Computer-assisted ride #2

I was less distracted this time, but I still found my eyes straying downward to check my cadence, or my current speed, or my total distance, or my average speed. So focused was I on maintaining a good speed and cadence that I didn't stop to take photos. But since I know for sure that I am riding acceptably fast and am keeping my pedals spinning frequently enough, from now on I will be able to relax and enjoy the view, stopping to take photos when I feel like it. After all, that's what makes my country bike rides so special. 

As the corny-but-true old song puts it: "You gotta stop and smell the roses..."

It was a gorgeous morning. After a week of rain, everything looked so green and lush. 

I set out at 9:00 a.m. and rode for more than 2 hours, covering almost 60 K. The wind was at my back on the big downhill and I saw the speed reach 53.8 km/hr. I wasn't even scared and didn't feel the need to brake; it was actually kind of fun.

The temp was about 15 C -- 

just right for a short-sleeved jersey and my bespoke arm warmers. 

Today I was truly the solitary cyclist-- I saw no other riders until I got back to town. And there at the first intersection I saw two guys heading north. I'm afraid I laughed a bit when I saw them: they reminded me of Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Identical bikes. Identical name-brand (in large letters) kit. I know, I shouldn't laugh. Maybe they are part of a team of highly respected professional riders, with many wins under their belts. 

If so, I apologize for laughing.

 

Reflections on another week of commuting by bicycle.

Another busy week without much time to write about what I've done. Another week of commuting to work by bicycle. Really, is there any other way?

I had to find a new parking spot at the west end of the city, as there is heavy-duty big-time construction on the street where I used to park. I found another spot nearby. This spot seems ideal and extends the length of my commute slightly -- to 9 km. That extra 1/2 K makes me feel good!

On Tuesday I discovered that I'd left my cell phone in my purse overnight and it was absolutely dead. I do have a car charger, but it doesn't seem to work very well, so I essentially had no phone as I rode to work. I decided to ride through the city instead of the River Valley, just in case. I am cautious by nature and like to prepare for the worst, so I figure if something goes wrong and I am close to a store or a restaurant or the museum, I can always get help. If I'm in the River Valley, I am stranded. Anyway, riding on the city streets -- specifically Stony Plain Road and 102 Avenue -- made me very thankful for the River Valley option! I can't believe that until late last fall I rode on the streets every day. (I didn't know about the River Valley route before then.) I can't believe how much gravel and other debris there is along the curbs on 102 Avenue, a signed bike route. I can't believe how much traffic there is -- and how slowly it moves -- along this same street. I can't believe how many people ride their bikes counter-traffic on the narrow sidewalks across the bridges. I can't believe how stupid the 116 Street/100 Avenue intersection is. I rode home the same way, because I wanted to stop at MEC to look for a jersey. This ride was also less pleasant than my normal ride through the River Valley, but totally worth it, because on 100 Avenue I saw a sight I never thought I'd see: two EPS officers on bikes, riding side-by-side on the sidewalk, against traffic. Hmmm.

On Wednesday I rode through the River Valley. Wednesday started out as a nice day, but when I left work, it was beginning to sprinkle and the clouds were threatening worse to come. And worse came. I was nervous about riding down the Fortway Road hill, with its many potholes and copious amounts of gravel, in the rain, so I thought I'd try something new -- taking my bike down the staircase just east of the Royal Glenora. Big mistake. The heavy panniers on my bike meant I couldn't control it on the steep stairs -- I couldn't get it to behave on the ramp, and it was too heavy for me to carry. Just as I'd decided to remove the panniers, take the bike down on its own and then come back up for the panniers, a sweet young couple who were running up and down the stairs saw my dilemma. The guy very kindly picked up my bike and carried it down while I carried the panniers. Boy, do I owe them one! Obviously, that is one thing I will not try to do again!

By the time I resumed riding after that near-fiasco, the heavy rain had started, and moments later it began to thunder as well. I was soaked to the skin before I came out of the River Valley, and then as I exited the 100 Avenue shared sidewalk, the hail started. Fortunately it wasn't the size of baseballs or even golf balls, maybe more like chocolate chips, but that was big enough. When I finally got back to the car, I was so wet that I decided to change my clothes (I had some shorts in my pannier) in the back seat! This was the first time in almost three years of riding every day that I've ridden in a thunderstorm. I've ridden in normal rain, snow and sleet; now I can add thunder and hail to the list.

Thursday's commute was simply lovely -- on my to work I saw a nice big rabbit sitting on the hillside watching the human traffic go by. On the way home there were a few puddles from the afternoon rain, but the clouds were thinning and the sun was peeking through. I finished the work week happy and thankful to be able to get some exercise and have fun, instead of sitting in a car in stop-and-go traffic, on my way to work.

n + 1

I've never thought of myself as an "n+1" type of person. You know, where the ideal number of a possession is the number you already have, or n, plus one.

I'm generally an advocate of simple living, being content with what one has, keeping possessions to a minimum. Cashmere sweaters aside, of course.

And,as it turns out, bicycles.

Until recently, I'd always had just one bike. An all-purpose bike for running errands and going for family bike rides. Why would I need more than one?

Ah, yes, but in those days I didn't ride my bike to work. When I started bicycle commuting almost three years ago, I needed a commuter bike. Something fast and efficient and capable of handling heavy loads. This is how Miranda came to be part of my life. She served me well for commuting until I got the urge to ride in winter, too. Then I needed a winter commuter bike, one that could handle the abuse heaped on it by the elements. I didn't actually buy a new bike for this purpose, just recruited and adapted one we had on hand -- one that had been rejected by all the other family members.

Then last fall, I started road riding -- longer distances on the country roads around town. Miranda was OK for that purpose, but I soon felt the need for something a little sleeker and faster. Hence, my flat bar road bike purchase.

Three bikes. I should be satisfied, right? Um, no. I also like to use a bike around town for shopping, going to the library, riding to friends' houses and my son's school, stuff like that. I was using Miranda for this purpose, but there were a couple of problems:

• because of the frame style, I can't wear a skirt while riding Miranda. In summer I often wear skirts and it's a pain to have to change clothes just to ride a few blocks. A step-through frame would eliminate that need.
• because I ride Miranda in a more forward-leaning posture, many of my everyday tops are unsuitable to wear while riding her. As I lean forward, the top of my shirt often gapes, allowing passers-by to see more than I want them to see. Also, many shirts ride up at the back, leaving a bare expanse of skin. Not a pretty sight. A more upright style bike would be ideal
• finally, I wanted to equip the bike with panniers and a basket and -- in a few months -- a child seat for Little Granddaughter. I wanted to be able to leave everything on the bike most of the time.

In short, a fourth bike -- a girly-style bike, or if you will, a Grandma bike, was beckoning. I had my eye on a Brodie, but I simply couldn't justify the expense, especially considering I have a future fifth bike in mind as well.

So, back to the Grandma bike. Last Saturday morning we went garage saling. We needed a dresser for Teenage Son's room and found a beautiful vintage, even antique-ish, solid wood specimen for only $20. He was pleased.

Then we went on to find a bike for me. At this sale, $50.00 got me a step-through bike AND a sterling silver and pearl necklace.Not bad!

Bonnie Blue with Basil panniers and MEC rack pack

In the afternoon, I equipped the bike, hereafter known as Bonnie Blue, with panniers and rackpack, and donned my helmet to ride first to the library and then on to Safeway for some groceries. I wouldn't want to use this bike to ride up and down the hills on the country roads north of town, but for getting around town in style, it seems perfect.

One problem, however. I wore regular clothing: jeans and a slim-fitting, though very modest, navy blue T-shirt. I couldn't believe the ogling and honks I endured. I was the only woman cycling around town, and I guess our sleepy prairie city is not ready for women dressed like women riding bikes. Maybe I'll start a trend.

distracted riding

My sons gave me a bike computer for Mother's Day. I was thrilled, but felt a bit overwhelmed when I read the installation instructions.

In the evening on Victoria Day, Hubby very kindly attached it to my bike, but all this past week the weather was lousy, and we were busy with an ESO (symphony) concert, Teenage Son's school band concert, and other stuff, so I didn't get to put it to the test until today.

Talk about distracted riding! Speed, cadence, distance, you name it... it's all there, begging me to keep my eyes cast downward. I almost forgot to look around me and enjoy the fact that I was riding through some very beautiful country on a very beautiful day. 

I came to my senses as I crested the hill that is home to my favourite pond, and tuned in to my surroundings in time to see a muskrat gliding along on top of the water. The red wing blackbirds were out in force, too, as noisy as ever.

Shortly after this I spied a pair of riders on drop-bar bikes a couple hundred meters ahead of me. I was rapidly gaining on them, which is always an awkward feeling, but as I got closer I saw that the hair peeking out from the woman rider's helmet was completely grey. Hmm, I thought, older people. Nevertheless, when it came time to pass, I almost fell off my bike when I saw that they were not just 60 or 70, but possibly close to 80! I was impressed. I sure hope I can still ride like that when I am their age.

 On my way back into town, I saw a red-tailed hawk perched on the fence beside the road. As I rode towards him, I expected him to fly away, but he stayed there in a photo-perfect pose. I took the bait and stopped (remembering to clip out!) but just as I began to open my bag to take out my camera, he took off, leaving me standing there staring after him. Someday...

I rode about 60 km and kept my speed and cadence at fairly respectable levels. I started out wearing my Under Armour allweather base layer, topped by a long-sleeve lightweight jersey and my Sugoi convertible jacket. After only a few kilometers, I stopped to remove the sleeves of my jacket, and then I was perfectly comfortable for the rest of the ride. When I left our indoor/outdoor thermometer said 12 C. The wind was from the southeast -- not too strong, but enough to keep me pedaling on the downhill stretches. The highest speed I reached going downhill was 45 km/hour.

Why didn't we walk?

As part of a unit on healthy living, I shared an adapted version of this CBC article with my ESL students. The article cites recent surveys showing that few Canadian children, perhaps only 25-35%, use active modes of transportation to get to and from school. On top of this, only 4% of 12-17 year-old youth get the recommended one hour of exercise per day.

My sons have always ridden their bikes -- to school and to work and to their friends' homes. But I know that many of their friends are driven almost everywhere. As the article points out, parents are used to driving places, and they don't even think about walking or riding bikes instead.

The responses of my students were interesting: 

• Some had the same reaction I had: this state of affairs is disgraceful and parents should work to change it.
• A few thought schools should take more responsibility to ensure that children get enough exercise. One single guy gave a rather impassioned speech about how parents are busy working and come home tired and should not have to worry about making sure their children get enough exercise. 
• A young mother from Korea said that when she first moved to Edmonton she was shocked to see that parents drive their kids to school, but once she started doing it, she liked it, as it gave her some daily quality time with her children. She also said that she thinks Canadian schoolchildren get plenty of exercise, thanks to P.E. classes and recess. She was so earnest and sincere that there was no way I was going to rain on her parade!
• A woman from China expressed disgust at the line of cars waiting to pick up and drop off schoolchildren -- and she was particularly disturbed by the number of people who keep their cars running for 10 to 20 minutes as they wait in line. 

I've been encouraged, as I commute by bicycle to work, to see quite a few children walking or riding bikes to school. I can only hope that their numbers will increase!

City splendours

Every bicycle commuter should be able to ride at least part of her way on a path like this one. This is how I start my day. It smells as good as it looks. 

Lilac blossoms are beginning to open, the pink-flowered shrubs (? double-flowering plum ?) are in full flower, and there are also many of my favourite spring tree, laden with especially fragrant white flowers. I just found out that these trees are called Mayday trees. One of my Ukrainian students told me that in Ukraine they are called "Bird Cherry" trees, and apparently the fruit is a type of chokecherry.

It seems that Mayday trees are also useful for hiding shopping carts. (I guess for certain segments of the population, losing one's shopping cart might constitute a "mayday"!)

This morning, as I rode along this lovely, sweet-smelling path, I was thinking that I could almost forget I was in the city... until I came to this section of the trail!

a scented ride

Today I didn't go out of town for a bike ride. I find that when I ride a lot I have trouble keeping the weight on, and I was feeling a bit skinny today. So I decided to go for a shorter, less intense ride. I rode about 18 km on the trails and streets, and it seemed like everywhere I rode, I saw -- and smelled -- these white blossoms on the trees. It sure beats manure, a scent I encounter occasionally on my country rides.

 

I rode to the library, via the multi-use paths, to return some stuff and then rode on the new road near the golf course, where I spent many hours skiing this past winter. It looks like a different world these days. Then I rode as far west as I could, to the new school, and then back to the woods, up the trail and home.

 

  After I got home, I took the dog for a walk. Hubby has been bothered by allergies the last few days, and walking is miserable for him, so it was just me and Maggie today. I loved the look of the sunlight highlighting the yellow-gold lichens on these trees.