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".   :)