Sunday, August 31, 2008

Ride for Saturday, 30 August

Day two of Hali to the Valley dawned with patchy blue skies promising a warmer day. We each had our own breakfast (Kent Petersen would have approved of the nutritional content). I managed to boil up the water in the "kettle" with success, and it only took two tins full - one for my coffee and one for my porridge, which I counted as a win. As I managed to drink all my water overnight I ended up boiling lake water for that added full-on camping experience. Fortunately having Jess with us (a skilled camper and forestry student who's been on all sorts of courses) meant I was able to do it safely - 3 minutes' boiling followed by a 1 minute standing time led to a breakfast that was reasonably safe and free of manky bits.

After that we broke camp, with the others being graciously accepting of my Captain Slow impression as I dawdled my way through - mornings are not my best time to get stuff done that requires any huge amount of concentration. We headed back out down the dirt road and left Paunke City behind us. Next we hit Windsor, filled with very pretty houses and continued our way down through Highway 1 until we hit the end and had to jump onto Highway 101 to cross the Gaspereau River. Mission accomplished, we rode the gravel shoulder until the next exit, where at my rather cranky demanding we stopped at the Just Us cafe and I went through a bacon and egg panini, a large caesar salad, two slices of apple pie and a big mug of coffee. Little Steve later admitted to me he didn't realise just how hungry he was - at the last convenience store he had a Swanson "hungry man" meal which didn't do a thing for him. Bizarrely enough Jared, one of the HCC co-chairs was there at Just Us visiting their museum with his study class. It was a real shock to me as I was idly chatting with Jess outside to hear Jared's voice call out to me! It was great to see him there though we didn't have time to chat for too long.

Taking the time for a break at Just Us turned out to be perfect timing as the weather was absolutely gorgeous when we left there, and it continued fine the rest of the way down through Wolfville. Unfortunately some yahoo had smashed a beer bottle in the bike lane in Wolfville that Little Steve ran over which caused him to flat out, which he tried to fix while Jess enjoyed the break. Unfortunately it turned out that the tyre itself had got shredded, and even after booting the tyre we weren't able to get it going and holding air. Since we were only around 10km from our destination Little Steve called his mom for an emergency pickup and we hung out on the grassy knoll till she arrived. After that we went to The Village Pub in Coldbrook where I enjoyed a stellar Maple Chicken Curry and a few pints of beer. After that Jess was dropped off at her cousin's place, and Little Steve and I prepped up then headed back to Halifax in his mom's car.

All in all a great trip, and an awesome first tour for me. Steve and I were already making plans for next year's trip!

Distance logged: 43.687km
Time: 157:47
Average speed: 16.6km/hr
Max speed: 48.8 km/hr
Temperature: 18C-22C, cloudy becoming sunny
Cumulative distance: 4964.410km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.23
Monthly distance: 709.559km
Monthly cost per km: $0.94

Ride for Friday, 29 August

Did the Hali to the Valley trip with Jess and Steve. There were supposed to be 19 people coming but with the ominous weather everyone else dropped out at the last minute. As this was my vacation I was determined not to let a little dampness get in my way and went anyway - just as well as the worst we encountered was a little bit of drizzle a couple of times, which ended up being rather refreshing anyway.

I started off a bit late and caught up with the other two on Kearney Lake Road. From there we made our way out onto Highway 1 through Sackville. We tended to spread out a fair bit, with me ranging forward and dropping back as I was taking pictures of assorted random things along the way. I spotted a fish and chip van by the side of the road ("TM Fish and Chips, I think it was called) and was suddenly tempted by a large order of chips. Jess and Steve caught up and we agreed they were awesome chips, way better than could have been expected. They headed on out ahead of me, and it wasn't too long after that before we came to our first major rest stop that wasn't a convenience store or gas station, a church outside Mount Uniacke, where Little Steve stretched out for a while. From there we worked our way along Highway 1, stopping at convenience stores along the way with our last stop before camping out being at Gibson's Grocery where the owner was fascinated by our tale of riding "all the way" from Halifax. I bought a tin of baked beans there so I would have something to use as a kettle the next morning for my coffee and porridge, but I didn't have a tin opener. The owner offered me her tin opener to use but I explained I needed it for the next morning, she had a rummage round but couldn't find anything and apologised profusely. I went out and emptied the water bottles into my camelback, and took them back in to put in the garbage. While I was waiting for the owner to finish on the phone I spotted a tin opener on the wall, the packaging looked rather faded and elderly and with a price tag of $1 had probably been there for a while. I asked the owner if I could buy it and she very generously gave it to me at no charge! She said she liked seeing bike campers around and we deserved some help and was happy to give it to me, which I thought was very good of her.

Next we headed up to Lake Panuke going through Panuke (or as the local graffiti artists appear to call it, "Paunke City") and after 5km of climbing followed by 5km of climbing dirt road we hit the camp ground and set up camp. This was done as quickly as possible due to the massive mosquito infestation in the area, we all got bit pretty badly though. We watched a movie in my tent after supper to escape the mosquitos (and made a solemn pact with each other to never, ever tell anyone what it was we watched) and then headed to sleep after that, soothed by the gentle pitterpatter of rain overnight.

Distance logged: 67.914km
Time: 226:14
Average speed: 18km/hr
Max speed: 49.2 km/hr
Temperature: 16C-21C, cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4920.723km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.23
Monthly distance: 665.872km
Monthly cost per km: $1

Ride for Friday, 29 August

Rode downtown for an appointment, and a friend generously gave me a ride home so I could get back in time to go camping.

Distance logged: 10.504km
Time: 27:42
Average speed: 22.8km/hr
Max speed: 50.4 km/hr
Temperature: 15C, cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4852.809km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.23
Monthly distance: 597.958km
Monthly cost per km: $1.12

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Ride for Thursday, 28 August

Down to Bedford for my weekly physio appointment.

Spent the day getting my bike ready for the Hali to the Valley bike tour. As predicted by Knox over three years ago I've finally got (almost) all the gear to go touring and will be setting off tomorrow.

I may have too much gear already - I weighed the bike fully loaded and it's running at 78 pounds!

Distance logged: 23.777km
Time: 63:14
Average speed: 22.6km/hr
Max speed: 52 km/hr
Temperature: 15C-19C, intermittent drizzle
Cumulative distance: 4842.305km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.23
Monthly distance: 587.454km
Monthly cost per km: $1.14

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Ride home for Wednesday, 27 August

Went into MEC and picked up 4 new tubes, plus some extra camping gear for the road trip this weekend.

Distance logged: 10.972km
Time: 31:29
Average speed: 20.9km/hr
Max speed: 48.8 km/hr
Temperature: 18C. cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4818.528km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.24
Monthly distance: 563.677km
Monthly cost per km: $1.19

Ride into work for Wednesday, 27 August

Had my first muppet encounter in a while this morning. Going down Henry to cross University I signalled left and then heard a car behind me accelerate, brake suddenly then slam on the horn. I stopped at the intersection, still signalling left, as the muppet pulled up to the right of me, opened his window and yelled "what the hell do you think you're doing, learn to ride your bicycle idiot!"; my response of "get off the bloody road if you don't know how to drive, you bleeding muppet!" seemed to floor him, and I continued on my way. Amusingly enough at the next set of traffic lights he had trouble getting his car going when the light turned green while I sat behind him shaking my head...

Distance logged: 10.870km
Time: 28:41
Average speed: 22.7km/hr
Max speed: 53.0 km/hr
Temperature: 15C, rain
Cumulative distance: 4807.556km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.23
Monthly distance: 552.705km
Monthly cost per km: $1.13

Ride home for Tuesday, 26 August

Went down to MEC at lunch and picked up a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, a new set of tyres (since I noticed there were chunks missing out of my Top Touring tyres on my touring bike) and some other odds and ends. With all this hanging off the back of my bike I was given a wide berth, but I got home surprisingly quickly.

After changing the tyres I decided it was also time for new tubes, as I went through 4 multiply-patched tubes before giving up. The patches themselves were fine, but the tubes themselves were starting to break down, with one of them having 5 pinhole punctures!

Distance logged: 11.109km
Time: 29:32
Average speed: 22.6km/hr
Max speed: 55.9 km/hr
Temperature: 19C
Cumulative distance: 4796.686km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.23
Monthly distance: 541.835km
Monthly cost per km: $1.15

Ride into work for Tuesday, 26 August

Distance logged: 11.109km
Time: 29:32
Average speed: 22.6km/hr
Max speed: 55.9 km/hr
Temperature: 16C, cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4785.577km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.17
Monthly distance: 530.726km
Monthly cost per km: $0.68

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Ride for Saturday, 23 August

Down to the farmer's market for my weekly shopping, then over to Sobey's and finally down to the liquor store for sweet, sweet alcoholic beverages for a BBQ.

Distance logged: 34.105km
Time: 119:46
Average speed: 17.1km/hr
Max speed: 51.4 km/hr
Temperature: 19C-26C
Cumulative distance: 4774.468km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.17
Monthly distance: 519.617km
Monthly cost per km: $0.7

Ride for Thursday, 21 August

Down to Bedford for a physio appointment, then back home to work from home for the day.

Distance logged: 19.215km
Time: 46:13
Average speed: 24.9km/hr
Max speed: 59 km/hr
Temperature: 14C-16C
Cumulative distance: 4740.363km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 485.512km
Monthly cost per km: $0.75

Ride home for Wednesday, 20 August

Distance logged: 10.929km
Time: 31:52
Average speed: 20.6km/hr
Max speed: 44.4 km/hr
Temperature: 16C
Cumulative distance: 4721.148km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 466.297km
Monthly cost per km: $0.78

Ride into work for Wednesday, 20 August

Distance logged: 11.443km
Time: 27:45
Average speed: 24.7km/hr
Max speed: 56.4 km/hr
Temperature:
Cumulative distance: 4710.219km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 455.368km
Monthly cost per km: $0.8

Ride home for Tuesday, 19 August

Distance logged: 11.696km
Time: 32:18
Average speed: 21.7km/hr
Max speed: 43.0 km/hr
Temperature: 22C
Cumulative distance: 4698.776km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 443.925km
Monthly cost per km: $0.82

Ride into work for Tuesday, 19 August

Distance logged: 10.647km
Time: 29:01
Average speed: 22km/hr
Max speed: 60.5 km/hr
Temperature: 18C
Cumulative distance: 4687.080km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 432.229km
Monthly cost per km: $0.84

Monday, August 18, 2008

Ride home for Monday, 18 August

Muppet of the day was the driver who decided he could speed in front of me as I was walking across the crosswalk, then realised he didn't have time, and skidded to a stop half across the crosswalk line while I stood there watching him with a supercilious look on my face...

Distance logged: 11.102km
Time: 30:11
Average speed: 22.1km/hr
Max speed: 47.2 km/hr
Temperature: 25C, sunny, humid
Cumulative distance: 4676.433km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 421.582km
Monthly cost per km: $0.86

Ride into work for Monday, 18 August

It seems like summer is making a welcome return, the temperature jumped up while I was riding and I definitely didn't need my legwarmers...

Distance logged: 13.298km
Time: 35:08
Average speed: 22.7km/hr
Max speed: 56.4 km/hr
Temperature: 14C-17C, sunny
Cumulative distance: 4665.331km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 410.480km
Monthly cost per km: $0.89

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Ride for Saturday, 16 August

Late start after a late night. Set off wearing full rain gear as it was raining pretty hard when I set off, naturally after 5 minutes of riding it eased off, and stopped after 10. By around 15 minutes in I was dribbling sweat, and when I got to the bank I took off my rain jacket. After going round the market it started to drizzle so I figured I'd hit Idealbikes to camp out for a while (plus my horn had come loose and needed tightening with an extra-small cross-head screwdriver). As I came in through the door I was met with the ominous words "oh, here's Steve, he'll be able to help you!"; Mike was talking to a German bike tourist who was trying to figure out how to get back to the airport. The bike map drew a blank (I'll have to remember to drop Hanita an email to get her to mark this info on the bike map), and no other bike shop nor MEC were able to help. I took her down to MEC to look for Walton Watt's "Nova Scotia by bicycle" but it looks to be sadly out of print. We found a back roads map of Nova Scotia where I was able to point out possible routes, she had been told that the road around the airport was fenced all the way around - not entirely correct, it links up with Aerotech Drive, which goes on to the airport. I told her that last I knew, the last two exits to the airport allowed bikes on as it was the only route available without going miles out of her way, and if she was stopped on there by the police just to play the dumb tourist card and they would most probably just load her bike in their car and drive her off the road, since it would be the quickest way to resolve the problem. Hopefully she made it OK!

I headed back to Ideal after that and drank a coffee and ate some chocolate for breakfast while I waited for the rain to stop. After it eased off to a light drizzle I decided to risk it and headed out sans rain pants and rain jacket. Needless to say after 4 minutes the heavens opened on me and continued most of the way home...

Distance logged: 24.224km
Time: 66:21
Average speed: 21.9km/hr
Max speed: 46.5 km/hr
Temperature: 21C, rain
Cumulative distance: 4640.621km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 385.770km
Monthly cost per km: $0.94

Ride home for Friday, 15 August

Hot and humid ride home, not helped by me pushing it a bit as I had a guest visiting for dinner...

Distance logged: 11.634km
Time: 33:01
Average speed: 21.1km/hr
Max speed: 45.8 km/hr
Temperature: 24C, sunny
Cumulative distance: 4616.397km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 361.546km
Monthly cost per km: $1

Ride into work for Friday, 15 August

Riding in is easier carrying my Aspire One than it is horking around my HP battleship...

Distance logged: 11.412km
Time: 27:14
Average speed: 25.1km/hr
Max speed: 57.7 km/hr
Temperature: 17C
Cumulative distance: 4604.763km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 349.912km
Monthly cost per km: $1.04

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Ride home for Thursday, 14 August

Went down to Dal for a meeting of the HCC board of directors, then home in pouring rain.

Distance logged: 13.025km
Time: 37:58
Average speed: 20.6km/hr
Max speed: 47.7 km/hr
Temperature: 17C-15C, rain
Cumulative distance: 4593.351km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 338.500km
Monthly cost per km: $1.07

Ride into work for Thursday, 14 August

Down to Bedford for a physio appointment, then over to Abbie Lane for the IT Staff BBQ where I ate 10 burgers and hot dogs, plus an assortment of fruits and chips and cakes and muffins. Then I rode back to my office to get changed, then back again to sort out a network issue and sit in on a conference call, then back to my office to clean up some tickets.

Distance logged: 30.845km
Time: 72:20
Average speed: 25.6km/hr
Max speed: 60.0 km/hr
Temperature: 15C-19C, cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4580.326km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 325.475km
Monthly cost per km: $1.12

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Ride home for Wednesday, 13 August

Fewer bikes on the road than yesterday, so I'm guessing for some reason most cyclists finish work later than I do...

Distance logged: 12.788km
Time: 36:25
Average speed: 21.1km/hr
Max speed: 52.1 km/hr
Temperature: 21C, sunny
Cumulative distance: 4549.481km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 294.630km
Monthly cost per km: $1.23

Ride into work for Wednesday, 13 August

Starting to get a little chilly in the morning already. Still warm enough to wear sandals, but I can see that only lasting for a few more weeks...

Distance logged: 11.445km
Time: 28:55
Average speed: 23.8km/hr
Max speed: 62.1 km/hr
Temperature: 15C, cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4536.693km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 281.842km
Monthly cost per km: $1.29

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Ride home for Tuesday, 12 August

Paul, celebrity bike mechanic stunt rider did a bang-up job and managed to get my bike ready for me when I got out of work - well deserving of the price of a pizza I slipped him in thanks for punting me to the front of the queue! Strapped the spare wheel to the rear rack again and headed home, with traffic again giving me a wide berth not really knowing how to handle such an odd load.

I don't know if it was because I left a bit later or what, but every road I was on from Ideal out had at least one cyclist on it, all the way up to Central Avenue. Even then I saw a couple ahead of me on Willett...

Distance logged: 11.134km
Time: 32:52
Average speed: 20.3km/hr
Max speed: 50.4 km/hr
Temperature: 19C, light drizzle
Cumulative distance: 4525.248km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.18
Monthly distance: 270.397km
Monthly cost per km: $1.34

Ride into work for Tuesday, 12 August

Rode down on the Giant to get it tuned at Ideal, had a rear wheel I managed to cock up trying to put on a nutted axle bungeed to my rear rack and tied down with inner tubes. Paul, the celebrity bike mechanic stunt rider promised to try to get it done today for me.

Distance logged: 11.171km
Time: 34:25
Average speed: 19.5km/hr
Max speed: 49.6 km/hr
Temperature: 16C, light rain
Cumulative distance: 4514.114km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.17
Monthly distance: 259.263km
Monthly cost per km: $1.09

Monday, August 11, 2008

Ride home for Monday, 11 August

Picked up a tent at Canadian Tyre for Hali To Valley later this month (facebook event here for those so inclined). I need to get a sleeping bag, dry bag and pad and I'm good to go. It was a bit iffy hauling the tent home as it stuck out of my bag by a foot or so... It seemed to persuade other drivers to give me plenty of room though!

Distance logged: 11.745km
Time: 34:44
Average speed: 20.3km/hr
Max speed: 39 km/hr
Temperature: 21C, sunny
Cumulative distance: 4502.943km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.17
Monthly distance: 248.092km
Monthly cost per km: $1.14

Ride into work for Monday, 11 August

Distance logged: 11.078km
Time: 28:59
Average speed: 22.9km/hr
Max speed: 62.5 km/hr
Temperature: 16C, cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4491.198km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.14
Monthly distance: 236.347km
Monthly cost per km: $0.59

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Ride for Saturday, 09 August

Rode downtown to the Farmer's Market, back home, then to Sobey's, and just managed to get home before a slow flat I picked up along the way deflated my tyre to unrideability.

Distance logged: 25.011km
Time: 66:51
Average speed: 22.4km/hr
Max speed: 59.2 km/hr
Temperature: 16C-23C, sunny
Cumulative distance: 4455.109km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.14
Monthly distance: 200.258km
Monthly cost per km: $0.7

Ride for Thursday, 07 August

Rode downtown to meet some friends at the pub, and then a late night ride back home.

Distance logged: 25.011km
Time: 66:51
Average speed: 22.4km/hr
Max speed: 59.2 km/hr
Temperature: 15C-12C
Cumulative distance: 4480.120km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.14
Monthly distance: 225.269km
Monthly cost per km: $0.62

Ride for Thursday, 07 August

Down to Bedford for a physio appointment that overran, so I just went home and worked from there or the rest of the day.

Distance logged: 21.022km
Time: 53:05
Average speed: 23.4km/hr
Max speed: 65.2 km/hr
Temperature: 14C-18C, light fog turning to sunny
Cumulative distance: 4428.356km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.14
Monthly distance: 173.505km
Monthly cost per km: $0.81

Ride home for Wednesday, 06 August

Picked up my bike, all the servicing and parts replacement only came to $125, and I chucked in the price of a pizza for the guys at the shop to have lunch in exchange for bumping me to the front of the queue. It was definitely a smoother ride home...

Distance logged: 15.101km
Time: 41:49
Average speed: 21.7km/hr
Max speed: 49.5 km/hr
Temperature: 17C, sunny
Cumulative distance: 4407.334km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.14
Monthly distance: 152.483km
Monthly cost per km: $0.92

Ride into work for Wednesday, 06 August

Back in on the not-quite-big-enough flatbar bike...

Distance logged: 11.599km
Time: 29:31
Average speed: 23.6km/hr
Max speed: 54 km/hr
Temperature: 14C, cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4392.233km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.11
Monthly distance: 137.382km
Monthly cost per km: $0

Ride home for Tuesday, 5 August

Dropped my road bike off at Idealbikes for repair, Martin wasn't able to get it ready in time despite some sterling work (no great surprise as on top of a regular tuneup I asked for the bearings in the hubs and headset to be repacked, bottom bracket checked and a few other odds and ends) so I took a loaner bike. As per usual, it wasn't quite big enough, and just for added fun the frame flexed enough that I had to hold down the indexed shifter in bottom gear to stop it skipping...

Distance logged: 12.994km
Time: 39:45
Average speed: 19.6km/hr
Max speed: 42 km/hr
Temperature: 16C, cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4380.634km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.11
Monthly distance: 125.783km
Monthly cost per km: $0

Ride into work for Tuesday, 05 August

Catching up on entries after Blogger's problems (and I see other people are having problems, so at least I have company...)

Distance logged: 11.062km
Time: 29:46
Average speed: 22.3km/hr
Max speed: 61 km/hr
Temperature: 16C, light drizzle
Cumulative distance: 4367.640km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.11
Monthly distance: 112.789km
Monthly cost per km: $0

Monday, August 04, 2008

Ride for Sunday, 03 August

Down town to a BBQ at a friend's place. Unfortunately I was paged to go fix a problem as the emergency departments were down unable to print. Even more unfortunately I was paged 5 times. I finally managed to fix the problem (not least one of which was people not quite realising when something was my problem and when something was an application problem). I was averaging about one bottle of beer between calls, so they were coming in fairly frequently... Not the best way to enjoy a BBQ!

Distance logged: 41.124km
Time: 137:16
Average speed: 18km/hr
Max speed: 48.9 km/hr
Temperature: 19C, intermittent light and heavy rainshowers
Cumulative distance: 4356.578km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.11
Monthly distance: 101.727km
Monthly cost per km: $0

Ride for Saturday, 02 August

Damp ride down to the farmer's market, then over to Sobey's for household odds and ends after dumping everything at home, then swung by home and on to the liquor store to pick up a couple of boxes of beer. After 4 hours or so of riding around Halifax and getting my stuff done in the rain I was somewhat damp, and my mother's cogent analysis of the situation was "ooooh, you want to get out of those wet clothes!" - yes, yes I did...

Distance logged: 33.874km
Time: 114:18
Average speed: 17.8km/hr
Max speed: 46.7 km/hr
Temperature: 19C, mist, drizzle and showers
Cumulative distance: 4315.454km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.11
Monthly distance: 60.603km
Monthly cost per km: $0

Ride home for Friday, 01 August

Rode home, then over to Sobey's to pick some stuff up, then stopped off at the butcher's on the way home.

Distance logged: 15.246km
Time: 42:38
Average speed: 21.5km/hr
Max speed: 48 km/hr
Temperature: 21C, sunny
Cumulative distance: 4281.580km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.11
Monthly distance: 26.729km
Monthly cost per km: $0

Ride into work for Friday, 01 August

Distance logged: 11.483km
Time: 29:10
Average speed: 23.6km/hr
Max speed: 55.1 km/hr
Temperature: 18C, cloudy
Cumulative distance: 4266.334km
Cumulative cost per km: $0.11
Monthly distance: 11.483km
Monthly cost per km: $0