Posts Tagged ‘Riding’

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Another Bike to Work Week is only days away, Will you ride?

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

It’s May, and though the weather might being doing its best to pull the wool over our eyes, summer is just around the corner. And that means that soon we may actually get a glimpse of the elusive daystar. This also means that perfect commuting weather is also here, well, almost… positive thoughts.

Regardless of the current state of precipitation here in Vancouver, next week is Bike to Work week. An entire week dedicated to ditching the auto and pedaling your way to work. I will admit that through the years, depending on where I have been situated, my participation has been spotty at best for many reasons – enter lame excuse here. But this matters not, because it is a new year.

The question is whether or not you plan on getting in on the riding festivities?  The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition or VACC will be out with sponsors next week offering support at key commuting stations around the lower mainland. If you are thinking of getting involved then there is a website dedicated solely to the pursuit of bicycle commuting glory which you can visit here.

On this site you can sign up, log your commutes and find out where these support stations are (which is good because they always have snacks and coffee, which is a bonus on the ride to and from work). If you have friends who also would like to participate you can sign up as a team and go head to head against other commuters around town. Norco, usually has a pretty good turn out, but you’d be surprised who else participates.

Check it out. If you have been thinking about commuting by bicycle then next week is a great week to get involved.

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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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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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Product Profile: Ode to the mighty fender, the hero of wet weather riding.

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Today was the first day in a long time that Vancouver has had a serious dose of rain. This of course got me thinking about staying dry which then turned my thoughts to fenders. We make fenders, I thought, so why not do product profile on our fenders. And here we are, it’s still raining buckets outside, and I am going explain why fenders are your best friends, or will be soon – once you get to know them a little better.

Rather than writing a short novel about fenders I figure it is a good idea to focus on just one: the Rainrunner fenders. I know, we were very creative with the name, but there is little doubt about their purpose this way, since they may be found most useful in the rain it was an easy name. I must admit that setting up fenders is not my favorite pass time, but once they are on, they work wonders in avoiding the dreaded skunk tail and inappropriate face dousing during your ride. And if you want to go on group road ride in the rain, you’ll need them to avoid angering your fellow riders.

There is a dizzying amount of choice when it comes to fenders. Like trying to order a coffee from Starbuck’s for a pedantic friend, it can get a little confusing. To avoid this confusion, we tried to make one set of fenders that solved numerous problems that confronted cyclists hell-bent on staying a little dryer than their friends.

Fit is everything: If they don’t fit your bike you can’t use them

Not every bike is built the same. Some have disc brakes, some have suspension forks and some have eyelets to mount your fenders and some don’t. It would be wrong to discriminate so we worked out solutions to these fit conundrums and we even include them with the fenders.

Axle-Runners are adapters that mount on your bicycles quick release to give your bike eyelets where no eyelets are found: they’re like Geordie La Forge’s visor, but for your bicycle. Okay they are nothing like his visor, I just wanted to make a Star Trek reference somewhere in this post. Check.  But they do let you mount these fenders on virtually any bike; they are even handy for bikes with disc brakes.

These fenders also include Disc-Runner’s: alloy adapters that thread into your bicycles eyelets proving clearance for disc brake calipers. It’s a simple solution that brings dry results to sopping wet cyclists with disc brakes.

Safety Third: Being seen is always important

When you are riding with fenders, visibility tends to be on the low side. It’s darker and that makes it more dangerous. Okay, safety is actually first, which is why we teamed up with 3M to add 3M Reflex, reflective stripes on the Rainrunner’s. When it’s bright outside this charcoal grey stripe appears to be an unassuming, mild-mannered stripe, just like any other stripe. But once the bright light fades, this stripe springs to life providing reflective protection from vehicle attacks – think Clark Kent and Superman and you’ll get the picture.  It’s very cool technology that gives cyclists the added protection of being seen in low light conditions.

A true friend doesn’t spray their friends in the face

There were a lot of people that used to hack up their waterbottles and attach them awkwardly to bottom of their fenders. The reason: to avoid spraying their friends in the face. We wanted to stop the needless butchering of water bottles in the cycling world and we wanted to avoid spraying our own friends when we went on group rides. That is the story of how Backdraft mud flaps came to be. It’s a clean and simple solution that avoids water bottle genocide and keeps friends happy. That’s right we help friends stay friends.

You probably would never have believed that fenders could have something in common with both Star Trek and Superman, and they don’t. That would be stupid, unless we had special edition Geordie La Forge and Superman fenders – that would be cool. But I digress, what we do have are fenders that make life easier and dryer for riders that ride in any weather. Hopefully we have solved some of the world’s fender problems along the way. All hail the unspoken hero of wet weather commuting – the fender.

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Bike Style Tour: Experience Cycling, Fashion and Party

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Soon, very soon -as in next Thursday-  the Bike Style Tour will kick off in Toronto Canada. You may be wondeirng what a Bike Style Tour is, and who could blame you? Not me. This tour is  at its core a good time; a gathering of like minded cyclists to enjoy riding, style, culture and great conversations. It is a party, a ride and an experience wrapped in one exceptionally stylish package that will visit three of Canada’s most cycling-centric cities – Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Axiom has signed on as one of the tour sponsors and will be at each stop along the way. What else can you expect, you might be wondering? Well, check out the website, and have a look at the ads below, but if you really want to get the full experience, you’ll just have to go to the events.

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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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