Archive for the ‘The Farm Team’ Category
Grand Beach Race Photos
Thanks to Ramona for taking team photos at the recent races at Grand Beach. Go kids go!
Click on the thumbnail photos below to see them larger.
Back40 Poster & Course Map
It’s time to get rolling on the marketing. This year, Alf is the club model.
But even more importantly, James provided us with a 2011 Course Map. Check it out.
More race propoganda
Next Cup race is in Grand Beach this Sunday. Be there.
Race Report from Brandon
The course was just awesome just like I knew it would be. LOTS of flowy single track. Jane won her race in Ladies Comp. Linc came in 5th in Comp. I was in 4th in Expert, little behind JP, when I snapped my chain. Twice. Finally got back to Feedzone and put on another chain, it cost me about 15-16 minutes though, but I didn’t finish last either. Great to hang out with the race gang and even meet some new racers. Good times.
Yes, it’s race season
So, it is obvious the internet has not hit all of Tinker or Morden, as it appears only James, Jonny & non-Tinker members actually read this blog. And while most of the local Tinker riders don’t participate in racing on a regular basis (which I still can not figure out), I will continue to post race stuff until someone else from Tinker asks me to stop.
Hurdles
I realize that not everyone is into racing (and that is fine) and also, that there are hurdles & excuses for not racing. It does cost a substantial fee to buy and MCA license, I know, my family has to buy 3 (ouch). It also takes time and money to get to races. I also understand that not all the trails are the same quality as Tinker has, but, do you really want to spend your entire summer riding the same trails, over and over and over, wondering how fast you really are?
Benefits of racing
- You get to find out if you are REALLY fast. Not just on trails you know inside and out and not just on your good days. In your mind you might be Geoff Kabush, but racing brings out the TRUTH, in a very real and painful way
- You get to meet and hang out with some really great guys from all over the province. (Awesome Adam G. from Fisher Branch, KK & Johnny G (the Butter Belt twins), Carl, Mike & Greg the Brandon Hillbillies, Don S. from Portage and sometimes even Tim L. from Headingley Correctional Facility)
- You also have a perfect excuse to buy new bike stuff on a regular basis (you gotta keep it light & fast!)
- You get to skip out on boring family activities and chores to go “do some training”
- You get to ride new places. Take the Brandon Cup race this Sunday for instance, very similar in flowy singletrack to Tinker. Greg Sherwin knows how to build good trails & they added a bunch of his stuff to the course for this Sunday’s race, I have ridden some of those trails & it will be VERY good.
- Variety of racing. There are the standard XC race or Cup races & Provincials. But there are also enduros like Reach the Beach, Back 40 and obviously the 24 hour race at Falcon. Also the new format for the Wed Night series (which is awesome and fast BTW).
- And if you still have not had you fill by fall, there is always Cross. Abes apparently hold a great race out in Altona, Chris and the gang will put on an awesome race under the lights at the Floodway (edit: make that SPEEDWAY) in September as well. If you like people yelling at you and tremendous amounts of pain for about 1 hour – cross will fulfill this desire.
Anyway, I hope to see you out there. I’m ready.
Who is in?
This is just too good not to re-post this video here.
24 Hours of Falcon Ridge 2010 from dnb on Vimeo.
To all you Tinker riders who want an MTB “experience to remember” this summer, you need to consider the 24 hour race at Falcon. Watch the video, then go check out the 24 Hour Race site, it is put on the by the great guys from FGBC and RRR and even Birch Bill.
Back 40 2011
Yes it’s happening, basic details are on the Back 40 page here. Much more info coming in the next couple of months. But save the date – August 14th.
Time to start training.
Back 40 2011 Input Needed
We’ve been a little slow on the trigger this year. We are thinking about new stuff/changes, maybe a new location? Probably later in summer? But we also wanna know what racers prefer. Please answer the quick polls below. We also welcome your constructive comments if you want to expand, but please keep it positive.
Thanks for your input, hopefully things come together and we’re able to have a good event in 2011.
[poll id="2"]
Last year we had some comments post race that the Enduro was longer than needed… So, how long would you really want it?
[poll id="3"]
Excuses
It’s a topic that has come up with the Steve the Viking and I a couple of times this summer, on the starting line in a race. We both felt that if you show up to a MTB race, without your list of potential excuses ready to go, you’re totally not prepared to race. Excuses are pretty much essential to racing. I’ve heard a lot of em, I even used a lot of em.
The real trick is to make sure you roll em out BEFORE the race, maybe in the parking lot while warming up, but for sure on the starting line.
Here are some of my favs that come to mind. Feel free to add you own in the comments.
“I just finished a huge training block this week and did a four hour group ride yesterday.” (You actually use this one if you are feeling really good, so your potential win will look even more impressive.)
“Man, am I ever hung over!” (I’ve heard this one at Wednesday night races. Still hung over at 7pm the next day…)
“Work has been nuts lately, I’ve had no time to get out on the bike.”
“I’m using this race as a training race, I’m peaking for Master’s Worlds.”
“I’m feeling a little dehydrated.”
“My gears were jumping around in warm up.” (Or, if you’re single speeder.) “I’ve got the wrong gear for this course.”
“The last time I was on the bike was at the last race.”
“I should have put on my other tires.”
“My recovery needs work.” (Possibly the most ironic.)
“This course doesn’t suit me, I’m prefer longer climbs.”
“I think I’m coming down with something?” (Pretty much as standard as saying hello at a race.)
1000 words
Pics from the cyclocross provincials. Tinker riders were present, some of the younger riders did very well with some medals. Us older riders, well we had fun too.
Tim Loewen WINS cross race!
OK, that was just a hook to get you to read this. (Don’t believe everything you read on the internet and I am not sure anyone from Tinker even reads this thing anyway.)
Is there anything going on out in Tinker these days? Might be good to get an update posted here some time, maybe even a photo or something…
Cross Report (the spectators perspective)
The Tinker Creek Cycle Cross team was at it again yesterday in Whittier Park. There was lots of grass, there was apparently a very MUDDY/clay based running section, there was hot dogs, hot chocolate & coffee, there was LOTS of kids milling about, there was yelling/cheering/heckling/support, there was a broken nose, there was NO clipping in by the end of the race, there was bunny hopping the barriers, there was some grown men being wrestled to the grown by 40lb little girls (pacifist Mennos), there were 4 cross frames and forks given away, there was dust, there were riders sliding out on off camber corners, there was beautiful weather.
All in all it was another cool event. Linc & Ramona and kids were there, Tim L too. Jane B borrowed Lindsay Gauld’s bike and raced. I hung out with my kids and ate some Ronnies and took pics. The cross scene seems to have really hit it’s stride this year, a real great group of people and fun atmosphere, with bigger numbers than most MTB events. Good job to all those putting out the effort to make cross “fun”.
The guys from Red River Racing have a race coming this Saturday. Apparently it will favour the climbers from Tinker if you’re interested… I will see if I can sneak into a race before I have to tend to parental duties on Saturday.
