Cargo bikes will rule the world!

EcoVelo posted this one today (so I'm shamelessly reblogging).



This one hits home with me.  I think I rode to work the first time just because one of my buddies was going to.  Then I did it because it was an easy way to sneak some exercise in.  As I started riding more often I found that if I wanted to do something after work I just continued on the bike.  Eventually, this meant I was carrying more and more stuff for the day and my bag got larger and larger and larger.  After a while I wanted to carry more than a bag was practical for and making the transition to a cargo bike (xtracycle) was the logical choice.

For more info:   LizCanning.com

Double trouble.

The problem.

The solution.

There was a lot of riding last weekend with farmers markets, the 3 foot ride, and the poker ride.  All told we bike a little under 70 miles.  Not too bad for a weekend.  Now the costs of all that fun have caught up with me.  Monday morning found my front tire flat.  The tell tale spine of a goat head wasn't hard to find.  I was a little grumpy about this because I have Kevlar tires with tire liners that are supposed to prevent this.  Just goes to prove even the best precautions don't always work.  Fortunately, this flat repair actually went as planned.  Unseat the bead, popped the tube out the side, sanded the area, smear with vulcanizing fluid, apply patch, pop tube back in, re-seat the bead, and inflate!  Perfect under 5 minute patch. 

The offending area marked.

Until I realized the rear tire was looking a little on the low side.  Quick inspection didn't find anything in the tire to indicate a puncture.  So the wheel was removed and the tube pulled for a more thorough look.  The problem turned out to be one too many patches and the failure of one of said patches.

Failed patch.

So now the question is do you re-patch or give up and go with a new tub.  This particular tube already has 5 patches so I opted for the new tube approach. 

So for now, I'm back up on two Kevlar tires with tuffy tire liners.  Let's see if the technology or nature prevails.  Unfortunately, I think the safe bet in the long run is still on the goat heads.

Apparently, I am not riding my bicycle very well.

I've seen a lot of Danny's videos over the last couple years and they always have my jaw on the floor...this is no exception.  And just wow... 

Wet and Refreshing.

I have to admit, I love it when it rains in Reno.  The wet streets are refreshing.  There's that ozone smell in the air and it always seems like I can smell the sage a little bit again.  Not to mention it gives a whole new dynamic to the ride.  Sure, all the thermoplastic marking look shiny and slippery and you can see the water bead up a little on the asphalt.  You might even take the first few corners at a slower speed.  It makes you sit up and pay attention to the road conditions like it's your first ride in a month!

These aren't bad things though.  It gives that same daily commute new life.  You start to notice the bead of water shooting off the front wheel, you aim for the next puddle, and suddenly without even realizing it you aren't an intrepid bicycle commuter....your a 10 year old kid on your first bmx bike having a blast just because your on a bicycle.  And if your me, it puts a big stupid grin on your face that lasts through a whole morning of work! 

Freshly washed and painted with a warm glow.

If commuting in the rain or just wet gives you pause,  head over to EcoVelo, there is a great article on "Rain Riding" preparations and strategies and an article on what he considers standard equipment on a commuter.

Sometimes the truth is simple.

Not sure where I came across this so I don't know who to give credit to.....but I like it!

One piece of the puzzle.

The videos above aren't new, but I think they show a trend we're seeing here in Reno over the last few years.  Let's hope it continues!  If your interested in the "other" pieces of the puzzle you can find them over at Street Films.

Results of a busy weekend with friends.

Ok, so it was ride, ride, beer, run, ride, beer, and collapse!

Saturday morning I'm usually not jumping out of bed at 5:30am.  I'm usually on the coach early to enjoy a nice slow cup of coffee (at best).  This weekend allowed no such luxury.  8am was out the door and headed for the final farmers market and as many fresh roasted chili's as I could afford.  After the ride back to the house, we dropped the chili's and had a hasty breakfast before grabbing the bikes and heading back to downtown for the "Sweet 3 feet" law parade.  Of course I forgot my camera so you'll have to trust me that we had 100 ish riders for the ride from Reno City Hall to Sparks City Hall and back.  We even had a courteous police motorcycle escort for the 4th Street portion of or ride.  So thank  you RPD for keeping track of us for a bit! The end of the official route left wifey and I dangerously close to Silver Peak on the river, so we forced ourselves to enjoy a beer and appetizer before finishing the ride home.

The next morning I was denied my relaxing time with Juan Valdez yet again.  We were off for the race for the cure out at Boomtown.  I don't know what I was expecting, but this thing was packed.  We left fairly early and found a mile long line of traffic on 80 west just to get into Boomtown!  Needless to say we diverted to back route through Verdi and managed to get in just fine.  The race went smoothly and I was only required to cough up one lung at the finish.  I managed to make a very blurry picture in the paper and the event raised $190,000 plus, so we'll call it a win all around.

That would be yours truly, dead center and fuzzy!

After a quick return dash to the car, (to flee the general madness of the crowd) we made it home.  Bicycles were grabbed and we headed for Great Basin Brewery in Sparks to attend the (in?)famous Gonads and Strife Poker ride (another cancer benefit).

With a large group of friends already waiting, wifey's bike promptly blew a valve stem (with shot gun sound effects included).  My cheerful group of colleges was very supportive and volunteered not only a replacement tube (thanks Jen) but to help change the flat video my efforts to change the flat.  After a quick tube swap and some valiant efforts on my part to re inflate the tire with a tiny hand pump, they did let me know that I hadn't set the bead on the tire correctly....so I deflated it and was successful on my second try (after much additional pumping)!  I'll be sure to share the video if they send it along.  The rest of the ride was good fun with a leisure suit riding preacher for good measures.  The beers were as you would expect with such company...."blessed"!