Race Morning.  Super excited!  

5 laps + start lap which is basically an entire lap minus two short tech sections.  Men do 7+start lap.

The rain did stop a day ago but I’m not sure if it helped or made it worse.   Now it’s deep, thick and really heavy.  Pretty sure im gunna tape my shoes for this one.

Women 11:15am and Men 2:30pm. Thanks to those watching on FreeCaster J

Wish us luck!

Sat on a rainbow here in Champery Switzerland the other day. Thanks for grabbing the camera Adam :p

Second day on the course this morning with Adam.  Love it!  It is pretty technical and the rain hasn't stopped since I took the picture (below).  So my question to you.... Hardtail or Top Fuel?!?!?!?!?!?  I did a lap on each bike and now i'm stumped.  Leaning toward the Top Fuel which i'm pretty excited about.
Ill update photos this evening :)  I sat on a rainbow... just wait, I will show you :)

Woke up to this view this morning.  Mind you, I took the picture last night.  Right now it’s a giant sun blob.

Adams steady blogging is really starting to inspire me in a way haha.  So I figure while I sip on my Nescafe “instant” coffee right now I would do some typing.  “Instant” coffee... I know,  it’s something I remember seeing my mom drink when I was super young thinking it was an old persons thing to do or just a quick/lazy  way to make coffee when in fact,  I’ve noticed here in Europe its either the greatest cappuccinos and espressos or this instant stuff.  Drip coffee like in North America just doesn’t seem to exist.  But like most trends, Starbucks is wisely catching on with their VIA packets.  Something Adam has got us both hooked on as a traveling necessity.  It’s not as acidic as drip coffee which I like and obviously it’s “instant”.  Ah, used that word way to many times.  Right, moving on... or back.

National Champs in Canmore went well.  Couldn’t have asked for nicer weather and the course was a tone of fun.  Never saw any bears this time though.  I believe my dad, Brother Eric and Eden saw 9 or 11 the entire trip (a few being grizzly’s).

Mikaela Kofman from 3 Rox Racing had a great race placing 2^nd and not all that far down.  We raced together for the first lap and a bit which actually had me slightly nervous because she was climbing and descending really well. Rebecca Beaumont 3rd.  

Being local (within Canada) we had great support from Trek Toronto/Canada with Zach Tatem and Pat Dennis driving the truck and trailer out from Ontario.  Thanks again J.

Our traveling group was so much fun.  So many laughs.

The next morning (this past Sunday) I took a shuttle to the airport long before sunrise to fly home to visit mom and my sister Charlotte who couldn’t make the Canadian West trip.  Twas a short two day visit before coming here to Switzerland for World Cup #4 but time always well spent.  I miss you gals already!

Flight to Geneva-Switzerland was perfect.  3 seats (not Adams four) but three seats to myself so I pretty much slept the entire way.  Watched “Into the Air” during good ol’ flight dinner which made for decent entertainment.  (Note: Fly home from Millan on Aug. 2^nd a whole new movie listing... excited!) 

Great to see my TWR teammates :)  Cooked dinner and watched a few episodes of Californication (funny tv series) last night.

Yesterday afternoon I ran into Andrew Watson and a few other Canadians in Co-op grocery store who gave me the scoop on the race course.  Sounds like they have taken half the climb out and added a few extra super technical sections.  Just waiting for Adam, Peter Glassford and Sandra Walters to get here to go for a pre ride this afternoon!!! 

All for now...

Lunch (massive sandwich) with the group after training

Adam doing some odd looking stretch. Pat looking a little creeped out haha 

(Zach Tatem, Pat Dennis, Dad, Eric, Eden and Adam)

I think iv over done the whole "eating foods in season" saying with cherries this past two days.  Just looked at our Safeway receipts and apparently between Adam and I, we've ate just over 7.5lb. Crazy!  

Had a great time in Chatel France with TWR.  I discovered the second greatest sport next to XC.  Downhill.  Oh man, sooooo much fun!  Tracy Moseley got me suited completely up in her gear.  Kinda felt like a female Ninja turtle.

We were given three practice runs (reminder* never been on a downhill bike before) before our timed run.  Meanwhile, the downhillers had already put there race times in so I was secretly timing my pre-runs to compare.  First time down I wont lie... I was pretty intimidated so Tracys boyfriend James led the way.  3:33min. Second run: 3:03, third: 2:51 and finally fourth I settled with a  2:41.  I loved it! and though it was only a total of 14min of riding... it felt more like I had been racing for 2hours straight. I absolutely Loved it!!!  The XC was just down right HARD.  It was basically a mountain climb and quoted by Mathias "that last couple minutes felt harder than a World Cup" haha   

Downhill Results:                                              XC Time Trial:                                        
1. Justin Leov – 2m 09.1secs                     1. Mathias Flueckiger – 19m 46.3secs
2. Dennis Dertell – 2m 16.1secs                 2. Lukas Flueckiger – 19m 59.0secs
3. Tracy Moseley – 2m 17.8secs                3. Justin Leov – 22m 37.4secs
4. Mathias Flueckiger – 2m 21.2secs        4. Dennis Dertell – 23m 53.2secs
5. Lukas Flueckiger – 2m 23.3secs           5. Emily Batty – 24m 38.6secs
6. Emily Batty – 2m 41.6secs                     6. Tracy Moseley – 28m 52.2secs 

The next morning I was back on the plane on my way home.  July 1st... YES!!!.... new list of movies.   Finally a  flight I could look forward to.  Date Night... hilarious.  But I don't recommend... oh cricky I cant remember the name of the movie but sad movies in general on a plane are just no good unless you don't mind your neighbour asking if you need a napkin haha  "THE GREATEST".... Thats the name I just spent 20minutes trying to find... so sad.

So I spent less than a day at my house and then Adam and I went to his parents place for a few days.  Its kinda like cottage life there.  Al always making such great  food, amazing riding roads, gardening,  just super relaxing in general.  Adams sister and her boyfriend for Christmas gave us all Cirque du Soleil which was this past week.  Wow, what a show!  Everyone should see this at least once in a life time.

Then of course time flew by and it was time for those going to Edmonton Canada Cup to pack and giver again.   I didn't plan on doing this race but I figured I could use another race in my legs before Nationals in a weeks time.  That, and I felt left out haha so I jumped on a plane and now here I am.   Kirk Hamilton (event organizer) has put all 7 of us up at his house again.  Thanks Kirk!

For dinner tonight.... what ever we find at the Farmers Market this morning :) 

TWR Cross Over Challenge...

Big day today.  Downhill vs XC.
In a couple hours the down hillers are going to be putting in their race time on the downhill course followed by us XC racers doing a couple practice runs (never been on a downhill bike so should be pretty helarious) with all there equiptment on and race the same course.  After lunch we are going to swap disciplines and race the 30min ish cross country loop.  Should be a tone of fun 

Yesterday morning we "walked" the downhill course... (legs are completely shot today) and then pre road the XC course.

The footprints that helped decide when my hike in the forest at Lukas house was time to turn around

John, Rob, Jess and I spectate while Niko fished


Speaks for its self

Niko and Andrew determined to un-snage his fishing line

Raced Bern Swiss Bike Trophy Yesterday. Twas a scorcher hot but fun day. I finished up 6th but did another “race in no-mans land”. For majority of the race I couldn’t see anyone in front nor behind so I just kinda... well, kept catching myself racing in Tempo HR.
I don’t think our women’s races have been over 1:40h. yet this year so I forgot what it felt like to do a 2h. race in the heat.
The guys did great. Lukas on podium with 5th and Mathias was 8th. Wish I took more pictures to share. I only have one below of mechanic Oli and Luk being goofs and one from dinner with Luk and Fabienne at their home.
Today we are headed to Chatel France for a mid-season team camp  Pretty excited for our
“TWR Cross Over Challenge”... can’t say I’ve ever been one a downhill bike before, let alone race one
Stay tuned...

A few hours ago I downloaded my iPhone pictures to my computer.  Then I thought... my god I have so many things to talk about.  And now I'm itching to do a blog post but don't know where to start (typical- I know).

Since my last post I've raced Offenburg, Germany World Cup (view video clip below at 0:37seconds for my awesome crash),  raced one my favourite races at Hardwood Hills Canada Cup sponsored by Trek Toronto which is always a fun weekend of group riding with kids from all over Ontario and Canada.  Even had some friends from Pennsylvania US. come up to race and stay with us for the weekend :)

After that weekend Adam and I figured we'd make the most of our fairly quiet June and spend some time at Mount Sainte Anne in Quebec.  I know that darn course inside-out now.  Although, my intentions were to ride the course in the mud because in Quebec, as you know, sunshine is a rare thing on race weekend. So do you think we had rain? Nope. Ten days of pure sunshine. I kid you not... it was incredible.  A couple times we road to Quebec city on "Véloroute Marie-Hélène-Prémont" where we did some damage visiting French bakery's.  It was time well spent. What else?  I had my 22nd Birthday... Thank you everyone for the messages!, saved a baby snapping turtle from being hit on the road, did a photo shoot for the new Canadian Cycling Magazine that will come out the end of July ish, made it home in time to see the famous "Tractor pulls" at the Brooklin Spring Fair with Adam and brothers, went on some epic adventurous rides with the guys, finally got caught up on some emails that were long overdue, mom and dad had their 32nd anniversary.

Oh yah, was out for a long long ride the other day when I stated to fade from hunger and was stopped by a van.  I guess the guys recognized me from the Trek Bike catalogue but what was way cooler than that was they were band members from "Hollowick" also known

as "Rides Again". Twas the highlight of my ride!

OKAY, I think that brings you up to date.

Today I'm headed to Switzerland for Bern Swiss Cup and then to Chatel France for a team camp... cross your fingers the flight isn't full so I can sprawl out rather than pack in like the usual sardines haha

Thanks for reading :)

Saving baby Snapping turtle from getting smushed on the road / Veda teaching me "Rip stick"

     Tractor Pulls at the famous Brooklin Spring Fair

Pre riding Wednesday night at Hardwood :)

Canadian Cycling Magazine coming out at the end of July ish

Riding with the guys

Coolest Birthday gift from Veda (look closely)

Such an awesome shot of my brothers

http://ericbattyphotography.com/

Mom and dad celebrate there 32nd Anniversary


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