Dave + Deny finishing Crank 14 hours and 8 minutes Total

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Crank the shield Stage 3

Well its all done. They said it was going to be the easy day but far from it.
There were some monster climbs, unridable, unbelievable. The day started at Sir Sams and in classic style I was late for the start. By the time I finished my morning business and got outside all 250 riders were gone, even my tag team partner Dave. I put on my helmet, grabbed my bike and furiously road the road and ski hill climb until I joined up with Dave who claimed he was lollygagging until I caught up. Then we unleashed the crankin. There are some excellent climbs and fast single track. Then a super fast 13km road ride in which Dave and I demolished, cranking all the hills stand up style.
The middle of the stage had some nasty climbs.
In the end we crossed the line in 3:53 and in 7th, our consistent placing. We finished seventh overall too. Scott his short course in 3:18 and came 5th in his group.
It was the cleanest ride of all the stages.
We were greeted by our spouses and some hot food and Beer.
Can't wait to do nothing for the next few days. Ya!


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Crank stage 2 - dirty boys

Soggy shoes, wet gloves, smelly helmet. That was before we started stage 2, a 76 km swamp ride. Scott had to take an honorable dismount under advise of the medics as his leg took a gash. Dave and I finished in 5 hours 7 minutes, a good day time. We both road strong reeling in the riders ahead. It didn't matter if it was swampy, muddy, rocky, hilly, what ever. These are trail a 4 wheeler would have a tough time with.. We're done, got new break pads and ready for stage 3.

Here is a pick of the dirty boys.


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Survived Stage 1 of Crank

Well day 1 is done.. Dave and I finished 70km in 5hours and 6 minutes Scott finished 64 in 5hours and 12 minutes.
It was crazy muddy in most off road sections. Often the best line was straight through the puddles and swamps.
Sorry no pics during the ride but I do have a post stage pic.
We are all showered up and now its off to the food cabin for some grub.

Talk to you all tomorrow after stage 2, 80km,


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Off to Crank the Shield

Deny, Scott and I are about to depart for the Haliburton Forest, for a 3 day mountain bike race called Crank the Shield.

Weather is looking ok for the race, though alot of rain is falling today, so its gonna be a muddy race I think.

We'll try to check in, in the evenings depending on cell phone coverage out there. If not we'll post some reports and stories next week after we get home

Dave

Ocup Lucky Number 7 (Denis' Report)

Saturday (Aug 21st) pre ride was fun and fast. Thanks Chico Racing for keeping the Ocup circuit interesting and adding new courses such as Woodnewton.
But all weekend I had been crunching the numbers trying to figure out if it was at all possible to be first overall in Master Sport 30-34. Ocup 5 (flat tire) Ocup 6 (no legs) both writeoffs… disasters, and I was down to second position. Unless the 1st place rider finished behind me a few spots there was no way I could catch up. That said I was OK with 2nd overall so I set my focus to take the win for this last race.
During the warm-up I was all nerves and big time stressed out trying while trying to decide on a strategy. Do I lead out? Do I draft the leaders? Do I attack on the first lap or wait for later?