First Cypress, then Grouse Mountain...

Submitted by Stan

What a difference a week makes.  Spring has arrived, at last!

Sadly, because I love riding in groups, I could not ride on Saturday with my usual riding club, "Le Peloton", due to family commitments. So I had to sneak away on my own early on Sunday. Thankfully, I was able to cycle through downtown just before the Vancouver Sun Run, which took place that morning, closed Burrard and the Lions Gate Bridge. This time, my destination was Cypress Mountain on the North Shore, so I headed over the Lions Gate Bridge and out to West Vancouver. Then, I turned up the big hill on 14th avenue to Mathers. Those 8-10% grades were a prelude to what was to come. Basically it was up hill from there, from sea level, to the upper levels highway, and eventually to the top of Cypress.  What a beautiful ride, though, one of the best I've done since last summer.  I stopped to take pictures on the viewpoint, six kilometers up Cypress, then a few at the top, just at the base where the Olympic snowboard competitions were held only a few of months ago. Now it's a deserted lot, with only the occasional hiker and cyclist to be seen.

At the viewpoint, halfway up Cypress-->

<--Mountain stream on the way up  the mountain

Snowmaking equipment used on Cypress Mountain during the Olympics. Thanks to these, and helicopters that brought snow to the mountain, the Olympic snowboard event was saved!-->

 <--at the top of Cypress, near the old ski lodge.  The Olympic snowboard site is behind me.



Coming down the mountain was a huge change from that freezing cold, fog-bound ride on Seymour last week.  The road was dry, visibility was unlimited, and before I knew it I had reached a top speed of 76 kph heading down the mountain. It's quite a thrill, flying down the mountain on a lightweight carbon fiber bike, in perfect control, feeling the wind flowing over your body, and shouting "good morning!" to fellow cyclists as you pass them by while they labor  up the hill for their chance.

My next and final goal of the day was the gondola at the base of Grouse Mountain.  Looking at the route profile below, you will notice my destination was much lower in elevation than Cypress. However, what might not be apparent, unless you look closely, are the steep inclines encountered going up Capilano Road.  "Short and sharp", as my brother-in-law Jerome, an avid cyclist, likes to say.  The last kilometer or so is brutal - a 12-15% grade - that makes you desperately want to see the Grouse Mountain sign to tell you that the ordeal is nearly at an end.

Cycling tip: When going up steep inclines, it's important to make sure you are using the upward thrust of your opposing leg, in addition to the all-important downward thrust.  This takes a significant burden off your downstroke leg. It not only helps to make that stroke easier, but also takes some of the strain off your joints. This is absolutely critical when embarking on a long distance tour like what we are doing in June, because if you damage your knees, you are done for. Using your 'upstroke' is counter-intuitive, however.  Your leg is aching for a rest, so it takes a conscious effort to do so.  The good news is the upstroke uses different muscles, so, at the end of the day, your body will thank you for it.

Thanks to the warm, but not too hot weather, and the fact I've been working pretty hard training at the gym since that brutal ride up Seymour last week, I had enough steam to pick up the pace the last few meters and made it triumphantly to the top.

Please get that cougar off my back!  This is what happens when you get a tourist to take your picture. At the base of Grouse Mountain, near the entrance to the gondola-->

<--My route today, tracked on my bike's Garmin GPS, from home to Cypress, to Grouse, and finally back along British Properties to Taylor way for the return home via Lions Gate Bridge. In all, 85 kilometers.

The elevation profile tells it all-->

So, I'm starting to feel a bit better about training.  However, there's much, much more to do before I'll be ready for our big ride in June.  

And, there's much more that simply MUST be done to raise funds for the children I'm riding for.  I will be sending out a personal appeal this week to my many friends and family, as, without your help, this ride cannot be the success we're all working so hard to achieve.  Can you help?  Roman, Madison and Hailey, and the other CF children and young adults who we are riding for are depending on you to support Cystic Fibrosis research. It is their only hope for improved outcomes and ultimately a cure for CF. That is why we are doing this ride. Click on the link of any rider's name you see on in this journal and you'll find their 'bio' on the official GearUP4CF web site, sponsored by the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. There's a link there that you can make a tax-deductible donation on-line. If you have not done so already, please do it now. We're looking forward to having you join our team.

- Stan



Would you like to sponsor a favorite rider? Click on their name anywhere on this journal to open their "bio" on the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation GearUp4CF web site, click on the button "Sponsor this Rider", and you will join our team!