After tensions between cyclists and drivers grew over the summer, cyclists in Toronto took the initiative to improve relations on the road. After the tragic death of a bike messenger on Toronto streets over the summer, something needed to be done to calm fears, and work to ensure that cyclists are seen in a positive light. The Toronto Cyclists Union came up with the "Cyclists Paving the Way" campaign which has proved successful in calming increasingly volatile relationships between motorists and cyclists. Click here to check it out.
Ride safe!
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
My Route
Yesterday turned out to be my first real night commute of the season. I left the office with my buddy Roger at about 5:00 and it was already pretty dark. Armed with headlights, tail lights, and various reflectors on our bikes and clothing, I feel pretty confident that we're visible to traffic on the dark country roads we travel.
Here is my typical commuting route on mapmyride.com
I do have a few variations, such as starting out down County Road from my house and taking Marys Pond road up into Rochester center. That adds about 5 or 6 miles which is nice to do when I have the time. Another option is to turn left onto Mattapoisett road, and then cut across Wolf Island road which cuts about a mile or so off the total distance. The issue there is that Wolf Island is dirt and can be a little challenging on the road bike.
Anyone else ride a similar route, or have any ideas? If so we'd love to hear them.
Thanks, and ride safe.
Patrick
Here is my typical commuting route on mapmyride.com
I do have a few variations, such as starting out down County Road from my house and taking Marys Pond road up into Rochester center. That adds about 5 or 6 miles which is nice to do when I have the time. Another option is to turn left onto Mattapoisett road, and then cut across Wolf Island road which cuts about a mile or so off the total distance. The issue there is that Wolf Island is dirt and can be a little challenging on the road bike.
Anyone else ride a similar route, or have any ideas? If so we'd love to hear them.
Thanks, and ride safe.
Patrick
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Justice!
Physician convicted in cycling case
November 2, 2009 | 3:52 pm
A physician accused of deliberately injuring two cyclists by slamming on his car’s brakes on a narrow Brentwood road last year was convicted Monday of assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem and other serious criminal charges.
The three-week trial of Dr. Christopher Thompson drew close attention from cyclists, many of whom viewed the case as a test of the justice system’s commitment to protecting cyclists.
Thompson, wearing a dark blue suit, bowed his head as the verdicts were read. He faces a possible prison term.
Prosecutors alleged that on July 4, 2008, Thompson stopped his car after passing the two cyclists and shouting at them to ride single-file. One cyclist ran face-first into the rear windshield of the doctor’s red Infiniti, breaking his front teeth and nose, and leaving his face scarred. The other was sent hurtling to the sidewalk and suffered a separated shoulder.
A police officer testified that Thompson told him soon after the accident that the cyclists had cursed at him and flipped him off, so he slammed on his brakes “to teach them a lesson.”
Thompson, a veteran emergency room physician, testified that he had never meant to hurt any of the cyclists. He said he and other residents were upset at unsafe cycling by some riders along Mandeville Canyon Road, a winding, five-mile residential street that has become an increasingly popular route for cyclists. But they had struggled to identify problem riders.
Thompson told jurors that he stopped his car so that he could take a photo of the cyclists he had overtaken and believed he had left enough room for them.
Prosecutors alleged Thompson had a history of run-ins with bikers, including a similar episode four months before the 2008 collision, when two cyclists told police that the doctor tried to run them off the road and braked hard in front of them. Neither of the riders was injured.
-- Jack Leonard
November 2, 2009 | 3:52 pm
A physician accused of deliberately injuring two cyclists by slamming on his car’s brakes on a narrow Brentwood road last year was convicted Monday of assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem and other serious criminal charges.
The three-week trial of Dr. Christopher Thompson drew close attention from cyclists, many of whom viewed the case as a test of the justice system’s commitment to protecting cyclists.
Thompson, wearing a dark blue suit, bowed his head as the verdicts were read. He faces a possible prison term.
Prosecutors alleged that on July 4, 2008, Thompson stopped his car after passing the two cyclists and shouting at them to ride single-file. One cyclist ran face-first into the rear windshield of the doctor’s red Infiniti, breaking his front teeth and nose, and leaving his face scarred. The other was sent hurtling to the sidewalk and suffered a separated shoulder.
A police officer testified that Thompson told him soon after the accident that the cyclists had cursed at him and flipped him off, so he slammed on his brakes “to teach them a lesson.”
Thompson, a veteran emergency room physician, testified that he had never meant to hurt any of the cyclists. He said he and other residents were upset at unsafe cycling by some riders along Mandeville Canyon Road, a winding, five-mile residential street that has become an increasingly popular route for cyclists. But they had struggled to identify problem riders.
Thompson told jurors that he stopped his car so that he could take a photo of the cyclists he had overtaken and believed he had left enough room for them.
Prosecutors alleged Thompson had a history of run-ins with bikers, including a similar episode four months before the 2008 collision, when two cyclists told police that the doctor tried to run them off the road and braked hard in front of them. Neither of the riders was injured.
-- Jack Leonard
Monday, November 02, 2009
Canal Ride
After our initial plans were foiled on Saturday by Halloween madness, I committed to taking my ten year old for a long ride on the Cape Cod canal on Sunday afternoon. He has been wanting to take a long ride with me for some time and I feel that it's time for me to make the kids a regular part of my riding plans if I want them to share my passion for cycling. I feel pretty fortunate that they want to ride and I need to foster that!
So, Sunday afternoon at 1:30 I grabbed the bike rack from under the porch, removed the leaves and spider webs, and secured it to the car. THen spent the next 20 minutes running around like a mad man trying to get my sons bike and my bike on the car, tires pumped up, bottles filled, "where is my helmet?", "Should I bring a vest?" For a family with most every cycling related item under the sun, it takes us too long to get out the door.
By 2:00, we were riding. We parked under the Bourne Bridge, and headed left down towards the train bridge across from the Maritime Academy. My son wanted to make sure that we rode from end to end. No short cuts here! So we rode to the closer end, turned around and rode the full 7 mile length of the canal - which in case you are wondering, requires that you enter the parking lot and ride through the marina in Sandwich before turning around and heading ALL the way back to the other end back in Bourne.
Before we arrived back in Bourne at about 3:30, he made it known that he will not be done when we reach the end! Mind you, it is getting colder, and I'm now picturing us in Sandwich navigating the canal in darkness. I made a deal that we ride another 4 miles total bringing our mileage for the day up to 23. He seemed content with that but let me know that I was in no way off the hook.
23 miles for a ten year old is a pretty decent accomplishment in my book. I don't ever recall riding that distance when I was that age. Of course, he is on a TREK 1000 and I believe I had a striking yellow Schwinn 3 speed at that age.
We arrived back at the car with enough time to get home, clean up, and get to Grandma's for dinner. I finally convinced him on the car ride home that he should be proud of himself and he agreed. I later found out that this was really a test ride for him as he wants to ride the 25 mile course in the Connecticut Challenge next year. I will be with him every mile!
Ride safe.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Riding with the kids.
The beautiful weather was certainly not the reason for my commuting by bicycle three times this week. Tuesdays ride home was wet, Thursday was nice but the morning ride was cool and damp. This morning was pretty nice I must say, but not a week that makes one think that bicycling to work is the most appealing alternative to driving.
At any rate, I rode to work on Tuesday, Thursday (by myself) and again today. It's nice to come home at the end of the day and walk into the house with my bike gear on. I like to think that I'm creating a positive influence for the kids to see me riding the bike to work.
My 10 year old had been bugging me to ride with him so on Saturday I am taking him to the Cape Cod canal for a 14 mile ride. I'm looking forward to it and I think we will have a great time. He loves to ride and I know that he would ride more if I made the effort to ride with him so that's my goal. I'm not one for New Years resolutions - but riding more with my kids would be a good one! In this months bicycling magazine there is a great article by Joe Kurmaskie (sp?) who wrote Momentum is your friend which is a fantastic book I read a couple years ago. In this months Bicycling article, Joe talks about riding 3000 miles with his wife and 3 kids. A great read that I found to be just the motivation I needed to get out with my kids on the bikes.
Not that I'm going to pack up the kids and head up to Canada but I can certainly get them over to the Cape Cod Canal for 15 miles or so.
Quick little addition to this post - make sure you check out this 84 year old woman that does the MS ride on her singlespeed. Don't miss the fact that she wears a dress and heels!
See ya
At any rate, I rode to work on Tuesday, Thursday (by myself) and again today. It's nice to come home at the end of the day and walk into the house with my bike gear on. I like to think that I'm creating a positive influence for the kids to see me riding the bike to work.
My 10 year old had been bugging me to ride with him so on Saturday I am taking him to the Cape Cod canal for a 14 mile ride. I'm looking forward to it and I think we will have a great time. He loves to ride and I know that he would ride more if I made the effort to ride with him so that's my goal. I'm not one for New Years resolutions - but riding more with my kids would be a good one! In this months bicycling magazine there is a great article by Joe Kurmaskie (sp?) who wrote Momentum is your friend which is a fantastic book I read a couple years ago. In this months Bicycling article, Joe talks about riding 3000 miles with his wife and 3 kids. A great read that I found to be just the motivation I needed to get out with my kids on the bikes.
Not that I'm going to pack up the kids and head up to Canada but I can certainly get them over to the Cape Cod Canal for 15 miles or so.
Quick little addition to this post - make sure you check out this 84 year old woman that does the MS ride on her singlespeed. Don't miss the fact that she wears a dress and heels!
See ya
Thursday, October 29, 2009
This week in commuting!
Again this morning I crept around in the dark of my bedroom trying to properly dress for a cool/damp commute without waking up my sleeping wife. The right cycling clothing can truly make or break my time in the saddle, and when it's cool and wet (or even raining) the clothing is even more important. My ride home on Tuesday was certainly wet, but I was warm and comfortable none the less.
I am still riding my road bike while my singlespeed sits unassembled and un-painted in my cellar. The singlespeed will be my dedicated commuting bike throughout the winter but until it's done I migrated my headlight, tail light and seat bag on to my LOOK.
As I rode this morning the roads were still a bit damp and covered in leaves and pine needles. My thoughts bounced between pure appreciation that I can ride my bicycle to work on a fall morning, and sheer terror that my skinny 700x 23c tires would betray me on the wet leaves. I have been on the lookout for some good all-weather 700c tires that I can use on my singlespeed - let me know if you have any recommendations!
There is certainly something about riding in less than ideal conditions that appeals to the true cyclist in me. Heading out into cold wet darkness on a bicycle is one of those rites of passage for a cyclist. It also adds many dimensions to an otherwise generic ride - such as having to be more alert of traffic and weather conditions, dressing properly, and the overall feeling of taking pleasure in something that most folks would think entirely miserable. Of course, they probably haven't tried it!
Ride safe!
Patrick
I am still riding my road bike while my singlespeed sits unassembled and un-painted in my cellar. The singlespeed will be my dedicated commuting bike throughout the winter but until it's done I migrated my headlight, tail light and seat bag on to my LOOK.
As I rode this morning the roads were still a bit damp and covered in leaves and pine needles. My thoughts bounced between pure appreciation that I can ride my bicycle to work on a fall morning, and sheer terror that my skinny 700x 23c tires would betray me on the wet leaves. I have been on the lookout for some good all-weather 700c tires that I can use on my singlespeed - let me know if you have any recommendations!
There is certainly something about riding in less than ideal conditions that appeals to the true cyclist in me. Heading out into cold wet darkness on a bicycle is one of those rites of passage for a cyclist. It also adds many dimensions to an otherwise generic ride - such as having to be more alert of traffic and weather conditions, dressing properly, and the overall feeling of taking pleasure in something that most folks would think entirely miserable. Of course, they probably haven't tried it!
Ride safe!
Patrick
Friday, October 23, 2009
A little online shopping
While I greatly respect and enjoy the relationship that I enjoy with my local shop (Tri Town Cycling in Wareham, MA), there are times when I come across a deal on the web that is just too good to pass up. Usually something that I may not need, but will certainly use and would not otherwise buy.
With that in mind, there are certain sites on the web that are based solely on blowout pricing. While you will not get the advice, expertise, and comraderie that you enjoy at your local LBS, you can wind up with some pretty sweet stuff without killing your budget.
One of my favorites is www.bonktown.com. Bonktown is part of larger operation that runs similar sites for skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking, etc.
I have installed the bonktown deal tracker on my machine that pops up every now and then with the most recent deals. This page also shows some deals from those other partner sites which is pretty cool.
Again, certainly you wont enjoy the benefits of your local shop, but if you see something cool and want to save a few bucks, go for it!
Peace!
Patrick
With that in mind, there are certain sites on the web that are based solely on blowout pricing. While you will not get the advice, expertise, and comraderie that you enjoy at your local LBS, you can wind up with some pretty sweet stuff without killing your budget.
One of my favorites is www.bonktown.com. Bonktown is part of larger operation that runs similar sites for skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking, etc.
I have installed the bonktown deal tracker on my machine that pops up every now and then with the most recent deals. This page also shows some deals from those other partner sites which is pretty cool.
Again, certainly you wont enjoy the benefits of your local shop, but if you see something cool and want to save a few bucks, go for it!
Peace!
Patrick
And now for something completely different!
In addition to all the sexy race bikes, mountain bikes, and latest trends in commuter bikes, I love to see folks who write their own rules when it comes to their bicycle. I came across this blog posting recently and thought it worth sharing. As I post this my singlespeed sits recently stripped and naked in my basement. The possibility of that bicycle being covered in fur or being attached to a manikin just went up.
Check it out here
While you're at it, check this out. I have always been a car lover and this is just amazing!
Enjoy!
Patrick
Check it out here
While you're at it, check this out. I have always been a car lover and this is just amazing!
Enjoy!
Patrick
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