the day has finally come - it rained in phoenix

I got to ride in the rain today. To some, this might not seem like a big deal, or may even be a daily nuisance; but to me, it IS a big deal. I live in Phoenix. We never get rain. The past two weekends have ushered in some rain as this massive storm system moves across the mid-west and Rockies. When I woke up this morning, I was rather surprised to see moisture on the ground as I stepped outside to check how cold (read: brisk) it was.

At first I had to run through my alternate options of transport, but then I remembered that I have been waiting for this day since I started bike commuting in August! Granted, I yearned for that day in August for completely different reasons, but I still wanted to get some experience riding on wet roads - if for nothing more than my own cycling "continuing education."

I dressed the same as I have been lately, wearing a compression shirt, half-zip lightweight pullover and my bright yellow windbreaker, which naturally doubles as a rain jacket. It was not actually raining when I left, but the roads were wet, and I got some drizzles along the way.

Rains came on and went throughout the day, and I saw a little bit of a heavier downpour on the ride home - but still nothing too crazy. A good introduction to inclimate-weather riding.

The highlight of the day was the surprised look on my co-workers faces when they saw that I rode my bike to work, even though it was raining. Due to the lack of rain in this city, people in Phoenix seem to get thrown off enough by the thought of driving a car in the rain - let alone riding a bike.

In my continuing efforts to make bike commuting look as easy as it really is, I simply commented that riding in this poor weather was not much different than other days. I didn't dress any differently than I do on a cold day. Naturally, you want to be more aware of your surroundings and more attentive to drivers who might do something stupid, but a little rain is no reason to leave the bike at home.

That's right, the Velorution is waterproof!

how much time will $50 buy you?

I broke my shoe today. Bummer.

As I was walking down the steps of my apartment with my bike this morning, the heel of my cycling shoe got stuck on the lip of the previous step. As I continued moving forward, my shoe stayed in place and I ripped the top velcro strap right off of the shoe. Thankfully, my shoes have 3 straps, so even though I ripped off the most important strap, the shoe is still functional. It was looser than normal (obviously) but I was able to ride to and from work without incident. I will reluctantly begin a quest to replace the shoes - but I guess in the grand scheme of things, and in the eyes of Bicycling magazine, getting more than 2 years out of a pair of cycling shoes is pretty decent...well at least in the age of the "replace your gear each season" mentality that magazines like Bicycling proliferate.

While it is not ultimately the shoe manufacturers fault that the velcro strap ripped off my shoe, I am still disappointed that I have to replace the shoes. There is still one perfectly good shoe remaining that will become useless. I will continue to ride with these shoes until I honestly feel that they threaten my safety or ability to ride.

On the bright side, had the strap not ripped off, I most likely would have fallen down the 2 or 3 remaining steps as my heel got jammed in between steps, and would have landed (painfully) on the cement with a bike on top of me, or worse, me on top of the bike.

Every cloud has a silver lining it seems...

the laughing hyena boy of self-conciousness

I was laughed at on my ride home yesterday evening. Part of my commuting route takes me past a local inner-city high school. On most days I avoid the school during peak traffic hours, and yesterday was no exception. I was riding beyond the "school zone" when I approached a group of upstanding young lads (sarcasm). The shortest and pudgiest of this group (anyone who has ever gone through high school knows one of these kids) stops in the middle of the street as I maneuver around the group, giving them plenty of room since half of them were not paying attention to what was going on in their immediate environment. This kid who stopped points at me and gives this heinous, hyena-esque laugh. As soon as I pass them, he turns and continues on his way.

Now, having the benefit of being an intuitive fellow, I was able to recognize this laugh for what it was: nothingness. But my other cycling brethren may not be so lucky. While I was able to discern that this is simply the standard, malicious sort of behavior exhibited by most males in the 12-15 age range (not to say it doesn't get better after), and that this sub-sect of the human species is very well capable of getting inside someone's head with such actions, it did not get to me.

Young boys have the distinct ability to act in such a way that one's greatest doubts of self-consciousness will come out. I am confident that this kid had no reason for laughing AT me (I wasn't even wearing my neon yellow windbreaker), but he was simply all "hopped up on pixie sticks" and goofing around like young lads do. Still, this sort of behavior has the tendency to slip inside someone's head and cause them to seriously doubt every facet of their existence.

OR, maybe he did, in fact, have a reason for laughing so violently at me and now I need to go buy all new cycling gear to make myself look cool. Uh oh...here we go.

playing hooky

I took the day off from work today. This has been the first vacation day that I have used all year just for the sake of not going to the office. I did not have any travel plans, or anything on the agenda. My family had been talking about traveling for Christmas this year, so I planned ahead and was really conservative with the days I spent away from work all year. When I did take time off, it was used to travel back east to visit family and friends. I must say, it was nice to not be in the office on a Monday and just use the day to relax and get caught up on some reading and some writing.

After sleeping in and catching up on some errands around the house, I grabbed my laptop and coffee mug (that I use instead of a paper/styrofoam cups) and went to a coffee shop that sits right across the corner from a LBS called the Bike Barn. I had a cup of coffee and did some reading and writing. A pleasant afternoon. When I had satisfied my writing needs, I walked across the street to the Bike Barn (it really looks like a barn...) and grabbed a new set of tires for my road bike. I had gotten 2 flats in the past 2 weeks due to glass and rocks in the road.

When I started commuting on my road bike, I did not make any modifications, and have been riding on 700c x 23 racing tires. These have served me just fine and have not been too uncomfortable but they have about 1200 miles on them and are starting to get too many cuts. When I got to the Bike Barn I found a set of Specialized tires with "Flak Jacket protection" that is supposed to reduce the amount of punctures in the tires. I figure if I couple these with some slime tubes, I should be pretty flat-proof, at least for a while. I also got a slightly wider tire, 700c x 25 to give myself a bit of a smoother ride.

I spent the later part of the afternoon removing the old tires, cleaning my wheels, then mounting the new tires. Since I was in a "wrenching" mood, I figured I would go ahead and clean the rest of my bike. I do this pretty regularly, so "cleaning my bike" usually only requires a warm, damp rag to wipe off all the dirt and grit.

Now that I have a clean bike with brand spankin' new tires and tubes, I am really looking forward to my ride to work tomorrow morning!

congratulations, you've sold out

Over on bikecommuters.com, where I am a contributing writer, Moe did a post at the beginning of November about "Blogs vs. Magazines." One of the things I love about the blogosphere (aside from it giving the opportunity of 'voice' to people like me) is that it allows for conversation. This holds writers accountable by requiring that what is published on the web is not a total load of BS - because if it is, you will get called out on it. And it also allows the reader to take an integral part in what is published. In a way, it is a form of "socialist" publishing. The writer benefits the reader by providing interesting and informative content, and the reader benefits the writer by creating a connection of common interest and (sometimes) different perspective which results in a more complete picture or perspective.

One of the "side effects" of the popularity of the blogosphere - and something that was widely discussed in Moe's post - is that, in my eyes at least, it decreases the novelty of print publications, namely magazines. While modern print publications have a sort of inherited caché, they seem to be progressing to a point where the lack of mediation of their content is producing a less useful product. This may have always been the case, but this is something that I am just now coming to notice - call it my youthful flaw.

What I am getting at here is that I am realizing that magazines are becoming nothing more than subliminal marketing. The most recent issue of Bicycling magazine arrived in my mailbox last week, and I was excited simply because of the joy of receiving that piece of mail - probably the only thing magazines hold over blogs. As I sit down and flip through the issue, I was incredibly disappointed. Perhaps it was the conversation on bikecommuters.com that we had about blogs vs. mags that put a negative opinion of magazines in my mind. But I was greatly aware of the prevalence of advertisements in the magazine - including a 18-ish page (the magazine is not in front of me right now) continuous advertisement for some company that I don't even remember (effective advertising, obviously). Even the articles, which seemed few and far between, seemed like mere advertisements. Apparently the key to your best season ever is 90% about your gear.

Each month it becomes more and more clear to me why Performance Bicycle gives you a free subscription to Bicycling magazine when you sign up for a store membership - which is the only reason I get the magazine. The age-old battle between big corporate versus the little independent shop owner is alive and well. If you have ever shopped at Performance Bike - whether online, through their mail catalog (which they will NOT stop sending regardless of how many times you ask them to stop) or in their physical stores - you know that they offer a lot of the same stuff you can get at your Local Bike Shop but at much better prices. It is hard to ignore the better price, but I never feel good about myself after walking inside one of their stores. Thankfully I no longer live near a Performance Bike store and so I am 6-months PB sober.

In the eyes of the academic world, we are living in what is considered a post-modern world; and depending on who you talk to they might say we are on the cusp of exiting post-modernism for a number of other "-isms." Regardless, the concept signifies that the world is becoming less black and white, and more and more grey. There is no "right or wrong;" only "less wrong (cynic)" or "less right (positivist)."

What am I getting at here? It might even feel like consumption is post-modern. The success of the Bicycling magazines and Performance Bikes of the world is evidence that people are ethically ok with supporting the mega-store and not the local shopkeeper. To some, keeping the economy alive is more important than supporting your "neighbor" or local patrons. The consumer has a choice to decide what is right and wrong in the market place.

But I am not a fan of post-modernism. I prefer to be concerned with establishing a relationship with my LBS and supporting my favorite blogs than getting the best price on a new set of brake calipers or reading about Chris Carmichael's 5-step plan to riding your fastest century. To me, it is more black and white than grey: I support the personal, I support the conversation. I don't support the cheapest price with no service attached. I don't support the monthly bike advertising disguising itself as an informative resource.

Oddly enough, this post was originally going to be about "Christmas is not your birthday," but that will have to come in another post - this one has just gotten too long. In fact, I am aware that this may not be the most sound argument, but my mind was just trying to explore too many concepts. This may end up being a rough draft for something that will show up later...

Until then, happy Velorution-ing. I am off to the Bike Barn to grab some new tires.

on the "greening" of the lower class

This is not a rant. This is not a well-tested hypothesis. This is merely an observation, a "thought-experiment" if you will.

I think it is safe to say that the year 2007 has been the "Year of the Green." No matter where one looks they are sure to see the latest "green" fashions, the "greenest" celebrities, the "greenest" automobiles, how to "green" your home, etc. - I think you get the point. While I have many thoughts on this subject (green consumerism, green automobiles, really?), this one post will zero in on a specific subsection.

the preface
I am "in the process" of developing a sort of "everyman's guide to" environmental sustainability/earth friendliness/not destroying the only place we have to live - and by that, I mean, simply, that I ponder on the subject frequently. Much of the attention of the media or presidential campaign is focused on "climate change" and "global warming." The flaw of many of these efforts is that it is too dependent on the factuality of an actual change in climate or warming of the earth, and while I personally trust that the science is there to back up the claims, I don't need the science. To me, simply taking care of "this fragile Earth, our island home" is a responsibility that ALL humans share.

the observation
While it is nice that so much effort is being put into educating celebrities, upper and middle class citizens, it seems that a large percentage of the population is basically being ignored: the lower class. So much effort is being put into "greening" the high-end markets with energy-star appliances, eco-friendly building materials (which hardly anyone can afford), fashion trends, hybrid vehicles, etc., and I fear that this will not be a lasting strategy. First of all, for any effort to succeed in making an impact on behalf of environmental sustainability and earth friendliness, consumption itself must be reduced - not altered, reduced.

This thought is similar to a post I did a while back titled "How do we teach those who do not go to school?" in that it poses the question of how do we reach the part of the population that is not educated about environmental sustainability or even tuned into celebrity trends? For the xx% of our population (and I am just talking about in America, not to mention the entire world) that is considered "sub-middle class," a majority of their motivation is to attain a status of wealth that affords them the ability to live a life without sacrifice, or a life that does not require them to make the most of very little - basically, to reach a lifestyle that they see the wealthy live now, one of excess and lack of concern for the effects of consumption. I would think this is linked to the idea that as lower-class citizens they feel they are less successful than their wealthier counterparts, and that to attain a level of status that is governed by your clothes, your car, your jewelry, your house is the goal.

I assume that this is a similar situation to that of the post-depression era. A generation grew up having to live meagerly with no excess, and once the economy rebounded, they were jubilant in the ability to live flippant lives of consumption. (Note: this is not an attempt to blame that generation for anything).

While I cannot locate any statistics (but promise to look for some), I remember hearing that the first purchase a lower-class family makes, when their income affords the opportunity, is a bigger tv. Hopefully you get my point...

on the anatomy of a bike commuter

In my [still] short time being a bike commuter I have been able to notice some significant bodily adaptations, especially with regards to aerobic fitness. During the first weeks/month or two, I was relatively in tune with the what was happening. Even going from a competitive triathlete's training schedule to biking a [seemingly] mere 17 miles each day produced some significant changes in body composition and metabolic rate. For the first month of daily bike commuting [the 'August project'] I would wake up with a slight sore-ness throughout my legs, which eventually faded as my legs became used to the constant stress. One of the nice results of this was an exciting amount of increased definition in my leg muscles, particularly my calves muscles. My metabolism seemed to bump up a little - but nothing too exceptional (I was coming off the end of a 6-day a week triathlon training schedule...).

The human body never ceases to amaze me how it can adapt, or even how it functions in general.

Now into my fourth straight month of bike commuting, I am noticing more physical adaptation - but it is different this time. My body has finally realized that it is not being trained for competition. The power of muscular function is being reduced to allow for the extra endurance that is being expected. I tried including some sprints into my ride home yesterday, but I felt sluggish and not as explosive as I used to.

But my running performance has seemed to increase. Since I began bike commuting, the miles I have logged with my running shoes has decreased by nearly 60-70% - YET last night I was able to run a 5k faster than I would when I was training for triathlons, and with an easier effort. A week ago, I went for a run - having not gone running for at least 2 weeks - and was able to maintain a very good pace with no discomfort.

It seems my metabolism has normalized as well, much as my muscles have. My body seems to have become a very efficient calorie burning machine and is able to maintain the functionality that I demand on a lesser diet. This part is actually sad to me in a way, because it means that whenever I eat more than I legitimately need to, I can tell.

While I have been in tune with how my body has responded to the stress I place on it as a bike commuter, I had a 'duh' moment today: my body no longer responds and requires the nourishment it did when I was a "competitive athlete." Bike commuting continues to be a learning experience for me, and I think I have finally shed the mentality that I am training to be a competitive athlete. I will [hopefully] always continue to participate in recreational competitions because I love the experience of being at races: I love the excitement and anticipation, I love the physical challenge of the race itself, and I love the feeling of accomplishment afterwards. The beauty of my situation now is that I am able to maintain a solid and above-average level of fitness without having to spend any time in a weight room or on a treadmill.

That's right, the Velorution made me a better runner!

it's not friday, but...

In an effort to revive my weekly "spotlight" of interesting stories around the globe, I present you with the following:

• NYC Michael Bloomberg has been trying to impose a "Congestion Charge" in the streets of New York City to entice people to use alternate transportation and thereby alleviate the nightmare that is NYC traffic. London has had such a charge since 2003, and since then has seen a 43% increase in bike commuting. TreeHugger.com examines whether these two events are related.


• The Bicycle: most energy efficient mode of transportation.


• A fellow Phoenix desert-dweller tells a pleasant story about why she bike commutes.


• Want to not get side-swiped by an 18 wheeler? Just smile and wave...


• Here's an opportunity to help organized cycling advocacy stay alive. Give the Bicycle Transportation Alliance your support for their public service announcement commercials on bike commuter awareness.


• This one may not only be about bike commuting, but it makes for a great story nonetheless. My good friends Sam and Stephen have published their first book: New Day Revolution: How to Save the World in 24 Hours. The book attempts to impact great change (smarter consumption, more community, cleaner and friendlier world, etc.) by inspiring each person to make simple changes, that when added altogether, make a big difference. But here's the big win with this book: instead of whining or complaining, it actually gives you real solutions and real ways to make change for the better. It is the brainchild of their organization, CoolPeopleCare:

Since we're in the business of change, we wanted to put a new spin on this
old idea. But we didn't just want to rename or rebrand something. We wanted to
rethink it. We wanted to reimagine the idea, not for the sake of marketing, but
for the sake of success.

if you build it, they will ride...

The adventure of building my own commuter is finally upon me.

I like tinkering with bikes and have even had a few opportunities to take apart, paint and reassemble bikes. All of those projects never resulted in anything much - none of the bikes are even in my possession any more. But I am always on the look out for a good "project bike." Once I started bike commuting, I felt the desire to build a custom commuter - spec'd exactly for what I needed. My road bike is too nice for the crummy roads and my mountain bike is too slow and too relaxed (geometry-wise) for the distance. I like the feel of lugged steel (who doesn't, really?) and have been on the lookout for a frame for building my franken-bike. And, alas, I have found it.

While making my first visit to the Tempe Bike Saviours - a local bike co-op (aka HEAVEN) - I found this sweet ol' gal amidst a pile of rusted out Schwinn's and Huffy's. I have yet to decipher all of the serial numbers so I can figure out the exact model and year of manufacture - but I do know that it is a pre-1973 Japanese model of the Sekine road bike.



Sekine's were originally manufactured in Japan until 1973, when they opened a plant in Manitoba, Canada to avoid certain duties and tariffs on importing bikes. Sekine was one of those brands that really profited off of the 70s bike boom - they were self-proclaimed as the "World's Finest Bicycle" (note that the actual frame decal says "World Finest Bicycle...").



The head badge has a signature rhinestone at the top - which I actually thought was something added by whoever owned this bike before.



For now, all I have is the frameset: frame, fork and crankset. This merely means that I have a blank canvas to work with and I get to hand pick every piece. I will write periodic updates as the project moves along.

now this is what i call a bike lane

Good news for those of you living in NYC, a story from Transportation Alternatives:

Copenhagen-Style Bike Lane Coming to 9th Ave



With better bike lanes on the way, groups need to ask for more and expect the best from the DOT.Click image to enlarge.

On Manhattan's Ninth Avenue from 23rd Street to 16th Street, the New York City Department of Transportation will soon build the city's first Copenhagen-style bike lane.

The new "cycle-track" will be placed between a lane of parked cars and the sidewalk, affording cyclists of all ages and abilities a safe and comfortable ride, if only for a few blocks. T.A. looks forward to the expanded application of this type of traffic-protected bike lanes, a necessary step if cycling is to be a safe and attractive option for the majority of New Yorkers who are not comfortable riding in traffic.

The DOT also announced that an 8.1 mile network of new bike lanes will be installed throughout North Brooklyn connecting Greenpoint/Williamsburg with Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Bedford Stuyvesant, Prospect Park and the rest
of the Brooklyn bike network. And if that wasn't enough, the bike lane on Fifth Avenue from 23rd Street to Washington Square Park will be upgraded to a buffered bike lane similar to the one that runs along Lafayette from Spring Street to 14th Street.

As the DOT raises the bar for its bike lane design and implementation, cyclists, community groups and advocates need to raise their expectations. In the coming months, T.A. will be urging the DOT to expand the application of traffic-protected lanes, and to adopt a "complete streets" policy that gives designated space to cyclists on all city streets. To make sure you see new bike lanes and better infrastructure in your neighborhood, contact your community board and the DOT.

This is obviously good news for those who will get to use this bike lane. But it is also good news for cyclists everywhere. This is the first step towards developing similar bike lanes in cities across the U.S. Every trend requires a trend setter, and I for one am optimistic that traffic-protected bike lanes can be a reality for so many more people. If not, I would move to Copenhagen before I move to NYC!

tour de fat recap in images

Yes, those are car tires...it had working v-brakes too.

And yes, those are shoes...

I couldn't tell if this guy was more excited to be riding his bike, or more excited to fill his stein with beer.



This kid was with a family of people riding similar style lowriders, all equally impressive.

re-cappin' the tour de fat

Well, Saturday has come and gone. Weeks of semi-anticipation are no more. I did not know what, exactly, to expect from New Belgium Brewery's "Tour de Fat" other than bicycles and beer. As the day neared, and I told more people about my weekend plans, I got more and more excited. I figured that I would see goofy people in goofy costumes riding goofy bikes. And that I did see.

The morning kicked off with a bike "parade" - and I would estimate that nearly 500-600 individuals and their favorite people-powered pedalers took part in this celebration of transportation independence. Local police ensured that this mass of people did not have to stop at any traffic signal we encountered. Even with police escort, passers-by (whether on foot or in car) appeared stunned for the most part. Many cars would try to make left turns through the middle of our peloton...only to be denied mobility by our prowess.

It was a joyous thing - to shut down usage of the roads to those driving in their cars on a gorgeous "autumn" morning. It makes me wish that critical mass had a presence in Phoenix...or at least one that I knew about.

The emcee of the ride (see right) used a bull horn to greet neighborhood residents holding yard sales, pedestrians, and motorists alike with a friendly and cheerful, "Good morning! Happy Saturday folks..." or "I see the bike in your garage - come join us!"

This is the kind of cycling advocacy I can get behind. Make cyclists visible. Do it without aggravating the law. And leave all of those you encounter with a positive taste in their mouth. If all you do is wish someone a pleasant day while smiling from your bike - any bitterness they have should quickly be realized as illogical, irrational and harsh. I do recognize that it isn't always that simple, and that sometimes - more frequently than I wish - cyclists have to stand up for themselves and get vocal. But I think approaching the issue of cycling advocacy with a pleasant, non-confrontational approach will go a long way in the end.

how do we teach those who do not go to school?

This post doesn't actually have anything to do with school - or formal education for that matter. But I feel it captures the essence of the question I wish to pose. I think education is key for making cycling safer - safer for cyclists AND drivers. I have read numerous blog posts, essays, etc. that claim that roughly half of bike-car collisions are the cyclist's fault:

In his 2004 book The Art of Urban Cycling, Robert Hurst cites evidence that as many as half of car-bike crashes are the cyclist's fault: the cyclist ran a stop sign, made an illegal turn, rode against traffic, or otherwise broke the law.

And that does not surprise me. While I feel that safe cycling depends on more bikes sharing roads with cars and therefore exposing auto drivers to more cyclists - it also requires that the cyclists know what they are doing. The cyclists themselves have to know how to behave appropriately on the road and not take for granted the privilege of sharing the road.

But one thing that I have noticed, and I assume is similar in other major metropolitan areas: a vast number of cyclists are not the kind of people who are reading blogs like this, or bikecommuters.com, or cicle.org. On any given day, I pass 20-25 cyclists in the 17 miles of biking I do to and from work. Of those, maybe 4 or 5 are what we think of when we hear the term "bike commuters." This term implies a middle-class or above individual who has made a willing choice to drive less and bike more.

But what about those that don't really have a choice - but instead are forced into biking as the only way to get to and from where they need to be due to socio-economic status? These individuals do not necessarily spend much time on the internet - if they even have regular internet access at all! My experience witnessing individuals like this is that they also do not have a very good idea or a desire to be an "upstanding cyclist." I routinely encounter them riding on the same side of the road as me, but going the opposite direction; swerving all over the road and showing complete disregard for others around them; crossing intersections while their direction has a red light; crossing in the middle of the street during times of high traffic.

These individuals rely on their bikes for transport much more than the general population - and I would assume are the victims of bike-car crashes more often than the "wealthy" bike commuters. I think an improvement in the education of this group would show an exponentially greater impact in safe cycling than educating middle-classers.

But how do we do that?

how to bike commute AND enjoy a fresh smoothie

One of the problems I consistently run into while bike commuting revolves around hunger. I have a sizable breakfast every morning before I get ready to leave my place. I pack a good lunch with a few smaller snacks to make sure I have enough to eat during the day. But I always hit a morning snag. I have tried eating a larger breakfast before I leave for work, but then my stomach is way too full and it is uncomfortable while on the bike.

And then I thought of a solution - bring a smoothie. But that brought up a new problem - how to keep it cold. Finally, I feel I have solved this problem.

This morning, I made a smoothie as I prepared my lunch for the day and poured it into one of my many water bottles.



While I finished getting ready for my morning commute, I put the water bottle in the freezer. Once I was ready to go, I grabbed the bottle and dropped it into my insulated water bottle holder that I picked up at a local REI store. These things are a great investment, especially if you spend any amount of time outdoors in the summer - or if you just live in Arizona.



Once I got to work this morning, I pulled out the water bottle, and my smoothie was still frozen like a smoothie should be. It made for a great morning-starter instead of the usual coffee.

the utilitarian concept

I had a nice "taste" of utility cycling this weekend, for almost the first time. I am committed to biking to and from work almost daily, but for things such as grocery shopping, I drive my car. But this past weekend showed us such beautiful weather that I made my best effort to be outside as much as possible, and use my bike as much as I could to get where I needed to go.

On Saturday morning, I decided to go to the Phoenix Public Market, which is a normal Saturday market that features a mix of artisans and local farmer's produce. Unfortunately, since it IS Arizona, the local produce did not offer much. There were two or three stands that had natural produce of any kind - the rest of the vendors were either selling eggs, breads, jams, honeys, prepared food or other artisan products like blankets, ceramic thingies, etc. This was my first time going to this market, so I really did not know what to expect. It was nice, but disappointing. As I mentioned, Arizona just does not offer much in the way of locally grown produce. I envy those who live someplace where they can go to a farmer's market and buy fresh, local produce. Oh well, c'est la vie.

I did buy some fresh veggies, some strawberry-amaretto jam, and a loaf of all-natural bread. So far, I have been extremely pleased with what I purchased. But it was the experience of riding my bike to the market on a gorgeous Saturday morning, and bringing the stuff home in my backpack that makes it taste so good!

Unfortunately, the ride TO the market was a little rough - and by that I mean almost the entire trip was on a construction zone. For those of you in Phoenix, don't take Washington St.! It is still under much construction. I had heard speculation that the construction was completed, but that is a negatory - they have a long way to go until that road is finished.

Granted, I could have turned and gone around the construction, but I was in an unfamiliar part of town, and honestly did not know if any of the other streets nearby would be any better. So I stayed the course...slowed down, stayed alert for potholes, and eventually made it to my destination. Too bad I forgot my camera...

All in all, I had a refreshing taste of how great it is to explore a new area by bike. I got to see another side of Phoenix, get some fresh air and just really enjoy the day. Hooray for that...

the obnoxious smell that is phoenix arizona

There is no denying the fact that Phoenix stinks. Seriously, the city (generally speaking) has a bad odor to it. This is a fact that I never really came to notice until I started bike commuting. And as it has become custom for me to do, I contemplate these things while I am riding to and from work each day. It is easy to see why the city has a foul odor - there is litter everywhere, a plethora of cars and machines spewing pollutants, very little natural "greenspace," and trash cans baking in the intense sun. But why is that the case?

Reluctantly, and non-judgmentally, I think America's "car-culture" is, at one level, a root cause of such a catastrophe as a smelly city. It is our willingness to drive even only down the street to a store or friends house that facilitates the downward spiral into poor city conditions. When we step into a car, we are removing ourselves from our surroundings, and just as Robert Pirsig wrote about in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, viewing the world through a frame - just as we do when watching tv. All of a sudden, the world around us does not seem real, but mere fiction. And therefore the problems in that world are just as fictional. When we are in cars, we don't have to worry about the litter or the smell, because it does not exist. We do not see it and we do not smell it.

As I mentioned would happen, this blog is becoming more revealing about what I personally believe and feel - and because of that I will, from time to time, reveal more context about the life that I live. And here is a story:

This past Sunday at church, the priest (Father Gil) gave a well-delivered sermon about the growing disparity between rich and poor. Episcopalians use 3 readings from scripture during every Sunday service, and this week there was a reading from Luke's gospel about a rich man and a poor man, to which Fr. Gil stated the following:

What was the rich man’s sin that resulted in him being sent to Hades? It seems that his sin was what he didn’t do rather than what he did. He ignored the poor man Lazarus. He didn’t do anything to help Lazarus. He averted his eyes from Lazarus’ condition and did nothing to help him. [read more...]

And tying this back into bike commuting: it is our willingness to drive anywhere and everywhere, as modern Americans, that facilitates a culture that ignores the real problems of our own communities. I guarantee that no one who walks by all the trash on the road smiles and says, "that is so pretty, and the smell...heavenly!" Instead, we plop ourselves into a car to drive someplace, and are not confronted with the reality of it. It's not that we are always the ones creating the litter. But we ignore it, all from the comfort of our air conditioned, sea breeze-scented, rolling world-shrinker.

So it is only when we immerse ourselves in reality that we can truly see what the problems are. And I have the youthful ignorance to believe that when those problems become real to each of us, we will eventually reach a tipping point and do something about it. And because of that, I urge people to take a bike ride or a walk around something as remote and small as your own neighborhood, and if you see a piece of trash, pick it up. It's such a simple thing to do - and as we do it more frequently, it will become almost second nature, until we restore the care and respect for our surroundings. Our neighborhoods and our cities need it. And our conscience will be happy...

The Velorution is about more than bikes.

on becomming an addict

My name is Jeff, and I think I am a bike addict. I do not say these things intending to mock any sort of serious addictions. But I admit: I really like bikes and riding them. I own two, but yearn for at least 3 more - and that's before concerns of money even kick in. 17 miles pedaling a bike each day is not enough for me. I ache for more, and often I ache because I do more.

Case in point: last Wednesday I came home from work (to which I transported myself to by bike). Upon walking into my apartment, I decided I wanted to go out for a bike ride. I swapped out my road shoes for my MTB shoes, grabbed the mountain bike and headed right back out the door. I spent another good hour on my mountain bike - both casually cruising around the trails and hitting some big climbs and big hucks (jumps for those not privy to the cyclo-speak).

The best part of all this bike riding came the next morning when I woke up. My legs felt almost as fresh as they do every other day. When I first started bike commuting, I was pretty drained each morning when I first got on the bike. But over time, my legs have built their strength and stamina, and accepted that they will be pushed pretty hard every day.

There is a great feeling of satisfaction - knowing that my daily exercise is no longer limited to transporting myself to and from work. I am again free to roam the parks, the open road and the trails in the afternoons, and if I can ever get myself out of bed before 530 am, I will be free to roam these places in the early morning. I think the afternoon suits me just fine though...

But then again, wouldn't you do the same if this was right out your door?

yeah, it's got a hemi

It's Friday. I had another solid week biking to and from work. Thursday morning when I woke up, my legs were just too beat, so I broke down and drove the car - and yes I still have the Maxima I wrote about in a previous post.

After two full months of biking to work everyday with the exception of the first week in September, I am feeling more excited than ever about being a bike commuter. Wednesday after work I took the mountain bike out on the trails by my house and rode for a solid hour on some not-so-level terrain. Needless to say, that pushed my legs over the edge, and Thursday morning when I woke up, I had nothing left. And I am ok with that.

When I first started bike commuting, my legs were tired every morning when I woke up, and it would take me a good mile or so to get up to speed. But now, every day I feel powerful right from the start - and it lasts all day too. I have plenty of strength left when I return home every night too.

Case in point: I beat a truck going up a hill this afternoon! A traffic light brought me to a slow roll about 4 cars back. Once traffic started moving, I settled into my spot behind a truck, catching a little bit of a draft and using the break from the wind to keep up with the few cars that were on the road. I hear an old beater pick-up accelerating behind me and in the lane to my left. As he starts to pass me, I began pedaling harder and harder - all the while beginning a slight incline. From the roar of the engine I could tell the truck wasn't just easing up the hill. I began to pull ahead - at the same time the roar of his engine gets louder and louder. We peak the hill (about a quarter mile climb) and I am slowing down to 33 mph. It was a nice rush...

So the lesson for all you kiddos: take rest when you need it, eat your fruits and vegetables, and love the Velorution! Happy Friday all.

oh, for the love of updates

Some may call this bragging - and I am OK with that. My "reach" has gone beyond this blog a few times recently, and I wish to draw attention to that.

• I did my first post for bikecommuters.com yesterday [link currently unavailable].
• C.I.C.L.E. posted Bike Commuting 102: Get Your 'If's,' 'And's,' and 'But's' on the Saddle - part 2 of a 4-part series I wrote.
  

So, the Velorution is alive and well.

Bikecommuters.com experienced recent server problems, and my post was lost. We are trying to revive it but it might be a goner...if it shows up I will post a link.

this is like winning the pulitzer prize

A large number of the readers of this blog make it here from links on bikecommuters.com. To those of you, this will not be news. To everyone else, it probably will be.

As of this week, I will be a contributing writer on the bikecommuters.com site. I am officially the resident newbie - by roughly 8 years. I did my first post for their site yesterday.

I am excited about the opportunity to post content to a much larger and heavily trafficked site. Fear not loyal friends: I will continue to post items on this blog as well. In addition, BJ aka Will will also join me in posting on this blog as he chronicles his adventure into the world of bike commuting.

I anticipate - and this is not a promise by any means - that this blog will begin to shift more towards the personal and not so much the generic. The posts I do for bikecommuters will be more geared (ha - get it?) towards encouraging people to consider/take-up bike commuting, while the posts here on the Velorution will (most likely) drift towards my personal reflections on bike commuting. During my "August commuting project" I had hoped to write often about the social and "philosophical" side of bike commuting - but in all reality I wrote more about the what and not the why. I intend to write more of the why here.

So do not fret dear reader, for the Velorution has not forgotten you.

riding in the rain in huntsville AL

My best friend, BJ aka Will, has recently begun bike commuting as well - except he is doing it in the sweltering heat and humidity of the South. He is a 24-year-old aerospace engineer in Huntsville, AL, with a similar cycling background as myself. I asked him to write about riding in the rain, so here goes, courtesy of BJ aka Will:

---

So, you have decided to help your world, your community and yourself by shedding the four-door motorized covered wagon in exchange for the smaller, pedal-powered uncovered bicycle. Great! But inevitably, your will will be tested by certain road blocks that will try to force you back into the convenience of a car. One of these obstacles I recently came in contact with was Mother Nature, the very entity I am trying to protect. During my morning routine before work, I checked the weather because I thought it looked a little darker outside than usual. Sure enough, the reports called for a 100% chance of rain all day long. What do I do now? I finished up my routine, hopped on my bike, and pedaled to work like normal. It was my first commute into the rain, and I definitely learned a few things, like cars don’t care if they splash a biker with puddle water. So, I would like to pass these tips onto you so that your first ride in the rain goes smoothly and safely.

1. Make yourself visible.
   This one is arguably the most important. Rain generally involves low visibility and while most drivers remember to turn their lights on at night, they forget that the law states they must have their lights on when their wipers are on. Make sure you have at least (more is better) one blinking light attached to you or your bike. RoadID makes a great little blinking light in multiple colors that I use called the Firefly Supernova. You can clip it to your backpack or seat bag and it is highly visible even during the daytime. Also, wear lighter colored clothing that has reflective material in it.
2. Keep your stuff dry.
   If you are like me, you carry all of your work clothes with you on your daily commute. Needless to say that wearing soaking wet clothes around the office sure wont impress the boss, even if he knows you are riding your bike to work. There are a couple of options you can use here. Almost all Timbuk2 bags are made with a waterproof liner that will keep your stuff from getting soaked, plus they look cool. Don’t feel like carrying stuff on your back? If your bike can accommodate, strap on some waterproof panniers to carry your gear and keep it dry. Don’t feel like spending any more money? Use your regular backpack and/or panniers but shove all your stuff into a trashbag (preferably a clean, new one) from under the sink first.
   
   As far as your body goes, I prefer to not use a rain jacket. They can become steamy and uncomfortable during the summer months and you will generally be wet (from sweat or rain) by the time you arrive anyway. Plus, I shower when I arrive at my destination, so I am getting wet either way. If you don’t shower when you arrive at your destination, then use the rain as a chance to cool off and rinse off the sweat (just be sure to pack a towel in your trashbag).
   
   However, if you don’t shower AND you wear your off-the-bike clothes while you are on the bike, then be sure and pick up a set of cycling-specific outerwear. Come to think of it, I may pick some of this up to prepare for winter riding…
3. Wear eye protection.
   Sun glasses, swimming goggles, whatever, but you need something to keep the rain drops from stinging your eyes and making you lose sight of what's important... the road. If you normally wear sunglasses while you ride, pick up some clear lenses to replace your darker ones while you ride in the darkened conditions of the rain.
4. Be more cautious.
   If it’s raining, you may have a tendency to go faster so that you can get out of the rain more quickly. This may not be the best move. The roads are slicker, traffic is worse and your own visibility can be poor. So slow down. Be more attentive to the road conditions. Watch for rear-approaching headlights and be ready to make quick moves to avoid accidents. Be careful riding through puddles as there may be underlying potholes ready to give you a flat or bump you into traffic. Also, your braking ability will be slightly deteriorated due to wet rims and brake pads, so leave ample room to slow down when approaching stop signs and red lights.
5. Use common sense.
   If you look out the window before you head out, and you can’t see five feet into your yard because the rain is so thick, don’t go out. Stick around inside for a few minutes to see if it will lighten up. Pay close attention to the weather radar and look for any breaks in the storm, so that you can make your ride safer.
   
   If you are already out on your bike and it really starts to pour and lightning is striking all around you, duck into a nearby gas station or grocery store. If you aren’t near any public areas, hide out on a nearby front porch of a house until the rain subsides. I’m sure the owner of the house won’t mind if you hang out there for a few minutes (just use your better judgment). And if they do, just move down to the next house.
   
   If none of these options exist or the rain just seems like it will never let up, always have a backup plan. Have a cell phone or a few quarters for a pay phone so that you can call someone to come pick you up.

And don’t worry about being late to work, your boss will be more than happy to see you arrive a little late than not at all.

Well, those are a few of the lessons I learned during my first couple of excursions through the rain. Hopefully they will help your next soggy ride go smoothly and safely.

get to know your co2 cartridge

I made a rookie mistake and it just caught up with me today.

As I was taking the elevator down to the basement to get changed for my ride home, the cleaning lady (who happened to be sharing said elevator) commented on how sleek my road bike was. She caressed it with a gleam in her eyes, and then squeezed the tires - much to her surprise, and my dismay, the rear tire had no air in it. No biggee - I have fixed a flat on the fly before, and I had what I needed with me. Well, almost.

Apparently - and I should have known this (part 1 of the rookie mistake) - there are two different kinds of CO2 cartridges: threaded and non-threaded. Threaded cartridges have threads around the tip (like a screw) that allows you to screw the cartridge into the inflation device.

The last time I purchased CO2 cartridges, I must have bought non-threaded. As I go to fix my flat, I discovered that my valve-thingy was meant for threaded cartridges, and therefore the non-threaded cartridge I had with me would not properly work with the inflation system - rendering me fubar-ed.

The good news is: non-threaded cartridges CAN work with threaded valve-thingies. Not perfectly - but it works. If you connect the valve from the inflation system to the valve stem on your tire/tube, you can push the cartridge into the inflation valve with enough force that will puncture the seal on the cartridge and allow the system to function in a limited manner. There is no way to control the flow of gas into the tire, but when it is all you have, it will work.

I imagine that a threaded cartridge will NOT work with a non-threaded system in this manner. If you know for sure, please leave a comment.

I was able to inflate my tire enough so that I could limp home. Since this was all a bit of a surprise and a "let's see if this works" effort, I know I could have fixed the tire a bit better had I known exactly what I was doing. I carry a frame pump on my mountain bike, but I have been riding my road bike lately, and failed to move the pump from one bike to the other (part 2 of the rookie mistake). I am going to put the pump in my backpack right now.

Happy, smart and safe riding! Here's to the Velorution and the humbling mistakes we all make.

a little perspective

There is a lady who handles all the janitorial work in my building. I assume she takes care of the entire building because I have seen her on every floor I have set foot on - it's a 21 floor building too. She cleans the bathrooms and empties the trash. She is a tiny, Hispanic lady - probably in her late 30s. I have never come across her without seeing the brightest smile, and the most enthusiastic, "How are you today?" And when she asks, she expects a REAL reply.

Many of the times our paths have crossed I have been carrying my bike - either into work or out of. She always gets a really big smile and says, "Hey, it's YOUR bike! What a nice bike!" I can't help but feel happy and proud each time, almost as if I designed and built the bike myself.

Today, as I waited in the lobby for the elevator to take me to the ground floor, this lady came around the corner, needing the same elevator. We exchanged the usual pleasantries. Then she said, "I bring MY bike with me today! I like bikes too. Come see." Once we got off of the elevator, she unlocked a janitorial closet and showed me her dark blue cruiser, complete with bell, headlight, and some nice floral stitching in the seat. I commented on how nice her bike was - and I saw the same pride in her eyes as I feel when she says "nice bike" to me.

I have met few people who exude the happiness and joie de vivre as this woman, and she cleans toilets and empties people's trash.

And that, to me, gives a little perspective.

how i saved my cell phone from annihilation

There's nothing like taking a week away from something to get you all rejuvenated and motivated. I was not planning on posting every day - instead I would post when I had something to write about. And there has been plenty to write about. I learned something today...

Store valuables in a SAFE location
As shown in the photo to the right, there is a hole in the top of my backpack. I love everything about this backpack, and this specific hole serves a very good function: it allows you to store a h2o bladder inside the backpack and run the hose through this convenient hole and have ready access to the hose. If you can see enough detail, you may notice the seem is a bit torn and therefore this opening is a bit larger than originally. But these things happen when using a backpack (heavily and routinely) for 4 years.

On the inside of this backpack, just beneath the hole, is a convenient little pouch where one can store smaller objects, such as cell phones. Normally there would be no problem with storing anything in that pouch, but that is because the backpack is normally upright.

I pulled out onto one of the few major road ways I have to touch for a brief moment this morning, and stood up into a sprint. Because of my competitive cycling, I ride a pretty aggressive set-up on my road bike, which positions my back almost parallel to the road when I sprint. As I am dashing down 7th street at 28 mph, my cell phone slides out of the convenient pouch described above, and slides over my shoulder. Thankfully, my cat-like reflexes allowed me to snag the phone before it plummeted to a certain doom.

And that's why you always store your valuables in a safe location.

Even in spite of that near mishap, it was another great day on the bike.

ps - in case anyone cares, or in case someone from Dakine happens to read this post...the backpack I use is the Dakine Mission backpack and it is an awesome backpack. I think it can cure cancer, carry a man to the moon, and hold 100 oz. of water. The best backpack ever. So, Dakine rep, feel free to send me free products (can't blame me for trying, right?).

do i pay or do i go?

I want some input from any reader of this blog.

I am stuck with making a decision in the near future. I currently own and (reluctantly) drive a 1997 Nissan Maxima with about 135k miles on it. This car has served me well: got me through the second half of college, ferried me across the country last year when I moved from Alabama to Arizona and put up with a 45 mile daily commute to work for about 7 months. But it is getting to the point where I am sinking lots of money into repairing it. In the past 3 months alone I have: replaced the brake calipers, rotors, and pads ($500); replaced the CV axles ($400); and put a new starter in - for the 3rd time in the 4 years I have owned the car ($250).

Aside from the pain of knowing I could have built an AWESOME commuter bike with that money, it stings to keep putting money into something I don't really use that much anymore.

The truth is, I cannot completely give up owning a car (yet...). If I could, I would have tried to win New Belgium Brewery's "Follow Your Folly" contest and been given a brand new, custom built Surly commuter. So, I am looking at buying a new (to me) car.

Should I buy a newer car with plans of keeping it for 10 years? Or do I just buy something a few years old knowing I will have to sink money into it occasionally, but won't pay much up front?

I would be interested to know what suggestions or comments anyone who reads this blog would have. Feel free to leave a comment telling me your situation, or what you recommend, or what your friends do...whatever.

back on the saddle again

It was back to the bike for my daily commute today. I took last week off from biking to work in order to give my legs some rest and to see if I missed driving to work - in case you are wondering, I didn't miss it.

I also re-converted my "commuter" bike back to it's original status as a mountain bike so I could get out and ride some trails last week (see left - that is essentially my backyard). I never got around to swapping my knobbies out for the street tires, so I decided to take my road bike today. Aside from having to quietly sneak past a "domestically challenged" fella sleeping inside the Hwy 51 pedestrian overpass, my morning commute was quite standard. It felt great to get back to riding down Oak St. on my bike, the cool only 85 degrees at 6 a.m.) morning air streaming past me.

But it was the ride home that saw quite a bit of action (compared to what I've experienced so far). I got my very first chance to smoke a car off the line at a red light. I was sitting at a red light, two cars back, on a 4-lane road - so I had cars next to me. A Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup was in the lane to my left, and actually a car ahead of me. About five seconds into my track stand, the light turned green and the cars bolt off in front of me. The Ford truck and I cross the intersection at the same time. I could tell by the unnecessary roar of his engine that he wasn't accelerating like a grandma, and was actually putting his gas pedal down pretty hard. I dropped into a harder gear and did a little sprint - and much to my surprise, flew away from the truck. I looked back and he was coming along, but I still out sprinted him for about 150 yards.

It just goes to show that you don't have to drive an automobile to be a speed junky.

Secondly, I got yelled at for the first time in my brief bike commuting life. At an area where I make a left turn, there is a traffic circle in the middle of a 4-way intersection. Each direction only has a yield sign (which seems odd to me) - but also states "Yield to your left." I have gone through this intersection at least 47 times without a problem. As I pull into the circle and stop, with clear intentions of making a left turn AFTER all oncoming cars have passed, a early 30-something guy in a white civic comes to a screeching stop. His windows were down, but I look up and see the guy with his hands in the air, screaming - and the poor wife and kid in the back seat just sitting there, looking a tad embarrassed. I still don't understand what his problem was, because I was clearly out of his way, and had been stopped for the 4 cars before him. I'm sure he made his family very proud. I just watched him as he accelerated away.

Oh - I did forget to bring an undershirt with me today. This was the first time I have forgotten a piece of clothing, and thankfully it was nothing more.

All in all, it was great to get back to biking to work. A handful of people in my office commented when they saw my bike in it's spot this morning. "Hey, the bike's back!" They all seemed as excited as I did. It makes me think that I will soon, hopefully, be known as "the Bike Guy" at work.

The Velorution lives on.

gratitude and i'm ready for my interview

The guys over at bikecommuters.com posted an e-interview that I did with them this week. I have yet to stop feeling amazed at all the response I have been getting from my venture into blogging since the beginning of August. I am definitely not entirely up to speed with all the gadgets available for the blogosphere that allow you to track who is linking to your blog and things like that, but I feel like everyday I come across another site that has referenced this blog.

So, to all of you who have read OR wrote about my life here in Phoenix: Thank You! I have had only positive feedback and people rooting for me since day 1 - and that is a really great feeling. At a time when you see only news of death, trouble, terror, hatred, greed and lies, it is important that a community of strangers can unite under a common cause - and in this case, that cause is riding a Bicycle.

To the loyal readers who were here every day - or close to it - know that I will continue biking and writing about it. Who knows what shape this blog will take in the days to come. But it will still be here. I know I said I would post some reflections this past week - my bad. I DID finish writing parts 2 and 3 of the series of bike commuting beginner's guides this week, and will let you know when they are published on CICLE and CoolPeopleCare.

Experiences like "the Velorution" give me hope that not all people will shun the bike as a "19th century solution to a 21st century problem." It gives me hope that I don't, at age 24, stand facing a life of traffic jams and Jiffy Lubes - and that there are many others who feel the same way.

Most importantly, it gives me hope that change IS possible, and does not rely on government mandate or cultural acceptance. Change is in the voice of the individual - the individual willing to step up and say, "I don't HAVE to live this way." Change is in the hands (or legs) of the individual - the individual who hears others say, "It can't be done," and does it. Change is in the heart of the individual - the individual who cares enough to try, and who is open enough to the transformation waiting to happen.

Long live the Velorution.

bike commuting 101: car if you don't, don't car if you do

Back in the days of childhood, a bicycle was more than a bicycle - it was an instrument of freedom. It was all we needed to get us from point A to point B. Yet somewhere down the metaphorical road of life, we trade that bicycle in for traffic jams and soaring gas prices, thinking we are better off. The time has come to dust off the Schwinn and hit the ground pedaling.

If you have ever thought about becoming a bike commuter, there is no better time than the present. And you don't have to bike to work to become part of the respectable network of bike commuters; a bike commuter is simply someone who uses a bicycle for the purpose of personal transport - whether that be transport to work, school, the park, the grocery store, or even a friend's house or coffee shop.

A bicycle is something most people have lying around the house, and contrary to popular belief, commuting by bike does not require you to have a top of the line touring/commuter bike; nearly any bike can be good enough to get you started. This means you don't have to sink a thousand dollars (or more) into what the guy at the bike shop will tell you is the appropriate bike for commuting. The important thing is that you enjoy the ride and are comfortable.

Statistics - the Bad

About 9 out of 10 (87.7%) American workers drive to work, and it's not because they simply love the thrill of gripping that steering wheel and hitting the pavement. A Pew Research Poll (Aug. 2006) shows that Americans enjoy driving less than they did in 1991, with only 69% of drivers saying they actually enjoy it as compared to 79% in 1991. That means that, on average, 3 out of every 10 cars you pass has a disgruntled driver controlling a 1-2 ton piece of metal at speeds in excess of 60 mph.

As noted by the Pew Research Report:

A National Household Travel Survey (April 2006) found that in 2001, for the first time since such studies have been conducted, there were more personal vehicles (204 million) than licensed drivers (191 million) in America. With all those cars, trucks, minivans and SUVs at their disposal, Americans have been making more trips and traveling more miles, thereby generating more of the very thing that has made them enjoy driving less: traffic jams. From 1991 to 2003, the amount of time per year that the typical American spent stuck in traffic grew by 56%, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Statistics - the Good

It is estimated that 40% of daily trips made by Americans are less than two miles long. Additionally, one in three Americans owns a bicycle.

There are many great reasons to use a bicycle as a means of everyday transportation:

• You can remember what it's like to be happy since you won't sit in traffic all day.
• You will get more exercise and fresh air.
• You save money on gas and car repairs.
• You pollute less.

But there are also a lot of barriers that people think are common problems with bike commuting:

• I'll be all sweaty when I get to work/my destination.
• I don't have a safe route to travel.
• I live too far from where I need to go.
• I am not a very good cyclist.

And the list could go on. We can always find excuses NOT to do something. But if there is anything I have learned it's that making the world a better place is not an event that will just happen on its own. If you need a refresher:

CoolPeopleCare exists to motivate and educate people in order to mobilize them to change their worlds.

Be on the lookout for a recurring series of "Bike Commuting 101's" that will address the gear required to commute by bike, common misconceptions about bike commuting and, ideally, will help get you on the saddle (that's cyclo-speak for "seat") and start riding - whether it's to the coffee shop around the corner, or to your office 12 miles away.

day 23: it's friday...and the end of august. i made it!

It's Friday and I am getting ready to head out of town for the weekend. After a hot month of bike commuting, I will spend some much needed time in the forest just north of Flagstaff, Arizona. The forecast shows a high of 80 throughout the weekend, a low of 50, and a 30-40% chance of rain. This will be just what I need.

My new and encouraging friends at CoolPeopleCare and C.I.C.L.E. have been so kind as to offer to publish a 4-part intro to bike commuting that I have been putting together. The links to part 1 are below - with parts 2, 3 and 4 to come in due time. Whether or not you read what I wrote is inconsequential, but I highly recommend browsing their websites. Sam (CPC) and Shay (C.I.C.L.E.) are good people on good missions to do their part in making the world a nicer place for everyone.

• Bike Commuting 101: Car if You Don't, Don't Car if You Do - CoolPeopleCare C.I.C.L.E.

Other news this week:

• There's nothing like a little competition to get people to think of creative solutions to problems. The Treehugger.com/PopularScience/Instructables Go Green challenge awarded 2nd prize to the Cart Bike. Now you have no excuse for not riding a bike to the grocery store!
• Yes, not riding a bike will make you fat. Ok, it's maybe not THAT extreme, but a recent report completed by the Thunderhead Alliance has linked American's decrease in walking/biking to an increase in waist sizes.
• This is not "new" news, but in July it was announced that a 35-year-old set a new record for the 2,490-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike trail with a time of 15 days, 4 hours and 18 minutes.

Enjoy your holiday weekend and I will be back in the middle of next week. Cheers and here's to the Velorution!

day 22: the 'experiment' is almost over...

The past two days have seen a spike in heat. I attribute much of my fatigue and tiredness yesterday to the heat of my ride home. It was so hot that the sun would sting the back of my legs as I headed westward in the afternoon. After standing up to pedal for a few seconds, my saddle would heat up, making it uncomfortable to sit back down. But it is Arizona, and it is August.

As I face the final day of my commitment of biking every day for the month of August, I am pleased. The heat was certainly the harshest factor - but I am glad I did it this month, because it only makes me more excited to continue commuting by bike into the cooler, more moderate months ahead.

This morning, when I was changing in the facilities at work, I could not resist the temptation to do a little "muscle-check" in the full length mirrors in the fitness room. Much to my pleasure (and surprise), the past month of biking 16 miles a day for 5 days a week has done wonders for the muscle tone in my legs, especially my calf muscles. There is a certain feeling of tightness that comes along with muscle growth, which I have felt in my legs for some time now. But it wasn't until today that I really was able to quantify that by looking in a mirror. I'm ok with that.

After tomorrow's post, I am heading to Flagstaff for the weekend to do some camping with my girlfriend and my best guy friend. It will be nice to escape the heat for the weekend and just get away in general. My plan is to take the first few days next week off from biking, allowing my legs to get some much needed rest. I also won't be blogging for the beginning of next week. But rest assured, I fully intend to continue bike commuting and writing about the experience. Even more, spending some time in the woods this weekend will hopefully provide me with some "introspection" time in which I can absorb the events of the past month. The result will be - hopefully - some organized thought on what I have done this month, and what I have left to do.

Tomorrow will be my usual "it's Friday" post with some news from the week. One thing that I am really excited about is that a piece I wrote about bike commuting is being published on two friends' websites, CoolPeopleCare and C.I.C.L.E. I will of course include links to those tomorrow.

I could not have done it without the Velorution to keep me going.

day 21: is it friday yet?

We had a spike in air temperature today that made for a very hot and long ride home. Honestly, I am just a tad worn out and have much more writing to do for the 4 part series I am working on. So, I leave you with some pictures and best wishes on your rides. I cannot wait for cooler weather!