Fall DivaCamp: Another Beautiful, and Yet Completely Different Experience...

What is TotalCyclist DivaCamp?

TotalCyclist DivaCamp™ is described as the only cycling camp specifically for women, where participants of all skill levels have the opportunity to learn new skills, gain confidence on and off the bike, make new friends, and have fun. It’s a relatively modest description, if you ask me, because DivaCamp is so much more than that... It is also a much more powerful - and empowering - experience: four days of beautiful rides in Virginia’s hilly and colorful Jefferson National Forest, enhanced by wonderful meals and good wine, valuable interactive presentations, relaxing yoga, all in a beautiful, rustic setting... Add to that the presence and guidance of truly great coaches, the positive energy of a group of confident professional women all there to learn and enjoy themselves, and the excellent support of Liv/giant as a wonderful sponsor for a women’s cycling event. 

I suppose one could compare it to various “team building” exercises based on physical and mental challenges that take participants beyond their comfort level. The unifying effect of the bike and all things cycling, at DivaCamp, is what makes it such a truly passionate event. Participants share a love of cycling - regardless of their skills, fitness, experience, fascination (or not...) with the sport of cycling, desire (or not) to race and compete. Every day, the campers get on the bike, and go for a ride together. Every day, they come back from that ride light-hearted, smiling, confident, happy, and looking forward to the next ride. You can’t beat that feeling...

Why Do I Keep Going Back?

I just came back from my fifth DivaCamp - my third Fall DivaCamp. Some friends have asked me why I keep going back: surely the novelty has worn off, and the challenges are not what they were... right? True. The novelty has indeed worn off, and (this year) the challenges were not what they were last year. You might think that’s bad. I certainly don’t. That warm fuzzy familiar feeling, of being amongst friends, in a lovely charming environment, in a beautiful natural setting, literally submerged in positive energy for four days, is unbeatable. At a time of year where the days are short, cold and often rainy back home, four days of nothing but pure positivism are priceless for me. 

With every return to DivaCamp, I am more relaxed, and more excited about it. I know precisely what to expect, down to the heart-warming sight of twenty-some bikes hanging from their back wheels over the long porch at Wilderness Adventures at Eagle Landing, the invisible (and non-threatening) barking bloodhound up the hill and around the curve, the occasional crab apples on the road, and the feeling of excitement when each new car with a bike rack and a license plate from a wide range of US states (or Ontario...) pulls into the parking lot.

One might argue that I am now too much inside of my comfort zone - and not forced out of it enough. I expected that might be the case this year. It was a “risk” I was glad to take. I figured, “just enjoying myself”, without the same level of challenge as in previous years, would be just fine... As it turns out, I was both right, and wrong, in that assessment. I got a lot more out of it than “just enjoying myself”.

Driving down from Toronto with my friend Ria, we spent 7 hours chattering non-stop, until, that is, we focused on a deep and poignant audiobook for the last 3 hours or so. The chat, and the book, bonded us even more. Ria and I don’t see each other often outside of camp. We have fairly different lives, she an artist with a family outside of the city, me the urban career girl, yet, we are a perfect example of the bonds and friendships that DivaCamp fosters. We have a different interest in cycling. Hers may be a bit more casual than mine, yet she loves riding and the feeling of freedom it gives her. I’m a passionate (read: obsessive) fan of the sport of cycling, and have become an increasingly serious cyclist in the past year. Yet, at camp, we are all equally engrossed in the joy of riding and the sharing of cycling adventures. How, and why? It’s hard to explain. But it’s easy to experience...

I had zero stress going to camp this year. I was very excited, but it was pure joy, and no butterflies tried to invade my stomach. The familiarity of the experience was lovely.

What’s in a Year? 40 lbs and 4000+km

Photo courtesy of Barb Greene

My cycling ability (fitness, skills, experience) have grown exponentially since my last camp a year ago and I knew my experience this fall would be very different, although I could not comprehend ahead of time just how different it would be. I went back, this time, mainly because I wanted to compare what it would be like to ride the hilly terrain with better fitness and more experience. Since last DivaCamp a year ago, I’ve dropped 40 pounds, got fit, and I’ve ridden over 4,200km (2,600 miles) outdoors on my bike (in addition to countless indoor miles). 

What prompted that transformation was, in great part, the desire to enjoy camp even more next time, without struggling as much from a fitness perspective, and being able to focus on skills and on improving as a rider. The process of becoming a cyclist started at my first DivaCamp in Spring 2011. It has been a journey, and the pace of that journey accelerated significantly starting at Fall DivaCamp last year.

Upon returning from DivaCamp last October, I decided to hire a coach in Toronto (I needed the local presence), and, after training indoor through the winter, I started the outdoor season in April a new person, and a new cyclist. 

I had the incredible opportunity this year to climb some of the world’s most famous climbs in Italy and France, and challenged myself on longer routes than I had ever done before. There was no doubt in my mind that I was ready for DivaCamp, in a way I had never even considered before. 

From a cycling perspective, my goals for this camp were two-fold: I was hoping to join the “fast” group, and I was expecting to beat my own time up Potts Mountain, perhaps even climbing it in less than 1 hour. 

Both of these goals were accomplished easily (52 minutes up Potts), and yes, it gave me a good deal of satisfaction.  Not because I was faster than my friends - no, this is not a race or a competitive environment. But because I improved, and it felt awesome. Certain hills that were difficult last year suddenly were very easy this year. That feeling - of having improved, of the proof of success, of the pure joy of riding a bike - left me giddy. 

I’ve known throughout this year, working with my coach Ed Veal in Toronto, that I was improving. I usually ride with people who are much stronger than me, which helps me improve (nothing like getting dropped to make you want not to get dropped...). Nonetheless, being able to compare exactly one year to the date, on precisely the same roads, was fun and rewarding.

A New Experience

Despite the lovely familiarity and happy results for me, this camp still managed to surprise me in an unexpected and truly wonderful way. At every camp, I have enjoyed the shared feeling of challenge and accomplishment, the support provided by my fellow campers, and the knowledge that we all genuinely cheer for one another. And at every camp, I’ve known that I wouldn’t have achieved as much if not for that encouragement and support from my friends.

This time was different. I knew I was strong enough to accomplish my cycling goals, before getting to camp. So that meant I didn’t technically “need” the same level of support and encouragement from all the other campers. That’s not a bad thing. What that meant is that I had a lot more “space”, in my own head and (...yes...) in my heart, to focus on the joy of my friends’ efforts and achievements. This camp wasn’t all about me, for once. It was much more about everyone around me. My improved ability gave me the freedom to rejoice in my fellow campers’ own sense of pride and accomplishment, since I didn’t have to worry so much about whether I could do the rides myself. 

I’ve heard all our coaches (past and present) - Chad, Terry, Tom, Melinda, Alison, Kelly, Marianne, and so many other great cyclists who have joined us previously - talk about “giving back”, and experiencing this great feeling watching us women develop into cyclists at DivaCamp. Being one of those who was busy working on becoming a cyclist, I don’t think I was getting what they were referring to. There was some measure of difficulty, or anxiety, or self-centred focus, that got in the way. As much encouragement as I offered my friends in the past, I needed their encouragement just as much. I “took” as much, if not more, as I “gave”. 

This time, I hope I gave more. I did “receive” - a lot, in fact - from everyone present, without exception. Close “old” friends and new friends both provided me with renewed inspiration, and a truly indescribable joy at seeing their accomplishments. 

Barb: I’ve watched Barb get her Master’s degree in Sports Psychology while holding down a full time job, going through some personal challenges, and building a new practice, all the while feeling bad because she couldn’t train on the bike as much as she wanted (remember Chad’s presentation on trying to balance the cycling, professional and personal aspects of our lives?). What I saw at this camp was a woman who has grown tremendously as a professional in the past year; who delivered a great, interactive, and very timely presentation to us all; and who came out of camp more determined than ever to incorporate training back into her life, as other aspects of it are finally calming down and leaving her more time to focus on herself. Yes, that’s inspiring to me.

Leslie: we met at camp two years ago, and shared our struggles up Potts! Leslie came to camp this time beating herself up the first couple of days for not having trained enough, and for being less fit than last year (or so she claimed...), and (I think) with a touch of fear that she would struggle up Potts. And what did she do? She KILLED IT! And it was awesome to watch her reach the top the way she did, strong and smiling. I was so happy to see that!

Sonya: we were roomies at Spring camp in 2012, and I knew Sonya was also busy transforming herself in the same timeframe that I was working on my cycling. She not only looked healthy and wonderful, but that new-found confidence transformed her as a cyclist. No longer afraid, she rode well in the group, and flew up the mountain. It was so cool to see that. 

Lark: while I finally graduated to the faster group, Lark was part of that group right away at her first camp! I loved riding with her and seeing her learn more and more with every ride. When Debbie, Jen, Lark and I rode in a rotating paceline on the last day, we were flying! And it was glorious... :)

Ria: another transformed rider... Uncomfortable riding in a group a year ago, Ria looked solid, comfortable, fast, and predictable (that’s a compliment, for a cyclist) in that paceline. She was just so much more relaxed on the bike!

Christine (Brown): what can I say... STRONG!!! Super determined... She will fly up that mountain next year. Watch out...!

Chris (Fahs): I’m so going to lose my Strava segments, next year, aren’t I...? I’m accepting the challenge. :) 

Marilyn: I kept thinking, “poor Marilyn is joining us the morning of Potts Mountain, without the benefit of the first two days of training”. Then she made me chase her down the road for about 5 miles... And I watched her muscle her way up a mountain. She’s got this...

Jayne: I probably saw more of Jayne during the Potts climb than most other campers (just based on how/when we started). She switchbacked her way to the top for the last 1/2 mile, unwilling to put a foot down until the summit. Totally focused, totally determined.

Debbie: we’ve shared a few camps, and a few rides this year back home. She has had such an impact on my riding. The first ride we did together in June, where I was able to stay with her for the full 60 miles, and we finished strong with an average speed of over 18mph, was one of the best days I’ve had on the bike all summer. And then we did a full century (my first) together - which I wouldn’t have finished without her help... That kind of thing is true inspiration for me.

Lilli: we’ve also shared a few camps, and I’m always impressed by Lilli’s competitive spirit. Knowing she runs and races gives me the confidence to try racing... next year... :)

Denise: her calm and poise translate into pure strength on the bike; she’s powerful, and a great wheel to follow. Great to share another camp with Denise.

Chrys: pulling double-duty as a camper and yoga master means having to give even more to her fellow campers, and Chrys did that with a smile, helping us all feel better after our rides, and bringing a whole different dimension to our shared experience. 

Sherry: she truly deserved that Badass award! She drew blood, got patched up and kept riding without complaining, fought her way up the mountain, and joined us on the summit. I loved hearing about her training, and loved seeing that determination.

Everyone present added amazing energy, such that all of us, as a whole, were much more than the sum of our parts. Riding in a group is faster than riding alone, we all know that. But *being* that group is much more than being the sum of all of us as individuals, on and off the bike.

I cannot end this without talking about our coaches. With six DivaCamps completed to date, Chad and his team keep getting it right - and improving things with every camp. The improvements are not just based on the logistics and overall service.

Photo by Sonya Ewing

With Tom and Terry (whom I have referred to in the past as my "Zen Master on Two Wheels") having been at nearly every camp, Chad, Tom and Terry now have the planning and process down to a science: whom to send up the road first and for how long, where to reconnect, who needs more or less of this kind or that kind of coaching, and so on. But “despite” their competitive cycling backgrounds, they understand how to relate to less experienced cyclists, and female cyclists at that... No, we are NOT the same as a bunch of guys who want to sprint to the Stop sign, and want to make each other suffer. Yes, we do occasionally want to sprint to the finish, or reach the end of the road ahead of our friends, and some of us do care about our time on the climb. But DivaCamp is not about that, and Chad, Tom, Terry, and all other coaches who have been there have figured out how to teach, coach, encourage, motivate, and draw the best out of all of us, regardless of our goals. Jen and Teresa, of Liv/giant, were the strong, female, cyclist role-models, teaching basic bike mechanics and leading rides, helping to debunk the misconception that cycling is a man’s sport. Cycling is for all of us, and DivaCamp elevates cycling to an experience that goes well beyond the bike.

Thank you all for the inspiration, the motivation, the fun, the energy, and the great memories. Until next time. It seems I’m already committed to going back next year :)  Breathe... Pedal... Believe...

Ted King, cyclist and good guy

I was just asked, via Twitter DM: "Quick question, Why is Ted King so awesome. Everyman, hard worker, anti-doping? Trying to grasp the essence."

It's no secret that I'm a big Ted King fan. So it seems fitting that, on this seminal day that marks Ted's career and life in a big way, I should attempt to answer that complex question from, if nothing else, my own humble point of view as a fan. 

My American cycling friends first made me aware of Ted about 3 years ago, but at that time, he was just a name, just another young American cyclist in the bunch. He seemed friendly enough, making guest appearances on my friends' pictures on Facebook and replying to various fan tweets along the way.

I started following Ted on Twitter, came across some Bicyling Magazine columns he'd written, became a regular reader of his blog. And lo and behold, a theme emerged. Here was one of the most positive, energetic, engaging, accessible and likable figures amongst pro-cyclists. Not to say there aren't other charismatic, "nice guys" in the peloton, but it seemed that Ted had put together a great package.

My friend's Twitter message asked, "everyman, hard worker, anti-doping?" Yes. Absolutely. And definitely. Starting with the latter, I am a staunch believer that Ted is clean. Period. No need to discuss that one any further. Read this article to understand my willingness to believe him. 

Hard worker? He shares his training rides (usually long, challenging and often solo rides) on Strava, always with a comment that makes us all believe it was an "awesome ride" regardless of whether he might have suffered like a dog. He's come up with concepts like the "200-on-100", and the "200-NOT-on-100", which, in a nutshell, boil down to 200 mile-rides (320km) in one day, for charity and, well, just for the fun of it. 

He works hard as a domestique, often riding tempo on the front of the peloton for hours on end, to bring teammate and superstar Peter Sagan to contest for the sprint (which Peter often wins). He rarely if ever expresses anything that sounds even remotely negative, doesn't complain, and just gets the job done. 

Ted is a prolific and pretty talented writer (and photographer, for that matter) - check out IAmTedKing.com, his column in Bicycling Magazine, as well as other blogs, such as the one on the RoadID website. He is a pretty savvy marketer, having started his own merchandising brand, "I Am NOT Ted King", and raising funds for his favorite charity through the sale of IANTK clothing, cycling apparel, and accessories. Ted's favorite charity is the Krempels Center, a "nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with brain injury from trauma, tumor or stroke" in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. There is a 100% probability that I never would have heard of Krempels if it weren't for Ted, and even greater odds that the majority of cycling fans who have contributed money to Krempels in the past couple of years would never have done so, if not for Ted. 

Why Krempels? Because, as Ted has shared with the world, his father suffered a debilitating stroke ten years ago, leaving him with a permanent brain injury. Mr. King has benefited from the care of the Krempels Center over the years, and Ted has seen fit to "give back" by organizing the Krempels King of the Road Challenge to raise funds, and by contributing money from the sale of IANTK merchandise to the Krempels Center. 

So, you see, I think Ted is a good guy, a really good guy. And he works hard, usually with a smile on his face. 

You might be thinking, "Ok, but what makes him SPECIAL?"

He's tremendously engaging, and related to that, he's a brilliant brand manager. I don't mean just his "IANTK" brand of merchandise. That, in many ways, is the easy part of managing a brand. I'm referring to the management of HIMSELF as his own brand. He was one of the first pro-cyclists to use Twitter to engage with fans and supporters; he leverages Facebook, Strava and Instagram in a similar way. He promotes his team and sponsors. He seems to get on well with everyone. (Does he ever fake it? Probably, sometimes - like all of us...) He willingly spends time with fans - chatting, taking pictures, having real conversations. He always comes across as very sincere and genuine, and, I know from my own experience, and that of many friends who have reported similar encounters with Ted, his fans walk away feeling like Ted is their friend. 

Here's an example of "engaging with Ted": after learning he had moved from Lucca to Girona this year, I was curious about the reasons behind his move. I messaged him, asking if he'd be willing to write something about it. He responded that it was a great idea, and wrote a blog about it. Perhaps I gave him the idea, perhaps he'd already written the blog when I asked. It doesn't matter. The fact that he took the time to interact with me ("just a fan") is unique. Multiply that by several hundreds (thousands?) of interactions with his fans during the season, and it's easy to understand why he has become such a crowd favorite. 

He's a college graduate (economics major) and he happens to be pretty smart. He's a family guy, close to his parents and brother. He shares a lot about himself, and yet, there are clearly some topics that remain private (as they should). He chooses not to swear on social media (I'm sure it's a conscious decision, part of his "brand management"), and is very consistent in the values he expresses - again, that "genuine" thing that makes him "one of us", but the one whom we can all live vicariously through, as he gets paid to ride his bike in phenomenal locations around the world. 

Oh, and he loves maple syrup... His fans have latched on to this - lots of tweeting to @iamtedking about maple syrup... Yep, I gave him a small bottle of (Canada Grade A) maple syrup in Montreal last year, and I know lots of other fans have given him syrup as well. Why? Heck, why not... Maple syrup is pretty awesome stuff.

Today, July 2, 2013, Ted is facing one of the most challenging days in his professional life. He made his Team Cannondale's selection for the Tour de France this year. His first Tour de France, the realization of a dream, at age 30. He worked hard for it. Everyone saw how he got leaner, fitter, and pulled like a work horse in races like the AMGEN Tour of California. His fans, friends and fellow cyclists cheered when he announced he made the TDF team. Then - catastrophe on Stage 1: a crash, resulting in a separated shoulder. Ted wasn't about to give up on the Tour, and he started and finished Stages 2, 3 and 4, carrying on with severe pain, but in the hope that with each passing day, the pain would diminish, the legs would remain good, and he would soon be pulling for Peter Sagan again.

Today, Stage 4, the Team Time Trial, saw him riding his road bike, as the TT bike was too painful. He took the start, quickly got dropped by his team (presumably not a surprise for any of them, or him), and finished the stage as an Individual TT. Controversy emerged when the Tour organization declared he finished outside of the time delay ("HD" for "hors délai") by a mere 7 seconds, while Ted's own SRM device showed him WITHIN the time limit. 

Considering the crash of stage 1 was the result of the Tour organization's mis-management of the Orica-GreenEdge team bus fiasco, Ted's supporters erupted loudly on Twitter, demanding that the Tour reinstate him. The outpouring of support by fans, the media and a few other Tour riders, unprompted by Ted himself, is truly a testament to the following he has built, and the fact that he is truly well-liked in the peloton. Here is a very good article on today's situation and another one, keeping in mind more will likely be written in coming days... 

I don't know if I've answered "why Ted King is so awesome". I've yet to meet anyone who spoke ill of him, or said they didn't like him. Perhaps he's just one of those people that everybody likes. Maybe that's it. He's just so darn likable. He will be greatly missed in the rest of this year's Tour de France, if indeed the Tour organization fails to reinstate him. As much as it will be Ted's loss, his team's and sponsors' loss, and his fans' loss, it will most certainly be the Tour's loss. 

A little something about "inspiration"…

I don't know if I've just become more aware of it in the last year or two, or whether it is a fairly new "thing", but the word "inspiration" seems to be thrown about a lot more these days. "This is so inspiring!", we say, watching YouTube videos or TV shows, where someone does something unexpected or "above and beyond" to help fellow human beings, or animals, or the planet, or themselves… "Wow! I'm so inspired by what you/he/she did!" My question to you all is, "inspired to do what…?"

How often do we use the word "inspiration" a little loosely, calling inspirational anyone who does something we might not have done ourselves? And the question is, are we truly *inspired* by that, or do we merely *admire* what that person did?

There's a big difference. "Admiration" is fine, and is just that: respect (presumably) for, and recognition of, someone else's accomplishment. "Inspiration" should lead to action. If you claim to be "inspired" by someone or something, then use that inspiration to put a plan in place, and do something positive to benefit others, or even just yourself. You don't have to save the world. You don't have to be a hero. But if you claim to be inspired, DO SOMETHING with that inspiration. Otherwise, recognize that your "inspiration", is, in fact, only "admiration". 

I'm not chastising anyone here. I am, however, speaking of my own experience. I have said many times in the past how "inspired" I was by this, that, and the other. Perhaps even by *you*. What I probably meant (but failed to recognize) was that I admired what you (or this, that and the other) did. However, if my admiration did not lead me to take action, it didn't qualify as inspiration.

Since taking stock and coming to grip with that difference, I've made a very conscious effort to distinguish between the two, and make a commitment to action when I felt truly inspired. I don't use the word "inspiring" freely anymore. I will congratulate you very genuinely on your accomplishment, and will be very proud of you. If it leads me to action, I will very gladly give you credit for "inspiring" me. 

I've recently lost a lot of weight, got in great shape, and am on a great path - healthy (physically, mentally), happy, and at peace with myself and the world. I also have goals that I want to meet, dreams that I'm working on realizing, and ambitions that I work hard towards. A great deal of inspiration was needed to make all this happen. I was fortunate to recognize true inspiration in the people around me. Sometimes, it was their own action that inspired me, their sacrifice, challenges they overcame (sought or unexpected), or just their word that woke something in me. Other times, my inspiration was of my own choosing. 

Most recently, I learned of an old friend from my childhood, with whom I had not been in touch in over 20 years, who passed away after a very painful 3-year battle against cancer. I'm told she loved life, loved her husband and three children, and fought valiantly until the very end. The day after learning of her passing, I was faced with a self-chosen challenge to climb a mountain on my bike. It was difficult yet very rewarding to take on that challenge. At some point in the climb, the initial enthusiasm started giving way to fatigue and a bit of impatience (the inner child in me was whining, "are we theeeeerrreee yet….?"). That's when inspiration kicked in. My friend fought for her life for three years. All I had to do was pedal a bike up a hill for another hour or so. I was the only one pushing the pedals, but I could hear her voice encouraging me with every pedal stroke. Her fighting spirit and love of life inspired me to keep going. She never gave up. I wasn't about to. I made it to the top.

Well, hello there Springtime!

It took the arrival of Daylight Savings Time and a first glimpse of spring to make me realize how long it's been since I've written anything. Looking back at the last four months, so much has happened - both good and bad - that it seems necessary to capture some thoughts on paper (or on the computer, as it goes).

Back in October, I attended TotalCyclist's Diva Camp, in Virginia. This was my fourth Diva Camp, in the company of great friends. Fresh air, fantastic roads, awesome friends, beautiful scenery, and hardly any online time made for a great break from everyday life. On the last day of camp, one of the coaches suggested we post our cycling goals publicly, on the group's Facebook page. I realized I didn't really have any goals, other than "I really should be more active this winter than I was last winter...". The thought of establishing goals stuck with me, and became very real in the next few days.

I soon decided to train - really train - over the winter, and leverage that training to help me lose weight. I'll keep this part of the story short, but it's been amazing. I found the people, framework and support I needed to train successfully, made many new friends in the process, expanded my cycling network significantly, and dropped 30 pounds (so far), since November 1st. 

I have to give a special shout-out to Ed Veal, of Real Deal Performance, and the Morning Glory Cycling Club, of Toronto, for having made my winter fantastic, and for being a big part of what is announcing itself as an amazing outdoor cycling season this year. I now have major riding goals for this season: two Gran Fondos (including the Steve Bauer CanFondo), Centurion C50, and a big cycling trip abroad (more on that later). Training has become a part of my everyday life - I'm not always as disciplined as I should be, and sometimes I still struggle with the motivation to get on the bike/trainer, but the occasional "personal bests" sessions I've had keep boosting me up. And we all know that "more results" only come with "more training". So there...

Losing weight is a transformational experience on so many levels. The obvious, physical level, of course... feeling, and being, healthier, with a lower resting heart rate, blood pressure that makes the doctor smile, and (a result of riding the bike so much), firm, shapely (shapelier, at least...) quads, hamstrings and calves. My bad back is less bad, my posture is better. More importantly, I feel awesome.

The less obvious, psychological effects of weight loss, are equally awesome. The compliments from family and friends who notice the change; having to buy new clothes every week (expensive but fun...); the boost that comes from doing something that used to be physically hard and realizing that it now feels easy; and the endorphins that come from regular exercise and increased wellness - those are all things that have made the last four months truly special and rewarding for me.

Training and being healthier also helped me on a very different level over the winter. On December 13, I got a phone call from my Dad to tell me Mom had been taken to the hospital by ambulance. We would shortly find out that she needed emergency surgery that very night, and that she should be fine, but would have a long recovery ahead of her. I immediately flew to Montreal to be with my parents, and over the next two weeks (and in pretty severe winter weather), Dad and I traveled to the hospital twice a day to take care of Mom. Mom returned home just after Christmas, and is now continuing her recovery. Life is not the same as "before", and probably won't be again. But - we're all very grateful to still be together, and are focused on making the best of the days ahead and the nice weather to come, so Mom and Dad can go back to being more active again.

Our annual holiday plans to travel south and spend Christmas in Mexico were obviously thwarted, and all three of us missed the sun, sand and beach time. But that became very secondary in the grand scheme of things.

A mere few days after arriving in Montreal, I received another dreadful phone call, from a close friend in Toronto this time. One of our friends had died, very suddenly and unexpectedly, of a heart attack. His wife - another close friend - and two daughters were left devastated, just days before Christmas, to deal with such a terrible loss. 

I wasn't able to leave Mom's side to attend my friend's funeral. To this day, his death seems unreal to me, and when I visit his family, I keep expecting him to walk in the room, like always...

So December was tough. I didn't have my bike in Montreal, and knew right away I needed to exercise every day to stay sane. I found a great gym near home, and squeezed in one to two hours every morning to go work out and expend some pent up energy. It's surprising how quickly the adrenaline and endorphins generated can lift one's spirits, even when dealing with very difficult and sad situations. 

I came back to Toronto in January, and was able to start skiing and snowshoeing every Saturday. My new "bike legs" work wonders on skis, and I've enjoyed skiing hard and fast this season, with no soreness and no fatigue. We'll soon see how long my new fitness and strength last in Vail, CO, compared to our short Ontario hills!

In the last three weeks, not only have there been a flurry of cycling races in Europe to watch and follow, but there have been a few local events to attend as well. A fundraiser for the Milton Velodrome (being built for the PanAm and ParaPan Am Games of 2015) organized by the Morning Glory Cycling Club was a great success and was attended by many of Canadian cycling's best.

The Toronto Bike Show, just this past weekend, also whet my appetite and allowed me to connect with great people and friends who share my enthusiasm (ok... obsession...) with cycling. I spent periods of time at Steve's and Josée's CanFondo booth and convinced a few folks to come ride with us in September; I also spent some time with my Real Deal Racing / Real Deal Performance friends Ed and Mike. Want to have fun and feel good about life? Spend time with positive and enthusiastic people. Emotions are contagious. I came home from the Bike Show totally pumped. No pun intended. 

2013 looks like it will be a travel year for work as well as for fun, and that is (for the most part) a great thing. Too much travel does make me a bit cranky after a while, but "just enough travel" puts a huge smile on my face. So far this year, I've mixed it up with some trips to the snowy and cold Midwest, New York City, and even the UK, where I found something unexpected: sunshine in London.

And now - already well into the month of March, I've traveled for work several times (for the most part - that's a great thing); I'm still riding indoors but will soon be outdoors; I'm heading to Vail in a couple of weeks to cap off the ski season; I've got a bike trip to Europe scheduled for May; a Gran Fondo in Banff in August; and Steve Bauer's CanFondo and the Centurion C50 both in September. Throw in there a few local bike races to go watch and help out at, a couple of bigger races to travel to, and another trip or two that will get scheduled at the last minute, and it will be another fun-filled, incredibly busy summer. The bike is ready, my new-found legs are ready, and I am psyched. Life is good®*. Big time.

Copyright "Life is good ®"

* I'm a fan of the "Life is Good" brand but this isn't a "plug" (I don't get anything for mentioning them, believe me... In fact, if they saw this, they might ask me to remove the picture). But visit their page, and odds are you'll find at least one thing to make you smile :)

TotalCyclist Diva Camp again!

I felt like I was flying down the hill. Shouting "on your left!" at the top of my lungs as I passed one friend after another, I took long sweeping curves at full speed, topping out at a decent speed before I ran out of hill to descend. I'd done that before - going downhill fairly fast on my bike. But I'd never enjoyed it as much as I did on this sunny Friday afternoon in Virginia. Blame Diva Camp. Again.

It always starts the same way: campers trickle into camp, are greeted warmly by Chad and his team, register, collect a goody bag filled with great sponsors' schwag, get acquainted with one another in an atmosphere of nervous, positive energy. Those who have been to Diva Camp before know the drill: settle in, unpack, meet and greet your roommates, figure out where the electrical outlets are so all the toys can get charged every night, and... relax! Easily done, by breathing in the fresh, clean air of the country, and listening to the full silence for a few minutes... See just how peaceful it was...

Lunch and introductions follow. It's Day 1, there are many new names and faces to remember, and the anticipation of what's coming over the next four days is palpable. New campers are nervous - I'm sure their thoughts all converge towards "Am I going to be too slow? Will I be the one that everyone else is waiting for, or afraid to ride close to? Am I going to remember who the coaches are and what their names are? Am I going to fit into this?" Funny, how being at camp as an adult isn't that different from being at camp as a kid!

The first ride is, predictably, all over the map. Everyone is eager, everyone has too much pent up energy or too much fatigue, or forgot to go through their normal pre-ride routine and is suddenly ill-prepared. Throw in a hill - even a gentle one - right at the start, and campers on bikes look like a bunch of first graders on the very first day of school, finally allowed outside at recess. It's messy, and the teachers spend all their time corralling their wayward horde. Similarly, on Day 1, our coaches work hard, making sure campers stay together, go in the right direction, and stay safe. And have fun. That goes without saying. 

As an experienced camper, I still made a rookie mistake. My pre-ride routine got all messed up, and I forgot my inhaler. I pushed to climb the hills, and ended up in that state of stomach distress and lungs-like-bellows that hopefully can be resolved with a quick puff of asthma meds. Thanks, Leslie, for carrying your inhaler and saving my ride! And thanks Chad for knowing that when I say, "I'm not ok right now, I need to stop", it means just that, and that I'll keep going in a few minutes. One puff later and with new, open lungs, I found my legs, and had a wonderful ride.

Photo by Mark Merrill, TotalCyclist Diva Camp 2012

The roads in that part of Virginia are lovely - carving the colorful autumn forests and hugging the hilly landscape in sweeping curves, well paved and clean (with no apples this year!) and devoid of traffic. Compared to my mostly-urban rides, it's heaven to step outside and already be in the country.

Thursday evening, we were treated to Mark's excellent "Bike Mechanics 101" session. This was my fourth time attending it, and I learn something new every time. It also re-confirms things I’ve learned, and increases my confidence that what I've been doing on my own is correct. Never hurts to watch a pro change a flat tire!

Friday morning dawned clear and warm enough for short-sleeve riding (for this northern girl, at least). Post-breakfast, our friend and fellow camper Barb discussed with us the mental aspect of sports, cycling, and performance in general. Having a sport psychologist amongst us was a treat - helping us to focus on the things that would get us to the top and maintaining positive self-talk was invaluable for the coming days.

Our skills session in the morning focused on descending - a skill that, after my less-than-impressive descent off Potts Mountain last year, I was eager to learn more about. While I've gotten better at descending this season,  I wanted to learn the dos-and-don’ts, and gain confidence in a supported environment.

The "descent clinic" set up by Chad and all our coaches was fantastic. Close to camp, and leveraging the gentle slope of the quiet road, it allowed us campers to apply the theory right away, and start practicing our turns while going downhill. The first few practice runs were slow and a bit hesitant for some, but by the end, campers were "lettin'er rip" down the hill. Most importantly - the predominant noise was laughter. And the cowbell. Always have a cowbell when there are cyclists around. Thanks to Carol, our fellow camper and ever-present cheerleader, for shaking that cowbell!

Photo by Mark Merrill, TotalCyclist Diva Camp 2012

Slaloming around the miniature road cones was fun. And I even started enjoying going UP the hill every time. I didn't just feel free going downhill, but even going up that gentle hill, I felt fast! Must have been all that relaxation finally kicking in... 

Our afternoon ride was well designed, allowing campers to experience the more challenging climb into New Castle, and to put into practice our newly-acquired descending skills. The morning's slalom exercises worked. Even in a matter of a few hours, I was able to apply my new skills and descend comfortably, while having a blast! If you're wondering what that weird "whoooooo-HOOOOO!" sound was, as we went by, it was just me enjoying myself. It's this uncontrollable reaction I have when skiing or riding downhill fast - I can't help it.

Our ride was followed by a yoga/stretching session out in the beautiful sunshine, then another great meal, some more relaxation time, and an early night. Beauty rest is important for Divas, especially before the Queen Stage.

Saturday morning was mostly clear, but definitely colder. Out came the arm warmers, knee warmers, leg warmers, long-fingered gloves, toe covers and embrocation. The plan was for all Divas to climb Potts Mountain that day. To give us all the best odds possible, Chad and his team had come up with three options: (1) drive to the base of Potts and save all the energy for the actual effort of the climb; (2) do the short, direct ride to Potts, to get some warm-up miles into the legs (my preferred option); and (3) for the stronger cyclists among us, ride some extra miles to Potts. As a result, all three groups would tackle the climb at slightly different times, ensuring we would all be reaching the summit within a reasonable window so we could celebrate together. 

The plan worked! Every camper reached the summit of Potts Mountain on her own terms - some faster than others, but without exception, everyone got up the mountain under her own power. As it was last year, the celebration at the summit was emotional, and the celebratory picture was as rewarding for the coaches as it was for the campers. I wrote at length about the climb last year (read about Diva Camp 2011), so all I will say for now is, it wasn't any easier physically the second time around, but mentally, it was. Glances off the side of the mountain gave me a good gauge of how high off the valley floor I was, and I was constantly encouraged to see that I was gaining altitude. I recognized the last curve before the summit, and knew that the last half mile should be relished, even though it's painful... Barbara won this year's "Badass Award" after climbing Potts on a hybrid bike with flat pedals. Need I say more? WOW!

Photo by TotalCyclist Diva Camp 2012

What about the descent, you ask? Last year, I nearly wore out my brakes, and felt panicked the whole way down. Coach Gordon, I felt, was only with me so he could mark the spot where I went over the edge. In contrast, this year, I left the summit second, passed the one friend who had gone first, and was then only passed by two people (including coach Terry). I didn't set any speed records, not even a PB speed, but I had fun! I thoroughly enjoyed that descent, and felt in control, of both the bike and of my emotions, the whole way down. I know that if I got to practice on it more often, I would truly fly down that hill! Which, I guess, means that (1) I'll have to go back to Potts Mountain, and (2) I'd better enjoy doing hill repeats up Potts...

The return ride to Wilderness Adventure was one of the most fun rides I've had all season. I was amazed that I still had any legs left. It was smooth sailing all the way to camp, and I even felt that I could have gone a few extra miles. I was sad that the day's riding was over.

Applying other newly-learned skills, we spent a bit of time practicing how to take care of a flat tire. Removing our front wheel, we deflated our perfectly good tube, removed it, replaced it (with itself, since it was still good), and went through the exercise of re-seeding the tire and inflating the tube once more. Great practice, under the watchful eyes of our coaches, and without any of the stress of being stranded by the roadside.

Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing being an outdoor education center, there are all kinds of activities designed to challenge campers. Last year, we did the zip line, and this year, we did the "ropes course", which is to say, we walked across a very wobbly bridge (safely protected by a harness and rope & pulley system) while our friends cheered on. Not my proudest moment (I wobbled significantly), but loads of fun! Dolores earned the top prize based on speed AND style - unanimous decision.

The last evening's celebrations went by too fast. The celebrations were, in all honesty, on the tame side - tired as we were, and aware that we had one last ride to look forward to the very next morning, we took it easy. Dinner, football (go Alabama!), and the friendly, warm chitchat of Diva Camp made for a great evening. Plans for a cornhole tournament, camp fire and movie fell by the wayside - we were just too tired...

Sunday was once again sunny and crisp, and we covered as many body parts as we could before heading out for our last ride. Forty-five minutes out, then back, along our favorite roads. Contrary to last year's "Sunday ride", when I had nothing left – nothing at all – I felt very strong on Sunday, and had a blast! Our pace line was fun, the conversation was good, and the riding was smooth. On the way back, seeing a short descent followed by a punchy climb, I accelerated on the descent with the hope that my momentum would get me to the top of the hill. Pushing a big gear, I passed everybody, got to the top, and sat up, expecting everyone to come swarming behind me. Nothing, no one... I started pedaling again, slowly. But then, it was just too much fun, I had to push. After a couple of minutes, coach Melinda caught up to me, and we started our own little two-women pace line. Ah, the joy...!

We eventually waited at the church corner to reunite with our group, and crossed the road to climb the last short hill. At the top, Melinda told me to wait before going down to camp. Melinda and Terry had decided I should go down the hill on Terry's wheel, with Melinda behind me. It took me a few seconds (and some wasted meters...) to grasp the concept of getting RIGHT on Terry's wheel at speed, but soon I was traveling 32mph a mere few inches behind him. We reached camp too soon – I wanted to keep going, and was on the verge of yelling "faster!!!" as I was getting the hang of this. Too bad the hill wasn't longer or steeper...

Sunday afternoon at camp is always a sad event for me. We had a nice lunch, and shared one last story about the rides we'd done, but too soon, it was time to say good-bye. Ever seen 20 women and 4 men hugging good-bye emotionally? Yes, the men get emotional too... Admit it, boys, you don't like saying good-bye any more than we do.

As we embarked on the trip home, in directions as far and varied as Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Reading, Toronto and Alaska, I know that all of us relived the great moments of the last four days. For each of us, the cycling experience was different – for some, it was in the challenge of riding in a pace line for the first time; for others, it was facing the toughest climb they'd ever attempted; and for me, it was in discovering the pure joy of descending without fear. But for all of us, the Diva Camp experience was also in the friendships we made, the lasting confidence we gained, and the inevitable sense of empowerment that comes from challenging oneself and succeeding at pushing the boundaries of one’s comfort zone.

Thank you all, my fellow Diva Campers, and thank you, my friends from TotalCyclist, Chad, Terry, Melinda, Tom, Alison, Mark, Marianne and Hannah, for your flawless logistics, great organization, and relentless positive energy and coaching. Can't wait to be a little kid at camp again...

Riding with the Big Boys

After several months of following the exploits of the only professional Canadian cycling team, Team SpiderTech p/b C10, very closely, I decided to do more than cheer for them and tweet about them, and elected to join their VIP Club.
That led to an invitation to participate in Team SpiderTech's "Ride with the Pros" VIP / Sponsor day. It was held yesterday, May 5th, and it was a fantastic event. 
Out of 70 or so guests, I was the ONLY WOMAN. All other women (less than 10 total) were connected to the event, including Josée Larocque, co-founder of the team with Steve Bauer (Silver medal for Canada at LA Olympics in '84, yellow jersey at TDF etc.). The event was pretty spectacular, as it is (1) an appreciation day for sponsors, and (2) an opportunity for Bauer & company to network and try to find more sponsorship money. It was therefore a gathering of a group of successful businessmen (some of the business elite of Toronto), who also share my appreciation of cycling and of what Steve, Josée and their acolytes are building.
The riding was nice and hilly (short, punchy hills - a fair number of them...), and as expected, too fast for me. But the pros were just that, and catered well to everyone in the crowd. I got to ride and chat at length with Guillaume Boivin (currently ranked 4th on European circuit), Zach Bell (Canada's hope for gold in London on the track), Frank Parisien (funny guy!), Pat McCarty (KOM at ATOC last year), Martin Gilbert ("the other Gilbert"), Will Routley, who recently finished 10th in the GC at Tour of Turkey, and a couple more. Lucas Euser wasn't there as he was already in California, training for ATOC. 
Oh - and for about 3km leading to the feed zone, I rode with a little group of five, which included Josée, Steve Bauer and Guillaume Boivin. I have to say that sitting on Steve's and Guillaume's wheels for a few kilometres was a helluva thrill for this cycling fan!
Josée and I, plus one or two others, rode at the back, and The Boys dropped us like a ton of bricks. After the feed zone, the group split, with Steve and the majority going for another 50km, while our group of about 30 (including Will Routley) came back to the event venue. 
One of the guests, who was ill suited to hill climbing, abandoned on the last hill, and got in the car. I managed to climb all the hills - albeit at my slow, steady pace, and didn't embarrass myself too badly.
The post-ride BBQ was pleasant - though a few more women would have made it a bit more.... "comfortable". But it was loads of fun, and I certainly hope to be able to do this again next year. 
In the mean time - Go Spiders! :)

Ah yes... Family!

For Fathers' Day, I surprised my Mom & Dad with a visit to Laval for the weekend. We saw each other when they visited me for Mothers' Day in Toronto last month, so it hadn't been "that" long since we'd spent time together. But for the loving parents of this only child, any time away is too long.
Since I don't visit my hometown often (my parents visit me more often), I don't get to see my relatives much. So it's always a treat for me to be able to visit with my aunt and uncle, and cousins and their children.
Yesterday, we drove the 60km through horrendous traffic (it took 1.5 hrs...) to go from Laval to the South Shore of Montreal, and hang out pool-side at my cousin's place. It had been two years since we'd all been together, my parents, aunt and uncle, two cousins, one cousin's wife and two daughters. And nearly as long since we'd talked on the phone or via email or Facebook.
And yet... As always when we get together, we just pick up where we left off. It's easy, comfortable, comforting, warm, laugh-out-loud belly-laugh funny, energizing, emotional, and oh-so-good, to be with them all. Since I don't see them all often, perhaps our occasional visits are always good because they're so filled with happy anticipation, simplicity and connection. And yet, I think that part of the reason we reunite so easily is that, we're family. I have lots of relatives I'm not close to and haven't seen in decades, but this little group, I feel close to, and always will.
And they told me yesterday, "you know, you're not alone! We're here for you...". That made me feel all warm and fuzzy. It was nice to hear and be reminded.
Love you all, my little family...