Category Archives: bike

toronto’s open roof film festival heralds the start of summer

21 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by in bike, film, outdoors, photography

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Open Roof film fest volunteer training 2012

Volunteers gather in the Amsterdam parking lot for a brief training session as the Open Roof Festival prepares to kick-start Summer 2012.

Ahhh, summer in Toronto has arrived! And the heatwave of the past few days has finally subsided. Too bad the thunderstorms that brought tonight’s cooler climes (yes, these days 26°C is cool!) also brought the Open Roof Festival indoors – that is, not so open and def not outdoors.

And we all know how much I love outdoor cinemas: in green spaces (TIFF in the Park), on water (the way cool Sail-In Cinema)…even in a parking lot (read on)!

But thanks to tonight’s looming deluge, Open Roof Festival organizers announced at 6 p.m. this evening that the opening-night outdoor screening ($15 per ticket; see schedule below) would be moved indoors. Conveniently, the building beside the lot houses a 250-person industrial event space, complete with a permanent screen, a wee stage and washrooms…. In. A. Brewery.

Amsterdam's event space

Open Roof screens films rain or shine. If there’s a high chance of showers, the fest moves into the Amsterdam Brewing Company’s event space, which has a permanent screen, washrooms and a 250-person capacity.

The Amsterdam Brewing Company, that is. Kicking off its third season tonight, the awesome outdoor summer-long music and film fest that is Open Roof is basically a weekly Thursday night party in the Amsterdam Brewing Company’s parking lot, which can hold more than 600 people (capacity is one of many reasons to wish for good weather).

But this empty parking lot, a sunken space ringed with grass and covered with gravel, is transformed as night falls and festival goers pour in, under the stars, with the CN Tower and illuminated downtown skyscrapers creating a beautiful backdrop.

Pretty cool, eh?

(The area does, in fact, get quite cool at night, since it’s a couple of blocks from the lake, so sweaters, jackets and the like are a must.)

Cooler still are the Canadian indie bands opening each of the summer-long festival’s 10 films (check out the list of both below). That’s right! Ticket holders enter at 7:30 p.m., just in time to catch the band at 8 p.m. as they perform on the ground right in front of the screen. How music-fest authentic, with bands within arm’s reach!

And what’s a music (and film) fest without cold beer and flavourful food? (I’m thinking about my beloved Hillside and its support of local food vendors varying from vegetarian to ethnic to meat lover to baked goods to organic ice cream!)

Toronto’s first craft brewery, Amsterdam Brewing Company, is the home of the Open Roof Festival.

Given that Open Roof takes place on Amsterdam Brewing Company property, beer from Toronto’s first craft brewery abounds. Be aware that you must purchase drink tickets and can only consume alcohol bought on the microbrewery’s lot. As the brewery store will be open till 11 p.m., beer can be bought at the shop, but it cannot be brought onto the festival grounds, since no outside beverages or food are allowed. Absolutely no glass containers, either.

Pair your drinks (nonalcoholic beverages will be available, too) with the featured local food vendor suited to that movie’s theme. Hungry patrons at this week’s film, Marley, about Jamaican musician Bob Marley, were treated to Jamaican food. Yum!

And what really gets me excited about the fest is that Cycle Toronto (formerly known as the Toronto Cyclists Union) is offering free bike valet parking on site! Majorly handy, since there’s little bike parking at the brewery. Plus, it encourages cycling to the event. Heart.

Now, if you’re spending summer in the city, doesn’t the Open Roof Festival sound like a fun Thursday night out in Toronto? Live music, indie films, beer, food and bikes! I’m so there. Really. I’m a volunteer!

Bad: the Open Roof Festival is beside the Gardiner. Good: the accessible ramp up to the Amsterdam’s washrooms is on the left side of the brewery.

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What: Open Roof Festival, a music and fest celebrating bands and films.
When: Thursdays all summer long (June 21 to Aug. 23, 2012). Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; the band plays at 8 p.m. and the film screens at 9 p.m.
Cost: $15 per film. See TIP below about purchasing tickets. 
Where: The Amsterdam Brewing Company parking lot. It’s a tad out of the way at 21 Bathurst Street, but still accessible by streetcar, bike and foot. The parking lot, BTW, won’t be used as a parking lot, so bike, walk or TTC it. 
Bonus: There’s a free valet bike parking! Thanks, Cycle Toronto!
TIP: Don’t fret if tickets sell out in advance. Organizers limit preshow sales in case the film screens indoors, but they’ll still release tickets the day of.

Films + bands: 
June 21  >  Marley  >  performance by Friendlyness & the Human Rights
June 28  >  Charles Bradley Soul of America  >  performance by Army Girls
July 5  >   Fat Kid Rules The World  >  performance by The Magic
July 12  >  China Heavyweight  >  performance by The Little Black Dress
July 19  >  Herman’s House  >  performance by Stacey Bulmer
July 26  >  Undefeated  >  performance by Run with the Kittens
August 2  >  Hysteria  >  performance by Eucalyptus
August 9  >  Indie Game  >  performance by Parlovr
August 16  >  Moonrise Kingdom  >  performance by Dusted
August 23  >  Beasts of the Southern Wild  >  performance by Bruce Peninsula

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Think the outdoor cinema is the coolest? Read all about these other outdoor film screenings in Toronto:
TIFF’s Outdoor Cinema Takes Over David Pecaut Square 
The Toronto Port Authority’s Cool Sail-in Cinema Makes Waves

world naked bike ride day: toronto cyclists bare all for the environment

18 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by in bike, eco, inspiration

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Bike shorts don’t leave much to the imagination, but this picture is proof that they’re better than nothing!

As part of Saturday’s eighth annual World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR), over 100 Toronto cyclists stripped down and streaked through the city in protest against global oil dependency and the harm automobile pollution poses to cyclists, pedestrians and the environment. And they weren’t alone. The ride took place worldwide, with naked cyclists cruising through 70 cities in 20 countries.

I admit, I didn’t catch this year’s ride live. This photo is from 2010, when I’d just stepped out of a Kensington Market shop and was standing on Spadina, conveniently with my camera in hand. Suddenly, these naked cyclists rode by…and of course I couldn’t resist taking a peek, er, I mean pic.

This year’s 14 km ride started in scenic Coronation Park, by the lake, and did a loop, hitting major downtown landmarks, including city hall and Kensington. Cyclists were invited to gather together at noon to decorate their bikes and their bodies (body painting is a fun way to be a tad demure). At 1 p.m., riders of all shapes and sizes took off on what I imagine was a liberating albeit uncomfortable ride – for both the cyclists and onlookers!

I mean, really, how painful is it to ride a bike in the buff?

Apparently, not so painful that Toronto riders were doing so back in 1912, when this photo was taken of naked cyclists riding along the Don River (the original picture is from Toronto City Archives). As this year’s WNBR Toronto poster indicates, Toronto cyclists have been riding naked for a hundred years! Who knew?

But unlike the gentlemen in the poster, ride participants are asked to wear shoes and a helmet. They’re being models of safe cycling, after all. That, I think, is what’s so amusing about the sight: they’re au naturel but wearing gear!

So I ring my bell in solidarity. This city needs all the good cycling news it can get, what with our mayor, Rob Ford, wanting to remove bike lanes. While I’m fine riding with traffic (heck, I am traffic), I do appreciate bike lanes and would rather not inhale car exhaust while riding.

Info is already available for next year’s WNBR Toronto. If you’re keen on participating or you’re curious about the possibilities, visit the group’s Wiki page for deets on the June 15, 2013, event.

And remember, sunscreen is a must when all you’re wearing is shoes, socks and a helmet. Talk about cheeky!

i heart: “this bike is my car” bike bell

14 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by in bike, eco, gear, gear, safety

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Hands down, this is the coolest bike bell I’ve seen in Toronto! Though I’m still lovin’ my candy apple red Public Federico bike bell and I’ve more bells than I’ve bikes (I kinda collect ’em – bells, that is), I’ve been coveting this This Bike is My Car bell since I spotted it in action last week when I was locking up my bike.

So I had to find out where to get it. A quick search led me to Perpetual Kid, a U.S.-based company that sells fun items that appeal to the kid in all of us. Some products verge on novelty (the cheeky emergency moustaches “sealed for freshness” come to mind) while others are pretty and practical (the oh so cute cupcake bandages tickle my fancy). Their bike bells fall in the latter category, and This Bike is My Car is most def my fave, with its green, pro-cycling slogan.

And as if I needed another reason to pine for it, each cheap ‘n’ cheerful bell ($15.99 US) is hand-painted with eco-friendly paint! I’m thisclose to buying it. It’s hard to resist, I tell ya. I love the message: that a bike is more than a mode of transportation – it’s a way of life.

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For more chic cycling gear, check out…
Ring My Bell: Ciao Bello to My Public Bike Bell, Federico!
Girly Gear to Light Up Your Ride 
Use Your Knog(gin): Ride with a Bright Bike Light 
I Heart My TV Sucks Ride Your Bike Bumper Sticker
‘Cause I Love My Brain, I Want a Nutcase Helmet
Simi Mini Dots Nutcase Helmet Fit for Minnie Mouse

cyclists! sh*t happens when you don’t lock your bike properly

01 Sunday Apr 2012

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Bike theft in Toronto is ridiculously high, as I noted last week when I mentioned the Toronto Star article that stated pedestrians and onlookers fail to notice or report a bike being stolen in plain view in broad daylight.

I also mentioned how important it is to lock your bike to a fixed object, preferably a bike stand, or bad things may happen to your bike. Witness what happened when a terrible Toronto thief tried to steal my bike last week after I locked my bike to a bike stand that was not bolted to the sidewalk.

Attempted bike theft looks like an ugly mess, no? My heart sunk when I approached the scene of the crime after the Hedly concert at the Air Canada Centre, because I knew these four “don’ts,” but I still did:

  • I knew not to lock it in that dark corner between two deserted office towers.
  • I knew the area across Union Station was blocked from traffic and pedestrians by construction, so there was minimal visibility.
  • I’d thought about finding a post-and-ring stand in a more visible spot, but my friend insisted our bikes would be safe (aside: peer pressure sucks!).
  • I knew to lock my bike to the closed part of the stand, but the open end is easier to lock up to, so that’s what I did. Dumb, I know. You don’t need to say it.

So, filled with dread at the thought that someone stole my bike, a lot of “I shouldn’t haves” and “you should have known betters” ran through my head.

Because, believe it or not, that wasn’t the first time I’d locked my lovely hybrid to a movable object. Two summers ago, I locked my bike to a temporary fence at the free Metric concert outside Toronto’s Union Station, steps from this most recent crime scene, and my bike was taken. Yes, I’m that stupid. I did it twice!

You can see in the photo below that my bike survived my first round of cycling stupidity. My beloved Kryptonite New York lock is securely locking it to my friend Katie’s bike, which is locked to the barricade, which is nowhere near where we had locked our bikes!

That’s right! Immediately after the Metric concert, while Katie and I were obliviously sipping coffee at a café down the street, the nice people at Sidan Traffic Control (the company that sets up barricades for street events throughout Toronto) tore down the barricades and took them – with our bikes still attached to them!!! – to a storage facility.

Of course, we knew nothing about that when we realized Front Street would be opened to traffic soon after the concert ended. We were simply panicked that the mysterious event organizers had cut our locks and abandoned our bikes. The horror I felt when I saw Front Street completely clear of barricades – and my bike! – made me want to cry. I mean, I love my bike. She’s my baby – my first bike as a full-grown Cyclist with a capital C.

But all my years as a fact checker paid off. The researcher in me pushed the panic aside and sussed out the situation. We asked someone who was tearing down the stage what had happened to the bikes, and she told us Sidan had put everything in a truck, bikes included.

Skeptical that our bikes were OK, we went across the street to the The Fairmont Royal York hotel and asked the kind concierge to look up the phone number for Sidan, so we could leave them a message on the spot. I also emailed Sidan when I got home. (Fact checking has taught me to harass people till I get the information I need, and I’m rather good at it!)

Sean at Sidan emailed and called early the next day to say our bikes were safely stored in Toronto (rather than at their head office in Bolton, Ontario, a good 50 kilometres north). Fully aware that stupid cyclists like ourselves often lock bikes to their barricades, our Sidan angels had thought, “Oh, it happened again. Load the whole kit and kaboodle into the truck.” Phew! Best. News. Ever.

Heart soaring with relief, I arranged to pick up our bikes that day. Since Sidan closes early, Sean left the bikes – still locked to the barricade – hidden behind some shrubs. And that’s where we found our babies! I took the picture above as a reminder to never, ever lock my bike to a movable object again.

Obviously, I didn’t learn my lesson. But hopefully you did! Read about my 6 tips for locking your bike, and then do as I say, not as I do!

xoxo
jen

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And this is how to lock your bicycle to prevent bike theft!

For more on bike safety, check out…
How to Lock Your Bike to Prevent Bike Theft
Girly Gear to Light Up Your Ride
Use Your Knog(gin): Ride With a Bright Bike Light 
I Heart My TV Sucks Ride Your Bike Bumper Sticker
‘Cause I Love My Brain, I Want a Nutcase Helmet
Simi Mini Dots Nutcase Helmet Fit for Minnie Mouse
Ciao Bello to My New Public Bike Bell, Federico! 

awesome bike-chain bike stand in kensington market

28 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by in bike, gear, photography

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Toronto’s Kensington Market and bikes go hand in hand. Cyclists famously overtake the Market’s one-way streets, casually going in the opposite direction, against traffic. I admit, I’m one of those directionally challenged cyclists who wish cars were banned from the Market.

I champion the idea of moving Kensington beyond Pedestrian Sundays (the last Sunday of the month, from May to October) to making the streets pedestrian-only boulevards every day, even if it meant I couldn’t bike those roads. As it stands, I usually can be found riding south on Augusta, staring down northbound drivers shaking their heads at me.

Yet I’ve never locked my bike to this awesome, artsy bike stand at Augusta and College, in the north end of the Market. Coolest. Bike stand. Ever. Really, the Kensington bike rack tops my beloved City of Toronto post-and-ring bike stands. Not only does it spell out “Kensington,” its namesake neighbourhood, but it also resembles a bike chain!

I mean, a Kensington Market bike-chain bike stand is as cool as a bike-chain grease-mark tattoo. OK, OK, only a bike geek would go gaga over a grease-mark tattoo, but you have to agree that Toronto’s coolest bike stand suits the artsy, crafty, hippy vibe of the hood that has a coffee shop that looks like this when it’s closed:

Kensington Market's Casa Acoreana Cafe, at the corner of Augusta and Baldwin, makes for an artsy backdrop for vintage bikes.

Kensington Market is also a haven for Toronto cyclists because it houses Bikes on Wheels (BOW). The cute boys of BOW are always helpful, whether I’m having problems with my brakes or I need air or those little metal caps that keep the brake cable ends from fraying… It’s no wonder I spontaneously plunked down $53 for the Topeak RaceRocket mini bike pump, when I already had a portable pump and was in the middle of a 120 kilometre ride to Oakville and back. Perhaps I was distracted by the boys, ahem, I mean the boys’ friendliness. Likely I was lured by the high-end but affordable bike gear. I couldn’t help myself. Gear whore, here!

Plus, Kensington is also home to Mike the Bike, a popular source for refurbished bikes, though I’ve never been able to find the storefront on Oxford Street near Spadina Road. Smart guy that Mike presumably is, he posts pics and deets of the bikes on his website, so people like me can find him online!

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Bike theft prevention is serious business.

For more on bike safety, check out…
How to Lock Your Bicycle Securely to Prevent Bike Theft
Girly Gear to Light Up Your Ride
Use Your Knog(gin): Ride With a Bright Bike Light 
I Heart My TV Sucks Ride Your Bike Bumper Sticker
‘Cause I Love My Brain, I Want a Nutcase Helmet
Simi Mini Dots Nutcase Helmet Fit for Minnie Mouse
Ring My Bell: Ciao Bello to My Public Bike Bell, Federico! 

how to lock your bicycle securely to prevent bike theft

25 Sunday Mar 2012

Posted by in bike, outdoors

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Stealing a bike in Toronto is a cinch, even in broad daylight, according to a recent Toronto Star article that proves bike theft in Toronto goes unreported – even unnoticed – in this city of cyclists and apathetic onlookers. Scary thought.

Cycling in Toronto is all about improving infrastructure, of course, but, sadly, it’s also about bike theft prevention. That’s why I try to lock my bike to a fixed object (one of the City of Toronto’s awesome post-and-ring bike stands), using one of the best bike locks on the market (the Kryptonite New York Standard U-lock), so I thought I was adept at outwitting bicycle thieves. I was wrong.

As was revealed to me the other night, bike theft in Toronto truly runs rampant: someone tried to steal my bike last week, after I’d stupidly locked it to a movable bike stand in a poorly lit, little trafficked corner, and the wannabe thief flipped over the stand and my bike (see photo above)! The thief (or thieves?) was likely trying to snake my bike along the stand and off the open end, but I’d locked my bike so tight, it wasn’t budging.

Lesson learned: If you lock your bike properly, it will deter thieves trying to steal it. And so, here are my 6 tips for locking your bike.

1. Buy the best bike lock you can afford.

Locks don’t prevent bike thieves from stealing bikes – locks deter thieves from stealing bikes. Thieves want to grab and go, so they won’t risk being seen by onlookers during the precious minutes it will take to pick a top-notch lock, so invest in the best.

The best is the Kryptonite New York Standard U-lock. I own two!!! Here’s why.

  • Makers of the world’s best bike locks, Kryptonite rates the New York Standard U-lock an 11 out of 12 on its bicycle security scale.
  • The 16 mm steel shackle is a tough nut to crack, even with bolt cutters.
  • The double deadbolt locking mechanism is pretty pickproof.
  • It’s the perfect size to snugly fit around a bike stand and a seat post and rear wheel. The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Mini lock is too small and only fits around a stand and seat post. Depending on your bike, the Kryptonite New York MC lock may be too long, which will create a gap between your bike and the stand, inviting thieves to wedge a lever in the gap to pry the lock apart.
  • The lock is darn heavy and large. That’s what makes it cumbersome to carry, but that’s also what keeps thieves moving on to the next bike – a bike that is secured with a lock that’s much easier to cut through or pick than yours is.

2. Buy a second locking device (yes, you DO need 2 locks!).

Proper bike theft prevention means making your bike as difficult to steal as possible. Which is why I always use 2 locking devices: a Kryptonite looped cable combined with my Kryptonite New York U-lock. (When I’m really paranoid about protecting my bike, I use both of my New York locks!)

Since a thief will always try to steal a bike that can easily be taken in seconds, rather than minutes, the trick to protection is using multiple locks. Don’t be lazy about this. Two locking devices are better than one.

3. Lock your bike to a fixed object.

Better yet, lock your bike to a fixed bike stand. Always. I will scour Toronto’s streets, looking for one of 16,000 post-and-ring stands to lock my bike to, because the stands are securely cemented to the sidewalk and I’m able to lock both the wheels and the frame to the pole. They are much sturdier than a wimpy sign post, which I only use when desperate during quick daytime stops.

Remember: a movable object can be moved, even if your bike is locked to it. See the first photo if you don’t believe me. But you do, so let’s move on, shall we?

4. Lock your bike wheels AND your bike frame to a bike stand.
The keyword here is bike: lock your bike to itself as well as a fixed stand. Double locking your bike means that if a thief steals your bike by breaking the bike stand, the thief will not be able to ride off with your bike if your wheels are locked to your frame. And it’d be mighty suspicious to carry a fully locked bike down the street, no?

Here are 5 steps for securely locking your bike with your U-lock and a looped cable (see photo above while following the instructions below).

  • Place your bike – gears facing out – against a fixed stand.
  • Loop one end of the cable through the front wheel and around the down tube and stand; thread one end of the cable through the other.
  • Don’t leave space for bolt cutters to fit in the gap. If you need to, wrap the cable twice around the seat post, the wheel or both.
  • Fit the U-lock around the bike stand, seat tube and rear wheel. (If you can only fit the U-lock around the bike stand and seat tube, so be it.)
  • Thread one U-lock end through the free cable loop, and lock the lock!

Alternative 1: Loop the cable through the front wheel and down tube twice, securing the U-lock to both looped ends.
Alternative 2: Secure the front wheel with another U-lock or a cable lock instead of a looped cable.

5. Pick a highly visible, well-lit area.
The easiest way to deter someone from stealing your bike? Lock your bike in a highly visible area, as the thief won’t want to be seen stealing. The best spot would be beside a street lamp on a busy sidewalk.

Look for a public place with these 4 must-haves.

  • Lots of pedestrian traffic.
  • Lots of stationary people (people lingering, sitting on a patio or by a window or on a bench – people who might notice your bike and that a stranger is eyeing or handling it).
  • Lots of vehicular traffic.
  • Lots of light, especially at night (streetlights are your friends).

The other night (see the first photo), I locked my bike in a place blocked off by a lot of construction, where there was little vehicular and pedestrian traffic, in a dark corner between two business towers that had closed for the night. And it was a movable stand. All “don’ts”!!! The only “do” I got right was locking my bike properly with 2 locking devices – that’s what saved my bike from being stolen. Nearby, however, were 3 other stands overflowing with bikes, which brings us to Tip 6: There’s safety in numbers. Or at least there should be.

6. Prevent theft by locking your bike with lots of other bikes.
This photo I took of bikes in Lucerne, Switzerland, shows how a bike stand to bike thieves is like a candy store to a kid. However, there actually is safety in numbers when it comes to protecting your bike from theft: if your bike is locked securely, it’s safer with a group of bikes that aren’t locked properly than it is parked by itself.

As I’ve stated all along, bike thieves want to make a quick getaway more than they want to steal an expensive bike. As obvious as that sounds, I used to think it was the other way around.

So remember: if there are tons of bikes in the vicinity, they’ll always try to steal the bike that is the easiest (read: quickest) to grab. Make sure that’s not your bike!

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For more on bike safety, check out…
Girly Gear to Light Up Your Ride
Use Your Knog(gin): Ride With a Bright Bike Light 
I Heart My TV Sucks Ride Your Bike Bumper Sticker
‘Cause I Love My Brain, I Want a Nutcase Helmet
Simi Mini Dots Nutcase Helmet Fit for Minnie Mouse
Ring My Bell: Ciao Bello to My Public Bike Bell, Federico! 

simi mini dots nutcase bike helmet fit for minnie mouse

08 Wednesday Feb 2012

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Nutcase Helmets has done it again, designing yet another girly bike helmet I’m drooling over! Move over, Dots. The Simi Mini Dots (above) is in town, and I like what I see! This new red dotty Nutcase helmet has a definite retro vibe, with white dots on a cherry red background. And I imagine I’d feel like the divine Minnie Mouse when wearing it. Gosh, I’m hearing her voice in my head as I type (“Oh, Micky!”). I’ll just need a matching polka-dot dress à la Ms. Minnie Mouse, plus ladylike white gloves and bow-bedecked sunny yellow heels. I already have the crinoline (it’s true)!

My love for Nutcase helmets is obvious, no? And dots, too! Scope out the Simi Mini Dots’ competition below. I wrote about my two favourite helmets before, and I now can’t decide between the two polkadot Nutcases (Simi Mini Dots, left, and Dots, middle) and the Bern Berkley (right). I wish…I wish I could afford all three helmets. You know, switch it up with the seasons and, um, outfits!


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You can ring my bell!

Looking for other girly bike gear? Check out…
Ring My Bell: Ciao Bello to My New Public Bike Bell, Federico! 
Girly Gear to Light Up Your Ride
Use Your Knog(gin): Ride With a Bright Bike Light 
I Heart My TV Sucks Ride Your Bike Bumper Sticker
‘Cause I Love My Brain, I Want a Nutcase Helmet 

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to bixi, with love

03 Friday Feb 2012

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Shhh! Don’t tell her I’ve been cheating. I (sheepishly) admit I’ve been cheating on my hybrid, Trixie, with my bike share, Bixi. She’s cute, no? It’s all because I’ve been derailed from B-icicling by this darn rotator cuff injury (heed my winter riding dos and don’ts). Trixie has sat immobile since I was thrown from it and landed on my shoulder, and I only just got round to cleaning off the salt from that night (bad Jen! salt is the death of a bike). But, alas, Trixie’s handlebar and front wheel are still askew, and I’m not yet pain-free to ride comfortably – or safely.

So to get to or from physio, I’ve taken to hopping on Bixi now and then. And I do love how she handles in this non-winter: fat tires that can get through snow just fine. I’d shelled out $95 for a membership in October 2010 to support the Toronto bike share program that was short the 1,000 subscribers needed to get funding so the wheels could start rolling in May 2011.

A Bixi devotee, I use it whenever I visit Montreal, where it started, but with two bikes of my own, I only use Bixi Toronto maybe once a month, the odd time I’m out without my bike. But I must say, it’s been superconvenient being able to hop on and off it as needed. I just might keep using Bixi once I’m able to ride Trixie – it’s handy having a bike on demand!

girly gear to light up your ride

20 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by in bike, fashion, gear

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The other day I mentioned embracing my inner bike geek by decking myself out with reflective arm bands when I ride at night, especially important in winter, when drivers don’t expect to be competing with cyclists for road space. Writing about bike safety and night-time visibility has me tempted to splurge on some girlier gear. Much like my coveted Nutcase helmet-to-be, these 6 beauties are the coolest, cutest accessories for night riding. No fluorescent yellow safety vests here!

1 po campo’s reflective bird pins

Po Campo’s Reflective Bird Pins (available through Public) come in eye-catching fluorescent Construction Orange and Day Glow Lime but also Matte Silver. Having spent many years as an editor at a decorating magazine, I follow the tried-and-true rule of displaying multiple items in threes (or odd numbers) for impact. I apply this to my fashion accessories too, especially brooches. Nooo, brooches aren’t granny-ish! Po Campo’s modern ones certainly aren’t. As a trio, these bird pins will surely get you noticed. Superchic, no?

2 cyclestyle’s pageant queen reflective sash

If I’m going to go girly with the bike gear, I might as well go all-out beauty pageant! CycleStyle’s Pageant Queen Reflective Sash lets me do just that. It has polka-dots, and you know how I love polka-dots! The Pageant sash has a detachable bow pin (need I remind you about my need for frills?). Made from 3M Scotchlite reflective fabric, it says “look at me!” in more ways than one!

3 mariona otero’s tiecycle

A funkier, less girly reflective sash is UK designer Mariona Otero‘s reversible, multifunctional Tiecycle bag, shown above in both its day (left) and night (right) modes. Cleverly named, the Tiecycle is a cycling sash made from recycled ties. One side is reflective for night use, while the other side acts as a minipurse, just large enough to stash your phone and keys within reach. The Tiecycle is easy to DIY from two ties (for the front) and a piece of reflective fabric, like 3M Scotchlite (for the back). Mariona posted her how-to (shown below) on readymade.com, but you can also read Mariona’s more basic instructions and view more photos on her site.

4 katie barton’s spotme reflective badges

Katie Barton’s SpotMe reflective badges (from £7.50 per set of 3) are clever and cute – a cluster of these buttons will make a subtle statement by day and a bit of impact at night. I especially love the witty Oh La La version (£10 per set of 3)! If you’re still feeling crafty after you’ve finished making Mariona Otero’s handy Tiecycle (see No. 4, above), use the leftover scraps of reflective fabric to make your own version of Katie’s badges for evenings when you’re biking sans Tiecycle. Go minimal and skip the decorative hand-stitching!

5 knog’s boomer wearable clip-on safety light

I’ve raved about Knog before, and I’m going to rave about Knog now. Knog’s Boomer Wearable clip-on safety bike light (read: red) has one steady and three strobe modes. Annnd it comes in Magenta!

6 monkeylectric’s monkey light

MonkeyLectric‘s Monkey Light lights aren’t so much girly as they are frickin’ cool. I’ve seen the odd one spinning around Toronto during Nuit Blanche, and I can’t stop wanting them for my very own. The Monkey Light is a full-colour (32, in fact, to brighten your life) LED spoke light. It’s customizable, uses two AA batteries and is easy to mount. I want.

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I bought my awesome TV Sucks Ride Your Bike Bumper Sticker in Bloomfield, Ontario. Jealous?

For more girly gear, check out…
I Heart My TV Sucks Ride Your Bike Bumper Sticker
Ring My Bell: Ciao Bello to My Public Bike Bell, Federico!
Simi Mini Dots Nutcase Bike Helmet Fit for
Minnie Mouse
Use Your Knog(gin): Ride With a Bright Bike Light
‘Cause I Love My Brain, I Want a Nutcase Helmet 

the no-excuse winter-riding guide

17 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by in bike, gear, outdoors

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So my B-icicle challenge has hit a snafu. But better the challenge was hit than my being hit, though I was hit, so to speak. This past weekend, I was biking home along a slushy, icy street webbed with streetcar tracks and lined with parked cars. It’s a street I’ve biked regularly at night, but not one I usually take when there’s snow on the ground. Not wanting to get caught in the rightmost streetcar track when passing a stretch of parked cars, I attempted to cross the track so I could ride up the middle of the lane, between the two tracks. But I didn’t cross the track at a 90° angle (I know, I know), and my front wheel suddenly slid straight into the right track and I was immediately thrown from my bike. And as I was lying in the middle of the road – stunned and unable to move due to the sharp pain in my left shoulder, arm and knee – I was seriously hoping that no cars or streetcars were going to motor right into me, and wishing that I’d been wearing my helmet and more reflective gear. Fortunately, there was nary a vehicle (or pedestrian) in sight, save those parked in a lot and on a side street. Two witnesses quickly got out of their cars to ask if I was alright, then came over to help both me and my bike up, and offered me a ride to the hospital or home. Good Samaritans, indeed! So, for my own peace of mind and for you, dear reader, I’m sharing my dos and don’ts for safe winter riding.

DON’T go if there’s snow That applies to ice, too! Your goal is swerve-free cycling. Roads devoid of the slippery stuff make for better traction and stability, so pull into the middle of the lane to avoid curbside snow if you must. Drivers will understand. This also means taking high-traffic roads instead of side streets, as main roads will be cleared first and cleared up to the curb for city buses.

DO steer clear of cracks Did you not read what I wrote above? Beware of the evil trio: streetcar tracks, cracks, potholes. They’re all out to catch your wheel, and your wheel doesn’t want to be caught. Smooth streets make for much smoother sailing, er, cycling. I said smooth, not slick. Avoid ice (see above). And avoid streets lined with streetcar tracks and parked cars (see waaay above).

DO be visible Indeed, fluorescent reflective strips are geeky, but who cares if you’re geeky? You want drivers to see you. Remember: drivers don’t expect to be sharing the road with cyclists in winter. Besides, bike geeks are cute! So put reflective bands on both ankles. Heck, put one on your left wrist so drivers can see when you’re signalling (I wear a battery-operated reflective yellow band that flashes red). And don’t forget your lights – front and back! What’s that? You don’t have lights?! Check out the über-bright Knog Gekko.

DON’T overdress As with runners, cyclists warm up within the first five minutes of activity. The fact that it’s winter doesn’t change that. The key to winter warmth is to wear layers, stay dry and keep your extremities covered. Wear a base layer that wicks sweat away from your skin so you stay dry (avoid cotton and opt for merino wool, bamboo or synthetic). Top that with a thermal layer for warmth. Finish with a breathable jacket (a non-breathable outer layer will trap your sweat and make you cold). SmartWool socks will keep your toes toasty. Icebreaker liner gloves inside actual gloves are great, though I prefer mitts. A scarf is a must, but watch out for foggy glasses! And under my helmet, a synthetic balaclava provides a much-needed shield against the wind but is still breathable, plus it doesn’t impede my vision when I change lanes or turn.

DO maintain your bike This is a no-brainer. Winter road conditions are tricky, so a well-maintained bike is a must. Make sure your brakes are stellar. Wipe your bike down when you get home, as road salt will corrode your bike in no time. Clean your gears and chain every few rides, and don’t forget the wet lube.

DO wear your helmet OK, so this is the real no-brainer. Do you know the postal workers’ creed? “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”? Well, neither snow nor rain nor heat should keep you from wearing your helmet. I admit I haven’t worn my helmet since the temps dropped, but I was lucky that my shoulder – not my head – broke my fall. (Thanks to physio, that shoulder is now recovering from a painful injured nerve.) No excuses. Wear. Your. Helmet.

Psst. Over here. Let me tempt you into buying a new helmet. Like polka-dots? Or a warm liner? I’ve got what you’re looking for right here! Lights, too! And even merino tops, both short-sleeve and long-sleeve ones. Nice, right? Now, don’t forget the girly reflective gear, you fashionista, you!