Sue Schlatter dropped me like a bag of potatoes

Nine days ago, I was cycling in the Gats. As I was at the intersection of Meech Lake road and Fortune parkway, I passed a woman who was off her bike taking a break. I thought at that time "no way you'll be able to catch me back". Few minutes after, as I was climbing Fortune, she zoomed by me like a high-speed train. I was flaggerbasted and speechless to say the least. I realized minutes later that she was doing repeats on the hill. Only days later did I learn that it was the elite cyclist Sue Schlatter (picture).

Sue now lives in Ottawa where she trains. She did the Whiteface climb last weekend in Lake Placid where she finished first in the women category and seven overall. Here's her account of the race...hats off Sue!

"Whiteface Hillclimb, Wilmington, New York: June 20, 2009 The promoters of 9 major North-East hill climbs in 4 states have joined together to create a new Bike Up the Mountain Points Series. The series begins at Whiteface Mt in New York on June 20 and ends at Mt Greylock in Massachusetts on Oct 14. In between there will be 5 different hillclimbs in VT including Okemo, Ascutney, Equinox, Burke and 2 different events that will take place at Mt Washington in NH. Races rated by difficulty include Cat 1, Cat 2 and “hors” Cat. Extra points will be earned at Whiteface as a Cat2 event as well as Equinox also a Cat2 and Mt Washington the “hors” Category.

I had signed up for Whiteface, the rest sounded very tempting...

Whiteface is an 8 mile steady climb, average grade of 8%, getting as steep as 10% at times. The records prior to 2009 were 42:40 by Dan Cassidy in 2007, and 54:29 by Lori Hewig in 2003. They started the 220 riders in waves, 5 minutes apart, depending on age group. Marti Shea who had won the 2008 Mt. Washington hillclimb was in my age group (cuz we are both 29!). I knew from my power numbers this spring that Kevin at the Peak Centre had made sure I was really fit. I was thankful for my light Stevens SCF SL frame and to Vince at the Cyclery for his Reynolds climbing wheels. Steve at the Cyclery decided on an 11-28 cassette with my compact and it worked perfectly. I used the 28 at times, but never needed smaller gears. It was overcast, cool and there was little wind, and we knew that the top was socked in. I had never done the climb before but Doug Jansen (of the fabulous northeastcycling.com website) told me about the 2 hairpin turns which would let me know I was near the top. I had lost the Mt. Washington hillclimb in 2006 by 6 seconds in a "sprint finish" at the top, not knowing in the clouds until it was too late that I had arrived.

From the gun, I settled into a pace, probably about 6th in my age group. I could hear one of the women on my wheel, but soon I could hear nothing. I did the entire ride alone. Each mile was marked on the road, so they slowly ticked away. I just kept passing people in ones and twos from earlier age groups. The road was pretty rough, frost heaved, but at least it was all paved, unlike Mt. Washington. Somewhere during any hillclimb, I always want to stop, hit a flat, go downhill, anything but go uphill. It is such a mental game when you are used to training on 5 minute climbs. Mostly you sit, standing only to try to loosen up the hamstrings. I got around the last hairpin turn and realized I could break 50 minutes, so I hammered into the clouds hoping that the cowbells and cheering meant that the finish line was very near. You couldn't see more than a few meters ahead of you. Then I saw my family with 200m to go: phew!

49:42!

7th overall!

1st woman!

Woman's record broken!

Sue Schlatter

Stevens Racing Team presented by the Cyclery

Ottawa, Ontario "

Tour de France 2003 - Stage 9

I crashed in Gatineau Park today. I was going down Champlain Parkway at about 50 km/h. I didn't slow down as I was approaching the Gatineau Parkway intersection. I suddenly saw another rider coming across. I slowed down a bit...and lost control of my backwheel. Very similar to the Joseph Beloki crash at the 2003 Tour de France (see video). Bike is alright (but backwheel is done)...I have few bruised ribs. I was wreckless, no doubt about it.

An early evening

Got to it the sack early. It won't be too difficult after this week from hell. Tomorrow, I'll be volunteering at Emilie's Run. The Emilie Mondor Memorial 5K Race is a women's only 5K road race named after Emilie Mondor who was killed in a car accident in September of 2006. She was the first Canadian woman to run under 15:00 for 5K and an Athens Olympian. She had moved to Ottawa to start training for the marathon with the goal of going to the Beijing Olympics in that event.

Over the years, I ran many, many races in this town. Each time, I was amazed to see the number of volunteers who would be there to help runners. Without them, there would be no 5k, 10k, half-marathons and marathons. It is time to payback now. Soooo, I will be handing gatorade and water to the 500+ participants. Thankfully, I won't be the only one doing it.

It feels like friday...

A rather painful week so far. Monday was shitty but what can you expect from the beginning of the week. Tuesday was not much better. I went to bed extra early last night and slept almost 9 hours (which is unusual). Despite this longer night, I felt terrible today, groggy and in a bad mood. Perhaps I am covering something...I don't know. One thing for sure, I am looking to see this week done and over with. Strangely enough, I went for training rides last evening and tonight and it was not that bad at all.

Things are not going well at work. Not that I am not performing. Inner conflicts within my team for the last 6 months have created a poisonous environment. I have come to this stage where I no longer give a shit. Someone from another organization approached me with a tentative offer. Years ago, there was a study that said that 83% of people leave their organization not because of the work but rather because of the people they work with. That may be my situation.

You see the picture above ?!? It is Aconcagua Base Camp, located in the Andes (Argentina). I took that picture in early January. Nice isn't? Well, these days I would give everything to be back there and not stuck in a cubicule.

PSB - Metropolis 29/08/09

I made the near fatal mistake of taking a 2-hour (!?!) nap after work. As I am typing these few lines, I am half awake. Anyhow, to prove you that I did not waste my evening, I got a ticket to see the Pet Shop Boys at Le Metropolis in Montreal at the end of August.

This summer will have a strong 80s flavour. I plan to see Indochine in Quebec City on July 14, Depeche Mode in Montreal on July 26 and then the London-based synthpop duo few weeks after. A great summer for synthpop lovers.

PSB needs no presentation. Since its beginning in 1981, Neil Tennant (a former editor for Marvel Comics) and Chris Lowe released a zillions CDs. They got their first smash hit with West End Girls in 1984 and never looked back. Although their outputs experienced varying level of success throughout the years, they remained in the dance/house/electronic spotlights.

The latest opus from PSB was released last April. Titled Yes, it is classic Pet Shop Boys with a mix of dance floor oriented sounds and introspective lyrics.

I am looking forward to this concert having followed the band since the beginning. I am curious to see the playlist for the concert. The band has such a large catalogue. I hope they will play PSB classics such "Love Comes Quickly", "West End Girls", "Domino Dancing"...fuck, the list is so long. Anyway, a great concert in a fabulous venue, Metropolis.

Living on Two Wheels

Every Sunday morning, I jump on my TCR C2 and go to the Gats for two loops. From New Edinburgh and back, it gives more or less 86 km. Quiet in early spring and late fall, the park attracts an incredible number of road cyclists at this time of the year. I am not a competitive person in nature but everything I am on the bike, I want to be the fastest; I want to be the first one on the top of the hill. It really gets my juice going. Cycling is my outlet. It is my religion. If I am disciplined, I usually end up of the season with 4,500 - 5,000 km. It is a far cry from the Lance Armstrongs of this world who can log more than 50,000 km in a single year. But it is not shabby either.

As I said, there are an incredible number of cyclists in this town. When I started road cycling seriously in 2001, cycling was mostly men. Over the years, something happened...there are more and more women to the sport. It is a welcome addition! They are good, really good and many of them are quite attractive...not attractive in the usual sense. No it is more the attractiveness that exudes from a lean and muscular body. Sort of like Kristin Armstrong.

The same can be said for running as well. Go to any running events in town, you'll see a strong contingent of women. It does change the face of sport in a very positive way.

A new start

I have been on the blogosphere for the last three years. My first blog (2006-2007) was of a more personal nature. My second blog (2007-2009) was dedicated to sport. After a while, I got tired of it. When I withdrew my previous blog last April, I thought "that's it, no more". Somehow, I got hooked by it again.

This blog will be of a personal nature. I don't want it to be a soapbox even though I may complain here and there. It will be a blog about the place where I live (Ottawa); the sports I practice (running, cycling, hiking); the music I love (ambient, chill techno); and the books I read. A new blog about nothing. That's the last thing this world needs...here it is.

In previous blogs, I had all the gimmicks. The gadgets that fed me the latest stats about readership. This one will be low-tech. I suspect few will venture on this side of the world. That's fine. For the few who'll get here by accident, I hope you'll enjoy.