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.