Troy Forster

A New Carrot is Bjorn

On March 22 Kate gave birth to Bjorn Thomas Eidsvik.  I'm going to check with Bruce about cross posting some of the images here.  Everyone is doing very well and Bruce seems to have some idea that Bjorn will be competing in the 2034 Winter Olympics.  If little Bjorn is even slightly like his parents I'd say that is a very likely prospect :)

Lakai Fully Flared Intro

It's just an intro to a skateboard video but wow!  It's beautiful and a great choice of accompanying musical score.

I would love to see a similar treatment for a climbing or mountain biking video :)

The Bruce Trail

So I've been hiking sections of the Bruce Trail for the past few years in an ongoing goal to complete the 800+ km Canadian Wonder.  One of these days I'll tally up my distance.  Right now I'd estimate it at somewhere between 30 and 40%.  Still a long way to go.

My sister must have recognized my love of this incredible natural wonder and was inspired to paint this image for me for as a Christmas present.  I knew the moment I unwrapped it what it was.  The subtle white blaze was the giveaway.

Thanks Tam, it's an awesome picture.

How (not?) To Build A Beer Blind

Ok, Andrew thinks its going to be a deer blind.  But since I'm a vegetarian I'll just think of it as a place to hang out and have a beer during a midnight hike from the cottage.

Just prior to Christmas at my sister's I spent a few days at Andrew's cottage along with another friend Oliver.  Our "work project" this time was to build a beer blind near the South end of the property. 

Andrew had already scoped out a suitable trio of trees in a long forgotten clearing.  In addition he had also flagged a new and meandering trail from the back pond to the clearing.  All that remained was to build the ladder and the platform.

Earlier in the morning Andrew had trimmed two poles and he and Oliver had nailed split cedar rungs to them.  I showed up just in time to help them attach the base of the platform and lean the structure against the North side of a tree.  The picture to the right shows Oliver attaching a support about a third of the way up the ladder.

It looked as if we were close to finished.

Until an assessment of the stability of the tree/ladder combination was tested and left us all wondering who would be the poor victim to venture up it first.

So, with a lot of grunting, swearing and cursing we managed to move the entire, almost 20 foot ladder, 90 degrees into a more stable position.

On the left we see Andrew using his chainsaw to trim off the brace that Oliver had added earlier so that the ladder could be secured to a second tree for more support. 

More support being relative to the previous attempt.  The wind suddenly blew a slight breeze of about 10kmh and the resulting bending and shifting had us instantly discussing the third and hopefully final option. 

By the time we were done we had removed the platform, shifted the ladder 90 degrees, then another 90 degrees but finally had it secured.  It seemed like an awful lot of work to go to just to make a Beer Blind!  Let's just hope nobody falls off.  With a close to 20 foot drop it would be a long hobble back to the cottage with a broken leg.

 

Raid The North Extreme 2007 on the Telly!!!

Geoff just posted an update on RtNX '07 broadcast date.

Raid the North Extreme is coming to your television - on Network Prime Time!
Global TV has confirmed a broadcast time: Saturday, Jan 12 at 9:00 pm for the one-hour High Definition feature show on RTNX Prince Rupert & Haida Gwaii 2007.
After it airs on Global, it will appear on menTV, the Extreme Channel, PBS in the US, Helly TV online, and will be available on DVD and iTunes.
Racers and other AR enthusiasts are encouraged to plan viewing parties in communities across the country. Packages are available from FAR including 'how to' notes and prizing for the party - just email us. If you're having a party, post it on the Facebook page!

For those of you that aren't on Facebook try http://www.raidthenorth.com or send an email to info@raidthenorth.com.

Toronto International Bicycle Show (Fall Blowout)

Yes folks, its that time of year again.  The annual Fall Blowout is almost upon us.  And with dough in my pocket and an itch for a new road bike I should be lined up outside at 10:00am with the rest of the herd.

I would be interested in meeting for breakfast before hand if anyone else is planning on going?

The details:

Toronto International Bicycle Show
Direct Energy Centre (CNE)
East Annex, Hall F, Door 33
Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario

Saturday, October 13, 2007 10 am - 5pm

wtf is buggy rollin?

Buggy Rollin is a new activity that involves gravity and rollerblades... attached to points all over your body!  Seriously!  This clip shows a guy hurtling down a winding road in the Swiss Alps.  Check out the last couple of minutes as he demonstrates rolling under an amoured personnel carrier.  Let's hope suicide bombers aren't as insane as this guy :| [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obvDwkfZdXA] And here is the same guy going up against a motorbike on some strange Japanese game show. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3WqjH9_Ezs]

When bike helmets are way too geeky...

Brent introduced me to Make magazine a couple of years ago and the daily posts have lots of creative and inspiring ideas.  When I cam across the headline   LED Bike helmet  I was quite excited.  Suffice to say, the first image scared the crap out of me :)  It's a bit like Dork meets Tron (which in itself might be considered a tad dorky by some). 

MAKE: Blog: LED Bike helmet

Proposing Another Traditional Annual Carrot Ride

This morning I had a great ride in the Don trails.  That in itself is not completely unusual, unless you take into account today was the annual Becel Ride for Heart.  But wait, the Ride for Heart runs along the Don Valley Parkway.  Why would that make a trail ride so great?  Well, the Becel Ride for Heart involves shutting down the Don Valley Parkway to regular vehicular traffic.  When you remove thousands of cars from a narrow strip of tarmac you also remove an incredible amount of white noise.

What made today's ride so great was an entirely different noise.  The noise that is omnipresent in any forest.  The noise that comes from birds, squirrels, wind, trees and leaves.  The natural noise of the Don Valley green belt that is usually overwhelmed by the sound of gasoline engines and rubber tires.

It is very rare that we get to experience this amazing sound.  Only on those few days each year that the DVP is closed to cars.  Most of those days revolve around construction and are thus inconsistent each summer.  However, one we can count on (hopefully for the foreseeable future) is the Becel Ride for Heart. 

I propose that we make the Becel Ride for Heart Sunday a second Screaming Carrot traditional ride date along with the existing NP2A. 

Oh, if you need any further encouragement consider this.  I passed three other cyclists so the trails were devoid of their normal congestion.  I saw a groundhog sleeping on the rail line as I crossed to the flats.  And finally, I saw a deer feeding in the bush just south of Don Mills!

Why I love and hate the Don

After my morning ride in Caledon this morning I decided to hit the Don for a some hills and trails with my friend Vanessa.  I've always loved the Don for what it offers.  Namely great technical trails in the heart of one of the largest cities in North America.  I've been riding in the Don for about fifteen years and know every root, hill, drop and twist intimately.  Sure I get bored of it, but for something that is practically outside my back door it can't be beaten.  That and the next closest trail system requires an hour drive on a 4oo series highway makes the Don all the more attractive, especially for mid-week after work jaunts.

Not today.

Helmetless idiots outnumbered intelligent humans by a significant factor.  It was frustrating seeing so many people attempting to ride my trails in a manner that is sure to gain the attention of the media and municipal officials.  And when it does it could easily lead to trail closures.  What is it that goes through these imbeciles (lack of) minds that compels them to get on a bike, go careening down a steep rock drop without a melon cushion? 

I think I'm going to stick to early morning rides when the trails are all but deserted.  Live on "Dawn in the Don"