tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16401201708096634302024-02-07T20:12:43.456-08:00Bicycle Riding, Repair, and AdvocacyTom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-63166379897104051312020-10-01T07:49:00.001-07:002020-10-01T07:49:11.917-07:00Product review: Cycplus A5 tire inflator<p>Manufacturers sometimes contact me and ask me to review their products. Sometimes they send products to me for free in exchange for my review. This makes me a so-called influencer.</p><p>Most recently, someone from <a href="https://www.cycplus.com/" target="_blank">Cycplus</a> noticed that I write a fair bit on bikeforums.net and asked me to review one of his company's battery-powered inflators. I agreed.</p><p>I didn't think these things would be very useful, as I like my floor pump just fine. I keep a floor pump in the home for the bikes and another in each car because sometimes a tire needs topping up. Also, my spouse once got a flat in her car, and the spare was totally deflated, so that's a bad situation.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71TAr%2BpZjcL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71TAr%2BpZjcL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Here are my impressions of the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/CYCPLUS-Rechargeable-Compressor-Emergency-Inflatables/dp/B07KXLVDFD/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Cycplus A5</a>. The price on Amazon is $47.99. Cycplus has some other, less expensive models.</p><p>First, disclosure: As I said earlier, I received this unit in consideration of writing this review.</p><p>Second, this compressor really works well. I inflated my bike tires to 90 psi. No trouble. It claims it can go to 150 psi. Then I topped up my car tires with it. Also, no trouble. One of the nicest features is that you can dial up your desired pressure, and the unit just stops when it reaches that pressure. I don't know if it can fill a car tire from empty on a single charge.</p><p>Third, the size and weight are impressive. I think it weighs slightly more than half a pound (350 grams). You could even bring it with you on your bike without making it significantly heavier.</p><p>The compressor comes with a USB charging cable and a cigarette lighter cable.</p><p>I decided to leave the unit in my spouse's car's glove compartment with a USB charging cord connected to it forever. It only charges when the car is on, so my spouse won't be draining the car's battery this way. She can now inflate her tires easily now when she needs to.</p><p>The person at the manufacturer was polite and pleasant, and our communications went very well.</p><p><br /></p>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-19230750959659278072018-11-01T07:20:00.005-07:002018-11-01T07:23:05.432-07:00A brief primer for bike tire sizes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , "lucida" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;">Tire sizing is very confusing. The best explanation is </span><a href="https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html" style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #374b53; font-family: Verdana, geneva, lucida, "lucida grande", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; line-height: inherit;" target="_blank">here on Sheldon Brown's site</a><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , "lucida" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;">, though it doesn't make a complex system simple, because it can't.</span></div>
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZOuqVkIpL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="500" height="232" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZOuqVkIpL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, geneva, lucida, "lucida grande", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;" />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, geneva, lucida, "lucida grande", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , "lucida" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;">Briefly, even Europe used inches to describe tire sizes. The stupidity started when the size referred to the outside diameter of the inflated tire rather than the rim size. On a given rim, you can switch tires and get a much different diameter, so that's really dumb. Then eventually, the sizes we had referred to what USED TO BE the size of the tire.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, geneva, lucida, "lucida grande", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , "lucida" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;">700c and 29er both refer to rims with a bead seat diameter (BSD) of 622mm. That's weird because 700c is slightly smaller than 27" wheels with have a BSD of 630mm. And Europeans refer to 700c as 28", which, again, is smaller in actual size than 27".</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, geneva, lucida, "lucida grande", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , "lucida" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;">In England, there was a so-called 28" size whose BSD is 735mm, only slightly larger than 27" (630mm), and 5mm is nowhere near an inch.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, geneva, lucida, "lucida grande", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , "lucida" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;">700mm is kinda-sorta close to 27", so we have 700c, but 700a, 700b, and 700d are never used as designations.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, geneva, lucida, "lucida grande", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , "lucida" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;">650mm is kinda-sorta close to 26", and there are lots of 26" tires, some of which use a 650 designation, and this does not help! 650a has a BSD of 590mm, and this is what English 3-speed and many other bikes use. It's often called 26x1-3/8". Some other sizes are also called 26x1-3/8" which is enough to drive people mad. 650b is 584mm. 650c (with 571mm BSD) came into style a few years ago as narrow-tired racing bikes for shorter people. It was a good idea, but bike makers found it too expensive to have different sizes, so now shorter people have to go back to racing bikes with 700c wheels, even though the fit is not optimal. Then there is the MTB style 26" which is much smaller than all of the 650 designations, as the BSD is 559mm.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, geneva, lucida, "lucida grande", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , "lucida" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;">Also, some inch sizes are expressed with decimal fractions and some with simple fractions. Do not interchange these with numeric equivalents, because types of fractions IMPLIES the BSD. So you can have 26x1.375" but that is not 26x1-3/8.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, geneva, lucida, "lucida grande", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , "lucida" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;">Are you crazy yet?</span>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-55362677616428832742018-01-08T13:32:00.001-08:002018-01-09T11:41:30.671-08:00Stories of my bikesA friend on bikeforums posted a public question: Why those particular bikes? In other words, what led to your selection of the bikes you have. Here is my answer.<br />
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<b>1982 McLean</b><br />
I call this my pride and joy, since it is so beautiful in every way, the ride, the workmanship, and the look. I bought it used at about a year old in 1983. I've had it longer than any of my other bikes. I originally equipped it with nearly all Campagnolo Nuovo Record components except for Super Record Cranks. I built the wheels myself, using Ambrosio Elite rims. This is a general purpose road racing bike, though I did take it on a four-night tour once with no difficulty. It offers capable handling at high speed. In about 1991, I had Peter Weigle repaint it and fit it with various brazed-on mounts. In recent years, I've replaced nearly everything with a Shimano 3x9 drivetrain. The bike is disappointingly heavy, though that doesn't detract from my enjoyment. Since the original owner told me he got it at a trade show, I wonder if the builder went cheap on tubes just to make a display frameset. The builder died at age 29, making my frameset a collector's item.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmU9Ed7VIPnvaVQVG6HDaX0M4cMAMvDJ0DNcNvt1Aaz62M7KDzqHenDFpQkmZt56Fzvmgl56oKu478bRVxF4gNhQkOWA-yiClEytAA06-t_b_7pGblQ-KjT-PzofaVh09JWl21QJeOjX8/w2090-h1560-no/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2089" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmU9Ed7VIPnvaVQVG6HDaX0M4cMAMvDJ0DNcNvt1Aaz62M7KDzqHenDFpQkmZt56Fzvmgl56oKu478bRVxF4gNhQkOWA-yiClEytAA06-t_b_7pGblQ-KjT-PzofaVh09JWl21QJeOjX8/w2090-h1560-no/" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>1974 Raleigh International</b><br />
I had heard a lot about this frameset, so I wanted one badly. I waited until I could find one at a good price. I've built it as an all-purpose bike without much mind towards æsthetics. It has a 3x10 drivetrain, mustache handlebars, dynamo-powered lighting, and a front rack. I've commuted on it, taken fun rides on it, and I could do overnight tours on it. It's everything I had hoped it would be. I have 32mm tires on it, and I hope I can keep them when I eventually put fenders on it.<br />
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<b>1971 Raleigh Super Course</b><br />
I picked this out of the trash on bulk pickup day! I've rebuilt it many times. I consider it my testbed bike. The finish on the frameset is a shambles, and I'll probably remedy that one day. I've toured on it, commuted on it, shopped on it, and taken fun rides. It's not super light, but it climbs great for some reason. I'm about to rebuild it with a modern drivetrain. Lately, I ride gravel carriage roads on it. I built the current wheels way back in 1983. Often when I ride this bike, I tell myself that it's my favorite. It was never an expensive bike, but it rides almost better than it deserves to.<br />
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<b>1994 Lemond RS titanium</b><br />
This is a go-fast bike if ever there was one. Weight is 20 pounds or maybe a hair under. The lightness encourages me to pedal hard, and if it isn't much more energy efficient than my other bikes, my times on it are still very low because riding it hard is so rewarding. I built the wheels myself and aimed to keep them fairly light without being too expensive. I have 23 or 25 mm tires on it. I'm pretty sure it can't take wider tires.<br />
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<b>1971 Raleigh Pro Track</b><br />
I was racing at Kissena Velodrome in the summer of 2014. I already had a track racing bike, but when this came around, I couldn't resist. The difference in handling between the previous bike, a Leader, and the Raleigh, is pronounced. Clearly, Raleigh knew what they were doing.<br />
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<b>1962 Rudge Sports</b><br />
I've always had an affection for English three-speeds, and it is strongest for the Rudge. I got this, along with a lady's Robin Hood, at an estate sale. I paid a mere $30 for the pair of bikes. I don't like to ride this bike any distance, but it always puts a smile on my face.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SIsAgn0iqsRq0Ru5U8fynWr11MOTtxusUyZU5p2VVvAq017vgRiY-32ALufxL3Cv1AeWZJQSJjeeM0ux_cxe0KnN8x3XlFQTf9FwZmejCCB67wzwZ1lay1rb4asMJ1uOWGb5r-hudl8/w1600-h1195-no/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SIsAgn0iqsRq0Ru5U8fynWr11MOTtxusUyZU5p2VVvAq017vgRiY-32ALufxL3Cv1AeWZJQSJjeeM0ux_cxe0KnN8x3XlFQTf9FwZmejCCB67wzwZ1lay1rb4asMJ1uOWGb5r-hudl8/w1600-h1195-no/" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>2002 Burley Zydeco tandem</b><br />
A friend offered this to me at a very low price. It's far from a performance bike, but the wide tires and upright handlebars are probably an advantage for me. I had difficulty managing a tandem bike in the first place, and when the bike has drop handlebars, I'm on the verge of dropping the bike, so this might be the perfect tandem for my wife and me. We've been riding it for about three years now and are still getting the hang of it. The longest we've ridden it in a day is 36 miles on a flat rail trail. I hope to take it further, eventually, especially on overnight tours. My idea behind a tandem is, having more stamina on a bike than my wife does, we can go longer distances than she can on a single bike. That hasn't come true yet, but I hold out hope that practice will get us there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT_w0wnI2EXU5RIogW5bqs3fVUBIUNYTI-Q0XJgFN8tOvYnHf3MAvAaxznASQgBboR6baCfDlQmSZiaP5_VS95KAdE4H5cYxUwFdpz3WnM4FQbzXS4N865hj6vhpS59BsuhhAqBd9C-g/w1600-h1200-no/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiT_w0wnI2EXU5RIogW5bqs3fVUBIUNYTI-Q0XJgFN8tOvYnHf3MAvAaxznASQgBboR6baCfDlQmSZiaP5_VS95KAdE4H5cYxUwFdpz3WnM4FQbzXS4N865hj6vhpS59BsuhhAqBd9C-g/w1600-h1200-no/" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>1975 Viscount</b><br />
When I was a teenager, I wanted a Viscount. They were light bikes at the time. The marketing hype had me see them as fancier than they really were. A friend offered this to me. I lightened further it by removing the rear brake and derailleur drivetrain. First, I used a three-speed fixed gear hub, as a fun experiment. I didn't like that, so I replaced it with a traditional fixed gear hub. The bike weighs about 23 pounds. It's fun to bop around town on this thing. Riding fixed gear isn't a way of life for me as it is for some, but I enjoy it from time to time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA-nfZIguET6GW8qFniBpsYhrpniXnRl2KzuMkfTuv7yp_0uKjgqbzvKrUkDvDo16Bkdm0w7YdVt7g-9MrsVu9r69TtpA2R3N89pjASBBZAxzmOorvC_ZENcAPIQzUsjuyPSga5vmqBQ/w2090-h1560-no/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2089" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA-nfZIguET6GW8qFniBpsYhrpniXnRl2KzuMkfTuv7yp_0uKjgqbzvKrUkDvDo16Bkdm0w7YdVt7g-9MrsVu9r69TtpA2R3N89pjASBBZAxzmOorvC_ZENcAPIQzUsjuyPSga5vmqBQ/w2090-h1560-no/" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>1973 Raleigh Twenty</b><br />
This is a popular project bike. It's my second Twenty. I still don't enjoy riding it, so I'll sell it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_0jFkMoZi3sUYA3Ybp26Pyeocs05bmS2bOROJZgpLITD84DKuqXd9zy4sCKqb6Nl55adCyKv5jYXL7P3vZbmAptCvMLbYG1FaV7Cz1wv-H3W8PCnroa-oxSKKaoM145IrzHtZ-KV6Mw/w2090-h1560-no/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2089" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_0jFkMoZi3sUYA3Ybp26Pyeocs05bmS2bOROJZgpLITD84DKuqXd9zy4sCKqb6Nl55adCyKv5jYXL7P3vZbmAptCvMLbYG1FaV7Cz1wv-H3W8PCnroa-oxSKKaoM145IrzHtZ-KV6Mw/w2090-h1560-no/" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>1996 Bianchi Volpe</b><br />
I bought this used to reap the components off it, but a friend convinced me to keep it, expecting I would like it. I do like it, and I equipped it to be a do-everything bike, with rack, fenders, and dynamo lights. I'll be selling it now, as I prefer my International, which is also lighter.<br />
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Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-25812108451142552032016-09-16T18:23:00.002-07:002016-09-16T18:23:23.777-07:00Safe Streets ride, September 15, 2016On September 15, I rode to midtown Manhattan to gather for a mass bike ride. It is to protest the dangerous street conditions in New York. There have been more cyclists killed in the 2016 calendar year than there were in the 2015 calendar year, and this year is only nine months old. This is in the context of our mayor's program called Vision Zero where we are supposed to be working towards zero deaths by vehicle collisions. We are getting farther, not closer.<br />
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I joined 1,000 of my closest friends, and most of us wore yellow. Many of us wore yellow flowers. My friend had the biggest yellow flowers of all and needed a trailer to carry them.<br />
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We gathered and started at 5th Ave and 59th St. There were many police motorcycle escorts there, and I didn't see them after the ride took off. Generally speaking, I think the police of New York absolutely shine when covering events that bring large crowds. It's what they do best. I can't say they did well or badly, as I just didn't see them.<br />
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The ride completely occupied all lanes of the very wide avenue. As we passed through intersections, we made lots of noise with our bells and horns. Some carried large banners with statistics such as how many people died in the streets in recent years. There was someone from the ride at each intersection, standing in front of the vehicles waiting to cross the avenue. There was a lot of honking from the motor vehicles. They were made to wait a long time. How long does it take a thousand cyclists pass a given point when there are three traffic lanes for them? I don't know.<br />
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Pedestrians also had difficulty crossing the avenue, and some of them expressed anger over that.<br />
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We ended at Washington Square Park, and there was a rally with a speaker with a megaphone. But it wasn't loud enough to hear. Bad planning, in my view. It was more of a kilophone or maybe even just a hectophone.<br />
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From there, I went home which is close to the park.<br />
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I'm glad we made our issue known to some. We are sending a thousand yellow postcards to the mayor telling him we want action. A lot of people want more protected bike lanes, and I think they're OK in some places, and I think they do more harm than good at some times and places. I'd like more enforcement of existing laws. I'd like a law like they have in the Netherlands where the motor vehicle is presumed to be guilty if there is a collision. This causes them to drive extremely cautiously. If a pedestrian or cyclist stupidly cuts off a motor vehicle driver when he (the pedestrian or cyclist) doesn't have right of way, the motor driver still does whatever he can to avoid the collision, because he may be found at fault. Currently, as things are here, if you get hit and injured or killed, law enforcement looks at it as something that just happens that we just have to accept. I'd like that to change.<br />
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But was this a good way to bring about change? We cyclist don't like the way some people drive, but it's also true that some motorists and pedestrians don't like the way cyclists drive. Wouldn't it have been better if we had let cross traffic move at the normal times? I'm fine with slowing down the avenue and making the other vehicles wait behind us, but I think getting people angry isn't a good way to get them to support the cause.<br />
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My wife met me here, and here is a picture of us.<br />
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Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-35902149373638175722016-09-16T08:28:00.001-07:002016-09-16T08:28:27.480-07:00"Dooring" a cyclist<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="271bo" data-offset-key="3t2te-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span data-offset-key="8shgc-0-0">Bicycle drivers, please don't move through the door zone. Even though the car user is violating a law when they open a door in front of you, it's a risk you do not need to take, for your safety or to comply with laws. The law does not compel a cyclist to stay so far right as to be in the door zone, and it's not a good idea in any case.</span></div>
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Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-710756784886040792016-09-02T10:41:00.003-07:002016-09-02T10:41:58.628-07:00Increasing the presence of bikes on the streetsRecently, in a Facebook discussion about getting people to ride for transportation in general and about replacing free public parking spaces with Citi Bike racks specifically, someone wrote to me, saying:<br />
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The problem is that many cyclists do not obey any rules at all. Like going with traffic, not against it. Or staying on the road, sidewalks are for pedestrians.</blockquote>
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That's not <b><i>the</i></b> problem, but it is <b><i>a</i></b> problem. I try to be a role model, and I ride in traffic in the way I think everyone should. I don't startle anyone, and I don't impede anyone. I try to predict how everyone else is going to behave, and I try to ride predictably so anyone concerned knows what I'm doing and what I'm about to do. Even with the bad cyclists -- and there are too many of them --, it seems to me that as more people get onto bikes each year, it is not becoming more unsafe for pedestrians or motorists or subway riders. A lot of the new riders are the type of people with less nerve than the previous waves. They are starting to ride because they previously would not have felt safe in traffic. A lot of these new riders stop at red lights. I stand and wait next to them on 8th Ave.<br />
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I should tell you that I have been a bike advocate for a long time. I have ridden in many places, and I currently ride 2,000 miles a year. I know what works and what doesn't, and I know what will work. I have taught people how to ride in traffic so that they and people nearby are safe and comfortable. It's a practical way to get places, and it's a reasonable decision to make to ride a bike in NYC and many other places. I don't know about Fairlawn, as I haven't been there in a while. I did some bike and education in Maplewood when I lived there.Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-80542062892193949712015-11-17T13:30:00.001-08:002015-11-17T13:30:14.021-08:00How to build a bike habit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-45180096548964272572015-09-25T10:00:00.001-07:002015-09-25T10:00:29.530-07:00What is my bike commute like?<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Someone on bikeforums asked whoever would answer what our commutes are like. He asked about terrain, length, clothing, time constraints. Here is the response I wrote.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I commute from near the southern end of Manhattan (south of 14th St), to the northern end and beyond into the Bronx. I work at 238th St. In NYC, 20 blocks is one mile. The total distance is 13 or 14 miles, depending on the route I choose. It's a very urban commute, but I'm very lucky, because most of it is along the Hudson River Greenway, the US's most heavily used bike commuting route. I don't know how many cyclists I pass, but it's several hundred. After 125th St, there aren't as many bike commuters, and very few are going in my direction. The route is mostly flat, as it's along the river, on a part of the island that is landfill. It is also a pretty noisy route, as it is almost completely next to a highway. Headwinds in the morning can be very strong. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Towards the end of the route, I hit a killer hill and then some lesser hills. The killer hill isn't long, but it's steep. The last couple of miles is in motor vehicle traffic. Most of you all would call it heavy traffic, and it is, but it's a lot lighter than it is in Midtown Manhattan, where it is insane beyond belief. Thank goodness I don't have to ride in Midtown often.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The route is terribly scenic. The Hudson River is over a mile wide. New Jersey is on the other side, with cliffs facing the river. Also along the path are some very good looking people riding their bikes and jogging, so that's another kind of pleasant scenery.</span></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If I'm lucky, on my ride home, the wind hasn't shifted to become a headwind. It happens sometimes. Usually the direction is the same but the intensity is less, so I don't get as much of a boost going home as a challenge I have in the mornings. In the winter, the riverside is colder than the rest of the city, and boy, is it cold and windy. I'm going to try riding in heavy boots this winter.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm supposed to be dressed somewhat conservatively at work. Jeans are officially not allowed but are tolerated. I don't care, as I don't like jeans any more. Men aren't supposed to wear sandals, which I think is dumb, but those are the rules. Polo shirts are OK, and they are my favorite type of shirt. I usually wear my work clothes on the bike. Sometimes I'll ride in wearing shorts, and I'll change upon arrival. When I ride, I usually wear sneakers with SPD cleats on them. I don't know if they are allowed, but no one has complained.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">My kids are adults, and my wife often works in the evenings, so I often have no reason to rush home.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I ride my bike to work about two days a week. The other three or so days I take the subway, which has its upsides. It is relaxed. I'm headed against traffic, so it's not terribly crowded. I get to read. The subway ride takes the same amount of time as the bike ride, so my decision of which mode to use isn't based on time. I also get to look at all the different people, which I enjoy. New York is a great city for people watching. I think I might see a thousand faces in a day. Stop and think about that. How many faces do you see in a day?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br style="color: #222222;" /></span>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-61723693846924130612015-09-15T07:37:00.001-07:002015-09-15T07:37:19.220-07:00Parents don't want a Citi Bike station near their kids' schoolI don't understand their concerns. Why are cyclists more of a threat to children than adults on foot or in cars? Why is a child more likely to bump into a parked bicycle and get hurt than into any other fixed object?<br />
<a href="https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150914/upper-east-side/citi-bike-station-installed-schools-play-space-is-hazard-parents-say" style="background-color: white; line-height: 58px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Citi Bike Station in UES School's Play Space Is a Hazard, Parents Say</span></a><br />
<br />Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-9986331356117847432014-11-13T15:44:00.002-08:002014-11-13T15:44:42.059-08:00Hudson River bike path, Garmin profileI was on the <a href="http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/manhattan-waterfront-greenway-bike-map/" target="_blank">Hudson River Greenway bike path</a> today at around midday. The sky was grey, and the humidity was rising rapidly, which made for a nasty feeling, though it wasn't brutal at all. I was surprised to see how empty the path was. I'm sure the lull was related to the middle of the day between rush hours, but still, I think today marks the time when many cyclists decide not to ride for the rest of the time from now through winter. Sorry, but I can't bear to call November the winter. It's too depressing.<br />
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I plan to keep riding this winter, and I plan to toughen up a bit. I'm interested in seeing how comfortable I remain in bad weather by dressing for the conditions.<br />
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In looking up the Hudson River Greenway, I came upon <a href="http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/explore-the-park/activities/bicycling" target="_blank">this web page, for the Hudson River Park</a>. The bike path runs through that park and beyond. The first sentence is:<br />
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The Hudson River Park Bikeway is the busiest in the United States.</blockquote>
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Wow. I shouldn't be surprised, but I am impressed. Sometimes, I get a question on <a href="http://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php" target="_blank">bikeforums</a>, such as "How often do you see a bike commuter on your route?" The question is odd to me, because I can see dozens at any given moment. How often do I <i>not</i> see a bike commuter, would be a better question.<br />
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I don't remember if I mentioned that <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/noglider" target="_blank">my Garmin public profile is here</a>. In theory, you can see all the rides I take. In practice, I don't always carry my Garmin device. I haven't used it for ten days, but actually, I ride several times a week. I think I better get back into the habit, because I'm interested in keeping a good tally of my total miles. I thought I would want to review things like top speed and average speed, but as more data comes in, the little details become less interesting.Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-12869338057221075652014-10-02T09:41:00.000-07:002014-10-02T09:41:18.139-07:00Stop demonizing “bike culture”!No group of people is perfect, and that certainly includes cyclists. But I am troubled by the depiction of cyclists as a huge problem, even when people acknowledge that not everyone rides dangerously. Let's put the problems in perspective. When you are crossing the street on foot and a cyclist passes by too quickly, perhaps illegally, it is annoying and scary. We should solve this problem with better facilities and training and enforcement. But let's not lose sight of the fact that danger from cars is hundreds of times greater. We don't notice that because it has been present (and therefore normal) for a long time. But it's not very rational to discount the bigger danger merely because we're accustomed to it.<br />
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Please read <a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/09/28/stop_demonizing_bike_culture/" target="_blank">this piece</a> from Salon. It expresses how I feel pretty well. I hadn't even thought of why the current facilities encourage us to break laws. It's not just the facilities, it's the general chaotic nature of New York traffic. We have to adapt minute by minute and second by second. Survival and courtesy sometimes require law breaking. There are orderly and considerate ways to travel, and I do my best to use them. I try not to make anyone nervous with my maneuvers. This means I have a higher standard for myself than the law.<br />
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<a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/09/28/stop_demonizing_bike_culture/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Link to Salon piece</span></a>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-1280834993474909952014-08-09T22:19:00.002-07:002014-08-09T22:19:57.421-07:00Sturmey Archer nursery rhymesI've always liked Sturmey Archer. They've been around a long time. Their most famous product is the three-speed internally geared hub.<br />
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<a href="http://sunrace-sturmeyarcher.blogspot.com/2013/03/sturmey-archernursery-rhymes.html">http://sunrace-sturmeyarcher.blogspot.com/2013/03/sturmey-archernursery-rhymes.html</a><br />
<br />Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-10007782980671510452014-07-20T17:46:00.001-07:002014-07-20T17:46:44.583-07:00Making an old Motobécane hum<div class="tr_bq">
I received this email:</div>
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<blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">
Hi Tom<br />Went to the blog site and found you. I just got a gift of an old motobecane 27" 12 speed mixte...guess is 1980s?...silver and ok shape...needs tune up and some new parts...<br />any thoughts about making it hum? I ride my original 1982 peugeot mixte and like it better than my newer cannondale, so I am thrilled to have received the Motobecane as a gift.</blockquote>
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Congratulations!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Making the new (old) bike hum is a matter of setting your budget, seeing what it needs, seeing what it wants, and seeing if it all adapts to what you want to do with a bike. Does it run OK now? If not, what is lacking? Can you provide pictures, thoughts, dreams?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Tom</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-16957630028507074462014-06-07T09:38:00.001-07:002014-06-07T09:38:18.589-07:00Citibike - first impressions<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I received my Citibike key last week and have been using it moderately. I have bikes of my own, and, being an athletic bike rider, it's not exactly my style, but it's useful at times, so I plan to use it from time to time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What is the bike like?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If I were tasked with designing a bike that hundreds of thousands of people would use and told to design for the lowest common denominator rider, I might come up with a similar design. To be durable, they are heavy, i.e. about 50 pounds (23 kg). To be easy to ride, the rider position is upright. The handling is similar to that on a French moped: turn the handlebars, hardly leaning the bike at all. To be possible to pedal all that weight with a not-all-that-strong physique, provide three very low gears.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">All of that combines to make a very slow bike. When I try to pedal it hard, it punishes me. I barely get any extra speed, but I create a whole lot more sweat. I get the most out of the bike when I pedal very gently.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">All the gears are extremely low. But it's not insane, given the design requirements. I call them 3. slow, 2. super-slow, and 1. oh-forget-it. Since the bike is heavy, I almost always start from a standing stop in 2nd gear and then immediately shift to 3rd. I can't imagine using 1st myself, but some people will find it useful. At least they can't complain there isn't a low enough gear. Choice of a three-speed internally geared rear hub is another smart choice for reliability and durability.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The brakes are barely adequate. The brakes drum brakes, internal to the wheel hubs and are, I presume, chosen for durability and reliability, and I don't blame them. Unfortunately, I have to squeeze them pretty darned hard to get some good power. I have large and strong hands! And the levers are straight out in front of the handlebars, which seems pretty stupid to me. Maybe that's better for short people whose shoulders are level with the handlebars, but then how can they operate the brakes with their smaller hands? Probably by not letting the bike coast fast down a hill.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The seat is heavily padded but doesn't support me very well. Well, there's no such thing as a bike seat that everyone can like, and perhaps this will do the job.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Tires are heavy and ride harshly, given their fat size. Again, I'm sure they're chosen for their durability and reliability, which is wise.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Lights are barely adequate. The headlight and tail light both flash. They are powered by a dynamo integral to the front hub. They don't light the path, but they are not designed to. The use of a dynamo is very wise. There is no battery to charge or run down, and the system is extremely reliable.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The bell is barely adequate. I use it a lot, and pedestrians hear it. I'm not sure, but some motorists probably hear it, sometimes. It basically says, "I'm here, and I'm coming," but it does not say, "Oh my God, you better watch out!" I've found that it works better when I turn the wheel bell by pushing it with my thumb, not pulling it. Again, the weak sound might be the result of a compromise between sound and durability. If so, then they chose wisely.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The upright riding position makes for a slow ride, but it is excellent at making it easy for the rider to look around and feel confident. The combination of this position and the heavy, sturdy ride make it feel very safe. I can careen over extremely rough surfaces and potholes and know that I won't fall. This is probably the best feature of the bike.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I never thought I would be saying this, but one big annoyance for me is the gear shifter. It's a twist shift, and this is largely a matter of taste. I strongly prefer trigger shifters over twist shifters. But that's my problem, right? Well, worse than that, you twist backwards to shift up and forwards to shift down. I don't know why this bothers me so much, but it does. Maybe one gets used to this, but I'm amazed at how uncomfortable I find this to be.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Upkeep</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">With all of the emphasis on durability, how are the bikes faring? I'd say pretty well, after a year of very heavy use. I got one bike yesterday whose rear wheel was rubbing on the frame with every revolution. I should have left a note on it for the mechanics. When a bike isn't working, the convention is to leave the seat positioned backwards. This is a signal to users that the bike is not fit to ride and to the mechanics, too. If I had done so, I wonder how long before it was fixed. The bike was not unrideable, but the wheel needed truing at the very least. Another bike I used didn't like to stay in 3rd gear unless I shifted very hard. Not a big problem, but bikes need maintenance, no matter what, even when they're this sturdy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Finding and docking a bike</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">One of the great things about using Citibike instead of one's own bike is that you pretty much know where you can pick up a bike, and you know where you can drop one off. This saves time in preparing the bike for use and bringing it out of your home. No need to lock it up to a signpost or rack, no need to carry a lock. Great, but it's not perfect. Sometimes, when you want a bike, your nearest docking station has no (working) bikes left. And sometimes, when you want to dock a bike, your nearest docking station is full. These things are likely to happen if you are following the population's usage pattern, so this happens fairly often. Last night, I was six blocks from home on foot, and I saw a station full of bikes. Just for fun, I decided to ride it to the next docking station, three blocks away, on the way home. I planned to dock it there and then walk the other three blocks home. But that station was full, and so were three others I visited. I ended up riding about a mile and walking a half mile. I wasn't in a hurry, so it was just a silly adventure for me, but this illustrates the problem a bit. The managing company does its best to balance the stations. They take bikes from full stations and transport them to empty stations. It's a big job, and they will never be able to completely catch up. They do this with both trucks and bikes. The trucks can hold about 20 bikes. The bikes tow trailers that carry four bikes each. They use bikes because they slip through traffic better than trucks do.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Areas of service</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I hear there are plans to expand the coverage area, which will involve installing docking stations at more locations and probably adding bikes. The next area planned is the upper east side, which is a good choice. I don't need to ride there often, but many people would use it there. I need to ride to the upper west side often, so I can't use Citibike for that. I live in the West Village and go to many places in the service area. I'm lucky. If you live or work outside the service area, Citibike isn't very useful.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finance and cost</b><br />
<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I do hope the financing of the system can be addressed.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Citibike started with a big grant from Citibank. They have little incentive to keep funding it, now that their name is on so many bikes. The city doesn't want to fund it. The annual membership fee is $95, which is a terrific value. You could say it's too low, because finding an organization willing to pay the remaining costs looks hard. There's no way it costs that little to let me ride these bikes for a year for $95. And since the low cost is a reason for people not to ride their bikes, bike shops are hurting badly. I'm not happy about that.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Helmets</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Citibike doesn't provide helmets, and I prefer to wear one while cycling, so I usually carry one when I expect to use it. A couple of times I used it without planning to, so I rode helmetless. One interesting side effect is that I now see people walking in the streets wearing helmets, because they are about to ride a Citibike or have just ridden one. And I have joined these people. We don't get stared at, because it's not unusual.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Overall, I'd say the bike is a good design for the job, and the system works fairly well. There is a smartphone app that shows you where the docking stations are and how many bikes and open slots they have. It doesn't work perfectly and sometimes does not state the truth. But given the huge task of the system, it's very good. I give it an A- grade overall.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-36731104830746452492014-04-20T07:46:00.000-07:002014-04-20T07:46:07.891-07:00Red bike, first bikeI think I've only had one red bike.<br />
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<div style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">
My first two-wheeler, which started out as a four-wheeler, was red. It was a Schwinn. I was just about to turn four years old. I remember discovering it under the Christmas tree and being very excited. Soon after that Christmas, my father moved out, separating from my mother. Ouch. But he came every weekend, and we took the bike out to Riverside Park across the street, and he gave me riding lessons. I insisted that we put the training wheels back on after every lesson, because I didn't think it was right for it to be a two-wheeler until I had mastered riding. I remember the lessons very clearly and fondly. We had a good time.</div>
<div style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">
<br />When my father was a kid, he wanted a Schwinn very badly. In his mind, there was nothing better than a Schwinn, and he was pretty much correct. I have no doubt that's why my first bike was a Schwinn.<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">
The bike had 16" wheels and chrome fenders and a coaster brake. The tires were solid, i.e. not pneumatic. It seems odd that Schwinn would make a bike with non-pneumatic tires, but they did.<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">
When I was six, my mother and sister and I moved to W 96 St, and my mother had the super reassemble my bike. He put the front fender on backwards so that it hung way out over the front of the wheel, but I didn't realize this until the playground kids pointed it out. I didn't really care.<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: large;">
I learned to make skid marks with the coaster brake. Fun.<br />Oh wait. I just remembered that before this bike, I had a tricycle, and it was also red. I also remember calling it my "bike," because I didn't want to call it a tricycle, even though it was a tricycle. That sounded too little-kid to me.</div>
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Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-24553108907308844202014-04-16T10:37:00.000-07:002014-04-19T18:22:15.197-07:00Track Racing, part 1I had a fantastic time on Sunday at the clinic. The folks at Pink Rhino Racing were so nice and helpful and fun. I learned a heck of a lot, and I enjoyed every minute of it, even sitting there, listening to the lectures. I remember being warned over the years about how bumpy the track is, and when we walked around it, I had only socks on my feet. Even then I didn't really see a problem, as it's much smoother than a typical city street is.<br>
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When I got on the track on my bike, though, then I understood. When you're bent way over on a track bike that's built to feel every facet of every inch of the surface and you're going as fast as you can, it is fair to say it's a very bumpy track. But I don't mind. It doesn't give me more of a disadvantage than it gives anyone else, and I'm fine at "planing" over the surface.<br>
<br>
I've ridden a lot over my life, in many kinds of riding. I've raced a very tiny handful of time trials, but mostly I've ridden for fun and transportation. I'm a lot faster than the average person who gets on a bicycle, but I'm also a lot slower than people who normally race bikes. I am very slow. We had a couple of mock races, and I came in dead last both times. I wasn't even close to the guy in front of me. But I'll tell you something, which I already told you: I had a great time.<br>
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I've made a goal for myself, to enter several races over this season. I intend to come in last at every race. And I intend to learn and to have fun. These are achievable goals. If I do better than coming in last, all the better. I already know it's a fun thing to do, and it's something new for me. I met some nice and fun people, so what could be bad?<br>
<br>
Brean stressed safety often during the instruction. It makes a lot of sense, and I intend to follow all of his advice, though it's interesting that I didn't have any fears for my safety coming into it, though Brean seemed to be trying to allay fears we might have. I don't know why some are afraid and I'm not, so it's interesting that there is that difference.<br>
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Bike Ahead in Brooklyn sponsors Pink Rhino Racing, and they sponsored this event. I was really impressed with how much cash they tossed in to this small event. That's a heck of a long term investment. I will try to patronize them, even though I don't live close by. At this point, I'd love to meet some of the folks who work there so I can thank them. The merchandise they provided as prizes was truly good stuff, not just stupid symbolic prizes, and I think it's really nice of them.<div><br></div><div>I rode back to Manhattan with a fellow named Scott. We rode pretty hard, though he'd probably laugh at that adjective. Time for me to work on my speed.<br>
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<br></div>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-2114549198336668052014-04-13T06:55:00.000-07:002014-04-13T06:55:09.089-07:00Track racing, part zeroYesterday started my "career" as a bicycle track racer. I put my war paint on, massaged my own shoulders, and went over my bike, feeling for where the bike "hurt" as if it is a limb of my body. I made some adjustments and brought it to the local bike shop for more adjustments. My new mechanic is Martin at <a href="http://bikeshopny.com/" target="_blank">New York's Waterfront Bicycle Shop</a> on West St, right near Christopher St.<br />
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I rode pretty hard in Central Park, and, as immensely crowded as it was, I was able to do what they call training as well as some very pleasant people watching. My top speed, according to my GPS device, was 27.7, which is pretty good considering I was fixed to a 73 inch gear.<br />
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Today, I attend the first clinic of the season at <a href="http://www.kissenavelodrome.info/" target="_blank">Kissena Velodrome</a>, where kind volunteers will show us how it's done. No races today. I'm getting my stuff ready. I picked little bits of glass out of my tires to make sure they didn't work their ways further in. I'll ride to the 7 train, take it to the end, then ride to <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kissena+Velodrome/@40.744363,-73.8093436,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c26045d242e5b9:0x8e2eecb78de4fe0f" target="_blank">the track in Flushing</a>.<br />
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My ride yesterday looked mostly <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/479016061" target="_blank">like this</a>. There are two or three points on the map where GPS appears drunk, but it's informative enough.<br />
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I barely slept last night. I'm excited.<br />
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Here I go.Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-41072388729952052752013-12-12T10:24:00.002-08:002013-12-12T10:24:40.345-08:00Cycling and traffic problems in Brussels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Excellent video. Brussels seems to have a lot in common with New York City. We have gridlock that expands to huge areas. Motor vehicle drivers don't know that you shouldn't enter an intersection unless there is room for you at the other side. Or they know but they don't care. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Commissioner of Department of Transportation Janette Sadik-Khan understood the problems and worked at improving things. They've done a good job. There is a lot more bike infrastructure now. There are more people on bikes. The bike share started in May of this year. All of the problems with the bike share are problems of success. It is being used more than anyone expected. People who don't love bikes or cycling are using it because it makes sense for them. This is the best kind of trend we could hope for. Now I hope we start working on lawfulness and courtesy. They are improving, but we need to improve more. It is now safer to cycle here than it was. Motor vehicle drivers are more courteous to cyclists, though not perfect. Now we need pedestrians and cyclists to move in a more orderly and predictable manner. Cyclists are improving, but too many cyclists still ride against the direction of traffic. They think it's OK. Some think it's the proper way. Others know it's not right but do it anyway. I hope things continue. Our new mayor starts in January.</span>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-58373013624140407602013-08-07T07:52:00.000-07:002013-08-07T07:52:50.123-07:00Chain maintenance<span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep your chain clean and lubricated, especially if your bike has derailleurs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa;">There are two reasons to lube a chain: to make pedaling easier and to preserve the life of the chain. There are various approaches, and there is no perfect way to do it. I use a simple technique. Lean the bike upright (or have someone hold it up, or suspend it on a bike work stand). Make sure that the pedals have enough room to spin the cranks. Sit or stand in front of the right (drive-side) of the bike. Turn the cranks backwards with your right hand and squirt oil in a continuous stream on the chain with your left hand as the chain passes by your left hand. Do this for several turns of the crank. Then hold a rag in your left hand and wrap it around the chain. Grasp the chain in the rag firmly enough that you'll be wiping the chain but loosely enough to let the chain slide through the grasp. Again, do several turns with the crank. </span></span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: inherit;">Turn the rag to a clean spot and wipe again. Repeat this until the dirt spot created on the rag becomes a bit cleaner. This can take five turns of the rag or so. If the chain is still dirty, start again with a new application of oil. This way, the oil is washing the dirt and grime. Wipe again, about five times. This whole process usually takes me less than a minute, sometimes two.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: black; font-family: inherit;">There are various types of oil, each with its advantages. The thinner it is, the more frequently you have to use it. Some oils attract more dirt than others. Sometimes I use oil that bike shops sell, because it's handy, but generally, I prefer automatic transmission fluid, available at an auto parts store. It's inexpensive and does a very good job. Lately, I've been using chainsaw oil, because it is thicker (more viscous) and therefore requires less frequent application. I use a squeeze bottle with a very thin nozzle so I can apply small amounts at a time.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br />I could spend more time on it to get more dirt out, and doing so would preserve the life of the chain. Some would argue that I'm pushing dirt into the tiny invisible places where it counts the most. They could be right. But I replace my chains frequently. Some would call it prematurely. I don't enjoy cleaning chains, so my approach, while arguably wasteful, is gentle on my bike. A worn chain will wear the sprockets, which are much more expensive than the chain. If my chain shows the slightest sign of elongation, I replace it.<br /><br />And since I replace chains frequently, I don't need to buy expensive chains. I've been happy with KMC chains, which are the least expensive of the good chains. I've occasionally bought SRAM or Shimano chains on sale, but only because the price is good. If KMC chains are not as durable as other brands, I substitute quality with vigilant replacement. Since I am preserving my sprockets this way, and since I keep it clean enough to reduce friction, this plan works for me.<br /><br />If you prefer to buy expensive chains and go through the trouble to soak them in solvent to remove every bit of grit, that's fine, too. My days of soaking and scrubbing are done.</span>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1640120170809663430.post-85289144457938409402013-08-07T06:37:00.002-07:002013-08-07T06:42:00.095-07:00Saddle comfort<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Some who are new to cycling or who are returning to cycling report various kinds of discomfort, especially on their saddles. Often, they believe the saddle is wrong, when the real problem to solve is fit and position on the bike.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">When you experience genital numbness, it is an urgent problem. Seek an expert in <i>bike fit</i>, which is the art of determining if your position on your bike. Many bike shops have such an expert. If you can't find one there, find an experienced cyclist who can help. This is a serious matter, and you should <b>not</b> <b>stop seeking expert advice until you solve it. Do not continue to ride without seeking help.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Some expect that padded shorts will solve their problem. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Padded shorts are misguided. Customers saw the old chamois and thought the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">intention was padding. The sewn in crotch was for absorption and wicking, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">not padding. When the makers switched to synthetic, it was necessary </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">to use more material, which made it thicker. Now bike shorts feel like </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">diapers. If you like that, it's fine, but it can cause as any problems as it solves. It really should be possible to ride your bike without all that padding, even if you use the padding from time to time. <b>If you rely </b><b>on your shorts to be comfortable, your bike does not fit you properly!</b><br /><br />Another problem for men is achy testicles. For a while, I was getting achy testicles a day after my ride. It took me a while to correlate the pain with the riding, since I wasn't feeling pain on the bike. It turned out that my saddle was <i>too</i> padded. It put pressure on my perineum, but the padding hid that fact. Like some other riders, I discovered that a harder saddle can actually help and that soft saddles often cause problems. Soft saddles avoid the problems. Hard saddles make you confront the problems of fit and position. I don't mean it should be as hard as a rock, and it's hard to say how hard is acceptable and how soft is bad. Generally, as you gain experience in the saddle, you want your saddle harder. A friend of mine suffered from numbness, and a sports doctor recommended </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">a harder saddle for him, and that turned out to be the solution for him.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br />If the discomfort is in the tiny muscles around your two sit bones, that's a good thing. That soreness goes away after about three rides if you do them within a week. That's the only kind of soreness worth toughing out. I get this occasionally, especially after a long break from riding or after I increase my riding frequency.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i>Bike fit</i> is another topic. It involves adjustments to your position. There are many parameters:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">fore-aft position of foot on pedal</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">angle of foot on pedal</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">fore-aft position of saddle on bike</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">angle (tilt) of saddle on bike</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">height of saddle</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">shape of saddle (each person's anatomy requires a different shape)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">fore-aft position of handlebar</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">height of handlebar</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">width of handlebar</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">hand position on handlebar</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Sometimes subtle changes in these parameters make big difference in comfort, fatigue, and efficiency. Also, each parameter is related to others, so sometimes adjusting one will require an adjustment in another. A subtle fact is that you may think you need to adjust one thing but sometimes you will be misled and adjust the wrong thing. This is why you sometimes need the expertise of someone (or some people) with expertise. Seek help in person, but start by finding some articles on the web or in print. There is a lot of literature on the subject.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Tom Reingoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210010557421996209noreply@blogger.com0