Training Log Archive: veinbuster

We saw the coolest wheel chair ever at a bike shop in Invermere: a mountain wheel chair. I should have taken photos. The engineering was amazing.

Two big mountain wheels and a smaller rear to steer. Rowing type stroke to move it, quite quickly if you were inclined. A joystick on the right rowing arm to steer (though I initially assumed steering was managed by working the arms separately). It had a super tight turn around.

It looked like it could handle anything wide enough to get it through. It wasn't much wider than my trike, but is less than half the length so I think it could get around a number of obstacles the trike (even with ground clearance and bigger rubber) couldn't handle.

C • I took pictures of it! 1

Gravel ride with Flight and NF.

While we were waiting for Huckleberry to make our breakfast, NF swapped gravel tires onto the gravel bike I was borrowing. We drove a bit from Invermere to a logging road that had a hot spring 18km from the highway.

I thought I would get a head start, but noticed I didn't have the Garmin on the bike so came back and couldn't find it (fallen out of my helmet between pizza and the ride). We didn't search too hard because I had my old backup with a wonky display - that mostly worked today. The advantage/disadvantage of the old one is that it has an audible alarm at 95% max heart rate.

The road started out with quite a bit of climbing. At about 7km in, we agreed that Flight and NF could charge at their speed and I would either meet them at the hot spring or not. I advised Flight that my plan was to try to contain the climbing to 500m for the day and would loop back if it looked like I would exceed that, or if my heart monitor alarmed twice more (I had alarmed on 3 climb segments so far).

The road was a bit too twisty to keep them in sight for long. I hit my target alarm cut off near the top of a climb at about 12 km and stopped for an orange and to finish my drinks. Refreshed, I finished the climb to show I could and decided not to descend and have to climb an extra hill on the return. I looped back and enjoyed the descent, but not so much the cars that threw stones at me.

I knew there was one long climb going back and I alarmed on it, but was well in control of my pace for it - it helps knowing how long and steep it would be. I got back to the car quite early and short of my 500m climb limit by a bit over 50m. I drank the scraps of water and found the missing Garmin, then ate the breakfast burrito I had in my pocket.

Refreshed I grabbed the spare water in the car (unfortunately depriving Flight who had only carried one) and started back up the gravel to finish the 500m. I felt good finishing, so cruised down the highway a bit to get a 2 hour ride in - but not so far to risk being assessed as kidnapped should the others skip the hot spring and loop straight back. I got back to the car just enough ahead to change my shorts - and give Flight 1/2 her spare bottle of water.

I'd like to take my mountain trike (not yet purchased) here.

EDIT: looking at the map, it appears I had done the bulk of the climbing when I bailed. I think I could do the whole thing on my cross bike.

Cochran to Canmore with flight. It seemed fitting because my dad was born in a Cochran. Our little memorial carrying his Royal Canadian Regiment badges.

Since I didn't think I coudl ride all the way to Canmore from Calgary, Flight and I drove to Cochran to start. NF woudl ride to the car and then drive out to collect us in Canmore. I new this would be stretching my self imposed limit on a traditional bike, but felt it was doable if I managed the pace.

It turns out Flight is better at managing my pace than I am, and set a slower tempo than I would have been inclided to start at on my own. I just used an easy gear uphill and coasted much of the down hill to let my heart recover. NF had switched out the 30 for a 32 on the rear which made the steep bits feel easier than yesterday.

At 40km I called a pause to see if we could stop the front disc from rubbing - the combination of uphill, headwind and brake resistance was a bit too demanding mentally. We decided it was just a touch of a slight bend in the disc and not really doing any braking. It did serve as a nice recovery though.

At 60km we paused to get more water, though I hadn't been drinking enough and had some to spare. I elevated my legs while Flight fetched water and cookies, then we headed for an amazing pizza in Canmore, about an hour away.

I drank about 1.5 litres fairly quickly after we stopped and was still a bit low on fluid. Some of my pizza got saved for later because my body wasn't quite ready to accommodate the whole thing. I think my calorie intake for the day was about 1000 less than Garmin says I burned on the ride.

This was a really nice ride, most of which would be very comfortable on the trike. And it completes my tour of the 1A. Next time I might try it with a tail wind though.

I decided to tend to a bit of business before my flexibility routine this morning and suddenly it was time for a last minute flight to Calgary. Most of my routine isn’t sock glue friendly even if I was inclined to do it in an airport waiting area. I will do some neck stuff. That has been the weak link for the last year.

C • Calgary 2

Flight and NF (until he got tired of going as slow as me).

This was a ride from the house. We went along the river path for a fair distance, dodging the weekend out doors traffic and eventually escaped to the north west. It was more climbing than I had done in 6 months so I sucked air a bit when the grade went up to 10%.

We went on a bit of the road I had been on in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, including a fairly long descent - which of course meant I would have to climb back up over the ridge to get back to the city. NF pealed off to get a training ride in and Flight looped me back to town via "The Wall". This is on Springbank and is a tiered upward climb. about half way up the last tier, my heart rate hit 174 and I decided to bail out. I walked the last 200-300m and let my heart rate drop back down to a reasonable rate before hopping back on the bike to finish the now gentle climb.

We went back to the house mostly via roads to avoid the heavy path traffic. The road was quite civilized and I felt like I earned tasty beverages, including some boutique sake to honour my dad's long fascination with Japanese culture.

This is a ride I could do again. I think in two more tries, I could beat "The Wall" on a regular bike. I could get over handily on the trike, though that bit of road isn't especially trike friendly.

Day 2 soloflex and free weights

Travel day

C • Happy 40th! 3

South down the beach to show Mrs the really expensive homes. Many had upper decks bigger than our house.

I had to wait an hour for the fog to thin enough to give 50m visibility then headed to the bike path with all my lights blinking. At the end of the gravel trail I too, the park road rather than the bike loop. It crossed a nu bet of bike paths, but the fog was too disorienting to feel confident that any of them would take me to a known location.

At 12km I felt like I was going back south, but Garmin said no. I planned to retrace my steps at 15km, but shortly after finding out I was still north bound the road ended. I looped back with only one place that it wasn’t obvious which branch to take.

The tiny tires were easy to upset in what would normally be an uneventful pot hole. They also seemed particularly sensitive to wet spots like the line marking the bike line and the wood on the boardwalk.

loaded GPS for Delaware rides yesterday and today.

Beach with Mrs. We had to walk off the sweets from her afternoon tea.