Jingle Bells

The holiday season is here in full force... Kicking off tonight with Hanukah and lasting through New Year's Eve. There are decorations in every park and plaza. I still need to put lights on the house, but the bicycle is decorated. The front of my basket now sports a giant white bell with red and green flowers glued to it. It looks cute, but it sounds fantastic! Or annoying. Give me a couple of days and I may hate it. But it jingles loudly on every little bump and turns everyone's head. Happy Holidays!

Visiting Bicyclists

I have to admit that I was pretty lame this weekend. I was running errands, doing chores around the house, and hardly got on the bike at all. But the bicycles came to me. And the bicyclists. Most exciting, I played temporary host for Willie Weir, bicycle adventurer and writer. He had a flight to catch out of Atlanta in the morning. In exchange for some interesting stories, we held a small dinner for Willie and our cycling friends. My porch housed a Rivendell Atlantis and a Brompton folding bike, while a few more bicycles and kiddie trailer lounged in the back yard. It was a lot of fun, but kept me from blogging for a day or two.

Meanwhile, the "Bicycle Ride to the Capitol" took place last week, as thousands of cyclists descended on the state legislature to advocate for bicycle-friendly lawmaking. And Atlanta's cyclists continued to roll down the streets, sporting an impressive array of baskets, fenders, racks, and even a folding bike.

Cargo Bicycle Options

While bakfietsen are still rare (and expensive) in the U.S., other types of cargo carriers are readily available. One example I've seen lately is the cargo-utility bike. Examples are the Xtracycle Radish, Kona Ute, Yuba Mundo, and Surly Big Dummy. These extended frames are like the pickup trucks of bicycling. They offer a long rear rack which can easily carry a week's worth or two of groceries, several children, furniture, canoes, or a little of everything...

Here's a closeup of the Kona in Columbus, GA, and the Surly in action at Tech Square.

 

 

Shopping Cart with Pedals

Now that I have so much capacity on the Blue Belle, I have become loathe to carry things any other way, such as by hand. On Tuesday, when I had to carry a bunch of snacks, drinks, plates and napkins, and such to a meeting across campus, I loaded them on the bicycle. All in all, I carried 3 half-gallon bottles of tea and lemonade, 4 bags of chips, several boxes of cookies, some dip, and the plates, cups, napkins, and serving platters to go along. I would love to show you a picture of the result, but my camera batteries had run out. It was very heavy. I swear, it felt like I was riding a shopping cart around.

I'm not the only one who values the ability to carry things. I've been seeing more bicycles every day equipped with racks, bins, bags, baskets, and everything in between. These enhancements are showing up along with other useful things such as fenders, lights, and the occasional chainguard. There is still room for improvement regarding lights, however. I continue to see lots of riders without them.

Sporting fenders, racks, lights, and a nice saddle

Stylish and well-equipped

Bicycle Hindsight

'Hindsight' in this context does not refer to seeing the traffic behind you. Although some recent jaunts on my old mountain bike reminded me how much I like the sideview mirror installed on it.

No, hindsight refers to those trips that you realize you should have made by bicycle, but it is too late to change your mind. I had one of those Sunday night. Heading home from Decatur a little after 8 p.m. on a soft, springlike night. The streets were quiet and I felt a tad sleepy. I had my bicycle (Blue Belle) with me. After dropping the Beau off I headed by default to the MARTA station. Sure, the Sunday train schedule might mean a wait, but I wasn't in a hurry.

But in the 12 minutes that I waited for the train, I realized I had made the wrong choice. Don't get me wrong, MARTA is a great service and I couldn't live without it. But it was a beatiful night. Cruising towards downtown would not have felt like effort at all. It would have been a series of experiences - fresh cool air as I passed by parks, glimpses of sparkling skyscrapers downtown, fading voices of people walking to homes or restaurants. And it would have taken the same amount of time. Ah well. Next time I'll choose more wisely.

Pannier Dreams

In the ongoing effort to transport my stuff in comfort and style, I have been thinking about low center-of-gravity rear containment systems. Usually called panniers. "Pannier" evolved from the French word for "bread bag", as in something with which to transport your baguettes. In modern usage, it refers to any sort of open or covered bag that mounts on the side of the bicycle next to the wheel (front or rear). By being on the side, it is lower to the ground. For heavy loads, this makes it more stable than a basket over the wheel. I also refer to baskets mounted in this location as panniers, although that may be incorrect. (PS this is just my accumulated information - feel free to fact check!)

Wikipedia image of a touring bicycle with front and rear panniers Creative Commons license

I have seen many types of panniers and they have never seemed quite right to me. They look floppy, bulky, snaggy, vulnerable to theft, awkward to use, and simply not compatible with my style. Obviously, if I were to take a bicycle camping trip, they would be ideal. But, for the same reason that I don't walk around town with my backpacking pack, I felt that the typical pannier was not particularly suited to city cycling. In the city, I need to be on and off the bike frequently, and to lock down or carry all belongings. I will carry many different items - file folders, groceries, books, spare clothing, maybe a bag of cat food or a laptop - sometimes unexpectedly. And of course, I will be in professional and social situations where I need to make a good impression.

Key pannier criteria for me:

• Either totally waterproof or totally porous. No damp and moldy situations please.
• Rigid to prevent flopping, but also...
  
• Collapsible to save space
  
• Secure: either easily removed and carried, or totally locking (onto bicycle and to secure contents), or able to be equipped with separate bags that can easily be placed into the pannier or carried with me.
• Simple to use. I am impatient, and easily frustrated by clips and zippers and such.
  
• Matches my personal style
• Appropriate size and shape - I haven't decided if a six-pack should determine the width....

As I have started to pay more attention to them as a practical, perhaps necessary, item, I have identified certain things that I do like. For instance, Brooks makes a very appealing bag for only 280€ (about $400) each. Sure, I'll take two! Allegedly one local guy got a pair and had them promptly stolen. What I like about the Brooks is the tidiness, the outer pockets, the rigidity, the size, the alleged water-resistance and the thoughtful shape which will keep it out of the way of my pedaling feet. I don't like the side zipper, lack of water-proofness, and how awkward they would be off the bike if I needed to take them with me. Of course, Brooks's reputation for quality is very good. Their roll-up bag is kind of cool too.

Another item I like are the Clarijs panniers. This Dutch product is waterproof, semi-rigid and semi-collapsible, available in lots of cute colors and patterns,  and comes in different sizes. It has a wide mouth that would be easy to toss a shopping bag into, and appears to have a simple closure system (if any). They even sell a shopping bag designed to fit perfectly into the pannier.

Trial solution: wire baskets

Well anyway, I found something I like. Folding baskets - $7 on Craigslist. They are chrome Wald baskets which match my front basket and rack perfectly. They rattle a little, but not as bad as I feared. They fit my bag just right - maybe could be a little deeper, but fine. Not sure what I will do about rain, but I'll figure something out. The weight distribution is great. Even my big tote bags fit perfectly. Then they fold up for tight parking situations. I love it!

Happy Heels Heatwave!

It finally got above freezing here, and it feels like summer! For me, it was cause to leave my insulated boots at home. Instead, I went for the faux-suede boots in black, with brown stockings and skirt and an off-white sweater. I feel so feminine again! And the boots have grippy "Aerosole" bottoms which will help with the few lingering patches of ice.

In bicycle news, I strapped my bag of tools (a tire pump, spare tube, and Clinique case containing a couple of wrenches and such) onto the back rack with a bungee cord. Removing this weight from the front basket really improved the handling. I have not been comfortable with more than a few pounds in the front. Plus I'm still trying to relocate my headlight from the handlebars, to avoid blockage due to stuff in the basket. For this trip I just had my lunch bag in the basket and the elastic in the back.

What I really need is a "trioband". These were utterly ubiquitous in Amsterdam and they seem super convenient. They secure the front, back, and middle of your load which keeps if from scooting around or squirting off the back. And, they actually mount on to your axle. This is very important. It prevents one of the major sources of bungee failure - slippage of the attachment hook - and reduces the chance of theft from a parked bicycle - I've had regular bungee cords stolen.  I like the red one in the link, but there are plenty of others. The problem is, I cannot find them for sale on any American website. Seriously, do a web search. They only come up in the UK and The Netherlands. I will pay international shipping if I have to, but why haven't US distributers figured out how useful these things are??

Meet the Bicycles

Let me start with a brief history here...

First of all, I never, ever, ever rode a bicycle as a child. My parents bought me an adorable pink bicycle with streamers and flowers on the seat and a shiny silver sissy bar. And I had always loved my little red tricycle, so you'd think I would have switched easily over to the bicycle. My dad tried to teach me to ride it, and yes, I probably did go up and down the block a couple of times. And then never touched it again. Don't ask me why. I tried again in high school and might have gone a full two blocks on a friend's ten-speed. No further.

In college I rode a motorcycle, and loved it, but sold it for my move to Atlanta. Here in Atlanta, I started using the transit system and walking a lot. Then I got a job out in the Cumberland Mall area where the bus routes are much further apart. If I missed the 5:15 commuter bus back to town, I had a long suburban mile to walk to the nearest regular route. After a year or so, and influenced by some friends, I decided that a bicycle would make things much easier. Every bus has a rack on the front that carries up to two bicycles.

Bicycles on buses. Credit Cobb Community Transit

I got a generic women-specific mountain bike and started learning to ride it. After a month or so of regular riding, I felt pretty comfortable. I realize now how much I still had to learn, but it was not too hard - considering I was, um, not young anymore... It wasn't long before I outfitted the bike with commuter gear - lights, fenders, bells, smoother tires - and rode it all over town.

My first adult bicycle - Specialized HardRock - rugged but slow and uncomfortable on city streets

After a few years, I realized that my cycling habits called for more of a road-style bicycle, and started looking on Craigslist. This is when the Takara found me and changed my life. The Takara was so useful! Fenders that really work! A rack to put my bag on! A slender sturdy frame and easy step-through dismounts! A seat with springs and upright riding position to make me comfortable! I was hooked. I wanted more, actually. Soon I added a Huffy BayPointe with matching fenders and cheap internal hub, and a Free Spirit (Sears) Pinnacle 12-speed. But they couldn't match the Takara, and I eventually sold them off.

Who needs a living room?

After a while, I realized that the Takara was just a late 1970s Japanese version of British bicycles, most notably the Raleigh. So, when I saw a Raleigh for sale, again on Craigslist, I bought it before I could think twice. It needed a little work. Now, I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, but mostly I rely on help from bicycle shops, the Sopo bicycle repair co-op, and my wonderful friends. We got it running and I rode it during the summer. Then, one of my tires blew out (or should I say, "tyres", the British spelling - they were probably original) and I had trouble with the shifter cable during replacement. Plus I really need a new seat. But I love the ride. He is a 1973 Raleigh Sports. So anyway, I got "Cecil" the Raleigh fixed tonight. I hope to have him on the road this week, barring rain.

Nevermind the mess...meet Cecil

Friends, Food, Fresh Starts

Happy New Year!

We've been celebrating the passing of 2009 with craft beers and the company of friends. The rain and sleet of Wednesday evening (New Year's Eve Eve) didn't stop me from meeting some friends at Twain's, a Decatur pub that brews its own beer and has a convenient bicycle rack located at the front door. Most of my friends cycled there too; note the plethora of fenders, racks, and other handy things. Also, a shower cap will keep your seat dry.

The trip was made easier by MARTA, which I took most of the way there and back.

The following day, I ran some errands with the Beau. We had to do some grocery shopping, so I tried out a pair of panniers that he actually made by hand. The workmanship is fantastic - I think he has a potential side business here! But they are definitely his style, not mine, and I tried futilely to convince him of the merits of things like sequins, patent leather, and embroidery. The purpose of borrowing the panniers, in addition to grocery transport, was for me to test them and to figure out how I would want my own panniers to be designed. For that purpose they were a smashing success. Hopefully, someday, I will be able to post pictures of my dream panniers. I wouldn't want to use them all the time, though, just for trips that require extra cargo space.

Anyway, we took a circuitous route through town. It included a stop at the video store, where I stayed outside to guard the groceries. When I got bored waiting, I started to take some photos.
 
We also stopped at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market near Grady Hospital. I hadn't been there in a while, and I really have to recommend it to any intown bicyclists (or potential bicyclists). There are plenty of oddly-shaped but convenient bicycle racks out front. It is accessible by several low-volume streets (Edgewood Ave., Hill/Bell St., and Jesse Hill Dr.). It is barely a mile from the neighborhoods of Grant Park, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, and Castleberry Hill. And, while it is nothing like the big farmer's markets, it does have fresh local food at good prices. Yum! I also recommend Grindhouse Burgers, located in the market.

So, the year is off to a good start. Thoughts for 2010: No matter what the past has been, the next moment is still undetermined. Every choice, every action we take in the present changes the world, if only slightly. Choose wisely.

Cargo Capacity!

The Beau has helped solve my grocery capacity issue with a new Wald front basket and matching rear rack. Holiday gifts. All shiny and matching. That's a man after my own heart!

The Takara with her new accessories. She likes to coordinate.

I've always had a rear basket, or just a bag over my shoulders. I'm adjusting to the new setup. I don't really deal well with change, so it will take a while for me to get comfortable this way. And of course, front baskets put weight over the front wheel, which makes it handle differently. So, I took her out for a test ride today with the front basket unladen, to get used to it.

We stopped in midtown to visit a friend and enjoy the chilly but beautiful day.

Several other cyclists passed by, including this girl with the faux fur trimmed jacket.

I ended up at the grocery store, where I got more than I meant to, as usual. I put a couple of heavier items on the rear, but others, including a bottle of wine, went in the front basket. Testing time! Honestly, it felt very unwieldy. I could hardly take a hand off the handlebars. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but the first trip was pretty awkward. In addition, items kept trying to bounce out of the basket. I rode for about a block with a can of tuna in my hand, before I had a chance to stash it. Extra bungee cords will be required. Or perhaps some more elegant restraint system. I may also experiment with pannier style bags for the rear, at least for grocery trips. I wrapped up the day by riding home with a friend.