Canada Cup - Hardwood Hills, Barrie

The start -- I'm in there somewhere




This season has been a little different than my previous season and a half so far -- see, this time around, I know that I am not going to be in contention for a podium or win, and somehow that takes off a lot of pressure (maybe too much to be honest).

Anyway, this point was never more clear to me than at yesterday's Canada Cup. I actually lined up against the best in the world. Just to be there, at the same start line, was something of a career highlight. To have the privelege of having my ass kicked by 2007's World Cup leaders, team China; Canada's best Olympic hope, Kiara Basaro; representatives from Brazil and of course Canadians from coast to coast -- WELL, it was a real high point.


Let me tell you about the Chinese ... this year, they've come out of nowhere to dominate the World Cup Circuit. There are three of them, they are about 20 years old each and they go like stink. They have even knocked my personal idol, Gunn-Rita Dahle off the top of the World Cup standings.


Let me tell you about Gunn-Rita. From the moment she picked up a bike, she was fast. In her first season, she raced World Cups -- and won. And she's never looked back. She routinely cleans the clocks of the best women in the world. Until now, when the Chinese appear out of nowhere.


Now it would be unsports-womanlike to cast any suspicion on the Chinese, so I'll just leave it at that and remind you, dear reader, that I too got to be annilhated by them.


On the course, the racing was much more aggressive than usual in Ontario Cups. Passing was exciting ... especially because of all the different languages being yelled from behind. The Chinese left it at a simple "hi, hi, hi, hi, hi ... " They sounded like barking dogs. They were animals! And yes, I know this because I was in fact lapped by all three. The French were speaking a language that was neither french or english, and I think I heard some other strange yelps from far off countries as well. Hard to say.


The course itself was just a brutal endeavour. I felt sick to my stomach for half of it as it was just constant ups and downs. I think I actually had motion-sickness at one point. It was also a course prone to too much braking, so there was lots of opportunity to make the mistake of braking then having to work to get the bike back up to speed ... when if you'd just taken the risk and not braked, you'd have saved all that energy. Of course, you might have also hit the tree. It's a gamble.

Huge thank you to Liz who was, as usual, a hero in the feed zone. I don't know how she keeps track of Jerome, Chris and I all on the course at the same time directly after finished her own race. But thank you thank you thank you!!

My race was a solid "good". I wasn't nearly as grumpy as usual because there weren't so many old men pushing me out of their way. It was a hot day and I made quite a few errors. Fell once, and even had a mechanical. But my results were the usual -- I beat one girl, and another who DNF'd.


And speaking of results, the Chinese took 1, 2 and 3 and our Canadian, Kiara Bisaro took the fourth spot. I beleive I mentioned Marie-Helene Premont was expected but she didn't end up coming afterall. Too bad because she's another amazing lady I'd love to be humbled by.


Truthfully, I was just tickled to be there, and I gave the race everything I had so the day was a success.


now where is that advil.... ?

Help someone less fortunate than you.

In my wanderings today, I found this website: http://www.kiva.org/app.php

The Star has done an article on the site as well but the basics are through kiva.org, you can loan funds from $25 to as much as you want to entrepreneurs in other countries just trying to start out.

The Star highlights the story of a man in Mexico who was loaned the funds he needed to start his own barbershop. But a quick look through the featured entrepreneurs on the site shows varied enterprises from raising cattle, to starting a food market, to opening a shoe store.

Kiva is Swahili for "unity" and I think this is a really great site. I hope you check it out.

Cheers!

This and That

hello world,
It's been awhile since I posted anything so I thougth I would just do a quick update on what's been going on in my world ...

• Racing: Last weekend was the KW-Classic Road Race which was all very good fun. It was also very hot on a course with tons of climbing and not much shelter. Our group of ladies was a little small but it was cozy. We mostly stayed together except for the winner of the race who successfully completed a solo breakaway from 5 laps in. The race was 16 laps/75km. So wow, good for her. The rest of us were left to battle it out for second. With four laps to go, I expertly dropped my chain into the frame and had to stop, get off and re-install. I had to work really hard to get back into the group and by then, the race had really picked up as there were only two laps to go. Just getting back on the group was a victory in itself, and I found I still had the legs to put down a decent finish as well. I came 6th and thought the whole day was just a great positive experience. Thanks to Waterloo Cycling Club and OCA for a great event. Sadly, I have no photos! drat.
• Work: The job is slowly turning up and I find I am always either working or training. We have quite the summer ahead of us but I am actually really excited. I was worried I'd just be exhausted but so far so good -- the adrenaline is already pumping and I expect it will only get better. I count myself pretty lucky to be in a job that's so rewarding and stimulating. I think we all do, so hopefully we do a good job this summer/fall. haha.
• On Modelling: So guess what? I recently had my fifteen minutes of fame in the world of print modelling. An open call went out for girls with bikes, so I auditioned and got the part. Look for my mug on upcoming Nikon Coolpix ads set to appear in such publications as MacLeans and Toronto Life. It was as hilarious as it was profitable.
• Recent Movies I've seen: Pirates of the Carribbean 3 ... Wha...? I also watched "Bon cop, Bad cop" the other night. It was the most stereotypically Canadian thing I have ever seen but I did have some genuine laughs in it. I would give it one thumb up.
• What I'm Reading: "Snow Falling on Cedars" for the second time. I don't usually read books twice because there just isn't room in my life for seconds. I'd rather get onto the next new thing ... but this book has a spot on my list of favourite reads and since i saw it the other day in a used book store for only $5, I thought what the hay. It's even better the second time around. I'm finding out that "the second time around" is better in lots of ways. (which is a gentle suggestion about a sub-bullet -- my love life as well)
• What's Coming Up: So there's a Canada Cup this weekend at which time I will be on the race course with such talent as Marie Helene Premont and the Chinese National Team. If you're interested in coming to see Marie Helene knock off four laps in the time it takes me to do two, come to Hardwood Hills on Sunday, 11:30.

That's it for now,

Ta.