Easy neighborhood ride. Finch west of Bathurst was particularly underwhelming with frequent lights and a lot of road construction. The best Toronto rectangular rides seem to be to the north and east, at least for where I live. The thunderstorm forecast for today never materialized.
I find myself wanting to buy more cycling toys, but I don't feel I've earned them. I've logged 2500 km and 100 hours so far this year (starting in earnest in April), but to put in perspective how little that is, that's almost exactly 8 rides of what I did last Saturday. I bought a proper, bright yellow bike jersey as a reward for biking 200 km in a day back in May. As a reward for my 300 km ride, I'm buying clip-on aerobars, which I am hoping will increase my top speed by 2-3 kph for the same effort. But unlike running and like photograph, cycling offers perilous and tempting purchases. On the other hand, I already feel like I have to remember and carry an armful of gear when I go on long rides; there is a lot to be said for minimalism.
Things I have purchased:
- Bicycle (2013)
- Clipless SPD-SL pedals and shoes (2013)
- Helmet, 2x unpadded bike shorts, running tights, bright yellow long sleeve running shirts, running wind breaker, sunglasses, Garmin Forerunner (various)
- Gatorskin tires (2018?)
- 3L platypus bladder (2008?, 2020)
- Bike jersey (2020)
- Saddle (2020)
- 3L frame bag (2020)
- Bike lights (various)
- Clip-on Aerobars (pending)
Things I am considering buying, in rough priority:
- 4L of chocomilk
- New handlebar tape
- Padded shorts
- Winter clothes: Cycling vest, tight long sleeve, jacket.
- Better (more aerodynamic) helmet
- More bikepacking bags
- Bike computer
- Trips to Ireland, Scotland, Canary Islands for epic bike expeditions.