Becel Ride for Heart and the Great Juniper Tree Adventure.
Today was the “Ride for Heart” one of those events (like the international marathon) that is the scourge of all drivers in Toronto. –At least those who don’t run or bike.
Igal and I signed up and took our selves and our bikes down to the Ex grounds this morning at 8:00 am. There we met Lana and made our way to the start area.
The reason why this event is the scourge of drivers is because it takes place on the Gardener and the Don Valley Parkway. The course starts at the on-ramp closest to the Dufferen gates on the Gardener, the 50K route (the one we took) continues along the Gardener to the DVP and up the DVP to York Mills and back.
I don’t think I have ever seen so many bicyclists all in one place at one time. There were all levels and ages of riders. People on Crappy-Tire specials and $5000.00 Madone frames and everything in between. The beginning of the ride had a lot of bikes jammed all together, it was a little nerve wrecking and gave me a whole new appreciation for Bicyclists traveling in peloton formation.
It was very well organized. There were rest stops about once every 10 k or so with plenty of water, fruit and porta-potties. Going north was quite hard, as most of the way was up hill. The last hill just before the turn-around was a killer.
The three of us stuck together for the first ¼ of the ride and then Lana, riding a much lighter faster road bike got board of our plodding pace and left us in the dust.
Igal and I weren’t really paying attention to our time but I think if took us about 2 1/2 hours to do the ride, and that was with two water breaks and a Potty-stop.
Things to remember for next year:
1. Do not misplace your purse with all of your ID, bank card, credit card, and social insurance card in a movie theatre the night before a 50 K ride. – This leads to a lack of sleep and may impair your ability to unclip your self when coming to a stop. *See Point number 2*
2. When coming to a stop remember to unclip yourself from your pedals. Failure to do so can result in toppling over side ways causing a severely bruised ego.
3. Bring water. Bizarrely there is no water at the start area.
4. Unload the heavy, thick tired, “Hybrid” bike and get fancy-pants light road bike
5. Smoke Lana’s ass.
After the ride, and after picking up my wayward purse we made arrangements to pick up some juniper bushes. (freebees from work) When I was told bushes I thought … small cute, perhaps 3 feet tall. When went to pick them up we discovered juniper trees. Big. Scruffy. Unkempt things - taller than me. (taller than me is admittedly not hard, but still..)
Igal and I some how jammed three of them in to the car (Car – as in Sedan – and not a truck - which was really what we needed for this job) brought them home and turned around and got 2 more and dumped them in the back yard.
So now, after our 50K ride, and monster juniper harvest we are both (officially) hurting units.
My personal ouch list:
1. One bruised Ego (see point 2 above)
2. One bruised elbow (see point 2 above)
3. Sore legs
4. Sore lower back (tree hauling)
5. Sore Butt (you try sitting in a little saddle for 2 and a half hours)
Coming soon:
The Great Tree planting adventure.
Igal and I signed up and took our selves and our bikes down to the Ex grounds this morning at 8:00 am. There we met Lana and made our way to the start area.
The reason why this event is the scourge of drivers is because it takes place on the Gardener and the Don Valley Parkway. The course starts at the on-ramp closest to the Dufferen gates on the Gardener, the 50K route (the one we took) continues along the Gardener to the DVP and up the DVP to York Mills and back.
I don’t think I have ever seen so many bicyclists all in one place at one time. There were all levels and ages of riders. People on Crappy-Tire specials and $5000.00 Madone frames and everything in between. The beginning of the ride had a lot of bikes jammed all together, it was a little nerve wrecking and gave me a whole new appreciation for Bicyclists traveling in peloton formation.
It was very well organized. There were rest stops about once every 10 k or so with plenty of water, fruit and porta-potties. Going north was quite hard, as most of the way was up hill. The last hill just before the turn-around was a killer.
The three of us stuck together for the first ¼ of the ride and then Lana, riding a much lighter faster road bike got board of our plodding pace and left us in the dust.
Igal and I weren’t really paying attention to our time but I think if took us about 2 1/2 hours to do the ride, and that was with two water breaks and a Potty-stop.
Things to remember for next year:
1. Do not misplace your purse with all of your ID, bank card, credit card, and social insurance card in a movie theatre the night before a 50 K ride. – This leads to a lack of sleep and may impair your ability to unclip your self when coming to a stop. *See Point number 2*
2. When coming to a stop remember to unclip yourself from your pedals. Failure to do so can result in toppling over side ways causing a severely bruised ego.
3. Bring water. Bizarrely there is no water at the start area.
4. Unload the heavy, thick tired, “Hybrid” bike and get fancy-pants light road bike
5. Smoke Lana’s ass.
After the ride, and after picking up my wayward purse we made arrangements to pick up some juniper bushes. (freebees from work) When I was told bushes I thought … small cute, perhaps 3 feet tall. When went to pick them up we discovered juniper trees. Big. Scruffy. Unkempt things - taller than me. (taller than me is admittedly not hard, but still..)
Igal and I some how jammed three of them in to the car (Car – as in Sedan – and not a truck - which was really what we needed for this job) brought them home and turned around and got 2 more and dumped them in the back yard.
So now, after our 50K ride, and monster juniper harvest we are both (officially) hurting units.
My personal ouch list:
1. One bruised Ego (see point 2 above)
2. One bruised elbow (see point 2 above)
3. Sore legs
4. Sore lower back (tree hauling)
5. Sore Butt (you try sitting in a little saddle for 2 and a half hours)
Coming soon:
The Great Tree planting adventure.
posted by veronica at 11:58 PM
1 Comments:
Omigods, that's funny. Congrats on your lovely new gin trees, too.
:-)
Post a Comment
<< Home