July 10th

My frame has finally been repaired.I'm back on track, now i'm complete as a person. I'm rested up and feeling fresh, more ready than ever to go shreding.
A huge relieve it's finally here!I was phoning the shop every hour is it here yet is it here yet......
Officially annoyed the local bike shop, but hey.
Smashed out about 5 runs from 6 till 7 almost as soon as my bike had arrived i was out.
I'd previously been chilling out, funds are slightly low but it's a good challenge to see how cheap I can live.
Been eating loads of potateos etc.
Will be riding loads soon.

July 4th

It's already July, times flown by. I've lost track of time in this dream world. 

The most recent major change in circumstance, happened from an unexpected snappage of my bicycle frame.

I was planning on racing the first phat wednesday, we entered went up ready to race and there was a long cue which seemed to not be moving anywhere so we decided to go warm up on a-line. It was awesome riding a-line in the damp conditions and chainless. Until a little way down my bike made a few noise, then the third jump in the row I hit it pretty smoothly and luckily landed smooth as well but my bike suddenly collapsed underneath me and I grounded to a holt. 

Not the best of luck considering I was about to race, but Cam Hux kindly let me borrow his  quake and I got to the top just in time to race but didn't do well at all.

I've spent the last week off the bike, chilling it's been good catching up on sleep and getting energy back in my worn out muscles. 

Last wednesday I in-vainly tried to get to the fast wednesday race,  I went and walked the track with Joe Taylor at 1:00 scouted all the best lines and tried out a few. Then I went back to the lodge to try and sort out a bike, Peter from ticket2ride was very helpful and it was very nice of him to let me rent a bit to race. 

So I shot up the hill, at about 3 hoping to get up to speed on the track I hadn't really practiced, but bad luck struck again with the rear tyre going down for no reason. 

In a rage I went back down to purchase a new tube, I fitted it super fast and I went back up. Did one run on the commencal mini downhill on this not so mini downhill track. It was a 3 minute run with about 5 significant corners and the rest of the track pretty straight and flat out, with loads of rocks and bumpy traverses, steep rock shoots with big compressions etc. The holes where too big for the bike to eat up and I had to use my legs a lot which was hard when the long seat post kept threatening to through me over the bars on every big section of whoops. 

But I got over that and went with it until I got a front flat about half way down, I then walked down to bottom to kindly get given a puncture repair kit to use from the chap at bike and bean.

Two patches later I was ready to go practice some more but the big clock said it was exactly 6 just as I was about to get the gondola  the race started at 6 so that amount of practice had to do and that was as familiar with the borrowed bike I could be. 

Oh well I went to the top and waited in line, really chilled out for a race, all these free riders and stuff  around me saying "ah man, everyone takes these races too seriously" taking the mix about people getting into the racing ZONE.

Anyway joe popped up and we had a chuckle about his bike destroying abilities after he'd torn of his mech and hanger in his previous run. 

I raced and it went alright, all the holes where a lot smoother than in my practice runs and it all went well apart from I thought I was going a bit to slow and braking way to much, but I was carrying good speed. 

I thought I didn't stand any chance of being competitive on someone else's bike so I decided to smash the last do and die. I must of let go of the breaks a bit to early cause I washed out as soon as hit the turn, I missed the support and slid on the flat loose section. I quickly got back on, as it was the second from last turn. 

Crossed the line slowly. My knee hurt and I noticed the bash ring had bent massively and had snapped the chain ring. Nightmare. 

A lot of things seemed to be against me but I ended up 42nd which with everything not going my way was a surprise ok 30 sec of Tyler Moorland is a long way but i'd of been a little closer on my own bike for sure. 

Joe stormed it though getting 8th Place only 10 sec of tyler and 6 sec of 2nd place, stoked and it's his first proper race if you can call it one. 

Anyway of to Vancouver tomorrow to go to wreck beach,go karting and to the water park maybe not in that order.    

 

26th June

Last week we where all set to go racing in Mission at the Arduum challenge, we borrowed a car, organized a hotel for the night etc, got up at 5 30 loaded up, the car was a little worse for wear but we where hopeful that it was more than capable of getting us to Mission.

It was all going so well until just before Squamish the car made some funky noises and shot smoke through the fans, grinding to a holt simultaneously.

Bad times, we where all a bit shocked and not sure what to do next, was it beyond repair? could we still make it to the race? who shall we call?

We new that about 5km down the road there was some amenities, a starbuck with internet access, food etc.

We managed to organise for the garage near by to help us diagnose the problem, our options where push the car 5km or get a tow for 50 bucks. The push it was.

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Diagnosed as dead. We got hold of the guys from ticket2ride who where racing in squamish today who have given us a nice beep when they flew past us pushing the big lump of car.

Luckily they had room for 3 bikes and 3 people with all our race kit and where able to pick us up on the way back after the race.

Quite an eventful day, the bear was crushed, and our racing ambitions crushed as well.

On Toby's 25th Birthday weekend as well, it was all very emotional ha they're was only one thing to do after a day that, go through some shapes at the locals night in longhorns!!It went off!

It's sunday here in Whistler been here for 2 weeks exactly now.
On thursday I hit up an XC race, it's 2 bucks to enter and you get some food and a pint at the end.There are some awesome descents and single track on the cross country trails some really fun loamy turns. Took me 53 mins never sweeted so much in my life.
Riding has picked up, getting used to the hard tracks in the bike park.We where shown a track on blackcomb mountain opposite the bike park on Friday it's about an hour trek up, but well worth it excellent track loads of fun.Here is a quick clip the video is speeded up not sure why though http://www.pinkbike.com/video/81945/ anyway you can an idea.
Park is now open from 10 till 8 till later on in the season going to be riding loads.
Been feeling much stronger this week, was tired continuously last week.
Going to be racing in mission next saturday and sunday doing one a BC cup and there is a race on wednesday in the bike park down b-line which is a fairly flat, bermy track, should be good.

3rd of june, been here for a few days now, shredding the gnar!!
I was pretty all over the place for the first few days, getting my head round the rediculously relaxed people, and getting used to the un real whistler village.
It's so good, it's just surrounded with mountains with snow clad tops, baking hot at th7e moment, was 33degrees today.
Nothing happens in whistler untill 10 o clock. The ticket 2 ride team are really welcoming and the set up here at the lodge is spot on, been hitting the workshop here most nights, the bike is holding up well had not problems at all the last two days.
Had a few tweaks to do, like 2.35 rear tires are so harsh and have put in 7 fresh dings into my new rims, but got a wider tire on now.

Anyway having a great time gotta dash, for some pizza oh the foods been spot here, really good.

7 Days to go!!

Counting down the days now. Flying out from gatwick on the 29th May at 12 45. Recovering from a self inflicted flew at the moment, so not really appreciating/bothered that i'm about to go have an amazing time riding some of the best tracks in the world, with some great like minded people.
I've got all my kit now, just procastinating about packing it all up. Bike is all set to go, everything is paid for, flights, insurance, bus, accomodation.
Vo2 max test was cancelled today for the second time, going to do it on tuesday or wednesday. Then andy will finalise a specific training program, to get myself some fitness.
Last 5 hours work at royal mail tonight. Handing back my uniform.
Glad the work is winding down. Finish in www.bikesheduk.com on wednesday.

Anyway here is a preliminary blog sure i'll be blogging somthing far more interesting and exciting than the dull preparation processes.