Horseshoe Bay Blues and Beyond, Perhaps: Sunday, April 13th!

Language is the amber in which a thousand precious and subtle thoughts have been safely embedded and preserved. -Richard C. Trench, poet (1807-1886) 

 
Hi All, Had a fantastic and fascinating ride this morning (Sunday), in spite of the muggy 30C+ heat. I met up with 4 friends of my niece at the local bike shop at 6:00 a.m. They do a ride every Sunday, and always start early to beat the rest of the heat. All of them are fairly hardcore riders, but the heat and the route served to keep the pace down to a manageable pace for me.

They have developed quite a few routes out of Ho Chi Minh City (which most locals (still) refer to as Saigon amongst themselves) and are quite serious about keeping the routes private. I am sworn to secrecy about our route, not that I could ever find it! They have the trails set in their Garmin cycle computers and use those to navigate.

The routes are all out amongst rice paddies, fish ponds and other agricultural activity in the Mekong Delta. There is really no unused land in the area, and a narrow path is as likely to bring you upon a little housing enclave or a heard of grazing cattle. Bhuddist shrines and tombs are everywhere, to the point where you soon stop even noticing a tomb in the middle of a rice paddy or a shrine at the side of a cucumber patch. Lots of Palm trees, fruit trees, and other hedges meant you could only occasionally see more than 100 metres or so. 

Our path today varied from 1-foot wide sand or gravel-surfaced dikes between rice paddies to single lane roads surfaced with sand, gravel, or concrete slabs. It wound around incessantly, and even with GPS guidance we had to retrace our steps on a number of occasions. Lots of rickety, narrow bridges over the narrower river channels, and two little ferries that carried people, bicycles and the omnipresent motorcycles across wider ones.

We rode 74 kilometres in all. After the first hour we stopped for a typical Vietnamese breakfast of pho (rice noodle soup with beef and a wonderful selection of fresh greens) and an iced coffee. Another hour and a half along we stopped for a green coconut to drink and then eat - my companions swear it does as well at replacing electrolytes as any commercial water additive. I had borrowed a platypus water pack, which I had to refill at our coconut break, and all told I drank (and sweated out!) over 4 litres! Total riding time was just over 4 hours.
 

We finished up back at the bike shop. Ther we cooled off in the air-conditioned shop amidst the bicycles and gear for sale while an employee cleaned all the mud and dust of our mountain bikes. We also enjoyed a Tiger Beer from the fridge that stands next to the accessories rack. I borrowed a bike from my niece, and everything else (including the beer) cost me a grand total of 100,000 dong (about $5). 

As I say, a fine ride. I must have acquitted myself reasonably well because the Vancouver/Burnaby peloton have an open invitation to join them for their regular Sunday ride if ever you are in Saigon. Cheers, 8^) Mark

Hi non-Vietnam Pelotonii and Coconut Man!

Thanks for wonderful pictures and description of your ride, Marcus. Looked and sounded more than fabulous!

Thought everyone might enjoy the following event that took part in Yorkshire a week or so ago. (Raymondo may well be aware of this as he scours online English papers regularly!)

http://road.cc/content/news/115785-grand-d%C3%A9part-cyclists-tow-grand-piano-part-yorkshire-tour-de-france-route

My ride, yesterday, cannot compare with either of the above but it was quite a ride, nonetheless. Sarge wanted to bike to his office, in Surrey, and back, Saturday morning. Arranged things Friday night. We planned to leave around 9. Were not sure if we would go out via Heather/River Road/Alex Fraser or Central Greenway/New West/Patullo. Either choice was fine as we'd probably go one way, return other. Unfortunately, had a call from him at around 8:30 am yesterday morning to tell me me that their car was broken into sometime Friday night and he had to spend rest of morning trying to get side window fixed! What a drag, as you can imagine.

Was not quite sure where I'd make for given changed situation. Whirlygig was playing squash, Jenny is visiting from England so Raymondo was out, Big Al was in Sunshine Valley, Admiral Barnacle still in hibernation and Marcus swilling coconut milk still Vietnam! What's a poor boy to do? Thought maybe I'd try for Seymour Demonstration Forest as I'd not been there for quite some time. And then Sarge walked in the door! Body shop couldn't take car until Monday, due to nature of work required. Some damage to door panel, window frame, etc. Anyway, we decided to head out, around 10:00 am, via Greenway. He wanted to time run with an idea to determining which is best route for commuting, once back from Mexico, in early May.

Was a grand morning and all went exceedingly well as we made our way to Burnaby. No Burning Ground issues at any of the dicey intersections along SkyTrain bikepath and my heart was high as we zipped along Winston Street. And then catastrophe struck! Somewhere between Lozells Ave and Piper Ave I heard a "pop" and a few seconds later I knew I had a flat in my rear wheel! Pulled over and confirmed that this was the case. Told Sarge to continue without me although he was willing to search for a bike shop in vicinity. Given where we were I thought it would take too much time even if such a place could be found. He set off and I pulled out my "emergency only" cell to call Coriandre. No answer but I was half expecting that to be the case. Left a message detailing my predicament and set off back down Winston, making for the Sperling-Burnaby Lake SkyTrain Station.

Not a bad walk and I had many sympathetic gestures from passing cyclists. Lovely day so I just enjoyed the stroll. Train came along shortly after I was on the platform and I rode it all the way to VCC. Bue was waiting there and I knew I could use bike rack on front of vehicle. Had never done so before so driver told me to read instructions, "Otherwise this will never work!" Not really difficult but unless you know which way and how to pull various levers, process can be a bit puzzling. Anyway, managed, with a bit of friendly help on driver's part, to stow my steed. Soon at Fir where I attempted to off-load bike but couldn't remove clamp over front wheel. I kept pulling the release lever and mechanism wouldn't budge! After a few moments of watching me struggle driver called out "Push button down!" This action then releases lock and one can then pull lever up to allow cap to clear wheel. Now I'm an expert but certainly felt silly at the time!

Short walk back to The Islay Inn where I found Cora Lee's cell on the kitchen counter! Phoned Westpoint to find out if they could fix flat while I waited. Happened to get Andrea and she assured me that they could so I said I'd bring it by once my shoe-shopping wife returned home with the car! In fact, Imelda walked in the door shortly after I hung up phone and I set off to have repair done.

Didn't take more than fifteen minutes or so and I chatted with a nice young man, (Only his second day. He is originally from Fife but his accent is very British as he grew up in the south of England), so hardly noticed wait. Bad news was that the tire had quite a large cut in it so needed to replace it. Had had to replace it but a little over a month ago. Knowing this Sarah very kindly gave me 40% discount and didn't charge for labour so I was grateful for this consideration/service.
 

Had decided I'd head out to UBC once repair work was completed and did just that. I had parked my car just around the corner from shop so collected my helmet and gloves and then took off. Quite enjoyed the ride after earlier one had been aborted, although I must say that I seemed to be battling a fierce head wind no matter in which direction I was travelling. Still, managed to log 53 km by the time I was back on Highbury at my car. Found out later, (We had a wonderful dinner with Flamn' and Sarge at their place that evening.), that together with the 18 km on earlier ride I logged slightly more than Sarge's round-trip. Ironically, one our second ride to Surrey, Sarge had a flat just as we were heading back over the Patullo Bridge! Anyway, all's well that ends well.

Must away as need to suit up for today's ride. Sarge and I pan to make for Horseshoe Bay. All on globe hopping locals please stay close to your phones!
Cheers, Il Conduttore! 

Hi again Lads!

Sorry, I forgot to include all importantnt stats:

Stats for Sarge ride, includes walk, SkyTrain and bus:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/478646986#.U0nYY4tAdlE.email 

Stats for post-flat ride to UBC:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/478646979#.U0nYm2Sp6tg.email 

Hi Mark,

What a great adventure! Thanks for the pics although there seemed to be some problem and I could only view them standing on my head and covering one eye. Hope to get out with you and the lads before too long and hear more. Cheers, Al
Hi Big Al et al!

I think Mr Sunshine Valley is confusing viewing pictures with his normal stanchion avoiding posture! Funnily enough, I needed just that today on my ride out to Horseshoe Bay this morning with Sarge. Simply gorgeous day as most of you know. Seawall was a literal zoo: small dogs, smaller children, seven strollers abreast, completely blocking bikeway, etc., etc., etc. In addition to hordes which sunny day  brought out, we discovered there was also a walk/run for MS along Ambleside so that added to the congestion. Nevertheless, we managed to escape unscathed and made our way along Marine. Quite a few other cyclists, of course, and a number of small pelotons as well.
 

Once we were on last significant hill, just past West Van Yacht Club, Sarge announced that he wasn't going to go all the way into Horseshoe Bay, just as far as the fire station so he suggested I go ahead and that he would wait for me back  at Prospect Point if I didn't catch up with him earlier. So I waved goodbye and made my way into HB. Felt pretty good on climb back up but wondered if I'd manage to close the gap. Kept looking for his white jersey all the way back to Ambleside but no sign of Sarge. Had wondered about staying on the road until past Ambleside, to avoid the throngs, but once there pathway looked fairly clear so I rode along usual route. Was busy congratulating myself jsut as I approached the last choke-point, the intersection of 13th and the divided pathway. Loads of people and strollers and dogs so I slowed down, almost to a standstill and out of nowhere a young girl, probably about five years old, turned right into my front wheel. She went down but I stayed upright. Somehow my left cleat came out almost instantaneously and I was fine. I asked her if she was okay and she seemes to think she was. She was wearing a helmet but I don't think she bumped her head anyway. The fact that we were both going so slowly probably helped matters. 

About ten or fifteen seconds later her father, (I assume it was her father but I really don't know if it was or not.), on his own bike, came along and knelt down beside her to see how she was. I asked him if he thought she was alright and he said she was so I took off, but not before asking him for $100 against possible damage to my bike. Was quite pleased when he gave me $200. Think he felt guilty for being so negligent. Cannot, for the life of me, imagine why parents or guardians let their children go off on their own under such circumstances.

Anyway, just glad that nothing more serious occurred but I was extra, extra vigilant as I made my way along that part of Spirit Trail as it is always a nightmare anyway. Loads of other bicycle traffic on the bridge, as well as a few pedestrians, but I only had to pass two cyclists so not a big deal. Just after I took exit onto Stanley Park Drive, much to my delight, I rode up beside Sarge, so he didn't have to wait for me at Prospect Point! 

Once back on the Seawall it was even busier than when we had cycled out so we had to be alert every step of the way. Encountered a few dopes who couldn't decide which side of the path they needed to be on but other than that we managed an accident free ride. Should have known better, from the get go, that Iona was a far better choice.

Waved goodbye to Sarge back at The Heartbreak Terrace and I continued on out to UBC. Point Grey and Macdonald was a mess as city is doing prep work for re-paving but I managed to squeak through, along with numerous other cyclists, using a lane blocked off to vehicles. Had to keep a weather eye out for cars backing into road along Spanish Banks but that kept my mind off fierce head wind. Once up Foreshore Hill I dipsy-doodled around campus until I had requisite distance to give me 91 km on the clock by the time it was time to head home. With wind, more or less, at my back, for remainder of ride, I was able to push myself to achieve the AVG I wanted so in spite of the brief Burning Ground episode, I was more than delighted with outing. Stats for ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/479532701#.U0sWRgJHWuQ.email

Whirlygig and I plan to ride domani so if anyone else might be interested please let us know. Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Glad to see you made it home safe and sound. Better than Michele who might be lost. Wayne 

Hi Sarge!

Thanks again for terrific ride! I assume Flamin' and JT are stuck at the border, even with Nexus, shopping for shoes!!! Have included a picture of her in case you start to forget what she looks like after awhile! Cheers, Patrizzio!

That's what she looks like.  Maybe I will open a nice bottle of red wine to see if that entices her. Wayne

P, Nice ride. Not sure how to score the crash with child. Have to look in the rule book. Tom and I won the match 15. - 14 in the 5th against Carlos and. Chris. We gave them (I wish) two games to start just to make it interesting. Will ride Monday. Let me know what you had in mind and when . W

Hi Patrice, et al

Had a good chuckle envisioning you trying to get your bike on and off the bus! . I did feel genuinely sorry for your misadventure but I could not help but feel that it could have been prevented with a short training session on roadside flat repair! whereas you could have kept on riding and not had the frustration of figuring out the mechanics of the bus bike holding apparatus. I am currently offering classes by appointment at my shop and would be happy to see you there.

Sounds like the whole weekend was rife with bouts of bad luck what with Sarge’s break in and flat tire, your flat tire, unruly crowds and wayward children! I think perhaps You were better off with the route you took as I’m sure the main sewage line at Iona would’ve burst and sent a geyser raining down on you had you headed that way~. 

I have unfortunately have an appointment tomorrow morning so cannot head out then but if it works out I will give you or whirligig a call and possibly catch up later on. Cheers, Al

Hi Squash Victor!

Well done! Nothing like drawing things out! With respect to child demolition, think that I'm entitled to another bonus 20 km for initial contact, 50 km more if she develops a concussion!

We can work out details domani. Any interest in Queensborogh? Let's chat in the morning. Leave around 9:30 am-10:00 am? Big Al cannot ride so I assume just the two of us. Cheers, Head On Collision Conduttore!