So, You Got a Carbon Bike?

Point 4 Illustrated

It happens to a lot of people nowadays. Even Wally World sells carbon bikes, so they are definitely mainstream. Now your objective is to get the best value out of it. Most of this is evident from past posts in this series. For my reader that has read all of this series, this is review - except for #4.

#1 – DON’T put the bike in situations where stuff gets banged. Make sure your front derailleur won’t throw the chain into the chainstay and damage it. When you lock the bike, avoid throwing a heavy, uncoated, metal locking chain against the frame. Be doubly careful if you are one of those people that carry your bike around on a car. I have noticed that my bikes are MOST likely to get damaged when either loaded into or unloaded from a motor vehicle. Your first line of defense is to avoid impacts that might cause substantial weakening of the carbon – weakening that may not be readily visible. This approach has the side benefit of keeping your bike’s paint nice, and looking much better than a bike you just toss around. If you are going to bang a bike up, steel is the best material choice.

#2 – KEEP the bike clean and dry. A clean and dry bike gives galvanic action little opportunity to eat up the metal bits. The simple act of cleaning causes you to look at things more frequently and closely, noticing possible problems before something collapses on you. I’m not suggesting you avoid riding such a bike in the rain, and through mud, but avoid the old horse problem of “ridden hard and put up wet.” It is LONG TERM wet and dirt that is the killer. You have a large investment in that carbon bike. Wipe it down when you put it away, and don’t store it in a humid swimming pool maintenance shed.

#3 – PROTECT the bike from UV. Store it somewhere where it won’t experience the daily sun damage that causes paint on old cars to fail. If you want to go even a bit further, wax the bike occasionally. Wax has UV resistant agents so it’ll help keep that carbon like new, as well as making the bike easier to keep clean and dry.

#4 – SHOW SELF RESTRAINT*. The whole point of having a carbon bike in the first place is to enjoy an unusually spirited, lightweight ride. Your carbon bike should be kept that way as much as possible. Racks and fenders, and all the other paraphernalia you might want to load a utility bike down with should be kept AWAY from your carbon bike. There is a REASON that Dutch bikes are not made from Carbon. More often than not, utility bikes even dispense with things like carbon forks. Keep your carbon bike pure, and light, and fun.

* This is one item in which I’m not really following my own advice when it comes to Buddy. Buddy’s frame is mostly aluminum, but Buddy has a carbon fork, seat stays, seatpost, a carbon crank, and a carbon front wheel hub. Buddy also (for the moment) has a rear rack and trunk, and fenders. I’d have been better off with a low end Tricross with none of the add-ons. HOWEVER, it’s now getting to the warm season and all that stuff will be coming OFF of Buddy soon. It COULD have been worse, however. I notice the 2010 Tricross S-Works all-carbon frame has now got rear rack mounts, so you’ll have the opportunity to load up your $6000 racing bike until it’s heavier than the $1000 version if you so desire.

Follow Up Report on Yetiness

Back here, in March, I made a report on the 20 minutes it really took to get across the basic points regarding safely operating in traffic in a vehicular manner. The cyclist, we'll call her "Linda A," has now been riding this way for better than a month. Following is her follow-up report, in her own words:

Okay, here is my report on a convert to vehicular bicycling. Is that what it is called? Anyway,

I notice that when I actually drive, er, I mean ride like a bonafide vehicle on my bike the cars actually move out of my way. I feel safer, kind of. I still have fears of getting rear-ended, but those are offset by no longer fearing getting broadsided by some car coming from my right out of a side street as I'm cycling in the glass and dirt-filled gutter, er, I mean bike lane.

I learned to ride my bike in the traditional ways, way back when Seattle was a sleepy town and traffic was reasonable. On the side of the road. What I've noticed since I've gone vehicular is that when I am actively doing it I am much more alert. When I slip into the other mode I kind of space out. In my younger days I actually rode into more than a few parked cars, and collided once with someone's car door as they opened it up on me while I was riding down University Way, along the side of course.

I have to relay one experience; the other day I was riding vehicular, fully occupying the lane and feeling much more on top of things when a truck passed me, and the passenger yelled something very nasty out the window at me. I didn't feel defensive or angry. I actually felt calm and in charge because I knew I was doing the right thing and following the rules. At the stop light I caught up with the truck, and then passed him later. The passenger never yelled anything more, and there was no incident. I think it was because they realized I was not a problem or threat -- simply trying to get somewhere just like them, and not taking that much longer either!

So, we will see as time progresses. But I love being able to make my left hand turns more easily, and I feel a lot less like I am in traffic limbo. I also have more control over avoiding potholes, and my tires will probably last longer not being in the bike lane where all the road grit and broken glass accumulates.

So that is it for now. I'll keep you posted. Thanks Steve, I think it really has helped.


Linda
 
SO, what's this about these collisions? HMM? I must say I admire the restraint "Linda A" showed in her experience with the truck. I'm working on dealing with rude drivers pleasantly (even THEY are my motorists), but the rare rude motorist still riles me up a bit, even though I KNOW the rude ones are outnumbered a thousand to one. Overall, I think this supports the hypothesis that cycling CAN be fun and safe! And yes, those tires WILL last longer. One of my Contis is now closing in on 5000miles.

BTW, Linda, I had a close call on Admiral Way in Seattle back in 1974. A car shot out of a driveway. Today, I'd have a lot more time to react and the motorist would be more likely to SEE me before darting out into the street.

Eyes of a Motorist

Even Standing on the Corner, I Couldn't See Those Eyes!

I frequently see cyclists advised to “make eye contact” with motorists. I also see cyclists relate stories of a collision that occurs immediately after “the motorist looked straight at me.” Personally, I think “eye contact” advice is in the pretty useless category. Collisions occur because two objects have a course that intersects a given point at the same instant. Should such a situation occur, whether the two parties are making eye contact is irrelevant.

Considered carefully, this would seem to be pretty obvious. All good road users look at LOTS of different things as they proceed down any road. We look at the car ahead, we do head checks and mirror checks. We scan the side streets and the occupancy status of parked cars. There is a lot going on, and it behooves us to be aware to be safe. When I took driver’s ed, I was taught to keep my eyes MOVING.

Because there is a lot going on, IMHO, one should not depend on the results of an apparent “eye contact” as a primary indication of what a motorist intends to do next, and especially not if you are moving along the road when this “eye contact” occurs. Certainly, I try to pay attention to what the eyes and heads of motorists that may affect me are doing, but I find it is usually only one indicator, among many, of what the motorist is going to do. When it’s dark, or I’m moving quickly, it is not usually even that. If I were to come up with my own oversimplified advice, I’d say “watch the wheels.” It’s much easier to tell if a car’s wheels are turning and moving, than to glean similarly useful information from a motorist’s glance. Best, of course, is to look at the total situation, and adjust your actions to protect against possible choices that can put you or your motorist at risk.

PS: Had I actually been riding, instead of standing and taking photos, this might have been a situation in which a "Quick Turn" might have come in handy. "Quick Turns" are a skill which can be acquired in Traffic 101, but which isn't used in daily riding. You might never need to make one on the road, but it is a skill that might save your life. I periodically practice "Quick Turns" in an empty parking lot.

Request to Change

Unusually, I received a request to change an old post. Even MORE unusually, I received the request from a third party. Even more unusually yet, I got a comment on that older post from a different party than any noted above within a day of the request. I take such requests seriously. The update may be found here. All those involved should note my frequent notes that I, myself, am not an advocate. I ride my bike - from point to point, and I relate my personal experiences for those that might benefit. The chips fall where they will...

Cheesing on ChipSeal!

Somewhat puckishly, ChipSeal inquires: "Hey Steve, Should I wear my earphones to Traffic Skills 101?"

I replied: "Yes, but keep them hidden!"

I must confess that even I have curiosity about how Chip does making emergency stops.

Details here. If I get the chance, I need to take the road bike for a shakedown cruise anyway and will be sure to take photographic equipment along...

NOTE TO GAIL: Search the guy!

Earth Day Thoughts

So, you felt GOOD about riding your bike to work today? Go HERE for another perspective. Myself, I'm not quite ready to play Russian Roulette with five cylinders loaded, nor to go shopping for a Hummer at their "going out of business" sale. Just go ride your bike for the sheer GLORY of it, and remember that the rest is minor...

The "E" for the Transportation Cyclist

I occasionally read about a bad experience a cyclist, or someone the cyclist knows, had out on a road. It is often coupled with a stated desire for infrastructure (the ENGINEERING "E"), or for motorsts and/or police to undergo training of some sort or other (ENFORCEMENT and EQUALITY "E"), or just for there to be less cars on the road and more cyclists (ENCOURAGEMENT "E"). I'm sure these are all fine things, though we might disagree on some particulars. Still, if you are a transportation cyclist, and have to go somewhere today, none of that matters.

When you next ride to work, the motorists aren't going to be any smarter or more civil than however they are. Bike lanes or paths will either be on your route or not. Even the police will be how they are. Sure, advocacy may help all of these things in the long run, but day-to-day, you're on your own. In reality, the ONLY THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOURSELF IS TO RIDE BETTER AND SMARTER. That is true whether you are new to a bike or have been riding for decades. A recreational cyclist can drive his/her bike to somewhere to ride it, but I work where I work and live where I live. It's why EDUCATION is the only really USEFUL "E" for the transportation cyclist in the here and now.

Snow skiing is seriously dangerous compared to cycling. Unlike non-race cycling, skiing is VERY education oriented. Skillful skiers come back more and get hurt less. Why would we think it ought to be any different for bikes?

It's not hard to ride a bike. Even done without skill or care, it's pretty safe. If you doubt it, watch people go by on bikes almost any place. They'll ride the wrong way, shoot down sidewalks, run lights, and worse, and STILL only around eight hundred a year get killed in North America, compared to the 40000+ that die in cars. Regardless, improving YOUR OWN skill is the only way you can affect tomorrow's ride and keep yourself safer. Is it any wonder why I go blathering off about bike school? I make mistakes every time I ride to work. On rare occasions, I blog about some of those mistakes, particularly if I think they may be amusing to my dear reader, or if I think it might help someone avoid an uncomfortable or dangerous situation.

If BikeDFW offers a commuter cycling class, I'll take it. If they offer a Traffic 201 course, I'll take THAT. If Richard or Gail have opinions about my four unanswered bike school questions, I'll listen carefully. Ditto for the frequent tidbits I pick up from fine comments I've seen on this and other blogs.

Problem

Cafiend started the ephiphany. He mentioned a "Travel Agent." It just so happens I have a "Travel Agent," complete with a barrel adjuster. I didn't buy it for Buddy's V Brake, but instead so I could use a bar end shifter to shift my internal gear hub on Frankenbike.

It began a process that revealed that I have gradually been accumulating a LOT of small bike stuff. Lights, fenders, mittens and gloves, and other accumulations that totally obscure the air hockey table surface from view. As a matter of fact, there is just about everything bikish on the table EXCEPT for that durn "Travel Agent."

As in alcoholics, the first step is to admit one has a problem. So, where IS that Travel Agent? Yup, I've got a problem. AT LEAST I found that other set of antirotation washers and my unused iTunes gift card.

AHA, it was quietly hiding away in the bike stuff annex. As proof, see below. For those of you that have no idea what a Travel Agent does, it doubles the cable pull you can get with a set of bar end shifters so that the cable pull matches what the internal gear hub is expecting. Alternately, it doubles the cable pull from a set of really lovely OEM SRAM Rival Carbon Brifters so that you can set the brakes to a position in between "never on" and "always on." As Cafiend hints, but is too much of a gentleman to outright say, one wonders what in the heck Specialized was thinking about when they sold the Tricross with underengineered brakes. They even sold it on the SWorks version of the Tricross. $5k for a racing bike without practical brakes. Maybe they figured people wouldn't NEED brakes on the Tricross since the mud pit will slow us down. Whew! So now I've got A Travel Agent, but I might need as many as three...

Travel Agent by QBP. The cable wraps around the little pulley and then doubles its travel by going around the big one.

Yup, its even got a barrel adjuster!

BTW, my LBS didn't know what a Travel Agent was either, but they ordered one up for me!

Fort Worth Buffalo Report

I saw the buffalo out in the pasture next to Cabela's this morning for the first time in a couple of weeks. No new calves yet!

B is for Brakes

There truly is harmony and psychic unity – sort of – in the narrow world of blogs that talk about bikes and cycling. On Tuesday, Lizzylou talked about stopping without using brake pads. The same day, Rantwick decided to ride his fixed gear to work without any brakes at all. Ironically, on Monday, I had my own braking experience and it wasn’t pretty.

V Brakes on a Cross Bike are Powerful - and Touchy. For its Second Set of Pads, Buddy Uses Kool-Stop Salmon "Thinline."
We Shall See How THEY Last. The OEM Pads Went 3400 Miles, I Don't Jump Off My Bike at Stops to Stretch Their Life.

In bike school, they talk about “ABC Quick Check.” The “B” Means you are supposed to check your brakes – as in you don’t want to go zooming off, only to discover at the bottom of the first hill that they aren’t working right. Well, that’s a good principle, and one I subscribe to. As a matter of fact, I’d just adjusted Buddy’s touchy V brakes. In bike school, they tell you that with full brake application, there should be two fingers’ worth of clearance between the lever and the bar. With Buddy, full application with freshly adjusted brakes is at most one finger, and I wind up adjusting brake pads once every month or two. I suspect that Specialized reached the same conclusion about V brakes on cyclocross bikes, since they have now returned to traditional canti brakes.

Anyway, as soon as I got on the bike Monday, I knew something was amiss. A brake was dragging – not a whole bunch, but it was definitely dragging. The front brake - the wheel dragged a little when I spun it. My first thought was to roll back in the house and either adjust it or drive in. Sometimes we should go with first thoughts. My second thought was that the drag wasn’t all that bad and would get better with time. Plus, I had a tailwind. That seemed reasonable for the first couple of miles. However, as I went on, I noticed that speed fell off a good 5 mph from typical. What’s more, when I finally got in to work, twenty minutes slower than usual, I felt tired, a bit “down,” and a couple of people wondered why I looked flushed.

Going home, it all came together. A dragging brake AND a headwind. It was a SLOW trip home. I even got off the bike and walked up a couple of the hills. That isn’t something I ever do. I kept thinking – "I feel a little ill and that’s partly why I’m going so slow." In the final analysis, it took 40 minutes longer than usual to get home.

The moral of this little lesson is that it isn’t enough just to CHECK, you actually want to ACT based on the results of the check. The OTHER moral is that, while cycling may be fun and safe, it’s MORE fun if you don’t ride around with a brake applied all the time. It is also an argument in favor of barrel adjustors, which the Tricross lacks. As a matter of fact, there WILL be some modifications made to those brakes next time I have to change out brake cables. If I get really irritated at the things, I may even go as far as changing them out for canti brakes.

Good Brakes Don't Keep You From Adjusting Them Too Tight!

Like Sands Through the Hourglass...

Days of Our Lives TV Logo

"Like sands through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives." I never got hooked on that particular show. I did see a lot of "General Hospital" for about a year or two after I spent some time at home on medical with not enough to keep me occupied. I still remember Luke & Laura's wedding.

But, this post isn't about soap operas, it's because this week I hit one year in my new commute. Hence the title and the "days."

April 15, 2009 marked my first bike commute to our new workplace at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. I wrote a series on the new commute, here. Since then, a lot has happened. I wore out a set of cycling shoes, tires and brake pads, and will be replacing Buddy’s chain sometime this summer. I’ve spent money on commuter stuff such as racks and fenders, and will probably spend more before I’m done. My route has evolved; adapting to the seasons, wind and weather, coffee places, and traffic, to better optimize the combination of “getting there” while minimizing traffic conflicts. Frankly, I don’t LIKE getting harassed, and mostly my motorists, whether they are driving hybrids, Concrete trucks, or 18 wheelers, are as courteous and cooperative as one could ask for.

Some of the new commute hasn’t been very pretty. It has reduced the miles I ride recreationally. A couple of times, it got a little scary. Once, here, it hurt, but mostly it’s been great. I DO wish it were shorter. It’s sometimes hard to roll out of bed at 5AM and ride for over an hour before dawn, but all in all, I’m looking forward to keeping on keeping on. As Dorothy said, in The Wizard of OZ, "mostly it was beautiful." And a lot of it got caught on this blog so it'll be doubly easy to remember in the years to come. Cycling truly IS fun and safe (just stay off wooden MUP bridge decks!)

Now, I'm looking forward to the first new buffalo calves of Spring!

Yup, I had an "accident" last year. See below.

I still ride this path, but avoid this bridge when it's wet. It's a mile or so long. It SEEMS safe, and is relaxing.

Viewed objectively, by incidents per mile, it is MUCH more dangerous than any road I ride

One-day Traffic Skills 101 cycling course on April 25th

I HIGHLY recommend this course. It cannot hurt your ability to get around, and might well help. You may want bike infrastructure everywhere, or motorists to be more polite, but your OWN abilities and understanding are the ONE thing you can really do anything about in the short run. Show your family you care! What's more, UNLIKE the course I took, you don't have to sit through a full day of lecture before you get out on the bike. While my teachers were great, lectures are STILL boring! Boring for the teachers, too.

The new 1-day version of the Traffic Skills 101 course will be taught in North Dallas on April 25, 2010. This is a great way to learn how to ride safely and comfortably on city streets... or just about anywhere!


Date: April 25, 2010
Time: 9 AM
Location: Jewish Community Center, 7900 Northaven Road, Dallas , TX 75087
Registration Fee: $50.00

Description:
The classroom portion of this course is taken online, whenever it is convenient for you, but must be completed by April 23, 2010. Instructions for completing the online portion will be as soon as we receive your registration.

The on-bike skills portion of the course (parking lot drills and road cycling) will be conducted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 by League Certified Instructors. We will ride to a lunch spot.

Required equipment: helmet, bicycle, water bottle and water, spare tube, tire levers, lunch money.

Register at the BikeDFW web site
For more information contact:

Richard Wharton
Phone: 214-616-9850
Email: rwharton@onlinebikecoach.com

Dorothy, Illustrating Why the Water Bottle on the Down Tube is Less Graceful Than on the Seat Tube

It's less Natural Pulling the Bottle Out AWAY From Your Body Than UP Towards It

ANOTHER Carbon Digression

Campagnolo - 0.67oz to carry water that weighs 24 oz
What Would Tullio Say About This?

For THIS one, you can blame a possibly innocent observation by Lizzylou. Said she, "I find it interesting that when placing a solitary bottle cage you chose the seat tube instead of the down tube."
This set off a chain of events. My loyal reader may recall that I have posted on the danger aspects of water bottles, here. Many more will recall that I have an ongoing "carbon" series. In reality, what Lizzylou SHOULD have asked was "I find it interesting that when placing a solitary bottle cage, you chose the seat tube instead of the down tube, and your cage isn't made out of CARBON!" Opportunity missed!

Bontrager Plastic Cage on a Cannondale
Just over an oz and all-plastic With Places
I Could Remove Weight
Bontrager and Cannondale - Does
that Combo Corrode?
Well, she's got a point. It is more or less traditional that solitary water bottle cages are mounted on the down tube. What's more, I actually mounted my own ones that way at one time, but they just seem to work better for me when mounted on the seat tube. What's more, I only mount one, because that is enough water to go between Starbucks stops under any conceivable weather conditions (for those NOT experienced in such things, Starbucks offers free cups of ice water. Those cups are triple filtered, and the Venti size is PERFECT to fill up a 24 oz water bottle, and will last at LEAST until the next Starbucks - what's more, Starbucks do NOT usually have bike racks so you need not feel guilty walking your bike in with you - I've checked! You should, however, check at your own local Starbucks ahead of time since we ALL know what "assume" stands for). The only time I will mount TWO water bottle holders when I next run in the "Hotter 'n Hell 100" and even then I'll only carry one water bottle. The second holder will be reserved for picking up a sweet bottle that has been discarded along the way by some rider. Last year, I was AMAZED at the variety of bottles along the way, but didn't want to carry one a long way in my jersey pocket. One interesting aside - my Tricross has also got mounting points on the BOTTOM side of the down tube. I haven't, to this date come up with anything I'd really want to have to clean off from the escaped mud and dust that collects down there, despite my protestations about keeping everything clean and dry.

Anyway, back to carbon. Carbon water bottle holders definitely fit into the "style" area of carbon on bikes. Perhaps, some might claim I should say otherwise since Arundel is local and a big player in the area of carbon bottle cages. But they didn't bribe me to say otherwise. While one might CLAIM weight savings with carbon bottle cages, even one of the lightest carbon holders, shown above, is really designed to carry stuff that weighs darn near TWO pounds. What's more, if you go to "weight weenies" listings, you'll find that many carbon cages weigh more than their plastic or aluminum counterparts. When you get back to things, carbon has lots of stiffness - which has marginal utility for carrying over a pound of water. Myself, for the road bike, I use a plastic holder that weighs 1 1/3 oz, and whose red color goes well with the bike. It was also on sale and didn't cost much more than the ugly steel ones. On Buddy, I use a plastic "Rib Cage Pro Road" plastic cage that also matches the bike well, and it weighs just about the same. Conveniently, it was also on sale. In both cases, there's weight that could be carved off the holder, if I felt ambitious, and this weren't "get the taxes done or else" weekend...

The Specialized Cage at 1.3 oz, Looks GREAT on Buddy and it was on Sale, too!

Something New

I don’t have anything against bike shops. I really don’t. I buy tires in them, I buy bike components and parts in them. Heck, I’ve even bought a couple of bikes in them. One thing I have never done at a bike shop is have mechanical work done on one of my bikes, or even a bike belonging to a family member. I have always found it pretty straightforward, and even if I broke something, a replacement could be procured and installed economically. It just didn’t seem to make sense to drive a bike to a bike shop, and then wait for the better part of a week to get it back, when I could ride there, get the parts, and have things done that night. Overhauling a hub or a bottom bracket was much easier than working underneath a Jaguar since it could be done inside after dinner.I apologize to cafiend.
This week, however, I decided to have a bike shop work on my road bike. That’s a first, after over four decades of bike ownership. Somehow these modern indexed shifting systems seem a lot more finicky. Maybe it was seeing how tiny the little springs and stuff in that shifter was. Maybe it's not wanting to mess around with Shimano stuff, compared to the SRAM glory on Buddy. If they didn’t want me going in there, why are there screws? Maybe I’m getting old. I picked it up tonight and it actually seemed to work OK. They stuck their own new chain on instead of the new chain I bought, but I would have done the same. They gave me back the old new chain. I'm sure it'll come in handy some time. The new front small chain ring I stuck on does exactly what I wanted. All the other stuff passed muster. This sucker needs a LONG test ride now...

The Road Bike. AKA "the bike with no name"

Carbon in the Sun

Shuttle Atlantis, with Carbon Damage Underneath and on Leading Edges, From Wikipedia

So far, these articles have tended to either be background, or to make people a bit nervous. One recurring theme that has been raised by commenters was whether exposure to the sun, as in exposure when out riding, or while the bike is stored, might fatally weaken it. Adding to those fears, one might read articles such as this. Crimeny, 1000 hours of exposure? A well ridden bike could see that in a year or two? Does that mean a carbon bike will die due to the sun after such a short time?

Well, actually, there's some good news here. Most carbon bikes are also painted, at least in some areas. The paint suffers due to UV. The tires suffer due to UV. The brake cable housings suffer due to UV. YOU suffer due to UV. In reality, UV is one of the things you really do NOT need to worry about when it comes to your carbon bike. If the paint is fresh looking and you don't have skin cancer, and you aren't storing that really expensive bike out in the sun, it WILL probably survive UV longer than you will, and probably your children as well. The shiny finish probably has UV-resistant chemicals in it, and even if not, the shiny surface will go before those strong fibers even notice.

OTOH, if you want to use your bike as a replacement for the Space Shuttle, and subject your bike to reentry while exposed to high moisture, you ought to be very careful about UV, and rapid oxidation generally. Likewise if you have a wooden bike that you leave out in the sun. If the shellac/varnish disappears, the fibers are getting attacked and termites may follow.

Consider this article a "whew, I'm glad Steve made me feel a little better" day. For the sun, the paint will go before you have to worry about the carbon. Next the epoxy will go, but even then the carbon fibers will be as good as the day they were cured into the epoxy. Just you worry about impact!

If it makes you feel any better, my road bike is now 12 years old, and I have absolute confidence in its carbon front fork. Of course, the frame itself IS aluminum, but pay no attention to that man behind the curtain...

Never Take the Lane

I hear the phrase "take the lane" often. I only hear that phrase in conjunction with cyclists. I DON'T ever "take the lane." Taking the lane, to me, sounds like petty theft. I ride where I ride, and the principle of "first come first served" is observed by myself, and the other users of the road. The lane I'm in is mine while I'm there. I don't need to "take" it. Yes, sometimes I allow motorists to "Lane Split" a lane I'm in if it's a wide lane or boulevard. That's my choice, and is made in accordance with the law, the rules of the road, and what is safe for myself and the motorists in the vicinity.

Really, it's pretty simple. Traffic is not a war. Traffic is a dance (good link, though I HATE the picture, with its sloppy signal). It's a cooperative endeavor. I DO take the lead, because I have a lot more experience dealing with motorists than motorists have dealing with cyclists. That's probably going to remain the case for many years to come.

Below is the preferred vehicle if traffic were otherwise. I don't think many motorists are truly ready for "might makes right."

My Vehicle of Choice if Traffic is War Instead of Cooperation. Just Pass the Ammo...

Seth Will be Ready, Dearest

Our family has a few bikes I've never written about. I've mentioned my French bike and I'll write about it in detail one day, though I may never ride it again. Today, I write about a bike that isn't mine, though I ride it, and will ride it for however long it takes. The bike's name is "Seth." Seth, you see, is the property of "the Dish of Everett." Seth is a Nishiki Kokusai. The Kokusai was the predecessor to the "International" which preceeded the "Olympic." Myself, I'm the idiot she married. Seth has a special place. You see, the dish has known Seth for longer than she's known me.

 The Dish of Everett

Today, I took Seth out for a spin, as I periodically do. It needs a tweak to the cable settings on the front derailleur, and the rear brake, and I'll have to switch wheels back so that Seth keeps its Araya front rim; curently on Frankenbike, but, all in all, Seth is a really sweet ride for a bike that is nearly 40 years old. Seth will be ready when "the Dish" is ready again. I have no doubt that day will come.

Below, pictures of Seth, as it awaits.

The Wright's Saddle was Originally from Frankenbike. REAL Comfy

Way back When, Before Taiwan and China, even Japan tried to be American

They Don't Make Head Badges Like These Anymore.

Sure, There's Some Pitting in the Chrome, but Steel IS Real
Honestly, that Pitting is Entirely my own Fault

Suntour, a Past Legend...

Look at the Lugwork Details. Luscious!

Who Says the Japanese are not Artists?

Cyclist Choice

Here and here, I talked about parking lots that I ride through on my route from home to work. With the ChipSeal Highway 287 thing, I’ll reveal that, at least one place along my route to work, I usually ride on a shoulder. What’s more, I’m not ashamed to admit it. I even discussed it with Chip, and I came away convinced he supports my right to ride on it in accordance with Texas Law. Actually, now that I think about it, given my current route to work, I could sound more dramatic to simply state that, on my route to work; I ride the shoulder at every possible opportunity. More to the point, just as Chip does on his rides, I make the choices that work in my riding circumstances, and I'd rather not be second guessed by others. It is my butt on the saddle.

In the photo, you can see the shoulder I ride on. It’s the only shoulder actually ON my 20 mile route to work (which is why I can say I ride on it at every opportunity). It is the shoulder of the northbound I-35W Service Road between Cabela’s and Westport Parkway, near Fort Worth Alliance Airport. It exists because there is a “right turn only” lane behind the photographer; facilitating entry into Cabela’s. In addition, a couple hundred yards back up the hill, there is a four way stop, so traffic coming down the hill is unlikely to drift onto that shoulder, having been woken up by the stop sign and the right turn lane. The stop also results in a debris-free shoulder. What’s more, the shoulder turns into a third traffic lane well before Westport. There are no driveways or crossing traffic anywhere. Off to the right is a large buffalo pasture. Anyway, there is little danger, whether I ride on the shoulder, or the right hand traffic lane. The left hand traffic lane is more hazardous (it would actually be legal for me to ride there since I’m usually the only one on this road), because traffic exiting I-35W can be merging into it at a high rate of speed. Anyway, my usual sequence is to turn right from Cabela’s, coast down the hill on the shoulder, making a head check shortly before the shoulder disappears into the new right lane. Shortly thereafter, I move left into the rightmost of the two hand left turn lanes as I approach Westport. I delay the leftward move until I can be sure I will not be endangered by people exiting I-35W. While it may seem odd, this overtaking traffic actually has the right of way over those they overtake. Some places emphasize this by posting “Yield to Ramp” signs. Basically, I treat the shoulder as just another traffic lane. Except on the rare occasions when trucks are parked on the shoulder, there is no discernable safety or other advantage to me to ride in that right hand traffic lane. On the other hand, I can’t imagine anyone would be terribly upset to actually see me riding in that right hand traffic lane, because I rarely see motorists in ANY of the lanes other than those exiting from I-35W. By the time those motorists see me; I am usually in the middle lane, looking left, and waiting for the ramp traffic to sweep by before changing into that left turn lane. This is a location I use extra caution with my left turn signal, because I do not want a motorist, flying down that ramp, to alter his/her course or actions. I flip the left turn signal out ONLY after the motorist has committed to an intended course of action (left, straight, right). Then we communicate so each of us get where we want to go with no fuss or muss.

Yes, I agree that riding shoulders is not something that is wise in the abstract, but like many "all or nothing" positions, I think the best policy really depends on circumstances. What's more, I believe the Texas Legislature agrees with me, which is why they used "may" in their wording about cyclists and shoulders. Some cop wants to charge reckless driving against ChipSeal for NOT using the shoulder. I'll oppose that strongly, and some might claim I oppose it beyond any rational point. Some ideologue that wants to attack me FOR using the shoulder, I'll oppose that too. Either way, I want to hear the facts and data that say why I am wrong, and they are right. This is a country that was purposely set up to support minorities and avoid extremes. I like that. And THAT is part of the point of THIS post. Yeah, I DO stand with Chip, and I think he stands with me as well.

Cast into Darkness

Many people look at the return of Daylight Savings Time as an opportunity to go for long rides on their bikes after work each day. Those with long commutes, that have to arrive for work early, on the other hand, find themselves cast into darkness. Long-distance commuters get to revisit the dark days of December. Unlike the descent into winter, the change is sudden, and a shock akin to the decision to jump into a swimming pool when the water is known to be chilly. This year it seemed worse to me, perhaps because my commute requires me to leave home about 10-15 minutes earlier than the commute I made at this time last year.

Seven Eleven. Today, it wasn’t a major convenience store chain; it was the official moment of dawn, as in AM. It was also just about the time I came over the last ridge on my way to work. Still, with record heat, and knowing that the days will soon bring natural light back to the morning commute, things are looking up. It wasn’t QUITE tank top weather this morning, but it was close, and it’s really nice not having my water bottle accumulate ice. Soon, the buffalo will have their new calves. THEY are the sign that spring has sprung!