@ascentale @markn @bikenite

A6. I would love to change the state of cycling and infrastructure in my area since it has effextively killed me being able to bike to work. Something I have done in 2 other areas for over a decade before moving here.

Sigh...
#BikeNite

@ascentale
A6:
I wish it was safer and at this time of the year specifically, I wish it was less wet (my weather station recorded more than twice the average for Jan this year)

I also wish I had more time for it. I could easily change that but I still want to see my family 😀
@markn @bikenite
#BikeNite

#BikeNite A6: In #WaterlooRegion I'd like to see more rural biking infrastructure. WR likes to call itself a "bike friendly" community, but I have to bike on a 80km/h highway to go anywhere out of my town.

To be fair, there have been a lot of improvements, but Waterloo is still the site of one of the worst bike lanes on the planet, according to http://momentummag.com/a-look-at-some-of-the-worst-bike-lanes-on-the-planet/

@ascentale
@markn @bikenite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6. I'd like to answer not only looking at myself. I wish that the killing of people riding a bike will stop. I wish that cycling can be safe for everyone at all ages and any conditions, so it will be just normal to cycle - not only by very brave or sportive people. I am dreaming that my grand-children (who are not there yet) may say in future: "This cycle infrastructure would have made grand daddy really happy!"
#bikenite

@ascentale @bikenite A6. thanks everyone, really enjoyed reading those. Also thanks as usual for hosting bikenite. It's becoming a thing.

In common with a lot of you I'm hoping to do more touring. And maybe just incorporating it into ways of visiting old friends - so the journey is part of the fun not a chore.

Also need to re-activate my Warm Showers free camping site. I met some great people bike touring on UK cycle route 1 in the year we hosted (before work went mad and I had to suspend it).

@ascentale @markn @bikenite I need to let myself go of the thought of “earning” the ride if I have to travel someplace to find a trail or event. i.e. If I have to travel 4 hours by car to get there, I need to ride for 4 x <some number> of hours to justify the trip. Maybe just enjoying the fact that I’m biking someplace [new] should be enough? #bikenite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6: I’ve been living at my current address for almost three years and still have a few routes left to explore, but, after having done my first charity century ride last year, want to meet more local cyclists: do at least two charity rides this year, plus join some local cycling club group rides.

@ascentale @markn @bikenite hmmm, I think I’m close to what most would consider cycling nirvana. But maybe some chill (non-camping) tours. This man suggested a European trip; he said Scotland, I said flat please, so location tbd. The NY trail is promising & I’ve got some friends who deserve visits. #BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6 - for me it’s the where and why. Where - I want to continue exploring the area - riding new tracks and roads. Why - more commuting for me this coming year. Less use of the car.

#bikenite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6. First I have to crowdfund an accessible cycle and get it successfully to me in Albania. If I manage that, I need to negotiate the new context and learn how to ride safely here. I have all kinds of urban riding experience, including on a recumbent, but the driving here and relative lack of equitable law enforcement are a whole new challenge.

Then I want to work up my stamina to do touring again. #BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6. I want two changes. I would like to stop commuting by bike... because I would have retired, and,... I would like to be one of those people in their seventies still doing 200k audaxes without apparent effort. #BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite #BikeNite A6. The almost complete lack of anything even remotely resembling bicycling infrastructure in my town. Also, the complete lock of planning in American architecture for secure and convenient bicycle storage.

These are major reasons why I stood for appointment to my town's Planning Commission.

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6. I'd like to ride further than I have been (70km was my longest ride in the last few years). I will probably also get panniers so I can carry more (I have a good sized climbing haul bag that I can fill with groceries, but more space on a grocery trip would be nice).

I am contemplating a drive to Kingston, Ontario in August (but not through a war zone…), I'll be towing my boat, but I want to take a bike as well, ride a bit every day in states I've never ridden in. #BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite

A6. Hmm. I think I most want to change why - I have some health sequalæ which have me riding, in part, to improve physical health.

Beyond that, I have some dreams/fantasies about different styles of bikes (recumbent tadpole), and long-distance tours (Trans-Canada) which are mostly just minor aspirations.

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6. Biking more consistently in the winter. I was doing great until the ice storm this week! Also biking on more fun errands, not just ones I have to do. #BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6) The continent I'm on. #BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6 I slacked on riding this winter; I need to get better at biking despite the rain and the cold.

And I need to tell myself it's OK to go for short rides. Not everything has to be 30-50 miles...

#bikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6. I continue to train to ride longer, stronger, and faster. #bikenite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6. One day I hope to have covered bike parking at home. One day...

More seriously, I want to take a bikepacking trip sometime soon. Get out of the city, take some trails, and go back home the next day or something.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite

A6. Already bicycling in much colder weather than I ever have before. How is better warm clothing, where is SouthEast Minnesota where I plan on starting to bicycle on the country roads, not just the Root River Trail, why is because it's great for my mental and physical health.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite
A6.
I recently moved, from a midsized and bike hostile city to a small friendly village right on the Trans-Canada Trail. It's very winter right now, but I am super excited to get the bikes out on the trail come spring, not to mention having a whole village with a 40km/h speed limit to get around in.
#BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite

#BikeNite A6. More (safe) access to local stores and parts of town. There are places i can't yet bicycle too, mostly because the traffic is too dangerous and no good bike routes. Plus, my range is a bit limited (hilly here!!!), some places are a very long ride to get to and back, and I don't have the ability to get that far. (Might be fixed with an e-bike, maybe, but traffic safety is a bigger issue).

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6. I hope to do one bikepacking trip, a short one, with the fam so that I can branch out from commuting. #bikenite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite
#bikenite A6.
I've only ever cycled in North America.
I have plans to cycle in Europe later in 2026, assuming our precarious political situation doesn't prevent it.

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6: mostly looking forward to living in a different part of Sydney with different bike routes available.

Possibly getting a working recumbent bike again, either by fixing my touring bike or rebuilding it into something more rideable if I can get a usable workshop before the urge to just buy something overtakes me.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite

A6. I'll take the "how" question. I want to greatly increase my level of fitness to ride further. Just getting out of the access road to my house involves big rocks, deep sand, and steep hills, I want to negotiate them better and take longer rides.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @bikenite @markn

A6. More.

As in more riding, and especially more rail trail tours (including mini-tours of a couple days).

But basically, more.

#BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite A6: I'm really pleased with my newer trailer build, but I'd still kinda like a dedicated cargo bike. Maybe trike even.

I also want to get back to fixing that old Schwinn. xD

#BikeNite

@ascentale @markn @bikenite #BikeNite A6, I'll take the where for this one. Lots of little towns, country roads and bush tracks that I should make the effort to go out and find