shark week starts tomorrow! just saying.. ^_^
happy weekend, all!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Ride Across Town
Just some of the people I saw as I rode across town.
We all talk a lot about those on bicycles looking like those on foot. We seem to have plenty of that going on.
Sometimes a book break is in order. A little sun in San Francisco and we want to be outside.
Uphill. Headwind. Reduce your drag, take off your shirt.
Grab your stuff and hit the road. Don't wait for the cargo bike of your dreams. Just go.
We all talk a lot about those on bicycles looking like those on foot. We seem to have plenty of that going on.
Sometimes a book break is in order. A little sun in San Francisco and we want to be outside.
Uphill. Headwind. Reduce your drag, take off your shirt.
Grab your stuff and hit the road. Don't wait for the cargo bike of your dreams. Just go.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Lens Free Riding
What you carry with you over the course of the day can really change the way you look at things. I usually have a camera with me whenever I leave the house. The few times I have left home empty handed, I have continued to see the things around me through a lens and have regretted my lack of equipment. Not today, though.
My Mom picked up the kids and took them to LA for a couple of weeks. This leaves me with time on my hands, and a bicycle without extra kid weight : ) I decided that all extra weight was unwelcome while riding today. My camera was left at home. Making the deliberate decision to not shoot gave me the chance to just watch the world as it presented its self to me today.
What I saw was a whole lotta people on bicycles! They are all over the place in San Francisco. Some streets I saw dozens of them at a time, some just one or two, but all of the places I saw people getting where they were going to on bicycles are places that saw almost no two wheeled conveyances just three years ago. It wasn't just young people, either. I saw people of all ages riding everything from recumbents to homemade long johns. Almost everyone on bicycles looked the same as the people walking down the streets. The bicycle parking was full everywhere I went!
I will take out my camera to document it all another day. Today, I was happy to just be a part of the flow. Just another San Franciscan on a bicycle.
Ride on!
My Mom picked up the kids and took them to LA for a couple of weeks. This leaves me with time on my hands, and a bicycle without extra kid weight : ) I decided that all extra weight was unwelcome while riding today. My camera was left at home. Making the deliberate decision to not shoot gave me the chance to just watch the world as it presented its self to me today.
What I saw was a whole lotta people on bicycles! They are all over the place in San Francisco. Some streets I saw dozens of them at a time, some just one or two, but all of the places I saw people getting where they were going to on bicycles are places that saw almost no two wheeled conveyances just three years ago. It wasn't just young people, either. I saw people of all ages riding everything from recumbents to homemade long johns. Almost everyone on bicycles looked the same as the people walking down the streets. The bicycle parking was full everywhere I went!
I will take out my camera to document it all another day. Today, I was happy to just be a part of the flow. Just another San Franciscan on a bicycle.
Ride on!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Be A Kid In A Bicycle Store
How was your weekend? Did anything you do make you feel like this?
Or this?
Did you feel like a kid with an ice cream cone?
photo be Amsterdamize
Or this?
photo by Patrick Barber
Did you feel like a kid with an ice cream cone?
photo by Dustinj
You had to grow up, but did you have one "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" moment this weekend?
You had to grow up, but did you have one "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" moment this weekend?
photo by Giorgio Vianini
Friday, July 23, 2010
Another 115
October 3, 2009. San Francisco to Point Reyes and back. This is what we looked like at the end of that ride.
This is what we looked like at the end of this ride.
This is what we looked like while we were riding.
There were hills. We rode up them. There was heat. We drank water. There were trees. We appreciated them. When beer:30 caught up with us in Fairfax, we answered the call. This is what we looked like.
I wonder if they have a Cucuy dark.
Beer needs appropriate music. Good thing there is always a jukebox when you need one.
The latest in ride fashion is Flashdance style. What a feelin', keep believin'...
Some of us had better hair than others. I think he goes to a special barber who makes sure the wind always hits him at exactly the correct angle.
Thus endeth the ride report. Ride on!
This is what we looked like at the end of this ride.
This is what we looked like while we were riding.
There were hills. We rode up them. There was heat. We drank water. There were trees. We appreciated them. When beer:30 caught up with us in Fairfax, we answered the call. This is what we looked like.
I wonder if they have a Cucuy dark.
Beer needs appropriate music. Good thing there is always a jukebox when you need one.
The latest in ride fashion is Flashdance style. What a feelin', keep believin'...
Some of us had better hair than others. I think he goes to a special barber who makes sure the wind always hits him at exactly the correct angle.
Thus endeth the ride report. Ride on!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
update on mayor villaraigosa
an update on los angeles mayor antonio villaraigosa's bike accident from the mayor himself:
it's nice to hear that the mayor is not going to let his accident be a platform for the bicycles are dangerous crew, but rather for one that brings out into the open his plans for bicycle infrastructure improvements throughout los angeles.
imagine los angeles as a bikey city. i LOVE it. let's make this into the new l.a. story.
article via here.
If there's one thing everyone now knows after my recent accident, it's that I like to bike in Los Angeles. The City's landscape, climate, and neighborhoods offer a cyclist's paradise. Biking in Los Angeles should be a natural.
Unfortunately most of our City was built with cars in mind. It's time to recognize that bicycles also belong on L.A.'s streets.
We're working on enforcement of traffic laws and improving the City's bicycle infrastructure. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has reached out to the cycling community and is actively working to make the streets safer.
Last month the Planning Department released its latest draft of the City's bicycle plan update. While it's still a draft, it includes a citywide network and neighborhood network, to provide safe and convenient routes for both serious and casual cyclists. ...
Thanks for all the good wishes since my accident. I will be back on my bike as soon as I'm able, and I hope to see more Angelenos out there with me.
it's nice to hear that the mayor is not going to let his accident be a platform for the bicycles are dangerous crew, but rather for one that brings out into the open his plans for bicycle infrastructure improvements throughout los angeles.
imagine los angeles as a bikey city. i LOVE it. let's make this into the new l.a. story.
article via here.
Thinking Out Loud
I was asked, not too long ago, why I ride my bicycle. My answer was simple- riding a bicycle is the only way I have found to get around that makes me feel better about myself. This is not to say that riding my bicycle makes me feel superior to any, only that when I ride I feel better in myself. It is an interesting phenomenon that I am quite sure that most people feel to one extent or another when they ride their bicycles.
Physical activity of the purposeful sort seems to make most people feel better. A good run, a challenging yoga class, an hour on the rock wall are all capable of making you feel good, but there is something about being out and about on a bicycle that adds to it. What that "it" is probably varies a bit from person to person. For myself, it comes down to something quite simple and, really, quite silly.
The only time I ever feel attractive is when I ride my bicycle.
There is something about moving through space, under my own power, viewing the space around me and how everything flows that makes me more attractive to myself than anything else I do. The time I am most content with being with me is when I ride and being able to combine that with getting somewhere is undeniably powerful.
Does that make sense to you?
Physical activity of the purposeful sort seems to make most people feel better. A good run, a challenging yoga class, an hour on the rock wall are all capable of making you feel good, but there is something about being out and about on a bicycle that adds to it. What that "it" is probably varies a bit from person to person. For myself, it comes down to something quite simple and, really, quite silly.
The only time I ever feel attractive is when I ride my bicycle.
There is something about moving through space, under my own power, viewing the space around me and how everything flows that makes me more attractive to myself than anything else I do. The time I am most content with being with me is when I ride and being able to combine that with getting somewhere is undeniably powerful.
Does that make sense to you?
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Time To Flip The Script
The internet is an amazing place. It is not on a map, but it is most assuredly a place, and that is the strength of it. All people, from all places on geographical maps can gather in this electronic land and discuss what is important to them as a group. My firm belief is that these conversations are what will ultimately change our world for the better, not legislation or politicians or bailouts or any "ism" we can come up with.
That being said, I reposted a piece from last year over the weekend. I highly suggest you visit the comments section and then come back to this post. The conversation there is, currently, between Mexico City and Australia (Canberra and Brisbane) and Arizona and is about whether or not the current trend toward "cycle chic" is one that adds to or takes away from the total conversation of "bicycle culture".
Looking at the picture above, I can see it from a few different perspectives, not all of them my own. There are those who feel that so many pictures of young, beautiful women on bicycles isn't much different than endless pictures of young men in spandex pounding the hills of France. In both instances, there is the perception of exclusivity and judgment of those who do not fit these molds. It is felt that because the woman in these pictures don't look like the "average" person that they no longer "represent" the "average cyclist". To make that claim though, there has to be consensus of just what the "average cyclist" is and if that is even relevant. Do we need more of what is currently the "average" in most parts of the Western world? Isn't that what has brought us, in part, to where we are today- that "average cyclist" has become something other than the cute girl next door out for a little fun on a Friday night.
Some would say that in those places where helmets are mandatory, that the idea of a "chic" cyclist is not possible. The helmets make cycling seem too dangerous, and thus, not attractive to people not already on bicycles. While I make no secret of my personal dislike of helmets, I do not believe that they have all that much power to deter and that the problem, instead, is the rhetoric around them that makes cycling less attractive to some. There is no doubt that in places where helmets are mandatory that cycling numbers have dropped tremendously, it has been shown repeatedly (go Google it). However, how often are people shown in helmets actually portrayed attractively?
If more people saw images of what wearing a helmet could look like, in situations that do not involve speed, steroids or jerseys, I suspect that helmets would become less of a deterrent (and yes, infrastructure is what really counts, but we are not talking about that here). If we stop focusing on the fact that the woman in the picture (our own Meligrosa) is young and on a road bike and fashionable and oh-my-god-I-could-never-look-like-that what we could see is a person who has chosen to embrace her surroundings and ride her bicycle her way and not the way we see people in bicycle catalogues. I know I will never look like this on my bicycle, but it shows me that I can look my way, even with a helmet.
That being said, I reposted a piece from last year over the weekend. I highly suggest you visit the comments section and then come back to this post. The conversation there is, currently, between Mexico City and Australia (Canberra and Brisbane) and Arizona and is about whether or not the current trend toward "cycle chic" is one that adds to or takes away from the total conversation of "bicycle culture".
photo by Richard Masoner of Cyclelicious
Looking at the picture above, I can see it from a few different perspectives, not all of them my own. There are those who feel that so many pictures of young, beautiful women on bicycles isn't much different than endless pictures of young men in spandex pounding the hills of France. In both instances, there is the perception of exclusivity and judgment of those who do not fit these molds. It is felt that because the woman in these pictures don't look like the "average" person that they no longer "represent" the "average cyclist". To make that claim though, there has to be consensus of just what the "average cyclist" is and if that is even relevant. Do we need more of what is currently the "average" in most parts of the Western world? Isn't that what has brought us, in part, to where we are today- that "average cyclist" has become something other than the cute girl next door out for a little fun on a Friday night.
Some would say that in those places where helmets are mandatory, that the idea of a "chic" cyclist is not possible. The helmets make cycling seem too dangerous, and thus, not attractive to people not already on bicycles. While I make no secret of my personal dislike of helmets, I do not believe that they have all that much power to deter and that the problem, instead, is the rhetoric around them that makes cycling less attractive to some. There is no doubt that in places where helmets are mandatory that cycling numbers have dropped tremendously, it has been shown repeatedly (go Google it). However, how often are people shown in helmets actually portrayed attractively?
If more people saw images of what wearing a helmet could look like, in situations that do not involve speed, steroids or jerseys, I suspect that helmets would become less of a deterrent (and yes, infrastructure is what really counts, but we are not talking about that here). If we stop focusing on the fact that the woman in the picture (our own Meligrosa) is young and on a road bike and fashionable and oh-my-god-I-could-never-look-like-that what we could see is a person who has chosen to embrace her surroundings and ride her bicycle her way and not the way we see people in bicycle catalogues. I know I will never look like this on my bicycle, but it shows me that I can look my way, even with a helmet.
photo by Iam Sterdam
The chances of the woman in the picture above being out and about in Denver, Colorado are pretty slim. People who ride bicycles for transportation in the vast majority of the US just do not look like this (people who ride bicycles for transportation in the vast majority of the world don't look like this). It is easy to dismiss this as "cycle chic" and leave it at that. More is required to see it for what it could be- not a judgment about what we each wear but a reminder that we can ride our bicycles with authority and confidence even in heels. There is nothing here that says you have to look like this to ride, only that looking like this doesn't mean that you can not ride.
The chances of the woman in the picture above being out and about in Denver, Colorado are pretty slim. People who ride bicycles for transportation in the vast majority of the US just do not look like this (people who ride bicycles for transportation in the vast majority of the world don't look like this). It is easy to dismiss this as "cycle chic" and leave it at that. More is required to see it for what it could be- not a judgment about what we each wear but a reminder that we can ride our bicycles with authority and confidence even in heels. There is nothing here that says you have to look like this to ride, only that looking like this doesn't mean that you can not ride.
photo by bitchcakesnyc of Bitch Cakes blog
When looking through photographs, I picked this one out specifically because it is a bit over the top. We have both ends of the spectrum here- chic/lycra, cruiser/road bike, heels/clipless... each rider completed the Tour de Queens (40ish miles). If they can ride together, then all those that fall in the spectrum between them can do the same. Each can just be who they are and ride.
The rest of us just need to start seeing in a broader perspective. When we worry about "chic", who has the best "infrastructure", hipsters, bicycles without brakes, high heels, vintage, carbon....we forget that the common denominator are the people who ride all those carbon, mixte, speed machines from 70's era Amsterdam. We can continue to worry about what the people look like, or we can celebrate all of the wonderful new people on bicycles, no matter how they got there. At least, it seems to me.
Addendum: I was just about to re-write this post because it wasn't coming across the way I wanted it to. But then I saw The-Most-Stupid-Bicycle-Article-Ever (two words- titanium chainguard) and some of the silly comments that accompany it and decided to keep it as is. 1 Girl, 2 Wheels probably puts it all together better than I do.
When looking through photographs, I picked this one out specifically because it is a bit over the top. We have both ends of the spectrum here- chic/lycra, cruiser/road bike, heels/clipless... each rider completed the Tour de Queens (40ish miles). If they can ride together, then all those that fall in the spectrum between them can do the same. Each can just be who they are and ride.
The rest of us just need to start seeing in a broader perspective. When we worry about "chic", who has the best "infrastructure", hipsters, bicycles without brakes, high heels, vintage, carbon....we forget that the common denominator are the people who ride all those carbon, mixte, speed machines from 70's era Amsterdam. We can continue to worry about what the people look like, or we can celebrate all of the wonderful new people on bicycles, no matter how they got there. At least, it seems to me.
Addendum: I was just about to re-write this post because it wasn't coming across the way I wanted it to. But then I saw The-Most-Stupid-Bicycle-Article-Ever (two words- titanium chainguard) and some of the silly comments that accompany it and decided to keep it as is. 1 Girl, 2 Wheels probably puts it all together better than I do.
Monday, July 19, 2010
silver lining perhaps?
the mama texican alerted me to a latimes blog post that states the mayor of l.a., antonio villaraigosa, was in a bicycle accident.
from the article:
now i hate to speculate on the unfortunate events of another, BUT, i wonder if this will bring about change to bicycling infrastructure in los angeles? one can only hope that if it would, if it can soften the blow literally brought upon the mayor.
do any of our los angeles readers have any insight as to what is going on down there?
get well mayor villaraigosa!!
article found here.
from the article:
The mayor was riding in the bicycle lane on Venice Boulevard in Mid-City at about 6:50 p.m. when a taxi abruptly pulled in front of him. The mayor hit his brakes and fell off the bike.
He was transported to Ronald Reagan/UCLA Medical Center, where he was treated for [his] broken [elbow].
By 10 p.m. he had been released and was resting comfortably at Getty House, the mayor's official residence.
The mayor's accident comes as bicyclists in the city have increasingly been complaining about safety issues and pressing city officials to do more to make cycling safe.
now i hate to speculate on the unfortunate events of another, BUT, i wonder if this will bring about change to bicycling infrastructure in los angeles? one can only hope that if it would, if it can soften the blow literally brought upon the mayor.
do any of our los angeles readers have any insight as to what is going on down there?
get well mayor villaraigosa!!
article found here.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Representing Redux
In light of recent events and comments, I thought it might be nice to reprint this post from July of last year. If you ride a bicycle then you are one of a very small group of people in the Western World, and as such, should remember that each of us is important in the fight to create a safe place in the road for all of us to use.
Just who represents cycling? There are discussions about just that going on all over the place, these days. I was thinking about this as I rode around on Saturday.
Is it my family? An urban, international, professional, 30 something couple with three kids looking to find better ways to live our lives?
Is it the legion of young people who fly around the streets in the latest indy fashion and vintage bikes?
The DIY contingent could lay a claim to the title. Would they be right?
How about the stunt riders and BMX lovers? Are they less representative?
The messengers have been out there since the beginning, but they don't always get the credit for it. Are they less "cyclist" than anyone else on a bike?
Can we leave the beach kids, the ones without a care in the world, out of the picture?
Is it in the use, or not, of a helmet that represents us all?
When you look at it, we all represent cycling. It makes no difference if we are weekend road warriors, or utility cyclists, or single track riders, or bike messengers... when we are on our bikes, we each represent the rest, because it isn't about the bikes. It is about the people, the lovely, diverse, brave, pedaling people who ride, and they can not be pigeon holed. Nor should they be.
Ride on my fellow representatives! Show your pride. Shine with it. Ride with it.
Just who represents cycling? There are discussions about just that going on all over the place, these days. I was thinking about this as I rode around on Saturday.
Is it my family? An urban, international, professional, 30 something couple with three kids looking to find better ways to live our lives?
Is it the legion of young people who fly around the streets in the latest indy fashion and vintage bikes?
The DIY contingent could lay a claim to the title. Would they be right?
How about the stunt riders and BMX lovers? Are they less representative?
The messengers have been out there since the beginning, but they don't always get the credit for it. Are they less "cyclist" than anyone else on a bike?
Can we leave the beach kids, the ones without a care in the world, out of the picture?
Is it in the use, or not, of a helmet that represents us all?
When you look at it, we all represent cycling. It makes no difference if we are weekend road warriors, or utility cyclists, or single track riders, or bike messengers... when we are on our bikes, we each represent the rest, because it isn't about the bikes. It is about the people, the lovely, diverse, brave, pedaling people who ride, and they can not be pigeon holed. Nor should they be.
Ride on my fellow representatives! Show your pride. Shine with it. Ride with it.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
We Return To The Scene Of The DFL
Last year at this time, as some of you may remember, Meli and I decided to try our hands at long distance riding. We took our first ride over 40 miles from San Francisco to Point Reyes and back with the SF Randonneurs.
It was a great time, and this weekend, we do it again! This time, we have the Calitexican to keep us company, along with several other friends and 120ish others! There were 35 people on last year's ride, many of them were experienced long distance riders. This year, there are a whole lotta new-to-distance riders that have signed up and I can't wait to see all their bright, shiny bicycle faces on Saturday morning!
Who knows? Maybe this year we won't be dead freakin' last, just among the dead freakin' last.
It was a great time, and this weekend, we do it again! This time, we have the Calitexican to keep us company, along with several other friends and 120ish others! There were 35 people on last year's ride, many of them were experienced long distance riders. This year, there are a whole lotta new-to-distance riders that have signed up and I can't wait to see all their bright, shiny bicycle faces on Saturday morning!
Who knows? Maybe this year we won't be dead freakin' last, just among the dead freakin' last.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Reasons For Optimism (Or, Always Marry The Handyman)
As I reported the other day, the chainguard on my Batavus Soccorro was rendered utterly useless by a strong gust of wind and a poorly parked steel bicycle. Not only were the two remaining supports ripped out of the body of the guard, but the center of the guard was separated into two pieces and cracked in several spots. Yep. Complete destruction.
Several people gave me some links to possible replacements, but at this point, most of them are "maybe" at best. Seeing my extreme disappointment in the situation, and knowing how much research I did before choosing it, Hubby the Bikeman decided to try to at least get a little bit more use out of my broken, shattered chainguard while I seek out a new one.
He did it! We don't know how long it will last, but if it lasts just until I find a new one, then, fantastic!
The rear mount, that takes all of the weight of the guard was completely ripped out. The metal hardware was fine, but the plastic it mounted into was shattered. James was able to rebuild it with J-B Weld (this stuff is up there with aspirin and duct tape)! After sanding it down and shaping the edges, it is almost perfect. James thinks I should take a black sharpie to it, but I am so proud of the repair I want it to stand out.
The front mount suffered the same fate, to a lesser degree. There was not such a large area of damage as the plastic broke around the circumference of the bolt. J-B Weld to the rescue!
Some of the damage is beyond repair.
The bottom mount was damaged when I first purchased the bike when it was knocked under a parked car by a drunk woman outside the ice cream shop. It still worked, but it was cracked. It was rendered completely useless by someone in a bike valet who insisted he knew how to park a bike on a center stand (not!). The cracks and separation in the main body of the guard may be "fixable" with some strips of duct tape on the inside surface of the guard, but one more blow and that will be the end of this part.
I can not tell you how happy I am my chainguard is back! It may seem silly to some, but my daily transportation relies on things like my fenders and guards. Carrying a kid and groceries while negotiating cars and hills and potholes means that having to think about how to keep myself clean while doing all of it could easily be the deal breaker.
Over the last two years, I have repeatedly thanked James for buying my Bat for me (our first big purchase after years of financial instability). Now, I will have to thank him repeatedly for fixing it so nicely!!!!
Several people gave me some links to possible replacements, but at this point, most of them are "maybe" at best. Seeing my extreme disappointment in the situation, and knowing how much research I did before choosing it, Hubby the Bikeman decided to try to at least get a little bit more use out of my broken, shattered chainguard while I seek out a new one.
He did it! We don't know how long it will last, but if it lasts just until I find a new one, then, fantastic!
The rear mount, that takes all of the weight of the guard was completely ripped out. The metal hardware was fine, but the plastic it mounted into was shattered. James was able to rebuild it with J-B Weld (this stuff is up there with aspirin and duct tape)! After sanding it down and shaping the edges, it is almost perfect. James thinks I should take a black sharpie to it, but I am so proud of the repair I want it to stand out.
The front mount suffered the same fate, to a lesser degree. There was not such a large area of damage as the plastic broke around the circumference of the bolt. J-B Weld to the rescue!
Some of the damage is beyond repair.
The bottom mount was damaged when I first purchased the bike when it was knocked under a parked car by a drunk woman outside the ice cream shop. It still worked, but it was cracked. It was rendered completely useless by someone in a bike valet who insisted he knew how to park a bike on a center stand (not!). The cracks and separation in the main body of the guard may be "fixable" with some strips of duct tape on the inside surface of the guard, but one more blow and that will be the end of this part.
I can not tell you how happy I am my chainguard is back! It may seem silly to some, but my daily transportation relies on things like my fenders and guards. Carrying a kid and groceries while negotiating cars and hills and potholes means that having to think about how to keep myself clean while doing all of it could easily be the deal breaker.
Over the last two years, I have repeatedly thanked James for buying my Bat for me (our first big purchase after years of financial instability). Now, I will have to thank him repeatedly for fixing it so nicely!!!!
Orange With Pride
I was brought to the world of modern, urban transportation cycling after reading about the joy that is bicycling in the Netherlands. This week, the Dutch were in San Francisco, in a manner of speaking.
It isn't an accident that our local baseball team sports Orange (or maybe it is, but for this post it isn't).
San Francisco is the hometown of the United Nations. We love flags from all countries!
Spain won. Oh well. We shall cycle on with our heavy duty front racks in tact!
It isn't an accident that our local baseball team sports Orange (or maybe it is, but for this post it isn't).
San Francisco is the hometown of the United Nations. We love flags from all countries!
Spain won. Oh well. We shall cycle on with our heavy duty front racks in tact!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
B&W International
From France.
From America.
It's black and white. Life on a bicycle is glorious!
photo by Strivv
From America.
It's black and white. Life on a bicycle is glorious!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Driver To Biker
All of us here at CYLRAB are the same in one respect- we LOVE opening our email to find stories from the people who read this blog! We started "Change Your Life. Ride A Bike!" with the express purpose of creating a forum for people to share their tales and spread the message that bicycles are simply the best way to get around.
This latest submission comes to us from Mexico thanks to Leonel Altamirano.
In Mexico City many years ago, there was a desperate driver, who every day journeyed in his car 10 miles, from his house to his work, taking him him up to 45 minutes, sometimes longer, sometimes less; over the years, it keeps taking longer; for example when there are manifestations in the streets, it can take up to two hours.
He found a solution to this problem with a folding bike, If he could have owned one, the problem of leaving the bike in the parking lot would be solved (also paying for the parking).
Since he has to go on the subway and then into his office, he could carry it with him. He looked in various places for one of these extraordinary methods of transportation. And he found a 28 pounds, one made of aluminum from Mexico, with Shimano gear shifts.
Now two or three days a week he travels on his bike from his home to the subway one kilometer in seven minutes. When he arrives to the entrance of the subway he folds the bike, and enters with it. Once inside the subway car, the folded bike is so compact that it fits under the seat.
When he arrives at the station where he gets off, he takes his bike out and he leaves the subway, then he unfolds the bike to ride the last and short stage of his trip to his office on the bike.where it leaves it under its writing-desk.
In this way he saves almost half of the time of the trip subway-bike in comparison with the car. “to be or not to be in the transit”, is the question.
Now, the desperate conductor is a gladder being and satisfied one, since he arrives earlier at its work and at its home, he coexists more with its family; and by the way he does a little more exercise, contaminating less.
Unfortunatelly, is forbiden to pass your bike in the subway from monday to saturday, but with the spread of this history, we can push authorities to make a change in favor the health.
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DriverToBiker
Do you have a story to share? We want to get it out to the world! Every story touches someone and offers the opportunity to help another person change their life.
This latest submission comes to us from Mexico thanks to Leonel Altamirano.
In Mexico City many years ago, there was a desperate driver, who every day journeyed in his car 10 miles, from his house to his work, taking him him up to 45 minutes, sometimes longer, sometimes less; over the years, it keeps taking longer; for example when there are manifestations in the streets, it can take up to two hours.
He found a solution to this problem with a folding bike, If he could have owned one, the problem of leaving the bike in the parking lot would be solved (also paying for the parking).
Since he has to go on the subway and then into his office, he could carry it with him. He looked in various places for one of these extraordinary methods of transportation. And he found a 28 pounds, one made of aluminum from Mexico, with Shimano gear shifts.
Now two or three days a week he travels on his bike from his home to the subway one kilometer in seven minutes. When he arrives to the entrance of the subway he folds the bike, and enters with it. Once inside the subway car, the folded bike is so compact that it fits under the seat.
When he arrives at the station where he gets off, he takes his bike out and he leaves the subway, then he unfolds the bike to ride the last and short stage of his trip to his office on the bike.where it leaves it under its writing-desk.
In this way he saves almost half of the time of the trip subway-bike in comparison with the car. “to be or not to be in the transit”, is the question.
Now, the desperate conductor is a gladder being and satisfied one, since he arrives earlier at its work and at its home, he coexists more with its family; and by the way he does a little more exercise, contaminating less.
Unfortunatelly, is forbiden to pass your bike in the subway from monday to saturday, but with the spread of this history, we can push authorities to make a change in favor the health.
DriverToBiker
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Moments In Life
One of the things I like the best about our Flickr group is the collection of moments that have grown there. There over 6ooo images there that show the bicycle culture that is growing around the world. Little pieces of time that add up to regular life.
image by Sweet Olive
image by Bart Omeu
image by Amstersam
image by Vélocia
another by Bart Omeu
Drop by the group and see how the world is living with a bicycle. It is amazing how much we all have in common!
Drop by the group and see how the world is living with a bicycle. It is amazing how much we all have in common!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Posting Problems
There seems to be an issue with Blogger at the moment. No comments are making it to the blog. Just so you know, we are getting your comments via email, they just are not being published to the blog its self. I have alerted Blogger and hope to have the problem fixed shortly. In the mean time, keep commenting! Meli, Cali, Caryl and I will get your messages and I will make sure they all get addressed as needed.
To this point-
As far as broken chainguards are concerned- there are several links that have been sent to me, some of which I have tried in the past. The issue with my bicycle is that it has external derailleurs and a triple in the front, so most of what is on the market is not appropriate. Unlike the SKS guard, this has no hole in the top to accommodate the derailleur and is just made to fit around it all (there have been issues with the SKS guard grabbing pants because of the gap in the top).
I will try some of the links that have been sent so far (thanks Trish!) and I will take pictures of the back of the part (Andy in Germany, it would be great if you have the part!) and, alas, duct tape will not help my problem, for once (I thought of you, Oldfool, as soon as this happened). I will look at the Torker parts (thanks to those who have made this suggestion!) and there is an ebike dealer in SF that has bikes with similar looking guards who I will approach, as well (his all seem to be brown, though). I am still way open to any fabricators who think they have a good idea!
So. Keep commenting! We will get them until the problem is solved!
To this point-
As far as broken chainguards are concerned- there are several links that have been sent to me, some of which I have tried in the past. The issue with my bicycle is that it has external derailleurs and a triple in the front, so most of what is on the market is not appropriate. Unlike the SKS guard, this has no hole in the top to accommodate the derailleur and is just made to fit around it all (there have been issues with the SKS guard grabbing pants because of the gap in the top).
I will try some of the links that have been sent so far (thanks Trish!) and I will take pictures of the back of the part (Andy in Germany, it would be great if you have the part!) and, alas, duct tape will not help my problem, for once (I thought of you, Oldfool, as soon as this happened). I will look at the Torker parts (thanks to those who have made this suggestion!) and there is an ebike dealer in SF that has bikes with similar looking guards who I will approach, as well (his all seem to be brown, though). I am still way open to any fabricators who think they have a good idea!
So. Keep commenting! We will get them until the problem is solved!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sad Face
Anyone who knows me in my bicycle life knows I LOVE having a chainguard and skirtguards and fenders. I was only willing to take the skirtguards off of the Bat because the Bobike seat does a pretty good job of keeping things out of the wheels (I have only one skirt that manages to get past it and stuck in the brakes and I think that is just because it is evil).
This is a pretty good shot of the chainguard in its useful glory.
On July 4th, 2010, my useful chainguard was rendered completely dead when my son's bicycle fell over in the wind and took a chunk of wheel stay out of the frame and smashed my poor innocent guard to bits.
You say "Adrienne, you can get a new one". I sigh and reply "I wish", in response. I tried to get a new one several months ago through my LBS, but Batavus sent the wrong one (blue, wrong size, incorrect mounting points, no hardware...)! When I emailed Batavus last year about obtaining replacement parts like the chainguard, they wouldn't sell me any of the parts that are impossible to get off the shelf in the USA. Seattle Bike Supply, the group that sold my LBS the bicycle will not get parts for it because after selling the bike to me, they decided to not become Batavus distributors.
So, dear readers, I need your help (again). Who out there knows how to get me a new chainguard? I have money to spend and am feeling creative. Are you a fabricator? I have the original chainguard as a template and I think the Bat would look pretty good with a nice metal piece. Anyone out there know someone at Batavus who could send me the part (they have them, just not for me : |)?
Ideas? Anyone?
50% of the reason I purchased my bicycle was because of its various guards. Without my chainguard, my bicycle is naked and my clothes are going to get wrecked (I have to stand very close to the frame at stops to keep it stable when I have Declan on the back and I need my hands for something).
This is a pretty good shot of the chainguard in its useful glory.
On July 4th, 2010, my useful chainguard was rendered completely dead when my son's bicycle fell over in the wind and took a chunk of wheel stay out of the frame and smashed my poor innocent guard to bits.
You say "Adrienne, you can get a new one". I sigh and reply "I wish", in response. I tried to get a new one several months ago through my LBS, but Batavus sent the wrong one (blue, wrong size, incorrect mounting points, no hardware...)! When I emailed Batavus last year about obtaining replacement parts like the chainguard, they wouldn't sell me any of the parts that are impossible to get off the shelf in the USA. Seattle Bike Supply, the group that sold my LBS the bicycle will not get parts for it because after selling the bike to me, they decided to not become Batavus distributors.
So, dear readers, I need your help (again). Who out there knows how to get me a new chainguard? I have money to spend and am feeling creative. Are you a fabricator? I have the original chainguard as a template and I think the Bat would look pretty good with a nice metal piece. Anyone out there know someone at Batavus who could send me the part (they have them, just not for me : |)?
Ideas? Anyone?
50% of the reason I purchased my bicycle was because of its various guards. Without my chainguard, my bicycle is naked and my clothes are going to get wrecked (I have to stand very close to the frame at stops to keep it stable when I have Declan on the back and I need my hands for something).
Sunday, July 4, 2010
One If By Land, Two If By Sea
Guess I am just ringing it once. My Batavus does not float!
Happy Independence Day, U.S.A.! Declare your independence, ride a bike!
Happy Independence Day, U.S.A.! Declare your independence, ride a bike!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Gratuitous Bragging Ahead
So the other day I was opining about my inability to perform the task of taking a picture with both hands while riding. Tonight, I did it!!!!!
In the grand scheme of things this is completely meaningless. In my world of cycling it means I have finally found the balance and strength to fully control my bicycle!!! It means resting my hands and back on ridiculously long rides that have nothing to do with transport or utility. It means that in a life full of risk minimization I can still find the occasional thrill.
It means I can say "Look, Ma! No Hands!"
In the grand scheme of things this is completely meaningless. In my world of cycling it means I have finally found the balance and strength to fully control my bicycle!!! It means resting my hands and back on ridiculously long rides that have nothing to do with transport or utility. It means that in a life full of risk minimization I can still find the occasional thrill.
It means I can say "Look, Ma! No Hands!"
Friday, July 2, 2010
friday fun times: twizzler scraper bike!!
one scene from the bikey lane that i just had to pull over and examine a little more closely this past wednesday...
what's going on here?
thoughts or comments much appreciated.
have a great three-day weekend everyone!
what's going on here?
thoughts or comments much appreciated.
have a great three-day weekend everyone!
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