James, Finally

Sometimes the dialogue to set up a good tour really drags on.  With James, it’s taken years.   This was originally supposed to happen a few years ago, then it was gong to be last summer for Wayne’s 50th birthday, and it finally happened this weekend.  I think it may have been worth the wait.

A crucial stage in Le Tour had us out there a little after 9, and as we had all day long we settled on an ‘Old School’ style session lap on Builders Only to start things off.

This meant that we could spend a bit of extra time trying out all the stunts and getting our groove on.  It always helps to spend a few extra minutes slaying the Dominator.  The rest of the trail goes so much better then.

After that, this stuff is easy.

It never hurts to have some awesome weather, either.

As icing on the day, Barb was able to come out and jam with us.  It’s never a bad thing to have a World Masters DH champ along.

Inspiring, isn’t it?

Sometimes it’s also emasculating, but it’s all part of the Bush Pilot experience.  You’ll just have to deal with it.

OK, it’s time for the usual beauty shots on this gap to berm move.   Everyone gets to be a superstar on this one.





Happy belated 50th, Wayne.  Hope it was worth the wait.

Welcome to image number 9000.

That one was definitely worth the wait.  That’s part of the new additions from Dirty Dave this year.   With all the wet weather this summer Builders is in incredible condition.  Here’s Jim getting some of his own on the same hit.

..and Karl too.

Want to go a bit bigger?   Yes, that’s a chick on a hardtail.  Time to step it up, boys.

Good work Jim.  Nice style too.

We banged off a total of four laps, and also met up with some other friends to help share the love out there. It was one solid day,

Capped off with this massive overshoot of Shenanigans.

Kelowna Gran Fondo

It’s not all fat tires and madness.  As the tours are a bit thinner this year, I’m helping out Kurt with his shop, and with that comes some support at the “Big Rides” that are currently in vogue in the roadie world.   They’re not races, they’re big rides.  Like a thousand riders big (and this is actually a bit of a disappointment.  There should have been 5 000).  Of course, it only took about 10 seconds to run into some of the old North Shore locals.  Say hi to Oop there in the Ryders jersey in the foreground.

Check these next two pics.  See if you can come up with a few good reasons to get a road bike.


I knew you could.

We were the last support stop of the day, and you can see that we are fully prepared, right down to the presence of Lucas, the Obsession dog.

Hey boys, it’s not a race, OK?

Some guys just can’t let it go.  The later folks had it right.  It’s just a nice day for a ride, no need to stop.

…unless you feel like it.

That’s one of our good friends from up in Vernon.  We’re all on the same page here.

As is my buddy Rob from back in the Cove.  Old Style, like the helmet..

This shot is just a random one from the drive home.  I love this place.