Chicago Bike Blog

Mini Ride for the Climate

Below are some photos from Chicago Cycling Club and Cycling Sisters' Mini Ride for the Climate, which took place on Memorial Day. I should point out that these photos are only from the first third of the ride, as afternoon commitments kept me from completing the full tour.

I especially enjoyed our stops at the True Nature Foods grocery store and the Riverbank Neighbors project. Although I skipped the later portion of the ride, I plan to use the ride itinerary as a guide to visit some of the places I missed, including Near North Apartments, Greenmaker Supply, Chicago Center for Green Technology and the Millennium Park Bike Station.

I am very grateful to Kathy Schubert, the CCC and Cycling Sisters for putting this together. I would also like to encourage others out there to participate in some of the rides these groups organize. They are fun, informative, and offer a chance to meet people from all over the city who may share some of your views and beliefs.

Now, how about that Community Garden ride I suggested earlier?

Bicycle Safety Check

Even if you are not an ace mechanic, here are some tips to help you assess the condition of your bike, and spot any problems before they can cause any real harm.

Wheels & Tires

• Spin each wheel & make sure it turns freely, without rubbing against the brake pads, or a part of the bike frame. A wheel could be mis-seated in the dropouts. Loosen the quick release or axle nuts, reposition the wheel, tighten & spin again. If it is still rubbing, it may need an adjustment by a pro.
• As each wheel spins slowly, check that it is free of bends, dinks or wobbles. Check also for loose & broken spokes. These problems require the attention of a bike mechanic.
• Make sure the quick release skewers are firmly and securely fastened.
• Check to see if the tires are inflated to correct pressure (embossed on the sidewall of the tire).
• Brush off or pry out any debris embedded in the tire (you may be surprised to find good sized chunks of glass).
• Examine each tire for holes, splits or dry-rot along the sidewalls. Replace tires if holes or splits are present.

Brakes

• Squeeze the brake levers, and make sure the brake pads grip rims firmly before your brake levers "bottom out" against the handlebars. Lean on the bike and try to roll it forward as you engage the brakes.
• Examine the brake pads to make sure they are securely attached, aligned with the rims, and not rubbing the rim or the tire. (If they are rubbing a tire, get it fixed immediately, or you may get a blow out).
• Check also for uneven or excessive wear on the braking surface of the pads.

General

• Let your bike drop from a height of about 10 inches and investigate any abnormal rattling noises.
• Check for frayed, rusty or frozen cables.
• Check the hub adjustments (the bearings in the center of each wheel). Grasp each wheel and try to shake it side to side. There should be no "play".
• Check the bottom bracket adjustment (the bearings between the cranks of your bike). Grasp one of the crank arms and try to shake it back and forth. Again, there should be no "play".
• Check the headset adjustment (the bearings that allow your handlebars to turn). Holding the front wheel between your knees, squeeze the brake levers and shake the handlebar back and forth. You guessed it, there should be no "play".

If your inspection reveals anything that makes you uneasy, stop by Rapid Transit for an evaluation by a mechanic. Many problems can be addressed with a simple and inexpensive adjustment.

Community Gardening

There's something compelling about that image of a of a traditional bike basket, filled to the brim with just-picked delicacies from a local market.

Why not get out there this summer and combine your love of bicycling with the love of gardening & eating fresh produce. Visit farmers markets by bike (for a directory of markets, click here). Or, check out what people in your neighborhood are doing the in the community gardens. Try a tour of a few local community gardens on a weekend morning. If you arrive by bike, you are nearly guaranteed to make friends, and you may score some free radishes, dill, or - later - zucchini (don't count on tomatoes; for those you need a really good friend).
If you are lucky enough to have your own garden (or deck, or porch), a bike is a really great way to get stuff home from your local nursery. Can't carry it on a bike? Think again! Deborah, Rapid Transit's manager & determined gardener, sez:
"... went to garden store and used a bike trailer & 2 Jandd grocery
panniers & 3 Bungee cords & 2 bicycle inner tubes (too bad I didn't
have a partridge and a pear tree as well!) to bring home:

4 x 10 lbs bags of cedar chips, 2 x 10 lb bags of cocoa mulch, 1 x 20
lbs bag of sand, 2 x 8" by 36" wooden planters, 3 x 20 foot lengths of
hose, as well as plants: 2 bleeding hearts, 3 hostas, a flat of
pansies, a flat of vinca, and a small lilac bush... "

Happy Memorial Day!

Hope you can get out to Chicago Cycling Club and Cycling Sisters'
Memorial Day Mini Ride for the Climate

See ya there!

Bike The Drive

Enjoy Bike the Drive. The weather should be great. 

(But please wear a helmet. They won't let you go without one.)

We'll be there to offer technical assistance if you need it. Ben, Sam & Sarah from Rapid Transit Cycleshop will be on hand.

Pretty Bike

What a beauty. It belongs to Alee's roommate.

Technorati Profile

Dahon Folding Bikes & I-Go Car Sharing (oh, and Rapid Transit, too)

We know we're moving in the right direction when a fringe bike company partners with a fringe car-ownership company to offer some fringe benefits.
Dahon, the premier manufacturer of folding bikes, is offering a free bike carrying bag to members of I-Go, a car-sharing program. I-Go is throwing an Audio Emissions CD release party, with yours truly, Rapid Transit Cycles, providing free bike valet parking.

So, we're all in this together.
May the fringe become the mainstream.

Don't let this happen to you

Please see an earlier post on securing your bike wheels!
Seriously, though, no lock would have helped us. We were up against a formidable opponent.

The driver of this friendly little contraption inadvertently backed into our front wheel and jostled it loose. (He was nice enough to put it back. He could do it without using a ladder, you see...)
BTW, in case you are wondering WHY the sidewalks at North and Wolcott are being replaced for the second time in as many years, I have an answer for you, straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. As you might imagine, I was very concerned about the removal of sidewalks during the bike shop's peak season, especially since they were so recently completely overhauled. So, I called the Streetscape department of the City of Chicago, and actually spoke with a real and really helpful person.
Here's what I learned. Apparently, when the city redid the sidewalks two years ago, they neglected to include a way  for power to be brought to a street light on the corner. So the entire disruption yesterday took place to correct that small shortcoming. I hope you enjoy seeing your tax dollars at work.


PS. The workmen were very nice, and, to their credit, the work is progressing apace.

Africabike

A batch of Africabikes arrived from Kona today on the doorstep of Rapid Transit Cycleshop. To read about how Africabikes are used to help deliver anti-HIV/AIDS drugs to patients in Africa, click here.

These bikes are useful for getting around town on this side of the ocean too. Equipped with quality minimal gearing, Contionental tires and baskets (some models also feature a rack), they are quintessential city cruisers. For every two we buy, Kona sends one to Africa. So come in, get yours, and help us help a good cause.

Coupon

Please click on the coupon to enlarge, print and come in to redeem.