About 12 years ago, just a few years after I had discovered how much I liked riding bikes, I decided to ride the Challenge route of the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour. At the time I wanted to test my limits. After limping back to Ottawa, clinging to the wheel…
Continue readingAuthor: cmkl
cmkl: Ride of the Dammed: the organizers and support people deserve a medal
As bike rides go, my first Ride of the Dammed was pretty good. As an adventure it was spectacular. My team endured four flats, one tire-touching ditch crash and one hospitalization. And if it hadn’t been for the ride’s organizers and support team, we’…
Continue readingcmkl: What’s the connection between cycling and Parkinson’s
I confess. The first time I signed up for Lap the Gats I knew nothing about the condition except that a dear friend of my cousin Sue suffered from it. Ride the A-Loop four times for Charity? You had me at ‘Ride the A-Loop’. But why Parkin…
Continue readingcmkl: Half way there – raising money for Parkinson’s research in Ottawa in memory of Sharon Pickle
This is Sharon Pickle. She was a cook and an educator at Glebe Parent’s Daycare since forever. She fed my daughter for several of the first few years of her life. Sharon cooked many of our pickytarian’s healthiest meals. Half way to my fund…
Continue readingcmkl: Nyack donut pilgrimage
A 100km ride into the countryside west of Manhattan was the finale to a perfect week in New York City. And I couldn’t have done it without the Domestique. My family and I had the perfect convergence – a work gig was bringing Irene to New Yo…
Continue readingcmkl: My child has a race face
My child has a race face.
Continue readingcmkl: Eleven extra watts
I began my 50th year today. I had no big plans. A nice dinner with my partner and our child. Some chores. A few ‘would be goods’ on the old house to-do list. And 20 minutes of terror on the bike trainer.
Continue readingcmkl: A new adventure – self employment
I’m leaving my job to go into business for myself. How can I help you?
Continue readingcmkl: What a great thing we have in Gatineau Park
Fabulous ski in Gatineau Park today. Only thing is – too fast. Should have picked a longer route.
Continue readingcmkl: Winning form
Mallory won her age division this afternoon at the Coupe Skinouk today. Of course I love my child no matter what and am pleased with any result so long as she tries her best. But… ah I’m totally giddy. Congratulations my darling. Irene and …
Continue readingcmkl: Ten
I cannot get my head around the idea that my daughter is ten years old.
Continue readingcmkl: Lobster gloves – the sequel aka why the Cyclery is awesome
So the Cyclery sorted me out, replacing my gloves with a better pair. This is why they are great.
Continue readingcmkl: Getting what you pay for: Sugoi lobster glove construction underwhelms
I bought a relatively cheap pair of Sugoi lobster gloves at The Cyclery. And I’m underwhelmed. A cautionary tale of what happens when you buy cheap stuff.
Continue readingcmkl: My girl learns code
Few things in life give me more joy than walking down the street, hand in hand with my daughter. One of them, which I experienced for the first time today, is walking down the street, hand in hand with my daughter, talking about building websites. At Irene’s suggestion, I checked
Continue readingcmkl: What kind of liberal will Justin Trudeau be? I don’t know yet
I don’t want to denigrate or deem unworthy voters aspirations for change. We were certainly due. But I cannot share the enthusiasm people are having this morning for the pageant of Trudeau naming his new cabinet.
Continue readingcmkl: Temagami tree trip
At a certain point, I thought Martin should really see the trees. This trip is probably the most popular route in all of Temagami. When I first got back into canoe tripping in my 30s it was the first trip I did. I went with a guide and spent a
Continue readingcmkl: Castelli Secondapelle bike gloves – barely there
Slick, and tight-fitting, they do indeed feel like a second skin. But that ‘minimalist’ thing gives them a tight timeline for staying comfortable.
Continue readingcmkl: Ten thousand clicks
This morning was a pretty normal pre-work trip up to Champlain lookout. Except that I rode my 10,000th kilometre for the year on it.
Continue readingcmkl: Jerseys – for when you need to keep your shirt on
A lot gets said about jerseys. They’re part totem, part equipment. So there’s more lore, superstition and custom around them than most other bits of bike kit. I will explain a bit about what I think about jerseys which should explain what I’m reviewing and what I’m not, then I’ll
Continue readingcmkl: Bike gloves – hide the liver spots
Wherein I review all the warm weather, fingerless gloves I’ve ever used and wrecked. Including some I hope I don’t wreck for a long, long time.
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