Chicago Bike Blog

Biking for wimps

My morning began with a slap in the face.
In my previous post, I had imprudently revealed myself as eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring, and being tired of the trudge of winter. A reader took advantage of this weak moment, and accused me of having a "delicate constitution".
Humph.
I jumped up from the computer and took a few indignant paces across the living room. I must defend myself. I must protest and set the record straight. After all, not only do I have years of all weather commuting under my belt, I also have a proven track record of turning other people into...
But then the coffee kicked in and my brain started working again.
Where is it written that cycling is something that can only be practiced by people with strong constitutions?
Like it or not, the majority of people in this country still view cycling as a fair-weather activity whose purpose is primarily recreation, rather than transportation. There are many reasons for this, chief among them perhaps the long tradition of cheap, accessible and abundant fossil fuels, resulting in extravagant urban sprawl. Because of deeply ingrained habits and social conditioning, changing people's views to accept the bicycle as a viable form of transportation has been a bit of an uphill battle.
This battle has been fought on several different fronts, through advocacy, street happenings such as Critical Mass, even fashion. It has also been fought day in and day out in forward thinking urban bike shops, such as my own Rapid Transit in Chicago.
For the past fifteen years, we have been engaged in the battle for the hearts and minds of cyclists young and old, would-be and practicing, new and experienced, timid and die-hard, fair-weather and all-weather. And we have come to the conclusion that you can't win that battle with shock and awe. Chances are you will not entice a new cyclist by painting visions of snot icicles, foggy goggles, blue fingertips and admonitions about the importance of layers. You will not smooth the way for him by describing the joys of your 40-mile daily commute. I do not mean to deny that there is a contingent of folks who do find this appealing and fun. But if the point is to create more cyclists, than this is not a winning strategy.
The truth is that few people are warriors, and even fewer are warriors every day.
Most of us (including myself, my earlier indignation notwithstanding) are wimps. Different things is our lives make us wimps: habits, children, distance, weather, aches and pains, fear, sometimes age, sometimes youth, winter colds, whims, moods, barometric pressure, stress. And frankly, while the heroic feats of others may sometimes inspire us, they probably won't motivate us on a daily basis. If the bar is set too high, we won't even make an attempt to reach it.
So I make allowances. Bike a little. Bike when the weather is nice. Bike when you feel like it. I would rather have a million wimps rejoicing in biking one mile, than feeling guilty about not biking at all.

Related posts:
Biking goals
Some of us are wimps. Others - ninja warriors.
Bike if you want to
How to get more people on bikes
50 ways to leave your car
Riding motivation

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Art credit:

Rapid Transit Winter Biking Guide

"Will people still ride their bikes this winter?" I wondered.

I was driving back from Florida, and was filling up my rental car somewhere around Mt. Vernon, Illinois, where the marquee advertised gas at $1.99 per gallon. While it is unlikely that we will see gas prices like these in Chicago, it is undeniable, that, at least for the moment, they are going down. Before I returned my rental, I filled it up at $2.67, and later that afternoon, the same gas station posted a price of $2.58.
In case you haven't figured it out, high gas prices are great for the urban bicycle shop, like Rapid Transit. When they start falling, especially at the same time as mercury does, we worry.
A little.
Bicycle retailing is an emotional business. Two months ago, a line at our counter was several layers thick. Today, hours may go by before anyone enters the store. Is it the weather, or the price of gas?
More rationally speaking, we know from experience, that many people will continue to use their bikes without regard for the price of gas, and despite the weather.
Unlike fluctuating gas prices, winter weather cannot be disregarded by the winter cyclist in these latitudes. For you, brave souls, I have compiled what I hope is some useful winter cycling advice in one convenient spot: right here.

• Why ride in winter in the first place? 10 great reasons, courtesy of RocBike.
• Think it's cold here? Here's a kick you in the butt for you.
• Some winter riding essentials.
• What would your mother say? Advice on keeping warm. And some more.
• A story about winter riding hazards, and some other things (like tires).
• Tips on how to keep your bike in good shape this winter.
• If you're gonna ride your bike in Chicago this winter, you'll need service. This is it.

(Photo from Dingbat)

How about a scenic bike ride?

The artifacts beckon when you're driving on McCormick Boulevard, alongside the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park. Driving is definitely no way to see this park.

Galloping horses, houses without walls, storm-blown ships, jumbled letters, tanks, blocks of concrete, coils of chain, frozen faces and human arms reaching for the sky.
What does it all mean, we wondered, as we pedaled along, tandem, trail-a-bike and all, making frequent stops, and turning to the little plaques posted along the way for guidance. Alas, the evasive titles made the meaning of the pieces only more mysterious and elusive. But not any less tempting to touch, photograph and interact with. Unlike pieces sheltered in a museum, these outdoor sculptures are out there, exposed to the elements, curiosity, and sometimes abuse. You can run your fingers around them, feel the rusty metal, the cold stone, even get a splinter from the weathered wood. You can climb inside some, and peer out, like looking through the eyes of the sculpture itself.

It's hard to know what exactly you learn from an outing like this, except that you feel more complete and alive. Art, creativity, abstraction, warm fall weather, pedaling through a crisp fall afternoon, hunger, laughter and silliness all together create an experience that cannot be measured, duplicated or explained. Like the meaning of the sculptures, the exact value of this experience remains elusive...

A few logistical notes. Although the official Sculpture Park starts at Touhy and goes north, the trail itself, and the sculptures, unofficially begin at Devon, just west of the North Shore Channel (click here for map). The part of the trail south of Touhy is mediocre. It's really just a sidewalk, and a wide gap between the sidewalk slabs running the length of the path poses a slight hazard (not so much in broad daylight, but could be problematic at dusk). When you reach Skokie, the quality and topography of the trail improves markedly. Street crossings create stress points, although button-activated pedestrian lights have been installed at all intersection, and, in general, we found drivers of turning vehicles to be attentive and courteous to cyclists.

Envision change

Today is Blog Action Day.

Bloggers everywhere are writing about issues related to the environment. Since this entire blog is dedicated to the bicycle, arguably the most environmentally friendly vehicle ever invented, I thought I would simply take this opportunity to congratulate Al Gore on his Nobel Peace Prize.

Way to go Al!

Read whatever subliminal messages you want into this picture. All I'm trying to do is to get Mr. Gore to ride more.

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 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.

Remember Cyclists Killed in Traffic

Join Chicagoland families  for a memorial ride in Lincoln Park, this October 14 at 9:30, to remember cyclists and pedestrians killed in traffic.

Fall is a great time to start commuting by bike

If we are lucky, over the next few weeks we will experience the best cycling weather in Chicago. Did you think August was too hot to be enjoyable? Get your bike out now.
Whatever bicycle you have, it will usually get you from point A to point B faster and easier than other vehicles, often including the car. You don't need any special equipment -- with a decent pair of shoes, some easy-fitting pants, sweatshirt and a backpack, you can ride over to the coffee shop, bookstore, or post office, and pick up a few groceries on the way back.
If you are, or are thinking of becoming, a bicycle commuter, take a long, hard look at your bike. Is the type of bike suitable for the type of commuting you envision? First, consider the distance you'll be traveling. If it's only a couple of miles, just about any bike will do. Really. For longer commutes, you may want a lighter, faster bike (though we have seen people take one-speed cruiser to and from 95th street).
Whatever type of bike you choose, make sure it's in good repair. Check the condition of the tires and the brake pads, and see if anything on the bike feels loose. If you're not sure what to look for, bring it in to Rapid Transit, and we'll go over it with you, and recommend needed repairs.
The safety of your commute will depend largely on you. When you cycle on city streets, your bicycle is a vehicle governed by the same laws as a car. That means moving in the direction of traffic, and obeying traffic signals. Common sense and courtesy also go a long way in making your bike commute a safe and pleasant one. We strongly encourage you to wear a well-fitting helmet, forgo the use of headphones, and to use lights and reflectors as needed to stay visible.
As I said above, you don't need to rush out and spend a bundle on expensive bicycle gear, but a few well-chosen items will make your commute more efficient and comfortable.

• If you need to leave your bike unattended, invest in a good lock, and learn to use it properly.
• Good quality street tires will reduce rolling resistance, provide better handling in inclement weather, and protect against punctures.
• A rear carrying rack and bags (or a cheaper alternative) will take the load of your back and ensure a more stable ride.
• Fenders will protect your face, clothing and bike from excessive splatter.
• Your butt will thank you for a comfortable seat.

Flight of the Albatross

Farewell to  Paul B. MacCready, the inventor of the first human powered flying bicycle, who passed away last week.

In 1979, his Gossamer Albatross completed the nearly three-hour flight across the English Channel.

Perhaps inspired by this invention, the creators of the Duboce Bikeway Mural in San Francisco envision a cyclist soaring freely above congestion, polution and noise.

Ride free!...

 

Biking Destination: Boblo Island

No doubt you're familiar with Mackinac Island. But you may not be aware that practically next door to it is a much larger and virtually unknown Bois Blanc Island (known to the locals as Boblo).

It is worth pointing out that there are actually TWO Boblo islands, and both of them are officially called Bois Blanc. The other one is near Detroit, but actually part of Canada. (Click on the small map to enlarge.)

While the Canadian Boblo is the site of a former amusement park, and offers luxurious residential and tourist amenities, the Michigan Boblo is a different story. This is where you go to disappear...

What is there to do on Boblo? Nothing. No shopping (the only local store carries the barest of necessities), no golf, no nightlife. Nothing to do but dip your toes in the clearest water you've ever seen and watch the waves and the birds go by...

Scenes from island life

The island does have an unpaved road that travels its 35 mile perimeter. Well, almost. You can't get through by car. People do it with ATV's. But you can also do it with a mountain bike. The terrain is not very hilly, but it is bumpy and rocky (and occasionally even watery). You can ride through miles and miles of gorgeous birch woods, and never see a soul. There are several inland lakes and marshes with disused fire roads leading to them, and an old lighthouse on the northernmost point.

Boblo offers numerous and inexpensive cottage rentals, as well as rustic campsites, however purchasing supplies on the island is problematic. The general store carries only the most basic necessities. You will not be able to purchase food or water should you get stranded anywhere. There is also no known reliable map of Boblo's numerous and unmarked inland lanes. On the odd chance that you follow this tip and actually go there, go prepared.

Getting to Boblo:
Car and passenger ferry: Plaunt Transportation
Air: Hoffman Flying Service 231-627-3864

Other Boblo services: click here.

You may enjoy reading some other thoughts on disappearing.