Urbana-Champaign Bicycle Commute

Since Google had all those bogus "just click here and we'll know you're human" messages that their automated crap ignored, I'm outta here, especially with Google's totally useless "helpful hints" about things I was certainly doing to be considered spam, none of which I was actually doing.
bicycleuc.wordpress.com is where you'll find me... now it's time to get on the bike...

Labels: annoying Google crap, bicycle

And Don't Forget C-U Across the Prairie tomorrow!!!

Lake of the Woods, registration 7:30-10... pay your money, ride the ride, eat the food, share the smiles and miles. I will shop today for smoothie makings. (No margaritas, folks; it's a public park.)

Weather will be scrumptious :)

Labels: bicycle

Ride of Silence Handout (it's a Word file):
http://www.resourceroom.net/pcc/ride_of_silence.doc

Labels: advocacy, bicycle, ride of silence

Dogblog: 2300 & 1600, he bites

That would be Champaign County, corner of 1600 (which is HighCross closer in) and 2300 (which is ??)
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=787417
About to call animal control (but wanted to be able to refer to this)... dog came out and chased our group for a good half mile; kids were playing with four-wheel drives in their yard so no doubt it was feeling protective. (Kids were in their own world.) Did not take me down. Might have had I not had thick sweatsw and thick tights. We stopped about half a mile down (fully visible; nobody came out to check except the dog who came down to confront us again, but wasn't quite confident enough to take on six of us.) Stupid humans.

(Oh... found it...
First Day of Spring (Garnet Rogers)
... this and "ease into it" are just too delicious for words from his "SHining Thing" album...


The crocus raises up a fragile head
In The snow beneath the trees
Winter was so hard this year
You swore it would never leave
Now the rain soaks in the garden
Sweet scent upon the breeze
Open up your window and breathe it in

It's funny how it happens
It's a mystery to me
Passed you by so many times
You think it's not to be
But then love is standing there beside you
If you had the eyes to see
Open up your heart
And let her in

She's the one whose touch will heal you
She's the one who;ll guard your heart
She's the only one who got the joke
She got you right from the start

She's the one who loves you for yourself
Complete within your skin
Open up your heart
And let her in

While all the trees across the meadow
Bow their heads against the storm
Clouds are racing gray and low
The rain is sweett and warm
This first day of spring is fading fast
By the bed the light is dim

Open up your arms
And let her in

This first day of spring is fading fast
By the bed the light is dim

Open up your arms
And take her in

Labels: bicycle, bite, dogs

Lumotech Light

I've got the "oval" one - according to Sheldon Brown's site, it's got "German approval" (which the round ones don't?)

I"m about to hop on the Xtra and head that last half mile to the home port. Yesterday I had my generator hub & light installed at CHampaign Cycle and it's very delicious. Also very bright :) The fact that a certain Big Fat Honking light - Planet Bike Insight 15 watter - has decided to show up is of course laughable, but that one requires thinking and planning.
Only one issue with it right now: the off switch doesn't work. Stay tuned ...
I may have authority fantasies, though... I've already got red and blue Tru-Value $3 Special Garrity GLo-lites on the back... and the nice bright Lumotech... and of course I'll wear my black and yellow Gore-Tex suit... all I need is that 15-watter spotlight and "I'm in charge, here..." SNork!

Labels: bicycle, bicycle commuting, bicycle light, lumotech

Drove to Springfield yesterday for LIB meeting. Set that difference between car and bike apart by another 181 miles :(

Returned in the crisp spring air. Dinner in Savoy at 6:00.

Ride or drive?

I *like* riding my bike. Maybe, if I'd ridden to Springfield, I'd have driven to Savoy.

I *don't* want to show up as a function of my bicycle.

I have a plan.

Tights, those soft light thermals, and green khaki pants. Happiness because even over two layers, they aren't too tight :) :) Thermal base, pink turtleneck, pink sweater (my favorite one, successfully darned).

I'm dressed for dinner on the outside, outside on the inside. Yes, I look 20 pounds heavier than I am but hey, that means that when it gets warmer I shall instantly look 20 pounds lighter. Life is relative :)

I put on my lit backpack and tucked the wine in the Xtracycle. Lit the other lights. Took off. Gladness, gladness to be outside and riding, into the wind. I LIKE TO RIDE :) :)

Pulled into the driveway and avoided being seen thru the window :) Parked bike where it wasn't visible from the road. Slipped off backpack and laid it next to bike. Put helmet on bike frame. Took wine bottle from Xtra saddlebag.

Entered. Coats on bed, wine on table. Methinks victory: no "did you ride?"

Wined. Dined. Opined.

Time to go. Headed for back door. "The side door is open and more direct."
Only if I drove, kind sir :) :) But that shall be my egress. A swift-thinking guest says in jest, "Are we parked behind you?" Snork. Guest knows.

Say goodbyes.

Full moon, gentle tailwind, the peace of the quiet prairie... a breathtakingly beautiful wide ride home.


Yes, I could have driven. Yuck.

Labels: bicycle, prairie, xtracycle

Going through emails and found this one, which I don't *think* I ever blogged out:

Why do so many drivers think "roads were made for cars, don't you know that??"

It's a natural social condition, but one that can be changed (though some people will always persist in thnking the big guy has the rights). For example, for the longest time, higher education was for the able-bodied only, as was access to many public buildings and businesses.

Think of any exclusionary situation or any powerful vs. powerless situation; the ones in the position of power simply don't understand what the problem is. It's no problem for them, so why should it be a problem for anybody else? WHy are we disrupting the "natural" "right" hierarchy of things?

With bicyclists in the minority, any time drivers are hangin' round they're going to be agreeing with each other about those annoying cyclists and building their own, self-supporting definition of rights and privileges.

CHanging laws has a seriously limited effect when the public opinion is ingrained (think South and segregation). I'm ready to meet and strategize for becoming a slow but inexorable force towards changing that "roads are for cars and bikes aren't vehicles" mindset :-) Think about the stuff that's worked for other minorities. We have one significant advantage over many other minority groups - the non-cyclists can become cyclists.

Labels: bicycle, bicycle advocacy