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08-15-04, 02:01 PM
Remind me again why I do this...?
Oh ya, because of rides like this!
I set out today around 12 noon into a beautiful sunny day with temperatures of 21 degrees Celsius (70F). There was a light wind from the NE as I set off. I went west on my usual route out of town (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), then headed north. I took the hillier option to get to the little town of Heidelburg. Just north of Heidelburg, I met what had to be about 40 or 50 horses and buggies of Mennonites coming back from Church. I didn't really count, but there were sure a lot, all dressed in black, with kids smiling and waving as I went past.
As I rounded the corner, I came to the dreaded "Hawkesville Hill." I really would love to figure out just how steep this hill is, but have never bothered. Rest assured it's the steepest hill around these parts, and it slowed me to about 12km/hr (7.5 mph). Luckily, the hill is short! At the top, there's a fairly long, gentle downhill before the village of Hawkesville. I turned into Hawkesville, over some of the worst, bike-rattling pavement around--luckily it only lasts for a short time! The town was deserted, as I'm assuming most residents were in church.
I turned north once again, and continued towards Wallenstein (another Mennonite settlement). Along the way, I passed some fields of freshly cut hay (what a great smell!) and some wheat fields with the straw done up in sheaves. This part of the country could easily pass for being stuck in the early 1900s for the most part! Sheaved straw, horses and buggies, traditional houses and barns... A short stretch of gravel road separated me from Yatton, my final destination for this ride. My map had shown paved road! Oh well! I slowed, and bumped and jolted my way over the gravel for 1.5 kms. The town of Yatton is little more than a dozen houses at an intersection, but sure looks like a nice place to live! I rode slowly through the town, just listening to my bike and to the birds.
A U-turn on the deserted road, and I was heading south, to reverse my route home. Back over the gravel and towards Wallenstein again! Along the way, a Mennonite family was having their post-church meal, and it looked like 2 or 3 families had gathered around a large table under a shade tree to enjoy. I waved as I passed by slowly. Back in Hawkesville, there was another large gathering of families outside eating as well.
I climbed the back side of Hawkesville hill (a lot longer, but much gentler than the front side) and prepared for my wicked descent. It was on this hill a month and a half ago that I hit my top speed ever of 74km/hr (46mph), but today my best effort resulted in my topping out at 69km/hr (43mph). What a rush though!
As I got closer to home, I decided I was feeling pretty good, so took a slightly longer route. It was here that I met the next Floyd Landis... a Mennonite rider on an old road bike, but with aero bars and all! He was zipping along at a pretty good pace, dressed in traditional white button-up shirt and black pants!
My ride ended shortly after, with my return to the city and a quick spin around my Crescent before ending in my driveway where I stopped to catch my breath, take one last swig from my water bottle, and reflect on what a great ride it had been!
Total ride: 57.11 kilometres/35.49 miles
Total Time: 02:03:23
Avg. Speed: 27.77 km/hr/17.26 mph – not very fast, but who cares!
Oh ya, because of rides like this!
I set out today around 12 noon into a beautiful sunny day with temperatures of 21 degrees Celsius (70F). There was a light wind from the NE as I set off. I went west on my usual route out of town (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), then headed north. I took the hillier option to get to the little town of Heidelburg. Just north of Heidelburg, I met what had to be about 40 or 50 horses and buggies of Mennonites coming back from Church. I didn't really count, but there were sure a lot, all dressed in black, with kids smiling and waving as I went past.
As I rounded the corner, I came to the dreaded "Hawkesville Hill." I really would love to figure out just how steep this hill is, but have never bothered. Rest assured it's the steepest hill around these parts, and it slowed me to about 12km/hr (7.5 mph). Luckily, the hill is short! At the top, there's a fairly long, gentle downhill before the village of Hawkesville. I turned into Hawkesville, over some of the worst, bike-rattling pavement around--luckily it only lasts for a short time! The town was deserted, as I'm assuming most residents were in church.
I turned north once again, and continued towards Wallenstein (another Mennonite settlement). Along the way, I passed some fields of freshly cut hay (what a great smell!) and some wheat fields with the straw done up in sheaves. This part of the country could easily pass for being stuck in the early 1900s for the most part! Sheaved straw, horses and buggies, traditional houses and barns... A short stretch of gravel road separated me from Yatton, my final destination for this ride. My map had shown paved road! Oh well! I slowed, and bumped and jolted my way over the gravel for 1.5 kms. The town of Yatton is little more than a dozen houses at an intersection, but sure looks like a nice place to live! I rode slowly through the town, just listening to my bike and to the birds.
A U-turn on the deserted road, and I was heading south, to reverse my route home. Back over the gravel and towards Wallenstein again! Along the way, a Mennonite family was having their post-church meal, and it looked like 2 or 3 families had gathered around a large table under a shade tree to enjoy. I waved as I passed by slowly. Back in Hawkesville, there was another large gathering of families outside eating as well.
I climbed the back side of Hawkesville hill (a lot longer, but much gentler than the front side) and prepared for my wicked descent. It was on this hill a month and a half ago that I hit my top speed ever of 74km/hr (46mph), but today my best effort resulted in my topping out at 69km/hr (43mph). What a rush though!
As I got closer to home, I decided I was feeling pretty good, so took a slightly longer route. It was here that I met the next Floyd Landis... a Mennonite rider on an old road bike, but with aero bars and all! He was zipping along at a pretty good pace, dressed in traditional white button-up shirt and black pants!
My ride ended shortly after, with my return to the city and a quick spin around my Crescent before ending in my driveway where I stopped to catch my breath, take one last swig from my water bottle, and reflect on what a great ride it had been!
Total ride: 57.11 kilometres/35.49 miles
Total Time: 02:03:23
Avg. Speed: 27.77 km/hr/17.26 mph – not very fast, but who cares!