Biking on November 4th
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Yep, that’s me with the bike, and it’s dark out at 5:30pm, but it;s a balmy +16°. I’ve just cycle commuted home from work and it could be one of the last rides for a while.

It’s forecaster to rain tomorrow, and I’m not quite hard core enough to start out my day in the rain. After that they are calling for snow, and I’m definitely not riding in that! Well, at least not until it’s cold enough that the “slush season” is over, and then we’ll see.

p.s. - notice the shorts!

Still there!
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

On Friday as I was walking back to the office to change for the ride home a co-worker informs me that the bike cage has been broken into and his bike has been stolen! A few more steps and I see that my bike is still there, the only bike way in the back of the cage, right where I left it and still locked.

Some people have no respect for property and are obviously quite brazen. The robbery was in the middle of the afternoon, in a busy area, under a security camera, and locked in a full cage. Today I lear that the stolen bike was not locked to the rack inside the cage. The guy thought that being in a locked cage would be enough. The rest of us are just a little more paranoid an apparently justifiably so. We lock up inside the cage as well.

And he’s a Canadian as well!

World’s Fastest Cyclist Hits 82.3 MPH | Autopia from Wired.com

Sam Whittingham is the fastest cyclist on the planet, having pedaled his sleek recumbent bicycle to a stunning 82.3 mph to claim the world record for a human-powered vehicle.

The bike-builder from British Columbia bested his previous record of 81.02 mph during a picture-perfect run through the desert during the World Human Powered Speed Challenge outside Battle Mountain, Nevada.

My Stats

Today’s ride was my best of the season so far! It was a cool start at 6°C but warmed up to 16°C over the course of the ride. I did well in the sprint into Selkirk and over the “Big Bridge”. After re-grouping I rode with 7 other guys in the “fast” group and we worked well together keeping a pace in the 40-45km/h range until we caught up to the main group. It was a slow pace over to Hwy 206 where I found myself at the front and then suddenly alone as the group had dropped back. On 206 I’m usually starting to fade and typically get dropped going up the two small hills.

But today, today was different. I still felt strong and again found myself at the front as we approached the hills. I kept a steady 35 up both hills and was just waiting for somebody to try and pass as I was ready to really jump on the petals and give them a run for it but nobody came! At the top, I dropped right & back to let somebody else take the lead and then there was a sprint for the Park gate on the flat. I was trapped in the shoulder side with everyone coming by on my left. Once I got a break it was time to hammer down and I caught all but a coupe of guys before the gate.

After a half lap of the park it was the long downhill to Hwy 59. We’re in the line and my buddy says “let’s go” so we both pull out and are flying down to the overpass. I suspect this is where I hit the 57km/h. The two others eased off, but I kept up a solid 40 up to the top of the overpass before taking a breather. Even going up 59 where I’m usually shot, I was still feeling good and riding well. As we turn back onto Henderson Hwy, one of the guys says “I’m just going to spin back”, I said “Did he say spin back or sprint back” and my riding buddy and I leave the group behind as we sprint back to the parking lot.

A great day and a good ride.

Lance Armstrong reportedly to seek to race in 2009 Tour de France - Los Angeles Times

Lance Armstrong will end his retirement and hopes to compete in the 2009 Tour de France, according to a cycling journal report, but Astana cycling team officials denied the comeback would be associated with them.

“He is no part of our team,” Astana team press officer Philippe Maertens told the Associated Press in an e-mail. “Team Astana has no plans with him.”

Up early today and resumed my morning workout on the Bowflex with some core work tossed in for about an hour. But, somewhere along the line I seem to have dragged a little because I got into the office about 15 minutes behind the planned schedule. I cycled hard coming in, so perhaps I’ll need to get up earlier that 6am (uggg!). Maybe the answer is in eating a faster breakfast?

In any case it was good to get back to the program and surprising how much the core work hurt after laying off the workouts for most of the summer.

Early morning
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

I was up sort of early this morning, not quite early enough to catch the sunrise, but definitely some nice calm quiet time to do some reading down a the dock. I’m currently reading Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive by John Eldredge and enjoying the book very much.

After some reading I’m feeling the need, the need for speed, on the bike that is. So, after attaching a second water bottle cage and loading up, I’m off for a run into Kenora. The route is about a 40km return trip with the usual hill climbs to get from our branch road out to the highway. After that, it’s paved shoulders all the way, but with some longer, less steep grades. In preparation for the upcoming mountain hike of Mt. Thompson, I’m climbing every hill out of the saddle to work the legs more and hopefully simulate more of a climbing exercise that will pay off when we’re hiking.

Garry and the Bike
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Just after starting the ride, it started to rain, and then it rained harder, but hey it’s warm and it’s only water so I push on to Kenora. It rains the entire way for about one hour, and I’m fully soaked. After a little crusing around town, it’s back to the cottage. This part of the ride is rain-free, but there are still puddles and spray from cars. When I’m back I notice a gritty feeling in my mouth were I’ve apparently inhaled some road debris. Yummy!

Shirley in the Kayak
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

After making a post-ride breakfast of bacon and eggs, it’s down to the dock, where it’s now hot and sunny with very few clouds. Shirley and I head out for a paddle in the kayaks down to the bottom of the bay and I’m starting to think that a shirt would have been a good idea as the hot sun is frying my back. However, things change quickly and as we’re paddling back a thunder clap is heard and we’re caught in a downpour and get totally soaked by the time we’re back at the dock. An hour later as I write this, it’s clear and sunny again. It’s been quite a weather day!

Tonight, nobody cooks as we’re going out to the Plaza Restaurant to celebrate a birthday.

FOG Riders
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

My Stats

Today’s ride was a little longer that typical due to taking the Cooks Creek route option. The weather was very fine with temperatures in the mid-20s and a clear sky for the ride as you can see from the picture that I took during the ride. The photo was a little tricky, but now I have my own photo’s of the group.

It was a very large group today and at times quite unruly with people riding 4 across, some cutting into the line, and a near bump on River Road, but nothing compared to what happened at the end.

We’re just coming up Henderson Hwy approaching the Legion, just a few minutes from finishing the ride, and two riders go down right in front of me. I manage to brake without getting rear-ended and put off onto the grassy shoulder and avoid getting tangled up in the crash. Wow, do these things happen fast!

From what the riders involved said, the first rider to go down had his front wheel bumped by the rider in front of him as he moved over a bit. This started a nasty wobble for the first rider to go down that he couldn’t recover from, and the second person was just unable to get out of the way. It may be a little harsh, but this was a self-inflicted crash, as the first rider to go down must have been overlapping wheels with the rider ahead. I’ve been cautioned on this before and now I’m quite careful to avoid overlapping for just this reason. Perhaps in a race, or the Tour de France the pro’s will ride in this position, but on a group ride of amatures, it’s a receipe for trouble. Well, both riders seemed physically OK, but bike damage my be another story. Being that close to a crash gave me a new respect for the issues of riding in a group in a tight formation.

Seen a better day
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Yesterday I took this photo of my cycling computer. It’s seen a few kilometers, 10,570 to be exact. It’s been on the Rockhopper since the bike was new except for a short time when I tried out a different computer.

Today, on the ride to work it fell off on the street, so I think I’ll need to replace it.

Classy Bike #2
Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

Being a cyclist, this is a sad thing to see. This bike is locked outside probably some of the most expensive condos in downtown Toronto, right in the harbour front. But gauging from the rust and two flats, this bike has not seen too many miles.km lately.