Singularly Focused

One Month.  I have been in Tucson now for one month.  It cannot quite sink in.  I keep saying it to myself and thinking "Wow.  Really?"  In many respects it feels like time has whizzed by, but considered rationally a month is a substantial amount of time.  I suppose you get into your routine and suddenly find yourself wondering where has all that time gone.  What have I done with a whole  month.

Here are some highlights.

Tucson, AZ
One Long Drive
Brad Clifford
Coffee
100 posts
Getting Lost
Sushi
Community

I admit that I have been rather singularly focused.  Even to the slight annoyance of those around me.  In the past month my life has been to eat, sleep and breath bicycling.  Linear, yes.  Selfish, for my sake, I hope not.  perhaps I am a workaholic, but I enjoy it too much.  Is OCD a good thing?  I just want to do everything right, and behave professionally.  It can be rather consuming, 9-5 bah.  Think 24/7.

This is probably the most quality to accept in an athletes life.  Both for the perspective of the athlete and for those around them.  Since most of the world is bound to a 40hour 9-5 schedule it is difficult to accept that someone who operates on a self defined time-line must remain rigid.  The bottom line is that an athlete can very rarely afford to "turn it off." 

When your life and success is dependent on your physical performance everything matters all the time.  Any and all aspects of your life will in some way affect your abilities.  Quality of sleep, what you eat, when you eat, when you train, having a routine, even a bed time.  I could go on but that would make for a long and unnecessary list.  The point is in pre-season and race season it is time to "Focus!  Live like a monk."  Everything matters, this week rest matters.

That's right.  Rest matters.  After one month of turning up the dial it's time to bring it back.  No matter how much I need to train, I always get an earful about how much I need to rest.  I want to take this seriously as well.  This week is about taking the dial down from a ten to a 7 or a 6.  I will rest physically with fewer bicycle hours, and I look forward to some off bike activities to mentally break.  If it is at all worth while I will fill you in.  Then Turn the straight and narrow back up to 10 or beyond.



Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Lemmon Demon

WOOOpAH! 

Today I rode over to Mount Lemmon.  Once there I punched the Interval Button and went for a ride.
I felt like a rock-star.  This song is by lemmon demon pretty much sums up how my day went.



Had an awesome ride.  Followed by Awesome burritos.  Now its time to hit the Hot tubs.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Communnity

Julia introduced our cycling community to the Television show "Community."  I love this show.  We have the first season on disc and have been finding episodes from season two online.  Check out this clip.



Now it's time to sit down and watch a few episodes before bed.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Da big south loop

I eyed out this route with Google maps the first week that I was in Tucson.  I have since had two unsuccessful attempts at this loop.  The first time I went out and missed my turn.  I ended up riding out into the middle of the desert until the road ended.  The second time I went for it I got two flats and decided karma wanted me to remain close to home.  You know what they say, third time is the charm.

I love riding a big loop.  So much better than an out and back or multiple laps.  I was determined to lock this one down. Check out the map.

5hrs, 147km, not riding the same road twice, priceless.

Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

All I Can Eat, Sushi

  We hit up sushi garden for some all you can eat sushi. I love sushi. NOM.

nom nom

nom nom nom

Why does sushi always end as a chore?

Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Velo Groceries

The next time that you need to run errands or buy groceries consider doing it by bicycle.  I tell you it really does improve the entire experience.  Using your bicycle for errands will make you more organized and efficient, save you money and drop you a few pounds.  It is not at all inconvenient.  Quite the opposite really.  With just a little motivation a few chores becomes an enjoyable afternoon activity.  All you need is your bicycle, an appropriate bag, a lock and a plan.

Today I did all my shopping from my bicycle.  I had several stops to make and bought everything I needed and nothing that I did not.  The whole process took me only about an hour from the time I left home until I returned.  Shopping by bicycle is incredibly efficient because you are limited by how much you can carry.  This means that before you leave you know just what you need and you don`t have room for any unnecessary temptations.  You know exactly where you are going and in what order because no one wants to haul around all their stuff for longer than necessary.  So you are very time efficient.  In and out with what you need in a continuous circuit about town.

Did I mention it saves you money.  Oh well of course.  Not only are you not driving some gas guzzling SUV.  You also shop for only what you can carry.  This means no extras, no impulse buys.  Yes you are getting exercise but I doubt if you want to haul 1lb of milk duds home.  Sure you may have to by groceries more than once per month with this method but that guarantees the presence of fresh foods in your kitchen.  Believe me fresh is where its at.  Way more flavor and no nasty chemicals.

Did I mention tat you are not driving.  Traffic sucks, grid-lock and road rage.  Its nothing but stress.  Hello exercise induced endorphin high.  Not only are earning that pack of chocolate almonds, you can also get off the concrete wasteland.  I don`t think anyone has ever admired the beauty of the freeway.  When shopping by bike you get all the cool short cuts.  Through the parks and along the river rather then some gray tinged auto-pipeline.  Nine times out of Ten going by bicycle will be just as fast or faster than driving around and finding parking.  Once you are in exercise mode, your subconscious will direct you to consider the quality of what you purchase.  You already made one healthy choice, to ride your bike, and this will continue through your shopping.

So lets see.  Save time.  Save money.  Exercise.  Eat delicious healthy food.  Enjoy yourself.  The bicycle is the life.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

A Note on professionalsim

Among cycling circles there are many who believe that ones style and image aught to be of primary concern.  This is a paradigm that is religiously endorsed by the online community known as OREC.  This endeavor of style can be just as consuming as full time training.  For many, excuse me, recreational cyclists image and style may very well be their greatest achievement on a bicycle.  I do not mean to belittle anyone.  I am well aware of the time, effort and money that is needed to have the perfect bike, kit, tan-lines, hair and coffee-pose.  It's just that a dedicated athlete understands that these etiquette's are total crap if they hinder your training.

At the risk of destroying my internet credibility.  I am here to tell you that my bicycle has a pump attached to the frame and my saddle has a little bag dangling beneath it.  perhaps if I am on holiday or retired I will concern myself with how I look than how I can be faster and more efficient.  Today by ignoring style I was able to save my ride and continue to train.

I had 2 flat tires while training today.  My saddle bag and pump allowed me to continue training and saved me from an embarrassing and inconvenient need for a rescue.  When you are training and racing at the top of the sport you need to be responsible to your training.  Carrying a few essentials such as a pump and spare tubes is the professional thing to do.  If you are not training full time then by all means image and style should be your primary concern.  It may be all you ever have.

Oh, and tomorrow is laundry day.  So my bibs did not match my shirt.  SUCK IT OREC!


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

A Case of the Mondays

Today was just one of those days.  You know the type, everyone has one now and then.  You wake up on the wrong side of the bed, or in my case the floor, and for the rest of the day you are just not right with the world.  I am sure that I do not have anything proper to feel sour about.  At this point I assume that the world will keep spinning.  But isn't that just what makes a bad day bad, knowing full well that all your little problems really mean nothing in the grand scheme of things?  Screw the rest of the universe, it cannot possibly be greater than the sum of it`s parts.

Here we go, time to vent.  Despite having a quality nine hours of sleep I woke up this morning.  Which is something that I did not want to do and almost gave it a miss.  Normally breakfast is my favorite meal.  This morning I was both hungry and bloated.  This is a terrible combination.  If you eat you feel worse, if you don`t eat you feel worse.  I ate based on math which always gives me a headache.  It was cold this morning so I was rather bored waiting for it to warm up so I could go for comfortable ride.  I always feel better and better once I am on my bike.  I was expecting a quality ride to pick my day up.

I was wrong.  The route I picked was an absolute dud.  I was tired the whole time and struggled to focus.  On top of that I had non-stop mechanical issues.  VERY FRUSTRATING.  I have no desire at the moment to wrench my bicycle but I know that I have too.  I also know that it is going to be a nit-pickity, time consuming pain in the arse.  I tried to nap and even that was a spectacular failure.I am restless, tired, bored, occupied, hungry and bloated.  In short everything all at once is in some kind of internal civil war, while the world sits and goads everything into further self conflict.

Now it has recently come to my attention that the day of the week is Monday.  This is just the revelation I needed to give me hope.  I find the primary fault of my aforementioned uncomfortable inconvenience to be entirely attributed to the day of the week.  My strategy for the remainder of the day will be one of attrition.  I cannot hope to defeat "Mondays Law."  I just have to ride this sucker out and look forward to Tuesday.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Down Time

Twenty plus hours of weekly saddle time is considered by many to be quite allot.  As an elite cyclist, this is pretty much a standard week for me.  Now 20, even 30 hours per week just doesn`t seem to stack up to the typical 9-5.  Does it? 

I am well aware that those of you living in the "real world" feel that I must have tons of time on my hands.  Just the other day a good friend asked, "How is your holiday in Arizona? What have you done? What have you seen?"  Well, I have been training lots, every day.  My answer was a simple one, but clearly unsatisfactory.  My friend presented more specifically.  "Yes, of course.  But aside from that hows the vacation?"  I didn't quite know what to say.  I am down here training.  I'm not some kind of tourist, but perhaps this needs explaining.

Training is far more than just time spent on the bike.  Don't get me wrong you can't race a bike without riding one.  Its just that my actual "down time" is less than one might expect when I say I am riding less than 30hours a week.  You see, when I am not out riding, it seems there is always something that needs doing.  If I am not cleaning up my bike and gear from the previous ride then I am preparing it all for the next one.  There is also time taken every day for a proper stretch and core.  Then there is all the typical duties associated with running a life and a house.  Which my mother will insist I am not capable of, but I assure you they get done.

In my estimate there is a nearly equal amount of time spent off the bike as on.  I suppose that this is why cycling is referred to as a lifestyle.  My life consists of preparing to train, training and recovering from training.  This is just how it is meant to be.  I'm just like any other hard-working bloke.  The difference is, what I'm doing never feels like work.  I just love it too damn much.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly (not a tourist)

Official Race Calander

Release of the Official Summer race schedule for Team Fresh Air Experience/Ottawa Bicycle Club

April 10th  Tour of the Battenkill (New York)
April 17th  Calabogie Classic (Ottawa)
April 24th Gp Saint Marie
May 1st Spring Bank
May 15th Bike the Bruce O-cup
May 19th Chrono-Visite Gatineau UCI
May 21st Visite Gatineau
May 22nd Nith River O-Cup
May 27th-May30th Tour of Somerville
June 3rd-5th Gp Charliveau
June 12th Kw Classic O-Cup
June 23rd Canadian National Time Trial Championship
June 25th Canadian National Road Race Championship
July 17th OBC Grand prix
July 24th Ontario provincial Champs
August 14th Classique Montreal-Quebec
August 28th Chris Thater Memorial NRC


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Some Times You Gotta Just peace Off

I will admit that yesterday's post was a bit of a cheep shot.  Some times you gotta strike below the belt.  My mind just was not on yesterday and so I wrote what I felt.  To be honest there was not much to report.  I'm training and I'm alive and "I do what I want."  As hard as that may be some times.

In Tucson share an apartment with three other Under23 Canadian cyclists.  We are all here because we are dedicated and committed to training and excellence.  There is almost always someone to train with for the day, and we can look out for one another.  However we realised early on that some times you just have to do your own thing.

Today was one of those days.  The other members of the house had some endurance miles on the agenda and chose to start their saddle time with a coffee.  I had business to attend to on Mount Lemmon and just wanted to get on with the task at hand.  As we passed Le Buzz I bade farewell and took my leave.  I had good focus today and that is quite important for specifics.

As much as I enjoy riding with company, it is far more courteous to ride alone than to enforce efforts and attacks over the training of another.  I am here for one reason and will not sacrifice my plans for another.  Neither do I expect anyone to conform to the specifics of my own program.  That being said tomorrow is long endurance, which is easily shared, and I hope that others will endure with me.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Chapter One

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH rest day BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH made spicy chili BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH laid in the sun by the pool BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH now my brain is mushy BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH forgot to take pictures BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH frozen yogurt BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH rest days make me sleepy BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH you can't tell I'm not trying BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH I am so brilliant BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH


blah blah blargady blarg


Cuylar Conly

Getting Lost. properly!

It's an interesting skill really.  Getting Lost.  To venture out into the unknown, without any direction.  Being properly lost is not knowing where you are going, how you will get there, nor how you will return.  Some times this is just what you need.  Something that is truly worth while is often difficult to find; and what is difficult to find is often lost.

The method is really quite simple.  "A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step."  So pick your direction, try not to analyze it and just go.  Keep your wits about you, mind your heading and the time of day. Next its just a matter of "left foot, right foot."  Never mind where you are, how you came to be there or which way to get home. Do whatever feels right and the world will sort itself out.

Today I kept it fresh for five hours.  With no planned route I set out for a great day of riding my bicycle.  I rode North and West.  It seems that this is a rather contrarian direction in Tucson.  I had been counseled that there is no good riding to the north.  I disagree.  I found good riding, but no riders.  I suppose everyone has been miss-informed about the direction North.

Here is my map. And some photos.

 5hrs, 155km, One big lap about Tucson

 The view from the Cock-pit.

 The Tucson "Bone-Yard" with >4000 airplanes

Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Vitamin C overdose

So today marks the third day out of four that I have been climbing Mount Lemmon.  Sadly I have not even been all the way to the top.  I know right, pathetic.  For the time being it seems that Lemmon is the only place where you can get a little bit specific with your efforts.  There are no turns or lights, and traffic is pretty tame.  So when the business of the day is intervalies, its off to Lemmon for a shot of Vitamin C.

 Here are some pictures.  From the first look out at mile four.  After that it was all business.  When I do get to the top I will snap you a frame.

Tucson seems to sprawl out forever.

Only 4 miles up and the view is sweet.

In the last 4 days I have swallowed alot of Lemmons.  Tomorrow I am eager to spend my time to find something fresh.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Martin Luthar-King Day

It's Kind of a Big Deal.

Today is Martin Luther-King Jr. Day, a national American holiday.  Most Canadians will recognize the famous words "I have a dream."  further most Canadians know that the following speech has something to do with human rights particularly racial segregation.  Check out the full speech bellow.




Beyond this speech many Canadians may not have much knowledge of who Martin Luther-King Jr. was.  In honour of the holiday I will present you some facts.  Martin Luther-King Jr was an American clergy man, and a liberal human rights activist.  Influenced by the methods of Mahatma Gahndi, King advocated non-violent demonstrations.   He led the Montgomery Bus-Boycot in 1957 and his actions led to the 1963 March on Washington where he made his famous "I have a dream" speech.

 Although King is most notable for his leadership in the Black Civil Rights movement, he also staunchly opposed the the Vietnam War and made great strives against poverty.  In 1964, he became the youngest person ever to be awarded the Nobel peace prize for his work to end racial discrimination by non-violent means.

Tragically Martin Luther-King Jr was assassinated in 1968.  After his death he was awarded the presidential Medal of Freedom and in 2004 the Congressional Gold Medal.  Martin Luther-King day was established as national holiday in 1986 to commemorate this great mans contribution to American civil rights.

 As it happens all members of the household had very light training today.  The four of us were able to take full advantage of the holiday.  We slept in, rode for coffee, laid by the pool, and tossed around the old pig skin.  And at least for myself a little reflection on the reason for the day.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

!00th post

Yesterday marked my 100th blog post.  Can you believe it? I did not even realize that I was drawing in on 100 posts.  It crept up on me, as I went about my business it just happened.  Now with 100 posts I think this is getting serious.  My name is Cuylar Conly and I am a Blogger.

I began this blog when I moved away from home to race my bicycle.  At first it was a simple medium of communication.  A way of updating family and friends, but mostly so my mother could sleep at night.  When I started blogging I was a person who was conditioned to despise creative writing and its derivatives.  Years of BSing my way through the English curriculum of our education system had taught me that literary pursuits where not worth my time, nor was I worthy of such pursuits.

Yet now that I am free to write for myself, it seems the more I write the easier it comes to me and the more I enjoy it.  It did not take long before this blog expanded from updates to an outlet of self expression dare I say creativity.  Never in my life did I think that I would say it, but I actually enjoy writing.  I look forward to bringing you updates and often find myself musing over what I ought to write next.

It`s funny really.  I have often attempted to keep a journal.  A practice that proved more futile with each attempt.  So what makes the difference between blogging and journaling.  It is you, the audience.  While a journal is a private endeavor, the blog exists in the world wide web.  Available for all to see.  In some way knowing that someone, somewhere, is reading what I write keeps me coming back and that keeps you coming back.  Without the feedback and encouragement that I have received this blog would not be going wherever it is that it is going.  


With 100 posts behind me, here`s to 100 more to come.


Cuylar Conly



 

Coffee... Yes please

This post is dedicated to the coffee shop.  More importantly our choice Tucson Coffee Hang out.

Believe it or not I am not a morning coffee hound.  I have no need for that java jolt to get me functioning in the am.  Rather I enjoy coffee as a delicious drink and the perfect excuse to chill out for ten minutes, socialize and it in the sun.  I drink coffee for enjoyment not stimulation and therefore it is very important that it is quality.  Sorry Starbucks/Tim Hortons you don't make the cut.  I prefer to be served by a barrister who considers it an art not a recipe.

Thankfully Julia Garnett is a veteran of Winter Tucson training and was quick to take us to the choice cafe known as Le Buzz.  We all know that caramel, foam and cream taste good so the best way to test the quality of coffee from a bistro is the pure espresso. No milk, sugar or froth.  Just coffee and nine bars of steam.  I am pleased to say that Le Buzz passed. 

We have since frequented their patio with and with out bicycles.  The location could not be more convenient.  Only four miles from our apartment, 3 miles from the base of Mount Lemmon, and next door to the Safeway Grocery Store.  It seems we can always find an excuse for Le Buzz.  Today was no exception.

Everyone in the household had business to attend to on the slopes of Mount Lemon.  The four of us rolled to the base together, the climb and our respective agendas took care of the rest.  I puckered up and hit some lemon drops.  I linked up with Julia Garnett on the way back down and we rolled in to finish the day at Le Buzz. 

This place has what ever IT is.

Julia not pleased with post climb photo shoot.

And of course, Espresso and a Sweetie.  I earned it.

Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Bicycle Stresssssssssssss

Today was supposed to be a low key recovery day.  A day of rest relaxation and leisure.  I had plans to sleep in, clean my bike, hit the pool and grab some coffee, really anything that tickled my fancy.  The day started out great everything going smooth.  I awoke to warm sunshine and went for nice soft pedal down Broadway.  Then everything became a nightmare when I began to clean my bike.

While riding i noticed something not quite right with my rear power-tap hub.  I decided it best to give things a little examination.  When I removed my wheel from my bike, what was supposed to be sealed cartridge bearings spilled out all over the floor.

panic!

There is no way that this can be a good thing.  Trust me it is not.  Not only is this a very valuable training tool it is also the only rear wheel that I own.   It is one thing to loose a piece of analytical hardware.  It is far worse to be a cyclist with no wheels.  I frantically gathered all the bits and pieces of the floor.  After an hour of futile attempts to rebuild cartridge bearings I came to my senses and scrambled down to the Local Bike shop to see if anything could be done.

The boys at Fair Wheel Cycle where just what the doctor ordered.  In no time they had the remnants of my hub gutted and new cartridges installed.  I once again had a whole bicycle to ride.  I felt saved, an relieved like I could finally relax.  Unfortunately, and this is incredibly disappointing, although I once again have functional rear wheel it seems that the electronics of the power tap have been compromised.

You may very well imagine what a let down I had when I re-installed the wheel.  After feeling as if the world would keep turning as normal I am hit again with a critical equipment failure.  I cannot help but feel robbed. Robbed by whom I do not know, some cruel twist of fate I suppose.  It seems now that I have a very heavy, expensive, uninformative rear wheel.  But at least it spins.

RIp - power tap, a valued training partner.


Cuylar Conly

The Official Rules of the Euro Cyclist

In the world of cycling there is an expert for everything.  A coach can tell you how to become strong and fast.  A nutritionist will help you to stay fueled, to recover and to be the appropriate weight.  A doctor will test your physiology to identify strengths and weaknesses.  But what about style and panache?  Well there is an expert for that too.

Style.  All the great champions have that certain special something.  An ethereal essence that defines them both on and off the bike.  Fabian Cancellara, Jacque Anquetil, Marco pantani, and Mario Chipolini are just a few of the greats who`s pal-mares are overshadowed by personality.  This surreal cycling lifestyle, like the sport itself, is strongly rooted in Europe.  It is the desire of North American amateur cyclists, young and old, to emulate the ways of the European Cyclist.

Without a doubt the most comprehensive authority for the proper European bicycle style is the facebook group OREC or The Official Rules of the Euro Cyclist.  OREC is the largest and most active cycling group on face-book.  With nearly 14,000 members, it is a place of intelligent discourse and study of the Euro way.  The group was founded by Dominic Guiver and Mike Flavell in 2007.  It quickly grew as members brought forth insights, interpretations, and photographs.  The photo gallery now holds 5600 examples of eurocity and the discussion board includes topics such as equipment, training methods, clothing, hand gestures and hairstyles.    Although the group offers guidelines on both acceptable products and mannerisms.  One must always remember that "Euro is not an origin or place of manufacturing. It's a style or an essence."

 perhaps the greatest asset to OREC is that group content is manually curated.  Admins and content officers are selected for their exemplary judgment and taste.  I am privileged to say that one of my good friends, Lincoln Lu, is one of four OREC admins and a religious content officer.  Lincoln has recently stepped up both his commitment and level of responsibility within this actively opinionated community.  In the year 2011 Lincoln Lu will expand OREC beyond the confines of Facebook.  The goal of his actions are to expand the groups membership base while maintaining appropriate exclusivity and to ultimately become independent of Facebook.

Lincoln's First steps in this process has been to launch an Official Rules of the Euro Cyclist video channel on You-Tube.  The OREC channel can be found here.  The pilot episode was launched three days ago.




Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

New Arrival

IT`S A BOY

 BRADLEY CLIFFORD!

Last night at approximately 10pm CCCP welcomed a new member into the household.  Bradley Clifford showed up looking just as haggard as his car.  Brad hails from Regina Saskatchewan, he drove 34hours non-stop to be in Tucson.  And he is Stoked!  Brad is a veteran of Tucson winter training.  He has wintered in Tucson for the last 3 years.  So a hearty BRO-welcome to a very good friend and talented training Partner.

 Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Slow news Day

 
7,45 wake up
7,50 make breakfast 1 bowl of porridge
8,00 surf internet
10,00 everyone else wakes up
10,30 second breakfast 1egg on toast
11,30 It is now warm out, time to ride.
          - just a short on today, hit the base of Mt. lemon a few times
14,15 - fruit smoothie
14,30 - waiting for Brad Clifford. He is expected between 1400 and 1700.
16,00 - I built a shelf! It`s pretty sweet.

17,00 - no sign of Brad.  Time for dinner.  We made extra spicy stir fry.
19,00 - blogger
19,30 - still no Cliffy

And we waiting...


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly

Names and Nicknames

A house is not a home without a name.  Our house has been christened CCCP and is now a home.  The name CCCP is an acronym for Canadian Cycling Coalition Project.  This represents a social environment which will eventually represent eight cyclists from 4 Provinces.

Currently the only occupants at CCCP are the three founding members.  Like Pioneers we have lead the way to Tucson and established the homestead.  As is expected with any road trip inside jokes and nicknames have emerged from the chaos.  So, without further adieu allow me to introduce the founding members of CCCP.

 Jannes Wessels 

aka Springbok

Julia Garnet

aka Aunt Jemima

Yours Truely, Cuylar Conly.

aka Thrifty

2007 Honda Fit

aka Ricky

CCCP headquarters

Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly 

Little Did He Know

Can anything good ever come of these words?

Yesterday some serious shit went down in Tucson, AZ.  Twenty people were shot at a Safeway Rally for United States Congresswoman Gabriel Gifford's.  The congress woman was the primary target of 22 year old gun man Jared Lee Loughner.  The gunman was taken down two bystanders but not before fatally wounding six victims including a nine year old girl.  Congresswoman Gabriel Gifford was shot in the head at close range and is currently in critical condition.

Loughner has alleged links to the radical Tea party movement.  He also has a somewhat disturbing You tube channel and my-space (which has been removed).  Check this for more details.


While the events of the day unfolded I was safely riding my bike.  I only learned of the shooting in the evening, and (to rest any concerns that my mother may have) it occurred across town from my condo.  This will no doubt be big news for a while.  It appears that I really am living in the wild west.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly 

Gates pass

Gates pass short loop. 

This one needs to be extended.  The percentage of city riding was too much for me. blegh.  Climbing Gates pass was awesome.  In the worlds of Arnold Schwarzenegger.  "I'll be back".


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.


Cuylar Conly 

Working Hard or Hardly Working

Dear Canada,

I hope you enjoy your blizzards and sub-zero temperatures.  In Tucson it was plus 20 today.  This morning I went for a short bicycle ride and then spent the afternoon next to the pool.  Yes we have a pool!  Fitness is a simple recipe.  Ride hard, ride lots, and chill out.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.



Cuylar Conly 

Map Maker Map Maker Make me a Map

3hrs, 92km


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.



Cuylar Conly 

One Long Drive, point and Shoot

 6am Departing

hour 2

hour 3

hour 4

hour 5

 hour 6

 

hour 7

hour 8

hour 9

hour 10

hour 11

hour 12

hour 13 

and my favorite back woods Montana stop

hour 14

hour 15

battling the wizards blizzard

 hour 16

hour 17

hour 18

 hour 19

hour 20

hour 21

hour 22

hour 23

hour 24

hour 25

hour 26

Vegas Baby!

Hour 27

party like a Rockstar

hour 28

hour 29

hour 30
four to go

hour 31

hour 32

hour 33

this close

Hour 34

Enter Tucson

Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.



Cuylar Conly