Mellow 100K Summer Ride to Sooke Potholes

Finally! A genuine summer day: no wind, no rain, and over 20 degrees. After an early start to watch a bit of the Tour at the shop, a group of us headed off to Sooke Potholes. About half the group opted to ride on the road after Langford, the rest of us continued on the Galloping Goose. The views of Matheson Lake, Roche Cove, and the Sooke Basin were stunning. We kept the pace mellow, the conversation warm and encouraging. Laura and Victoria had never ventured into this neck of the woods. It felt like a real holiday.

Once we reached Sooke Potholes, we ventured into the river for the rumoured benefits of cold water flushing of lactic acid. Whether it worked or not, it felt great!

We never did connect with the road crew, although a few texts were exchanged. The four of us headed into beautiful downtown Sooke, and tried out a great cafe that I had read about in EAT magazine. It's called Stick in the Mud.http://www.stickinthemud.ca/ The service was friendly, the food fresh and healthy, and the coffee strong - a perfect 3 for 3.

After refuelling and relaxing, we headed homewards. Laura got a flat on the back tire shortly after leaving Sooke, but Marianne and I tackled the job in no time flat:) We made the 50 km trek back to Trek in fine spirits. An altogether quintessential summer day!

Esquimalt Lagoon..why you gotta be so bloody windy??!!

CRAP! Lucky 13 of us braved the wind tonight to do the 3 Esquimalt Lagoon Hills. All in all, a great ride. Linda even managed to run an errand while we were up there (extra hard core up another hill), but the extra intensity was too much for her trusty horse and she ended up with a flat(back tire OF COURSE)!! Next time we're bringing sails for our bikes and letting the wind do all the work...stamped it no erasing!! xo Robin

Claremont Ridge Hilly Ride by les55bike at Garmin Connect - Details

Claremont Ridge Hilly Ride by les55bike at Garmin Connect - Details

Okay, here's my first post ever. And, here is my first sharing of my Garmin info. Don't be too judgemental about the cadence and heart rate, okay?

It was a fun night, complete with cheering sections at the top of each hill! Another great ride with the sistas (and bro's)

HOLY HILLS!

It WAS Tuesday so, so I don't know what I was freaked out for. 3 hills climbed! Amblewood and up Searide, Claremont and then Seapearl to Searidge followed by a beatuiful ride through Royal Oak led by Linda and Mary Ann. 10 sistas and 3 brothas out tonight...it was a great ride with a great group! We are officially a bike GANG now I think. At one point, I turned to ask Sara if she was enjoying the ride. She said she was but that she had no idea where we were. At which point I prompty broke the news that we are actually a biking CULT taking her to live with us on our new ranch in Waco. Of course I did NOT bring those directions, so we just went home instead. Whatever. Next time....RANCH IT IS...
xo Robin

Next time I'll bring a backpack....

...to carry all the stuff from my storage closet I don't need anymore. It doesn't matter...the dump wasn't open when we got there last anyway. Great hill climb up Hartland and then off to the Observatory for some, and Conway loop for others. We were joined by Stephanie from Calgary and Pat from Alabama last night! The SISTAS are now officially an INTERNATIONAL, UNITED NATIONS, FAIR TRADE CLUB....whatever that means. HA! :) xo Robin

GO AHEAD...BE A DYCK.....

....in fact, I recommend it, because clearly it makes you awesome. Mical Dyck, Shar, Chris, Minda and I tackled the Esquimalt Lagoon hills last night. ALL THREE OF THEM...which I wouldn't have realized unless Mical had made me ride up and down them. SUCCESS BY ALL...and we even made it back to the shop by 7:30! RECORD TIME...although, having said that...it WAS my first time doing that ride, so it may not have ACTUALLY been a record. WHATEVER!! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mical for being the following things: an awesome cyclist, tall (and therefore an excellent wind block), and just a really genuine and nice person. I post this as she leaves today for some World Cup races over the next month (because that way I can talk behind her back.) HA! :) Sometimes you meet people who inspire you to be a BETTER you. This is how I feel about Mical. Many times I've considered throwing my bike into a bush on a hill, but then she's right there making sure I don't. Sometimes when things are hard, it's just nice to know there is someone right there beside you who is going to encourage you, push you, and help you through it...and then they buy you a burrito for lunch after. HURRAH! Not because they HAVE to...but because they WANT to. A toast: To new friends and new inspirations...because that's what the SISTAS are all about. And also to burritos...because they are delicious. xo Robin

Saturday Morning Ride

Yaaaa!!! 14 + Sistas and Brothers left Trek Pro City at 8:30 am this morning. A little Prospect Lake action, some West Sannich climbing, Mt Newton X Road crosing, Oldfield Road rolling and for a couple of us, Munns Road madness. It was great ride, managing to avoid the rain and bad weather. Oh ya, really wish I had the a picture of 4 women helping one of the men with a flat tire!!!

Thank you everyone who came out and enjoy the sun tomorrow!