If you’re just tuning in, welcome to this series of mental attitude warm-ups for bike commuting: risk and trust, friendliness and willingness to try new things. Up, down, up, down! Now try these other brain cells.* Tolerance. If you’re already riding,…Continue Reading
Category: How To
Another post on the mental attitudes that will help you with your bike commuting, in addition to risk and trust. Friendliness. Smiling at drivers and making eye contact makes a big difference when you’re between them and their destination (although, as…Continue Reading
This isn’t about helmets, lights, reflective/high-visibility clothing, fenders for rainy days, or any of the rest of the gear list in an earlier post. It’s not Cycle Chic fashion advice telling you your closet is full of biking clothes. Instead this…Continue Reading
Shift down as I slow down or approach a stop. Shift down as I start to climb a hill. As I shift down when climbing, do so with the pedals slightly unweighted (not under force). Adjust my pace as I…Continue Reading
As I mentioned in my Week Two round-up for the 30 Days of Biking effort, last week my chain came off while we rode up the hill in search of frozen yogurt. My husband called out from behind me, “Shift…Continue Reading
I’ve whined a bit about the constraints found in office-appropriate clothing that isn’t designed for biking. Honestly, though, if you have a reasonably short ride many of the things in your closet will work just fine. Trust me—this is not…Continue Reading
Speaking of bike gloves (which you’ll want if you happen to fall down or if your nose runs), get a pair. Fingerless (half-finger, really) work well for summer. If you’re riding into the fall you’ll want ones with full fingers. Once…Continue Reading
I’m happy to report that I haven’t fallen very many times on my bike. But I have fallen. Two laws caused some of my falls: Murphy’s and Gravity. Additional factors: Learning to ride with my shoes clipped to my pedals.…Continue Reading
One day when brilliant and talented Second Daughter was a little girl, she said something that started with the words, “I assume.” Brilliant and talented Eldest Daughter and I said, practically in unison, “You know what you make when you…Continue Reading
Years ago a friend of mine taught me about wormholes: those semi-secret byways that locals know that cut miles out of a route or let you skip traffic lights or pesky left turns on busy streets. Seems to me a…Continue Reading
Choosing your preferred bike route involves thinking about what streets can get you there and back again, doing some exploring, and avoiding climbing as much as possible (assuming you want to avoid sweating since you’re on your way to work).…Continue Reading