Fat Bike Workout

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It was still -20 when I got to the Centennial Park parking lot with the Salsa Mukluk 3 hanging from the rack on the back of our Subaru. The temperature proved to be the biggest challenge of the day, but not because I was too cold. 

I started off with 2 layers under my light winter jacket, jeans and Under Armour pants,  2 pair of socks, Banff Ridge boots, a fleece neck tube, my free Mark's gloves and lined hat. 50 feet from the car and I knew the hat was not going to work because of the neckline so I traded it for my warmest toque.

My first impression of the feel of the bike was 'man this is slow going'. The entire hour and a half of riding was mostly the same. I averaged about 6.5kph. I went along the wide and well packed trail next to the frozen Current River, crossed the bridge into Trowbridge and then tried some narrow single track [about 18" wide] for another km. It was twisty and overhanging branches kept me ducking. If the bike strayed from the packed snow trail it was a sudden stop and then a major effort to get rolling again because width of the packed snow wasn't enough to let me stand beside to do a rolling mount.

After 45 minutes and only 5km I headed for the car and was completely soaked. I undid my jacket and stuffed the neck tube in my pack. I didn't want to cool down too much but any wetter and I'd chill and be done for the day.

At the car I took off all my upper layers except the base, had a couple sandwiches and coffee for lunch while frosting every window in the Subaru. I put on my wool sweater, a wind breaker, a lighter pair of gloves, merino neck tube and went out again.

I started with the same trail along the river but then carried on past the bridge on less travelled trail and climbed a very long steep hill. When I first looked at the bike I wondered why the crankset sprockets [22/36] were so small. Halfway up I was wishing they had made them smaller. To keep the front wheel on the ground you have to keep your nose over the handle bars. To maintain traction your butt has to stay back so there is weight on the back tire. Standing does not work at all. Coming down the hill on my return was the only real sense of speed I felt all day but that came with a very chilling self made breeze.

All in all it was a fun way to spend a day off and a great workout. Once I was used to the slow pace and warmed up I enjoyed just getting outside for a ride. The rhythmic cadence that lets my thoughts wander a bit while riding on the road is just not possible on the Mukluk at least not with varying terrain. From spinning wildly in the tiniest gears to go up and then overspinning down a slight slope I was constantly changing gears to try and maintain some kind of even cadence but never seemed comfortable for long.   

In the battle of what kind of bike I'd rather be riding the fat bike loses to the fast bike. I can imagine riding 350 miles as they do in the Iditarod where these bikes first came into prominence, but not at this speed. Add in the gear they have to carry and the additional layers of clothing to handle Alaska in the winter, umm no thanks. I'll stick to feeling like a sausage in my skin tight bike shorts and jerseys.

Thanks to Farzam and Nathan at Petrie's for loaning me the Mukluk and for some guidance on where to pedal the beast.

Mukluk at the gate

At the new bridge to Trowbridge

on the main trail along the Current River

resting

Alien artwork under the highway

singletrack

Still Got It

I was beginning to question whether the cycling bug had left me. No outdoor rides since December 1st is the longest I've gone in I don't know how long, 2 years? I got out on Eyowen today just across a few roads , down back lanes and then the bike paths around the college and out to the corner of Arthur and the expressway, about 15km. And I felt great after getting used to the bumpy ride and slower than normal pace. Just what I needed to get back into the groove.

Impreza Puts Fun Back Into Driving

I guess too many years with vans, suvs and trucks had made driving a chore. The Dakota went back today so the Impreza becomes the number one ride. (Easy girls we're talking cars here). I've always liked smaller cars and most specifically the imports. It handles like it's on rails, has a very peppy 2.5 engine and best of all during the cold snap, warms up rapidly. It's a blast to drive around town getting things done, small enough to park quickly and easily.

We have almost everything ready for Christmas. The tree is up but not yet adorned with lights or baubles, guess I'll tackle that tomorrow. I'm looking forward to a good long break.

Long Cool Ride

With everything from a touch of rain and snow, sunshine and strong winds I managed a good long ride this afternoon. Jill and I headed out Oliver Road and went as far as Murillo before heading back through Kakabeka. We rolled down the hill into Stanley and up River Road and then back in on 130 and Broadway. It's been over a month since Jill has been out and I haven't put on my riding gear in that time either so 70km was pushing it a bit. I was done as I approached the Neebing Arena. My legs kept going but they were on their own. My mind was on nothing but getting home. Sal had a good hearty meal ready about an hour later and it was devoured.

Another Dog Conquered

Saturday was my third Conquer the Dog. Our team came 2nd in the relay for 3 with kayak, though I don't think there were many teams in that bracket. We were third last year and every team member knocked off some time and we picked up one spot. I managed to trim 40 seconds from my time so I was ok with that (18km in 38:13). Should have had more water as I started leg cramps on the way in. Couldn't pedal hard so I pedaled higher cadence, drank and kept the cramps just on the edge and then was able to sprint the last half km and pass one more rider. Nobody got past me so I at least held our spot in the intense competition.

Tour on the Brain

Sunday was another ride out to Mom & Dad's. A new record as I covered the 56 km in 2 hours and 12 minutes thanks to some roadie's on 61 and having the tour on the brain. One passed me and commented "you're really moving on that thing". That 'thing' being Bridget. If not for the gravel of Sturgeon Bay Road I'd have taken Jill and maybe Mr. Arrogant wouldn't have had the chance to pass at all as even with the extra weight and heavy tires of a mountain bike I was on his tail for quite a while. Then he decided to take a drink of water and spit it out over his shoulder splashing my knees in the process. I guess he figured he had left me far behind. When he started clearing his nose I decided to quit pushing to hold onto his wake.

On the road in I kept naming the climbs a la Tour de France. Col du Carroll, Col de Beaver Pond, Col du Beaver Pond deux, Col du Walker Road, Col du Gravel Pit. I crested Col du Gravel Pit doing 14kmh where normally I'm struggling with granny at about 4kmh. It sure made the climbs easier, that and finally having the extra muscles to pull up on the pedals with my shoes. We all had a great day and my big salad with maple mustard dressing seemed to be a hit (credit for the dressing to the Angry Trout in Grand Marais).

The only disappointment of the day was seeing Tom Watson let the Open slip through his grasp. Sure would have been nice to watch. My best tv golf memory is Jack Nichlaus winning the Masters at 46 in 1986, Tom might have topped it. Maybe next year.

A Little Closer To Home

The Caribou Restaurant is sponsoring a 100km ride in September in support of the Northern Cancer Fund. No fundraising just an entry fee and go. I'm looking forward to that as it will be great to have a ride for a good cause in our backyard.

I'm heading out for a quick ride to Kakabeka and back Sunday morning and will pass the 4000km mark for '09 about 10 minutes in. The early morning rides are great as I get 20km in before work every day when it's cool and traffic is minimal.

4 Sprinklers, NO Waiting

On Saturday Sal, Ginko and I headed to camp for the day. I rode out on Bridget at 8:07 under clear skies and a bit of a chill in the air. I headed out through Westfort and then decided on the Rosslyn Road/130 stretch to get to 61. I hit the gravel of Sturgeon Bay Road at about 9:55 and arrived in 2 hours and 27 minutes including a 5 minute delay for a train and a few stops to smack the computer. Got to get a gps!

Sal and Ginko arrived about an hour later. We practiced some hitting, played bocce and Ginko ran around under 4 sprinklers pumping water onto the front lawn. We had lunch and Sal made supper, I stirred the wild rice, don't ridicule me I'm only the shoe chef! It was a beautiful day and everyone was whipped by the end.

Canada Day Ride

I planned to take a longish ride today but the weather forecast was somewhat gloomy so I didn't get my hopes up. As the morning went on the sun made an appearance and the temperature climbed enough to get me moving. I pulled the clipless pedals from Jill and put them on Bridget, removed the front wheel and computer she shares with Eyowen, put her outside and lubed the chain. I wore long sleeves and something over my shorts since it really wasn't that warm. Before I even left the yard the speedometer wasn't reading and the clock was off. Rather than wasting more time I decided to just go without. I realized a few minutes later that I had no phone, no pump, no emergency goodies, just a bottle of water. Really not planning on leaving civilization I decided to go on without. I headed out through Westfort and down Rosslyn Road. Bridget's nice big tires and front shock smooth the ride nicely. I had always noticed Rosslyn Road continued right into Stanley but was gravel so I had never risked taking a skinny wheeler out there but had no excuses today. A few km past Rosslyn Village the road turns narrower and to gravel. Best of all there are zero cars. For more than 30 minutes I heard nothing but the tires crunching on dirt, the wind and a few birds. With a dead computer I wasn't worrying about average speed or how fast I was going I just enjoyed the ride. I love the farms along the Kam River and this trip I got to see them from both sides as I crossed over to River Road to start heading back to town. I decided to try another gravel road and came in on Candy Mountain Road and then Riverside Drive. The gravel didn't last long and a few turns had me wondering if I was heading the right way but since I was still going in the general direction I just plugged along and soon emerged on 61 and came in on Chipewa Road and then back through Westfort. 62 km in just under three hours so July is off to a good start. June was another failed month as fars as goals went and July will be tough to hit but we'll see. Birdget confirmed her place and now I need to fix a few things to get her into shape.

Conquer Cancer '09

Sal and I headed for Toronto just after 7am on Thursday the 11th. It was a typical TBay spring morning, cool with the added challenges of fog along the lake. The temperature reading in the Dakota would swing wildly all day. We saw a low of 5 and a high of about 19 once we left the shores of the big lake. At one point we had struggled to 14, entered another fog bank and saw 7 just minutes later. Traffic and construction was minimal so the 10 hour drive to Espanola was a good one. We found a roadside motel last year that is cheap and right on the highway so we stayed there again. We also found a good restaurant in the town and headed there for supper but this time around things weren't what we remembered. We brought sandwiches for lunch so a good meal was in the budget, we both ordered the house specialty, prime rib. You know you are in trouble when the prime rib has grill marks, not a bad steak but not as advertised.

We hit the nearby Timmy's at 7 on Friday for coffee to go with blueberry muffins Sal made and headed on to Toronto. At 1:00 we got on the 400 and into traffic with our gps 'Gloria' leading the way. By 2:30 we were at our hotel and after negotiating a parking spot we were ready for some rest and then down to the Direct Energy Center for Sal's Crew meeting. She volunteered for bike parking again. I took Jill out for a 20km ride along the lake shore and up the Humber River. I have as many miles this year as last but not as many long rides. My longest to date was 80km a month or so ago but I had done that with just an apple and one bottle of water so I was confident that I was up to the challenge of a couple of days in the saddle. 'Just another bike ride', I kept telling myself.

Jill had a slight ticking sound as I put weight on the handlebars and I spent some time trying to get it solved. I was finally satisfied that all was good so I turned her over to bike parking for the night, met Sal after her meeting and we headed back to the hotel and then walked to supper at Red Lobster. The new menu is really good as they have moved away from the fast food path they seemed to be heading down for a few years. We went back to our room and watched the Penguins shock the Wings and then it was lights out.

Our weekend began at 4:30am Saturday. Sal was required to be at her post by 5:30 so we were up and out by 5:10. I dropped off our gear and Sal then headed for overnight parking. Everything was moved around the grounds from last year. Bike parking was outside, overnight parking was outside and even the entrance to the grounds was not the same. There was little advantage to having been in the Ride last year as everything I thought was a known was just as much a mystery as it had been a year before. I checked out Jill and then rode over for breakfast, filled my bottles and then headed for the start line. I ran into a rider I had met a few times last year and we talked for a bit, took each other's pictures and waited for the 8am opening ceremonies.

The most disappointing thing happened at the opening ceremonies. The organizers chose not to announce the total raised. Last year when they announced the $14 million the crowd of riders roared and everyone hid their tears behind their sunglasses. The announcement was made at supper in Hamilton this time around but the effect was just not the same. In any case $14.5 million was raised this year and with the economy as it is the number is still staggering.

The time came to hit the road and the mass of 3530 cyclists surged toward the gate of the grounds and slowly moved onto Lakeshore Boulevard. The 4 lane street had one lane dedicated to bikes and things opened up quickly. Within a kilometer of the start people began having flats. I thanked Farzum in my head one more time for suggesting the Schwalbe Marathon tires. I have gone two years and never had a flat. We moved quickly up Lakeshore and then headed away from the lake towards the country roads. A map of the routes was uploaded from a gps and day one can be found here and day two here.

My first day was uneventful. I rode and talked with a few people along the way. As you move through slower riders you lose the people you are talking to, some are slower on hills, some are bolder at passing. Ten minutes may pass and the conversation continues as you settle into traffic again. The route was the same as last year as was the weather, cool and overcast with sunny breaks, perfect for a long ride. I maintained 22 kph over the 106km and came into Hamilton in 4 hours and 45 minutes. The hills didn't seem as tough so maybe my training was going to prove to be enough.

Our gear was unloaded at camp so I grabbed it and claimed a tent, showered and went to the main dining tent to listen to the bands. Sal took a break so we had supper together. We went back to bike parking and the other couple working there took their supper break so I helped out a bit. Things were definitely tight in the compound as there were very few parking spots left. One of the racks had collapsed during the afternoon and the bike shop that was on hand to make repairs had to haul a few out for wheel straightening. A few people rode in and looked like they had been through battle. Whether they had been on the road for 11 hours or spent time waiting for repairs I couldn't tell, but they looked pale and exhausted. One commented "bike for sale".

Once bike parking was closed we headed over to the main tent to relax. Sal and the other 300 crew members were asked to march through the tent and the riders showed them their appreciation with a round of standing applause. Things began to wind down so we headed for the comfort of our tent and new air mattress. Sal didn't forget our long night of 'sleeping' on the ground last year so the air mattress was a necessity. It made all the difference in the world. The camp was very quiet save a bit of whispering, giggling and snoring. We got a good sleep in before rising at 4:30 again for another day.

Sunday dawned clear and cool. I packed our gear once Sal went to breakfast and the parking lot. I checked in our gear and had breakfast before grabbing Jill and making my way to the start for the 7am launch. The route was the same for the most part but we had been warned about a short steep climb that was added as many riders felt the second 100km was too easy in 2008. As we rode along the escarpment the day was clear enough to see across the lake and make out the CN tower.

I arrived at the lunch stop (50km) at 9am so I was very happy with my pace but not so thrilled to learn that lunch had not arrived. I grabbed a granola bar and refilled my bottles and left, it was too early for lunch anyway. We were rolling along downhill at about 40kmh when I heard the gunshot sound of a tire blowing behind me. I never heard a crash so whoever it was must have kept the bike up but I don't know how. Shortly after we headed down and around a sharp 120 degree right and then a very steep hill where Jill topped out at 63kmh with the brakes on occasionally. As we slowed I looked up and knew this was a new stretch, a new steep stretch. In the distance the road made another sharp turn and continued to climb. About half way up my calves started to feel like they would cramp so I decided to stop and push for a minute or the rest of the day would be a mess. I walked for about 3 minutes along with a few others and then had a long drink and climbed back on and finished the hill. I wasn't proud of that few minutes but cramping for another hour and a half would be a lot less fun. The rider that posted the gps maps had the steepest part of the hill at a 17% grade.

I reached the last pit stop of the day at the 82km point and called Sal so she could get to the finish line. We were both happy that she got there this year. I told her I would be about 45 minutes as I had 20 km to go. As we rode closer to Niagara I started pushing Jill in the high gears holding onto about 30kmh. We had a lane to ourselves for the last 5 km or so and I got to an intersection with another rider just across from the finish line. We were held for about 5 minutes to let traffic clear and then got the signal to head in. I anticipated the nod from the policeman and led a pack down the narrow path and through the finish line. Sal saw me but I never found her in the crowd but I knew she was there and that felt good. I finished the second day's 102 km in 4 hours and 16 minutes and am very happy with that even though it's not a race, not officially anyway.

We took some pictures including the money shot with Jill held overhead, I had a rushed lunch (Sal had none) and then dropped off Jill, picked up our gear and boarded a bus that took us to the train station. The train ride back to Toronto took nearly 3 hours but was relaxing. We checked back into our hotel and walked over to the Pickle Barrel for supper. I ordered a half yard of Steamwhistle (the beer that was free in camp), Sal had a huge strawberry daiquiri and since we were both starving we started with a plate of nachos which without a doubt was the best thing we ate during the entire trip. We strolled back to the hotel and were asleep shortly after. On Monday we went to China town and Kensington Market before hitting the road back to Espanola. We arrived home on Tuesday at about 5pm and I still don't know why I wasn't tired for the rest of the week.

I want to thank everyone for the generous support, in two years we sent $10,515 to help with cancer research. I know that it is a small part of the $28.5 million but we can all be proud to have been a part of it. I wish everyone could be at the start line and feel the energy as 3500+ nervously await the start. It is a great feeling and I want to thank you all for your generosity and for allowing me to have that feeling, one that I'll always remember. As for the finish, the fight is far from over so who knows, maybe next year, maybe a new way to join in the fight.

You'll Need Some Clues This Round

Sal and I have decided to turn some of the back yard into a vegetable garden. We're heading to the library to pick up some books on the subject and so that she can refuel on some more novels. She got a new card last Sunday and devoured 4 novels this week. It's been a long time since she's had the time to read. Our entertainment outside of the tv has been a couple of rented movies. The new Bond 'Quantum of Solace' is pretty decent, lots of action and locales. The new series is lacking a few of the old characters, Q and Moneypenny being most notable but there are far fewer gadgets so his spot isn't really missing and she was aging and of course James never really does. A much better two hours was spent watching and trying to figure out 'Seven Pounds'. I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it but it was worth the time and periods of frustration to finish. Will Smith has come a long way from his Fresh Prince days.

I got in a nice long ride with Dave Wadson on Thursday night. I'm looking forward to more non-solo rides. Riding alone has its benefits but being able to slow down and talk makes the ks go by. Dave rides a Trek hybrid so Jill is a pretty good match but I had Eyowen so I had to work a bit to keep up. We took in Mission Marsh and as far west as the new Parkdale bike path, about 35 km on a cool but clear evening. I'm slowly getting my mileage up after almost giving up on getting anywhere near my goal for the month. Hopefully I'll finish with about 700 km, a bit shy of the goal but higher than I expected a week ago.

Work seems to be picking up finally so 4 day weeks may be over and none too soon. We got in another reline job from a ship last week and have 4 bands to complete. I finished the first on Saturday morning and have about 6 hours in so far. I'm achy all over as the work is all done with hand tools and muscles that apparently don't get used too often.  

First Trip to Mission Marsh

I spent a few hours with Farzam watching a few of the new arrivals being put together. I'm on the list to start doing some assembly so I wanted to see how they come out of the box and the steps to get them ready for the floor. I guess being around all those bikes and parts got into the system along with the nicest day of the year. I had to take a longer ride. I stopped in at home to grab the Vado and headed over to Mission Marsh with Eyowen. The cars aren't as close as they look and it really is that noisy going down the bridges.

Get Off The Path

I have wanted to give the trails at Shuniah Mines up in behind Centennial/Trowbridge a try for some time and finally got there this afternoon. Sal dropped me in the parking lot on her way to work and I rode in confidently, under the expressway and started up Hydro Hill. About half way up the steep rocky path I started slowing down as Bridget's back wheel was spinning in the loose rock. I pushed her a bit and then resumed the climb only to have the same thing happen shortly after. I had picked the Blue Trail but had no idea how difficult it was or even where it went for that matter, about 2 miles in I knew I was in over my head. I turned back and went for the Red Trail which was tough but rideable.
Real mountain biking is much harder than I thought. I've read lots about the techniques of riding trails but not really done much. The trails at Shuniah Mines feature smooth narrow singletrack, steep climbs and descents, boulders and roots galore, and mud, lots of mud. Once I got the hang of things I wanted more but without a map I was a bit worried as Nathan Petrie had warned me it was easy to get lost. I never felt I was getting lost but nearly got tossed a few times.
I was riding along and heard some trees cracking in the distance, thought nothing of it, and continued on to a fork in the trail. As I decided which path to take I heard more cracking right over head and quickly spun back away from the fork in the direction I had come. Crash! a large section of a dead birch landed on the fork where I had been pondering just seconds before. When my heart resumed normal functions and I started breathing I grabbed a few pictures. The top arrow indicates the tree that broke, the middle a section about 8 inches in diameter and probably 10-12 feet long and the bottom arrow some of the branches that broke off. The steep climbs had told me I was in over my head and now the trees were telling me to get off the path so I headed back but not before taking one last small trail. I came so close to going over the bars. I ended up on my feet with the bars at my knees and caught the top tube as Bridget swung around behind me. I had gotten too far forward and the front tire hit a root and stopped dead. The rear wheel came up as I kept going forward, any faster and I would have been flying. I guess I'm a roadie after all. But I did enjoy the challenge. You have to be watching both 6 feet in front of the front wheel for the close obstacles and 30 feet ahead for the path of least resistance. Bridget came home muddy and limping a bit from my messing with her gears.

August Miles:35 miles
08-01, Molly:8 miles
08-02, Bridget:17 miles
08-02, Molly:10 miles

What A Ride (part 2)

Back in Toronto we had dropped our camping gear off at a truck that matched the number on our wristbands which also gave us our tent assignments. The trucks were on site in Hamilton but unloaded. The tent city was about 75% up but un-numbered. So I grabbed the sandwich from my bag that I had saved earlier and finished it along with my butter tart and the remains of my bottles, and waited. I called Sal and found out she was moved over to tent city. She was wet from working in the rain and not very happy. Her day had started with just getting out of bike parking in time to see the us ride off but couldn’t find me in the crowd.

Finally the truck with our gear was ready to be unloaded. By this time the riders in camp had realized that the Crew was short of help. We formed lines behind the truck and started tossing gear to a pile at the end of the row of tents that corresponded. It was because of this that I learned that the 35 pound maximum was a guide, there was no checking. I got one hockey equipment bag and that could have had 3 sets of goalie pads in it, maybe 70 pounds. So here we were with sleeping bags and bare essentials while others had brought the kitchen sink and a bar fridge. We had actually gone to a Canadian Tire and were going to grab an air mattress and pump the day before but knew it would be far over the limit. Instead we grabbed some bug spray and a small tarp. Neither of which we needed. Now if you know Sal you know this would be her first time in a tent, she doesn’t do camping. Her first taste will probably be her last, I think it was “if we ever sleep in a tent again it will be grounds”. I missed the next part but my bet is that the next words were not ‘for coffee’.

Now that I had some clothes to get into I set up the sleeping bag and tarp, then headed to the showers. I went to lie down for a bit and about an hour later noticed the sun was coming out and I had taken her hat, fanny pack and sunglasses so she wouldn’t have to carry them around. When I got up and out of our tent ( I guessed on which tent based on another row that was numbered) I got a severe cramp from the top of my thigh through the top of my left knee. I stood doubled over with my hands on my knees and waited. The pain subsided in a few minutes but scared me. Where had that come from? Would it come back? I searched among the tents for about 45 minutes with no luck. I finally found someone with a radio and he knew the bike parking crew had been sent back as more and more riders arrived. I got Sal her stuff and some lunch and sat with her while she ate. She went back to work and I headed over to the tents they had set up for assistance. Massage was booked for 4 hours, I didn't think yoga would be much help and I didn’t want St. John’s Ambulance help. I found the self help table and grabbed some Motrin, and then grabbed another for my bar bag and one more for later.

Another great meal followed along with music and plenty of beer which I decided to skip. They had a huge tent setup with tables and chairs and the band in the center. At 7pm all riders on the route were picked up. I’m not sure how many were out there but anyone who spent that long on a bike would probably not be used to it at all and would definitely not be sitting down for supper or much else for a while. Rumors spread around the camp about the crash, the girl with one leg that was riding, the guy that got 4 flats on the first day (and only 1 on Sunday). They talked about the climbs, they complained about the climbs, they laughed about the descent into Hamilton. Riders thanked the safety guys and had supper with their families.

After Sal finished she had some supper and we headed for the tent. She was exhausted. We talked with a member of the Bauer team and agreed the camel backs were the toughest section. We noticed he had an air mattress and I told him he could leave his wallet or just about anything else in the tent but if he left the mattress it would be gone. We rested in the tent for a bit and then I headed back to the music. The Test Icicles were great, a 3 man band that played everything and very well, not trying to duplicate the covers they were doing but not changing them so as not to be recognized.

At about 10pm I headed back to the tent to sleep. Sleep was nowhere to be found. It was warm, the neighbours were noisy (and almost in the same tent), and the ground in Hamilton is unbelievably hard. There just was no comfortable position. I'm sure at some point I joined the chorus of snoring riders but it seemed like I was awake all night. When 5am came most people were grumpy about another early morning, I was happy just to get on my feet and give my back and hips a break.

We packed up our gear and dropped it at the truck and had breakfast. I loaded my bottles and grabbed Jill. Sal went to work and I checked Jill over and waited to head out. I decided not to take any more Motrin unless I needed it. I planned to take it very easily to start the trip to Niagara at least until I was confident that cramping wouldn't be a problem. The weather man was calling for thunder storms but I left the rain poncho in my bag. It was cool and overcast, perfect as far as I was concerned. We rode out of camp in another mass start at 7:13.

The route took us along the escarpment and we could look down at Hamilton below. Lots of comments about the view being more enjoyable when we were not climbing were made. Sunday would see almost no climbing. Out over the lake there was a bright spot on the horizon and I hoped that we kept going in that direction as it would be nice to see the sun at the finish.

After a few miles I felt loosened up and had no indications that my cramp would be back, I made sure I kept drinking and felt good enough to skip the first rest stop again. Before I knew it I had arrived at the lunch stop at 9:22, halfway to the finish. I ate and refilled my bottles with orange gatorade and saved a sandwich for later. I still had 4 bars with me but didn't think I would need them. I called Sal and she was at the first rest stop on a bus that was picking up loose ends, injured riders and Crew.

After lunch we went through some construction where the pavement had been scraped and the remaining surface was very rough and shook the bikes. There was lots of complaining at this point. Somewhere in here I was passed and told that my rear tire looked a bit low so I stopped and put in a few pounds. The wind picked up and every time we took a right we faced a headwind, nothing major but you knew it was there. We were stopped at the Welland Canal by a raised bridge and the organizers tried to hold the riders back to allow the buildup of car traffic go but many just ignored what they were asked.

I noticed a squeaking whenever I was pedalling. It was annoying me to the point where I asked another rider to look over the rear hub for anything suspicious. He saw nothing so I carried on. I noticed when I stood to pedal briefly that the squeak went away. Damn seat was squeaking. I tightened the screws at the last rest stop but only managed to change the noise a bit. I really can't complain, the Body Geometry seat had done its job as even after 120 miles in 2 days my butt felt fine. I had brought my Brooks leather saddle but was glad it never left the hotel, the rain on Saturday would have killed it. I thought about having no mechanical problems. I must have seen 50 bikes stopped for flats. But I pushed those thoughts out of my head as I was sure I would find some bad juju if I kept thinking about it.

As we passed the 80km sign leaving us just 20km to the falls I decide to start pushing. I stood and pedalled hard passing about 40 people as I sprinted. It felt great. Anyone who was reading my blog on May 6th will remember how I felt down about everything and was looking for my second wind. Well it came back in the last 20km of the Ride. As I got closer to the falls I could see some of the taller hotels in the distance. The sun broke through as if someone had turned on a light. Then the mist from the Canadian side could be seen. The last few miles along the river were pyloned and then we came to a bottleneck just before the end. They had a rubber mat about 2 bikes wide on a wooden framework so that we could ride over the grass. Crowds of people lined each side. Music and the voice that had launched us Saturday could be heard as we crossed under the arch of the finish line. Crossing the finish line in tears was something I had expected. I stopped and called Sal and she was back sitting in the bus at the lunch stop, she wouldn't get to Niagara for another 2 hours. It was tough for both of us. I felt good about finishing at 12:10 (about 4 ½ hours of riding time) but it just wasn't the same without her there to share it with.

I had my sandwich and emptied my bottles. I knew I wanted a picture before I turned Jill over to the transport crew so I asked a young girl with a Crew shirt if she would mind. Well the first showed me from the waist down and the second had me posing in front of 6 outhouses, at least they were orange. I went across the road and found 4 other riders and made a deal to take their picture if they would take mine. I grabbed a burger and some salad and headed for some shade.

I was lying under the shade of a tree waiting for Sal and just thinking about everything. The money raised works out to an average of just over $4900 per rider so the $6705 I finished with beat the average by $1700 and I guess that was the only race that really mattered. I was surprised that with all the bikers there, no one was talking bikes. I wore my FatCyclist.com t-shirt at camp and not one person asked about it. No one asked about the name 'Jill' on my bike. I guess they were all wrapped up with the people they came with. Many of the 'elite' cyclists were the worst at sticking to the simple rules, we were asked to say 'on your left' or just 'left' if was we passed close to another rider and to always to pass on the left. There were a few times I wanted to say 'on your right' as 4 or 5 zipped by inches away without a word. All in all it was a great experience, not the physical challenge I had imagined, but that means I just have to find something else to work toward. I didn't sign up for 2009 and unless I can find someone to ride with I don't know that I will. Coming all the way from Thunder Bay is fairly expensive no matter how you do it, having another team member would cut the costs in half and make the experience a bit better.

To wrap this up I want to say thank you to all of you. To everyone that donated I appreciate your generosity so much. To Tom for his never ending support, friendship and confidence in me that bolstered my own confidence. To Farzum for all of his advice, his patience with an overweight newbie who always had a ton of questions and for helping me find the right bike to make the ride. To Sal's dad, Ling Lee who put on a great show and helped raise a third of the donations. To my parents for their love and support, their ideas and for helping me get through some of the tough times along the way. Finally to Sal who gave up her first holiday in 3 years to make this journey. While I was doing exactly what I had been planning to do for 6 months she was working for the same cause but without any of the glory. I couldn't see her at the finish line but I could feel that she was right there with me none the less.

What's next? I haven't decided but I'm thinking a century, 100 miles in a day. Any one want to go for a little ride?

What A Ride (part 1)

After signing in for the Ride and dropping off Jill at the Direct Energy Centre, Sal and I came back to our hotel and walked over to a small restaurant for supper. It had to be Italian tonight as I wanted a good meal of pasta and that's what I got, fuel for Saturday. We packed up what we could so that we didn't have to stay up too late or get up any earlier in the morning. Each participant had a 35 pound maximum for gear which we learned later was a 'rough' guide.

We had tickets for a concert at the Danforth Music Hall to see RyanDan, identical twins whose music Sal really enjoys. I'm not crazy about them but with what she's about to put up with over the next two days I think I can make it through the night. The show was actually pretty good and unless we were in the band we could not have gotten much closer, second row seats. We got back to the hotel and finished packing our gear, jamming a double sleeping bag and pillows into two garbage bags and duct taping our tent number on the outside for easy identification, a wasted effort as it turned out. We finally got to bed just after midnight. I fell asleep almost immediately.

When the alarm on my cell phone went off at 4:45 I was sound asleep but jumped up quickly and showered. Sal followed and we were in the truck and on our way by 5:30. Sal was supposed to be on site by 6:00 to start her work as part of the 'Crew'. She was at the bike parking checking rider id bracelets against bike numbers, with that many bikes in one building it would have been fairly easy to wander away with one and this was the method for ensuring that the bike and rider were a pair. I would guess that the value of the bikes in that building was somewhere around $3 million. Many of the bikes were full carbon road bikes ($5000-$12000) while I think I only saw one or two 'department store' specials. Hybrids like Jill were very common (though I never saw another Lapierre at all), mountain bikes were the least common and most of those had put on street tires rather than the normal knobby off road type and then there were many older classic road bikes. There were a few recumbents, at least two tandems and at the finish line I saw a singlespeed Rivendell Quickbeam. I have 2 singlespeeds (Molly and Cecelia) I used for training and I have no idea how he got up the hills with no gears to work with.

In what turned out to be a very welcome trend, the first meal supplied was breakfast. All of the meals that were put out were varied (even vegetarian if need be), nutritious and plentiful. One of the great things about riding distances is that you can eat whatever you want when you are done, in fact you have to. I started drinking water at around 5:15 and kept taking regular drinks throughout the day as I have under-hydrated a few times and leg cramps are not much fun especially if you have to climb.

Sal and I had breakfast, I grabbed Jill from the rack and we said our goodbyes. She had to stay inside and work the bike park and riders were to assemble at the start line for 6:50am. As with most events, people take their own sweet time getting themselves going. I along with maybe 500 other eager riders waited at the start for probably 35 minutes before the masses got there, mind you the first bunch of us were there and waiting at sunrise.

Finally a roar of motor cycles sounded as the safety gang took off for their designated corners and O Canada was played. This group did a fantastic job of keeping us safe at uncontrolled corners throughout both days of the event. They would be there to wave us through stop signs or left turns and hold traffic when they could. Toronto police did the same but only for about the first half of day one, after that we were on our own in traffic or aided by the motor cycle club. In some places we had to cross 3 lanes of traffic to make a left. A lone cyclist would be hard pressed to pull it off but 30-40 all wearing yellow jerseys just signal and take the lane.

The opening ceremonies saw a few of the doctors, the organizers and a rider that lost her husband to cancer in October all take a turn at the podium. She had everyone choked up. They brought an unmanned bike escorted by 6 cancer survivors that were riding. The numbers we were all waiting for came and a roar went up when they announced that 2850 riders had raised 14 million dollars. I have read this over numerous times and I still get choked up remembering that. The same guy who would energetically welcome us to Niagara took the mic and rallied everyone. RIDE he screamed and the mass of yellow-clad riders crawled through the start line and headed for Lakeshore Boulevard. It was crowded, scary and exciting all at the same time especially when your eyes are still watering and the lump in your throat threatens to keep you from breathing.

The first 10 miles we were separated from traffic by pylons and police. Even at that with bikes riding 6 abreast I saw a small truck speed past the officer and cut through the oncoming mass of bikes. The pace was fast up close to the front as things thinned out quickly. The teams that came into Hamilton first averaged 20 mph or just over 3 hours to finish the 60 odd miles. They work as a team, taking turns at the front of the group and rotating to the back, riding less than a foot off the back wheel of the bike ahead. They definitely didn't enjoy the scenery. After nearly taking out a pylon I skipped the first rest stop and arrived at the halfway point in Milton for lunch at 10am, averaging somewhere around 15 mph, not that I was counting. Lunch was great and even though it consisted of a sandwich wrap and strange salad I inhaled it, saving the butter tart in my bar bag. I filled my bottles with orange Gatorade and got back on the road. The route which I never saw until Friday wasn't what I expected. I was thinking we would be on the lake most of the first day but when we turned north at about 5 miles I never saw it again until we were high over Hamilton.

The pace was faster than the organizers expected as we would find out later. You can say 'it's not a race' as much as you want but every serious biker will tell you he or she hates to be passed. I got used to the teams on the high end road bikes go roaring by without a word but if anyone on a mountain bike or hybrid, or older guy, or fatter guy or anyone riding a junker, or Lord help me a (sorry ladies) girl passed me, I wanted to chase them down. I managed to hold back or just nestled in close behind and worked on a bit of a draft. It's not a race but that's what I wanted to do. Maybe later.

The first 10 miles after lunch took us through rolling countryside, the camel backs. Up down, and up and down, again and again and again. This is where everyone started to feel their legs burn and heart and breathing rates increased. The ups were more prevalent than the downs as it turned out. We spoke to a member of Steve Bauer's team in the tent that evening and he had a gps that measures altitude. I said I thought that this stretch was worse than the long climb in Hamilton and he agreed, confirming that the gps showed we were climbing the whole time. Someone asked 'how's that butter tart tasting the second time around'?

Somewhere shortly after we came across a small wooden bridge with narrow slats running perpendicular to the road. We hit it at pretty high speed and it rattled everything. A few water bottles jumped from their holders and most of us cursed and then carried on. About an hour later we came down a short hill and everyone recognized the same type of bridge and slowed down immediately. What we didn't see was hidden behind trees to the right. It was probably the steepest small hill we would face all day and we were all slowed down but in my case not geared down. As I started to climb I tried shifting to a smaller gear with the front derailleur and the chain jumped right off, I lost all momentum and because I was clipped in to the pedals I fell over onto my left hip and shoulder in the middle of the road, embarrassed but fine. I pushed Jill to the shoulder, clicked the gears down, got the chain back on, checked her over and then continued. I was lucky that no one was on my tail. There was one accident that took out 5 or 6 bikes. One of the riders involved got driven to a bike shop and bought another bike to continue. I saw quite a few people with new bandages wrapped around their knees and elbows and Sal said there were lots of people picked up for various injuries along the way.

One of the things that kept us going were the cheering stations. The organizers had publicized several spots along the route where it would be safe to gather. Some teams had signs of encouragement held by friends and relatives, they clapped and told us to keep going. I thought it was the spontaneous small groups that came to the end of their driveways that were more inspiring. Small kids rang cowbells, cheered and just sort of stood there smiling and watching us go by. I think the research that results from the money raised will benefit them the most so it gave me a small surge of energy whenever it happened.

At about 11:30 we were high over Hamilton probably somewhere in Burlington. We had been warned about a few severe descents and this was the first. The road was paved and winding and if I had let Jill go I'm sure we would have made 45 to 50 mph. I was doing 35 with the brakes on. Fun but scary, one wrong move and your day is over at best.

As we moved through the streets of Hamilton what had been very light drizzle turned into rain. Not a downpour but steady. With your back tire throwing water at your butt and anyone in front throwing it in your path it didn't take long to become soaked. The Hamilton police did not make an appearance as by this time the group would have been stretched out for 25 miles and they would have had to tie up traffic far too long. It was lunch time and the roads were busy and brakes are a bit less effective when wet. We were stopped by traffic lights and getting cranky at the conditions.

And then THE climb started. It wasn't steep but it was long and around corners. Many riders had to stop and walk. I saw one getting back on only to see that the corner he was on revealed at least another mile of the same hill. He cursed. Although the going was slow I didn't think it was as bad as the camel back section. Once you found a gear you could push constantly you just kept going and ground it out. At the camels you were constantly shifting and speeding up and slowing down, frustrated. I can proudly say I rode Jill the entire distance, never had to push her at all.

After getting to the top we had to make a left in three lanes of traffic. These turns and the severe grades must have been unnerving for any of the less experienced riders. We continued through residential streets with occasional views through the mist and fog at the valley below us. The rain stopped and we picked up speed as we neared the end of day one. There were not too many street names on the route that I knew but Fennel Ave. was one that I remembered and that was where camp was. I had made it, at least the halfway point. I had ridden 60 miles once before so I knew I could do the distance but there was still some self doubt rattling around in my head. Then as we made the turn into the college the cheering started and people along the road congratulated us as we slid by. It was 1pm, I was feeling great but very soggy. I had expected this to take much longer. I would have been happy just to crank out an average of 10 mph. Apparently the organizers were thinking along the same lines as we found there was much to be done before camp would be ready.

Riding with Company

I approached Tom Petrie last weekend about whether anyone had ever run a group ride from the shop. They had done it years before but nothing lately. Most of the shops on the net have rides on a set night every week and since it gets a bit lonely riding solo every night I said I'd post something on the wall at the shop.
We went out last night, Tom and his wife Carolyn and I. Not much of a turn out but the ride was enjoyable. We ended up doing 15 miles and just having someone to talk to was a great change. The rides with the clubs are mostly competitive so it's tough to carry on a conversation.
Before we rode I was talking to Farzum and he over inflated a tire to about 120 psi and it blew the tube, sounded like a gunshot and the young apprentice said he wet himself.
Speaking of competition, my first mountain bike race with Black Sheep was far better than I had thought. I ended up 9th out of 15 in the Sport Class. Not bad for an old guy. I didn't see too many others even in the 40's so I felt pretty good when the results were posted. Last weekend I stayed with the lead group for 18 miles out in Stanley but it was more of a fun ride than a race. 34.5 mph downhill around a corner on gravel is so much fun, almost as much fun as 2 mph up a hill when Bridget couldn't find granny.

HA HA

Mother Nature sure has a mean sense of humour. I just did a ride to Kakabeka Falls and fought a headwind all the way out. It took me 1 hour and 43 minutes to get there. I thought about turning off a few times but decided I wanted to see the falls. As I crossed the outskirts of downtown Kakabeka Falls, it stated snailing. Snow and or hail. I pulled off and planned to stop for a second to empty the last of my water bottle, forgot to unclip and fell over. I quickly jumped up jumped back on and zipped out of town. I never did get to see the falls.
As I passed the 20th Side Road on my way back the wind turned 180 degrees and was now in my face again, right off the lake. The temperature must have dropped about 10 degrees. I haven't been colder on a ride even in January. I plugged along and completed the 37.4 mile round trip in 3 hours and 5 minutes. The wind on my back made for a great ride into town, at least until Momma Nature decided I had had enough fun.

Note to Self

Train on the others, ride Jill for a thrill. After slogging back and forth on Cecelia for two days in the wind, Bridget got the call this morning and she was in a real hurry to get everywhere. After supper I decided to take a quick ride over to Mission Marsh on Jill to test out a few more tweaks on the bars, about an 8 mile return. Well 20 miles later I was still going and only stopped because it was getting dark. She is so fast in comparison to the others the miles just fly by. I just have to remember to leave her in the basement in June until its time to go to Toronto.

Catching Up

I decided that after 0 miles Friday and Saturday that I had better get in a long one on Sunday, so I caught a ride to the Kakabeka Curling club with Sal and headed out west on Jill. My plan was to go through Kakabeka to Sistonen's Corner and then back to town on 102, make a stop to sign $7000 worth of refs checks and be home for supper. I did manage to follow the plan but the climb out of Kakabeka was a long one and was quickly followed by Strawberrry Hill so it took a bit longer than I had anticipated. To date this was my longest ride ever at just about 45 miles. I feel fine this morning so I guess I'm on the right path to the distances I need to attain.


Jill halfway up Strawberry Hill.

First Ride with TBCC

Bridget came to work this morning on the back of the Monte, after dropping off trophies we headed out 61 to the Neebing Roadhouse to join in the first group ride of the Thunder Bay Cycling Club. As I expected Bridget was one of 2 mountain bikes in with all the road machines. About 20 riders headed out on 61 headed west in a loop that took us through Stanley. In all we rode 30 miles in 2 hours so the pace was a bit tough and though I kept up for about 23 miles I came back alone. My legs were cramping just a bit so I couldn't push hard enough to keep up the pace. Bridget's tires and overall weight (along with mine) just are not cut out for keeping pace with the 'weight weenies'. I was coaxed to get right into the group where it is easier to ride in the slipstream but had lots of trouble matching the pace, they ride differently than I am used to. I like to get a jump on the hills right at the bottom and I found myself braking at times going up the hills as I got too close to the bikes in front of me. All in all I enjoyed the ride and with a more suitable ride, sorry Bridget, it would have been a lot more enjoyable.