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Cycling Quebec City, Canada By Dave Stoeffler
I didn't do a lot of cycling in Quebec, but I did enough to discover that they really know how to put together a beautiful trail system.
Quebec City is a wonderful place to visit. Old Quebec is a walled city that was founded by the French in 1608. In 1759 the British took control after bombarding the city. Quebec looks much like an old European city. The Chateau Frontenac, a towering hotel, is the centerpiece of the old town.
I cycled from the waterfront below the old town along the Saint Lawrence River to Montmorency Falls. In town the bike trail is separated from pedestrians and I saw no one walking on the bike trail. At the edge of town the trail crosses a rail line and there are signals just for the trail. The trail is, at least, 16ft. wide with a line down the middle. It is very well marked and most of it is nicely landscaped. In a couple if places the trail narrowed slightly for underpasses and they were marked by flashing warning lights. Every few kilometers there would be a rest area with benches, and a drinking fountain. In several places there were cross trails, although I don't know how far they go. I returned to Quebec about 4:30PM and passed several people who were obviously bicycle commuters who were returning home. I believe that the trail that I was on was the La Chem du Roy. That is a 160-km trail along the river that will be 280km when finished.
A little reading seems to indicate that eastern Canada is filled with bike trails that are probably as well designed and maintained as the trail that I was lucky enough to ride on. I intend to return someday and ride more of them.
Bikeaholics
By Nonni Makk
Hey everyone,
Thought I'd share this with the wives and or husbands of member's of Delta Ped's. The last time Ish said he was going for a "short ride".................,being gone only a few minuets or so, I never thought twice about it. Except for when he returned the bugs in his hair could only come the state of Kansas, I never would have suspected............ Sigh. Being married to one of these (see below) I attend meeting regularly, called Bike-Enders. I no longer have the need to sweep the driveway of rocks or stickers. I no longer have to duck 5 times to get out of the garage cause there are about 10 bikes hanging off the rafters, I haven't washed 1/2 of a banana in the washing machine lately. When I fill up the tires in my car at the gas station, I don't panic with the thought of "what this isn't Prista compatible"! I think we even own one T-shirt that doesn't say I climbed to hell and back.
Anyone interested in these meeting can meet me Pruitt water park at 7:30 on Monday nights. A family that rides together, stays together :-)
The 34 Early Warning Signs of Bikeaholism:
If you experience any of these early warning signs, contact your local Bikeaholics chapter IMMEDIATELY!
- Your training log book contains nothing but daily century rides.
- Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor hail shall stop you from your appointed training ride.
- You plan rides that start from Gunn and always seem to include a lunch stop at the Saturn Cafe in Santa Cruz.
- You begin to get jittery after one full day of not riding.
- You look at a century route and immediately start plotting out extra hilly loops.
- You have to force yourself to take a break from your lunchtime ride and go back to work.
- You spend New Year's day blocking out rides for the upcoming year, and discover that your Dayminder Calendar leaves you with less than 2 hours per week "quality time" for your non-cycling family and friends.
- You frequently "take the long way home" after work and get home after 10:00 PM and 4000 ft of climbing.
- You wear bike clothes and a Camelback to work even when you're not planning to ride that day.
- You spend Sunday evenings replenishing the stash of batteries you have placed along Skyline so you can go for longer night-time rides during the week.
- Any one of your bikes is worth more than your car.
- You choose an apartment solely on the basis of whether or not it is flat enough to ride into and how close good roads/trails are.
- Your bike rack is worth more than your car.
- Your legs are tan only to mid-thigh.
- The first thing you ask when you regain consciousness is "How's my bike???"
- You actually move farther from work so the bike commute will be more heavy duty.
- You mentally log every meal as "good fuel" or "bad fuel".
- Your learn you have X money left over after paying bills and the first thing you do is reach for the nearest bicycling catalog.
- 75% of the tools you own are from Park or Campagnolo.
- You dream of winning the lottery, and the first thing you think of is "how many/which bikes can that money buy?"
- You can tell your significant other with a straight face that its too hot to mow the lawn then take off and ride a century.
- Someone in a car asks for directions and you accidentally give them a route that includes motor vehicle barriers, or a route that bypasses all freeways/busy roads, or is very scenic.
- You're in your car & lost, but instead of consulting a AAA map you lean out the window and look for colored arrows on the pavement at each intersection.
- You buy a car based on whether or not a bike will fit in the trunk/back.
- You pull up hard on the steering wheel trying to bunny hop your car over a pot-hole.
- You know the distance of every point of interest within 20 miles of your house as well as the location of every pot hole along the way.
- You refuse to buy a couch because that patch of wall space is taken up by the bike.
- You pull your car into the driveway and subconsciously twist your heel to clip out of the accelerator.
- You see glass on the road and point it out for the car behind you.
- You can't find the brake levers on the steering wheel.
- You try to stand up to go over speed bumps/railroad tracks...
- You signal a turn and hit your passenger.
- You try to shift gears by twisting the gearstick.
- You read this expecting it to be funny then realize that it all applies to you.
The Annual Spicer Trip By Jay Kleinwaks
The Delta Pedalers Cycling Club annual camping trip to Spicer was packed to the gills, during the traditional Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The four adventure packed days flashing by quicker than cycling down Highway 4. Then most of us packed up and returned to civilization, while a few rugged souls stayed over for a few more days, and Jan had to face the bear alone. More on this later.
I don't know what we had more in abundance at Spicer, bicycles or dogs. Among the pine trees, 6200 feet up and 10 miles from Highway 4, the most abundant animal were ones that answered to the name of April, Yoda or one pug that looked so much like a British leader that I renamed him Winston (sorry Kevin.) There is no truth to the rumor that Mary sought out the ranger for "wild animal" protection.
Thursday's activities were organized around speculating about the whereabouts of Dick, who once again took the rails and rode to Spicer. After each arriving camper was shoehorned into a space, they were asked if there had been a Dick sighting. The first days campfire stories focused on speculation as to where Dick had pulled over and camped out. We imagined him using a windbreaker as a shield and living on his homemade pumpkin energy bars. Later we found out that Dick had defied conventional wisdom and, with twilight arriving and being 20 miles away, had stayed over at a (four star?) hotel in Arnold.
Thursday (as well as all of the other afternoons) also seemed to be centered around the beautiful lake, where Admirals Neil and Terri (and Ensign Yoda) launched their pedal kayak. Neil claims it is not Campy equipt.
Friday and Saturday's morning activities were organized around rides. For a road ride we traveling the 10 undulating miles (downhill, then tough rollers) out to Highway 4, then rode the 6 miles UP Highway 4 past the giant wooden bears at Bear Valley, past the point where Highway 4 just becomes a driveway that is closed during the winter, to Lake Alpine at 7200 feet where we dined on yellow watermelon and good draft beer. Coming back was unbelievable-almost all downhill until a few miles from the campsite. When "the Cliffs" started Dave and Bruce pretended that they were Lance and Mario.
The mountain bikers were also in full force, organizing into a few groups to do different rides depending on skill level-though the rides seemingly all had dangerous names like Slip Rock, Slippery Rock, and Super Slippery Rock. When we came back to the campsite all of the mountain biker had big grins on their faces, recounting all of the new hazards they had flown over. Heck, Mike and Jerry looked like kids in a candy store while they compared their new abrasions and bruises.
Saturday was the traditional potluck. Yes, Bonnie had finished the SPAM at breakfast and didn't have any more for dinner. Thanks to Frank and Verena for feeding my kids, and Deanna for the pork roast that I bulked up on. Thanks to Rynie for remembering that desert is the most important part of the meal. Later, Dave told his traditional scary story, changing the location from Indiana to Spicer Lake, and actually scared some of the young kids.
On Sunday, on that dreaded getaway day, there were hikes along the lake, though the need to return to base and pack up countered our desire to circle the whole lake. Or maybe it was the amount of time we spent climbing when lost-though the view down to the reservoir was fantastic.
Which left Jan as camper of the year. After starting the camping trip earlier than all of us, then bending her rim on one of the rides, she was one of the few people to stay a few extra days. One night a bear visited Jan and rummaged through her campsite. Luckily she came out unscathed-I think the bear left when she attempted to recruit it as a casual ride leader.
And yes, what you really wanted to know--the legendary vaulted toilets didn't stink this year.