Industriousnesitude: Tyvek Toe Warmers

This is too good not to pass along. Via RANDONNEUREXTRA

I saw this and was all like

Check it out.

How To Prepare A Road Bike For A Century

I'm doing the Sea Gull Century tomorrow and I've not prepared for this in the slightest. I've known about if for months and I ain't done sheeyit. I expect the suffering/fun ration to be quite high. Having said that there is one crucial step in my lack of preparation that I didn't overlook. The Bike.

Here's how I get my Bianchi EV3 Reparto Corse ready for a ass chaffing century. I slap on my big couch of a Brooks B-17.

Much like donning a sombrero in a tuxedo this move will ensure my ass is comfy.

Ah ain't skeerd.

(I'm a little scared)

Bike To Work Day Blues

I bike to work every day, all year long. There's one day, however, that I particularly enjoy biking to work is (you guessed it) BTWD. I love BTWD and everything it stands for; it’s a day where like-minded folks can get together and geek out commuter style. It's also a day where people who are skittish about riding to work can learn the ropes, get advice, and join the protection of a convoy to get used to the road. It's a great thing.

On this lovely Bike To Work Day I fell victim to the DC pollen and was benched on my favorite day of the year to ride to work. This pissed me off. Then my alarm went off and the first voice I heard was that of Rivendell's Grant Petersen being interviewed on NPR. This really pissed me off.

The worst thing about cycling culture or any other culture for that matter is the large number of judgmental shitholes who get off on telling everyone else that they're "doing it" wrong. This behavior is usually reserved for elitist road or mountain bikers touting the latest unobtainium. This morning however we learned there is a new douche bag in town, the elitist commuter. 

I had to listen to the full interview online...

"Wear the clothes that you're going to wear at work," he says. "Don't dress up like an American Bike Geek just to ride a bicycle to work."

"If your commute is reasonable — say, 10 miles or under — no problem," Petersen adds. "Dress the way you're going to dress for the weather, or the day." 

"Bicycle riding doesn't make a lot of demands on your body, your upper body is still when you're riding and your legs are just turning around in small little circles."

Grant Petersen, who's shop is in Walnut Creek, CA just outside of Berkley, (that place with the best weather in the entire country), wants you to bike to work in the clothes you are planning to wear to work. Anyone who's ridden a bike in DC (or most other parts of the country) knows this is bullshit and would only work a few days out of the year. Grant goes on to say we shouldn't dress like and "American Bike Geek", which I'm guessing means we're not aloud to wear cycling jerseys and shorts. I just want to point out that most European countries, where bike commuting is more mainstream, never have a DC summer.

I'm going to stop here because he said too many stupid things to comment on without getting angry. After this, I'm sure the internet will be full of colorful Grant Petersen critiques. More than anything this interview makes me sad. I think Grant's point was that you don't have to buy the latest high tech race gear to commute to work, which would be a good point had it not been lost in the douche bag delivery. The irony is that in saying don't go hi-tech Grant joined the ranks or all the elitists on the other end of the spectrum.

There was a good opportunity here to inform and encourage novice commuters but Grant dropped the ball.

If you want to know how you should dress while bike commuting, don't listen to Grant Petersen, unless you live in Berkley. If you are new to bike commuting and don't know what to wear, get some advice from local commuters and shop employees who have been riding in the same conditions and roads that you plan to. Consider their advice and then do what makes you happy. Finding the right clothes for your commute can take a lot of trial and error and there is no right fit for everybody.

The bottom line is that if you are comfy wearing shorts in the winter, great; if you like the feel of wool and wearing it all year round is your thing, awesome. If you find what works for you, go for it, just don't let some douche bag, whether they're wearing lycra or tweed, tell you you're doing it wrong.

Bike To Work Day 2012

Bike To Work Day is next Friday! Commuter Connections and WABA have done a great job organizing this event in the past and this year will be no different.

Historically BTWD has had it's share of crappy weather but that shouldn't be the case this year as the Ultra-Super-Accurate 10 day forecast from weather.com says it will be 78 and sunny.

Register Here.

Join a convoy or go it alone.

Save $10 on a WABA membership

Get a T-shirt.

Justify those feelings of superiority over your co-workers.

In Good Company

I only make purchases from companies that reflect my personal outlook and stance on the important issues of the day, or the ones who send me inappropriate stickers in exchange for a good haiku.

Surly Bikes

Phoenix Bikes Show Fundraiser This Thursday

Phoenix Bikes Show fundraiser is this Thursday, April 26, 7-9pm, in the Crystal City Shops, 2100 Crystal Drive, Arlington. There's will lot's of funky bikes to see and bikes rebuilt by kids in our program for auction. Proceeds support Phoenix Bikes, a nonprofit community+youth bike program in Arlington.

April Harvest: Morels And Ramps

WARNING: The following post is about another hobby of mine and has nothing to do with bikes.

I think April is my new favorite month. I'm a huge fan of foraging for wild foods and April has quite a bounty. This month I've found my usual morel mushroom spots to be producing quite well. I found enough morels for a few meals which is not always the case. 
Sauteed in a little butter and shallots, these yellows and greys let off a succulent hazelnutty flavor.

This year I was fortunate enough to stumble onto a nice sized patch of ramps, (aka wild leeks) while foraging for morels. If a very yummy onion and a clove of garlic made sweet sweet love and had a baby, that stinky lovechild would be a ramp. The ones I found don't have the reddish stem color that most do but turn out to be much more tasty.

After making a few ramp omelets I did a search and found two recipes on Food52. The first was a pesto from the greens which turned out great. No garlic needed.

The second was for spicy pickled ramps which should be done this week.

I should note that if you find a patch of ramps, harvest sparingly to ensure next years crop.


It's nice to find and eat local foods sans food industry.

DC area wild food resources:
MAW DC
The Natural Capital
Slow Food DC

PSA: BRAC-tastrophe in BRAC-thesda! or How I Learned To Love Traffic

This is a copy of an e-mail I just got from Bethesda Transportation Solutions

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The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission has been working to “enhance efficiencies” for U.S. military bases and operations by closing and combining military facilities across the country.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center has been slated for closure on September 15, 2011. However, starting as early as mid-August, its operations and patients will be relocated to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda.

This will affect Bethesda commuters.

It has been estimated that an additional 4,300 daily commuters will be coming in to the Bethesda area as a result of BRAC. The staff at Bethesda Transportation Solutions (BTS) has been working closely with the BRAC Implementation Committee (BIC), the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County, and the State of Maryland to provide commuters with the most accurate and up-to-date information about roadway improvements, sidewalk construction and changes in traffic patterns. Watch the BTS website, www.bethesdatransit.org for BRAC-related construction and how it will affect your commute. Changes to roadways, sidewalks, and transit will occur often throughout this transition and may take several years. Commercial and private development projects also may affect traffic and transit operations. If you have a particular safety concern, issue or question please feel free to contact the Director of BTS, Kristen Blackmon at kblackmon@bethesda.org.

Who is BTS?

Bethesda Transportation Solutions (BTS) is a division of the Bethesda Urban Partnership (BUP), which is a non-profit organization, operating under a contract with Montgomery County, Maryland. BTS works to reduce traffic congestion in Bethesda. BTS is a FREE resource available to commuters and employers in Bethesda's business district who are looking for "another way" to get to work.

How can BTS help?

BTS staff can help commuters find another, better way to work. Explore the extensive BTS website to find information about carpooling, transit, biking, teleworking, and more! For more personal assistance, BTS will come to your office for FREE consulting services. BTS hosts Commuter Information Days in office buildings around the downtown area, and will even come to your office for an in-depth presentation.

Find Better Ways to Work!

Leaving the car at home isn’t as scary as it sounds.

Did you know that if you take transit, carpool, bicycle or walk to work, you are eligible for an emergency ride through the Guaranteed Ride Home program? If you have to leave work or stay late for any unexpected emergency or unplanned overtime, you can call 1-800-745-RIDE and they will send a taxi to your office (the average wait time is 5 minutes) to take you to your destination. And it’s FREE!

Did you know that the Bethesda Urban Partnership provides a FREE shuttle service starting at the Bethesda Metro Station with 20 stops around downtown Bethesda? The Bethesda Circulator runs every 10 minutes and will take you anywhere you want to go!

Don’t be caught off guard. The time to plan is now!

Contact Us!

All of our services are FREE, so please e-mail, call or just stop by our office!

Employer Outreach Employer Outreach
Jennifer Zucker
jzucker@bethesda.org
301-656-0868 Ext. 118

 Anne Kaiser
akaiser@bethesda.org
301-656-0868 Ext. 129

Commuter Information Days BTS Director
Allison Kemp
akemp@bethesda.org
301-656-0868 Ext. 121

Kristen Blackmon
kblackmon@bethesda.org
301-656-0868 Ext. 119

PSA: A Few Puffs Of Weed A Day

Remember kids a few puffs of weed a day will take the edge off, but if something really bad happens you'll still freak out. That's why I always opt for a few more.

NYC Ticketing PSA: Stay In Your Lane

I watched this 5 times already. I'm going to bed now and expect to watch it several more over breakfast.

Does that mean if you want to take your bike into a building you have to carry your bike from the bike like to the door or just hope there is something heavy to lock it to in the bike lane.

Words Of Wisdom

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Small Talk Paradox: "How Was Your Commute?"

Office small talk; it's something we all take part in whether we like it or not. Being a bike commuter makes you an easy target in these sometimes awkward moments. When you're in the elevator or at the water cooler or any other pocket of the office where you are forced to be in the company of others, the silence can be deafening. You and your unintended companion are left glancing around grasping for an icebreaker of some kind. It's in this moment when you, the bike commuter are most vulnerable.

"Weren't you freezing out there?"
"Weren't you burning up out there?"
"How far do you ride again?"
"What time of year do you stop riding?"
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" (ok I made that one up)

Most of the time coworkers take the path of least resistance and go for the simple "So! How was the ride?", followed by "You're crazy man!" after my response. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice gesture and I do appreciate the thought. This person wants to hear how cool my commute was, and that's cool. However, the question is asked of me so often I started giving it right back to the source.

"My ride was awesome! How was your drive in?"

This is met with a wide spectrum of responses; anywhere from detailed counter traffic strategies, "Well this morning they were stacked up all they way to the blah blah so I took the parkway to the blah blah..." to head shaking and guttural noises, "nnnmmmuuurrrph."

Most of the time though the question is met with a slight grimace as if to say "You know it sucked, why the hell would you ask me that? It's cruel to fuck with me this early in the morning?"

This led me to ponder the trend... it seems to be a common assumption that being a bike commuter, my daily ride in is always great and that any commute by car is always shitty. If that assumption is both true and common why aren't people more open minded about bike commuting?

The same person who complains about the traffic every day gets to work with two assumptions, that my ride in was awesome and that I'm crazy for doing it.

My assumption is that a good percentage of these people live an easily rideable distance from the office.

I apologize, that was way too many assumptions for one post.

PSA: If you or anyone you know in the DC area has a coworker like this direct them to this website immediately.

It's gonna be a humpalicious Wednseday, enjoy!

Wanker Of The Week: Mark Hurlbert

Eagle County Colorado district attorney Mark Hurlbert is a huge wanker. To get you up to speed if you haven't been following; uber important money manager  Martin Erzinge hit  bicyclist Dr. Steven Milo and sped off leaving him for dead. Said wanker,  Mark Hurlbert let Erzinge off because he makes way too much money and a felonies make rich people sad.  Read more here and here.

I know this story isn't brand new but I've been sick for a while and that tends to exacerbate my laziness. Also, I saw this video on AHTBM and it made me angry all over again.




Vail Colorado, governed by assholes.

PSA Follow Up: Fightin' The Funk

Last week I wrote a post about bike commuting in hot weather. There are many facets to bike commuting and making it work and everyone has to find the techniques and gear that work for their personal commute. This is an ongoing process of trial and error. One such error came this week during one of the many afternoon  showers.

In said post I mentioned that a good way to keep cool is to switch to platform pedals and wear sandals. This week I found a draw back to wearing sandals and that's the funk that gets kicked up in the rain. 

On a rainy day leave the sandals at home and throw on some crappy shoes you don't mind funking up a bit.

On the topic of funk, yesterday I found another draw back to sandals. They get funky, making your feet funky, and that makes everyone around you a little funky. Yesterday I had to put a fan under my desk to combat the funk. When I got home I soaked the Tevas in antibacterial soap water. The funk is gone and I am a little wiser.

I'll still sport the Tevas in the summer but I'll be ready for funk for sure.

PSA: How To Bike Commute On A 100+ Degree Day

I was going to post about my 4th of July road trip with the LHT but that'll wait until tomorrow. It was already 92 degrees when I biked in this morning and I think that warrants a public service announcement.

I think the most common question people have when they learn I commute by bike everyday is, "Do you have a shower at work?". It doesn't matter if we're talking summer heat or winter freeze, most people think that having a shower at work is the only way bike commuting can work. It dawned on my this morning while pushing through the heat that not having a shower in the office is stopping a lot of people from even considering the bike as a way to get to work.

I don't want a shower at work, it would make the process of biking to work longer and more tedious. Taking a shower is an important element of bike commuting in the summer heat but take it before the ride, not after. The best way I've found to manage the DC summer is to take a shower right before I leave the house.

If you are a burning hot when you get to work and take a quick shower odds are you'll start sweating again the second you step out to dry yourself off. Your sweat isn't what cools you down, it's that sweat evaporating that does the trick so when you get to work all sweaty find a fan, a big ass fan.

This BAF circulates the air in the parking garage under my building. It's never on but I can plug it in when I need it. Three minutes in front of this with my shirt held open cools me down enough to enter the building. If  I'm still hot after changing in the bathroom I head to my desk where i have a stick of deodorant and a small fan waiting. After about 10 minutes I have to turn the fan off because I get too cold. If you can't find a BAF try two small ones at your desk, you'll be surprised at how effective they are.

All that an no shower! It's a quick process and because I took a shower right before leaving the house I'm relatively clean.  

Another way to beat the heat is to wear sandals on your ride. Last fall I switched to platform pedals on the LHT (yeah you know me). In the winter I wear my boots, in the summer I've started wearing my Tevas. They're not ideal for long rides but they are fine for a commute and they keep my feet nice and cool.

Now I know that everybody's physiology is different, some of us are sweaty pigs that stink like a barnyard after a ride. Just give it a try, modify your routine until it works for you. Asking your coworkers to let you know if you smell of barnyard isn't a bad idea either.

Got a good hot weather commuting technique? Please share it with the rest of the class.

Now get out there and kick this Wednesday in the jimmy.


UPDATE:
PSA: Fighting The Funk

Required Reading: Paul Theroux's essay, "The Moving Target"

This comes from the Bike Snob. Paul Theroux's essay, "The Moving Target" beautifully illustrates a subject most of us are all too familiar with. The American bully behind the wheel.

http://tinyurl.com/yz4rvzo

A.N.T. Mike's Bike Stolen In Richmond

If you were at NAHBS over the weekend you probably saw the flyers up reporting that Mike Flanigan from Alternative Needs Transportation (A.N.T.) had a bike stolen while he unloaded his van. He built up two folding bikes so he and Betsy could cruise around Richmond during the event weekend.

Give a holler if you see this bike for sale anywhere.

Fear not, this event had no effect on his razor sharp facial hair.

I could never really get a curl going like that. I'll have to try it again...

NAHBS! NAHBS! NAHBS!

It's finally upon us! The North American Handmade Bicycle Show is tomorrow and one might liken my happiness to that of a little school girl. In other words I'm freakin' pumped over here! To try and avoid any crowds a friend and I are taking off from work tomorrow to head down to Richmond for the day.

Just to get you in the mood, here's a slideshow from the NAHBS 2009 Flickr pool:

flickrSLiDR

Check back after the weekend for tons of photos.

Washington DC Tweed Ride Route

The DC tweed ride route has been announced over at Dandies and Quaintrelles

View Larger Map

Looks like a jolly good tour!
Don't forget to register.

I Feel The Need, The Need For Tweed!

Huzzah!

A Washington, DC tweed ride emerges! You may remember my post from late September, whining that other cities were having all the fun and DC was in desperate need of tweed. It looks like my whining has payed off. Now I don't think that the ride is a direct result of my post but I'll just pretend it may have helped things along.

Here is the info from Dandies and Quaintrelles

Washington D.C.'s first ever tweed ride is set to begin on November 15, 2009. Our reason is pleasure and style. Our cause is Arts for the Aging, Inc. (AFTA).

Some of you have been waiting for a tweed ride in D.C. Others are confused and uncertain of it's point. We'll let points be made by politicians. Style is our concern. Amusement is our desire. We saw great style and imagined considerable amusement in the images of tweed rides in other major cities. Use your google skills and see what fun has been had in London, Chicago, San Fransisco and Boston.

We'll begin our ride at 11:00 am on 8th and H Street N.E. behind the great bank. There's an appropriately appointed photo studio that has been preparing to capture respectable images of our fashionable participants.

We'll end our ride on 14th and U where Marvin will provide us with nourishment, libations and fine soul. Non riders are welcome to join us in the festivities. If you need any more details on why you should spend a fall Sunday with us in your finest tweeds, you're making too much of a fuss of things.

Leave the fussiness to us and avoid it by appearing on vintage bikes, vintage inspired bikes, fixed geared machines and dapper attire. Leave the fleece, lycra and rugged outer shells at home. This ride is for the dandy!

Don't have a bike, Don't worry! Join us for the afterparty at Marvin. There will be raffles, giveaways, specialty drinks offered by our sponsor Plymouth Gin, and wall to wall dandies dancing to the finest britpop and soul this side of the Atlantic!

Return to this invite frequently for more surprising details.

View the lovely photos below for our inspiration!

So there you are chaps. Save the date and some festive spirit.

Cheers