With temperatures warming up again and having successfully completed a hilly series of climbs around the Road to Pakistan last weekend, we realized that conditions were prime to start commuting with the skinny tires. That suspicion was confirmed when Tuesday morning I encountered former club-mate, Mike Huang on the bike path, riding his roadie.
Thus, Mike W and I decided to mark Friday afternoon for our extended commute, circling west of Calgary, up to Old Bank Spring Rd, over to Hwy 22, past Bragg Creek, then East along Hwy 22x back home. Total distance, 100 km.
Last time we did this route after work was June 30th, 2011. There was a brutal West wind that slowed us to a crawl in the first 3rd of the ride, taking 90 minutes to reach Hwy 22.
This installment was shaping up much nicer. Temperature at noon was a sunny +10C, with practically no breeze.
Couple of last minute wardrobe decisions in light of the warm weather, stocked nutrition, 2:00, off I go.
Met up with Mike in downtown, and off to the hills of Edworthy.
Managed a good effort up the slopes all the way up to Old Spring Bank, with a sustained 20 min effort of 281W.
At the summit of West Calgary the wind seemed to realize we were enjoying ourselves a bit too much. A SW 30 kmph gusty slap in the face.
We trudged along westward, steadily maintaining a good tempo.
Turning South on 22, we sensed the temperature dipping, and worried about the dark clouds above us.
That stretch of road from Hwy 8 to Bragg Creek seemed to take forever. Fingers were starting to chill.
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| Bragg Creek gas station, warming hands |
By the time we reached the town, we decided on a 5 min stop at the gas station in order to feed and warm the fingers. I realized my fingers were too cold to pour drink, let alone open a honey stinger waffle.
Back on the road, we now had a sense of urgency as the temp kept dropping.
Made it to the 22x turn and headed East with the delight of our long-sought-after tail wind.
Within minutes however, we came to a section of highway that was wet from recent rainfall. Carefully descending down the long slopes out of kananaskis, we were hit with yet another challenge... hail!
Mike with his open fingered gloves and half-length shorts, me with a thin jersey, flying eastward.
Well, if that wasn't enough, within minutes after the last big climb out of the foothills, I feared I blew my rear tire.
Pulled over, and thankfully it was still rock solid. Don't think I would have had the dexterity to change a flat with my frozen fingers. Nor was there any solace from the wind/snow-sleet mix. 100m later, I still felt wobbly on the bike so stopped and checked again. Damn, the front tire was completely flat!
We were at the 22x-22 junction... open fields on all sides as far as we could see...
Alright, at least it was the front, which is easier to replace.
Except when I went to reach for my spare kit I came to the horrible realization that I had forgotten to attach my pod sack to the bike, so I have zero tools. Good thing I was riding with someone else.
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| Freezing behind hay bale |
Pained me to do it, but I had to call in the rescue crew. Needless to say, Bev was none-too thrilled to throw the kids in the car and drive 25kms to pick me up. Speaking of pain, I lay waiting, curled up in a little ball of shame and frozen lycra, tucked up tight beside a bale of hay. Legs cramping, shaking violently from the bitter cold.
32.3 minutes or so later, the rescue van arrived! Never before have I been so glad to see that piece of crap old van...
A day and a warm bath later, and I can now actually type.
So, despite a 2.5 hr ride of 75km, I can't help but shake the feeling of a failed workout.
Mike had made it home ok, the last 25 km being mostly downhill with a great tailwind.
Forecast is more snow, so that may be the last good outside ride for this week.
Garmin report:
Can't wait to try it again!!
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