Five hardy riders

Under cloudy and cool conditions with a slippery path three riders, Wayne, Ken T and Cy,  assembled where the E & N branches from Esquimalt Road, heading to Royal Roads with Doug and Ken W joining the group along the way. The Old Cranks who had started at Fol Epi passed the group with everyone meeting up at the Royal Roads Caf.

As has become the pattern, the group went their separate ways on the way home - Doug peeling off towards Mann Construction and Ken W to check out next week’s ride.

And in cycling news - a "chop shop" is uncovered in Saanich!

Cycle paths with a difference - our new bike lane on Pandora looks pretty tame compared to

If you want to see what the Old Cranks are up to go here

A gnarly coffee

Given the gnarly conditions, Norm L proposed meeting at Union Pacific Coffee rather than battle the elements. It seemed to be a popular decition.

With the exception of Michael, who arrived by bicycle, putting the rest of us to shame, Ken T., Bill, Jeff, Wayne and Norm drove to the Union Pacific Coffee House on Herald. Because of a medical appointment Michael didn't stay long before cycling to Oak Bay. He put the rest of us to shame.

Union Pacific is a popular spot - not surprising given the quality of the Java and “treats”. At the second attempt we got a table large enough to accommodate everyone.

Discussion points were quite wide ranging - will the Kinder Morgan be built? The consensus was Yes, especially give Quebec’s stance on the Pipeline East option, but whether the price of oil will mean that bitumen will flow through the pipes to coastal BC is another matter. Given the latest oil finds in Texas, the market potential for expensive Canadian oil would seem to be anywhere but the USA.

The balancing act that the Feds have to achieve between competing Provincial visions of the future makes it very challenging one - there is no way they can please everyone.

Needless to say The Donald got a mention or two - nepotism, conflicts of interest, silence on “The Fence” and “Hillary”. To say nothing of his interference in British ambassadorial appointments!

Bill shared his experience with an all male book club where they actually discuss the book in some depth. Showing his literary prowess, Bill referenced the choco ration episode from George Orwell’s 1984

This was an excellent example of the Oxford Dictionary’s selection of “Post truth” as the word of the year - if you want to know the short list go here

Wayne encouraged those who had not heard Peter Mansbridge One on One with Tony Blair to watch it on YouTube

In keeping with this quality conversation, Jeff encouraged us to read The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth - although written in 2004, it has implications today.

After this intense conversation, we all went our separate ways - by car, except for Michael who had left earlier on his bike.

Wires Crossed?

Today’s ride was to be organized by Norm L who lay awake all night checking and re-checking the weather charts. 7.00am was decision time, plotting the trend lines of relative humidity, cloud ceiling, PoP, prevailing winds and adiabatic lapse rates he bravely distributed an email to say “The ride is ON”. A few moments later, while sitting at breakfast looking out over Lime Bay and the Straits of Juan de Fuca, he was already having second thoughts, the weather looked downright gnarly.  Meanwhile some potential riders in other parts of the city were experiencing a heavy shower or two. Not without reason, they figured Norm had lost the plot and a number of riders decided to stay home.

Since Norm L had failed to pick up his bike from Trek before closing time on Monday, he could not collect it till 9.30 at which point he was supposed to be at Michell’s Farm to start the ride around the airport!

David A., Doug and Cy took off from Michell’s with Norm intending to join them somewhere along the way. That plan may have looked good on paper, but it was faulty in execution. Norm started his solo ride at the McTavish roundabout under sunny although a tad coolish skies. No matter how fast he cycled, Norm could not catch up with the “three amigos”. He checked in at Belinda’s, the coffee stop for today, but could not find Doug, David and Cy. The rest of the ride could only have been improved with good company - the cycling conditions were excellent - although there has been a lot of precipitation in recent days, the trail was mostly dry, although there was the occasional shallow puddle.

Solo Norm finished his abbreviated ride at the infamous roundabout, happy that he had been out on the saddle under excellent condition, but disappointed that he had failed to connect with David A, Doug and Cy.

And in other cycling news.......

A start up company in Utah has come with the "never flat" tyre!

And a way to let cool heads prevail!!

To see what the Old Cranks have been up to go here.

Paradise Regained

After the precipitation of recent days, some were wondering whether winter had set in for the season, especially with the clock change. This morning we woke up to Paradise Regained, to steal a phrase from Milton. Cy, Bill, Wayne and Norm assembled at Fol Epi in magnificent fall conditions [Ken W joined us at the Switch Bridge]. It’s amazing the impact of some rays of sunshine - it raised everyone’s mood, without the aid of Vitamin D!

By the time we had reached the bridge at Uptown, Bill figured that he had over-dressed opting to strip off some of the layers.

Although it was sunny and warm, the trail was still wet in the shady areas, those areas combined with wet leaves proved the only distraction. The trestles were their usually bumpy selves, but they were dry and did not present a cycling hazard.

Good progress was made all the way up to the Ridge Cafe at Cordova Bay. Given the rainy conditions of late, the tables and chairs had been stacked off to the side. It was with great delight that we pulled some tables and chairs out into the sunshine.

The conversation started off about how smart we were to have chosen to move to this corner of Paradise - where else in Canada, in mid-November,  could we be enjoying a bike ride under the sun, and basking in 15C weather? We did touch on the dodgy practices employed by developers whether in Edmonton or Colwood, and even the Donald in Aberdeen.

There was also a sign up sheet looking for organizers for bike rides till next March. Look out for the sign up sheet!

Donald and a bike click on the link to learn about the Tour de Trump!!!

There was some discussion of the election going on south of the border. Cy was keen to have a pool on how many seats the candidates would have in the electoral college, but Wayne was the only taker, prediction that HRC would get over 330 votes - we will know how accurate that is in a few hours.

And in Cycling news

Bike sharing is all the rage in China

And to see what the Old Cranks are up to you can go here

Bill's Inauguration

Six hardy riders showed up for Bill’s inauguration as group leader. The group:Brimmy, Cy, Michael, Ken T., Ken S. and Bill who quickly adjusted to his new role by changing the advertised route - the change was agreed to without any rioting.

The group assembled where the E & N leaves Esquimalt Road, following the trail to the Nest Café on the Goose. Michael who hadn't been on the fully completed path gave it his “stamp of approval”.

At The Nest we had so much discussion of the US Presidential election that we had to pose using Trump's two most common hand gestures (see the photo). Despite some light rain on the return trip via the Goose, a good time was had by all. The group stopped on the Gorge tressle to observe the squatter boats that have now been given their apparent final final eviction notice. We'll see. 

Till the next ride.

Remember, if you want to see what the old cranks are up to go here

And in cycling news - how about a Skunk Lock to deter thieves? This was first observed on the BBC and more recently sighted on the CBC.

Bike Ride Karma

"Well, we lucked out on the weather" someone said as we rode in to the Marina for coffee after a near-hillless ride to Cadboro Bay. Yep, dry and warm no wind - what more could we ask for in the middle of rainy October? Due to a lack of recognition, we missed David B as we rounded the cemetery on to St. Charles but he rode over for coffee at the Marina where convalescing Martin also joined the gang for coffee. Mike was a last minute addition, back from his election monitoring work with the UN, touring through much of the US where armed insurrection is reportedly close at hand! 

We stayed away from dangerous topics such as politics and 'locker room talk' and mainly focused on comparative fall colour palettes of east vs. west vs prairies, a discussion lead by Cy. However, the most lengthy discussion centered on the group's now famous trophy and how it has passed hands as of late. It seems Ken Wohlberg has been hogging it, obviously becoming very attached to the symbol of biking coffee contest excellence. In a near-unanimous decision, it was decided that in order to safeguard the future of the trophy, it should be held in the care of our group leader, Norm Leslie in perpetuity. Henceforth, the trophy, like the Stanley Cup, may be taken out for special occasions and even loaned for short periods but shall mainly reside with Norm.

It was after this momentous decision that the group looked out the window and saw it was now steady, moderate rain! Karma, or the wrath of ...?  😁

Special thanks to Mark J for supplying the blog while Norm is in his sick bed.

And in cycling news this week:

A video entitled cycling karma viewer discretion is advised.

Perhaps Buzz Bike will come to Victoria - they supply bikes for free! We might not fit their profile, however.

Did you know about Robin Williams bicycle collection?

And if you want to see what the Old Cranks are up to click here

Thanksgiving Ride

Ken T., Ken W. and yours truly met at Michell’s Farm on a perfect fall day for a ride around Victoria International Airport [YYJ] - the sun was shining brightly, although there was a slight breeze from the north which warranted the extra layer of clothing we had all opted for. It was too bad that there were only the three of us to enjoy the experience.

We took turns in leading allowing the others to draft thus avoiding the cool northerly breeze. Given the ideal riding conditions, we met few other riders as we headed north to Tulista Park, then heading across the Pat Bay Highway to join the trail around the airport. It was decided to defer the coffee stop to later rather than stopping at Melinda’s Coffee. At the top of Hospital Hill where work is under way for the new memorial to honour WW II airmen.

Drawing of the proposed memorial at Hospital Hill

After a lengthy stop, we enjoyed the ride down the north side of the airport towards Pat Bay. While heading along the south side of the airport there was some discussion on where we should enjoy a coffee break. After dithering for several minutes, it was decided to head to The Roost for coffee where we enjoyed our coffee on the deck basking in the sunshine. Much of the conversation was consumed with comparing notes on how car repair facilities have changed over time - today, it is hard to find anyone with dirty hands in a repair facility, rather they look ready to enter an operating theatre. 

There was also interest in how to obtain BC Ferries alerts e.g. when the ferry is running late or cancelled, when the parking lots at ferry terminals are full etc. The way to do this to set up an account on the BC Ferries web site where you can select what notifications you want to receive.

After coffee, it was time to head back to Michell’s Farm. It was an uneventful, but speedy ride.

Be sure to check out what the Old Cranks have been up to by clicking here.

In cycling news this week - if you have friends who doubt the need to wear a helmet, then send them this link

and how to pack your bike when being transported - how a bicycle company reduced the number of bikes damaged en route to their customers

And to finish on a very positive note, I have included some photos taken at the James Jefferys’ lunch at Swan’s last Friday.

Off the Beaten Track in Gordon Head

Three Kens, David and Norm assembled at Mann Construction hoping that it would remain dry. Brookmead had already experienced some early morning rain, while Rockland, James Bay and the Songhees had escaped any precipitation. Fall was definitely in the air with cooler temperatures as the Peloton, led by Ken T followed the Blekinsop Greenway and onto Mt Doug Cross Rd and north on Glendenning to the foot of Mount Doug where a great moral decision had to be made - should we or should we not ignore the no bikes sign on the trail going north. Being of upright character and morals, the decision was made not to break the bylaw. Instead we followed Winchester and Parkside Crescent crossing Cedar Hill Rd and Shelburne to San Juan then heading north again behind Majestic Park before turning onto Majestic Dr to Ash Dr where it joined into Cordova Bay Road.
Glancing between the trees as we made our way up Cordova Bay Road, the sun glinting on the waters with the San Juan Islands clearly visible. At Cordova Bay Road it was time for another major decision, this time it was not moral, but to decide whether to tackle Cordova Bay to the Golf Course, or the more moderate route along Royal Oak to the Lochside.and on to the Ridge Café. We opted for the sedate route.
Thanks to Ken T for showing us some of the roads less travelled around the trademark landmark, Mount Doug.

Ken S holds "the trophy"

Over coffee there was no avoiding the American election. The other focus of discussion was the recently instituted Cy Trophy - Jeff was glad to unload it last week, leaving it Ken W’s capable hands. Norm drew the short straw with his blatantly wrong answer and “lost” the trophy [that means he “won” the trophy. He carefully loaded the box in his carry bag making sure the weight was properly centred so as not to cause any balance issues.

With Cy absent it was speculated that Casey told Cy to get rid of it, and rather than try selling it on eBay for $2.00, he opted to “share” it with his cycling buddies. If you are reading this Cy, you will be presented with the said item and asked to take it back home or put it on eBay. We expect you to buy the coffees with the $$$$$’s you get for the trophy.
 

Cy's Treasure.

Rambling through Oak Bay

Blog for Tuesday September 13, 2016

Check the priceless artifact being shown by Cy....

Cy, Mark, Ken T., Wayne, Jeff and Norm L. assembled at Mile Zero as per Cy’s instructions. Under sunny skies, the Peloton headed north on Douglas before heading east through Beacon Hill Park and lower Fairfield including the Ross Bay Cemetery. From there, with David B now part of the Peloton, Cy led us through some of the back streets of Oak Bay pointing out points of interest e.g. art installations, friends’s houses etc. The route took us along Monterey passing the Oak Bay Police and Fire HQ and north through the back streets of Uplands passing both mansions and “handy man’s specials” or tear downs. Before we knew it, we were on Landsdowne and turning south enjoying the long glide down Beach Drive to the Oak Bay Marina.
Given the weather, it was most enjoyable to sit out on the deck for coffee and a chat at the Marina. At great personal expense, Cy had brought a prize for a skill testing question over coffee. He challenged us to guess the price of a particular yacht which was up for sale. Participants were trying not to guess the price being asked for the yacht, since they would have to create the quiz for next week’s ride. Poor Jeff came closest to the mark and was duly presented with the prize which he will display prominently in his home over the coming week.
Conversation included the price of sail boats, the proposed marina for the harbour, the vote on the new sewage plant and the treatment of Hillary Clinton by the media.
After coffee, it was a shotgun ride home with riders heading off in various directions.
Jeff was given strict instructions not to “lose” the prize before next week.

Blogger Norm has been on vacation for a little while, so this week he has included links to several cycling related stories.

A hotel near Christchurch NZ has banned cyclists from the premises if they wear lycra!
 

Norm discovered that this particular establishment was the watering hole for a Kiwi friend growing up.

Then there was the salutary lesson of the old maxim that cycling accidents can happen to anyone, including the rich and famous

Then there is one from the Dublin Triathlon that rings true for Oak Bay given the deer population

Lastly, a good reason to come cycling every week.
See you on the saddle next week!!

Mechosin - Bucolic no more?

The ride today saw Bill join us for his first ride. David, Ken, Martin and Norm gave Bill’s spiffy new Canondale nods of approval - checking the brakes, gears, spokes etc.
Under cloudy skies with a 35% chance of rain, the Peloton left from Hatley Gardens heading towards Mechosin. There was some chat about how the ride has changed in the few short years that the Peloton has been riding this route - the amount of new housing that has sprouted up between Happy Valley Road and the Goose has resulted in more troublesome road crossings. Not so long ago, it was quite safe to slow down at a road crossing do a quick left/right check and give the “clear” call. Today, it is wise to come almost to a complete stop and look left/right twice before giving the “clear” call or just as likely the “car” call.

Upon arrival at Mechosin, the decision was to patronize the Broken Paddle rather thanMy Chosen Cafe. Despite the overcast cool conditions, we opted to enjoy the outdoor table. Bill very kindly "volunteered" to pay for all our coffees and teas since it was his inaugural ride. Thanks, Bill.
Conversation was diverse - reaction to the end of Tent City with speculation on when it might return, perhaps moving venue to the home of the Lieutenant Governor! From there, the focus moved to the proliferation of Pot “Dispensaries” - there was an exchange of ignorance of how dispensaries provide prescriptions with little or no quality control over what is being “dispensed”. From there the issue of inter-provincial trade was discussed in some depth - how professional accreditation is determined by provincial bodies which seem to act as rigid barriers to the mobility of people between provinces. We learned that some American companies find it advantageous to keep their operations within the states and ship from there to individual provinces - this arrangement is less convoluted than have a Canadian base and navigate the vagaries of inter=provincial trade barriers. Hope was seen with the reduced but yet to be eliminated barriers to the shipment of wine between provinces.
From there it was not a big leap to the issue of why people find it so hard to find a family doctor in Victoria - possible causes were that most couples are two career families - if one is a doctor, the couple is unlikely to invest in a family practice when the partner may have to be more mobile in their career choice. Hence the preference to practice in a walk-in clinic or hospital. Many new medical graduates come from “minority” groups in Canada and want to stay in communities where they will be able to maintain ethnic/cultural connections. Fifty percent of medical graduates are female; they are unlikely to invest in a family practice when they are very likely to take maternity leave for a few years. The goal of every BC resident having a family doctor seems unattainable at the moment.
When we saddled up outside the Broken Paddle we were joined by Tom A and Hans who rode back to Hatley Gardens. Good to meet up with a couple of speedsters!

In cycling news:
Since the Rio Olympics are in full flight, a couple of Olympic stories. Road cycling at the Olympics is not for the faint hearted

 Next, who is the most successful British Olympic athlete of all time? He isn’t even English! He is Sir Chris Hoy a cyclist with no fewer than SIX Gold and One Silver Medals
Note: There is no English team at the Olympics, rather it is a British Team. Andy Murray is another Scot who has added to the British Olympic tally!

And for something completely different - the Brompton is now part of the permanent collection of New York’s Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.
 

Can't keep a good man down

Despite an ominous weather forecast predicting a thunderstorm, Wayne, Ken T., David A. Jeff and Norm assembled at Fol Epi setting off for the ride to Mattick’s under sunny skies. However, a cloud formed over the peloton when Jeff took an unexpected tumble resulting in some road rash on his elbow and knee. Norm took out his first aid kit, only to discover the best before date was 2013!
Being a resilient young fella, Jeff got back on his bike and we continued apace along the Goose to the Switch Bridge where we switched to the Lochside. Bad luck doesn’t seem to restrict itself to single incidents. Just before Quadra, Jeff had a puncture in his front tyre. David A resurrected his clinical skills and was able to take out the faulty tube and install a new one in short order - although the Tektro brakes presented a temporary challenge.
The group continued on to Mann Construction where Martin was waiting for us, having enjoyed a snack of freshly picked blackberries.
The sky looked more threatening as we approached Royal Oak, but the rain stayed away for the entire ride.
Coffee was at the golf course. Discussion was a Trump-free zone. There was some discussion of the new land transfer tax and whether it would do anything to moderate house prices. From there it was the ruling that would allow camping outside the Victoria court house after the current landscaping had a chance to recover from the present land use! There was some concern about the number of refugees from Alberta and Saskatchewan continuing to invade Van Isle. There was some chat that if Lisa did not “deliver” on her promises, Dean might make a come back to finish the Blue Bridge!
The ride back to Fol Epi was uneventful; Ken headed to a dental appointment on Royal Oak with the rest continuing south. Martin left at Mann, Dave at Saanich City Hall leaving Wayne, Jeff and Norm to complete the ride to Fol Epi.
In cycling news this week Ryder Hesjedal announced his retirement from the circuit.
If you thought dark matter [not the Hoyne's Dark Matter] was baffling, then you might ponder on this quote:
"Forget mysterious dark matter and the inexplicable accelerating expansion of the universe; the bicycle represents a far more embarrassing hole in the accomplishments of physics.”
Then follow this link

And a warning about having your iPhone in your pocket while cycling

Breaking the Silence

There have been a few cycling news items that I thought are worth sharing - it gives me an excuse to keep the blog “active”.

For Boys Who Like Their Toys and with $15K to spend on their new bike, you will want to read about the new Merckx Bike in honour of the winningest pro rider of all time - the Belgian, Eddy Merckx
From the latest bike to one of the oldest - there was the Queensland Penny Farthing Rally in Brisbane recently. I can only imagine trying to get onto one of these contraptions.

Staying in Australia, Melbourne continues to expand its already extensive cycle path network

In contrast and closer to home and of interest to our Alberta refugees, especially from Edmonton, the lack of cycle paths in the Albertan capital is getting a thumbs down from cycling enthusiasts in the city.

Good to be in Victoria, eh?

Juluary

The crazy weather this year has brought out the wordsmiths in the meteorological services as they combine parts of winter and summer months.'

Four hardy riders assembled at the beginning of the ER trail under cool but sunny skies with Royal Roads U as the goal. The Peloton proceeded at a relaxed pace with Jeff boasting a yellow jersey [the Tour de France started yesterday!]. With almost ideal cycling conditions, we reached the coffee spot in no time at all whilst enjoying the ride.
Over coffee, a number of topics were covered, but not resolved: Development in CRD, politics in Alberta and Brexit.
With the amount of development taking place in Langford, all the land zoned for housing will soon be built on. What then?
Will Jason Kenney be a knight in shining armour for Alberta? How will the right unite behind him given recent relations between the provincial PC’s and the Wild Rose Party.
Brexit? The future is not looking good, and Canadian Mark Carney will not be able to save the Brits from themselves!

As a cautionary tale, cyclists shouldn't tangle with a grizzly

And one from downtown Toronto where a mature aged cyclist was killed

A new chapter

The blog on the Victoria Peloton will now reflect the activities of a new grouping of "mature" cyclists. This marks the first installment of the "new" blog.

Nine eager young mature cyclists assembled at the town end of the E & R Bike Trail under ideal conditions: sunny, warm, but not too hot with little or no wind - in other words perfect cycling weather.
This motley crew, not to be confused with the Motley Crue headed west through Esquimalt at a very relaxed pace, chatting as they went, not always paying attention to fellow cyclists on the trail.
When passing the dry dock at the Esquimalt Naval Base, Ken S reminded us that the Museum at the Naval base is worth a visit.
A stop was made to admire the Songhees Wellness Centre It was also an excuse to take a break on the steep hill up to Esquimalt Road!

After the “detour” we were back on the E & R trail crossing the isthmus at Portage Park.
When the E & R joined the Galloping Goose, the Peloton headed north west toward the coffee stop at the Nest Cafe.
Not surprisingly, conversation focused on the Brexit vote and the Engxit from the European Soccer Tournament. There was little or no support expressed for the outcome of the referendum. Indeed, an important lesson from the vote was that a referendum with a simple Yes/No option is not always a sound methodology to solve a complex problem. There was less unanimity on how events will unfold in the coming weeks and months.
Members present, each signed up to organize two rides in the coming months. Ken W kindly offered to share the tabulated results when no one else put up their hand.
Whilst on the ride back along the Goose to the Switch Bridge, Bob R joined the group. At the Switch Bridge, the group split with most joining the James Bay mafia on the route back to the Blue Bridge where the group further fractured.
All in all, a successful start for the new group. Thanks Ken W for rounding us up into a somewhat cohesive group. Till next week!

Junuary Bike Ride

Seven riders assembled at the Mann parking lot (which was very wet). Rusty had seen Jim riding up ahead so we proceeded with Jack setting a brisk pace (so he thought) but was passed by Rusty after Royal Oak who then set an even faster pace. Bob joined the group at Lockside (no one stopped so he had to hustle to get on his bike). So, eight riders arrived at McDonalds for a Rusty break sheltering under the roof of the rest area kiosk.
 
Rain was threatening and a large black cloud seemed to be hovering over the trail ahead. David A decided that it couldn’t be too bad so he and Jack led the group ahead running into a rainstorm as we rounded the corner onto Lockside which lasted until we reached the McTavish interchange. Crossing the footbridge over the highway brought us into sunshine and Ian led at a blow drying 30 km/hr. around the airport, slowing a bit for Hospital hill (Jack slowed a lot). A tired group set off from the top of this hill anxious to get to the coffee shop. Once again the average speed was close to 25.
 
There was some discussion of being inside or out but since the sun was out it was decided to dry the chairs and take a well deserved coffee outside. Jim joined the group having dealt with some boat business. Dave N complained bitterly of the wet and cold and proceeded to remove and wring out his too colourful socks – Jack was warm and dry and most others had dried out on the ride (except for some feet).
 
John related stories of his 175 km ride on Saturday with the Oak Bay group. He had a younger, stronger rider assigned to him to help him keep up with the group and marvelled at how this guy would ride up a hill and then back down to pull him up. Ian mentioned that probably this guy was 1/2 John’s age to which John replied “oh no he must have been at least 35” (really!!?). To top this off, John got a flat and the same fellow came and repaired it in about 1 min, without any tools!!
 
On the ride back, the group split at the McTavish roundabout with the East Sannich group arriving at Mitchel’s ahead of the Lockside group – apparently John was setting the pace. The return from Mitchel’s proceeded as usual with people dropping off to return home as usual.

Déjà Vu all over again

Good ride out. Seven started out from and Bob joined at Lockside. John dropped out after 45 minute to head back for another commitment.  Jeff arrived about the same time at Joe's. Coffee started outside but rain drove us in and we stayed until it blew over. Conversation covered a variety of topics.  The ride back was almost uneventful, until Bob re-inacted one topic we discussed at coffee, which was his fall last year at Sequim. We had discussed that we should carry a first aid kit which would have been handy again on Friday, for Bob. The average speed was quite high and the group disbursed a usual along the route back with only Jack and Jim ending up back at the starting point at Mann Construction.

Thanks to Jim for content and photo

And for this week's bicycle news - bike thief is lassoed! No, I didn't make this up!

The Best of the Goose?

Five intrepid riders gathered at Hatley Park at 9:00 to start the ride to Sooke Basin – Norm T and John did not arrive (Norm could not make the early time and John was late due to equipment forgotten at home). Rusty arrived at Hatley by car and joined Jack, Ian, Dave N. and Hans to set out at 9:05 having shed extra layers due to the warm sunny weather.
 
A brisk but comfortable pace was set with the usual route followed to Rocky Point Rd. (where John joined briefly to say hello and make his presence known). The five continued down the Goose (John riding roads and hills) and enjoyed the shade of the woods on this section with Hans leading a fast pace down the slope to Matheson Lake parking. Jack then took a slower pace past the Matheson Lake viewpoint and the section overlooking Roche Cove to Gillespie Rd. Beyond that, the trail led to one of the steep gravely dips (which Jack had professed would not be there) which caused some confusion and disarray in the group. But shortly after that, the promised view of Sooke Basin came into site and a cool (almost cold) breeze came off the water and a fog bank could be seen over East Sooke. All agreed that the extra 10 Km was (except for the dip) probably the most scenic and enjoyable section of the Goose trail and especially pleasant on a such a hot sunny day.
 
The ride back up the slope was also set at a brisk pace (the dip managed in a more orderly fashion) with Jack falling somewhat behind keeping his HR down in the 140’s range. Again the shade was much appreciated. Ian waited a short time for Jack at the Rocky Point Rd. junction and all set off down the hill to My Chosen Coffee. where Norm T. and Bob were waiting (for some time) in the sunshine. John soon joined and all eight riders gathered around one table to enjoy the usual stories and conversation. It appears the 9th rider (Jeff) set out from home to join us at coffee but (being from Victoria) got lost in the West Shore and took some grand circle route that didn’t include the coffee shop.
 
A good fast pace was set coming back with now eight riders in the group. Traffic on the trail was quite light so the return ride was pleasant and uneventful – riders dropping off as required along the way.
 
This is a longer ride (Jack 60 Km and Ian and Hans 80 Km +) but very pleasant and doable so could be added for the Summer months in our itinerary of rides. There are a few variations possible that can get to the same coffee shop and time with shorter rides and later starts.

In this week’s bonus section:

Canada loses one its best cyclists
 

and a reminder to exercise extra caution when on the road.

A Ride Less Travelled

Jack, Dave N, and Dave A, Ian, Jim, John, Rusty, Norm T, Tom and Hans (almost made it) to Fol Epi for Friday's ride. Under cloudy skies we followed the Lochside Trail to Mann,s Construction where we branched off into unknown territory led by David A and John.  Several hills , none too challenging were encountered en route to  Olive Olios with many twists and turns led by David A  along relatively quiet roads via the entry to Mount Doug Park. This route was considerably quieter than Beach Drive and, from Fol Epi was about 17 Km so it will be an excellent addition to our summer rides.  It will now be on our  "regular" schedule.  At Olive Olio's we met Jeff L, and enjoyed our usual coffee and banter, although seating for the entire group (12) required scrounging some chairs. While there the sun appeared and by the time we were ready to leave,blue skies predominated.  The group split up to follow three or four different rides on the way back.  Tom , Dave A, and Rusty returned via the same route with a minor deviation which took us along Royal Oak to the Lochside Trail.  Tom measured the round trip door-to-door as approximately 45 km.  Very doable and a great new ride.

And this week in cycling news:

A salutary lesson for joggers and cyclists - especially if you insist on wearing ear buds!

And on a more upbeat note - how about this Englishmen making a bicycle in his garage with the aid of a 3D printer. Indeed 3D Printing and bicycles is a growth industry - who knows what a bike will look like or be constructed in 10 years time.

We have a new mascot!

The ride today was ever more scattered - even by our standards.
En route to Fol Epi, Ian, Norm T and David B. [good to have Davide B with us] had the rare privilege of having the Blue Bridge open just as they were trying to meet the 9:30 arrival time. 10 of 11 riders left Fol Epi, while Norm L had started from home, proceeding to Esquimalt Road and the freshly minted start of the E & N trail. At the Esquimalt graving dock we noted that the cruise ships seen on the last ride are repaired and back to sea - very fast turnaround times. We sped along the E & N to join the Goose. Along the way there were rumoured sightings of Ken W in the company of Ken T and Ken S.
Where the trail crosses Island Highway, the main Peloton split - some staying on the Goose to RRU while 6 riders took the extra plunge down to Ocean Boulevard, some reaching speeds of 52.5 km/ hr. on the downhill  We were greeted at the lagoon by the beautiful surroundings of mountains, ocean, lagoon, swans, geese, ducks, herons, etc. And then of course the serious uphill climb back to RRU for coffee. Norm T took the "half climb and ducked out through the back trail" route through the back side of RRU, meeting the earlier arrivals. The "full hill riders" arrived shortly thereafter with tales of an almost insurmountable climb. We settled into coffee on the RRU patio after discovering some mouldy banana bread at the RRU cafeteria. A very determined but friendly male peacock [our new mascot] decided to share some of our snacks and give several reminders at close range that the feeding rate was a bit slow. David A captured the scene on film.
Given the high turnout, there were two tables of coffee conversation. At one, it revolved around Victoria staples: tent city, homelessness, Blue Bridge, etc. The other table consisting of Rusty, Ian and David A carried on an intellectual discussion about music, musical instruments and sports, South African rugby and cricket in particular. [Editors note - cricket, intellectual?????]
Meanwhile, Dave N and Norm L gave up on coffee, opting instead for a speedy return to the city to attend to “urgent business”.
On the return journey to the city, individuals branched off to follow their own route home after an enjoyable ride.

And now for the bonuses.

Are you a rouleur?

If you want to improve your cycling language, you may want to read this article . Are you a “grimpeur” or a “rouleur”?

Thanks to a lead from Jim McN, the blogger has been checking out the World Artistic Cycling Event. Perhaps some members of the Peloton who would not want to enter the singles competition, may consider joining Jim and enter the team event - Masters Division of course.

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Your Blogger found this item on the ABC News about a cycling accident in the Clare Valley north of Adelaide. Who would have thought?
 

Double Trouble

This post includes reports from both rides this past week: Tuesday 24th and Friday 27th - along with some cycling related items - be sure to read to the end.

On Tuesday eleven (11) riders met at Hatley Parking at 9:30. Norm L and Tom left early, followed shortly by a small group of riders (thinking the others would be following). This group saw Norm and Tom at the VanCity corner but there was no sign of the remaining riders. There was some discussion of returning to see what the problem was, but a few minutes later the remaining riders appeared – it seems Jim had a YouTube moment and put on a comedy of errors in the parking lot before all the riders could leave. The nine riders continued on to Rocky Point road uneventfully meeting up with Tom and Norm again (not a big difference in speed). The nine continued along the Goose while the two went off for coffee at My Chosen Cafe. A relaxed ride through the forest to the Matheson Lake parking was enjoyed so much that they continued on for another k or so to look for a vantage point on the lake.
 
The ride back up the incline was led off by John (complaining of the dust bringing up the rear) and soon there was a fast group following John disappearing into the distance and a slower group following Norm T bringing up the rear (still at a brisk pace!). All met at the My Chosen Cafe enjoying the somewhat damp outside tables just as Norm and Tom were leaving.
 
Coffee broke into two groups of 6 and 3 due to the considerable weight of the outdoor tables. The conversation at the 3 was of a sporty nature – in particular about “footie” as Hans' son was playing in a Canadian championship game on the weekend in Burnaby. Rusty was very knowledgeable of the distribution of “footie” interest in Australia while Jack had heard of the game but never seen it played. This led to discussion of the various types and degrees of injuries suffered while playing sport and the opinion of a physio who thought there should not be professional sport (although it provided the majority of her practice). Travel was brought up which led to some reminiscences of old road trips in the distant past. On the other hand Jim McN relayed a travel story from last weekend at Ladysmith Marina where a young lady whom Jim encountered as they were both ferrying supplies back to their respective boats by kayak. When Jim asked her if she wore a PFD she replied that she had a couple of built in PFD's. Jim claims that Chris can verifying this story.  There has been some discussion about the possible need to adopt Secret Men's Business Rules as practised in Aboriginal Australian culture - so that some conversations over coffee stay at the coffee table and do not appear in the Blog.

 
The ride back was brisk but uneventful – riders dropping off at Hatley parking or on their way home as required.

The Friday ride started out from Mann's Construction Yard under cloudy skies. Present were John C, DavidA,  Hans, Ian,  Norm T and Tom. Midway to our intended destination with a nice tail-wind we encountered a brief shower and the skies continued to threaten.  By general agreement we stopped in Sidney rather than proceeding into what looked like a stormyprospect to the north-west. Coffee was consumed under a sheltered outdoor patio at the Georgia Cafe.  While there we had another brief shower which appeared to confirm the wisdom of our decision to shorten the ride.  Conversation was generally concerned with alternate rides and arranging different starting points for riders who were interested in shorter routes.  John described an encounter with another cyclist which resulted in a spill and a bit of road/bicycle rash.  He pointed out that the ride from Ogden Point to Olive Olios could beamended to follow a route beginning at Fol Epi and then would proceed via Mount Doug.  This would avoid the heavier traffic on Beach Road particularly when the cruise ship tourist buses are operating.  Thisseems like a goodalternative and would provide us with something (relatively) new. If this route is scheduled on Tuesday May 31,  (which would be fine with Tom) , or alternatively it could be the ride for Friday June 3rd.  The ride home was under blue skies (very changeable weather !) and with a slight headwind. The loose gravel and sand by Lochside Park continuous to present hazardous cycling conditions.  Otherwise no problems on the way back.

John Coyne is our resident participant and expert in cycling activities around the province. John would like you to check out the Victoria Bike Race website which is well worth looking at whether you want to be a participant or spectator - there are several races on the first weekend in June. Even if you don't race, you race vicariously by entering the grandchildren in the Tim Horton's Timbit Challenge!

In other cycling related news, there was an interesting article reporting on a study out of McMaster University on the merits of interval training on a stationery bicycle