Google Maps: BY BICYCLE!

It has finally happened.

Now, when searching for directions on Google Maps, you can search "by bicycle." That's right. In addition to searching by car, by walking and by public transit... you can search BY BICYCLE.

And yes, this includes bicycle routes and TRAILS!

Now stop reading this post and go play on it!

http://maps.google.com

Bicycle Touring Packing List: IN REVIEW

Back in May, before my bicycle tour across the country-- this is the list I came up with. Here are my {thoughts in retrospect.}

TOPS

• 2 sports bras {could bring just one, plus a swim suit to wear while doing laundry}
  
• a synthetic shirt {SENT HOME. Replaced with a long sleeve SPF shirt which worked great to circulate air and keep me cool. Eventually cut the sleeves off when it got humid.}
  
• a thin wool shirt (cool even in hot weather) {fantastic. Would do this again, but with Smartwool or IceBreaker instead of Patagonia. The Patagonia shirt-- surprisingly-- fell apart.}
  
• a WWR jersey {brought it to publicize my sponsor. Would ride w/o a jersey next time.}
  
• ..kinda tempted to bring a tank top, too. You know-- for the tan. {If I brought it, I definitely sent it home.}
• arm skins (SPF protection and COOLS you off rather than keep you warm) {These things actually do kinda work.. but didn't need 'em once I had my SPF shirt, which was more appealing to wear anyway, as it was billowy.}
  
• arm warmers {I wear arm armers a lot in everyday riding, I don't think I used them very often during the tour, though. Debatable. Depends on other clothing items.}
  
• long sleeve wool jersey, medium weight {Worked great, though could substitute with medium weight short sleeve + arm warmers.}
  
• wind jacket {Brought a bright yellow, convertable kind. Used it a lot and draped it over my load on the rear rack for increased visibility.}
  
• rain jacket {YUP.}
  

BOTTOMS

• 3 pairs of underwear {Yup.}
  
• two pairs of cycling shorts {Yup.}
  
• gym shorts {Yup.}
  
• synthetic knickers {Did I really bring these? I think I ended up bringing long pants. Better choice. Or some convertables.}
  
• knee warmers {Yup. Sent 'em home once it got hot though, of course.}
  
• 50/50 wool/poly long john/tights {Nights can be surprisingly cold! Would bring again.}
  
• Probably not rain pants.. but MAYBE some quick-drying MUSA pants. {I don't think I brought rain pants.. }

HANDS

• shortie bike gloves {YES.}
  
• and.. a windproof? a liner AND windproof? {I brought some really basic long fingered gloves. Worked most of the time, except when wet AND descending. Will go with wool next time and a Gore Tex shell.}
  

HEAD

• helmet. duh. {Yes.}
  
• cycling cap-- keeps rain out of eyes {Or a helmet with a visor.}
  
• beanie-- keeps whole body warm and a back up for a wet cycling cap {YES.}
  
• visor > I love this visor in hot sunny weather, so it's coming! {Haha, gave it to my touring buddy when I bought a cowboy hat! Really great for cooling off when you're in a desolate stretch with no shade.}
  
• sunglasses, with a light and dark lens set {Oh definitely yes. Love my Rudy Projects.}

FEET

• 2 thin short cycling socks, hot weather
  
• 1 thin tall wool socks, cool weather
  
• 1 thicker tall wool socks, cold weather and post-rain ride {Yes on all the socks. Sent the warm ones home once it got hot.}
  
• cycling shoes {YES. I like it better to have a performance cycling shoe that's more efficient, then to take those shoes OFF at the end of the day and cool them off in something else. I don't like the one-shoe-for-both thing. Not for me.}
  
• booties {YES.}
  
• Keen sandals {Replaced them with flip flops. Will replace with Crocs for next tour. Keen's were too heavy and unnecessary. We didn't do any more walking than we needed to.}
  

COOKING

STOVE

• MSR Whisperlite
• Fuel bottle
• Matches
• {Yes to all. Also bring lighter as back up to matches. Even if they're "waterproof."}

COOKWARE

• 1 pot, 1 pan {Ended up with 2 pots, happy with that.}
• Spatula {Yes.}
• Wooden spoon {Ended up with a folding spoon.}
• Cutting knife ..and a mini-knife sharpener (I'm a snob. And I like safety.) {Didn't bring the sharpener. :) }
• Spices {At one point, we had a LOT of spices. Then we narrowed it down to what we could use most often. Only carried a few: salt, pepper, garlic, cinnamon, and one or two others.}
• Hand-sanitizer {Oh, yes.}

EATINGWARE

• Mug/bowl {My mug/bowl was one mug nestled inside another, which was handy. Plus it has measuring marks.}
• Frisbee/plate/cutting board {Used a real thin-type cutting board after questioning the food-gradeness of the frisbee.}
• Fork/spoon {Read: fork and spoon.}

CLEANING

• 1/2 sponge
• Camping Suds {Yup.}

WATER

• Iodine {Yes, good for back up! Used it once, though we ended up finding water anyway.}
• 2 small bladders (for when our water bottles aren't enough) {YES. Takes no space and no weight, it's just a no-brainier.}

ETC.

• Plastic bags {Ha-- we saved any useful looking plastic bags that we came across.}
• Cord to hang food {YES. Not just for bears-- but for raccoons, too!}

CAMPING

TENT

• 2 person tent w/ fly & tarp ground cloth {My 2-person was more like a 1-person. We were gifted a 3-person tent with MAJOR ventilation when we were halfway across.}

SLEEPING

• REI sleeping bag {20degree}, eVent compression sack {Yes.}
• Thermarest or Ridgerest pad (undecided) {Went with Ridgerest foam pad for speed and it was comfy enough for me.}
• Thermarest compressible pillow (YES, I'm BRINGING the pillow.) {And I'll bring it again!}
• Cotton liner (an old bed sheet) (This is to keep my bag from getting stinky and also for those hot nights that a sleeping bag is just too much.) {Will buy a nice silk one next time. My sheet was haphazard and heavy.}

OTHER

• Bandana {Used one as a pee rag. :) }
• Tent patch kit {Never used it, but glad I had it! Useful for patching other things besides tents.}

TOOLS

BIKE TOOLS

• 3 tire levers, patch kit 
• Mini pump
• Huge Alien multi tool that has EVERYTHING
• [except] very miniature pliers
• Lube, 1/2 blue rag, small bottle of degreaser
• {Yes to all. Definitely USED those pliers. That's a kind of leverage that's hard to come by otherwise.}

OTHER TOOLS

• Mini Leatherman {I think we used this, but we didn't really need it. We had other tools to replace it.}

SPARE PARTS etc.

• Brake and derailleur cable
• Spare tube, tire boot
• Extra bolts for rack, shoes
• Brake pads
• Zip ties
• Hoseclamp
• AAA batteries for bike lights
• {ADD: Spokes! and a Tire!}

OTHER

• Curly combo lock {Yes, we brought one each, used them both to lock our bikes to each other and to something else. Often, though-- the bikes were unlocked. Really, I'd like to see someone just TRY and ride away on a fully loaded touring bike.}
• Bungees {Yes, infinitely useful!}
• Duct tape & electrical tape wound around a pencil {Yes. We nearly used it up!}

SAFETY

VISIBILITY

• Reflective triangle {Definite YES.}
• [Wind jacket is neon yellow]
• Rear flashing light
• Front light
• {Yes & yes. Even if you don't plan to ride in the "dark," fog, rain, dusk and dawn are all low light conditions requiring lights for safety!}

SELF-DEFENSE

• Pepper spray
• {Yes. ADD: Dog spray! We never sprayed it (very nearly did a few times), but pulled it out often in Kentucky. Some dogs recognized the can and gesture and went high-tailing the other way!}

FIRST AID *all in mini-packets

• MEDS: Pepto-bismol, midol, sting relief wipe, benadryl, ibuprofen, poison ivy wipe, eye drops, Neosporin
• ROAD RASH: alocohol, iodine and saline wipes. Gauze pads and mini roll. Band aids.
• HOT/COLD: Hand warmers, chemical ice pack, icy/hot patch {Ditched the last two.}
• TOOLS: nail clippers and very pointy tweezers
• BLISTERS: mole skin
• {Used a fair number of this, would still bring all of it.}

PERSONAL

TOILETRIES

• Travel towel (super thin, light, dries fast) {Yes, but I could bring a smaller one. Mine was full size! A luxury.}
• Terry wash cloth 
• Toothbrush, toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Razor
• 'Feminine products' and a coffee bag to keep stinky ones in
• Dr.Bronners for soap/shampoo
• Butt'r chamois cream {YES! Although I would bring Belgium Budder, as it's Paraben Free.}
• Bug spray
• Sunblock, SPF chapstick
• MAYBE a lotion bar {Don't think I brought this-- or I sure didn't use it!}
• {Yes to the rest!}

DOCUMENTS

MAPS

• Adventure Cycling TransAmerica Route maps

ID

• Driver's license
• Medical and car insurance card
• A card with my medical info written on it

MONEY

• Debit card, credit card, checkbook, cash

POSTAGE

• Stamps and addresses

{Yes to all. Plus a blank notepad for writing notes, addresses, scratching out math etc.}

TECH

CAMERA

• Camera, 3 batteries, extra memory card, charger and a tiny thingy that plugs your memory card into a computer {the cord that plugs the camera to the computer would have been fine as opposed to the other plugger thingy. Although the plugger thingy worked without needing a charged battery!}
• Add: Joby! My lil' bendable tri-pod. This enabled SO many self-timed photos!

CELL PHONE

• Phone, charger -- I am NOT bringing a phone on this trip. I am letting my cell plan expire and will rely on my touring buddy's phone for emergencies. {I BROUGHT MY PHONE! Kept it off most of the time to conserve battery.}

LUXURY

BOOKS

• 1 paperback {I would bring one only if I were traveling alone. My traveling buddy was way to entertaining to need a book.}

JOURNAL &c.

..to read my "full explanation" as to why I'm bringing FOUR journals, click here. 

• A Moleskine graph journal to make charts/graphs out of our trip
• A panoramic drawing journal for landscapes
• A square drawing journal for interviews
• A mini drawing journal for everything else
• Various pencils, erasers, colored pencils, sharpener, pens

{If I were traveling alone.. MAYBE. But definitely sent these all home! I know, I know..}

OTHER

• Kite! :)  {and it never flew. We threw the frisbee once, though. Sent that home too.}

OTHER THINGS WE ADDED AND I WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL WITH:

• Rubber bands. We used these to keep food closed, etc.
• Clothes line, the kind that doesn't require any pins to use.

And there you have it! As I prepare to go on some shorter trips, I'll review what I've packed in a (somehow) more streamlined way.

Cheers!

"Women on Wheels" Report

That's ma' table!

Last Thursday night, I hosted a slice of table at Gregg's Cycles WOMEN ON WHEELS event-- which drew hundreds of women!

I had a fantastic time, because I set up my table with information about my summer bicycle tour and Adventure Cycling Association-- so I got to talk touring all night. I don't work for ACA, but I am very eager to talk about their work! This is the organization that not only established the most 'classic' route across the U.S. in 1976, but they continue to publish thousands of miles of top-quality touring maps AND publish a magazine AND a cyclists' yellow pages AND does a ton of advocacy, including pushing hard for a nation-wide Bicycle Route System. AND, if you use their maps, it will tell you when there is 60 miles ahead with no water. Isn't that awesome?

Anyhow-- I got to not only talk touring, but listen. I met some incredible ladies who have been on, or about to go on, some really terrific adventures. We were just rainin' insp'ration!

Including Mercedes! Shimano's northwest rep. She's ridden from Alaska to the Mexican border AND, on another occasion, in one crazy zig zag all over the U.S.

Hi Mercedes! (She actually has a forearm, she was just wavin' real' fast. :) )

Ellen was there to give mechanical advice, woman-to-woman.

And Sally Edwards was there! The famed triathlete, who motivates women everywhere. I was glued to my table, though, so I never met her-- but I didn't really mind, because I was having a great time.

I liked this shot of the band and the bikes in the same photograph.

These "Ladies' Night" events are happening all over the U.S.-- is there one near you?

Randonneuring

Brevet? Populaire? Audax?

Randonneuring. I am trying to decipher it-- AND to pronounce it! (It's French.)

Previously, all I knew of randonneuring was that it involved riding a very long way and that randonneuring bicycles usually sported one of those tiny front racks to support a big, boxy canvas handlebar bag. And matching frame pumps. All randonneurs must have a matching frame pump.

And check it out, a quick Google Image Search got me this picture: 

Obviously, they are missing their matching frame pump (which are AWESOME, don't get me wrong!). But I wanted to find out-- what is randonneuring, REALLY?

I discovered the Seattle International Randdoneurs. Or rather, I have discovered their website and web crawled over nearly every inch of it. So my renewed impression of randonneuring is this: WHY HAVEN'T I BEEN DOING THIS?!

Randonneuring is something in-between a race and a tour. It's not competitive,

 per se, but there is a time cut (if you want a pretty medal). And you're not carrying 50 pounds of gear so that you can spend the night, but you are equipped with a light load so as to be self-sufficient. As the S.I.R web site puts it: 

Participation in randonneuring events is part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy. Friendly camaraderie and perseverance are the hallmarks of randonneuring.

And if that didn't sound inviting enough, try this:

Meet the randonneurs: riders who enjoy riding so much they don't want to stop. Randonneurs ride long distances, on beautiful courses, with nice people. The rides are unsupported, so you carry what you need or buy it along the way. (But usually, somebody in a car is on the course and makes sure everybody is OK.) Our events usually draw a few dozen people, and we are a friendly bunch, so you'll make friends in no time.

So.. Randonneuring, as I understand it.. means riding a long way, with fun people, in beautiful places, and occasionally getting a medal for it.

Sign me up!

No, seriously. SIGN ME UP. I'll see ya at the Bellingham 200!

Under Biking

Here is an interesting post on under-biking. Under-biking, as I've interpreted it, is basically riding "less bike" in rough conditions. In other words, riding some kind of road-touring-cyclocross bike on dirt rather than "over-biking" with full suspension on tame gravel roads.

Interesting to know that one of my favorite activities has a name, even a following! I lived in Walla Walla, WA for 6 years, four of those years attending Whitman College and racing for the Whitman College Cycling Team. Walla Walla is home to, I believe, some of the best road riding in the country. It's an endless maze of quiet, rolling country roads (and some good climbs, should you ride far enough) in every direction and it only ever takes 5 minutes to get out of town. Perfect. 

So I would ride, ride, ride around Walla Walla-- picking up new roads, collecting them like tokens, in a push to "collect them all." Once I ran out of paved roads-- naturally, I would need to collect the rocky kind. Without second-guessing, I would point my 23mm tires onto dirt and go. What I had was a BIKE and bikes are-a-made for ridin'! It never occurred to me that I "shouldn't" or "couldn't" ride my "road racing bike" (the only bike I had) (wow.. there was a day when I had only one bike?? anyway..) on fire road. I just did it-- and it was GREAT fun!

Sure, I slipped and swam-- fishtailing through the deep gravel, bumping over the big rocks. But that was the fun! Whereas on the road, I let my mind wander-- on the gravel, I had to FOCUS. Going uphill required finesse to keep the tire from slipping, going down demanded an understanding that brakes are not always the answer-- and often a yelp in frightened glee.

But this is, "under-biking" you say? Fabulous. Sounds good to me!

Post Seattle Bike Swap

Today I went to the Seattle Bike Swap for the first time! I was there as a vendor, so I wasn't able to get around much to see what people were selling-- good thing, because I was there to SELL things, not buy them! 

Nevertheless, it's just a fascinating jumble. I did a quick lap with my camera before the doors opened.. and I mean QUICK! Other vendors were already inquiring us about prices!

Our booth

Lots of vintage

Lots of frames

Some new stuff

Lightly used stuff

And more vintage

Parts, Brooks, vintage

S-Works Helmets

and Pugs.

It wasn't ALL vintage, as my photos may suggest-- though there certainly was a LOT of that!-- you could also find some seriously pro carbon fiber parts and frames, new clothing and more. 

Vendor spaces sold out before the early bird deadline and the place was quite difficult to walk through when at its fullest-- it's a wonder that it's not housed in a bigger warehouse!

I would love to be at the meet as a window shopper-- much in the way that it's fun to visit the antique store with no intent to buy anything. Just looking, admiring, then falling in love with something and talking yourself out of it. As a vendor, I was happy to make some cash, but even happier to get my unused gear into hands that will use them.

Oh, and to my relief.. I made the amount of cash I was shooting for.. without selling my trailer. :) I like that trailer. I need to go find something to haul!

Analyzing Bicycling's 2010 Buyer's Guide

This is the table of contents for the April, 2010 issue of Bicycling, The 2010 Buyer's Guide:

I've color-coded (shoulda done it on Photoshop, for that handy ctrl+z function, 'cuz I kinda goofed it up, but ah well..) it for you to show how many pages are spent on each category of bicycle. Granted, I realize that Bicycling has a target audience and most Bicycling covers that I can recall showcase someone who is obviously a model and not a cyclist, on a shiny road bike, in shiny clothes, photoshopped onto a fictional landscape. While that is understood-- I will commence my analysis.

Categories include: 

DREAM: all road bikes. Because the only people dreaming about bikes are roadies.

RACE: and the only people who race are roadies.

PLUSH: what most recreational or enthusiast roadies should be on. A bike that's fast, but easier on the body. No human pretzels.

ENTHUSIAST: Oh, they made a separate category for this. These are actually race bikes, but Bicycling didn't get to say enough in the first "race" category, so they added this one.

RECREATIONAL: I expected to see some cheaper plush bikes, but more race steeds here. Not sure what's going on.

ENTRY-LEVEL: Everything listed above-- just cheaper. Can't get enough of the road!

TRI & TIME TRIAL: Another division of on-road racing.

Then we hit TOURING. Don't blink, it only gets 1 page. Happily, Rivendell-- true artists of steel steeds-- gets recognized for their Betty Foy (mixte touring) and Sam Hillborne. No sign of the Trek 520 or a Surly LHT-- the two most common (and high value) bikes you'll see on a bike route!

WOMEN'S ROAD & TRI: because sadly, high-end bikes usually don't have a women's equivalent-- so we need another category to point out those companies that DO offer an equivalent. Like a SPECIALIZED S-WORKS AMIRA ($7,200) in a *women's race fit*. GOOD WORK, SPECIALIZED!! Although Trek does offer the $8,600 Madone 6.9.. but in a basic women's fit, no "women's race" fit from them yet . Basically, what I'm sayin' is that the brand that offers the most expensive women's race bike (IN A TASTEFUL COLOR) is likely to win me over. So go ahead-- duke it out.

Then we foray into MOUNTAIN in only 3 (+women's) categories that stick to lighter duty riding: XC & TRAIL, RECREATIONAL, ALL-MOUNTAIN & WOMEN'S. Understandable, as those riding a Demo probably aren't reading this magazine. Also wondering: when will "women's" just be included in all the categories, instead of a microscopic category of its own? Presumably, it is suggested that everything else is "men's" if "women's" is separated out.

THEN, this is interesting.. we get the "ALTERNATIVE" category. Alternative?? Wow, so I thought that the obvious dominance of road bikes in the 2010 Buyer's Guide would be enough to suggest that Bicycling promotes road bikes as the "norm" and all else as "not the norm," but they went ahead and literally called the "rest" of bikes "alternative." Interesting. Additionally, it's interesting to see what gets clumped together under "Alternative": CITY, CYCLOCROSS, TRACK, TRAVEL, KIDS, TANDEM. All very, very different bicycles. 

So, what does this suggest?

• Does it suggest, simply-- that Bicycling has a target audience of roadies and caters to them?
• Do roadies TRULY make up the bulk of the cycling market? I think we sell as many, or more, flat-bar 'recreational-city-commute-bike-path' bikes as plush road bikes for STP riders (a 200 mile, 1 or 2 day ride) at Gregg's Cycles.

And all this, leads me to this question:

• Do we only PERCEIVE roadies to dominate the U.S. cycling population due to media portrayal?

So you've made it through my candid, wandering, asides-aplenty review of a table of contents..

what are your thoughts?

New Disco Shoes

New Shoe(s)

I like wearing stuff out. Not prematurely, of course-- but over a sensible course of time. What I hate is having something shiny and new and watching it sit in the closet or garage, still shiny and new. I don't like having gear that I don't or won't use the heck out of. So it was with both reluctance and pride that I bought new shoes. The tread had worn low, the velcro stuck weakly and finally-- I blew out a hole in the toe (so THAT'S why my left toes were numb!). The hole was the tipping point-- and now I got new dancin' shoes! Seriously, I could hit the disco in these-- look how shiny!

Oh, and I got to see these guys on my ride today!:

The big one just looked at me. Little guy did all the barking.

Seattle Bike Swap!

THIS Saturday is the Seattle Bike Swap. I have never been to the Swap, but I have heard a number of stories. I've heard about obviously stolen bikes being parted out right on the floor; people carrying bundles of cash to drop it on piles of carbon fiber; people buying goods at one booth only to go back to their own booth and try to sell it for more..

I am guessing that these are the 'unusual' stories that get passed around so much that it sounds like the norm. But I admit-- I am very curious as to what the 'scene' will be. Cyclists can be a really eclectic crowd. I imagine people will be looking for obscure vintage Campy parts, frames to build up as fixed gear, shiny carbon fiber things, commuter accessories and more.

And *I* will be there, selling some of my own goods, including:

The trailer. And the Raleigh mtn bike I used to tow it.

Yes, this trailer has served me well. I moved out of an apartment using it. I used it regularly to haul bikes for work.

And I even turned it into a pirate ship for our "Bikes and Buses are Beautiful" group in the Walla Walla Parade.

Unfortunately, my current living situation does not lend to using this trailer very much or at all-- and while I would like to use it again in the future, I am trying to slim down on my possessions. Use it or lose it. I'd rather this trailer be used, loved and appreciated than stuck in a garage.

Wow, didn't think someone could get so sentimental about a trailer, eh?

Oh, and caveat: the trailer won't actually be IN the booth-- as we get a tiny, tiny booth. I'll have a photo posted and the trailer will be in a vehicle in the parking lot.

TravelingTwo

Thanks to my dedicated following of the Adventure Cycling blog, I discovered yet another fantastic cycle touring resource: "Traveling Two."

Traveling Two is both neatly organized, yet a fascinating tangle that's fun to explore. There are basic how-to articles targeted at first-time touring cyclists, yet experienced touring cyclists may pick up a neat tip or two or just smile smugly at confirmation of their smart tour techniques. Mixed in, you'll find fuel for inspiration by means of interviews with touring cyclists of unique or epic character and circumstance. For instance, I was happy to find an article that highlighted a family of 5 riding to Alaska on one bike! On our summer bike tour on the TransAm, we actually crossed paths with these folks (we heard stories and saw their sign-ins in various journals), but never actually got to meet them. We also heard about a man on a handcycle, towing his wheelchair behind him. Has anyone come across his journal?

While I will continue to provide my angle on tips and how-tos-- as there are so many ways to bike tour-- visit Traveling Two for a rich deposit of advice and inspiration!

If you don't already, I also recommend spending time with the Adventure Cycling map of all routes (it's a pdf download). It always gets me dreamin' and schemin'.

Bicycle Handlebar Map Holder Review

This little accessory has made both my mountain and road rides so much better.

I'm still getting to know the area I'm living in-- both on and off-road. So, okay-- the basic thing to do would be stuff a map in my jersey pocket or Camelbak. But what if you REALLY don't know the area? And have to stop a LOT? When mountain biking, I can stop as frequently as every half-mile to check which way to go at an intersection. When road riding, I can keep turn-by-turn directions readily available and check the map less frequently.

This is what it looks like when folded up. The small clear panel on the front is perfect for brief turn-by-turn directions. Unfortunately, it is just big enough that the lower corners brush my legs when I stand up to pedal.

Unfold it once to reveal the perfect spot for a phone or some cash.

Unfold again to reveal your 8.5 x 11 inch map.

I pretty much love this map holder.

The only downsides:

• The placement and size cause the corners of the bag to brush my legs when I stand up to pedal.
• Not totally waterproof. I was on a wet ride when water basically soaked through the bottom in a few spots. I'll spray it with some waterproofing liquid and it should be good.

Available:

• Online at Adventure Cycling's online store, or
• At Gregg's Cycle in Seattle, Bellevue or Lynnwood, WA. (I work at the Bellevue location).

Bike Mirror Review

This is the best bike mirror in the world.

Didn't know that one could be so passionate about a mirror, did you? Well-- I've been through a number of mirrors and THIS is the one I took on my summer tour (across the U.S.) and this is the one I will put on every bike that needs a mirror.

Initially I ended up with this mirror because it was pretty much the only one that would work with drop handlebars with bar-end shifters. I also liked how the mirror extended away from the bike. I've found that mirrors that are too close to the bike make me squirm on my bike in order to see what I want to see-- and what I get to see isn't that much in the first place, because the mirror is tryin' to be all small-like so that I don't ram into it with my knees.. which I manage to do anyway. That said, I've met people who swear by the road bar-end mirror (see photo, right).

I've also tried one of those super sexy mirrors that you stick to your helmet. In all fairness, I did not gi

ve it much of a chance before tearing it off my head. It's like-- if you were watching tv, and it's your favorite program-- but there is this GIANT BEETLE crawling all over it! AHH!! GET OFF! GO AWAY! I'M TRYING TO WATCH 30 ROCK! Except the tv program is your bike ride, of course. That said, I know people 

who swear by this little guy too (see photo, left). I just don't like tilting my head all funny like that gold robot guy from Star Wars, changing my focus and well, looking geeky. 

I can't say that I've ever tried the mirror-inside-the-sunglass thing-- but I've pretty much ruled it out, as I don't always wear my sunglasses (or the same lenses, anyway) on my bike. And again-- bug on the tv screen. No, thank you.

And recently, I've even tried this guy on my road bike with STI shifters (common modern shifter; the shifting is integrated into the

 brake lever unit, instead of being on the bar-end like on my touring bike). Initially, I was pretty stoked-- because I thought I'd be able to take the mirror on and off fairly easily for s

witching between commuter and race mode. While that bit may have been true-- what I hadn't anticipated is that the mirror rattles like mad! AHHH! Maybe it's because it's on a bike with 23mm tires (skinny!) running at least 100psi (hard!). But that's my set up on that bike-- so this mirror became a dud. Drats!

So back to the best mirror in the world. Great things about the mirror:

• It's big enough to actually see something.
• It mounts away from the bike, so all you have to do is glance (not squirm or tilt your head) to see what you want to see.
• It is mountable on top of bar tape, so it does not rattle and make your view blurry.
• It is always there-- doesn't rely on wearing a certain helmet or pair of sunglasses.
• Compatible with just about any bike set up.

Only downsides:

• This summer, while on tour, we did find that we had to continually retighten the clamp as it would slowly loosen and move around. However, I've had it for several months on fresh bar tape (not two layers of bar tape like this summer) and have never had to reset it.

Other tips:

• I have my mirror mounted at the very end of my bar. It doesn't really get in my way and I like the view it gives me. My touring buddy ended up moving hers further up the bar and liked the view better and didn't find that it got in her way too badly. So play around with your mounting spot.

Buy it:

• You can buy this mirror online at Adventure Cycling's online store, or
• Buy it at Gregg's Cycle in Seattle, Bellevue or Lynnwood, WA. (I work at the Bellevue location.)