Rossland, B.C. is definitely a place I need to go and ride…one of these days. Here is a promo video from Kona hyping their 29er platform via Barry Wicks. They filmed this short video on the Seven Summits Trail. Looks pretty rad!
Kabush Joins Scott 3Rox Racing
I’m really stoked to see that Geoff has landed a pretty sweet team for 2012 and beyond. Team manager Kyle Douglas has done an awesome job growing his MTB team into it’s current form Scott – 3Rox Racing!
I’ve been working with Kabush for 2 years now the Race Clean Own Your Victory clean sport campaign (we’re still working on Race Clean) and he is one of the most passionate people about the sport of Mountain Biking that I know. He loves riding his bike just as much as you and I: he’s just been talented enough, dedicated enough, and FAST enough to make MTB racing his living! I’m really happy to see that he will have the support he needs to reach the highest level of the sport.
Congrats to Geoff, Kyle, & the whole 3Rox Racing crew for truly turning it up a couple of notches for 2012.
The press release is posted [here]
Check out the sweet launch video that the Scott – 3Rox Racing people put together for this great announcement:
Winter Singletrack Shred
I tested out my new winter tires today…almost perfect conditions for the new studs. Icy trails felt like velcro with these bad boys. Something I’ll need if I’m going to commute to work all year round from the new place.
There is still some dry pavement to be had.
Happy to be out in the fresh air and Edmonton winter blue sky.
Viner Video
I had a great time working with my buddy Sheldon over at bikeridr.com in making this short video for the Viner Perfecta cyclocross bike. Check it out:
SRI IMPORTING VINER promo video from Sheldon Smart on Vimeo.
Mustache 100
With the unseasonable late November weather in Champion City and Movember in full force, I thought I’d try to ride 100 kms today: the inaugural Mustache 100. I had only one willing ride mate, Antonio, so we set of from Dacapo and took in the great weather.
Here is my Mustache 100:
Cowtown
…Ah huh, Is This Thing On?
So, it’s been a while since I updated this blogamajigger so here I go.
Liesje and I sold our condo and we are in the process of building a house. Pretty exciting stuff. We had a pretty fast sale and moved out this past weekend with the help of the Sherman Brothers.
It’s important to keep your cheap labor well fed.
This was the well packed Uhaul
And an even better packed storage bin. Evan used his mad Tetris skills to pack up all our stuff.
Even with Saturday’s move, I could pass up racing the Granny Gear XC hosted by Hardcore & Red Bike. Since the forecast was for rain in the afternoon I figured it was a good idea to ride the Wagon Wheel SS.
Turns out it was a pretty good idea in the peanut butter Terwillegar mud. No gears meant no worries.
A little kinesotape sure leaves an interesting moasic.
This took me forever to clean up.
I just plugged away at my own pace in my own gear and ended up in 3rd place. My best finish yet in the Elite Category! It sure is nice to have a good ride, and a good result. Now I’m motivated to keep it up and build to good form for XC Nationals in Canmore. Next weekend is an XC at Canada Olympic Park and the forecast is down right ugly, just how I like it!
Do I have dirt in my teeth?
Mike
Mike & Mike Do TransRockies 2010
BikeAlberta’s own Mike Sarnecki (yup that’s me) has teamed up with Mike Blennerhassett of Hardcore Racing to compete at Team Pedal at the 2010 TransRockies. (Okay, no more referring to myself in the third person – I’m not Jimmy!)
So Mike & I are officially covering the TR by racing and writing as Team Pedal. The official Pedal coverage website is [here]. We will be reporting on each day’s stage and you need to follow along for all of our in depth, behind the scenes, investigative reporting.
For the unofficial report, well to read more about how Mike & I are doing specifically, well, you can check it out here on BikeAlberta.
Here’s our bios:
TR 10 – Team Pedal
Mike Blennerhassett
Home: Edmonton, AB
Occupation: High School Woodworking Teacher
Specialties: Climbing, looking good, being fast, smelling niceThis is Mike’s first TransRockies and boy is he pumped. With a successful XC racing season almost drawing to a close the TransRockies is the perfect finish. As part of Team Pedal with Mike Sarnecki, Mike B looks to have a consistent race a finish strong. The duo will be racing on the laser like Titus Xs and will be looking to make some heads turn especially when the going gets tough. Blennerhassett has been racing for about six years and has competed in national and provincial events for road, cyclocross with his focus being the mountain bike. Mike is also the club president of Hardcore Cycling and he organizes races locally in Edmonton.
When Blennerhassett is not out riding the awesome Edmonton single track he can be found honing his woodworking skills, cooking on the BBQ (year round) or deciding which bike to get next.
Mike Sarnecki
AKA: Sarns
Home: Champion City, Alberta
Occupation: Insurance by day, crime fighter by night
Specialties: Shredding singletrack, busting kneecap, finding an app for that.This is the first entry into MTB epic stage racing for Sarnecki after racing competitively for the last 10 years focusing on provincial MTB and cyclocross events. Coming off a serious injury in early 2009 where Mike shattered his kneecap playing hockey, he is now back to 100% and is ready for the challenge ahead.
Not only does Sarnecki work full time and train for racing, but he is heavily involved in the Alberta and Canadian cycling scenes. Mike is a major part of the club which organizes the Edmonton Canada Cup and as a board member of the Canadian Cycling Association, Sarnecki has spearheaded the Race Clean Own Your Victory anti-doping campaign, while at the same time, assisted in managing the insurance needs of the CCA.
The TransRockies is returning to its origins in 2010 with a brand new route from Fernie to Canmore via the most spectacular scenery and single track in the west. “With the TransRockies returning to Alberta I figured I had no excuse not to race this year as I’m super excited to tear it up on these sweet trails in my home province of Alberta. That, and I hear the riding in Fernie isn’t too shabby either”.
When not on the bike or doing something related to cycling, Mike spends his time hanging out with his wife Liesje and two little white dogs Berkley and Bella.
Day zero and we’re bunker’d down in the Raging Elk Hostel w/ buddies Josh & Todd (Team 1ohr Battery) getting ready for the big bang of tomorrow’s Time Trial stage. Due to the nature of the sweet singletrack, teams and TR3 soloists will go off in one minute intervals in order to avoid any bottlenecking. Should be good. Solid 500m climb greats us only a few clicks into the stage.
Thanks to my excellent co-worker Scotty Mac for shuttling us down to Fernie for our start. Hopefully he made it back to Edmont0n in one piece. It’s a lot of driving and we all (Mike, Josh, Todd & I) appreciate his help.
Now the stress of packing the single duffel bag is gone now that the great boys at United Cycle are helping me out with my packing problem and are willing to transport around an extra bag or two for me.
Weather is good. Course is good. We are good to go.
Later Skaters,
Mike
P.S. Brad Chisholm needs to buy dog food for his dog so someone please by his XTR’d Norco.
Ovalized Cross Racing (Photos Updated)
This past weekend was one not to be missed out on as Calgary was the place to be for ‘cross racing in Alberta. Saturday night featured the Dark Knight ‘cross race and Sunday was the daylight version of the race, AKA the Oval ‘Cross.
The atmosphere was buzzin’ for the 2nd annual Dark Knight. I was impressed at the 65 Novice racers pinning on a number and taking a go at ‘cross in the dark. It was crazy to see so many racers on this very off camber, swtichbacky course. It was awesome to see.
Elivs made a special appearance in the “A” race, however a broken chain ruined his evening early after being well positioned in the first lap. This disappoint send poor ol’ Elivs into a shame spiral. Overeating a an effect of such a shame spiral so Elivs instantly packed on the pounds and morphed into Fat Elvis. Well at least he won a prize for best ‘glow’ costume. I think it was the sparkly eagle on his chest.
So after a few beers and a late bedtime, Sunday morning brought snow, cold, a little mud, and a lot of slick. Finally, a non fast, dry, & hard race…we raced in the mud! This was awesome for me as I pride myself as a bit of a technical rider. We’re not talking Dr. Smooth levels mind you, but I can definitely hold my own. Well my mad skillz seemed to be doing the trick as I worked my way up into the talented pool know as Alberta’s Top Ten. Mid race, I started see sawing with Paul Tickler, The Fitness. I’d use my technique, The Skillz, on the tricky slick sections, and he’d use that olympic fitness to pull me back / get away. Unfortunately, as the race went on and conditions dried up, my skillz became less and less of an advantage and slowly The Fitness pulled away.
I use these terms The Skills & The Fitness ’cause that’s what I heard while battling it out with Paul from the sidelines. I’m glad our battle was entertaining to the spectators. Sorry guys, I couldn’t quite pull one out for the Skillz team.
At the end, I held on for 7th on the day – a big difference from my Hop & Hurl result of 2nd last! So obviously I’m pretty stoked. I had a fun day of bicycle competition and I’m super happy with my result. And glad to that my top secret trick wheel / tire set up made such a big difference.
Thanks to Liesje for the cheers and to everyone else who were able to express their suprise to me that I was up so far, and then go on to encourage me to keep it on. It made me give a suffer smile!
Is Elvis really dead?
Not Firing on All Cylinders
That’s pretty much sums up how my first ‘cross race back since my blown up kneecap went. I felt okay but clearly did not have the leg speed to keep up with the group(s).
I guess starting in the back doesn’t help that much either. But I was riding with guys for the 1st lap and slowly started to fade out…like my engine wasn’t quite getting the fuel throttle I thought I was layin’ down. I suppose that’s what happens when you spend 5 days in Vegas walking around looking at bike goodies. That and drinking beer in the street.
But I will not give up just quite yet, giver another week of training and hit up some sweet races near the Oval down in Cowtown. Should be a pretty good time. Eddie G is spending a bunch of $$ to put on a great show/sporting event, so I’m going to be sure to not miss a minute of it. I’m shooting for Costume Podium – top step. I’ve got some sweet threads to sport during the Dark Knight and I’m pretty pumped about that.
At least I was able to rail the sandpit while Bradley was there to take my photog…
Does this skinsuit make me look fat?…(kinda a little)
Sarns
