DULLING THE BLADES AT BOTH ENDS

Three things that good mountain bikers have are core stability, balance and flow.  If the annual MMBA expo taught us anything it's that this team doesn't have any of those traits.

Staying true to the out of the box training methods the team has used over the past few years the group gathered again to cross train and build some more team chemistry.  After the awful team building experience a couple weeks ago they needed a fresh idea.  Cross country skiing?  No, others do that.  Snow Shoeing?  We all know how to walk already.  Trip to Ray's?  We don't have that much insurance coverage.

They needed something where bikes weren't needed but would would be low cost and away from sharp objects.  How about ice skating?  Where else can you learn balance, flow and stability all the while gearing up to watch the upcoming Winter Olympics?  What could go wrong?

The locals showing the group that even kids can learn balance and flow

Block, although dapperly dressed for the occasion, wondering why the hell he is on this team and how exactly this was supposed to make him faster on his bike

The first thing they were to learn was how to properly help some one up off the ice if they were to fall.  Here we see Jon helping one of the locals by giving some kind words of advise, "SLOW AND STEADY BITCHES!"

The second thing the guys were supposed to learn was a figure eight.  Here we see the instructor throwing up her arms up, swearing in Russian knowing she would be in for a long day.

Next the crew was paired up with an instructor and given a number to put on their butt so they could be identified when they fell face first on the ice.

As the day went on the crew realized it was easier to point and laugh at other's silly skates and goofy get ups rather than make asses out of themselves in front of a bunch of strangers

That of course led to a a fight

Which led to disturbing the peace

Which taught our guys really quick how to skate on the hell outta there

So ended another attempt at this group thinking outside of the box and becoming a better team than they were in previous years.  Tired, cold, lost and no better off than they were earlier in the day the guys decided to start a fire with Mitch's bike to get warm because it was the only bike they had that wasn't a 29er.

Lost Highway

With another year comes another off season.  It is a time when teams, clubs, racers, riders race promoters, sponsors and bike shops all think about Spring.  They just don't think about it, they are obsessed with it.  Close the basement door on the previous season and open the bay doors to the one coming in so you don't miss a single gust of wind.

But not us.  Nope.  We take this time to find out about ourselves and the guys we ride with.  So this off season we traveled overseas to attend a week long Team Building Camp that will help us become not just better people individually but also as a team.

Brian facing West during morning prayer

Here we see Ken on his way to the team building activity...careful of that puddle Ken

Mitch gassing up his vehicle and taking some tea before heading to the daily team building activity

Jon and Aryn getting a different version of AAA road side assistance

Instructors at the Team Building Camp we attended for the day.

Brian and Mitch "Team Building"

Aryn and Jon "Team Building"

Ken and Gerry working on proper drafting technique

Mike "Team Building" with his new bike

After a week of ups but mostly downs we realized the personalities on this team are like oil and water.  So the next best thing to do was enter the local Saturday night demolition derby to take our anger and frustration out on each other.

Despite all our differences, on Sunday morning after coffee and flapjacks, we were all able to hug it out and start planning our next team off season adventure

The next team trip:

To find the true meaning of . . . 

The year of the Horse