California (finally) signs three-foot passing law | Bicycle Times Magazine

http://www.bicycletimesmag.com/content/california-finally-signs-three-foot-passing-law

Chicago as the New Portland (Chicago, IL) - Meetup

http://www.meetup.com/Chicago-as-the-New-Portland/?gj=ej1b&a=wg2.1_rdmr

One Way Or Another You Gotta Roll - The Actual Post

When I woke up this morning, my original plan had been to take Big Blue out on the Illinois Prairie Path for a nice long ride. However, the weather was calling for 87 degrees F and thunderstorms. One look out the bedroom window was enough to ensure me that the thunder-boomers were coming, it was just a matter of when. On top of that, we'd had a major bout of storms roll through yesterday and drop a deluge in the area.

I changed my mind and pulled out Big Bamboo, my Sector 9 New Lennox bamboo longboard. I haven't built up enough skill on the longboard yet to do any distance commuting with it, so I figured that if it started pouring, I'd be able to duck into the other condo tower in our complex, whereas on the Connie, I'd be miles out on the trail and exposed to both rain, and worse, lightning.

When I stepped outside, it was charcoal grey skies, just barely sprinkling, 70 degrees F, and very humid. It had that "rain" smell in the air, which I love. This was about 10:30 am. Off I rolled to the back of the parking lot where I like to practice with my longboard.

It happens that there's a very park-like design to our condo complex, with about 17 acres of grounds. A lot of it is lawn, and there's also an outdoor swimming pool, numerous trees, some scrub woods, and a pond. It's very pretty here. The Canada geese also think so. As you can see from one of the photos, when these Canadians invade a place, they leave quite a "gooseberry" minefield. That gets especially nasty when the gooseberries have just been rained on. This particular effect has caused Lake Michigan beaches to have to be closed because of elevated e-coli bacterial levels in the lake water after storms.  Watch where you're rolling!

One of the things I'm enjoying about longboarding is the room it has for what I call "micro-improvements." It reminds me of Tai Chi that way, and in a couple of others as well. Tai Chi is all about a lifetime of incremental improvements in skill level. So is longboarding. They also are both all about balance and graceful, fluid motion. There are some serious differences as well; longboarding is all about how to get moved, Tai Chi is about how NOT to get moved. Still, they're enough alike that I'm trying to focus qui while rolling on my board.

This is where that video comes in. I think that longboarding has a deep element of grace when practiced correctly, and can be as beautiful in its own way as the Tai Chi forms are in theirs. This video, "Longboarding: Let Go" illustrates it wonderfully.



Kyle Chin is the skater I believe. His form here is sheer grace and mastery.


And below is noobie me, just trying to duck gooseberries in the parking lot. Still, today I noticed several improvements. I was able to get in another push starting off, so I'm getting much better rolling speed. I was also able for the first time to adjust my foot positions on the board while moving, and also found a slightly better angle for my lead foot. Subtle, steady, incremental improvements.

By the time I was done, it was 78 degrees F, and the air was so wet you could just about wring it out. I was sweating buckets - which means I got some solid rolling exercise. I'm loving both my bicycles and my board - and I'm thrilled to have the option to adapt to conditions.

Ride on, and put your qui in it.

Dan

One Way Or Another You Gotta Roll

Now, I'm totally frustrated. I just spent half an hour typing up a long post on my smartphone, and went to grrab a Youtube video link for illustration. When I came back, the body of the post wasn't saved in the draft. Google, you need to work on that in your 'Droid app, seriously!!

Here's the vid link, at least:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kkviQ41u0eQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkkviQ41u0eQ

When I get to a real keyboard, I'll re-write this post from scratch. Meanwhile, I need to get showered and centered. Uhg!

Ride on,


Dan

What To Do After Rollerskating And Weightlifting...

Sit outside on a pretty, warm day and read Bicycle Times, of course! Well, that, and daydream about bicycling the prairie path tomorrow...

Ride on,

Dan

Looking For Wheel Rim Upgrade Options For 1970's-Era Schwinn 10-Speed Bikes...

Dear BT Staff,

I'm looking for an alloy rim that looks as close to chromed-steel as possible and will spoke to my original Schwinn Continental 10-speed front and rear hubs.

I'm going for as close to the original look of these bikes as possible. I have a '72 and a '75 that both use the original Schwinn 27" x 1 & 1/4" chromed-steel rims.

Needless to say, I can't get a reliable bead seal with modern tires, they fit a bit looser than the original Schwinn tires did. With the bead seal issue and the flex of steel rim sidewalls, I can't put over 60 psi or I blow the tubes out between the tire and rim. I've had six flats this Summer. (Two were dry-rotted tire sidewalls and one was a broken spoke)

At 6'6" and 310lbs, I'm facing a lot of drag on crushed-limestone rail-trails and a lot of bottom-outs on rough pavement at 60 psi.

I love these old bikes, and except for the flats, they suit my riding perfectly. How can I do an original-looking resto-mod on my beautiful vintage velos?

Thank you in advance,

Dan Stafford
http://1975continental.blogspot.com

Cool, Crisp, Bright...

...that's how I would decribe this morning.

It took me a few rolls to get warmed up - both figuratively & literally. I had to wear a hoodie. It was only 50 degrees F out there, and breezy.

The breeze was blowing in my uphill direction, so it was slowing me a bit on the way down. I was losing about twenty yards of travel. That added a bit to the workout.

I saw my friend Pete out riding his bike, and stopped to say "hi." We were talking about how biking and longboarding are good for your balance. Pete said something that stuck with me. (He often does, he's about 25 years older than I am, and pretty smart.) Pete said "There are three balancing acts we all have to do in life; head, heart, and wallet."

At any rate, it was a great ride.

Ride on,

Dan

The Better World Club PAYOLA

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Better World Club" <marketing@betterworldclub.com>
Date: Sep 16, 2013 12:10 PM
Subject: The Better World Club PAYOLA
To: "Dan Stafford" <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

PAYOLA September 2013 TOP STORY: BWC's Deal Finder Makes Your Membership Even More Valuable This word isn't as catchy as "Surfin' Bird", but it will save you more money. Better World Club now has two National Discount Portals, BWC Deal Finder and Travel Access, allow BWC members to find great deals and online discounts for travel, shopping, and play. Login to use our two portals or search our preferred partner list on the main discounts page. Look forward to a new discounts page design coming soon. Important: BWC is considering promoting our discounts more regularly via e-mail. Here is the question: How often would you like to receive relevant deals in your inbox? Daily, weekly, monthly, or, *gasp*, we can't say it! Make a difference. Respond to our survey. Featured Discounts Everlight RV: 2 years roadside assist Constellation Energy: Free $25 gift card Eco-Friendly Luggage: 50% OFF Hubber Car Rental: $10 OFF National Geographic: 70% OFF Share Kicking Asphalt Get Out of Town in a Hurry With Our Spiffy Booking Engine Everlight RV's and Oregon Roads Custom discount packages only for BWC Members, and 2 years of RV roadside assistance! Joseph McKinney, President of Oregon Roads, Inc., is a man that shares our vision and pride in promoting green transportation, so when we connected and decided to cover the Ever-lite RV's, it seemed like more than serendipity. BWC is partnering with Oregon Roads to cover your new RV with our Roadside Assistance. They will even fly you to Eugene, OR or the distribution center in Indiana to pick up your RV! Manufactured by EverGreen RV, Ever-Lite is the only RV with "Emerald" Certification by the TRA (That is the highest rating possible). These products are healthy and made to the highest standards of environmental quality pertaining both to the process of manufacture and the everyday use and impact of the product. Read More    $25 Constellation Visa Prepaid Card with Sign Up Constellation Energy offers renewable energy for residential houses and businesses. Constellation Energy offers alternative providers, natural gas, and renewable energy for residents and businesses in eastern states with deregulated markets. Renewable energy is wind based. Changing your source does not change your local distributor (see FAQs) , and switching in a competitive market can save you money beyond the $25 Prepaid Card. Available states include: Electric -- IN, CT, MA, DC. Gas -- MI, GA, KY. Both -- IL, MD, NY, NJ, OH, PA. Login to your member profile and select Constellation Energy on the discounts page. Login     Up To 75% Off Eco-Friendly Luggage from Irv's Unlike Twinkies, this deal is only good through December. Irv's Luggage has been a family-owned business since 1947 and operates two retail stores in the Chicago suburbs. Irv's does business nationally and offers a line of eco-friendly luggage products. Free shipping with purchases over $99. Login to your member profile and select BWC Deal Finder on the discounts page to search for this and other great deals. Share KA With a Friend   Green Car Insurance Get a Quote Hubber: $10 OFF 3 day Rentals Off to see the Wizard? No? How bout traveling to LAX? :) Hubber is a peer to peer car rental company serving travelers headed to Los Angeles, CA and soon San Francisco, CA. List your car for rental if you live there to get free airport parking, rental revenue and a car wash. Rent from them if you're traveling for business or vacation to help out fellow travelers while selecting the unique car you want to drive with included insurance. As a socially and environmentally-conscious travel club, Better world club loves peer-to-peer models of car rental and ownership. We are excited to partner with Hubber, an innovative company helping to create a more sustainable transportation future. $10 off a 3 day rental only for BWC Members. Login to your member profile and select Hubber on the discounts page. Login    70% OFF Select National Geographic Merchandise National Geographic. Showing you the majesty of our world. Saving you from being naked. National Geographic partners with artisans who live in economically and politically unstable areas of the world to develop products that sell globally but sustain locally. Their partnerships provide stable income to artisans who often face: natural disasters that cut off supplies and transportation routes; illness and death from the AIDS epidemic; and political turbulence that halts production. Support National Geographic and the artisans they partner with while you save 70% on select merchandise. Login to your member profile and select BWC Deal Finder on the discounts page to search for this and other great deals. Login    Not a Member of Better World Club? BWC's Member Discounts More Than Pay for a Membership! BWC Discounts More than Better World Club members can save money in all kinds of ways, whether through hotel, car rental, travel, or other discounts. Join Better World Club now and get in on the savings! Use this link and we'll even throw in a 10% discount on Better World membership. Tell a friend about Better World Club! kicking_asphalt@betterworldclub.com • Better World Club More 'Kicking Asphalt' There's More to 'Kicking Asphalt' Than Just Discounts Looking to Kick more Asphalt? Washington Watch, Member Alerts, green vehicle reviews, and much, much more can be found in "Non-Payola" editions of Kicking Asphalt. Peruse recycled eNewsletters Share us with a friend Have a comment, rant, or suggestion? Email us!

Send this email to a friend:   Check out this email!

This CoolerEmail was delivered to you by Better World Club. You can take your email address off Better World Club's email list, or update your preferences and/or send comments to Better World Club. If you request to be taken off Better World Club's email list, Better World Club will honor your request pursuant to CoolerEmail's permission-based email terms and conditions. Postal address: 412 NW Couch St. Suite #100, Portland, OR 97209

Getting Close To Villa Park...

MAN, it's nice out here!

Ride on,

Dan

Eleven-Mile Turn-Around, Downtown Wheaton

A little shade, a little rest, a little cool water.

Carlton Avenue and Liberty Drive on the West end of Wheaton.

The trail splits here.

75 degrees & sunny. Time to head home.

Ride on,

Dan

New high-tech tools emerge for urban bicycle commuters battling traffic | The Raw Story

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/10/new-high-tech-tools-emerge-for-urban-bicycle-commuters-battling-traffic/

Bamboo Cruiser In The Practice Zone

Sunshine. Breezy. 75 degrees. Smooth blacktop. Low-traffic. Zen-rolling on bamboo, baby.

Don't need no more reason to be grinnin' & cruisin'.

Ride on,

Dan

New high-tech tools emerge for urban bicycle commuters battling traffic | The Raw Story

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/10/new-high-tech-tools-emerge-for-urban-bicycle-commuters-battling-traffic/

Which photographer deserves a new folding bike?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Mary Lauran Hall, Alliance for Biking & Walking" <info@peoplepoweredmovement.org>
Date: Sep 9, 2013 10:57 AM
Subject: Which photographer deserves a new folding bike?
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Hi Daniel,   Our July photo contest is down to just six finalists. We need your help to decide the victorious photo!    The Alliance held a summer photo contest to collect great images of biking and walking. We collected so many awesome photos -- all of which will be made available for state and local advocates to use in their work.     Now, we need to decide which photographer will win the grand prize: a brand new Tern folding bike.       Will you help out? Vote for a winner by "liking" your favorite photo on Facebook.    Thanks,  Mary Lauran   PS: Are you a shutter-snapper yourself? Check out this month's photo contest.

This email was sent to aquarianm@gmail.com by info@peoplepoweredmovement.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Alliance for Biking & Walking | PO Box 65150 | Washington | DC | 20035

Apply for a Scholarship to the 2013 Walking Summit

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Brighid O'Keane, Alliance for Biking & Walking" <info@peoplepoweredmovement.org>
Date: Sep 5, 2013 4:03 PM
Subject: Apply for a Scholarship to the 2013 Walking Summit
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

How about a free ride to the Walking Summit? Click here to view this email in your browser.

Hi Daniel,  Want to get into the National Walking Summit for free?    The National Walking Summit in Washington DC on October 1 - 3 will be a unique opportunity for leaders to build capacity, develop strategies and share best practices to increase investments in walking and walkability.   Advocacy Advance -- a partnership between the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists -- is awarding a limited number of scholarships. If you're interested in joining us at the summit but need some help to get there, consider applying for a scholarship.    Click here to apply for a scholarship for the National Walking Summit.    I'm excited for the Walking Summit because the event has real potential to inject momentum into the national movement to make our streets safer and more accessible for walking. Advocates will have the opportunity to: Learn from the Advocacy Advance team about how to fund cutting-edge walkability projects Hear New York Times bestselling author Jonah Berger explain how to make walking messages catch on and become truly contagious  Meet Anthony Foxx, the new US Secretary of Transportation, and hear his priorities on walking issues Plus, a ton of capacity building sessions will help concerned citizens, advocates and public officials turn new knowledge and skills into concrete plans.    The deadline to apply for a Walking Summit scholarship is Friday, September 13 -- apply now.    I hope to see you at the Summit in DC this October!  Sincerely,   Brighid O'Keane Advocacy and Programs Director Alliance for Biking & Walking and Advocacy Advance

This email was sent to aquarianm@gmail.com by info@peoplepoweredmovement.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Alliance for Biking & Walking | PO Box 65150 | Washington | DC | 20035

A Beautiful Hour Pushing Back

The weather was gorgeous this morning.

I grabbed my Nutcase Airmail helmet and my Sector 9 New Lennox bamboo cruiser and hit the parking lot for a good hour of push and roll.

I'm approaching longboarding in a fashion similar to Tai Chi. Focus and meditate on feeling an energetic connection with the board under your feet, and the earth under your board. I'm in no hurry, and I like practicing balancing on the board as it slows to a near-stop. With the springiness of the bamboo, and the height and flexibility of the double-articulated Sidewinder trucks, it's a deep challenge. Perfect as we move into Autumn, which tends to bring me to a more introspective and meditative state of mind.

After rolling around for an hour, I went on Cafepress.com and designed a new longboarding tee shirt. I'll link it here later.

I just saw three young longboarders cruising around downtown Chicago this evening. Someday I'll play like that.

Ride on,

Dan

Streetside E-News: September 2013

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Alliance for Biking & Walking" <streetside@peoplepoweredmovement.org>
Date: Sep 4, 2013 4:13 PM
Subject: Streetside E-News: September 2013
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Vote for the Summer Photo Contest Winner  Summer is over, and so is the Alliance's summer biking & walking photo contest. Help us choose a winner by liking your favorite photo on the Alliance Facebook page!      The lucky photographer whose photo receives the most likes by Tuesday, September 10 at 5:00 PM will win a brand new Tern folding bike and rack.    Give your favorite photo a thumbs-up » Apply for a 2014 Winning Campaigns Training The Alliance is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications to host 2014 Winning Campaigns Trainings.    This is your opportunity to bring national bicycle and pedestrian advocates to your region to train your staff, board, volunteers, and other allies on how to win biking and walking campaigns in your community.     Through a competitive process, we will select up to six communities to hold this must-attend training. All proposals must be submitted by Monday, September 30.      Learn more and apply now »  New Members-Only Fundraising Guide: Government Contracting & Consulting Partnerships with governments can be a real strength for nonprofit stability and programming. To help get your organization started in the world of government grants and contracting, check out the Alliance's fourth Guide to Fundraising.      This new guide -- which is for Alliance member organizations only -- is packed with advice from consulting experts and essential lessons from state and local active transportation advocates.   Check out the Guide to Fundraising for insight into types of government grants available for bicycling and walking projects, finding grant opportunities, and balancing advocacy with being a contractor.     Read a preview and download the full report » Build Bike Friendly Business Districts in Your City Working with business districts unlocks a world of possibilities for bicycle advocacy.      Organizing a Bicycle Friendly Business District (BFBD) program can encourage more people to shop and dine locally, nurture business champions for bicycle improvements at the city level, and lead to infrastructure improvements like bike lanes and better bike parking.   On a recent Mutual Aid Call, advocates from Long Beach, CA and New York, NY shared strategies for launching BFBD programs at the local level.    Check out the notes and a recording here » Back to School Biking & Walking Photo Contest The Alliance is teaming up with Streetsblog to jointly sponsor a back-to-school photo contest!      Now through September 20, send us your photos of car-free kiddie transport and street life for the under-12 set.    Learn more and submit your photos » Webinar Recap: Facebook 101 for Advocates Facebook is the place to be if you want to boost your advocacy efforts and build a network of supporters. But it can be easy to get left behind in today's ever-changing social media landscape.      If you're scratching your head over the difference between a "like" and a "poke," our recent webinar with the League on the basics of using Facebook for advocacy is right up your alley.    See video and slides from the webinar » National Advocates Celebrate 500 Complete Streets Policies in the U.S. Here's a big reason for celebration: the United States now has over 500 Complete Streets policies on the books.    In other words, over 500 local governments, state governments and departments of transportation have decided that it's important to build roads that work well for everyone - whether you're walking, biking, taking transit or driving.      Our President / CEO, Jeff Miller, joined the Complete Streets Coalition last week to celebrate the important milestone.    Check out video of his remarks » Open Streets Project Holds First Ever National Open Streets Training  Last month, over 50 leaders from 21 states gathered in Minneapolis for the first ever National Open Streets training.      The event, hosted by the Open Streets Project - a joint initiative of the Alliance and Street Plans Collaborative - equipped organizers and advocacy leaders with the skills and tools necessary to implement Open Streets initiatives in their communities.     Learn more about this cutting-edge training » Upcoming Mutual Aid Calls  Our Mutual Aid conference calls are a great forum to gain insight from your Alliance peers on the specific issues and topics that are important to your organization. Additionally, Advocacy Advance has been hosting a series of calls to help you direct funding sources toward investments in biking and walking.  All calls begin at 2 PM eastern time. September 11, 2:00 - 3:00 PM eastern:  Boosting Advocacy with Health Impact Assessments Health impact assessments (HIAs) can be important tools when planning for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Planners and policymakers can use findings from HIAs to objectively predict the potential health effects of a project - such as a bike lane or sidewalk improvement - or a policy - such as a complete streets policy - before implementing. HIAs bring public health issues to the forefront in a decision-making process so that planners can more effectively address public health issues. Join this call to hear from health practitioners and advocates about how health impact assessments can boost your advocacy.  September 25, 2:00 - 3:00 PM eastern: Forming Complete Streets Coalitions   Cross-sector coalitions are powerful tools when working to pass and implement a state or local Complete Streets policy. By building partnerships with transit advocates, health stakeholders, economic development groups, environmental organizations and more, biking and walking advocates can multiply impact and ensure a great policy to build safe, accessible streets for all. Join this call to hear from national and local advocates with hands-on experience building winning coalitions for Complete Streets. October calls: October 9: Working with Police for Smarter Enforcement   October 16: Twitter 101  October 23: Boosting Capacity with Temporary Staff What would you like to discuss on a Mutual Aid Call? Does your organization have expertise to share with peer organizations and other advocates? Email Mary Lauran with your ideas! Register Now September 11: Boosting Advocacy with Health Impact Assessments   September 13 - 16: Winning Campaigns Training (Helena, MT)   September 25: Forming Complete Streets Coalitions   September 26: Navigating MAP-21 Workshop in Charleston, WV Member News Bike Walk Mississippi Builds Capacity  The Magnolia State's bike and walk advocacy group -- which was named 2013 Advocacy Organization of the Year -- is leading a campaign to revive Mississippi as a hub for active living. The organization's work was supported by a capacity building grant from Advocacy Advance.  Read more »    Bike Maryland Builds a Bike Friendly State With support from Performance Bicycle through the Alliance, Bike Maryland launched a statewide campaign to nurture bicycle friendly communities, businesses and universities. Advocates from the Old Lane State have found success with tapping into existing networks and building upon League of American Bicyclists' models. Read more »   Driver Found at Fault After SF Advocates' Investigation  After 24-year-old cyclist Amelie Le Moullac was struck by a truck and killed, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition raised concerns about lackluster police response and a stalled investigation. Advocates found footage of the crash from a business near the crash intersection; the police department have confirmed that the footage showed the driver at fault. Read more »   Seattle, Maine, Philadelphia Advocates Win Yuba Mundo Bikes  Congratulations to Bike Works, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia for winning Yuba Mundo cargo bikes in the Alliance's July photo contest. Check out the winning snapshots »   New York Advocates Plan Winning Campaigns  At an Alliance Winning Campaigns Training in White Plans, New York, state and local biking and walking advocates from around the country developed new campaigns to win progress for active transportation. Learn more » Wyoming Pathways Strengthens Statewide Efforts  Wyoming advocates are establishing a statewide presence with help from an Advocacy Advance Rapid Response grant. Read more »   Living Streets Alliance Takes Strides in Walking Advocacy The Living Streets Alliance has established themselves as Tuscon's "go-to" advocacy organization for walkable and livable streets. Thanks to a $15,000 boost from an Advocacy Advance Capacity Building Grant, Tuscon advocates are getting ready to make their city more walkable.  Read more » Partner News Advocates Respond to USDOT Strategic Plan  The US Department of Transportation has released it proposed strategic plan, a blueprint that will influence the agency's work to improve and maintain the nation's transportation over the next five years. Both the League of American Bicyclists and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership have issued responses.  Inaugural Shared Use Mobility Conference Set for October   As the bikesharing industry grows along side carsharing and ridesharing, connecting, learning, and exchanging ideas is more important than ever. The inaugural Shared-Use Mobility Summit will address bikesharing and shared-used transportatino this October in San Francisco.  Learn more » Register for the National Walking Summit   Join national and local leaders to engage in inspiring conversations and sessions that will build capacity, develop strategies, increase momentum, and showcase best practices to increase investments in walking and walkability.  Register » Thank you to our  Sponsors!

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