Commuting Doldrums?

http://bikeportland.org/2014/12/10/beat-bike-commute-doldrums-114781

My bike is my car.

What makes me feel pretty awesome? Fitting an entire cart’s worth of camping trip groceries in my Big Dummy.

What makes me feel more awesome? When I’m pushing said cart out the door and the nice cashier says, “Do you need help to your car with all that, miss?”

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Singletrack Crossbike Adventure

Just showing off the vest! It's not commuter related, although still riding my cargo bike every day. I'm ready for my camping season to be over so I can ride a normal bike and not be hauling stuff back and forth everyday, but it sure has been nice to spend so much time outside. Anyone else riding a little cross this year? 

Finding Your Balance

http://www.powertap.com/blogs/news/15469809-finding-your-balance-by-cyclist-megan-hottman

TCL kit by panache- on sale now!

reasons to order a TCL kit from Panache Cyclewear Co.:
1. the stripes are very flattering and slimming
2. the shorts are dark so if you race CX you don't have to worry about stained lycra
3. The shorts have the most amazing fit and feel and chamois
4. The TCL logo is very small so you'll represent us in a subtle understated fashionable kind of way  
5. For you folks who asked for less "logo-ed" gear, this is for you!
6. You'll get it within 6-8 weeks. Perfect timing to gift it to the cyclist in your life
7. Panache is a Colorado company = awesome 

Order away, commuter friends!  Look stylish as you roll to and from work ;) and beyond!

http://teamid.panachecyclewear.com/id/?teamid=261_the-cyclist-lawyer

"Bikelash"

This is a good article!

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/09/why-bike-lovers-should-be-happy-about-bikelash/380219/

“Bikelash, I think, a little counterintuitively, is a great thing to be dealing with,” says Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “It’s a high-class problem to have. Because it means that we’re actually making a difference. It means we’re actually forcing difficult decisions in a good way, in a constructive way, on communities as they decide what they’re going to look like in the future.”

Inspire Others

I have so many things to post!!  I've been storing up and keep not logging on here to actually do it.  Such is life. So I'll just share two things.




Ok, first, AWESOME little article (2-minute read so no excuses).  Your excuses for not commuting are getting busted wide open... so go get on your bike!!  It's hard to get on and go sometimes, but at the end of the day, you'll always be glad you did.  I never have regrets afterwards!

http://www.bicycling.com/ride-maps/featured-rides/all-your-commute-excuses-busted




Then, next thing.  So I had a great opportunity at my work recently to be part of a great project.  I work for Centura Health, you may recognize them as they own hospitals like St. Anthony's, Littleton, Hospital, Porter Hospital, to name a few.  So we have a really large wellness campaign that's about making people healthier.  Not just the people we treat, but our associates as well.  So a few months ago, one of our corporate communications went out and there was a story of a gal who'd lost a ton of weight running and hiking.  I thought it was really cool that she was featured and that she'd accomplished so much.  So then about two months ago, when the next corporate communications came out and asked people to submit their stories, I thought sure, why not.  So I logged on and shared my story of how I bike every day (yes, every day)... rain or shine.  Sometimes I commute to work, sometimes it's just a quick 5 mile spin around my neighborhood.  But I bike everyday.  It makes me happy, I feel better both physically and mentally.  So I submitted my story and then about two weeks later the corporate marketing person contacted me.  They wanted to feature me in a commercial that would air three times a day on KMGH Channel 7 through the month of September.  I was stoked!!  I had the week of the Pro Cycling Challenge off to go chase the peloton and so I sacrificed day one of the race to take two hours to go do filming and photos.  Such a neat experience!  Keep an eye out on Channel 7 or you can watch it here.  :)   You never know how your story, your experiences, your habits will affect those who are around you or what kind of cool opportunities you may get to be a part of as a result!!  So share your stories wherever you go and be an inspiration to others!!

A relatively light load of groceries compared to what I’ve...

A relatively light load of groceries compared to what I’ve hauled before….

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Coolest Thing on My Commute

I have fallen off of the commuting wagon. 

With the avalanche of after-work activities that occur at the beginning of the school year and a series of eye doctor checks and re-checks to secure some contacts that will allow me to see, I have just not allocated the time necessary to commute to work and get to my other obligations in a non-stinky way.

To participate in the August challenge, I registered for the August button on Strava and had big plans to take a photo of myself in front of something neat on my commute (cows, mountains, the South Boulder creek), but alas, the month escaped with very few commuting miles.  The original excuse was that I was recovering from my race, but as the month wore on, I realized that I was just out of the habit.

On Sunday, however, my oldest daughter and I rode to the pool to swim:

Then, on Wednesday, instead of going to the cool cyclocross race series in Golden as originally planned, I took my youngest daughter to the bike park to ride:

We are going back this weekend.  : )  I am hoping for some commuting miles next week too.

Tour de Fat: Fun and opportunity

My husband and I ready to ride to the beginning of the parade.

This past Saturday was the Tour de Fat in Fort Collins. It's a wonderful celebration of pedal-powered transportation. It brings out the best--and sometimes not the best--in people who like to ride bikes.

Days before the Tour, you can tell people are gearing up for the event. For example, last week I saw a two-story bicycle being pedaled down the middle of one of the City's busy streets. On Friday, I saw a group of people in costumes riding in a large pack against traffic; they were yelling something about doing the Tour de Fort. On the way to the beginning of the parade itself, I witnessed someone who crossed a street divided by a railroad track and thought he was going to crash because he almost crossed the tracks in a parallel manner.

While bicycling is one of the activities I enjoy most, it's also one I take seriously. I want to set a good example of how to ride safe and have fun, too. So, I consider all of the above situations "teachable moments." I admit that I didn't say anything to the two-story bike riding dude and wasn't in a position to approach the wrong-way riding touring group. But I had the perfect opportunity to speak to the guy who came close to getting his tires stuck in railroad tracks and suffering the consequences when he pulled up next to me at a stop light.

In the nicest way possible, I told him I was afraid he was going to crash and suggested that when he cross tracks in the future, he should do so at a perpendicular angle. Much to my surprise, he appreciated the tip and bid me a good day and happy Tour de Fat.

When I take advantage of teachable bike safety moments, I always run the risk of being yelled at or blown off, but I figure if I can help keep one more person from getting injured or worse, it's worth it.

This coming weekend, Denver celebrates the Tour de Fat. If you live in the metro area, I highly recommend you join with thousands of others in celebrating bikes. Proceeds will go to Bike Denver, a nonprofit organization that works to educate people about safe cycling.

Ride on and ride safe!

Shifting perceptions

Love this


http://wheeledpedestrian.wordpress.com/2014/08/23/shifting-perceptions-from-cycling-to-riding-a-bicycle/

Mural!

Emmys: Meet the Nominee Biking an Hour and a Half to the Red Carpet

Emmys: Meet the Nominee Biking an Hour and a Half to the Red Carpet:

Awesome!

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Commuting to Work

Is this accurate for you?  I do feel like I've gotten wet a lot this year!

Bike Architecture and Infrastructure

So we have some pretty cool bike infrastructure happening in Denver, from bridges to protected bike lanes. My too short commute of 2 miles doesn't happen upon too much in the way of this, but I love it when I find new stuff on a ride.  I'm not sure we have anything as cool as this yet. What are some of your new favorite developments that make getting around by bike a little easier and safer?

http://grist.org/list/copenhagens-newest-bike-lane-totally-rules/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=update&utm_campaign=socialflow

A pretty interesting read, given all the cool bike stuff happening in Denver these days.

Another good one from Momentum. What do you all think?

http://www.fastcoexist.com/3034354/the-cities-that-spend-the-most-on-bike-lanes-later-reap-the-most-reward

dearbicycle: archiemcphee: Norwegian artist Markus Moestue...

dearbicycle:

archiemcphee:

Norwegian artist Markus Moestue transformed three humble bicycles into this ferociously awesome Dinocycle. The dinosaur’s body, which is modeled after a Coelophysis, was carved out of polystyrene and coated in fiberglass. After completing his creation, Moestue took his creature for a ride around southern Norway.

According to VG News the raptor bicycle is now up for sale. The bids immediately began rolling in, however Moestue isn’t really concerned with how much money people are wiling to offer. He’s much more interested in finding someone who wants to do something particularly interesting with this wonderfully unusual bike.

[via Geekologie]

Casey has found inspiration for the bikes we don’t use.

Tour de Fat! I love this Dino bike.

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Knit 1 Pedal 2

I have the funniest friends. Many (most?) of them don't understand my obsession with bike commuting. In fact, I suspect they think I'm a wee bit daft. But they humor me. In fact, they encourage me. Just look at this special bicycling kit that they feel I should knit! A knitted kit. They say I can "knit 1 pedal 2." With friends like this...

A bit of a sketchy stretch

  Thought I'd share this video. This is the relatively sketchy part of my commute.  You can see in the video there are cars merging over from both directions.  Being safe, visible, and very aware of what people are doing is really important in especially these types of situations.

Cooler temps

We are starting to get in to slightly cooler temps in the morning which can make it interesting for packing for commuting sometimes.  I really think it's important to look at the weather and plan ahead.  I find that I have to sometimes wear arm warmers, unless you can brave the chill.  Sometimes I can, but my route takes me along water and in some low lying areas, so those areas have pockets of really cold air.  Its not so much relevant now as it will be in a few more weeks, but the extra layers in the morning will become essential.  Which unfortunately on the way home means you have to pack that home... But truly, if it's just a tiny bit chilly, really a pair of arm warmers is sufficient.  I don't personally have a vest, but I know a lot of people like wind vests to help keep the core warmer.  And if your fingers are really intolerant of chill, consider a pair of wind resistant gloves, you can find them for pretty inexpensive.
Either way, for morning and afternoon just plan ahead... you don't want to get in to your commute and you're shivering or on your way home and caught in a rain storm with bare arms on the way home... it hurts!

Communicating bike etiquette

Is there a way to communicate bike etiquette effectively to strangers?  I regularly see a woman who bike salmons down 16th Street.  There are bike lanes both ways on 16th, and she is not turning.  She just bombs down the lane the wrong way.  Aside from the rule follower in me who does not like it, it is so unsafe!  A car turning left would never look behind them to see if a bike is coming!

I don't want to be that person who yells, "Hey, get on right side of the road!" I doubt that would be effective. Is there a kind and effective way to communicate basic bike safety and laws to people you don't know?

Penny in yo' pants - or not

Most of you probably saw the Penny in yo' pants video that was making the round of the internet last month.
I thought it was cute, but as a pants wearer I didn't really think about it.  BUT Saturday morning I was wearing a nice comfy dress and we decided to go to the grocery store.  I grabbed a penny on my way out of the house and a rubber band off the work bench.  I twisted the rubber band around the penny, but when I got on the bike, the rubber band and penny flew across the driveway.  Thinking that perhaps my leg over method was too vigorous for the penny, I redid the penny and rubber band while straddling the bike. (It has a sloping top tube).  But when I got on the saddle - no dice.   So I rode to the store without a penny and didn't flash anyone.

I've been trying to figure out why it didn't work for me.  The dress is knee length and a stretchy cotton.  But when I (and probably you) sit on a saddle, I'm sitting on the the back of the dress while the front hangs demurely over my knees.  So the front and back don't line up like they do when you are standing.  I don't know.  But it was fun to try!

Self-employment still allows for bicycle commuting

One month ago, I left my salaried position as the director of Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County, which was part of the University of Colorado Health Community Health Improvement Department. I've taken a leap of faith and am now doing business as KBC Communications+. My work includes much writing, media relations, social media management, strategic planning, community initiative facilitation and network/connection building. (My website will be live soon!)

While I operate out of a home office, my work requires I attend meetings and sometimes that I work in a client’s office. I don’t mind either since this type of schedule keeps me bicycling to every meeting and to run every errand possible. After years of year-round bike commuting, giving up that habit would seriously compromise my mental health, which doesn't need to be impacted by anymore risk factors than necessary. 

Plus, the savings I realize by not buying fuel or paying for car insurance helps me have at my disposal more of the hard-earned income I’m making DBA KBC.

So far, this self-employment is everything and more that I’d hoped it would be.

Commuting on the road

This summer has not been a favorable commuting season for me. I have had a more hectic than usual schedule with lots of meetings and things like that and then we have had oddly stormy weather off and on. It's very bizarre and frankly annoying. But I'll tell you what, when I get a day that is favorable for commuting in, I get so excited!  Today I am riding in and I'm giddy over it.  Weird. Maybe. But boy what an awesome way to start and end the day!  We all have things we get excited about, and for me getting on my bike is one.  Don't think if it as being exercise. Rather it's an opportunity to be unique, do something fun, while doing your body a favor.  :)

So something occurred to me this morning when I was riding to work.  The Hottman Law Office published an article recently about the laws and essentially the "rights" of cyclists on the road.
http://hottmanlawoffice.com/blog/14044880/totheright

Here's the thing, regardless of the rights we have on the road, the majority of motorists hate that we are there.  Just this morning I had a truck come dangerously close to me (thinking about getting a GoPro actually in the event that heaven-forbid I do get hit) because he refused to move out of the lane and yelled as he passed by.  I've actually learned to accept it, but it means that I take a more aggressive stance on my position on the road.  At the same time though, I also try to be courteous... meaning when I see a car wait for me to pass, when really they could have gone ahead and turned, I try to go out of my way to smile or wave to them.  Why not be friendly as much as possible... is it possible to change a motorists view of cyclists on the road?  Maybe.  If we all did perhaps we could change people little by little.  I don't know, it's worth the shot.  Even if I change just one persons view, its worth the tiny bit of effort it takes to wave a "thank you".   :)

Aug 24 -adult bike rodeo!

Come test your skills and meet members of our TCL ladies' commuter team too!  Most bike rodeos are for kids - -this one is for the BIG kids ;)

8 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Washington Avenue between 10th and 11th streets

Your kids have been through the bike rodeo and have developed the confidence to ride, but do you have it?Come to the adult bike rodeo to build your skills and your confidence on two wheels. Taught by Megan Hottman and her team, League Cycling Instructors with the American League of Bicyclists. Join in the fun and make your next ride a family ride!  This event is sponsored by Hottman Law Office and TheCyclist-Lawyer.com.

Info here: http://goldenmoves.org/2014-events/

Ice, My New Best Friend

The past few times I've ridden to work, the ride home has been very hot. Recently, I discovered the ice machine that is right outside the lab I work in. I grab a ziploc bag and fill it up with ice before leaving to head home and put the ice either in my pocket or the front of my shirt. It definetly helps on those hot rides home to keep me a little bit cooler.

la-girafesportive: La Girafe Sportive socks, designed by Lauren...

la-girafesportive:

La Girafe Sportive socks, designed by Lauren Ayers for Tenspeed Hero.

Great socks.

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Contingency plan

Something I learned very quickly is that one must always have a contingency plan because you really never know what could go wrong, mechanical problems, horrible weather (I've been caught in lightening and hail before), whatever.  

I had an issue once where on my morning commute I managed to fail to unclip my shoe and I just fell right over. That afternoon on my way home my bike was acting bizarre. The gears were slipping all over the place and I was riding in traffic and it was starting to become a safety issue. So I parked myself in the grass in front of a Burger King and called my husband to pick me up.  Had my husband not been able to come get me, my friend/neighbor and I have an agreement that we know we can call each other for rescue.

So whether it's someone you can call or knowing how to use the public transportation, it's really important to have a backup plan because things don't  always goes according to plan... 

Biking Through the Winter of My Discontent

This year had been hard.  Harder than any other time in my life.  There has been death, loss and terrible illness.  Events that have never affected me and my charmed life have shown up with a vengeance.  Yet even in these dark times there is much to be grateful for; my bike is definitely on that list.  My summer plans of hiking and biking have been replaced with countless hours spent at the hospital, sick with worry over my ailing mom.  During these dark times my bike provides a great escape.

Back in routine...

I have been on vacation the last two weeks and before that I had a crazy schedule at work, so I literally haven't hardly commuted by bike to work in probably a month. It stinks. It's such a great way to start and end a day!!  I finally commuted the other day and it was awesome. I missed it a lot. I've been getting on my bike every day, just not commuting. I feel so accomplished and refreshed when I do.  And that is my incentive to commute. Not just to work but doing other things. I had to get a ride in the other day and so I returned movies to RedBox on my bike.  It felt good to not turn on the car and to just spin my legs. It's a great psychological and physical reward.   :)

Hail

It is the season of summer storms.  But the good thing about the Denver area is that most storms blow over quickly.  On a recent ride from work to the bus station, I got hailed on five times!  But the good thing is that it stopped hailing four times.  Haha!  That is how I talked myself through that ride.  Luckily it wasn't too cold.  Just not super fun.  And I remembered I hadn't cleaned my helmet in a while - mmmm . . . old sweat and sunblock running down my face.  But I got a lot of Toughness Points!!



My soaked legs and feet.  I felt bad for the person who sat on the bus seat after me!

Change up your Commute and Support a Cyclist!

There's nothing better than getting into a nice, easy routine when it comes to commuting to work.  Having your clothes picked out the night before, the coffee pot set to 'delayed start' and maybe even having your lunch packed and ready to grab.  But there is definitely something to be said for shaking things up once in a while, which is what I started doing this week!  

Thanks to Megan Hottman, I was introduced to an absolutely AMAZING biscuit shop that just-so-happens to be on my commute to work!  So instead of chomping down on a bowl of cereal before running out the door, I decided to swing by Rise and Shine Biscuit Kitchen and Cafe on my ride in.  It was exactly the change I needed to keep my commute interesting!  Aside from the delicious fresh-from-the-oven biscuit of the day (today was blueberry...delish!!!), I had a great time talking to the friendly folks at the bakery (both workers and customers) and it was such a wonderful way to start the day!  Not to mention that the owner (Seth) is also an avid cyclist!!  

So get out there and start exploring shops and stores along your commute!  If you find small businesses that are owned by cyclists, please share!!!  The Starbucks of the world will survive without our $5 for a cup of coffee, but small businesses thrive on our support and, in my opinion, are much more appreciative than their rival multimillion dollar conglomerates.   

Incentives

I am lucky to work at an institution that supports biking to work wholeheartedly.  Like many cultural institutions, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is motivated to keep as many spaces open in the parking lot for visitors as possible!  They actively encourage walking, biking, carpooling, and bussing to work.  Here are some of the perks/benefits/things to make life easier:

1) Amazon gift cards or a paid day off for every 10 days of not car commuting!!!!!!!!!

2) EcoPass for all employees (this allows you to ride free on all RTD lines)

3) Bike locker (and lots of bike racks for days when the bike locker overflows)

4) Showers

What does your workplace do?  Anything that would be easy to implement?

July 20 Rapha #women100ride

TCL commuter ladies-- please join me on this event - ride as far as you like, feel free to turn back and head for home if it's more miles than you want to do !! But please join us and wear your sweet high viz HOT PINK jersey or vest if you come along!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/663955940328945/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

RIDE MORE, DRIVE LESS!!!

As we hit the half-way mark of 2014, I am pleased to post that according to Strava, I've ridden 3,539 miles since Jan 1 - while I've driven only 2,336 miles in my car. ‪#‎ridemoredriveless‬ ‪#‎workclosetohome‬ ‪#‎commute‬ ‪#‎cycling‬
https://squareup.com/market/defined-fitness-training-llc/ride-more-drive-less

It's been a great biking week when...

...you assist with a League of American Bicyclists (LAB) instructor course.

...you ride around Fort Collins with Steve Clark the LAB Bicycle Friendly Community program specialist. He was in town to assess what Fort Collins' needs to do to move from Platinum to Diamond status. It sounds like a non-negotiable is removing the bike ban on College Avenue (State Highway 287) from Laurel Street south to Harmony Road. The Colorado Department of Transportation seems to have the say here, so this might take some doing.
 

In his PowerPoint presentation that wrapped up our day together, Steve showed our group a variety of innovative infrastructure designs he think will enhance what Fort Collins already has. One right turn lane treatment in the presentation may work very well in Golden on Washington Avenue at the intersection of Hwy. 58, especially going west on the uphill climb. It clearly indicates that bikes should take the left side of the right turn lane as a through lane.

...you help an out-of-town cyclist with some route finding and end up riding over 30 miles together.

...you finally take time to adhere the Lucky Panda sticker (given to you by your son) to the bike you now use for commuting.

Injuries stink...

http://meghottman.blogspot.com/2014/06/injured-and-sick.html

3am commute?

Inspired!


http://tclcycling.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-300-am-commute-by-paul-quigley.html

Biking as a part of life...

Oh my gosh, I have been so busy lately, I just realized that it's been a month since my last post!  Man alive how time get's away... I'm on my work computer trying to get some work done too as I have a two week vacation rapidly approaching.  This feels like a much better use of my time.  Hahah!!!

So back in the last week of March, I was preparing for 30 Days of Biking that was to kick off on April 1st.  I got started before April figuring I'd get myself in that rhythm.  April came, as did snow, bitter cold, wind, rain, then warmer days, sun, and dry ground.  And through all of that, I rode my bike every single day.  There were a couple days that I barely made it a mile... like the day in April the sleeting snow was blowing so hard I couldn't even see.  But for the most part, I've either had a purpose for my ride, like the 3.5 miles to the grocery store or I've ridden at least five miles.

April ended and I thought, well geeze, I'm up to 37 days, why not just keep going?!  So I did... through a horrible chest cold, traveling out of state on road trips, pink eye, and late night rides just because that was the soonest I could get to it.  But here I am, day 83.  That's 83 days in a row I've ridden my bike.  I've not allowed myself the luxury of just hooking up to my trainer, my wheels actually hit the ground.  And even if it's just a quick 5 mile (ends up being about twenty minutes) ride, I still do it.  And I love it.  It doesn't mean it's been easy, but I tell you, it's been such a good mental therapy for me.

I've read several articles recently about the power of exercise (biking, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, whatever), and it's very powerful.  I can be stressed to the max, but I get out on my bike at 9:30 at night, turn on my light and cruise around in the cool, crisp air, and I feel completely reenergized.  I really have a love affair with my bike...  Shhh... don't tell  my husband.  ;)

I am supposed to go on a four day trip with my sisters from Denver to Vegas to Twenty Nine Palms and then to San Diego, and at first I was thinking, oh well.. that'll be the end of my steak.  But I can't let it go.  I want to keep going!!!   It's addicting...  so now begins the challenge of trying to work in a five mile bike ride each day without inconveniencing those around me (too much).

HAPPY BIKING!!!!!

Does this bike make me look good?

It’s a beautiful day and you’d like to go for a bike ride, but you just don’t feel comfortable riding your bicycle. Perhaps when you ride you develop a pain in the neck, back or knees, or numbness in your hands. Or maybe your knees hit the handle bars when you pedal, making it difficult to steer. These symptoms may mean your bike isn’t the right size. So, how do you know if a bike fits?

•  You should be able to straddle your bike over the top tube with both feet on the ground and be able to lift the bike off the ground.  For a road bike, there should be one to two inches of clearance between the tires and the floor. For a mountain or hybrid bike, there should be three to four inches of clearance. When riding a recumbent bicycle, the leg and arm extension is more important than the stand-over height. This measurement doesn’t apply to “step through” bikes (formerly referred to as “girls” bikes). 
• When seated on the bike, you should be able to reach the handlebars without feeling stretched out, hunched over or cramped.  There should be a slight bend in the elbows when riding. Bent elbows act as shock absorbers for the upper body when riding over bumps. Pedaling with bent elbows will often help prevent numbness in the hands. Neck pain is often the result of having the handlebars too low or having a long reach.
• When seated, there should be a slight bend in the knee when the pedal is down. If your hips rock from side to side when you’re pedaling, the pedals are too far away and the seat should be lowered. If you have pain in the front of your knees, the seat is too low or too far forward. A seat that is too high can cause pain in the back of the knee. For recumbent  bicycles, leg extension is the best judge for frame size.
• The saddle (bike seat) should be flat, not pointing up or down. Any slant can apply unwanted pressure on your arms, back and pelvis. Note that there are many different types of saddles for different types of seats. Large saddles (which are not comfortable on long rides) and gender specific saddles. A saddle should support your pelvic bones yet be narrow enough to prevent chafing when riding. Only you can decide which saddle is best for you. Try several.  The most important part of saddle comfort is adjustment.

If you’re not sure whether your bicycle fits you, consult a local bicycle shop which is experienced in this. Good bike fit can improve your pedaling efficiency and aerodynamics and actually make you faster and make you look good!

(Written in collaboration with Robin Hildenbrand, an avid cyclist who lives in Loveland, Colorado.)