After having worked a month of twenty-four sevens I was itching to get out on a ride with everyone this last Saturday. I cleaned and waxed my Hampton Cruiser into good "company condition" and headed down to the roundabout. I was coming up to the little bridge just before the roundabout when "SNAP!!",  my left peddle with a bit of crank attached blew off! I got off my bike and walked it to the roundabout and several people said to get to Denman bikes before they closed. "Yeah!, I thought" and ran my bike there.

Within half an hour and somewhat lighter of cash I had a new crank (chrome molly this time) and was on my way back to the roundabout . The ride started smoothly, we rolled along the seawall heading towards our first stop at Lumberman's Arch under a gorgeous, sunny, cloud dappled, sky. As we road I quipped to Big John, Mary, and Jamie that I considered the crank issue a sacrifice to the Cycling Deity... har, har. At Lumber man's Arch we hung for a short while and then decided to head on to Beaver Lake. I got on my bike and started off and noticed an odd feeling and buzzy sort of noise from my back tire! It was flat! I pulled my bike onto some grass, upturned her, took off the chainguard, and began pulling the fender stays off the axle in preparation to remove the tire.

This was when I was ordered to sit down and get out of the way and  given a superb back massage while  "Bicycle master" Luke changed the wheel. So, there I was, surrounded by good friends, patiently waiting with me, and I'm feeling totally spoiled. Luke had the new tube in and the tire back on in no time. But, before we rolled to Beaver Lake I decided to wash my hands and headed for the washroom. "Whoops!", I was so immersed in my thoughts that I walked into the wrong washroom and was greeted by a woman that luckily realized I had innocently stumbled into the wrong can and just laughed at me, thank god for that! Well, I announced to everyone that after that I figured I had weathered the three sacrifices to the cycling god and was now safe. Off we rode to Beaver Lake and the rest of our crowd...good times. Later, we rode to Malkin Bowl, spread some blankets, and listened to a concert... good night...good times...great company. Finally, I rolled out with Mary, and Lynn to the Seabus terminal, where I took the Skytrain home. On the way I felt like riding a bit more and got off a few stops early and had a nice cruise home. Once home I put my bike in it's spot and gave it an admiring look "Aaaargh!!" my chainguard was still sitting on the grass by Lumberman's Arch..."Duh, Mea culpa!"...The Great all powerful Cycling Deity will not be denied nor taken lightly!