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
- 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)
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)
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"
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.
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).
Ed Pavelka's book "900 All-Time Best Tips"
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.
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.
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.
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.
Total ride: 193 kilometers - TBN club
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.
Day one: Sat. June 17= 90 K
Route: Stoney Creek (Hamilton) - St. Catharines - Niagara Falls
Level of difficulty: low to medium; killer afternoon heat.
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.
Toronto-Lake Wilcox- Toronto
60K
Easy roller
Toured with the Toronto Bicycle Network
Toronto-Lake Wilcox- Toronto
Nasty head wind
Easy roller
Toured with the Toronto Bicycle Network
Toronto-Lake Wilcox- Toronto
Nasty head wind
Ride 4 Heart
Fundraising Ride for Heart
50 K in 1 H 50 min
Sunday 8:15 a.m.
No...this is not my car...
50 K in 1 H 50 min
Sunday 8:15 a.m.
No...this is not my car...
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.
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.
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...
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
70K
Cynthia's Scenic Tour offered by the TBN
easy roller
Cynthia's Scenic Tour offered by the TBN
easy roller
Toronto-Ajax-Toronto September 2005
70K
Via Lakeshore
Nice and easy ride
Stopped at quiet beach and took a break.
Via Lakeshore
Nice and easy ride
Stopped at quiet beach and took a break.
Toronto-Vandorf-Unionville-Toronto 2005
70Km
TBN guided ride
Level of difficulty: not difficult
sorry no pics.
TBN guided ride
Level of difficulty: not difficult
sorry no pics.
2005 Montreal, Part I
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!
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!!
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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).
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).
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
It is my first summer riding a bicycle 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.
I have been riding 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.
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