Bike To...

Somewhere other than work.

It has been a while since I had to bicycle to "work".  But I take my bicycle just about everywhere else.  I call it "Bike To Life" and anyone can do it.  Give it a try!

Change Lots Of Lives. Build A Bike!

One of the most interesting things about blogging, to me at least, is getting the chance to see where our readers come from.  I use a stats program that can give me a world map of readership over a specified period of time.  When the world map comes up, there are little dots for where each visitor's general area is.

Today, when I looked there were dots in Finland, New Zealand, Rio de Janeiro, Ghana and Turkey all within the same time period.  What a global spread!!  It got me to wondering what kind of information I could easily find about bicycling in some of these places, starting with Turkey.

There isn't a lot of easily findable material from a first person perspective about bicycling in Turkey.  There are a few stories about people having a bicycle vacation in Turkey, but I didn't find (with a very limited search) anything written by a Turk about riding in Turkey.  I have to admit, I was a little disappointed.  Lucky for me, I wasn't disappointed for long!

In my search I found this story about De Fietsfabriek, The Bicycle Factory, in the Hurriyet Daily News.  It turns out that De Fietsfabriek was started by a Turkish immigrant to the Netherlands, Yalcin Cihangir.

"Cihangir discovered that he liked fixing bicycles and wanted to make his own bikes; after six months, he started his own business in Amsterdam. Teaming up with a local colleague in 2004, he started the Bicycle Factory (www.defietsfabriek.nl)."*

The best part of this story is that Cihangir has his parts manufactured in his small hometown in Turkey.

"Bike parts are produced in Büyükcamili, creating jobs for almost 30 men in a small place in danger of being abandoned. Cihangir opened the factory in his home village in order to give something back. People working at the factory have reasonable working hours and get a decent salary, between 1,300 and 1,700 Turkish Liras. Next to the bicycle factory, an atelier has been created where women make special clothing that is sold in the Netherlands and returns the revenues to Anatolia.

Cihangir is also financing a local agricultural project to grow products in an environmentally friendly way. His final goal is to make his home village an attractive place for young people to stay and make a living."*

Here are some of the people who make his bicycles in Turkey

and here is a wonderful little documentary of the opening of his factory. It is in Dutch and Turkish but you will get a very good idea of how big a deal this factory is and just how much good it is doing.

I have never met Yalcin Cihangir and I probably never will, but I would be very proud to own one of his bicycles.  He proves through his actions that there is so much more to bicycles than any of us think of when we jump on them to go to work or play.  Bicycles can save your home town!  Maybe Flint and Detroit, Michigan should get on the bandwagon, too.  After all, Henry Ford built and sold bicycles before cars and now Michigan is suffering the after effects.  Maybe those same bicycles could help repair some of that damage.  I know I would buy an American made bicycle like we used to be able to.  

I would certainly buy a De Fietsfabriek bicycle.  I may not be from a tiny village in Turkey, but it doesn't mean I can't help one out!

*excerpt from "The Turkish Bicycle Factory" by JOOST LAGENDİJK and linked to above.

It Isn't Always Fun And Games

We spend a lot of time pointing out how much fun bicycles are. Mostly because it is easy. Bicycles are fun, but they are so much more than that. They are how so many of us get to the various places we need to be, how we carry our things, how we navigate our world.

Sometimes they are there at the end. Tienanmen Square, June 4th, 1989.

found here. Sometimes they are how we feed our families. Hanoi, Vietnam

found here

Sometimes they are how we dream of a better world to grow up in. Slovakia

found here

Sometimes they are how we fight our wars. These soldiers jumped out of their airplane with their bicycles attached to them! Somewhere in Europe in WW2.

found here

Sometimes, a bicycle is the only way to feel normal when nothing else does.

I have no idea who to credit this shot to, but I will if given the info.

Sometimes, a bicycle is the only way to get away. Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo.

found here

So the next time you get on your bicycle, smile and enjoy the breeze in your face knowing that what you are pedaling could easily mean a great deal more in just a small change of circumstances.

Would You Like Some RSI With That?

At some point in every cyclist's life, there comes a time when the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. After months of increasing pain in multiple joints and decreasing riding because of it, I am embarking on many measures to try to reverse that equation. While for most people, pain when cycling has to do with poor bicycle fit, my problems are from overuse, which to my mind is a more difficult thing to remedy. The only way to fix it is to ride less, and at this point I have eliminated ALL of my pleasure riding and only ride for my daily life needs like grocery shopping or getting to appointments. Even with that, until the last couple of weeks, I was avoiding my bicycle for many things I would never have thought twice about using it for before. This has been unsettling for me as being able to ride my bicycle at will is like being able to walk where I want when I want.

I have now been able to get most of my issues under control with the help of a reumatologist, a good supply of NSAIDS and a lot of stretching. Feeling better has opened up more ability to ride and... patellofemoral syndrome. Typical. When it became impossible to walk down the stairs, I gave up and decided to take a few days off and see what would happen. So far it is a mixed bag. Sitting for any length of time makes me knees hurt, but then just about everything makes them worse. Despite 15 years of treating people with RSI (Repetitive Stress Injuries) like this, I am still frustrated and I feel hamstrung and I can't wait for this to be over. I am a terrible patient and I do not listen to anything I say.

So, with that in mind I thought I would share some things I found interesting or funny from the Web about bicycle related injuries. This first one made me laugh.

Risk Factors for Bicycle-Related Injuries

---

Cyclist is male.

Cyclist is nine to 14 years of age.

Cycling in the summer.

Cycling in late afternoon or early evening.

Cyclist does not wear helmet.

Motor vehicle involved.

Unsafe riding environment.

Cyclist is from an unstable family environment.

Cyclist has preexisting psychiatric condition.

Cyclist is intoxicated.

Cyclist is involved in competitive mountain-bike racing.

I am not sure that my knees are effected by any preexisting psychiatric condition, but then again, denial is a prime component of most psychiatric conditions so I could be wrong. Also, if I were an 11 year old boy, I doubt my knees would be an issue.

For more useful information on pain related to bicycle riding, you just can not go wrong with the amazing Sheldon Brown. I will be taking his advice to see if I have lateral movement in my pedaling. It is certainly possible as I have a very wide q-angle and tend to ride with my feet right on the outer edge of my pedals.

If all else fails, I could resort to the age old remedy of my people. It has worked for generations!

How do you deal with the pains that come from human powered movement?

I Kick Back On The Weekends

I let the boys take the cargo on the weekends.

That is what husbands and teenaged sons are for. An enlightened, 21st century view, I know.

Wind In My Hair

It has been SUPER windy around here lately. My hair has become an impediment. It actually makes it impossible to see sometimes.

At these times, I go back to the 50's and pull out the scarves. They are great, with a couple of hair clips to keep it in place. Should you be a helmet wearer, it would disguise helmet hair as well!

Bike To School Day

Today was Bike To School Day in San Francisco. Like Walk To School Day, kids and families are encouraged to try a new way to get to school. It grows a little bit every year, and at Declan's school 25% of the kids arrived by bicycle or scooter. Most days it is closer to 3% and to be honest, many people drove their kids to the spots where groups were gathering to ride in to school together (the groups are called Bike Buses).

Cameron and Úna do not really get the occasion. Like many of those who ride a bicycle to work everyday do not get involved in Bike To Work Day, the kids ride their bicycles all over the place already. Declan had to be convinced it would be fun to ride an extra four blocks so he could meet up with his friends to ride to school. Once he got there, he was thrilled to ride with everyone else, but he still doesn't get it.

Nevertheless, this is an opportunity to challenge parents to start thinking about other ways to do things. Maybe this is the excuse to start encouraging their kids to be more independent.

Perhaps Bike To School Day is an opportunity for the kids to take pride in their bicycles and that feeling of freedom that comes with them.

For some, it was that first taste of what it is like to be a grown up. For us, a few moments to see it ourselves.

For some it was Scooter To School Day. I am good with that. They have two wheels, too.

So, while every day in the O'Chan home is Bike To Blank Day, we welcome all of the new comers. We hope to see them all in the lane in the years to come.

Heed The Signs

On the journey of life, we should heed the signs we encounter along the path. They are put there for our own good.

Bike Your Daughter To Lunch Day

Happy Weekend!!

Caught!

When we left the house on Sunday, there was only a 10 chance of rain. This didn't seem too bad to me, and looking out the window from my apartment I saw nothing rainish. So we got the kids out of the house (this takes a lot more effort now that 2 of them are teenagers), and decided to ride out to get some lunch.

Of course, as soon as we started eating, it started raining. The only person who was even a little ready was James, as he had a rain jacket. The rest of us were less then optimally prepared- we were all wearing cotton sweatshirts and other super absorbent, minimally insulating clothing. I usually carry a rain kit this time of year- my ugly-yet-highly-effective rain poncho and a fold up umbrella and a seat cover. Of these, I had my seat cover and an umbrella. The bike got the seat cover and the youngest monster got the umbrella.

Ah well. The sacrifices we make for our children. It wasn't until we had gone several miles and I was soaked that James remembered he had put my ugly-yet-highly-effective rain poncho in the Whale's trunk! Grrrrr.

Obviously, I managed to survive the ordeal.

My Father The Gardener

A while back, I asked a lovely gentleman (and he is a True Gentleman), that I am getting to know to write the story behind a wonderful picture that he shared on Flickr. His name is Dave (he goes by ColdIron on Flickr) and he works at Cycle City in Alameda, CA. Today, I found this in my in-box. All of us here at the blog would like to thank Dave from the bottom of our hearts for sending us such a wonderful and heartfelt story at a time when we really need it! I am quite sure you will enjoy it as much as we do.

Three Generations On A Big Dummy!

If I asked you, Dear Cyclist, to talk about your fondest childhood memories, you would probably get all nostalgic and smile. You would definitely start talking about the important role bikes played in your youth.

You might talk about a special Christmas morning, when Santa left a shiny new bike under the tree for you. Your father cut his knuckles, and was up until 1 AM assembling it the night before, but he didn't ruin the surprise. You were on the good list, so as far as you knew, Kris Kringle delivered it while you slept. You might not remember anything else Santa brought for you that Christmas, but you'll never forget your first bike.

You might talk about the day your training wheels were removed. A two-wheeler never looked so intimidating. Dad (or mom!) chased you down the sidewalk, as you tentatively weaved back and forth, gradually building confidence and speed. You might show me the scar on your knee from one of the many spills you took that day. You were a little more grown-up when you went to bed that night. Your two-wheeler wasn't so intimidating anymore.

If you're under the age of thirty, you might tell me about the the trailer your Mom (or Dad!) would buckle you in to, and how trips to the park, grocery store, or preschool were bumpy and fun. There were toys and books and a little plastic container of Cheerios, and maybe even a sibling back there with you. Getting around in the trailer was better than being strapped in the back seat of the family car. You felt loved and safe in your little nylon cocoon, and your chauffeur always seemed to be in a good mood when you got to where you were going.

There are many more stories out there. They are all worth telling, and worth hearing. I encourage you, Dear Cyclist, to think back, and remember the highlights of your personal velo-history. Write them down, and share them with friends...especially the friends who don't ride. Take time to thank those who took time to make bikes part of your life.

I would like to share one, or some, of my fondest memories with you. I'll start by saying I never got a bike for Christmas. I learned to ride without the benefit of training wheels. I am too old to have ever been in a child trailer. My memories do, however, involve a bike. They also involve my father, Jim. He has always been 'Papa' to me.

Papa was ahead of his time. He was a stay-at-home dad back in the mid 70's. When International Harvester closed its San Leandro plant in the early 70's, Papa got laid off. He didn't fret, though. My mom had a job that paid well, so Papa didn't go back to work right away. He stayed home and took care of my older brother and me. My parents have always been frugal people, and my father streamlined the budget by keeping the '67 Chevy Impala parked, and chauffeuring my brother and me around on his '69 Schwinn Heavy-Duti. My brother straddled the paper-boy rated rear rack, and I sat side-saddle on the top tube. Before BMX was part of the American vocabulary, before you could buy a plaid top tube pad for your fixie, Papa fashioned a cushion for me from a carefully folded towel, and secured it with a length of rope. My perch was comfortable, and I could see the road ahead. Franklin, Lincoln, Washington, and Little John Parks were all a few minutes away. Papa would play basketball, and my brother and I would work up an appetite on the playground. Countless Summer days found the three of us getting around Alameda in this manner. I felt special and loved, sitting on that top tube, between my father's strong arms.

The school year was different. My brother went to a nearby school, and walked. Lum Elementary was almost 3 miles away, and I straddled the Heavy-Duti's rear rack while my father pedaled me to school for most of the 2nd and 3rd grades. I remember many foggy and cold mornings. The smell of the beach, the singing of birds. Crab Cove didn't yet exist, and the trail through that part of the beach was bumpy and unpaved. The bouncing and jostling I was subjected to appealed to my developing sense of adventure. No cars could be heard; the loudest sound was the bike's rubber rolling over the sand and gravel path. My memories of the paved streets between home and school are strangely absent.

I was unaware at the time, but I was getting an education in resourcefulness, innovation, and appropriate transportation. I don't think Papa was aware, at the time, but he was teaching me valuable life-skills. He had planted a seed in me.

I switched to Longfellow Elementary for the 4th grade. It was a 5 minute walk from my front door, so...I walked. Papa needed to go back to work, so my brother and I took to pedaling ourselves around. Papa's trusty old Schwinn was relegated to the balcony, and he rode it less and less. For very practical, unavoidable reasons, my days of being chauffeured by bike came to an end.

The seed that Papa planted sprouted and grew into a tree. That tree started to bear fruit. I continued to ride for fun and basic transportation. I got a mountain bike for my 12th birthday, and taught myself how to adjust my gears and brakes. I started commuting to work on my bike when I was 16. My first bike shop gig came when I was 20. I entered my first mountain bike race when I was 22 (crashed and bent my frame while in 2nd place...DNF!). I took a 6000 mile, 100 day solo cycle-tour of North America the Summer of my 28th year (that's a story for another time). I can't count the number and variety of characters I've met, and friends I've made, through cycling. That tree continues to bear fruit.

I hope you enjoyed my story, Dear Cyclist. It's my pleasure to share the fruit. If you enjoyed it, please don't thank me. Thank my father.

Papa, I am so very appreciative of your gardening skills. I am grateful beyond words for so many fond memories. Thank you.

Situations

The beauty of having a cargo bike is its utility in a variety of situations. We are all familiar with the "normal" situations where cargo hauling capability is good, but here are a couple of alternates.

The Sun Is In My Eyes Situation that turns into The Nap Situation.

The Kid Is Bored So Give Him Your Camera Situation

One should always carry a Swiss Army style bike for what life has to offer you!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

I really can't stay

Ice Beard by Rudyluciani

but baby, it's cold outside!

I've got to go away

Cold Weekend Ride by spiderleggreen

Oh, Baby, it's cold outside.

I simply must go.

No Bike Lane On Harbord by Happy D

But Baby, it's cold outside.

The answer is, no!

Tree + Sharrow = Awesome by gregraisman

Oooh, Baby, it's cold outside!

I've got to go home.

Wool Knitted Hat, Jigsaw Sweater by Lovely Bicycle!

Oh, Baby, you'll freeze out there!

Aerial Winter Mikael Colville -Andersen

Screw it! Go ride!

Bike Party- The Sequel

Tonight. Civic Center. Rolling out at 8:00. Here for details. Come on out and show your bike love! The M's and I will be present.

Too Freaking Cute!

While we bang on about it, the kids just get it and go.

S'up?

These kids had something fun to do all weekend.

What did you do?

Relaxed Saturday

Two people enjoying one bicycle,

a sunny Saturday ride to a California Farmers Market.

Strolling Along

Small journeys,

are what make up everyday life.

Rest

Short rests,

give room for big views.

Small Signs

Small symbols,

they can help you stand your ground.