Welcome

I use this site to post notes about cycling, (especially track cycling, and cycling education), technology, and other random topics.

It’s a ongoing work in progress and many notes may be rough or unfinished.

Archive of all posts (by date):

Hugo Markdown Image Handling

Hugo Markdown Image Handling

This article is under construction

The article discusses the details of how Goldmark Markdown and Hugo handles images, along with how to add attributes such a positioning and sizing when using images in a Hugo Markdown file.
Tires - Be Faster, Safer, More Comfortable

Tires - Be Faster, Safer, More Comfortable

You can have it all with wider tires

The most important contact point on a bike is “where the rubber meets the road”. Tires may be the most important component on your bike. The right tire at the right pressure makes a huge difference to your safety - your “grip” on the road - as well as to your comfort, and efficiency. You can have it all with wider tires.
How to Crash

How to Crash

You will crash - learn to crash properly

In this article we’ll discuss how to minimize injury if to do crash. Of course there are no guarantees, but there are techniques you can use to minimize injuries when you crash. There are 3 aspects to minimizing the seriousness of your injuries - Fitness, Technique and Training.
How not to Fall (at low speed)

How not to Fall (at low speed)

Techniques to prevent low speed falls

Many serious cycling injuries happen when cyclists are slowing and preparing to stop. There are techniques we can use to prevent low speed falls. While this may seem like a lot of effort, it’s much preferable to broken bones!
Every Cyclist Crashes - Even You!

Every Cyclist Crashes - Even You!

Your WILL crash - There are things you can do to minimize the risk

“Given the amount of time I spend on a bike, I recognize there is a significant probability that my cycling career, or even my life, could end as a result of a serious cycling accident”. As a cyclist, the risk of injury requiring hospital treatment (per km travelled) is significantly greater than when in a motor vehicle.
After You Crash & Your Helmet Saves Your Head!

After You Crash & Your Helmet Saves Your Head!

A checklist for after a rider crashes

After a crash, the adrenaline will be pumping… an injured rider will not necessarily feel pain, and often will say “I’m OK” and want to get back on their bike. NO! Take it slow and do a thorough check - there’s a post-crash list to follow.

The Joy of Recreational Track Cycling

In the depths of winter, options for cycling become less appealing… Do I ride outdoors in the cold, wet, and wind? Or sweat it out indoors on a trainer, listening to music or a video to combat the boredom? There’s another option! With the construction of the Mattamy National Cycling Centre for the Pan Am Games, there’s a beautiful world-class indoor velodrome facility within reasonable driving distance of Ottawa.

Velodrome Basics

This page gives you a detailed tour around velodromes, using the two indoor velodromes in Ontario as examples:

Essential Rules of the Track

This page is deliberately short. We ride the track a lot and we keep coming across people not following these essential rules, resulting is quite a number of close calls. Crashes in recreational track cycling are rare, and we want to keep them that way!