Chris Winn: Ramblings From The Road

pedal.write.pedal.write.pedal.



27 November 2008

Big Morning.

Got my ticket to see Ryan Adams & The Cardinals next year. Going to pick up my girl at the airport. Life is good! cw

20 November 2008

Swings And Roundabouts.


One day plus one week before Kat arrives. She gets more photos on this site than anyone. That's okay with me. I think the more time we spend together the harder it is to be apart. It was September when I left the Colorado and it feels like a year ago. I figure the busier I can be this last week the sooner I will be driving to the airport. Hiking seems like a pretty good plan and is scheduled in for next week.


Got wet out there today. It was pretty fresh pedalling in the Nongs and it was no surprise not to see anyone else out and about on two wheels. Smart people. Didn't take any photos cause my hands were useless in big wet gloves so I'll use an old one to sum up the day.
I swear it was the foggiest it's ever been last night when I was driving home. I mean I know these roads like the back of my hand but still I was creeping and squinting hunched over the steering wheel. Might have to check with Rowney on the official Scottish Fog-O-Meter but it was up there for sure. 10m visibility maybe?


This guy needs to get off the phone and update his blog. What about those photos of us jumping the dead armadillos in Ar-kansas? That is blogging gold and they still haven't seen the world through the wide web..

Oh yeah..locked in racing for RMCEF/Westside again in 09'. Happy dayz there for sure. So much shuffling going on this time of year. Looks like Rock picked up a whole bunch of Toyota guys, Jittery's lost it's pro status and Bissell shuffled thier deck pretty hard. Team OUCH saved Health-Net and Orbea-Rubicon will go to the pro class in 09. Swings and roundabouts... Lator, cw.

14 November 2008

Keeping Traditions Alive.


Pancake Saturday evolved sometime in the middle of this year. Perhaps inspired by Steve Nagelkeke's famous "Mancakes" that kept the team from going hunger flat before the Air Force race, the tradition evolved that every Sat morning Kat would cook up the breakfast of champions..being pancakes. Needless to say I covered the eating part of the program pretty well. Usually filled with some sort of fruit item, perhaps even walnuts and always garnished with genuine maple syrup and a side cup of java it doesn't get much better than that. Now be warned, using the "maple flavoured" syrup substitute would be the equivalent to washing your Ferrari with standard dishwashing liquid. It's just not on. Keep Canada's economy going and buy the real stuff folks. So I have tried to keep the tradition going here back in Oz and finally I cracked onto some top form with the spatula and pumped out 8 of the best this morning. Form has been sketchy of late so to nail a solid batch is a ripper way to start the day. Needless to say quality training followed shortly there after...no questions why.



Lakewood got hit by snow last night. So did Kat's car.

13 November 2008

Hit Predictions.

Rocked the trainer today after a nice bout of wet weather rolled into the Nongs and settled there, making things look and feel a lot like the middle of August. Gotta love a bit of fog and rain every now and then. I passed on the wet chamois after only an easy day on the cards. Plus I don't seem to mind riding the trainer/rollers, I know some people hate it with a passion but it really has never bothered me. Training wise I think this has been the best start to the new season ever. Doesn't mean things have been easy, but I feel light years ahead from where I was this time last year. Definately a good feeling.

Catching up with everyone's favourite Beijing Olympian D-Mac later today while he is in town for the Torq Team launch. I know last year he made a very worthy attempt on 'Movember' so we'll see if he has taken up the challenge this year.

Very dapper indeed!

I thought it was pretty funny to read this after my crystal ball gazing last week. XX for 2X10, what very clever marketing...give that man who came up with that a pay rise.


So currently I am 'back in school' working through to finish my Level One Coaching qualifications. For cycling that is, not to be confused with the AFL level one qualifications I have. Seriously. The seminars last weekend were lengthy at best (try 11hr days) but needed to be done and now its onto a ton of book work amongst a few other tasks before I get my certificate. Adding another string to the bow is always a good thing and you never know where it might lead to in the future....over n' out..cw

12 November 2008

Roll With The Punches

Well the coffee cup is empty and I'm just about to head out training for the day. Thought I'd share this highly amusing story to enjoy for today....Lators. cw.

05 November 2008

Leaps And Bounds.


Just what are SRAM up to when they have a Red RD and 10spd PowerDome Cassette paired with road double-tap technology trigger shifters...




...on a mountain bike? A nice little XC racer 2x10 setup perhaps?

01 November 2008

Mullet Of The Week.


This weeks 'Business at the front, party at the back' award goes to Tom Zirbel of Bissell Pro Cycling Team. Something we all can aspire to...

The Hills Are Alive.

Man it was quite busy up the mountain today with tons of bicyclists of all types out and about. Kinda good to see and gives us a little more presence amongst the hordes of rubber necking tourists. I've been laying pretty low this week trying to delicately balance some light training with an impending sickness coming on. Think I've made it through unscathed but it has been a busy week trying to juggle a few different on going projects for 2009 and being back teaching the youth of the nation not to be lazy. Sure was nice to be out in the sunshine today tho.

In more exciting news however, Kat has been able to confirm a short visit out here at the end of the month! With the dollar dropping here it has only meant good things for our international travelling visitors, and with a unbelievably cheap deal on a flight I am pretty darn excited to say the least. Especially when things happen so randomly in a short space of time. Not sure if the Halloween dice costume will make it.


Boulder hosts the next round of the USGP CX series today and Kat will once again volunteer this year so stay tuned for the inside word. Raby pulled a top 15 at Kentucky so hopefully he can sneak closer to the top 10 in his home state.


This guy kicks off his National series campaign this weekend in Rad-elaide. Word was he doubled flatted for the XC but hopefully he can bring some heat for the STXC today.

New 'Blackbox' technology from SRAM has created into the fastest, lighest and most advanced chapstick in the world.

Oh and a final note, after last years shameful attempt, 'Movember' will not be undertaken by yours truly and will be left to those who can. Word. cw.