Today’s Topic – Bike Friendly?

My fair city is pursuing “Bike Friendly City” status within the League of American Bicyclists. Phase one (1), whatever that is / was, has been completed, and now the City is onto phase two (2).

This phase involves filling out a questionnaire regarding all sorts of “bike related about your city” questions. The dude from my fair city ram-rodding this pursuit filled out the questionnaire and then forwarded onto some of us (us being the dudes on the City Bike Committee, some City employees, and some other interested bike types) for comment.

I read through the questionnaire, I made some comments, and I sent it back. It was interesting. The questions were interesting and the answers provided were interesting. It made a dude think about bike stuff in new ways, some. I was pleasantly surprised to see questions regarding singletrack opportunities in the questionnaire.

This process got me thinking about how bike friendly, or not, my fair city is. Not in regards to League standards, but in reality based standards. My answer to the question of “Is my fair city “bike friendly?” is yes and no.

In my travels I can pretty easily find quick, easy, and safe ways to get almost anywhere I want or need to go. However, once the S.O. started biking to work (every now and then), I’ve been introduced to portions of my fair city that I would not remotely consider “bike friendly” as I provide escort service.

When I consider these parts of the city that I don’t feel safe or comfortable riding in I see two (2) things. The first (1st) is, if I don’t feel good about riding in these areas, a newbie would probably be terrified and give up bike commuting completely. The second (2nd) is if only portions of my fair city are bike friendly while others are hazardous, it is my opinion this is an “all or nothing” type of thing in that the city is friendly for all bike commuters regardless of where they live and work or it should be consider “not bike friendly” in the eyes of the League.

Granted every city, even Portland, even Minneapolis, have areas that are not a good place to bike. However, the sections of my city that I feel are unsafe or confusing or have some major aspect that make them “not bike friendly” is quite far spread.

So, it will be interesting to see what the League’s take on this city will be. I know my views, and they are my own. Personally, I’m anxious for $4.00 per gallon gas, or more, to force the bike friendly issue into the forefront. It will then become an actual important issue and elevate it above “résumé padding” for this city, or any other.


Ride On.

Today's Topic - Two (2) Non-Bike Blogs I Like

There's a couple '0 (2) non-bike blogs I try to visit daily. Though they're non-bike, they have a great theme. Anyhow, I wanted to point these out and let you decide if it's something you'd like to read now and then.

No Impact Man - I'd suggest going back to his original posts and getting caught up with him

Free-Range Kids - I suggest the same, here, start at the start. Maybe buy the book!


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Explanation You’ll Not Like

I was perusing the internets and catching up on some reading. I visited THIS guys site and found the best story regarding European bicycle racing, including the Tour de France, I’ve ever come across.

You can read it HERE. But, be forewarned, IF you understand it, you’ll likely not like it. A lot of dudes get knocked off that pedestal you put them on.


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Pyrotechnic ball remover.

EMBED-Failed Firework Nutshot Explosion - Watch more free videos

Bra

The Bra @ Yahoo! Video

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Vaca

You know the feeling you get when you’re approaching burn-out and you know it’s time for some vacation? Well, I’m there.



I’m getting tired of dealing with daily crap and people who produce this crap. I’m needing some crap-free recharge time.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Travelers

I was commuting home last night when what did I happen upon? A couple on bikes! Not just any couple. No, these were two (2) older, retired sorts roughly half (1/2) way through their journey from Tacoma, WA to Boston, MA.

They were riding loaded. She on a Rodriguez and he on a Surly Long Haul Trucker. They had panniers fore and aft plus stuff strapped on top of the racks on the back. When I found them they were stopped looking at their map.

Once we’d greeted each other and talked a bit I asked them where they were headed in town. I knew right where this was and offered to help them navigate the streets of Sioux Falls. They were going to ride Minnesota Avenue, and for those in the know, that’s not the most bike friendly of streets.

As we rode we chatted. They told me of leaving Rapid City in search of Wall, Wall Drug, and free ice water. They found some route on the internets that had them on a highway that parallels I-90. The highway turned to gravel, then to a cow pasture, and then to “not a trail.” They hoisted their bags and bikes over, under, and through a barbed wire fence and rode the last bit to Wall on I-90.

They had other stories as well. Their route was going to have them meet up and ride RAGBRAI and hit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. She’d been retired for four (4) years and he, just.

They are a nice old couple with not necessarily no particular place to go, just no hard schedule to keep. I keep playing “Powerball” in hopes I’d be doing just this – sooner rather than later.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Brunching Bumper Stickers

The past weekend had its ups and downs. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the S.O,. and I were not able to make the Saturday Beresford Ride we’d signed up for. Bummer.

Sunday rolled around, as it usually does, and the morning weather was about as perfect as it could have been. After coffee at a local coffee joint we went for a roll. Towards the end we decided brunch was in order.

Brunch, in this town, usually means an all-you-can-eat buffet. Yuck. Mass produced, kept “warm” in large containers, food just doesn’t taste that good and is of questionable quality all the way around. Give me an order-off-the-menu place any day over the all-you-can-eat places.

We dined at an order-off-the-menu place and then got ready to leave. We walked out of the door over to where I had the bikes cabled up. Digression – the place we ate has good food, is in a good location, but is seriously lacking in the bike rack department. I indicated as such on the comment card.

When I got over to where we had the bikes, I noticed this bumper sticker on the nearest vehicle. (Go ahead, click for big.)



I split a gut! Holy crap was that funny! I’d never seen one of those! Evidently they’ve been around a while. For those not in the know, check out Voldemort here.



Ride On.