my introduction to road bicycles
A couple of weekends ago I participated in a MS (the syndrome not the company) charity bicycle tour with K and D. I borrowed a road bike from a different friend. K is very athletic and I needed all the help I could get. The little wheels on my collapsible have lots of personality but possibly less go. K also lent me padded cycling shorts and a cycling jersey. But the shoes were mine. And so was the pedal power.
The first day we rode 74km, somehow averaging 24km/hr maxing out just under 60km/hr according to D's odometer. I think he must have turned it off whenever we went uphill. Not that the route through Langley was that hilly.
We also visited 4 vineyards, each with a wine-tasting. As they were lovely enough to sponsor the tastings, I will say that the chardonnay at Neck of the Woods is well worth the money, as are the crazy deals over at Domaine de Chaberton. Blackwoods was a bit too uppity and not recommended.
Given that I had never been on a road bike, hadn't trained at all, and had spent the previous month sitting next to a drill, I was rather pleased that I had difficulties with only the last 10km.
After freshening up and competing for the addictive cheesey garlic bread at the Shark Club we drove east to the West Langley Sthorothr Club for a Polynesian themed dinnerdance. They brought in a local Polynesian dance group. Hula dancing is a little different from bellydancing and never ceases to impress me. K and D turned in early but amazingly I still had enough energy to dance the night away with a few friends we made en route. Two guys from Coquitlam were on mountain bikes and managed to stay at the front of the pack. One of them is in trade school learning how to repair elevators. They were hilarious dancers.
The next day, as I finally figured out the trick to the shifty gear shifters, we left the boys in the dust until the wine tasting at Fort Wines. We had arrived near the front of the pack but had to pause for a band-aid. Beware the railway track!!
We then waited ages to drop a small fortune for many bottles of fruit wine and vinegar and jam and chocolate.
Somehow the boys skipped all the queues and beat us to lunch. Lunch was at a berry farm known for its pies. K and I think they're a bit too goopy. Whatever they are, they are not my mother's pies and therefore not worth the price. The blueberry yogurt covered pretzels however....I need to go on more long bike rides. I love the permission it gives you to eat whateverthehell you want.
That day we rode 57km and averaged about 22km/hr.
I fell only once and it was a pity fall for K when I couldn't get my feet out of the toes cages before trying to get off the bike.
I got to work early on the Monday to find that the office had been flooded when the hot water heater failed. Sadly, one of the administrators caused me to lose 2 days of work a few hours later. Double check that you don't put your backup server underneath your hot water heater.
The lovely burn line I earned the first day faded quickly. Why is lidocaine cream sold only in large bottles?
The first day we rode 74km, somehow averaging 24km/hr maxing out just under 60km/hr according to D's odometer. I think he must have turned it off whenever we went uphill. Not that the route through Langley was that hilly.
We also visited 4 vineyards, each with a wine-tasting. As they were lovely enough to sponsor the tastings, I will say that the chardonnay at Neck of the Woods is well worth the money, as are the crazy deals over at Domaine de Chaberton. Blackwoods was a bit too uppity and not recommended.
Given that I had never been on a road bike, hadn't trained at all, and had spent the previous month sitting next to a drill, I was rather pleased that I had difficulties with only the last 10km.
After freshening up and competing for the addictive cheesey garlic bread at the Shark Club we drove east to the West Langley Sthorothr Club for a Polynesian themed dinnerdance. They brought in a local Polynesian dance group. Hula dancing is a little different from bellydancing and never ceases to impress me. K and D turned in early but amazingly I still had enough energy to dance the night away with a few friends we made en route. Two guys from Coquitlam were on mountain bikes and managed to stay at the front of the pack. One of them is in trade school learning how to repair elevators. They were hilarious dancers.
The next day, as I finally figured out the trick to the shifty gear shifters, we left the boys in the dust until the wine tasting at Fort Wines. We had arrived near the front of the pack but had to pause for a band-aid. Beware the railway track!!
We then waited ages to drop a small fortune for many bottles of fruit wine and vinegar and jam and chocolate.
Somehow the boys skipped all the queues and beat us to lunch. Lunch was at a berry farm known for its pies. K and I think they're a bit too goopy. Whatever they are, they are not my mother's pies and therefore not worth the price. The blueberry yogurt covered pretzels however....I need to go on more long bike rides. I love the permission it gives you to eat whateverthehell you want.
That day we rode 57km and averaged about 22km/hr.
I fell only once and it was a pity fall for K when I couldn't get my feet out of the toes cages before trying to get off the bike.
I got to work early on the Monday to find that the office had been flooded when the hot water heater failed. Sadly, one of the administrators caused me to lose 2 days of work a few hours later. Double check that you don't put your backup server underneath your hot water heater.
The lovely burn line I earned the first day faded quickly. Why is lidocaine cream sold only in large bottles?