FLY

I have not had the chance to write in this blog in the last few months, been busy with training, travelling, racing and this gig on the side called a full time job.  Here are few pictures of some exciting moments: 

Photo by Sudbury Star

Northern Ontario hosted it's first Canada Cup race in Sudbury Ontario. The course was typical rough and bumpy northern ontario single-track as one would suspect in the area! Unfortunately, it was SUPER boiling at 1:30pm start (high 30s). It was hard to ignore the sensation that your head was going to blow off at the top of the black rock exposed climb. The heat stick really slows me down, as did getting my chain getting stuck, and pushed into the woods trying to make a pass, she made a unexpected ninja move/felt badly. This was shortest race of my season by about 60km, yeah it hurt in a different kinda way but managed sneak in 5th place. 

Otherwise enjoying summer at home exploring the vast training terrain Northern Ontario has to offer. I attended Norco Demo Day on local Sault Ste. Marie trails, was a great way to get everyone out and test some great bikes. Also two hmmm..lets call them fast legs,            

made a beer and granola bar proposition, 

needless to say they didn't get high fives....

Raid Bras Du Nord/XC Marathon Nationals:

Beautiful St Raymond Quebec

After a very long drive with stop in Ottawa to visit my favourite best friends Aude and Sophia.  It was nice to catch up with these ladies, chatting over dinner about funny stories from climbing mountains in Peru to a French Wedding in France.  Good times!

Copyright Philippe Jobin...you finally got the photo! 

Very important

Let's just say the cycling gods were working in my favour today. I made some really big mistakes and ended up with a good time.  Super respectful of ladies racing during the mass start, as it's bit hairy scary being passed going very fast on narrow trail.  It was an amazing race with 2 river crossing, bumpy climbs and windy farm fields. I made a big wrong turn and dropped my bottle (that I needed), got passed.   I was able to make-up few minutes pushing tops climbs and closing the gap to draft on the road and windy farm field sections with 4th and 5th placing few minutes ahead.  I have been working at over coming some of my fears of high speed loose gravel road DH and going blind down some steep technical DH sections on my hard tail. You have no idea what's coming ahead and you don't get to practice, a true in the moment experience. This is my third season racing my mountain bikes, so needless to say it has been a steep learning curve!

easy road ride around Lac Sept'll listening Moloko in the rain...so much better than sitting in Montreal traffic

Bit muddy pre-ride 

Deepest mud puddle ever! It did dry out for great race day conditions.

St Raymond PQ 

Great Home Stay with Celine and Andre!

Hoped to ride out the last bit of fitness of the season into Ontario Provincials at Horseshoe Ontario, however I think I made it to about Parry Sound before the "wave" ended. It was a BIG race on super LOW battery. Sounds like end of the season race feelings.  Thanks for all the Wild Betty cheers and great sponsors! Proud to be a Wild Betty.  

Bikes ALWAYS be fun even on your worst day with new shoes....excited for what next/secret ninja training.  

Ninja's "Get tired sometimes"