Man Points

Just made a bit of a point system to guide us through. Suggestions are welcome.

Points

- one point per minute

- five points for each degree below zero

- no fuel stops =+20

- for every 1000 ft climbed =+10

- Sketchy/busy road= +10

- Dangerous vehicle encounter ie. snow low =+10 per vehicle

- different weather conditions= +20per (snow,rain,sleet,heavy wind…….)

- hill climb bonus=+25 per

Deductions

-nice weather= -15 per (sun,no wind, no rain, no snow….)

-riding partner=-20 per hour

-not finishing planned route=-50

-fuel stop= -50

it was dark,cold and snowing so I rode

Like the titles says it was the perfect conditions for a nice little road ride around the block.This was my second time out for a long while and I'm still spinning.I rode like 25kms ish in like an hour so the pace was that of a pregnant squirrel.On those kind of recovery rides the best part is the time to think and just solve all your problems.The down side however at -7 there isn't a hole lot of body heat being produced to keep a brother warm. By the time I pulled into home riding down the stairs to the shed was a little sketch...

Part of my cool down (warm up) was a nice stretching session which left the knees feeling like 80 bucks.It feels good to be out again after such a long time away.I'm hoping for Peters speedy recovery.

Cheers,

Tristan

This ones for you,

So I read I'm falling behind on my post count. So this ones for you.Not much happend in the day other than some moca making and relaxing by the old computer.People say you have to treat injury with R.I.C.E so that what I did.It wasn't till later last night that I decided to test out the winter bike and star familiarizing my body to the chill which is winter.

Started the assembly of the winter gear, which only took 15 minutes so you know the training season is just getting started.The purpose of the ride was not only for the test of the bike but to test the ever going knee pain I have be blessed with.The two solders have been feeling better so I figured a spin around the beach trail would do them good.Two kms down the road lefty poped into cycling mode and we continued on our way.Righty didn't pop and felt good the entire ride, which in my opinion is a good thing.

Down at the beach I was expecting to run into the 24hr 7 days a week trail patrol (people that choose to not live in a home) but thankfully the only things a saw were one teenager and a cat.The wind was brisk coming off the lake and my fall ring gloves weren't cutting the cake.I decided at that point it was time to head home.

Back at base I got de-suited and hoped on my little ball to loosen up the muscles. Stretching and foam rolling were also part of the post workout.So 35 minute bike and 1:10 post fix me upper.not bad Id say.

Cheers,

Tristan

Winter, well a winter bike

I just arrived home from he shop building the new 2011 winter bike.Its basically my rocky cross bike but with poopy components on it.A couple things I'm worried about though. First on the list the carbon fork, can carbon handle cold??I honestly don't know.What I do know is when we are riding down scenic caves road on Man Ride 2.0 I don't want an exploding fork.Second Item on the list of worries is the bikes name.Last year I had a Cannondale touring bike which I referred to as the Mannondale, which made since and had a nice ring to it.But Rocky Mountain??Every time I try to incorporate "man" into the name it sounds to close to Broke Back Mountain... I haven't seen the movie and I'm sure its really good but it's just not the relation I want my bicycle having.So with that I'm back to the drawing board.Maybe once I do something manly on it the bike will just tell me.

Since it took so long to build the bike I think I might cancel the ride I had planned tonight and move it to tomorrow.It will be my first ride in almost a month I think, so hopefully I haven't forgot.

Cheers,

Tristan

This won't take long

I'm just at the parents for my sisters B-day dinner so while I have the first glass of vino I'll tell you guys and girls what I have been up to.I'm still off the bike and filling in my training sessions with all that is the gym, the rest off the time I'm helping my dad out on the farm or working at the Bike Stop.My knees are feeling much better and thinking I might start the training season mid December hopefully on a Rocky MTM winter bike.The plan for the winter I think will be some long rides on the winter steed, I was thinking I might even try a stage ride or two. Pretty pumped for it, I just hope I don't get knocked off.....Wine is done so I'll go sit on the couch beside the fire.....cheers!!

Tristan

Grow facial hair month....

I have been growing some facial hair for the past month now and it has just got past the point of the five o'clock shadow.Last night me and my house went out for some dancing at the local dance hall, and to get into the spirit of things I shave the man beard into a Fu man Chu.I was going to take a pic but I think I'll have to get my number one sponsor to send over a bottle of Just for Mens, the camera isn't really picking it up.I don't think I'll hold on to the Fu man Chu look, I'm thinking I might like to play with it a bit through out the month.

On a somewhat training note I hit up the gym last night for a nice stretching/core/upper body work out session.It felt good to be back at the gym pumping iron.Tonight I think I might head back and work on my bum a bit more,

VROOOOOOOOMMMM VROOOOOOOOM

Last night was the Monday Night Something Pulsar edition, where if you own a Pulsar you brought it out and took the other members for a ride.Unfortunately only Ben owns one and the rest of us had to settle for a ride along in the the driver seat.After the old gal cooled down we traded the car for our bikes and headed into the darkness.

I wanted to take it easy on the old knees so I did a swap with the J man and took his geared bike.The swap was a little easy and I didn't know why at the start of the ride.Turns out the bike is in need of a drive train and it skips more than a tub of peanut butter.So I spent the hole time behind the group and cutting through the Forest to make up ground.Andrew may have been cut off a number of times in the process.

Last couple K I decided to lay down some attacks and get in front of the group.Being the Pulsar edition I decided to show off my drifting skills which got me in the lead.Unfortunately Andrews cross skills came in handy when we came up to a down tree and he got back in front.First piece of double I heard someone say "don't worry there isn't enough room to pass" I thought to my self "I think they forgot who I am, I'm Tristan Spurr" and I took off through the bush, bunny hopped a boulder and regained the lead. Unfortunately there was another down tree and both Jacob and Andrew got by but a man has to try.

The rest of the ride was chill, execpt when we got back to the car and Ben saw his car......that was all but chill.Cheers

Tristan