Gearing Up

May 14, 2025

We made the first booking, our flights, four months ago, after some discussion of where we'd go, A to B or a loop, etc. Since then I've made accommodation bookings, edited our routes (including some options), etc. In effect, we've been gearing up for a while, in the meaning of preparing or equipping oneself for something.

One thing we do for fun and exercise and to prepare ourselves for cycle touring is cross-country skiiing. After a promising early snowfall, the weather warmed up through December and Hollyburn, our local xc ski area, lost a lot of snow. We skied November 29 (having only returned from Portugal 3 days earlier) and then not again until New Year's Day. In January, we were still hoping the xc ski season was going to improve.

The dead grooming machine had been here a while. It was a recurring problem this season, prompting me to do more classic skiing. Classic is possible when the trails haven't been groomed. Skate skiing is better when the tracker (pulled behind the machine shown) is not working, as also happens.

It was definitely not a memorable season; I missed the one good week thanks to one of those winter respiratory bugs going around. Al got it later, after the nice snow had turned to slop.

We did get a few fantastic days, just not nearly as many as we were hoping!

This was also the season Al invested in a smart trainer. It took him a while to get everything working well and then I used it too. It's outside on our balcony but he still needs the fan and a sweat-absorbing towel.

Eventually, spring came so we could go on real bike rides. We know it's possible to ride year-round in Vancouver, in fact Al commuted by bike for years, but the salt and brine and general dirt on the winter roads are nasty for the drivetrain.

My big investment was a second set of wheels for Maple. We love our tubeless tires, but the downside is the pain of installing and setting up new tires. Having two sets of wheels means I can switch easily between my smooth tires and the knobbier ones for gravel. And my love of riding unpaved paths and roads is increasing.

Through the small trees (relatively speaking) in Stanley Park

Also in Stanley Park, a big tree that didn't survive a recent windstorm.

Another victim of the wind, this one in West Vancouver

Earlier this month I finally got up the courage to ride up Spur 4, a popular gravel route here in North Vancouver. It's remote (no cell service) and it's in bear and cougar country, so I chose to go on a Saturday when I was pretty sure there would be other cyclists. I didn't actually see anyone until I got to the furthest point and turned around. Then I saw several other cyclists in groups of 1 to 8. I guess I was just early!

A big tree still standing beside Spur 4.

And a selfie by a big tree on Burnaby Mountain. I should trim that excess strap on my new helmet.

So, are we ready? Almost. I won't really be able to truly relax until we've arrived in Lyon, packed our bike cases into the boxes I ordered and which have apparently been delivered to our hotel, and successfully gotten them shipped to Nice. Then there will just be a few passes to get over!

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Steve Miller/GrampiesNice helmet. What kind is it and where did you get it?
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2 weeks ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Steve Miller/GrampiesIt’s a Giro Aries. A splurge on my part but I seem to have a hard-to-fit head and a strong desire for a light, cool helmet. We shall see how much I overheat in the Alps!

I got it a Bici in Vancouver but it’s carried by many high-end shops.
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2 weeks ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Jacquie GaudetThanks for the info. We are both needing new helmets and both have large heads (too many brains, haha) which makes a good fit sometimes difficult.
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2 weeks ago

Jacquie GaudetTo Steve Miller/GrampiesThere’s also shape to consider and that’s the tricky one for my very oval head.
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2 weeks ago