Archive for the 'bike' Category

Sunday, 05 August 2007

Clear to partly cloudy, 20-25C, still

We awoke early and puttered around the condo until opening time then headed down to Blendz for Belgian dark chocolate mochas. The sun was just coming over the mountaintops, and the still-sleeping village was quiet and deserted, save for a few odd souls who had risen with the sunrise. We wandered down toward the health clinic, passing fresh bear scat on the sidewalk. The intent was to go to the tennis club for breakfast, but mapless and going on only a vague recollection on its location, we ended up going on a nice 1.5km stroll down Blackcomb Way, then over to 99 and back again – basically circling around the tennis club! Not to say a brisk walk on a crisp, clear morning was unwelcome – it was a good way to loosen up the tightness and soreness from the many riding days before. The air was cool and a layer of convective fog hung in the low-lying areas aside Blackcomb Way. The sun rising in the clear sky would soon heat the air and burn the fog away, but in the meantime the wispy ether cast a faint rainbow in the light that managed to ply the spaces between the pines. Continue reading ‘Whistler MTB – Day 10’

Friday, 03 August 2007

AM – rainy, 20-23C, still
PM – overcast, 23-25C, still

As predicted, the morning was rainy. The wispy, high-altitude clouds that rolled in yesterday afteroon were the precursors of the moist front that arrived from Hawaii via the Pineapple Express. I awoke before dawn to the sound of rain falling on the vinyl furniture out on the terrace. I closed the window and returned to sleep. We eventually had Pizza muffins then went down to Blendz for Belgian dark chocolate mochas. We wandered around the village, eventually ending up back at Opa! in Marketplace for lunch. It was busier this time, but the workers’ routines were getting more established, so I got my food quicker. The weather was clearing up and the ground was drying up, so we headed back to the condo to gear up for an afternoon spin. We could have easily taken the whole day off, but it seemed like such a waste since we came all this way to BC to ride. Continue reading ‘Whistler MTB – Day 8’

Wednesday, 01 August 2007

Clear, 25-29C still

This was to be a rest day after the long ride yesterday. The legs and ass both needed a little rest. Jeff had gone downstairs to Blends Coffee to get some Belgian dark chocolate mochas in the morning. I had a raisin bagel with cream cheese, milk, OJ and yogurt for breakfast then watched a little TV and had a nap. At lunchtime, we walked down to Marketplace and went to Opa! restaurant next to IGA where the Chinese restaurant used to be. It is a fast-food Greek-style franchise. They had souvlaki plates and pita wraps. I had a pita wrap with gyros meat. It was good and adequately large with fresh, quality fillings. The service was a little sketchy and random since they had just opened and none of the workers had developed routines yet. About $6 CAD with tax. Continue reading ‘Whistler MTB – Day 6’

Monday, 30 July 2007

Sunny, 22-27C slight breeze

Woke up to the keitai alarm and went back to sleep. It was clear out and looked like it would be good ride weather. I wasn’t hung-over from the Hoegaarten. Breakfast was coffee, milk and cereal, OJ and yogurt. I took the spikes off of the Sidi Dragon II’s and replaced them with the filler screws from my spare old SRS Sidis. This was going to be a long ride day, so I filled the reservoir to ¾ capacity. Continue reading ‘Whistler MTB – Day 4’

Saturday, 28 July 2007

Sunny, 20-24C slight breeze

The in-flight movie was “In the Land of Women” or something to that effect. Huh? What? I don’t know. I put on the MP3 player headphones and let the Sleeman put me to sleep. I awoke to the change in sounds as the plane began its descent onto YVR. There was a dull rusty glow at the horizon outside the right windows, while the nighttime sky was still indigo out the left. The cloud tops began to glow as crescents of burning orange, then the sky split at the horizon with the fire of sunrise. Even with the late start, favorable conditions got us into Vancouver actually a little early. The pilot put the plane down gently and evenly with no bounce. The runway was long enough for him to use only wheel brakes and not rip the morning silence with thrust reversers. Continue reading ‘Whistler MTB – Day 2’