Bicycling adrenaline-junkie crack, with heart. Who would think being a bicycle messenger could be so cool and exciting? 8/10
Dan
1975 Schwinn Continental
This is the bike before most of the restoration work - click to view full-size
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Fwd: Watch | Vulnerable on the Open Road
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Peopleforbikes.org" <info@peopleforbikes.org>
Date: Aug 29, 2012 11:48 AM
Subject: Watch | Vulnerable on the Open Road
From: "Peopleforbikes.org" <info@peopleforbikes.org>
Date: Aug 29, 2012 11:48 AM
Subject: Watch | Vulnerable on the Open Road
 |
| Last week, the USA Pro Challenge
bike race passed within 20 feet of our Colorado headquarters. A few
days later, our community is still buzzing from the historic event, and
pro bike racing remains on our minds. While safe roads matter to everyone on a bike, professional cyclists spend more time on them than almost anyone. These talented, world-class athletes may seem super-human at times, but they are human like any of us—vulnerable on the open road.
In our new video, Vulnerable on the Open Road,
five professional U.S. cyclists reflect on their experiences with
bicycle safety. The riders share their visions for better bicycling
conditions and lessons for safer motorist-bicyclist interactions.
Even
though these riders are the top 1% of bicyclists, their advice—slow
down, be aware, don't blow through red lights, build more
infrastructure, get more people riding—applies to anyone who likes to
enjoy the simple pleasure of a bike ride.
Take a moment to listen to their experiences and, next time you ride (or drive), carry their advice out on the road with you.
Safe riding,
The PeopleForBikes.org crew
|
| Contact Us |
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
75 Schwinn Continental: Why Bikes Love Trees
...Because you can chain them to one in the abscense of a bike rack?
Another Juicy-O breakfast ride, bacon-avocado omelette with tomato & onion, coffee, no toast.
The infamous Beacon Hill looking North (with Coca-Cola truck) and South.
And of course, a bicyclist's view of Juicy-O.
Ride on,
Dan
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Planting Urn Discount | Better World Club Auto & Bike Membership Deal | Win a Sprout Watch
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "GreenDeals.org" <noreply@greendeals.org>
Date: Aug 28, 2012 11:37 AM
Subject: Planting Urn Discount | Better World Club Auto & Bike Membership Deal | Win a Sprout Watch
To: "aquarianm@gmail.com" <aquarianm@gmail.com>
If you'd like to unsubscribe, click here
From: "GreenDeals.org" <noreply@greendeals.org>
Date: Aug 28, 2012 11:37 AM
Subject: Planting Urn Discount | Better World Club Auto & Bike Membership Deal | Win a Sprout Watch
To: "aquarianm@gmail.com" <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
|
Facebook and win 1 of 5 eco-friendly watches. 
This email is being sent to aquarianm@gmail.com. | |
Tell us why you bicycle
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Bruno Maier, PeopleForBikes.org" <info@peopleforbikes.com>
Date: Aug 28, 2012 12:43 PM
Subject: Tell us why you bicycle
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
From: "Bruno Maier, PeopleForBikes.org" <info@peopleforbikes.com>
Date: Aug 28, 2012 12:43 PM
Subject: Tell us why you bicycle
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
 | ||||||||
| ||||||||
|
| This email was sent by: Peopleforbikes.org P.O. Box 2359 Boulder, CO, 80306, USA |
Saturday, August 25, 2012
35-Mile Ride
I had the Connie out on the prairie path with my 2nd-oldest and best friend, Luis.
We rode a mile North on Ardmore to the rail-trail in Villa Park, then West to Wheaton.
At Wheaton, we headed South to Danada Square, the had lunch at Whole Foods.
After lunch, we went South & West through Danada forest preserve to Herrick Lake, then West to Saint James forest preserve.
After St. James, we rode North back to Wheaton, then home.
I'm beat but happy.
Ride On,
Dan
Thursday, August 23, 2012
75 Shwinn Continental: Breakfast Ride, Slightly Chaotic
I took a ride over to Juicy-O about 1pm thos afternoon for a late breakfast. They close at 3:30pm.
I swear, at almost every driveway and side-street crossing along the way, there were completely oblivious smogger drivers who were turning without looking. Even though these people are crossing a bike path, they just don't look.
Beacon Hill was still a good, solid workout both directions.
I had a spinach and feta cheese omelette with tomato, onion, and avocado, side of fruit, (canteloupe and honey dew) no potatoes, toast, or pancakes, and un-sweetened coffee with half-and-half.
For some reason, it took about 30 minutes for the omelette to get to the table after ordering, which is unusual.
Still, the food was good and healthy, the weather was beautiful, and I feel great after a good, hard ride. Now I'm fresh off the shower and ready for the rest of my vacation day.
Ride on,
Dan
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
75 Scwinn Continental: A Great Ride This Morning - Riding For Breakfast
I was off this morning for breakfast-by-bicycle, riding out 22nd Street to Finley Road, and over Beacon Hill to Juicy-O.
I had the path mostly to myself on the way there. The intersection of 22nd and Finley is still stupid. There's only a pedestrian crossing of Finley on the North side of 22nd, so to Go South along Finley, (which is the only side with a sidewalk) you have to cross that intersection three times. That's also the side Juicy-O is on.
Beacon Hill is still a great workout, but no longer a hard challenge as back when I first got into riding again.
I had coffee, cream but no sugar, a small orange juice, an apple-cheddar omelette, and mixed fruit. No toast, pancakes, or potatoes.
After breakfast, I rode back up Beacon Hill and passed a young lady biking the way I'd just come, and another jogging the same direction I was riding. There was only one other bicyclist all the way home, and a couple of walkers.
The weather was glorious, about 80 degrees and sunny. About a six-mile ride, round-trip, but Beacon Hill put the work on it.
Ride on,
Dan
I had the path mostly to myself on the way there. The intersection of 22nd and Finley is still stupid. There's only a pedestrian crossing of Finley on the North side of 22nd, so to Go South along Finley, (which is the only side with a sidewalk) you have to cross that intersection three times. That's also the side Juicy-O is on.
Beacon Hill is still a great workout, but no longer a hard challenge as back when I first got into riding again.
I had coffee, cream but no sugar, a small orange juice, an apple-cheddar omelette, and mixed fruit. No toast, pancakes, or potatoes.
After breakfast, I rode back up Beacon Hill and passed a young lady biking the way I'd just come, and another jogging the same direction I was riding. There was only one other bicyclist all the way home, and a couple of walkers.
The weather was glorious, about 80 degrees and sunny. About a six-mile ride, round-trip, but Beacon Hill put the work on it.
Ride on,
Dan
Get Outside!
Sounds fun...
From: "E-The Environmental Magazine"
Date: Aug 14, 2012 2:33 PM
Subject: Get Outside!
From: "E-The Environmental Magazine"
Date: Aug 14, 2012 2:33 PM
Subject: Get Outside!
| Having trouble viewing this email? Click here |
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This six-day bike tour is an experience of a lifetime biking through the best and most beautiful attractions of northern California. This tour gives bikers a chance to cycle through Napa, Sonoma, Bodega Bay and the Redwoods while stopping at several of the best wineries and inns in California. The trip accommodates both beginner and advanced bikers allowing people of all skill levels to join the tour. This is the perfect trip for anyone who wants to cycle through some of the great scenic views of California. 
This trip in Maine takes you through Acadia National Park and along Penobscot Bay. On this six-day hike, you'll enjoy all the beautiful outdoor attractions of Maine. This is a great trip for walkers of all levels who would like to spend their summer vacation outdoors on the coastline of Maine. After a day of walking through the beautiful outdoors, hikers are accommodated with a room at three of the best inns in Maine to rest and relax before another day of exploring. 
For the more adventurous vacationers, try this six-day multi-sport trip to Yellowstone Park. Including biking, water rafting and hiking, this tour allows vacationers to explore Yellowstone Park and Teton Village in a variety of different ways. The tour starts with river rafting through the rapids of the Snake River and ends with hiking the Grand Canyon in Yellowstone Park. On the way, adventurers are accommodated at four of the best lodges and hotels to relax at before the next escape. 
Known as the nature island of the Caribbean, Dominica is located between Guadeloupe and Martinique. Rosalie Bay is a popular resort that many people like to stay at for a luxurious eco-indulgent experience. With vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menu options and a variety of environmental tours to choose from, this is the ultimate environmental vacation. The resort generates electricity from solar panels, uses LED lights with seating made from recycled materials. There's even an organic garden for guests to enjoy. 
Visit the Florida Keys' Deer Run Bed & Breakfast for another green travel adventure. The eco-friendly inn accommodates vegetarians and vegans. In and around the inn are a variety of activities that guests can participate in including biking, kayaking, hiking or just relaxing. Bahi Honda State Park and Looe Key Marine Sanctuary are only minutes away and allow guests to explore the white beaches of Florida or scuba dive and snorkel through the clear Atlantic Ocean reefs. Guided eco tours are also available for kayaking and bird watching. 
Idaho Afloat offers one-day or multi-day white water rafting trips through four of Idaho's rivers and two of Montana's. They offer a variety of experiences whether you want a trip full of adventure or one that is more relaxed for the whole family. Each river has its own unique traits, but no matter which one you choose you are guaranteed an experience of a lifetime. 
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Wednesday, August 8, 2012
75 Schwinn Continental: Out Exploring The Bicycle Way Again...
I rode out to the little park on Macarthur Drive, and took the other fork in the gravel path. It leads to another small neighborhood park and dead-ends there.
I wound my way around through the suburb, and found that Macarthur goes through to 22nd, which gives access to the sidewalk along 22nd, and a lot of strip mall action - including the big & tall men's store. That suits me just fine, I'm 6'6".
There just isn't a pedestrian crossing for HWY 83 to get to Oak Brook Center mall. The safest way is to go up the shoulder a bit from Hodges, where 83 is divided with a wide meridian. Then you can wait for one side to get stopped at the light, cross to the meridian, and wait for the other direction to get light-blocked.
The most logical place for a ped-crossing is at Hodges. The other two intersections are too dangerous.
Time for an IDOT petition.
Ride on,
Dan
I wound my way around through the suburb, and found that Macarthur goes through to 22nd, which gives access to the sidewalk along 22nd, and a lot of strip mall action - including the big & tall men's store. That suits me just fine, I'm 6'6".
There just isn't a pedestrian crossing for HWY 83 to get to Oak Brook Center mall. The safest way is to go up the shoulder a bit from Hodges, where 83 is divided with a wide meridian. Then you can wait for one side to get stopped at the light, cross to the meridian, and wait for the other direction to get light-blocked.
The most logical place for a ped-crossing is at Hodges. The other two intersections are too dangerous.
Time for an IDOT petition.
Ride on,
Dan
Truck hits, kills, woman on bicycle on South Side - chicagotribune.com
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-bicyclist-struck-killed-by-truck-identified-20120807,0,906614.story
The Tribune is reporting it as a hit-and-run.
The lady who was killed has a name: Evelyn.
Keep that third eye open, people, and keep pushing for bike routes separated from smogger traffic.
Ride on,
Dan
The Tribune is reporting it as a hit-and-run.
The lady who was killed has a name: Evelyn.
Keep that third eye open, people, and keep pushing for bike routes separated from smogger traffic.
Ride on,
Dan
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
75 Schwinn Continental: The Morning Adventures of the Airmail Rider...
Well, I wear a Nutcase-brand "Airmail" bike helmet, and I love trying to fly my very own Continental...(Continentals were one of the last, largest, and best propeller-driven civilian airliners for you non-airplane buffs)
So anyway, I started my adventure this morning when I went to get the Connie out of our condo building's (VERY FULL) bicycle storage room. (I can't keep her up here, there's three of us in 1,200 square feet.)
Someone bought a brand-new tricycle and decided to park it chained to a building gas line right in front of where I've been parking the Connie for three years now. This has made it so that the only way I can get the Connie out is to hoist it over the three-wheeled behemoth. I also have it on very good authority that the trike owner is in excellent physical condition with no obserbable disabilities. They jusy want and adult trike - and are damn rude about it. The attached pics show the result. The Connie is immediately left of the trike in the photos.
Once I got the Connie out, I decided to see if there was a good bike path from the condo tower where I live to the Oak Brook Center Mall. From now on, I will be calling all such nearly car-free bike routes The Bicycle Way. (And of course bike culture in general) I took off on the Connie determined to search out a new leg of The Bicycle Way that goes to Oak Brook Center, but with a side errand enroute.
I took the cut-through behind the Automobile Trade Association building, (Ah, the delicious irony!) and turned left onto Trans Am Way. I went through the office complex to The Road To Nowhere, and took that to the dirt path to the paved bike path between Ardmore and Butterfield. I then took Ardmore to 16th Street, and rode 16th toward Summit.
Along 16th, there is a sign shop. I stopped in and spoke to Joe at the sign shop. It turns out they can make four copies of the Schwinn Continental decals for around $120.00, and within about two days of me dropping them off. I'm thinking two paychecks out. Hurrah! I can get the Connie painted this Winter!
After talking to Joe, I took 16th to Summit, and then took a right on Summit to my next left. I don't know the name of that road, but suffice it to say that I was able to wind my way through this little subdivision to Hodges Road, which comes out at a stoplight immediately across Highway 83 from Oak Brook Center. Drat the luck, there are no pedestrian signals there. Clearly, my Connie has nowhere near enough weight to trigger the pressure pads under the concrete at the white line at the stoplight, so I'm never going to get a green light to cross Hwy 83 until a car going the same direction I am comes along. Hodges is very lightly traveled, the ligjt is more for the benefit of gas vehicles (Smoggers in my lingo) exiting the mall. I decided to save "how to cross to the mall" for another day or an appeal to Oak Brook Terrace's Park District for pedestrian signals. Highway 83 is four six lanes of 55 MPH sudden-death at that crossing. The exursion for today had been more about extending The Bicycle Way to the mall perimeter, rather than actually going to the mall this morning. At this point, I turned around and started back. It was just then that I spied what had been obscured by weeping willow trees going toward the mall.
There was a small park entrance along the South side of Hodges just before it meets Hwy 83. I turned in and saw a typical Western-Chicago suburban park centered on an industrial park retention pond, with swingsets and the new type of plastic toddlers' fort-slide, with benches and a crushed gravel bike/foot path around the perimeter.
I turned onto the gravel and started pedaling, expecting a scenic diversion around the pond. However, before I made it a third of the way around, I discovered a fork in the path going off to the right between two wood-fenced back yards. I followed the trail along, and it forked again a little ways down. I turned right at this fork also, as it went nore the direction of home.
The second fork went over a wooden footbridge crossing a tiny creek, and became a crushed red gravel path (vs. crushed limestone) ending at a small meditation garden complete with foyntain along Macarthur Drive. (Funny, I was just listening to Donna Summer sing MacArthur Park yesterday morning)
I took Macarthur right, and wound up at a stoplight across Butterfield from a paved bike path that I knew would get me back to The Road To Nowhere. I had successfully extended The Bicycle Way.
Now, if you were confused with my directiins above, I don't blame you. I have an idea to do a drastically better version of bicycle routes. I'll save that for another post, however. It will be titled, of course, "The Bicycle Way". Look for it soon.
Ride on,
Dan
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