For those of you choosing to continue to commute this winter, now is the time to winterize your ride, or if your have a really good ride, time to store it for the winter and bring out the beater.
Winter conditions can wreak havoc on your drive-train. Slush and ice, and salt and sand can get into everything. Make sure you have cleaned and lubed you chain, shifters, brakes and cables.
You also want to make sure that you change your tires for something with more traction like knobbies or even some winter tires with studs. Since most of your control comes from the front, you want to make sure that your best traction is on the front first. Studded tires can run you some good coin, so if it is a question of back or front only, go with the front tire studded first and put a knobby on the back.
I recommend a rear fender that mounts to the seat post so that it gives plenty of clearance between it and the rear tire. That way it will not get packed in with slush and ice. I also have a cheap thin plastic guard on my down tube. It mounts easily with the provided velcro fasteners and it cost around 1 dollar. Low-tech, but works like a charm. Now most of the stuff coming off the front tire is blocked and drips down underneath as I ride.
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) is an unbelievable resource for the cycling accessories for all seasons and for their knowledgable staff. Most of my bike accessories has been purchased from MEC.
Above all, you also want to prepare yourself for the weather. This means not only layering to keep you warm, but also make sure that you wear a waterproof outer layer like Gore-Tex riding gear and a good pair of gloves that allow you to use your shifters and your brakes.
Lighting during the winter is especially important. It is always a good idea to have multiple front and rear lights for better visibility. Maybe a rear flasher on your seatpost and one on the back of your helmet or backpack. For the front, use good strong lightning either on your handlebar, helmet or a combination of the two. Good reflection on your outer layer is always good as well.
You will enjoy it more if you are better equipped to deal with all that winter throws at us. Above all, do not take any chances especially in slick conditions. If you start to slide you can just put your feet down for better control. If a car, truck or bus is sliding, chances are they are not stopping until they hit something.
Just take extra caution on snowy days, or better yet, take public transit on those days.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Hey, I've got my new shoes on!
Photo © Tony Bursey
These shoes are rather sleek looking with mesh and leather stitched in an attractive pattern. So far, they have served me well. They are well ventilated and very comfortable both on the bike and off. And they have held up well. I have worn them on a trail ride and they performed just as good as my Specialized MTB trail shoes.
These shoes did not break the bank either. You can pay hundreds of dollars for good cycling shoes. These cost around $60. These shoes should be considered by anyone looking for a comfortable commuting shoe that you can walk around in all day and not break the bank.
Friday, May 11, 2007
NOW Magazine Author shows SLIPSHOD journalism at its best!
SLIPSHOD - \'slip-shäd\ adj
1: wearing loose shoes 2: shabby *3: careless, slovenly
* After two factual errors were discovered in his article, the young reporter was warned that slipshod journalism would not be tolerated.
[From the Merriam-Webster desk calendar for May 2, 2007]
The author of a recent article in NOW Magazine would have everyone believe that the entire valley around the Don River is ecologically sensitive conservation land. Well, that simply is not true. One only has to look at any public domain map to find that out.
This map from Google, shows the difference between conservation lands and "other" uses. The green area is conservation land, but it is funny that this author would have you believe that the areas marked up with the point marker and the purple and red polygons are included in the conservation lands and that simply is not true. The purple areas are lands that are designated as "Sewage Treatment Facilities" and the red area is land designated as "Vacant Residential Land". All along the train tracks there is also a corridor that is designated as "Railway Right of Way".
The author also refers to 3 photos in the article as "daredevil jumps" but actually have nothing to do with jumps. They are merely trees that have fallen and have a small ramp leading up the ride over. And speaking of those photos, those are not jumps at all. They certainly do not see that there are ladders built on sensitive slopes to preserve the flora and protect from erosion. The whole “jumps” section is located next to the train tracks and on land that is deemed "Vacant Residential Land". The author also refers to steep slopes and downhill sections. Most of these are located on land that is deemed "Sewage Treatment Facilities".
There is one line in the article commenting on anything to do with IMBA cleaning up the valley. Think if that “3-tons”, and I thought we were using the metric system in this country, were allowed to fester. The iron-oxide from the decaying metal would further contaminate the soil and render the forest dead with no chance of regeneration. There is also no mention of the trail maintenance that goes on in order to preserve the forest and stop erosion from the slopes or the various planting events that have happened along the trail system to protect those sensitive areas and re-routing trails away from others.
There is also no mention of the City maintenance programs to preserve the forests in the Lower Don like the “Trees Across Toronto” program that we had attended April 28th, (see my previous posting for the story) and the ONLY mention about the city at all is in the by-line under the photos “The city looks the other way…”
The reason mountain bikes are banned from other parks has nothing to do with preserving the ecology of the area and everything to do with area residents groups who have been grossly misinformed by the author and others like her about recreational activities such as mountain biking.
The way this article is written, the author seems to represent herself as an expert botanist and that the City of Toronto do not have any botantists or arbourists on staff to maintain these areas.
The trails that go through the conservation lands, are just that… TRAILS! There has been trail maintenance done on these trails, but to the extent to keep them free from litter and garbage, hazards like broken glass and shards of metal and the ensure that erosion controls are in place to preserve the surrounding flora.
Photo © Tony BurseyThere is also no mention in the article about the rail lines and how they transect the forest polluting with their diesel fumes and brake dust, probably more detrimental than anything else. Or the hazards of certain types of freight on those rail cars as they are transported through this ecologically sensitive forest.
Photo © Tony BurseyHow about the bridges that span this valley and the construction damage that is going on as a result of maintaining these bridges! Nothing is mentioned about that, but then again this author would rather have you pollute the air with carbon-monoxide, various fuel fumes, asbestos from brake dust and garbage thrown from truck and car windows into this ecologically sensitive area rather than allowing trail use in the area by bikes and even dog-walkers out for exercise. As a mountain-biker, I am also concerned with the state of the forests and valleys in order to sustain nature and have somewhere beautiful to ride. Not only for me, but for my kids as well with little concern for being plowed over by a bus, truck, car or otherwise.
Photo © Tony Bursey
Forested trails also offer safety in this respect to trail users of all kinds. I bring a camera whenever I am in the trails and have and will continue to photograph extensively. I suppose this author would have you believe that photography in the trail systems like these also degrades the trail and should not be permitted.
Another thought came to me yesterday morning and has had its time to brew... and this has ABSOLUTELY no ill feeling for runners, an activity I have also done. I heard that the impact on your feet when you run is something like 8 times your body weight. Well, I am 200 pounds, which would mean that with every step for a contact patch the size of my size 12 shoe (roughly the same as both my tires), I am exherting 1600 pounds of pressure as opposed to my 200 pounds being spread out over two tires and as long as they remain in contact with the trail is slightly more than my 200 pounds (from pedalling). You tell me which activity will put more strain on an ecologicall sensitive area. You also have to keep in mind that the trails are being used by all sorts of different activities and the sensitive areas are within the wooded vegetated areas.
Another HUGE point that this author fails to realize is that this entire valley is a flood plain for the river and will occasionally flood. That is why there is no building in areas like this.
I will check the next time I ride, but Crothers Woods is only a very small section of the green area, that also has pavement constructed through it. If it were such an ecologically sensitive area, why would they allow construction of this sort here and not natural wood-chip trails like in High Park???
A co-worker asked what publication this was in, and when “NOW” magazine was mentioned, the concensus around the office was the same… “That is not a real publication. They are in it just for the ads!”
1: wearing loose shoes 2: shabby *3: careless, slovenly
* After two factual errors were discovered in his article, the young reporter was warned that slipshod journalism would not be tolerated.
[From the Merriam-Webster desk calendar for May 2, 2007]
The author of a recent article in NOW Magazine would have everyone believe that the entire valley around the Don River is ecologically sensitive conservation land. Well, that simply is not true. One only has to look at any public domain map to find that out.
This map from Google, shows the difference between conservation lands and "other" uses. The green area is conservation land, but it is funny that this author would have you believe that the areas marked up with the point marker and the purple and red polygons are included in the conservation lands and that simply is not true. The purple areas are lands that are designated as "Sewage Treatment Facilities" and the red area is land designated as "Vacant Residential Land". All along the train tracks there is also a corridor that is designated as "Railway Right of Way".The author also refers to 3 photos in the article as "daredevil jumps" but actually have nothing to do with jumps. They are merely trees that have fallen and have a small ramp leading up the ride over. And speaking of those photos, those are not jumps at all. They certainly do not see that there are ladders built on sensitive slopes to preserve the flora and protect from erosion. The whole “jumps” section is located next to the train tracks and on land that is deemed "Vacant Residential Land". The author also refers to steep slopes and downhill sections. Most of these are located on land that is deemed "Sewage Treatment Facilities".
There is one line in the article commenting on anything to do with IMBA cleaning up the valley. Think if that “3-tons”, and I thought we were using the metric system in this country, were allowed to fester. The iron-oxide from the decaying metal would further contaminate the soil and render the forest dead with no chance of regeneration. There is also no mention of the trail maintenance that goes on in order to preserve the forest and stop erosion from the slopes or the various planting events that have happened along the trail system to protect those sensitive areas and re-routing trails away from others.
There is also no mention of the City maintenance programs to preserve the forests in the Lower Don like the “Trees Across Toronto” program that we had attended April 28th, (see my previous posting for the story) and the ONLY mention about the city at all is in the by-line under the photos “The city looks the other way…”
The reason mountain bikes are banned from other parks has nothing to do with preserving the ecology of the area and everything to do with area residents groups who have been grossly misinformed by the author and others like her about recreational activities such as mountain biking.
The way this article is written, the author seems to represent herself as an expert botanist and that the City of Toronto do not have any botantists or arbourists on staff to maintain these areas.
The trails that go through the conservation lands, are just that… TRAILS! There has been trail maintenance done on these trails, but to the extent to keep them free from litter and garbage, hazards like broken glass and shards of metal and the ensure that erosion controls are in place to preserve the surrounding flora.
Photo © Tony Bursey
Photo © Tony Bursey
Photo © Tony Bursey
Forested trails also offer safety in this respect to trail users of all kinds. I bring a camera whenever I am in the trails and have and will continue to photograph extensively. I suppose this author would have you believe that photography in the trail systems like these also degrades the trail and should not be permitted.
Another thought came to me yesterday morning and has had its time to brew... and this has ABSOLUTELY no ill feeling for runners, an activity I have also done. I heard that the impact on your feet when you run is something like 8 times your body weight. Well, I am 200 pounds, which would mean that with every step for a contact patch the size of my size 12 shoe (roughly the same as both my tires), I am exherting 1600 pounds of pressure as opposed to my 200 pounds being spread out over two tires and as long as they remain in contact with the trail is slightly more than my 200 pounds (from pedalling). You tell me which activity will put more strain on an ecologicall sensitive area. You also have to keep in mind that the trails are being used by all sorts of different activities and the sensitive areas are within the wooded vegetated areas.
Another HUGE point that this author fails to realize is that this entire valley is a flood plain for the river and will occasionally flood. That is why there is no building in areas like this.
I will check the next time I ride, but Crothers Woods is only a very small section of the green area, that also has pavement constructed through it. If it were such an ecologically sensitive area, why would they allow construction of this sort here and not natural wood-chip trails like in High Park???
A co-worker asked what publication this was in, and when “NOW” magazine was mentioned, the concensus around the office was the same… “That is not a real publication. They are in it just for the ads!”
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Trees Across Toronto - Sun Valley / Lower Don Valley Tree Planting
Photo © Tony Bursey
It was a rather overcast day for a couple of hours of tree planting Saturday, April 28th, 2007. There was a good turnout resulting in 800 trees being planted in record time (in under 2 hours).
Photo © Tony Bursey
Photo © Tony Bursey
Photo © Tony Bursey
All in all, it was a very successful event. So much so, that they are having another one next Saturday! If you are in the area, stop by. You can get there off Beechwood north of O'Connor. Go down the hill and under the Don Valley Parkway and past the Metro Police K-9 Training Centre. There is parking along both sides of the road. Of course, you can always ride the trails and stop by to plant a tree or two as you pass.
Monday, April 23, 2007
DropMachine Don Trail Ride
It was a beautiful day for a ride in The Don Trails yesterday. The trails were bone dry and it felt like the middle of summer. Not a drop of rain in sight and tons of sun.
There was some serious air going on in the jumps section of the trails between the train tracks and the river. There has been alot of work done here over the last year or so.
Overall it was a great ride. There was quite a crowd at the jumps. Finally nice to just kick back, relax and partake in some good conversation, but most of all to witness the range of talent that was present.
I wish I had taken a picture. There was a younger kid named Elliot that was just starting out on the jumps. He could not have been more than 10 or 11 years old. When I first arrived, he was only doing the first two. By the time I left, about 2 hours later, he was doing the entire run including the banked turn at the end. It was inspiring, to say the least. This kid just kept riding them, over and over and over again.
The day was not without its mishaps. There were a few crashes. Nothing serious, perhaps a slightly bruised ego. The great thing was the riders just picked themselves back up and kept riding. No harm done.
Definitely looking forward to the next one. This time I will show up prepared with more Flash Memory for the camera!
There was some serious air going on in the jumps section of the trails between the train tracks and the river. There has been alot of work done here over the last year or so.
Overall it was a great ride. There was quite a crowd at the jumps. Finally nice to just kick back, relax and partake in some good conversation, but most of all to witness the range of talent that was present.
I wish I had taken a picture. There was a younger kid named Elliot that was just starting out on the jumps. He could not have been more than 10 or 11 years old. When I first arrived, he was only doing the first two. By the time I left, about 2 hours later, he was doing the entire run including the banked turn at the end. It was inspiring, to say the least. This kid just kept riding them, over and over and over again.
The day was not without its mishaps. There were a few crashes. Nothing serious, perhaps a slightly bruised ego. The great thing was the riders just picked themselves back up and kept riding. No harm done.
Definitely looking forward to the next one. This time I will show up prepared with more Flash Memory for the camera!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Getting Ready!!!
If you have not yet done so, you might want to consider taking your bike into a reputable bike shop and have a tune-up done. Most bike shops are around the $35-$45 range. Be sure to ask what that includes so you know ahead of time.
I had not taken mine in for a few years, and needed to replace a few things. $200 later, and my ride is ready to go. The transformation has been like night and day. Shifting is so much smoother and my bottom bracket doesn't flop around when I pedal.
Perhaps the most basic thing is to make sure that your chain has not stretched out of spec because your chain rings and rear cassette will suffer. An unhealthy drive-train means you won't be going anywhere.
Also remember that at this time of year, if the trails are too wet, stay off them until they dry out a little. This preserves the trails so that we continue to have somewhere to ride. Trails degrade too quickly if they are ridden when wet.
I had not taken mine in for a few years, and needed to replace a few things. $200 later, and my ride is ready to go. The transformation has been like night and day. Shifting is so much smoother and my bottom bracket doesn't flop around when I pedal.
Perhaps the most basic thing is to make sure that your chain has not stretched out of spec because your chain rings and rear cassette will suffer. An unhealthy drive-train means you won't be going anywhere.
Also remember that at this time of year, if the trails are too wet, stay off them until they dry out a little. This preserves the trails so that we continue to have somewhere to ride. Trails degrade too quickly if they are ridden when wet.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
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