Real Riding

This past week we finally had weather nice enough to ride outdoors, long distances.

Last Sunday I wanted to try a longer distance.  I charted a 54km route using Mappedometer.  The route took me north and west of Waterloo, through little towns like Bamberg, Cross Hill, and Heidelberg. When I made the route I completely forgot what Sunday afternoons are like north of Waterloo.  The only people on the roads besides cyclists were Old Order Mennonites.  Of course I didn't stop to take any pictures, as they really don't like that.

Although sharing the roads with the horse and buggies was cool, the unfortunate part was that there was horse poo everywhere!

I used this longer ride in part to determine if anything on the bike needed changing and adjusting.  Fortunately I'm happy to report that after 54 km everything felt great.  I felt like I could have gone another 54!  The only thing I really would have changed was the temperature, and I'm glad we're not riding in 9 Celsius this summer!

I leave you with this gem, from the front yard of a house I passed.

Support of All Kinds

A lot of time preparing this winter for the Sea to Sea has been spent bothering people for donations.  And I mean Bothering.

THANK YOU.  You have been generous, you have been gracious and you have been excited for me. Keep it coming!

I wanted to speak to the fantastic students at Woodland about the tour, but I didn't want to bug them about money.

(A more prepared, well-organized version of Shannon would have taken her camera to school.  That Shannon doesn't exist this spring.)

On Wednesday this week, we had an assembly focusing on a recent missions trip a group of grade 12 students took to the Dominican Republic.  Since returning, one of the students has also been doing an interdisciplinary project on poverty.

Perfect.

I took my bike to school, and rode circles around the students as they entered the gym.  My colleague and friend Mandy interviewed me.

I told the students that my biggest fear was hitting a wall.  Oops.  I meant that figuratively, not literally.

M: "What do most people say when you tell them you are riding across the continent in 9 weeks?"

S: "They think I'm crazy."

M "Are you crazy?"

S: "Well yeah, but..."

My message to the students was that we all have something we can do to help those in need.  Biking isn't the only way I can be helpful.  Biking combines my passion for new adventures with my passion for creating change, and that's why I'm biking.

"Spring"

For the time being, "spring" is going in quotation marks.  On the first day of "spring" this week we had another 3-5 cm of snow.  Every day this week we had flurries, resulting in more and more centimetres of snow.

ENOUGH ALREADY.

Now I know that after last winter and summer we need the precipitation.  I know that apples were expensive and non-existent.  I know that global warming is bad.  But if I had been consulted, I would have chosen another early "spring."

THE bike sits unused in my dining room and  I continue to drive myself to the Y for spinning classes.

Clearly "spring" is trying.

It's just not quite there yet.

Any thoughts on what the temperature should be for outdoor cycling?

THE bike

My precious bike.  I've mentioned before, it took me longer to decide on this bike than it did to decide on my house.  But the winner was a 2012 Cannondale Synapse.  This is me, riding it at Ziggy's Cycle, downtown Kitchener.  I love Ziggy's, they've been great to work with.

And yes, those are my bike shorts.  If you want to make a bike short joke, you have to make a donation to the tour.  Those are the rules.

Can't wait for spring!

How to Donate

Of course in my last post I asked you to support me.... and then I didn't give any information on HOW.

Donating online is easiest:

1.  Go to the Sea to Sea website.

2.  Click on "Donate to Cyclists"

3.  Find my name on the list of participants, and designate your funds to Shannon Marcus.

Thank you!  I'm on my way to reaching my goal of $10 000.

(As always, I`ll remind you that all costs associated with the trip are taken care of by me.  I`m buying the bike, flights and all other equipment needed.  YOUR money goes to the organizations that need it most.)

Thank you.  Merci. Shokran. (for old time`s sake)

Cycling to End Poverty

I stopped long enough to have time to think.

Really, that's when all the best decisions are made.

I looked back to when I started this blog in February of 2009.  I wrote 'Most people, when they get bored, watch TV, or read a new book, or call a friend for coffee. When I get bored, restless and in need of something new, I usually end up trying to find new work. Two years ago I decided to do my Masters degree, because I was bored. Since that is no longer new and exciting, and since it will be finished in 4 months, it was time for a new adventure. '

I had an adventure in Egypt.  It was revolutionary.  I moved back to Canada, bought a house and settled.  I loved it for about 4 minutes.  Last summer, when I allowed myself to get bored and rest, I made another decision.  I decided that I would use my life to hopefully benefit others.  I would join a group of people cycling from Los Angeles to New York City over my summer vacation.  How different could this be than running a 1/2 marathon?  I think easier.

Will you join me in my efforts?  Will you donate to the tour, pray for us, laugh at me as I train in those ridiculous shorts, and listen to me obsess about it?

Thanks.  Looking forward to the ride.

Bridging the Gap

I left this:

And moved back here:

I started working here:

I bought this:

And then she got sick and died and my heart broke in half.
















So I'm going to do this:

(Does that make any sense?)