Uptown Biking Life

Moustache Bar Impressions

2011-11-17T09:33:00.000-08:00

Most photos of moustache bars that I've seen (like the one at left) show them with the ends more or less horizontal. So that's what I tried first.

(photo from http://bikebuilds.blogspot.com/)

I think this might be comfortable if you have a very tall stem (as recommended by Rivendell), with the bars above saddle level. That seems to give a very upright position when grasping the ends of the bars, and a still fairly upright but more stretched out position when grasping the bends. On a road bike, I want a more aggressive posture (and I also hate the idea of putting a goofy tall MTB stem on a road machine). So I put the handlebars just below saddle level, like I would do with drops.

At this lower elevation, keeping the bar ends horizontal didn't work at all. Holding them, I felt like I had to fight to keep my hands from slipping forward. Tipping the ends down a bit made that position comfortable, with my back extended about the same as when riding the hoods on a drop bar. This also tipped the bends up, reducing the reach to them. In that position, my back extension is almost unchanged. So what I ended up with is a setup with a couple of different positions for hands and shoulders, but only one back position (albeit a good one). Since this bike won't be used for long rides, and since I almost never use the top position on drop bars anyway, this should be OK. And I am enjoying both the great leverage from grabbing the bends when I accelerate and the stability over rough streets provided by the 54 cm width at the bar ends.

Finally, the moustache bar looks good on the Mercian, doesn't it?

The Mercian Project

2011-11-16T12:35:00.000-08:00

So my latest bike is a 1980 Mercian. The frame is I guess what you'd call a club racer style - a road frame with more or less racing geometry but with eyelets on the dropouts for fenders. When I bought it, it was in decent but neglected condition, with most of the original components. These were mostly good but not top of the line for 1980 - Galli side pull brakes, Dura Ace crankset, Shimano hubs, Weinemann Gentleman rims. The one really nice original component was the rear derailleur, a Huret Jubilee, with matching Huret down tube friction shifters. The one really bad original component was the saddle, a horrible Selle Royal.

Somewhere along the line, a couple of components had been replaced. The front derailleur is a Shimano 600 from circa 1990. It works well.

The original handlebars were certainly drop-style with Galli road brake levers. Unfortunately, the second(?) owner decided to replace these with MTB style riser bars and Shimano MTB brake levers. These components would have dated from around 2000, I'd guess. They really destroyed the look of the bike, taking a lovely road machine and making it look like a cheap hybrid. And beyond the appearance issue, the combination of riser bars (on a high rise stem) with down tube shifters is functionally a non-starter - you have to sit upright to use the bars, but must lean down to shift.

So, after all bearings had been re-packed and everything lubed and adjusted, and after replacing the awful Selle Royal with a standard Brooks B-17 saddle, I decided to address the handlebar issue. Drop bars would be OK for Sunday rides in the country, but aren't my favorite for riding in traffic. The only position that is really practical to use is over the hoods. Knowing that some people like moustache bars on their commuters, I decided to try the Soma Moustache II, which can accept both MTB brake levers and bar end shifters. But I didn't use either of those.

I love the Huret down tube friction shifters - they are nice looking, and the short cable run makes the ancient rear derailleur more responsive. So no barcons. Also, for city riding, I wanted my 'default' hand position to be on or near the brake levers. Putting road levers on the bends at the front of the bar would have me too stretched out, I thought; using MTB levers near the bar ends, which I wanted as my main position, would not suit the look of the bike. So, I opted for reverse mounted time trial levers in the bar ends. Here's the result:

From what I've read, most people like a moustache bar to be at or above saddle level, on a short-reach stem. I have mine just a bit lower than the saddle, about where I would put drop bars. The stem is fairly short, though (90mm). Also, I have the bar ends angled down a bit (instead of horizontal); when I hold the brake levers, my wrists are straight.

My experience with the bars so far is good. I'm able to move my hands around a lot, though my back stays fairly well bent over - there really is no "upright" position. When cruising I'm most comfortable holding the outside of the bends, although holding the bar ends is good, too. For accelerating, I'm finding that I like to pull against the center of the bends.

At this point, the bike is finally what I want it to be - a fast city ride with character.

Chicago is not Amsterdam

2011-07-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

Amsterdam is often held up as a cycling Mecca by riders who a) are intimidated by the traffic in American cities and b) have never actually ridden there. Knowing that Amsterdam has separated bike lanes, they imagine these to be something like our recreational paths; knowing that so many people in Amsterdam travel by bicycle, they imagine that cycling there doesn't require the absolute focus that you need here to get from A to B unscathed.

The reality is somewhat different. If you could magically put Amsterdam's bicycle infrastructure in Chicago tomorrow, it would not work here the way it does there. It's the people that make the difference.

In America, most drivers don't cycle and see bicycles as an obstacle, an annoyance. They can't judge distance and don't know how to share the road safely with cyclists. Here, people cycle the way they drive. "It's a race. I need to get ahead of you, passing whether it's safe or not, ignoring signals, etc. Only one of us can win". Or, "I am oblivious to the presence of others; I weave and wander, talking on the phone or just staring into space". Even when we ride, we have a driving culture.

Dutch cyclists, whether on bike lanes or in streets, just get into the flow of traffic and keep moving in an orderly way. They don't dawdle but rarely pass, either. Bicyclists are aware of each other, aware of who has right-of-way. They seem to understand that "I will get there faster if I help you to get there faster". Drivers are aware of cyclists, and being cyclists themselves, they know how to share the road. Even when they drive, they have a cycling culture.

We can build better bicycle infrastructure. Building a better culture will be more challenging. Maybe the former can make a small contribution toward the latter. Maybe.

(photo link: http://www.livius.org/dutchhistory/amsterdam/amsterdam_bikes.html)

The Art of Urban Cycling

2011-04-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today I leafed through this book. It had some useful infos, but nothing that I didn't already know. However, it did inspire me to write down my own thoughts, based on 45 years of riding, the last 5 in Chicago, where I average 20 miles per day.

My fundamental principles:

1) Treat everyone (cyclists, pedestrians, drivers) with respect and courtesy.

2) Don't assume anyone else (cyclists, pedestrians, drivers) will adhere to 1).

Getting down to details, I've found that what works best is a modified version of vehicular cycling. That is, I follow the same rules of the road as when I drive - for the most part. I ALWAYS yield the right-of-way when the law requires. I ALWAYS obey traffic signals. But I treat stop signs as "Yield" (that is, I slow down, carefully check for oncoming traffic, and keep going if nobody else is approaching the intersection). At red lights, if I am not turning, I stay in the center lane, so as not to obstruct someone wanting to make a right turn.

Part of being courteous is riding predictably. I ride in a straight line, making only very gradual changes of direction to get around obstructions (cars parked in my bike lane, etc). I signal all turns and quick stops (even though hardly anybody on the road understands hand signals anymore).

But because I can't count on courtesy or competence from others, I take control of the road. I never ride in the door zone; and if the lane is too narrow for cars to pass me safely, I take the lane so that no driver is tempted to try. I'm also not shy about talking with drivers (e.g., "Look UP!" and "Get off the fucking phone!") ;-)

Oh So Nice...

2011-03-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

...to have a lovely Saturday for frolicking around the city on the Pedersen. I had no destination at all in mind; but it was a mild, sunny, and not-too-windy day, so I packed a camera, my netbook, and started pedaling. My wanderings took me as far as downtown Evanston to the north and Promontory Point to the south, and from the lake west to Logan Square. Altogether, the groovy Pedersen carried me about 62 miles.

As usual, I couldn't resist taking a few touristic photos at Promontory Point. Of course, even when I'm contented, I have to make a nice scowl for the camera...

Have you seen my button? Anything will help.

2011-02-26T17:30:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm all for winter biking. I mean, I admire everybody who gets out there in the muck, sporting boots and balaclava. And I ride in the winter, too, many miles more than most people do in the summer. But I'm really ready for this winter thing to be over. REALLY READY.

In the last days I've done more walking and less riding, mostly because I don't want to spend my life cleaning snirt off my bike when I get home. This isn't all bad. Just as you see, smell and hear so much more on a bike than you can in a car, walking brings you even more into contact with your surroundings.

As a Chicagoan, I adhere to our characteristic provincial attitude that this city is the center of the universe, with MY neighborhood being, in some profound way the very best part of it. The difference between me and all the other people who feel this way is that I am right. ;-)

On a recent walkabout I noticed two signs, both requests for help, that taken together give what I think is a true impression of this community - silly and desperate, clever and heartbreaking.

LOST BUTTON

My button was white

My button has four holes

My button was big

My button was round

My button was thick

Have you seen my button?

I'd say, given the number of people who have responded, odds are good the button will be found!

Willing To Work

Anything Will Help

God Bless Everyone

I hope things work out as well for the person who made this sign.

Back to Life

2011-02-22T16:40:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been quite some time since my last post. To be honest, the craziness of work during the current economic depression sapped me of the will to write or photograph. Not that everything has turned to sh*t here in Uptown; on the contrary, lots of good things have happened during my months of silence. And, while I haven't written or photographed much lately, I've been biking more than ever, I suppose in part to deal with work stress, but mostly because it's one of the great joys of my life.

First, some updates on bike stuff. The famous Flying Pigeon hasn't been ridden much. It's really an uncomfortable beast, and most of it has already turned to rust. On the positive side, Uptown folks often recognize and compliment this oddly primitive and decrepit machine. So it still works as a fashion statement, if not so much for serious transportation.

When I reviewed the groovy Pedersen in 2009, I'd only ridden it a few hundred miles. Now, several thousand miles later, I have to admit that I'll need to own one of these machines as long as I can still ride. It makes me slow down and calmly make my way through the world. And of course, it generates conversations with passersby who want to know what and why it is.

As for photography, I've just been so intent on riding that I've rarely wanted to just wander and observe. Now I'm getting in the mood again, partly because I've been inspired by the niche/cult following that film photography has managed to retain. As much as I love the digital world (and I do!), when I really think about the photos I've made, a disproportionate number of my favorites were taken with film gear. Maybe it's because film (at least using the ancient cameras I have) makes me slow down and think.

Now, after extolling the wonderfulness of film, I'll share a photo taken with my crackberry (above). This is a typical Uptown sight this winter, unfortunately. What makes this scene different is that the remnant of the bike is now being used as a sort of 'lost and found', with an abandoned sweater hanging on it. As usual, Uptown finds a place and a (sometimes unexpected) use for everyone and everything.

Maybe sometime soon this bike will be brought back to life. Maybe now this blog will be, too.

Pigeon Update II

2010-04-04T21:41:00.000-07:00

For the moment, all is well. After having three (!) wire baskets fail, I gave up on them. Now I've mounted a milk crate (using zip ties) to the original basket bracket and support. This works great, and doesn't look too bad, either. Going over the big bumps in the road, it bangs against the front stirrup brake rod, but hurts nothing. The pigeon is now, I think, in complete working condition.

The important stuff - bottom bracket bearings, headset, wheel bearings - have been and continue to be just fine. Now that I've worked through the little issues (saddle clamp, seat post binder bolt, pedals, basket), it's a pretty good grocery-getter for short trips (under 10 miles or so) on dry days, and it's a blast to ride this retro machine around the city.

Muensterland and Quality of Life

2010-03-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

I have several business colleagues who are natives of Muenster. They proudly point out that their city is recognized as being one of the best places to live in Germany. I'm sure their commitment to cycling is an important reason for their very good quality of life.

Muenster is the cycling capital of Germany; when you see the dedicated bicycle traffic lights, huge number of cyclists on the streets, and bikes parked everywhere, you would almost think you are in Amsterdam. Riding a bike to do your shopping on Saturday morning is just considered the normal thing to do.

In the central city, cyclists, pedestrians and (slow moving) cars all share the streets. It seems to work pretty well.

The typical bike is not the iconic Dutch bike that is fashionable here - although they are common also - but rather something more like the English roadster, i.e., a bit lighter. Of course, fenders and dynamo lights are ubiquitous, as are wire baskets, front and rear. A really common rear basket that I haven't seen in the US mounts on a Pletscher-style rack; it sits on top, with hooks on the bottom of the basket that grab the rack; the spring clip of the rack holds it in place. That kind of basket can be detached to carry around the farmer's market...convenient!

Muenster is not an island of cycling heaven; it is really typical (just on a larger scale) of Westphalia. The little towns often have a similar ambiance. The photos below are from the small city of Warendorf. The first shows their tiny movie theater with the bicycles of their patrons parked outside. The second is a common site - a bike parked in front of the house.
Now ends the travelogue and begins the rant...
Shouldn't it be pretty obvious that quality of life requires urban areas built on a human scale, friendly to human-powered transport? Most Americans don't get this. Example: In a recent episode of NPR's Car Talk, a gym teacher explains that he only drives 2,000 miles per year because his commute to work is just one mile long. Tom and Ray get it - despite being car guys, they're no dopes - and they suggest he forget about fixing his car and just walk to work! The teacher explains that he is a runner, etc., but never thought about that...

A Plateau of Decrepitude

2010-02-21T06:26:00.000-08:00

Flying Pigeon Update:

The latest issue was the saddle clamp. Earlier I had replaced the bolt; but unfortunately, a bolt that was strong enough to hold the saddle in place was also strong enough to deform the soft clamp. Now the pigeon has an effective but expensive Brooks double rail clamp ($18).

It's also on its second wire basket. These baskets are quite fragile, and they're only secured by two little brackets, each one having two tiny machine screws. At every bump in the road, the whole basket wobbles; the original basket became useless (for anything but making a terrible rattle) when its wires tore away from the mounting bracket on the headset. Now, the wires on the second basket have begun to tear away from the other bracket - the one that attaches to the front wheel. I've made a DIY repair with cable ties, which I'm hoping will keep it on a plateau of decrepitude and prevent its total self-destruction. Just for peace of mind, though, I have a third(!) basket on order ($15). At some point I may have to give up on baskets...

On the positive side, I think the stirrup brakes are becoming more effective as the pads wear a bit. Or maybe it's the effect of slightly warmer temperatures and slightly drier streets. Or maybe I'm just getting used to them - in any case, I haven't had any terrifying Fred Flintstone stops recently.

Finally, while shopping in Andersonville yesterday, someone commented that the parked pigeon was, "really turning heads". It is true that this bike has style; and the fact that it's not common to go for a whole week without having some kind of little mechanical issue makes those days when everything is working just that much sweeter.

Pigeon Update

2010-01-20T17:04:00.000-08:00

The Flying Pigeon and I have had to work through some issues together. Nothing big, but here they are.

The bottle dynamo continued to be a problem - the rubber tape that I had wrapped around its wheel - to get some traction on the side of the tire - got smooth and started slipping, too. Result: intermittent (dim) light. Then, the light failed altogether. The wire running from the dynamo to the bulb had broken. It was unbelievably brittle! I wonder if it was an aging leftover from some project of the Great Leap Forward... No problem, replacing the wire was easy. As for the tape on the dynamo wheel, I just chucked it, hoped for the best, and...the dynamo worked! My theory now is that the grease in the dynamo gets very viscous in cold weather; when I put the tape on originally, it was brutally cold. Now it's above freezing, the dynamo wheel rolls more freely, and less friction against the tire is needed.

The other issue was the demise of the seat post binder bolt. This bolt does triple duty, securing the seat post, the seat stays, and the rear rack. That's asking a lot of a humble M8 machine screw. One day I noticed that my saddle seemed a bit lower than it had been; it was indeed loose and sliding into the seat tube. I tightened the binder bolt a bit...still loose...a bit more...still loose...a bit more...and stripped the bolt! Now, I'm an experienced (and very gentle) bike mechanic, and I've never stripped a binder bolt before. Oh well, it was no big deal to replace it with one of a little better quality. Now the saddle stays put.

Finally, just for fun I installed skirt guards. The ones I got are metal. They straddle the rear fender like saddlebags, being held together with flimsy metal ties. The bottom of each guard is held to its seat stay with a zip tie. These guards are incredibly crude - fitting in perfectly with the proletarian Pigeon style!

Flying Pigeon Lands in Uptown

2010-01-04T20:42:00.000-08:00

What is a Flying Pigeon?

The iconic Flying Pigeon is a single speed utility bike, with lugged steel frame, cottered cranks, full chaincase, sprung 'leather' saddle, 28" steel wheel rims, and rod-actuated stirrup brakes. A product of Mao's regime, they became ubiquitous in China in the latter half of the last century.

Today, the Flying Pigeon company makes a variety of modern style bikes. But they still make these roadsters, too.

Out of Style, In Style

In China, increasing reliance on automobiles for transportation has led to waning demand for utility bikes. However, at the same time, growing interest in cycling for transportation (and for bikes suited to that purpose) in the US has motivated a few shops to offer them for sale here.

I know of four places to buy new ones:

Flying Pigeon (New York) - Has a blog with photos of the bikes parked around NYC.
Joe Bike - A shop in Portland that upgrades the basic Pigeons with cotterless cranks, sealed bottom bracket bearings, aluminum wheels and caliper brakes.
Morgan Imports - Also sells furniture, kitchen and bath items...
Flying Pigeon LA - A bike shop specializing in transportation bikes, they sell the stock Flying Pigeon. They also provide service and spare parts.

Opinions about these bikes in the blogosphere are all over the map. Some like their simplicity, historical significance, low price and retro style. Others view Flying Pigeon riders as fashion victims who have been sold overpriced junk.

I was intrigued by the style of the bike, but wary about potential quality problems. When Flying Pigeon LA offered a sale price of $280 delivered, I decided to take a chance. The entertainment I'd get from studying a piece of history would be worth that price, even if the bike turned out to be less than ideal for transportation in Uptown...

The Pigeon Hatches...

The model I bought is the PA02 - the standard men's frame style (in the only size available, about 22"), equipped with a rear rack (with spring clip), front basket, bell, rear wheel ring lock, kickstand and bottle dynamo with headlamp.

Out of the box, the bike is about 80% assembled; the handlebars, front wheel, front fender, pedals, saddle, basket, kickstand, dynamo, and stirrup brake hardware have to be installed. No parts were missing, though some of the small fasteners were loose in the box; I almost threw them out with the packaging.

Material and build quality was about what I expected; that is, only just adequate for everything to be functional. The most noticeable deficiency on my example is that the fork blades are not quite perpendicular to the crown; i.e., when the front wheel is pointed straight ahead, the crown is turned a few degrees. The wheels are also a little out of true, though still quite usable. Finally, the paint finish has a few scratches as well as some blotches around the brazed joints.

Assembly is pretty easy if you have some experience with bike maintenance. The only tools you need are screwdrivers and a set of metric box end wrenches. There are no assembly instructions in the box, but Flying Pigeon LA has a pretty comprehensive description of the process posted on their website. You can also find very good assembly photos from them on Flikr. I had no problem getting it all together.

...And Takes Flight

So, how does it ride?

The upright riding position puts most of your weight on the 'leather' saddle, which actually appears to be some kind of laminate on a molded rubber base.

It's a heavy machine. Yet in spite of that, it still doesn't feel very solid; the front basket is not very rigidly attached, and wobbles. I think the fork is also not quite as rigid as one might like. The flimsy feeling of the bike is exacerbated by the noises it makes - the spring clip on the rear rack rattles, the springs on the saddle creak, and the chain slaps against the metal chaincase.

The gear ratio is too high to handle any hills at all. Here in flat Chicago, it's a slow start from each traffic light, but once you get going it's OK.

The stirrup brakes actually work decently when dry, though much less so when wet. They do shudder a bit, probably (at least in part) because the wheels aren't as true as they might be. Again, for flat Chicago, the brakes are adequate if you are aware of their limitations. But I sure wouldn't put much faith in them on steep descents.

My favorite part of the bike is actually the kickstand. Surprisingly, it works much better than the one on my (much more expensive) Gazelle Toer Populair. Attached to the rear wheel axle, it is held in a horizontal position behind the rear wheel for riding; for parking, another spring locks it in place, so the bike won't roll forward off the stand like it can with the Gazelle.

The front basket mounting is not sturdy enough to carry much weight,but so far it's been fine for holding a few grocery items. The rear rack seems fairly strong. The spring clip is of course completely useless.

Problems

The only legitimate problem I had was with the dynamo light. The dynamo wheel just slipped against the front tire, generating no light. After wrapping the dynamo wheel with rubber electrical splicing tape for better traction, the light worked - but the bulb burned out in a couple of hours. I replaced it with a better quality bulb, which I hope will last longer. Finally, although the dynamo is now working, it's very noisy, and requires quite a bit of effort to run. It's easily the worst bottle dynamo I've ever used.

I did have one other issue, which is that the pedals that shipped with the bike from China self-destructed in about an hour of riding. That was my fault, though; Flying Pigeon LA provides replacement pedals, and strongly advises you to use them. I chose to find out why the hard way.

Intangibles

The stirrup brakes and classic roadster paint scheme (black with white tail) really give this bike character, as does the fact that it's a functional machine made at the very lowest possible cost. It's not the best bike, but it's the best at being what it is.

Conclusions

If you want to go fast, this heavy beast is not for you (and it would probably be a bad idea to challenge the stirrup brakes too much, even if you have the strength to get this thing up to speed). The saddle is also a bit different, and may not be comfortable for everyone. If you just want practical transportation, and don't know how or don't want to do your own maintenance, many other new or used bikes would be a better value. The Flying Pigeon's 28" tires are uncommon here (available in just a few shops or via the internet); the stirrup brakes are unfamiliar to the mechanics at your LBS, and spare parts for them are not going to be found locally.

As for me, I'm not very demanding of a transportation bike. I'm not in a hurry. My body can handle almost any kind of frame geometry and saddle style without complaint. I expect little mechanical problems occasionally, and I know how to fix them. I enjoy fiddling with things. Most importantly, I have other bikes I can use when I need to go fast or far... or when I have to wait for spare parts to arrive.

I'm enjoying my Flying Pigeon. It's fun to be riding an icon of a bygone era.

Enjoy It While It Lasts

2009-10-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

I took advantage of the lovely weekend to put some miles on the stately Pedersen (about 50 each day). My route both days was a loop including Logan Square, River North, Hyde Park, and Andersonville - with some additional running around in Lakeview.

The farmer's market in Logan Square was still in operation, as was the usual junk sale nearby.

Riding down the "hipster highway" (Milwaukee Ave.), I stopped at Copenhagen Cyclery for a dose of bike porn. Lovely bikes + Ramones on the stereo put me in my happy place.

Brooks saddles and PoCampo bags (made in Chicago!) really go together.

A little farther down the street, I looked in the window at a little shop that recycles old bikes, adding new components and cool style. Their link is painted on the window. If you want to go there, the address is on the door:

Also taking advantage of the sunny day were these artists:

A few people were walking along the lakefront.

I stopped to enjoy the view of the city from Promontory Point.

My Bike Ride Today

2009-08-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I met some nice ladies on my ride. Like my shirt?

(Thanks to bikesnobNYC for the link)

Ouch!

2009-08-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I witnessed a biking accident. A young man hit a big pothole with his front wheel; the wheel came off of the fork, and the man hit the pavement face-first. Three things were wrong with this picture:

1) Our streets are in deplorable condition. The rider probably should have been watching the road surface more carefully, but I'm VERY careful and sometimes don't see the holes in time to avoid them;

2) A wheel should NEVER fall off. The quick release lever must have been open or the skewer was very, very loose. It's really important that you check things like this;

3) His face-first landing, would, IMO have been softened a bit had he been wearing a helmet.

Although the man looked pretty shaken up, with a scraped up face and a mouthful of blood, he will probably be fine. He was very lucky indeed that he didn't fall in front of a car. Sometimes it is more important to be lucky than to be smart.

Unintended Consequences

2009-08-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Chicago has privatized on-street parking. The old meters are getting taken out; they're being replaced by centralized payboxes.

Since I almost never drive my car in the city, I'm not affected personally by the change (which of course includes higher rates). Politically, I understand why it makes sense. The city wants more revenue, but would find it hard to simply raise parking rates. Turning this over to a private company gives the city a nice one-time payment, and some political cover when the private company raises rates to "market level". But that's not what this post is about...

Parking meters are often used for bike parking (we need to lock our bikes to SOMETHING), so removing the meters has the effect of removing bike racks. Realizing this, the city has delayed removing some of the disused meters. Good.

Chicago has a great bike rack design - just a simple U-shaped piece of square tube bolted to the sidewalk. It works for almost any kind of bike and lock. But just as parking meters have become important for more than collecting quarters, bike racks are finding other uses, too.

I see them used as a place to lean against by employees having a smoke break. I try not to use those racks, since they normally have cigarette butts and other trash all around, and I am a little apprehensive that the smokers might decide to use my bike for a chair and/or an ashtray.

The other common use is as a hitching post for dogs. When you go in a shop, your dog normally has to stay outside, and his leash has to be tied to something. Now, I love dogs, but when one is tied up next to my bike, the potential for the leash to get tangled up in it, or even worse, doggie wee to land on it, is quite high.

I take 3 lessons from this:

1) Smokers need somewhere to go on break! Just not my bike rack, please;

2) Dog owners need hitching posts outside businesses (maybe a rotating post, so that the leash won't get wrapped around it while Fido paces?);

3) Whatever object/device/machine is invented, people will find ways to use it other than how it was intended.

Make Me a Happy Cyclist

2009-08-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

This is what I heard a customer say today to a bike mechanic:

"I ride a lot - about 60 miles per week. But it's not fun."

"I got a tune-up last fall, but it needs MORE."

"Do whatever you need to make me a happy cyclist."

In a way, I respect this customer for admitting that she has no idea what is 'wrong' with her bike. Most men would pretend to know, even when they don't have a clue...

But I have to wonder if her lack of fun has more to do with herself than with her bike. "The fault, dear Brutus, lies not not in our stars, but in ourselves..."

Horses?

2009-08-01T19:33:00.001-07:00

In Old Town, in the shadow of the Hancock building, is a little enclosure where horses are kept. I guess these are the horses you see pulling the carriages in River North.

Here, a mom and daughter have stopped to pet them.

Below are two unrelated photos from today's frolic. First is the Uptown Biker, with the Finkl foundry in the background.

Then, in Wrigleyville, a graphic demonstration of the shortage of parking for cars...and carts.

Beautiful Bicycles

2009-08-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

A beautiful bike is one that is being used, one that is helping someone to live his life.

A well broken-in leather saddle evokes memories of past journeys. This is the one on my Pedersen, after a few months of frolicking in the city.

A bike with DIY modifications to make it more useful is even more beautiful. This one has two interesting additions.

First, a large mirror has been added (held on by what seems to be several rolls of electrical tape!)

It also has a rear mudguard, made from a plastic bucket.

Cool!

Name This Hazard

2009-08-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

Most of the common traffic hazards for cyclists have acquired a descriptive moniker, such as 'Right Hook' and 'Door Prize'. What should we call this one?

A car moves at walking speed, hugging the curb, as the driver looks for a parking space, an address, etc. When there is no oncoming traffic, you pull into the opposite lane to pass. Then, after you get ahead of the slow mover, and are returning to your lane, the car, now behind you, suddenly accelerates; the driver still looking somewhere other than where he is going.

This happened to me recently on Clark St. in Andersonville. I yelled as loud as I could, "Look UP!!!" I got the attention of all the people on the street, including all of the nearby drivers, EXCEPT for the moron who was about to clobber me! I was only saved because he apparently found the address (or whatever) he was seeking, and stopped short.

Slow Ride & Etiquette

2009-07-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the first Slowterium ride, organized by the newly-formed Slow Bicycle Society. I enjoyed it greatly. The group's spiritual leader has posted photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/slowbicyclesociety/20097SlowBicycleSociety# I will definitely sign up for the next ride - though not promptly, as this would be in conflict with the spirit of the organization ;-)

The annual LATE ride took place this morning, and as usual I participated. The streets are crowded as 10,000 people try to make their way around the north side. Complicating the situation is the presence of teens riding erratically, as well as many inexperienced riders who wobble down the middle of the street, more or less oblivious to the presence of the other riders. As a veteran city rider, this riding style grates on me. Oh well, I only saw one person taken away in an ambulance, so I guess you'd have to call the ride a success - and it does raise a lot of money for a good cause (Friends of the Parks).

Here's to the Minority

2009-07-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

Riding around the city this weekend, there seemed to be a lot of bicyclists on the streets. Thinking about this, I realized that what struck me as a *lot* was still a very small number, compared to the number of cars passing by.

Chicago is probably one of the more bicycle-friendly big cities in the U.S., both in terms of geography (flat!) and politics. The most bicycle-friendly part of this city is IMO the part where I live and spend most of my time - the north side, east of the river. But even here, cars almost always outnumber bikes and pedestrians.

But is this changing? This hopeful article leads one to believe so.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dennis-markatos/us-bike-sales-higher-than_b_207899.html

Also hopeful is the statistic that bikes suitable for transportation (not just recreation) are becoming more popular.

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/2751.html

Still, those of us who have integrated human-powered transport into our daily lives remain a small minority. Here's to us!

The Pursuit of Happiness - Plan 'B'

2009-07-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

Plan 'A' for my pursuit of happiness today was riding the metric century with the Joliet Bike Club. I planned to ride my cheap and cheerful Trek 520, so I had lubricated the chain, cleaned the saddle, and took it for a short ride around the neighborhood last night to check that the derailleur was still properly adjusted.

When my alarm went off at 5:15 this morning, I looked at the weather radar, guessed that it might be a rainy ride, and went back to sleep ;-) Later, I executed Plan 'B' - going to the coffee shop for a croissant. I took the Trek, so at least I got to put a dozen miles on it in my roundabout pursuit of coffee.

The Trek 520 is the most basic touring bike that actually works. It has an inexpensive welded steel frame and budget components.

Mine also has a cheap JandD front rack. I never use it, but as I had one on my touring bike back in my youth, I would feel naked without it ;-)

The only really good components on this bike are ones I added later - my 20+ year old Brooks saddle with Campagnolo micro-adjust seatpost from the same era.

Finally, it sports my DIY fix for 'cable slap' on its top tube. The approved method, donuts, didn't work - the donuts just got torn to shreds and fell off. Anyway, I think little modifications like this add character...

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2009-07-03T15:20:00.000-07:00

Today I did about 45 groovy miles on the Pedersen. The weather was perfect for biking - not too sunny, not too windy.

My interactions with cyclists were all positive. I followed a young woman down Clark St. this morning; she signaled turns and stops; she yelled to me when intersections were 'clear'. What a courteous lady! Several other cyclists complemented and/or asked questions about the Pedersen, as usual.

As for what I saw on my frolic, first I present the obligatory tourist shots of the city from the lakefront trail (at Shedd Aquarium and Promontory Point).

Back in the Loop, I of course had to stop for an espresso. Sitting on the steps at the Cultural Center, I spotted Puppet Bike (usually a fixture of Andersonville).

Passing through Bucktown, I decided to stop at Copenhagen Cyclery and socialize a bit with the manager. They have a great looking shop, with front windows that open onto the sidewalk. On display was a lovely Velorbis cargo bike (here loaded with flowers).

Although I have about three times as many bikes as any person could ever need, this one, the Abici Amante, really tempts me.

Who can resist stirrup brakes!

So much for the good...

Twice today I saw parents struggling to cross busy streets with their children. The drivers showed no courtesy. That's bad - we have a stupid and wasteful car-centric transportation system, and we have raised at least two generations of ignorant drivers. When I stopped my bike to let a family cross Broadway, the father said, "Thank you, sir." I told him that he had a right to cross the street! Aside: Nothing makes me feel older than being called, 'Sir'.

The ugly today were two encounters between cyclists and drivers. The first, this morning, was a guy driving a van in River North who yelled something at me about getting out of the way, I'd better not scratch his paint... I'm not sure what else. As usual, I was riding predictably, signaling my intentions. The guy was a moron. Passing him, I yelled a dismissive, "Fuck you."

The second, this afternoon in Andersonville, I just witnessed. A fat-assed jerk driving a BMW yelled profanities at a young woman cyclist. I didn't see what happened, but this guy said something about how valuable his car was, so I guess he also worried about his paint... While he was parking, I walked several times around his car, staring at him and the woman with him (who seemed thoroughly embarrassed at his outburst). I was wearing cycling gloves, shoes, and cap, so he could see that I was one of 'them'. I was hoping to make him wonder whether I might be planning to vandalize his car. Now, I would never actually do (or encourage anyone else to do) such a thing, but I have to confess I really wanted to make him worry about it after how nasty he was to the young lady.

Despite these bits of ugliness, overall this was a most pleasant day, spent just the way I prefer - in the saddle!

I Don't Want to Talk. I Want to Make a Right Turn.

2009-06-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

Evanston is geographically adjacent to Chicago, but in ambiance it's a world away.

Today I had an encounter with an Evanston driver. There was no profanity or raised voices. Apparently I had made a facial expression indicating exasperation; I was making a right turn on red after stop (and signaling the turn, as always). She was entering the intersection through the green light, but stopped in the middle of it.

Seeing my expression, and still parked in the intersection, she rolled down a window and said, "You made an expression. Would you like to talk about it?" I indicated that I did not want to talk (I was in an intersection, not sitting on a pillow with Oprah!) - I wanted to make a right turn! This was difficult, as her car was blocking the intersection and I had no idea what maneuver she intended to make.

She then explained that she was waiting to pull in front of the grocery store on the corner (even though there was no open space and she would have to wait, presumably in the intersection(!), until one became available). Empowered by this knowledge, I made my right turn, passing in front of her car.

This encounter would have played out much more quickly in Chicago, where we communicate succinctly - with a few choice words ;-)

Looking for Jake's?

2009-06-25T20:58:00.001-07:00

Tonight I ventured from Uptown to the Dutch Bike Store in tonier Lincoln Park, where the Active Transportation Alliance had a mixer. A couple of dozen nice people showed up, including Dottie and Trisha (who write the Let's Ride a Bike blog). There was lots of gawking at bikes, comparing notes about commuting, etc.

On the way home, I saw a rooster(!) walking down the sidewalk on Clark St. near Montrose. Perhaps he was looking for Jake's, to see if what they say is really true ;-)

Thank You. God Bless You. Jesus Loves You.

2009-06-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

That's what a woman waiting to cross Broadway said when I stopped my bike and smiled at her.

Tonight I rode the Pedersen, as usual when I am just cruising around town. It continues to get a lot of comments. Recently, a policeman on a bike, when I passed him, said, "Cool bike - Pedersen!" Tonight, a man riding a very tough looking cargo (or military?) bike (olive drab with industrial strenght tubular steel baskets and an enormous guard for the rear derailleur) commented that, "Those are the most comfortable bikes in the world. I don't know why everyone doesn't ride them." It is pleasantly surprising to encounter people who can identify a Pedersen - such people are truly cycling aficionados!

Today's photo theme is flowers. Bad photos taken with my phone, but you get the idea - it's almost Summer...

A bakfiets with a flower vase at De Fietsfabriek on Wells, and a flower that refused to be contained by a surburban fence.

New Road Hazard

2009-06-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

After 40 years or so of cycling, I thought I had seen it all. Being vain, I like to think that I am an expert at anticipating everything that drivers/cyclists/pedestrians/animals might do to ruin my day, but... last night I encountered an entirely new hazard: a cat-abusing fixie rider!

Riding on Sheridan well after dark, there was little traffic, and I was relaxed. There was only another biker, a guy riding a fixie, approaching from the opposite direction; between us, a cat began to cross the street.

Suddenly, the fixie rider accelerated and crossed into my lane! He was so intent on chasing the cat that he didn't notice my presence (even though I have bright lights, reflectors, and was riding the tall Pedersen bike). As he headed straight toward me, eyes fixed on the cat, I yelled, "Look up, you stupid son of a bitch!" Swerving out of my path, the expression of shock and surprise in his eyes was priceless...

Grandeur and Tackiness

2009-06-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

This was one beautiful weekend. Of course I put in many miles on the groovy Pedersen machine. Today I enjoyed the grandeur of our lakefront skyline (from the Shedd Aquarium and also from Granville in Edgewater), as well as the wonderfully tacky slogan painted on the window at Jake's in Uptown.
I'm seeing more bakfietsen (box bikes) around town now - yesterday I passed one on the lakefront trail. From behind, I couldn't see what was in the box. I supposed it would be a kid (or two) or maybe some groceries, but...it was a woman! Clearly this is the bike for a bachelor to have, since one can (literally) use it to pick up women...

Speaking of bachelors and women, here's a social event that looks fun and also promotes cycling as a stylish thing to do:

http://letsgorideabike.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/summer-babes-and-elegant-bachelors-a-stylish-cocktail-ride/

A more important event for Uptown (though not related to biking) is happening next week:

http://www.uptownupdate.com/2009/06/join-hunger-walk-on-june-20th.html

In church today our pastor took up the subject in her usual way - with unassailable logic. She asked for a show of hands - how many of us were going on the walk? A few hands went up. How many were sponsoring walkers? Just a few more hands. Finally, she asked how many of us didn't care about hunger in our neighborhood. NO HANDS. She then stated, "I take it then that all of us intend to walk or be a sponsor." Since I can't be at the walk, I am now a sponsor ;-)

Feeling properly shamed this week, I will forego my usual rants about drivers, incompetent bicycle riders, etc...

Do You See What I See?

2009-06-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

Most adult cyclists also drive cars, at least occasionally. Most drivers do not also ride bicycles, especially not for transportation, i.e., on the streets. Interestingly, and sadly, bicycling is less popular than bowling, according to a study by the National Bicycle Dealer's Association: http://nbda.com/page.cfm?pageID=34

Not having personal experience cycling, most drivers must be puzzled/frustrated/angered when cyclists don't keep within a few inches of the edge of the road. After all, a bike is small, how much room should it need? Why can't bikers ride in a straight line and STAY OUT OF MY WAY? Probably most drivers assume that bikers are, at worst, morons, or at best, inconsiderate.

What drivers don't understand is that a road that looks like the Bonneville Salt Flats from their perch behind the windshield might look like the surface of the moon to a cyclist. Potholes (yes, Chicago has one or two of these) that are barely noticeable in a car can swallow a bicycle wheel and send the rider flying. Broken glass (yes, we have that, too) poses no threat to car tires, but easily punctures the tires of a bike (While I don't know who is responsible for all the broken glass on the streets, I can tell you who isn't - cyclists!). And even more dangerous than road hazards are opening doors...every time someone throws one open in my path, my heart stops, and obscenities flow from my mouth...

WE HAVE TO MANEUVER TO AVOID ALL OF THESE HAZARDS. Sometimes we have to ride in the middle of the lane; sometimes we have to move from one side of the lane to the other; sometimes we have to keep our distance from parked cars.

As more people adopt cycling as a means of transportation (go Dutch bikes!), more drivers may understand why cyclists can't just disappear at the side of the road. But unfortunately we already have millions of American adults (maybe a majority?) who NEVER rode a bicycle for transportation, even as a child, because they lived in sprawling suburbs where the transportation infrastructure was designed for cars - only. Sigh...

D-Day

2009-06-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was wonderfully warm and sunny. I was able to bike/train commute (the riding part is about 5 miles each way), then ride another 20 miles or so in the evening while doing little errands.

The forecast today predicted rain...so I decided to take the Pedersen out and get in some shopping, along with about 20 miles of riding, while it was still dry. Of course, my first stop was Andersonville for espresso and a fat butter croissant ;-)
In the Loop, I was held up by boats going under the Lake St. bridge (built in 1916). The bridge was up for quite some time, but fortunately, unlike the car drivers who just had to wait, I was able to turn around, ride down the sidewalk back to an alley along the river, and cut over to Randolph St., where the bridge was back down.

My Pedersen ride only took me as far south as the Museum Campus - rain seemed imminent (according to the radar map on my Blackberry), and I wanted to get home without getting soaked.

On the way back, of course I had to stop and admire the display of bakfietsen at De Fietsfabriek.

I like the URL painted on the side of the one in the foreground.

This afternoon the rain arrived, but it's light and gentle, so I decided to take the computer with me on the Dutch Gazelle (which is a little better equipped for wet weather than the Pedersen) and do my blogging and correspondence at the Coffee Studio. Once here, I couldn't resist a stop at Piatto Pronto for some provisions (German rye bread, heart of palm, Italian rotini). I'm also contemplating a walk around the neighborhood...

All in all, it has been a very pleasant D-Day 2009 for the Uptown Biker, thanks to those who endured a much less pleasant one 65 years ago.

Live Long and Prosper

2009-05-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

On this gorgeous day, I rode about 50 miles on the groovy Pedersen, doing my errands and checking out a cool new bike shop: http://www.copenhagenbike.com/

Now I've seen all three of the shops in Chicago that offer 'Dutch bikes'. My summary: Dutch Bike Chicago sells mostly Azor bikes - beautiful, tough, heavy. De Fietsfabriek has bikes of a similar style and price range, but a bit lighter. Copenhagen Cyclery has Batavus bikes (decent Dutch style bikes at about half the price of the other shops); but also the ABC line from Italy, which are considerably lighter. One of these really caught my attention, having a fully enclosed chain and stirrup brakes (I haven't seen those since the Raleigh Tourist, circa 1979). All of these shops are more like boutiques than bike shops - no grease!

Clearly 'Dutch bikes' are becoming fashionable. Perhaps fashion is the angle that will finally get a substantial number of people to get out of their cars and onto bikes. After all, that was what happened with smoking - health warnings didn't get people to stop; it just became unfashionable. Now (thank God!) we can go to restaurants, offices, etc. without being subjected to tobacco pollution.

All of these shops deserve a look. Let's hope they all prosper!

Strangers on a Train

2009-05-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

The wonderful weather has allowed me to commute by bike/train all week. I normally ride my Raleigh Rush Hour fixed gear to the Clybourn Metra station, and get on the train to Mt. Prospect, where my office is located.

This week, a few of the the Metra conductors have been on the warpath against cyclists. They've complained that there are too many bikes in a car, they give little lectures about etiquette, etc. I guess they do this to feel important. These are the rules: http://www.metrarail.com/Special_Promotions/bikes_on_trains.html I try to follow them, and always treat my fellow passengers with courtesy and respect.

Today a young woman seemed to take the little lecture very seriously (while I, on the other hand, am too old to be intimidated by a guy just because he wears a funny hat). She explained to me, ever so earnestly, that all of us cyclists must always be on our best behavior in order to win over the general public to the idea that bikes should be allowed on trains. I agree with her, but her extreme earnestness, humorlessness, and the fact that that such a young person was lecturing me, really put me off - to the point that I just wanted to be disagreeable. I told her that I've been around long enough to know that being nice doesn't necessarily win over the ignorant, but that she should go ahead and knock herself out. I am so cantankerous in my old age ;-)

Hi, Neighbor!

2009-05-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

Today was a bit cooler (fine with me) than yesterday, and less windy (really fine with me). All in all, a lovely day, as you can see from these views of the Loop from Franklin St. and Promontory Point.

I had several conversations with people on the street, and every one was most pleasant. I guess the fine weather put everyone in a good mood, taking the rough edge off of their normal Chicago demeanor.

Cyclists of every persuasion were out in force. Club riders with De Rosa custom bikes were noshing at Piatto Pronto. Puppet Bike was performing in Andersonville. A dad was hauling his two boys around Wrigleyville in a Dutch cargo bike. [There are now not one, but two stores in the city selling these wonderful monsters! I saw this one at De Fietsfabriek on Wells St., decorated with the Cubs logo.]

The Pedersen bike was a topic of conversation, as usual. One guy in Wrigleyville took a picture of it; the barrista at my favorite Loop coffee shop asked me about it, too. Bike Snob NYC has his own theory about why people ride the Pedersen...

"According to the website, the Pedersen bike is "designed as a series of triangles" to "obtain the maximum amount of lateral rigidity." Furthermore, the "hammock-saddle" gives "a comfortable ride, which is to the advantage of people with back trouble." Now that's what I call "laterally stiff and vertically compliant"--there's nothing more vertically compliant than a hammock. Still, I don't buy the "back trouble" thing. That sounds too much like an excuse someone might give for having a vibrator. If you're going to rub a bike with a "banana hammock," at least be up front about it."

No comment ;-)

Finally, a moment of Zen... this is a post box in Old Town, adorned with flower boxes. Why not?

Groovy Day

2009-05-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

Although the wind was strong, this was otherwise a glorious day. Lucky me, I spent it riding the groovy Pedersen bike, making up errands that I 'had' to do - get brake pads in Evanston, coffee in the Loop, groceries in Lakeview (twice), and take in the view of the city from Promontory Point. Probably I did 50 groovy miles altogether. Going South was a joy, North was painful; being about as aerodynamic as a tall sailing ship, the Pedersen gives me quite a workout when I have to ride into the wind.

Just a couple of photos today... This morning, on the lakefront trail near Bryn Mawr, I noticed a car bumper. Following the tire ruts farther into the park, I found the rest of the car.
Someone obviously didn't have a very happy Friday night.

Closer to home, in Margate Park, the scene was happier, with the usual kids playing Soccer.

It's At Least A Good Fad

2009-05-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

Chicago now has three shops selling only pricey European city bikes!

http://www.dutchbikechicago.com/
http://www.defietsfabriek-usa.com/
http://www.copenhagenbike.com/

This may turn out to be just another in a long line of bike fads (road bikes in the '70's, for 'racing'; mountain bikes in the '80's for going off-road...). But at least it's a good one - for the most part. Along with their $2000+ bikes these shops are selling the notion of bicycling for transportation. That's good. But there's also the danger that people will get brainwashed into thinking that the biking life has to be expensive. If you have the money, it's certainly fun to buy cool bikes. But almost anything with two wheels can get you from A to B. The important thing is to ride!

The City Lives

2009-04-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

Today was warm and beautiful, and the streets were full of people; sidewalk cafes were finally open, and the city seemed to have come back to life after a winter that was all too long.

I spent part of the day riding the lakefront trail. In addition to the usual Lance Armstrong wannabees, I saw a lot of tourists riding rental bikes. I love tourists - they remind me that I live in a great place.

Altogether, I rode the groovy Pedersen about 55 miles, stopping occasionally for espresso... I even made a quick stop at my favorite deli, Piatto Pronto in Andersonville, where I picked up some Padana cheese for my dinner. I also took a moment to sit down and replenish my fluids, gulping down a quart of water.

During the day, several people asked about or commented on the Pedersen. "Is it a Dutch bike?" "Is it an English bike" "Is the saddle just for whimsy?" "Is that a homemade frame?" "Nice wheels!"

Thoughts on the Groovy Pedersen Bike

2009-04-15T20:23:00.001-07:00

Now that I've burnished its saddle with over 500 miles of city riding, I feel ready to share some of my thoughts about the groovy Pedersen bicycle.

I won't describe the design in detail now, since that's already been done pretty well here: http://www.pedersenbicycles.com/

You can see the important features from the photos of my machine below:

The Pedersen has a triangulated frame constructed from pairs of small-diameter steel tubes. The nose of the saddle is suspended by a strap anchored to the head tube. This construction, with the hammock-style saddle and very upright riding position, is promoted as being more comfortable (especially for people who have back problems) than a standard diamond frame bike.

I fortunately do not have back problems, and my body's saddle has always been contented with a nice Brooks B17 on almost any kind of bike. So why get a Pedersen? For me the attraction was simply its unique style. The upright riding position also seemed sensible for my city riding; it's advantageous both for seeing and for being seen.

So what have I learned in the first 500 miles? It only took a few minutes to realize that the Pedersen has a ride smoother than any other bike I've ridden. I can see why people who experience pain every time their spine is jolted would really like this bike. Even for me, the feeling is luxuriously comfortable. But...this is also the slowest bike I've ever ridden. Not because it's heavy (mine is about 15 lbs. lighter than the typical Dutch city bike), but because you are FORCED to sit in a relaxed posture from which it is impossible to exert much force on the pedals. You can't stand on the pedals, as you do on a fixie - the strap that suspends the saddle will get caught in your nether region(!). Neither can you use the leverage of the handlebars as you would on a road bike. As a result, I find myself riding in lower gears, and hence much slower on the Pedersen than on any of my other bikes (including my Dutch Gazelle city bike).

Given that the Pedersen is not an alternative to a fast road or touring bike, how does it compare to other city bikes, especially to the Dutch type that are rapidly becoming popular in the US? It is IMO, more comfortable than the Dutch bikes. But its frame design does not as easily allow for heavy cargo-carrying racks. And because of its complicated, labor-intensive frame construction, it is considerably more expensive than the already pricey Dutch bikes.

There's a reason why the diamond frame bicycle became the universal standard. You can take the basic design and make it do almost anything you want - go fast, be reasonably comfortable, carry cargo. The Pedersen, like the recumbent, is less easily adaptable, and therefore just as unlikely to displace the diamond frame in the mass market. But just as the recumbent is the best option for cheating the wind, so the Pedersen is by far the best option for pure comfort.

The Pedersen is beautiful, luxurious, and slow. It's not for everyone. I wouldn't have one as my only bike. But as an addition to my fleet, I absolutely love it.

Palm Sunday

2009-04-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

Even on a wet and chilly morning, dressed properly, a little ride to the coffee shop is still comfortable. After being fortified with croissant and cortado, I rode on to get some groceries at a bodega in Rogers Park before heading to church for a very moving Palm Sunday service.

Tomorrow I may get to experience the joy of biking in snow...fun if you are in the right mood.

Slow Ride

2009-04-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today I really got into riding slowly...on the Pedersen. Altogether, about 55 miles of (slow) city riding. Apparently, slow riding is somewhat of a trend. http://theslowbicycle.blogspot.com/

Here are a couple of photos from today's frolic - both views of the Loop, one from Promontory Point (near the U. of Chicago); the other from the Finkl foundry in the Clybourn Corridor.

Nothing out of the ordinary seen today, just the usual pleasant Chicago sights. On the lakefront trail, I passed the Hi Guy http://www.higuy.com/; in Rogers Park, the Mexican street vendors were out in force.

Protecting the Noodle

2009-03-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

Uptown got about two inches of very wet snow overnight. So this afternoon I am tooling around Edgewater on my ‘snowbike’, a KHS Green. It’s a rather cheap and cheerful 3-speeed that I don’t feel compelled to keep clean.

The sun is out now; the snow is melting rapidly, and my bike helmet is doing double duty, protecting my noodle not only from impact with cars, but also from the chunks of heavy snow and ice that are falling from the trees and edifices.

Isn’t it about time for winter to be over?

More Like Wearing than Riding

2009-03-28T16:45:00.000-07:00

Our weather has turned nasty today - rain, sleet and now snow on the way. Before all that bad mojo arrived, I used my fixed-gear machine (a Raleigh Rush Hour with a few upgrades) to do my essential shopping and errands.

Not having ridden this machine for many weeks, it felt strange indeed after so much time recently on the Pedersen. The Pedersen is a slow machine, you sit bolt-upright; it's very comfortable, but not at all efficient, and certainly not responsive. By comparison, the fixie feels more like a pair of shoes - something you wear, an extension of your body.

Which is better? You might as well ask which pair of shoes is better...it all depends on your mood.

She Finally Has a Voice

2009-03-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been riding the luxurious and stately Pedersen bike almost exclusively. Mostly, that's because it's my newest toy, but I've also wanted to put on some miles to get everything adjusted and at least begin to break in the saddle. Overall, I've been enjoying this bike immensely; but something was missing... She had no voice! I've been making do by yelling, "Look up!" or imitating Road Runner's "beep-beep!" But those sounds, even when they are loud, don't seem to draw the attention of most drivers. She needed a bell!

It's possible to get a fancy bell from Denmark with the Pedersen logo on it, but PLEASE, that would be too precious, and so un-Chicago! Instead she got today a plain, but loud little brass bell. I think she likes it...

Chicago Bike Route Comment #2

2009-03-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

My recent evening rides have taken me down Cortland Ave. (a bike route) through the Clybourn Corridor. Cortland bisects the A. Finkl & Sons foundry; ocassionally you have to stop while they move red-hot ingots across the street! Very Chicago... Unfortunately, at least for biking ambiance, I have read that Finkl intends to move their plant to the south side.

Dutch Bike Invasion

2009-03-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

Tonight was dry, so I was back on the Pedersen bike, going about 22 miles to the Loop and back home via Bucktown and Andersonville.

On the back streets of Old Town, I saw two people riding Dutch bikes. A woman had one with an enormous wicker basket on the front (the kind that Queen Elizabeth might use for a picnic) and large leather pannier in the rear. A man had one with heavy duty cargo racks both front & rear. In recent weeks I've seen a few other Dutch bikes in Edgewater and Bucktown; these really seem to be catching on. Chicago is clearly an appropriate place for them; the flat terrain is no problem for a heavy bike, and the enclosed chain and gear hubs are ideal for our rather rainy climate. Let's hope this is a lifestyle and not just a fashion trend. It would be wonderful to replace a few of the cars on our streets with stately and practical bikes.

Coming Out

2009-03-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight the city was subjected to waves of rain and strong winds, so my planned rendezvous with friends for an evening ride was postponed. I decided to wander on foot a bit, after the rain had subsided. It was quite warm, so despite the rain, my neighbors were out on the streets. One woman greeted me with, "Hey, baby". A man mumbled something about "800...motions...got sick over there..." It is starting to feel like Spring.

Style Points

2009-03-23T19:44:00.001-07:00

No major biking adventures today. I only rode a few miles; first in search of a nice Spanish cheese for dinner, then to deliver a 700c tube to a friend in need.

The only bike-related events of note were conversations with neighbors about my Pedersen (seen here posing on the Lake St. bridge). When I was carrying it outside, one neighbor asked, "Is it light?" NO. "Does it fold?" NO. Wanting to justify owning such a thing (in a building where I have to carry the monster up and down four flights of narrow, winding stairs), I retorted, "But you get style points!" On my return, another neighbor questioned me about it as I gingerly muscled it up the stairs (being careful not to mar either the walls or the bike). He clearly wondered what kind of a nut I am. One who suffers for fashion, of course...

Be Careful Out There

2009-03-22T15:39:00.000-07:00

This morning I had the Dutch Gazelle bike out. She carried me to church, along with a 10 lb. bag of rice (we are collecting food for Care for Real) that I picked up on Argyle St. on the way.

Of course I had to have a stop in Andersonville for coffee. You can see that Clark St. has been designated a bike route. In Chicago, this does not denote a quiet road where cyclists can meander. Often these routes are quite intimidating for bikers not used to riding in heavy traffic (even I can't imagine riding some sections of Lawrence Ave., also a bike route). But I appreciate the gesture of putting up signs anyway, even if in practice it doesn't mean much.

After church, I decided to ride the Lakefront trail again - this beautiful weather is not supposed to last, so I wanted to make the most of it. After the second day in a row on the trail, I remembered why I rarely use it anymore.

Now there is nothing wrong with the trail. I'm very happy we have it, and proximity to it is one of the advantages of living in Uptown. But it's often not a relaxing place to be. There are kids, dogs, tourists who look in one direction but walk in another, rollerbladers (usually talking on the phone), etc. Mixed in with that crowd are guys who think they are Lance Armstrong...

As crazy as traffic can get, at least on the streets there are some rules. Having said that, today's ride down Broadway was like watching the 'road hazards' film in Driver's Ed. I was nearly door'd (this always makes my heart skip a beat, and also makes many bad words come out of my mouth); one guy signaled a right turn, then cut left immediately in front of me. Finally, as I was approaching a line of cars waiting at a light, the stopped car in front of me suddenly shifted into reverse! I think he was trying to make room for someone to make a left turn in front of him into a parking lot... It would have been nice for him to check his rearview mirror before pulling that one. Again, my heart skipped as I swerved out of his path. All of this is actually pretty typical; if you ride in traffic long enough, you ride defensively, anticipating the stupid things that drivers (and some other cyclists) routinely do. In a twisted way, I like the challenge, and I get a nice sense of achievement from surviving one more day.

50 Groovy Miles

2009-03-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day to be biking. It passed too quickly, as I explored and shopped along the lakefront and in adjacent neighborhoods from Hyde Park (where I had brunch at the Cafe Florian) to Evanston. Altogether, the groovy machine (a Pedersen bike, in the foreground below) and I did about 50 easy miles.

My journey, punctuated by shopping in little stores, enjoying treats, etc., would not have been possible in a car. I would have spent all day stuck in traffic, searching for places to park... On the bike, it was easy to take a break in the Loop for a latte (above right). In a car, it would have been too much trouble (or very expensive) to stop.

Passing by a McDonalds drive-through this evening, I saw something that reminded me of housbreaking a dog (really!). You keep a puppy confined to one room, because he naturally doesn't want to soil his little living space. He waits to go outside. At McDonalds, a driver pulled away from the drive up window, unwraped his food, and threw the trash out the window of his car. He looked right at me, unembarrassed, unashamed. Obviously, he didn't consider the environment outside his car to be part of his living space. How sad it must be to feel so confined. In my biking life, everywhere I ride is part of my living space. I am free.

Am I against cars? No. They have their place. But in American cities they are grossly over-used. In fact, I am a fan of some cars; the 1964 Jaguar XKE, for example... It's chassis was built with Reynolds 531 tubing - as was used in great bicycles of the era.

What is Uptown Biking Life?

2009-03-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

What is biking life, anyway? What's the big deal about riding a bike?

Most people don't ride a bike. Ever.

Many people have a bike, with flat tires, stored in a garage or basement along with a similarly disused Ab Roller or other fad exercise equipment.

Some people ride a bike on a regular basis, for exercise or recreation. Maybe they go on club rides on Sundays or load the bike in the car and take it to a trail. Some of these people are very athletic; some spend a lot of money on their bikes and cycling togs.

A few people, athletic or not so much, with all kinds of bikes , use them to live their lives - running errands, going to work, visiting friends, whatever. These people live the biking life. That's what I do, from my home base in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood.

In a biking life, you are exposed to your community. You see it, hear it, smell it. Sometimes it's funny; sometimes it's disturbing. But whatever it is, you are part of it. That is a big deal.