Buying a Bike
I own an older mountain bike that I use on the rough ATV / Snowmobile trails around Stoney Lake. And I use a beach bike in Hilton Head. Great reliable bikes but not the bike for a 200 km road ride. Looking around, I am amazed at the variations – road bikes, gravel bikes, hybrid bikes, commuter bikes, mountain bikes – and new bike price ranges from $1000 to $20,000. I am leaning to a three to five year old, used gravel bike with 58 frame, disc brakes and straight handle bars for under $1000.
Right now Cathy and I are in St George Utah, and this is a biking mecca. So I am looking at Facebook Marketplace and other local marketplaces. I might be lucky and get a good bike and a good deal here. One way or the other, I need to get a bike by mid April for my final two months of training. If any of you have a bike to sell, please contact me.
Training
I am riding a stationary bike several days a week and slowly adding distance and resistance. In addition, I am running and doing weights. I am trying to be consistent and patient, and doing a slow fitness build, recovering from too much sedentary time over the last 3 years due to COVID and some intense consulting contracts. For guidance and inspiration, I am using The Triathlete’s Training Bible, author Joe Friel. So far so good.
In April, training will change. As a rider in the 18 strong Amby’s International Aces, I will do a few 50 km weekend team rides. I expect to do a lot more rides along the Toronto Waterfront Trail between The Beach and the Humber River. And when at our cottage, riding the loop around Stoney Lake and mixing things up with mountain bike rides on the local ATV / snowmobile trails. And of course, some carb loading along the way.
