It was 18 degrees outside. Winds were calm and the morning air invited these recovering legs with great anticipation. I finally got the "ok" from my doctors. "YES, you should definitely go riding this weekend" said Dr. Ho. "How far should I go and how fast am I allowed to pedal?" I asked, not fully confident with his encouragement. "Just ease into it," he replied. "and you can go as far as you want so long as you're not experiencing any 'uncomfortable' pain."
I gave a big smile and took his advice like a kid taking home his first ribbon. A little bit of pride and excitement boiled in the pit of my stomach. Was I nervous? Definitely, but getting the thumbs up from the doc was the just boost of confidence I needed to get back in the saddle.
I've been so afraid to engage in any activity this winter 'cause Norton had boldered me, not once, but TWICE, in the dog park leaving my ankle swollen and the muscles in my left leg all twisted and sore. Ye~ow! 'Cant really blame the dog for my anxieties, but one can never be too careful when it comes to their own safety (and the safety of others). Rehabilitation has always been challenging for me. It was never the physical pain that prevented me from being active this winter, it was the overwhelming fear of never cycling again. Stubbornness runs in the family and I was not going to take any chances on getting injured again.
So when the sun came up this morning I jumped out of bed with a smile on my face. I cranked up the radio, slipped on my spandex, pumped up my tires, and put on my bright yellow EZ Rider jersey.
The rest of the gang left Finch station just after 8am and were well on their way down the Don Valley trails by the time I hit the pavement. Despite a few mechanical issues (a blown valve, broken chain, and a broken derailleur) there were no injuries.
I was riding solitaire taking the lakeshore route and started to pedal East towards the beaches. As I approached Princess Gates, I fell into place next to 3 fellow cyclists who just happened to be heading in the same direction. I kept an easy 25km/h pace next to Carlo most of the way and next thing I knew we were exchanging memories of last year's cancer ride. Funny how small this world really is.
Time faded into the morning and when we reached our destination, we took a group photo and said our goodbyes. I wished them a safe ride home and sat on a bench with another big smile on my face. What a beautiful day I thought to myself. I couldn't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be.
I sat on the bench watching the cheerful dogs and relaxed locals meander from one end of he beach to the other with the sound of the waves crashing along the shore.
Soon a critical mass of EZ Riders flooded down the path. I was reunited with my family once again.
Hug, hug, kiss, kiss. Ok! Time saddle up gal!
Tim Horton's here we come!
What a wonderful ride.
PowerPoint presentation by Mark Roza:
