Lawrence, the 12-27 on my trusty SLC got me over the clockwise and I think should get me back around next year with luck, oh yeah we middle agers have to give it our best, the young bucks try to race up the hills I just set my pace and up we go.  Though it was not the hardest from the inclines, this year we had the wind in our face every day believe it or not and going to the Englishtown Ferry we actually had to get into an echelon to get out of the wind, it was brutal.

 We had 2 guys in the group who were definitely in their 60's and though they broke no speed records they were there every night with the rest of the gang.  If  you want a great group to ride with, we had a few riders from Halifax sign up with us this year, the PEI group is organised by Cycling PEI and it was unbelievable for support and great food and fun people to hang out with, I can not say enough good things about them.  It is nice as well, as it is in September, so you have the whole summer to get in shape.

 My bike in the trainer is calling as soon as I can get over this cold. 

 Based upon some of the fabulous rides photos you have been posted I think Cape Breton would be no problem at all for you, happy training!

Some of you can rightly scoff at this, judging by the wonderful regions I've seen on this thread, but hey, I have found myself a small slice of heaven amidst the (sub)urban jungle I live in: a Provincial Park within city limits, beside a creek that is protected from development. The ring road, for automobile access, measures out to a 4.8 kms. loop, with a whopping 20m of elevation change.

If I get there before the 8:00am opening time, I have this circuit all to myself. Zero worries about cars, few worries about dog walkers; my only real concern is dodging the snails caught napping on the warm pavement when they are "in season"!

This is literally beside one of the busiest 6-lane highways in our region of southern Ontario, the Queen Elizabeth Way. In fact, I can hear the thunder of the traffic (commuters already clogging the highway at 6:30am) and yet never have to worry about what's coming over my shoulder. Just hammer hammer hammer, then ride ~ 5 kms to return home. To see the small scale of this route in a positive light, I figure the frequent hairpin turns help me practice my braking & shifting on my aero bars (P2 SL) so that my bike handling skills will be far above those of an average triathlete!

 

You can appreciate the proximity to the highway from this overhead view.  

 

 
The starting point/turnaround hairpin. The childrens' "play barn" is to the left in the middle-distance. Office towers are to the right!

 

 

The lane widths are similar to an average street, each direction running separately. The return lane can be seen to the left.

 

 

 Several intersections occur to access various parking lots. But at 6:30am... no cross traffic!

 

 

Running parallel to the roadway, I flatter myself by pacing the vehicles (momentarily... as they accelerate away from the gas station driveways)  

 

 

The road surface, I've got to say, is uniformly excellent. Snails notwithstanding. 

 

 

 Just past the curve ahead is the far turnaround hairpin. The highway's exit ramp light standards can be seen over the embankment. So close, so far...

 

 

The "out" lane is in the foreground, seen from the return lane. Yes, being Canada, you're never far from the ubiquitous Tim Horton's!

 

 

On one side: a franchise donut shop; on the other: chickens, sheep, cows, peacocks. And me in the middle, on the aero bars, a big stupid smile on my face. 

 

The original start/turnaround again, viewed from behind. Still trying to make each circuit under 8 mins, but hey - it's about the journey! I do as many laps as time and my constitution permit.

 

snail_male:

.

 

 

 

 

So, do you get lots of speeding tickets along here?  I would think so...

D

 

archer1960:

 

 

So, do you get lots of speeding tickets along here?  I would think so...

D

 

Funny you should ask! I think I'm safe; the Tim Horton's is open 24/7, so I think all of the constabulary is there!

No offense, but this is why I can not move back to Toronto or urban Southern Ontario.

No offense taken, thom_y. As it is I would never have chosen to live exactly here except for a couple of family health care issues etc. that have conspired to make this particular neighbourhood the best compromise for ourselves. Just a case of making the best of what we've got, eh. It was quite a novelty to find this "private track" so close to the madding crowd. How about some more pics from your neck of the woods, so I can live it up vicariously?! I've really enjoyed your picturesque "tours" on this thread. S.

snail_male

THanks for the compliment.

I just came back from YYZ on the weekend. I was there for my high school reunion (way too long ago !!). Anyways, I stayed downtown and was amazed how precarious riding a bike is in downtown YYZ with streetcars, taxis and cars leaving little room for cyclists. It is amazing that more accidents/deaths don't happen there. I thought Halifax was unfriendly for cyclists !!

Meanwhile, I don't think I will be posting many more ride photos until March 2010, as the temperatures, travel, and work are preventing me from doing any significant rides in the last few weeks, other than commuting to Dartmouth to visit my buddies new espresso bar.  The colder air is not good for my cold-induced asthma.  So, most of my rides in the next 4 months will look more like this:

 

Well not quite, as that R3 is crashed UP due to a YHZ motorist.  So, perhaps the old Trek 5200 (or my Cento Uno) will go in the CycleOps as I ride to Spinervals or Tacx videos and loud alternative music.

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/lawrencevideo#p/u/4/7tq_Cbtd9VY

snail_male - that's too funny. I actually was lost one night trying to find a house in that area, and had to take a piss something fierce, and pulled into that laneway to "shake the dew off the lilly" as they say (probably from the extra large Tim Horton's coffee;-). I was wondering what that place was (it is pitch dark in that area at night), and realized it must have been some sort of park when I saw some brown suits milling around and a Government truck pulling in as I nearly got caught with my pants down. It seemed like an odd spot for such a desolate place with such built up areas and highways in the immediate area.

Jasann:

... (it is pitch dark in that area at night), and realized it must have been some sort of park when I saw some brown suits milling around...

Are you sure those weren't bears?! It's quite the place, you know.

BTW - You posted some Escarpment pics earlier on... those were from due north of this location? Above the 401 hwy? Nice atmosphere there. Fewer Tim's, though more bears.

snail_male:

Are you sure those weren't bears?! It's quite the place, you know.

BTW - You posted some Escarpment pics earlier on... those were from due north of this location? Above the 401 hwy? Nice atmosphere there. Fewer Tim's, though more bears.

I wasn't going to hang around to find out with my Johnson hanging out.

Those pics were due north of your area (6th line/5th sideroad) just north/west of Hwy 401 & 25. Besides going closer to your neck of the woods (or Hamilton), it is about the only place near me (about 60 km north/west of my home) that there are any decent hills.

TashkentTerror:

Time for studs soon!

jacobyte:

A beech-lined road on a local ride in Surrey, UK (photo taken on Sunday). The colours on the trees are beautiful this time of year. What a shame the road surface maintenance is shocking. 

 Is that the road leading to Cranleigh? now all we need is the photo of Winterfold hill.

 

 

No, it's the road between Milford and Tilford, near The Donkey pub. Not too far from Cranleigh though.

Really enjoying all the great ride pics from around the world.

 

I've had quite a few nice fall rides lately.

Hope Valley in the Sierras above our valley.

 

Kingsbury Grade heading up to Tahoe.

 

 

 

Sonora Pass about three weeks ago....now closed for the winter.

 

......... and yesterday, a quick trip over the moutains to the western Sierra foothills for some warmer weather.  South Fork of the American River near Lotus.

 

 

Can't believe it.....I'm coming up on two years and 20,000 miles on my R3 SL............absolutely love it everyday.   Getting ready for a big tune up.  New cable set, chain, brake pads, shifter parts, hoods, bartape.  This winter I'll treat her to a set of new Topolino True Black CTR 2.0 wheels.