Apocalypse bike

Posted on May 12, 2011 by kaan

After the recent earthquake in Japan emergency preparedness became a hot topic here in Vancouver. Apparently the west coast of bc/washington is due for a real game-ender quake. (The most definitive predictions I found in a quick search was 27% chance of a magnitude ~9 quake in the next 50 years – such precision!) I have overheard many people talking about their own emergency supplies and plans and our condo building even hosted a seminar that was facilitated by a local emergency supplies retailer. CBC offers advice on “surviving the moderate ones“. No advice is given for apocalypse.

My own preparations involve a bicycle that does not belong to me. It has been sitting near my building for over a year. In that time it had not moved until last month – so it is not completely abandoned. It used to be locked up by a chain loosely draped around the seat post. It is now locked up by a double wrap around the seat post. I am considering the bicycle as something I may loot if “the big one” crumples my home, denying me access to my bike in the underground parking. I would then use it to ride out of the city and escape all harm.

A few nights ago, after a libation or two, it was decided that the apocalypse bike needed a test ride. It was definitely not up to code. A cursory inspection revealed a badly rusted drive train, rear shifter housing that has been through a combine harvester, handle bars on upside down, front brake handle miss-configured and that is just the start. My cohort and I fixed the handle bars and brakes and rendered it capable of using three different gears. Then we went on a 2 am test ride. The bike was locked back in place by 9 am in slightly improved condition.

I think I may make more covert repairs to this bike. Just in case.

Posted in Bicycles | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

multithon

Posted on May 8, 2011 by kaan

Today is gorgeous! It has just gone noon and already I am loving the day.

I awoke around 7:45 (of my own accord), had a relaxing shower, an apple, and then hopped on Cadenza (my bicycle). I rode 6.2 km to meet the Run to End Poverty gang for one of the weekly group runs organised by Alice. We had a lovely run from Jericho beach out to UBC and back (11.1 km). Alice and I then walked 2.6 km back to her place. Alice prepared a delightful breakfast of apple, alpen, chopped almonds, and cheerios. I loved it. After enjoying the tasty fuel, I rode my bike home (5.8 km). It was my own little multithon of joy.

It is super sunny today so I think I will pull out the bike stand and do a bit of brake maintenance. I am not going to put up a picture of the sunny day. You are required to step outside and see it yourself.

But before I do anything else, I had better call my mummy!

Posted in R2EP | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The ultimate caveat

Posted on May 5, 2011 by kaan

Sometimes it feels like a seemingly endless commitment to running leaves little room for other activities that are physically demanding. For instance, I have discovered that if, in addition to all the running, I ride my bike to UBC on a regular basis (~13 km each way) then I begin to lose weight and can’t eat enough food. I think cycling and swimming would each be good cross training activities but I am not convinced I can take them seriously while still pumping out the kms.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love my bicycle (named Cadenza). I use it for most everything once I get home from UBC (the commute is done by bus). I have scolded myself for not including a caveat whereby I only run up to 20 km per person and then bicycle the rest or something.

Cadenza

On the other hand, such a caveat would really detract from the gnarliness of being completely committed to running an amount entirely determined by others. (The most fun though has been executing odd-ball requests.)

All that being said, I have chosen to count any and all running I do. That means I will be recording my travels as I dart this way and that while playing ultimate each Wednesday evening. We are a bottom division team named Local Pint. I think the distance I run during the games should actually be counted double or triple because I am generally operating at less than “peak efficiency” in my quest to ensure the cooler is empty before the ice melts. Reluctantly, I will count the distance only once.

4.3 km, yay.

Posted in Bicycles, Commitment, R2EP, Ramble | Leave a comment

blue dawn

Posted on May 3, 2011 by kaan

In retrospect, the enormous support for the conservatives might have been obvious to anyone who took a good look at Vancouver. Several nights per week an astounding number of political activists put on their conservative blues and go out on the town from about 6 to 10 pm. Some nights they shout and cheer and hoot and holler well past my bed time. These rowdies are easy to identify as they all wear blue shirts complete with the name of our city, a stylised “C”, and an artistically rendered orca fish (no doubt intended to symbolise the unwavering support the conservatives show for our native peoples). Some of them even have the names of their favourite MP emblazoned on the back.

I heard they are going for the cup...a rowdy Vancouver conservative

I searched my ballot for the logo but couldn’t find it so, after several seconds of stunned confusion, I voted for the candidate I felt was least likely to sink me if I were sailing (hint: not the pirate party).

my logo-less ballot

Posted in Ramble | Tagged , | 1 Comment

pied piper

Posted on April 30, 2011 by kaan

Today I went on a bike ride to West Van to eat pie with Alice and Tess at the Savary Island Pie Company. We had a slice of the strawberry-rhubarb and a slice of the lemon-buttermilk. Yum.

On the way we stopped at the lions gate bridge to satisfy Gail’s demands. She left a lot of the details to my discretion and so the results may not be exactly what she envisioned. Actually, it is not a lot like I envisioned. Also, I am not really clear on what “22 bars” of music is so I just played one rad song.

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full on

Posted on April 26, 2011 by kaan

21.1 km. Mange ça Monsieur Byers.

Also, a double rainbow.

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A caper for boland

Posted on April 25, 2011 by kaan

My good friend Dan Boland is currently working for Engineers Without Borders in Ghana to improve rural infrastructure planning capabilities. (His blog is here.) One of my last adventures with him before he left Canada was an ascent of Yak Peak in the Coquihalla pass. It was thirteen pitches of glorious climbing followed by a harrowing hike down in the dark with scant trail markers.

Dan caught wind that I was headed to the Skaha Bluffs outside Penticton for some climbing this weekend and recommended I use this opportunity to take a couple of breaks for him.

The first required me to climb in a super hero outfit. I keep a selection of these on hand for just such events.

The second request was for me to visit the Cannery brewery in Penticton. Unfortunately, their business hours on a holiday weekend conflicted with my caped climbing schedule, so I brought the brewery to me.

I miss you Dan and I look forward to conquering some rock together!

Posted in Breaks, EWB, People | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

brother

Posted on April 21, 2011 by kaan

In all that I do, my family supports me to an extent that words can’t capture. In this particular running endeavour he was there on day-one (march 21st) with 50 km for me to run. I wonder if he saw this as a strategic way to support me and simultaneously harass me a bit as siblings are known to do? In any case, they are now done!

This is my brother and I (a few years ago) out for “a walk” with family friend Rob Dulson.

My brother, Theo, is also my best friend. Throughout our sometimes sordid history we have found ourselves in many unusual circumstances, often as a result of continually goading each other to “take it to the next level” or “cross the line” yet again. This has led to situations ranging from getting strange looks for using a beer-bong at blockbuster (new releases section) to wrestling underneath parked cars (it’s not easy!) to redoing the pictures in a book titled “where do babies come from?” as a christmas surprise for a friend (nothing more to say about that one actually).

Theo is a paramedic with BC Ambulance. This means two things. First, it means he spends a substantial amount of his time caring about other people. Second, it means he routinely gets shafted by the government. Last year our paramedics were “on strike” with hopes of being paid the same as policemen and firemen. Their strike mostly consisted of carrying signs when NOT on shift and being forced to work even longer hours. Eventually they reduced their demands to simply “binding arbitration with a third-party mediator.” Instead of this they got legislated back to work – as soon as VANOC asked about paramedic service for the olympics – but officially so they could help with swine flu (which, of course, they were already doing). But the paramedics were not even put on the list of those who get the vaccine! What a load of horse shit; certainly enough to stew me into a rage. Next time our paramedics are asking for better working conditions, make sure you speak up to support them.

Posted in People, Segment Completed | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Toga!

Posted on April 19, 2011 by kaan

Last Saturday was the 25th birthday of my good friend Alvaro! To ensure my attendance at his birthday party (the night before the banana run) he made a donation and a demand through my “taking a break” page.

The evening had a toga theme complete with ivy crowns, palm fronds, grapes, and shots of some liquor concoction ostensibly having greek origins. Antics ensued.

In keeping with Al’s request, I performed the following lines from Julius Cesar (Act II, Scene II).

Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
it seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
will come when it will come.

Posted in Breaks, People | Leave a comment

Bananarama!

Posted on April 17, 2011 by kaan

Today was the Vancouver sun run! As previously advertised, I ran as a banana with Fair Trade Vancouver.

What an amazing event! By my estimation at least 30 banana-hours worth of running took place today. We were a slippery bunch, splitting our way through tens of thousands of runners.

With us to chase down banana-injustice was the poverty gorilla (guerilla?). Sometimes he nearly caught the bananas. By the end he no longer had any power over us (heat exhaustion?) – and WE chased the gorilla! The poverty gorilla was held at bay for another day by the power of fair trade! At the finish line we had non-stop interest from other runners, many of whom were keen to get a photo with the team.

Use the Fair Trade Finder to help locate fair trade products near you!

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