Living life out in the wheel world
For fitness, commuting to work or even touring the world, bicycles get these Maritimers where they want to be
Since childhood, Harsh Patel has enjoyed cycling and used a bike as his main form of transportation. So much so that his old band — Reserpine, a hard rock-metal outfit that toured all over the world — chose to substitute their tour bus for bicycles.
In his hometown of Ahmedabad, India, in the summer of 2012, they would cycle from their practice space to the venue and onward. They cycled to other cities in India, such as Paroda and Surat.
“It was a good fun thing for us; we didn’t use any other kind of means of transportation except for cycling,” said Patel. “We used to take breaks in between and have coffee somewhere, then move on to our destination.
“We had friends in the other towns and we actually got the gear from them for the gigs, so we didn’t have to carry any stuff. We were all set for it.”
Ten years later, Patel still prefers cycling to any other mode of transportation. The 29-year-old drummer now lives in Moncton, N.B., and still cycles to his gigs.
“It gives me a bit of a warmup, as well as it helps me to balance myself,” he explained. “It recharges me before the gig. The blood gets flowing, you get a small cardio exercise and you’re all set for the gig.”
Patel cycles in all seasons as it helps him maintain structure in his daily life.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s summer months or winter, it’s a part of my regular routine,” he said. “In the winter, it depends on the roads. If it’s stormy and the weather doesn’t allow for it, then I won’t be doing it outside, but I’ll do it indoors at the gym because I’m used to it.”
On average, Patel will cycle three to four kilometres every day. He is planning to participate in the Back Again cyclothon near Quebec City as he enjoyed participating in a cyclothon back in 2019.
WORKOUT COMMUTE
Roger Smith doesn’t participate in cyclothons, but he essentially cycles the distance of one each week. The 58-yearold from Moncton, N.B., who cycles around 150 kilometres every week, has enjoyed cycling since childhood, but took it up seriously in 2017.
“Around the Moncton area, the cycling trails are really very good; also there’s a fair number of bike lanes around,” said Smith. “Nothing like Vancouver or Toronto or Ottawa, but it’s quite good.
“The drivers are quite courteous ... distracted, but courteous. Most people are distracted while driving, doing multiple things. You have to be quite defensive when you’re on the road, even in the bike lane.”
Before Smith retired, he would bike to work rather than drive. There were no shower facilities at his workplace, so he would take it easy on the ride to work.
“I would generally wear my work clothes because it was downhill most of the way. I would take a change of clothes for the way home and made that a workout.”
Similarly to Patel, Smith cycles year-round. However, he does it both indoors and outdoors.
“I have an indoor bike trainer down in the basement, it’s on the TV. Then I have some pretty heavy studded tires on one of my bikes. I was only out about a dozen times this winter, but I go out when
I can,” Smith explained.
Smith has four bikes to facilitate his hobby.
“I have a road bike, which is downstairs on the trainer and that’s where it stays,” he explained. “I have a gravel bike, which is my main bike. I have a real old mountain bike that’s 23 years old — that’s more of a spare. Then, I have a regular mountain bike, which has the studded tires.”
Smith reaps many benefits from cycling, which all translate into a happier, healthier life.
“I have better cardiovascular health,” he said. “When I got back into it, I lost 20 pounds in the first year and kept it off. You can also get away from work and life. It puts your mind at ease.
“My wife says I’m in a better mood when I bike.”
KEEPING CYCLISTS SAFE
Brian Branch enjoys cycling so much that he is a part of Moncton’s Active Transportation Coalition (ATCM) and working to ensure that Moncton’s cyclists can stay safe while enjoying their hobby.
The 50-year-old has been seriously cycling for the past 12 years, getting out two to three times per week.
“It’s a means of transportation and socialization, as well, through group rides or, in my own case, advocacy,” said Branch. “It’s a big part of what I do, almost on a daily basis.
“Since I moved to Moncton, I cycle more than I used to in the country, especially out of convenience and proximity to the places I have to go. I believe that cycling is a great way to travel short distances.”
A decade ago, through Branch’s graphic design business, he began working with a bicycle store called La Bikery Cooperative.
“I started doing some volunteer work for them, helping them with their design needs and their website,” he said. “About four or five years ago, I became a board member, which I still am now. Through that, I was able to meet a lot of like-minded people and I was a go-to for local media about anything cycling.”
Last year, La Bikery started another organization, ATCM, which is geared toward making city changes that will keep cyclists safe.
Through a plan that ATCM submitted to the City of Moncton, which was accepted, the municipality created a transportation co-ordinator position that is imperative to making positive changes for cyclists.
Branch said that the next step is to further education for all road users in relation to cyclists on the road.
“We often hear messaging geared towards cyclists to have lights and bells and not go faster than 15 kilometres per hour,” he said. “But we don’t often hear messaging geared towards drivers which is a major problem ... (recently) we are seeing communications that we’ve never seen before, like how to safely pass cyclists and respect Ellen’s Law.”
Ellen’s Law was passed in New Brunswick in 2017 and requires drivers to leave one metre of space when passing cyclists.
“These are some of the decisions that can lead to safer roads, not just for cyclists but for drivers as well,” said Branch.