Chopaderos Annual Toronto Halloween Ride

At the Oct. 28 Critical Mass we heard about some ride being held the
next day on Saturday starting from Dundas Square at Dundas & Yonge
Streets. We were told that the ride was for choppers and cruisers only
(so it was our kind of ride). When I got home I checked online and
could not find anything posted about it. At 4:15 pm on saturday we
arrived at Dundas Square to find a small group of Chopaderos and other
riders (15 of them) there with their choppers and cruisers, for the annual Chopaderos Toronto Halloween Ride.
We left the square about 4:30 and headed west to Bay Street then south
to City Hall on Queen, over to Bathurst Street and south to the Tim's at Lakeshore and Bathurst for our first stop and photo op, then down to the harbour at Bathurst Quay for another stop. Then it was up to the Martin Goodman Trail and west past Ontario Place, through Sunnyside to the Humber
River bridge for another stop and photos. After a while we turned
around and retraced our steps to the pedestrian overpass at Palais
Royale and over the Gardiner to Queen and Roncesvalles to the Easy
Rider Cafe where we stopped for a meal.
After our meal we went east on Queen Street to the Horseshoe Tavern at
Spadina & Queen where we left the 'Deros and headed home. We would like to thank the Chopaderos for holding the ride here in Toronto on such a chilly day and for inviting the Iron Horse Cruisers to join them. 5hrs, 15km.

Holiday Monday Ride to Harbourfront

With the weather still as good on holiday Monday as it was on Sunday we took a ride down to Harbourfront, (Kate on her bikeE recumbent cruiser and me on my Electra Hellbilly) and stopped at the base of the CN Tower to have a look at the old trains and the Steamwhistle Brewery trucks there, and take some pics. Then we continued on to Harbourfront and east to Sugar Beach then north to the pit stop on Parliament and home. A nice slow ride today. 3 hours, 5km.

Turkey Day In Oshawa Ride

[As always, left click on a pic to enlarge it]

Zombi-John invited us up to his place in Oshawa for Turkey Day and a ride down the Oshawa Creek Bike Trail to Lakeview Park. We left Toronto on the GO Train with our bikes and were in the Oshawa GO station on Thornton Road an hour later. The trail passes through many small parks on its way to the lake: Rotary Park, Central Collegiate, Storie Park, Cordova Park, Cordova Valley Park, Oshawa Valleylands Conservation Area, Southmead Park and into Lakeview Park. Its a nice paved trail with very few small hills (more like rises) and quite a lot of tunnels under roadways and bridges to cross as the trail meanders back and forth across the creek heading south. The other users of the trail were very friendly waving to us and saying hello as we passed! I was riding the new Rat Fink, Kate was riding her bikeE recumbent cruiser and Zombi-John was on his Stiletto chopper. When we got to Lakeview Park we stopped amid a small group of Harley riders to use the facilities and while there, fielded questions about the bikes with the riders. Then it was off on the Waterfront Trail to take the west leg of the trail back up north to where we started at John Street. After a lovely turkey dinner, and some jovial chat, we decided to head for the train as it was quite dark outside. We left Oshawa at about twenty minutes to nine and were back home at the house in Toronto by 10pm. All-in-all, a great day outside the city and the weather was perfect. We will have to wait till next summer now to further explore the trails of Oshawa and area! The ride itself: 3 hours, 12km.

September Critical Mass

What a change in the weather over the August Mass, this month it was 53*F and very overcast threatening rain when we arrived at the starting point. There were about 50 people in the Mass, and the 3 of us this month and I took both of my Electras (Hellbillie & Rat Fink). There were no other interesting bikes in attendance. Almost shivering, we set off and went up through Yorkville then down Yonge, and as we passed Wellesley the clouds opened up. Not wearing rain gear and having no fenders on the bikes, I decided to wait it out under the overhang of a building on Grosvenor street near the YMCA. After about a half hour, the rain slowed enough for us to head home. 75 minutes, 5km.

Vaughan To Downtown Toronto

Monday Sept. 26 I had to take the subway up to Finch, and then transfer to a Viva bus and ride it up to Rutherford Road and Bathurst street to pick up my new Electra "Rat Fink" chopper bicycle, [crank forward design, aluminum frame, 24" tires, 3-speed Shimano Nexus and coaster brake]. (This bike is brand new, and been in storage for 4 years after having been won in a raffle at the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) screening of the Rat Fink movie in 2004. The older woman who won it didn't want to try riding it so she stuck it in the basement, where it has remained until I purchased it.

After making the necessary adjustments and pumping up the tires so I could ride it back to the subway, I was off. It was hot with just a bit of wind in the air. After quite a few hills and stopping to get water and make some more adjustments I finally got down to Highway 7 on Bathurst and it was 2:45pm. Since the TTC won't let you take a bike on the subway during rush hour (3pm to 7pm). and I didnt want to hang around until I could, I set off down Bathurst street, all the way to Chaplin Crescent where I hooked up with the Kay Gardner Belt Line Trail. This is a shady and packed gravel rail trail crossing several streets finally ending in Mount Pleasant Cemetery just north of St.Clair. I ran into a group of 6 senior cyclists riding laps in there, as I was checking my map and fielded several questions about the bike. Then onto Yonge and south to Church street and home. I was having so much fun and really enjoyed riding the Rat Fink that I forgot to take any pics except one. 4 hours, 20km.

JACK LAYTON Memorial Critical Mass

August 26 Critical Mass held in Toronto this month was a memorial ride in honour of the recently deceased NDP leader Jack Layton, who along with his wife Olivia (both Members of Parliament in Canada) were active cyclist within our community. The Mass cycled east on Bloor Street over the Prince Edward Viaduct to Broadview Ave then downhill south to the Jack Layton Community Office where a large memorial was held. Blocking the entire street and bringing all the traffic including the streetcars to a standstill for the memorial. Afterwards the Mass went down to Queen Street and rode west to Toronto City Hall where a memorial of several thousand people was being held. A while later we left to ride home, as it was about 9pm and getting dark.
2.5 hours 8km.

Humber Trail South To Lakeshore

Had to go out to Kipling and Dixon Road to pick up an adult tricycle, and since it was rush hour, I couldn't bring it back on the subway, so I decided to ride it back home. Part of the ride was along the Humber Trail bike path starting at Eglinton & Scarlett Drive, the same route taken when riding the Tour 'D Toronto. Some scenic spots on the paved trail and south to the Martin Goodman Trail at the Lakeshore. 5 hours, 20km.