Bring it on, Landis! (Tino's Back!)

Natural?
My ass!

The return of Tino... er maybe...

Well folks it has been a blast. Tino should be returning to the centre of the universe any second now. For anyone having any complaints please make sure you help his Monday along by getting him on his first day back. That is of course if he can ride faster than the authorities in PEI...

Thanks to my two partners in mischief, Rick "Where is the Brooklyn Bridge" Conroy and the subject of a much better photoblog at http://ethanedward.blogspot.com/

One can only wonder how long Tino will go on about that American winning the Tour de France.

Is Tino in trouble?

July 28, 2006
CP - Moon County, PEI

Sgt.Paul McCain of the PEI Constabulary in Moon County made a report available today detailing the high number of incidents involving sport utility vehicles and vandalism across PEI. The surge of incidents were first noticed in Moon County almost two weeks ago. The Constabulary do have a description of a possible suspect, described as a male possibly in his late thirties with black hair and about 1.9 metres tall. They also have information that the suspect may be involved in the radical environmental movement and is a noted blogger for a cell in central Canada. While the Constabulary had this information early on a communication problem led members in other counties to look for a flogger. Several Catholic priests were taken in for interrogation across PEI in error. The Archbishop of Summerside William McCain has called for an apology and investigation. On Friday night a Constable in downtown Charlottetown reportedly spotted the suspect riding a bicycle in company of a female and gave chase. The chase was short lived as the Constable had trouble with the all wheel drive cruiser he was using. An investigation is now underway to determine if the Constable's cruiser was tampered with by the suspect or if he simply ran out of gas. An embarrassed Chief Constable Willie Brown called on all citizens to be on the look out for the suspect. The Chief Constable has set up a hot line for any tips on the whereabouts of the suspect, that number is 902-892-1892. The Chief Constable did not comment on reports that the Premiere has privately asked him to resign.

Praise the Lord Critical Mass is here.

July's CM sure brought out some peculiar expressions. Some look like love and others like "PRAISE THE LORD CM is here". Regardless, good fun had by all. July had me thinking about a verse in a song, "Me so horny! Me love you long time!". Anyways, Praise the Lord for another great CM.

state of the college street lane

[finally, a post from rick!]
College between Spadina and Bathurst has seen some construction lately - some sections (like this one!) are decidedly dangerous..

Get your ass to Critical Mass!

Hey folks, July's CM is already here. So get you ass in gear and meet us at the southeast corner of Bloor St and Spadina Ave Friday (July 2?... too lazy to look at the calendar) for 6pm. Come meet some new friends and check out what Toronto streets would be like without cars.

Landis tell us it is not true!

Stunning news coming from varyng news sources saying a Tour De France rider has tested positive for doping. The Phonak team has suspended Landis.

If it is true it will destroy one of the best Tours ever, some say in 40 years, along with destroying the TdF credibility forever. Very depressing.

Sir! Please step out of your vehicle.

Lately I have read a lot of articles or 'letters to the editor' telling people to get out of their cars. Some go so far as calling people names for driving certain types of vehicles. Others talk about the economical or environmental benefits of doing without a car. All of it is very nice but useless.

Useless in the sense that car use is so ingrained into society, people cannot imagine living without a car. Calling them names or talking about shit they do not care about will get you nowhere. It is time we addressed the major challenges a driver will face without their car. It is huge. None of which will happen overnight. Until that is done it will simply be a lot of hot air that we are expelling. I am all for putting roads on diets thereby forcing people to rethink their transportation options yet we still must take the next step. No easy task, where do you even begin?

On the other hand I think, "why bother". Sooner or later we will run out of oil and we will not have to worry about it at all. Alternative fuel cars are nice but without oil they will not be cheap or nearly as nice as the gas combustion engine. Alternative fuels need a lot of fuel to be created in the first place.

Vrrrooommmm! Vrroooommmmm!

A superb Tour de France, minus the Spainards

This was one of the best Tour de France's in a very long time. There was no telling who was going to win it until the final few days. Floyd Landis had very little name recognition going into the race but his exploits will not be forgotten for a long time.

The only disappointment were the Spainards, namely PEREIRO SIO. He simply gave the Tour to Landis right before the last time trial. Too happy with second place so you concede defeat? The tour is ruined by the last stage, it is symbolic at best. Maybe it it is time that the last stage gets some significant time bonuses to liven things up a bit.

Photo from http://floydlandis.com/blog/

Searching for a cycling friendly Councillor

My son, upon hearing on how good things are in Chicago, took up the challenge of trying to find a cycling friendly Councillor here in Toronto for the upcoming election. He has run into a major stumbling block. The bar has been set so low for City Councillors that he does not think he can dig a hole deep enough to find one.

"There is a turd in my car!!!"

This is an audio ad for one my favourite shows. It provides for another use for the automobile.

Chicago's Bike Plan

In twenty years Toronto's 10-year bike plan just might get started, pretty sad that an American city is putting us to shame. They even have a Mayor fully behind the plan, in fact he is leading the charge to get things done, not one that dons a helmet for one day in June for photo ops.

Lance Armstrong talks about France's soccer team.

"All their players have tested positive for being assholes." -L.Armstrong.

Apparently all of France has a problem with it, hurt feelings and all.

The image is from a website from the New York City called "Assholes at the Wheel", kind of funny. Worth a chuckle or two.

MIA: Lucy wants to know where Ricky is.

Hey anyone see the bum that is supposed to be helping me here? Skeeter you seen him.

Here Ricky is serenading Lucy during a Parking Meter Party. Hopefully someone has the energy to pull a few off before the end of the year.

Cannot get good help anymore.

My mechanic did a number on my Zefal pump, my twenty year old pump. Anyone know if you can buy the end bit that attaches to the valve without having to buy a whole pump?

Amy Gillett: One year ago today.

One year ago today cyclist Amy Gillett was murdered by a car in Germany. She was on a training ride with her Australian team mates five of whom were also injured. The driver had her license for only 4 weeks at the time of collision. Cycling along with running are the only true sports (car racing is not a sport, it is entertainment at best)where the participants are at risk from being killed by a car.

A foundation has been set up to honour Amy Gillett and reduce the number of cyclists killed by cars... imagine I had to write "...reduce the number of drivers killed by cyclists."?

We need a heat break!

How about some nice weather where we can wear our hats. Please! This stuff is awful...or can we at least spread it out?

Advisory to Cyclists - ***High potential for injury or death.***

Advisory to Cyclists

Gerrard St East, between Coxwell Ave and Victoria Park Avenue.

***High potential for injury or death.***

The Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists has been made aware of sewer grates that pose a high potential of injury or death to cyclists along Gerrard St East between Coxwell Avenue and Victoria Park Avenue.

Sewer grates in this area have a gap running parallel to the curb, approximately 55cm from the curb. The gaps range in width from 25mm to 36mm, more than wide enough for a bicycle tire to get caught in. Sewer grates of the same design elsewhere in Toronto have gaps of 10mm. Please see photo below of the sewer grate design in question.

We already have one report of a cyclist getting his wheels caught in this gap in attempt to avoid a driver who swerved toward the cyclist. The cyclist was not injured in this incident but damage did occur to the bicycle.

High potential exists that these sewer grates will catch a bicycle's wheel and catapult the cyclist off the bike and into traffic causing injury or death. We urge extreme caution when riding in this area.

We demand that the City of Toronto immediately reduce the gap of these sewer grates or replace them.

If you are aware of sewer grates in other areas of the City with the same problem please phone Toronto Transportation at 416-338-9999 immediately and report it. We know the City's response time is painfully slow so please get the name of the person you spoke to, please forward this info to arc@respect.to

If you have been injured or suffered property damage by a defective sewer grate or any other road obstruction please follow this link to see what you can do. You must take certain actions within seven days of the occurrence.

http://respect.to/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=LegalInfo.HowToSueTheCity

Tour de France : I can feel the devil walking next to me.

Have you seen him yet? Didi the Devil? He is always there. Sadly, for all of the 300 plus channels I have on the boob tube not one show the TdF other than the CBC in time delay on Sundays. By that time I have read everything on the net. Pretty messed up, anyone's guess on who will take it this year. Pot anyone?

Here Didi is watching Jeannie Longo in Hamilton.

Tino's rental car.

Just received word that Tino had some bad luck with his rental car. He asked for a hybrid but they did not have any due to the high gas prices. They gave him this and he lost it.

The Boss Man is out of town!!!

Tino left his blog in our care as he travels the world. Well me and er the pothead.I wonder if Tino has a good lawyer just in case we get him in a little trouble.

Off To The Beach

My sweeetie and I are off with our courier bags to the East Coast (P.E.I.) for some quiet roads and sand in out toes.

Meanwhile Guest Bloggers will be Rick and Darren.
So watch out.
Thanks Guys!

Have a great July CM and see ya when I get back July 31.

Photo: New River Beach, N.B.

Below the Gardiner

The Other Victim

Two ways to enjoy Le Tour

Ride or play.










Or you could
try the cellphone game

Two ways to breathe

Second photo source:
Google Images.

Two ways to be fast

Second photo source:
Google Images.

The End

Photo by Kevin McBride Near Victoria Park Station.

Two ways to move

More Human Powered Moves (thanks for the photos, Vic!)
Jody
Richard

Time for a long ride

Disgusting

Spotted in
Kensington Market.

Compact

Very cool.

Lego CM !!!

Go!

Awesome & Inspirational

Darren J decided to ride to Ottawa from Toronto for the weekend. Awesome! Read how he did it. (link above)

Stylin' Ideas

On your bike!
More and more people are choosing to cycle to work, but what do you wear if you have an aversion to Lycra and road racing? Paula Cocozza offers some suggestions for the fashion-conscious cyclist

Paula Cocozza - The Guardian
Friday June 30, 2006
Sunglasses
This has nothing to do with whether or not the sun is out. Wear them to keep out flies and all the bits that fall off trees. And wear them because it is a good thing, with a helmet on your head, if people can't see your eyes.
(more in the comments)