Being off my bike this weekend, and working, has made me think about the limits to bicycling. While being in the elements can be unpleasant, there are tasks where a bicycle seems more than just an inconvenient solution, but an impossible one. The more I thought about this, however, the more I wonder how many of these issues can be overcome?
The common concern I have with bicycling, especially in the summer, is heating up and sweating, and then smelling like body odour when I get to my destination. When I was commuting last year, I was commuting to work at The Beer Store. This wasn't too bad as I would usually work up a sweat at work anyway, and worked in a cold environment, preventing the smell from building up on top of it. Currently I am commuting to the Armouries some nights, which is convenient because I have an office to change in or showers if I need them. School and other events come up as an issue, though, because I don't want to wear the clothes I cycle in to class, nor do I want to wear a suit on a bike (or roll it up into a ball in my bag). The school problem has been overcome, as I have a locker now and can store most of my stuff. Any common solution to wearing fancy clothes other than finding a washroom and pulling a Superman?
The other issue for bicycling I foresee is bulk; I am still stubborn in my belief that I can replace a car with a bike in an urban environment for essentially all situations, but bulk has me worried. For starters, as a Military Reservist, there are times when I have to carry a lot of my personal equipment (jackets, boots, shirts, my helmet and other equipment) from home to work. My basic uniform barely fits in my bag (which is why I just leave it at work in a locker), and the rest is hopeless. I'm sure that if I put in the effort, this summer I can construct a trailer (or just shell out the cash to buy one) and that will solve that issue. My most imaginative problem so far has been a kayak; I would love to bicycle down to Cootes' Paradise with a kayak and just enjoy a day on the water... but on a bike? If I can, this summer I would like to build some sort of kayak-trailer. A minimal harness with wheels and a manner to attach it to the back of my bike. Turning radius will be difficult, but maybe I can engineer my way out of that.
My stubbornness holds it's ground; I'm still pretty sure I can over come (nearly) every obstacle to cycling in an urban environment. I would love to hear some other solutions or problems, or even funny stories (like showing up to a business meeting in a suit with chain grease on your hands? That would suck!). Let me know or leave some comments!
Keep it crafty,
Ken
Sunday 26 January 2014
Tuesday 21 January 2014
Bruised and Battered
Aside from the cold, today I did a good number to my knee which may relegate me to the bus for the next couple days, but we'll see. It seems to be a good chance to write about my first couple rides last week (which had their ups and downs as well) and reflect on blogging, now that I'm THREE whole posts in! (wow!)
First maybe an intro to my baby:
It's an 80's Specialized Crossroads that I bought used a couple years ago from a man in Burlington. As a hybrid bike it seemed ideal for commuting, and dealing with some less-than ideal terrain (whether the rail trail or some of the roads... I'm looking at you, Stinson!). I've only done a little bit of minor maintenance, but over the next couple months I hope to bring it up into a nice, sleek and shiny ride.
So my first commute of the season was Thursday (the sixteenth). I was excited to pick up my bike from the kind folks at New Hope Bikes, replete with new fenders, some slightly more buff tires, and a general tune up of my gears. I set off for work on James St N, about 6km from my house, and it was a great (though chilly) ride through a gorgeous light snowfall. After work I biked home, and about 3 blocks from home a car accidentally soaked me in salty slush... mouth, eyes and all. It was a bit of a downer, but so it goes. The next morning I made my ride to McMaster University on the other side of the city, which is a journey of about 10km each way. Again, aside from the chill (mostly on my fingers... still working on that) it was a pleasant ride, except for the difficulty on navigating a route through downtown. The East End and Westdale were navigable enough, but downtown was a bit of a maze of jumping from street to street, and occasionally missing a sign and taking a rougher road than I would have liked. Ultimately I made it there in one piece, rented a locker, and settled in. Still some kinks to work out for routes but otherwise a good ride (30-40 min depending on road/weather conditions).
After taking a break on the weekend to rest my legs and recover from the saddle, I returned to school this morning. Sadly, my tail light broke off in the cold, and my hands were pretty rough by the time I made it to Mac, but the worst was on my way home, about to cross James St at York, when my chain popped off and I smashed my knee on the cross-bar... I rode the last 6k home, but decided to stay in to ice it and let it get back to the size it should be. I've had some trouble with my chain, and may go in for some more maintenance. It might be the cold, or perhaps not enough/too much grease (I usually take pretty good care of my chain but I'm not perfect), but either way it needs to get looked at to fix up the breaks as well. Hopefully the help at New Hope can enhance my repair knowledge a bit :)
Oh! Also, I've found the twitter community to be super friendly and supportive :) I was hoping for/expecting some support from friends and family, and am very grateful for it, but the #HamOnt community has been very supportive :) I'm lucky to live in a city that is so full of people trying to make it a better, more sustainable place that we can be proud to hand down to our children. This city has a lot of inner beauty, it just has trouble letting it shine through sometimes...
Well that's it for now, just doing homework and licking my wounds, looking forward to the point where I can bend my knee and get back to those euphoric rides across the city.
Stay safe!
~Ken
First maybe an intro to my baby:
It's an 80's Specialized Crossroads that I bought used a couple years ago from a man in Burlington. As a hybrid bike it seemed ideal for commuting, and dealing with some less-than ideal terrain (whether the rail trail or some of the roads... I'm looking at you, Stinson!). I've only done a little bit of minor maintenance, but over the next couple months I hope to bring it up into a nice, sleek and shiny ride.
So my first commute of the season was Thursday (the sixteenth). I was excited to pick up my bike from the kind folks at New Hope Bikes, replete with new fenders, some slightly more buff tires, and a general tune up of my gears. I set off for work on James St N, about 6km from my house, and it was a great (though chilly) ride through a gorgeous light snowfall. After work I biked home, and about 3 blocks from home a car accidentally soaked me in salty slush... mouth, eyes and all. It was a bit of a downer, but so it goes. The next morning I made my ride to McMaster University on the other side of the city, which is a journey of about 10km each way. Again, aside from the chill (mostly on my fingers... still working on that) it was a pleasant ride, except for the difficulty on navigating a route through downtown. The East End and Westdale were navigable enough, but downtown was a bit of a maze of jumping from street to street, and occasionally missing a sign and taking a rougher road than I would have liked. Ultimately I made it there in one piece, rented a locker, and settled in. Still some kinks to work out for routes but otherwise a good ride (30-40 min depending on road/weather conditions).
After taking a break on the weekend to rest my legs and recover from the saddle, I returned to school this morning. Sadly, my tail light broke off in the cold, and my hands were pretty rough by the time I made it to Mac, but the worst was on my way home, about to cross James St at York, when my chain popped off and I smashed my knee on the cross-bar... I rode the last 6k home, but decided to stay in to ice it and let it get back to the size it should be. I've had some trouble with my chain, and may go in for some more maintenance. It might be the cold, or perhaps not enough/too much grease (I usually take pretty good care of my chain but I'm not perfect), but either way it needs to get looked at to fix up the breaks as well. Hopefully the help at New Hope can enhance my repair knowledge a bit :)
Oh! Also, I've found the twitter community to be super friendly and supportive :) I was hoping for/expecting some support from friends and family, and am very grateful for it, but the #HamOnt community has been very supportive :) I'm lucky to live in a city that is so full of people trying to make it a better, more sustainable place that we can be proud to hand down to our children. This city has a lot of inner beauty, it just has trouble letting it shine through sometimes...
Well that's it for now, just doing homework and licking my wounds, looking forward to the point where I can bend my knee and get back to those euphoric rides across the city.
Stay safe!
~Ken
Dealing with the climate
This morning I awoke to a cold weather and windchill warning. My body was telling me to beg my wife to drive me into school, or at least take the bus, but then my stubbornness kicked in, I layered up, and got on my bike. Winter weather is probably the least attractive aspect of commuting via bicycle, and I can't say it didn't nearly scare me off. Once you get over the weather, and learn how you personally react to it, the ride isn't actually too bad and even lends an even stronger sense of accomplishment.
A big issue with winter biking is bike lanes: they are often few and far between in the summer, but in the winter the maintenance... leaves something to be desired. They are often iced, covered by snow banks, or if you're lucky, layered in salt. Fortunately, over the past few years the city has had a pilot project on bike lane maintenance, and the sections that they are maintaining which I experienced (for at least a little while, Sterling in Westdale), is actually not bad to ride on. If you are interested I recommend filling out a survey to help the City of Hamilton see who is using them and if they are having an impact. I'll be filling it out daily to give them lots to work with ;)
Another massive hurdle to cycling is how to dress.. I'm still walking the line between warmth and fashion (luckily I have a locker at Mac now, but no changeroom or anything) but the basic idea is to wear some good insulating base layers, windproof outer layers, and then learn what other insulation you need in between. It is important to remember that your extremities are most prone to frostbite (especially ears, feet and hands) so make sure they're covered; the key factor here is the wind, so windproof gloves are a must. Everyone is different, but remember that your body is a furnace (an adage anyone who has sat through any of my cold-weather classes is sick of by now); if you feed, insulate and hydrate it, it will do the rest!
The last thing I'd like to say is that I think it is important, for myself and any others who view cycling as an important step towards sustainability in our city, to be seen in inclement weather like this. Those who are hesitant to pick up a bike for commuting or even just for fun to start, are not very likely to do so if they don't see anybody out there. Likewise, if people aren't using the bike lanes, the city has no incentive to maintain/expand them. While it is proven in some cities that cycling infrastructure almost always increases the number of cyclists, I think we need to be visible as a base group to encourage that initial growth. Visibility is crucial.
Cycling is only one step towards sustainability, however I think it is one which has a rippling effect on people. The fact that there is almost a field of thought around 'cycling' and 'cyclists' shows me that it is a powerful lifestyle change. Certainly the extra exercise, time in your community and those of your neighbours, the sunlight and the fresh air, must all be factors in this, and I am fairly confident that these are all great impacts on individuals. So fix up your bike, saddle up, and get out and be seen!
Keep warm,
-Ken
A big issue with winter biking is bike lanes: they are often few and far between in the summer, but in the winter the maintenance... leaves something to be desired. They are often iced, covered by snow banks, or if you're lucky, layered in salt. Fortunately, over the past few years the city has had a pilot project on bike lane maintenance, and the sections that they are maintaining which I experienced (for at least a little while, Sterling in Westdale), is actually not bad to ride on. If you are interested I recommend filling out a survey to help the City of Hamilton see who is using them and if they are having an impact. I'll be filling it out daily to give them lots to work with ;)
Another massive hurdle to cycling is how to dress.. I'm still walking the line between warmth and fashion (luckily I have a locker at Mac now, but no changeroom or anything) but the basic idea is to wear some good insulating base layers, windproof outer layers, and then learn what other insulation you need in between. It is important to remember that your extremities are most prone to frostbite (especially ears, feet and hands) so make sure they're covered; the key factor here is the wind, so windproof gloves are a must. Everyone is different, but remember that your body is a furnace (an adage anyone who has sat through any of my cold-weather classes is sick of by now); if you feed, insulate and hydrate it, it will do the rest!
The last thing I'd like to say is that I think it is important, for myself and any others who view cycling as an important step towards sustainability in our city, to be seen in inclement weather like this. Those who are hesitant to pick up a bike for commuting or even just for fun to start, are not very likely to do so if they don't see anybody out there. Likewise, if people aren't using the bike lanes, the city has no incentive to maintain/expand them. While it is proven in some cities that cycling infrastructure almost always increases the number of cyclists, I think we need to be visible as a base group to encourage that initial growth. Visibility is crucial.
Cycling is only one step towards sustainability, however I think it is one which has a rippling effect on people. The fact that there is almost a field of thought around 'cycling' and 'cyclists' shows me that it is a powerful lifestyle change. Certainly the extra exercise, time in your community and those of your neighbours, the sunlight and the fresh air, must all be factors in this, and I am fairly confident that these are all great impacts on individuals. So fix up your bike, saddle up, and get out and be seen!
Keep warm,
-Ken
Monday 20 January 2014
Joining the Blogosphere
Just like writing an essay, I have no idea where or how to start here so... that will have to do. I'm starting a blog for several reasons, and I suppose I may as well list some.
Lastly, I feel strongly that commuting via bicycle is an important aspect of urban transportation, and that every little bit of support it gets will help it take an even stronger stance in our city. I love Hamilton, but at times it frustrates me, and one thing that often frustrates me is the haphazard support for cycling. Groups like YesWeCannon and others are really pushing for good changes, and if this somehow gets them some more support, or other groups, then that's a bonus that I can feel good about.
The actual impetus would be my Sustainability course here at Mac. Part of the course is making a lifestyle change, and then discussing and sharing your experiences with that change. I have chosen to begin cycling to school and work for my commute. I chose this partially because I had been meaning to get back into cycling and furthering my ability, but also because it is something that I am confident I can fit into my schedule for most of my commuting, and something I can start to scale up fairly quickly. My commute is 10k each way to Mac, which is about 30min of riding. It's not bad, and I have a locker here for my bulky clothing and whatnot, so that's pretty doable.
Another reason to blog is, well, to keep a journal. I've tried several times to keep a personal journal throughout my life, and while some have been successful in that I've finished through an entire book, several are a few entries and then forgotten about. I am hoping making this public-ish will make me feel a stronger sense of accountability to it. Keeping a journal I feel will help me keep my writing skills at a higher standard, and also to force me to articulate some thoughts and as such give them the mindspace they deserve.
Lastly, I feel strongly that commuting via bicycle is an important aspect of urban transportation, and that every little bit of support it gets will help it take an even stronger stance in our city. I love Hamilton, but at times it frustrates me, and one thing that often frustrates me is the haphazard support for cycling. Groups like YesWeCannon and others are really pushing for good changes, and if this somehow gets them some more support, or other groups, then that's a bonus that I can feel good about.
Well that's going to be it for my intro; later today or tomorrow I will likely post about my first rides I took last week and maybe some pics of my beast of burden that must carry me 20+km/day once I get into a better routine.
Also, as a disclaimer, if things seem awkwardly formatted for the first few posts... well they probaby will be. I'm just learning how to do stuff, so this post will show me what things actually look like at the front end. Hopefully by week's end I will have a better idea of how to make this all nice and sleek and whatnot.
Thanks for reading,
~Ken
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