Fight it on your Bike!

cd, paper,popsicle sticks. Artist unknown?The real reason I ride is for my heart. Then my mind. Then maybe the environment. It never really is in that order. But it is never just one reason why I ride my bike.

Been guilty this last week of having too many things to do, in too little time, where I felt I needed to get in my car. Case point: I drove to the bike shop to pick up a new bike tube and V-brakes. Sure I could have walked. Or taken my BMX bike on down the road. But I was doing it for my bike so it's just OK!

I came home after other numerous errands, fixed the bike and got on with riding!

Some great excuses for firing up the dinosaur breather (--and solutions):

"It's been hot and sticky. I have to towel off after the ride." --So bring a small towel.
"Cars scare me." -- Find a bike trail
"Been Raining and Raining all day" -- Wear a trash bag or get rain gear and fenders for you bike.

Seeing is Believing

They have these new marks on streets that are designated streets for safer biking! They have these chevrons denoting bike movements. A free bike zone of sorts. I think they may notify drivers that these roads are safe for bikers. No speed bumps just these stencils. "Bikes moving this way!"

I biked with a friend yesturday north of the cities. The day was perfect despite the heavy wind.
Passed by a rider who was having chain issues and shouted, "You all cool?" He didn't really look up but just said, "yup." Then this lycra rider on some 5lb. carbon road bike came zipping by in a blur. He was really ok.

Keep riding and encouraging riders!

That's where my Rim Went!!

This fellow has so much fun with his yard. He's yard is full of bikes with flowers growing out of them and then this wall on this alley garage. Super functional and Green.

I saw it earlier in the season and it was just the wheels. This creeping plant came up quickly and now you can barely tell that these are old bike rims beneath all the green.

I did not count but I would guess there are maybe 50 rims. They all are straight too. Most are the front rim of a bike which is the easiest to take off a locked bike. Rarely do people lock their front rims. This guys got a racket for his creeping plant. I am locking my front rim now!

Seriously. He probably got them donated or collected abandoned bikes in his alley. I may steal his idea but I won't steal the rims like him. I won't use straight rims. I want the beat up torn and tweaked, just straight bent rims. I want a painful mess of spokes covered by a creeping jasmine vine. I can smell it now.