Sep
05
2008
The League of American Bicyclists has announced it’s Bicycle Friendly States ranking. This based on their commitment to bicycling and covering 6 areas: legislation, infrastructure, policies and programs, education and encouragement, evaluation and planning, and enforcement.
The highest and lowest rated states were:
Top 5
1. Washington
2. Wisconsin
3. Arizona
4. Oregon
5. Minnesota
Bottom 5
46. North Dakota
47. Mississippi
48. Alabama
49. Georgia
50. West Virginia
You can find more information on where your state stands in the rankings by going to League of American Bicyclists - Ranking the States.
Sep
02
2008
The past couple of days we have been lucky to see the high temperatures hit the mid to high 60’s. What happened to summer?
With the temperature in the 40’s as I headed out the door this morning and with the past couple of days being so cool and damp, I have been thinking about getting out my winter gear. Its not like I have ever put all my winter gear away. But with morning temps being in the low 40’s I have thought about getting out my winter cycling shoes, gloves, and face mask.
Later in the week the weather is suppose to get back in the 80’s, but the past week has been a reminder fall is around the corner. September is already here!! WOW!! Time sure flies when you are having fun.
Aug
27
2008
What are the odds the battery in the cyclocomputer on my commuter bike would die the same time the battery in the cyclocomputer on my road bike would be dieing too? The first thing I did when I discovered my dead battery was to take the battery out of another unit. Seemed logical too me and I thought it would get me through until I had time to purchase another.
When I took the battery from my road bike computer the time was displayed on it, I thought it was good and the biggest hassle would be to reset everything. When it failed to work in the other cyclocomputer I began to think there was a bigger problem. Yesterday I bought new batteries and tried it on the commuter bike’s computer. Guess what, it worked. So I replaced the batteries in both units and I am now happily cruising along and knowing how far and fast I am traveling.
Although I liked riding without it and enjoyed just cruising, it drove me crazy to not know how far I traveled. It is the same when I ride my indoor trainer, I watch cadence, speed, heart rate, and time because at the end of my ride I like knowing the statistics. Other than in my head, I do not keep track of all the details and friends say I should track it. I thought about keeping a record, but then it begins to get too serious. Bicycling is about fun.
But then too, in a year’s time it would be interesting to see how obsessive I am about riding.
Aug
24
2008
My cycling computer died today. I am not sure what is wrong with it yet, so I decided to ride without it. I will troubleshoot it later. At first I was irritated I would not know how fast, far, or long I rode, but decided I would just ride and enjoy it.
One of the first things I noticed was how much I look at it to see my speed. Once I got over that I also realized how much I feel like I push it to maintain a certain speed when it is working. After these realizations I settled into pedaling easy and just enjoyed cruising along at a leisurely pace. I did not have a destination in my mind when I started my ride today, so it was nice to wander, stop to check out a garage sale (spotted what appeared to be an old bicycle) and continued on until I arrived back home three hours later.
I could get into the slow bicycle thing every now and then , but I just enjoy the wind in my face and the feel of speeding along a little too much.
Aug
22
2008
Yesterday in the New York Times I came across: In a Cyclist-Friendly City, a Black Hole for Bikes
That is just one of many questions the police and others have been puzzling over since the arrest last month of Igor Kenk, the owner of a used-bike shop here.
Mr. Kenk’s legacy now fills a former police garage with a leaky roof. Organized by brand name and mostly resting on their handlebars, wheels pointed upward, are 2,396 of the bicycles that police say Mr. Kenk either stole or arranged to have stolen.
An owner of a used bicycle shop has 2,396 stolen bikes in his procession? Does he have OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) or is he just a piece feces? I think he is a piece of sh*t and deserves much more than he will receive.
To help reduce and recover stolen bicycles in Portland there is Finetoothcog, a listing service for stolen bikes, which scans craigslist and ebay for these bikes.
