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Sal ALL F AT 008 Christmgg PD! Bicycles were a big part of my past. For most of my life my bike and l were inseparable. I've worked in bike sho sand immersed myself in cycling culture. My ave-affair with bikes pushed Topics cover the entire spectrum. I have heard that the length of winter can be predicted by the abundance of chestnuts on a tree, and that you can find gold in an area'with a specific variety. of vegetation. Unfortunatel my newfound knowl- edge has not yet led to. . e discovery of precious metals, but a discussiohabout bicycles eventual- ly led to a much more valuable discovery. What makes Ideal stand out are the regular patrons. I've often found myself there nuxsmg a caffeine buzz and skimming through a news a- far-while he in; tabs on conversations wit a gro_up‘of regu at; It [isn't got a flashy Sign; in facvt ltrhason't got a sign at' all. People know it simply as "Ideal" and on a decent day, holding a cup of fresh] brewed bean and immersed in conversation wit a coffee shop regular, it would be hard to imagine a more fitging name. I'made many discoveries this year, including the best spot to o for a coffee in the city. It's in a little nook off t e beaten trail near Kensinfron Market; 3 sim‘rle place with an intimate ront patio separate from the rest of the world by a riclce .dd fence made of plumhing pig'mg._ ._k --- _ fl_-L__ ,: Many entities decide, to change their name, be it a band, company or rson, perhaps as a result of a change in music style, ownership or gen- A-- der. Like the old title, which promised a pot full of suxprises, "From Where I’m Sitting” aims to shed light on the filh less travelled, with hopes of e stirring up fe ‘ gs of wonder and the odd unan- ticipated realization. If you have read my columns in the t, have likely noticed the new title for thispoazfe. R: name may have changed, but everything else remains intact. By Luke Anderson Along for the ride “KIT CHOICE OF LEATHER WWOLOUR With no operational parts, the bike had been sitting in his basement for ears. To make it roadworthgoagain, I directed riends to loosen a couple of Its here and tighten a few spokes there traded parts with an interesting character in a kensington Market bike shop and invested in 50m new rubber. T omdnt‘ Beth grabbed the handlebars; sldn o e‘leg over and pushed down on the pedal of her new bike, three important things ha â€" pened. Firstly, all of the parts on the bi e responded to her pedal-pushin power, setting both bike and rider in motion. gecondly a huge sr‘riiile emblazoned Beth's face as she took a test n e. And lastly, I discovered how to reconnect myself with something that I thought I would never be a part of again. ' For Heather I acted as a consultant, giving advice and direction to find her a new ride. My old fears vanished as we visited bike shops and talked the talk. My idea for Beth was more com- plex. I orchestrated the restoration of a vinta e single-speed ladies’ bike, a project initiated y the donation of a decrepit jalopy from a coffee shop friend. I'll never forget how I felt when I opened that cage and threw myself into a conversation about bicycles. In the process I found a wa to help two ood friends, Beth and Heather, w ose bikes had geen stolen. Wheeling past a bike shop, watching others ride, or getting involved in a conversation about bicycles were things I carefully avoided for fear of citing really bummed. Like a caged lion, I had locied that part of me avyay. _ 7 It was this desire which saw me biting off more than 1 could chew on a Iarticular ride in» over three years ago. I crashe hard on that ride and the injury l sustained means I am no longer able to physically participate in an activity that l waauso passionate about. me to test my limits in the quest for that ulti- mate adrenaline rush. ncotokaonmlbnmom We will your empty Ink ammo: 6 l 40 Main St... Stouflvllle 905-640-3400 Solon d Service on a" PC'I, Printer: 6 Monitors “ Your local newspaper is - brought to you by... ‘These entlemen are heré because the}; desire to have placeg before their friends the merits of the enter- prises they represent and which the hope her to extend, and because th believe in t e town in w 'ch they live and wish totfend their aid toward making worthy an artistic souvenir of Stouffville.’ ‘We like to live where we can buy the necessaries of hfe as cheaply as they can be bought anywhere and where we can be served as aciously as we Would be served in the great metropo is. To the thousands who read this journal we most heartily commend the inter- ests of those whose names appear on these pages. ‘Evefy citizen prides himself in the fact tha‘t' he'is'one of those who make the town; and no man has a better right to cherish such a pride than the conscientious merchlnt. B KIWCilderdale And now, s we for our sponsors. . In 2005, as in 1995, your local newspaper woulqtnot exist without our advertisers. These are the but s who support local teams and organizations, We friendly and knowledgeable service and articlplte in community life. The article below, whi ap ed in the November 1895 Free Press under the be ing ‘Our Merchants’, is as relevant now as it was when it was written, apart from the somewhat seatist language. 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