SOCIAL BIKING BLOG

Your frame on Crack

2012-01-18T11:32:00.001-08:00

The website BUSTED CARBON is devoted to a single, sobering topic: failed carbon frames, seat posts and handlebars. You won't soon forget a visit to this site. See below and click on one of the photos for more.

Rivendell Bicycle Works has been sounding the alarm on carbon frames for some time. I bought a beautiful all steel Romulus from them years ago and have enjoyed every minute on it. It's a supremely comfortable and ergonomic ride. As promised, I can ride all day without any aches and pains. But have I really been safer?

Here is Ken Thiessen on steel/vs carbon bike frames:

I crashed hard on my all-carbon Giant bike a couple of years ago. Before I rode the bike again, I hired a mechanic formerly with TREK (I wanted an opinion independent from the manufacturer) inspect the bike for damage. The carbon bike checked out just fine and I am riding it today. One of the reasons I choose the Giant in the first place was that the composite layup seemed to be more stout than the competition. I would not buy a super light carbon bike designed for one-month's use by a 150 lb pro racer. I do not want to live in fear of an unseen pothole.

Meanwhile, I have broken three steel bike frames. My former steel bikes were all assembled with brazed lugs at the joints. I think that in all three cases the steel was weakened by excess heat applied during overzealous brazing. The most dangerous of these breaks was on a new Raleigh Super Course (Reynolds 531) where the fork crown braze parted from the steer tube. Fortunately the brake bold held the assembly together until I recognized the problem. Raleigh replaced the entire fork. No matter the material, paying careful attention to the integrity of your bike is paramount to your safety.

Ken's an engineer, a frequent contributor to this blog and a riding buddy of mine. He's definitely not the kind of guy who beats the hell out of a bike or exaggerates for effect. And let's face it, even if you were trying for spin, a blown fork crown doesn't give you a lot of wiggle room.

Every once in a while something truly unexpected happens out there in the physical universe: a devastating earthquake in Missouri, a near miss by an unknown asteroid, the melting of an ice cap or two. True, a bike frame failure isn't as catastrophic as, say, a mega-volcano erupting under Yellowstone National Park, assuming you're not actually on the bike when the frame fails.

This bike shop sounds a warning that you'll want to read, especially if you're thinking of adding a carbon fiber seat post to a steel frame.

Yes, more data is needed. What are your experiences with steel vs. carbon bike frames?

Blue Lake Ride

2012-01-16T09:53:00.001-08:00

Cold, gusty winds along the Pacific sent me inland yesterday. If you live on the California coast you learn how to get warm quickly: go uphill a few miles or go east. A few miles east of Arcata on West End Road I rode into a new season: spring.

I shared the road with a few other cyclists and an occasional pickup.

Looking east from the Mad River bridge in the town of Blue Lake I saw clouds gathering over the foothills of the Trinity Alps. According to the locals 100 years ago there were so many salmon in these waters that "you could walk across the Mad River on their backs." Twenty years ago the river was close to fished out. Recently, however, the steelhead population has recovered and when the river is clear fishermen show up here to try their luck.

On the trip back to Bayside I rode through occasional rain squalls, but the Rans fairing kept me dry. Last night, for the first time in years, it snowed at sea level.

Raymond Carver's house in Arcata is for sale

2012-01-14T17:08:00.001-08:00

The realtor was having an open house last weekend and I stopped by on a bike ride. She had no idea that the house was once home to Arcata's most famous author. If you're a Raymond Carver fan, here's your chance to buy his family home in Arcata. If you haven't discovered Carver yet, pour yourself something calming and curl up with Cathedral tonight. Start with "A Small Good Thing." If that short story doesn't take your breath away you may be clinically dead. And do keep in mind: it may have been written in this house.

You'll find photos of the house in Maryann Carver's memoir "What It Used to Be Like: A Portrait of My Marriage to Raymond Carver." She loved this house and called it "the happiest home we ever had."

Road Warrior

2012-01-08T10:53:00.001-08:00

Dos Ciclos Short Film from SakeGroup on Vimeo.

A helmet tip to recumbent Rob for this video

New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-06T11:28:00.001-08:00

Created by: Healthcare Management Degree

Some years ago I asked my Dr. about the health risks of cycling. He felt it was a safe sport and advised me to "start slow and taper off." It's a philosophy that's served me well, even on long, interstate rides. I also asked him about the ubiquitous fatties, the beach ball people, who fill the aisles in Costco pushing carts piled high with Doritos, Coke, Ice Cream and giant plastic Vodka bottles. What does looking like a beach ball cost a person? Healthy adults can now expect to live into to their mid 80's, maybe longer. The beach ball people have an average life expectancy of 60 years. So when Jen Rhee says "we pay the price," now we know exactly what the bill comes to: 25 YEARS!

A tip of the helmet to Jen Rhee for this very cool graphic. I've got a good feeling about 2012!

Birthday, New Recumbent!

2011-12-19T18:04:00.001-08:00

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Eight percent of Portland's workforce now commutes by bike. That does great things for a city. Drivers get used to sharing "their" road with cyclists, bike paths proliferate and cool new bike facilities are planned. Bikes you can't even find in most places turn up in dedicated shops like Coventry Cycleworks Portland's recumbent-only dealer run by committed and knowledgeable 'bent experts. I stopped by for a day of test rides and took home a new Rans Stratus XP, a fast, dialed in and superbly ergonomic bike, shown here near the Willamette River.

Ken Thiessen turned up on the morning of my 70th birthday, December 11.
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It was the perfect time to explore new territory-- what better way to break in the new bike than a 15 mile ride along the river? We crossed the Willamette on a dedicated bike lane and headed south on along the East bank bike trail. Cars were relegated to a separate road. Minutes into the ride I got a lesson in what its like to ride a LWB recumbent: the laws of physics were suspended as both the train and its smoke rushed toward Ken.

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Ken brought his own camera along for the ride (see above) and rode his stalwart Civia. Fitted with disc brakes, it's a bike for all seasons. The Stratus is all set up for a possible disc brake upgrade.

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Interstate Route 5 cut Portland off from part of its waterfront. In a few months this bike elevator will take bike commuters to an elevated bike path over the freeway. This is not science fiction, it's Portland 2011. And do stay tuned because they've many more great bike projects in the works.

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I came back to our hotel feeling positively elated. As the sun began to set my wife Iris and I headed out on foot to hear Devin Phillips at Jimmy Mak's, a great jazz club in Portland's Old Town.

If it's fun, do it more

2011-11-28T18:03:00.001-08:00

This RIH changed my life. I bought it in Holland back in 1981 after a Dutch friend introduced me to cycling. I rode the RIH into Germany and then around Finland. Cycling met the rigorous standards of my personal philosophy:

IF IT'S FUN, DO IT MORE

30 years later I'm still cycling all the time.

My RIH began life as a 3 speed but I managed to add two more speeds during my San Francisco days. Today it's my pickup truck used to haul packages around Arcata. And it's just as much fun now as it was 30 years ago! You'll find more photos of my RIH and its cushy British Bobby's seat here.

Avenue of the Giants by bike

2011-11-13T20:19:00.001-08:00

"This valley,"said Ralph Waldo Emerson of Yosemite, "is the only place that comes up to the brag about it, and exceeds it."

Proving? That Emerson hadn't seen Redwoods National Park in Humboldt County.

Visitors go silent here. Atheists start talking about God. Locals too are speechless no matter how many times we return. Indeed, if we had tourists from other planets this stunning park could be used to advertise a trip to Earth.

The park covers much of Humboldt County. To drive or bike through the southern part head for Avenue of the Giants which stretches from a point about 7 miles north of Redcrest to the town of Philipsville about 30 miles to the south. I rode most of it in a loosely organized group excursion with my riding group, "The Latte Warriors."

Another Roadside Attraction

Bike tourists get a lot of praise. You're out there in nature grinding up the hills while everyone else is driving two blocks to pick up a case of beer. You could get a fat head over all the adulation...if the universe didn't toss a bit of sand in your gears from time to time. This bike tourist stopped to talk with a man who was pulling a small covered wagon down the road. His (actual) last name was Charleyboy; I don't remember his first name. He wasn't exactly a tourist, more a traveller. When I asked where his journey had begun he said "when?" Mr. Charleyboy had walked through 22 states. So far.

The Eel River traces the whole length of the Avenue of the Giants. Those are Western Maples in the foreground, Redwoods everywhere else.

I met my friends in Miranda, near the south end of the Avenue of the Giants.

In the northern part of the county (not shown here) Redwood National Park becomes perhaps the best example of a virgin old growth Redwood forest on earth. With 2,000 year old trees stretching as far as you can see in all directions this truly is the forest primeval. It's difficult to photograph but impossible to forget.

The Apple Store, Palo Alto

2011-11-13T18:59:00.001-08:00

Mountain Biking, the downside

2011-11-11T12:49:00.001-08:00

Renovo Revisited

2011-09-25T22:47:00.001-07:00

by Ken Thiessen

Back in 2009, I reviewed the intriguing Renovo “wood” bicycles. Back then, the frames were built with a wooden main triangle and carbon rear triangle and fork. But during my shop tour, Renovo owner and designer, Ken Wheeler pulled up a dream concept on his computer screen: a wooden pursuit bike frame made entirely out of wood. Suddenly we were into the realm of pure bike porn; I couldn’t wait to see this conceptual design come to life. But when I asked Ken about the all-wood frame he said it was in development and required more thought.

Fast forward two years...

Today, the all-wood concept frame has become the core design of the Renovo line. The Audi corporation, known world wide for their cutting edge car designs, took notice and commissioned Renovo to build an Audi-sponsored bike. Audi’s, innovative engineering and design is the foundation of the marque’s reputation. Like many European automobile lines, Audi sells branded products which exemplify the ideals promoted by the car. Audi product managers sought out Ken Wheeler to produce a line of bicycles to be marketed with the Audi four-ring logo as another example of the “truth in engineering concept.”

The Audi product managers had apparently considered several of the the large bicycle manufacturers and settled on Renovo to build the Audi Duo bicycle. http://www.audi-collection.com/Accessories In one step a regional Northwest bike manufacturer became a world class style setter.

Renovo retains its small manufacturing facility and shop in Portland, Oregon. Ken Wheeler was both surprised and deeply appreciative of the partnership with a style setter like Audi. Suddenly, thanks to the Audi connection, Wheeler’s bikes were being advertised in the Economist and Forbes magazines. A brief web search takes you further: the Audi Duo bicycles have been appeared in many newspapers, car magazines, bike magazines, and city monthly magazines. Renovo became the boutique bike shop with a million-dollar ad campaign!

It was time for another ride.

The Test Ride

The R-4 road bike I rode was a thing of beauty.

In the sun, the wood grain played the light with great clarity. It was like looking into a tiger’s eye.

The piano-finish gives the bike the unmistakable hallmark of fine woodworking making imperfections impossible to hide. I couldn’t find a single flaw.

The smooth finish was sealed with epoxy and linear polyurethane which not only brings out the wood grain but forms a tough seal for real-world riding. My bike was a 58 cm-equivalent compact frame with the big-boy’s blend of stiff hardwoods mentioned above. The R-4 was equipped with a Sram Red drive train, double tap shifters, an

The FSA Wing Pro carbon compact bars with flat tops and shallow drops made for a very comfortable riding position.

You can’t fail to notice the R-4's exceptionally smooth ride as the wood effectively absorbs road vibrations - more effectively than my own all-carbon road bike!

Then came the essential engineering question: if the frame is comfortable, will it also be stiff and efficient?

The Renovo accelerated quickly with a remarkably small amount of energy input to the pedals. Out-of-the-saddle climbs put my energy straight to the traction patch of the rear tire and again the Renovo felt faster and more nimble than on my own ultra light road bike. There was no perceptible flex in this bike while riding. Wheeler has given much thought to the geometry of the Renovo frames. The R-4 blends a savvy and intelligent combination of riding characteristics making this ultra high performance bike equally attractive for all-day century rides.

At the end of the day just one critical attribute remained untested: Portland has many bridges over the mighty Columbia River and other waterways, I would wager that my Renovo R-4 would float. Try that with your Madone!

The mouth of the Columbia River at Astoria Oregon. Note the long bridge from Washington to Oregon. Yes, it has north and south bike lanes but with a certain
amount of junk scattered around. It's hard to say whether this would turn out to be be a beautiful ride or a nail biter but if you're riding south along the Pacific, you'll be crossing this bridge.

Patrick's Point Park

2011-09-11T18:39:00.001-07:00

Scenic Drive continues to the north of Trinidad, making its way along a stretch of cliffs above the Pacific. Around mile 7 you come to Patrick's Point Park, a little known jewel in the state park system. I wandered up on my bike yesterday and noodled around in the park for hours.

The whole park is serviced by a well-maintained--and little used--network of roads, each one of which leads to a spectacular ocean view. I parked the bike at the Agate Beach overlook at the north end of the park.

These are iPhone photos, thus the dreamlike, soft coloration.

Inside the park you see Sitka Spruce growing alongside Redwoods, a reminder that this is the southern end of the Alaskan rain forest.

Looking for a dramatic site for your next wedding? This is "Wedding Rock."

For much of my ride I had the park to myself.

A Week in Santa Monica

2011-08-30T16:47:00.001-07:00

Thanks to a borrowed bike, I got out on the Santa Monica beach bike paths every morning. Say what you will about the evils of Los Angeles traffic, the car culture seems far away here.

75 degrees at 8 am and all is well. Cruisers and hitchhikers were happening.

Continuing south to Marina Del Rey I had the path almost to myself.

I turned around on a bridge after chatting with this group.

As in every Marina I've ever visited, all the ships were crowded against each other, safely tied up and deserted. Obviously, slips were at a premium, as were yachts. Almost nobody was actually sailing.

Could we pay off our national debt by simply selling all our idle yachts? I stopped for coffee. At the next table these guys were speaking a language I've never heard.

At the age of 70 this rugged couple from Australia were traveling the world by folding bikes! I caught up with them a few miles from the end of a North American tour.

The next morning I tried to find their hostel. Alas, Venice has three and this wasn't the one.

Santa Monica Playland at the end of a relaxing day...

The Santa Monica beach faces southwest, so the sun sets over the mountain range to the right of the beach, which feels like north to most Californians.

Coming Soon: Ken Thiessen revisits RENOVO

2011-08-20T14:19:00.001-07:00

Ken's Renovo review turns out to be the most popular item we've ever published. He'll be merging his body with one of the new Renovos in an all-new road test around the end of this month and promises an update. Stay tuned...

Arturas Zuokas for President of the USA!

2011-08-09T09:56:00.001-07:00

Downtown Vilnius, Lithuania can be a pretty nice place if everyone respects the parking laws. Was that your Mercedes, Rob "My Heart Bleeds" Ford, Mayor of Toronto and Hall of Shame member?

As for the rest of you downtown jewelry shoppers...

Mayor Zuokas appreciates your cooperation.

Tip of the helmet to tra for this gem. For more details, see "Vilnius Mayor Crushes Car in Bike Lane With a Tank."

Stock Market down 600

2011-08-08T17:49:00.001-07:00

Lensmate Polarizer for the Canon S90/5

2011-07-21T14:25:00.001-07:00

For cyclists who are serious about photography I've recommended both the S90 (here) and the improved S95 (here).

If you already have a Canon S90/5 you'll want a Lensmate polarizer. It's mounts in a few minutes and doesn't really fatten up your pocket camera. Once installed, the filter moves on and off the camera with a flick of a finger. The S95 shown below has both the lensmate polarizer (show here extended; it all but disappears when the camera is off) and the essential Richard Franiec grip. I'll say it again: don't leave home without that grip.

You can't apply polarization in Photoshop; only an on-camera filter can make the difference between an annoying, blown opportunity and a great shot.

Midday in NYC: lots of glare. I could hardly look at the side of this building. I reached for the polarizer and the glare vanished.

Minutes later in the Subway I still had the lensmate polarizer on my S95--and got this shot. The car was over-lit with glare coming off every surface.

Polarizers really shine around water. Glare coming off of the ocean can flatten a beautiful scene or simply blow out all the color. But not this time.

Deep within the Pioneer Grove, home of the world's tallest Redwoods you see great contrast between light and dark and very bright areas tend to blow out. The polarizer transformed a flat, uninteresting photo into this three dimensional study.

The county closed this restaurant and arrested the owner after drinking water health codes were repeatedly ignored. Out on bail now and with the restaurant still closed, the owner (not shown here) has become a patriot.

Go Bruce!

2011-07-18T11:15:00.001-07:00

The Plan:

The Details:

My response on Life is a Wheel, Bruce Weber's NYT cycling blog:

Go Bruce!

I'll be with you (in spirit) you on The Social Biking Blog
I'd vote for more teeth on those rear gears and a set of Albatross handlebars, which are good beyond hope. Straight bars will destroy your wrists. Your hands want to be thumbs up—think of a handshake. And with upright bars you will want a wider saddle.
Did you want a sex life after this trip? If so, you could treat yourself to a Brooks B67, the Cadillac Limo of bike saddles. Mine had no break in period and I've had no saddle problems from the day I installed it.
If you get blown off course, you're welcome at my place in Arcata, CA, just over the Oregon border. It's only about 600 extra miles.

Anatomy lesson

2011-07-15T14:32:00.001-07:00

By Aaron Kuehn, a designer who definitely thinks outside of the box

helmet tip to David Hodge in Stockholm, who sent the Kuehn drawing.

May the force be with him!

2011-07-14T10:03:00.001-07:00

I met a happy Mango rider on a bike tour of Holland back in 2007. That meeting became one of the first entries on The Social Biking Blog. Now the Mango has come to America!

NEW HALL OF SHAME MEMBER

2011-07-05T16:24:00.001-07:00

Back in March 2011, John Cassidy of "The New Yorker" complained that NYC's new bike lanes were getting in the way of his lumbering antique cars, (which he calls "heaps"). There followed an extended...ahem...reaction from Hall's fellow NYers who ride bikes, not cars, in the city's new cycling lanes (see bottom of the NYer article). The Economist weighed in with "The World is His Parking Spot." Taking the bait——indeed swallowing the hook whole——Hall attempted to justify himself with no fewer than 3 additional rants about why the city already had too many bike lanes. Mind you, he isn't opposed to all bike lanes. Some of his best friends are bike lanes...

Cars being persecuted by selfish kids on bikes and inconsiderate women with baby carriages.

Nobody does print flame wars better than NYers so who knows where—or if—this will end. Meanwhile, John Cassidy has earned himself a place in the Social Biking Blog Biking Hall of Shame (see the right sidebar).

ARCATA OYSTER FESTIVAL

2011-06-21T10:26:00.001-07:00

90% of California's oysters come from Arcata Bay and on Saturday, June 18, most of them were in the Arcata plaza. You want to arrive at 10 so you don't have to wait too long for this:

I saddled up around 9:30 and pressed on up Old Arcata Road past the Anvick turnouff.

And past the Anvick couch.

Oysters called to me, so I didn't stop to try out the couch. Later that day it had moved to a new home. As I got closer to town other riders appeared. The trick was to appear relaxed and casual while closing fast on Oyster central.

Maybe I should have left a bit earlier...

After eating a half dozen Arcata Oysters:

Other competitors and their bikes:

Our bill of rights in action. It's tested daily right here on the Arcata Plaza.

I parked discreetly on the sidewalk. To steal my bike a thief would have to cut down a tree on the plaza, a death penalty violation here in Arcata.

Beer + oysters usually leads to more beer.

Summer!

2011-06-17T10:53:00.001-07:00

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date.

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimmed;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed.

But thy eternal summer shall not fade

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;

Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Sonnet 18
William Shakespeare

Rough winds indeed. Who doesn't love the notion of old gas guzzlers being slowly buried in grasses and flowers?

From the bike path on Old Arcata Road near sunset. Click photo to Expand.

Summer?

2011-06-09T18:08:00.001-07:00

Every year at this time I trot out one of Arcata's palm trees. It then gets warmer.

The more you stop (on bike rides) the more you see.

Erected on the edge of a shopping center in McKinleyville, the world's largest totem pole rises over 160 feet. Say what you will about the setting, totem poles are one of the world's highest art forms. Any excuse and I'll include this gorgeous creature on a bike ride.

A few hours after my ride...

TOUR OF THE UNKNOWN COAST

2011-05-13T13:25:00.001-07:00

The hardest ride in Humboldt County's famous TUC used to be the 100 mile, which took you over the coastal mountains, down to the beach and back over the coastal mountains. Climbing "the wall" on the way back over the mountains often involved beating yourself forward against terrific winds during a near vertical climb. Every year riders are blown into each other and off the road.

This year, in a nod to masochists, the TUC added a "double century." Yes, twice over the coastal range in both directions. Four people signed up.

Somebody had to do something on behalf of cycling as a relaxed leisure time activity. So I volunteered to cut my usual 100K (K) down to a mere 25 miles. It turned out to be a delightful ride that took us up a verdant river valley that's I'd never seen. Some of the riders looked distinctly out of shape--just happy to be out there rolling along, not trying to prove anything. And this was a ride that attracted a bunch of kids on kid sized bikes.

"Hydration Station" AKA "Drinks."

The ride begins in the Victorian village of Ferndale, a picturesque place that's build over the intersection of three major earthquake faults.

Why are the most beautiful places in the world the most geologically unstable?

The TUC set up a rest stop with snacks and drinks at the halfway point. Kids and bikes go together. And for those of us for whom childhood is a distant memory, bikes bring out the inner ten year old.

Some Other Spring

2011-04-25T17:14:00.001-07:00

Still-life: clover and cigarette.

How can man be opposed to nature when he is part of nature?

Corax?

2011-04-14T20:20:00.001-07:00

Some years ago the postings on the CORAX website ceased. Could this be him?

a tip of the helmet to Bob Allen, who took this photo in Morocco

Must you risk your life to ride a bike to work?

2011-04-13T13:19:00.001-07:00

I started this blog back in 2007 to share a few thoughts on a month long bike trip around Holland. Somehow, when it came to bicycle infrastructure the world's richest and most powerful nation had fallen far behind a country about the size of New Jersey with 16 million people——and 10,000 miles of dedicated bike paths.

In a few years, I hoped to see scenes like these in the USA. How could it NOT happen here?

Generally, the Dutch will keep a "work bike" for generations. All these people are commuting, shopping and cruising around on bikes that will get a tire patch every year or so and a new chain when the old one rusts off. In other words, nobody's spending a lot of money on this. And of course, there are other benefits. See any fatties?

The five mile bike path from Arcata to Eureka, along Arcata Bay, that seemed just around the corner back in 2007, still hasn't been started. We're in our 20th (some say 25h, or 30th!) year of studying the path. A couple of years ago Arcata hired a team of expensive consultants who put on a multi-media presentation showing what the path could look like. Cyclists who attended got to write suggestions on large white boards with magic markers. For several hours we were allowed to consult with the consultants.

Where does the path stand now, you ask?

Multi-Agency Team Considers Eureka-Arcata Trail Possibilities

"We expect to have a dedicated trails trust participant involved in the next phase of constraints and opportunities analysis."

A "Multi-Agency Team" is "excited" about "progress toward this long-desired trail!" We're "considering possibilities!" Meanwhile, every day of the year cyclists between Arcata and Eureka brave the gutter on Rte 101, a few feet from 70mph traffic for six nail biting miles.

The video above was made in Los Angeles. It's. not. that. bad. here. yet.

Sister cities in Holland would be serviced by two, three, maybe a half a dozen dedicated bike trails.

The Dutch get health care, bike paths and wind energy farms for their tax Euros. We get aircraft carriers and nuclear weapons.

A tip of the helmet to Steve Fox for the inspiring Dutch cycling videos

Late Winter, Arcata

2011-03-25T17:09:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago it looked like this here in Bayside (Arcata's "suburb").

My neighbor Cathy drove to Portland and brought home a new Ice Trike. As we get older and balance becomes an issue we're all going to end up on trikes if we want to keep riding a bike.

Trikes bring out your inner 3 year old. No learning curve. Just get on and go! And if you want to stop on the upside of a hill, there's no need to unclip or dismount.

You can pack for a day or a week. Cathy uses this setup for grocery shopping.

Two weeks have passed since those bright, sunny days. Alas, living in the northwest rainforest does, occasionally, include a bit of rain.

A ride down Kilauea

2011-03-07T17:07:00.001-08:00

I'm with Mark Twain when it comes to Hawaii:

...its balmy airs are always blowing, its summer seas flashing in the sun; the pulsing of its surf is in my ear; I can see its garlanded crags, its leaping cascades, its plumy palms drowsing by the shore, its remote summits floating like islands above the cloud-rack; I can feel the spirit of its woody solitudes, I hear the plashing of the brooks; in my nostrils still lives the breath of flowers that perished twenty years ago.

So when the winter closed in here in Arcata (actual snow for the first time in about five years!) my wife and I fled for ten days to the Big Island of Hawaii.

You don't see a lot of cyclists around the larger towns. The mountain roads are narrow and traffic is constant on the Kona coast's main drag.

But 4,000 feet above the coast at the Volcano park its cool, quiet and peaceful. I joined a sedate little tour that rode seven miles down the flanks of Kilauea, stopping often to look at lava tubes and the caldera itself. The tour operator simply showed up at the summit with a trailer of bikes and off we went.

The crater floor was quiet and just a bit smoky. The sun never appeared. And the ride was mostly downhill. A nervous guide hovered over our group, encouraging us up the tiny hills and warning us of every hazard.

Yawn.

THREE DAYS LATER:

Worried about earthquakes? Earthquakes are mere symptoms. You don't ever want to meet the underlying disease. With a little luck you might survive a major earthquake, even at the epicenter (I have). A volcanic eruption moves the bar just about as high as it will go. Lava emerges from the earth at 2,400 F, the melting point of steel, and is followed by vast clouds of sulphur dioxide gas, a deadly poison. An erution can continue for a few hours--or, in the case of Kilauea, decades.

The bike friendly town

2011-02-21T21:35:00.001-08:00

Arcata made the bronze category, so, yes, we're proud but we've got some room to improve. The more bikes you see on the streets the easier life becomes for each cyclist. This is G st. looking north from the intersection with Somoa Blvd. Traffic's not a problem in Arcata. And if you want to eat at one of our restaurants. nobody will ask you to stand in line on the sidewalk with a plastic cup of wine while you wait for a table.

A day of sun after a week of rain

2011-02-18T16:21:00.001-08:00

Afternoon and clear as a bell. Snow on the coastal mountains, but warm enough in the Arcata bottoms. I went for it.

I've never regretted going for a bike ride.

Rain, hail and high winds in Bayside. Actual snow forcast

2011-02-16T15:18:00.001-08:00

Apologies for the hallmark card graphics. I love the song.

"The Best Bicycle Wheel Builder in the World"

2011-02-09T17:12:00.001-08:00

Grant Peterson, the head of Rivendell Bicycles, calls Rich Lesnik (below) "the best wheel builder in the world." A retired Unitied Airline mechanic, Rich not only builds 90% of the wheels on Rivendell's fine bicycles, he now owns his own wheel building company, Hands on Wheels. As of September 2010, the number of wheels Rich built passed the 4,500 mark! Recently he launched an interactive, e-commerce-capable website (www.handsonwheels.com).

I've worked with Rich as a wheel builder and in his other identity, as a first class jazz musician (alto sax and clarinet). Last year Rich and Shao Way Wu, a soulful bass player, created a beautifully relaxing score for my new massage video. Jazz and wheel building have one thing in common: you simply can't fake it. Rich makes difficult things look easy and he's not afraid to buck the tide of popular opinion.

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Think you have bike wheels figured out? So did I...until I met Rich. He stands almost alone against a tidal wave of bad advice (thin rims, minimum spokes, aero, counting grams, threadless headset, super low drop bars) and hyped up bicycle marketing. Mostly, he keeps his opinions to himself but when it comes to wheels, he can't remain silent. Indeed, almost every wheel-related comment I've heard from Rich over the past five years flies in the face of popular opinion.

So here we go, dear reader. Tear yourself away from The Daytona 500, pour yourself something calming and hold on to your carbon fiber handlebars...

BICYCLE WHEEL BASICS

What sort of mechanical work did you do for United Airlines and how did it relate to bicycle wheel building and repair?

I worked in sheet metal, pneumatic (air-driven) components and valves, and electrical relays at United Airlines from 1986 to 2002. I spent my entire career there in the "back shops," working on components -- I wasn't licensed to work on aircraft.

Bicycle maintenance is entirely mechanical, so much of what I did at UAL--disassembling and analyzing failed components, many of which operated on mechanical principles, proved interesting and challenging——just like trying to figure out how to fix a problem with a bike.

What kind of wheels make sense for recreational riding?

Generally, comfort and durability are the most important factors to consider on longer rides. So higher-volume tires, mounted on slightly wider rims, and inflated to a comfortable pressure, make the most sense. The wheels best suited to this kind of riding would be "conventional" 32- or 36-spoke wheels, laced 3-cross* to durable, smooth-rolling, and quiet hubs. More spokes tend to give the wheel more structural soundness, and
reduce the tendency of the wheel to go out of round or true.

What kind of tires should I use for recreation and light touring?

Install tires with some light tread, but with enough smoothness to be comfortable on the road. Ignore all the narrow, super hard tires on other bikes. Use a 28mm minimum width, with 32mm or 35mm even better! (provided, of course, there's enough clearance in the bike's frame to accommodate wider tires).

How many spokes should each wheel have and how should I choose a spoke set? Are reduced spoke sets better?

Unless you're racing, then minimum should be 32 spokes. For riders who are heavier than 190 lbs or so, 36 minimum in the rear. Double-butted spokes (thicker at the hub and rim, with a narrowing in the "belly") are preferred, because they have some "give" in the middle, relieving stress at the rim and hub flange.

How much pressure should I use when tightening a quick release?

This is a bit difficult to answer. As a "rule of thumb," I'd say the QR skewer should begin feeling some tightening resistance when it is in line with the axle, or a bit PAST that point in the tightening direction. By NO MEANS should the skewer be over-tightened, to the point where it's difficult to release. This could lead to failure of the skewer, and a serious accident.

What kind of bearings are best for the wheels? Are ceramic bearings worth the extra cost?

Ceramic bearings are a waste of money, unless you're racing and consider a few grams less weight to be an important factor. I happen to prefer "loose-ball" bearing hubs, with replaceable bearings, and easy maintenance. All Shimano hubs are loose-ball; most other manufacturers have gone over to cartridge bearings. These are more easily replaced, but difficult or impossible to maintain. Of course, their chief benefit is that when the bearing surfaces wear out, they can be replaced along with the bearings. Loose-ball bearing hubs present more likelihood of needing replacement of the entire hub when the races wear or get pitted.

Sometimes I carry a few pounds of luggage on my bike. Where is the best place to put the load?

If by "a few pounds" you mean 3-5 lbs. of "stuff," then a good saddle bag with enough volume to carry tools, a jacket, lunch and maybe a few extras, would be the way to go. More weight, consider a rear rack with either a "trunk" bag or panniers. Alternatively, a basket in front is a good way to carry things on short rides.

How do I take care of a wheel set?

Keep them clean, check for loose spokes (and either tighten them yourself or take them to a wheel specialist if they need tightening), and occasionally lubricate the nipples to curtail corrosion and excessive wear at the rim/nipple interface. It's also a good idea to have your wheels checked by someone with a spoke tension measuring device about once a year or so, to make sure everything is well balanced. The main cause of spoke breakage and "wobbly" wheels is uneven tension.

What's the best way to keep a wheel clean?

First of all, it's probably not a great idea to use a garden hose -- pressure's too high, and water could get into areas where it'll cause problems (bearings, inside the rim, etc). And you don't need to remove the wheel(s) from the bike for cleaning. Just prop the bike up in a place where water on the ground won't cause a problem, then get a bucket, a sponge and a scrub/cleaning brush. Put some water and Simple Green or other non-abrasive cleaner in the water (a small amount will do the trick) and start scrubbing! Tire, rim and nipples is all you need to clean. Use the sponge with non-soapy water to rinse.

For the hub, you can just wipe it clean with a dry rag, and use strips or old shoe-laces to clean between the cogs. If the chain has been kept lubed, then just wiping it off with the same rag you used on the hub(s) should take care of it. Before your next ride, re-lube the chain, and if possible, the nipple/rim joint as well after everything has had a chance to dry. Then wipe off any excess lube.

What are the limits of good wheels?

A well-built, hand-built set of wheels with quality (not necessarily "high-end") components, should last thousands of miles. Rims will tend to wear thin at the braking surface, especially if the first statement in the previous answer is not followed. Dirty brakes or wheels will wear the rims excessively, and when they "go," just hope you're not going too fast! Again, making sure spoke tension is balanced, nipples are
lubricated, and the wheels remain round and true, will add years to their life.

What is the best way to clean a chain?

This is a religious question, and I'm "agnostic." I "clean" my chains with lubrication, "on the bike." Others prefer to use a cleaning machine, de-greasing liquid, and re-lubricating fluid. Still others prefer the melted-wax method. They're "all good," to quote the Dalai Lama.

What leads to wheel failure?

If the initial build didn't include careful balancing of spoke tension, the wheel will fail sooner than a well-balanced wheel. Also, wheels that get dirty and aren't cleaned will fail sooner. Ultimately, with a well-built, well-maintained wheel, failure will result from a sidewall worn thin from braking.

BICYCLE WHEEL POLEMICS

Everyone in my riding group rides CF or titanium frames with CF forks. Should I trade in my steel bike for a faster carbon fiber model? Aren't steel bikes needlessly heavy and old fashioned?

Carbon fiber is a relatively recent (say 20 years?) development in bicycle frame/fork manufacture, and is still being tested. It is doubtless the lightest-weight material being used, so if the goal is simply weight, and safety, reliability and comfort are not a factor, then GO FOR IT! Not everyone who smokes cigarettes gets cancer. But boy, when they do, do they SUFFER. Of course, not everyone who rides a carbon frame or a bike with a carbon fork will experience frame and/or fork failure. But boy, when they do, do they SUFFER! Simply put, carbon fails "catastrophically," and without warning. For example, a seemingly solid, undamaged carbon fork, with just a tiny chip caused by a small rock, can, when the brakes are applied, snap without warning. Goodbye front teeth, face and possibly more!

Won't my bike handle better and go much faster with fewer spokes and narrow tires? Are flat bladed spokes better than round spokes? These bikes use very narrow tires--usually 23--25 mm. Many have expensive wheels with reduced spoke counts.

Low spoke-count wheels, when they hold up, are fine. However, such wheels suffer much more spoke breakage due to extra load per spoke, and generally higher tension. When they fail you’ve got three choices: walk home, call a "taxi" or call a forgiving (but inwardly seething) spouse). Quite simply: more spokes provide a wheel with more strength, stability and durability. AND they're significantly more comfortable to ride.

As for "aero" spokes -- unless you're time-trialing or in a wind tunnel this is more a question of aesthetics than performance. They're difficult to work with when building a wheel, and nearly impossible to repair. In fact, most wheel builders will skip the repair process and simply replace the whole wheel, once the wheel is "set." For normal riding aero spokes simply add complexity for the sake of impressing others, a needless expense. THUMBS DOWN.

My front wheel bearings are new but the wheel still has a bit of play from side to side. The LBS mechanic who put in the bearings says it's no big deal and claims I'll get used to it. True?

A problem with many cartridge-bearing hubs is lateral (side-to-side) play. Don't put up with it! If the wheel isn't "wobble-free," either send it back for repair, or get rid of it. PERIOD!

Aren't panniers, which have a lower center of gravity, better than saddle bags for rear baggage?

This is really a question of what you're used to, and comfort. If you're carrying a super heavy (40 lbs or more) load, then, yes, panniers would be the way to go. Less than that, you probably would be comfortable with a giant saddle bag which is securely fastened down to avoid side-to-side motion. The thigh-contact issue comes up for some riders, as well. But this is usually more of a rider-comfort issue than what's "best." I carry heavy loads with panniers or, on my cargo (Xtracycle) bike, lighter loads in a medium-sized saddle bag.

New wheelsets made from carbon fiber can cost thousands of dollars. Are any of the super expensive options frivolous or even fraudulent? Are there risks in riding with ultra light wheels? Can you site examples of CF failure?

See Youtube for carbon wheel failure videos. They're all over the place. Especially carbon spokes. But all of what I said in the answer to Question ! applies here, with a vengeance! Any flaw will hasten catastrophic failure in spokes, or carbon rims. Beware! Better yet, just don't do it. Spend half to a third of the money on a good hand-built set of lightweight, 32-spoke road wheels!

Is there a way to spot a wheel that is about to fail?

If it's carbon, just look for scratches or nicks ANYWHERE on the rim. And check the spokes for tension and tightness. Loose spokes will break pronto. if it's an older-style alloy wheel, then keep an eye on the rim sidewalls. As they get worn from braking, they're get thinner, and will eventually begin to "bulge" from tire pressure. Have it rebuilt at that point if the hub's worth saving. And get new spokes when you do it!

Can't most bike mechanics build a wheel?

Many bike "mechanics" hop from shop to shop, aren't very well trained and, frankly, don't really know what they're doing when anything out of the ordinary comes along. It takes a long time to develop into a good bicycle mechanic, and this will usually start with doing one's own bicycle maintenance. The same holds true of wheels and wheel building. Beware of the notion that any mechanic can work on or build wheels. If you want good wheel maintenance, take your wheels to a wheel expert. Keep a bike shop mechanic away from your wheels unless he or she is recommended by someone whose word you trust.

Coda: My own Rivendell Romulus came as a frame and fork. I built it up with my own components and over a period of five years moved to Rivendell components as things wore out. Two months ago I finally got to the wheels. And now I know exactly what Rich has been talking about.

The Metro F and City Handlebar Bags

2011-02-05T12:55:00.001-08:00

I've been looking for an uncomplicated and secure way to carry a camera, phone and a few personal items on bike rides. A rack trunk was out if only because I had to dismount and park the bike before opening the trunk. As a cycling photographer, my philosophy is simple: I want to be able to reach my camera from the saddle.

I had tried a few handlebar bags. The large ones came with a superstructure of struts and braces that extended to the front wheel. Some sat trunk-like on a front wheel rack, well below the handlebars. Others had no internal dividers which meant that cameras and phones--and snacks--were free to beat on each other during a ride. The smallest ones simply hung from the handlebars by straps and flapped freely while I rode. I couldn't see trusting my Canon S95 and iPhone to a flapping case with no dividers.

The Detours Metro F is exactly what I've been looking for in a handlebar bag. It mounts in seconds to a simple handlebar clip and comes with two carefully thought out compartments, each of which has padded compartments that fit snugly around both my camera and phone. Inside, I found a rain cover that was able to protect the whole bag in seconds. This is a nicely designed little bag with excellent ergonomics throughout!

One quibble, the red graphic doesn't go with my bike, nor would the alternative blue. But the bag itself is such a pleasure to use that I simply leave it in place for all my rides. Unlike many of the bags I've tried, The Detours Metro does not effect my bike's handling.

The same clip that hold the Metro in place also supports a much larger bag, the City, shown here with just a jacket inside. I daresay you could fit a LOT more stuff in a City. This would be the bag for weekend trips. Swapping bags requires no tools and takes less than one minute.

If even the City, bulges at the seams— say, you plan on hauling firewood, whiskey and a set of pipe wrenches on a trip to Patagonia—you'll want to join the struts and front rack crowd. However, if you actually are heading for Patagonia—you do need to ask yourself this question: am I still having fun riding this bike?

I'm in it for the fun so I'll stick with the Metro F for most rides and add the City for light touring.

Entrance, Wildberries Market, Arcata

2011-02-03T16:41:00.001-08:00

Meanwhile on the Eureka waterfront...

Aleutian Geese are back in town

2011-02-02T13:42:00.001-08:00

For the next few weeks the Aleutians will fatten themselves up in our pastures. Then on a morning in early March they take off over the Pacific to return to the Aleutians. It's 2,000+ miles over the Pacific, no islands, no stops. Make it or die.

Nobody knows how they do it. Do they sleep with half the brain at a time, as some scientists have suggested? Our local ranchers aren't allowed to shoot them, but they do sometimes shoot near a flock to keep them off cattle grazing land. These birds can put away a lot of grass!

While the Aleutians are here they make great cycling companions, shouting with joy/alarm/curiosity and some intelligence when you go by. I arranged a trip back to Eureka on an Easy Racers 'bent (Nice!--A tip of the helmet to Steve Sipma, who kindly loaned me his beautiful bike for the day.)

Noreen O'Brien, my riding companion for the day, and I shared a tasty lunch in Eureka's Old Town.

Beyond the Bay

2011-01-11T23:15:00.001-08:00

Eureka is connected to the Samoa peninsula by a series of three bridges. All of them have narrow bike paths along the guard rails. Cars and trucks to your left, a guardrail on the right. It can be dicey on a windy day.

Building on the far Pacific Coast, Eureka's founders attempted to emulate Victorian England--but couldn't resist overspending. Not content to frame with "common" local woods The Carson Mansion imported hardwoods from Central America, the Philippines, and East Asia for the interior. Both Mr and Mrs Carson used the tower to keep an eye on their waterfront holdings. Now it's a private club, whose main membership requirement appears to be a willingness to contribute money towards the mansion's upkeep. Wouldn't this place make a great set for a Vampire movie?

Cycling on the narrow Samoa Peninsula gives you a great view to the East over Arcata Bay.

2011 COMING ATTRACTIONS

2011-01-03T09:56:00.001-08:00

Interview with Rich Lesnik, Rivendell's Wheel Builder, Reviews of Detours Handlebar Bag and RAM iPhone mount.

Painted Ladies, Arcata

2010-12-13T17:16:00.001-08:00

With rain threatening, I took a bike tour of my own town.

Back in the 19th century, at the dawn of Arcata's brief history, we were still emulating east coast New England architectural styles which of course emulated old England. "Emily's House" on 7th st was built in 1885.

Emily's House's Garden

Dan Hauser's house and walnut tree. Dan was our state senator for many years. Nice guy. In the summer the tree seems lush, almost tropical.

A hidden Victorian with a deliciously illicit bench.

Americans don't "get" roundabouts. Arcata was an early adapter in this "traffic calming" innovation. Nevertheless, a few stubborn drivers insist on driving through, not around, our roundabouts. This timid roundabout still allows cars to race up and down the hill with just a light swerve. Nevertheless, it's fortified with a planting.

My all-time favorite ghost story is "The room in the Tower" by E. F. Benson. Let me tell you, it could ruin your day—and especially your night—if you lived here.

Two blocks away, the theme is softened somewhat. This home was converted to a B&B.

Bike parking--Groningen, Holland

2010-12-10T19:33:00.001-08:00

You'll see bike parking lots like this at every major Dutch railroad station. This one accommodates 10,000 bikes.

For my American readers: how many bikes can park at your railroad station (assuming you still have a railroad)?

Rain ride

2010-12-09T14:48:00.001-08:00

Sunday morning. It was raining and then it wasn't. I decided to go for it: Bayside to Trinidad round trip, my traditional Sunday ride.

Out on the Arcata bottoms, I wasn't alone. These intrepid souls are Latte Warriors, my weekend cycling group.

By the time we reached Trinidad the sun had peeked through--and there were too many Lattes to fit inside The Beachcomber. So we ordered out.

So yes, we got a little bit wet. So did the plants along Scenic Drive.

"He saw the ocean-shadow;
If he looked down, the endless seas
Lay green as summer meadow."

Charlotte Bronte

Remembering the Arcata Summer

2010-12-01T10:50:00.001-08:00

The Arcata Farmer's Market transforms our Plaza every Saturday from May to November. Generally, Americans don't do Fiestas that well, but this is Arcata.

Duane Flatmo's creation was featured in last year's Kinetic Bike Race at the end of May, a great time to visit us.

There's really no excuse for NOT riding a bike in Arcata.

Meanwhile, back in Winter, the storms are lined up to the west of us halfway across the Pacific.

After the Rain

2010-11-29T13:01:00.001-08:00

After three days of driving rain, the Arcata Bottoms looked green and inviting. I had the new Canon S95 onboard.

I wasn't the only one in an HPV

To the east the hills were shrouded in clouds. Later I saw snow up there.

These old barns, now home to owls, live forever.

The bottoms does have its antiques.

Scenic Drive, south of Trinidad, lived up to its name.

Surfers patrolled the road all day scouting for breaks. Note: Trinidad Head and the town itself at the top of this photo.

BIKING HALL OF SHAME

2010-11-27T14:57:00.001-08:00

See the right sidebar. Your nominations are welcome.

The Ideal Cycling Camera (November 2010)

2010-11-17T15:38:00.001-08:00

Back in August I recommended the Canon S90 with the Richard Franiec grip as an ideal cycling camera. Without the grip the camera handled like a wet bar of soap. And the rear dial spun like a top at the slightest touch.

Apparently, a lot of people agreed that the S90 needed work because when Canon released the S95 a few weeks ago they heralded it as "the upgrade you've been waiting for."

The Canon S95 incorporates an improved rear dial, HD video, a handful of photo processing features and substitutes a finely pebbled plastic body for the shiny plastic body. Yes, the new body does make the camera easier to hold, about 1% easier. It's the difference between a wet bar of soap and a damp bar. Happily, Richard Franiec has come to the rescue again with an updated grip for the S95.

I'm not a fan of planned obsolescence but that rear wheel on the S90 was slowly driving me mad. I bought a third party shield for the wheel, which turned it from loose to hopelessly sticky. So when the S95 appeared I upgraded and added the new--and still essential--Richard Franiec grip (below) on day 1. Later I added a Lensmate polarizer and wrote about it here.

One caveat:

This is still not a camera to hand to a well-meaning stranger who offers to photograph a group. Yes, the new rear selection wheel is improved but don't push your luck. Last Sunday I set up a wide angle shot of about a dozen cyclists, handed the S95 to a kindly woman, and joined the group. The moment she took the photo the group sped off. Alas, my volunteer photographer had managed to jog the ISO dial and what was supposed to be an ISO 80 shot turned out to be an ISO 3200 shot. My group looked like it was standing on the surface of the sun.

We are still a long way from an ergonomic camera that would operate like a fine hand tool—with say, a rubberized body and color coded, tactile controls. We could, of course, have such a camera tomorrow, if we simply demanded it. Meanwhile, when it comes to cycling cameras, the Canon S95 is competing in a field of one. Everything else out there is either too big, too heavy or offers much lower photo quality. And nothing in the S95's class can touch the gorgeous color saturation you get right out of the camera.

DA: No felony charges against hit-and-run driver because it might affect his job

2010-11-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

DA Hurlbert won't press felony charges against hit-and-run driver because it might affect his job | SummitDaily.com

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As for the cyclist who got hit, a lifetime of pain--which also "might affect his job" as an emergency room physician.

A tip of the helmet to Mike Swire for the link to this appalling story.

Roger's Market on the Hammond Trail

2010-11-14T16:48:00.001-08:00

On the Hammond trail less than a mile north of the Mad River, you will see Roger's on the West side of the road. If you are rushing through Humboldt County on a bike tour and don't have time to stop in Arcata (!) this would be a good place to pull in for basic supplies, a hot or cold drink and some quality time on the internet (bring your own laptop or phone). Roger's is run by Carol, a kindly and capable woman. So who is Roger? I asked the clerk at the register and discovered that, "Roger was a guy who was here a long time ago."

Carol of Rogers

Roger's features a hand painted mural on the East wall, facing the Hammond Trail. Note the bike, cow and ocean, which are nearby features. The parking lot is large enough for a whole tour full of bikes, making this a good rendezvous spot.

Inside, Roger's has a few aisles of groceries and a mini cafe with a few table near the window.

Should you cycle down from Alaska to hang out at Roger's? Only you can answer this question. If you did, you could enjoy a lunch and perhaps a Monopoly game. Nobody would ask "are you still working on that sandwich?"

Carol of Roger's features local delicacies, such as these lovely hand picked mushrooms.

New at Rogers--and perhaps one of its most outstanding features--huge, all-organic, handmade sandwiches which Carol makes daily. Having raised five kinds, this woman knows how to make a sandwich.

You could ride halfway across Oregon after a sandwich like this.

80% chance of rain...

2010-11-09T09:50:00.001-08:00

But on Sunday I awoke to this--and headed north on my Rivendell.

It was a beautiful morning on the Arcata bottoms.

But when I looked to the south near Roger's Market in McKinleyville I was reminded that Humboldt County is at the southern tip of the Alaskan rain forest, where anything can happen. In minutes.

One hour from home I turned back, stopping only to photograph the base of the old Mad River Bridge, our essential bike link to the north. Since it would cost more to repair the bridge than to rebuild it, upkeep is a thing of the past. We'll have to depend on our brave graffiti artists to save the bridge for posterity and cyclists. Stranger things have actually happened.

Another mile or two and I knew I had made the right decision. Just two minutes after I got home, the sky fell on us.

The Road to Blue Lake

2010-11-06T17:21:00.001-07:00

With storm clouds gathering and rain predicted for tomorrow, I headed out to Blue Lake with my new Canon S95 on board (review soon).

Fall colors in the far west...

but ten miles inland from Arcata I was riding through a warm, summery place.

Just outside of Blue Lake, I crossed the Mad River.

I parked the 'bent on the bridge and looked around. Back in the Gold Rush days a party of trappers made their way up to Humboldt County, hoping to strike it rich. Alas, of all the gold prospectors who came to California, only 4% found any gold at all. These guys were not in that 4%. They had spent many weeks hacking their way through fallen trees, brush and rubble and when the reached the river they were cold, wet, irritable, hungry and broke. The scene that followed gave the river its name.

Today the Mad is a peaceful place, where children swim in the summer and fishermen cast for steelhead. One caught a 5lb salmon just before I arrived.

I stopped in Blue Lake for some refreshments. The owner of Stardough's entertained me with stories of his years in Taiwan and China. Fact of the day--number of skyscrapers over 30 stories in Shanghai: 40,000!

Recumbent Rob turned out outside the cafe. He's lost over 100 pounds by riding a bike every day. He climbs all the hills around here on this Rans Stratus.

On the way home I passed the old Arcata-Blue Lake railroad. 100 years ago we had rail service to Humboldt County and local lines to connect outlying towns. Now we have a Freeway and rail seems like a utopian dream.

Have another cheeseburger, Rob.

2010-10-30T14:58:00.001-07:00

The California Wine Country with Sonoma Jack

2010-10-29T12:21:00.001-07:00

Arcata has the normal number of seasons: two. The dry one runs roughly from April to October. To the north in Oregon, the rains come sooner, so last week I headed south in the hopes of catching a few days of good cycling weather in Sonoma County, California's original wine country. I stayed with Sonoma Jack and his wife Jude, old friends, who have just relocated to a small farm near Sebastopol.

Mostly, the weather gave us a break and we were off for a ride first thing in the morning. Traffic near town was constant--and fast—-but a few miles out of town we had the road to ourselves.

We rode past one winery after another, many with tasting rooms. Wine + cycling + traffic + fog = organ donation. We passed on the wine and rode on through morning mist.

We stopped for lunch in Healdsburg, a wine boom towm. Jack knew a breakfast place near the plaza but when we got there, the line was out the door. One of the joys of living in Northern California: never again will I stand on a cold sidewalk clutching a plastic wine cup for thirty minutes in order to eat breakfast. Riding on through packs of German automobiles, we searched for a friendly breakfast. Other restaurants around the plaza dozens of different coffee drinks on the menu, seemed pricey. Happily, a few blocks away we pulled in to a basic-but-good diner that had one kind of coffee, a hearty breakfast and no line. Jack's wife Jude, who had been shopping for wine barrel planters, joined us for brunch.

I wandered out to the basic-but-good diner's parking lot to inspect Jude's planters.

Ah, wine!

NIGHT RIDERS

2010-10-08T10:52:00.001-07:00

Late last night night I drove (at 25 mph) to downtown Arcata. Along the way I saw a few ghostly shapes along the side of Old Arcata Road and on 7th St. Night riders. Some had awesome high-tech helmet-mounted headlights that create a pool of daylight in front the bike. Others simply rode in the dark. Nobody had a working tail light.

I was practically on top of each rider before I saw him, her or it. If a bike had, say, swerved to the left somebody's fun would have been seriously crimped.

If you must ride at night you might want to part with $23 for a decent flasher. With the white and red strobes alternating, you will be visible from the rear for a good half mile. I know it's a five minute ride and YOU can see just fine. You have more important things to do than futz around with yet another bullshit bike accessory. You're careful, you're thinking ahead, you have big plans. Alas, as Charles De Gaulle pointed out, "The cemetery is filled with indispensable people."

Recommended by Charles de Gaulle, President of France

72 pounds in trailer!

2010-09-29T11:39:00.001-07:00

This is near the limit of what a BOB can do, but definitely manageable. The steering was somewhat vague; I took it slow and had no problems. A couple of passerbys in cars seemed amazed.

Although Arcata is a bike-friendly community and you do see a constant stream of cyclists, most are recreational. It's still somewhat unusual to see a cyclist who is hauling freight.

When it comes to walkers, you see a diverse collection of determined looking exercisers, many in full "exercise costume" However, very few people are simply walking to get somewhere until you get close to the business district.

The Work Bike

2010-09-26T15:07:00.001-07:00

Almost every day, I haul books to the post office. But since the books weigh a pound of more each, a rack or pannier is out of the question. And balancing even a small box of books on a bike rack is a bad idea. But since the PO is less than a half a mile from my office, unless its raining, it seems nuts to drive.

In the garage my original "adult" bike, an RIH purchased in Holland back in the early 80's, languished. It took me across northern Europe and parts of Finland back then. Later it served me well as a city bike in San Francisco, where I swapped out the original 3 speed cassette for a 5 speed. Space those gears right and you can climb any hill in SF with five speeds. Everything else on the bike is original.

My Rivendell Romulus replaced it ten years ago as a sport/recreation/touring bike. But I couldn't bring myself to part with the RIH.

A few weeks ago a neighbor sold me his BOB trailer and the RIH came back to life--as a bike/pickup truck! That was my cue to clean up and polish the RIH. Now the bike, if not me, turns heads as an antique.

Here it is at the post office, loaded with a 54 lb box of books.

The one wheeled trailer tracks the bike with precision through any turn. You never have to worry about snagging the rear wheel. And you don't really feel like you're hauling 54 pounds, although the steering is noticeably lighter.

I bought the RIH saddle in England where it was a popular mount for "Bobbies". Last week I added a set a Schwalbe 32 mm marathons. Now the RIH should be good to go for a few more decades. Steel frame, steel forks. Wrights Seat.

The Ideal Cycling Camera (August 2010)

2010-08-10T22:20:00.001-07:00

I'm a Canon G refugee, having owned--and toured--with both the G9 and the G10 over the past few years. As most cycling photographers know, each iteration of the G series has been hailed as the current "photographer's camera." Canon G's return control to the photographer, allowing for easy manipulations of aperture, speed and ISO, often with dedicated dials--just like film cameras. Yes, you can do most of this stuff on brand X cameras via menus, but let's be perfectly honest: when was the last time you dove into a menu to compensate for a backlit cloud bank?

The G's also enjoy the best of Canon's almost supernatural color profiling, producing satisfying results in almost any situation and on almost any day of the year.

Copyright Gordon Inkeles 2010--All Rights Reserved

Indeed, it's hard to take a bad photo with a Canon G9, 10 or 11.

But all that power added weight to a camera. Not only would the G10 fail to fit comfortably in my pocket, but at around a pound when loaded with a battery and strap, it felt like a bit of a brick in my hand. Sure, it was worth it to carry one on a ride, but we say that about so many cool tools don't we? And at some point, weight does start to matter.

So with some regret I retired my Canon G10 after last summer's English tour and waited for the next great camera.

That turned out to be the Canon S90, which incorporates virtually all of the important G11 features--including its oversize (for a compact) sensor--into a body that's half the size and weight of a G11. Furthermore, the S90 adds two essential features that the G11 lacks: a faster lens which makes evening photos without flash a reality and a clicking lens ring that can be assigned to a range of vital functions, from ISO to F stops. That kind of control permits this tiny camera to emulate the revered manual focus Nikons and Leicas of the 1980's and earlier, when creative decisions were left to the photographer, not the cameras electronics.

Furthermore, during a bike ride the S90 will disappear into a rear jersey pocket——if you're brave enough to chance it. Just one problem: the S90 emerges from the box with a perfectly smooth body that has soft edges. It not only looks like a bar of soap, it feels like one. Generally, one trip to the asphalt is taps for a digital camera. The moment you pick up a new S90, you feel like you could drop it.

With all its bulk, the G11 is definitely easier to hold. I had started rationalizing yet another G series Canon when I discovered the Richard Franiec custom S90 grip, which instantly provided my wandering fingertips with a secure place to hold the camera. Here is the S90 as it comes out of the box.

Sixty seconds later, after a simple, tool-free installation, here it is with the Franiec grip:

Franiec has come up with a beautifully ergonomic solution for frustrated S90 owners: he's transformed an accident waiting to happen into an elegant, secure and supremely capable tool. He does include instructions for removing the grip without leaving a mark on the body, but I have trouble imagining any S90 owner taking him up on it. Indeed, you won't want to own an S90 without this grip.

Consider the first rule of ergonomics: the machine must adjust to you, never the other way around. It's not your responsibility to "adjust" to a shoe, car seat, couch, bed or camera. Somehow, the S90 team at Canon never figured this out, but happily, Richard Franiec did it for them. And thanks to him I'll be packing my S90 on bike rides this summer in California (below).

Copyright Gordon Inkeles 2010--All Rights Reserved

Addendum: I posted a link to this review on the dpreview.com and a long discussion and/or battle has ensued. I had no idea people could get so emotional about a camera which some stalwart defenders don't actually own.

Addendum: See my Canon S95 update to this review.

"Bike agenda spins cities toward U.N. control, Maes warns"

2010-08-05T11:12:00.001-07:00

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes is warning voters that Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's policies, particularly his efforts to boost bike riding, are "converting Denver into a United Nations community."

This is all very well-disguised, but it will be exposed," Maes told about 50 supporters who showed up at a campaign rally last week in Centennial."

Attention Colorado voters: pour yourself something calming and read on.

4th of July ride

2010-07-05T16:52:00.001-07:00

I rode out the Mad River boat launch in the morning.

The river was smooth as glass, perfect for a kayak or canoe.

This beautiful canoe had been around for decades. The guy in the photo restored her. I helped carry her back to a nearby truck.

On national holidays the most famous places are always crowded. This place is far from the highest peak, lowest valley or biggest waterfall. But a river runs through it.

A few hundred yards to the west, the destination for the Mad River——and all rivers.

Clean Bottle

2010-07-01T16:09:00.001-07:00

For years I have been seeking a way to prevent mold and other nasties from growing inside my water bottles. I've tried the usual cleaning procedures--including a dishwasher--all to no avail. Eventually, this is what I get:

Note the greenish black ring at the bottom of this plastic bottle. It has outlived multiple dishwasher cycles and vigorous bottle brushings.

But according to the bike discussion groups I hadn't gone nearly far enough:

I take a cap full or so of bleach and dilute it in about 8 ozs of water and throw it into the water bottle and fill it up with water. The mix is about right if it has a nice distinct chlorine smell still without being overpowering. Then fill with normal tap water, let sit for a few hours and repeat a few times. The bleach will kill virtually all the microbial stuff. It is a reasonably good disinfectant. Put the bottle in your freezer overnight to kill any residual mold.

I use well water, so no chlorine in the water here either. Whatever you use to clean, make sure you scrub too. Otherwise, the killed stuff sticks to the bottle and provides a medium for new growth. As for what to use, bleach water is still the first choice, but not full strength! Fill with water, add a few tsp of bleach and let it sit overnight, then wash with dish water afterward. Other sanitizers you could use would be rubbing alcohol or Windex-type surface cleaner. (Make sure you wash thoroughly afterward.) Or you can use denture cleaning tablets or mouthwash if you want something with a less toxic aftertaste.

Then there is the sand and gravel approach:

1 Fill the bottle with sand, gravel and water.

2 Shake for ten minutes

3 Empty, clean with brush and soap.

4 Repeat steps 1--3 several times, adding different grades of fine gravel.

I desperately needed to devote less of my life to cleaning plastic water bottles. So I kept searching for an alternative that would actually work.

A few weeks ago I was delighted to discover the CLEAN BOTTLE which incorporates a revolutionary concept: a "leak-proof" removable bottom cap. It makes cleaning a water bottle easy.

After several rides and subsequent bottle cleaning cycles I haven't seen a speck of mold or discoloration inside the Clean Bottle. Post ride cleaing takes less than a minute with soap, warm water and an ordinary bottle brush. No sand, no bleach (!), no gravel, no denture solutions or mouthwash, no overnight freezer treatments.

On rides my water stays in the bottle and tastes fine. What more can you ask from a bottle? The electric blue cap will soon be augmented with a line of colors to match just about any bike frame. Clean Bottle has come up with a simple solution for a needlessly complex problem.

For a short history of the bicycle water bottle——and a further endorsement of the Clean Bottle,——see this Road Bike Review article.

The High Line, Manhattan

2010-06-23T17:18:00.001-07:00

Now you can ride a bike along the Hudson River almost the length of Manhattan through what used to be an industrial wasteland.

Right next to the bike path you can take a break on the river itself.

Downtown get off at 14th street and head west for a few blocks. When you see this weird building around 10th Ave and 13th st...

...park your bike and look for steps up to what had been an abandoned elevated railroad track. Now it's an elevated art/park that stretches for a half mile (so far) called The High Line. Here you can look at the art, look at the city and learn to think like a New Yorker about parking.

Who knew that you could turn a rusted old hulk, a familiar eyesore for decades, into a garden spot?

Meanwhile, back in the automotive world...

2010-06-23T10:33:00.001-07:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!--The music of the sun

2010-06-20T11:20:00.001-07:00

Eureka Bay

2010-06-20T10:42:00.001-07:00

Abandoned pulp mill, abandoned port. What is arguably he best port in California is now close to ruin. For decades Eureka embraced short-sighted development of "rust belt" industries: pulp (closed), logging (played out) nuclear power (closed--due to no less than three earthquake faults under the reactor). But the sheer beauty of Eureka Bay hasn't departed; it's here for bike riders and walkers to discover. So the meek have inherited the bay and they could hold the key to its rebirth as a high tech "clean" business center and tourist attraction.

Why music doesn't work on a bicycle

2010-06-17T10:21:00.001-07:00

The bicycle lives in the world quite apart from architecture. It requires more of your attention than a car or airplane, so multi-tasking (with, say, an iPod) can easily become a costly mistake.

I enjoyed David Byrne's Bicycle Diaries, a windy treatise on city cycling. It takes Byrne a bike ride or two to focus his busy mind, but when he does he sometimes comes up with truly refreshing perspectives. Like so many of us he works on a problem, goes for a bike ride...and comes up with a solution. Proving? That cycling does indeed clear the mind.

A tip of the helmet to David Hodge for the video link.

$200 EACH WAY to fly a bike on Delta--and have it smashed. Delta offers $0

2010-06-11T09:21:00.001-07:00

More here.

And don't miss the lively comments that follow. For example:

Take them to small claims court. They typically don't show up. You get a default judgment. delta then sends a check when you send the sheriff to confiscate a 777.

I went through a similar scenario with United when I shipped my bike--in a bike case--from Holland a few years ago. When I unpacked the bike at home and found a deep dent in the frame I called United. United actually suggested I was faking the claim because I hadn't made the claim at Kennedy airport in NYC. The moral: next time you land at Kennedy be sure to unpack all your bags in front of an airlines counter. Check each item for damages before repacking. Ignore angry outbursts from passengers, staff and security.

Thank you for flying United.

Window artist "Adventures Edge," Arcata

2010-06-05T18:04:00.001-07:00

Arcata has 15,000 people and 4 bike shops. Every year the bicycle infrastructure improves; you can't run for office here unless you're pro bike. We're also known for our thriving local art scene. This shop sells all kinds of outdoor equipment along with bikes.

My trusty Rivendell has taken me on many adventures. More to come.

Kinetic Sculpture Race, Arcata 2010

2010-06-02T20:05:00.000-07:00

What to do after a 50th HS reunion

2010-06-02T17:23:00.001-07:00

After a mind-bending HS reunion in NY, my wife and I visited my old HS buddy Mike Lav in Washington D.C. Mike took us on a beautiful ride along the Potomac River.

We rode for a few hours on an uncrowded trail. Perfect weather, no hills, wooden bridges, good company.

Mike and I first rode bikes together in 1950.** After all these years we still have a lot in common: we both enjoy biking and we both have wives named Iris (mine is shown riding away from the camera toward Mt. Vernon, George Washington's home and gift shop). And after all these years it still felt great to ride a bike on a warm spring afternoon. I won't say I felt like I was eight years old again. Is there anyone out there who would expect that?

Rivers like this cry out for more bike paths, don't you agree? Write your congressman!

**not a typo

FERDINAND GT3 RS - The World`s slowest Porsche

2010-05-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

Roger, the bike guru

2010-05-03T16:19:00.001-07:00

Ten years ago I was riding ten miles to the Arcata Airport with Doug Ingold. Then it was on to the Sports Bar for a high calorie lunch while the fatties around the wide screen TV marveled at our endurance. "Ten MILES on a bicycle??" We felt like heros. Really well fed heros.

Roger said:

You guys are lazy; you can do a LOT more. Add ten percent a week to your ride.

So we started going further. Now we ride round trip to Trinidad, a total of 40 miles, every Sunday. And our group of 2, now known as "The Latte Warriors," has grown to 35!

We still stop for snacks at a sweet little cafe in Trinidad called The Beachcomber. Occasionally, Roger shows up but he seldom stops for long and he never snacks.

We could still do more...

Roger himself. Background: Trinidad lighthouse and point, a good place to watch whales. Note the uncluttered bike, which is very Roger.

Our ride home follows the aptly named Scenic Drive, south of Trinidad. We had the wind at our backs last Sunday.

The New Old Arcata Road

2010-04-30T10:29:00.001-07:00

Where once we dodged trucks on hairpin curves, we now have this beautiful bike lane, connecting east Eureka with Arcata. At last!

I rode it yesterday to and from an appointment in Eureka and had it all to myself in both directions. Note that the lane is duplicated on the other side of the road.

Other roadside attractions...

REVIEW: "Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists are Changing American Cities"

2010-04-26T15:29:00.001-07:00

You want to love Pedaling Revolution, but as Jeff Mapes himself points out in his introduction to the book, bike riders find "physical fitness, low-cost transportation, environmental purity -- and, still all too often, Wild West risks of sudden death or injury." Which takes us to the note I received from our resident engineer and on-hands test rider, Ken Thiessen:

Regarding my book review on Pedaling Revolution, I started of with the best of intentions then was diverted by a text chapter review for my former professor, three deaths of friends and family this winter, executorship of a substantial and messy estate and finally, I crashed hard on my bike last summer and this past fall I had two near misses with vehicles on my commute to work.

I feel like I am no longer such an advocate of utility bicycling as it remains far and away the most dangerous thing I do and seems irresponsible given the responsibilities I must put first. I have fallen from the choir and I don't feel like I can champion the cause that Jeff Mapes puts forward, which is what I really wanted to do.

Even in Portland, the bicycling routes are awkward and confusing patches placed on top of an already complete and integrated car transportation infrastructure. On my six mile commute, my bike route quits seven times at roadway sections too narrow to allow a bike lane, over three bridges, and a Y-fork in the road. In these sections, I become a vehicular cyclist and I hope the cars know why I am in the lane. There is a safer scenic route available to me but my commute then takes twice as long. I do take the scenic route on my way home.

There you have it bike lovers. Even in Portland. OK Ken was under a little stress for a while, but he claims he married a terrific woman a few months ago. Not only that, I sent them my new book/dvd on massage. In other words, Ken is a happy guy! And as a trained engineer, he can maintain a steely Zen detachment even while holding forth on the advantages of wooden bike frames. I've known Ken for many bike rides and I've never seen him lose his cool. Once it turned out that we were 20 miles from town and the rainy season ahem... hadn't actually ended. Ken took that as a perfect opportunity to demonstrate how much faster his carbon fiber bike was than my steel framed model.

We all dream of a bike-friendly society with few gasoholics and fewer fatties. Kids will ride bikes to school again. People will shop, commute, worship and date by bike. Geriatrics will cruise around the woods and parklands in groups of eight or ten on a sunny Sunday afternoon just as they do on all over Holland.

Must we get out there in traffic and die to make this happen?

Eureka Rhododendron Parade, bike division

2010-04-24T14:50:00.001-07:00

Since the northcoast of Calfornia is a Rhododendron center, the city of Eureka sponsors a Rhododendron parade once a year. I won't tell you that the streets are lined with Rhoddy lovers; part of Eureka's charm lies in its utter inability to line five miles of streets for any reason. However, some spots along the route were pretty crowded. I joined a contingent of intrepid cyclists comprising event #27 in the parade. We pushed off a little after 10 am.

Mark Mueller, founder of Windrwrap Fairings, led our group while towing rick Fugate, uninhibited accordion player/singer.

Adorned with American flags and rhododendrons, we rode for about five miles through downtown Eureka. Just ahead of us, a jazz marching band set the beat, just behind a half dozen blaring fire engines kept us on our toes. People cheered from the curbs, several actually saluted.

For a full screen playback click the four squares on the bottom right margin of the video.

Talia helped us decorate the bikes.

Checklist for ride: Trikes, accordion, park bench...

Mark Mueller towing Rick Fugate while he sings "I Want to Ride My Bicycle" at a volume suitable for parade acoustics.

Despite the fact that our group voted unanimously against rehearsing, we were almost able to execute complex, synchronized biking routines!

We attracted some swooning fans.

Every few hundred yards the parade stopped dead in its tracks. But the accordion music went on. It's the American way.

If George Washington had had a trike after he crossed the Delaware it would have looked like this.

Iris' family owned a 56 Chevy when they lived in Mexico in the 50's.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

Definitely social, arguably a bike

2010-04-22T11:31:00.001-07:00

But can you bird with it?

Birding by Bike

2010-04-19T19:01:00.001-07:00

Once a year Arcata offers GODWIT DAYS, a birding festival that lasts nearly a week. This year the festival added a new event: Birding by Bike.

It works pretty much the way you would expect: bike a little, bird a little. Bring binoculars.

The Arcata Bottoms, a marsh land between the ocean and the town, is a great place to bike--and bird. Egrets are happening on almost any day of the year.

Six months of rain then...

2010-04-14T19:55:00.001-07:00

I grabbed the bike and headed to downtown Arcata. We really do have a great art scene here. Good coffee too.*

* But the popular "dark" blends are often overcooked to the point where the beans are simply burnt. Darker beans do not equal stronger coffee. In fact, over cooked beans can turn the taste decidedly bitter. If you want an aromatic, truly pleasant coffee, order the lightest blend.

US 101 Eureka to Arcata

2010-03-10T23:08:00.001-08:00

Rte 101, the freeway Bob Dylan "revisited," stretches from the Mexican to the Canadian border, passing through Humboldt County as a kind of afterthought. We don't have enough people to justify a Freeway; this one serves as a necessary transit point between the cities of the Pacific coast. In Los Angeles where it's known as The Hollywood Freeway, it widens to a twelve lane monster. I can't imagine anyone trying to ride that on a bike (but of course, in LA bikes will have wandered out into gridlocked Freeway traffic along with horses, camels, dogs, parrots and feuding spouses. I actually saw a dog on this Freeway near San Diego a few months months ago. As for feuding spouses...what are Freeways for?

In Humboldt County 101 narrows to a mere four lanes. We may have qualified for a Freeway but it didn't include many cloverleafs. Commuters, hay trucks and--gulp-- cyclists and pedestrians (!) are on their own when crossing Rte 101. Many drivers have never been here and seem intent on rushing though. Some seem surprised to see cyclists on the Freeway's shoulders but that's where we'll ride until we get a proper bike path between Arcata and Eureka. After a rash of nasty accidents between the two towns the State reduced the speed limit to 50 from the usual 65. So for five miles the traffic is only going three times faster than I can peddle on a commuting bike.

I rode 101 today, with a cold wind at my back during the return from Eureka. A "multi use" sign reminds drivers that cyclists have a right to use "their" Freeway, cold comfort indeed.

To the right of the Freeway, spring is happening early.

Omen

2010-03-09T18:24:00.001-08:00

After a sunset like this, the storm broke on us and it rained for two days.

West End Road to Blue Lake

2010-03-04T10:10:00.001-08:00

We got a break in the storms so I headed for Blue Lake, the "sunbelt" of Northern Humboldt.

As usual West End Road was deserted on a Sunday. Everyone was either in church or in the Blue Lake Casino.

Before long I was in downtown Blue Lake.

If you lived in Blue Lake maybe you'd live here.

Or here

or even here

The Mad River is filled with Steelhead at this time of the year.

Back home in Arcata I finally ran into some traffic.

The Hammond Trail

2010-02-10T17:47:00.001-08:00

The sun returned for a day and I headed north to Trinidad. First I had to cross the rusty old Mad River bike bridge. It had survived another storm...

At the Scenic Viewpoint above Clam Beach, I found these earnest young birders. Somebody had to speak up for the endangered Snowy Plover. Choosing to reach out to people who are actually in touch with birds, they set up on the cycle path, not in the nearby parking lot. And not a moment too soon--the Snowy Plover population on Clam Beach (in the background) has shrunk to just 15 birds.

I pressed on against noticeable headwinds. The short stretch ahead is the only remaining unpaved portion of the Hammond Trail.

The paved portions of the trail look like this:

The last three miles of the ride are on Scenic Drive, south of Trinidad. It never fails to take my breath away.

The trip home across the Arcata Bottoms was fast and beautiful.

I took these photos with my iPhone camera, thus the rough edges and indefinite color. Much as I loved the Canon G10, it proved too bulky for day-long cycling. The new Canon S90 is close to the same camera in a much smaller package. But a slippery body with no handgrip, a free spinning selection dial and a popup flash sent my ergonomic warning dial into the red zone: this is a camera that fairly begs to be dropped in the middle of a pleasant bike ride. So my search for the ideal cycling camera continues.

Waiting out the storms

2010-01-23T18:05:00.001-08:00

A huge storm front has moved into Northern California, making cycling difficult. Here's what we're up against at 2 pm (click on photo to expand)

We're in a cycle of cloudbursts, rainbows and translucent moments like this one.

Into the mist...

2010-01-16T13:02:00.001-08:00

Under threatening skies, I headed out. A little rain won't kill you...

A mile later I pulled into an inviting cafe. No point in overdoing it.

You really can't go wrong at "The Coffee Break."

Ten miles to the north where the Mad River wanders into the Pacific, seals often gather. None appeared that misty day. Note to environmentalists: the river isn't supposed to be up here. Some years ago an overzealous planner pointed the whole river north to this remote beach, instead of letting it flow south across the Arcata bottoms and into Arcata Bay as it had for the past few million years. It's still pointed north, but now quite a few homes and portions of interstate Highway 101 (!) are perched perilously close to a crumbling cliff.

More rain is on the way.

I wasn't the only cyclist who ventured out that day.

Eureka Bay, 1 hour before the earthquake

2010-01-13T14:58:00.001-08:00

No dogs barked, no bugs went bananas, no weird currents. Peace on earth...

Nevertheless, there is something faintly ominous about this photo.

What I did last night

2010-01-10T19:31:00.001-08:00

Priorities: when exiting a bar during a 6.5 earthquake, do NOT leave your beer inside! Some——but happily, not all——of these patrons forgot their beer.

2010, First ride

2010-01-04T18:22:00.001-08:00

Ride north or south from Arcata and you're within sight of the Pacific much of the time. When the weather is changing, you can hear the breakers long before you see them.

I rode north on our lovely Hammond Trail. I've done this ride hundreds of times and I always come home feeling great.

The Mad River train bridge hasn't seen a train in decades. It's just wide enough for two bikes to pass.

The Mad River was named for a dispute between party of frustrated gold miners. They didn't find gold, just a new river. It turned out to be a great place for a screaming argument.

The road ahead, across the Arcata bottoms. If you lived here, you'd have a palm tree in your view.

Another roadside attraction...

A few Latte Warriors, my cycling group. Rain or shine, some of us might be out there on a bike.

My recumbent, a homemade bike modeled on the Rans v2 but with remote steering. It's like riding a couch.

My son Matt, me, the Pacific

One thing about the Pacific, it rarely disappoints. That's the town of Trinidad perched on the cliffs on the other side of the rainbow.

The Year in Review

2009-12-18T16:36:00.001-08:00

Last sunset over Arcata Bay 2009

Later that night

First ride of 2009

The road ahead

Same road, Leaving Tsunami Zone...Moving right along...

The old Bayside Church, now home to Hot Yoga

One month later

Arcata to Bayside bike path

Arcata Marsh

Valentines Day, Eureka Bay

March dawn, Aleutian Geese

More to come soon. Stay tuned...

A model of the proposed new Marina Center on Eureka Bay

2009-11-16T22:01:00.001-08:00

Note the multi use path complete with tiny cyclist. I'm going to propose adding bike lanes and bike parking throughout.

Such a development would transform not only the post-industrial Eureka waterfront, turning it into a bike-friendly place to hang out, but the whole city. I particularly like the modern architecture which opens to the harbor. It's a welcome relief from the oppressive "Victorian Village" theme that has run its course elsewhere in Eureka. Victoria was a nineteenth century English queen, whose reign was known for its embrace of imperialism and repression. Where does it say that we have to honor her every time we build something in Eureka, California in the 21st century? Furthermore, faux Victorians never get it right while real ones take a lot of TLC. And yet, "Victorian" seems to be the architectural default in Eureka, for those who can't imagine anything else. Our waterfront deserves more: a 21st century treatment--with bikes.

And now for something completely different

2009-11-14T22:35:00.001-08:00

What it will take to get Americans on a bike?

2009-11-13T16:55:00.001-08:00

Wytze's graduation project for Cannondale from Eelke D. on Vimeo.

After the war, life was hard in Europe. The Dutch created a bicycle utopia (video below) because so many of them had no other choice for transportation. They moved up from walking to a faster, more convenient means of transportation: cycling. We're trying to do the opposite when we propose a shift from cars back to a less complex and slower mode, cycling. I think such a shift will be fashion driven. People will cycle, not because it's good for them or "green" but because it's cool.

A tip of the helmet to David Hodge for this video.

Stardust: Holland in the 50's

2009-11-08T23:30:00.001-08:00

For a cyclist, Holland still has the same relaxed feeling. I've done two bike tours there. More to come, I hope.

About 30 years ago I was visiting a Dutch friend in Eindhoven and he put me on a bike. I've kept it up ever since and it's changed my whole life. If you want to introduce cycling to a friend you might consider a Dutch vacation. As you can see, the bicycle is an organic part of Dutch life.

A tip of the helmet to VELOslo for this delicious little video.

The end of the world...or the beginning?

2009-11-05T20:51:00.000-08:00

This is Tierra del Fuego National Park in Ushuaia, Chile, at the southern tip of South America. Ever since I took this photo a few years ago I've thought about returning someday. Some places you never have enough time...

I'm not sure you can reach it on a bike from either Chile or Argentina. Its at the southern extremity of Tierra del Fuego, a watery wilderness that stretches for hundreds of miles.

Here's a couple that's going to try it on a bike! They seem to have reached Isla Bonitas in Belize on "day 393," which was August 9, and stayed until August 16. Nothing more since then. I for one will stay tuned.

HPV heaven

2009-11-05T17:46:00.001-08:00

Mark Mueller of Windwrap Fairings rode with my cycling group, The Latte Warriors, a while back. That's Mark in the foreground inside the white creature with yellow detailing. It was a fast, well-equipped HPV, complete with lighting for night riding.

Please can we now have our bike trail from Arcata to Eureka?

2009-11-04T11:47:00.001-08:00

Wilson (liberal) and Marks (conservative) have been elected to the Humboldt Bay Harbor commission. I'm hoping that doesn't checkmate our hopes for an Arcata to Eureka bike trail, along an unused section of railroad track. Wilson promises to turn the abandoned railroad into a bike path. Marks wants yet another round of "rust belt" industrial development, which has already turned our beautiful bay into a polluted mess several times in the last century. All this for "jobs."

If this were Holland or Denmark, we'd have six bike paths connecting these sister cities. As it stands, bike commuters must either ride far to the west of the bay--in traffic all the way on Rte 255 (map on right)--or take the direct route by braving the shoulder of US RTE 101, a four lane Freeway. Meanwhile, Arcata Bay remains the most beautiful urban coastal waterway in California. What will it take to be able to ride a bike along it without risking life and limb?

Vancouver to Kamloops

2009-10-22T23:56:00.001-07:00

What will the new world look like?

2009-10-18T19:19:00.001-07:00

In the next 25 years our cities will grow by millions of people. Before you reach for the panic button consider this: what if they all rode bikes? Don't miss the 9 minute video in the middle of this presentation.

A tip of the helmet to David Hodge for this fascinating look at what could be a very happy future: a city designed for bicycles. Happily, this is not science fiction. In fact, in Copenhagen and Amsterdam, we've already got a couple of working models.

An electric HPV amphibian

2009-10-14T10:16:00.001-07:00

amphibian velomobile from Jan Jan on Vimeo.

What if Ann Dussert had had one of these babies?

Return of the Land Schooner

2009-10-10T13:55:00.001-07:00

During the Alaskan gold rush a group of Wall Streeters came up with a serious proposal to build a kind of covered wagon with sails that would "skim" across the Canadian shield in no time at all. Having crossed the boggy Canadian shield by train I have to say it didn't look that "skimmable." Today, the land schooner has morphed into the petrosail trike, which does all the work for you...if the wind is right. Note that the rider is not pedaling at all.

Ann Dussert vs. The Himalayas

2009-10-08T18:56:00.001-07:00

I've been reading Three Cups of Tea, the story of one man's battle to build schools in the Himalayas. Against all odds the author manages to survive in one of the world's most hostile envioronments. And neither ice storms, nor bad roads, nor duplicitous tribesmen can stay him from his task.

What if he'd been an attractive female and tried it on a trike?

Dussert may not have built any schools, but sometimes just coming home alive--with photos like these--is reward enough.

OK, trike fans: settle back, pour yourself something calming and check this out.

The Sundial Bridge, Redding CA.

2009-10-07T13:59:00.001-07:00

I can't get enough of The Sundial Bridge. Somebody in Redding found a pile stock certificates in the attic that had been purchased during the Depression. Voila! The town got a new bridge over the Sacramento River. It's open to pedestrians and cyclists. No cars.

The roadway is made of glass.

You end up dreaming about this bridge.

Across Africa by tandem trike

2009-10-04T10:05:00.001-07:00

Of course these folks would have appeared incredibly rich to almost everyone they met. I'm not sure how one deals with that on a bike tour. Have you ever had such an experience? If so, how did you deal with a vast net worth gap between you and your hosts?

Addendum: The video footage has now been updated. What a gorgeous trip!