For the first time, in our short history down here in Tucson, we were an official sponsor of Cyclovia Tucson. To captivate the Cyclovians we decided to bring out some of the bicycle touring rigs we had set up for our new showroom. We brought out a Surly CrossCheck and ECR both setup with Ortlieb…
This week I was inspired to talk about my beloved handlebar bag, the Ortlieb Ultimate 6 Pro-M. The thing I’m discovering about doing these videos, is doing them impromptu like this, I’m not sure what ridiculous things are going to come out of my mouth. Video Transcription: Hi I’m Josh Lipton with Campfire Cycling and…
Tucson’s All Souls Procession has grown into an event of epic proportions. I decided this year to capture some of the bicycles that joined the festivities. While the season has transitioned from spooky to thankful to festive, I wanted to get this up before all of the holiday cheer had subsided. Think Nightmare before Christmas….
A few weeks ago, I moved from a house where I had a very simple bike commute (I rode straight down one road for 3 miles) to house located such that there are a wide array of route options. As I began exploring these various routes, I was reminded how enjoyable it is to optimize…
Let the Holiday adventures begin! Enjoy our list of gifts optimized for everyday cycling adventures. Revelate Designs Viscacha Ready to break away from the everyday? The Viscacha is the first bag to start your ultimate bikepacking setup. Ortlieb Commuter Bag Looking for a better way to do it? The Commuter is going to get you…
As of a few days ago, we completed the first step of a rebranding project for www.CampfireCycling.com with some updates here. Step 1 involved the following: Transition CommuteByBike.com into www.CampfireCycling.com/blog. Transition UtilityCycling.org into www.CampfireCycling.com/blog. Put up a several aesthetic changes including a new header images. Archive our Forums Organize our content into 5 categories: Commute…
This is like one of those “When You See It” pictures that your friends send you on Facebook. I took this photo while commuting by bus in Madagascar. Do you notice anything odd? This was during my “Bikeless in Madagascar” period. It was a weird time. I would do my normal morning get-ready-for-work routine. I’d…
Over the last 22 years that Ive been bicycle commuting regularly, I have often tried to be a messenger-bag-kinda-gal, but it never seemed to work out. The bags felt too floppy, or too small, or too big, and always too heavy on my shoulder. They often swung around while I was riding, and I can…
If you’re a devout follower of the Commute By Bike blog, you know that I typically write about exciting advocacy issues and helpful or controversial new products. Once in awhile, I engage in some hard-hitting investigative journalism. Today, however, I am inspired to write about a more personal experience with cycling – one that reminded…
When I launched www.CampfireCycling.com in 2006, I had great timing. While the economy was about to head off a cliff, I somehow got myself into a nice little area of opportunity that was very likely buoyed by the residual impacts of our collective economic shit-storm. It was very exciting how excited everyone was about using…
For the first time in more than 20 years I do not have a bicycle. Here’s what happened: The bike that I have been using since I arrived in Madagascar belonged to the Government of the United States of America (USA). A few days ago, I wrapped up my contractual obligations to that particular organization,…
I walked the floors of Interbike for the last 3 days. I met with our suppliers, the folks behind brands like Ortlieb, Revelate, Thule, and Weehoo. After some catching up and business talk I captured video of their latest products some of which I will be sharing here after some editing. The culture shifts of…
Bicycle commuters have a high affective appraisal of their commute mode, and rate the habit strength of their commute significantly higher than drivers or bus riders. This research, compiled by psychologists Gregory Owen Thomas and Ian Walker in the UK and reported by CityLab’s Eric Jaffe, adds a nice punch of science to what many…
In my ongoing search for the perfectly usable bicycle, I made some very interesting strides using an Xtracycle Edgerunner as my platform. Most notable among my advancements in the JOYBAG philosophy was my lock configuration. But the day has come where I need to move onto another bicycle. As a bike shop owner, I find…
I got the call to review the Classic 2.0 Garment Pannier from Two Wheel Gear (2WG), and of course, the first thing I did was to read the review of the Classic on CBB. At first I was a little worried about what I got myself into, but a quick review of the 2WG website…
I started out my career as a bike nerd with a very pro helmet attitude. But then I began hearing a variety of disarming anti-helmet arguments. I struggled with these bizarre new concepts. What! helmet laws result in people riding bicycles less? What! helmets give the perception that cycling is dangerous? What! helmets don’t protect…
Check out this homemade bike bell system I came across in Madagascar.The owner of the bike — perhaps the inventor — was more than happy to demonstrate.I was visiting the Cold Water Geysers of Analavory. I was not commuting per-se; I was being a tourist.The geysers are not a natural phenomenon, but instead are related…
I am a very lucky guy. I get to go cycling with my daughter. Showing the joy of cycling to my daughter has been one of my favorite things about being a dad. When we go on a ride it is an adventure for just the two of us. Or for the whole family. And…
For several years, I have been reading about cyclists’ frustrations with people parking in bike lanes. Very often, the focus of these posts is the lack of attention and action offered by local enforcement agencies. Last Friday, I published my own ruminations on the topic. On the same day, a lawyer in Arlington, Virginia published…
Bike lanes have about a dozen different names and an approximately equal number of design variations. However, the intended purpose of bike lanes is the same on all streets, in all cities: to provide cyclists with a car-free lane for safer, more efficient riding. When used appropriately, bike lanes make our streets safer for motorists,…
If you bet against the Senate to pass the DRIVE Act before the federal transportation program ran out of funding on July 31st, it’s time to get your wallet out. Right at the deadline, and right before breaking for its annual August recess, the Senate approved the comprehensive transportation bill that includes at least three…
I just pumped a tire for the first time in 10 months.Not because I haven’t had a flat. I have. Not because I ride on my rims when my tires are flat. I don’t (usually).It’s because between my house and my workplace there are at least six roadside bike repair guys. I live in Antananarivo,…
Mobile bike shops are an important industry trend to watch in 2015, reported Fred Clements, the executive director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association, on Bicycle Retailer and Industry News earlier this year. Humbly, I admit that Commute By Bike predicted this trend many moons ago, when I first wrote about CycloMend in 2013 and…
If you do a quick search for earbuds or headphones on Campfire Cycling, you likely will not be surprised to learn that we cover the controversial topic of cycling with headphones about once a year. Posts appear from as early as 2006 to discuss the logic and legality of riding while wearing sound-restricting devices. At this…
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