First time I ride this far into the fall...in a -3 oC that felt like -10.
Ready for the winter?
Toronto, Hart House Dec/10
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?
First time I ride this far into the fall...in a -3 oC that felt like -10.
Ready for the winter?
2010 Paris Velib
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
New York City, 6 days, 2 wheels (2010)
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.
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
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.
2009 November in Toronto
Wonderful weather, wonderful ride.
Picture: Niagara St. and King West
pic.: St. Clair & Queen West.
2009 August: Toronto – Sauble Beach North
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?
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.
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?).
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
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.
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
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 Toronto, downtown
picture: Waterfront, Toronto
picture: Canadiana Gallery Building, UofT
picture: College Street, Toronto
2009 August (cancelled; back pain): Seaway Trail, NY Upstate
...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
uff...75k. good stuff.
picture: CNE Toronto
picture: a turtle wanted to cross the "Don Valley Parkway"...
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