Test of Humanity 2012

This years Test of Humanity was probably one of the best events I've been too all year. After Worlds Cups, Canada Cups, US National series races, Pan American Championships, World Championships and so on it was nice to sleep in my own bed, DRIVE not fly to a race and then be around friends, family and great people organizing a great event to help Canadian Humanitarian efforts in Africa. Who wouldn't want to be apart of it?? Plus the post race taco's were pretty damn good along with the not so tail gate but tail gate like party after where we shared some race stories and drank beer and killed a bag of doritos.

Morning started off with some coffee:

Then some kids races, by the way those kids are FAST! never seen someone ride so far and so fast on run bikes!

Then I went out and rode really really hard for 4 hrs. Pretty much to the point where if I stood up or pushed the pedals a little harder I would cramp. That lasted for the final 40 km of the 70 km I completed. Who said 4 hr endurance races were easy? I had a F1 pit crew thanks to The Bike Barn. Last lap I decided it was a good time to finally lay the bike down on a dusty berm and cramp up so bad I had to roll on the ground like a horse scratching it's back to straighten my leg again. Happy I was able to overcome my sucking from last year, which consisted of only racing for 2 of the 4 hours because I sucked and decided a red bull might make me go faster but it make my puke, to take the overall win.  It seems as though I was a little tired after:

Strave file here.

Little photo collection thanks to my mother:

Thanks for a great day Test of Humantiy volunteers, racers and supporters!

MTB Worlds video update

My recent trip to Saalfelden, Austria can be summed up by this video:

Thanks again to all who made this trip and a great year possible!

Fun times Fall times

Pretty unreal day of riding in Revelstoke today. Alpine singletrack, bluebird day, 1,800 meters of descending and a whole lotta smiles. Thanks to Mrs Pendral and Co.

Strava file here. 

Home from World Champs

First off thanks to everyone to helped to make 2012 a great year and sorry I sucked at the last, most important race! So thanks to Rocky Mountian Bicycles, Cycling BC, Cycling Canada, The Bike Barn, Planet Foods, Fox Racing Shox, Peachland Dental, family, friends, and all who all other's. 

Sorry for the last update but I was pretty disappointed after my race as I definitely wanted to finish the season on the high not after notching some of my best results to date this year. It was a tough race. I had a poor starting postion in 72nd and just couldn't move through the field like normal I just had a few bullets adn used them early and then was on damage control/not being able to ride back the rest of the race. I did t-bone a spectator that walked out onto the course on the downhill. Felt bad but he definitely shouldn't have been crossing when there was "do not cross" signs everywhere.. After the horrible race Team Canada met up with Team USA for some a sick mountain ascent to an even sicker downhill. We were all so fried and had no food and almost couldn't ride down but we needed to get in at least one awesome exploration ride. That it was as we climbed and climbed and then rode slow down. 

That evening we went into downtown Saalfelden for some pizza, real oven cooked pizza. Cheered on the trails riders and then went home for a good nights sleep. Saturday was a big day with junior mens race in the AM, elite womens race mid day, elite mens race mid afternoon. We cheered hard, my voice slowly faded. Went out for another awesome Team Canada dinner for pizza then some McDonalds. Which turned into a 3 day binge of McDonalds. There was some evening fun with all the national teams, olympic champions, world champions and so on. On Sunday before we left we watched some of the Eliminator World Champs which Kabush rode to a 10th in, the only Canadian participating. 

Finally home after a few days of travel home from Europe. It was great that Air Canada decided to leave our bags on the Toronto tarmac for two hours before we got to then go through customs..which means I missed my flight to Vancouver and then my flight to Kelowna. Great. Finally got to Vancouver in time to miss the nights final flight to Kelowna by 3 minutes. Air Canada totally made up for it by giving me a hotel and a $15 dinner voucher..which got me into a restaurant. Finally flew home Tuesday morning with enough time to unpack and drive back to Kelowna for my first day of school. Little bit overwhelming after being out of school for 3 years and then missing the first week..

It's now for some fun times this fall. Look for upcoming camping, hunting, fishing, and biking adventures.

Saalfelden, Austria(AKA World Champs) Day 7

Another great day here in Austria. Checked out some of the bike paths and soaked in the mountain views as it was a sunny out. Looking like a rain storm is approaching. Fingers crossed it comes down like Issac just did in the south of the US of A. 

Racing at 2:30PM Austrian time, 5:30AM BC time. www.CanadianCyclist.com should have the usual race updates. 

Missed out on UCI points a bit this year and am starting in 73rd out of 100+ starters this year..pretty shitty place to start but gotta make the most of it. 

Saalfelden Day 6

Yesterday was a pretty busy day with drinking coffee and getting a massage, even managed a grocery run. Cycling Canada has just nailed it with staff, locations, support and just awesomeness. Few more days left until we race our bicycles. Gonna have to do deep, like really deep..on this course if you want to do well.

Check out the the ride on Strava here.

 Taking in the sights.

 The Flying Bouchard finds time to sleep, even in dirty places. 

Munich airport was like cool and stuff. 

Saalfelden Day 4

Another great day of bicycling over here in Austria. Rode with them Canadians and did laps of the course. Then built damns in a creek..

Check out the course profile here. 

Saalfelden Day 3

With misty like rain today it felt like heaven to compared to yesterdays monsoon rains. Warmed up to a balmy 13C today, nothing like the 37C of the Okanagan two weeks ago..Tomorrow looks like it could even spike up to 15C so riding the race course will be in the schedule. Some GoPro video to come later in the week if our internet holds. 

Check out today ride and profile here. 

Saalfelden, Austria and the rain.

After some good travel days we arrived to Saalfelden, Austria. Today I rode bikes in the rain in Europe, life could be worse. Although it did feel like I melted out there today as I haven't had a single drip of rain land on me since June 21 until today.  Crushed 10 hrs of sleep lastnight and hoping with the help of my friend Melatonin I will crush some more. This jet lag thing usually takes a few days. As I will be going to be tonight at 12:20 PM BC time..

Rally4Life newsletter August 2012

For more information on Rally4Life check out www.rally4life.org

Run4Life Update, There's still room to join us.

We have been training hard to get ready for our big run in Guatemala. Two runners will be participating in the 100 km ultra-marathon and we have 8 relay runners at 25 km. With the funds we raise we will be helping many FeViva projects, and will be hands on helping to complete the Education Centre. We can still accommodate more adventurers who would like to come with us, and there is no requirement to run, we need support crew too! So come and join us, see info package attached. The dates are now confirmed Nov 14-24 and we managed to get flights from Vancouver. The trip cost of $1500 CDN includes airfare, Guatemala transfers, food & accommodation. Plus a tax receipt will be issued by Charity partners FeViva.
For more information contact jackie@rally4life.org and check out details on our website www.rally4life.org

Natassia's Birthday

Young six year old Natassia decided to celebrate her birthday by taking donations for Rally4Life to provide children around the world with safe water, shelter and food. Everyone at Rally4Life is so proud of you Natassia. Thank-you.

Watch this lovely video and don't miss the part where Natassia tells her peers in developing countries, "If you don't have clean water, I have money.." Simple as that!

Wings of Kilimanjaro

We are very excited to announce that Advocate Mark Jennings-Bates has been invited to participate in a thrilling new challenge. In January 2013, the pilots will climb the highest mountain on the African continent and be the first paraglider pilots to officially fly from the summit. We wish them all luck and a safe journey. Follow their progress at www.WingsofKilimanjaro.com While Mark and nearly 200 other pilots will be raising funds for other charities, we are totally supportive of their effort to climb and fly the summer of Mount Kilimanjaro to aid in raising funds for two organizations, The One Foundation and Plant with Purpose.

Advocate Evan Guthrie wins local GrandFondo

Advocate and our next door neighbor Evan Guthrie is incredible talented and so humble. He completed the 122 km distance in under 3.5 hours and road biking is not even his specialty. From his blog "Over the last five km I was hurting pretty good from the leg cramps, which seems to be a road bike only thing for me, so I sat on the back of the group for the last few km and Mr Matt Hewitt from Vernon was gracious enough to lead me out for the sprint of the non-race race! I was able to cross the line first and have the fastest time of the day for the 122 km ride through the beautiful roads of the Okanagan Valley. With long climbs, short climbs, fast descents, bike paths, gravel roads, vineyards, orchards and lake views it made for a spectacular day of bike riding. It was crazy that I probably got the most media attention ever after the event.." Evan will be helping us again with our Annual Spinathon, watch for more details, and don't miss the chance to spin alongside the incredible young athlete.

2012 MTB World Championship team announced

2012 MTB World Championship team has been officially announced. Check it out here.

Moto GP 80cc style

Pretty much laying it down on an 80cc dirt bike is scarier than one would think. Be aware of course language and crashing..

Nice little article in Pedal magazine of Rocky Mechanic Mitsuyoshi Shirai or as we call Bassman on how to wash bikes, more specifically my bike.

Picture Update

T-minus 11 days until I am once again Europe bound. This time to Saafelden, Austria. Then it's straight back home, back to school, back to awesome times. 

 My gramma is awesome, she had some winter ale's and fresh sockeye for me!

 Creekin'

 Peachland is a wonderful place

Kelowna ain't too bad on a nice day..