It has been pretty hot in Vancouver recently, so my first time out on the bike was hard work. I was sweating buckets and my legs screamed all the way round.
But today was a BIG improvement. For the first time, I managed to complete the circuit in less than one hour.
Although there was a strong southerly breeze that hindered my progress down the "back straight" on Marine Drive, this was more than offset by the advantage the wind gave me going north up the hill on Cypress Street.
Last weekend I finally realized my ambition of cycling up Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver.
And wow, was it ever one of the best cycling trips in BC...
I set off from Kits around 9h30, and went through downtown via Burrard, Pender, and Georgia Streets, before cycling through Stanley Park and over the Lions' Gate Bridge.
Then I took my usual route through West Vancouver along Marine Drive before heading up 21st Street.
This was the first real climb of the day -- and possibly the most challenging due to the gradient. After a couple of kilometers, I reached the Upper Levels Highway and progressed one exit west before starting the proper ascent up Cypress.
The weather was glorious, and I'm afraid to say I got slightly sunburned. But it made for a great view over the city...
I reached the summit at midday and enjoyed the cooling breeze from the wind coming off the mountain snow for half an hour or so.
After a rapid descent, I continued west on the Upper Levels Highway to Horseshoe Bay, where I (ahem) had a little sleep in a very comfy chair by the water.
Woken 45 minutes later by the 15h00 ferry departing, I wearily made my way home.
It's funny, really... the prospect of cycling 80km+ in a day makes me want sleep in my Lycras so I can leap out of bed in the morning and get going right away (after inhaling a massive bowl of Raisin Bran, a banana, and a cup of tea, of course).
But running 10km..?
Hmmm... not so much, thanks.
So a big hats off to the 55,000-odd who made the effort last Sunday.
Actually, I'm sure I would have enjoyed the Sun Run, had I done it.
The atmosphere was super... although it was so obviously a Vancouver event as most of the runners seemed to be carrying Starbucks cups, pushing strollers, and/or accompanied by Chihuahuas.
There's nothing better than a weekend that's so utterly exhausting because you've simply been up to so much fun stuff!
This weekend was one such good'un... because it included pretty much all my favourite things in the world:
- Cycling (natch) - Sunshine - A few pints of real ale - Live music - Good company
... and the best part was, it all just... happened... without any plans.
Saturday was a glorious day. The best of the year so far.
I woke up positively roasting in my bed as the sun beamed through my east-facing window. That was lovely... except I felt like the curry I'd eaten on Friday night was seeping out of my skin.
Anyway...
The weather provided plenty of incentive to get up and out on my bike (and cleanse myself of evil morning-after garlic).I decided to do a fairly lengthy ride... so, I went for this route.
(I was inspired by a big Vancouver cycling event that took place last weekend called the Pacific Populaire. It followed a very similar route, but sadly I didn't actually take part in it.)
It was a fantastic ride. Highlights included:
- The ever-beautiful, fast, undulating SW Marine Drive in Vancouver - Watching the planes land at YVR - Feeling like I was in rural farm country along the banks of the Fraser River in Richmond, despite being only a few miles from the city - Getting mildly sunburned - Arriving home, thoroughly cream crackered, to watch playoff hockey on Hockey Night in Canada
Sunday was a completely different, but equally enjoyable, day... as I went to one of the best gigs I've seen in years: The John Butler Trio.
They played a free outdoor set in Whistler village. There was something quite surreal about basking in the warm spring sunshine at the bottom of a snow covered mountain surrounded by skiers and snowboarders.
And the performance itself was simply incredible... (it included perhaps the most outrageous percussion solo I've ever witnessed).
I particularly loved the rendition of this tune, too:
I love cycling over Vancouver's Lions' Gate Bridge.
Of course, the views are fantastic... but what I really appreciate about cycling on it (as opposed to being in a car or bus) is being able to stop and take in the magnificent panorama.
Peddling some 200ft above the ocean whilst surrounded by the Downtown Vancouver skyline, North Shore mountains, and the majestic trees of Stanley Park really does get the heart pumping.
Just a shortish ride this weekend. Here's the route. 34km to Lonsdale Quay and back.
