Chicago Bike Blog

Snow Biking

Chris preached what he practices to me, and then he went to practice what he preaches.

Here is a list of what he brought along for a two mile ride in the small blizzard we are having today (mid 20's with moderate snow fall, 2-3 inches on the ground):

• His Slingshot mountain bike (his only concession to suspension bikes)
• Neoprene booties over cycling shoes
• Midweight tights
• Waterproof Gore pants
• Long-sleeve Smartwool jersey
• Polarfleece pullover
• Waterproof Gore jacket
• Smartwool waterproof gloves
• Windproof polarfleece balaclava
• Metro helmet
• Red helmet blinker
• Princeton Tech headlight
• Timbuk2 Porkchop bag (no longer manufactured) with wallet and keys.

Cell phone? No, he leaves that at home.

Waiting for the Green

The end of winter never seems as near when the seed catalogs start arriving, as the end of summer does when the first fall J. Crew catalog shows up in your mailbox.
Why is that?

But winter is coming to an end. Mark my words. Sooner or later it will be over.
To prove it (to myself, I suppose, more than to anyone else), I decided to go for my usual walk, despite the arctic cold. Walking is my therapist, my sanity preserver, my meditation. Unfortunately, this joyful and affirming experience often breaks down at the very place that should be the safest in the world:
THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK.

The culprit: right-turning vehicles driven by oblivious people. At most intersections, the green light for cars inevitably coincides with the WALK light for pedestrians traveling along the same line. You would think that common courtesy and sense would prevail. Cars are, after all, considerably larger than pedestrians, and capable of inflicting significant damage on impact. Furthermore, in inclement weather (such as today's frigid conditions), cars provide a measure of protection for their inhabitants, and common consideration for fellow humans might dictate that drivers yield the right of way to those traveling on foot. 

In the loop, this is generally less of a problem, for pedestrians, in any case, simply due to their sheer numbers. Once the light changes, they flood the crosswalk, and drivers, like it or not, must simply wait.
Not so in my backward, SUV dominated northwest side neighborhood. The city of Chicago, no doubt looking out for the interests of transit users, has been placing bus stop covers near major intersections. These booths, in addition to shielding CTA riders from the elements, also provide needed advertising revenue to the city. Unfortunately, the ads obscure right-turning drivers' view of any activity in the crosswalk.

So there I was, three-quarters of the way across the street, when I was suddenly approached by a Buick. I stopped. The Buick stopped. I took a step forward. The car lurched forward. I stopped again. It stopped too. Up to this point, my gaze was trained on the Buick's bumper, now within inches of my knee. I chanced a look at the driver. She was hopping up and down in her seat, waving impatiently, and yelling for me to "go, go, go!" Like hell I will, lady. Slowly and cautiously, I put my toe in front of the car. And again, the car lurched! So naturally, I stopped. The car stopped to, but in her frustration, the driver made it bob up and down as she jumped in her seat. I made a big production of putting my arms out toward the car, and walking in a giant circle in front of it as slowly as I possibly could. At last, I reached the sidewalk.

Now, I had to cross the other street. Here, a right-turning Navigator positioned itself in the middle of the pedestrian walkway. This car is so fat, so high, and so wide, that there way no way to establish eye contact with the driver. If I couldn't see her (maybe him? I dunno), surely she could not see me. This left me no choice, but to let her go ahead and make her turn against the red light. After this, it would be my turn. No such luck. As I thrust my foot forward, another SUV came careening by, clearly also bent on ignoring the "no turn on red" sign, maneuvered deftly around my extended leg, and turned without so much as a backward glance...

Sheesh. It's a wonder I made it home in one piece.

Still, walking, even when I'm fighting for breath against the northern wind, or with drivers for the right of way, usually helps me get my head on straight, and get a more positive outlook on things. When I come back from a walk, I often undertake absurdly optimistic projects, such as sowing mesclun seeds in the middle of January.

Rapid Transit Wins Mothers' Vote

Thank you to the mothers who read Lori's Kids Ride Free column on Gapers' Block for choosing Rapid Transit as your favorite bike store. The column may be obscure, but the author is darned right when she says the title is coveted.

(our kid rides free!)*

Problem is, most bike shops don't exactly bill themselves on being family friendly. We are, and it's time we made a big deal about it. There are a few very serious limitations, largely having to do with our crowded urban location, that make us less than ideal shopping destination for moms with small kids.

• Lack of parking, particlularly for minivans.
• Mom-unfriendly doorway.
• No child play area.
• Lack of display space for specialty items, such as jogging strollers.

However, we bend over backwards for moms and families, and try to offset the foregoing shortcomings in lots of different ways.

• You can always bring your bike, or stroller, or trailer inside. No matter how cumbersome.
• You can bring your children inside. Don't worry, we won't offer them espresso or a free puppy.
• We will hold the door for you.
• We will let your children entertain themselves with squeaky horns, blinky lights and floor pumps (due to insurance restrictions, however, we cannot let them ride adult trikes around the store...)
• We carry the most adaptable of bike trailers by Chariot, which convert easily to various stroller configurations. This allows us to display the most bang for the buck in out cramped space. We make it real easy to special order anything else you might want that we don't have in stock.
• We will help you make sure your child's helmet fits properly (we know how to talk to kids who resent having something put on their heads).
• Believe it or not, we carry kids trikes and bikes that will see your child from about the age of two through teen.
• We carry a variety of products that make it easy for you to ride bikes as a family, including child seats,  the above-mentioned trailers, trailer bikes, and the greatest item for family cycling since sliced bread, the Family Tandem by BikeFriday.
• We know what works, because we cycle as a family. While some of our products may be a bit costly, our advice is completely free.

We hope you visit us at Rapid Transit, and see what we can do to help you  and your family enjoy cycling more this coming season. And here are some coupons to help make getting ready for the season a little easier. Just click, print and redeem at Rapid Transit Cycleshop.

*She always, always, always wears a helmet. We just really wanted that photo of wind in her hair.

This is not a post about biking

Indulge me.
I'm going to write this post in blue, because, well, I feel blue... It has been so %@#&**#! cold, that I just haven't felt like setting foot outside, let alone get my butt on a bike. But today, it warmed up a bit. Enough for me to venture as far as my garage to see if anything useful was lurking in the freezer. And while I was poking around the garage, I happened to gaze upon my cross country skis.

It is a little known fact, that cross country skiing is my absolute favorite outdoor activity in the whole world. Yep. Even more favorite than, gulp, biking. Maybe it's because where I live it can be enjoyed so infrequently. Who knows? I love it!

In no time, I pulled on a pair of tights and a jacket and hat, and set about making some tracks in the woods. As my body was unused to this type of movement, it was a bit slow going at first. My feet cramped, my fingers froze, I kept getting out of breath, and losing my stride. Why did I ever think this would be fun? I pushed on, and came to the gentle descent that took me from the old railroad embankment down to the edge of the river and into the woods. Although I could hear the noise of cars from the interstate, the snow covered branches closed over my head and muffled the noise.  The swoshing of the skis was like a soft presence over my shoulder. It became rhythmic, and comforting, and soon my mind began to wander. And as my skis and I glided through the fluffy snow, I noticed that my mood began to lift, and despite that grey sky, the world appeared more colorful.

And the river? Yes, where was the river? Just a few days ago is was flowing right through here...

Oh, here it is!

Let's take a closer look.

... closer... closer...

Oooops! That was too close!

Seriously. I'm still here. But I've managed to get myself out of my funk, and as long as I already have my tights on, maybe I'll take my bike for a little spin.

Bikes in Shopping Carts

We've always had a soft spot for folding bikes. Having grown up in Poland, where folding bikes were simply what many people rode, I learned to ride on a friend's folding bike, and my own first big bike was also a folder. When Chris and I opened Rapid Transit Cycleshop, we desperately wanted folding bikes to be part of our menu. Unfortunately, back int he early 90's, there were no folding bike manufacturers willing to have a practical working relationship with a bicycle retailer.

At last, in 1997, a company that was then known as Burley Design Cooperative began distributing the German-designed Birdy Bike. Back then, we were publishing a shop newsletter, and we wrote an enthusiastic review of what it was like to use a folding bike around Chicago. Here's the gist of it (from the Fall/Winter 1997 issue):

"For years, I have been keeping a keen eye out for a folding bike that would offer uncompromising performance and easy foldability, and solve two of urban commuters' chief dilammas: how to keep it from getting stolen, and how to bail out because of bad weather or other factors. Until this year, virtually all performance folding bikes were designed primarily for touring. In other words, they ride well, fold compactly, and travel equally well, but the folding and unfolding takes time. A commuter bike should ride and travel well, but the folding should be a snap.
I finally found my prize... The main benefits of the German-designed Birdy are versatility and freedom. It does everything that a high-quality city bike should do. It enables the rider to delicately maneuver in heavy traffic, and to push big gears on an open road. And then it folds into a small package in 20 seconds flat.
The folding feature opens up a lot of unexplored possibilities. The Birdy may fit into your life in completely new and unexpected way. For utility, the bike is unparalleled. You can take the train to the general vicinity of where you want to go, unfold the bike and run errands or go to work. Don't bother with a lock. In less time than it would take to secure it, you can fold it up and bring it inside.
I have personally been all over the city of the Birdy. It's accompanied me inside a barber shop, retstaurants, bars and even traffic court. It's been at parties and get-togethers. I've ridden it on bike paths and in downtown traffic. I've carried it in a shopping cart at Jewel while getting groceries. I've take it it on CTA trains, and thrown it in the back of my car with ease.
The versatility offered by the Birdy is nothing short of liberating. I step outside my house to determine which way the wind is blowing. If it's favorable, I hop on the Birdy for the entire 8 mile commute. If not, I ride two miles to the train and ride the CTA. The bike allows me to get on and off public transit at any time I choose."

Now, nearly eleven years later, folding bikes are available from a variety of manufacturers, and are becoming an increasingly common sight in the city. The Birdy, of course, is still available, with much the same design as the one we reviewed over a decade ago. It's still a good  bike. But it faces stiff competition from companies like Dahon, who innovate like crazy to keep up with growing demand for their product; and BikeFriday, who, having developed what may be the quintessential urban folder, the Tikit, is taking internet marketing to new levels. (But, despite their widely publicized adventures, including putting Tikits in shopping carts, I do believe we were there first...)

Why Everyone Needs a Folding Bike

What's so great about folding bikes and why do we sell them here at Rapid Transit Cycleshop?

All bikes excel at something. You know, cruisers are great for the beach, recumbents for long-distance touring. Here are our favorite applications of folding bikes:

In the city:

• Urban commuting, using combination of transit and biking
• Bike-assisted walking (This is like when you want to go for a walk, but you want to increase your range a little bit. I may have to post on that separately.)

Any time you travel, and need transportation when you get there:

• Car-based road trips
• Business trips
• Car or train weekend trips
• International travel
• Airline personnel
• Boating/private aircraft (OK, few of us have these, but if you do, get a folding bike)

Aside from providing instant and flexible transportation, folding bikes offer numerous advantages over conventional bikes in certain situations:

• easy to store at home or at the office
• relatively easy to take in and out of buildings, and thus...
• does not need to be locked outside
• easy to transport
• fits a wide variety of riders, and thus...
• can be shared by different household members (I suppose this could be a disadvantage)
• easy to get on and off
• maneuverable & zippy
• good climbing

Yes, like most other things, folding bikes have a few disadvantages:

• You can get a performance folder, but you'll have to pay a lot.
• If you fall outside of average height and weight limits, you will not be able to buy and off the shelf model. You can have one custom-made, but, again, it'll cost you.
• Carrying a folding bike, no matter how compact, is awkward and cumbersome. The bike never seems as small on your back as it did on the showroom floor.
• Many standard accessories, such as racks and fenders, will not fit, and have to be special-ordered from the manufacturer.

If ordinary bikes give you freedom to move around the city with ease and sidestep traffic woes, folding bikes crank that freedom up another notch. For the urban commuter, they offer the ultimate in versatility and flexibility, allowing you to combine biking with transit, taxi cabs, and giving you access to storage and security options unavailable to standard bikes. For the traveler with a folding bike, the world is your oyster.

Living in between

My access to the internet was intermittent during our family road trip over the past several days, but I did pick up some snippets from the blogosphere on my phone. This from a Nissan executive via Commute By Bike blog: car culture is fading.
I dunno...

It is true that our little retail operation has sustained itself and grown under the motto of urban cycling, when others said it couldn't be done. It is true that this year the shop has had the best season ever, by a wide margin. It is true that when I have occasion to travel into the Loop, I am amazed by the number of cyclists pouring out onto the streets at rush hour.
And yet...

When I look around at how people actually live -- many of my friends, relatives, people in my neighborhood and others like mine -- I don't see many signs of change. Children are shuttled to school in SUV's regardless of the weather, sometimes over a distance of less than a mile. The inconvenient and cramped parking lot at the wildly popular new Whole Foods in my neighborhood is always packed, while bike racks stand unused. When I walk to the bank, grocery, coffee shop or mailbox, all within eight blocks of my house, my neighbors pull up and offer me a ride. When they see me riding my bike with a basket full of groceries, they chuckle and remark: "on your bike again, heh?" When my husband used to take our son to school on a trailer bike, fellow parents clucked in admiration, but it was clear that most would not attempt  a stunt like that.

One or two other parents eventually tried taking their kids to school by bike. One (ONE!) of my neighbors rides his bike to Whole Foods. An older couple who live around the corner are seen walking all over the place with their backpacks and totes. So is a lady with long gray hair, who even ventures as far as the post office and the library, which are over two miles away.

In our small ways, we push the boundaries of acceptable behavior. In our society of predictable patterns and fixed expectations, biking or walking -- not for health, or fitness, or a cause, but just to get somewhere -- is a subversive act. And those of us who engage in it, even if we do so without any particular plan or agenda, are perceived as being subversive. As we weave our way through traffic, and negotiate our way through a larger community in which we live, we find our spaces in between. Between lanes of traffic, between the street and the sidewalk, between cracks in the pavement.

If we are tenacious enough, will we dislodge the car culture? Maybe. But it hasn't happened yet.

 

Should you buy a bike on the internet?

I am an owner of a brick and mortar bicycle store, so my opinion is perhaps not entirely objective.
I would recommend buying a bike on the internet only in the following cases:

• The bike you want is unusual, not available through any local dealers within reasonable distance, and no other bike shop in your area is willing to order it for you.
• The bike you want comes from a reputable dealer or manufacturer outside your immediate area, and that dealer is willing to stand behind the product, no ifs ands or buts.

Otherwise, get your bike from your local bike shop. Here is why you should avoid buying a bike on the web.

• The deal may seem sweeter than it is. Often, the shipping costs alone will offset any advertised savings. Your local dealer figures freight costs into the price of the bike. This is why local shops often appear to have higher prices. (Contrary to popular belief, unless you buy your bike from a private party, the outfit selling you the bike will still charge you applicable sales tax, even across state lines.)
• Assembly will cost you. Regardless of what the internet description may claim, any time a bike is shipped, it will require professional assembly upon its arrival. (How hard can it be? Click here.) Unless you are a skilled bicycle technician, you will have to pay for the service at your local bike store.
• You cannot try before you buy. I can't tell you how many times customers come in armed with information about a particular brand of bike, and convinced that they want to buy it, only to change their mind completely once they start test riding all the options.
• You have little recourse if the bike doesn't fit. You can usually send it back, but it's costly and inconvenient. Finding  suitable replacement might take a lot of trial and error. On the other hand, your local dealer can help you find an alternate size or model, and trade out some key parts to make sure the bike fits you an the way you ride.
• You have to pay your local dealer for any follow-up service. Most local shops offer a complete care package with any bike purchased. For instance, our follow up service at Rapid Transit Cycleshop includes free 30-day checkup, a tune-up at the end of one year, free tube and labor on flats for one year, free labor on anything related to the regular maintenance of the bike, and on installation of any accessories. If you didn't buy your bike through the shop, this follow-up care can easily add up to a couple hundred dollars.
• In case of problems or warranty issues, you may be on your own.

What if you just can't find a bike you really want locally? First of all, if it is a standard upright bike, and you simply like a particular brand and mode that your dealer doesn't carry, go ahead a try comparable bikes that they do sell. You may find they are just as nice, and meet your needs very well. Very often people call us asking if we carry Trek, but what they really want is a decent, affordable city bike.
If the bike is a highly specialized brand, or something unusual, like a recumbent, an adult trike, or a folding bike, don't assume your local shop can't get it for you. Go ahead and ask! If there are really no local dealers of that product, no one has protected territory, and the manufacturer should have no problem sending one to your local shop. If one shop isn't willing to do it, try another.

No internet!

Been on a road trip with the family (car, I'm afraid).
In a cave.
Actually, four caves.
No internet.
More posts coming soon.

Now you see it...

Rapid Transit Cycleshop has always had an open mechanics' area.

It was a philosophical decision Chris and I made when we opened the shop. Chris had worked in several bike shops where the service area was hidden from public eye, and he had come to believe that this did nothing to build appreciation for the mechanics' work or foster the customers' trust. When we opened our own bike store, it was always with the idea that the service area would in full view and accessible to our customers.

So when some of our staff advanced the idea of building a wall to separate the service area from the rest of the store, all heck broke loose.

The idea was borne of the fact that in the heat of the summer it's very difficult for exposed mechanics to get any work done. We have six repair stands. In theory, those in the back of the shop are designated for longer projects, such as tune-ups and bike builds. The ones in the front are for triage and quick repairs. Inevitably, though, the mechanic doing "shorts" gets caught up in something a little more complicated, and before you know it, the mechanic from the back gets flagged down by a customer, has to set his task aside, and come help out. This wreaks havoc in our carefully orchestrated schedule of assemblies and repairs, causes us to fall behind, which in turn causes some disgruntlement among customers.

Further, having this open area creates a friendly atmosphere, which is lovely on the one hand, but on the other it poses problems when customers interpret that too literally, and come and "hang out" with the mechanics. In winter, this is a pleasant diversion but during the warm months it only compounds the difficulties mentioned earlier.

The mechanics, committed to the idea of staying on task, demanded a wall. The management (ie. us) recoiled, and issued this statement:

I am not thinking of constructing a wall! Walls have gotten a bad name, like the Berlin wall, or the wall of separation between the Israelis and the Palestinians. I am thinking of a partition that will serve a number of purposes.

The mechanics saw right through this politically charged rhetoric, and snapped back:

Call it what you like, the most important feature of this "partition" is to effectively allow those in the back to get work done uninterrupted. One of the things that can have an interrupting effect is eye contact. As long as this structure is high enough , then our time and sweat will be worth it.

The management relented, somewhat, still restating its commitment to the original philosophy:

I always imagined Rapid Transit as an open shop.  Any style of partition is a big change in our space.  What the structure is called, and how it works, sends a message.
Before I build the structure we will try a faux cardboard wall first.  When I build it I will do it in a modular form so that the height can be adjusted, as the exact height and dimensions have not been fixed yet.

In the end, we compromised. Two "walltitions", as they came to be called, were built and installed against the east and west walls of the shop, separating three rear repair stands and bike wash area from the rest of the shop. The structures are higher where they meet the walls, and lower toward the center, and there is a gap wide enough for a couple in ballroom attire to waltz through. Thus the "walltition" manages to provide a visual and psychological barrier so the mechanics in the back to concentrate on their work, and at the same time maintains some of the open feeling we were seeking to preserve.

But, as you can see, we don't make these decisions lightly around here.