Christmas Gifts for the Merry at Heart

I follow GoPro on twitter, and I think they follow me. I was trying to score merch and all I got was a follow.

Never fear! I got one for Christmas! Except... I haven't used it yet. These things require memory sticks -- the smaller than your fingernail holds 64G kind of memory. I'm old enough that my first computer experience involved a 5 1/4" floppy disk and no hard drive. The level of privilege and first world problem I was facing was not lost on me.

Enter scene: I am scavenging my daughter's toy kitchen in her playroom for old cell phones like an addict hunting for drugs in the couch cushions. Even better, I found some microSD in that little kitchen.

Apparently this phone was scrapped due to liquid damage. The memory card was corrupt. I vaguely remember dropping it in diet coke, but then I remember it still worked. That is, until I dropped it on the ground and shattered the screen. I think it still worked after that, but I had to deal with glass splinters in my fingertips and ears.

Anyway. It is days later and I still don't have a memory card. This commitment to not driving makes bumping out to the store a little trickier. I (heart) Amazon's 2-day shipping.

In the meantime, a story has been plotted and voice overs begun. There will be video.

Blending in at the Christmas parade

I am not a regular participant in Carrboro or Chapel Hill bike events, but they posted the parade ride. And I have bright kids. Bright, shiny, happy kids. Check us out, then throw some support at the Carrboro Bike Coalition and the Bicycle Alliance of Chapel Hill.

There was coffee!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tarheelcoxn/sets/72157649770487575

Promises of a bike/swim event

It may have appeared like I was riding a bike. When I got home, I could wring out my socks and leave puddles. It was more of a swim home.

Cranksgiving

Oaks and Spokes did a fantastic event on Sunday at Crank Arm Brewery. They set out a competition -- a 13 mile route, four grocery stores, and a shopping list. Points were awarded for extra stores, produce, etc. In the end, we collected 662 lbs of food and 15 turkeys!

So this roadie was all "i see you wear an #mtb helmet" and I'm all "huh? I have helmets"

Second Row From Left to Right:
Blue eyed monster, glitter dream, Speed Racer

Cyclist Down

A terrible thing is happening in cycling. Drivers are becoming vocal haters on bicyclists. They shout it from their car, then they post to the internet. There's only so many times Drunk Cyclist can counteract that hate.

I believe cycling to be a safe activity. I believe that dangerous things happen. It hurts my heart to see incidents on the news where cyclists die:  Bicyclist Death

A local cycling advocate (enthusiast) wrote something great on the list serv I follow. Mind you, I don't know this guy, but I really appreciate the sentiment.

Why I Started Commuting by Bike

This video was passed to me today, and it reminded me of the reason I became bus & bike commuter. As it were, the Front Fell Off.

Once upon a time, I had a dream about how my life would go. In 2010, life did one of those tricks it seems to do. My daughter was just learning to walk and talk, and my sons hadn't started preschool yet. I was thrown a curve ball that January when my then-husband lost his job (again) and I had to go back to work. 

Shortly after starting a job with a roundtrip commute of 48 miles, Deepwater Horizon started its deadly bleed into the Gulf of Mexico. CNN played nonstop coverage of crude oil spewing into the ocean. I grew up on the waters of the Gulf. I was chased by sand crabs on the shores in the middle of the night, lead rescue training classes in the low vis water, and watched sunset over the reproductive dance of hundreds of devilrays. 

The guilt of driving burdened me so heavily that I took to my bike. I pledged to ride until the leak was stopped. Then I said I would ride until the spill was cleaned. Then my legs looked great, my gas bill was nothing, and I could eat allthetime. 

Cycling solves a lot of problems for me. It is cheap. It is healthy. It clears my head of the gunk that builds up. I started to make a political statement, but then I kept going for me.

True story

Today was the annual tweed ride in Durham. My friend joked that tweed was an assault on the eyes. I would rather think about it in more pro-life ways.

Let's just state the obvious fashion sensibility. Tweed styles often have a practicality that lends itself to cycling. My tweed pants are all cuffed higher than my chain ring. And you know how cyclists like their socks.

There's something to be said for the message that a costumed group ride makes. Drivers have been known to react badly to cyclists in team kit, but everyone we saw today thought we were in a parade. It made cycling appear to be the super fun, relaxed, happy pastime that it actually is.

The cemetery is a seemingly awesome place to hangout, given the right crowd. I'm thinking 100 cyclists dressed in tweed carrying pannier picnics is just that crowd. This picture bespoke my feelings about road safety for commuters. I have often thought to wear a jersey emblazoned with "MOM" in order to impede the anger of motorists.

I get impassioned when a driver feels compelled to pass at a way-too-close distance. Why would you do that? Do you know you are threatening my life? Do you mean to threaten my life? Why the profanity?

I'm not sure today meant a lot more than an excuse to ride bikes in costumes, but we got a lot of positive feedback from cars. This is a new experience for me.

Here, enjoy some more pictures on facebook.

These ladies pulled up in their convertible with a couple of bikes. They proceeded to ride the hell out of them.

Go speed racer! at the Tour de Cure Halloween training ride

Through the weirdly small world of Raleigh, I connected with Diane Huis of the NC Tour de Cure ride. She is a type 1 diabetic. She does ironmans with an insulin pump in her jersey pocket. Yea -- she's an inspiration.

I try to get out with the team she captains, Team Cheetah, but commuting takes up so much of my pedal time. I've made two events this year. The first time we rode together was a group of about 15 riders on a 65 mile route. We rotated through a double file pace line at an easy 18mph pace. Her riders are a particular type of smart and practical that comes with experience. They maintained bike position, kept the group together, and made sure everyone was hydrated & had good blood sugar. It was really a wonderful day.

When Diane told me about a training ride involving costumes, I felt like it was a good reason to get some extra miles if only for the costumes. One of her team members owns a farm with a huge barn - perfect for a big group. She opened it up to the CBC group, and they brought a keg.

We did two loops with a rest area in each loop. Even with a bigger group, the cyclists rode in groups. And the COOKIES! Somebody had an iPod and a speaker... and the arepa truck appeared at the end of the race next to some home-cooked soup and chilli.

It was as if Diane has ridden thousands of miles on organized rides and knew what was important to us.

Me and my shadow

n+1

One of my greatest friends in this life came to visit last weekend. I wanted to give her the quintessential Fall in North Carolina tour, so we took a road trip with the kids up to Stone Mountain.

{sidebar: I know cars are lame. I am with you on that. We only had a few days. AND, baby girl just learned how to ride two wheels. She's not making it up any mountain this week. Allow me this road trip, ok?}

We took our bikes on this road trip because you never know when you're going to need a bike. We left about 7am so we could stop at a great bike shop in Winston-Salem. 

You're going to need some background information about how my boy loves bikes.

He got a new bike this summer after he put in his time behind the lawn mower. He got an awesome Torker Interurban from Seven Stars. He rides the bejeesus out of it.

On the first day of riding it, he popped a tube when he ran smack into the front steps. This was also the day he learned to change a tube.

When I announced it was time for shoes, 7yo spoke up that he had forgotten his. This makes me giggle, because who is this boy if not my son? We get out of the car and I remember that he's still in his pajamas because we left so early. {more chuckles}

We roll up into the store and it was like children in a candy store. Actually, imagine that three mini-me's entered a bike shop. It was like that. Those three kids took off for helmets, beanies, bikes, bells, and water bottles all at once.

This is when it happened. Baby blues of wonder-- cycle capped, pajama bottomed, and barefooted...

7: Mom, I need a mountain bike.
Me: You just got a bike in summer. That thing rocks.
7: Yea, but I need another one. Look at this one.
Me: What are you even talking about?
7: Look, its a Kona.
Me: Can you lift it over your head?
7: Will you buy it for me if I can lift it over my head?
Me: We already have 4 bikes on the rack.
7: We can put it inside the car.
Me: We have one inside the car, plus our camping stuff. Let me see you lift it over your head.
7: {grunting} see?
Me: Not today.
7: Next time?
Me: Probably.

Rule #12

// The correct number of bikes to own is n+1 ~velominati

Oh How I Love Mud

Went riding with my best friend and my son at the local trail. Little man rocks the single track! What a fun day.

60 degrees and sunny

It has rained for a week. This shadow and temperature said I had to ride.

Overdressed for 50 degrees

Something to know about commuting by bike: you're going to deal with weather.

On this morning, I put on my tights because it was the first sign of cool weather. It was also drizzling. Wet + cool meant I needed tights. And full finger gloves. And boots. Except, it wasn't as cold as I remember 50 degrees feeling. I was peeling off layers and opening vents on my jacket.

Handling Skills

I'm feeling a dally ride. You know, tooling along with a big cup of iced tea in the bottle cage wearing flip flops and still trying to get somewhere (kinda). I'm enjoying the shade of the greenway, making conversation with all of the passersby. I'm probably treating the stripes on the road as maneuvering practice.

I'm waiting dubiously at one of these notoriously ill planned crossings adorned with a miniature sign reading STOP -- it clearly reads as art, not traffic enforcement. A dude wearing no shirt and his pants pulled down way low rides up next to me. He does a quick pedal stand before taking to the 4" sandbar between the road and the puddle. He is headed into traffic on the wrong side of a road with minimal shoulder and no sidewalk. Did I mention he was talking on a cell phone this whole time?

Am I mad about this or do I cheer him on for his handling skills?

Let's talk rain gear

The hardest days to skip riding to work in a car (... on a heated seat... with air conditioning... and windshield wipers) are rainy days. It isn't as bad when you think you can race the storm and maybe it rains while you are out. Those days when you walk out knowing that you are going to be sweating and shivering all at once are hard.

She'll Decide When She's Ready

I have long suffered my daughter's indifference towards bikes. Her third birthday party was a bike party, you know, because I planned it. All the kids brought their bikes and rode around in circles at the park. It was a great opportunity for everyone learn osmotically - big hit.

She loved her balance bike. Turns out, she loved it because it was pink. And a thing. To be looked at. Not. To. Be. Ridden.

When I traded the nearly unridden balance bike for a larger version with training wheels the Christmas after she turned 4, she loved it. Because it was purple. And a thing. To be enjoyed for its status as an object.

There was a short stint where she would ride her watermelon trike. This solution was great until I had to push her up hills. And carry it down hills. And across fields with grass. Generally, it was carried more than it was ridden.

This week, we had a conversation where I said to my darling, "Do you know how special you are?"

This is a game we play. She coyly responds, knowing she's about to get her ration of daily love-spoiling, "noo....!? How special?"

I officially announced, "I love you more than my bike."

She was shocked! Her look changed from giggle-game-face to one of classic confusion: "You love me more than your bike?"

Imagine my elation when we got home from the park yesterday and she demanded the training wheels be removed from her bike. She promptly began doing laps up and down the street.

She'll decide when she's ready, and nobody can make her do it before then.

Please note: She won't ride without a helmet, but she was not interested in shoes.

Zinnia!

My plan this year was to grow things from seed. I planted tomato, basil, and zinnia. I got 3 tomatoes, loads of basil, and one zinnia. One. Zinnia.

Today, I found a field of zinnia on my route. It was the picture of what I thought was going to happen when I planted a sack of seeds.

Regarding bike lanes, let's talk about how I want to turn left at this light.

I object, a little bit, to bike lanes. This weirdness happens at intersections. Check out how this bike lane just decides to END

Mind the Gap

I was commuting home when I jumped the line of a peloton. It was one of those groups with riders in team kit and special sprint geometry frames. I dug in, because that's the kind of pace that burns a billion calories and gets me home faster. When they pulled off for a turn, a couple of the guys paid me nice compliments. Not construction-worker style compliments about great legs, but the kind that you earn -- "Hey. Solid ride."

Chasing rainbows #tourdefat #commuter #whenyourideabike

#whyiride #swoon #tourdefat #commuter #nofilter

On Being Feminine

I'm an engineer. I'm a cyclist. I like to get dirty. When my kids are with their dad, I like to drink beer. None of this means I don't also enjoy my feminine features. In fact, I celebrate them.

When I'm on my bike, I like to wear a skirt. I picked double platform pedals so I can clip in for a weekend distance ride, or wear heels to lunch with my girlfriends. I wear a long braid in my hair so I'm not always battling with a brush. I cut the chamois out of my bike shorts for my yoga pants. Don't we all love yoga pants?

Flagger

My ride to work is littered with construction these days. It probably feels pretty normal to see a flagger from your car. You know how to interact with him. It probably feels pretty normal for a flagger to see you in your car. He knows how to interact with you. He holds up a STOP, you STOP. He holds up a SLOW, you SLOW.

One morning I approached a flagger by bike, a weird experience for both of us. In fact, maybe it was weird the first time that guy stepped onto the road with his powerful sign of STOP and SLOW.

Flagger is holding up STOP. I roll up near him, maybe a car length back, and I give a waveNod. Except... he is yelling at me to BACK UP. Suddenly, I realize this grey encounter of a cyclist on the road is going to happen. He's got some beef to kick with me about approaching him at his sign.

I say to my new friend, Flagger, "What's the matter? Why are you yelling?"

Flagger responds, "It's not safe! You can't be up here!"

"But why? I thought I was supposed to stop at the STOP sign"

"It isn't safe! You are supposed to stop back there! See that? The cars are coming through right here!"

At this point, Flagger gets huffy and hoists his STOP power sign. He walks to where I am standing on the road and he says, "Why you gotta be like that? I was just trying to stand in the shade."

Um. Ok. Clearly, he isn't comfortable with cyclists on the road. He isn't getting it at all. He turns the sign to SLOW and I move on.

This may be one of the odder parts of the interaction: I've passed Flagger for a couple of weeks now. The first day after this was an awkward, stiff chin. A week went by, and he pretended to let me be one of the cars. Two weeks in, he waves a big, open smile, "Hi Miss!"

Boy and his bike

Other families make sure their children have necessities like clothes and shoes and meals. In my family, I count a bike in that list too. Kids need bikes. I made a deal with each of my sons in the summer of seven: if you mow the lawn every week, no complaints, for 10 weeks then you get a bike. They both took me up on it. That comes out to $40/mow, and I still had to mow the lawn because a 7 year old sure can't push a mower in a straight line. This better have been a good lesson.

I'm thinking it was, because he had a wrench in his hand before we left Seven Stars. We took a stroll, and played with where would be the coolest spot for a picture of him and his new ride. (The blue spot is his shirt. You can just make out the tire underneath him. He's on his bike in a tree.)

My neighbor's driveway has a fantastic pitch to it. We sled it in the winter, and the kids tear up the said-mowed lawn on bikes in the summer. On the first day of this new bike, 7 rolls up to the tippity top of the drive. I'm headed out at 6:30 or 7 to go to work, and I stop to watch him screaming down this hill still in his pajamas. Children don't wait for you to be ready for them to be ready. When I see him hit the slow uphill in my yard, I noticed he didn't slow down a lot. And he didn't turn a lot. I should have been less surprised when he nailed the front steps. 

I throw my bike to the side and race over to him. I pull him up from the ground, and he giggles, "that was awesome. What was that sound?"

He pinched flat his tire. That was the sound.

Some girls are born with glitter in their veins

When given a gift of free money at a bike shop, how do you focus on anything else? I've run the course on what to get...


a video camera? because wowzers!

bikes for my kids?

Maybe an awesome tandem?

No, i think this girl has glitter dreams.

I want to be an Ambassador