Low Pressure Wednesday race 1.5

Here is a repost of what is on the LPP blog, sounds like fun!

Tricia Spooner and Tall Tree Cycles had a fat bike demo yesterday at Mooney's Bay. Overall, it was quite successful, with about 50 people signing up to try out the bikes on a course that was twisty, well-packed, with a gentle rise and climb. While at the demo, someone (can't remember who: Matt, Sean?) suggested that the course would make for a fun gathering/race. Someone suggested a Madison so I am thinking ...

Low Pressure Wednesdays #1.5: Assured Madison Destruction!

The rules: -Two people, one bike. That's right, you share a bike (think of it as the demo day continued). Find someone with a fat bike or a mountain bike with wider tires, find a seat height that mostly works for both of you, and pedal! If you don't have a partner, or want to partner up with a fat bike, show up early and we'll see what we can do. But just in case, bring your own bike.

-Body contact is allowed (we have a score to settle, Mr. Johnson). Rest assured, you are not going to hit anything: the course is on an open field. That said, don't come with the intention of playing smash-up derby; that shit will get you thrown to the curb.

-Race is 45 minutes and a lap.

-Have lights.

-Race starts at 8 pm. Every team throws in a toonie, winners takes all, unless someone's bike get damaged. Meet at the 1st parking lot in from Riverside and Ridgewood intersection.

Low Pressure Wednesday Kick-off

Last night about 15 riders assembled at Hampton Park ready for what Grant had on tap: whisky, a jug of hot tottie, and an exciting race course. Blinding lights mounted to heads and bikes, we toured the course and quickly became befuddled by many an unmarked turn. Ok, cyclocross meets Itidarod meets orienteering, I can get down with that, even if some refer to me as Surch and Rescue. Not because I do the searching and rescuing....

The format was simple: clomp to the centre of the baseball diamond, stand there. Wait for a false start, then go again for the real start that seems false. Jump the fence. Get on your bike. Proceed to stunt #1, the skinny, a bench ride. Sweet, ride that and you save doing the ride-around. Out into a field, tight turn, try to ride a ribbon of grainy snow; extremely challenging. I think Rob alone cleaned it. Turn, turn, drop into the pool and hit the snow ramp to exit. Head into woods, singletrack, down a bank, back up, more singletrack, descent to a bumpy ribbon shortcut, icy road climb, singletrack, down and up the same bank again, singletrack, wide open through the park back to the baseball diamond. Rinse (every other lap, whisky or hot tottie), repeat.



After a slow start, my heart rate was spiked and stayed that way, 84% of max acerage the whole time. Why? 'Cause Rob, Neil and Jim were pinning it, and I didn't want to navigate! Or get dropped; lets be honest.

Jimbo's vintage Stumpjumper with DH tires rolled well, but he might have succumbed to ice, as Rob, Neil and I shed him after a lap, and continued on with Martin in pursuit. Somewhat surprisingly, we all stayed upright, though Neil managed to come off the pace one way or another. Next time lets start at the back, ok guys? I don't want to taste blood in the winter.




While Neil took a shortcut through the ball diamont to regain contact, Rob waited for me to tie my boot, and we were off. Neil came unhitched again (heart-rate monitor malfunction, he claims), so Rob and I headed into the last two laps together, Rob leading. I knew it would be extremely difficult to come around for the finish, but tried anyhow, crashing and bashing over ice ruts as Rob powered on. He nipped my by 6", then dynamically dismounted and hopped over the fence while I did my best not to run him over. WTF? Ohhhhh, LeMans finish too. Right, didn't catch that. Rinse.

Martin came in next, followed by the rest, all smiling. Definitely a success, and I'm sure everyone is looking forward to the next race.


Video By Yariv

Photos, snapped by Will, can be found here.

Keep an eye on the event site, http://lowpressureproductions.blogspot.com/ for more.

Don't forget about the Fat Bike Demo on Saturday at Mooney's Bay!

Its Time to Rock

Fat Bike Demo Event

Tall Tree Cycles and Tricia K. Spooner, Investment Advisor CIBC Wood Gundy invite you to attend the Fat Bike (aka Snow Bike) Demo Day.

Date: Saturday, January 28^th

Time: 11:30 - 3:00pm

Where: Terry Fox Athletic Facility, 2960 Riverside Drive

Pre-registration is required.

Please email tricia.spooner@cibc.ca to reserve your time slot or with any questions.

Low Presure Productions

Here be the latest fat tire blog. It's local, and hosting a very cool night time fun race series.

Have a look, tell your friends and spread the word!

"Honey, do these tires make my butt look big?"

http://lowpressureproductions.blogspot.com/