Team Go Banana Sets Course Record

Team Go Banana (all graduates of the BC Bike Race) are pleased to announce setting a course record ... the longest lap in the history of Albion Hills.

The confidence was high as we entered this race. We were aiming for a personal team best of completing at least 2 laps of the long 17 km course.

Thomas (Navigator) was originally going to start the race but he was side tracked by a good book and an upcoming program on CBC. Next up was Jason (Third) but there were rumours of a bridge crossing which brought up some painful memories and caused him to pass on doing a lap. It came to the engine (Brian) to lead the charge. He was overheard chanting "I think I can, I think I can" as he slogged through the mud. The image proves a lap was completed.

The race was cut short due to weather but we will be back with a vengance next year.

See results ... http://www.chicoracing.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=319

Awesome Spring Riding

Saturday was an awesome day for ride, with temperatures of 15, so we went out to hit the roads. We left downtown and headed over the Chelsea for a nice loop in the awesome weather. The roads were as good as Quebec roads are after the winter thaw. I biked pretty much the entire ride in short sleeves and a vest. Stopped to take a quick look at the trail at the top of Notch and looks like it's not ready for biking yet, but I'm sure it will be for May 15th.

On the way home we got a little confident that the snow was off the paved bike trails so we crossed at the island park bridge and headed down the bike path back to downtown. There were a couple to 10m patches of snow and ice that where able to be biked across since we were on mountain bikes. However, once we got behind the Parliament buildings it was a different story.

Anyways, after a little walking and a little extra ridding added to our plans (since none of the locks were closed for us to cross) we made it back home with smiles on our face from a beautiful day in the sun.

Brr .. it's cold outside!

Brian managed to entice me out for one of his Sunday rides kickin' off from Goulbourn RecCenter parking lot. Brian's been out a couple of times this year, but it was my first ride of the season and I don't think I could have picked a colder day, but I have to admit the sunshine was glorious!

Brian and Joanne pulled me up Flewellyn and back down Fernbank for a nice little 30km jaunt.

Despite the cool weather, it was a nice way to welcome spring!

Thomas

In your face Big Ringers!

Go Banana has finally risen from the shadow of the Big Ringers. Since last summer when the biggest rivalry in MTB history came head to head at the BC bike race, it had been all Bing Ring. They constantly mocked us by biking faster than us, getting sponsors, keeping their blog better up-to-date and appearing in all the pictures from the race (while Go Banana didn't make any). Well... no longer!!! Go Banana got a talking spot in the Ride Guide's coverage of the BC Bike Race. "I'm starting to not like this gravel road anymore" is just one of the pearls of wisdom I dispensed during my 3 seconds of fame. You can check out the video here.

In fairness to the Big Ringers, I may have seen a tattooed arm bike by during the video, but that's like being an extra or supporting character... it's no leading role-- suckas!!

Side note : Congratulations to the Original Big Ring on the arrival of his new granny gear.