood, this year I've been playing it a little safe and hope for some better things.

State of the Union:

Been a while since I checked in....

The season is progressing along, and time is fast running out before I move ship out the city and off to start 2yrs of paramedic training.

In preparation I've been trawling the suburbs looking for somewhere new to live and checking out the nearby country-side for new route for the bike. Looking forward to living close to the country again but I'm going to miss having Little-India on my doorstep.

I passed my driving test as well to now have the luxury of sitting in traffic along with 50,000 others as I head off to enjoy the pleasures of rural riding in the summer that has finally decided to join us here in Ontario.

Training is coming along as well, fitness is slowly increasing. The last month had me racing nearly every weekend and with The National Championships just around the corner, I think this week should see me ramping up the training another notch.

watch this space for updates....

its me new build out

Je Suis Canadian.....And other things

Its been another busy week in my life....

I became a proud member of the (former) British colony of Canada Thursday! Taking the morning from work to go and swear allegiance to the Canadian Queen, who funnily enough happens to be the same Queen I swore allegiance to when I was in the Grenadier Guards all those years ago.


We have a close relationship; I've been to her house, eaten her cucumber sandwiches and even helped to water her extensive gardens during a summer garden party in the late 80's.

So its good of her to help me out with another Nationality...

I have to say though that my new Citizenship ID is a little tacky...a laminated card, which for security reasons (obviously) I can't confirm or deny (on-line) is fitted with a complimentary bottle opener in the shape of some Elk antlers.

all those years ago...

But they did also give me a flag so It's all good!

On other fronts I accepted an offer from Georgian Collage to begin my Paramedic Diploma this fall semester, so I'll be up'ing sticks and moving from the GTA to glorious Barrie, gateway to that place just the other-side of Barrie (allegedly).

And my rather unique and robust Father apparently doesn't have cancer (this week). Now its been cross-graded to T.B. Although he hasn't tested positive for it.....(personally I'll wait and see what they come up with next week; life really IS a Lamrim Meditation)

Anyhoo all in all things are going pretty well lately.

But what of my training you ask????? well its slowly coming together. I have my next race this Sunday coming.

90km of dirt, mud and asphalt. I'll let you know how it goes.

My new team however had a stonking weekend of racing, getting some podiums and a whole bunch great results across the board in Ontario today!

Its great to be part of a committed, and focused gang of riders, both male and female. As well as enjoying the support from a shop and owner that's genuinely motivated to help and support his riders...The term chalk and cheese springs to mind.

A sunday in Heaven

before

Today was a great Sunday of cycling classics and season openers.

I started with being woken by a crash of thunder over heads and a down pour over the city. I can't say my motivation was at it's but getting ready somewhat hastily, I remembered it was the day of the cobbled classic "Paris-Roubaix" and laughed at myself grumbling about the thought of roughing it a bit in the rain and dirt trails of my first race of the year, the Tour of Bronte.

It was however sunny by the time I set off, for a short but sweet 88Km blitz around the provincial park tarmac and hard pack gravel.

after

details on garmin here

It was a mixed field with elite 1/2 mixed in with M1, but I managed to hang in the pack for a 27th place finish overall and 13th in my division.

And Darkhorse Flyers had a great day with a 5th and 6th place from the young riders of the Elite team.

5	9	74959	SMITH, Isaac	DARKHORSE FLYERS	RME.1	2h 17' 04"	00' 00"
6	7	74921	BLACK, Kevin	DARKHORSE FLYERS	RME.2	2h 17' 12"	00' 08"

So finally I was pretty stoked to have made the effort...and to top it all off a relaxing evening catching up on the days events at Paris Roubaix with a nice cuppa tea and a ruby murry.

short clip from today

Roll on Hell of the North in two weeks time....

Cycling with power

It's been 6mths but my plaque has finally arrived!

So the warmer weather is finally here and I've started adding some easy intervals into the training mix!

Nothing fancy a few hill reps and some sweetspot training. Signed up for my first race as well, Tour of Bronte. Lets hope the weather holds up.

Got my trusty Litespeed serviced and tweeked ready to roll and my Powertap is finally back from the shop, lets hope it holds up a little longer this time.... going to be great to finally get some structured intervals set up again.



And on the Home front I finally got my Date for my Citizenship Ceremony....by this time next week I'll be Canadian (eh!)

A Dark Horse...

Well I'm happy to announce I'll be riding for the DarkHorse Flyers this coming season......

Rolling out of Helo Vélo Cycle Boutique, located at 101 Carlaw Ave. Toronto, a great little Store with a tight nit, highly motivated team, that though still relatively new on the scene, are punching well above their weight, both within the industry and local riding community to help develop and support cycling in all its guises.

I'll be working within a new small, but determined M1 team, and when opportunity arises, in mixed field events, their strong Elite team.

Its a bonus that the new team gear will match my Gilmour frame perfectly. Can't wait!

I've got a couple of training races coming up in the next few weeks, I'll keep you posted.