The Unlikely Skate Skiers cap 30KM on the P’tit Train du Nord #photo

Taken on January 09, 2016 at 03:31PM and best viewed here: http://flic.kr/p/CS2ohg
I wonder if this cottage is for sale… #PetitTrainduNord #photo

Taken on January 09, 2016 at 03:30PM and best viewed here: http://flic.kr/p/CPKRf9
Oh look, running shoes Via The Oatmeal
This is exactly how I felt last night as I pulled the skis out of the rack and headed out to Crap St Jack for a little skate on their tiny little circuit. It was dark, I had a head light, the trails were not great but I got to work on balance… In essence, it was was a pretty fr@cking awesome feeling. Damn you JubJub for getting to do it for 10 days in a row.
And Then It Was Winter
From insane warm conditions on Christmas Eve (16C) to barely freezing on Boxing Day to our first big dump of the year: 40cm in a day. It’s been one of those crazy weeks that you can either cry about or embrace with all the sporting gear you can find. For me that’s going from CX to XC in week, although with all the powder we had yesterday, I did take a day off to play with the 88mm Watea’s on Vallee Bleue while Thing One taught some private lessons. Today, JubJub and Bubba initiated me to XC Skate Skiing. I will admit that the technique was a bit RAW, legs were burning and I looked more like the ducks still in the stream than a Jack Rabbit. BUT that was wicked good fun. Bring on the snow Gaia, I have sticks for all occasions now!
If you need any gear this year, you should totally check out these awesome sports shops:
Downhill Skis: Austrian Ski Shop
5706 Monkland Avenue
Montréal, QC H4A 1E6
XC Skis and Fat Bikes: Espresso Sports
1000 Rue Saint Georges,
Sainte-Adèle, QC J8B 1J8
Road and Mountain Bikes: Martin Swiss
313 Avenue Victoria,
Westmount, QC H3Z 2N1
Anything Else go to MEC
How to confuse skiers on Boxing Day
I rode from Vallee Bleue to Mont Blanc this morning where I stopped for a coffee on the chaises longues. It was hilarious to see folks double take and flat out stop in front me and the bike and just stare. To which I promptly replied with “Joyeux Noel”. I wish I had brought a secret camera. Oh well, at least I got to work off all the turkey and stuffing.
-65+-
16C on Christmas Eve…
Adele’s Espresso Run
Sadly this not about pop stars drinking fancy coffee, but yet another post about my “Last Ride of the Year”. Drop off the junior ski instructor at Vallee Bleue again and then suited up for another climbing session through the back roads of the Lower Laurentians. I left the bike by the car while I got dressed in the Ski Lodge… BTW, ski hills should seriously consider that as an off season money maker. Well I got back to the bike for the ride only to notice the rear brake one frozen open. No amount squeezing could do thing, so I plodded on to Espresso Sports in St-Adele (post title) and the bike techs were very very good at getting the rear cable replaced and even adjusting the front cable so braking would be even. Makes me feel a lot better about getting my skate skis there too now. Theses guys have really got it on and in a great location on Le Petit Train du Nord too.
And just to update all the climate watchers, yes it is snowing a bit but no way near enough to make it all white by Friday. It’s gonna be a BNL Green Christmas.
Ugly Christmas Sweaters are so last year!
Seth Godin: Paying the smart phone tax
The smart phone brings the world to us, in our pocket. But if the entire world is there, presenting its urgencies, it’s harder than ever to be here, right now, in this moment.
Source: Seth’s Blog: Paying the smart phone tax
Things to remember as you wind down for the Holidays…