Category: cycling

My 14-day quarantine is over

On By Rick McIn cycling, health & fitness, hiking, McCharles familyLeave a comment

Returning to Canada from Bermuda (zero positives at the time) I was asked at the Toronto airport to voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days. And watch to see if I developed a fever or other symptoms:

Stay home for 14 days from the time you returned home from international travel.

  1. Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
  2. Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school.
  3. Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares.
  4. Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).

 

Since that time I’ve only had one encounter I considered at all risky — a hotel check-in clerk near the Toronto airport.

When I got to the room I washed my credit card, the room key and my hands very thoroughly.

Physical distancing at my parent’s place in Parksville went well. Just 5 of us in contact. And one friend.

We had no thermometer but it was clear I had no fever — only my usual Spring allergies.

I’ll continue with the physical distancing, minimizing contact with people. But I do feel freer now to spend more time outside running, hiking and cycling in the wilds of Vancouver Island.

As far from people as possible.

Moorecraft Park, Vancouver Island

On By Rick McIn cycling, travelLeave a comment

Surprisingly, I’d never visited Moorecroft Regional Park near Parksville though it’s considered one of the best parks on Vancouver Island.

Moorecroft was established 1934 as a summer camp for girls by Gertrude Moore.

My mother’s maiden name is Moore.

I cycled out. Ran about an hour on nearby trails. Then cycled back to Tim Hortons.

It operated continuously by her until 1954, when her failing health necessitated the decision to sell the waterfront property. The United Church of Canada purchased the property for $50,000, and continued to run it as a camp. It decided to sell the 85 acre property in 2010 and the property was put up for sale for $7.95 million and there was great concern that this great place would be lost to a future subdivision or some other type of development. Concerned local citizens and conservation groups were preparing for the worst-case scenario when three factors made a good resolution possible. The United Church agreed to put a conservation covenant on the property that zoned most of the lands for the protection of its ecological interests.

Not long afterwards it was purchased by the Regional District of Nanaimo and the Nature Trust of BC for $4.8 million down from the asking price of 7.98 million. It opened as Moorecroft Regional Park in 2011. It is a credit to the United Church and the district for preserving this historic property.

Discover  Vancouver Island

cycle → RUN → cycle → WINE

On By Rick McIn cycling, health & fitnessLeave a comment

So far this year I’ve run about an hour on 34 days.

Now social distancing / quarantine / lockdown (not all that different than my normal life, actually) … I wanted to increase the daily workout.

After declining the Worldbig3 challenge … instead:

Day 1 in Parksville, I decided to cycle out to Englishman River Falls Provincial Park → run for about an hour → then cycle back to town stopping at the liquor store.

A good start.  🍷

 

cycling Europe on the EuroVello 6

On By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling, travelLeave a comment

I’ve added this to my bucket list.

EuroVelo 6 (EV6), named the “Rivers Route”, is a long-distance cycling route that runs along 3,653 km (2,270 mi) some of Europe’s major rivers, including much of the Loire, some of the Saône, a short section of the upper Rhine and almost the entire length of Europe’s second longest river, the Danube — from the Atlantic coast of France to the city of Constanța on the Black Sea.

The EV6 traverses ten countries …

Lauren Pears went for a 3 month solo bike ride across Europe last summer – from London to Istanbul – whereby she used the EuroVelo 6 – Atlantic-Black Sea for most of the way.  …

Riding solo on EuroVelo 6 with Lauren Pears

Read Lauren’s Guide To Cycling EuroVelo 6

CYCLING Alberta, Montana, Idaho, BC summer 2020

On By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, travel2 Comments

If all goes well, I’m planning to start June 12th from Banff alongside some real cyclists.

UPDATE ➙ this adventure was postponed.  Perhaps 2024.  More likely 2025.

The Tour Divide is an annual mountain biking ride traversing the length of the Rocky Mountains, from Canada to the Mexican border.

Following the 2,745-mile (4,418 km) Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, it is an ultra-distance cycling ride that is an extreme test of endurance, self-reliance and mental toughness.

The ride format is strictly self-supported, and it is not a stage race – the clock runs continuously from the start until riders cross the finish line, usually more than two weeks later.

The ride has a very low profile, and is entirely amateur. There are no entry fees, no sponsorship, and no prizes. …

I’ll not be racing but will follow the same route down into Montana.

There I plan to hike the Chinese Wall.

Then divert to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

I’ll circle back to Calgary … somehow.

This is less a plan than a dream at this point.  😀

Citi Bike Miami

On By Rick McIn cycling, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

Surprisingly — for the first time — I used a bike sharing program.

BRILLIANT.

Citi Bike provides locals and visitors with a healthy transportation option. Fun, efficient and convenient.

There are docking stations everywhere close to South Beach. It works.

Often you need a phone app to use these things. But for Citi Bike, instead, you can rent with a credit card (expensive) or travel to their office to purchase a fob.

That fob is only $35 / month for unlimited use. Both for locals and tourists.

By comparison, the Miami electric scooter sharing program is a mess. Scooters abandoned randomly all over town. Companies include Bird, Bolt, Jump, Lime, Lyft and Spin.

Click PLAY or watch GIRLS GONE WILD CITIBIKE on YouTube. 🙂

Banff Film Festival World Tour 2019-20

On By Rick McIn cycling, health & fitness, hiking, kayaking, sport - amateur, travelLeave a comment

Always inspiring.

It’s the 40th year of the World Tour.

They used Mount Royal University in 2020 as one of their Calgary venues for the first time.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

I’m a WINNER.

Here’s the official Film Festival Speed Lite 12 day pack by Deuter I won by random draw. US$54 on Amazon.

Festival poster.

my 2 travel tripods

On By Rick McIn cycling, photos, product endorsements, travel1 Comment

For 2020 I’ll travel with two lightweight tripods:

  1. miggo splat (GoPro)
  2. Joby GripTight PRO Video mount (camera)

In fact, I can use either for GoPro or camera.

If I want to cut weight and only take one on a hike, it will likely be the more durable splat.

splat with GoPro

 

GripTight PRO with phone

My phone clamps in the past have been plastic and untrustworthy. The GripTight PRO costs CAD$63 and looks super durable. I don’t want my phone falling.

The arm is for panning video up and down, or side to side.

Of course I also have GoPro mounts for helmet and bike.

e-Bikes are the FUTURE

On By Rick McIn cycling1 Comment

In Netherlands, more electric bikes are now sold than the old human-powered kind.

But be VERY cautious in what brand you buy. There are a lot of fly-by-night companies.

My Dad bought from Pedego, the largest electric bike retailer in the United States. We’ve been very happy with them.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – E-bikes, not electric cars, may hold the key to greener transportation

my 2019 YEAR in REVIEW

On By Rick McIn cycling, happiness, health & fitness, hiking, travel1 Comment

Tim Ferriss recommends we review the past year (which was GREAT) before making any plans for the next.

I want to be a #winner in 2020. Like this guy.

1. What were three to four highs of last year … and three to four lows?

23 day cycling tour of Patagonia

24 day cycling tour of the Pacific N.W. 

30 days in Nepal – hiking and dental work

first visits to Prague and Budapest

So … travel, hiking and cycling remain my annual highlights.

I can’t recall any significant lows. I broke two laptops. Got stuck in Hungary without an exit visa. Ruined a pair of shoes. Nothing significant.

2. What enabled or motivated you to reach those highs, and how did you successfully move through the lows?

For travel I was more organized than in the past. Put together detailed gear lists. Made my plans months ahead rather than weeks or days in advance.

3. What worked and didn’t work? In other words, what do you need to do more or less of?

More of the same. Get organized early for my travels in 2020.

I spent more than I earned in 2019. I should work more, play less in 2020.

I did not ski enough in 2019. My goal is at least 5 days downhill.

4. What stressed you out the most, and how could you navigate it better?

Bicycle maintenance stresses me out. I’ve now downloaded The Complete Bike Owner’s Manual to my laptop and phone.

My only medical concern is high blood pressure.  Need to monitor that more consistently.

I follow the high crimes and misdemeanours of Trump. The world seems to be getting worse, not better. … BUT my own life is unaffected. I don’t worry about an unexpected health care emergency as so many Americans do.

5. And, most important, what were you most grateful for in 2019, and how can you take that into 2020?

Good health. Myself and my family.

I ran more in 2019 than I have since at least 2008. Should run an hour a day  at least 45 days of 2020.  Enter at least 3 races in 2020.

related – How (and why) you should give yourself a year-end review

running race Pokhara, Nepal