Cyclic Thinking

Merger.

2008-01-24T13:43:00.000-05:00

I'm shutting this little side-blog of mine down.

After thirty-some posts here and a whole bunch more than that back over at AbsentMindfully.com I've come to realize that cycling and my daily life aren't separate. Trying to bust up the random events of my day and riding my bike into two different things isn't working.

So henceforth, no new posts will be made here. Although I will leave it up, for the archives.

I write nearly daily about my bicycle experiences, hopes, dreams, failures, injuries, accomplishments, and lessons-learned on the main blog. Come by and check it out.

Thanks!

David

All I Want for Christmas

2007-12-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

Is a purdy, festive, mint condition Eddy Merckx bicycle.

The creator/leader of the weekly bike ride wielded this beaut on Saturday. I'm jealous.

The ride was good, but windy. My massive thighs are a bit sore, it's good. The after-ride holiday party was good as well, free food and laughs abounded. Then I taught an buddy how to skip-stop. A nice day fo sho.

- David

Letter to My Transit Authority

2007-12-13T12:18:00.000-05:00

Last night on the way home from work a public transit bus either didn't see me (hard to believe) or decided not to respect my space on the road and pushed me nearly into another lane. The first sign I had that it was there came from my peripheral vision as the nose of the bus passed scarily close to my elbow (I easily could have touched it) as we neared the intersection.

It was so blatant and rude I couldn't believe it, I just stared up in angry shock as I waited for the light to change. I've had drivers yell and honk at me, but never had my Personal Bubble invaded. A small passenger car would barely have had enough room to pass in front of me, let alone a huge bus.

Looking back I should have scratched "EAT PUSSY!!!" or something into the side of it, but instead I calmly noted it's bus number and sent the following complaint to Hampton Roads Transit. Feel free to contact them and send in a complaint of your own. Mine is below:

I would like to make a complaint against the driver of bus number 916. On Wednesday, December 12th around 6:00pm I was commuting West along Virginia Beach Blvd. on my bicycle.

As I approached a red light Bus 916 came up along my left side way too close, forcing me into the turning lane on the right. A more jumpy rider may have been startled (these buses are almost silent until the engine at the tail-end is near, especially at low speeds) and moved quickly into the turning lane and into traffic, possibly causing a bad accident.

By the time the bus stopped at the intersection I was barely behind the front-most door and was effectively pinned on the painted white line between the lanes of traffic.

This was very dangerous, illegal, and unnecessary. I was obeying all laws and easily visible under the streetlights and with the flashing red light on the rear of my bike.

Please speak with the driver (and possibly the other drivers) and inform them that by law bicycles are to be treated the same as any other vehicle on the road. I'd hate for someone to get into an accident over something so easily avoided.

Thank you for your time.

Who knows, maybe I'll get some free Ferry passes or something out of it. I doubt they'll speak to the driver involved, let alone the other drivers, which is a shame because I can easily see an accident happening in a situation like this.

So far police officers and public transit people are the worst drivers I've encountered on the road, which doesn't seem right to me.

Be careful out there, think fast and move smooth. The last thing you want is to jump out of the frying pan and into quick-moving traffic.

- David

Experimental Route EDIT

2007-12-11T18:25:00.000-05:00

View Larger Map
Meeting the girl for some dinner. Exciting, especially at night. On a bike, everything becomes a mini-adventure.

Be careful out there.

- David

*EDIT*

Aaaaand this is how it actually went down. Or close to it. It felt like a lot more backtracking and meandering:

View Larger Map

Now, normally when people tell me "Oh, I would have made it on time/quicker/without having to be picked up by my wife, but Google Maps messed up..." I never believe them. In Google I Trust. But today, today it steered me wrong. First time out of many, many maps and routes. Nobody is perfect I guess.

Anywho, if you look at the maps above (and you have a keen eye) you may note that St. Julian and Cape Henry don't actually meet up. There's a bunch of dirt, and some trees, and a big weird factory with large trucks in the way.

St. Julian was my major route West. Instead of a nice, low-key road that allowed me to keep on the step-by-step directions I had rubber-banded to my light, I traveled through El Ghetto. My main strategy was just to keep moving, and keep moving fast. An unknown area, at night, with some pretty/creepy fog in the air, I wasn't stopping to ask for directions. If anyone lives in that area and is offended, I'm sorry. I'm tiny and unfamiliar with your neighborhood.

I just kept heading North and/or West when I could. I figured I'd eventually run into something I knew. Which I did, although it involved a scary ride down into some kind of underpass thing and a construction zone over a bridge. I didn't even know there was water near. I saw the tall buildings of Downtown Norfolk and knew that at least I could get to familiar ground.

I managed to get back on my route and felt my phone vibrate a few blocks from my destination. Food, soda pop, and good company ensued. Only about ten minutes later than I thought but a lot sweatier. Oh will, live & learn.

Long edit! Good night! Helmets!

- David Again

*EDIT EDIT*
The map preview is actually showing that the two roads don't connect, but the actual map still shows the error. Damn thing.

Target Audience

2007-12-05T18:50:00.000-05:00

Bikes make for good advertising. They add a certain Euro-style class. Once I move to Copenhagen I'm sure I'll see stuff like this more.

- David

The Law & The Order

2007-11-28T22:20:00.000-05:00

You may be sick of seeing these already, but this is proof that with a tiny bit of practice anyone can master track stands. Some weeks ago I couldn't even pull off a standing one, and now I'm doing spontaneous stands at traffic lights. Don't give up!

Watching Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe helps.

- David

It's Like Standing, But... On A Track

2007-11-27T11:45:00.000-05:00

So I'm getting a bit better at the track stand thing. Played in triple-speed!

Now, while it is true that I regularly practice track stands in my living room and look forward to the day when I can do them no-handed, I want to make something clear:

I loathe all the kiddies with fixed-gears and girl pants that own expensive bicycles with the apparent sole purpose of dicking around in public places and putting on circus acts. A bicycle is for riding, not for matching your outfits too and balancing in useless ways to impress girls that desperately need to eat.

I'm glad they're at least riding around a little, but c'mon. It's just so against the nature of a track bike. They've reduced their beautiful machines of efficiency and power to moon shoes or balance boards.

Anywho, enough of my personal prejudices. You may be asking why I bother learning this particular skill. One word: Utility.

It is extremely useful to be able to stop at an intersection (or anywhere for that matter) and not have to take one's feet out of the clips and put one's foot down on the ground. It saves time and it's safer than trying to hurriedly get one's shoe back into the straps, especially if one is in traffic. You're already up, on the bike, with your feet in the optimum position for efficient pedaling. Hell, they're called "track" stands because it's how track racers started off the line.

Plus, it looks cool.

- David

U-Lock Justice

2007-11-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

Story Time! (BTW, click the title above to download the song "U-Lock Justice" which is both angry and hard to understand.)

Saturday afternoon I headed to the mall with the intent of crossing a few things off my Christmas list. I chained Isabelle securely to a metal fence that is near one of the main entrances of the establishment, and well within view of the street, the sidewalk, and anyone coming in or out.

I distinctly remember looping the annoyingly-curly cable around the fence, around the frame, through the back tire, and back around to the padlock and pressing down hard until I heard the lock go "click." I removed my headlight and headed in without a second thought. Well, that's not true. I'm always sort of thinking about my bike in the background, especially if I've left it somewhere other than my office or my apartment.

An hour or two later I emerge, and what do I see, but my padlock hanging open and the cable almost entirely removed from bike and fence. Somehow, I didn't flip out. I didn't even break stride although a part of me was going, "What. The. Fucking. FUCK!" I calmly walked over, bent down to retrieve my raped security device, and told myself with absolute finality and belief that this was Karma telling me to get a better lock.

The way I figure it, someone got my lock open and was in the process of removing the entire $15 or $20 apparatus when they got spooked by a passerby, their conscience, or the sudden realization that my bike has only one used brake and no ability to coast. Whatever the reason, I am über-grateful. Wake up call received.

I immediately boarded the ferry and headed for my favorite bike shop. I remember them having a big ol' cloth-covered Kryptonite chain and lock set that I'd been eying and now I had no problem justifying the purchase. They had recently sold the last one, so I began to eye the U-lock selection. I asked about a bit (after relating my harrowing tale) and decided on a Master U-lock which weighs two or three pounds and was sold to me $20 off because I'm so handsome and they'd had it awhile. The price and weight really wasn't as big a deal to me as the immediate need of having a lock that would be harder to get through than the current one.

Looking around a bit now, I think down the line I may purchase one of these, for it's smaller size, the brand reputation, and recommendation from Sheldon "Fixie Resistance Leader" Brown. I can leave this larger (heavier) one at home or in the office, and carry the lil' one in my bag. I'm no gram geek, but two or three pounds extra weight is definitely noticeable.

I've read that a good rule to follow is to spend a minimum 10% of your current bike's worth on locks to keep it safe. A fourty or fifty dollar purchase of chains, padlocks, and/or U-locks may seem like a lot at the time, but it may be the difference between buying a whole new bicycle or not.

- David

Books and Bikes

2007-11-24T13:41:00.000-05:00

You know a good book when five pages in it's already clear you got your money's worth.

The Art of Urban Cycling is such a book. Far from hokey or campy, it's full of the kind of natural wisdom seasoned professionals have after years doing what they do. And all in accessible, entertaining writing.

One line out of many notable ones prompted this post:

"The successful urban cyclist counts on nothing but choas and stupidity."

Don't let either get you, my friends.

- David

Black (and Blue) Friday

2007-11-22T23:54:00.001-05:00

It's black Friday, and that means a ton of people are going to be out on the roads. They'll be cranky, they'll be in a hurry, and they'll be paying more attention to the shopping they've done and still have to do than to the roads and the people who are using them.

Ride with extreme distrust. Assume nothing. Paranoia, constant attention, helmets, and flashing lights are the prescription that will save your life. Seriously.

Take care. See you on the flip side.

- David

Unconventional Wisdom - Men In Black

2007-11-16T11:25:00.000-05:00

In my (soon to be) quarter of a century on this planet I've discovered that the best wisdom comes from weird and unexpected places. You can read books and visit gurus and intern under intelligent people, but life itself will always be your most profound teacher. Although the teachings may come through odd agents.

Case in point.

While talking to my friend Aero today on the fickle nature of mobs, I recalled a line from the movie Men in Black. I enjoy this movie, but I do not own it. Will Smith asks Tommy Lee why they didn't let people in on the whole alien thing, because, as he put it, people are smart. Tommy Lee responds thusly:

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."

It hit me that this should probably be in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, right under "Mostly Harmless."

When out on the road, in a car or on a bike, you should keep this quote in mind. A person behind the wheel, especially in traffic, is no longer a person. It is now a dumb, panicky, dangerous animal.

As an example, take some of the behavior you've seen during your daily commute: People are rude, unsafe, selfish, and act as if their actions had no consequences, karmic or otherwise. Now take those same people and put them in a super market. No one is cutting off anybody else to get into the cereal isle two seconds faster. No one is shouting at the other shoppers. People are not adamantly refusing to be decent human beings. They are at the very least quiet and courteous.

Personally I believe it has something to do with perceived anonymity. Face to face most people are decent, either due to upbringing or social pressure. They don't want to cause a scene in front of strangers by being the asshole. But as soon as they get a tiny bit of anonymity, like behind the wheel of a car or a computer screen, all that flies out the window. People are the biggest jerks imaginable.

Whatever the reason, just keep in mind when you're out there doing what you do on two wheels or four, that you're dealing with hulking, retarded animals that will hurt you if you're not careful.

Be safe.

- David

Re-Worked Saftey Video

2007-11-01T14:26:00.000-04:00

Weird, but still catchy and cute.

Lesson learned? Don't let a fat monkey tell you where to steer.

- David

Local Bike Shoppes

2007-10-29T13:06:00.000-04:00

I officially consider myself to have a Local Bike Shoppe, and it be called Cycle Classics. Located right near adorable Olde Towne Portsmouth and the Elizabeth River on High Street (and only half a mile from my home), it's the quintessential small shop where the proprietors know everyone that walks in the front door on a first name basis and they're more in it for the fun than for the money.

Case in point.

I had just started getting into the hard groove on my way to wherever, taking streets at random, picking locations with no point in mind than to have fun getting there, general Playing In Traffic stuff. I'm pumping hard taking off from a light and I notice that something feels off. The bike is squishing down weird in the rear, and a quick head turn reveals a flat. Cussing, I ~~hand-signal and~~ turn down the nearest street before I hurt something. Total flat. And I swear I checked before I left the apartment.

Do I have the spare tube/patch kit and pump required to turn this frown upside down, especially after my last encounter with airless bands of rubber? No. Is it just because I'm poor and/or cheap? Mostly. It's been raining a lot lately, and I have just confirmed that the rainy times increase your chances of a flat. Take the precautions I have not.

View Larger Map
Looking at the map provided (I like making maps; I inherited it from my father), the center point is where the flat was discovered and the upper- and lower-most points on the left are the bike shops I could have gone to, with the ferry path added for reference. My shop is the lower, farther away one. I could have saved time and aggravation walking to the nearest one, but instead I tromped along and took a ferry ride just to get to the place where I know they'll take care of me.

The guy who works on Saturday (out of the goodness of his volunteering heart) and I are on a first name basis now. After a few weeks of coming in to bug him for a new set of clips and/or general questions, we finally introduced ourselves week-before-last and on this occasion he casually said, "Hi Dave." as I walked in, like we'd been meeting this way for ages.

I remembered him because he's always so excited to talk to me and provide info and pointers, and I think he initially remembered me because he thinks Isabelle is one fine woman. Which she is. He's the kind of guy that makes it easy to be new at this.

I was glad I actually had a reason to go in there, which I had planned to do before the flat anyway. I always leave with a smile and more knowledge to test than when I went in. The owner of this fine establishment was feeling ill and was just on his way out when the newly installed tube was just getting the cap put on and suddenly popped. Loudly. I find that when I'm really startled all I can say is "Whoa!" All innocent and naive, like I'm on Leave It to Beaver or something. I said it now. 110 PSI is loud in a skinny shop on a Saturday afternoon.

The sick owner, understandably annoyed, told my amigo not to put another tube in and to sell me a new wheel or leave it until Monday morning when he could come back and check it out. My friend agreed and went about his business, until Owner Man left. At which point he tried another tube, saying something quietly about saving me some money if he could. Swoon. I'm all for buying new parts, but not if I don't gotta. After thoroughly checking for something amiss inside the wheel (and finding nothing) he carefully put another tube in and after slow pumping, met with success. Which sounds like bike porn, but isn't. I don't think.

Some talk and adjustments concerning the angle of my handlebar drops (the curvy part at the bottom) followed, as well as a hunt for a second box of white cloth tape with which to adorn my pretty little mistress. The hunt failed, but now I have a reason to go back next week as another box is on it's way.

I'm constantly thinking about changes, personalizations, and upgrades I could make to my bike (ask my no-doubt annoyed girlfriend), and different colored handlebar tape has always been at the front of the line because it's both easy and cheap. I was thinking red (for some reason I'm obsessed with having a red bike) but my comrade commented that he always liked white tape, and that it'd go well with the black and white paint job that Isabelle is already sporting. I agree, and next week it will be so. Pics to follow, fo sho.

During all this I watched, talked, helped here and there, asked questions, looked at merchandise, and generally enjoyed myself. It was a good day. And that's the reason I spent extra time and walking distance to get there.

It's not like pulling into some snobby shop and waiting in a showroom that has all the personality of a hospital lobby until the abrasive bicycle vet in the back is done fixing your lowly flat. It's community. It's supporting someone local who's just doing what they love. And that comes across in a way people respond to and will want to be around again.

Finding a shop like this, or a buddy or group of people, will go a long way to increasing the enjoyment you'll get out of riding. This little shop is the closest thing I have to a bicycle community and it makes me feel a lot less isolated. Having a place besides the Internet to go and ask questions and spend time in the Cycling World is a good thing.

Support your local shop!

- David

Give Them An Inch

2007-10-19T10:01:00.000-04:00

And they take the whole lane.

I was biking through Olde Towne this morning after a quick errand before my commute. The streets are small but steadily-trafficked during commute times, and as I headed towards one of the ferry landings I noticed a car was behind me.

I decide to take advantage of some empty space along the parking curbs to move over a bit and let a sheriff's SUV go by, not knowing that a small retinue of about four cars was behind him until after I had done it. Immediately I regretted it.

We soon came to a light and as I had now displayed submissive characteristics, every car decided to nudge on up along side and pass me instead of keeping back like they normally do. This particular street is thin with a grassy raised median on one side and a line of parked cars on the other, so I was very nervous.

Finally one car seemed to be keeping back and rather than ride along the right side of traffic through an intersection (Bad bad BAD idea, always) I pedaled out in front of it and through the intersection at a good clip. These streets are slow traffic (25 MPH, I believe) with many stop lights and cute shops and people walking their dogs, etc, etc. I wasn't hauling ass but I wasn't slacking either.

Apparently I wasn't fast enough. The car behind me honked and immediately I heard the engine rev as it accelerated to pass me on a street that two cars can barely fit on at once. As the driver came up next to me, windows rolled down, she yelled, "Move over!" and sped off. As a side note, one thing I love about getting yelled at on the street is that it's always the people who are able to quickly retreat from the area of altercation. Never the stationary cars surrounding you while you wait for the light. At least, not yet.

I'm not worried about it. If I've made a mistake, I'll apologize. I'm not perfect and I'm not the king of the road. If they just don't know what they're talking about (99% of the shouts I get) and expect me to get on the sidewalk or at least ride my lowly slow-moving self in the gutter, I'll calmly educate them on current Virginia law.

The point of this post is that during my everyday commute I never let cars pass me by getting over, and as a result no car has tried to strong-arm me into letting it by like this morning. Not on the roads, not at an intersection. Once, a big-assed Ford Explorer owned and operated by the Harbor Police passed me illegally (and dangerously), but they still gave me the lane.

One of the safest things you can do is own the lane and ride aggressively. This does not mean rushing cars or pulling stunts like you're some kind of invincible NYC messenger. That will get you into a bad accident.

What it means is riding confidently and visibly, like being full in the lane either in the center of it or where the right tire of a motor vehicle would be. This does many things for you, including making you more visible to cars as they are automatically looking for oncoming vehicles in this area. If you're on the wrong side of the road or hugging the curb and/or (lord forbid) the cars parked along the curb, chances are you will not be as easily seen.

Give yourself a good amount of space when riding along parked cars. Getting doored (having someone suddenly open their car door so that you wreck into it) is the most common bicycle accident to occur and it's easily avoidable.

Also, cars coming up behind you are forced to pass you like they would any other vehicle, which avoids a lot of dangerous situations. Basically you want to act and be treated like every other machine on the road.

I ride mostly in the center of the lane, or if I'm on a road where traffic is much faster than me, in the right tire track. In the months of riding on busy roads five or six days a week (a week or two less than sixty days and seven hundred miles), this has never caused me any problems. It has only been positive. Cars pass me with a comfortable, respective distance, and give me more than enough space when we're stopped at lights.

It can be a little scary to be a bike out in the middle of the lane with all of the other vehicles going faster than you. But after a short time you will feel more safe and comfortable than if you're trying to squeeze yourself into the tiniest fraction of road possible, lest you anger the big bad cars.

People are already familiar and comfortable dealing with a person who's biking by the same rules as a car, but they won't know what to do if you're erratic and unpredictable and chances are this will cause an accident. The best helmets and brakes and reflective blinky lights will not keep anyone safe if they are not safe in their practices.

So don't be an ass, but take what's yours. Everyone will benefit. Bicyclists have just as much right to be on the roads as everyone else.

- David

UnSeen Benefits

2007-10-17T11:51:00.000-04:00

Commuting and traveling by bicycle has more perks than just saving the environment, money, time, and getting in shape. You also get to see things and places you otherwise would have missed in a car rolling along a wide highway trying desperately to get home before the rush.

As the days get shorter and shorter (and I'm leaving work later and later, but that's another story) I've gotten to see some lovely sunsets that I would have missed from the highway. Or if I hadn't, I would not have been able to stop and enjoy them like I can on a bike.

The complete freedom one has on a bicycle to stop, pull off to the side of the road, turn around, or change directions is one of the things I love most about biking. You are much more maneuverable on a little bike than in a big ol' car.

I'm reminded of an early section in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" where the author talks about how traveling cross-country on a motorcycle is so much different than doing it in a car. You are there, in the scene, instead of watching it through square panes of glass cut off from the sights, smells, and sounds of the environment around you. The very same is true on a bike. You are outside, in the cool air, the wind, the rain, the smell of grass or exhaust, hearing and smelling it all first hand, instead of just moving through it on your way to somewhere.

In my semi-Buddhist mind, riding a bike is like connecting with true reality, and driving a car is separating yourself from it. You can see what's going on outside your little box, but you're removed from it. You're not really there. Like sleepwalking or being drugged.

Which is probably why I can't stand the idea of going back to driving into work day after day. Closed off from life, the Universe, and everything in a heavy, money-eating box of metal crawling slowly across ugly, treeless roads. At least that's how it feels to me. I'm biased now.

But I'm no zealot (yet?) and I'm not for the total destruction of all internal combustion engines. Presently cars and other gas-powered vehicles are necessary, and I do enjoy a long road trip myself. I just personally think that a lot less driving could happen on a daily basis by all, much to the benefit of the individual and the world. I would love to go totally human-powered (I will build one of these) but until then I drive when necessity calls for it.

But as soon as I can I'm back out on that bike.

After you've spent time racing along the streets under your own power, face in the wind like your own grinning hood ornament, forgetting about pedals and chains and handlebars, feeling free and weightless, like a bodiless consciousness flying wherever it wants, sitting inert in a car just isn't as good.

- David

Think There's A Connection?

2007-10-17T10:08:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of Transportation Alternatives and No Impact Man

I love graphs like this. Firstly because it's fun to see how fat other countries are compared to us (no contest) and secondly because it simply and quickly illustrates the health benefits just from walking, biking, and even taking public transit.

Save your gym membership money, save your gas money, and get on a bike. Your wallet will get fatter while you will start dropping pounds like a rich Englishmen with holes in both pockets.

- David

Whoops.

2007-10-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

Apparently I've forgotten something.

From what I've read and personally experienced, socks, underwear, and belts are the most commonly forgotten items for people who take a change of clothes with them as part of their commute. They counter this with quick runs to a store or keeping spares at work.

For me it's shoes, underwear, and socks in that order. I bike in some Nike Free shoes and change into my "work" shoes after I rinse off. I'd love to keep a whole wardrobe at work for the entire week, but that would require carting a big load of laundry to and from work twice a week and I'm not sure it'd be worth it.

While it would probably be possible for me to just ride below the perspiration line, as they say, and not bother with an extra set of clothes, I don't think it'd ever happen. I find no matter how leisurely I feel or how nice the day is I'm always pushing myself physically to go faster, which results in a sweaty commuter. Plus my location gets very humid; I've had days where just standing outside has me glistening like a pig in a sauna. Also, chain grease doesn't seem to come out of khaki and if it decides to rain, etc, then I'm stuck being wet all day.

Speaking of rain, the cold season is coming. Last week it was cold enough to warrant digging my old long-johns out of storage and wearing them under my shorts. Bicycle blogs everywhere are posting articles how to suit up for the winter months when cold, rain, and snow are going to become part of daily commutes. I'm glad for these articles, as I have not lived in a state with cold or seasons in five years. I need any help I can get. And money to buy warm clothes, but that's another story.

In other news, a man who regularly rides the ferry with me in the mornings (and reminds me of a poor man's Edward Norton) and has commented on my bike informed me yesterday that he has just ordered his very own fixie which will show up in about three weeks.

He bought it from the same place Isabelle came from and it will accompany him on his morning commutes. He was grateful for the website info (BikesDirect.com) and stoked at the cheap deal he received. Apparently he collects bikes and wanted an inexpensive work horse he could beat up during his commute and not have to worry about hurting a $2,000 bike.

I'm both excited to have more bicycle commuters around and glad that I could help someone find a good deal. Another commuter-warrior and ferry regular (and apparently a friend of our Ed Norton) spoke to me today and told me how much the new fixie owner appreciated it and was looking forward to riding around. I remember how I was waiting for mine.

Isabelle got her first flat tire yesterday. I made it all the way into work with no problems, then a couple hours after sitting at my desk a co-worker came to BS with me and started squeezing my tires (as he does) and the front one was completely out of air.

I couldn't believe it. Did I have a pump? A spare tube? A patch kit? Nope, nope, and noooope. I got lucky and my girl was getting off work a before me and could take me into a bike shop. New tube plus labor: $12. This weekend, after payday, I'll probably pick up a spare tube and possibly a pump to keep in my bag or on my bike. I don't want to get caught out in the middle of some labyrinthine suburb with a flat and no way to get out.

I should also invest in fenders (again, for the approaching winter) but I'm resisting. I hate to put any extra crap on my bike, she's so pretty and clean. I'll have to cave eventually, I know. And having cold, gritty water spraying in my face, on my shoes, and up my back will not be fun once the weather turns bad. Hopefully I can find something light and simple.

Well, back to work. Take advantage of the cooling temperatures to get out there and see the leaves change!

- David

Random Bike Siting Goodness

2007-10-12T10:59:00.000-04:00

Today waiting for the ferry on a (finally) cold day there were a ton of schooners docked and docking for today's schooner race. Surprisingly bicycles seemed to be standard equipment on most of the ships I saw, plus a bunch were parked around the dock.

I saw this Schwinn Continental and had to snap some pics. I love how oldschool it looks. The seat was worn and the tape on the handlebars was very used but it seemed to be well taken care of. I'd love to find something like this for a secondary bike, or one for my girl. She's missing out on this new joy I've found.

This little lady was just across the sidewalk and had gotten tipped over in a group of about four others. I looked around for an owner and didn't find one, so I leaned Isabelle against a sign and picked it back up.

My little camera doesn't do well with close shots, but the fender states this is a Huffy "Good Vibrations". The name and font alone warrant a picture, even if the rest of the bike wasn't retro-awesome. And not even neo-retro, true retro!

Well, back to work for me. I have a couple posts started, I just need time to complete them. Check back soon!

- David

Body Armor

2007-10-09T10:20:00.000-04:00

A body-armor beanie is way cooler than those dorky pointed bicycle helmets any day.

So instead of wearing a helmet, I could appease my conscience by getting a cool looking beanie like this or this one and still be (relatively) safe! Click the title of this post to see the full line of products with orange d3o magic inside.

Hopefully they start making zip-up hoodies, jerseys, and shorts with this stuff in it too. I'd love to have a whole array of breathable, bike-specific, and padded clothing just for riding. Guess it depends on how heavy this stuff is, and how easy it is to wash. I'd be very interested in playing with it in stores.

- David

Do Not Attempt With Cages

2007-10-01T14:46:00.000-04:00

This is why you don't put your feet in the cages until you're proficient at the trick you're trying to preform.

Failed track stands waiting for the ferry this Saturday. About fifteen people were well within earshot.

- David

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Downtime

2007-09-30T17:09:00.001-04:00

theedge.jpg
Originally uploaded by BodhiDave

Surprisingly (to me at least), when the weekend rolls around I'm not looking forward to a sabbatical from the physical labor of my daily commute. Saturday mornings I'm full of energy and ideas geared towards getting out there on my bike and by Ten I'm looking at maps and getting antsy.

Yesterday alone I put more miles and hours on Isabelle than I do in about three week days, riding at random through downtown Norfolk with only one real destination in mind that somehow I kept putting off till later and later. Taking turns at random, practicing track stands, discovering locations I've driven by but never seen before.

I did manage to pull off a few ephemeral and shaky stands, but no more than four or five seconds long when a light luckily changed. I sat on a bench in a quiet corner of Ghent near the art museum for over an hour, enjoying a cigar and listening to Cake. I nodded to other bike riders, smiled at couples walking by, made faces at kids out with their parents.

I've read reports detailing how people who walk and bike have more close friends and acquaintances than those who don't (I don't have the link to the article now, but I believe BikeHugger.com blogged about it) and after yesterday I know it's true. When your main mode of transportation is your body, out there, in the open, where you can say hello and stop at will, you can easily connect with people. You're not encased in glass and metal, locked away from the world. You're in it. It's very enjoyable.

Anywho, clicking the picture above will take you to my Flickr account where you can view the new discoveries I made right in my backyard, all within a few miles. I hope in some small way my writings and images will inspire you to get out there on your own and see new things for yourself. Don't take it from me, find out for yourself.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, it's back to cigars and Law & Order: CI for me. :)

- David

Random Notable Bike Siting

2007-09-28T14:36:00.000-04:00

I also had a pic of four Dahon folding bikes all chained up together near the ferry landing, but apparently I deleted it.

This adorable old-school looking bike was outside the busy MacArthur center in downtown Norfolk yesterday. I've always loved old bikes, even before I rode, and I had to snap a picture. I can just imagine the rider as some European girl in fall attire worthy of Copenhagen Girls on Bikes.

As the cool weather comes on, more and more bikes and their riders are appearing. Yesterday I had a hard time locking up my bike outside the mall (grabbing a thirty-day ferry pass and vitamins) because nearly all available locations, from light posts to cement columns to restaurant fences, were in use. It's nice to see, and I nod and smile to every bicycle rider I come near, but it's also frustrating because of all the Unseasoned Curlies doing things that are illegal, dangerous, and annoying. Like riding the wrong way on roads, not having proper protective gear, riding at night without reflectors or lights, and crossing against signals.

I'm not saying that in less than two months of commuting I'm already a veteran. I'm positive I do things both intentionally and unconsciously that those with more experience would shake their heads at. But most of the things that have me making sour faces seem so simple and common-sense. Now that I align myself with the bicycle culture I don't like seeing things that give us bad reps. I'd be annoyed myself if I was out getting groceries one evening and I almost ran down some guy on a bike because he had done nothing make his presence known. And I seriously don't understand how people can ride into traffic head-on, hugging the curbs, without helmets. That'd scare the hell out of me, even in some kind of protective bear attack suit.

I wish there was more education during drivers safety courses, or more people took the time to research safe and legal biking practices before they got out on the streets. I'm always torn between politely suggesting safer pedaling and minding my own business. As a twenty-four year old kid who still randomly gets carded for R rated movies I feel strange suggesting to silver-templed men that they shouldn't have their iPods blaring in their ears whilst in traffic.

Anyhow, the purpose of this post was to share cute bikes, not bitch. As the temperatures drop I hope more of us are picking up their bikes and getting some exercise and some time with nature in.

Have a good weekend!

- David

Around Town

2007-09-27T14:45:00.001-04:00

worksofart.jpg
Originally uploaded by BodhiDave

This past Saturday I realized a little daydream I've been having every time I look out my window and see the tall square spire of a church across the water in Ghent. It's always there in my line of vision, calling to me from above the modest miles and green trees, so when my baby had to work and I had a day off I decided to bike there.

I spent some time in preparation trying to find the best route there once I got off the ferry, wanting to avoid any traffic that may exist early on a Saturday. I made a list of turns on a piece of paper and secured it to my bike light with a rubber band, as is my practice. I did get a bit lost, misjudging how far away everything was (a lot closer than I thought) but eventually made it. The goal was the trip and not the destination, anyway, which I kept easily in mind.

I passed by lazy shops and people walking their dogs, and despite being in busy downtown Norfolk I was the only one on the road for most of the journey. Because of my lack of precision I did miss a little coastal action, but I ran into a packed high school football game instead and that was fun to see. Tons and tons of people streaming from parked cars into a field I hadn't known was there.

I took the above picture after placing a camera on the edge of a railing and running with my bike held up across the small street and into the grass. If you click it you can see more shots from my adventure.

Work has been busy like crazy lately, just though I'd pop in and say howdy. I'll get back to my regular posting schedule in the next few weeks.

- David

One Gear to Rule Them All

2007-09-19T09:41:00.000-04:00

Again, I feel complete.

She arrived yesterday in a big rectangular box with the word "Mercier" printed on the side, which I easily hefted into the elevator, full of excitement.

Ever since I ordered it I've been eagerly awaiting the Twentieth, which they had listed as the shipping date, and when UPS alerted me I'd have it by the Eighteenth my impatience only grew. Every day stuck in my truck and traffic, watching the leaves change without me, wasting time and money idling on the interstate, was another day in Hades.

Unpacking was surprisingly easy. The only stress came when I had to bring scissors perilously close to one of the tires to clip those hardcore plastic ties they had holding it to the frame. Even with my sprained wrist I easily lifted it out of the box one handed. After Killer the Cadillac's fifty pound weigh-in I giggled every time I lifted my Mercier. By the way, I named her Isabelle.

Amazingly I was calm as I tore off protective cardboard tubing and cheap cloth guarding against dings and scratches, laying out each piece around the upright frame already installed with rear tire and chain.

I only needed to install the seat, front tire (make sure the forks are the right way to avoid confusion!), handlebars and pedals. The online store who sold me the bike provided helpful YouTube links of instructional bike building videos, but I ended up not needing them. Nice idea though, I thought it was really cool and helpful of them to do. I've never built a bike up before, but the manual was easy to follow and my young years working on a farm provided the rest of the practical knowledge I needed.

After uncharacteristically making sure everything was perfectly centered, straightened, and lined up, finally she was done! Finishes touches came with the addition of my front and rear safety lights and the mount for my GPS unit, and later the next day, a front brake. (Yes, I pussed out. Approx. eight brakeless miles in traffic is some tense shit. More on that later.)

I hurriedly put on street clothes and borrowed a dollar from my gal and headed out to the gas station to pump up my tires. Yes, I ride a bike daily. Yes, I'm dumb for not having an air pump. Trust me, it soon bites me in the ass...

After half walking, half jogging to my local 7 Eleven and fighting the intense urge to just jump on Isabelle, flat tires and all, and ride away I finally put seventy-five cents into the machine that would make my bike complete. And stared. And stared some more.

In my haste I had not noticed that the nozzles on my tires were different from the ones on my old bike, or a car. Or the machine that was now counting down the three minutes of use before it'd shut off. I was horrendously and solidly screwed. I walked away down the street before the pump even had time to turn off.

The next morning, after purchasing an air pump that would accommodate the 110PSI my tires require, I learned that the nozzle type is called "presta", while the kind I was familiar with is "schrader". This is one of those little details it's good to keep in mind.

So I walked around Olde Towne Portsmouth, heading vaguely for a bicycle shop I knew would be closed, hoping to run into another cyclist on a windy night at 8:30 who would have a pump on him and allow me to use it. But alas, no luck. Crestfallen I headed home to eat vegetarian corn dogs and curly fries fresh from the oil fryer and watched Hitchcock movies and old episodes of Project Runway while Isabelle silently stared at me.

The next morning, again hoping to run into a rogue bicyclist with a pump (and again not succeeding) a plan was hatched to have the gal drive me to work for half an hour until the bike shops near there opened, then take me to get a pump, then drive herself to work after dropping me off. The main problem with no air in my tires is that most times (like today) she starts work hours after me and gets off hours before. Not so good on the gas, cash, or the time.

One of my co-workers (who has been asking me about my bike since I wrecked my old one) came out for a look and remarked that I'd have to go to a Sports Authority or something to get a pump. I hadn't even thought to check sporting goods stores. I was so caught up in the bike shop image it hadn't even occurred to me. Google Maps showed one 1.8 miles away. I called, I inquired, I rejoiced. They were open already, and they had one. Hurrah! Drive drive, buy buy, pump pump, hoocha hoocha hoocha, bicycle.

Lessons learned? Be prepared, don't get caught up in thinking hardcore bike shops are your only bet, and pay attention to the little things.

I'll write more later about my first rides, this post is long enough and it's gettin' on near lunch time.

Take er' easy, pardner.

- David

View My Commute

2007-09-13T23:42:00.000-04:00

Click the title of this here post for the medium-sized version, or here for the full-sized one in all it's glory. The higher up you go, the better it looks. You should probably right-click the links and choose "Save As" so it can download first. Otherwise it may be choppy.

Yes, it's sixteen minutes long. Yes, that's sixteen times longer than most people's attention span. But it's worth it. And I'm not saying that only as the creator, but also as a... client?

My goal was to impart the trip as a complete fluid whole, from getting my bike off it's kickstand to getting into my office so there is very little that is cut out. I recorded continuously from the time I left my apartment until I entered my office building and only cut out those parts that the camera didn't pick up well, like the elevator ride (too dark) and transferring the camera from my bike to my body during the ferry ride (too choppy). The rest is just in fast-forward to save time.

It has a fun soundtrack that I hope is enjoyable and entertaining and I put some work into it so it shouldn't be too amateurish. So far the part where I'm sitting on a bench eating a breakfast bar in fast-forward is the viewer's favorite.

This is the project I was gathering commute footage for when I got into that fateful collision with lord only knows how many dollars worth of full-body decals and fuel-inefficiency. I'll do another of the trip back home in the near future.

Comments are welcome!

- David

Cyclic Thinking

Merger.

All I Want for Christmas

Letter to My Transit Authority

Experimental Route *EDIT*

Target Audience

The Law & The Order

It's Like Standing, But... On A Track

U-Lock Justice

Books and Bikes

Black (and Blue) Friday

Unconventional Wisdom - Men In Black

Re-Worked Saftey Video

Local Bike Shoppes

Give Them An Inch

UnSeen Benefits

Think There's A Connection?

Whoops.

Random Bike Siting Goodness

Body Armor

Do Not Attempt With Cages

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Downtime

Random Notable Bike Siting

Around Town

One Gear to Rule Them All

View My Commute

Experimental Route EDIT