As I had mentioned in my last post, I fractured a bone in my foot last month putting up a fence for our new puppy Moose. As a result, my riding has been somewhat limited to running errands or infrequent longer rides. Although I was told by the ER physician that riding a bike shouldn’t be an issue, I found clipping my shoes in and out of the pedals was quite painful because I have to twist my foot to get out of the pedals every time I have to stop, which can be quite frequent in traffic.
This week was my first week cycling everyday, building up from 30 kms on Monday to nearly 60 kms Wednesday, and 40 hilly kms Thursday with Paul in Gatineau Park. Although I haven’t had a totally pain-free ride, it has been nice to be back in the saddle again. Let me tell you about my first week:
Monday I was riding along on the multi-use path (MUP) along the Ottawa River when I a fellow zipped past me on his bike without ringing a bell (a pet peeve of mine). As I rang my bell shortly afterwards to overtake a jogger, I checked my mirror, saw nothing so proceeded into the other lane of the bike path to pass the jogger. When I got into the lane I checked my mirror again and realized someone else who did not ring her bell was overtaking me and I unknowingly forced her off the path. She was very sheepish as she regained control and carried on her way.
Wednesday I was once again cycling on the MUP along the Ottawa River. As I was approaching a T-intersection with another MUP, a fellow cyclist who was not paying attention was coming from the south and saw me at the last moment, slammed on his brakes and fell off his bike. I circled back to make sure he was ok and although he appeared to be a bit scraped up, he was otherwise fine.
On Thursday, Paul and I decided to do a hilly ride in Gatineau Park. I needed a break half way up “Pink Lake hill” so Paul and I pulled over to the side of the road (because of Covid the roads are closed to cars in the park to allow bikes on the roads for physical distancing). During our little break I was telling Paul of the two incidents described above when Paul made an alarming sound. Out of the corner of my eye I could see a cyclist who at the last minute avoided hitting me from behind. Apparently he was not looking where he was going because he was focusing down on the road directly in front of him. That one was my fault for not having my bike all the way off the road, and I get why he was so focused, the hill at Pink Lake is brutal. Paul and I almost lost it though when we saw he was wearing a shirt for “Cycling for Sight”.
It’s August 1st. If I had been able to start on my trip and all went according to plan, I would be taking a break in Calgary Alberta today, visiting with Marlene and Charlie, or Robert and Hazel. More realistically however, I would probably be at the bottom of mountain looking up, weeping at the prospect of tackling another mountain.
Be well everyone and safe ride.
Bill
Very cool you can work up to bringing the puppy in the trailer. I am looking to do that myself with my pups. Hope you feel better soon with the injury.
Sorry to hear about your fracture, but it seems like you are back at it in a big way. Iād be looking for that husky to pull me š.
I’m going to see about skijoring (sp?) in the winter, see what this husky is made of.
Love the photo of Moose in the trailer!