A Big Trip

Val, who I have known since she was just a kid, is on a trip around the world.  You can follow her and Kevin’s adventures at Big Trip Blog.

Rollerblades + MARTA Beat Driving

Yesterday I witnessed a guy on rollerblades demonstrating the futility of driving in Atlanta.  The rollerblading guy was moving much faster than the midtown traffic and once I saw him enter the North Avenue MARTA station I pretty sure no matter where he was going he would beat those poor souls trapped in their cars.

 

Fatherhood

Both of my kids are pretty artistically talented. The tough part for me has been encouraging them to explore their artistic side without being overbearing. You see years ago I passed up the opportunity to go to art school. And when I say I passed up opportunity I mean there's no way in hell I could have paid for it. So after passing on art school I pretty much put up the pencils and brushes. I've always kind of regretted that and as I watch my kids develop as artists it's real tough for me not say every five minutes, "you should go to art school." I don't want to be the kind of parent that lives vicariously through their kids, although I suspect we all do to some degree, so I'm doing my best to let both my kids find their own way. Here's a little sample from my youngest. She says it's a scene from FLCL. Originally done in pencils, she scanned it and then inked and colored it in Photoshop.

Decatur Bicycle Workshop

I think most people would agree that Decatur is one of Atlanta’s cycling hotspots.  If you live in Decatur or just want to learn more about cycling in the city, mark this on your calendar.

 

Bicycle Workshop
Saturday, October 21, 2006
9:00-12:00
The Solarium at Historic Scottish Rite
321 West Hill Street
Decatur, GA 30030

This two-part workshop will first offer participants the chance to view project displays and provide input. Attendees can then hit the streets with us as we ride along a 4.5 mile route in Decatur. Experienced leaders will be on hand to guide the group. Bring your comments and your bike! All children under sixteen must wear a helmet.

For more information, please contact Sycamore Consulting at 404-377-9147 or leahvaughan@sycamoreconsulting.net.

 

Unfortunately I will be in the middle of a much less enjoyable task Saturday morning.

 

 

Neither Rain nor Dark of Night

We’re having our first cool fall rain of the season.  I would like to think cool weather is here to stay but I’ve got a sneaking feeling we’ll have at least one more round warm summer like days.  Way back when I first started riding to work I hated riding in the rain.  Now it doesn’t bother me.  I’ve found I would much rather feel the rain on my face than watch it bounce harmlessly of a car windshield.  This morning I arrived at work with my yellow rain cape flapping in the wind and my fellow corporate wage slaves looked at me with pity.  They don’t understand.  They buy bigger and bigger houses that are farther and farther away from work.  They spend hours a day stuck in traffic.  They spend thousands of dollars a year on their cars.  They think they’re living the American Dream.  And they pity me because I’m a little wet.

Sheldon Brown's Health

You may or may not have heard that web bicycling guru Sheldon Brown is having some pretty serious health issues.  The details are here. 

 

17th Street Bike Lanes: a good idea gone wrong

I had a chance to ride around Atlantic Station recently.  For those who don’t know Atlantic Station is Atlanta’s newest and largest mixed use development located on the site of the old Atlantic Steel mill.  As part of the development “bike lanes” were added to 17^th Street running through Atlantic Station and over the 17^th Street Bridge into midtown.  The problem is these bike lanes are horrendous.  They are way too narrow, I didn’t have a ruler but I would estimate them to be between 2 and 2.5 feet wide.  This puts them inline with the pseudo-bike lanes of Interstate North Parkway in northwest Fulton County which I’ve found to be more dangerous than taking the lane.  In fact because of the narrowness of the bike lanes I choose to ride in the bus lane much of the time. 

Bike Lust

Todd of Stokemonkey fame causes a serious case of bike lust when he splashes the new Surly frame all over his blog.

Sans Car

A lot of my neighbors don’t understand how I can ride my bike nearly everywhere.  So I’ve made a list of available services within a five mile radius.  Now I have a lot of problems with the area I live in but accessibility isn’t one of them.

 

Within 1 mile:

1 Convenience store

7 restaurants

1 Sports Authority

2 parks

1 Circuit City

1 Office Depot

1 Toy store

1 Post Office

1 Day Care center

And soon 1 performing arts center

 

Within 2 miles:

All of the above plus:

1 Bike shop

1 Bagel Shop

1 Coffee Shop

1 Barnes and Noble

3 Sandwich shops

1 Boston Market

5 more restaurants

2 Drug Stores

1 Supermarket

3 Athletic clubs

1 Post Office

1 Multiplex

2 shopping malls

1 Bus Transfer station

Numerous office buildings

 

Within 3 miles

There’s so much within three miles I can’t even begin to list it all.

 

That being said this area is rather hilly so 3 miles is a good ride but it’s certainly doable by anyone with a modicum of fitness.  So why is that people still refuse to get out of their cars for these short trips?  Certainly there’s an environmental factor.  In the summer it’s tough to walk your dog without building up a sweat much less ride a fully loaded bike to the store.  But I think the real reason is mostly cultural.  Atlanta’s a car town, we’ve got some of the worst traffic in the nation and still people resist any kind of public transportation.  Maybe Atlanta needs 5 dollar a gallon gas to change the way we move.  Or then again maybe that wouldn’t do it either.    

 

Walking with Shortwave

Along with cycling I enjoy a good walk. Of course the sidewalks
around here are littered with trash and broken glass, making it
hazardous for my little dog. Until a few years ago we didn't have
sidewalks so I suppose I should count my blessings. What surprises
me is that some of the same hostility I get while bicycling is also
directed at me when walking. I've had garbage thrown and horns
honked along with the usual screams of get a car or something, I
can't really hear them when they're passing at 40 mph. So what's the
deal is a car the only acceptable way to get around Atlanta?

About 12 years ago my wife bought me a small portable shortwave radio
for Christmas. I've been hooked every since. Shortwave brings me
news and entertainment from all over the world. The value of getting
news from another nations perspective is incredible. CNN/Fox and the
rest don't tend to be critical of US policy but Radio Havana sure
is. In fact shortwave's coverage of international news is far
superior to anything you'll get on the US airwaves. Broadcasts range
from the silly, "did you know that Princess Maxima of the Netherlands
is pregnant," to the profound, "Somalis resist the takeover of their
town by the Council of Islamic Courts." So if you're interested in
getting a new perspective on the news check it out.

Road Treasures

One of the things about bike commuting is that you’re much more aware of the junk on the road than you would be in a car.  This inevitably leads to the discovery of what I call Road Treasures.  Some are accidental losses others are deliberately discarded but it’s always weird to find something in perfect condition lying in the gutter.  

 

Here’s a list of some the things I’ve found over the years:

Numerous wrenches

Sockets

An unopened pack of clothes hangers

A wallet (returned to owner)

A photo album (never claimed)

A homemade CD of a live reggae performance

An IDE hard drive

A videotape with contents not fit for a family blog

An estwing hammer

A diaper bag full of used diapers (eww)

And best of all

A spoke wrench no doubt lost by a fellow bicyclist.

 

Bike Rack Update

Perimeter Mall the east side of Macy’s, near Magianos, a nice rack with room for four bikes.

Encounters

I was having a great ride this morning. It was cooler than normal which encouraged me to ride hard and fast all the way to work. Unfortunately when I got to the last light before my office everything changed. As I pulled up to the light I took the lane and waited for it to change. A few seconds later a Toyota Tacoma pick-up pulled behind me and in my opinion a little close to my rear wheel. When the light turned green I hammered my way across the intersection, taking the lane the whole way because once I cross the street I have to take an immediate left. Then I hear the pick-up's engine gunning, it sounds like he's flooring it. He swerves around me and left hooks me before my turn. As he turns he shouts out the window that I should get an f***** car and takes off down the street. I don't know why this set me off, maybe it's because I still had plenty of adrenaline from the ride, but I was literally ready to fight the guy.

I don't understand what was bothering this guy. I was at the light before he arrived. I hammered my way across the intersection and the speed limit on these roads is only 25 at most waiting behind me would have delayed the guy by 5 or 10 seconds, but he still felt the need to yell at me.

 

It was a dark and rainy night

Kent Peterson has a great post about riding at night and/or in the rain.  Check it out.

 

I've Probably Said This Before

But it’s worth repeating.  Spring and Fall bring great cycling weather to Georgia.  Gorgeous weather today.

 

Today's Spam Poetry

 

coming back to the bed, she sat down

began stroking Florys bare shoulder

Prestige, Mr Flory, is like a barometer

A nod and a wink will accomplish more

Than a thousand official reports.

 

Hes been saying the same thing ever since the Jubilee

Alone, alone, the bitterness of being alone!

The headman reflected, scratching the calf of his left leg with his right big toenail.

 

It was years since he had enjoyed a meal.

The jungle was dried-up and lifeless at this time of year.

But the trees avenge themselves

The cigarette that had dropped burned down

acrid smell, browning the paper.

 

 

Poetry from today’s spam:

 

Now, Eureka,

show me the way to those wings

How many dollars is that?

Dollar Americaine?

Yes; United States money

 

Foggy Morning Ride Haiku

Pedaling to work

The fog engulfs me like fire

Burning me with joy

Stupid Ad

This morning while I was getting ready for work I saw an incredibly stupid ad on the television.  It basically consisted of a businessman in a suit and tie riding a pink children’s bike down the road and then pulling into a parking garage, followed by the tag “Need something.”  What made this ad especially stupid was the words that appeared at the bottom of the screen as the man pulled into the parking garage, “Do not attempt.”  What the hell does this mean?  Do not attempt to ride a kid’s bike; don’t tell that to the Zoobombers.  Do not attempt to ride a bike in a suit; don’t tell that to the Dutch.  Do not attempt to ride a bike into a parking garage; don’t tell that to me.  Everyday I commute to work by bicycle I ride into the parking garage where our two bike racks are located.  Maybe the message is do not attempt to ride a bike if you’re an adult, you really need a car.  In fact on reflection I’m sure that’s it.    

How to cut back on bike riding

Enroll in law school.