• Home
  • travel
  • bike
  • eco
  • music
  • film
  • theatre
  • decor
  • GO ON, INDULGE YOUR CURIOSITY AND LEARN ABOUT ME!

loving the ride

~ exploring the world (with a little vélo love)

loving the ride

Category Archives: bike

use your knog(gin): ride with a bright bike light

03 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by lovingtheride in bike, gear, outdoors

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

b-icicle challenge, bike gear, bike safety, knog, knog bike light, mec, mec bike light, winter riding

It’s true! I can’t help prettifying my boyish ol’ hybrid. I even spoil her with baskets of strawberries picked fresh from the farm (!), but sometimes I skimp on the necessary accoutrements. It’s been a looong time coming, but I’ve finally committed. I used to cheap out on bike lights, but I got wise and now invest in the good gear. Hence, here are my 2 cents for buying bright lights.

1  mec turtle lights are cheap in cost and quality
Yes, I said it. The MEC Turbo Turtle light kinda sucks. Don’t get me wrong. Over the years, I’ve bought way too many Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) Turtle lights to count, ’cause, hey, they’re seriously cheap for a bike light ($4.75).

And there’s lots I LOVE about the cheap ‘n’ cheerful Turtle light:
• The three-volt lithium batteries are cheap (50 cents each at MEC; two required).
• They’ve two bright LEDs.
• They take up very little prime handlebar space.
• A wee one can conveniently double as a flashlight in a movie theatre. In fact, I keep one or two permanently attached to the zipper pulls on my daypack for those emergency searches in a dark cinema!
• They’re easy to attach and remove in seconds.

PROBLEM: They pretty much get ruined whenever it rains. Real pain, lemme tell ya. I’ve come to find the Turtle light so useless that I don’t bother to take it off my bike when I lock up outside, because I rationalize that no one will steal my ratty old light. Yet someone recently did.

2  Knog Gekko bike light

Now, I decided to invest in the Knog Gekko bike light after my ol’ Turtle lights were stolen (bike theft is rampant in Toronto!). Because if I’m going to pay more, I’d rather buy one quality bike light instead of quantities of cheap lights. I said pay more, not a lot. Instead of buying yet another tiny Turtle light, I splurged $30 on a hefty Knog Gekko front light, and, boy, am I glad I did.

The Knog Gekko has plenty of perks:
• It’s superbright with three LEDs.
• It has three modes (constant, fast flashing, slow flashing).
• It’s visible up to 600 metres.
• It lasts 220 hours (when flashing; 30 hours when constant).
• It uses two AAA batteries, which are included, though I’ve since switched to rechargeable batteries.
• It has a one-piece silicone casing, which is water resistant. Can you say awesome?
• It’s available as a front light (white LEDs) and rear light (red LEDs); both are shown above.

The Gekko is obviously more expensive than MEC’s humble Turtle light, but it’s well worth the expense because that awesome silicone casing protects the light in a downpour. That means no more buying a new light every time I get caught riding in a rainshower. Saving me a trip to the store is worth more than the additional dollars!

And did I mention how pretty the Gekko is in pink? It comes in four fun colours, plus the more staid black, white and translucent. Now, hurry up and grab both the front and rear lights and shed some light on the road ahead.

__________________________________________________________

good design is pretty + practical!
Now that Toronto finally has snow
and subzero temps, I can tackle
my B-icicle challenge well
equipped with girly gear:
my cute ‘n’ colourful Gekko,
my Public Federico bell…all I’m
missing is my Nutcase Dots helmet.
Soon, very soon.

i heart my “tv sucks – ride your bike” bumper sticker

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in bike, gear, travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bike bumper stickers, bike slogans, bike touring, bloomfield, bloomfield bicycle company, bumper sticker, cycling, cycling prince edward county, funny bike slogans, prince edward county, tv sucks ride your bike

This TV Sucks – Ride Your Bike bumper sticker from the Bloomfield Bicycle Co. has been stuck to my bike since I bought the awesome sticky slogan back in 2009, when I cycled through Bloomfield, Ontario, on the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure, an exciting 8-day supported bike tour along Toronto’s Waterfront Trail, from Niagara, Ontario, to Rivière-Beaudette, Quebec.

I’ve never seen another TV Sucks – Ride Your Bike bumper sticker in Toronto, since Bloomfield is a good 4-hour drive away, though I’ve spotted tons of Bikes on Bloor “protest” bumper stickers plastered on everything from bikes to bikes stands to bike helmets.

So was I ever excited to find another TV Sucks – Ride Your Bike sticker when I went to lock up my bike yesterday! Made by the Bloomfield Bicycle Co., a bike shop in the wee village of Bloomfield, in the picturesque Prince Edward County, the sticker is a mere $1 for the 5-inch bike-size version (the 10-inch car size is $2). The County, as locals call it, is an eastern Ontario hot spot for road cycling and leisure riding alike, with low-traffic country roads overflowing with galleries, wineries, cheese shops, a cidery, a brewery and even a lavender farm. Hence, the popular bike slogan.

Whenever I tour Prince Edward County, I make sure to pop into the Bloomfield Bicycle Co. for their terrific lube (if you bring back your used bottles, they’ll refill them at a discount) and to soothe my soul by checking out their TV Sucks gear, such as the stickers and T-shirts and jerseys. Though I don’t really believe that TV sucks, I do think more people should turn off the boob tube (or computer) and get outside year-round, and I proudly display the slogan to all Torontonians when I lock up my bike in the city.

I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for another sighting!

__________________________________________________________

What: Bloomfield Bicycle Co.‘s TV Sucks – Ride Your Bike bumper sticker
Where: Bloomfield, Ontario, Canada
225 Main St., Bloomfield, Ontario, KOK 1GO; 613-393-1060. A picturesque little village in the lovely Prince Edward County, a cycling, foodie, art lover and wine aficionado’s haven.
When: Prince Edward comes alive with cyclists spring to fall. Many cyclists camp at Sandbanks Provincial Park, about a 12 km ride from Bloomfield.
Cost: Bike version $1 (5 inches); car version $2 (10 inches).
Why: Featuring a catchy slogan for cyclists, the sticker is a popular purchase! 

__________________________________________________________

Oh! Wouldn’t this helmet be perfect for Ms. Minnie Mouse?

Looking for other stylin’ bike gear? Check out…
Simi Mini Dots Nutcase Bike Helmet Fit for
Minnie Mouse

Girly Gear to Light Up Your Ride

Use Your Knog(gin): Ride with a Bright Bike Light
‘Cause I Love My Brain, I want a Nutcase Helmet
Ring My Bell: Ciao Bello to My Public Bike Bell, Federico! 

best purchase ever no. 2

15 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in bike, fashion, gear, travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bike tour, black friday, camino, camping gear, icebreaker, lake huron, merino wool, smartwool, travel clothes

Last month I wrote about my favourite travel shirt. Now let me introduce you to my favourite lightweight travel shirt: the Icebreaker Meridian, shown here in Jungle, a lovely mossy green. (Let me confess that I also own this top in Mystic, a bold shade of cobalt I adore, and Fiesta, a true bright pink. I just bought the latter on a Black Friday online shopping spree. Yay!)

My new go-to shirt – year round – is Icebreaker's Meridian Superfine 150.

I originally wanted to buy this T-shirt for a family camping trip to Algonquin in early July, but couldn’t commit to the hefty $70 price tag. I could justify spending 60 euros on my beloved SmartWool tee because it was versatile – a heavier weight with long sleeves and a zipper – and, heck, I bought it in Spain when desperate for an extra layer of warmth at night in the uninsulated pilgrims’ hostels on the Camino. But $70 for a short-sleeve shirt seemed ridiculous. Yet still newly in love with merino wool and all its benefits, I scored the Meridian for a midsummer cycling trip along Ontario’s Lake Huron. Again, in case you missed the head: Best. Purchase. Ever. No. 2.

The Meridian is surprisingly perfect for summer’s humidity, as merino wool is breathable and has natural wicking properties. Though lightweight (Superfine 150), it’s also quite warm in cool conditions, ideal for chilly summer nights. Believe me, I wore it under my SmartWool every night, and it kept me warm as a base layer. And being merino, it didn’t smell from continuous use, and it dried in an hour when I did wash it. With a feminine cut, deep V neck and short raglan sleeves, the Meridian is flattering on a petite gal with curves, as the hem sits just under the hip bones and is slightly longer in back.

One caveat: The fit of my first Meridian T-shirt is better than my more recent purchases. Rumour has it that Icebreaker switched manufacturers, so this year’s Meridians fit looser than the 2010 ones. That would explain why my Jungle tee is shorter and more fitted than my Mystic and Fiesta ones, though they’re all supposedly the same size. Keep that in mind if you’re it ordering online. I can’t wait to see what juicy new colours Icebreaker rolls out next year!

And in the meantime, check out my Best Purchase Ever No. 1, a shirt I’ve worn through spring, summer, fall and now winter.

Another advantage of merino is that it packs small. The Way of the Lightweight Backpacker reveals how, thanks to merino, I’ve narrowed down my packing list to 18 things.


live green toronto

11 Sunday Dec 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in bike, eco, food

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bikeshare, bixi, eco friendly, farmers' markets, fresh, gardening, green living, live green, restos, rom, toronto

As much as I adore travelling, I love living in Toronto. And I love living green. That’s why I like Live Green Toronto, a program launched in 2007 as part of the city’s Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan to encourage Torontonians to live green and reduce energy use at home, at work and on the go. The website shares energy- and water-saving resources, rebates and incentives, plus tips to help residents and businesses reduce emissions and green their lives. It’s chock full of gardening info, from maintaining a low-water lawn to backyard composting and container gardening for balconies. There’s even advice on eating local, such as growing your own food, finding farmers’ markets and sourcing restaurants that serve local food. And the On The Go section is has info on cycling, bikes routes and the city’s newest bikeshare program, Bixi Toronto. (One caveat: the site fails to mention Zipcar and AutoShare, which are excellent autoshare programs for urbanites who go carless day to day but need a vehicle for day-long or weekend trips.)

And if you like to shop (who doesn’t?), it pays to get a free Live Green Toronto Membership card. It’s easy to sign up online, and members get discounts and exclusive offers on eco-friendly products and services from 336 (and growing!) local businesses. I reap membership rewards at restos like Fresh, a vegan hotspot with three locations, but you can also get discounts on home and garden items, clothes, health and beauty products, even exhibits at the Royal Ontario Museum! I never leave home without my card. Neither should you!

xoxo
jen

P.S. Recently received an e about a sweet new deal from Evergreen Brick Works: until Dec. 23, Live Green Toronto members get 10% off sustainably harvested, local Christmas trees, gift baskets of local food treats, and clean-air plants. Plus, members get 2-for-1 skate rentals at the Brick Works ice rink, starting Dec. 17!

’cause i love my brain, i want a nutcase helmet

09 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in bike, fashion, gear

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

b-icicle challenge, bern bike helmet, bike gear, bike safety, girlie bike helmet, girly bike helmet, i love my brain, ladies bike helmet, nutcase dots helmet, nutcase get2 dots helmet, winter bike gear, winter bike helmet, winter riding

i want my head in a nutcase helmet

This Nutcase helmet in particular: the Gen2 Dots. It has pretty polkadots, and the adjustable spin dial in the back makes for a comfy fit. Plus, there’s the anti-pinch magnetic buckle, which is easy to open or close with one hand – even a warm mittened hand, just perfect for winter riding, lest you forget my B-icicle challenge! And did I mention the playful polka-dots? They make the helmet way visible during the day, and night-time drivers should spot (get it?) the reflective logos on the front, back and sides. The colourful array of other Nutcase designs caught my eye when I was buying my dear bell Federico at Cycle Couture, but Dots is The One, and I hope they get it in stock soon.

but i also like me a bern berkley zipmold helmet

Now, because I’m a slave to fashion (not really) and hate riding with a chilly neck and ears (really), I’ve also had my eye on the striking Bern Berkley Zipmold foam helmet in Matte Cyan, with an optional cold-weather knit you can snap into it for winter warmth. I’m getting toasty just thinking about it! Annnd turquoise is my favourite colour. Really, it is! It’s cheerful and looks great against a glowing tan in summer…and pops against the white stuff in winter. I want the Bern Berkley. It’s mine.

__________________________________________________________

Looking for other stylin’ bike gear? Check out…
Girly Gear to Light Up Your Ride
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
I Heart My TV Sucks Ride Your Bike Bumper Sticker

b-icicle: bring it on!

07 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in bike

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

b-icicle challenge, beijing, bike share, bike touring, bixi, cycling, duathlon, the distillery, winter riding

I’m always up for a challenge, especially when it’s on my bike. Bike touring? Yup. Duathlon racing? You betcha. Winter riding? Of course! That’s why I’m ringing my beautiful bell in support of the B-icicle challenge. Emily D’Ath and Monica Tan, two Americans living in Beijing, have challenged cyclists around the world to continue riding through winter. They’ve even set up a blog and a Facebook page so you can follow their winter-riding adventures and post your own stories, tips and photos to share with all-season cyclists worldwide.

I love riding too much to put my commuter in storage just because the temperature drops. Sure, there’s the odd time when it’s too icy to be safe, but that’s when Bixi comes to the rescue (I’m lucky to live near a docking station, and Bixi Toronto recently relocated some stations outside the original zone, which will make reaching Little Italy and The Distillery much easier by bike share). And true, there are times when I’ll use public transportation to travel to the suburbs to visit Mom. But for the most part, I’ll be leaving my apartment on bike this winter because riding is a part of me – it feels unnatural to not be clipped in. Even in the middle of a snowstorm!

goodmorning, sunshine

17 Thursday Nov 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in bike, photography, travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bike touring, camping gear, Chi-Cheemaun, manitoulin island, south bay mouth, sunrise, tobermory

When I biked along Lake Huron this summer, I spent a few days cycling the beautiful Manitoulin Island. Stalled by a flat, I didn’t get very far into the island once I’d pedalled off the MS Chi-Cheemaun at South Baymouth (disembarking the ferry, BTW, is seriously cool – I felt like I was being shot out of a rocket). Luckily, I was able to walk my loaded bike to the nearby quaint South Bay Resort, a tent and RV campground with cabins. Many of the sites overlook the picturesque shore of South Bay, and I was fortunate to get one.

As I stare out my windows into the darkness of November, I remember the stunning sunrise I woke up to my first morning on the island. I admit, at times I got at tad lonely bike touring solo for a few weeks, but vistas like the one on Manitoulin made the solitude of the trip worthwhile. Take a peak at the gorgeousness I awoke to, before the rains that drove me back to Tobermory hit.


(Props to the campground’s staff, who helped me fix two flats in as many days.)

ring my bell: ciao bello to my public bike bell, federico!

15 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in bike, gear

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

bike bell, bike gear, cycling, federico bell, florence, italy, loud bike bell, public bike, public federico, style

Say hello to Federico! He’s my handsome glossy red brass bell ($20) from San Francisco’s Public Bikes. I spotted my dear Federico at Cycle Couture, a chic new bike shop in Toronto and had to buy him, even though I already have two extra bike bells. Federico is my ideal cycling companion: he’s sexy, he’s stylish, and, better yet, he’s loud.   Meaning, he’s all about safe city riding. That’s what I look for in good gear.

Here’s what Public Bikes says about Federico:

You definitely need a bell for city riding, unless you like to yell or whistle a lot. However, a good bike bell can be hard to find. So when our Italian pal Federico tracked down the manufacturer of this fine brass bell, we named it after him. You’ll appreciate (as well as passersby) the loud but elegantly civil tone, as opposed to the abrasive or tinny tone of most bells. ‘Federico’ is available only at Public, unless you choose to visit him in Florence.

A good-looking Italian…and funny too! Ah, Federico, how I adore you.

__________________________________________________________

This Minnie Mouse-inspired bike helmet is sooo me!

Looking for other stylin’ bike gear? Check out…
Girly Gear to Light Up Your Ride
Simi Mini Dots Nutcase Bike Helmet Fit for
Minnie Mouse

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 

Newer posts →

jennifer krissilas

A girl, her bike, a wee bit o' wanderlust...a lust for life in general. And all things pretty. We can't forget the pretty.

View Jennifer  Krissilas's profile on LinkedIn

Recent Posts

  • happy new year to all, and to all a good (and safe) night!
  • christmas carollers bring festive cheer to toronto
  • remembrance day: lest we forget
  • TIFF in the park brings classic screwball comedies to toronto all summer long
  • toronto port authority’s sail-in cinema returns, august 16-18, 2012

Archives

  • December 2012 (2)
  • November 2012 (1)
  • August 2012 (1)
  • July 2012 (3)
  • June 2012 (7)
  • May 2012 (5)
  • April 2012 (2)
  • March 2012 (8)
  • February 2012 (11)
  • January 2012 (14)
  • December 2011 (18)
  • November 2011 (16)

Categories

Enter your email address to follow lovingtheride.com and receive notifications of new posts by email.

email me

jen (at) lovingtheride (dot) com

follow me on twitter

  • Hi @SUANDBU! When is the Bathurst outpost slated to open? I need to know ASAP for a magazine story. Thanks! 5 years ago
  • Hi @DrSheilaSahni! A reminder that if you're able to reply to the Word doc ASAP today (before noon your time), that's best. Thanks! 5 years ago
  • Hi @DrSheilaSahni! Just checking whether you'll be able to respond to that fact-check email by EOD today. Thanks! 5 years ago
  • Hi @DrSheilaSahni! A heads-up that I e'd a fact-check query re: a reprint of this AARP article: bit.ly/2jApnGw 5 years ago
  • Hey @LCPR_! I cannot check email & just want to confirm what you'd told me about Bestival 2017. Can you call or DM me? Thx! 6 years ago
  • Hi @SmytheJackets! Re: the Q&A I just fact-checked w Christie & Andrea thru PR, who's who in this pic? bit.ly/2gJcn1p Thx! 6 years ago
Follow @jenkrissilas
View Jennifer  Krissilas's profile on LinkedIn
January 2023
S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Dec    

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

about

Oh, the outdoor adventuress. Exploring the world (with a little vélo love). Disguised as a freelance editor. Just a girl, her bike, a wee bit o' wanderlust...a lust for life in general. And all things pretty. We can't forget the pretty. Or the sweets. xoxo jen

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

email me

jen (at) lovingtheride (dot) com
View Jennifer  Krissilas's profile on LinkedIn
© 2011/2012 loving the ride. No part of this blog or its content may be reproduced without prior written permission.

Recent Posts

  • happy new year to all, and to all a good (and safe) night!
  • christmas carollers bring festive cheer to toronto
  • remembrance day: lest we forget
  • TIFF in the park brings classic screwball comedies to toronto all summer long
  • toronto port authority’s sail-in cinema returns, august 16-18, 2012
  • comfy, custom-fit wolverine ics hiking shoes
  • alexi murdoch turns up the heat in toronto
  • it wouldn’t be canada if we didn’t have to stop for geese crossing the road
  • and this is why i dislike the MMVAs
  • toronto’s open roof film festival heralds the start of summer
  • world naked bike ride day: toronto cyclists bare all for the environment
  • luminato celebrates creativity in toronto and the world
  • i heart: “this bike is my car” bike bell
  • black out and speak out on july 4, 2012
  • camino albergues: where to stay between ponferrada and triacastela

Categories

  • architecture
  • art
  • baking
  • bike
  • camino
  • crafts
  • dance
  • decor
  • diy
  • eco
  • events
  • fashion
  • film
  • food
  • gear
  • gear
  • great outdoors
  • inspiration
  • music
  • outdoors
  • photography
  • safety
  • spain
  • sports
  • tech
  • theatre
  • travel
  • Uncategorized
  • words

twitter

  • Hi @SUANDBU! When is the Bathurst outpost slated to open? I need to know ASAP for a magazine story. Thanks! 5 years ago
  • Hi @DrSheilaSahni! A reminder that if you're able to reply to the Word doc ASAP today (before noon your time), that's best. Thanks! 5 years ago
  • Hi @DrSheilaSahni! Just checking whether you'll be able to respond to that fact-check email by EOD today. Thanks! 5 years ago
  • Hi @DrSheilaSahni! A heads-up that I e'd a fact-check query re: a reprint of this AARP article: bit.ly/2jApnGw 5 years ago
Follow @jenkrissilas

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • loving the ride
    • Join 66 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • loving the ride
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...