Reconnaissance Ride – Saturday 28th February 2009

Ride report from Ed Schum

“What a happy group. There were 18 of us altogether enjoying a nice ride in the sunny countryside.

We started at the Lewis Centre, rode bravely across the 5th Street Bridge and to the Museum, where we had to fix a flat tire. Then on to one of the few roundabouts in the Valley at Willemar and Cumberland roads.

There are cycling paths between the streets going to and from the roundabout, which help if cyclists want to make a 90 degree turn to the right, but not if they want to turn 180 or 270 degrees.

I hope our Coalition will be able to work with the planners before any more roundabouts are installed.

This was one of the cleaner sections of the rural roads we rode on, the shoulders on most of them are in bad need of a sweeping.

Shall we take brooms along next time…or get our Road Maintenance Committee to talk to the MOT?

We rode to Union Road just before Cumberland, then back on Royston Road to Minto, along Minto to Fraser and that’s where the group started to split up with different people going their own way.

Some of us ended up at Tim Hortons on Cliffe Avenue, whilst others went to Bean Around the World Café on 4th Street.

Hopefully we will get even more members out to these rides in future.

If there are more than 10 riders, we should split the group up and arrange for a place to meet at the end of the ride.

What did we learn from the ride?

* 5th Street, going west after crossing the rail road appears to be wide enough for a cycling lane.
* Any roundabouts installed in future should consider cyclists.
* Rural roads badly need sweeping.
* Split group when it gets to over 10 riders.
* Arrange for a place to meet after the ride.

Next ride will be Saturday, March 7, Meet at the Lewis Centre at 1 pm.

Let me know if there is a particular area you would want us to look at, otherwise I suggest we ride the Veteran’s Memorial Parkway, Ryan Road, Little River area and back.

See you then – Ed”