Decorating My Workspace

It's taken me a while to decorate my new office space. The Eiffel Tower pencil sharpener reminds me of the last time I was in Paris on a sub 24-hour walking tour after several days of cycling in Provence. The troll is a dear friend I appropriated from my son more than 10 years ago. I love her to pieces. Her helmet straps are barely hanging in there - I'm almost afraid to dust her! I received the Papyrus card this summer. It's a 3-dimensional work of art made of paper, plastic and metal. If the bicycle were real, it might be the swankiest ride ever - flower power to the extreme!

I'm sure I'm not the only one who fills her cubicle with bicycle love. How do you brighten your office?

Burlington Streets Challenge - New North End, Complete

Another installment in the series to ride every public road within Burlington's city limits in 2015.

I have mixed feelings about finishing this segment of my challenge. It means I will no longer have motivation to seek out neighborhoods I'd yet to explore within proximity of our camp, easy weekend access. It was in this exploration that I discovered the true nature of neighborhood diversity: entire street of fourplexes without a soul in sight versus active neighborhoods full of children versus quieter immaculately groomed yards, usually (but not always) signifying retired homeowners.

And contrary to my husband's proclamation that North End neighborhoods are unpredictable - he insists a neighbor might work on cars until all hours of the night - I see the positives. I love flat, easy to navigate by bicycle landscape. It is acceptable, even preferable, to ride on sidewalks; busy North Avenue is currently dangerous (soon to be redesigned to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists). There is more space in general: wider streets, larger yards than older Burlington neighborhoods. Proximity to waterfront bike path is an added bonus, which connects to downtown, South End, or northward into Colchester.

There are garage sales to stop at, again easier to meander when roads are flat. On a recent family bike ride, one son bought a recliner. We paid the seller, continued on our adventure, then returned later with the car to transport his chair.

There is a sense of shared community here - perhaps even rivalry - if elections results are any indication. North End is a working class neighborhood whereas the South End and downtown neighborhoods are increasingly gentrified. Between high rental properties and house prices, driven by students seeking apartments close to downtown campuses, the North End is the last affordable place to buy a Burlington home.

A neighborhood of single story ranch homes.

The North End also has a centrally located shopping district, the only one of it's kind within city limits. You can visit a doctor, post office, dentist, bagel shop, hardware store, and food store within walking distance or three minute bike ride. The grocery store has the best bike racks: upfront and under cover. All North End neighborhoods are within one mile of public parks and lakefront access.

Oh, honey, I beg to differ. I could see myself someday living in this region.

Completed Streets to date:

138. Henry Street
139. Crombie Street
140. Cedar Street
141. Volz Street
142. North Prospect Street
143. Woodbury Road
144. Woodlawn Road
145. Brierwood Lane
146. Balsam Street
147. Vine Street
148. Edgemoor Street
149. Cayuga Court
150. Dorset Lane
151. Birch Court
152. Fairmont Place
153. Cottage Grove
154. Tracy Drive
155. West Road
156. Oakland Terrace
157. York Drive
158. Western Avenue
159. Cross Parkway
160. Loaldo Drive
161. Janet Circle
162. James Avenue
163. Gazo Avenue
164. Sandra Circle
165. Lori Lane
166. Matthew Avenue
167. Randy Lane
168. Charity Street
169. Hope Street
170. Faith Street 
171. Ledge Road
172. Clover Lane
173. Turf Road
174. Pennington Drive
175. West Haven Drive
176. Algird Street
177. Borestone 
178. Riverview Drive
179. Fairfield Drive
180. Westward Drive
181. Hardy Avenue
182. North Avenue
183. Browe Court
184. Forest Street
185. Brooks Avenue
186. Maple Street

Did You Know...The High Point of Kansas Has a Sunflower Made With a Bicycle Chain?

Who would have known there are such special places in the U.S. full of bike love - and a high point at that!

My husband and son are vacationing in several states; their primary goal is climbing summits and exploring along the way. My favorite by far is Kansas's amalgam of summit paraphernalia and my family's experiences with horned toads. If you want to see what's in the mailbox in the above photo, follow their vacation blog.

Why Surely, I'm Looking for a Surly

A Surly LHT, drawing cannibalized to suit my needs.

Pedaling home today, it occurred to me that what I really want is a step-through Surly. According to Surly's fans it's the functional beauty, durability, hauling capabilities, reputation, and bang for the buck that keeps it's riders happy. That's exactly what I'm looking for in a step through bicycle. I also want a touring machine, the bicycle that will take me into my later years. Unfortunately, Surly fails to offer anything remotely close.

Truthfully, neither does Soma or Velo Orange, two other highly regarded companies that have similar reputations. Soma offers a Mixte style, but it's cost and untested touring potential, or for that matter without an opportunity to swing my leg over a frame, are factors that have me looking elsewhere. And frankly, I'm afraid any Mixte will not have the step-over height like I'm currently used to. And as tempting as the Rivendell's Clementine is, again, if I can't take it for a spin I would be silly to purchasing it sight unseen.

With my purse, a custom bicycle is not an option. The Rodriguez Makeshift is pretty. I love the step over height of the Pilen Lyx (more transportation than long distance tourer, but mass produced frame) and style of True North's version. Well beyond what I can afford; however it's fun to look.

Photo credit: Specialized

But hey, what about the aluminum Specialized Source Step Through Bike (phew, what a name!) so new that it's not yet reviewed? I'm not fond of straight forks (and ugh, it's available in only black) but it sports braze on for a low rider rack, supplied with fenders, rear rack, triple crankset and comes in a large size. Intriguing. I am giddy to think manufacturers may offer more step through machines. Or is it only a glorified commuter bike? I suppose only a test ride will tell.

Test rides are the crux of the problem. In our little city, burgeoning with riders, there is limited bicycle supply, and with the variety of bikes offered, as G.E. succinctly describes, that are so many styles offered that new riders are confused, but of course, bike shops must handpick what they think will sell, while experienced riders like myself are searching for a specific niche product.

So, as I pedal my Ross Mt. Saint Helens homeward my thoughts eventually drift back to the 1980's...where early mountain bikes boasted rugged frames, some with fork braze-ons as standard equipment. A few companies offered the step through frame.

If my readers ever spy the Peugeot Saint Laurent Express Step-through in 21" (white frame). A rarity for sure, but at the moment I'm in dreamland anyway, Give me your best shot.

Technology Can Empower and Encourage Cycling

Doing long distance cycle tours in the 1980's and 1990's meant I read maps, followed signs, and relied on asking strangers for help with directions. Interaction with locals was important. Sometimes my partner and I rode father than we had intended just to locate a campground, or relied on the goodwill of others who offered lawn space for our tent. Sometimes we dashed into the woods and stealth camped. Often we did not know where we'd rest our heads for the night, which became part of the adventure.

Isn't to explore the unknown why anyone heads out bicycle touring? To set one's sights to cross a state, a country, or the world?

But in this day and age must this also include using tech gadgets? Does anyone really need to know where every store, road detour, or bike store is en route? Or, say you are traveling long distance without a tent, using Warm Showers' hosts, and send out mass e-mails in one region, planning on one generous host to bail you out with a comfortable bed? Except you send your regrets to 10 hosts while all you really needed was one. Ask me how I know.

Where is the adventure in that?

Until recently I used to believe it makes us emotionally stronger to disconnect from technology and be forced to rely on one's wits, whether it's dealing with headwinds, mechanical problems, or finding a night's lodgings, all without the aid of a digital device.

Until Willie Weir—a skeptical, tech gadget-resistant cycle tourist of my own generation—marveled at the wonders of the Internet connecting a 13 year old precocious boy with savvy travelers to make this child's dream come true. And secondly, I personally saw technology motivate our son to ride 25 miles with his friend.

Okay, so if I was a dog, my tail is between my legs.

I'm talking about e-mail and cell phones primarily, providing the contact necessary for planning. And while admittedly I've seen users go overboard, digital gadgets can actually be a huge help.

In the case of Willie Weir's teenage acquaintance, the use of technology helped secure seasoned cyclotourists to accompany an underage traveler on a 1,000 mile journey. Think of the piece of mind that gave the boy's parents.

With our son, he decided to set out with a friend on a one-way journey, crossing the causeway, then instead of returning by car was coaxed by the friend's parents to head back because there was enough daylight. Both boys couldn't change a flat, nor had they brought any tools—not that they would know how to use them—but they could call in an emergency. And though as parents we are continually after our 16 year old to get off the Internet at home (the 21st century parents' never ending battle), this was an instance where technology empowered a teenager to keep on pedaling or at least know they had back up for a rescue—though I wonder if any 16 year old consciously thinks about it in advance.

So, if technology lends comfort or motivates cyclists to give long distance riding a try, when they otherwise wouldn't, then who am I to judge what constitutes an adventure?