Moronacity Cycling Journal » Entries tagged with "Commuting"
Inspired By Cyclocross
I set out for my very first fall commute with my cross tires. I wasn’t quite sure how long it would take me to get to class and it didn’t help that I was running late, anyway. It’s funny how a chronically late person can continue to run late even though he or she prepares in advance to make it all run smoothly. There is a learning curve, indeed. Yesterday, I swapped my road tires for my Maxxis Locust CX tires. First, let me state that these tires came with my Kona Jake the Snake and they are the only cross tire I’ve had the pleasure of using. Therefore, I am absolutely no authority on cross tires. My commute to school was a bit slower, which is … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cycling
Going By Bike
This is my first week back at Michigan Tech for the fall semester. I couldn’t commute, Tuesday, because I had to exchange a textbook and get another one. The load would’ve been too much for my shoulders to handle for a total of nineteen miles. Ick. Yesterday was my first day bicycle commuting. I was creative. I had to get to an 8 a.m. class, which is nearly impossible for me, anyway, as I am quite the opposite of a morning person. I also had to start work at 1:30 p.m. The hospital is six miles from my home, and Tech is nine and a half. I chose to drive to work and park there. I rode my bike into school. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
The Go By Bike Challenge
I was doing some online cycling clothing browsing and meandered over the Trek web site to check out their clothes. I like Trek clothing because they make cycling clothes that fit curvy, not-so-rail-thin women. That would be me. I never got to the clothing part of the web site, though. I saw The Go By Bike Challenge and took note. It’s a nifty little motivational tool. You pick the reason, or reasons, for commuting by bicycle and estimate the number of miles per trip. Then, you pick how many round trips you do in a week. It estimates how many pounds of carbon reduced, calories burned, and gas dollars saved. I chose to place the widget on my sidebar (to the right). … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
A Di Day
We live in such a society where it is beyond the understanding of many that God simply wants us to slow down. In such a society where multi-tasking, economy, efficiency, and so on are paramount to our role as citizens, we have no idea how to not do anything. Even when we are completely wasteful of our time, producing absolutely nothing besides excess fat, we consume our minds with stimuli from video games, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
Rails-to-Trails
I joined in on the local bike shop ride tonight. It was great fun and quite challenging. I chose to go with the moderately-fast group, which turned out to be the fast group. Yes, they had to wait for me every now and again. I pretty much rode by myself, but managed to make a strong showing on certain sections of trails, especially the ones that didn’t go up. I drove to the ride tonight. One reason for driving was that my bike was at the bike shop for its “30-day tune-up.” It was a new bike last fall when I bought it and winter kind of took away the breaking-in opportunity, so my 30-day tune-up was done seven months later. Such is … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy
Invite a Friend for a Ride
Summer really doesn’t seem to be trying all that hard to arrive in the Keweenaw. It hit just under 60 degrees and I threw on my short sleeve jersey and shorts for a ride into work to do an ultrasound. I returned home two hours later to trade in my cross bike for a mountain bike and I hit some nearby trails. It peaked at 60 degrees, so the short sleeve jersey … Read entire article »
Filed under: Bike Culture
Ride of Silence
The following is quoted from the Ride of Silence web site. Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 kph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways. WHY DOES THIS SITE EXIST? * To HONOR those who have been injured or killed * To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here * To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD THE RIDE OF SILENCE? WILL NOT BE QUIET On May 21, 2008, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence? will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy
Cycling Advocacy: Exercise the Power of the Word
What is National Bike Month without a little advocacy? Today is a great day to pick a cycling topic that needs the attention of your local government, or even the state or federal government, and write your representative(s). I first heard about a clearance law when I was reading a blog by an American girl who was living in France. I thought it was a spectacular idea and wondered why a law like that didn’t exist here. After more searching, I found that many states have already incorporated the 3-foot pass law: a passing vehicle must allow three feet of clearance between the vehicle and the bicycle. My state currently does not have the 3-foot pass law, and I have started an email/letter writing campaign this … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy
The New American Revolution?
Today is Bike-to-Work Day. It marks the end of the Bike-to-Work Week, but that doesn’t mean you should quit riding for transportation. This week’s blogging was all about bicycle commuting and some of its benefits. Of course, the benefit of gas savings is in the forefront of everyone’s mind and that is why bicycle sales and restorations are spiking. A couple days ago, someone commented on seeing a story about this … Read entire article »
Filed under: Advocacy
From Prozac to Road: Cycling for Happiness
It is amazing how a vigorous ride to school sucked all the stress out of my body. I would sit in my 9 a.m. class with a runner’s high and not a care in the world. I also felt an incredible sense of accomplishment and self-confidence. This is a far cry from what I used to experience in my daily life. Ten years ago, I was an overly-stressed, directionless student searching for accomplishment. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cycling
