When the season ends

Mackie is back to school... which doesn't mean the season ends. He is still riding his bike almost everyday. A couple of weeks ago he had a death defying crash coming down a 6% grade at Blue Mountain near Collingwood. He struck the pavement at 45 kilometres per hour and after a trip to emergency to clean the wound on his elbow he was up on his bike for a 10 k ride the next day. His season didn't end.
A week later he did a great ride in Montreal some of which you can see on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEOfmtBdKHY) After getting to ride with one of his heroes, his season didn't end.
He has exceeded 2500 kilometres this summer but that also doesn't mean the season ends.
He completed his last triathlon of the summer on Saturday in Milton with his fastest time ever. 10 minutes, 34 seconds to swim 50 meters bike 1.5 kilometres and run 500 metres. But I still don't think he'd say his season is ended.

Winners never quit.

Poppy had a mantra. He drilled it into me as a kid. "Quitters never win and winners never quit." I've always known what it meant but never with more clarity than yesterday.
MacLaren knew it was Poppy's 70th birthday. Mackie and I know Poppy watches us from Heaven. He was psyching himself up all week for the Oakville triathlon. I have to be honest and say that I was consumed with great expectations and probably contributed more anxiety than I should have with pre-race discussion. All week, Mackie was practicing his stroke at the pool. He has been swimming better and faster than ever. He has also been keeping up on the bike. Watching the Canadian, Ryder Hesjedal climb the ranks in the Tour de France has been inspirational. Mackie loves watching the peloton chase down a breakaway. More than once this week he commented on how beautiful it was and how he could ride like that. Mackie was also excited that his friend Ondrej from Beavers was joining him in this triathlon. This was going to be Ondrej's first race and Mackie was excited to show him the ropes. By coincidence their race numbers were 151 and 152 so they would line up right next to each other at the start of the race. We were convinced that this was going to be his best race ever.
We should have seen some omen on Saturday morning of what challenges were to come. I left my car keys in Mom's car and when it was time to go pick up the race kits in Oakville on Saturday morning, Mommy was already out in her car at a running event. Mackie and I hopped on our bikes for the 30 kilometre ride to Oakville to get registered. We met up with Ondrej and his Mom and they thankfully gave us a ride back home. Saturday afternoon and evening were also very busy; all afternoon at the pool then another swim with our friends in the evening. With all the excitement we didn't get to sleep till late at night. We got up bright and early on Sunday and despite the short sleep Mackie was able to muster up energy and enthusiasm for racing. We got to the course at Appleby College and set up Mackie's gear in the transition zone. When we met up with Ondrej we did an extra dry run through transition to practice and found that somebody had moved Mackie's bike. We set it back up ready for him to grab his helmet, shoes, and sunglasses quickly before setting out on his bike. We were feeling good and happy to see Ondrej and other familiar faces. However, while waiting for Mackie's wave to start Mackie discovered he had developed a blister on his foot. He was still optimistic that he could persevere.
Mackie and Ondrej had great swims. Ondrej managed the full length of the pool without stopping; a first time feat for him. Mackie swam like he had all week and got out of the pool a close second place and well ahead of the field. Mackie charged out to transition and donned his gear quicker than ever.
As Mackie was mounting his bike it became apparent that something was wrong. I was snapping pictures and cheering, "Way to go Mackie!! You are in first place! Go fast, go fast on your bike! You're doing great!"
Mackie struggled to get his bike going he was about 75 metres down the track when he turned to look back at me and said, "I'm trying but the brakes aren't working!" He had tears in his eyes and a crack in his tiny voice.
The 1.5 kilometre bicycle leg of the race was two times around the main campus of Appleby College. As Mackie disappeared behind the buildings to complete his first lap my heart sank. I hoped he was okay. Should I have run after him? Are the volunteers around the course helping him? What could be wrong with his bike? The next seven minutes were gut-wrenching. I watched for Mackie to ride past hoping I would be able to see what was troubling him. When he came around to start his second lap I saw it. His handlebars had been twisted around and the brake cable tangled around them so that the brake was permanently engaged. Mackie was red-faced with tears and gasping, "I wanted to get first place for Poppy", he wept as I ran on to the course. "I know, I know! You're doing it!" was all I could think to say as I untangled his bike. "Don't worry you're doing great!" I called as he rode of at speed to round the course a second time. Minutes later Mackie pulled around to drop his bike and start the run. He was still crying and his frustration was contagious for Mama and me. We ran along side of him for the beginning of the run; giving him encouragement and trying to relieve his heartache. Mackie fell to the ground about 15 metres from me. I didn't say a word. He got up and continued. I yelled, "Way to go Mackie! you're a winner!" Mackie kept going and crossed the finish line with tears rolling down his cheeks. He fell into my arms and cried.
"Mackie, I love you so much!" I'd have done anything to change the circumstances.
"Don't worry you did great. I think that was your best race ever!" We tried to console him. As we took pictures of him and his friends with their medals Mackie strained to smile. It took about 20 minutes for him to regain any composure. I ache for him.
Turns out Mackie's time was better than average but he did not place as high as he had hoped among the 200 or so competitors. Mackie has become accustomed to finishing top ten and despite a respectable 13 minute 46 second time he was not at the top...except probably in Poppy's and my book. Mackie is not a quitter. He tried harder than I have ever seen him try. We talked about it later as we relaxed by the pool in the afternoon. I told him how proud Poppy would be that even though he had all those things go wrong he controlled the outcome by refusing to quit. "Quitters never win..." I said.
"and Winners never quit." Mackie replied.

Next

You might think that when a 6 year old finishes a 600 kilometre bike ride he puts his bike away in the shed and starts playing croquet. Not Mackie. He comes home and prepares for the remaining triathlons of this season. He rides his bike to the Rotary Pool every day then practices his 500 metre run at the track. He is a serious athlete.

He competed in the Huronia Triathlon July 4 in Penetanguishene and again achieved a top 10 finish. This was his first triathlon where the swim was in a lake and not a pool. The bicycle portion took the racers up and over a challenging 1.5 kilometre hill. As usual Mackie was at a height disadvantage and was only as tall as the other competitor's shoulders. When the starting horn blew Mackie started swimming but everyone else stood up and ran through the water. Mackie came out of the water third from last. He was mad. "They didn't swim!!" he yelled at me as I snapped photos of him running across the beach to his bicycle. He tears off his swim cap and goggles and races to get into his helmet and waiting shoes and within seconds he is screaming across pavement in pursuit. I ran up a shortcut to get pictures of him riding up the hill.

When I looked down the road I saw Mackie looking like Alberto Contador. He danced on his pedals and slipped past a dozen riders over the first 300 metres. Then he opened the gap even further as he reached the peak and began his descent towards the start of the running leg. He was off his bike and started the run before many had made the top of the hill. Course volunteers were shocked at the speed he was able to manage on the downhill. They gestured to him to slow down, take care. He ignored them but I thought he was holding back. He managed a respectable run and held off hard-charging competitors.
Today, a Canadian Ryder Hesjedal was the most aggressive rider in the Tour de France. Ryder very nearly won the stage with his bursts of speed over cobblestone roads. Ryder came from obscurity to finish 4th today and grab 4th place overall. An inspiring feat. When Mackie comes home from camp tonight he'll watch the recording.
Mackie's next race is in Oakville on July 11. This would have been Poppy's 70th birthday. I'm sure it'll be something special for anyone who is around and wants to see a champion race.

Made it!

We made it. 149.42 kilometres today and we got to Mamo's at 9:30pm. We rode for 8 hours 43 minutes and 2 seconds at an average of 17.14 kph. Mackie's maximum speed today was 40.25kph and the odometre reads 1318 kilometres. Quite an adventure today. We started late because it was raining. Pushed ourselves to make the Quebec border but were held up by a downpour that we waited out in a depanneur. Rode through Valleyfield to find the bridge across under construction so we had to double back for about 4 kilometres. Finally we're here. Mamo, her friend Betty, Pam, Roan and Aidan greeted us as Mackie triumphantly rode up the street. We'll post pictures tomorrow. Thanks everyone.

Domestiques

The domestiques in the Tour de France are the riders on the team that do all the work. They shuffle back and forth from the team car with food and water for the other riders on the team. They ride in front when there is a headwind and create a draft for the other riders. Up until yesterday, I was this team's domestique. I am towing about 100 pounds of gear and clothing.
Mackie became super domestique. I have been stricken with a pretty severe dehydration. I am exhausted and nearly had to abandon the ride. Mackie paced me through the day making a draft for me. He stood guard when I had to make emergency pit stops at the public restrooms. He is a trooper.
The ride route was the best we've had so far. The path along the 1000 Islands Parkway is a joy to ride. We made Brockville at about 1:00 even though we started late. Pushing on we went through Maitland, Prescott, Cardinal, and Iroquois on our way along the St. Lawrence Seaway. We finally had to sprint the last 12 kilometers because a lightening storm was racing us to our destination in Morrisburg. Mackie took off at a blistering pace. He finished the last 12 k in 25 minutes with me 200 metres behind him. Final stats were 112.98 kilometers at average 16.31 kph, maximum 34.20 kph in 6 hours, 55 minutes, 33 seconds. Further and faster than yesterday. Will we get to Mamo's today? Look out George Hincapie!

Everybody has a bicycle story

Everybody has a bicycle story. I've got lots. My parents gave me a mountain bike for my 21st birthday and when I was 24 I flew to my grandma's house in Vancouver and rode back to Montreal. The trip from Toronto to Montreal took me 3 days then. What a difference 18 years makes!
Michelle has the saddest bike story. She got a new bike as a surprise from her parents as a 13 year old child in St. John's, Newfoundland. She proudly rode it with her older cousins into town to a bookstore and hours after getting it some depraved hooligans stole the bike and threw it into the bay. It was never recovered nor replaced. The first time she told me this story I wept, makes my soul bleed fire.
Mamo's first new bike still hangs in her basement. She hasn't ridden that bike since before I was born but it must hold some memories.
MacLaren already has some phenomenal bike stories. Yesterday he completed his second metric century in three days. What a feat! We rode 112.92 kilometers in 7 hours, 24 minutes, and 44 seconds. Mackie's top speed today was 33.48 kph. He averaged 15.23 kph! His odometer now reads 1056 kilometers since he started training for this ride. We successfully outran a raging rainstorm. Thank-you to my cousin Brenda Moore and Faye who came out to Highway 2 in Kingston to cheer us on. We ate Vietnamese food in downtown Kingston then carried on. At 7:30 pm we checked in to an Inn in Gananoque, had a swim in the outdoor pool, and while we were comfortably watching Germany stomp England in World cup soccer on the tele, the rain came. Hopefully the all night rain has emptied those clouds. Thank- you for the great comments. Please keep them coming as we share them with Mac and he thrives on knowing you are cheering for him. Today we'll make new stories.

Now I know why the pros take EPO

Well we just got up and Mac is raring to go. "I was born to cycle." he told his Mom yesterday.
"Can I go on that waterside again?"
Yesterday we did get to the pools at the Ramada. Mackie's was 5 inches too short for the slide but the lifeguards let him on when they saw him swim. The slide hurdles you down four stories in a constant tight right corkscrew turn. "Dada go faster! Lie down on your back and you'll go faster! It's awesome!"
It is awesome. The force that glues you to the walls of the slide at hundreds of kilometers an hour is awesome. I think they test astronauts here. When you are just about to pass out, the slide spits you into hurtling white water and you have a ten metre swim through the froth to save yourself. Mac and I tested our space-worthiness dozens of times before enjoying the all you can eat Prime rib buffet. Chevy Chase never made a movie like this. Is this what the Tour de France riders do at their hotels? No wonder they need performance enhancing drugs.

Les Triplets de Belleville

If you haven't seen our favourite cycling movie Les Triplets de Belleville then you should rent it.
Maybe that's what we'll do this afternoon because the rain has dampened our spirits and after a solid morning the three of us are relaxing at the Belleville Ramada Inn. There is an MG car rally on the back lawn which we can see from our balcony so Mackie is happy. After soaking through a mere 42.5 Kilometres he doesn't even feel like going to the indoor pool with 4 story water slide! Mackie's top speed today was 34.53 kph. Yesterday he exceeded 40kph on an insane downhill. I thought I was way ahead of him and pulled over to find him only seconds behind me.
"You should hear the sound my bikes making Dada!" he exclaimed as he whistled past.
"You're not allowed to go faster than 30 anymore." I insisted. So much for that rule.
It took us 3 hours and 6 minutes to ride 42.44 kilometers at an average speed of 13.68k today. Quite a contrast to yesterday's 100.1k in 6 hours 38 minutes at an average of 15.05. Yesterday's stage was much more difficult. The final climb to the campground felt like Alpe d'huez. Mackie was smiling all the way up while I was worried I was going to have a heart attack and die in the ditch. Today Mackie could not wait to be done. This is a mental challenge above all.
Sorry Jman today's epicurean delights only include Chocolate Chip Clif Bar, Egg McMuffin, Wonka's Everlasting Gobstoppers, TootsieRoll mini chews, and fresh mint Tic Tacs. If the rain let's up maybe we'll get to Denny's for dinner.

Kerouac

Delayed our departure because Weather Network was calling for thundershowers that never came until Thursday morning.  We finally got underway at 9:45 am Thursday. We saw G20 motorcades in Mimico and Queen's Quay. We were quickly past the G20 security. They let us snap a picture with the riot police even though Mac looks like bicycle terrorist.  We were well past Leslieville by noon. Kingston Road proved an incredible challenge. First there was tonnes of red lights. We stopped at Licks for a burger. Then Dada blew his back tire and had every other bike part but that. We called CAA but then Bob with a pickup truck, offered us a lift to nearby Bay Cycle. After a quick fix we were on our way. The bike mechanics sure liked Mackie's bike. Kingston Road becomes Hwy 2 and a complete construction nightmare. The pavement is grated and rough and the shoulder is unmarked. Very stressful moments with some incredibly inconsiderate motorists. Finally reached a store called Algoma orchards. This marked the beginning of rural roads. Ladies were impressed with Mac. Had dinner there.. Bananas, cheese bread, nitrate free oven roasted turkey, Scottish cheese and complimentary apples!  Thanks Sharon and Martha. Carried on to complete Mackie's longest day at 82 k. Kingston Road was a killer but our last hour was more tranquil. Found a great spot at Historic Bond Head located in the municipality of Clarington for camping thirty feet from Lake Ontario. The lapping waves put us to sleep.
Woke up. Ate breakfast and made it to Port Hope in an hour and a half. Then carried on to Cobourg an went to the awesome white beach called Victoria Park.   Mac loved the water park so we cooled our heels for a couple of hours.  Mac and Michelle also made sand castles. We ate our lunch at Wicklow Beach after Grafton...ravioli by the lake. Dada was happy to get those 3 lbs cans off my bike but Mommy and Mackie replaced the weight with pebbles they collected. We made it to Brighton at 5:30 pm. For dinner, we stopped at Captain Georges for fishnchip. Yummy! The trip odometer reads 91 kilometers today. The waitress tells us it is all uphill for the last 6 or so clicks to the KOA campground.  She wasn't kidding! We pulled into KOA at 98.8 kilometers and plunged into the pool and hot tub for a couple of hours.  Mackie rode a loop of the park to complete his first ever metric century ride 100.1 kilometers! Good night. sleep tight. Don't let the big bugs bite. nighters tighters. have a good luck!

The Gear is Key

Gear is key. MacLaren rides a Redline Flight Micro Mini. We combed bike shops in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, California, and Las Vegas and found it was the best bike for someone Mackie's size. The crank arms are extra short at 130mm. His wheels are 18x1 inch; thinner than either mine or his Mom's. The tyre pressure is 110 psi; plenty enough to hold up Mackie's 36 lbs body. The front chainring is 37 teeth while the rear cog is 13t. He only has one gear! It is a sweet ride with a stock weight of 12.6 lbs. However we've added titanium bar-ends as Mackie complained about not having multiple hand positions on one of our 50+ kilometre training rides. We also equipped the bike with a VDO cycling computer that provides odometre, daily trip distance, average speed, maximum speed, and trip time. We intend to post these facts daily.
Michelle is riding a stock Specialized Dolce Vita.
Dad rides a Lemond Reno and gets to pull everyone's gear in a B.O.B. yak cargo trailer upgraded with an 80 psi Kenda Kwest rear tyre off MacLaren's old bike.
Thank-you to MacLaren's Godfather, Daniel. Daniel's brother, Jay, works for The North Face. Gotta give a shout out to The North Face because Daniel loaned us an amazingly light tent for the trip. We are trying to pack light and keep it really simple.

Baby Driver

First potential bump in the road-MacLaren has a cold and stayed home from school. He has had a quiet day even though he wants to get out and ride. We went to the bike shop and got extra tubes for his 18 inch wheels. Imagine to scale his bike ride will seem like riding to Europe.

A meal with Michelle's family has him feeling fortified-he loves Chinese food. Hope he is better in the morning. He asked me to sing him Simon and Garfunkel's "Baby Driver" when I tucked him in tonight.

"They call me Baby Driver

And once upon a pair of wheels

I hit the road and I'm gone.

What's my number?

I wonder how your engine feels.

Ba ba ba baaa"

Father's Day

My Dad, MacLaren's "Poppy" loved Willie Nelson. "And I can't wait to get on the road again."

We had a great Father's Day weekend. MacLaren earned his fourth top ten triathlon finish in the 6-7 year old category and asked if he could do the next one when he heard the older kids got to bike further. I was a volunteer counting the laps of the 10 and 11 year olds. Mackie would have been at the top of those times based on his ride that day. Our daily training rides are typically 3-5 times further than the 14 year old's triathlon distance.

MacLaren also passed his deep end test with flying colours at the rotary pool. We had a great time practicing dives all afternoon. I'm afraid to tell him about Marilyn Bell or who knows what we'll be doing next year.

After all this exercise we cooled our heels watching Toy Story 3 at cineplex. Mac got his fill of carbs with his own kiddie combo of Popcorn. Also a delightful ending to a wonderful Father's Day. "To Infinity and Beyond!!!"

One week

So next Wednesday MacLaren graduates from Kindergarten. He also plans to graduate from triathlete and daily distance cyclist to full-on Grand Tour Cyclist as we will be heading out on Hwy 2 to Montreal and "Mamo's House". He is pretty excited about it and we thought we should share his excitement by recording some thoughts here.

I asked MacLaren, "What do you think about riding to Mamo's House?"

"OH YAAHHH!!!!"

Hope he will be able to keep up this enthusiasm over the next 600 or so Kilometers.