Cycling Citizen

2012 A frosty morning

2012-01-11T20:29:00.000-05:00

Cyclists have been blessed with these mild winter days.

2012 An usual mild winter lets us do Tai Chai in the am hours

2012-01-07T13:08:00.000-05:00

Park on Bathurst and South of Dundas

2011 Roma

2011-12-09T19:57:00.002-05:00

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge

2011-07-11T19:06:00.036-04:00

I absolutely loved the ride from Manhattan to the Brooklyn Museum of Art!

Riverside Park South

Ride the Hudson Park heading South. Follow the good signage. There are lots of bike lanes in Brooklyn...and it is worthwhile to check out the Eastern Parkway.

View Larger Map

Cafe Ezra's crazy maniquin -- Only in Toronto

2011-06-30T19:14:00.001-04:00

This is a crazy story: The cafe manager let me fix the belt of the maniquin and I put my helmet on her. The maniquin must have gotten upset at me...because after two hrs at the patio she threw herself and almost fell on my head. Crazy maniquin!

Toronto in 1 shot

2011-06-30T18:53:00.002-04:00

Across the AGO

2011 Ride for Heart -- 75K

2011-06-15T22:25:00.002-04:00

...23oC / headwind

View Larger Map

A yellow bike...discover Queen West

2011-06-15T22:11:00.000-04:00

.... only in Toronto

Sonic Espresso Cafe, Toronto -- A Flying bike

2011-06-02T21:08:00.002-04:00

....a must visit cafe at the corner of Spadina & Cecil.

2011 Sugar Beach, downtown Toronto

2011-06-02T21:05:00.002-04:00

30o C May 31st

Sugar Beach, at the foot of Queen's Quay & Sherbourne, Toronto

2011 Toronto - Lake Simcoe Return, 210 Km

2011-05-31T07:29:00.003-04:00

A great weekend riding with Cycle Canada.
Good food, nice group.... No pictures but here is a map

View Larger Map

Kim Moon Bakery Chinatown Toronto

2011-04-16T13:53:00.000-04:00

buns are out of the oven at 8:00am...

A chilly April afternoon in Toronto (2011)

2011-04-16T13:48:00.000-04:00

pic. Alley on Ryerson street

A left wing PINKO, Toronto

2010-12-12T17:57:00.002-05:00

Did it! cycling on the snow 101, Viva la nieve!

2010-12-06T18:47:00.000-05:00

The undecided....

2010-12-05T20:41:00.002-05:00

Sharrows on Bloor, Toronto

2010-12-05T20:01:00.001-05:00

Toronto, This is the thing with the sharrows : cars ignore them.
See what I say?

-13 oC Toronto, the last ride of this year?

2010-12-05T19:56:00.001-05:00

I have been saying this since the beginning of November. But now it is true. I am putting the Fuji away.

Toronto, Hart House Dec/10

2010-12-05T19:40:00.001-05:00

Sooooo proud of myself.
First time I ride this far into the fall...in a -3 oC that felt like -10.
Ready for the winter?

2010 Toronto's Harbourfront

2010-09-11T15:35:00.004-04:00

Toronto's psychic space.

The complexity of straightness.

2010 Paris Velib

2010-09-11T15:21:00.002-04:00

Voila, les parisiens/ennes --ils ont le truc!
No need to have a permanent address to rent a "velo" from the velib system in Paris. I loved the designated lanes. The velib is everywhere and near metro stations. Steffi and I went for a short ride --I am still waiting for Steffi's pics. In the meantime here is one of a morning breakfast.

2010 Barcelona: two wheels, si!

2010-09-11T15:09:00.001-04:00

Los conductores son locos...pero locos de remate!
Un motociclista por molestar me tiro la moto solo para verme la cara de susto. Sin embargo, hay vias ciclables pero muy muy pocas. It is suicidal to ride a bicycle in downtown. Ademas, exigen que los usuarios tengan un domicilio permanente.

2010 Lyon, city of Lyon, bicycle rental system

2010-08-12T22:00:00.002-04:00

In Lyon (unlike in Barcelona) one can rent a bicycle from the bici system and not need a permanent address; a credit card will do. I purchased a one-day ticket. A refundable deposit of about 150 euros (summer 2010) is charged to your credit card. Lyon`s bicycle lanes are all over the city. I was impressed and surprised. I felt it was a safe system.

230 Riverside Drive, 10025

2010-08-12T12:29:00.002-04:00

New York City, 6 days, 2 wheels (2010)

2010-08-11T21:32:00.002-04:00

My favourite ride:
During the day time, the Hudson River and Lower East Side.
During the evening: 8th Avenue heading North.
I rented the Bicycle at Champion Bicycles.

It took me a while to find the underbridge connecting the Lower East side to the Lower West.

Yes, it was in July, and it rained.

pic. Central Park. I got the impression that there are fewer cyclists in this city than in Toronto.

same, same. Washington Square.

2010 Toronto's G20 Summit -- seeing it on 2 wheels

2010-06-27T11:32:00.002-04:00

Other cyclists and I agreed that riding on the deserted-police-controlled streets was an interesting experience. We could check the "hot" spots and flee if we had to. I meant to hang out in the core area for a bit but ended up riding past midnight. The G20 doesn't come to town all that often.

A Colombian riding an "Amsterdam" in Toronto`s Chinatown in a made-in-Canada bicycle with Japanese made Shimano parts. This is globalization.

2010-06-15T21:00:00.002-04:00

An alley

2010-06-15T20:58:00.002-04:00

Toronto's Water Park

2010-06-10T16:59:00.002-04:00

Toronto's Queen Street West at 7:30 am

2010-06-09T18:45:00.004-04:00

Summer is around the corner.

2010 Toronto's Ride 4 Heart

2010-05-28T12:02:00.008-04:00

50 k
rainy
L`arc de Triomphe...not exactly.

2009 Outddor Ice Skating too, Dundas & Bathurst

2010-01-13T18:25:00.001-05:00

Toronto in mid November - Urban cyclist

2009-11-13T07:17:00.002-05:00

pic: College St.UofT downtown campus

2009 November in Toronto

2009-11-11T21:23:00.001-05:00

Wonderful weather, wonderful ride.

Picture: Niagara St. and King West

pic.: St. Clair & Queen West.

2009 August: Toronto – Sauble Beach North

2009-10-05T21:29:00.018-04:00

Two wheels + no car = no problem
I love to beat the challenges of travelling without a car. In a “Ford-like” nation - like Canada - where the car is king, it is not obvious to travel with a bicycle and without a car. I decided to get around it and hope my experience helps you prepare for your own ride.

Lake Huron’s Sauble Beach is synonymous of friendliness, sun, and beaches. It is a pleasant area for bicycle touring.

How can you travel without a car but with your bicycle?

First, there is: Greyhound. I know, tell me about it...I suffer from motion sickness myself.

There is no train going to Sauble Beach and I have no money to take a helicopter. So this is what I did: I used an Allen key + 15" wrench to disassemble the bicycle, I put it in a box and shipped it via Greyhound. You need to ship your bicycle 1 or 2 days before heading to your final destination. This way you are sure that your bicycle is there when you arrive (I got there via Greyhound too).

In less than 30 minutes I removed the pedals and front wheel, and disengaged the front break. Advice: use cream/oil and a rag to clean your hands. Oil well the pedals (preferably cream oil) a few days in advance as it will make make it easier to put the pedals back on. A packing box is available at the Greyhound Courier (for a fee); and then there is the shipping fee. Find out how long they will keep your bike in the Greyhound office (town of Owen Sound) free of “storage” surcharges.

When you get to Owen Sound (you will have printed off the web a taxi service list of the area). For a decent fixed rate they will drive you and your two-wheel to Sauble Beach North. If you are traveling light, ride your bike to Sauble Beach -just 35 Km- but be aware: the roads are busy and shoulders are unpaved.

Bring a map of the Ontario back roads, or get an Ontario bicycle map (at MEC stores maybe?).

These pointers are meant only to give you an idea and are by no means an official tour source. The starting point of all loops was Sauble Beach North which is about 3.5 K from downtown Sauble Beach.

Loop 1:
Sauble Beach North to Shallow Lake
45 Km return
My intention was to head south to Kincardine but the traffic on highway 13 on a long August weekend threw me off. A car at 80K per hour...Anyway, I ended up taking quiet roads and came close to the town of Shallow Lake.
Route: South on Lakeshore Blvd. which merges with Sauble Falls, becomes 2nd Avenue. Head West on Maryville Lake Rd., North on Municipal, West on Silver Lake Rd., North on Allenford, East on Spring Creek, passing by Jewel Bridge Road, then West on 6th and lastly North on Lakeshore Blvd.

All flat, easy ride. My map did classify paved and upaved roads so I didn’t make it to the town of Shallow Lake.

Ending the ride with a swim in Lake Huron speeded up my muscle recovery.

Loop 2
Sauble Beach North to the town of Mar
50 K return
Two or three hills, amazing landscape.
Route: Head North on Lakeshore boulevard, West on Sauble Falls, North on #13, West on South Oliphant Road (partly unpaved but doable. My thin tires worked fine). North on Bay, North on Shorline Avenue, East on Spry Lake Road, North on #13 (aka Bryant). East on Red Bay Road and then Mar is there. A corner gas station with a delicious home-made cooking is the town of Mar. A local told me that they tried to change the name of this but didn’t do it.

Loop 3
Sauble Beach North to Southampton
50K return
South on Sauble Falls Pkwy., West on Silver Lake Rd., South on Elsinore all the way until hightway 21 [Elsinore north of High Hill Rd. is unpaved but I managed to role on the compacted soil.] West on #21 all the way to Southampton -- but warn you, #21 is busy. On my way back I took Route 13, again busy and be on the look for heavy trucks. I wouldn’t take #13. On highway 21 I passed by the Nagee’s native reserve.

2009 Toronto's: Bells on Bloor

2009-07-11T11:10:00.004-04:00

One more year, one more Bells on Bloor (BoB) ride and we don't have yet a bike lane on Bloor Street. I had a flat when arriving at Queen's Park.

2009-07-11T09:27:00.018-04:00

Day 1

40K Toronto, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL)

We checked in at the Bikechain table at Union Station, received the train tickets and a map of the cycling routes on the Niagara Region. For CAD $31 one-way you bring your bike with you, no need to dissamble anything or remove anything; exactly, just like that: your bike.

1:00 pm. We arrived at the Niagara Falls train station which is just minutes away from the busy/popular Falls. We headed North bound to cute Niagara-on-the-Lake and from the station we rode up the Niagara Recreational Parkway. It took us about 40 minutes to arrive to NOTL. After settling in our hotel we went to ride around the wineyards and were back on time for a Shaw theatre play. My friends and I would liked to ride longer.

Picture: Union Station, Toronto

Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) wineyards

Day 2

40K Niagara-on-the-lake, Welland Canal, Niagara Falls

We had to be at the station at 1:30 pm to catch the 2:15 train taking us back to Toronto. We felt a bit rushed and longed for more time. From NOTL we headed to the Welland Canal starting at the St.Catharines area. The Welland Canal is superb. At the nearly end of our ride a friend got a flat and he had no spare tubes. A convenience store helper called a cab for him and we continued our ride to the station.

Pic: train station Niagara Falls

Putting the bikes back in the train

2009 "Cyclon" ...thinking on signing up

2009-06-21T21:25:00.002-04:00

too tempting...but will be riding the Northern portion of Lake Huron instead. Pictures and stories will follow.

2009 Toronto, downtown

2009-06-21T21:06:00.009-04:00

picture: Waterfront, Toronto

picture: Canadiana Gallery Building, UofT

picture: College Street, Toronto

2009 August (cancelled; back pain): Seaway Trail, NY Upstate

2009-06-21T20:30:00.002-04:00

...Getting ready and coordinating a ride starting at Niagara Falls NY., passing by Olcott, Holley, Sodus Point, Oswego, Cape Vincent, Wolfe Island. Ends at Kingston, ON.

2009 Ride 4 Heart, nice 75k

2009-06-21T19:36:00.014-04:00

uff...75k. good stuff.

picture: CNE Toronto

picture: a turtle wanted to cross the "Don Valley Parkway"...

2009: A bicycle ticket in Toronto

2009-04-07T13:31:00.004-04:00

So I got a ticket because I didn't stop at the stop sign.

My first reaction was to want to run away screaming from the police officer. That, though, would have not been a good idea. I Stayed put, took the yellow ticket and digested it baby. But...on that same day I went to an office (can't remember where it is) and requested a dispute in court.

They told me that I would receive my court appointment in the mail. It arrived about six months later.

So I went to court in 2009. Before entering the court room I was asked if I wanted to plead guilty. And, I did. Once inside they called my name up. Thirty seconds later they let me go because the police officer did not show up.

Some counting...

2009-03-21T19:38:00.004-04:00

From August 2006 to the October 2008 I accummulated 2,435 Km. This figure does not include my daily commute to work which would add 250K more.

The picture below has "photoshop" effects. In case u r wondering.

2009: Undusting the DeVinci

2009-02-07T11:29:00.005-05:00

This is is the amount of dust my DaVinci catches after being parked in the basement for a long winter. I guess I breath some of this dust when I walk in here.

Toronto's lakeshore

2009-02-06T21:37:00.005-05:00

...a Sunday morning ride along Toronto's lakeshore; I took this curious picture.

2008: 21 cyclists doing Ottawa-Quebec City

2008-08-09T18:10:00.028-04:00

We were ...21 cyclists @ an average of 112 km x day x cyclist x 5 days = 11,760 km!!

Day One: 118 Km
Departure: Ottawa - Destination: Hawkesbury
Terrain: flat, great and green.
We passed by Orleans, Lefaivre, L'Original, Rockland among other towns.

Day Two: 113 Km
Hawkesbury to Montreal. Entered Montreal through Canal Lachine.

Day Three: 112 Km
Montreal - Berthierville (hometown of Gilles Villeneuve)

Day Four: 118 Km
Berthierville - St.Anne de la Perade

Day Five: 95 Km
St.Anne de la Perade to Quebec City

A picture on the last day of our ride.

2008 Toronto's Bells on Bloor

2008-06-21T14:52:00.007-04:00

Zoraida's Profile in "I Bike Toronto"

2007-12-16T16:40:00.002-05:00

My profiles on TFO television: click on the link below...

http://www2.tfo.org/Panorama/Video/4383

My profile on ibike Toronto's blog

http://www.ibiketo.ca/node/1599#comment-1907

Photoshoping cycling pictures

2007-12-10T22:12:00.002-05:00

2007 Atlantic Canada 5-Day Tour

2007-08-25T09:26:00.000-04:00

Picture: red sand beaches at Stanhope

Picture: garage door (Nova Scotia)

picture: riders in Summerside, PEI

Day 1
101 Km
Ride: Moncton-Confederation Bridge-Summerside
Level of difficulty: uhmmm...not difficult
hickup: thunder showers on Km 101, it was so cold and windy I couldn't finish the last 24 Km :(

Day 2
116 Km
Route: Summerside - Malpeque - Cavendish - Stanhope - Charlottetown
Simply put: gorgeous scenic hilly ride; would do it all over again.

Day 3
77 Km
Route: Charlottetown - Cherry Valley - Wood Islands - Pictou

Day 4
110 Km
Route: Pictou - Truro

Day 5
114 Km
Truro - Halifax

Picture: waiting to get on the ferry to Nova Scotia. Exciting moment!

2007 Bancroft (Ontario)

2007-08-22T13:15:00.000-04:00

Picture: Diamond Lake

Picture: downtown Bancroft

Diamond Lake cottage, Highlands.

2007 London - Port Franks - Bayfield (Ontario)

2007-07-05T15:04:00.000-04:00

295K
LONDON-PORT FRANKS-BAYFIELD and BACK...

Not having a car can not be an excuse not to ride out of the city.
Get on a VIA train with your bike...
Level of difficulty of the terrain: 1 (in a 1 to 5 scale)
Budget: $400
Highlights of this ride: people's friendliness; the beaches at Grand Bend; the beauty of Bayfield.

DAY 1:
Toronto-London by VIA rail (check baggage train)
Sleep over in London (accommodation at UWO)
Baggage: less than 5 pounds of luggage on the rear rack. I snacked at the local farms which sold fresh fruits ready to eat or "pick-it yourself".
-Maps: used Map # 6 of the Ontario Cycling Association [not always clear but one can figure it out]
DAY 2: 90K
London-Port Franks
Departed from the University of Western Ontario;
passed by Lobo, Ailsa Craig, Theford
Highway 7 can be busy at times; truck drivers were not bike friendly. It is intimidating to see 8000 tons of steel so close to your derriere.
Accommodation: I stayed at Bee n' Bee B&B. Gorgeous place; 5/5 star. Their website does not reflect the beauty, cleanliness, friendliness, and peacefullness of this great relaxing place.

DAY 3: 117K
Port Franks-Bayfield-Port Franks
Please don't take highway 21! Don't tell me I didn't warn you. The shoulders are not paved.
My suggestion is: take Bronson Road and ride North to Bayfield; this road is not only beautiful but quiet; very few cars, no trucks. Bayfield is a gorgeous little town 48K North of Port Franks.
Ideally, you would sleep over at Bayfield and ride the next morning North to Goderich. I didn't have the time so I rode back to Port Franks.

DAY 4: 88K
Port Franks-London
On this day I rode mostly on Highway 17 and catched the 4 pm train back to Toronto. I checked in my bicycle with VIA Rail and they shipped it the next morning. I picked the bicycle up the next day and received it in good condition.

What Would I have done differently?

-I would avoid Highway 21; I would have shipped my bicycle out of Toronto to London one day earlier and this way I would not have had to sleep over in London; I should have brought a regular road map in addition to my cycling map.

Tips

2007-06-09T18:57:00.000-04:00

John Schubert's "Cycling for Fitness"

"European racers have rice cakes, dried fruits and fruit tarts"

"Don't eat within one hour of starting time, or you'll depress your blood sugar level with an insulin reaction...dilute those heavily sugared drinks by at least one"

"a pound of fat on your ribs slows you down"

"Long rides develop the body's ability to burn fat rather than glucose"

"If cycling has a drawback as exercise, it's the lack of stretching. Because muscles naturally tighten up when you exercise them, and because you don't need much range of motion to ride a bike"

Sore Back?

2007-06-03T16:21:00.000-04:00

[picture: taken at Central Park, NY]

This picture is a mirror of my sore back. I injured it because my saddle was too far back and I was stretching too much.

When your back sores, do you take painkillers?

2007 Cyclism @ MoMA, NY

2007-05-24T21:18:00.000-04:00

Wheels and Art intersect at the Museum of Modern Art of NY.

2007 New York City

2007-05-24T20:36:00.001-04:00

(

I rented a bicycle at Eddie's Bicycle (83rd W & Amsterdam). It is not far from Central Park West. They were extremely friendly and have it all -helmets, bottles, you name it. I would come back.

2006 Season Training Log

2006-12-26T20:00:00.000-05:00

Picture: Rose Garden-Scarborough Bluffs

Apr 30: 16K
May 5: 40K

Jun 4: 60K

Jun 5: 35K

Jun 11: 60K

Jun 13: 40K

Jun 17: 90K

Jun 18: 103K

Jun 20: 35K

Jul 3: 50K

Jul 6: 40K

Jul 8: 65K

Jul 10: 68K

Jul 13: 80K

Jul 18: 90K

Jul 20: 50K

Jul 30: 85K

Aug 2: 26K

Aug 5: 78K

Aug 6: 91K

Aug 7: 64K

Aug 11: 41K

Aug 13: 85K

Aug 14: 100K

Aug 15: 110K

Aug 17: 116K

Aug 18: 105K

Aug 19: 103K

Aug 23: 64K

Aug 31: 61K

Aug 25: 92K

Cought a cold...end of my season!

2006-11-24T10:34:00.001-05:00

Being on 2 wheels for one week gave me a sense of freedom and empowerment not felt before. I empowered my legs...my body.

I went with a tour organized by "Cycle Canada". They are good. I would do it all over again. I liked the group very much.

Physical strenght is not enough when riding 80-110 km per day; mental visualization is key as well.

...What would I have done differently? I would start the rides as early as 6:00 a.m. to avoid the afternoon "canicule". I would have done one additional week.

Day 1: 92K (Kilometers)

Toronto-Bowmanville. Flat, easy. I rode slowly to make sure that I would make it to the end of the day. We departed from the Old City Hall building in downtown Toronto.

Day 2: 98K Bowmanville-Brighton; not difficult. Beautiful scenery.

We stayed at a beautiful gorgeous Bed and Breakfast on Brighton (Butler Creek on 202 County Road 30). They served a nutritious, delicious, but more importantly a healthy breakfast. The two owners of the BandB had two beautiful vintage cars from the 40's (like those taken out of a movie set) and they drove us downtown Brighton for dinner.

me? I am wearing the not-so-sexy "bubble shorts" and colourful maillot! and of course, my legs are two coloured.

Day 3: 125 K Brighton-Kingston - Rode on the Glenora Ferry. We stayed at the St. Lawrence College residences.

Day 4: This is our day off. However, the night before I took the train back to TO for a job interview. I returned on the same day to continue with day 4.

Day 5: 115K - Kingston to Prescott Awesome. We rode by the St. Lawrence river. Unbelievably gorgeous scenery. Not difficult, rather flat. We had a very hot afternoon sun.
All in all I was still in good shape.

Could a cyclist ask for more? I was enjoying an almost-free painless "derriere". I was developing calluses on my sitting bones/muscles/ cartilages and that was wonderful if one keeps in mind that I did not use any cushioned-camel pant that protect your buttocks.

It was like "nothing comes between me and my uncushioned-cycling shorts" -just like the Calvin Klein add of the 80's which showed Brooke Shields in a Calvin Klein jeans saying "Nothing comes between me and my jeans". ...there you go...and she has two baby girls now!

DAY 6: Prescott-Lanscaster; 116 K
The afternoon was soooooo hot, I wasn't sure I was going to make it. Unlike the previous days, today I stopped to take a break from the burning sun. Robert and I were the first ones to arrive to the motel. I promissed myself that I would start at 6:45 a.m. the next day when we will be doing Lancaster-Montreal. Other than the heat, the ride was not difficult.

DAY 7: 116K - Lancaster-Montreal

...and now the end is near...yeah, and now I was nearing the end of the ride. A wonderful feeling of anticipation...the entrance to Montreal was great. There were many other cyclists on the city's bike paths. Montreal is really a cyclists' haven...oohhh Toronto, I wish you had all the bike lanes that Montreal has...

I wonder what kind of work Montrealers have done to get all these beautiful bike lanes. They even have street lights for cyclists. Is it because they speak French? Should we start all speaking French in Toronto? Could someone explain me why Montrealers have the most developed bicycle paths in Canada? I just don't get it. I am jelous and envious.

2006-11-24T10:29:00.001-05:00

August 4-7, 2006

Day 1: 78K

Day 2: 94K

Day 3: 64K

Cyclon is a long-weekend event organized by the Toronto Bicycle Network. A fellow cyclist gave me a ride to Kingston. We are lodged at the grad student residences of the Queen's University campus. Cyclon worked out very well for me because it helped me to prepare for my big ride: Toronto-Montreal.

The Kingston area has tremendous hills, let alone headwinds. The bandana I wear makes me look funny but it kept my head cool. It does feel different when you protect your head.

For the first time, I had the opportunity to live a "peloton" experience... very convenient on such a challenging landscape. The more experienced pelotons were arriving first; I imagine they have been in the business for what? ten years? My peloton encouraged me to keep up with their pace. However, at some point I got tired of the "peloton" pressure and went solo.

2006-07-31T17:25:00.001-04:00

The more I cycle the more I respect my body, develop a taste for a "simple life", want to be in nature, and admire the voluntary simplicity lifestyle.

Check out Judith Levin's book "Not Buying It" (voluntary simplicity life) .

2006 Bicycle Related Movies, Music, Books

2006-07-27T17:33:00.000-04:00

The Bicycle Thief -Score: 9/10; it is about emotions; survival; do not expect competition or that kind of stuff (1949).
2 Seconds - Score = 9/10; good stuff; funny at times; more importantly, it is made in Canada, 1990s)
Je Reste= 6/10; it is a light movie, funny at times, bike freaks must watch this one. France (1990s)?
"My Bike & Other Friends" (Henry Miller, yeap, believe it or not!)
"I Want to Ride Bicycle" (Queen's CD)
"A Ride for a Wife" (haven't seen it)
"Wheels of Chance" (1896)
"Bicycle Tips" book (Ed Pavleska)
"The Canadian Cycling Association's Complete Guide to Bicycle Touring in Canada" book (Katz, Elliot)
"Bike Cult The Ultimate Guide to Human-Powered Vehicles" book (David B. Perry)
"Breaking Away" movie (watched: 7.9/10); USA (1970s?)
"Quicksilver" movie (not watched yet)

2006-07-26T15:37:00.001-04:00

Picture: Singing Sands at the Bruce Peninsula

This picture was taken during a ride in Tobermory.

"Claude and Francoise Herve left the easy security of their home, car and careers in Lyons, France, to share a globe-trotting adventure of fourteen years and lost 100,000 miles" (David B. Perry's Bike Cult"

"Albert Leblanc, from Maria, Quebec cycled round the world about three times" (David B. Perry)

2006 David B. Perry's "Bike Cult"

2006-07-26T14:31:00.000-04:00

Picture at the shores of Lake Huron/Bruce Trail

David B. Perry's "Bike Cult The Ultimate Guide to Human-Powered Vehicles" is a bicycle information tank. The author discusses the history of the bicycle, its use as a vehicle of transportation, competitive and recreational bicycling, the politics, the professional cyclists' diet...

Picture description: my Devinci at Dyer's Bay/Bruce Peninsula.

Excerpt from Perry's book:

"Bicycle eye: afflict cyclists today and is caused by a painful uncertainty whether to look for the arrival of the floor from the front, behind, or one side, and once fixed upon the countenance can never be removed. " P.165.

Massage is important for muscle recuperation, especially after a ride...The immune system is usually enhanced by cycling, yet the stresses of long distance cycling can weaken de body's defenses again bacteria and viruses (page 169).

2006-07-12T11:20:00.001-04:00

Picture: Black Creek, Toronto.

I went to have lunch in a nice Middle-east restaurant located on the East side of Yonge Street, three blocks north of the Davisville subway station (can't remember the name) .

Our table was next to the window and while waiting for the bill I noticed cyclists passing by. I decided to start counting and got an average of 1.5 riders per minute. Does this mean that it is time to have a bike lane on Yonge Street?

Cyclistically yours, The Cycling Citizen

2006-07-10T13:45:00.001-04:00

I just finished reading Ed Pavelka's book "900 All-Time Best Tips". A hundred and something pages with tips to enrich the experience of long-distance cyclists.

Tips include -among other things- nutrition, long-rides, mountain biking advice.

The author answered to a "runny-nose" situation: "I do not suffer from any seasonal allergies but get runny nose only when I ride on temperatures close to 20 oC". Pavelka explains that a runny nose (similar to having a cold) may be due to vasomotors rhinitis (Pavelka, page 82). I was glad to find an answer to my four-year-old question.

2006-07-10T11:23:00.001-04:00

I am quite comforable doing 45K/day (2hrs)- no effort required.
My goal this summer is to increase my distance from 65K to 100K/day; speed is not important but endurance is.

Week 1 (Toronto)
July 3: 50K
July 6: 40K
July 8: 68K (mild low-back tiredness)

Map: Humber River North West and riding on both branches. Starting at Yonge & Eglinton, northbound to Towntree Mills Park, southbound to Summerlea Park, northbound again to Humberwood Park and back.

Week 2 (Toronto)
July 11: 68K. Avg. speed 25K/hr; flat terrain
July 13: 80 K
Week 3 (in Tobermorey's Lion's Head)
July 18: 90 K
July 19: 1 hr walk
July 20: 50 K

Week 4
July 25: rest
July 27 : 1 hr/gym.
July 30: 85K

Week 5 (Kingston, ON)
Aug 2: 26K
Aug.6-7-8: Cyclon
Week 6
Aug 11: 41K
Aug 12 (last day before depature to Montreal!)

I never got to do 100K during my "training period". However, I did reach the 90K in one of my Cyclon days in Kingston. This reassures me and makes me think that I could do 10K more without a problem.

2006-06-20T18:59:00.001-04:00

Total ride: 193 kilometers - TBN club

Day one: Sat. June 17= 90 K

Route: Stoney Creek (Hamilton) - St. Catharines - Niagara Falls
Level of difficulty: low to medium; killer afternoon heat.

Day two: Sun.June 18= 103 K
Route: Niagara Falls - Niagara on the Lake - Stoney Creek (Hamilton)

A welcome cake courtesy of the Maple Leaf Motel.

2006-06-10T10:31:00.001-04:00

60K
Easy roller
Toured with the Toronto Bicycle Network
Toronto-Lake Wilcox- Toronto
Nasty head wind

http://www.richmondhill.ca/documents/heritage_lake_wilcox.pdf

2006-06-09T16:40:00.001-04:00

Fundraising Ride for Heart
50 K in 1 H 50 min
Sunday 8:15 a.m.

Banana anyone?

Checking-in...pushing my belly in for the pic...

No...this is not my car...

2006-06-03T21:07:00.001-04:00

My stolen bike: short lived life of my Oslo Devinci.

On May 31 I bought a new bicycle.

Brand: DeVinci (made in Quebec)

Aluminum frame: can't believe how fast I can ride on it.

I installed a computer as I am becoming a freak of speed and mileage.
two water bottle cases
women design saddle (nice!)
Bought at Cyclepath on Yonge St. South of Eglinton.

My bike was stolen at the Eglinton Shopping Centre four weeks after I bought it.

2006-06-03T20:56:00.001-04:00

2006 Toronto's bike week started on May 29. Thousands of cyclists met at the Second Cup south of Bloor (at Yonge) and headed off to City Hall.

2006-06-03T20:44:00.001-04:00

On one of my Sunday rides I tested the TTC bike-rack service offered on the Bathurst bus route.

I had a good experience. The driver was patient and friendly.

While in Vancouver buses with bike racks have been operating for at least 10 years, the concept is a new "thing" in Toronto.

Hopefully Toronto will continue to adopt bike-friendly services in all routes.

Sure...dream...

2005 Sept. 18 TBN Toronto Scenic Tour Cynthia

2006-06-03T20:43:00.000-04:00

70K
Cynthia's Scenic Tour offered by the TBN
easy roller

2006-06-03T20:41:00.001-04:00

70K
5 hours
Solo Tour
Could have gone farther for another 2 hours, up to Clarington but I wasn't sure what the road was going to be like.
Easy ride, beautiful

2005- Aug 28? Toronto

2006-06-03T20:36:00.000-04:00

40K
Eglinton-Eglinton West-Humber

Toronto-Ajax-Toronto September 2005

2006-06-03T20:33:00.000-04:00

70K
Via Lakeshore
Nice and easy ride
Stopped at quiet beach and took a break.

Toronto-Vandorf-Unionville-Toronto 2005

2006-06-03T20:31:00.000-04:00

70Km
TBN guided ride
Level of difficulty: not difficult
sorry no pics.

2006-06-03T20:24:00.001-04:00

25 K

Team: Annabelle, Zoraida, Nathalie
On the back: Toronto's smoggy day
Where are we? Leslie Pit

2006-06-03T20:21:00.001-04:00

50K
more than 10,000 people
Crowded at times

What I loved the most? the feeding stations!
8:15-8:45 departure
We were a team of four and did 50K it in about 2.5 hours.

2006-06-03T20:18:00.001-04:00

90K
ride partner: Gema
Toronto-Burlington-Toronto via Lakeshore
Camping: not my thing, really.
We were four: 2 cyclists, 2 car drivers.

Gema, where are the pictures?

2006-06-03T20:11:00.001-04:00

170Km
Day 1: 100 Km
Day 2: 70 Km
Overnight in Alliston

Level of difficulty: medium; it has hills; nasty head wind but I loved the challenge.

I paired up with another woman, we got lost somewhere and had to call for support on my 100th kilometer!

2005 Montreal, Part I

2006-06-03T19:37:00.000-04:00

picture: "Parc Linear" (Quebec)

Distance: 50K/day x 6 days= 300K

Level of Difficulty: mostly flat terrain, easy ride in bicycle lanes. Fine gravel. Signs everywhere.

Rides North of Montreal: Park d'Oka, St Eustache, Linear Park (south portion only), St. Anne de Bellevue, Vieux Port, Lachinne, Ile Bizard.

The "Parc Linear" has gentle hills and the gravel is very fine. Fee of $5 to use the "Parc" and you can pay it in any of the many stations in the park. I heard that the north portion is paved. There is a bicycle bus that charges about $60 and they take you to the northest point of the path and you can start your ride.

Weather: Perfect: no rain, mild temperatures, warm enough not to need a jacket (during the 2nd week of September).

Accommodation: Very affordable accommodation and excellent meals at Abbeye Deux Montagnes.

I checked-in my bike as baggage in VIA RAIL; no need to disassemble or remove anything. You pay about $15 and you put your bike inside a plastic bag provided by VIA. Once in Montreal I rode to the suburban train station "Canora". From there I took the train (with my bicycle) and got off at "Deux Montagnes". Bikes are not allowed in the suburban trains during rush hours.

What would I have done differently?

I would have riden the whole Petit Train du Nord (Parc Linear or Bass Laurentides) from begining to end "bout au bout".

The Best: People's friendliness, delicious food, and green landscape, great bike paths everywhere. A definite come back!

2006-06-03T19:36:00.001-04:00

350K

A one-week Solo tour. Travelled with my bike with VIA Rail.

Sept. 19, 2005

11:30 a.m. VIA train Toronto-Montreal

5:00 pm. arrive in Montreal and ride North of Montreal heading to the "Canora" suburban train station. Bikes are only allowed after rush hours (heures de point).

6:00 p.m. I wait for the Canora train northbound. It is an open air station. It's getting dark and the station is very quiet. I decide to leave my bike alone for 1 minute while I walk up the stairs to make a call to the Abbeye. I need to inform the head sister of the monastery in Abbeye Deux Montagnes -where I am staying- that I will be arriving late. I know that the monastery closes its doors at 8:00 p.m. When I come back to the train platform, I notice that my backpack is gone ...stolen? But, who? there wasn't anybody here when I parked my bike. Hell!

I start to walk around the station. Not a soul! I see a dark bushy alley and feel like checking what's in there but hesitate. I am not sure whether I should go in and check if my backpack is there. I am scared but I need my clothes! Fortunately, I had taken my wallet and my bike light with me when I went to make the phone call. Well, I decided to walk in the dark alley...my heart was beating fast and I was waiting for my attacker to jump in. What if the thieft is there? -I thought.

I turn the bike light on to see the area..I see my blue backpack, it was opened and my clothes were all over! I took a deep breath and ran into the alley to grab my stuff. Many thoughts flew my mind in a split of a second: trespassing, violation of private property, am I gonna get killed here?

As I was running out of the dark alley with all my stuff all over me, the southbound train was stopping at the station. The driver stepped out of the train, and from afar yelled: "is everything ok?". I must have looked funny with my clothes in my shoulders, head and everywhere. I thought there was no point to mention my recent experience. I yelled back: "tout est beau, merci".

I rushed to the northbound train platform as I knew that my train (the last one of the day) was coming soon.

My train arrived. I felt safer. I hang the bicycle by the wheel (the way it is done in the suburban train in Montreal) and sat on my seat. I started to deconstruct the theft. A mature darked skinned man had asked me at the station "have you lost something?" I noticed that he was hiding his hand inside his jacket but I am such an idiot that nothing clicked then. But he looked fine to me, so I just responded quickly: "I lost my backpack". ..After checking all my belongins I noticed that my mini "Grundig" radio was missing -he had stolen it.

The rest of the week went great. I met other cyclists and did the south portion of the "parc lineaire" from Gare St. Adele to Gare St. Jerome. (sorry no French accents available here). There is a $5 charge to use the park lineaire and you can pay it at any of the stations or stops. The food served at the restaurants along the parc lineare is just delicious, tasty. Montreal Je me souviens!!

2006-06-03T19:35:00.001-04:00

50K Burlington-Hamilton-Burlington
Solo tour
2 flats (go figure!)
terrain: part of the trail is gravel
The trail starts at McMaster University

11:00am. GO Train Toronto-Burlington
Ride through Burlingon, pass MacMaster University, Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens.
The Hamilton-Cambridge trail is just amazing. The ride is worthwhile.

2006-06-03T19:29:00.001-04:00

110K
Level of Difficulty: very easy.
Tour partner: Emily Daveluy (Emily wanted to kill me at the end of this ride. It was too long. sorry Emily!

Scenery: It is one of the best rides I have done in Canada. The stop at Crystal Beach was refreshing although we couldn't spot the bathrooms and had to change our swimsuits...behind a towel.

9:00 am. Greyhound bus Toronto-Niagara Falls
10:30 a.m. arrival at the Yellow Jersey in Niagara and rented the bikes. very friendly place.
11:00 Start ride
5:00 p.m. stop at Crystal Beach
6:30 Head back to the bus station via Snyder road (# 116)
10:00 p.m. under the darkness of the night we dropped the bikes at the shop (which was already closed) and ran to catch the last bus heading to Toronto. Unfortunately we did not make it on time, and hopped on the 1:00 a.m. bus. Exhausted...

What would I do differently?
I would leave Toronto earlier in order to return back earlier. Or, would stay overnight in the Niagara region.

2006-06-03T19:22:00.001-04:00

Easy ride, nice, gravel.
40K

A "solo" one-day tour. It rained but Cambridge's old downtown is gorgeous.

I took an early morning Greyhound bus from Toronto. It is not a long drive. Upon arriving into Cambridge, I rented a bike from a shop located walking distance to the bus terminal.

2006-06-03T19:04:00.001-04:00

Level of difficulty: flat with some rolling hills.
Scenery: indescriptibly gorgeous...

80K
7:00 am. train Toronto-Belleville (by VIA)
9:30 a.m. my friends and I take a taxi from Belleville to Bloomfield ( a 15-min ride)
10:15 a.m. arrive at the Bike rental shop and get our bikes ready: by the way: excellent service! amazing people!
11:00-6:00 p.m. Riding
Stop at winery and dinner in Bloomfield.
My friends wanted to kill me. It was too long. Sorry Nathalie and Christine!

2006-06-03T18:42:00.001-04:00

Ontario builds "400 highways" to that its citizens can develop fatty tissue around their bellies (our bellies?).

I am a car-less. I started to get frustrated as the access of me + my bike in any "via rail" or all "GO" trains is restricted. I am not sure if you have tried it yourself, but getting around the province with your bike is quite a task. For instance, I wanted to go to Niagara Falls by VIA train, but this "corridor" does not allow bikes in the train. (year 2003, before the existence of the "bike train".

Disassembling my bike -as Greyhound asked me to do- is too much asking if you are planning a short ride outside of Toronto.

(Picture: the beautiful eyes of my 3-year old nephew Mateo Anaya. He lives in Rocherster, NY).

2006-06-03T18:38:00.002-04:00

In the summer of 2003 I went to Niagara Falls by bus, rented a bicycle at the "Yellow Jersey" (a bike shop that shut down in 2009). Amazing service! They are located a few steps from the bus and the train stations in Niagara Falls. The ride is easy, flat. I rode on the Parkway up to Niagara-on-the-Lake and back.

2006-05-03T16:01:00.001-04:00

It is my first summer in Toronto.

Just like in Vancouver, I wanted to buy a second-hand bicycle to go around and do errands. Also, it would help me to explore Toronto.

Most rides were along the Lakeshore from Cherry beach up to the Humber Bridge and back, and up and down the Don Valley. I discovered the city and its bike paths. I built up endurance and my longest ride was 45 min long.