Scenes from the Cold: Toronto’s Coldest Day of the Year Ride 2010
Brr!
As part of Bike Winter, the city of Toronto hosted the Coldest Day of the Year Ride on Saturday, January 30th, 2010.
I bundled up in my down jacket, long johns, ski gloves and scarf and hopped on my Globe to join the ride.
While the weather did finally cool down to winter temperatures, it certainly doesn’t look like the end of January in Toronto. Where are the snowbanks? Where’s the slush?
I arrive just a few minutes before noon and find parking at a premium:
If you want to know what’s big for cycling in 2010… it’s yellow, and lots of it:
There’s two little ones all bundled up in there:
Excuse me, Joe, can you tell me which way we’re supposed to go? Thanks:
Just a few weeks earlier and Grenadier Pond would have been covered with ice skaters:
Just after we passed under the Gardiner Expressway and cross over Lakeshore Highway (errr, Boulevard) to the Martin Goodman Trail:
The Pizza Pizza pagoda was closed… but Joe and HappyStuffing wouldn’t be affected by the stink had it been open for business:
Free Hot Chocolate! Thanks!:
The BikingToronto community has been talking a lot about visibility. With a little flash here’s HappyStuffing’s taped up and highly visible ride:
The visibility theme continues with a bright jacket and reflective belt and cuffs… excellent dollar store finds:
Of course, you don’t need day-glo to be visible. Sometimes a suggestive slogan on your rack-mounted crate is all you need:
Okay, enough bicycles for a second. Let’s just enjoy the waterfront view… I’m glad this long stretch isn’t littered with condos (yet):
And seriously, bicycle computer, you’re pretending that it’s much warmer than it is:
Sure, you’ve probably seen this view a million times, but have you seen it by bicycle? Loverly:
The end of the line:
Just as we all arrive at Little Norway Park this guy rolls up and asks the way to Copenhagen:
Posted: January 30th, 2010
Author: duncan
Filed under: Bike Winter, Coldest Day of the Year Ride, cycle chic, Events, Martin Goodman Trail, MEC | 14 Comments »
Joe T.
duncan
Great photos Duncan!
Thanks for the photos Duncan. I really wanted to come and meet you guys but I was at a journalism conference all day.
My tires were almost fully deflated by the time the conference was done – presumably because of how cold it is outside.
Glad you guys had a good ride. Sorry you had to be blinded by all that reflective gear in the middle of the day ;)
Nice bike! It’s it Haul, right?
Thanks guys. It was a really nice ride. Honestly didn’t feel like -17 at all.
John Henry: Yes, it is a Haul: http://bikingtoronto.com/duncan/toronto-glober-globe-haul-1-review/
I agree… didn’t feel like -17… even on my way home I felt not-so-cold.
James, too bad you couldn’t make it, but there are lots of events in warmer months we can meet you at. :)
Not to say James didn’t come because it was cold. Hope your journalism conference was good.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by DuncansCityRide: @TourdeFrank Here’s a few photos of what you missed on the Coldest Day of the Year Ride http://bit.ly/cHBieC...
A few pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56062272@N00/sets/72157623190035213/
Fun stuff yesterday :)
Btw, why didn’t anyone tell me i looked so weird in all my biking clothes?
I love it! Bwhahahaha!
Good seeing you, Duncan, and Joe.T
Rare to ever meet fellow forum friends.
@Happy:
Good to meet you too!
@jnyyz:
Great pics. Thanks for sharing!
Linked to a couple of these on the Main Blog. :)
http://bikingtoronto.com/blog/photos-from-the-coldest-day-of-the-year-ride/
Nice photo of myself and my Pashley. I’ll echo the comments of others: I put on so many layers that I actually was quite warm and comfortable.
Kevin: Nice to put a face to a name, thanks for commenting. Wool is key for warmth I find, and plenty of layers! Although, with this down jacket I’ve been wearing, a t-shirt underneath is just fine, and even them I’m overheating.