SLOW DOWN!

SLOW DOWN!

That’s the lesson I learned this week. It was almost a painful one. The weather warmed up early in the week. The high temperature was -2 on Monday and Tuesday. The high temperatures softened the snow and made for messy roads. I had to go to the center of Winnipeg for an evening meeting on Tuesday. It was on the trip home that it happened. I had the SH_T scared out of me.  My legs were feeling great. I think my legs have started to become Velomobile legs. I was really picking up speed when it happened. I hit a patch of soft, mushy snow. In a fraction of a second it threw the Quest left across the street towards the only parked car on the whole street. I pulled on the brakes hard. I was going too fast. At the last second I managed to steer into the snow bank instead of the parked car. The Quest went part way up the snow bank before it stopped. I was lucky there were no cars coming towards me. I climbed out and checked the Quest. No damage except my pride.

          The problem was caused by speed. I was going too fast for the road conditions. I was going too fast for my headlight. I didn’t see the soft snow.  When I uploaded the Garmin when I got home I could see on the map my little detour. I was doing 49.9 kph when I lost control of the Quest. I am going to ride a little safer for the next while.

Hybrid Bike?

         

Friday was the Winter Bike to Work Day. It’s a day that we try to encourage cyclists to try winter cycling. Several “pit stops” were set up along commuting route to the downtown. Free hot coffee was given out, and Donuts. Of course I start work too early to get a free coffee. But for those who did ride the free coffee was welcomed. The morning temperature was    -20C.  I was warm in my Quest with the Tour Cap.  In the afternoon there was a group ride from the University of Winnipeg in the down town to the Forks. Part of the route was on the Assiboine River.  I met the group on the river and rode with them to the forks of the two rivers.

 

Some of the winter cyclists arriving along the river trail.

After the ride the winter cyclists had a chance to cook some hot dogs over a wood fire and some warming spirits to drink.

 Along the trail are some warming shelters that have been designed and built as part of a contest. Function appears not to be a requirement. I took a few pictures of some of them. I think I got my picture taken quite a few times and got asked lots of questions about the Quest. I took it easy on the way home in the dark this time...

A shelter along the trail.

Sunday we go to a dog sled race, but that's for next weeks Blog...

And another weird shelter.

And still another shelter.