2-4 April 2025 Via Rail Points, or Brompton Bike Obsession?

      Why did A.T. spend almost six hours each way taking a train from Montreal to Toronto and back? One theory for the trip was the new Brompton Gravel Bike.  It seems that Via will never again be taking regular bikes on the corridor trains anytime soon.  If that is the case, MBC Fixtures  with Via Rail connections will have to use some sort of folding bike.  Is the Brompton G bike the best solution?  A.T. bought a Brompton in 2018 but wanted to see what the current bikes were like. The only Canadian bike shop that currently has one is in Toronto.   

 In addition to transporting bikes on trains, A.T. has an obsession about getting as many Via Rail Points as possible.  Last year, on the 1 May 2024,  Via hooked his interest by telling him he was now qualified as a Preference Level Member. ( https://www.viarail.ca/en/offers/via-preference/tiers-benefits#menutab )  By September he felt a sense  of accomplishment by moving up into Privilege level, now double the number of points per trip!  However there is even a higher level....the elusive Premier level and the clock was ticking. All the qualifying trips had to be made before 1 May and all he needed was a return trip to Toronto!  Was this the reason for the trip?  Who knows for sure......

    Those weren't the only possible reasons . Doug Ford has threatened to close some of the Toronto bike lanes. Sadly, this may be the last opportunity to see what that city is like with those affected lanes intact.

   Or maybe it's just an excuse to visit friends and family.....

   Whatever the reason, A.T. took his circa 2018 Brompton bike  on a train to Toronto's Union Station, arriving in a snowstorm. 

1. The Brompton Bike Shop

   The following morning he set off for the 10:00 AM appointment to see the demo bike.

 

A.T. 's  Brompton ready to head out

 

   Arriving at the bike shop, A.T. was greeted by friendly salespersons who were happy to show off the Brompton G Line bike.

 

 They put A.T. 's Brompton and the G Line bike up side by side to see how they compared both in riding and folded up modes.

 

 

 A.T. then took the G Line out for a test ride....

 

 The bike was impressive....feels like a full size 8 speed bike with disc brakes.  Comes with a choice of regular or knobby tires. The demo did not have fenders or the rear rack installed.

 

 

 

  2.  Bob's Tour de Toronto

 

   A.T. then headed out  for his appointment with Bob as videographer of a short ride within the city.

 

 

   

3. Dinner with Disraeli 

 

A.T. took the  TTC for Summerville to Shephard to meet with Disraeli for dinner.  Just after getting on the subway there was an announcement that "an unauthorized person was on the tracks"  and that the train will stop ant St Clair and everyone  must disembark.  Shuttle buses will be arranged.

 

Needless to say this results in a rather large crowd waiting outside for the shuttle bus....

 

 

Not sure what to do, A.T. kept checking his phone to see when the subway might restart.  The reason for the stoppage had changed to a "brake problem on train".  Upon finding out it had restarted, he sneaked back, not wanting to cause a rush from the Bus Queue.

However he has not alone in this discovery.

 

 

But it takes a few trains before the regular route is restarted...A.T. was given an additional tour of the Davisville station. 

 

 

It all worked out in the end ....a fine dinner had by all.

 

 

 

 

 4. University Avenue Bike Path

 

  On the 4 April, A.T. returned by train to Montreal.  Before that he took a Go Pro camera with him for the bike ride down University Avenue to Union Station.  This is one of the Bike Lanes in Toronto Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to remove. He hopes that he will be able to ride it again.