Welcome to Cycl’n Vancouver. I’m Steve. I am an old guy, 6 5 around 240 pounds who enjoys cycling. I also love baked goods, especially anything with raisins, none of which are good for spandex wearing cyclists. If you are interested in seeing what Vancouver looks like from the back of a road bike, sit back and relax. This is ride 127.
Today is Thursday, September 2, 2021. I started this ride around 4 on a beautiful, warm 24 celcius sunny day.
This a new ride for me. I intend to ride to the base of the Gondola on Grouse Mountain. The usual way to get there is to cross the bridge and then ride north on Capilano Rd. to Grouse. I am not going to take that route. That road is too busy and boring for my liking, though I will return on it.
Instead, I am going to ride through the residential area east of Capilano Rd. as high as I can before joining Capilano Rd. just beneath the Grouse Mountain parking lot. I have never been through this area before and the roads are laid out like a maze. This should be fun trying to find my way.
I asked this fellow for directions though I think I scared his wife. His directions were perfect.
On the return trip, I stopped at Cleveland Dam and the Capilano reservoir. This is one of the main drinking water sources for Vancouver and the lower mainland.
I crossed south over the bridge and turned west on the park access road. I was shocked to find the gate closed and I hit it pretty hard. I did see the orange pilons and the sign on the street concerning car access. There was no sign or notice informing cyclists of the gate closure. In all the years I have been riding here, I have never seen that gate closed.
I was so focused on making a safe transition from the sidewalk to the road that I didn’t look up and see the gate until seconds before impact. I picked my bike up off the ground and took a few big breaths to recover. My right hand hurt. I had slammed both my index and pinky fingers against something. They felt like they had been slammed in a car door. My left mid-section felt like I had been punched but I guess I had been.
After a couple minutes, I started slowing riding into the park. My right hand was bleeding nicely from a cut on my index finger. I rode down the descent and headed for home. The bike seemed alright but I could hear the front brake rubbing against the rim.
When I got home, I checked the bike for damage but couldn’t see any. I am surprised given it is a carbon fibre frame and I hit that gate with a lot of force.
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