Training Adventures and Other Interesting Stuff!

My Big, Big Training Ride!

Saturday, May 20th and Sunday May 21st!

   The training schedule for this tour is laid out like preparing for a marathon. Something my biking buddies are very familiar with!
   Over a twelve week period I was to go on progressively longer and longer rides until I reach week nine. Week nine consists of weekly total of 400kms! Thirty kms through the week and 370kms over the weekend.
   Having been a marathoner for many years, this type of training is far from new to me and my running peeps.  When I found out I needed to do this, I immediately enlisted them! We all run and cycle but not at these distances.
   Doug, my wonderfully supportive, husband and I started planning in January how we would make this happen.
   After a few unsuccessful attempts at creating a suitable route, we hit on a simple route on the back roads of London. I have been training on these roads since February.  Most of the time I'm by myself for my long rides and I wasn't too keen on travelling too far out of London to get the mileage in. We mapped out a route starting from our house to the concession roads running East and West in North London.
   While Liz, another crazy cyclist, and I were going to do the entire route, my running friends would choose sections of the route to ride with us.  It was great to have the company!

The Big, Big Training Ride route

   Ted, Liz, who is training for a trip riding through Holland, and I started out Saturday morning at 7:30AM. The temperature was about 7 degrees and, as we were to find out quickly, VERY WINDY!      We picked up Janice at the corner of Glendon and Old River Road in Kilworth. This was her first ride of the season because she'd been travelling the world with her husband. When we met her, she said her bike was stuck in one gear! But that didn't stop her, she powered up the stupidly, steep hill on Old River Road, then on to Highbury and Medway and back to finish 55km!

Leaving Janice at Highbury and Medway

Janice and I at Highbury and Medway

The first West to East leg started at Vanneck road

and Medway and ended at Medway and Prospect Hill. It was unbelievably WINDY! 39km/h!!!!!  It took us about an hour and a half to ride that 20km stretch! I was starting to doubt my commitment to this ride! This was only the first West to East leg. We had two more to go! Ted was awesome! He was at the front most of the time pulling us along for a 35kms.

Ted at the intersection of Medway and Prospect Hill

Arggggh!! Wind!

Not sure why Liz is so happy! Her bike is loaded to the hilt!

Water break! As good any excuse to stop!

           

Jan at the corner of Ilderton and Prospect Hill

Travelling West on Nine Mile was a dream! We flew down that 20kms in record time. Jan had been following us as our 'sag wagon' for some time. Jan and Ted changed places because Jan wanted to 'experience' the wind!  She was parked protected from the wind and didn't see what all the fuss was about. I think she was questioning her sanity once it hit her full on! Told ya! 'Man, this is windy' she says!  She powered through it for approximately 25kms.

Eating my Peanut Butter and Banana  wrap with Liz

That effort used up all my energy! I decided that Liz and I were going to have a much deserved lunch at Prospect Hill and Ilderton Road! We rested and I ate my 'peanut butter and banana' wrap while she ate some 'dutch spread stuff' wrap.

Val at Hyde Park and Thirteen Mile

Val and David's Lucy was a great water stop host!

David at Thirteen and Prospect Hill

   We met Val and David after lunch. Lucy came along for added support. Thanks Lucy for the fig newtons and the gummy bears! Val joined us and rode for about 30kms.  David joined us for the leg home and became our second wind block. Now everyone had their turn riding into the wind! He pulled us all the way back to 'camp'.
    My quads were screaming by Adelaide and Medway, I had to stop and lay down for five minutes! All that riding into the wind just burned them out!

   Our total distance for the day was 146kms. Not what I was supposed to do but, good enough for me!

Help! Doug!

Camp Strickland! 

The point of this weekend was for me to ride a long distance then camp and then ride another long distance the following day. Since I am not a camper,  I knew it was going to be the most challenging part! After the very long ride and a hot shower, Liz, Val, and I had to set up 'camp' in our friend's, Janice and Paul's back yard. While the other two had their tents set up in record time, I struggled so much Doug had to step in an help me or I would have been sleeping on the ground!

Val and Cabbiekins

Where the hell does this tent pole go?

   Doug and our hosts, Janice and Paul, spent the day preparing this feast for us! It was soooo yummy! Of course we also had some great wine to wash it all down!

A feast for sure!

mmm....ribs!

   Even though I knew the weather would not hold, I was still unprepared for the thunder storm at 3:30AM! I was jolted awake with the thunder. It poured down rain for at least an hour. Great, I'd have to put the tent away all wet. Apart from the storm, almost every little sound kept me awake! I didn't sleep very well. When I woke up at 6:30AM, Janice was making our breakfast for us. How spoiled were we! At least we had a great breakfast to start the next leg!

Oatmeal, eggs, and yogourt!

Eggs on toast

Day 2 Start

 

   Val, Liz, and I left at 8AM  retracing the route. We were hoping that the weather would hold. That was not to be. About an hour later it started to rain. And, it rained steadily dampening our sprites except for Val. She insisted on singing 'Singing in the Rain' over and over! I was a little grumpy and tried to ride ahead of her but, she kept up with me. We met David on Thirteen Mile and Prospect Hill. I started thinking this weather was not safe to ride in. By the time we met Doug at the end of Thirteen Mile he convinced us that taking Vanneck back home was best.  We called Ted and let him know not to join us. I didn't want to do it but, the rain was coming down in buckets! We rode about 70kms. It would have to do.

   This has been a weekend of 'learning'. I know I really don't like camping but, I'll have to get over it. I learned that you can really count on your friends. I learned I need to drink more. I also learned that with the right equipment, I CAN ride in the rain but you have to wipe of the chain and put some oil on it 'cuz it RUSTS!

Thanks everyone! It was an awesome weekend!

Saturday, May 12th

150 km training ride north of London

     Finally!!! Nice weather! I was able to test some solutions to a couple of annoying issues. My left foot and left hand still go to sleep after about 40K. I seem to creep to far forward on my seat. I'm not sure what that's all about. I will be dropping in at the bike shop today. Hopefully, he will have some solutions for me.
     May 20th and 21st is the big test. My training weekend is 400km total with a camp night in between. My group of cycling pals will riding and camping with me. They will take turns riding with me to keep me company. We get to ride then camp then ride again. That's exactly what I'll be doing for 10 weeks next month. They're awesome! I really appreciate the support!

Happy face! It's so nice to be riding on London's back roads!

This first turnoff if a little tricky to find. I missed it completely on another training ride and had to backtrack.

This looked like a nice lunch spot but, some concerned people in cars and a fellow cyclist kept asking if I needed help!

Lunch with friends at Vanneck and Eleven Mile. Peanut butter and banana of course!

Gravel road at Fifteen and Prospect Hill. I will have to change next week's route to avoid it.

Saturday May 6th -MEC 201 Bike Maintenance Workshop

   I took the fist workshop in January. That was a general 'get to know a bike' type of session. This more advanced class is a 'hands on' session with your own bike. It was awesome! 

   Jay and Eric were like our own personal bike mechanics. They started from the front of the bike and worked their way to the back. We were shown how to do something and then we did the same thing to our own bicycles. 

   Everyone in class had a reason for taking this workshop. The 'boys' addressed everyone's problems and concerns. I let them know I was riding across Canada and they pointed out certain aspects of bike maintenance that would be of special interest to me.
   I now feel more confident about making repairs in an emergency! Thanks Jay and Eric! You're the best!

Jay and Eric at MEC

The workshop

I had to get a more adjustable stand because, apparently, I have Topogigo's bike!

All hoisted up and ready to go!

Wow! My own set of tools set up with surgical precision

Really, I did know what I was doing! He told me to break the chain!

All good here

I took the gears off to clean them

This is how to 'break' the chain. Just don't lose the pin like I did!

I had greasy hands all class! Lovin' it!

My chain all washed and ready to be put back in the bike

When I put the crank back together, I put the pedals facing the same way! Eric to the rescue!

The nut was tight so Eric, shown me how to use the 'big boy' tools to take it off! 

Very artsy! I just had to remember how to put it back together!

My classmates

All back together again!

Wednesday, May 3rd

Bike fit day!

   Hoo! Hoo! I've been looking forward to this fitting! My bike is great but, it was not 'feeling' quite right.
   Mike, at ToWheels , fitted me to my bike and now it feels like it's a part of me!
   Apparently, I preferred to pedal my bike with my toes because that's where I had the cleats set! No wonder my feet were going to sleep after about 40k! He adjusted the cleats back to be inline with the balls of my feet. What a difference!
   This is the fourth seat on this bike. I seem to have a problem getting one that  does not hurt. Mike, the seat whisper, assured me that we'll keep trying seat until we get it right! It's a combination of the correct seat, the seat position, and height, that makes the difference.
   Tomorrow's 140k ride will let me know if seat number four is the winner!