I borrowed a Jake the snake from a local adventure racer friend and headed out to Darling's Island, NB, for some racing action. The course was meh, no spectacular climbs, no imaginative barriers. It was just a field with a bit of asphalt and a ditch, but the down pour the region got on Friday made for some classic cross slop. There was not dry chamois in the house at the awards ceremony. Prizes were great and plentiful thanks to the sponsors. I showed up late and missed the gun, so we'll never know how poorly I could have done compared to Afrow Craig who's reigning supreme in the B cat.

Amphibious, ambiguous, erogenous

The newest member of team Fitworks was there. I've seen this kid at almost everyone race I attended this season, but never did I see him like this.

For those of you that don't recognize it, that look is Blood thirst.

I garuantee he'll be handing some asses back next summer. Way to go, kid!

A beer hand down was impossible, as there were no spectators and alcohol gifting to race officials is all about timing. Next week in Dieppe, NB, for the next in the series. I'll be sure to get some photos of the next one. This course will have it all.


Movember, the month formerly known Novemeber, is fast approaching. It's time to tax that upper lip for all it's worth. I wanted to get a team together, but as usual didn't get my ass in gear. Next year I will get my band of facial ha'ir-do-wells. This year I'm going solo. I have to check with my boss first, but it's pretty liberal around here and who doesn't like a finely sculpted motorhead.

If you got confused by the moustache frenzy at the website or just didn't follow the link. This not just an excuse to force awesome out of your follicles, it's to raise awareness about men's health and prostate cancer. Get in on the action and get a prostate exam, you might like it. Seriously though, watch for updates on my prostate, err, moustache.

Getting lit and falling down brilliantly

Do you have bike light? I don't mean a 'be seen' hipster cyst (linked way too frequently! Is this unhealthy? I hope bike snob's dad doesn't catch on.) or mag light holder on your bars to get you home. I'm talking about a helmet mounted, season extending, laser beam. If you don't have one you should really get one. You don't have to go balls outs on it, but you can if you like. This is my light. Afrow Craig hooked me up with a Lights and motion Stella 180 N for about $130 and it has 180 lumen and 10+ hour burn time. My buddy, Mr.Yertle, paid over $400 for his but it blazes at 1000 lumen. It's like virtual day light up to 50 feet away. He looks like Madonna del Ghisallo come to down from heaven to jack deer with her halo. He validates his purchase by saying, "If I told you there was a bike that cost $400 and it would extend your riding season by 4 months, would you think it was good buy?", to which I reply "HELL YES! Can I borrow $398?" Really though, you don't have to go over the top if your riding in a group on familiar trails, just keep in mind that MEC headlamps are great setting up tents and finding the cooler, but will not cut it on the trails. "What if I told you there was bike you could buy for $100 that would likely get you out of the woods alive after dark, most of the time?"

So, Zarbes actually wear these things, or wore them all summer at least. I don't think they would be ideal for colder seasons. He swears by them and even had some crazy story about enduro trail competitions and a tribe from South America that give new meaning to off road running endurance and never wear shoes. It was from a book I've lost the title of, now. Check the comments, maybe he'll indulge us. Think about it though, with these, you'd never have to bend over to pick up and inspect shiny things you find on the street; do it with your toes, dummy. "How am I going to tie together this kilt and vintage Lacrosse jersey ensemble for the big dance on Friday?" Never ask yourself this question again. In all seriousness, I would try these for trail running. It's like single speed for trail runners.

$0.13. That's how much I was short at Tim Horton's on my order of over 6 bucks. When I told this to the Timmy hoe at the cash, she asked me what I wanted take off the order. This was a tough answer for me because none of the items were for me. I go every day for the girls at work, even though I'm way too bean snob to touch their swill. I get nothing, but out of work for a spell. I have gone 5 days a week to the same place for the past 3 months and will go for as long as I'm employed. Every time, I tip whatever the change is, usually, between 10-25%. Not any more. It's been 3 weeks and about...hmmm... $20. 13 f*@kin cents, for crying out loud. I hate getting nickle and dimed, but not as much as this guy.


NB is kicking off 'cross season this weekend at the Dieppe rotary park. Sparse dets and a shitty no poster are here. I won't be there, because I have to take a weekend off, but lots of roadies will. I had hoped to pull together a cross bike for this season, but no dice. I did get some Hutchinson Crossovers to at least sneak in and get dirty looks for having the sheer audacity to "Ruin the race for everyone", on a mountain bike no less, and make Stevil Kinevil proud.

I got this new shift at work you see, around the same time my blog went to hell. It means I’m gainfully employed with a barbaric 40 hour work week. It’s my first ‘straight’ job in years and it’s taking it’s toll on my creative expression. I can relate to art school grads who lose their way when they start stripping to pay the rent and end up sacrificing their art for the endless cycle of needing bikini wax and dermatological bleach to excel in their industry and, in turn, needing to hug the pole to pay of the “company store” (pharmacy).

Maybe, it’s not that bad, but I do have to start at 5:00AM. The good thing about the shift (aside from having my work day wrapped up at 1:00 in the afternoon) is that there is SFA for supervision and not much to supervise me doing. Alright! What better time take care of my bloggeur duties than first thing in the morning when creative juices are literally oozing out of freethinkers (that what’s crusted to the corner of your eye when you wake up late), though, I must admit I’m more inclined to read blogs than to work on my own before the sun comes up.

I haven’t been all together slacking. I’ve done some killer MTB events and races that I will reflect on eventually here, became an uncle (a super cool and easy thing to do), did some trail work, made some new friends. Yes sir, I have been a busy boy.

I’ve been keeping up on my reading of blogs. It’s waaaay easier. Here are some of my excuses for not making the most of my mornings.

Bike Snob NYC – Pretty much the best thing going on the innernettes, aside from Latvian barely legal blanket burrito reaction videos. Those kill me!

All Hail the Black Market – Mostly work safe, all awesome. Buy a hat from the evil Mayor of Drunkingham and get radtarded.

Rantwick – A fellow Canuck with fine northern sensibilties and a penchant for foul weather riding.

Up in Alaska – Great journals and reflections the unarguably epicest epics ever epicated. Iditarod, The Great Divide race, her average afternoon hike.

Bike Lemming – Insightful and clever with great training tips.

50k Loop – A life of bike geekery on the peninsula.

Fat Cyclist – If this guy were doing any more good, he’d be healing people by jack slapping them.

Check this stuff out. I'm looking forward currently to lunch buffet at the Indian joint and then an after dark burn off on the bike. I suggest you do the same with your own respective local mauw fest, invite some friends so your all equally fueled and then try to kill each other at your own respective ride.

It's good to be back.