Atlanta By Bike

An Adventurous Start to the New Year

2010-01-07T19:43:00.002-05:00

We're just seven days into the new year and I've already had many days of subfreezing rides, snow, ice, and an encounter with wrong way driver on a one street. Only 358 days left to go.

1 Letter 2 Trips

2009-12-11T18:05:00.002-05:00

I rode to the post office today and when I got there I discovered that I had left the letter I intended to mail at home. So I rode home and then back to the post office. If I were in a car or had something to do this would have probably annoyed me, but on a bike even in the cold it was ok.

By the way, Mr. Toyota RAV4 I want to say thank you for not speeding. I mean it must be difficult enough to drive with your knees while texting on your iPhone that speeding would have just been too tough.

Saved from Destruction

2009-12-07T15:47:00.002-05:00

A bridgestone kabuki and a Maruishi road ace were headed to the dump but with my penchant for Japanese bikes from the 70s and 80s, I just couldn't let them go. So I pulled them out of the dumpster and brought them home. The components on both are in pretty rough shape but the frames are straight so I'll be fixing them up over the next few weeks.

Mirrors and CVS

2009-12-07T12:57:00.003-05:00

I tend to prefer handlebar mounted mirrors over helmet or glasses mounted ones primarily because I don't always wear my helmet or glasses. However, handlebar mounts tend to attract vandals and I lost another one todays while my bike was parked at Publix.

In happier news, kudos to the new CVS on Powers Ferry Road. Look what they've got:

Well Shoot

2009-12-03T15:03:00.001-05:00

Laid off 23 days before Christmas. I guess there will be fewer commuting and shopping miles than I anticipated this month.

Fatal Accident Closes All Lanes of I-285

2009-11-25T07:16:00.003-05:00

Which forces thousands of cars onto the normally quiet streets I use for my bicycle commute. The result, a madhouse of frustrated drivers and one bicyclist trying to keep it in perspective.

Road-raging firefighter gets 120 days for shooting at bicyclist

2009-11-24T15:33:00.001-05:00

Tuscon Bike Lawyer has the scoop.

No Bicycle Commute Today

2009-11-19T08:40:00.002-05:00

The old tendinitis in the ankle is acting up today, so the bike stayed home. I'll tell you the truth, every time I drive on Atlanta's highways they get scarier.

Your MPG

2009-11-18T15:50:00.000-05:00

38 miles per gallon

Created by The Car Connection

Assuming you consumed 1 gallon of liquid food mixed with water, this short survey will tell you approximately how far you could walk before you ~~passed out~~ ran out of gas.

Any Weather is Good

2009-11-18T15:34:00.002-05:00

It's kind of a drizzly and overcast day in Atlanta but I thought it was great weather for a ride. Bicycling in that misty rain is right up there with hiking in misty rain, it's one of those things that's hard to describe why it's so pleasurable. But it is. And riding today with my cranks spinning slowly and the headlights of cars trapping the mist in beams of light, all seemed right with the world.

Morons Video Themselves Attacking Bicyclist and Pedestrians

2009-11-18T15:32:00.002-05:00

In what tend to think of as bike and ped friendly Minneapolis.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

2009-11-02T13:08:00.001-05:00

Test

The Making of a Retro-Grouch

2009-10-28T06:21:00.003-05:00

As I get older I'm starting to notice some traits emerge, that once would have shamed me. The other day I noticed I was drinking from a water bottle that was stamped "Made in West Germany" and wearing a t-shirt that almost 20 years old. So I suppose it's only natural that my taste in bikes has become decidedly old-school.

So imagine my glee when I discovered this:

The Schwinn World Tour, its a pretty conventional touring bike at a great price but what's that I see? Yep a quill stem. I can't tell you how happy that makes me. In my opinion the threadless headset is one of the great abominations of modern cyclery. Sure it may have it place on racing bikes where every ounce of weight counts, but quite frankly it makes no sense on most bikes. So why is it now so common?

edit: if the Schwinn had horizontal dropouts it would be almost perfect.

Dreams

2009-10-27T06:48:00.002-05:00

Last night I dreamt of riding the Schwinn on a narrow path in an Autumn wood. I could smell the fire in some hidden hearth while the wind lifted leaves into the air like so many fairies dancing around me.

It was a good dream.

The $13,000 Schwinn Paramount

2009-10-26T11:02:00.002-05:00

I overslept today and wound up driving to work, so on my lunch break I rode over to Roswell Bicycles. It's what I would call a typical bike shop, a lot of road bikes, a smaller selection of mountain, hybrid, and kids bikes. And of course there's the $13,000 Schwinn Paramount.

Now for my bicycle heresy, if a bike is worth $13,000 it belongs in a museum not hanging from the ceiling of a LBS. That is all.

Almost Perfect

2009-10-20T19:10:00.003-05:00

Once again a reminder of why fall in Atlanta is so great. A cool morning and a 70 degree afternoon with sunshine created what just may be the perfect day for riding. So much so that after the ride home I unloaded the bike and took a spin around the block just for the heck of it.

By the way, a tip of the hat to Mr. I'll Pass You on This Hill despite being at least 30 pounds heavier than you and riding a mountain bike with knobies. My hat is off to you sir.

Why We Ride

2009-10-12T06:19:00.003-05:00

Last week was bad. By Sunday I felt like I had the weight of the world on me. So I looked at the old gray mule who responded "don't look at me like that, I need BB maintenance, new wheels, and look at that cassette." But she bore me again across the hilly roads of my neighborhood out toward the far suburbs to the exoburbs, and a funny thing happened. As I rode my troubles seemed less troublesome. As the number of miles climbed so did my spirit. Soaking in the smells and sounds and tastes of the road for a short time there was nothing else just man, bike, and road. And that was good enough.

Alpharetta Gets the Job Done

2009-10-02T13:09:00.003-05:00

Less than a week ago the Big Creek Greenway was under about 3 feet of water. When that water receded it left a thick layer of mud in several places. Well I'm happy to report that Alpharetta's parks department has done a great job clearing the trail, allowing me to enjoy it on my lunch break again.

Weather Gods and Unwise Decisions

2009-09-28T06:35:00.002-05:00

The Weather Gods had a laugh at my expense on Saturday when they unceremoniously dumped about a million gallons on my head without warning.

Speaking of water, I decided to ride along the river to check out the flood damage only to discover that it was closed because of raw sewage contamination. Well that makes sense I thought and turned to cross the bridge back toward home. That's when I saw them. Despite signs warning to stay out of the river, there was a group of people doing baptisms in the muddy water. I'm all for ritual and such but there's a reason they put those signs up.

MTB Style Commute

2009-09-25T18:10:00.001-05:00

The recent rains have left quite a bit of mud and dirt on the roads. As a result my bike currently looks like crap. This is one of those times where I really wish I had an IGH on the commuter. Needless to say this weekend cleaning and adjustment will be on the to do list.

Sad News

2009-09-23T09:49:00.004-05:00

It appears a man may have drowned wading across the same flooded bridge I considered crossing Monday. Remember, pay attention to your instincts they're there to keep you alive.

A Ride to Remember

2009-09-22T11:19:00.002-05:00

Showing more enthusiasm than sense, I rode yesterday in the worst rain Atlanta's seen in quite a while. The trip into work was wet but uneventful, the trip home on the other hand was like no other.

By 3:30 flooding had taken place in many lowing lying areas, and I found potential routes home blocked by not one but two overflowing creeks. I briefly considered attempting to wade across a flooded bridge but thankfully disregarded the idea. Then there was a mudslide being dutifully cleared by a single police officer armed only with a shovel, a couple of dead ends as I attempted to find a new route, and three wonderful car drivers who stopped to see if I wanted a ride.

Two hours later I reached home wet, exhausted, and smiling.

A Cyclist Best Friend in the Rain

2009-09-19T16:06:00.002-05:00

More important than even fenders, a bright yellow poncho or rain cape. If you think drivers normally ignore cyclists throw in some rain and you're practically invisible.

Flued

2009-09-18T12:03:00.002-05:00

My home has been hit by the flu. Starting with my youngest kid and working its way up to me. The good news the symptoms are really pretty mild, a general crummy feeling, head congestion, and sleeping 22 hours a day. So be on the lookout and don't ignore the symptoms lest you spread it to someone else.

Yet Another Reason to Commute By Bike

2009-09-16T11:33:00.002-05:00

It makes it harder for the the man to keep tabs on you.

Seriously people, what happened to my country?