We were a bit of a smaller group than usual but our pent up energy was equal to the strength of 20 (wo)men. Rob reminded us that a year ago to the day, the Tour de Rock team was attending a fundraising baseball game for Victoria Mariners baseball player Zack Downey, who was battling cancer. Downey, 18, lost his fight and died on Sunday, two years after being diagnosed. This ride was for him.
We headed right down the Galloping Goose and artfully dodged a bit of heavy traffic on the trail as a result of Bike to Work week (a win for cycling — I'd rather dodge bikes than gas guzzling pickup trucks). We got off at Watkiss Way and after a bit of a U-turn, stopped at the bus roundabout to collect our wits before conquering the hilly bits.
Welcome to Highland Road, where "it's not called Lowland Road for a reason," Rob said.
It's a 4.7 km (not that we were counting) winding rollercoaster of a road through Upper Thetis at "our own pace", which in trainer speak means, give'r hell.
The scenery quickly transitioned from cookie cutter homes and sidewalks to a narrow road flanked by tall trees that provided a cool canopy from the sun.
Most of us barely noticed the beautiful wilderness as it whizzed by. We had to be careful to watch for hidden cars on blind corners of the narrow road. Saanich cop Justin Whittaker pointed out that I apparently almost became a hood ornament at one point. I guess I was too focused to notice that silver streak of metal coming at me. I'm pretty sure I was well on my side of the road but who can say for sure.
We all put in a really tough effort and were panting by the time we reached the little cul de sac at the end, where the peaceful chirp of birds was punctuated by the excited bark of a dog that really wanted to get to know us.
Sadly, Sparky, we can't stay, we've gotta kill this hill again. So we went back the way we came, putting in just as much effort if not more.
Mustering at the roundabout once again, Steve said, "K, ready to go another time?" Most of us said "Sure!" which he was encouraged to see. Instead, we were given a (tiny) bit of mercy and instead directed up the achingly steep hill to the Highland Pacific Golf Course (again, not called Lowlands). Somehow, the sheer power of Adam "Incredible Hulk" Caruthers managed to completely snap off his rear derailleur, completed incapacitating the bike. Adam had to get a ride to pick him up.
The rest of up biked home along the Goose, feeling unusually hyper with jokes flying and nominations for next week's jersey of shame candidate flying left, right and centre.
If I haven't mentioned the jersey of shame before, then excuse me. It's now front and centre in my mind as I'm the one wearing it this week. The jersey of shame is given, by way of votes, to the rider who somehow flubbed up the week before. CTV's Chandler Grieve has had the jersey twice — once for showing up to our first practice in a pair of questionable long john-style tights instead of spandex and a second time for skipping Sunday practice to go golfing. In his eagerness to pass on the jersey, Chandler pointed the finger at me, for "not one, but two scathing articles about the cops last week." Now, I wouldn't necessarily call my stories on the folding of the Regional Crime Unit and Victoria police's Cold Case unit scathing but my attempts to dig up bad behaviour to put other riders in the running for the jersey fell flat.
A democratic vote elected me the week's jersey of shame wearer. So if you see me in a zebra print cycling jersey with light-up purple glasses taped to my helmet, you'll know why. Each week we have to add some memento to make the jersey that much more shameful. Suggestions are welcome. Ah, team spirit, such a fickle thing.
[email protected]
Katie DeRosa is one of the media riders for this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, a 13-day bike ride from Port Alice to Victoria. Follow DeRosa's blog for details about the ongoing training, leading up to full coverage of the ride Sept. 20 to Oct. 3. To donate to her fundraising campaign, click here.
