Bike Zou

I've moved!

2010-04-29T22:05:00.002-05:00

Hi people! I have moved to: The Freedom Machine

Bob Mionske: Man O' Bike Law

2010-04-26T18:01:00.005-05:00

Bob Mionske: Man O' the Law (blond guy in the middle)

I just ordered Bob Mionske's Bicycling and the Law and can't wait to read it. I have become obsessed with knowing what the law says about cycling--which comes in handy when refuting junk when I hear it! I like knowing not only my responsibilities, but my rights. I will post more on this as I learn more so stay tuned!

Ride on people!

Pushing Pedals, Not Budgets

2010-04-21T15:09:00.003-05:00

This article appeared in the New York Times today--I LOVE that it is school children who are being trained to learn bike mechanics and helping others gain more control and freedom over how they get around. Awesome!

Welcome back to the bikey life!

2010-04-16T10:38:00.002-05:00

Last night was the first night I have been able to get to Cycle Recycle and it was AWESOME! I remembered how to do stuff that I was not sure I could do. Had lots of patient help from others and laughed a lot. I have stayed in 'ok' shape this winter by going to the gym but my thighs were still burning when I got home last night. Nothing like a good burn! :-)

I am so ready for Bike, Walk, and Wheel Week!

Miles: 7

Stuff I heard:

Guy: Is that how you say duodenum?
Girl: Yeah, I say do-ah-deh-numb. How do you say it?
Guy: I say duo-dee-numb too. Me and my wife have had some intense conversations about that.

Cycling with Parkinson's

2010-04-01T10:39:00.003-05:00

An article in the New York Times covers some research on how patients with Parkinson's, people who cannot walk unassisted, are able to ride a bike! It is very cool so check it out!

Bike Commuting with a Cold

2010-03-30T11:05:00.001-05:00

Dottie over at Let's Go Ride a Bike recently had a post on commuting with a cold. I have had two bad head colds over the last three months. Both times they came on after flying somewhere---all that internally circulated air on airplanes means passengers are bathed in one another's germs for several hours. Yuck!

To me, biking with a runny nose is not an issue but the cough I often get makes working up a sweat a bad proposition. Once I get warmed up and break into even a little sweat, I start coughing up a lung. I easily go through a large bottle of cough syrup per cold just to get some sleep at night. It is frustrating and causes me to miss at least a week of working out and bike commuting.

What do you guys do?

This modern life

2010-03-27T12:23:00.013-05:00

This Andy Singer cartoon sums up what a lot of work in the modern world amounts to: Sitting in front of a computer for the majority of a work day. I am amazed that so many professions have been centralized into basically "technological" work. I see this in education all the time: We foist technological "solutions" onto teachers and parents often urging them to make sure their children spend even more time in front of a screen each day. Then we all wonder why so many of our children (not to mention adults) are obese.

It is not easy to find solutions if so much of our work is attached to technology that requires we be passive physically to use it-- but I think active transportation is one solid solution that solves more than one problem; actually attacking multiple issues in a low-tech and effective way (rising cost of fuel, pollution, road safety, expense of road upkeep and maintenance, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, etc).

I would love to work out a way to collect my research data at schools here in Columbia so that I could ride my bike there and feel I was addressing more than one important lesson in life. I don't know if this will pan out, but I think it is worth trying because I feel more and more conflicted with only offering high tech, consumer oriented solutions to teachers, students, and parents that are creating as many problems as they are solving. (I realize some people think this is a simplistic answer, but they have not seen the amount of dialogue that is created when you arrive somewhere by bike when everyone else is stumbling out of cars with fast food wrappers spilling everywhere :-)

Beauty and the Bike

2010-03-25T18:46:00.013-05:00

I have been following the Beauty and the Bike project out of the UK and am encouraged that other car-centric countries are asking why so many young people don't ride their bikes much anymore. I find that many women I know simply don't realize how easy it is to bike and what benefits we get from it. The project is coming out with a DVD and I hope to get a copy (and the book) to keep up with the project. Wish we could something like that here......

Just to get the blood pumping

2010-03-23T20:59:00.003-05:00

Bad Driver TV-The Right Hook from Brendan on Vimeo.

I found this video on Bad Driver TV and thought it was both interesting and angering! I couldn't get over how easily the cyclist overtakes the car once the driver heads into the shopping complex. When the cyclist catches up to him to talk to him the guy's wife (in the car) says 'I'm sorry we won't do it again!" several times. She seems alarmed.

Just remember: "Anger is one letter away from Danger"!

Cars & Debt

2010-03-18T17:49:00.019-05:00

Today I had a meeting with one of my international TAs at school and the conversation rolled around to staying solvent in graduate school. Coming from a country outside the U.S., she asked me if it was possible to make a living working at stores like Old Navy or Target. I told her that if you owned a car, absolutely not!

Of course I ended up yanking out Chris Balish's How to Live Well Without Owning a Car. She and her husband (and one child) live close-to-the-bone as graduate students and both work multiple jobs to stay solvent. When I told her that the average family pays over $8,000.00 per year to own a car she did not believe me. We opened up Balish's book and started tallying. She stopped counting when she hit $8,000.00 for only one of their two cars.

It was an interesting conversation and make me think about how much Car Culture has influenced people that are often struggling to make ends meet in the U.S. yet feel forced to buy into what counts for "normalcy". These two just looked at what everyone else was doing and bought into the old "but I need a car to get to my job and be a responsible adult" without thinking about the fact that in this country, your employer can require you to have a driver's license but never pay you enough to own the car they are implying you *must* have to work for them.

I am not trying to glorify or romanticize being car free or car lite, but I couldn't help but see the strain this young couple are under financially for what amounts to two depreciating assets. This just does not make sense to me.

Food for thought.

Love Scars & Handlebars

2010-02-28T07:11:00.000-06:00

I am traveling to Atlanta next week for a conference (AAAL-American Association of Applied Linguistics--I know.....SEXY!) and found out that there is going to be this awesome event while I am there. I have to attend a few meetings and then I am OFF to visit my old stomping ground and get some major bikey love.

Bike Envy: Round II

2010-02-26T12:05:00.005-06:00

I have been plotting and planning for a year about possibly getting another bike. My current bike (Schwinn Cross Cross) was my Mom's that she rarely rode so she gave it to me. It is reliable, pretty comfortable, fairly light, and gets the job done. I would most definitely keep this bike even if I bought a new one for certain kinds of trips, or if I was going to have to leave it in an area where there was high theft (I love this bike but it is certainly not new looking anymore).

However, I can't decide what kind of bike to get. I am drawn to the Omafiet (shown below).

This bike is heavy but classy and could carry a lot of stuff. Given my daily 7-10 mile commute roundtrip this would be doable. Dottie over at Let's Go Ride a Bike has an Oma and swears by it. The Oma has generator hub lights and an internal gears which would be nice.

However, I also am drawn to more technical bikes that are built for speed and are light. Not pure road bikes per say but hybrids that can get the job done.

It is hard to decide. I think this is why people who bike a lot, especially for commuting, have more than one bike. Or maybe I am rationalizing. :-) I do like to think that for the price of one used car, I could have several bikes at my disposal and never have to pay a dime for insurance or gas. Now I don't feel so guilty for wanting a new one. :-D

People of this Planet

2010-02-18T15:12:00.003-06:00

Adrienne Johnson over at Change Your Life, Ride a Bike posted a great post from a quote ("Men of England") on a sort of call to arms for taking back our lives from the tyranny of the car. Here's my version:

People of this planet
you have traded your birthright
for a lie

"Speed, Sex, Freedom, Power can be YOURS" they claim
all the while covering up the pollution, obesity, ill health, congestion, and dependence that mark
the Rule of the Car

Carism must be denounced
but you must
wake up to do it!

Belief that a car is the "only way"
kills our women, men, children, pets, and planet.

People of this planet
Get in your saddle and claim your birthright-
a world not ruled by machines and fear.

Reclaim your power to be physically and mentally strong
independent
without destroying those in far away lands who can't see us
but feel our impact

Reclaim your power to be self-sufficient,
to make corporations shudder
and tremble at the sight of two wheels and
fast, fit, brazen, and whole people
riding on.

Jeff and Erin's Epic Wedding Adventure

2010-01-25T19:44:00.003-06:00

If you have not heard about this video, you should check it out over at the Huffington Post
This post has nothing to do with cycling but is really clever and funny. This couple decided to make SURE that everyone saved the date for their impending nuptials. Jeff and Erin Wong "skipped the dainty cards most couples use and made a video. But not just any video, an awesome epic ridiculous one that takes you through as many movie genres as you can imagine with the couple starring in each. It's so well done that you can't help but love this pair and wish them a lifetime of happiness" (Huffington Post, 1-23-10).

Enjoy!

Some winter cheer

2010-01-14T11:32:00.001-06:00

I found this great video over at Happy Healthy Long Life and it brought a smile to my face on this overcast day.

Enjoy!

Pedal-powered snowplow

2010-01-06T15:58:00.002-06:00

I found this clever video over at Urban Simplicity and thought it was quite timely. We could use this about now!

I hate to say I have not been able to ride my bike for a bit due to travel and now a nasty head cold. Looking forward to feeling better and trying out some winter cycling (the first in my life)!

Induction into the car-centric life

2009-12-29T20:50:00.006-06:00

This holiday has been really nice. I have had a wonderful time visiting family and getting caught up with two of my favorite people in the world: my nieces Zoe (6) and Annabelle (4). We have had quite the celebration here!

However,I have a confession to make: I struggle with the completely car-centric attitude that my nieces are being inducted into. For Christmas some relatives bought the girls a little battery-powered car to drive around in the yard. Needless to say, the tricycle Annabelle was enjoying a few days ago is no longer interesting in comparison to the car.

It is shocking to me to see that the car culture is sucking them in earlier and earlier with the help of well meaning people like my relatives. What gets me is that for the money that was spent on that little car that sucked up petroleum to produce the car and will use energy to keep it running, the girls could have had TWO really nice bicycles. They will outgrow that car in a year or two--if it lasts that long--and what then, a golf cart? Is it any wonder that by the time they are teenagers they'll feel entitled to a car? Hopefully, the newness of that car will wear off but the sense of adventure and freedom that comes with a bike will never end. I just hope that the girls are given that choice as well.

Bikey Christmas

2009-12-22T08:28:00.004-06:00

While I look forward to, and enjoy, Christmas every year, I am dismayed at the consumerism and sedentary nature of this holiday. I have spent more time in a car over the past four days than in the last six weeks combined! My folks live out in the country and while I love it and it is beautiful, it does not encourage an active transportation lifestyle. We go everywhere by car.

Yesterday we went shopping with my nieces and I was flabbergasted at the layout of so many of the shopping plazas we visited. They were downright unsafe for pedestrians. The message here is: "Don't try to get anywhere without a car". I saw people literally moving their cars a couple hundred yards to get closer to the next set of stores rather than walk because you felt like you were taking your life in your own hands walking anywhere since there were almost no sidewalks and cars were rushing to and fro. To end our day, we were rear ended coming home (while sitting in traffic). No one was hurt but I couldn't help but think how much I just detest cars. Whose idea was this anyway?

On a bright note, my four year niece has learned to ride her tricycle and we have had loads of fun with that. Good times.

Miles walked: 3

Wishing I could stay.....

2009-12-15T15:31:00.003-06:00

Yesterday turned out to be quite an adventure in my little bikey life. I left home on bike when it was 45 degrees outside. I wore a thin pair of cotton pants, t-shirt and light long-sleeve cotton shirt, running shoes, a wool scarf, safety vest, gloves, and a fleece headband. I did not check the weather forecast.

BIG mistake.

I biked to my office and worked until noon, biked downtown for lunch and then off to the library. By the time I left Ellis at 7 PM, it was 25 degrees outside. I bundled up as best I could and pedaled hard home. My trunk stayed warm but my arms were so cold that when I squeezed them I could barely feel it. I was fine because I kept moving, but I will never do something that dumb again. I decided that staying the night in Ellis next time might not be so bad! :-D

Miles: 7

GM's last stand

2009-12-14T11:42:00.003-06:00

I saw this Andy Singer cartoon and had to roll. I know the collapse of the car industry is not "funny" and I am sorry about so many workers who have lost jobs over the last two decades. I just think it is pretty pathetic that GM has had access to so many resources (both human and technological) and they still can't make a go of it. The reality is that GM has not been loyal to the US or to its workers (sending almost all jobs overseas to pay those workers poorly and pollute in distant places--far away from the American conscience) so it seems fitting that they are not surviving. Maybe they could try and build bike frames here at home? Heaven knows their health insurance costs would be lower for a cadre of workers who biked to get to the plant everyday.

Miles: 6

Good Cycling Day

2009-12-12T16:55:00.001-06:00

Today I rode in and wore my new balaclava which worked amazingly well! For such thin fabric it is awesome. Very surprising. I also wore my hunting gloves I got at Wallyworld and I was toasty. I rode in to meet with some students and then out to meet some other people for lunch. They were surprised when they realized I had come on my bike. The common refrain right now is, "You still riding?"

Over lunch we talked about bike commuting and the conversation got around to the cost of owning a car. One guy had just had the struts replaced on his car to the tune of $650. Another had other work done at a cost of $1200. Ouch. I had to take and get my kickstand bolt replaced after lunch....to the tune of...well nothing! They did it for free. I did have the brakes replaced a while back for around 15 bucks but that's it. I am always reminded of how much we work just to support our cars! I hope to be car free one day. For now, I am car lighter and lighter! :-D

Miles: 7

Winter Cycling

2009-12-11T16:10:00.003-06:00

After this recent spate of cold weather I became interested in people who cycle through really tough winter conditions, such as say, five feet of snow, etc. I have kept up with Jill Homer on her blog and bought and read her book Ghost Trails. Now when I think it is too cold to bike at 20 degrees, I think of Jill--out there slogging through enough ice and snow to make your heart stop. She is a great writer and the photos on her blog are fantastic. My only wish is that she would do a blog post on her winter gear as I could use the tips.

Another guy who cycles through South Dakota winters is Snakebite chronicled below. He makes winter cycling look easy!

Keep Calm and Ride On

2009-12-09T13:45:00.004-06:00

I saw this image at Urban Simplicity and given the weather today (18 degrees and snow!) I thought it was appropriate. I am going out later today on the bike. The snow does not bother me but I fear ice. So far, I don't see any ice so we'll see. I *am* going to buy a pair of hunting gloves though and wear my longjohns and SmartWool socks which are so very warm. Who else is cycling in the snow out there?

Does low-tech = Freedom?

2009-12-08T17:06:00.003-06:00

The New York Times recently published an article about Cormac McCarthy's Olivetti typewriter which he bought for $50 in 1963 in a Tennessee pawnshop. He has written Pulizer Prize winning books and many other manuscripts on this simple machine. His original Olivetti will be auctioned at Christie's and he has replaced it with another Olivetti for $11 plus $19.95 shipping and handling.

Like McCarthy's Olivetti, so much of what is produced by a bike comes directly from the user without making overly technological demands or chaining us to expensive and destructive forces. For instance, the bicycle is simple enough (and yet incredibly efficient) to be worked on by everyone--albeit some slower than others, but still...you don't need a PhD or a ton of money to maintain a bike. And it is a truly democratic machine in that it to ride and maintain a bike does not cause the owner to go broke and it does not make life unbearable for other people in either local or distant places (i.e, pollution, war, traffic congestion, debt, etc).

Long live low tech!

We interrupt this blog for some industrial strength satire

2009-12-07T15:06:00.009-06:00

I am reprinting this blog post from Andy over at People Powered due to the wicked satire and yet underlying hopeful message.

Give up: You’re too stupid.
This blog has been temporarily taken over by the Ministry of Propaganda to make an important announcement:

You are entirely powerless to change anything.

You are not individually created, deeply imaginative beings capable of finding solutions for yourselves, so stop trying. After much consultation with people who are more important than you, we have a far better understanding of any given issue. It is therefore pointless for you to research anything yourself: you cannot possibly understand it. Mainstream media can provide all your information. remain scared. Do not get involved in change.

You are not capable of developing your own localised low-cost solutions to environmental problems. If you want to care for the environment then you must buy products designed by the industry because they know a lot more than you. Riding a bike shows that you are different: invest your savings in a hybrid car so that we can keep the motor industry alive. Don’t get ideas about building your own beautiful house for less than it costs to buy a new car: buy an industry made eco-house for twice the cost of a normal home and take out a 30 year mortgage to cover it. Going ‘off grid’ is too difficult. Remember: you are not an expert, you are not creative. Buy more.

‘Living simply‘ means returning to the dark ages. Community is overrated. It is very important that you keep looking for more, bigger, better. Following desires implanted in you by marketers is freedom. Things that are free are of no value. Do not enjoy the sunset outside. Go and buy a plasma TV so you can watch films of sunsets, and get an even bigger one next year. It is important to keep up with your neighbours. Where you live is boring: go to exotic places for your holidays: this is the way to fulfilment. Do not develop meaningful relationships with friends over home-cooked food: go to expensive restaurants to be seen so that your social status is increased. And drive there. You can’t help the environment anyway, so stop trying. Loneliness is normal. Normal is good.

Big Business will look after you -as long as you do as you are told. Stay scared and buy things you don’t need. Accept the decisions of those in authority without question because they know much more than you. Do not think independently: you may decide to be different. Being different is difficult. People who live differently become labelled as strange and you don’t want to be strange. You want to be normal.

Thank you for your attention. Now go and buy things.

Ode to my Heroes: Broads on Bikes

2009-12-03T11:55:00.008-06:00

Josie Dew and daughter Molly

One of the reasons I became fascinated with bike riding and travel was due to a book I read in 2001, The Wind in My Wheels by Josie Dew. Josie started cycling when she was a girl and has ended up cycling around the world including the UK, US, parts of Canada and the Middle East, as well as New Zealand and Japan. I have read almost everything she has written and was chuffed to see that getting married and having a child have not slowed her down (although I wouldn't blame her if it had). She even got me to reading about another cyclist, the intrepid Dervla Murphy who at 78 is still biking strong. Murphy's travel-by-bike tale Full Tilt is one of the best books I have ever read. Murphy has traveled all over the world solely by bike including the Middle East in the mid-1960s. I hope that's me one day!

Miles: 6.50

Stuff I heard: "Young lady, you are brave to ride in this cold!"

The Beautiful Letdown

2009-12-02T20:45:00.006-06:00

Art by Bluebell

Well, is that it? Promises of RAIN! SNOW! COLD! MISERY!

Well, if that is it--bring it on! :-D

I biked to school today wearing several layers and a light mid-length coat. I tried out my new smart wool socks and some Rockport boots I have had forever that still look nice. I finally found that one of those fleece headbands under my helmet keeps my ears warm without making me too hot. What I really need though is a windbreaker because I was warm enough after cycling but just needed to block the wind.

Miles: 6.30

P.S. Riding home tonight, the moon was beautiful.

Tomorrow is the test

2009-12-01T19:49:00.003-06:00

Image from IceBike

I have heard that tomorrow will be cold, rainy, and possibly snowy. This is the test. I'll let you know how it goes.
On another note, even though I have been bike commuting regularly for five months now, when I first get on my bike and start peddling off, I have an overwhelming urge to put on my seatbelt. Strange.

The Bicycle: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

2009-11-30T10:49:00.009-06:00

One of the things I love about cycling is how fun and yet practical it is. I never really thought about how safe it can be for young girls and women in countries where physical safety is a daily concern. Just getting to school, to a well for water, or to stores and shops for food can be rife with danger. Fortunately, bicycles continue to be a trusty source of speed and safety as well as being low in environmental impact. This year, as my Christmas gift to myself, I decided to donate a bicycle to a girl through World Vision so that she can get to school quickly and safely. After talking to the folks at World Vision and studying them online, I found that they not only help provide bikes and encourage entrepreneurship, but they also continue to provide help to other organizations with similar ideas.

I like knowing that something as simple as a bicycle will provide safety, pleasure and help many times over. This puts me in the Christmas spirit! :-)

Miles: 6

Buy Nothing Day

2009-11-27T11:23:00.011-06:00

I have a confession to make: I have never, in my entire life, gone shopping the day after Thanksgiving. As a child I lived in a very small town where stores were locally owned and operated and closed at Thanksgiving for two days. As an adult, I simply could not fathom getting up at 4:00 AM for the sake of a new TV. Some people call the holiday season a "shopocalypse" and I'd have to agree.

Fast forward to 2005 when I stumbled upon the Adbusters campaign for Buy Nothing Day. I find BND funny, irreverent, and smart. I can't imagine pulling myself away from a warm fire, time with my family and friends, and well-deserved rest in order to stand in line in the cold for things I don't need. Moreover, most people will put this stuff on credit cards they can't afford to pay in full later--so all those "deals" will cost them at least 9% or more over time. Given our personal and national debt it doesn't seem like much of a deal to me.

Happy ThanksGIVING!

Miles: 2

Recipe Wednesday

2009-11-25T08:44:00.007-06:00

I have not had a lot of time to cook over the past month but one thing I *do* have time for is crock pot hot cereal in the winter. I have eaten oatmeal in the winter most of my life (thanks Dad!) and recently discovered oat groats which are the whole oat grains before being rolled into flakes ala Quaker Oatmeal. You can buy oat groats at Clover's or Hy-Vee in bulk. However, groats take longer to cook and I don't have time right now to stand over the stove stirring---thus, crock pot oats. This breakfast is quick, easy, inexpensive, and insanely good for you!

Crock Pot Oat Groats

1 1/2 cup oat groats
4 cups water
pinch salt
1 stick of cinnamon

Place the oat groats on the bottom of the crock pot nearest heat source. Add the salt to the water and gently pour over the oats. Toss in a stick of cinnamon and set cooker to low. I started mine at 10 PM last night and ate at 7:00 AM this morning. I added maple syrup and some small pieces of toasted walnuts and it was delicious!

Enjoy!

Miles: 6

Making eye contact

2009-11-24T13:23:00.003-06:00

Yes, I am on a Street Films kick! Can't help it. Regardless, I find it hard to make eye contact with drivers. I *do* think that turning my head and at least attempting to make eye contact lets drivers know that I am aware they are there and not in my own little world. This has helped me avoid nasty situations a few times (usually in parking lots).

What do you guys think?

Miles: 6

Safety-N-You

2009-11-23T15:24:00.004-06:00

(Another little Street Films gem)

I think the Confident City Cycling classes could use this video. I KNOW it would have made an impression on me (I am sure I would have stopped wearing white after Labor Day).

Miles: 1.5 :-D

More Veronica Moss.....

2009-11-22T14:54:00.002-06:00

I find this character from Street Films hilarious!

My favorite line: "You're complicit in your own oppression!" (so true!)

Miles: 10.37 -- Biked to church and home then later to the movies. Great day to be on a bike! :-D

The Plight of the North American BiPeds

2009-11-21T16:27:00.002-06:00

We must do something NOW to help this poor, blighted species.

She shoots, she scores!

2009-11-20T10:42:00.002-06:00

On Wednesday I was in the office and stopped to talk to one of my colleagues and as we sat there, she said, "Did you bike in today? The weather is really bad!" I said, "No, not today" and we kept talking about different things. But internally I was dancing a jig! If she asked me that question, it means she could not tell by my clothes and appearance whether or not I had biked in. My master plan has worked. Phase one of Operation Freedom Machine is complete!

Miles: 6

Cultural change, one revolution at a time

2009-11-19T11:48:00.003-06:00

I think part of the problem with cycling for most folks, is that they don't have many role models in their day to day life. They are surrounded by people each and every day who rely solely upon cars to do every little thing. To the point that people drive to the gym and think nothing of it. But as RJ asked me yesterday: How do we get people to see the benefits and actually give it a go? It seems to me after living here for a year that most people see cycling as a "recreational" event but not a wonderful possibility as a lifestyle.

I think what is necessary is a grass roots effort by people in the workforce of all fitness levels, ages, shapes, and sizes. For instance, one of the things that convinced me that I could bike commute was how one of my instructors appeared at the Confident City Cycling (CCC) course I went to last May. He was just wearing jeans and a normal shirt. I realized then, by seeing how he got around (sans spandex or truly heinously expensive gear), as well as at other cycling blogs, that people did not need lots of fancy gear--tons of people commute and get around in absolutely normal clothes. And they do it in all kinds of weather. :-D

But I have had to overcome some worries along the way that on one hand seem shallow, but on the other, are a reality for many of us that work in offices where appearance is important. Figuring out how to carry all my stuff, getting places at night, and looking good (clothes, hair, makeup) were hurdles that took time but ones I had to get over to meet my goal. What kept me going were people around me with answers and ideas to my problems (you know who you are and I thank you!), as well as meeting other bike commuters on campus. I, in turn, have been happy to share my adventures with colleagues and friends by showing them that this is a lifestyle that is doable and so worth it. I tell them about taking classes, how to do it, how easy it is, and the tremendous cost savings (gym membership, parking, gas, time). For instance I went into a local grocery store last week and very politely spoke to the manager on duty about the need for a new bike rack. I gave him some names at PedNet and told him what a convenience it was to be able to park my bike safely when I needed groceries. I am going to continue to follow this up until it changes. Since the bike rack has gone from 1 or 2 bikes to 4 and 5 now, I think they can see the need.

I think things can change and truly, they must change. Think about how much more secure families will feel if they don't have a car loan to support--this makes living far less expensive and if you *do* lose your job, you don't have a car payment but can still get where you need to go. I always think about how much safer streets are for the children when bikes are a main part of the transportation mix, not to mention the air quality. I could on, but I am realizing that people need to see it lived out to "get" it. Many people "know" some of these things but they don't see enough role models around them to help them make it a reality for themselves.

Just a thought.

Reality vs. Unreality: A three day tale

2009-11-18T19:57:00.002-06:00

For the past three days I have driven into work due to a sore back. Several things have occurred that make me realize how much the myth that "cars make life easier" is exactly that: a Myth. First, my back did not become better from not riding my bike. If anything, my muscles feel tighter and I just overall feel less relaxed. Second, I had to drive to Marshall with a group of people and 'harrowing' is the only adjective that comes to mind to describe barreling down the road at 70 miles per hour in the pouring rain next to 18-wheelers. That ANYONE could believe cars are safer than bikes is the biggest myth of all. Third, although it has been cold and I was in my car, I have NEVER been warm the entire week. It totally sucks raw eggs. I was NEVER cold on my bike. Fourth, when I need to get to the library to return books on campus I have to haul them down there with a stupid trolley or bags. There is simply no easy parking near Ellis and so clearly the bike is the most convenient and efficient way to get and return materials from the library.

Finally, today I had lunch with a colleague who complimented me on the scarf I was wearing (it is quite beautiful). When I told her that I bought it at The Mustard Seed downtown, she had no idea where that was and she has lived here for six years! When I asked her why she did not know about that shop she said, "Parking is so impossible I never park downtown!"

Truthfully, I could not blame her. I realized then how much I know now about The District because of my bicycle. When those crazies on the Trib site start ranting about bikes, they need to think about how much money we spend to support downtown businesses simply because on a bike it is so much more convenient to get around. Something to think about.

BIKES RULE! :-)

Under pressure

2009-11-12T09:35:00.003-06:00

Has anyone seen this I Love Lucy episode (Lucy and the Chocolate Factory)? Sometimes this is exactly how I feel. Life is going faster and faster and I just wanna stuff chocolates in my bra! :-D I have been so stressed out for several days that the bike ride to work and home are the only parts of my day that I feel relaxed. I am convinced that biking is what has helped me deal with the stress better. I find that when I get home at night, the problems I have been mulling over are lightened and I sleep better at night. I hope that I am able to keep cycling over the winter because it sure helps!

Miles: 6.5

Happy Veterans Day

2009-11-11T10:17:00.000-06:00

When I was a little girl I can remember my Dad and I sitting on the couch, drinking hot cocoa and talking one fall evening and he told me he did not have to go to work the next day. When I asked why not he said, "Well, it is a national holiday. Can you remember what it is called?" I started thinking and said, "Veterinarians Day!" which made him laugh and laugh (I was close!).

Having grown up in a military family, I always take Veterans Day seriously and give thanks for all the sacrifice our veterans have made for our country. I am glad we preserve a day to honor them.

Miles: 6

Close encounters of the vehicular kind

2009-11-09T18:20:00.005-06:00

Today started out rough because I was running late and just felt irritable---I hate overcast days. To top it off, I had 3 (THREE!) bad encounters with cars today.

ENCOUNTER 1: I had just crossed Stadium at the light on Forum and was winding up that little side road to catch West. I was nearing West and around the corner comes this hugh jass navy blue work truck (the kind with big hips). The guy driving had turned off of West and instead of getting in the right hand lane, he stayed left and was headed straight for me. It took him a minute to realize that I had nowhere to go and he needed to get the heck over. My heart lurched in my chest when I realized how close it was. What an incredible moron.

ENCOUNTER 2 & 3: On the way home in the afternoon on Stewart, two cars decide to pass so closely I thought my pedal would scrap their cars (it would have served them both right). There is PLENTY of room people-so get over!

However, I am in a better mood simply because I got out and rode everywhere today. I got tons more work done and am still feeling fine at 6:30 at night.

Miles: 6

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

2009-11-08T19:04:00.006-06:00

Today I biked into town to meet a friend for breakfast and then on to church. I biked to my office to work for awhile and then to a restaurant for dinner. I biked home and just really enjoyed the day and being outside. I love biking!

Mile: 6
Stuff I smelled: A weird, smokey smell on West Blvd. Suspicious.
Stuff I saw: An older guy riding round and round downtown on his bike with no helmet
Stuff I heard:
Girl 1: "One I time I dated a guy who had been a male prostitute"
Girl 2: "What did your parents think about that?"
Girl 1: "I don't wanna talk about this anymore"
Girl 2: "YOU brought it up!"
Girl 1: "No I didn't! YOU brought it up!"
((small quarrel ensues))

Chinese Obesity

2009-11-05T10:28:00.003-06:00

I thought this was an interesting news blurb on Chinese obesity. The increased use of cars in China, along with the prevalence of Western fast food, is causing the same problems there as here in North America. I found this really, really sad because China has long been the standard of a higher quality diet with much more physical activity built into their day (i.e., commuting by bikes, walking, and lots of soccer!) than what most people experience in North America.

What was also alarming was that some of the kids that spoke in the video were simply "comfortable" with being significantly obese. This attitude will be far more troublesome than the fast food and lack of activity in the long run because once they are comfortable with their condition, there is little reason to change (i.e., they will hang out with other kids that are obese, won't feel the need to change their eating or activity patterns, will experience serious health decline and cognitive function but won't do anything about it). This goes to my post on how habits are "catching'.

Miles:
Walk: 3
Bike: 2

Let the wild rumpus start!

2009-11-04T11:38:00.003-06:00

Sunday I went to the movies to see Where the Wild Things are and it was perfect in every way. Dave Eggers co-wrote the screenplay and it does not disappoint!

One thing about going everywhere by bike, I always feel like a wild thing! :-D

Miles: 6

Back in the saddle again!

2009-11-03T19:52:00.004-06:00

It has felt so good to be back on the bike this week. I did not lose much strength or conditioning and was reminded how much more enjoyable life is when biking! I had a blast with my folks but I sure missed getting around by bike.

Miles: 7

Biking with the parental units

2009-10-23T11:02:00.004-05:00

This week has been incredibly busy---too busy! I have felt completely worn out for several days. The good new is that the parental units are in town and we are taking off on a weekend trip tomorrow. My teaching for the semester is over and so now I just have to produce a few manuscripts by December 30, 2009. I have always loved spending time in the library researching stuff and writing so these next two months will be a treat for me. I love teaching, but as an introvert, I find it tiring too.

My folks have enjoyed hearing all about the biking culture here in Columbia as well as seeing all my bike gear. They don't bike much anymore themselves and I hope the weather clears up so we can rent some bikes in Rocheport and ride around and enjoy the colors. Lunch and then home for a nap sounds just our speed! :-D

Bike happiness

2009-10-17T20:45:00.002-05:00

Riding into work and home today I experienced two of the best rides so far. This morning was crisp, clear, and bright. There was wildlife everywhere (of note, an ENORMOUSLY fat squirrel on a telephone wire) and after so many days of gloom, the sun was a welcome relief. My ride home was so awesome.....I really noticed how beautiful the trees are right now. There is a gorgeous red one on my ride in that could take your breath away. I feel like a kid again on days like today---like the fella in this video!

Miles: 6
Stuff I heard: Girl: "My parents are coming into town...."
Guy: " Well, it'll be good. Then it'll be over!" ((laughter))

Making healthy behavior fun!

2009-10-16T16:18:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago I posted on how healthy and unhealthy behavior can be "contagious". This video goes along with this whole idea. I think one of the biggest components missing for people who don't commute or ride their bikes regularly is that they simply don't know how much fun they are missing!

Saddle envy

2009-10-16T02:28:00.005-05:00

I have been thinking of getting a Brook's saddle. However, it is hard to decide which one to get. I am currently quite fond of the B18 lady pictured above. This is in the Brook's City and Heavy Duty line of saddles and has coiled springs for "comfort" and a fab design.

I also like the B66S:

My current saddle came with the bike and is fine but after about 12 miles begins to give me one killer wedgie. What do you readers think? Check out the Brook's website and send in your vote!

Miles: 10

Bike helmet kerfuffle

2009-10-15T10:23:00.003-05:00

I am pro-helmet at this point but thought this video from Bike Snob NYC's site interesting. Being new to bike commuting, I am curious as to whether or not U.S.-based cyclists prefer to wear helmets or find them dangerous. In this video, specific reasons for what constituted 'dangerous' were not given but I find the argument interesting.

Miles: 6.0
P.S. Riding in the cool, rainy weather is nice. I especially like all my friends who say, "It's too cold to be riding your bike!" HA!

Recipe: Moroccan Chickpea stuffed Bell Peppers

2009-10-14T19:20:00.007-05:00

The name of this recipe might throw you, but the taste is awesome!

1 tsp. olive oil
1 medium fennel bulb chopped roughly (stalks and core discarded-about 1 1/2-2 cups)
1/8 tsp. sea salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
2 cups cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 medium clove garlic, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1/2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp. freshly grated ginger (I keep mine in the freezer in a plastic bag and peel it and grate when needed)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/3-1/2 cup sliced green onions (I leave this out)
3-4 green bell peppers
1 cup cooked brown rice (I prefer short grain in this)

In a pan with an insert (drainer), bring about 1/2 cup of water to a boil and put your 3-4 green bell peppers in to blanch. This won't take long and you should watch them so they don't overcook and tear. (Blanching is good because it keeps the peppers crisp and sweet).

While the green bell peppers are blanching, in a skillet over medium heat, heat the teaspoon of oil listed first in the ingredient list. Add the fennel, salt, and pepper and cook for 5-6 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and cook for another 5 minutes or until fennel has softened. Remove from heat. In a food processor or blender, combine the chickpeas with the garlic, vinegar, olive oil, ginger, salt, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon and puree until the mixture is smooth (scrape down sides of bowl/jar as needed). Add the red bell pepper and fennel and puree till smooth. If mixture is still a little chunky, add a little water and puree till smooth. When smooth, empty into a bowl and stir in the cooked brown rice; combine well.

When bell peppers are blanched, take them out and drain them. Then stuff them with your chickpea mixture and enjoy. I usually have a side salad with this and it is tasty.

It was a dark and stormy night...

2009-10-14T10:39:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was one of the most challenging riding days for me. I rode in in the morning to MU and was warm and dry. I had some office work to do until 8:00 PM and by then it was pouring down rain. Fortunately, my raingear had arrived from J&G and I donned it and headed to the library and then out to dinner with a friend.

A few missteps occurred. I learned that you should put your gloves on before your hands get wet or you simply won't be getting them on at all (doh!). I had almost frozen digits by the time I got to the restaurant. I also could not ride down under Providence due to heavy rain and flowing water. I actually got on Providence for one block to Stewart. The most scary block of my life.

The cape worked pretty well as most of me stayed dry. The helmet cover was awesome as was the one I used for a seat cover.

One side note: I have to say that the only time I was really warm all day was when I was on my bike!

Miles: 7

Facing the cold

2009-10-12T10:06:00.003-05:00

Biking to church this weekend went okay. I dressed in a short sleeve shirt, sweater, and slacks, gloves, and a scarf. My trunk, hands, feet, and neck stayed warm but my arms and the front of my legs were cold. I am not sure what jacket to wear because the center of my body and hands are fine (a tiny bit sweaty even) but not my arms and thighs. I cleaned out my closet when I got home and found my hats (ones that can fit under my helmet I think) because I can see how my head could get cold as the temp drops over the next few months. Maybe some arm warmers might work...?

Of note: there was a tandem bike at church today and after the service I met the couple that rode in on it. They were in their late 50s early 60s--fit and really nice people. We talked for a bit and I said it was nice to see two other cyclists!

Mile: Sunday 10
Monday 10

P.S. My rain gear arrived and I taking it with me today just-in-case!

Time and the Art of Cycling

2009-10-07T10:49:00.007-05:00

I have always felt that I am at the mercy of Time. And I don't like it. I am someone who tends to over schedule my life in almost every way. I have a very hard time knowing when enough-is-enough. This started as a child. My mother says it was always a battle to get me to come inside and call it quits for the day. She often found me sleepwalking at night or standing at the foot of my bed, my hands furiously moving in the air--busy attending to some play task in my sleep.

I also had a hard time knowing when I needed sleep or rest. Mom has pictures of me at 5 years old asleep in my food or at my dad's desk. Playing until exhaustion set in. As an adult I have extended these habits to almost every sphere of my life. I try to pack more in a day than could really be accomplished in a week.

Cycling has begun changing this. In cycling, I have to leave early for my destination in case I get a flat or simply need more time to get somewhere. I can only go as fast as my body can take me. I must rest at night or I won't be able to cycle well the next day. I have to eat in ways that support using my own body as an engine. I don't feel as distanced from the needs of my own body; its limits and strengths. In a strange way, it is the limits of cycling that seem to be providing freedom for me from the tyranny of time.

Miles: 6

Bike time

2009-10-05T09:39:00.005-05:00

This weekend was chocked full of great riding! Saturday I bike commuted to MU to teach my class and then over to the Ragtag to see Bright Star in the late afternoon, then home. Each stage of the day had bike riding in it and I saw so much I would not normally see. There are a lot of details we miss because we go so fast in cars, and so many interactions with other people that we are deprived of because of the isolation of cars.

Sunday, I biked to church and then out to lunch, over to Walmart on Grindstone, then home. I also walked on the trail for 45 minutes with a friend. I later biked to Schnucks for some fresh produce. Almost 12 miles of biking in one day and 2 miles of walking. On the way to church, I found a pretty pink coffee thermal mug in the ditch at the side of the road. They are at least $10.00 at Walmart and more at coffees shops in town. I picked it up out of the ditch and brought it home. I *love* pink!

Miles:
Saturday: 6 miles
Sunday: 12 miles

Behold the winner of a blog award!

2009-10-02T07:51:00.004-05:00

Last night was the No Car, Low Car, Whoa! Car Challenge wrap-up party at MoJo's. It was a LOT of fun and low and behold I won a lovely award for this blog. I was surprised! The gifts were fantastic (very generous) and my trophy is much sparklier than the picture above (I need a cell phone camera!) and wonderful. I put it in a prominent place in my house and can see it several times a day as I pass (thank you Ana Rose!).

Yesterday was cool too because I ordered some rain gear online and biked in the rain without melting. Who knew?! The ride home last night was so beautiful. The clouds and sky were moody and then when the moon came out it was fantastic! It was a perfect end to the day.

Miles: 7.0
Stuff I saw: People hanging out at a "real" biker bar (MoJo's)!

Two recipes

2009-09-30T11:15:00.006-05:00

Recipe 1: Skirt on a Bike's Big Bowl
This is also taken from the Eng*ine 2 Diet. I have modified it for myself and my own tastes. I like it because it does not require cooking, is quick, healthful, and filled with fiber and slow-burning complex carbs.

In your favorite bowl add:
1/2 cup raw oats
1/4 cup Uncles Sam's flaxseed flakes
2 Tbls. Grape Nuts
1 Tbls. ground flaxseed
1 cup chopped fresh fruit (I have used raspberries and blackberries all summer. Bananas, peaches, etc also taste great!)
3/4 cup non dairy milk (or dairy if you can drink it)

Enjoy! (This littel cereal alone will keep you, how shall we say, regular)

Recipe 2: Slow-cook Tuscan Sausage and Bean Soup

I found this in a Weight W*atchers recipe book last year and it is so easy and so tasty that I thought I would share it. I use my crockpot to cook this in so that all I have to do is assemble in the AM and when I come home at night my hot dinner is waiting for me. I especially like this in the fall and winter.

Makes 6 servings

12 ounces turkey kielbasa cut in 1/4 inch thick rounds (I went to Hy-Vee and bought italian sausage and used that and it was awesome. To cut the fat, I boiled it first and drained the fat off before adding to the crockpot. If you don't cook the raw sausage first, make sure to put it in the bottom of the crockpot so that it cooks by evening. Venison might be really good here too).

2 cloves garlic
1 onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
I celery stalk
1/2 medium bunch kale, chopped (about 4 cups)
3 cups fat-free low-sodium chicken broth
1 (15.5 ounce) can great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15.5 ounce) can kideny beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5) ounce can Italian seasoned diced tomatoes
1/2 cup dry red wine or water (the alcohol cooks off but the flavor remains)
1 teaspoon dried basil

Put everything together in the crockpot, stir it up (unless cooking raw meat which needs to remain near the bottom near the heat source--in that case, first stir up all other ingrediants and pour over meat in the slow cooker).
Cook 8-10 hours on low

Per serving (1/12 cuprs): 241 cals, 5 g. fat, 5 g. sat fat, 0 grams trans fat, 37 mg chol, 1,258 mg sodium, 31 g. carb, 8 g. fiber, 19 g. protein, 158 mg. calcium.

Miles: 7
Stuff I saw: A red fox crossing into the woods as I cycled into my complex last night! That is the same area the groundhog hangs out.

Day 29: The last day of my 'No Car' Challenge

2009-09-29T17:32:00.004-05:00

Last week I was notified that I might have to ride out to a town about an hour from Columbia in order to help gather data on a research project. At the last minute we did not have to go so I didn't interrupt my 'challenge'. However today we did have to go so my "official" No Car Challenge was over. Since I started a few days before September I met the 30 days, just not all in September. (It was strange to be in a car on the freeway. I had forgotten how fast everyone moves and how big and heavy the trucks are! How can anyone believe that highway travel is safer than riding a bike? Talk about a mass delusion.)

For me, the bigger issue is that I want to keep on going! I want to see if I can carve out a car-free lifestyle for myself. Since I don't have to drive to this research location myself, I can bike to the meet up location and ride with the lead investigator. For my own personal no car challenge, I want to bike through winter and see what the next six months hold---if I can make it everywhere I need to go by biking or walking (possibly bus as well).

The adventure is really only just beginning!

Day 28: Cafe Berlin move

2009-09-28T12:38:00.003-05:00

Today I spent the morning helping out with the Cafe Berlin bike move. I wanted to see the possibilities for moving by bike, and it was amazing! I was so impressed by the heavy loads that were possible to move without a combustion engine! The camaraderie and good spirits were contagious and I had a blast. There were several younger kids there who moved large loads---total rock stars!

I also have to report that yesterday at church, I ran into some friends and they got to talking to me about biking everywhere and one of my friends (who doesn't know about this blog) said, "What is so cool is that you never look like you just biked here!" I was chuffed! My Masterplan is working!

She and I talked a lot about bike commuting. She has started to walk to work several times a week and is really curious about it all. We might have a convert!

Miles:
Monday:17.83 (that is almost 18 miles people!! The farthest yet! Wa-hoo!)
Sunday: 9.42

Day 25: Beautiful day

2009-09-25T15:07:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was a hard day--just didn't feel well. Today I was up and at em' early--rode into MU for a 9 AM meeting then back out to Forum for another meeting at Dunn Brothers then over to Jazz for lunch with a friend (Chapel Hill Rd). I have decided that Chapel Hill Rd is my new nemesis. I am going to conquor that hill soon.....even if I have to use a low gear like in the pic above! ha ha ha

The sun feels so good today!

Miles: 6.45 miles

Day 24: An ah'HA' moment

2009-09-24T17:07:00.004-05:00

Yesterday two co-workers and I went to lunch and out of the blue one of them asked me, "are you are still riding your bike to work"? I was glad to hear her question because it meant I didn't *look* like I biked in (I was wearing a new pair of black slacks I bought specifically because they don't crease easily, are smart looking, and don't require dry cleaning, etc. along with a nice shirt and sweater. I have curly hair that resists helmet head and I had non-smudged makeup so all-in-all I looked professional).

When I said, "Yes, matter of fact I did bike in today", she was surprised and gave me that up-and-down look which I find so funny. She then wanted to know how I brought in my laptop, heavy books on my bike, did not look sweaty, what did I wear, etc. She said she would love to bike in herself but wondered how to handle all the gremlins that seem insurmountable on the other side of the saddle bag. We spent the rest of our walk back to campus talking about how I managed all the concerns she brought up.

I was so glad that, after only one month of bike commuting, others see possibilities for themselves! That kinda rocks. :-D

Miles: 2

Yummy sweet potato dish

2009-09-23T16:46:00.003-05:00

I got this recipe (and tweaked it) from R*ip Esselstyne's book The Engine 2 Diet. I am not a vegetarian but like the focus on green things so I bought this book to learn more about cooking veggies, etc. I forgot the name of it in the book, but here is how I make it:

1 can of pinto beans (use any beans you like)
1 cup corn (I use raw sweet corn cut off the cob but you can use frozen or canned)
1 avocado (I only use 1/2)
2 baked sweet potatoes (chopped up roughly)
I handful of chopped fresh cilantro
1 red bell pepper (chopped)
Juice of one lime
Salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar to taste

The original recipe called for black beans and for one mango but I don't like mango so left it out.
I like this dish at room temp--I baked the sweet potatoes and then let them cool down a little bit so when I chop them up they stay firm and not mushy.
You could also add brown rice to this if you wanted a complete protein.

Enjoy!

Day 23: CRON (Calorie Restriction Optimal Nutrition)

2009-09-23T13:28:00.002-05:00

The more I bike everywhere, the more I want to have more energy for it and feel better. So, in an effort to get a handle on what goes in the ole' pie hole (and I literally mean 'pie' hole here people) I decided to use some nutritional software for awhile so that I am better educated on calorie intake and nutritional values. I found a freeware application called CRON-O-METER that I downloaded and like quite a bit (there are mac and pc apps).

I know that some people rely upon calorie counting alone but I want to go one step further and make sure that I am getting enough of the right nutrients. The nice thing about the software is that you are given a pie chart and graphs to clearly show you where you are too high or low in any given nutrient (you would be amazed at the nutritional value of just one cup of leafy greens and raw vegetables). I am supposed to eat between 1200-2000 calories per day. I am shooting for between 1200-1600 per day but with the highest nutrition I can get.

I also bought a food scale and some excellent powdered vitamins (AOR Essential Mix) to make sure I get what I need each day. I especially want to see how much stronger I get on the bike when eating well.

Miles: 6.0

Day 22: It was a dark and stormy night....

2009-09-21T17:31:00.024-05:00

Okay, well, it was a dark night.... :-) Today I rode downtown on some errands, then by MU, then back on the trail to Forum to get over to Rockbridge High School for an art class. I knew I would be riding home after dark so I brought all my stuff (vest, etc) and I have to say that the ride home was awesome! I brought a change of clothes in case it rained as I don't have any 'rain gear' to speak of but I did not need it. On the way to the school I came by a bunch of sheep grazing on the corner of Bethel Rd and Green Meadows: they looked like this:

I also saw a very large flock of Canadian geese on the lawn near RBHS. They were very elegant.

I biked home the last leg of the ride on the trail and I was alone almost the entire way. It was both spooky and fun. My MiNewt is wonderful and really lights the place up. I could hear lots of animal noises and it was very peaceful. I like night riding more and more.

One question: What do my two faithful readers wear when it rains? Do you bring a change of clothes, etc? Are there "special" clothes that do the trick? I need some advice.

Miles: 13.61 (the most yet--I am so chuffed!)

Day 21: Bike commuting and culture

2009-09-21T09:38:00.003-05:00

I saw this update over at Reno Rambler on an NPR segment on biking in NYC. I did not agree completely with Bike Snob NYC who was answering the questions on NPR as I am more with the "spandex is a privilege not a right" crowd, but one thing he wrote was funny and interesting:

BIKE SNOB NYC: .....the entire notion that we have to build a transportation infrastructure around allowing people to show up to work clean in suits, why? Who cares?

We do have some funny cultural rules about appearance. And it gets me to no end when I see people at work who do *not* look put together at all (quite slovenly) and I KNOW have driven into work, who look at me with my helmet in my hand like I am an alien. "Did you BIKE in"? Then they really look at me......up and down. I just stand there and let em' look.

Miles:
Saturday: 6.50
Sunday: 0 (stayed home all day)

Stuff I saw: In the tunnel under Providence I have noticed that they painted some white paint on the path going through
the tunnel. I thought it was weird. Then tonight, as I rode through, all the lights were blazing and I could see how
the white paint reflected the light making it that much brighter. Somebody had their thinking cap on and I thank
them.

Stuff I heard: Girl 1: "He saw me, I saw him, and that was it!"
Girl 2: So'd ya do anything?
Girl 1: Nah, we just looked at each other all night. ((laughter))

Day 18: Fall arrives

2009-09-18T21:11:00.012-05:00

Today was a wonderful day to ride! So incredibly beautiful! I love fall, especially further north because it comes sooner and stays longer. Today I rode a lot (for me) and enjoyed every minute of it. I did have two interesting interactions with cars today.

Scenario # 1: On my way to campus, I was on a side street when a USPS worker in a little USPS jeep came right up on me as I was getting ready to take the lane to get around a huge parked work truck. The USPS guy backed off but seemed really put out about it (he was on the right side of his car so he gave me a good glare when he passed). I was ahead of him and did not cut him off so I don't know what the problem was (maybe his little blue USPS shorts were too tight?). He was handsome though, so I'm gonna let it pass.

Scenario #2: On my night ride home on Broadway, I was riding far enough to the left to keep 3 feet between me and the parked cars on the right side of the road. This nitwit in a gray jeep wrangler decided to pass me with barely enough room between us. He was so very close to me. I could feel the air change as he passed me--he was that close. He had a woman and a young child in the car and I wondered what in heavens name he was thinking?! I really moved over then and TOOK the lane. I had a shiver for a bit thinking about how easily I could have been sandwiched between that guy's car and the cars on my right.

Miles: 12.60

Day 17: Car Drivers Share Tips for Cyclists

2009-09-16T16:54:00.005-05:00

After the intensity of my last two posts, I decided to lighten up and post something funny. :-D I found this video over at Commute Orlando blog and found it quite funny. I especially love the yellow pedal car.

On the cyclo commuting front, Word to your Mother: Don't let your front light die by leaving it on during the day and then have to cycle home in the dark. Not fun (especially under the Providence tunnel)--it was spooky in places.

Miles: 7.08

Stuff I saw: Turtle right in the middle of the trail, a dead rodent on the side of the street (had long hair...maybe long-haired
rat?), a big toad and a little toad in the MKT off Stewart, a 50ish year-old woman cycling very strongly up Stewart

Stuff I heard: Birds singing, "Heeeeey babeeeee" (from the 'bouncer' outside of the Tin Can Tavern off Elm Street).

Day 16: The Elephant in the Room

2009-09-16T10:16:00.014-05:00

John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, recently published an article in the Wall Street Journal outlining his problems with the national health care service being championed by President Obama and offered his own opinion about what we can do to solve the health care crisis in the U.S. Mackey's article infuriated members of the food industry who immediately began attempting a boycott of Whole Foods.

Now, I have never stepped foot into a Whole Foods and have no stock holdings in that business, but something is terribly, terribly wrong when someone urges U.S. adults to take responsibility for their own health and is terrorized politcally and economically for it.

Michael Pollan has also recently published an article in The New York Times, Big-Food vs. Big Insurance where he delineates the same scenario as Mackey: that 75% (SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT!) of our national health care costs come from personal behaviors and lifestyle choices that directly contribute to obesity, cancer, heart disease, and type II diabetes. Pollan points out that in the U.S. "we are spending $147 billion to treat obesity, $116 billion to treat diabetes, and hundreds of billions more to treat cardiovascular disease and the many types of cancer that have been linked to the so-called Western diet.

I have YET to be convinced that we need socialized medicine if the main problem with the system is that we won't eat whole, natural foods that contribute to robust health and start putting our folks down when it comes to foods that clearly do not support health. However, I also realize that this comes down to what I wrote about yesterday: networked behavior. I think that reforming a cultural system that is built around a car-centered, cheap, unhealthy food system would go much farther towards ending our "health care crisis" than simply spending more money to give people pills that we aren't even sure work, are incredibly expensive, and have side effects that can kill you.

What is most alarming to me is that school systems are now part of a system that hooks kids into eating crap at school (but hey, it's cheap crap that has been subsidized by the government!) so that they have a harder time learning to discriminate between healthy and unhealthy foods, as well as develop a palate for healthy food. When I did research in two middle schools a year ago, I stopped eating the school lunches when I visited because although they were cheap at $2.00 a tray, they were packed with processed, fat- and sugar-laden, products. There is nothing sadder than watching an 11-year-old with a tire of fat around his middle eating hamburgers, french fries, and fruit-in-sugar-syrup, followed by potato chips and ice cream (for sale every single day during lunch and after school). There was not one, single fresh fruit or veggie to be found unless the child brought his/her lunch from home.

Our health care system does need help, but not by pouring more money into it for pills and acute care of people who have eaten themselves into the grave, but rather through some restraint and common sense.

Miles: 6

Day 15: Is healthy behavior 'contagious'?

2009-09-15T15:03:00.006-05:00

Birds of a Feather by Nomoco

The New York Times recently ran a piece posing the question, Is Happiness Catching? The article interviews Eileen Belloli, one of the participants in the most famous longitudinal heart study ever conducted: The National Heart Institute's Framingham study which has followed 15,000 residents and their descendants, bringing them into a doctor’s office every four years, on average, for a comprehensive physical. The Framingham study is the one that helped doctors and medical researchers understand the relation between cholesterol level and risk of cardiac arrest (total cholesterol level over 150 mg/dl increases likelihood of cardiac infarction). One of the topics that researchers in the study have been looking at, is how social relations affect our habits (both good and bad). Clive Thompson (2009) writes,"by analyzing the Framingham data, Christakis and Fowler say, they have for the first time found some solid basis for a potentially powerful theory in epidemiology: that good behaviors — like quitting smoking or staying slender or being happy — pass from friend to friend almost as if they were contagious viruses. The Framingham participants, the data suggested, influenced one another’s health just by socializing. And the same was true of bad behaviors — clusters of friends appeared to “infect” each other with obesity, unhappiness and smoking. Staying healthy isn’t just a matter of your genes and your diet, it seems. Good health is also a product, in part, of your sheer proximity to other healthy people."

When I was growing up, I was alway urged by my Dad to be careful who I hung out with because I would become like them over time. And he was right. The problem today is that we have a culture where this principle is still at work, but in the opposite direction. By that I mean that as a culture we have "networked" a car-centered, fast-food lifestyle which shapes people's choices and actually limits their physical activity and food choices to a degree. Anyone who tries to step outside that network is met with resistance because it is outside of the norm. Now, there are a network of negative behaviors around us, and they actively define how we live. If you don't believe me, just do two things: (1) Cycle or walk to work one day and don't hide the fact, and (2) when everyone else is eating/drinking [insert dessert dish or alcohol here], refuse to eat any. You will find out very quickly how the pack mentality contributes to network behavior.

After reading this article though, I am more convinced than ever that it is important that I contribute to a positive network by living a healthy life. Cyclo commuting is just one activity that demonstrates, in a tangible way, how easy it is to create positive networks rather than negative ones. The more others see how manageable and enjoyable active transportation is, the more they can picture themselves doing it too. In this vein, I have started urging my students to bring healthy foods to class each week rather than sugar and fat-laden, brain damage inducing, snacks. I have another student who goes outside and walks around vigorously during our lunch break and this has encouraged others to step outside and exercise during the break rather than sitting inside and eating junk. In this way, it is like when birds fly, or cycling in a pack; we slide into the slipstream of others who are moving in a direction that we want to go and this helps us get to our goal as well as become part of that network. But we have to consciously choose where we want to go and locate others in the right 'networks' so that we can 'catch' those positive behaviors and harness them for our own lives.

Miles: 8.25
Stuff I saw: Man on a seated bicycle who zoomed past me on the trail and admired my blinkie light.

Day 14: Smoothing out the wrinkles

2009-09-14T11:17:00.007-05:00

Saturday I biked to work to teach. This is the first time I have had to navigate biking and dress clothes and I was worried. In my profession, it is important to maintain a professional appearance; this usually means suits or dress clothes such as a dress or dress slacks, heels, and a jacket. Fewer women wear heels today in teaching (try 8 hours on your feet in 2-3 inch heels) but looking professional is important. So I ironed my dress slacks and packed everything carefully, and biked into school in outdoor wear. I packed an iron in my panniers (no, I am not kidding). When I got to school I hung everything up in my office, steamed out any wrinkles and cleaned up in the bathroom. I ended up looking as professional as I ever have (hair in place, makeup, etc). I don't believe anyone could tell that I had biked into school. This was a triumph to me because it was one hurdle I felt I needed to get over on the way to a car free life.

Next hurdle? Winter riding.

Miles:
Saturday: 7 miles
Sunday: 10 miles
Monday: 11.87 miles

Stuff I saw:
Saturday: A man, 50ish, in street clothes, sitting asleep in the tunnel with a beer can beside him, a young marine-looking man
with a GetAbout bike pin on his packback, a puppy in a backyard near West Blvd that has not been there before.
Sunday: A groundhog, a black snake on the trail, wildflowers, another bike in the rack at church
Monday: Tons of wildflowers on the MKT, two female cardinals fighting, a man studying corn in a field, a little blond-haired girl who heard me sound my bell on the trail and turned-wide-eyed- and exclaimed: " A BELL!" from her stroller.

Day 11: Bikey wonder

2009-09-11T21:02:00.006-05:00

Sometimes, after a long, tiring day, I feel like the guy in this cartoon when I bike home. Somewhere between mile 1 and 2 something happens and without realizing it, I am not thinking about any frustrations or worries but focusing on what is around me, the sound of my breathing, and the effort of my body. I start noticing the texture of the air and wind, where the sun is, sounds, and colors. All this happens without me realizing it and once I get home I am in a better frame of mind. This never, ever happened in a car.

Today I biked up a hill I have gone up frequently, only today I did not break into panting or struggling even a tiny bit. I did not realize how much my fitness had improved until today. I just chugged up that hill without even thinking about it. I never thought that would happen.

Miles: 7.0
Stuff I saw: Man on a bench in flat branch park sitting with his laptop on his lap--sound asleep, man on a riding lawn mower staring at me, five cyclists with no helmets on, a beautiful guy with dreadlocks, a leaf that looked like a rat from a distance

Stuff I heard: (two college girls on the MKT)
Girl 1: (panting slightly) I have ridden my butt off today! It's gonna fall off!
Girl 2: Me too! I WISH my butt would fall off!

Day 10: Cycle recycle rewind

2009-09-10T17:35:00.010-05:00

Biked into town tonight after my meeting to work on bikes at CR. I am lucky to have patient teachers to help me learn more and don't do everything for me. Bikes are a beautiful lesson in physics. There are tension and countering principles running through the whole design. You don't realize the intricacies until you learn to fix what is broken, to see where force and energy are interrupted.

Biked home at 10:00 PM in my magic vest. Cool breeze, full moon, quiet, silent in spots.

Miles: 8.0
Stuff I saw: A young man completely ignore a hot chick, a young man completely ignore ice cream, a young man in a suped up car try to pass me on the right, my favorite house on Stewart lit up by the moon

Stuff I heard: "Hey, Nice vest!";

Guy: "When I get to Colorado, I'll find a girl and go on a date".
Girl: " If you are only there a few days, is it really a date?"
Guy: "I'll prove it by bringing back pictures."

Day 9: Even more night riding!

2009-09-09T23:53:00.004-05:00

Today has been challenging but ended on a good note. I had a workshop tonight at MU and then had a long dinner with a good friend and biked home by moonlight (and MiNewt) at 11:30 PM. It was an awesome night ride: the moon was out, a cool breeze was blowing, almost no cars, quiet, and beautiful. I feel a lot stronger on hills and getting around in general.

Miles: 7.65
Stuff I saw: the full moon behind some dark clouds, a big hairy spider on the ground as I passed through the park, a huge frog on the road, and a guy riding a skateboard alongside his friend who was on a bike.
Stuff I heard: "Momentum just carries you and then you just carve out a line"

Day 8: Night riding

2009-09-08T21:11:00.004-05:00

Today I rode in to MU and heard the pileated woodpecker but could not see him. I ended up working until 8:30 PM but because of my awesome MiNewt , I am not afraid of riding in the dark. Night riding is fun--especially when it is a full moon. My only concern has been that I cannot seem to find a decent class II or III reflective mesh vest. I found this one, but I have to buy about a dozen! It is the same everywhere I have looked. They are out there but you have to buy enough for an army. I might just get some reflective tape and make my own. :-)

Miles: 7 miles
Cool stuff I saw: (1) An older gentlemen on a sort of reclining bike with long handles--riding down the trail. He was wearing a cool hat and yelled "hallo!' to me when we passed. (2) They have installed lights in the tunnel under Providence Rd which is cool. What is not cool is that the 'trigger' for it is located near the trail side of the tunnel, so if you are entering from Elm, it is pitch black until you exit the tunnel, thereby triggering the lights so they can shine on.....no one. Doh!

Day 7: Pileated Woodpecker

2009-09-07T12:47:00.005-05:00

Pileated Woodpeckers: Male on the right and female on the left.

Today I have gone everywhere on foot. I walked a couple miles on the trail and then to the grocery store. I found today that walking to the grocery store only takes me between 7-10 minutes one way. If I incorporate that into a workout, it is no extra time out of my day at all.

The best part about today though was that as I was walking down our spur to get to the trail, I rounded a corner and heard this very loud ringing call off to my right. It was LOUD. I turned and there was a pileated woodpecker on a dead tree. There were a cluster of dead trees in that area and he/she flew from one to another. The woodpecker stopped and called out again and to my left I heard another pileated woodpecker answer back. So the male and female must be there in those woods together. About then the one I could see flew overhead to a phone pole in front of me and started pecking away on the phone pole. Eventually the woodpecker flew into the wooded area where I had heard the other woodpecker and out of sight.

A good morning and once again, I saw cool stuff I would never have seen in a car!

Yesterday, I biked to Walmart off Grindstone with the burley and got some stuff I needed. I was hungry for dinner and stopped first to eat at Fudruckers. It was hard to attach the bike to their black railing but I got it done. People looked at first and several folks checked out the trailer as I left. It was funny. I kept thinking that yesterday would be a 'long' ride but it turned out to only be 8 miles. Surprise! It *felt* longer than 8 due to the hills and load I guess, but it was fun and I got what I needed without a car and with a lot more fun.

Day 5: No car challenge

2009-09-05T17:06:00.008-05:00

Sometimes when I see the Andy Singer cartoon above I think I spend way too much time in a 'box'. I sit in either one of two small offices all day writing manuscripts, grants, conference proposals, email, grading papers etc for 10+ hours per day then I (used to) jump in the car to drive less than a mile to workout inside, then drive home, and be back inside again. I hated it. I swore when I finished graduate school that I was not going back to sitting all day, my back aching, and spending maybe ten minutes total outside everyday (and then only to walk to and from the car). Getting around by bike or walking has been the answer for me for a life 'outside the box'.

It has made me realize why so many academics are unhealthy. Academic life rewards the mind and intellectual pursuits-creating a strange division between mind and body (thanks for nothing Descartes!). I found in grad school that many, many of my peers were on either depression/anxiety meds or high blood pressure meds. Matter of fact, these were the two most prescribed meds at the University Health Center. And this was a crew of 20-30 somethings! People far too young to need HB meds. (I know that some people have these conditions genetically and have highly improved quality of life due to innovations in medications. I am only referring here to people who are sick because they sit all day, overwork, eat crap, and wonder why they are depressed, overweight, etc.)

I made a pact with myself during my second year in grad school that I would not resort to meds in lieu of exercise and a healthier lifestyle. While my diet needs some serious, serious improvement, I have kept my pact to this day in regard to using adequate rest, exercise, and healthier means of warding off stress and high blood pressure. That is part of why I prefer a car free lifestyle. By using my body to get around, my heart is healthier and attitude better. I also spend time outdoors everyday which is important to me. I don't think a person can be truly healthy sitting at home in front of the TV, or inside an office, or in a car all day. It just is not a prescription for health.

Miles: 4 total by bike (not much) but fun! I have a longer ride tomorrow which I am looking forward to.

Day 4: Walking and Cycling

2009-09-04T14:39:00.005-05:00

Today I walked about a mile total to my writing group meeting and then to Subway and the grocery store. It is weird how many people from my complex all drive to the grocery store (literally less than .25 of a mile!) and back. Many get out of their cars with one or two small bags--- hardly enough to merit cranking up the car to go pick up. It baffles me a bit because they probably also drive to the gym as well (just like I used to do).

Walking or biking over is far superior in my experience. Just the physical experience of using your own steam to get somewhere and enjoying being outside. The shopping center I shop in and live near is right near a really nice wooded area and I see all kinds of cool wildlife. It is refreshing and relaxing to walk/bike and listen to all the wildlife back in there.

On another note, I am getting ready to switch to clipless pedals. I hope I don't end up like the guy in the Yehuda comic strip above! :-)

Day 3: Cycle Recycle

2009-09-03T21:26:00.004-05:00

Today was an great cycling day and then tonight I went to the Cycle Recycle meeting at GetAbout. Cycle Recycle is a community event that takes place twice a year in Columbia. Throughout the year, GetAbout receives used bikes that need repair, repairs them, and offers them back to the community at the Cycle Recycle event. This year it will take place on October 18, 2009. Most every Thursday evening there is a group of dedicated, mechanically talented, and politically savvy people who meet to repair donated bicycles for the Cycle Recycle program. (However, anyone interested is encouraged to attend and they clearly allow the less mechanically savvy to participate :-) It is also a great way to learn about bike repair and mechanics. I have had two very awesome teachers thus far and enjoyed myself a ton! I also like being a part of a program that gives back to the Columbia community.

Total bike miles today: 7 miles
Cool stuff I saw: A small turtle sitting on the side of the trail, his head raised high basking in the sun. If I had been in a car, I never would have seen the little fella or enjoyed a wonderful day of bike commuting. Life is good. :-D

Day 2: No Car Challenge

2009-09-02T20:06:00.001-05:00

My sister called last night and when I told her about the September No Car challenge she became completely silent (as the younger sister I recognized this as her "speechless" mode) and then she uttered rather sarcastically: "Good Luck" and we both broke out laughing. (Only an older sister knows how to unleash true sarcasm at its finest.) We then began our usual debate style: I began with how I had been practicing for this month all summer, bought the Burley bike trailer, etc but she then started in with "the rain" (already biked in the rain and lived to tell the tale last week) and then with what about "biking in the dark" (already did that last Thursday night--it was wonderful) and then I started in on the cost of owning a vehicle and how many people are not only "house poor" but CAR poor! Most folks don't know the true cost of car ownership but I won't go off on a rant about that today.

Besides, the truth is: I love it because it's just so much darn fun!

Today I biked downtown to get my sweet No Car challenge 'benefits' card (!), then to MU, then downtown, then home. 7 miles total. Not much but I got everything I needed to get done by bike. Nuff said. :-D

First day of 'No Car' Challenge

2009-09-01T14:04:00.000-05:00

Today has been the first day of the September 'no car' challenge and for some reason I noticed how many people were on the road with one person in one car. Even a guy driving a Prius! I biked to a meeting at Green Meadows shopping plaza and home (40 minutes and 4 miles) then later that afternoon I biked to MU and home (5.0 miles total and 40 minutes). That is more exercise than I get going to the gym. I don't know why this feels so 'empowering' but it does. I am far more relaxed for some reason when bike commuting no matter how stressful the day has been.

Art & Bicycles

2009-08-31T12:13:00.005-05:00

This is art by Will Freeborn in Gourock Scotland. He is a very talented artist--I love his watercolors and travel sketchbooks. I first stumbled upon his work through Gary Rides a Bike and now keep up with it regularly. I am taking a new drawing class this fall and will bike there and back (at night even!) thereby combining two great loves: cycling and art. :-)

"It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle."
-Ernest Hemingway

Biking in Springfield MO

2009-08-28T09:40:00.002-05:00

Dr. Andrew Cline over at Carbon Trace has a great blog on biking in Springfield MO. Dr. Cline even has created a very spiffy handbook of how easy it is to get around by bike in Springfield. I read this blog at least once a week and have decided, should I ever move to the delightful Springfield, I could easily continue to live a car free existence-- so here is a big SHOUT OUT to Springfield MO! :-D

No car, low car, whoaaaaa! car challenge

2009-08-28T09:10:00.004-05:00

The 2009 No car, Low car, Whoa! car challenge is getting underway September 1st. The deadline to send in your participation information is August 31, 2009 at midnight. I have decided to do the No car challenge which means no driving or stepping into a car for the month of September. I will be commuting by bike to work and for all other errands and meetings, etc. Since I teach on Saturdays, I was always afraid of arriving sweaty or 'outdoorsy' looking to my classes. But now, with panniers and a bike trailer, I can haul all my teaching stuff as well as fresh clothes, makeup, etc. I think that it is better to arrive fresh, alert, and energetic for the day than to worry about hair and makeup to the point that a great opportunity is missed. I also love seeing how students' eyes sort of light up when they see a bike. This is going to be fun!

Evil, evil check engine light

2009-08-26T20:33:00.011-05:00

I have not taken the car out in almost six weeks. However, after I burned my hand I had to go to the burn clinic for my final appointment. I felt perfectly fine--easily well enough to ride my bike. But I could not for the life of me remember if I had seen bike racks near University hospital. Then I was running late and decided that for this one last trip I would take the car (insert rationalization here). I filled her up with gas and headed off to campus. It was hectic on campus, cars everywhere, hot, and parking took forever. I waited 30 minutes to be seen at the clinic, received a clean bill of health and then headed to the office. Then it happened. The check engine light came on. No no nooooooooooo.

I parked at work, went to my meetings, etc and when I drove home it did not come on again for a bit, then it did, then it went off again. I thought, "Make up your mind!". I googled "check engine" light and my car make and model when I got home and it could mean several things. However, I don't want to spend a gazillion dollars on a 16 year old car!

I bought my car in 2001 for cash (used)--she is a 1993 Honda Civic and has run like a top, perfect for grad school. I saved a ton o' cash in gas but not really overall when you do the math as Chris Balish urges. I remember adding up the money I had spent on the original purchase cost, taxes, parking, gas, insurance, repairs, car washes, etc and realizing that over the course of five years I had spent almost $10,000 on a used car. (I can't imagine the cost for a new one with monthly payments and more expensive insurance premiums.) The irony was that I needed right at $10,000 for my final year of grad school and of course, did not have more than about $3000 saved. While I graduated without student loans or other debt, I had spent a chunk of change on a major depreciating asset and when I needed money for my final year, there was little to be found. Ultimately I won a dissertation writing award and was funded for my final year, but it was a real eye opener to realize that had I saved that money in an interest bearing account, at even 4-5%, I would have had plenty of money for school and some for my first year out of school. It was weird to think of so much money thrown away on a depreciating asset. Money I can think of about a million better things to do something with!

I have been toying with the idea of going completely car free and this may be the catalyst that is my tipping point. Living in Columbia, and learning how to get things done by bike, has made me think car free is easily possible here. However, I wanted to get through one winter without a car before letting go of the Honda. The good news though is that I can do everything I need by bike and bike trailer, so if the Honda has to sit there for awhile, no problem. If I can meet the challenges of this winter, I think I'll be having one heck of a yard sale in spring (I lost 3500 lbs in one day--ask me how!).

Thoughts on my bike

2009-08-26T07:56:00.001-05:00

I saw this on the MinusCar Project blog and thought it was neat.

On the other hand....

2009-08-25T20:41:00.004-05:00

Biked to work today and around town for some errands and then home tonight. It was pure bliss!!! My hand was stiff this AM but fine by afternoon and I did not even think about it at all. I have to do a lot with my left hand now and it is scraped and bruised from how awkard it is to do so much with your non-dominant hand. I see it as character building for my left hand. :-D

How I have missed biking. I am in a way better mood all day when I bike. I sleep better at night. And I can get a lot more done in a more convenient manner by bike. For example, I had a ton of books to take to the library and more to pick up and I just parked right outside Ellis, locked Lucy up and took care of my library bidness. Then off to eat dinner and ride home. I love riding down Stewart Rd to get home. There is always neat stuff to see. Tonight I saw a lady with a cute little dog in her front bike basket. He was enjoying the ride too!

Bikey bliss!

Back in the saddle again!

2009-08-24T20:45:00.003-05:00

Went to the burn clinic today and was pronounced 'healed!' and so I came right home and aired up the bike tires for my first ride in a week. The skin on my hand is thin, delicate, pink, and a little tight but with some ointment and a glove, I'll be fine. Can't WAIT! Woo-hoo.

Today I had to take the car out and I just could not get over how inconvenient driving is. Hunting for parking, having to drive to really out of the way places because parking is so hard or expensive downtown (expensive to me cause' I'm cheap), the time everything takes because of traffic, not being able to easily return books to Ellis, etc. Driving is NOT convenient. Once you ride a bike, get the best parking, save time and money by not having to go to the gym, and can pull right up to the library, well, you'll never wanna go back.

Bike drool....

2009-08-22T21:10:00.001-05:00

I want one!

A burning desire...

2009-08-19T16:19:00.003-05:00

On Sunday I accidentally burned my hand brewing coffee at church. It was scary. I had gotten off to a rocky start that morning...had bike difficulties which I finally ironed out. Then I took a "shortcut" along a portion of the MKT I don't normally ride on (and saw an indigo bunting which was awesome!) but ended up struggling up one mother of a hill. Towards the top I had to get off and push. Oh well, I made it up to the top. I was 15 minutes late to brew and then brewed some flavored in a specialty basket....which I fixed later (shhhh don't tell anyone).

Anyway, then the espresso grinder broke and the barista used the industrial coffee grinder we have-- only she accidentally left it on the espresso setting rather than the drip setting. I did not catch this until later---the espresso grind is too fine for our industrial brewers and clogs them up which is exactly what happened causing the coffee brewer to overflow.

What is NOT supposed to happen is that I try and remove the brew basket while mega hot water is pouring through it. I had shut off the machine and tugged on the brew basket too hard and very, very hot water and coffee poured over my right hand. I let out a scream, dropped the brew basket, and ran to the sink to put my hand under cool water.

I was fortunate that a nurse was in the crowd and she took me to the ER where they helped me out (she also brought my bike to me later that day--Lynn, you are a SAINT!). I had to follow-up at the burn unit on Monday where they said I had a 2nd degree burn on the back of my right hand (my palm was spared). It has been a tiring few days and what is worse: no bike riding. I can't squeeze the brake levers yet so no riding until I can make sure I can stop. The burn unit folks took lots of pictures (said I won 'blister of the day') and put some stuff called DuoDerm on my burn to help it heal. I also wear a little glove over the DuoDerm and bandages. Today the burn is starting to itch which they said was a good sign--it is healing. I will have a pink area on my hand for about 6 months but no long term scars if I treat my hand right.

I hope in a few more days to be on my bike. Burns suck.

Columbia Tribune

2009-08-18T13:39:00.001-05:00

A few nights ago I ambled over to the Tribune's website to get caught up on biking news and was astounded by the attitudes and sometimes outright disdain exhibited towards cyclists on that site. What a privileged world we live in when we assume that everyone is *supposed* to own a car-- or can even afford to! Having lived in countries outside the U.S. where most everyone does NOT own a car, I still feel surprised and frustrated by the incredible lack of knowledge about these issues by those that want complete control over our roadways.

One argument that was both alarming and hilarious was from people who believe cyclists should pay bike insurance, road taxes, etc. just like in a car. I have already spent most of my adult life paying for transportation and road taxes, I currently pay both car and health insurance every month (which may come in real handy if a cager writing into the Trib tries to knock me off my bike), and I have no need of bike insurance because the cost of replacement is not $15,000 or more as it would be for a car! This is greed in the extreme in my mind and these people should be ashamed. What's next, a tax for walking? Walking insurance? Breathing insurance and taxes?

The more I bike commute, the more I realize just how many people commute every day---one person in one car. Some of the 'roads' in town are more like highways with broad lanes and high speeds. Thankfully, common sense and a sense of community has prevailed in maintaining the Katy Trail and MKT, as well as sidewalks and some intersection improvements that can keep you from getting creamed when you need to make a quick trip to the grocery store. I am sure there are more decent and common-sensical people than those that write into the Trib and I pass many of them on my bike every day. Columbia is a good place...

Bike repair a-go-go

2009-08-14T18:52:00.002-05:00

I kept hoping I would find some sort of workshop or classes to take that would teach me how to tune up and fix stuff on my bike. Today I think I found it. One of the instructors at PN showed me how to apply locktite to the bolts on my burley so all the vibration won't make them fall out (can't have that!). He told me about a bike repair night they have that is open to whoever wants to come. He said it was a good way to learn about bike repair. Other people have come and through that program have learned different repair skills. I am going to clear my schedule to do it because I find that kind of stuff relaxing and I want to know how to fix things myself. I love it when a plan comes together! :-D

Keepin track of the smiles.....

2009-08-13T11:33:00.005-05:00

I decided to buy a bike computer because I like to know how many miles I have ridden in a day, week, etc. I went to a couple bike stores in town and finally decided on the Cateye micro wireless which has 10 functions and a nice large face. It is pretty easy to use and has a backlight in case I need to check my miles in the dark :-)

Yesterday I biked 8.45 miles and today I had biked 7.77 miles by 9:30 AM. I go everywhere by bike that I used to go by car. I had a meeting at 8:00 and then swung by a bagel place (drive through) for a fresh bagel and coffee for breakfast while I worked on a manuscript. The girl at the bagel shop did not blink an eye when I pulled up in the drive through on my bike. The people behind me got some good stares in---but I just grabbed my bagel and coffee and zipped away. I took some new streets home and that was fun.

I used to ride 12 miles on a stationary bike several times a week but I can't say I made the gains in fitness I have made riding a bike commuting and hitting roads and trails. The hills of course are probably the main reason, but I think that riding on the roads uses a whole other group of muscles and balance that are not required on a stationary bike.

I gave blood and all I got was.......

2009-08-12T19:24:00.005-05:00

a stinkin' awesome bike ride!! ha ha HA!

Today I was scheduled to give blood at the American Red Cross near Reactor Field. I was working at school all day and kept trying to think of an easier way of getting to the ARC donation site rather than cycling back to the trail and going in that way. I ended up cycling down Maryland Ave and crossing Stadium to get onto Champion drive. Then I followed Champion down a truly awsome hill to the light at Providence. I crossed there and took a right to the ARC where a lovely bike rack awaited me. Sweet.

While I was giving blood I talked the nurse into signing up for a bike class with PedNet I kept hearing myself saying things like..."It's ONLY twenty dollars!' "It is so much fun!" "You will meet cool people!" She wrote down all the information and kept saying, "I can see me buying a bike". I told her how great Columbia was for cycling, etc. and more importantly, how much fun it was. Everyday is an adventure on a bike. Even when I have a 'bad' day, cycling just resets my mind and I feel better regardless of what has been going on. (The nurse said my blood pressure was excellent as well which just goes to show you....)

I biked home on the trail from there. It was really beautiful....scores of wildflowers and everything so lush from the rain. I was looking around as I ambled home and came upon two deer in the trail. I don't know who was more startled--the deer or me. I rang my little bell and they sort of loped off....it was an awesome ride home.

Bixi's in Montreal

2009-08-11T09:18:00.003-05:00

Thought this looked cool! This would be the perfect (and fun!) solution to downtown congestion. I'll bet shops would do a lot more business because people can park right near the store rather than hunting forever and having to pay to park.

Curse the darkness or light a candle?

2009-08-08T14:47:00.004-05:00

I was poking around Jett's Atlanta Intown Cycling blog and came across a quote he had on his page from Gandhi who said:
"It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."

Jett then likened that phrase to commuters in their cars: "It is better to remove one car than to curse the traffic" which cracked me up! Way to go Jett!

The Freedom Machine

2009-08-08T12:23:00.001-05:00

Came across this great video and an interesting quote from Susan B. Anthony, "Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world." Right on Suzy.

Unexpected benefit

2009-08-07T09:19:00.006-05:00

Before I started biking everywhere, I used to jump in the car to drive to the gym which is less than one mile from my home. (Feel free to guffaw out loud) My thinking at the time was that during the winter I would need a place to work out when it was too cold, icy, etc. Not having much experience with winter road conditions, what I failed to realize was that when it is icy, driving to the gym is not a good idea. Also I found that when it rains really hard here, flooding occurs that has shut the gym down no less than three times in one year for about a day or so.

When I decided to spend the summer using the bike to get around I decided: NO MORE biking to the gym. While I do have a quick jaunt on the trail and a local road, cars inevitably reduce their speed a bit, are less aggressive, and nothing scary has happened. However, what I have found is that if I spend time during the day getting around by bike, I don't need to go to the gym and some days I am simply too tired. I come home from biking, do some situps and call it a day.

Today I did bike to the gym, walked on the treadmill for an hour, and noticed that I had to increase my speed from normal by over 15% in order to get my heart rate up. I walk on a steady incline that starts at 3 % and every 5 minutes I raise the incline by 1% so that I am usually between an 8-10% incline after an hour of walking. I am good and tired when I finish. But today, even with the steady incline, I had to walk over 15 % faster to get my heart rate up. The first few times this happened (about a month ago) I thought the treadmill was off or possibly broken and so I just cranked it up and kept going. Today I realized it is because I have been biking everywhere and I am fitter so it takes more effort to get my heart rate up. Nice discovery.

As I biked home, I added up how much I have spent on a gym membership this year and it came to $600. I don't think I am going to renew my membership when it comes due this winter. It is a great gym with great people but I am fitter from riding for transportation and recreation than I ever got from all these years of walking on treadmills in one place. And now I am going to be $600 richer! As Austin Powers would say..."Yeaaah baby"! :-D

No Car September Challenge

2009-08-06T19:15:00.005-05:00

I received a flier about the PedNet No Car, Low Car, Whoa! Car bike challenge this September and I have just about decided to commit to the No Car challenge. My biggest concern was that I will get back to teaching this fall and usually have quite a bit of 'stuff' (teaching supplies, etc) that are invariably part of my workday. I wondered how I would get everything I needed to school in my panniers because as spacious as they are, they won't fit it all very easily. However, since getting the Burley I will be able to haul all my teaching supplies to work with room to spare. So that little problem is solved. I can also pack extra clothes and any freshening up supplies as well. No need to scare my students with massive helmet head.

I can easily take the MKT to school in September with no problem, so the commute is not hairy at present. I would like to feel more confident commuting in the rain and colder weather. Having spent a good portion of my childhood in the South, 100+ degrees in summer and rampant humidity are par for the course but winter weather-well, no so much. From what I can tell from talking with other riders, cycling produces plenty of heat so hopefully with proper dress (don't know what that is just yet) all should be well.

On another note, I rode into town this afternoon to run some errands and as I was entering the MKT I looked down and there was an indigo bunting sitting on the ground. I had been fiddling with something on my bike and did not see him until I was very close. I stopped, he stopped, and then he flew away. I never tire of seeing those little birds!

Burley happiness!

2009-08-05T16:38:00.004-05:00

Today I bought a Burley flatbed bike trailer off Craigslist. It is my first Craigslist buy and my first bike trailer. I have wanted one of these for awhile because I could see how useful they are and how much it will reduce my car usage. At present, I need the car for very few things--maybe only one or two trips per month. With this trailer, I can be car free in no time. I have to give a big shout out to RJ who gave me the heads up on this deal and gave it a look-see to make sure all was in order. Thanks RJ!

Yogurt vs. Gasoline

2009-08-04T14:29:00.000-05:00

I try to keep up with The Neistat Brothers from time to time as they demonstrate some serious bikey love. This little feature film is one of my favorites: