Why Bike Advocates Must Include Women

Background

I have been paying more attention lately to community planning efforts. I see a definite trend away from traditional, car-centric thinking. The concept of complete streets is becoming more widely used and implemented. But we in the US do not have to start from scratch as if the new idea of making streets usable by commuters on foot, bicycle, etc., actually a new idea. Back in the 1970's the people of Nederlands made a collective decision to reduce their dependence on foreign oil and to invest in an infrastructure that supported other forms of transportation. A significant amount of scholarship has been applied to the process, and results support the idea that building safer transport routes for biking and walking will result in more people cycling and walking. It is also important to remember to promote cycling as a Lifestyle, not just a means of transportation.

How Women Fit into the Equation


This post was inspired by the Girl Bike Love blog, where I found an interesting and well written article explaining just how it matters that women are invited into the dialogue and listend to while they are there. I won't go into too much detail about the article (you can read it and decide for yourself), but I will mention one premise is that for the majority of young people, a woman is the most influential person in their lives.

I will close with this video on the development of cycle-centric Dutch thinking:

Be Seen

Have you been caught out on the bike past sunset by accident, without lights? I have and it's a little scary. Do you ride regularly at night? If you do what lighting solutions do you use?

I recently went somewhere on my bike knowing I would be riding home in the dark. I brought the lights I had and thought I'd be well enough prepared. I was wrong. I made it home safe and sound, but I realized if I am going to do this again I need to be better lit up. I also want to see better.

What I had not considered was that the bike path I planned on riding had a new danger after dark. The daytime benefit of being separated from street traffic also meant that there was no lighting. It was completely dark. This created 2 problems: no one could see me and I could not see any obstacles in my way.

I have come accross this video demonstrating an interesting product designed to illuminate cyclists in the dark. It looks pretty cool. While it will not solve the "seeing" issue, it seems to take care of the "being seen", take a look:

New Ideas

I have come across a new idea in commuting by bike. Some cleaver folks have devised a way to feel safer riding into a big city. Check out this video demonstrating the "Bike Bus" concept.




Here is a longer explanation...



Any new ideas on bikes and bike riding in your area?

Commute More

The days are shorter and the temperatures are lower. This combination forces me to adopt a more strategic approach to ride planning. I am finding myself doing a bit more commuting and less "joy riding." So far this has brought unexpected pleasures. Riding into a fantastic sunset the other night I found myself stopping every few minutes to take another picture.

I have also found pleasure in being able to ride right up to my destination, dismount, and park. I feel invigorated instead of tired when I arrive.

Last weekend there was a 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk in San Diego. Some good friends were walking and I feel personally connected to the event. I supported my friends by meeting up each day and bringing them treats, essentials, and good cheer. We stopped, had a drink, and told stories. I rode part of the route and connected with the walkers. The freedom of the bike impacted my experience positively.

I am exploring a "car-free mentality" which to me, means I don't automatically think: drive, when going somewhere.

Breast Cancer

I know, you are asking me: what does a bike blog have to do with breast cancer? Well, I guess my answer is that maybe this is a life-blog that talks quite a bit about bikes. Anyway, breast cancer has been on my mind a lot for the past month.

This weekend was the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk in San Diego. I did not walk (I never do fund raising events because I can't ask people for money), but I did support my friends who walked. I met them each day, bought them beers and gave them snacks, and tried to make them laugh (I rode my bike to our meet up spots so there is a bike in this story).

I ended up waiting for them in places where other supporters were also congregating. I was a little surprised by the zany outfits, brazen slogans, and kookie attitudes. I was not surprised to see people limping and doggedly marching on despite pain, exhaustion, or bad weather.

My work partner is a breast cancer survivor. She walked the whole thing and others walked along beside her. Today, the final day of the walk, is her 47th birthday. No one I know makes me laugh as much as she does. No one I know is loved by so many people from different walks of life, and different cultures. Tania is my hero today, and she does not even ride a bike...

Cheers to you ladies in pink!

Livestrong

I don't know what this means exactly. I think the meaning changes as it is applied to different people and different situations. I feel it though. Right now, to me, it feels like taking my mother home from the hospital after surgery to treat breast cancer - not a recurrence, but a whole new breast cancer - different than the one she had 25 years ago - and she says "that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, they've gotten better at this". It feels like how I immagine my coworker feels the day after her husband died of cancer - too young and too "healthy"- and she talks about the good memories she has of him. It feels like my neighbor telling me her metastatic tumors are growing again "I want to re-do my backyard to improve my 'outdoor living'. All of this in the past couple of weeks.

I haven't been riding much these past couple of weeks. I haven't been too obsessed about it either. I just decided that sometimes life happens in ways that throw us off track. I can still get back on track again later...It just happens that this weekend is the 2nd annual Bike the Coast ride in Oceanside, CA. We had such a good time last year doing the ride and making it a long weekend "stay-cation" we decided to do it again this year. Even though I haven't been riding much, and there is a lot going on around me, we stuck to our plan and headed north.

San Diego had its first winter storm yesterday, rained day and night, but today dawned crisp and clean. It was a beautiful day to be on the bike. I had lunch on a bench sitting on a cliff above the breaking waves of Moonlight Beach. I saw a school of dolphins playing in the surf and remembered how I used to spend my summers boogie boarding in those very waves when I was in high school. I felt at peace for the first time in a couple of weeks.

When I am feeling overwhelmed by people and events around me, sometimes my bike helps me to Livestrong.

Everyday Riding

Sometimes, when I am not preparing for a an upcoming tour or specific organized ride, I loose some of my enthusiasm for riding. It becomes a little harder to find the time for the miles and easier to rationalize skipping a ride. It's not that I don't enjoy riding, but I lose my focus.

I try and combat this by allowing my weekly milage to dip occasionally, but not the frequency. I take shorter rides, but keep up the routine. I also find signing up for organized rides and setting goals helps.

I know from past experience that I am about to hit a hard stretch. When the time changes in a couple of weeks it is going to be even harder for me to fit rides in before dark. I will not be able to push the start back because it will start getting dark too soon. I am hoping to firm up my resolve and make enough commitments so that I will be forced to get started riding early, often, and far.

Ride On!

WarmShowers.org - Are you a member?

If you are a bike tourist you should know about WarmShowers.org. It is an important community resource that provides "hospitality for touring cyclists" in the U.S. and abroad. It is comprised of hosts who provide some type of accommodation (tenting on the front lawn, to private bedroom in their home), which includes a warm shower.

Their website has videos and FAQs to explain the details and I encourage you to look into WarmShowers if you think you will be touring, and also if you don't. It just might whet your appetite for adventure, travel, sharing, and learning about interesting people you would otherwise never meet.

Just to pique your interest, start right here:

Getting Involved

What is a bicycle community to you? Are you involved on some level? Do you give or take?

I do not ask these questions to spark debate, I'm not a person who enjoys arguments. Rather, I want to inspire thought, insight, discussion and possibly action. I am also not an activist person. I don't go to marches or rallies, I don't like shouting and taunting. I believe the personal is political, and to me that means: vote your beliefs, support organizations you believe in, and go to events that appeal to you. Spread the word, offer advise and encouragement to others.

I love the diversity of bicycles. The bikes themselves cover a wide spectrum and so do the riders. I find people to be endlessly interesting. The reasons they ride, how, where and what they choose to ride are all part of their bikeyness.

In my community the bike is on the rise. I see way more people riding these days, far more bike shops around, and a growing bike infrastructure. This combination does not occur in a vacuum. I feel momentum building and I hope it is spreading. I want to be a part of a movement I believe in. I don't want to just watch it happen around me. I will continue to get involved and participate in ways that make sense to me. I hope you do too.

Tour de Fat

I went to my first Tour de Fat yesterday. It was incredibly fun. If you don't know what I'm talking about you should find out. It is somewhat of a bike festival/carnival put on by New Belgium Brewery. The official website is here. But I think it has to be experienced to understand, in fact, I'm not sure I "understand" it. But I sure liked it!

I see the Tour de Fat as: a fundraising event for local bike organizations, an opportunity for people to expand their idea of what "bicycle" means, a beer festival, a way to expand one's idea of companies that give back, and most of all, a lot of fun.

I decided to volunteer and be a part of fundraising for the San Diego Bicycle Coalition. I poured beer for a few hours. It was an easy way to contribute, have fun, and get some free and fabulous beer.

One of the things I'd like to do for myself is to become more involved in my local bike community. I picked a great way to get started.


According to this website New Belgium sponsors another form of bike/beer hilarity in the form of Urban Assault Rides. This looks like more good times. It does not come to my town, but looks worthy of a road trip...

Feel-Good Advocacy

I came across this video and decided to share it with you all. I like it because it is positive and shows how high schoolers can make a difference. Maybe they won't change the world, but they can definitely impact each other's lives and ides. One of the things I like best about the message is "everyone is welcome." Unfortunately, not all adult bicyclist feel this way. Pass it on...

Keeping On Rolling

The excitement of my first tour is fading, the follow-up S240 is done, and now I'm re-established in my work-a-day life. I'm still getting the mileage in, the weather is nice and I'm dreaming about the next tour. I guess this is the "off season." I am looking for local bikeyness and finding pleasure in everyday rides. The Tour de Fat is coming to town in a couple of weeks and I've signed up to volunteer.

The dream continues, I think about where else I can ride, I read about the adventures of others. The next plan will begin to take shape soon...

A Piece of Bike Touring History

I just came across this video interview of a woman who did some bicycle touring in Michigan back in 1940! It's about 8 minutes long and is an eye opener. I found it on an Adventure Cycling Association blog. I loved seeing some of her old photographs of her touring gang and hearing her description of what it meant to her and her friends to own a bike during the depression. The message I took away from this piece of history is: it does not matter what people think of your wacky ideas, if it's fun to you, don't let opinions stop you. Your may just be a trendsetter.

S24O - Puts a Little Excitement Into Hometown Rides

Mid-way through my "stay-cation" I find myself having a great time. I recommend this sort of outing to anyone who rides a bike. It can be tailored to you and whatever spins your wheels!


Here is a link to my trip blog on TrackMyTour.

Here are some pictures on Posterous

Keep the Momentum Going

Have you ever been in a groove with an exercise routine and unintentionally let a vacation dampen it when you return home? This has happened to me time and time again. Somehow returning home does not mean returning to the same routine, even if the vacation was built around exercise (like a walking our biking tour).

I had a fantastic vacation, and it included a bike tour. I really don't want to loose my riding momentum right now. My work is quite busy and stressful right now, and it makes me want to keep my riding routine even more. I've been home for almost 2 weeks now and I've seen my milage dip below my target.

In an effort to boost my momentum, have some fun, and continue my quest to tour more, I will be taking my own version of the S24O. You can read about the beginnings of the S240, and the true definition, on the adventure cycling site here.

My version is slightly different. I will be taking a train, staying in a motel, and eating in restaurants. I guess that makes it a lot different. My version was built from their model and the idea is to get away from home, have fun, and of course, ride. It is also a baby step toward a bigger goal of taking a longer trip built on this same platform.

I hope to have some good pictures and possibly a little video at the end. I expect to gain bike travel experience and knowledge. I'll let you know if my hopes and expectations are met.

Things That Worked On Tour

Now that the excitement of the bike tour is over and the gear is put away (mostly). I thought you might like to know what I did to make the tour more enjoyable (if it actually did so), and what I used and found particularly useful. The things that come to mind range from paniers to batteries and aren't very exciting, but can come in handy.

I'll start with the solar charger I bought to try and keep my iPhone up and running. Before the trip I tried charging it in my back yard (Southern California) and found that it could take up to 2 days to fully charge. I was concerned about this, but the reality on the tour was that charging stations were available. What the solar charger did do very well was provide backup power without having to plug my phone into the station. The charging stations had to be manned because they were in public spaces and walking away would leave the devise vulnerable to theft. The group we travelled with had several people who wanted some sort of electronic devise charged. Several would be plugged in and one person "stood watch" (but were easily distracted) while the others showered, rested, ate a meal, etc. I felt comfortable leaving the charger plugged in and walking away. When it was charged I could collect it, store it, and use it to charge my phone while I was sleeping, riding, or whatever. Having the flexibility of charging the devise and using it when it was convenient to charge the phone, and to have a backup during time away from the group was a really nice thing. It turned out that the solar aspect was not that great for charging, but a nice back up. The key advantage was having the back up battery to charge the phone.

The next item I bought for the trip is a clip that can be wrapped around the bar or stem and used to hold route/cue sheets visible and easily accessible. It's a small thing, but it did make quite a difference for me. I didn't actually start using it until about the third day, and I don't know what took me so long, but I will start using it from the beginning next time. I wish I could remember where I bought it (somewhere on the web!).

Here are some pics from the road...

After the Tour

I have officially done a bike tour! It was everything I hoped. I loved the riding. I loved the people. I loved the chance to see some new terrain from the saddle of my bike, not from a car. The experience has only deepened my desire to do more bike touring.

I loved riding in Colorado because the infrastructure there takes the rider off the road and offers fantastic rides on well groomed and maintained bike paths. These are not 6 mile paths that peter out just when you hit your stride. There are miles of paths.

I saw many families on the bike paths, kids pulled in trailers, on their own bikes, old and young, it was all out there. We all have a place on a bike.

It was a coincidence that the USA Pro Cycling Challenge occurred right after the tour. I got caught up in the bikeyness and wound up returning to Steamboat Springs for the Bike Town USA" stage 4 & 5 finish and start. It was great fun, I will be more inclined next time the opportunity presents itself to attend a bike race. I wound up taking a tour of the Moots factory and learned even more about what a cool company it is.

Summit County Colorado

Summit County, Colorado has a lot to offer any bike tourist. Miles of paved bike paths, numerous small towns with bike shops, restaurants, campgrounds, beautiful vistas, and more. The downside is the altitude, so it may be worthwhile to give yourself time to aclimate, or simply plan accordingly.

We did have to make adjustments due to dammage caused by flooding, both on the roads and the bike paths, but flexibility is an important trait for a bike tourist to have. Getting too caught up in an agenda may be detrimental to fun.

Here is a quick recap of day 3 of my tour in the area, we climed Vail Pass from the east, which is the easier way to tackle this mountain. 

Summit County Colorado

Perhaps one of the best things about this tour is that it has exposed me to an area of the country with a rich bicycle infrastructure. It is popular with the locals and tourists alike but may not be widely understood to have so much to offer.

Maybe I've just been in the dark and everyone else already knew about all he great riding here. In any case, I'm happy to now be in the know.

Another bonus of this tour is the diversity of participants. We are approximately 50 people from all over the U.S. Each has a love of cycling and that point of common interest brings us together.

If you are a beginning tourist and are uncomfortable with the prospect of having to ride long distances between towns, starting with a trip using a home base that will allow for good out and back rides may be a good idea.

First Impressions

Our tour is underway! So far it is difficult to pick my favorite part. It started with the people. We are a large group and I haven't met many of the participants, but of those I have met are fun and interesting. This location is a great place to ride. There are quite a few miles of bike paths and many locals are out riding! The scenery is beautiful and the only problem is the altitude (which would be worse if I hadn't spent the last week and a half above 8000 feet.

Sitting down and talking to others who share an interest like bike touring is a special opportunity, I am really glad to have this chance to be around people with my same unusual desire to spend my vacation on a bike.

Colorado Wildflowers & Rivers Tour

Today, the beginning of my first bike tour, has finally arrived. The group is gathering this evening and the riding commences tomorrow. I am going to attempt to create a log of the trip on TrackMyTour and link it to this blog. I hope it works, and I hope the site is interesting to you. I love this app and find it a great way to share my travels with friends and family. Let me know what you think (and leave comments!)

You can follow along here.

Paradox of Perception

Today has finally arrived. Getting here has been slow in terms of anticipation, but very fast in terms of preparation. That paradox of perception makes me feel human: bad things come too quickly, good things too slowly. In this case I'm talking about vacation, my first bike tour, and getting everything ready. I'm as ready as I'm going to be, and happy with my preparations. The actual bike tour portion does not start today (I have to get to the start, which is pretty far away). On the way there I will be an American Tourist, hitting some National Parks, and whatever else seems interesting. I will be going to many places for the first time. If anyone out there has a suggestion for a hike, or ride, a restaurant, great view, etc., I'd love to hear about it. The first stop will be St. George, UT. I hope to be there by late afternoon today. From there I'll be continuing north through Idaho, and turning West to enter Yellowstone from the west entrance. I'll be in and around Yellowstone for several days, then head south to Silverthrorne, CO where the bike tour begins!

I plan to improve the frequency of my posts and hope I will have the internet access necessary to make that happen. One of the things I did to prepare for this trip was to take an introductory digital photography class. I hope to have some good photos to share with you by the end of this trip.

Mixing Up Your Ride

Many of the bikey people I know are like me, we have more than one bike. I have a mountain bike, a touring bike (which is really a cyclocross bike), and a flip-flop Single Speed. I also want a new road bike (my last one was smashed like a carbon-fiber fly on a windscreen). OK, I also have a really old fixy, but I don't ride it any more because the fit is way too aggressive for my fractured T-8 virtebrae. It's a shame because I used to ride that old junker more than any other bike. The flip-flop is a replacement, much more relaxed set up with a flat bar and a rack on the back.

I've been gearing up for my tour so my rides have been almost exclusively on the "touring bike." But I needed to have the cables replaced (too short with the new stem) so it's in the shop for a couple of days. I took a spin on the single-speed today and had a blast! I really love single-speed/fixed bikes. They are soooo responsive, comparatively light, and just good fun.

If you haven't ever tried it you may not understand the appeal of a bike with only one gear and no coasting. The simplicity is what does it for me. It's a great way to train the legs to keep spinning. I do have a brake however, I'm not strictly pure. I ride on the road and I've been doored and smashed. I want a brake.

Do you have more than one bike? Which one do you find yourself riding the most?

Charging Your iPhone While Riding?

I mentioned previously that I'm searching for a solution for the charging issue posed by traveling off the grid. I love conservation and the cycle of use. I try to practice minimal energy consumption. However, for me, this does not mean avoiding electronics all together. I use my iPhone everyday, sometimes a lot. I want to use a bike computer that also uses power. I also mentioned previously that I was looking for a solar charger to help me with my electronic entertainment on the road without an outlet (electrical).

In my pursuit of such an item I have considered a few things. First I bought a Brunton Explorer from REI. I was unnerved when I opened the package to find that there was no product information what so ever; there was no power cord to charge from an outlet; and it did not seem to work with my iPhone. One thing I really love about REI is their return policy. I took it back, no problem.

Next I found 2 other promising products. The most intriguing to me is the bike powered iPhone charger called the "RollerGen". You can read about it here. Unfortunately, I could not find anyplace that actually sells this item. I saw several references to the item, and found the website for the developers of the product, but it does not seem to be available for purchase. I'd love to try it though. The third product I considered is the Dexium P-Flip Solar charger. I'm not sure if this will meet my solar needs, but I ordered one to give it a try.

I hope to find a product that meets and/or exceeds my charging dreams, but I remain doubtful. I will do what many a bike traveller has done before me: keep my good old fashioned plug handy and keep my eyes open for any available outlet and give it a charge!

Update July 24

The P-Flip Solar charge has arrived and I've done some minor testing. First and foremost, it does charge the iPhone 4! It comes with a USB connector that will charge the battery from the computer, which takes approximately 6 hours for a full charge. I've only fully charged it once using the solar panels, and that took 2 full days! I mean sunny Southern California days. 

Product information says there is a wall charger for the unit, but it's an "accessory". I think it's more of a "mandatory" and will be attempting to see if I can find one to purchase (a quick look on the website was not helpful).

"Dutch Style" Tire Repairs

I love learning new ways to do old things. Today I learned a new way to repair a flat tire. It's called Dutch style. This style means you don't remove the tire, just repair it while it's still attached to the frame. This nifty trick is demonstrated by the fun folks at PathLessPedaled.com



This interesting pair have a good website and provide interesting content on bike touring, activism, and life in general.

Clean Bikes Go Faster

One of my not so favorite bike chores is cleaning my bike. I put it off more than I get it done. But it really is something that should be done. Bicycles are machines. Machines require maintenance. Cleaning is a routine aspect of maintenance that shouldn't be skipped. I was surfing around on youtube.com to see what interesting videos were out there on bikey topics and found a short simple video on cleaning your bike. It is to the point and has some good tips. Check it out here.

Hydration

I doubt the importance of hydration is a new concept to any rider, but I don't doubt some people are misinformed about what and how much to drink. Because it is summer and quite warm in our riding environment, I think it's worth a little consideration.

I find this topic often leaves me dissatisfied because I believe that most of the media provide incomplete and misleading advise on how to prevent/treat dehydration. It has been a trend in amateur sports and popular advertising to emphasize the importance of replacing electrolytes with rehydration. I don't deny that electrolytes are important and necessary, but I see danger in the falsely elevated value of "sport drinks". My biggest objection is the unnecessary inclusion of sugar in these products; way too much sugar. The advertisers would have us think that anything other than their drink will result in poor performance and/or failure. If your replacement fluid consists of unnecessary sugar plus unnecessary electrolytes, it isn't doing you near as much good as you think, and is probably doing worse.

Alternative strategies can include plain water, a gel or goo product (or the "gummy"-like products) that contains small amounts of sugar plus electrolytes; small amounts of a very dilute sports drink plus plain water; plain water and food containing electrolytes. My theme of course is that plain water is good, not bad, as some people seem to want you to think. By the way, electrolytes are not some magic potion that can only be found in a commercial product manufactured to improve performance. They are naturally occurring elements found in regular old food. The main electrolytes necessary for the human body include: sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. There are of course others, but these are the main ones. Replacing what your body looses during exercise is not a secrete that was unlocked and must be paid for by purchasing fancy products.

I want to be clear, there are circumstances when some sport drinks can be helpful. But these instances will be few and far between. One must loose a lot of sweat, over an extended period of time, to make these drinks relevant. I'm talking about extended extreme exertion (try and come up with another 3E statement!). The average athlete working out for a few hours is not likely to meet this criteria. For them, plain water (and a regular diet) will be sufficient.

Instead of emphasizing fancy products, I believe the emphasis should be on fluid replacement that can be achieved without expense or extra calories. To my way of thinking "sport drinks" are just a repackaged and modernized version of the soda pop. Don't fall into the trap, resist, and rehydrate simply, but do it well. It is necessary to drink a lot of fluid, not a lot of calories.

Handeling the Heat

I don't want to sound like I am complaining, but we are currently experiencing unusually hot and humid weather. It is enough of a change that I need to bring this consideration into my riding plan.

With good intentions and no alarm clock, the earliest I've made it out the door on my bike this week has been 7:30. This isn't very early for one thinking they will get a good ride in before it gets hot. I cut it a little short and finished my ride at 10:00 today. It was already pretty hot: 82F with 80% humidity. I live in a desert, so humidity is much more of a problem for me than heat alone. I'm not used to it. This has given me something to think about. Weather can be relative, depending on what a person is used to.

Planning a bike trip in a climate different than one is used to may be difficult. I am beginning to realize important ways in which this experience and knowledge can make or break a plan. For example, if I were going to start a tour tomorrow by leaving my front door, I would have a plan to set my alarm very early and try to be on the road soon after first light. Riding in the cool quiet morning would be far more pleasant, and take far less of my mental energy, than trying to accomplish the same ride in the peak of the heat (which is currently mid-afternoon). It also cools down quite nicely in the late afternoon and evening here (and stays light). A good plan could include laying low in the heat of the day and then riding for another few hours in the evening if distance were a concern.

My first adjustment to the conditions I am currently facing will be to make sure I set an alarm and get on the road earlier when I plan a longer ride. Next I will look at hydration.

A Series of Small Decisions

My first tour is nearing (August), and I am beginning to think more concretely about details I must consider. There are many decisions to make, some of which I will put off until the last minute. Some of the things I will need to decide include: what kind of tires do I want to ride, what will my clothing strategy be, what electronics will I bring & how do I plan to charge/use them?

I have never been to the places the tour will travel and this leaves some uncertainty. I guess there is always some uncertainty so I won't dwell on that. I plan to stick to information gathered in research, past experience, and instinct.

What I'm thinking about a lot right now is clothing. I want to be prepared for extremes of hot and cold, but emphasize the middle ground. The obvious concepts of layers and appropriate fabrics will be easy to put into practice. I want to be comfortable on and off the bike. The decisions that feel important are about which shorts (wool, lycra, long/short, thick/thin padding), and how many? "How many" is a big question about everything. The tour is only 6 days long so it won't really matter if I go quite spare, this isn't a luxury tour. But there is a question about comfort. I've never ridden so much in a short period of time without the possibility of a thorough cleaning of my clothes. Rinsing may be the best I can expect.

As for electronics, the prospect of not being able to use my iPhone in the maner to which I have become accustomed, is too dreadful to think about. I am considering a solar charger, but I bought one a few years ago and was disappointed and returned it. I will probably check to see if the new ones are more promising.

As I continue to define my priorities and strategies, I will re-visit some of these topics. I would love input from others who have experience with some of the issues discussed here.

Giving Your Blown-Out Tire the Boot

Every rider should have some basic repair skills. The list of necessary skills will vary for each individual rider, but really should include common tire problem reprations. The obvious skills include regularly checking and inflating tires to proper pressure (check your tire side wall if not sure), replacing and repairing flat inner tubes, and placing a boot if necessary.

What is a boot you ask? I define it as a patch for the tire, as opposed to a patch for the tube. Flat tires are caused by punctured tubes, but sometimes they include a large hole in the tire as well as the tube. Patching the tube will not be enough to get you rolling again. The tire must also be patched or the tube will protrude out of the hole and simply puncture again.

Just for curiosity's sake I thought I'd see how common this term is so I looked it up in Wikipedia, and it's there. If you are nerdy like me and want to see click here. If you just want to know more about what to do when this occurs, just keep reading.

This may sound like a hard problem to fix, but it is actually easier than repairing the tube. All that is required is to place something large enough and durable enough (and thin enough) between the tube and the tire to prevent the tube from bulging out of the hole. There are several possibilities that will serve this purpose quite nicely. You can purchase something made specifically for this purpose, or you can use what you have on hand. Park tools makes something for this and they call it a boot. This item has one specific quality that isn't easy to come by, adhesive on one side to keep it in place.

If you haven't gotten around to buying one to put in your bag of tricks (saddle pouch), then you are left with what you have on hand. The next best thing is money, paper money. A dollar bill will do the job very well even though it doesn't have the adhesive. Here is a short video describing this concept.

I have only blown a hole in my tire once, but it was far less of a problem because I knew what to do about it. Now you do too...

Offline

Dear Readers, I will be offline for  the next several days (back on June 26). I hope to use this time to generate new ideas and interesting posts. I'll be on the lookout for new and different bikeyness.

If you have specific topics you would like to discuss or see covered, please comment below.

In the meantime stay safe and enjoy the ride!

Life Happens

Have you ever been caught by surprise at how things on the periphery of your world can influence your life profoundly? I am feeling a little like that right now. People I care about are taking heavy blows and feeling stunned. My work is preparing for a major software implementation and sometimes it feels like using the new program is our "job" when it is in fact only a small part of what we really do.

This week while attempting to learn the new system before I leave for vacation (uber-busy week), some really bad things have happened around me. One coworker is diagnosed with breast cancer, another's son dies suddenly and without explanation, and yet another discovers her husband has an aggressive metastatic cancer and may soon die. This news came in 2 days time. The work place feels dangerous, sad, and out of control.

I keep thinking I will skip out and ride my bike to clear my head, ride out some of the stress and exhaust myself. But the phone rings and another emergency takes precedence. Hearing about, and dealing with another tragedy is distracting, but adds to the emotional baggage of this terrible week. It's hard to sleep, to concentrate, to find words to express feelings of support. It feels like I am adrift in a dangerous sea. I am thirsty, antsy, anxious, and somehow distanced from the danger and friendship around me.

Trip Planning: Maping

Trip planning can be a daunting task. Going somewhere new can be both exciting and anxiety provoking, especially if your means of transportation is a bicycle. Issues such as altitude, road conditions, and availability of provisions are some of the things to consider when creating your plan. Another issue is route finding. Taking a wrong turn and going 10-20 miles out of your may not be too big a deal in a car, but it could have big consequences on a bike. There are many tools available to the bicycle traveller, but some level of planning and familiarizing yourself with the general geography can go a long way to ensuring success at finding your way. Some items I use for planning, ensuring I am on the desired route, and ideas for things/places to see include: guide books, gps device, map (paper and electronic), and recommendations by locals.

It isn't always necessary to plan every detail of your trip. You may want to leave some room for spontaneity and act on a tip from someone you meet on the trip. But knowing what choices you are making and how they relate to your overall plan is helpful.

When I am planning a trip to a general area but don't know all the specifics, I like to lay things out in Google Maps. It is very helpful because you can place waymarks on your route, color code them, make notes and place website links, note contact information,  and place them on the exact location. This provides a visual map of places in relation to each other. It will tell you exactly how far apart things are and provide suggestions for how to get there.

I will be doing my first organized multi-day bike tour with Adventure Cycling Association this summer. This trip is already planned out, but it is in an area that I am unfamiliar with. I have made a sample planning map using the itinerary of this trip. You can see an example of what I described above by looking at my map here.

I use Google Maps quite a bit for directions, planning, discovering, learning, and just plain geeking out. I like that I can save my maps, share them, and refer to them later.

I am curious to know what other tools bicycle travelers use for trip planning and route finding.

Outside the Bike Lane

As a bicycle traveler it is likely that you will be subject to all sorts of different local laws. It is impossible to be aware of all the laws where you travel, but it is important to be knowledgeable on the subject in general. One example is in the town of Black Hawk, Colorado where it is illegal to RIDE A BIKE on the street. Three cyclists riding through the town last year were ticketed. They are in the process of appealing their citations. Read about this situation and the legal process involved here.

Here is a video of a man who was cited in New York City for riding "outside of the bike lane." The video points out that being ticketed for something does not necessarily mean it is illegal...

Pain & Suffering

I've been thinking about why I love to ride so much despite the fact that it is uncomfortable. I had not really thought about the pain of riding very much until I was hit by a car and spent months in pain. For some reason it was during my recovery from those injuries when I became conscious of the fact that riding is inevitably filled with pain and discomfort. At least it is if you put in a lot of miles and log several hours each weak in the saddle. I think it might be a little like childbirth, the pain is not the primary sensation a rider focuses on or remembers. It becomes just part of the thing that brings other more pleasant sensations that take precidence. The pain is a necessary evil that is what it is, and it doesn't matter, it isn't a deterent.

I have been slowly building my stregenth back up to the point where I can ride enough to make me happy. It has taken me 3.5 years of patience and pain and rehab to get to this point. The other day I rode the greatest distance since the accident, 47 total miles in one day (12 in the morning, 35 in the afternoon). The best thing about it was that I was more tired than sore. I believe I can do more. That makes me happier than I can describe.

I don't know how to explain to non-riders why I like to ride so much. There are so many forms of exercise that won't put me back at risk of being hit by another car. I am not a thrill junkie who is excited about riding along big fast cars. It isn't because I like the pain.

I like to ride so much it is slowly becoming a much bigger part of my life than it was before the accident. I search out opportunities to see movies about riding (Ride the Divide - is a good one). I read books about riding. I look for events (that only partly require a bike) involving riding, I'm planning vacations that revolve around the bike. I've started a blog so I can write about riding. But I still can't adaquately explain why I love it so much.

Why do you ride?

Big Day on the Bike

Yesterday I had a rare opportunity for a real life bike commute on a train. I live close to my usual workplace (5mi in the car, 10 on the bike). I do occasionally ride to work, but only when I am not working a 24hr shift (go ahead call me a whimp). But yesterday my department had an off-campus meeting that was 35 mi (on the bike) away. I took the commuter train up there (rode 12 mi) and then rode all the way home. It was a perfect experience for mapping out a route (I did get slightly lost and added about 2 miles), figuring out the train schedule, and actually riding my commute.

This probably sounds minor and unmentionable to those commuters who live like this all the time, but it was a great learning experience for me. These are acquired skills. Learning how to be efficient and proficient at them takes practice, especially with a loaded bike. Now I have more confidence and will be planning an over-night excursion. For me I find taking these baby steps is a good way to learn, practice, ride and not use any vacation time!

Here are some pics from the trip:

Great Day for a Fun Ride

I find that there are several different types of bike rides for me. Sometimes I ride to exercise, to get where I need to go, as a primary activity of a vacation, or even just as a way to relax and enjoy being outside. I approach each type of ride a little differently, and some I do more frequently than others depending on the other things going on in my life at the time.

This past weekend I took a "fun ride." This means I went with a friend and we planned a route that was beautiful (heavy on the water views), easy (allowing for conversation), involved stopping for lunch, and contained a little novelty (included a ferry ride). It was sunny and a bit on the breezy side of perfect. We managed to stay on the route, have a fine lunch, and catch the ferry just in time. It was more of a day having fun with a friend than an exercise outing, or simply a means of transportation. A truely LikeyBikey type of day.

Here is a link to the route we took. And here is a short video of our day:

What are some of the ways you likeybikey?

Emergency?

Happy Memorial Day. It was a beautiful day here in SoCal. The kind of day that should be spent outside (preferably on a bike). I hope that it was a safe, fun and happy holiday for all of you.

I had some business to take care of today, but I did manage to get a 22-ish mile ride in. It was a variation on a ride a do quite frequently. A loop from my neighborhood out to the water and back through downtown. There was a stiff headwind most of the way (how does that happen on a loop?).

My mind wanders sometimes when I ride, especially if it is a route that I could navigate in the dark. Today I was wondering how many riders (or runners) carry ID with them. If you were unfortunate enough to be injured and unable to tell responders who to call, or even what your name is, would they be able to figure it out by checking your pockets? This isn't something we plan for, but we should.

I was doored once several years ago and I ended up with a concussion. I never lost consciousness, but I sure did lose my marbles. There is a significant period of time that I have no memory of. It turns out that when I was in the emergency room and they were working on me I gave them incorrect information about a number of things: my birthdate and the phone number for my emergency contact person (for some reason I had perfect recall of her old phone number and no recollection of the current one!). This caused significant delay in her notification.

After that experience I started wearing a dog tag around my neck (like a military one). It has my name, birthdate, allergies, and emergency contact information. This was quite useful the next time I was hit by a car (I was in much worse shape). There are a lot of ways you can do this for yourself. You could simply write it on a piece of paper and put it in your pocket, carry your driver's license, buy a product like RoadID (here). There are many options that I haven't even mentioned, but pick one and do it. And buy one for your loved ones who run or ride. It's important!

Another thing you can, and should, do is put ICE in your phone contacts. It stands for In Case of Emergency, you put in the number you want them to call if you are injured. It is my understanding that this is a trick that police and other emergency personnel will check. Read about the history of this concept here.

This is what mine looks like (the silicone bumper is wearing thin...) get yours now and Wear It!

Traveling

One of the reasons I started this blog is that I have a strong desire to become a bicycle traveler. I see the bike as a great way to be outside (my favorite place), view the place I have decided to visit (what's unique about being inside a building?), develop a better understanding of the lives of the people who live there (anywhere). The method almost forces one to have interactions with local people and it gives the traveler time to contemplate.

I have taken several hiking vacations. The kind where you walk from village to village and your belongings are delivered to your next destination. I have fully enjoyed these trips, but I like the idea of being free from the constraints imposed by that type of plan. To be able to have everything you need (or can carry) with you, and the freedom to change plans at any time is very appealing to me. Of course there are trade-offs. It also means you have to deal with the whims of mother nature, the mechanical set backs when they occur, and the limitations of not planning. But I cherish the special encounters with random people who remind me of the generosity and kindness in this world. I believe it makes me a better person. It certainly renews my soul.

And you get to exercise too :)

I am in the midst of becoming this type of traveler. I am in the planning stage. I hope to use this forum as a way to express my deep interest and enthusiasm, as well as a resource to others. I would love to hear from others who have been down this road and have tips and words of experience to offer.

For me, bicycle traveling will provide a way to relax and enjoy my time away from the responsibilities of my work-a-day life. It will not become my way of life, but it will influence my way of life. I already own several bikes, ride regularly, and travel quite a bit, but I want to bring these elements together and create a new alchemy: LikeyBikey's travels (and tales).

Riding in the Sharrows

Sharrows may be new to you. I first heard of the concept just over a year ago when they were first placed and implemented in Long Beach California. Now they have come to my neighborhood. So far I really like them!

Sharrow is a made-up contraction of the words "shared" roadway" lanes. I'm not quite sure of the lexicon, but Sharrows (shared roadway lanes) are the modern version of the bike lane. The difference is that they are not placed at the extreme right of the road and out of the car lane (placing bicyclists in the dangerous "door zone"). Instead they are placed IN THE ROAD. This can actually be safer for the bicyclist.

There are a few variations on the markings, but generally are made up of a bicycle with 2 forward-pointing chevrons above it. Here are some examples:

When I first learned about the concept I was a bit skeptical because I have been hit by a car before and can speak from experience, it hurts (my spine was broken, my face was broken, and my shoulder was dislocated). I'm a little shy about making drivers mad at me by brazenly riding in the "car lane." However, what I have since learned is that having the road markings visible and riding right over them legitimizes my existence. It shows anyone who can see that I am exactly where I should (and have a right to) be.

In my neighborhood they have been slowly appearing on streets that are frequently used by cyclists. I have begun riding further outside the "door zone" and into the "roadway." What I have found is that when I am riding on a road with sharrow markings the cars just give me a wide birth and pass on by. No honking or threatening with close buzzing. But if I try to ride like this in a part of town that does not have sharrows the drivers treat me very differently. I am more likely to endanger myself by trying to get out of their way. I have come to really like having them around and hope the city hasn't finished placing them. I'd love to see more.

Have you seen a difference in driver behavior as a result of roadway markings?

Where do you ride?

My favorite rides are ones that offer scenic vistas. Anything pretty. Costal, mountainous, flat with row after row of grapevines, hilly and full of wildflowers. I could go on, but the point is visually pleasing. This is not always easy to find, especially if you live in a city.

Usually I walk out my front door, saddle up and start pedaling. I chose my route based on distance (I prefer a loop instead of out and back), difficulty (it's pretty hilly in these parts), and scenery. There a certain spots on my favorite routes that I can easily picture in my head: the Fort Rosecrans Cemetery and the boats in the harbor as I cross over a bridge are examples.

Sometimes when I am riding on a beautiful day and the sights seem particularly special, I think of other people I know who live in different places, and I wonder what they see on their daily rides. I feel like they would love my rides as much as I do.

If I were the sort of person to meditate, these are the images I would conjure. Just thinking about how I feel when I'm on one of these rides can bring my blood pressure down several points. Do you have images in your mind of your favorite rides? Where are they?

San Diego Century

This is an annual fund-raising event for the San Diego Bicycle Coalition. It starts/stops in Encinitas, CA. There are 3 routes and I rode the shortest one - 37 miles. It is a well organized event and the weather was perfect, cool and over cast.

I like to support organized rides because it is a way to contribute to the fund raising efforts of important causes. Often the route is one I can and do ride for free on my own. But I don't see my entrance fee as paying for the route, the SAG or the band - I see it as motivation for myself (possibly stretch the miles I would do on my own) and supporting the community.

I don't ride this area very often but it is actually a very nice route. I'm always glad to have a reason to place my wheels on new turf. TFTR (Thanks for the Ride)!

Bike to Work Day 2011!

I had a chance to check out the Bike to work Day 2011 in San Diego this morning. There were several pit stops around the city and they each had something a little different. My favorite was at the San Diego Zoo. The nice folks at this station were proud to tell me they do this every year and have many repeat customers. They take a picture of all the riders and then post them all the next year.

Each stop had some good swag from the local commuter program and some had additional goodies from the good people running the pit stop. This year there will be an after party! Pedal on over to Adams Ave. Bikes and celebrate, details can be found here.

 LikeBikey wishes everyone a safe and happy Bike to Work Day!

Notes on Nerdiness

I recently celebrated my inner nerd. In fact, I enjoyed my nerdy moment so much I'd like to share it with you. I went on a little vacation to Paso Robles, Ca., where I successfully combined some of my favorite things: travel, bikes, technology, and wine. I had never spent any time in this area before but I had heard it is a good place to ride bikes. It is also known for it's wine production. I took my bike and planned to investigate.

I enjoy maps and like to record routes by gps. I do this with my iPhone, and I'm so nerdy that I use several different applications for this purpose and then upload the files to a few different websites specializing in this sort of geekiness. In the process of trying to decide where I should ride my bike, I discovered that these tools can be used for the opposite purposes just as easily and are perhaps more useful this way. What I mean is that I can find a route created by someone else in the area I want to ride, download that map to my phone and use it as a navigation tool. It provides location identification (shows you where you currently are on the map) in relation to where the route goes. This is an easy way to explore somewhere you've never been and prevent you from getting lost.

It is awesome! and has opened all sorts of doors for me in terms of feeling free and safe to explore new places. I made a couple of videos of the rides I took. They don't do justice to the true beauty of the area, but do give a sneak peak.