Cyclical in Nature

Beat the one-year deadline handily!

2008-06-02T14:01:00.003-05:00

So, it would appear that I am not good at maintaining a blog.

No matter!

Critical Mass went on a new route this past ride, one that will not likely be repeated.

The story is well chronicled here:

Here is the view on the way up:

I will try to fill in the blanks from the past year's cycling when I find the time.

Good day, hypothetical reader, good day...

Missing Mass

2007-08-25T21:03:00.000-05:00

I won't be riding with you all...wait...wasn't riding with you this month.

>cry<

Sept will bring us together again. I'm sure it was a blast for all involved and those merely witnessing.

Critical Mass July 2007

2007-07-29T01:02:00.000-05:00

What a wonderful mass! I am sad to say goodbye to my city now. It doesn't seem to matter how much I look forward to my trip. I think I love Toronto!

I blame you people.

We have had such a nice time without police harassment and little to no conflict with irate drivers. What a pleasure it is !

Thanks, you all kick ass!

The no-blog days of Summer

2007-07-19T15:47:00.000-05:00

Well it's the old me. The one who can't update a website to save his illusions is back again.

June's CM was fabulous and huge and went on for at least 3.5 hours. There are pictures but I am just trying to save face before July mass.

There, I have posted about June before July ended....success!

The inspiration for this day's half-assery was running into a fellow mass rider (one of the amassed?) outside of work today. What a wonderful and friendly tradition it is in a city often accused of coldness. I think our mass is my best connection with the soul of Toronto as I imagine it. When I say the soul of a city, I must be talking about the people and I think CM brings out many of the best.

See you on two wheels!

Critical Massive

2007-05-28T10:28:00.000-05:00

This was the biggest Mass I have known in Toronto. I know other cities regularly have many times our numbers. Even much smaller centres can out-draw T-Dot when it comes to CM but I counted roughly 235 people 15 or 20 minutes into the ride.

Back-pats all around!

Sadly, my obnoxiously loud bike was silenced by an uncooperative ypod. (Shouldn't they hold their charge when the computer they are connected to is shut off? Why is Apple discouraging energy conservation?) I was unable to find a music donor among the amassed. To make sure that no one can hear themselves think or catch up with their friends at upcoming rides, I will arrange battery insurance for this hateful little white slab.

It looks like I will need to renovate my Canondale too. The riding posture it forces me into is just too hard on my spine. Look for some stylish (hah!) new handlebars on old blue next month.

The weather was imperfect this month. Can we outdo this number in June? I'm sure of it!

To close, I would like to share a bit of wisdom from the Ontario Official Driver's Handbook.

"Stay out of puddles."

p. 64

One more fabulous Toronto bike

2007-05-24T07:32:00.001-05:00

Mass is tomorrow and I am still not finished my "playlist-overhaul" but I have faith in the power of the last-minute effort.

I hope that someone actually rides this bike because it seems to be locked in the same spot every time I pass.

Ah, I also have a new self-portrait that I may as well drop here:

It's not a special bike, except that it is mine and I love it.

Come to mass, peoples!

Curiosities

2007-04-30T06:42:00.000-05:00

Apparently I'm not the only one bringing canned music to Mass:

San Fransisco Mass looks like quite the experience.

And, while I am posting other peoples postings, how about this human-powered device:

Has anybody seen this around town? I spotted it on Queen near Parliament.

I should make sure that anyone reading this does not miss Tino's CM-coverage or any other part of his blog at http://bikelanediary.blogspot.com/.

April Mass dodges showers

2007-04-29T07:02:00.000-05:00

We might not have had sunshine but we brought a sunny disposition to the streets of Toronto-the-Grey on Friday evening. Over 125 people took wheel for the second mass of non-winter and spirits were high.

The jolly vibe held out for a couple of hours as the modest warmth of the day faded into a damp evening.

There were some minor issues with drivers who consider the safety of others trifling compared to their own convenience. The amassed acted with firm courtesy and the rudeness never escalated.

I believe MJ's horn actually propelled this car backwards.

I wish we could establish a corking practise where pedestrians are concerned. It usually works quite smoothly but I don't like to see people worried.

A quiet diversion past Scadding Court adds a little tranquillity (if one ignores my boombike blaring).

Here is a little video snippet from Yonge street:

...and one from Kensington:

The bikes of Spring

2007-03-31T08:22:00.000-05:00

The first Critical Mass of Spring 2007 went off with nary a hitch. 147 people were counted and spirits were high. I find the ride so much fun that I'm quite baffled that it has never significantly broken the 150 rider mark. Maybe this is the year to grow the mass.

A removed ghost-bike needed to be replaced this month so a moment of noise and life was held in the intersection at Dufferin and Bloor to accompany the mounting of the tribute.
The mass went on and on with the energy of the riders compensating for the dropping temperatures. I suspect Spring is a psychological event as much as climactic.

Thanks everyone.

Wow, a year? Already?!

2007-03-25T10:05:00.000-05:00

I can't let a year go by, can I?

I will bring some of the many photos I've taken in the interim when I have some more time.

For now, let me simply post that I have seen the most amazing sight this week. On my way to work I spied a stationwagon parked in the bike-lane on College. Nothing unusual in that but there was something more going on. A police car stopped beside the wagon and words were exchanged. An engine started and the lane was cleared.

I have never, never ever seen an officer intervene in a bike-lane violation in all my years of riding daily. I was moved.

The fact that I passed 6 or 7 vehicles parked in the bike-lane along the 4 blocks leading up to this event cut into the magic feeling but I had to acknowledge that any action, however inadequate, is progress.

On this theme:

A Summary of Spring

2006-06-23T10:33:00.000-05:00

(OOPS)
(This Draft has sat on blogger since it was typed until I stumbled on it now (MAR 2007))

Mass has come and gone and come again since last I posted. Some tokens:

...a month passes...

Critical Mass March 2006

2006-04-07T07:32:00.000-05:00

The rain stopped for us but the crowds stayed home. Nevertheless, more than 30 intrepid souls braved Toronto's streets en masse for a good time.

Sadly my puny camera could only catch these blurry slices:

The evening really wasn't that blurry until later.

2006-03-07T00:38:00.000-05:00

The following is entirely the creation and property of boingboing.net. It is also totally neat.

How to make a bike that goes on train rails

Are rail bikes safe? Are they legal? I don't know (and don't care) -- I love the idea.
Link

posted by Mark Frauenfelder at 09:20:37 AM permalink | blogs' comments

Thank you for the info and thank you in advance for not suing :)

Wow! Talk about lazy...

2006-03-05T10:54:00.000-05:00

I'm not even going to count the months since my last post (too lazy) but instead I will get back to work.

Being lazy, my first act will be a bit of respectful theft:

| He rode it silly. And in the finale, he disassembled the
| bike while riding it.

Thank you rahoi.com for this image and for so many laugh-out-loud moments.

Critical Mass

2005-06-26T09:27:00.000-05:00

A beautiful day. A nice crowd. Hardly any angry maniacs and no cops.

First a moment for the fallen:

Unfortunately most of my CM shots are on another camera so there will be some delay but here are a few glimpses of the ride:

The rest will follow later in the week.
Here's a novel method of carying the pesky U-lock:

A ride home

2005-06-17T21:55:00.000-05:00

Cycling is wonderful...

2005-06-15T10:21:00.000-05:00

I was passing through Queens Park last night (try that in a car...wait...don't) and I heard some unusually rhythmic noise from my left. A slight detour brought the sight of fire dancing and the sound of an energetic drum circle. The beat stopped moments before 11PM and as conversation took over I learned that they were the remains of the Tuesday drum session that was evicted from Trinity-Bellwoods recently. They are touring the city, landing in a new spot each Tuesday, in search of a welcoming home. My understanding is that they will be found on a certain beach next week. A beach with a sweet name...and a bike path...

I was unable to photograph the fire-dancers but here's an image in the spirit /\

Sunday in Dundas Square

2005-06-13T19:43:00.000-05:00

Imagine that - 30 miles to the gallon...will wonders never cease?

I've never seen a paint job as interesting as this...

The Tour never ends

2005-06-10T07:33:00.000-05:00

I'll see what else I can find on the weekend:

More Tour pour vous

2005-06-09T09:05:00.000-05:00

Blurry glimpses of a great time:

Tour de l'Ile Montreal

2005-06-08T19:29:00.000-05:00

Some images from the ride: (actually Tour la Nuit)

more later