Home > Road Rash > Archives > 2009 > June
June 2009
Bicycle yoga. Spooky.
Just when you think it’s all been done before, someone like Khiv Raj Gurjar comes along. Gurjar is a proponent of extreme yoga.
Using only a BMX bike for support, 61-year-old Khiv takes the ancient art of meditation to new levels as he performs complex forms of yoga merely inches from a sheer drop.
Travelling to the top of the rocky outcrop near to his home of Jodhpur in the Indian state of Rajasthan, Khiv begins his exercises at dawn, so as to avoid the raging desert heat.
A student of yoga since the age of 13 and a keen sportsman, Khiv has combined his other great love, cycling, to create his new and extreme form.
Wow, that’s extreme. And a little nuts. Check out MailOnline for the full story and more photos.
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Lead levels in bike components too high
An interesting read on lead safety and the bicycle industry from cyclelicious.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 lowers allowable lead levels for all children products. The bicycle industry freaked when they realized there’s no way they can sell bike tires, brakes and other components with legally required lead levels.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stay, which was announced in May, takes effect today. The CPSC will not apply this limit to certain parts of bicycles, jogger strollers, and bicycle trailers after the Bicycle Products Supplier Association (BPSA) submitted a petition with data suggesting that the components in children’s bicycles and related products contain lead in amounts not greater than those permitted under the RoHS and ELV Directives.
According to the BPSA, attaining the required lead levels is technologically impossible or replacement materials are not available in the quantities required. I know several companies planned to just stop bike and accessory sales in the United States, so I’m sure they’re all breathing a sigh of relief.
The bike industry is not completely off the hook, the CPSC Stay expires in 2011. The industry is expected to have new manufacturing processes by then.
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Beware the bunny
I like rabbits. They’re soft. They’ve got those big old ears and they hop around and you just want to snatch them up and give them a squeeze. There seems to be an abundance of them on the way to Creedmoor. I got to see a few on Sunday morning during the Austin Flyers weekly ride.
Some were on the side of the road, and some had become part of the road (gruesome). And one little guy became part of the ride.
The group that left the Bicycle Sport Shop had split into smaller groups based on speed. According to eyewitness reports, the fastest mini-peleton was cruising down a hill when one of those furry buddies decided he could make it across the road in time. Wrong. He caught the front wheel of one unlucky guy and cause the handlebars to turn quickly. The rider flipped over and landed in a culvert some four or five feet deep. There’s no way he wasn’t dead. Or at the very least seriously injured. But he popped up moments after impact and declared himself OK.
As if riders didn’t have enough to worry about, now we’ve got to be ready for daring rabbits darting across the road. It doesn’t take much to wipe out a guy on a bike. So just a simple warning, if you happen to be riding in in southeast Travis County, beware of the bunny.
She rode a bike, too
Thanks for all the memories Farrah. On the bike or off, Road Rash is going to miss you. …
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Let’s begin again on the Safe Passing Bill
From our friends at the Texas Bicycle Coalition. …
Sign the Safe Passing Petition!
Dear fellow Texas cyclists,
As you know, last week Governor Perry vetoed the Safe Passing Bill (SB 488). This bill would have made Texas roads safer by requiring motorists to give three feet clearance when passing a cyclist or other vulnerable road user. We are deeply disappointed in the Governor’s decision.
Preparation for the next legislative session starts the day after the close of the last session. In addition to our ongoing work in statewide children’s bike safety education and Congressional lobbying for bike infrastructure funding in the upcoming 2010 Federal Transportation Bill, we are already building the foundation for the 2011 Texas Legislature.
What you can do: There are several ways you can show your support for Safe Passing in Texas!
Sign the Petition! Cyclists and other concerned Texans can register their support by signing the attached petition. We will use this petition to further build our relationship with a broad range of Legislators and other public officials.
Forward this email! Send this email to friends and relatives, including those who walk, run or work on Texas roadways. Urge them to sign as well.
Gather Signatures! Go to www.BikeTexas.org/petition and download a PDF petition form.
Link to the petition! Go to the www.BikeTexas.org/petition and download a “Sign the Petition” button for your website, or the website of your bike club or shop, then link it to the petition page.
Write a letter! Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing why you disagree with the Governor’s veto. Some points you could include: Over 1000 vulnerable road users were killed last year, and this bill could have saved lives. A personal story about a time a motorist passed you unsafely. The health and environmental benefits of cycling and how increased safety encourages more people to ride.
Team Type 1 delivers messsage of hope
Don’t ever let anyone discourage you from achieving your goals because of diabetes. That’s the main message from Joe Eldridge, co-founder of Team Type 1, a team of amateur and professional cyclists living with type 1 diabetes.
Eldridge delivered his words at Camp Bluebonnet on Friday in Killeen. Bluebonnet is a day camp for children with diabetes. His inspirational message isn’t simply an encouraging pep talk from your average guy off the street. He has the experience and accomplishments to back it up.
Eldridge competed in Race Across America in 2006 and 2007. RAAM is one of the most grueling and longest running annual endurance events in the world. It starts in Oceanside, Calif. and ends 3,052 miles later in Annapolis, Md. It is 30% longer than the Tour de France and there are no rest days.
“I basically wanted to have something monumental to talk to people about,” said Eldridge. “When you tell someone your rode a bike across the country in five days, it’s pretty impressive. I just want people with diabetes to know what’s achievable if you manage your disease.”
Recently, Team Type 1 just broke the team record in the eight-team competition RAAM by finishing in 5 days, 9 hours and 5 minutes.
The kids at Camp Bluebonnet were impressed, says Eldridge. “All those kids were pumped up that we won. All the guys who raced in RAAM have diabetes. It just gives people hope that having diabetes shouldn’t stop you from doing anything in life.”
In 2009, Team Type 1 is expanding its roster and fielding five athletic teams: a men’s and women’s pro cycling team, both featuring a mixed roster of riders with and without type 1 diabetes; an elite cycling team for the 2009 RAAM comprised entirely of riders with type 1 diabetes and a triathlon team whose members all have type 1 diabetes. In addition to its type 1 roster in 2009, Team Type 1 will also launch Team Type 2, an amateur cycling team featuring riders with 2 diabetes.
With its expansion in support and teams, expect the inspiration of these riders to touch even more lives of those with diabetes.
Check out the guys in action during a quick decent on a training ride before the 2009 Race Across America.
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More BMX craziness
I have never had the pleasure of riding BMX, but I have always had the urge. It’s interesting how some folks make it look so devastatingly easy. Check this out. ..
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Cycle safely and don’t worry about the cops
OK, so there’s been a lot of consternation over the KVUE stories about the perception that cops are cracking down on cyclists who run stop signs and red lights. I know many of us do it. I understand the reasons why. But here’s the thing, if we as cyclists want to have rights and respect as vehicles that belong on the road, then we must accept the consequences of breaking the law. Just like drivers who run red lights and stop signs, we should also be subject to tickets.
There’s really no debate here. Just because we don’t want to lose momentum or feel like nobody is around doesn’t give us the right to disregard the law. Since we share the road with cars, then we should also share the laws. I’ve seen plenty of cyclists and motorists making outlandish maneuvers during my time here. It’s bothersome and annoying, and with cyclists’ struggles to gain more road and respect in the world of cars, we need to be more diligent about riding safely.
More on Perry’s gaffe
An interesting read from examiner.com on Gov. Perry’s veto of the safe passing bill. …
Texas Governor Rick Perry affirmed his state’s reputation as one of the country’s most bike unfriendly places to ride today by vetoing a “safe passing” bill that would have given cyclist 3 feet when being passed by cars.
Perry, who is a cyclist himself, shocked the cycling community by vetoing the hard fought bill and saying:
“While I am in favor of measures that make our roads safer for everyone, this bill contradicts much of the current statute and places the liability and responsibility on the operator of a motor vehicle when encountering one of these vulnerable road users.”
Its good to know that in Texas at least the responsibility to avoid 6000 pound SUV’s and other cars rests with the cyclist on a 20 pound pound bike.
Reaction to the veto was immediate and not unexpected.
“We are stunned because he’s our guy, and we feel disappointed, even betrayed by our guy,” said Robin Stallings, executive director of BikeTexas, the educational arm of the Texas Bicycle Coalition.
Comments posted on some local Texas newspaper web sites are telling as to why the governor vetoed the law. For instance posted by Reality Kid:
“Guess I don’t understand how bicycles have a right to be on a road. They pay no road tax, they are not a motorized vehicle. Even golf carts have to be registered to be on a road. Farm equipment which generally move faster than bicycles have to have special triangle plaques on them to be on a road.
Most bicyclist do not follow rules of the road by stopping at stop signs, they don’t stop at traffic signals, they don’t ride single file.”
And posted by Batjeep: “I have to agree that most of the bicyclist are snobbish. They are a different group of people. In this world, big fish wins. It is not about sharing a two lane road. To bicyclist, it is about seeing what they can get away with. They seem to be an angry lot. Bicyclist say they have to follow the same traffic laws, watch next time you are at a stop light or stop sign. They rarely stop, they may slow down. Honestly, when was the last time you saw a bicyclist stop at a stop sign? If they are truly vehicles, than any vehicle going slower then 20 mph should have a nice shinny orange triangle.
Just like the rest of the “vehicles” that go that speed or slower.”
Which to anyone who is a cyclist just affirms that Texas is a great place to stay out of when riding a bike.
And of course many cyclist will also realize that if the Texas governor does not want me on my bike on the local roads, he and the people who feel cyclist are “snobbish” also don’t want our money and business.
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Get involed with new bike theft program
Lee Davila of the APD sent out the following request to several people in the bike community. If you’ve ever had your bike stolen, this could turn into a good resource.
The City of Austin, Austin Police Department and the Public Works Department are in the process of implementing an educational campaign to foster camaraderie between the cycling communities and to assist in the safety awareness to cyclists, citizens and motorists.
City departments have begun to examine ways to implement a voluntary web-based program that would be accessible to all users containing information on reporting bicycle thefts, registration, and safety procedures.
Your assistance is needed to provide an open dialogue and alternative options for this campaign. If you are interested, please email Austin Police Department Constituent Liaison, Lee Davila, with your contact email address and business/group association at Leander.Davila@ci.austin.tx.us as well as when you would be available for meeting (i.e. day of the week and time that works best for you).
You can cc-me if you’d like, we will be working on this together. The more of you that get involved, the better the feedback, and the better the program overall, so we’d really like to hear from as many of you as possible.
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We’ll just have to try again next year
Aren’t state politics great? I used to take a lackadaisical approach to Gepetto and his elected puppets. The longer I’ve lived in Austin, the more interest has taken hold. It’s sometimes disheartening to discover which bills failed during the legislative session and the consequences that follow.
Take our governor and his refusal to pass the safe passing bill. One report says “The governor mistakenly thinks that the bill puts all of the responsibility on the motorist.” Really? Isn’t it his job to know the details of every bill that comes across his desk? Kind of like the general public probably expects a journalist to know how to spell. It’s pretty basic stuff.
The worst news is for those of us who cycle daily on these streets. There is no three-feet clearance law. Not that it would make much difference to those of you who drive while talking on your cell while eating and trying to find a good song. One of the benefits from the law that never passed is that it would have helped put some legal onus on the inattentive driver who veers into a cyclist.
Maybe with more support and a more unified voice, the cycling community can help Gov. Perry read the fine print next time.
Call Gov. Perry now
ACTION ALERT:
GOVERNOR PLANS TO VETO SAFE PASSING BILL TODAY
Forward this email to every cyclist you know!
Dear Fellow Texas Cyclists,
Every cyclist in Texas must call Governor Perry today and insist that he allow SB 488 to pass!
The governor mistakenly thinks that the bill puts all of the responsibility on the motorist. There might be time to save the bill if you hurry and make the calls.
This is the most important call we have ever asked you to make. Our lives depend on it.
BikeTexas was notified at 12:30 pm CST that Governor Perry plans to veto the Safe Passing Bill. This veto can happen within the next couple of hours TODAY. We need every cyclist in Texas to call NOW and tell the Governor to pass SB 488. More than 1000 vulnerable road users in Texas die every year. This bill will save lives!
You must give the bill number.
CALL both phone NUMBERS
(512)463-4375
(512) 463-2000 Governor’s main switchboard until 5pm
Let’s Light Up The Grassroots. CALL NOW!!
Violet Crown is wheelin’ and dealin’
New local bike maker Violet Crown is expanding their options and offering savings for their customized city bikes.
It’s been a busy time at Violet Crown Cycles. Last month, we had our Launch Party, we rolled out our step-through style frame the Ma Feguson, and VCC is now a permanent vendor at the Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market, not to mention the nice things that have been said about the Fergusons on Ecovelo, Urban Velo, and MTB Law Girl. As part of our kickoff celebration, we are offering $300 off any Ferguson order booked by June 30, 2009.
We are excited to offer even more ways to customize your bike including the economical 3 speed build, cushy gel seats, front baskets and child seats.
With more options to make the perfect bike tailored to you, big savings, and a short 4 week delivery time, June is the perfect time to order a Ferguson city bike!
Check out their website for more details on ordering and other bikes and builds from Violet Crown.
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Urban Assault just around the corner
I’ve always wanted to try this event, it sounds like a blast. Plus, it started in Austin. You have to love this town. …
The Urban Assault Ride is the biggest bike scavenger hunt series in the world! On June 28th, you and a teammate will take to the Austin streets on a city-wide bike adventure on. Plot your own course to checkpoints around town where you’ll take on physical and mental obstacle courses. Be the first team to hit all the checkpoints and you’ll win a pair of New Belgium Brewing cruiser bikes (and be the first team to the beer tent).
The event is well known for its funky obstacle courses which must be completed before moving on. We’re talking modified Big Wheels, Bike Jousting, The Keg Walk, Inflatable Slides…and much more. Obstacles change every year and at every UAR. It’s a killer event for anybody who can pedal a bike (ages 7 and up). After the fun at the checkpoints there’s a ragin’ after party with a huge prize raffle and plenty of New Belgium beer.
Bicycle Advisory meeting Thursday night
There’s a Bicycle Advisory Council meeting on Thursday night. The details from Jason at ATXBS.
Tomorrow evening is the monthly Bicycle Advisory Council meeting, which occurs at 6:30pm on the 8th Floor of One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs Rd). Last month the meeting was canceled due to the impending vote for the 2020 Bicycle Plan Update which didn’t actually happen on time, but thanks to the June 11th City Council meeting the plan was passed unanimously.
What does this mean for us? It means that there’s a lot of work to be done in the future, and though the current City staff is doing an admirable job of doing what they can, they’re going to need a lot of help from the citizens of Austin to make sure that everything mentioned in the master plan is actually implemented in a timely fashion.
This month’s meeting agenda includes several big topics of conversation, including:
- Bike Plan Update
- Lake Austin Boulevard Bike Lane Update
- North Acres Bridge Project Update
- Lance Armstrong Bikeway Update
- COA Bike Program Presentation - Bike Lanes and Facilities Installation
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Win a folding bike
Inhabitat.com is giving away a Strida SX folding bike to one lucky rider. If you have a crappy bicycle but can’t afford a new one, take your digital camera and photograph it, use your computer and photo editing software to resize it to exactly 537 pixels wide, then sign up for their newsletter and leave a comment on that post and upload the image.
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Fort Worth becoming a biking mecca?
An interesting read on the future development of a cycling-friendly Fort Worth. …
When you think of the best bicycling cities in the U.S., Fort Worth probably doesn’t spring to mind. But there are some changes coming. Hundreds of miles of new bike lanes, “road diets” and a proposed streetcar system could fundamentally change the way people think about getting around town there.
Fort Worth is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, and Streetsblog Network member blog Fort Worthology has been doing a great job of documenting the challenges that growth poses. Blogger Bike Friendly Oak Cliff of Dallas has an interview with Don Koski, one of the planners who is helping shape Fort Worth’s streetscape. He talked about the role of transit-oriented development, how to incorporate bikes into road design from the beginning, and why Fort Worth isn’t too hot for bike commuting:
In Fort Worth we are planning and developing more mixed-use centers and urban villages and redeveloping and infilling downtown and other neighborhoods near downtown. We are also planning for higher-density development along existing and future commuter rail stations and potential streetcar lines. Making these areas and the city as a whole more accessible by bicycle is consistent with these plans and visions.
Regarding temperature, I don’t buy the argument that people won’t bike because it’s too hot/cold/wet/etc. Look at the cities that have the highest bicycle commute rates in the country: Portland (wet), Minneapolis (cold), Seattle (wet), and Tucson (hot). Certainly there are many cyclists who won’t bike for transportation purposes when it’s hot, but there are other ways to address that, like by promoting the provision of shower and change facilities at major employers. In fact, I would say Fort Worth has great potential as a bicycling city: relatively flat, decent street block pattern, great trail system to which to make connections, great cycling weather 8 months out of the year, etc.
While we don’t yet have quantitative data, we definitely feel that bicycling is beginning to take off as a mode of transportation in Fort Worth. When gas rose to $4 a gallon a year ago, bicycles began showing up all over, and even with the cost of gas relieved somewhat, anecdotally we believe the numbers are still higher than they’ve been in a long time. For a long time Fort Worth has had a number of substantial bike clubs primarily interested in cycling for recreation. We believe a good piece of that advocacy has crossed over into a call to make the city’s transportation network more accommodating of cyclists as well.
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Blue Plate offers tasty deals
If you have some time to kill, check out Blue Plate Velo. It’s an interesting way to shop for stuff you probably don’t need, but the prices are incredible. Here’s their mission statement. …
Overstock happens to the best of us. Sometimes a manufacturer overestimates how many men will ride pink bikes. Sometimes delays cause a big batch of wool jackets to come into stock in July. Whatever the reason, perfectly good, brand new, top quality bike stuff can end up in surplus somewhere, and we are here to bring it to you at smokin’ hot savings.
We’ll post a new product every day of the work week as that day’s Blue Plate Special, and we’ll sell it until it’s gone or closing time (3:30 PM MST), whichever comes first. We have a limited quantity of everything we offer, so get it while it’s fresh out of the oven. You snooze, you just may lose.
As soon as we are sold out, we’ll hang a sold out sign. Check out the rest of the week’s menu and whet your whistle for the next tasty treat.
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Too tough for me
I used to think I was tough. I once flipped over the handlebars onto the pavement, got back up and rode another 30 miles. At night. Into a 20 mph wind.
I once had a 53-tooth chain ring plow up my calf and rip gaping holes in my leg. I wrapped some paper towels around it and rode again later that afternoon.
I hit a car a while back on my single speed and went down hard. OK that’s all I got on that one, it hurt like hell and I still sit funny.
I used to think all of that was pretty tough until I found this story. …
UConn men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun has been hospitalized after he collapsed following a 50-mile charity bicycle ride during which he fell and broke five ribs. Calhoun was taken to the UConn Health Center in Farmington, Conn. on Saturday, where he was to be held overnight for observation and released Sunday. A spokeswoman for the hospital said he was listed in good condition.
Calhoun fell 12 miles into the race in Simsbury. Moments after he crossed the finished line, he slumped over and fell to the ground.
At the hospital, Calhoun was told he had broken ribs during the fall. The hospital said he fainted because of dehydration and trauma from the fall.
The original trickster
So you think that guy down the street who does some cool tricks on his fixie is the real deal? You think these modern tricksters are innovative? Think again. It’s all been done before. Check out this film shot by Thomas Edison back in 1899. Now this dude was a pioneer.
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Drive-by pellet shooting
I’ve had bottles thrown at me.
I’ve had drunks yell garbled stupidity from car windows.
I’ve had cars pull in behind me and ride the horn.
But I’ve never been shot with a pellet gun.
What is going on out there? There’s frustration over bikes keeping cars from getting to the next red light in record time. There are stupid kids with nothing to do but harass cyclists in their neighborhood. There are also people who hide behind alcohol and used it as an excuse for their actions.
And now we’ve got shootings on Southwest Parkway. This road must attract crackpots, because it’s happened before. Darren Inberg was charged with shooting cars with pellet guns last April.
Cycling is dangerous enough without flying metal debris from a gun. I hope they catch these fools and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.
Find the full story and video at KVUE.
BMX vs. Undisturbed Wildlife
From Leslie Luciano at Bicycle Sport Shop. …
It would be great if we could get some cyclists that are passionate about that area at the meeting. I think a lot of those folks don’t realize what cyclists have put into the clean up and maintenance of this park. Take a look behind the barbed wire fence at BSS and you can see what could be there if the cyclists weren’t present. It’s a dump for bottles and trash, and a habitat for the homeless.
West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt (Red Box): “BMX v. Undisturbed Wildlife” dispute led to request for environmental assessments. Wildflower Center did a limited assessment of 7 acres of this greenbelt. Watershed Protection also did an assessment of erosion around the creek. Two public stakeholder meetings are planned for 6:00 p.m. on June 11 (Becker Cafeteria) and 6:00 p.m. on July 8 (Elk’s Lodge) .
Please plan to attend the first West Bouldin Greenbelt stakeholder meeting this Thursday at 6pm in the Becker Elementary Cafeteria.
The Ladybird Wildflower Center and the City’s Watershed Protection Department will present the findings from their respective environmental and erosion assessments. Your input is needed to begin planning for the use of the 54 acre green space. Some of the ideas that will be discussed are:
Hike and bike trails
Natural meadows
Undisturbed habitat
BMX trails
The Wildflower Center will use the input gathered at the June 11th meeting to propose a master plan for future use and development of the greenbelt. This plan will then be presented at the 2nd stake holder meeting Wednesday July 8, at the Elks Club.
This first meeting is critical to attend for input from cyclists. More info on their calendar click here.
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Bad bands and broken bones
- First the Governor’s Mansion burns down and now this. …
Rick Perry breaks his collarbone Tuesday evening in a mountain biking accident near his home. He also sustained a minor abrasion on his right elbow.
- Bad name for a band
There’s a Florida band named “This Bike is a Pipe Bomb.” Do not attach their bumper stickers to your bicycle.
Last month in Memphis an airport terminal was shut down when such a bicycle was spotted near a passenger ramp.
A pilot saw the bike with the sticker and notified police, who evacuated the terminal. Bomb-sniffing dogs were called in, but did not detect any explosives.
Airport police took the bike owner into custody, but later released him because they didn’t have grounds to make an arrest.
Tidbits from Yellow Bike
From the Austin Yellow Bike Project:
Austin cyclists made an excellent showing at last month’s City Council hearing on the 2009 Bicycle Master Plan Update. Some excellent speeches were made, council-members were serenaded (select public hearing item 61 and scroll to about 9:33 PM), but unfortunately there was no vote. The Update’s next hearing is scheduled for this Thursday, June 11, no earlier than 6:00 PM. If you’ve got something to say - even if you don’t - go there and speak, sit, or stand. Council’s likely to vote this time, so be ready to celebrate. If you can’t make the meeting, swing by City Hall and sign up in favor of the Update at one of the computer kiosks in the Lobby. The item number is 75 PH. If you’re attending the meeting, but not speaking, the computer lets you donate 3 minutes of time to someone who is. Do that. For more on the plan, click here.
Mamma Jamma Ride
The first ever annual Texas Mamma Jamma Ride aims to raise $400,000 for 10 local agencies, including the Sustainable Food Center, that are out to change the odds for thousands of Central Texans in the fight against breast cancer. According to the recent policy paper published by The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, the 8 million lives lost annually to cancer could be reduced by about one quarter to one third by dietary changes including reduction in overweight and obesity together with physical activity. To learn more and register for the ride, click here.
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Want to ride the Tour? Try breaking the law
I look at cycling as a right, an inherent, irrevocable entitlement that we all share. There is one caveat to that statement, and it involves incarceration. If you screw up and get sent to the “fun house” then cycling should not be part of the equation. Unless, of course, you live in France.
From a Reuters story. …
Almost 200 prisoners will cycle around France next month, watched by scores of guards on bicycles, in the first penal version of the Tour de France.
Officials say the 196 prisoners will cycle in a pack and breakaway sprints will not be allowed.
They will be accompanied by 124 guards and prison sports instructors. There will be no ranking, the idea being to foster values like teamwork and effort.
The prisoners’ Tour de France will take them 2,300 kilometers around the country, starting in the northern city of Lille on June 4 and stopping in 17 towns, each of which has a prison.
So my next question is this, how can you possibly train for this steep course behind the walls of a French prison?
What kind of bikes will they ride and who paid for all the equipment?
Will all the bikes be chained together somehow?
Are the teams grouped by gang affiliation?
I bet you could make a mean shank out of metal bicycle parts.
I hope we get some coverage of this race, it sounds really exciting. Or it could be really unsafe and stupid. I get the whole resocialization concept of prison. But these guys are basically getting to make a once-in-a-lifetime ride that many of us without a rap sheet will never get to do. And it’s being funded and organized by the French government. It seems a little unfair.
Well, I guess if you really want to see France by bicycle and don’t have much disposable income, try knocking over a bank in Marseille.
They’ll have a spot in the peleton waiting for you.
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Cycling hiatus bad for body and mind
I’m still not back. Due to events beyond my control, there has been no cycling for FOUR DAYS. That’s the longest I’ve been off for several months. I thought it might turn into a nice break. Wrong. I’ve really felt like a lazy sack of fat.
It’s interesting the things you notice when you don’t ride. For one, I haven’t eaten as well. When riding every day, I’m usually in the mindset of trying to eat better since I’m working to burn those pesky calories. These past four days have been nothing but bad food choices.
Fried? There’s nothing you can think of that I haven’t eaten encased in hardened oil.
Sugar? It’s served best in a round form with no center. The more icing, the better.
Fat? I like my grizzle medium-well.
I also have less motivation. Driving everywhere in air-conditioning is great until you realize how sluggish and bitter you become when standing outside for a few minutes. Cycling makes you tougher and stronger and less likely to whine.
And most of all I miss that connection with my surroundings. I am so aware of people, places and the weather when I cycle. While driving you become isolated in this little bubble of comfort and speed. It’s easy to miss a lot of interesting things. I’ve met some really cool people while riding that I never would have noticed in a car. I’ve seen some amazing wildlife while riding. Again, I would have missed it had I been driving.
It’s time to get back to good. Car keys are going in the drawer. I’m taking Big Red for a spin.
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Austin Commuter Challenge party
From Chris Carter over at Bicycle Sport Shop. …
Congratulations Austin Commuter Challenge participants! You have done a great job for yourself and the enviornment, so now it’s time to relax and celebrate. What better way to do that than with FREE BBQ, FREE BEER, FREE SWIMMING at Barton Springs pool and good old fashion Texas Music.
Join us this Saturday, June 6, at Bicycle Sport Shop located at 517 South Lamar Blvd. at 10:30 a.m. for our Frost Insurance Awards Ceremony. The first 100 arrivals will receive a commemerative finishers medal. Everyone will receive coupons and discounts from Austin Commuter Callenge sponsors, and Bicycle Sport Shop will raffle off gift certificates and prizes to attendees.
Please bring a print out of your greenlight ride profile page to receive your wrist band. Wrist bands will get you free access to Barton Springs pool, food and Real Ale Beer. If you would like to bring a friend or family member that did not participate in the challenge, wrist bands will be sold for $10 a piece.
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Losing weight and cycling
I always have questions about nutrition and its relationship with cycling, so I have asked friend and nutrition counselor Amy Bluntzer Hawkins to write an occasional series for Road Rash. For more information about Amy, visit her website.
Many people jump on the exercise bandwagon in order to lose weight and then are disappointed by limited results or frustrated by how hard they have to “work” to lose a few pounds. Although it seems that burning more calories on the bike or at the gym should pay off with a leaner body, that is not always the case.
On her website, Nancy Clark, MS, RD, co-author of The Cyclist’s Food Guide, discusses some of the mistakes that are made around exercise to lose weight. First is the myth that exercise decreases your appetite. While exercise that raises your body temperature may lessen hunger temporarily, most people will get hungrier later. Exercise that chills your body can make your hungrier (ever been ravenous after a swim at Barton Springs?).
Another pitfall is overcompensation. An example of this is when, after a long, tough ride, you reward yourself with a huge, calorie-laden lunch and then don’t move off the couch for the rest of the day. The increased calories and decreased activity may have just cancelled out any fat-burning benefit of the ride.
A final mistake is looking at exercise as punishment for being overweight. When you do that, you forget that you should be having fun out there, and as Nancy points out, “The E in exercise is for enjoyment.”
So, if you do want to exercise and lose weight, what should you do? A good place to start is to be mindful of everything you are putting into your body. No matter what type diet you follow, weight loss results when calories burned exceed calories consumed. Recording what you eat in a journal can make you more accountable. Detail-oriented folks may find an online calorie counter helpful. I use Nutrihand with my clients, but there are lots of options out there.
Try to avoid eating in front of the TV or computer. Before you take a bite, stop and think, “is this what my body needs?” Then slow down and savor your food. Keep portions small and wait at least 20 minutes before deciding to go back for seconds.
When grocery shopping, cut down on processed food and choose more real whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, the stuff our bodies were designed to eat. Include lean protein and high fiber foods at all meals to increase the feeling of fullness and reduce sugar cravings.
Avoid sugar and calorie-laden beverages and choose water most often. Save the sports drinks for rides over 1 hour in length.
If this all seems overwhelming, then a visit with a registered dietitian may help to get you started on a plan that meets your individual needs.
- Amy Bluntzer Hawkins, RD, LD
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NYC’s cycling improvements
Since Austin is in the midst of getting the proposed 2020 Master Bike Plan passed through the city council, I thought it would be interesting to see how New York City has upgraded their bicycling infrastructure. From Bike Rumor, here’s some interesting facts. …
Although New York City used other U.S. and International cities as a model for improving and building more than 200 miles of lanes and paths over the last three years, it’s now a model for the rest of us looking to improve our own city’s cycling facilities.
Some of the ideas institued in NYC’s new and existing lanes include:
- Bike Boxes (see video) that give cyclists advance line ups at traffic lights, making them more visible to turning traffic.
Wider bicycle lanes with buffers against parked cars and traffic, reducing “dooring” and vehicular intrusion.
Green colored bike lanes that visually differentiate them from traffic lanes.
Intersection markings and turn lane guides for both motorists and cyclists.
It’s encouraging to see one of the most car-centric cities in the world building out proper cycling infrastructure, and it’s even more encouraging to see that so many people are using it and clamoring for more!
Safe passing bill passes Senate
From the folks at Bike Texas. …
The final version of the Safe Passing Bill, SB 488, was passed by the Texas House. On Monday, the Senate voted on it, and overwhelmingly voted to pass it.
That was the final step for the bill to complete in the Legislature. Now, it will be sent to Governor Perry, and we are cautiously optimistic that he will sign it into law. We will know the outcome by June 21, the last day the Governor can sign or veto bills.
Thank you all for your help and support so far. We will keep you updated on the bill’s progress.
I really hope Gov. Perry will sign this into law, but my next question is how will drivers know about it? Cycling organizations, advocacy groups and law enforcement should pull together and get the word out beyond the cycling community. It won’t do anyone much good if motorists speed along without a clue about the new three feet law.
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