Wow! I am up super crazy early today. 4 a.m. Red Deer time. I can still see the moon outside my window, which is really quite nutty if you ask me. I know you didn’t. But I’m just saying it. My blog. Nuff said!
I just learned from my pal Al that this is the weekend for the Becel Ride for Heart and I am kind of bummed because this will be the first time I will miss the event after participating in it for 2 years straight. This is a great event for cyclists in Toronto because it is the one day every year when we own the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), a highway that takes you right into the heart of Toronto. In fact, if you reach out your hand far enough out from a certain section of the westbound lanes, you can touch the side of the Air-Canada Center!
I just learned from my pal Al that this is the weekend for the Becel Ride for Heart and I am kind of bummed because this will be the first time I will miss the event after participating in it for 2 years straight. This is a great event for cyclists in Toronto because it is the one day every year when we own the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), a highway that takes you right into the heart of Toronto. In fact, if you reach out your hand far enough out from a certain section of the westbound lanes, you can touch the side of the Air-Canada Center!
But possibly the greatest thrill for me about the whole affair is watching people of all races, genders, and riding disciplines make their way to the starting line. Last year I showed up at the Wilson subway station to take the TTC bus ride down around 5 am on Sunday morning. I was hoping to get a spot on the bus bike rack. I did. I was joined by a middle-aged lady who toted her bike and her pink helmet onto the bus. We smiled at each other because we knew where we were both going. It was her first time and we were both pumped.
When people describe watching the Tour De France live they often say that they can hear the chorus of bicycle chains humming in unison long before they see the peleton. They say it is like music to one’s ears especially if one is passionate about bikes. And that is exactly what one will experience around 6:30 am on the morning of the Becel Ride for Heart.
When people describe watching the Tour De France live they often say that they can hear the chorus of bicycle chains humming in unison long before they see the peleton. They say it is like music to one’s ears especially if one is passionate about bikes. And that is exactly what one will experience around 6:30 am on the morning of the Becel Ride for Heart.
I remember setting my freshly tuned and cleaned bike against a post and munching on a PowerBar as I watched the riders whir into the parking lot. The bike geek in me drooled over the Cannondale’s, Trek’s, and the occasional exotic Bianchi that came cruising in. I was diggin’ it when a few people complimented me on my ride. “Dude nice Thompson post you got there” or asked me questions, “hey how you like those disc brakes on a road bike. They work well for you?” I ate it all up.
The ride is only 50k and it is done too soon. But the DVP is a dream to ride on. People complain about it being steep for the first 25k but that’s because they probably don’t ride as often as I did. But I will agree that the last 25k are better. In fact I’ say they are quite kick ass because they travel slightly downhill back into town. I clocked my fastest computer read speed going back. 57 km/h. On a bike under your own pedal power that is flying!
The ride is only 50k and it is done too soon. But the DVP is a dream to ride on. People complain about it being steep for the first 25k but that’s because they probably don’t ride as often as I did. But I will agree that the last 25k are better. In fact I’ say they are quite kick ass because they travel slightly downhill back into town. I clocked my fastest computer read speed going back. 57 km/h. On a bike under your own pedal power that is flying!
Well, to all you riders heading out on Sunday… Have an amazing time! And I look forward to rejoining you in the coming years. Lord willing and all that…
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