Work life balance and a wretched commute

If you've ever traveled on a road, or even so much as seen a road, you must read Tom Vanderbilt's book "Traffic". It's an informative, easy, and fun read about how we transport ourselves from one place to another. It opened my eyes to many road use dynamics that changed the way I view driving my car, as well as how I drive my bicycle. That's right, drive my bicycle.

Tom Vanderbilt often writes for Slate, and a recent post brought back memories of my commute from our home (at the time) in Rockland County, NY, to Stamford, CT. I'd leave from either end of my commute with plans for what I'd do on my arrival. There'd be productive stuff for the "work" end of my commute, and fun stuff at the "life" end of my commute.

Some of these people are still
trying to get home from work

One particular commute home stands out in my mind. It was a gorgeously sunny, blue sky, low humidity day for my Friday drive. I skipped out a little early, filled with visions of a hike with my honey, followed by a relaxed dinner on our deck - heck, I'd even barbecue! I put the car in gear, and made my way to the interstate. I made record time all the way to the outskirts of Tarrytown.

As I approached Tarrytown, the cars slowed... and slowed more. They finally stopped. After about 15 minutes standing still, I shut off my engine and opened the windows. I eventually got out of the car. Occasionally, the other cars would roll forward. I'd just get back in the car, leave the engine off, and roll down the hill to close up the gap. Time passed. My phone rang. "Hi, what time will you be home?" my honey asked innocently. "I don't know", was my definitive estimate. "Where are you?" was her next question. I drew in my breath, and told her my location. She said she'd start dinner. There'd be no walk, and no barbecue on the deck.

A half hour later, I had moved about as far as one could throw the stereo of the musically challenged driver next to me, and my phone rang again. "How much longer will  you be?" she asked. "I don't know" was my answer. "Can you make a guess?" I provided a range of 1-3 hours. We talked a while, and realized our plans for the evening no longer mattered. I'd have a late dinner, and maybe we'd share a drink on the deck before bed. We were both disappointed. This wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last.

I'd taken the position less than a year before because it was a great career opportunity. It would provide me the opportunity to build experience leading higher level initiatives, and be a logical next step on my career path. It was a great company, with a very flexible atmosphere. As I interviewed for the position, I glossed over the commute. I could hack it. It'd be manageable, I could rationalize that all I was getting from the position would be a fair trade off for the unpredictable commute. All would work out. I'd overcome bigger challenges in my life.

Within a few weeks of starting, I was not liking a long commute while driving a stick shift in stop and go traffic. It wasn't just stop and go, it was a continuous practice of drag racing skills - starting and stopping continuously, trying to protect the space in front of us from the drivers who insisted on changing lanes as often as possible. Almost daily I'd see what happens when someone misses the brake pedal. There's be auto carnage every few miles.

I gained weight, lost patience, and increased stress. This carried through into other areas of my life. It was easier to ignore life, and grab a beer to decompress after a terrible commute. Wouldn't you agree that beer is the best choice after a long drive?

Within a year, I had become so turned off from the long commute, that I found a new position. I now have a 17 mile round trip commute, and am able to commute by bicycle a few days a week. I love the bike commute around Christmas. The cold air invigorates, and the ride home in the dark provides me the opportunity to enjoy the lights people put out to decorate their homes and businesses. There's a Zen-like feel to the ride. I combine something I have to do (commute) with something I love to do (drive my bicycle).

Many days as I pedal my bicycle over the Garden State Parkway, I see the density of car tail lights heading south, and envision the disappointment these lights represent. Many occupants of those cars are just like I used to be. A lonely commuter, with plans and a life. Instead of living the dream, they are sitting in traffic. Life is like that. We make a choice, and sometimes the choice makes sense mathematically, but the real costs can't be calculated in dollars. It can only be measured by the opportunity cost of what we lose in terms of living.

What is the value of having a fulfilling life? What was your worst commute, and how did you make it more bearable?

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The indignity of bike tights as office wear

A couple of years ago I had a 24 mile round trip bike commute. I'd carry my clothes in a pannier, and after parking my bike in a space between my cube and the wall, I'd grab my pannier, dash off to the bathroom, and change into my work clothes. I was exposed to my colleagues for all of 5 minutes. At least that's what I did until a meeting I attended.

"Exercise is important, you need to find time to take care of your body. If you don't have time for the gym, you can ride your bike to work like Bob does, and wear those tight little ... shorts." My boss said this to a large group of people at a department meeting. I choked on my bagel, and laughed to lighten the moment. It was the last time I arrived at our office in bike gear.

The next time I rode, I stopped at the bathroom, parked my bike outside the door, and changed. I then took the elevator up to my floor, and hung my bike clothes out sight in my cube.

A couple of days later, a colleague stopped by my desk with a question, and asked if I was doing my laundry at work. I had to get a better plan. I was also getting strange looks in the bathroom as I went in to change. I had to change my game - again.

My next concession was to ride to a local gym, and shower and put my work clothes on there. I'd arrive at the gym in the morning, check in, use the shower, and then ride my bike the last 3/4 of a mile to the office. In the summer, I'd still be warm, and my sweat would often come through my shirt, causing some temporary dampness to show through. I'd then hang my bike clothes under my desk, on the back wall of my cube. All was well. Except I now had to add 20 minutes to my ride time to compensate for a shower and the last leg of my commute.

We then moved closer to my job, and I suddenly had a 17 mile round trip commute. I started to research my clothing options. My honey and I had ridden in Holland a few years before, and people just rode their bikes in their normal clothes. They didn't ride hard or fast, but they all rode. As I researched the options related to this kind of riding, I found a new term - cycle chic. This style of riding makes it okay to just get on your bike and ride. In whatever clothes you have on. Just like we did when we were kids.

At this point, I had lost almost 25 pounds, and needed a new wardrobe. My honey and I went shopping for machine washable clothes, with the idea in mind that I could just wash the clothes after I wear them (okay, after I wear slacks a couple of times). This different style of riding had me shopping for a new bike, one that was more upright so I wouldn't have anyone confusing we with a racer.

With my new bike and new way to ride, I just ride slower so I don't get as hot. My fast bike commute was about 35 minutes, with 20 minutes of shower time, for a total of about 55 minutes. My cycle chic ride provides me a commute of about 45 minutes. The difference in commute time is negligible, but the logistical simplicity of already wearing my work clothes and not needing to shower, made cycle chic a much better option for me.

Here is my advice (in no particular order) for determining what to wear for your bike commute:

• Watch the weather within a few hours of your ride to make a determination if you are likely to get wet
• There are two ways to get wet - from perspiration, or from rain. Wearing rain gear may make you just as wet from perspiration as not wearing it. If you are likely to get wet from rain, make sure you can keep the water warm by wearing a vented and breathable outer layer. Wind from your forward motion combined with wet clothes can put you in hypothermia real quick.
• For cold weather, use layers, and wind protection
• If your ride is long, you may be better off in bicycle specific clothes instead of cycle chic
• Be sensitive to your colleagues and what may bother them if you show up at work in your tights
• Few people will develop body odor from 30-40 minutes of exercise, so don't shower "just because". The old "where will I shower?' question is a lame excuse not to ride.
• Choose clothing that breathes, and in warmer weather, will move vapor off of your body without soaking your clothes. 
• Rolling clothes will prevent wrinkles, and allow you to put them in a pannier or basket
• Be flexible, and experiment

Did I miss anything? Please add to the comments if I did.

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You'd see all the signs, make a guess, and be wrong

I was surprised last summer when I saw some friends for the first time in years. One of them immediately started a political conversation with me. It came across as confrontational at first, until I realized we agreed on many of the positions he was taking. After a short time, I asked him why he'd think I wouldn't agree with him. He cited my lifestyle choices as the reason to think we were not in alignment on many political issues.

What are my lifestyle choices? I live a low impact, green lifestyle. It isn't hard to do, and has provided me many benefits in terms of overall happiness, as well as in my financial and physical health. I think of this as part hobby, and part lifestyle. The more I become immersed in my chosen greenness, the more I come up with ideas on how to be more green.

Many days I roll out of my driveway on one of my bicycles, and pedal the 8.5 miles to my job. I wear my business casual clothes, with my shirt pressed and folded in my large front basket. My bike commute route has me sharing space with car drivers, pedestrians, commercial vehicles, and potholes. On days I don't bike commute, I carpool. If I have to take the car, I wrap in my errands on that day to take advantage using it. I also use my bike for most local errands. One less car is good for everyone.

My honey and I are part of a food co-op, Purple Dragon, and are vegetarians (I do eat fish and chicken occasionally). Every two weeks we receive a large box of local, organic, and healthy vegetables. Participating in this keeps our local and organic farmers in business. It also has an impact on our health. At least we like to think so.

We take all of the vegetable scraps, as well as egg shells, coffee grinds and other assorted kitchen waste, and compost it in our backyard in our Earth Machine. There are many benefits to doing this. We carry less garbage to the curb, send less to the landfill, and produce a nutrient-rich soil medium with the scraps from our organic produce.

Our lawn consists of diverse greens. We don't treat it with chemicals. I just started sowing in White Clover seeds to decrease maintenance needs, and provide pollen for bees. Our spring Crocus don't have to compete with the crabgrass prevention chemicals. I cut the grass with a manual lawn mower. I don't catch my clippings, and as a result I don't fertilize the lawn.

We have started the process of growing vegetables on our property. I built a cold frame from leftover building materials, and we have our first batch of seeds germinating. Our landscape is designed using many native species, and with the birds in mind. Planting just one shrub that provides food for birds makes a huge difference. Imagine if we all did this.

Our gardens is being dug now, and our compost us being utilized to supplement the soil. We will plant in a way to take advantage of the sun, and put in a fence to keep the tree rats (squirrels) out. Part of our plan is to get a couple of chickens to round out the suburban homestead.

The downspouts from our rain gutters have diverters installed, and the water is captured in barrels. We use the water from these barrels to water our plants (we don't water the lawn), as well as keep our compost moist.

We enjoy local theater, whether it be from my occasional part in a play, or our being in the audience enjoying the talents of other people. We both practice yoga, and have owned two Volvos.

If you put all of the above together, you would probably assume I am a liberal. And you'd be wrong. I am a supporter of our American form of government, and we are a representative republic. Notice I am not a Republican, meaning I am not registered in this party, and don't identify myself as such. I'm philosophically a libertarian - a lower-cased libertarian, not a member of any political party. I believe that individual rights trump all government power, and my lifestyle is an expression of me embracing my rights. One of my intentions for 2011 was not to blog about politics, so I will stop any more discussion of it right here. This blog is about putting labels on people, and how these are often wrong.

The decisions I make in regards to my lifestyle are based on being a good steward of the resources I can manage. This is aligned with my fiscal conservatism, in that I save money from my lifestyle, and I reap health benefits. These health benefits are in the form of a normal weight, no health flags to worry about, and a much happier disposition.

We often look at people, and based on what they are wearing, driving, or doing, we apply labels. Many of these labels are applied as a way to make a judgment about a person. An example of this is when we see someone in a Hummer. We may automatically believe they are a political conservative, and they don't care about the environment. We may see someone who is financially wealthy, and think of them as someone who takes advantage of others. Or we may see someone riding a bicycle to replace a car, and assume they are an environmentalist liberal. These conclusions are often wrong.

Think about this during your day, while monitoring your inner voice, and you will probably see examples of what I'm talking about. Try to alter that voice, and see people without judgment. It will free your mind up for more important things, like where to plant that native shrub to feed the local birds. What labels do you come up with? Do you like being labeled?

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Weather guessers can't be trusted, predict your own bike commute weather

Who will you believe - the weather guesser, or your own eyes? This is a good question to ask, as we look at last Friday's predictions, and compare it to reality. The weather guessers were calling for 2-6 inches of snow, but we had rain instead. There is a little bit of a difference between 6 inches of snow, and some rain. Many school kids were disappointed to see what was probably the last chance for a snow day slip just out of reach.

This morning the report for my areas shows a 20% chance of rain. Does this mean it will rain 20% of the day? Is it a 20% likelihood that it will rain at all? This percentage means nothing to me. I need data I can use to plan my commute, not a report aimed at the people who are getting in their car and driving to work. For these people, they need to know the umbrella needs to be with them, and how much hair spray they should spray to protect themselves from split ends, and "rain scarf head".

My honey and I were very involved in sailboat racing a few years ago, If we planned our sailing around the weather, we would've missed out on many great sailing days. We'd also waste bad sailing days waiting for what doesn't exist. Even in Biblical times, they knew the futility in chasing the wind, and noted the futilty of chasing the wind throughout the Book of Leviticus.

So how do I make the determination if I will ride the bike to work or not? I generally look out our kitchen window after I wake up. If the patio is wet, it's probably a good guess that it either just rained, or is presently raining. My next step is to look at the hourly report on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Web site. This is great information, since it turns the 20% chance of rain into an hour-by-hour prediction of the rain in any specific area. I pay special attention to the times I will be bike commuting.

Hourly weather graph showing my local area prediction for today

I didn't think to grab the data from early today, so I can't see what the rain prediction was for my morning commute. I can see from this graph that the 20% chance of precipitation is a blend for the day, with an 80% chance of rain for when I am eating my lunch in the comfort of my cubicle. The likelihood of rain tails off as the day goes on, with a 45% chance of getting wet on my ride home. And who cares if I get wet riding home. I only wear machine washable clothes when I bike commute.

What I may do before I leave today, is look at the radar images for my area. I can animate these, and see how quickly the storms are moving. I have used these maps to time my exit from work to avoid thunder storms. I either leave a little early, or hang around a little longer, and avoid the worst of it. I prefer Weatherbug for analyzing radar images. Their prediction capabilities are much more precise at the local level than the main stream media or the National Weather Service. In 2004, the 25 passengers on a water taxi in Maryland may not have been dumped into frigid waters if the skipper had been using Weatherbug instead of the National Weather Service. Weatherbug was warning about 60 MPH wind bursts at the local level. NWS was providing a blended report, until after the storm had passed, when they issued the warnings.

Doppler Radar shows storms

When I animated the abov map, I could see the rain is coming in from the west to the east. So I can be relatively sure that I won't get wet if I were to ride now, although the hourly prediction is showing the chance of rain close to 80% for right now. I also used my two eyes, and just looked outside. No rain in sight. 

Had I used the weather report as my sole predictor of weather, I'd have drive in today. By being my own weather data analyzer, I was able to bike commute. In all my years of doing my own data analysis, I can think of only one time when I got wet on my ride home. I was prepared, and had packed stuff I could get wet in for the commute. 

With that said, I guess I can expect to get wet on my ride home. The mere fact that I just told everyone how I determined it was okay to bike commute today, and that I didn't pack any snivel gear, is probably more than enough reason to have "He Who Controls Weather" drench me for a good laugh, and to teach me humility. 

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Want to hear my bike bell? Catch me first. Gary Fisher Simple City 8 review

We moved last June, and I was very happy as I contemplated the changes we were anticipating. One of them was that I was going from a scary 24 mile round trip bike commute through Mordor, NY - sometimes called New Square, to a 17 mile round trip ride in suburban Bergen County, NJ. Riding through Mordor had a post-Apocalypse feel to it, and was best navigated on my Surly LHT, head down, feet locked in, and the touring tires biting at the crumbled pavement. A multitude of school buses marauded haphazardly around the wandering mini vans, making me feel like prey in the times of the dinosaurs.

I was very happy about our move, because suburban NJ afforded the opportunity to get a route and a bicycle which were more appropriate for my stature in life. My honey laughed at that one too. It's okay to laugh with her. I was also claiming my reward for having lost 20 pounds and kept it off for a year. The deal my honey made was that I could buy any bike I wanted. I thought about buying a racing bike for over $6,000, but wouldn't I look stupid in my slacks on a carbon fiber bike, with no where to put my stuff?

Instead, I looked for a bike that would provide an upright ride so I could see and be seen better. I also wanted a comfortable riding position, so I could wear my business casual work clothes, and wouldn't make me think I had to race to work. Riding hard means I sweat hard, which makes me aromatic. I also wanted a bike that had style, and would make the trip enjoyable. I carry my lunch everyday, in the summer I carry swim gear for my side trips to the pool on my ride home, and occasionally I carry a laptop. I also do light shopping on my ride.

My initial focus was to look at the many bikes on the major manufacturers' Web sites. The variety was mind-boggling. I then visited a few bike shops to discuss my options, and every shop I visited wanted to sell me a bike from stock, and recommended tri-cross bikes, road bikes, and a few urban rides, which are basically mountain bikes that are modified to road ride.

Then one day my honey sent me a link to the Gary Fisher Simple City 8. I loved the look of it, except for the basket. The basket is seriously eye-catching. After a bunch of phone calls and e-mails, I found one bike shop in the area that was willing to order the bike without obligation on my part. Tenafly Bicycle Workshop responded immediately to my e-mail, a week later I test rode the bike, and a day later I purchased it.

Who mugged Forrest Gump?

I rode the bike home from the shop, and as soon as I got home, I posted the picture on the left of this page on Facebook. The first person to comment asked "Who mugged Forrest Gump?". The basket is an eye catcher. Have I mentioned that yet?

The basket is actually a nice thing to have, and made it simple to run to the store to pick up items, such as Sunday morning pasties, and library books. I also use it for my laptop, lunch, and to place my shirt in on warm days. It holds a lot, and doesn't impact the ride much. The basket has two parts - an outer skeleton, and an inner mesh basket that is attached, but has small holes to keep your stuff from falling through. To compensate for the basket and the potential for over steer, there's a stabilizer spring between the front of the frame and the back of the fork. This keeps the wheel from flopping to the side when the basket is loaded. The spring is also great for carrying the bike on stairs and through doorways, since it keeps the wheel from hitting the walls and railings. If you use the basket, be sure you use bungee cords or rope to tie down your stuff. The inner mesh of the basket will act as a trampoline, and when you come off of a bump, will propel your stuff onto the road.

Axiom rack, with wood top

As my bike commute became darker last fall, I pondered where to mount my lights. The basket posed a challenge. I'd have to purchase additional accessories to mount the lights. So I purchased an Axiom Phoenix DLX rear rack, and removed the basket. Adding the rack provided me the ability to carry panniers, and allowed me to add lights to the handlebars. This week I reinstalled the basket, because I missed the convenience of being able to run to the store without the minor complications of a pannier.

The fenders are stylish, have a low profile, and keep the water off of me (and off the bike). They are also stable, and I haven't had to tweak them yet. Fenders are so highly underused in America. They keep me dry, keep the bike clean, and provide places to put reflective materials.

Both tires have whitewalls, which are highly reflective. The light jumps off of them at night. This provides great side visibility for other road users. The tires themselves are fairly bullet proof, they are Kevlar lined and the only flat I had was a pinch flat from not doing my ABC check.

I'm not a bike parts techie, so I won't get into the component makes and comparisons. I will just say that the front brakes are alloy calipers, and if you fix a flat, you will need to inflate the tire after you install it. The calipers don't have the little lever to widen the space to allow the filled tire to pass through them. These brakes work. I especially like the roller brakes on the rear. On wet days, these are not effected by the water.

Kickstand and stabilizer spring

The rear hub is the Nexus 8 speed internal hub, and at the 800 mile point, I have not even thought about the hub. It is bullet-proof, and works. I haven't had to change a flat on the back yet, but will learn how to take the rim off when this happens. Okay, maybe I will do this tonight, since Murphy is probably snickering right now at my lack of technical expertise.

The kickstand is great. It's a Pletscher, and scissors open. When I arrive at work, I enter from the back door, ride the elevator up to the 3rd floor, and park the bike near my cube. Our facilities management team offered to get me a bike rack, but I declined. If they get me a bike rack, I will be expected to leave my ride outside. I pointed out the kickstand, and how I don't touch the wall. They approved my request to park the bike inside. I attribute this to the kickstand. It is also great for parking in our garage at home. I can stand the bike next to the car, and still have room to walk around it. The kickstand also allows me to load and unload the bike without worrying about gravity sucking my bike to the earth, potentially damaging this work of art. The stabilizer spring also helps loading and unloading immensely.

Catch me if you can
(yes, that's my helmet)

One of my favorite activities on my commute is to eyeball any riders in Lycra gaining on me. I then split the difference, and slowly pick up speed. Don't let the pressed slacks, mirror, brass bell, and my overall geekiness fool you. I can put the hammer down at will. I then ride with a smile on my face, and keep the rider a few bike lengths behind me. Because I can. Eventually, either they wear me out, or I tire of the game, and let them pass. I usually give them a "hello", and a few rings of my brass bell (purchased separately) as a greeting. My other favorite is to let them pass, and then drop in behind them. I then wheel suck - with the smile. Eventually they hear me, and look back, completely startled to see me smiling, with my basket loaded, easily riding along with them. "Nice bike, does it go fast?" is one of my favorite questions to ask. You should see their bikes wobble as they process that question.

As the saying goes, it's not the bike, it's the rider. Or another one - expensive basketball shoes won't put the ball in the hoop. This bike is fast when it has to be, as long as the rider is fast. So if you are bike commuting between Oradell and Montvale, and see me on my ride, catch me if you can. You'll get to hear my bell, but only if you work for it.

I really love the ride on this bike. It is very comfortable, has solid components, and is nicely balanced. I have over 800 miles on it, and I am still as happy with the bike as the day I purchased it. 

Reference information:
Who is Gary Fisher?

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Bike commuting - all you need is a bike!

I'm back to my bike commute now that the snow has melted, and am loving it. I was thinking about how much has changed since I started what was an occasional bike commute several years ago. My commute from Pomona, NY to Woodcliff Lake, NJ had some scary stretches, and I'd stop riding once the school buses took to the roads. Since our move to Oradell, NJ, I have been bike commuting much more frequently. The ride is primarily suburban, with a few small downtowns to keep it interesting.

When I first started my 24 mile round-trip bike commute from Pomona, I rode my Trek 4300 "hard tail" mountain bike (no suspension front or back), with knobby tires. After a couple of rides, I replaced the knobbies with a smooth and skinny tire. This decreased noise and resistance, and my ride speed increased.

In 2009, I purchased a Surly Long Haul Trucker, which is made for fully loaded touring. I began to commute more frequently, and my ride time decreased due to the better riding position, and more efficient geometry. It's long wheel base and steel frame smoothed out the bumps in the road. 

I would ride to the gym near work, where my employer pays for memberships, and shower. This would add a level of logistics to my ride that sometimes left me in a bad way. Once I forgot my business casual shoes, and ended up having to wear my SPD riding shoes at work. Not many people noticed. I'd also forget little things like deodorant, or a t-shirt. And yes, sometimes I'd forget the underwear. I'd shower at the gym, and my body would still be sweating when I arrived at the office in my business casual clothes. I'd then hang my ride clothes on clips stuck to my cubicle wall under my desk. Needless to say, this was not always good for air quality.

When we moved to Oradell, my commute changed to a 17 mile round trip. So I decided to try something new. I shopped for an urban bike, which would provide a more upright riding position, allowing me to see and be seen better. I had also been reading about cycling chic, which is basically riding in Dutch style. My honey and I did a bike trip there years ago, and no one rides dressed as Lance Armstrong. They all ride in their regular street clothes. The common consensus is that drivers are more tolerant of a bike rider who is headed to work on their bike than they are of a racer out slowing traffic. I would agree based on my experience. 

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After a bunch of research, I was having a hard time finding the right bike. I stopped at many bike shops, and the common recommendation was to purchase a tri-cross bike, which has the geometry of a road bike, but the components of a mountain bike. I wasn't impressed with the answers I received, all of which were focused on the bikes that were in stock. My honey ended up finding the perfect solution - a Gary Fisher Simple City 8. I will write a review of the bike as a separate post (as well as one about the death of local bicycle shop customer service), so I won't get into too much detail here. But it was perfect for what I wanted. It had an internal 8-speed hub with a chain guard, drum brakes on the rear, internally routed cables, a big basket in the front for my stuff, classic good looks, and an upright ride. 

I now have around 800 miles on the bike, and it is my primary ride. I use it for my bike commute, for heading to town for a haircut, to the library, post office, and to get warm croissants or bagels on weekends. When I bike commute, I ride to work in my business casual clothes, which are now all wash and wear. I roll up my shirt and place it in the top of one of my panniers. I carry my lunch, and often my computer. I have lights mounted, and lots of reflective tape. 

I love to bike. I experience everything around me much differently on the bike than I do in a car. A car propels you from one place to another, with all of the distractions of home. You can listen to music, talk on the phone, and do many things that keep you from noticing what is around you. The bike allows you to hear, see, and smell your environment. It provides you the opportunity to say hello to pedestrians, and other riders. It keeps your mind focused, and provides a nice low impact workout, which is right in the fat burning zone.

With rising fuel costs, and increased interest in fighting obesity, I am seeing more people riding their bikes during commuting hours. I often get asked by colleagues what they need to do to ride to work. I tell them to get out their bike, make sure it is working, and just ride in. People who live farther away can do a bi-modal  commute, where they park the car less than 10 miles from work, and pedal the last distance. No matter what happens at work, they will have a bike ride to remember from the day. 

Here are some resources to help you get started bike commuting:

League of American Bicyclists is an advocacy organization that has a Smart Cycling program, which provides education for road users, as well as certification for cycling instructors. 

Bike to Work is a Web site that was recently launched, and it contains great information related to bike commuting.

People for Bikes is an advocacy group which provides tools and communications around making bicyclists voices heard in our policy makers' offices. 

Bicycle laws vary by state, so I am linking NJ laws. The basic premise is the same from state to state. 

Bike Commuters Blog contains lots of inspiration for us bike commuters.

There are also some links on the right to assist you, and the Twitter feed on the right shows bike commute posts. I'll write more specific posts about bike commuting as time passes, but if you have any specific questions, please ask in the comments below.

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Automobile drivers may need continuing education

My commuting vehicle

I finally made my first bike commute for 2011 yesterday, riding my Gary Fisher Simple City 8 for the 17 mile round trip to my office. Last year I rode pretty consistently, leaving my car in the driveway for days on-end. Last night I had an interesting interaction with a driver. I was riding down Kinderkamack Road in Emerson (NJ), and traffic was light. The driver of the car approaching me from behind leaned on his horn, and crossed the yellow line, passing me (safely).

In the past, I may have yelled at him, or flipped him off. But one of my intentions this year is to assume people have the best intentions in mind, and keep that thought until proven otherwise. The traffic light in front of us turned red, and the cigarette smoking young driver of the Toyota Coroda (it was a rusting Corolla) stopped at the light. I rolled up next to his half open driver's window, and in a non-confrontational tone said "hi, you really shouldn't blast your horn like that behind a bicycle, you scared me". He responded "you are supposed to ride on the sidewalk, the road is for cars". I put on my quizzical face, and asked "do you have a NJ driver's license? Because that isn't the law, in fact the law says I have the same rights and responsibilities to the road that you do".

He suddenly became nervous, and said "I guess I don't know the law, I'm sorry, and I will go look it up when I get home" was his response. I thanked him, and rolled backward to the space behind his car. When the light turned green, we continued on our way.  As I continued on my way, I pondered how someone could have a license, and not know the rules of the road.

What value is a license or certification, if it isn't a guarantor of competence? Why do we license someone as a teenager, and only require more education when they have proven themselves to be real bad at operating an automobile? This started me thinking about other licenses, and the educational responsibilities that are attached to them.

I am a Project Management Professional (PMP), as certified by the Project Management Institute. In order to maintain my certification, I am required to complete 60 hours of continuing education in my three year certification period. There are many licenses and certifications that have this requirement. Some examples are Certified Public Accountants, and Practical Engineers. New knowledge and regulations must be absorbed in order to remain competent in the role.

In contrast, a 70 year old automobile operator was probably licensed in the mid-1950s. They have received no additional training since the license was issued, yet our vehicles, mobile communications, infrastructure, transportation networks, and laws have changed dramatically. I'm not stating this as a way to make a statement about old age, heck, many of the elderly are great drivers. I am pointing out how we can improve road safety for everyone by making sure people who operate a potentially lethal machine are aware of their responsibilities on the road as our laws evolve over time.

My own observations show that drivers ignore pedestrian rights in a crosswalk. If you disagree, please go for a walk tonight, and find a crosswalk to test this theory. I recently pointed out the lack of enforcement to my local police department, and they said they don't have the resources to address the problem. This was an admission that this issue is a problem, and since it is a problem, it should be addressed. It would only take an hour a week for a month, at different times of day to get much better compliance with the law. An option is to have local residents volunteer to hand out informational palm cards to cars stopped at the traffic lights in town.

Drivers often ignore bicyclists' rights to the road. I've had drivers blast the horn and yell for me to get over, thinking I have to move over to let them pass. This assumption is incorrect. I am not allowed to impede traffic, as long as I can safely ride on the right while cars pass. A lane that is less than 11 feet wide is not considered safe, and I have the option to block the lane to stay safe. I also don't have to ride next to cars that are parallel parked, since an opening door can knock me into traffic, or I can slam into the door. Either of these can hurt more than a swift kick in the groin, and often kill the rider.

A universal rule of the road is that the vehicle occupying the lane owns the lane, and anyone wanting to move to that lane must yield to the owner of that lane. It is a simple concept, and if understood and applied, would resolve many issues. Drivers often swing around the yellow line, and then come back quick, with their rear ends inches from me, and this is why it is important for me to control the lane in a restricted area. If I leave enough room for a driver to pass in a dangerous area, they will pass.

I've also had drivers attempt to get in front of me while I'm stopped at a traffic light, standing in the center of the lane, with cars in front of me. What were they thinking? I sometimes ask them this.. as they look back sheepishly. Hiding inside a heavy machine is impersonal. Staring at a living human being is personal. People can be shamed into compliance.

I've witnessed drivers putting on make-up while driving in chaotic areas, texting while driving (and sometimes not seeing the light turn green as they text, forcing me to impatiently ring my brass bell at them - now tha tmust be embarrassing), reading books, flipping me off while passing me, and yelling from their windows such silly things as "run Forest, run", "go Lance!", and the timeless "get off the F#$king road!". I once had a driver combine texting, horn, yelling, and flipping all at the same time, while trying to force me into the curb. She was truly good at it. I envy her ability to multi-task. I hope she isn't married for the sake of her potential spouse, and hope she chooses not to procreate. We have too many self-absorbed people on the planet already.

I admit that many bicycle riders also ignore the laws, so if you don't hold me responsible for all of the bad bicycle riders, I won't hold you responsible for all of the bad automobile drivers. Since most of the bicycle riders hold a drivers' license, they would also benefit from participating in continuing education on the evolving traffic laws.

The vast majority of drivers I interact with on the road are considerate, safe, and competent drivers. They don't terrorize me on the bike. They maintain a patient and safe following distance, and accord me all of my rights to the road. I will also say that the vast majority of holders of various professional licenses and certifications are competent at their jobs, but this doesn't change the fact that they must all continue to learn.

The incident last night is an example of the ignorance we end up with when the license doesn't indicate competence. Which made me wonder... At what point do we recognize that the changing systems and laws should require people to re-certify, or at least maintain some continuing education to keep them up-to-date? We lose around 40,000 lives in automobile accidents a year in the US. Maybe it's time we implement some solutions that we can all live with.

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Is it safe yet?

I often get asked if I feel safe when riding my bike on the road. The answer is “yes”. I practice good road bike riding, and manage the danger zones by using statistics to my advantage. I do have an occasional run in with a driver. All of these issues were related to rudeness, not bad driving.

But just because I feel safe, does that make it safe? In 2007, almost 700 bike riders were killed on US roads. More than half a million riders end up in the emergency room each year. Seven hundred bike riders dead… do you really want to ride on the road? About 90% of cyclists killed on our roads die as a result of a collision with an automobile. Contrast this with the 40,000 people in automobiles killed on our roads in the average year, and suddenly 700 riders sounds low. Although if I were one of the 700 killed, this statistic wouldn’t make me feel better.

So how do statistics help me ride? They show that 87% of bike accidents occur in intersections. This would probably send many bike riders around the block, only making right turns. But not this guy, I use statistics to keep me safe. I am especially aware and safe when approaching and traversing an intersection. That means I only have to deal with 13% of the risks. Wearing a helmet is a huge risk mitigator – Around 60% of rider brain injuries could be prevented by wearing a helmet. So I wear a helmet – and on the statistics go.

A couple of years ago I found that I may be tracking the wrong statistic. Scientific American published a story with a very simple metric to follow. What are the percentage of women riders in a geographic area? This may be the best indicator of how safe the riding actually is. My first thought was that this was just more male bashing. A feckless attempt to portray men as idiots without any risk meters installed. Never mind the fact that 17 years ago my wife – then girlfriend – opted to stay home instead of going mountain biking on a cold and slushy day. Ignore the fact that the emergency room had to reset my arm back into the shoulder socket, a pain I still feel, yes, even today. Of course I can pretend I didn’t ride my bike through Monsey, or Mordor as I lovingly referred to it, dodging minivans, pedestrians, and Spring Valley Taxis, arriving home to relate the stupidity of every driver who tried to kill me, as my wife stared blankly back. But that would be too easy. I needed to determine if this was the correct metric to answer – “is it safe yet?”.

America is way behind the rest of the developed world in providing transportation alternatives to the gasoline powered wheel chairs that fill our roads. First, most of our dedicated bike trails and paths are in areas that don’t support riding as an alternate transportation method. Most paths are strategically placed in parks, where you can ride in circles around pedestrians and runners, after driving your car to get there (and to get back home). Paths don’t go from our homes to the shopping centers or places of work.

Biking in America as an alternate means of getting around accounts for less than 2% of all trips we make. In the Netherlands, 27% of trips are completed on bikes. Interestingly, in America, less than one third of the riders using bikes as transportation are women, and in the Netherlands, the percentage of women riders exceeds 55%. In Germany, half of all riders are women.

In the Scientific American article, women are referred to as “indicator species”. Sorry men, we aren’t indicator species. This title is relegated to the women. If women aren’t riding, it is probably not safe to ride.

So how do we get more women out riding as transportation? Studies show that a bike infrastructure increases the number of riders, since it is safer to ride in areas designated to ride. Another interesting statistic is that as the number of riders increase, safety exponentially increases for all riders. Tom Vanderbilt’s book Traffic attributes this to drivers’ not noticing a solitary bike rider, but once they see many, they drive more safely. 

Cycling is a sustainable transportation method, is green, fights the fat monster who has invaded our lives, and places us closer to those around us. Try nodding and saying hello to a pedestrian from your car while driving 50 miles per hour. It isn’t noticed. Conversely, I was mumbling under my breath at the car in front of me one day while riding the bike to work. A woman walking her dog on the sidewalk stared at me. I caught myself, and said "I forgot. For a moment I thought I was in my car and no one could hear me". She smiled and laughed as she continued on her way. I blushed in embarrassment, and rolled forward. 

So women, please ride your bikes, and take your men with you. As riding becomes more commonplace and safer, men can increase the risk by participating in other activities while riding – like counting the women riders.

Is it safe yet? If you’re a guy, you probably don’t know, so please go ask a woman. And if you like this post, share it using the buttons below.

New Year's resolutions are old school

Each of us are like snow flakes; unique and different from each other.  So why should I care about more than 56 million New Year's resolutions in a Google search? As snowflakes, we may be different, but when we go in the same direction and band together, we can cause havoc, or we can create joy. Our world is only changed by large masses of people changing their behavior, and if we all change our behavior, we can move this messy world in the right direction.

I don't make New Year's resolutions, and make it a point of avoiding them. It seems strange to draw a line on the calendar, and one day say "this is okay", and the next day say "this is not okay". What has worked for me for the last couple of years is to just continuously change. This method of changing feels like the changes are small, even when they took lots of effort. As I implemented the changes, I would see and feel the impact not only on me, but on those around me.

One big change I made in February was to stop drinking alcohol. I was watching the first half of the Super Bowl at a bar in Garnersville, NY, and had my last beer at half time. I don't remember the exact reason, but some reasons that come to mind are: 1) my honey asked me if I could quit drinking for one month to see if it could bring my cholesterol number down, 2) I was having a hard time losing those last few pounds, 3) I wanted to show myself that alcohol didn't control me, and I was tired of the wasted time, and 4) I am obstinate, and decided I'd show everyone that alcohol means nothing to me. I haven't had a sip of booze since, and don't think this will change.

I don't miss alcohol. Parties are much different for me now. Being one of the few sober people at a party dampens the event, but the positive side is that I now am able to connect with people better than before. I was surprised to have someone I know come to me about a month ago and say they quit drinking after they saw the changes it made in my life. He was worried about having to explain it to friends over the Holidays. Isn't that a good worry to have?

In 2010 I became more careful about what I ate, and implemented a fitness lifestyle. In the last year, I lost about 10 pounds ( for a total of 25 if we back up to August 2009), 60 cholesterol points, 90 triglyceride points, and went from high blood pressure to normal blood pressure. My doctor is amazed, she has never seen a patient do this. Remember reason #4 for quitting alcohol - I am obstinate.

I bought a used reel mower on Craigslist, and sold my gas mower. I netted a couple hundred dollars. I got the idea because my next door neighbor uses one, and I saw how easy it was to cut the grass. Plus I can hear the birds while I mow the lawn, and talk to my neighbors. Of course the conversations with the neighbors are entertaining, some ask if my mower broke, offer theirs for me to borrow, or provide a sympathetic look when they see me walk off, pushing a mower instead of having it pull me. If I had a bigger lawn, I'd get a lawn mower bike. The neighbors are already used to seeing my winter bike commute.

We have rain barrels, but never got around to hooking them up in our last home. But I kept them anyway, and this year I set them up under the downspouts of our home. I rarely had to use the hose to water our new plantings around the yard. I plan on purchasing more of them, and really catch some water in 2011. You may think of water as a cheap resource, but maybe you should think again.

Some examples of spontaneous changes I've made over the last couple of decades are cutting the television connection, composting, cutting meat out of my diet, and putting the toilet seat down. None of the lasting changes I've made were from a New Year's resolution. They were all from the process of evaluating my life, and making changes accordingly. There's no time like right now to make a positive change in your life.

So as we leave 2010 behind, and roll into 2011, I have a few changes I want to make that I am willing to share. I will become more forgiving and less judgmental, not take it personally, and create more space in my life - and share that space with my honey. I will be a good steward for what is around me, and protect what needs protecting. I will invest more time in myself, and in my relationships with people. I haven't set a date for when to start each of these, I am confident that the right time to change will be apparent for each of these intentions, as well as the changes I don't even know I will be making yet.

How do my changes effect you? In previous posts to this blog, I would often pick a political topic and state my opinion related to it. We can all identify what we know is "right", but we might not all agree on what the definition of "right" is. I will refrain from this in future posts, instead focusing on topics that create positive energy for change. Of course I will still regale the rare readers with stories of my bike commutes, home improvement projects, and birding.

What about you? What changes have you made, or will make?

Bike commute for The Declaration of Independence

For most of my life I've identified myself as a conservative. As a conservative, I thought it was my duty to actively fight environmentalists, and ignore any data that supported their theories. Over time I have learned that I have a lot in common with environmentalists, but I am still a cynic when it comes to their data. In fact, I am a cynic of most data.

Over the last several years of seeing the political pageantry of our "two party" system, I moved from a conservative mindset to a libertarian mindset. I believe in very limited government, and the rights of individuals to keep the fruits of their labor, free from government control, and with our individual rights intact.

So I am always surprised when I come across people who see me bike commuting, and immediately believe I am a liberal trying to save the planet. I was also surprised to see a conservative write a guest blog about how to talk to a conservative about bicycling for the "Commute by Bike" blog, written by a conservative bike advocate. He makes some very good points, but I don't like the stereotyping of bike riders, especially not utility riders like me.

There are many types of bike riders, and many reasons to ride. I am a utility rider. When I ride, I am embodying "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" as our founding fathers outlined in The Declaration of Independence. What can be more liberty-minded than riding a bike? I get around on my own power, using common property - the roads, save lots of money and resources, and at the same time pay less tax by not consuming gasoline, decreasing how much of my money goes to OPEC dictatorships.

Riding has had a significant impact on my life. I dropped 25 pounds, 60 cholesterol points, 90 triglyceride points, and high blood pressure. My bike commute is much happier than when I have to take the car, and with all the benefits, my happiness only increases. I'd argue that there are more libertarians riding bikes than most would believe.

During my bike commute, I am sometimes forced to deal with ignorant morons in cars (no, I haven't seen Rush Limbaugh behind me on the road, he lives in Florida, and advocates running cyclists over with an SUV). They get behind me and blast their horns, waving at me to get out of the road. I try to smile and wave, pretending they are my neighbor. This sometimes gets the driver more irate. I hold my lane, and they eventually pass, telling me I am number one by using their middle finger to wave at me.

Cars don't have a "right" to the road. Rights are conferred by our Creator, and can't be trampled on by government or other individuals. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and this is why we must get a license, and our driving privilege can be revoked. Our right to walk or ride a bike can't be taken away, unless we are incarcerated for a crime. I will argue that freedom of mobility is a right. I am free to go about my business or pursuit of happiness without this right being taken away. The car driver has a right to mobility, but their right ends where it impacts my right to safety and security while I am mobile.

So ride your bike to satisfy The Declaration of Independence. The more of us that ride, the safer it is for all of us.

Nice day for a bike commute

One of my goals back in June when we moved, was to bike commute twice as much as I drive. I was doing well in attaining this goal until about a month ago. That's when my honey started a job with the same company I work for. I decided that I'd carpool with her for the first two weeks, and see how it goes from there.

It is hard to rationalize a bike commute when there's already a car leaving your driveway that's going to the same location. So I decided to start mixing some running into my cardio routine, and bike commute when my honey had after work stuff to do. This new approach has worked sort of okay, with my taking the bike about once a week or so.

Today my honey has her department holiday party and dinner, so I decided to ride in. I woke up to a thin white blanket of snow on the ground, and decided to not make a decision until I got closer to my cut-ff time. I had my morning coffee while painting the utility room floor in our basement, and then decided to ride. The last time I rode I left my snivel gear organized and accessible, so suiting up was pretty easy.

There are lots of people who bike commute and blog. They all generate lists of what you should do to keep warm, but I am pragmatic about this. Having lived in Alaska for a couple of years, trained by the Alaska Army National Guard (5/297) to survive in cold weather, the cold doesn't scare me. My honey and I have also cross country skied in very cold weather, and have some great gear for cold weather outdoor activities.

The idea is to find the happy balance between sweating and hypothermia. Either of these can potentially kill you. Anyone who is married knows that "comfortable temperature" is a subjective term. Men lay on top of the blankets sweating, as their wives are under 6 blankets, shivering, and asking if we can see our breath. In my office, some men wear long underwear to keep warm, and others set up fans under the desks to keep cool. So any specific recommendations on how to regulate your temperature between freezing and sweating, is fairly useless to anyone else.

With the above in mind, this is how I regulate my temperature. The key is layers, and strategically placed breathable materials. I always commute in my business casual slacks and shoes and belt that match. I don't want all of the extra logistics required if I have two sets of clothes. I roll up my shirt and t-shirt and carry in my panniers, along with my lunch. Today the temperate was around 20 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind gusts to 20 miles per hour. This combined with 15 - 20 riding top riding speeds, really pushes the wind chill factor. But wind chill only matters for exposed areas.

Starting with my base of slacks and shoes, I wear Boot Gloves (see picture on right) over my shoes. I picked these up for $10 at  a ski swap, and they work great to block the wind and keep the road salt off my shoes. They are made for snow shoeing, and other outdoor activities, and have two Velcro straps and no bottoms on them. Today I wore lightweight long underwear under my slacks, but won't wear them on the ride home. I wear a Terramar long sleeve shirt against my skin. This layer is to get the sweat off of my skin, and disperse it to evaporate. These are very inexpensive at my favorite outdoor store - Campmor. On top of the Terramar, I wear a fleece vest to hold warm air. My final layer on top is my US Army Physical Fitness jacket. It is not breathable, but it does have venting in the armpits and pockets to keep the humid air moving. It is also authorized by the US Army to wear as an individual item.

My hands are protected by Swix Split Mitts. They have three finger tubes, which allow my pointer and middle fingers to snuggle to stay warm, and the pinky and ring finger to do the same. The thumb, being opposable, is left to fend for itself. These work great, but limit the practicality of flipping off bad drivers -which is a bad thing to do anyway. I wear a tight cap under my helmet, and 180 ear warmers on top of that.

The key to making all this work is to make sure that I open and vent before I get warm, and vary my effort as a way to control my internal thermostat. Once I get warm, it is too late, and I end up wet and cold.

I am still seeing bike riders during my commute, and hope that more drivers will take up this transportation mode. Each person who rides a bike has an exponentially positive impact on congestion relief on our roads. Drivers should be thanking us for riding. Here's a great story from NPR: Switching Gears: More Commuters Bike To Work : NPR.

Carjacked - book review

Okay, I admit I ride my bike. A lot. You won't catch me dressed as Lance Armstrong with 50 of my closest friends, riding wheel-to-wheel, blocking traffic, and blowing snot rockets (I do blow snot rockets, but not in a group of people, or around cars where children may pick up on this adult hygiene technique).

I am a utility rider. I ride to replace the car, and occasionally for fitness. I hear the dumb comments all the time - "is it safe to ride in traffic?", "Why can't you ride on the sidewalk?", "how come you don't ride on a bike path? It's safer!", and my favorite "bike riders just block traffic, have no right to be on the road, and ignore the law". If you want to debate these questions, it won't be today. Today is about the book - "Carjacked: The Culture of the Automobile and Its Effect on Our Lives".

I don't ride to save the planet. I ride for many reasons, which I will get into in another post. These authors are liberals. This obviously impacted how they wrote the book. The one author - there are two, and they are sisters - is a college professor. She thanks about 15 students at the end of the book for doing most of the research, and presumably some of the writing. Having people work for free for the benefit of the high-minded is typical of a liberal college professor. I wonder if the students feel "workjacked",  or if it was an "internship". But I digress...

There is no doubt that the automobile industry, which includes the oil industry, have had a major impact on the direction civilization has taken. The car has bred urban sprawl, mega parking lots, highway traffic, choking air pollution, a sedentary lifestyle, and many health issues we face. It has shaped our foreign policy, stoked wars, and kept us dependent on foreign energy.

This book is well researched, and very comprehensive. It is also very left-leaning in the conclusions it draws. One item that really piqued my interest was the assertion that since 1 of 5 car loans to subprime borrowers leads to a car repossession, and these loans are at 20% APR, this is a sign of the rich preying on the poor. They miss the other half of the equation, where 4 out of 5 of these low income, high risk borrowers are able to make their payments, and as a result can get better jobs. Looking at the risk pool of subprime borrowers, if  20% of people borrowing money at a rate of 20% APR defaulted, this would provide the investor who put the money out for the car purchases with a return on investment of 16%, which is hardly usury.

It also interspersed data with anecdotes, and the reader needs to be able to differentiate between the two. An anecdote is one person making a statement, data is compiled from research. Look critically at the data, because we know data can be presented in a way that affirms ones' own beliefs, but may not tell the whole story.

In the end of the book, the authors (or "interns", aka "workjackees") provide many great ideas for how to decrease dependence on cars. If each of us planned our car trips in advance, making sure we pack in as many errands as we can, there'd be less traffic, and cleaner air. Take mass transit when possible. I gave this a try a few weeks ago on my return from a business trip. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to walk off my plane in Newark Liberty, and take the monorail to NJ Transit, and NJ Transit to the train station in my town, requiring only 2 rides on NJ Transit - for the sum of $13.50. Use a bicycle to run errands. I do this all the time, including commuting by bike as much as practical. The days I don't ride, I carpool. Bergen County is tough to get around in a car due to the density of population, but a bike can keep up with traffic easily on most roads. I also try to utilize stores and services, including doctors, who are within a bike-able distance from home, or along my commute route. Park your car in the lot, don't drive in circles to wait for the perfect spot.

And please. Don't drive your kids to school. This is so lame. Let them walk, ride a bike, or take the bus. Some day they'll thank you for this.

Here are some other great books from this genre that I've read:
Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)
Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities
American Idle: A Journey Through Our Sedentary Culture (Capital Ideas Series)

Donating your bike

Today's ride home was colder, although the temperature was much higher than my ride in. I like riding in the dark more than the light, at least as far as my commute. I see less, but can see the other road users much better. Except that lady on the bike...

Tonight I almost clipped a woman on a bike, riding against traffic, no lights or reflectors, and no helmet. I had seconds to react as she appeared along the curb, forcing me into the street between her wobbling handle bars and the FedEx truck overtaking me. No shot at FedEx, I find their drivers to be very professional. I was able to use some of my basic Spanish - "Ala direcha, con traffico, no contra traffico!". I hope she learns from the experience.

If any of you decide to donate your bike, please include some basic information on how to be a responsible rider. The life you save may belong to someone you know who is trying to get home from work. Here is a link to the League of American Bicyclists "Five Steps to Riding Better" page. It can be easily translated in Google.

Coldest bike commute yet

I rode the bike to work today. It was a bit chilly, but I used neoprene shoe covers, and my Swix split mitts, and these kept me warm. The thermometer was showing around 28 degrees. I ride in my work clothes, business casual. I wear a wicking undershirt, and a windbreaker with vented arms. I also wear ear muffs. As of today, I am not receiving any payments of money or "in-kind" for product endorsements, so I can say that what I use actually works.

My bike is a Gary Fisher Simple City 8, which I modified slightly by removing the basket. The basket impedes lights, and lights are crucial for riding at night. The bike has fenders and an internal 8 speed hub. The best part is that it has rear roller brakes, although I realize this will impede my ability to fix a flat on the road. I'll write more about the lights I use in a later post.

As I crossed the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir, I spotted a bunch of Hooded Mergansers. They were spread along the causeway, on the north side of the road. There may have been more, but pedaling limits the ability to count diving ducks. Of course the people in the cars probably didn't even know they were crossing a reservoir.

The commute to work is so much different from a bike. My commutes are fun, I get exercise in, and I am in a happy mood when I get to work, and when I get home.