To be honest, a good portion of my heart is still in British Columbia.  The ride east on the Yellowhead was wonderful, a relaxing meander through sweeping valleys and lush farmland that smelled like home.  It was so incident-free, in fact, that my mind wandered in every direction for hours.  And, of course, that’s when something happens.

I was cycling through the hills near Prince George as black clouds gathered behind me.  They mushroomed all day, but since I was facing the sunshine, I didn’t think much of them.  Then, in the early evening, Mother Nature pulled a hood over the sky and it sounded like bombs were dropping in the distance.  Day became an eerie night and I pulled off onto an abandoned hiking trail as fast as I could.  I scrambled to put up my tent, and just as I snapped the last pole together, gumball sized drops started falling and lightning lit up the sky.  And the thunder!  It boomed through the valley, through my guts, and I couldn’t help but think the next bolt was headed for my tent.

Read More

We are committed to making the most of the opportunity of hosting the London 2012 mountain bike events to create a legacy for not just Hadleigh but for Essex," said Councillor Stephen Castle, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education and... The 2012 London Olympic Games mountain bike course may stay open to the public in Hadleigh Castle Country Park in Essex if local residents have their way. "As we had hoped, the people of Essex are keen to maintain the mountain bike course and open the venue up to the wider pubic for a number of different uses. Enter for your chance of winning Tyler Farrar's Garmin-Cervelo road bike. In a recent survey by the Essex County Council, nine of 10 residents think cycling is important for planned post-Olympic park development according to The Enquirer. Essex locals aim to open up Hadleigh Park venue.

Read Article