Google Search: Boulder Creek Path

I often stumble the internet, casting my eyes on dream jobs that may allow me to ride my bike as a profession. Unfortunately, Bike Cop lost its appeal after the second grade, and racing requires more spandex than I’m comfortable wearing. This week, when I discovered Google’s plan to map the world via pedal power, I found new hope.
Google Street View Trike allows viewers an intimate 360 perspective of the world. We all have an uncanny feeling when we see our house, business, or bike documented on the internet, but that’s the evolving world of cartography, get use to it. Google Street View Trike, a vehicle unleashed by engineer Dan Ratner, aims to map more paths, parks, zoos, campuses, and public spaces than their Street View cars. It also helps the Google team reduce their carbon emissions while increasing their heart rates.
When google purposed a competition last month for the first trike ride, Boulder Creek Path jumped on top of the “parks and trails” category. A possibility to log online and explore a 360 view down the Canyon depends on Boulder’s support. The voting ballots remain open until November 30th, and if we all hop onto google.com/trike we can support our local trail.

Check out the Daily’s article and GO VOTE:
http://www.dailycamera.com/archivesearch/ci_13757429?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com

Just Pullin My Chain

Tonight was cold enough to make a polar bear shiver. I was riding home and I had just crossed the street to the other side. I stood up to get more leg power in order to conquer the slick icy road. Not only do I horribly slip, but my chain jumped off as if it were frightened from the cold. Next thing I knew I was on the ground with my bike atop of me. Not only was I in pain but it was right during traffic hour and I saw 4 pairs of eyes gawking at me in awe and 'awe' my god that's embarassing look. Of course I stood up like nothing happened and a raised Jeep roars by with the passenger saying, "get a fixie!" I thought to myself, "that son of a nun has the audacity to say that to me in a vehicle?" So I fixed my frightened chain with my numb fingers, and quickly sped back to my warm cozy house. Never again, should anyone have to experience what I did.

Holiday Spirit

This post is in response to an article from: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/12/07/Police-Stolen-tree-balanced-on-bike/UPI-48651260205679/

It would be a crime not to share this story with the biking community. Police in Portage, Indiana recently arrested a man for stealing a Christmas tree. The story would normally stop here, but the man attempted to flee the farm on his bike. Police encountered the man riding an electric bicycle with no lights and a tree balancing upon his handle bars. I must admit, I admire the man’s dedication, but balancing a Douglas Fir, off the handle bars, at 1 in the morning seems a little dangerous. The individual tried to claim he obtained the $40 tree from his local pub, and not from the farm where the price tag indicated. The police returned the tree to the farm, and charged the man with theft and public intoxication. Nothing shows your holiday spirit more than strapping a tree on your bike and recklessly swerving down the highway.

Don't Give Up!

This article is in response to a blog entry on the CU Bookstore blog:
http://cubookstore.blogspot.com/2009/09/face-off-biking-versus-walking.html)

An un-cycled life is not worth walking! I recently read a blog on the cubookstore.blogspot.com that discouraged me. A student of CU gave up her bicycle for walking, and I just don’t think she gave it a college try. I want to extend this post to that student, and encourage her to get back on, and try again. I can’t imagine not riding my bike everyday, but I understand the concerns some may have when navigating campus.

First, let me address the issue that campus sits on a hill. Until I read this in the post, I forgot the topography of campus. After you fully dedicate yourself, hills become afterthoughts, and climbs put a smile on your face. I come from the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania, so maybe I’m accustomed to climbing, but you can learn too.

As for the obstacle course of people, it rarely bothers me to slow down and ring my bell. Boulderites respond when they know a biker’s behind them, something you may not find in other communities. Also you may want to consider passing on the left, not the right. Think about it like the highway, right lanes for coasting, left lanes for passing, just make sure no one’s in the way.

Finally, don’t give up after one bad fall. We all crash, and sure it hurts, but that just makes you a better rider. I crash on a weekly basis, but because of my frequent falls I know how dismount without getting hurt. You’re not alone in worrying about crashing, but you can regain confidence, it just takes time.

So, Laura of the cubookstore.blogspot.com, consider these few quick tips to get you back out on your bike. Try riding once or twice a week, start slow, you may find you begin to rekindle your bicycle relationship. Also, ride through the nice weather, and walk in the snow. Boulder maintains mild, sunny weather throughout the winter, sometimes throwing on the hat and gloves and riding to class perks you up for those 8am classes. Face it, walking is slow, buses are crowded, and cars…well don’t get me started, you know your bike misses you, go take it for a ride, bikes never disappoint.

Angry about Traffic Laws? Or just your lack of common sense?

This article is based on a letter to the editor published on November 11. See the letter here:

http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_13756578

Are you really claiming to be ignorant that a stop sign means STOP?

I know which stop sign you speak of. It’s the one with the police officer handing out tickets to the huddle of skateboarders and cyclists a few yards away. It’s also the only stop sign in that direction for that obscenely dangerous turnaround right after Folsom on Colorado avenue. The one that I watch students nearly every day come seconds away from mashing someone on a bike because the drivers in the turnaround don’t have a stop sign. Thankfully, most of the cyclists do, which is one of the only things preventing against the cyclist shmear.

I’m not sure why anyone biking on the road surrounded by thousands of pounds of steel just a foot or even inches away wouldn’t find themselves capable of following one of the most basic rules of the road: stop at stop signs. It’s Colorado law to follow traffic codes if cycling on the road. Even if someone is claiming to be unfamiliar, or “ignorant” of traffic laws, the cop standing a few feet away surrounded by irritated cyclists should probably be a dead giveaway that now is the time to follow EVERY law…not just the traffic-related ones.

As far as a safety class…guess what? Those are expensive, too. In a capitalistic society we’re going to be punished through monetary loss. Besides, do I really want to be forced to take a completely useless basic traffic law course just for cruising through a stop sign? Not really…especially when it’s probably going to cost as much as the ticket. I’d rather pay and be done, and skip the training-wheel class. If you can’t figure out basic traffic laws while cycling, you’re giving us all a bad name... so get back on the sidewalk.

Let Me Cross

You know when we have high school visitors that come to campus? They all look so young and naive. So innocent, pure and willing to learn new things in the shrine we call college. I was driving by and they looked at me as if I was a species from another galaxy. My bike just polished and looking supreme. It was as if they hadn't seen a fixie before, I felt like they were Neanderthals and I had just brought them fire. It was a great feeling actually, it was almost like I introduced them to biking all over again since they were children. This is what is exciting; not everyone is as bike savvy as us CU bikers, and we should take pride in that. Now it's time to turn them to 2-wheeled side, not the 4-wheeled side.

Flying Wright

Last week, I was reminded how grateful the world should be for bicycle mechanics; not because they grease our chains, or help us fix our flats, but because they gave us flight. Remember the grade school lesson on the Wright Brothers? Well, I bet your teacher didn’t mention where they learned mechanics. Like most good things, they started with a bicycle and a pipe dream. Orville and Wilbur Wright jumped on the late 19^th century bike fad, and began producing their own bicycle line. After releasing a self oiling hub system and reinventing the pedals, they started looking towards the sky. Their first flight studies involved crudely modified bicycles to measure wind resistance and balance. After many tests and trails, Wilbur accidentally stumbled upon greatness. While changing a flat, he squeezed a tube box, stopping half way to realize his future glider design. In 1903 Wilbur and Orville realized their dreams with a twelve second flight. We remember the Wright Brothers for inventing the airplane, but without the bicycle, the sky may have been the limit.

High School Domination of the Thursday-Night Bike Ride

A few weeks ago a friend invited me to accompany them on one of Boulder’s most popular Thursday-Night rides. This particular ride meets around seven at night on Thursdays at the Scott Carpenter Park between Colorado Avenue and Arapahoe Avenue on 30th Street, (also known as the Rocket Ship Park on account of the large red metal rocket housed by the playground). Having nothing to do that night, I decided to go along. Although there is usually a theme for this ride, many riders opt to simply dress in their brightest, craziest clothes, flying banners from their bikes and in some instances even pulling couches behind their bikes.

We arrived thirty minutes early to be met by literally hundreds of cyclists. Nearly all of them under eighteen, wearing pigtails and knee-high stockings, bicycles abandoned and off to the side. As we waited for the ride to begin, more high school students piled into the park. It was not long before we, clearly identified as the seniors of the ride, began to be bombarded by shameless (obviously underage) youngsters begging for a variety of illegal substances. Annoyed, we turned scores of them away while waiting for the ride to begin. We had been told that the start of the ride was usually around eight, so when nine o’clock rolled around, I began to lost faith. When some authoritative minor finally stepped up to initiate the ride, less than half of the group even realized what was happening. As we cruised along the bike paths of Boulder towards Eben G. Fine Park, the destination of the ride, our sorry group of one hundred and fifty dwindled to about fifteen riders, most of whom resumed their tireless crusade for alcohol, among other things. Disgusted, we left, never to return again.

My question to you: what happened to The Thursday Night Bike Ride? Are those three hundred high school kids in acid-wash shorts and bikini tops all that remains?

What's the deal with Alleycat races?

Ever been hanging around in downtown Boulder when suddenly, in a flash of twirled mustaches and cycling caps, you are passed by a large group of cyclists, most of them on seemingly single-speed bicycles, bumping ankles with no apparent regard for traffic—but clearly having the time of their lives? You may have witnessed an Alleycat bicycle race.

What is an Alleycat, you ask?

Alleycats are informal cycling races that were originally organized by groups of bicycle messengers in Toronto, Canada. In many of these races, points are awarded for participation rather than just competition. In some Alleycats prizes are awarded for last place, often called the “DFL” award, or the Dead Freaking Last prize. Alleycats almost always take place in cities, where crowds of pedestrians, traffic, and even police serve as appropriate obstacles for daredevil cyclists (often competing on fixed-gear bicycles, affectionately dubbed “Fixies” by their riders).

Most Alleycats do not have set rules, but courses often contain guidelines. In many such races, the first checkpoint is given at the starting line. Riders must arrive at this checkpoint in order to obtain the location of the next checkpoint, creating an exciting and unpredictable ride that must be skillfully navigated by racers. Some Alleycats include Task Checkpoints, in which a rider must complete some kind of trick before the next checkpoint is given. These tasks can be anything from physical tasks to bicycle tricks to the best “Yo Momma” joke that a rider is able to come up with—if it’s not good enough for the Checkpoint Master, too bad, keep trying! Racers are usually identified by their spoke cards, distributed at the beginning of a race, rather than traditional number chest-plate cards.

A popular Alleycat in Boulder is the BAC to the Future. Event dates and information can be found at BACtothefuture.blogspot.com.

Ah Yes, The Good Ol' Days

Remember those days when you were young and had not a care in the world? Matter of fact you weren't old enough to know the world outside of your own city. As they say, "ignorance is bliss." Those were the days when our group of friends would tear up the roads. Paved or not we overthrew the roads with our bmx bikes. Riding with not a care through the straight roads on the opposite side may have been short from paradise. Your head glistening from the sweat and sun made it all worth while. Look at us now; grown, older and mature( for the most part). Riding is fantastic now; following all of the laws and rules, but I don't think I'll be able to re-enact the wonder years.

Ways Not to Accidently Kill Yourself

How do you decrease your chances of not getting assassinated by cars? Well you're obviously an intelligent person and the first way is to consciously use your intuition. Sometimes when your riding your mind wonders into dimensions of different galaxies. You leave from point A and suddenly you arrive at point B with no recollection of what was in between. Don't get me wrong, some of those rides are the best because you don't realize how fast your riding. It's like kindergarten, "always put your thinking caps on." Don't forget to take it off, it may get dirty...

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/article-29549.html

Connect 36

Bicycling from Boulder to Denver requires careful planning and a willingness to navigate the highways, but new changes may spin the wheels in our favor. CDOT released yesterday an Environmental Impact Statement, addressing necessary improvements for the U.S. 36 corridor. The proposal comes as a response to the growing desire for sustainable transportation solutions, and the need to meet the National Environmental Policy Act. One phase of the 1.3 billion dollar project includes linking the South Boulder Creek Trail to Coal Creek Trail in Louisville. The connection would remove anxiety of riding the road by providing a continuous bike path to Denver. Boulder County’s director of transportation places emphasize on a “progressive approach to solving a mobility problem.” As a biker, I am thrilled to see CDOT considering all vehicles (especially the bicycle).

The project remains in the planning stages, but the Boulder community has expressed a positive response. City transportation director, Tracy Winfree sees the project as an opportunity for choice. The project improves local infrastructure, while setting a model for other cities to follow. Here’s hoping the project takes off, and we can all hit the trail to Denver.

To learn more about this plan check out today’s article in the daily camera: http://www.dailycamera.com/archivesearch/ci_13697443?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com

Pedestrians Really Don't Hate Bikers

I was on campus today talking with a friend and a biker zooms by. He drops his keys and I kid you not, everyone within a radius of 10 feet said to the guy, "you dropped your keys." Integrity still lives among us in these dim ages. He had a pleasant look on face that showed immense gratitude. It just goes to show us that pedestrians and bikers don't always hate each other. We're all human, and humans care. So whatever grudge you have against pedestrians or bikers, try to lay back a little bit. Life does go on if you don't make it to your destination punctually.

Danes Ride Towards 2015

Copenhagen, Denmark boasts an impressive two wheel community, but they aren’t satisfied yet. In an effort to reduce carbon emissions by 80,000 tons, the cities promoting the bicycle as their catalyst for change. Like Boulder, Copenhagen encourages ridership by maintaining over 200 miles of existing trails and 45 more miles in development. The city now employs a “Bike Culture Ambassador” who met with the Mayor Sam Adams of Portland on Thursday, to discuss ways of encouraging the bicycle as a primary form of transportation. The city hopes to evolve to a 50% bicycle commuter rate by 2015, and modernize urban commuting. Wonder if we may see a day when roads designate more bike lanes than car lanes?

Check out the Article at:

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/10/29/by-2015-copenhagen-commuters-may-bike-50-of-the-time/

Bring Back The Rack

Imagine a world where cars parked against trees, telephone poles, and handicap railings. Seems absurd doesn’t it? So why then do bikes get the shaft when it comes to ample parking. In a recent Colorado Daily article, Boulder identifies inadequate rack space as a growing concern for the bike community. Bike theft remains Boulder’s number one crime, and without proper space, bikes become vulnerable.

Recently, Fort Collins, in collaboration with New Belgium Brewery, initiated a program which removes parking spaces and inserts bike racks. Fort Collins, like Boulder, maintains a healthy and growing bike community. Bicycle racks revolutionize the parking lot, promoting the two-wheel alternative to travel. A parking spot that once facilitated one car now houses a dozen bikes, Wahoo!!!!

New Belgium’s bright red, stainless steel racks, glisten in the clean Colorado air, encouraging drivers to hang up their keys and start cranking. Boulder needs to follow the Fort’s lead, and start busting out the racks.

Even on Campus bike racks fill to the brim, leaving students to lock their bikes to unlawful spaces like handicap rails or trees. Part of the problem is bike abandonment. Unfortunately, many students arrive on campus, lock their bikes to a rack, and forget their two wheels ever existed. When they return three month later, their bike has a rusty chain and is sitting on its side. Bike abandonment causes nightmares for the parking and transportation service, as well as those who have to watch beautiful new bikes rust through the winter.

The bicycle is not a second class vehicle; we riders pump hard, is it too much to ask for a nice clean rack to lock our frames around? Bicycles take up a tenth of the space as a truck or SUV, if just two parking spaces were removed on Pearl, twenty bikes could have a safe spot to rest their bottom brackets.

Check out what the Daily has to say
http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_13647252?IADID=Search-www.coloradodaily.com-www.coloradodaily.com

Whose fault is it?

So you're riding across town with no helmet and you get struck by a car. You get seriously injured or worse, whose fault would it be. You weren't wearing a helmet, it was dark and you didn't have a light on either. Is it the drivers fault or is it yours? It could go either way because if you had worn a helmet you could have avoided injury. If you'd had a light the driver could have seen you. But the driver should have seen you anyways. What do you guys think?

http://www.dailycamera.com/archivesearch/ci_13105350?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com

Biking to Freedom

This is to the ladies. Yes life was unequal and rash in the olden days. But today is ripe and evolutionary. Back then, women had no means of getting around besides horses. Although horses were extremely useful they were hard to control. Heck, they were hard to control for anyone regardless of age or sex. Until one day, the day of birth to a new transportation vehicle arrived. It was a savior to all us us because of the ease and efficiency it provided us. So for all you guys out there, remember that biking was popularized by women...

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/14985

Flying Down Baseline

I always forget to post this, but baseline is one of the best fast rides in Boulder. Well of course the ride up is a little painful on the two pistons we call legs but it is undoubtedly worth it. Flying down that mountain never gets old. The speed limit is 30mph and I always go faster than the cars. It's more than a rush, it's like you weigh nothing gliding down with ease. There's one fear, and that is reaching speeds of 88 m.p.h. Because when that "flux capacitator" switches on and you'll be in a different age. Don't get the reference? Watch "Back to the Future" again, it'll bind all the missing links.

Sniper attack.

Ever ride joyfully down a nice paved road when something suddenly flies right in your eye? I was riding and a water drop from a tree hit me smack in the left eye. I was lucky I survived, it was like I got picked off by a sniper in WWII. Thankfully my contact didn't fall out or else it would have been a disastrous day. I would have been walking/riding around like a blind bat. It actually could have been a funny sight. Maybe I should start wearing swimming goggles...?  Ever ride joyfully down a nice paved road when something suddenly flies right in your eye? I was riding and a water drop from a tree hit me smack in the left eye. I was lucky I survived, it was like I got picked off by a sniper in WWII. Thankfully my contact didn't fall out or else it would have been a disastrous day. I would have been walking/riding around like a blind bat. It actually could have been a funny sight. Maybe I should start wearing swimming goggles...? 

We don't want this to happen in Boulder..

Check this out guys http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/manhattan/091005_Pedicab_Operator_Taxi_Driver_Brawl

This is what happens when there's a miscommunication when two people are on a road, or in our case on campus on a sidewalk. This happens all the time on campus when riders or boarders try to take the entire sidewalk, we call these people DIRCs. As of now nothing as serious as the video has happened, but you never know..More and more people are getting injured by DIRCs and we all need to be more aware.

Remember Pegs?

Oh yes the good old days. I recently saw some young cyclist carrying 4 people on his ride. Himself on the seat, his buddy on the back pegs, his other friend on the front pegs, and another lucky friend on the handle bars. Yes, those were the good ol' days when we did that; attempting to fit as many people on a bike as possible. It was like seeing how many clowns we can fit into the beetle vehicle. If you think 4 is amazing, check out this vid.

"Be There In a Jiffy"

It's critical that we are always aware of what we are doing regardless of the vehicle we are using. Bike, board, car..etc. When we are not aware other's people's lives are at risk. Check out this link http://www.dailycamera.com/letters/ci_13403812 No one deserves to get this treatment when they are enjoying themselves cycling. Not only is it important to be aware as a driver, but it is important to be aware as a rider. Sometimes we lose awareness and we can't forget that anything can happen in a jiffy (1/100th of a second).

I hope you have brakes

Now doesn't this look like fun?

Cruising down the hill without a worry in the world is one thing,

but cruising down a hill with these sick chopper bikes is something else.

We have been seeing some wild bikes around, and want to what kind of

bikes you guys ride.Submit your photo on our Facebook page. I Bike CU.

Become a fan and post it. See what other cyclists have up their sleeves as well...

Send me your wacky bikes

OMG! Yeah I said it. Doesn't it remind you of middle school online chatting? I know you guys walk around campus and you just have to smirk at a bike you've seen. So use your awesome technologic phones with video and cameras to send them to me. Send them to our facebook fan page. Visit I Bike CU to submit your funny bike images.

Sand Baggin S.O.B.

Hey you, guy. Or girl. I'm all for riding with a friend but seriously, get the hell out of the way when someone is behind you. I bet you are one of those cars that causes traffic from Boulder to Downtown Denver. You are that person that is going 35 in a 60 in the left lane aren't you? I'm not mad at you, I just dislike you. I'm sure you are a great person, I'm sure you do have a heart; but for goodness sake have a heart to get the hell out of the way. Remember, you are a good human being. You're just a bad lane sharer.

To Fix or Not to Fix...

Have you ever jumped on a trampoline for 15 minutes then get off to real gravity again? It's a weird feeling isn't it? It feels like you should be jumping and that you weigh 5 times as much as you usually do. Have you ever tried a fixie bike and you aren't sure if you like it or not? I've been getting some questions about riding fixies or not. As soon as you hop on that bike it first feels awkward, stopping is awkward, and you have to continually pedal. I suggest you take a few moments to just try it. Take a couple test rides and see if you can handle the limits and or advantages of riding a fixie.

May my front tire rest in peace.

Perfect example folks. Perfect! I was riding on 27th way minding my own business this weekend when I almost had a life changing moment. No I didn't meet Megan Fox..but I flipped over my bike. You know how? I couldn't find my line lock so I used my roomates U-lock instead. I had it in a plastic grocery bag suspended from the left handle bar grip. It was a great ride like usual until I had to stand up to go up hill. You how your weight sways back and forth when riding right? Well that's when the suspended U-lock got caught in my front spoke. In a split second I was on the pavement in excruciating pain. Face torn, chest bleeding and discombobulated I walked into Subway to wash off my bloody shaky hands. So if it wasn't for me not finding my line lock, to me using a plastic grocery back instead of a backpack, to taking an up hill route, then I wouldn't be here warning you to always take precautions. Trust me...

What's your song?

We all love to sing. Don't deny it, everyone does it. Whether you're in the shower, riding, or just sitting there you sing. Ever notice how you sing better when you're alone than when someone is present? Anyways prepare yourselves for a ride, a ride that you have never taken before. Get a song or a playlist if you like and make sure they pump you up. Pump your burning legs until you cant pump anymore. Do not stop until the song or playlist is over. How far do you get? Now improve that distance the next day. Don't just challenge yourself, dare yourself. Below is my song.

(you'll love it!)

Stop and I mean it

Of course you like speed, who doesn't. You would love to fly down that hill without having to stop at that annoying little red sign on the side of the road. I was riding the other day and had a close one with the golden gates atop those bright clouds. We were racing (to prove our masculinity of course) down the street and I proudly blew past the stop sign. My wise friend stopped however. I car just went by and I if i hadnt lost the race, I could have been road kill. So bless my friend for having a nicer, more expensive and light bike. It it wasn't for his awesomely fast speed I wouldn't have been able to write this thing. Stop, do it, live longer and have babies.

Oh the Sweat Juice!

What kind of juice person are you? Apple? How about O.J.? The list can go on but this is a juice we all hate and love. We love how it is produced, but not how it tastes. Yeah, I'm talkin about that sweat juice. Ever been riding on an incredible day like today or yesterday and you can actually feel the salty drops of rain role from your forehead to the corner of your mouth? Once it gently roles over the corner of your lips, it has a taste of..well success. You ride because it is fun and it is excercise. It's the best of both worlds. So whenever you taste that familar hint of salt and success that means you're working hard. Pat yourself on the back, and once more. Good Job!

Performance or no performance; that is the question..

What do you think, are you a biker for commuting or are you a biker for the performance. Ask yourself why you ride around. Is it to get to point A to B or is it to show off your speed blazing past those amateurs? Obviously if you answered yes or no to either question it means you're in it for the commute or for the thrills. Either one is fine, and if you are not sure consider trying both ends of the spectrum. Go to a shop to try a performance bike or vice versa. If not there are other sources to get good bikes like craigs list and so on. Nonetheless guys, you have to check out this video, it's a laugh out loud. lol.

A devil doesn't always come with a tail and horns

YOU, yeah YOU. You know you do it all the time, I mean who hasn't? We have all locked our bikes to random things around campus or around town. But the question is...did you lock it up correctly? Of course you'll be back in a second, and when you return your bicycle has become a unicycle. Don't let your laziness get the best of you. Mind you, a devil doesn't always come with a tail and horns. Let this broski in the video rate how you lock up your bike.

http://www.colorado.edu/parking/commuting/bike/index.html#theft

MACH Speeds!

Imagine yourself rolling down the hill, shirt flapping in the wind, and your eyes getting bloodshot as they are drying. Imagine yourself coming down a hill at those speeds as if you are breaking mach speeds. Now that's a good time. Day or night we ride, riding like we are skating on asphalt. 

Dear in the Headlights

I drive like a maniac. Yeah, i won't deny it. Where i live there is a long straight street that urges me to speed on. Now we all know that biking is the best wonder of the world, but we need to take precautions. I didn't see this biker going to wrong direction on the road, it was like one of those scary movie scenarios where someone suddenly appears. Yes, it was partly my fault; but this person wasn't wearing a helmet or reflector gear, let alone bright colors. Nothing happened of course, i just had a minor heart attach. Nothing a little Bayer pill can't fix. So watch yourselves, some maniac may not see you in the dark.

You Might Need Diapers

Of course it started raining again. I mean, does a bear poop in the woods? Anywho, I know this has happened to everyone, we ride our bikes somewhere then it starts raining. When we get on our bikes again the seats are soaked. Riding on the seat is uncomfortable, riding in rain in general is uncomfortable. I saw this guy walking on the sidewalk and I'm positive (or let's hope) that he was riding on a wet seat. I'm tellin you guys, it was as if he had explosive diarrhea. It was brown, wattery, all over his pants...I won't go any further. For this dude's sake I hope for him that he was riding his bike on a brown wet seat. Because if he wasn't he might consider adult diapers. Who knows, they are probably on sale. It's diarrhea season...So people, don't forget something to cover your seat in. It's best for everyone.

Bike? BiCycle?

Have you guys ever wondered why bike is spelled the way it is? The full word for bike is bicycle with a C. I know! Insane isn't it? That's like giving a monkey a wrench. Plausable yes, common *scoff* of course not. I guess while we are already criticizing the spelling of "bike" why not try byke or bice with an accent over the C. It can go on and on. How did I get started on this you ask? Ever seen Eric spelled with a Q? Eriq, whoever you are; you need sit down your parents with a plate of cookies and milk to confront them about the spelling of your name... Enjoy this song.

Put Out the Cigaratte Man

We've all seen these characters that smoke while riding. They are inhaling this smoke and exhaling it as if it were a byproduct from the bike. I am not against this, I'm actually for it. Ride wearing nothing but a leaf for all I care, but it's awesome that people choose bikes over cars. Speaking for their health it may not be the wisest choice but still a better choice (rather than driving). It's like leaving the gym and eating a handful of lard. Yes, it's bad to smoke or eat lard; but doesn't it cancel out if you ride while smoking or work out then eat lard? It is in my book...(not really). So keep on riding, ride however you want, just ride comfortably.

Dogs Are Cool: To An Extent

Dogs are awesome. Aren't they? So cute, so adorable, so fluffy. But Dear Joseph, Peter, and some other biblical disciple; do not put your poor cute dog in your bike basket. Think about it you mean s.o.b. (no offense to people who do this..) do you like riding in the back of a truck? When every bump, turn, or pebble will make you feel like your lunch will soon appear again. Yeah, you don't like that now do you? Nevermind the dog, think about the riders around you. These riders have to ride past your sluggish speed while being mesmerized by your St_p_dity. I didn't want to write the whole word. But don't get me wrong, if that's your thing then power to ya. But for the love of God, think about your dog.

Learn to park- For the new generation

Guys...this video is the epitome of evolution. haha doesn't it crack you up though? I mean biking used to be this stereotypical one genre group but now it has expanded to all ranges of ages and ethnicities. Tell you what, I want to use a TARC just for the hell of it. We've all been there when something comes up and we are either too tired or something is wrong with our bikes...now we have the bad-as TARC. I thought i would share it with you guys, and the funny thing about it is that sometimes its embarassing to use a bus rack because it shows you're not strong enough. but honestly, no one cares.

play guitar hero While Riding..

My fellow bikers, i stumbled upon this incredible peice of work. You see, biking isn't just for a particular group; it's open to anyone and everyone. It's quite inspiring that someone would spend so much time to incorporate two totally different entities. I hope you enjoy, because i did.

Oh yeah, warm weather is back! And sweating like you're giving birth has returned..

Which are you?

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/06/kenny_bes_guide_to_summers_ter_1.php

Guys...check this out. I thought it was a fit for all of us cyclists. I think I am 3 of the total 6. Roadzilla of course who isn't , we need to get from point a to b and maybe c and d who knows, all I know is we need to be somewhere and you better not be in the way. The second one is the roadzuki granted i do own a subaru (dont judge me) and i always i mean ALWAYS wear a helmet, you never know what's gonna happen. And lastly, this is all of us i think (don't deny it, just accept it) but we are all to a point fixie fixies. Okay maybe we don't fit into all of the categories, but we like to show off our bikes or our speed when we pass amateurs by or as i call them noobs. So tell me guys, which one are you? Check out the comments on the bottom, they get pretty heated; and yet funny.

Happy Fourth to All!

Hope today is a good day for all of you, because it should be. Today is a little gloomy and I'm a little too busy with festivities to ride but hey good luck to the rest of you riders. Consider this, i've been thinking long and hard about this. What if, now bear with me, what if i decided to strap 6 rockets (bundles of 3 on each side) on my bike? I will be using my old scrappy bike, but if i do think i'm pretty sure i can hit mach 1 or even 3. Who knows? Other than severe leg and or body burns i think it would be a success, right? No, i'm just kidding...but seriously i want to do it one day or another. That's all i have for today, the day of freedom is calling. Be safe and continue to ride the roads.

p.s. after consideration, i have decided to have a total of 12 rockets (bundle of 6)....

Sun, you have return to me

Mr. Blue Sky has returned. It has been many moons since I've really broken a heavy sweat. Imagine wiping your face with a towel then twisting and torquing it until a glass is half full. Now that my friends is the feeling of accomplishment. It may not taste the best, but as they say good things for you don't always taste good (that actually may not be a saying, I most likely made it up). Speaking of other nonsense, how do you guys feel about hybrid cars? Yeah they are "environmentally friendly" but poop on a stick you cannot hear them coming! I put enivronmentally friendly in quotes because yeah the cars save gas; however, they use electricity to power them which is the highest pollutatant emitted. And two, the fuel cells are very difficult to dispose of. I've had a handful of near fatal experiences. I can't hear them when I make turns on the most desolate roads on the face of the earth. I swear there are never any God forsaken cars on the road, except the hybrids that nearly hit me. I don't know maybe it's me being reckless or maybe I didn't get the memo for hybrid roads only. But overall, its been good now that the beautiful CO weather is back. I leave you with this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98P-gu_vMRc&feature=related

Live another day

Of course we all feel this, this irritable feeling that won't go away. We aren't ourselves and would like this feeling to stop shadowing us. Sometimes we get so caught up in our work or school lives and have little time for ourselves. You want success, your body screams rest. But think of it this way, no one got where they are without hard work. At times we get ahead of ourselves and need to just release the anchor, let it sit and leave the rest to the flowing water. I found this video on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjcZNR6MiRE. Yes at times we get down on ourselves but think of it this way; it could always I mean ALWAYS be worse. On a lighter note, we have the fresh air in our lungs, our superb health, and the sun continues to rise each day. I haven't gotten a chance to ride as much as I wanted in the past couple days and I never realized how important it was to my routine schedule. Not riding threw off my entire mojo. Anyways, work has taken its tole but a little hard work didn't kill anyone right (knock on wood)...No, I'm kidding. Work is busy but its great, others would kill to be in my position so I'll end the complaining. So if your down, just pick it up. It's always in the way you perceive it.

I like jelly, but not not this kind..

Imagine two old folk walking. The first thing you want to do is pass them right? They walk so slow its like watching a block roll down the street; it just doesn't happen. Imagine two old folk riding a tandem bike. The bike was bright orange with a basket and a horn. Similar to the horn that Pee-wee Herman had (young at heart but a little pedophile like). I was riding in Central Park and I don't know whose idea it was for them to take a bike ride but it was quite the spectacle. By all means it was cool to see older people riding, but I had no choice but to laugh hysterically. Have you ever seen a bowl of cubed jelly? Imagine that same movement of jiggling mass on an old person's thigh each time they pedaled. It was gross but I couldn't take my eyes off of the sick mass flopping around, it was like I was zoned into something I will never see again; like a ghost. Eventually I couldn't keep on riding at that turtle pace so I passed them. I said good day to them and they politely said hi back. It was like we were already friends because of our common hobbies. When I get old I hope to receive the same gratitude (but without the cellulite).

New York isnt as fast as you think..

Just dropped into NY the other day and we took a ride in Central Park. It was so beautiful and green, even the Gods would be envious. We had a fabulous time riding around on our road bikes, but we ran into amateur tourists on bikes riding as fast as ants. Ants are fast, but relatively talking they are slow as hell. Now these bikers, these noobs they kept on taking up the entire road and bike lane. It was like a pendulum there are 4-5 bikers in a row and you would have to time it perfectly to escape through the hole. We actually made a game of it. And get this, they didn't even wear a helmet. Don't get me wrong if you are biking then its great, power to you. But when you hop on that bike you take on the responsibility of your safety and others. Its like people tend to think all bikers are alike, pests to the road. So with that being said, we all have the responsibility to protect our reputations as bikers. And for goodness sake, stay to the right side..

'

Hey..turns out we don't live in Washington....

Yeah I know right? I thought I was living in Washington for the past--umm month? Don't get me wrong, I love rain but everyday is a little too excessive. You know what they always say; "everything in moderation." Anyways, I went on a ride today up canyon and it was beautiful. The weather was just right, not too much sun not too much shade. Something weird did happen, actually something morbid. I don't know what the hell I was doing or thinking about but there was already a dead racoon carcus on the side of the road. It was closer to the rail than the yellow line. there was a car coming so I couldn't really dodge it. Yep, I had no choice but to run the poor little bastard over...again. Talk about a bad day huh? I saw everything; the guts, other stuff, the whole shabang. To be honest I tasted a little vomit in the back of my throat. Dont worry, I managed to force it back down. So the lesson for today's ride is, pay attention to everything because you never know what the hell you will run into (pun intended).

One Night Stand

So I was headed on diagnol and it started to rain again (of course). It was coming down like elephants and giraffes and at the same time getting dark. I decided to stop under a tree (i know very smart huh?) to put on my new light. I was going to put it on before I left my house but the laziness got the best of me. My backpack was off and I was all ready to put on my new bike flash light, it was quite exciting. I propped my bike up put the kick stand down and was ready to work my magic. Suddenly from God knows where this massgive gust of p.o.s wind knock over my bike. Thank goodness no one was around becuase the bike was on top of me, it was quite intimate. Enough of that, I was mad but more humorous than anything. I don't think anyone saw me....at least I like to think so. So lesson to all of US riders, save yourself time and effort; PLEASE PLEASE put on your lights before you leave your house. Actually to think of it it may be the law now-a-days..I know I know what has this world come to? Happy Cycling.

Rain Rain Please Go Away..

Dear Lord,

Please make this rain go away. What has angered you? Please do not repeat 40 days and 40 nights of rain, because if you do it's no use. Our technology is far superior than your antics. So please make this rain go away..I went biking the other day and i really did enjoy it, but I can't take getting my entire body soaked in dirty, oily, smelly water.  It was fun the first time but I would much rather bath my pale cardboard skin the the fabulous sun. Don't get me wrong Lord, you know I am a biker through and through; I just want to ride with the wind pushing my back and the sun casting my shadow.

I hope you have reconsidered.

Yours truly,

Rainy Days

I went on a bike ride yesterday and it was one of the best I've had in ages. It was around 2-3 oclock in the afternoon and there were hardly any cars out. I went all around town and through diagonal highway as well. This makes me crack up now, but I saw a guy wearing a serious speed helmet. You know the ones that are areodynamic and look like ridiculous cones? Yeah I saw him as he wizzed by me. I'm sure the helmet added like 50 mph on his speed. He just looked so ridiculous. But hey who am I to judge, he was pretty fast; so power to him. Maybe I should try to wear one of those, but who am I to kid...I got home and felt incredible. I broke a heavy sweat and my clothes were drenched in both rain and sweat. I felt accomplished, and dirty but in a good way. 

Oh the humidity!

We all know that CO is one of the best places to bike with all the twists and turns. It's the perfect terrain to do what we please, from novice to (wannabe) pro. Anyhow, I was just in FL and WOW it was so damn humid there. It was unreal. It was still 90 degrees at 12am. I saw maybe 1 or 2 riders on the streets. I don't blame them, I mean who would want to ride in that scorching temperature. You walk outside and break a sweat, I can't imagine riding in that weather. The weather is too hot, the roads are too cramped, and everything is so distant. Let's just say that all us riders have something special here in CO. However, I would like to ride in FL because I'm sure you would burn 3x the sweat. Maybe people on diet plans should go down there and workout..

Not Your Ordinary Hangnail

I was riding my bike down the trail near the small creek. It was a beautiful day, not too hot and not to chilly. The sun was caressing my face while the wind was pampering my body. Yonder was another cyclist, power to him but the trail wasn't big enough for the both of us. We tried to avoid eachother riding on the on the brim of the dirt trail and the dying green grass. As he passed I turned my head to scold the guy and that's when I hit the rock. The basketball sized rock drove it's fat body right into the left side of my right big toe. My nail tore right off like a sticker. Along with my poor nail was some skin that was bleeding the color of tomato juice. Of course I stopped in shock and cursed the entire world around me. The nail didn't totally tear off, there was a little piece hanging there; inviting me to tear it off. I tried but the agony was too much. So I just left it there. I went home. I bandaged it, and blamed everything on that bastard other cyclist. Now that the pain has relieved itself, I have something to never repeat again. If there is not enough space then boldy get off your bike and push the other damn bastard off the trail. No I'm not serious. Mind other riders and make sure you know what is ahead in the trail. But dear God, my right big toe looks like it was beaten with an ugly stick.