Too Cold

This January the weakening of the Polar Vortex is allowing a mass of frigid air to stray south. Toronto often avoids the very low temperatures that occur in most other parts of Canada. But not these days. When I awoke this morning, the temperature was -24 degrees; add in the wind chill and the reading was -39. Perhaps a bit too cold for cycling...

Each winter is the same. Through October, November, and December, as the temperature sinks, I continue to ride regularly, gradually getting used to the cold. But the cold I refer to is usually in the -10 to +10 range. If I dress properly, I’ll be fine.

In January or February, though, there is usually a cold snap that breaks my, and most other people’s, cycling routine. When I have decided that it’s too cold or snowy for cycling, I'll notice a few hardy types still riding their bikes for another day or two. (I’d tip my hat to them, but by that point I’d rather not remove it because of the cold.) But eventually, even these tough people have had enough, and the streets are temporarily without cyclists.

It’s not just the cold that prevents cycling. When it gets really cold, there is just too much ice on the streets. It really would be dangerous on a bike. Throw in the stiff arctic wind we had today, and cycling is out of the question.

I look forward to getting back on my bike. It is so convenient and is such a good way to exercise. The forecast shows I might be able to ride again in two days. But riding today is right out.

O'Connor Drive Bridge

The O’Connor Drive bridge crosses over the valley through which Taylor Creek flows. It is a concrete bridge that is in pretty good shape, having been repaired and rehabilitated during the winter of 2012/13.



The arch of the bridge reminds me a little of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. This is a view of the bridge as seen from the south.




These pictures are of Taylor Creek where it runs under the bridge. When I first moved into the area, the creek used to smell unpleasant. The main sewage pipe was old and in poor condition. The creek would smell particularly bad after a heavy rain. Repairing the tunnel was deemed too expensive and dangerous, so construction of a new bypass tunnel started in April 2010. This tunnel is now operating, and the creek smells fine. As you can see, it is a pleasant place to be.



View from the north.



Part of the support structure of the bridge.



The bridge is quite long. I have biked over it many times, but this is an experience I find a bit unnerving. There are no reserved bike lanes, and there isn’t much space at the sides of the road for cyclists. Cars tend to move quickly on the bridge. I rarely see any other cyclists when I am on it.





The bridge doesn’t currently have a great deal of graffiti on it, but I did notice an area on the underside of the bridge at its far eastern end that warranted a look. I had to walk off-trail to get up to this area. The ground was quite wet, and I ended up having to walk my bike through a fair amount of mud to get there.

I was slightly nervous being in the area where this graffiti was, because it seemed possibly like a place where a gang might hang out. As I approached I watched carefully for signs of people. It turned out that the place was deserted, and I was able to snap a few pictures. I was glad to be on my way, though, as I left.

Cycling in the Rain

I occasionally enjoy riding in the rain. I don’t love it; I won’t say that. But as long as I am dressed for it, and the rain isn’t coming down too hard, cycling in the rain can be an enjoyable experience.

When we are children, we sometimes want to play in the rain. Most people develop an aversion to being in the rain as they get older. We’ll hurry from the door to the car with an umbrella over our head, trying to minimize the amount of time we spend in the rain. Choosing to bike somewhere even though it is raining is a way to relive the childish enjoyment of just being out in the rain.

Here are some tips for cycling in the rain:

Don’t bike in a downpour. If it starts to rain hard enough, being out on the streets becomes dangerous. You are harder to see, and drivers may not expect cyclists to be out in such a heavy rain, and so may not be on the lookout for them.

Rain jackets that are meant for cycling come in bright colours, often red, blue, or yellow, and have reflective strips on them. If you cycle in the rain, make sure to wear one of these cycling rain jackets, or at least wear a brightly coloured rain coat. I recommend jackets specifically sold to cyclists, because they usually have reflective strips.

You may not enjoy riding in the rain if your clothes are soaked, so make sure you are dressed properly. To keep your legs dry, you can wear rain pants. Or, at least bring a change of pants that you can get into once you have got to your destination.

Keeping your feet dry is also an issue. If your shoes are just water resistant, your feet are going to get wet. Make sure to bring a change of socks, or wear waterproof shoes or boots. Cycling shops sell overshoes for wet weather.

Bike shops also sell rain hats for wearing either under or over your helmet. An over-the-helmet hat is a good option if you would rather not put a tight cap over your hair.

When cycling in the rain, you may come across the odd puddle in your path. Puddles are common on the sides of roads, where we often cycle. Some of them can be a few centimetres deep, and you may wish to avoid going right through one. If you are cycling in traffic, be very careful about swerving to avoid puddles. If you notice that you are approaching a puddle, slow down (but not suddenly) to minimize the wash of water that will be thrown up. Or, you can go around the puddle, but only after you have checked over your shoulder to make sure no cars or other cyclists are coming up.

Enjoy being out in the rain, but be safe and dry while doing it.

Leaside Bridge

One of the more impressive sights on the Lower Don Valley Recreation Trail is the Leaside Bridge. (The most impressive sight on this trail would have to be the Prince Edward Viaduct.) The Leaside Bridge, which opened in 1927, connects Millwood Avenue, to the north, with Pape and Donlands Avenues, to the south. Pape and Donlands meet at the southern side of the bridge.

I envy the lucky people who use the Lower Don Valley Recreation Trail to commute. It is an interesting ride through its entire length: a place where the wilderness and urban join. The Leaside Bridge is a good example of this.







Underneath the bridge it is quite overgrown and wild.







The bridge looms overhead as you approach it.



There is a lot of graffiti on the bridge. Most of it is within easy reach, but someone went out of their way to add “FRENS.” I don’t know what “FRENS” refers to.







Some examples of graffiti at the feet of the concrete pillars supporting the bridge.



The pillars are covered in concrete patches.



Here, the Don River makes its way under the bridge. The concrete footing here doesn’t seem altogether well supported to me. Incidentally, I acquired a three-centimetre nail through my rear tire as I rode off-trail to take this picture.

CP Rail bridge over West Don Valley Trail

Cyclists who use Toronto’s West Don Valley Trail will be familiar with the rail bridge that spans the trail just south of the intersection of Eglinton Ave. E. and Leslie St. This CP Rail trestle bridge is made of steel that is covered in rust.
These pictures were taken in June of this year.





The bridge makes an imposing impression as you approach it.





I don't know how much this section of track gets used. I’ve cycled under this bridge many times over the years but have yet to see a train go by overhead. A friend told me that one time about twenty-five years ago he saw two train cars that had derailed and fallen from the bridge!



It was a warm and sunny day when I took these photos, but I noticed that it seemed slightly cooler in the shade of the bridge.



The stone supports seem as though they are in need of repair.

Bridge Open!

Anyone who uses the Taylor Creek/Seton/Serena Gundy parks, in Toronto, to cycle will be well aware that the bridge linking Taylor Creek and Seton parks had been out of commission for almost a year. This morning I was happy to find the bridge renovation finally completed.

Here are some pictures I took of the bridge:



The original bridge was not removed where it crosses over the railroad tracks, but new aluminum “boards” were installed.



Here’s a view of the tracks, looking west. The bridge in the distance supports the Don Valley Parkway. While I was at the bridge a GO train went by, but I didn’t manage to get a picture of it.



The ramps leading up to the bridge were entirely replaced. The ramp on the west side of the bridge goes under Don Mills Road.



The ramps used to be surfaced with wood slats, which had become quite worn. Asphalt is now used.



This is looking up the ramp that leads to the bridge from the west side.



Someone added a silhouette of a walking person on the footing at the east side.



More graffiti under Don Mills Road.

Taylor Creek Recreational Trail

I recently went for a ride on the Taylor Creek Recreational Trail in Toronto. This is a trail I often use. I haven’t been on it in a while, though, due to a bridge being replaced. This construction has blocked the trail just to the west of where it goes under the Don Valley Parkway. A friend told me that it is possible to make your way through the construction and continue on the trail, but I haven’t tried this.

According to the City of Toronto’s website, the new bridge was supposed to have been completed by April 30. So, on May 1 I decided to see if the bridge was in fact finished. Well, it wasn’t ... At the bridge construction site I asked a worker when he thought the bridge might be finished, and he said it would be “two or three weeks” yet.

I don’t know exactly when construction began on this bridge, but it must have been pushing a year ago. The previous bridge was a well-worn wooden structure that was fun to bike on. It is being replaced with a metal one. The bridge goes over some railway tracks.

It was a beautiful day for a ride—warm and sunny, about 20 degrees. Taylor Creek Recreational Trail has many interesting things to look at. Here are a few of them:



This is a large concrete bridge that supports O’Connor Drive.



There are wetlands along the trail that are being encouraged and protected.



Every square centimetre of this shed used to be covered in graffiti. Workers painted over the building about a year ago. Not surprisingly, it has been tagged again. I wish they had left it as it was. The graffiti that used to be there was much nicer. Perhaps as the shed gradually picks up ever more graffiti, it will eventually regain its former look.