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Post by mich64 on Nov 18, 2011 1:30:08 GMT
Imec, how fortunate you were to have this opportunity. Wonderful photos. We have never been as far west as B.C. but we sure would like to sometime. Have you spent any time there in the months of January or February? I am always looking for "warmer" winter vacation spots. Cheers, Mich
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Post by imec on Nov 18, 2011 13:36:54 GMT
I'd stay away from Vancouver if you're looking for warmth in Jan/Feb mich. Not particularly warm and nearly always rainy. In fact I considered myself very lucky to get this reasonably sunny day in November. May have slightly better luck with Victoria...
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Post by mich64 on Nov 18, 2011 13:55:13 GMT
Thank you for that information Imec. Sometimes snow is a better alternative than cool temperatures with rain, can feel actually colder. I also wonder about the interior, Okanagan Valley? Have you ever been there? I would imagine cycling in that region would be beautiful to see. Cheers, Mich
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Post by imec on Nov 18, 2011 14:05:44 GMT
I have, but not in Jan/Feb. I would love to ride there! I only took up the sport a year and a half ago so haven't had the chance to ride there yet - but I hope to soon!
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Post by mich64 on Nov 18, 2011 15:57:07 GMT
please remember me when you do, I would like to know more about the region for future reference. I have googled it and read articles and guide books, but it is always more important to hear from someone who shares common interests. Cheers! Mich
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Post by imec on Nov 18, 2011 16:15:06 GMT
It really is very beautiful. I've been there for business several times, played golf and once spent a few says camping and tearing around to the various wineries in my sports car. In many ways it reminds me of southern California - but with no freeways and WAY less people. There's some good dining to be done there - I had a memorable meal at this place last year.
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Post by mich64 on Nov 18, 2011 16:30:16 GMT
So many delicious dishes on the menu of that Restaurant. The view looks beautiful, I can see why you would recommend this place. I look forward to visiting some time in the future! Cheers, Mich
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 18:55:06 GMT
I'm glad you got to ride on one of the few sunny days Vancouver affords. My husband tells me every time he went to Vancouver it was raining. And,what a nice switch in terrain for you from the Prairies. Were the hills in Vancouver a challenge to ride up after riding on flat land all this time? I think I would have great difficulty with hills after all my levee riding. Really great pics,thank you for sharing these. The mermaid statue is stunning.I want to know more about her. I wonder does she disappear underwater when the tide comes in and then reappear gradually? Very cool.
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Post by fumobici on Nov 18, 2011 21:07:38 GMT
I live very near Vancouver and it isn't too hilly for riding for the most part. The Winter weather will seem cold to many, but not to most Canadians. You were lucky to get a sunny day in November imec, November is the rainiest month of the year here.
Nice photos, Vancouver is extremely photogenic eh.
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Post by frenchmystiquetour on Nov 18, 2011 21:29:44 GMT
Thanks for the ride Imec.
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Post by imec on Nov 18, 2011 23:00:44 GMT
casimira, there are certainly some hills in Vancouver - even mountains in North and West Vancouver, but where I was cycling it was thankfully (for a prairie boy) pretty flat. My image of the statue, if I took it from a more suitable angle would reveal that it is not in fact a mermaid but a female diver - it's called "Girl in a Wetsuit". Lucky indeed fumobici! The day was sandwiched between two rainy ones. And yes it is photogenic - easy to get half-assed images with just my pocket cam. Hey, fmt! Your avatar is similar to the one I use on bikeforums.net!
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Post by bjd on Nov 19, 2011 8:37:04 GMT
Thanks for these photos, Imec. I have never been to Vancouver either so it's good to see what it looks like.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 19, 2011 23:20:36 GMT
I've been to Vancouver but fly-in/fly-out for work. Obviously no bicycle. Dunno if Fairmount has "women's frames (lower down, not quite step-through frames) in those they lend out should I ever be staying there. Only need one of those because of arthritis - usually I'd be find with imec's frame but sometimes joints can freeze up and that is very scary.
Yes, Vancouver is very beautiful, from what I've seen of it. Also a top-rank destination for Asian seafood dishes.
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Post by rikita on Nov 20, 2011 13:34:10 GMT
looks nice!
hm, i lately only cycle for getting to places, maybe i should do more tours for fun again, but i don't really like tht when it is so cold... we cycled a tiny section of the berlin wall tour a while ago, after mr. r. bought his new bike. would like to do the whole tour one day (or one couple of days, rather)...
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Post by onlymark on Nov 20, 2011 13:40:35 GMT
I tried to cycle the Berlin Wall but I kept falling off the top.
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Post by bjd on Nov 20, 2011 14:53:24 GMT
That's because you need a unicycle for that kind of thing.
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Post by onlymark on Nov 20, 2011 15:59:23 GMT
That's where I went wrong then. I had a tricycle.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2011 15:59:58 GMT
That looks like a really excellent bicycle path, imed. Great photos! I have always liked Vancouver, er, except for the weather. I have even been there in the snow even though the residents claim it doesn't snow.
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Post by onlymark on Nov 20, 2011 16:01:55 GMT
You know, I've always wondered about the great wall of china.
Why didn't they build it out of brick?
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Post by Kimby on Dec 7, 2011 21:37:20 GMT
Really nice trail, there. Wish we had one like it. It's so rare to have such total separation of bicycles and vehicles. Excellent!
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Post by Kimby on Dec 7, 2011 21:37:35 GMT
In Missoula we are fundraising to build a trail in the valley where I live, which is a formerly all rural ranching/former homesteading area now given over to rural subdivisions on 1-2 acre lots. Unfortunately all these neighborhoods are served by one highway with a 45 mph speed limit and no shoulders. Weeds grow waist high next to the road and it is absolutely unsafe for kids (or anyone) to ride on this road, even to visit friends who live nearby, as all the streets are culdesacs and don't connect neighborhoods to neighborhoods. We will get the bulk of the funding from government grants if we raise $140,000 USD by end of February. We have over $40K so far. Anyone sitting on a pile of extra cash wishing to donate to a good cause can visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/#!/gctrail or on our webpage www.grantcreektrails.org/Or if you just want to see photos and maps, feel free to browse these sites. And wish us luck!
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Post by imec on Dec 10, 2011 18:33:44 GMT
Ever wonder what it's like to ride in the snow? Hop aboard and ride with me around King's Park in Winnipeg...
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Post by lagatta on Dec 11, 2011 15:31:27 GMT
Totally separate cycle trails and paths aren't rare here at all: www.routeverte.com Not all the route is separate - in certain places that isn't even warranted - but a growing portion of it is. La Route verte is the most extensive bicycle route in North America. Still in its infancy as compared with infrastructures in more "mature" cycling countries though. An article about la Route Verte from a link on the site: www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/4197
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2011 10:49:08 GMT
Cool video Imec! I do admire your willingness to brave the elements. Our weather here is nothing compared to yours in terms of cold and the like. My biggest issue is the wind that seems to blow fiercer up on the river. I have adjusted my regular route to incorporate more riding in the park away from these oft times fierce windy mornings. I cannot find a weather station online that can give me an accurate wind velocity reading. The one weather station closest to me must be in the shelter of someone's house or whatever, because I go to look at it before I set out and it will give a reading of 7 mph and then I get up to the river and it's more like 15 mph!!!!
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Post by Kimby on Dec 16, 2011 19:25:35 GMT
imec do you have tire chains or studs in your tires?
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Post by imec on Dec 17, 2011 17:42:31 GMT
Hi kimby! Yes, my mountain bike (now my winter bike) is fitted with Nokian studded tires from Finland.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 17, 2011 23:14:59 GMT
Oh! First time for seeing Imec's video. Super duper, Imec, & very pretty, but not seductive to me, uh-unnh. I remember riding my bike to work in the snow when I lived in Kansas. It is gorgeous, yes, but c-o-o-o-ld.
Hey -- how'd you get away with using that music? It fits perfectly.
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Post by imec on Dec 17, 2011 23:43:38 GMT
Hey -- how'd you get away with using that music? It fits perfectly. Thanks! It was a bit tricky holding the guitar while I pedaled... Actually, funny you should mention... Almost immediately upon uploading to youtube they sent me a note saying the content is owned or licensed by WMG - but no action was required on my part and that ads may appear on my video. OK by me...
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Post by imec on Feb 1, 2012 3:12:50 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Feb 1, 2012 19:27:12 GMT
Kewl!
I'd certainly rather cycle in snow like that than the icy soup we have around here of late. I cycled until Christmas but now there are big patches of uneven ice, because it keeps melting and freezing. We just need a bit more of a melt - by local standards the winter is extremely mild, but I'm using (slip-on) cleats even on my boots to walk about.
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