Carpe Diem, The Series: Cycle Through the Seasons

Author: Paul Stevens

As mentioned last week, I was to start playing a second ‘hockey game of the week’ with another group on Monday evenings. I went to the game and had a boatload of fun. It was a diverse group age-wise as some of the guys were greybeards like me along with a strong contingent of the younger generation, many of whom were sons of the older set. What a sharp reminder how fast these young guys are! “OK” I kept telling myself. “Just pass the puck up to them; I’ll be down the ice in minute (or two) ”. We had the ice for 1 ½ hours which is longer than the typical time slot by 30 minutes but with a good number of subs on each bench, it kept the game moving at a nice clip while giving everyone (especially the older guys) a chance to catch their breath and recharge on the bench.
These pick-up type games are a lot of fun. Everyone recognizes that there are no contracts pending the outcome so there is no dirty work and a decent sense of taking care of each other on the ice. Everyone has to go to work or school the next day so there is no need to take advantage of anyone. Also, in a pick-up game, there are no game officials so there is no stoppage in play for the things you would experience in an organized game such as face-offs, goals, or any other type of play that would create a need to whistle the play dead. What this means is that a 1 ½ hour game is virtually non-stop action (I use that term liberally) providing ample opportunity to get yourself as tired as you can tolerate.
This is yet another way to meet fellow townies who have something in common and I find that it is a great way to make myself feel more at home in a new environment. With the group that I play with on Thursday evenings, an invitation was extended to me to participate in an old-timers tournament at the end of March to take place in Niagara Falls. This is another chance to get to know my new neighbours better and it should be a god time. The tournament is for those of us who are 55 or older so I don’t expect to experience wind burn by having some 23 year old flying by me at low altitude. I of course will report back to you after that weekend.
Here we are approaching the end of February and we’re still waiting for winter to show up. Other than a few spurts here and there, the winter of 2015/2016 will likely go down as one seriously mild period. On Saturday, the temperature here broke a long-standing record as the needle hit 14.4C (about 58F) which made it feel more like the Carolinas than Canada. It was even sunny too boot. As such, it was an opportune time to get on the bike and enjoy incredible weather. I have never been able to ride on the roads at this time of year. It has been warm enough in the past (however nothing close to 14.4C) but the roads are usually very wet with melting snow meaning that you get soaked from the spray coming off your tires. With the warm weather we have had, we have not had much in the way of snow so in addition to a sun-filled and warm day, the roads were also bone dry. This adds up to a very pleasing time on two wheels.
At the edge of Sarnia’s downtown, just a couple of blocks from our home, is a turf field that hosts football and soccer games in the warmer months. As I rode by on the weekend, there were a group 20 somethings playing a game of touch football. In Shorts. In February. In Ontario. I am well aware of the potential evils of global warming but jeepers that was an interesting scene.
Sunday was not a bad day either but the temperature had dropped to about 5C, still within my comfort range however if dressed properly. My usual route has taken me along the shore of Lake Huron which is a nice ride from an aesthetic point of view as well as very light in terms of competing with cars for road space. A little sidebar here if I may. Prior to moving to Sarnia, we lived in Mississauga, a large suburb of Toronto. Like all thing in a large urban environment, things are supposed to move very quickly for whatever reason. Sharing the road with vehicles could be a harrowing event from time to time only because someone was trying to get somewhere faster than traffic flow would allow. In a smaller community like Sarnia, that constant threat is all but gone and I find that drivers are more than happy to give cyclists a wide berth and a generous right of way. That is not to say that you can ride with your eyes closed as you always have to remain aware, but the threat level is significantly reduced.
Time to try a different route I thought so I headed south along the St. Clair Parkway. Just as you leave the city limits (about 15 minutes by bike), you can take a paved trial that parallels the St. Clair River. There are plenty of small towns sprinkled along this route and if you were really ambitious and or had a too much time to kill, you could ride all the way to the Windsor/Detroit area. I had no such desire or time however on that day. At about at the 18K mark, I heard that distinctive ‘pop’ sound from my rear tire that means I have just incurred a flat, the great bane of all road cyclists. I saw the sharp-edged stone that was the culprit but I was on top of it before I could maneuver out of harm’s way. No big deal though as it is not a major exercise to pull a spare tube out of your seat pouch, do the change-out, pump up the replacement and be on your way. About a 20 minute repair, tops. This time however, your intrepid rider was carrying no spare, even though it had crossed my mind to break one out earlier in the day.
Rather fortuitous however that I ran flat just a few blocks from our nephew’s house. A short walk to his place and a call to my pit crew (a.k.a. my wife) and the day was saved as she graciously offered to come by and pick me up. I owe her yet another one. The ride was cut short of course but the lesson was firmly relearned – keep a spare tube with you at all times!!!
Since the ride was abbreviated, when I got home, I hopped on stationary bike for a brief 15 minute spin alternating some time on our weight bench and some stretching. All in all, a good workout but certainly not as planned. I could have had the flat further along the route which would have left me in a difficult position to get myself back so I really have nothing to complain about. I chalk it up to another adventure but it gave me chance to have a nice, but unexpected visit with our nephew.
I’m ready for the next trip!
Your friend, Paul.
And remember – Carpe Diem (but in relaxed sort of way)!