Not quite, but for cyclists all over November 1 marks the day to get off the couch, squeeze into that once well fitting spandex, and get back on the bike. Actually this would have to more true for me last year, this off-season I've managed to avoid most of my annual fattening-up, and come into November in pretty good shape.
But first, a retrospective...
I started in California, which was wicked awesome. Then Tucson, which was also awesome. After a brief stop in South Carolina it was over to Tielt-Winge, Belgium. While there we manged to get to France and Holland too. This is the bit where it starts to come appart, I had a hard time in Europe, and came back to Canada not quite where I wanted to be fitness or confidence wise. Worked hard, raced a lot, but still came to Nationals in Edmonton slightly undercooked. There I did what I could, but a poorly timed flat tire and shaky mental state meant a result was beyond me on that day.
With a sub-par first half behind me, I had to rearrange my goals for the second half of the year, and got to it for the last races of the year. Unfortunately for me, my best rides came in late July and August, capped off with a provincial championship, and good rides in the crit heavy last month of the season. This last sentence still makes me laugh, as anyone would tell you crits are not my favorite races, maybe it was the pseudo-stage race consisting solely of crits I was forced into doing with the Jetfuel guys (just kidding, that was one of the best races of the year!), or maybe a lack of anger management skills that allowed me to summon up the psychotic tendencies required for these types of races.
All of that brings us to now, with a nice month of off-season fun I'm ready to get'r goin again. First I should say thanks to all those who helped me out this year, especially my team, Garneau-Club Chaussures-Ogilvy Renault, my coach, everyone and anyone who let me sleep on their couch, and my parents who continue to let me make forts in the basement (for recovery purposes). For 2011 I'm excited to try and acheive the goals I've set, and if it all comes out it should be one exciting year! I'll be back with Garneau next year, racing in Quebec this time, and working with a new coach who has a great deal of experience and some pretty interesting ideas. Now for some pictures, since I can't figure out how to put them in the text (??)
Thought it would be best to take a picture of the newspaper instead of taking the newspaper (I know its upside down)
Off the front in Windsor...the Eye-talians were weeping with joy by the end.
Making faces at Queen's Park
Putting on a clinic.
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