Regular readers may have noticed a progressively greater interest in riding at the expense of skating. This is not a first for me. My first pair of inlines, as I documented earlier, were Rollerblade Lightnings from 1992, I skated until 1994 and lost interest as I found I could cover more ground, faster, on a bike than on skates. (It probably didn't help that 1994 I got my drivers licence and gas was only $0.50/L, compared with $1.25/L today.)
Is the same thing happening now? There is evidence to suggest that history does repeat itself. But I would like to think otherwise, were my worldly possessions at all anthropomorphic, my skates and my bikes would not need to worry about the car, there is nothing glamours or flashy about driving to work, or to the supermarket, sitting in traffic or paying for gas and auto insurance. There is, however, a great deal to be said for riding (or skating) past all of that in my morning commute to the office.
Ultimately I do still see myself as a skater, I just happen to also see myself as a cyclist too, by doing both I can cross train and I suspect, skate better in the long run. Do I see myself doing more skating or riding? I don't know, a few weeks ago I thought the bike would just be something to use when the skates were not an option, now it seems to be the other way around, but the fact is I cannot skate to Burlington, it just is not going to happen, the roads are too rough and it takes too long to get anywhere, whereas I am already dreaming of rides to Grimsby, that said, skating will always have it's place in my life too. I cannot stick my bike under my desk at the office, or toss it in the back seat of a cab on nights when I have to work late.
So ultimately the question, to my way of thinking is, can't I be both a skater and cyclist?
Anyway probably later this evening I will rant about something that sounds positively idiotic, is it in fact more environmentally sound to walk to the corner store or drive there? Jay Brown (no blog or web site.) recently steered me in the direction of a study that really should never have been performed and the results were, bizarre, but more on that later.
Search with Google
Custom Search
Friday, May 23, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
On Recursion
As I have mentioned before, a friend of mine, Tomas Benda actually (he's the guy who drew the fancy covers for mathNEWS) used to say definition of loop: see loop. It occurs to me that unpacking is more of a recursive thing than a looping thing. You unpack something big and discover inside that big thing, eight or ten little things, all need to be unpacked and inside each of those things are eight or ten smaller things and inside those, etc.
I am at war with my material possessions, and frankly, I'm loosing! (Little wonder I want to burn my house down sometimes.)
I was reading Sigrid Ziegler's column (see what I'm reading on the right) from May 8, Get a License. I have lost count of the number of drivers (and on occasion pedestrians) who have cursed at me or worse while skating and frankly the situation as a cyclist is only marginally better. To be fair I think most motorists are actually rather impressed that someone is skating to their office job to be a... wait for it... systems analyst, yes that's right kids, by day (Monday to Friday) Michael works in an office with a shirt and and a B. Math and a M. Eng, by night Michael is a skater! (Or cyclist.) The sad fact is though, for every compliment there is a slam, and when it is me with a 200g helmet or the driver with a two ton SUV, if they get pissed at me, I get scared.
I want a big sign on my skate bag that says: "I get better gas mileage than you, so piss off! Besides, you're fat and I'm exercising!"
In the Saturday Globe and Mail there was mention of a possible cyclist union for Toronto, sounds great, where do I sign up? I heard a story that some time ago there was talk of adding a bike lane to some road in the East End, but then some West End Councillor objected and that was that. I think the fundamental problem is one of philosophy, we live in a car crazy culture, but if we were willing to toss the gas guzzlers and get out and ride - or skate - besides cleaner air and less money to those filthy oil barons we would all be healthier and probably a lot less stressed from the commute to work. I sure hate riding (or worse, skating) in the rain, but my worst ride in the rain was still a bajillion times better than driving in rush hour Toronto traffic.
Here's a random thought, the Ontario Highway Traffic Act does not, at least not anywhere that I could find, define a bike as an equivalent to a car. My bad, found it (section 1.1):
“vehicle” includes a motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor, road-building machine, bicycle and any vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of power, including muscular power, but does not include a motorized snow vehicle or a street car; (“véhicule”)
Well there you have it, ladies and gentleman, children of all ages, inline skates are vehicles, just like bicycles, farm tractors, and motor vehicles. How so? Well they are a 'vehicle propelled by muscular power'. Oh, and irate motorists who curse me for taking up an entire lane, just an FYI, I am obeying the law, when you cut me off and come dangerously close to hitting me, you are driving carelessly, which is an offence:
Every person is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly who drives a vehicle or street car on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and in addition his or her licence or permit may be suspended for a period of not more than two years. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 130.
I had been planning to talk more about much of my experiences on bike or skate are like the weekend warrior (read: tamed) version of Sigrid's, but instead I find myself going into a tirade against car drivers. But then car drivers need a good tirade, or ten directed at them, so many of them are just so bad at it.
I am at war with my material possessions, and frankly, I'm loosing! (Little wonder I want to burn my house down sometimes.)
I was reading Sigrid Ziegler's column (see what I'm reading on the right) from May 8, Get a License. I have lost count of the number of drivers (and on occasion pedestrians) who have cursed at me or worse while skating and frankly the situation as a cyclist is only marginally better. To be fair I think most motorists are actually rather impressed that someone is skating to their office job to be a... wait for it... systems analyst, yes that's right kids, by day (Monday to Friday) Michael works in an office with a shirt and and a B. Math and a M. Eng, by night Michael is a skater! (Or cyclist.) The sad fact is though, for every compliment there is a slam, and when it is me with a 200g helmet or the driver with a two ton SUV, if they get pissed at me, I get scared.
I want a big sign on my skate bag that says: "I get better gas mileage than you, so piss off! Besides, you're fat and I'm exercising!"
In the Saturday Globe and Mail there was mention of a possible cyclist union for Toronto, sounds great, where do I sign up? I heard a story that some time ago there was talk of adding a bike lane to some road in the East End, but then some West End Councillor objected and that was that. I think the fundamental problem is one of philosophy, we live in a car crazy culture, but if we were willing to toss the gas guzzlers and get out and ride - or skate - besides cleaner air and less money to those filthy oil barons we would all be healthier and probably a lot less stressed from the commute to work. I sure hate riding (or worse, skating) in the rain, but my worst ride in the rain was still a bajillion times better than driving in rush hour Toronto traffic.
Here's a random thought, the Ontario Highway Traffic Act does not, at least not anywhere that I could find, define a bike as an equivalent to a car. My bad, found it (section 1.1):
“vehicle” includes a motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor, road-building machine, bicycle and any vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of power, including muscular power, but does not include a motorized snow vehicle or a street car; (“véhicule”)
Well there you have it, ladies and gentleman, children of all ages, inline skates are vehicles, just like bicycles, farm tractors, and motor vehicles. How so? Well they are a 'vehicle propelled by muscular power'. Oh, and irate motorists who curse me for taking up an entire lane, just an FYI, I am obeying the law, when you cut me off and come dangerously close to hitting me, you are driving carelessly, which is an offence:
Every person is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly who drives a vehicle or street car on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and in addition his or her licence or permit may be suspended for a period of not more than two years. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 130.
I had been planning to talk more about much of my experiences on bike or skate are like the weekend warrior (read: tamed) version of Sigrid's, but instead I find myself going into a tirade against car drivers. But then car drivers need a good tirade, or ten directed at them, so many of them are just so bad at it.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
On Upgrades
Is there a man on this planet who does not think of ways to spend money to improve something? For me, it used to be computers, the dream was to have a Pentium 120 with a whole 16MB of RAM and a 1GB hard drive, good god, that was a dream machine? (!) Since I could not afford that, I upgraded my 386 DX-33 from 4MB to 8MB, that was... actually a long time ago, 1994/'95.
I've long since given up on the notion of having the latest and greatest computer. Frankly after spending eight or ten hours on the computer at the office the last thing I want to do is concentrate mental effort on systems. (Besides with a near unlimited budget the company is sure to have a better PC for me than I could possibly buy, or upgrade, for myself.) This isn't to say I don't think about upgrading equipment from the company budget, new routers, switches, firewalls, WAN links, but I digress.
Over the last few years I used to spend a lot of time dreaming up ways to make my skates better. The problem is, I cannot anymore. I have Magnesium frames, Swiss Ceramic bearings, 110mm wheels, Custom boots. I could argue that the three point frames or the 110mm wheels are redundant or overkill, the boots might not be the best fit, or something else, but frankly those skates are about as good as you can get. It makes the skates kind of boring actually, if there is no way to improve them then all I can discuss is my own technique (which does need work, I know that!) but I'm a technical person, I like to think of ways to make the technology better.
Fortunately I have other things to dream of upgrading (yes hardwood with a runner on the stairs, and hardwood in the third bedroom... oh and Ocean View shutters throughout, I love Ocean View shutters.) But I was actually thinking of my bike, the Roubaix. So here is my thoughts on it, and I do welcome comments because I am really striking out into largely unknown territory, for me. First all components are Shimano 105s, but I was thinking of upgrading to Ultegra in the following order:
I've long since given up on the notion of having the latest and greatest computer. Frankly after spending eight or ten hours on the computer at the office the last thing I want to do is concentrate mental effort on systems. (Besides with a near unlimited budget the company is sure to have a better PC for me than I could possibly buy, or upgrade, for myself.) This isn't to say I don't think about upgrading equipment from the company budget, new routers, switches, firewalls, WAN links, but I digress.
Over the last few years I used to spend a lot of time dreaming up ways to make my skates better. The problem is, I cannot anymore. I have Magnesium frames, Swiss Ceramic bearings, 110mm wheels, Custom boots. I could argue that the three point frames or the 110mm wheels are redundant or overkill, the boots might not be the best fit, or something else, but frankly those skates are about as good as you can get. It makes the skates kind of boring actually, if there is no way to improve them then all I can discuss is my own technique (which does need work, I know that!) but I'm a technical person, I like to think of ways to make the technology better.
Fortunately I have other things to dream of upgrading (yes hardwood with a runner on the stairs, and hardwood in the third bedroom... oh and Ocean View shutters throughout, I love Ocean View shutters.) But I was actually thinking of my bike, the Roubaix. So here is my thoughts on it, and I do welcome comments because I am really striking out into largely unknown territory, for me. First all components are Shimano 105s, but I was thinking of upgrading to Ultegra in the following order:
- Rear derailleur
- cassette
- front derailleur
- crankset
- levers
Or, it occurs to me, I could just go to an online American retailer and get all of the above for a fraction the price of what a Toronto area bike shop would charge. Well researching this article gave me something new to dream about, but not right now, I desperately need bike shorts. Well actually what I desperately need is the half height wall in the basement so we can decide where the T.V. ought to go.
Okay, having just written about the Earthquake in Sichuan, it occurs to me, I should say I don't need a damned thing, there are people who need things, like water, food and medicine, and they legitimately desperately need.
I would very much like to have, but I can wait.
Friday, May 16, 2008
On Part Names
I completely forgot to mention, I found a handy web site for people like me who cannot remember the names of bike parts. Besides that looks like a pretty sweet ride.
On Living Without Oil
Monday I skated to work, and skated home.
Tuesday I skated to work, skated home, then skated to my parents, picked up my old Coppi 12 speed road bike (I'll post some pictures one of these days, the bike, I bought used in 1994 and it is still a sweet ride) and rode home.
Wednesday I rode the Coppi to work and as predicted, it rained that evening on the ride home (hence the older bike and not the skates.)
Thursday I rode my Roubaix to work, then after work rode it to the bike store for routine maintenance, then I skated home. (In the interests of full disclosure, I then drove back downtown to pickup Lesley and we went out to dinner not far away from home.)
Friday I skated to work, at three I went to the bike store picked up my Roubaix, bought a guard for the chain stay, a larger under saddle pouch and an inner tube - still not at all confident about my tube changing abilities but at least I have a spare tube now. Then I biked home.
I have to work late tonight (Friday), so I skated back to the office. (I am going to take a Taxi home, but given that I don't expect to be going home before midnight, I think that the Taxi ride can't be all that bad can it?)
When last I checked the weather for the long weekend ahead it was supposed to rain on Saturday and Sunday. Therefore I will spend Saturday cleaning the house and Sunday cleaning my skates, Monday I am going to go ride to Burlington and back, one thing I should add, Wednesday I gave blood so that bike ride to Burlington could be difficult. Lesley is out with her girlfriends in Quebec - all my good work, not driving lost in one road trip. Sigh. I have not yet achieved my goal of an oil free existence, but I am getting closer.
In other news, the father of a friend of mine recently passed away. I am sorry about that. I was going to make a modest donation, however I spent my donation money on the Chinese Earthquake Victims. I am not sure how long that link will last, but I urge my readers to please consider giving, I would have rather donated through MSF but they don't have the option of 'give all my donation to the people in China' and while events in Burma (I won't call that country by the name the Junta want it called) are probably far worse, the fact that at the moment all aid going there is sitting on a tarmac in Ragoon is disgusting, and wasteful. At least my modest help will, I hope, go to someone in China who so desperately needs it.
I was asked recently who I thought would win the election, so here it is in writing, (assuming no assassination). I give Obama a 95% odds of winning, I'll give Clinton 4% and the remaining 1% is that a hundred million Americans loose their mind and vote for a continuation of Bush politics under an angry white guy from Arizona. Six months from now you get to laugh at me or I get to say, I told you so! But in all my talking to Americans, people from Atlanta GA to Rochester NY, the anger and disgust at and with the current administration is, justifiably, huge. Their country -the greatest country in the World! - was stolen and all they have left is a lot of bad debts, lost retirement savings, an impossible war in a far away country, rampant unemployment and no health care. Americans, please, for your own good, as well as everyone else's vote for Obama, he's your last, best chance to breath new life into those beautiful ideals of Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison and Jay.
Tuesday I skated to work, skated home, then skated to my parents, picked up my old Coppi 12 speed road bike (I'll post some pictures one of these days, the bike, I bought used in 1994 and it is still a sweet ride) and rode home.
Wednesday I rode the Coppi to work and as predicted, it rained that evening on the ride home (hence the older bike and not the skates.)
Thursday I rode my Roubaix to work, then after work rode it to the bike store for routine maintenance, then I skated home. (In the interests of full disclosure, I then drove back downtown to pickup Lesley and we went out to dinner not far away from home.)
Friday I skated to work, at three I went to the bike store picked up my Roubaix, bought a guard for the chain stay, a larger under saddle pouch and an inner tube - still not at all confident about my tube changing abilities but at least I have a spare tube now. Then I biked home.
I have to work late tonight (Friday), so I skated back to the office. (I am going to take a Taxi home, but given that I don't expect to be going home before midnight, I think that the Taxi ride can't be all that bad can it?)
When last I checked the weather for the long weekend ahead it was supposed to rain on Saturday and Sunday. Therefore I will spend Saturday cleaning the house and Sunday cleaning my skates, Monday I am going to go ride to Burlington and back, one thing I should add, Wednesday I gave blood so that bike ride to Burlington could be difficult. Lesley is out with her girlfriends in Quebec - all my good work, not driving lost in one road trip. Sigh. I have not yet achieved my goal of an oil free existence, but I am getting closer.
In other news, the father of a friend of mine recently passed away. I am sorry about that. I was going to make a modest donation, however I spent my donation money on the Chinese Earthquake Victims. I am not sure how long that link will last, but I urge my readers to please consider giving, I would have rather donated through MSF but they don't have the option of 'give all my donation to the people in China' and while events in Burma (I won't call that country by the name the Junta want it called) are probably far worse, the fact that at the moment all aid going there is sitting on a tarmac in Ragoon is disgusting, and wasteful. At least my modest help will, I hope, go to someone in China who so desperately needs it.
I was asked recently who I thought would win the election, so here it is in writing, (assuming no assassination). I give Obama a 95% odds of winning, I'll give Clinton 4% and the remaining 1% is that a hundred million Americans loose their mind and vote for a continuation of Bush politics under an angry white guy from Arizona. Six months from now you get to laugh at me or I get to say, I told you so! But in all my talking to Americans, people from Atlanta GA to Rochester NY, the anger and disgust at and with the current administration is, justifiably, huge. Their country -the greatest country in the World! - was stolen and all they have left is a lot of bad debts, lost retirement savings, an impossible war in a far away country, rampant unemployment and no health care. Americans, please, for your own good, as well as everyone else's vote for Obama, he's your last, best chance to breath new life into those beautiful ideals of Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison and Jay.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
On Goals
I have done it! From my home at Woodbine Ave. near Queen Street, to Mississauga is 25km, according to a sign in Mississauga it is about 20km further to Oakvile, well today, at long last I have crossed Mississauga. I reached Winston Churchill Blvd. pushed the pedestrian button at the light at the intersection of Lakeshore Blvd and Winston Churchill Blvd, turned around, faced to the East and read a sign that welcomed me to Mississauga and biked home.
Alright enough celebrating, next goal: Burlington. (Actually on Lakeshore as I was headed West some bikers from Toronto caught up with me, they were going to Grimsby... hmmm, if I had a better saddle I could probably do Grimsby, mind you I really better learn basic bike repair first before I try a 140km ride.)
I am in nine different kinds of pain, and my rear end is in about a million different kinds of pain, riding is literally a pain in the ass, but the feeling of conquering a goal, no matter how modest, is always uplifting.
Alright enough celebrating, next goal: Burlington. (Actually on Lakeshore as I was headed West some bikers from Toronto caught up with me, they were going to Grimsby... hmmm, if I had a better saddle I could probably do Grimsby, mind you I really better learn basic bike repair first before I try a 140km ride.)
I am in nine different kinds of pain, and my rear end is in about a million different kinds of pain, riding is literally a pain in the ass, but the feeling of conquering a goal, no matter how modest, is always uplifting.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
On An Amendum
So it turns out there will be a number of inline races this weekend. As I already feel stretched, thanks to the new home, past the breaking point, financially speaking, I have decided to go for a bike ride with my brother, rather than pay a race entry fee. (This is quite an achievement as he is a marathon runner and I'm a skater, we are meeting in the middle ground I suppose.) This weekend's goal, Oakville or bust!
In other news, I have Internet Access!! Yippee, no more stealing weak signals from the neighbours! And in other news, we have a central vac! Now if only we finished unpacking so we could clean the mess.
Recently I made a list of items I need the contractor to do for us:
In other news, I have Internet Access!! Yippee, no more stealing weak signals from the neighbours! And in other news, we have a central vac! Now if only we finished unpacking so we could clean the mess.
Recently I made a list of items I need the contractor to do for us:
- change out pot lights for compact fluorescent lights
- humidifier on furnace
- wall mounts for TVs (location to be decided by Lesley)
- surge suppressor attached to electrical panel
- mount bike racks in the garage if that ever gets finished (still waiting on the builder for a garage)
- timed motion sensor for the cat litter exhaust fan
- blue walls in 2'nd bath (just a paint job)
- fix damage I did with dad in basement parlour (attempt at putting up curtain)
- hardwood in second bed and open space on second floor
- California shutters throughout
- engineered hardwood in basement parlour
- finish painting (after we complete move in from old home, large furniture was left for staging)
- A half height wall in the basement parlour at the entrance to the house.
I really need to win the lottery!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
