Author Archives: Richard Shearmur

There is a debate going on in Montreal which mirrors debates that have occurred elsewhere when statues of prominent people – erected as symbols honoring those we (as a society) admire – have been toppled. Colonial leaders who have endowed colleges, slave traders generous to city coffers, and, a few days ago, prime ministers whoContinue reading “Toppling statues”

Algorithms, and their prosaic manifestation as video games, computer software and apps, shape the way we think and create. To some extent they open up creative possibilities. For instance, they enable me to develop and adjust my RAW digital photos: this is certainly an improvement for me, since I do not have the space forContinue reading “Unicycles and algorithms”

I’ve tried to avoid computers over summer – so since 14th July I’ve been on vacation and, once back, have been doing some research, coding interviews and sorting out data. Maybe I’ll tell you a little about this in future posts. But I haven’t only been vacationing and doing research. I’ve been meeting out drivingContinue reading “The joy of driving (bis)”

I’ve been going on about cycling – partly because I enjoy it, and partly because I am staying in Scotstown without a car. But last weekend my wife came down from Montreal with the car, and I drove to Lac-Mégantic to do some shopping. What an experience! I rarely drive – maybe twice a monthContinue reading “The Joy of Driving”

Every summer I rise to the challenge two, maybe three, times: I take a ride up Mont-Mégantic. Another summit, Mont-St-Joseph can be thrown in, and – in for a penny, in for a pound – I usually knock myself out with that as well. To get to the entrance of Mont-Mégantic park requires a 32kmContinue reading “Climbing Mont-Mégantic & Mont-St-Joseph”

To ride on gravelly, sometimes muddy, sometimes stony, roads and paths, it’s good to have a bike with big tires. Of course, mountain bikes have big tires, but one can’t ride fast on them, and the prospect of doing 100km on a full-suspension bike with flat handlebars is not appealing (at least to me). MountainContinue reading “Gravel bikes: road bikes of the future”

Cycling is fun and I love it. However, it has its dark sides. For instance it can be an arcane and elitist activity, impatient with people who do not live and breathe carbon, group sets and rolling resistance. This was brought home to me when my teenage daughter, who has become interested in practical cyclingContinue reading “Bike shops as lycra-laden male elitist niches”

You’d be forgiven, if you read my previous posts, for thinking that rural cycling only involves long rides on gravel roads or on dodgy paved ones. Fortunately it doesn’t. Today was hot and sticky – so I hopped on my bike to ride down to the river for a dip. Ok, there were a fewContinue reading “Local cycling”

First, let’s be clear: cycling outside of cities is enjoyable and safe. The most aggressive drivers I’ve come across are on the roads just north and east of St.Eustache – i.e. in suburban areas where roads are narrow and drivers in a hurry. Further out in the suburbs (e.g. Chambly, St.Rémi, Hemmingford…) – basically asContinue reading “Rural roads”

Well, I’m now out of Montréal in Scotstown, at the foot of Mont Mégantic, about 200km east of of the city (230km as the bike rides). It’s a beautiful part of the world, still relatively wild compared to the eastern townships closer to Montréal. There are fewer lanes, restaurants and houses, and one can cycleContinue reading “Rural cycling”