Not a Cycling Path

Ottawa is know for its scenic pathways. The National Capital Commission maintains 300km of pathways through out the region. These are excellent multi-use pathways popular with all manner of folk recreating in just about every imaginable way. Runers, joggers, recreational cyclists, commuters, dog walkers all use and enjoy the pathways in relative harmony. The city of Ottawa has built and is building more pathways as well, on city land, through Hydro cuts and disused railway rights of ways.

The Rideau River Nature Trail is one such project, seaking city funds.

Rideau River Nature Trail 

It is a great initiative, complementing the Rideau River Eastern Pathway. Connecting several parks; Strathcona and Dutchy's Hole parks in the north, Springhurst, Brantwood and Windsor parks to the south. The neighbourhoods of Sandy Hill, Old Ottawa East and Old Ottawa South would also be connected. This would be a great complement to Ottawa's pathway networks.

There are of course several hurdles to overcome before this pathway can be completed. There is the construction of a stadium at the Ottawa U. Lees campus which has temporarly blocked access to the only pedestrian bridge across the Rideau River and access to the Sandy Hill pathway.

North End of Brantwood Park

Pathway Under Transitway

There is the flood prone connection under the Transitway, a yet to be acquired right of way through the privately held Oblate land, between Springhurst and Brantwood parks. There is also a grading issue at either end of Brantwood Park. Still, some work has been done and a small section of pathway has been constructed in Springhurst Park.

New Pathway in Springhurst Park

One small complaint, this is not a pathway suitable for cycling. The stone-dust treatment for the pathway was chosen specifically to discourage cyclists, especially fast commuter cyclists. The desire for a slow-speed nature focused trail is understandable, but I feel misguided. 

Likely Route Already Established

The truth is this is already a popular cycling route. With many families riding through the park despite the poor surface.

Cycling Through Brantwood Park

Lots of Children Cycle to the Park

Not only Cyclists Use the Pathways Scooters Too

Despite Obvious Barriers Cyclists Still Come

I hope this project receives priority and is completed in the next few years. It will be a valuable link between local parks and neighbourhoods. Regardless of the surface treatment I see this being popular with local cyclists, of all ages. If the stone-dust treatment lowers cost and speeds construction, fine. I can accept compromises but if the rational is to discourage cyclists, I would encourage the planers to choose a more durable and cycling friendly surface. No matter what the cyclists will be there.

Teaching and Learning

With Darling Daughter's new bike we've been riding together a lot more. These rides haven't gone exactly as I expected, for one thing riding with a nine year old has taught me more then I've managed to teach her. So, while not every ride has been a Great Day, they have all been pretty good.
The first thing I've learned how much I take for granted. There is a lot going on when you are riding a bike; balance, steering, pedalling, control and brakes. On top of this is of course situation awareness and route planning. All of these skills transfer from conscious efforts that require focus and attention to automatic, almost unconscious skills, but it takes time.
When Darling Daughter was riding with the Fast and Female ambassadors, she did great. She was riding smoothly, following instructions and trying new things. Basic skills, like braking, riding with one hand and riding beside another rider. I expected the ride home to be more difficult, on account of distance and her being tired, but it wasn't. Our next outing together wasn't so smooth of course, and I was not sure why.
A little reflectiion on the wrinkles, and I think I know why this other shorter trip was more trouble, it was more complicated. The ride home from the Fast and Female event was almost entirely on multi-use pathways. When we had to leave the pathways the street we joined was closed to cars for Alcatel-Lucent Sunday Bikedays. I also gave clear directions well in advance. The other ride was on local streets, joining a busy MUP and back to local streets. I didn`t give Darling Daughter much notice of route changes. Even when I gave her instructions clearly and in advance, crossing sidewalks or roads was confusing and difficult.
She survived that trip and we`ve had had several successful rides since, I`d love to give her the freedom that I had as a nine year old, unfortunately that is not going to happen. For now we`ll ride together, I`ll keep teaching signals and skills, and we`ll keep to quiet roads and paths for a while longer still.

A Great Day

Sunday May 20 was a bright and sunny day, between two elite cycling races in Gateneau PQ. With several elite level female athletes in town, Fast and Female sponsored an event for girls 9 and up. This was a chance to meet up with some accomplished women athletes hear some inspiring stories. Go for a ride for ride and practice some cycling skills.

I signed Darling Daughter up, and myself as a parent volunteer. We finagled a ride across the river to the event but planned on riding home. The event was very good. We had a bi-lingual introductory presentation. The girls were divided into groups and worked on girl power themed posters, it was very cute, being possibly the only male parent volunteer I did my best to stay out of the way. Then we went out for an hour-long ride. I was very impressed by both of the ambassadors who guided our little group. I was even more impressed with Darling Daughter, she's still not completely comfortable on her new bike, and an hour ride is long, for a nine year old. She did great, riding up and down hills, following instructions and doing drills. The ambassadors had the girls practice changing gears, riding with one hand, emergency stops, riding two abreast and touching the rider beside them. It was fun.

After the ride there were more presentations and a dance (zumba). Darling Daughter really enjoyed then event, Cath and Jenny (our ambassadors) were great and made a positive impression.

When the event finished up we set off for home. It wasn't the most direct route but we were able to take multi-use recreational paths all the way home. It was great.

A New Bike!

I bought a new bike this weekend. It wasn't my first choice of bike, honestly it wasn't even my second choice. That is O.K. it's not a bike for me.

My Darling Daughter has outgrown her 20" "Cream Soda", truthfully she had outgrown it last year.

Darling Daughter's Purple 20" Cream Soda

A 24" bike would work for her, but not for long. That is the trouble with kids is they keep growing, and parents are always trying to plan ahead. I am a "Serious"* cyclist so I looked for a suitable road style bike, preferably a cyclocross bike. There was some trepidation because last fall Darling Daughter borrowed a Redline Conquest 24 and participated in a local cyclocross race. This wasn't a spectacular success, the race was a bit much for her. Still, I remembered it fondly. I found a bike that I thought would be perfect at REI, the Novara Pulse a small frame cyclocross bike sitting on 26" wheels. I was excited, this would be the perfect bike. 

Of course it wasn't the perfect bike at all. Its first and fatal flaw was it only existed on a website  Darling Daughter  couldn't see or touch it. It is hard to get excited about a smallish picture of a bike. The next flaw was price, it seemed expensive. While other options would turn out to be more expensive, they didn't have the additional problem of cross border shipping. I was negotiating successfully, making progress against the objections and building enthusiasm when the Novara Pulse sold out. Well, that was a set back, and a blow to internet shopping. All was not lost, the whole family visited a local bike emporium and proceeded to check out actual physical bikes. This confirmed what I already knew, 24" bikes had no room to grow into. 700c bikes were to tall and 26" wheel bikes were as Goldilocks would say "just right". And Darling Daughter fell in love with one bike in particular. 

Darling Daughters new Trek 820

Not my first choice, but it is not my bike. It is miles better then the little 20" bike, as it fits. We've already had longer rides and she is really enjoying it. So a hardy welcome to the newist bike in the family fleet.

* not backed up in results of any sort.