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Der blinkinlichten ist lookenpeepers goot!
Posted On Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 By David Veatch
Wherein a little cycling gadget history, and new Blackburn Flea 2.0 USB cycling lights are reviewed. With pics!
Twice in Two Days
Posted On Friday, March 18th, 2011 By David Veatch
That’s how many times I was nearly hit by a driver not paying attention. I don’t know that there’s any way to compare that to the average ride for the average rider, but for me, it’s twice the number of near misses I’ve had for the last three four years. My own memory is very likely faulty, but I only remember one other instance. Yesterday morning, I was heading south on Lowell and turning left onto 91st when a woman heading east on 91st Terrace went straight through the intersection towards 91st St after I was already well into my turn. She, in effect, wanted to share precious intersection space with me. I saw it happening, easily adjusted my course and we pulled into the eastbound lane side by side with me in the middle and her next to the curb. She sped ahead with a look of shock (reproach? distaste?) on her face and I moved to the right behind her. I tried to catch her at Foster – you know, for a friendly reminder about paying attention – but the light turned before I got there and she was gone. Oh well. This morning, I was much closer more »
Bike Commuting Methodology
Posted On Saturday, January 8th, 2011 By David Veatch
This is an outline of how I make my trips to work by bike successful and fun. This list is written assuming that you, like me, already possess a bike and attire of your choosing. If you don’t, you might need to look to that first. The Night Before Verify bike ABC Quick Check ‘A’ is for ‘Air’. Check your tires to make sure they aren’t flat. They don’t roll right if they are. ‘B’ is for ‘Brakes’. Make sure they’re working. You won’t stop well if you’re rolling if they don’t work. Stopping is just as important as going, after all. ‘C’ is for ‘Chain’. Is it broken or bent? If the answer is yes, then it’s probably not a good idea to ride on it. ‘C’ is also for ‘Drive train’, though they start with different letters (just go with me on this). Make sure your shifting is working and that there aren’t any squirrels hiding away in your derailleur. Pack work clothes. Do this the night before so you don’t forget anything when you’re all groggy from having to get up freakishly early to ride. Prepare bike clothing, depending on weather. Again, so you don’t forget your more »
Starting Line Bike-for-Transportation Setup for 2011
Posted On Monday, January 3rd, 2011 By David Veatch
I’ve decided that I’m going to return to my 2008 habit of getting to work on my own power, sans internal combustion engine, as much as possible. There will be days when I have to resort to the relative warmth of a car cabin, due to meetings in another building, but I think I’ll be able to make it happen again with the same commitment I had back then, barring compelling spousal objection or injury, of course. It looks like I picked a decent week to start: Monday – Mostly sunny. High: ~41°F Tuesday – Mostly sunny. High: ~38°F Wednesday – Mostly sunny. High: ~44°F Thursday – Partly cloudy. High: ~42°F Friday – Partly cloudy. High: ~43°F So I’ll have some things cycling related things to write about again. Tomorrow, I’m going to talk about my new helmet, a Lazer Helium. Wednesday, I’m going to talk about my new cycling glasses, the 7eye Cape with Airshield. Today, I’m going to go over my rig and gear. The Rig I’m riding a nearly stock ’09 Kona Dew Drop. The details are given below on the off-chance you’re interested, and b/c I’m not sure how long they’ll be available on the Kona more »
Bike Week KC
Posted On Friday, May 14th, 2010 By David Veatch
I’ve not been very good about riding my bike to work the last couple of weeks. I was gung-ho the first week, and rode every day. The last couple of weeks, though… I don’t know, I just didn’t have it in me. I caved to the pull of the seat vs. the saddle. I took the easier, more populated road. Can’t say I felt great about it, and though there were only a couple of days where I legitimately needed the car to either be somewhere far away quickly, or to carry something my bike just isn’t equipped to carry (lumber, for instance), I did it every day anyway. Bike Week KC starts up next week, and I joined up on Brent Hugh’s MoBikeFed Wheel Wizards team, for no other reason than b/c I got a mass e’mail from him about it. I couldn’t pick the man out of a crowd, but if it keeps him from buying dinner for other people I don’t know, and helps me with the whole biking thing… Well, why not? So… I’m signed up, and though I’ll need my car at least one day next week, I don’t see why I can’t ride to more »
A Series of Fortunate Events
Posted On Monday, November 9th, 2009 By David Veatch
It’s a bit dark in the mornings these days to break out the camera and provide visual evidence of how gorgeous it is. Not that that’s anything new to the huge number of readers I have the pleasure of counting as my audience. I have really nice camera, but I just can’t seem to stop myself while riding long enough to take pictures. Maybe one day I’ll learn to slow down and enjoy the views a bit more. Maybe some day I’ll come up with a safe way to store the camera so that it’s easily accessible. Until then, my flowery language will have to suffice. At better than 60°F this morning, cloudy and just slightly damp, it was a truly spectacular 5 mile ride in to work. I couldn’t have driven even if I’d wanted to, as my car is in the shop getting it’s transmission and fuel system flushed, a tire repaired, and some drying and cracking belt that apparently runs lots of really important systems replaced. Would I have driven? Maybe. I might have driven and brought with me a week’s worth of clothes so I didn’t have to pack each day. Then I would have driven more »
Pay-As-You-Go Auto Insurance
Posted On Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 By David Veatch
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner of California released regulations permitting and authorizing mileage verification for pay-as-you-drive. The idea being that Californians won’t drive as much if they pay-per-mile. Spokesmen from a few Insurance companies, including State Farm and Allstate, have stated that they are considering pay-per-mile auto insurance but haven’t decided whether or not it’ll actually become a reality. With the economy being the way it is, getting a…Read More Is it just me, or would this be of great benefit to those of us who ride our bikes as much as, if not more than, we drive? I can hear the detractors now, though… “Pay your fair share of the road costs! Register your bike so you have a right to the road just like we do!” Bah. As if insurance payments go to road maintenance. I wonder if, after a year on a pay-as-you-go plan, they’d be willing to go the same route as utility companies who offer “Budget Billing” rates based on the average of your last 12 months?
She Was Reading. While She Was Driving.
Posted On Thursday, October 29th, 2009 By David Veatch
I meant to post about this yesterday, but I got busy right when I got home, and then when the busy wore off, I got relaxed on the couch in front of the television. To set the scene, as I was riding home yesterday, around the corner of 91st and Lamar, I was part of a long line of traffic caught behind a school bus that had stopped to let off some kiddos. The woman in the car in front of me was reading what looked like business documents. The papers were propped up on her steering wheel, and she was reading them the entire time I was behind her. Granted, it was very slow moving traffic, and it was stop-and-go while we approached the stop sign, but she was reading while she was driving. She was reading. While she was driving. Nothing is so important that it couldn’t wait until she got to where she was going. I don’t care what it was. Nope. Not even that. It could have waited. Remember the school bus? There were children all around. They were running this way and that on either side of the street. How many of you haven’t seen more »
Winter Checklist
Posted On Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 By David Veatch
Winter is approaching. It’s snowing in Colorado right now, so my friends tell me. It normally follows that whatever they get, we get here in eastern KS a few days later. We may not get the snow, but I’m sure it’ll get cold again real soon. Maybe not next week, or the week after, but it’s coming. So, it’s time to take stock and make sure I’ve got everything I need in order to weather the cold air on the bike. The Bike It’s a nearly new bike, with only a few hundred miles on it, so there aren’t any major issues, and all the components are in top shape. A Kansas winter will be a good test of it. Knobby tires: Well, sorta. The stock tires on my Kona Dew Drop are Continental CountryRide. They won’t do too well in standing snow, I don’t think, but they’re fine in wet conditions. With any tires, though, it pays to ride very carefully when it’s wet. Fenders: Check. I don’t have the rear fenders on, but the commuter panniers I got from NashBar serve the same purpose. If it’s crazy wet, I’ll bolster their water resistance by lining some plastic on more »
A Balmy 42 This Morning
Posted On Friday, October 16th, 2009 By David Veatch
To this day, I very clearly remember the joy and relief I felt when the morning temperatures finally returned to the 40′s and 50′s last year. It was sometime in March, I believe, and it was a blessed relief after a couple months of temperatures below 10°F, and in the teens and twenties. It didn’t stay steady in the 50′s, but it was a wonderful sign of things to come. Now, I know it’s only going to get colder, so I’m enjoying the 40′s while they last. This morning, at 42°F, I was quite comfortable. Some thoughts about my equipment: Feet: Wool socks with plastic bags around my toes for wind breakage. And Shimano MTB shoes.Torso/Arms: A moderately thick wicking layer, a thin wicking layer and a wind breaker.Hands: Salsa N’AGUA™ Gloves.Head: A thin head scarf pulled down over my ears and the standard helmet. If I were to change a thing, it would be to eliminate the thin wicking layer. I got a touch warmish up top. I think it’s time for a new helmet, too. I’ve had my Giro Atmos for a few years now, and I hear it’s a good idea to replace them periodically. With all more »