Sat, Dec 1 2007 - Pre-Winter Bike Ride from Cambridge to Paris and Back (40 -45 km) (View Original Event Details)
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We had an interesting adventure on this ride between Cambridge and Paris. The temperature was about -6 degrees celsius, and there was a slight breeze that made it seem even a little colder. There was some snow, and a little ice, on the rail trail, which necessitated some careful riding. Nonetheless, Helene, Linda D, David B, and I braved the elements and went on the ride.
On the way there, both David, who had forgotten his woolen socks, and Linda D., who had brought her whole wardrobe along in her two new panier bags, were periodically cold. Well, Linda D. fluctuated between being cold and hot, depending on various factors too numerous to mention. Helene was good and steady, as usual, and had sensibly come to the event with neck warmers, one of which promptly found its way around David B's neck.
We did make it to Paris in one piece. Once there, we lunched at the Cafe De Paris, our usual stopping point. That's the last place I saw my digital camera, which unfortunately went missing, or was lost, with all the pictures from this event. While in Paris, Linda D and David B attempted to get Linda D's pannier rack fixed (it had been sliding forward, causing her back tire to rub against it, and slowing Linda D down on the way to Paris). While the pannier rack was being tended to, Helen headed back to Cambridge before the rest of us, as she had a dancing appointment for which she did not want to be late.
By the time, Linda D and David B emerged from the Canadian Tire in Paris, where the pannier rack had been at least temporarily fixed, it was starting to get a little dark, and the three of us headed back to the trail to find our way back to Cambridge. Unfortunately, one third of the way there, and a good 6 km from Glen Morris, the half-way point, my front tire went flat. After trying to add air with my small hand-pump, I determined that the tube needed replacing, so I changed the tire tube. Then I tried the pump again. But the tube would not inflate. At that point, cursing at the little air pump, I advised Linda D and David B that I would use David's bike to ride back to the car in Cambridge, and bring the car back to Glen Morris, where I would meet up with them and the other two bikes. (This was the only possible option, as neither David nor Linda D. drives regularly, and David does not yet have his license). I made it to Glen Morris and, after chatting it up with a couple of friendly residents, I was offered a ride back into Cambridge, where I retrieved the car, and drove back to Glen Morris. I was about to head back onto the trail to meet up with David B. and Linda D., when they emerged from the darkness, healthy and happy. I was relieved as, by this point, the trail was dark as could be, and it would have been unsafe to ride a bike down it without a huge head-lamp.
We had good conversation on the ride back to Toronto, and the bonus was being invited back to Linda D.'s place, where she cooked us a lovely and healthy supper (Linda D is a very good cook). David and I paid for the supper by doing the dishes, and I fumbled around on the piano for a while, as I cannot avoid doing so when a piano is in sight.
All in all, it was a great day. We all had lots of exercise. We were reminded of how important it is to be cognizant of weather conditions when heading out on out-of-town events, especially when cold temperatures might be a factor.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.