Its easy, too easy, to bitch about all the inconsiderate drivers, of which this city is over crowded, but today I ought to tip my hat to the guy (or woman?) in a Nissan Murano. They had an Ironman finisher border around the licence plate and they... you may need to sit down for this bit... they yielded to me! I was in the bike lane on the right hand side of the road, I had to turn left, and they let me in. It was a really cool experience, not feeling like a big target to drivers.
I have come to an important realisation regarding my body, if I exercise too hard, be it skate, cycle, swim or run, when I am near the wall my body throws out a sudden burst of power and then gives out almost completely. I've seen it happen a million times, well not a million, but a whole lot, while skating and it has happened once or twice riding. (Probably swimming too, but I hardly swim anymore, ever since I became a certified lifeguard I pretty much stopped swimming.) On a recent ride I was falling to the back of the pack, suddenly that burst kicked in and I was in front, way in front and then I hit a red light and that was that, from there to the coffee break I was struggling to keep above 20km/h, getting dropped was unavoidable despite generous offers from other guys in the BCC.
The same thing has happened in skating, actually a lot more often, the burst then the drop. I need to find a way to know, this burst is it, after that I am spent, unlike the other more modest bursts. If I knew that I could better ration my strength. Something for me to think about.
Okay I have to rant for a second on US Politics. It seems the Senior Senator from Arizona and Republican nomination for President has decided to suspend his campaign because he feels he cannot cope with the pressures of being a presidential nominee and manage the vast US economy (as one of the one hundred US Senators) at the same time. I've got to ask, what is he going to do if he is elected president and there is a foreign crisis during a period of poor economic performance? If ever there was a person less qualified to be president... his name would be George Walker Bush, governor of Texas circa February of 2000 through to the present time.
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
On Missing An Escape The Don Ride
First a video I have posted to YouTube. Since I am no good at video editing (well I could hack this, but I'm too busy) I will just say, turn the sound off, you really don't need to hear the wind noise and my lame jokes at the very beginning - and they really are lame, like not even worth groaning about.
And here are a bunch of images in case you have not gotten your fill of Lake Simcoe (or me)!
In unrelated news, I gave blood yesterday, I documented that previously. It was donation number 62, or potentially 186 lives saved. I must admit though, donating blood is a pain from an athletic stand point. Normally I pass three or four street cars every day on my commute into the office. Today I had to really fight just to pass the first tram. Yesterday I was riding up a hill and I got completely winded, now granted I was climbing, but still recovery time is a lot worse and I am frantic for oxygen by the time I finish a sprint - far more frantic than normal. I suppose I should expect this, but it sure would be nice if I could be generous and donate without actually suffering. Oh well, I guess my suffering is pretty small compared with someone who needs a liver transplant.
There was an article in today's paper, the author, John Barber, proposed that Yonge Street be reduced from four lanes to two, one in each direction, then widen the sidewalks and make bike lanes that are physically separated from the road, with planters or something similar. What a great idea, only I've got one better. Reduce Yonge Street to two lanes and then do the same thing on Eglinton and Queen Street. In short make downtown bike accessible to normal people, i.e. people unlike me who are unwilling to ride among the 2 ton killing machines often benignly called cars.
In a perfect world, nobody would drive. But then in a perfect World I wouldn't need to commute.
And here are a bunch of images in case you have not gotten your fill of Lake Simcoe (or me)!
In unrelated news, I gave blood yesterday, I documented that previously. It was donation number 62, or potentially 186 lives saved. I must admit though, donating blood is a pain from an athletic stand point. Normally I pass three or four street cars every day on my commute into the office. Today I had to really fight just to pass the first tram. Yesterday I was riding up a hill and I got completely winded, now granted I was climbing, but still recovery time is a lot worse and I am frantic for oxygen by the time I finish a sprint - far more frantic than normal. I suppose I should expect this, but it sure would be nice if I could be generous and donate without actually suffering. Oh well, I guess my suffering is pretty small compared with someone who needs a liver transplant.
There was an article in today's paper, the author, John Barber, proposed that Yonge Street be reduced from four lanes to two, one in each direction, then widen the sidewalks and make bike lanes that are physically separated from the road, with planters or something similar. What a great idea, only I've got one better. Reduce Yonge Street to two lanes and then do the same thing on Eglinton and Queen Street. In short make downtown bike accessible to normal people, i.e. people unlike me who are unwilling to ride among the 2 ton killing machines often benignly called cars.
In a perfect world, nobody would drive. But then in a perfect World I wouldn't need to commute.
On A Few More Good Photos
All photos were taken by Aaron, I am including my personal favourites - that I have not already included in previous posts. There were almost all taken as we rode along Lake Drive on the south shore of Lake Simcoe. (The image of the water bottles I include mostly for humor value, that one was taken at a Tim Hortons on Dalton road, just south of Lake Drive.) 
I like the last one because a careful eye will notice that my legs are blurred but my upper body is in focus. Aaron managed to keep a very steady hand for that shot, recall he was on a bike as well, that is talent.
I like the last one because a careful eye will notice that my legs are blurred but my upper body is in focus. Aaron managed to keep a very steady hand for that shot, recall he was on a bike as well, that is talent.
Monday, September 22, 2008
On Past Rides and Recovery
I am going to donate blood today so I will be off the saddle for the next couple days, except of course for the commute to and from the office. This is probably a good thing, I need to recover from the Saturday ride. Except I really will miss the freedom that comes with the saddle.
This Saturday (Sept. 27) I have to go to my Aunt and Uncle's cottage to help them prepare it for the Winter, Lesley said I should ride there. The cottage is in Rosseau, about 220km from home, I don't think I can do it. For one thing I would need to find a safe route, for another, the roads near there are not exactly well paved. (That fact that I will have just donated blood makes it even more foolish for me to even consider riding there.) And then by the time I arrived I would be ready to crash, I'd be in no shape to cut wood or whatever else they need help with.
I read the following in Today's Globe And Mail, in the context of Georg's anonymous posts it seems relevant (yes I am still on that crap, but I am getting over it).
Anyway I have an appointment at the clinic, time for me to give up a pint of AB+. If I have time later I'll post some more YouTube videos of the ride from Saturday. Aaron's a good photographer.
This Saturday (Sept. 27) I have to go to my Aunt and Uncle's cottage to help them prepare it for the Winter, Lesley said I should ride there. The cottage is in Rosseau, about 220km from home, I don't think I can do it. For one thing I would need to find a safe route, for another, the roads near there are not exactly well paved. (That fact that I will have just donated blood makes it even more foolish for me to even consider riding there.) And then by the time I arrived I would be ready to crash, I'd be in no shape to cut wood or whatever else they need help with.
I read the following in Today's Globe And Mail, in the context of Georg's anonymous posts it seems relevant (yes I am still on that crap, but I am getting over it).
Our modern culture, come to think of it, is one long string of attack ads – through YouTube videos, satirical Web pages and gotcha e-mails, we are constantly holding up our public figures, and even each other, to scathing ridicule and scorn.
Most times on the Internet we hide behind anonymity to do so. (Will the reader, for instance, who called me “patriarchy's handmaiden” please step forward? Just for a little chat.)
The truth is, even if we're not the ones on the attack, we're all complicit, quickly forwarding the best nasty e-mails or hurrying to YouTube to witness the next takedown. It doesn't say much for our collective humanity, does it, when during elections the political ads that work the best are the most vicious ones?
Anyway I have an appointment at the clinic, time for me to give up a pint of AB+. If I have time later I'll post some more YouTube videos of the ride from Saturday. Aaron's a good photographer.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
On Random Thoughts
This must be my millionth posting on random thoughts. But I have a mishmash of ideas I want to put out in the open.
First the number of people who have told me how much they like my blog is really, and I do mean really flattering. (If I write a book would you guys buy it?) And why didn't anyone come to my defence when Georg was coming after me with the torches and pitch forks. (Actually that was a joke, I wouldn't want to get into a fight like that if someone offered to pay my mortgage, that fight was really dirty... actually if someone were willing to pay my mortgage... hmmm.)
Speaking of Georg, I am going to do something I really don't want to do, I will read his last message to me. I just ate dinner, I might just be returning the dinner very soon to a porcelain god near me.
Alright here it is:
[quote]You've come to our house. It wasn't to your taste. On leaving, you decide to wax negative in your "memoirs".[close quote]
Aaron said something very interesting, that Georg was being metaphorical, the house in this case was skating. If so there is a fundamental flaw in logic. I got Georg to join TISC, we were driving back from Montreal after the 2007 24hour marathon and I told him how good TISC would be for his technique and he started coming a few days or weeks after. Georg may have been thinking of joining TISC on his own, but I am pretty sure I was to Georg's joining TISC what the assassination of Franz Ferdinand was to the start of World War I, I lit the flame, the gas was already all over the place. I remember at one point, at TISC practice, I stopped doing the drills Eric Gee was giving me to help Georg in areas where he needed work. At the 24 hour Georg, who only owned rec skates decided he should buy racing skates, he did not have enough cash so I paid half ($300) on my Visa and he paid me back later on, he does not have a credit card. (I still have the Visa statement, I am sure I can find a $300 charge to ZT Sports that day, right near the smaller charge for the wheels I bought from Gavin, the same day.)
I was already living in 'his' house, before he even moved in, I saw structural flaws, I pointed them out so they could be addressed before the building collapses and some guy comes along and tells me off, nice, real nice. Of course he didn't tell me to my face, no he just slammed me anonymously. If you haven't got the balls to put your name to your opinions you should go bugger off. (I can think of better ways to say that, but I prefer saving those words for car drivers!) Anyway as for the house that skating built, I have pretty much moved out, it is not worth it, I fell in love with road biking and all the politics and gossip that goes on at TISC is ludicrous.
Alright time to talk politics. (I haven't been doing that already?) I am going to let my socialist colours fly - sorry conservatives I might piss you off, although really I am a conservative in the old sense of the word.
Here is what I believe:
1. Budgets should be balanced (except in times of war, which should be almost never)
2. Protection of the environment is critical, to be a conservative you have to conserve things.
3. Looking after the less fortunate among us isn't a nice thing, its a moral imperative, to do otherwise would be "un-christian" (seeing as I was born a Jew and don't practice anything, I will need to find a better term for 'un-christian'.)
4. Political debate should be about policy, not people, about ideas and ideals, not about moral or personal failings except as they reflect a person's ability to run a nation.
5. A democratic system of government requires an educated populace making informed decisions based on their experience and rational good judgment. Emotional appeals to the Id should be ignored in favour of doing what is intellectually the correct thing to do.
Question: Besides the Liberals in Canada is their any other option that seems remotely reasonable this election? (Maybe the BQ, I haven't been following them.)
Obviously the only real option in the United States is Barrack Obama.
I invite my readers to consider those questions and then reply with their own beliefs. Obviously our own prior experiences will tend to push us in different directions but let us have a real policy debate about the important things, a green shift, a balanced budget, not bird poop or lipstick.
Now, as promised, images from my ride to Lake Simoce.
First the number of people who have told me how much they like my blog is really, and I do mean really flattering. (If I write a book would you guys buy it?) And why didn't anyone come to my defence when Georg was coming after me with the torches and pitch forks. (Actually that was a joke, I wouldn't want to get into a fight like that if someone offered to pay my mortgage, that fight was really dirty... actually if someone were willing to pay my mortgage... hmmm.)
Speaking of Georg, I am going to do something I really don't want to do, I will read his last message to me. I just ate dinner, I might just be returning the dinner very soon to a porcelain god near me.
Alright here it is:
[quote]You've come to our house. It wasn't to your taste. On leaving, you decide to wax negative in your "memoirs".[close quote]
Aaron said something very interesting, that Georg was being metaphorical, the house in this case was skating. If so there is a fundamental flaw in logic. I got Georg to join TISC, we were driving back from Montreal after the 2007 24hour marathon and I told him how good TISC would be for his technique and he started coming a few days or weeks after. Georg may have been thinking of joining TISC on his own, but I am pretty sure I was to Georg's joining TISC what the assassination of Franz Ferdinand was to the start of World War I, I lit the flame, the gas was already all over the place. I remember at one point, at TISC practice, I stopped doing the drills Eric Gee was giving me to help Georg in areas where he needed work. At the 24 hour Georg, who only owned rec skates decided he should buy racing skates, he did not have enough cash so I paid half ($300) on my Visa and he paid me back later on, he does not have a credit card. (I still have the Visa statement, I am sure I can find a $300 charge to ZT Sports that day, right near the smaller charge for the wheels I bought from Gavin, the same day.)
I was already living in 'his' house, before he even moved in, I saw structural flaws, I pointed them out so they could be addressed before the building collapses and some guy comes along and tells me off, nice, real nice. Of course he didn't tell me to my face, no he just slammed me anonymously. If you haven't got the balls to put your name to your opinions you should go bugger off. (I can think of better ways to say that, but I prefer saving those words for car drivers!) Anyway as for the house that skating built, I have pretty much moved out, it is not worth it, I fell in love with road biking and all the politics and gossip that goes on at TISC is ludicrous.
Alright time to talk politics. (I haven't been doing that already?) I am going to let my socialist colours fly - sorry conservatives I might piss you off, although really I am a conservative in the old sense of the word.
Here is what I believe:
1. Budgets should be balanced (except in times of war, which should be almost never)
2. Protection of the environment is critical, to be a conservative you have to conserve things.
3. Looking after the less fortunate among us isn't a nice thing, its a moral imperative, to do otherwise would be "un-christian" (seeing as I was born a Jew and don't practice anything, I will need to find a better term for 'un-christian'.)
4. Political debate should be about policy, not people, about ideas and ideals, not about moral or personal failings except as they reflect a person's ability to run a nation.
5. A democratic system of government requires an educated populace making informed decisions based on their experience and rational good judgment. Emotional appeals to the Id should be ignored in favour of doing what is intellectually the correct thing to do.
Question: Besides the Liberals in Canada is their any other option that seems remotely reasonable this election? (Maybe the BQ, I haven't been following them.)
Obviously the only real option in the United States is Barrack Obama.
I invite my readers to consider those questions and then reply with their own beliefs. Obviously our own prior experiences will tend to push us in different directions but let us have a real policy debate about the important things, a green shift, a balanced budget, not bird poop or lipstick.
Now, as promised, images from my ride to Lake Simoce.
So when people pass me they get too see my bike (Erin) from that angle? No wonder every always seems to be in such a rush to pass. ;-)
Aaron, this is the one picture of you, you took it yourself. (I hope you don't mind that I post it, but I figure I gotta show at least a picture of you somewhere here, no?)
I am generating a YouTube video of me on the saddle as shot by Aaron, but it's 145MB as an AVI file so it might take some time to publish. Once its out there I'll throw a link to it.
On An Entierly Awsome Ride
Holy smokes did Aaron make me work today, and it was... awesome!! (Aaron I know I said this a bunch of times but thanks again, that ride was great.) I achieved a major goal, with Aaron pushing me to go faster, get from Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe and return in one ride, we did it at a fast pace - average speed about 29km/h and literally everything went almost perfectly. I wish more people had come out, but other than that it was entirely great, the weather was almost perfect (albeit we had a nasty headwind on the way home), the roads were mostly clear and we were really booking it. I used my father-in-law's old camera for the first time, well Aaron worked it, he did not want to be in any pictures, he's camera shy. ;) I will post some pictures later on but here is the route and some statistics as gathered up from the Garmin.
(I forgot to hit start on the GPS until I got to Pape and Dundas so I am missing about 5km, but clearly our goal was achieved.)
First the high resolution route, or lower resolution see below:
And here are the statistics:
Total distance (according to the GPS, so add about 3~5km): 199.6km.
Heart rate (avg/max): 141/224 (uh - oh!)
Speed km/h (avg/max): 29.3/60.1
Calories: 8111 (Well holy, no wonder we were so hungry!)
Maybe I'll go to one of the local bakeries and buy a nice cake for desert tonight, to think if I eat the whole thing I'll probably still need another 5000 calories or so (I am assuming all the granola and hammer gel and lunch gives me 1000 Calories.)
Anyway pictures to follow in the days to come.
(I forgot to hit start on the GPS until I got to Pape and Dundas so I am missing about 5km, but clearly our goal was achieved.)
First the high resolution route, or lower resolution see below:
And here are the statistics:
Total distance (according to the GPS, so add about 3~5km): 199.6km.
Heart rate (avg/max): 141/224 (uh - oh!)
Speed km/h (avg/max): 29.3/60.1
Calories: 8111 (Well holy, no wonder we were so hungry!)
Maybe I'll go to one of the local bakeries and buy a nice cake for desert tonight, to think if I eat the whole thing I'll probably still need another 5000 calories or so (I am assuming all the granola and hammer gel and lunch gives me 1000 Calories.)
Anyway pictures to follow in the days to come.
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