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Why haven’t I been riding more? (Guest post)

03.03.2009 by Ray Niekamp // 5 Comments

Gilbert Martinez
Gilbert Martinez

Bike Noob is proud and happy to turn over this blog to a post by my friend and colleague, Gilbert Martinez. Gilbert is the Vice President of the Austin Cycling Association, the city’s largest bike club. His biking interests are somewhat different than mine, because he is more focused on the utility aspects of biking. But he’s been backsliding lately, and wrote about it in the February issue of Southwest Cycling News, the ACA’s monthly newspaper. The following is an edited version of his article.

I have a nearly all-purpose hybrid bicycle that allows me to do a whole range of cycling — from regular commuting, thanks to a rear rack and panniers, to quick jaunts and errands to my brothers’ houses.

When I travel, I sometimes pack my folding bike and enjoy hitting the streets in new destinations. If I want to go off-road, I have a front-suspension mountain bike that’s raring to go.

What I don’t have, it seems, is the will to ride.

Oh, I believe in cycling — I believe that cycling is better for me on all sorts of levels. I know that regular cycling will ease the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. I know that I’m feeling better, mentally and physically, when I’m riding regularly. I know that cycling is better for the environment and means that I use my motor vehicle less. I also know that simply riding my bike in Austin helps make Austin a more bike-friendly community. Plus, I’m certain that it’s fun because I’m reminded of that every time I ride.

So, what’s happened to my will to ride? Did I misplace it? If I did, have you seen it, and if you have, can you return it, or at least tell me where it’s gone?

Somehow, I’ve fallen off the bike, so to speak, and I’m searching for ways to more consistently get back on.

I’ve got some ideas.

I was inspired at the last ACA monthly meeting when we had a commuter bike show-and-tell. We had a wonderful turnout and a fabulous range of bicycles, including a recumbent. I loved hearing what these experienced cyclists said about what they carried on their regular commutes, how they dealt with night riding and with inclement weather, and how they modified their rides to overcome challenges.

It inspired me to come up with a plan.

First, I think I need to work harder at making cycling easier and more comfortable. For example, I can do a lot to prepare for a work commute the night before so that when I wake up I can get out the door quickly.

But, just as importantly, I think it’s also about challenging myself and pushing out of my comfort zone.

How easy is it to develop excuses if you only rode in ideal conditions? Granted, we have pretty good weather in Central Texas, but we do get rain on occasion. How often have you bailed on riding because of the weather? Because it was too cold, too wet, too hot, too sunny, too cloudy?

In fact, I had planned on riding my bike to the commuter bike show-and-tell but got scared off because of weather reports of steady rain beginning a couple of hours before the meeting. Of course, it didn’t rain, and I was left wondering why I let the excuse win out yet again.

So I’ve decided that 2009 will be the year I get back on my bike in a big way. I’m going to make pedal strokes, not excuses. I’m going to find a way to commute to work, even if it means once a week at first. I’m going to match my beliefs about cycling’s benefits to my actions.

Specifically, I’m getting excited thinking about a trip to Alabama and Georgia in June. Two lengthy rails-to-trails projects were connected last year — the Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama and the Silver Comet Trail in Georgia. The Ladiga Trail runs about 33 miles from Anniston in northeast Alabama to the state line. On the Georgia side, the Silver Comet runs 61 miles to Smyrna, a suburb of Atlanta.

Remember what I said about comfort zones? I’ve never ridden a century before. I’ve done a metric century (62 miles) and a tad more a few times, but nothing close to 100 miles in one ride.

Time to get out of my comfort zone. I’m looking forward to making 2009 a year of riding, not excuse-making.

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Categories // guest post, Rides, training Tags // Commuting, guest post

Safer cycling

10.30.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 5 Comments

I’ve mentioned before that I work at a university.  One of the things I’ve noticed as I hit town during my daily commute is an increasing number of cyclists on the road, biking to and from campus.  I think we’re all noticing more cyclists lately, because of high gas prices, but the ones I’ve been seeing are worth a comment.

More and more cyclists seem to be practicing what is called “vehicular cycling,” where bikes take their place among other traffic on the road, and cyclists follow the same rules cars must follow.  This morning, one fellow waited in a left turn lane about four cars back from the stoplight.  When the light changed, he pedaled hard to stay with the flow of cars around the corner, then reached the bike lane on the road he was turning on to, and settled in.  The cars behind him were not delayed by following a bike.

A four-lane road leads from the interstate highway toward campus.  This morning, a cyclist rode “as far to the right as practicable” and moved at a pretty good clip.  Cars passed him closely, because there’s no room for a bike lane on this road, but there is enough room for two cars and a bike — if everybody pays attention.

I’m also seeing more riders stop at stop signs and signal their turns.

Of course, there are always some jerks, but that’s not what this post is about.

As a larger number of cyclists ride according to the rules of the road, that boosts the chances that motorists will be more likely to accept their presence, and perhaps ease the antagonism between cyclists and drivers.

And before you ask — no, I’m not one of the bike commuters.  Unfortunately, I live 30 miles from work, and riding there is not a realistic choice — for me.

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Categories // Commuting, Safety Tags // car free, Commuting, Safety

Bike commuting grows

07.11.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 2 Comments

I’m not a bike commuter. My one-way ride to work is 30 miles, and it just wouldn’t be practical, especially in the high-90s temps we continue to have in central Texas. But in more temperate climes, commuting is on the upswing. It’s apparently gotten so popular in Minneapolis that people are complaining about too many bikes on the roads, according to this article from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

“More temperate” may be too kind. I lived in Minneapolis for 12 years, and while the summers are great there, I wouldn’t care to bike commute from about October to April. But maybe I’ve just become a weather wuss since moving down south.

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Categories // Commuting Tags // Commuting

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