Fixed Xor Broken

2011-08-12T17:15:00.000-05:00

holy christ

2011-08-09T16:14:00.002-05:00

Mother!

via

penny farthing

2011-08-03T09:22:00.000-05:00

You can send away to America for these. I'd quite like to get one someday. It would make a great commuter bike.

2011-08-03T08:20:00.000-05:00

Itera Plastic Bicycle

rock

2011-03-10T19:36:00.001-05:00

Yao

2011-02-19T08:45:00.000-05:00

2010-12-29T12:03:00.000-05:00

ice bike

2010-12-28T12:10:00.001-05:00

ice bike 2010

2010-12-26T00:58:00.000-05:00

unifiets

2010-12-13T00:28:00.001-05:00

you're traffic

2010-12-11T13:46:00.002-05:00

Rollin' to the future

2010-12-11T12:21:00.000-05:00

2010-12-04T11:34:00.001-05:00

2010-10-28T22:17:00.001-05:00

2010-10-21T21:22:00.000-05:00

2010-10-15T06:25:00.000-05:00

via

trike chair

2010-10-06T20:25:00.001-05:00

What if all bike thieves were Bill Murray?

2010-10-05T20:16:00.001-05:00

rowcycle

2010-10-05T06:22:00.002-05:00

via

watermelon helmet

2010-10-04T21:51:00.000-05:00

old timey dog

2010-10-02T07:46:00.000-05:00

two tired bike

2010-09-28T11:32:00.000-05:00

tiger

2010-09-16T19:19:00.001-05:00

bakfiets

2010-09-12T07:40:00.001-05:00

super roadie

2010-09-10T22:34:00.001-05:00

How - To

2010-09-06T22:53:00.001-05:00

I've noticed a reduction in near-death experiences (knock wood) in recent years. It may have to do with my stricter adherence to the rules of the road, or it may just be that Toronto is becoming more bike friendly. Hopefully it's both.

Dogbert

2010-09-05T23:55:00.001-05:00

pedal dog

2010-09-04T08:42:00.001-05:00

another boot bike

2010-08-28T08:44:00.001-05:00

Jesus on fixed-gear bicycle

2010-08-22T10:09:00.000-05:00

2010-08-12T22:11:00.001-05:00

2010-08-09T06:15:00.000-05:00

By the way of . . .

2010-08-05T06:32:00.001-05:00

wowee wowza:

2010-08-02T17:11:00.003-05:00

2010-08-02T11:21:00.001-05:00

2010-07-24T23:48:00.001-05:00

2010-07-24T08:44:00.001-05:00

2010-07-20T22:31:00.000-05:00

2010-07-18T20:31:00.001-05:00

2010-07-16T06:24:00.001-05:00

2010-07-14T20:24:00.001-05:00

big dog

2010-07-08T18:03:00.000-05:00

Jimmy Kuehnle

2010-06-26T09:11:00.001-05:00

2010-06-25T23:43:00.001-05:00

Ride to Conquer Cancer, 2010

2010-06-14T20:39:00.001-05:00

The Ride to Conquer Cancer is a charity ride that goes from Toronto to Niagara every year. The proceeds benefit the Princess Margaret Foundation. I volunteered as a mechanic on last year's ride, and had a great time volunteering again for this year's ride.

My favourite repair story from this year was one I did for a guy whose inner real derailleur pulley had fallen off. He was between 15 and 20km from finishing when this happened. I told him that I didn't have the right tools to fix it, or the missing part, and that he'd need to get a ride for the rest of the way in one of the sweep vans.

He and his group were all wearing shirts that said something to the effect of "Riding for Joe," and they each had a picture of a man taped to their top tubes, facing upward. One of the riders said the classic line of a rider in distress: "it's really important to us that we finish this ride."

I decided to do whatever I could do to get the guy back on the road, even though his bike wouldn't be configured by the book. Fiddling around with the chain and derailleur a bit, I found that I could run the chain around the outside of the outer pulley, and that the derailleur would act as a crude tensioner when the chain was in the right pair of gears. It was basically set up like the orange line in the image to the right.

I told them to take it easy for the rest of the ride, because the chain would probably derail if he hit any bumps too hard, and that he wouldn't be able to change gears at all. With that, they set off. I did see him again 20 minutes later; his chain had derailed again but, determined to finish, he was putting it back on himself this time.

After their team crossed the finish line, I went to shake the rider's hand and congratulate him. He was very happy to have finished the ride. One of his team mates, maybe an uncle, told me that Joe, from the t-shirts and the photos, was the rider's father.

It makes me pretty happy to play a small part in a nice story like that. To me, the story also illustrates that the RTCC it's more than just a bike ride. Aside from raising many millions of dollars for cancer research, the ride is also an emotional feat for the riders who've had a personal encounter with cancer, and a victory against the disease which has done them wrong. Whether they are riding for a loved one, or are a cancer survivor themselves, it's clear that the strongest riders aren't the first across the line at the end of the day.

2010-05-30T16:44:00.001-05:00

maybe roadsworth, but there was no attribution on the site where I saw it.

2010-05-30T08:43:00.002-05:00

skate bike

2010-05-24T11:14:00.000-05:00

via

2010-05-22T22:59:00.001-05:00

2010-05-17T20:31:00.001-05:00

2010-05-16T07:12:00.001-05:00

2010-05-09T07:42:00.001-05:00

2010-05-04T17:37:00.002-05:00

2010-05-04T17:32:00.000-05:00

2010-04-26T06:53:00.001-05:00

2010-04-24T08:03:00.001-05:00

2010-04-09T18:12:00.001-05:00

2010-04-07T22:41:00.001-05:00

Down the rabbit hole.

2010-04-01T22:52:00.001-05:00

2010-03-31T06:47:00.001-05:00

Walking south from Steeles

2010-03-21T20:18:00.002-05:00

Today a couple of friends and I walked south from Finch station (i.e. the end of the Yonge line) to Queen station.

The original plan was to head all the way to the lake, but our group lost structural integrity at Queen: no big loss there.

I'd never really been north of Sheppard on Yonge outside of the blinding confines of a car before. It was an interesting experience. The most interesting thing that I learned is how it's not really that far to Finch; the whole walk took just over 3 hours at a fairly leisurely pace.

Navigator Ltd. represents Adam Giambrone

2010-02-01T22:00:00.002-05:00

A letter to Adam Giambrone:

Hello Councillor,

Your choice of hiring Navigator Ltd. is an endorsement of their actions; by paying them to look after your campaign you are implicitly saying that that their past actions were acceptable. As such, you support an attack on the little guy to protect the established interests. Bryant's actions weren't just reprehensible, but they were a perfect example of exactly what's wrong with government and politics: looking out for the cultural elites, while forcing the populace pay with their lives and health.

It was wrong for Bryant to perpetrate a smear job on his deceased victim, and it is wrong for you to support the people that he paid to do it.

A week ago I was hoping that you'd declare your intention to run for mayor. Your work with the Toronto Cycling Committee and the TTC, and your experience on council made you a much more attractive candidate than the other candidates who have declared, but I demand better from the candidate who will receive my vote.

This is, of course, about Giambrone's decision to be represented by Navigator Ltd..

George Smitherman and Rocco Rossi, the Cycling Antagonists"

2010-01-22T09:25:00.001-05:00

Rogue Cyclist

2009-12-15T06:52:00.000-05:00

Cool bikes I saw in Montreal two years ago

2009-12-11T07:42:00.002-05:00

This one has a little seat instead of a luggage rack.

This was in front of a dep, used for deliveries of groceries

katamari hat

2009-12-05T12:23:00.001-05:00

Bike ambigram

2009-11-11T13:42:00.003-05:00

An ambigram of the word "Bike," or "BikE" in this case.

Know your foe, joe / flo.

2009-10-26T12:01:00.004-05:00

The real danger on the roads is automotive, regardless of the fact that most drivers are safe an courteous folks.

Many active transportation folks eschew all aspects of car culture. I do. However, it could prove important to be able to identify details about a vehicle that was used as a weapon, for example in a hit-and-run.

All too often the police seem to be willing to do a poor investigation when cars are involved. Not being able to accurately identify vehicles only aids the police to this end. It's not right that this happens, so people in the general public should be able to make more positive identifications. For example, where an automobilophile might be able to make a split-second identification like '97 slate grey Taurus,' someone who didn't know much about cars might only come up with 'dark grey or blue sedan.' It wouldn't carry as much weight.

It's not the most pressing concern in the world, but it's a skill that could prove useful.

Right Hooks Aren't Good For You

2009-10-21T07:34:00.001-05:00

View Cathartic Mapping in a larger map

I had an encounter with an overly aggressive cyclist on my commute in to work today, which is recounted on the map above.

"Now that's a rude thing to do!"

2009-10-19T22:12:00.001-05:00

via

Whoa. I know Lock-Fu!

2009-10-02T12:45:00.005-05:00

Spurred on by a discussion over at IBikeTO about bicycle locking style, I was inspired to post about my own locking style, which I graciously call Lock Fu.

As always, start by reading Sheldon Brown's take. The important thing to take away from this is that your back wheel is expensive, so you want to lock it well.
Deception: Muss your bike a little. Put on stickers and such. The uglier your bike is, the less likely someone is to steal it.

My bike is covered in environmental and vegetarian stickers. Vegetarianism is not something that someone as unrefined as a bike thief would aspire to; having a vegetarian sticker makes them less likely to steal your bike. Having stickers on a bike also makes it easier to identify.
Personalize: If you have a bike with non-standard parts, it will be easier to identify if it is stolen. You should have a low spoke count wheel, or a fancy hub, or a saddle with glitters.

I am taller than about 90% of the population, so I set my seat high enough that 90% of the population couldn't ride off with it.
Find a peacock: They say that no lock is unbreakable, and therefore no bike is unstealable. You have to make your bike a less appealing target than the next guy's. Try to find a fancy bike or a bike using an easy-to-break lock, and park near it.

I often lock up a beater in front of a nice bike; this requires two bikes, but it beats having your nice bike stolen.
The three Ls: Preferably you should park your bike somewhere that you can keep an eye on it, or if you can't see it you should try to be close enough that you could hear tools being used on it.
Find a suitably immovable object: Post and rings can be broken by a 2 by 4, so try for a sign post or alternate locking location.
The double tap: One lock is not enough. I always carry an expensive U-lock to do my back wheel frame, and a smaller bendy lock to do the front wheel. Using different kinds of locks is a good idea because it means a thief needs multiple tools. I also leave a secondary U-lock at work, and a thick chain lock at home.
Bring it in: If it's ever possible, bring your lock inside with you, especially if you'll be inside for a few hours.
Stay vigilant: Always keep an eye out for new locking and theft tactics. Think about new ways to lock up and stay safe. If parking in a tough neighbourhood, walk away from your bike with a swagger so that people will know you're not somebody they want to mess with.

If you follow these 9 simple rules every time that you lock your bike, the chances of theft should be greatly reduced. You too can learn to be a Lock Fu master.

Colder days are here again

2009-10-01T14:06:00.003-05:00

Colder days thin out the herd. Those left over are the faster, healthier cyclists. Between now and the first snowfall, get out your faster bikes for the commute, because the average speed will increase until people are riding their beaters again.

Give me five in NYC.

2009-09-28T08:14:00.000-05:00

Darcy Allen Sheppard Fundraiser

2009-09-27T10:06:00.001-05:00

The fundraiser appears to have gone well. It was a full house, so hopefully a lot of money was raised for this worthy cause.

I won these hilarious socks as a door prize.

Interesting sights over the past few weeks

2009-09-27T09:58:00.002-05:00

I saw this the other day on College. That's the wrong kind of seat, wheels, drivetrain, pedals and handlebars for that frame.

A ticket for bike awesomeness on Bloor.

Idea: Start a bike gang

2009-09-22T08:56:00.004-05:00

note: not an actual bike gang.

Riding to work along Harbord today, I noticed that I had unwittingly rolled into a critical mass of cyclists (not pictured above).

It wasn't exactly critical mass, but more like a convoy. It got me to thinking, "it would be nice to ride like this all the time, kind of like having a roving pace line that demands respect."

We wouldn't have to be a militant bike gang like you'd see in a movie. We wouldn't go around beating on anyone who crossed us, or anything like that.

We could just provide mutual support and strength in numbers. And matching jean jackets with custom patches.

And we'd be called The Bike Gooniun...

Takers?

Onstreet bike parking in Thornbury, Ontario

2009-09-15T08:58:00.003-05:00

It's a little thing that's cheap and easy, but it's also a really nice touch. It's surprising to see the little towns with bike lanes and infrastructure up on the southern shores of Georgian Bay. It was reminiscent of the Netherlands.

Assinine comment in The Post

2009-09-15T07:40:00.002-05:00

If anything, licensing alone is inadequate. Cyclists should be required to wear the same forms of protective clothing motorcyclists typically use to provide some measure of safety. Cycling in main arteries should be limited to age groups mature enough to deal with the dangers and uncertainties of heavy traffic.

Thankfully the comments on the article set the author straight.

Hoverbike

2009-09-03T14:51:00.000-05:00

You just have to pedal fast enough

Dandyhorse Release Force

2009-08-31T22:16:00.004-05:00

The third convening of the Dandyhorse Super Corps took place tonight at the Gladstone of Solitude.

Ms. Laser did a great job as MC.

More people with laser vision showed up too.

And rounding out the roster of superheroes, for variety I suppose, some folks with plasma vision showed up. All in all, it was quite a glowey eyed evening.

Fun was had by all.

Strange Bikes

2009-08-12T09:18:00.002-05:00

Here's a sampling of some of the weirder bikes I've seen throughout the years.

And my own old bamboo bastard:

Critical Mass July '09

2009-07-31T21:17:00.010-05:00

Another month, another mass ruined by Toronto's Finest. After they crashed the party, I swiftly and unceremoniously bailed.

Memo To Members of Toronto Police Force

re: New Procedures In Effect

In light of the events of Toronto Critical 
Mass on July 31^st, 2009, the 
Toronto Police Service is enacting new 
procedures, to be undertaken by all members 
of the Toronto Police Service as soon as
practicable:

1. Using your service 10 tonne industrial 
jack, pry your buttocks into an unclenched 
position.
2. Apply penetrating lubricant generously 
to butt crack area.
3. Give the lubricant 24 hours to set in. 
This will work best if the officer assumes 
the inverse prone position.
4. Firmly attach a hydraulic winch to the 
36+ inch oak trunk that somehow found its 
way up your ass.
5. Run the winch at full power until the 
blockage is dislodged.

What's better and what's worse in Austin, Texas

2009-07-31T10:09:00.003-05:00

A warm welcome at the airport.

I've just returned from an 8-day vacation to Austin, Texas. It was a really nice place, and I'd love to go back someday. Of course, I missed Fair Toronto while I was away. Here are some comparisons between that city and Toronto.

The backside of the State Capitol Building.

The Good

Their streets there are in much better shape than ours. They don't have pervasive dug-up and filled-in patches that make cycling a much more rattling experience than need be. Nor do the roads have cracking nor are they filled with pot holes like ours are. It seems that the lack of winter makes the roads last a lot longer. Not having to replace the roads as often must be wonderful for the city's budget.

Their Transit is a lot cheaper. It's $0.7 5 for a one way trip, and $0.50 for a two-hour downtown pass. A weekly pass is only $7.

Maybe I am just used to it here, but Austin seems to exude personality much more than Toronto.

Some local colour.

The Bad

Sprawl is much worse there, and transit service is slower. Coupled with the extreme summer heat, which was near 40C for my entire stay, it's really a driver's city. This should improve when the city's light rail line starts operating this fall.

Because of the layout of the city, a much higher proportion of desirable locations are in strip malls. This isn't without its charm, but walkable communities make more sense.

Our bike network is more connected than theirs. They do have an extensive trail network.

Although beer costs under half as much, things in general are a bit pricier.

There is a casual attitude toward drinking and driving. There are no ride programs in Texas. Gas stations sell iced single beers right next to the checkout, and beer purchasers are offered a slice of lime, implying that one is expected to drink their beer while driving.

Lance Armstrong lives in Austin.

Bike to Centre Wellington

2009-07-20T19:59:00.003-05:00

So the bike to Centre Wellington is doable. I didn't manage to bike back the next day because I stayed up too late at a wedding that I went to. The ride is fun. There's very little traffic if you leave at 6 AM. The headwind and consistent uphill course is a drag though.

Don't ride on the sidewalk

2009-07-13T22:59:00.002-05:00

Occassionally it is okay to ride on the sidewalk (i.e. you're 7, or 77, or you're in the 'burbs next to an arterial). Usually it's not okay.

Do you know what would be nice . . .

2009-07-13T09:19:00.005-05:00

Ideally, Toronto would have an outdoor closed loop cycling track. This would complement the system of recreational trails by allowing for uninterrupted outdoor cycling for any distance.

The track should be fairly long but not too long that individual loops are daunting for riders with less ability. A track length of either 1 mile (1609 m), 2 km or 2 miles (3218 m) would be ideal. Using a round number is good because riders could count individual laps and not need a cycling computer to keep track of distance.

Such a track would need to be sufficiently wide to allow for a range of skill levels safely. A pace line of riders going 35 km/h should be able to coexist here with riders going 20 km/h. As such, the track should probably be either 3 or 4 bike lanes wide.

BikingToronto has a map up showing hydro corridors in Toronto. I haven't spent much time on these, but they have the reputation of being large swaths of unused land. If this were the case, they might make a good location for the proposed track. As an example, I've put together this map of a 2.4 km loop near pharmacy and Eglinton:

View An outdoor loop in a larger map

Note that I'm not proposing this as a location. The map is just to suggest what form such a venue might take. A study would have to be done to find a suitable location.

Wooden Handlebar Spotting

2009-07-07T09:24:00.003-05:00

I spotted these wooden handlebars outside of Sneaky Dee's the other day. They're quite beautiful. I'm not really into this style of handlebar (preferring drops), not that I'd be able to afford them any time soon.

I wonder why they call these track bars. Track riders always use bars that allow an aerodynamic position more easily. These should be called fixie bars. It may just be another case of people calling fixies track bikes.

I'm pretty sure that these are made right here in Toronto by Alexander Beck of Fluorescent Brown.

Right next to this bike, I saw an interesting dog carrier. It's just a basket with a wire cage over the top. It's a couple of fancy bikes, likely ridden together by a real-life human couple.

Film Screening: H2Oil

2009-07-07T06:26:00.003-05:00

Last night Olivia Chow hosted a screening of H2Oil at the Bloor cinema.

The film portrays the alarming story of what the tar sands are doing to the water in the Athabasca river. All sorts of run off is getting into the river and contaminating the drinking supply. The film mainly focused around how this contamination is affecting a first nations community, but also on some water bottlers (because they were friends of the film maker). The latter focus noticeably weakened the film's impact.

Check out "Will you be my bicycle?"

2009-07-02T08:47:00.003-05:00

Martin Reis, co-proprietor of the Bike Lane Diary blog is currently featured in an art show at *Hotshot gallery, along with several other artists. You should check it out:

June 19 - July 3 | "Will You Be My Bicycle" Hotshot Gallery Photographs from a 'Public History of Cycling in Toronto' by Martin Reis (includes photos of Ghost Bikes and ARC memorials and more) PLUS! Artwork by Paul Johnson from his popular 'Cycling in Toronto' comic series ... HotShot Gallery | 181 Augusta (in Kensington Market)

Saving Yorkville, Landsdowne style...

2009-06-29T08:26:00.001-05:00

Looks idyllic, doesn't it? Well it might not if a disused school gets converted into condos!

Improvements to Walmer Circle

2009-06-28T08:22:00.001-05:00

They've made some serious improvements to Walmer circle. It used to be a bit of a free for all there, but it looks like they've done the wise thing and:

Narrowed the driving area.
Painted it to make it more pedestrian friendly.

Kudos all 'round to the city planners and crews who completed this wonderful improvement.

Critical Mass June '09

2009-06-27T08:06:00.003-05:00

Critical Mass was nice this month due to the lack of police presence. Everyone was happy. More photos here.

Ride To Conquer Cancer 2009

2009-06-26T07:36:00.003-05:00

Toronto from atop the escarpment, just west of Hamilton.

I volunteered to do the Ride to Conquer Cancer a couple of weeks back, as a cycling cycle mechanic. My time as a casual volunteer and more often user of Bike Pirates gave me the opportunity, but anyone can sign up to ride along as a mechanic.

The course is 200 km over 2 days through some of the most beautiful terrain and landscapes available.

If I'm available, I'd definitely do it again next year. You can check out more pictures of the event on my flickr.

That wasn't so bad

2009-06-26T07:28:00.002-05:00

A small bag of garbage easily fits on my bike trailer. The process of dropping off the garbage at Christie Pitts took about 20 seconds. I could go on like this indefinitely. Who's a baby now, Windsor?

Outdoor workers strike announced

2009-06-22T09:58:00.003-05:00

Surely everyone knows that the outdoor workers strike has been announced. Here's a map I've put together of the garbage drop-off locations:

View Garbage Drop Offs in a larger map

We should probably all hook up our bike trailers and help those who will have problems disposing of their detritus.

A response to the e-bike poll of the Bike Union

2009-06-17T10:35:00.003-05:00

I was reading through the responses to the bike union's e-bike poll. The bike union has taken the stance against e-bikes, even though the position is vague, as strict regulations already exist. On page 7 of the excel document, I found this eloquent response:

"The questions in this 'survey' were very leading and biased. I have met several disabled people who wish they could be cyclists but are limited by mobility issues. They enjoy cycling for the same reason we do: it's kinder to the environment, more affordable and a more joyful experience. However, they don't get to enjoy the sense of community and camaraderie that we enjoy due to some really nasty prejudice. Many of these cyclists pedal when they are able and use the their battery as a back-up. The power assisted bike provide relief when needed, and helps when climbing inclines.

I met one of these such individuals at the Bells on Bloor ride. She was out riding in support of the implementation of bike lanes, yet was being shouted at left and right by other cyclists and was actually told to leave. Over the course of the ride, she was forced to explain her situation over and over again. She calmly explained that she wanted more than anything to be a cyclist. She cares about the environment - in fact she traded in her car for her power assisted bike -she's doing the best she can, but she is still treated with disrespect from cyclists. I feel like it's pretty silly to turn away a large and growing group of people who support our cause. They're in the same boat as we are, they just want safer less car-monopolized streets.

I'm a cyclists Union member, and a cycling advocate. Can we discuss something more productive now?"

I think that I met the same woman on that ride, and I recall how she wanted to take part in the good that cyclists do, but was unable to do so due to an ailment.

I won't begrudge someone a small electric motor if they want it to do their best to be good to the environment and to their neighbours.

TTC Streetcar Collision with Toronto Police Car

2009-06-16T21:20:00.002-05:00

On Bike Shorts

2009-06-08T08:30:00.001-05:00

I never used to wear bike shorts. I grew up with a negative image of them that I'm sure a lot of people are familiar with.

Having bought a new seat designed to be used with them, I wore pair to yesterday's Ride for Heart. The shorts were good.

My only lingering complaint (to all of the roadies out there), is that some shorts don't fit some folks just right. When you're trying on your shorts, be sure to bend over and check for two things:

Do you have plumber butt?
Can you see through the shorts?

If either of 1 or 2 is true, people will be able to see more of your butt than you want when you're riding.

The image above of neon bike shorts is by BitchBuzz.

Ride for Heart 2009

2009-06-07T13:17:00.002-05:00

The ride for heart was great again this year. It's a lovely event to take part in:

Unless you're competing in the tour, it's the longest ride you'll get to do that is traffic-free.
The Don Valley is one of the most beautiful spots in the city.
You get to go really fast.
You get to experience the Don Valley without the din of the DVP

Photoshopped

2009-06-06T01:18:00.000-05:00