Tag Archives: Glenmore Reservoir

Out On The Bike

Posted on by

Still getting out on the bike and it’s always a struggle to start.

As long as I change as soon as I get home into my cycling clothes, which immediately reminds me of why I’m doing this. Cycling clothes are not forgiving and I’m not even full on spandex, just some capri’s and a cycling top. Still I can see where I need work but it’s getting better. The pants were tight and now they fit!

Armed now with the encouragement that it’s working I fill up my water bottle and often wonder if it would be wrong to cycle with wine? YES YES it would, DO NOT drink and cycle. Do not ask how I know this but trust me it’s a bad idea. Then it’s out the door and a big SIGH as I look at the hill I have to go up. It’s not a bad hill, more of a slow crawl then it flattens out and then there is a bigger hill. The good thing is that this means my ride ends downhill.

This hill I always struggle with, the legs aren’t warmed up and I always think I’m not going to make it, wonder why I’m doing this and debate turning around. In the back of my mind though I know that if I make it through the first part I get a downhill and then pretty flat and as my legs warm up a miracle happens …… I start to ENJOY it!

Once the legs are warm and I’m feeling good, I start to feel cocky like a SUPERSTAR at least until some kid goes speeding by me reminding me that I have a long way to go to SUPERSTAR!  Oh well pedal, pedal pedal and soon I’m at the Glenmore Reservoir which is wonderful to cycle around. I usually go a little later to avoid the children and families but people are pretty good about following the rules of the bike path. Now that I’m gliding along I get to enjoy a wonderful view, one I don’t think I will ever tire of.

First we duck down into Weaselhead and it’s lush and green:

Then back up to the other and more lovely trees:

Then the reservoir and usually there is a sailboat or two:

Lovely views and makes for a really nice ride:

Then I see Heritage Park and the big H, for some reason this makes me think I’m almost home but in reality I’m only just over half way:

Even though I start out begrudgingly I always enjoy it when it’s done and am so glad I got out. Also the flabby is disappearing soon I’ll be a SUPERSTAR in cycling clothes!

Almost home:

 

Cycling!

Posted on by

Something BIG happened this weekend. Ryder Hesjedal pulled on the maglia rosa at the Giro d’Italia. In other words he took over the race lead and gets to wear a pink jersey (the Tour de France has yellow, the Italians hand out pink). This was the first time that a Canadian has EVER worn the pink jersey. A big deal and Ryder is a a great cyclist, very consistent, nice guy and loves burritos. Canadians should be very proud of him. He got it on Saturday and held on to it on Sunday, there is still a long way to go to the end, he hasn’t won the race but just to get it and hold on to it is a big deal.

Inspired by this I head out on my bike on Saturday and Sunday. I love my new bike (I think I’ve mentioned this). It’s a Specialized Vita Elite, it is AWESOME. I’ve named my bike Charlie and will be having a romance with Charlie all summer. I love getting ready for a ride and am always happy leaving my place ready to head out. The first minute or so goes really well. Look at me! I’m exercising! Getting fresh air! Look at me go!

Then at about the three minute mark, I wonder what the hell I’m doing. Part of this is because most of my rides begin with a hill. My legs say WTF are you doing? I feel tired. I look at the end of the street and think, I’ll turn around. Now we would be five minutes in. I keep going and look at another hill. Why do I do this? Is is fun? I want to turn back.

When I get to the top of the hill things get better. Downhill! Yeah! Then the dread of knowing I will have to come back up this hill. The ride then evens out. I start to find my legs.  Start feeling better. Now we’re about fifteen minutes in. I start feeling better, feeling more confident. I come up on another hill and tackle it, knowing my favourite part of the ride is coming up. It’s a long stretch over looking the Glenmore reservoir. Not only is the scenery beautiful but I’ve hit my stride I feel great. This is why I do it. I often think can’t in my life and the more I cycle and take on distances and hills that I used to look at and think can’t, now I know that I can. I’ve done it. I can do it again.

Cycling has given me so much. The I can has spilled over into other areas of my life. It clears my head and makes me feel like I can to a lot of things that I’ve thought I can’t about. So even in those first five to fifteen minutes that I wonder WTF am I doing, I know what’s coming and for that feeling I push through it and keep going. Each time a little faster, a little farther, getting stronger. I love it.