Spring Wake Up Post

I have been struggling with relevance this year. What is worth writing about? What is worth reading about? Maybe it is a reflection of the mild depression I've been hit with this winter. Maybe I've just been lazy. Perhaps I'm just having a confidence crisis (is the effort really worth making for a couple of readers?). I have had a few good ideas that never got beyond the moment and dissipated before I got near a computer screen. But for some unknown reason, this morning I came across something that inspired me to post. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Today's post will hopefully introduce (to some anyway) some interesting ideas and web-destinations. I'll start with the bicycle film festival. If you happen to be in a host city at the right time please visit and let us know how the experience affected you. Next is Kickstarter.com. Kickstarter is, in their own words, "the world's largest funding platform for creative projects." I really like this idea. People with creative ideas for new projects pitch their ideas directly to would-be investors.

To see an example of what I am attempting to describe, visit this site for a filmmaker's pitch to you, the bicyclist: The Commentator. Come back here and let us know your thoughts on the proposed film, the kickstarter concept, or anything else on the concept of combining the creative process, funding, and the potential consumer of the final product.

Ride On!

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.