The Cycling Dude

An Overdue Thank You for a Podcast Mention

I'm late! I'm late! I'm late for a very im, oh wait, that's been done before, sorry. ;-D

Way back in the Fall, when my friend Fritz, of Cyclelicious, told me about mentioning me in a Podcast, I thanked him, and went to listen to this momentous event.

While aware of Podcasting, I had never listened to such a thing before, and was only just beginning to consider the notion of doing one myself.

There is a lot about the world of computers, and the things we use to bring our thoughts to the wider world that I don't fully understand, and so when I tried to listen to the show, and nothing happened, I figured there might be some expensive program I needed.

Ah, well, at least I could add a new list of links in the sidebar to Podcasts so others could enjoy them. ;-D

In the months since, as other friends began to encourage me to consider this (I'd bought certain gear, and added a program earlier in 2007.), and to finally get more serious about it.

I listened to my first podcast, this morning, and realized my original mis-understanding about what in my computer would allow me to listen, and immediately went to find that old show.

The Spokesmen is a Cycling Roundtable that has now seen 30 episodes since Aug. 2006, and its collection of regulars, and guests, moderated by David, has quite the following among cyclists.

What fun! What an interesting collection of discussions Episode 25, from Ocober 29th, 2008, was! ;-D

I especially enjoyed the ones about the legal issues faced by the statewide bike ride, Ragbrai, and customer service in bikeshops.

The 2nd thing I loved about this show was that I got to finally put a voice to Fritz, and to Carlton, of Bike Biz, a British site, and magazine, for the cycling industry, and the award winning BikeBlog Quickrelease.tv. 

While I've never mentioned Bike Biz, that I remember, I've found it always interesting,

I will be adding these links to the magazine list, and blogroll in the sidebar. ;-D

I wish to, again, say thank you to Fritz, and to The Spokesmen, for the mention of The Cycling Dude in this episode.

It was a brief mention of a story I did during all the fires last October:

Where there's Smoke, there's Fire: Should You Ride?

It truly does mean a lot to this ordinary cyclist, a non-expert unlike them, to be mentioned in such a forum.

When I began Dude over 5 years ago I set the following mission for myself:

"An ordinary road cyclist spreads the word and the word is BICYCLE!"

I've witnessed the BikeBlogosphere grow, and evolve since then, and maybe I'm finally ready to try to take a few evolutionary steps of my own. ;-D

Want to Bike Around the World? Don't Know how Many Nations, or their Names? Let Yakko Help!

So you want to explore the world by bicycle?

Ok, fine, go right ahead, but, um, do you know how many nations there are, where they are located, and their names?

You need to be prepared, and I have just the one to help you!

The Animaniac character gives a glorious tour of the nations of the world (Cold War Era Roster.)!

I laughed until I cried! ;-D

Yakko - World Country Song

The Bicyclist, and Arlington National Cemetary: A Memorial Day Tribute

In March I took my first vacation of the year.

Originally I had intended to spend the whole 10 days with relatives in VA., but upon learning how easy it would be to go to DC, and how much cheaper the plane flight home from there would be, I found a Hostel to hunker down in, and spent the second half of my vacation in the Capitol of this great nation of ours.

After settling in at my Hostel, near Dupont Circle, I headed out on my first order of business.

A visit to Arlington National Cemetary.

Why choose Arlington as my first stop?

Because if it was not for the sacrifices of these brave patriot men, and women, there would be no America as we know it, and no Washington DC, for this grateful American to visit.

That's why.

As I walk down the avenue to the entrance I avoid looking toward the graves until I'm back out the other side of the Visitor Center with a map in hand.

The sight that greets your eyes, as you finally begin to explore the grounds, is breathtaking, sobering, and humbling.

Row upon row of markers, intersected by streets that take the visitor, on foot, or by tourmobile, all over the cemetary.

Arlington gets 4 million visitors a year, and each one has a reason deeply personal, and unique, to them:

The child, or teen who is dragged reluctantly along by parents, and discovers, for the first time, that an ancestor or two are buried here, thus turning a boring side trip into a life changing experience.

Another child, or teen, coming with relatives, to bury, or pay respects to, a mother, father, or sibling lost in service to our nation.

People coming to pay respects to, or bury friends, not just family.

History, and art buffs coming for the chance to walk through history, and explore the headstones, and monuments, for what they say, and for their architecture.

Genealogists, both amatuer, and professional.

The reasons are many.

As I walked around I came across a most unexpected sight in this most sobering of surroundings: A NO BICYCLING sign!

Yes, I laughed my head off. ;-D

There is a bike rack by the main entrance, near the Visitor Center, yet the first warning sign on the grounds themselves, telling the intrepid two-wheeled explorer that pedaling about the place is a serious no-no, is a mile away from the bike rack! ;-D

A guard told me there were more such signs elsewhere on the premises.

The Official Website of Arlington National Cemetary is a fascinating, fact filled, site, well worth exploring before, or after, your visit, or even if you never get the chance to visit in person (There are many photos.).

Is the Bicycle Art?

I just discovered another website to add to the sidebar:

Bicycle Fixation celebrates bicycles and bicyclists and has been around under different names since 1997.

It most recently added a blog to its site, and it is there that I came upon the answer asked in the title to this post:

Grant Petersen once described bikes as "movable art that can just about save the world." Maybe that sounds a bit fanciful, but maybe it really isn't....

Can bikes, plain or fancy, really be art?

Can a bike compare to a sonata, let's say?

Read the full piece by Richard Risemberg, and check out the website.

BART Says Welcome to Folding Bikes in Bay Area

Larry Lagarde, of Ride This Bike, reports:

Thinking about cycling in the San Francisco area? Here's some good news for you. Bay Area Rapid Transit is actually encouraging mass transit users to take folding bikes aboard their BART light rail network.

BART recently released a video profiling a woman cyclist that uses her folding bike in combination with rides on BART to commute and get around. The video is part of BARTtv News, an effort to communicate with more potential transit users via the Internet.

Larry links to the video, and includes the transcript of the story in case it doesn't work.

This a great news for users of Mass Transit in the Bay Area.

REI Invites Cycling Dude to Speak at Bike Commuting Clinic

Last night the Huntington Beach REI held a clinic, and yours truly was among the featured participants. ;-D

REI is working with OCTA to promote bike commuting in the local area.

With safety the number one concern about commuting in the county, education is a large part of the efforts being made to make our roads safer for those working so hard to reduce the environmental, and economic strains.

On May 6th I was approached by Steve Kennedy, Action Sports Specialist in the Cycling Dept. who has helped me with my bike, and commented on the blog several times, in the past:

Hey, Steve from REI-HB here, I'm having a free class on commuting at the store on 5-15 Thursday night at 7 pm. Please come. I would like to have you say a few words about OC biking and your web site. This is the first class on commuting, I think there will be a lot of folks.

Steve

I was floored, then, once I got over my surprise, I was excited by the idea. ;-D

I didn't know until Monday if I could switch one of my days off, but  the switch was made, and to REI I went for the 7pm event.

It was a cool way to celebrate Bike to Work Week and Month. ;-D

I arrived at 645pm, and Steve took me into a back storage area whre he had set up 20 chairs, a couple of tables, and a screen for a slideshow presentation.

The first order of business was to surprise me by showing that he could access the internet and plaster this blog on the screen! ;-D

He optimistically expected 20 people, and I had enough copies of my promotional flier for the Dude to handle twice that number.

Attendees began to arrive, including one man who was already aware of this blog, thanks to Steve, and we chatted a few minutes.

Attendees included older men, and younger men, a young lady, and even a father with his young children.

As you can tell...it was standing room only!

There was enough room for all 7 attendees to stand if they were so inclined, hee, hee. ;-D

Steve gave out my flyer to the attendees, briefly introduced me, and began his presentation.

His slideshow touched on the benefits of bicycle commuting, how to select the proper bike, and tires, and preparing your bike for riding.

He showed us different tires, examples of headlights, and rearlight, and talked about the benefits of each.

Then the other guest arrived early, was introduced, and began his talk, and question and answer period.

Officer Stover, of the Huntington Beach Police, was filling in for the Officer who had planned to attend, but was unable to do so, and he did a splendid job.

While he brought up several subjects important not just to commuting, but cycling in general, the questions asked by his listeners, including myself, brought out more information, and insight, from him, than might otherwise occured, I think, and his combination of serious, and humorous, handling of this added immensely to the success of the evening.

He emphasized many important things:

1. Many motorists are not paying attention to you, the cyclist on their right, near the curbs.

I mean, um, well, between maneuvering their car, SUV, or 18-wheeler down the road, shaving, eating breakfast, yelling at the kids/spouse/ or others in the vehicle, and/or talking on the Cell Phone, or text messaging, they can't be expected to be fully aware of their surrounding now can they?

He made the point that because of the dangerous behavior of some motorists it was important that any cyclist on the road be a defensive driver, and take charge of his/her ride.

Knowing how to ride safely in the streets makes the journey safer for you, and those around you.

He expressed pleasure that texting and certain ways of using a cell while driving, will soon be big no-nos in state law..

2. He made the point that cyclists riding at night need to make themselves seen, through proper lights, and even reflective clothing, and that it is illegal for cyclist to ride with earphones in their ears, for radios, and ipods, and that using a cell phone while cycling was illegal , too.

3. There was a great discussion of Bike Lanes, with me bringing up the different variety we cyclists have to deal with, especially those placed on the left of where cars are allowed to park on streets.

As I mentioned how I hated those particular types, and why, the discussion centered on safe riding in the street, and how taking the lane, using hand signals, and the type of clothing worn, not to mention proper lights at night, can often help a cyclist make his/her presense known to the motorists around them.

4. He agreed, and disagreed, with me on the safety of cycling on the sidewalk.

While just about everywhere cycling on the sidewalk is illegal, he said thre are times where it might be advisable such as with young children, and under conditions where it might actually be neccessary to continue for a time, and I agreed.

Nobody wants to see 2 year old Susie haulin' her behind down Bristol on a tricycle, or 10 year old Tommy, on his 3 speed, out there either. ;-D

Speaking of minors... They MUST wear a helmet, and have it buckled. Police give out a lot of tickets, near schools, just for this infraction alone

5. 90% of stolen bicycles will never be recovered because owners never write down the serial # of their bicycle.

6. Many officers, including himself, consider INTENT over the LETTER OF THE LAW, and try to be fair, when dealing with cyclists.

7. In Huntington Beach, a major, famous, coastal community, many of the accidents involving cyclists come in 3 varieties:

A. Cyclists going in the wrong direction.

B. Bike on Bike: As hard as it may be to believe...some group cyclists ride too close to each other, resulting in collisions.

C. Incidents with motorists at driveway entrances and exits.

Busy Pacific Coast Highway is a popular route for club/group rides, even during busy traffic periods, whic are frequent.

8. While he agreed that more and more cities have Cops on Bikes, and more departments are making sure officers on patrol are aware of Bicyclists, and issues surrounding our presense on the street, such activity varies based on the needs of the communtiy.

As certain new shopping/tourist venues are developed in the the city in the future, more Bicycle Patrols may appear.

The city currently focuses most of its efforts toward education of minors.

Finally it was time for Officer Stover to go, and Steve asked me to take the stage.

Who, um, me? Oh, yeah, um, hi there!. ;-D

Not knowing how long I was expected to speak I came with some basic themes in mind, and hope that, in my own, inexperienced, way I was able to get them across.

After introducing myself, and making sure everyone had a copy of my flier, explaining about The Cycling Dude, and what it had to offer.

I think I must have looked silly, as I kept getting Steve to scroll my website up, and down, on the screen, so I could point out several sections of recources in the sidebar, and talked briefly about what I write about, an why. ;-D

I talked about my life long use of my bike, including in tandem with mass transit, and how Bike Trails such as the Santa Ana River Trail, the San Juan River Trail, the Aliso Creek Trail, the Beach Trail, and the Mountains to the Seas Trail in the OC (I'm tossing the the San Gabriel River trail, Rio Hondo Trail, and Los Angeles River Trail in Los Angeles County, the Santa Ana River Trail in Riverside and San Bernardino County, trails in San Diego County and new trails in San Bernardino County into the mix as I write this report after the event.) all offer fine, daytime, routes, for part of, or all of, the commute of a cyclist.

I mentioned that I knew of a local cyclist that uses one of those contrations (Charriots/Trailers they are often called) for pulling your kids behind your bike on a ride for carrying up to $80 worth of groceries on a shopping trip!

I talked about how there are maps, and websites online that can help people find places to ride, and that some cities, such as Long Beach do more than offer the standard street map, but specifically aimed at cyclists in their community.

I discussed the various types of resources that can be found on my blog, and online in general.

As I talked, I was nervous, yet focused on what I was hoping to share.

As I talked the 7 eventually became 6, then 4, then 3, then 2, then 1. ;-D

I knew this wasn't a reflection on me, but of the interest of the attendee, and the need to be somewhere else, and I just hoped they took my flier home with them, and make use of it in their lives, and the lives of their friends.

With one person left I brought my presentation to an end.

The man asked a few questions, and that was that.

Steve assured me I did fine and, for the first time in the spotlight, maybe I did, but the experience shows me that preparing for a presentation, and standing up in front of an audience, no matter the size, to give it, are not as easy as it seems.

The last time I did anything similar to what I did last night was in school. ;-D

For a tour of the best writing on this blog, over the last five years:

Cycling Dude 101: The Best of My 1st 5 Years of BikeBlogging

Watch Mat Barlow, of Bikes Belong, in a cool video on the benefits of Bike Commuting: Bicycling for Short Trips: Good for You and the Environment.

A Tip of the Hat to brand new BikeBlogger Cycle Pig for the heads-up on the video!

I wish to also thank Steve, and REI, for inviting me to participate in this event. ;-D

Shake don't Wag?

There you are riding your bike down the road, minding your own business, when a motorist pulls up alongside you, and gives you a piece of his/her mind.

Many cyclists just ignore it, and pedal on, others return the favor.

Then there are some, like Bill Strickland, of Sitting In, at Bicycling.com.

As long as the motorist doesn't pull a gun on you it's a great idea. ;-D

Oh,  and riding safely puts you in the right from the get go.

Commenters address the safety concerns of this story, and I like Bill's reply in comments.

A New BikeBlogger Joins Me in the OC

I recently received an e-mail:

My name is Erick Cave and about 1 year ago in March my wife and I got the crazy idea to give up our cars, and switch to using bicycles and public transportation. 6 months into our experiment the Orange County Register asked to do an article on us. The article was on the front page of the Sunday paper. You can read the entire thing for yourself here...

Now, after a year, I've enjoyed my bicycling so much that I'm constantly trying to advocate bicycles and public transportation to people I know all over O.C. . In this attempt, I've created my own blog with the goal to "provide information and education to the people of the O.C. about alternative forms of transportation with a focus on bicycles, public transportation, and pedestrian access."

The blog is new, so not much there yet, but more will be added as time goes by. Not only will I continue to add videos and articles about cycling from around the web, but my own original articles and videos as well. I want to show people how great their lives can be if they just stopped seeing the car as a necessity and started seeing it as I do, an occasional tool that can be rented as needed.

My approach to advocacy isn't a political one, but a social one. It's my hopes that by introducing more people to bicycling as an alternative form of transportation that political change will come easier. I want to create a desire in people to ride. I want to educate drivers on how to look out for cyclists. I want to help make the O.C. a safe place to ride.

Ugh, I don't want to ramble on about myself, my main reason for emailing you is because, well you're the first blogger/commuter in Santa Ana that I've heard of.

When I read your blog I was excited to see that you live in Orange County !

I'm currently trying to get involved with different social bike rides like Critical Mass but am having some difficulty figuring out which ones are still active. Most of the information on the net is out of date. I have found one ride in Costa Mesa, but I'd like to find more. I'm hoping that maybe you can direct me to the right path? I've even been thinking of starting my own ride! lol!

Anyway, I'm sure there's more of us out there, and I hope to get to know as many as I can. :) Once again, thanks for having a great blog, and if you'd ever like to get together for a nice social ride, just let me know. :D


Erick Cave

Well, How do ya like them apples? I ain't alone anymore. ;-D

I've been corresponding with him, and reading his blog, and I have 10 reasons you might find him worth keeping an eye on:

1. Erick began his blog, CycleDriven, in June 2007, with this post:

Nine weeks ago my family and I started on an amazing adventure.

Two months before that we had been having problems with our car. It was sucking up money like it was hair in a vacuum cleaner. If it wasn’t the gas we were paying, it was the constant repairs. In the last year we had already put about $3000 into it for engine, brakes, rewiring, etc. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another, and we were constantly waiting for it to break down again.

One day, while driving the wife to work, I asked an off handed question. Just a stray thought that had popped into my mind. I asked her, ” What would happen if we got rid of the car, and bought bicycles and started using public transportation ? “.

How it all started.

2. Encounter with clueless bus drivers are not new to many of us who Bike Commute, and Erick had an interesting experience of his own.

Mr. Bitter.

3. He has some interesting thoughts on common misconceptions about why people decide to go with public transportation and bicycling over the car.

Going green and money.

4. After a month he was of the opinion that "Life without owning a car has been great. In ways that I never even imagined."

What an adventure !

5. In an interesting post he admits that he still relys on a car 3 times a month, though he no longer owns one, and goes on to address several issues from not wearing a helmet, commute distance, and more.

Questions and statements.

6. In March Erick revealed his families "Plan" in a new category of posts he calls "How?":

What I plan on doing in this category is show you what we did and what strategies we used to get what we need done.

Every city is different. This plan goes on the assumption that you have a fairly descent public transportation where you live. If you don’t, then alternate strategies will have to be conceived by you to fit your location...

Every problem has an answer. In the year we’ve been doing this we have yet to find one transportation problem that couldn’t be solved with either a bicycle, bus, taxi, or car rental. As long as we plan out trips ahead of time, and don’t allow ourselves to be in a rush, we can get anywhere that we need to go. Each mode of transportation has it’s own intricacies, but after a few weeks, you and your family will be in the swing of things and you’ll wonder why you ever thought that you needed to own a car.

A very cool, and interesting post.

Part 1, the plan.

7. The family that rides together...

This is one very cool video of Erick, and his daughter, as filmed by his wife. ;-D

Together.

8. In this post Erick answers a question he thought he'd never be able to answer:

Why bicycle in O.C. ?

9. Last week Erick made a conquest, and a friend has joined him as Co-Blogger!

Meet Ray:

When my buddy Erick first told me that he had decided to get rid of his cars, my first thought was…”Are you kidding me”! After all we live in Orange County California, you NEED a car, or so I thought. We discussed it for several hours and he gave me lots of information, which I needed to process. Once I had the chance to think about why or how someone could use a bicycle vs. a car, it made perfect sense.

I never thought that I would contemplate trading in my cool gas guzzling muscle car for a bicycle that cost less than a month’s supply of high octane fuel. Okay, so I haven’t yet, but I will. I have a meeting with a friend of mine, who is one of the owners of Rock N' Road Cyclery, here in Orange County. He is going to help me find the perfect bike to fit my needs. I am not going as far as Erick and his family did. I will keep my car a bit longer; however I am going to park it for the most part and drive it as little as possible.

That is my dilemma and one Tough Choice to make.

10. In addition to the F.A.Q. Page, which introduces you, a bit more, to Erick and Ray, there is a Law Page that covers California Vehicle Code Division 11 - Rules of the Road.

I am so glad to add CycleDriven to the Blogroll, and encourage you to check him out.

Tennessee Cyclist Writes Open Letter to Motorists

May is National Bike Month in the United States.

A cyclist, calling himself splork, has written "An Open Letter to Car Drivers Everywhere", that should be read by cyclists, and motorists, alike:

I am a cyclist. I get on my bike and go for a pedal as time allows. I do it because it is what I do for exercise and recreation. I like the freedom. I like the rythym. I love everything about it, except one thing: People driving cars.

I am under constant siege by people in cars. When I go for a bike ride I am typically alone. I try to go out when the traffic is at a minimum. I stay as far to the right on the road as I can without inflicting another kind of danger to my health. I am simply a man on his bike. Unfortunately I am not safe.

So what is it about a guy, or gal, on their bike that causes so much aggravation to people who drive cars? Is it jealousy? 75% of Americans are overweight. I'm not. The people I know who ride bikes are certainly not. Odds say that 75% of the people aggravating me on my bike are overweight.

Is it because we look different?

Why the hatred?

One of the many points he makes, in this powerful piece, is  the following:

The problem is, if I'm not perfect I pay for it with my life. If you aren't perfect, I pay for it with my life. It doesn't matter if you are right or I am wrong, or I am right and you are wrong, when it comes to sharing the road, the cyclist always, always, always loses.

Always.

Read: I Am A Cyclist.

Hailing a 21st Century Rickshaw in Toronto, for Free

According to Wikipedia:

"Cycle rickshaws are Human-powered, often used on a for hire basis, equipped with one or more seats for carrying passengers in addition to the driver.

Cycle rickshaws are widely used in major cities around the world and are usually found in major urban centers, tourist attractions, and events that draw large crowds. Many cycle rickshaws have replaced less-efficient rickshaws that are pulled by a person on foot."

Wikipedia has some great info, including about where the contraprions are actually prohibited, and photos of different styles from around the world.

Cycle rickshaws are found in most large European cities, and have been gaining footholds in America, in New York, and CA..

The latest entry has just begun operation in Toronto, Canada, and won't charge a dime (or whatever the money in Canada is called!).

The above photo accompanied a story on Intelligent Traveller, which is one of two blogs I found that have reported on this.

Apparently this version, called an EcoCab, "runs mostly on a trained driver’s pedal-power, and is powered by a rechargeable electric battery".  (Toronto has hills, don't ya know, hee, hee!)

These emission-free three-wheelers go a spritely 7.5 miles an hour in bike lanes!

Rides are free, funded by advertising on the outside of each cab.

Intelligent Travel: Free EcoCabs, Eh?

According to the Torontoist:

"The Star also pointed out that the free service likely won't go over well with the notoriously cutthroat (not really) cadre of local rickshaw drivers (most of whom are merely in it for the money and—let's face it—glamour). It can't hurt, however, to have a new resource available for those environmentally conscious travellers who are willing to put up with a bit of B.O. so the earth doesn't have to deal the extra CO2."

Torontoist: Toronto's getting a free ride.

The comments on both blogs, about this, are an interesting mix. ;-D