First post for me this year

The Holly-daze is more or less over, now, and it's back to work! And, of course, I rode to work this morning.

Discussions over the weekend included whether to buy a different gas-powered vehicle, given the realities of our commuting and other wants/needs. My truck now has something like 225,000 miles on it, and will not last forever. The other car has been out of service since April. We've done reasonably well on one car and a bunch of bikes, but we haven't tried it in winter. Yet. At least, not a full winter.

One alternative idea was that I could get a bike better suited for winter roads, so that I could ride to the store from the end of TARC service lines if things are icy (using yards beside the roads if need be...). I have a set of grips and pedals coming from Ergon in the next few weeks, and this would be a great way to put them to use--enabling me to wear footwear that would be warmer than my usual cycling shoes or sandals, even WITH the Planet Bike shoe covers I recently purchased (more on those in a bit). I could get a really nice mountain bike with larger wheels and disc brakes, and that has room for some manner of fenders and ways to attach cargo racks (or use that Ergon backpack I'm about to receive), for well under a thousand dollars. And that's buying high-end new stuff. If I look around for something used, I could do for less money still. A car would cost several thousand dollars the first year of ownership. I'm kind of attached to the idea of not adding a monthly car payment to the outgoing budget lines!

Oh, those Planet Bike Blitzen shoe covers: NICE! They are warmer than the ones they replaced, AND more comfortable. I'm glad I got them. They are easier to put on over my big shoes than the old ones, too. I haven't tried them with my sandals yet, but will soon (a favorite way to deal with cold weather being to wear two pairs of warm socks with Gore-Tex socks in my sandals, to avoid constricting blood flow in my feet, then put shoe covers over all that for additional warmth). The sandal outsole is wider than that on my mountain bike shoes (Lake MX250 Wides, circa 2002).

Last post of the year in this blog

A couple of final blog thoughts for the year, in no particular order:

I am now listed on Ergon's blog as being part of the 2011 Ergon Commuter Team! I'm looking forward to seeing the new gear I'm getting, and testing it so that I can tell folks about it.

My final total for bicycle miles logged for 2010 is 5744. I could go out and ride another six miles to round it up, or I could change correct a few log entries from before we moved, or I could leave it as is.

It is now 12:3-something somewhere in the world. It will soon be midnight somewhere else in the world.

See you next year!

End of year thoughts

A few random thoughts:

I've logged a bit over 5700 miles for the year. If I went back and corrected my log entries from the time I was at the rental house, I'd probably get over 5900, if not 6000. However, I decided a couple months ago that it wasn't worth the effort. I'll just shoot for the 6K for 2011 by riding a bit more. Jenn and I will probably do some more club riding on the tandem this year, as well.

My 5700 miles is short of the mileages that some folks I know are putting down. Some of my friends and others I know are showing 8000, 8500 and 9000 miles for the year. Wow. Maybe when I grow up and don't have to work for a living (ha!) I can log miles like that. On the other hand, riding that much would take time away from other stuff I really like to do.

Gas prices are a hot topic in the news these days. The current price per gallon for regular as I type this is somewhere in the $3.15 range in Jefferson County. There have been predictions that we'll see $5/gallon prices in another year or so. I hate to see it, since so many people feel compelled to drive EVERYWHERE they go and it will have an effect on their budgets (and on the overall economy). However, high gas prices get a few more folks thinking about human-powered transportation, and once folks find ways to meet their transportation needs with bicycles (or by walking, or using public transit...), some will keep with it. Hopefully, some of those folks will come to classes presented by the Louisville Bicycle Club or by Bicycling for Louisville, so that they will know how to ride according to the rules of the road (and know when the rules may not apply to a situation).

Of course, some folks ask why I ride, implying that gas prices are a primary reason. Gas prices--or, more accurately, reduction in budgetary outflow buying gasoline--is one factor, of course. I've enjoyed riding to work for many years, though, even when gas was relatively much cheaper, so it is not just about saving money on gas. Saving money on car insurance is a smaller factor, but it's there. Same for making my car last longer by not using it as much (and thus not having to replace brake pads or other wear items as often).

I also save money on things like gym memberships by not needing a gym for aerobic exercise. Cycling doesn't give me much in the way of weight training exercise, but I lift stuff around quite a bit at work, and in the course of doing work around the house. I will probably add some weight work this year to maintain some muscle tone and mass this year.

Another thing I'm thinking about incorporating into my goals for the coming year is rock climbing. I used to climb a fair bit at Rocksport, but got out of the habit after a back injury some years ago. I enjoy the challenge rock climbing presents--I often refer to it as three-dimensional and not only in the x- y- and z-axes sense. It is a mental challenge--figuring out how to use the holds that are there. It's a physical challenge, of course. It's also an emotional challenge--"Do I trust myself and my gear?" Climbing in a gym is a great way to exercise, so that may be a big part of my workout routine in the coming year. It's not difficult for me to get to Rocksport from work by bike, so we'll see how that goes.

Gym climbing prepares a person for climbing on real rock--at least physically. It doesn't teach as much about how real rock challenges the climber mentally, though. On real rock, the holds are not bolted to a plywood wall, so they are not as obvious. Sometimes, real rock holds are inside cracks in the rock--something not many gyms replicate a lot. The last time I climbed on real rock (many refer to gym climbing as "climbing on plastic"), I was with a now-former girlfriend who had a VERY hard time with the transition from plastic to sandstone. I don't know how I could have done a better job of preparing her for the change, or that it mattered in the long run. I want to spend more time on real rock this year, if I can manage it. It would be good to have more time on the "sharp end of the rope," as the expression goes, as it would build my confidence a bit.

Jenn, her daughters and I are going to Rocksport this afternoon to play on the wall a while. We'll see how the experience goes, and see if it will be a part of our schedule going forward.

New shoe covers

On yesterday's ride to work, I noticed that my left shoe cover was coming apart. Actually, I had noticed that the fabric under the toe was failing some days ago, but there were some strands holding it together until yesterday morning. They gave up in the cold, such as it was.

Figuring that there is more sub-freezing weather to be dealt with between now and spring, I ordered a replacement pair of shoe covers yesterday. I had thought about getting some from Pearl Izumi, since my newest tights came from them and are quite good. No luck--their XL won't fit on my shoes, and the two cold-weather models that will be available in XXL won't be available for another month or more (what's the point of stocking them in February, gang?). Few of our suppliers have Craft shoe covers in stock at the moment, surprisingly. However, both QBP and J&B Importers stock Planet Bike's shoe covers, and J&B ships next day via UPS Ground sort!

I wound up buying a pair of Planet Bike Blitzen shoe covers instead of their Comet model, as they seem to have better wind resistance and insulation. I ordered the XXL size, which they indicate fits US shoe sizes from 11 1/2 up (but not far up...I don't think these would fit size 14 shoes, for example, but they might).

Ian Ritchie, aka The Soup Guy was by the store yesterday, and I mentioned to him that I had ordered these. He'll be interested in my eventual review of their suitability (or is that soupability?) for temps in the <20F range.

They arrived a while ago, and I'm pleased to say that they fit over my shoes with ease! I'm looking forward to seeing how they do in colder riding weather (I didn't really need them today, since the low this morning was over 30F).

Weather problems for folks "up east"

Boy, am I glad I haven't been caught up in the snow problems being "enjoyed" by folks east and north of us! Flights canceled or delayed by days, roads blocked, hotels full to over-flowing, and such cannot be any fun for the folks affected.

Of course, there are folks who really don't understand weather, climate or what causes weather to change or dump feet of snow on us. Pat Robertson is one such person. The link goes to a Huffington Post article that details Robertson's contention that the blizzard is his god's way of delaying "gay" activities (by punishing millions of people?).

I'm trying to find some way to rationalize his viewpoint. He wants people to believe that he believes it, and I presume he wants gay people to eschew their true selves and "be straight."

A couple months ago, I enjoyed reading Darrel W. Ray's The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture. The book begins with a chapter on how viruses work, to show why the analogy of describing religions in viral terms works so well. In later chapters, Dr. Ray discusses how religions (not specifically christianity, but also Islam and others) and the people who lead them (pastors, priests and other vectors, in consistency with the metaphor) use sexuality, guilt and fear to control religious people (hosts, to carry the metaphor).

Pat Robertson is one serious viral vector. Those who wish to not take him seriously fail to see the damage he can do to society with his heartfelt idiocy.

Holly-Dazed, and a new team membership for me

It's the week between christmas and New Year's Day. It's sunny today, but kind of cold (upper teens when I left the house this morning). One of my neoprene shoe covers failed on the way to work today, so that foot was a bit colder than the other when I arrived at the store. I've had Jenn fix them before, but there doesn't appear to be enough fabric left for another repair. Given that these were $45 (retail) covers some eight years ago, and that I paid wholesale for them, I figure they have served their useful life span. I've ordered a replacement pair, and should have them tomorrow. My rides home tonight and to work tomorrow will be marked with cold toes, but I'll survive.

I know folks who use flat pedals and warm shoes for riding this time of year. I'm fond of using shoes with SPD cleats for the 12.8-mile ride each way, and haven't tried using boots other than my mountain bike shoes or sandals with good socks as it typical for me. Soon, however, I will have some almost-flat pedals to test.

Several weeks ago, I learned of a contest for blog writers who cycle-commute sponsored by the folks at Ergon-USA. I made mention of it in a post to the local utility-bike list server, in case any other locals wanted to enter. I also entered, just to see what happened. The other day, I got email informing me that I've been chosen to be on the Ergon Commuter Team for 2011!

For being on this team, I get to talk about the goodies I get from Ergon. I get to put their logo here and on my Facebook profile. I get to (shamelessly) see how many times I can link to their web site in the text of a blog post.

And, of course, to type about their products, I get to have some samples of their products to enjoy! I get a pair of grips (I've chosen their BioKork), a pair of their gloves, and one of their cool backpacks to use for hauling stuff. I even get a pair of their new pedals to try out on my Raleigh! I'm looking forward to seeing how this stuff works for me, and sharing my opinions with all three or four of the folks who read my rabbiting-on-about-stuff here.

The backpack thing will be a different deal for me. I'm not usually one to use backpacks, mostly because I've been a recumbent guy for so long (nineteen years this coming March!). Since I wear a reflective jacket most of the time I'm riding in cold weather, I'm concerned that a backpack would block the view of it from overtaking road users' perspective. A friend asked me about backpack-vs.-on the bike bags, and my opinion is that the bike is hauling the weight regardless, so why should the weight also be on me?

That said, I see the value in having a backpack for many folks, some of whom lack the ability to park their bikes inside while at work (I work in a bike shop--my riding to work is part of my public image). A backpack makes it easy to ride up to an anchor, lock one's bike to said anchor, and walk away without having to remove panniers from the bike's racks. I have a couple of small packs that I've not used for utility cycling, so having a cycling-focused one should be interesting.

I'll be typing more about these goodies once I have them "in hand" and in use. Keep your eyes peeled--all however many there are of you!

5600!!

I took another look at my page on mycyclinglog.com the other day, to see whether it would make sense to change my mind on correcting the mileages on my commutes from the rental house. I had been listing that commute round trip at twenty-four miles, instead of whatever it really is (I've not measured it since correcting the calibration on the Vanguard). It's bound to be more than the 25.7 miles I usually log from the new house, and the correction could put me over 5700 miles for the year.

As it stands, my ride to work this morning tipped me to the 5600 mark, or would if I was tracking the ride to work and the ride home as separate trips. I'll log it when I'm home, and be satisfied with that.

I may change to logging each side of the work commute for next year, as the Louisville Bicycle Club is adding a commuting program for 2011, and counting trips as well as miles. The program is in its infancy, so we are not sure what we'll do with the data we gather. I doubt I'll win any jerseys through that program, as I don't ride as much as some others who are already likely to participate.

I do want to track use of all the bikes in the garage this year, plus keep track of how much we use any car or cars. Again, I'm not sure what if anything I will do with the knowledge I gain from doing so, but I am curious enough that I want to see what we find. I'm fairly sure I've ridden more than I've driven this year--certainly have made more trips by bike than by car--but it would be nice to know for sure.

Back to riding

The weekend weather was warm enough to get the last of the ice that was keeping me from riding to melt away. I got to ride to work today!

Of course, one of the roads I usually use was blocked for tree work, so I had to reroute a bit. Oddly enough, it was the one road that was still icy enough that I figured I would be walking a few yards here and there. The reroute had me riding on KY22 for a mile or so, but since only fifteen cars passed me in that mile (about the same number as used to pass me going across the Clark Bridge in the mornings), it wasn't horrible at all.

Indeed, I've ridden KY22 from Hurstbourne Parkway out a couple times, and despite that 22 is not my favorite road, it is not as horrible as it might be. It helps that I'm going the opposite direction compared to most of the traffic that time of day, of course. I see no reason to make a habit of going that way instead of my regular route, but once in a while it's not bad.

GAA!

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, in its infinite lack of wisdom, has chosen to offer the upper plate as an option--at no additional charge--to theocrats and other viral victims who want to flout their religion to the rest of us. Never mind that my tax dollars are going to support this nonsense, and in so doing, lend some credence to the hypochristians who think their god rules all.

The First Amendment to the US Constitution holds that the Country shall not establish a religion, or favor any one religion above any others. Kentucky's Constitution is even more strongly worded. But Governor Beshear seems to not care about this, as long as he can pander to the reactionary religionistas (some call them the Tealiban, as so many of the more vocal among them are also part of the tea party movement that is sweeping up so much enthusiasm among the lower-minded).

At least they are not desecrating my license plate option. Speaking of which, I've learned that I can get a Share the Road plate personalized! The link I cited shows you how yours would look if you personalized it.

At least I can think of a positive way to end a blog post--I can order a personalized STR plate!

That was the week that was...icy

I've driven to work all week. I missed the Car-Free Happy Hour last night, mostly because I didn't feel up to riding on what I expected would be hard-to-see ice spots on my way home, with the inevitable motorist right behind me following too close to avoid running right over top of me should I lose lateral traction and fall.

I've driven over a good portion of my usual cycling route (and looked at some I've chosen not to drive, since I don't have tire chains or studded tires on my truck), and found that at least a mile of it remains ice-covered. I don't have a bike with ice studs in the tires.

The temperatures haven't been that bad for riding--mostly above my last-season threshold of 20F--but I've chosen to not risk riding on ice. I only need two more round trips to work and back to break that 5600-mile mark, anyway. Maybe I can get those rides in next week if things melt off some over the weekend.

To soothe my psyche, Jenn and I ate at Taj Palace on Goose Creek Road last night. YUM. We had a chance to talk over some family stuff, and that was good.

The icy roads in our neighborhood have prompted me to wonder whether I could find YakTrax to fit the dog. I bought a pair for Jenn and a pair for myself a few years ago, and find them indispensable at times like these, when the precipitation melts and refreezes, leaving a nice, smooth layer of glare ice on top of whatever is already on streets, driveways, sidewalks and such. The poor dog couldn't walk on some of the driveways we normally encounter on our walks. This morning, his sense that he could walk on snow got challenged as the ice layer was strong enough that he wasn't crunching through easily. I would really prefer that he NOT hurt himself trying to walk on ice. The UltraPaws Traction boots we got him earlier in the week are not much good on glare ice.

A fellow whose name I like so well I let other folks call me by it came in this morning and ordered three bikes for his daughters. That also helps my day!

Yeah, I drove

It doesn't take but so much for me to rationalize driving to work: In today's case, a sheet of ice on the street in front of my house, roughly a quarter-inch thick, did the trick. I don't have any bicycles equipped with ice-savvy treads.

I think my friend David has studded tires on his LHT, and I'm going to watch his blog to see whether he rode today and how other traffic managed around him.

Given the condition of my own street *, I figured that Rollington Road and Houston Lane would be dicey for two-wheel travel. I drove Jenn to work, then traveled LaGrange Road to Crestwood, so I haven't seen Westport Road today. Considering the condition of LaGrange Road in and near Anchorage, I would have had to allow an extra half-hour for dealing with slick spots.

*The City of Lyndon, to whom I pay property taxes as a homeowner, saw fit to send a snowplow of some sort down our street (even though it's a dead-end), judging from the "footy prints" and plow spoor I saw beside the roadway. If the snow had been deeper, I would have been okay with this. As it is, I think doing so only exposed the sheet of ice that had developed as the road surface cooled to below-freezing temperatures after the rain we had before it got cold enough to snow. When I walked the dog this morning, I was skating around quite a bit (so was the dog, which was a form of entertainment for both of us judging from his activity level). When Jenn and I left the house, we saw a car in a ditch a block or so away, at the outside of a curve in the road. It looked as if the driver had misjudged his ability to manage his car on the slick road. I would have stopped to help him--I even have a towing strap in my truck--but I knew I wouldn't have enough traction to pull his car out of the ditch.

Whew! An assortment of mile markers!

Yesterday's ride to work nudged me over the 5500 mile mark for the year! Since I rode the Raleigh to work a couple days this week, the YTD mileage on that bike is now over 1000. By the time I get home tonight, the Vanguard will have over 3300 miles on it for the year. I got over the 3500 mark for riding to and from work last week some time. Based on the tags I use in mycyclinglog.com's system, I have used bicycles instead of cars for over 4000 miles this year.

Wowsers! That's pretty cool. I'm not car-free, but I've sure had a good time riding instead of driving!

All this has led me to think about how much driving the typical American does in a year. For a couple years in the 1990s, I was driving over twenty-five thousand miles a year, mostly getting to and from two or three jobs a week in far-flung areas (I lived in Old Louisville, worked as a ramp-rat at UPS at night and doing construction work in Oldham County, eastern Jefferson County and parts of Shelby County during the day, plus odd-jobs here and there all over town). In those days, I probably put two or three thousand miles a year on whatever car I had in out-of-town travels (vacations and such), so twenty-two thousand local miles a year--a LOT of miles.

Many folks drive because they have far-flung activities they need to manage--either their own or of their kids. Or, perhaps, they have far-flung activities because they drive to them, instead of choosing to create activities closer to home (say, within cycling distance). Many homes are in subdivisions with one exit (or maybe two, depending on zoning issues). Some of these subdivisions are way outside the Watterson Expressway, and the residents work downtown, and get to "enjoy" clogging the Interstates every morning and afternoon, losing more time to each other than any of them do to me in months of passing me out on the roads I ride. People drive to work, drive home, then drive to a restaurant, or to shop, or to a movie, or whatever. They seem to think nothing of driving.

I wonder whether that's part of their problem with me as a cyclist. They just don't really think about cycling as an alternative to their habitual driving everywhere for everything. They see bikes (or more accurately, bicycle-shaped objects) sold in stores like Mal-Wart's toy section, and think of bikes as toys or at best fitness gear like a home gym (and think bikes should be used in narrowly-defined places, OUT OF THE WAY of their own travels). They don't think of what the authors of blogs like Copenhagenize call "citizen cyclists," those who ride because it's quicker, easier, safer and more enjoyable than motoring within a given radius, and who don't dress just for riding, but ride in whatever clothes they are wearing for work, shopping, socializing and such.

It is all about one's choices.

Part of my choice in where I bought a house was "can I ride to what I want to do, and can we ride to our jobs readily from here?" Part of my choice in my line of work is that I can use my job as a bully pulpit to encourage others to ride instead of driving. Part of choosing where I shop for groceries is how easy it is to get there from home by bike.

I am pretty sure we will track truck miles, but I haven't decided how I'm going to track the miles we put on the truck this coming year. I'm thinking that it would be interesting to have that information, and then figure out what to do with it, and how it compares to the bike mileages. I may see about getting Jenn to track her miles, too, just to see where that goes.

Car Free Happy Hour this coming Thursday!

It's that time again!

Smoketown, USA has decent barbecue, although there are some who prefer the meat be basted with sauce during the smoking process. At least this way, one gets to choose which sauce gets more attention. All the sides are vegetarian, so folks who don't eat meat can still find edible food there! Smoketown often has a good assortment of brewed adult beverages, as well.

I get to go this time, too, so I look forward to seeing you there!

Almost there

I almost feel like going out and riding another five miles just for the heck of it. My ride home from work tonight got me within three miles of logging 5500 miles for the year. It also got me over the 1000 mile mark for miles recorded on my Raleigh for the year.

The heck of it is that if I corrected the mileages for April, May and June to reflect the cyclometer calibration problem I had a few months ago, I'd probably be closer to 5600 miles already. Be that as it may, I'm going to leave those numbers alone. I corrected the numbers for trips from the house we own, and I've decided that any shortage of miles logged from the rental house will be offset by the occasional mistake in logging miles on the Raleigh--I don't have a computer on that bike, and estimate miles on it based on miles recorded on similar trips on the Vanguard. It's just a number, anyway. My legs are not calibrated in miles.

Who knew that I would record almost a fifth of my annual mileage on a wedgie bike?

New temperature threshold

I don't know why I had been such a wimp on temperatures the last few years. I really don't. When I was a teenager, I all but didn't GET cold--the band director my freshman year in high school nicknamed me "Old Anti-Freeze" after I showed up for school in a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled above my elbows, and no coat anywhere in sight. I had ridden the bus to school, which involved waiting for said bus at the stop down the street from the house.

It was something like 6F that morning.

Of course, part of what was fueling my ability to stay warm in sub-freezing temperatures was that I was a teenager. I was known for my appetite among friends who were also teens and who also had large appetites, since they were teens. Even into my late thirties, I could eat more than some fairly active teenagers.

Maybe that's why I've always been a stocky person. I've not been reed-thin. Ever. Oh, I was thinner--in my mid-twenties, I wore pants with size 32 waist. Most of the jeans I have now are size 36, although I can sometimes get into a size 34 pair. I have some "insulation" to spare.

Since I turned thirty, though, I had noticed a steady upward trend to my low threshold. I started getting cold sooner and sooner in a same-length period outing in sub-freezing temperatures. I started finding coats useful.

In my cycling, I had determined some years ago that my low threshold was 30F. This was mostly a function of two factors--gloves and footwear--although I also found that I didn't like wearing enough layers of clothing to ride in colder weather.

Two winters ago, I was riding to work from St Matthews to N'Awb'ny, and struggled a bit with the few 30F mornings I rode. My blog entries from that period discuss some of my reluctance to ride in weather below that threshold (have I REALLY been keeping a blog that long?). Toward the end of that season, I found some good gloves, and that helped a LOT. My feet were still cold enough often enough that I was still not quite "there," though.

I've found that keeping my legs warmer helps keep my feet warmer, so last season I bought some warmer tights. I don't like having lots of layers on, but multiple thin layers usually work better for me than one thick layer. Even so, this pair of tights was of such better quality than the tights I had been using that my temperature threshold dropped ten degrees right away. I've been saying for almost a year that 20F was my new low threshold for commuting by bike.

I'm still not but so interested in riding for pleasure at such temps, but will on occasion.

Then came this morning. I was getting out of bed to feed cats and dress for walking the dog when Jenn mentioned that the outside temperature was fifteen degrees. Oh, and she will be taking the truck because she has an assortment of errands in several parts of town today. Did I want her to take me to work?

I figured that I was doing well enough with twenty degrees that I would try fifteen. All I should need is one more thin layer, right?

I changed my base layer to a thermal jersey I've owned for a few years, and added one wind shell (for a total of two). I added one very thin base layer under the jersey at the last minute.

My hands and feet were cooler than I like within a third of my trip, but never got cold enough that they were painful. My face had some cold spots where I couldn't cover skin with my balaclava, but it was tolerable. My mustache iced up, of course, but thawed out almost instantly once I got inside.

I will have a headwind on the way home, though. And the temperature won't be appreciably warmer.

Should be fun.

Mileage update

Some days ago, I mentioned that I expect to top 5500 miles for the year 2010. That will probably happen in the coming week, as my YTD mileage is now at 5438. Of the five bikes I'm tracking in my log, the most mileage is on my Vanguard, at 3250. Second-highest is my Raleigh, at 976, third is the tandem, at 720 or so (actually, this reflects miles ridden on two tandems, but since the one we own is the same model as the one we had been borrowing, it seemed a reasonable short-cut in bookkeeping). My "fast bike," the Bacchetta Strada, has less than 350 miles on it for the year, and I've put a bit less than 150 on Jenn's Giro 26 (we keep it out at the shop to allow for recumbent demonstrations, and I'll ride it on the shop club ride if Jenn doesn't bring the tandem out, as it's a sight faster than my Vanguard on that route).

So, less than five hundred miles on fast bikes in the stable for the year. According to the Louisville Bicycle Club's stats page, I have a bit less than 1500 club miles for the year. Given that about 275 of those club miles related to the New Rider Clinics, I've ridden FAR more transportation miles than "fast" miles--roughly twenty-two percent of my riding has been performance-oriented, and even less if I consider that I was ride captain a few times and wasn't riding as hard as I could have on those days.

It might be interesting to track the mileage on my truck next year--we didn't do so this year. I know I've ridden more than I've driven in terms of days and trips. I probably have put more miles on bikes than I have on the truck, as well, but I've also driven the truck over a thousand miles this month in my recent trip to Virginia. I've not tracked Jenn's riding vs. driving, so I don't know what her ratio is.

The return home and an assortment of random thoughts

After figuring I'd accept a ride home from work Saturday, I  rode the bike home instead. The roads were merely wet. It was still precipitating--that "winter mix" we so enjoy--but there had been enough traffic on the roads that their surfaces were warm enough (and perhaps salted/brined enough) that there was less ice and slush buildup than I dealt with in the morning. Aside from that I've never been over-fond of riding in rain, and especially not wet weather combined with near-freezing temperatures, it was not a bad ride. I even got to see four or five deer rushing through the woods beside Rollington Road (I apparently surprised one, and her departure startled a few more...).

One passenger in a passing SUV yelled something at me, and it sounded like he was asking whether it was too cold to ride. Of course, the SUV was going fast enough that there was no opportunity for anything like a dialog.

Motorists don't seem to WANT any dialog. They mostly want to be on their way, I suppose, just as I do. Few seem to wish me personal harm, although there are a few who would rather I be out of their way and who are quite vocal about it.

Those seem to feel an inflated sense of self-importance, especially compared to some lonely figure pedaling a bike on a snowy afternoon. I have news for them. I'm just as important as they are. My time is just as important to me as theirs is to them. By riding a bike, I get to multi-task with a different set of tasks than theirs. I get to exercise while getting where I'm going. I get to save money on transportation so that I can use that money on something I'd rather buy--like nicer food, or more appropriate clothing for me, or a more comfortable house than I might have had if I was strapped into a monthly car payment that is half my take-home pay.

I could be as smug about riding instead of driving as many anti-bicycle folks accuse me of being. Sometimes I probably am, just as they are ridiculously smug about their inflated self-importance enough to assume that because they are willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money for the privilege of operating a motor vehicle they should have priority over me when it comes to road lane allocation.

I prefer to ride my bike instead of driving for many reasons. Not just that it's cheaper. Not just that it has become part of my persona. Not just that I'm getting exercise by doing so. Not just that I'm setting an example by showing it can be done. Not just these reasons alone or in combination.

On my way home yesterday afternoon, I stopped by The Trail Store to see what was happening there. I really like this store for several reasons: It's close--less than a mile and a half from my house, it's locally-owned, the staff are great folks who are encouraged by the store owners to be up to date on their gear knowledge, they carry Vibram Five Fingers shoes in a wide assortment of styles and colors, and so on. When I walked in, I was greeted by another reason I like the store, their current CCO (Chief Canine Officer), Murphy.

Murphy is a year-old Great Dane, and his coloring is a striking blue brindle (or perhaps merle with no white). Murphy is not yet full-grown, and only weighs about 120#. His head is larger than several Great Dane heads I've seen over the years, and is high enough from the floor at normal posture than I can pet him with my elbow at a ninety-degree angle. I suspect that Murphy will fill out to between 150 and160 pounds at some point. He clearly likes coming to work with his person, as he gets lots of attention and pets from customers. Despite his puppy-ish energy levels, he seems to get that he's inside and he doesn't romp around tearing down clothing displays.

Sloppy commute

I don't live in Copenhagen. I am thus not as ready to ride when it's snowing.

Of course, as my commute is a bit more rural than urban, the roads I ride are also not as clear as urban roads in Copenhagen (I've read that they have equipment dedicated to clearing the bike ways AND that they typically do those first--BEFORE clearing roads used by cars!).

Still in all, when I awoke this morning to the sight of snow on the neighbor's roof, I knew I was in for a sloppy ride. When I walked the dog (third on my to-do list on getting out of bed, right after feeding the cats), I was glad to see that the temperature was warm enough that the roads wouldn't be horribly slick--I could ride to work! Jenn has some stuff going today and will need the truck, so getting to work on my own made her morning a bit easier.

The only real problems I had, other than a bit of "pucker factor" changing tire tracks on Westport Road (through a ridge of slush) and a brief moment of "do I really want to ride down the slope on Rollington Road?" was at the rail crossing going from Mt Mercy Drive in Pewee Valley to LaGrange Road. That rail was SLICK! So was the stuff alongside it that makes it a smoother transition for wheels crossing the track! I kept it upright, though, and got onto LaGrange Road just fine.

A few motorists started to act impatient, but it was easy to imagine them thinking, "That guy is CRAZY! I'm giving him some room--he might act even crazier if I don't!" A couple passed me close enough that their tires were spraying the slush ridge at me, so my left leg got a bit damp, but overall things went well enough.

The trip home looks to be a different challenge. I may accept a ride from someone instead of cycling it.

Lazer Urbanize helmet--an update

I have a couple of these helmets now. I started with a white one that has red stripes, and added one like this picture a month or so ago. Jenn has a brown one.

I started to worry about future availability of this one when I saw size/color combinations  being discontinued by QBP, one of the wholesalers we use at the shop. I felt better when I saw the 2011 colors introduced. I've not found a way to show the catalog on here, but I'll keep looking. In the mean time, if you are interested in an Urbanize helmet, drop me a line and we'll talk color/size availability. The helmet is $100, or $80 without the $30 light set. I may be able to get a deal on a close-out size/color combination as well.

I really like the fit of this helmet. The RollSys is a neat method for adjusting the internal shape and size of the retention system, and the helmet breathes well at fairly low speeds. While the integrated lights (front and rear) are dim compared to things like the Planet Bike SuperFlash and the DiNotte taillights some friends have, they are far less likely to get knocked off the helmet in the course of regular handling. They are powered by coin batteries (CR2032 size), but they do make a difference. I was riding with Jenn one night several weeks ago, and let her get well ahead of me to get a sense of how visible she is to other road users (and since her light/reflector/clothing plan is similar to my own, I figure I can also get a sense of how visible I am). I could see the light in the back of her helmet, and how it helps other road users figure out what that UFO-looking thing up the road really is.

For winter wear (and one reason I now have two of this helmet), Lazer has introduced a $20 liner for this helmet.

To install this liner, one removes the existing padding (held in place with Velcro), and places the pads sewn into this liner in their places. The ear flaps have elastic bands affixed through which go the main helmet straps.

I finally got a chance to test this liner a few times last week. I like it, overall: It's comfy, and it keeps my forehead and ears warm on a fairly cool commute (low 30s F). I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did NOT need my usual silk balaclava to be tolerant of, if not completely comfortable at, that temperature. I'll be looking forward to seeing how this liner feels at my current temperature minimum of 20F for the hour or so commute.

The ear flaps have a curious feature that is apparently intended to allow sound through without the severe noise attenuation that would impede noticing traffic cues. My largest complaint with the liner is that it increases the wind noise ALL the time. It's not horrible, but it is noticeable.

To my knowledge, the only US distributor for Lazer Helmets is QBP. However, MANY bike shops buy from QBP, so it's easy enough to find a local bike shop that can order this for you. As may seem obvious, the shop where I work buys from QBP, and I can get you this helmet and liner if you like.

I'm back!

I consider myself a very lucky man. How many folks in my age group can go visit a living grandparent? How many of my high-school classmates knew any of their great-grandparents?

I've known three of my biological grandparents fairly well. My mother's father died when I was a youngster--I was probably five at the time--and had had health problems for over ten years before that, so I really didn't get to know him at all. I only remember having seen him once or twice. On the other hand, my paternal grandmother's mother (my great-grandmother) lived until I was eight, and I got to spend a lot of time with her.

My mother's mother passed away ten years ago, and had been dealing with some form of dementia for a few years before that. She knew who I was the last times I saw her, but it always surprised her that I was an adult--she remembered me as a child, never mind having seen me as an adult before her dementia took over.

My father's father died early in 2006, a few months before what would have been his ninety-fifth birthday. He and my grandmother had been married a few months over seventy-two YEARS. Shortly after he died, I posted a brief reflection on but one facet of him to the kycyclist list server.

Anyway, my surviving grandmother recently had some heart problems. She now has a pacemaker, and her doctors have been fine-tuning her medications so that she can enjoy a few more months (or years--who knows?) with us. Things were a bit "sketchy" for a week or two, but she has rebounded in fine form. She is in good spirits, enjoys a laugh or three an hour, and although her hearing and vision are not what they once were, she still figures out what's happening in her world and enjoys being with folks.

Jenn and I got to go visit her for a few days.


We took the tandem, figuring on getting out on it a bit. We rode it a total of about nine miles. It just seemed more productive to spend the time we could visiting. My grandmother had been one to take a few naps a day, but she has been more alert the last few days, enjoying the world again now that her heart is pumping more as it should. It was a great visit. I'm very glad we went.