Take That Bitches

Gatineau Loop

I did my link up again. This time with no mechanicals and so I was much faster. It was also much colder. I wore neoprene booties and a skull cap much of the day, but it warmed up enough in the afternoon to melt my GORP. While most of the trail is smooth fire road, there are some noteworthy technical climbs, and after six hours of riding I can actually get in about 4,800 vertical feet, which is comparable to the vertical X time profile of the Wasatch Crest to Mid-Mountain loop in Park City. After this second visit, the rustic equestrian path section that rides through the lowland cow fields south of the park is now my favorite place in Ottawa.

Ottawa Madison Event

My first cross race of the season was a madison event: two-man teams, alternating laps. I paired up with a guy (Bob) with a 29er and we blasted around the fast, mostly flat, but long course. The field was about as large as the Utah races I'm more familiar with. I have to say though, that the Canadians are a nice bunch of riders, and I think it might have been one of my favorite cross races I've attended as a result. I have also discovered that single speed riding is just not that big up here. I was the only one-gear rider that I could see out of a group of about 150, and I've yet to notice another trail rider sporting one (there are a lot of fixies in town though, which includes a bike polo club, but that goes along with the whole hipster contagion of tattoo, flea market-going lookalike contest). There are eight more races in the season. I'll keep you posted.

charrrrge!

Man, I love this sport.