Somerville Illuminations Bicycle Tour

Join the Somerville Bicycle Committee on Saturday evening, Dec 18, to celebrate the coming of winter and year round cycling. We will enjoy a casual bike tour to see some of the city’s homes warmly lit for the holidays.

We will meet at the Somerville High School entrance at 6:50pm, departing promptly at 7:15 pm.
We will tour the city in coordination with the Somerville Arts Council’s Illuminations Holiday Tour. The start of our ride is scheduled halfway between two trolley departures, so we will not interfere with the trolley tour.

This is a winter evening ride, so please dress warmly and use bike lights. Holiday lights, costumes & festive cheer encouraged. Heavy rain, wind, snow or ice cancels bike tour.

Now Hear This!

The New York Times reports that bicycling is good for women in their 30s and 40s.

They do cite a Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, so this isn't merely a summary of the obvious, there was actual research involved.

"bicycling is highly beneficial in women" - Amen!

Bicycle Benefits Calculator

Found a nifty gadget on the web: 1 World 2 Wheels

I entered my most basic cycling profile and they tell me that my minimum cycling is:

• 199 miles a month
• 9,353 calories burned
• $43.78 gas money saved

Try it, it's a fun widget:

Gentleman Cyclist In Training

I see his dad all over town, always on his black modern-day Dutch bike. He wears a black leather jacket and straps a black leather briefcase to his rack. He just got the front rack a couple weeks ago. I imagine he's in a creative but lucrative field, something like advertising or architecture perhaps. I'm completely making that up, it's just one of the stories I weave about people I see.

His little duckling was having the best day ever as he followed Dad on the sidewalks of Boston and they commuted to school and work.

Optimal Saddle Height

Once you have the right size frame, the first adjustment you should make is getting your saddle in the right place.

This is mostly a height adjustment, but there is a small amount of movement possible forward and back. Most new cyclists leave their saddles too low, probably to make it easiest to get their feet on the ground quickly. The trouble is that this is not the most powerful way to bike. You work harder and can hurt your back, tire out your legs, etc.

There are plenty of mathematical optimizations to calculate your best saddle height, but most people just approximate it. Here's a quick checklist to get you close to your ideal position:

1. Your saddle should be completely level. If anything, the pros say to have it slightly nose-up, but I say that's no good, just go for level.
2. With one pedal at the very bottom of your stroke (6 o'clock) and your heel on the pedal, your knee should be just at the bent side of straight. No reaching for the pedal, but still almost fully extended.
   

That's it! It's easy and will make a huge difference. Note, you may find you want to raise your handlebars once you raise your saddle. That's a subject for another post.


Photo from carfreedays

Critical Mass Boston

I went down to see Critical Mass on Friday, though I couldn't ride due to another obligation. It was fun to observe the bike community coalescing. I'd guess there were about 100 riders there. I only heard about one incident, and it seems like the ride was longer than normal. The weather was perfect so a long ride makes sense.

Helmet Advice

I can't tell you whether to wear one or not - that's up to you. I've already said that my position is that I don't want the regret of not wearing one, should the unthinkable happen and I survive, but barely. So I wear a helmet.

In choosing a helmet it's important to know that ALL helmets in the USA must comply with the same safety standards. The only difference between a $20 and a $100 helmet is things like the air vent design, the harness materials, the aesthetics, etc. Functionally it is required by law to work the same.

So buy the cheapest helmet that you like.

Some Bicycle Thoughts for Bike Week

The Plain Dealer reported this week:

When you have to stuff three $20 bills into your gas tank to fill it, riding your bike becomes good for your wallet. You don't have to shell out for a car payment, a license, insurance, gasoline, oil changes, or roadside assistance. And a new set of tires doesn't cost $500.

It's good for your body. Cycling makes you healthier and younger. Cycling as little as 20 miles a week can cut your risk of heart disease by more than half. On average, a regular cyclist has a fitness level equal to that of a person 10 years younger.

It's good for the environment. Bicycles produce no exhaust, damage no roads and can last decades, instead of just years. In addition, about 100 bicycles can be built with the same energy and resources it takes to build one medium-size car.

1. Twelve bicycles can be parked in a typical automobile parking spot.
2. 15% of Japanese workers commute by bicycle, 1.67% of Americans commute by bicycle
3. $29,299: The average cost, including finance charges, of a new vehicle (car or SUV) in the USA, $385 average cost of a new bicycle.
4. 2 to 1: The ratio of bicycles to cars on Earth.
5. 100 calories: The amount a person uses to bicycle 3 miles.
6. 833 -- Bicyclist deaths in the United States in 1995, 773 - Bicyclist deaths in the United States in 2006.

Greater number of lunch options

Another unexpected benefit of cycling to work. These guys are heading back with their takeout from somewhere far away. Doesn't matter how far, they have their bikes!

Unexpected benefits to cycling - morning coffee date

I did not anticipate some of the wonderful gifts city cycling would offer. For example, I just arrived at work after a morning date with my husband. About twice a week we will ride to one coffee shop or another for breakfast and some time to catch up. With bikes we have time to get there and back before work starts. It feels so balanced to do something for just the two of us before we even officially start the day.

If I'd have known my life would be enriched like this by cycling I would have started sooner!

Photo from Sydney Body Art Ride blog.

Strong women ride bikes

"I'll tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood."

- Susan B. Anthony 1896

Photo by sr formica

It's good to be a girl!

Today is really spring. The birds are singing and the air feels warm. It was time to pull out a skirt. It was a delight to ride into work, the godets of my skirt fluttering around me.

My fellow-cyclist Dutch colleague complimented me on my skirt and remarked "Isn't it interesting how the cars are nicer to you when you wear a skirt? It's true in the Netherlands too."

I hadn't thought of it but yes, the cars were more accommodating today. I'm going to wear a skirt while cycling more often! It's good to be a girl.

A Boston Bike Scene

Number of Dunkin Donuts shops in Boston = ~800
Number of Dunkin Donuts shops worldwide = ~5,000
Calories per hour casually riding a city bike = ~400
Calories in a Dunkin Donut = 280

I think anyone can do this math... the more you ride your bike the more you get to enjoy that which Boston has to offer!