New Beginnings...

I know I am not the only cycling enthusiast who has wandered in and out of that tiny storage space where you keep your ride itching to gear up and head out to ride. For those of you living up here in the Great White North, this winter has gone for far too long. I mean seriously, we got a good 5 or 6 inches of snow on the 1st of April! It was almost enough to make one go insane with cabin fever!

As I gingerly drove home the Corolla, (still in that new car state of mind) I contemplated taking a cruise over to Canmore to look for a cycling helmet in one of the bike stores there.  I thought to myself I could look for some Turtle Wax to get the Corolla's front end all armored up for stone chip season.  But then it dawned on me... Hey wait a minute...  the roads are halfway decent...  hmmm...

I ran upstairs once I got home and started hunting for my tights, shorts, and my windbreaker jacket.  Once I had the outfit on I strapped into my Diadora road shoes and slowly carried the Defy down the stairs and wheeled it out our front door...

105 pedals are not as forgiving as double entry SPD pedals.  You basically have to click in or risk slipping which is a harsh sensation in several key areas of the male anatomy. But once you get the hang of it and are dialed in...  man do you fly!  The Defy leaps forward under each complete pedal stroke and full crank rotation. As I stomped on the pedals and held onto my brake hoods for dear life, the rush of speed was beyond satisfying.  In that moment I was Andy Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, I was even the legendary Lance Armstrong...

The ride didn't last long.  The roads are not completely clear yet.  Snow and gravel are not friendly to road cyclist. Plus I still need to get a helmet.

2010 Giant Defy 1 - Shimano 105 Grupo - Diadora Racer Comp Shoes

 But it was long enough for me to confirm that I am still very much in love with the sport of cycling. It was long enough for me to crave more.  There is a lot to look forward too this summer in Banff....

 A new chapter of Ride the Wind begins...

Thinking Ahead...

I took a look at my original blog posted @ www.fromthedeskofromil.blogspot.com and realized that my first ever blog entries ever on blogspot occurred around this time in 2008.  Time flies.  In a moment I am there in Toronto saying goodbye to my friends promising that I would back within a year.  Just needed to get away and sort out my life. Blink my eyes.  Here I am married and with a baby on the way.

The infamous Banff Fox Hotel

As I look across to the Fox Hotel from our living room, many thoughts tip toe through my mind.  How far have I come? Is this it?  If it is. It isn't bad.  It is a noble calling to be a good father and husband.  My generation's hold on youth is fading quickly and it will be up to the next to take their stab at life.  Should they be a force for good - well that, at least at this stage, is up to us. Thank GOD, we are not alone..

A new work week begins tomorrow.  I go back to war.  I still am in wonder when I think about what I have learned about the world out there in the past 7 years since I officially joined the work force.  I hope there is a way that I can transmit this to my child before they decide where to focus their education.  I will make it my mission for them to understand that we all will have to work one day and at least with education they can decide where they labor for their livelihood.

Lord knows what will happen next.  I do worry sometimes. But God has been good.  Prayers have been answered.  And by this I mean answered in ways even better than we expected...

So grateful for these moments...