This is Mat-- and his "rush hour."

Mat's Commute from Mat Barlow on Vimeo.

The folks at Bikes Belong are AWESOME. Check out their website for some helpful resources to spread the bike love!

Someday..

Getting Xtracycle at the Local Bike Shop

I've asked the guys at a local bike shop a few times why they don't have any Xtracycles on the sales floor. "Oh, we can get them," is always the response. Yeah, SO CAN I, but people are less likely to consider it an option when browsing at the bike shop if they don't SEE it as an option at the bike shop. Another excuse was, "oh, it just doesn't make sense to people when it's not on a bike." THEN PUT IT ON A BIKE, or even better, a Big Dummy or a Radish! 

I want very much for an Xtracycle to become a common option for those looking for a commuter bike. It is very frustrating to hear these excuses, because what I'm hearing through the words and gla

nces away are, "I don't think your Xtracycle is practical or that anyone would want to buy one." And that-- that really irritates me. A serious peeve of mine is being considered "cute" or a "novelty" for getting around by bike. It perpetuates the attitude that bicycles are only recreational vehicles not real commuting vehicles. 

Why would this be SO frustrating to me? I don't work for Xtracycle. No, but having an Xtracycle has made bicycle commuting not only possible for me, but convenient and fun. I believe that it is a highly practical solution to many bicycle commuting 'problems' and if treated as such on the sales floor of a bike shop, more people would consider bicycle commuting who may not have before. 

Also, I am often asked, "where did you get it?" and I say, "online." Purchasing an unknown product that costs several hundred dollars that is not readily available to te

st ride can be a big leap for people to take. Being able to see and interact with a product on a sales floor of a familiar shop and take it for a test ride down the street-- that's more convincing. Thus, I periodically pester the bike shop to carry the Xtracycle on the sales floor. Meanwhile, I will continue to make videos of my Xtracycle because I remember what it was like when I was scratching my head and rubbing my chin over whether or not to buy an Xtracycle, and I want to make that process easier. I am also further inspired to make more videos due to the positive feedback I've received on this blog and also from the very folks at Xtracycle headquarters!! (Just wait for my upcoming video of my new KickBack kickstand!)

Also, I could go on a rave just on why Xtracycle is an awesome company! Though I'll save that for later. :) I have exhausted my soap box for this post.

If you would like to see Xtracycles at your local bicycle shop: TELL THEM!

It's usually better to act on what you want, instead of just complaining about it. ;) 

Xtracycle, pannier-compatible

Okay, so Xtracycle IS now making videos!

This one shows off their new rack system that allows you to use traditional panniers (although I find the long-bag style much more convenient!).



To see other videos by Xtracycle, click HERE!

My bicycle trailer towing bicycles!

This is my "Bikes at Work" trailer hauling FOUR bicycles (okay, two are frames), and no, they are not all mine!

This is me, and this is my bike.

Here is the text to this short video:

Hi, I'm RJ and this is my bike.

It has flat pedals so that I can wear sneakers, and fenders to keep them dry.

On my handlebars, I keep a little bag for small things, a white bike light to use at night, and an air horn, in case I need to be heard by inattentive drivers. It's REALLY LOUD.

On the back of my bike are two red bike lights and a reflective triangle that help me be seen from behind.

I also have an orange light tube that helps me be seen from the side at night.

On the back I have an Xtracycle that can hold a LOT of stuff!

...

There are some things that I always keep with me in my Xtracycle.

...

Sometimes I wear spandex when I ride my bicycle.. and, sometimes I don't.

These are bike shoes, and so are these.

These are bike gloves, and so are these.

This is a cycling jacket, and so is this.

It doesn't matter what you wear, as long as you're safe and warm.

...

...

If I can't carry something on my Xtracycle, I use my bike trailer.

...

I even ride my bike when it snows.

I just put on some studded tires.. and make sure to dress real' warm.

Now why would I do that?

Well, because all I know, is that when I ride my bicycle, I'm in a much better mood than most people in those stinky ol' cars.

Some of the products seen in this video:

• Planet Bike SuperFlash
  
• Down Low Glow
  
• Bikes at Work bicycle trailer
  
• Surly Long Haul Trucker
  
• Xtracycle
  
• Studded Tires
  
• Safety triangle
  
• Air Zounds bicycle air horn
  

And don't forget, when possible, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BICYCLE SHOP! ;)

Ann Weatherill Cycling Classic 2009

While I do not have time to be a Ride Director this year and won't be around for the event itself (I'll be touring!), I was able to contribute to the effort by designing a logo and flyer.

The Ann Weatherill Cycling Classic (also known as "the Ann Ride") remembers a local cyclist that was hit and killed while out on her bicycle. Thanks to her best friend, Debi Toews, a new law is in place in Washington state that prohibits cars from passing while there are oncoming cyclists.

The ride offers several beautiful routes through the Walla Walla valley, all ending at the historic L'Ecole No 41 school house that houses the winery of the same name. At $45, this ride is a bargain for the hospitality and amount of food (and wine!) you'll consume. Also, all funds raised go towards cycling safety in our own valley. 

Visit the website here: http://annweatherillcyclingclassic.blogspot.com/

FEELING Fast

There is a lot of incredible cycling technology these days that is designed to make you go faster. While these new developments are impressive, I think the biggest benefit to any piece of "speed equipment" is that it makes you FEEL faster. Later today I am teaching my junior boys and some of the Whitman women how to ride in a team time trial (my favorite event!!). Well, the day is beautiful and my bike was looking at me longingly, outfitted with some old friends that are my time trial bars.

So I got into my skinsuit (which I won as a gift for being the "most improved" rider on the Whitman team), buckled on my time trial helmet, and went for a spin.

WOW. I felt like I meant business.

The taste of the race.

Today, I went for a great 3 1/2 hour ride with my best friend. There were three climbs on our ride and we attacked* each other on each one, showing little mercy. I "lost" every time, by the way. I would arrive at the hill top, just recently popped**, and my friend would turn to me and beam, "that was fun!" Pant, pant, pant-- yeah. That was.

I feel like I have just licked the sharp, familiar and addicting taste of racing:

And I want more.

I initially wasn't planning on racing this spring, but I just renewed my USACycling Road license.

*An attack is a sudden acceleration to force your competitor(s) to chase you down.

**If you're "popped" you have fallen behind.

When to replace your bike shorts.

You should replace your bike shorts

BEFORE you can read the cover of a book through the spand--AHEM, I mean LYCRA, BECAUSE I'M A CYCLIST AND I KNOW WHAT TO CALL MY SHORTS :) (Thanks, bro)..

and BEFORE you can stick all 5 fingers through different holes.


The spaLYCRA! is starting to die in a lot of my shorts and cycling accessories. I can see little white elastic hairs peeking through and the elasticity is just not what it once was. On one hand, I feel proud for wearing these pieces of clothing so much that I actually wore through them. On the other hand, MAN I need to get some new spLYCRA!! Ha ha!

Superman - Off!

I told Roxy that Mia beat her Superman the other day after she left.

Of course, there had to be a SUPERMAN-OFF!

Riding (and carrying) Rollers

This morning I rode over to Whitman campus to teach Rachel, a freshman on the Whitman Cycling team, how to ride rollers. Rollers are a, uh, 'device'.. that lets you ride inside, but unlike a trainer, you aren't being held up and you have to balance on your own. They are fantastic for improving bike handling skills.




Rachel rides fairly comfortably on her bike, but she seemed ready for that "next step." 

Enter: rollers.

I did mention, though, that one of my junior riders, Phillip, managed to ride without hands on rollers during his first time on rollers. Of course, Rachel decided she had to do this too. :)

And she did great!

I love mentoring women cyclists, because there's just so much laughing involved!