It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle. — Ernest Hemingway
Jo Ellen and I have been working for ourselves since 1989. During that time, we’ve developed a business-like attitude towards spending—even when it comes to personal expenditures. For a business, the worst time to stop putting money into your business is during bad times. It creates a self-fulfilling downward spiral. Of course, if you are cash-starved, you may have no choice. But that’s a horse of another color. But if you put cash aside during flush times, now is the time to use it.
So what does this have to do with cycling? I’ve always been very cheap with my cycling hobby. Maybe too cheap. Even though I’ve dabbled in nice bikes and high-end components, I usually keep my bikes to no more than three and usually just one (I am currently at one now and have been for quite some time). My Tour Easy, purchased used for $1200, is the first to break the $1000 barrier. But with this economy, I am looking to expand the fleet and loosen the purse strings.
But you may ask, “Isn’t your 401K as deflated as everyone else’s?” Why, yes, it is. Thanks so much for reminding me. ;-) I look at it like this. The best time to invest is when everyone else is not. This is true because:
We’re all in it together. Every dollar you spend to stimulate the economy helps somebody somewhere. It may even keep a shop or bike manufacturer solvent during especially hard times and they’ll be there to sell you that next bike when you need/want it.
Warren Buffett saves his money and buys, buys, buys during such times. Do you have any idea how brilliant Warren Buffet is? I’d follow his lead if I were you.
Point being, there is no better time to invest in yourself, your well-being, your happiness…your future…than at times like this.
So let’s get down to brass tacks.
What I really want is a low bottom bracket recumbent tandem like Mark Stonich made for himself. It looks perfect but it’s a one off. A Tour Easy tandem would work for me too, if a model was in production, but it is not. The SUN EZ tandem looks OK. There are a few SUN dealers in CT so I will call them by springtime to see if any of them has a demo on the floor. Although I buy many bikes sight unseen, I’d prefer to ride this one and buy from a local shop if at all possible.
Next on my list would have to be a Pugsley. I don’t want any of that poor man’s Pugsley stuff I see out there either. Give me the real thing! How about one with a Rohloff? I’m out of control!!! I can justify it if I have to. You see, I have trails to ride it right here town, less than a mile from my door. Plus, it would make an awesome New England winter bike. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
A real, honest-to-goodness cargo bike would be cool. The xtracycles are fine but a front loading one or dare I say it, a Bakfiets floats my boat a bit more.
Next is a trike. Those things look like a ton of fun. The reason it’s so low on the list is that the roads here are narrow and we don’t have bike paths, so I would probably not feel comfortable riding one.
But don’t get the wrong idea. The money is not burning a hole in my pocket. Jo Ellen and I are ants, not grasshoppers. I will only get something if it tickles my fancy sufficiently and the right opportunity comes up. I think of it is as an investment in fun and health (physical and mental), not a drunken sailor’s buying spree.
How about you? Did you put some cash aside in your cycling budget during better times? Now is the time to use it. Invest in yourself, your health, and help the economy all at once. And be sure to report back here and let us enjoy your new bike bling vicariously.
I’ve used a lot cycling stuff over the decades. Here are my all-time favorites, just in time for the holidays. Give the link to your friends and drop hints about how you need this stuff to keep the pedals turning in 2009. ;-)
1. Shimano bar end shifters. Love these! Some people like to use them with the Pauls thumbies. That’s a nice combo but I like them as bar ends because ironically, thumbies hurt my thumbs. The shifting of the bar ends is flawless and the ergonomics are great. Couldn’t ask for anything better.
2. Nashbar Highlander pedals. Do you like a big old platform pedal with pins? How about a nice practical SPD peal with really smooth bearings? How about both for about 40 bucks? (Look for regular sales.) This pedal has a wide platform with pins for extra gripping power. The bearings are smooth, smooth, smooth. They don’t cost a whole lot of money. That’s my definition of good stuff!
3. Carradice bags. They look retro and cool and hold lots of stuff. If you get the longflap model (such as the Nelson longflap), you can cram even more stuff in your bag and strap it down so it stays put. Even if you don’t have the longflap, creative use of bungees will get you home with your excess cargo still attached to your bike. I like the two pouches on either side of the bag. I use one for flat tire fixins and the other for a cable lock (to slow the thieves down).
4. Planet Bike Superflash blinky. Cheap and good. Bike Planet gives 25% of thier profits to grassroots organizations that facilitate the use of bicycles. They deserve our support. Even if you like something high end like a Dinotte, get a Superflash as a spare or get a few to give out to anyone you know who rides without lights. I have 2 on my bike so that if I get lazy with the batteries, one is still likely to be charged up and ready to go.
5. Topeak Morph pump. I have the Road Morph. Great pump. Has a little gauge built in which proves I need bifocals. It works like a floor pump so you are less likely to rip the the valve off the tube from vigorous pumping. Next best thing is to carry your floor pump with you. If my bike gets any more weighed down with stuff, it may make sense to do just that! ;-)
OK, now use the comments to discuss and add your own favorites.
An upcoming episode of the critically acclaimed PBS series “e²” will cover the Vélib bike share program in Paris, France. Vélib is an ambitious public-private initiative that encourages residents to forgo cars for bikes and public transportation. In the process, the program has fostered a unique popular culture, complete with its own language, jokes and pick-up lines. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe has undoubtedly taken heart: Its success has inspired cities like Rome, San Francisco and London to begin adopting similar programs of their own. The episode will premier online December 1, 2008.
About e²
e² is a critically acclaimed PBS series about the innovators and pioneers who envision a better quality of life on earth: socially, culturally, economically and environmentally. The third season visits Cairo, Melbourne, London, Paris, Seoul and more to interview luminaries such as acclaimed author Michael Pollan, His Highness the Aga Khan and Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano.
The Conversation: Can bikes and cars coexist? Drivers are asked to share the road, and bicyclists need to do their part
By Daniel Weintraub dweintraub@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 | Page 1E
Driving home from work after dark a couple of weeks ago, I was just about to turn left off a busy commercial street near my house when I spied, out of the black, a cyclist coming at me from the opposite direction. He was clad in dark clothes, had no light or visible reflectors on his bike, and was powering, head down, as fast as he could go.
I paused, muttered something to myself, then prepared to turn again. This time I saw a second bike, which at least had a tiny, dim light, and I waited for him to pass as well. Figuring there might be one more, I peered into the darkness, and when I didn’t see anything, I began my turn. Half way through the intersection I took a final glance out my passenger window and saw, coming at me, one more cyclist without a light. I sped up and made it through safely as he passed behind me.
The “Hoop” wins New York’s “CityRacks” bike rack design competition. From the CityRacks blog:
The design of Ian Mahaffy and Maarten De Greeve (Bettlelab), based in Copenhagen, Denmark, was selected as the first-place winner in the outdoor competition that attracted over 200 entrants from around the world. Their design was one of ten prototypes installed and tested at Astor Place since September 30. DOT intends to use Mahaffy and De Greeve’s design as the new standard bicycle rack installed on New York City’s sidewalks. The jury also recognized second-place winner Andrew Lang and Harry Dobbs of London and third-place winner Ignacio Ciocchini of New York. Mahaffy and De Greeve will receive a $10,000 prize courtesy of Transportation Alternatives, Dobbs and Lang a $3,000 prize and Ciocchini a $2,000 prize.
Mahaffy and De Greeve’s design reflects a modern simplicity that will greatly enhance the City’s streetscape. The rack is round with a horizontal crossbar, evoking an abstracted bicycle tire. Constructed of cast-metal, the design is elegant yet sturdy enough to withstand the harshest street environments.
When lots of people use a communal resource — like, say, a cheap public bicycle-rental program — they tend to abuse it. So when the city of Montreal built its Public Bike System, nicknamed Bixi, the designers packed in all the technology they could find, in a desperate attempt to out-engineer human iniquity. The modular bike-rack stations are Web-enabled and solar-powered. The bicycles are designed with tons of sealed components to resist the savage beatings they will undoubtedly receive, and they’re equipped with RFID tags so they’re easily trackable. Too bad they can’t redesign the riders too.
With so much attention focused on the presidential election and the economic crisis, and with gas prices now down in the $2 per gallon range, it’s easy to forget about the ongoing threats associated with environmental degradation, global warming, and our dependence on foreign oil. Following are a few reminders:
With the first-ever Bike Miami event coming up on November 9th, Miami joins the growing list of cities to host a Bogotá-style Ciclovía “street opening” festival.
Bike Miami is an initiative by City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz to promote bicycling, liveable streets and the growing urban neighborhood of Downtown Miami. The event will close Flagler Street from the Courthouse to Bayfront Park, as well as South Miami Avenue from 10th Street (Mary Brickell Village)to SE 4th Street and then north on 1st Ave to Flagler for pedestrians and bicyclists.
James over at Bicycle Design is running a “Commuter Bike for the Masses” design competition, with a brand-new Cannondale bicycle being offered as the grand prize:
Do you have an idea for a bicycle that might persuade the average person, with no prior interest in cycling, to park the car and pedal to work? That is the main idea behind this competition. The scope is up to you- choose to come up with a whole new form factor for a pedal powered machine, or focus on specific details that you consider key to accomplishing the goal of getting the average non-cyclist to consider riding a bike for transportation. Don’t be constrained by products that are currently on the market, but do make sure that your concepts are based in reality (don’t break the laws of physics, etc) and that they are manufacturable using existing technology. All concepts submitted will be considered, so be creative and have fun.
REI will be offering bike commuting classes at their Berkeley, CA store on November 2 and February 22, from 8:45 am to 3 pm. Cost for the classes is $55 for members and $75 for non-members. Class size is limited, so if you’re interested, be sure to sign up in advance.
Course description:
Join our REI Outdoor School instructors as they teach you what you need to know to get the most out of using your bike for transportation. We’ll discuss proper clothing, techniques, and best practices for carrying your gear with you – plus there will be plenty of time for questions. This interactive class will teach you what you need to know to get out there on your bike!
If you’re not in the SF Bay Area, check the listings below for schools in your area.
I’m way too unhip and clueless to be concerned about how my helmet looks, but if you’re more style-conscious than me, and you don’t like conventional bike helmets for fear of looking nerdy, Yakkay has come out with a line of helmets disguised as hipster hats. I have to admit, I thought they were a little silly, but my wife, who has a much better sense about these kinds of things than I do, thinks they’re pretty cool. I guess that’s why she does all of my clothes shopping for me. ;-)
A student at the University of Amsterdam is conducting an online survey of cycling behavior as part of his course work:
I am a student at the University of Amsterdam doing research on cycling behaviour around the world. One of the objectives of this research is to find out what persuades people to use their bicycle instead of other means of transportation. What’s more, we are hoping to be able to use this research to convince governments all over the world to actively promote biking; both in resources as well as city planning.
If you’d like to help him out by taking the survey, it can be accessed here. I’m hoping to get a copy of the survey when it’s complete; I’ll post it here if I do.
