Cyclist Profile – Clay the music teacher

Cyclist profiles are a regular feature on I Bike TO.

Name / Occupation / Age
Clay Puddester, music teacher, 35

What do you use your bike for?
Well, I use it for pretty much everything. But, I guess the main reason for this profile is that I teach music lessons and go from home to home on my bike, in the beaches.

How often do you ride?
I ride pretty much every day of the year.

How long have you been commuting by bicycle and what made you decide to do it?
Well, I came to Toronto in 2003 to do my Masters at U of T. I was already doing triathlons at that time, so it just made sense that I would commute by bicycle. I was riding all the time anyway.

Can you give a brief description of your route?
I teach lessons basically between Coxwell and Victoria Park, so I try to concentrate the lessons for each day in a particular area, but, basically all of the Beaches. The terrain in the Beaches is very hilly — more than downtown — so it makes the riding more difficult in the winter.

What’s the best thing about commuting by bicycle?
For me I think at times it is faster than car, and TTC obviously. Because a lot of the lessons I teach are around rush hour, I am able to avoid traffic. Also, it is nice ot have a little break between lessons —that is, a mental and physical break.

Any advice for new riders?
Don’t wear your iPod while you’re biking. I think one thing that really bothers me — my pet peeve, if you will — is other cyclists endangering cyclists. I mean, it is bad enough to have to deal with cars, so other cyclists driving recklessly is just not good. There are lots of examples I could give, but they are all long involved stories.

What would you say to convince someone who is considering commuting by bicycle to get on board their bike?
I would say, that the thing I like most about it, is it’s just so fast and convenient. Also, you know if you are taking the TTC you have to get to the station and then wait, and pay. If you are driving you have to pay for parking and gas and all the expenses with the car. Biking — especially in the summer — is just really nice!

What do you like about biking in Toronto?
I come from Newfoundland so cycling there is completely different than here — obviously the roads are more congested here than St. John’s.

In general, Toronto drivers are aware of cyclists and cyclists rights. In St. John’s there are almost no commuter cyclists, but on the other hand there are far more roads that don’t have traffic on them.

And dislike?
Having to deal with people endangering my life.

Where is/are your favourite place(s) to bike in Toronto?
I actually really enjoy riding in the Beaches. The traffic gets bad around Kingston Road and Queen Street, but out here people are generally more relaxed when they are driving. I think it is because it is a much more residential area. You know, just people coming home from work, picking up their kids and things like that — doing fewer business-related errands.

Least favourite road to bike on?
That’s easy: Kingston Road between Victoria Park and Warden. It is just full of pot holes and the pavement is just totally crumbling. It might as well be on a dirt road.

Scary bike stories?
My scary bike stories usually involve someone in the left hand lane crossing over to the right lane and not checking their blind spot and not seeing me. That happens quite a bit.

How could the City help you enjoy riding more?
I think, in general, the roads should be wider.

How did you start biking?
I’ve been biking my whole life. I started really seriously back in 2002 when I started doing triathlon.

What sort of bike do you ride?
I have four bikes. My main commuter is an old Bianci from the 80s. I have two Giants; one is mountan and one racing. And my fourth is a Trek Y-foil — it’s a fancy bike.

Helmet or no helmet?
Recently converted from never wearing a helmet to always. I just realized the odds were against me because I ride so much. I’ve never been in accident, but I think the helmet could mean the difference between getting up and saying “ouch that hurt” and continuing on or going to the hospital.

Bikelane or no bikelane?
A bit torn about that one. I think it is because I do enjoy a good bike lane to ride in, but I’m afraid of what kind of message they send to automobile drivers. If you are driving along in a bike lane and a car is next to you it is almost like that is theirs and this is yours, so when the bike lane ends the driver of the car could perceive that that is still their lane — your lane ended so too bad for you.

Just in general, all the roads should just be wider and it should be understood that a portion of the road is for cyclists.

Crossposted to I Bike TO.