Hamilton the... busy city!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've been spending my weekdays (and some weekends) up north near Barrie working as a Reservist. Fortunately this past weekend, on top of getting home to see family and friends, I was lucky enough to take part in some great local events I had been looking forward to for months. I didn't have the chance to see everything I wanted, but I am happy I was able to experience what I did, and felt so fortunate to have so much going on in my hometown, which is certainly a phenomenal problem to have!


Truthfully, near the top of my list was Because Beer. I have been a little obsessed with beer over the past few years, and have begun the foray into brewing my own, and as such was excited to see it showcased at home. This festival was amazing in so many ways. Putting Pier 4 on display for those who may not regularly make it down to that end of the city acted as a gorgeous backdrop, and was conveniently accessible via bus or bike (admittedly we drove, with a full car of people though!). The beer samples struck me as generous for the cost, and the variety of brewers present was surprising. I was able to meet many new brewers that I hadn't met before, like Garden Brewers, and some classic favourites... who I would feel bad naming as it's so hard to pick favourites! The food trucks were also fantastic with staples like Gorilla Cheese, and relatively new options like Meatwagon. The only thing that out-shadowed the food and drink was the atmosphere of the event. More so than at some festivals, every brewery seemed to be very welcoming, and the food trucks as well. I don't remember being at a single event and getting so many opportunities for personal discussions with owners, brewers, cooks and enthusiasts. The crowd itself was fantastic; I had some random encounters with strangers, in which I was able to pair a family up with something for each of them from Wellington (which they were all happy with! Woot!), met some friends I hadn't seen in a while such as Jeni (formerly of the Stowaway), Adam Clermont and Kevin Huynh, and a handful of others, and I even had the opportunity to meet some people I had only met online, such as Kate Goodwin. The weather was perfect, the beers were fresh, the company was great and the food was satisfying. I can't stop saying how excited I am for next year.


Aside from Because Beer, I was able to check out Art Crawl on Friday night and Open Streets on Sunday on James St N briefly before heading back to work Sunday. Both events showcased that same, vibrant spirit I feel in our city. I picked up a book for myself at Art Crawl (more Orwell... mOrwell?), and eyed some potential gifts for family members. At Open Streets, Sarah and I had a relaxing walk down the road taking in the sights and it wound up with me picking up another book, some Hemingway for something different. Our Sunday morning had started at Auntie Boom's on Ottawa Street, which was the best breakfast I have had in a long while, and I will happily recommend it.

As I mentioned, it was bittersweet to be in such a busy city this weekend. I was not able to meet up with friends at the World Music Festival at Gage Park, nor at Seven Sundays. I was hoping to make it to World Music Festival to connect with Matthew Green who I haven't had a chance to talk to in person in some time, however I wasn't able to work it into my days. I'm sure I'll meet up with him at the gym once I'm home in the fall. I was quite broken-hearted to miss Seven Sundays, which I will miss in its entirety this year. They were a highlight of last summer, and did a great job of putting Gage Park in the light it deserves. I hope many of my family and friends take advantage of what they have almost literally in their backyards.

Well it is getting late, and I have rambled at length.

Thanks for reading,
~Ken

Back in the saddle... sort of.

I managed to let myself trail off of updating this blog after I stopped riding from my knee injury, and am planning to remedy that now. A lot has happened in the past six months, including opportunities to volunteer with Bike for Mike, New Hope Bike Co-op and Yes We Cannon at the Mike's Bikefest at Queen Mary School. I've met a number of friendly, passionate people including Kate Whalen, Kate Goodwin, Justin Jones and Mike and Debbie Chamberlain through these adventures volunteering, and am excited to continue when I return home in September (instead of just visiting home on weekends).

Once my knee felt better, I was determined to continue bicycling to work. I picked up a new part-time job at the Beer Store's Distribution Center on Dewitt Rd near the QEW, and felt this was a challenge I was up to after successfully commuting to McMaster for a brief period. Cycling in the heat has (as expected) been quite a different challenge. The trip is about 12km each way, slightly downhill on the way there and slightly uphill on the way home. I am fortunate enough to be able to take Lawrence and King Streets for most of the route, and am on bike lanes to Battlefield Park in Stoney Creek, minus the patch over the Redhill Expressway which is often a bit of an adventure. Sadly Stoney Creek's roads are not nearly as bicycle friendly as the East End's are, and this makes for a difficult commute through downtown Stoney Creek, but I've learned to adapt and make pretty good time through. I occasionally bike from work to work, and take Barton for the duration from Dewitt to James St N (or vice versa) and find it to be an enjoyable ride. Fortunately at work I again have a locker, or else I would be lugging steel-toed boots with me and the trip would be considerably less enjoyable. 

Through doing this commute 4-5 times a week over about two months, I've found my strength and cardio have benefited more than I had expected. My ankle having been in bad shape since October (which was an original impetus to biking as it is low impact), I was concerned that I had lost the progress I had made in running the previous summer/autumn. Cycling apparently helped, however, when I started running again and recently bested my previous record for 5km (now sitting at 23:42), and have picked up on distances in the 10km range which is where I was when I stopped running. The fringe benefits of cycling never cease to amaze me.

Volunteering for Bike for Mike in April, which I was connected to through Kate Whalen and the McMaster Sustainability office, was an excellent experience. My friend Drew and I were able to be part of an event in which ~450 bicycles were given to students and their families at Queen Mary School in the East End. The recipients were also given helmets, locks, and lessons on the proper use of each. We also advertised the Mike's Bike Fest happening the following week at the school, and showed students the bicycle school bus route we would be following to help ensure they made it in to school safely on a good route through their neighbourhood. I would like to talk more about these events, and so will likely do so in their own post. 

Right now I am in Borden, as I said, without a bicycle. Either the last weekend of July or first weekend of August I am planning to bike here from Hamilton, a distance of about 160km. My goal is to succeed in doing this in one day, however I will have two to do it. I currently just need to bring my bike into New Hope, replace my wheels and tires and perhaps buy some additional parts such as panniers to ensure success on my ride. My friends and family have been supportive so far and I am excited to push my comfort zone and see where it takes me.

This seems like a good stopping point for now. I have a lot I want to talk about so hopefully that will help me build better habits for updating this blog, and therefore bring me back on track with my original goals of writing more and discussing the things that make me happy, such as this city of ours and the great things you can do here.

Stay positive,

~Ken

Limitations?

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

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

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

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. 

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