505 Bike Commuter

The Old Pueblo

2010-04-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

I moved out of the 505 and down to the 520. Tucson is hot. I'm unpacking my Kona and will hit the streets next Monday! Watch out Tucson, I'm red chili breakfast burrito on fire!

18 degrees at 6:00 a.m.

2010-01-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

I rode my bike to the train for my commute to work this morning. If you leave out the constant fogging up of my glasses, the snot encrusted scarf, and my constant fear of hitting an ice patch, it was a great ride!

Mechanically, the bike handled pretty good. The only thing I noticed that had me paying a little more attention is the slow and sticky shifting in the cables... no doubt due to the cold.

I enjoyed being one of the few crazies out there riding in this weather. I could imagine people at the intersection wondering to themselves, "What a crazy guy that is out there at 6:00 a.m. in this freezing weather!"

I also saw one of my bike compadre huffing and puffing into the station. He was happy to see that I was out there. I have to say that I was pretty stoked to see him too!

Another great day for the bike blog!

Fall Biking

2009-12-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

The biking bug has got me! Out of the blue the urge to go for a ride hits me. This morning I saw a guy on a mountain bike all decked out in his cold weather gear and I thought, "Dude, I can be doing that too.." Then the light turned green and I looked into the rearview mirror to watch the guy pedal around the corner. This biking bug has been slowly getting stronger and stronger.

In the mean time I've been told that layering works wonders in beating the cold. Wind proof gloves, and some long johns. Good grief! I just felt like I was 8 years old getting dressed for the walk to grade school. Something about that word, "long johns," makes me think about waaay back when growing up. Ha!

Okay dudes. I'm gonna get ready for the epic booger freezing bike ride. I'll post pictures soon.

My last ride

2009-11-22T19:21:00.001-08:00

My last ride was a few weeks ago and man, it was awesome. The air was cool and the morning was a little dark. The wind passing my ear and silence. I wish that I could've stayed in that animated state forever.

While my biking has been cut back significantly due to the weather and safety concerns with the darker evenings, I have been spinning and running at the gym, reading my favorite biking magazines and waiting for the weather to get warmer.

I haven't forgotten about you guys.

Haven't been riding

2009-10-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

I feel terrible. I haven't been riding my bike. Work schedule, travel, etc. Now the weather is getting cold. I need to toughen up and get going again.

Interesting bike setups

2009-09-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

Aggressive seat angle, bungie cords. Must make the bike go faster!

That would explain the burned up seat lug: heat generated speed friction.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

In these darkening times

2009-09-16T10:40:00.001-07:00

In these darkening times I find myself in need of another bike light. My morning "Mark Cavendish" sprint to the train station has become more challenging with the dark mornings (whether the fall time adjustment will help remains to be seen, literally). The only problem is that my flight deck is an already crowded place - what with bike bell, bike computer, light #1, and 2 brake/gear shifter gadegtry. Adding a light #2 will be a challenge.

So, I've been thinking of making a special mini-rack out of PVC piping and two clamps. This small contraption will be attached to the stem and, in theory, would give me additional room to mount two lights.

I'll take a picture of it once I'm done.

Message from BikeABQ

2009-09-04T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

On behalf of BikeABQ I am very excited to be able to invite you to the Can You See Us NOW? bicycle ride and rally. This will be a short (4.3 mile) ride down Route 66 on Sunday September 20. The point of this ride is to gather together as many cyclists as possible to collectively ask motorists "Can You See Us NOW?" Mountain bikers, children with training wheels, triathletes, roadies, commuters, tourists... everyone who rides a bicycle can come and add their voice.

Bells, horns, whistles, signs, flags, and streamers are also all welcome at this event

We will start at 4 pm from High Desert Yoga, 4600 Copper NE at Jefferson. With an APD bicycle patrol officer escort we will cruze down Central Ave to Tiguex park. At the park there will be a short rally.

Come to the start early to sign up, beginning at 3 pm. The event is free, but there will be numbers for the first 100 people. Each of these numbers will have the name of a New Mexico cyclists who has died as a result of a crash with a motor vehicle in the past 20 years. That's right, 100 cyclists have died between 1989 and 2009 (to date). We will also be riding to remember and honor these people.

At Tiguex park we will read the names of these victim cyclists. There will also be two short speaches about how we can work together to make cycling safer for all. New Belgium Brewery's Team Wonderbike will be there and we will have some other cool give-aways too.

Questions?? e-mail me

Want to help?? Print the attachment and post it anywhere you think a cyclists eyes might see it. Recruit your friends. Post the event on your facebook page. Post the BikeABQ link or NMCycling link where people can go for more information. E-mail me and I'll find another job for you if that isn't enough!

Thanks, and see you on September 20!

Jennifer Buntz

A strange week for commuting

2009-09-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

This week started out pretty odd.

First, Albuquerque cops hand out bicycle lights:

Free bike lights... and a warning ticket; a hug and a smack.

Then, I receive an email from The Don who said he was going to have a talk with the mysterious and powerful Mr. COG about the Rail Runner bike strap problem. I suspect The Don will make Mr. COG an offer he can't refuse:

And today, after 267 miles the rear Michelin City Tire got "nailed."

I whipped out the new tube and in no time I was back in the saddle.

I could hear my father, "Son, you always have be prepared." Thanks Dad.

It was a crazy week!

Rail Runner bike straps: the saga continues

2009-08-26T21:21:00.001-07:00

The "Bear Trap" buckle mechanism; a real pain to thread. You push down on the part with the little mini-teeth, but it opens just enough to give you a hard time.

The frayed strap end; a real challenge to properly secure your bike.

The whole contraption. Your wheel rests in the cradle and the strap loops through your rims and spokes and meets up with the Bear Trap and, in theory, it is suppose to secure your bike.

But the reality is that bike commuters don't mess with the contraption (which is designed to hold only two (yes, 2) bikes. Here we have four bikes (and we added two more at the next stop).

Bike strap abuse.

Now that you've seen the mess that is bike commuting on the Rail Runner. Imagine these bikes swaying back and forth as the train rumbles down dilapidated tracks. Usually the end bike winds-up sideways or falling down completely, blocking the door way.

Now, imagine the dozens of Rail Runner riders backed up trying to get on and off the train with this mountain of... uh... mountain bikes in the way and your bike commuter frigg'n around with the mess trying to dislodge their war pony before the door slams shut. If your bike is, say, in the back of this mess and you have to get out in a hurry at your stop, good luck. 85% chance that you're not going to make it.

Santa Fe Farmer's Market

2009-08-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

7:00 a.m and the Market is coming to life!

How can your significant other be upset with you if you bring these home?

My father becomes sad when he sees sunflowers; childhood memories that boarding school was right around the corner.

The accordion reminded me of the Tiger Lillies.

Breaking down: pannier saga continues…

2009-08-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

So, a few posts ago I revealed my cheapness and creativity in one swoop with the purchase of a Sunlite rear rack for the Red Shark (aka: 2003 Kona Hahanna) and two strap gizmos for a total price of $30 bucks (and using my tricked out Timbuk2 messenger bag). Like all great ideas, this one ended up sucking a little more than usual.

First there was the constant frigg’n around with the straps trying to tie the bag to the rack. Then there was the wobbly bag itself; rolling this way and that way while riding. The final straw, however, was that it looked like a home made camper- in other words, pretty low budget.

So, based on my vanity and on this experience I decided to break down and buy real bike bags. Still being the low budget money grub that I am, I shopped around and came up with the Avenir Metro Pannier for $39 dollars (I still think I paid too much)

But, dang, these bags are awesome! I rode them this morning for the first time and I must say the Avenir Metro Pannier is just the right size. Not too big, not too small. However, they make the Red Shark feel like a lumbering C141 with full load and filled tanks; which is very heavy. You’re not going to put one gallon milk jugs in there (maybe if you buy two half gallon milk jugs and stand them side by side in one of the larger compartments, and on the other side three large boxes of Fruitloops. The little side, side bags are big enough for snacks, my trusty mini-hand pump, and tools. Look, you’re not going to fit a 15 inch laptop in there, so don’t try (and if you do you’ll probably be buying a new one from all the banging around and stuff when you ride to home/work … there goes that new bike you’ve been eyeing all summer long).

I can’t quiet explain the way a bike handles with panniers. You’re not leaning into curves, you’re taking your time, and you feel the added weight when pedaling. In comparison to music listening, you’re jamming to Barry Manilow instead of AC/DC. And you get the distinct feeling that people are pointing at your bags and making fun. Children are saying, “Look mommy, that man’s bicycle is going to have little baby bikes soon.”

Riding to El Pinto

2009-08-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

“Riding to El Pinto.” Sounds like a good western movie eh? Unfortunately it’s not – it was my ride last evening to a great New Mexican restaurant in Albuquerque’s not so great north-north valley for dinner with pals.

I’d never ridden in the north valley before and was looking forward to the new experience. For example, when you start noticing used syringes on the sides of roads and broken beer bottles, you know the neighborhood will get interesting. And 4th Street was interesting.

One young homeless dude without a shirt and dirty ratty jeans and no shoes and one gallon water jug (what is it with these water jugs and zombied out homeless guys? I see this combo more and more) started jumping up and down and shouting at me from across the street, “Hey man! Hey man! That’s a niiiiice Kona man! Better keep an eye on it bro!” I was actually keeping an eye on my bike computer to see how fast I was getting out of there.

I rolled by a trailer park access road and one young thug in a bombed out Dodge Neon shouted through a rolled down tinted window, “You crazy mother******!” Ah yes, to be called crazy by a local crazy was an honor - I finally made my street bones.

At El Pinto we ate, drank, and made merriment with stories and laughter. Time passed and the beer was served in too small glasses. Soon, it was dark and I gritted at the thought of my ride home through the north valley. Fortunately, I was saved by a ride home and subsequently lost my street cred; he took it:

Cheapskate

2009-08-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

I’ve learned I’m cheap.

Bike commuting has taught me some pretty interesting things. Last night while riding the train back home I struck up a conversation with a fellow 505 bike commuter, a real nice guy. By the end of our conversation we were both united in our cheap struggle to save money for biking gear. It was Us vs. Bike Gear Companies and Bike Shops.

Take for example glasses marketed for bicyclists at a popular online bike shop:

$49.99, on sale for $29.99

Or…

Glasses at a popular online hardware store:

Not on sale for $8.88

We talked about all kinds of ways that we save money on gear. There's the safety vest he bought at a safety uniform store for less than $18 bucks. There’s the chainsaw oil by the gallon for $8.95 (a real money saver when you consider a few ounces of bicycle chain-lube costs like $8 dineros.

Look around for the savings and don't settle for the over priced stuff they sell at most bike shops... other wise you're not using your head, even if like you're a millionaire (in that case you're really, really not using your head).

Another great day in the ABQ!

2009-08-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

Crazy path keeps me safe

2009-07-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

I’ve been a bit concerned lately about bike vs. motorist rage in New Mexico. I read an article about an Oregon firefighter who tried to whack out a cyclist by shooting him in the head (his wife and child were also riding with him, and, presumably watched this sad situation go down). Fortunately, the bullet hit the cyclist’s helmet and mysteriously missed his head. Do you need any more reasons to wear a helmet?

At an intersection in Santa Fe I saw some geezer Santa Clause looking dude in an old beat up truck yelling at a woman cyclist in a yellow summer dress and riding what looked like a step-through city cruiser (a real threat to cranky old men, believe me). And near UNM I saw a cyclist shoot his middle finger to some young thug who, in turn, was shooting his index finger, pistol fashion (or Contador style) out his window with his left hand. Absolutely crazy!

Reading poster comments to a local news item on the hazards posed to cyclists when the state transportation department “partially paves” roads (another article here) reinforced my efforts to avoid roads when I can. And so, here's some pictures of my daily crazy commuter path that keeps me safe:

Fields:

Old dirt roads:

Sidewalks:

And crazy places:

Bike paths:

But, eventually, I hit the road:

Excuse me while I kiss the sky

2009-07-28T05:02:00.000-07:00

Bike junkies want NMDOT to spend more of your tax $$$

2009-07-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

The Albuquerque Journal has done it again. This time they went a head and printed another bicycle story, further inciting bicyclist and motorist rage. The story is about a fringe group of two wheeled radical fanatics called the Bicycle Coalition of New Mexico, or BCNM (A creepy version of the Hell’s Angels), who want nothing better than to stop the state transportation department from saving money by partially paving highways. These bike junkies tell us that the partial paving makes these bicyclists ride in the road nearer to cars and trucks and semi-trailers, who by the way, all drive within the speed limit and obey all traffic laws and are courteous to all on New Mexico’s roadways. Red light cameras? Don’t need them. Traffic court? Not here. Traffic patrols? No way.

For their part, the transportation department says it saves them money to partially pave roads.

But the BCNM fires back, “It's because of this kind of practice that New Mexico's ranking by League of American Bicyclists has dropped to 46th place among the fifty states." Don’t tell the Journal’s Glen Rosales this; he thinks “Albuquerque is one darn bike-friendly town.”

For their part, the normal law abiding citizen-motorists of our enchanted roadways give us additional reasoned arguments in support of the thrift transportation department. Comments to the online article read thus:

“When these bicyclists start paying license fees, are required to carry insurance, and generally pay a fee equal to what the motorist pays in gasoline taxes, they can demand these improvements...not until then!
…
I think they need to finance the roadway in an equal fashion to the motorists (in the form a license, registration, insurance, and fees). Until that happens, I see no valid voice from this group.”

Another voice of reason puts it this way:

“I have shared the road all to often with this arrogant group of self serving creeps that think they have as much rights on the road you provide for motor vehicles, who by the way pay taxes for the use thereof.
…
Not all of us ride bicycles and therefore most would agree that they should pay for their own paved surface.”

So there you have it: New Mexico bicyclists don’t pay taxes, are uninsured, don’t have licenses, are arrogant creeps who should subsidize a completely different parallel transportation system in the state. Oh, and judging by the photo below, these bike junkies have a death wish riding on a partially paved road (see the abrupt end of the road? That’s what they call partial pavement.):

Who would smile and ride a bike in such a dangerous place? Bike junkies high on smoking that anti-flat green gunk in their inner-tubes, and bike junkies who free base chain oil... that’s who! What a bunch Creeps. And I'm proud to be associated with these wierdos! They are good people.

Breakfast burrito and coffee for the bike ride

2009-07-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

I have a new camera! Now I'll be posting random photos of my days, usually bike related.

Today's photos are items that all New Mexicans know by site, smell, and most importantly, taste: The Breakfast Burrito and Coffee:

Chuck full of simple carbohydrates for that quick burst of energy you'll need sitting at your office computer, or for that break-time bike ride for some good quality coffee or lunch. The quality of the 505 burrito varies from heavenly to, well, hellish. This particular breakfast bomber was procured from Whole Foods. There's a lot of good stuff at Whole Foods. Breakfast burritos isn't one of them. The Santa Fe Whole Foods breakfast burrito is too watered down, the green chili isn't hot enough, and the clumps of potatoes are too large and too hard, and where's the eggs? The cheese?

One of the first real useful thing that my rear rack assisted me with was:

COFFEE HOLDER

The bike rack is a great coffee holder! Coffee in Santa Fe is like coffee everywhere on the planet. This cup came from Whole Foods, too. WF coffee is good; a counter point to their breakfast burrito. The best coffee, though, comes form Ohari's:

Don't let those lightning bolts fool you; they're real. One sip and BAM! You're good for the day. I don't know, at this point, how coffee effects my bike ride except to say that I'm unusually thirsty after a cup. I just did a google search for coffee and biking in the hopes of finding information on effects of caffeine and physical exercise and discovered: Mr. Scharf's World Famous Bicycle Coffee Systems, where I further discovered:

AND

Coffee Bicycle Bell

Despite these interesting trinkets and thoughts of how a cup of coffee functions in the cup holder when you're out of your saddle and "dancing on the peddles", I found a web site citing a study that:

"Found that caffeine is not the dehydrating demon some people believe. In fact, [the study] concluded that caffeine is no more a diuretic than water."

So, I guess it is safe to drink your coffee or quadruple espresso but you might be a tad edgy during the morning traffic rush.

The saga of the bike bag/rack/pannier

2009-07-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

With the New Mexico heat wave and the treacherous five mile ride up Paseo del Norte, I figured it was time to drop the messenger bag for a rear bike rack and pannier bags. Simple. Go to the bike store, pick out a rear rack and bags and, bingo! Finish.

It didn't work out quite like that, largely because I'm cheap. First, I discovered that rear racks can get expensive ($45+), add bags ($65+) and you've got some major investment going into schlepping your stuff on your bike.

First, I went to amazon.com and figured I'd purchase a bag and rack system for nearly $90. My problem was the shipping time: up to 5 days for delivery, and the price (and later... the small size):

Because I bike commute to work, I needed something sooner and something comparable in price. So, next I stopped by the REI here in town and picked out this number for $95:

The Topeak Dynapack DX. Pricey, sleek, and... too damn small. I brought this bad boy home, loaded stuff up and discovered its fatal flaws: too small, and only holds 10 lbs. And I saw this system in action on another bike and the side swinging problem was too much. So, I scrapped this plan and settled for:

The Sunlite rear rack. Holds upto 40 lbs. and only cost $24 at The Broken Spoke Bike Shop in Santa Fe, NM. And for a bag I resorted to my old and trusty timbuk2 messenger bag. I know... you're asking, "How do you mount that bag to the rear rack?" Answer: with two of these ($3 each from REI):

The result (total cost $30):

I'm happy I saved money and I'm happy I get to use what I already have. I hate unneeded consumerism- especially when you already have what you need to get the job done!

Random thoughts on the bike commute

2009-07-14T11:00:00.001-07:00

The silent ride through quiet morning streets is punctuated by the single ring of my bike bell when the front wheel hits small holes in the road or cracks in the sidewalk, underscoring the lonely endeavor of bike commuting in Albuquerque, one random ring at a time. I’m reminded of the poetry of Robert Frost.

On my arduous afternoon ride home the intense rays of the sun rain down on me, wilting roadside signs advertising long past garage sales, fading old junk cars into ashes, and making reality dance in distant shimmers. Every afternoon I understand why ancient cultures worshiped the sun.

At a busy intersection I watch across the way a bicyclist flipping off a truck driver with his middle finger all the while pedaling through a red light. I see the truck driver throw an Arby’s drink cup at the cyclist. The light turns green and I pedal on startled by the image of their faces, gaping mouths, teeth, yelling obscenities. What is it about transportation that drives our primal urges? Perhaps the ‘control’ we feel over an inanimate object that is then suddenly transferred to another driver or rider who transgresses over our almighty control.

The 505 bike brigade

2009-07-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

Bike commuting has given me the opportunity to meet other bike commuters. For weeks before I rode my bike to the train station I was either locked up inside my car stressing out over traffic and cussing the lame radio stations in and around Albuquerque. Now, I catch a few winks on the train ride to work, listen to the iPod, and now and then I get to chat for a little with other bike commuters about, what else… bikes and biking gear, or the commute.

There’s one fellow with a sweet Trek and awesome panniers. From this guy I learned that wax based chain lubricant in the arid southwest can break your chain or make it wear faster than normal because dirt sticks to the wax more so than oil. He provided some advice too: “Just get yourself a gallon of the Stihl Chainsaw oil an you got enough to last you a life time! That stuff works great!” I also found out where to buy a large day-glow yellow vest for way cheaper than at the bike shops: Safety Flare, Inc. on Richmond between Menual and Candelaria.

Another guy showed me how to mount steer horns on your handle bar. While I think that is a cool set up that will make you stand out in a crowd… I think I’ll wait until I have a huge white convertible Cadillac before I mount some horns on a vehicle.

There are some really cool bikes out there too! I saw $5,000 Krestel carbon fiber racing bike once, parked among the other riff –raff, mine included. When I saw this, I was in disbelief. An image of a Porsche 911 turbo parked overnight in municipal parking among broke-down Yugos and Ford Festivas came to mind. Turns out that the guy who owns the bike is pretty cool, too. Racing bikes are his specialty. Another guy has a Motobiscane mountain bike. I’ve heard about how affordable and awesome these bikes are, but I’d like to ask him how the Motobiscane is working out. Can’t though because he’s getting off the train while I’m getting on the train.

One of our ongoing conversations, besides the crazy train bike straps, is the Tour de France. Our people include Armstrong, Contador, Cavendish, and Hincapie, Leipheimer. Like excited school children we sometimes go over the day’s stage results and who made mistakes etc. I imagine we imagine our rides in the Tour de France on our way home or to work. I know... because I day dream my race for motivation.

Update: Cyclist hit by van

2009-07-08T22:29:00.000-07:00

Note: According to Albuquerque Police Sgt. Peter Hackett if a bicyclist is in the crosswalk and there are no bicycle lanes bicyclist do not have the right of way. Conversely, if there are no bike lanes...stay out of the cross walk and you should have the right of way because, according to Sgt. Hackett, "bicyclists must operate under the same traffic rules as motorists."

******* ******** ********

Bicyclist hospitalized after accident

Updated: Wednesday, 08 Jul 2009, 12:36 PM MDT
Published : Wednesday, 08 Jul 2009, 8:54 AM MDT

Reporter: Crystal Gutierrez
Web Producer: Todd Dukart

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque bicyclist is in critical condition after he was hit by a van early Wednesday morning.

Police and rescue crews were called to the site of the crash at Broadway Boulevard and Menaul Boulevard NE around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday.

According to police, the van was turning from northbound Broadway to eastbound Menaul when it struck bicyclist Nicholas Lucio, 26, pinning him under the van. It's not clear which direction Lucio was heading.

Rescue crews had to lift the van using a jack and wooden blocks to get the bicyclist out and into an ambulance.

Lucio was rushed to a hospital, where he is said to be in critical condition from a head injury. Police said they're waiting for him to regain consciousness so they can ask him about the crash.

The van's driver, Martin Molina, said he didn't know he had hit the bicyclist but thought one of the van's tires had blown out, which is why he stopped about 35 feet away. Police questioned him about the crash but he was soon released.

According to investigators, it appeared Lucio was in the crosswalk, but, according to Sgt. Peter Hackett, that would not have given him the right of way because there are no bicycle lanes on either Broadway or Menaul.

Hackett said bicyclists must operate under the same traffic rules as motorists, and don't have the right-of-way in crosswalks.

Albuquerque vents as teenager fights for his life

2009-07-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

The news this morning of a 16 year old cyclist getting hit and then dragged 50 feet by a van driver, who didn't realize he hit the cyclist and stopped because he thought he had a flat tire, was pretty upsetting. As NM bicycle commuters know all too well, Albuquerque drivers are notoriously bad drivers. Case in point: Allstate Insurances "America's Best Drivers Report." Albuquerque is ranked 76 out of 193 metro areas (in case you're wondering the worst is our nation's capitol). Another case in point: Albuquerque Drivers Blog. Don't tell this to Mr. Glen Rosales, Columnist for the Albuquerque Journal. Rosales thinks "Albuquerque is one darn bike-friendly town" (column below). Gosh-darn it!

News of the critically injured bike rider generated 46 comments at the news article webpage. Some comments were thoughtful and encouraging, and other comments typified the ages old confrontation between vehicle drivers and bicycle riders, some equally sharing in stupidity.

Concerned Citizen posts:

I am surprise we don't see more stories involving bicyclist in the news. I personally have had to slam my brakes because they do not follow the law of the road...They run stop signs, red lights, get into the lane of traffic without looking or announcing their intention.

Brutally Honest posts:

They [bicyclists] are a menance on the road to cars and a danger on sidewalks to walkers.

Cyclist-Motorists posts:

I'm TIRED of the "I didn't see him" excuse. It's not an excuse. We motorists are SUPPOSED to be WATCHING the road, our surroundings, etc. At least that's what they taught me in Driver's Education 50+ years ago...

Cyclist and Driver posts:

Cyclists are like any stereotyped group - some are considerate, follow the rules, and work hard to ride well with other traffic while some don't. Some drivers work hard to drive well with other traffic and are safe and considerate while others don't. The point is we're all people who can be safer if we look out for each other and avoid getting aggressive towards others on the road - whether we're pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, autombile or truck drivers.

WeNotMe posts in response to Concerned Citizen:

Yeah, it should be completely legal to hit and kill a bicyclist if they aren't following the law because we said so! I also should be able to shoot you if you're pissing me off.
Albuquerque is the least bike friendly town I've ever seen.

Sick of Elitist Cyclists posts:

Sure, bud. We are spending millions for your stupid hobby by widening roads, restriping roads, pointless public service announcements, etc. But it is still not enough for your ilk. Move to Portland, if this city isn't bike friendly enough.

... And so and so forth.

After reading these posts you just want to run out your front door and jump on your bike and hit the roads, no? One thing for sure, I'll see you brave souls early tomorrow morning at the Railrunner. Wear your helmets and watch out for Sick of Elitist Cyclists and WeNotMe; them dudes roll with bad Karma.

***

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Duke City's a hotbed for cycling enthusiasts

By Glen Rosales
For the Journal
Folks around the country are slowly becoming aware of what many in the local cycling community already know: Albuquerque is one darn bike-friendly town.
With more than 400 miles of bike paths, trails and lanes — twice that of New York City — the Duke City is a crown jewel for cyclists. It recently drew the attention of a blogger for the online magazinewww.good.is. Erik Smillie listed Albuquerque among the top-10 burgeoning bike scenes in North America.
“With mountain trails in the Sandia range next door and flat roads in the city, Albuquerque has options along with its near-constant sunshine,” he wrote.
The weather is just one of myriad reasons that such bike-friendly feelings are so pervasive and why the League of American Bicyclists lists Albuquerque as the third most-friendly bicycle city in its population group, behind Portland, Ore., and Austin.
As Smillie noted, there's proximity to top-notch mountain biking trails. City routes crisscross and bisect Albuquerque, providing commuters with plenty of variety. City buses are equipped with bicycle holders. And even the Rail Runner train has the means to transport bikes.
Then there's the 16-mile Bosque Trail along the river and the new Silver bike boulevard, both of which add significantly to the positive cycling experience.
The bike boulevard along Silver was, in particular, a coup for Albuquerque cyclists, said Ben Savoca, vice president of the advocacy group BikeABQ. The boulevard travels Silver beginning at San Mateo in the east to 14th Street just west of Downtown. It then bends north to Mountain, then follows that west to connect with the Bosque Trail.
Although cars can still use the route, the speed limit has been significantly reduced and signage along the way gives cyclists the right to use the main traffic lanes, providing a relatively safe haven to ride, Savoca said.
“We're really proud of it,” he said. “It's a place where anyone can bicycle, regardless of their skill level. You don't have to worry about traffic speeding by you at 50 miles per hour.”
It's an idea that has been in the works for several years and was just recently implemented, Savoca said.
That's the way many of the current amenities cyclists enjoy began.
Stephen Williamson, a longtime Albuquerque rider, said the city has come a long way in a fairly short amount of time.
“We have some great advocacy groups here,” said Williamson, who owns and operates Active Knowledge, an organization that uses cycling and multisport adventures as a means of building character and esteem. “The city has a wonderful bicycle and pedestrian program that they're going into the schools with, teaching bike safety.”
It wasn't too long ago, however, when things were far more dangerous for a cyclist, he said.
“When I first got here, I had bottles thrown at me. I had guns and knives drawn on me,” Williamson said. “That doesn't happen too often anymore. Fifteen, 20 years ago, it was like I was an alien on the street. People would look at me as if I was crazy. I would ride the trails and be the only one out there. Now you can see 50 or 60 riders in one hour.”
Charlie Ervin, owner and operator of Two-Wheel Drive, has been part of the bike scene in the city for more than 30 years and was on the Greater Albuquerque Recreational Trails Committee in the 1990s, helping shape the city's current status.
“The ideas and things that we started discussing years ago are finally starting to happen,” he said. “It takes years for these things to finally happen.”
He traces a lot of the progress to the gas shortages that occurred in the early 1970s, and everything has finally come to fruition in the past decade or so.
“I think the city is doing a good job of finding funding and doing things with that money that really benefits the community,” Ervin said. “I think we're one lucky bunch of bike riders.”

Not a good Wednesday for NM bicycle commuters

2009-07-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

Two Arrests Made In A Southeast Albuquerque Attack

Wed Jul 8 6:42am EDT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --Police say Roger Preston and Janie Duran beat a cyclist over and over along several blocks.

The two ran over the victim with a truck near Zuni on Monday morning. Both face a long list of charges including aggravated battery, robbery and kidnapping.

The alleged beating happened over a large area. Police closed off at least four blocks on Zuni for about 20 hours yesterday.

The victim's name has not been released.

Bicycle, Van Collide

Wed July 8 7:51am EDT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --Eastbound Menaul at Broadway is closed at this hour after a collision between a bicyclist and a van.

The bicyclist, identified only as a male, was taken to University of New Mexico Hospital.

The Railrunner yellow strap problem

2009-07-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

I can tell you that the Railrunner yellow bike strap problem is being looked into by Mr. Tom Trowbridge, NM Equestrian/Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator, and that Mr. Trowbridge is a pretty good sport about my blog- all of it true because he emailed me today.

Or, I can tell you my Don Vito Corleone version of the Railrunner bike strap problem, none of it true and a figment of my imagination, except the "non-coded" email correspondence, which is true.

The Don Vito Corleone Version:

Today, I received a message from “The Don,” as the 505 Bike Commuter reverently refers to Mr. Tom Trowbridge.

The Don, he says to me he was gonna look into the yellow strap problem and check in with MRCOG (Mid-Region Council of Governments, or among the New Mexico illuminati and cognoscenti, “Mr. Cog,” or just “Cog,”) about fixing “the problem.” MRCOG can make things happen to things, get what I'm saying?

The Don, he says to me:

“I’ll also put out an email to my bike/ped comrades in the other states (I’m on a B/P list-serve) and see what is done on other passenger rail systems across the country and ask for pictures/supplier websites, etc to pass on to the ‘cog.”

I know coded language when I see it. The Don, what he really says to me is, “I’ll check in with the bicycle la cosa nostra and see what is done to these yellow straps that do not show no respect for our thing.”

He also says:

“…I just happened upon your blog last night…”

Shuddering and on the verge of a panic attack, I lookup one of my old blog posts and I read this shocking passage, by my very own decrepit cloven hoof no less:

“Perhaps Trowbridge is too busy for a quick email, "Thanks, I'll check into this and get back to you soon." Or, perhaps the pedestrian/equestrian portions of his job are amazingly important and utterly demanding of his time that spending the three seconds on quick response would cause complete failure of pedestrian/equestrian infrastructure of this dusty southwest state.”

Realizing now to my absolute horror that I may have offended The Don, I meekly respond to The Don:

“Blog is tongue in cheek humor. Thanks for being a true sport. Most of us bike commuters are in agreement that the straps are difficult to work with.”

Hyperventilating, in code, what I really says to the Don is this, “God father, I meant only to be funny. Thank you for your benevolence, but us bike wise-guys, well, we are having many problems with the yellow strap.”

The Don, he writes back and tells me:

“No worries. I don’t own a car, so I’ll add it to my favorites!”

What he really says is, “Fah-get-ah-bout-it. You owe me a 1975 Lincoln Continental Town Car. I’m gonna keep a eye you from here on out.”

I will now request a meeting to kiss The Don’s ring and show my respects to his benevolence.

Perhaps now I have blown my respectful request of The Don for a Railrunner car devoted only to bike commuters, with hot tub on the upper deck, Al Green and the Peaches and Herb and Barry White playing on surround sound throughout, white shag carpet, disco ball and dance room on the bottom deck, and lava lamps everywhere.

Sorry NM bike commuters.

Monday madness

2009-07-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

Where did the traffic go? Drivers inspired by the school of thought that created the demolition derby? Or inspired by molasses on a cold northern Wisconsin winter day? My bike ride down Paseo del Norte was desolate and eerily evocative of the day after the apocalypse.

So, the other day I decided to put air in my tires. It wasn’t a shock to see that my tires were inflated at 25 psi. I felt their squishiness on my ride home the other day. What made me gasp was the suggested maximum psi on my Michelin City Tires, aka: City Bombers: 87 psi. Talk about rock hard riding! So, I started pumping and pumping, and pumping. By the time I got to 70 psi I feared my tires would explode so I stopped (I just read a review at REI.com... somebody just said that at 87 psi City Tire sidewalls blow out! Dang!). What a difference in the way my bike handled this morning. I felt like I was riding an entirely different bike.

This warrants a Gear Review:

Michelin City Tires: Want to turn that old mountain bike into a commuter? Tired of the slowing effect of mountain bike tires? Want to roll fast and smooth (and I don’t mean in a bar on lady’s night)? Tired of flat tires? Get a set of Michelin City Tires today. The Michelin City Tire is fast and quiet. The supper protected anti-puncture strip in the tires will make riding through Gaza during an Israeli bombardment a walk in the park. IED’s? Not a problem for these tires. They are that tough. The only down side to the Michelin City Tire is the weight. When I smacked these slicks on my bike I added another 10 to 12 pounds. But, hey, you’re commuting – not racing in the Tour de France. I’ve ridden over broken bottles, fields of bullhead thorns, strange metal scraps, and I’ve not had a flat tire that can be attributed to the aforementioned war zone(s). I did have a flat…but that’s because the cheap inner-tube valve-stem wore through because of the super sharp edge of the rim’s valve hole. Traction is excellent while riding on pavement or sidewalks. It gets a little sketchy when you hit the dirt. So, if you’re hauling booty on a paved surface/side walk and then hit a dirt trail… slow the hell down because you’ll be tempting the Wipeout Gods and, like Santa, they’ll know when you’re being foolish. 9 points out of 10 (-1 point because of weight).

Thoughts on Stage 1 of the 2009 Tour de France

2009-07-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

My watch list for this year's Tour de France:

1. Fabian Cancellara

2. Alberto Contador

3. Andreas Kloden

4. Levi Liepheimer

5. Lance Armstrong

6. George Hincappie

7. Mark Cavendish

What an exciting saturday morning.

You bike like you eat

2009-07-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

Eat a large meat lover’s pizza and top it off with a couple of beers and a dozen hot wings the night before your bike ride and you’re going to feel it, guaranteed. Have a protein shake, oatmeal, water, and complex carbohydrates on the other hand and you’ll feel it too. This is the difference between having cramps and spewing chunks vs. having energy and speed.

During 9 days off the bike I ate like a fool, slept late and watched too much television. During my first ride after the break I was feeling it all over. My legs were cramping, my stomach bloated, and my head felt foggy. I felt like crap.

I haven’t thought about my eating habits and avoiding the bike ride. I have thought too much about what motivates this behavior. For starters, I eat junk food because it tastes good and I momentarily feel good; satisfied, full, gratified. Junk food is a drug. I avoid physical pain. My bike ride up Paseo is a painful experience. Put these things together: food as a drug and bike riding as painful and there you have it. I’ll need to rewire some of my attitudes about food and biking if I’m going to get in shape and enjoy riding my bike.

Bike Shop Review:

I stopped by Sport Systems Ski and Bike the other day and walked the isles of bikes. This place has tons of Specialized bikes: comfort, mountain, road, cruisers. I stopped by the sales bin and a friendly buy working on a bike asked if I was doing okay. I said it was all good, “Just looking. How are you?” The guy says, no kidding, with a sigh, “I’m just a ski tech putting bikes together and fixing what comes through the door.” With four employees hovering near the counter I stopped by the tool section and checked prices which were comparable to prices at other bike shops and had questions on bottom bracket tools. I was ignored for about 15 to 20 seconds as the sales staff finished up their chatter about a bicyclist who “didn’t know what he was talking about.” But by the time the guy looked in my direction I was done. I decided to leave. Right now, I don’t plan on going back. Right after leaving the place I drove on up to The Kickstand and thought it weird when I overheard a lady at their checkout counter mention the terrible service she received at Sport System Ski and Bike. 4 Points out of 10. 2 points awarded for their “bicycle advocacy” donation from 1% of their sales, and 1 point for everything else.

Railrunner bike straps suck

2009-07-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, here is the deal with the Railrunner bike straps: they suck!

See those little yellow straps securing the rims? They totally suck.

While the picture above appears to convey bicycle happiness and order, don't be fooled. Those yellow straps are a real pain in the butt to work with. First of all, the ends are frayed making buckle threading a near impossibility, and when trying to unstrap your bike, the metal bear trap inspired buckle doesn't let go fast enough.

Three things happen when using the strap-buckle contraption:

1. While attempting to strap in your bike, the line of waiting Railrunner riders and other bike commuters grows. This results in the stink eye from annoyed riders and bicyclists who want nothing better than to get out of the hot NM sun, sit down and enjoy the scenic ride to their destinations;

2. While unstrapping your bike Railrunner riders have to wait for you (taking your sweet time) to get your crap together so they can get off. In the mean time you're feverishly tugging and pulling and gritting your teeth fighting with the strap and buckle. The longer you take the more likely you are to have the train doors shut on you and the train leave with you still inside messing with the damn buckles. Your bike commute just increased by another 14 miles because that's where the train stops next.

3. The strap/buckle hassle is too much. The result? Bikes piled up six deep and no straps and bikes all over the place. Lord help us if Railrunner riders have to get out in an emergency and they can't because bikes are piled up everywhere. I can see the Albuquerque Journal headline (above the crease): "40 Railrunner passengers die in fiery wreck: unstrapped bikes to blame."

Four weeks ago I wrote an email to our NM State bike/walk/horse coordinator, Tom Trowbridge asking him to check into replacing the strap/buckle b.s. with either: a) hooks, or b) velcro straps. He hasn't responded. Perhaps Trowbridge is too busy for a quick email, "Thanks, I'll check into this and get back to you soon." Or, perhaps the pedestrian/equestrian portions of his job are amazingly important and utterly demanding of his time that spending the three seconds on quick response would cause complete failure of pedestrian/equestrian infrastructure of this dusty southwest state.

Walk of shame

2009-07-01T22:52:00.001-07:00

After nearly two weeks off the bike I had to do the walk of shame up a portion of Paseo del Norte the other day. The little sandy uphill stretch I felt so proud of riding up the first time, kicked my butt again. I had to dismount and walk. Oh God, the humility. It's amazing just what a little amount of time off can do to your body, your will. 9 days of eating crap, drinking beer, and NOT riding. 9 days of bliss for 8 minutes of shame. Damn it.

Tomorrow morning I mount up again, and this time I muster the guilt induced courage to not walk.

Bike Shop Review:

The Kickstand has a cast of good warm hearted characters and some good mojo-vibes befitting a cool retro-shopping district near a major university and not the 1980's strip-mall where it is currently located, far from the action. My wondering eye caught hold of this pace after a drive up Menaul Blvd way up near Juan Tabo - coming from a horrific bike shop experience at Sport System Ski and Bike further down Montgomery Blvd (review coming soon). After Sport System Ski and Bike, The Kickstand was a relief, that, in this town there are bike shops that know what they are doing and are happy doing it. While not as chuck full of bikes and parts like Performance Bike Shop, the Kickstand has its share of good bikes, parts and clothing; Norco, Giant, Bianchi. And they have "Giveaways," or prize drawings for some good gear (last month: hydration pack or shades; the month before last: fenders, racks, back lights.). And their gear and bikes are reasonably priced (unlike REI; review coming soon). I picked up a nice Blackburn computer for $15 bones. Not bad, no? And the guys at The Kickstand were pretty good sports about telling me the differences in computers. No matter how many customers came in during the time I was there, the Kickstand boys were glad to help or to give customers assurances that they were going to be taken care of soon. And sure enough, they did. The only draw back for the Kickstand would be their location. This is the bike shop you want in your neighborhood and not way across town. 8 points out of 10!

Remind me, again

2009-06-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

Gone are the mornings of the freezing 5:00 a.m. bike ride. The sudden cold jolt that makes you lean into your handlebars and pedal a little harder. Now we have warm mornings and warmer afternoons. There’s something about warm weather that makes you want to take a solid two hour nap, drive your car to work, eat junk food and get lazy.

This morning my girlfriend, still asleep, asked me, “Are you driving your car to work?” I tell her I’m riding my bike. She mumbled, “Good, I’m happy you’re going to ride,” and then she drifted off back to sleep. On my bike ride this morning I was wondering what she would have said if I told her I was driving the car to work. I’m sure she would’ve said, with concern, “I thought you liked riding your bike?”

There’s something about relationships or friendships that makes you smile when you’re encouraged to do the things you like but would rather put off for another day. Perhaps they saw the excitement in you for something you liked, the way you talked and gestured, and they liked that for you too. And so, this morning I mounted up and rode down quiet neighborhood streets, passed under street lights, and pedaled, wind blowing past my ear.

Funny how the Bike Gods smile on you when you least expect it. This afternoon I was devising schemes to not ride up Paseo Del Norte. I could dial-a-friend to haul me up the 4 mile incline. I could check out the company car this evening for a meeting tomorrow morning. Amidst scheming, my brother called to say he’s in town and wanted to ride up with me after work. He bikes everywhere.Problem solved. I’m riding up Paseo Del Norte.

I'm back in the saddle again

2009-06-28T20:54:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow morning at 5:45 a.m. I'm back in the saddle again. The last week and a half I was in heaven: rural

evenings spent in quiet solitude with the smell of rain and earth; silent walks among morning dew and sage;

awesome Mother Earth and thunder, clouds and rain, and silence.

Aerosmith - Back in The Saddle; no better way to re-enter the bicycle commuting jungle of Albuquerque, N.M

than jamming out to Aerosmith!

In the next week here's what I've got lined up for posts:

1. Bike Shop Review: The Kickstand

2. Eating for the ride home

3. Bicycle commuter pleas: Rainrunner -hooks, velcro, anything except the straps and buckles!

Albuquerque bike shop reviews

2009-06-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

After a visit to a bike shop this afternoon, I struck up the idea of reviewing bike shops in Albuquerque, and like a restaurant critic provide insightful comment on the quality of service and knowledge of bike shop employees and mechanics.

This should be fun as I've been to most of the bike shops in the area and have had some very interesting experiences from excellent service to poor service.

The first bike shop review:

Performance Bike Shop

1432 Mercantile Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87107

The first thing I noticed about Performance Bike Shop is the very competitive prices for gear, parts, and bikes. The second thing would have to be the amount of bicycle parts, tools, gear, clothing and bikes this place has. But, the best part of Performance Bike Shop is the set price for repairs, hourly repair fees included. Bike shop staff, while limited in numbers, are generally helpful. But, if you're in a rush and the place is busy, prepare to wait. As for getting fitted to a bike, that service is pretty much standard: "You look to be a large frame. Mount the bike. Do you have some room from your crotch to the top tube. Good." Before you can take a spin on one of their bikes you have to sign a form releasing Performance Bike Shop from any liability and also leave a credit card and your driver's license. And upon buying a bike, you also are read a standard "you have been informed of the hazards of riding a bike and that a helmet should always be worn." statement, and then you sign another form that releases Performance Bike Shop from any liabilities. Understandable, but it feels as if you're breaking up with your significant other, or signing a prenuptial agreement. The upside is that you get free tune-ups for the life of your bike. Which isn't too shabby. And their bike shop snobbiness is about a 3 and 1/2 on a scale of 10 if you come back at least three times buying gear and parts, or drop a bike off for repairs. However, if you are a first time customer, expect to be ignored like I was; just be persistent and you'll see the chill warm up a bit. On a scale of 10, 1 being the the lowest quality of service and 10 the best quality of service... I give Performance Bike shop a 7 (cheap prices added a point).

Work impedes commuting this week

2009-06-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

The phone rings, an email comes in, or colleagues stop by the office. Their messages usually results in a meeting out in NM communities for which driving a car is necessary. Business travel is not so bad, riding to these places is out of the question because some meetings are too many miles. I've done meetings up to 15 miles away only to arrive disheveled and sweating from the intense heat of the NM sun. And this is not so good for the tie wearing crowd.

But, as I make my car driven way to the meeting places I look out for new bike routes, fellow bike commuters and the bikes they ride, and new bike shops. When I started bike commuting, no one said that biking wold permeate most of my thoughts like this- on a drive to meetings of all things. And it's not all that bad. I saw a cool bike shop on one such drive and stopped in to discover cheaper prices than other bikes stores in the region. On another drive I saw a new bike route along the Rio Grande that meandered in and out of the Bosque. So, not too bad, driving a car and all, but I miss my morning bike ride.

CBS

2009-06-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

You've seen cheap bikes. One look and you know why they're cheap. Plastic rims. Plastic grips. Bright colors. Mass produced Big Box sellers.

I'm sad to say that my nephews and nieces have fallen victim to the Cheap Bike Syndrome, or CBS. When considering economics, it's easy to see why cheap bikes are appealing in an economic downturn; they're affordable. But do not be fooled. With CBS, happiness lasts only a very short while and then a deluge of sadness and frustration pours forth from a broken rim, slippery grips, sun baked dull color schemes, and no recourse for remedy from the Big Box Store.

Luckily for the little peeps, I grew up fixing and riding bikes. "When I was young..." you had to be resourceful with your pedal bikes because the bike shop was over 55 miles away and money was hard to come -by (and we walked in snow three feet deep with no shoes all the five miles to school every day, two times; coming and going). We would break down older bikes and swap parts. The most prized part was the ball bearing. Need a bearing? Check the cheap bike heap. Not there? Go through your neighborhood and check other cheap bike heaps. By doing so, you'll also find the seat nut you needed, a spare rim, of handle bar. Just writing this brings back great memories and improbable bike fixes (duct tape can, in fact, fix flat tires).

This past weekend was no exception. 30 years later I was rummaging through the bike heap in my father's back yard that miraculously survived the trash dump, the yard sale, or other 'hood bike scavengers. I was pulling nuts and seat posts, seats, and brake pads in an attempt to fix the little peep's bicycles. First up, my niece's green no-name BMX: tires patched, chain tightened, seat adjusted, crappy front brake removed, rear brake adjusted. Done. Second order, my nephew's "Hot Wheels" kiddy BMX: tires patched, seat straightened out, some weird plate on the handle bars with what looked like Transformers battling it out removed - because according to the little man, "It looks like my sister's." Translation: it looks girly. A morning of repairing bikes turned into an afternoon of one broken pedal, one cracked seat, a pretty good wipe out from slippery grips, and my nephew and niece down on their luck mopping around the yard.

Cheap bikes break down. Luckily for the three of us we had a sizable cheap bike heap to pull extra parts for a quick fix. Now, word is out that I fix bikes and kids from the 'hood are coming around asking my aging parents when I'll be back in town.

Matter of fact, my mother just called and asked when I'll be home, "Marcus and Tyrone came by this morning with their bicycles and they need them fixed. And yesterday evening Adriano stopped by with his bike and said something is wrong with it." I asked my mom to check their bikes out the next time the little people come around. This way I can visualize what parts I have in stock in the cheap bike heap and what part's I'll need to pick up at the bike shop.

I have a good idea that this coming weekend I'll be fixing bikes again.

Death rides on my left, but I'm more afraid of the Girl Scouts

2009-06-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

For such a dangerous activity you would think the narrator would be psyched up recording near hits and then narrating these harrowing moments. But no, this guy narrating "Death Rides on my Left" has ice running through his veins. That's how us bicycle commuters roll; ruthless!

Sick on a bike

2009-06-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

Riding a bike recovering from a head cold is not a good idea. Riding a bike like a lunatic with a head cold trying to make the train ride to work and facing the real possibility of missing the train to work… is not a good idea either.

Last night I laid out my work gear and bike gear with the simple plan to wake up, get dressed and move out for the train. But like all simple plans this one was blown out of the water right from the get go. Just as I was ready to mount up the phone rang. I spent way too much time talking to my mother about my brothers not attending church any more, about my father’s increasing forgetfulness, and about her efforts to bring the family together again. At that very moment I looked up at the clock and bam! I was officially late for the train. “Sorry Mom, I have to, must, absolutely got to go!”

Usually, my bike route to work takes 25 minutes. This morning I took the same exact route and made it to the train station just as the train was pulling in – in 14 and a half minutes, and this was with two stop lights! Where did the 11 minute go? Poof! 11 minutes gone in dazed and frantic pedaling, in the grit determination to not miss the train, and in the near barf-o-rama-black-out when I arrived at the train wheezing and panting like a rabid fox! Sweat trickling down my forehead like a condemned man facing a firing squad. But I made the train and that is all that mattered. Sweet Jesus, thank you for helping me get to the train on time. All the way down I muttered in between heaves of air, “God, please help me make the train. God, please help me make the train.”

The next half-hour on the train was spent focusing on my breathing and trying to block out the dizziness and the urge to yak all over the place. Finally, systems restored, I opened my eyes and gazed upon a sweet red and white Lemond Zurich road bike. Like a complete zombie I stared at the bike for at least 20 minutes while the bike’s owner sat straight across from me. Every inch of that bike was awesome from the Rolf Vector Comp rims to the Ultrega everything. As I looked the bike up and down, side to side, I could see myself 100 pounds lighter, attacking the twisty back road leading up to the Sandia Crest (11,000 + feet, baby). I could also see myself on the descent, the world blowing past in a blur. I had that thousand yard stare, hardcore, when I looked up and he saw me checking out his bike. I’m sure he thought I was a weirdo. In truth, I’m sick... with a head cold.

One sick puppy

2009-06-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

It started as a minor itchy throat. Then watery eyes followed by nasal congestion. I am one sick puppy. Running nose, hacking, plugged up ears and headaches. I'm over the tough part now and on the road to recovery.

Speaking of roads; I haven't hopped on the bike in a couple of days. It stands there now, by the window mocking me. Wheels up like dead dog legs sticking straight up. I will get back in the saddle tomorrow morning for the "Electric Feel." The mind game and joy. The wind and the leaning into curves.

In the fog of my miserable head cold I replaced the rear flat inner-tube. The mysterious culprit ended up being the constant rubbing of the valve stem against the rim valve hole. The edges around the hole were sharp. I filed down the sharp edge with a small rat-tail file and smacked some gorilla tape around the valve. I don't think I'll have the same problem.

Sick days include a healthy dose of the internets and reading different cycling sites and blogs. Some awesome stuff out there like Bike Snob NYC. Hilariously sharp observations about cycling and the cycling life, culture, fashion, and stupidity. One of my favorite BSNYC-isms is the "Filth Prophylactic" pictured here and made out of what appears to be half of a water bottle. I also enjoyed his evisceration of the "Epic" bike ride and Rapha "Performance Wear." Like I said, awesome stuff.

Sick days totally suck, and sick days make the hissing sound of air coming from a hole in your tire in the middle of an "Epic" ride.

Flat tire blues

2009-06-04T08:03:00.001-07:00

There's nothing quite like a flat tire first thing in the morning to really get your day off right. People talk about getting up on the wrong side of the bed; try getting up on the right side of the bed in excited anticipation of the morning bike ride/therapy session, your every morning activity shadowed by the glorious thought of the morning bike ride, and then you notice the flat tire!

Your day suddenly turns to crap and you in-turn turn in to Henry Rollins; your turned inside out, screaming at the top of your lungs, eardrums ready to explode from elevated blood pressure of 100 psi. And all of this at 6:00 a.m.

You look at the flat tire and try to understand just what has happened. It was pumped up last night when you kissed your bike good night after reading a bed time story to it. In the middle of the night you woke up to get a glass of water and you affectionately looked at your bike and, content, returned to sleep. Then the morning comes. You're rushing to shower, to get dressed, check your bag and its contents: pump, check; bike lock, check; protein shake mix, check; book on biking, check; train money, check. You strap your helmet on, don your bike gauntlets, roll your right pant leg up. You are ready.

And then you notice the flat tire. You start to cry like a baby. Why God, why? And then you realize your anger rush over you like this morning's semi luke-warm shower. Beginning from the top of your head, to your trembling lips, toyour throat, your gut, and finally washing down to the tips of your toes. Hello anger, old friend.

There's no really good way to explain the displeasure of being denied something you love to do every morning: ride the bike. Riding the bike isn't like driving the car. No. Riding the bike is therapy. Wind in your ears, pedaling, breathing, and thinking. Your working life is put into perspective. Relationships are finally understood for the joy they are. You fantasize about what it must have been like to make the gnarly ascent up the Gavia on June 5, 1988. And on your morning ride, when your legs begin to burn and your mind starts to doubt, you remind your over weight self that it is possible to do it because Mike Magnuson did it. All of this from a simple 30 minute bike ride.

All of this gone, momentarily, because of the damn the flat tire!

Albuquerque the bike friendly city? New Mexico a bike friendly state?

2009-06-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

While surfing “the internets” I came across the League of American Bicyclists Bike Friendly States/Community List(s) for 2009.

Depending on how and which list you read, Albuquerque, N.M. is the “third most-friendly bicycle city in its population group, behind Portland, Ore., and Austin.” On the other hand, if you read the LAB Bike Friendly State List, New Mexico is 46 out of 50. Not so “most-friendly” if you ask me.

And despite the glowing remarks of Albuquerque Journalist Rosales that “the Duke City is a crown jewel for cyclists,” the LAB notes “While New Mexico has a bicycle advisory council that has meetings scheduled every quarter, the state still has discriminatory mandatory sidepath and mandatory bike lane laws, no bike master plan or accommodation policy, and no League Bike Ed classes have been taught in New Mexico within the last year.” The LAB, a fine group of folks I’m sure, appear to base their analysis on a review of municipal laws and Bike Ed classes. A quick review of Bike Coalition of New Mexico’s website or Bike ABQ’s website by LAB would reveal more than the depressing analysis they give for New Mexico’s dismal ratings. Or better yet, LAB could review the quarterly meeting minutes of the New Mexico Department of Transportation Bicyle/Pedestrian/Equestrian Advisory Committeee!

But then again, LAB would have a heart attack if they quizzed a 505 rider Rosales quotes in his odd column, Mr. Stephen Williamson, “When I first got here, I had bottles thrown at me. I had guns and knives drawn on me,” Williamson said. “That doesn't happen too often anymore. Fifteen, 20 years ago, it was like I was an alien on the street. People would look at me as if I was crazy. I would ride the trails and be the only one out there. Now you can see 50 or 60 riders in one hour.” And those are “trails,” not Duke City streets. If you’re worried about guns and knives, check out the street scene where soccer moms are armed to the teeth with over sized SUV’s and bent on making the yellow light no matter what while talking on her cell phone and eating a breakfast burrito. Nowhere in Rosales’s column are the deplorable driving skills of Albuquerque drivers noted. My experience these few weeks in the saddle makes me think that guns and knives are more preferable than the Albuquerque driver passing within three feet of me going 20 to 30 miles per hour over the speed limit. At least you see the knife or the gun.

But, to be fair, I agree with Rosales’s angle: Albuquerque is a good biking community, sort of. I differ with his cheery opinion that the Duke City is the “Third-most bicycle friendly city.” Yes, there are bike paths littered throughout the city, some connected, others illogically ending only to be taken over by signs with a bicycle and an arrow directing you to “go this way” to the next bike path that, amazingly, pops up out of no where miles away. The moral: trust the signs and ye shall arrive. And I also agree with Mr. Stephenson. While I haven’t had a knife fight or gun battle while biking, I’ve had a driver throw a beer bottle at me. Which makes me wonder, whether LAB’s bike friendly state/community analysis considers drunk-driving data. It doesn’t appear LAB does, I just checked. If they did… New Mexico’s bike friendly stature may suffer a blow, or perhaps be elevated. Who knows? If the drunk driving data was included, how do we explain Rhode Island’s #35 bike friendly state ranking when that state is #1 in drunk driving fatalities? New Mexico is ranked #11. This according to the rankings provided by Mother’s Against Drunk Driving.

Perhaps, the quandary is in the way LAB ranks states:

All 50 states will be ranked annually by the League of American Bicyclists staff based on their responses to the ranking questionnaire.

In addition to the annual rankings, States can also apply for further recognition through the BFS award program. Applications are reviewed and scored by a committee of experts, League staff, and local cyclists in the state.

One problem right off the bat is that LAB Staff rankings appear to be the primary basis upon which the BFS/C list is established. And if they’re based in Washington, DC and not in the South Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico, just how much faith are we to put in their remote viewing skills? I couldn’t find a list of the “committee of experts” nor of local cyclists they consult. If the “committee of experts” is LAB’s National Advisory Group, it appears none are from New Mexico, based on the information provided at LAB’s website. However, LAB listed Mr. Tim Rogers of Santa Fe in a congratulatory mention for assistance provided. Mr. Rogers was the New Mexico State Bicycle/Pedestrian/Equestrian Coordinator based in New Mexico’s dusty version of Palm Springs: Santa Fe. FYI: Mr. Tom Trowbridge is the new state bike/walk/horse coordinator and a member of the board of directors for Bike Coalition of New Mexico, along with Mr. Rogers.

I’m seeing some mysterious holes in the LAB ranking system, like the one that flattened my tire yesterday afternoon. Albuquerque has some awesome bike/trail paths. Don’t get me wrong. The problem is that they pop up here and there with no apparent order. And, when you really need them, like a best friend who is an alcoholic, they are not there. You have to go extraordinary lengths just to reach them. Accident and driving records and DUI data should be a part of the ranking system because these contribute to biking safety. New Mexico is notorious for drunk-divers even though the state’s drunk-driving laws have been revamped. There are still too many drunk drivers. Add the notorious driving habits of Albuquerque drivers and we have much to be desired.

My point after all this sardonic rambling: more work can be done to make biking in New Mexico an even better and safer experience. The good work that has been done to make biking more enjoyable and safer should be recognized by LAB through more interaction with local riders. And, an accurate analysis of bike friendly measures, including all pertinent data should be used to accurately rank states. This would help us all be better bike advocates, and perhaps better columnists.

Adventures in bike commuting

2009-06-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

My bell says it all. Bicycling has given me a new perspective on many things, and this usually through various adventures. For example, today's lesson on preparation was reinforced by a flat rear tire. Thankfully I had a pump in my bag. This is the second flat tire of the summer. The first flat tire was caused by a small triangular piece of sheet metal at 7:15 p.m. I walked the remaining mile and a half home in the dark with my bike. The second flat tire's culprit wasn't discernable. After my meeting this afternoon I went outside, geared up, and noticed that the rear tire was flat. I checked the tire over. Nothing. The valve cap was still on. Total mystery. I don't like thinking that a colleague was playing a practical joke, or an enemy was attempting to stymie my ride home. I'd rather think human nature is inherently good, and we prefer to laugh and be peaceful, and that air in inner tubes sometimes just completely disappears with no reason what so ever; air can be tricky like that.

On my ride home I reflected on the various adventures I've had these past weeks. Top of the list is the broke down ankle. Next, perhaps the daily thrill of crossing the Paseo Del Norte/Jefferson intersection. There's always adventure there. The most dangerous adventure has to be the one where an 18 wheel diesel truck passed within three feet of me as we both crossed train tracks on La Puebla Drive. The lamest adventure had to be the flat tire at night. The best adventure: figuring out my path to the Railrunner train stop. Side roads, side walks, narrow walking trail, excess highway asphalt separated from Paseo by a concrete barrier, field of rocks, and finally, a bike path. Going down this path to work is fun, but coming back up is... shall we say... less fun. But, even then, through the pain, the work, and the eventual last few yards home, I enjoy the ride.

The Decision to Bike Commute

2009-06-02T19:07:00.001-07:00

I decided to bike commute after I turned my car over to my parents. They needed a reliable car that wouldn't stop on them in the middle of nowhere within the rural Navajo reservation... more than I needed a car here in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Not having a car for the first time in my adult life was weird. I was weaned from driving and the entire culture and industry surrounding the American automobile: red lights, traffic, oil changes, gas, road rage, speed, etc. On a quiet Sunday afternoon I dusted off my old Kona Hahanna mountain bike and took it to the bike shop for a tune up. The first thing that struck me was the fact that biking was so less expensive than keeping a car. But the cost of pain, as I would eventually learn, was priceless.

For the first two weeks riding my bike was tricky. Relearning how to time my shifting up hills, or down them for that matter. It was trial and error and slow going. Eventually, I read that street slicks were more economical in the power exertion/effort/speed equation. So I bought some Michelin City Tires. These City Bombers, as I call them, easily added another 10 to 12 pounds on my bike. But man do these tires go, and they are quiet too. I noticed the pedals were too small; this after I snapped the tendons in my left ankle attempting to hop up onto a sidewalk only to have my foot slip sideways. So I bought Wellgo platform pedals. These wide pedals worked out nice. In time, I also upgraded the bottom bracket, which after several years of on and off riding, and many, many years in storage, eventually wore out and started sounding like grinding teeth every time I pushed on the pedal.

Snapping my ankle did hurt as much as it sounds. Just a quick "snapping" sound and then you find you can't walk. I biked to urgent care and the doctor said, "You have separation of the tendons." I hobbled out of that joint with an "air cast" (I asked Nurse Ratchet if I would get an air guitar as well. She didn't laugh), and with industrial strength crutches to boot. Let the healing process begin.

After two weeks I was back on the bike. Which is to say that the whole bike commuting thing has grown on me. Big time. Now, I've been bike commuting for, ah, let see... nearly eight weeks. And I love it. There's nothing like an early morning ride to clear your head. There's nothing like a grueling afternoon ride back up Paseo Del Norte to put all your other problems into simpler perspective.