Aperte.org Jeremy Handcock

I tore up some ligaments in my shoulder last week during my foolish escapades (really, it's not even a good story) and I've had to find some fun physical things to do that don't involve much upper body movement. Fortunately, I can still operate my speedy two-wheeled friend with my lame shoulder.

Just as cars are an icon of personal independence in North America -- especially in more rural areas -- bicycles offer a bit of freedom that no public transit system can match. I've found that a bike is really the perfect tool for exploring a city. So, after some coffee to clear a mild hangover, I set out on Sunday morning to have a little adventure in parts of Toronto I had never been to before.

I mostly followed the waterfront trail from Bathurst west to the Humber Bay Parks. I pedaled this route a couple times just to get in some good cardio and on the second lap I went to check out High Park. I know it's cliché to take a photo of the Humber River pedestrian bridge, but I really love the geometric patterns as you look up from the middle of the bridge.

There was a lot of garbage on the lakeshore, which was disappointing, but it was a lovely ride and it felt great to get out of downtown and do something unusual. There are some nice relics from the old city mixed in with the shiny new bits down on the lakeshore.

I leave you with a bike lane to a magical world (shot in Montréal, below) and some urban wisdom from the blogTO Flickr pool.