This is the beauty of a bike ride on the prairie! Fields are all coming into bloom and there’s colours everywhere!
I’ve done quite a few things since my last post, but I’m not going to list them all this time. Why??? Because for some reason, my life seems to be focused around biking right now, and that’s okay!
Last year I had promised a friend I would join her MS Bike Tour team. I am one who likes to keep my promises. I’ve been getting itchy feet to get out on my bike for some training so, I sent off the trusty e-mail and within hours we were set up for a ride!
Ride #1 was last Saturday. The plan was to bike out to Lumsden and back. Approximately 55km round trip. The catcher is that Lumsden is in a valley! Up to that point in my training and races, I had not yet done any hill training! I had no clue if I would be walking my bike back up or not! I figured I would be okay since my buddy is still recovering from a knee replacement! So…off we went!
It felt great to be out on the open road on a bike again. Heading out of Regina it was overcast and threatening rain. We hustled our butts and thankfully watched as the nasty clouds drifted behind us and into Regina. We were heading west and into sunny blue skies! I started to feel a bit of apprehension as we got closer to the top of the valley. Since I had never biked up a hill before, it would also stand to reason I have never biked down one either! At least not since I was a care free teenager in the Okanagan!
T had tole me before the ride to take it easy down the hill and make sure I used the back brake as opposed to the front. Good thing to remember so one does not end up going ass over tea kettle onto the pavement! On a hill like that, if you use your front brake, you could go right over your handle bars and get run over by your own bike! Not an experience I’d like to have! So, I heeded her warning and used the back brake. Squeeze a bit…then back off. Squeeze a bit…then back off. All the way down the hill! Before I knew I knew it I was looking at my bike computer watching it as it hit 55km/hr! What a rush!
The bottom of the hill was much more pleasant. Lumsden awaited…along with a hearty breakfast at the local restaurant! It was nice to sit and reflect on what I had just done. Then it struck me… Oh shit…I have to go up that thing now!
Up wasn’t nearly as difficult as I had anticipated. My thoughts were…as long as I don’t have to get off the bike and walk…it’s all good! I managed a respectable 11 to 12km/hr heading back up the hill! I didn’t have to get off and walk, so it’s all good! Back home to Regina and into a nice hot bath!
Sunday was up and at it again. This time out to Balgonie and back. About 45km round trip. I was feeling just a bit sore this time around though. As my buddy put it… my “girly bitts” were suffering from so much riding! At least this time it was more flat than not! We stopped at the gas station on the north side of Balgonie for a nice pottie/drink refill break. All in all a good weekend was had by all.
I actually managed to not do much else for the week ahead. I was kept busy with working two jobs. I managed a 2hr walk with the dogs on Saturday, then it was back out on the highway Sunday morning for another bomb to Balgonie and back. The sky was clear and the fields were a brilliant yellow. I love summer riding. The weather, the smells and the colours are absolutely stunning! I look forward to more road training in the coming weeks.
Until next time, be good to yourself and remember:
“It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.”
- Rachel Carson
