The Good with the Bad

I hope the following is as amusing as it is enlightening.

The Good

At the end of last year, my girlfriend and I got tickets for Cirque Du Soleil. We had seen Alegria some time ago and really enjoyed it and vowed to go to more productions. We bought tickets for some kind of hybrid Cirque Du Soleil Ice show but the pandemic wiped that out. When we bought these tickets, we were worried that this would also be a bust, but we figured that it was a worthwhile gamble. Luckily this one paid off.

The show just opened a few days ago, but thankfully everything went ahead full steam. It was so nice to get out a do something. The show was lots of fun with a number of good acts. It is amazing what the human body can do with zero body fat and great balance. There were moments that were amazing. I will definitely go to more shows like this one. Perhaps, one day, I will be able to afford to be a VIP customer and get to spend time in the VIP booth before the show.

If I had any critiques, it would be with the high price for parking and the rather uncomfortable chairs. None of these things involved the show, so let’s leave them here.

The Bad

Yesterday, I joked about the coffee maker dying. I was planning on going through the whole vinegar routine on Sunday. The area I live in has hard water and regular de-scaling is important. I shouldn’t have joked about it, because I woke up this morning to a non-functioning coffee pot. Easter Sunday, and no coffee. Coffee makers don’t really last a long time, but I have a feeling I jinxed myself.

Suffering from caffeine withdrawal is no time to go shopping. Easter Sunday is no time to go shopping either. As it turns out, a number of stores are open, but I chose the wrong ones and couldn’t find a coffee maker anywhere. Then my girlfriend suggested Canadian Tire. I thought it would be closed and hadn’t even considered it. This surprised her as this is my “go to” store. Usually I consider Home Hardware my go to store, but sadly the size difference and stock quantities don’t really compare. I was surprised that I hadn’t checked the store hours either, and chalked it up to a lack of caffeine.

So, after several stores, I ended up at Canadian Tire and bought a coffee maker–nothing fancy. It used a basked filter whereas my current one uses a cone filter. No problem, I thought. I have a basket filter at home. Actually, what I had was the box for the basket filter, but not the filter itself. So, yes, I had to go back to the store. I blame everything on my lack of caffeine. Although breakfast was delayed, I did eat something. That was good because if I had also been hangry, it wouldn’t have gone well.

The Indifferent

I awoke to snow on the ground. While this was not totally unexpected, I had hoped that I would be on my bike this weekend. It melted and if it hadn’t been for the whole coffee maker issue, I probably would have gotten out on my bike. Then again, I probably would have had to engage in yard work too–so I really can’t grumble about this. I will be on my bike sometime this week.

Back on the Bike

So, cleat changed, body still suffering from a bit of a cold, and rusty from 16 days off the bike, I headed out to a special group ride. This Monday was a civic holiday.  Where I live it is Simcoe day, but other parts of the province celebrate different people.  Needing a holiday in August, most people don’t put up too much of a fuss.

As it was a holiday, the group met for a “recovery ride” since there was some long ride event held on Sunday that I neither attended nor paid attention to. Though I am not completely new to cycling, I am only vaguely aware of what a recovery ride is.  I know it isn’t supposed to be as taxing as a race or long ride, but that’s about it.  I heard several riders joking that today’s ride seemed a little long to be a recovery ride, and a little fast at times.  I wasn’t really doing a recovery ride–and neither were they–so I am not sure what all the fuss was about.

We gathered at the usual spot and the oldest club member took charge. There was no set route and there was only going to be one group.  we determined a route up to the lake and off we went.  I have been up there a few times lately, but it is a pleasant ride with a few good hills and some long uninterrupted stretches of pavement–some of which is brand new and very smooth.

As we were a bit of a rag tag group, the pace wasn’t supposed to be too high. Of course, I had no idea what pace we were setting because I had left my cycle computer at home.  I wouldn’t have any idea how fast I was going until I got back home and checked the stats on Strava.  I rode 85 and a half kilometres at an average speed of 23.7.  I am sure that some of my average was eroded by my solo ride home.  No one to push me or pull me.  I also hit a max speed of 67kms per hour.  I am pretty sure this was on a descent, but it was a glorious one.

It felt good to be back on the bike. Now, I’ve got to shake this cold permanently.

Saving a Turtle

Battling an illness for the past week has kept me off the bike. This week, though still not feeling one hundred percent, I decided to get out on the bike.  I chose the C group which turned out to be a fine choice.  It was leisurely, but there were some moments of speed and we still managed to find some hills.  My goal is to become a B group rider, but I just don’t feel like I have the energy.

The ride was good because a storm had blown through the night before and the air had that nice smell that comes after a rain in the country. The roads were mostly clean, though some gravel had piled up.  We managed to find some newly paved sections and got to turn on the speed a little.

The Perfect Moment in this ride was when several members of our group (not me) saved a turtle that was crossing McCowan road. The cars blasted along quite quickly and it could have been dangerous for the turtle.  I know they have hard shells, but can they stand up to a 2000lbs car traveling at 100km/hr (which is above the speed limit for that road, but who is kidding who?)?  The members of the C group are awesome and need to be saluted.

After the ride, I was completely wiped out. I laid down and was prepared to fall asleep, but my cat had other ideas.  My resting and his need for a treat were obviously incompatible.

In Need of a Bike Fit?

It’s the long weekend. That in itself would be enough to certify it as Today’s (and this weekend’s) Perfect Moment, but something tells me that’s what I will pick on Monday ……after waking up at a leisurely hour.

I guess I am going to have to pick my morning bike ride.

The Aftermath of Dinner

I woke with a belly full of fish and chips. I had gotten a take out order from the local shop.  I was quite surprised that the clerk remembered my name.  I haven’t been there often but since I often go when it isn’t busy, I have time to talk to her.  She is a lovely woman with a good sense of humour.  Again, I am surprised she remembered my name.

The Ride

• Distance

  70.75 km

• Elevation Gain

  664 m

• Time

  3h 5m

Despite the full stomach, I headed out for the ride. The weather was predicted to be sunny but rather hot.  Since I was sweating just preparing for the ride, I had no doubt that would be true.

After several weeks of riding the same or similar route, we headed off in the opposite direction.  I thought we were going to go to the lake, but we didn’t.  I did see some nice scenery and I certainly climbed some hills.

I can’t say it was my best ride. I faded at the end…and at parts in the middle.  My cardio wasn’t bad, I just couldn’t push myself.  Maybe I am tired.  Maybe I was too full of chips.  I went up hills in a very low gear and couldn’t get out of the saddle and up on the pedals well.  I did manage pick up some good speed on some of the downhill sections, but that just brought me level with the group again for a short while.

I did about 80km but Strava only recorded 71 of them. It was my longest ride of the season.

A Bike Fit?

One of the group leaders said that I might find it worth going for a bike fit as I seemed to be snaking all over the road–well, not all over the road, but more than I should. He pointed out some smooth riders and said I should aspire to that.  He suggested lowering the seat a hair, or maybe moving my seat position back.  I wonder which of the many bike stores in the area would give me the best results?  If anyone reading this has any advice that would be wonderful.

Life’s Classroom

As the cycling season gets going, there are always things that need fixing, updating, replacing. This is probably true of every sport, activity, or pastime. So far this year, I have changed my bib shorts, the batteries in my cycling computer, the card in my wallet.  Today, I changed the cleats on my cycling shoes.  I noticed on last weekend’s ride that the left one was coming loose rather easily.  I considered this a safety issue and decided to replace them immediately.  I could have waited another ride (probably) but I thought better of it.  They look so shiny and new.  I wish I had taken a photo of the gnarly ones I took off, just for juxtaposition.

Now, let’s be honest. Buying cleats for my cycling shoes is not Today’s Perfect Moment.  Considering how much these pieces of plastic cost, it might be considered Today’s Worst Deal, or Today’s Worst Expenditure, but nothing close to perfect.

What was Perfect, was spending time in the bicycle shop getting some more knowledge. The attendant, Nigel, gave me lots of good advice about riding, pedal floating, seat height, tire wear, and the advantages of 25mm tires over 23mm tires.  This may mean nothing to you, but I am sure you can apply it to something in your life.  Think about learning about one of your interests.  Thing about seeing someone perform the way you aspire to.  Think about someone so sincere and infectious answering all your questions without judgement.

I am a teacher, but I am always fascinated by life’s classroom. When I get to hear from someone who has knowledge (as opposed to blowhards that don’t and only want to dominate a conversation–yes, I work with a few of those) I really enjoy it.  When I get to talk to someone who really loves what they do, I really take it all in.