Payday

Since our corporate sponsor put the cheques in our accounts it was only fair that four team members headed out for a cruise today.

The CPP Racers, The Spanish Climber and your reporter made the trip down to Vaseaux Lake and beyond.

A little confusion on the communication (remember “Cool Hand Luke”) split the group at the taxidermist and your reporter turned for home so the Racers and the Climber would have someone to chase. Guess I should have mentioned I was going to do Oliver Ranch and McLean Creek on the return trip.

The bonus for me was I missed the vehicle confusion on the highway into OK Falls. Gotta watch the vans the back up towards you!!!

I did manage to pick up the win on the upper McLean Creek sprint soundly beating my two close personal friends.

While the other three chose to come straight in on Eastside Road, I did let the construction flagperson know that those guys were still on their first lap.

We did meet up at the coffeeshop to recount our best recollections of the ride. There apparently is a medical term for it. It is called MCD (note that is a C not a G!!!).

Did see Harold at the coffee shop and he was pumping the third option for riding which involves high RPMs.

Our next ride is Saturday leaving Smith and Co. at 9 am.

Don’t forget the work party at Nickel Plate on Sunday.

Hope to see you at one or both events.

Flat tire changing

Yes it was a little cold but six hardy roadies headed out for our Regular Recovery Ride to Crescent Beach.

To test out the speed for a flat tire change, fortunately Gary D. got a flat so Des was on the spot with the stopwatch running. With his noble assistant, Gary, holding the bike and passing him the instruments the pressure was on. It may not have beaten the 1 minute 24 seconds on the video but then that guy didn’t check the tire for foreign bodies and his tire beads were very soft.

Our dynamic duo did check the tire for the cause of the flat and found a significant nail embedded in the tire which was the reason for the ticking sound emanating from Gary’s bike earlier.

The sprint at Crescent Beach was a hotly contested dash won by none other than JS. Doug and I casually noted once again the failure of some people to understand the concept of recovery.

On the return to town into the south wind we were supposed to have yesterday, the tempo had recovery written all over it.

However, an early break for the final sprint messed up Pat B’s plan to claim a win and JS once again took the Green Jersey points for the stage.

Looks like Wednesday is going to be the next group ride leaving Smith and Co. at 9 am.

We will also be riding next Saturday at 9 am.

Next Sunday’s ride has been replaced by a work party at Nickel Plate to help prepare for the XC ski season. The date is Sunday November 1, 2009.The more the merrier so give Jack a call to let him know if you can attend 250-490-2772

Sunshine and The Open Road

While the mountain bikers will extol the virtues of riding in the wet and mud of the forest, the road bikers had to endure dry pavement and sunshine.

A Group of Seven once again not to be confused with that other Group of Seven plus one tourist headed out on an outstanding road ride. Taking in the delightful climbs out the highway to Twin Lakes Golf Club and then enjoying the magically descent to White Lake Observatory in the bright sunshine was very hard to take.

At White Lake the discussion centered around the time of the ride and the need for coffee. Naturally, the need for coffee won out and the group headed back into town.

As the Group sipped their bold coffees and discussed the possibility of a Sunday ride, it was noted that if you rode with the tourist you could mark in your training log that you had a two and a half hour ride but the Group only got a two hour ride.

Putting our faith in weather prognostication, we are planning a Recovery Road Ride tomorrow leaving Smith and Co at 9 am.


Hope to see you there

Sunshine and Recovery

After a wee bit of time off the bike, it was nice to get back on the road.

Even managed to get a couple of the guys who like to ride in the rain to come and ride in the sunshine.

Pat B. chose his cross bike but then it was a recovery ride.

The Group of Five not be confused with the more famous Group of Seven headed out to Crescent Beach despite the fact that it was a south wind.

We did say a Recovery Ride to Crescent Beach and every now and then we like to stick to the plan!!

The Tour de Trout Creek has been added so we could check out Lloyd’s new house. Just curious if the proximity to the tennis courts means anything for future activities.

I’m thinking Mike aka JS’s brother missed his calling and should have been in real estate. He seemed to know the price of every listing on the route plus several others in town.

Once out passed Peach Orchard as we were cruising along Pat B. decided to take advantage of the gravel and make a break but Brian and Des quickly covered it.

After the mandatory Crescent Beach sprint (can’t seem to get a total recovery ride--mind you Mike and I know what recovery means), I questioned Pat about his tactics. His reply was well I had him in the gravel but even when I caught his wheel two pedal strokes and I was toast.

A steady tempo home was ramped up when Brian once again took the lead and boosted the pace from Sage Mesa in. I can’t remember that last time my heart rate hit maximum but it was fun just hanging on at the back while Brian, Des and Pat duked it out for the stage win.

The quote of the day came from Mike as we cruised down Lakeshore enjoying the sunshine when he said “That is the closest I have ever been to a recovery ride!”

Next group outing is planned for Wednesday. Weather permitting of course!!!!

Hope to see you there.

North Wind

Seems the group has been doing the same course to north as someone commented that they had done this ride the last four times. Kinda like when we always went south for a change

Only one other F Troop member to start the ride and a whole bunch of foreigners!!! They included Ed from Edmonton and his buddy Brian, Gary from Calgary who actually has a house in Penticon and is claiming to be a local as well as Andre from the Ukraine who is trying to get a visa and we all know how tough that can be.

Throw in a couple A Team members and we headed out towards Camp Boyle.

The handwriting was on the wall when the pace was 40 k/hr into a very strong north wind as the foreigners once again decided to show the locals what riding is all about.

Several regroupings took place on the various climbs with one F Troop member showing signs of wear and tear. Racing your way to fitness is way over rated!!!

Pat B. should have been on the ride for the cross bike action around the construction site in Summerland.

Must have been something I said as Tom K. a charter member of the F Troop decides that he needs to turn around at Falder. Something about needing a shower before he goes to make a contribution to the corporate sponsor. It appears that I am left to ride with my two “best” friends into the headwind when JS sees the desparation on my face from a long way off so he waits and drags my sorry a** to Camp Boyle.

I try to explain the “out and back” rule to the foreigners but they seemed to think that it was necessary for everyone to do the full ride.

On the return to Falder, we managed to pick up Carl P. who seemed to be riding around looking for someone or something. It was about then that Brian decided that they should whip up the pace again.

Fortunately, I was able to enlist the services of a Jim M. Todd H. and JS who collectively took up the task of towing me back to town.

With The Three Amigos leading the way the return to Penticton with a huge northwind was outstanding.

Meanwhile the A Team split up as Gary A. and Brian thought another hill was in order so they pounded up Sage Mesa and let the rest of The Entourage cruise the rest of the way. No indication of any sprint wins except for Jim M. who claimed the last few available points at the 70 km/hr sign!!!

Plenty of discussion around the table at the coffeeshop about when to retire, pension plans and such. Seems that a few guys are thinking this whole CPP Cycling Team is a good idea.

Next group ride is Saturday at 9 am from Smith and Co. Definitely need more F Troop members!!

Too bad you missed it!!

After some time off the bike for some rather exciting times up in Kamloops here is a brief recap of the weekend riding.

The Saturday ride was a small group but what we lacked in size we made up for with intensity. Marty, Lee and JS thought it would be a good idea to make sure that after one ride in two weeks I should race my way to fitness.

So they took it upon themselves to drag the group out to the end of the Chute Lake pavement. Naturally, this was into a north wind.

Needless to say, I invoked the “out and back rule” on the climb up to Chute Lake.

On the return ride, the M Train and the L Train boosted the pace at the Red Rooster and I was left to ride with my two “best” friends who, strange as it is, were even complaining about the elder abuse.

By the way, what happened to Des and Doug? Maybe they joined the European tour!!!

We did meet a couple forest fairies back at the coffeeshop who were adamant that they did not like being called forest fairies so I will not call them forest fairies anymore. However, any references to them it will be understood that they are … “A rose by any other name is still a forest fairy”

After Saturday’s ride to Naramata barely attached to the M and L Trains, today’s Recovery Ride to Crescent Beach was outstanding.

Yes, funseekers you heard it correctly it was a Recovery Ride to Crescent Beach. A few of the usual suspects and a couple riders from PACA headed north into the wind.

There wasn’t even a sprint at Crescent Beach!!!

An awesome cruise back with a huge tailwind with a couple guys using it for alittle harder push to blow out the cobwebs while the rest of the group maintained the Recovery Pace!!!

No sprint at the 70 km/hr sign either!!

Next group ride will be Wednesday at 9 am from Smith and Co.

Hope to see you there.

OLD DIRT

Why are these men laughing? Read on to find out!!!



I believe the front of the birthday card read OLD DIRT and the inside had a space for a name between those options and that space was occupied by Lloyd.

What an outstanding ride to celebrate Lloyd being one year older. Was it mentioned that Lloyd turned 50 today. Amazing that his parents planned it so he would turn 50 on a Wednesday and the Richter Ride would have ideal conditions with a super group of riders. A bonus was Lloyd’s dad made the journey as the support vehicle and he came in very handy on several occasions.

There were several notable absentees today for various reasons and I know that they will all be upset that they missed out on without a doubt one of the best rides of the season.

When the group started out with one of the riders having a flat tire at the coffee shop that that should have been an omen. As it turned out there were a few more flats on the ride but they were actually a bonus as it allowed the peloton to form up a few times and gave those of us who needed it a well deserved chance to recover and enjoy the ride.

The early pace was tempered by the time we hit Vaseaux and we had tamed the guest riders Doug from Kelowna and John from Kamloops. We also managed to pick up a couple extra riders from the initial start list. Lee “I just worked night shift” and Mike “I set the wrong time on the alarm” were added to the mix at various stages.

There were several attacks on the hills and rollers with points and jersey being claimed by anyone who thought that they should get points and jerseys.

At the top of the Richter, waiting for Lloyd who it seems had a flat!!!

Nothing really out of the ordinary until we hit the Bear, where Lloyd and another flat which set up the old let’s leave Lloyd behind because while he was changing his flat everyone else was eating drinking and well you know.

So off we go and Lloyd is now eating, drinking and . . .

Lloyd's Dad making a call to Lloyd's Mom to let her know that Lloyd had another FLAT!!!

Probably one of the loudest flats I have ever heard happened just near Ollala when Doug from Kelowna’s tire blew. Sounded like someone had shot at us. While a couple people stuffed Clif Bar wrappers in his tire this gave Lloyd a chance to catch back up. Good for old Lloyd!!!

The group was kinda strung out now and the ride up to Yellow Lake(thank goodness no one suggested Apex) left the peloton in several pieces most of them in front of one rider who shall remain nameless.

That rider upon reaching the Yellow Lake parking lot began to do loops waiting for the rest of the peloton to arrive. Must have had a flashback to his youth when he would have been the first to the top. When the “lantern rouge” crested the hill our rider suddenly realised that he was going to have to do some serious chasing because he was not the first to the top and the meeting place was the other end of Yellow Lake.

The ride to Kaleden saw a few groups split off but reform at the weigh scales and the race numbers were distributed. It became apparent at this point that no prisoners were going to be taken as the pace in the words of Phil or was it Paul was “infernal”.

After some strong short blasts all the way down until the old Paint Ball place, Brian, John(Kamloops) and a couple others made a break. However, the wiley veterans of the sprint were sitting in the weeds waiting.

At the final line(which is now the green airplane sign) the top placings went to Jeremy “I am a sprinter” Eden and Ian “I should be in court” McAndrews and some old guy. Probably a good thing we didn’t let John from Kamloops know where the line was

Lloyd checking his messages to make sure he had the timing right for soccer tonight.

And so to the Barking Parrot where the group once again got split up since some of the riders went to freshen up while the rest of us saw a chance to get into the beer quicker.

Chris Hawk is planning a comedy night later on this fall but really could have saved himself a ton of money if he had just video taped the beer drinking session.

The general consensus was the Naramata Nut Brown was the beer of choice which was fine by me because it left more of the Stanley Park Pale Ale for me.

I would love to tell all the stories but I am sure you would find reading War and Peace by Tolstoy a much shorter work.

Lloyd with his flowers!!!!

Lloyd said he was hanging up the Orbea and getting the Cruiser out for his rides to work.

It goes without saying that we all owe Lloyd for having his birthday on a Wednesday, doing a Richter Ride and buying us lunch.

Next group road ride will be Saturday September 19, 2009 NOTE the start time is 9 am.

Hope to see you there.