I just arrived in Toronto, Canada and am soooo excited to be here!!  My coach lives just outside the city and I am here for a couple weeks of training with him.  Almost immediately after arriving, I built my bike, got things together and was out for a ride in the evening and already in love with the area.  Never having been to Canada it was a whole new experience.  It feels like Europe in the sense that I went through customs and am in another country, but so much of it is still so similar to the U.S…. or America.  The cars are still just as big, the houses still just as developed, the fast food chains still so prominent.  But particularities make it stand apart; the roads are cleaner and better maintained, the houses more refined and quaint appearing, a calmer sense of lifestyle without the hustle and bustle… given this may be because Im in a pretty small town/city, but still.  Oh, and they are very proud to be Canadian, I see flags EVERYWHERE.  I thought Americans were proud of their nationality, but wow, I can’t go far without being reminded where I am, it’s pretty cool.

Yesterday, I was out for a long relaxed ride to get to know the area.  Hamilton is an amazing place for cycling.  On top of the plateau is farmland and ranches with a grid system of roads that go forever with flat and rolling roads. 

Descending down the ridge to the river valley there are roads that snake up and down the steep rock line to make all the various levels of climbing you could ask for.  One of the climbs is called “Clara’s Climb”, dedicated to Clara Hughes, the Canadian Olympic champion that used to train in the area on that climb.

For the next few weeks I’ll be training hard and doing some local races.  I am excited for the challenges ahead and getting stronger for the season.

Main street in Dundas