24hrs of Summer Solstice

So, back in the winter we heard the disappointing news that there would be no Hot August Nights 24hr race this year. Our premier event of the season was cancelled!  Making lemonade from lemons is our specialty though and we decided to enter a team in the 24hrs of Summer Solstice.  Great decision!

The weekend was a great success.  Although our numbers were down (missing key riders like Stitt, Marty, Muller, Ian and Adam “the turn coat” Herring) and we weren’t able to secure a site with power or water, we all had a great time.  The course was VERY fast (but longer at 18km) and VERY dusty making the night laps a lot like driving in thick fog.

The icing on the cake was that we had perfect weather.  We dodged the extreme heat of earlier in the week and it didn’t even threaten rain until we were packing up to leave.  The only rain we had was chocolate ;) 

Next year we’ll be sure to be quick enough to get a powered site so that we can have those Xmas lights we keep yearning for!

Let’s make it a new ritual fellas!                

Lake to Lake 29er

Some BlackFly's before the race (on the left)

Yesterday a few of the Black Fly's embarked on the "new" L2L course.  We were all quite used to the previous 50km course across the Niagara Peninsula with the mix of road, gravel and singletrack so we weren't sure what to expect this year.

This new course had some sections of the old L2L course as well as parts of the Squeezer, albeit in a backwards direction.  The bottom of Hydro Hill was our start, which they made us climb twice.

The starting point was at Brock and the finish was only 15 minutes drive away.  This was a great bonus for the drivers as they didn't have to spend an extra 1/2 hr in the car.

It ended up being a great MTB course with plenty of great singletrack riding.  Hopefully they will run it again next year because if they do, I'm sure we'll be there again.

Marty in the start

Riders making their way up Hydro Hill.  No Black Fly's walking here.

Black Fly Racing, Spring Epic 8 Hour Relay 2012

Broom Wagon/Black Fly group ride

From our group ride on Sunday.  We started at the shop, headed down to the Lake, rode west until we ran (haha) into the marathon.  We doubled back to the Spit, out to the lighthouse and back, up the Don path, and climbed Pottery.  In all, about 45km and the average speed was 25-35 kph.  The plan is to have a ride every Sun, leaving the shop at 9am.  No ride this Sun since it's Mommy's Day.

Paris to Ancaster 2012

So we had one of the driest winters on record, not much rain leading up to Saturday and then Sunday morning, it pours!  However for Adam and I doing the St. George distance, it stopped raining a few minutes before our start time and overall the conditions were pretty good, much better than last years epic snowfall.  Adam and I worked very well together, bridging up to groups of riders and drafting them until it was time to drop them.  In the end we ended up representing the club with 2 podiums, mine being a 3rd place in the Mens 30-39 and Adam with a 2nd place in the Mens 40-49.

The boys doing the 60km had a tough time.  Jody and ChrisB didn't start due to injuries and illness.  :(  Drew and Chris L couldn't finish due to mechanicals.  :'(

This race is epic in so many ways!  

Chris L's bike after his mechanical and his SS solution.

Happy to be done... until next year!

Adam and Marty waiting for their podiums.

Black Fly Racing is pleased to announce the newest sponsor for our club:  Broom Wagon Cyclery, located at 701 Danforth Ave. in Toronto.

After some rather intense and at times heated negotiations, Broom Wagon Cyclery will become the club's "home bike shop" and will be continuing the special discount on parts and accessories that the Black Fly's have enjoyed over the years.

We would like to thank the owners of Broom Wagon for their co-operation in this exciting new partnership.

(Yes, the tongue is firmly planted in the cheek here)

Epic climb to kick off the season!

Instead of easing our way into the season, why not jump right in full blast? No sooner had we donned the front door at VanAllen's, did Haase's brother-in-law Barret say, "get your stuff on, we're climbing Scenic Caves.". I laughed, and when Chris just shrugged, I realized he was serious. Scenic Caves is an epic climb behind Blue Mountain if you're not familiar. The kind of ride you shoot for later in the season. At least that's what it has been for me. I never did get to it though until yesterday, with Haase and Barret.

ICYCLE 2012

.....ICYCLE 2012... Brrrr!...



Will and Chris L raced their homemade studded tires at Dufferin Grove Rink on Saturday, Feb 18th at Icycle 2012, finishing a respectable 2nd and 3rd.

This championship-style event boasted new categories for this year: tandem and 20"wheel.  The tandem race was arguably the most entertaining.     Surprisingly, there were even requests for a tall-bike category.  (on ice...  for real!?)

If tires are holding you back, I'd be glad to help!  I hope to see more of you out on the ice next year at Icycle 2013.



CLICK HERE to see Chris race his semi-final round.

At least someone's getting a jump on the season!

A good day for an indoor spin, I think.

Chili Don-Don Ride

Hopefully another annual ride tradition was started today with an end of the season MTB ride through Toronto's Don singletrack.  We had to dress up a bit, but overall had pretty decent weather considering it was raining for the last few days - a little mud at this time of year is expected, right?

We finished with some beers, chilli and pecan pie to cap off what was probably one of the last trail rides of the year. :(

Thanks everyone for making 2011 another fun and memorable year for Black Fly Racing!

A little hike-a-bike.

Drew-man's 1st time on the Don!

Where's the trail, Tony?

When animals attack......mountain bikers

Tour de King

Somewhere in there is Jody and Marty.

On Sunday, Jody and I headed up to the 1st ever Tour de King put on by Chico Racing.  The temperature was pretty cool when we left, and we crossed our fingers and hoped the rain would hold off.  One tricky thing about racing, or even riding in this weather is debating about what to wear.  You never wanna be cold out there, but we all know that as soon as you get moving it doesn't take long to warm up on a bicycle.

The 50km race had about 400 people participating and it started out like a pure MTB event.  Twisty, technical single track was the order of business for the first 15k's before the course ended with mostly paved and gravel roads.  About halfway through it started to rain, a very cold and pelting rain I might add.

At the end there was a hot BBQ lunch waiting for us but because of the rain and a clear lack of a warm, walled shelter it was not ideal.  Ever tried to enjoy lunch, cold, wet and shivering?  Not fun.

Next year?  Only if it's a nice day.

Wrenching with a smile :)

Should we send this pic to the 3rd place team as proof to how they beat us?

Why again?

Weather forecast for tomorrow:  Rain and a high of 7.  Should be a blast.

Course map.

Profile.

Fall Epic 8 Hour @ Hardwood Ski and Bike

Black Fly Racing on podium

Chris finishing the last lap for Black Fly Racing 2

It could have been a double podium for Black Fly Racing 1 and 2.
Black Fly 2 had a mechanical which added 12min to their lap, but they worked hard to closed the gap to 4min at the end, earning 4th. Never the less, weather was beautiful even though the forecast was cloudy with a chance of shower.