What I did last weekend…...

The same thing over six thousand other people did…..I participated in the…..

What the heck is that you ask? Its a cycling event….Gran Fondo translate to "Big Ride" in italian.. so I jumped into a pack of over 6000 riders and headed up to Whislter….. I was lucky for a couple of reasons… the first is that I had done this ride twice already this year.. by myself, so I was really looking forward to drafting… and two.. I had Mike, my coach, my friend. WIthout him the last 20km would have been like walking my bike… his support and enthusiasm was lifting.. and much needed!

 
I had a blast… the day was warm, some of the roads closed, and coming over the Lion's gate bridge at 7am with the sun rise was priceless….. a memory I will have forever…..and this one… because I must admit…. crossing this finish line was SO cool!

So again, thank you Mike for your unwavering support before, during, and after the race…… much appreciated!

Another next year… absolutely.. just have to pick which one!

Bike gear.. why oh why do I need more?

So most people know that I like to shop….but I self declare that I love to shop for new BIKE GEAR! Why? I wish I really new the answer… jersey's, kit's, helmets, god… even socks…..! I just can not get enough… but given my new space restrictions I am bound by the one in one out rule… and its sooooooo hard!

So here are the new purchases…..I just have to say.. super cool.. I am very happy with my recent mail order experience……!

The very swish.. continental tire bike kit! 

Super kool BBB bike helmut! 

Whatever your passion, I am sure you can find it on the internet! Of course I am speaking only shopping.. really how different is on line shopping to the whole Sears catalogue experience I grew up with?

Long ago.. well.. I am not going to tell you exactly how long ago, we used to wait for the Sears catalogue to show up at the door… man was that a day…. we would take turns leafing through the pages, picking out all the things we wanted…. cloths, bikes, baseball gloves… it seemed to have anything you wanted and you knew that all you had to do was pick up the phone and tell them you wanted it….. the difference now.. you just don't have to talk to anyone…and well I guess you could say there is a little more selection.

But the best time was when the Christmas wish catalogue came! OMG…! Toys, toys, and more toys…more toys than any of us could imagine. So in retrospect…its not even on par with what the online world has to offer…but then.. and remember we are not saying exactly "when", it was exactly the same.. it offered a world of possibility, of dreams, of new stuff… So is this my problem? Did I grow up with a propensity to "mail order"?

Well, I like to shop, I don't mind the convenience of on line shopping, I seem to have some good success, but can it replace the thrill of the moment when you find something you really want, you struggle with the thought.. should I? shouldn't I? Well…….I think its best to leave that for me to struggle with…..or not…its all how you look at it!

Needless to say… I will likely always have more bike gear than I really need.. but at least its not a car fetish…its hard to keep a hundred of those!

Till next time…. happy chatting……….