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Commuting to Work: the things they don’t tell you.

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

My commuting to work plans have turned out to be shaky. There are a lot of things that people don’t tell you about before you start commuting. I’ve ridden bikes for a long time and I love riding, but actually using my bicycle as a mid to longer distance commuting tool is a relatively new endeavour. It has been a learning experience each time I ride. Maybe this is a right of passage that must be undertaken by all new bike commuters before than can consider themselves worthy. In all honesty, though, some of them can be completely discouraging – I’m not trying to usurp the cause here, but honestly there are some things that will make you miss the sweet, reliable comfort of your car or even public transit.

In the end it can be worth it but there are a few things you should know if you are just starting, little things, things that will make you say, ‘well duh.’ But when I started talking to other commuters around the office I discovered that I wasn’t the only one who had run into these problems. So because it is Bike to Work Week and I want to spread the commuting good will I will share some of the things I’ve learned both from my own experiences and from others.

Pack the night before. Trust me, there have been more than a few times that I have forgot vital garments because I tried to pack the morning of. Things such as socks, underwear and towels. It can be terribly awkward, though freeing, to go commando all day. If you are the organized type then write a list and check off everything you will need.

Bring extra food. You are burning extra calories and you might be surprised at how much extra food you are motivated to consume when commuting. Pack an extra snack to give you energy before your ride home.

Get wet weather clothing: depending on where you live this can be a necessity. Look for cycling specific clothing that is lightweight and packable because the weather often changes quickly especially over the 8hrs of a work day. I have pedaled in to work some mornings where the sun has been shinning and not a cloud was to be seen, only to pedal home in a thundershower. Apparently this is more noticeable when you are travelling by bike.

Get a pair of sunglasses. They will keep the grit, grime, water, wind etc… out of your eyes so you can actually see where you are going. No one likes to see a cyclist cry, even if it is just from the wind in their eyes.

Buy a set of lights. You never know when you’ll spend a little extra time at work and may find yourself pedaling home as the sun is setting.

Plan your route before hand. Use google maps, to find where the cycling routes are and use them.

These probably seem pretty obvious, maybe even too obvious. But it is often the tings right in front of us that are easiest to miss. And missing some of these things can make for a more than unpleasant commute and a less than ideal day at the office. And remembering them can turn commuting by bike into a real pleasure.

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My bike isn’t as fast as I remember it, or is it just me?

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

This winter left me in a somewhat less than ideal shape. The addition of a new member to our family meant that my time on a bicycle was greatly reduced. With moving to a new home and going to school while working full time, well, that meant that I spent a great deal of time in a seated, somewhat motionless position. Excuses, I know. I was just trying to make myself feel better that my first two days of commuting have left me somewhat sore and has given my body movements a geriatric quality. This morning, when I placed my posterior onto my body support device (aka: seat) of my bicycle, I must admit that it was tender. Nonetheless I got onboard and pedaled my way to work.

Never being one to ease myself back into anything I decided to just go for it: no warm up, no practice, no preparation, a plan of action that my wife often considers to be stupid. I think it might be something along the lines of never stopping to ask for directions or refusing to read an instruction manual. 20 km doesn’t seem like a long ride, and really it isn’t, unless you are out of shape and not entirely sure where the bike routes are.

Coming from a somewhat rural setting with narrow roads and large, tall redneck mobiles that are not entirely jubilant about cyclists getting in the way of their progress, an error in route choice can take a leisurely ride and change it to a harrowing experience. Having only made the ride twice it also seems as though the city planners have seen fit to try and make the cycling routes as exciting as possible by providing a constant stream of new construction projects. That’s okay it just makes the ride more interesting and makes being prepared all the more important.

My bag was the one thing I made sure was ready for my morning commute. Three tubes, a pump, a patch kit, tire levers, half a multi tool (i lost the other half) and an allen key set as a substitute for the other half of my multi-tool. Throw in some clothes, shoes, phone, watch and wallet and that seemed about right, if not a little heavy. But my son was nice enough to help this morning so I figured that if I didn’t ride he might be disappointed in me.

The wee-man has recently decided that a good nights sleep is simply not for him and in an effort to make sure that i do ride to work, he has started waking up at between 4:30 and 5am. Well, with a few hours less sleep, I am suddenly finding the time to get ready to ride in to work. So I did. Now I am a little tired, a little sore and a little excited that this is the start of a good thing. I admit this first post may not entirely make sense. I am finding that a 20km ride in the morning leaves me a little more lethargic than I remember, but it’s getting better each day.

This may seem like the inane ramblings of an inexperienced commuter, and you would probably be right in making such a judgement. I ride my bicycles a lot, just not often to work, a shortcoming I am determined to fix. But I figure that maybe if others could read about someone, not too unlike themselves, and the trials and tribulations they face in commuting to work, well, maybe they wold be motivated to ride as well. It’s a long shot but hey , why not try.

I figure I might as well try and put up posts about my rides to and from work, think of it a commuter’s journal. Well, we shall see how it goes. Until next time.

-Cadeyrn

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Communication is key: how being obvious is being safe on a bicycle

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

If you work in an office, I do, then you have probably experienced the strange and troubling phenomenon of communications break down. It can be a disruptive and most distracting occurrence. The result is usually confusion, a string of long emails and somebody making an error in judgment. All of these things could generally have been avoided with a brief conversation to bring direction and clarity to a simple misunderstanding. But instead people just keep pushing forward oblivious to the train wreck that is piling up around them.  When it comes to communication it pays to be direct, concise and clear about your intentions and needs, it can avoid serious confusion and costly traffic jams.

It stands to reason then that communicating effectively has benefits outside the office too, like say with a significant other or on a more relevant note on your bicycle when you need to communicate with drivers. These are times when it pays to be clear about what you want. There can be no wishy-washy at times like these because the outcome is generally negative in these situations.

What I am getting at then is that when you are riding your bicycle it is more than advisable to be direct and clear about what you are doing. It’s a good habit to get into in general. You may not see the results right away; in fact you may never realize that you are getting the results you desire because the real result is arriving safely at your destination every time you set out for a bicycle ride.

Safety is all about making conscious decisions: a conscious decision not to suddenly change lanes directly in front of a large, hulking, metal vehicle barreling down the road. A conscious decision to signal properly when you are going around a corner so drivers understand your intent. A conscious decision to realize that even though you may have the right of way, if you exercise your point against a car there is an excellent chance your point will be lost when you make an abrupt introduction to the car and then the pavement you were both travelling on.

Learning how to communicate effectively, you see, can have many benefits. It can bring you happiness in your relationships, reduce stress in the workplace and help you make it to your next destination safely without repose in the nearest hospital. So from now on when you are riding your bicycle think about being obvious, stating your intent and then following through while not being afraid to give way when needed, these are good skills to learn for everyday.

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Lighten up, get the right lights for your riding.

Monday, February 7th, 2011

Rob, one of the tech’s here is what I would call a die-hard commuter; rain or shine he rides to work almost every day of the year. If you were to pass Rob while driving to work you couldn’t help but notice him because he is covered in lights, much like a very bright holiday tree, that ensure he is seen and that he can see at the same time. Rob has made commuting by bike a part of his life and there is a reason he has so many lights when he rides; because experience has taught him that there are few things as important as ensuring that you can be seen by the cars around you. So he rides with no less than six lights on his bike at once.  And while you may not need as many lights as Rob, if you are riding at night, even if you might ride at night, you are going to need a set of lights, the question is what set?

This is Roy not RobTo see or be seen that is a good question to ask yourself when you are buying a light set up for cycling. This time of year, when things are dark and the weather is what most would call sub-par it can be pretty darn hard for drivers to see a cyclist. And although some people may have the odd urge to comment that this is the driver’s problem, I assure you that if push comes to shove you will have more of a problem than the driver if you find yourself being tagged by a passing vehicle. But this is not meant to be a negative commentary on safety, rather something to get you thinking about your light set up, because there are a lot of options out there.

Simple Clip-ons

These little guys and gals are perfect companions for just in case rides or shorter rides in well lit areas. Small LED lights are inexpensive, simple and easy to install and remove at will which means if you have to leave your bike somewhere it’s easy to pop the lights off and bring them with you. The batteries are housed inside of the light casing and this makes for a convenient all in one package.  You can get small one and two LED versions and put a couple on your bike for a minimum highlight of your person. If you want something a little more substantial you can get lights with three, four or more led’s for added visibility with minimal size and weight penalty. These lights don’t cast enough light to see with but are more for those who wish to be seen. They can also work well to augment a brighter light set up as well to improve how visible you are.

Compact Powerhouses

LED technology has vastly improved in recent years and has allowed light manufacturers to create very bright yet compact lights. These lights tend to look like mini flashlights, necessary to house the batteries, and run off of three or four AA size batteries.  If you spend the money on a decent one these lights will cast enough light to light up the road in front of you. They also work well as a second light that gives a little extra to your lighting outfit. Also, there is usually an option of getting a helmet mount making these a versatile and excellent performing option when you are looking at lights.

Battery Pack Lights

These are the brightest of the bright, if you are riding in very low light areas or going for off-road night rides these are your lights of choice.  There isn’t really much more to say other than you get what you pay for here and you can pay a lot. These lights could be considered an investment as they can breach the thousand dollar mark for a truly Gucci light kit. If you plan on going here then do your research, check online reviews and talk to your local shop staff to get the low down on what they use and recommend.

This brings me to a final point; your best resource when selecting what lights are best for you is your local bike shop. The will have a wealth of knowledge gleaned from firsthand experience and feedback from other customers. Support this with a little Google research and you will be able to get the perfect lights for your ride.

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Axiom sponsors H&R block road team

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

As it so happens riding a bike is a thirst inducing endeavor, much akin to licking the salt off of a large novelty pretzel, and yet very different at the same time. When one finds oneself on the saddle of a bicycle with a nagging urge to satisfy their thirst what better way than with Mother Nature’s best: water? Or maybe a Gatorade-like product – what happens when Mother Nature and science go for a night out – because they taste good and have electrolytes (which may be marketing speak for salt and sugar, but I have no basis for this claim, it’s only an assumption) none the less I think it is an improvement over just water.

What better way to get water or a brightly colored beverage than with a water bottle –okay I admit that a hydration pack is pretty descent too unless you are racing which brings me to my next point; holding the water bottle. Yes, a water bottle cage makes short work of this task. So when the H&R block road team – an excellent team that helps developing riders realize their potential – asked us to provide a solution to the problem of holding water bottles on their bicycles, we told them that we have just the thing, and a sponsorship was born.

2011 will be the second year that Axiom is providing the H&R block road team with water bottle cages, floor pumps and of course happy thoughts – all for free, yes, even the happy thoughts. This team of elite racers can be found competing in and often winning events around Canada, clad in matching spandex the team works to help young racers realize their potential both on a bicycle and in life and prepares them to make the leap to the big leagues of professional racing when they are ready. It is an excellent program and the team is made up of some of the very best and most talented racers in Canada, which makes us proud to help them any way we can.

If you find yourself in attendance of one of these races you will witness true racing goodness. And when you see a rider with a big flaming green square on their chests and a Norco bicycle under their butts watch them when they reach for they reach down and effortless pull their water bottles from the Axiom Helix Pro water bottle cages and enjoy the refreshing joy that was contained between its carbon fiber wings (the water bottle cages wings). We are giving the gift of true hydration awesomeness.

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Braking 101: Choosing the right brakes

Monday, January 24th, 2011

It’s a question that gets asked a lot, and as always there is a lot of opinion on the subject: Are you better off with rim brakes or disc brakes? If you are a consumer looking to make a purchase it of little use to use vagaries and opinion to form your decision, only later to find out you made the wrong decision. But because opinions run rampant you are sure to run into a few along the way of gaining brake enlightenment. I’ll give you the information, pros and cons peppered with a bit of my bias and experience and then let you make up your own mind.

Rims – Yes, they do the job.

Rim brakes have been around for a while and have always kind-of-sort-of got the job done in some shape or form. In all honesty they do a pretty good job of stopping you when you need, not to mention they often make a nice squealing noise to warn pedestrians of you impending approach. Though discs have taken a large share of the market rim brakes still rule the roost when it comes to road, cyclocross, BMX, some commuter bikes and city bikes and lower end mountain bikes.

There are basically three types of rim brakes that made it through the shake-down of the late 90’s when disc’s started to gain popularity. The only style of brake that is used on road bikes, Caliper style brakes have been around for a long time. Technology and materials has continued to evolve and has allowed manufacturers to develop incredibly light brakes that offer great stopping power. The sky is the limit when it comes to price, with a pair of Shimano’s high-end caliper’s costing around $600 and specialty brands can be even more expensive. Despite their geriatric age if you are riding a road bike, these are your brakes.

Cantilever brakes, which many had hoped had been killed off with the abysmal fashions that plagued the late eighties and early nineties continue to be found on cyclocross bikes. They are light, they are difficult to clog up and if you have the patience to set them up they can work very well. If you race cyclocross these are your brakes. And that is all I have to say about that.

Finally, V-brakes which you will find mostly on commuters, city bikes and lower-end mountain bikes are the brakes that came along and pushed cantilevers out of the picture back in the day. Easy to set up, powerful and lightweight and easy to maintain they are great brakes for cruising around town, commuting and light-duty trail riding.

A decent set of rim brakes are lightweight, relatively easy to adjust and offer fairly predictable braking so long as they are properly maintained. In a moderately dry environment rim brakes are great. If you find yourself only riding in the summertime or are what you might call a fair-weather rider then these brakes will work great for most applications.

Where they start to fall down is when the weather turns ugly. As you brake the rubber pads of the rim brake rub off onto the rim, think of the dust an eraser leaves on paper, at the same time some of the rim material is also removed when braking. If you look at a well used set of brake pads will probably notice a nice sheen on them, when this sheen gets wet it can make braking rather unpredictable.

To make matters worse if you are putting some serious miles in wet conditions then the grime and muck from the road will wear down your pads and eventually your rims that much more quickly. When the rim is pitted (you’ll be able to feel a groove) it will reach a point where the whole rim has to be replaced. It can take a while to get to this point but it is one of the big draw backs of rim brakes.

Another drawback is that your wheels need to be true for the brakes to work properly or they may rub and cause uneven braking.

But worry not. Rim brakes are not all bad and there are a lot of times when they are preferable. If you own a road bike or cross bike you will be relegated to Rim brakes. If you like simple, aren’t putting a lot of miles on your bike and are riding in nicer weather most of the time then rim brakes will be great.

DISC’s – For that extra something

Disc brakes give you power, predictability and performance. If you are riding hard off road they are a no brainer. If you are commuting long distances year round then they are awesome, some would say a must – I agree. But not all disc brakes are created equal. Some are bad, the cheap ones are really bad; finicky, unreliable and annoying to set up, if budget is a concern stick to the rim brakes. But for many applications they are better than their rim gripping counterparts.

You have two choices in the disc world: mechanical and hydraulic. Mechanical or cable actuated brakes use a traditional brake cable to engage the brake. If you get a bike with a decent set of mechanical disc brakes then you will enjoy great, predictable braking. Get a brake where you can adjust the pad contact on both sides and you will be set. These brakes are great for commuter bicycles because they are simple, easy to set up and service and work very well in any weather condition.

Hydraulic brakes are activated by fluid either a DOT fluid like your car or mineral oil. One of the problems with hydraulic brakes that use DOT fluid is that the fluid is a little less than pleasant on any material that it comes into contact with so they can be messy to set up and service. But when you need power and long lasting fade free braking then hydraulic discs are the way to go.

The upside to disc brakes is power, reliability and performance. Instead of wearing out an expensive rim you just replace the disc. They are very predictable and for long distance, year round riding and commuting and off-road riding. They can be a little tricky to set up but once they are dialed, they are good to go for a while and if you ever bend your rim, it won’t affect your braking, unless something has gone horribly wrong.

Conclusion

Both types of brakes have their place in the bicycle world; in reality it is your riding style, environment and preference that will help you make your braking decision. I know that here in Vancouver if you are commuting any distance than disc brakes are considered by many to be essential where back east they are less of a requisite.

Commuting Med – Long Distances

The gist of it is that if you are commuting long distances in adverse weather or year round, aren’t bothered by a slightly heavier brake system and want predictable, powerful braking then a rim brake is not the best choice for you – you’ll find disc more to your liking , probably mechanical. On the other side of the coin, if you want lightweight, simple brakes that get the job done are you are a more fare-weather rider or your bike only let’s you ride with rim brakes then the decision is easy, go with the rim style of brake.

Commuting Short Distances and City Riding

Rim brakes are probably a good choice for you here. If you aren’t riding often or in adverse weather then rim brakes is a simple choice. They are often inexpensive and will do what you need them to do: stop.

Road and Cyclocross

You really aren’t offered a lot of choice here; rim brakes are you’re only option. However, you will find that some lower to mid end cyclocross bikes make awesome commuters and do actually have disc tabs. If you are going to use it as a commuter then a pair of mechanical discs is ideal. Just remember you can’t race cross with disc brakes.

Mountain

Go disc if you are riding off road with any regularity or if you are riding aggressively. If your mountain bike is for gravel paths on the weekend then rims will do the trick.

There you have it, one long blog post on brakes. When it comes down to it this certainly doesn’t cover everything and you will still encounter a lot of opinion out there when looking at brake choices for your bike. Hopefully, though, this will give you a good start on your way to finding the perfect brake for your riding.

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Cycling has a lot going for; its getting easier to become a cyclist every day.

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Cycling has a lot going for it: its great exercise, a quick way to get around a city, less expensive than a car, pollutes less than other forms of transportation and an awesome way to experience the full gamut of sense provoking sights, sounds and smells that the world holds around us. So here’s a question, why don’t more people do it?

I had tweeted this question a little while ago and was surprised by how many other people were wondering the same thing. Let’s face there are a lot of reasons to leave the car at home and hop on a bicycle at least once a week, even twice or maybe more, but it would seem that there are also a lot of reasons not to.

I can almost hear a number of excuses being lobbed my way as I write this. It’s easy to make excuses, what’s difficult is overcoming these hollow challenges. Luckily, and thank you to those helping make these changes, many of the age old excuses for not riding a bicycle are slowly being eroded by passionate and creative advocacy and bolstered city infrastructure and support. However, as we continue to push forward one pedal stroke at a time we still face an uphill battle when it comes to getting more people to swing their legs over the trusty top bar of a bicycle.

Despite all of the new infrastructure, cycling can still be a dangerous transportation proposal. For much of last summer it seemed like there was a new case of vehicular bullying every week; often ending poorly for the guy or gal on the bicycle with little to no effect for the person behind the wheel. Road rage and careless driving can make it a daunting undertaking when getting out on the road.

Luckily new bike lanes, paths and trails are making it easier for cyclists to get away from being brushed by mirrors and tagged by doors, making riding safer and less intimidating. Technology is making it easier to find these new routes.

Google recently, and by recently I mean a few months ago, introduced bike paths and routes to its uber popular Google maps. It was just more recently introduced to Canada as well. Now you can plan your journey to avoid as much traffic as possible from the comfort of your home computer. Then hop on your bike and enjoy a ride without those clenching moments of terror.

It may not be tomorrow that everyone takes to the two wheeled ways, but things are getting better and more people are seeing the proverbial cycling light. There are still a lot of days where it will just be easier and more convenient, and drier, to hop into the front seat and push go, but as more people pick up the pedal it is becoming easier for others to join the ride. Infrastructure continues to improve but most of all its easier to get into it when your friends are doing it. And one cyclist at a time, someone’s friend is joining the ride. It might only be once in a while but it’s better than never and its getting better every day.

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Don’t get SAD: Ride your Bike

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

I read a story the other day about a young girl that started out every day by looking at herself in the mirror and convincing herself that keep a positive attitude no matter what the day threw her way.  She had started it when she was in her teens and had continued this daily repetition into her twenties without fail. As the story goes this little ritual has allowed her to stay positive in the face of more than one or two adversities and has resulted in a very positive life. The reason I bring up this anecdote is because during this time of year it can sometime be difficult to keep a smile on your face; maybe a little mirror time would do us all some good, or is a bicycle ride the perfect cure for the winter doldrums.

When winter rolls around in Vancouver, there are a lot of people that wear a reflection of the gloomy weather on their faces; patience dwindles, moods gray and attitudes droop. There is a scientific term for this, it’s called, ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ or SAD – fitting I know. For an unscientific and brief explanation SAD results from the weeks or even months of sunless gloom that blankets the coast here in BC. When people start feeling SAD you can really notice it in the mood of the city, but I think there is a cure. Some people use tanning beds to up their sunshine quotient, but I’m not much on one for the fake-and-bake, others head out on vacation, but that’s can get costly and only holds you over for so long; for me, though, I ride my bicycle.

Some of the best rides I’ve had have been in the grips of winter. Yes, it can be cold and sure it’s wet at times but if you dress properly and have the right gear it can turn a dreary day into an epic adventure.  You see, if you are reading this then you probably like to ride bicycles, probably a lot, and when things get a little gloomy there is nothing better than getting out on your bike while others sit and lament on their couch.

It would be easier to stay firmly planted on a buttock cushioning device in front of the moving picture box slipping further into a SAD state, but that will hardly help the condition. No, I recommend a big dose of cycling, to cure the seasonal-blues. Get that bicycle out of the shed, room, garage or wherever it is collecting dust and go for a spin. Repeat if necessary and I guarantee you will keep your smile when others get their frown. And to top it off you won’t have to sit in front of a mirror everyday trying to convince yourself to be happy, you’ll already be there.

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Two Wheels Shape My Life

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Sweet, speed embraced freedom
Nothing is as fast as me; two wheels speeding through concrete jungles
I am an urban warrior beating the rat race
As we dodge, duck and weave through a steel stampede, I can’t help but smile
A gap opens and I push the cranks harder just squeaking through

Mother Nature throws her worst at me
Wind whips my face and sheets of rain cascade down trying to hinder me, trying to crush my spirit
I am defiance:
I defy convention,
I defy stereotypes,
And I defy her cold grip to find pure exhilaration
I find focus in the speed, nothing can slow us down, and the rain chills my lips and splashes on my exposed teeth as I grin
Pedal Harder

Winding miles of twisted trails wrap their way around the desolate mountain side
My legs burn, heart pounding, lungs straining for air
Together we dance, my bike and I
Poetry in motion
Flowing, fluid movement, every ounce of energy moves me forward
Across vast landscapes I gorge on the sights, smells and sounds
Turn a corner and roll over the precipice
The descent begins, I dive into bliss

Living in these moments
Two wheels shape my life, my identity
Ups, downs, twists, turns, drops and leaps of faith
On my bicycle I find focus!
I find truth!
I find emotion!
This is my ride, my life and my passion
This is why I love my bike.

Something I wrote as a brochure intro, but it was too long so it never saw print. Rather than see the copy go to waste I thought I would post it here.

-Cadeyrn

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Smile, you’re on a bicycle :)

Monday, July 19th, 2010

It was a hot summer afternoon; the sun beat down on the helpless city, relentlessly pushing the mercury higher and higher. Waves of heat poured upwards from the hot blacktop of the streets as drivers sat in their air conditioned cabins, insulated from the burning sun. I was desperately trying to navigate the twists and turns that made up this impossible city labyrinth. I had to meet my sister, who was visiting for the weekend, but fate had carefully arranged a strategic barrage of accidents and backups that would inevitably make me late for my meeting. I had the A/C cranked and was moving at a snail’s pace, I could feel my frustrations begin to boil over, the lid was about to pop.

From the corner of my eye a bit of motion caught my attention; I turned my head to see a cyclist glide by our car with a sly smile spread across his face. He was riding an old, beaten up mountain bike that looked like he had just pulled it out of his garage, where it had sat, unused for the last decade. His old used-to-be-white helmet was certainly not safe anymore and sat crookedly to the left and back of his head. It was blazing hot outside of the car, but he was smiling and I was ready to pull my hair out. I have never missed my bicycle more than at that moment then and there.

When the weather is nice and the traffic heavy there are few better places to be than on the seat of a bicycle. Always quicker than a car and seldom as frustrating as dealing with the masses of angry, impolite drivers, the bicycle is the way to travel. As city’s invest more money into bolstering infrastructure for cyclists it becomes easier and easier to leave the car behind and take the bike instead. And through the efforts of local cycling organizations and active cyclists we are seeing cities take action, creating more inviting places to ride.

On that hot, summer afternoon as the cyclist coasted by me with a smug grin on his face, I was reminded that riding a bicycle in summer is one of the best ways to avoid stress in the city.  Not only that, but you will always feel better after a ride. It’s not always possible to ditch the car for pedals but when you can, I guarantee that you’ll be all the better for it. This is one of those moments that always creep into my mind when I hop on my bicycle, and I almost always find myself smiling when I think about it. Because when I pass the cars stuck in traffic I know why the cyclist was smiling that day.

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