the beat bike blog

Ridden to Distraction

2012-01-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

Last Tuesday afternoon greeted me with a combination of mild weather and several errands to run. I had some potential carpentry work to scout out in Farmington near the country club, after which I needed to pick up some groceries, pick up a new bottom bracket and finish assembling a bike.

I called around to locate a 113mm square-taper bottom bracket and struck out repeatedly. Mini-rant: The majority of the bikes I see being ridden have square-taper BBs, yet bike shops seem averse to stocking them because they are "obsolete" Grrrr...

I set aside the BB quest for the moment and made the time-sensitive Farmington visit the first errand on my list. I made it to the appointed location on time in one hour and 11 minutes, a personal triumph not because it was particularly fast (not even for a cargo bike), but because I had estimated one hour and 15 minutes. It's rare that I am even remotely accurate in my estimates, rarer still that I err on the expedient side.

Post appointment, I rationalized a less-direct route back to Hartford with an arbitrary quest. I was in Farmington off of Town Farm road and decided to see for myself if there was actually any farmland on this bifecta of agrarian naming. I headed north. There was a polo club, which I decided was too toney to count as a farm, but I had a bona-fide farm sighting just before crossing into Avon. Things were getting so rural, there was even a red-nosed reindeer crossing sign.

I eventually ended up north of Route 44 and found myself en route to Simsbury. I remembered that there was a bike shop on Hopmeadow Street worth checking out, though I couldn't recall the name. Also, Simsbury has food and I was feeling a bit peckish, having polished off the last of my on-board snack rations.
The Simsbury sojourn was a success. The Bicycle Cellar came through with the bottom bracket and I was able to refuel and top off by demolishing an abundantly large eggplant grinder at the pizzeria next door. Have I had tastier grinders in my lifetime? Yes. Did I care? Not a whit.

Happily sated, I looped around northward to cross the Drake Hill Road Bridge and rode over Talcott Mountain through Bloomfield and back home as night fell. It occurred to me a bit late that it would have been wise to wait a few more minutes between stuffing myself silly and doing a sustained climb on a heavy bike, but my stomach took it like a champ. I never made it to a grocery store, but I was too full to mind. My afternoon to-do list was in for some culling, but I chose to not beat myself up about it for one day. It had been a while since I had ridden any significant distance and I realized more and more how much I had been missing it. As the sky grew overcast and the temperature dropped through the afternoon, my head felt increasingly clear. I needed that.

Eeeee L

2012-01-30T21:46:00.001-05:00

Ok ok. I think the world is passable enough so that we can do that thing we were going to do a long time ago. This time, the ride will almost all be in Hartford and if you've ridden with me, you've probably ridden some of it. However, I don't think you've ever ridden all of it in one fell swoop. And some, I'm pretty sure you haven't ridden. So, Feb 11 meet me at 10am at Hyland Park (or my house) for the fifth or so riding of the Eel. Email me if you have any questions. More details to follow. Ride a bike for mixed media.

Glove final

2012-01-29T20:51:00.000-05:00

I'm sure everyone is really interested in what my final determination was on the gloves. The new ones I bought from REI were not good, so went back to old reliable. And, they're on sale right now!

Also, this weekend I was able to live out my life-long dream of riding on a lake. It's difficult to take a picture while riding on ice, too much unbalanced movement.

Workbench from Heaven.

2012-01-28T15:11:00.002-05:00

Just a short errand ride this morning. My route was prescribed by the unnoticed ejection of my cable lock the night before while riding home from Hartford along the slippery Hockanum River boardwalk. Heading back along the boardwalk just past the transfer station I found Salem, his bike rubber side up changing a flat. We bs'd shortly about how bikes are great because you can jerry-rig just about anything. Salem's rim strip had snapped during the repair, so he tied a knot in it and was cutting a piece of plastic candy wrapper to cover the gap. On to the post office, I changed my address to downtown Hartford and if I'm lucky the closing will come off on Tuesday. Bike move will follow on Saturday (2/4) and I hope to find one or two friends that think this will be a fun adventure.

My next stop was the Glastonbury Home Depot, but I decided to detour along the path that starts behind Kahoots. Passing under the bridge I noticed that the hut was being rebuilt. You may remember that Brendan bemoaned the burned camp in a recent post. I stopped and started up a brief chat with the fellow who has been living at this industrious camp. Carl (name changed) said that he'd gotten out of the hut before getting crispy himself, meaning he must have been inside when it started. So far no one seems to bother him, and it looks like he's up-sizing his accommodations. My initial impression was that Carl is a friendly sort.

While rolling along Main Street doubled up for a while with a fellow from Portland on a short road ride. I kicked it up a notch to ride even and show that even with knobby studs, jeans, and panniers his pace wasn't that impressive. Can't seem to kill the competitive bug, although I've been able to hide it mostly. Being slow helps. At Home Depot I reviewed their appliance selection and decided to pick up a couple of Rubbermaid bins and miscellaneous home goods. As you can see, they fit nicely onto a rear bike rack - hint to those that might want to help me move stuff to Hartford.

Just a block from home (in East Hartford for now) there was a curbed home made work bench, complete with a functional bench vise. No shit. From heaven. I walked back and lugged the awkward and surprisingly heavy load home. How did the universe know that I needed a workbench? I can't wait to install my TS-2 and true some badly neglected wheels.

Briefly noted

2012-01-24T17:13:00.001-05:00

If you've traveled the hockanum river trail in east hartford from the mouth to kahoots, you've probably noticed the little cabin under the bridge. It was neatly kept and was developing a lot of lawn furniture as of late. I regret to inform you that it has burned. I hope everyone is OK. I had on occasion seen guys huddled around a fire in a barrel there and there were always friendly. I assume it happened during the cold snap, because Tony and I rode passed a few weeks ago and it was fine. It's really too bad.

Exciting glove shootout!

2012-01-24T09:48:00.000-05:00

Good. Bad. Unknown.

Gloves are important. Some people say mittens are important, but I think mittens are for five year olds. It was a big deal in my life when I started wearing gloves instead of mittens, because it meant that I was growing up. Since I don't want to revert to being five again, I continue to wear gloves. Twice I have bought these gloves from EMS. They're great, but after a year the palms get blown out. I have just noticed that they're on sale and feel kind of stupid for not buying another pair. Oh well, sucks for me.

Since REI is easier to get to, I've been trying to buy gloves there. First, I bought these North Face gloves and they were terrible. The label said something about stopping the wind, but they didn't at all. I have now decided to try these. The reviews seem to indicate that I should not reach into rivers and streams with them without expecting my hands to get wet. I can accept that. If they're terrible, I guess I'll return them and buy the old reliables. I wore them home from the store and my hands were happy.

That's my story about gloves. Do you have any glove recommendations? I prefer to spend less than $40 unless they last for ten years. This post leads me to the conclusion that the beat bike blog no longer gets stuff to review because our reviews suck.

Ice Beard, the Winter Bike Pirate?

2012-01-22T20:14:00.002-05:00

Salem and I went out for a snowy ride on Saturday during the first real snow storm since Halloween. We followed the Hockanum trails and several other miscellaneous trails on our way from Manchester back into East Hartford. Four inches of snow really changes the trail dynamics and speed only exists in the amount of time it takes Tony to go horizontal, which I did several times.

Our ever growing ice beards reached epic proportions. Snow shovelers and passersby couldn't quite process the bright yellow, ice bearded, abominable snow bicyclists. We did spot a couple of tracks along the bike path and passed a couple walking their bikes down by the Connecticut River, with whom we shared a hearty greeting.

Oh yeah - I'm organizing a screening of Bicycle Dreams, a documentary on the Race Across America (RAAM). The screening will be held downtown at the Wadsworth Atheneum Aetna Theater on March 7th at 7PM. We're also planning a bit of a social hour at a TBD Hartford establishment prior to the movie. A portion of ticket sales will go to Bike Walk CT, your favorite and only statewide bike advocacy heroes. Personally I don't understand what would possess someone to race across the US in 10 days while being trailed by a support vehicle, but hey, folks don't understand why I like riding my bike with ice on my face. Maybe I'll learn something, and in the meantime we'll notch some bike culture points for Hartford. Help us spread the word with this Facebook invite. Get your tickets here.

Ski free

2012-01-22T19:59:00.001-05:00

True to form, I went skiing this weekend. There wasn't a ton of snow. Well, I guess there was way more than a ton of snow, but not a lot of snow. It wasn't enough for places with roots and rocks, but I tried going there anyway on Saturday. It was uncomfortable for me and the skis.

Today, Johanna and I went to a place with fewer rocks and roots and slightly more snow. It was great. It's supposed to rain and be warm this week, so perhaps we'll be mountain biking again by the end of the week. It was a really nice weekend for being outside, hopefully you were.

A stolen bike

2012-01-21T10:01:00.003-05:00

Someone stole a strange looking extracycle in East Hartford and now its owner can't haul things around anymore. Using something called crowdsourcing, I'm going to put a picture of it on this blog and the bike will be returned to its owner. I've never seen another bike that looks like this and I bet you haven't either. So, if you see it, it's stole. You can email us at beatbikeblog@spiney.com, because I don't know if the bike's owner wants his/her email published in this den of inequity. Also, the number of the East Hartford police is (860) 528-4401. I guess you could also call 911. If the dispatcher gives you lip, say the bike cost a million dollars or something.

Here's a picture:

And here's the movie:

First tracks

2012-01-20T18:47:00.002-05:00

I cannot overstate how pretty it was!

We got a little bit of snow and it was a beautiful day. So, I went to Case and Gay City. There's about 1-2" of snow, but it's been cold, so I feared that there was ice under neath. Also, I have these studded tires that don't get nearly enough use. They may have been free, but they say "deserve them" on the sidewall. I want to live up to the sidewall slogan, so I used them. They saved me from two crashes, but not a third. Other people got out, too, mostly hikers whom I didn't see, but I saw two other mountain bikers and two other sets of tracks. I really can't stress enough how pretty it was today.

Tomorrow, hopefully there'll be a post about xc skiing. I'm still not very good at it, but I look forward to it.

Red lights

2012-01-17T10:02:00.002-05:00

In a car, I stop at stop signs and red lights. For many drivers around here, that isn't a very popular habit. I used to be against red light cameras, because I thought they were an invasion of some kind of privacy. I think it's mostly my opposition generally to surveillance cameras. I first gave this some thought when West Hartford foolishly installed them everywhere, while state law forbade their employment for issuing tickets. That might have been like 2004 or '05. I ride my bike a lot more than I did then and the threat of cars running lights is more existential. So, my position has shifted to favor stop light cameras. What do you think? There was an article about it, because the legislation is being reintroduced. See here.

On a bike, I'm much more of an Idaho stop kind of person.

Hipster Ponies with Beards?

2012-01-14T19:50:00.000-05:00

Brendan and I headed out for a mixed media ride on Saturday. Starting out down Main Street East Hartford, some a-hole driving a Porche Cayenne (am I restating the obvious?) laid on the horn a couple of times before revving by and taking a fast right onto Riverside Drive. I'm guessing it's because he never learned how to change lanes to pass. We spent the next mile discussing the best way to communicate with courteous drivers while wearing ski mittens or bulky black gloves at night - fist shaking and the facetious parade wave.

The temp was just around freezing with a good hard freeze last night. With the heavy rain this week, there was a sloppy mix of hard frozen mud, just barely frozen mud, and not at all frozen mud. The ride headed south on the east side of the river, through the Glastonbury Meadows with an attempt to get all the way to Portland fairgrounds, but unfortunately the water was up - and we found oodles of mud - backtracked to Old Maids Lane and were roundly insulted by the digital speed detector.

Then turned up Isinglass to Meshomasic State Forest for some speedy dirt roads. Brendan pulled off a spectacular endo trying to clear a downed tree. Seems he WAY over lifted the rear wheel due to concern with jamming his big ring into the rather sizable tree. Whatever caused it, I enjoyed watching the topple. Had several over bar bike dismounts of my own when attempting to roll some ridiculous tree falls. Hey, why not try? Maybe someday I'll get better and they'll look less ridiculous.

On Coldbrook Road, one of the most fucking bucolic streets around, we found these odd little ponies with beards. Left when one starting eating the other's shit. Shit eating bearded ponies.

For Rough Rides (that should not be)

2012-01-14T15:27:00.004-05:00

When you nail a pothole that should have been fixed five years ago and wonder who to complain to (besides your friends and at The Beat Bike Blog) about the rim you just bent, there are now several options.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is sponsoring a website which allows users to submit data about both bike accidents/crashes and unsafe biking conditions. The accident form is for any type of bicycle crash, whether or not a motorized vehicle was involved. The latter form allows users to provide the DOT with suggestions for how the situation can be improved.
SeeClickFix provides its users with the capacity for uploading photos of the issue in question. These concerns are published so that others in the community can view them, thus making a visible record of concerns. If an issue is reported on a particular topic or in a specific area, different entities are automatically notified. For items reported in Hartford, the 311 Call Center for non-emergency city services is contacted. Publicly documenting concerns is a way to cut through bureaucratic bullshit, or at least to prove that something requiring action has been reported on and consequently ignored by the City, State, or private entities responsible for fixing the problem.
Calling 311 is a third option from Monday-Friday, 8-5. There is a map showing 311 open/closed cases, currently available online. It has been yanked from the City website in the past without explanation. A case number is assigned so that you can follow up.

What other ways can cyclists report poor street conditions and get results?

The Much Anticipated Bike Move

2012-01-13T20:31:00.001-05:00

**** Bike Move rescheduled for Saturday, Feb 4th. My closing got delayed. ****

Time to show what you're made of Hartford. I've decided that the market is down enough, and rents conversely high enough, to double down on a condo in the illustrious South Green neighborhood.
Since the ex cleaned me out in the divorce, and I'm short on heavy furniture (cept for one challenging sleeper sofa), I gamely propose a 'Bike Move'. The bike culture starved Connecticutian may need an explanation of the concept. Basically, I'm going to attempt to move all my worldly belongings approximately 5 miles from East Hartford to downtown Hartford. To do this I need help. Lots of it. Why, you ask? Don't ask why, just come out and help me with something ridiculous.

Move date set for Saturday, February 4th. We'll start bright and early at 8am for those that want breakfast and coffee. Time to BS and survey the task at hand, then a bit of packing and securing, followed by en mass departure at around 9am. Depending on numbers and how much we drop, might come back for a second trip. Stick around, and I'll order a bunch of pizzas.

Bring your trailers and biggest panniers. For those lacking cargo capabilty, I'll have some bags of clothes that could fit in a backpack. We'll also benefit from spotters and corkers.
More info will be forthcoming. Wish me luck with closing and getting the utilities turned on. Let me know if you're in so I can get an approximate count for breakfast.

Downtown

2012-01-11T13:07:00.001-05:00

Hartford's downtown is not that big. I think it's like two square miles or something tiny. I worked in it for awhile and would ride my bike there everyday. Now that I go to school in the West End, I don't get down there as much. But, I had some business at City Hall yesterday, so I rode down. After I was done, I rode on to Constitution Plaza, down along the river in East Hartford, back over in Hartford, again to Constitution Plaza, to Spiritus and home. I worked downtown for a long time and never though much of it, but Dario has always told me that he likes to ride there. In my absence from the built environment, I think understand what he means. It's actually kinda pretty at night. The darkness doesn't really make it easy to take a picture when pedaling, though.

It's January? Riding in a t-shirt.

2012-01-07T22:43:00.002-05:00

Global warming has its upside in Connecticut. Was riding in a t-shirt today and got a full winter dose of vitamin D. Meandered over to the Heublein Tower in Simsbury, via the Hockanum River path. I picked up the path just off of Roberts Street by Rogo Distributors. This is further east than I usually pick up the trail, and this portion of the trail is a bit newer and more technical than the rest of the Hockanum segments. Since I was at full expedition pace, I noticed several great views that I'd missed on faster trips. Someone did a pretty good job clearing the trail of fallen trees - thanks - and it looked like the trail was getting quite a bit of bike use.

Met up with friends and Heublein Tower and enjoyed the gusty views from the ridge. First time I'd noticed the glass in the door. I think Valerie rubbed off a bit and now I notice unique glass and windows more often.

While meandering back through Hartford I took Park Street, which is one of my recent favorites due to the hustle and bustle. Hooked a right on Pope Park Highway since I'd never been down that way before. The street runs past the ice house and Lyman kitchen store that are visible from I-84. There is also an interesting looking nightclub - Divi Divi's - which the internet tells me is a gay dance club. Will have to check it out, as I've found that gay clubs tend to have enthusiastic dancers, so I don't stick out like I usually do. Across the street was a new little park with some unique sculptures, windy metal garden, a great spot to take in the sunset.

Just a block from my place in East Hartford someone had put out a couple boxes of freecycle home goods. Being the scrounger that I am, I circled back with trailer in tow and scored some excellent items to outfit my soon to be Hartford condo. Check out the two Polish plates. Score!

Bike job

2012-01-07T13:00:00.001-05:00

Want a job involving a bike, but don't want to work in a bike shop or be a courier? Be executive director of Bike Walk CT. See the press release:

Bike Walk CT Seeks Full-Time Executive Director
Bike Walk Connecticut, a 501 (c) (3) organization working for a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly Connecticut, is accepting applications for a full-time Executive Director who will work from its office in Hartford, Connecticut. Become part of this growing organization and help it achieve its potential as Connecticut's premier statewide bike/walk advocacy and education organization. The Executive Director is responsible for managing the overall affairs of Bike Walk Connecticut including the implementation of Board-approved projects, programs, policies, and procedures in fulfillment of its mission and strategic plan.
Details will be are posted at http://www.bikewalkct.org/resources/news-items/executive-director-2011/, or you can e-mail EDsearch@bikewalkct.org for information and job description.

The above picture was taken when I threw a picnic for the 30th anniversary of Carl Andre's Stone Field Sculpture. It is entirely unrelated to riding a bike.

Racing

2012-01-06T10:41:00.001-05:00

I like the Hockanum River. Its watershed has a website and I just realized that it also hosts a canoe and kayak race in April. I don't know much about canoe and kayak racing, but it sounds like a lot of fun and I have access to a canoe. Anybody want to race with me?

New Year's Day 2

2012-01-03T11:50:00.001-05:00

Like liquor stores, I got a second New Year's Day yesterday. So, I went to Nassahegan for the second time since tenth grade. I've become increasingly loathe to drive to a trail. A lot of the mountain biking within riding distance isn't too bad has a pleasant route, so I don't really mind. It's 18 miles to Nassahegan, so that makes for almost 40 miles round trip minus the intended ride. That's quite a bit and I do have a car to drive, so I drove there. I guess getting dark early is an excuse?

Anyway, enough apologizing. Why don't I ride here more often? It's great. I used to drive out to Nepaug occasionally a few years ago, but most of the trails there are for people who like to spend all their time jumping off things or driving ATVs. This is all twisty, narrow and complicated. I wish the maps were slightly better because I wanted to ride further, but instead sent myself back towards my car. Despite not riding as far south as I would have liked, I still got a solid 2 1/2 hours in. Anyway, I'm going to go back despite all the car guilt. Too bad I don't know anyone who lives over there.

These pictures kinda suck, but when I'm having a good time I guess that I just don't want to pull over and take a picture.

Denouement

2012-01-01T22:17:00.000-05:00

I bought a folding saw last week, because I want to become beloved for my trail maintenance. I started clearing the trail that runs through Goodwin Park for practice. The next day, Dario proposed that we go fix the trail from the Bissel Bridge to Loomis. It sounded like a good idea, so we set off along river, passed the dump, cross the train tracks and headed for the newly paved thing in Windsor. Surprisingly, we had the misfortune of doing this in view of an Amtrak cop. He stopped us, but didn't write tickets. I've ridden through there dozens of times, but I guess you're not supposed to. Interestingly, he didn't ask about my bag of saws.

I also went for a ride with Tony and found this cabin.

Happy New Year!

I needed a reminder.

2011-12-30T10:06:00.003-05:00

Much of my Christmas week was spent in a rented ToyotaCorolla driving to Michigan to visit family, including a trip “Up North” to see Gramma. Car driving is a novelty thesedays since I haven’t owned a car in over a year, although I do drive a rentalonce a month or so when I travel for work. Being car free and spending much of my time on my bicycle commutingaround metro Hartford, I gather up a bit of vitriol directed at motorized roadusers. Some of that vitriol spills intoblog posts and discussions with friends. With evil, heartless car drivers running over defenseless cyclists,pointed up by the recent deaths on Burnside Avenue, I’ve been spouting somepretty vehement stuff regarding distracted drivers.

Sometimes it takes something scary to bring you back toearth and remind you that crashes and road deaths can happen to even the smug, self-righteous bicycle commuter and supposedly enlightened transportationadvocate. The following episode remindedme, who should know better, that it’scritical while driving to minimize distractions and act in a predictablemanner. The reminder is important enoughto me that I decided to capture it in a blog post and subject myself to the publicscrutiny of my action and mea maxima culpa - sort of like locking myself into the pillory on the town commons, in electronic perpetuity.

I was heading across northern Ohio, and found myself offroute due to missing an exit. My GPS wason the blink and I was trying to figure out which way I should be heading. It was a long driving day (~12 hrs) andadding an extra couple hours was not something I was keen on. I had my Bluetooth earpiece in, and wasanswering some phone interview questions for of all things an article on theBurnside Avenue ghost bikes and distracted driving - yes the irony is painfully obvious. This was not an appropriate time for me to betalking on the phone – and it will not happen again.

Upon hanging up, I noticed a rest area exit fast approaching– almost immediately on my right. There are highway maps at rest stops and I needed to figure out if I washeaded in the right direction. I couldjust make it, but I was in the left lane of the two lane highway. A quick glance in the mirror and I swung forthe exit, a stupidly rash decision. Thequick glance wasn’t good enough, as there was a car in my blind spot in theright lane. It was such a close callthat the driver behind me had to take the rest area exit with me and rightlystopped and complained, “Are you having a baby or something?” I couldn’t apologize profusely enough, andstaggered with embarrassment into the building. What an idiot!

I made a conscious decision to sear this episode into myconsciousness, and not bury it with other embarrassments that I have accumulated. This was a personal "near miss" that fortunately didn't have major repercussions. By writing it down and sharing it with others I hope to use this as anindelible life lesson that drives my driving decisions for the rest of mylife. One stupid decision or severalcompounding stupid decisions while driving a 2-ton missile can quickly resultin severe injury or death. Maybe mydirty driving laundry may even help others skip the hard lessons thatdistracted driving can bring.

Negativity

2011-12-25T22:56:00.001-05:00

The world makes little sense to me. But, a nice Christmas Eve (and Hanukkah) bike ride to Berlin Bike and back through Watrous Park (the best place to ride a bike in America), the meadows, etc makes things seem much more positive.

I think this is really cool

2011-12-22T12:56:00.002-05:00

Go Stybar!

Hooker Boots and ATV's - My New Neighborhood

2011-12-20T22:48:00.001-05:00

Nothing says welcome to Hartford like a hastily abandoned pair of white hooker boots (size 11!) and an ATV on the sidewalk. This morning I rode down to my soon to be home on Alden Street for the mortgage appraisal (fingers crossed) and found these unexpected bonuses while walking around the block. The boots were right across the street on Alden and the ATV further down on Congress. A call to the Hartford Police Department resulted in a personal call from the South Green community officer and an impounded ATV. My respect for the HPD just ticked up a notch. My respect for the barefoot (possibly trans) hooker is through the roof.

On a bicycling note, I finally timed my commute from P&W in East Hartford to the condo on Alden. 20 minutes with a stiff headwind, on the Huffy. A bit more than my current 8 minute commute, but totally reasonable. The Huffy might fall down in the rotation to a backup bike, replaced by something a bit more sprightly - perhaps that SS Schwinn I just built?

Courant hears us out

2011-12-20T18:57:00.001-05:00

Tony & Ken's ghost bikes have received a big response (in a somber way) and the Courant wrote a thoughtful editorial about it. See it here. The Courant has always been pretty supportive of cycling, unlike its commenters.

Happy Hanukkah!

Bike Walk Connecticut's Annual Dinner at CCSU

2011-12-14T08:45:00.022-05:00

The ride from Hartford to New Britain for the annual Bike Walk Connecticut dinner could have been worse.

But, it could have been much easier.

Imagine a direct route, one that does not involve speeding motorized vehicles with their operators honking for everyone to move out of their way. Imagine not having to constantly weave around smashed bottles, tree limbs, chunks of asphalt, and potholes.

According to James P. Redeker, the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the route will soon be easier. Part of the oft maligned* New Britain-Hartford Busway will include a bike path, allowing cyclists to make this very trek without wondering when the shoulder is going to suddenly drop off or which driver is going to back out of his driveway without checking his rearview mirror first. Though this will not be completed overnight, having a reduced risk route between these two cities increases job options for many, including myself.

The New Britain-Hartford Busway development was not the only change Redeker mentioned in his keynote address at the Bike Walk Connecticut Annual Dinner. His Powerpoint showed improvements and proposed changes to infrastructure statewide, from closing gaps in bike trails to installing bicycle racks at train stations. He noted how resistant Metro-North has been to bike racks on trains, even when others were willing to foot the bill.

He said that sometimes a bit of public embarrassment is just the ticket to getting others to do the right thing.

For years, the CT DOT has had a reputation for dismissing the needs of cyclists and pedestrians outright. Redeker's speech Tuesday evening intended to assure the public that the DOT has begun to move in a new (or very retro) direction by supporting the need of all residents to safely move from place-to-place.

Professor and author, Mary Collins, in her welcome speech, spoke of the importance of movement and how our youth yearn for it. She is the award-winning author of American Idle: A Journey through our Sedentary Culture.

When she had her own students at Central Connecticut State University consider movement in our culture, it became clear to her that gaming and virtual reality could not replace the need that many have for moving around outdoors, whether that happens on a frozen lake or on a basketball court.

Ray Rauth, the first chair of the CT Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, was the recipient of the President's Award.

Supporters, particularly those who were silent auction winners, left the event in high spirits, maybe energized by Redeker's urging for advocates to remain in touch with him and stay on the DOT to continue making more people- and earth-friendly decisions about our state's infrastructure.

Again, as with last year's fundraiser, very few people rode. Though there was rain last time, the weather was ideal for riding last night: clear and crisp.

One can only speculate the reasons for this-- no time after work? Fair enough. Afraid of riding at night? Be more visible. Uneasy with riding in an area that is not exactly bicycle friendly? Good point. Too far? There were plenty of folk in attendance who live within ten miles.

If bicycle and pedestrian advocates are not willing to ride to their own events, what hope is there for getting others on board?

*I suspect that much of the Busway hate is mainly not because it involves a bus instead of a train, but because of the deep fear off all things urban. What would happen when Hard Hittin' and Hartford are linked up more easily? There goes the neighborhood!

Eat Bike Walk

2011-12-12T19:40:00.000-05:00

Blood sausage will probably not be served at the BikeWalkCT annual dinner, but you can always bring your own.

Like to eat? Like to advocate about your feet? Tomorrow evening has both those things happening at the same time in the same place.

See:

CT DOT Commissioner James Redeker to Keynote Bike Walk Connecticut Annual Dinner Event, TUESDAY, December 13.

“I can’t give a complete answer that question because I have to save my fire power for delivery at Bike Walk CT’s Annual Dinner next week,” said the Commissioner at the recent CT League of Conservation Voters Environmental Summit in response to an audience question about CTDOT’s commitment to bicycle and pedestrian transportation. This annual event that includes a dinner, awards, and a silent auction is taking place at Central CT State University, Memorial Hall, Constitution Room. Members of the media are invited to attend the speaking program that gets underway at 7:45 and concludes by 8:30 pm. For more info, please contact Georgette Yaindl at 808-224-0219. Ride On.

More info if you want to enjoy yourself not as a member of the press? See bikewalkct.org
.

Chill

2011-12-11T21:18:00.001-05:00

My torts professors, Prof. Chill, had advice for exams, which I have next week. Actually, it's Sunday, so now it's this week. His advice was to get lots of sleep and exercise. I though that was excellent advice and adhered to it closely this weekend.

On Friday, I took the quasi-singlespeed thing out into the woods. At present, it's a fixed/free rear end with one brake. The free is 32:16, to get to the trail slowly, and the fixed is 32:19, as to ride awkwardly and slowly through the woods. Upon arrival in the woods, I ran into Jeff of Central Wheel and another guy I've run into in the past with Jeff whose name I don't know. They rode away when I stopped to change gears, whereupon I realized that I had left my wrench in the basement (very zen). So, I decided to ride my over geared, single braked thing into the woods, which is where I broke my chain on the first climb. I had thought maybe this chain wasn't the best choice, since it had frozen solid with rust since the last time I rode this bike last winter. However, I'd spent considerable time, degreaser, WD-40 and chain lube trying to make it work again. And, when it snapped it was looking quite clean and moved freely. So, I walked back to the bike shop, borrowed a wrench and put the new chain on. Undeterred, I rode around in the woods for awhile overgeared and without my full stopping capabilities. It was fun.

During the race, I wasn't sure what that guy in the blue jersey was doing either.

On Saturday, the Silk City Cyclocross salvage edition happened. It was great. It was extra great that after the Halloween snowoctoberolopyse canceled it, the Expo Wheelpersons still put it on. The course was difficult, weird and very economical in its use of space. I can't recommend it highly enough for next year. Lots of off camber stuff, which just makes any race great. I even took some pictures of the 1's. See! Also, for finishing fifth, I get to take three people to a hockey game in Hartford with me. Excellent quid pro quo. That's a lawyer term about eating squid.

This means that I'm assured all F's and I'll have even more time to ride my bike in the Spring.

Hike a Bike - I fell in a creek.

2011-12-04T17:24:00.001-05:00

Dario and I headed north along the riverfront trails, when we could find the trails underneath all the felled trees. Lots of opportunities for trying to roll over trees, and some interesting tree piles. Dario was a witness to lots of entertaining tip overs and tangles, the most humorous being a dip in the creek by Loomis-Chafee. More time off bike than on and we did our part to clear some segments. Recommend a group ride with saws to do a bunch more clearing.

Found some excellent graffiti along the train tracks under I-91.

After the hike-a-bike we grabbed some coffee at Jo-Jo's and then I scooted over to Food Not Bombs to help cook. Another full day. Glad I'm moving to downtown Hartford.

Trailered a F'ing Couch - Really.

2011-12-01T23:05:00.001-05:00

So, I did two things today. First, I went under contract on a foreclosed condo in downtown Hartford. Second, and more importantly, I trailered a fucking couch. While walking the neighborhood in East Hartford, I spotted what appeared to be a serviceable couch about a mile from home. Having an empty condo in my near future, a couch would be nice. I'll put it next to my lazy boy, and I can have friends sit on it.

Normally couches are light things, mostly air and some cushions. I figured it would be an awkward but reasonable thing to trailer home, so I headed back out with my trusty flatbed topped with a 40 gallon Rubbermaid. My plan nearly ended when I pulled off the cushions and found ----- a sleeper sofa. No! Those suckers are heavy. Even with two folks carrying the ends the sleeper will tend to flop open and cause massive cursing during a move. I put a call in to a nearby friend with a truck. No answer. Time to make a bad decision. Do it anyway.

First load was the cushions and the mattress, which I figured would lighten things up for the Big Show. You can see that even the cushions were a silly sight at 10PM rolling through the suburbs. Loading the heavy, sloppy sleeper was a challenge with just one person. After lifting one end onto the Rubbermaid, I pushed and pulled the couch until it was precariously balanced atop the bin. The couch was perpendicular to the bike, and therefore to the street. To be safe I attached a blinky light on one of the aft bungees, crossed myself, and wobbled down the street.

The couch was perched on the back rack of the Huffy and the Rubbermaid bin, and this resulted in a very light front end that had to be countered with a firm forward lean. The lean on the rack also made for some unpredictable wobbling and a very limited turning radius. Proceeding home at 4-5mph I had a rough start due to the unexpected width and drunken swerves, taking out a couple of brush piles and trash cans. I had to ride right out in the middle of the lane and take up the whole thing to avoid clipping signs and mailboxes. There were many passing cars, and I was surprised to hear not one cat call or "What the hell are you doing?" They were shocked speechless. On the one small downhill I rode the brakes, maybe reaching 10mph. Just as I made it home, the couch was starting to cheat to the right and threatening a catastrophic tilt over.

Perhaps it was a bad decision, but I did it anyway and I can say that I trailered a fucking couch. A sleeper sofa. I think I'll borrow a truck when I move it to the condo, unless Chris Brown will lend me his big trailer...

Balancing what I like with what I don't

2011-11-28T19:24:00.001-05:00

I still have no idea why I got involved in this, but I'm nearing the final throes of my first semester of law school. The New York Times keeps telling me I'm a moron for going to this kind of school and I tend to agree with them. At the onset, I had the feeling I'd be able to ride my bike more. I was wrong. There are laws about this and laws about that. So many of them. I'm really only interested in laws about mountain biking, so maybe I should have got an LLM in mountain biking law.

There were some 'cross races, in which I did poorly, because I'm getting fat and don't maintain bicycles.

But, the big news lately is that I finally I figured out how to get to King Philip's cave. Only took a boy of the Farmington Valley 22 years.

Ghost Bikes for Survivors

2011-11-27T10:33:00.001-05:00

Last week I received a powerful note from Linda, the surviving spouse of William Laramie, who was killed by a drunk driver on Burnside Avenue. The loss is still fresh for Linda, who said that William had been "my partner in life, my reason for getting up each morning." She hadn't been to see the crash site and was prompted to do so when a friend told her about the installation. Linda was moved and thankful for the memorial, and glad that it doubled as a poignant reminder to drivers that the lives of others are in their hands. Linda's note meant a lot to me, and literally brought me to tears.

As well as being a bicycle commuter William was an accomplished musician and music teacher. Linda and her family are planning a benefit in his memory to support music education, and Linda has invited the bicycling community to additionally utilize the event to raise awareness that drunk driving kills, and is most dangerous for the road's vulnerable users. We'll keep folks up to date on plans as we get them.

Linda visited the ghost bike memorial this morning, adorning the bike with flowers and a bow to "sparkle like angel dust." Previously another unknown person had added flowers to the handlebars. These additions add to the impact and make the memorial a living, dynamic message to passersby. As Linda works through her grief she amplifies and personalizes the ghost bike.

Who would have thought that an afternoon of action could have such an impact on bicycle advocacy and hopeful survivors? I want to thank all those that were able to help create and install these four simple memorials, and encourage others in Hartford and beyond to install their own ghost bike memorials. Remembering our pedestrians lost to cars, 'Ghost Shoes' could serve a similar purpose, albeit the sign would need to be more prominent to be seen by passing drivers.

Deadly Burnside Avenue - http://beatbikeblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/deadly-burnside-avenue-east-hartford.html?m=1

Ghost Riders - http://beatbikeblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/ghost-riders.html?m=1

Ghost Riders

2011-11-21T21:05:00.001-05:00

Motivated by the growing pile of dead cyclists on Burnside Avenue, a group of concerned bike commuters created and installed white ghost bikes at four locations. Each location corresponded to the site of the cyclist death and included a sign with the date of the crash. Three of the ghost bikes were placed on Burnside Avenue in East Hartford, a bustling multi-lane state highway, Route 44, that passes through a dense, largely hispanic neighborhood.

The first bike installed across from Goodwin College must have touched a grieving acquaintance of the cyclist that had been killed two months ago in September by a drunk driver. Within a day of being put up, the bike had flowers attached to the handlebars and a candle placed at its base. The second and third bikes were put up across the street from each other, closer to the intersection of Main Street. The most recent death (November 14th, 2011), just one week ago, had a shrine to the rider set up in a plastic bin. Candles, flowers, and photos affixed to the phone pole memorialized the slain rider and showed that members of the community cared greatly about this lost life. While installing the bike next to the shrine we discussed the tragedy of the death with the owner of the adjacent grocery, who had experienced first hand both cyclist deaths. The fourth and final ghost bike was placed separately on Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury, near the Route 2 on ramp to Hartford. In December of 2010, a cyclist was struck and killed at this location by a hit and run driver. Fortunately the driver was found and charged.

While installing the ghost bikes on Burnside, we noticed how many cyclists were out even at 9PM late in November. The economic situation of many residents of the neighborhood makes a bicycle a necessity, and not a decision. Almost all the cyclists out that night were riding without lights and many were riding against traffic, dangerous bike salmon nearly invisible in the dark. Three of the four cyclist deaths occurred at night. As any experienced bicycle commuter knows, riding at night - use your lights (and lots of them). Unfortunately there really isn't bicycle safety education that would have reached this segment of the cycling population, and a $20 light set may seem like a luxury when that is equal to 25% of the cost of your bike. If you're living on the margin, $20 could mean the difference between going hungry or making the rent this month.

Aside from the physical symbol of the ghost bikes, I sent a letter to the CT DOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator (Kate Rattan) and Sandy Fry at CRCOG, the regional transportation planning organization. I also cc'd the good folks at Bike Walk CT. After pointing out the growing number of deaths on Burnside Avenue, I recommended a focused (and free) bicycle safety training or free light distribution in this neighborhood. While I was living in Champaign-Urbana, IL a family of organizations put on a yearly "Light the Night" event that made great strides for cyclist safety at night. Within days, the wheels were turning at CT DOT and CRCOG and I think something might actually come from this suggestion. Phone calls are being made and proposals are being made. It would be a fitting memorial to the lost lives to make this happen and use the momentum to prevent future crashes and improve bike safety culture in neighborhoods that are largely missed by bicycle advocacy.

Note: Speaking of momentum, Bike Walk CT is having their Annual Dinner on December 13th out at CCSU in New Britain. I'll be taking this opportunity to talk more with stakeholders about "Light the Night" and keep this moving forward. Hope to see others there. Please help spread the word. If you're on Facebook, here's the link to the event where you can help by inviting your multitudinous friends.

I was wrong

2011-11-18T18:34:00.001-05:00

A year and a half ago or so, a nice person from the Windsor town hall contacted me about a bike path running from the Bissel bridge south to the Hartford line. I wasn't super excited about the idea because it involved paving some woods. Well, they have done much of the work on the path (minus the paving) and it's actually quite nice. It meanders next to the Connecticut River and has an exciting river crossing (of the Meadow Brook, not the Connecticut River). While I'll still hope the leave it as rolled gravel, I think it'll be a nice path.

Low bridge branch at Elizabeth Park survived!

Also, the City of Hartford made a new path, too, that I hope stays unpaved. While it strangely seems to run next to a path that already exists near the Walmart and the Park River, this new one is better and longer. I guess the first one was practice. It's still unpaved and I approve of it. The mower deck has disappeared, so Salem can't have it.

Further, I went to the Reservoir today and magically the trails are mostly cleared. I thought I'd never be able to mountain bike again, but I was wrong. I don't know how someone rode with a chainsaw, but I thank them for it.

Deadly Burnside Avenue - East Hartford

2011-11-16T21:30:00.001-05:00

There have been three bicycle commuter deaths on Burnside Avenue. This is especially scary as I occasionally ride Burnside. After the November crash, I had friends that had seen the news contacting me to make sure it wasn't me.

May 2010 - Manuel Herrera, 52 years old, was struck and killed while riding his bicycle. Crash occurred a 11PM. Article states that Herrera turned into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Didn't look like any charges were filed against the driver.
September 2011 - Local drunk, Paul Bato, with multiple previous DUI's kills 56 year old William Laramie of East Hartford. Crash occurred at 5:21PM. Bato charged with vehicular manslaughter.
November 2011 - Cyclist, 40 year old Daniel Shultz, riding the wrong way taken is out by a Ford Expedition. Crash occurred just before 6:30PM.

Two of the crashes occurred at night, reminding us to be visible as hell out there. Can't have too many lights and reflectors. You are trying to get the attention of a driver that is probably on the phone or otherwise dangerously inattentive to the task of piloting a muli-ton missile.

One of the cyclists was riding the wrong way against traffic, at night. All of us know that's a bad practice, but it's still a damn shame that he lost his life. Vehicular cycling is clearly the best way to go. Be visible, and take the lane when it makes sense.

The only one of the three that didn't include a bad or risky practice was the drunk that killed William Laramie. Not much you can do about that situation. Luckily that asshole is going away for a long time, but should have had his license revoked long before that. If you're leaving the bar or a party and you see someone getting into their car to drive home drunk, let them know they're a douche bag.

Anyone who has ridden Burnside Avenue knows that it is a dangerous stretch with two lanes each way, when there really should just be one. The road would benefit significantly from a road diet and bike lanes or at the very least a very wide parking / berm lane with one lane of traffic in each direction. Unfortunately I don't see that happening any time soon. I rode a short bit of Burnside tonight on my way home, and although recently repaved there was no hint of a road diet or traffic calming.

Stay safe kiddos. Remember the car always wins.

A Beautiful Day for the CT Bike Walk Summit

2011-11-13T19:24:00.006-05:00

The summit was held in beautiful Kroon Hall on the Yale campus with a soaring conference space and huge windows, which had neat automatic shades. The attendees enjoyed comfortable seats and excellent sound. Before the conference began I snagged a replacement re-usable REI bag for the one I got last year, which has about worn out. This is the 2nd Annual statewide summit put on by Bike Walk CT, and despite the publicity issues associated with a week of power outages the conference was almost booked to capacity. Hopefully I played a small part in the level of attendance with some website and Facebook work.

Special thanks to Charlie B for the carpool down to New Haven, and props to Carl, a fellow P&W bike commuter, for riding 30 miles, in the dark, from Marlborough to catch a West Hartford carpool. On my way over to Charlie’s I passed another carload of Summiters (Kevin, Georgette, Mike G, and Chris B) on Park Street headed out. I really didn’t expect to see anyone I knew at 7AM on Park Street. With his trademark dayglo yellow, Kevin Sullivan was even visible behind the wheel. Carl and I will be riding back north after the summit, and it looks to be excellent weather.

Nice to see a mixed age crowd at the summit, with many showing up on bike or foot from the New Haven environs. Having Yale, New Haven definitely sees more bike commuting energy.

I was also excited to see a goodly number of females in attendance. Aside from the recreational interest of a freshly divorced male, I see the future of cycling as a movement turning on the involvement of women. Women will drive the movement. Without even trying, one powerful female cyclist will lure a gaggle of men to give it a shot. Mothers will teach children to ride and will play a key role in the Safe Routes to School movement. Instead of male only weekend jaunts, often a cause of friction, riding couples have the opportunity to turn that into a shared experience. The posturing, race oriented, male centric, competitive bike culture will be rounded out into a healthier whole that welcomes all to sustainable transportation. There are so many reasons that bike advocacy should focus on getting more women on bikes. “Fat bottomed girls, get on your bikes and ride.”

Would have liked to see some more ethnic and economic diversity at the event, but most of the attendees looked like me. I often wonder how to reach out to a more diverse crowd on sustainable transportation. Chris Brown asked a related question during the Q&A session on the breakout session on the economic impact of biking and walking. He pointed out that one of the biggest economic carrots is that biking and walking provide stabilization for the segment of population living in poverty or at the margin. The panel members fumbled the criticism / question a bit. Perhaps Chris and I could set up a panel next year that discusses diversity in bicycle advocacy or evaluates the impacts of biking and walking on low income populations.

Way back in 2006, I was in a meeting of the Central CT Bike Alliance, now Bike Walk CT, meeting with Dave Snyder from what was the Thunderhead Alliance, now the Alliance for Biking and Walking. Dave had a very succinct theory related to the bike advocacy demographic and how that related to fundraising. Paraphrased below:

Your typical bike advocate is white and economically secure. They started riding recreationally or as a bike commuter and have some experiences on the road where they felt threatened or disrespected, which really bothers them. As a privileged class this person hadn’t previously experienced this type of adversity. They have some time and money, and realize that cycling aside from being great for them is also great for the environment and their community. Righteous anger kicks in and they create or join a bicycle advocacy organization.

This is the reason that even with embarrassingly small bike mode share (< 1% national average), bicycle advocacy groups are more well funded, organized, and influential than one might expect. The drawback is that bicycle advocacy is dominated by a relatively homogenous crowd. Anyone who has lived in, worked in, or passed through a diverse neighborhood knows that there is often a bigger biking / walking mode share than your typical suburban neighborhood. Unfortunately these riders typically aren’t represented. Many of these riders see cycling or walking through the lens of necessity, and not self righteous advocacy. Additionally there may be economic and cultural issues that lead these riders to focus their valuable time elsewhere.

The ride back to East Hartford was particularly nice. A tailwind made the panniers seem lighter. I passed through Northford and Durham and managed to stay on small side roads until I got to Middletown. The photograph is at the top of Whirlwind Hill, which is just Southeast of Durham.

Vote some more

2011-11-07T09:29:00.002-05:00

Mahoney for dog catcher: that way to the future!

It seems like there's an election every couple of months in Hartford. I think that's because there is an election every couple of months. Next year, there are even more: town committee, presidential preference, primary and general. Damn! That's a lot of elections. So many "I voted today" (or "he votado hoy") stickers to collect.

Anyway, in the vast majority of Connecticut, the municipal election is tomorrow. The municipal election is arguably the most important because you interact with your city or town most frequently. Also, your vote in a municipal election (state rep & senate, too) is the most powerful. For example, it'll make up like 1/3% of the margin in a victory instead of .000001%. That's a lot of made up orders of magnitude. Besides, mountain biking has ceased to exist in Connecticut, so what else are you going to spend your Tuesday doing? Polls are open 6am to 8pm

A Beautiful Fall, until the Trees Followed their Leaves

2011-11-04T21:51:00.001-04:00

No pictures of fallen trees here. These are all pre-snowmageddon.

I prefer to remember the stellar fall rides, including a chilly overnighter with Valerie around Barkhamsted Reservoir. Valerie is a super fan of gravel roads, but I broadened her palette with some touring on trail. Valerie was visiting from the Illinois flatlands, so it was imperative that we hit every hill in NW CT, especially steep gravelly ones.

Also went on some spectacular hikes, which is like biking except slower. Purist riders should try it some time. Valerie is a botanist, so she was helping me figure out which berries I could eat. One edible berry I don't recommend is the highbush cranberry. It tastes awful raw and when you boil it down to make jam it makes the house stink like zombie feet. The jam (even full of sugar) is almost as bad as the raw berries.

In other news I've started riding on odd stuff while towing a trailer. Like over a mattress or down the stairs by Founders Bridge.

Bogus theory

2011-11-04T17:19:00.001-04:00

I had this idea that limbs in the woods not would fall down as much as the trees and limbs in yards and along roadways. In the woods, they'd be able to lean against each other and do some kind of tree mutual aid. That's not the case. The woods are a mess and it's going to be a long time before any trails are passable on a bicycle. It's depressing and I guess I should sell my mountain bikes. Also, no eel on Sunday. Maybe we can go for a road ride. Or, canoeing.

Eel problems

2011-11-03T22:44:00.003-04:00

As you are no doubt aware, there was storm that knocked down every tree in Connecticut. For that reason, it may be very difficult to undertake an offroad ride like The Eel on Sunday. Stopping to carry bikes over trees every seven feet might suck. I'm going to do some reconnaissance tomorrow (by going for a bike ride) and post my intentions here tomorrow evening.

Friday started ok.

Then my bike got blurry.

Then the power went out everywhere except for my house.

The Eel 5: Other Rivers

2011-10-26T09:18:00.001-04:00

It's the time of year again when people Eel around here. Last year there was no racing, but we went up and down the Connecticut River. This year, I'm proposing that we go take a look at a different river, the Farmington. It is the River of my youth and I think this is a good idea. So, let's go ride over there next Sunday morning (November 6) at 9am. I think the ride will be about 50 or 60 miles long, but I haven't totally mapped it out yet. Wide-ish tires will be a good idea, because there are some rocks, but I don't think any bike will be perfect. We can leave from my house. There's good on street parking.

What do you think? Send me an email.

It's a man's, man's, man's world...

2011-10-23T11:38:00.001-04:00

But it don't mean nothing without a cat. I think that's how that song goes.

Anyway, there's this cat living on our windowsill that needs a home better than our windowsill. He's cute, fixed and friendly. We even took him to the vet yesterday to get checked out. Email me if you'd like this nice cat.

Additionally, cats make great mountain biking partners.

Training

2011-10-12T22:25:00.000-04:00

I am not very good at racing the bicycles. Part of the reason for that is because I've never really done this training thing people have talked about. This year, on the other hand, I have done three training related things. I did two of the dog park cyclocross training races and last night I did Expo Wheelmen's ride down the Hop Brook Trail really fast at night ride. Up soon are actual races, I wonder what will happen.

Sweaty butt picture courtesy of Mike O'Toole.

Two different paths.

2011-10-08T07:17:00.010-04:00

I was looking at two different bike photos that touched off a bit of light philosophizing this morning. The first is the newest Quintana Roo time trial bike I spied at Bicycles East in Glastonbury. The bike is beautifully svelte and begs you to set your legs on fire while rightly vanquishing your wheeled foes. I respected the design and aesthetic thought (perhaps I drooled a bit) that went into the machine, but realized at $3,300 it wasn't something I was even remotely interested in owning. Funny thing is that I actually own a 1996 Quintana Roo Tequilo, back from when I was young, foolish, and thought I could do more than respectable as a competitive triathlete. I doubt I'll ever spend that much on a bike again.

The next bike is a 1981 Schwinn Super le Tour frame (sans wheels) that I found discarded by Willowbrook Elementary in East Hartford. I recognized the bike as a relatively choice find and it made its way home bungeed to my bike rack. At this point I'm deciding what to do with this free bike. Should I build it up for myself? I've already got too many bikes. Hand it off to someone else? Build it up and sell it? Whatever I do, it will cost an order of magnitude less than $3,300 and will last perhaps decades longer. Suggestions?

My musing is on why someone would throw $3,300 at the Quintana Roo, and throw away the Schwinn. What makes the Schwinn trash, and the Roo treasure? Conversely, why is the Schwinn a treasure to me and others who love the free and found things?

An after school special

2011-10-03T22:03:00.000-04:00

As I think some blog post stated, I am no longer a bureaucrat and am instead a law student. The books are heavy and are taking a toll on my world's greatest panniers. I'm trying to adjust, but it's weird not having a job. There are also way more laws than I thought there were and I'm spending all this time reading about them. Apparently, there's a lot more to the legal world than the Hartford Municipal Code (Ordinance 08-10 made mountain biking legal in Hartford parks).

Today, however, my morning class was canceled, so my book load was light. Coaxed by the nice weather, I went on a nice little bike ride starting from campus and into the flood waters of the Connecticut. I hadn't stood thigh-deep in the river since the Detour last Fall. The immediate environs of the river of starting to develop the mournful look they get in Fall. It's nice.

Also, you may recall that Windsor wanted to put a bike path along the Connecticut River between Windsor Meadows State Park and Hartford. It appears that they've broken ground.

River cleaned

2011-10-03T18:59:00.001-04:00

As per routine, the rain cleared and we returned to the river and picked up myriad debris. Though mainly, it's just just bottles. Of note this year, two men offered me a shot upon arrival. Also of note, trinity college had an awesome showing this year (really, the only participants besides tony and me). They cleaned with a yeomen's effort and I think we did the best job since the first year. Go bantams?

Then, I went for a bike ride.

(top photo credit to Andy Hart)

Doing my part for Vermont tourism

2011-09-28T09:43:00.002-04:00

As you know, I like Vermont. This past weekend I was up there once more, though perhaps the last time for a little while. Courant columnist and guy who likes bikes, Rick Green, was lamenting the impact that Irene was going to have on tourism in Vermont. Don't be deterred! The leaves are changing and pretty. Most roads aren't out and even if they are that means that you should either switch to bike or your car trip is about to get much more exciting. On an interesting bike ride on Saturday, I encountered several washouts, all of which had very novel work arounds, like a temporary road right through someone's front yard. I also discovered Vertical Mile Road, which most definitely has one of the coolest names ever. I was descending it and it was really steep, but I don't believe that I started from a mile in the air. Interestingly, it seems to be the only "Vertical Mile Road" in the United States.

I also found a sweet abandoned house in the middle of the woods.

So, anyway, you should go leaf peeing or whatever it is you're supposed to do up there.

Bye Bye Summer...

2011-09-26T23:05:00.005-04:00

Bye Bye Summer...

Installed me some racks to hang up my "yellow swimsuit" (Maillot Jaune) and mountain bike. To then I realize how much floor space I freed up by doing so.

It makes a good wall art too :)

Found a hill.

2011-09-25T18:56:00.000-04:00

Nothing like Salem handing my ass back to me on a hill climb. He did just that on our way up Soapstone Mountain yesterday. Did I mention he was on a fendered mountain bike with tennies on? I knew I was in trouble when he got quiet and I realized my legs were starting to kindle a fire. Fortunately, it seemed like it was almost all descents from there on back to East Hartford.

After huffing my way to the top, I found Salem relaxing at the fire tower with several well endowed, yet arguably shallow, friends. You may recognize Salem's friends from one of Brendan's posts earlier this year. It seems they've changed so much in such a short time. Kids these days.

Note - It's prime autumn olive season. Do your part to rid the woods of this tasty invasive. Eat all that you can. I've found it makes a nice sauce and jelly.

Bicycle survivalism

2011-09-23T14:13:00.002-04:00

While riding home in the rain from school with a pannier full of books, cat litter (unused) and groceries, in addition to a 12 pack of Miller Lite on my front rack, I realized that the zeitgeist of the beat bike blog is bicycle survivalism. We don't really race all that much and we're only mediocre advocates, but we really enjoy talking about putting our bikes in weird places and carrying weirder things around. Things are scavenged and jury-rigged together, but it's not really DIY in the cool sense (like this, I guess?). It's more functional, but irrationally functional.

While riding, I was trying to consider why we do this. It is generally much more fun to get around by a bike, even if it's in adverse conditions. Yet, carrying heavy loads in freezing rain on icy streets in the dark on your bike is very perverse fun. So, I'm guessing our attitude is something like akin to smugness, but more along the lines are a feeling of superiority of beating society at is own game by developing self-imposed rules to make it more difficult and then claiming that's all possible with reliance status quo. I don't know. What do you think?

Help others Discover Hartford.

2011-09-22T07:41:00.005-04:00

So the folks that read this blog are all hearty, gritty, and occasionally jaded cyclists (mostly bike commuters) of metro Hartford, but that doesn't mean we should overlook an upcoming major Hartford bicycling event. Bike Walk Connecticut, an admirable organization, is hurriedly organizing the Discover Hartford Tour for Saturday, October 22nd. I believe it took a while to come to an agreement with the City of Hartford on sponsorship, so there has been only two months for plan and do publicity - which is a very short window.

I'm doing my little part to get the word out as a member of their Communications Committee, and I'll likely be volunteering on the day of the event. Anyone else who wants to get involved can send Georgette an email, or just show up Thursday nights (5-9PM) for open volunteer hours at the Bike Walk offices on Arbor Street. Another easy way to help is to send bike loving friends a Facebook Invite (or email note).

This event is a big deal for Bike Walk CT, both as publicity and a fundraiser. The first Discover Hartford Tour (2007) organized by the late, great Alan Williams, was a huge boost in membership for the organization and marked the start of a productive advocacy and legislative push over the next three years. Putting hundreds of bikes on the streets brings vitality and the hint of sustainable urban transportation to many neighborhoods of Hartford. The tour passing through the Hartford parks, also brings attention to the valuable, and sometimes under utilized open spaces in this great city. All around a great event. I'm hoping you can attend and please spread the good word.

Cleanup the river part IV

2011-09-21T10:00:00.002-04:00

It's the beginning of Fall, we clean up the river. I'm not sure why we've developed this tradition, but I think it's a good one. So, come down to the confluence of the park and ct rivers at 10am on Oct. 1 and help clean what Irene dumped.

In case you missed it

2011-09-20T04:00:00.000-04:00

I missed it, but Tony told me whilst riding this weekend: the DOT approved a plan to put a sidewalk for for bikepeds (bipeds? biceps?) on the Putnam Bridge. I guess the towns, Wethersfield & Glastonbury, have to do the approaches, which'll obviously be complicated. None the less, this is pretty sweet news. Hopefully, I don't move away in the next 5 years. Here's an article in case you don't believe me.

Old guy

2011-09-19T11:48:00.001-04:00

Every year I have a birthday and yesterday was it. So, Tony, Dario and I rode out into the wilds of Burlington, canton and new hartford. It afforded me the opportunity to prove that there are cool dirt roads in that direction, too. We also rode on some trails of my youth and passed my high school (the non-artsy one. I live less than a mile from the artsy one.). It made me feel nostalgic and inert. Is it a depressing thing that I can cover all the environs of my youth on a six hour bike ride?

Bikes, Beer, and NPR.

2011-09-17T10:10:00.001-04:00

*** Tony C guest posting a quick jot from Ebian. Hoping this is the start of many posts that Ebian will be contributing. ***

After seeing the high RSVP count on their Facebook event page, a few of us decided to ride to the WNPR “Where We Live 5-year Celebration” at Thomas Hooker Brewery. I was expecting a lot of cars, but wasn't expecting that many bikes to show up. We ended up locking our bikes to other bikes as our bike chains can't reach the sign post.

Dear Hooker Brewery, please install some bike racks; I am sure you will find a new group of visitors. Nothing beats a good brew after a long and hardy bike ride.

New park

2011-09-14T18:24:00.002-04:00

I was riding to and from Arbor Street the other evening on my one of my favorite streets in Hartford: Pope Park Highway nr. 4. Across the street from Club Divi Divi's, I noticed what appeared to be landscaping in what had been a dirt pile before. There were quasi-ornamental fences, some big rocks and what looked like benches. It was pretty dark, so I couldn't be sure. I returned from school today that way and lo, there was a newly minted park there.

Truth be told, I sort of new this was supposed to happen, because when I worked for the City Council I wrote a report about DPW's resolution seeking permission to apply for a grant from the DEP for redeveloping the dirt pile as a park. I think that officially this area has always been part of Pope Park, but was orphaned when I-84 was rammed through the park, so it's not truly a new park. I have no idea what's going to happen here or who will use this park. It's only reasonably accessible to people in Carlos Mouta's building and the very small neighborhood north of Hamilton. However, it adds greater mystery to an already mysterious part of town (Olive Street (the google map is wrong, Olive Street goes under 84, not to Hamilton. That street is Wellington, a very popular street for dumping your crap), for example!).

It would appear that this new park even satisfies the percent for arts ordinance.

Vote (maybe)

2011-09-13T10:51:00.002-04:00

There are municipal primaries today in 22 Connecticut towns. I voted in Hartford by bmx ballot. The poll workers look lonely. I was voter #40 and it was already 9:30.

If you live in Hartford, here are some insights.

Another green world

2011-09-11T09:52:00.000-04:00

As I'm no longer a worker and now a student, I was worried that all these books would prevent me from riding my bike. In the first two weeks, it would seem that rain has been the biggest preventer. Although, the big books make it difficult to go for a very fun ride directly from school, so rides leave from home. I'm told there's a locker lottery, which I would be very glad to participate in. Also, the wonderful urbancompass has allowed me to use her porch for bike parking, so my bike stays dry when it rains and I can leave my pannier attached to my bike. Having a cubicle really makes you spoiled. You don't realized it when you're a cubicle dweller.

Erstwhile beat bike blogger, Ken, survived the law school and still seems to know how to ride a bike. I hope the same applies to me.

Tabor

2011-09-05T19:23:00.003-04:00

I think we've given Paul Bato enough free press without even mentioning the name of the victim, William Laramee, whose name has been spelled wrong in every media report. I don't know anything about Mr. Laramee other than he seemed to be a hard working guy and was CFO of the Timken Purdy Corp. in Manchester. Perhaps Bato's proximity to Case Mountain (he lives on Birch Mountain Road) is what he feels gives him the right to mow down cyclists.

Anyway, there's this bench on a road (I won't say which one, because it's a secret bench) in Glover, VT that, in my opinion, is the greatest bench in the world. To get there, one must ascend this rather gnarly class 4 road. It's not crazy gnarly, though, because I drove my late Passat down it once. It's in close proximity to the Parker Pie Co., which has a convenience store that sells good beer, so you carry a beer to the top of the hill without too much effort and drink it on the bench. Also, it's one of the few places in Glover where you can get 3G. So, anyway, I love this bench. Others do, too, because I once saw someone else using the 3G that's available from the bench.

Paul Bato

2011-09-04T22:21:00.004-04:00

the courant has this large photo of the suspect here.

the courant story that Tony posted says the cyclist he killed was riding home from work and Paul Bato was driving drunk after drinking heavily at a strip club and a bar. He told the police he had one drink, but the killer actually had a receipt in his pocket for "eight Bacardi rum drinks".

Scumbag Drunk Kills Cyclist in East Hartford

2011-09-03T20:04:00.000-04:00

Found a disturbing article in the Courant this morning. This guy pretty much captures the pure essence of a Douche Bag. Stay safe out there, and watch out for drunks and cell phone yapping idiots.

Courant Article - http://www.courant.com/community/east-hartford/hc-east-hartford-fatal-dui-0903-20110902,0,1351724.story

How could we as a society respond or improve things, so crap like this doesn't happen? If there is alcohol, folks are going to drink. If there are fast cars, a-holes are going to drive them like idiots. How would we as a society show that drunk driving, and driving like a jerk in general isn't OK?

Maybe a PR campaign that spoofs manly / cool beer commercials and their fast car commercial kin. They would star the anti-cool guy, getting loaded at the bars, and then speeding around town in his compensatory fast car. He blows through a four way nearly taking out an old lady, blares his horn at a pair of cyclists, loses control and sideswipes a parked car, and then parks in the yard - and goes to sleep alone. Very clear comments from folks (stereotypical cool folks) that this guy is a total DB. I see this running as a serial, and funded by a slice of the sin tax on alcoholic beverages.

I know I'm dreaming, but its actually not that different from the PR approach that was taken with smoking.

Knee Deep in the Big Muddy

2011-09-02T16:32:00.011-04:00

This morning, I headed out on the cargo bike to run some errands, starting with a trip to the DMV office in Wethersfield to renew the lapsed registration for my rarely-driven car. Unfortunately, you can't do that any more. The asinine notion of not being able to renew a motor vehicle registration at the freaking Department of Motor Vehicles and the built-in delay inherent in doing so by mail left me in a moderately foul mood. While planning my morning loop, I had toyed with the idea of a side trip to see how the ferry landing area had fared in all of the flooding. Now, the mood-lifting power of an extended ride made it a necessity.

I rode through Old Wethersfield and under I-91 to the northern entrance to the meadows by the Putnam Bridge. Within a hundred or so feet, I saw the sun-baked mud of the high water line. Within a few dozen feet of that was the damp mud of a more recent water level. Within a tenth of a mile or so, my hubs were submerged in the gently flowing murky water. I opted for a U-turn when it it got knee-deep (roughly at the first break in the shade in the above photo). My panniers are rain-proof, but not fully submersible. I found myself wanting a 29er for the first time I can recall.

I backtracked to Ol' Dirty Wethersfield and picked my way southward through the local streets that lay between the Silas Deane Highway and the river until I came upon a trail entrance in Rocky Hill. Bicycles were not listed on the battered sign of prohibited trail users, so I forged ahead along what quickly proved to be debris-strewn singletrack. The trail had suffered a fair amount of downed trees and limbs-- some fresh, some older, and wasn't in the best of shape. A large, recently fallen tree eventually thwarted my southern progress, so I backtracked and followed another trail that eventually led me to the old railroad tracks, which I followed south until the ferry landing came into view. The Yuba continues to prove way more capable off-road than it has any business being, semi-slick tires and all. That said, riding the railroad ties made me wish my imaginary 29er had some suspension as well.

Not surprisingly, the ferry and the boat launch were most definitely closed and the Ferry Park parking lot was submerged. I headed home, wending my way northward through Rocky Hill and Wethersfield, following a quiet and scenic route through Mill Woods Park, Wintergreen Woods, Goodwin Park and the Trinity College campus. The morning's DMV disappointment was miles and worlds away. Registering the car doesn't seem particularly important any more.

NOAA

2011-08-30T21:44:00.004-04:00

You may have noticed that on the right there are two links to the NOAA sites about the CT and Farmington Rivers' activities. You should check them out. Shit's pretty real. (that phrase is still cool, right?)

I'm expecting this year's Eel, if along the river, will be entirely different from last year.

Obligatory hurricane pictures

2011-08-29T15:43:00.004-04:00

Hartford was largely spared by Hurricane Irene. The Park River is underground, so downtown didn't float away. The Farmington Valley didn't fair well and I hear Vermont is a mess. I'm going there next weekend to verify. Southern CT didn't do so hot either. So, anyway, I've ridden around and taken some pictures of big puddles and fallen trees. Do you have better pictures?. And here is the rest of it.

Another D2R2

2011-08-28T16:08:00.000-04:00

Cool guy with a cool jersey.

The D2R2 is getting super popular. Almost 1,000 people signed up and despite Hurricane Irene, it appeared that a lot of them and more showed up. The expansion does not seem to serve as a detriment to the logistical execution of the event. It's super-well run and the volunteers are awesome. Also, there are so many roads that they easily absorb the thousand riders. None the less, the increased popularity is making it lose its weirdness and gain some feel of a charity ride. Obviously, I have no claim to cred, because this is only the third time I've gone up there. I can still observe, though.

Anyway, Dario, Peter and I rode the 100k in matching jerseys with camaraderie and style. We managed to miss a turn on the return trip (which made for a lengthier trip and had a pretty sweet road descent down Shelburne Road), but since I didn't want an asterisk next to my name, I rode up and down Hawks and Taylor Roads. It perplexed the people going down the road as well as my riding companions. My 100k became more like a 125k. It was fun, but the 180k is better. The majority of the highlights of the 100k are from the 180k and the 180k has even better parts. It's nice not to commit to waking up at 4am, though.

D2R2 on the eve of a hurricane

2011-08-26T22:30:00.001-04:00

There must be some symbolism.

In touch with my urban environment

2011-08-18T04:13:00.000-04:00

As you know, Hartford does not have "cool" fixed gear movies like Mash sf or, uh, Empire. I've often thought this is because there's only like one guy in town who makes movies and five people who ride bikes. Today, I realized that's not the problem, the problem is that we don't have enough areas with the cool man on bike vs. the future aesthetic.

Until now. With the opening of the Mayor Mike Bridge, one can ride all the way across Constitution Plaza and then down the parking garage of the convention center. There's tons of concrete and gritty urban infrastructure for like a solid mile and it's elevated. It was so cool, that I took some pictures from up there.

Road comfort

2011-08-17T15:24:00.004-04:00

Like most days, Dario and I rode down to the Meadows. On the way home, like most days, I wanted to pick up some Miller Lite. We were returning to Hartford via Folly Brook Blvd and I wanted to go to the liquor store on Wolcott Hill. He thought we should go to the liquor on Maple Ave by CVS. He didn't want to go to the one on Wolcott Hill because you have to ride down Jordan Lane to get there.

I don't mind riding on Jordan Lane, but I don't like riding on Maple Ave. Dario is the opposite. Why is that? How do people decide which roads are ok and which aren't? Some are universally regarded as good, but most are in dispute. Can these questions be answered? Does it matter?

This Week in Saving Stuff

2011-08-16T11:49:00.004-04:00

Cedar Mountain Time
Tonight, 7:00 PM at Newington Town Hall (131 Cedar St), please embrace your limited opportunity to stand up for Cedar Mountain, open spaces, and sensible development. At the July 27 meeting, I listened to a Toll Brothers representative explain their proposal to relocate a 1,700-square foot wetlands area that exists where they would like to build houses on Cedar Mountain. That sounded like a fantastically bad idea to everyone in attendance, but they seem intent on diminishing the will of the people and downplaying the impact that 64 houses would have on Cedar Mountain and its immediate and surrounding areas.

Tonight, the Inland Wetlands Commission holds the last public hearing on the matter. Once these matters go behind closed doors, Toll Brothers will do their damndest to make their money and lawyers trump the will and well-being of the overwhelming majority of the public. They're kinda doing that already, come to think of it. Please consider showing up to add your presence and your voice to the debate. Go watch If A Tree Falls at Real Art Ways if you aren't feeling sufficiently moved by this (not tonight though-- you'll miss the meeting).

Ferry Saving Efforts

An "Action Committee" will meet in Rocky Hill this Thursday, August 18 from 5:30-7 PM at the Nutmeg Credit Union at 521 Cromwell Ave. The committee is meeting to discuss starting a private foundation to defray the costs of running the ferry. Here is your chance to be a (Wo)man of Action!

Persuasion

2011-08-15T10:15:00.002-04:00

Johanna is my wonderful girlfriend. For a time, between the ages of 16 and 23, I didn't really ride my bike much at all. I don't remember why, but one day were started riding bikes together. We did it a whole bunch. Around that time, I quit smoking and decided to substitute one addiction for another by riding my bike all the time. Johanna doesn't seem to have the same predisposition towards addiction, or maybe is saner than me. So, anyway, she doesn't ride as much as me.

That's ok and that's not what I'm writing about. What I'm writing about is Johanna's ability to not ride much and then ride a long way. Johanna has maybe gone on five rides with me so far this year, but Saturday, with Dario and Peter, we rode up to Westfield and back. I don't think I could do that. I ride all year so that I can ride 80 miles without perishing. Johanna hasn't ridden that far since last year around this time. It's impressive. I wish I had that kind of latent athletic ability.

Quite the Ideal Evening

2011-08-11T20:21:00.001-04:00

Today was a good day. Work was productive, which is rare these days. Then a short satisfying stint at the Hartford Y doing some literacy volunteering. I highly recommend the Read to Succeed program to anyone looking to volunteer. They've got their shit together, to put it the way I do.

I snapped a photo of the snazzy electric assist locked in the stairwell leaving the Y. Also got a radiant sunset shot of East Hartford while crossing the otherwise ugly Bulkeley Bridge (ugly but useful). Now I'm sitting on the East Hartford town green listening to jazz, and the kid's bike next to me has a rather awesome frame / fender.

Another Eel

2011-08-11T11:59:00.000-04:00

I haven't seen that movie, "Another Earth", but I saw a trailer for it when I saw "Tree of Life" (and I didn't even ask for my money back). I guess the movie is about another Earth, that's mostly just like this one. I was mountain biking yesterday and thinking about this, but since I don't think very profound thoughts, I was thinking about me on another Earth mountain biking. And then, I wondered if the me on the other Earth would organize The Eel there, too. Would it still be called "The Eel"? I guessed that the other people probably would, but it'd be slightly different. Like, instead of going along the river, maybe it'd go off into the mountains. Maybe it'd be in Vermont. Who knows, except the me on Earth 2?

Which leads me to proposing that another Eel be held. Where? I don't know yet.

Trend setter or follower?

2011-08-08T14:00:00.002-04:00

I rode a lot this weekend--up to Whately, MA Friday afternoon, D2R2 100 mile loop on Saturday (to put it succinctly, it was long), and back down to CT on Sunday. All that is well and good, I suppose, but things started to go odd as Tony and I hit the Windsor/Hartford border.

First, there was the sighting of my identical bike (save color and size) outside the town pool. This might not be so odd for you if you own a shiny late-model set of wheels, but when one lugs around 33 pounds of 20 year old Diamond Back Override, it is something of a unique sighting. I managed to embarrass Tony by pointing out to the bike's owner it was older than he.

Just a little further up the road while cutting through Keeney Park, in my usually mode of combing for road-side-finds, I spotted what were in fact the lens to glasses identical to the ones I was wearing. Maybe someone had the fashion sense to jettison their glasses as soon as they say me wearing the same. Good call.

So who else out there has a tattered "Tech Team" handlebar bag attached to their bike with a bungee cord? I know you're out there.

Brendan: master of route 5

2011-07-30T14:31:00.001-04:00

Once again, I was in Vermont. I rode around, finding exciting woods roads on top of mountain, ancient settler roads (and a nice man named Wayne, who told me about old families and roads) and hidden ponds. I like doing those things.

However, I'm setting off for foreign lands tomorrow and we only brought one car to Vermont. Johanna wanted to stay until the end of her vacation. So, I rode my bike home. The first leg was Glover to Brattleboro and the second leg was Brattleboro to Hartford. It's about 240 miles, but I made a wrong turn in Northampton on the bike path so it was 250. The first leg was 153 miles, which took me about 10 1/2 hours (all told, I started at 8:30 on Thursday and got home at 3:30 on Friday (I took a nice long sleep in between days)). With the exception of VT rt 122 at the beginning, it was spent on rt. 5. I'm sure there are more elaborate and exciting routes, but rt. 5 is actually quite pretty and quiet with the exception of White River Junction and St. Johnsbury.

The river.

The ride on rt. 5 from Brattleboro to Greenfield is surprisingly nice, too. I-91 has really reshaped rt. 5 into a pleasant road for long stretches. Coming into Massachusetts, it was so quiet, I thought I was on the wrong road until I got to a sign in Bernardston. Deeper into Mass, it gets a little busier, I took a couple of sidetracks that I'd learned from D2R2 and then got on bike path in Southwick. I guess the bike path goes north of there, but trying to figure that out is what got me off track in Northampton.

D2R2 land before the big day.

I don't really think big thoughts while I'm riding my bike, so my only takeaway was that rt. 5 is comprised of men pretending to be working on important projects, trucks and lawn mowers-- just miles and miles of those things. There was some cute town centers between St. J's and White River, but mostly the abovementioned three. Also farmer stands need some diversity beyond cucumbers, corn and squash. Well, I ate two very good peaches in Westfield.

Climate change!

2011-07-29T14:39:00.006-04:00

We've been having some turbulent weather lately, but when a late July ride in CT includes building a snowman, that's just getting too ridiculous. Ok, ok, it did happen, but that isn't the whole story; Wednesday, Damian and I wandered around E. Hartford and S. Windsor looking for places to aim. In those not-quite-aimless ramblings, we wound up behind the S. Windsor area, where they apparently empty the Zamboni every now and again. Reminds me of Mount Lemmon in Tucson where, on a 60 degree day in the valley, one can see cars driving down from elevation with snowmen on the hood. What fun!

But expanding on our aimful search, Damian and I found an array of trails along the CT river heading south from Vibert Rd. in S. Windsor. A decade or so ago, I had tried to reach the river by a road further north, but after being stymied by private fencing, I'd given up the search. So, it was with surprise and joy that we were able to continue down along the river well south of the Bissell Bridge. Again, what fun!

On to Thursday, and a lengthy ride with my Pa to parts of CT north, namely Somers and Stafford, and even a touch into Massachusetts. I've meandered through these areas before, but this time, the nose led us onto countless dirt and woods roads. I'd guess from Manchester to the state line we covered about 10 miles or less on pavement. I smell another Detour (de MA-CT?) route in the offing.

The view from atop the Soapstone observation deck was superb,

although violent crimes seem on the rise.

cars kill more people than guns

2011-07-26T22:34:00.003-04:00

The automobile, a tool invented to safely transport people with all its crumple zones, airbags, seat belts, safety glass, computers and various safety systems; kills more people every year in the United States than the gun; a tool invented to kill.

Huh? WTF? Yep.....the automobile is more deadly than the gun. Wake up! Scary huh?

It is true. Over the last few decades, roughly speaking.....

every year fire arm deaths are in the 30,000's and motor vehicle deaths in the 40,000's, check it....

year........fire arm deaths.......motor vehicle deaths

1999...........28,874......................41,717
2000..........28,663.....................41,945
2004..........29,569.....................42,836
2007..........31,224......................41,059

You might be saying this can't be true. I got my facts from Wikipedia and the CDC. I first read this in BikeSnobNYC's book (a great, great great read by the way!)

Automobile Deaths in the United States

This is a screen shot from the CDC website. There is no way to link the actual page due to the way the information is collected, but if you click here you can access all kinds of statistics.

Soooo. How is this possible? Its a symptom of how the whole paradigm is whacked! The police and politricks are full of "safety first" and "protecting people" with their rhetoric, while the real problem goes unchecked. There is a rarely enforced 3-foot passing rule in this state as well many others. There is no patience. There is no true regard for life and health. Where are the police? Where are the elected officials "concerned" for our safety?

Anyone can get a freakin' driver's license and go out and terrorize and maim and kill. Hmmm...lets get all crazy and Patriot Act about this. Lets compare to how many Americans die yearly from terrorist acts versus from automobiles. Think about it.

No, really, think about how whack the system really is. Safety is a mostly a bullshit buzzword. The reality is laws, attitudes and behavior put many, many things above safety. How many drivers swerve or drive or park in the "bikelane"? How much do politicians speak about gun-control and gun danger and guns and the young? How often do they speak of driving safer? Driving with more respect? It makes NO SENSE. None.

Ride safe. Remember that beeping revving car has absolutely no more right to the road than you. The fact that a car is more deadly, heavier, faster or more powerful than a bicycle does NOT give it more rights. The fact it costs more than your bike or may be in a hurry does not give it the right to bully you off the road. Call the police. Report bullying. Report unsafe driving. You have the right to be safe and pedal in peace. Ride Safe. Ride Smart.

Things Worth Saving (Monday, Wednesday and beyond)

2011-07-24T18:50:00.001-04:00

1) SAVE YOURSELF

Triple-digit heat and news feeds full of horrible things made the last couple of days lousy ones to spend indoors or out. It also would have made it easy to miss hearing about a Milford, CT Driver's depraved vehicular assault on a cyclist. This past week, 20-year-old Louis A. Melfi III, having reportedly verbally threatened and knocked down a bicyclist with his car, then reversing toward the man again, crushing his bicycle, was arrested and slapped on the wrist with a paltry $500 bail and evading responsibility and reckless driving charges.

Think about that.

From a minimal blurb about this case, I'm hearing an assault using deadly force, multiple counts of threatening by TWO people including a death threat, violation of the three-foot passing law and destruction of property. From the charges and the paltry fire-sale bail, it sounds more like a lousy driver who pulled a stupid and took off. That sounds astoundingly and irresponsibly inadequate. Would someone who deliberately fired a gun at someone's head TWICE but merely grazed their ear be let off so easily? Would the person who shouted, "FIRE!" to the shooter face no repercussions whatsoever? If so, remind me to stay the hell out of Milford. I feel safer in Hartford. It sounds like the Milford Police consider a person to be less than a person when they climb on a bicycle. Shameful. If this angers you, one of the things you can do is support Bike Walk Connecticut's efforts to protect vulnerable users. Advocacy is the more positive and attainable goal than, say, crushing Mr. Melfi's car with a monster truck (though, in theory, if you did so without being reckless or fleeing the scene, Milford Police might not charge you at all!)

2) SAVE THE FERRIES

The historic Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry, hobbled by reduced hours of operation, is being dangled over the chopping block by Governor Malloy along with the Chester-Hadlyme ferry. The ferry is the nicest way I know for a bicyclist to get across the Connecticut River, and it connects two especially nice areas to ride to boot. The threatened Aug. 25 closing of the ferries would be a sad day, indeed. If you'd like to get involved and informed, there will be a Save The Ferry Roundtable this very Monday, July 25th at 7 PM at the Welles Turner Memorial Library, 2407 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT.

3) SAVE CEDAR MOUNTAIN

As mentioned previously in this space, Cedar Mountain in Newington is threatened by the Toll Brothers' desire to replace natural settings with shoddily-built McMansions and condos. Your next opportunity to speak your mind about this affront is this coming Wednesday, July 27. The turnout at last week's Conservation Committee meeting was weak, so please take some time this Wednesday evening to be seen (I seem to recall organizers suggesting that supporters wear green) and heard. Newington Town Hall is at 131 Cedar Street, Newington, CT. Meeting is called to order at 7 PM.

Route 3 bike / ped crossing momentum?

2011-07-21T23:20:00.001-04:00

They' re holding another public info session on the Rt. 3 bridge on Aug 10th (Wed) at the Glastonbury Riverfront Community Center. 300 Welles St. 7pm. If you can't make it you can email Tim Fields (Timothy.Fields@ct.gov). Spread the word!

This seems to be getting a good bit of DOT attention. The Glastonbury Bike Walk Committee is one of the reason this didn't simply slip by without consideration.

I'll be there with bells on.

Please be careful

2011-07-17T09:30:00.002-04:00

It would seem we've reached the part of summer when everyone has lost their minds, because the accidents in the Courant keep getting more nuts. Things seem especially dangerous if you're on a bike. Two people have died and one is very injured. Here, here and here. One involves a train and details are vague, but it's sad that a guy got killed riding near train tracks. The other two involve a crazy person in Manchester and a hit and run in Stamford.

All the while, of course, ESPN, based in Bristol, is making light of cyclists getting hit by cars. So, you should probably stay inside for the remainder of the summer.

Why do we need stories like this?

2011-07-15T08:19:00.003-04:00

I have a New York Times alert for things about bikes because I'm a dork. Lately, it's about been about a bike race in France. For awhile, it was about the crack down in New York and how evil Janette Sadik-Khan is.

Today, I see this:

U.S.: Bike Lane Plans Move to San Francisco's Fell and Oak
Streets
By SCOTT JAMES
Plans to provide bike lanes on Fell and Oak Streets in San
Francisco, two rare east-west thoroughfares, could result

in traffic backups or eliminate parking.

Now, they've gone all the way to San Francisco to write about what a terrible idea bike lanes are there. I've only been to San Francisco twice. It has a lot of traffic and not that many bike lanes. I've been in cars, on a bike, in public transportation and foot there. Car was the most difficult. I think it's safe to say that the traffic will remain status quo.

Documents

2011-07-13T15:55:00.000-04:00

Most cyclists like to keep track of many statistics associated with their riding. I don't have a cyclocomputer, SRM or GPS. I have a GPS in my phone, but if I ride further than 15 miles, it seems to kill the battery. I'm not really interested in speed or wattage, but I am interested in how far I rode. So, I use mapmyride and gmap-pedometer. You've probably noticed that I'll link to those sites periodically. Recently, due to twitter, I signed up for dailymile. Pursuant to its name, I attempted to post every bit of distance. After a couple of months, I started to feel enslaved, so I've decided to stop using it. Sometimes, that's how I feel about this blog. There's no reason to write about what I do on bike. Maybe I should get better at photography or something.

It is hot

2011-07-12T20:34:00.003-04:00

Dario-distorion

It is hot, but I still like to ride a bike. So, I go slow. It seems to work out well. I rode around in a cotton tshirt this evening and I didn't even sweat through it.

And, I had soup for breakfast.

Putnam update

2011-07-11T11:40:00.003-04:00

Semi-apropos to my post earlier, since I rode under the Putnam Bridge on my way to the ferry. That fellow at the DOT wrote back to those of us who emailed him. It adds a glimmer of hope for those who want to ride across the Putnam Bridge legally.

Hi Mr. Mahoney. Thanks for the e-mail. The Department is in the process of evaluating widening the Putnam Bridge to include a pedestrian crossing. At this point, there are many issues to overcome to make this a viable option. First, we need to further evaluate the bridge to determine how wide a sidewalk we can put on. I'm not sure at this point we can obtain a "bikeway". We are looking at a walkway in the area of +/- 6 feet on one side of the bridge. The cost of modifications to the bridge in order to support a walkway is in the area of $7 to $10 million. We have not identified this funding.
The other issue is the cost of developing the approaches. This cost is not included in the above figure. There are a multitude of issues with developing the approaches, including funding, access for those with disabilities (ADA), wetlands, and others.
The Department has reached out to the Towns of Glastonbury and Wethersfield to coordinate a stakeholder meeting in the near future to discuss access for pedestrians and cyclists.
Thanks again for your e-mail.
Scott

Out of shape

2011-07-11T09:58:00.003-04:00

I don't know if it's the heat or what, but I went for a ride out to Willimantic yesterday and felt terrible. I guess I hadn't really been on a ride longer than 50 or so miles in almost a month. With D2R2 not that far away and all these other long riding things I want to do, I guess I better start riding my bike again.

It was a pretty day, though, and it was nice to be in the shade of the airline and hopbrook trails, even if I got a chapped butt (see? I'm truly out of shape).

Car Free in CT - Summer Report

2011-07-10T21:35:00.003-04:00

I've enjoyed nine full months of being car free in CT. It has been some time since the last Car Free article, and there is much to share. The last week has been marked by a rash of flat tires, which aligns with my state of mind these days. Slogging along in a bit of purgatory, dealing with manageable, yet irritating flat tires. I imagine that my active transportation choices help me cope with life's flat tires.

Before we talk about sunburns and swampy shorts, let's take a retrospective look at our friend Winter. The 2010/2011 winter was passed reveling in snowy Connecticut roads more passable to my humble bicycle (with studded Nokians) than the four wheeled tanks that purport to serve rugged utility. Although the CT snow was a welcome challenge, I sorely missed the camaraderie of the hardy winter bikers that swizzled the flat streets of Chambana, IL. The almost negligible bike mode share in CT drops beyond negligible to negative for four lonely months of bicycle hibernation. That said, my first winter car free was a suitable proof test* of car free life.

Spring seemed particularly short, as the 90 degree days started early. Before things warmed up, I snuck down to Pittsburgh to kick off a week long bike trek to Washington DC along the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal trails. Although the third week of April may not have been the best choice for weather, the ride still took pole position in my limited list of tours. I gush about the ride and route to anyone willing to tolerate my vociferous adulation. If I get inspired, you may see a stand alone article on this memorable ride.

Oh yeah, and my cuddly trail mate Valerie. She was golden on the Pitt to DC ride. The photo of Valerie is on the not quite finished portion between Pittsburgh and McKeesport. In true free riding fashion we connected developed segments with rail corridors, a bit of light trespassing, and only a little bush whacking. Aside from that short 15 mile segment the rest of the ride was on well marked, and relatively smooth trails.

Back to car free in CT, Connecticut is a marvel of beautiful and epic bike rides. Despite the culture, music, bike scene, kick ass bike coop, and generally awesome folks, I always felt like something was missing in Chambana. It was the hills, the forests, and the rivers. Fortunately CT has these natural features in spades, which somewhat makes up for shortfalls in the other categories. I rarely looked forward to recreational rides in Chambana, whereas exploring CT on bike (and foot) gets me all bubbly and excited. I've logged three epic CT rides this summer thus far:
     - Salem's Detour de CT
     - A solo ride to NYC and back, with a detour to Massachusetts.
     - Another solo ride to Boston and back.

All three of these rides could warrant its own article, but I doubt the articles will be written, because I'll be too busy riding. One notable skill that I've been picking up is ' stealth camping' - unofficial camping in a convenient park or roadside wooded area. This handy touring tool saves money while resulting in very memorable camp spots. The photo of the powerlines sunset was a stealth camp on my way back from Boston.

My short two mile commute to P&W is so easy that I occasionally walk to mix things up and get an even more intimate view of the neighborhood. Some coworkers living nearby experience the same door-to-door commute time in their cars.

It appears that rising gas prices and perhaps even rational thought have started to convert more to bike commuting - as you can see in the overloaded bike rack near my office. Several motivated souls also created the P&W Bicycling Club, replete with an intranet website for sharing bike commute tips.

Non-work commuting has also been an elementary exercise. I'm two miles from several groceries and my panniers or baskets hold more than enough. Larger or ackward loads can go in my trailer (shown in photo), which can ferry as much as the trunk of a small car. Passing shiny F150s stuck in traffic with empty truck beds engenders a special smug internal glow. Yes. Bike commuters are smug.

In summary car free life is running just fine. My commute is fun, it keeps me fit without conscious effort, and my cost of living is clearly lower. I even turned down a job offer this Spring, otherwise very attractive, because it would have been unworkable car free. Car free has graduated from a nice to have, to must have in my life.

*In engineering speak a 'proof test' is when a component is stressed beyond all expected operating levels before being put in service.

Sorry for all the bike advocacy posts but,

2011-07-09T17:31:00.001-04:00

Congress is in a budget cutting mood. If you think bike / ped dedicated infrastructure funding is too important to cut, you can tell our CT Representatives and Senators.

It's easy.

Biking to the Riverfest fireworks this evening. Perhaps I'll see you out there.

Making some noise about Putnam Bridge

2011-07-02T22:46:00.001-04:00

There was a recent public info session held by the CTDOT with regards to the planned new deck for the Putnam Bridge. This is the Route 3 highway connection between Glastonbury and Wethersfield. The bridge connects two important residential, employment, and shopping centers.

Wouldn't it be grand if there was a bike / ped crossing like CT-190? If you agree, now is your last chance to contact the DOT (scott.hill@ct.gov) and your elected officials. My note to the DOT is included below. Feel free to steal.

<<<
Date: Jul 2, 2011 3:41 PM
Subject: Fwd: Putnam Bridge
To: scott.hill@ct.gov

Scott Hill,

I am a car free bicycle commuter in CT. I recommend the studying of adding a cantilevered bike / ped crossing to the Putnam Bridge.

This is a particularly important transportation and recreation link for non-motorized travel. It becomes even more important with the reduced hours of the ferry.

CT recently climbed from 40th to 21st in bike friendly state rankings. Bike / ped rankings will continue to climb if infrastructure projects make every effort to encourage human powered travel.

Thanks for your consideration.

Tony C
East Hartford, CT
>>>

CT ranked 21st. Huzzah!

2011-06-30T11:54:00.001-04:00

Just noticed on the Bike Walk CT website that CT vaulted forward in national bike friendliness rankings. We moved from an embarrassing 40th to a middling 21st. Much props to the folks over at Bike Walk for driving important legislation, supporting local bike / ped committees, and banging the drum with the CT DOT.

This ranking means something to environmentally concious young professionals. Moving up from 40th removes a, ' Why would I live in such a backward state?' stigma. Going further and getting into the top ten would actively draw folks looking for sustainable transportation and recreation to CT.

Taking CT to the next level will take more than new bike lanes and legislative policy. Connecticut needs to show real progress in increasing bike, ped, and transit mode share. Get on your bikes and Ride!

PS - I'm riding up to Boston this weekend (and back). Should be hella fun.

Mountain biking popularity

2011-06-29T14:10:00.001-04:00

I think in the 1990s, 117% of all bikes sold in the US were mountain bikes. Everybody was mountain biking and therefore not everyone mountain biking was great at it. Being not great at mountain seem to make you much harder on trails. Trails got beat up and then got closed. Then mountain biking got less popular and trails started to heal. However, the Salem-theory of full suspension is that the learning curve for mountain biking is now much shorter. With the ubiquity now of those kind of bikes, people can ride on trails much more easily that before. So, I guess popularity is increased. To that end, the trails at the West Hartford reservoir are beat to hell this year, but I hadn't noticed because I haven't been riding much there. I did yesterday: The braiding is worse than I've ever seen it, like it's so bad that it's tough to tell what the original trail is, so braids get worn deeper. The cheater lines have cheater lines. The trails that have steep ascents don't even seem to be ridden anymore because they're too hard to get up. Puddled areas are so wide, they've become quintuple track.

I'm not trying to be holier than thou. I'm happy that popularity is increasing in the sport, but the poor and worn down reservoir probably can't sustain this. I know there have always been complaints about lack of NEMBA presence in West Hartford, but there desperately needs to be some trail maintenance. I don't know anything about trail building, but I'd be willing to learn. Either that, or I could just stop riding there. Maybe Salem's got something in his revulsion of the place.

Winds

2011-06-27T17:44:00.002-04:00

The CT siting council approved the windfarms in Colebrook and everyone is upset. People are really upset about Capewind, too. The wilds are the North East Kingdom have big, tall hills, so people want to put turbines there, too, and there are two sets of turbines showing up within 25 of Johanna's place in Vermont. There's also sorts of NIMBYism there like here. I had always wondered where the Sheffield one was going and I finally figured it out. Sheffield has the highest point on I-91 and this cool road called New Duck Pond Road parallels it. They're going there. I rode my bike there this weekend. It'll look kinda cool from I-91. What did you do this weekend?

Bike size and ground hogs

2011-06-23T17:13:00.000-04:00

I am a pretty terrible mechanic, but one thing I have figured out how to do is adjust the parts of the bike that involve how I fit on the bike. I also kind of understand now that if I'm not comfortable on my bike, there are a bunch thing I could try adjusting. I'm not expert and Salem thinks all my bikes fit me wrong, but I can sit on my bike for eight hours and it doesn't hurt too bad.

I'm also a big advocate of used bikes. While I think bike companies are fine, there many bikes out there with many miles left that don't belong in the dump. So, when people ask me about buying a bike, much like buying a car, I tell them to go used. The problem of course being that while standover height of a bike is really easy to figure out, more picayune things like fore/aft saddle adjustment or saddle tilt aren't. So, people buy a bike for that for all intents and purpose fits, but is just uncomfortable enough that s/he won't want to ride for longer than 45 minutes.

Anyway, I bring this up because two friends of mine bought used bikes lately that were just slightly off. Once fixed, the bikes were comfortable and nice again. I'm not sure where I'm going with this diatribe, other than to say that your bike is probably not as messed up as you think it is. Five minutes of loosening a few bolts, adjusting and retightening can go along and even the inept like me can do it. Move the saddle forward 2cm can go a very long way.

Also, you may recall that I ran over a groundhog a few years ago. Interestingly, on Tuesday I saw a man with a bmw wagon stopped on the side of the road down by the meadows releasing a groundhog. I'm not sure how he caught the groundhog and what the groundhog was doing that caused him to take it to the meadow, but I like to think it was a positive thing.

Break from routine

2011-06-20T10:16:00.003-04:00

I've ridden out to Canton and New Hartford like a million times and I get kinda set in my ways. I reserve exploration for when I get all the way out to Hartland or Barkhamsted, because I assume I know all the good roads to get out there. Well, I was wrong in addition to finding a cool seasonal road in New Hartford (Beney Road), I discovered Breezy Hill Road and how it gets up Ratlum Mountain. It's steep, partially paved and awesome. I don't know why I never rode it before. There appear to be a bunch of Canton Land Trust trails and old fire roads that require me to return. It must be cool living where my uncle lives.

Perhaps the Detour can go west of the river someday.

Quite a Day

2011-06-19T13:11:00.001-04:00

The beer tasting festival at Martin Park offered oodles of local and not so local brews. Still wondering how I almost managed to miss this. CT event publicity leaves a bit to be desired.

Post festival I rolled over to the East Hartford transfer station to review the scrap dumpsters for fine pickings, and several fine pickings were had. New in box (circa 1973) Coleman stove and lantern, and a sterno fuel mount were premium picks. Also stashed a bench vise and Sturmey-Archer 3-spd bike that I will return for today.

The evening was capped with a flamboyantly illuminated, and remarkably well attended, sur-Real Ride, put on by the creative folks at Real Art Ways. A little nervous about so many (> 100) riders, many inexperienced, on the mean streets, but thankfully no one managed to off themselves. The ride entertained curious downtown denizens and revelers. Many asking, ' What is this?' I was asking the same question. Is this the tip of a bike culture iceberg in Hartford? Where are these cyclists the rest of the time? All in all a spectacular, firework punctuated party. Hopefully the success of Real Ride is a signal that bike commuting may eventually garner something more than an embarrassing less than one percent in metro Hartford.

Free Bicycle!

2011-06-18T11:55:00.004-04:00

Remember those old home security commercials featuring a "burglar" who brags that he can pick most locks with a credit card? No tools at all required to snag this bike.

Beer and Bike Party

2011-06-16T23:05:00.002-04:00

Got quite a weekend coming up.

Burnside Craft Brew Festival during the day Saturday. 1-5PM in East Hartford's Martin Park. After sampling I'll stop by the transfer station for some tipsy dumpster diving.

Then it's time to wobble over to Hartford's Real Art Ways, Real Ride. Deck your bike out and yourself, ride and party. Shake and roll.

See ya'll out there. - Tony C

hot CATALOGUE

2011-06-16T10:12:00.002-04:00

It's been awhile since there's been art to look at on Arbor, but it's coming back. See here:

By then we will have passed into Summer, and we will celebrate.

Come to CATALOGUE!: Saturday, June 25th, Matt LaFleur, WOOD AND PAINT
8pm, 56 Arbor Street, Hartford, CT, Suite# forthcoming

If you know Matt, and you graduated from the Hartford Art School, then you've probably been influenced by his work at some point or another. He's the guy who did the work that hit you in those juried Goldfarb shows as being sort of perfect. If you currently attend HAS, you're probably affected by him and don't know it. He's in the walls. Matt LaFleur is an incredible artist who values purity and deconvolutional ya know, straight talk, materials like sleek varnish, construction paper, wood, paint of course, log cabins, wood-burning stoves, pencils, and foam core. Matt is a chimney sweep who loves race cars and lives with his wife in Taborton, NY on a lake and is a storybook character or something. I am absolutely pleased, and honored in a way, to present Matt LaFleur in our June CATALOGUE.

Come round, from Boston, New Haven, wherever you be. Check out Matt's site, woodandpaint.com. And CATALOGUE on Facebook and at CATALOGUEprojects.com. CATALOGUE is a venue for events, a network for artists, and a workshop for ideas. It is a collaboration between artist, curator, community, and space.

Joe Saphire
Nick Rice

Spoke quest

2011-06-15T16:58:00.004-04:00

As you know, I've been breaking a lot of spokes lately. As cool as the 31 spoke pattern is, I want my rear wheels to stay burritos and not tacos. So, while eating pho yesterday, Dario and I decided that we should buy new spokes in Berlin. So, we rode down to Berlin Bike yesterday on two of my 63 spoked mountain bikes. Berlin Bike is a good bike shop, because they take the time to sell you the correct length spoke even if you're going to lace it yourself. I really appreciate that.

Vietnamese car cats

Greatest veggie burger ever made

Foul play and otherwise

2011-06-13T15:22:00.004-04:00

There was an article in the Courant today about a body found in the Rocky Hill sandpit. Dario and I were riding there last week, as I was showing him some trails in Dividend Park. This is part of a not-so-pleasant trend of bodies turning up where we ride our bikes. The obviously joke to make is that because we live in Hartford, that's bound to happen, but it's not the case for the most part. It's the suburbs. From Dario's email, to wit:

Dario to me

Show details 4:47 PM (13 minutes ago)

Don't know about Sheffield, VT. I've never ridden up there, except for maybe D2R2.

Here is "the list":

Wintergreen Woods (man, no foul play)

Colt Park (man, probably lots of foul play)

Rocky Hill Sand Pit (likely a child or perhaps female or both, don't know yet,but probably foul play)

Hop River Trail (man, no foul play)

North Hartford train tracks (woman, accident)

Rocky Hill Cemetery (male police officer, apparent suicide)

Rocky Hill (woman near Dividend Park, don't remember what was cause of death).

Unless you were riding in all of these places when the events occurred, you're alright. Might not be so good for your political career though. You got bad karma.

Seriously though, consider where we rode the other day, right in and out of pretty densely populated areas. Great drop zones. Not very automobile accessible, though. Maybe they're bringing them in on bicycles?

d

More alley cats

2011-06-11T10:44:00.004-04:00

Just when you thought it safe to sell your fixed gear, take a year off and become a full time randonneur, there's another alley cat in Hartford. Here's a flyer:

City hall singletrack

2011-06-10T10:57:00.003-04:00

When I bring my bike into work through the side door and into the basement. Often, I'll do a lap of the basement hall, with its two little ramps and cabinets to dodge. Today, I decided to ride the elevator up to the fourth floor, which is used for storage. It's way more technical. Four sets of stairs and a ramp that's in a really tight corner.