August is here and I’ve started pedalling toward my goal of 2150km to raise money for the Sick Kids Foundation as part of their Great Cycle Challenge to fight Kids’ Cancer. This is my fifth year riding the GCCC and I’ve been part of an effort to raise millions of
Continue readingAuthor: cmkl
cmkl: A belated greeting to those who remember their fathers well
I have an ambivalent relationship with the parent days. I’ve lost both mine so these days forever remind me of that fact. I’m a parent too. But it’s such a joy it feels like every day is Fathers Day. So I don’t usually make much of them. But this year
Continue readingcmkl.ca: A belated greeting to those who remember their fathers well
I have an ambivalent relationship with the parent days. I’ve lost both mine so these days forever remind me of that fact. I’m a parent too. But it’s such a joy it feels like every day is Fathers Day. So I don’t usually make much of them. But this year
Continue readingcmkl.ca: Now’s the time
Expect emails from me. And selfies. Now is the time of year when I saddle up to raise money for Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital Foundation’s Great Cycle Challenge Canada. Donate Now It’s my fifth time doing this virtual event where riders pledge to ride a certain number of kilometres and
Continue readingcmkl: Now’s the time
Expect emails from me. And selfies. Now is the time of year when I saddle up to raise money for Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital Foundation’s Great Cycle Challenge Canada. Donate Now It’s my fifth time doing this virtual event where riders pledge to ride a certain number of kilometres and
Continue readingcmkl: How I fight my inner gym teacher
An occasional riding buddy asked me why I pay for a coach when I don’t race bikes. I enjoy riding my bike. So much so that if I could, I would get on my bike and never get off. Until I was too distraught and exhausted to continue. The coaching
Continue readingcmkl.ca: How I fight my inner gym teacher
An occasional riding buddy asked me why I pay for a coach when I don’t race bikes. I enjoy riding my bike. So much so that if I could, I would get on my bike and never get off. Until I was too distraught and exhausted to continue. The coaching
Continue readingcmkl: Five great days in Algonquin Park
My daughter and I have started a tradition it seems. This is the second year the two of us have gone canoe tripping. This year we decide to go a bit bigger since we were trying to make up for a whole month of COVID-cancelled summer camp. It’s the best
Continue readingcmkl: Great Cycle Challenge Canada
A dollar per kilometre. This year I’m taking it to 2K. Be part of this journey. I just bought my kid her first road bike. She’s put 65km on it since we brought it home 48 hours ago. I love biking and I love hanging out with my daughter.… More
Continue readingcmkl: Brandt-Sorenson upcycled jersey
Back in February I sent the Los Angeles-based boutique cycling gear company an old event jersey and $250 and asked them to upcycle it into something that I would actually wear. I got it in the mail the other day. It took a lot longer than expected, but in February
Continue readingcmkl: Punjabi Poutine — Jagmeet Singh thank for changing my world
In October 2019, in a master stroke of campaigning genius the federal NDP let Jagmeet Singh out of the cloister of earnest policy pronouncements and righteous indignation with Punjabi Poutine. A short video about how to make a brilliant fusion of South Asian and Québecois cuisine. It’s been a staple
Continue readingcmkl: The cycling I’m doing during the COVID-19 lockdown
There are countries where the distancing and isolating measures enacted include a total prohibition on cycling. But Canada isn’t one of them. And until Theresa Tam or Vera Etches tells me not to, I’m going to ride outside. Read more
Continue readingcmkl: What to do with the event jerseys
Do you have a drawer full of cycling event jerseys that you never wear? I do. You know the type. Cheap and cheerful, festooned with logos, ill-fitting and suffocating. Can’t give them away. But Brandt-Sorenson will make them into a new jersey for you. That fits. That breathes. That you
Continue readingcmkl: Road biking in Umbria
A world full of beautiful back roads wending their way through valleys, fields, medieval hilltop towns, up mountains. Umbria is a great place to ride. It’s known mostly for food and festivals. Where I was, the countryside is dotted with agri-turismo places — basically farms where you stay the night,
Continue readingcmkl: Palaces for the people
We need to stop obsessing with ‘cheap’ if we’re going to get anything done. Ottawa’s LRT is a screaming example. Read more
Continue readingcmkl: Kiosk – Mouse – Maple: twelve years later
In 2007 my loving partner offered to look after our toddler while I got back in the canoe for a few days. This is the story of me doing the same trip I did all those years ago. Only this time with kiddo in the boat. Read more
Continue readingcmkl: Bike trainers: one way to pedal when life intrudes
A strange question for August in Canada — how do I choose an indoor bike trainer. But life intrudes and the question came from a friend whose work precludes riding at any time other than late at night. I have another friend who has joint custody of three young kids.
Continue readingcmkl: Leave nothing on the table: Great Cycling Challenge Canada
Donate today and some well-heeled campaign sponsors will match it. Up to $500,000 It’s a cardinal sin to leave money on the table. That’s one of the things I learned in 24 years as a union staffer. And I think the same applies here. There’s some very affluent, well-placed donors
Continue readingcmkl: A dollar per kilometre: Great Canadian Cycle Challenge
This June I’m riding the Great Canadian Cycle Challenge to raise money to help the Sick Kids Foundation fight cancer. Participants pledge to ride a certain distance and raise a certain amount. I’m aiming to ride 1500km and raise $1500. Read more The post A dollar per kilometre: Great Canadian
Continue readingcmkl: Cycling safety: attitudes before infrastructure
There I was, riding south down Farmers Way. I was doing a workout, going somewhere between 36 and 40km/h — half the posted speed limit — in the middle of the southbound lane. If you don’t happen to know Farmers’ Way, it could easily be called Farmers Out of the
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