Even though there is a threat of snow, spring is in the air. And with spring, come hopes of summer. One of our summer hopes is to ride in a three day bike trip with Jon's sisters and their husbands (and a whole bunch of other people we don't know). The trip is a fundraiser for Southern Alberta Bible Camp and, we are told, will take us from Canmore, AB to Lethbridge, AB, which is about 350 km (depending on the route). I was an English major, not a math major, but even I can figure out that this trip will mean over 100 km of riding a day. What this means, basically, is that I need to get my riding butt in gear!
To that end, Jon and I have joined the Edmonton Bicycling and Touring Club. And can I just tell you that I am excited about this? Through the EBTC, we have signed up for a Cycling 101 course, which will not only get us out on our bikes, but will also teach us some of the basics about bikes, bike maintenance, riding, etc. And, I am tentatively signed up for a series of rides called Train for the Tour. The "Tour" is the Tour de l'Alberta, a one day ride that takes cyclists through some French towns in rural Alberta about the time that some other big ride is taking cyclists through some French towns in, well, France. We haven't signed up for the Tour, itself, yet, but I have officially added it to my list of things I'd like to do this summer.
I currently have my bike on a stationary trainer in our front room. I've been trying to ride 5 days a week for about the past month. Some days I do 30 minutes, some days 50. It's a good start. But let's be honest--I need a whole lot more pedaling under my feet to be ready for the bike trip in June.
Right now I am optimistic, imagining how great this will all be. But I know there will be moments, perhaps many, on the road when I will have the same thought I distinctly remember having during labor: "This is crazy. Whose idea was this??"
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
8 comments:
That sounds like great fun. You will be amazed how much riding your trainer will help. I rode mine to prepare for our trip from Vienna to Salzburg. Until I got back out to the trail, I had no idea how much it was helping. Happy trails to you! Love Aunt Barb.
The tour de alberta is awesome! It was 35 degrees (c) the year I did i signed up, so scorching hot, but tolerable. It's a great event and well organized. Go for it J, you'll love it.
Whoa, didn't proof that previous MSG very well! Anyway, I wanted to add that it's a very flat course (the tour de Alberta, that is) and that means NO coasting. Exhausting, but so worth it.
Mau, do you want to sign up this year? What distance did you do?
When you have pedaled far enough that your seat is in pain, go to the bakery for new buns!
I rode my bike on the trainer with Tina Turner (on the cd player).
Aunt Barb
Are you going to set up a way that we can contribute to your fundraising effort?
Are you going to set some way that we can contribute to your fundraising for the Bible camp? And how do out of country-ers do that? Love Aunt Barb
Hey Aunt Barb,
Tina Turner would be good music to pedal to. So far I've been reading books while I ride.
As far as fundraising--I don't know any details yet, but thanks for asking. I will post something here when I know how everything works.
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