Well I got over Covid of course, having caught it in the second week of July. My case was pretty mild - I was on the couch with the classic symptoms for two full days. By day three I was up doing house chores and by day five I was out running again in the neighbourhood. However I kept testing positive up day ten. As irony would have it, my spouse Desa kept testing negative (we stayed in separate rooms in the house including meals, but didn't go to the point of masking) until the day I tested negative. Then she tested positive and started to display symptoms. Unlike me, she tested negative by day five, but still exhibited symptoms for a few days after that. After my recovery, it was less than a month before the big ride
One of the disappointments of catching Covid is early July was that it meant I missed the 401 training ride in Vankleek Hill with a bunch of the Montreal riders that I had not seen since 2019. I had carefully mapped out the route and stops and in the end none of the 3 Ottawa based riders could make it (two recovering from Covid and one away on vacation). The ride was fun and eventful with lots of flat tires and a nice post ride finish at Beau's Brewery. Well, better I miss the training ride than the actual event
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| Montreal Riders on Lefaivre ferry Still happy despite the flats |
I was fortunate enough to not suffer any long Covid issues affecting fitness - as one person in my run group did for months. My training schedule had now been thrown off as I now was going to have difficulty scheduling in a 200+ km run in preparation. In the end I settled for less aggressive plan, where my longest ride (other than Rideau Lakes Cycling Tour done back in June) would be 160 km and this would be on the back of a 140 km gravel ride the previous day
The gravel rides were particularly difficult - either in Lanark Highlands or north of Wakefield Quebec. Every one of those rides was taxing with lots of vertical climbs - I was wondering if this was the right training for the 401 Bike Challenge? One of the reasons I felt I could forfeit the longer road rides was because of these gravel rides. 140 km of which 75% is on gravel is probably equivalent to about 180 km of road riding. In the end, doing these types of rides really improved my climbing fitness, which showed during the ride event because, surprise, Toronto to Cornwall is NOT FLAT
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| It seems like I've been everywhere - man like the song |
Heading into the event days in late August, all eyes are on the weather. The forecast indicated that the temperatures would be warm but not some of the extremes we've seen this summer. There was a definitive chance of precipitation and (oh oh) it looked like we were not going to get that cherished tail wind for the first couple of days
On Tuesday, the 3 Ottawa riders - Matt, Jason and myself packed our bikes into a rental van and drove to Toronto. It was great seeing all the other riders after 3 years at the pre ride meeting and dinner
Wednesday morning we gathered in front of Sick Kids hospital in Toronto for sendoff. I was so pleased that my daughter Julie was able to meet me there! As per tradition, we were introduced to the parent of one of the kids currently undergoing treatment. She fought through tears as she recounted the story of her son's detection and treatment - both the sadness and disappointment with diagnosis as well as the joy of their encounters with the hospital staff and other families undergoing treatment. This is why we fundraise and ride
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| My Toronto girl |
Having the police escort down University and onto Lakeshore in the middle of morning rush hour is so awesome. People (mostly) cheering us on and waving. And the sense of giving a bit of the FU to the drivers that had to delay their commute to wait for - bicycles. The escort would lead us into Scarborough-Guildwood, at which point we would break into groups of ~10 riders each with a lead motorcycle and a trailing van for continued road protection as we left Toronto. The groups are roughly based on average speed - group 1 is quite fast - averaging about 33 km/hr, whereas group 4 is about 25 km/hr. Groups 2 and 3 are roughly the same at around 29-30 km/hr. I was assigned to group 3
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| Waiting to turn onto Front St from University Ave |
The 401 Bike Challenge is really the Highway 2 Bike Challenge - as most of the route closely follows Kingston Road. Day 1 continues through Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Courtice, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Welcome, Port Hope, Cobourg, Brighton, Trenton and finally Belleville. Until about Bowmanville (73 km), the ride is very stop/start as there are many traffic lights. So it's hard to get any momentum going. Lunch was once again provided by McDonald's (urp) at a gorgeous stop at Victoria Park in Cobourg. Thunderstorms were looming, although I never saw any lightning at any time. We left as it started to rain - which went on for about 45 minutes. Our ride time ended up being significantly longer than it was 2019 both due to a head/cross wind and also longer break stops. I felt great after 190 kms with energy to spare
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| Making the most of the endless red lights |
Day 2 is always the real challenge. 262 kms from Belleville to Cornwall with a lunch stop in Mallorytown Landing (142 km) on the 1000 Islands Parkway. The route was 4 km longer this year due to a construction detour near Morrisburg. Group 3 started out with fury - we averaged 31.5 km/hr over the first 80 km through Napanee onto Kingston, passing Group 2 and almost caught up to Group 1 at one point. The temperature was nice and cool even if we still had a bit of a cross wind. We even managed to rotate in a pace line for that first segment. But the temperature started to rise as the sun came out after we left Kingston and by the time we arrived in Gananoque several riders in the group were starting to feel the heat - our pace dropped down to 28 km/hr. The hydration stop was very welcome
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| The best looking group - Group 3 preparing to leave Kingston |
We decided to continue at a slower pace as we were now getting on the 1000 Islands Pathway with the sun continuing to glare down. Some of the riders continued to struggle in the heat and we had to slow further. Finally we arrived at Mallorytown Landing (142 km). We were over half way done. I was starting to think that we might finish in the dark - sunset was at 8:37 pm the previous evening. By the time we left ML it was close to 3 pm. I'm not keen on night riding, but so be it
As luck would have it, not even 8 km later, one of the riders had a flat. It took a while to fix it - I don't think the rider had much experience changing these. I provided my tools to expedite the process but didn't help as I already did the bulk of a fix for a flat on Day 1. Share the joy
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| How many riders does it take? |
A couple of other short unscheduled stops and avoiding a slightly scary construction cut out at Jones Creek along the Parkway before we got back on the road and on towards Brockville (163 km). Re-hydrated again, we kept going for another 14 km before one of the riders who had trouble with the McBurgers lunch stopped pedaling and then cramped up to the point that he couldn't continue. Our trailing van unfortunately didn't have room for a rider and a bike (it was filled with drinks, snacks and the riders' day bags). So our only option was to way for the large bicycle repair van that followed the Group 4 van. Unfortunately we had to wait almost 40 minutes for it to arrive
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| The bicycle shop (and rider pick up) van on wheels Not shown - the attached trailer with all our luggage |
After the rider pick up, we continued on through Prescott, Johnstown and Cardinal. This is kinda my cycling 'hood' as I'll occasionally head through these towns on training rides from remote starts like Kemptville. I pointed out the best tart bakery in Prescott and joked that Matt and I were going to head home as we passed old highway 16 intersection in Johnstown, heading up to Ottawa
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| The never ending Day 2 route - 262 kms. You can see the detour on the upper right |
As we continued, one of the riders was significantly slowing and fading. Tim and I decided to stay with him and do whatever pulling we could while the rest of the group stuck together a little further ahead. Then we arrived at the detour which was to take us up over the 401, then east and then back down over the 401 back to highway 2. Our tired rider was especially struggling on the hills and the thought of 2 extra climbs on the 401 overpasses loomed large. Tim and I kept pulling and finally we made it to the last stop before the end - Morrisburg (224 km). Matt offered to buy me a Timmies Iced Cap and I didn't refuse. I was tired but not exhausted. But twilight was looming. My first thought upon stopping - get my bike lights on and switch out my sunglass lens for one less shaded. At one point, the bike repair wagon showed up and out popped not just our 'bonked' rider from earlier - but 5 or 6 others from the other groups. It seems that the temperature affected quite a few of us that afternoon.
38 kms to go. If we kept to 28 km/hr it would take us about 1:20 to cycle the remainder. We might reach the hotel at twilight end. Our previously bonked rider rejoined our group as well as another rider who was going to just ride this last day 2 segment. We might have to slow our speed a bit for the additional riders in the group. Off we set. Highway 2 in this section was (thankfully) repaved from when I last rode it 3 years ago. And the unpaved shoulder was just refreshed with fluffy, sandy new gravel. I noted this at one point and commented to one of the other riders that "you don't want to end up in that"
Well, at 240 kms, just before Ingleside, that's exactly what happened. For reasons unkonwn, our motorcycle escort slowed down and the riders ended up bunching up next to him (we are instructed to never go ahead of the motor escort). Within the yells of "slowing!" one of the riders further back swerved to avoid the wheel in front of them, onto the soft shoulder and went over the handlebars. We all stopped to assess. Thankfully, the rider suffered only gravel rash. It took some time to assess, validate and regroup. Group 4 passed us. It was getting dark and some dark clouds were appearing to the east of us, in the direction we were headed. The crashed rider decided he was good to continue
So on we went - 22 kms to go now. It was after 8 pm. At around the town of Long Sault I saw a rainbow whose edge landed right on highway 2. I yelled out "there's a cold beer at the end of that rainbow!'. I don't remember anyone laughing. Also, it never occurred to me that the dark stormy clouds were heading towards us (or at least not moving) rather than moving east - especially since the wind had turned and we had a bit of westerly wind finally during the late part of the afternoon and evening.
Darkness came. Not all the riders had bike lights (why?). Even so, my front light is not set up for illumination - it's more for visibility. Partially because of this, and because I still had some energy I ended up on the front of the group which had now split in two. Unfortunately, the good pavement ended (must be the Cornwall town boundary I'm guessing?) and highway 2 was back to the way I remembered it - full of holes and cracks. Then the rain started. We were still about 5 km from the hotel. My GPS display had switched to night mode, but I still couldn't see it. Thank goodness I switched my sunglass lenses. The rain intensified. It was like a video game where you had to guess which reflective pools of water were safe to ride through and which contained potholes or cracks that could send you flying. Cars continued to zoom by - thank goodness we had our escort motorcycle and van. If not, I would have stopped and waited for a ride. I was having difficulty seeing. After a while we all stopped yelling out "hole" because it was redundant. Just follow the leader and hope. I noticed a paved bike shoulder "protected" by one of those rumble strips. Hallelujah I thought - we're home free. Except wherever there was a driveway the bike shoulder ended up with a pile of gravel on it. After weaving in and out over the rumble strip a few times, I just gave up and stayed on the shitty road. Those last 5 kms (10 minutes) seemed like forever. What a relief when we saw the hotel sign. I must have been gripping my hoods so hard my hands were sore. Physically I was fine - just tired. But mentally I was exhausted. I don't remember the last time I concentrated so hard on a task. After that rainbow cold beer, a shower, a nice dinner I went to my room and crashed. I skipped the traditional Day 2 scotch and cigar celebration I was so finished - I needed my introvert time. The day ended 99% great and 1% slightly terrifying. Not perfect, but close
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| So happy we're not riding in the rainy dark anymore Where's that cold rainbow beer? |
Ahhhh... Day 3. A decent sleep, an awesome weather forecast including a tailwind(!) some slightly reformed groups, more relaxed expectations and a short distance to John Abbott College in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (98 km) before we pick up our police escort for the final leg into Montreal Children's Hospital. The hard part was over. The morning part of the ride is on nice quiet roads - through South Lancaster on into Quebec, through Saint-Zotique, Les Coteaux, Les Cedres, Point-des-Cascades, Ile-Perrot then Abbott. Some of the Saint-Lawrence river views are just gorgeous. I saw two baby ospreys in their nest atop one of those man made telephone pole platforms built specifically for them. The pace was civil - 25 km/hr allowing for some great conversations when not concentrating on the Quebec potholes (known sarcastically by the cyclists as "Quebec pave"). Lunch at Abbott was once again provided by McDonalds. I'm grateful for their sponsorship, but I'm fine if I don't see another f'n Filet O' Fish or Quarter Pounder for another year. But keep bringing the apple pies
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| The Ottawa riders at the start of Day 3 |
The motorcade led us along Lakeshore through Baie-D'Urfe, Beaconsfield, Pointe Claire, Dorval, Lachine, Ville Saint-Pierre, Montreal West and finally over the Decarie and into the hospital. For this last portion, like the first, we ride together as one big group. This requires a bit of concentration as we're not restricted to single or double file but can occupy the whole lane going east. This part of the ride is always a joy. We get so many shouts of encouragement, friendly honks, clapping and cheers it just makes you smile. As we did in 2019, we stopped just over 2 km short of the finish to pick up Georgie - the son of one of our riders and a cancer survivor. Georgie was to lead us into the hospital - a testament to the difference the participants and volunteers are making to the lives of those undergoing treatment
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| Our Montreal police motorcade |
The lead into the hospital is always emotional. Music blaring and a crowd of friends and family to welcome us. My wife Desa and her sister made the effort to come out and welcome me. I can't overstate my happiness at having family support at both ends of this journey. After lots of hugs, high fives and many pictures, a few speeches were in order. Dr David Mitchell, who is a specialist in pediatric oncology at Children's Hospital and McGill Unversity said a few words about the importance and use of the funds raised for the hospitals. It's noteworthy that Dr. Mitchell is also one of our 401 riders. The 401 Bike Challenge founder, Gene Piccoli presented the final cheque tally to the 3 hospitals (CHEO in Ottawa is the 3rd one) - $278k, which brings the total raised for the 401 Bike challenge to $2.8 m over it's 15 year history. Many thanks were given to everyone involved in organizing such an event (it's a huge task)
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| Medals, thanks and the cheque |
As a testament to the organization, it should be noted that over almost 590 kms with 39 riders + another few doing just the Day 3 ride, 4 motorcycle escorts, 4 escort trail vans and 1 bicycle repair shop on wheels, that there were no serious injuries. In an event of this size and complexity, "shit's gonna happen" but it's paramount that everyone get back safely. Kudos to everyone involved
And finally, a huge thanks to all you contributors who sponsored me. Without your contributions, this event wouldn't exist and the result would be a huge loss in the lives of those undergoing treatment and their families. You make the difference
One final note. If you think that cycling the almost 590 kms from Toronto to Montreal in 2.5 days is a little nuts, what about doing it in a single day? Well, this year, someone did exactly that. Bruce Bird who is an exceptional amateur cyclist undertook the task of riding the 401 Bike Challenge on Day 2 Thursday. He left Sick Kids at 4 am and after 16.5 hours of riding time and almost 19 hours of elapsed time, arrived at Children's Hospital at 11 pm. To do this, Bruce had to average a pace of just under 36 km/hr! Kudos to Bruce and wow, just wow.
All the best,
Dan
