Why Cyclocross?

Why Do I Cyclocross? from hank greer on Vimeo.

One of the blogs on my regular blogroll is Cycling Spokane. It's written primarily by a guy named John, whose cycling vibe I like. The steel, wool, and adventuring good times sort. And we both cycle(d) in Eastern Wa, which to me, makes us kin.

Recently, John smartly invited his friends and conspirators to blog with him. A good move, that! I especially love this video. Simply done, but neat and warm (and they are FLYIN'!! at 1:30!!). This course was also one of my FAVORITES last year. I am super bummed that I had to miss out on the cyclocross season this fall, but you can bet that my flying mount is going to be ready come September!!

"Because I think it is a very hard and fun aerobic race." THAT IS SO CUTE! Right on!!

This is You

{just a sampling} This is a compilation of many people's answers, but it's amazing how it reads as one. Love it. Thank you to all who took the survey!

This is Us

the sense of completion, surpassing boundaries

fun

picnic rides with my wife

just to take it all in

it helps to keep me sane

relieve stress

feeling good!

fun

a good ride is just something peaceful

tow the kids to the park

a great excuse to get coffee

unwind after a tough day

all my troubles melt away when I ride

roaming around

only 3 days this year in the car

the challenge, facing the elements, waking up on my way to work, getting in shape, not contributing to pollution

appreciation of the land and distance

to advocate for cyclists' rights and safety

fell in love with the bike

that's a lot of ass to be kicked

I want to know about YOU!

What types of cycling do you do and why do you do them?

Tell me!

Click Here to take survey

*Your answers may be published as an anonymous.

To further define the categories listed in the survey (per my personal, on-the-spot definition):

Competition = You train for race day.

Recreation = Clad in lycra, you go on short to long, occasionally fast rides that a racer might call training. Usually oriented around fitness while socializing. Race your buddy to the yellow sign sort of thing.

Leisure = I included this as a "slower" version of recreation. Less lycra, more coffee shop sort of thing. More likely to ride on bike paths or around town than a 50 miler up a mountain.

Transportation = You bike commute at least somewhat regularly, whether to work or around town.

Travel = Multi-day bicycle travel.

Other = You tell me!

I understand that these categories overlap, and indeed, encourage such behavior-- but in a survey ya gotta define categories somehow!

Bicycle Light Comparison

Light Comparison from Rebecca Jensen on Vimeo.

Here is a light comparison of my bike with:

1. No lights
2. Cheap lights
3. Good lights

"Cheap lights" = one red Blackburn Mars 3.0 light and a Blackburn front light that runs on AAA batteries. 

"Good lights" =  adds a Planet Bike SuperFlash to the Blackburn rear and uses a Light & Motion Stella 300 Dual (rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery) on the front. 

Other lights featured are the Planet Bike BRT Strap and an amber Down Low Glow from Rock the Bike.

Conclusions from this demo:

• Cheap lights work okay (so long as you keep feeding them batteries) front and rear, but have basically no side visibility.
• Cheap front lights drown in headlights.
• Good lights work great front and rear and provide some side visibility.
• Good lights continue to be seen even when flooded by headlights or competing with sign lights, etc.
• The Down Low Glow provides some flippin' AWESOME side-vis and a wide spot beneath you, discouraging cars from getting too close.
• Also note that I wore dark blue jeans and a black jacket for this demo. While I do own neon cycling clothing, I don't rely on it as my (only) source of visibility. It's best to have your BIKE always be visible so that you can wear whatever you fancy.

Notes on reflective parts (which I didn't include in the video, oops!):

• Reflective sidewalls on front tire (Schwalbe Marathon)
• Reflective/light-up ankle strap
• Orange reflective tape on frame
• Blue reflective "slap bracelets" on head tube
• Reflective detail on trunk bag
• Reflective rear triangle (with a dowel slid in to hold its shape)

Featured on Bike Shop Girl!

Poking around the internet, looking at bicycle things like I do, I came across:

BIKE SHOP GIRL!

Of course, I am excited about Bike Shop Girl, because it's a website for cyclin' ladies! BSG features product reviews and how-to's in a subscribe-able and searchable blog format. That's awesome.

What's also awesome, is that good ol' An Adventure Called Bicycling is listed under "Friendly Blogs."

Right back at ya' Bike Shop Girl!

Biophilia

Biophilia-- it's a love, an affiliation for nature. This includes, plant life, animal life, even weather. It's a huge part of why I ride: to simply be OUTSIDE and let the weather affect me. When it's raining, I want to FEEL that it's raining. When the autumn chill sets in, I want to FEEL that on my cheeks, my nose. I don't want to move from one seventy degree box to another, I want to step outside and sear my lungs in the wintry air.

Did you know that it is estimated that Americans spend NINETY PERCENT of their time indoors? And that lack of sunlight is linked to depression, irritability, weight gain, alcohol abuse and migraines?

In post-operative patients, those that had a view of natural surroundings spent fewer days in the hospital than those that could only see a brick wall. 

Grass and greenery has been shown to reduce domestic violence, school truancy and road rage.

Outdoor runners are less anxious and depressed than those that run inside on treadmills-- and also experience higher levels of post-run endorphins, those natural feel-good brain chemicals.

So I know that it's getting wet and chilly-- but please, put on a jacket--

and get OUTSIDE!