Well, finally the weather turned right for me and the long weekend gave ample opportunity to ride the trails in the area. But what caught me by surprise was the level a technical riding is the norm here in Canada. Today I popped down to my local trail to try it out on my bike - needless to say after 1,5 hrs of riding I was bushed! Clearly my endurance style of riding has not made me mountain bike fit for Canadian trails. Now I never have claimed to be the most accomplished technical rider - but in terms of what South African events threw at you - I was more than capable. However things in Canada are very different. Switchback in South Africa are tight swooping turns - in Canada they are neck breaking 45degree turns that, well lets just say I need to practice. Roots - are going to haunt me in my dreams tonight. I could never understand how pro mountain bikers have such good upper bodies - I have found out now - tight turns and roots require a whole different muscle set than the mountain biking I have been doing - upper body! "Pumping the bike" was I term that I had heard about in mags - finally I have seen the benefit of such technique - needless to say I need work! During my 90 minutes of extreme workout utilising part of my body that have not seen a workout in ages - I had some of the best fun I have had on a bike in ages. 

But I have been honestly humbled and know that I have a lot of work that I need to do to get my level of technical skill in place - I looks forward to this form of workout as it will compliment my base training that I will be doing - just hope that my bike holds out with all this technical learning!!  But for the most part it looks like it will be back to the drawing board for me in terms of riding - but look forward to the miles of forest trails that still need to be explored.