An interesting little tidbit arrived in my inbox this week. It was an email from Lund University in Sweden about a study on mobility, planning, and cycling. The study, officially titled “Velomobility – A critical analysis of planning and space”, was conducted by PhD student Till Koglin at Lund University. It’s a comparative analysis of…
In many of my previous posts on Commute By Bike, I have focused on feel-good stories, such as the tale of a man who found both renewed health and a missing dog while on his bicycle, as well as made entertaining (I hope) references to pop icons such as Kermit the Frog to explain painted…
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… It is a period of paper-based self-navigation. Cell phones are the size a spaghetti squash. GPS is a three-letter acronym (TLA) and not much more to the average human. Bicycles are inanimate objects that are neither smart nor social. Yes, it is 1993. Fast-forward twenty…
"I hate broken bikes." That was the straightforward way that CycloMend founder, Colin, began to explain why he started his Washington, DC-based company that pairs up mobile bike mechanics with cyclists in need. Benefiting both the owner of the busted bike as well as local mechanics looking for additional work (who are vetted by CycloMend…
Documentary: A Winter of Cyclists
After a significant hiatus from Commute by Bike, I considered reintroducing myself to the wonderful world of bike blogging by composing a fluffy, friendly piece about the joys of traveling by bicycle, the amazing feeling of having fresh, crisp air flowing through your lungs as you take the clean, green way to work"¦ and then…
I love clever designs of objects that fold up small — not just bikes. Before my first folding bike, I had a folding dinner table, a collapsible ladder chair, a folding book shelf, and other folding stuff. Closely related to my folding fetish is my modular fetish. The idea that one thing can be many…
Today my “To Do” List included this item: write post for Commute by Bike. So this morning, I was brainstorming all kinds of fun ideas for topics to write about. And then I got back from a meeting and learned this. So really, there’s nothing else I feel like writing about right now, but I…
Pedaling up to Mama Burger for lunch recently, I noticed a cargo bike parked outside, unlike any cargo bike I’ve seen. This was an electric, cargo, single-speed, fatbike. I went inside and scanned the tables — there aren’t many of them to scan — thinking I’d be able to guess the owner of this bike…
I’m always conflicted when people exclaim that bike commuting makes them “feel like a kid” again. If there’s a feeling of joy that people get when they bike to work, and if that feeling motivates people to keep doing it, I ought to be all for it. Right? But I don’t ever feel this feeling….
“My goal is to get Paul McCartney’s attention to endorse bicycle e-power to the music industry.” The contraption fueling this goal: Sergeii’s Bionx powered bicycling piano. Best of luck to our ambitious, innovative and bicycle advocating friend — We’re rooting for you!
Oh hi there, Commute by Bike readers. As you are probably aware, the prolific and entertaining Ted has started a new job, justifiably gloated about his new bike commute, and stepped away from regular posting here at Commute by Bike. Not that anyone can take Ted’s place, nor do I intend to, but I’ll be…
I like SPD clipless pedals, but I’ve always hated the look of the majority of the SPD-compatible shoes and the fact that most of the shoes aren’t really made for walking. Instead they just ENABLE you dismount and walk around without the pedal cleats clacking against the floor; setting up a racket like you’re auditioning…
In my last post, I alluded to the fact that I’m no longer working and bike commuting in Tucson although I still have plenty more to say about that. But now Im back in Flagstaff, Arizona with a new job, and a new bike commute. This new commute is only about 2.6 miles if I…
This shortie from Streetfilms came out in the spring, but I felt it was appropriate to post it now. I recently moved from one Bicycle Friendly City to another, and it has been interesting to compare my experiences bike commuting in the two cities. I came from Tucson, AZ, which is a gold level city…
In the 12 months that Ive lived in piping hot Phoenix, the best rule of thumb Ive learned for beating the very high summer time heat is to wear dresses and skirts. Nothing combats temperatures over 100 like the flutter of a skirt and a breeze running its fingers across my legs when Im pedaling…
For people working regular business hours, it’s usually in the Fall and Winter when they need reliable bike headlights. The sun sets earlier, and daylight saving time kicks in in other parts of the world. In Tucson, I found myself commuting home after sunset even though it was the middle of the summer. Some days, around…
When I got my recumbent, the tech who prepped it for me mentioned clipless pedals as a defense against “leg suck.” Google that term for the grisly details, but do it on an empty stomach. Briefly, it’s when you’re riding along and your foot slips off the pedal, falls down, hits the pavement and your…
As a sometime product reviewer for Commute by Bike, you might recall that Im always ready to try out a new pannier or bike bag, especially one thats smartly designed, functional and attractive. Of course, I was happy to try out my fourth Detours product, the Ballard Market Pannier. Seattle-based Detours, named the bag after…
Here’s an article I came across with some good information about the legal rights of cyclists, and some common misperceptions. Regarding the perception that roads are for motor vehicles: …roads are still for moving people and motor vehicles are but one type of conveyance by which people move. And the perception that slow vehicles are…
Matt Elias was in the process of fulfilling his ambition to be completely carfree in Tucson. He had just purchased a full Xtracycle setup from Campfire Cycling when he encountered a cart-before-the-horse problem: How do you haul all of this Xtracycle hardware home before you’ve retrofitted your bike as an Xtracyle? In a car? Of…
The Detours Coffee Bag is modeled after a one-pound, er… coffee bag. You know the kind of bag you get at the grocery store where you dump the beans from the bulk bin into the bag, but you spill some on the floor. Then you dump the beans into your grocery store’s coffee grinder, which…
I suspected that the Montague Boston 8 would be a perfect commuter bike for my three-month sojourn in Tucson, and I was right. Damn, I’m smart. So this is the Boston 8 as it appears on the Montague Website, all pristine, clean, and without accessories: And this is the Boston 8 after I’d accessorized it for life…
Do you notice anything interesting about this bike? Look hard. So it wasn’t all that hard, was it? I came across this image over the weekend, but it was a version with the useless rear suspension circled. I suspect that the front suspension is ornamental as well. I went looking for the original image, and…
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