Rolf Devinci

We got the call last night at 1:30(ish)that Nannie Gilmore passed away in her sleep after a courageous battle against cancer. A strong woman possessing a keen intellect and a heart of a lion she battled on after falling in the Spring and the resulting diagnosis of cancer. Living on nothing but ginger ale and small amounts of Boost it was amazing the strength she exhibited in her remaining days. Etta Gilmore was ninety eight years old. Goodbye Nannie.You will be missed but not forgotten. I decided today was the day to pick up my new bike after attending the TdF morning at the shop watching the stage to Ventoux. Since the morning was misty and wet some of the lads opted for a later day ride so I jumped in for my inaugural ride on the new bike. It did not disappoint - the carbon frame was super stiff with a beefed up head tube and bottom bracket but had a smooth pleasant ride. Rough pavement and train tracks no longer threatened to pop out my fillings. Nice! Managed to get in 70 kilomet...

Today was the last stage of the Heartland Tour around the Peggy`s Cove loop. Each year the Heartland Tour,a multi stage ride, is held across Nova Scotia by a core team of riders to promote healthy lifestyles and the benefits of exercise. After rallying the troops Bicycles Plus contributed several riders of all abilities and definitely "blued" up the event in support of the core team. It was cloudy and damp at departure and foggy heading to the coast but the sun eventually shone on the return to Halifax via Tantallon. I ended up with 114 kms at a 28.9 kph average after the tough slog home from the Commons via the hills of Fairview.Managed to snap some pics enroute when I was riding in the more moderate paced packs. With at least 100 riders participating there were groups spread out all over the route so it was fun to bridge gaps and ride with an assortment of fellow cyclists. Sadly there was one crash and it sounds like one of our club members might have broke a c...

It`s official folks....I`ve got a new race bike. I was planning on picking up a new ride during the winter but BikesPlus had a Tour De France sale on this month and had one left in my size. A full carbon frame with a complete 10 speed Ultegra groupset it was to sweet to refuse, especially since it was on sale. My company share program was set up in 2006 as my new bike fund and was doing great till October 2008 when the stock market imploded and my shares decreased in value by 70% by March 2009. They have rebounded somewhat so I will sell a portion this month to finance my bike purchase.Till then the bike remains at the shop being held by my deposit. My venerable Devinci Silverstone will remain in my stable as my bad weather, winter bike now that it has had a midlife drivetrain upgrade that included a new chain, cassette, crank and all purpose tuneup. My issue now is figuring out a new excuse explaining why I `m still getting dropped now that I can`t blame it on the bike...hehehe(win...

Since it feels like A Fall evening I`m blogging a Friday Night Wine selection.In the glass tonight is a 2007 Vida Organica Tempranillo. Estate grown organic grapes from Argentina it....."is a deep lively red wine bursting with fruits...with a subtle mintiness.Dry and medium bodied this wine exhibits soft rounded tannins to balnce the fruit." A very nice wine!Thanks AA for introducing me to this selection.

Yup...it`s official! We`re into July although the weather is more befitting May.Rain,fog and more rain with the occasional glimpse of sunshine. The good news is the local cycling schedule is promising this season. Quite a few events to participate in over the course of the summer,ranging from races,fast club rides and charitable events. To date I got in a duathlon(Navy Tri/Du),a couple metric centuries,the Halifax Crit and the Riverport road race,albeit with a cost.Not only did my venerable Velomax Orion 2 rear wheel go out of true during the race but the rim was cracked. Since Easton bough Velomax and changed the product line I was unable to get a replacement rim to match the hub.Rats! I loved that wheelset! I`m at a quandary! Dip into my company share program(re:new bike fund)that is just starting to rebound from the financial meltdown for a new set of(sturdy)wheels suitable for a 200+ pound clydesdale cyclist(my options are limited)or suffer through with the older Mavic Open Pro/U...