Friday, August 29, 2014

Breaking News…

It has finally been decided that Altona will host the 2014 Manitoba Cyclocross Championships!  It's going to be sweet.  The only hurdle is to shore up the commissaires so it will be all legit n'shit.  



1 part Southern Cross + 1 part Manitoba CX championship + 1 part kegger
The ABES Dirty Double Crosser!

 F'n A!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

ThNR

See you at 8.
Human barriers!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Albert Represents!

Albert continues to knock our socks off as he claimed the silver medal at the 
Provincial Road Championships.

Attaboy Albert - you are awesome!

Sunday, August 24, 2014

CX Nationals

Our dear friends up North in Winnipeg are hosting the 2014 Cyclocross Nationals. You might have heard of it. Kind of a big deal? Hell yeah! And guess what. They'd love to have as many MB  CXers as possible helping out with the grunt work.  That's where we come in. Check out their snazzy website for details on how you can volunteer that weekend. DS

winnipegcx2014.ca/

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

ThNR

Let's gather this week for shits und giggles (aka bikes and beers).

So natural.  This doesn't look posed at all.

On the agenda this week: ABES jersey orders, the upcoming cyclocross season and Southern Cross goodness.  See you at 8.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

ThNR


A handful of us will be rocking and/or rolling at the Arcade Fire concert this Thursday so I'll be absent for my third straight ThNR.  I won't see you at 8 - daaang.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Local Cycling News

Here are some cycling opportunities and recent ABES updates…

Moose Lake Ride V 7.0 - Bruce has once again generously agreed to provide steaks and a place to rest your weary head if you cycle 200 km's to "his" cabin.  It's a great opportunity to cycle with a bunch of good people.  Contact Bruce for more details.

Operation Muerto V 2.0 - Paul K and Justin W made the Moose Lake Ride look like mere jaunt as they cycled from Neepawa to Clear Lake and back.  Well done boys!  I'm sure Paul will provide a report that will discuss his high/low lights and possibly how much toilet paper was used.

Back 40 Mountain Bike Race - Back Country Cycle and Ski has joined forces with Tinker Creek to offer the sweetest single track race in the province.  This race is open to all and is as close to Rocktona as it gets.  If you've ever wanted to give this sort of race a try, the time is neigh.  

David has already provided a preliminary report of our stay at Silver Star.  Two points he failed to mention: 1) Kate is the only person in our group to (accidentally) ride a Black Diamond trial and has the bloody scrapes to prove it, and 2) It took David less than 5 seconds to endo on his bike - I'm not even kidding.  Classic Swatter.


ThNR is on as usual.  Miss Youuuuu.  JS

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Mountain Fun

So Jonny and I (and families) are here at Silver Star Mountain resort near lovely Vernon, BC.  This year-round resort is a mecca for skiers, both downhill and cross-country, but is also a top-notch biking destination.  The lift carries armor-clad Donelle's to the peak every day, anxious to hammer down the myriad of trails cut through the treed dividers between ski runs.  It also carried us, the spandexed Prairie geeks looking forlornly out of place.

Our first full day here we bought lift tickets to try our hand at downhilling.  The ABES jersey and bibs were on full display (represent!) but we quickly noticed that everyone, yes everyone, was staring.  Apparently we stood out.  No armor, no baggy shorts, no long sleeved jerseys and full faced helmets.  Oops.  Fashion faux pas.

Jonny studies the map in the Village.

Jacob riding some twisty downhill.
The Hiebzkys riding the lift.


Good to see "Southern Cross" is a black diamond run.

William.


The "Pipe Dream" run.  Which is exactly what it was for us Prairie boys.

JS and the chingas lovin' the easy way to the summit.

Mia and Kate with the massive map of awesomeness.

Kate and Cheryl shredding through the forest.

Cheryl's so good she does these runs with her eyes closed.

So Day One was fun.  A lot of fun.  We may have been country mice compared to the experts up here but that didn't stop us from smiling goofily all day.

Day Two we decided to try out the XC trails.  A little more our style and definitely cheaper.  Also our style!  Kids came in tow for the first runs of the day.

Jacob and I.

Dads and kids.






 Cheryl, Mia and Cindy climbed to the Summit via XC trails in the afternoon.  Yes, all the way to the top.  Mia proved that while still 8 years old she'll soon be leaving us old farts in her rear wheel dust.  That girl kicked ass!

Mia ready to rock the Mountain.

Cindy and Mia with one of many twisty bridges.

Cindy.

The Athena contingent.

Then Jonny and I got our turn.  We ascended the same way the girls did, summiting the mountain (I hate climbing btw) before snaking our way down the super twisty Snake Pit trail.

Me laboring up a climb.  It's steeper than it looks.
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One of the many bridges I successfully crossed despite my phobia of bridges.







So two days down and two more to go.  A ton of fun and a very steep learning curve.  Cuyuna was fast and flowy with just a hint of climb thrown in for good measure.  This is a little more punishing on the uphill but equally rewarding and more towards the MB technicality of trails.  Keep you posted...

DS

Friday, August 1, 2014

ThNR report (via Albert)

5 trusty riders Lonnie Steve , James, Mike, and Albert showed up for a 20k ride about town averaging 27k/h. James burned 957 calories Steve only 730. Hit the clubhouse in time to see the Bombers pull it out on the last play of the game. 

Bill Klassen consignment auction. James reminisced about selling his F150. U name it we got it. Forrest Gump lawn mower that got away from Steve. 
Lonnie found some coolant lines for his bus. 
James has spare bikes in his basement without front wheels. Steve trying to call 911 with his phone screen locked, after a bike accident- not funny really. 
James learned to ride bicycle in grade 2,  Steve was riding dirt bikes at age 5. 
Gell pigs--ask Steve 

Drew Willy's Hail Mary pass(s)
Steve got stung by a bee while riding
US motorcycle helmet less riders
Saskatchewan is not flat. 
Alice cooper and Mötley Crüe at sturgis falls.