RocBike.com » Jason Crane

The hipster moving company

Jason Crane — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:45:44 +0000

Click for a larger, hipper version

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

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.

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.

Crossing Brooklyn Bridge by bicycle

Jason Crane — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:00:24 +0000

So. Much. Fun.

I love biking in New York City.

Amsterwhere? Copenwhat?

Jason Crane — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:15:56 +0000

Tonight I biked from Manhattan’s Upper West Side to the Village to see jazz drummer Tyshawn Sorey’s New Quartet with John Escreet, Aaron Stewart & Taylor Ho Bynum. The ride was 70% on a dedicated bike path, 25% on bike lanes and 5% on the regular, unlabeled street. Who needs Amsterdam and Copenhagen? (The show was fantastic, too.)

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.

Riding a bike in Manhattan…

Jason Crane — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:27:37 +0000

…is fun! I know this isn’t news to all my NYC cycling pals, but today was my first real ride that wasn’t just on the river path. The Dahon Speed D7 performed like a champ. I rode it from my house in Albany to the bus departure point across the river, folded it for storage on the bus, then unfolded it in NYC and zipped over to my folks’ place. Fantabulous!

With my mom at my parents' apartment in NYC

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

The New York Times discovers cargo bikes

Jason Crane — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:28:41 +0000

I guess they’re real now…

George Bliss aboard his trike. (Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times)

The story and the accompanying video are here:

Hauling Cargo, No Car Necessary

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.

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.

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!

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.)

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.

“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”

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.

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.

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.

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.

Q&A on the Albany Bicycle Master Plan

Jason Crane — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:36:34 +0000

Today’s edition of the Albany Times Union newspaper includes a Q&A about the adoption of the Albany Bicycle Master Plan.

You know what? They ride bikes in Copenhagen

Jason Crane — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:57:31 +0000

Democracy Now! is covering every day of the climate summit in Copenhagen. The segment below features Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Damon Moglen, who works on global warming for Greenpeace. I’m posting it here because midway through, Hickenlooper talks about bicycling in Copenhagen. He mentions that 30+% of the population commutes by bike now, and the city’s target is 50%.

Xtracycle announces winning video

Jason Crane — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:29:12 +0000

The fine folks at Xtracycle just finished a video contest to find the best video about their new PeaPod LT child seat. Here’s the winning video:

not big enough b/w fixed from Kate Oshea on Vimeo.

More videos are available at the Xtracycle site.

Bicycle comedy

Jason Crane — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:06:37 +0000

Thanks to Utility Cycling for the link

A novel use for an Xtracycle: as a tow truck

Jason Crane — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:18:12 +0000

Tow Truckin’ from Xtracycle on Vimeo.

Leaf peeping by bicycle & a pedicab test

Jason Crane — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:08:02 +0000

From today’s New York Times:

It took a few miles to work the kinks out of my legs and churn up the first hill, but the payoff was spectacular. Lake Champlain sparkled blue in the distance, with the Adirondack Mountains rising stately in the background. Lush green hills were peppered with red silos, livestock and a white steeple far off. And then there were the trees, a patchwork of scarlet, orange and yellow that transformed a vista into something so perfect it almost didn’t look real.

Read the story: “Pedal Peepers In Vermont”

The NYT also published a piece today by a reporter who tried out a pedicab for a day:

Three Wheels Through the Park

Ouch.

Jason Crane — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:42:41 +0000

Via FAIL Blog

Walk, bike or bus?

Jason Crane — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:18:17 +0000

The folks over at BikeCommuters.com have a handy chart to help you figure it out.

Visit BikeCommuters.com for a larger version.

Video: Thoughts On My Bike

Jason Crane — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:58:05 +0000

(Thanks to Bike Commuters for the link.)

Sweet Yehuda

Jason Crane — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:21:39 +0000

The online cycling comic strip Yehuda Moon is hilarious, and I’m a huge fan of the humor. But I also love quiet moments like this one in today’s strip, titled “Autumn Rains.”

Visit the site for a larger version

Xtracycle on CNN’s iReport

Jason Crane — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:51:02 +0000

Cool!

Fight cancer! Win pink tires!

Jason Crane — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:24:38 +0000

Hey gang,

My friend and fellow Team Fattymate Jenni Laurita is auctioning some very cool pink tires to raise money for her second LIVESTRONG Challenge Ride of the year. She already did the Philly excursion, and this fall she’s off to Austin for more riding and raising of cash.

Please visit her Web site for details on how to win against cancer and win pink tires!

World Car-Free Day is tomorrow (9/22)

Jason Crane — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:46:11 +0000

Learn more about World Car-Free Day

Defying the no-bike policy in Saratoga

Jason Crane — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:43:54 +0000

Adam Marino locks up his bike at Maple Avenue Middle School last Wednesday, the first day of classes. Photo by CharlieSamuels.com

From The Saratogian newspaper:

Family defies no-bike policy at Maple Avenue Middle School
Published: Monday, September 14, 2009

By ANDREW J. BERNSTEIN
The Saratogian

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The first day of school, already a happy and trying event for any student, saw a little additional stress for Maple Avenue Middle School student Adam Marino.

Marino and his mother, Janette Kaddo Marino, left for school by bicycle on Wednesday morning, as they often do in good weather, despite a phone call placed to students’ homes by school officials, asking parents not to allow students to walk or ride bikes to school.

After a cold reception on Wednesday, local transportation advocates are rallying around the family, and plan to accompany the pair to school today in a bid to bolster calls for a policy change.

Read the rest of the article

Biking Tokyo’s Yamanote train line

Jason Crane — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:39:07 +0000

An evening scene in Asakusa, an area in the Shitamachi district of Tokyo. / Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times

The New York Times featured this cool story about taking a bike tour along Japan’s famed Yamanote (ya-ma-no-tay) train line. I used to ride this line as part of my commute the second time I lived in Japan. When I worked for Bloomberg TV and Radio in Tokyo, my office was right in the area on this map where it says “Marunouchi Business District.”

Here’s the story:

No Squishing: Biking a Tokyo Rail Line

Fatty and Me

Jason Crane — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:57:22 +0000

‘Nuff said:

Bicycles and civil disobedience

Jason Crane — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:59:20 +0000

The Guardian is featuring a story today by Peter Walker about the bicycle as the vehicle of civil disobedience. Here’s an excerpt:

So what is it that makes the bicycle and the demonstration such good companions? To me, there are two factors at play.

Firstly, if you’re in a group, there is something undeniably liberating about riding around a city surrounded by cyclists. I’ve never been on a Critical Mass ride, so going to Blackheath was a strange sensation – no longer a vulnerable solo rider lined up against the massed metal forces of the motorised traffic, I was part of an entity too big to ignore or shove unthinkingly into the kerb.

Second, if you’re a solo campaigner in an urban environment then the bike is the mode of transport most guaranteed to get you to your protest on time and – perhaps more important still – give you the best chance of slipping away from pursuing authorities. When I worked for another news organisation in Beijing I’d regularly pedal to meetings or protests, nipping down narrow lanes to shake off the unmarked police cars, which routinely trail foreign journalists in China.

What the heck is an Xtracycle?

Jason Crane — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:56:58 +0000

Voici:

The Original Longtail | Xtracycle from Xtracycle on Vimeo.

What does it mean to “Fight Like Susan”?

Jason Crane — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:33:41 +0000

Watch this and Fatty will tell you:

2009 Philadelphia LiveStrong Challenge: Fatty’s Speech from Fat Cyclist on Vimeo.

If you can’t watch until later, this is how you Fight Like Susan:

Be focused
Be creative
Have outrageous endurance
Be kind

Video from Russ and Laura

Jason Crane — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:47:58 +0000

This is gorgeous.

Ride With Us! from Russ Roca on Vimeo.

More at The Path Less Pedaled.

Team Fatty Philly: Other people’s words and images

Jason Crane — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:46:49 +0000

NOTE: This is a “sticky” post, so it will stay at the top even as new content is added below it. Be sure to scroll down for new posts, OK? Thanks!

NOTE #2: If you scroll down the right side of this site, you’ll see a bold heading that reads “Team Fatty & Friends.” Below this heading are blogs by members of Team Fatty and folks who are fighting the same fight. If you’d like to be linked in the list, please send an email to jason at rocbike dot com. (Thanks to Albany Bob for the suggestion!)

Other folks are posting their ride reports from this weekend. I’ll share them in this post and just continue to update it. Most of these folks are from Team Fatty, but not all. If I can find a story about someone fighting cancer by walking, running or riding at the Philly event, I’ll link it here.

Ready to beat cancer. And yes, the knitted Rasta glove is mine. Photo by Albany Bob

“Albany” Bob Anderson

Andrea from the Evolve blog

Daniel Berlinger

“Team Fatty – Fighting Like Susan – Livestrong Challenge Philly 2009″

Rhonda Chattin

Jason Crane (me)

Ken Durbin

“Livestrong 2009 Reflections”

Clay Frost

“Philly Phase One … Century Eve”

Dave from “Game On, Cancer”

Rebecca from Girl On The Loose

Pictures

Creighton Higgins

“Livin’ Strong In Philadelphia With Team Fatty”

Kelly Kavanagh-O’Connell

“Livestrong Challenge 2009 Philly Ride Report, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Hills”

Kevin Kavanaugh

Pictures

Matthew Kayes

“Philly Livestrong Challenge 100″

Lana

Pictures

Jenni Laurita

Lizzylou

Elden “Fatty” Nelson

“Relaxing In Philly”
“Livestrong Philadelphia Report Day 1″ (Includes video of Fatty’s and Philly Jen’s speeches at the dinner)
“2009 Livestrong Philly Report Day 2″

Robert Orler

“Livestrong Philly”

Samantha from Ribbons For A Reason

“Our Livestrong Challenge”

Joe “CycleChef” Sheridan

“Team Fatty”

Angie Suttle

“Philly Livestrong Challenge”

Thad Suzenski

“Livestrong Century”

10NBC video from Philly

Windows Media Player video

KYW News Radio Philly

“Thousands Participate in ‘Livestrong Challenge’ in Montco”

Philadelphia Examiner

“Fat Cyclist Comes To Philadelphia For Livestrong Challenge”

Stay tuned.

My first triple century, or, How I learned to stop worrying and love my Xtracycle*

Jason Crane — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:20:25 +0000

When last we met (see the previous installment, “The (bald, chubby) eagle has landed,” I was in a Barnes & Noble in Somewhere, PA, figuring out where to park the Hotel Subaru for the night.

Albany Bob from Liberty On Bikes! had recommended a particular walled parking lot near the Livestrong Village, so I made my way over there and found a secluded spot near the wall. I jammed my sleeping bag into the back of the car, which is when I discovered that the car is a least a foot shorter than I am. With the Xtracycle also in the back, I had about an inch of clearance from the left pedal and maybe two inches from the handlebars. Sitting up quickly would mean certain death – or at least a badly bruised noggin.

It was 11:30 p.m. by this time. I set my phone alarm for 5 a.m. and eventually drifted off to sleep.

Seconds later, it was 5 a.m. I changed my shorts in the dark of the deserted parking lot, then did my best to brush my teeth and get my contacts in. I drove over to the Doubletree Hotel, where Team Fat Cyclist was gathering for a 6 a.m. group ride to the start line. There were about 30 of us at the hotel, including the man himself — Elden “Fatty” Nelson, whose blog about cycling and about his own family’s fight with cancer had inspired us all to be there in the first place. His appearance was met with a big cheer, and he hopped on his bike and led us away from the hotel. I rode in the back because it was still dark and I had my Down Low Glow blazing. I ended up riding with Fatty for about half the way, which was great. He’s got to be one of the most grounded human beings I’ve ever met. I don’t know how he does it.

A photo of the rollout taken by Jennie Laurita. The woman in the light-colored jersey is Lauren, and I’m just behind her.

Rolling out on The Packet Boat with Philly Jen. Note the Down Low Glow! (Photo by Creighton Higgins)

By the time we reached Livestrong Village and made our way to the start line, the sun had come out and it was looking to be a beautiful day. The rest of Team Fatty was waiting for us at the start line. I’m not sure how many of us there were, but it a big, big gang. Fatty addressed the crowd to many cheers, and then Philly Jen read from the donation page of the person who had won a set of Shimano wheels and pedals. As it turned out, it was Albany Bob, who told me after the fact that he never wins anything. (By the way, check out the very moving work Bob did to the back of his van.)

Because Team Fatty Philly had raised a bazillion dollars, we got to start first. We all crowded up to the start line where the Livestrong photographers snapped a group shot. I rode with Dan, one of the event organizers, and Lauren, who was riding her first event — and who had only started riding seriously a couple months before. Lauren and I decided to stay together because it was her first ride and we were both doing the 45-mile course. As you’ll learn, she eventually dropped me like a bad habit and finished in about half my time.

Albany Bob, Dan, me at the start line (Photo by Lana)

The south end of a northbound Xtracycle (Photo by Lana)

Albany Bob and yours truly (Photo by Kevin Kavanaugh

We rode out on the long, balloon-covered road from the start line, with hundreds of spectators cheering us on. The organizers said more than 6,000 people were riding, running or walking in the event, which is incredible. I’d never ridden in a group that large, and it was a thrill to see hundreds and hundreds of cyclists take to the roads in the morning sunlight.

Later in the ride, I heard that Lance Armstrong has told the organizers every year to make the courses harder and harder. “It’s supposed to be a challenge,” he is reported to have said. I will go into that in great detail in the nasty note I’ll be sending Lance. (Kidding!) All I can say is: The first 20 or so miles were great, and the rest comprised the hardest ride I’ve ever done in my life.

First of all, I rode my Xtracycle**. If you’ve ever been to RocBike before, you’ve seen my bike. It’s a Giant Sedona hybrid with massive tires and a big cargo bike kit on the back. It weighs a lot. A lot a lot. Too much, some might say. To me, riding the Xtracycle was part of the challenge. That’s because I’m an idiot.

Second, I never really looked at the elevation charts provided by the fine sadists at Livestrong. Had I done that, I would have quickly realized that there was no way I could actually ride my bike for 45 miles on the course they’d laid out, no doubt late at night in a dimly lit room with chains and whips and an iron maiden in the corner. This course, you see, was Brutal with a capital “B.” In fact, I think it’s fair to say it was BRUTAL, with a capital-all-them-letters.

Like I said, it was fine in the beginning. Lauren and I stayed together and chatted while we rode, exchanging the little biographies that you trade in those situations. I was feeling fairly tired, and I hadn’t eaten (idiot), but I figured I could make it the 10 miles to the rest stop and load up on food there. That worked just fine. The first rest stop was incredible. Tons of food, water and Gatorade, and even free massages from the wonderful Tobi. I left feeling refreshed and ready to ride.

I think it was about mile 20 when the first big hill came. I live in Albany, and we have some big hills. But not like these hills. You see, here in Albany, the hills have tops. In Pennsylvania (which is Dutch for “granny gear”) the hills defy geography and just continue to go up. And up. And up some more. I’m not sure how it’s possible, but we climbed a hill that had everyone moaning and swearing, and at the top of the hill was a hill. Dan had rejoined us, and the three of us pulled off the road to rest and hydrate and eat for a minute. Lauren and Dan said they were ready to go, and I told them to go ahead and not wait for me.

It was then that I had my big crisis.

I was exhausted. A craptacular night of sleep in the Hotel Subaru, combined with a woeful lack of calories, had me shaking and feeling nauseous. I’ve never bonked, but I wondered if this was what it felt like. And I knew, for the first time ever on my bike, that I couldn’t make it.

That was when I thought about everything that had gotten me to this point. Cancer had hit my mother, my grandmother, my great-grandmother, my cousin, my great-uncle, my friend Travis (who died last year from testicular cancer), my grandfather and childhood hero Bernie Flanders (who passed away earlier this summer) … and most recently my Aunt Linda, who is battling breast cancer right now. She’s been a huge inspiration in my life, because she’s never been afraid to walk her own path, regardless of others’ opinions. I’d also spent several years watching Fatty and Susan fight cancer and rally others to their cause. And I’d been inspired to launch my own jazz raffle by the efforts of Fatty’s sister, Jodi. Moreover, I’d raised more than $2,200 with help from family, friends, colleagues and complete strangers. My Rotary club had gathered around me, too, supporting me with the first grant from the revived charity committee.

And that was when I knew that there was no turning back. I got back on the Packet Boat (my Xtracycle) and rode as far up the hill as I could go. Then I got off and walked the bike up the hill. Have I mentioned that it weighs a lot? Pushing it up hills really stinks.

I reached the second aid station and looked around for Lauren and Dan. They weren’t there, although Lauren later said they’d waited for me for quite a while. Who knows how long I’d stood at the bottom of that hill weighing my options?

The rest of the ride was a mixture of pedaling and walking, punctuated with wonderful conversations with my fellow riders. I chatted with Rob from Long Island, a member of Team Fatty who told me he’d played in a charity golf tournament the week before to raise money for autism, inspired by a family member who was diagnosed with autism. And here he was on a hot summer day, riding through the hills of eastern Pennsylvania.

I met Rhonda from Virginia. She’d seen cancer rip through her own family, and decided it was time to change the odds.

I was passed by a cyclist who turned to me as he passed and said, “This is where I quit last year!” Then he let out a whoop and pedaled up the hill. I interviewed him later for the audio piece I’m working on, and he broke down as talked about his dad’s fight with cancer.

That’s what the Livestrong ride is like. Every time you think you can’t possibly make it up one more hill, you find another wonderful person with a story that puts strength in your legs and stamina in your heart. Like the Holland and Wilson families, who both live at the top of big hills and who decided to hand out water to the riders as they passed. Or like the hundreds of volunteers who cheer on the riders, make the food, give massages, and congratulate you every step of the way. or the doctor who works at the one of the aid stations and bring his interns to do the same.

By the end of the ride, I had nothing left. The last few miles were a climb to the finish line, and I was sagging on my bike with my head hanging to one side. I was determined to ride the last few miles, and it took everything I could muster. The amazing thing was that as I struggled up the hills, rider after rider passed me and said “Go Team Fatty!” These people didn’t know me, and most of them didn’t know Fatty either. But they believed in the cause and were inspired by Team Fatty’s efforts.

And I made it up the hill.

I rode past the balloons and cheering crowds and PA announcer, and came to two of the other great moments on my ride. Standing at the finish line was Fatty, who I would later learn waited for every member of Team Fatty to finish. And right behind him was Albany Bob, who’d waited a long time for me to get there. That was a great moment, and a great gift from two very good guys.

The ride was, by far, the hardest physical activity I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve ridden farther, but never over a course like that. But it was also one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given. To be a part of a larger movement, of people united by no thought other than doing good, of people drawn together by one family’s amazing story — that is truly something worth doing. Thanks, Fatty.

* As everyone knows, Xtracycle miles are like dog years. Thus, my 45 miles counted for 315 miles.

** Please note that I love, love, love my Xtracycle. It revolutionized my approach to cycling, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It was hard to ride on this course because (1) I’m not in good shape; (2) The course was brutal; (3) My Xtracycle is built on a very heavy Giant bike, so it weighs much more than an Xtracycle built on a lighter bike (my wife’s, for example).

(I’ve been making an audio recording of the trip, too, so look for an episode of the RocBike Review after the ride.)

The (bald, chubby) eagle has landed

Jason Crane — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:41:10 +0000

So I’m in Philly. Well technically I’m in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, home of Montgomery County Community College and the temporary home of the 2009 LIVESTRONG Challenge Ride – Philly edition.

On my way out of town this morning, I stopped by Eastern Mountain Sports because they sell Sigg bottles and I needed two new ones for the ride. The guy at the counter said, “You’re heading to Philly, right?” Apparently he’d visited RocBike.com and recognized me.

(A small aside: A woman named Paula in Albany has a Surly Big Dummy! My son Bernie and I were at the Downtube and saw it. She came out and noticed my Packet Boat and we chatted. She also knew who I was from reading this site. Paula agreed to become a contributor, too. Which, with the RocBike Curse, means she’ll soon stop writing about cycling completely. Sorry, Paula!)

Anway…

I arrived here in PA about 4 p.m. and headed straight for LIVESTRONG Village, the assemblage of vendors and nonprofits who surround the registration area. Recent rains had turned the ground into what Team Fatty Philly Captain “Philly Jen” described as a “mosh pit.” But everyone was in good spirits, and I saw several other members of Team Fatty while I was registering. The registration process was very efficient. According to one person at the site, there are more than 800 volunteers signed up for today and tomorrow to make the whole event run.

I got a nice bag o’ swag — hat, t-shirt, messenger bag, water bottle, and maybe a few other things that I have yet to dig out of the yellow LIVESTRONG bag. By the way, if you don’t like yellow, I recommend avoiding these rides. Everything is yellow.

The Team Fatty event at the Doubletree Hotel was running until 5 p.m. I made it with minutes to spare, just in time to meet Philly Jen (who saw me walk in and yelled “Jason!” — I guess there’s a shortage of chubby bald guys on our team) and another guy from Albany who wasn’t either Bob or me. Nor was he anyone I’d seen before. Small world. Apparently the Doubletree had booted out half of Team Fatty citing “water damage” on two floors. Rumor has it that the damage was more likely caused by overbooking, given that Team Fatty was booted out of another hotel owned by the same company at another recent Challenge ride. Sounds like the airline industry.

In search of some way to kill the hours between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m., when we all meet for breakfast, I drove around a bit. I found a park advertising a free concert at 6 p.m., so I followed the winding road back to the park … where a small sign said, “Concert Canceled.” I decided instead to eat dinner. I tried hard to avoid a chain restaurant, driving around until I spotted a big sign for Bombay High Indian Cuisine. I pulled in to the plaza to find that the highway sign and plaza sign had been installed, but the seats, tables, lights, kitchen and staff had yet to arrive. Sigh.

I ended up eating sushi at Benihana. I can’t believe I just typed that, and if you ever tell anyone, I’ll deny it. After three years in Japaan, I’m a real snob about Japanese food, and Benihana to me is like the Taco Bell of Japanese food. But I ate it and was grateful for some air conditioning and green tea.

The author at Barnes & Noble, delaying his date with the Hotel Subaru

I’m typing this in a Barnes and Noble because I’m staying tonight in the Hotel Subaru, and it doesn’t have wi-fi. In fact, it no longer has XM radio either, because some damned squirrels chewed through the antenna cable. I must say, the Hotel Subaru seemed much more inviting when I was tossing my sleeping bag in the back of the car this morning than it does now. Not least because my Xtracycle is also in the hotel’s one room, and it’s a very big bike. There’s a lovely thunderstorm now, too, so if this is my last blog entry, you’ll know why.

(I’ve been making an audio recording of the trip, too, so look for an episode of the RocBike Review after the ride.

Off to Philly!

Jason Crane — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:56:21 +0000

Xtracycle-riding mom turns to Twitter after drive-through denial

Jason Crane — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:26:41 +0000

Photo by USA Today

By Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY

Sarah Gilbert stepped off her bicycle long enough to send one angry tweet via Twitter— and it’s changed the way one fast-growing burger chain treats bike riders.

The 35-year-old blogger, freelance writer and mother of three doesn’t own a car. She gets around usually bike-friendly Portland, Ore., on a custom-made stretch bike that fits all three of her boys, ages 2, 4 and 7. A bumper sticker boasts: “One less minivan.”

But after biking last week into the drive-through of the local Burgerville— an eco-conscious burger chain that even recycles its used cooking oil into biodiesel — she tried to order four cheeseburgers.

No go. She was refused service at the drive-through for, of all things, ordering from a bike. Never mind that the environmentally friendly restaurant chain spent $185,000 on wind energy credits in 2008 to compensate for the electricity used in its 39 stores and at its corporate headquarters.

When Gilbert got home, she sent out a huffy tweet followed by a pointed letter to the chain, which she posted on her blog, cafemama.com. By the next day, the company apologized. In short order, the Vancouver, Wash.-based chain, with locations in Oregon and Washington, revamped its policy and will announce a new bicycle-friendly drive-through program on Sept. 8.

Read the rest of the story.

LIVESTRONG update

Jason Crane — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:43:48 +0000

I made my second goal ($1,926) a couple days ago. Today, the Rotary Club of Albany, of which I’m a member, gave me a check for $250. With some additional donations, my total for this ride is now at $2,216! Here’s a photo from the Rotary meeting. That’s Bob Stone presenting the award certificate:

There’s still time to donate and get in on the big jazz raffle, but you have to act NOW: http://philly09.livestrong.org/jasoncrane. A full list of prizes is on the donation page.

Thanks so much for your support. RocBike’s own Bob Anderson will have photos, and I’ll have audio from the ride, so look for a post-race story soon. Fatty will be there, too, so maybe I’ll get to meet him in person. Huzzah!

The time, she is running out!

Jason Crane — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:13:09 +0000

As you know, my goal is to raise $1,926 dollars for the Lance Armstrong Foundation in the LIVESTRONG Challenge Ride. The ride takes place in Philadelphia on August 23. With 9 days to go, I’ve raised $1,646. If my math is correct, that means I need $280 to make my goal.

I’ve got tons of cool prizes to give away, all jazz-related, including:

A meet-and-greet package with the Strickland brothers (E.J. and Marcus) as they each release their new CDs. The package includes:
- Two tickets to the double-CD release party at the famed Joe’s Pub in Manhattan on August 21
- Autographed copies of both CDs
- A meet-and-greet with Marcus and E.J. at the show
Tickets to see Kenny Barron & Mulgrew Miller, vocalist Steven Santoro, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra at beautiful Tanglewood in Lenox, MA, on Labor Day weekend
Tickets to see Dave Brubeck in western Massachusetts on Oct. 17
Autographed CDs from Patti Wicks, Jo Lawry, Mike Melito, and many more!
LP reissues of classic jazz recordings!
A Big Box o’ Jazz CDs from the fine folks at Braithwaite and Katz!
And more!

How do you get in on the action? For every $5 you donate at my LIVESTRONG page, you’ll get a raffle ticket. The more you fight cancer, the better your chances of winning.

I’ll draw the winner of the Strickland package on Tuesday, August 18 (and the deadline for donations for that prize is 10 p.m. ET on Monday, August 17).

I’ll draw the rest of the prizes on August 30, and the winners will be announced on the August 31 episode of The Jazz Session.

So please help! DONATE NOW!

Bottoms up, pedals turning

Jason Crane — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:07 +0000

International Win For Susan Day, August 23

Jason Crane — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:00:33 +0000

This is a great idea.

The difficulties of unicycle jumping

Jason Crane — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:29:27 +0000

Via FAIL Blog

This looks lovely

Jason Crane — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:56:23 +0000

I think these two are on to something…

Via http://pathlesspedaled.com/?p=492

Follow their adventures at pathlesspedaled.com.

Fatty’s obituary for Susan

Jason Crane — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:47:17 +0000

Fatty has posted a remembrance of his wife, Susan. Like everything connected with this story, it’s moving, heartbreaking and inspiring. The Nelson family has certainly created a lot of love in the world.

Read the remembrance.

And if you want to join the fight, please DONATE.

Image from Twin Six

Susan Nelson

Jason Crane — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:33:26 +0000

Elden “Fat Cyclist” Nelson posted the following on his site:

Susan died tonight (August 5) at 7:25pm. It was a hard, long day, and Susan fought right to the end, for much longer than anyone would have thought she could.

My mom, my sisters Kellene and Jodi, and my Brother-in-Law Rocky were all here to support my family as Susan passed away.

I’ll have more to say soon, but consider this. Susan inspired me to expand the focus of my blog from nothing but bike-related jokes to a serious and pitched fight against cancer.

Then she inspired 500+ of you to join Team Fatty, the largest LiveStrong Challenge Team there has ever been.

And Team Fatty has raised more than $500,000 — a record amount.

Susan’s part in the battle is over, but she didn’t lose. She led the charge. She showed the rest of us how to fight: with determination, focus, creativity, and outrageous endurance.

Now it’s up to the rest of us to Fight Like Susan.

The coordinator of Team Fatty Philly sent this message this morning:

My dear teammates,

It is with deep and profound sadness that I write to inform you the Susan Nelson passed away earlier this evening.

As each of you has shared Susan’s story with your friends and family, and as you have put your heartfelt efforts into Team Fatty, you all have been instrumental in bringing Susan’s fight to the eyes, ears, and hearts of the world.

Susan was unwavering in her battle; she held steady and true. Let us honor her memory by showing the same spirit and determination.

Give like Fatty. Fight like Susan.

Donations in Susan’s memory may be made at Elden’s (Fatty’s) Livestrong page: http://philly09.livestrong.org/fatty

Donations in Susan’s memory may also be made on your own Livestrong page: http://philly09.livestrong.org/jasoncrane

The day before THE DAY

Jason Crane — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:27:03 +0000

Russ Roca is a man of many bike blogs, including this one and this one and this one, too, all of which have made multiple appearances here at RocBike in our old Links of the Day posts. Now Russ is heading out with his partner Laura on a bike trip.

Not just any bike trip, mind you. Russ and Laura sold or stored all their stuff except what would fit on two bicycles, and they’re going to travel the world by bike for some indeterminate period of time. Cool, huh?

They started a (wait for it) blog to chronicle their travels: The Path Less Pedaled. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Today is the day before they leave, and they recorded a little video from their nearly bare apartment:

Good luck and safe travels, Russ and Laura!

A message from Fatty and Susan

Jason Crane — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:28:57 +0000

Fatty and Susan recorded this video a couple weeks ago before the Livestrong Challenge ride in San Jose. Watch it, and then go here to donate to fight cancer. Thank you.

Featherhead slings acid

Jason Crane — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:04:44 +0000

…and other tales from a bike messenger turned drug dealer.