Why chainguards are useful

Most bikes today don't have chainguards.  Older bikes did, and they also came fully loaded with fenders, bells, chainguards, baskets.  During the last few decades, bicycles were considered a 'sport' item, so stripped down to basics.  They were not considered 'transportation'.

When I bought my bike, I had to buy 'accessories' like fenders, etc.  But I still have no chainguard.  Is it even possible to put a chainguard on a bike like mine?  I ripped my pants the other day because of that.  Thankfully, I have a seamstress who fixed it.  She did a pretty good job I think.

Still, there is the black chain marks on my pants.  I like how one bicycle blogger commented how he would like a black chain mark tattoo, but that he gets them free every day!  :)

I could wear bike shorts all the time, but that's not me.  I like biking casual, except for long distance touring.  Anyone else have this problem?  Can you put a chainguard on a hybrid bike or other bikes that don't have them?  I've seen dutch bikes and other bikes have them and I like them! Are they heavy?

Hopefully I won't tear the pants again, but not having a chainguard makes it hard to wear any pants...especially ones with a wide bottom on legs.  I had to tuck my pants in my socks when I biked back from Salmon Valley, to keep them from getting caught on chain and water bottle.

Evening ride

I like Spring evenings.  The days are getting longer so I don't want to always stay home after work.  Since we've had awesome weather (18 c 54 f) and the blossoms are out, I thought I'd enjoy a casual ride around town.

Here's Connaught Youth Centre, where I used to go to Air Cadets when I was a teenager.  Someone painted a nice mural on the wall, it shows our city.

Got to have a photo of me bicycling, so here it is, well, an evening shadow of me and my bike!

This is the older part of the city, and it's one of my favourite areas, with it's character houses and big trees lining the streets.

And this is Fort George Park.  When I was growing up in the 70's there really was a fort in it, but it burned down.  Great park for events and just hanging around.  The heritage trail goes through here too.

I hope the good weather stays for the Victoria Day weekend, which is next weekend.  I want to bike out with friends to Purden Lake, which is 65 kms out of town.   Would stay the night and then bike back, for a total of 130 kms!

And after that is Bike to Work Week which is from May 30-Jun 6., which I can't wait for.  I was going to volunteer, but they are only keeping booths open till 11am, and I will be at work in the mornings.  :(

Photographs from back in time

I've always loved taking photographs.  Before digital, I had a Canon Sureshot film camera.  Sometimes I'd  practice with b&w film.  This is a photo from 1999, taken at English Bay in Vancouver.  Think it might have been the polar bear swim.  I love digital now though as you can make any photo b&w etc...experimenting is fun! Still, I do miss film sometimes.

Candid birds shots..

My birds are so photogenic!  

 

For Gobo, it's ALL about the scritches.  She really lives for them!

Salmon Valley 80 km ride and some nostalgia

I biked the most that I've ever biked at one time!  I rode a total of 81 kms (49 miles).  I left town at 10ish in the morning and returned home at 3:05pm. Just after leaving Salmon Valley on my way back to the City, a sporty cyclist passed me (and said hi), so not the only one out there today on the roads.  When I got back into town, I didn't go straight home, I took the long way via the Cottonwood/Heritage trail.

Here's some of the Salmon Valley area that I explored.  I was here last year in June, but I didn't return to town in the same day.  The river is the Salmon River which is a great place to swim in the Summer.

Now for the nostalgia part.  Since I was in the area, I biked to our second home in Prince George, on the Northern end of town.  Our family lived here from 1979-1995 (I moved out in 1989)  I dropped by some old friends of my Sister, and they were so happy to see me!  They say 'hi' to the family.  And here's our house that Dad helped build...those were good days..good area and lots of trails to hike around on.

All in all an awesome day, despite how sore I am now.  It was worth going out, and I won't have to go on the hike tommorrow.  This was a much more interesting trip and will get me ready for the 65km (each way) ride to Purden on the Victoria Day Weekend (22-24 of May) and the long bike ride to Jasper this summer where the average distance ridden will be a staggering 110 kms!!  (68 miles)