The Co-Pilot and I headed out on what looks like becoming something of a habit: a spin along the bike trails on ANZAC Day afternoon.
Instead of an out-and-back ride, this year we decided to do a bit of a loop. We had planned to take Scotchmans Creek Trail out to Jells Park, but our departure time was deeper into the afternoon than I'd hoped for so we cut that section and headed straight along the rail trail that follows the Glen Waverley train line; not a really hilly route but enough undulations to raise the heart rate (especially with 16 kilos of human ballast on the back!) At the end of the line we continued straight ahead through the quiet streets of Glen Waverley, picking up the Dandenong Creek Trail where it crosses High Street Rd.
Heading north, the Dandenong Creek Trail is a well-formed gravel path, with only a few unfortunate obstacles (notably the tight right-hander at the bottom of Highbury Rd and the very prominent drain cover not far from there—a real cracker, that one). At Burwood Highway we dived off the path and headed for Bellbird Dell via Morack Rd and Great Western Drive (a nice little steep pinch at the end there). The Co-Pilot demanded a playground stop here.
As the Co-Pilot clambered over the jungle gym, I noticed that the sun was hanging a bit low over the horizon—shades of last year on ANZAC Day when our ride ended with a race against the setting sun. Hmm, better get moving…
Onward up Bellbird Dell, out onto Canterbury Rd for a short burst in the heavy traffic and north into Rooks Rd (this seemed to be taking us further from home!) Where Rooks Rd makes a tight little S-curve, we turned off and made out was through back streets, crossed Springvale Rd and whizzed around Blackburn Lake. From there is was Gardiners Creek Trail all the way back to East Malvern Station (OK, that's repeating some of the route I took just last weekend but it's not an unpleasant route by any means). And like last year, it was distinctly dusky by the time we got home but at least I had the good sense to have lights with me this time.
No coincidence
At the end of last year it occurred to me that including our ANZAC Day ride, I could just about count on one hand the number of rides the Co-Pilot and I had taken together. That was no good at all! So this year I've been much more diligent in getting him onto the back of the bike and while it hasn't quite been every weekend, his average is much better than one ride per fortnight.
Coincidentally, I've noticed that I seem to be riding stronger (and maybe even a bit faster) on my commutes; although with no gadgets fitted to my commuting machine, I don't know this for sure. It's just a hunch: I'm finishing feeling energised rather than tired almost every day. You may recall that a few weeks back I mentioned several ways for commuters to improve their cycling fitness and one of them was to load-up the bike with a small child—well, it really works! I don't think it's a coincidence that my riding fitness is on the rise at a time when I've been increasing the number of rides-with-child.
I hadn't really thought about it like that, but I reckon that's a pretty good point. And all the more reason to make sure I make it an annual habit!
Comments
I had a wonderful ride too on ANZAC day. Riding a bike is such an appropriate expression of freedom on a day commemorating those whose sacrifice preserved it.