This past long weekend I finally – after what seems like an eon since the distantly remembered autumn – finally, got out of the city for a moderately long ride. Though I’d planned a ride between 75km and 100km, it ended up being only 50km. Still, a good inaugural ride for the season.

Despite the forecast of gloom and showers, the weather of the day lived up to the promises of this sign.
Last summer I took a number of rides through the countryside north of the city. This year I want to explore the many unpaved township and range roads in the area. With this in mind I brought the Kona Jake on this first trip. It’s a sort of rugged road bike that is great at handling a mixture of paved and gravel roads, rolling nicely on the 700 X 35 Schwalbe Marathon Dureme tires.
There was a stiff headwind as I rode out of city, but I was happy enough to finally be on the open road that it didn’t much bother me. I took my normal route up 82nd street and over the Henday, then over to 50th street and north from there along familiar territory. When I finally reached one of the roads I wanted to explore I discovered that it appeared to have been recently graded: new loose gravel and loony sized rocks covered the entire road surface. I tried riding along it for a ways but it was very rough going, with my wheels occasionally firing little stones off to the side with pop and whine. I persisted for about a kilometer but was not really all that disappointed when my phone rang with a call summoning me home. I’ll go back and try the road another time once it gets packed down a bit.
As I sped homeward with the wind at my back, back I encountered a large group of road cyclists on their way north , I assume on a club ride. There were between 20 and 30 of them spread out into three groups, appearing to take the business very seriously as they were pedaling with a rather intense look and for the most part declined to acknowledge my friendly nod and wave. I did get a companionable “hello” from one fellow and a cheerful, sunny smile from one woman. I suppose I didn’t really fit in with the Lycra Lodge what with my sandals and socks, 3/4 length cotton pants, commuting helmet with lights strapped on, and baggy jacket snapping in the wind like a flag.
The rest of the ride home was speedy and uneventful. It was a nicely gentle start to the seasons riding and next weekend I hope to manage a longer ride.
Some road cyclists are remarkably uncivil. I like the sound of your get up.
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This is the first time I’ve met a pack of road cyclists. When I meet them travelling alone they are always cordial.
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I’ve been wanting to do some gravel rides this summer; that sounds pretty cool! I bet the roadies smiling and nodding were at the back of the pack, hehe.
Wear what you wear, ride what you ride, and enjoy it! Sounds like you have a nice bike for it.
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Bang on! They WERE towards the back of the pack. That’s hilarious.
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Haha! My workmate is doing duathlon month with a local club and most of the smiling folks in the pics are at the back of the pack having fun, while the serious faces on serious bikes are at the front.
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I’m all about the socks with sandals, don’t let anyone question your right to wear them when you please (at least while riding).
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You bet. I did it again this morning!
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