Tuesday November 5 – Bike Assist

Michael is away planning his mother’s funeral, preparing her house for sale and wrapping up her affairs.  The kids are at school and it is a cool, but bright, November Day – a good day for a ride.  I read about the Pan Am Path last summer.  The path, when completed next summer, will stretch from the Claireville Conservation Area in the northwest to Pickering.  It will be over 80 kilometres long.  Most of the multi-use trails already exist, but the missing links will be constructed to create a path over 80 kilometres long.  I decided to explore the northwest portion today.

I drove to the Toronto Public Library on Humberwood Boulevard – about 15 minutes from my house where I parked just a minute ride away from a trail entrance.  I rode a kilometre north first to the beginning of the trail  before heading back south and east.  The trail follows the Humber River and passes the Humber Arboretum, Humber College and a William Osler Health Centre.  I rode about 10 kilometres before I came to a road.

Under one of the bridges is a colourful mural.

There were still some colourful leaves on some of the trees.

The signage is very good.  The trails are numbered and distances to roads are given.

When I saw the road I thought I had made a wrong turn so turned back.  However, I still wasn’t certain where to go so I stopped, removed the bungee cord holding my trunk bag on my rack and pulled out my iPad to consult Google maps.  Once I figured out where to go, I replace the iPad, zipped up the bag and was on my way.  I quickly came to a sudden stop.  My inattentiveness and desire to be on my way led to me cycling off with the bungee cord hanging loosely.  It wrapped around the rear cassette.  Fortunately, I have gotten much better at un-clipping my shoes from the pedals and I didn’t fall.

I was able to pull part of the bungee cord out, but the hook was wedged in too tightly between two gears for me to pull it out with my fingers.

Fortunately, I won a CAA membership with Bike Assist in the Let Your Green Show contest.  At the time I didn’t think it would be likely to be of use to me (our van is just three years old) , however, it was very useful today.  I called CAA, told them where I was and half an hour later (just as I was starting to get quite cold) a huge CAA truck pulled up.

I explained what had happened and asked for pliers.  The driver tried to pull the bungee cord out but soon realized a tool would be needed.  He pried the hook out with a screwdriver, then I tried out the bike and there was no damage so I was soon on my way.

I rode a couple kilometres further south, however, I needed to be home by the time Owen arrived from school for lunch so I turned around at Weston Road and headed home.

I hope to return soon to explore more of the trail.  It was sparsely used, which is a shame, because it is a treasure.  Once all the links are complete I hope to ride it end to end.