RocBike.com » Albany

A TED talk on bicycle helmets

Jason Crane — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 02:24:00 +0000

Are they really safer? Mikael Colville-Andersen gives a TED talk on the subject:

A video poem about bicycling

Jason Crane — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 04:34:32 +0000

(You can read the text of the poem and see a video poem by another poet at jasoncrane.org.)

Old ships and lovely trees

Jason Crane — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:51:22 +0000

Photos from my ride around Albany yesterday:

There was a tornado watch yesterday, and the winds were crazy. I actually went backward on my bike at one point in a ridiculous gust of wind.

In other news, I rode up the State Street hill without shifting out of my middle chain ring, so that was cool.

A bicycle poem for the Metal Cowboy

Jason Crane — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:19:24 +0000

I wrote a lot of poetry during my recent trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee. One of the poems was inspired by meeting bicycle adventurer Joe “Metal Cowboy” Kurmaskie, and reading his first book, Metal Cowboy: Ten Years Further Down the Road Less Pedaled.

With Joe Kurmaskie in Chattanooga, TN. Photo by Lois Chaplin.

Idaho
for Joe Kurmaskie

on this rainy Idaho morning
I give you a name
I tap your destiny
with my white cane

have you reckoned
a thousand miles much?
have you packed a bag
and left all else behind?

with the legs as the only engine
you can hear what is there to hear
the whispering of spirits on the roadside
singing the world into being

Don’t Ride In The Door Prize Zone

Ethan — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:45:09 +0000

Don’t Ride In The Door Prize Zone,
a haiku by everyday bicycle commuter Ethan Georgi

riding along and
A DOOR FLIES OPEN OH NO!
no door prize for me

The door prize zone is the area three feet to the left of cars parked on the right. When a car door opens, it opens into this space and it can kill you. I am not kidding. You might be thinking, oh, I can just swerve around it. If you do that, you are swerving into the traffic on your left. This is why I don’t ride in the door prize zone.

I do tend to call out “Door!” when I see one open.

Sharrow crackers

Jason Crane — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:24:45 +0000

Seconds after taking this photo to celebrate the new bike “sharrows” on New Scotland Ave. in Albany, NY, I was honked at and called a “cracker” by two young black women in an SUV. “Cracker”? Is this 1972?

There are also new sharrows on the part of Delaware Ave that is inside the city limits.

Troy Bike Rescue’s Camel Bike

Jason Crane — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:41:29 +0000

Built by the fine folks at Troy Bike Rescue.

Busted!

Jason Crane — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:56:20 +0000

My parents were in Hawaii last week and my mom snapped this shot of an Xtracycle with a parking ticket:

Click to engorge

Xtracycle: Because you never know…

Jason Crane — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:30:16 +0000

…when you’ll leave the house empty-handed and come back with a free bookshelf. I saw this on the side of the road on my way back from the post office. I had just run out of space for my poetry books, so it was a serendipitous find.

(Part 2 of an occasional series. Here’s the first installment.)

From The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle)

Video from cellist Ben Sollee’s tour by bicycle

Jason Crane — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:56:58 +0000

Oven Fresh

Ethan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:11:04 +0000

I’m famous, for a day, on BikeRumor.

Reading The Stand again…

Jason Crane — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 01:45:56 +0000

…happy that when the apocalypse comes, I’ll have a head start because I already get around by bicycle.

More bicycle poetry

Jason Crane — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:17:35 +0000

An updated version of my bicycling poem “this two-wheeled life” will appear in the next issue of Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac. I’ll post details here when it comes out, which will likely be in October.

(Safely) Go Around

Ethan — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:51:50 +0000

I made up this song on Lake, near Madison, this morning, while cycling through the wet streets of Albany. I don’t know why I sing so much when I’m riding. Usually I do so with this almost cheesy, shower voice, like a big, slow Sinatra. Anyway.

You – can pass me – if you want to
You – can just go – around
I don’t – appreciate – being followed
So please, just safely go around

My next bike

Jason Crane — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:11:49 +0000

Poet Alan Casline rides the sardine bike in Belfast, Maine. Photo by Mark O’Brien.

Click for Super Sardine Size!

My favorite sign in Albany

Jason Crane — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:40:55 +0000

I bike past this sign every day on the way to the post office. Today I finally took a photo of it:

All folded up…

Jason Crane — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:37:34 +0000

…and waiting for the bus.

A few random post-NYC cycling thoughts

Jason Crane — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:48:45 +0000

From Crossing The Brooklyn Bridge By Bicycle

After a week riding the Dahon Speed D7, getting back on my Xtracycle today felt like riding a sofa bed. On the one hand, it has the most comfortable seat in the world. The Dahon’s isn’t bad, but the seat on the Packet Boat is like a La-Z-Boy recliner. On the other hand, the Dahon weighs 27.6 lbs and my Xtracycle weighs about 60 lbs. The difference is, shall we say, noticeable. On the other other hand (the “Beeblebrox” hand), the Xtracycle is so stable that it feels like you could take a nap on the Snapdeck and it would keep going on autopilot.
The Dahon performed extremely well during my trip. It fit easily on the bus, unfolded and folded in seconds, handled the Manhattan and Brooklyn streets like a champ, and even did fine on the ridiculously hilly ride I took in State College, PA, over the weekend. Highly recommended.
This was the first time I’ve gone away from home and taken a bike with me (other than when I first moved to Albany and was commuting back and forth to Rochester to see my family). I was pleasantly surprised by just how darn useful the bike was the whole time I was in NYC. I went to a jazz show on my bike, ran errands, conducted interviews, got from one transportation mode to another — all by bike.

Dublin City TV’s ‘Pedal Project’

Jason Crane — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:22:55 +0000

A three-part documentary series exploring bike- and car-based transportation systems in London and Dublin.

Part 1:

The Pedal Project – Three Cycling Cities (low resolution version) from DCTV on Vimeo.

Part 2:

Two Wheeled City – Pedal Project from DCTV on Vimeo.

Part 3:

One Less Car – Pedal Project from DCTV on Vimeo.

Thanks to Ecological Urban Living for the link.

Adding a new bike to the lineup – Dahon Speed D7

Jason Crane — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:43:23 +0000

When I went car-free last month, I knew I would need one more bicycle to make my business travel and personal travel car-free — a folding bicycle. RocBike contributor Jack Spula has always seemed very happy with his Dahon, and as far as I know, they’re one of the big names in folding bikes.

So today I went to CK Cycles in Albany, NY, and picked up a Dahon Speed D7. Here are photos of the bike folded up (on my Xtracycle) and unfolded:

From My new Dahon Speed D7

One question: My Xtracycle is named The Packet Boat. What should I call this bike, The Dinghy?

Instant Karma on Two Wheels

Ethan — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:20:56 +0000

Today I was riding home on Pearl Street, like I do every day these days. One of the things that frustrates me as a pedestrian on Pearl Street is that drivers do not stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks. Even though they put those big dayglo signs up, drivers don’t stop. Even a big black SUV with the Mayor in the passenger seat does not stop for a pedestrian in the crosswalk. So today I was riding The Watson home from work and I stopped for two pedestrians in a crosswalk. One of them said to me, “thank you.” I smiled and said “sure.”

(Side note: you are not isolated or cut off from the rest of the human race when you are on a bicycle. You can talk to people, instead of trying to run them over. Let’s get back to humanity, eh?)

I was proud of myself for stopping the line of cars behind me to let two hardworking people cross the street. And then I rode on.

Later, on Hackett, I saw a car stopped at an intersection. Cars in this area often stop IN the crosswalk, blocking the whole thing. Pretty sure this is illegal but it isn’t enforced. I usually go around behind them and ring my bell. Well today, the car stopped in the crosswalk saw me coming, put his car in reverse, and backed out of the crosswalk before I got there. I was astounded by his act of humility and courtesy. He had his window down, and I called out “thank you” as I passed.

Have any similar stories?

Going car-free (an update)

Jason Crane — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:37:43 +0000

From The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle)

Three weeks and one day ago, I went truck-free. So far it’s been fantastic. Often very, very hot, but a lot of fun. Given my job with the New York Bicycling Coalition, I enjoy being the only person who shows up at meetings on a bike. (To be fair, there are occasionally others, but not often.) Here, in no particular order, are a few things I’ve observed since ditching the truck:

People offer me rides quite frequently. Always with the best intentions, of course. I say “no” almost every time, the one exception coming last night when a friend took me to Saratoga Springs for a poetry reading. It’s not particularly easy to get there any other way. It’s about 40 miles, and the reading doesn’t usually finish until after 9 p.m. There’s a train that will get me there, but not one that will get me back.
Many people think I don’t have a car because I’m poor. I find myself explaining fairly often that yes, I’m poor, but that donating my car to the local classical station was an intentional and happy decision.
It’s contagious. A friend contacted me this week to say that he’s spending some car-free time while the rest of his family and the car are away on vacation. He said he’d been reading about my experience and wanted to give it a shot, so he’s using his bike and mass transit. Cool, right?

From 100724 Around Albany & Poets In The Park

I don’t have to add nearly as much travel time as I might have expected. I tend to be someone who gets everywhere early, no matter how I’m traveling. I’ve been biking for several years now, so I don’t know why I thought everything would take so much longer. Sure, I need extra time on some trips, but more than once I’ve left one location by bike and arrived before friends who were making the same trip by car. And trust me, I don’t ride fast.
I’ve become smarter about planning trips. My friend and fellow cyclist Bob Anderson mentioned that as one of the benefits he noticed when he gave up the car, and it’s certainly proven true for me. I make lists of what I need based on where it is and then try to do a bunch of things in one trip. That’s certainly made easier by The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle) because it allows me to carry so much.

From The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle)

I spend less money on crap. I’m not out in my car, swinging through drive-through windows and ordering bad food. It’s funny how much easier it is to find time to eat well when I don’t drive.
I walk more. Yup, one thing about ditching the car is that I often choose to just walk places, which is also a lovely way to get around a city.

The verdict? I’m so happy I made the leap. Give it a try yourself — even if you start small, which is fine — and let me know how it goes.

Quiet

Jason Crane — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:32:27 +0000

When I ride my bicycle, it’s often so quiet that I can hear the traffic signals change. The boxes make an audible metallic click as the lights change from yellow to red or from red to green.

Agressive mini golf + cycling = FAIL

Jason Crane — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:39:53 +0000

The Fully Weaponized Waffle Bike

Jason Crane — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:51:18 +0000

You’re welcome.

Book Review: The Lost Cyclist

Jason Crane — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 22:18:09 +0000

An interesting true story about two attempts to circle the globe (or at least the land masses on the globe) by bicycle. The second attempt ends in the disappearance of the cyclist, so the cyclist from the first attempt sets out to find out what happened. This all takes place in the 1890s as the modern bicycle is coming into its own. The book is a bit slow, but the details are very interesting and the picture it paints of that era is fascinating. By David Herlihy, the author of the excellent Bicycle: The History.

My Xtracycle just got updated

Jason Crane — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:02:48 +0000

Click for a larger version

Xtracycle just introduced its 2010 Freeloader bags. In addition to looking better than the original bags that I had on The Packet Boat, they also have a waterproof inner pocket, which the old Freeloaders lacked. Now that I’m car free and using my bike to get the mail for myself and my employer every day, having some waterproof storage on my bike is important.

Here’s a slideshow of the new bags. The first few photos were taken last night in my apartment after I installed the bags. Then there are photos from today in Albany of the bike empty and loaded.

Sadly, the fully-loaded shots are from a big-box store (Target) because it’s apparently much easier to buy pot than to buy a sauce pot inside the city limits. So I waited until I had a long list of housewares to buy then trucked out Central Avenue, easily the worst street to bike on in Albany. All it’s lacking are snipers on the rooftops shooting at the cyclists. Or maybe neck-high blades that whip across the street at random intervals.

I also stopped to get furikake at the Asian Supermarket at 1245 Central Ave. Wow. I could live there. Highly recommended.

Anyway, here are the pics:

Sketchy

Jason Crane — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:38:02 +0000

My friend Carolee Sherwood did this sketch of me on her iPad:

Click for a larger version

NOTE TO CHILDREN: Please do not try riding your bike and playing the saxophone at the same time. I am a trained professional.

Touring (bluegrass-style) on an Xtracycle

Jason Crane — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:18:07 +0000

Steel Wheel Duo Spokesongs Tour from Joel Landis on Vimeo.

A cycling first, or, “Get your hand out of my bag!”

Jason Crane — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:49:29 +0000

The other evening I was hanging out at Justin’s, a restaurant in Albany that serves good food and is home to many local and national jazz artists. It’s also one of the places my poet friends go after readings.

So there I was with two of those poet friends. We’ll call them Sharon Olds and Anne Sexton to protect their identities. There’s no bike parking at Justin’s or anywhere near it, so I locked my bike, as I always do, to the fence you see on the left side of this photograph:

Photo © Justin’s

We sat inside. I had my back to the window, but Sharon and Anne were on the opposite side of the table looking out the window. As we chatted, Sharon looked out the window and said, “I think someone is touching your bike.”

I turned around and sure enough, there was a guy going through the under-seat bag on my Xtracycle. I hopped up from the table and went outside. A second guy was also there and he turned as I came out.

“Is this your bike?” he asked.

“Yes. What exactly are you doing?”

“We were trying to figure out if it belonged to a customer, otherwise we were going to have it removed,” he replied.

“It belongs to me,” I said, maintaining a fair amount of composure despite wanting to clock the guy with my U-lock.

“Well, we didn’t know that,” said the guy going through my bag.

“You do now,” I said. “Maybe next time you should ask around the restaurant first.”

They seemed miffed, if I can use some strong language. So, Justin’s, here’s my advice: Keep your hands out of my stuff. And get a bike rack.

Bike Theft Season

Ethan — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:24:27 +0000

Looks like Bike Theft Season has started. (Apparently the Albany Bicycle Coalition deleted the article I wrote about locking your bikes. So I’ll just link here, even though I could care less about “bike registry” programs.) Lock your bike.

C’mon, Pee Wee Herman!

Ethan — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:19:03 +0000

Last night I was riding to Kickball. (We play every Monday night in Hoffman Park. 6:30. Free.) I’m stopped at the red light on Whitehall, crossing Delaware. There are cars in front of my and behind me. When the light turns green I start moving. Someone behind me starts yelling, “C’mon Pee Wee Herman!”

As usual, I don’t understand these sort of exclamations. I am moving, and I don’t look anything like Pee Wee Herman. Whatever are you screaming about?

Through the intersection we go, him screaming at me the whole way. I do my best to remain calm. He passes me, roaring the engine of his big white SUV. As they go by he calls out “Let’s go Pee Wee Herman!” And the young boy in the back seat is also heckling me. I am saddened that young boys are no longer riding bikes, but mistreating people who riding bikes. It’s like an important part of childhood has been slain by the Great White SUV.

But I let them go. Because I do. But if you’re familiar with Second St over there, you know the red lights can back up traffic. So a block or two later, the offensive SUV is stopped. I do something I normally don’t do. I pass them on the right. I ring my bell as I zip by, and I pass everyone in front of them. I don’t see them again.

What weird things have people called out to you?

Why? ‘Cause you never know (with apologies to Chris Rock)

Jason Crane — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:28:47 +0000

Xtracycle … because you never know when you might leave home empty-handed and come back with a ladder.

Thank You

Ethan — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:36:33 +0000

The other day, I think this would’ve been Tuesday, I had something of an other-worldly experience.

I was out walking, which I do on occasion. I saw a cyclist headed out on New Scotland, riding with traffic, and wearing a helmet. I don’t see that often, so I was a bit shocked. A moment later, another cyclist came up New Scotland in the opposite direction. He was also riding with traffic and wearing a helmet. A few blocks up I saw a cyclist headed West on New Scotland. He had a bright, blinking headlight and a helmet. He was on the left side of the lane, stopped, signaling to make a left turn. Cars in both directions had stopped to let him go. It was stunning. It was beautiful.

So I want to say thank you to all of the cyclists who do NOT ride like jackasses.

Testing the rain gear … for real this time

Jason Crane — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:53:44 +0000

My post office box and that of my employer are at a post office a couple miles from my house. The rain was pouring down (and still is), so I decided this would a perfect time to test my new rain gear.

Here’s the pre-ride photo:

Too cool to deal with, right?

I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts under my rain cape and rain pants, along with a pair of Keen sandals, a Walz cap and my helmet. I don’t own a helmet cover, although I may decide to get one.

Anyway, I cruised through the rain on The Packet Boat (my Xtracycle) with no trouble. The cape kept me relatively cool underneath as well as dry, and the pants did the same. Here’s the post-ride photo:

This, by the way, is the cover for the September issue of the Bicycling Magazine Doofuses Of The Road special issue.

And here’s the shirt I was wearing:

Thar he blows!

It’s a bit wet around the collar because I didn’t cinch the collar strap. And the wet spot near my stomach is from the cape brushing against me as I hung it up to dry, not from the rain getting through. My shorts were also dry.

Again, here are the links to the cape and the pants at bicycleclothing.com.

Bicycles Are So Last Year

Ethan — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:17:42 +0000

Have you noticed the huge, and seemingly sudden, rise in scooters and mopeds? Wow. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought bikes were finally making it into the mainstream. Now it seems like the fad has passed and everyone is riding around on this loud, cartoon motorcycles.

Ode to a bike

Jason Crane — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:25:04 +0000

Bob's bike on a trip to Washington, D.C. (Photo by Bob Anderson)

Occasional RocBike contributor and Albany cycling activist Bob Anderson was hit by a car a few days ago. Thankfully, he’s OK — a bit battered, but nothing broken. His bike, on the other hand, which he built up himself, didn’t fare so well. Here is Bob’s post on the Times Union bike blog about his bike and about a whole lot more:

“It IS About The Bike”

Good book

Jason Crane — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:44:54 +0000

I just read this again:

In my opinion, this is a brilliant book about smart urban cycling. Not dogmatic, extremely practical and fun. Highly recommended.

p.s. — Here’s what I wrote the first time I read it.

p.p.s. — And here’s what Julie wrote that inspired me to read it in the first place.

Wash Your Bike

Ethan — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:13:16 +0000

This afternoon, after a ride to Washington Park, I washed my bike. I don’t feel like my washing process is particularly sophisticated. I use dish soap and hot water, and a rag. I am always amazed at how filthy a bike can get in a few weeks. Not just the fenders, but spokes, brakes, and the rear quick release. Ew, gross.

While washing my bike I wondered if something like this would make a good fundraiser. You always see kids holding up signs that say “car wash” (usually in barely legible neon letters) trying to raise money for their sports teams. Would a “bike wash” make any money?

New tires

Jason Crane — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:05:05 +0000

I went car-free on Wednesday. My back tire went kablooie on Friday. My front tire went kablooie just now. However, they had thousands of miles on them and now I have two new tires. Total cost? Less than $100. WIN!

Bike Snob NYC defines American “cycle chic”

Jason Crane — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:36:58 +0000

From today’s post:

[T]o some extent, the American interpretation of “chic” cycling is buying a whole bunch of stuff in order to ride a bike so that you can look like you don’t ride a bike.

Goodbye, little red truck (updated)

Jason Crane — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:29:33 +0000

This morning, I donated my truck to WMHT-FM, the local classical music station.

I spent a lot of time deciding whether now was the time to be car-free.

Arguments in favor:

I’m the executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition.
I work from home.
I live in downtown Albany, close to everything.
I want to be car-free, with all that implies for the environment, my physical health, mental health and finances.
BP, Iraq, the Middle East, global warming, etc. etc. etc.

Arguments against:

I sometimes have to travel across New York State for work.
My wife and kids are temporarily living in a different state.

When I balanced it all out, the outcome was to donate the truck and go car-free. I can travel across the state by train, and with a folding bike I can move around when I get there. (Of course, that means I need a folding bike, but that’s not a large expense, even on my austerity budget.)

As for visiting Jen, Bernie and John, that’s a bit harder because they’re in an out-of-the-way part of Pennsylvania. However, there are mass-transit ways to get there (Greyhound, Amtrak and other bus services). And I can rent a car. And they can visit me using our family’s other car, which is with them in PA.

I’ve lived without a car before. I didn’t have one either time I lived in Japan, and I didn’t use one when we lived in Brooklyn. Of course, those places have much stronger mass transit systems than Albany, but Albany’s isn’t bad. But I was still surprised by just how uncertain I felt as the tow truck pulled away. I’m so conditioned to believe that it’s only possible to live in the USA with a car. And that’s despite my immersion in the cycling world and my general political and environmental beliefs.

And that may be the strongest argument in favor of making the break with my automotive life. This is a time of reinvention and bold moves, a time in my life that calls for change and decisive action.

So here I am at the beginning of a new experience. Wish me luck, and I’ll see you out there!

UPDATE: A few more things about the truck:

It was a gift from my parents, who no longer needed it when they moved from the countryside in upstate New York to Manhattan. Like many gifts, particularly from my family, it came exactly when it was needed.

As you’ll see in the comments my mom made to this post, the red truck has been around for a long time. Since 1997, in fact. It’s hauled its share of wood and done its share of service, a story I tried to tell in a poem called “Red Truck Elegy.”

I like to think that the red truck is going out on top. In the past few weeks it has been called into action at a difficult time and it made that time less trying. And now it will go toward keeping art alive in this little corner of the world. All in all, not a bad existence for a truck.

Let’s go to the movies

Jason Crane — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:04:08 +0000

Bike Snob NYC’s post today had a slew of great videos today. You should go read his post. To make things easy for the RocBike family, though, here are my favorites:

Actor John Leguizamo saves the world:

A rap video about putting your bike on a bus in Louisville, KY:

Auto-tuned cheese from Montreal about their bike-sharing program:

And here’s one starring NYBC board member Claire Nolan (not featured on BSNYC’s site):

I’ve thought about it a lot, and tomorrow…

Jason Crane — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:22:50 +0000

…I’m going car-free. (Or, to be technically correct, truck-free.)

Details to follow. Much like the promised details of the sheriff story.

A new poem about cycling

Jason Crane — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:16:53 +0000

I’ve posted a new poem about bicycling called “this two-wheeled life” over at jasoncrane.org. Enjoy!

Kay Ryan on community colleges and bicycles

Jason Crane — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:05:11 +0000

“I simply want to celebrate the fact that right near your home, year in and year out, a community college is quietly — and with very little financial encouragement — saving lives and minds. I can’t think of a more efficient, hopeful or egalitarian machine, expect perhaps the bicycle.” Kay Ryan, U.S. Poet Laureate, quoted in Boneshaker, Issue 42-400.

“The Basics” of Commuting from EcoVelo

Ethan — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:34:11 +0000

I have not been very good about blogging, and this is hardly a post anyway, but it’s good. EcoVelo posts his list of what you need to start commuting by bicycle. I’d say it’s pretty solid. Of particular note: lights. The other night I saw (and I use the word loosely) three young ladies on bikes, at night, with no lights.

Have I mentioned the sheriff who pulled me over?

Jason Crane — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:13:59 +0000

No? Stay tuned. The story involves:

An Xtracycle
Woods
A closed road
The aforementioned sheriff

You’re on the edge of your seat, aren’t you?

The easiest way to pass Traffic Skills 101…

Jason Crane — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:10:39 +0000

…is to do the tests on the back of an Xtracycle while someone else pedals! Here I am giving a ride to Chris, one of my classmates:

(Don’t tell the League of American Bicyclists, OK?)

Hoping for rain

Jason Crane — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:02:21 +0000

I’m heading to Voorheesville, NY, today for a poetry reading. It looks like it may rain, which is exciting. Why? Because for Father’s Day this year, my parents got me rain gear. I’ve never had any actual rain gear, which means one of two things has always happened to me when it’s rained, either:

I got wet.
I didn’t ride.

So today I’m hoping for rain. And in case you’re interested, I’ve got this rain cape and these rain pants. I’ll review them if it actually rains.

A review of Bike Snob, the new book by Bike Snob NYC

Jason Crane — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:28:47 +0000

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Bike Snob NYC, the bicycling blogger who regularly skewers that which needs to be skewered and celebrates both the beauty and the absurdity of riding a bicycle.

In recent years, it’s become fairly common for bloggers to publish books, often just slightly modified collections of their blog posts, apparently under the assumption that folks would like to carry the World Wide Web around with them in physical form. Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling is something different. And much, much better.

First and foremost, the book tells us what we already suspected: At heart, BSNYC loves, loves, loves cycling. All his potshots and sideswipes and finger-bang-highlighting-posts are nothing more than a long love letter to the bicycle as a vehicle and to bicycling as an activity.

This is actually a book, not just a hard copy of BSNYC’s blog. It flows, it’s beautiful to look at, and every page sings with the joy of riding a bicycle. From a practical point of view, Bike Snob contains possibly the best commentary I’ve read on the perceived-versus-real danger of cycling, and it also contains one of the most intelligent sections on helmets that I’ve read.

Riding my bike reminds me why I love to ride my bike. Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling reminds me why it’s important to keep that love alive.

NOTE: I interviewed BSNYC a few years ago. You can listen to that interview here.

Take Action — Help pass New York State’s ‘Complete Streets’ Bill

Jason Crane — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:28:13 +0000

A message from the New York State Bicycling Coalition and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign:

(June 21, 2010) — In Albany, bicycling advocates are working overtime to help assure the passage of a Complete Streets law—sweeping legislation that will create more livable, bikeable and walkable communities across the state. This proposed law would direct the state Department of Transportation to consider bicycle and pedestrian accommodations in the planning and development of state, county, and local roads and other transportation facilities. NYBC is working closing with the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, AARP and other groups to get this legislation passed.

On June 17, the Senate passed the bill 53-3. Unfortunately, Assemblyman David Gantt of Rochester has amended the Assembly version of the bill in a way that would render the legislation useless in its impact.

The only way to get this process back on track is if we can get bicycling advocates — particularly those in Rochester, where Assembly Gantt is based — to make their voices heard!

Visit NYBC’s Take Action! page to learn how you can help secure the passage of this bill.

Sneakers

Ethan — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:32:09 +0000

The other day I was complimented on my sneakers.

(Too bad we don’t have a “style” category.)

Know when to fold ‘em

Jason Crane — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:27:16 +0000

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive* folding bike?

*When I say inexpensive, I want you to think cheap. And then think even cheaper than that.

NYBC is now on Facebook and Twitter

Jason Crane — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:31:24 +0000

I promise this site is not going to become NYBC central, but I wanted to let you know that the New York Bicycling Coalition is now on Facebook and Twitter. Please “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The links:

Thanks!

NYBC: Day 1

Jason Crane — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:27:06 +0000

Today is my first day as executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition. Check out the press release and lots of other cycling information at NYBC.net.

By the way, are you a member of NYBC? Why not join today?

More bicycles and poetry

Jason Crane — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:55:14 +0000

Over at The Best American Poetry blog, Stacey Harwood recounts her rekindled appreciation for the bicycle as transportation..

And on the same blog, Gabrielle Calvocoressi talks about bike racing terminology and the Italian scene.

Why are these posts on a poetry site? Why not?

One more week…

Jason Crane — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:29:00 +0000

…until the new gig!

“The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets.” — Christopher Morley

…and everyone else, too!

Bike To Work Day

Ethan — Sat, 22 May 2010 18:49:59 +0000

I was photographed and interviewed for a Times Union article, which you can read here.

Team RocBike represents in Albany!

Jason Crane — Sat, 22 May 2010 13:39:04 +0000

Today’s Times Union newspaper contains a great article about Bike To Work day that features not one, but two members of Team RocBike — Ethan Georgi and Bob Anderson. Congrats, guys, and thanks for making riding your bike to work look like a perfectly normal thing to do. Way to go!

Photo of Ethan Georgi by Skip Dickstein / Times Union

Cyclists save by pedaling to work
Wheeling commuters combine savings with health benefits

By TIM O’BRIEN, Staff writer
First published in print: Saturday, May 22, 2010

For Ethan Georgi, every day is Ride Your Bike to Work day.

The Web developer for Zone 5, an Albany public relations firm, rides his bicycle a little over three miles to his job.

“It’s fun to ride a bike instead of sitting in traffic,” he said. “I don’t care about gas prices. I like exploring the city.”

Friday was National Ride Your Bike to Work day, an effort to try to get people to cut down on gas-guzzling cars and take a more leisurely way to get to work. To support the effort, CDTA offered free rides to bicyclists who put their bikes on racks on the buses.

Georgi said he originally began riding to his office two years ago. He used to come home to get out his bike for a ride after work. One day it dawned on him he could combine his commute and his daily exercise.

Read the rest of the article.

Ooooooohhhh. I want one.

Jason Crane — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:32:36 +0000

An Xtracycle canopy. Learn more.

Baiku

Jason Crane — Thu, 20 May 2010 12:30:59 +0000

fog on the Normanskill
mist clouds my glasses
two wheels through this May morning

Can I just say…

Jason Crane — Tue, 18 May 2010 02:08:55 +0000

…that in a couple weeks my job is going to involve riding my bike around, talking about bikes and advocating for bikes?

…this is the first time I’ve ever been on television?

(Anybody who can tell me the origin of that second line gets a free jazz CD. Leave your guess in the comments.)

Culture Shift

Ethan — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:17:23 +0000

Over on EcoVelo, Alan has a really nice little article about thinking about bicycling as more than a sport.

Like most people in the U.S., I spent a good portion of my adult life thinking of bicycling as a sport. Even during a long period when I rode my bicycle to work everyday, I was concerned with things like personal bests, total miles logged, and target heart rates… Somewhere along the way, I went through a mental shift that resulted in my viewing the bicycle primarily as a tool for transportation.

Definitely good stuff.

New gig

Jason Crane — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:46:14 +0000

I’m very excited to announce that, starting June 1, I’ll be the new executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition. I’m looking forward to heading out across the state to make New York a better place for cyclists. And I’ll be looking for YOUR help. More to come…

“Road or mountain?”

Jason Crane — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:08:06 +0000

I was having a conversation with someone yesterday, and talk turned to my love of bicycling.

“Road or mountain?” the person asked.

“Urban,” I said.

Their reaction was much the same as if I’d said “jello” or “anti-gravity.” The idea of bicycling as something I do to get around, rather than something I need to plan for as a sporting outing, still seems foreign to a lot of people. And, of course, the best way to change that is for me to keep riding around the city. Consider it done.

A wicked awesome Big Dummy video from Japan

Jason Crane — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:40:57 +0000

Love. It.

Too sexy for my Xtracycle

Jason Crane — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:01:14 +0000

Click the image to see a larger version, if you dare.

Left to right: My mom, Sally; my younger son, John; and me on The Packet Boat on the way to watch my older son play baseball.

Capital Coexist / Capital Hate

Ethan — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:08:09 +0000

I am really offended that every time cycling gets into the local news, there is an automatic burst of “get the hell out of the street.”

STOP THE HATE.

Really. Of all the things you could be angry about, like our infantile politicians, you’re angry at people on bicycles?

Bicycle Ads on TV? Finally!

Ethan — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:10:19 +0000

So go watch this. Seriously, I’ll wait.

Nice, huh? I like that it’s not some rich dude in his super hero kit on a carbon fiber bike. It’s not some young punk in cargo shorts on a mountain bike. It’s just fun.

Thank Cog.

“North Greenbush To Albany” – a poem

Jason Crane — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:26:19 +0000

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this here, but my first book of poetry, Unexpected Sunlight, will be out soon from FootHills Publishing. You can read my work at jasoncrane.org.

Here’s a poem I wrote this week based on a bike ride:

“North Greenbush To Albany”

Burlington Bikeway

Ethan — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:05:45 +0000

Easter Sunday I was in Burlington with my family, on the Bikeway. Albany could learn a lot from them.

First, let me say that the waterfront is beautiful. Lots of grass and open space. People having fun. I saw people barefoot in the grass. Would never see this in Albany, where there is broken glass and garbage everywhere, whether it’s paved or not. In Burlington there are things to do on the waterfront, places to eat, places to shop.

I saw every kind of bike on the path. Girls in sun dresses on beach cruisers. Young guys on racing bikes. Kids on mountain bikes. I saw tandems. I saw whole families biking together. People were nice. There was a skate park with skaters and kids on bmx bikes doing tricks. I saw a bike polo game getting started. The only thing I didn’t see was a tall bike.

The bike path is clean and well maintained. There are maps every few miles. I saw things painted on the trail that said “cycle the city.” I could not help but think, this is what biking in Albany could be like.

Friday Morning Baiku (Bike Haiku)

Ethan — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:06:49 +0000

i rode through the park
/ morning sun on dew on grass
/ / things motorists miss

Tweed Ride

Ethan — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:24:39 +0000

There’s a really great write up, with lots of lovely pictures, of the latest Tweed Ride in Sacramento over on EcoVelo. I’ve said before that I’d like to do something like this in Albany. I need
a) a nice tweed jacket and
b) people who are interested.

Mid-Day Escapes

Ethan — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:15:30 +0000

As someone who spends all day in front of a computer, I found this article wonderful.

Funny Video About Commuting Etiquette

Ethan — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:16:50 +0000

Got a lot of laughs out of this, this morning.

We’re looking at some wonderful weather this week. Be nice, ride your bike, ring your bell.

State of the Lane

Ethan — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:34:28 +0000

A commuter’s perspective on bike lanes in the city of Albany.

I think this picture pretty much sums it up.

This was taken a few weeks ago on Clinton Ave, headed up hill. This is one of the “new” bike lanes they put down in the fall of last year. The paint is pretty messed up and cars use it like a right turn lane.

The other “new” bike lane they put down, the sharrows on Washington Ave, was covered by snow most of the winter.

I appreciate the new riding spaces. I use them daily. I think Albany could do a lot to make the city more bike friendly by clearing/cleaning the WHOLE street, from curb to curb. If half of the sharrow paint is covered by snow, it’s not helping anyone to have put it there. If the bike lane is filled with broken glasses and potholes, it’s not helping anyone to have put it there. If the WHOLE street, curb to curb, was clean, you could actually ride in the street- whether there were marked lanes or not.

Word is they intend to make more bike lanes. Which is a great thing. But if they aren’t going to be kept clean and clear, this is going to be an ineffective gesture. If the lanes become invisible due to paint loss after a few months, this will be a complete waste of time. Please Albany, let’s do this right.

Google Maps Directions by Bicycle!

Ethan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:54:45 +0000

Hot word on the streets is that directions from Google Maps can now be tailored for bicycling, in addition to walking, public transport, and car. So I checked it out.

It’s directions for my morning commute take me down Lark. Which is interesting since Lark has all those annoying cobblestone intersections. And buses. So I’m not 100% sold on it.

But this is a step in the right direction. Thank you, Google!

(Also thanks to Commute By Bike and Cyclelicious)

Price Chopper supports … mass transit? That’s crazy!

Jason Crane — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:45:16 +0000

This isn’t strictly a bicycling story, but I think it’s a smart way to get more folks out of their cars and onto buses, and to make life a little easier for people who always ride the bus.

Price Chopper AdvantEdge now benefits those who take bus

ALBANY — Participants in Price Chopper’s AdvantEdge customer loyalty program will now find it costs less to take the bus.

Officials from Price Chopper’s owner, the Golub Corp., and from the Capital District Transportation Authority said this morning that the discounts offered on purchases of Sunoco gasoline will now be offered to purchasers of CDTA prepaid bus passes as well.

For every $50 spent on groceries, participants will get $2 off the price of a prepaid pass. The discount is offered on 10-ride, 31-day rolling, and STAR Swiper cards.

“We think it’s the first such arrangement in the country … where a regional supermarket partners with a regional transit authority” to promote taking the bus, said CDTA Executive Director Carm Basile. “Price Chopper has put riding buses on the same level playing field as driving your car.”

Read the rest of the article.

First bike commute of 2010!

Jason Crane — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:25:35 +0000

…and really for most of 2009, too, but who’s counting?

Making space for bicyclists at Route 7/I-87 crossing in Albany

Jason Crane — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:31:18 +0000

From today’s Times Union newspaper in Albany:

Q: Will there be any provision for bicyclists on the new Route 7 bridge crossing Interstate 87? Unfortunately, I already suspect that there will be none as in many of the recent upgrades. If not, then my next question is how would cyclists cross Interstate 87?

Finally, I understand that DOT holds a number of planning meetings and presentations to the public for upcoming projects. How would the general public and bicycle advocacy groups be aware of these meetings ahead of time?

– Rob Russell, Delmar

A: Good news. Bicyclists and pedestrians were indeed taken into account in preparing for the new bridge, said Peter Van Keuren, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

And you can learn more about it this very night. A public open house will be held at 6 p.m. today at Forts Ferry Elementary School, 95 Forts Ferry Road in Latham.

“As with most of our projects, we look closely at existing pedestrian and bicycle operations and accommodations to discern if improvements are needed,” Van Keuren said. The exception, of course, is on interstate roads where walking and biking are not allowed.

In designing the new Northway Exit 6, he said, accommodating walkers and bicyclists was a high priority.

Read the rest of the article.

Boneshaker

Ethan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:08:11 +0000

Part of one of the gifts I got for Christmas was a copy of Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac. It was a joy to read.

It begins with the following, from the editors:
“Bicycling, not bicycles, because it’s an action and a purpose and a way to move and move and move.”

It goes on to be filled with lots of little short pieces. Interviews, poetry, book reviews, an advice column, thoughts one commuting by bike down south, and some excerpts from touring cyclists.

It’s a little book, it fits in your pocket so you can take it anyway. It’s rugged. It’s printed in elegant type. Highly enjoyable.

Some Tips on Traffic and Snow

Ethan — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:18:44 +0000

Survived another ride home in the snow, so I thought I’d offer some “tips.”

Before:
Waterproof. Lights. Don’t over-layer or you’ll sweat inside. Do not let drivers psyche you out.

During:
Go slow. Take it easy. This is not a race. Focus on keeping your bike straight and your breathing even.

Don’t be afraid to take the lane. In fact, take the lane. Trying to ride in the crap at the side of the street is often dangerous. You’re better off holding up the cars behind you.

Pull over every once in a while. This lets the cars get on their way (which, admittedly, it often not very much faster than you were going anyway). More importantly, it gives you a chance to catch your breath, shake the snow off yourself, and appreciate the winter.

Signal your turns. You do that anyway, right?

Be aware of (lazy) drivers who do not clear the snow from their cars. Many of them cannot see out their snow covered windows and will not see you. This applies to cars already on the road, but also cars pulling out of parking spaces. Refrain from yelling into their open windows as you pass by- you need to stay focused on the street ahead of you.

Side streets that don’t see a lot of traffic are nice because there are not a lot of cars on them. But they don’t get plowed as quickly, either.

After:
Get the snow off your bike. A rag is a good thing. Take a hot shower.

Pizza + Tweed

Ethan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:52:59 +0000

This looks heavenly. I’d definitely like to do some sort of tweed ride and pizza run this spring/summer. I need to get myself a nice tweed jacket. (Yard sale season is coming.)

The Most Fun I’ve Had In A Week

Ethan — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:29:15 +0000

Riding home through the “snow.”

First, let me say that I did not have my studded tires on. I will blame the weather people for that. For weeks they’ve been saying “omg blizzard we’re all going to die” and I’ll put on my snow tires. And then it won’t snow. At all. And then I have to take the tires off again. Which means I’ve wasted two hours of my life because somebody on tv lied to me. Sigh. So this time I called their bluff and did not put my snow tires on. More on this later.

I did have waterproof clothes and a ton of lights.

So we start from the bottom of Orange Street, which wasn’t bad. It was less than an inch of snow, really. After a block I turn right and climb a steep but short hill that is all snow. My back tire is slipping but I keep it upright and make it to the top to wait for the light. Studded tires would’ve been nice here, but the hill was short so…

The light turns green and I go left up Clinton. The conditions here are slush-tacular. The bike lane is at least visible, if not clear, and I easily pedal my way up the hill. At one point I think to myself “all you haters can eat my slushy wake” and then remind myself to breathe and pay attention.

I take a left on Lake, which is pretty clear. I cross Central and then take a right on Brandon. Brandon is a little one way street with no traffic. I go two blocks in peace, slowly cruising through the coating of snow and trying to enjoy what winter there is.

Left on Ontario. I have to pull over to let a bunch of cars by. No biggie. The first part of Ontario is a mess, in my opinion. It looked like they plowed it, but all they had really done with turn snow and slush into a layer of ice. I wasn’t having any problem with it, taking it slow and steady, keeping my bike straight and moving forward without any sudden movements. Cars, on the other hand, were not having as good a time as I was. Tires spinning all over the place.

The second part of Ontario, which would be after Madison, had some nice wide patches of fresh snow, so I stuck to that. Downhill past the Playdium, slowly, letting the hurried drivers go do whatever it is they’re in such a hurry to do.

Right on New Scotland I pick up a set of tire tracks. This is like one cyclist unintentionally leaving a long greeting in the snow. New Scotland is pretty heavily trafficked so it was clear enough. I took a left near Sycamore, and so did the tire tracks I was following. Those were some skinny tires.

My neighbor said “doesn’t matter what the weather is, you’re on your bike.” I replied, “hell yeah. This is the most fun I’ve had in a week.” And then I banked up the driveway. Strangely enough, the driveway had 3 inches of fresh powder in it.

A really enjoyable ride. There were only two or three spots I thought my studded tires would’ve been nice, but I didn’t regret calling the Weather Channel’s bluff this time. It was also nice to have an excuse to ride slowly, and just enjoy riding my bike, and enjoy winter.

Handsome Devil

Ethan — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:42:11 +0000

Today, with gray skies and whatever it is they are passing off as snow, I am thinking about this.

Snow

Ethan — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:13:06 +0000

It’s actually snowing in Albany. Did you ride your bike today? I did.

Pandas

Ethan — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:46:11 +0000

I’m a big fan of pandas. Not the bear that eats the least nutritious kind of bamboo it can find and will not breed to save it’s species. Panda portraits. The Flickr group says

Why are these called “pandas?” Well, ya see, there’s this rad chick who goes by the name faster panda kill kill. She takes rad self-portraits while riding her bike. They are so rad, in fact, that a group was formed to record similar self-portraits cuz, really, just about anyone who has a camera and rides bikes also takes these self-portraits.

Here are some examples

Here are some, done by other people, that I really like

Check out the Flickr group, get out your camera, and have some fun!

Xtracycle evangelism

Jason Crane — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:19:24 +0000

A prospective Xtracycle buyer asked the following on the Roots Radicals group (an email list of Xtracycle owners & fellow travellers):

So I’ve got a bike and I’m thinking of getting the Free Radical extension. I’ve got a seven year old and other kid-carrying options aren’t working that great (outgrew the trailer, trail-a-bike is awfully shaky). This xtracycle thing seems like a pretty great solution. However, I only have the kid and/or cargo about half the time. Is it easy to take off the long tail and make it a regular bike and then back again when you need it? Do you just ride the long tail with nothing in it? Do you have two bikes? — Karen

The responses are great (read them here) — and all in favor of just riding the X all the time. I agree. Well, maybe I’ll do this year’s Livestrong Challenge on something else…

Elvis

Jason Crane — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:39:49 +0000

‘Nuff said.

I got this photo from here based on a link from here.

Online sleuthing reunites stolen bike and owner

Jason Crane — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:22:10 +0000

The Albany Times Union newspaper ran this piece today:

Online sleuthing reunites stolen bike and owner

By JORDAN CARLEO-EVANGELIST, Staff writer
Last updated: 1:46 p.m., Friday, January 29, 2010

ALBANY — By rights, Wesley Leubner’s mountain bike should have been gone for good.

Stolen when his Hudson Avenue apartment was burglarized 18 months ago, the $1,200 Cannondale F600 could have been anywhere by now.

“For six months he was scouring all the want ads,” said Detective James Miller, a police spokesman. The 24-year-old former college student’s exhaustive search of local bike shops yielded only similar disappointment.

But then — in further testament to the ubiquitousness of Craigslist — there it was this week, in all its mango orange glory, for sale at the deeply discounted price of $250.

Read the rest of the story.

A Real Man’s Bike

Ethan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:32:55 +0000

So the other day I roll up the driveway, home from work, and prop The Bastard Son of The Frost Giant King against the garage while I turn off the lights. This guy comes up the driveway on foot asking if I have a minute. High on endorphins, I say “sure.”

He’s from the cable company. I tell him we don’t watch much tv and he can understand that doubling what we pay for cable doesn’t make a lot of sense. Then he says, “one more question, where do I go to get a real man’s bike?”

To be honest, the first thing I thought of was something you’d see bombing around London in the 1920s. But I guess that’s just me. I must’ve looked confused, so he explained, “you know, you go to Toys R Us and they have ladies bikes and kids bikes. Where do I get a real man’s bike?”

Ah.

We had some conversation about getting what you pay for. I explained that I paid $500 for my bike when it was new, which may sound like a lot of money to someone who buys a bike at Toys R Us, but I’ve had it for almost a decade. It’s my winter commuter and I put it through hell. It’s worth buying a real bike.

I told him to go to Downtube, because that’s my local bike shop and I’m loyal. I also told him about Klarsfeld’s way up Central. He knew where they were, but it had never occurred to him to go there. I said, “yeah, if you go to a real bike shop, you’ll get a real bike.” He laughed and said thanks.

A week later, I still feel good about helping someone who wanted a good bike.

Bike Commuter Goals for 2010

Ethan — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:35:39 +0000

Bike Shop Girl has some great goals for this year. I’ve decided to take her list and tell you what I’m doing about each (today, if not recently).

Learn how to properly lock your bike
Pretty sure I’m on top of this. I have a u-lock and I make an effort to lock both my rear tire AND the frame to something secure.
Start a Commuter Challenge
Sorry to say, probably not going to happen. Although, when Bike To Work Day comes around, we’ll see what happens.
Motivate a co-worker to commute by bike
A guy I work with just bought a single-speed and is looking forward to commuting. If I’m allowed to say so, he’s a little jealous of me.
Join your local advocacy group
What local advocacy group?
Take photos to inspire others and yourself
Do this all the time and love it. A post on this topic is forthcoming.
Setup a commuter zone
That would be the back hallway of my apartment. It’s dirty and smells bad. ha hah.
Practice preventative maintenance
Seriously. I was supposed to check the tired pressure yesterday, but forgot. Will do it tonight. After this rain, the bike is also going to need a little wipe down.
Invest in your gear
Loving the waterproof stuff I got for Christmas. Have new panniers I can’t wait to try out. Lights, warm clothes, they are worth every penny.

Albany Getting 9.3 Mile Rail Trail

Ethan — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:49:28 +0000

Also in the news is this story about how Albany County purchased a stretch of unused railroad to convert it to a bike/etc trail.

The 9.3-mile stretch of the old Delaware & Hudson Railway right of way runs from the Port of Albany to Voorheesville.

Way to go, Albany!

Albany getting more bike racks

Jason Crane — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:24:29 +0000

Today’s Times Union newspaper published this story:

CDTA bike plan racks up fans
Authority begins initiative to place bicycle racks throughout Capital Region

By ERIC ANDERSON BUSINESS EDITOR
First published in print: Friday, January 22, 2010

ALBANY — Downtown Albany has perhaps a dozen bicycle racks. But a new effort by the Capital District Transportation Authority could make parking your bicycle far easier.

The CDTA, in conjunction with the Capital District Transportation Committee, is seeking to place bike racks throughout the Capital Region. The racks would be free to public and nonprofit sectors, while private sector businesses and employers would be eligible for a 50 percent subsidy.

“The Capital Region Bike Rack Program works hand in hand with the goals of public transportation: improving our quality of life and reducing single occupancy vehicle commutes,” said CDTA Chairman David Stackrow. “Businesses have the opportunity to expand their client base and improve customer satisfaction by providing close and convenient bicycle parking.”

Read the rest of the story.

A bicycle built for two … lighter guys (Part 2)

Jason Crane — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:51:31 +0000

(Be sure to read Part 1 before you read this post. It may not help, but it probably won’t hurt.)

An elevation map of the completed portion of our ride.

It doesn’t look all that bad when you map out the elevation on the graph above. A few hundred feet of climbing, a couple 4% and 5% grades, but not too bad.

Oh wait, I forgot that there were 400+ pounds of Rotarians on one bike. That’s why it was so hard.

The plan was a simple one: Keep the gears low. Have the SAG wagon stop every couple miles and wait for us to pass. Take a break whenever necessary. Don’t fall of the bike, get crushed by a tractor trailer or keel over from the exertion. No problem, right?

We rode and climbed and rode and climbed. A few miles along, there was our SAG wagon. Pren gave us the mileage count (there was no computer on the bike) and we kept going. We had enough air in our lungs to chat most of the time, and we told each other about our careers, our families, and why we would never, ever, ever, ever, ever volunteer for anything at Rotary ever again. Ever. Really.

Bill and me, smiling through our tears.

You know how when you have a really nice bike seat that’s like a couch cushion and you’ve been riding it for years and then you switch to a hard bike seat with no cushy properties at all and your rear end really hurts? No? Well I do. The seat on the tandem was apparently an unpadded piece of steel, possibly studded with spikes. I neglected to wear padded cycling shorts under my clothes. I never do, because the seat on my Xtracycle is so comfortable that I could bike naked if I wasn’t afraid Marlin Perkins would be overhead in a helicopter with a dart gun.

This bike seat, though, would have been better suited to transporting prisoners during the Spanish Inquisition. A few miles on this thing and they’d be converting to Catholicism faster than you can say, “Fetch the comfy chair!” I could go only a couple miles at a time before I had to stand up and stretch my … um … whatever it is that stretches down there.

Bill, meanwhile, had seat issues of his own. His seat wasn’t actually screwed tightly onto the bike, and it was constantly shifting position, forcing Bill to hang on for dear life like a rodeo rider on a bucking bronco. To Bill’s credit, he never said a word about it. Hey wait a minute — he kept offering to switch seats. Biiiillllllll! (Picture me shaking my fist.)

Another few miles, more hills, Pren in the SAG wagon. Nine miles (halfway there), more hills, Pren in the SAG wagon. Twelve miles, more hills, no Pren, but he must be just up ahead. Thirteen miles, more hills … uh … where’s Pren, exactly? I’m sure we’ll see him over the next hill. Nope. Maybe the next one. Nope. Maybe–

What’s that noise?

At about 13 miles we heard a sharp metallic pinging sound, followed immediately by a rubbing sound. (Excuse all the technical language.) I don’t know about other physical activities, but those sounds usually don’t accompany successful cycling trips. We hopped off the bike to see what was what, but we didn’t spot anything. I thought it might be the rear brake, which I’d had to disconnect and then reconnect when we changed the tire at the gas station back in Part 1. Soon, though, Bill figured it out: We’d broken a spoke and the wheel was becoming less round than is ideal for a wheel. The rubbing sound was caused by the now elliptical wheel wobbling into the brake pads.

I don’t know how well you know Bill and I, but although we’re renowned for our looks, charm, virility and spring-fresh scents, we are not, apparently, known for our brains. “What the heck,” quoth we in beautiful harmony, “it’s only six more miles. And we’ve got no tools! And our SAG wagon is missing! Let’s do it!”

We were entering East Greenbush, which meant a long downhill into the town of Rensselaer before we crossed the Hudson River and reached Albany. Bill suggested we go slowly down the hill, using only the front brake and the gears to control our speed. I did my best. We made it gently down the first hill and up the next.

Well, we made it most of the way up the next hill. At about 14 miles into the trip, we heard, and I quote:

Hisssssssssssss…

I’m sure you’re way ahead of me here, but unless you’ve brought a snake on your bike ride, hissing ain’t great. The wheel, which had been rapidly deteriorating, finally got to the point where it pinched the tube, which popped, letting out the air in our rear tire.

We pulled into the first driveway we came to — a Burger King. We had no means of repairing the bike, and no SAG wagon. Even better, as I might have mentioned earlier, Bill didn’t have the cell phone number of the SAG wagon driver, so we had no way to contact him. Nor did we have any idea where he was. “Maybe he went on to the auction without us,” we thought.

We sat in a booth in the Burger King, where I put on a paper crown while we tried to figure out what to do next. I used Bill’s cell phone to call my wife, but she wasn’t home. While I was calling her, I noticed that the phone was nearly dead. Bill said he’d charged it fully before we left. We hadn’t reckoned on the cold, though, which must have sapped the battery. We probably had enough charge for one more phone call.

It was then that Bill remembered that he had the number for Wolfert’s Roost Country Club, where our fellow Rotarians were having lunch and the auction at that very moment. Also at the meeting was Greg, who had brought his pickup truck for the express purpose of delivering the tandem bike to the winning bidder after the auction. Bill called the Roost, the Roost found Greg, Greg found us, and all was well.

As we crammed into the cab of Greg’s truck, we inquired about the health and safety of our SAG wagon driver. “He’s in the buffet line at the Roost,” Greg said. Ah.

Within a few minutes we were at the club, where we entered to thundering applause. We auctioned off the bike (and many other items) to raise more than $5,000 for various international projects, including ShelterBox, clean water projects, and Rotary’s nearly complete effort to eradicate polio from the face of the planet.

In the days since our ride, Bill and I have received even more money than was pledged to us, which will enable the club to buy a third Shelter Box.

Richard, who won the bike, discovered that in addition to the broken spoke, we’d also bent the axle of the rear wheel. He had it repaired and all is well. He will now be tormenting his teenage daughter by making her ride tandem with him.

My rear end has recovered, and Bill and I are already planning our next adventure. It will probably involve bikes. And maybe weight loss. And definitely cushier seats.

A bicycle built for two … lighter guys (Part 1)

Jason Crane — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:17:15 +0000

First, some background points that will help make the story clearer:

I’m a member of Rotary, and specifically a member of the Rotary Club of Albany. I love Rotary, not least because being a Rotary exchange student in 1991-92 completely changed my life and led to most of what I’ve done since. I also appreciate the way my membership and activity in Rotary helps me have a positive impact in my own community and around the world.
Rotary is involved with an organization called ShelterBox, an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide. It’s an incredible organization, and you should give them some money if you can, and maybe see if your workplace or school would be interested in sponsoring a box. Right now, they’re on the ground in Haiti providing immediate shelter:
This year, the Rotary Club of Albany gave approximately $2,400 to ShelterBox from the 2008 edition of our annual auction. That’s enough to buy 2.4 boxes.

And so, the story:

At a Rotary meeting several weeks ago, Charlotte, the president of our club, announced that she had a tandem bike to donate to the 2009 auction. The bike was used by two people during the Cycling The Erie Canal event. These two folks rode the tandem from Buffalo to Albany. When they got to Albany, Rotarians from my club were there to give all the riders rides to their hotels or to the train station. The tandem crew surprised the volunteers by donating their tandem bike for use at our auction. Cool, right?

So now this bike was at Charlotte’s house, and she didn’t have a way to get it the 16 miles to Albany. Either my fellow Rotarian Bill Corbett or I — I’m not sure who gets the blame — suggested that we should ride it. (You make recognize Bill’s name because he’s contributed to RocBike in the past.) I chimed in to say that we should be paid for doing so through charitable donations toward the auction proceeds. Everyone in the room agreed to pay us $16 each ($1/mile) if we rode the bike from Niverville to Albany. We agreed. It was on.

The auction was supposed to happen in December, but a blizzard ended up canceling our meeting, and we rescheduled for January 6. Bill and I met that morning at Wolfert’s Roost Country Club, where we hold our meetings. Another Rotarian gave us a ride to Niverville to get the bike. That person was also going to serve as our SAG wagon in case any problems occurred.

It’s at this point that I would like to make note of one difference between drivers and cyclists. Our club president, who drives from her house to the meeting, told us it was 16 miles. It’s actually 19.4 miles. That doesn’t mean much when you’re driving, but when you’re riding in 20-degree weather up big hills, those extra miles count. And no, 19.4 miles isn’t that far. Bill and I have both ridden farther than that on many occasions. (See here and here for the tale of my most recent long ride, which was also a fundraiser.) But it’s far enough, as you’ll see.

Our first mistake occurred in Charlotte’s kitchen. Pren, our SAG driver, got Bill’s phone number and put it in his cell phone. Then he asked Bill a question that would resonate later on: “Do you want my number?” Bill replied: “No, I’m not going to be calling you.” Foreshadowing, anyone?

Bill and me with the bike in the garage

We encountered the next problem as soon as we looked at the bike — the rear tire was flat. We already knew this, though, so Bill had brought a pump. As it turns out, this was the only useful item either of us had brought along. All of the other useful things that became necessary later on? Not so much.

Bill pumped up the tire, we said our goodbyes, handed over the life insurance paperwork, and prepared to ride to Albany. We got as far as the end of the driveway before the rear tire was flat again. Luckily, the donors of the bike had also donated two brand new tubes. So we got out our tire levers and–

Oh wait, we didn’t have any tire levers. Nor did we have a wrench to take the wheel off. As it turned out, neither did Charlotte or her husband Paul. Not to worry, though, down the road about a half-mile was a gas station. Off we went, pushing the bike. Surely, even in this day and age, a gas station would have a wrench or two, right?

Wrong. The gas station attendant had a screwdriver large enough for a sword fight, but no wrenches. As it turns out, though, the cycling gods were with us, because there in the gas station parking lot was a Snap-On Tools truck. Yes, a truck with every kind of wrench and useful implement known to man was parked at the out-of-the-way country gas station to which we happened to push the bike. Within a few minutes we had the tire changed and inflated and we were pedalling toward Albany.

It was cold that day. Very cold. And windy. Very windy. And I made what can only be classified as a rookie mistake. Having never ridden a tandem before, I told Bill that he could choose his seat — front or rear. He chose the back because, as it turns out, he’s not an idiot. He knew that it would be much nicer to have a very large guy blocking the wind for 20 miles than to be the windshield. (In his defense, he did offer to switch after several miles, but by that time I had warmed to the role and was enjoying being in front. That decision also saved me from the blame for … well, I’m getting ahead of the story.)

In the next installment: 400+ pounds is heavy … we climb and we climb … the SAG driver and the buffet line … axle me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies … we meet the Burger King and obtain his crown … and more!

READ PART 2

Bicycle clubs of old

Jason Crane — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:10:27 +0000

The New York Times ran a piece today on bicycle clubs of yore. Here’s the intro:

The Bittersweet History of Bike Clubs
By J. DAVID GOODMAN

Neither snow, nor sleet, nor bone-chilling cold can keep the members of New York’s assorted recreational bicycle clubs from the swift — or, often, leisurely — completion of their appointed rides around and out of the city. The New York Cycle Club, the Five Borough Bicycle Club and Fast and Fab, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender bike club, are some of those that lead outings and other events year round. And while none of these was around at the turn of the last century, each traces its lineage back to the ubiquitous clubs that dominated the earliest years of cycling.

In the 1880s and 1890s, growing middle-class participation in cycling lead to the formation of hundreds of clubs across the United States. The first to form was the Boston Bicycle Club, created on Feb. 11, 1878. The following February saw a club formed in Buffalo, and the first New York City club came in 1880, also in February (something about the cold seemed to drive riders to associate in those days, perhaps for the warmth of the pack).

Read the rest of the article.

Commuting by Bike in “Winter”

Ethan — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:33:36 +0000

This so-called winter has not been bad for commuting by bike. I’ve only taken the bus on two days, and that was because my mountain bike was in the shop. I thought I’d share some thoughts.

I see winter riding in three big areas: weather, darkness, and traction.

Weather. It’s cold. Dress warmly. The question I get most often is “aren’t you cold?” I reply that I have four layers on and they seem shocked, like it never occurred to them to dress appropriately. Sometimes thermal long-johns under my pants. Warm socks. I bought a little hat that fits under my helmet to keep my ears and head warm, and sometimes, when it’s really bad, I wear a fleece hood. I have some awesome lobster gloves that keep my hands warm. The thing to remember is that your body temperature will increase as you ride.

Snow? Or, in our case, rain? Waterproof clothing is the bomb. I was gifted a pair of waterproof overpants and they are perfect. They don’t have any kind of lining, they go on quickly over my pants, and they keep my pants from getting soaked. It is not fun to be cold and wet, and it’s worse when your wet clothing starts to freeze. This is the voice of experience talking, here.

The only thing I haven’t figured out how to beat, yet, is the wind.

Darkness. It’s dark on the ride in, and it’s really dark on the ride home. The answer? Lights. This winter I’ve been running three different lights on the back, one of which is on my messenger bag. They all flash different patterns. On the front I have two lights, one which flashes and one which is steady. And my monkeylectric lights.

I’m sure I look ridiculous. But at least drivers can see me. It’s so frustrating to see people riding around in black coats with no lights. I can’t even see them. Lights are cheap, people. Get some.

Traction. In the fall I ordered a wicked pair of studded tires, so I’ve been itching to use them all winter. They are really great… when there is snow and ice on the road. They dig right in and I’m not worried about sliding or spinning out, even when braking.

But all we’ve been getting is rain. Monday morning the “big snow storm” was all slush. Running the studded tires on bare pavement is a pain in the arse. They are heavy and slow. Climbing hills will kill you. And the studs are starting to show signs of wear. So it’s worth spending the time swapping them out.

I’ve enjoyed riding this winter. How’ve you been doing?

Bike trail to link Schenectady parks

Jason Crane — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:07:16 +0000

The Times Union ran a story today about new trail markings that will link two parks in Schenectady:

Bike trail to link Schenectady parks
New 4.7-mile section will plug gap in biking path

SCHENECTADY — The county will soon embark on more than $2 million worth of new biking trail improvements that will plug a hole in the Mohawk Hudson Bike/Hike Trail and will link the city’s Vale and Central parks.

The state Canal Corporation is overseeing a $1.7 million new section of the Mohawk Hudson trail that will link the path’s end at the city’s Stockade section with another piece that ends at Balltown Road in Niskayuna.

The new 4.7 mile section will be marked on existing roadway with signage from North Jay Street to Union College, and then a narrower, off-road trail that runs parallel with the Mohawk River will be widened and provided with better drainage.

Read the rest of the story.