Tag Archives: training

Training in Stanley Park

Days that I don’t have time to do long bike rides, I just go a few loops of Stanley Park around where I live. It’s nice to have such a place to go for training in close proximity. The loop is 7km with a couple of good uphills to climb, so I will usually do it 3 times.ch3_130727_0164

ch3_130727_0154 Lion's Gate Bridge Lion's Gate Bridge

Raleigh Sojourn

The fully loaded bike

This time I also loaded the bike with all the bags carrying fake weight. Apart from the exercise itself, it’s good to see how to bike behaves with the extra weight. I am still trying to decide whether I will a front rack at the front, with one small bag at the top, or two on the side. In terms of stability the second option is definitely better, as the weight can be added below the wheel’s axle, which makes it a lot easier to maneuver, but then even if I could do with some extra space, I am not sure if I want two extra bags to pack/unpack each time.

Gear… lot of them!

gear

In general I hate shopping, but over the last month I had to research and buy all the stuff I will need for a safe and comfortable ride. Dozens of advice from experienced cyclists, forums, and other touring diaries, as well as numerous visits to shops, begging for discounts.

Today, I finished my to-buy list with all sorts of things. Shoes, pedals, rack, panniers, shorts, raincoats, cloths, tools, spares, maps, insurance and of course a small and lightweight tent that will be my portable home for the next two months.

tent

After all this frenzy of consumerism, the big highlight was of course the stuff I didn’t have to buy my self! All my good friends from the company I was working for the past four year, offered me the most appropriate leaving present. Top quality and very stylish cycling cloths that make me feel like a pro cyclist, who climbs the Alps for breakfast! So I’d like to thank everybody that signed my leaving card and contributed to the present, Dean and Ashley who organized it all and finally Rapha.cc who provided and designed all these amazing clothing and they were happy to support me by adding even more stuff towards the gift.

Full weight test ride up the hills

So that’s me and the bike fully loaded. I went up the steep hill of Highgate to see how much harder it is to ride. I have to say it was tough, but doable. People say I’ll get stronger on the way, so probable by the end of the trip I will look like the Les triplettes de Belleville character.