Their eyes lit up as I proudly rolled to the start of the ride on my 2010 Superfly 100. Despite less than optimal new bicycle debut riding conditions,  I couldn’t help myself.

Being one of the only 100’s to make it to Michigan so far this year; this steed is indeed a coveted one. I feel very forunate to have one under me for 2010!

I was able to get out on it twice last week and have officially come to the conclusion that Travis Brown’s assessment was correct; this bike is almost cheating!

…just how sweet these bikes are!

This time of year I usually start hitting the trails pretty hard after spending way too much time on the road. And like always I remember just how much I love the sport; there’s something just synergistic and almost religious about the experience of cyclist and bike on singletrack. Although we call it singletrack there are endless lines and options within only a foot or two of space, and just like Robert Frost said it is the path we choose which makes all the difference.

But one of the best things that struck me today was just how awesome the bike I was riding was. Even if I was a little rusty, not quite hitting the lines perfect, braking a little too much or too early, the bike was there, responding in all the right ways. It forgave when  put in a corner at a bad angle, it was smooth where I definitely wasn’t, and it was eager to speed up when I jumped on the brakes too soon. As I came back into the zone the bike was there too, urging me to push it further, getting even smoother as I worked out the kinks and settled back into gear (pun intended).

Thats what got me so excited. This season, like last, I know I’m riding the best bike out there. Ive had a couple of friends get Superflys or other 29ers over the winter and I always tell them with full confidence that these bikes are THE BEST on the market, no question. Ive collected a little fleet of Fishers over the years and each and every one is a really exceptional machine. I own custom bikes, and I own stock bikes, and in all honesty, I like my Fishers the best. See you all out there!

Soggy bottom RD 2

Well 2010 has come and  round 2 of the soggy bottom’s was to be my first race, (well actually pretty much my first ride of 2010, thanks to the snow and ice that put pay to any thoughts of starting some descent training). I was forced by the weather to use my turbo for 2 weeks, as the roads were sheets of ice and the hills around me were covered in 6 foot drifts of snow!! So consider yourselves lucky if you have been one of the few people living in areas relatively unaffected by the recent snow. For me the race was unfortunately postponed form its original date, which for me meant I would have to go straight from a night shift and with out my usual support team!!

Unlike the week before the weather was looking pretty promising. After my 3 hour journey, I landed at Newham. I went straight to sign on and there looked to be a jammed packed master’s field. At this point I realised I had only 70p with me!! So the only thing I could afford without troubling anyone for a few quid was a banana. (Well good pre-ride snack, anyway!!)

I soon bumped into all the usual faces and after all the oohing and arrhing about how much training everyone had been doing I went and got sorted out.

I haven’t got my 29er bike as yet so I was back on my old 26er which is a bit strange as i’ve become very fond of my big wheels!! At about 12ish I went out for a spin. The course was fairly short but by no means easy. It has 2 very tough; lung busting climbs a load of great single-track and 2 fast descents, which you had to be extra careful on due to the slippery conditions. The only thing missing but not missed!! Was a river crossing.

It wasn’t long before it was time to think about getting to the start. As normal I was a bit late getting to the start which resulted in me being on the 5^th row back, which was not the most ideal beginning for me!!

On the whistle decided I needed to make up the positions ASAP, not to get held up in too much traffic. So going as hard as I possibly could I quickly gained a few places. On hitting the climb I still had about 10 riders in front of me, on the climb I took a risk and rode off the race line which helped me gain a few more places. By the top I was into 3^rd but the extra effort had about killed me!! I decided to try and recover slightly and sat in behind the guys in front. The bomb holes were very tricky at race speed but I managed them without any major problems. On the second major climb I decided to have another dig and by doing this I managed to take the lead. By the bottom of cottage return I had a small gap, so I decided to push on. Just before the end of the single-track I managed to go over the handle bars, after jamming my wheel in a boggy area!! I quickly got up and carried on without ant injuries. The small gap i had gained was all but gone!! On lap 2 I went fairly hard on the climbs and managed to regain the gap again. But it was really hard to push on through the single track as there was quite a lot of traffic in front!! At this point I thought it was going to be a matter of maintaining a good pace and hope for no more crashes1 (How wrong could you be!!).

At the end of the second lap Jay caught me napping!! And went passed me as if I was stood still!! After thinking oh s*** I quickly got onto his wheel. Up the climb he was setting a really good pace, I managed to stay with him just. On the bomb holes Jay slipped and I managed to sneak by, when we got to the second climb I went like hell and gained a small gap, but no room for any mistakes. I maintained this gap till the last lap. On the final lap I attacked the climbs again but didn’t seem too gain much at all! 1 but didn’t loose anything either. It was going to be a close one, as Jay was only about 30 meters behind. I did just about hold him off by about 10 seconds!! So at this point I was glad I went hard at the start to make up for such a bad girding.

After the race I was really pleased with how it had gone as usually at this time of year I’m  not exactly on best form, and with the severe lack of training due to the weather and illness!!

A cracking course which was a super challenge! It’s always nice to be in a race till the end and this one certainly was!!

Looking forward to the next round already where hopefully I’ll be back on my 29er and have my little supporters with me!!

Finally thanks to my sponsors

Phil Morris Riding for Xcracer.com29ers

Xcracer.com

Gary Fisher

Exposure Lights

Thanks to Joolze Dymond for the picture.

I had an early morning meeting with The Friends of Bradbury today at the Royal Bean coffee shop in Yarmouth about a summer race series I want to put on. I am really motivated to get this summer race series going.I believe it will be a great way to get more kids into the sport of mountain biking. After the meeting I headed out for a ride, it was beautiful outside today, sunny 35-40 and not to windy. I first headed up to up to Pineland farms to pick up some local organic honey. The market didn’t have any unit prices listed so I had to do the math in my head on what size honey was the most economical.

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With old man winter having his way with mid western Ontario theres not much happing. I’m staying buisy with a mix of snowshoeing, hockey, DH skiing and a healthy douse of P90X (no, i do not look like the infomercial). My schedual will put me on the trainer come the 1st of February (yuck) and try to build the fitness up for the start of the season. Until then, I’ll be wishing for warmer days and dry roads and reading write-ups from those lucky enough to be able to ride all year around. So keepem comin. Cheers

SRAM contracts the virus otherwise known as 29er Crew Fever and jumps on this year “backing” the Crew with their XX components.
Stork