Wrap Up

It has been a bit of long week with many school commitments, thus the lack of posting. I finished off a presentation today on Canadian cycling legend Steve Bauer. The Bauer story is an incredible one and I would encourage you to read up on it if you don't know much about this phenomenal athlete. His dominance on the international stage has never been matched by any other Canadian cyclists after him and I have a feeling may never be. In Belgium he is best know for his 1988 World Championship sprint. Check out this footage, about one minute in you can see why second place quickly became a disqualification and why the Belgians will never forget it...
This weekend I managed to get in on a couple of solid group rides. The weekend rides are getting faster and faster, which makes for good training and helps with my craving for competition. I have been following the team site and it looks like they are racing in some good weather in Belge. Speaking of weather, Sunday's ride went south of the city and within 30 minutes huge snowflakes began to fall along with the temperature. At 1 degree and snowing all the poor fools in their knee warmers, bare shoes and brand new road machines had to call it quits, or at least opt for a shorter route. After two hours in the driving snow, our remaining trio emerged in Bragg Creek to sunshine and bare roads. We had managed to stay in a very local system for far too long, but it was epic and frankly enjoyable. This just goes to show that my persistence in staying on the winter bike with fenders and always dressing on the warm side is the model to follow in these parts. If the temperature is below 20 degrees Celsius, cover those legs, entirely.
I have also been experiencing some knee pain and swelling. I hope it isn't going to be an issue. I will stay off the bike for a couple of days and do some stretching to hopefully ditch it.
At the moment I am somewhat burnt out from the everyday grind, but in only a few short weeks life can begin again as a free man doing what I love most. Actually, I only have a week and a half until my brother and family arrive from Norway and I take off for training in the sunny Okanogan. Much to look forward to, just have to keep my head on straight.