13 Weeks & Counting + Mimico & Back

I think I'm still recovering from Saturday. Sore wrists and a strained tendon possibly below my right knee cap. I hope to solve some of this wear and tear with my free bike fit session from Cycle Therapy this week, you guys rock! http://www.cycletherapy.ca/

I hit the gym yesterday for the first time in about a week. Consistency has not been my friend. Once the weather becomes beautiful outside, I begin to lose my desire for running a track or lifting weights in an enclosed uninspired grey space. I want to be free and run with the hair in my wind... or something like that.

I managed to spin my legs out on a bike a bit and do some shoulders and back (trying to strengthen the stuff that's holding me over the handlebars).

Went with a friend for a very chilled pace out to Mimico and back (35km). Beautiful day, sun shining, the lake looked gorgeous. Getting back to enjoying being on a bike. I'm hoping that this weekend's training ride is much more flat so I can get some good cadence practice up on my bike.

I can't believe that it's the last day of April and that I've been 30 for a whole month! Time flies when you're training for a Bike Rally ;-)

3rd Training Ride: Kennedy - Rouge Valley (42km+30km)

Let's call today the ride of Kvetch. I barely slept last night, the weather was dismal, the wind was chilly and there were hills. Lots of long extended amounts of pain kinds of hills. To be positive, there were also some really beautiful farms and country roads which helped distract me from focusing on the hills.

Today's ride also brought home the reality that holy crap: 610kms is a really long way! The ride was really challenging, lots of long hills that never seemed to end. When you hit the crest, often there was another one not too far in the distance. It was a good challenge though. I feel really good about having completed it. I also felt great about not giving in and taking the subway home later.

This ride knocked me on my butt a bit. After a 5 hour nap yesterday afternoon and consuming a whole large pizza to myself, I have regrouped and realize 3 very important things:

1. I need to get into that whole carb loading thing the night before a training ride because now things are getting serious

2. I really need to maintain a consistent schedule at the gym with lots of cross training and resistenace training.

3. I'm not in as good of shape at this point as I thought I'd be, but I'm well on my way and in far better shape than I was 10 years ago.

This post may seem very negative and ranty, that's probably the sore groginess talking. Honestly, I'm glad for yesterday's ride because I think that I desperately needed that dose of reality!

MAP: http://www.bikerally.org/trainingmaps2007/42k_KennedyZooLoop.pdf

There will be some training before next weekend, oh yes there will be :-)

Cinderella at the Dance Studio

I've been studying belly dancing at a studio and being that I am broke right now, I proposed a baretr style, I clean the sudio for them, they give me a free class. Pretty sweet deal when you consider it's $100 every 6 weeks.

There I was last night after class sweeping up our studio and in the next studio were the advanced performers training for their big show next weekend. I've been in beginner's level for about 3 months now and we've learned very basic moves: shimmies, hip drops, figure 8s. Eventually as you level up, these basic moves become layered with the more complicated moves you generally see dancers performing.

These dancers were performing the basic moves as if they were second nature to them and adding lots of more complicated moves I couldn't quite place overtop. Watching them is always inspiring and motivating to see that eventually it is possible to move through an entire dance routine. Having spent this much time with beginner's classes, I can appreciate that these dancers have been at it for years.

I did feel a bit like Cinderella watching her sisters go out to the ball as I slowly swept past them.

But well, one day my dance will come :-)

Why Should You Pledge Me? Oh Let Me Count Thee Ways :-)

2 years ago at the age of 28, I learned how to ride a bike for the first time.

Now it is my main mode of transportation.

Number of Days: 6
Number of KMs: 610kms
Mode of Transport: Betty (my sporty bike)
Route: Toronto to Montreal
Charity Org: Toronto PWA Foundation

Where your $ go:
All donations raised will help the Toronto PWA Foundation provide accessible, direct and practical services to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.

How can I help?:

1. Visit the Friends For Life Bike Rally secure online site at: http://www.bikerally.org/pledge.html

2. Select: To pledge a specific Participant, please click here to search for his/her name (Rhonda Major).

3. Once completed, an electronic tax receipt will be sent to you by email within a few minutes.

For more information about the Friends For Life Bike Rally 2007,

or to join me in our big send-off on July 29th,

please visit: http://www.bikerally.org/

Together, we can make a positive difference.

Much love and appreciation for your generous support

(and because I know that you all want to support my crazy antics in life :-)

**Stay tuned for bike training adventures & I promise to get some pics up here soon as well**

Climbing the Escarpment: 46km Oakville to Milton

Yesterday I took the Go Train out to Oakville for a countryside bike tour. Once you get past suburban Oakville, there is some beautiful farmland to be seen heading north on 6th Line. There's a great picnic spot at the bottom of this windy hill on Lower Base Line Road heading west towards 5th Line. Although Bass Rd is really scenic and follows a great ravine, the road isn't paved very well and there is no shoulder to speak of. I definitely do not recommend it in wet weather.

I took my return trip via 6th Line (from Derry Road) the whole way into Oakville, heading East on Leighland to get back to the train station. 6th Line has little ponies, heaps of blackbirds with red tipped wings and other assorted wildlife to keep you in visual enjoyment.

The climb to Milton is there, very gradual with only 1 or 2 hills. On the way home you're cruising except for one longish hill on 6th... I think before Britannia Road. All in all, I highly recommend this trip. 6th Line is really quiet with very few cars during the day. In fact, I passed more bikers than cars!

Total Trip: 46km (including ride to/from station)
Total Time: 2hrs

2nd Training Ride: Kipling - Port Credit (39km + 28km more)

Yesterday was the 2nd training ride and so I got to try out my new road tires (sweet!) and my new computer odomoter gadget thingy (because I am so very technical :-)

It was an unbelieveably beautiful day, about 23 degrees. Even at 9am, I only had arm warmers on as a layer, another fun bike accessory that I am in love with! I really recommend them. For $20 you have super warmth when you need it without crowding a lot of clothing in your pit area. When you are done, they roll up really small into your tiny bike bag. No bulky jackets to schlep around.

I felt somewhat less intimidated at the training ride yesterday. I figured that if I could make it up that McNicol hill last week coupled with the fact that my new tires had me flying through downtown Toronto streets all last week, I would easily complete this ride. I was not too far off.

STATS: AVG Speed: 23 km hour MAX Speed: 53.8 km hour

The ride was relatively flat. There were a couple of long hills including that twisty mountain road type climb through the end of Mississauga Road. The road tires really allowed me to push myself that much more. I was riding on my own a lot of the way and really enjoyed being able to work at my own pace. I snapped some pics of this beautiful ravine we passed over, somewhere near Port Credit I believe. I will post those pics + more very soon.

After the ride, we hit this great diner for some massive nourishment. There was a nutrition seminar and then myself and a fellow biker headed off for the Lakeshore Trail. We headed out from Spadina & Queens Quay all the way to Etobicoke and back. Needless to say, I passed out last night. I may have also been suffering from heat stroke (believe it or not) but my very slight tan today makes it worth it, right....

TOTAL KMS biked: 67kms (includes inner city biking + lakeshore trail)

MAP: http://www.bikerally.org/trainingmaps2007/39k_KiplingPortCredit.pdf

I am seriously getting my training on!

Boot Camp: For Real

Besides these long weekend rides, of course there's a lot of day to day training. Especially targetting my abs which are particularly weak from years of laziness. Yesterday was 1 hour spinning class + 1 hour of Amanda's particularly grueling Boot Camp. Since only 3 of us showed up, it was a much more individual boot camp. My abs are still burning today. I tried doing sit-ups and I got to 5 before I had to stop. She is brutal and that is excellent for getting me in shape.

I'm not a fan of the monotony of the gym so having classes with people to threaten to kick my butt really helps motivate me. I can't believe I actually managed to get in 3 sets of decent push-ups yesterday (the real ones) which have always been my weak point. That class has really improved my overall fitness over the past 4 months. For any of you out there training to do the Rally, or just yourself, I really recommend you get hooked up with a great boot camp class. Also spinning has really improved my overall cadence and particularly my ability to stand on a bike and get up hills.

I'm excited for the Saturday training ride and to try out my new gadget (speedometer thingy) to test how fast I really go. Also might have a few guests with me which should be fun :-) brew-haha! I promise to get some pics on Saturday's ride and post them here soon. This page has way too many words and not enough visuals. It's on it's way though....

Toronto the Inept

(Warning: partial rant about Toronto's obnoxiousness

+ great Bike invention tidbit, may seem ranty)

When it comes to thinking 21st century, it seems to be a real challenge for Toronto government/public planners. Architecturally, this particularly with its row of massive ugly condos blocking the waterfront and subsequently any possibility of a sunny day penetrating the core of our city. It's just plain ugly, haphazard and completely lacking in artistic detail or imagination. Sure you have your cute and quaint neighbourhoods but they'll be gentrified soon no doubt. No planning is ever involved, just quickly put stuff up randomly here and there and hope a city eventually comes together.

This city has not really inspired a sense of community, more like cut-off local neighbourhoods. Really obnoxious weeklies NOW and EYE magazine attempt to sell local 'nabes' (that word is the most pretentious dribble, seriously) and sell Toronto on community = $500 shirts and other obnoxiously overpriced accessories (cause you bought it locally in the Distillery 'nabe' or the new-new Queen West artsy-smartsy I paid $500k for my loft neighbourhood). ARGH!

When will Toronto as a city ever create anything truly beautiful or useful for the general public? A friend of mine mailed me this great link for something called the Bike Tree. Imagine if you could actually park your bike in a secure place anywhere in the city and not have to stress out about it being stolen?

Imagine how many more people would bike in this city and not clog it up with SUVs built for 1? Imagine that this city actually became biker friendly and encouraged *SHOCK* people to get their asses out of those gas-guzzling polluters and engage in a little casual exercise to get from point A to point B? What a different city we would live in.

Anyways check this site out and let me know what you think:
http://www.biketree.com/

1st Training Ride - 34km

A little pre-ride post. Woke up feeling not very rested but still excited for the ride ahead. Leftover takeout Ethiopian for breakfast, not many house options. Not where I'd like to be, still need hydration pack and to change my tires. I will be more prepared next week. Need shot of coffee to be good to go. I'll write when I return this afternoon.
_______________________________________________________

To check out our route today: http://bikerally.org/trainingmaps2007/34k_FinchMcCowan.pdf

I was feeling anxious about the 1st ride, not knowing anyone, wondering if I could keep up with all those folks in spandex. I was definitely near the back of the pack but felt very satisfied and comfortable with the distance we rode today. I definitely need to change for the road-style tires and hook up my bike computer so I can get a more accurate sense of my progress.

That hill on Cummer, they weren't lying! I made it all the way up but in the absolute last gear I had left. Would have been quicker had I walked up but I was determined. I did really well with most of the straighaways, the hill stuff needs some practice. Lots of quad strengthening.

Stats:
34km - 2hrs = 17km/hr (roughly)

*I biked an additional 13km that afternoon including that monstrous hill past York Mills heading downtown on Yonge Street. Not for the faint at quad.*

All in all I am exhausted but really excited for next Saturday and building up to Montreal.

PS: R, I put your b-day present to really good use last night

adding attachments to my frame. Thanks again :-)

For ALL Women over the age of 18

This is a message for any woman out there over the age of 18:
Please go for a regular breast and pelvic exam.
It could save your life.

http://www.geneseo.edu/CMS/display.php?page=3054&dpt=health

Step to the Left, TURN TURN (..uh what are we doing again?)

From time to time I try to do Step class again. I know consistency is the key because I notice that I actually pick stuff up the more regularly I go. It's way too stressful for me to keep in STEP and because I'm always at least 3 turns behind, I feel like I'm not really getting my cardio up in an aerobic arena.

Today I decided to give it a go again. Some stuff I'm great with like the juming jacks, repeater knees and Vs. But holy crap, whoever thought of those turn step thingys and the incorporating many different aspects in a very short beat space should be hunted down and forced to do something that really drives them nuts!

I know, it's good for the mind and body, trying to bring the 2 together to work in a graceful sort of unison. I think I'll stick with the hard on the body workouts: spinning, running, boot camp, weightlifting. I'm not giving up, I'm just being honest.

Ooh I can't wait for the deluge of suggestions for how I can be a better Stepper. Bring it on!

Life is a Stage?

I've started volunteering at a theatre to get back into the performance mode. It's been almost 11 years since I've really been on the stage as a performer. I don't count MCing or making speeches. I mean completely transforming and being someone else for a period of time. There is something about transforming into a character that just makes me feel alive. I can't explain it, I guess it's why many people take drugs, drink, etc. That high of holding an audience's attention and being able to make them laugh or cry through your manipulation of words or movements is an incredible superpower.

Being back around performers and being able to sit in on shows has been inspiring. They have an open stage night once a month so we'll see if I have the courage to get up there and perform again.

10:30am and ready to go....

So I haven't been to bed yet, it's 10:30am, thinking about getting on my bike and heading down to the gym to wear myself out so I can kick the insomnia habit.... but maybe not.

Up all night watching marathon sessions of one of those addictive HBO shows. All about suburbia and the struggles of the suburban class. Wow, someone get me a fiddle! Someone didn't get their latte-mocha-frappa-crappa right this morning. Let's start WWIII! It's amazing though, as someone who grew up in suburbia, I can see that there is this huge wall or divide between what happens in the real world and what we're trained to think is important in our burbs.

It's a real challenge to break free of that mentality and realize that we are so far removed from an understanding of the real things it takes to survive on this planet. I mean 'oh my life's so hard, I can't handle raising 2 kids so I'll just hire a nanny to take care of it for me.' What did parents do before the invention of nannies? Hell what do everyday parents do to raise their kids while still holding down 1 or several jobs to pay the bills? They can't hire someone else to clean up after their business.

This urban culture has removed us so far away from the reality of our existence. There is this superficial bubble that surrounds us, glides us along so we can forget about the fact that we are all going to die one day. So am I going to be the one who misses out in the end because I don't have satellite TV or a freakin' SUV or because my idea of a night out does not start with a $100 a plate restaurant?

We are all going to die one day. So what are we doing today, right here, right now? How are we all making the most of our lives? If we died tomorrow, would we feel life coursing through our veins as we took our last breath? Or would we yearn for that to do list of things we must do before we die?

I've been going through this whole who am I, where do I want to be in life, does my life mean anything struggle for the past few months. And I'm starting to realize that I'm spending more time thinking than I am creating. So this morning, no more pondering, I'm throwing back a shot of coffee and heading straight for the gym..... errr maybe after a bit of a nap.

Have a great day wherever you are :-)

*PS I cannot be held responsible for anything in this post as I am mostly delirious right now

A Letter to the Cheap !@#$ who Stole My Lights

Dear Schmuck,

In my optimistic world, I would like to think that you took my bike lights because you are in more financial dire need than I am and wanted to arrive home safely last Wednesday night.

I try not to be one of those paranoid people living in the city and have trusted leaving those lights on there for the past 3 months of riding. You cheap !@#$ have now made me a little less trusting. From now on, I will take my lights with me.

Perhaps you're unaware of the fact that after leaving my volunteer shift, I had to bike home in darkness on a busy city street where I could have been killed by a driver who didn't see me coming or ahead of them.

Thank you for taking my life in your hands for a grand total of $6.

Karma my friend, karma.

Wind Continues to Haunt Me

I've been a lazy blogger or perhaps a forgetful blogger. A few weeks ago I was having a mini-holy-crap-I-can't-believe-I'm-actually-30 crisis. It seems to have abated now and I am in the acceptance phase. Hey life seems to be getting better with age even if my skin isn't :-)

Early last week I went out for another long distance ride, a very unique one to a Passover dinner. Biking up Yonge Street actually wasn't too bad and shaved some of my time off as well as giving me an opportunity to practice on that huge hill around Davisville. I was in the very last of my gears pushing up that hill and the wind was just brutal I nearly got blown into traffic. Very near the peak of it, I had to get off and push my bike the rest of the way (and even that was a challenge).

At Eglinton I switched and took a bunch of side streets. Duplex is fun. I wound my way up near Sheppard. About 20kms in 1h10mins. Not bad considering how windy it was.

On the way home with a tableful of hardcore Passover food in my gut (much to my family's dismay), I hopped on Betty for the return trip home. It was a bit chilly but warm once I started riding. Flying down Yonge Street at night is unbelievable fun and highly recommended. Downhill it took about 50 minutes using the same route.

Next weekend is my first real training ride (34kms) so the plan is to get out this week and do at least another 20kms. The weather seems poised to ruin my plans however....