Back in the fall we asked Spacing Toronto readers if they planned to ride their bike throughout the winter. Much to our surprise, 37% said they would. We were so impressed by that number that we encouraged Spacing’s cycling correspondent Tammy Thorne to do winter cyclist profiles.
As the weather finally begins to look like spring, we’re asking our readers — those of you who didn’t ride through the winter — whether you’re back on the horse, so to speak. Have you started riding your bike yet?
photo by Bouke Salverda
25 comments
Just started today, as a matter of fact. With new tires and inner tubes!
Hoping to take my commuter out for a spin today. Plus my road bike just got back from the shop, so that ride will be out shortly too!
do motorbikes count? mine comes out this saturday, i’m getting jealous of the people on vespa’s already out and about.
Couldn’t we have an option for never stopped riding?
I’m curious to see how many people stuck to their resolution.
Great photo Bouke!!
Anon: Motorbikes certainly don’t count. You can’t be serious.
John: I would say that 1/10th or so of the people answering yes rode through the winter.
i’ve been out for about a week now.
this is my first season as a cyclist and i am loving it already.
Never stopped, minus a week or two in February when it never freaking stopped snowing. My bike is a rusted mess right now. I’m going to have to take it for some spring lovin’ to get all the nasty remnants of winter cleaned off.
Hopefully the ice will gone from the bike bath beside Lake Shore soon.
April 1st! I didn’t want to spend another dime on the TTC, and figured that this was as good a time as any to bust out my trusty Miles (surely Im not the only one who’s named their bike?). So far so good! Although last night was a bit blustery … I kept getting blown into traffic on King Street!
Nope. I still don’t trust that it won’t be buried under a foot of snow in a week. 😉
watch out for more Big wheel-hurting potholes – there’s been a lot of freeze-thaw damage this winter. Defensive cycling means being out from the curb a bit, riding in a consistent line, with lights. One will still get passed too closely – try to establish a liability with the City ahead of any crash.
i started riding again two weeks ago. it was promptly stolen. i bought the bike last april for my birthday. it was my first bike in 15 years.
I meant to ride all winter, but this winter was mean! Also, our city sucks… for snow clearing among many other things.
Screwed up my nerve, donned a figure of eight brace and jumped on a trainer in mid February. Considering the discomfort level walking with a non union clavicle cycling on real roads is out of the question.
I wouldn’t want to be the person who hit me once I find them.
yesss (finally)….!! its been a week and i couldn’t be happier!
thanks matt 🙂
watch out for those potholes everyone! take the lane!
stolen? What sort of lock was on it?
see entry with “cycling on real roads is out of the question” for the drawbacks to the advice on “take the lane” – though it often works.
Sorry about the bike theft though – was it reported to the cops? with serial number? I did get one nice bike back from reporting it stolen,after finding its serial number…
There are so many more cyclists on the road these mornings that I’ve had to start leaving 15 minutes earlier each morning just so I can still get where I need to on time.
I liked the clear (somewhat) path each morning during my commute through the winter, but I’ve got to say it’s good to have some company again.
Strength in numbers! Or, at least, I don’t stick out as much with the helmet marks on my forehead!
I have been riding for about a week now (Mostly due to the location of my bike being snowed and iced in) I ride north of st clair to finch so I see only 1 or 2 riders on bayview which is potholes all the way.
As a bonus a I think a plow made these strange grooves in the road which are a nice touch.
Been told to “get off the road’ twice out of 5 commutes.
Otherwise good times 🙂 Much more interesting than the ttc.
Never stopped riding all winter. I ride a Veloteq electric bicycle. It is big enough to give me confidence in taking the lane.
i like the advice to establish a consistent line – this is especially important, i find, when i ‘take the lane’ under an overpass (beside a concrete wall) – but, i don’t know what it means to ‘establish a liability with the city before any crash’?
Well you buggered this one up guys (very unusual i admit!); your wording forced me, for example, who rides through the winter (why not) to vote ‘no’, as i have NOT started riding my bike this spring, which skews the results, as you don’t know what you are getting!
Try, try again……………..
Just started on Friday only to find (or NOT find) my trusty pump. Started officially, fully pumped, today. But I do want to have a bike check up before I do any daily commutes.
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