Name, Occupation, Age
Mike, Project Manager, "Baby Boomer"
When did you start biking? How did you get started?
I rode a little as a teenager until I got my driver's license. Fifteen years ago, I would ride a mountain bike 5K at a time. In 2005 I was badly out of shape and a friend
suggested riding with TBN for the company and structured rides. Within a year of steady riding and changing my eating I had lost 50 pounds.
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I started out with the Easy Roller and Wednesday and Friday night social rides (30K) and gradually built up distance over the summer until September when I completed a (very flat) 100K ride. I was amazed and couldn't imagine riding any further. My friend had done a six day tour from Toronto to Montreal (550K) and I couldn't believe that the human body could ride that far day after day.
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Why did you start biking?
Good exercise, fresh air, new scenery and social aspects
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How often do you commute by bike to work?
Two or three times a week; usually alternate days as a training ride. I try to ride hard in the morning and harder in the evenings. Sometimes I just ride easy but there's always another biker in front to catch up with :)
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Briefly describe your commute
I have a 37K commute each way, from North-East Oakville to Metro Hall. I leave home about 6:30 AM, take a combination of secondary and main streets east into Mississauga, go through Clarkson and Lorne Park down to the Lakeshore. I ride the Lakeshore through Mississauga (no bike lanes but the curb lane is almost wide enough) into Long Branch and New Toronto (Etobicoke) where there is a bike lane. I continue East through Mimico (no bike lane but a wide street) to the Humber river. I usually take the Martin Goodman trail from there but I have also ridden the Lakeshore all the way to my turnoff at the Skydome. The ride is very flat.
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How long does your commute take?
Door to door the bike commute is 1:15 to 1:30 depending on lights and how fast I ride. I usually ride at 32-37kph which gives me an overall average of 29-30kph including slowing down and starting up at lights. Add in 15 minutes to change clothes at work.
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By GO Train and car it takes 1:10 door to door (I don't have a cheap bike to
ride to Oakville station)
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Do you prefer Lakeshore or the Martin Goodman trail on your commute?
Coming East from the Humber River on the Lakeshore is high adrenaline. There's not enough room for a car and a bike in the curb lane so I take the entire lane. To fit into the flow of traffic I need to ride anaerobically at 45kph. Having to stop for a light puts a lot of stress on your body. It's good training but you're really pushing hard. Since traffic isn't moving much faster I haven't had a problem with being cut off. I think most drivers are plain amazed that someone would ride in that traffic.
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The Martin Goodman trail can be quite dangerous. The speed limit is 20kph and with walkers and dogs and skaters it's hard to avoid everyone. I find the openings between the posts along Sunnyside very narrow. The biggest problem is cars pulling out from the Boulevard Club. I've had a minor accident and many near misses. The drivers get frustrated waiting, especially in the evening and pull out and block the MGT.
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There doesn't seem to be a good choice between riding at 20kph and 45kph.
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Why a recumbent?
Recumbents are more comfortable and faster (more aerodynamic). At high speeds I can keep up with younger fitter riders who are sitting on upright bikes and pushing a lot of air. They are more comfortable and safer - you won't go over the handlebars and break your collarbone, if you fall sideways you have 18" to fall and if you hit something, you hit it with your foot not your head) Did I mention more comfortable ?
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What's your favourite bike store?
Urbane Cyclist on John Street is great. Carey Chen is very knowledgeable and the entire staff in the front and back cares that you have a good experience.
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Where do you park your bike when you get to work?
I have a bike locker at Metro Hall for $10 a month. My building doesn't allow bikes inside.
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What's your favourite thing about bike commuting?
I'm full of energy when I get to work and get home. I've gotten rid of my frustrations and I don't have to endure an hour of commuting on the GO train before I go for my bike ride. I can ride as fast or as slow as I want. In the evening there are often roadies doing some training to chase and ride with.
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What would you change to make your commute better?
Showers at work would be nice. My gym has a branch 10 minutes from work but no place to leave the bike if I showered there. Better than that would be a bike lane all the way on the Lakeshore so I wouldn't be tempted to ride fast on the Martin Goodman trail.
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Why did you decide to start commuting by bike?
Commuting was a way for me to do some fast riding and interval training during commuting time rather than riding the train. It would be hard to ride 75K a day if I didn't get home until 6:30 PM. I try to combine the commuting during the week with a
Randonneur ride on the weekend (200K or longer)
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Randonneurs? Who are they?
Randonneurs are the "crazy bikers". Many bikers like to go out and ride 80K with their friends on a weekend and then stop for some food. We like to do that as well except ... we then ride another 80K and stop for food .. and then do it again. It can be very sociable at times and also it can be a solitary ride at times. We see a lot of great scenery and quiet roads throughout Southern Ontario. The pace doesn't have to be fast, just consistent. There is a time limit but it's a generous 13.5 hours for 200K (15kph including stop time).
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If you're in good enough shape to ride 80K, you can ride 200K as long as you eat and drink properly. A randonneur ride isn't a race which is why fellow Randonneurs will often ride together, not as a paceline but to offer support and encouragement. You also learn mental strength. You learn that you can ride through wind and rain and darkness and not only survive but enjoy it. A hard day at work can be handled easily when you have learned mental strength.
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In addition to the "short" ride of 200K, the other rides in the Randonneur series are 300K (20 hours), 400K (27 hours) and 600K (40 hours). Completing the series
qualifies you to ride in Paris-Brest-Paris - a 1,200K ride in 90 hours. This year there will be more than 4,500 riders from around the world. This is a major event throughout Normandy and Brittanny and entire towns throw all night parties for the riders.
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There are mainly "normal" road bikes but also bikes of all kinds (Tandems, triplets, three wheelers, tandem recumbents) and last time even the Finnish scooter
champion) The course is very hilly and takes the riders through beautiful
countryside and lovely small towns. Many riders can only complete the
ride in time by cutting back on their sleep. Complete the ride and you get a small medal and have your name entered in the book of anciens. The satisfaction is the real reward.
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Any advice for people starting out bike commuting?
Watch out for car drivers - they won't watch out for you. Find a safe place (in your office?) to lock your bike or buy a cheap bike to lock up outside.
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PBP 2007 starts tonight at 9 p.m. local time in Paris! Bonne chance Mike!
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