Heat trak mats

 

At our home
(not a product photo)

This winter we splurged on some Heat Trak snow & ice melting mats for the front ramp. Other half would be away for 2 weeks in January and I was dreading it.

These mats are soooo worth it.

One day there was black ice at the gargage door out back. I was slipping all over the place getting my bike out.

As I approached the house at the end of the ride, I was dreading going back there. Then I realized the ramp was now the safest place to enter the house. So parked the trike there and #1 son to put in garage for me.

We got 4 @ 30" x 30" walkway mats that interconnect and a remote.

They have a gritty side that gives extra traction.

I'm thinking we need a couple of step mats for the back door as that's the final death zone.

These things are life-changing.

Link:

Heat trak mats

RIP's Cleats

 

I've really begun to appreciate these more with use.

I bought the 'low profile, sharp' type.

Reduce a lot of slippage on polish concrete tiles in the garage.

And they really bite into the aluminum door jam.

They are indeed sharp, so I try to be careful to take them off close to the door so they don't rip up the floor.

Possibly the best everyday ice cleats I've ever bought. Made in the Yukon.

Here's the link:

RIP's Cleats

Latest Alinker notes

 Today I had to renew my driver's lic & health card. It's now in the town's biggest mall. So first time I've taken the A into a mall.

I haven't had such an easy time of it in 18 years. Mall floors are difficult. Hard yet slippery. There can be little slopes you don't see. I liked having my built in seat for getting ID photo taken.

Could continue our to where our van was parked, a half dozen spaces from door. Didn't worry about rushing across roadway or tripping over walking poles. 

Said to other half, I might even be ready for passport renewal lineup.

It's like walking thru the door to a new world or possibilities.

Notes on Pet Basket for Small Dog on Adult Electric Trike

 

A post on diy dog trike basket. Pics of this trial run by @Benjamin McKenzie-Sutter

Click HERE for more pics.

New senior dog Maggie is quite small compared to Jolie. She arrived at 7 lbs. She *might* be up to a whopping 10 lbs by now.

A Cairn x Yorkie mix, she's great walker & goes a long way. The main problem for her is short legs when the snow is just too high.

She's also bright white, so extra hard to see over tall snowbanks.

I wanted a way to get her to the big local park that has a track that's usually plowed. It's hard to use the dog walk bar on the trike on sidewalks in winter, as there's just not enough width cleared for the trike wheels plus dog width.

I also wanted a way to get her out for at least 1 daily constitutional on days when I'm here by myself.

In looking online, I felt the dog baskets out there were too shallow for her, even though described as pet carriers. She's fairly long in the body.

Also, most of them needed handlebars with crossbars to hang from. The trike has weird wide swingback handlebars (which I love), but not many baskets will work with it. There's also not a lot of clearance between bottom of handlebars and top of front fender. And yes, I feel that the senior dogs in transition are happier keeping their eye on mom. So she has to be up front.

I felt a classic milk crate would be deep enough, not to heavy, and sturdy enough. Smooth, not sharp edges and surfaces.

That meant going with the Thule touring rack, which can attach to back or front. It has 25 lb capacity on top. Love the ratchet system for attaching to forks.

Bear in mind the trike has a lot of heft and stability to handle this on the front. It won't tip forward. The front wheel does rotate to the side more easily when basket is empty at a stop. I just have to make it a habit to put brakes on every time I park.

What with the motor etc, I have a lot of cable and fasteners attached to front forks of trike. So it maybe took me longer to find the right fit than it should. But I feel good about it.

The crate is attached by 4 extra strength 200lb capacity zip ties on the bottom. I've got 2 Clutch silicone tension straps securing the top edge of crate to handlebars. The crate does not budge.

I have a locking carabiner attached to the crate. I'm going to run that thru a loop made from a shorter zip tie. A short tether strap hooks from it to her harness.

Also on dog comfort & safety. I looked into helmets. But honestly even the expensive ones look as protective as a DQ baseball cap sundae bowl. So I think a soft padded cap of some kind. She will get cold up there. Maybe dog balaclava for the ear tips. Goggles against flying stones. Sweater. Have blanket and rain poncho in kit for bad weather on return voyage. Bungie or straps for emergency tie down.

I have a flat dog bed in there for cushioning. But it's a bit too big. She rides higher than I'd like. But I was relieved that for the trial she didn't try to jump out. Even when 2 big dogs walked past.

So I just need to tweak the liner. I like some padding for comfort. There are 2 kennel sherpas at the very bottom there now.

Maybe even a sleeping bag idea, folded over the top, secured tight around outside with bundle. For padding, small throw pillows could be put between the liner & inside wall of crate before fastening down.You want the holes blocked so that she doesn't get her claws or feet stuck in there. If it had a nice plaid lining, it would spruce up the milk crate look. Flannel feel inside, rather than nylon, would give her more comfort, less stress.

Revised thought on liner - I think this oversized flat dog bed may yet work. I liked the amount of padding it gave. She seemed to be sitting on top of the padding folded over on itself. Maybe it I keep it from getting collapsed - thinking grommets and zip ties to to edge of create - it could still work.

Mods to date 061523:

1. I ended up buying a Crate Mate liner off Amazon. I like the liner and was hoping the 4 point harness would be good.

but I don't. It's a straps around a neck collar. but it does give you a good template. there are 2 reinforced holes at each side. So I purchased my own short straps. I attached zip tie loops to the crate, and now the straps. can clips thru the premade slots to the loops underneath. I cut my own slash at the back to attach a third strap. So now it's a 3 point harness that can attach by 3 clips to the back D ring of a harness. That makes the Crate Mate a little less value for money. But at least I feel she's in there securely in a way that won't hurt her neck bones.

1a. I have added about a 1 " piece of memory foam to the bottom, on top of the Crate Mate, for more comfort.

1b. I've put the soft kennel sherpa mats on top of the foam so that she doesn't slip around.

1c. I've added 2 more clutch silicone straps to reduce front sway from the extra weight up there.

2. When we got her a life jacket for the canoe, we realized she's very easy to lift by the handle on the back. Also I like how the lifejacket has a wide band that Velcros under the tummy. So I've bought her a bike lifejacket that can stay in the crate. I haven't tried specifically lifting her into the crate by the handle, but I have out of the boat. Im pretty confident this will eliminate my worry about how to lift her up into the crate and back out again by myself. Update - I've been able to lift her into and out of crate myself using handle on pet lifejacket.

3. I have ordered a new bike walking leash for her. We've lost the old rod. But it wasn't good for her small height anyway. The new one will attach at seatpost but have a bend that brings it lower to the ground. I'm hopeful that will also keep her back from the front wheels more. The ultimate goal is to have a way to get her for those walks in winter by myself. Update - she did well with new leash system.

5. I've ordered a half canopy from Adirondack Canopies as a sun/rain/snow shade. We have had a couple of them for the canoe to shade the dogs. I like how these clip on so securely with almost jumper cable clips. We biked around with the one attached to the boat all summer and it never came loose. That's on the way.

6. I've picked up a couple more sets of bike lights. I want that front basket well lit.

7.. Field report. When she's just with me, she does will in the basket and doesn't fuss. If someone is with me, she's more agitated. Im not sure weather she thinks they can get her out, or if she's worried they are breaking with the pack. Anyway, a few more test runs, one mainly over the train tracks, and then I don't think I'll need to be shadowed any more. She has seemed to do well with slopes and road bumps. So I don't think there will be a huge problem.

Observations on Alinker so far - 1st week daily walks

Notes starting Day 2

2nd walk around block just maggie & mom #alinker

For speed on a downslope, see Story.

*I have practised for about a week at a paved path location with someone along to manage the dog*

Notes: 

1 leash does get under front wheels. But since going slow, it's easy to backup a quarter wheel turn & continue. It never feels like she gets choked. She just stops when leash tightens up.

2 I have to switch leash hands a bit. Maybe 6x. I have to think about keeping brake hand free enough to apply brake. It's life in the slow lane (altho a much fast more stable walking pace for me). Tho a fast dog, she doesn't seem to mind. I think she feels more attention gets paid to her in the moment

3 sidewalk is better. vs paved shoulder of this low traffic loop of road. I think because there are more small hills & valleys. It feels like you get more glides & small breaks along the way. I didn't feel I had to stop as much, less overheating today. 

4 Already day 2 solo with dog, I can feel I'm modifying my gait to get more glides, therefore use muscles of weak leg more efficiently. Trying to use more ball of foot by big toe. Work radiates up inside knee,& thigh. I've been rolling to outside edge of this foot for 18 years. An aging body pregnancy adaptation. Targeting these inner keg muscle is a good thing.

5 Use one leg, the strong leg, on steeper inclines. Note to self, shift slightly to other side on seat some of the time to work other leg on some slopes

6 some inclines are easier than yesterday and I can use 2 legs on them vs just one

7 I dug up an ankle support cuff and use it on the weak side for these walks. I had felt the weak side was wowwing out at the ankle. Thought if I stabilized the ankle, I could direct more power straight thru leg to ground. That definitely helps

All good so far 

Notes Day 3 - even faster!

Today I shifted my position on seat to slightly off to the right, which is the weak side.

I think that leg has become slightly shorter thru muscle shrinkage, just no longer matching the more built up leg, pattern of not lifting weak leg very high over glutes and letting it drop by gravity. I think this had led to what seems to be sciatic pinching in winter in stretches where I don't get in pedalling sessions on the bike.

I was able to put weak leg flat on the ground. And push off more solidly, kind of like skating, and get a really good glide going off the weak leg!

Dog had more of a brisk trot going.

I feel the pushing against gravity and the ground is doing more for me than leg machines at physio.

And like on a pedal bike, the reward is the downhill section in the home stretch.

Other half came back from his physio this a.m. Said he told his guy about it, and he immediately started looking it up. 

Definitely more folks could benefit from this tool.

Notes Day 4: 

Today I shifted way to the right on the seat. So the nose of the seat was well up against right inner thigh. No discomfort. Anticipate this will change as leg strengthens.

This way weak leg could push off with an almost flat foot. Inclines were way easier. I could use 2 feet to get up most of them. A lot less effort required. Out of old habits/ fear kept favouring the strong 1 leg on uphills, but I didn't need to. In fact easier with 2. Just have to train my brain to kick in with 2 feet at bottom on a slope.

Story shows 2 short clips- 1 of downhill section, 2nd starts slightly downslope, the slight upslope.

Did a grass trial today, with my videographer @stan2015holding dog so that I didn't have to factor in leash tangles on grass. Grass is currently longish. Lots of lumps and potholes in grass. Earth soft. Alinker did fine. For flower pics or deadheading, I could use it. For other tasks, will likely stick to trike bc I can fit all my tools in back basket.

We noticed dog went at enough of a clip for her to tuck her ears back.

Starting to think it's possible to go around a longer loop in neighbourhood. Even thinking that is a good sign.

Day 6 ? 

Pic from satrdy.

Forecast is for too hot for inefficient mobility person to exercise later. Got going by 845-9 am. Walk was comfortable.

Perhaps a hair easier than before the day off I took yest.

Took a little tumble at end of ride in garage. Broke concentration and on getting off, expected Alinker to behave like trike with all the stability in back. Single rear wheel tilted and I rolled or tilted just enough to fall backward. Light tumble. Didn't hurt self. No scrapes or cuts. Dog tiny bit worried for a sec.

I've forgotten to mention, I think Alinker helps with lower ab/ core strengthening. I've had a soft middle since before 4th kid, even when I was still fit, doing my power walks. I have a long torso & short legs, so I feel the upper abs have been my particular body type's default. But I can feel more lower core engagement than in a long time. Even from sitting in back of seat & stabilizing/ doing work. Another plus

Day 6. 

(pic from 10 days ago.)

Alinker really helps with dog. She got all tough with the bulldog behind his fence around the corner. If I had been using cane or walking poles, she would have pulled me off balance. I was able to just sit, regroup & move along.

Tried using the weak leg to kick off and start hill climb. That worked pretty well. Same walk continues to get easier. Not noticing the inclines as much

Day 7 

This point in the walk is just before bulldog's house. Today Alinker kept me upright when she tried to take on a golden retriever on the sidewalk and frenemy bulldog. 

Ongoing experiments with weak foot placement. Best plant seem to be interior ball of weak foot. If I make sure to follow thru with big toe, I get a good glide. Still trying to correct away from rolling to outside edge of weak foot for grip & force. Being able to go slow and focus on this with the Alinker is a great opportunity.

Also re ankle band, I've been putting it in upside down. Mainly bc my thumbs have trouble pulling the tight item up and over foot. But I feel a good accident has occurred. The long side of sleeve runs along foot and this helping to keep ball of foot and heel in alignment, which also pulls against rolling to outside edge of foot. I know I need to train my inside ankle to knee tendons and ligaments to do the work. This is helping with that.

I've thought for some time that if I put a rolled upcoltg piece under the toes in that foot it would help prevent rolling out. If the toes are curled, they grip to the inside all up the knee 

Another test might be - I have an MBT hiking boot. I've found the sole wedge can be a tripping feature if you don't lift leg very high ( which I don't, I think to keep leg lengths even). Not for everyday purposes. But I suspect it could give more power/speed/ endurance to an event involving a long institutional hallway. Worth a test.

I also need to train lower glutes to fire, which I can do if I concentrate.

I'm going to transition these Alinker observations to my blog. Link here, Bio, Story, Highlights. Feel free to follow along there for updates ☮️

http://gtawestebiker.blogspot.com/

DAY 8

Today I felt that planting the inside heel of weak leg on inclines helped.  It gets you starting your stride on the correct ligaments on inside of ankle. Then follow thru with think deep glutes ball of foot, toe.

An older lady from the church happened to be out. She is pretty spry. Tiny, at least 80. I've seen here out walking well in winter. She said she'd seen me in the bike and took a look at it. She said she went to a Christmas mall and took her backup cane. But it was such a nuisance. That was her first reaction to seeing an application for it for herself. She thought it seemed great. 

No dog standoffs today. Weather a hair cooler. I was still perspiring at lot. Another satisfying outing.

I'm in a podcast!

 

Friends - had the pleasure of being asked to be guest on 'Violinist on a Bike' podcast started by Susannah McKenzie-Sutter of Vivo Violin Studio. Full disclosure - she's my daughter. (Maybe that makes it even more reassuring to have been asked!) Link at end of post.

We had a great convo on many bike topics: ebike kits, winter biking, mobility & accessibility, family biking, how a cycling friendly municipality helps.

Great fun. 36 mins.

Podcast, Violinist on a Bicycle, Ep 2: Bicycle Renaissance

The Gremlin of winter biking - fuses

As we head toward the spring equinox (yay!), we've made it, in the main, thru another season of winter biking.

The problem i'm about to outline has happened to me toward the end of the last couple of winters, so am jotting this down in case it's helpful to others.

Last spring, the guys at Cycle Electric saved me a world of pain and expenditure by identifying the  stalling out problem i'd been having came from a cracked fuse in the battery. Mitchell showed it to me - cracked right across. He said as i hit bumps, the  fuse would go in and out of sync. Pretty cheap fix.

This fall, the motor started cutting out again. By December, the bike was downright unreliable. While partner in crime was spotting me on a ride, it occurred to me to check the fuse again - it was completely burnt out. See the brown at one end of fuse in first pic at left.

I had been worried the batt was at the end of its lifespan, and would cost me a few hundred $$. Soulmate found a pak of 4 fuses at Can Tire in assorted sizes for $5.  Aaaaahhhh!

So i'm not sure why i keep blowing fuses. I have been riding all winter - so unusual amounts of salt and water? I do bring the battery  in when the nite are minus 10 - 20. But i do leave it out in the garage overnite in 0 to minus 8 temps. So maybe extreme hot and cold fluctuations crack the glass of the fuse  I do pull weird loads with the trike - like  canoes, etc. I was using this battery on 2 bikes. So lots of use. Not the most rugged rides, but it gets charged most nites overnite.

I've had this battery for maybe 4 - 5 years.  So, sure, it's getting older. But for now, a $5 fix is worth checking on to get you thru the winter!

<This pic shows fresh fuse (top left), burnt out fuse (lower left), and $5 pak of fuses from Can Tire.

Diy Handlebar Mitts (Pogies) - Road Test 3, May 2019 - Rain - Passed!

(Sold these to a winter biking mama friend for $20 when i ran into her in the farmers market this fall. Went to a good home. Time to make a new pair for self!)

Notes from May 2019 - Well i think i've taken these as far as i can. Conclusion - they are great if you're making them out of wool and cloth you have at home and don't want to spend money on them. Also are cuter than store-bought options out there.

Was drizzly today, but came down mild to medium hard on way back. Hallelujah - the insides stayed dry! You could feel the top was damp, but there was no dampness inside. See 20 sec video clip  HERE.

Liner - I was worried the minky cloth i ordered from Spoonflower might not work. But i put my hands in and out of the gloves numerous times on this ride, and the insides didn't get wet. Minky is super soft. Thick flannel would be a bit cheaper and likely as warm.

Outer shell - 100 percent WOOL chunky to bulky weight yarn. Avoid using acrylic even in the stripes. You will feel the wind whistle thru any non-wool lines - i kid you not! Knit in somewhat tighter gauge than suggested on ball band to increase heat retention and water shedding. Squared off top gave warmer mitten. Make like an oversize mitten, but instead of thumb, leave a tall gap to ease over brake levers. I did this by knitting in a round up to where thumb would be, then back and forth for apx 4 inches for gap, back to in-the-round to top of mitt, 3 needle bind off for top seam. Brake lever slot - pick up stitches for a 2-3 inch short 'cuff'  around edge. Add short drawstrings  thru stitches to tighten and increase warmth.

I like all the colour on them, and the bike patterns.  Aesthetic-wise - 200 percent improvement over MEC type pogies.

It was about 4 degrees C when we were out. The kid had cloth bike gloves, and his hands were wet and cold. Mine weren't. If biking sub zero, i would wear  lite biking glove underneath. I do this with my rubber store-bought ones anyway.

Satisfying project :)

Full year of cycling - woo hoo!

I've been loosely keeping a social media record this winter of when I/we have been able to get out on bikes.

I combed thru my google photos last nite, and effective Feb. 21, we've biked all year. Woo hoo!!!

That doesn't mean every single day. Obviously even in summer there are travel days where we might not have biked - travel days, days that are just too busy, or family visiting days. So i have cut myself some slack on that in winter as well. There might have been a 4 -5 day block where we didn't bike, but never as long as a full week.

It takes a few seasons to get all the pieces in place. Changeover to winter was a lot easier this year with a couple of sets of handlebar mitts at the ready in the garage. I think i have 3 balaclavas now.  They give varying degrees of coverage. My go to one is a Mec that goes quite far down the back of the neck. I gravitate to a turtleneck, polar fleece vest, long coat, bala and wool watch cap over top for super cold days. Was -11 C yesterday, and i was fine. Fingertips feel it when you take off glove to shoot a couple of pics! :)

The next hurdle is making your bike easy to get out in winter. We have an old school garage. Mainly well-aged particle board with a new roof and door. (My point here is to show you don't have to have state of the art, HGTV worthy garage to facilitate this.) Making sure winter bikes aren't stuffed way to the back has been key. Our driveway is pea gravel. It gets icy back there. I have the crew make sure there's a decent amount of salt down. Past years the 2nd car, which older son now uses, has blocked  the way out. Car is more in use this year, so it has been easier to shovel thru to maintain a clear path to the road.

Once you're out to the road, you're in the clear! Here in Halton Hills (nw GTA),  the main road ways are clear pretty reliably within 24 hours after a major storm. I have tended to use the adult trike with electric wheel in winter. Heavy, solid, plows thru anything and doesn't skid out. The only problem it has is that if you get stuck on iced over car tire ruts - that leads to a fear of tripping problem. But the main source of problem for that has been my driveway, not any where else.

It has also helped that bike buddy is taller and stronger. It used to be a worry, him not being roadwise enough to look carefully past tall snowbanks at intersections.

My rides weren't long. In general i like having an errand, rather than just riding in loop. Taking pics becomes an errand. Nothing fancy, just even an update to IG story. This kind of project forces you to view your surroundings with a fresh, appreciative eye every day. (Note to self - new theme needed for next winter!)

The pluses:

* no cabin fever thru jan - feb

* no expensive gym membership needed.

* no struggle with unsatisfying sweaty claustrophobic indoor workout

* outdoors essentially every day

* great life skill taught to the kid

* maintained hip  flexibility

* some hip strength retained

* general positive mental health maintained - no SAD, cabin fever etc.


What to do differently:

* incorporate indoor strengthening regime. In the past when locked in on snow days, i have a workout involving paddle strokes and  light repeats/strengthening/ stretching, that i just didnt do this year due to time constraints. But i am missing the upper body tone up, especially on side that has a weaker shoulder.  So i have to protect time for  at least a scaled down version of that.

** 'It's a dog's lifestyle'  left a comment that got me thinking  about the other element that was missing from my winter cycling regime - short hikes requiring higher leg lifting. We had a good exchange below, so i wont repeat all that here. Nutshell - protect time 1 or 2 times a week for outside high leg work, like they type you get from snowshoeing or trailwalking.

So i'll keep posting my #winterbiking pics, i guess until equinox - when that would be #springbiking .

But suffice it to say, photo record shows i have already made it thru a full year of biking :D :D :D

Life changing development - new trike battery!

Well I've been having trouble with the trike battery lately. The cells were warping and it was losing guts on the uphills. Was faced with buying new cells, which i really didn't want to do. Also the charger had fallen on the ground just a few times, split, now held together with a rainbow of rubber bands. The charger had cost $100 and the cells together had cost $100. And i didn't want a straight replace anyway.

I mean, the battery pack i inherited was heavy. Three heavy cells in a hard case that always makes me think of a shark egg case or mermaid's purse, only with less charm.

I have the 2 other electric bikes, both have better lighter batteries, but - perennial problem - the connecting terminals don't match.

We took all the options into one of our go-to shops. They said yes, they could work together. He would make a patch cable if i brought him the parts.

Small problem - mobility challenge. And i don't know what the frick parts i need.

Regardless, I needed to do something. I found the right end on the Ebikepros.com site. Cost $20 and then shipping. Other half tried a number of strategies, but the best ended up being a lot of electrical tape.

<<<This is such a beautiful sight! 

Egads it works! The battery, which i can now use on 2 of my bikes, weighs maybe a pound or two. The shark case felt like it weighed 50 pounds.

Now the trike has a lot more pull going up my usual inclines. The battery takes up a ton less awkward space in the trike basket.

I'm so thankful for the other half's determination to get this going for me. Much fine motor work with frozen fingers was involved.

See ya later shark case!

The kit is shaping up for cold weather riding :)

No place like home!

The kid and I took advantage of a late Oct day with a high in the mid teens and low wind speed for a possible last kayak paddle of the season (still actually hoping to get in 1 more canoe run, but not saying much out loud so as not to jinx things!).

Thought we try neighbouring Rockwood Cons Area since i have a seasons pass there and it wouldn't cost new money. We could take fall leaf pics from a fresh location. Well, you can't get down to the water there with a vehicle right now. Barriers are up and ghouls are in the gatehouse!

Headed back to Acton and Fairy Lake. Free as always to get in. The kid used the accessible launch to avoid getting his feet wet. Worked like a charm!

The grab bars still aren't in, so i'm not able to use it yet. I had fished old rainboots out of the closet, and the kid put my sit-on-top in at the canoe beach. Then he got into his enclosed 8' kayak via he boat launch.

It was glorious. So glad we did that.  Still lots of colour on the trees. The sun when it came thru was lovely. We had cold hands, so thankful for those breaks from the sun. Might need gloves for a later paddle.

Or kayak paddle pogies. I've seen these on Ravelry. Basically a mitten with  a hole thru both sides where the thumb goes. Would be easy to make.

There are some flakes in the forecast. But i think the ice is a ways off yet.

Just wanted to make a note that the accessible boat launch makes late season paddling over here at Fairy Lake easily do-able.

Note - a steering committee is meeting this fall to form a Canoe Club at Fairy Lake. Chaired by canoe medalist many times over, Rama Gilverson. Motive force Naomi McQuade of the Holy Cow Canoe Company. This is a group open to the general public. The proposed club with have competition, safety, youth, adaptive streams, to name a few. There's a 2nd meeting tonite at the Fairy Lake Boathouse, 6 -830. All are welcome!

Green light for accessible kayak launch at Fairy Lake

Stock photo via EZ Dock

The upgraded dock at Fairy Lake in Acton will feature an accessible kayak launch spring 2018, thanks to funding from the Town of Halton Hills Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Says HH council representative on the committee Jon Hurst of Acton: “The mandate of the Halton Hills Accessibility Advisory Committee is to develop a comprehensive accessibility plan for the municipality, which helps to identify and remove barriers to people with disabilities. Following the public discussions and advocacy for the kayak launch at the new Fairy Lake dock, the Committee recognized the unique opportunity to provide additional activities for disabled and elderly residents, who can now safely enter and exit a kayak or canoe to experience the beauty of Fairy Lake and its shorelines.  

“Following the presentation of the staff report at our last meeting, the Committee was pleased to unanimously approve the report and the requested kayak launch funding from our accessibility budget.”  

Town of HH architect Mark Taylor reports the town will work towards having it installed by mid May.  Town Community Development staff will be planning an official opening for the dock  - more info to follow.

Holy Cow Canoe co-owner and operator of the HC Canoe Rental Outpost at the Lake, Naomi McQuade - long time advocate for Lyme disease research and motive force behind the waterfront redesign especially with adaptive component, is “elated” by confirmation that the launch feature will go ahead.

The adaptive dock design, supplied by from EZ Dock Canada, allows a small personal craft like kayak or canoe to remain stable while a person gets in or out of a boat. At Fairy Lake, there will also be a dock ladder and removable overhead grab rail for further ease of use.

Click here for a short video of how the adaptive launch works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5b45CNEFgQ

The accessible boat launch at Fairy Lake will be one of the few installed on a public waterfront in the area so far.

Bravo to all who wrote in and contributed to the discussion. Your input made a difference.

Watch this space for further detail on the official opening later this spring.

-30-

Adaptive dock - possibility in Halton Hills

Friends - Input needed! The Town of Halton Hills is currently researching adding a feature to the new dock at Fairy Lake here in town that would make it easier for more people to get into kayaks and canoes. (Click THIS LINK and scroll down for videos. Also at the end of this post is a 30 sec video of yours truly at 2018 Toronto Boat show using this attachment to get in a kayak and on to the water.)

It’s kind of like a chute that stabilizes the boat while paddlers get in and out. As part of the process, they would like to be able to show a certain amount interest in having such a feature, in order to make a pitch for funding. This would be great for folks with mobility challenges, with back, hip or knee pain, a granddad who might like to get back out on the water fishing, new learners i.e. cub scout and brownie groups, and families with young kids, to name a few. 

You don’t have to be a resident or personal user - even if you would use it on visits to town, or have family that might use it, or might come into town specifically to use it, or might just want to see it because it makes the world a better place - please send a short note. Here's how -

 Drop a quick line to the town’s architect Mark Taylor, saying:

 Yes, I would like to see an accessible boat launch feature on the waterfront at Fairy Lake in Acton. (Copy and paste that last exact sentence if you like.)

Here’s Mark’s email (he’s expecting it, this isn’t adversarial at all):

MarkTaylor@haltonhills.ca .

Please write in between now and March 28 (the earlier the better) for a chance to get it installed for the 2018 paddling season.

Feel free to share this post.

Thanks a million!

Velofix 2 - more value from my outdoor gym membership ;)

When Tom from velofix halton was by last week, he said he thought the trike had the fittings to complete a working set of gears. So he came by this weekend to put them on. Took the trike for a test ride with new gears on Sunday. It worked out just as tremendously as I had hoped!

The trike already had sprockets on the back. But the shifter seemed to have been replaced by the twist throttle. Also there was no derailleur. Which would help with the slipping chain problem.

When the temperature dips, and the roads get low-level frosty, slushy or snowy, I can still get out on the trike because it's so solid. With the three wheels and its weight, i don't really worry about slipping. That means i can enjoy a longer cycling year. But since the trike didn't have gears, I was left with one fixed tension (or not so fixed since the chain kept slipping), basically, and the motor, and so a more limited workout. Now with gears, I can increase the amount of pedaling time on a ride, especially important during cabin fever season.

This is a game changer. It wouldn't have even been possible if Tom hadn't been able to come out and have a look at the trike and consider it a work in progress. Now there are only about 2 months of the year that I may not be able to fully access my al fresco cycling gym. For that I am very thankful.

New fave bike service - Velofix

This fall I HAD to do something about the trike. The chain kept slipping off and the brake i favour was getting weaker.

I took it in to my fave local bike shop. New local gal has been great, but the trike had her stymied. She felt it needed a shift system, but didnt know quite how to approach it. When i checked in, the trike continued to be not even worked on.

I used the big blue for 2 weeks. Which was fine. But on one visit to the P.O., I didn't have a way to get my 3 large boxes home and ended up taping them to the  carry basket frame with tape we had just bought. And the weather is getting colder, which the trike handles better. I needed it back.

Then it came to me - have the shop come to me. I recalled Velofix had been at a town event or 2, so obviously they come out here. Sent out an inquiry email, exchanged a few more with Halton franchisee Tom, and  had a booking in under a week.

He backed into the driveway with his big van at lunchtime.  On changing the brake cable, he found it was broken on the inside. So glad that got dealt with.

He was able to move the rear axle back to reduce slack in the chain on my preferred gear. The chain, it turned out, wasn't in bad shape.

He discovered there are places to mount a derailleur on it and will send me an email with options.

The visit, which included a general tune up, replacing break pads, etc., was $105 before tax. He has a wifi card machine on board so I could pay with plastic. He says he doesn't like to have a lot of cash in the truck.

It was a tremendous experience from start to finish. If anyone has a weird awkward bike or unusual problem, don't hesitate to call Velofix.

Thus endeth the endorsement :)

Anatomy of a thanksgiving paddle

on the Sauble River. Took #wike bike kayak cart to in law's cottage. It's such a short distance that it's a pain to load canoe thats already up there on the van roof.




Other half towed canoe to base of falls starting point using bike. Then we drove down and locked all our bikes at boat launch end point. Drove back and parked at campsite at falls and got into canoe up there.


Then just paddled downstream! At river mouth, all got out, boat got hitched, dad and kids biked canoe back to cottage. I zipped back to falls on folding ebike that we outfitted with a Solorock wheel kit, and picked all up later in van.



Takes a bit of logistics. But was possibly the easiest time on dad's back getting the kids out in canoe up there. River is flatter- no Lake Huron swells. Going whole way with current, they really liked. Mergansers flew in. Tons of fish doing acrobatics. Sauble is a nice place to do this because the nodes are all a short bike ride away. 


We also found last time there's a $20ish parking fee down there. No guarantee of a close spot. There had to be a better way.

Highly recommend!

Ps - i posted a few more pics in this series on my IG account.