At Long Last Summer

What a difference a little Vitamin D can make! The last couple of weekends the town was buzzing as people roamed the streets, socialized at cafes, picked up their bikes, or grabbed a snack before heading off into the mountains for an adventure.

The adventures have been a bit on hold lately, working our tails off trying to get the first edition of the Fernie Mountain Bike Guide to press - and it finally happened! The guide will be out this July.

Talk about a project. Working with the Trails Alliance has been awesome, and really eye opening. It's so easy to take the trails for granted, but when you have the inventory in front of you, you can't help but take notice. The trails built over the last few years have added so much value to mountain biking in Fernie. Not just in the number but the quality and type of trails built. Hyperventilation, Castle Rocks, South Castle, Dirt Diggler, Slunt, Brokeback, Project 9, Big Money, Swine Flu, 48 Hours, Dopamine.. these are all epic rides that have truly made biking in Fernie more diverse, and more importantly, more fun! A big THANK YOU to the Fernie trail builders, I hope you all know that all the riders out there LOVE you. Even when you are telling us to stay off wet trails.

Outside of the guide it's been tough trying to get some longer rides and have somewhat of a social life. In the process of trying to maintain balance (as in I had some drinks with the girls after a townie cruise) I experienced my first bonk and realized I don't EVER want to experience that again. I also realized that I need to take a Bike Maintenance 101 course something fierce.

View Point - Moccasin Trail, Mount Fernie

We were climbing the Moccasin heading towards Slunt (I seriously can't wait for the Moc-Assassin) when suddenly I had to lay down in the shade as I thought my head might explode. What a relief when my bike partner's derailleur hanger broke...at first. Neither of us had the tools to fix it. Fortunately we came across a spandex clad biker dude who not surprisingly was properly geared up. The two of them turned the bike into a single speed (seriously? you can do that?) while I watched on, wondering what I would do if that happened to me during the TR3. Hmmm, note to self - purchase chain break and learn to fix derailleur and chain. Oh, and try changing a tire before August 8!

Balance will be achieved, but cocktails before long rides in the sun avoided. I've gained a lot of respect for people that manage work, families, social lives and training for big events (do they sleep?). Take Brendan Morgan for example - the July's Fix "Racers' Corner" feature. He's competing in the Penticton Iron Man this August, and has four kids, a wife, and is working full time as a firefighter, that's dedication!

Slowing down at the Fernie Disc Golf Course in James White Park

What's been helpful is including "chill" activities, like golf, which even Brendan admits he enjoys on his days offl. It's nice to do something that forces you to slow down. Floating down the river, taking the lift at FAR, going for a hike, hitting the lake... and that's just skimming the surface. Ah, thank goodness summer is just beginning.