Page 15 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 138

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this challenge?
This was my second year
participating in the Rideau Tour.
Last year several members of
the Cornwall Club participated
in one of the tour ride’s four
distance options. There are four
ride options, from 106 to 220
kilometers one way. Last year
(2023) I had no idea what I was
getting into. But I trained hard
leading up to it and had a great
time even though it rained the
last 50 kilometers of Saturday’s
ride. So, this year was kind of a
no brainer to register and do it
again.
How long have you been
cycling at that level?
Riding 100 to 125 kilometers
a day is not really anything new
to me, or most members of the
Cornwall Cycle Club. I have
done the ‘Ride to End MS,’ (100
kilometers both Saturday and
Sunday), eight times, and have
done several 100 kilometers rides
during a riding season to keep
ready for other rides.
What does it take to accomplish
this?
To do a ride like the Rideau
Lakes Tour or other 100 plus
kilometers rides requires a
reasonable amount of training.
To do the ride enjoyably you
need to be able to do it, and not
Issue #138 July 2024 15
need the next couple of days successful if I attacked and rode (244.30 kms, 10 hours and 50
to recover. To achieve this, as hard or as fast as I could. I minutes over two days). It is not
someone might try to ride, run, or knew from the weather channel easy. I do not know how some of
swim almost every day. I prefer and riding maps that the first my fellow riders did the longer
to ride outside, but like all other part of the ride would be mostly rides. Someone joked, at the stop
Cornwall cyclists, I have to ride downhill, and the second part in Delta, that they heard someone
inside during the winter. would be flatter, but I would be say at breakfast that an Uber
I prefer to ride or run almost riding into a strong wind. As any would have cost him $220.00 for
everyday and rarely less than four cyclist will tell you, wind can be a ride back to Perth.
times a week. I prefer to exercise your enemy. The worst part of the ride this
early in the morning before I go What motivated me? Food and year was the quality of the roads.
to work. But I have friends who a sense of accomplishment. The We are definitely spoiled here in
workout at lunch or either after food last year at Queen’s was SD&G. We have great roads with
work or after dinner. great and it did not disappoint this bike lanes. Our roads are well
year. The greatest motivator maintained and a pleasure to ride
Did you ride as a team, if yes, for me was really the sense of on. This year I also had to fight
how many members were on your accomplishment that comes from boredom because I was riding
team? successfully finishing a tough alone, cycling for over 5 hours is
Last year I was able to ride ride. Even though hundreds of tough, and takes more awareness.
with an experienced rider from people do this Tour every year, Will he do it again? He says
my club who had done the Rideau an old saying still rings true, “if it
several times. Her knowledge and that he will never do it solo again,
was easy, everyone would do it.” he would only do the Tour again
experience were very beneficial.
Unfortunately, this year a nagging What was the best and the if he has others that he could
knee injury meant that she was worst part of the tour ride with. Solo is tough both
not able to ride with me. So, I The best part of the Tour physically and mentally. And he
ended up doing most of it solo. for me this year was the pride would also need some assurance
of successfully completing it that the road conditions were
What was your strategy and better.
what motivated you to keep
going?
You might find it surprising that Match Your Area Knowledge
my biggest strategy was to keep Play Thom’s Trivia
telling myself to “take it easy.”
To explain, Saturday’s ride to 1Q - What did 16,218 people watch on April 19, 1942?
Kingston from Perth was 123.71
kilometers and involved cycling 2Q -Who did Leafs captain Syl Apps call upon to join him
for 5 hours and 16 minutes. I before accepting the Stanley Cup in 1942?
knew from last year that I needed 3Q - What did Dave Schriner do in game 7?
to pace myself. I would not be
Page 35 for Answers