Desi
@desivalentine.bsky.social
Likes to read. Doesn’t like to be read. Here for the book-talk, sports-hype and cultural politics. Preoccupied with physical fitness and health.
The DIY snow-snood helmet cover proved baller for biking in temps -20°C and colder. Peripheral vision was impeded, of course, but being able to bike without goggles or mask more than made up for that.
January 23, 2026 at 6:16 PM
The DIY snow-snood helmet cover proved baller for biking in temps -20°C and colder. Peripheral vision was impeded, of course, but being able to bike without goggles or mask more than made up for that.
Frosty ride this morning. Too many layers plus the snow-snood has my cubicle looking like a laundry rack.
January 22, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Frosty ride this morning. Too many layers plus the snow-snood has my cubicle looking like a laundry rack.
Probably the hairiest bike commute to date. On the way to work, the wind picked me up and shifted me over a lane’s width. On the way home from work, the sheet ice with intermittent slush pits, snow crud and variety-pack intersections was sketchy as it gets.
January 16, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Probably the hairiest bike commute to date. On the way to work, the wind picked me up and shifted me over a lane’s width. On the way home from work, the sheet ice with intermittent slush pits, snow crud and variety-pack intersections was sketchy as it gets.
There were really courteous drivers on all my bike routes this morning. Warms my heart, guys! ❤️
January 8, 2026 at 12:48 PM
There were really courteous drivers on all my bike routes this morning. Warms my heart, guys! ❤️
This morning’s bike commute had:
- graders chewing up the hardpack
- a driver who escaped the grader queue to cut me off close enough to knock me off the road … and who then got to wait behind another grader queue
- a dude jogging in the bike lane because the sidewalks are even more treacherous
- graders chewing up the hardpack
- a driver who escaped the grader queue to cut me off close enough to knock me off the road … and who then got to wait behind another grader queue
- a dude jogging in the bike lane because the sidewalks are even more treacherous
January 7, 2026 at 5:53 PM
This morning’s bike commute had:
- graders chewing up the hardpack
- a driver who escaped the grader queue to cut me off close enough to knock me off the road … and who then got to wait behind another grader queue
- a dude jogging in the bike lane because the sidewalks are even more treacherous
- graders chewing up the hardpack
- a driver who escaped the grader queue to cut me off close enough to knock me off the road … and who then got to wait behind another grader queue
- a dude jogging in the bike lane because the sidewalks are even more treacherous
Reposted by Desi
Writer Brett Popplewell used to associate old age with ominous human decline. Then he started hanging out with an octogenarian super athlete named Dag Aabye. thewalrus.ca/how-to-trick-you...
August 14, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Writer Brett Popplewell used to associate old age with ominous human decline. Then he started hanging out with an octogenarian super athlete named Dag Aabye. thewalrus.ca/how-to-trick-you...
One day you’re dodging potholes on the bike lanes and boulevards like a 30yo MTB ninja. The next day you’re in reclined cobbler in a hot bath because you are possibly not a MTB ninja and 30 happened a decade or so ago.
April 25, 2025 at 10:55 PM
One day you’re dodging potholes on the bike lanes and boulevards like a 30yo MTB ninja. The next day you’re in reclined cobbler in a hot bath because you are possibly not a MTB ninja and 30 happened a decade or so ago.
COMPANY TOWN is surprising CanLit sci-fi from Madeline Ashby. A fun, fast read with dark twists, darker turns, and a riotous rush to conclusion. Unexpected in all ways, and worth a beachy re-read down the road. 📚
April 14, 2025 at 11:26 PM
COMPANY TOWN is surprising CanLit sci-fi from Madeline Ashby. A fun, fast read with dark twists, darker turns, and a riotous rush to conclusion. Unexpected in all ways, and worth a beachy re-read down the road. 📚
I read Ted Chiang’s STORIES OF YOUR LIFE AND OTHERS because I watched Arrival and was captivated. I’m not sure a short story collection has held my mind like this one. ‘Division by Zero’ in particular. A masterful untelling of falling out of love.
March 31, 2025 at 3:34 AM
I read Ted Chiang’s STORIES OF YOUR LIFE AND OTHERS because I watched Arrival and was captivated. I’m not sure a short story collection has held my mind like this one. ‘Division by Zero’ in particular. A masterful untelling of falling out of love.
My studded tires love these road conditions. The hard freeze makes the snow like hardpack, the ice like asphalt. My drivetrain does not.
February 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
My studded tires love these road conditions. The hard freeze makes the snow like hardpack, the ice like asphalt. My drivetrain does not.
Since some asked, the fitness approach that works for me as I get closer to 50 is cardio + strength + mobility each workout, 3-5x a week: Run, bike, jump rope and/or YouTube (Juice & Toya) + body weight and/or free weight lifts (Hybrid Athlete, Pilates) + yoga. Super simple.
January 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Since some asked, the fitness approach that works for me as I get closer to 50 is cardio + strength + mobility each workout, 3-5x a week: Run, bike, jump rope and/or YouTube (Juice & Toya) + body weight and/or free weight lifts (Hybrid Athlete, Pilates) + yoga. Super simple.
Banded chin-ups on a wobbly doorframe chin-up bar should be accompanied by an Alexandre Desplat style action crescendo. Or maybe a laugh track.
January 22, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Banded chin-ups on a wobbly doorframe chin-up bar should be accompanied by an Alexandre Desplat style action crescendo. Or maybe a laugh track.
Quads are fried. Couldn’t hold a 10-breath high lunge during yoga for the first time in YEARS.
I blame the weather.
I blame the weather.
January 15, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Quads are fried. Couldn’t hold a 10-breath high lunge during yoga for the first time in YEARS.
I blame the weather.
I blame the weather.
Roads and walkways were awful for bicycling yesterday. The City’s choice to grade boulevards without also dispatching the sanding trucks, and residents’ bizarre optimism that the snow will just melt off their sidewalks, left a fun blend of black ice, rutted ice, slush and injury risk throughout.
January 15, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Roads and walkways were awful for bicycling yesterday. The City’s choice to grade boulevards without also dispatching the sanding trucks, and residents’ bizarre optimism that the snow will just melt off their sidewalks, left a fun blend of black ice, rutted ice, slush and injury risk throughout.
Proud of myself for not getting tangled in the pull-up band during today’s challenge block. Little victories, people.
January 14, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Proud of myself for not getting tangled in the pull-up band during today’s challenge block. Little victories, people.
Another fun, crispy winter bike ride today. The sun is coming back, and brings a bit of joy with it. Relentless optimism seems slightly less unhinged today.
January 9, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Another fun, crispy winter bike ride today. The sun is coming back, and brings a bit of joy with it. Relentless optimism seems slightly less unhinged today.
Beautiful weather for the first bike commute of 2025. Just crunchy enough to make the studded tires worthwhile, but not slippery, slushy or wet. No skids, near-misses or crashes either!
January 7, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Beautiful weather for the first bike commute of 2025. Just crunchy enough to make the studded tires worthwhile, but not slippery, slushy or wet. No skids, near-misses or crashes either!
First workout of 2025 and I HELD CROW POSE THREE TIMES!!!!
(Now is when you applaud. 😊)
(Now is when you applaud. 😊)
January 2, 2025 at 3:00 AM
First workout of 2025 and I HELD CROW POSE THREE TIMES!!!!
(Now is when you applaud. 😊)
(Now is when you applaud. 😊)
First workout since December 23 (during which I gave myself killer DOMS and cranked my shoulder). What went well? Uh… cardio, strength, mobility, and challenge blocks all completed. 🎉
What went less well? Poor hydration. Foot cramps. Angry shoulder. Elastic shoelace failures. All lessons.
What went less well? Poor hydration. Foot cramps. Angry shoulder. Elastic shoelace failures. All lessons.
December 31, 2024 at 2:57 AM
First workout since December 23 (during which I gave myself killer DOMS and cranked my shoulder). What went well? Uh… cardio, strength, mobility, and challenge blocks all completed. 🎉
What went less well? Poor hydration. Foot cramps. Angry shoulder. Elastic shoelace failures. All lessons.
What went less well? Poor hydration. Foot cramps. Angry shoulder. Elastic shoelace failures. All lessons.
TIL that it’s impossible to eat all the Christmas chocolate in a day if you’re committed to eating your fibre, veg and protein first. There isn’t enough room.
December 27, 2024 at 2:29 AM
TIL that it’s impossible to eat all the Christmas chocolate in a day if you’re committed to eating your fibre, veg and protein first. There isn’t enough room.
Whoever programmed all these jump lunge and jump squat sets for me on the Monday of Christmas week was not in their right mind.
(Me. It was me.)
(Me. It was me.)
December 24, 2024 at 3:22 AM
Whoever programmed all these jump lunge and jump squat sets for me on the Monday of Christmas week was not in their right mind.
(Me. It was me.)
(Me. It was me.)
Every intersection near every school should be a controlled intersection. For real. I see so many near-misses every time I bike near a school because the folks driving those SUVs clearly got too much on their minds to watch the road.
December 17, 2024 at 11:02 PM
Every intersection near every school should be a controlled intersection. For real. I see so many near-misses every time I bike near a school because the folks driving those SUVs clearly got too much on their minds to watch the road.
Salad greens with balsamic and olive oil as a palate cleanser — instead of dessert — after a spicy or salty meal isn’t anything I ever would’ve believed before.
December 14, 2024 at 8:49 PM
Salad greens with balsamic and olive oil as a palate cleanser — instead of dessert — after a spicy or salty meal isn’t anything I ever would’ve believed before.
Better conditions on the bike commute today. Some slushy spots and one heart-stopper over hidden ice, but overall much improved. Plus I got to use my Mom Voice to break up a fight between bus stop kids on my way.
December 12, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Better conditions on the bike commute today. Some slushy spots and one heart-stopper over hidden ice, but overall much improved. Plus I got to use my Mom Voice to break up a fight between bus stop kids on my way.
From the dude at the bus stop as I biked by: ‘You crazy, bro.’
Conditions were between mixed and sketchy AF, today.
Conditions were between mixed and sketchy AF, today.
December 11, 2024 at 2:05 AM
From the dude at the bus stop as I biked by: ‘You crazy, bro.’
Conditions were between mixed and sketchy AF, today.
Conditions were between mixed and sketchy AF, today.