Change of Pace

So it's official. My 2009 cycling season is complete...well except for my potential clandestine cyclocross season - but I haven't decided as of yet so we'll see. I'm a little sad to see the end of it - but at least it was super successful so that makes it easier.

It has also given me a little more time to concentrate on the other things in my life - like wedding planning! YAY! This picture is from the most wonderful "soiree" that Chris' parents put on for the two of us in honour of our engagement/wedding. It was fantastic and a blast - not to mention a ridiculous amount of wonderful food!

Life it treating me well and my body is slowly, but surely mending itself - and I'm getting a good deal of reading in - and I've been so lucky as to have time to re-read the Twilight series. I love it. So fantastic. Life is good! ;)

2 Wins in a Row :)

Since getting home from PEI I have been enjoying a great deal of time lazing about on Chris' couch here in Ottawa. I've been enjoying some good weather, some fantastic, uninterrupted internet time and of course some fun with the Christopher. I'm still a little brain dead from the fatigue of the last month - so I think I'll stick primarily to picture telling. Above was me chilling with some reporters post-PEI stage win. I think I was a little excited. There is a video of my talking to one reporter - but talking is an inaccurate statement as I believe that YELLING would more aptly describe what I was doing. The first time I watched it I was incredibly embarrased....so I'm not going to put the link on here - but know it's out there ;)

Anyways, yesterday I raced the Preston Street Criterium in the Little Italy area of Ottawa. The weather was CRAAAZY with some torrential downpours - but only in showers, and it cleared up quite nicely for the end of the race. Now, living in BC, we race in the rain a fair amount - but it still scares me a little - especially when I'm racing with a bunch of Ontarians (of which Chris' comment was that in his whole life he figures he raced in the rain in Ontario a grand total of 6 or 7 times). So I went to the front off the gun and didn't really let more than 2 or 3 people get in front of me. About 6 laps in there was a crash behind me and one of the masters racers I know pulled up beside me and said "don't worry - he'll get a free lap." At that point I figured out that we were in a break - which I was more than happy with. We kept working well together and built up a 20 second lead fairly quickly - and just before the end of the race we lapped the field.

Due to some confusion at the end (we caught the main field on the last lap), I got a little gapped at the finish and didn't manage to beat any of my breakaway companions in the sprint - but to be honest I was pretty fried in the last few laps anyway!

Honestly, I feel that the race wasn't as hard for the level of wrecked that I feel this morning - but I'll chalk it up to being a wee bit dehydrated (it was MUGGY here yesterday) and that being my first day of intensity on my bike since PEI.

Here's to Nats this weekend - TT on Friday, RR on Saturday - good times to come!

VICTORY!

I won in Charlottetown baby! Final stage of the Tour de PEI - good times :P

More to come...

One stage to go

To the tune of "Home for a Rest"

You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best

I've been gone for a month, I've been bonked since I left

These so-called vacations will soon be my death

I'm so sick from the bike I need home for a rest.

We arrived in late-April and Belgium was cold

We searched for the web on the side of the road

We never saw nothin' but curious townsfolk
Kept the wind at our backs with the speed of our spokes

CHORUS:

You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best

I've been gone for a week

I've been bonked since I left

And these so-called vacations

Will soon be my deathI'm so sick from the bike

I need home for a rest

Take me home....

Elsy Jacobs our first race to war
Julie’s break showed that she was surely hardcore
Next up was the Swiss, large mountains would yield
The beautiful lakes and wonderful meals

- CHORUS -

Bern World Cup brought us and the fans to the streets
The three k long hill proved to be quite a feat
Then next down to France with the poppies around
“So What I’m a Rock Star” was the common sound

You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best

I've been gone for a month

I've been bonked since I left

And these so-called vacations

Will soon be my death

I'm so sick from the bike

I need home for a rest

Take me home....

The gas tank is empty, L’Aude’ll be over soon
My legs are sore as I stare at the moon

I'm knackered again, come on sleep take me soon

And don't lift up my head 'till the the twelve bells at noon

You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best

I've been gone for a month

I've been bonked since I left

And these so-called vacations

Will soon be my death

I'm so sick from the bike

I need home for a rest

Take me home

Outdoor slippers

Now I was the first to condemn these as a fashion. Well if I'm honest, my sister was the FIRST person to condemn these as a fashion...but I will reluctantly admit (after being on the road for three weeks) that they are conveniant. They are in fact my outdoor slippers.

Outdoor slippers may not sound that exciting, nor helpful to some - but for those of us who are constantly on the lookout for free wireless - outdoor slippers are a key tool. Take right now for instance. After having travelled through Switzerland, down to the mediterranean area in the south of France, I am sitting at a trailer park, under a set of concrete steps...all to bring you this invaluable information.

I think I'm just excited to get online. Racing starts Friday...YIKES! Here goes nothin'!

Grazie Trek. Danke Trek. Merci Trek. Thank you Trek.

The view from my hotel window in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

Trek is the best company in the world. And I have proof.

They have managed to find me a new frame and it's currently being shipped to my hotel in Switzerland from the Netherlands - go multinational company. I owe them a world of gratitude and I can't explain just how happy I am!

But the beautiful landscapes here in Switzerland might start to explain my fantastic mood. It's gorgeous. The coffee is exquisite and I'm sitting at an internet cafe. This is the life!

Our dutiful mechanic Michel getting one of the girls water before we head out on a ride.

For Lisa: SUR LE POUCE! HA!

Open casket memorial