Take The Long Way Home

I wonder how many people, upon seeing the title of this post, will automatically have the Supertramp song playing in their head?

I had a meeting downtown and when I left the building a strong gust of wind almost took my helmet off my head-and I had done up the straps. I decided to avoid Portage and Main, reportedly Canada's windiest intersection, in favour of a route through St. Boniface.

My ride took me past the construction site of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. I am all for human rights. Building a museum dedicated to the cause is fine by me too. What I object to is the monstrosity of a white elephant that is going up here. (You can see the artists conception of its exterior on the main page of the link provided.) It is supposedly going to cost millions of taxpayer dollars every year for upkeep alone. The idea makes my blood boil. I can't help but think about how much housing you can provide for homeless people for that amount. How about providing meal programs at schools and drop-in programs for disadvantaged and at-risk children? Improved access to care for those with mental health issues? The list goes on, but I shan't, since this is supposed to be celebrating Summer Games. (Deep cleansing breath.)
On to the Esplanade Riel. When the Provencher Bridge was re-built, the city had a contest to name the pedestrain portion and someone came up with Esplanade. It was adopted, amazingly enough, with very little fuss from the populace at large. Quite an amazing feat for this city. I think it is a cool name and it suits it well.After I left the bridge I turned onto Tache and cycled past St. Boniface Cathedral. Many people remember the night it caught fire and burned to the stone walls, and are still saddened by it.
The rest of my ride meandered through old neighbourhoods, down streets with names like Eugenie, DesMeurons, and Vivian before connecting again with St Mary's Road for the last leg home. And mosquitoes can't land you when you are creating your own breeze!

We Don't Often See Your Type Here!

This woman rode by my office this afternoon. The skirt guards caught my eye-not many bikes around here have them. And it has what looks like a full chain case too. The handlebars are not the type used on beach cruisers, and she has a basket. In-hub gearing. I couldn't see the brand of bicycle; there isn't enough contrast between the print and the paint colour. Hmmmm. I am intrigued. I hope I see her again so I can ask talk to her. We riders of proper lady bicycles need to get to know each other.

Why Would I Drive?

We are well into construction season in Winnipeg. The Jubilee overpass has been closed for about six weeks now while they rehabilitate it (that makes it sounds like it committed a major crime). And sometime over the last week, they have reduced traffic on Jubilee itself to one lane in each direction.

Cars are backed up both ways because of equipment moving around, and, well, because of the lane closures. I just scoot by (illegally, on the sidewalk, but I am pretending it is the mixed-use path they are promising for later this year) while the cars crawl along. One of my co-workers said it took her 45 minutes to travel two blocks. I do not have the tolerance for that kind of nonsense, but it takes all kinds to make a world. And I repeat that, and other cautionary advice, to myself constantly.

This is my fourth attempt at a panoramic shot of the mayhem, and even it is not optimal. The wind kept jostling me so I figured this one would do.
And this is a view from the other side of the street.
This is supposed to last until sometime in September. I wonder if anyone will become a different type of commuter because of it? I can only hope.

A Different Type Of Bike

I have ridden many types of bicycles in my life- Canadian bikes all- but I have never ridden an Icelandic bicycle. (I guess this means I have another entry for Dottie and Trisha's Summer Games!)We signed up for a tour of Reykjavik with Reykjavik Bike Tours and I was tickled to find that they also name their bikes.: good Icelandic names like Helga, Kristjan, Guðmunder, and Magnus.
Kristen and Sigriður are common names in my grandmother's family tree and Sigriður was my ride for our tour.
The guide, Stefan, was very knowledgable about the history of Iceland as well as the current political and financial situation and we heard many amusing stories.
There were only three of us on the tour, a very pleasant young man from Boston, and the Geek and I.
Despite the fact it was the one rainy evening on our visit, we had a very good time.
At the end of the ride, we adjourned to a nearby cafe for some wonderfully hot lobster soup. Fully warmed, we walked back to our guesthouse with a greater understanding of the city.

Reykjavik Bike Culture

Reykjavik is trying hard to make itself a bike-friendly city. Sharrow are used in many places, and their frequency increases on places like corners and right hand turns where the lanes split to remind you a cyclist may be present.

Bicycles are rarely locked to anything. A cable lock through a wheel so they can't just be ridden off is the norm. Bicycle in private yards don't seem to be locked at all.
Many bikes have front baskets, or child seats, or both.
And some are just pretty.

Very Determined

We saw many cyclists riding the Ring Road in Iceland. Most bicycles were loaded with front and rear panniers and packs on the rear rack. I have no idea if their goal was to ride the entire ring road, or if they each had a separate destination in mind.
We also saw one unicyclist as he walked his bike up a 10% grade, near Vik I think, but I was too slow to photograph him, or notice many details. We saw him again the next day as we returned to Reykjavik. He was a little further down the road and cars thankfully were giving him a wide berth as he wobbled along with a full pack on his back. Alas, still no picture, but you have to admire his spunk. This road would be challenging enough on two wheels, never mind one.

No Black in Canada

Eselin, on the shores of Lake Backlane, models her new Basil Basonyl panniers. I ordered them in black, but apparently Fourth Floor cannot find a black set anywhere in Canada, so Anders at Naturalcycle asked if another colour would do. I said anything but white would be fine. He did a good job at the second choice as these ones are very understated and suit Eselin quite nicely.
A performance review will have to wait until the second coat of paint on her racks has fully cured.