Dear Lance...

I feel somewhat betrayed today, knowing that for years I have given you the benefit of the doubt, perhaps a little naive on my part.  Maybe I just didn't want to accept that you really could have doped for that long...that many tours.  

I still want to believe you, because I understand the world is a cruel place, and sometimes the truth is not that easily understood.  The powers that be have chosen to strip you of your titles, and you staunchly admit no fault. Perhaps I want to be naive, but I am not naive enough to know that maybe you did just do all those inconceivable things.

So today I have decided to not have an opinion, except to say thank you.

Thank you for contributing to the growth of cycling in the mainstream.

Thank you for your work with Livestrong.

Thank you for writing a book about your journey with cancer

 It helped me deal with my own journey.

Thank you in part for allowing me to become passionate about cycling.

And because of that, thank you for allowing the sport of cycling

 to keep me fit, strong, happy, stress-free.....

Cycling has changed my life so many ways, on so many levels. 

 There is good to be found, a silver-lining in everything.

and so...

Gratitude for the bicycle and its wondrous benefits....

...and Hope that maybe, just maybe, you told the truth....

Timmy and Aurora - Two kids taking Action

I was profoundly touched this week by what my son Timmy and his cousin Aurora did for me, but more importantly for those suffering by the ravages of cancer.

Two Kids taking action

Timmy is 12 years old, his cousin Aurora 7, and both participated in the Terry Fox Run, like the thousands of kids across the country do every year to continue the work that Terry started with his Marathon of Hope.

Algonquin Park, Aug. 2012

Earlier this year, Aurora cut her hair to raise money for cancer research, and in the process raised more than one thousand dollars.  

They only see each other a few times a year

but remain very close

Terry ran for us.  Lance rides to Livestrong.

We all do what we do to make a difference.

Some of us ride, some run...some walk... some paddle.

It doesn't really matter. What matters is that we do something.

And without saying a word to anyone, they sure made a difference in my life this week.

Thank You Terry for bringing cancer awareness to the mainstream.

Thank You Timmy and Aurora for making sure the good work he started continues.

And I will continue to ride with Hope and gratitude..... and do my

part to make a difference for others less fortunate.....

Down the 401: Riding for the Kids

Mission Accomplished!

In all, we were 38 riders, many of whom had not met until we boarded the train to Toronto on August 7th to embark on the 401 Bike Challenge, a fund-raising ride to benefit Sarah's Floor of the Montreal Children's Hospital, and in particular, pediatric oncology.

I, for one, only knew a handful of this large and varied group of dedicated individuals, but as I would soon find out, our commitment to raise money for this wonderful cause, and the time we would spend together helping each other ride 586 kms in just over two days would form a bond one cannot quite explain.  Perhaps that is why they call it being part of the "401 Family".

My Niece Aurora, who raised over 1k herself by cutting her hair
for a cause

My friend Andy Frank....Two friends, two survivors

My brother Pete and our niece and nephew

My sister Sue and her family in Toronto

I sure felt that connection from the moment we boarded the train. We were all eager to share our story, the "whys" of why we were riding in this epic challenge. I have rarely seen such a committed group of people,  from many different walks of life, banding together to help these kids who so needed our help.

Leaving Toronto

And so, on a sunny, warm August morning, we set out from the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto for our 586 km return back to Montreal. We were all running high on adrenaline, partly due to having a police escort lead us out of the city at rush hour, sirens ablaze, onlookers baffled by this valiant group of cyclists racing through the downtown core.  What an incredible feeling.

The first day was warm, and getting out to the city limits proved to be slow.  It wasn't until after Oshawa that we were really able to get going. A nice prepared lunch in a park in Port Hope allowed us to regain our energy for the afternoon, and at suppertime, 195 kms later, we arrived in Belleville, more than ready for a beer and a wholesome meal.

Lunch in Port Hope

My friend and roommate Tom Belliveau, who has dedicated many hours
 to raising money for cancer. 

All night, we kept looking at the weather, and we came to the realization that day 2 would be more of a challenge than we had hoped for.  We set out at 7am from Belleville, and for the first part of the morning, we had avoided the rain, but the clouds kept lingering, and upon our entry onto the Thousand Islands Parkway just east of Gananoque, the heavens opened up. The spray from the wheels ahead of us in our peloton was like being hosed down after a muddy bike ride. We were cold, wet, and questioning how we were going to be able to ride the day in conditions like this. At this point, we had headwinds and more than 130 kms ahead of us. We had already ridden 125.

The rain started...

Whatever happened that day is irrelevant now, except for the supreme desire and motivation on behalf of each rider to get the job done - nothing was going to stop us from doing this for the kids.

At 7:40 PM, 12.5 hours after departing Belleville, we reached our hotel in Cornwall, amidst tears of joy, hugs, elation, pain.... we had come here to do what we promised to do.

Arrival into Montreal

Our 130 km ride into Montreal on the third day was flawless, and we were running high on energy and a desire to finish off what we had started.  Our arrival at the Childrens hospital can only be described as deeply emotional, and while every rider had his or her reasons for taking on this challenge, we all shared something in common at the finish line...... we had done this together... as a family.

And to my wonderful family and friends who took the time out to greet us at the end...
 I am deeply grateful.

This picture sums it all up for me...

I will never forget my experience and gratitude for being a part of this wonderful ride.

Many thanks to our visionary, Gene Piccoli, who had an idea eight years ago....

 and did something about it.

In the end, we raised $275,000 for the kids at the MCH

Hope and Gratitude for the kids, the friends I have made, and the endless

possibilities that lie ahead.....


Please follow the link below for a  wonderful video of our ride called:
"Down the 401 : The Ride of a Lifetime, Coming Home"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxdRrCH4uCU

Riding for a Cause

I formed a team this year to accompany me on a quest to raise money for Cancer research. We called ourselves Hope/Gratitude 2012.  It was a great weekend of riding from Montreal to Quebec City.  Some 1956 cyclists committed to raise money for the event.

Our Jersey, with Dedications to People we were Riding For

Being a cancer survivor, I was touched by the commitment of my team members, all of which had their own stories to tell.  Seems like we are all touched by this insidious disease in some way.

Rolling out together at the start amongst thousands of other riders should be experienced by everyone at some point in their lives.  It is an incredible feeling, quite hard to describe unless you're there.

Team Hope/Gratitude 2012

We had some great days of riding, lots of laughs, and it seems like we were eating all the time!  They told us to stay hydrated and fed.  And that we did!

We camped out at the half way point and had to time to reflect on our day, have a few

laughs and drink some free beer!

This little invention on two wheels not only provides an incredible feeling of freedom, but brings people together.  I witnessed it in a big way during this event.  Not only does it allow us to meet new friends, but it is a symbol of movement, action... making a difference...especially for those people who are not as fortunate to ride due to sickness.  We rode for them, proudly...

For some of my team, this was a personal accomplishment as well.  Cycling a huge number of kilometers in one day is not easy, and I was so proud to be part of their success... It is quite the feeling to ride over the finish line for the first time, knowing you have achieved a goal that seemed insurmountable at first.  I am again filled with pride to be surrounded by so many wonderful... and committed people.

Doug Reaches his first 1000 kms while on a training ride

Early Training Session with the Professor (Ernest, 2nd from Right)

My Team:

Ingrid, Steve P., Steve B., Doug, Tom, Arlene, Mathieu, Kathy

Thanks for riding, and making the commitment to make a difference...

And last but not least, for those who put up with this crazy obsession....

With Thanks, and Gratitude....

Father and Son

As long as I can remember, I have loved the freedom of riding my bike.  As a child, nothing motivated me more than being able to ride.  I remember one Christmas,  when I was all but ten years old, when my parents bought me a brand new CCM Marauder, my first "real" bike.  Not a hand-me down, but one I could call my own.

My First Bike - A CCM Marauder

 I loved that bike, and spent that whole winter admiring its unusual design while waiting impatiently for the snow to melt.  I still have fond memories of checking in on my gift which spent the winter in the garage, anticipating the fun I was going to have on it in the spring.

 I would stare at it for hours.

My dad and I never rode together, but he certainly understood the passion I had for riding.  I think he realized the impact that first bike had on me, and encouraged me to use it well.  In later years, he realized just how much the gift of a new bike meant - more so than any other gift a kid

 like me could receive. Getting a bike for Christmas or a birthday was always the best gift.

I only understand now, nearly 40 years later, how the bicycle has been a good friend to me over the years, even when in some of those years I didn't ride much. 

The first bike I bought with my own money was a Raleigh Avalanche, a steel-framed mountain bike that I had used up until a few years back when I discovered the world of road-biking.

  Today, my oldest son rides that reliable Raleigh, and I make sure to maintain its

 running order in my garage-turned bike shop.

Before having children, I imagined what it would be like to ride with my kids.  Teaching them how to ride on two wheels, discovering the neighbourhood...going that extra distance unachievable by foot. Riding together is something I can do to connect with my kids...something I guess I'm good at and the energy translates to them.

When we got the bikes out early this spring due to the mild winter, I realized it was finally time for my youngest son Timmy to have his first "real" bike... a bike he could call his own like I did with my CCM. I think I was more excited than he, recalling the feeling I had with my first bike.

He was reluctant at first, a much more cautious kid than I recall being.  He was comfortable on his small 16" frame, a hand-me down from his older brother. To him, a new bike meant the uncertainty of something new.  But he needed a larger frame, and so out we went to find his own ride...

Trying a bike... a little small

We looked at the big-box stores, the local bike shops, and even contemplated

 throwing him on a road bike.....

A Junior Size Road Bike

But a road bike limits a kid, who wants to spend much of his time on trails and in parks...perhaps a road bike down the road, in addition to his mountain bike, but for now, an all-purpose is what he needed.

Last summer, we made that Father-Son biking connection while on a camping trip with my sister in Algonquin park, Ontario. Near the site, we found a bike trail that went on for many miles.  We rode for about 15 kms, but it was on this trip that we realized we shared the same relationship to the bike. My son still talks about that trip, and later this summer we will return once again, albeit this time with his new bike.

A Proud dad with Son and Niece

The search lasted a while. It took some convincing that my son needed a larger frame, and  while it would feel unusual at first, he would soon discover the benefits of a new bike...

We searched and searched, and tested....

And then we found a bike with a colour scheme that jumped out at him.  Could this be the one? It certainly  was the right size, and beautiful to look at.  My son gave it some serious thought...

Today, our favourite thing to do together is to tour the parks in our neighbourhood.  We call it the 13-park ride, and it covers a distance of about 11kms. 

Not a bad distance to travel on a brand new Shiny Trek mountain bike... and as he gets

familiar with his new ride, our trips keep getting longer....

....followed closely behind by a happy and proud father.....and thoughts of nostalgia

from his own childhood...

The Rail Trail

Sept. 24 2009

This picture was taken the day before I was diagnosed with

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I remember it well as I had remarked

feeling unwell but at the same time elated to be on this trail with 

a good friend.  Cycling has saved my life in many ways and

this blog shares my passion for it.




The Rail Trail

Most of the time, I ride on the road, staying away from the gravel trails with my thin, slick-wheeled road bike.  I love the road, and the  endless possibilities for a day ride, weekend ride, cycling vacation...

.....And of course pavement lets us go that much further....

On the other hand, a few times a year, I am drawn to the variety of off-road trails that exist thanks to forward thinking planners who have seen the potential of turning old rail trails into cycling paths.  And there are a plentiful amount of trails to choose from.

Soulanges Canal Path

The rail trail allows the cyclist to experience the countryside from the vantage point of train engineers leading their locomotives from town to town, leaving one to imagine the romantic notion of rail travel from bygone days while cycling on sparsely populated paths, safely away from the road but never too far from the next hamlet of population.

On these days, we are not in a hurry like we may be on our road bikes. The trails are meant to be enjoyed with frequent stops to take a picture of an old covered bridge, a lake that you have only seen from the vantage point of a passenger  car, or a corn field cut through the middle by the path of majestic locomotives once used to haul grain and supplies to the small villages lining the tracks.

North of Montreal, the 'Petit Train du Nord', or 'Small Train of the North' cuts its way from the lower Laurentian mountain range all the way to Mont Laurier, some 220 kms. north.  During the summer, many cyclists will embark on day trips covering portions of the trail, others take on the challenge of doing it all over a few days. It is wonderfully maintained and varies in folia and terrain as you head north, or perhaps south as one can access the trail from numerous entry points.

Petit Train du Nord:  http://www.laurentians.com/parclineaire/

One of my favourite rail trails lies just south of the Canadian border in upstate Vermont.  The Mississquoi Valley Rail Trail runs 26 miles from its start in St. Albans and runs gently along the Mississquoi river east and north to Richford, Vermont.  Along the way, most of the time, there is an unobstructed view of Jay Peak, and some stunning scenery through forests, streams, farm fields and small quaint towns that long for the railroad of another era.....

A corn field along the Misissquoi Valley Rail Trail

It is on this trail that one can really get lost in thought, grateful for the wonderful land that lies so close to the bustle of the city. I usually go on a weekday, rarely seeing more than a handful of riders pass by.

With Jay Peak, Vt. in the Distance

It is truly wonderful...and peaceful, and on these days, I am never rushed for time, or in need of the thrill of speeding down a sloping descent on my road bike.

Mississquoi Valley Rail Trail:  http://mvrailtrail.com/

Just west of Montreal, there is an old canal that was once used for shipping before freighters started to use the the St. Lawrence River seaway.  Along the canal, a trail follows its length all the way to the Ontario border, roughly 35 kms. Using the same philosophy as the rebuilding of rail trails, the Soulanges Canal path has reinvigorated a once-decrepit length of waterway long past its useful prime.

It is a scenic trail, and superbly maintained.  Along its way, you get the impression that on these quiet paths, life at one time fluorished from the railway.   The towns along its entire stretch, long ago having had their heyday, now sit quietly as bedroom communities, or meeting places for farmers.

These are but a few of the hundreds of rail and canal trails across North America.
  Try one someday.  You don't need much - a hybrid bike is perfect, and of course,
a boxed lunch, a camera.....

and an imagination for what once was......

On this day, I saw few people

Interesting Links:

The Route Verte is an extensive Network of road and path trails in Quebec connecting virtually
the whole province for the enjoyment of cyclists.  Its 4000kms. of trails make it the largest
cycling trail network in the world.
http://www.routeverte.com/rv/

Canadian Rail Trails:  http://www.railtrail.com/ca/index.htm

Rails to Trails Conservancy:  http://www.railstotrails.org/index.html