Showing posts with label ride report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ride report. Show all posts

Friday, 13 June 2014

Veni, vidi, vici --- RLCT (Rideau Lake Cycling Tour) 2014



渥太华的Rideau Lake自行车旅行两天往返金斯顿,每天170 多公里,每年春举办一次。今年我们组队参加。其中三人参加了多次,四人第一次参加。六月七日清晨早早的来到了出发地--Algonquin college的校园等候出发。





注册拿号,托运行李,一切顺利,还在楼边发现一个凯旋门,纷纷拍照留念。



开春后大约一千公里的体能和列队骑行训练似乎得到回报,按计划控制着速度,顺畅地骑行出去,沿路吸引不少骑手加如到我们的队伍。使得开始的骑行轻松愉快。

那些加到队伍中值得一提的是孙扬的朋友马文和爱立信的本。马文几乎年年有自己的队伍,前两年我们没队伍时,孙扬都是牵着他的衣角战战兢兢的跟去跟回,但风水轮流转,因今年春天来得晚而训练不足,他们的队伍不敢来了,马文见着孙扬,也很有归宿感的跟了进来,孙扬也一边神采飞扬地和他聊天,一边骑得精神抖擞,不知是不是今年反客为主的原因。

40公里到达 Ashton 算是热了身, 之后我们加快速度,一路飞奔起来,马文和本自告奋勇在前领骑,他们西人的宽体型,象两只大鸟在前面把风堵得滴水不漏,我们跟在后面轻松自如,只是在他们累了后替换少许,休息好了又飞到了前面领骑。我们在后面一边聊着天,一边超着同行的车队,同时畅想着到达后的清凉啤酒,感觉这一,两百公里的路程是闲庭信步了。



如果这样乘风破浪,一帆风顺的到达,旅程似乎平淡了些,是杰克让故事变得精彩。




在一阵清风般加速中,杰克掉队了几米远,如同从泰坦尼克号上落水,杰克虽然奋力挣扎,似乎永远只差一口气跟上。杰克本是愈骑愈勇型选手,本想着只需拉一把,就不成问题。于是我也脱队和杰克靠接, 希望把他拉上来,但奇怪的是今天杰克差了两口气, 一加速就脱节,来回折腾几次后我们竟然越落越远, 看着前面的队伍,很欢乐的跟着那两只大鸟,全然没有察觉有人掉队了。

转眼间就一两公里开外了,于是决定先单独追上他们,让他们停下等待,便竭尽全力的追赶,一两公里距离,感觉追了上十分钟,终于赶到了队伍前面叫停,我们的人停下,孙扬,震宇去找杰克,我忙着踹气,而那对鸟人竟然头也不回的跑了。。。


等着等着,发现几十公里沿路超过的车,全又赶了回来,不免着急,又往回找杰克,骑回老远找到时发现俩警察帮他折腾车,才揭开所有谜底---原来中途后轮幅条断了一根,导致刹车抱住了车轮而骑不动, 而前段杰克竟然不知状况,只顾顽强地与之搏斗。简单处理后一起继续骑行。我们一路车轮滚滚,唯有杰克的后轮晃晃悠悠。




Perth是中途一个大的休息站,大家吃饭,喝水,杰克去找人修车。






如果说路途修个车什么的太平常,杰克要与众不同。

车毫无悬念的修好了,杰克自然要兴高采烈地试一下,据说杰克刚跨上车,被边上的人分了一下神,就摔了下来,更不窍的是小腿被前齿轮深深的割裂。孙扬慌慌张张来报信,我们看到鲜血淋漓裂开的伤口也不知所措。还是孙扬充满悲情地说好歹以前骑过这旅程,就留下陪杰克上医院吧,其他人继续赶路。


一路又骑了四,五十公里,又得到后面孙扬短信的消息,缝针包扎后,他们继续赶了过来,大家松了口气,这正是大家期待的结果吧。



再次聚合时已是目的地Kingston, 见到的杰克还是活蹦亂跳的,据说孙扬后半程有些失去动力,还是杰克顺带把孙扬带回。









Perth到Kingskon距离百公里,特别在到达Kingskon的二三十公里遭遇顶风,我们5人的队伍也有些稀稀落落,想象这俩难兄难弟相互搀扶,一瘸一瘸地回来并不容易。


目的地的女皇大学校园为RLCT的骑士们热闹地开着PARTY,啤酒,音乐,烧烤和欢乐人群。









之后是丰盛但味道一般的晚餐。



安静下来时已是黄昏,夕阳把小城Kingston染成金色。










第二天清早踏上回程。不同来时的 classic route, 回去时走没有支持服务的touring route.



经过昨天的磨难,今天反而波澜不惊,昨天在最后段骑得象病猫的震宇,今天成了发威的猛虎,动力保持到最后,这是后话。



沿路走过一个又一个的小镇,每个小镇都是我们休息地方。


一路云淡风轻,饿了就吃。


扎胎了? 就换!



2014 RLCT,  我们曾到达,我们曾游历,用我们不变的步伐。




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               照片选自本组每位骑手的随拍照。

Thursday, 30 May 2013

周日Arnprior百公里骑行回放


RLCT的骑行训练,有计划的进行, 上周末为将距离延伸到100km, 地图上我们随机的将目的地圈定在小城Arnprior。


这样的路,这样的队型,我们顶风骑行。风中,领骑有些艰难。




50公里的行程似乎得到回报, 眼前的小城Arnproir竟然如此灵秀,漂亮。



小城标志建筑-邮局。



古香古色的街道。





友好的欢迎画卷





转过一街道,飘来饭菜香,饭馆的橱师对我们吆呵,吃饭去!


酒足饭饱后, 骑行在顺风50公里的路上, SunYang显然吃得很好,精神抖擞地在前领骑。



哎!Ben又掉队了,还嘻皮笑脸的。后面的Yiming时常把消失了的Ben从后面捡回来。


Sun Yang一路高歌猛进,冲到停牌前留个影,然后颠着脚,仰着头,远盼着还在天边的Ben一行珊珊而来。



                                                                      来了,竟然是精神抖擞的来了。




 拽在手中的手机透过我的臂膀,静望天空, 见证我们的风中传说。

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

Santa Monica and Venice Beach

Been to Santa Monica many times, finally Junfeng and I got chance to ride on the famous beach bike path.
We started from Santa Monica Pier towards Venice, just a few miles each way. It is amazing how many things you can do in the middle of winter when Ottawa is at -27C.


Monday, 17 September 2012

Carp-T.A. Dolan loop -Sept 16

It was a typical fall morning, clear and chilly 5 Celsius. Jack was on his summer cycling outfit, short sleeve jersey and fingerless gloves while  I had my icebreaker on. We rode along Carling to Terry Fox and 2nd line, barely saw any cyclist . With only two in a paceline,  it was hard to keep 30+ all the time. Near  Carp , an elderly on his way to Almonte for his 2nd breakfast caught us, he was a strong rider, we drafted him for a few kilometers before T.A.Dolan.


Jack on Thomas A Dolan
Today we decided not to go beyond 6th line to the river, one of our cycling friends had a broken dérailleur  there last week. We took a detour to Pinhey's Point, just sit on the bench and enjoy the scenery and the sun.

Piney's Point
 We flew down the newly paved 6th line at 40+, that felt good, you know.

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Drafting Practices

I'm a casual rider. I enjoy going at my own pace, stopping to smell the roses once in a while as the saying goes. This past weekend, however, I practised drafting or riding in a peloton with a few friends. I learned a few things that I didn't know before.

Before starting, Yingbiao and Yang explained the hand signals. I knew most of the signals but always signalled with my left hand. It was awkward to signal with my right hand since I am most comfortable with right hand on my rear brake just in case. I am also not used to my vision being blocked.

Trusting the riders before you is definitely the 1st thing to learn. Without trust, fear takes over and that makes riding half-a-wheel behind riders before you impossible. I had chances to draft behind others before so this wasn't so tough for me. What's new was passing the signals back to riders behind me. I don't respond fast enough, especially the "obstacle ahead" signal.

A peloton moves so much faster than a single rider. I tried leading the pack for a bit but it was tough. I also felt uneasiness when peeling off from the lead since I couldn't be sure if there were cars coming from behind. Yiming suggested a rear-view mirror and I will definitely look into that. A couple of times, I missed the end of the peloton by just a few feet after peeling off from the lead. I couldn't catch up no matter how hard I tried. That shows the power of drafting. Yang explained that the new lead should keep pace instead of accelerating. With more practices, I am sure the transition will be smooth and seamless.

At times we were flying down the newly paved 6th line road at 40+ km/h. I've never ridden that fast before and enjoyed the speed. Most of all, I enjoyed the camaraderie of the group. It was such a beautiful morning.

Sunday, 2 September 2012

满足,完美的今日之行



常常一次最平常的行动,因众人的热情变得满足与完美。今天的 Gatineau Park Champlain Outlook常规 42公里骑行就是这样的难忘之行。

如同往常,如不能成行特别的路程, 就约定来Gatineau park Champlain outlook做常规训练。头天陶勇竟然往组里发来回顾的Email, 还要带他的坦克车参加,作为他今夏的结束之行。他的热情也引来准备继续养伤的Ben的参加,Jack也自买来新车后,立马从后进变先进,次次不漏,所以这次共计6人参加了。

早8点多一点点, 一众人就顺利出发,短暂的热身后,相继换上行进档,飞奔起来。Yiming果然年轻体力过人,不太费力的跑在了前面一溜车里,一路聊天不知不觉快到Pink lake,一回头,后面一组拉远了些,意料之外的是陶勇竟然开着铁锚般的70年代Sekine的坦克车轻松的一直跟着组成快组,我们的在 Pink lake的一路攀爬,陶勇因车没法快速变速,才落后一些。

过了Pink lake的路有些平,Yiming能量源源不绝地持续快速行进,陶勇也越骑越勇的开着坦克冲到最前面, 想想我骑着陶勇眼里的“真家伙”(法国 la pierre x lite-400 赛车),应该抛下他才对,于是起身加速将他抛在后面,但刚坐回车座调整气息时,这家伙又哼哧哼哧的赶了上来,于是干脆跟着他后面休息得了。看看满路上的高端赛车,而这家伙却在坦克车上骑得如此神勇,猜想是不是跑来踢场子的?。。。 :-)

第二个长坡爬得不算轻松,但这个路程骑得太多,就如去自家的后花园般闲庭漫步般的对付过去。然后到达顶峰,才一会儿,“慢组”跟了上来了,其实慢组不慢,只差一分多种,其中还有带伤的Ben.

在顶峰陶勇掏出手机留影时,又巧遇来同程骑行的刘浩,刘浩跟一老外混在一起,开始竟没认出来,接上头后,见我们照相,刘浩毫不见外地挤了进来,并笑得很灿烂。 :-)  

如果说“小合影纪录幸福旅程”,见证"今日之行的满足与完美",这并不包括孙扬的; 孙扬上坡虽然骑得哼哧哼哧,其满足与完美是在拍完照的下山路上 ;

如果拿个支点给阿基米德,他就去撬地球,那么拿个陡下坡给孙扬, 他则会厥起屁股猫起腰,一路见人过人见车超车地俯冲而下。每次下山时如猛虎下山般的风驰电掣, 这次也不例外,我也赶忙前移重心放低身段,躲身其后地贴地飞翔,才不至于眼睁睁地看他从眼前消失。

这样象风一样地冲下Pink lake段,发现陶勇的坦克也紧跟了下来, 是有那么一点神奇!

随孙扬陶勇心满意足地回来后,一分钟左右,大家也都陆陆续续地回到了出发地,回顾此行成绩不错,大家精神状态也不错,然后简单商议下次行程后就满意回家,到家打开电脑,就见到陶勇发来这“今日之行,满足,完美”的“纪录幸福旅程的小合影”。


                                                           (点击图片放大)

                                     

Tuesday, 31 July 2012

ride with friends

   It's not so often that most old friends are able to ride together, let along with some new friends on this classical Gatineau park Champlain outlook loop.

   Jianbing and Gary,with whom we rode together regularly couple of years ago, now has been moving out of Ottawa, or quite busy on the work. this time they have precious chance to join last Sunday's ride. seems it won't happen so often.

  Jack eventually bought his new and decent bike--Conondale caad10, and it's his new bike's debut.

  Yang, who is the avid cyclist, always be there with the group as long as he can.

  Also, two new fiends joined this ride. they are strong.  and looks like all the young numbers joined in the  group ride this year are avid and very strong, let me feel ----


                 江湖已不是原来的江湖;

                                   (thanks Jianbing for providing photo)

Thursday, 14 June 2012

2009 RLCT 自行车之旅 (RLCT 2)

看完Yang的2012 RLCT report, 忽然意识到驱车两三小时的路程,  当用汗水驱动两轮时,却是一个慢长的历程----一年多时间的准备策划, 上千公里的骑行训练, 还有千公里短跑辅助训练. Yang终于得到回程180公里平均29kM/H 的骄人回报. Yang的报告的中有详实数据, 行文让人感受到飞驰的速度和澎湃的节奏。不 免让人想起2009同样路程的情憬.


当年的骑行似乎只是源于雄心和热情, 没有考虑太多能力与速度。 只是相信去做了,就一定能做成, 能骑到Kingston就一定能骑到P.E.I, 能骑过P.E.I就能橫穿加拿大, 就能横穿世界.

那时目地和速度并没那么重要,只是热爱那种骑行的感觉.  是这自由, 独立和身体中澎湃的意志力,引导我们去心中想去的每一个地方。



下面这篇,正是当年剑冰和我在完成Kingston之旅后合写的一篇报告.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


自行车骑行Ottawa-Kingston之旅
2009-06-17


去年这个时候,在一次渥太华华人自行车俱乐部的一次聚会上,我们几个喜欢自行车运动的人偶然相遇了.那时Gary已经定期和朋友一起在Gatineau公园骑车,我们知道后,很快加入了他们的队伍。从此每到星期天,只要有空,我们就会到Gatineau公园门前会合,然后跨上自行车一路往上,穿过Pink Lake,Fortune Lake,一直上到Champlain Lookout领略一览众山小的风景后,再往下飞奔,沿Kingsmere Lake回到公园的大门口,全程42公里。往上走的时候,奋力每蹬一圈,都要使出全身的力气,而后再往下滑的时,俯下身体,任自行车以高于60公里的速度飞快滑行,那种挥汗如雨地攀登和贴地飞行地滑翔,是只有喜欢自行车运动的人才能够体会的快意感受。

经常去Gatineau公园游玩的人总会看到很多运动自行车的骑手,车和人在我们眼里已经已成Gatineau公园一道风景线。自行车骑行虽是一个很花钱的运动,一辆普通运动自行车动辄一两千元甚至更贵,车子的维护,也是一笔费用,然而单车和骑行却是独具魅力, 这里看到的那些意大利的钢架名车承载着欧洲百年自行车运动传统,那些眼花缭乱的高性能北美名车又彰显着高科技带来的现代文明。骑行服也是一道风景,刚开始骑车的时候,就穿一般的衣服,但一则看着不像,二则也不安全,几经挑选,也就花了些钱把自己装备起来,穿上那些特制的自行车服装,自恋地端详一下,哈! 确实有一种英姿飒爽的英武感觉。

一个冬天都在期盼骑车,觉得很难熬,二月底天刚不太冷,但Gatineau公园还未冰雪消融,我们开始了城市之旅的单车骑行,每周我们自由自在地游荡在渥太华漂亮的自行车道上, 和那些骑着漂亮自行车的漂亮车手交错; 休息时常常找一个漂亮的咖啡厅, 象年轻时兴致高昂地谈理想一样,我们聊着骑车横穿加拿大的梦想, 谈着骑车旅行埃德华王子岛的计划,最后Gary提到渥太華自行車俱樂部每年六月組織一次Rideau Lake Cycling Tour, 拉开了我们这次自行车骑行Kingston之旅的序幕.

從Ottawa騎到Kingston的旅程,全程360公里,两天往返。这个不长不短的旅程,或许也是我们能走得更高更远的序幕? 总之,我們開始了每周數次的集訓。两个多月里完成一些必要的技巧,体能训练和并参加了渥太华自行车俱乐部里的集团骑行训练. 完成了集訓后,為了能夠檢驗體力的耐受性,我們特地騎車往返古镇Perth,全程160公里,调整食品和步伐,往返Perth不對我們的體力造成任何大的困擾,因此我們對於前往Rideau Lake Biking Tour信心十足,箭在弦上。

時間終於到達6/6,活動舉辦的當日,我們一大早準備充分之後,前往活動的出發地卡尔顿大学,一到場地,我们第一次看到這麼多輛漂亮的自行車,也發現很多自行車的好手,著實令我大開眼界。这个活动的车手主要来自安省,奎省和美国部分城市的车队或俱乐部车手和更多象我们这样成群结伴的自行车运动爱好者,车队车手们有统一的自行车和统一的服装, 俱乐部车手穿着统一的服装和各自的自行车,我们这样的"自由车手"服装和自行车就只好争奇斗艳,尽显个性了,不管怎样, 车手的水平在运动组和半专业组之间分布(注:自行车级别分5级:初级组(beginer),运动组(sport),专家组(expert),半专业组 (semi-pro)和专业组(profasional)).  俱乐部安排的登记和出发时间6:00 到 8:00,在这时间段里,卡尔顿大学象一座军用机场,整装待发的一队队的车手启动自行车, 井然有序地一组组列队起飞了,渥太华自行车协会的工作人员也象地勤人员一样,在离出发地不远的每个十字路口,为车队导航并盈盈笑意地向每个车手问候:"愉快骑行,平安回来";


我们托运掉行李, 别上号牌,最后检查了自行车后,尾随一队说着法语的男女混合编队出发了。

带着点出征的兴奋, 我们起身离开车座,紧握车把,踩着踏板奋力奔跑, 或许在第一个小时内保持这种状态,但还是时常和一些统一服装的车队邂逅---他们分成整齐的两列,哗哗哗地像队群行的狼, 以35公里巡航速度从身边缓缓超过, 很是威风; 还见到两对年轻夫妇排成一列的4人小分队, 身着一样服装,骑着4辆相同的顶级LOOK赛车的,在我夺命狂奔时,他们却如轻风一样从我左边比翼双飞而过,让人赞叹也有些让人泄气;  也曾试图跟上一组强壮快速的车队, 在经过小城Perth后我们如愿以偿, 咬上了一个由两俱乐部合成的队伍, 在风中列队骑行能省力很多很多, 这段路程我们如同搭上了泰坦利特号油轮, 一边坐着轻松踏车,一边和身边的车手愉快聊天,不幸的是,好日子还没过多久, 我们一车手过一小坑时震掉了装在车梁上的水壶, 就在我们迟疑捡还是不捡的几秒内脱队了, 在逆風中奋力追赶时,发现已是非常不容易,队伍就在不远的前方, 但不管我们如何努力追赶,他们永远在就在不远的前方, 最后追不动, 我们停下来大口揣气,看着他们厥着屁股猫着腰的骑行姿式,确实让人无法望其项背,并发现他们两三个水壶安在车座后面,似乎在向我们昭示,他们有一腚的水瓶!!在我们无奈的目光中,他们就这样绝尘而去了...

后面的行程我们放慢了步伐,不再追赶时间, 退一步果然海阔天空. 前往Kingston的路程上,可以欣賞沿途的風景了,春风送爽,空气中夹杂着野花,松枝和还有牛粪的...?芬芳(?). 在涼風中享受騎車的樂趣,并加尤其是有這麼多的自行車同好在這趟旅程中作伴,是一次非常難忘的經驗。在单飞的车手中也不乏經驗老道的好手們,他們的速度以及體力皆是我們望塵莫及的。前半程我們的體力尚能應付,但是在後半程的時候,逆風騎乘以及坡度陡峭造成不少體力上的負荷。最後的一小段路程是用意志力完成的。這也讓我們體會到,自行車隊我們來說不只是興趣,也有許多耐力以及考驗等待我們去體會。

到達Kingston之後,我们已經精疲力竭,肌肉痠疼。所幸大會提供良好的服務以及餐點,能夠讓參與此次活動的選手們迅速補充體力,等待明日的回程。

原以為回程會更加辛勞,所幸經過來程的訓練,回程沒有想像中的困難。只是快要抵達Ottawa的時候,下起了一場大雨,在雨中騎車也可以算是這趟旅程的額外收穫, 任风在吹,任雨在下,任身边的机动车呼啸而过,我們却我行我素地在天地间自由骑行,挥洒这份自由自在的豪情。

黄昏时分,最后顺利抵達了此趟旅程的出發地,渥太华。

自行车运动中, 100 Mile (160 KM)的骑行称为century riding。并非每个人跨上自行车就能做到,而是一个槛, 需要计划和训练来完成。今天我们顺利到达了,从此我们具备了一种信心和能力,相信能到达每个我们想去的地方。


Monday, 4 June 2012

ride in the rain



 Although not expected, it's raining today, we still stepped out riding for about 100 km in Kanada area as Yang planed.

  I still rode my new old 20 dollars bike today which was bought 3 weeks ago in yard sell.  Actually after i have been fine tuning  it for couple of weeks, more and more I love it.  Having  hi-end bikes you guys might not understand why I prefer to this tank alike bike unless you also disassembled  it, took detailed consideration to replace all the necessary parts and rebuild it according to my body fits and usage. In my eyes it's the  bike which takes loads and abuse but still has refined riding quality.  Yesterday I fine trued the wheels at night and the bike ready to go.     

  


  I got up earlier today, so does Yang coincidently. he mistakenly started 2 hour before and i also went out 1 hour earlier after I had got his call and we met at Gatineau park P3 as warm up riding and then we went to the Chaimplan bridge to meet TaoYong. We formally started the ride after we had went back to Yong's place to get his helmet he forgot.:-).  it formally started rain at the moment.

  It's not my first time riding in the rain and it's absolutely not the last time riding in the rain. todays raining riding is so rewarding.

   Seems nothing really worried about in the rain --- the air was pretty fresh, traffic was not heavy ( thanks to yang's plan ), my wheels grip pretty well.    Most importantly, we successfully  formed an efficient pace line thanks to TaoYong's join. Taoyong, used to be a runner, showed his strength again today. on another tank alike bike, his each pedal stroke is powerful, along with Yang and myself effort, we would maintain about 32-33 km/ph speed easy. we have been riding about 30 km in this endless road together in line. 

 

  However, the tragic happened when taoyong had asked to stop due to too much water he drunk and we took a rest on the road side accordingly.  When we started again, we noticed my bike made the noise and we found my rear tire cracked, the tube exposed.  Taoyong suggested flat the tire a little bike but still, the tube explored soon. so after a short discuss, I called and waiting my privilege support car take me home whereas Yang and Taoyong continue to pursue their destination.

  I was waiting in the rain for about 40 minute, taking following pictures with cell phone in this boring place and was imaging I was being in a long journey to an exciting distance....

 

Back at 1:00 pm, and replaced my tires immediately.  

What the rewarding is that, the group riding is making us stronger, and the experience I/we have today, will exactly going to happen in the future's which I/we need to deal with.