Biked home in the snow tonight. Yup. 14 km.
Other than a few frozen eyelashes, I was warm; thankfully yesterday morning's headwind adventures taught me to remember my proper biking boots and a few extra layers to add/shed as needed. And Claudio Monteverdi carried me through to Queensway and Islington, where my iPhone finally died. But boy, was it ever tough going... cold, wet flakes stinging my eyes, slow skidding tires all the way home: My 42-minute ride took nearly an hour and half!
It didn't help that some drivers seem compelled to share their personal (uninformed) perspective on winter biking with me while whizzing past way too close; one charming fellow -- all the commentators were men driving large vehicles, as an aside -- rolled do the window of his SUV and yelled out some obscenity to me as he splattered past on the Dundas turn-off to the 427.
Other than a few frozen eyelashes, I was warm; thankfully yesterday morning's headwind adventures taught me to remember my proper biking boots and a few extra layers to add/shed as needed. And Claudio Monteverdi carried me through to Queensway and Islington, where my iPhone finally died. But boy, was it ever tough going... cold, wet flakes stinging my eyes, slow skidding tires all the way home: My 42-minute ride took nearly an hour and half!
It didn't help that some drivers seem compelled to share their personal (uninformed) perspective on winter biking with me while whizzing past way too close; one charming fellow -- all the commentators were men driving large vehicles, as an aside -- rolled do the window of his SUV and yelled out some obscenity to me as he splattered past on the Dundas turn-off to the 427.
I responded with an equally hostile tone, and added some choice words for good measure. While I'm doing my best to stay reasonably fit and trying to offset my carbon footprint at least somewhat (yes, even on snowy, crazy days like today), it would be helpful if my car-driving fellow planet dwellers could simply move over a bit as they're passing, or least just drive by and keep their horns quiet and their mouths shut. What I don't need while I'm biking by as safely as I can under extremely challenging conditions is you to roll down your window and spontaneously share your personal opinion about winter cyclists, or give me a naive lecture about helmets, or yell at me to get off the "#%^&*@!" road and scream at me about road use and right of way (last time I checked, the tax rate I pay for roads and infrastructure is the same as yours!!)
I supplemented my angry verbal response with an appropriately-paired hand gesture, though admittedly, since I was wearing mittens, the effect may have been lost on the guy.
I supplemented my angry verbal response with an appropriately-paired hand gesture, though admittedly, since I was wearing mittens, the effect may have been lost on the guy.
Once home, I left my trusty steed to drip dry onto the floor while Simon and I walked over to the Indian place for dinner. It (the bike, not the curry) made a pretty good mess, but was easily cleaned up with a rag and a bit of warm water after we got home.
A fun adventure for sure, but I can't say I'm not glad to be taking the bus to work tomorrow!
A fun adventure for sure, but I can't say I'm not glad to be taking the bus to work tomorrow!
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