Training Log Archive: 'Bent

RTN Esprit with Bash, 3Pin and Lo-Tox.
Hmm, maps hadn't arrived on time...

This one turned out to be a surprisingly short course.
We started on a night bike leg, mostly ATV trail, with 3-pin doing nav.
We were with Numse after a while when he went right and we went left along with much of the pack. Turns out that Numse was right, but it took us an hour to get back on track. We were surprised to find that we were in 5th at the TA, even with our error.
Next a trek, with a fair bit of road. We missed our proposed route by a bit, but some good relocation by Bash and we were back on track. A 3km bushwhack and we hit the road to the bike drop, but somewhere in there we lost almost an hour to teams behind us.
A short ride to the dreaded Tomcats. First portage was hideous as expected, with my neck in total spasm and zero vision.
The paddle went quite well, actually. Tomcats are fine in rapids.
Bash and I were slightly faster than 3-pin and Lo-tox on the flats, but 3-pin can really nail a good line and is faster in current.
I rigged my "yoke" for the next portage and it was 75% better.
We saw a team behind us and tried to put the hammer down, but Bash and I kindly indicated a rock by getting hung up on it, as Running Free caught us. They were unranked tho, as they had a bad bike leg.
60km paddle took us 6hrs, less than we thought. We saw Hunger ahead, and met them on the zipline, but even with a fast paceline to the finish we were 6th by 13 minutes.
A fun race with a good team, but somehow it felt more like a SAC long course.
Good on Beowulf/Outback, finishing 2nd behind Explore Mtn Hardwear.
Numse was 3rd, Tiny and Nosnohj 4th.

Raid The North -main event for the summer season.

I was going to watch the TDF while working out and finalizing packing for RTN, but my hand looks like a baseball glove so no workout.

C • Swelling 5

An uneventful ride to work with Bulletdog and full AR pack+ .

A challenging evening after a frustrating day at work on the hiring front. (Anybody know a good dental assistant who wants to work in Palgrave?) On my ride home, my rear derailleur suddenly dove into my spokes and wrapped up the chain, bending the frame at the hanger. I got a bit molested by mosquitos while I tried to sort it out, but couldn't re-align it and ended up jog-trotting the bike all the way home. At least I could coast the downhills.

At home I was able to re-align the derailleur hanger thanks to my handy Park DHA Tool, but the XTR rear derailleur had a broken B-screw mount which was the reason it died. I was all ready to drive to Brampton for an emergency pre-RTN purcha$$ (which would take the whole evening too), but discovered that my old XT derailleur has the same B-screw mount which I managed to transplant and all seems well.

Next up, I decided Mick sounds like he really knows how to live, and tried to emulate him. I was BBQing some nice Crash salmon when I got stung hard in the hand, causing me to accidentally fling a ziploc full of nice spuds across the driveway under the Bashmobile and run into the house. Some hornets had built a nest under the BBQ.
This one hurt so much that I didn't notice at least one other good one on my back. I finished cooking dinner in a bug jacket and rain boots, but got awfully itchy in there, which I thought was from the earlier mosquito bites. Turns out I had a pretty good allergic reaction, with dozens of very itchy hives all over my body, and not feeling all that good. (Been stung plenty of times in past with no reaction.) Right now I'm pretty well sedated with Benadryl, and looks like I won't need the Epi-pen or ER visit.
The valiant Bash suited up in armour and dispatched the beasties.

C • Yikes! 3

Easy commute with my full RTN pack + laptop+ lots of other stuff to confirm how it sits on the 'bent.

Workout #2 while watching the first stage in the Pyrenees.

A nice spin around Albion with Bash. Trying to climb like The Chicken.