Things That Warm My Heart (Part 2)

A couple weeks ago while I was downtown with the kids at the library we arrived to find the bike rack full - and just about every immobile object within view with a bike locked to it!!


It was a friday afternoon. I'm presuming it was a class trip - which warmed my heart just a bit more because I certainly don't remember taking any class trips on bikes when I was a kid!!

Cyclocross

On Saturday, as I was hauling the kids to their dance classes, I noticed they were setting up a cyclocross race in a nearby park. Got me thinking about cyclocross... and reminded me of this vid I'd stumbled across a while back:

Ridiculous

I love this...

No ridiculous car trips from Martin Lang on Vimeo.

What's YOUR ridiculous car trip....?

Mine is kind of the opposite of what they were looking for; short trips that are really too short for driving a car (I've always walked or ridden a bike...). We lived on an acreage for a bit and I think it ridiculous, now, that we would live so darn far away from where we worked and did stuff that it necessitated owning a motor vehicle (or MULTIPLE motor vehicles...).

My sister, when we younger and still lived with our folks, drove my parents car three blocks to buy cigarettes at the 7-11 on Broadway... regularly...

Things That Warm My Heart

...and help me believe that all is not lost for humanity...

It's fall.

It's 5°C.

It's pissing down rain all day.


...and the bike rack at the local Safeway is full...

(Okay so "full" amounts to five bikes... and there were scores of cars parked in the lot... but still...)

Violin Lessons

For the last two weeks the kids have taken their own bikes to our violin private lesson. The round trip, including stopping on Broadway for groceries at Steep Hill on the way home, is about 7Km.

The first week Keira (who does the trip on her runner bike!) only needed a lift up the bridge. This week She rode on the back of the Yuba all the way there. We were running a bit late, and she seemed a bit tired and the trip is mostly uphill (of course that means teh trip home is mostly DOWNHILL!!)

Here's the gang loaded up to head out:

(Click on the pic for a larger version)

October Kidical Mass in Saskatoon

Another Kidical Mass in Saskatoon. Might be the last one for this year... but then you never know when the snow's going to blow... so..


Our fearless leader/awesome organizer guy, Bryn, on the left there...


The marshaling area.


And they're off! (Young Ian rocking the ride on his runner bike!!)




Sam and Sophie












Good times were had by all. Big thanks to Bryn for baking the banana chocolate chip cake and organizing the hot drinks (and to whowever made those great cookies!)!!

September Kidical Mass in Saskatoon!

(Remember: Click on the pictures for a bigger version)


Rolled out to the Kidical Mass ride for September this morning. It was kind of chilly (10°C) and a bit breezy and threatening rain... but out we went!!


Finnegan decided to ride his own bike. it was a bit of a haul - the round trip for him was about 11Km


Amanda hauled Keira around in the trailer.


At Massey Park


The Gang.


Starting out.






The Broadway Street Fair was on today and Broadway avenue was closed from 12th all the way to 8th! (In the past I think they've only closed the street as far as Main...). As we approached Broadway there was a considerable bit of traffic - people looking for parking or trying to skirt around...


Finnegan pretty excited about getting to ride on the ROAD!


Closer to Broadway - More Traffic!


Crossing Broadway Avenue.


Our handy sweeper taking up the rear - Thanks!


One of those "It's a small world after all moments..."


mr. awesome doing the ride on his runner bike!






The most important part of the whole adventure: SWINGING!!



heading home...


We hit the street fair, briefly, on the way home... Good fun! Thanks to all involved in organizing and, especially, to all that showed up!