January 25, 2013 does double duty.

It’s Robbie Burns Day, when true Scots celebrate the Scottish poet’s birthday by addressing the haggis at the Burns Supper.

Today is also the final day to reserve a free Bixi bike for “The Coldest Day of the Year Ride” in Toronto.

Celebrate Robbie Burns Day in Toronto

The Burns Supper (or Burns Dinner) commemorates the life and work of poet Robert Burns. His poem, “Address to a Haggis”, speaks to the main dish served at this meal.

People ask, “What is haggis?”, but they only ask once. Haggis is a pudding, but “savoury” rather than sweet. It contains some internal organs, typically sheep heart, liver and lungs; fat; soup stock; as well as oatmeal, onions and spices. The mixture is steamed inside a sheep’s stomach for several hours.

While officially Robbie Burns Day is his birthday, Jan. 25, some may celebrate the happy event on the following Saturday.

Robbie Burns Celebrations in Toronto

Mackenzie House, the City of Toronto museum at 82 Bond St., hosts an official “Robbie Burns Day Celebration” from noon to 4pm on January 27, 2013. Admission is under $10, and includes a taste of haggis. Bond Street is east of Yonge St., west of Church St. and just south of Dundas St. East.

“The Caledonian” claims to be the only Scottish pub in Toronto, so you could head to 856 College Street for their Robbie Burns Week festival. They have a second Burns Supper on Saturday, but call ahead since their Wednesday supper was sold out.

On the other hand, many other pubs and restaurants jump onto the Rabbie Burns bandwagon near the end of January, so you should be able to find a Burns supper in Toronto this weekend.

Did Robbie Burns Ride Bicycles?

Robbie Burns lived from 1759 to 1796. Since bicycles were first introduced sometime between 1817 and 1839, he would not have had the opportunity to ride one or to write poems about their virtues.

The Coldest Biking Event in Toronto

Toronto cyclists will celebrate the “Coldest Day of the Year Ride” on January 30, 2013. Thank the Cycle Toronto team for organizing one of the annual winter events in Toronto devoted to fitness; and one of the few to feature the sport of bicycling in cold weather.

The “Coldest Day” ride starts behind Toronto City Hall, at Armoury and Chestnut streets, at high noon.

The tie-in to Robbie Burns Day is that Bixi, the bicycle rental company, offers free rentals if you make the special reservation by Jan. 25, 2013. Oops, that’s today, but I just learned about it this morning! Check the Cycle Toronto web page (linked above) for the contact information.

That page also links to Cycle Toronto’s winter cycling tips page. Their first item is to choose the right bicycle for winter conditions. While there are many bike stores in Toronto, you should contact them to check for their winter hours. You want a cheap bicycle, rather than the fanciest multi-geared road bike, to get through the salty slush of a Toronto winter. They recommend adding fenders; check with bicycle shops that carry accessories for your bike.
The only caveat to be aware of is that the medication should not be treated as very effective in treating the cheap online cialis glacialridgebyway.com problem. It is the inability to develop or maintain proper erection viagra tablets 100mg of the penile region during the acts of love- making. The organ gets erect and blood circulation glacialridgebyway.com brand levitra in the reproductive organs increases. The similar situation arises when man got affected by liver disorder, kidney dysfunction, diabetes and thyroid disorder the physician should be informed about these deformities super viagra for sale at the time of consultation.
You have just enough time to find a bike shop for a winter tune up, if you haven’t ridden since early autumn. At least lubricate your chain.

Whether for snow or rain, in my view it’s better to stash your cell phone in a waterproof bag than to drop it from your pants pocket while cycling. Online retailer New Egg has bike accessories, such as Insten brand waterproof cell phone holders. I’d search for “waterproof case” in New Egg Canada, or New Egg USA for American shopping and shipping.

This inspirational photograph of a bicycle in a snowstorm was taken in Arlington, Virginia. Let’s not pity ourselves too much about winter cycling in Toronto!

Cycling in snow is a serious fitness activity. It takes more work to get through the snow; and there’s less traction so you put more effort in than you normally gain in the way of speed.

Cycle Toronto’s tips include what to wear for warmth, but warn against dressing too warmly. After you read their tips, check my “Four Sports Clothing Tips for Winter Running Gear” for a runner’s view, then add a wind-proofing layer but be ready to peel down a bit once you warm up.

It’s also more tricky, especially getting across hidden streetcar tracks or sewer grates. I’d want to stay on routes that I already know well, rather than exploring new streets.

However, the Coldest Day ride will be led by experienced Toronto cyclists. It should be a great group experience.

Record-Setting Warm Temperatures for the “Coldest Day Bike Ride”

(Added Jan. 30, 2013): According to Metro News (Torstar), “Cyclists take their ‘coldest day of the year’ ride on record-warm Jan. 30“. Congrats to the 75 cyclists who faced the 14C temperatures today. We’re supposed to drop below freezing overnight, so cycling in Toronto winters will become more of a challenge again.

Every winter I’m bemused by the bicycle tracks in the fresh morning snow when I’m out for an early Saturday run. Somebody gets their fitness session started before I do. And congrats to that person.

Looking for More Annual Toronto Events?

Check the “annual events” or “Toronto events” categories toward the end of the left-hand menu for other fascinating, free or frugal annual events in Toronto.

Toronto Winterlicious 2013

The 2013 Winterlicious kick-off is today, Jan. 25; but I’ve already covered the basics for this annual winter dining event in “Prepare to Savour 2013 Winterlicious in Toronto“.

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article. However, DeHaan Services does write web site or advertising copy for clients. Our skills are demonstrated in online articles in Decoded Science and other online sites. That’s why DeHaan Services highlight these online articles on this blog page.

Thanks for reading about Robbie Burns Day and Toronto’s annual Coldest Day of the Year Bike Ride.