Hamilton Death Loop

There is just something spectacular about Sunday mornings. They are a day of rest and recovery, and the day you try to figure out what happened the night before on your late night fiasco. Did all those things actually happen or was it just a dream?  A few phone calls to friends usually sorts things out, and a few mixed emotions occur at the realization you just ate chicken wings and beer. In my current state, I only have to waft alcoholic beverages to be under the table. The simple task of using mouth wash could have me in a hospital getting my stomach pumped. This is one reason why I’m glad I have cycling. The night before I had a strategic cup of warm milk and marched off to bed before 10 o’clock. I knew Sunday’s epic Jet Fuel Coffee –Norco Bicycles team ride was going to be a big one.

We met at the IKEA Burlington parking lot around 9:30am, got suited up and began the epic journey. Off the gun we were smashing watts, atoms, molecules the whole time-space continuum. You name it; we smashed it and then some. Heart rate was around the 190/bpm – optimal range. The only real concern anyone should have with heart rate is if it reads 0, a sure sign you are not doing well. The landscape was beautiful; I had not been to these parts of Ontario. I did not know Ontario had climbs, as I was used to the speed bumps of the local downtown Toronto core. Eventually we came to our first and most important destination, Café Domestique, for some well needed java and the added bonus of catching the end of the Amstel Gold Race. After the rounds of mud were slung back we headed out, back to the death march. I was not feeling my best and it showed. Earlier in the week I was smashing atoms in a different way; the old jack hammer to concrete way. It’s a solid upper body workout if you are even able to hold the darn thing. I do not have that construction worker gut that solidly holds the hammer in place. I do however have that solid construction worker appetite. The escarpment climbs were killing me, and Anton and Chris were flying as if they had a tailwind. Jeffery was recovering from an illness; a place we have all been. You don’t fully see the damage getting sick causes and the side effects of medication until you head out with the regular group. With that being said, and us being the hard men that we are, he still made his rounds on front and drilled it.

The ride was long and hard, the way a ride should be. We arrived back at the IKEA parking lot planning to pile into the car and head home when Anton suggested riding back. This sounded great to me as we had already racked up almost 5 hours of riding time.  So I hoped on the idea because more time on the bike equals more time in the kitchen. After all, we all know we only do these epic rides so we can make epic meals.