Chicago Bike Blog

Vegas detox

It really takes a while to recover from Vegas. It's been, what, three or four days, and my head is till buzzing from the pinging sound of those one-armed-bandit machines. Or was it Chris ringing a bell in an uncharacteristic macho moment?

Yes, really, he whacked that weight all the way to the top, as Deb and I jumped up and cheered in unison (that's why the picture is blurry). Only in Vegas. In real life, Chris wouldn't be caught dead participating in such displays of prowess.
Vegas has a shifty geography. It's enough to make everyone's head a little askew.

You really have to enter at your own risk. Why is it, for example, that when you are staying at a premium hotel on the strip, the cab ride there from the airport takes you through several freeway overpasses, and costs $35, and when you stay at a business class hotel a mere half mile away, you can get there in less than ten minutes for under ten bucks? Why is it that when someone says a place is two blocks away it takes you 45 minutes to get there?

Like the bike polo match that was supposedly just around the corner. By the time we got there, it was too late to take a decent picture.
I believe that the giant Vegas casinos sit on tectonic plates, and actually change position as you fruitlessly try to navigate its streets.
Interbike is no less confusing. Before I get to the important business of telling you about the great new finds, I'll leave you with a few impressions.
Take this frame, for instance.

Really , the perfect vehicle for your fishnet stockings, don't you agree?

Lusting after an Airstream?

Well, you could always do a pop-up while you let your savings account grow.

Does this message (ahem...) stop you in your tracks?

Well, maybe this one will get you going?

The excesses and the silliness of Vegas sometimes overshadowed the fact that we were really there to celebrate the vehicle that will save the world. Give me just a little more time to recover, and I'll tell you how.

I fought the trend and the trend won

It is perhaps always a little dispiriting when you find that an idea or concept you've quietly nurtured and fostered with devotion suddenly becomes the center of a trend. It's hard not to feel a little bit envious of its success. After all, weren't you one of the reasons that the idea became so popular? And, don't you feel that the new people coming into the conversation somehow don't have as much right to speak on the topic as you do? Since they haven't gone to the school of hard knocks, like you have?

I was on the verge of saying, with my friend Kim, "I am so over you, bike commuting!" I stood by you when you were the ugly stepchild of the bike industry. I insisted that you were practical, viable, and good for our health. I maintained that you offered a way to take the road less traveled, that did not include a large financial commitment to a chunk of steel and its insatiable appetite for fossil fuels. It was an important job, and you did it well.

But lately, my sometime friend, you have become too big for your cycling knickers. No doubt, this has a lot to do with how popular you've become. Everyone wants to hang out with you. But will they still remember you when the trend passes? And then, will you turn to fall back on your old friends?
Wait a minute.

When the trend passes? Who says it's going to pass?  Wasn't this what we, the quiet, relentless advocates of utilitarian cycling were hoping for? Now that cycling is enjoying the limelight, driving clothing design, appearing on bus-stands and billboards, and becoming part of our everyday vocabulary, there is a good chance that the "trend" will actually stick. That it will evolve seamlessly from a trend into an integral part of our culture.

Why, then, the pang of regret? If I'm honest with myself, I will admit that I fear being displaced by the new, exciting stuff, and maybe not be able to keep up. It is easier to say bah, humbug! to something new and unfamiliar, that to go out there and get to know it. It is an inevitable fact of life that new ideas flow over the old, and eventually displace them. But the important thing to keep in mind, I've realized, is that we are not talking about displacement of fundamental values. We're only talking about a radical makeover of their outward manifestations.

This realization came to me as I attended the industry bike fashion show at Interbike Expo last night. As the music pounded under my feet, cameras flashed all around, and models swooshed down the runway in an assortment of whimsical fashions and atop bicycles of every conceivable ilk, I realized that I must rejoice in the bike culture whose seeds have been sown and are now sprouting abundantly all around me. That I must throw aside my ideas of bike commuting being something that goes against the grain of society, and realize that society now has to go with the flow of the growing cycling culture. That I must make sure that my store, and I myself, reconcile the idea of bike commuting as serious business with all that is fun, offbeat, fresh, creative and inventive about it.
When I return to Chicago, I plan to get a helmet in a color I've never tried before. And bright, obnoxious panniers for my groceries. And pull on a flouncy dress for my cycling trips. And decorate my bike with daisies.
No, bike commuting, I'm not over you. I'm into you more than ever.

So far, we found cool helmets. Well, warm helmets.

Most companies that design products for cyclists are unfamiliar with Chicago winters. This is why Elise was really stoked about the Bern helmets.
"They are warm and fuzzy. And fluffy!"
Helmets?!
Indeed, they are:

The helmets are integrated with a full range of weather protection liners, including water-shedding visors, ear flaps, knit cold weather liners, and, Elise's favorite, furry lined winter inserts.

Plus, they are a festive departure from the usual "banana helmets", and come in a wide range of eye-catching hues and patterns. Here, we model the orange-brown color scheme.

It will be a refreshing change of pace to be able to offer a helmet to winter bike riders without having to engineer a solution to keep their heads warm.

See, he likes it.

Interbike: who are we, and where are we going?

So, I didn't think Las Vegas had any real wildlife, but today, I was proven wrong:

This guy was hanging out in the driveway of our hotel. We admired and photographed him/her (they're hermaphrodites, you know), moved him/her gingerly onto a scant patch of greenery, before proceeding to our real destination, the annual bicycle trade show extravanganza, the Interbike Expo.

The schizophrenia of this industry was immediately apparent as I entered the giant, product-filled hall. Let me begin with the idea that holding tradeshow for the health-conscious, environmentally-minded, green and sustainable industry that bicycling is, in a town like Las Vegas, is in itself preposterous. Every year, dealers and vendors alike plead for holding the convention in a bicycle-friendly city, and perhaps one with some beauty and nature surrounding it, such as Denver, Portland, perhaps Minneapolis, and every year the convention organizers force us to visit the city of sin.

Here are a few more examples of and industry in search of personality. These two sights were literally across the walkway from each other:

A wholesome idea. No?

I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

Of course this year, just like last, everyone is on the bike commuting bandwagon. Including Louis Garneau, not necessarily a company known for its consistent commitment to utilitarian cycling.

So they threw some "commuter friendly" fashions into their clothing line...

...added a commuter bag...

... and, voila, you have a commuter line!

Never mind that the real urban commuters, who actually ride their bikes on real streets, in real traffic, and in real weather, would have to be nuts to spend, what, 85 bucks on the little plaid skort just to define their ordinary daily activity as "commuting". And that those bag handles would make the bags really easy to swipe if someone happened to really like them while you were waiting at the stoplight.

Not to pick on this particular company. I'm sure they do some stuff really well. And they are certainly not the only ones who seek to define bike commuting as some sort of a trend or fashion. Look at this smiling, happy person. Do you actually know any bike commuters who look like this?!

Nah, they're much more gritty than that. Their clothes are not always so clean from being on the road so much. That's why they don't indulge in frivolus bike fashions, except serious weather gear. But that doesn't mean they want junk. They want thoughtfully designed stuff that's made for the way bike commuting actually works and feels. Like this:

A real beauty from Civia cycles. Three or nine-speed versions are available. Beautiful, spare frame, full racks, bamboo accessories add a touch of style. Hey, I'm not saying it has to be dowdy. In fact, style is a big part of bike commuting. But style that derives from real functionality is different than a mere trend.

Like these bags from Detours, made from juice cartons recycled by a women-owned coop in the Philipines. They work well, look good, and support a good cause.

(Stay tuned for more on bags, I'll do a separate post.)

The bike industry seems to be torn on what to make of the growing popularity of bike commuting. Everyone seems to want to capitalize on it, only they are not sure how to do it. Bike commuters have an image problem, which they themselves inadvertently helped to create. They are not perceived by the bike industry as real cyclists. Read: they are not perceived by the bike industry as having money to spend. What happens as a result is that products made for commuters are often cheap and flimsy, and offer a certain urban "look" rather than true utility.

Where much of the industry is missing the boat is the fact that urban commuters are willing to spend money where it counts. Like the example I mentioned earlier: foul weather clothing. Other examples are lights and bags. And, of course, the bikes themselves. Bikes that hold up through the rigors of daily use.

A few bike and accessory companies, usually ones where the owners and/or employees actually use their own bicycles for transport and utility, understand this, and they tend to make ther truly useful products for the bicycle commuter that are engineered with specific functions in mind. Those products are not cheap, but they tend to also not be disposable.

I am here in Vegas to find these products. The products from companies that understand that bike commuting is not a trend.

Sheila Moon Clothing

You'll see some women's clothing at Rapid Transit this fall. From Sheila Moon. We liked Sheila's clothing for a bunch of reasons:

• We were offered chairs and beer
• Good understanding of female physique (no stick models; real women of various ages modeled the garments)
• Emphasis on comfort
• Sense of humor in the designs (and in general)
• Great waistband design on shorts, knickers & tights
• Arm, leg and knee warmers in assorted colors to customize your wardrobe
• Fuzzy wool-blend fleece
• Fun hats
• Some stuff for men (look for zip-necks, hoodies & britches)
• Gary Fisher, the reigning monarch of Interbike fashions, was present at the booth.

It's not about the stuff, Part IV

I have a confession to make. "It's not about the stuff" is not my own quote. I stole it from Tim Parr, the founder of Swobo, whom I heard interviewed on cycling.tv at Interbike. In general, I found cycling.tv to be a bit of an annoyance at the show, as its monitors, distributed throughout the convention hall, seemed to be speaking to no one. Yet, somehow, I found one speaking directly to me.
"It's not about the stuff" is a philosophy to which I have always adhered. As bicycle shop owners, we are necessarily in the business of STUFF (as is Tim: he does own a bicycle STUFF company, which has been getting some publicity for their pared down line of urban bikes). We know on which side our bread is buttered, and that without the stuff, well, you know, we wouldn't be here.
Yet, it is not the stuff that gets people on bikes. We've had great bike stuff for years, and only recently have we experienced an appreciable surge in people actually using bikes to get from one place to another in this country.
People will not ride bikes more, because there are more bikes to ride (except in the developing world). People will not commute more, because manufacturers are making more "commuter bikes" (what is a commuter bike, anyway?). People will ride more if we can create a bike culture.
How is bike culture created? Well, products, fashions and trends are definitely a part of it. But just as bicycle messengers existed long before bike messenger bags, let alone messenger fashions, came into vogue, so have bike commuters. Companies like Tim's (and there are scores of others) have been preaching bike commuting for years. Advocacy groups and volunteers have logged in thousands of hours of often under-appreciated work to create facilities, pass laws, and change public outlook on bicycling. Activists and Critical Massers have created happenings and increased the visibility and profile of urban cyclists, and raised their standing in the world of fashion. And forward thinking bike shops, like our own Rapid Transit here in Wicker park, have done the nuts-and-bolts work of turning people into cyclists every day of the year, by offering encouragement, advice, and - yes - a little bit of stuff to enhance your commute.
But it is never about the stuff. To my way of looking, you, the bike commuter are just as much, if not more, a legitimate cyclist as an "elite racer", even if you get around on an old three-speed. It is people: people riding bikes everyday, in everyday clothes, doing everyday things as part of their everyday lives that create bike culture. Not the stuff.

It's not about the stuff, Part III

If some people think it's hard to give up the car for a two-mile bike trip, they should take a look at the Wounded Warrior Project and their Soldier Ride.
A group of veterans recovering from serious wounds sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan completed a 300-mile Desert Challenge Soldier Ride last Thursday, as they rode their fleet of hand cycles, recumbent trikes and other specially adapted human-powered vehicles through the Interbike exhibit hall.
Wounded Warriors Project, a non-profit advocacy group, initially provide the recovering veterans with needed basics, including clothing, toiletries and calling cards. Later, they offer several programs to help with the recovery and encourage participation in various sports activities, with cycling among them. Many Wounded Warrior members later go on to help and mentor more recently wounded veterans.
The group works to create awareness of wounded soldiers' issues, and build support for its projects to raise financial and moral aid to veterans. Their appearance at Interbike, and the other five rides the group will complete this year, was part of that mission: to raise funds and equipment donations needed to continue enhancing the lives of wounded veterans.

It's not about the stuff, Part II

Trying to do some good a little closer to home is Clif Bar, an energy food company with their Two-Mile Challenge program.
The company converted a 1959 GMC bus into something of a shrine celebrating bicycle commuting. The biodiesel-powered vehicle will travel to a number of college campuses, festivals and farmer's markets (mostly, alas, west of the Rockies), preaching the gospel of using the bicycle for transportation.

The premise is quite simple. According to widely quoted statistics, about 40% of all urban trips in the US are two miles or less. 90% of these trips are by car. 60% of pollutions from automobiles happens within the first few minutes of operation. Thus, Clif Bar's mission is to convert those unnecessary short car trips to bicycle trips.
Clif Bar has set up a website, where people will be able to map out a 2-mile radius of their address, and identify routes to services within that area, including grocery stores, cafes, bike shops, etc. In addition, the bus features displays about the use of bicycles around the world, a variety of ways to include the bicycle in your daily life, ways to customize your bike for commuting, and challenge cards that allow interested participants to commit to the cycling challenge at the level that's reasonable and comfortable.
To enhance the program, Clif Bar plans to donate $25,000 worth of bike gear to campuses to help jumpstart new bike programs, or bolster existing ones.
I love the idea of this program, and the only regret I have is that it seems to be largely confined to western states, including Arizona, California and Oregon, that already have fairly extensive bike commuting networks and participation. However, the Two-Mile Challenge website is open to anyone in the US, so we encourage you to map out your route today.

It's not about the stuff, Part I

Yes, the Interbike Expo is mostly about stuff: lots of it. Rows and rows of socks, bags, lights, shoes, helmets, jerseys, wheels, tires, derailleurs, and, of course, bikes.
Amid the stuff, there are some people trying to do some good around the world.
An industry group working under the slogan "One Goal, Many Solutions" is uniting smaller groups who bring aid to impoverished countries through the use of bicycles.
World Bicycle Relief involves partners from leading bicycle industry players, and other relief groups. This organization provides bicycles to areas of the world affected by natural disasters and extreme poverty. Bicycles have direct impact on communities' access to healthcare, education and jobs, empower families and communities by providing basic, sustainable and autonomous transportation. This particular group supplied bikes to people affected by the tsunami that hit southeast Asia in 2004. They have also published the results of a economic impact study they conducted on the post-tsunami Sri Lankan project. According to Bicycle retailer & Industry News, an industry publication, this is the first economic impact study that evaluates how the use of bicycle helps stimulate the local economy.
Project Rwanda is the brainchild of Tom Ritchey, of Ritchey Bicycles. In addition to the group's on-going projects, including the Wooden Bike Classic, and Team Rwanda, Ritchey's specially designed Coffee Bike was developed to help people in Rwanda enter and affectively compete in the growing coffee market in that country, by enabling them to transport beans faster over greater distances.

Other projects participating in the "One Goal, Many Solutions" conference were:
Australian Goodwill Bicycles Abroad collects unwanted bicycles in Australia, and distributes them to developing countries.
Bicycle Sponsorship Project & Workshop helps find donors to finance bikes for people in need in Uganda and elsewhere in Africa.
Bicycles For Humanity raises funds and collects bicycles around the world to send to countries in need.
Bicycling Empowerment Network works to provide low-cost bicycles, and develop bike path networks in order to improve access to education, employment and healthcare in Africa.
Bikes For The World collects unwanted bikes in the US, and helps distribute them to people in need in developing countries and in the Washington DC area. It also helps develop self-sustaining bike repair operations in those areas.
Bikes Not Bombs uses recycled bikes to promote concrete alternatives to war and environmental destruction both in the countries of the global south, and in low income areas of Boston.
BikeTown Africa a collaboration between Bicycling Magazine, Kona Bikes and Bristol-Myers Squibb to use bicycles to help deliver healthcare and medication to people in Africa affected by HIV.
ecoTruk and Funk Cycles provides heavy-duty load carrying bicycles to people in need, in order to enhance access to local economies, ad provide sustainable transport.
Institute For Transportation and Development Policy was founded to provide sustainable and socially equitable transportation worldwide.
Jole Rider donates bikes to secondary schools in Africa, and distributes them to teachers and students with the longest walking distances to and from school.
Pedals For Progress has distributed over 100,000 discarded bikes from overburdened landfills in affluent countries to people in need around the world, and is actively promoting the development of bicycle repair businesses in developing countries.
Re-Cycle East recycles unwanted bikes in Britain to send to people in need of transport in African countries.
Sister Shops partners bike shops in the US with start-up shops in developing countries to provide start-up resources, training and mentoring.
Wheels4Life is a charity founded by stunt biking legend Hans Rey to help deliver bikes to people in developing countries in need of transport, including healthcare workers.
Working Bikes Cooperative is a Chicago organization that diverts bicycles from the waste stream and repairs them for resale and charity. They have donated thousands of bicycles to developing countries throughout the world, and donated over 500 bikes and wheelchairs to city programs, refugees and day camps in the Chicago area.
WorldBike brings together bicycle designers, industry leaders and development professionals to help provide transportation solutions and economic opportunities for the world's poor by delivering load-carrying bicycles to areas in need.

Polo!

For all you bike polo afficionados in Chicago, here is something for you in merino wool from Earth Wind & Rider, modeled by Chris: