I figured, I'll revitilize the "pootle" thread with some action from Toronto.
We have had to wait about 7 months for this awesome weather to finally hit. Sunny, Warm, and little wind! The pootle was the first on the daily agenda, followed with some errands, washing/waxing the car and hosting a bbq, so yah, pretty packed day, but totally worth every second of it!
I finally managed to source and mod my strida to accomedate 170mm cranks, something from an SRAM-Dual Drive setup from a local recumbant builder! the difference is certainly noticible.
No real direction for this extended jaunt, just a good ride to explore a bit of toronto on bike, as I found that cities are so much different experienced on 2 wheels other than 4. Combined with the fact that downtown toronto is rather nice to bike thru, you are joined by many other cyclists that are also enjoying the weather. The current gas prices has turned many recreational cyclists into daily commuters and panniers, packs, etc are quite common on anything short of a fixie or multispeed racer.
To give the internationals a better idea of my run, I have googlemapped it so you guys can explore along with me from the bird-or sattlite-view
Click on the map for full googlemap details!
OK, well, the ride was mainly inner-city and this i found was the stridas REAL HIGH POINT. I always complain that strida is too slow. actually with the pace that most cyclists use in the city, the strida is bang on with great gearing. inclines are easy-peasy, and coasting speed is on par or even a bit easier than the average bike riding along with you.
I found i could keep up easily with most riders and only this FELT carbon/spandex-clad roadie sprinted away with me without drama, leaving me, well, far behind. The 16" wheels are perfect for city roads and I would actually feel quite naked/dangerous to be riding anything smaller at any decent speed. An eccentric gentlemen in a mobiky genius was farting along at a relaxed pace and for good reason - a pothole would turn his morning ride into a visit to the hospital!
genius, but maybe only for a road where potholes are non-existant!
The strida's quick-handling has been said to be compared to with track-cycles. I am not 100% sure if that can be a fair comparison, but i did find the quick steering to be quite helpful in china town and kensington market, where people are in the streets and organization means nothing. I didn't have to SLAM the brakes a single time on the trip, but the avid bb7s provided great feel, repeatedly, confidently. Oh and the Champion Flyer? Best investment ever.. esp after upping the rear tire specs to accomdate 100psi!!!
well enough with my blabber, here are the pics of my journey.. sorry they are 1024px.. enjoy!
Ride started out around the financial district in toronto downtown...
Then hit chinatown for some quick eats... and Kensington Market. The fence leads to PARTS UNKNOWN - a bike shop that is wall to wall full of random bike parts, all hanging, burried, and, just everywhere. its creepy and run by a guy named george. It was just listed for sale in craigslist for $10,000 and that gets 10,000lbs of random bike bike stuff.
More Kengsinton market, and finally arrive at the Rogers Center and the foot of the CN tower. Fantastic to travel here by bike, its really nice, safe, slow and quiet - in the heart of the city
One of torontos beaches... there is the Martin Goodman trail here, its quite nice, and many avid cyclists are testing themselves and their equipment here.
Cherry st, and gives you a good perspective of how far I got away from the CN TOWER.
Decided to wrap up at DUNDAS SQUARE. took the subway back up to north york!
Strida performed quite admirably, and NOTHING BROKE! yippie!!