Raid. ..*gasp* Trans...*grunt* ...Gaspisien*sob*

What a trip through the grinder. If you think you're tough shit this is a humbling experience to say the least. There is a Demi-Raid on 1 day or the Grand-Raid of 2 (also a 'Sissie' Raid of 30km). This was my first attendance at this prestigious event hosted in Bonne Aventure on the fringe of the Gaspesie peninsula, Quebec so I went for the whole kit and kabooddle. Go big or go home. Right? This is where the Appalachian Mountain chain reaches it's northern terminus. Odd, because I often found myself thinking, "This is it! This is the end! Tell my mom a love her!" Day 1 The first day was just retarded. 110 Km of everything you could imagine. By Km 70 there is no hope *sob* NO HOPE! When the carbs run out I fuel on spite! If this is your first race in La Belle Province prepare yourself for a taste of the competitive nature of our fine franco friends. It seems these cats are carved out of the abundant maple that cover Quebec (but, they dismount and walk around mud holes!?!? That's the best part!). I've never been passed by so many female athletes, let alone getting quickly dropped on the frequent flat-out fire roads. The first stage of the Raid was very much a roady race, very little pave, but only a few km of single track. What your essentially doing on day one is emptying yourself of all that might save you in day two, like your carb load, entact ligaments, will to live! Mechanical synapsis: 2 Flats, 1 spare packed and 1 very nice Samaritan. Thanks tons Papa Rider! One rider that really gives it up for you can make up for dozens of overly competitive dickheads! 133 Racers (I scratched @ 104 over all with stage 1 time of 06:02:08) Day 2 This 70km stretch began with a tour through the spectators in the town and then a paved climb of 4 km with a "gentle" grade of about 18%. Due to the 32 tooth highest cog I actually passed about 25 gaping mouths on this climb! Unfortunately I had to, because some douche bag ran into me while shifting and put me off the road followed by a customary chain break I lost about 50 positions! By Km 40 both knees were ready to explode (on ice at this very moment) Unreal climbs and screaming descents constantly! Your really in the mountains in this stage rocky climbs that go on forever and some geological wonders, like 15 minute descents littered with these lovely square, sharp edged rocks. Just lovely! At he very bottom of most descents was a refreshing water hole to slam into or some perfectly formed 4X4 ruts to pool your tears of terror. Luckily, compared to day 1 it was over before you knew it. Over 300 racers for all three Raid formats (Stage 2 time of 04:35:26 and 11th of 17 over all in my class) I may sound like it was terrible, but as Bruce Roberts from Hub Cycle told me, "It's the most painful fun you'll have!" and he was right. The gang that set this up was super dedicated and the volunteers were very supportive and cheered for every zombie that rode by. They even peeled bananas before they gave them and it was a like contest to get drinks to the riders first. I've never seen such great rest stops! When your at the diner a "Grosse maudite portion de Patate" is exactly that! High lights: -Bailing head first into a puddle with only 2km to go on day 1. -Hearing douche bag endo'd on bridge and his bike ended up over the edge in the drink . -Going for a power pass throught he most stank-ass mud hole on the course. -Tandem team blowing past me on a descent -Perfect Weather! - The angel that gave me his spare tube that he obviously was very attached to as it had about a dozen patches on it. I'm rolling old school, Daaaaaaaaawg! Check out results and more info at www.raidtransgaspesien.com (the french site is much better, so dig out the Petit Robert) Next on the block is the Hillsborough 5-hour WTF-fest with SS division. Yeooow!

Getting Spanked at Victoria's Secret

Victoria's Secret is out. This race was held recently on June 1st/08 in Victoria Park Truro, NS and was hosted by the LBS, Hub Cycles and sanctioned by Bicycle Nova Scotia. The weather was over cast and it had dumped rain for the previous 2 days. This didn't affect turnout, though. A good crowd came to show they're support for Hub Cycles and to prove that we shall not be scare of by a "little" mud. Eating these words was reminiscent of chowing down on a sandy PB Sandwiches covered in ants.

After the Kiddie ride and the Juniors warmed up the track for a variety of classes for the afternoon's main event. Laps were going pretty fast in the mornings runs, so at the start line it was a unanimous decision to add an extra lap for the Sport and Master Sport categories and all the ladies. By lap 3 I was much older than the mere boy who made that impulsive, yet crucial choice that an extra lap would be "fun".

Half of the course was groomed gravel path. This a good thing, these stretches were valuable to listen what parts were grinding and scrapping or falling off from the other half of the course which was the consistency of oatmeal. Riders skidded, slipped, slurped and sucked there way through brutal mud holed single track for the better part of 3 hours. Not to mention the snot slick down hill switchbacks that took many a good dérailleur from us that day. The shop tech gave me quite a stink eye when he had to change all of my cables and housing. I swear that wasn't there 3 days ago! It was the race. Oh, the mud. Oh, the Huumaanity!

Kudos to all who competed as there were less than half dozen DNF's all day!

You gotta love it! I'll omit my list of mechanical issues; It gets tiresome. Here instead is link to what could only be the fixed gear equivalent (and it's for sale).

Everyone was in great spirits and very sportsmanlike (special thanks for the tool loan from the Pictou County Cyclist who can't stand seeing a grown man cry on his snapped chain) and the Prize draw after the race was one of the best ever. Bruce, from hub even offered up a Garmin GPS!!!

Since I didn't place so well. I will live the vicarious victories of these Racers:

Category: OPEN MEN

1 5 Andrew L'Esperance Cyclesmith 1:43:03
2 2 Terry Tomlin Opus Atlantic 1:43:40
3 15 Stuart Night Mike's Bike Shop 1:50:13
4 6 Justin Theriault Radical Edge 1:50:14

Category: OPEN SPORT MEN
1 169 Colin Banks Valley Stove & Cycle 1:32:16
2 152 Conor Scallion Hub Cycle CC 1:39:18
3 170 Tyler Jones Independent 1:40:05
4 166 Chris Kozanczy ECMTB 1:41:56

Category: JUNIOR MEN

1 228 Trent Cormier Pictou County Racing 1:14:32
2 232 Ryan MacDonald Pictou County Racing 1:15:34
3 227 Paul Slaunwhite Pictou County Racing 1:16:19
4 226 BrandonCurry Independent 1:16:43
DNF 229 Denis Herbert Incline Sports

Category: MASTER SPORT MEN (40+)

1 106 Dan Pottier Valley Stove & Cycle 52:28
2 104 Alan Miner Independent 56:36
3 108 Lawrence MacNeil Bicycles Plus 58:37
4 102 Roy Rasmussen Hub Cycle CC 1:00:20

Category: OPEN WOMEN

1 51 Jessica Dahn Radical Edge 1:28:11
2 53 Enid Schaller Cyclesmith 1:32:33
3 52 Sherry Huybers Pictou County Racing 1:36:44

Category: OPEN SPORT WOMEN

1 201 Natalie Cormier Radical Edge 1:14:19
2 202 Ashley Brown Cyclesmith 1:24:29

Category: UNDER 17 MEN

1 254 Tyler D'Arcy Hub Cycle CC 46:17
2 253 Brandon Miner Valley Stove & Cycle 47:22
3 256 Ben Boutilier Hub Cycle CC 48:52
4 257 Martin Main Hub Cycle CC 49:43

Category: UNDER 17 WOMEN

1 301 Kristen Curry Independent 36:23

Category: UNDER 15 MEN

1 406 Lucas McCulloch Pictou County Racing 23:30
2 403 Peter Millman Hub Cycle CC 26:13
3 405 Allan MacIntosh Pictou County Racing 26:14
4 412 Andre Herbert Incline Sports 26:27

Category: UNDER 15 WOMEN

1 451 Abby Boutilier Hub Cycle CC 32:14
2 452 Adar Grealey Pictou County Racing 45:18

Category: UNDER 13 MEN

1 502 Luc Comeau Cyclesmith 30:08
2 506 Brent Noble Hub Cycle CC 32:53
3 504 Nathan Caudle Hub Cycle CC 35:20
4 501 Garrett Johnston Darlings Island 36:01

Category: UNDER 13 WOMEN

1 551 Odette Comeau Cyclesmith 39:18
2 552 Mackenzie Myatt Cyclesmith 40:45

Cheers for Gears!

Product review - LG Ergosensor Shorts

I, with the aid of some muddy white knuckle descents, recently succeeded in removing the chamois from my fancy race day Lycra. Now, I'd rather pick gravel out of my elbow than head out try to eye up a pair cycling shorts surrounded by the smell of shop grease and new rubber. Try them on? One leg at a time if you do. I don't.

If you feel the same. Live vicariously through my purchase and save yourself the inappropriate invitations that could result if you stumble into the nearest place that smells like grease and rubber shopping for tight pants.

I picked up pair of Louis Garneau Ergosensor cycling shorts Fitworks in Dieppe, NB. They have a draw string at the waist and rubber strips at the legs (To hold your Gels). These are a comfort style because I owe so much to that area of my corpus.

I tested these at a rainy short track race so they really when through the wringer. The chamois was light and seemed to resist soaking and stay "dry" incredibly well (also air dried after quickly after washing). The crotch barely snagged once and medium was the perfect fit these bones. Though walking in the shorts is a stimulated stroll due to weird flexing and "breaking in" of the chamois.

These are offered in a women's specific or men's model at the cool retail of 65 bucks. I'm off to get another pair though, I'm sticking to the men's model on the advice of my new fashion coordinator I met while shopping.

Mountain Bike in Moncton, New Brunswick!!!

Open Invitation!

Are you visiting South Eastern New Brunswick? I know, I know. Silly question, right? Of course you are! You kind of have to to get any where else in the Maritimes. So, just as soon as you get you bike strapped down on the car check out some of these sights to find a local? The mythical gnome that will show you the path...or trail for that matter. Your ticket to finding the best single track, be it Hillsborough's white rock gypsum quarry or the fast and furious tracks at the Bluff in Sussex is at your finger tips.

Don't get stuck dodging seniors and dogs on a gravel path hardly worth the mosquito bites from the picturesque marshland (frog pond) beside it. Do your homework and get in touch with some of these cats:

ME! - I'm super cool and know all the trails. But, lonely...so lonely. I also know the beaches as a matter of personal interest! One can not live on dirt alone.

Moncton Ride Guide - Daily rides posted in well organized friendly threads, and some very funny Forum Trolls ;) Atomic777

ECMTB.com - Powered by Pedals! A great group in the know. Especially if you're passing through to Halifax, NS.

Fitworks Moncton - Mountain Bike rides every Wednesday and road every Sunday. You can't go wrong with this crew.

Geoff Slater - This guy can seriously ride, but just for fun. He is always up for a showcase of his local stuff in St. Andrews, NB and maybe even a trip across the US border to check out some killer single track in Bangor and Orono.

This will help you find an excuse to bring the bikes and crank it up on the FUN-o-city scale!
See you on the trails. Cheers!

Woolastook 5

What a day at the races! Cyclist couldn't have asked for better weather or trail conditions. The trail elves did some serious prep for this.

This was the first event of the season and was hosted by East Coast Mountain Bike (ECMTB). It was a VeloNB sanction event, but open (No license required) to everyone. This helps for new riders to get started racing. This race was a Mini-Enduro format at 5hrs to complete as many laps as possible. I don't have the actual numbers, but I would estimate about 75-80 racers came out to the Woolastook Park, just outside Fredericton, NB.

The course was fast and good mix single track (80%) with a little flat double track. The whole course was in emaculate shape and included some very fast sections and two nice descents. I don't believe there were any serious injuries and ear to ear smiles were more common than mechanicals. I know this for a fact because I suffered 4!!!!!! broken chains and a bent hanger. Oy Vey! and still had more fun than all get out!

Here are the standings highlights for those interested:

Solo Male U17
1. Cole Denovan, NB ... Plate 238, 5 laps, 4:21

Team Female
1. "The Shorties" (Jessica Dahn, Elizabeth Russell, Natalie Cormier) NB ... Plates 711, 6 laps, 4:43

Team Mixed
1. "Normelly" (Kelly Murray, Norman Siebrasse) NB ... Plates 31 / 86, 10 laps, 5:00

2. "Freedom 35" (Duane Moase, Sean Everett, Maraia Everett) NS / NB ... Plates 771, 6 laps, 4:40

Team Male
1. "MBS 66 69" (Mike Leblanc, Don Ricker) NB ... Plates 701, 10 laps, 5:04

2. "Mountain Goats" (Eric Hadley, Vital Melanson, Kenneth Gauthier) NB ... Plates 81, 10 laps, 5:09

3. "One Time For Your Mind" (Scott Campbell, Charles Fives, Darrell Stewart) NB ... Plates 710, 9 laps, 5:13

4. "1 Speed" (Stephen Standing, Mike Lamb) NB ... Plates 789, 8 laps, 4:40

5. "Dirt Zombies" (Sean Ritchie, Josh Lamkey) NB ... Plates 717, 8 laps, 5:13

6. "White Boys" (Darroch White, Edward White) NB ... Plates 714, 6 laps, 4:00

ECMTB graciously accepted VeloNB's "Organizer of the Year" award at the event and for good reason. Great job guys and gals. Way to kick of the season!