I joined the Toronto Bike Meetup at the same time I joined the French conversation Meetup groups, and for pretty much the same reasons: to get me out of the apartment, meet new people, and to improve my French conversation skills. Okay, maybe not that last one.
Sadly, since I've joined I've been on only one group ride due to rain, snow, andapathy timing. However, the LGRAB Summer Games gave me the impetus to not only sign up but actually go on Sunday's group ride. Especially since the Round the City ride would take me to the West Humber trail, which I'd never ridden but have wanted to for a few years.
Just over a dozen cyclists met late Sunday morning at Coronation Park on the lake shore and rode along the Martin Goodman trail to the beautiful Humber bridge. I'll gloss over how irritating those stupid gates are near Ontario Place and focus instead on how beautiful the day was. And it was beautiful. Saturday night's rain seemed to have cooled the cranky heat wave a bit and the air wasn't as oppressive as it has been. The sun was shining on the sea, shining with all its might, which was cool, because it was midday.
To get to the trail, you cross the bridge, then turn left and loop around and under.
The West Humber Trail (is there an East Humber, I wonder?*) follows, unsurprisingly, the Humber river. We passed salmon weirs, picturesque bridges, and people. Lots of people. I really like seeing people out enjoying the city. We passed kayakers getting ready to take a tour of the river, and who cheered us as we rode past. We passed picnickers and frisbee throwers and a couple using a concrete rain shelter as the reverberating sound box for their kalimbas. We also passed a sign that said "WARNING! Day camp archery practice site ahead!" which was nice of them, although I don't know that there's much you could do about it.
It's a great trail, is what I'm saying.
But as with all things, the trail must come to an end. We left it to go have lunch at Tim Horton's, then made our way across the middle of the city on the York Beltline, another new trail for me. We biked over the Allen and connected with Roselawn, then Broadway, in Old Forest Hill. Quiet streets and old houses. It was very nice. Except they put stop signs in the roundabouts. Which means some idiot doesn't understand how roundabouts work.**
At any rate, at the end of bike route 26 you run into Sunnybrook Park which takes you into the Don Valley recreational path system. This, I am very familiar with, having spent a summer working with students at the Science Centre. It's a lovely trail, but very popular on a sunny Sunday and in places far too narrow to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians at the same time. I do like to see people enjoying the city; just not quite so many at the exact same time and place as I. The path is also somewhat of an obstacle course, with the tree roots pushing up the path in places and making my water bottles bounce around in my front basket like a pop-o-matic.
After a while, it does widen and get much smoother.
The mouth of the Don River is, unfortunately, not very pretty due to massive amounts of industrialization. The bike paths are also a bit of a maze. If you can figure out how to get where you're going around the 8-lane highways, you eventually find yourself on Queen's Quay East, which just might be the top contender for worst. biking. road. ever. There are bike lanes, but the road is in such bad condition that you might as well be back on the Don trail. Only with far fewer trees and much more concrete to stare at.
However, they are starting to make it nicer. I am hoping the development plans don't get derailed by the current city council because I think the way we have neglected the eastern waterfront is a real shame, and let's face it: we've got visitors coming for the 2015 Pan Am games. Do we really want our guests to look at the wasteland that is the portlands? It'd be like inviting people over when your living room is strewn with papers and binders and stuff and looks like a hurricane has hit it. Not that I'd know what that looks like, of course.
Anyway. As I said, they are starting to offer more than industrial nightclubs in the area. We biked past the brand new Sherbourne Common and briefly stopped at Sugar Beach, where I had never been before. We didn't stay long as we were on a quest for refreshments and a patio, both of which can be had at Sugar Beach but not for a group of our size.
We ended up at the Lakeside EATS patio at Harbourfront Centre. The ambiance left a little to be desired, but the view was great and the company and conversation even better.
All in all, an excellent day. We biked nearly 50 km, the weather was fantastic, and we had a good group of people. It was nice getting to chat with them as we rode. Our fearless leader Donald was excellent; he made sure that no one was left behind and that the pace was nice and leisurely. The Opus got a lot of compliments on her good looks and speed, as usual. Not a bad start to the LGRAB games!
Speaking of which, how am I doing, task-wise?
Group ride: I'd say over a dozen people clearly qualifies as a group; check.
New greenway/bike path: both the West Humber trail and York Beltline were new to me; check (but there are other paths I'd like to try, so I'm not crossing this off yet.)
Visit a new part of the city: I'd never biked through the side streets near Yonge, and Sugar Beach was new to me, so I'd say that was also done, but I'm not crossing it off yet because I have more plans in store.
To see the rest of my photos, as always, click on the name of the album below the photo and scroll to the picture below.
You can see other photos of the ride at the Meetup site.
Sadly, since I've joined I've been on only one group ride due to rain, snow, and
Just over a dozen cyclists met late Sunday morning at Coronation Park on the lake shore and rode along the Martin Goodman trail to the beautiful Humber bridge. I'll gloss over how irritating those stupid gates are near Ontario Place and focus instead on how beautiful the day was. And it was beautiful. Saturday night's rain seemed to have cooled the cranky heat wave a bit and the air wasn't as oppressive as it has been. The sun was shining on the sea, shining with all its might, which was cool, because it was midday.
To get to the trail, you cross the bridge, then turn left and loop around and under.
It's a great trail, is what I'm saying.
But as with all things, the trail must come to an end. We left it to go have lunch at Tim Horton's, then made our way across the middle of the city on the York Beltline, another new trail for me. We biked over the Allen and connected with Roselawn, then Broadway, in Old Forest Hill. Quiet streets and old houses. It was very nice. Except they put stop signs in the roundabouts. Which means some idiot doesn't understand how roundabouts work.**
At any rate, at the end of bike route 26 you run into Sunnybrook Park which takes you into the Don Valley recreational path system. This, I am very familiar with, having spent a summer working with students at the Science Centre. It's a lovely trail, but very popular on a sunny Sunday and in places far too narrow to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians at the same time. I do like to see people enjoying the city; just not quite so many at the exact same time and place as I. The path is also somewhat of an obstacle course, with the tree roots pushing up the path in places and making my water bottles bounce around in my front basket like a pop-o-matic.
After a while, it does widen and get much smoother.
The mouth of the Don River is, unfortunately, not very pretty due to massive amounts of industrialization. The bike paths are also a bit of a maze. If you can figure out how to get where you're going around the 8-lane highways, you eventually find yourself on Queen's Quay East, which just might be the top contender for worst. biking. road. ever. There are bike lanes, but the road is in such bad condition that you might as well be back on the Don trail. Only with far fewer trees and much more concrete to stare at.
However, they are starting to make it nicer. I am hoping the development plans don't get derailed by the current city council because I think the way we have neglected the eastern waterfront is a real shame, and let's face it: we've got visitors coming for the 2015 Pan Am games. Do we really want our guests to look at the wasteland that is the portlands? It'd be like inviting people over when your living room is strewn with papers and binders and stuff and looks like a hurricane has hit it. Not that I'd know what that looks like, of course.
All in all, an excellent day. We biked nearly 50 km, the weather was fantastic, and we had a good group of people. It was nice getting to chat with them as we rode. Our fearless leader Donald was excellent; he made sure that no one was left behind and that the pace was nice and leisurely. The Opus got a lot of compliments on her good looks and speed, as usual. Not a bad start to the LGRAB games!
Speaking of which, how am I doing, task-wise?
New greenway/bike path: both the West Humber trail and York Beltline were new to me; check (but there are other paths I'd like to try, so I'm not crossing this off yet.)
Visit a new part of the city: I'd never biked through the side streets near Yonge, and Sugar Beach was new to me, so I'd say that was also done, but I'm not crossing it off yet because I have more plans in store.
To see the rest of my photos, as always, click on the name of the album below the photo and scroll to the picture below.
 |
| From Rambling Through Toronto |
You can see other photos of the ride at the Meetup site.
*Of course I was geeky and curious enough to look it up; that's what you pay me for.*** There is an East Humber trail... in Richmond Hill. At least, there will be.
**From the Transport Canada website:
Roundabouts provide a safer way to direct traffic than intersections with stop signs or traffic lights. Why? Because:and:
- Traffic moves more slowly through the intersection.
- There are no left turns in front of oncoming vehicles.
Roundabouts can direct more traffic in less time than normal intersections. How? Since roundabouts do not have stop signs or traffic lights, traffic moves slowly around the circle. This means fewer stops and delays for drivers.Yeah. And they put stop signs in. Completely defeating the purpose. I gnash my teeth at you!
***What do you mean, you don't pay me?
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