Inspired by Chicks & Bikes II

Another set of photos I took featuring the 2 things I love most: girls and bikes

Winter Riding!

December 21 was the first day of winter so I celebrated by going on a road ride (It was also my chance to finally get some riding in after weeks of inactivity due to exams). It was pretty mild for this time of the year with temperatures barely dipping into -10 with the windchill and winds calm at 5km/hr.

I set out with a buddy of mine, he on his vintage Raleigh and I on my track bike. This was my first cold ride wearing my road shoes so I was not sure how to winterize properly but some folks suggested wearing plastic bags over my socks to help block the wind and I’m so glad I listened to them. My toes were freezing only 10k in! Luckily I had an extra pair of socks but it was still chilly with 2 pairs of socks and a pair of plastic bags but by the time I put them on it was pretty much too late and there wasn’t a chance for my toes to re-warm up. We decided to call it quits at Port Credit, just 25k out from the ride rather than going the extra 15km to Oakville. After a coffee break at a coffee shop to warm up and regain feeling in my toes it was back to TO. Overall, I pulled off a wee bit over 50km at an average of 23km/hr and my legs are super sore but I deserve it for taking a long time off the bike.

Me.


My Ride.

My accomplice.

Inspired by Chicks & Bikes

I admit that I peruse http://chicksandbikes.blogspot.com/ every so often and who wouldn't? Lovely ladies, lovely bikes :D

Here's my contribution to the increasing photos of girls and bikes on the internet:

Folding Bikes

Hello bike people,
so with final exams *almost* out of the way (my last one is in 14 hours) I decided to treat myself a little early and got a folding bike. I've used a folding bike on a week long research trip to NYC and I had a blast, I brought it everywhere and it went everywhere. Sure I couldn't keep up with the roadies or messengers as I'm spinning 90rpm just to get 22km/h, but I didn't mind.

The bike was "on sale" on Craigslist for $120 so I had to jump on it. I got the 3-speed model, which is 2 gears more than I can handle; my XC and main commuter are both single-speed, but I'm coping. I wasn't expecting too much for $120 but it isn't bad. It looks nice, it comes with fenders, working brakes AND can fold up really quickly, but it's heavy as heck the derailleur/brakes are junk and it's heavy (did I also mention it's heavy?)! granted, I do play on changing out the derailleur and brakes for some other parts I have lying around which are lighter/more reliable.

I've been commuting with it for a week and I can say that it's something peopel should try out. Using a folding bike with other modes of transportation (Multi-modal) can be efficient and very beneficial, but it may not be for everyone. I live 7.5km away from my work and school so biking takes me anywhere from 25~30 minutes depending on traffic. Taking the TTC, I can expect 35~40 minutes. By mixing both I can easily pull into work in 20 minutes while wearing a suit! Folding bikes may be ideal for GO riders working downtown wanting to avoid paying both GO and TTC fares, or condo dwellers who need something compact. This bike will definitely be my bar hopping, cafe going, grocery getting, bike which is cheap enough to lock up without worrying while giving me the mobility I want and the option of hopping on the TTC without worries.

There are some things I've noticed though. One, it attracts a lot of attention. At every red light, someone is looking at it. Perhaps it's weird seeing a big man on a small bike? Two, people will either think of you as being urbane & practical or just plain dorkey. I brought my bike into an exam last week and I can hear the mur murs behind me; people were complimenting the bike or it concept, people were making fun of it, people thought it was cute, people thought it was lame, lots of different reactions. Three, people will talk to you. So far my bike has resulted in 3 random conversations and I can only see it increasing in the future. Needless to say, if you get one expect some attention.

I'll upload real photos of it after my exam!

Long time no post!

Happy fall!

colder weather, less day-light and the impending winter will scare away many cyclists as it does every year. But those who stick around are rewarded with the beauty of autumn often missed while stuck in a subway car or bus.

So be sure to get out there and enjoy the ride! Be sure to have lights/reflectors on when necessary and to dress for the weather too.

It all starts with respect

We often don't think of the inherent danger that lies in being part of traffic on our streets yet it is something all users (drivers, cyclists, pedestrians) may face. This is especially true in cities with an increasing number of users on a not-so-increasing number of roads available. It is inevitable to expect conflict between users when demand exceeds supply. Tempers flair and harsh words are exchanged but rarely do things escalate beyond that.

Unfortunately, things did escalate on September 31 at the cost of a cyclist's life and a politician's livelihood (I have no intention on passing judgment on anyone in this case, that is best left to the court). The events that occurred that night has certainly had an impact for road users and word of it spread quickly, even Lance Armstrong (http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong) tweeted about it.

Though it is easy to blame one side I constantly remind myself that I was not there and I do not know all the facts of what happened and ultimately who is to blame. That being said, a lot of my non-bike friends (Bike Muggle?) ask me what I think about the incident I can only say that there is something to learn from this and that is the importance of respect. Rules of the road are only effective if drivers, cyclists and pedestrians respect them and the responsibilities/rights given to all users. Everyone has a right to the road and a right to be safe on it and it is our responsibility to uphold that.

The flip side to that is that we need to respect people as much as we much as we need to respect the rules. Lashing out in anger, violence and rude behaviour is by no means a way of solving a problem. This is the hardest part for many of us (myself included) but we have to approach each other with respect...even if the other person was not paying attention to the road and nearly colided into you. Yes, it sounds silly but there are more peaceful ways to warn the other driver that he/she is nto respecting the rules of the road. If we approach drivers in a hostile manner then chances are they will be defensive in a hostile manner too. If we can't show them respect on the road then how can we expect them to show us respect?

****This is something I wrote MONTHS ago but never posted it until now...****

Beater Bikes

As much fun as it is riding a carbon fibre road bike or a trials bike they just aren't practical for riding in the city as poor road conditions, theft and inclement weather can do a number on our bikes. We also need a few things such as fenders, a rack or even reflectors on our ride just to make our commute bearable. Sure there are bikes out there designed for commuting but with prices starting at $500 it may be steep for many potential first time buyers or cyclists. Sure they beat department store bikes in terms of quality and performance but the price tag also makes them targets for bike theft.

Enter the Beater Bike.


Weighing in at $325CND (After tax) this bike is designed to be your bar hopping, wet weather, grocery getting, everyday commuter. There's a men's and women's model and comes ready with an all steel frame, 6-speed rear, fenders, chain guard, kick stand, relfectors and bell. Both the wheels and seat post use a bolt rather than quick release skewers to deter theft as well. Inspired by the commuter bikes of Europe, this no-frills bike is pretty enough to ride but not attractive enough for theives to eye. Other nice features include 700c wheels rather than 26" mountain bike wheels, giving you more options for street tyres and better speed and V-brakes rather for better stopping power. For anyone who's interested, the frames have horizontal dropouts incase you're thinking of turning this into a single-speed/fixed gear/coaster brake/3-speed bike.



However, there are a few draw backs to the bike. The bike only has 1 chain ring up front and 6 gears on the rear which may not be ideal for people who have to commute over hilly terrain.

Also, the bottom bracket uses the old school style adjustable-cup-and-cone, rather than sealed cartridge bearings. It'll do the job, but over time the bearings will be exposed to the weather and wear down.


Beater Bikes aren't comparable to high end bikes...but that's the point, they're meant to be beaten around on your daily commute. I'm already seeing some of these on the street and I'm hoping to see more. For more information visit: www.beaterbikes.ca