Fortunately, not mine today. I saw it as I rode into work today (vs into the tree) and was able to dismount and duck under it. Light for the win! This is a problem with unmaintained trails in the winter. The city (?) or conservation area (?) does not do anything with this bit of trail in the winter. EDIT: I do not want to give the impression that they totally ignore it - it is not however maintained in the same way during winter months that it is during summer. What exactly that means I have no idea:) Anyway... It connects Cambridge to Kitchener and does not get used as much during the cold months and so does not get maintained. Makes sense on one level I suppose. Of course, I would argue that it does not get used by people as much in the winter because it is not maintained. I know that I would ride it every day to work should this piece and more importantly the piece right before it which is deliberately plowed shut were properly maintained. I am pretty sure I am not the only one who would do this...

Oh, I did discover something wonderful. If I get up really early, I can make it to work on the bike without over heating in plenty of time. It is 31km each way, which is a beast of a ride on the inner city commuter when it is loaded (heavilly) and wearing its studded tires. Riding in my Bogs does not help (glorified insulated rubber boots). I won't be riding in everyday - only on those days when I am only at the one job location. Should I end up staying at my current location for a while, my cyclocross bike will be pressed into long term commuter duty, and I will buy another cyclocross bike to replace it. Likely, it would be a 2013 Kona Jake the Snake (it will be a while before this all comes to pass you see, if it indeed does.)

For those who have been, off and on, following my antics on the bike here, note the following please. My blog on blogspot is now active again and is actually where I am going to display a lot of my photo work from now on as it is better suited to telling a story along with the pictures than pbase is. I am still going to use pbase though as I really like the community here. I am also starting a premium site on zenfolio which is going to be for my absolute best black and white work.

Anyway, here is the Frankenfender MKII. MKI Frankenfender was great, but had a problem in that the whip part (shown here - the front fender off of a cheap set of mtn bike snap on fenders) was too narrow and my back, rack, and bags were getting "trashed" when riding in the snow with the new and improved huge snow tires of doom. The problem that required the reinstallation of the Frankenfender MKI was the fact that the new tires simply could not be mounted in a standard fender without the studs picking. There would have been no clearance for snow or water and this would have resulted in some serious spray back and annoyance. So, after some experimentation, I decided that the good old "slice the vinegar bottle in half and bolt it to your bike like a geek" approach was much preferred to being wet.

Makes me want to get out on the bike and see if I stay dry!

For some reason, I thought of the song "home for a rest" by Spirit of the West. Look it up on Youtube. For some reason, I cannot embed the player.

Must have something to do with the 50k an hour north wind I was battling when I took my break here in the cafe.

It has been too long.

Well, I have run out of excuses really. There is no reason now not to get back into this blogging thing again at least on the limited basis.

I am unable to ride all the time, but I think that I can manage to switch this thing up a bit and at least write something down each day to entertain everyone who might be interested. I am sure that there is one or two of you that might be so.

I miss riding my bike every day. Let me tell you something. Riding to work is a very theraputic thing to do. I work with people. Lots of people. No, I won't tell you what I do, but I do work with a lot of people. A 15-20km ride into work and home from work does wonders for my ability to do my job. I am happy, my head is clear, nothing is bugging me. Every. Not rain, not snow, not sun. All is well in my world when I start a work day with the bike. Exercise is a wonderful thing. Catch is, this time around, I have a 34km each way commute with a need most days to switch job sites part way through my work day. That could add anywhere from another 10 to 80km to my daily total depending on where I have to go and that varies. Suddenly, my two wheeled steed becomes somewhat limiting.

And that, dear reader, sucks.

So I am stuck with my car. Good thing I like the car I bought - I have had it for about 1.5 years and still smile every time I drive it. It is a real pleasure to drive. Problem is though, the speed limit here in Ontario caps out at 100kmph and my Golf wants to cap out at much much higher speeds. Around town, it is a breeze to go slowly and poke along at the speed limit, but out on the highways, it is a real challenge to keep the speed down. I do it, but it is not fun!

Also, I have gone from spending about $60-$70 dollars a month in fuel to spending nearer to $250 a month. Add in the extra maintenance, and that is one huge hit to the pocket book. Not happy about that either, but there is not much I can do about it for the moment.

Back to the bike. Riding is now relegated to my around town trips that don't need huge cargo carrying capacity. I still get out for over 100km a week, but it just isn't enough exercise to really keep me going the way I had become accustomed to. I am thinking of joining my wife and child and getting a gym membership at the local ymca. They built a new building, and it has an indoor track, weight room, spin classes, and a salt water pool. The price for unlimited use is reasonable.

It just might keep me sane.

The picture above was taken on the Iron Horse Trail in Kitchener. The bike is ready for snow - no studs, but worn out cyclocross tires (Schwalbe ones this time) and it is ready to roll through the white stuff. Weirdly, I am really looking forward to the City of Kitchener needing to get the plows out. As soon as they do, they will open the suicide gates they stupidly installed on the trail and we will be able to enjoy their full width for the next five months or so. Bliss.

Also, there is something purely delightful about riding in heavy cold snow. I don't mean the wet stuff, I mean crystalized powder. It makes a gorgeous "wuffing" sound as the front wheel hits it. It flies everywhere. All sounds are muted (especially when it is actively snowing). I miss it, but soon will be able to really enjoy it. Another piece of bliss? The total lack of rock hard gnats to get lodged in the throat where they walk around until they trip the gag reflect and get hurled out all over creation (along with supper). More bliss!

I think I will leave you with that thought...

I want to show you something.

Look at this picture.

Really look at it.

See it and what is in it?

Here in Ontario there is, in the press, a lot being published (usually in the comments on the online service provided by newspapers and other news outlets) by people who do not believe that the bicycle can be used as a real means of transport by anyone. They are posted usually in response to any pro-cycling or pro-cycling infrastructure article. The people making these comments insist that the car is the only way to get around and deeply resent any thought to the contrary. Some sound almost violently angry and accuse, wrongly, all cyclists of getting a free ride from the motoring public. (They eroneously believe that it is the gas tax which pays for the roads. It isn't.)

I beg to differ with the notion that the car is the only way.

Read this blog - you will notice that I cycle virtually every day (I don't post every day, but I do ride almost every day.) I ride in all sorts of weather, all winter, in the rain, in the snow, in the sun and heat and cold. I use the bike for work, to shop, to just "go out" and for entertainment.

I also own a car and use it too.
I am not anti-car.
They have their uses.
But so does the bike.
And that use is more than as a simple recreational toy for a few minutes a few times a summer in the evening on bike paths in suburbia which go nowhere.

Here is what you need if you want to give transport cycling a try:

First, forget about any kind of fancy pants race bike. What I suggest is a simple and inexpensive upright bike (like a Kona Dew or any other number of bikes like that) with 700c tires, fenders, a rack, lights, reflectors, a good lock, and a basic tool kit so you can change / patch a flat tire. This is not a sexy bike. No one will accuse you of being a hipster with this one. However, it is very practical. I highly recommend a set of waterproof pannier bags over a knapsack. The weight is lower, and you don't sweat as much.

Second, get the right clothing. Wait, you already have it. The only modification to my normal clothing I wear when cycling for transport is this - I wear cycling shorts under my clothing because for me, it is more comfortable. I use mountain bike short liners. The better mountain bike shorts have removable liners and look good anyways and are very wear resistant. Sometimes, I use pants which are resistant to wear around the crotch and change them out at work for my "work" pants - it depends on how far I am riding and what is expected at any given job site for dress code. Even in the winter, all I add to my normal clothing for cycling is a pair of short liners and if it is really cold, long-johns. Otherwise, I dress as I normally would for a walk in the snow. A two minute trip into the washroom at work swaps out the liners for the usual underbeneaths. I also suggest getting a very good high-vis wind and waterproof jacket. You won't regret it - and get the right one, and it will be useful for more than biking. Good waterproof shoes are a good idea as well (but aren't they always?)

Third, get the right attitude. This is not a negative statement. I am not implying that your attitude stinks if you don't cycle for transport. However: get up a bit earlier, leave a bit earlier, plan your route more as you start, and get ready to enjoy yourself. I have written elsewhere that when I ride to work, the overwhelming majority of people riding look happy, but when I take the car, most don't. It is true. Go out expecting fun, and that is what you will find. Honest.

And lastly, communicate with other road users. This is really important and is, I think, a major reason why some cyclists have trouble riding in traffic and instead ride on the sidewalk where they crowd out pedestrians (who don't like that!!). Riding in traffic is easy even in snow. Be courtious but assertive. Don't blow stop signs and red lights. Signal early. DON'T CUT CARS OFF!! You have a right to be on the road and a right to take the space needed to be safe but just make sure you use common sense and courtesy. Make eye contact. One trick I use when I have to move over to the left in traffic is to signal left, look behind and get eye contact with a driver coming up behind, and make an open palm back push with my hand (kind of like I am asking them to slow/stop) - it is important to do this early and with eye contact. It is truly amazing in a good way how many drivers will see you, see what you want, appreciate your communication, and let you cross in front of them to a turn lane or whatever. It really works. Not every driver will let you over, but most do recognise that you, like they, are just trying to get where you are going and want to be left in peace to do so. It is very important to respond to their courtesy with a big wave, a smile, and a thumbs up. It pays off.

Back to the picture - it is proof that for a growing number of people, the bike is transport that really works. When I took this, some of the bikes in this row of bikes had already moved on, but there are still six there. Incidentally, there is parking for one bike at this location. And all of these machines are jammed in front of one store front on the street. Behind me, are a couple more bikes, and down the block, even more.

So yes, bikes can be used as transport here in North America, and they will be used as such in continued numbers. Go ride your bike.

So I went to one cafe and my friend, having not heard me correctly, went to another. I sat by myself and drank a nice cuppa, and he did to, at the other cafe. I was thinking, hmmmm, did I say this cafe or that one, and lamented the luditishness of my friend who foreswears cell phones. Thankfully, just as I was about to finish up and head to the other cafe, he showed up at the right cafe. Oh, and it turns out that I did specify the right cafe rather than the other cafe...