Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas Bike

The Christmas Bike is back.  There were only two commuting days remaining, when I poured myself a glass of egg nog, headed out to the garage and began the transformation from normal commuting bike to ambassador of good cheer.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Fanny Pack

There was a time in my commuting life when a fanny pack was all I needed.  It wasn't a big fanny pack either.  However, in that minuscule bag about my waste, I was able to carry my tools, spare tubes, patch kit and lunch.  Mind you the sandwich was pretty much smashed to smithereens by the time I got to work, but it was lunch all the same.

Today, as I rode to work, I had a pannier packed with my lock cable, camera and rain gear (jacket, pants and hoody).  Additionally, I had a Arkel backpack/pannier filled with tools, spare tire, patch kit, IPAD, gym clothes and lunch.  Mind you the sandwich looked like a sandwich by the time I got to work, but it was lunch all the same.

What's happened such that I have transitioned from the bare necessity of a fanny pack to two full panniers worth of stuff?   Hath materialism invaded my commuting life?  Could it be that I've transcended living for the moment and succumbed to being prepared for whatever might potentially befall me?  Doth the simplicity of climbing on my bike and pedaling away be slipping further from my grasp with each passing year?

These are questions that I grapple with and simultaneously dread knowing the answers of.  I boast about the fact that my primary reason for commuting by bicycle is that it makes my world small, manageable and simple.  Is that really true?  Can I still commute and be content with nothing more than a fanny pack tied around my waste?  Where would I stow my IPAD?  What if it rains?  What would I do about going the gym?  It's funny, in a sad sort of way, how something so simple as a fanny pack was at one time all I ever needed.  Yet today it seems so woefully inadequate.  I'm not sure how much such a contrast says about fanny packs or myself.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Let There Be Light

When I rode out of my driveway on my way to work - it was dark.

When I rode into my driveway coming home from work - it was dark.

It's cause of days like this, of which there will be many in my immediate future, that I upgraded my lighting system.

Over the last couple years, I've been using the Planet Bike Blaze 2W in the front...
and the Planet Bike Superflash in the back...
These both sport super bright LEDs that are easy on batteries, pack a powerful punch of light and can operate in either a steady or Planet Bike's unique, attention getting strobe/flashing mode.  These lights are pretty good and highly effective. 

So recently I gots to figurin.  Ifn one of each of dees lights is perty good - wouldn't two of each...
of dees lights...
bees even more gooder?  Oh yea - I see you a noddin.

It does my heart good to ride down the road and have cars flash me their brights in a feeble effort to get me to tone down my lights. 
I just shade my eyes and smile, taking comfort in the fact that they are already on low beam.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Christmas By Bike - December 1

It's the first of December.  As I traverse to and from work, I am treated to the sights and sounds of Christmas as folks decorate their homes.  I have 16 commuting days between now and Christmas.  I thought I'd share an image or two each day in an effort to spread a little Christmas cheer.