Hi my name is Kel, I have been riding bikes for eight years and I volunteer with bike organizations across the GTA.

What Does Biking Mean To You?

I started out cycling in the suburbs and now cycling to me is a statement. It is a climate action for me and when I’m out with the bike whether I’m walking the bike or riding the bike I feel like I’m normalizing cycling or riding the bike as an activity.

What is Your Favourite Place To Ride? 

I will say not Toronto but I actually quite enjoy riding through the streets in Hamilton.  It’s quieter, less busy, I have to worry about less activity which could inevitably cause accidents. So that combined that with decent bicycling infrastructure it’s a nice place to ride yeah.

Tell us about your bike!

This bike probably looks kind of familiar to you because it’s a Miyata 618GT the same frame that was featured on the Driveside it’s my first custom built and also a Covid project. I made sure a lot of parts were used parts actually  and I got a lot of advice from Jimmy from the Driveside. I love it because it’s just beautiful, it’s my baby.

What has been your all time favourite cycling adventure?

I can’t say it’s the trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto so probably Toronto to Hamilton. The distance is quite decent and I like the fact that I could just hop on to the Go train and go back to Toronto afterwards. Also the streets in Hamilton are just so nice, I just love riding in the city there.

How do you think bikes and biking adventures can be more accessible for everyone?

I think one of the most important things that is often overlooked is an invitation to your friends, whether they are pro-riders or someone who never learned to ride a bike. We owe it to our community to share our collective knowledge, our resources, and our love of cycling with others.

What’s your favourite detail on your bike?