How was your ride today? Week of June 29th

Submitted by pinkrobe on

My right soleus is stiff after the RTCC this past weekend, but it didn't factor into the ride this morning. Traffic was not bad at all, and everyone was pretty mellow. Thumbs up!

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Guaranteed

Submitted by Julie Gregg on

Roger, I gaurantee you'll get a surprise one day and be "caught" in the rain. Once that happens it won't even phase you anymore and you'll willingly start out in the rain!! Good job.

Nice ride to start the week.

Submitted by BCDon on

Coming in from the South, I appear to have hit a bit of a tailwind at 7:00 this morning. In any case, a little quicker into the office than normal but I'm riding a different bike today (one which should be slower so I'm thinking Tail wind).

No surprises this morning which was nice. I was looking forward to a nice North wind this afternoon heading home but the revised forecast is a South Wind. I think I'll take a different route home so I don't time my return trip :).

RAIN. Its a fact of life, I don't really mind it once I'm riding but I have to admit it is tough to get going in it. And I'm not happy about having to clean the grit off the bike & chain and reoil. And there is a BIG difference between rain and a downpour, also depends upon time of day, a thundershower when it is warm that doesn't last for long is just fine. Riding when the clouds are low enough that you can't see the tops of larger buildings sucks.

rain talk?

Submitted by ride on

What's with all this rain talk? We're just finishing up one of the driest Junes on record. This month is supposed to be our rainiest month, and yet we've had nearly nothing but sun.

Still, on the topic of rain...

Rain is one of those things we experience as cyclists that help keep us in touch with the earth. It lets us know that there is a planet out there that continues to operate beyond our air-conditioned buildings and heated homes, and that we are alive while experiencing the weather that this planet throws at us.

I love the uncertainty of rainy days, trying to judge the ideal moment between the showers to zip out and dash home without getting too wet. When I succeed, I feel pleased, and when I don't... well, that's what warm showers are for!

hail yes!

Submitted by ride on

I remember a day about three years ago in the summer. The sky suddenly looked dark and threatening, in line with the thunderstorm that was forecast to develop. I packed up early at the office and made a dash for home. Exiting Bow Valley Square onto 5th Ave SW, I felt a few little hailstones fall on my head and body, and on the road around me. Foolish me, I still thought I had a chance of getting home unscathed if I hurried.

I booted it up 1 St SW and raced across the lights at 4 Ave SW, but within that two-block stretch the few little random hailstones turned into a massive onslaught of intense hail. As I turned onto 3 Ave SW eastbound, I realized I had to get off the road because I could no longer see pavement!

I ducked into Sun Life Plaza and watched the storm. During the following ten minutes the skies just opened, and the cloud dumped its load of ice on the city. Trees shook from intense gusts of wind from the downdraft created by the mass of falling ice. It was simply incredible to see the transformation from summer to winter in a few minutes.

After fifteen minutes, the sun popped out, and after another five minutes, passing motorists had crushed the ice pellets off the driving lane; I was able to ride home without further excitement.

All in all, it was quite a show, and I wouldn't have missed it for anything. My clothes dried while I was waiting in the office building!

will an umbrella work?

Submitted by tyler883 on

I wonder if an umbrella would work to protect me from hail if I am too far from cover.

I'd prefer to hide under an overpass, but that isn't always possible.

Some umbrellas are maybe 12" long and would tuck away into one of my commuter packs quite nicely. At $5-10 I guess it wouldn't matter if it got damaged, as long as it offered some protection before it gets damaged.

I'm sorry

Submitted by tyler883 on

I'm sorry, i didn't explain myself. I think I would pull the umbrella out and hold it over my head while looking for better shelter.

You are correct. I doubt that I could ride with it in my hands, its more likely that I would walk my bike to cover.

foolishly falling down

Submitted by ride on

My ride home today didn't go so well today. All of my limbs already have scrapes and scabs on them from a particularly intense session of bike polo last Tuesday, so I sure didn't need what happened next.

Pulling up behind a car at the left-turn lane from eastbound Memorial Drive onto northbound Edmonton Trail, I noticed that the car ahead of me had a sticker on its Thule box that said "My other car is a bike". So I pulled up beside the car and asked the driver where he got it. He said he couldn't remember.

Just then the left-turn light turned green, so I said "I'll go ahead of you", and stepped on it. Did I mention I was wearing brand-new cycling shoes with new cleats in them? That must have had an effect, along with me pulling up hard on the pedals (I'm riding a fixie so I need extra effort to accelerate from a stop). My left shoe jumped out of the cleat, threw me off balance, and I tumbled over the handlebars onto the pavement. Haven't done that, ever, in 30 years of bike commuting! All my scabs and scrapes protested mightily.

Before I could pick myself up and get out of the way, the light had turned red and only one car could get through (on the red). But surprisingly, no one honked his horn. Perhaps they were all too busy laughing at my misfortune. And now you can too!

I promptly went to pick up some cold beer to salve my broken ego.

Holy Man! or Holey man!

Submitted by Jaykay65 on

This pic should have that warning;
"The following photograph contains graphic images that may not be suitable for some. Viewer Discretion is advised."
Just imagine the stories you can tell about each of those scars. "Well kids, this one time...."

:-)

Ride Safer!

Light Road Rash is . . .

Submitted by BCDon on

Nature's way of telling you are alive. :).

My last "get off" was riding along the path with a very light touch on the handlebars, going about 25K when I hit a bump and the front wheel twisted. I went down on my side and as I was sliding along the pavement I could feel my thigh heating up so I rolled for the last few feet. When I got up it didn't look too bad but there was a small dinner plate size oozing wound under my shorts. Painful to sleep on and had to figure out how to wear clothes when it was somewhat of a seeping wound.

Fortunately whenever I've pulled a cleat out I haven't had a subsequent issue.

Snow is worse than rain.

Submitted by BCDon on

I've cycled the Icefields parkway a number of times and once, as I was leaving the Icefields early in the morning, I hit snow. Large, fluffy, heavy snow flakes. They float down nice and gently. But, when you ride, especially down a nice steep hill, they hit your face and any other exposed area and sting pretty darn good.

The only Hail I've ridden in is when there was a bit of light hail hitting the helmet, nothing serious.

I do know that the Calgary Weather can change VERY fast. As I have a ride of about an hour home (I head south so with todays wind it was an hour and 10 minutes), I can't outrun a storm but have to either wait it out or hope that it doesn't come on too strong.

As some one else stated, when I ride home and "beat" the storm or don't get rained on that's a bonus. When I start riding and it rains and looks black and then just when I get home it stops and clears up well, that's not so nice.

Back in the saddle again!

Submitted by bike2workman on

Good thing that only your ego was broken Ride. The photo of your legs makes me think that I don't want to take up bike polo.

Today was my first commute since May 4, when I broke my wrist as the result of a high speed "get off" on a downhill in Nose Hill Park. The wrist is still stiff, and a little sore, but it gets a little better every day so I'm hopeful that it will be back to normal soon.

It was nice to ride in shorts - the weather back in April was still a little too cool for that.

Don

'Twas cooler

Submitted by Jaykay65 on

Slept with the windows open last night, and I needed an extra blanket. It was difficult to throw those covers back and get the feet to the floor this AM.

I have been wearing long sleeve shirts for the morning rides and probably should have had an extra layer on my torso this morning. Brrrr!

But hey, there was no sweat when I got to the office this morning!!

Waiting

Submitted by pinkrobe on

I've written lately about trying to get in to work a bit early to beat traffic. Once again I pulled my carcass out of bed and hauled myself into the shower, got out, dried off and put on some clothes. That's when I noticed my wife removing her shirt. Zounds! I'm going to be late for work, for the best reason possible! :-D

'Twas all for naught, as I quickly determined that she was trying on outfits for work. Boooo! After several outfits, she jammed the preferred one in her pack and I thought we were out the door. Alas, alack, she had to make herself some lunch. "Let's see, what goes well with mixed greens? Strawberries are good. I wonder if this cheese is okay... Now, which bread works with all of this..."

Thankfully, traffic was fine and I made all of my lights. I think I need to go to a 53x17...

Last Day

Submitted by Julie Gregg on

Just realized this is my last day to ride for awhile. Tomorrow stat holiday, Thursday is company Stampede party and will cab it home so I guess I'll bus in with my cow girl duds on. Leavin' for Hawaii for a week so chat with you all mid July!

Today was exciting

Submitted by mike runs on

Riding home about 9 p.m. through Fish Creek park north from Sikome, nice north wind and about three trillion mosquitos. I'm still picking black bits out of my teeth and eyes.

riding in the hail

Submitted by ride on

Yesterday we were playing grass-court bike polo at Queen Elizabeth school like every Tuesday, when the arctic front when through. The wind picked up strongly and dust was flying. We kept playing. (The team running downwind had a huge advantage!).

Then it started to spit, then rain more heavily. We kept playing. After all, the score was only 7 to 5 at that point. And further, we needed to be at least as tough as the teams of 10-year-olds continuing to play soccer in the field next to us!

Then it started to hail lightly. After all, the score was only 8 to 7 at that point.

Then it started to hail heavily. Okay, enough's enough. We retreated to the shelter of a covered parkade to wait it out. After enjoying a cold beverage, we noticed the storm come to an end, and we were able to complete our gain.

The weather station at wx.ca recorded a 10-degree drop in temperature in a short period:

Techie note: The way to add images to comments is described here.

Quiet today

Submitted by mike runs on

Usual ride up Sacramento - Haddon - 5th into downtown.

But unlike every other day, I didn't see a single other cyclist the entire way into downtown. Not one. Nada.

I guess I'm the only sucker working between Canada Day and parade day.

+1 sucker

Submitted by ride on

I guess that makes two of us. But yes, all traffic is way down this morning, both cars and bikes. I noted about 75% fewer bikes in my parking garage this morning.

1 more

Submitted by scottmeyers on

I chased one guy down 10th street, and said good morning to another by the Armoury I think it was. But yes pretty quiet.

another at the office

Submitted by Julie Gregg on

I'm here too, just didn't ride today, bummer I wasn't aware of the breakfast at CBC, I LUV the pancake breakfasts! Yes, very quiet, no traffic to speak of in any fashion.

July 1 & 2

Submitted by NW_Tri_and_Bike on

July 1-Rode 60 km yesterday NW of the city... Country Hills to Rockey Ridge to Burma... Bearspaw to Big Hill Springs to Lochend to Twp 262, return via 1A... started to get windy and spit a little bbut nothing major... saw the storm in the distance... ran 6 km after supper too

July 2-Country Hills to Rockey Ridge to Burma... Woodland to 1A... Hwy 22 in Cochrane, south to Bragg Creek (coffee/bagel stop) return via Hwy 22 east on Hwy 1... north on Stoney (not for the faint of heart) then up Nose Hill to the top (5.5 km climb) ... 107 km

1st hour went easy and built the pace/effort from there... Bragg Creek to the base of the final climb was about 35-36 km/h average... no major difficulties...

maps for out-of-town rides

Submitted by ride on

Sounds like a couple of days of good riding there! If you post a map of your route it will help newbies / visitors, especially if you provide commentaries (like you did for Stoney Trail). Check out gmap-pedometer.com for an easy way to plot your route on a map. You'll get a link you can post here.

You're already finished the July 2nd ride? It's only just after lunch! Some of us are stuck in an office today. Grrr...

Super calm commute this

Submitted by scottmeyers on

Super calm commute this morning, until I hit 6th ave and all hell broke loose, totally didn't put stampede week and Friday together to equal parade... I guess I should step out of my own little world.

Super Calm X2

Submitted by gyrospanner on

I ride Bowmont - Edworthy - Downtown, pretty well by the river all the way and I can honestly say that in past years it has been a bit of a challenge (Freakshow? Circus Act?)on parade day, but today there were no problems.

There was a big green hot air balloon in the little park behind Renfrew Chrysler which was a nice diversion.

I hope everyone packed a lunch because the hoards of people that come down today usually clean out most of the restaurants & snack shops fairly early!

Cheers

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