Justice!

In the saddest turned GREATEST news ever, the hubs' NEW bike was both stolen and recovered recently! The hubs called me in Vancouver to let me know that his new beloved Time bike was stolen FROM OUR HOUSE (gross). However, an AWESOME member of the SLCPD recovered said bicycle. Apparently, something looked weird about a dude in a wife beater carrying a 40 and wearing flip flops riding down Redwood. The awesome police officer went to stop the guy and he took off, dropping the bike in an alley. The hubs is reunited with his beloved steed. The only items missing from the bike were the tubes and cartridges in the saddlebag. Said perp filled the saddlebag with double A batteries (for use in his methlab?). In addition to the batteries, the hubs inherited a bike lock with his bike. Apparently this fine specimen recognized that he too could fall prey to the desires of other carbon obsessed francophiles and that securitizing the Time would be essential in the bike stealing warzone that is the 801. The world is right again.

And let me just say how much I *hearted* racing in maple leaf land and hanging out with Mel and Seth in Vancouver. I wasn't feeling like a million bucks (more like a million pesos), but was ok with how everything went. In Friday's 3 k prologue, I was 22nd, 27 seconds behind the leader, Laura Brown. No aero stuff for this kid. Friday night Mel, Seth and I went to dinner at the Nook, an awesome Eye-talian restaurant right in their neighb.

Saturday morning I went for a lovely spin along the water and then Mel and I brunched at an excellent diner in another trendy neighborhood. Everyone in Vancouver has a dog.

At Saturday night's crit, I ended up 9th. The 2 highlights of the race were having Mel, Seth and London lawyer Patrick at the race; along with getting a callup from bestest announcer Dave Towle.




(Seth digs bike racing)



The hubs and Newberry sort of convinced me to try just racing for the finish--and not try to go for primes and cover all the attacks. Jazz Apple had 6 riders and they were VERY active. There were 2 other decently strong teams and a bunch of strong individuals. I was patient and let the teams do the work of chasing down all the Jazz Apple attacks.

I was vigilant about covering all moves with the right people. But I was never the aggressor.







OK I did go for one prime.







After winning a prime, I was joined by 2 Jazz Apple riders. The started attacking me and then there were 2 of us. She wasn't going to work with me so I towed her around for a bit then sat up and let the field catch us. We eventually caught the other rider. As the race wound down, another Jazz Apple rider ended up getting a little gap, in the last half lap they started a little train which I attached myself to. As we rounded the last turn, I just got a little bit sandwiched (sort of like being a little pregnant) and the hesitation totally cost me. I was disappointed with my finish but pleased with how I raced. Lauren Ellis won with Jazz Apple sweeping the podium. They raced a great race.

After the race, we went to a bar in the super chi chi part of town. Though Mel brought me clothes and product for after the race (so we could go straight out)--it was really just lipstick on a pig. It was pretty funny because I felt like I was in a Sex in the City episode. All the girls wore stilettos and super trendy fancy outfits. It was good people watching and a great time. Maybe a little too great. We didn't get back home till about 1am. Oops. I might be remorseful about staying out except I'm really not because I got to witness Mel moonwalk the shit out of the hallway in the bar. Backwards AND frontwards moonwalking. Some guy tried to challenge her but he sucked and the only thing he got out of trying to out-moonwalk Mel was washroom paper on his shoe. It was classic and I think it really helped in my struggle to come to terms with Michael Jackson's tragic death. No I'm serious.

Sunday morning was an 88 k road race. Kilometers are the new miles bitches so convert that. And its all about celsius too. We raced 11 laps on an 8 k loop with a gnarly hill that made me want to cry every time up it. I was literally dropped EVERY time up the hill. I was pretty sure I was going to be dropped but I managed to chase back on every time. I went through all the bike racing grief stages: Anger, self-loathing, pure despair, disillusionment and ....(what am I forgetting?). I felt like complete pooh and to top it off I totally had my head up my ass. I showed up with one water bottle, no idea what the course was like, and no gels. Hello, have you ever raced your bike before? Luckily, Suzy Pryde and her coolest hub (and head honchos of the Jazz Apple team) totally hooked me up with a bottle and some gels. Another Canadian rider and former pro now med student, Lisa Howard, made sure I had someone to feed me. SO COOL! It was so super awesome of these people to be so nice. I kind of knew there was some sort of sprint points but on that general head up my ass theme--I didn't know the details. Nothing was said about it at the start line (read the race bible dumbass). Yeah, I was basically a beater. Though in my corpse-like state--I don't know that I could've really done anything---but it would've been nice to make an informed decision.

Despite thinking I wouldn't finish, I ended up 7th in the road race. Jazz Apple swept the podium AGAIN (they totally controlled the race). Also, despite the heinousity of how I felt, it was a super fantastic experience to do the race. The riders were all really cool and classy and the race was very well run. I wish I could've stayed for Tour de White Rock the following weekend!

And this is where the fun and coolness really began....

I returned to Mel, Seth and the dogs (Stella and Lu Lu the weiner dog). Mel and Seth were working off the previous night. I recapped my race and then we recapped the moonwalking competition. Why god why weren't there pictures of that? After a good couch session, we motivated to go the Granville market. We even took a water taxi to get there. That was cool.





Oh my assault on the senses.











Recovery food.







Home sweet home.








Live music.








We took to wrong water taxi on the way back and had to walk 1000000 kilometers. And Mel is a really fast walker. Luckily we got to take some breaks. We stopped to observe these rock sculptures. I fail to comprehend. They are standing on their own! What?

(p.s. Mel is an AMAZING photog!)

After a DELISH dinner cheffed up by Mel and Seth, the real event got underway.

Let's call it the Epilogue of the Tour de Delta. In this event, there were 5 competitors. Mel, Seth, me and the dogs. It was really more of a team event though.

After dinner and possibly some drinks we took beach cruisers and one skateboard onto the seawall that goes around false creek. Mel and Seth alternated on the skateboard--which was pulled by Stella the wonderdog. The weiner dog donned a green neon band and ran its head off silly. Stella kicked ass and those on bikes could NOT keep up with her as she whipped her passengers along the seawall! I must say this kind of getting dropped is waaaaaay better than the kind I'd been doing a lot of in the road race.

Mel saw a skunk family and some raccoons. She has eagle eyes when it comes to spotting wildlife. She says its from driving and always being on the lookout for cops. We also saw MANY large birds and some more trippy rock sculptures. It was amazing.

Monday morning I did one final spin on the bike path. My final awesome Vancouver experience was experiencing Artigiano's masterful lattes and treats. It was a long walk but I fortified myself with an additional latte for the walk back and Mel was forced to go Italian pace.

It was an INCREDIBLE weekend and so awesome to hang with Mel and Seth. Raise your hands if you want these guys to move back to Utah!!