Bike Commuters

From Northern Virginia, Peter Beers is a bike commuter who rides his bike to Washington DC; here is his bike commuter profile:

How long have you been a bike commuter?

Part time (1-3 days per week): 15 years, Full time (250-300 days per year): 3 years.

Why did you start riding your bike to work and how long is your commute?

I’ve been a bike geek since I was old enough to ride. As a kid, it was my freedom. Mom worked a lot to pay the bills. I was left to myself. I went for a lot of bike rides.

These days, living in a city with gridlock issues like the Washington, DC metro area, riding my bike to work is a natural extension of that feeling of freedom. I could sit in a car in bumper-to-bumper traffic, or I could be riding my bicycle.

I change up my commute route during the week. It is a minimum of 30 miles round trip, but I often take the long way home – 45 miles round trip. My weekly mileage for commuting is between 150 and 200 miles.

How does Bike Commuting help you with your lifestyle (economics, health, relationships)?

Riding 200+ miles per week throughout the year has both an up and down side. I’ve lost around 50 pounds over the last 3 years. I’ve had to increase my beer consumption in order to keep any semblance of a belly.
The down-side of riding in the city that much is that there are many more opportunities to get up-close and personal with taxis, buses and cars. I’ve been hit 4 times in the last 18 months. None were too serious, though I did miss 4-5 weeks of riding this winter with a dislocated shoulder. On the good side, I also missed 4-5 weeks of snow shoveling. All of the incidents happened because drivers were not paying attention.

The mental health/attitude improvement benefits of riding to work are beyond measure. I’m happier and more energetic at work. I arrive at the office with my blood flowing and ready to work. I’m productive from the moment my butt hits the office chair. I arrive home having de-stressed from the day and carrying no work-related baggage.

What do you do for a living and in what city do you bike commute?

I’m a computer geek (software lifecycle management) who lives in Northern Virginia and works in downtown Washington, DC. I’m fortunate enough to work in the same building as the US Environmental Protection Agency. They let us non-government wonks use their bike facility and showers.

What kind(s) of bike do you have?

I’ve got a wide variety to choose from. Spring, summer and fall commuting these days is done on a Surly Big Dummy cargo bike. Riding a 75+ pound bike gives a bit of extra workout value to the commute.

Winter commuting is done on either a Surly Steamroller fixie (with fenders) or a mutant fixie cross bike (with studded tires for ice and snow) made from an old 26”-wheeled single speed mountain bike frame that now sports 700c wheels drop bars and a front disc brake. When the weather is really bad, I break out the 29er dinglespeed (2 chainrings, 2 cogs for the drivetrain) based on a Salsa Mamasita MTB frame.

Any funny or interesting commuting story that you may want to share?

Anger management has been a challenge when dealing with cars, taxis and buses. I used to let my emotions get the best of me when someone would cut me off or actively threaten me with their car. The high point (or low point depending on your point of view) of that was when a woman ran a red light and ran me off the road twice in 2 blocks because she was talking on the phone. She never did see or hear me beating on her window. I was so angry that I chased her for 20+ miles through DC rush hour traffic. I wanted to give her a piece of my mind. At the end, I found myself 30 miles from home and pretty dang tired and no less angry. Not good.

Honestly that day was a red flag for me that I needed to change how I approached cycling. I had my own little intervention (Can you intervene with yourself?) and started a quest NOT to avenge any wrongs perpetrated against me on the road. I now do what I can to get rid of the “Us versus Them” attitude between bicycles, runners, cars, buses, taxis, tourists, etc. That is my new quest. Am I 100% successful? Hell no! I definitely try to be a good example of riding at peace with my environment.

This is a great transition into my next topic…

In early April I added a sign to the back of my cargo bike aimed at aggressive drivers. It says, “Honk if you’re horny!” I wasn’t exactly sure how well that would to over with the road ragers in the DC area. After about 3 months, I’d have to say that it is an unmitigated success. It has completely changed the demographic of people who are honking at me. I’ve had only one or two people honk in anger at me since. It has helped my attitude too, because my reaction isn’t to respond in anger… it is to laugh at them professing their amorous intentions so loudly. I get people laughing, waiving and honking playfully every day. Sure beats getting honked at in anger every day. It has changed the dynamic of my riding.

What do people (coworkers, friends) say when you tell them that you are a bike commuter?

Mixed. In the winter people just think I’m a mutant that cannot possibly be in his right mind. Few if any can fathom the idea that the decision whether or not to ride is rarely made by me. If it is physically possible to ride, I will. If I can’t get through by bike, I probably can’t get through by car.

Spring and fall people think it is nice and express an interest in getting out there and riding with me.

With the summer heat index up over 100 degrees, I seem to fall back into the category of “crazy bike guy” with co-workers.

I’m the self-appointed person who promotes commuting on bicycle at the office. I’ve inspired a few to start riding a few days per week during nice weather. We have great access to bike facilities. On a good day we’ve got 5 or 6 people who commute on bicycle. In an office that usually has between 40 and 50 people working in it each day, that isn’t too bad.

I have a lot of co-workers that comment on my photographs.

How about bicycling advocacy? Are you active in any local or regional advocacy groups?

My advocacy is kind of all-over the place. I show up to and support Washington Area Bicycle Association (www.waba.org) functions. I contribute to BikeArlington’s forums (http://bikearlingtonforum.com/forum.php) to help facilitate people choosing to incorporate bicycles into their life more often. I rebuild and donate bikes to charity on my own, though I haven’t had time to do that much this year. Up until this year I worked pretty avidly with the Mid Atlantic Off-road Enthusiasts (http://www.more-mtb.org/). They’re the local mountain bike club. I lead beginners rides and conducted skills clinics for many years as well as taking part in trail maintenance and building days. Work has not allowed me to do much of that for the last year.

I guess my bit of advocacy is just leading by example. I get a lot of comments on the cargo bike. My answer to most questions is simple. “This is the bike that lets me do what I want to do without having to drive.”

Though not really bicycle advocacy, I distribute water, clothing, food and what-ever to the homeless people I encounter on my travels. This morning I encountered one of “regulars” who had decided that the middle of the Custis trail (the main bicycle/pedestrian artery into the city) was the best place for him to be sleeping. Nothing I could do would convince him this was not a good thing. I left one of my flashy lights 15 feet in front of him so people would know to avoid him. I left him a bottle of water in case he was thirsty when he woke up. Not sure yet how that turned out. I did what I could.

Is that bicycle advocacy? No. I guess I’m being an advocate on a bicycle though.

Anything else that you want to share with us?

I belong to a small band of people who have a group on Flickr to document their cycling. The group (Bike180 for 2009, 2010Bike180 for this year) was an active photo essay maintained by a group who ride at least 180 days per year and contribute one photo for every day we ride.

The 2009 Bike180 (http://www.flickr.com/groups/bike180/) group had 54 people in it and a total of almost 2100 photos contributed. Many rode more than 180 days, 4 rode more than 200. 2 of us rode more than 300.

The 2010Bike180 (http://www.flickr.com/groups/bike180-2010/) group has fewer people (38) but they’re much more prolific. We’re at mid July and we’ve already surpassed the number of photos/rides of last year.

For me the challenge isn’t to make 180 days per year… it is to take interesting photos every day. Starting in June I decided that I needed a theme. I started documenting one statue, sculpture or monument each day. It has forced me to stop and smell the roses. It has renewed my love affair with Washington, DC.

Thanks for the opportunity to share.

Thank you Peter for sharing your profile and your pictures with us. We are still working on other commuter profiles, so be patient if you haven’t seen yours yet!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Next up in our recurring commuter profiles category is Miriam Gee — funny, irreverent and very excited to be profiled here on Bikecommuters.com. Plus, the scenery of her commute absolutely trumps the competition…imagine riding your bike in a place where “the air is so dewy sweet you don’t even have to lick the stamps!” Take a look for yourself, and read on:

Name:

Miriam Elizabeth Gee

(Miriam in her “PRO-STYLE” orange sunglasses)

How long have you been a bike commuter?

More or less since 2005 – or since the birth of the overhauled, hand-me-down from my college roommate’s sister, old Costco bike, known as “the purple GROUNDPOUNDER.”

Why did you start riding your bike to work and how long is your commute?

I started riding my bike to work in Seattle when I moved to Capitol Hill and worked just 2 miles away in downtown. After a few months of constant lurching, putrid smells, and unreliable scheduling, I broke up with my commuter nemesis, the King County “Metro” (fancy name for the bus) and chose bike therapy over nausea. Not to say that I don’t love the shame train on extra rainy days or for the express routes, but the time it took to ride the bus, and the amount of Dramamine it took to ride it just wasn’t worth it! Naturally, my Seattleite cycling friends convinced me to invest in shiny new Kona Dew, and I rolled my way down the hill faster than the Metro from that day on! I love my bike like some people love their Mom.

Now I live in Honolulu. My first commute was about 5 miles round trip. But, in the past year I’ve moved out to the ‘burbs for cheaper rent, amazing views, and a longer, more scenic commute; I’m racking up close to 25 miles per day now. Eff you 24-hour fitness: hello Scott Speedster! Okay and sometimes, I do take TheBus (non-fancy name for the bus) when my legs are shot or if it’s super voggy. But everyday I ride it’s still faster than waiting for the bus! It took a few months, but now I’m able to bike to and from work 5 days a week – no sweat (figuratively speaking).

How does Bike Commuting help you with your lifestyle (economics, health, relationships)?

Bike Commuting has upped my social status fo sho: before I was just lame bus girl who always needed a ride to the north shore. Now I am badass bike girl who rides to Hawaii Kai every day – the envy or dismay of all of my co-workers, clients, friends, and family. More women than men in my office commute by bike and my boss brags about us “tough girls” whenever a client sees a sweaty face rolling into the office in the morning. I’ve also made some of my closest friends in Hawaii through cycling camaraderie. Bikes for Life! If it weren’t for my bike sisters, none of us would have entered the Haleiwa Metric Century Ride as the “Greasy Threesome”.

As far as economy, nothing beats $ Free.99! My boyfriend and I have been car-free and bus pass-free for about two years now, which leaves money for a 401K, sweatpants with words on the butt, a gold jet ski for my grandma, and feta cheese.
And as for health, it must be doing something right. Even though I eat whatever I want whenever I want (this isn’t a dieting blog, right?) I just flew home for a wedding where everyone referred to me as “the bridesmaid with the nice legs.” Thank you, Chinese genetics for my calves, but I guess the 2-hour daily commute workout must be helping too.

What do you do for a living and in what city do you bike commute?

I’m an architect, and I’m into the “S-Word”, or sustainability and green building. I’m fortunate to bike commute in Honolulu on the beautiful island of Oahu.

What kind(s) of bike do you have?

1. 2007 Kona Dew – on permanent loan to another friend who wanted to start commuting to work. The Kona Dew was my main commuter/hybrid and first real love, I ditched the yellow Planet Bike Fenders and the rack when we boxed and flew it to Hawaii.

2. 2009 Scott Speedster – my bumblebee colored entry-level road bike. My first roadie and attempt at clippie-shoes. A note to fellow Oahu cyclists: don’t be fooled, I’m not that fast – it’s the racy paint job, and I’m not that rich – I bought the bike buy-one-get-one free! After getting used to the numb-crotch feeling and gearing down for stops on inclines, this Scott road bike is my newfound love. I love this bike like I love my step-Mom.

(Speedster on right)

Any funny or interesting commuting story that you may want to share?

I’m really bad at spitting while riding as it often ends up on my face. A funnier one though is the first time I was testing out my long commute route in Honolulu. I had borrowed a friend’s junk-a-lunk MTB with shimano SPDs. I rode the busted thing about 15 miles in sandals equipped with only one water bottle, a huge backpack, and a trendy helmet without enough vents. At about 3pm, the Hawaiian Sun beat me down with heat exhaustion, and I ended up in a quivering pile on the side of the road by the beach. A Jehovah’s witness in a painter’s truck picked me up and drove me back home. I ended up instantly puking the vitamin water from my mouth and nose into a paint bucket all the way back. My boyfriend thought I was kidnapped by a crazy rapist, but instead the nice man sent me home with a jar of homemade lilikoi butter and a paper copy of The Watchtower. Awkward yet comical commute of the year.

What do people (coworkers, friends) say when you tell them that you are a bike commuter?

Coworkers often say, “You should get pegs so we can go pick up lunch” or “I think you need to take a shower.” I do take a pirate shower in the sink at work in the a.m.

Friends and family often say, “Biking to work is HOT, I want to buy a bike!” in my dreams. In reality, they say the typical, “Do you want to die!?” To which I reply, “It’s actually tons of fun if you’re careful, you should try it!” I think I’ll make a commuting jersey that says: Yes, I am Crazy. No, I don’t want to Die.

How about bicycling advocacy? Are you active in any local or regional advocacy groups?

I advocate by waving profusely and smiling at all cyclists, pedestrians, and car drivers at red lights. I participate in Hawaii Pedal Power’s annual Bike to Work month events and practice individual bike commuting evangelism. This means I preach fun, fitness, and $ free.99 by fixing up bikes and doling them out to friends as much as possible!

Anything else that you want to share with us?

Swamp crotch is the worst. You cannot cure it with anything but a shower. Baby powder does not work, nor does fancy anti-bacterial underwear. As a cyclist in humid Hawaii weather, it’s something to embrace. You are not alone, humid-weather riders.

We’d like to thank Miriam for sending in her profile, and ask the rest of you to do so if you’re interested in sharing your experiences with others. Ride on!

Popularity: 3% [?]

Fullerton Loop Swap Meet 7am-12pm

Save the Date-July 31st, 2010

Get there early to get a good spot

From 7am-12pm-Fullerton Loop Swap Meet.

Bring out all your old or new stuff you don’t want anymore and set up for FREE!

BRING CASHOLA!

Located HERE

View Larger Map

Popularity: 3% [?]

I just got a message from bicycle advocate extraordinaire Alan Snel…his bike was stolen today in south Tampa. In fact, the bike was so new that he hadn’t even gotten to snap a photo of it, so he provided a description:

White aluminum Ridley road frame with red lettering and red water bottle cages.

Black handlebar tape and saddle.

Police Unity Tour saddle bag.

Bontrager rear wheel.

50-53 CM small frame.

If you see the bike, please let Alan know by dropping him a line at alansnel[at]yahoo.com or by calling Officer Curtis Adkins of the City of Tampa Police at 813-276-3200.

Popularity: 3% [?]

I’ve been testing the Mission Workshop Vandal Cargo Backpack for the last few months. Before I get into the details of the review, below is some information regarding the bag.

The Vandal

The meat and potatoes of this bag is that you can carry anything from meat to potatoes and all food groups in between, in a weatherproof and flawlessly constructed example of what is rapidly setting the urban backpack standard.

* 3 weatherproof compartments
* 2 external accessory pockets
* Expanding cargo compartment
* Messenger bag durability
* Water-resistant urethane coated zippers
* Rugged internal frame
* Made in America with a lifetime warranty

Dimensions – Compact
Measures – 15” x 21” x 6”
Volume – 1,800 cu. in. / 30 L / 6.75 Gallons
Dimensions – Expanded
Measures – 15” x 21” x 12”
Volume – 4,000 cu. in. / 65 L / 15 Gallon
Price: $239

I’ve been using this bag for just about everything I need a big bag for. I’ve spent countless miles with it on my bike whether I am going to and from work or picking up some groceries; I have also used the Vandal for a recent camping trip. I’ve always preferred backpacks to carry my stuff while commuting, so when the opportunity to review the Vandal came up, I jumped on it.

One of my favorite features of the Vandal is its pretty green color. It’s definitely a nice contrast against a busy scene of cars in traffic. This is good because everyone knows that visibility is a bike commuter’s best friend.

The Vandal has 4 large compartments that can host your clothing, food, shoes, and beer. I was able to separate my shoes from my clothes, which is nice because I don’t want either of them to touch during transport. For one, I don’t want any dirt from my shoes to get on my clothes, and I wouldn’t want my clothes to smell like my feet. In my previous bag, I’d have to wrap up my shoes with a plastic bag before putting them in.

In the compartment close to my back, my 17″ laptop and charger called it home with room to spare.

The Vandal offers wide straps with multiple height adjustments for the chest strap.

Mission Workshop claims the Vandal is water resistant. Since I didn’t see any rain during the time that I was testing the bag, I decided to call on the help of my garden hose. I set it to a nice shower-like spray and made sure the bag was thoroughly soaked. Just to let you know, I kept the hose on for about 5 minutes.

…like water off a duck’s back

When I opened the zippers I found the inside contents of the bag were nice and dry. Good job Vandal!

When I first learned about Mission Workshop and the Vandal, I thought, “that’s a nice backpack.” Though it has some great features like the water resistant material and zippers and multi location cargo holders, I was more impressed with the fact that they offer a Lifetime Warranty. Yeah I know that the $239 sticker price is a bit steep, but you’re paying for a good quality bag and based on their warranty, you can pretty much do no wrong and they’ll still fix it for you. Well, there are exceptions, but you’ll have to read about it.

Let me get into the adjustibility of the Vandal. As I’ve mentioned you have a chest strap that can be position higher or lower to provide a better fit for the rider. You also receive the standard height adjustment on the shoulder straps. What stuck out the most about this back pack is that it had additional straps to either tilt in/out the bag to make it easier to carry. This feature is pretty helpful especially if you’re carrying a heavier load. Personally I like having my cargo as close to my back as possible.

Though I’m 5′7″ the Vandal fit me just fine. But if you were any shorter, this bag might be a bit big on you. But don’t worry, Mission Workshop has a smaller bag — actually its their medium version called the Rambler.

When it comes to stability, the Vandal is pretty darn secure. If you’ve ever carried cargo on your back that cause you to use your bag’s full capacity, then you’ll understand that when you’re on your bike taking off from a red light, your backpack will sway back and forth. The Vandal was pretty stable when I had a full load in the bag. I expanded it to make sure that all my stuff fit. To prevent it from swaying side to side when sprinting out of the intersection, I previously adjusted the tilt straps and I also adjust these straps below to make sure that my cargo was secured in its place. You see the orange part of the clip in the photo below? That right there is spring loaded and there’s enough tension on it to prevent your buckles from slipping out of place.

Last but not least, “does the bag keep pointy objects from touching my back?” Absolutely. The “back” part of the bag is reinforced with some sort of rugged frame to prevent your machetes or bike parts from poking you.

For the commuter who prefers a backpack over panniers or a messenger bag, a bag like the Mission Workshop Vandal would be a good fit for you. It’s full of features, compartments and if you can get over the the initial sticker shock of the bag, you end up with a product that is designed to last longer than most cars on the road. I gotta be honest with you, it’s their warranty that sold me on the Vandal. Nowadays, its pretty rare to see a “lifetime warranty” on products. Some may have 30-90 days or even up to 2 years. But the words “lifetime” was music to my ears. If anything, just consider it an investment.

Please click here to read our review disclaimer as required by the Federal Trade Commission.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Gutter Bunnies are cyclists who ride on or outside the fog line, on the shoulder, or on the narrow concrete road gutter. There are certain times that it’s beneficial to use this paved real-estate, but those of us who ride regularly might want to think twice about using the gutter all the time. Here are some of my thoughts:

1. The gutter is unkempt: It’s usually riddled with road debris, pot-holes, storm drains, and other bad stuff. The cyclist either has to risk damaging the bike and possibly losing control, or has to be prepared to dart out into the lane to avoid these perils. Neither option is safe.
2. Motorists aren’t expecting anything on the shoulder or in the gutter. The guy 2 cars behind you probably can’t even see you until he’s right on top of you, thanks to the car between you and him obstructing the view. If that motorist is driving too far to the right, you get clipped or at least have a close call.
3. The Right Hook: A right-turning motorist is likely to underestimate your speed and make a right turn directly into your path.

Most states have laws similar to Kansas which pertain to bicycles on the road (gathered from KansasCyclist.com):

8-1587. Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.

Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this act, except as otherwise provided in K.S.A. 8-1586 to 8-1592, inclusive, and except as to those provisions of this act which by their nature can have no application.

8-1590. Riding on bicycles or mopeds; riding on roadways and bicycle paths.

(a) Every person operating a bicycle or a moped upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, except under any of the following situations when: (1) Overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; (2) preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; or (3) reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving bicycles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or narrow width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand edge of the roadway.

That is to say that in many places in the US, if you’re going slower than traffic, you aren’t required by law to be a Gutter Bunny, but you usually have to stay to the right as far as you can within safety and reason. That, to me, precludes things like storm drains, twigs and glass bottles and other things in my path.

When there’s room, I usually stay near the area where most cars’ right wheel goes.  On multi-lane roads where there’s a wide outer lane, there’s usually ample room for your bike in a safe lane position, 3-4 feet of buffer, and another car without it having to cross the line.  On multi-lane roads without a wide outer lane, this lane position makes it much more likely that passing motorists will simply change lanes to get around you.  It’s also a more assertive position that makes your place in traffic quite clear.  Turning motorists will almost always hang back.

When the roads are narrower and full of no-passing-zones, the road dynamic changes quite a bit. Most motorists have learned that they can cross the double line to get around slow moving vehicles quickly and safely, within the spirit (although not the letter) of the law. Dave Moulton wrote a great ranty piece about this phenomenon.

There are a number of debates about bike lanes, sidewalks, paths, using the road, and all that. I really don’t mind using bike-specific infrastructure, but it’s far from a requirement for getting around.

Popularity: 5% [?]

The other day, Mark San Buenaventura, an industrial design student at San Francisco’s Academy of Art, contacted us to see if we could get some input from our readers on a design project he’s working on. Here are his details:

“For my Industrial Design thesis project I am exploring the topic of “Commuting and Footwear.” I am trying to explore all and any of the possible product opportunities related to the foot, shoes, bike, pedaling, etc. while commuting. So basically I would like to start a forum/conversation to get as many thoughts, perspectives, feelings, etc. from commuters to see what direction I may explore further.

Or, if this helps to get the thought process going… “What are some of the concerns you have when commuting to work or anywhere for that matter regarding your footwear?” Thanks! (marksanb@gmail.com if you’d like to discuss more on the side)

Thank you,
MSB

If you have any comments, concerns or insights to share with Mark, please post them in the comments section below. Thanks in advance!

Popularity: 5% [?]

We don’t post press releases too often here on Bikecommuters.com…but this one we HAD to share. We’re all huge fans of Sky Yaeger and her work…everything she touches, bike-wise, turns to pure gold. Check this out:

SPOT BRAND HIRES SKY YAEGER

Golden, Colorado—July 8, 2010—Andrew Lumpkin, CEO of Spot Brand bikes announced today that they have hired Sky Yaeger for a newly created position as Senior Product Manager. Yaeger started immediately, working out of a Marin County, California office. The majority owner of Spot Brand is Wayne Lumpkin, having founded Avid in 1991 and, after successfully building the international brand, selling it to SRAM in 2004.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for me, as I have always admired Spot Brand and been a huge fan of Wayne and Andrew. After they acquired Spot Brand I was excited to see where they would take it and I am honored to be joining a company with such legitimate MTB heritage, and now huge potential with the Gates belt-drive system,” Yaeger said.

Yaeger brought some of the first production single-speed mountain bikes to market in the mid-90s, while at Bianchi USA, and spec’d Spot hubs on those first bikes. “I go back with the brand and have always liked the simple, clean design and fun vibe.”

Andrew Lumpkin added, “Sky is a trendsetter in the industry and will be instrumental to Spot Brand’s continued trailblazing of new technologies.”

For the past 4 years Yaeger has been working at Swobo Bikes, which was recently acquired by Santa Cruz Bicycles. She started designing the urban bicycle product line in 2006, and the line-up now includes 10 models currently in production. Before that she was VP of Product Development at Bianchi USA for many years.

The industry veteran will be responsible for a new line of Spot models that will incorporate the Gates belt-drive technology. “I think the future looks bright for alternative drivetrain options. I’ve always believed in simple, elegant solutions to complex problems. The internal hub is an old idea but it’s been my mission, since I designed the Bianchi Milano in 1996, to get more people to appreciate the function and simplicity of internally geared hubs on modern bikes. Add a belt to that and you have an almost perfect drivetrain.”

(photo by Richard Masoner of Cyclelicious — thanks for letting us borrow it!)

Popularity: 5% [?]

Well, our call for commuter profiles was well-received; we got responses from over two dozen commuters who want their turn in the limelight! First up is Evan Baird, who was so eager he got his questionnaire and photos over to me the next day. Check out what Evan has to say:

Name:

Evan Baird

How long have you been a bike commuter?

I started riding my bike to and from school when I was going to high school in Reno. So that’s going on 6 years now.

Why did you start riding your bike to work and how long is your commute?

I grew up in Gainesville Florida (Go Gators!) so I’ve been getting around on a bike since I took off the training wheels. It makes sense when you live in a university neighborhood because every time there is a sporting event the streets are a mess so you can’t find parking. Plus as a kid I just wanted to go to the playground down the street most of the time. Growing up I moved around a lot, so it was always a good way of exploring new places and getting a feel for the neighborhood. When I was around ten I got a Mongoose BMX bike and I thought I was going to be a flatland master. As I got older my parents got me a Schwinn hard-tail and I would take it to the local BMX jumps and try to get big air. When I realized I was a big wimp I got more into the mechanical side of things and got an internship at a local bike shop in the small California gold-rush town I lived in. When I got out of high school I worked at a bike shop in Lake Tahoe over the summer and I rode my bike along the bike trail every day to and from work. When I came back home to Reno in the fall I got a job at another bike shop and just never stopped riding. At a dead sprint I can make it from my house to the shop in about 10 minutes. It is mostly downhill with a small climb in between and a long downhill to the other side of campus. But I prefer a route that is a little calmer and lets me ride through Ravenna park. It’s a dirt trail that goes through a little gorge between a whole bunch of houses and it has been pretty nicely restored with a lot of native foliage. It can be kind of nasty in the rain, but with full coverage fenders it’s still doable. It’s gravel so it’s somewhat level and it’s honestly not too rough with a 32c tire or a little larger.

How does bike commuting help you with your lifestyle (economics, health, relationships)?

God, I can’t imagine not riding my bike. As an Americorps volunteer I received a monthly bus pass, but let me tell you, riding the Metro all winter, especially the number 7 will make you go a little bats***. Now that I’m making a little more money I have more to spend on bikes. You can’t do Americorps and have a high maintenance personality. You’ll never make it. I can live on next to nothing, and be really happy. Having a little extra just means I get new handlebar tape and an new wool jersey to ride in. I have never gone to a gym so riding is my main form of exercise. More than that though, it’s the best mental healthcare money can buy. Like a lot of people who moved here from someplace sunnier I started to go a little crazy over the winter and cycling daily really helped me find more balance in my life. In all honesty if I didn’t ride my bike every day I think I would have a hard time even getting out of bed. Live to ride and ride to live.

What do you do for a living and in what city do you bike commute?

Like I said, I work for a bike shop these days. It’s a pretty small shop right off the Burke Gilman Trail in the North End of Seattle, so there is a ton of commuter traffic. We sell mainly steel bikes which is fine by me. I’ve broken every aluminum bike I’ve ever owned. But It’s definitely a shop I feel good about working at. We do a lot of Surly, Salsa, Civia, Breezer, Soma and Jamis, which are all solid brands in my opinion, but there is definitely a high end market for custom stuff from Indy Fab, CoMotion, Desalvo, Moots, Ti Cycles and that kind of thing. Seattle and Portland represent a microcosm within the cycling industry, as far as the necessity of running fenders at least 6 months out of the year. I would like to someday take a frame-building class at UBI and get an apprenticeship with an established builder. I love bicycle design and the detail and workmanship that goes into building custom bikes. I also enjoy writing about bikes and I’ve been working on a series of interviews with local builders for my blog. It’s really interesting to hear different perspectives about the philosophy of bicycle design. I think it’s an exciting time to be involved in the bike industry, especially in this region which is attracting so much new talent and passion. I feel like the age of the utility bicycle is finally upon us at least here in the Northwest.

What kind(s) of bike do you have?

I currently own a green Soma ES (one of the mis-painted seconds they had a few years ago). That is my main commuter bike since it wears fenders year round now. I also have a Surly Steamroller, currently in Scorcher mode with some 38c tires and a pair of old Weinmann center pull brakes I found at a local shop and Soma Noah’s Arc Bars. My mountain bike is a Surly 1X1 that I built up with spare parts I had from a few mountain bikes I sold off to finance my move from Reno. I got a sweet deal on the frameset from a new shop that opened up while I was living in Tacoma. My old commuter used to be a Surly Cross Check that I set up with Nitto Albatross bars and barcon shifters. I sold that when I realized that it was overlapping too much with the Soma and I’ve seen it around, so I know it has a good home. Before that I had a Specialized Langster which met a tragic end in an incident with a Chevy Suburban.

Any funny or interesting commuting story that you may want to share?

I was looking at the “learning the hard way” question from the previous posts when I wrote this response, but I think it still qualifies as an interesting story. My old Specialized met its untimely demise via the back door of an SUV. It was my fault, and I learned a good lesson. If you have to carry awkward things, invest in a bike that can carry it. I was riding from the shop I worked at heading towards downtown Reno and carrying a large easel in a bag over my shoulder. If you’ve never been to Reno, you might not know how windy it gets. Essentially what happened was the bag I was carrying acted like a sail and blew me off track right into the back of a parked car. 50 stitches in my face and 700 dollars to replace the dude’s window and I was home free, but I can’t imagine what would have happened if I had been going much faster. I was only riding about 10 miles an hour and I busted though the back window with my face. All I can say is thank god for tempered glass. On a more serious note though, I think the cycling community needs to work towards getting on street parking banned along bike routes. The danger of getting doored or pushed off the road by oncoming traffic is a daily hazard in Seattle. We have pretty good infrastructure compared to a lot of places, but we still have many bike lanes of death with parking along the sidewalk. Seriously? Come on SDOT! Sharrows are a much better solution.

What do people (coworkers, friends) say when you tell them that you are a bike commuter?

Well, at the bike shop it’s pretty much the norm. Everybody rides to work at least a couple times a week. So in that respect it’s super supportive. Plus most of our customers are commuters as well as recreational and competitive riders. Working for Americorps was a different thing. I wont name names, but the program I was involved with for two years is borderline anti bicycle. They had many policies that essentially prohibited employees from cycling to work. It was incredibly frustrating. During the time I was there I tried to work with the management to improve the situation and we had some success, but the level of push back I got was very disheartening. I even contacted the Cascade Bicycle Club to try to organize a safe cycling seminar for the corps members who wanted to ride to work, but in the end they said it was an issue of liability and that cycling would not be covered by their insurance. When the Seattle Metro changed their policy on bringing bikes on buses in downtown it made it much easier to just hop on a bus and bring the bike along during the day, and the new light-rail is by far the most bike friendly mode of transit in Seattle. On that note I would really like to thank the CBC for all the great work they do getting bikes recognized in the decision making process and especially John Mauro the Commute Director for all the help he gave me in trying to navigate the policy nightmare. I think that things are getting better and I hope that young folks who are starting their service years will have a more positive experience in the future.

How about bicycling advocacy? Are you active in any local or regional advocacy groups?

LIke I said, Cascade Bicycle Club is the best. I haven’t been involved in any advocacy activities as much as I would like outside of the work I was doing at my old job, but I would like to get more involved now that I have more time. I have also volunteered with Bikeworks in Columbia City a couple of times, and I think what they have going on is one of the most important cycling programs in the city. I really believe that if we work to build a strong cycling culture with the youth, especially in underserved neighborhoods it will not only make our community stronger but it will be a win for the future of democracy for everyone. I know people that know me are sick of hearing it, but i believe that the single most effective way of promoting equality and denouncing the exploitation and racism that is still so prevalent even in supposedly progressive liberal cities like Seattle is to get on your bike and ride. Not just in the nice polished neighborhoods like Queen Anne and Laurelhurst and Admiral, but in Beacon Hill and Rainier Beach and Delridge. Those neighborhoods are just as beautiful and the people are just as nice and friendly provided you come there with a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love. Democracy starts with a smile. And maybe a bike bell.

Anything else that you want to share with us?

I just want to give a quick shout out to all the crazy bike shop guys who’ve given me a chance over the years. Bob Molinari, Peter Underwood, Bill Cushway, Dan Brown, Thanks Guys! You Rock! And check out www.therubbishbin.net It’s mainly a lot of pictures but I do write stuff on there pretty often. I’m trying to post more original stuff on there now that I have a bit more free time.

Thanks, Evan, for sharing your words and photos with us…and for the rest of you: stay tuned, because there are a few more commuter profiles coming your way! It’s not too late to submit your information, too…

Popularity: 5% [?]

This weekend the annual L.A.T.E. Ride in Chicago will cycle through Chicago neighborhoods as a fundraiser for the organization Friends of the Parks. Last year, the ride celebrated its 21st year. It’s a great way to see the city all lit up – and maybe venture off your typical bike commuting route.

This year the L.A.T.E. Ride will have a new route – highlights include the South Loop, Chinatown, Greek Town, Chicago’s historic “Emerald Necklace” and much more!

Night-of registrations will be accepted.

New this year – we begin riding at 12 midnight!

Schedule of Events:
10:00pm – Midnight: Night-of-Event Packet Pick-Up and On-Site Registration, helmet sales and bike repairs by Village Cycle Center, plus live music by Four Man Band.

11:00pm: Head for the stage for our annual BEST LIT BIKE and BEST DECORATED HELMET contests. Prizes will be awarded. Be creative!

11:50pm: Look for your color group (Blue, Green, Red, Orange, Yellow) along Columbus Drive. Listen for instructions.

Midnight – 12:45pm: Step-Off! We’ll release riders south along Columbus Drive starting with VIP riders followed by five regular waves in about eight-minute intervals. Rider numbers are color-coded according and will be released in this order:
1)VIPs 2) Blue 3) Green 4) Red 5) Orange 6) Yellow

Also new – while you wait for the sun to rise over Lake Michigan enjoy an all-you-can-eat optional breakfast from Goose Island – Cost is only $7.00 per person, $2.00 of which benefits Friends of the Parks.

See you Long After Twilight Ends…

Popularity: 5% [?]