You don’t get this from behind the wheel of a car

#1 reason to commute by bike? See above. Following are a few others…

• the feeling of well-being that comes with physical activity in the out-of-doors;
• the tangible health benefits that come from daily exercise;
• the surprising amount of money that can be saved by eliminating an automobile;
• the greater connection with our community that comes from being out and exposed to our neighbors; and,
• the increased appreciation of nature that comes from daily exposure to the elements.

Feel free to add to the list!

It was hot in NorCal today. When it gets this hot, extreme measures are called for. For one, the helmet goes in the bike bag (not recommending this, just reporting on it), special clothing is employed (shorts and sandals, no work clothes), and the pace slows down to what we call “tweed speed”.

Tweed speed isn’t a real term, it’s just something we came up with to describe the almost painfully slow pace experienced on social group rides. It’s a pace so slow that it would actually take more energy to ride any slower. It’s a pace that uses the weight of your legs to propel you forward and requires no more effort than taking the weight off of your upstroking leg for a moment. It’s the perfect pace for those times when your brain is roasting while sitting still in the shade. In other words, it was the perfect pace for this afternoon’s triple-digit commute.

It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta’ do it

I get a lot of questions about bike commuting from my coworkers and people I meet on the train and bus. They’ll ask how far I ride, how long I’ve been bike commuting, how much my bike cost, how much money I’m saving, etc. They’re often congratulatory, while sometimes also stating what a sacrifice it must be, and how they “could never do that”.

But here’s the big secret: bike commuting is no sacrifice at all. As a matter of fact, I often feel a pang of guilt for doing it. It’s so much fun, and I derive so many benefits from it (health, wealth, peace of mind), that I sometimes feel as if I’m cheating the system. Bike commuting, so it seems, defies the capitalistic logic of “getting what you pay for” by requiring very little, while providing copious benefits in return.

So now, when someone asks why I commute by bike, instead of expounding on the ecological and economic benefits, I first talk about how much fun it is, how good it makes me feel, and how little effort it takes. I tell them about the things I see along the road (birds, kids, dogs, turkeys, hawks, squirrels), the way it clears out the cobwebs in the morning and flushes out the stress in the evening, and what an utter relief it is to be free of driving related stress and anxiety.

I hope that by sharing my big secret—the fact that bike commuting is not a sacrifice at all, but a richly rewarding endeavor—people will be more likely to consider it for themselves.

Well, not really (the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere falls on September 22 this year). But, we year-round bicycle commuters have our own way of gauging the seasons. We experience the ebb-and-flow of nature directly, in a way that can’t be discerned from behind the wheel of a car. Just this morning, I stepped out and realized it was time to put the lights back on the bike, which in my mind, signifies the first day of the fall bike commuting season.

What are some of the changes in your routines and rituals that signify a seasonal shift?

Take your eyes off that bike for a minute and look closely at the golden grass in the background. Notice how it’s all leaning to the left? That’s what meteorologists call “onshore flow”. In other words, it’s cool, refreshing wind coming from the coast. Normally, we get very little onshore flow in August. As a matter of fact, it’s usually stinkin’ hot this time of year in this part of NorCal. Somehow, even though most of the country has been sweltering, we’ve had the mildest summer in memory. Just this morning, the weatherperson on the local news said we’ll be having lots of onshore flow for the remainder of the week. Those two words, uttered in the central valleys of California in the month of August, always bring a smile to this bike commuter’s face.

Happy Friday All! I hope you had a wonderful commute this morning.

Even though it’s still summer, we’re just starting to get a touch of that gorgeous fall light in the early morning. We’re looking forward to the stunning sunrises and sunsets that are such a treat throughout the fall. Of course, the best seat in the house for Mother Nature’s light shows is always a saddle….

A few random thoughts triggered by this morning’s commute photo:

1. Bike commuting beats the heck out of sitting on the freeway in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
2. The new bars and saddle really changed the character of this bike. I didn’t think the below-the-saddle bar height was going to work for me at all, but it’s nice having my weight distributed a little more evenly between the bars and saddle.
3. Speaking of saddles, the Selle An-Atomica beats the heck out of the Brooks it replaced for sheer comfort. BTW – does anyone know the status of S-A with Tom Milton’s passing?
4. The Pass & Stow porteur rack with matching Freight Baggage Rack Bag make a super front catch-all carrier.
5. I realized the other day that I’ve probably shifted to the granny ring on this bike all of 3 times over the past two years, and then only to test a shifter. With that in mind, I have in the works to turn this into a 1×9 drivetrain. More on this later.
6. At the right of the photo is an intersection where one of our bike trails meets one of our bike lanes. Notice the stop sign and the generous width of the the bike lanes going in either direction perpendicular to the path. The same type of on-street lanes connect with the off-street path on the other end as well. It’s not a bad system.
7. That Arkel Bug is a tough bag. It’s seen a ton of abuse and it looks like new.
8. Surly needs to put kickstand plates on their LHTs.
9. The Canon G10 is a sweet little on-bike camera.
10. The best thing in this photo is the little highlight on the top tube.

Have a super day and a safe commute!

A Pleasant Day, A Pleasant Surprise

What a treat. The normal high for today’s date in our neck of the woods is 95F, but it only reached a mildly pleasant 80F this afternoon. It made for an unexpectedly enjoyable commute home.

If you’ve never ridden an Amtrak train, this is what a typical platform looks like (click the zoom to see the panoramic image at full size). On a typical morning, the platform is jam packed with people. This pano was taken in the afternoon, just a few minutes after the train left the depot.

When on a railroad platform, always stand behind the yellow line, and hold onto your hat when the train comes in. If you have a lightweight folding bike, don’t ever leave it sitting on the edge of the platform or this might happen (ouch).

I had a hard time getting going this morning, but, as always, once I was on the road it was all good. There’s nothing like bike commuting to get your day headed in the right direction.

People often ask me what they need to get started bike commuting. The list may vary depending upon the circumstances surrounding their commute, but here’s my short list.

• A bicycle. Any reliable bike will do, so long as it’s appropriately geared for the terrain. Puncture proof tires (or tire liners) are a good idea.
• Lights. A pair of small, modern LED lights are sufficient. I’m a fan of the Planet Bike Superflash and Blaze 2W.
• A repair kit. It’s good to carry a small multi-tool, a patch kit, and a spare tube for those inevitable roadside repairs.
• A lock. A high-quality U-lock is a must. Even if a person has secure bike parking, it’s good to carry a lock for shopping, meetings, etc.
• A way to carry things. This could be as simple as a small backpack or as elaborate as a set of touring panniers. My favorite for everyday use is a simple grocery pannier.
• Motivation. The most important element is the desire to get out of the car and do a good thing for oneself and the planet.

That’s about it. Of course, a person can get much more elaborate if they so choose, but the fact is, bike commuting is a simple activity that doesn’t require much in the way of specialized equipment or training. For our readers who are already bike commuters, feel free to chime in with your short list of bike commuter “must haves”.

A quick pit stop during this morning’s “race”

So, this morning I’m cruising along, whistling a happy tune, noticing the birds along the trail, when on my left a bike rider whips around me like a sprinter going for the gold in the Olympic Velodrome. As he passes, he gives me a look back, not unlike the look Lance gave Jan Ullrich in the ’01 Tour. I kept lazily rolling along, keeping my pace nice and slow to keep from perspiring in my work clothes. I caught up at the next stop light where I flashed a friendly nod and smile that was met with a steely-eyed, racer-like grimace. When the light turned green, he bolted like Mark Cavendish off the front of the peloton in a final sprint, leaving me in the dust.

When I arrived at the train station a few minutes later, I noticed my rival on the platform, covered in sweat, but basking in the glory of perceived victory. But alas, it was not to be. I stowed away my bike in my bike locker, then I flashed a little grin as I slipped on the train ahead of him and grabbed the prime seat next to the exit, stealing victory from his clutches at the line.

You gotta’ love commuter races… :-)

Tuesday is my favorite commute day. That’s the day Michael rides with me for half of my commute before she peels off to pick up our CSA share at the local farmer’s market. As much as I enjoy riding by myself, it’s always better to ride with a friend! And if you’re ever tempted to sleep in an extra hour and take the car (none of our readers have ever done that), there’s nothing like a ride share partner to keep you on the straight and narrow.

How about you? Do you have a “ride share” partner? Do you “bike pool” with your bike commuting colleagues, or are you a “lone wolf” commuter?

Beautiful morning, generous bike lane, zero traffic; just about perfect.

Shorts Weather

I don’t often ride in purpose-made cycling clothes anymore. This isn’t a political statement as much as it’s a statement of personal preference; I simply no longer have a desire or need to wear specialized “cycling wear”. And although I think there may be some merit to the idea that people riding bikes in normal clothes present a positive image of bicycling to the general public, I certainly don’t look down on those who choose to wear cycling-specific clothing. I suppose when it comes down to it, I’m pretty much an agnostic on the Cycle Chic versus Lycra question.

My routine in the winter and spring is to wear my work clothes and simply layer up over the top with various fleece vests and coats. It’s usually cold enough when I leave for work in the morning, and I ride slow enough on my inbound commute, that I’m not concerned about perspiration. As the year progresses and the weather warms, I shed layers until I’m down to just a shirt and slacks in the spring.

When the temps approach triple digits like they did yesterday, I switch over to a garment swapping routine that puts me in progressively lighter and cooler clothing as the day warms: on the morning commute while it’s still relatively cool, I wear slacks and a long-sleeved shirt (this could be a tech-T or a lightweight wool shirt ); then, when I arrive at the office I clean up and change into a short-sleeved, lightweight, work appropriate shirt; and for the ride home, I swap the slacks for a pair of lightweight, breathable shorts. On the few days of the year when we’re actually in triple digits, the work clothes are packed from the start and it’s shorts and a breathable shirt on both the inbound and outgoing legs of the commute.

We’re lucky to have such mild weather here in Northern California; by mixing-and-matching the “normal” clothes in our closet (for us that’s a mix of cotton street clothes and all-purpose, REI-style “outdoor” clothing), we’re able to stay comfortable on the bike throughout the year. I’m guessing that in other regions where the weather is more extreme, clothing choices are more difficult and specialized bike clothing is more of a requirement.

What about you? Do you wear specialized, bike-specific clothing on your commute, or do you just wear the street clothes that are already hanging in your closet?

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At the train station this morning.

This morning’s commute (I’m so glad I wasn’t sitting in a traffic jam). The weather is absolutely gorgeous today, but the intensity of the early morning sun is an indication that summer is right around the corner. We’ll be experiencing triple digits here before too long.

Yesterday’s commute home. You just don’t get these experiences from the inside of a car at 40 mph.

Fellow bike blogger Jim Fulmer over at Cycle Jerk was recently featured in this excellent USA Today piece on bike commuting and the car-free lifestyle. I love this video; it’s my favorite car-free piece from a mainstream media source. Kudos to Jim, Jo, and the producers!

Cycle Jerk →