Dream a little dream!

While I have not been an active blogger lately, It is not without reason.  First off, I have not been on the bike too much lately!  In early August, while on a ride with my two brothers and my nephew, my brother Nick had a pretty nasty spill resulting in my calling 911 from my cellphone while he lay unconcious in the street.  We were moving along pretty well (18 - 20 mph) in Rochester when I heard the carnage behind me.  Lo and behold, it was Nick who apparently went over the handlebars and landed on his head.  No doubt for the doctors in Boston that he would have been expired had he not had a helmet on.  Luckily, he was wearing a helmet and still experienced about 5 minutes of "lights out" before coming around.  At any rate, I have been running in preparation for the Newport Half Marathon since then and have not been focused on the bike.  The Rochester Time Trial series is over for the season, and while I did not get to participate as often as I would have liked, it's over and that is another reason I don't need to be training on the bike.

One thing is for sure and that is Fall is here!  My favorite time of year and when I seem to log the most miles commuting to work.  My trusty single speed is adorned with the necessary lights and bags, the mornings are crisp and cool, and my winter cycling clothes are out of the attic! So, in addition to training for the Newport half Marathon on October 17, I have to start riding.  While I didn't think that my brothers crash had any impact on my at first, it's not like me to stay off the bike for four weeks.  That's how I know it affected me. Either way, I have a complete SRAM Force group on its way to me which will no doubt stoke the fires of my enthusiasm!  Nothing like some shiny new cycling bits to get the motor running!  While the racing bike awaits its new bits, I will experience the simplistic joy of my home made single speed commuter bike.  Nothing brings me closer to childhood than humming along while enjoying the sights and sounds all around me.  It's a great departure from the racing bike where the focus revolves around average speed and heart rate! The single speed has gained a permanent sweet spot in my heart.


Wish me luck, I'll see you out on the road.

Tony Kornheiser is an Idiot

 Once in a while, someone comes along with comments that are so ignorant, so idiotic and so detrimental, that it is truly amazing.  Such is the case with ESPN's Tony Kornheiser recently.  After just coming off a suspension for moronic comments regarding his fellow ESPN anchor Hannah Storm, he decided that a good way to warm the hearts of listeners would be a 5 minute rant on cyclists.  This guy needs to be removed from the air.  I can only hope that Lance Armstrong makes this his focus for the next few weeks resulting in Tony not only being removed form the airwaves, but left discarded by the listening public.

Take a listen here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7wnBoWOfAU

Once you have been thoroughly disgusted and amazed, you can voice your opinion here:  http://www.espn980.com/info/contact_us.php

Dog Update

Is it too much to ask?  I just want to ride my bicycle to work without the underlying fear of having a dog chew through my calf before I get to my desk, which was almost the case yesterday morning. I rode to work solo yesterday which I don't mind aside from the fact that I know this dog is going to come charging out with full intentions of ruining my morning, and that is exactly what happened.  About a mile from my office and right on cue he came charging out, teeth bare, looking like he just spotted his breakfast.  I did have pepper spray, but as I was wearing mittens, lacked the dexterity to use it.  I outran him and made it to work where I promptly called animal control and left my 54th message on their machine.  A ritual I have gotten quite used to over the past 4 years.  I then spoke to a co-worker here that also moonlights as a cop in the town.  Apparently I am not the only one who has had problems with the this dog, and the story goes that the owner could care less.  I'm picturing a sterotypical episode of cops where the cops bang on the door of the trailer and the guy answers the door in a stained wife beater still smelling of last nights bourbon.
Fast forward to yesterday afternoon, I'm riding home, pepper spray in hand, and I see the dog setting up for my arrival.  About 200 yards away I see him dash from the comfort of the double-wide, down to the street.  Hearing the old western gunfight whistling in my head I grasp my pepper spray and ride towards him.  Out he comes, I slow down and soak his face to the point where it reminds me of an old soupy sales comedy routine with a seltzer bottle!  His eyes close, he stops in his tracks, and runs off into the abyss.
Off I ride wondering if the owner would load up the gun rack in his 72 Ford pickup and come after me.  He didn't.
The Animal Control Officer called me back this morning and were very nice.  She is going to take a ride out to the house today and talk to the owner(s) which I hope does some good.  I just hope the guy doesn't invite the Officer in for a bourbon!
I'll let you know what happens.
Ride safe!

College Connections

Today I got an Alumni Update from Green Mountain College which I where I studied Fine Arts for 2 years.  This months Student Snapshot profiled a woman by the name of Ruth Larkin who is a student at Green Mountain.  Her blog details a recent project where she decided to give up the car for an entire semester.  If you have ever been to Poultney, VT, that's a pretty lofty goal!
Check out her blog here, it's a great read. 
Thanks Ruth, ride safe!

New llight and tires update

So the ride home last night was awesome.  A bit chilly yes, but it was so nice to be back on the bike.  I rode the singlespeed yesterday and tried out the new tires and rear light.  I have had a Princeton Tec Swerve for a while and it's a great light but the reliability has been questionable.  Roger still uses his and last night it cut out more than once after hitting a bump.  I don't want to question my tail light while I'm riding home on country roads in the dark. If your tail light goes out, chances are you won't realize it.  That's why light/reflective clothing and reflectors or very important!
My new light is a RadBot 1000 which I had never heard of until I saw it at the Cycle Center of Stamford in Stamford, CT which is where my nephew works.  WOW, is this thing bright.

Where as most bicycle tail lights have used a 1/2 watt LED, the Radbot 1000 uses a 1 watt Japanese LED which is the same bulb used in the tail lights of new cars.  Yes, it is that bright. A couple other selling factors for me: the price was about $29 which was comparable to most other lights, nice big reflector in case the light was to stop working (which has not been an issue), and the 3 mode button on the light is easy to use, has a solid feel, and provides three modes - slow flash - slow/fast flash - and steady.  It also comes with multiple mounting options.

On to my new tires!  I have had 700 x 23c tires on my singlespeed which are nice high pressure tires but not exactly appropriate for commuting in the off-season.  So, I ordered up a pair of Michelin Tracker hybrid tires:

I had been looking for a tire that met certain criteria including...
high pressure (80 psi or so), flat protection, reflective sidewall for commuting at night, and a comfortable tread that was aggressive enough to work well if I wanted to travel dirt roads/paths.
These met all my needs, and the 700 x 35c size fit comfortably in my Schwinn Le Tour frame with room to spare.
So far so good.  Nice comfortable and quiet tire that can handle changes in conditions.

And for what it's worth - I am still loving my ToPeak Bags, Rack and Trunk Rack.  There stuff is really well engineered, well made, and a pleasure to use.  I absolutely love it when stuff just works!

Ride safe!

Cold!

It was sometime last year when I rode my bicycle to work when the temperature was right around 15 degrees.  An adventure yes, but also very taxing on the body!
This morning it was in the mid to upper 20's and aside from an underlying fear (or call it a heightened awareness) of black ice, I was rather comfortable and ecstatic to be riding.  Roger and I met at my house and were bundled and pedaling by 7am.  It was my first ride on the new tires (Michelin travelers 27 x 35c) and my new tail light.  Reviews and photos to follow.
I have not been on any sort of regular cycling schedule for about 6 weeks and it felt great to be pedaling again, even if it was a bit cold.  My only missed call this morning was that my core started to get a little overheated while my face and fingers were still chilly.  The clothing is always a developing science.
Tonight should be fun, I'm looking forward to the ride home.
Check back soon for photos and reviews of the new tires and the new tail light. From the research I have done, it is the brightest tail light on the market.  Yes, even more so that the SuperFlash and Swerve.
Ride safe!

Making nice with drivers in Toronto

After tensions between cyclists and drivers grew over the summer, cyclists in Toronto took the initiative to improve relations on the road. After the tragic death of a bike messenger on Toronto streets over the summer, something needed to be done to calm fears, and work to ensure that cyclists are seen in a positive light. The Toronto Cyclists Union came up with the "Cyclists Paving the Way" campaign which has proved successful in calming increasingly volatile relationships between motorists and cyclists. Click here to check it out.

Ride safe!

My Route

Yesterday turned out to be my first real night commute of the season. I left the office with my buddy Roger at about 5:00 and it was already pretty dark. Armed with headlights, tail lights, and various reflectors on our bikes and clothing, I feel pretty confident that we're visible to traffic on the dark country roads we travel.
Here is my typical commuting route on mapmyride.com
I do have a few variations, such as starting out down County Road from my house and taking Marys Pond road up into Rochester center. That adds about 5 or 6 miles which is nice to do when I have the time. Another option is to turn left onto Mattapoisett road, and then cut across Wolf Island road which cuts about a mile or so off the total distance. The issue there is that Wolf Island is dirt and can be a little challenging on the road bike.
Anyone else ride a similar route, or have any ideas? If so we'd love to hear them.

Thanks, and ride safe.

Patrick

Justice!

Physician convicted in cycling case
November 2, 2009 | 3:52 pm

A physician accused of deliberately injuring two cyclists by slamming on his car’s brakes on a narrow Brentwood road last year was convicted Monday of assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem and other serious criminal charges.

The three-week trial of Dr. Christopher Thompson drew close attention from cyclists, many of whom viewed the case as a test of the justice system’s commitment to protecting cyclists.

Thompson, wearing a dark blue suit, bowed his head as the verdicts were read. He faces a possible prison term.

Prosecutors alleged that on July 4, 2008, Thompson stopped his car after passing the two cyclists and shouting at them to ride single-file. One cyclist ran face-first into the rear windshield of the doctor’s red Infiniti, breaking his front teeth and nose, and leaving his face scarred. The other was sent hurtling to the sidewalk and suffered a separated shoulder.

A police officer testified that Thompson told him soon after the accident that the cyclists had cursed at him and flipped him off, so he slammed on his brakes “to teach them a lesson.”

Thompson, a veteran emergency room physician, testified that he had never meant to hurt any of the cyclists. He said he and other residents were upset at unsafe cycling by some riders along Mandeville Canyon Road, a winding, five-mile residential street that has become an increasingly popular route for cyclists. But they had struggled to identify problem riders.

Thompson told jurors that he stopped his car so that he could take a photo of the cyclists he had overtaken and believed he had left enough room for them.

Prosecutors alleged Thompson had a history of run-ins with bikers, including a similar episode four months before the 2008 collision, when two cyclists told police that the doctor tried to run them off the road and braked hard in front of them. Neither of the riders was injured.

-- Jack Leonard

Canal Ride

After our initial plans were foiled on Saturday by Halloween madness, I committed to taking my ten year old for a long ride on the Cape Cod canal on Sunday afternoon. He has been wanting to take a long ride with me for some time and I feel that it's time for me to make the kids a regular part of my riding plans if I want them to share my passion for cycling. I feel pretty fortunate that they want to ride and I need to foster that!
So, Sunday afternoon at 1:30 I grabbed the bike rack from under the porch, removed the leaves and spider webs, and secured it to the car. THen spent the next 20 minutes running around like a mad man trying to get my sons bike and my bike on the car, tires pumped up, bottles filled, "where is my helmet?", "Should I bring a vest?" For a family with most every cycling related item under the sun, it takes us too long to get out the door.
By 2:00, we were riding. We parked under the Bourne Bridge, and headed left down towards the train bridge across from the Maritime Academy. My son wanted to make sure that we rode from end to end. No short cuts here! So we rode to the closer end, turned around and rode the full 7 mile length of the canal - which in case you are wondering, requires that you enter the parking lot and ride through the marina in Sandwich before turning around and heading ALL the way back to the other end back in Bourne.
Before we arrived back in Bourne at about 3:30, he made it known that he will not be done when we reach the end! Mind you, it is getting colder, and I'm now picturing us in Sandwich navigating the canal in darkness. I made a deal that we ride another 4 miles total bringing our mileage for the day up to 23. He seemed content with that but let me know that I was in no way off the hook.
23 miles for a ten year old is a pretty decent accomplishment in my book. I don't ever recall riding that distance when I was that age. Of course, he is on a TREK 1000 and I believe I had a striking yellow Schwinn 3 speed at that age.
We arrived back at the car with enough time to get home, clean up, and get to Grandma's for dinner. I finally convinced him on the car ride home that he should be proud of himself and he agreed. I later found out that this was really a test ride for him as he wants to ride the 25 mile course in the Connecticut Challenge next year. I will be with him every mile!
Ride safe.

Riding with the kids.

The beautiful weather was certainly not the reason for my commuting by bicycle three times this week. Tuesdays ride home was wet, Thursday was nice but the morning ride was cool and damp. This morning was pretty nice I must say, but not a week that makes one think that bicycling to work is the most appealing alternative to driving.
At any rate, I rode to work on Tuesday, Thursday (by myself) and again today. It's nice to come home at the end of the day and walk into the house with my bike gear on. I like to think that I'm creating a positive influence for the kids to see me riding the bike to work.
My 10 year old had been bugging me to ride with him so on Saturday I am taking him to the Cape Cod canal for a 14 mile ride. I'm looking forward to it and I think we will have a great time. He loves to ride and I know that he would ride more if I made the effort to ride with him so that's my goal. I'm not one for New Years resolutions - but riding more with my kids would be a good one! In this months bicycling magazine there is a great article by Joe Kurmaskie (sp?) who wrote Momentum is your friend which is a fantastic book I read a couple years ago. In this months Bicycling article, Joe talks about riding 3000 miles with his wife and 3 kids. A great read that I found to be just the motivation I needed to get out with my kids on the bikes.
Not that I'm going to pack up the kids and head up to Canada but I can certainly get them over to the Cape Cod Canal for 15 miles or so.

Quick little addition to this post - make sure you check out this 84 year old woman that does the MS ride on her singlespeed. Don't miss the fact that she wears a dress and heels!
See ya

This week in commuting!

Again this morning I crept around in the dark of my bedroom trying to properly dress for a cool/damp commute without waking up my sleeping wife. The right cycling clothing can truly make or break my time in the saddle, and when it's cool and wet (or even raining) the clothing is even more important. My ride home on Tuesday was certainly wet, but I was warm and comfortable none the less.
I am still riding my road bike while my singlespeed sits unassembled and un-painted in my cellar. The singlespeed will be my dedicated commuting bike throughout the winter but until it's done I migrated my headlight, tail light and seat bag on to my LOOK.
As I rode this morning the roads were still a bit damp and covered in leaves and pine needles. My thoughts bounced between pure appreciation that I can ride my bicycle to work on a fall morning, and sheer terror that my skinny 700x 23c tires would betray me on the wet leaves. I have been on the lookout for some good all-weather 700c tires that I can use on my singlespeed - let me know if you have any recommendations!
There is certainly something about riding in less than ideal conditions that appeals to the true cyclist in me. Heading out into cold wet darkness on a bicycle is one of those rites of passage for a cyclist. It also adds many dimensions to an otherwise generic ride - such as having to be more alert of traffic and weather conditions, dressing properly, and the overall feeling of taking pleasure in something that most folks would think entirely miserable. Of course, they probably haven't tried it!
Ride safe!
Patrick

A little online shopping

While I greatly respect and enjoy the relationship that I enjoy with my local shop (Tri Town Cycling in Wareham, MA), there are times when I come across a deal on the web that is just too good to pass up. Usually something that I may not need, but will certainly use and would not otherwise buy.
With that in mind, there are certain sites on the web that are based solely on blowout pricing. While you will not get the advice, expertise, and comraderie that you enjoy at your local LBS, you can wind up with some pretty sweet stuff without killing your budget.
One of my favorites is www.bonktown.com. Bonktown is part of larger operation that runs similar sites for skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking, etc.
I have installed the bonktown deal tracker on my machine that pops up every now and then with the most recent deals. This page also shows some deals from those other partner sites which is pretty cool.
Again, certainly you wont enjoy the benefits of your local shop, but if you see something cool and want to save a few bucks, go for it!

Peace!

Patrick

And now for something completely different!

In addition to all the sexy race bikes, mountain bikes, and latest trends in commuter bikes, I love to see folks who write their own rules when it comes to their bicycle. I came across this blog posting recently and thought it worth sharing. As I post this my singlespeed sits recently stripped and naked in my basement. The possibility of that bicycle being covered in fur or being attached to a manikin just went up.
Check it out here

While you're at it, check this out. I have always been a car lover and this is just amazing!

Enjoy!

Patrick

Google Trike

Now this is pretty cool! Google now has a "street view" camera on a bicycle that will be used to film street views on Google Maps for bicycle trails, bike paths, etc.
Check out the article and make sure to cast your vote for your local trail!

Rites of Passage

Here is a link to a fantastic article on bicycling.com which looks at 109 of the things that make us cyclists. I got a kick out of #81 in particular!

81. Explicating your training in exquisite detail on a blog, then realizing nobody cares.

If you can think of anything creative they may have missed, post it here - we'd love to read them.

Ride on

Patrick

Building a Bicycle Friendly Community

A great piece by Bikes Belong on how Boulder, CO worked to become a truly Bike Friendly community.
Click here to watch

When Worlds Collide

Here is yet another article By Bob Mionske telling of another unfortunate incident between a cyclist and an automobile. This one unfortunately ends in a most tragic and senseless loss of life. Read the article and try to remain objective. Then, head on over to YouTube and watch the videos including actual video of the incident as well as interviews with some witnesses. I find it ironic that Michael Bryant (the driver), a rather high ranking Canadian politician was the one involved. Why?
Among his targets as the provinces top law enforcement official, were street-racing motorists. In 2007 he gave the police the power to seize and destroy cars modified for racing even if no charges were lodged against their owners.
After describing such cars as being as dangerous as explosives, he said, “We will crush your car, we will crush the parts.” So this is a guy who admittedly finds cars to be as dangerous as explosives.

Read on and ride safe, I'd love to hear your opinions.

Click here for the Bicycling article

Click here for one of the YouTube Videos. There are several!

Fall

While Fall is no doubt my favorite time of year, it unfortunately signals the end of summer which I also like! So, to somewhat ease the transition into the colder months (which really don't start until December) I start to fill my calendar with things I can look forward to.
This past weekend, I grabbed my Cannondale commuter off the rack and started the lengthy process of getting it ready for the fall and winter commutes. I don't know how much longer I can safely keep that bike on the road before I either dump money into it, retire it, or just continue to ride it with a sense of foreboding doom in the back of my head at all times. The front headshock is blown out, the brakes are dicey and the rear suspension feels somewhat less than perfect.
At any rate, I cleaned it up, lubed it, replaced some reflective tape, made sure the lights work, and cleaned all the old power bar and Jelly Belly wrappers out of my ToPeak trunk bag. She is ready to roll!
Tomorrow, I'll be riding in with Roger and Bill - perhaps I'll take the old girl for a spin to reacquaint ourselves?
Another item on my Fall to-do list is the Manchester, VT half marathon on Spet. 12th. I did the Providence, RI half marathon in May which was great! I trained diligently for that one and my body thanked my by allowing me to walk normally the day after the race. I apparently inspired some friends who invited my to do this race in VT so I agreed. Like I said, I love to have things on the schedule that I can look forward to. I have hardly trained like I did for the race in May, but I did get 9 miles in this past weekend and felt good. Saturday night, there was talk about training for a marathon in 2010 which I would love to do, but my conclusion is always the same. Training for a marathon is going to require a serious commitment that will no doubt cut deeply into my time on the bike. So much for the marathon. Maybe I need to put a double century on the calendar. Any takers?

C.I.C.L.E.'s Bicycle Lifestyle Guide

Bike's Belong posted this link to C.I.C.L.E.'s Bicycle Lifestyle Guide which I found pretty cool. I'm always interest in what people and organizations are doing to help make bicycles more a part of our every day routine, as well as inform and educate non-cyclists on how to help make us all safer on the roads!
Check it out here.