Lake Montebello
Today I did a very strange thing: I rode around Lake Montebello more than 20 times.
I was hoping to meet a friend to ride our fixed gear bikes, but he couldn't make it. So, on a whim I set out to see how many laps I could do without getting bored and annoyed. I was surprised.
The first thing I realized is that it's difficult to keep track of how many laps you've ridden when you don't have a cyclo computer. So I devised an artificial memory system using a binder clip. I'd flip up one "arm" of the clip for the first lap and the second arm for the second lap. Then the first arm down for 3 and the second for 4 laps. Then I'd move my Dinotte light cable from the right side of my stem to the left to designate 5 and begin again with the binder clip. Perfect.
I was the only rider there at around 3PM. My half hour watch alarm went off as I was nearing my 8th lap. I was enjoying seeing the recurrent faces in the oncoming ped lane. There was a woman dressed entirely in black Lycra including a sinister black balaclava. She was running at what seemed like an impossibly fast pace and she kept it up the whole time I was out there. Running is hard and she was amazing to watch. A kind-faced Asian man smiled and nodded hello to me each and every time I passed. Geese were making silly noises announcing their arrivals and departures and the striated ice on the lake made a blurry reflection of the sky. Then a few other bikie types showed up and I got distracted.
I started measuring my speed against theirs. I'd glance across the park and note their position every time I passed a particular light post. I was closing in. I began trying to predict how many more laps it would take me to over take them. This is probably common mind games for the usual suspects riding Montebello, but I was a newb and excited. I imagined myself as fast as a Janet Goldstein and as focused as a "teacher" Bob. When I'd get to the only headwindy part of the loop I'd rise up and accelerate into it. I finally pushed a few more yards and I was in their draft. Strange. They weren't trying to pull ahead of me at all. They looked like they were just enjoying their ride.
I chatted for a bit. Nice guys. Then I pulled ahead hoping to warm up my toes a bit. I was just finishing up a lap when it hit me that I'd completely forgotten about my binder clip memory tool. Hmm... How many laps then? I was guessing at a number. The asian man was gone and I hadn't noticed when. The runner was chatting with a friend and cooling down. The kids poured out of Montebello elementary. It must have been around 20 laps. I reasoned that I ought to ride one more lap to be sure. I rode two instead and then headed back to Hampden stopping at the donut shop on the way home. A good ride.
