How to diagnose and fix a Loose Headset on a Bicycle

A loose headset on a bicycle's handlebars can cause wobbling, instability, and difficulty steering, which can be dangerous. Here's how to diagnose and fix a loose headset:

Diagnosis:

1. Check for play in the headset: To check for play in the headset, hold onto the front wheel of the bike between your legs and rock the handlebars back and forth. If there is movement or clicking, the headset is likely loose.

2. Check for looseness in the stem and headset: Check the stem and headset bolts for looseness by wiggling the stem and headset. If they move or wiggle, they may need to be tightened.

3. Check for wear in the headset bearings: Remove the front wheel and check for wear in the headset bearings by turning the fork steerer tube. If there is roughness or play, the headset bearings may be worn and need to be replaced.

Fix:

1. Tighten the stem and headset bolts: If the stem and headset bolts are loose, tighten them with a wrench or allen key. Be sure to tighten them evenly and to the manufacturer's recommended torque specifications.

2. Adjust the headset bearings: To adjust the headset bearings, loosen the stem bolts and the top cap bolt, then tighten the headset bearing preload bolt (if present) until there is no play in the headset. Re-tighten the stem bolts and top cap bolt to the manufacturer's recommended torque specifications.

3. Replace the headset bearings: If the headset bearings are worn, they will need to be replaced. This requires removing the fork from the bike and replacing the bearings. This is a more involved repair and may require the assistance of a professional bicycle mechanic.

It's important to regularly check and maintain your headset to ensure safe and smooth steering. By diagnosing and addressing a loose headset promptly, you can prevent further damage and keep your bike riding smoothly.

Stephen Colbert Changes A Bike Inner Tube

Tis a good time of year to fix your bicycle, but it is an even better time to get outside and bicycle on trails where you can avoid the infected corona-zombies.

Stay Safe People!

Safety Tips for Cycling with Hearing Aids

Back in August I did a post about why cyclists should get their hearing checked for safety reasons. (Namely because one in five adults have suffered hearing damage.)

Hearing Aids for Cyclist Safety

Since then however it occurred to me I should probably do a 2nd post about hearing aids that includes some practical safety tips.

#1. Avoid Stupid Risks by Staying Safe on the Road

It doesn’t matter if you have hearing loss or not, staying safe while cycling in traffic should be your top priority. Accidents can happen to anyone, no matter how much experience they have or the quality of their equipment. However, there are ways to improve road safety.

The basics go for all cyclists:

1. Make sure your brakes work properly by having your bike tuned regularly
2. Wear a helmet
3. Always tell someone where you’re going
4. Try not to follow the same path every day
5. Bring a phone
6. Stay hydrated over the course of your trip
7. Avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration
8. Possibly invest in a handlebar mirror

People with hearing aids have to take extra precautions to stay safe on the road.

1. Wear your hearing aids, actually wear them. Don't bring them and forget to use them.
2. Adjust them to block out the wind. It’s hard even for people with excellent hearing to make out the sound of traffic over the wind, so make sure that your audiologist helps you set up a noise-cancellation mode.
3. You can also wear a cap or headband over your hearing aids to help block out the wind. Many regular cyclists will do this to help block out noise as they speed down the road, and it works the same for those with hearing aids. Myself I wear a toque as I like to keep my ears and head warm when I am cycling.
4. While you cycle alone, be extra aware of your surroundings. Your hearing aid settings are even more important if you plan on taking solo trips, because nobody else will be around to alert you via visual cues.
5. Avoid cycling alone. Cycling with friends is always safer, regardless of how well you hear.

#2. Try Group Cycling

There is a variety of safety and social benefits to cycling with a group or club, but especially for people with hearing aids.

Even people without hearing aids choose to cycle in groups when they can. Along with the benefit of companionship, it also improves the safety of your journey. The more of you there are, the safer you’ll be.

When cycling in groups, you can establish cues to warn each other about traffic and other dangers. With multiple people keeping an eye out for cars and motorcycles, at least one person is going to notice oncoming vehicles or danger. Cyclists are also more likely to take breaks when others are around, which makes the activity less strenuous.

Drivers are much more likely to notice a pack of cyclists than a single cyclist. Cycling in groups boosts the awareness of drivers around you. While a driver might overlook a lone cyclist, they have to make more accommodations for a group. They’ll give your group more berth, lowering the chances of an accident.

If you don’t have friends or family members to cycle with, try joining a cycling group in your area. Even if you’re shy or inexperienced, most groups are happy to accept new members. They can give you pointers, and help you learn how to cycle safely and efficiently. It doesn’t matter who you are, it’s always good to have someone watching your back.

#3. Adjusting Your Hearing Aids

Your bike, helmet, and hearing aids are the biggest tool at your disposal. Staying vigilant is easier when you can hear the world around you, so it’s important that you get your hearing aids adjusted properly. The best way to do this is to visit your audiologist. Explain the situation and ask them to create a special “cycling” setting. Or possibly even two different settings for louder and quieter areas. If you don't have an audiologist yet, try visiting Omni Hearing in Vaughan, which provides free hearing tests and also has a free online hearing test if you are unsure if you have hearing damage.

Your cycling setting should include the use of an omni-directional microphone setting. This is a special setting that allows you to pick up sounds from all directions, including behind you. While this might not be the best setting for conversations or parties, it can save your life while on the road. You’ll need to hear cars approaching from the sides and rear, and an omni-directional microphone setting can pick up the sound of their approach.

Next, you’ll need hearing aids with a wind-cancellation feature. This noise-filter should be turned all the way up. You should reduce the strain of hearing over wind as much as possible. Even people with fully-intact hearing have trouble hearing traffic or voices in windy situations, and it can be even harder for hearing aid wearers.

#4. Choosing a Helmet

Once your hearing aids are adjusted, it’s time to find a helmet that can accommodate them. Never buy a helmet without trying it on first, and always wear your hearing aids when shopping for a helmet. There’s no guarantee that the helmet you buy will fit comfortably with your hearing aids, so you need to make sure of that before taking it to the register.

You want the helmet to fit snugly, without smashing your ears or hearing aids. If you plan on wearing something on your head underneath the helmet like a cap or headband or toque, make sure to wear that too.

After buying your helmet, consider buying accessories to help block out the wind. You can find special straps and wind blockers online and in sports catalogs.

#5. Caring For Your Hearing Aids

Whether you’re cycling in the heat or the bitter cold, moisture is a serious concern. While getting waterproof hearing aids is a good idea, what if your current hearing aids are not waterproof?

In the heat, you’re going to sweat. To avoid moisture damage, you might need to stop and wipe down your ears and hearing aids. Sweatbands can reduce the amount of sweat reaching your ears, but you should still stop and wick away moisture with a towel. Water-stops are a great opportunity to do this. Drink some water and wipe down your hearing aids before hitting the road again.

When it’s cold, condensation is the concern. While you’re still going to sweat, your hearing aids are going to collect moisture from the air around you. Your batteries will also drain faster because of the cold, so make sure to bring a change of batteries if you plan on going for a long trip.

#6. Protecting Your Hearing

This section applies to everyone, regardless of their level of hearing. Recent studies have shown that cyclists’ hearing tends to degrade over time. Many professional and hobbyist cyclists suffer from high rates of noise-induced hearing loss as they grow older, as cyclists are more exposed to loud noises on street level than pedestrians or car drivers.

This is due to loud sounds, particularly wind-noise. Wind can become extraordinarily loud, and prolonged exposure can wear on your hearing. This results in sensorineural hearing loss, a degradation of the nerves in your cochlea. While sensorineural hearing loss is incurable, you can take measures to avoid it.

It has also been theorized that the air pressure of the wind going past your ears can also cause hearing damage, although this has yet to be scientifically proven. (Ear barotrauma is a type of ear damage caused by air pressure differences between the middle ear and the outer ear. Scuba diving and air travel are common causes of ear barotrauma. Symptoms can include ear pain, ringing in the ears, dizziness, ear bleeding, and temporary or permanent hearing loss.)

As mentioned above, headbands and other head coverings can be used to filter out wind noise. It’s also important that you take it easy after windy bike rides. Avoid loud music and concerts, and give your ears a chance to recover before taking another long ride or going anywhere noisy.

While you can’t always avoid cycling through the wind, you can do your best to protect your ears in the process. Fully protecting your ears is difficult, since earplugs and muffs can reduce your spatial awareness. Do what you can, and get frequent hearing tests. If your hearing does start to deteriorate, you’ll want to catch it early. Letting hearing loss fester can cause a myriad of other issues, including depression and mental fatigue because your brain has to strain harder to understand the messages it is getting from your ears.

Those who use hearing aids aren’t the only ones who can benefit from information on aural health. Many people don’t realize how delicate their hearing is, and what they can do to protect it. Indeed many people are walking around (or cycling around) without even knowing that they are suffering from permanent hearing loss.

Hearing Aids for Cyclist Safety

Hey Toronto Cyclists!

Just a thought, but if you have ever been cycling and didn't hear a car near you, or it was closer than you were expecting, it might be time to get your hearing tested.

You are cycling along, minding your own business, keeping your eyes on the road, the other traffic, and pedestrians, and still a car managed to get too close to you and clip you. Was it your fault you didn't hear them? They are probably a jerk driver, but you probably should be proactive about being able to hear any cars around you for safety reasons.

Here is why:

One in five adults have suffered permanent hearing damage.

It is remarkably common even amongst young adults, and often is the result of listening to loud music or loud workplace conditions. It isn't just a matter of age. Myself I have hearing damage from my youth and I am only 40. I have been living with my hearing damage for roughly 28 years.

This implies in turn that roughly one in five adult cyclists also has hearing damage.

Does this mean one in five should also be wearing hearing aids? No, it really depends on how severe the damage is. Which is why it is so important to have your hearing tested.

The good news is that Omni Hearing has a free online hearing test you can do right now on your computer. Or if you prefer an in-person meeting with an audiologist you can get a free hearing test at any of their 2 locations:

Woodbridge/Vaughan
Call or Text 905-605-4593

Oakville/Mississauga
Call or Text 905-287-2037

Now just because you are ready for a hearing test doesn't mean you need hearing aids. It might simply be a case that you need to start protecting your ears from further damage (by wearing ear plugs when near loud noises).

And if it does turn out that you really should have hearing aids there is more good news. If you live in Ontario then OHIP covers most of the cost. They are practically free.

Want more good news? Hearing aids have been getting smarter over the past 30 years. They can now auto-adjust based on the existing sound levels on quiet streets vs loud streets, so that regardless of the situation you will still hear that ultra quiet electric car backing out of its driveway from behind a hedge...

There are a wide variety of smart hearing aids now available out there, including waterproof hearing aids which are ideal if you enjoy cycling in the rain or snow.

195 Years of the Bicycle

The bicycle was invented in 1817 and later patented in 1818 by Karl von Drais. Known as the Draisine it had two wheels and no pedals, chain or gears... It was instead propelled by your feet pushing off the ground (a bit like a skateboard).

Of course in 195 years the bicycle has gone through numerous changes... from wooden frames, to steel frames, to aluminum, to alloys, to carbon-fibre bicycles that are currently used by racers.

And then there was the steering and the drive train.

Henry Lawson invented a rear-chain-drive bicycle in 1879 with a huge front wheel and a small rear wheel but it failed to be a seller. It wasn't until John Kemp Starley created his "safety bicycle" aka "The Rover" in 1885 that sales took off and it became widely copied. The Rover featured a steerable front wheel, two wheels of the same and a chain drive to the rear wheel.

In 1888 John Dunlop reinvented and popularized the pneumatic bicycle tire, which is still used today.

Braking systems have varied wildly, but typically most bikes now come with two sets of brakes (front and back). I recall a few years ago fixing a bicycle which had 3 (front, back and coaster/pedal brakes).

What doesn't seem to have changed with time is the inability of some motorists to share the road with cyclists, especially in metropolitan cities where cycling is a common practice for getting to and from work.

You would think that after 195 years of the bicycle people would get used to cyclists, but apparently impatient motorists stuck in traffic will complain about anything.

NOTE: We would have a lot less complainers if city councils put bicycle lanes on ALL the major streets instead of just lip service.

Bicycle licenses in Toronto? Don't make me laugh

CANADA - In the current mayoral campaign the issue of whether Toronto should force cyclists to get licenses to ride their bicycles has come up in the local media. This isn't the first time the city has thought about licensing cyclists. They failed in their attempt last time and they will certainly fail again.

According to the city’s website there are three reasons why licensing would NEVER work:

#1. How do you license children?

#2. How do make sure the database is complete and accurate when bicycles are privately bought and sold on a constant basis?

#3. Licensing cyclists won't change their behaviour.

I have some more reasons the city hasn't thought of:

#4. What about tourists who like cycling downtown or on Centre Island? Bike rental places would be put out of business.

#5. Cyclists will NEVER agree to pay $200 for a cycling license.

There's approx. a million people in Toronto who own bicycles... at $200 each this is nothing more than a $200 million tax grab. Taxing cyclists is also completely unenforcable. The police don't even stop cyclists to see if they have a light or a rear reflector so they're certainly not going to worry if cyclists have a license.

What the city wants to do is create a "Department of Cycling". Cyclists would have to take a road test every 2 years. Bike shops, associations and bicycle mechanics would have be registered and pay fees to help pay for the system.

Cyclists would pay $200 every 2 years to have a license.

Businesses and associations would pay $500 every year to be registered.

The city would hire a team of people to administer the database and use some of the funding to help make future bike lanes.

Children under the age of 16 would be exempt from licensing.

Bike shops, associations, schools, after-school programs and summer camps would be asked to teach bike safety.

However this will do nothing to change the behaviour of cyclists. Licensing doesn't change the behaviour of motorists, so why would it change cyclists? Asking cyclists to pay $200 every 2 years is really just a PUNISHMNENT for being a cyclist and has nothing to do with road safety and everything to do with motorists-who-despise-cyclists and are jealous of the fact we cyclists don't have to pay anything.

His proposal also includes enforcing stiffer fines and penalties on reckless cyclists, introducing a points system and the ability to suspend licenses. A special police unit would be created just for catching cyclists.

This plan is being promoted by Robert Kirsic (who works for the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council in Toronto), who admits he prefers to drive a car, and apparently has it stuck in his head that police need to have a crackdown on cyclists and turn Toronto into a police state with respect to cyclists.

(Side Note: So why can't they create a special police unit just for catching people who smoke within 9 meters of public entrances? Oh wait, its because its a waste of time enforcing every little law.)

Robert Kirsic is apparently an idiot. He hasn't clued in that if other cities haven't been able to enforce bicycle licenses, then its obviously not going to work in Toronto where one out every five people owns a bicycle... in a city of 5 to 6 million. Bicycle licensing is a joke. It would be a waste of time and resources and will do NOTHING to create a safer environment. Its nothing more than a $200 million tax grab.

Want to make the roads safer? Start by adding bicycle lanes to all major roads. Educate drivers about the fact cyclists are here to stay and they have an equal right to use the road. (We've been here longer than drivers technically if you compare the years at which bicycles and cars were invented.)

And while you're at it pass a law requiring drivers to leave a 5' space between the car and curb at all times. Quite a few accidents happen when drivers box in cyclists by driving too close to the curb sometimes on purpose (some drivers are just dangerous pricks).

Bicycle Collisions: What To Do

CANADA - Some of the info below pertains to Toronto. If you live elsewhere please consult your local municipality websites with respect to cyclists.

Report the crash at the scene. Have someone call "911" or if you live in Toronto call the police non-emergency number (416-808-2222). Wait for police to arrive.

Ask witnesses to identify themselves.

If a motor vehicle is involved, record the driver's name, phone number, insurance policy details, a description of the vehicle and the license plate number.

If you are injured at all, see a doctor. Ask for a letter describing your condition.

If your bike needs repair, get a written estimate from a bike shop.

If you have insurance, speak to your broker. If not, call the insurance company of the driver(s) involved in the crash.

If you have no access to insurance, contact the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund at 1-800-268-7188.

Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC) can refer you to a lawyer for advice on making an insurance claim. E-mail: arc@respect.to or phone: 416-604-5171.

Do not leave the scene of a collision without talking to the other driver, pedestrian or cyclist involved. 'Hit and run' applies to cyclists as well as drivers. If you choose not to report the crash at the scene, you can file a report at the nearest police station within 24 hours or call 416-808-2222. Cyclists do not have go to a Collision Reporting Centre. Take responsibility for assisting other crash victims by helping them follow the steps above.

In other news...

Less women ride bicycles than men in North America and Australia, according to two separate studies by Rutgers University in New Jersey and Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. According to the studies approx. 30% of cyclists are women.

According to surveys many women are worried about accidents and getting a "door prize" and the fear of cycling accidents is listed as a major reason.

Malena Andrade, a website designer, experienced her first "door prize" a couple of years ago in Toronto's club district when a group of girls exiting a cab opened the door without looking. Andrade's bike was hit so hard the front wheel warped but fortunately did not taco.

Andrade brushed herself off and managed to cycle home. When she took her wheel to get fixed, she learned about her legal rights as a cyclist.

Female cyclists in Toronto looking to hang out (and eat cupcakes) are recommended to check out cupcakeride.com. Its a Toronto girls only riding group who meet regularly to swap stories and eat cupcakes.

Should Cyclists have a 3-foot buffer zone?

CANADA - Ontario MPP Cheri DiNovo is proposing to give cyclists a wider birth, wanting to make it illegal for motorists to drive within 3 feet of a cyclist when passing them.

The private member's bill was introduced yesterday in Queen's Park and is proposing hefty fines for motorists who fail to give cyclists a reasonable amount of space.

“Leaving three feet while passing would go a long way in making the roads safer for cyclists,” DiNovo said. “This bill would serve as another reminder to share the road while encouraging people to ride their bike.”

Under the proposed amendment to the Highway Traffic Act, motorists would have to give cyclists a berth of three feet when travelling under 50 km/h (the speed limit on most city streets), four feet for speeds between 50 km/h and 80 km/h and five feet for over 80 km/h.

Fines of between $310 and $750 would be imposed on people who ignore the law.

A recent accident near Montreal might have been prevented if such a law had been in place. Three cyclists were killed and three others injured when a truck hit the group of triathlon athletes.

There is also a 2004 Toronto study that found passing motorists was the leading killer of cyclists and the second leading cause of collisions with bikes.

The problem right now is there is no defined space allowed to cyclists. The laws are quite vague, leaving it up to the cyclist how much room they require to feel safe. But motorists (some of whom believe cyclists shouldn't even be on the road) often ignore cyclist buffer zones because they either don't know about the laws concerning cyclists or don't care.

#1. A bicycle is a vehicle under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, thus a cyclist has the right to use the road and should be treated with equal respect as other vehicles.

#2. Cyclists must stay on the right side of the lane, but maintain a distance from the curb, parked cars, potholes and obstacles so as to maintain a straight line. A cyclist may occupy any part of a lane when their safety warrants it. (Note: A cyclist can move into a left lane if they need to turn left at an intersection.)

Thus a cyclist can take up as much or as little of a lane as they feel necessary to ensure their personal safety.

However this doesn't always fly with motorists, due to any number of reasons (road rage, bad day at work, lack of respect for cyclists, etc.) and thus the need for a specific buffer zone of 3 feet or more is a pretty good idea. The current vagueness of the law leaves the distance between the cyclist and the curb up to the personal discretion of the cyclist, but there is no law dictating the distance required between a motorist and a cyclist.

Right now its up to the motorist to decide, which means many motorists can simply choose to ignore the safety of the cyclist.

How Safe is your Local Bike Mechanic?

CANADA - I've worked in a few different bike shops and even early on I noticed there is a trend in bike shops to cut corners when it comes to fixing a bike "by the book" with respect to the safety of the customer.

[Right: Craig, a BTAC certified bicycle mechanic.]

Take wheel truing for example. If a wheel has reached a point that the tension on the individual spokes is greater than 30 kgf the spokes are much more likely to snap when the cyclist hits a bump. That will result in "catastrophic wheel failure" and the person will end up crashing, possibly getting injured or dying. [Note - The maximum kgf will vary depending on spoke thickness, strength and the spoke pattern, but 30 kgf is true for all normal bicycle wheels. Consult your Barnett's Manual for different spokes.]

And that is just one example of what could happen if someone doesn't fix your bike properly.

As a responsible citizen you'd think bike mechanics would care more about their customers' safety, but from what I've seen quite a few bike shops out there are selling their services just to make $$$ with little regard to the personal safety of the rider.

"Well that's what I do on my bike and I've never been in an accident yet."

The key word is YET. Its bound to happen eventually.

[Right: BAM Instructor Smokey Dymny shows John how to properly tune brakes. John is now a BTAC certified bicycle mechanic.]

The problem lies in that 99% of bicycle mechanics out there have never been properly trained. They are either self-taught or taught by a shop mechanic who wasn't really trained either and is relying purely on experience.

Its my opinion that bicycle mechanics should have to go through a certification course, like the BAM program here in Toronto, the Winterborne Bicycle Institute at Conestoga College, or the John Barnett Bicycle Institute in Colorado. Or some similar program.

At the very least every bicycle shop should have one properly trained bike mechanic who can then pass their knowledge unto lesser mechanics on how to do things properly/safely. True, sometimes people get impatient when you've got X number of bikes to fix in a day, but I should point out a properly trained and experienced mechanic is also faster and more efficient, in addition to being safer.

In Toronto the BAM program has only been around since the start of 2009. It was created because of two things: 1. Toronto has a shortage of bicycle mechanics; 2. Toronto has a shortage of properly trained bicycle mechanics. The plan is to eventually open more BAM programs across Canada so that more and more bicycle mechanics can be properly trained.

So even though its not mandatory by law or anything, the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada is proceeding with a plan to create an industry wide standard wherein bicycle mechanics will eventually be expected to be certified. Its essentially self regulation.

And that is a good thing because it means safety standards should go up with respect to properly serviced bicycles.

Surveillance footage shows Bryant deliberately hit cyclist

CANADA - Surveillance camera footage has been released showing exactly what happened in the incident where Michael Bryant ran over cyclist Darcy Allan Sheppard.

In the footage Bryant first uses the car to intimidate Sheppard. Then Bryant strikes him and pushes him ten feet, the length of a car. Bryant then put his car in Reverse then Drive and drives it past Sheppard. As the cyclist struggles to get up, he grabs the passing car mirror to try to keep the car at the scene.

According to witnesses Bryant then drove into the wrong side of the road trying to knock Sheppard off his car mirror and ended up running over Sheppard with the rear wheels of his car.

Will Bicycle Couriers become Unionized?

Following in the wake of the tragic death of Toronto bicycle courier Darcy Allan Sheppard (who was run over by a politician on August 31st 2009) members of Toronto's bicycle courier community are advocating membership in the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

As such they would be given the same legal rights and be able to get benefits and a pension in the future.

It also means bicycle couriers (and many other Toronto cyclists) will be pushing for more bicycle lanes in downtown Toronto.

Robert Melnyk, who has been a bike courier since 1984 says Sheppard's death has not helped to make the streets safer for cyclists, but instead has escalated tensions with motorists.

He says he's heard car drivers shout "You're next!" as he tries to navigate the downtown streets.

Impatient motorists suffering from road rage tend not to realize the danger they put cyclists in when they try to own the road and think cyclists have no place on it, which reinforces the idea for why Toronto needs more bicycle lanes.

FYI: In Toronto you can be fined up to $400 CDN if you cycle on the sidewalk with any wheel larger than 24 inches. The typical fine is $90, but if you're going really fast and acting recklessly you can be given additional fines and even charged with reckless endangerment.

Attorney General kills Toronto cyclist

CANADA - Former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant killed a 34-year-old Toronto cyclist last night with his car and has been charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.

The victim was bicycle courier Darcy Allan Sheppard, a father of three. Sheppard was heading home to the Dupont and Dufferin area of Toronto.

Bryant, 43, is scheduled to appear in Old City Hall court on Oct. 19 2009.

Witnesses on Bloor Street last night described a heated argument between the driver of a black Saab convertible and a cyclist that began near Bloor and Bay Streets. (Blog author's note, that's right near my gym... and I was there last night working out!)

According to witnesses the argument erupted following a collision between Michael Bryant's black Saab convertible and the cyclist Sheppard at 9:45 PM on Bloor, just west of St. Thomas Street. The cyclist reportedly hung onto the side of the car (possibly because his shirt got caught on something) and Bryant drove off dragging him over 100 meters down the street, driving onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic and brushing against trees and poles in an attempt to knock the cyclist off his car.

Bryant then ran over Sheppard's head with the rear tires of his Saab and drove off. He was later arrested.

Police also questioned an unidentified female passenger who was in the convertible. Police say alcohol was not involved.

"Lots of people were watching and they couldn't believe what was happening," said construction worker Ryan Brazeau, who was laying sewer pipes on Bloor.

"The guy hanging onto the car, hit the mailbox, hit the road, (then) . . . the car ran over him with the back tires," another witness said. "The guy bounced and the car sped off . . . the person was there just bleeding." Sheppard was bleeding from his head and mouth.

Sheppard was taken to St. Michael's Hospital with serious head injuries and died around midnight.

A large portion of the incident was captured on surveillance video and that investigators are working to fill in the gaps. (This is practically guaranteed to end up on YouTube.)

Bike couriers in Toronto are planning a special memorial service.

Sheppard also a guitarist and an amateur stand-up comedian who sometimes performed at open mike nights at local clubs.

Bryant was first elected MPP for St. Paul's in 1999 and won re-election in 2003 and 2007. He was awarded Now Magazine's Best Toronto MPP for 2008.

Michael Bryant was Ontario's youngest-ever attorney general, and during his time in public service legalized paralegals, fixed election dates, banned pit bulls, overhauled the human rights system, re-created the Law Reform Commission, re-established civilian oversight of police and depoliticized Justice of the Peace appointments. He eventually stepped down from the position.

BLOG AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I ride along Bloor Street regularly to go to my gym which is near the Bay and Bloor corner. I think I know what happened in this incident... the problem is all the construction currently going on at Yonge and Bloor and all the potholes along Bloor street near the construction.

As a cyclist when you cycle through there is no bike lanes on Bloor street, and because of the construction at Yonge/Bloor there is only one lane on each side of the street. So I submit to you here is my theory of what happened:

Both Michael Bryant and Darcy Sheppard went through the Yonge/Bloor intersection, and the cyclist was likely in the way of the car because there's only one lane.

Furthermore after getting past the construction its not safe to drive on the far right because of the potholes. Thus its safer to stay in a lane where the road surface is more even. Sheppard did what any cyclist would do, he avoided the potholes.

This however only pissed over the driver behind him, who in this case was Michael Bryant riding with his female friend and possibly feeling cocky. Had he not been a convertible this could have been prevented, but because he was in a convertible he decided to shout at the cyclist and an argument ensued near St. Thomas Street.

Bryant then drove along beside the cyclist, the argument became heated and somehow the cyclist either grabbed hold of his car (or got caught on it). Bryant then decided instead of slowing down he would speed up, drive onto the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic in an attempt to knock the cyclist off.

Sheppard held on for dear life and was eventually ran over by the rear tires or Bryant's black Saab convertible.

Conclusions? Construction, convertibles, cockiness and being in the wrong place at the wrong time led to a cyclist's untimely death. The fact Bloor Street still doesn't have a bicycle lane is also a problem, despite numerous petitions for the city of Toronto to solve the problem.

It doesn't excuse Michael Bryant's reckless driving or his role in Sheppard's death, but it could have been prevented had common sense prevailed.

Cycling Toronto's somewhat safe streets

Two things happened to me today on my way to and from the gym.

I took my retro blue Road King cruiser which I have fully restored and went carefully through one of the busiest areas in Toronto (Bloor and Yonge intersection). I parked and locked my bike up and while walking across the Bay-Bloor cross-walk a crazy old bitch in a Honda nearly ran me over.

Proof to me that walking is just as dangerous as cycling.

In 2008 there was 1,068 bicycle accidents reported to Toronto police (see map of 2008 bike accidents). In contrast there was many thousands of pedestrians hit by cars. True, there is way more pedestrians than there is cyclists, but the number does seem relatively low for a city of 5 million people. At approx. 3 accidents per day and only 1 fatal bicycle accident in all of 2008, that seems awfully safe.

The Top Five Most Dangerous Intersections in Toronto
Bay and Dundas - 7 accidents in 2008
College and Crawford - 7 accidents in 2008
Queen and Broadview - 5 accidents in 2008
Yonge and Dundas - 5 accidents in 2008
Bloor and Bathurst - 4 accidents in 2008

Approx. 90% of the accidents are the result of "doorings" (someone opens their car door and unsuspecting cyclist goes straight into it). For those keeping track, if a police officer notices a dooring or gets called to the scene of a dooring accident its a fine that can range over $200, and the cyclist can sue for injuries because its 100% the fault of the person who opened the door without paying attention.

Doorings however are reduced significantly on streets with bike lanes. Its a tricky matter. Cycling in the middle of the vehicle lane tends to piss off car drivers. Cycling on the side of the lane puts you at risk for more pot holes and doorings.

So there is the need for more bicycle lanes (and safer intersections for pedestrians too). To that end the city of Toronto has announced it plans to spend $70 million over the next 10 years increasing Toronto's bike lanes, removing pot holes, etc. The plan hasn't been approved yet, but proponents of it are pushing hard for it. Cycling advocates approve of the plan and say giving bikes more room on the road and more people will ride them, reducing congestion and smog.

Leaving the gym I crossed the street once more (no crazy drivers this time) and found a little surprise waiting on my bike: A printed note titled "I LIKE YOUR BIKE, SHOW IT OFF!!!!" which was promoting a June 6th 2009 event for a Vintage Bicycle Contest, a silent auction, a bike accessory sale, obstacle course and a free BBQ.

Its taking place at 29 Barton Ave (1 block north of Bloor/Yonge).

For more details see batemansbikeco.com (which is sponsoring the event).

So apparently I am not the only one who fusses about my retro blue Road King.

Bicycle Maintenance Important Safety Tip

If you aren't checking up on your bicycle's maintenance regularly, you are taking your life in your hands. The chance of having an accident goes up remarkably

Do basic bike maintenance every 4 - 6 months.

If you are using your bicycle daily you will want to have it checked once every 2 or 3 months, possibly by a professional bicycle mechanic who can check it properly.

OTHER CYCLING SAFETY TIPS

* Maneuver your bike effectively.

* Determine the best place on the road to ride.

* Communicate with other road users.

* Check your bike for safety.

* Adjust your bike to fit you.

* Choose equipment and clothing.

* Plan the best routes.

* Handle weather and riding at night.

* Don't tailgate other cyclists or cars.

* Be wary of potholes, bumps or crevices.

* Don't show off to your kids or wife by being a dumbass.