Trash Cans

Last night I was biking home in the wee hours of the morning. I was tired (it was past my bedtime). I almost found out the hard way that today is trash day; there were a few times I narrowly avoided running into people's trash cans. I had my front light on solid and pointed pretty well in front of me, but I still couldn't see the big, ugly, gray dumpsters until I was within a couple of feet.

Someone needs to write an ugly letter to the city and get some reflective stickers/paint put on the dumpsters.

Sign

I saw a sign yesterday on Tramway (I didn't have time to take a picture, I was in a car). It said "bike path construction, watch for ped."

I'm sad that the city is not acknowledging bicyclists as vehicles when the law states that they are.

Cops Citing Cyclists on Silver

ALIBI- My two wheels get ticketed
"Today across the country, cities celebrate national Dump the Pump Day by encouraging public transportation. By cutting back to one car, a two-person household can save more than $10.000 a year according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Teams from ABQ RIDE and the Rail Runner are doing their part by handing out goodies on various bus lines and Rail Runner trains throughout the day to promote a car-free lifestyle.
Me, I got a different kind of goodie.
As a bicycle commuter I wear a helmet and look both ways. But, I admit, I occasionally stretch traffic laws.
On June 16 at 9:43 a.m., a motorcycle cop flagged me down. He called me out on a violation of failing to obey the traffic control device at the corner of Silver and Cornell.
As surreal as it was to be standing on the sidewalk with my bike while an officer ran my driver's license through the system, it was even weirder to read the resulting warning notice.
License plate number—BICYCLE
Vehicle year—1900 (actually, 1988, but whatever)
Color—BLU (I'd call it gray and teal with yellow brake cables and red handle bars)
Under the line for make and model there is no mention of my aluminum frame Raleigh Technium other than BK. I think that stands for "bike."
Bicyclists are quick to defend our harmless commuting lawlessness. The truth is if we want to officers on our side, we need to follow the rules or pay the price just like everyone else on the road.
But is it wrong if I'm hoping my next violation is a speeding ticket?"

I wish they would target the cars who got 30mph and aim for the cyclists on the "Bicycle Boulevard".
So, stay safe, and obey they man. 

Track Standing

My dog does it.

She turns her head to the side to keep herself upright on her spine.

Not Bike Related Bost

Before reading, listen the the Vaselines.

I had one hell of a weekend. I did go for a nice long ride on Saturday. Went to a show. Hung out with friends, met new friends. Learned to make beer. Fixed some drywall at my mom's house. Hung out with a new friend. Slept very little. And now my life has turned completely upside down.

I don't know what's going to happen next, but I'm incredibly happy.

Commuters Arsenal #2

Possibly the most vital part of cycling (aside from a bicycle) is a helmet. They help to keep riders not dead. And, believe me, biking is a lot more fun when alive.

I wear a S-ONE skateboarding style helmet (which I got for free by being the Helmets in Hands "Rider of the Month").

 

Because it is mat-black it is incredibly difficult to see at night, so I put some reflective stickers on it.

Now, on of the biggest arguments I've heard against wearing a helmet, in the skateboaring scene and bike scene, is that helmets don't look good. And a lot of girls don't wear them because it (queue whiny girl voice) messes up their hair. Personally, I think people look a lot more attractive with sweaty helmet hair that they do attached to tubes in a hospital bed for the rest of their live or in a grave. A simple solution to dealing with helmet hair is a hat. Carry one with you and put it on when you get where you're going.

Another argument against helmets is the "I'm not going fast enough", or "I'm within my own limits, I won't fall". Well, you may not be going fast or outside you're limits, but cars might be. And a fall from 5ft can kill you if you fall just right. 

Bicycling is a leading cause of TBI. 

So wear a helmet, always.

Cycling Madness

Cycling Madness is happening tomorrow morning from 9:00am to noon at Los Ranchos Growers Market, Hartnett Park, 6718 Rio Grande Blvd NW. There will be clinics, rides, clubs, and Q&A.

I might stop by on my way to the Home Brewing class. It's a little detour, instead of taking the Bosque Trail all way to Alemeda, I would hop over onto Rio Grande Blvd. for a while.

The Old School

The Old School offers a lot of cheap classes (most are only $7) in "frugal, traditional, and sustainable living". I've signed up for the Home Brewing class this Saturday! 

"The homebrew masters in charge are so excited to teach this multi-session class aimed at helping you with the brewing process from set-up to poppin' the top on your first bottled beer. Supplies are not included in the cost of the class, but students will be personally directed to affordable (some recycled) supplies. Must be over age 21 to attend class."

It's going to be a long ride out to the North Valley from my house. 15 miles if I take the Bosque Trail, or 10 miles if I take the ugly route along the North Diversion Channel (I'm opting for the long, pretty ride).

I can't wait to learn to make my own beer! 

Commuters Arsenal #1

A commuter often has too much to carry for a backpack, messenger bag, or even paniers. The next step up is a trailer!
I've been trying to drive my car a little as possible, but I have a dog, and the dog park is a couple of miles away. I'm too lazy to walk that far, and letting my hyperactive husky pull me on my bike would be ridiculously dangerous (especially if she decides to turn when I want to go straight). So I bought a Nashbar Kid Karriage that someone was selling on Craigslist. 

The pup seems to like it.

Now long treks with cumbersome cargo will be easy!
I strongly suggest that anyone wanting to live car free invest in a trailer of some sort. If you don't have a dog or kid a flat, open trailer might be a better option.

Afternoon Ride

I get to ride up to the bank after work today. I've done it before, it's about 10 miles round trip. Most of the ride is on trails, so no cars (woo hoo!), but the best part is stopping by O'Niell's Irish Pub on the way home! The worst part is that I have no one to ride with.

AZ Fire = NM Smoke

If you live under a rock (or confined to a refrigerated air conditioned apartment and a car) you probably haven't noticed the smoke. But those of us who commute via bicycle have noticed, and it burns. And it can all be blamed on a HUGE fire in eastern Arizona. Some how the wind has been taking it all the way to Albuquerque.

(Yes, that's the sun.)

During the day it is visible, some times I can hardly see the Sandias! But at night it gets bad; I've seen wisps of smoke in my neighbors trees, visibility of less than a mile, and my mountains have disappeared. All of this has made the last week seep rather surreal. But there are some heath concerns (you are breathing smoke all the time).
"Residents should observe normal precautions associated with smoke inhalation. The city of Albuquerque is asking that residents limit outdoor activities, close their windows and do not use swamp coolers." -KOAT7

Breathe easy out there fellow velophiles!

Really Albuquerque?

I've seen these randomly around the city, but I've never been on my bike at an intersection with one until they put one up at Constitution and San Mateo (on my commute home from work).

It's a "Push Button to Cross" thingy. You push the button on these and the little white picture of a walking person appears on the sign across the street indicating that it is safe to cross on foot. In most places they are totally pointless seeing as a pedestrian can just walk when the light is green, because all these buttons do is change the walk light when the traffic light changes; most of them don't actually change the light any sooner.

Now, in regards to the city installing these on the right side of the lane (and in some places on the right side of the right turn lane). I'm guessing they put them there for cyclists to push and then cross the street. But bikes are vehicles. So why would they cross when the picture of the walking person is lit up? They wouldn't! They cross when the light is green, just like any other vehicle (City code 8-3-3-4-B). Now, some intersections have magnets under the road (or some other device) that detect when cars are there and change lath light that would otherwise stay red, but every intersection that these buttons are at do not have such devises; they are all timed. Their entire existence is totally pointless. But, it gets worse! The location of them is incredibly dangerous. To get to a position to push this button a cyclist must be all the way to the right. And at an intersection that is not a very safe place to be. There is even a city ordinance against bicyclists staying to the right. 8-3-3-7-A states that  "...bicyclist shall endeavor to maintain the [bicycle] lane except: at intersections..." And every bike safety related information I've ever seen says that cyclists should always stop at intersections on the left one third of the right (not turn) lane. This makes bikers more visible (drivers never look right behind them) as well as prevents cars from turning right around a bike that may begin to go if the light changes.

I know that it is rarely a crime to kill a cyclist in this city, but now the city is installing devices to endanger the lives of cyclists! Come on Albuquerque, this is ridiculous.

Critical Mass- Albuquerque

It's tonight, meet at 5:30pm at the UNM duckpond. I won't be there (I'm going to see Cats).


I'm not sure how I feel about Critical Mass. The idea behind it is to bring awareness to bicyclists, but these groups break laws while riding. So are they bringing the kind of awareness that they want?
When riding in a large group it is difficult to stay together. So to keep in a group the critical mass riders take up the entire road and block traffic at intersections if there is a red light. These acts tend to upset car drivers.
Wouldn't it seem like to bring better awareness to bicyclists to all ride legally (ride single file and stop at all red lights)? I don't know... Thoughts?

Bike portriat: ME!

This is me and my Raleigh Sprite 10 fixed gear.

I ride this bike most of the time; to work, school, bars, bank, etc. I love it.
Currently running 48t chainring and 18t cog (I need to change it to 17t or 19t now that I've learned to skid).

First!

This is my first post!

Here is a picture of one of my bikes. It is a Sear Roebuck and Co. Free Spirit. It's my cruiser/grocery runner.

I also ride a 1970's Raleigh Sprite 10 fixie.