Spring 8 hours Team Photo

The entire team after a grand total of 352km of off-road racing!

Spring 8hr 2010

Mansfield. Chris B. described the day as magical.  I agree.  There was something special going on yesterday at our annual Spring 8 hour race.  Maybe it was the fact we had 3 teams entered, maybe it was how well the new riders gelled with the group, maybe it was the Friday night shenanigan's and how some of us "left it out on the course".  (Ask Tony for the details of that comment!)  It was probably all of the above + more.  Lots of fun everyone, thanks for a great day!

More pictures from our 5 man team here, our ladies team here, and our 3 man team here. 

T Storms Spoil Hydro Cut Saturday :(

After an excellent ride a couple of weeks ago in Waterloo at the Hydro Cut, Muller and I tried to squeeze in a loop before the weather was to turn sour on Saturday morning. The squeeze was too tight and we had to abort the mission only a few km in. Last summer's road ride adventure with Stitt was still fresh in our memories. The "cut" will have to wait for another day!

Riding in Brooklin, Yo!

Stitt and I did some road riding north of Brooklin, Ontario this weekend. Our ride took us from their house along quiet paved roads north-east until we got to the town of Port Perry on the shores of Lake Scugog. The countryside up there has plenty of rolling hills, giving you an immediate downhill reward after climbing.






Often on country road rides you will encounter some very protective dogs but luckily for us, this fellow was very friendly!


Through the eyes of the handlebar!

Paris-Ancaster 2010

At the start of St.George - Ancaster with a rather large crowd behind me.


Jody, Chris and Kathleen showing off Jody's medal!

Brenda

Cam

Jody

Marty

Marty hike-a-bike on the Mudslide.

Homage to Ice

It looks like Drew, Ian and our old friend Derrick enjoyed a day of racing up at Mansfield yesterday. Since the Icebreaker was canceled this year, this "Homage to Ice" could become Ontario's new opening event. Haven't seen any results yet but I'm sure both the lads were shredding the course. We'll be up there next month doing some shredding of our own for the Spring 8hrs!

Tis the season...

Is it that time again?

Ontario's West Coast

Last weekend while we were visiting my parents, I was able to slip away for a couple hours and ride a lap of the Pinery. Saw maybe 6 people all day and nobody at the beach. The beauty of fall riding.

Willow Beach CX

Jody on the highest step of the podium.
Jody crossing it up at the Willow Beach races in Port Hope. Jody went on to win his category and also racing was Ian, who ended up with a solid top 10 result. OCA race report here and full results here.


Ian washing his bike after what could only have been another 2009 muddy Black Fly Racing experience.

Squeezer Pics

Denis
Marty
Ian
Stitt
Tony
Muller
Fox
Drew
Pete
Brenda

The Squeezer 2009

St. Catherines. A few of my battle wounds from a wet and slippery day. Story of 2009. Even though the weather today turned out to be pretty darn good with lots of sun, the damage was already done from the rain that hit the region last night. The trails were slippery, the roots and rocks were worse and the wooden bridges were downright dangerous. Take it easy and make up time on the road sections was my motto. I think we'll all remember this year for the shitty weather so here's hoping 2010 is dryer.

Check it out: The race made it onto cyclingnews.com

Black Fly Racing in Vegas!

Bootleg Canyon, Boulder City, Nevada.


Basically there was a gravel road up the middle of these 2 gigantic hills with singletrack carved into their sides. Very "flow-ee" but also very technical with extremely loose dirt and numerous boulders and rocks to pick through. Also, because there were over 4,000 people out riding you had to be alert to other riders coming up behind you and at you.


On the Norco Team Carbon. Brand new SRAM XX group. I think this bike was under 20lbs.


On our road ride testing out the new Dura Ace electric shifters on Orbea Orca full carbon roadies.

24hrs of Hot August Nights

Albion Hills. Even though the title says Hot August Nights, it would be more appropriate to call this event "Rather Wet & Cool August Overcast Days and Nights". This so-called summer has been one of the wettest I can remember and for a mountain bike race team like ours it makes for some very sketchy riding. Everything is different in the wet. Your control, cornering and braking skills all need to be re-dialed. Then you throw in some night laps where the whole Point and Shoot theory becomes Point and - oh shit, I'm heading straight for that tree! For sure I was dreading my night lap but, in the end you take it a bit easier and focus on 'git r done!'

Our campsite, #162 was pretty sweet for sure. We practically had the whole site tarped and tented (or vanned), with a microwave, tunes, flood lights, bike stand to make camp life a little easier. All in all I can't imagine doing this stuff, even when the weather turns crappy, with a better bunch of friends. Thanks Jackf?&%s!!!


Dean and Ian at the start of the 1st lap. I'm assuming the Hurricane is strategically drafting here.


Marty going down the switchback so fast you can barely tell it's him. But it is.


I'm gonna eat you McChico. Mmmmmmm.


Jon was a little muddy after his 1st lap.


Damn!


Relay exchange between the Wild Thang and the Hurricane.

For more pictures, click here.

Yeah Mon - Black Fly in Jamaica

Well, it seems as though Black Fly's have gone international this summer! Sandy and I just returned from a beautiful trip to Jamaica where "everyting was irie, mon". No singletrack, but there was a bit of doubletrack. No wait, those were the roads!! Anyway, I thought this would be a fun way to include a little piece of our team while on holiday.

24 hrs later...

Upon closer inspection it was revealed that the bike I had lined up for the 24hrs had a couple of cracks in the BB area. Don't worry, no panic. Maybe they were just hairline cracks in the paint... or are they in the carbon itself? Unfortunately, the latter. I guess it wasn't meant to be. Sniff, sniff.