Pakenham, 137km, five hours, six minutes
Dear Garmin BaseCamp, when I say ‘avoid dirt roads’ I mean it. Also: no illegal left turns, please. BaseCamp, Garmin’s mapping software, sent me down about 7km of dirt roads and asked me to take two illegal left turns.
Almonte: 122km, 4:42 hours
Great day for a ride. Sunny, 16 degrees, winds mostly polite if not obliging. And I made a new ‘neat road’ discovery.
Merrickville, 134km, 5 hours, 21 minutes
It’s only 13km more than I’ve cycled so far this season, but the trouble with those extra kilometres is that they always come at the end of the ride.
Bib 183, riding the Cruise
I just got my confirmation for the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour today – in the email. Bravo, Ottawa Bicycle Club. You’ve made it to the age of email. As snarky as that sounded, I would appreciate the efforts the club staff and volunteers make if they sent their confirmations on hand-inscribed vellum or stone tablets. It’s an amazing event and I’m glad to be doing it again this year.
Rockland via Navan, 121km, 5 hours ish
Bleargh. Today’s ride featured cold, a long pitch down Navan Road straight into the wind, and my GPS’s maddening route recalibration yet again.
Winchester, 121km, 4hrs 25 minutes
That ramped it up a bit. Distance wise anyway. I must figure out what to do with my upper body to avoid stiffness and other discomfort in my neck, back and shoulders. Lately I’ve been repeating my excellent yoga teacher’s instructions for tadasana: stretch up through the top of the head to lengthen the spine, descend the shoulder blades, press the navel back.
Champlain lookout – 57km, 2 hours 15 minutes
My first ride up to Champlain lookout this year. A gorgeous evening and the parkway was just clogged with riders. I really liked seeing all the people out on bikes.
Ashton – 87.87km
A sunny chilly day for a ride. Shorts, tights, overbooties, shirt, mid-layer, windbreaker, light gloves, nothing under the helmet. The route was a bit of an experiment. I’ve gone out to Ashton before but for some reason have never tried to make a loop out of it. I learned four things.
The Swan, 60km, 2 hours, average speed 29.1km/h
A beautiful sunny afternoon, the wind mostly coming across or at my back.
Put the slicks on today
It was a little chilly today. But the roads are clear of snow and relatively dry so there’s no point keeping the snow tires on. So out came the slicks. Of course it’s always a chore because something has seized up or rusted out over the winter, but I got them on.
Blackburn Hamlet: 44.85km, 1 hour 40 minutes
And so it begins. Rideau Lakes seems a long way away and Kingston a very daunting destination. But it was a lovely day today. Lots of riders out. But uh… 26km/hr average. I have some training to do.
Just sent in my cheque for the 2012 Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour
My road bike is in the shed, trapped behind several feet of snow blocking the door. We have six more weeks of winter and I’m not done with cross country skiing yet but still I filled out my application form and sent the Ottawa Bicycle Club my cheque for the 41st Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour. I’m signing up for the Cruise route again.
Hello rear derailleur, good to feel you again
The past couple of days have been evidence of why some people like single gear bikes in winter. My cassette has been covered in solid ice and my rear derailleur cable has been frozen in its housing. I don’t have a garage at home and at work the parking garage is not heated.
My fifteen seconds of fame
I’m in an Ottawa Sun weather story dispensing advice on biking on a snowy day.
Okay, one more post about the RLCT
And then I’m done. First up, a public thanks to my partner and Mallory’s mother, Irene Jansen. I’ve been eating up at least six non-work, non-sleep hours a week since the snow crept back from the roadsides. And that’s a fair chunk of time that could have been used for other things like cleaning the house, cooking meals, caring for the child, gardening, etc. It’s quite a sacrifice on her part and it’s been stressful on occasion. So thanks.
