It’s hard to type sound effects… on today’s round-trip ride from Victoria to the vicinity of Cowichan Bay I observed a notable fizzling out of my pedaling powers… insert ‘air escaping from balloon’ noise here. Unfortunately, the fizzling came around the halfway mark of the ride leaving me to struggle somewhat for the last 50km or so of the 115km total. I made it through, and aside from the suffering, it was a beeeeautiiiiiful ride on some roads that I have never been on (Mill Bay Road north of Bamberton and Telegraph Road north of Mill Bay).
Getting up-island from Victoria on a bike typically involves an 11km climb on the Malahat (Highway 1). This was the route I took today despite it’s somewhat intimidating features (traffic and almost all uphill). An alternative route involves going up the Saanich Peninsula to Brentwood Bay and taking the ferry to Mill Bay / Bamberton. I guess part of my fizzling out today had something to do with the Malahat, but there were probably a variety of reasons.
GPS Data: 115.5km – 4h10m – 27.7km/h – GPS route
A 115km round-trip road bike ride from Victoria, BC to Cowichan Bay. Click on the map to see detailed information on the Garmin website.
Heading out of town near box-store-central (Langford)... no food, rest, camping, dumping, or big box store action for me for at least another four hours.
Looking over the edge towards Finlayson Arm while on the way up the Malahat. T-minus 30 minutes until fizzling out of the Kris.
Looking east or maybe east-north-east from near the top of the Malahat - 11km climb, which did me in today.
Heading down the hill towards Bamberton after descending from the Malahat. T-minus 10 minutes until Kris engine blows head gasket.
Down by water south of Mill Bay on Mill Bay Road. This stretch of road was new to me and rather nice. Oh god, that's it the Kris engine has blown up.
Nice riding along the water on Mill Bay Road, although the realization of 50-60km remaining with no pep left was starting to set in at this point.
Looking back towards the Malahat from the just north of Mill Bay near the south end of Telegraph Road - another new road for me.
One or two hot-sweaty-messes - that is me heading north on Telegraph Road.
Near the halfway point with a nice view to the north from Cobble Hill Road.
Gradual climbing back to the top of the Malahat on Shawnigan Lake Road. By this point I was thinking that perhaps I should have checked the train schedule in Cobble Hill.
Not the greatest, but a view none-the-less of part of Shawnigan Lake.
Ahhh, almost home. Heading down the Malahat near Goldstream. When you're done, even a big downhill doesn't really feel that good.
The final stretch along the Galloping Goose near Portage Inlet. T-minus 10 minutes to Chocolate Vivanno Smoothie with extra shot of protein.
Oh oh! Pretty sweaty. Take it easy big guy. You are not 25 anymore. Diji
Well, that puts my whining about how tough my 1.5 hour ride over and around Burnaby Mountain was into its proper perspective.