Chicago Bike Blog

Stop means Stop, right?

"Mom, that's a stop sign. Does that mean we have to stop?"
I was biking with my 7-year old daughter back home from a Girls Scout bike outing. This was the first time she was riding on the street with me on her own bike (we usually ride a family tandem or trailer bike).

Prior to embarking on a bicycle trip with eight Brownie Girl Scouts, we did a little bit of preparation on safety, and following the rules of the road.
In the church basement, where we usually meet, I held up a red paper stop sign.
"What does this say?"
"STOP!"
"What do you do when you see this sign?"
"STOP!!!"
"If you are on a bicycle, do you still have to stop?"
"Yes!" most girls yelled, but one wasn't sure: "No?"
As a Girl Scout leader, I assured her that yes, the law required her to stop at a stop sign, even while riding a bike.
But here I was now, approaching a quiet street corner with my daughter, and I realized with sharp clarity, that, as a cyclist, I never stop at stop signs.
Sure, I stop when there are other vehicles approaching the intersection at the same time. Especially large, motorized vehicles, with drivers who don't appear to be paying attention. You better believe I stop, planting one foot firmly on the ground, and allowing them to wrest the right of way from me. I'm not proud.
But it's the presence of the automobiles, not the stop sign, that makes me halt.
Frankly, as a cyclist, I treat the stop sign more like a flashing yellow light: proceed with caution. It would be completely ridiculous for me to come to a full stop riding on side streets, where stop signs are planted at every block. What I do instead, and I do it without thinking, is to shift down a step or two, coast briefly, and jut my head slightly forward to get a better view of the intersection, and, if all is clear, or if the approaching driver waves me on, pedal on through.
I did stop at the intersection with my daughter, even though no car was coming. And, as we started pedaling again, I explained to her that the rules of the road were made with automobiles in mind, and are not always practical for cyclists. And that as a cyclist, sometimes you have to use judgment and common sense.
"Does that mean you sometimes break the rules?"
"I guess that's what it means."

Off-road attitude

When we went on vacation earlier this month, Chris loaded our son's new mountain bike on the roof of the van.
"What's she gonna ride?" I asked, thinking of our daughter, who, as we just discovered, has outgrown her 16" girlie bike.
"I dunno. We don't have a bike for her."
"Can she try Peter's old bike?"
So, fifteen minutes before we went on the road, with the car already loaded to a bursting point, we had Nadia try  her brother's mountain bike.
"That'll do" we said, after giving her a crash course in hand brake and grip-shifter operation.
Later, at the lakeside cabin Chris unsuccessfully lobbied our son and his friend to join him on an off-road expedition to the lighthouse. But Nadia was more than eager to accompany dad on her "new" bike.

Here is all the special gear this 7-year-old needed for her first four-mile off-road romp:

• 6-speed kid's mountain bike (hers was a 20" wheel Jamis bike, a few years old)
• helmet
• one-piece bathing suit from Target (two-piece would be practical for trail-side calls of nature)
• nylon board shorts (unlined, unpadded) from Old Navy
• "mock-crocs"

The one thing we really should have outfitted her with was her own water pack. She drank more than half of dad's water. That's how we knew the two-piece swimsuit would have been a better choice.

Not-so-minimalist

As someone who has never gone on a self-supported bike tour, I harbor perhaps a somewhat distorted image of such an endeavor. I imagine a lone figure against the dusky horizon, with panniers holding only the barest of necessities: tent, sleeping bag, change of clothes, some cooking utensils. Spare, self-sufficient, autonomous, economical.
Add a spouse and two school-age kids, and the picture changes radically.

Two, count'em, two BikeFriday Family Tandems being readied in our garage.

I have done car camping with my family. We have all the stuff. Regardless of the duration of the particular camping trip, you just throw all the stuff into the car, and go. It doesn't matter that we're only going for two nights. The car always looks like we're going on a cross-country road trip. But we don't care, because the car doesn't care.
We have read about and admired families that travel together by bike. Ironically, even though (or is it because?) we own a bike shop, we have never tried this ourselves.
So now that our youngest child is seven, we had this idea that we would go on a camping vacation by bike. A short little trip, just to get our feet wet: bike the I&M Canal to Starved Rock, camp a couple of nights and come back. You wouldn't think we need much for a trip like this; just the essentials.
Unfortunately, most of our car-camping equipment is unsuitable for towing in a bike trailer, and our planned 4-day trip has resulted in a mountain of equipment that had to be bought, begged, found and borrowed.
I have a feeling that with all the stuff we need, our bike tours will be no different that our trips by car: even if we're only going overnight, we'll look like we're ready to go around the world.
Maybe one day, we will.

Why not to bike

Ever think it's a hassle to get on your bike? It's raining. You've got too much to carry. You can't wear what you really want to wear. You're too tired. You'd rather just roll out of bed and into your car. I'm sure those of you out there with small children know that the temptation to use the car increases exponentially when you have to tow them around.

I've given in to that temptation. In the early months of motherhood, I had a very good excuse to use the car: you simply cannot carry a small infant on a bike. In circumstances like this, one's ideals often come head to head with practical and safety concerns. Many committed cyclists (though certainly not all) give up when they become parents, and use the car to transport their children. It's easy to fall into that category, and get accustomed to using the car.

Some of our customers go to great lengths to cycle with their kids.

My husband, unshaken in his commitment to human-powered transport, often wonders in frustration why most people chose to drive most of the time. But it really makes perfect sense. A car is comfortable, it protects you from the elements and you don't need any special gear or clothes to use it. Since it carries things for you, you can get more done in just one trip. Not only do you not have to expend any of your ow precious energy to power a car, you can even fortify yourself with food or coffee while driving. And, speaking of food, you don't even need to leave the comfort of your car to go to the drive-thru ATM to get cash for your drive-thru burger. Furthermore, the car creates an illusion of safety, seemingly isolating you from other drivers, their bad moods and their problems.

When making a decision about convenient transportation, few people stop to worry about the fairly obvious costs associated with driving. At the moment of getting into a car, they seem relatively remote. And virtually no one worries about the more deeply hidden, long range costs of owning and driving an automobile. The health costs you incur every minute you sit on your butt, inhaling exhaust, gnashing your teeth in helpless frustration against another gapers' block. The costs to drivers in general as they become irritable, impatient and desensitized to the needs of others around them. The costs to our neighborhoods, as they become less friendly, convenient and safe for pedestrians and children. The serious and statistically documented public safety costs. The costs to our environment... You get the point. You've heard it all before.

We, as a society, have a driving habit. Our cities and communities are designed, and continue to be designed, to support that habit. City planners accommodate our driving lifestyle. When we say something is convenient, we often mean it's convenient for the automobile. Our driving habit is very difficult to break, because our society condones it, values it and expects it. When you decide to ride your bike on the street, you have to weigh your beliefs against that practical reality. Because our streets are so completely given over to cars, and because drivers' tolerance for other vehicles on the road is very limited, safety is a real issue for all cyclists. It is even more vital to cyclists with small children. As a parent, you may be willing to take certain risks yourself, but you would never risk the safety of your child.

For all those reasons parents, including yours truly, succumb to the driving habit, and it can take much determination to change that. Parents have to be realistic and prudent about their transportation choices. For example, while I'm quite willing to ride seven miles down Elston Ave. to get myself to work, I'm unwilling to haul my children downtown on the back of the bike.

But just as biking doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing activity, neither does driving. Just because you have kids, doesn't mean you can never bike anywhere. Choose your battles.

• Groceries. In Chicago, you're rarely more than a mile away from a supermarket or local grocery. Tow a kid trailer on smaller streets, and stuff a couple of bags of food next to your precious cargo.
• Socializing. When you set play dates, allow a little extra time and take quiet streets to the park or friend's house where you are meeting. Anything under five miles is totally doable. Really.
• Activities. Chances are that if your kids take any classes, they are being held in your neighborhood. Bike there. We've biked around our neighborhoods dressed in Tae Kwon Do suits and ballet tutus, carrying a guitar on our back.
• School. If your kid goes to a local school, ride your bike there. When our son was in school, we started a trend of parents towing their kids there on trail-a-bikes.
• Library.
• Ice cream.
• Going out to eat.
• Recreation. Enjoy those off-street paths. That's what they are there for. If the Lakefront path is too crowded for your taste, try the new section of bike path along the North Branch of the Chicago River. There are playgrounds to stop at along the way, and if you go north of Peterson, you can take a little break at Borders. Or try the Sculpture Channel Trail in Skokie. Or the Lakefront, south of Downtown.

Biking can be really fun for kids. It turns ordinary errands into interesting adventures, and may eventually teach  children that there are more than one way of getting places.

How to get more kids to ride bikes?

First of all, let me assure you that I don't know the answer to this question.

It came up in a panel discussion of bicycle dealers at Frostbike, a trade show and conference held in Minneapolis by one of our favorite suppliers, Quality Bicycle Products.

The topic of the panel was Building Long Term Value in Your Business. After a lengthy conversation about profits, ROI, gross margins and inventory turns, one shop owner pointed out that our long-term success as bicycle dealers depends on people who are children today riding bikes in the future. He bemoaned the fact that he saw fewer and fewer kids riding bikes in his community.

Some dealers saw a possible solution in the Safe Routes To School Program. The man who raised the question replied that his shop was in a rural community, with far-flung homes, some as far as 25 miles from the local school. Not to be a nay-sayer, but I would add that any program is highly dependent on follow-through of its participants. It's one thing to generate widespread interest and participation in a one-day event, and quite another to get a regular commitment. Unless people in the community sincerely believe that bicycles are a genuine transportation option for their children, they are not likely to buy into the program for the long-term.

So, how do we get more young people to ride bikes?

• The hardest step is infrastructure. More people would feel more comfortable about riding bikes, and letting their children ride bikes, if more safe places to ride, especially interlinked OFF-STREET PATHS were available.
• Organized rides and programs. Don't get me wrong: I fully support creating opportunities for people to ride, and generating community interest around the idea of cycling. The more kids see others around them using bikes to get around, the more it becomes a socially acceptable activity. I just don't think such programs can be a stand-alone solution.
• Family culture of biking and walking. When children experience alternative transportation first hand, from an early age, I believe they will always see it as a viable option. Cycling parents, who shuttle their kids around by bike in various attachments provide their kids with ongoing education not only about the rules of the road, but also about finesse, adaptability, autonomy and alternatives.
• Trusting young people to make their own decisions. Think of your own family. Were they cyclists? Maybe. But many, like mine and my husband's, were not. How do we become cyclists? As young adults, we look around and begin to assess our options. We are capable of making decisions that are different from those prevalent in the families and communities in which we grew up. That's how change happens.

So, while I don't have a definitive answer, I do have hope.

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.

Best Emergency Bike Attire: IT'S FREE!

This one speaks for itself:

Top Reasons to Get Your Kid a Bike

Chicago's ULTIMATE Cyclist Gift Guide would not be complete without a discussion of children's bikes. Bikes are the quintessential holiday gift. Here's why:

1. For most kids, it is simply THE BEST gift you can give. A bicycle, especially the first bicycle, is different from any other gift. It represents a coming of age, a new independence, a right of passage. Owning a bicycle creates new transportation options, and brings with it a sense of autonomy.

PONY Tricycles ($65).

 2. This gift will keep on giving. It will not be discarded or forgotten. Your child will use it enjoy it for a long time to come.

JAMIS Lady Bug & Hot Rod 12" bicycles ($130).

3. It is a fancy gift that's worth it's price. Think of a price of a popular doll with a couple outfits, a fancy box of Legos , or a video game system, and you will see that the price of a quality child's bicycle is actually quite reasonable.

ELECTRA Townie 20" ($250). Available in boys' and girls' styles. This amazing "flat foot" bike allows the rider to plant feet firmly on the ground while seated. Great for any kid; unbeatable for kids who have a hard time giving up training wheels.

4. It makes very effective presentation. Imagine this giant package under the tree!... Or rolling it with great fanfare from the garage... wow!

JAMIS Laser 20" bike ($180; also available in 16" size for $155 ).

5. It doesn't need batteries. A couple of strong legs, and a little air and oil once in a while. That's all.

JAMIS Miss Daisy ($155), Starlite ($180), and Capri ($275). This group covers girls from about 4-12 years of age.

6. Won't scatter small parts all over your house.

MARIN Hidden Canyon ($280) and Bayview Trail ($335) mountain bikes are available in boys' and girls' styles.

7. It's really a gift for your whole family. Now you can enjoy cycling outings together. Or you can walk or jog, while your child cycles along.

8. It is the most fun your kid will have without being plugged in.

9. But it's winter! SO? Your child will actually WANT to go outside in the cold. Trust me, I've been there.

10. The expression on your child's face. As they say: priceless.

Oh, and this could be #11: we will store the bike for you until December 24, so you can keep it a surprise.

And now for the coupon:

Click, print and redeem at Rapid Transit Cycleshop.

Burley "Piccolo" is back

We are thrilled to report that Burley Design Coop has resurrected the Piccolo trailer cycle in a beautiful red color:

The Piccolo, like similar products available from other manufacturers, make it possible to instantly convert any adult bike to a child-friendly tandem. The child who has outgrown a conventional trailer, but is not yet able to keep up with an adult on an independent bike, can pedal along or coast on a trailer cycle. What makes the Piccolo different from the competitors is the attachment system. While other trailer cycles attach to the seatpost of an adult bike, Burley provides a proprietary rear rack that attaches to the parent's bike, and the trailer securely attaches to the rack. This form of attachment makes for better tracking and less side to side swivel. The rack also makes it possible to attach the trailer to a non-traditional bike, such as a recumbent.
The multi-speed Piccolo will retail for around $299, and the single-speed version for about $239.

Staff Bikes: Stodder Family

As the only long-term members of Rapid Transit Cycleshop staff who have small children, owners Chris and Justyna have experimented with a variety of bikes and attachments that allow you to cycle family-style.
Our kids are now six and ten years old, and can actually assist in pedaling (for cycling with smaller children, clicke here).
One of the most useful pieces of child-friendly cycling equipment is a trailer bike, pictured in the photo below.

The one we own is a Burley Piccolo, which is unfortunately no longer in production (UPDATE, they are back in business!) . However, Adams Trail-a-Bike offers a range of trailer bikes at prices starting at about $170. (Please call Rapid Transit for availability at 773-227-2288).
What a trailer bike allows you to do, is to convert any upright adult bike into a tandem within minutes, so you and your child, even as young as four or five, can cycle together. The child does not have to pedal, but if she does, you will definitely notice her contribution.
Because we cycle with our children frequently, we also have a Bike Friday Family Tandem, that, in our family, essentially serves as a minivan.

Family Tandems are avilable from Rapid Transit by special order. They are highly adjustable, so either parent and either child can ride together. When one of us travels with only one child, we can adjust the seats and handlebars appropriately with just a twist of the allen wrench. When we all ride together, we look like the two photos above.
But here's the best part, if one of us parents has to take both kids along, this is what we do: