« March 2005 | Main | May 2005»
April 30, 2005
Dress Rehearsal?
My past few rides all included some load in my panniers, but yesterday I packed everything, and guess what? Very HEAVY!
Well, I figured the only thing to do was a trial ride fully loaded. So what better than to pick the highest mountain road around here - Mount Washington! So off I went with 22 kgs (48lbs) and after 13 kms I found myself at the start of the long climb. Three continuous pedaling hours later, and I was at the top! Climb distance was 20 kms to a height of 1,282 metres (4,210 ft) Rockies here I come!
A bit of trivia - slowest maintained speed on the way up was 3.1 kph(2 mph) and fastest on the way down was 74 kph (46 mph)!!
Posted by Dave at 12:31 PM | Comments ()
April 28, 2005
For the Techies out there!
We have had a lot of interest in the bikes we are using, so for the technically minded, here is a brief description:
Both Dave and Maxine have a class of bicycle known as "Hybrid". That is, not true road bikes with ultralight frames and skinny wheels, but neither are they low geared heavy mountain bikes with fatty tires. They are truly a hybrid standing somewhere between the two, and designed for long distance asphalt road touring.
Maxine is riding her trusty steed by KONA called the "Hoo-Ha" in a bright blue colour. The bike has a size 50cm frame, and it is equipped with an 8 gear cassette rear derailleur, and a 3 sprocket front derailleur giving her 3x8=24 speeds.
The rollover info (distance travelled for one revolution of the pedals) is, in lowest gear, 70" and in highest gear 380" This gives Maxine a good range to attack the steepest paved roads we should encounter, and a nice top gear for cruising with those tail winds she hopes to get all the way from from St John's to Courtenay(!)
Dave has a somewhat larger steed with a 56cm frame, and his bike is a CANNONDALE Adventure 600 with a 9 gear rear derailleur plus internal 3 speed hub, giving 3x9=27 speeds. But then a with modification for this trip, Dave has added a 2 sprocket front derailleur now giving him 3x9x2=54 gears in total!
Dave's bike rollover info is, in lowest gear 63" and in the original highest gear was 365" but with his modification, it is now 488" This gives Dave not only a good range to attack the steepest paved roads we should encounter, but also a good chance of getting a speeding ticket on any downhill run! He will keep you posted on that one!
Posted by Dave at 02:16 PM | Comments ()
April 21, 2005
Reality sinks in.
Reality of the vastness and the whole concept of cycling across Canada is sinking in a little deeper. Probably not as deep as it will be sinking by day 6.
With the reality I was listening to a niggly little voice in my head asking will I really be able to do this? I guess that would be called doubt. I thought some more about this as I was surprised at myself and realized I was a bit anxious as I don't like to start something I can't finish.
That took me to thinking about hiking Kilimanjaro, which was hard but I would do it again in a flash. From there my mind drifted to the safari we went on and it was there that I found riding inspiration as I remember watching the local people. They had bikes that wieghed a ton and as you can imagine no gears. These people had strength that you could not see. Their legs were skinny and their bodies were boney and yet they would ride a bike with two big gas cans full of water, down something one could barely define as a road. I saw others going across planes of tall grass over ruts, doubling someone on the back and carrying some sort of supplies as well. When we grew closer I noticed they may have just have well just been riding on the rims as there wasn't much left of the rubber on the tire and there was very little air in them if any at all. I totally respected their dedication. For them they did it out of need. For me it is a whim and a challenge. How lucky I am that I have this opportunity.
It is only by choice that I make it a matter of life and breath!
I will make it. M
Posted by Dave at 09:27 PM | Comments ()
April 12, 2005
Rain, rain and more rain!
Can't believe it, but since the last entry the weather has made us feel like Noah watching the great flood develop! It has rained every day, but even so, the humming birds have arrived from the south, and we thoroughly enjoy watching them buzz around the feeder that we fill for them. Hope for both their sake, and mine, the rain stops soon, the humming birds will see some flowers in bloom, and I will be able to enjoy some cycling in the sunshine!
Posted by Dave at 01:54 PM | Comments ()