Rainy January? Ride on!

Did anyone else have an awesome bike commute this morning? I sure did!

I don't often look forward to biking 20km to work in the rain, but today was amazing. It was 11 degrees outside, and a light rain when I left my west-end home at about 8:40am (yeah, I was running late!). I was dressed a bit lighter than I usually would in January: underwear, MEC Rad Pants, long sleeve light "Powerdry" t-shirt, rain jacket, wool socks, Shimano cycling sandals, and rain booties.

It was actually colder in my garage than it was outside. As soon as I got into the alley, I knew I'd be shedding layers soon. Riding along Annette St., I was opening up my cuffs and unzipping the top of my jacket for more air. By the time I was around Dundas St. and Royal York, I had the pit zips open.

The headwind was very light, barely noticeable. I was flying along. I think I ride faster when I'm in a really good mood too. Warm January days do that to me.

Burnhamthorpe Rd., somewhere in eastern Mississauga. Really cookin' now, and even my feet were feeling hot! I stripped off one of my booties and shoved it in my pannier's rain cover. A few intersections later, at another red light, the other booty came off and now I was riding in a stylish combination of wool socks and sandals.

I hiked up my Rad Pants to let my ankles and calves breathe more. At the next red light, Dixie and Burnhamthorpe, I completed my transformation into a summer cyclist by taking off my jacket and rolling up my sleeves.

The final 4.5km to work were the best. Starting with the downhill from Dixie Rd., I was grinning like a madman as I pushed my way towards the centre of Mississauga. The people cooped up in their cars probably thought I was nuts. I think they're nuts. The rain was picking up a bit now too, but I didn't care. I was having too much fun to be annoyed by it.

Hell yeah. Bikes rule. Can't wait for the ride home!

(Ask me about riding when it's 11 degrees and raining in the summer and you might get a totally different opinion from me!)

vic : 18 years 3 months ago
Tags: commute, rain, winter

Suburban Health Hazard

The Globe gives us another reminder of the health problems associated with living in the suburbs. The reporter talks to a cardiologist who follows his own advice by cycling year round to two Toronto hospitals.

When he and his wife Amanda chose their home, a three-storey detached, they needed a place that had space enough for their three children and was close to a good school. But a prime factor was the timing for Dr. Connely's trip to work.

"I believe in practising what I preach," he says. "I cycle for the health benefits, and if you have to spend too much time, you tend not to do it. Twenty or thirty minutes gives me a decent ride every day."

As many of us have just finished visiting family and friends living in different cities and suburbs, this article might help reassure us of the value of our small apartments and condos, or old creaky houses.

darren : 18 years 3 months ago
Tags: health, suburbs

Toronto Bikes 2007: bells, bike lanes, bollards

A new banner image: like it? We are likely going to be swapping banners now and then to keep things fresh.

2007 was a mixed year for cycling in Toronto. The Bells on Bloor event featured in our new banner image was one of the better things to happen. The photo was taken by Tanya Quinn during the ride from High Park to Yonge St. back in September. It was great weather, a great turnout and an awesome way to promote the idea of bike lanes on Bloor Street. Politicians showed up, bike cops helped us through the intersections.

It was one of the less cynical things to happen in a year punctuated by lots of promises by politicians, few new actual bike lanes, some dead cyclists, some ill-placed bollards (that just reek of the lack of consultation and lack of thinking from the point of view of cyclists that is going on), and cyclists being vilified in the media for the violent actions of one cyclist.

On the bright side, some other outstanding events were the announcement of the Toronto Cyclists Union, the Bike Train (which incidentally won the I Bike T.O. award), the guerrilla bike lane painting, blossoming of the Bike Pirates, and, of course, the launch of I Bike T.O. (thank you everyone for all the praise, criticism and help!). Lift a glass to grassroots activism and to people willing to get things done despite the powers that be!

A happy new bike year to all of you. May your bike get you to and from work, school, store as safely as possible and may at least one of your neighbours decide you are having too much fun and decides to dust off their old bike.

Happy Bike Year!