My Blue Bike dream team

ADVENTURE NUMBER 2: THE WIND TUNNEL!!!

In case you haven't noticed.....
My sponsors spoil me BIG TIME.
CRAZY BIG TIME....the day after the race was a REAL TREAT.
I got to travel to Charlotte to meet Chance Regina (Blue Bikes) and Mike Giraud (A2 wind tunnel specialist) at the A2 wind tunnel and got so much out of it!!!!!!!


WOOOOWWW.....this wind tunnel is the wind tunnel of legends. This is the Lance Armstrong and other big names tunnel and the staff that goes with it. The real deal. No joking around.



This man is also the real deal. Mike Giraud (notice the french last name!). Mike is...ummm...some kind of magician that makes you do about 15 intervals sub 70.3 race pace with looongg rest, blows some wind into your hair, fiddles with the bike and ends up taking 20 watts for a 30 mph speed just like that.
We changed some things on my position, made it more aero with just a few adjustments: Saddle slightly up and forward, aerobars down, hands pulled up a little at the end of the bars. A position that not only helped me win lots of free watts at race pace for the same effort but also increased my level of comfort significantly by decreasing the extra work I was doing to support my upper body with my arms, lowering my head relative to my shoulders comfortably etc... unreal. Just miraculous to me.


I also got to know Chance Regina a little better. What I love about Chance is that (well first anyone who knows Chance knows he is just a great person but I knew that already), what I admired this time is the passion he has for the sport and his job and the involvement he has in our success. I feel that he gets personaly involved in our success and I think that is the most inspiring thing a sponsor can do. It definitely also makes you have more of a reason to race HARD!!!!!!!!!!!


The next day was another HUGE TREAT!!! I got to meet Chance again in Atlanta and he introduced me to Mike Skop, president of Blue Bikes . Talking to him also made me realize his involvement. I also got to ask him a lot of technical questions about the elaboration of the bikes aswell as the philosophy and the history of the company.
It is just amazing stuff. Every little detail I wondered about on my bike, the geometry, the weight, the way the back wheel slips into the frame. Every factor on that tri bike is chosen according to the latest research and wind tunnel tests with the best. It's just amazing to see what perfectionists are behind the elaboration of my bike. I loved my Triad SL but now I understand more of the reasons why. This bike is not a time trial bike, it is specificaly designed to be a triathlon bike and every single detail on it is elaborated for that purpose. I am convinced it is the best triathlon bike out there. Blue is a young company and is doing so well. Also a company with a very bright future.

From left to right: Brian, little me, Chance and Allen Heaton. Brian, holding the bike, is the one who did the paint job. Allen took care of putting the Blue together and much, much more!

Every single person I met at Blue was a good person but also a highly driven perfectionnist. From the owner, to the bike techs to the man who did the paint work on my bike. Lots of heart goes into the bikes. wow.
so here is some proof. See my new ride? This is it!! The graphics on it are ment to represent the comic book, fun, concept there will be on my website. We are so proud of it. It was a surprise to me. It was Chance's project, it was my project, it was Travise's project and wow, it turned into something that made us all smile. THANK YOU ALL!!! That is an amazing gift.

I am now preparing for the next race, staying in St-Sauveur with mom for a bit, I needed it, it's very refreshing! The second day here, I got to spend some time with my sponsor from Quebec, Equilibrum. And BOY ....we sure created ADVENTURE NUMBER 3. My next blog!!
Thank you for reading and cheering everyone. I'll race for you.

Let the party begin!

ADVENTURE NUMBER 1.

There is something very special about Florida.


It keeps me coming back....
And I'm not just talking about the 70.3. We vacationed in Florida every winter with my family during all of my childhood and that place just gives rise to beautiful memories.


Training on the course before the race, feeling strong and definitely back into the game.

I hadn't felt the sun and the heat in a while. I love the Florida sun, the oranges, the sand, the humidity....(oh and here's a secret: THE ALLIGATORS...I prefer to say the crocs cause it's more fun). There is something unique about the Long road stretches, speeding down white sprinkeled pavement inmy aerobars to the sound of my new pro wheel (hehe...sorry if I just broke the romance by saying a brand but you have to know, they are truly amazing). No better place to get the legs back into action. It is a course I want to own because I have it in my heart. I want to come back and own my course, everything about it just makes each Florida adventure a bright memory. And it is also a magic race, a race that starts and finishes in the fantasy world of Disney.



Cheer leading crew! Mom (kiki) and Lucas Tisseyre!! haha.


The beloved Lucas Tisseyre the first. haha.


The great Lucas the first.

Me and my ultimate weapons.


But yes, I'll have to admit, Florida is not a course for me, dead flat, swimmers race. But again, I just have it in my heart. I was third again this year and chances are, I will keep coming back and trying to win no matter what. There is not much I can do about drafting, I have tried to talk to officials before the race but it seems that it is something that is hard to control. Maybe on a good day, it is possible to stay -even- with a pack on a solo 90K time trial but it wasn't for me this time. The swimmers rode away with the pro men. Maybe I just had to be prepared and not let it affect me. I let it make me mad at each turnaround, I let it get me in a bad mood and get into my head. Next time, I will accept it and come prepared.


The run course is one of my favorites, you get to run by transition on three loops and the energy of the croud is just unbelievable. I was still in a pretty bad mood on the run, i won't lie, but each time I got to the croud, my smile was back. YOU PEOPLE ARE AMAZING.


My focus on the run was to fight to stay positive and get back into the game, also fight the heat (I had not done much acclimatization but had gotten to Florida on tuesday night so that probably helped). I still had good form on the run and enjoyed the last loop. I always like the loop where everyone is on the course. On the last loop, we had the age groupers out there. I like it because, strategicaly, you get to hide, blend into the croud and also, they always cheer for me as we all suffer together in the sun. They work just as hard as I do. It makes me strong. I still remember a woman calling to me: Go QUEBEC. Crazy to say...but that really helped. Made me so proud. Made me forget about my hard feelings and think that I had to give it my best.



There a great moments at every race. Another great moment at this one was, well, my favorite part of every race. Coming threw the cheers and crossing the finish line. No matter what the race, I will smile when I cross that line.

Another great moment was when I got to see my manager Travis Blanton before the race and some. Travis is my guide, he is not only the best manager one could imagine, he is also one of the most amazing, extraordinary people I know and a great friend, someone that always makes sure I am smiling and I don't get to see him very often so that was a treat. Another great thing was when Lifesport teammate David Kahn told me... he had come in 5th pro man. I knew that was coming. But still...this guy is a full time student, David is studying to be a dentist and still manages to be fifth. WATCH OUT people, he is coming!!! (Remember I said this!)


Another great thing about the race is that our friend, Anders Hamilton came to watch, cheer and hang out with mom and I. We met Anders randomly at bike shops two years in a row in Clearwater, where he lives.
One of those coincidences that are just too obvious. Anders saw me wish for a top ten one year and get on the podium the next once I had joined Lifesport. He is part of the adventure for sure and is of great support.
Anders is now also getting involved in triathlon. He has a busy life but is drifting into try- tri -mania, he has done some training since we last saw him in Clearwater and I feel he will be addicted very soon.

So Florida was still a treat and a definite learning experience. I felt sour for a couple of days, but in the end, the good things always stand out and they are the ones that stay on the record. The rest just goes into making a better plan for the future.

coming up this week: ADVENTURE NUMBER 2: BLUE BIKES AND THE WIND TUNNEL!!! and...ADVENTURE NUMBER 3: MEETING THE EQUILIBRUM CREW!!!
Got lots of pics and lots to share. Promise.

My Blue Bike dream team.

ADVENTURE NUMBER 2: THE WIND TUNNEL!!!

In case you haven't noticed.....
My sponsors spoil me BIG TIME.
CRAZY BIG TIME....the day after the race was a REAL TREAT.
I got to travel to Charlotte to meet Chance Regina (Blue Bikes) and Mike Giraud (A2 wind tunnel specialist) at the A2 wind tunnel and got so much out of it!!!!!!!


WOOOOWWW.....this wind tunnel is the wind tunnel of legends. This is the Lance Armstrong and other big names tunnel and the staff that goes with it. The real deal. No joking around.



This man is also the real deal. Mike Giraud (notice the french last name!). Mike is...ummm...some kind of magician that makes you do about 15 intervals sub 70.3 race pace with looongg rest, blows some wind into your hair, fiddles with the bike and ends up taking 20 watts for a 30 mph speed just like that.
We changed some things on my position, made it more aero with just a few adjustments: Saddle slightly up and forward, aerobars down, hands pulled up a little at the end of the bars. A position that not only helped me win lots of free watts at race pace for the same effort but also increased my level of comfort significantly by decreasing the extra work I was doing to support my upper body with my arms, lowering my head relative to my shoulders comfortably etc... unreal. Just miraculous to me.


I also got to know Chance Regina a little better. What I love about Chance is that (well first anyone who knows Chance knows he is just a great person but I knew that already), what I admired this time is the passion he has for the sport and his job and the involvement he has in our success. I feel that he gets personaly involved in our success and I think that is the most inspiring thing a sponsor can do. It definitely also makes you have more of a reason to race HARD!!!!!!!!!!!


The next day was another HUGE TREAT!!! I got to meet Chance again in Atlanta and he introduced me to Mike Skop, president of Blue Bikes . Talking to him also made me realize his involvement. I also got to ask him a lot of technical questions about the elaboration of the bikes aswell as the philosophy and the history of the company.
It is just amazing stuff. Every little detail I wondered about on my bike, the geometry, the weight, the way the back wheel slips into the frame. Every factor on that tri bike is chosen according to the latest research and wind tunnel tests with the best. It's just amazing to see what perfectionists are behind the elaboration of my bike. I loved my Triad SL but now I understand more of the reasons why. This bike is not a time trial bike, it is specificaly designed to be a triathlon bike and every single detail on it is elaborated for that purpose. I am convinced it is the best triathlon bike out there. Blue is a young company and is doing so well. Also a company with a very bright future.

From left to right: Brian, little me, Chance and Allen Heaton. Brian, holding the bike, is the one who did the paint job. Allen took care of putting the Blue together and much, much more!

Every single person I met at Blue was a good person but also a highly driven perfectionnist. From the owner, to the bike techs to the man who did the paint work on my bike. Lots of heart goes into the bikes. wow.
so here is some proof. See my new ride? This is it!! The graphics on it are ment to represent the comic book, fun, concept there will be on my website. We are so proud of it. It was a surprise to me. It was Chance's project, it was my project, it was Travise's project and wow, it turned into something that made us all smile. THANK YOU ALL!!! That is an amazing gift.

I am now preparing for the next race, staying in St-Sauveur with mom for a bit, I needed it, it's very refreshing! The second day here, I got to spend some time with my sponsor from Quebec, Equilibrum. And BOY ....we sure created ADVENTURE NUMBER 3. My next blog!!
Thank you for reading and cheering everyone. I'll race for you.