And Counting...

I just arrived home from yet another very successful training extravaganza. The week in Penticton was perfect to sharpen the form and begin the mental transition to racing season. After I last wrote we had several incredible days on the bike including a 6 hour days of the biggest climbs in the region including the almost 2 hour rip up Apex as well as Carmi and Giant's Head. The climbing form is great and although Flanders doesn't offer climbing of that caliber, riding in a headwind can feel like a long steady climb at times. I managed to sneak some speed and higher intensity into the riding as well. Especially after I received strict orders from Tino to "go deep into the red". I did my best to ride my group of riders into the ground and on the final day the red zone was all mine as I summited Apex one last time solo after the rest of the group finally reached their maximum capacity and headed homeward early.
The camp was also a great opportunity to meet and get to know some of the best bicycle people this province has to offer. From all walks of life and levels of experience the group at the camp was a solid concoction of character making everyday exciting. It was great to get involved in an aspect of cycling independent of racing or a specific club and I would definitely jump at the chance to do this type of work again.
I arrived home to spend some time with my brother and his family again and took today completely off after traveling yesterday. With 4 young kids in the house I am frankly more exhausted than after a week of hard training, I think it might be the countless hours of soccer and posing as a human jungle gym for the hyper active young ones.
Now it is time to settle in for a final week of physical preparation, a couple of exams and a last minute school project. Hopefully I can get back in the swing of posting, you should see the return of the weekly top tune tomorrow.
Stuart at Roubaix?! Startling.