First Major Bike Accident

Yesterday I got hit by a car while riding my bike to work. To be more accurate, I actually ran into the car-but that's because it didn't stop at the sign on 4th north and 2nd west.

It was an ordinary day like any other, I had just pounded my usual morning glass of 5 raw eggs (Ok, it was more like Cap'n Crunch) and I headed for work. I put my headband on under my helmet, covered my hands with my wool bum gloves and saddled up my Redline and headed to work. After traveling about two blocks I noticed a red headed girl about to cross the street from the west side of 2nd west to the east. I slowed in anticipation for her to cross but she didn't, so I continued going south.  I made it about a quarter of the way through the intersection when I noticed a champagne SUV out of the corner of my right eye blow right through the stop sign. I realized then that if I continued on the course I was on I would be struck head on, so I immediately slammed on my brakes.  Realizing I was going to collide with the vehicle and fearing that if my front wheel hit first I would probably be sent toppling over my handlebars, I sort of stiff armed the car with my left hand. The impact from the hit sent me flying off the right side of my bike, knocking my water bottle out of its cage, and scraping the right brake lever. When I got up I checked my jacket on the right elbow side to make sure it wasn't torn. It was rippled, but not tattered. The only damage I noticed was a small rip above my right knee where I landed on the cement, and a sore left wrist from bracing myself for the impact. I stared at the vehicle in disbelief as an elderly lady came to my aid, telling me how awful she felt. She apologized repeadetly and kept asking if I was OK. I told her I was fine and the only thing I could ask her was how she missed the stop sign. She never gave me a satisfactory answer, however she wanted to help in any way she could. I told her to give me her number at I would look over my bike, my jacket, and myself and let her know if everything was alright.

Turns out other than a few scrapes and bruises I was fine, but the whole experience was something else.  I called the woman later that evening to assure her I was feeling OK. She told me she had been thinking about me all day and expressed her gratitude for my call, and felt reassurance that I wasn't harmed.

National Bike Month

Did you know that May is National Bike Month? In connection with the designation, this week (May 11-15) is Bike-to-Work week. If you live within five miles of your workplace, I hereby challenge you to get on your bike and ride! Get on google maps and plot out your course, pump up those old tires, and give it a go. You gotta at least try it ONE day this week. Here are some reasons why I ride to work every day:

• 30 minutes or more of exercise per day
• Arrive to work alert and energetic, not groggy
• See parts of the town I may have otherwise missed
  
• Easier to fall asleep at night
• Avoided purchasing a second vehicle and associated costs (registration fees, insurance, gas etc.)
  
• Reduces pollution in Cache Valley
• Provided a new hobby

Should you decided to take the challenge, let me know how it goes!

Snow Riding

So the first real snow storm of the season occurred late Friday night. In preparation for this event I have been busy building a snow bike. I had to return a book to the local library so I thought this would be a good opportunity to test the bad boy out. The ole GT actually fared ok, there was a bit of slipping involved, probably more than I would have liked and that's why I'm adding a pair of these tires to my Christmas list. As you can see, visibility was no problem for passing drivers. This morning it was about 5° F but I stayed surprisingly warm. My biggest obstacle this winter will be the packed snow/ice.

Slower Traffic Keep Right

While riding home from work at dusk, as I often do, I neared the final turn before I arrived home. Normally, I ride on the shoulder of the road. However, in preparation for the left turn I make at the four-way stop on 6th north & 2nd west I slide over to the middle of the road. Before drifting to the middle of the street I check over my shoulder for any traffic. Incidentally, I am going to get one of those helmet mirrors. I know they're nerdy but I think such an item could prove useful. This time when I checked over my shoulder the glow of a single light was all I could see. It was too small to be that of a motorcycle, though. About five car lengths from the stop sign I checked again. This time the light was closer; enough that I could identify it to be that of a fellow biker. I had my left hand hanging out slightly indicating my desire to drift left, but I didn't want to fade left just yet because this mystery cyclist was hot on my tail. Now about three car lengths from the stop sign, the dude passes me up. As he overtook me, I greeted him with a 'hey'. The kind of 'hey' you would give a relative that showed up uninvited to Thanksgiving dinner. He replied with a 'how ya doin?' only it was more like 'how ya doin now that I passed you up, sucka'

How do I know it was three car lengths? Because there were two cars in line at the stop sign! This made for an awkward situation. Four-way stops are bad enough in Utah, let alone for a biker who everyone thinks is helpless and urges to go first. Add a second biker to the scene and things get crazy. Why he didn't just wait for me to drift left, and then pass on the right, is beyond me. I pondered it as I rounded the last block into the home stretch. The guy was a middle-aged dude with glasses. I wish more than anything he has a blog and I could find it. Sorry I could only give you my version. I'm sure his side of the story would be even better. "Dear Journal, Today while I was riding my bike home I totally blew by this punk!"

If I see this fella again I vow not to let him pass. I don't think my pride could handle it.

My Urban Assault Commuter

Curiosity prompted a few readers to inquire about the bike that takes me to work every day. As stated before, the bike is a Redline 925. There are a few changes I made from the factory specifications as well as a few accessories I've added since I bought the bike. They are:

• Riser bars instead of the stock bullhorns
• Oury grips
  
• Forte Shovel pedals w/ reflectors
  
• Water bottle cage
• Removed chain guard
• Jannd Mountain Wedge II saddle bag (for spare tube, levers, patch kit, carmex, change, etc.)
• Electra Amsterdam bell
• Mini Mag Lite with Nite Ize strap, LED conversion kit, and rear push-button cap
• Zefal HP x3 frame pump
• rear rack
• Planet Bike Blinky SuperFlash tail light

Not shown:

• helmet (safety first!)
• vintage Aladdin lunchbox from eBay

I highly recommend commuting to work via a bicycle, I have become addicted. It's a great way to kick off the day and beats trying to set aside time to exercise. Biking is a great hobby, the hardest part for me to get into it was the one-time cost of a nice bike. The last couple mornings I rode to work were in the 20s but I'm still going. We'll see if I will be able to endure the snow here in a few weeks.

Ride to the Water Slides

Friday was a big day. The last few months I've been saving up to either restore the bike I have or buy a new one. After intense research and deep thinking, I decided to buy the Redline 925. I couldn't be happier with it. There are a few things I had Robert at Recycled Bikes swap out for me before I bought it so I would have no regrets. In case you don't know, I'm very particular about making big purchases. I'll have to post pictures of it soon. After I picked up the bike and rode it home, Martha and I set off for the Logan Aquatic Center by bike of course. The stake sponsored the activity, and provided food so it surprised me there weren't more couples there. Oh well, their loss. Me and my pal Ryan ended up jumping off the diving board about a thousand times until we literally slapped ourselves silly on the water. What we lacked in grace we made up for in stupidity. We decided to move on to the water slide and see how far we could skim across the water at the end. Ryan nearly made it to the exit stairs so he won. Our wives seemed to stay entertained by chatting and watching us hurt ourselves as they floated leisurely in the shallow end. We rode our bikes home as it was getting dark and on the way back I just so happen to run over a thorn. I, of course, didn't realize this until the next morning when I went to grab my bike and to my dismay the rear tire was flat. I have been riding my old skool bike back and forth to work for the last two months and the first day I ride the new one I get a flat! It was no prob though, cuz when I went to see Robert he set me up with a tube and patch kit, so I was back on the road in no time.

Campania Bike - Phase I

For my first trick I decided I would convert my 10 speed to a single speed the cheap way. Every part I stripped off is in that box. I do plan on fixing it up the right way, just not now. The project went well, I used a chain tool for the first time ever and didn't even screw things up real bad. Although the 40/22 gearing now leaves something to be desired, I don't have to worry about the chain falling off like it used to whenever the shifters got bumped ever so slightly. Eventually, I plan on getting a flip flop hub for my rear wheel. One side fixed, the other free. When I do that I'd also like to replace the old steel cottered cranks for something a little stronger, along with a new chain ring. I'm thinking a 44/16 ratio might be well suited for my commute.

Week 1

So, I survived my first week on the job. I thought I'd include a pic of me riding off triumphantly into the sunset on my retro classic. I did a little research and found Campania bikes originated in southern California in the 70's--just another company that jumped on the bandwagon of Japanese made road bikes. Funny how knock-off brands from 30 years ago are still far superior to the department store bikes of today. I plan on either stripping the bike of its parts and building a single speed, or doing a cash + trade for one that's already built up.

After work me and Martha attended Summerfest over at the tabernacle. We enjoyed strolling from booth-to-booth to view the locals' artwork. The weather could not have been better.

Tonight we went furniture shopping, some of it for the legendary brick corner. I really think we're on to something, but I don't want to make an announcement just yet . Options are still being considered. Hopefully we'll have it figured out before the next full moon.