Just a short note, as I got on Internet late and I am tired. I'm tired because I finished the longest ride of my life, going 121.3 kms. It was a little longer than expected, because my group of four riders first went to the beach. One rider did not make it to the beach on Sunday because of a flat, so we had our own ceremony at the beach. It added an extra 10 km.
I also experienced some wet weather. It was cloudy and misty, almost raining. But it did not last long. But thankfully it kept things cool. But noon the sun shone brightly and it turned warm.
The first and last section followed the Santa Anna River trail, a bike trail that follows a dry river, which at times is a concrete canal, though there is bird life in some of the wetlands. The middle section was on streets, a good portion of a road that was stoplight after stoplight. Both types of riding venues made it difficult to make time.
We left at 7:30 and arrived at 3:30. Then it was time to put up the tent, shower, relax a bit, eat and have a group meeting. Finally got Internet to work and wrote this. Now time for bed, as I got very little sleep last night.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Sunday worship and dipping in Ceremony
After breakfast, we had a short devotional, followed by a very short safety course. We had to manoeuvre around a rock, go through some pillions, take a turn, pick up speed and then do an emergency stop. This was not a pass/fail test, but was intended to help develop some of our skills. It did not take long.
At 2pm, we had a worship service, which included greetings from the three sponsoring organizations, reflections from Claire Elgersma from her previous rides, as well as a message from a local CRC pastor. A praise team helped lead the songs. While there were visitors, the bulk of the people were c2c people.
Afterwards, we all drove together as one group to the beach. While we did not have a police escort, we did have motorcycles, guiding us through, as we continued to go though lights even if they turned red. It took a good half hour to the beach. There we dipped out tires in the water, took pictures, and had a circle prayer, ending by singing the doxology.
Most headed to the pier area for supper and then it was a ride back to the university, getting there just before 7pm. At that time we had a group meeting that explained tomorrow's ride.
And so the ride is about to begin. In this short time, I have met lots of interesting people. It's amazing how community is quickly built up. I am eager to get going, though there are still butterflies in my stomach. Tomorrow's should be the easiest all week, so that is a nice start.
The WiFi access here has been excellent so I have been able to keep the blog and the picture website constantly updated. I can't guarantee that will continue.
At 2pm, we had a worship service, which included greetings from the three sponsoring organizations, reflections from Claire Elgersma from her previous rides, as well as a message from a local CRC pastor. A praise team helped lead the songs. While there were visitors, the bulk of the people were c2c people.
Afterwards, we all drove together as one group to the beach. While we did not have a police escort, we did have motorcycles, guiding us through, as we continued to go though lights even if they turned red. It took a good half hour to the beach. There we dipped out tires in the water, took pictures, and had a circle prayer, ending by singing the doxology.
Most headed to the pier area for supper and then it was a ride back to the university, getting there just before 7pm. At that time we had a group meeting that explained tomorrow's ride.
And so the ride is about to begin. In this short time, I have met lots of interesting people. It's amazing how community is quickly built up. I am eager to get going, though there are still butterflies in my stomach. Tomorrow's should be the easiest all week, so that is a nice start.
The WiFi access here has been excellent so I have been able to keep the blog and the picture website constantly updated. I can't guarantee that will continue.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Saturday: Last free day
Today was my last free day for the next nine weeks, as after this, each day is filled with either riding or a celebration service. After breakfast, I went back to the same spot as yesterday, but with a different rider and a different route. After lunch, seven of us rode to Huntington Beach Pier. Because I knew the route, I got to lead the group.
Being at Huntington Beach brought back memories of when I was there for Kimberly and Greg's wedding. The beach was very busy, as it was a Saturday. There was also a Christian festival/concert happening at the Pier. There were a number of people handing out evangelistic tracts. One person came to us and discovered we were a Christian group. He asked us many questions about the faith and how we would respond to Mormons or JW's. At the end, we had a circle prayer as he prayed for us and I prayed for them.
After supper, the first official tour event took place, as we had a two and a half hour meeting, with opening devotions and introducing all the various people involved with the tour. After a short break, there was a discussion about bike safely: we must wear a helmet and safety vest. They discouraged drafting, though they know most will. They also didn't want anyone to bike alone. (They basically made that a rule). This can be a challenge, as it is hard to find a person who not only goes at the same pace as you, but wants to leave at the same time and has the same attitude in getting to camp. There was also concern about the dessert portion. All this indicates their priority of safety.
After the meeting, which ended at 9, I hung around and talked with a few people. Soon it was 10 and time to blog and sleep.
Being at Huntington Beach brought back memories of when I was there for Kimberly and Greg's wedding. The beach was very busy, as it was a Saturday. There was also a Christian festival/concert happening at the Pier. There were a number of people handing out evangelistic tracts. One person came to us and discovered we were a Christian group. He asked us many questions about the faith and how we would respond to Mormons or JW's. At the end, we had a circle prayer as he prayed for us and I prayed for them.
After supper, the first official tour event took place, as we had a two and a half hour meeting, with opening devotions and introducing all the various people involved with the tour. After a short break, there was a discussion about bike safely: we must wear a helmet and safety vest. They discouraged drafting, though they know most will. They also didn't want anyone to bike alone. (They basically made that a rule). This can be a challenge, as it is hard to find a person who not only goes at the same pace as you, but wants to leave at the same time and has the same attitude in getting to camp. There was also concern about the dessert portion. All this indicates their priority of safety.
After the meeting, which ended at 9, I hung around and talked with a few people. Soon it was 10 and time to blog and sleep.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Packing and Traveling
There were two components to packing: First, all the bike gear, including the bike. The bike was packed by the bike shop, after a tune up. The rest of the gear was pretty obvious. But the second component of packing was less clear, namely the camping gear. Yes, there were the obvious stuff: tent, sleeping bag, mattress etc, but in terms of clothes that was more open ended. Because we were limited in weight, I went very conservative. I figured that I could always buy clothes, if I needed them. By Wednesday morning, I was basicly packed.
But I didn't travel out until Friday morning. I got up at 2:45 am, after a restless sleep. It was a 6 am departure, going to Chicago (a two hour flight), then a transfer to Orange County Airport (a four hour flight.) I landed just past noon local time (3pm EST). Thankfully, my luggage came with me. I took a taxi to VanGuard University, which was a short ride away. I quickly unpacked the bike and put it back together, with the help of a few others--though mainly on my own. I was very happy to see that it was back together.
After dinner, which was at 5pm, four of us decided to do a short ride to the beach. The beach was great, though not the traffic to get there. On the way back, I got a flat, as a piece of wire punctured both tire and tube. With the help of the other three riders, who were all more experienced than I was, the tube was soon changed. I'm not sure what it means that I get a flat just 12 kms into being here, but there are benefits of being part of group.
It's now past 9pm here (midnight EST). After a long day of travel and poor sleep last night, I am heading to bed. We are staying in dorms at Vanguard University, for three nights. It's nice that we don't have to start in tents.
But I didn't travel out until Friday morning. I got up at 2:45 am, after a restless sleep. It was a 6 am departure, going to Chicago (a two hour flight), then a transfer to Orange County Airport (a four hour flight.) I landed just past noon local time (3pm EST). Thankfully, my luggage came with me. I took a taxi to VanGuard University, which was a short ride away. I quickly unpacked the bike and put it back together, with the help of a few others--though mainly on my own. I was very happy to see that it was back together.
After dinner, which was at 5pm, four of us decided to do a short ride to the beach. The beach was great, though not the traffic to get there. On the way back, I got a flat, as a piece of wire punctured both tire and tube. With the help of the other three riders, who were all more experienced than I was, the tube was soon changed. I'm not sure what it means that I get a flat just 12 kms into being here, but there are benefits of being part of group.
It's now past 9pm here (midnight EST). After a long day of travel and poor sleep last night, I am heading to bed. We are staying in dorms at Vanguard University, for three nights. It's nice that we don't have to start in tents.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Training Done
On June 15 I finished training. Whether it was enough to be able to have a good ride, only time will tell. But here are some final observations on the training:
1. Total distances: I did 1087 kms inside training followed by 2014 kms of outdoor training, for a total of 3101 kms. That's about half the distance of the Sea to Sea ride.
2. I did two rides to Maitland and back, which are my longest rides, at about 120 kms. The next highest was a 90 km ride, plus 6 in the 70 km range.
3. I tended to do three rides per week, less than the chart, but with more mileage than the chart, so that the weekly total was around what the chart wanted, with the overall mileage more than expected.
4. Gatineau Park was my real training Center. While I did my blocks around here, it was the 45km loop up and down hills in Gatineau that was my real test. The park is a jewel in our backyard.
5. While the bike trails in the city of Ottawa and Gatineau are not designed for high speed, they were wonderful to ride on and see the city from a very different perspective. In fact, it was hard to believe that I was actually in the city.
6. The weather: I was a fair weather rider. Why ride in rain (which we had plenty of) when I could work on rainy days and ride on sunny days? So I had little practice in the rain. Nor much in the heat. And heat will be the great challenge in the first week of the ride.
Am I ready? As ready as I'll ever be. Besides it is too late now to any more training. Now it is time to do the real thing.
1. Total distances: I did 1087 kms inside training followed by 2014 kms of outdoor training, for a total of 3101 kms. That's about half the distance of the Sea to Sea ride.
2. I did two rides to Maitland and back, which are my longest rides, at about 120 kms. The next highest was a 90 km ride, plus 6 in the 70 km range.
3. I tended to do three rides per week, less than the chart, but with more mileage than the chart, so that the weekly total was around what the chart wanted, with the overall mileage more than expected.
4. Gatineau Park was my real training Center. While I did my blocks around here, it was the 45km loop up and down hills in Gatineau that was my real test. The park is a jewel in our backyard.
5. While the bike trails in the city of Ottawa and Gatineau are not designed for high speed, they were wonderful to ride on and see the city from a very different perspective. In fact, it was hard to believe that I was actually in the city.
6. The weather: I was a fair weather rider. Why ride in rain (which we had plenty of) when I could work on rainy days and ride on sunny days? So I had little practice in the rain. Nor much in the heat. And heat will be the great challenge in the first week of the ride.
Am I ready? As ready as I'll ever be. Besides it is too late now to any more training. Now it is time to do the real thing.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The Trials and Tribulations of Training
How's that title for alliteration?
Actually, the training has been good so far, in the face of the challenges I face. There were two challenges that I faced at the beginning:
1. The weather. The first couple of weeks, it has been cold and windy, with a little bit of snow thrown in. Not the best for cycling.
2. Time. While I can do a couple of good days of biking, I find it a challenge to do some biking the rest of the week, as work fills up my days.
Despite these dual challenges, I am on track with the training chart that is posted on the Sea to Sea website. At this point, I am fairly confident that I could do 50/60 kilometres every day.
These are now the challenges I face:
1. Getting to the next level of distance, as I need to do an average of 120 kms every day. To reach this distance, I need to do one long distance ride each week. That requires making time on my day off to do that.
2. Hills. It really is flat around here. I need to take my bike to Gatineau for some serious hill climbing.
3. Heat. I have attempted to brave the cold, but it is heat that will be the challenge in the first week or two of the tour. We will be just south of Death Valley, as we go from LA to Phoenix . I expect temperatures to be in the high 30's. How do I prepare for that?
4. Mechanical. I have yet to change my tire. I need to learn how to deal with flats, as well as basic bike maintenance.
In addition, I have to book my flight to LA and figure out how I am going to get back from NYC, plus try to promote the cause beyond our church community.
That's it for now.
Actually, the training has been good so far, in the face of the challenges I face. There were two challenges that I faced at the beginning:
1. The weather. The first couple of weeks, it has been cold and windy, with a little bit of snow thrown in. Not the best for cycling.
2. Time. While I can do a couple of good days of biking, I find it a challenge to do some biking the rest of the week, as work fills up my days.
Despite these dual challenges, I am on track with the training chart that is posted on the Sea to Sea website. At this point, I am fairly confident that I could do 50/60 kilometres every day.
These are now the challenges I face:
1. Getting to the next level of distance, as I need to do an average of 120 kms every day. To reach this distance, I need to do one long distance ride each week. That requires making time on my day off to do that.
2. Hills. It really is flat around here. I need to take my bike to Gatineau for some serious hill climbing.
3. Heat. I have attempted to brave the cold, but it is heat that will be the challenge in the first week or two of the tour. We will be just south of Death Valley, as we go from LA to Phoenix . I expect temperatures to be in the high 30's. How do I prepare for that?
4. Mechanical. I have yet to change my tire. I need to learn how to deal with flats, as well as basic bike maintenance.
In addition, I have to book my flight to LA and figure out how I am going to get back from NYC, plus try to promote the cause beyond our church community.
That's it for now.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
The Shift to Outdoors
On Thursday, March 28, I got all the gear I needed to start biking outside. After completely over 1000 kms inside, I was eager to get outside. On Friday, I biked to Winchester Springs and back, which was 16 km, while today I did 44 km going to Grantly road and Limmerick Road. What a different experience it was than biking inside. It felt like I was starting from scratch. Here are a number of differences:
1. Getting off the bike. I am clipped in, which means that when I break and stop, I have to de-clip or I would fall over. Inside, the bike is held in place, but I now I have to think about how to get off.
2. Going straight. Since the bike is light, it is affected by the wind. So especially on Friday, with the strong north wind, I had to make sure I didn't wobble over the road. Again inside, you're secure.
3. Hand placement. Inside your hands are free and it's easy to take a drink of water or use the remote, but on the road, the hands need to be firmly in place.
4. The elements. Inside, it is nice and warm, with no wind, while outside even if there is no wind, you create your own wind, as well as windchill. Friday was cold, and even today my hands felt it.
5. Traffic. It's not something you think about inside, but outside, it is a concern, especially since the bike is not designed to go on the gravel shoulder, but needs to remain on the pavement.
6. The scenery. Inside, I could watch TV, but outside the scenery changes as long as you don't keep looking down at the pavement.
7. People. Inside it's just me. I suppose that outside it can mainly me, but on Sat I stopped at five different homes.
8. Bumps. Inside the ride is as smooth as can be, while outside you feel every bump (especially that last section on County Road 7 today).
As a result, of these differences I am definitely feeling it after doing the 44 kms. I am sore, stiff and tired. I need to work on warm up and warm down exercises. But it was good to be outside, rather than inside. It's a good think I have 11 weeks to train. I'll need it.
1. Getting off the bike. I am clipped in, which means that when I break and stop, I have to de-clip or I would fall over. Inside, the bike is held in place, but I now I have to think about how to get off.
2. Going straight. Since the bike is light, it is affected by the wind. So especially on Friday, with the strong north wind, I had to make sure I didn't wobble over the road. Again inside, you're secure.
3. Hand placement. Inside your hands are free and it's easy to take a drink of water or use the remote, but on the road, the hands need to be firmly in place.
4. The elements. Inside, it is nice and warm, with no wind, while outside even if there is no wind, you create your own wind, as well as windchill. Friday was cold, and even today my hands felt it.
5. Traffic. It's not something you think about inside, but outside, it is a concern, especially since the bike is not designed to go on the gravel shoulder, but needs to remain on the pavement.
6. The scenery. Inside, I could watch TV, but outside the scenery changes as long as you don't keep looking down at the pavement.
7. People. Inside it's just me. I suppose that outside it can mainly me, but on Sat I stopped at five different homes.
8. Bumps. Inside the ride is as smooth as can be, while outside you feel every bump (especially that last section on County Road 7 today).
As a result, of these differences I am definitely feeling it after doing the 44 kms. I am sore, stiff and tired. I need to work on warm up and warm down exercises. But it was good to be outside, rather than inside. It's a good think I have 11 weeks to train. I'll need it.
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