Well after our little sojourn to Vancouver Island this past weekend I decided that it would be best if I took a little ride on Monday. After confirming with Tammy that she would indeed be home on time on Monday I planned out my route. Looked at the Weather Network and figured I was good to go.
This would be my biggest single ride and my longest non stop. I did 80+km with Daz but we stopped for a quick bite and a coffee at the halfway point. This was a non stop loop of 63.1km. We have taken the kids many times to Big Hill Springs Park to have a picnic or go for a walk on the paths or both, we were introduced to it by our good friends the Zakresky's. It is relatively close and a great little walk through the foothills forest. It is about 30km out to the Park. Since I knew that the Zakresky's took a different route than we did, I also figured it would make a great bike loop provided that the distance was reasonable. 63.1km indeed seems reasonable (I dunno when that happened...........seems I have lost a marble or two recently)
Here is the route
A check of of the Weather Network said 15km winds from the SE, not too bad. 11 degrees C, ok dress warm not so bad either.
Off I go Tammy has my route map (safety first) and I hit the road. I had spent all day in my head convincing myself that I wasn't going to go for the big ride, maybe just a 20k, its cold after all. As soon as I was on the road I was glad to be out (did I mention how much I enjoy being out on my bike), would have been better if it was the warm weather of last week but a ride is a ride. I knew I was in a bit of trouble when I mad the turn at the 5.5km mark onto 144ave, the cross winds had me slowing down on the downhill as I wasn't as stable as I like to be when travelling in excess of 60km/h. but it is mostly downhill from the beginning to the 11km mark (with one valley) so the wind wasn't a huge hinderence. I have travelled this road many times on the bike now (its part of my 25km loop through Hidden Valley).
At the 11km mark rather than turning right and looping back to home it was Westward Ho and up Simons Valley Road. Here is where the uphill starts. Apparently I didn't look very carefully at the elevation grid......seems they next 38km is generally uphill. After the 12km point the road swings back due north giving me a bit of a cross wind again, my first view of what the tail end of the ride is going to be like. I make the wind at 25km or so not 15 to say the least.
I can tell you one thing this tree beside the road was feeling the wind.
Ok so maybe that wasn't really on the side of the road but it should give you an idea of what I was thinking :)
I have to say it was pretty out there, being that far away from homes makes it feel like big sky country. Vast open farmlands with nothing but the mountains in the distance. This picture doesn't do it justice but here it is anyway.
When I made the turn onto 567 my speed increased remarkably, even with the general increase in elevation. For most of the next 12km I maintained around 34km/h with the only slow down coming between 29 and 30 (big damn hill). The riding was good, but I was paranoid about getting another flat.............given that I have had 2 in less than a week. To no avail though things held up just fine.
The tough part was to come, turn the corner onto Lochend Rd and there is the wind still somewhat cross by more in my face, oh and uphill till Crowchild trail. Slow going the whole way, I finally saw some other bikers but they were headed the other way........made me feel less insane knowing there were others out and about.
Onto Crowchild for 4 km of brutal head wind, my pace was around 12km/h and the wind was howling in my ears (thank god for my headphones they keep the worst of it out of my ears but I think I should think about a headband or kerchief for the ride to keep the wind out of my ears) when I hit BearsPaw country club I debated cutting through the and shortening the ride by 8 or 9km but in the end I kept to my route (because I am stubborn and because that is where I told Tammy I would be) In the end I am glad I did, it was a tough ride but gave me faith in doing the 100km relatively easily. Day 2 is still in question but I have plenty of time to put a couple of big rides back to back.
Good thing I layered up, I wasn't cold other than the back of my neck. All in all a pretty good accomplishment.
Some stats from the ride
Total Distance 63.1km
Total Ride Time 2:40
Avg Speed 23.1km/h
Top Speed 63.5km/h
Avg HR 140bpm
Max HR 168bpm
Total Kcal burned 2209kcal
I am going to stop reading your blog I think. I would have turned around at the first cross wind!!! :)
Posted by: Kirsty | 04/28/2010 at 09:21 AM