With these new stay at home rules, many are struggling to adjust / adapt their exercise routines. No longer being able to go to gyms for weight training, organized classes, or simply to use equipment, the population that wants to stay fit is adapting to the new conditions.
Luckily, I have never been one to go to gym or classes.In fact, the last time I worked out in a gym was probably around 30 years ago. For me, it business as usual when it comes to working out, doing body weight, hiit, dumbell and isometrics on rainy days, and either biking or boxing with my outdoor punching bag on sunny days.
While I wouldn't bore anyone with the home based routines I've previously filmed and shared on my blog (and Youtube), I figured I'd share some pics of my recent bike rides on and off the Island of Montreal. I plan to post them here as I go along:
April 1st 2020.
This first bike ride of the month took me to Parc Raimbeault in Cartierville. Crossed Town of Mount Royal via Lucerne, St croix and Obrien though Ville St Laurent and Cartierville, Finally a short ride on blvd Gouin before getting to the waterfront parc. Just in time for iceout on the Riviere des Prairies.
Easy ride, roughly 1 hour round trip ride, mainly flat along road side bike trails.
Approximately 18 KM total ride.
April 7th 2020.
Nice sunny Tuesday morning, I decided to bike to Brossard on Montreal's South shore for the first time ever, thanks to the new bike trail on the upgraded version of the Chaplain bridge.
This ride took me over Mount Royal, along the Lachine canal, through Verdun, onto the Nun's Island Bridge. As the Champlain bridge bike trail is on the opposite side of the bridge, I had to get off onto Nun's island, cross most of it, before looping back under the bridge to catch the trail going across the St Lawrence river. Getting of the bridge on the South shore, I looped back to the waterfront trail, to Parc du Pont Champlain, which was my destination.
One of my longer and more challenging rides, having to climb both Mount Royal, as well as the bridge, in both directions each.
Approximately 35 KM total ride.
Was surprised at the amount of people along the jogging and bike trails with the current stay at home orders, seems like they are being treated more like suggestions by most people.
April 12th 2020.
Sunny but windy Sunday, my only shot at getting the bike out this week to to a few days of bad weather, followed by the latter days of passover, during which I don't use my bike.
After hearing that the police shut down Ile Notre Dame a couple weeks ago, I figured out that Ile Ste Helene was still open.
Hoping not to run into large Sunday crowds on the trails, I was happy tp find less people than expected after hitting the trails in Ville St Henri. Eventually, the trail had more people on it East of the Atwater market. I opted to bike along St Patrick instead, until I had to catch it again near the Peel basin, in order to switch trails to get onto Ile St Helene via Avenue Pierre Dupuis. This trail passes by the Five Roses and Canada Malting plants, then by the old port, Habitat 67, and finally Parc de la Cite du Havre, before taking Pont de La Concorde onto the Island.
Sure enough, the trails is cut short a Ile Notre dame, with bike and foot traffic being routed onto Ile Ste Helene.
From there it's a shot ride to Lac Des Cygnes and the St Lawrence river along Parc Jean Drapeau.
Moderate ride, roughly 1.5 hours round trip, climbing Mount Royal in both directions. Approximately 28 km total.
Encountered large volume of joggers on Lachine Canal trail heading back, bicycle volume was lighter than expected.
April 20th 2020:
Another nice sunny and calm day, temperature just above freezing, perfect day for another new ride. For this one, I decided to visit Centennial park in Dollard des Ormeaux for the first time. A friend had once mentioned that the park's lake was full of carp and koi, so I decided to hop on my bike and have a look for myself.
I originally mapped a complex bike route through Ville St Laurent using Google maps. It was to keep me of the hwy 40 service road, but with so many small streets, I opted to forgo the map and just ride the service road up until Sources blvd. Was nice no to contend with any bikes, joggers or pedestrians most of the way there, but had to dodge cars and trucks at the various on and off ramps leading to the highway. Finally got to Sources blvd, then took Sallaberry and Lake road bike trails to get to the park.
Took me around 45 minutes of mainly flat ride in each direction. Approximately 32 KM total ride.
When I got to the lake a nice school of carp and koi were swimming near the shore. Even saw a rare ghost koi in the mix (top right).
Of course, no fishing, boating or feeding is permitted.
And of course, my usual selfie.
April 24th 2020:
Legs were a bit stiff to attempt a long ride in 30+ km/h wind gusts, so decided on a moderate ride up to the Mount Royal peak instead. I've probably done that ride hundreds of times aver the past 15 years or so. However, when I got to the Notre Dames Des Neiges cemetery, it was closed. I believe the idiotic CSN union shut it down a couple weeks ago after a couple workers tested positive for covid 19, but with the vast majority of them being outdoor workers that mostly work solo, it's totally uncalled for in my opinion. I guess it's better to have an excuse to stay home and collect CERB benefits....
Anyways, I could have just taken the alternate route that goes around the outside of the gates, but instead, I opted to switch destinations. Bening at the foot of the University of Montreal campus road, I climbed it until it's end, which leads to the peak. I rode through the park, which was renamed to "Parc Tiohtià:ke Otsira’kéhne" by Mayor Coderre a few years ago. It means "place of the big fire", as Mohawk natives would use the peak as a signalling point.
The dirt trail leading up to the peak is rough gravel and crushed rock. My hybrid bike made it up easily enough, but would have been nice to have my suspension bike to attempt riding some of the rougher trails down. Maybe next time...
