#WpgCX2014

Wait, what? It's over?

For now.  

Another cross season has come and gone, and boy oh boy was this one to remember.  Starting off with this year's highlight, Canadian Cyclocross National Championships, in you'll never guess...WINNIPEG.  It was so awesome it took us all a month to process.

Photo Cred: Greogry C. McNeil

After months of preparation the year's ultimate race was happening in my very own city, and we did not disappoint. I participated in 4 races over the entire weekend, at least one everyday, cheered so loudly I lost my voice, enjoyed some lovely Dead Ringers over looking a DOUBLE SAND PIT....I'll repeat a DOUBLE SAND PIT, annnnnnnd organized the after party of the decade.  Just kidding about that last part, next year's will be even more killer.

Photo Cred: Gregory C. McNeil

Photo Cred: Gregory C. McNeil

As a racer I had the top result of my career, placing 5th in an Elite Women's field, specifically the very stacked Canadian women's field (*cough cough* 2x World Champion *cough cough*), made sweeter by the fact that all my family and friends had come out to watch me race.  Only the sweetest deal in the world, and the perfect cherry on top of an ice cream season.  This great season comes as a direct result of many fine folks who have helped me over the past year namely: Paul of  Pure Fitness, Jayson Gillesspie for helping me drop all you fine folk in the dust, Phil Roadley, owner of Bikes and Beyond for supporting my racing aspirations overall these year, and my parents for putting up with to many bikes in our basement, among countless other things.   

Absey?

Not only was there racing, there was shenanigans.
Annz Bananz

I hope you know I'm just grinning over here.

Nanaimo

Intentions of making the reading break into a "training camp" fell apart quite quickly as all reports turned to rain and snow, alongside the impending essay doom at the beginning of the following week.  So a binge watching of House of Cards happened.
Finally on the grand Saturday snow day, Christine and I went for probably my hundredth and her first snow ride of the year.  Great times ensued.

Lil' Scrapper Out.

Victoria

So its Spring Break! Lets get CRAY CRAY.

On Friday I flew into YYJ (which i was surprised to learn isn't actually in Victoria but Sidney), to start a very much needed break from one of the more epic winter's that Winnipeg has had in recent years, i.e. snowbanks above my head / 20 below kinda winter.

Now that I'm really on holidays I've decided to honor the Olympics in the most Russian way possible, by watching with Vodka.  Its a very understanding tv partner and puts up with my criticism of all of the commentators, even the american ones.

Saturday marked my first outdoor road ride since August.  Holy crap its been a while.  Even longer since I've ridden a proper road bike (probably like 2012 at this point).  Parker, a friend back from the days of the Cafe in Canmore, was able to hook me up with this super primo road bike (very low and aggressive) which was a dream to ride, and awoke an entirely different bike lust monster, one which wants now a road racing bike decked with 11 spd dura ace (but lets be honest who doesn't want that, for serious). From this super rad downtown shop in Vic (Broad St cycles) we went on a rolly route (for my unpracticed Prairie winter legs to do), eventually dubbed the "peninsula tour," going from Victoria north up to Sidney and back.  On the way out was more that perfect, however after a short toast/coffee encounter we were slightly less than pummelled with rain and had to shorten our route less our fingers and toes fall off.  To top off the day we hung out for at the bike shop for a while and talked bikes, that Lance documentary, and honey buns.  Thankfully/unthankfully I left my phone at home so no photos for you.

100 percent rain was in store for us on Sunday so instead of heading over to Vancouver for the Valentine's Day Massacre, Parker suggested we take a single speed cruise around Victoria, which i have very aptly dubbed "Le Tour de Victoria". We first stopped along the coast, and you know, PHOTOSHOOT!  We followed along the coast line, which happened to be Victoria's swankiest housing area, which just piled onto to all of the current BC lust, which is already a lot.

Sailboats!

What ensued was studying (on a study break... appalling), rain walks, London fogs, chicken penang, and some gourmet pizza.

My dreamy ray of sunshine

Monday marked the end of Katie's reading break so I decided to try and work on an essay which is due in a week at U Vic while she was being all Law Studenty.  Hardly any work got done. YAY.  In the evening I headed out with fellow Manitobian and cyclist, Hayley, to Mt Douglas for a night hike.  We crushed it so much we forgot to take pictures again. Let me just say it was beautiful to see the city at night, especially on a clear night.

I did get a super cute toque today though...

Tomorrow I head on over to North Van for some family time with my sis, Pisa, and my very extended cousins. Super stoke.

Can't I just live in a city where it's cool to wear birks 365?

Lil' Scrapper

Enduro, have you heard of it? Sum 0 0 0

After one year of hype i finally had my turn at an enduro race. And by enduro race i dont mean lets go rip our legs off for 4 hours (though that can be a possibility), i mean "hey lets only time the downhills over a long course".  Also another new format for me was the Super D which is long dh race which may contain uphills, depending on the course.

The race: North Shore Mountain Bike Series
Format: xc marathon, enduro, and super d (i competed in all)
Where: north vancouver, more specifically Seymour.  Almost in my backyard.

Results:

Xc marathon- 5th
One day enduro - 1st
Two day enduro - 2nd
Super d - 4th

It may have helped if i pre rode the super d course before hand. Though i was going up against some pretty fast chicks. The girls around here can really RIDE!

While all this was going on so was North Vancouvers Bike fest was happening so there were lots of tents and local buisness situated in Inter river park for a good time.
On sunday after the super d i got to spend the day chilling with my cousin Sarah whos new to riding, tearing up the bmx track and beer gardens.

Succsesful weekend Id say.

Cheers,
Anna Banana

**photos to follow shortly**

Theres Still Hope for You Yet Winnipeg

Winnipeg is going through a lot of really shitty days, and then BAM! out of nowhere theres this one really amazing day. 

Like today!  

First day of (almost) summer vacation (I'd say summer vacation but lets be honest maybe we should study for some exams before we get ahead of ourselves). 

Good coffee (and a chocolate croissant).

Sunny (what is the glowing orb in the sky?).  

Warm (er than -15).  

Dry (or was it just not above zero yet)

An awesome adventure bike ride (in circular fashion trying to determine which way the wind is really coming from).  

Wait is there really still 2 feet (at least) of snow on the ground?

I forgot, I was just having such a great day.

Milan San Remo Reenactment

After a great paris-roubaix finish by MY BOYFRIEND (Fabz) some of us crazy enough to go out for a ride did, 2013 Milan San Remo style. Hopefully today's ride will account for my yearly epic "lets get hypothermia" ride, but considering Winnipeg's predicted weather I could probably guarantee this will happen again.

Paris - Roubaix at Parlour 

Dan can hardly see

Genevieve

Bike

Current snow conditions in our backyard.

Some wisdom:

Anticipation

Just me. My bike. And the trail.
Snow go away.