Western Canada - Winnipeg, where do like to ride?

I have not noticed more cyclists either this week. I have to say Winnipeg in general has a decent sized cycling community. Lots of commuters and roadies.

Well, I'm 0 for 2 so far the week of the commuter challenge. I was sick yesterday and not much better this morning. Hopefully tomorrow though.

Anyone notice the "bike lane" signs in Charleswood?

I might be late as I just came back to Manitoba after 2 months...

Anyone notice the "bike lane" signs in Charleswood?

I might be late as I just came back to Manitoba after 2 months...



Are those the new "Sharrows"?


I've been off the bike 18 days due to a broken Clavicle. :(

Are those the new "Sharrows"?


I've been off the bike 18 days due to a broken Clavicle. :(

Yeah! I just found this CBC news article (yes I'm way out of the loop...welcome back to civilisation): http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/05/28/sharrows.html?ref=rss

They're to be painted on:
-Higgins Avenue.
-Roblin Boulevard.
-Grant Avenue.
-Regent Avenue.
-Plessis Road.
-Dakota Street.
-Dunkirk Drive.

Higgins? Haha. What about Portage, or Pembina? Yeah... Apparently the City of Winnipeg is putting down $100,000 for this. And the paint is starting to wear away already. Right on!

You broke your clavicle? Oh man that's horrible! :eek: Get better soon!

$100,000 for paint and a few signs? Maybe I should quit my job and start selling paint to the City. That seems a little steep. At least I'm getting my money's worth out of the MUP alongside Sterling Lyon.

Yesterday I soloed from St. Norbert to Niverville and back; total was 60.25k (I rode juusstt a little farther so I could make sure the ride cleared 60k). They put down some impressively terrible asphalt for a stretch of it between St. Adolphe and the turn off to Niverville, but the ride was overall pleasurable and motorists were sparse and considerate of me (except for one car). Yay for my first "real" long ride. :)

You broke your clavicle? Oh man that's horrible! :eek: Get better soon!

Yeah, it suxs. Still sore at 4.25 weeks, but tonight I'll cycle. Don't care if it hurts, I miss cycling.

They put down some impressively terrible asphalt for a stretch of it between St. Adolphe and the turn off to Niverville,


Yeah, that's a bad stretch of road. Nice ride otherwise. Sometimes I'll go from St. Norbert down St.Mary's Road all the way to Ste. Agate. Less traffic south of St. Mary's and 311.

I live in St.Norbert too. Maybe I have seen you out before. I sometimes where my México jersey on my road bike.

Woohoo! More from St. Norbert. What side of Pembina are you on? I'm off Grandmont.

I agree with the last poster... If you start where River road meets highway #9 (north of the city, out main street past the perimeter)(theres a gas station at the corner (Dawson's Service)), and go along River Road you will go past Larters Golf course following the river, past Kennedy House (new name for the place, but its got nice English gardens and tea house), past old St Andrews Church, past the original old Skinners restaurant, under the Lockport Bridge, and eventually back up to #9 Highway. Then, if you brave #9 Highway for 1 kilometer north to get around Lower Fort Garry, River Road starts up again and meanders along until you get to Selkirk. All fairly new pavement and smooth. Total Round trip to Selkirk and back to Dawson's is about 35K. Its a very scenic drive with litlle traffic and lots of places to stop.

I used to do this ride when I lived in Winnipeg but I would cross over to East Selkirk and return either by Henderson Hwy or go through Birds Hill Park to Garvin Rd towards Birds Hill town and go down Old 59 or Raleigh or Gateway Rd. to my home in NK.

Yesterday I soloed from St. Norbert to Niverville and back

I can't imagine riding south of St. Adolphe. We drive out to Niverville occasionally, and I wouldn't want to ride on that stretch - single lane, gravel shoulder, poor pavement, lots of heavy trucks. I don't have a problem riding in heavy traffic in Winnipeg, but not when people are passing me at 110 kph. I've thought about riding from where I live (Fort Garry) to St. Adolphe and back, but not farther than that.

Woohoo! More from St. Norbert. What side of Pembina are you on? I'm off Grandmont.


I'm off Le Maire, you ride a Red Cervélo?

I agree with the last poster... If you start where River road meets highway #9 (north of the city, out main street past the perimeter)(theres a gas station at the corner (Dawson's Service)), and go along River Road you will go past Larters Golf course following the river, past Kennedy House (new name for the place, but its got nice English gardens and tea house), past old St Andrews Church, past the original old Skinners restaurant, under the Lockport Bridge, and eventually back up to #9 Highway. Then, if you brave #9 Highway for 1 kilometer north to get around Lower Fort Garry, River Road starts up again and meanders along until you get to Selkirk. All fairly new pavement and smooth. Total Round trip to Selkirk and back to Dawson's is about 35K. Its a very scenic drive with litlle traffic and lots of places to stop.


That is part of the Muddy Waters 100 (http://www.mts.net/~levansm/mwaters/muddy_waters.htm) route.

Just in case any of you are unaware, Wellington Crescent between River and Academy has a huge number of pavement breaks. I broke a rear spoke and popped the tube there this morning. I did my first-ever roadside repair - replaced the tube in 15 minutes. Oddly enough, at least 10-12 cyclists passed by but none bothered to check if I needed any help. I didn't, but it felt odd that no one even asked.

Wellington Crescent between River and Academy has a huge number of pavement breaks.



Yes, that section (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=River+Ave+and+Wellington+Crescent+to+Academy+Road+and+Wellington+Crescent+winnipeg+MB&sll=49.875638,-97.158537&sspn=0.012086,0.026608&ie=UTF8&ll=49.87511,-97.15674&spn=0.012086,0.026608&z=15) of road is crap.

Just in case any of you are unaware, Wellington Crescent between River and Academy has a huge number of pavement breaks. I broke a rear spoke and popped the tube there this morning. I did my first-ever roadside repair - replaced the tube in 15 minutes. Oddly enough, at least 10-12 cyclists passed by but none bothered to check if I needed any help. I didn't, but it felt odd that no one even asked.

The stretch between Academy and the Park is also getting pretty bad along the curb. You pretty much have to ride in the right car wheel track to avoid the two way cracks and holes.

Hey Canadian, leave that bike on the top of your SUV one night, just one night, that's all I need. :)

Here's another nice ride. I've ridden this ride many times. Did it tonight in exactly 90 minutes with only one red light to circle while waiting. The map goes over the red on Bishop, but I take the sidewalk with the current construction, and make my way to University drive via D'Arcy drive and Thatcher drive.


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Chemin+St+Mary's%2FHWY-200
%2FSt+Mary's+Rd+%4049.781943,+-97.124076&daddr=Chemin+River%2FRiver
+Rd+%4049.818650,+-97.117631+to:Kings+Dr+%4049.803970,+-97.132760+to
:Cloutier+Dr%2FPromenade+Cloutier+%4049.782731,+-97.135776+to:HWY-75+S
%2FLord+Selkirk+Hwy+S+%4049.680926,+-97.134845+to:HWY-200+%4049.728273,
+-97.093740+to:49.781486,-97.124462&hl=en&geocode=869417640250327393,49.781943,
-97.124076%3B7044223354579617608,49.818650,-97.117631%3B169071817298381310,49.803970
,-97.132760%3B8119121902880875559,49.782731,-97.135776%3B17948452494417057372,49.680926,
-97.134845%3B7080817464743533614,49.728273,-97.093740%3B7537044272797534093,49.778300,
-97.125520&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=6&sz=14&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=49.777052,-97.130299&sspn=0.024776
,0.055275&ie=UTF8&ll=49.817773,-97.143989&spn=0.006189,0.013819&z=16

Copy and paste that link. The HTML does not want to work tonight.

who will be riding this winter? who will be commuting and how far?
Any tips for someone riding 10km each way this winter, St Vital to downtown

I don't ride on ice, so I'll be fortunate to make it to early November. I don't have any winter riding tips, obviously. I do a combo of driving, carpooling, and transit in winter.

On a totally separate note, I got stung by a wasp this morning while riding through Linden Woods. He flew into a helmet vent and got me on the top of my head.

who will be riding this winter? who will be commuting and how far?
Any tips for someone riding 10km each way this winter, St Vital to downtown


Dress in light layers, don't cycle like it's a race. Take EXTRA care when in traffic; the sidewalk can be your friend for those tight sections of road. Leave early, buy the brightest rear and front blinkies money can buy. Hope to hell you get zero flats from November 1st to April 1st.

Dress in light layers, don't cycle like it's a race. Take EXTRA care when in traffic; the sidewalk can be your friend for those tight sections of road. Leave early, buy the brightest rear and front blinkies money can buy. Hope to hell you get zero flats from November 1st to April 1st.

While I only make it (commuting that is, I still go out on winter MUP's for fun) to the first big snowfall now since I don't have a mountain bike anymore and my Devinci Amsterdam won't cut the mustard on hard pack snow and ice, I'd like to add:

Layers - make sure you're wearing stuff that breathes and/or vents. Dressing so you are cool when you start is even more important in the winter than in spring/fall. Once you get going you will warm up quick. Also remember to cover your face, including the tips of your ears and nose, since you'll be adding lots to the ever present wind chill by riding. I find that a mec poly balaclava and neoprene face mask are a good combo and have considered getting ski goggles as well.

Traffic - I drive and bike and it amazes me how dumb drivers and cyclists are when they mix. This gets even more confused in the winter so be very very careful because you could end up on your side on the road in the blink of an eye without any warning. A couple of winters ago I was slowing down at the 4 way at Canora and Wolseley and before I could think about stopping I was on my side, sliding east on Wolseley through the 4 way, feet still in the cages, hands still on the bars. Fortunately no cars were near me at the time but it was a BIG wake-up call for me and the driver on the other side of the intersection.

Sidewalk - please remember that when you are biking on a sidewalk that pedestrians have the right-of-way, as opposed to the rules that apply to a MUP. I will knock you down if you crowd me when I am walking. I'm close to 100kg and that is a promise.

Leave early - very true. you will be slower no matter how hard you ride.

Lights - a must have any time of the year but even more so in the winter because snow at any time can make you hard to see. Use them any time that visibility is reduced.

Tires- I've found that riding a little softer than I would in the summer = much better traction. If you're really serious about this and have a fair distance to go, I suggest that you get studded tires.

Above all else, always wear a helmet.

What I have found:
- my cheap homemade fixed gear bike works better than my mountain or road bikes in snow (due mainly to increased control over slowing down which is possible with a bike that doesn't coast.
- Natural cycle (bike shop) told me not to bother with studs, and now that I have cycled/commuted in winter I agree.
- skinny tires work well in snow as they penetrate down to the road surface
- expect to go slower and work harder
- don't lean into your corners
- ski goggles work, toques in your helmet work (you may have to remove some padding though so it'll fit.
- I am already wearing a very thin headband on my morning commutes now before the snow flies ($11.00 at MEC)
- maybe it's my imagination but I think drivers give you more room in winter ('cause they think you're going to wipe out in front of them?)
- forget using cleats/toe straps etc in winter ... I suggest warm boots and basic (platform) pedals.
- winter conditions cause things on the bike to rust a lot faster ( another reason to use a cheap homemade fixed gear bike).

i'm going to be in brandon for thanksgiving does anyone know any good single or double track in Brandon?
thanks

Winter Cycling:

While I have done winter cycling before, last winter was the first year I went straight through.

Dress what you are comfortable in. For me, that means a long sleeve jersey, a mis weight fleece, and then a windshell. If it is colder than -25, I change out the windshell for a goretex jacket. Bottom is cycling shorts covered by windblocker tights. Head is snowboard helmet, goggles, and when really cold a filtermask. Feet are older leather winter boots. liner socks, chemical footwarmer pads when lower than -10, and then wamer socks. Hands are fleece gloves with fingerless cycling gloves to -10, ice climbing gloves after that. For me it's extremeties. I have a friend that wears four thick layers - I would roast, but it works for him.

Lights - brightest you can find - get a planet bike superflash for the rear. For the front I make my own, or spend decent amount for decent light

roads - I find the worst are when the snow is the consistency of brown sugar when it is mixed with butter ( think making cookies). If you are cycling on a major route, you shouldn't need studs because the streets will be dry. Studs have no advantage in snow, just ice. I only wiped out once, and that was on a side street, and I didn't slow down when I saw the pedestrian turn the corner and land on his A**.

Interestingly, I find traffic gives me a winder berth when winter cycling. Maybe because I'm cycling further away from the curb?

Anyway, I almost find winter cycling much more relaxing than summer cycling. It's nice and quiet and peaceful when cycling in the dark with the snow all around.

After being off my bike since the snow arrived, I'm going to try riding tomorrow. The streets are all bare except on our bay. I'll just switch my slicks for tires with better grip, and it should be fine.

It was a nice ride in this morning - the 33km tail wind helps.

Now only if the wind changes direction before the ride home.......

Anyone rind those new bike lanes on Carlton and Hargrave?

Well, I biked yesterday and today, first time since early December. As usual, it'll be a few weeks til I'm back in shape, but it's fantastic to be back on my bike. Yeah, I know, I could have ridden through winter, but I hate riding on ice. Here's to another great year of riding.

On another note, does anyone know if the city will be keeping the Sterling Lyon MUP open while they build Ikea?

April 1st for me, can't waste my monthly bus pass but can't wait