Montreal to Ottawa and back... or Riders on the Storms

This past weekend was another big training day for PBP. Three other fellow riders and myself decided to do a specific night ride to test out how we would perform, leaving at the same time we would for the race and not stopping to sleep anywhere.

We left Montreal around 7pm on some quiet country roads on the south shore of the Ottawa River. The weather was perfect even though major lightening storms had been in the forecast. The pacing was fast for the the first 200 km... almost 35km/hr... maybe too fast, but we were all feeling good. The final rays of sun left us around 10pm. That meant about 8 hours of riding in the dark. The traffic was non existent and the roads in pretty good shape so no major concerns other than trying not to get mesmerized by the white stripe on the road.

We had arrived in Ottawa around 1:30am and were in need of supper and a rest. We all started yawning uncontrollably. Sheets of lightening started surrounding us so the need to find shelter was even more of a concern, but not easy at that time of night. An all night Pizza 73 lights were on so we quickly all piled into the air conditioned restaurant. The night sky was being lit up like it was the fourth of July. We chowed down on pizza and coke and filled up our water bottles. We were back at it again until we saw a Tim Horton's looming ahead, a good excuse to fill up on coffee before we left the city. We talked with some friendly locals who tried giving us directions on how to get downtown, but unfortunately they were a little intoxicated so they kept repeating the same thing about twenty times until we left. All in good fun though. Soon we found the trail across the river and took in the view of the Parliament lights dancing across the river. But we knew it was time to go when the lightening started up again.

Of course as soon as we left the last street light of the Ottawa suburbs the rain started falling, hard. At this point we knew we couldn't head back or wait around, so ahead we went. Luckily it was still around 20ºC, so we threw on rain jackets even though we were soaked immediately. For the next 5 hours we would ride through torrential rain and lightening storms. It wasn't easy and our spirits were a little low. The only thing keeping our minds off the storms were the thousand of frog who decided to jump all over the road for who knows what reason. Unfortunately some frogs lived, and some were caught up in our wheels. People were extremely friendly and considerate of us riding in such conditions and gave us plenty of thumbs up and nods of recognition as they passed.

Finally our savior appeared around 7:30... Tim Hortons. More coffee and a warm bagel has never felt so good. Unfortunately the air conditioning was cranked and we were colder inside the restaurant than on our bikes. Finally the clouds broke and the lightening storms subsided, so off we went.

The rest of the way into Montreal was pretty easy sailing, other than a flat tire and bit of fatigue. In the end, after about 400km we made it through the night. I hadn't slept for 36 hours, 19 of them on the bike, and I actually didn't feel too bad. As a group we felt much more confident going into the PBP after facing such epic storms in the dark. It was definitely a character building ride, with double scooped ice creams as a reward all around.

The Final 600km Qualifying Brevet

I have to admit I was pretty nervous for this last brevet. I had been training for two years for the PBP, but if I didn't make this last qualifying brevet it would mean no trip to Paris for me. I have completed many other 600km brevets before, but you never know what could go wrong. The best I could do was put everything I had into it and have a positive attitude, and of course drink lots of coffee!

Early morning starts are always the best time of day to ride. See the world waking up, have the sun warming your chilly hands and feet, listening to the birds singing their welcoming song to the new day ahead. Its days like these that I truly feel blessed to be able to explore the world around me by bike.

The first 100 kilometers were filled with rolling fields, bursting with plentiful crops and trees providing generous shade from the climbing sun. Soon we approached the base of the Appalachians, lakes and low mountains starting to appear around me. Rolling hills turned into long hot climbs. Up and down we went without a straight line in sight. It had rained the night before so the humidity was getting higher and higher, making the air feel heavy. Heat was definitely going to be a factor on this brevet. I could feel my feet starting to swell more and more. My jersey was becoming stained with white caches of salt. On these longer brevets I like to break every 75km just to take a breather and give my body a rest as I knew it would be a long day and night. The climbs started getting higher and higher. At one point around Notre-Dame de Bois (a great name for a town!) I shifted into granny gear. Its something I rarely do, but it gained a lot of altitude in such a short time. Fortunately at this point the brevet was half done so I would be slowly start heading back home, which meant the downhills would be more prevalent. Luckily throughout the day I was able to ride with various people, which always helps to pass the time much more easily.

The sun was starting to set and a large group of riders were congregating at a Tim Hortons to fill up on coffee and donuts for the long night ahead. We had been in the saddle around 14 hours, a little over half way now. We slipped on our reflective gear and turned on our lights and were back on the road again. Twilight was calm and we were making good time again with our belly's full. Luckily the roads weren't busy so we could relax a bit and not be too stressed about visibility. Darkness was falling fast and the temperatures was falling with it. Wrapping up in light layers was tricky as over sweating is always a major factor in being comfortable. Flashing red lights were seen intermittently throughout the night with other riders coming and going. I fell in with a group of four other riders and the time was ticking by fast. Our goal was to reach a town around 415 kilometers into the brevet to get some more food and possibly find a place to rest for the night. The fog started to build, which made it a little spooky. At one point we were riding in a tight group, with a car coming quickly up behind us. All of a sudden two of the guys in front yelled "PORCUPINE!!". Without a second to think we split the group in two, leaving the poor porcupine frozen in the middle with a stunned look on his face. Luckily no one was hurt, but disaster is always a factor with night rides.

Around 1:00am we were rolling into our desired destination. Some guys had reserved a room, but I had left things up to chance. I wasn't sure if I should try going further or rest up and have an early start. One of the guys piped up and said he had an extra bed in his room if I was interested. Shivering in the light of a local depanneur I couldn't resist. We had made good time up until now and a warm bed would be good to keep the spirits high tomorrow.

Before I knew the alarm was going off and it was time to roll. The short sleep had done me good, and a quick shower felt like heaven. We stopped at a greasy diner on the way out and shared a breakfast of bacon and eggs with some local older gents. With the sun rising we were off on the road again with about a 180 kilometers to go. Little towns and villages rolled by. Trains tooted their horns in encouragement as they passed. I was feeling strong, as was the rest of the group. The 5 of us were making great time.

Before we knew it the city limits were in sight. All I could think of was "I'm going to Paris!". The feeling of accomplishment was strong. Finally our last checkpoint was reached and we celebrated with ice creams and a few cheers. What an amazing feeling! We had finished in 34 hours.

Even though the qualifying brevets were over, much more training was necessary to be at the fitness level I wanted to be at. The road ahead was still going to be a long one with only 2 months to go!

Until next time, keep the rubber side down.

A Great Day For Sailing (Not Cycling): 400 km of Wind

It was early. Really, really early. But of course I can never sleep well the night before a brevet anyways, so I was awake before my alarm went off at 3:30am. After fixing a nice strong coffee I checked the weather; 4ºC with nasty winds from the the west. Not the best news but at least it meant a tailwind in the morning. That also meant bad headwinds halfway through the ride, on the way back home. I gulped down my coffee and oatmeal, threw on an extra layer of merino on top and was out into the darkness. I laughed a bit riding on my way to the start line, passing everyone as they were getting out of the bars, wandering around the dimly lit streets.

At the start everyone was dressed in toques, mitts and green day-glow jackets. I felt a bit under dressed, but I thought I would warm up once the ride was underway. I was wrong. My hands and feet were numb already. Once we began, the pace was fairly fast as the wind was at our backs and we all wanted to warm up. About half an hour into the ride the sun started to rise above the horizon and I could feel its heat slowly seep into my bones. The clear skies made for a magnificent ride in the rolling farmland, all the birds joining in chorus around us. Unfortunately nature was also calling me, and I dropped out of the lead group to answer. I like wearing bib shorts, but this was not one of those times. Enough said.

Back on track I was alone for a bit, but I needed to make up some lost time and was trucking along. Slowly I was making up ground, catching up to some familiar faces. Heading towards the Vermont border we had the roads all to ourselves, rolling along, spinning and grinning the whole time. This particular brevet has some of the most beautiful scenery of all the rides, from undulating apple orchards to steep Laurentian climbs. Ancient stone fences appeared, dappled with morning light, spring life abounding just beyond. The first checkpoint was 100km in, a welcome stop to fill with water and chow down a quick sandwich. The orchards and meadows started to give way to denser and woodland groves and brisk blue skies. I was still wearing the same amount of layers (short sleeve jersey, arm warmers, light merino top and gilet, and bib shorts) and I still hadn’t warmed up much since the morning. Steep climbs and accents gave way to more river valleys with overgrown timber stands. The route turned away from the Vermont border and we headed more inland, which meant only one thing; goodbye tailwinds, hello headwind. My style went from clipping along at mid 30’s to around 15km/hr quite quickly. My energy was quickly drained and I felt my legs start to burn. A couple more mountain passes and my spirits were at an all time low. With about 15 km left people were passing me left and right. It took all I had to roll into the next checkpoint. The heavy winds were giving me a headache, so I quickly dragged myself into the nearest grocery store, bought a coffee and devoured lunch. Slowly I could feel the warmth return to my body and the caffeine awaken my senses again. My wife even sent a text with a few words of encouragement, which helped immensely. I was half way done and I still had 200km to go.

At least now with a little food and energy coursing through me I was back on the bike in a positive note. Coming out of town I ran into a friend, which really helped boost my outlook on the ride even more. I was a renewed randonneur! Its funny how fast things can turn around. The winds didn’t seems to bother me as much and I was flying. Checkpoint three seemed like a breeze to reach and I jumped back on my bike. It was bitter sweet though as I knew that if I took a right turn I would be back in Montreal in about 40kms, but our route was taking us back into the mountains, for another 150km, the long way around. I had to take a few breathers along the next few hours, just to take it all in and give the legs a quick rest. I knew the sun would be setting soon, so I put my head down and put myself into a bit of a cycling daze. I was starting to get a bit lonely as I had been riding solo most of the day, about 16 hours so far. I always find it a bit more comforting to ride with someone and chat to make the miles go by faster. Alas, I was leapfrogging a couple of groups all day, with minimal human contact.

With about 2.5 hours left I arrived at checkpoint 4, a Tim Hortons, in the dark. There were a few riders there, getting their fill and resting their tired bodies. I definitely had the thousand yard stare going on until the coffee took a hold of me. Fatigue was a definite factor for everyone at this point. AS more riders came in I know I had to get back on the road and get the brevet under my belt. With lights on, wind up and head down I was off into the brisk night air. It was pure four lane riding the rest of the way into town, with a nice wide shoulder at least. Belting out some vintage blues music seemed to help me stay awake and pass the time. The city lights drew closer and closer until the glowing suburbs started to light my way to the finish. I actually think my pace increased the last hour until I could see the welcoming neon sign of the last checkpoint. I had made it, after 19 hours on the bike. It felt great to see some fellow riders awaiting me at the finish, with red and white flashing lights a blaze. Unfortunately I still had about 12 km to go to get back home from the finish.

It was a bit ironic passing all the same people headed out to the parties and bars again as I had passed earlier in the morning. All I wanted was a hot shower and warm bed. The dancing and celebrating could wait until tomorrow.

Three brevets down, one more to go to qualify for the Paris-Brest-Paris. That’s when the celebrating will really start.

The 300km grind

The sun was just beginning to rise as I rode the across the Jacques Cartier Bridge, over the St. Lawrence River. A gentle spring breeze was blowing out of the north west. I always enjoy riding the initial 10 km to the brevets as it gives me time to get my nerves settled down a bit and collect my thoughts before the big start.

Around 6:00 am a small group of 20 or so started on our way out into the Eastern Townships of Quebec. The wind was at our back most of the time in the morning so we made our way quickly through the urban sprawl and out into the farmland bursting with the new sights and smells of spring. The pace was quite quick (around 30km/hr) as we hit our first check point at a 24 hour gas station in St. Cesaire. I made a quick transition and was off, solo, ahead of the lead group to gain some time. After about 20km everyone caught up and we rode around the hills of Bromont. The big rolling climbs began to separate us as we all settled into our own rhythms.

The second checkpoint came and went after about 110km where the landscape turned from rolling farmers fields to more coniferous mountain scenes. I was playing leapfrog with a few other riders, but we were never quite able to match our paces, but still always within a stones throw of each other. Beautiful river valleys and historic small church towns appeared more frequently along the way. Just as I was reaching the top of the highest climb of the ride a nice little rain shower blew in just long enough to cool me down and refresh me after such a grind (with a cooling 70km/hr ascent to follow).

The third check point at Sutton, around 185 km, allowed for a little down time to grab some lunch and chat with a few of the other fellow randonneurs. Looking at the map I could see we would start to make our way back towards Montreal, out of the mountains and back into wine and apple country. The cloud cover that had blessed us all morning started to dissipate and the hot sun soon took over. I remembered from previous brevets that the next 50 km were going to be a bit of grind back on a busier road with a rough shoulder and I wasn't looking forward to it. After about 25 km I could feel this morning's tail wind turn into a headwind, and it started to take toll on my spirits. I kept telling myself only 100km more to go, knowing that if I broke that distance down into smaller segments in my head it would make the ride much more manageable. Before I know it I was turning off the main highway onto the "Route des Vins",  a welcome break from the hustle and bustle. Riding through Dunham I was tempted to stop for a "water break" at one of my favorite micro-breweries, but decided to truck on through and finish up before getting too sidetracked.

On the final stretch home I kept on passing field after field being worked on by farmers plowing and seeding their rich soil. I almost felt guilty smiling and riding my bike while others toiled away to feed the rest of us. But after many smiles and waves from them I realized they too were loving what they were doing, in their own way.

Finally I could see the city in the distance, along with some large looming thunder clouds. The closer I got to the suburbs the darker the sky was becoming. Eventually another rider caught up to me on the outskirts of town as the rain fell in welcoming sheets to cool us down. We ended up finishing in just over 12 hours, pulling in to a local gas station to get our final signatures on our cards with grin and some cold beverages to revive ourselves.  That meant I was 2 brevets closer to qualifying for the PBP 2015... what great feeling.

Stay tuned for the 400km coming soon.

The first spring Brevet (200km)

The first brevet of the season started on a beautiful sunny day in the Quebec country side east of Montreal. The sun was rising as the Montreal randonneurs started on our way. It was my first big ride of the season, and I was loving every moment of it. Spring hadn't quite taken hold yet, so everything was still rather drab and yellow, but you could smell the earthy tones of soil getting ready to fee the soon to be onset of growing crops. It didn't take long for the group of forty or more to split up and start setting into our own rhythms. At first I rode with the lead group, but after about 80 km I settled into my own little world, still averaging around 26km/hr. The terrain was flat to rolling farmland except for a large grunt of a climb called Covey hill. I soon caught up to the lead group at checkpoint two, but with a quick signature on my Audax card and water fill-up, I was off again with a another keen rider who was into picking up the pace a bit. Having a chat with fellow riders always seems to make the time go by so much faster. Before we knew it we were at checkpoint three with a bit of a headwind, just enough of a gust to make the thighs burn a bit after 160km. I rode solo back into the city for the last leg and finished the first ride just minutes behind the leaders. A quick refreshing beer was in order after such a great ride. Cheers to the beginning of a new cycling season, on the Road to Paris-Brest-Paris 2015!

A new year, A new cycling challenge

I have decided that I will leave behind the ice and snow of Montreal roads and move onto greener pastures and hills of France. That is to say I will start to focus on my training for the upcoming Paris-Brest-Paris 2015 randonneur Brevet in August.

One of the founding events in the grand history of the sport of cycling is the PARIS-BREST-PARIS Brevet. Since Charles Terront won the first edition in 1891, all long-distance enthusiasts rightly consider this randonée as the pinnacle of brevets. The 1200 km route, starting and finishing at the Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, situated near Versailles, France, must be finished in less than 90 hours. In order to qualify for the Brevet, each rider must officially complete 200, 300, 400 and 600 km brevets, unsupported. On August 16, 2015, I will be among the 5000 cyclists riding from 5 continents who are represented by over 70 countries.

In 2014 and early 2015 I have taken the opportunity to ride all of the ultra long distance brevets, with the Montreal Randonneur Club, in order to ensure a registration priority, and to train for the upcoming PBP event. Becoming a randonneur has truly been a culmination of all my past cycling experiences, becoming a true challenge and creating adventure for both my body and mind.

Stay tuned for a weekly update on my progress preparing for the PBP. It should be fun ride.