Thank you with all my heart

YouTube vids from other riders

Some videos from other Riders. Hope you don't mind me posting them on my blog!!! Great job on the 2009 RTCC!!!

cyclingguy102


AlbertaRide


j2oland - Congrats to my friend Joel and Team CTTC! I rode with them during part of the ride!!!


dlnorman


DrBulletski


loricreech

Videos from my Ride

(Videos coming soon...)

Pics from my Mom's camera

Thanks Mom and Dad for all your support! They drove down from Edmonton and stayed the weekend just to cheer me on!

FINISHED!!!

Day 2 pics - June 28th, 2010

Day 1 pics - June 27th, 2010

Random Blackberry pics during the ride

You've got mail! Riders jersey and bike tags arrive!

one goal: to conquer cancer

i found this ad in one of my cycling magazines...

WHY DO WE RIDE?

Because our sweat
is nothing compared to their tears.
Because our challenge
is nothing compared to their fight.
Because we are all on one journey,
with one destination,
one goal: to conquer cancer.

WOW... that just says it all.

whatchutalkinboutWillis???

holy jeepers! what?!... the RTCC online check-in is open already?! whatchutalkinboutWillis???


what seemed like a distant goal a couple of months ago is just around the corner! i got the email today telling us that we can register ourselves for the Ride starting not tomorrow, not next week... but today! since i've met my fundraising minimum that means i can do it right away. i'm nervous and exicted all at the same time!

i know that once i get that package in the mail it's going to seem all too real, you know what i'm sayin'? like that day when you got your books for your first year of university... and as you were standing in that long lineup for the cashier you thought to yourself "oh boy, what did i get myself into?". i have that same butterfly feeling in my stomach right now. i wonder if Batman had that same feeling when he received his uniform in the mail =P

should i do it now? or should i wait? *aaack!*

may newsletter sent out today

click here to check it out!

one month to go!

there's only 4 weeks of training left! OMG! crazy huh?

i've been sick for the past week with a cold and cough. weather was kinda crappy here in Calgary last week (we actually had snow) but this week we've finally got some nice weather. i'm hoping i'll be better by tomorrow or Wed to get out on a ride again.

found this pic of me as a kid

when i first started this blog i commented how i felt like a kid riding a bike again. it conjured up memories as a young child in Toronto (where i was born) and riding around the block with my bike on training wheels. since that post i dug through my boxes of photo albums and found a pic that just summarizes that feeling.

i think i was about 4 years old here. this was my first 2 wheeled bike and as you can see in my face... i couldn't be happier. i remember my mom running behind me holding on to the seat. she eventually let me go and i was scared and excited at the same time... thank goodness for training wheels! *lol*. . my parents bought my many more bikes throughout my childhood. it was a sense of freedom and adventure whenever i got on my bike. it allowed me to explore the world outside of my block. you don't think of it, but it's a big part of being a kid.

let me take this chance to thank my mom and dad for all your support, not only for this Ride, but throughout life helping mold me into the person that i am today. i may not say it enough, but i love you guys and thank you for all the sacrifices you made for me and my older sisters. they got me involved with sports at an early age. mostly with little league soccer. i think it was mostly to keep me busy and keep me outta trouble. but it's stuck with me every since. it instilled a love for activity and trying new things. to this day i'm still involved with soccer, volleyball, tennis plus numerous other sports. and now, cycling.

love that pic. doesn't it just say it all? =)

100%! WE DID IT!

wow... i am speechless.

on Thursday, May 14th i had a couple of generous donations come in that put me over the top of my minimum fundraising goal of $2500. this is a minimum amount that all Riders need to raise and if i did not reach this requirement i would not have been able to participate in the Ride. thank you everyone. as much as the physical goal of training has been and how challenging the Ride will be... the fundraising had me the most worried. like i said in my first post, this is the first time i've done something like this but i knew that with some hard work and lots of heart that i could accomplish both the physical portion and the fundraising portion. i knew that i had great friends and family that believe in me, that believe that i'll put in the work to train and complete the ride. and most of all, those same people believe in the fight against cancer.

i'll be making a video of me soon thanking everyone of you soon. as well, i have raised my fundraising personal target to $3000 for those of you still wanting to contribute. for those of you still wanting to donate the lines are all still open until the day of the Ride on June 27th. please do not let my reaching the minimum limit prevent you from donating to the cause. every little bit helps. there's still over a month to go so let's raise awareness and funds as much as we can!

thank you everyone!

"Farrah's Story" - this Friday on NBC

NBC News will air a two-hour special on actress Farrah Fawcett's battle with cancer. Farrah's Story is described as an extremely personal look at how the former Charlie's Angels star is coping and being treated.

Her friend Alana Stewart shot most of the video. Companion Ryan O'Neal and former Charlie's Angels stars Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson appear. Fawcett says that she would have liked to have kept her cancer private, but realized others might benefit from learning about her experiences.

more here:
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2009/05/09/fawcett-cancer-documentary.html

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

starting point: Deerfoot Casino

so it was announced that the starting point will be Deefoot Casino. not as far south as i thought it would be as it is still a bit before you get out of the city from there. they haven't announced which roads we're taking heading out but this is my best guess. click here for map of what i think it will be.

from the casino:
- east on 114 Ave SE
- head south on 52nd St SE
- west on Marquis de Lorne Trail (22X) towards Priddis
- then south to Turner Valley & Black Diamond
- south to Longview

that's my best guess. but since they're only releasing bits at a time, i'm sure that'll change!

party for a cause

my friend Joel, who is also participating in the RTCC, and his Ride team (Change Tomorrow Today Crew) are putting on a benefit party to help raise funds and awareness for the Ride. it takes place on Thursday May 28th 6pm - 10pm at Habitat Lounge (by Hotel Arts). check out the poster below for details. there'll be prize draws, silent auction, appies and drinks... and entertainment by an eclectic group called One World Drum Company. should be good times.

come check it out! spread the word!

p.s. check out Joel's blog too! http://joelsridetoconquercancer.wordpress.com

video - announcement of the 2009 RTCC

i came across this video of the announcement of the 2009 Rides. this took place in Toronto back in the fall of 2008. i hadn't seen this before... great stuff to give you some inspiration for your training and Ride. i'm sure there will be similar speakers during our opening and closing ceremonies here in Calgary.

see the video here:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=2981492871492374861

Some of the RTCC commemorative bikes as mentioned in the video.

training for a "century"

my last post talked about Bicycling magazine's article on charity rides. they also included a nice chart to help you train for the big event. whether it be a 50 mile (80.5 km) or a 100-mile "century" (161 km)... it's a nice guideline to follow. use the legend at the bottom of the 2nd pic to make sense of the colors.

now if only they could make Calgary weather co-operate with the plan *sigh*. it's supposed to rain and even snow again this week. it's the middle of May for fricks sake!

Century

50-miler

charity rides

picked up the latest issue of Bicycling magazine and they have an article on charity rides and how to train for them. they had a list of all the major Rides going on this year across North America... and the Ride To Conquer Cancer is on the list! check out the 'Money Raised' totals of the other rides compared to the one Toronto RTCC last year. amazing!

RTCC Ride Guide released today!

got an email from the organizers today. the RTCC Ride Guide has been released! click here to see.

lots of good info in this 6 page package. some of the main highlights i got out of it are:

• starting point is Deerfoot Casino down in the southside of Calgary, i'll need to be there at 7am on Sat June 27th.
• you can register online between June 14 and June 24.
• guests are allowed to visit the overnight camp until 9pm but they get no food.
• from the finish line, you can purchase optional transportation back to Calgary. otherwise, find yo own way back home homie!

it's ON folks!!! the Ride just around the corner! get your miles in!

2nd RTCC group ride - Rocky Ridge

last Sunday May 10th was the 2nd RTCC group training ride. this time we met up in the NW at the Rocky Ridge Co-Op parking lot. a little more people came out this time. many of them familiar faces that i had seen before (although i couldn't remember all their names). it was a nice sunny day so i made sure to have my sunscreen on.

Deanne and the same instructors were there once again along with a few more helpers to manage the larger group. we started out north, uphill towards Bearspaw where we got to see how the well-to-do live. the mansions provided some nice scenery as we got the ride started. we finally made our way to hwy 262, a long straight rural road that had many rolling hills. at about the 20km mark we did a 180 and headed back. i was in the middle of the pack. i was very impressed with the other riders at their speed and endurance. i think i can squeeze alot more power out with better pedalling technique. the return trip was alot easier as it was more downhill and the wind wasn't working against us. lots of riders on this strip which was nice to see. all different abilities too... from novices to racer types. it's a nice simple, yet challenging, loop that i would like to again sometime soon.

here's the route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/ab/calgary/897124218557264830

the loop was about 40km in total. it was a gratifying feeling coming back to the parking lot knowing that i completed a new route with my new bike. my bum was quite numb though. feels as though the saddle is cutting off some circulation to my twigs and berries. i'll have to experiment with the fore/aft of the saddle to see if that helps. if not, i may need to look into a better fitting saddle for me. all in all though, this route woulda been hella hard with my hybrid. it was quite enjoyable on my new C'Dale R5. can't wait till next time.

my new CAAD9-5 on my FJ's SportRack spare tire bike rack

took the new bike for a spin

took the new bike out last Sat May 10th for a quick (so i thought) spin around the neighborhood.

first impressions:
- ow! i'm gonna have to get used to this saddle!
- wow! this thing is fast!
- these brake-shifters are pretty cool
- using the drops can get pretty sketchy but useful when fighting the wind or on a fast descent
- pedal clips work pretty well with the shoes

i didn't have my new bike computer on yet but i was able to go down to the Beddington park area and down to Laycock Park and back. about 25km in all. i kinda lost track of time and got home later than expected. too much fun on the new bike i guess. ended up being late for a tee time (i hate rushing to a golf game! not good!). but well worth the ride.

here's the route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada/ab/calgary/880124218506372844

RR... meet R5

so i bit the bullet. i bought a road bike! i thought to myself while riding the other day with a training group, "why am i wasting all this energy trying to keep up with the pack?". aside for getting in better shape and practicing better technique i knew that a big improvement in my efficiency would be in getting a full feldged road bike... so i did! now, if you know me, you know that i'm not one to rush into any big decisions. at times i annoy myself with how much i analyse some things. this was true in bike shopping as well. my research paid off the first time in getting my first bike, the Kona Dew FS hybrid. i was very happy with that decision. so i did the same if not more research online, magazines and at my local bike stores (LBS) to inform myself on what was out there.

after visiting almost every LBS in town, i came across Mountain Bike City. a small shop just west of downtown Calgary. the staff there is super friendly and it looks like a decent place to bring your bike in for servicing. they mostly specialize in mountain bikes (duh) and cyclocross bikes... mostly Konas and Cannondales. but last week i just happened to visit them on the rare occasion when they had some 2008 model road bikes. i found one that was the right size, had the right specs i wanted, color was decent, was on sale for a good price for it's value... it was calling my name! ah shit... decision time.

after a weekend of flip flopping whether i should or not... i finally said f%ck it, i need it! =)

say hello to my little friend. a 2008 Cannondale CAAD9 R5, 58cm.

Specs: click here

i should be able to take it out a couple of times this weekend as the rain is clearing up finally. can't wait!!!

90% to goal... almost there!

i don't know if it's the recent nice weather that we've (finally) received here in Calgary... but i've had some recent donations come in from some amazing friends. which puts me at over 90% to my fundraising goal! so awesome. my greatest fear was not being able to reach my fundraising goal and letting myself and everyone else down, and not being able to do my part in the battle against cancer. but now being this close... i know it will happen. this is all due to the love and generosity of all of you, my close friends and family. thank you for your support once again. this will not be the last time i thank you guys... believe me. =)

volunteer... it's good for the soul

so i've worked for TELUS for the past 8 years almost (no, i can't help you with your cell phone plan *sigh*). every year at the end of May they have a campaign called TELUS Day of Service where TELUS team members unite to give their time energy and hearts to bettering the communities in which we live and work.

there are different events that you can sign up for: planting trees, cleaning up litter, working at the Humane Society, sorting food at the Food Bank, etc. i signed up with other members on my team and we decided to participate in the pink ribbon tying activity for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. we'll be making all those little commemorative pink ribbons that they pass out at their events. this is directly related to my ride as that charity is a part of the Alberta Cancer Foundation who it planning the Ride To Conquer Cancer that i'm participating in.

feels good to give back. even if it's for a 2-hour ribbon tying, or a 2-day cycling ride... it's good to give back to your community. not only does it help others... but i believe it's just good for the soul.

this public service announcement was brought to you by the letters Q, F and the number 9. =)

Bicycle Anatomy for Beginners

so although i love my bike and i've put some TLC into it during the short time i've had it, i've noticed how slow i am compared to the road cyclists during my group rides. nothing wrong with being slow, as the RTCC is not a race, but i'm thinking why expend all the extra energy to cover the same distance. so after some thought and research... i'm thinking of getting a full blown road bike. nothing too fancy but something that i can progress with and build upon.

after doing lots of reading in magazines, online and visiting my local bike shops (LBS) here in Calgary... i have my eye on a 2008 Cannondale CAAD9 R5 which i found on sale for a good price. cross your fingers, i may pull the trigger this week. and although i'd like to keep my Kona hybrid as it's a good everyday kinda bike, i'll probably need to sell it to pay off part of the costs of the new road bike.

so if you are new to cycling like me, there is a lot of bike tech lingo that i needed to learn. looking at the specs of bikes can look alien at first. but after learning the basics and why they are needed it's all starting to make sense now. here's a basic video from youtube that goes over anatomy of a bike. this is a good starting point.

THE NEWBIE CORNER: THE INESTIMABLE VALUE OF GOING CLIPLESS

article from mapmyride.com. (btw: that's not me in the picture, i wish!)

You have been riding for a few months now, and you are looking to make a simple upgrade to your bike that could augment your on the bike performance. Ultimately, a newbie's upgrade decision ought to focus on this inquiry: what equipment upgrade is going to prove the most worthwhile over time, and foster the greatest improvement in my performance? Lighter wheels are always a nice upgrade. And, high end competition or race wheels will definitely cut weight from your bike, and thereby deliver you a bit more speed. Yet, perhaps the best initial equipment upgrade a newbie can make is the purchase of a clipless pedal system.

Clipless pedals offer riders a number of advantages. Most importantly, clipless pedals cultivate a more efficient and powerful pedal stroke. Notably, these systems permit you to better access your hamstrings and gluteus muscles during your upstroke. Accessing the hamstring and gluteus muscles on the upstroke in turn enables you to deliver a greater power transfer to the crank, and that increased power transfer produces a greater speed. Indeed, a rider generates far more power using a clipless pedal system than he or she would produce employing a (now almost) obsolete toe clip systems.

One often overlooked advantage of clipless pedal systems is the enhanced safety they provide. Simply, clipless pedals offer a more secure platform for foot/pedal engagement, and thereby guard against unintentional disengagements. Of course, it may take you sometime to actually appreciate the added safety of clipless pedals, for there is no doubt that the first time you approach a stoplight or intersection and slow towards a stop, you may not properly disengage your foot from the pedal, leading you to “tip over” and smack the pavement. No worries. The initial “clipless tip” happens to everyone at some point, even the most seasoned riders. (Ray: whew! i don't feel so embarassed now!)

When you are evaluating what clipless system to purchase, you will encounter a wealth of options.

Most road-oriented pedals offer a cleat entry on one side. Time, Look, Speedplay, and Shimano are some of the most common manufacturers of single entry road-oriented clipless pedal systems.

In contrast, the majority of mountain bike-oriented clipless pedal systems feature a cleat entry mechanism on both sides of the pedals. Most of these dual-sided pedal systems are targeted primarily to mountain bikers, largely because the dual-sided entry mechanism offers two points of engagement—a feature that cannot be underestimated given that mountain bikers are often forced to engage and disengage from pedals on the trail. In addition, dual-sided entry pedal systems tend to shed mud very well—another element specific to mountain biking. Shimano, Crank Brothers, Ritchey, market some of the most widely used dual-sided entry clipless pedal systems.

Even though dual-sided entry pedals may be targeted primarily towards mountain bikers, they present a clipless system that works very well for new converts. Significantly, dual-sided entry systems can deliver you a bit more confidence in your pedal engagement/disengagement, and they may even guard you against the dreaded “tip over.” Thus, even if you are an aspiring “roadie,” do not feel pressured or obligated to choose a single entry clipless system. Indeed, most newbies are better suited to entering the clipless realm by transitioning with a double entry system.

Essentially, an upgrade to a clipless pedal system offers newbies plenty of material benefits. And, after an initial “break in” period, you will no doubt come to realize the value of your investment. And, when evaluating what system you are going to initially use, do not necessarily rigidly adhere to any road/mountain pedal distinction. Instead, strive to find the pedal that is best suited to your abilities and confidence level on the bike.

drop your pants

i found out the other day that a friend at work is also doing a charity event... the Drop Everything for Cancer Research run. proceeds from this event also go to the Alberta Cancer Foundation! check out the site... looks like a whole lotta fun... and you get to run in your underwear!

her name is Denise Burgoyne and she's part of Team Brave Beavers! sponsor her too and support the cause! =)

the Alberta Cancer Foundation actually has 3 events. so plenty of opportunity to participate or donate!

1

The Ride to Conquer Cancer

2

The Weekend to End Breast Cancer

3

Drop Everything for Cancer Research

earth day

today, April 22nd, is officially Earth Day!  click here to go to the Earth Day Canada site.

Top 10 Actions for Earth Day 2009 to help Canadians reduce their impact on the environment everyday.

1.Smart shopping

Buy what you need, not what you want

Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed

Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores

2.Simple savers

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs

Use aerators on faucets and shower heads

Weatherstrip windows and doors

3.Transportation alternatives

Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation

When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure

Consider car sharing programs or renting

4.Food choices

Choose local and organic foods that are in season and support local food producers

Eat less meat

5.Washing and drying

Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry

6.Heating and cooling 

For summer air conditioning, set your thermostat to 24°C or 25°C

For winter heating, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C

Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats

7.Close to home

Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible

8.Bathroom basics

Take short showers instead of baths

Close water taps while brushing your teeth

9.Careful cleaning

Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products

Make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water

10.Don’t discard

Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash

Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers

here's a good vid i found on youtube about commuting to work on a bike:

1st RTCC group ride - North Glenmore Park

on the conquercancer.ca site there were a couple of training rides that people could sign up for. i was lucky enough to get a spot with a training group held by Deanne Jabs of Leaping Dog Racing. we all met for the firt time at the North Glenmore Park in SW Calgary on Sunday April 19th at 1pm. the weather on Sunday was supposed to be a spectacular +20 degrees Celcius, but the overcast clouds was beggin to differ. after some waiver signing she introduced herself and her 2 assistants Allyson and Don.

L to R: Allyson, Deanne, Don




Some of the other riders as we listen to Deanne go over the basics.

there were about 15 participants that attended although Deanna mentioned that 30 people had signed up. we went around to everyone, each of us introducing ourselves, how long we've been riding and our personal reasons for doing the RTCC. everyone had a different background and different levels of cycling experience. but one thing was constant amongst us... that we have all been effected by cancer in some way. there were some there that had someone close to them die from cancer, some just recently. some that knew friends and family currently battling cancer. and there were even some people there that were battling cancer or have conquered cancer themselves. you could hear it in the way their voice cracked that this Ride meant more than just cycling 200km. it was much more. just in those introductions alone you were able to feel the true meaning of why we were all there, why we were all participating in the RTCC.

Deanne and crew went over the basics: proper fit and equipment you need for your bike, road safety, nutrition, training tips... it was all good info for us beginners (like me) and a good refresher for experienced riders. after about an hour of the talking portion we finally hit the road for some easy riding. Deanne mapped out a loop on the residential roads by the park, a loop she used to do with her triathalon teammates. the loop was pretty close to 7km long so if you didn't have a bike computer it would be easy to calculate your distance. the loop started along the road by the park then went into the nice residential neighborhoods surrounding the park. it had a slight incline, with a fast descent back down to the park. i was able to capture some video of the ride on my little camera mount (i'll try and have it posted soon). me being on a hybrid bike i slowly fell behind the main group who were mostly comprised of road bikers. or maybe it was just me being out of shape and not keeping up... i'll just blame the bike for now - lol. it does make me want a decent road bike now. no sense in using extra energy over 200km during the Ride.

i ended up doing 2 loops so 14km in total. there was a short followup session afterwards where Deanne was able to give us some road safety tips afterwards, many of us not following proper road rules *guilty!*. she took whoever wanted to still ride out for another loop but i opted to head home as i was still tired from my 40km the day before. overall, i'm really glad that i signed up for the sessions... not just for the training aspect of it all but also to meet other people that are striving to support the same cause and are going through the same blood, sweat and tears as me. thank you to Deanne and company for taking their own free time to help educate and train us fellow cyclers. i look forward to the next session.

rolling rural ride

remember the last time you were at the gym on one of those LifeCycle stationary bikes? and they have all those workout programs you can choose from?... like Manual, Interval Training, Random, and HILL? well, i have discovered the real life version of the Hill program. it was on the loop that i did last Saturday when i went north out of the city on Harvest Hills road and then left on Big Hill Springs road. all rolling hills. lots of work... but very satisfying after i was done. it's nice to go on the highways cuz you don't have to worry about traffic lights and turns. just put your head down and pedal away. i'll be doing this loop a couple of more times before the big event, that's for sure.

one thing i learned after this ride... wear sunscreen on sunny days! not only does it protect you from sunburn, but it helps with windburn! my face was so dry after this ride since it was so windy out there on the open road. i looked like a racoon with the "sunglasses tan".

RayRay, exhausted after the day's ride.

route for the RTCC announced today

i received an email from the Ride organizers today:

Hello Friend,

We have great news! You’ve asked for it, now here it is... The route for The Ride to Conquer Cancer® benefiting the Alberta Cancer Foundation!

You’ll ride through some of the country’s most spectacular scenery from Calgary south along the Cowboy Trail (Highway 22), camping on Saturday night at the Bar U Ranch in the shadow of the Rockies, then triumphantly finishing on Sunday at the Sierra West Ranch, nestled at the base of the majestic Livingstone Mountain Range in southwestern Alberta. Just as in the horseback days of the Old West, you’ll hear nothing but the breeze in your ears and feel the city pressure melt away with each passing kilometre. Fresh air. Sunshine. And a good dose of visual drama, thanks to Mother Nature. The Ride to Conquer Cancer is an epic ride and there’s no better backdrop for your adventure than the big sky of the western horizon.

We look forward to seeing you on the Cowboy Trail!

let's see what that looks like on a map, shall we? =)


View Larger Map

it doesn't say where the start point is, so i'm unsure about where in Calgary we take off from. the total distance i mapped out was only about 170km. i'm not sure where they're going to get the other 30km from???

75% to goal... you guys are amazing!

"WOW"... that's all i can say. all of you are so awesome! i still have 10 weeks to go and i'm already at 75% to my fundraising target! keep it up people!

remember to check with your employer if they have any donation matching programs. sometimes companies match their employees donations dollar-for-dollar. you may need to show your donation receipt as proof (you should have received the receipt via email if you donated online). hey, why not?!... make your company work for you for once!!! =)

april newsletter

instead of sending out emails to all my friends and family i thought i'd be more creative and do up a personal newsletter! using a simple template i found online, and with the help of MS Frontpage to customize the content, i was able to create a newsletter updating everyone of my latest events. included was pictures, and links to all my different info sources. i think it turned out pretty good! click the picture below to see the full newsletter.

alone on the highway

last Monday, April 13th, i went out on another ride. was determined to get at least 2 hours on the bike. i headed north on Harvest Hills road and was able to get on the not-yet-opened northern leg of the infamous Calgary ring road. i descended east towards Deerfoot only to find out that the road ended and there was no where to go from then on. i had to do a 180 and drag my ass up the long hill which was about 2 km. i'm not sure what the incline was but it was quite a challenge especially with the wind working against me. let's just say, i really got to know my lower gears quite well tho =). as i reached the top it was a satisfying feeling looking back down the hill and knowing that i conquered that challenge. "BRING IT!" as the P90Xers say, ha!

Calgary Ring Road:

anyways, my ride took me through Panorama, Hanson Ranch, Hidden Valley and up to the new Creekside Town Center. at that point it was getting cold and dark and i almost called my girlfriend to pick me up in the car. but i dug deep, found my way on to the deserted ring road again and headed home. the wind was working with me this time and the hills not so steep. the final 5km, although challenging, went by quicker than i thought it would. my bike computer said 27.3km but after mapping my points it only said 25.7km. not sure where that other 2km went =P



weather's supposed to be nice next week. i think i'm gonna try and ride into work! crazy! i know! haha.

my first cycling vid!

well, even though i banged up my elbow last Friday i did manage to record some video with my camera. i was able to make a homemade custom camera mount for my bike as per those instructions in my earlier post. i'll try and post up some pics of it later.

my old Canon SD300 (4 megapixel) only records in 1min spurts at a time. so i have a bunch of little clips that i need to put together. but after fooling around with it on youtube for a bit i was able to come up with this sample video! Steven Spielberg i am not, but yo, not too bad! i'll try and post some more vids if i can find the time to edit them.

good friday turned bad

so last Friday, the 10th, was the start of a beautiful long weekend. Easter weekend to be exact. so on that Good Friday i thought i'd get out and do at least a 20 km ride today. i didn't have time to put on all the goodies you saw in the previous post. but i did want to try out the clip shoes. so i screwed the SPD clips to the shoes and practiced attaching them to the pedals while stationary. and practiced getting out of them stationary. no problem, no sweat, i got this. for those of you that haven't seen clip shoes before, here are mine (pic on right). there's different types and shapes of clips you can get depending on the brand, but these are my Shimano brand ones.

next, was to practice getting in an out of them while riding on the bike. so i did a lap around the block... in, out, in, out, in, out. ok... not bad, i can get the hang of this. you kinda have to put the front part in first then put some pressure down on the ball of you foot, and listen for that "click" noise. in order to get out you need to twist your heel either outwards or inwards so the pedal releases the clip. ok... i'm good to go.

i hit the first traffic light, i come to a stop alongside all the other cars, and after all that practice what's the one important thing that i forget?!.... THAT I HAVE FRIKKEN CLIP SHOES ON!!! i go to put my foot down when i stop... waitaminute, my foot's not coming out!... i'm starting to fall!.... BOOM! i land on my left side with my elbow taking the brunt of the damage. OW! i've fallen enough in snowboarding to know not to extend my arm and hand to cushion my fall as that's a sure way to break your wrist or collarbone. i get up quickly and dust myself off. i take a glance at the minivan beside me... the whole family staring at me. they had this expression on their face like they were going to laugh but wanted to make sure i was ok first. LOL. i don't know what hurt more... my elbow, or my pride. i coulda easily have turned around and headed back home. but i was a trooper and continued on my ride. too funny now that i look back on it.

here's the route i took:


there's a ravine close to my place that has some great bike trails. the official name is the West Nose Creek Park. i tried to go as far down the trail along Deerfoot as i could but my elbow started to really hurt so i turned around once i reached McKnight. all in all the ride was almost 25km. and it took about 1:30 if i cut out all my wrong turns and being lost - lol.

on my way home i noticed blood on my shirt by my waist, wtf?! i got home and checked my elbow... i was actually bleeding! the pic below looks worse than it is. that was how it looked when i took off my arm warmer. it was basically a gash from some of the gravel i fell on. an embarassing reminder of my first experience with clip shoes *shakes head in shame*.

new stuff!

so i went on a bit of a shopping spree at Bow Cycle last week. i picked up some stuff for the bike of course.

Cycling Shoes

thought i'd get some proper cycling shoes with clips. these are Specialized's MTB Sport shoe. shoutouts to Bow Cycle who threw in the Shimano SPD clip attachments for free. check out my future posts for my (mis)adventures with the clips - lol.

Gloves

i got fingerless cycling gloves already but thought i'd get these full fingered ones for the colder days. they were cheap too ($10).

Water Bottle

you get really thirsty on those long rides

Bar Ends

these helps on climbs and also for changing hand positions while you're riding. i notice that my hands start to get numb if i'm in the same hand position all the time.

Bike Computer

this is just a basic one to help record distance, time and speed while i ride.

once i get them all installed on the bike i'll make sure to post a review!

the Good Life Community Bicycle Shop

last night i attended the Good Life Community Bicycle Shop's workshop on bike maintenance. i signed up a couple of weeks ago. i thought i'd try and learn some more stuff about bikes... you know: parts, repairs, maintenance, upgrades, etc. i missed Bow Cycle's sessions back in March but they recommended my to give Good Life Bikes a call. the session was free... so that's always a good price - lol.


if you haven't been to Good Life Bikes before i suggest you check it out, it's a pretty cool place. it's located in Eau Claire Centre downtown. i heard that Eau Claire is going through a revitilization with new developers moving in to utilize the space better. i hope Good Life stays amongst all these changes. Good Life is a nonprofit, community bicycle repair, education and resource centre. it focuses heavily on the community aspect and is almost fully run by volunteers. a very cool concept.

from their website:
Our Goals:· To build community in Calgary· To make it as easy and fun as possible to choose biking· To empower Calgarians by offering skills and accessible, affordable and healthy ways to get around· To reduce environmental impact by encouraging cycling over driving and rescuing bikes from the waste stream.

i was expecting a full class since i was informed their last class was full (i think they only take 7-8 people per workshop). but i show up at 7pm and there's only me and this other girl. i guess the nice weather outside made everyone skip? i get introduced to Shannon, our instructor for the night, who is very personable and an avid biker. she leaves it up to us on what topics we want to cover since there's only 2 of us. the other girl is a triathlete so she's had some experience with basic bike repairs... me on the other hand, not so much.

we start off with brake replacement since that's a common job most people eventually have to do. we pick 2 really old bikes to work on and set them up on the bike stands. Shannon runs us through which tools to use and where everything is located in the shop. i cut the rear brake wire, take off the housing, replace the wire and housing, rewire it all back up, tighten all the screws - done! took about an hour with helpful guidance by Shannon. after all was said and done, it was pretty rewarding doing it myself i must say. i went to the workshop straight from work so i was still in my work clothes but thankfully they had some aprons there to keep my semi-clean. bike repairs can get pretty messy. brakes were messy enough, i can't imagine changing the cassette or bottom bracket. the whole workshop was only 2 hours so we didn't have much time to go over much else. i was wondering about chain and gear maintenance so we went over chain cleaning. there's a small plastic device you can put over the chain with some degreaser solution that does the job. there's also some special brushes you can use to clear the crud from the gears. after the cleaning we went over just some general questions and cleaned up our area.

overall, the session was quite informative and a good confidence builder for when i ever need to work on my own bike. youtube is a great resource for bike repair information but it's hard to get that "hands on" experience over the internet. now that i'm a member of Good Life (membership is free btw) i can bring my bike in there and use their space and tools at no charge. great for people with no garage or that don't have the right tools. i really wouldn't want to spend $30 on a tool i would only use once. this is a great place for bikers... go check it out one day when you're at Eau Claire.