Sunday 27 April 2014

TAKES TWO TO TACKLE TOUR!

I've been talking about the Tour Divide with a lot of people lately, many of whom just don't understand what it is or why I would do it! A friend asked me about daily mileage, what my plans were, would I be travelling in a group, etc….
At least it looks like it is all downhill!
There are less than 200 Participants attempting the full 4418km each with their own personal expectations and goals. Some have entered with another rider and will ride together. Others will start alone and likely find other riders who are travelling along at a similar pace. A few will be on their own agenda and hoping to place well which likely means they will not be too social or want to worry about others outside of those ahead of them or closing from behind. The guys looking to win will ride close to 300kms a day and sleep little with hopes of completing the tour in 15-16 days. All riders are going in with a plan for daily mileage and finish time, while being prepared for poor weather, change in elevation, tough terrain, snow in the mountains, days of rain, bike trouble, physical breakdowns, wild animals, and difficulties related to finding food, water, and a safe place to sleep.
2013 TD Riders begin to start!
I am fortunate to have a travel companion. Brian McCloskey, my friend who was a long-time coach with both UNH Men's and Women's Hockey program, is a cycling enthusiast. At a very young looking and fit 59 years of age, Brian is healthy, strong, smart and driven to challenge himself and succeed. After hearing about my plans and researching it thoroughly, Brian has decided (with the support of his wonderful family) to take the plunge and we will team-up to grind it out together. I am so thankful to have someone to work with to get through this adventure. We will work to push each other along with the hope of completing the Tour Divide in 25 days or less. I joked with him that the good thing with us doing this together is I no longer have to bike faster than the bear can run...I just have to bike faster than Brian!
My Team-mate...Brian - he is the one on the left!
Our plan going in is:
1) We will meet in Calgary and travel to Banff on June 10 with three days to prepare and get our final plans together before the Grand Depart on June 13.
2) Throughout, we plan to get up, pack up camp and be on the bike as the sun comes up. Mornings will be cold with frost on the ground unless raining.
3) Ride 10-12 hours a day with regular rest stops and food/hydration breaks.
4) Hoping to ride 160-180kms per day with good weather/terrain and with little elevation change maybe we can do more to get ahead.
5) Find a camping spot (after 10-12 hours of riding) along the trail, at an actual camp site, or on someones property. If it happens to be near a town we will set up camp and find a place to eat and eat lots before sleeping.
6) There are small towns along the route but they are few and far between. We will try to plan our daily distances to get to these towns to either sleep at a site and definitely refuel.
7) We will not be cooking food at campsites - cooking supplies adds unnecessary weight as does the food and cooking at the sites could attract unwanted visitors like bears!
8) Weather will be a major factor in how fast and far we can travel. Rain with wind will slow our progress and it is expected that we will be walking through some snow at higher elevations.
8) Motels - our plan is to camp. However, if the weather is real bad we will find a motel for a night if necessary to dry out and re-group/re-energize.
9) We will have to have gear for the cold through the first 2/3 of the race while north and in the mountains and change our focus to the warmer climate in southern Colorado and across New Mexico. We will have to pack with versatility in mind and keep gear light and compressible.

Let's hope we don't have too much of this!
The race is closing in on us. Much of what I've read suggests that you really can't truly prepare for this particular event - the distance, elevation, elements - and all the variables it presents. We will do our very best to put the work in prior to getting there but ultimately we will need to 'adapt on the fly' and remain cognisant of our body, equipment, and environment.

Bring It On!

Thursday 24 April 2014

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS....

It is a rainy day and I am sitting here between doing some laundry, the dishes, skimming through my Tour Divide gear, watching Sportsdesk, surfing the Internet and doing some emails. I was just looking out the window thinking how dismal the weather is and feeling sorry for myself as I wasn't keen on getting out on the bike in this stuff....and I started to laugh!

Feeling sorry for myself! Are you kidding me? I laughed because I started to think how good life is and how great things are for me. As I was smiling, with the computer on my lap, I immediately thought of writing in my blog and for some reason Googled "When Life Gives You Lemons...". Take a moment and Google it and click on 'Images'. You will chuckle at all the sayings and pictures.
Make Life Shine!
My life is Fantastic! When considering Hockey and US College options with my daughter Alexis, my good friend in Minnesota said: "Visit, consider all aspects of hockey, academics, and overall community then take hockey out! Is it a place that you want to be for four years and is it somewhere that you feel comfortable (academically and socially)." He was so right! Hockey is important but it is really a small part when compared to all aspects of university and life experiences.

Back to "My life is Fantastic"! If I consider my life and take out all material possessions (which we all put too much emphasis on), it is pretty darn good...actually Fantastic! I will be brief but here are fantastic and essential parts of my wonderful life...

Family: Married 27 years with a wonderful wife/mother with four great kids of 13, 16, 18, and 20 years of age. We are tight, together, supportive, and happy pulling and pushing in positive directions. Combined with loving support from extended family members, we are in a good place and I love them.

Friends: I have a small number of close ones whom I communicate with regularly and others who I remain in touch with but not as often. I have acquaintances who I touch base with occasionally. Our interactions and communications are positive, supportive, and invested. I appreciate and care about them all.

Health: At 47 I am blessed with excellent mental and physical health as are my family and friends. Knowing that this can always change instantaneously, I always try to live in the moment, and live well doing what needs to be done and pushing personal limits with the things I want to do. I encourage you to 'Go After It!' and avoid procrastination and complacency. Dream Big, Play Hard, Have Fun and Do It!...while you are able. 

Fitness: With health comes fitness, the ability to improve while pushing personal limits of exertion and development. For me, I have always been pushing since the age of 5 whether it be in competitive and high level hockey, lacrosse, in the weight room, on an endurance run, in Triathlon, on a long bike ride, or in an adventure like the Tour Divide. It not only can keep you healthy it makes you feel alive and the personal challenge is invigorating and rewarding.

Employment: I've been working with and helping others grow and develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially since 1982 at the age of 16 when I first worked at a Dalhousie University Hockey Camp. Thirty-one years later I am still working at helping others find success in the school system and on the ice and I am fortunate to not only have the ability and opportunity to make a positive impact on others and their life's direction...it is nice to get paid to do it as well!

Community: The area where we live is awesome based on the people, surroundings, care for others, life-style, opportunity, sport, and the land around us. We complain about weather, winter, food and gas prices, pot holes, and traffic but you know what?...It all isn't really that bad and we have it pretty darn good compared to many areas of our world.

Ability to Explore/Experience: Taking a leave without pay is extreme (and challenging for us) but "why not"? If you can do it for a brief moment in time, like I have, without too much heart-ache to follow a dream - consider it. If you have time to do it through vacation allocations or otherwise, take time to visit other places and experience people, culture, and environments. The experience of exploring new places, people, and things is adventurous, life-changing, and takes you out of your comfort zone which fires up your senses and soul! We work too hard paying for life, we sometimes forget to live it!

Trust and Respect: I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to positively influence and do good things for others. The reward is often further opportunity to do more upon request. For others to entrust their child's development with you is an unbelievable honor. For friends to support you from near and far and follow your progress is humbling. For companies to get behind you in endeavors you care about builds confidence, momentum, and proves that the project and person (people) matter. These are two of the most important things in our society and if you have it and are given it, great things can happen!

So, "When Life Gives You Lemons...." it really isn't a bad thing: they are fresh, natural, full of substance, colorful, are fun to squeeze and add flavour and sustenance to life! My life is not perfect and you may share some of the parts in your life that make mine happy. The key is to focus on what is good and positive in yours and allow it to lift you up and propel you forward.

Enjoy!
Focus on the Positives!




Saturday 19 April 2014

THE ENGINE AND THE WHEELS MEET THE BUNNY WABBIT!

Easter Sunday! Happy Easter to all. I think I will set the bike down for the day and give my tired legs a little rest after some good training rides the past 11 days which included 8 Rides, 26 hours on the seat, and 431kms.
The 'Beast' loaded up at Lawrencetown Beach near home.
The Salso Fargo is a beast! A bicycle made specifically for off road bike-packing, it rides like a Cadillac not a Ferrari. It is smooth, quiet, sturdy, handles solidly in various road conditions, and carries momentum when churning the pedals with a consistent cadence. My position on it is good and I have a variety of hand positions available and can shift my weight on the seat by placing hands in the drops, up on the hoods, across the top bars, or with elbows on the aero bars. The one thing I am not pleased about are the disc brakes which need to be adjusted to react better, smoother, with less grinding noise when compressing them.

I've completed 5 straight days of riding this week in below zero temperatures starting out and warming up slightly above near the end. The rides consisted of 5hrs, 1.5hrs, 4hrs, 3hrs, and 4hrs. I am feeling comfortable, am getting stronger and my rear-end is not complaining about the saddle telling me I can go longer if time permits. One of my training goals early on was getting consistent mid-range time on the bike turning the pedals - done! Second was to get the Tour gear on and feeling the weight a few times - done!

Moving forward, I have to maintain the frequency of my rides but increase the time/distance by getting out for regular spins of 6 hours and longer. I also have to attempt a couple over night tours to test the gear out through the ride and setting up - tearing down my camp gear and sleeping system. I hope to do this more into May when it warms up and dries out a little more.

I am getting in the groove and training habits are forming where I wake up and my body and mind want and need to ride - consistency is paying off. I want to ride Easter Sunday but I could use the day to rest and recover to come back with bigger and better rides this coming week. Well, for now, putting the legs up and lying the bike down for a day.

Hope the Bunny visits you! Hop On...ooops,...Rock On!

Tuesday 15 April 2014

TRIPLE W!

Triple W....Sounds like basketball terminology, I only wish this game of choice was on a 94' x 50' piece of smooth hardwood! Even though I can't dunk, I might have a chance of getting from point A to B quickly and unscathed in this particular activity of choice.

The Triple W I am alluding to is what I have been experiencing this past week and what I expect to be a major issue on the 4418km Tour Divide. They are:
WIND. Doing much of my bike training over the last 20 years in aero positions riding on indoor trainers or outside on a very light and efficient triathlon bike I didn't really worry about wind too much. This past week on my loaded up Salsa Fargo, the Cadillac of bike-packing bikes, I certainly recognized the difference and was challenged to fight through the wind harder on this heavier ride. My legs felt the effort through the final hour of my four hour ride last week and for many hours afterward. The bike is sturdy and the packs  'attract' a lot of wind making it even more difficult to propel.

WEIGHT. This is the enemy! Body weight, equipment weight, bike weight, unnecessary gear = extra weight, food weight, water weight. Weight is a huge consideration (no pun intended). Trying to find the right mix of light weight as it relates to comfort, the elements, the terrain, nutrition, hydration, and sleeping is mind boggling and although I am comfortable with my set-up I continuously play with options in my mind and am still considering alternate items like a bivy over a tent and a couple less clothing items. Ounces add to pounds and I gotta tighten up on things. Losing a few more lbs myself is also on the menu.

WATER. There could be regular 100+ mile distances between civalized worlds on the trail. With the exertion required through our 10-12 hour cycling days for 25 days it is imperative to stay hydrated day in and day out and my plan is to have more water on the bike and in my hydration pack than I can drink. I am prepared to filter and de-contaminate ground water as necessary but would rather not do so. Staying hydrated and being hydrated going into the next day will be important. With the water comes the weight too but some things   are too important to do without and this will be one of them.

The Triple W's are inter-twinned. Water adds Weight, Weight struggles in the Wind. Water takes up extra bike space capturing more wind. Wind slows you down requiring more exertion and sweat which in turn necessitates more water. Did I mention the regular change in elevation, snow in the mountains, regular rain days, the heat in New Mexico, snakes, bears and....!!! Yikes.

This is really a humongous puzzle and likely one that will be pieced together through the days after June 13 that won't be solved until the week following July 6.

Friday 11 April 2014

TEAM TOUR DIVIDE - THANK YOU!!

Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him.  –Booker T. Washington

I am fortunate to have many great family members, friends, community partners, sponsors, and acquaintances from near and far who are following my Tour Divide journey and supporting the Children's Wish Foundation and Autism Nova Scotia through my adventure. I thank all of you for joining me, encouraging me, and jumping on board to assist others in need of help and hope.

Here are a couple clips for you....(sorry about the wind noise)




Wednesday 2 April 2014

A BRIEF GLIMPSE INTO MY UPCOMING 25 DAYS OF 'DISCOVERY'

RIDE THE DIVIDE Official Movie Trailer:

This two minute clip will give you a brief glimpse into the 4450km Tour Divide which I tackle in June. This is from one of the early races four or five years ago. The movie itself is on Netflix or youTube.

I am getting excited to jump into my training schedule next week once this trip that I am on is completed. Long rides on a daily bases will start on Tuesday. Check this out:


Tuesday 1 April 2014

ON THE ROAD....TO INDEPENDENCE!


Trains, Planes and Automobiles…
Train to Boston
My son Brady and I hopped on a train today to travel from UNH in Durham New Hampshire to Boston to get on an airplane to Detroit then onward to Milwaukee before driving a rental car through to Green Bay. The train took us right underneath TD Garden where Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins play. As luck would have it, Brad notified us that the Bruins had the day off Monday but would practice Tuesday at 1130am if we would like to attend…we had to be at the airport prior to that time so we were outta luck.



Plane Turbulance into Detroit.
It was Brady’s first time on a train and one of the few times just he and I have had a chance to travel together without his mom or others with us. Needless to say we are having a blast and I have enjoyed our first few days on this adventure.

The last few days at UNH were great. We hung out with Alexis, did a little shopping, ate lots of food, had nice conversation, cooked a Roast Pork Dinner for her and her housemates, Brady drove her scooter, and I also had a chance to visit former UNH Hockey coach Brian McCloskey to share notes on our upcoming Tour Divide and get a ride on the bikes too.

Brady and Alexis cruising around at UNH
before our travel day began.
Independence…
With some recent decisions Alexis and Brett are facing, the trip has given me some time for reflection. The independence my kids exhibit has truly impressed me. Alexis turns 20 in 6 days and has been living on her own 1000’s of kms away for six years now while attending school and playing hockey. She is highly organized and driven. Haley, with a vibrant and caring personality, has transitioned into University life at Acadia and away from home without blinking an eye. She too at 18 has no issues doing her own thing and finding success through hard work and perseverance. Brett, now 15, is close to completing his second year at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota and continues to thrive in the classroom, with a 93% average, and on the ice with the U16 team. He rarely finds the need or time to call home which sometimes causes us concern but we know it is because he is self sufficient and surrounded by good people in a great place.  Brady, my youngest at 13, has awesome character and is still trying to find his way. He is mature, developing independence, and is turning into quite an athlete wanting to pursue private schooling and a possible move to a New England Prep School for Hockey and Lacrosse and, of course, academics.

The challenge that life presents for our kids is ever present and welcome. It has always been important for us to step out of our comfort zone and we expect our kids to do the same. They face adversity daily and have responded in ways that have made us proud. We continually tell them to enjoy the moment and live well today but to never sit back and let things pass you by. So far they have been surpassing expectations and we couldn’t be more proud.

The view entering Green Bay after a
long travel day!
Onward to Green Bay and our 6th time at the USA National Youth Hockey Championships! Brett just texted us noting he had arrived and was asking when we would do the same. We are only minutes away and look forward to seeing him.

Go Shattuck! Go Brett!