the chai cyclist

Gusty

2010-10-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

That was quite a storm. A recorded low pressure of 28.22 in northern Minnesota is apparently the lowest ever recorded in the continental US. But the winds were the big story. 50 miles an hour gusts were rattling my house. And it was raining(and maybe snow), too! So why would I decide to commute to work in those conditions? Because I was lazy on Tuesday and drove. Can't have 2 days no commute by bike.

Tailwind on ride home has me much more relaxed.

So, I decided to be proactive and gathered up my gear the night before. The temp was supposed to drop into the 30's, so... 4 wool layers on top, plus rain jacket. Long John's and Clever Cycles wool slacks on the bottom. Stocking cap, head band, gator and gloves with liners. Rubberized boots and wool stockings. And ski goggles!

I'm glad I had prepared because it ended up being one of the toughest commutes I had ever made. I really needed those ski goggles because the rain combined with high winds would have ripped my eyes out. And I was commuting 12 miles into that wind. I'm glad I was on my big Dutch WorkCycle because, while it's heavy, it's HEAVY! The crosswinds didn't bother the bike much and it just rolled over all the broken branches that littered the roads and bike paths I took. I didn't worry about blowing a tire because those Marathon tires are tough. It was a hard slog, though. Constant headwinds, pelting rain, and crunching branches underneath. I had to stop and move a tree that was blocking the trail. Luckly, it was a dead tree that didn't way much.

I wouldn't want to make that kind of commute very often, but I'm glad that can if I need to.

Ride home. Still branches to crunch.

Kayak Hauler

2010-08-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

Kuando and his kayak strapped to his Surly Big Dummy,

headed to Medicine Lake.

Early this summer, I had the good fortune to come across this guy, who goes by kuando on the Mpls. Bike Love website. We chatted about lots of things Bike and about how the suburb we were in at the moment, has fairly lousy bike trails. Then we parted, as he wanted to get the kayak in the water to catch the gorgeous sunset to come.

I love seeing hauling bikes haul something!

Bikes on Hennepin in 1900

2010-08-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

What's the story on those guys?

Great to see folks were riding bikes in Mpls. back at the beginning of the 20th century. But they don't look liked they're locked to anything. Maybe they only had horse thieves back then? BTW~ I bike down this street most days and pass the building in the upper right corner. Happy it's still standing because many of the other great buildings didn't make it into the 60's.

A Really Nice Ride: Bike-Sharing Program Comes to Mpls

2010-06-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of good news in the Minneapolis bike scene, lately. The city will be adding 40 miles of bikeways this year, Bicycle Magazine rated Mpls. the best bike city in the country, and we now have the cool bike-sharing program, Nice Ride. Nice Ride started off this Thursday with 700 bikes at 65 locations(I only count 40 stations, though). They do have plans for 1000 bikes!

Usage seems to be starting off slowly, but that's to be expected because it does take a little thinking ahead. You'd better know where you're going because trips over 30 minutes cost extra. The basics are that it's $5 a day, $60 for a year subscription. That's all it costs as long as you get to the next station in under 30 minutes, otherwise you'll pay extra. The reason for the short time period is that they want these bikes to always be available for others to use.

Even though I have plenty of bikes, I signed up for the year membership this week. I hadn't received my key yet, and I couldn't wait any longer, so I tried the day pass this Friday evening. I can now say that once you get the specifics down it's pretty easy. I spent couple hours zipping around town, making sure to switch bikes within a half hour. I've heard some people comment that the bikes don't look very fast, but not being a fast bike aficionado, I was pleased with the nice, comfortable ride. I can see myself using this on regular basis because it is convenient, especially if I don't want to worry about my bike after I get somewhere.

I see programs such as Nice Ride as just one more way to grow the bike community and increase the pressure to improve our bike infrastructure, which will make riding a bike, just like riding a bike. I'm very grateful to those people who made this a reality. It's one more element in a more livable city.

Mobile DJ Bike Party Brings Hundreds

2010-05-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

Sound system ready to roll.

DJ under the funkiest bridge.

The No-Hater Rolling Dance Super Bike Mega Party.

The nice thing was the party kept moving...from one bridge to another, until there was no one left.

April's Critical Mass in Mpls.

2010-05-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

Trying to be humble.

Greening Up Quite Nicely

2010-04-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

Odd Wheels

2010-04-18T16:44:00.001-07:00

Taking flight with these wheels.

I've seen this bike around town a few times, but finally got to chat with the owner, yesterday. He got the bike from a friend who passed away and has been fixing it up. These are airplane tires which don't have tubes. They are the tube.

A nice low rider.

Up Above It All: Time To Ponder

2010-04-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

I will dare!

He may be a member of the dreaded Black Label Bike Club. I say dreaded, because I think they'd like it that way. There's a documentary B.I.K.E about the NY chapter of Black Label. I found it to be a fascinating movie, even though it's not my scene. Bike Jousting!

In the documentary, they make a road trip to the headquarters, which is Mpls. What was interesting was how different the New Yorkers were from the locals. The New Yorkers all seemed to see the club as an artistic expression and perhaps also way to get famous. The Mpls. members were rough and tumble punk rockers, who while they'd like to get some attention, don't want really want to be famous. Which makes sense to me. NY is a natural draw for people who want to "make it!", or die trying. While Mpls. is the home of the Replacements. A band that really loved to get your attention, but at the same time, really wanted to fuck it all up. They did leave a beautiful corpse, though.

BTW~ There is supposedly an ordinance against these types of bikes in Mpls.

Bikes and Flower Gardens Do Go Together

2010-04-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

The Midtown Greenway is still a work in progress, but every year more gardens spring up along it's route. Take some time, to take in the scenery on your rides. The Chai Cyclist is back.

Happy Spring!

Okay, One Last Post for the Winter

2009-12-29T23:38:00.000-08:00

Gotta get the kitty litter!

Plus, I picked up groceries and a pizza, putting them on the front rack. Frankie rides so stable when loaded down. The bike doesn't even feel like it could fall down, __but I'm sure it could.

Imagining Winter at Iciclebicycle

2009-12-27T11:51:00.001-08:00

Becomes Reality

After blog hiatus, it's time to move over to iciclebicycle. Winter is a whole different world, but that does stop me from riding my bikes. It just means you have to be a little bit smarter, a little bit braver and put some long underwear on so you don't freeze your ass off.

Long Shadow Time

2009-11-04T03:01:00.000-08:00

Bike path Hazard.

Long shadows mean hurry up and gather some food for these guys.

Shadows, leaves and bike.

Shadow time is a time for me to have fun shooting dramatic pictures.

Superman for a Day

2009-11-02T20:54:00.000-08:00

Whizing past Lake Calhoun on Midtown Greenway.

Ever have those days where riding your bike is too easy? Where you're in higher gears than normal and doing it with ease? Or the ability to kick it up a notch and make that light?

Well, that was my Monday. For whatever reason(Light riding on Sunday or a good nights rest?) I had all the energy needed and the drive I wanted, which made riding effortless. It made for a pleasant ride to work, especially on the hilly part of my ride. Not downshifting until halfway up a hill is unusual, but welcome. I normally avoid trying to put the hammer down on my ride out, because I'll sweat too much and freeze on the windier second half of my trip. Luckly, there wasn't much wind that morning and I could go as fast as my Dutch would let me.

As if things couldn't get much better, a strong wind picked up from the Northwest in the afternoon and blew me all the way to Uptown on my ride to dinner. Gotta love the wind at your back. I start to think maybe it could be this way all the time, but thought I'd better just chalk it up to a good day. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Much empathy for this poor soul riding against the gale.

This morning it was back to reality. The hills were steeper and my legs were burning. But it was still a nice ride, just slower.

Did They Have Bikes in Charles Dickens Day?

2009-11-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

Tweed, Frankie and suitcase?

For me, Halloween is a lot of fun, if I get motivated to figure out something fun to wear ahead of time. The hardest part for me is starting with nothing and getting to something cool. I often put off the costume hunt until the last moment and have to scramble for something, anything decent. This year, having the Dutch bike helped things out a lot. I knew I'd be riding Frankie wherever I went, so going Tweed was the obvious choice. It ended up being a very good choice, considering the rain and snow of Friday night. I was almost over dressed. Too bad I couldn't convince anybody else to ride with me this year. They don't know what they were missing.

I am finding that Frankie, my bike of 3 months, has been shaping the clothes that I wear out around town. It just doesn't feel right putting sporty, cycle wear on when riding Frankie. It's much funner to putting something interesting on. As the temperature drops wool will be perfect.

Oh, what's the case on the front rack for? Mostly decoration. I just think it looks cool on Frankie. I did get a lot of questions about it, but I just made that part of the fun, by not answering. The case may end up being practical, because it's a projector case and is insulated. I may end up using it for carrying things that need protection from the cold, such as my laptop, or even hot food.

Once Weened Twice Smitten

2009-10-31T07:14:00.000-07:00

Stop thief!

Fixie Eric goes Dutch.

I really love letting people give it a ride because it's so different than any other ride. Eric couldn't get over how the front rack doesn't move with the tire. You get used to it.

Goulishness!

No pictures of my get up, yet. Perhaps it's not such an original costume for the likes of me, but I think you'll approve. I have another chance tonight. Nice thing about Saturday Halloween is Friday means to nights of fun.

Dramatic Change to Downtown Bike Lane Worries Me

2009-10-29T02:44:00.000-07:00

I new that there were going to be changes to some of the main downtown streets. Hennepin and 1st Avenue where to return to 2 way traffic. I didn't know what would happen to the bike lane on Hennepin, but was hopeful it would remain. I wasn't ready for what happened, though. My first ride down the new street had me gasping. What happened to the bike lane? Then I started to get mad. How is this progress? What's improved about this? My temper grew after talking to a friend who had been to a few Hennepin County meetings. She said that drivers had complained about being afraid of the bikes being in the middle of the road. "They're afraid of little puny bikes?!" I said. "I was hoping their fear would cause them to drive more cautiously". At one of the meetings she had asked the members if any of them rode bikes. Nobody raised a hand. After talking to her, I was furious. My thought was basically they were giving cyclists the shaft and returning the streets to 1980's conditions.

Where'd the bike lane go?

The Dream.

Hennepin before change. Bike lane in between buses and cars.

When I got home I did a little research and found that it wasn't exactly as I had imagined it. But it still isn't complete, which has all the cars using it like it's their lane. I found a video that explains how it's supposed to work and website describing the changes to Hennepin and 1st Ave.

And I didn't even get to 1st Ave, yet. That's real interesting.

The new 1st Avenue.

The Rules.

Strange New Bike Comes to My Town

2009-10-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Today, I was biking on out of downtown when I saw a bike a ways in front of me that looked interesting. He seemed to be taking his time, climbing the slight, but still formidable Nicollet Avenue hill. As I approached him, I was mostly thinking about peddling up this hill. A guy passes me, and says "nice bike!". I say "Thanks!". When he passes the mystery bike, he does a double take. That's when I realized that this really was a special bike. When I came up next to him, I said "Bakfiets!"

Frankie meets Mr. Bakfiets.

"Yes", he says. Then he does a double take when he looks down at what I'm riding. Ahh! it all makes sense! We continue riding up Nicollet, chatting and blocking traffic sometimes. I find out that Paul has been riding his Bakfiet for about a month ago and has been loving it(No surprise). His plan was to just use it for hauling groceries and other things, but has ended up riding it all the time, because...because it's so much fun, of course. He bought it at the same shop as I did Frankie, Dutch Bike Chicago. He was more enterprising and found a micro-hauler on Craigslist that hauled it up to the twin towns for $120. He saved himself even more money by buying last years model.

At the top of the hill we parted, but not before I got his email address(Good to keep in touch). I rode away happy knowing there's one more cool bike in town, and hopeful that the Bakfiets won't be a strange sighting in Mpls. for much longer.

Cycle Spree Gone Bad Takes Pleasant Turn

2009-10-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

Peter Rabbit or down a rabbit hole? Don't care.

Just happy to be off Lyndale Ave.

Saturday was my day to go shopping for winter clothing. Things to keep me warm on my bike when the snow comes. My destination for the day, was that retailer where you could climb rocks if you wanted to(hint). It's about 8 miles south of my place and I've made the trip before. I always have a little apprehension about the journey, I'd be going out into the suburbs and there aren't any path/trails down to this store. But driving just didn't seem right.

The ride down Lyndale Ave. wasn't too bad. While I did have cars passing me all the time, they seem to give me plenty of room. Just when I saw the spire of the store up ahead, I noticed an obstacle to my destination. The bridge over the highway was closed to all traffic. The detour sign suggested crossing a half mile down the road at Nicollet. I declined. I'd take my chances with a few construction workers. Plus the bridge looked pretty much done anyways.

I'm not a frequent shopper. I need to get in the mood, which usual happens when the weather changes, and last years clothing have lost their appeal. I went at it with gusto. Getting gloves, socks, caps, undershirts, pants and shoes(reviews in future). Whew! Time to get out of here. Get that bike loaded up and let's roll.

Riding back up Lyndale was okay for awhile but it was a little darker and the motor traffic was starting to bug me. Then a 4 bus whooshed by, about a foot away from me. Just as I was trying to think of a better route home, I had a sign.

It was a sign... that said Minnehaha Parkway. I didn't think twice but hopped on the bike trail headed East toward the river. I don't know why I hadn't thought of it earlier. I was going to be on trails the whole way home.

Almost a bridge too far.

Minnehaha Parkway follows Minnehaha Creek to Minnehaha Falls. Then I'd be at the Mississippi River and would ride the river bike path up to downtown. But it was so gorgeous out, that Frankie and I had to make a few stops to take in the beauty before it passes.

That's the Mississippi River down below.

Below U of M West Bank

Almost Home

An interesting message the two signs, together convey?

Important Dutch Bike Moment, Not Caught on Film

2009-10-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

In hindsight, maybe I could have found someone to take a picture, but time was tight. The moment had to be seized.

Yesterday, I was having a chai at my favorite cafe, planning to meet someone for dinner at six. When my friend Emily dropped in. We got to talking about her new job and other stuff. Then I remembered that we had talked about her taking my bike for a ride, sometime. Since Frankie was waiting out front, this was her chance. She's a tall lady, which is what you need to be to ride this Dutch. She loved it. So smooth and stable. The upright position was new to her.

Recently Added:

Emily was on the bike for less than 10 seconds before this couple stopped her, because they were curious about what kind of bike it was. First ride and already peppered with questions. Get used to it! I was thinking of making a handout, explaining the bike and it's accessories. But figured it's funner to do the spiel myself.
------
I noticed that was going to be running late, so we said our good bye's. She mentioned that she'd be walking over to the Wedge Coop, about 10 blocks away. I offered to give her a on ride on the back of Frankie, and to my surprise, she agreed. Nobody's ever said yes before. I had read that it doesn't taking long for rider and drivers to get used to it. So, I knew it could be done. She hopped on, side saddle and I pushed off. It was definintely a different ride. We wobbled for a bit and I had to really grip the handle bars, to keep it from swinging too far one way. After a few blocks, I started to get the hang of it. Frankie, really handled it well. I got the sense that with practice, it would become much easier, as long as the passenger knew what they were doing, too. If she had started shifting around a lot, it could have got tricky.

I was really fun. People watched as we passed. We were taking side streets and I noticed the cars behind us didn't mind that we were taking the lane. They just sat back. When we got to the Wedge, we cruised past the windows by the check out. Then I doubled back again, just to show off! Since I was already running late for dinner, I didn't take the time to arrange a picture. You'll just have to believe me.

Snow Brings Rude Awakening

2009-10-10T16:29:00.001-07:00

Waking this morning with snow on the ground and a temperature of 26F was a real shock to the system. A couple of weeks ago it was in the 70's. Last year, we made it into late November without snow. But that's Minnesota. No promises. Abrupt.

Frankie doesn't mind the chill. He's a trooper.

That's how it goes. I needed a little reminder. I guess I'd better start getting ready for winter. Luckily, I had started pulling some of wooly wear out of the closet this week. That made today's cycling much more bearable. I do need to find the heavier gloves, because my thin, liner gloves were the bare minimum today. I started a list of things to get before winter really starts. Get last years winter bike tuned up. Gets some studded tires for Frankie. Get all of last years winter clothing out and decide what I'll want to replace. Plus, I think some more wool is a must. Stuff's expensive, but it's so effective that it's worth it. Cotton bad! I had cotton socks on today and my feet were frozen, when I got home. Last year, I got by wearing tennis shoes all Winter with Smart wool socks.

I'm glad that over the last week, I have been making the mental transition, too. From Sun loving, little clothes wearing, Summer, to dark chills, lots of clothes on, Winter. I've done it many times before, but until it happens, you're still holding on to the idea of Summer. What is also a little disheartening about this Arctic blast is, it got so cold, so fast, that the leaves are falling off the trees, green. It is a little strange that so many of the leaves are still green, but we did have one of the warmest Septembers ever. But one of the joys of Fall is seeing the orange, red and yellow leaves on the trees. It's brief. Better not be to busy, or you'll miss it. But it's considered one of the trade off's for the coming freeze. Well see if Winter keeps that arrangement.

Get back up on the trees, where you belong.

One of the reality's of this change, is I'll have to start moving over to my other blog iciclebicycle. Got to clean it up. Better hustle. Been thinking about some good Winter preparation blogs, but now Winter beat me to it.

Alternative Transportation

2009-10-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

May Day 2007

Seen Around Town

2009-10-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

Lake Calhoun

Bridge to Nicollet Island

The Greenway

Seeing Dutch

2009-09-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

It's probably just that phenomena, where you start seeing all the bikes that look like yours, but in the last week, I've being seeing Dutch bikes everywhere. And not just plain old ones like my Frankie. Exciting ones in fun colors and configurations. Here are the ones where I was quick enough with the camera.

Where'd the kid go?

Just a guess, but there is a bike shop up the street from here. Maybe he's test driving it? Like to see the kid on it.

Sorry, but they remind of tweedle dee and tweedle dum.

I saw these guys, while I was going for a walk around Lake of the Isles. They zipped by so fast that I didn't get my camera out quick enough to shoot them close up. But I did manage to get this shot, from across the lake. The Double Dutch was a happy sight.

Frankie makes nice with the lady in Red.

This bright bike stopped me in my tracks. It's the same brand as mine and comes from the Dutch Bike Co, too. I wonder if I saw this exact bike, when I was buying Frankie down in Chi-Town? With kiddy trailer on the back, and the Xtra-Cycle bicycle next to it, this couple can do some serious hauling.

I'm glad to see the bike terrain changing, here in Mpls. It's been great to see these versatile bikes, sprouting up around town. Maybe there will be a day when these wonderful bikes are a common site. Especially if people are getting more than one. Why buy one, when two will be twice the fun? Here's to that!

One Month Dutch Bike Review

2009-09-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

Who says it can't make sharp turns?

It's been a little over a month since I bought my Dutch Azor Transport bike. It seems like much longer than a month, but I have put a lot of time on Frankie, as he likes to be called. It's been a real pleasure getting to know him. For the first two and half weeks, he was my only means of transportation. The car was forgotten. My other bikes must be a little jealous because Frankie is the only bike I've ridden all month. That was intentional, because I wanted to really get the full Dutch City-Bike experience.

How's it going after all those miles? I can't really complain about much. The ride is very comfortable. My wrists really appreciate the upright position, because the handle bars are now mostly for balance and steering, not holding my shoulders up. The smoother ride is easy on the body. Since it is a heavier bike, my legs have had to toughen up some, but if I'm feeling too much strain, I just shift down. No rush on this bike. I was a little worried about how much extra time Frankie would add to my 13 mile commute, but besides one windy day, it hasn't taken much longer.

The days are getting shorter. Pretty soon, my morning commute will be in the dark, with the evening one, soon to follow. While the bike is painted black, I feel that, for a variety of reasons, this bike is plenty visible at night. The hub generated front and rear lights are big enough that they almost look like scooter lights. The upright position also adds to your visibility, because there is more to see.

Getting noticed really hasn't been a problem with Frankie. It's an unusual and elegant bike, so I get lot's of looks and comments. Last week, I was walking out to my bike on the street, and I saw this bright red city bike coming up the street. I say "nice bike!" as he passes me. Then he does a double take when he passes my bike. He said something like "what??". I was happy to see his surprise. We ended up chatting about city bikes for a few minutes. His bike was the Swedish bike Kronan. It had the front carrier like mine. I was thinking that maybe I should have bought one of those instead, to support my ancestral homeland, but then I remembered that I've got some Dutch, so it's been taken care of. My one regret is I didn't get a picture of him on his bike, but I was running late. Next time! He shouldn't be too hard to spot a bright red city bike.

One thing about Frankie that has allowed me to ignore the car, is it the fact that it can haul some serious goods. I have a pannier that fits on the back rack. They can fit bag of groceries on each side, plus some extras. Once they're full, I can put the rest on the front carrier, strapping it down with an old inner tube. When I've had it fully loaded, it feels more stable than before and isn't that much harder to peddle. I think I'm going keep working on improving my ability carry more delicate things. Maybe a milk crate that could attach to the front or rear rack? We'll see.

San Diego's a Different Bike World

2009-09-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Surf shop bikes near Cardiff by the Sea.

Got to spend last week in San Diego on a "business then pleasure" trip. They said it was hot(102F one day) but coming from the land of humid summers, it felt more comfortable than an 85F day, back home. Unfortunately, none of my free time was spent on a bicycle. Surfing won out over biking. The waves were just too perfect. But I did plenty of bike watching. There appear to be mostly two types of bikes in San Diego, with two different functions. They are either like the bikes above, used for cruising the beach or sporty bikes that give a good workout, while covering a lot of distance. Not many bikes with racks for carrying things, which would be good for commuting. Though, it was cool to see beach cruisers go by with a surf board attached to the side.

Tom Vanderbilt Parks It On Slate

2009-08-18T06:47:00.000-07:00

Build it and they will come. That's what Tom Vanderbilt, author of Traffic, says about bike parking, in today's Slate.com. He does have a point. A car driver pretty much assumes that wherever they go, parking will exist. Is it happenstance, American optimism, divine intervention, or just dum luck, that pretty much anywhere you go in America, there will be parking? Well, the answer is just a little below devine. It is government policy. Build anything in America and you have provide parking space for cars. A lot of it, too. So much so, that if you put all that parking in one place, Connecticut would be one big parking lot. No wonder people drive. Cars are pretty much guaranteed free parking, wherever they want to go.

It's not really free, though. It's land that could have other uses, such as trees or grass. Or somebody's house, which would be closer to your's if there wasn't all this free parking in between. Heck people have to drive farther, because of all the space taken up by these parking spaces. Take a look around. Subtract the parking, and there's a whole lot of free space. And we are not even talking about roads. Lot's of costs.

How about some government intervention into a mode of transportation that is actually good for society? It is beginning to happen. Cities are beginning to require commerical builders to include bike parking in their projects. Indoor parking is also becoming available. I'm lucky, that I can bring my bike inside at work, but most cyclists, don't have that option. Give people decent options and they are more likely to ride. As this bike wave rises, better parking will allow it room to grow.

If you haven't read Tom's book, Traffic, check out his blog, How We Drive, to see what you're missing.

Birds of a Feather

2009-08-13T22:04:00.000-07:00

Now that I have my Dutch style bike, I'm starting to see similar bikes everywhere. Well, not everywhere. They're aren't that many of the around, yet. But when I rode up to my favorite cafe, I immediately noticed the now familiar enclosed chain case on this bike. It was a Pashley Princess. Hmmm? Who did I know, that owned a Pashley. The owner was no where to be seen, so I grabbed a table within eye shot of this Princess.

As it turned out, the owner wasn't another local blogger, but this lovely lady, instead. She has only been riding it for a few months. A friend gave it to her, when her bike was stolen. That's a very nice friend! She really loves riding it, and puts her pooch in the basket. I really liked the milk crate, even before I saw her matching blouse. I didn't get the chance to tell how Chic she looked on her Pashley, but she did.

Driver is Accused of Threatening Cyclist with Ax

2009-08-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

This is one of those scary things that can happen, if you dare comment on the driving of people, operating motor vehicles. I'm glad the cyclist is safe and the driver may be headed to jail. I wonder if all the other pickup driving peoples image will be tarnished as much as the cycling community would be, if the it was the other way around(if the ax was in the other hand)? Where would I put an ax on my bike, anyways? If it was a cyclist, there would be TV expose's on how these crazy cyclist are endangering us all. Cyclists would asked for an explanation. "why all this cycle-hooliganism?".

It's not really surprising and a good reminder to be cautious with around the driving public.

Hot Spot

2009-08-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

Canal between Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun.

Summer weather finally came back, and I don't think my body was not ready for it. We've had a cool, sometimes cold summer. A good summer for me, is where I don't hardly ever consider wearing long pants, during the daytime(work not included of course). Or shoes. I like it to get hot and stay hot. I got rid of my air conditioner a few years ago, because it made it less pleasant, when I was outside. I want my body to adapt to the heat and that cold air doesn't help. It usually takes about 3 days for my body to become comfortable, when the temp shoots up. Once I'm used to it, I just have to keep hydrated and savor the warmth.

Sure, it involves a lot of sweat, and sometimes it feels like you're going to explode. But for me, I see it is necessary to survive the famously harsh Minnesota winters. I need to get the summer out of my system. Then doing iciclebicycle doesn't seem so bad. One thing I like about the heat, is it makes you a little less ambitious. Why do you think people used to sit on the porches, all day in the south? It's kind of Buddhist. Once you've stopped striving and struggling, you just give up and sit back to enjoy the day.

So, finally a nice hot spell came to town this weekend. Good, I can put the jeans away, again. It was tough for a few days, but now I'm soaking it up. I hope it lasts for awhile.

My favorite! Lake Calhoun.

Rain Day

2009-08-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

Friday was the first rainy day that we've had in awhile, and it's seems all the bike commuters decided to take it off, because I didn't see more than a bike or two on the ride in to work. It felt like my winter rides with the trail all to myself. That's okay, it allowed me to take these shots without worrying about getting in someone's way. I guess if you're going to take a day off on bike commute, it might as well do it on the wet day. But I hope they come back. It's good to have company.

But for me, with my new all weather, all terrain vehicle, a rainy day is no excuse to miss a chance to enjoy summer. It really doesn't last long, here.

My Bike Overbuilt??? Naw, Just Room to Grow

2009-08-06T04:33:00.000-07:00

Since buying my Dutch Azor Transport bike, last weekend, down in Chicago, I haven't had much time to get in blog about it's performance. Looking back on my week, my lack of time might be related to the amount of time I spent answering questions about my new bike. It seems that every time I park it somewhere, somebody's going to comment or ask a question about it. Add all that time up and I could have done a few blogs. Not that I'm complaining. It is fun to have a bike that stands out.

One questioner was waiting next to my bike, when I left the grocery store. He said that it was an interesting bike. I gave him the spiel. Dutch, lights, internal hub, internal chain, built in lock, motorcycle kickstand, it is heavy. He looks at the double top bar and says it looks overbuilt. I said it depends on what you want to do with your bike. But it did get me thinking. After riding it 30 miles a day for a week, it doesn't feel overbuilt to me. The hills are a challenge, but they aren't impossible. I'm learning how to do them. This bike also handles some of the worst potholes on my commute with ease.

What this bike is doing, is forcing me to change how I ride. You just can't be in as much of a rush on this type of bike. First, it's to heavy to sprint and second, the upright position doesn't allow me to get in the speed demon mindframe. Dirty Harry said "A man has got to know his limitations" and his bikes, too! I think that's just what I needed. A bike that slows me down, allowing me to enjoy the ride.

Headed home

Going Dutch in Chicago

2009-08-03T21:03:00.000-07:00

Having made the decision to buy a Dutch bike, a few weeks ago, I was now heading down to Chicago to see if I could find the right bike for me. After a long 7 hour drive, my cousin Pat and I, spent Friday night at the Arlington House International Hostel, in Lincoln Park. Being only a few blocks away from the Dutch Bike Co. was a happy accident. It was a decent hostel in a very cool neighborhood. Fortunately for Pat, they had bikes to rent, because the plan was to meet Dottie, of Let's Go Ride a Bike Blog, buy a bike and go for a ride along lake Michigan, on sunny Saturday afternoon.

Dutch Bike Co.

When I arrived at the shop an emisary from the Dutch Consulate of Chicago was there to greet me. Well, I suppose his main purpose was to get his wife's bike fitted with a basket, but it did lend some dignity to the procedings. Long story short. After trying various bikes, having Dottie arrive, and some other delay's, I bought an Azor Transport bike(Impressions in a future blog) from the owner Stephen. And then the fun part. A bike ride!

Dottie and me

From the shop we headed over to Lake Michigan and hopped on the bike trail along the shore. It's a gorgeous place for a bike ride. Big water on one side. Tall architecture on the other. Dottie is very lucky to have this for her commute. What made the ride even sweeter was being on my ultra smooth, new ride. The nice thing about heavy bikes is you can cruise at very low speeds, taking in the scenery, without being tippy.

One thing that always happens to me is, I like to make comparisions. How is Chicago the same or different from my hometown of Minneapolis as far as bikes go? While it's hardly scientific, because I was only in a certain part of town on the weekend, my guess is there are more bikes on the streets of Chicago. Bikes were everywhere. And they seemed to be a little more practical. Less drop downs and more racks.

While there may be more bikes. There are certainly more cars. On the main streets, cars are everywhere, all the time. Sometimes I thought that was a good thing for bikes, because with so much traffic, the cars are moving at a slower speed. But crowded cars can lead to some high risk maneuvers, which is not good for bikes. In the end, I kept wishing that more people would get out of their cars and hop on bikes. What a beautiful and quiet city it would be. So many more souls to save!

Chicago's the Place

2009-07-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

For awhile now, I've been thinking about getting a new bike. We'll I guess that's not unusual. I'm always lusting after some bike I see. But lately it's been more serious because I had a little windfall, which makes getting a nice bike more realistic. So I've been searching blogs and bike shop sites for the bike of my dreams. The three finalists were: Rivendell, Retrovelo and Workcycles. I'd love to have all three, but that's not an option at this point, so I had decide which of this bikes would be most complimentary to the bikes I already have. What would be the most useful? Clarity finally came when Harvey's shifter broke and I had to ride my Gary Fisher for a week, until I got around to fixing the Schwinn. When I got back on Harvey I realized that I really preferred that upright ride. I was tired of looking at the ground and having a sore butt.

So, this weekend I'm headed down to the Chicago Dutch Bike Co. to give some very serious consideration to getting a Dutch bike. The Rivendell and Retrovelo are more of lean forward types of bikes. I love my Harvey, but I've been putting too many miles on him. Having a heavy duty city bike will give him a break.

I'm looking forward to visiting Chicago again, because I have in almost 10 years, and I may even run into a local blogging celebrity.

More to follow...

Foreshadowing

2009-07-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

It may seem like a long way off, but this bike picture by Choco Late is such a great shot that I feel that I must share it with you, even if it's out of season. She hasn't given me permission to share yet, so you'll have to go to her Flickr site. A few years back, I came across her pics on Flickr and fell in love with them, especially the shots from Hong Kong and China. If you have seen any Wong Kar Wei movies, you'll see the resemblance. If you haven't seen a Wong Kar Wei movie, please do, soon! They are so beautiful.

Detroit's Unusual Opportunity to Become Bike City

2009-07-08T02:46:00.000-07:00

When people think of the future, Detroit doesn't usually come to mind. Detroit has been a sinking ship for the 50 years. A combination of racism, changing economy and some very bad decisions have left it a shell of it's former self. Whole neighborhoods have turned into rubbled ghost towns. The downtown looks impressive from a distance, but on closer look, appears more a set for one of those movies where everybody on earth disappears.

Toby Barlow ,in his New York Times Op-Ed, thinks that from the ashes of Detroit's ruin, a vibrant bike-centric city could arise. The city's emptiness, gives Detroiter's an opportunity to remake their city with all sorts of bike-enhancing infrastucture in ways that crowded cities can't. Why? There's nobody in the way. Nobody to complain about how those bike-nuts are taking over valuable realestate.

Already, more people in Detroit are hopping on bikes. Why not? There's not much motor traffic to deal with. That's a dream of many cyclists. Where'd all the cars go? Who cares, lets ride! This holiday weekend gave me a chance to have more of the road to myself(and other happy cyclists), as many motorists clogged up someone else's roads, on their way to the lake cabin. It was a pleasure.

While my city hasn't been hit as hard as Detroit, maybe this down economy can give the "bike-way"the chance it needs to create more bike infrastructure. Let's use this slack time to grab some more road.

Drawing by Esther Pearl Watson

Is it a Tandem or What?

2009-07-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

Looks like fun.

The only problems is... who is drives?

The 4th Dimension

2009-07-04T23:21:00.000-07:00

The Best Way to Enjoy the 4th

2009-07-04T22:34:00.000-07:00

Go for nice ride.

One good reason to stay in town for the 4th of July weekend is the reduced traffic. Too bad it can't be a more common experience.

An Oasis on My Commute

2009-07-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

This floating dock is on a small lake that I bike past everyday on my commute(when I commute by bike). It's out there all year long, and I often think that it would be nice to swim out to it. It would feel so nice on those hot July days, to take a dip. Now, I've decided I'm going to do it! Ditch my bike in the bushes and dive in. It will be a bit of a swim, but I swam competitively, so I'm not worried about making it out there. Then I can kick back and take in the rays, before finishing my ride home. I'll let you know how it goes.

June's Mpls. Critical Mass

2009-06-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

The Worlds Top Biking Cities???

2009-06-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

More "Best Bike..." from Travel & Leisure magazine. This could either be an opportunity to have a rousing argument about which cities are really the best "bike cities" in the world. We could argue over what measurements to use in detirmining, once and for all, which cities are indeed the most bike friendly. Is it miles of bike lanes? Or we could use surveys to determine which cities have the most commuters. Or maybe just who has the most Chic cyclists. That would be fun. I welcome it. Me, I just think it's cool that another magazine has hopped on the Cyclelution and is putting the idea of riding a bike in the minds of all those auto dependent people out there. Planting the seeds. The more people who come into contact with bikes, the more people who will eventually break through the car-haze and hop on one. And the fact that Minneapolis gets prominent mention is just a very small part of my motivation for posting this "best of..."... really! ;D

Photo courtesy Phototake/Alamy

Reversing Expectations

2009-06-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

I often see cars hauling bikes.

Not bikes hauling car...

parts.

But things are changing, it seems.

Moon-Rise

2009-06-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

Yehuda Moon is back! Ya don't miss em til there gone. Boy, did I miss the Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery. I think I'll even subscribe, this time!

Bicycle Built for Two: Kent Tandem ~ Fixer Upper

2009-06-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

A coworker of mine used to fix up a lot of old bikes. A lot being, he had a whole barn full of them. He gave many of them away, some to Africa. A few years ago, he decided to move onto something else(tractors) and has been weening down all his bike stock. He was known as the guy to bring old bikes to, in his town. People are still leaving bikes at the end of his driveway. I'm guessing that's how this tandem ended up at his place. If anybody has any interest, please let me know. He's not greedy so I'm sure the price will be right.

Can Bikes Have More then Two Wheels?

2009-06-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

What makes a bike a bike? Is two, and only two wheels a requirement?

Stormy and pal.

Friday night, I ran into Stormy. He just started up a bike cab(Pedicab?) business this year. It's called Shotties and is available from 3pm-3am daily(612-328-3878). He'll push you all around town, if you show him a little generosity. I'm saying it here. I will be giving him a call. Perfect for dates. I think that we need many more bike cabs. I wish him luck!

Ah! The Beer Bike.

I'm feeling a little woozy...

On my way home, I came across this party on wheels. Pedalpub let's you have have a mobile party. The pedal pubs came, of course, from the Dutch, who love to drink and pedal... especially at the same time.

Can you go too Slow?

2009-06-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Slow Bicycle Movement must be having powerful effect on me. On Friday night I went to see to see the Minnesota Bicycle Festival Criterium race in Uptown. But I don't know if I saw a bike race. All I saw were these blurs as they wizzed by, followed by a big gust of wind. Wow, that was fast. And then they were gone around the corner. A few minutes later they would return, briefly. Whoosh!

Maybe my efforts to slow down on my bike and enjoy the ride, has side effects. Perhaps I've slowed down too much or maybe too quickly. I wonder if it's reversible? Maybe I don't want to.

Is that a face?

Special Bike Premere in Mill City

2009-06-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

The fashion in bicycles is changing. The old styles are now, new ones.

The Globe Brand Bikes has premered an interesting line of bikes, in Minneapolis this week. I haven't got a close look at them, but the retro features(baskets, hubs, etc.) offered, are what caught my interest. Globe is a part of Specialized.

that's why they call Mpls the Mill city

It's nice to see another brand going after those mellower riders out there, that would like to have a nice and practical bike. Smart move by Specialized. They know they'd better hop on the cycle chic wave. It's nice to see manufacturers moving back to fully outfitted bikes, with fender, racks, and baskets. I hope they are making a good quality product. I'm going to keep an eye out for them, this weekend.

a bicycle built for 2

There's more on these bikes, at blogs Bike Design and Urban Velo. If you want to see more pictures of them, Globe has a Flickr site with plenty of pics.

All photos are property of of Globe Brand Bikes in accordance with Creative Commons.

Nice Bikes Around Town

2009-06-12T07:36:00.001-07:00

If I were going to smoke, it would be on a bike like this.

Chrome bike

Extra tall

White stripes match seat

The Joy of Less

2009-06-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has a nice article on how having less, might be having more... Joy! While I'm no where near Pico Iyer in simplifying my life, I do have experience with forgoing with something that I prized, only to find out that life was just fine without it. And perhaps better.

I remember when I was a child, not having TV for month while it was at the repair shop. I found other things to do that were probably more useful, anyways, like doing my homework, or doing things with my family. Or riding my bike. When the TV came back, I was excited, and things eventually settled back into the normal pattern, mostly forgetting my life without TV. It was many years before I broke free of the TV, again. My current TV is a just a DVD player that isn't often used.

Pico is someone who has really gone all the way on this simplicity. No media, no car, no bike... What! No bike? Well that sounds a little bit too extreme, for me. I mean, maybe I don't need 10 bikes, but not having a bike doesn't seem the same as throwing the TV out. I don't see my bike as a vice to be tossed out, in order to clear the ground of distractions. It's something that brings me into the world. I get to see and smell and touch the world around me.

I do admire Mr. Iyer's example of living more on less. We could all use a some getting by on less and a greater focus on what's really important to us. The whole world would be a better place if more of us chucked the unnecessary things in our lives. And hey, if you find your bike is getting in the way of your happiness, maybe you should go without...but why don't you start with the car first! ;)

Bike Book Club

2009-06-06T21:43:00.001-07:00

In Minnesota you're supposed to read more books in the Winter, because when Summer comes you had better take advantage of it, while is lasts. But I'm more of an inspirational guy and I had better read when the urge comes.

This weekend I started reading Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclist are Changing American Cities. It makes the case that bikes offer us an opportunity to change the cities we live in, for the better. It's been a good read, so far, giving me an overview of cycling history in the public square. In the "I didn't know that" catigory, Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar is an avid cyclist and has had a big hand in channeling Transportation dollars into bike projects, nationwide. The story of how he became a cyclist was very moving. His wife had cancer and they rode together, because they were told it would be good exercise for her. When she eventually died, riding became his solice. One tidbit that related to my home town, was that in 1906, 20 percent of the traffic in downtown Minneapolis were bicycles. Wow! If we did it once, we can do it again!

Another book that caught my atttention is Traffic: Why we drive the way we do(and what that says about us) by Tom Vanderbilt. It's about the psychology of people behind the steering wheel. Lot's of interesting facts, such as, people get into accidents because they think they are better drivers than they are. Most people rate themselves as better than average drivers. They would be, if all the idiots would get out of their way! For me this is a bike book, because it gives me insight into what we are up against, if we want to change the way we get around.

Pedal Power: The quiet rise of the bicycle in American life, is another one I plan on reading.

I'm just getting started on my book buying binge. If you have some suggestions, don't be shy.

Ouch is Small Price to Pay for Joy of Biking

2009-06-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

On a Friday evening ride, my chain skipped, dropping my sandaled feet down and scrapping the topside of my toes. It hurt, but I just shook it off and kept riding. When I awoke next morning, I was reminded of the stumble, when I hopped in the shower and felt a sharp sting of pain, as the water flowed over my toes. As injuries go, this was a very minor one, but it got me thinking about all the scuffs, scraps, cuts, and bruises that I've gotten, over all those years of biking. I also thought of other people I know out there who have had some nice abrasions, lately. I started thinking about that scene in Jaws when they showed their scars and the stories that go with them. They were some good stories, and maybe they were even true. Perhaps we could all compare our scars and the stories that went with them? It seemed to be a real bonding moment for them, before the shark tore their boat apart.

I got my first bike scar when I was only 8. We were visiting some family in the suburbs and I went riding around the woods with their son. I didn't know the trail at all and hit this tree when I rounded the corner at the bottom of a hill. I flipped over and seemed to land okay. But I had a gash just below the knee of my right leg. It didn't bleed much, but I ended up with 27 stitches. It's smaller now, but still visible.

I have multiple scars on my ankles, due to the fact that I like to wear sandals. Plus the ankles are close to all that machinery. The only other one that is still visible, is from when I hit the front corner of a car that had pulled out from between some buses. The cyclist in front of me went over the hood, but I had enough time to avoid that fate. Still I ended up with a seriously bent wheel and a big bump on my shin. That was 2 years ago, but there is still a dark spot from the swelling.

I'm happy to have all my scars, because I'm grateful that nothing worse has happened. They remind me that I am not impervious to everything on my bike. Much worse things have happened to people I know. My aching toes are a nice reminder that I need to be careful out there. You too!

Welcome to the Club

2009-06-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's always cool to be there when someone hops on bike for the first time(in a long while anyways). Even better when see them realize how cool riding a bike really is. Well, I had that opportunity recently when my friend Sara , after many months of thinking about it , bought a Novarra eXpress.

In case you didn't know, I'm a bit of a bike prostilitizer. I think everybody should be riding bikes...all the time...everywhere. Poor Sara has had to put up with my prodding over the last 6+ months. "You should get a bike". When she finally saw the light it became "Did you get that bike yet?". Apperently, her roommate was working on her too. That's great. Double teaming can be very effective.

In the end, the decision to give cycling a shot, was hers. From what I know of Sara, she is likely to become an avid cyclist, because she doesn't seem to do anything halfway. Last summer, she walked the whole Appalachian Trail by herself! I think she has caught the bicycling bug and said she is "loving it!". I hope she does what a lot us do, and shares that bike joy with others.

Minneapolis Chic Before It Was Chic

2009-06-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

As I was biking through Loring Park, I had the good fortune to run into a woman who was riding Dutch style bike. They aren't a common sight in my town, yet, so I struck up a conversation with her. Since we were headed in the same direction for a ways, we had a good chance to talk about our bikes.

This is Janet

This a Glorie from Pointer. I didn't ask it's name.

I was surprised to learn that she has had this bike for a few years. Surprised because I'd had assumed that Dutch style bikes in America were a very new thing. Of course my bike awareness is a pretty new thing. I didn't really spend much time looking at other peoples bikes. Maybe other people had the right idea, long before I opened my eyes. Perhaps the world was here before I was born?!

Janet(Check this out!) and her husband had both bought bikes when they were visiting Copenhagen. They stowed them on the plane, saving a boat load of money by doing that. Shipping bikes across the pond is very expensive. Her bike is a Glorie and is made by Pointer. It's a classy bike with a classy owner. It really made my day to see evidence of change in the bike culture, here in Mpls and around the world.

Out With the Masses

2009-06-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

Last Friday

It's Critical!

Kat Box Fever

2009-06-03T09:24:00.001-07:00

These guys get points for DIY and reusing. Personally, I go with the bulk kitty litter, but these guys have put these containers to great use. An added benefit is visibility. You are certainly going to be noticed.

Neither Fish Nor Fowl Nor Bike

2009-05-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

As the American car industry declines, a reminder of what went wrong in American manufacturing over the last 40 years. The Gremlin. Aren't Gremlin's something to be avoided? They are a rare breed these days, because nobody can find enough parts to reassemble them. Sure they're cute in a nostalgic sort of way. Nostalgia for the 70's is a double edged sword, though. Groundbreaking and inventive... Or ugly and excessive. Perhaps the little Gremlin fits all of those descriptions.

The car company's had their chance in the 20th Century. Here's for the new Bicycle Century!

And Everything Changes

2009-05-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been extremely hot. Tuesday 96F. Wednesday 94F. Both records. That probably isn't the only record broken. As I biked around town, yesterday evening, I had more company than I ever remember. Everywhere you looked there were bikes. Crowd's of them. I think it's funny because 90's with high winds, isn't the most ideal riding conditions. I'm thinking "Why don't you folks ride when it's 50's or 60's(Heck! This winter 20F was optimal for me.). It's really much better riding then." But something about looking a gift horse in the mouth.

As I made my way through downtown, I noticed that most of these folks are "Newbies". I'm not saying that they haven't riden before, but that they are just getting back on their bikes after a long winter hiatus. I know from past experience that when I got back on my bike, it took awhile to get back my riding form. I'm not bragging , but with Harvey, I was riding one of the heavier, more upright bikes out there. Still, I was the faster than most bikes out there. I realized that people were looking around at other bikes to figure out what they were supposed to do.

Here's were the learning part comes. It dawned on me that I needed to become a better example for these Goslings. Most of the winter, I could ride how I wanted, because there weren't that many other bikers on the roads. Lonely sometimes, but free. Now, with these mobs of bikes, some sort of etiquette needed to emerge. My freewheeling days were had to be curtailed, or these folks might learn bad manners. And bad manners can get you hurt. People are very much like Monkeys(no offense to the Monkeys). They watch what others do and mimic that behavior. I don't want to overstate my importance, but one of the people these summer riders would be watching, was me.

So, I started stopping at almost all lights, even if there wasn't a car in sight. I watched out for riders, letting them pass first. I didn't rush to pass the slower bikers(I did pass them eventually, because I'm sure they didn't want me behind, riding them). I smiled and chatted people up at stop lights. And except at a few fun hills, I took it easy on my ride.

It seems that every year I see more cyclists on the road. That's a great thing. I love it. But more bikes, means that people need to follow more of the rules and put more effort into watching out for others. If I follow my own advice, I'm sure it'll go a little ways towards tipping it that way.

One More Cyclist to Commemorate in the Ride of Silence

2009-05-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

Bike commuter, Dennis Dumm was killed yesterday morning when a gravel semi truck cut across the bike lane on Park Avenue. A very sad tragedy on the day of the Ride of Silence. The ride honor's those who have been injured or killed on roads. His death certainly gave the evening ride in Minneapolis a more viseral undertone. Another, very real, reason to work toward make biking a safer endeavor.

Think about it as you ride to work. Dennis was doing the same, enjoying being outside on his bicycle. And then a huge truck pulls across in front of him and it's all over. All of us have had something simular happen to us. An unexpected move by a motor vehicle. Of course we have to watch out for possibilities, and ride carefully. Experience is vital. But as I ride to work, I see all sorts of things that don't really work. Bike lanes that just end with no obvious place to go. More common is no bike lanes(we don't have any protected lanes in Mpls.), just you and the traffic. Etc, etc,...

"Be safe!" isn't enough. Dennis was in a bike lane and the truck came right through that lane. We need something more than paint between us and death. We need just what cars get. Roadways that are set up in a reasonable safe way, that allows cyclists to get where they need to go. Here's for that day.

Photo by Carlos Gonzalez of the Star Tribune

Portland: Hip Bike City

2009-05-15T06:32:00.000-07:00

Photo by Leah Nash of the New York Times

Right in the middle of my crush on Portland, the New York Times sends the "frugal traveler", Matt Gross, to the City of Roses to see what all the fuss is about. What he finds is cheap digs, lots of good food(and Coffee) and a whole lot of bikes.

He found the kind of hotel that I love. The Ace is European style hotel with rooms costing only $75 a night. Plus bikes are provided free of charge to guests! If you don't want the cheap bike, you could also rent a Batavus from Clever Cycles for $100/week. I'm going to keep this article handy for my next trip to Portland.

Suburb on the Edge of Tomorrow

2009-05-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

Photo by Martin Specht for the New York Times

The suburb of Vauban in Germany is a great example of what life could be like in the not so distant future. Vauban is almost completely car free. Doesn't that sound like paridise? How did they do that? You've heard of "Build it and they will come". How about "don't build roads, don't allow car parking spaces and make it expensive to store your car on the edge of town". Those are some of the reasons that Vauban is showing the way for the rest of us "still stuck in the 20th Century" folks.

Please notice that this New York Times article is currently it's number one, most read article online. There must be a lot of interest in this way of life. Perhaps, people hunger for car-less/less-car community. I know I do. I keep envisioning myself without need of a car(and dream of my city having a lot less cars in it!). I'm not there yet, but I keep finding more reasons not to use the car, today.

Style and Bikes in San Francisco

2009-05-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

There was an article, yesterday, in the San Francisco Cronicle's SFGate about bike commuters and style. One of the people they interviewed(pictured too) was blogger /fashionista/cyclist Meligrosa(Of course!). You should know her from the Bikes in the City.

She was all for it. Bikes and style. Both at the same time. Often... and heels are no problem.

Picture courtesy of Meligrosa.

Heaven Found

2009-05-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

The apparition had led me to a real cool bike shop. At first I didn't know if it was a bike shop or a fashonable clothing store, using old style bikes as props. There were a couple of city bikes in the windows but they were surrounded by a lot of stylish outfits. Upon entering, I saw a few more bikes and much more clothing. Really nice stuff, that looked fit to wear on a bike. Too bad that I wasn't in a clothes shopping mood(That only happens twice a year... if I'm lucky). It wasn't until I went into the room at the back, that I knew I was in a real bike shop. A really cool bike shop! I had found Clever Cycles.

Why is there a bed on the street?

Now to take a "city bike" for a spin. They sized me up and put me on the bike most likely to fit. An Azor Oma. This would be my first time on a Dutchie and it was no disappointment. They are the Cadillac of bikes, or that's what it handled like, anyways. A very comfortable ride that put me in a mood to cruise around... no hurry. But I could pick up some speed, if I wanted to.

I also tried the Bakfiets cargo bike and loved it. Watch out on those quick turns because the front wheel will buckle, if you do. After riding the Bakfiets and getting one of the owners to take some pics of me on it, we got into a good conversation about his shop. He said that they had sold 300 Bakfiets, I think that's what he said. It blew my mind. 3 hundred of the cargo bikes in this city? Maybe he meant all of the city bikes. Still, 300 sounds like a good start to changing bike culture, here.

Need a passenger.

I also found out that you can rent bikes here. A little too late for me. I left the shop really wanting one of these bikes and trying to figure out if I could afford one... and another trip to Portland.

Surprise Trip to Bike City

2009-05-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I made an unplanned visit to one of the cities that has a reputation of being a bike mecca. I was actually across the river in Vancouver, Washington and unsure if I was going to be able to make it over to the City of Roses, to get a taste of the bike culture. Happily it worked out that I had some time on a mostly sunny, Sunday afternoon to hit the streets of Portland, Oregon and see for myself if it lived up to the hype as a bicycle haven. For the most part, it did or at least it's definitely headed in that direction.

I headed downtown to Waterfront Bicycles and rented a some kind of cross bike. I only had an hour and half, so I rode quickly across the Hawthorne Bridge and headed into a residential neighborhood. I really only have Mpls. to compare it to, but my sense was there are more bikes cycling around Portland. How many more is obviously a tough guess but it could be twice as much. For a variety of reasons, I did feel safer riding the streets of Portland. The most obvious reason is that there are more lanes on streets and bridges than Mpls. They didn't always make sense but that might be because I was new to it. I also felt more at ease because drivers in Portland seem to be lot mellower than in my hometown. Nobody seemed to be in too much of a rush and cars seemed to be aware of bicycles. Another thing I noticed, is that a higher percentage of bicyclists were obeying the traffic laws. Combined, these three conditions gave me the "subjective" sense that I was safer riding in Portland.

City of Green.

Now, I not saying that Portland doesn't have a long way to go. It's still very much a car town. Cars everywhere. And they could definitely use even more lanes and paths that are separated from autos. As it is, there is a lot of mingling with cars, which can be deadly.

Ghost bike signifies that a cyclist was killed near by.

Then, as I was headed back down Hawthorne Blvd, an apparition appeared. It was an angelic sign for me that I must return to this place, as soon as I returned the rental.

Angel on wheels.

I did return and received a special treat...but that's another story.

Energy Boss Steven Chu Misses His Bike

2009-04-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it's price of success or maybe, in my opinion, they need to find a way for Mr. Chu to keep commuting via bike. Charles Komanoff references a New York Times Sunday edition interview with the Energy Secretary Steven Chu were he admits he doesn't drive a car and commuted to work on his bike before stepping into his new job. Komanoff takes that and adds data showing how biking is good for your health. Maybe we should start a petition to get Mr. Chu back on his bike? What do you think?

Rainy Ride Gamble

2009-04-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Red hat for visibility.

Spring has been on hold in Minnesota. The trees are leafless and the grass still has a lot of brown in it. But today we finally had some rain. With that rain, will come an explosion of green! Since it was the first rainy day in awhile, I could have stayed inside and got some projects around the house done. But I like to procrastinate. When the rain stopped, I hopped on Harvey and headed out to make a nice 10 miles circuit, before the rain returned. I would have made it, but I discovered something very cool... but that's another story.

Please Finish the Job!

2009-04-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

I'm love my commute(the bike one). It's great to be out in the weather, checking out the scenery, and collecting my thoughts. But there are those tough spots. One of the least pleasant parts of of my journey home is this little stretch on Wirth Parkway between Interstate 94 and the Cedar Lake Trail. It should be listed as "off-road with obstacles". The worst part is where it dips down, before rising again. You can't help but go fast and it feels like you bike is being stressed tested, as you try and dodge the worst pits. You're happy if you wheel doesn't bust a spoke. It's one of the worst pieces of bike trail in the city.

Hang on.

What makes it even more vexing, is that it right next to a bridge and trail entrance that was completely renovated a few years ago. At great cost, I would guess. It looks great and is a model for bike trail exits. So why, 50 feet away, is there one of the worst stretches of bike path, connecting to it?

Nice bridge ahead.

Some people would rather to risk it with the heavy traffic, then ride this stretch. But I stick to the trail, because there are some wicked potholes that you can't avoid without moving out into traffic. It's really sad that a situation like this exits, right next to an excellent, high traffic trail. I'm guessing they ran out of money or a fix is in the works, but I'd really love it, if they'd finish the job.

Night Riders

2009-04-26T08:31:00.001-07:00

M Ward/First Avenue

2009-04-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

The beardless one.

M Ward was in town, so me and some friends rode our bikes over to First Avenue(Prince?) to check it out. The show was very good, but he left me wanting more. The last time I saw him a couple of years ago at the Varsity Theatre, he did two sets and I walked out of there in awe. But I didn't know anything about him and he's a little more popular, now. Still it was well worth it.

One thing I noticed was there were at least 30 bikes parked outside of First Ave, but no bike racks. I bet there'd be a lot more, if they put some racks on the sidewalk. I love not paying for parking. Great to see all the fellow cyclists. It was nice to ride home in the chilly, night breeze.

This is How We Roll

2009-04-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

This lady knows how to get around. She is loaded down and doesn't bother with the fancy gear. Any raincoat will do. Practical.

A Brand New World

2009-04-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a fellow blogger, I now have new camera. I've always loved her pictures and was wondering why her pictures were so much more vivid than mine. I mean she's great, but she can't be that great. Can she? ;) So I found out what kind of camera she has and bought one, yesterday. It's a Canon SD990 IS. Compact but powerful.

Cedar Lake

Well from my first day of shooting, I can say... she's an excellent photographer. But it does help to have a nice camera, too. The 990 has lots of cool features that I look forward to trying out. I was really winging it on my ride home from work, trying to find the right settings for the conditions. I got lucky on a few.

Paddle boat on Mississippi: A sure sign of Spring.

If you are ever headed through San Fran, be sure to look her up, but please, do make sure to take her out for a coffee.

NiceRide Bike-Share Wants Community Input

2009-04-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

It's in the works. Bike sharing is coming to Minneapolis, next Spring. What will it look like and how will it work? From what I have read, there will be 1000 bikes placed at 75 kiosks around the U, downtown and uptown. People with memberships will be able to use a credit card to get a bike that they can use for short trips around the city. It's being tried in cities around the world and I'm happy that it is coming to Minneapolis. It is transforming other cities and I'd like to see that happen here. Get people on bikes and their perspective changes. Change their perspective and our city changes.

Want to learn more about it, get involved, or just put your 2 cents in. NiceRide is having 4 "community input workshops" later this month. I plan on attending one of them, because I'd like to see this thing work and I have many questions about what they are doing to make it a success. This program isn't a guaranteed success or for that matter, a failure. How they set it up, promote it and sustain it, will go along way in determining how well it does.

Picture courtesy Lilia of Velo Vogue.

From what I have heard, the Paris(See how it works at Velo Vogue) and Barcelona bike-sharing programs are successes at this point. I myself have a lot of questions to ask. What is this program doing to model the successes of other cities and avoid potential problems? NiceRide is relying on Federal funding and user fees. Is it smart to rely on government funding and will the $50/ year user fee, deter use? Where will the stations be and how will they get right of way? And the list goes on... and on. So if you're not too busy on April 30th or May 1st, come to one of these workshops and see what it's all about. And if you come early, they are doing a bike tour to scout station locations. For more info on Bike-sharing around the world, check out The Bike-sharing Blog. Velo Vogue also has several blogs with great photo's of the nuts and bolts of the Parisian bike-sharing program Velib.

Last Bearded Ride

2009-04-19T11:15:00.001-07:00

Every Fall, at some point, a more perminant beard sprouts, as the temperatures drop. It's a very useful thing to have in Minnesota Winters. Every Spring There comes a point when I look in the mirror and don't see myself anymore. I know then that it's time for the beard to go. And so, last nights ride will be the last one with a serious beard, until the chill of Winter returns. But, now is the time to enjoy Spring, fresh faced and baby smooth.

Riding Through Other Part of Twin-City's.

2009-04-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

Got an invite to a party way over in the other Twin city, so I hopped on Zippy. As I made my way into that into that city, I am reminded how different they are.

Zipping down East (Mississippi)River Road.

I was born in Minneapolis and have lived most of my life inside it's boundary's. It's a part of my DNA. But there is a city just across the river that often seems to me, to be a foreign land. That would be St. Paul. While have spent a lot of time in St. Paul and even lived there, it has always be a bit of mystery to me. A place that I wouldn't call home. I'm not saying it's less than Minneapolis, just different. Newcomer's to the Twin Towns often don't notice the difference, but it's there. Can't you see it?

This will all be very green soon.

Without trying to get into the rivalry between the cities, here are some of the bigger differences. St. Paul is the capital of Minnesota, while Minneapolis is the center of business. St. Paul is a provincial city. It is kind of like a big small town that is more traditional . Minneapolis is cosmopolitan, thus more connected to the outside world. St. Paul is quiet(Absolutely, dead after dark!), while Minneapolis is brash, busy and loud. St. Paul was traditionally the Catholic town, with Minneapolis being the Protestant(Lutheran) one.

Cool flats on Summit Ave.

Because St. Paul hasn't had the development pressures for a long time, that Mpls. has, it has kept a lot more of it's beautiful old buildings. I think that STP's downtown has a much prettier than present day Minneapolis. Except again, that there almost no hipness to the place and it's usually a ghost town in the evenings. Things just move slower in St. Paul.

St. Paul is also has a lot more hills.

I could go on and on about the differences, but in the end, I should just be happy there is a town right across the river that I can come to mellow out and enjoy the simpler things in life.

First Commute for the Year

2009-04-16T19:34:00.001-07:00

I haven't commuted to work since early December, when the snow came in great abundance. That's a long time. Longer than I imagined it'd be. But it was a harsh winter. December: snow, snow, snow. January: bitter cold. Febuaury: snow, cold and ankle injury. March: melting snow and perhaps sloth. Perhaps. It is 13 miles to work and my route would have been unpredictable. Parts of it are shared with cars and some of the trails would have been real dicey. As time went by, the idea of commuting seemed more and more daunting. It became a mental barrier that kept me in the car, commuting. Finally, the weather cooperated, making excuses seem less defendable. Even though the last 2 weeks have been very nice, I had too many conflicts. So, today was the day.

I rode Zippy, my lightweight Gary Fisher, because I wanted to get in shape before riding Harvey. After riding Harvey for most of the month, Zippy was a very fast ride. I liked it, but it did feel a little too fast at time, so I slowed it up some(Gave me an idea for a future post).

Exit, stage right

The route I take out to Plymouth, the suburb where I work, has many lakes and lots of nature. While riding on Wirth Parkway, I stopped to take a picture of the a pond. When I looked over, this Deer was sitting right in the middle of a perfect picture. But, my camera was stowed in my pack. By the time I had dug it out, she was heading away from me and this is the best I could do. Next time I'll keep that camera holstered!

From Wirth Parkway, just before the Death Trap

After work I decided that I must have have a chai. So, I turned right on Wirth Pkwy. instead of left, and headed toward Uptown. But before I got there I had a little big surprise. I came upon a cyclist who looked familiar. Last year, I used to see her on this same stretch, every so often. She was very pretty and rode a cool, older bike. Some mornings, last year, when the idea of riding was seeming a bit drastic, the thought that I might come across her again, would get me on my bike... hey! Whatever gets you on your bike, so much the better.

Well, today as I'm riding up on her I notice that her bike is a Schwinn... and Orange(And I must say, Orange is her color), just like Harvey! I traded pleasantry's with her, telling her that it was a very cool bike she was riding and that I had bought a Schwinn, last November. Not wanting to seem like a creepy stalker, I moved ahead and went on my way. Only later, did it dawn on me that I should have asked her if I could take a picture. Again, missing the shot.

North end of Cedar Lake

The blessed Chai

You don't know what your missing, until you ride again.

Not Sure What to Make of This Bike

2009-04-16T18:21:00.000-07:00

I really like the color of this bike, with it's red stripped wheels, but I wonder about the mountain bike handle bars. It doesn't seem to go with the motif. Some metaphors are getting mixed up, here. With different handle bars and a basket on front, she'd be a gem. Then no need for the fanny pack.

First Blush

2009-04-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

So, with this new blog, I'm supposed to be sharing about my love of chai(Tea). I've been thinking and thinking. Lots of good ideas, but where to start? Where is that in? That first chapter? The longer I delayed, the higher the stakes got(In my mind anyways).

Then a week ago, as I was digging through my tea shelf, I saw these cards that were apart of a tea box that I had received a long time ago. Actually, so long ago that was probably one of my first, favorite teas. It had been given to me by my girlfriend, at the time. She had received it from her friends in South Africa. What a tea! It was unlike anything tea I had had before, with this wonderfully distinct, spice flavor. Exotic. I burned through that box of tea bags pretty quick and wanted more. But this was the 90's and I was new to the world of tea, so I had trouble finding it again.

Honeybush says "Loved by Babes and Old"

By the time I found it again, I had moved beyond tea bags to the next level of tea appreciation and was steeping loose leaf teas with infusers. While tea bags are convenient, in some situations, loose leaf teas are almost always going to taste better, usually because they are a higher grade of tea. Plus the infuser allows the tea to expand as much is it needs to, allowing the water to flow between the leaves. Thus, more flavor ends up in the water.

So what is Honey Bush? It is a plant that only grows in certain areas of South Africa and is very similar to Rooibos tea. It tastes a lot like Rooibos, but with more of a honey/spice flavor. It is also a tisane(Herbal tea), which are plants that don't come from the traditional tea plant.

Honeybush's Redish/Brown liquor.

A few days ago, I went and picked up some Honeybush at the Tea Source, to try and recreate the first blush of Tea-love, and over did it. By that I mean, I always think that more is better. If I put big teaspoon scoops in, it'll taste more. But I came back to the realization that sometimes less, tastes so much better. The flavor was too strong. So tonight, I put in three small teaspoons into my three cup pot, and it tastes wonderful. So wonderful that I made another pot, which is okay, because Honeybush doesn't have any caffeine.

Velib Coming to Beantown?

2009-04-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Chic Cyclist for a link to a very good article about Boston's coming experiment in Velib style bike sharing. The Boston Globe article "Is Boston Ready for a Revolution?" lays out the Boston Mayor's plan to have the biggest bike sharing program in the Americas. Quite a feat for a city that usually scores very badly in bike safety. Will it work? The author of the piece, Tom Matlack travels to Paris to see the real deal. The Parisian version of bike sharing is huge. 20,000 bikes spread all over the city. While it has it's share of problems, it is according to this article changing Paris. They have seen an explosion in cycling.

But will it work in Beantown? The streets aren't known for bike friendliness and car drivers are worse. I'd say that if it works in Boston, it'll work anywhere. I wish them much luck.

Photo by Lilia of Velo Vogue

Also, if you want to see how Velib works, check out Velo Vogue's recent blogs on the subject. They get into the nuts and bolts of the Parisian bike sharing program. Nice pics too.

Is Your City on Good Magazine's Best Bike List?

2009-04-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

Well, "best burgoning bike cities" anyways. Hint: Mpls. is on it. Yay! Thanks to Urban Velo for posting the link to the "Good" Magazine article, provacatively titled "Sorry Portland". I'm sure there is some big controversy because some cities didn't make it on the list, but they don't pretend that it is the definitive list, so take it for what it is. A little shout out to the bike communities across the country, here's what's happening in these cities. How does yours compare? No harm in that.

As for Minneapolis, some of the comments were wondering why it would be on a burgeoning list, because they thought the city was more of an established bike city. But some other commenter pointed out that all North American cities are pretty much burgeoning compared to some European cities we won't mention. Ain't that true. In Mpls., 3.6% of people commute by bike. We have only 25-35% to go to catch up to Amster-Hagen. Yes we can!

Now go and see if your city made it on the list.

ps. Good magazine has some good articles on transportation this month.

Abandoned Bridge Put to Use for Bikes

2009-04-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

Stone Arch Bridge in Downtown Minneapolis.

(Why so yellow?)

Picture taken from The "New" Guthrie Theater has a yellow windowed observation deck on the 9th floor.

Cyclist stops to take in the view of St. Anthony Falls.

The Stone Arch Bridge is a railroad bridge built in 1883 by James J Hill, for the amazing sum of $650,000 dollars. That was a lot of bucks for the day. They had to put a curve in it, due to land claim issues, but that made it an even more striking bridge. Above it is St. Anthony Falls, which are the only falls on the whole of the Mississippi. The falls are now a lock and dam.

Today, the Stone Arch Bridge is a bicycle and pedestrian bridge. It has become a tourist attraction, too. I don't live far from it and use it all the time, in all seasons. Sometimes I even go out of my way to ride over it. It's such a beautiful bridge in the oldest part town. The city of Minneapolis is where it is, because of the St. Anthony Falls. The falls were used to produce power for the grain mills. The town was originally called St. Anthony.

Right now, the falls are raging with all the water, melted from snow. A mist from the falls actually reaches the bridge. As Summer comes, it'll die down to a more relaxed flow. We have one other train bridge that has become a bike bridge, down river, at the University. I'd really love to see us take over an auto bridge instead limiting future options for train transport, though. Trains are a much more efficient means of transporting goods than trucks... but not as efficient as bikes... of course!

To Rack or Not to Rack?

2009-04-06T20:26:00.001-07:00

This reminds me of the days when I would carry 2 plastic grocery bags on my handle bars. I don't think I ever lost anything, but it was always more exciting than it needed to be. So nice to have added carrying capacity with a rack on the back. While I can carry decent loads on all my bikes, I should probably be looking to add something on the front of my Gary Fisher and maybe a rack on Harvey's back. I'll have to start looking.

It Begins

2009-03-28T22:25:00.000-07:00

How do I start this thing? Words, words, words.

Welcome! This is The Chai Cyclist blog. Spring has come and it has made it necessary that I find some new digs, due to the fact that my original blog is iciclebicycle. It melted with the snow. Nobody can get too excited about a snowy blog when all they want is to see the green of Spring. With that understanding, I have started up this blog. Keeping the bike, but replacing the icy emphasis with a chai(same as tea) one.

What do they have to do with each other? Nothing but the fact that I like bikes and tea with equal abandonment. Tea is often a prime motivation for me getting on my bike, some days. When it was -10F, the thought of a warm chai at Namaste Cafe, tipped the balance in favor of riding. The reverse is often true. I want to go for a ride, but where to? Ah, some tea and conversation. I have a good feeling about this new blogs mix . They say write about what you love. And I have deep love of both of these pursuit's. Let the fun begin!