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Thursday 20 February 2014

Ahh, winter, what a PITA.

I started keeping statistics on my cycling a few years ago, just for the hell of it.

Last winter I averaged 4 days a week on the road. My standard winter riding rule is [dry roads= riding weather]. Last winter we had cold days, but much less snow, so the riding conditions were good enough for me most of the season. I've been on the road in fairly cold conditions (-24 with the wind chill is the coldest I remember), but as long as I'm properly bundled up and I don't have skin exposed to the wind I find that the heat I generate while riding keeps me perfectly comfortable (scroll down for more tips on winter riding from a previous post).

This winter has been a cycling disaster, tons of snow, even rain and sleet, wet, icy, snowy and crappy roads for long stretches. My riding is down to about 1 day a week on average, and some weeks not at all. I have an hour long commute, I'm not pushing through deep snow for that.

I am riding on the dry days though, and I have to say it has proven to still be a challenge as there is so much "crap" built up at the side of the road (snow, salt, dirt, all mixed into a chitinous "stuff" that is hard to ride through) that you are essentially forced to be a vehicular cyclist (e.g. riding with, rather than beside, the cars) to get anywhere. Motorists don't like this, particularly in winter when the conditions are already dodgy.

And the bike is a filthy mess, covered with salt and dirt, I have to clean and oil the chain regularly or it grinds my gears. Every time I take the bike out in these conditions I wonder if I'm doing long term damage to my ride.

So yeah, winter, PITA.

Instead of complaining any more, I thought I would post some pictures from sunnier months, just as inspiration. Please keep in mind that most of these photos were taken from a camera phone WHILE RIDING, LOL. So they are not top quality. Still, they give a decent picture of the two primary river trails (the Humber and the Don), particularly in the summer and the fall when I took a lot of pictures.

Enjoy!


Waterfront around Keele



Don River Trail under the Danforth Bridge





The Don River Trail, just before Sunnybrook Park



Don River Trail, looking South near Danforth Bridge

  

Don River Trail, looking South, near the Brickworks


Don River Trail, bridge crossing looking North near Riverdale Farms


Waterfront Trail, near Southern end of Humber



Pedestrian Bridge, Lake Shore West Trail



Humber Marshes, South End of Humber River Trail



"Entry" to South End of Humber River Trail


Public Pavillion, South End of Humber River Trail



Don Trail, looking East to the DVP



Don Trail, looking South 



Don Trail, looking North, just past Danforth Bridge



 Don River Trail, near Bayview Extension




 Don River Trail, looking North



Don River Trail, North past York Mills



 Riverdale Park, East Side




Don River Trail, looking South



Don River Trail, Bridge near Eastern Avenue


 Don River Trail, Near Flemingdon Park


 Don River Trail, near Flemingdon Park


Don River Trail, Near Millwood



 High Park, East End



High Park, East End



Don River Trail, Near Wilket Creek Park, just after a heavy summer rain


Don River Trail, Near Wilket Creek Park, just after a heavy summer rain 



Don River Trail, Near Wilket Creek Park



Don River Trail, Near Wilket Creek Park





Don River Trail, looking South near Riverdale Farms


Don River Trail, Bridge near Riverdale Park, right after a summer storm.


Bridge crossing Don River Trail at Riverdale Farms, looking South on DVP


 Humber River Trail, near Baby Point



York University Campus, near Rexall Centre



York University Campus, near Rexall Centre



Black Creek Parkland Trail, just South of York University


Humber River Trail, North of Eglinton




 Humber River Trail, North of Eglinton


Humber River Trail, North of Eglinton 




Pedestrian Bridge, Junction


Crossing Under the highway on the Upper Humber Trail



 Stairs, Don River Trail, just South of Sunnybrook Park




Don River Trail, near York Mills


Behind my map case and compass, Don River Trail, looking South near Brickworks




Humber River Trail, just North of Eglinton



Downsview Dells Park, looking East


Downsview Dells Park, looking East


Upper Humber River Trail


Upper Humber River Trail


 Upper Humber River Trail



Upper Humber River Trail 



Upper Humber River Trail 


Upper Humber River Trail



 Upper Humber River Trail




Upper Humber River Trail 



Upper Humber River Trail 


Lower Humber River Trail


Lower Humber River Trail, just past Baby Point



Lower Humber River Trail, just past Baby Point


Lower Humber River Trail, just past Baby Point


Lower Humber River Trail, just past Baby Point



Train tracks at Caledonia just South of the 401


2 comments:

  1. I think one of the most wonderful things I discovered when I began biking, was 'secret' Toronto - the big bad congested concrete city was suddenly revealed to have all these wonderfully hidden "secret" places - you head down and suddenly it is like you are miles from civilization ... this winter has been ENDLESS... like you, won't bike with this horrible snow and ice! But DAMN. Was just chatting with a fellow cyclist buddy in work - we were both whinging that we missed our bikes!

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  2. Yes to both. I have also enjoyed finding the "secret Toronto", when I first started cycle commuting I took a lot of detours as I was figuring it out, and I had a preference for bike trails so as to avoid traffic. I got lost a lot, LOL. But that was part of the journey, so it was all good.

    Toronto has a lot of green space, and a lot of trails, the upper Humber trail was almost always empty when I was on it, such a shame. It is quite beautiful (hopefully the pics convey a bit of that) and wholly unappreciated.

    We don't know how good we have it.

    The expansion of the East/West trail along the power corridor in the North of the city promises to connect up the two major river trails at some point (the trail ends at Finch station if I remember correctly), I would love to see it finished.

    And yeah, winter sucks big time. I rode to work this week in -20 weather, I have never been so bundled up in all my life, full scarf on face, wind blowing like crazy, gloves inside of mitts, layers upon layers. Glasses fogged up a lot too.

    It was awesome, LOL. There is something about pushing yourself that really makes it worthwhile.

    Having said that, enough with the cold and the snow!

    Thanks for the comment Selkie.

    Cheers,

    Ian

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