First Race of the Season

The first race of the season was a great one. On the way to the race which was held in Mansfield the temperature was around 0 degrees and it was snowing heavily in some spots. On the way to the race we came across some roads that had been flooded out, luckily for us none of the roads that we were driving on were flooded. When we got to the race the snow sort of held up and some sun came through, but the snow kept coming back. It was finally time for the race to start and I was definitely nervous. I was racing in the under 40 men's category. The race was a 50km marathon and it was mostly single track, I would say it was about 90% single track.
The race went out on to the road that is the entrance way into Mansfield  We hit a really hard head wind, I tucked in behind some of the other racers so I could maybe get a little draft. We went right into single track after the road, soon we hit the double track that lead to the great big climb which Mansfield is famous for. The single track was a very nice flowing single track and there was some steep climbs as well to make it challenging. Half way though the first lap my seat broke so my seat was moving all around. I finally got to the aid station and my Dad got the seat fixed. Now that half of the race was over I was feeling really good and I pushed it to catch up to the other racers as I had lost some time getting the seat fixed. On the second lap I was faster now that I knew the course and my seat wasn't ready to fall off. I got the race done and I was feeling really tired. I placed 15th which I am happy with considering riding 12km without a seat.
After the race I had a burger that was supplied by the race promoters and sat and watched the awards. That day I heard that there were lots of mechanical problems, It must have been the spring bugs and snow. I had a great day racing there and I loved the race course. The next race coming up is the Ontario Cup this weekend, my legs feel great just can't wait!

Here are a couple of pictures of the race

The 2013 Race season is approaching

Well it is 2013 and there is only 2 and a half months for the first races of the season to start. I am really looking forward to getting on my bike in the spring and ride. I hope all of the other Haliburton County Racers are training hard and getting ready for the race season.
Keep Training!

-- Posted By Nick

End of Season

Well the season has ended for this year. We all have had a lot of fun and learned lots as well. I am not sure how many of us will be racing next year. Hopfully we will have more people from Haliburton racing and making everyone proud. Keep Training!

-- Posted By Nick

Tour de King

Yesterday I (Nick) went and did the Tour de King. It started at Cold Creek conservation area, and ended at Seneca College. It was a 52km race and it had lots of road, and some single track. Some of the 358 racers were riding cyclo cross bikes but most of them were on mountain bikes. I had a wipe out at the start but got on and went as fast as I could. On the road it was hard to keep up to the cyclo cross bikes, when I got to the single track I got held up by them. Once I got by them in the single track, I really did great. I had a sprint to the finish line, my time was 1:54:48 with a average speed of 26:16km. Derek Zandstra won it with a time of 1:29:59.

It was a great event and I had a great time and I will do it next year if I can.

--Posted By Nick

Crank the Shield Results

Crank the Shield has ended and it was a very tough race. Owen did the 3 day crank and I (Nick) did the 2 day. Day one was very tough with it raining all day, Owen pulled up short with a DNF at the end of the day, he gave it a great try. On day two it had cleared all up and the sun came out. It was a long course and it had some really tough climbs. I finished 1st in the under 40 men's category and Owen finished 7th in the 3 day under 30 men. On the 3rd day there was a neutral 15km ride to Sir Sam's for the start. The end was at Haliburton Forest, I did really good at Sir Sam's, It's my home track. In Haliburton Forest there were some very tough single track spots. At the end of the day I placed 1st again and Owen placed 8th. It was a great race and we both had lot's of fun. 
Hope Chico Racing holds another Crank the Shield in the years to come. 


-- Posted By Nick

Ontario Championship

The Ontario Championships were great. It had rained the day before and the pre-ride was cancelled but we got to ride the course in the morning. Thankfully the rain had stopped and the sun helped dry the course out, it was a fast race and all of us had a good time. Can't wait for next years O-cup series thanks Chico Racing. 

--Posted By Nick

Ontario Provincials

Three of the Five Haliburton boys will be Driving to duntroon Highlands just minutes out of collingwood for the provincial Finals. The course is sure to be a tough one with some really hard steep climbs and fun technical single track. Wish us Luck.

Crank the Shield Update

Yesterday I (Nick) went up to the Haliburton Forest and rode with Sean of Chico Racing and Oliver. We rode the Crank the Shield trail that everyone is going to ride. It just rained the night before so the rocks and roots where all slippery, so you had to pick you lines carefully. We marked out a trail that you will have to go and ride down, it will be a fun spot.
So we all rode around a total of 25-30 km. Crank the Shield will be a fun and very tough event and I can't wait for it.
My crowd funding for the Crank the Shield is coming to an end soon. You can check it out here and pass the link to your friends.  http://www.indiegogo.com/nickemsley

The next race is on the 25th and it is a 4hr marathon at Sir Sam's, and it going to be a fun one.

-- Posted By Nick

O-Cup #6

The course was fun and technical but also fast. Four of the five Haliburton boys raced. We all had great races. One of us getting a podium in 2nd. Course was pretty dry with a few wet spots but nothing big. One of the only wet spots cought Owen by suprise and through him over the handel bars in the last single track of his race. He was ok and finished the race in a great position.  Nick also fell and came out safe. They both came out with some scraps but laughed them off. All was well, way to go boys.

O-cup course is awesome!

I (Nick) went and pre-rode the O-cup race at Buckwallow yesterday and it was awesome. The course was fast and should make for a great race on Sunday. I cant wait for the race, I am sure everyone from Haliburton will have a good time.


-- Posted By Nick

O-Cup #6

Ontario cup #6 is coming up. I (owen) hope all the boys are traning hard cause I know I have got into more intence training. The countdown is on, dont stop training train harder. Keep your overall standing going into the finals dont  at spot make it better.

Sir Sam's Race #3

Today I (Nick) went over to Sir Sam's for their third race of the series. The other four Haliburton Racers didn't show. There were 27 racers in the whole entire field, some new racers were there as well. The race was a really fast one and I crossed the line at 32:57, it was my fastest time yet. There was a guy there riding a single speed and he smashed my record to the hemlock tree up the hill by 13 seconds, The new record is 2:42, he was really fast. The course was good because of the small rain we had this week, but the sun started to loosen up the sand at the end of the race. It was a great race there today.

Not sure if any of us will be able to be at the next race at Sir Sam's because the O-cup in Bracebridge is on the same day. It was to bad that none of the other Haliburton Racers couldn't show up, it would have been a great race for everyone.

Posted By Nick

Rider On CHEX TV

I (Owen) was featured on CHEX tv this week. I met up with Meahgan from CHEX tv on thursday morning I did an interview then got to go ride an be filmed. It was a great experience one I would love to have agian. Thanks Bishop family and Dave Webb for asking me to do what I got to do. Us the link below to see the tv clip.

http://www.chextv.com/Sports/LS/12-07-19/Feature_Owen_Flood.aspx

Great day to Train!

Today's weather was so much better to train in.  I managed to get a 30km ride in the morning and then went to Sir Sam's and met Trey Kyle for a hard training ride. The temp was good to ride in and managed to get 8 laps in. I am hoping this temp stays for awhile as it makes logging the miles much easier. Thanks to Trey for helping me tonight train for the Crank the Shield race that's coming up soon.  Keep hydrated everyone!  

-- Posted By Nick

Sir Sam's race #2

Well it was the second race at Sir Sam's. I (Nick) was the only Haliburton County racer there. I placed 1st with a time of 34:06. It was another fast race and it was really fun. It was too bad that the other racers couldn't show up.
The next race at Sir Sam's is in two weeks and it will be another fast one again for sure. Hope everyone shows up!

-- Posted By Nick

4 in the top 10

Well there were 4 of us that got in the top 10. There wasn't as many racers in everyones category, probably because of the distance of the drive. In my category I had 29 racers instead of the usual 35-40. In Owen's category there were 10 racers. Nolan's category there were 17 racers. Their mother (Melanie) had 6 racers.
I finished with a 10th place, Owen 5th, Nolan 8th, and Melanie placed 5th.
It was to bad that Kyle and Trey couldn't make it to the race as the track was great and fun to ride.
It was a long drive and I only had 1 1/2 hrs. of sleep before the race, and I like to sleep!
The next O-cup race is at Buckwallow in another month. At least it isn't as far a drive and we all will be rested and ready.



-- Posted By Nick

Race Weekend

The weekend has come! Racers from Haliburton will be driving to sudbury for O-Cup #5. Lets hope we all do well and dont run into any trouble on the trails cause its to far to drive to have a problem during the race. Results and pictures/videos will posted mon or tuesday after the race.


-- Posted By Owen

Blog up and running

This is the first day of our blog. Read all about the local racers from Haliburton and the races they try to conquer or just hopefully finish. We may not win them all but we will have fun trying.

-- Posted by Nick