Finally getting back into the cycling groove after not riding for over 3 weeks due to sickness and weather. The warmer, sunny weather has been a welcomed change. The riding has been a bit hard, but slowly getting back to normal. Some inspirational reading from the Practical Pedal helped. Reading their latest edition about winter cycling made me glad to have the nice weather that I have to ride in. Even though they publish their issues online, I subscribed to their print edition also. I know it uses trees, uses transportation to deliver, etc., but there is still something about holding a printed paper, book or whatever, and turning the pages, reading it front to back. Especially when feeling lousy like I was, lying on the couch reading a paper was much easier than trying to sit at a computer reading a screen.
I also learned today that I can fit a case of Girl Scout cookies in my messenger bag...and my lunch...and a change of clothes. Pretty sweet!
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired
The last couple of weeks have been a struggle with a cold and what I believe to be a sinus infection. The first 3 or 4 days were rather rough, then I started becoming coherent again. I thought it would all be over within a couple more days. I figured I would just take it easy, no biking or hiking, get plenty of rest, and this will be knocked out soon enough. Days and days have now passed, and the lingering sinus and general tiredness have not really improved. Been trying natural and homeopathic treatments, but nothing seems to be bringing much relief. As much as I believe in the body's natural ability to heal itself and faith in natural resources, I am about to give in and go to the doctor. I'm sure I will end up getting a round of antibiotics if I go. As much as I hear about how bad our overuse of antibiotics is, there comes a point where you just want to feel better. I know they are over-prescribed, often not even for a bacterial infection, and they can lead to a built up intolerance to infections in the future.
It has been discouraging not having the energy to do anything active. It has been about 2 weeks without riding the bike, and I am just about at the breaking point for that. To top it off, we have about 3 or 4 days of cold, rainy weather in the forecast, so I'll probably be stuck at least until next week. Can't wait.
It has been discouraging not having the energy to do anything active. It has been about 2 weeks without riding the bike, and I am just about at the breaking point for that. To top it off, we have about 3 or 4 days of cold, rainy weather in the forecast, so I'll probably be stuck at least until next week. Can't wait.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Messenger Bag or Panniers
The question of the week...to go with a messenger bag or panniers for bike commuting? I've been using a messenger bag for a few weeks now, and although it is very cool looking, I am wondering about the long term practicality of it. It is quick and easy to stuff the normal commuting items like a change of clothes and lunch, throw it over my shoulder and go. However, it can get old always having the bag on your back. Panniers would allow me to let the bike carry the bags and get the load of my back. With panniers, though, the bike has to be outfitted with a front or rear rack to accommodate them. This probably wouldn't be a big deal since I usually only commute with one of two bikes. One already has a rear rack, and the other one can easily be fitted with one. There is the added time of removing the pannier, but that shouldn't be a big deal, either.
For simply commuting I don't think it makes much difference which way to go. I'm thinking more long term...things like going out for longer rides and wanting to bring along a few things. This would get rather uncomfortable with a bag on my back. I'm also daydreaming about some short touring adventures, hopefully with the family. This would obviously favor panniers over a bag.
As I write this, the panniers seem more and more like the right thing for me. Now I just need to figure out a way to unload my messenger bag and score a pair of nice panniers.
For simply commuting I don't think it makes much difference which way to go. I'm thinking more long term...things like going out for longer rides and wanting to bring along a few things. This would get rather uncomfortable with a bag on my back. I'm also daydreaming about some short touring adventures, hopefully with the family. This would obviously favor panniers over a bag.
As I write this, the panniers seem more and more like the right thing for me. Now I just need to figure out a way to unload my messenger bag and score a pair of nice panniers.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Slow Ride
On New Year's Day I went for a bike ride...all of probably 1 mile, and it was great. What made it great was not how far I rode, but who I rode with. My whole family went riding at a nearby lake. I was on an old Schwinn 5 speed, my wife on her old Trek mountain bike, my 8 year old daughter on her first "real" 2 wheeler, and my 6 year old son on the hand-me-down 2 wheeler with training wheels. We just rode the short distance by the lake on a relatively flat paved trail, stopping at about 1/4 mile to feed some ducks. Then we proceeded back and stopped at another spot to feed more ducks. We then rode about another 1/4 mile to another area to again feed the ducks and have a little snack for ourselves. Obviously, the riding of bikes was not the main objective of this little outing, spending time with the family was. It was nice getting outdoors on a fairly mild day and actually doing something together.
Part of me cannot wait until the kids are old enough to really go on bike rides with me. Yet, I also don't want them growing up too fast. For as much as I love riding, we don't seem to be able to all get out and ride together as I wish we did. Maybe investing in a tag-along bike or tandem would make it easier? We have a trailer, but the kids have just about outgrown that. Anyway, even these little riding adventures beat sitting around the house watching TV or listening to the kids argue over everything. Now I just need to make sure we do them more often.
Part of me cannot wait until the kids are old enough to really go on bike rides with me. Yet, I also don't want them growing up too fast. For as much as I love riding, we don't seem to be able to all get out and ride together as I wish we did. Maybe investing in a tag-along bike or tandem would make it easier? We have a trailer, but the kids have just about outgrown that. Anyway, even these little riding adventures beat sitting around the house watching TV or listening to the kids argue over everything. Now I just need to make sure we do them more often.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
The Good and Bad for Bicycle Parking
Just saw two stories on Carectomy about bicycle parking, one good and one bad. First, the good. At the San Fransisco baseball stadium, Giants' AT&T Park, the S.F. Bicycle Coalition helps to offer valet parking for bikes at events there. People who rides their bikes to the park don't have to worry about finding a place to lock up their bikes. There is covered storage for about 200 bikes available.
Now for the bad. The New York Times recently moved their office to a new building. This new building was promoted to be green and sustainable. The designers seemed to have left out one relatively small, but important, aspect - bike parking. Several Times employees commute by bike, and at their old building they had good parking. At the new office, they have none. For a while, a friendly security guard let one worker bring in his bike through a freight elevator. But, that suddenly stopped. Out of frustration, some employees began locking their bikes to parts of the building outside. Eventually, the Times created a small room to store bikes for employees, but seems to be inadequate for number of commuters, and requires a permit.
To me, this is just another example of big businesses touting that they are green or environmentally friendly or sustainable, but overlook some of the most simplest and obvious things we can do make a real difference.
Now for the bad. The New York Times recently moved their office to a new building. This new building was promoted to be green and sustainable. The designers seemed to have left out one relatively small, but important, aspect - bike parking. Several Times employees commute by bike, and at their old building they had good parking. At the new office, they have none. For a while, a friendly security guard let one worker bring in his bike through a freight elevator. But, that suddenly stopped. Out of frustration, some employees began locking their bikes to parts of the building outside. Eventually, the Times created a small room to store bikes for employees, but seems to be inadequate for number of commuters, and requires a permit.
To me, this is just another example of big businesses touting that they are green or environmentally friendly or sustainable, but overlook some of the most simplest and obvious things we can do make a real difference.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Nature Bats Last
"Nature bats last" - a quote from Joel Staunton of Polyface Farms.
How true this is when we consider the forces of nature, especially during this time of wildfires throughout southern California. Whether it be floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, droughts or wildfires, these Mother Nature wake-up calls reaffirm the fact that humans cannot completely control the cycles of our natural world.
Me and my family were in close proximity to the fires in San Diego county, but thankfully not directly in harms way. It is always very disheartening to see anyone's home and property destroyed. During this fire it happened over and over, almost to the point where it became mind-dumbing to see it on TV.
We try our best to make comfortable living spaces for ourselves. Our houses protest us from the elements and provide a home for our family, pets, and belongings. Over the years our homes have continued to encroach on the wilderness. Doing so provides cheaper land for building houses and lets us live closer to nature. Of course, this comes at a cost. In doing so, we place ourselves closer to the potential destructive forces of nature.
In and of itself, wildfires are not a bad thing. It is just one of natures many cleansing cycles. The fire burns away the old overgrowth, provides natural fertilizer, and even allows some seeds to germinate. The problem for humans is that we like to live near this wilderness, so we become more vulnerable to its forces. We must accept that we can try to protect ourselves from these forces, but ultimately we do not bat last.
How true this is when we consider the forces of nature, especially during this time of wildfires throughout southern California. Whether it be floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, droughts or wildfires, these Mother Nature wake-up calls reaffirm the fact that humans cannot completely control the cycles of our natural world.
Me and my family were in close proximity to the fires in San Diego county, but thankfully not directly in harms way. It is always very disheartening to see anyone's home and property destroyed. During this fire it happened over and over, almost to the point where it became mind-dumbing to see it on TV.
We try our best to make comfortable living spaces for ourselves. Our houses protest us from the elements and provide a home for our family, pets, and belongings. Over the years our homes have continued to encroach on the wilderness. Doing so provides cheaper land for building houses and lets us live closer to nature. Of course, this comes at a cost. In doing so, we place ourselves closer to the potential destructive forces of nature.
In and of itself, wildfires are not a bad thing. It is just one of natures many cleansing cycles. The fire burns away the old overgrowth, provides natural fertilizer, and even allows some seeds to germinate. The problem for humans is that we like to live near this wilderness, so we become more vulnerable to its forces. We must accept that we can try to protect ourselves from these forces, but ultimately we do not bat last.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Little Things - Let Air do its Job
Another quick "Little Things" note. When you have things that need to dry, let the air do its job and dry them for you. When you wash your hair, let the air dry it instead of running a hair dryer. When you wash dishes, just leave them in the rack to let the air dry them. If you use a dishwasher, stop it before the dry cycle starts and just open the door. When you wash clothes, hang them outside on the line when possible. If you are concerned about them being too stiff from drying on the line, you can run them in the dryer for just a couple of minutes to soften them up. Besides using much less energy than drying clothes in a dryer, your clothes should last longer too. You don't have the dryer wearing out your clothes while they get tumbled around.
Anything that can be dried by air, let it. It's free after all.
Anything that can be dried by air, let it. It's free after all.
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