Tempus Fugit

Latin (tem-pu̇s-ˈfü-git): Time Flies

Category: Cycling

  • Ice Bike X is tomorrow!

    Yikes! It’s tomorrow! Ice Bike 2008

    Actually, I though I might have missed it already, but when I checked this morning, there it was, and I still had time to register. Well, motivation is a little low as it’s -25, but very sunny, so I went over to Woodcock and signed up. Apparently, I was too late to get the collector item T-Shirt, but hey, that’s the price of procrastination. After signing up, I figured I better be a little riding to get ready, after all the last time  was on a bike was November 2007.

    After rounding up all the cold weather gear I headed out the The Forks to check out this years course. The Abominable is much shorter this year at 3 laps and 12km vs. the previous years distance of 20km. Most of the course was ready and marked so I took a test lap. It will be a very fast race this year as there are only two difficult sections. One is a steep downhill with a U-Turn at the bottom and a scramble up the hill again. The other stretch is along the river bank that parallels Tache Ave, where you’re riding across the sloping river bank in some loose snow. The rest of the course is hard packed and clear. Oh yeah, there are a could of stair cases to ride down, one is very steep and I’ve never ridden it down yet. After a lap, I took a slow cruise back to the house. Too late to do any training now, so it’s just gut it out on race day.

    Should be a good ride tomorrow and a little warmer at -13.

  • And then there were five

    Just five riders turned out for the FOG ride yesterday, and after Lockport there were just four of us. It was warmer this week than last, but still fairly cool at about +3 and a light wind. One of the riders drove in from Brandon to join the ride, quite dedicated for a cool late season ride. He was quite a strong rider and on the final leg up Henderson highway into the wind he pace that I certainly had to work hard to keep up to and I think the other two guys were being pushed as well.

    That’s the great thing about group rides, lots of times you get pushed to go harder that you would on your own.

  • Last Ride?

    Today, may have been the last ride with FOG (they really need to jazz up the website). It was -4 at the start and about 14 guys started the ride. By Lockport, a mere 45 minutes into the ride we lost a few and 10 carried on over the Lockport bridge to Birdshill park. This was a change in the typical route and despite an extra lap around the park we were back at the parking lot in under 3 hours and only 74km compared to the typical 95-100km.

    The cold has really taken it’s toll on the group size. Last week, the drop out rate was even higher and only 3 of us when the full distance. While there is no snow yet and the roads are fine, I think I’ll be at the lake next weekend, and riding two weeks from now many be questionable, so this might be it for the season.

    With the cooler morning temperatures combined with the dark at 7am I’ve really lost the drive to cycle to work so I’m going to need to either toughen up or find a replacement activity for the winter to replace the cycling. Perhaps some evening cross country skiing? A great reason to buy some new gear as the current stuff is ancient.

    Oh yeah, I need to blog more. It’s been quite a dry spell.

  • 1.6

    That was the temperature when I left the house this morning for the “coolest” cycle commute to work so far this year. I actually broke out the leg warmers. It was a good ride and great to be back on the bike now that traffic is back to full strength with everyone back from summer vacations & construction is at it’s peak in the down town core. Both these factors are really messing up the commute for car drivers, but no problem when you’re on a bicycle.

    The number of bikes in the lockup compound at the office is way down. I think the temperature has killed off a few cyclists, much like the first frost hits your garden. Only the hearty survive.

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  • Riding in an Echelon

    Echelon: a paceline of drafting cyclists grouped in two staggered lines, one moving forward into wind, the other moving backward sheltered downwind by the others. (source)

    On yesterdays FOG ride I experienced my first taste of riding in an echelon. We’d just turned onto Hwy 206 and there was a fairly strong cross wind and the next thing I know I hear some yelling about “Up on the right and back on the left”. This was followed by lots of coaching comments which helped me a lot since I was a newbie at this maneuver. I found it quite a lot of fun, but it was very busy and you really had to pay attention. With only 12 riders you were looping up to the front quite rapidly. This went along well until the traditional breakaway as we approached a hill entering into Birds Hill Park. At 75km into the ride I don’t yet have the legs to keep up with some of the faster guys, which today was almost everybody.

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  • Drafting

    An unusual thing happened on the ride home from work today, a guy passed me.

    Normally, I’m passing the other cyclists but this time a guy passed me. He was wearing an Olympia jersey, packing some gear and riding a mountain bike, obviously a serious cycling commuter such as myself. So, of course I stepped it up a bit and fell in behind him enjoying the draft. Then he pulled out into the middle of the lane for a short period and then back to the curb. At first, I didn’t know what to make of this but when he did it the second time I knew it was an invitation to take the lead an pull for a while. We worked it most of the way down St. Marys and we’re flying at a very respectable 36-37km/h. This doesn’t happen very often especially on the commute ride, and it was fun to silently fall into the pattern of helping each other speed up the ride.

    It was a good thing to go a little faster than normal as a major downpour erupted as I pulled into the driveway. I hope he made it home before the storm as well. Good riding buddy!

  • Boat up Starbucks


    Boat up Starbucks
    Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

    Just steps away from the dock is a Starbucks, the only boat up location in the world.

    But, this morning I didn’t boat up for my morning Grande Dark Roast, I cycled in from the cottage, a 35km round trip. It was a great ride on a sunny but not too hot morning. There were a couple of Cat 4 & 5 climbs and then there was the Cat 1 climb from the swamp to the peak of Branch Road #3, a narrow and twisting climb. There were also several fast descents hitting 60+ km/h.

    While in Kenora enjoying the coffee a couple on a tandem pulling a BOB trailer stopped to ask me directions to the cycle shop in town. After I gave them the directions I asked about their trip and where they were going. This couple were older that Shirley and I and they had left Montreal and where heading to Vancouver! Will they have some stories to tell.

    I watched several boat-loads of kids getting loaded into large boats for the run out to Camp Stephens. One of the boat drivers encourages the kids to wave good bye to their parents, but not too much happened. These kids were either too terrified about going to camp or waving bye-bye just was not cool.

    After a little cruising around town, it was petal to the max for the return trip back to the cottage in time for a late breakfast. an awesome start to the day!

  • Official

    It’s really “official” now as I picked up my FOG cycling jersey before this mornings ride. It really makes you feel like one of the guys.

    The ride was great as usual, a much more controlled pace all the way to Selkirk where we “crashed” the local parade for a block as we cut through town. We got some cheers and waves and there were close to forty riders today, so it was an impressive line.

    I was at the back of the pack on a couple of stretches after Selkirk when they kicked it up to 47+ km/h for some long stretches. But there was a cool little sprint right at the end of the ride as we neared the parking lot that I got in on. Not sure how fast it was but 6-8 of us were flying out front, quite the rush.

  • The “real” century

    I think I’ll sign-up for this ride. After a few more Saturdays with FOG I should be good to go the distance, in miles of course. There we go, the commitment is made and it’s out there. Anybody want to keep me company?

    Muddy Waters 100

    The ride date for 2007 is Sunday August 12. Thank you to the volunteers who helped out at the Rest Stops at Selkirk, Bird’s Hill Park, Highland Park and to the First Aid staff.

    This ride is a non-competitive event that is open to all interested cyclists. It is not a race. Muddy Waters is a not for profit group of volunteers who have an interest in cycling and come together once per year to organize this event. All monies received are to cover costs only.

    Muddy Waters is run by volunteers. We always need more to help out for the day of the ride. If you or know someone who could help out please contact us via mbmuddywaters@hotmail.com

  • Accidental Century

    In cycling, riding a centruy is riding 100 miles, of late a metric century has also become a term for riding 100km. Typically, you are supposed to train and work up to these kinds of rides, building your distance until you can complete a century. This is a very common goal for most avid cyclists.

    Well, today I’ve completed a metric century ride pretty much by accident. As Shirley is working on more Saturdays now and we’re not at the lake, I decided to join FOG, Fast Old Guys, a cycling club here in Winnipeg. The ride leaves from the Perimiter and Main street and has a stated goal of riding at about 35km/hour. What really wasn’t all that clear was how far they were planning on riding. I should have read the small print on the website where it states that rides can go up to 140km.

    I arrive at the designated start point and make contact with the club secretary to announce that I’m a first time rider and to hand in my paperwork. I’m withholding the $50 membership until after the ride, just in case I can’t keep up with these guys. I think “old” is becoming more and more subjective. At the start of the ride they were kidding a guy who just turned 50, a spring chicken. Some of these guys looked more like “old” 30-40 year olds, but there was a good representation of grey hair. 29 riders started out on todays ride. I got the basic ride rules and etiquette from the club secretary Rene, a very nice guy who lead the group and kept a eye out for the new riders.

    We start the ride at 9am as advertised and head out across the bridge to Main St. and onto River Road going north to Lockport. I’m having no trouble with the pace, in fact it seems a little slow but I’m busy working more on keeping in formation and watching 4-5 riders up the line to anticipate what’s coming up. On River Road a rider flats and the whole group stops & waits while he repairs, then we’re on our way. The next brief stop is in Selkirk. From there farther north on 320 , then across the Red River on Hyw 4.  This is where it gets interesting.

    It seems there is an unwritten rule that all hills are a race, so as we approach the bridge to cross the red River, the approach is a hill, as much as one can generally expect for this part of the flat parries.  The nice tidy two columns of riders break apart and multiple sprint groups quickly form. I’m still feeling really good and fresh, so I hook onto the wheel of one of the guys and kick it up a few notches. What I didn’t know was this guy was one of the faster riders and we’re now the two person freight train passing everybody up this hill and soon we’re in front. OK, as the new rider I’m now feeling a little awkward and so I slow up and then rejoin the pack as things settle back into place.

    At Hwy 4 & 59 we take a brief stop while the group discusses where and how far we’re going to ride. At this point about 5-6 riders are heading back down 59, back to teh start as they are done for the day. The majority of the group is still up for more riding so off we go down Hwy 44 to go into Birds Hill Park. At Hwy 206 the lead riders, who I’m right behind head up 206 towards the west gate of the park.

    Hwy 206 is a long straight stretch, and I take a couple of turns pulling at the front of the pack. Then, along comes another hill, well more like a very long grade and everyone is pouring it on. I’m getting tired now and I’m having trouble keeping pace and the pack is pulling away. One rider drops back and I hook onto his wheel and he helps me up to the park gate where everyone has slowed down and I rejoin the group. At this point I know for sure I’m the weakest rider here. These guys have speed and endurance .

    At a leisurely pack we wind down the roads to the beach area for a rest stop. Plus, I think this stop is also to check out what’s happening on the beach! Later, I find out that Rene did an extra 4km while we were resting. After this stop, it’s up some paths to the road and a full lap of the park (11km) and out onto 59. Here part of the group head back on 59 and the group I stuck with went down a gravel road across the Floodway and a series of back roads, with bad asphalt (ouch).

    This is where I really get into trouble. I’m very tired, a bit lost, and I catch my self staring at the wheel directly in front of me and I’m wishing we were done, but knowing that I have to hang on to the group to get back. Finally I say to the rider next to me that I need to slow down. He sprints ahead hollering for the rest of the group to stop. He catches them and they turn back to meet up with me and we all stop. I really was very poorly prepared for this distance of ride. I’d only brought water, no food and really not enough water either. On of the guys gives me a bunch of Carbo Goo, which is a thick gel kind of stuff and some Gatorade to wash it down. He says it will kick in in a few minutes and will help me get some energy back to complete the ride. They ask if I know my name and if I’ve been hallucinating. Apparently you can crash quite badly on a ride when you haven’t been keeping up your energy intake. While I’m recovering they talk about some rider who threw up at the end of his first ride and they haven’t seen him since. It was very nice to get the help and the guys were very patient and encouraging. Kind of like the Marines, “we will leave no man behind”. After a few minutes we get back underway at a bit slower pace and I’m feeling pretty good.

    I get a few more tips about what to eat on the ride and that I should talk a couple of Tylenol when I get home, which sounds like a great idea as several parts of my body are complaining about the length of time I’ve been cycling. Just as we approach the parking lot I casually ask the guy next to me how far we’ve gone and it’s 116km, a distance I’ve never done in a single ride before, the closest being 70km. I’m happy with the accomplishment and decide to join FOG and get a club jersey so I can really fit in with the group.

    You can see the route here on Google Maps, or fly the route on Google Earth with the FOG Ride.kmz

    It was a great experience and the guys were very friendly and helpful to a new rider. I’m looking forward to the next ride and for sure I’ll be better prepared.