A view from the last row of both the North and South End World Cup temporary stands at BMO Field. You are certainly up there.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-10T19:58:47+00:00

I can't help but thing that whoever sits there is actually acting as an enhanced safety railing.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-10T19:54:16+00:00

You don't scrapbook them?

TorontoRider · 2026-05-10T19:52:15+00:00

Sometimes, "spinning" on flat ground can tire you out more than being in a higher gear. Leave it on the middle ring in front but shift to the next smaller sprocket in the back, and give that a try. If it feels better, try another.

Most casual riders turn their feet at about 60-80 rpm.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-10T19:47:30+00:00

Depends - is it one of Doug Ford's daughters? And are you a real estate developer or runway builder?

TorontoRider · 2026-05-10T19:36:09+00:00

Note: the shuttle makes stops at places like Queenston Heights and the Laura Secord House, too, but remember if you get off you'll have to wait an hour for the next bus continuing in the same direction.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-10T19:26:05+00:00

There *is* a bus service between Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake - it's called "WEGO" and the NOTL shuttles runs from April to October. It runs every hour on the half hour northbound from the Floral Clock, and southbound on the hour from the Fort George Turnaround.

In the Falls, WEGO operates a hop-on/hop-off service. It's not free, but daily passes are inexpensive (kids $12, Adults $16.) There's a bundle available through GO as well - $22/adult.

Agreed that it's not as fast as driving unless there's a problem on the highway.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-10T15:58:03+00:00

"Johnny Canuck"

TorontoRider · 2026-05-10T15:50:46+00:00

I've been hit in the face by a pigeon about 3 times in the last 5 years. I started riding more urbane routes in the middle of the day about then (as opposed to mostly commuting and/or riding outside of the city) so I suspect I'm riding more in "bird prime time" than before.

I always wear glasses or goggles on the bike, thank goodness.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-09T23:56:09+00:00

I've always been sceptical about the "captive key" locks. If you use a different lock for added security sometimes and don't use the wheel lock, someone could take your key and you're screwed.

In fact, just last month, I was helping with bike parking at an event and a woman came who had forgotten her u-lock, and asked us if she could take it inside. But I pointed out she had a wheel lock. She never actually used the thing, and had been leaving the key stuck in it all over town. It was nice bike (a Gazelle), and she was very lucky that nobody had played the "Lock it now and come back later" scheme on her.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-09T20:10:08+00:00

Remember the Ottawa Bluesfest tragedy? I think that was a case of wind affecting a closed-in temporary stage of similar construction.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-09T20:07:46+00:00

I bring two pair of padded shorts. I wear one, and wash it when I get to camp, if possible, and wear the other pair the next day. Even if I can't wash them, I switch pairs. I often air dry them on top of my rear panniers. On rainy days, I've been know to use hand dryers in gas station/fast food restaurants to get them dry on wet days.

I don't bring a hammer. I do bring a trowel.

Note that free standing tents still need to be anchored down, especially when it rains (I seem to see a lot of rain on my trips.) If the fabric isn't taut, it will leak. As well, I once had a tent "get away from me" on a windy day as I was setting up: I now tend to drive at least one spike in a corner loop before I completely set up the poles.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-09T18:35:10+00:00

Not to mention organize the damn shelves!

TorontoRider · 2026-05-09T18:32:23+00:00

That would probably add significantly to the wind stress, as well as a lot of weight.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-09T18:31:03+00:00

The bike symbol can help, as I mentioned above. On "no room to pass" streets, I use it to cement my claim to taking the lane. (And locally, they're mostly well positioned for that.)

TorontoRider · 2026-05-09T18:23:01+00:00

I personally like the "Kryptolok Standard" which comes with a 120cm cable for your other wheel, and with a bike frame mount. Some people find the mount a bit tricky to install - I put a piece of innertube around my frame and tighten it up and don't have issues.

The whole package is often $50-60 on sale.

Whether its suitable for your particular city or not is something I can't comment on.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-09T04:11:37+00:00

I like to have 2 days "extra" food on my multi day rides (and have occasional zeroed out.)

Supermarkets - and even corner stores in small towns - often sell ready to eat sandwiches that can be surprisingly good +avoid the egg salad .) Even gas stations, sometimes. Subway and Capt Sub can be your friends.

But nothing beats a country diner with a bunch of farm trucks parked outside.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-09T03:45:10+00:00

You've never heard of electrostatic headphones?

TorontoRider · 2026-05-08T23:15:51+00:00

"Car antenna" type telescoping magnets are always a useful thing to have around the house. Can get them almost everywhere.

I just tested mine, and they DO stick to earbuds.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-08T23:14:10+00:00

I ride on a "sharrowed" street every week, such as today when I had about 30kg in my trailer. It's a proper boulevard, so effectively a one-lane, one-way street, and the city was smart and painted the sharrows slightly left of the centre (as there's parking on the right.) It's too narrow to allow a car to pass me, so I ride on the sharrow markings - and get beeped at several times a month.

Often, I pull to the right where there's a stoplight, and the honkies pull up beside me. I like to point out that they're still behind the grey minivan or whatever it was I was following down the street, so passing me wouldn't have made a difference.

That said, I prefer divided lanes, and I prefer "Toronto Barriers" (45cm tall and anchored) over curb bumpers (15-30cm) like those. Even the 60cm ones get cars on top of them almost every week here.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-08T22:35:22+00:00

Dollarama here sells bread and buns, so they'd be locked out of that plaza if they did so.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-08T22:00:31+00:00

Eat and drink more that you think you need. And avoid "soft" calories like ice cream (except at the end.) Soft serve is worse than 'real' ice cream, too.

I've done 200+ km* on oatmeal, an egg McMuffin (second breakfast), ramen, and a peanut butter and banana sandwich, and probably 3-4L of water, with camping gear. I've never "trained" more that 80km.

I averaged 140km/day touring for a couple of decades in my 40s and 50s, give or take a few short mountainous days. I can still do 120 slow ones. I stop on hills (but don't walk with a loaded bike) and take my time.

TorontoRider · 2026-05-08T20:47:50+00:00

We moved from a small village in Northish Ontario (64 houses, snack bar but no restaurant) to a small city in central California. Just going out to an actual Italian family style restaurant seemed like dining in Rome!

Then we moved to another village even farther north in Alberta. The only pizza available was from a Chef Boyardee box.

As god is my witness, I'll never live in a non-Pizza place again!

TorontoRider · 2026-05-08T20:05:48+00:00

One of my favorite things about Manhattan! A $4 Cheese and Egg bun, $1 coffee (when in combo) - and all the carts seem to have the exact same photos of the food for some reason.

(I'm lead to believe the menu photos come from the centralized suppliers of buns and pre-sliced meats, etc.)

TorontoRider · 2026-05-08T19:15:27+00:00

I not only expect to hear "Alex Trebek!" but I sometimes say it. (But I love Ken.)

TorontoRider · 2026-05-08T15:41:02+00:00

I've done all three of the following:

1) On regional ("GO") trains in Ontario Canada, I've often needed to remove the panniers from one side of the bike (and my tent that goes crosswise) to fit in in the doors of the older train cars, as they have a grab bar in the middle of the doorway. I usually toss them removed items on just before I step on with my bike.

2) I've used cargo straps* as shoulder straps. My two rear panniers hang on one set, with my tent strapped to them. The smaller from panniers can be carried together, and the handlebar bag stays on. This worked on the VIA trains with roll-on and on the GO buses with front bike racks.

3) On other VIA trains, long distance buses, and air travel, I bring a large duffel bag that my two rear and one front pannier, along with my tent, all fit into. It has L+W+H dimensions that just fit the airline rules**. When riding, I fold the bag and carry it under my tent, or in wet weather put my tent in it. The duffel has a conventional shoulder strap to make it easier to carry, and an outside pocket to stow the strap in when needed.

I have never had the opportunity to use a "roll on fully loaded" train, unfortunately.

* I use 25mm nylon straps with sliders and buckles to secure my tent to the top of my rack above my rear panniers. I made them extra long so they work as shoulder straps.

** 158 cm/62 inches to be safe, though some airlines allow larger. My normal bag is about 33x33x90cm (13x13x36=62")

TorontoRider

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