Weekend Ride: Kolapore If Dry - Mansfield if wet

Date: Monday September 2nd, 2013 (Yes September!!!)
Location: Kolapore - Parking per the map below
Ride Times:
Ride 1. 9:30am - For first Loop
Ride 2. Noon - For second Loop

This ride will consist of riding Kolapore twice for anyone wanting to.  The first ride will be a more consistent ride, less stops, but not at a fast pace.
After the first loop we will come back to the parking lot and pick up anyone who wants to join for the second loop!

There will be post ride beers, maybe at a patio in either Creemore or Collingwood, depending on timing and what people want to do.

*****  PLEASE NOTE: IF THE WEATHER IS RAINING ON SUNDAY, THE RIDE MAY CHANGE TO MANSFIELD DUE TO KOLAPORE NOT BEING VERY FUN FOR SOME PEOPLE WHEN WET.... IF YOU PLAN ON RIDING PLEASE PUT A COMMENT IN THE COMMENT BOX BELOW, OR CONTACT TYLER OR JOHNNY *****



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Ride Note****

For anyone wanting to come out to a ride posted on the "Upcoming Ride Guide" please add a note or comment into the comment box at the end of the post.

I apologize to anyone who arrives at a ride when noone else is there.  Usually the rides are posted if someone makes mention of wanting to show up to a ride.

Thanks again

Tyler

If you wish to contact tyler, please do so via email.


hollema at hotmail dot com

Friday Night Ride

Date: Friday August 30th, 2013
Location: Albion Hills
Ride Start Time: 6pm (Tentative)
Parking: Patterson Rd. and Rail Trail crossing or inside the park if you have a pass....
Meeting Point: Water Fountain at Albion Hills

Ride Type: Fun! with Beer at the end.

Let Tyler know if you wanna join!

Upcoming Race: Fall 8hr Relay

Date: Saturday September 28th, 2013
Duration: 8hrs (Like the name)
Location: Hardwood Hills
Website: http://www.pulseracing.ca/

Okay folks, currently team van go has a couple teams, and solo riders entering into the fall 8hr, and would like to see more support and entries, if people are available.

Currently we have 3 people entering as solo rides, and 1 four person male team, and 1 four person female team, which may turn into a 5-6 person female team.

If you wish to race in the 8hr, as a solo, please register as the following;
team van go solo (your name)

If you wish to race on a team, let Tyler know, and we can hook you up with the others looking for a team.

Early Bird registration ends September 11th, so preferably before that date you should have a team entered.

** Currently we have 3 people confirmed on the womens team, and would love to get 1 to 3 more people. Let Tyler know on this one as well ***

Beer Review: Mad and Noisy - Sunny & Share

Yet again another installment of the team van go beer review.  This time the review covers Mad and Noisy's new beer Sunny & Share.

This past Monday, Tyler, Emily, Karen and Johnny were in Toronto for the Mumford and Sons concert, which we drank before during and after the show.  When we arrived back at the Royal York hotel, we were going to have a night cap, and this was the beer of choice.

The appearance of the bottle is brown, with a cool label.  I must give them credit for the design cause it is neat, and the name is pretty cool as well with a play on words.....

To be honest, Creemore Brewery will probably not like this, but the label is the best part of the beer.  We poured it into 2 glasses, and struggled to drink it.  Personally I'm not a wheat drinker, or even citrus person for that matter, and after the glass, there was still some left in the bottle....

I think that picture describes what we thought of the beer. 

Now, for anyone who enjoys wheat beers, this may be up your alley, but if you dont like wheats, I would recommend not purchasing this beer.... sorry creemore...

Rating: 0.5 out of 5 (I need to leave a buffer in the case of a worse beer, which I hope I do not come across..)

Would you buy a case of it: Nope... this one was free, and I'm happy for that.

Was the beer hoppy: Nope, Citrusy yes...

Would you recommend it to a friend: If I didn't like the person yes I would....

Tuesday Ride Update

Ride time: 5:20pm
Ride type: manchulada

Team Van Go Podiums - Copper Kettle Festival

This past weekend the Copper Kettle Festival was held in Creemore, ON, which included some of the team van go Volkswagen Westy's entered into the car show. It was more than a perfect day for the festival with Sunny Sunny skies.  Pretty much the whole team van go lot was at the Copper Kettle at one point or another.

This year the people who entered a car into the car show needed to dress in period ware and there was a prize for this.

Congratulations to Johnny for picking up first prize for Best Period Dress.  Below are some pics of the event.

Upcoming Ride Guide

Date: Tuesday August 27th, 2013
Location: Albion Hills - Parking off of Patterson Rd and the Rail trail crossing
Time 6:00pm
Ride Type: Fun, Touring Learning Ride
If you plan on riding please let Tyler know.  We are going to ride sections where the Tuesday night races dont go.

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Date: Wednesday August 28th, 2013
Location: Mono Cliffs
Time: 6pm - normal ride
Time: 6:30pm - Touring Learning ride

Please remember - we will be BBQing after the ride for Emily's BDay.

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Tentative
Date: Thursday August 29th, 2013
Location: Mansfield
Time: 6:30pm
Ride Type: Faster, fun, bugger around ride

Weekend Rides....?

There was talk of weekend rides....

if you are planning a ride, let Tyler know to get it on the Blog, if you want company..
have a great weekend!

Wednesday Ride Update

Please note the 2nd ride will start at 6:30pm.
This ride will be about 12km, and stay along the bottom of Mono so no real hills, but back and forth on the singletrack.

The 6pm ride will still be a go, and will do the normal route.

See everyone out there.

Ride Report: Blue Mountain Downhill

Date: Monday August 19th, 2013
Location: Blue Mountain

We had a great day yesterday, Tyler, Chris and Don at Blue mountain downhilling.  Emily was wondering aimlessly around the village, and did some hiking as well.  Weather was perfect, warm then turning to hot by late day.

If you have not done downhilling before, or if you did, and want to do it again, Blue is a great spot.  I do recommend doing the rider assessment (it is free) to allow you to do the run called Haole! What a riot of a trial.  Built and designed by the same guys who work at Whistler, this trail consists of berms, Man Made jumps, Step ups, Drops pretty much everything, with great flow.  I must say, I could not keep up with Chris or Don... But it does make me want to get a Down Hill bike for sure.

We spend the majority of the day on the Haole run, as it was just that much fun.  The more you rode it the more comfortable, and nervy you got.  By the end of the day, you could set yourself up, not use the brakes much at all and enjoy all the flow and jumps of the trail.

There is one problem with getting to this run, it is about 2-3km across the top of the mountain to get to the run.  So by mid day you are getting tired of actually peddling to the hill.  i feel bad for the downhill bikers as the bikes way upwards of 40+ pounds, and that is a lot of bike to move.

All in all though, the day was great, 10am to 330pm of fun fun riding.

If you are not a downhiller, there are XC runs at the top of the hill as well for you to pedal around, and if you are not a biker, Blue has done a lot for Summer tourism.  They have Segway tours at the top of the mountain, the Ridge runner, as well you can take the chairlift up and hike at the top with some great views.

I would recommend this to anyone and everyone for sure!

Upcoming Ride Guide

Date:  Tuesday August 20th, 2013
Location: Mansfield (Duffering Forest)
Time: 6:30pm
Ride Type: Fun, Teaching Touring Ride

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Date: Wednesday August 21st, 2013
Location: Mono Cliffs (Remember the construction and bypass)
Time: 6pm (There may be a 6:30 ride, depending on who's coming out)
Ride Type: Fun, no hills.. you heard it hear, we found a loop of 12+km where we dont really do any hills...

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Weekend Ride - Sunday

Date: Sunday August 18th, 2013
Location: 3 Stages - Parking Map Below
Time: 11am Ride Start Time
Ride Type: Fun/Technical/Hilly/Fun with beer at the end.

If anyone is interested, we are doing breakfast at the Country Cabin in Primrose prior to the ride.  If you do want to join, please either msg or Email Johnny.  If you do not contact johnny to confirm you are going, you wont have a seat, and will need to sit by your lonesome at another table, if you can even get in..... Long and short, contact Johnny to confirm Numbers!

After the ride, heading into Collingwood to the Beaver and the Bulldog for Wings and Beer, and maybe a quick pop into Kamikaze to look at bikes....




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Monday Ride: Blue Mountain Downhill

Date: Monday August 19th, 2013
Location: Blue Mountain
Time: 10am
Ride Type: Downhill..... that is all...

if you do not feel like going to work on a Monday, call in sick and come out to Blue Mountain.  Don and Chris are heading there and looking for some company.  Meeting at the main lift at 10am.  Lunch mid day and finish whenever you want.  Cost for the lift pass is 35$!

Jennifer's Birthday Ride - Thursday

Date: Thursday August 15th, 2013
Location: Mansfield
Time: 6:30pm
Ride Type: Social with a side of Chocolate Cake

To make up for Ken's ride, and to eat Chocolate Cake in celebration for Jennifer's 29th birthday!

See everyone there.

Updated: Upcoming Ride Guide

Date: Monday August 12th, 2013
Location: Palgrave - parking at duffys lane.
Time: 5:45pm (ish)
Ride Type: Slower Pace, but consistent.  2-2.5hr ride, no real stopping.

If you are planning on riding please let Tyler know.

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Date: Wednesday August 14th, 2013
Location: Mono Cliffs - Parking off the 3rd line
Time: 6pm (both rides will be starting at the same time)
Time: 6:30 - Cruise ride. Staying along the bottom of Mono, no real climbs, just a few back and forths.
Ride Type: Normal Group and a Touring Group

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Weekend Race Report: Mountainview 9hr - Team Van Go Podiums

Date: Saturday August 10th, 2013
Location: Mountainview Midland
9hr Race

This past weekend Team van go had 2 teams entered into the Mountainview 9hr race.  A 4 person team, consisting of Bernie, Chris, Joe and Doug, as well as a Solo Rider which was Tyler.  This race was a smaller event, compared to the 8hr's or 24 hour events, but still had a very good turnout.  The Race was held in Midland at the Mountainview center.  For anyone that has not ridden there, it is definitely worth it, as the trails were technical, fast and fun all at the same time.

The race course was 8km in length per lap, and was taking people anywhere from 20-50min per lap.  The lap had a mix of everything from Rocks, roots, logs, and a very fast downhill which speeds were hitting the mid 50km/hr.  All in all I give the course people kudos as every lap was always fun.  There were a lot of hills, but they were the type of hills that when you almost got to the top there was either a switchback, or roots or something just to keep you on your toes.

The 4 person team ended up finishing with 16 laps, 4 laps per person which is a great showing.  During the race, there were different challenges.  There was a bike Limbo, Rodeo, Slip and Slide and a Pie eating contest.  Each person on the team had to compete in an event, Joe did the Limbo, Bernie the Rodeo, Chris the slip and slide, and Doug the Pie eating.  If the team did not compete in one of the challenges they would be docked 20 minutes, but if they won, they would be awarded a 10min advantage. A great way to keep everyone involved for sure.

for the solo riders, we did not have to do the challenges and were not penalized for not doing the events, which was good, because at the times when the events were going on, you were usually too exhausted to think about or try them.  Especially the pie eating contest, I could see that going very wrong very quickly.  For Tyler's first solo event, completing 14 laps in 8hrs 46min was well more than what was expected.  Subsequently, for every lap that Tyler completed 35$ was being donated by ProMinent Fluid Equipment (Where tyler works) to the Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton.  The 14 laps put Tyler in 3rd place 2 laps behind 2nd and 2 laps up on 4th.

Overall a great day, other than a few leg cramps, and a short period of time of being a little out of it, cant complain on how the first try at a solo event went.  Definitely a good learning curve and learned a lot.

For anyone that wants to do or try an 8 or 9hr race, I would fully recommend this event.  A very well organized day and a lot of fun had by all!

Race Rating: 5 out of 5

Team van go will be going into this race again next year for sure! Need to give a special thanks to Emily and Don for supporting both the solo and the 4 person teams!!!!!!

Weekend Ride - Saturday

Date: Saturday August 10th, 2013

Location: Albion Hills - parking at the fountain

Time: 10am

Ralph and the lot are putting this ride on. Gonna be a fun ride

Weekend Ride - Sunday

Date: Sunday August 11th. 2013
Location: Dufferin Forest (Mansfield)
Time: 10am Ride Start Time
Fun Ride.

Ride Tonight - 3 Stages

Date: Thursday August 8th, 2013
Time: 6pm
Location: 3 stages - parking off of the 2nd line

Below if it works is a link to where the parking lot is.  upper part of 3 stages

Senn is putting this ride on, any and everyone is welcomed.




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Weekend Rides???

If Anyone is planning a weekend ride, let Tyler know, and I'll get it up on the blog if you would like company.

Currently nothing has been planned.

Beer Review: Quidi Vidi 1892 Traditional Lager

It is probably a good time for another beer review.  This time the beer of choice is the Quidi Vidi 1892 Traditional Ale. The story behind the name of the beer comes from the great fire of St. Johns which destroyed half of the city. The fire killed 3 people and was started by a farmer who dropped a match into dry hay.

Now back to the beer.  The initial appearance of the beer is that of a typical ale. It has a golden brown translucent visual characteristic.  See how many big words I can use to describe a beers look.  To be completely honest, you will not look at the beer cause you will be drinking.

As for the taste, it tastes great.  Nothing bad about the taste at all. If you have a chance to try it you wont be disappointed.

Rating: 4.85 out of 5
Was the beer hoppy: not realyy. There was a slight hop flavor but not overpowering.
Would you buy a case: Yes I would, and yes I did. To be honest I bought a few cases.

Weekend Ride

Date: Sunday August 4th 2013
Location: Dufferin Forest - Mansfield
Time: Noon
Ride Type: Casual pace - trail clean up

Distance to be determined by how the ride progresses.