Cycle Café's....Oops!

Saturday, 19 April 2014

Paul's Live Life Celebration Ride

It's "Official"...after 16 1/2 very long months of recovery I am now 'back in the saddle' thanks to Jess, my amazing Physiotherapist @Physio Moves, and my friend Paul Underhill C.E.O. of RUMBLE encouragement. Thank you both for making my return to cycling possible.

I recently participated in the inaugural 'Live Life Celebration Ride' in Victoria Friday April 18th, 2014 . An eager group of 50+ riders' gathered along with Velofix (who were kind enough o show up last minute for any last minute tweaks to our bikes...thank you) at Clover Point to Celebrate Paul's 3rd Anniversary as a Lung transplant recipient. So in honor of his new 'Life' and to support Organ transplants (all ride's had to preregister as donor's to participate in the ride...a great way to support and give back) we set out on a 100k ride out to Deep Cove and return (well most of us did..more on than soon).

The group looked pretty tight and impressive as we left Clover Point and rolled along the waterfront past the Parliament Buildings at towards the Johnson Blue Bridge. We were waved and cheered for by many admiring on lookers and were able to pass on our message of supporting Organ Transplants to all who asked. It was a great way to start the long trek.

Still riding as a nucleus we hit the Galloping Goose Trail and headed over the Trellis Bridge and onward to Burnside Road were we departed from the Trail and ventured on to surface streets. Over hill and dale we soon turned on to Saanich Road and continued. Up until this point I had been doing pretty well and was pleased with my performance since I had been rather unsure committing to the ride and nervous about my performance.

But soon we started hill climbing and the peleton of the group naturally started to get further and further ahead of me. I was starting to struggle, but I was comforted by the fact that I wasn't the only rider trailing and there was still a good handful of rider's riding with me. But as we continued down Saanich road those riders numbers dwindled and they soon passed me and I watched as they faded in to the distance.

I only managed to ride with the group for about an hour until I found myself alone, and very lost on Saanich road. I sent out an S.O.S. text to Paul to let him know I was lost and solo. I had stopped at McTavish road not certain as to whether I should turn down it or not. ( I should have apparently...oh well) Not receiving a reply till after I made a decision to continue down Saanich Rd. I was told I had completely over shot the turn off....Oops!...I wasn't turning back so I trekked onward asking for directions from a few passer bys. I rode past Pat Bay, which was beautiful, I saw a deer, some sheep and then eventually ended up at Landsend.

Luckily there was a cyclist there that gave me directions on how to get to the Lochside Trail. Not being from the Island I was completely disorientated and a bit uncertain as to how to find the trail but I forged on and eventually after many wrong turns and back tracking and with Paul's text directions I managed to make it to Swartz Bay (again 'Overshot') and then to the beginning of the Lochside trail.

Everybody else had stopped in Sydney for a well earned rest stop including my friend Karen whom unfortunately I had lost at the beginning of the ride. She to was riding solo by this point but she knew her way about had stopped for a cuppa in Sydney and was heading back to Victoria...I forged on anxious to return to Victoria...so other than a few pee stops a quick visit with a couple pigs, dodging a hawk dropping eggs and getting completely drenched along the trail after 5 1/2 hrs I finally made it back to Clover Point and I was so pleased to see two familiar faces when I finally arrived.

Paul and his lovely wife Sandy had kindly waited an extra hour and a half for me to arrive and I was so happy they did. Seeing them there waiting made all the difference to me after riding solo for over 4 hours it was a wonderful greeting and made the ride so worth it.
All in all the ride was amazing....and I am so glad to be back at it.
I thanked Paul and Sandy and bid them adieu and headed off to Red Fish Blue Fish for a well deserved recovery meal.

We hope that the Live Life Ride will become an annual affair and there is already talk and things in the works for next year so with any luck we will see you all there next year.
In the meantime please register with the Organ Donor Transplant Registry. Your decision could save a life.

To Register to be an Organ Donor: http://www.transplant.bc.ca./index.asp

Cheers.

A very special thank you to Karen Palmer for lending me her bike without which this ride wouldn't have been possible. Thank you again lovely Lady. :)

Huge Thank you to ALL of these great Supporters that we had:

http://www.drinkrumble.com/

http://www.edgefoodenergy.com/

http://www.planetfoods.ca/

http://www.honeymaxx.com/

http://www.honeystinger.com/

http://trekbikesvictoria.com/

And a very Special thank you to: http://www.velofix.com/

Please Follow Rumble on Facebook and Twitter @DrinkRumble https://twitter.com/DrinkRumble

Velofix on Twitter @VelofixVictoria https://twitter.com/VelofixVictoria

and Trek Procity Cycling @ProCityRacing https://twitter.com/ProCityRacing

Cycling Cafe's Diva

"Uniting a Community; one Cyclist at a time"

"RIDE HAPPY"

#Cyclecafes

#RumbleforLife

#cuppa

@DrinkRumble
#LiveLifeRide
#Victoria

Thursday, 20 March 2014

Tour de Victoria...Cafe Style!

For most of us that don't ride all year round Spring marks the start of the Cycling Season. So to mark the 1st day of Spring I headed off on my 2 wheeled steed to toddle around Victoria sourceing out some amazing Cafe's & coffee and even got to visit with a good friend it was a great day. (despite the hail storm lol),

1st Stop was @2percentJazz

2%Jazz's Decor is very cool

Check out their very cool Chandeler

2%Jazz roasts their own beans

....and wow their coffee is Yummy and is one of our Fav Cafe's in Victoria that is very Cyclist Friendly!

1st Cuppa down and I was back on my bike riding over to Yates tp Shatterbox who also brew up a great cuppa as well.

Shatterbox not only has amazing Coffee but a spectacular Patio for a group of Cyclists to stop for a Cuppa.

How cute you get a ginger snap with every cuppa.

My job is so hard lol

2 cuppa's down and I was starting to feel the caffeine high and was developing a bit of the jitters....While at Shatterbox the Ladies suggested I stop by Jaga Silk and visit with Tea SAmalia Jared....it was worth checking out so I headed off to find this great spot

Jaga Silk is a bit tricky to find but was I did it was nervana

Jaga is in the Courtyard on Courtney off Douglas

The Matcha Tea was like taking a .Moment. You really have to take time out of your day for each cuppa it isn't a 'To Go' type of cuppa.

Jared is a very well versed Coneseour of Tea and loves sharing his knowledge with anyone that shows interest

After a wonderful time at Jaga Silk it was off to Rumble headquarters to meet a friend for a cuppa/lunch

we ended up at Be <3 ...what a treat...defs worth the visit again and again...thank you Paul it was great to see you and thank you for lunch.

Cycling Cafe's Diva

"Uniting a Community; one Cyclist at a time"

"RIDE HAPPY"

#Cyclecafes

#RumbleforLife

#cuppa

@DrinkRumble

@2percentJazz

@JagaSilk

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

A Star is born....Women's Cycling style

photo courtesy of:Greg Descantes

I ♥ that there are bloggers now adays that some of which are very good at writing. It's interesting how we have shifted from the days of hiding and locking our personal Diaries/Journals to completely opening up our private world for all to see....Once in a while I will post here and let all of you know of a great blog/blogger that I have discovered, and share it with you...this is one of those time...I very recently had the emence priveledge of Billeting Anika Todd, an up in coming, new to the Road Racing circuit rider, and it was an amazing time we had at BC SUper week....here is just one of her most recent blogs....I suggest you give it a go...and please, Please, PLEASE sign up for her blog and as well share this on your page and tell your friends...this girl is amazing she has only been riding since May. She blew Scouts, Pro-Teams, and fans away, this past week....No one saw her coming...she will no doubt be going Pro, very very soon, but for now she is heading to Europe in 3 short weeks for the TT Championships....we wish her all the success in the World!...WAY TO GO ANIKA TODD! The face to watch in Women's Cycling and also soon to be the new face of what's to come...the future looks bright! ~CC
http://anikatodd.wordpress.com/tag/cycle-cafe/

Anika's Independent Sponsors are Courtesy of:

http://www.drinkrumble.com/

http://www.trekbikesvictoria.com/

http://www.zedwheels.com/

http://www.Russhays.com/

http://www.tripleshotcycling.com/

Cycling Cafe's Diva

"Uniting a Community; one Cyclist at a time"

"RIDE HAPPY"

#Cyclecafes #Rumble #Anikatodd #Womenscycling #Cycling #BCsuperweek #GastownGP #Tourdedelta #girodeBurnaby #TourdeWR

Monday, 27 May 2013

1st Date Fun Fun....sort of

I recently signed up for a very popular Internet dating sight P.O.F. (Plenty of FIsh) in an effort, I think, to combat my huge amount of 'Alone Time' that I am not to fond of. At the time I signed on to the site I wasn't really aware of what I was getting in to . My Girlfriend had boasted about metting lots of really great guys from the sight. She would date them for a while, then decide that they weren't really 'The One', and move on to the next. She seemed to be having a lot of fun, so based on her experience and the nagging voice in the back of my head saying, "You should be dating",when I really REALLY didn't want to be dating at all, I took the plunge and signed up too.
At first I blamed my solo act on simply not being ready to date since Dave (my boyfriend who over a year ago {possibly a year and a half now since he broke my haeart and left me shattered} had asked me to move to England, move in with him, and be his 'Partner' for Life....I had said an infatic "Yes" to that question, and never saw the invetable end coming....at all!).
Then after truly being over Dave I just wasn't that excited about the idea of dating again. The whole notion of going out on awkward first dates with strangers, getting to know someone ..or God forbid it work out, I certainly wasn't willing to get use to someone's bad habits, or share my space, or time with anyone at all!
After that phase I simply became, for the first time ever in my life, completely content with being Single. I mean all my adult life I had looked for, and had wanted to be in a relationship. It was my M.O. I was the 'Relationship' Girl.
Not now, but that didn't mean at all that I was going the other route of having meaningless 'Hook ups' either. That definetly wasn't my thing either. I simply finally found myself really loving being alone, and enjoying my Life 'Single'.
However I was still on P.O.F., and I was getting lots of messages from men that were possibly interested in changing that. Althought frankly most of them where looking for a 'Friend with Benifits', or a quick hook up. Despite the fact that right at the top of my profile I had mentioned that I wasn't interested in that at all. Yet they still asked, bless them. Men are funny they really don't take "No" for an answer and they still give it a go. Most of the time us Ladies appreciate their tenacity. This wasn't one of those times.
So, the Dance continued until last week when I saw a familiar face in the big sea of fishes. I recognized him right off as being someone I knew from Racing Cyclocross. So, I sent a message mentioning that I recognized him. He was Coi at first as a decoy to avoid embarassment being that he clearly didn't know who I was at all, but that curiosity worked in my favor. He asked me out right away ( I think mostly to relieve his biting curiouslity as to who I was, and how we knew each other, and which friends did we actually have in common?). As much as I might hum, and ha at this whole dating process this time I really appreciated his quick draw cheekiness and I said "Yes" .
There, I had done it. I had agreed to my first date, and it was to be the next day for breakfast. He had originally asked me out for a bike ride, and as much as I don't want my accident to define me it was difficult not to mention it, yet again, in order to really explain why I couldn't go for a ride. So, breakfast it was and he had graciously agreed to travel out my way as well. I was actually excited. Not a bit nervous at all being that I knew him a bit from CX and we had friends in common.
The next day I woke up earlier than I usually do (since the accident I tend to sleep now at least 10 hours a day so waking up before that is rather difficult for me) to meet my date for Breakfast....Picking out something to wear that wasn't exercise gear, or kit was really a challenge and I ended up being 8 minutes late...oops. When I arrived at our meet-up point at Starbucks my date was facing away from me arriving, but my eyes went right to his legs (he was wearing shorts) and I recognized his shaved cycling legs immediatly lol. It's a cyclist habit; you can tell if someone is a cyclist, or a runner by their muscle tone...If you are a cyclist you understand what I am talking about, if not you probably don't. He turned around and with a big grin gave me a big hug; nice!
We started easily chatting as we walked to the 5 Corners Diner down the hill. Once there we got a table right away. Not an easy thing to do on a Sunday morning, so we were lucky, and the conversation continued. Our eggs came and we were still talking. We talked about my accident (eek), my recovery (more eek), parenting, briefly about past relationships, racing, and my date finally connected the dots realizing that I was Norm Thibault's sister (one of his real competitors in CX, and a name synonomous with the popular sport due to his reputation and the fact that my brother is married to one of the top Professional CX Champs Wendy Simms, whom he also started a 7 part Cyclocross Race Series with over on Vancouver Island called Cross on the Rocks)....so now that the mystery had been solved we chatted on.

There wasn't ever an uncomfortable moment. After breakfast we walked back up the hill to his car, he offered to drive me home and once there he gave me a quick hug good-bye and then he said something that really took me a back, "Don't tell your brother we went out". My date had finally put 2+2 together over breakfast that I was Norm Thibaults sister, one of his fierce competitors at CX races....where did that come from....Was he kidding? I couldn't tell ...he tried to play it off by saying that they were competitors and he didn't want him to know any of his racing strategy, but really that just sounded like a really feeble excuse to me. It sounded like he actually meant it.
So, what did that mean exactly? Was he embarassed that we had gone out? I mean really? I thought it was a great date although I was getting a very strong vibe that he wasn't attracted to me at all. Which was really a biter pill as I was attracted to him. I mean he was very tall, athletic, handsome, had a great outlook on life, we had a lot in common, and we really seemed to get along....so what was the problem.
I let that lye for a bit. Despite his last departing remark I was still happy with our date so I decided to send him a quick message on fb (I would have text him but wasn't exactly sure if the number I had for him was his mobil or his home phone, and I wasn't going to call...that would have been awkward now considering what he had said when he was leaving). I meantioned what a nice time I had with him, thanked him for driving out this way, and of course for breakfast. Like I said I kept it really brief, and non commital, or pushy.
That was early Sunday afternoon. His response came the next day:

"Hi Donna, l enjoyed breakfast and meeting you. I hope you continue down the road to a full recovery, you have a great attitude to life it seems and that will surely help! See you at CX no doubt"

Well, I called it! That was definetly a "See ya around, MAYBE" for sure. Not a "hey we should go for a ride sometime", friends vibe which would have been perfectly acceptable and kind of nice. Not that I really expected anything at all, but what followed that I think surprised me more than anything.
I started to really question what was wrong with me? I mean was I not tall enough, pretty enough, skinny enough. I realize that he simply was't that in to me, but there had to be a reason. See, before this date I was good, really I was. Despite what my friend had said to me after the shock of telling him I went on a date he had said,
"Well at least you didn't spend your Sunday alone like you usually do". I knew he was right and I appreciated that for sure. I certainly never expected to have so much self doubt though having gone out on this 1st date. I mean this was seriously way to heavy. I wasn't feeling insecure before the date. Sure I had gained a considerable amount of weight since the accident. Sitting on your ass for months not being allowed or able to do much physical activity when you and your body are use to a very active lifestyle can leave you with muffin-tops for sure. I didn't like the weight I had gained, it felt like I was in someone elses body to be honest, but I was working on it; hard!
The whole situation just left me really rattled. I was crying even, and since the accident I haven't had or shown much emotion at all. I have been really even and balanced so this must have really struck some cord, because right now I am not to happy. I never expected that going on a great date would lead me feeling this bad.
So, it is very probable that it will take me another year, or longer, before I go out on another date...because if I feel this bad after a great date I would hate to see how I manage after a crappy one, and lets be honest, we all know that most first dates are nightmares....This wan't a nightmare, for which I was lucky.
The thing is as much as a boyfriend/partner would be nice to find eventually, truly all I would really like to find is my best friend.
So for now I think I will stick to my single glass of Merlot on Friday nights, with my PJ's on by 7, watching a James Bond movie; over meeting anyone else for now.

Thank you very much P.O.F., but No Thank you!
Growth doesn't come without change, or setbacks, and one doesn't grow until they have two feet on the ground to regain balance before taking a step forward.

Cycling Cafe's Diva

"Uniting a Community; one Cyclist at a time"

"RIDE HAPPY"

#Cyclecafes

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Fingers Crossed....

"Keep in mind that the judging is all pending on how much coffee Mart has had"....How could I help but want to enter Russ Hay's Photo contest when I read that on Facebook...

https://www.facebook.com/russhaysbikes/app_448952861833126

When I first saw the post on Facebook to 'Win a Specialized Bike" sponsored by Russ Hay's, a local Bike Shop here in B.C. I was excited, which was a BIG deal because since the accident I haven't been excited, or even remotely interested, in anything to do with bikes, or cycling at all. Frankly its been on my "I couldn't care less" list since December. As you might imagine not caring about cycling when I do run Cycle Cafe on facebook, Twitter, tumbler, and Pinterest has been a bit of a challenge when I really didn't want to have anything to do with it.
I have felt for months now that cycling let me down. I know logically it was that sole drivers fault, not cycling, But that is how I have felt, and I am still not back in the saddle. Not because of any of the injuries I sustained but mostly because of my concusion, and maybe a little fear as well. Basically my confidence is shot.
But when I saw the contest to win I bike I did get charged, and I was really happy about that being that it was the first time I had felt the passion that I use to know so well since being hit last Winter.
I quickly entered my first photo in the contest. If you know me you know that I take thousands of photos consatantly, mostly of cycling and bikes. So, finding the right photo for the contest was a challenge. Althought the contest had an overall theme of sharing your photos that show how much cycling means to you and how much fun you have doing it they did have three specific categories for the contest. Scenic, Action, and Funny. That didn't really narrow it down much for me lol.
I finally settled on one photo to enter in the 'Scenic' Category. It was one that I took while toodling about in Penticton, B.C. during Ironman 2010. One of the many years that my brother was entered in the race. I was so taken with the beauty of Penticton I wanted to captivate it as I saw it; with my bike, on the pier with the waves rolling was a natural fit.

"Scenic"

As I wanted to increase my chances of winning the bike I decided to enter a second category. This time the 'Funniest' category seemed a good fit for a photo I had taken while on the "Shore 2 Shore" hop on in Hope tour with the White Rock Fire Dept who had just rode cross country from Halifax, Nova Scotia to White Rock, British Columbia for Variety Childrens Fund. That ride was my very first group ride and I had the best time ever. I was even more pleased to discover that one, I could do it, and two I realized during the ride when I was trying to pass some riders that I had a natural 'competive' gene in me that I had no idea I had.

"Funny"

Fastforward to my third entery. After discovering that I was competive I started racing Cyclocross. Now in my third year of racing we had the great pleasure of having the National Cyclocross Champiions held hear in my hometown of WHite Rock, which was a huge honor. Along with being a memeber of the Surrey off Road Enthusiasts Group who manage the Park where the race was held. I was also a Marshell for the race, as well as a Drug Chaparon to one of my idols Catherine Pendral, I was cheering on my sister in law Wendy SImms, and my brother Norm Thibault as they competed, and Auntie to my nephew and neice that needed watching while they raced...so it was a busy weekend and I was racing. I pulled off a PR that day. I had increased my endurance. I wasn't last, and I didn't get passed.(that was also the last race before my accident a 2 weeks later) That was awesome, and I still managed to take a few shots...Voila!

"Action"

I have my fingers crossed that I am going to win the bike, and when I do I plan on making the day that I pick up the bike from Russ Hay's the day that I get back in the saddle.
For all of those that I have hasseled to vote. I thank you for doing so, and if you haven't please do. The link sends you to the Russ Hay's page...please 'Like' the page to continue. I have 3 photos entered all under my name "DONNA" they are spread out so you will have to scroll down a few times to find them all. Cheers.

Click on this link to enter:
https://www.facebook.com/russhaysbikes/app_448952861833126

Cycling Cafe's Diva

"Uniting a Community; one Cyclist at a time"

"RIDE HAPPY"

#Cyclecafes