On Passion for Riding

I have decided to join the Beaches Cycling Club (see what I am reading on the right), I guess I should have seen this one coming from a good mile away. Actually I think deep down I sort of knew this was inevitable. No, not joining the Beaches Cycling Club, Dan only started that club up last year, I am talking about losing the passion for skating.

Back in 1992 as I have already written, I got a pair of Rollerblade Lightning’s, by 1995 I was off the skates completely and on my Coppi. The fact is, on a bike, I can go farther, faster and in places a skater can never dream of going. For a skater in the Toronto area look at the options, the MGT, Hamilton Beach a few other trails here and there, but in reality, not a whole hell of a lot. For a cyclist, well hmmm, besides the fact that I am going to bike to Hamilton (as opposed to the skaters who drive there), I could go to Newmarket or if I wanted to I fail to see why I couldn’t do a cross Canada ride for a lot less effort (about 19 days at 200km/day) than a cross Canada skate – in fact many people do cross Canada rides, I don’t think anyone has ever even tried a cross Canada skate. It was a similar realisation in 1995 that put an abrupt end to skating for me then.

This is not to say I am going to stop skating completely and let them collect dust in the basement. Rather I just don’t see myself skating nearly as often as I did last year. From time to time I’ll still skate down in Hamilton, if I can car pool it, and I might even come out to TISC once in a while. But the fact is I have found something to be more passionate about, and a ride, no matter if I am alone or with a group, is just so much more fun.

So, why the Beaches Cycling Club? Because Dan’s a great guy - yes. But the real reason is, he has a vision for his club that is a little bit inspiring and hopeful at the same time. Dan started the club to get people in the community, The Beach, on bikes, he has an entry level women’s group – that Lesley better join, an intermediate and elite group. He wants to grow the sport and he is – I believe - doing it the right way. I cannot be sure if this is the right thing for me, not until the rubber hits the pavement, but I suspect that the BCC could be just the place where I can expand my skills and have fun, at the same time.