Sorry, I couldn't help it on the title. Hopefully, you can put that aside for this great new Fresno bike development.

You may have started noticing these fancy new paint marks at lights around town:

I was in Berkeley a few weeks ago to see a concert and while I was wandering around,
trying to decide on a place to eat, I found this:

I hope one day we will sit around trying to figure out how to park more bikes.

I thought it was quite poetic that a biker rode up right behind him.

Note: I have a closer one where you can read his plate.

Adventures of a New Commuter documents the bike commuting travels of an overweight, over-enthusiastic and overly creative fellow. This journal isn’t always presented in chronological order, but should be entertaining and occasionally informative.

If you weren’t commuting with me to work today, and most of you weren’t, here’s what you missed:

I've been a bicycle commuter since rediscovering the joys of cycling, forgotten since my college days, in 2003. I've also enjoyed recreational cycling on the weekends with the Fresno Cycling Club. Fresno and eastern Fresno County is some of the best riding anywhere. Of course my wife and my 9-year old son ride, but beyond the very occasional trip to the coffee shop, they have been somewhat less than enthusiastic. Million Mile Challenge changed all that, and I'm here to tell you all about it.

When I signed my family up to participate in the Million Mile Challenge I didn't expect much. I certainly didn't expect us to learn, change, and grow closer as a family. On a certain lovely Saturday in May we went for a ride that was to become my son Thor's longest ride ever; from home in Clovis to Woodward Park, Roeding Park, and then back home. Somewhere along the way he almost crashed because his bike was too small for him, nearly bringing an early end to the day, the Challenge, and the association of biking and joy altogether. Fortunately, we were on the trail in Clovis near Steven's Bicycle Shop. We went in and found The Perfect Bike. After that it was as though he ignited his rocket boosters. There was no holding Thor back. That 33-mile day led to an amazing 100-mile month, and he wants to do it again!

In the meanwhile, my wife experienced an even more amazing transformation. Once these family trips starting becoming fun, she wanted to do more. After accomplishing a 100-mile May, she wanted to do it in June. When she saw how easy it was to get places on the weekend, she started to think about replacing short car trips with bike trips. We started using our car a little less. When it came time to pay the bills, it made less sense to maintain our second car.

Then came her ephiphany. We could sell our car and save literally hundreds of dollars a month! A few short months ago, this seemed impossible. But now the world seems like a smaller and friendlier place. We're more relaxed and we're taking our time going places. New ideas and possibilities for vacations and long trips are presenting themselves. We still have a mostly reliable, running vehicle, so emergencies won't be a problem.

This past Saturday, we sold the car. If you've never had the experience, I recommend it. It was a burden lifted, and an adventure begun. It was exhilirating. Yesterday, as we rode around the neighborhood together, we started planning. How to get around town in a town obviously built around the convenience of the private automobile. And, where to go on vacation with the extra money we'll be saving.

And I'll be riding to work more often now... 

Adventures of a New Commuter documents the bike commuting travels of an overweight, over-enthusiastic and overly creative fellow. This journal isn’t always presented in chronological order, but should be entertaining and occasionally informative.

It’s been awhile, I know. BUT, I’ve been busy…RIDING MY BIKE!!! My NEW bike! Yeah, I’m fast forwarding a bit here, and I’ll get back to those early days of commuting next week, but today is a day to celebrate the beauty that is my new bike.

http://2milechallenge.com/

I get this a lot from customers looking for a new bike for the first time in years.  I get it, I really do.  If you haven’t been around bikes in awhile, chances are “bike” means a single-speed cruiser or a 10-speed from back in the day.  But bikes have evolved quite a bit over the years.  Shoot, bikes have evolved quite a bit over the last two years!  It’s hard to keep up, even if you’re a card-carrying enthusiast like me.  Yes, a bike is still a bike – with two wheels, a frame, and pedals that “make you go” (to quote Adventures of a New Commuter) – but all bikes are not created equal.  Getting the right size and right type of bike for your riding style and purpose is directly correlated to how much you enjoy your ride.  Don’t believe me?  Ask the 6’ tall guy riding the small mountain bike 5 miles to work how much he loves his ride.  Chances are, he’ll hate it or tolerate it at best.  Now put him on a large flat bar road bike and watch him grin from ear to ear as he tosses that small mountain bike in the trash (er, I mean, donates it to Goodwill – we don’t condone being wasteful!). 

Two different types seats. Wider typically means comfort and
narrow speed. Give both a try and see which you prefer.

So how do you find the right size and right type of bike?  The first step is visiting a local bike shop.  A friendly salesperson there will ask you some questions to help assess your needs.  They’re not being nosy, I promise.  They’re just trying to determine what type of riding you’ll be doing and what type of bike will serve your purposes best.  Remember, the better your bike fits your needs, the more you will enjoy your experiences on it.  Some of the questions you should be prepared to answer are:

• Do you have a bike now?  What do you like and dislike about your current bike?  Is it uncomfortable?  Too heavy?  Do you lean too far forward? 
  
  
• What have you had in the past that you liked?  What have you had in the past that you disliked?
   
• Where do you plan to ride?  Will you be riding around the neighborhood with your kids?  Riding 20 miles back and forth to work?  Hitting the trails with your buddies?  All of the above?
   
• Who will you ride with and what do they ride?
  
  
• Do you have any back or neck injuries to consider?  Do you have bad wrists or shoulders? 

Based on your answers, your salesperson should be able to guide you towards the right type of bike.  But to help you walk into the bike shop with some background knowledge and to help you make the most informed decision, I will break down the most common types of bikes out there now:

ROAD BIKES (a.k.a. “Lance Armstrong bikes”, as they are most commonly referred to by my customers!):  Fast, light, and easy to pedal, this type of bike is best for people riding long distances on the road only (i.e., no dirt!).  The riding position and narrow seats intimidate some people at first, but you get used to it faster than you think. 

MOUNTAIN BIKES: With its fat tires and flat handlebars, these are more versatile than a road bike because you can ride it on a variety of surfaces.  Most come with some kind of suspension, too, which makes for a cushier ride than an all-rigid road bike. 

BEACH CRUISERS:  What you probably remember from your childhood.  Big, fat, wide tires and handlebars that sit you nice and upright for cruising at a relaxed pace.   Since these typically only have 1-7 gears, these are ideal for people looking for simplicity. 

COMFORT BIKES:  These are highly uncomfortable.  Just kidding!  These are extremely comfortable bikes that are kind of a blend of mountain bike and beach cruiser features: fat tires, upright seating position, flat bars, multiple gears, and suspension (usually). 

HYBRID BIKES:  These take the big, efficient wheels of the road bike and combine them with the more comfortable flat handlebars and riding position of the mountain bike.  These usually have a wider seat than what’s found on a road bike, too, which seems to make a lot of people happy. 

Bikes aren't limited to two wheels! Trikes can be great solutions
for those who have trouble balancing.

There are more types than this, but I want you to be informed, not overwhelmed!  If you have a good salesperson, he or she will be able to take the information you have given him during 20 Questions and lead you to the perfect bike.  Expect a bit of back-and-forth as you fine-tune your needs and wants.

Once you have found the perfect bike, it’s time to get you on the right size.  A common misperception is that your height determines what wheel size you should ride, but this is not true.  Most bikes come in different frame sizes to accommodate different heights and inseams. 

These bikes have the same frame size but allow the rider
to sit at different comfort heights.

The first thing your salesperson will probably do is have you stand over the bike to ensure that you have proper clearance over the top tube (the top part of the bike frame).  You want at least an inch of clearance there so that you do not, um, hurt yourself if you come to a stop and straddle that top tube.  Next, the salesperson might have you take it for a test ride (wear comfortable clothing!).  Are your elbows locked and do you feel too stretched out?  On the contrary, do you feel like your knees are hitting the handlebars?  It’s important to get a bike that fits you properly because it will make the ride so much more efficient and less taxing on your body.  Your salesperson will help find the right frame size for you, as well as fine-tune other sizing issues like seat height, stem height and length, and saddle placement.  After that, all that’s left is a quick check-over by one of the mechanics in the back, a little paperwork, and you’re off to enjoy your new bike. 

You can see in this picture how the person would have
trouble straddling this bike. You want at least one inch of
clearence when you straddle the top tube.

Hopefully, the information I’ve given here helps you feel confident when you walk into the bike shop so that you can get exactly what you need to pedal happily.  After all, Biking = Joy, but only if you love the bike you’re riding! 

Adventures of a New Commuter documents the bike commuting travels of an overweight, over-enthusiastic and overly creative fellow. This journal isn’t always presented in chronological order, but should be entertaining and occasionally informative.

Completely unsafe view from my handlebars

Second Commute
Commute Time: 1 hour
Number of times I walked: 1
Number of dirty looks recieved: 5

Second consecutive day of commuting. Actually, I rode my bike to work and took the bus home yesterday and I intend to do the same today. Not as hard to get on the bike this morning knowing I’ve already done this once. My butt isn’t nearly as sore as I thought it was going to be. I know the seat claims to be full of “power gel,” but I’m not entirely sure they had me in mind when they were lab testing it. I don’t feel like I’m in too bad a shape this morning for riding to work the day before. My quads hurt quite a bit. I think. Those are the muscles on top of your legs right?

Anyway, I made a commitment that I would ride through all intersections today. No walking the bike across streets today. I’m a big boy…right? Well…almost. Crossing Ashlan on Van Ness seemed a bit too harrowing for me. I reluctantly disembarked and got ready to walk the beast across the street. A spandex laden mountain biker with all the fixins, pulled up next to me. He smirked and shook his head at me with obvious mocking disdain. I was ashamed that I could not handle my vehicle with the same confidence as this Biking God. At the first break in traffic he buzzed off and my bike and I limped across the busy street.

I hopped back on and tried to put my feelings behind me. I was doing the right thing, right? If I didn’t feel comfortable, then I shouldn’t risk death. And what was his problem anyway? What happened to supporting people who were just beginning to embrace your own passionate outdoor activities? Sheesh. I channeled my sheepish embarassment into a healthy dose of anger and resentment and rode on to work.

Between Gettysburg and Shaw, I saw my yellow-jerseyed nemesis emerge from behind a bush on the left hand side of the road. He was frenetically examining leaves and looking at me nervously as I rode by. What a weirdo. I looked back as I rode past and saw his bike tucked back behind the large bush. I had a dramatic realization.

Biking God had stopped to pee on the side of the road and I caught him. Not red handed exactly, but he had obviously been caught doing something he felt silly getting caught doing! Well…let me just say…that made ME feel better. I mean…yeah, he’s faster and better at riding bikes than me, that much is true. But at least I can hold off the urge to pee on the side of the road on the way to work.

All in all, a good trip this morning. Can’t wait to ride to work again. Starting to think I need a bike of my own…

The Dreaded "Ashlan/Van Ness" Crossing