Go Clipless

C&O Canal Memorial Day Ride

What an action packed Memorial Day weekend!

It started Saturday with a neighborhood yard sale. I hate yard sales. Sure we got rid of a lot of stuff, but it sat in my garage waiting for the sale for half a year. From now on, if it is determined that we no longer need something then it will be given away, sold, or thrown out within the week. I'm laying down the law!

After the yard sale it was time to get out of the 'sac (short for cul-de-sac) as we call it. Dr. P was feeling all lame from overdoing the squats two days before so we went to the shop and test rode some bikes instead of going for a real ride. I'll probably be buying a new bike in a few weeks so I'll let you know what I get when I get it.

On Sunday I began reorganizing the garage now that all of the stuff was gone to make room for more bikes and gear. It didn't take long before I was enticed on a quick mtb ride by neighbor Mike before the big 'sac Memorial Day BBQ.

The highlight of the weekend came on Memorial Day itself with a family bike ride along the C&O Canal Towpath.

The plan was to load up the bikes, drive to White's Ferry in Leesburg, VA, cruise the towpath for a mile or two and have a picnic lunch. My youngest Claire (aka Clairebear) is only five and we figured a couple of miles would be all she could take. Since we had never been there we really didn't know what to expect.

Lo and behold Clairebear was the star of the day as she toughed it out for more than eight miles of riding.

Now, if you'll indulge me for a few moments, here are some narrated photos of the day:

White's Ferry crossing the Potomac River from Maryland to Virginia. We drove across and parked on the Maryland side. Once on the ferry we were halfway across before we even realized it was moving.

I went to scope out the path and talk to the general store manager about any points of interest. While I was away Jack and Claire ate the post ride snacks - pre ride.

We rode about four miles to the ruins of an aqueduct along a small creek.

We poked around the aqueduct for about an hour. Jack wanted nothing more than to walk through the water with his new Keen's. Claire was a bit more aprehensive which is unusual for her.

Mommy (known to me as Kathy) joined in on the fun. We saw some interesting fish, a toad, and wild strawberries on our little side venture.

Kgirl wondering what's next. "I think I'll pleasure my husband when we get home." Ahem...oh...excuse me...this is a family show you say...I'm sorry I must have been daydreaming...let's get back to the story.

Clairebear wanted to lead on the way back to the car. She did a great job on her twitchy 16 inch tired bike and led us for more than a mile. The poor thing had to work so much harder than the rest of us.

She set a blistering 7.8 mile per hour pace. At one point Jack and Mommy took off and left us in the dust. Claire wanted to take a break, but I knew that we had left then a mile left. I challenged her to catch up to Jack. That was all the motivation she needed. She stood up on those pedals and mashed for 10 or 15 yards. Her legs started going a mile a minute...she settled in and hit 11 miles per hour. I thought the bike would just rattle apart.

Jack and Mommy decided to wait for us. When we caught up it was time for a much needed break.

Jack led the peloton for the last mile.

What an unbelievable day. The kids are growing up so fast.

It's Bike to Work Day. Where are you guys?

I couldn't wait to get up and ride to work today. All week I have been out of the office at off-site meetings and I have not been able to feed my bike commuting fix.

Since it is Bike to Work Day, I was expecting to find throngs of bike commuters all over my route. Well...I didn't see a single one. What happened? Did you guys all go on vacation or something?

Actually, I'm sure this was an anomaly as there were plenty of Bike to Work Day events in my area organized by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). It just so happens that none were convenient for me so I went it alone.

Based on the assumption that Bike to Work Day is all about encouraging more people to get off their butts, out of their cars, and onto bikes more often, I have a few questions.

Did anyone other than cyclists know about Bike to Work Day?

I know that virtually no one at my workplace of 500 plus people knew of it. While at my off-site meeting yesterday people asked if I would be riding to the office the next day. I said "of course, it's National Bike to Work Day tomorrow, aren't you?!"

"You're kidding, right?"

"What do you mean? Come on, where do you live? I'll swing by and pick you up and we can ride in together."

"Ah, I don't think so."

That's pretty much the end of the conversation. Of course, I have to play it off like I was kidding the whole time and that I know that the whole idea is preposterous. Really, I'm just trying to leave them with a little nagging thought when they go home that night that maybe, just maybe, it is possible to think differently about biking to work.

Do you think non-cyclists are actually going to join group commuting rides for their first time?

The only way I can see a new bike commuter joining a group commuting ride is if they go with a friend who has been doing if for a while. And, maybe that's the point?

I guess it is probably really about the potential news publicity with the idea being that non-cyclists will see bike commuters on the news and think...hey, why not me?

I'm just not so sure that non-cyclists think that way. Instead they may be saying to themselves, "hmm...what a bunch of wackos." Like they do when they see news of a Critical Mass ride gone bad in the mainstream media.

Is there a better way to get the word out about biking to work?

I'd say that 80% of the workforce thinks bike commuting is crazy, while the other 20% think it is kind of cool (ok...my numbers may be off, but bare with me for a second here). That's not to say that the 20% that think its cool actually do it, but some of them would if they felt like it was encouraged and fewer people thought they were crazy. In other words, is there another way to emphasize the cool factor in bike commuting? You know, kind of like the way it's become cool to own a Harley.

Anyway, we'll see if I run into any of my fellow bike commuters on the way home. Maybe I just missed the big groups that set off from their central locations.

Oh, and be sure to bike on over to the mall to catch those National Bike to Work Day sales before they end. ;-)
 

Where are all the GC product reviews?

OK, Dr. P. has been especially busy with his real job, and since G can't afford to pay me a salary as a staff writer, the product reviews have been pretty slim here at Go Clipless.  However, work from my real job has paid dividends in terms of helping GC acquire lots of new cycling gear.  To let you know that the GC product reviews have not died on the vine, we want to give you all a preview of some upcoming product reviews:

1. The Big Tire Roundup - G and I have been taking turns at riding a wide variety of tires and we'll be doing a head-to-head comparison.  Manufacturers include: Tioga, Panaracer, Hutchinson, WTB, and Kenda. 
2. Shoes - in particular, the Sidi Dominator.  In addition, I'll  have a few comments on  cleat positioning.
3. Tools - multitools, and tool sets. GC has been adding to its inventory of tools, and we have a few things to say about design, function, and price.
4. Apparel - Bibs, Shorts, Gloves, and Jerseys from IP, REI, Cannondale, Performance, and others.
5. Cyclocomputers - what a sham.  Most of these suck, so you'll want to stay tuned for the rant.
6. Pumps - CO2, Minis, and Floor Pumps.
7. Nutrition - GU20, GU, Cliff Block Shots, and much, much more.
8. Helmets - had to buy a new one due to two days of consecutive face plants putting a nice crack in my Giro Havoc (as well as my nose).
9. Sunglasses - what to look for, how do they hold up in a wreck - see #8, the sunglasses were involved too.  Incidentally, the one day I didn't wear my sunglasses, a branch whipped me across the eyes, causing my contact lens to fall out...and of course I wrecked.  Do you all see a trend here?

Stay tuned folks, we've been busy riding (eh, in my case wrecking), testing, and yes..complaining.  We've got lots to say about some new toys for good girls and boys. 

The stratification of the mountain bike market

Have you noticed how many categories of riding there are these days?

Paw through a few mountain bike magazines and you will notice a smorgasbord of terminology used to categorize what we do. Terms like cross-country, freeriding, trail riding, all-mountain, downhill, flow-riding - the list goes on and on - get tossed around like rag dolls.

The trouble is, no one ever takes the time to define them. Not only that, but as more categories get defined the line between them begins to blur causing even more confusion (at least to me). Furthermore, do we even need to be defined?

We've got a lot of apples and oranges being defined in these industry labels. What exactly is the industry trying to describe? Is it the riding style, terrain, bike type - or something else all together?

Marla Streb has the baby!

Having mountain biked right up to the last day, Marla Streb has announced that she has had the baby. No official stats as of yet, but rumors are that the baby was unusually long...measuring in at about 29 inches...or, was it 26?

Update: The baby is a girl named Nicoya (Nico for short). Only six days later and Marla is already going on her first ride! I'm still amazed...but good for her. Damn I wish I could sustain that kind of energy level.

Coincidence?

Wow...it just so happens that National Bike Month coincides with this (warning NSFW).

Coincidence?

I think not! After all, both activities can be enjoyed solo.

How do I know such things??? Let's just say I do my homework.

Come on now! Don't tell me you wouldn't know. I can guarantee that 95% of you have participated in both of these activities before and the other 5% of you are lying!

In a related story - twentynineinches.com has a new design...

Bike path or street?

"WTF? Would you look at this guy? Why would he ride on the street when there is a perfectly good bike path over there? What an asshole! You're going to get killed."

Most car drivers are saying or thinking this when they ride by cyclists that are not using the bike path when one is available. And why shouldn't they think this? It's an obvious thought one might have if they don't cycle regularly.

I used to think the same way, but now I realize why one might choose the road over the path.

Everyday, I ride a five mile stretch of the Fairfax County Parkway. A North-South, four-lane highway with two lanes and a wide shoulder on either side of a grass divider. A grass strip separates the shoulder from a wide bike/pedestrian path that runs the length of the Parkway on the east side of the road. On this stretch I have to cross about seven or eight intersections including exit/entrance ramps, light-controlled intersections, and residential side streets.

Many talk about the traffic on paths as a reason not to ride on them. Always having to go around pedestrians, joggers, dog walkers, etc. Sure it gets annoying especially when they are wearing headphones, but still, nothing an Incredibell and a sharp "on your left" won't cure.

I'm talking about street riding for safety and continuity.

That's right. While on the bike path, at every intersection I have to stop and make sure I don't get taken out by a car turning right on red or one that turns right in front of me even when I too have a green light to cross the intersection.

You do not exist to a car driver when you ride on the bike path.

If I were to ride on the shoulder of the road I could not be ignored. When coming to an intersection the driver must consider my actions before making a turn as I am directly in the way. I could claim my rightful turn in traffic and cross during a green light without having to slow or stop.

Now, it takes a lot of nerve to ride in a shoulder alongside cars traveling 50 or 60 miles per hour (speed limit is 50). With so many distractions for drivers, you never know when one may just swerve reaching for a mobile phone or something and just take you out.

For now I am sticking to the bike path. The dangers are more prevalent at every intersection. But, I am in control and can mitigate those dangers by being vigilant and stopping if necessary. The danger of riding on the road is one that I am not in control over. The risk may be very low - just like the likelihood of being in a plane crash versus a car crash - but it is the lack of control that makes us fear the plane more.

Lily Allen is going to be hot!

Going to be? You say?

That's right...she's going crazy on MySpace. She's being called the female Mike Skinner (from The Streets). I'd say that the cockney attitude is about as far as it goes. After that its a roaring twenties-retro-ska sound. Very cool stuff.

Actually (not cool) hot! Check this video of Lily on a banana seat bike tooling around London. Sizzling, I'd say!

I guess I should start bringing my lunch...

What to do when you forget to bring lunch to work and you are commuting by bike?

Just roll up a pant leg and make your way to the nearest grub house. This always brings lots of looks from all types. At first I felt strange, but now I make a game of it. Today I rode about a mile and a half to Baja Fresh. Grabbed a quick burrito and poked around Tower for a few minutes.

I keep my bike in my office on the fourth floor so I take it down the elevator each time I ride. Most of the other fourth floor residents have gotten used to my "quirky" habit of riding to work, but the rest of the company is still discovering the crazy one holding a bike in the elevator in business-casual attire.

I actually carry my bike anytime I am in the building as I don't want to give any one a reason not to let me keep my bike in my office. I can only imagine if I tracked in dirt or mud what might happen. All kinds of fatwa's would be issued regarding personal fitness devices, etc...

Anyway, you should see the looks and comments I get. People say all kinds of things like..."oh, gas prices are just insane aren't they"...or, "guess you are doing your part." How about...I just like to bike!

My favorite are the people who like to play it cool. They get on the elevator...their eyes get wide...but then they get stone faced. They don't want to let you know that they think it is unusual that you are in the elevator holding a bike. Not exactly sure why, but they seem really uncomfortable. Like I'm some kind of monster they stumbled upon in a dark alley or something.

Now it is true that my car broke down over the winter and I have yet to replace it, but I was actually planning on riding to work anyway. Now, I am definitely considering holding off on a new car indefinitely. But you know people are just horrified to find out that I don't have a car. They say things like "when you get your new car you won't have to bike any more." I say, "No. If I get a new car, I'll still bike as much as possible. Besides, I'm not so sure I need a car any more." After that statement I get the old roll of the eyes.

When I am out at lunch I ride through congested office parks and strip malls. Cars just don't know what to make of me. It's quite an experience. I feel like I am in a giant fish bowl with co-workers in cars passing me staring out the windows wondering what kind of mid-life crisis I must be going through. I just say fuck it and move on my merry way.

Wasn't in the mood to find any new music at Tower so i picked up a few cycling magazines from Britain. Tower is good for that sort of thing.

Meanwhile, I am hooked on Editors. Best album of the year so far. At first listen they will remind you of Interpol, but they are definitely different. No doubt they stem from the Joy Division retro band kind, but they have their own defining sound. More Kitchens of Distinction than Interpol. Munich, Fall, Camera, Fingers in the Factories, and Distance are my favorites. Every song is listenable.