Suburban Bike Mama

Teeth don't fail me now.

2012-01-24T16:01:00.003-05:00

Thank you all for your well wishes regarding my tooth pains. I am doing ok and while I told myself I was not going to engage in any activity that might bring on more pain ( bumpy travel via bike and skis, forward bending yoga) I threw caution to the wind and had to take the public out for a spin.

After the kids were off to school, I sat down to read emails and check in on all my social media sites and when I got up to plan my day, the sun was shining brightly against the wet ground and it was clear it would be a warm and glittery day. I really wanted to go to Russo's to buy some flowering branches for forcing as this is the time of year for that. The beginning of Feb marks a time in the winter where, while winter's hold is still strongly on us, signs of spring emerge, but often only for the watchful. Buds are at the ready on trees and the sun rises earlier each day. ( The new daylight savings times really mess me up as mid feb until mid march the sun rises perfectly to shine upon my sleeping head just at my wake up time. In this month I wake up easily and happily. However with daylight savings beginning in early March, I end up lossing that precious light for that month and my mind and body does a sad setback after a month of feeling so hopeful...Besides, 5PM in march is cold daylight or not. I'd argue we need that light in the morning!)

For me the forcing of tree branches is a new tradition that I have taken on to bring in the signs of spring indoors raising my spirits which tend to be down in the post holiday winter.

So the idea of driving on a perfectly springlike day to do this "winter into spring" ritual seemed just wrong. And toothache be damned, I took the public.

I first set out to run two simple errands, buy chicken and take Girlpie's camera into the shop to be fixed. If I felt ok, I would consider going further to Russo's. After a cup of coffee and the camera shop stop, I was in perfect line to make my way across Nonatum Village and on into Waltham to Russo's. ( For all of you non locals, Russo's is a lovely grocery that has really great produce and fine meats and cheeses and a fairly nice flower and garden section. It's the perfect place for loose flowers or potted seasonal plants.)

I realized I never picked up Chicken at the supermarket but hoped that Russo's had some. ( they did have a small meat section and most of it was Organic). As I arrived at the small bike rack I noticed it was actually full of bikes which is kind of unusual. There was a woman loading her panniers as I approached and we chatted about biking. Emily comes along the river trail from Weston. About 5 miles one way. She encouraged me to ride it into Boston which I do want to do. It's a bit out of the way for me. The time to meander to Weston or Boston is also a luxury I don't often have, but some time this spring I'm going to give it a go. We chatted bikes and when I asked if I could take her picture she agreed. I told her the name of my blog and she said " Oh, well that's me!" Apparently her mother rode her bike in her eighties, but was seen as the odd one. Emily states she is happy that she is no longer an odd one riding around a lot. I agree. Solidarity in numbers.

Another Suburban bike mama in the wild!

I was in and out pretty quickly as I knew I was going to have an awkward cargo ride home. Two branches and a pack of chicken for chicken and broccoli stir fry was all I needed.

A wide load.

crossing the river, still looks cold.

After not being on the bike for exactly one week and feeling a bit down in my inactivity and pain, it was good to be surrounded by fresh air, to have the sun's rays brightly in my face and to have completed an important seasonal tradition to keep me happy as I hunker down after my tooth saga continues on Friday.

Pink flowers will come out to cheer me up.

And the ride while bumpy didn't bother my mouth too much. I may be paying for it now, this evening, but it was worth it.

MIA

2012-01-22T15:59:00.002-05:00

hello all,

just checking in. Sorry for the lack of posts. Snow plus root canal means mama is hangingout inside on vicodin. Hopefully I'll be back at it in a week or so. ( Second round of root canal on friday )

peace out and keep riding. I wish I were.

A nice looking windproof coat?

2012-01-11T14:04:00.002-05:00

So after yesterday's ride with my ski jacket, I have decided I really like the warmth it provides in wind proofing. So cozy. Yet, I am so NOT a ski jacket to go to the store kind of person. My winter coat is warm, yet a bit bulky and while it works, sometimes I feel too bundled in it. It's long and heavy too.

My lighter wool coat is not wind proof at all and is really a 40 degrees type of coat. :-/

I have a wind proof patagonia fleece that isn't really wind proof. It is warm and in the past I have worn it all winter long ( but that was when my kids were wee and I only wanted warmth. I also would arrive at preschool in patagonia fleece tights and Ugg boots and I assure you it was not my best look going on. Sigh.

I covet the patagonia puff coats- but I believe they are not wind proof. They are also quite pricey so if I were to invest- I want to know it will work on the bike and off happily.

Until then I was happy in the ski jacket again today. It has a fleece lining that zips out which is handy. After heated yoga I was very warm and the temps had risen just enough. I took off the outer shell and rode with just the fleece to the grocery store and back.

The public winter ride.

2012-01-10T14:14:00.005-05:00

Woke up today to a dusting of snow on the ground. So thankful that I didn't have to scrape off my car at all. At 8AM all was cold and frosty. But I knew by the middle of the day it would all be gone.

I walked the kids to the school bus and then prepared to meet a friend for chit chat at the Keltic Krust in West Newton.

I rode the public as I wanted to drop by Harris to have my double kickstand bolt tightened. It had loosened up a lot and in my messing around to get it to work properly I had bent a piece of the fender and it was rubbing on the tire. B fixed the fender issue and tightened it up as much as he could but I needed some extra TLC.

I for the first time wore a full on Ski Jacket and outfit. It wasn't that cold out- def not as cold as it was last week, but I really wanted to be warm and toasty and choose warmth over style.

After coffee and some really good talking I dropped by Harris to chat and have the kickstand worked on. I need to come back and change out the brake pads for some kool stops and my stopping power is ok, but could be better.

After Harris I stopped at The Barn which is a family shoe store in West Newton on WAshington street. I had forgotten to buy Tuber snow boots and today's dusting reminded me that I should really pick up a pair before it really snows. Grabbed a pair in his size and then moved on a few blocks down to Trader Joe's for some snack and my favorite Habanero Tortillas. And then on home.

Boots did fit well in pannier, but I prefer the trike for loading up on cargo

It was nice to feel that flying on two wheels feeling. It's been a while since I rode the public as I prefer the boxbike as a winter bike. I rode the boxbike yesterday, and even though yesterday's milage was quite small ( I parked in Newtonville and then walked about Newtonville to do what I needed to get done) it was nice to get in and out without much effort or fanfare. I also find dressing warm enough difficult on the public. Coming home I overheated as the temps has risen and I worked up some good heat coming up hill. Yet dressed any less warm would have made me frozen earlier as I rode down the hill. On the boxbike I have a tail wind no matter which way I go so I can just focus on bundling.

Since I haven't been using the public my xmas swag has been mostly unseen :-(

It's been a mild winter so far. Back in the fall I told myself that if it was really cold and snowy I would take off the months of Jan and Feb, but I am not really slowing down in any way yet.

Feels like 3F

2012-01-04T16:40:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I was planning my day today and checked the weather before I went to bed. I looked at the hourly forcast for all of Wednesday and it said that 8AM would be about 14 degrees and would feel like 3.

I admit I balked real hard. I went to bed thinking, I've got a cold. I just got over a cold. I might be catching Tuber's cold which he just got again. I don't want to get sick. I don't want to feel miserable. I'll wear this outfit and should be fine. If I wear that I will overheat. I'll ride the public and be zippy and make heat on that hill. I'll ride the Boxbike and just zoom through that way I can overdress and not overheat. My final thought was- eh I deserve a pass. I'll drive.

This morning walking back from the bus stop with my face tucked into my scarf I looked up and saw a cyclist ride by. It was not the cyclist who is a parent of a bus rider who cycles 365 rain, sleet or shine whom I had seen taking off on his bike with full Face mask on. ( When I waved there was no way for me to notice recognition as his face was covered and his hands were busy.) No this was my neighbor who was clearly riding back from accompanying his daughter by bike to the school. We stopped to chat and he admitted it was mighty cold. None of the other 5th graders wanted to ride so he partnered up with his daughter to school. ( I think the rest of the crew walked? which was a warmer choice actually)

Well after seeing my neighbor riding I knew I had to as well. Went home, showered and then fully dried my hair and pulled it back. Layered long underwear under a loose fitting pair of cords. wore my ibex half zip mock Turtleneck and layered a fleece zip up over that. Wore socks AND Uggs and two pair of gloves.

I did choose the Boxbike so I could move without effort and dress warmly without fear of being too bulky or overheating. It worked just fine although the cold air did effect the motor and it did not have the same pick up and go as it usually does. I will be storing the battery indoors as well as charging it indoors.

It was a cold ride. But worth it. The long underwear did it's charm and the only place I felt the pain of cold was my temples and tops of ears as the wind blew right into my helmet.

An hour later walking around under the full sun it felt almost warm. Although hit a downhill and boy the wind hurts so bad. While all the warm days we have been having this winter is slowing freaking me out, I will appreciate tomorrow's proposed 40 degree weather nicely.

More Local shopping

2011-12-19T13:53:00.004-05:00

Thursday morning I had to get some holiday errands done before my two college friends came to visit for the day. I originally planned to go to yoga, and then run errands but felt like I needed the full morning to get everything in- so I skipped yoga for a leisurely coffee and planned my day. The day was threatening to rain, however my car was still in the shop so I had no other way to get around. I liked this actually and I realize that having no choice makes me feel like I can explain my riding in miserable weather to people better. It seems so hardcore of me to actively choose to ride in the cold and rain when there is a perfectly good alternative in my driveway. Yet, I felt happier with no choice and thus on my bike.

As I sat with a cup of coffee and a donut muffin, it began to rain. I had parked the bike under a big cement awning just in case of rain. I had many things to do by foot for the morning so I knew I could handle walking around in the rain with my umbrella. I just hoped it wouldn't be at a downpour when it was time for me to go back home.

I hit up the Local Bookstore- Newtonville Books for some good reads for the kids and B. Later I saw the owner of the bookstore walking down the street and she commented about my bike. I pointed to show her that inside was a nice big bag from her store. I'm so grateful that store is there. Girlpie loves going there after school some days and has become quite good at asking to have books put on order.

Then I moseyed down to Newtonville Camera to purchase my own christmas present. ( B and I end up buying our own items. He had done some half hearted camera research and sent me a link for the camera he thought I would like and well, it was not anywhere near what I actually wanted so it was good that I spent all month visiting my camera and checking out others. B got himself a sweet workbench.) The owner of Newtonville Camera helped me with my order and we talked about shopping local.

My friends contacted me to tell me they would arrive about 30 minutes earlier- so I quickly raced through Shaw's to grab some things for lunch and dinner and then piled everything in to the bike and rode home. Best part was that the rain only lasted about 10 minutes and I had a nice, seasonally warm ride home.

It's good to be prepared though. I wore my raincoat with fleece underneath to keep me dry and warm and snapped the rain cover over the box to make sure my blanket and things didn't get soaked in case of rain.

Today I wanted to get on the bike as I had spent the weekend in hibernation mode. I pretty much stayed home all day saturday and went for a quick trip to a holiday open house with the kids by car on sunday evening. I was restless for a good outdoor ride, especially while the sun was out.

I went down for a well needed coffee ( I don't like B's coffee if you are wondering why I always go out...) and then stopped at CVS to get wrapping paper and then a quick grocery run to ensure I had snacks for the kids lunches. Home again to wrap and package gifts that need to be shipped and then back out again to the Post Office to ship gifts to family in NYC and Canada.

Then it was time to pick up the rental ski/boot packages for the kids. We picked them out two weeks ago and I was a week overdue from picking them up. I rode down Washington street on the sidewalk. I also decided I needed a new super warm helmet- one to use for skiing and biking in winter. I was wearing my Bern helmet but decided that a small is too small with all of my hair plus the winter insert padding. As I picked the helmet, the store guy asked if I wanted the box and I explained I was on my bike and would wear it home. Then I handed him the receipt for the skis and he looked at me and said " you can't take these home on your bike... TWO sets of skis AND boots?!!!" I said " Oh yes I can. You haven't seen my bike". He asked if I was the person with a big box on the bike and I explained I was. Apparently he has passed me in the street just this morning.

I am so pleased with my new helmet. It feels warm and is completely black and has a molded visor, just like I wanted. I happen to be wearing a lot of black and white today, but I think this helmet will look good with my splashes of color throughout the wintertime too.

In any case, I feel it looks a hell of a lot better than this one.

I realize with my face and hair- I need a visor of some kind. Either the brimmed hat cover of the Yakkay or a molded plastic one like the Giro.

weekly log 12/5 & 12/12

2011-12-18T12:25:00.000-05:00

Monday:

Ride: Public, Jetta, Boxbike

Destination: yoga and grocery shopping by public.

Destination: To Watertown's Target to by a donation holiday gift.

Destination: To monthly mom group lecture series 1 mile away by boxbike.

Total distances: 2 miles by public. 6/7 miles by car, 2 miles by boxbike.

I wanted to ride to Target- but didn't think I could make it there and back in time for school bus pick up. I wish I had planned the target run another day but oh well. I had lost the name age and wish of the child I was buying for and it wasn't until late in the day when I found it. I rode the boxbike to the meeting mainly b/c I was carrying my donated gift as well as my neighbors, I could have fit both in my back or basket- but I knew I would appreciate a motor ride on the way home later that night. Plus everyone keeps asking about the box bike at those meetings so I thought it would be fun to show it off.

Tuesday:

Ride: Jetta

Destination: Delivering CSA meat to my friend 1.5 miles away. Run by the Toy store in Newton Highlands and try to drop by 51 Lincoln to make reservations for dinner.

Distance- eh 3.5 miles?

I'm annoyed with myself as the weather said it would rain steadily all day. When I was getting ready to leave it was barely drizzling but the rain was slowly picking up and I figured it would only get worse, not better. As I got in the car for my first stop it was at it's hardest and by the time I got to the toy store- it was barely raining again. It ended up being a lovely overcast wet day and I would have enjoyed being on my bike. Bah humbag- I gambled and gambled wrong.

Wednesday:

Ride: Jetta-

Destination-random errands that I can't even remember.

Distance- again it's two weeks later and I can't remember. Not too much.

It was pouring most of the day today so I drove.

Thursday:

Ride: Jetta ( grrr)

Destination: Dentist 6 miles away

Distance- maybe 20 miles. I stopped at Legacy Place since I was nearby.

Today was a beautiful sunny day. I wished I could have been on my bike- but it was a good thing I was driving as that is when I found out that Wednesday's downpour flooded my car. After a nervous stop at the mall, I went home to shop-vac my car.

Friday

Ride: Jetta

Destination: Monthly meeting/ supervision group around Narrative therapy. Natick Mall afterward

Distance- 20+ miles?

I was feeling cranky about the flooded car. I drove it to try to think about what to do to fix it. I needed to go to Natick so I decided to do it before it ended up in the shop for forever.

Later that evening I with a friend too a train into brookline to meet other friends and then carpooled with two overnight guests back home.

Week of 12/12

Monday

Ride: Boxbike

Destination: Yoga, grocery store.

3 miles.

It was cold. I donned my winter helmet with ear flaps.

Tuesday:

Ride: Jetta/ VW shuttle

Destination: VW dealer

Total distance: around 18 miles.

Dropped the car off at the dealer and took shuttle home. Had the shuttle drop me off at the library and then I walked home from there.

Wednesday:

Ride: boxbike

Destination: Holiday errands. Meeting, shopping and lots of cold cheer.

Distance 5.5 miles.

Thursday

Ride Boxbike, friend's car and Jetta

Destination: morning errands. Later back to VW dealer and back

Distance 2 miles by bike and that lovely 18 by car.

I was happy to get some good stuff done this morning before two college friends arrived for a visit. After Girlpie came home from school, we all piled in to drive to the dealer and then back home for a lovely pasta and garlic bread dinner.

Friday:

Ride: friend's car. jetta

Destination: School library, home, church

Distance 3 miles.

One friend stayed over night and in the morning, she suggested we grab some breakfast. We went close by, but ended up taking her car b/c of timing. I was assuming she would leave directly from breakfast, while I walked over to the school to volunteer. Coming home from school I ran into a friend who offered a ride home and mainly because I wanted to chat I accepted the ride. Later that evening I had a night event with the kids at church. I had wanted to go solo and walk but going with the kids I honestly didn't want them out late at night longer than necessary and Tuber had a bad cold, so I wanted him warm. Plus my lighting system on the box bike is less than ideal.

Shop local- Newton has got good stuff.

2011-12-14T13:18:00.003-05:00

For a lot of people, having one's car break down ( has a major leak somewhere and was found filled with water on thursday) in the middle of December would put a lot of problems into the holiday season.

Not me. I *am* grateful that I had a dentist appointment last Thursday in Dedham that required that I drive my car though- Otherwise I would not have noticed that it was filled with water for quite a few days ( although the icicles on the INSIDE of the windows would have tipped me off around Sat am I would guess.)

Anyway, I dropped the car off at the dealer for them to figure it all out and when the guy said " Well you are going to have to leave it here for at least a few days..." I easily said " No problem" and handed over the keys.

I like to shop local. I like to bike. However the connection of the two has never been more clear to me than today. Often even if I am in a car- I tend to stay near by. But today I had major errands to run and major shopping to take care of.

I am so thankful that I was able to go to my biweekly meeting, take a swing by the grocery store and then head over to the Learning Express toy store in Newton Center to check out the Star Wars LEGO selection. Ran into a friend and picked up a few good items for Tuber, Girlpie as well as two cousins and my goddaughter. Rawk. Then as I was loading up again I realized I needed two items for friends around the corner. So glad there is a Big Picture Frame store in Newton Center as well. I made my purchases, ran into another friend and caught up. I then called B asking if he could think of any local errand I should run while I was out and he asked me to place our Christmas rib roast order down at Dewars' Butcher. Walked over and now we are sure to have a stunning and yummy meal. Quickly had a slice of pizza at Sweet Tomatoes and then window shopped at Karma which sells Tibetan arts. I decided I was cold and tired and needed to get home to put toys in hiding spot and clean up before the rugrats come home.

I still need to pick up the rental ski packages for the kids which luckily is a mile away near Harris and buy a book for B at Newtonville Books as well as complete the camera shopping in Newtonville Camera. Last week I did some small toy shopping over at Green Planet Kids in Newton Highlands.

I will admit that I will have to do some online shopping to round out my purchases, but being able to 100% complete errands today without compromise while on bike was a big deal to me.

I'm glad Newton has such a varied business life in its many villages.

A difference a year makes.

2011-12-06T19:49:00.003-05:00

Last year, the first Saturday in December was a wonderful day. I remember it well.

Our chruch has it's holiday fair each year that weekend and a local neighborhood library was having a holiday craft session that morning. I also decided to try to take Girlpie to the drop in knitting class held at that same library.

See around December last year- I had kind of given up on the family cycling for long jaunts. The library is about 3 hilly miles and I knew it was out of my range. Before this, I still had this feeling that driving to a library was out of the question and since I could not bike to this particular one, well I just didn't go. But I was missing out on things- like drop in knitting classes. So that first Saturday in December I gave up my guilt around my limitations of family biking and just decided that I would drive where ever whenever and be cool with it.

So we drove to the library and then after spending a long happy time there ( knitting, then crafting, then reading and taking out books) we stopped at the bakery near by for cookies and then headed out toward church. I remember parking near the church and walking with the kids to Dunkin Donuts for an egg sandwhich lunch which they loved and then we went to enjoy the fair. The day was December cold and sunny and I loved just our short walk from Dunkin Donuts to the church, looking at the Magnolia on the corner already making buds. We did the fair, and brought home a wreath and got home in time to relax on the couch and revel in a good long day out of the house. Pure wonderful.

Well, this year I have an electric trike that makes riding most places in town not a problem anymore. In fact I have ridden to that aformentioned library a few times this fall and a while back before Halloween I wrote about a wonderful long day out that involved pancakes and library and errands all by bike that equalled that busy family saturday day out feeling. So this first Saturday in December I was happy with the knowledge that the memory of last year could only be enhanced by my ability to do it car free.

This year B was home and not on call. We four took off for the fair together, me trailing B and Tuber shouting at me to "turn the motor on- beat daddy!". We did all the fair things we usually do, hot chocolate, buy a toy for each kid in the toy sale ( $1 sutffed animals and a police boat for $5) and then we went downstairs to make our wreath before heading out home. ( I even made a small swag for my public basket)

A difference a year makes. I still had a great beginning to the holiday season. It was all the more sweeter to do it by bike.

Weekly Log 11/28

2011-12-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

Monday

Ride- Boxbike

Destination: Grocery stores. 1+ miles to whole foods and then another .75 miles to Stop and Shop and then 2.5 miles home.

( I was lucky to have friends come over for coffee and scones and lots of talking all morning. After shopping, I virtually window shopped for xmas presents. Plan to buy in brick and mortar store this week!)

Tuesday

Ride- Jetta, Public

Destination- Vet. Yoga. B-day party, Dentist.

I long to bike my cat to the vet. However he is a sensitive soul who requires cat meds for his anxiety so I decided it might be cruel to give him a bumpy ride twice as long as the car ride over. It's a shame as it is so bikable. So drove to vet. Home to drop car off and biked to Yoga ( I actually was running early so I went to the Camera Shop to buy Girlpie's Christmas present and look at the choices for mine right before yoga). Home to get kids from bus and then drive to party to drop off tuber and drive Girlpie to the dentist which is 7 miles away. ( one day I'll bike that solo)

Total distances: 2 miles by bike, 20 miles by car.

Wednesday

Ride-public

Destination: bi weekly meeting and then later errands in the village one mile away.

Total distance 6 miles.

Thursday

Ride-public and boxbike

Destination: yoga and early release lunch with kids. Public to yoga. Boxbike to pick up four kids and meet my friend (mom to the other two!) for lunch. Rode three back home ( the two kids basically fought over who got to ride. I didn't think I could do all four up the hill even with motor- but after doing the three I am sure I could. The 9 yr old won the fight and rode with me)

Total distance, 4 miles

Friday

Ride-Public

Destination: Volunteering during 3rd grade library, Whole Foods stop and a swing by at the camera shop to re-compare the cameras I want for Christmas ( lumix LX5 vs the comparable Olympus model- any thoughts??).

Total distance: approx 3 miles?

And that's my week. Tuesday was a driving day. I put more time on the public because I have been ignoring her. Later today I will catch a ride with three other women into Boston. We'll park somewhere and then stroll around doing our annual City Christmas Shopping outing and end the evening with drinks and dinner. Obviously, I'd rather take the T, but feel that four women in one car does make sense. It also means getting home will be short and sweet which I appreciate.

Transportation happenings in Newton

2011-11-30T19:49:00.003-05:00

Tuesday the Newton League of Women Voters had a transportation panel discussion.

It was quite interesting and had people who sit on the Transportation Advisory Committee as well as one person from Livable Streets whose presentation was of course my favorite. It was funny to see how new the idea livable streets was to the crowd who oohh'd and ahh'd and laughed over pictures that are my daily meme in the bike blog world as well as Facebook. It's good to get the word out about traffic calming and complete street initiatives elsewhere.

After the panelist spoke there was a Q & A period and the topics ranged all over from transit issues to safety issues and education issues. But two of the threads of conversation that were most interesting to me were of elderly and biking.

One gentleman stood up and said " We drove here because we didn't have any other way to get here." And basically sat down kind of leaving it for the panelist to discuss how to fix that kind of problem. Most of the Newton Transport people kind of stumbled over themselves not saying much and it was the livable streets woman who spoke up and said " Yes, I had the same problem. I live in cambridge and was wondering how to get here." I believe she got here via transport but would have a roommate who was coming this way swing by to pick her up. She then went on to say that if we had better biking infrastructure then it would help more people to ride in the dark in the rain. She also made the point that riding in the rain is quite possible with proper lights and gear etc.

A short while later a woman stood up and complained that the answers she was hearing about how to get around alternatively was to put people on bicycles. She went on to say that the elderly cannot ride bikes and that the baby boomers are only getting older, thus we will have only more elderly and bicycles were not the answer.

Now, no- I wouldn't put every person young or old on a bike. Not every one is going to want to be on a bike. Not everyone CAN be on a bike. However her points that to ride a bike one needed "good eye sight, good reflexes and to be limber" where in my opinion also traits needed to drive ( perhaps not the limber thing).

I wished I had felt like standing up and saying something. I probably would have said that the idea of "putting people on bikes" is a concept shift. We aren't excepting that everyone over 70 jump on a bike, however if we start planning for a highly bike friendly system, then anyone who can be on bikes will. If we put these ideas in place NOW, then there will be a whole generation of elderly who will have already been on bikes and so being on bikes as a 70 year old will be a natural idea rather than an absurd idea.

I also think that if we make this perception shift than vehicles such as electric scooters and electric tricycles could be seen as the norm. Wouldn't it be nice if every octogenarian happily upgraded to a scooter or e-trike to get around rather than white knuckle their steering wheels in fear of loosing indepedance. Or worse loosing one's license and thus having no alternatives to get around. Because less face it- the mass transit system in Boston is in a sad state. It's loosing money, not running well and not going to expand any time soon. But hey if we focus on things we can do like get more people who can be on bikes- who knows, we may shift our economic priorities to make a kick ass mass transit system and beyond work out.

Part of me understands that woman has a shorter range of vision for change. She doesn't have 30 years to wait to be an elderly person reaping the benefit of these zany ideas we are talking about now, however I also think- didn't that generation kinda get us into this mess?

Weekly log

2011-11-23T16:12:00.002-05:00

I've been wanting to do a weekly log to track when I ride and when I drive just for my own purposes. I've wanted to do this for a while but this year I feel like it's actually worth it because circumstances have finally made it so I can really ride most times I want to ride.

Before I start, I want to make it clear- I am not car free. And I admit to being a mostly fair weather rider. Some rainy days I'll ride. But some rainy days I'll choose to take the easy way out. I'm ok with this set up.

Thanksgiving Week Monday-Wednesday ( We'll be on the cape Thurs-Fri and neither of my bikes are there right now...)

Monday:

Ride- Boxbike

Destination- Monday Yoga and errands: Yoga, Harris, Vet, Whole Foods, home.

Approx distance 6ish miles total. 9-1pm

Tuesday:

Ride- public

Destination- 3rd grade class breakfast, whole foods ( it's T-day week!), Post Office, home.

Approx distance, 3-3.5 miles. 8-10:15am

Wednesday:

Ride- Jetta

Destination- Stop and Shop ( did I mention it's T-day week??) home to put eggs and half and half in fridge, Yoga, home.

Approx distance, 5 miles. 8-11:15am

As you see, I often move in a small circle. I drove today because it was raining, but mostly because I was pressed for time. School let out very early and in order to fit in yoga I needed to make that early store run and back to home and then to yoga all before 9:30. I just made it today with the car. I was actually glad it was raining steadily out this AM or I would have in all good consciousness biked and would have missed The Best Yoga Class ever today.

Have a great holiday if you are celebrating!

A proper Introduction

2011-11-22T14:00:00.000-05:00

Back in Sept I posted a coy entry about my new electric trike purchase. I had planned to write more in depth information about it directly afterward. However I soon became busy happily biking and never got around to it until now.

In a way, this has given me some time to get to know the bike better.

If you hadn't guessed by my photos, I bought a Christiania Electric Trike through Boxcycles. Boxcycles has been importing Christianias to the US perhaps for a little under 2 years. When I was first looking at cargo trikes three years ago, Boxcycles were not yet on the scene and Christianias could not be found in the US except for the few people who shipped them over themselves. In fact I found the Sorte Jernhest by googling Christiania and Boston. I found a link to a guy in Arlington who brought his Christiania over from the UK when he moved here. Somehow on his blog, he linked the Dutch Bicycle Co which at the time was selling Sorte Jernhests. Basically back in 2009 I was looking into Electric Christianias and now full circle I have one.

The bike is similar and yet very different to the Sorte. It has front steering and the whole box moves away from the bike when turning. This took some getting used to for me since I was used to rear steering. For a while I didn't like that I had to do three ( and sometimes four) point turns to turn around. However I am used to it now and I find that having the box and front wheels move actually makes it easier to back out of the garage as I can avoid other bikes or toys with a subtle turn of the front wheels.

Once on the bike and turning I tend to let go with one hand and let the bike move far a way from me to turn in a stable way. However, when full of kids I stay stable even at higher speeds. But this and most cargo trikes are really meant to be taken slowly. Especially on turns as they can pop a wheelie.

The gearing on this particular bike ( electric) is derailleur and it has 7 or 8 gears. They aren't numbered and I just see the little red line move from right to left. I miss the internal gearing mainly because I enjoy the option of changing gears when stopped. I had to re-learn how to ride and now remember to gear down when stopping. I had a few moments of being stuck at a red light because I had been moving fast or was on a slight hill and had it in the hardest gear upon stopping. At the green light I couldn't start pedaling. That whole momentum thing.

However, I have gotten used to the gearing and it works really well. I do shift all over the range and it's nice to shift into an easier gear on a hill without having to do a pedal pause for it to kick in.

I have no idea really what kind of motor or battery it has. It works is all I care about. The biggest issue is that being European made the battery plug would like a 220 voltage. I was originally worried about this and upon the first few chargings I found the charger box light would never get to green. However after letting it charge over night I did see a green light and now know I just wasn't charging it long enough. I was worried about leaving it alone charging for fear of some voltage revolt and having my garage blow up, but I think I am over that fear. The other issue is that as per the website specs, the battery is best charged over 68 degrees! Luckily I can bring the battery inside for charging, although I haven't done that yet. Didn't want my house to blow up... But now that we are moving toward December I will likely be charging it inside. It's too bad as we have plans to upgrade one area of the garage to 220 and that won't be as useful to me for half of the year.

As far as battery life, I don't believe I get the full range the manual says it can go. I however have an extremely hilly terrain and I carry 100 pounds of people in it on those hills. I'd say though I have been charging it once a week. If it's just myself and groceries, we seem to not run the motor out as soon. But even twice weekly charging will give me a good battery life of 600 charges total.

Once the battery is in and going- the motor works well. More than well. It is a true pedalec and it will only engage if I am pedaling. This is why down gearing is so important as I must revolve the pedals once before the motor will kick in. I do wish it gave a throttle start no matter what so I wouldn't have those awkward moments, however I have learned how to avoid them. Once pedaling, the motor kicks in with a twist of the throttle and it gives nice power. As long as I pedal even slowly the motor stays engaged. However if I end up going too fast for my comfort and I start to coast, the motor shuts down too. This is nice as one never feels out of control on it. It will make it up fairly steep hills with and without the kids. If I know I am going someplace far and hilly with both of them I tend to make sure it is fully charged.

The ride quality of the bike is great. Like the Sorte I love the stability I get from three wheels. I also like the visibility I get from such a big bike. I notice I am braver and able to take the lane or ride more in a VC manor on this bike. And also it does hope onto a sidewalk and fit most sidewalks well at times where I feel I am too big to navigate a narrow and busy road.

My biggest complaints would be the lack of throttle start action, the noise and the lack of coaster brakes ( only electric bike doesn't have coaster brake probably b/c the motor is in the rear wheel? I dunno). I have finally stopped trying to back pedal to slow down on big hills. The coaster brake wasn't crucial- but it's the little things on most Dutch/ Danish bikes that make riding so nice. Now I have to hold onto the brakes to remain stopped. I wish I could use my hands to fix my hair or some other little tweaking.

The bike is fairly noisy. I find that things bang around as I hit pothole after pothole ( or tree root on sidewalks) and the box makes a huge noise. I have startled people, toddlers and dogs as I come barreling down the road. I am thinking about ways to dampen the noise. I already keep as much as possible in the lock box but it is currently full.

Those three complaints are really nothing in the grand scheme of things. I am very happy with the bike. It really has become my "go to" bike, especially when I am going someplace and I just want to get there and not make it a journey. For instance, this past Tuesday, friends were meeting for coffee at one person's house all the way across town. It was cloudy and looked like rain. But it was warm out. I was also running late. I stood in my driveway and looked at the sky and felt the warm air on my face. I hopped on the Trike, me and my cargo of a yoga mat that happens to live in the box ( like it used to live in a trunk years ago) and enjoyed a sweet carefree ride across town. I knew if the rain did hit I could zoom home over the hill fast. The rain held and I made a stop at Harris to change out my saddle ( actually the 4th issue I have with the bike- the saddle is too squishy. ) After that I got home just in time to park the Trike back in the garage and walk over to the bus stop to pick up the kids from their half day.

My neighbor was at the bus stop early taking pictures of her younger son. She caught this pic as I headed home to ditch the bike.

Newton's bike lanes

2011-11-20T20:49:00.000-05:00

Today was spectacular. Warm, sunny and simply perfect.

After biking the kids and I to church and home I decided I needed to enjoy the afternoon with a solo bike ride. I have been dying to try out the new Beacon Street bike lanes that have been painted in the last month or so. Today seemed perfect. I rode all the way to Coolidge Corner, Brookline via the bike lane. Granted it was a Sunday with light traffic, but I was pleased with how easy it was. I merged into traffic to pass cars in the lane and dealt with intersections I tend to hate even in a car.

My only issue was I was so busy getting out of the house that I left my keys at home. So once I got to Brookline I couldn't leave the bike locked anywhere! I did bring the bike into The Paper Source and the sale person said that my bike was so lovely, it matched the store and could be a display. I appreciated that and bought some Xyron sticker maker refills and then turned around to go home.

Below is a short video of my ride to Brookline. I somehow turned the video off during my epic "taking the lane" on Beacon from Cleveland Circle until the bike lane magically appears again at Washington Square. Again, Sunday traffic made it so easy. I don't think I could try that on a weekday morning.

Over the past three and a half years of my riding I have quietly listened to the pros and cons about bike lanes. I respect those who dislike bike lanes because they force riders to be in the door zone. I also respect those who think bike lanes will be a gateway to forcing all riders into the bike lane and never into regular traffic. However despite that, I can honestly say that I attempted to ride out to Brookline on my own solely because there were bike lanes put down along the route. I was curious to see how well they worked and while they at times put one near doors and at other times put one near debris, they gave me the confidence to ride where I wouldn't have as well as forced me to engage in VC riding when the bike lane disappeared, or turned into sharrows. I felt legitimate riding in them and relaxed knowing I had the white line to help me maintain a straight line with.

I dunno- take a look at the video and see what you think.

( The music is a french pop group Yelle that I found out about from Geekhouse's Marty Walsh's Facebook page. I quickly fell in love with their fun sound and I thought it was only perfect to use the songs as my soundtrack as they make me think of hip and cool bikey things.)

hello Autumn

2011-11-15T15:19:00.004-05:00

Oh the weather has been so delicious lately. Warm but not too warm. Sunny on some days or like today, grey and overcast with threats of a rain storm, yet the temp out of perfect for a hand knit scarf, velvet blazer over a cotton dress and capri leggings. I particularly love the grey back drop against the orange, red and yellow leaves. The sky is so low and the air so breezy while I bike under a blanket of falling leaves.

New soft green gloves add a punch of color and warmth in the morning.

On another note- I hate to guilt y'all into comments. But I need some cheering and boo-ya's to get me to write up some nice reviews and proper intro to my bikes. Life is good and I am often tired and wonder is anyone still reading? Do they want to hear more? Shout at me.

Over the top? Or Awesome?

2011-11-14T16:57:00.003-05:00

The other day I settled down on the couch to do a little bit of "window shopping" via catalogue with the latest Anthropologie Catalogue that came in the mail. I love flipping the pages although with each exotic location for photo shoots I feel more and more annoyed by their branding and cultural appropriation techniques to sell clothing.

Anyway I flipped the page and saw this gorgeous rickshaw and on first glance assumed it was just a picture detailing their location being in India. The next day sitting on the couch and bored, I flipped through the booklet again and this time paused at the rickshaw picture. I was surprised that they used one full page on scenery and this time looked at the info written onthe opposite page and realized that Anthropologie was selling this Trike!

I can't really decide how I feel about this. On one hand, really? What's the quality? It's only $2,200 and that seems a bit cheap for what it is.

However what if a bunch of people with disposable income started to buy them, limited thought they may be in number, and started riding them around NYC or Chicago or egad the SUBURBS? That would be pretty cool. And I will admit I think it's really pretty even though I have vast questions of how practical it is. Is it weather proof? Will it take a good curb hop and keep on ticking? What's it like to actually ride and really? A diamond frame for that load? M'kay sure.

I guess I wish there were well made, pretty and practical and possibly electric pedicabs out there for $2,200 so people would buy them and actually use them and totally transform our roads. That would be hot. Whereas this bike is really meant to sit in a huge loft for show. Yawn...

Photo of the week

2011-11-08T15:26:00.002-05:00

I spent last weekend in Austin TX with the family. It was our dear friend's 40th birthday and a whole crew of us went down to celebrate. There were 8 children and 9 adults.

Saturday night we went to the Fun Fun Fun Fest and then afterward into town to go bar hopping. Here is a picture of myself, B and our friend A on the pedi cab that we took further into town. It was lots of fun although the poor guy's gearing was not working and he couldn't get into the easier gears. I am wearing sunglasses b/c the Fun Fun Fun Fest was a windy dust bowl and it was the only way to protect my eyes. I just forgot they were on- turns out the night was not as dark as I thought it was which was a huge relief!

Cold and sick family ride.

2011-10-29T12:23:00.007-04:00

My Saturday plan had been to ride to Russo's with the kids and get pumpkins. Then later ride them to a Halloween party and get some grocery shopping in.

However, the party was cancelled due to a freezing wintery mix that is coming our way. I also needed cat food. And I woke up with a big head cold. Sitting on the couch between the kids huddled under a blanket, I thought, " oh my head hurts. We'll just drive to the vet". I enticed the kids with images of pancakes at The Knotty Pine and a trip to the Aurburndale Community Library.

We set out and Girlpie shouted "Bike! Bike!". I paused and realized that I had no excuse except that I felt kinda like crap. So we took the bike.

It was cold. Luckily I put on a soft wool turtleneck and wore my super warm Patagonia fleece with puff vest over that. Sadly because I had locked the door before the bike decision I didn't have my scarf. Keeping my neck über warm is crucial all winter long so that's really where I felt it.

The bike was mostly charged which was good because we travelled Comm Ave's hilly carriage lane. I found that fresh air does make one feel better, especially if one could relax and let the motor do the work when I felt SOB. Although, I did push myself exertion wise at some times to make heat.

I wished we all had warmer clothing, but I think we made it without getting much sicker. 5.5 miles round trip. From home to The Knotty Pine, walked to library, a quick few block's ride to the vet and then the whole 2.7 miles on home. The kids were a bit punky. Girlpie doesn't quite fit under wind/ rain shield and they faught and shoved a lot. Two blocks from home Tuber was made to walk behind us for hitting and unreasonable behavior. Even thought it was a less than perfect trip ( cold, ill behavior) it was good to be out and about for 2 hours before the wintery mix comes. I'm happily back under the covers but at least we did something today.

(Punky kids jockeying for position and elbow room to read books)

I also rocked some VC riding at a big intersection. The carriage lane shoots into regular traffic for about a block and often times I hop on the side walk to avoid getting in the middle Straight Only lane. However Saturday morning, traffic was light and I was second in line with no one behind me and it was nice and easy.

(I set myself up to wait at the light in the lane that car is in)

I still need pumpkins, but Monday proves to be warmer. Or I'll send B out for them tomorrow.

Snow!

2011-10-28T11:06:00.005-04:00

Just a dusting.

But still, when I was walking the kids to the bus stop I saw a neighbor scraping ice off of his wind shield.

I am so glad that is not me. No ice on my mirrors today.

Light gloves, velvet blazer, big shawl like scarf and a puff vest were all I needed to stay warm and happy, it may be cold out and there is a dusting of snow on the ground, but it's still autumn-y pretty out.

I do need to switch my spring hat to my winter hat though!

Last Farmer's Market for 2011

2011-10-26T11:44:00.004-04:00

Tuesday was the last Farmer's Market of the year. I had been going off and on this year and not weekly like I had been for the past 4 years in a row. I was out of town for the month of August and by Sept I started to go when it fit into the schedule and didn't push us to go when we were tired or lazy or had other things we wanted to fit in that day.

I think part of the reason is that like everything the market has changed. Or at least the cohort that shows up has. Back in 2007 and 2008 it was a kid bike frenzy. If you showed up at 3pm I would see all of Girlpie's contemporaries out on the blacktop ( now green) riding scooters and bikes each week. Now a days there isn't anyone there. Granted I arrive earlier now because I want to get home in time to deal with homework, and making dinner, but there is nary a bike or scooter to be seen. I think a lot of Girlpie's peers are now older ( 8 or 9) and have many after school activities that they must attend. ( I had been careful not to choose something that got in the way of our market time each fall...). So the same bike festival that it was 3 years ago just isn't present. I sat on the bench while the kids had their ice cream and looked out over the basketball court reminiscing of tuber riding his balance bike and shocking all the adults who thought his two year self was riding a two wheeler. I remember my pride and how easily and fast he zipped around practicing his balance. Girlpie would also ride her bike around and then we'd all wander over to the "climbing tree" and the adults would sit under the tree while the kids climbed as high as they could getting sticky sap all over there hands, pine needles dropping on us as we chatted. I am sad that those times are gone.

I also think that now that I have my electric bike- my ability to use the bike for longer trips is easier and the farmer's market isn't among my close perfect trips by bike anymore. I would go because it was one of my favorite trips- but now going 3 miles over to the library is among a favorite possiblity. Or I am spending so much time on either one of my bikes that I don't need to force the kids to stop playing at home so I can get my bike fix on.

It's still one of my favorite rides and I was happy to go on this last day of the year. I was hoping to bring home a few giant pumpkins just because I could, but there weren't any for sale. I did stock up on $60 worth of goat cheese from my favorite vender Crystal Brook Farm. I already get a veggie box every other week through Boston Organics, so I actually don't end up buying much vegetables each week. But I religiously buy goat cheese every time I am there and now I have some to last me for the next 6 months in my freezer. Come spring maybe we'll take a trip out to the farm to visit the baby goats and pick up some cheese there.

This post is prose heavy. I was going to take lots of pictures of the kids with pumpkins and the market, however Girlpie became upset about something halfway through our time and I had to focus all of my energy on emotion control and then we ended up making a hasty departure. I did get a few pictures in though.

Girlpie when she was happy, jumping rope on the empty court.

Tuber strikes a pose

The ride home, Girlpie is still pissy and taking the bench all to herself to sulk. Tuber is happy to read a new book

of oysters and bikes

2011-10-18T14:53:00.006-04:00

This past weekend was Wellfleet's Osyterfest. It's a fairly cool affair of closing down main street and crowds of people getting together to slurp down oysters and drink beer. What could be better?

It's also a very crowded craft fair and the few sanctioned parking lots are extra crowded. The town ( or Festival organizers) bring in school buses for shuttle systems from the parking lot and Pedicabs from P-town come down to ride people from parking lot to main street.

We happen to reside about a mile from town. It doesn't make sense to use the shuttle system and this year we brought down our bikes to bike in. B rode with Girlpie on the trail a bike and I rode the Xtra with Tuber on board. I lent my mother in law my public. We had a few house guests and since we didn't have any extra bikes they ended up walking in. All in all a perfect way to spend an October weekend on Cape Cod.

Ben pulling the Xtra out of it's tight parking spot

Each time I ride the Xtra, I have different feeling toward it. Often lately I dread taking it as it is long, slow and hard to ride. However I seemed to manage the rides up and down the hills ok and even managed to pass B or my mother in law are different points in the trip. The geometry of the bike forces me to go into the easiest gear and I hate that spinning feeling while pedaling. So going up hill seems like I am barely moving and awfully out of control of the bike. I am also so not used to the wiggle factor. The long heavy bike added with Tuber who is used to dancing and moving freely when on bike makes for me taking up a good three feet of space in which I swerve. Luckily in Wellfleet I most often use the bike during parades or festivals where life is more ped friendly and I feel comfortable riding directly down the middle of the lane.

It was a great weekend of bright sunlight, good friends, even better food. I actually don't eat oysters, but I love watching other people eat them. They look and smell like a true gift of the sea. However I indulged myself by getting a pair of super sweet leg warmers from the local Fisherman's Daughter at the craft fair part of the festival.

Rainy Friday thoughts

2011-10-14T14:00:00.003-04:00

(Boxcycle parked in the sprinkles and me under my umbrella)

1. When it's wet and drizzling out and I need to get somewhere fast and without any effort, I happily take the boxbike. It is really the easiest and effortless-est bike to ride.

2. The big box in front acts as a shelter for the front of my legs from the rain. If I lean in I can keep the tops of my legs from getting too soaked. In a drizzle this works.

3. I love the irony of packing my umbrella onto my bike.

4. Stopping too fast in the rain on a hill while turning slightly left to take the center of a lane results in big slippage of the slightly scary quality. Luckily I was the first in line at a red light and no one was behind me at all. Waved at the city car that paused seeing me slip and almost topple over. After I got into position I let myself yawn as if it was no big deal and took off on the green continuing to take the lane through that narrow Beacon street strip I spoke about yesterday.

5. I'm mostly a fair weather rider. I don't like downpours, but I do enjoy riding in drizzle- especially when it comes and goes and one never really gets too wet, but one seems totally badass being out there just the same.

unskilled cyclists need not apply?

2011-10-13T15:01:00.003-04:00

This summer I read an interesting post by Velouria about safety. What caught my attention was the following quote:

Being in possession of basic bike handling skills
This includes being able to start and stop without faltering, to maintain a line of travel without weaving, to reduce speed when appropriate, and to safely maneuver around obstacles. It helps to ride the type of bike one is comfortable with and in a way they are comfortable with, depending on skill level and personal preference. Those who do not yet possess adequate handling skills should practice on trails and quiet side streets before mixing with traffic.

This got me thinking about my own skill level. My first thought was " Yes! I do many alternative things to VC riding because of my skill level". My second thought was, "hmm, my personal skill level isn't really improving in that starting and stopping still feel wonky, and yet I must integrate into traffic to get everywhere I want to go. How do I balance this? Should I balance this? Or should I not even be on the road?"

I know that some of you reading ( Hey Steve) will suggest that everyone who gets on a bike should take a cycling skills class. I certainly agree that this is a good idea. However I haven't taken one yet. Why? When I last looked at classes, they were held in locations that I didn't feel safe biking to. Also the timing is never right for me. Let's suffice it to say, I would like to take a class, but it looks like I'll have many miles of biking under my belt before I get the chance to take one. I think for a lot of people, this is true.

Therefore what's a newbie, nervous rider to do?

For me personally, I weigh my comfort level and if it means walking a block or taking to a quiet underused sidewalk verses freaking out in traffic intersections I tend to white knuckle behind a steering wheel, I do. While I respect VC riding and actually do think it would be the ultimate goal and ideal, it isn't something I can take on in every route I make.

A few nervous nilly rider thoughts of mine.

1. As mentioned, I take to the sidewalk if the road is very narrow or overly busy and fast. Roads like Washington Street in Newton are not roads I ride on for very long. I will ride on them with a group but not alone. I do turn left onto Washington from Chestnut st. when going to Harris Cyclery but that is a T intersection and I obviously wait for the green light. I only travel on Washington for about half a block before the next light comes and I veer off to the crosswalk and walk my bike across and down the sidewalk to the bike store.

2.When on sidewalks I always slow to a near stop/coast when passing pedestrians. I often ring a bell lightly but then call out " Oh hello, excuse me please... Thanks so much". a bit wordy but I feel that most peds think a bell ring is rude and get more kinder looks and comments when I add my salutation. Oftentimes I hop off and walk the bike around people.

3. I will often make judgment calls about left turns in the moment. For example when going down Walnut toward Homer street in Newton, I often choose to veer to the sidewalk at the driveway before the intersection. There I press the ped button and wait for all walk lights and then bike a box turn into Homer street giving myself a head start before the cars begin again. I almost always do this with the cargo bike and often times on a two wheeler. If I see I have room to get into the left turn lane I will take that. Although I prefer to take that lane behind a car. It's unclear to me if the left turn green arrow light is automatic or on a sensor. I think automatic as I have been in a car and have it not go off as well. However being in a bike -esp box bike- when this happens makes me feel the pressure in a not good way.

View Larger Map

(Walnut /Homer intersection. Left turn ln. Driveway on right is my usual exit)

4. I tend to move slowly and while I respect and understand the idea of taking the lane, I don't feel comfortable or that it's right to take the lane when moving 10/12 miles an hour so I do tend to stay more right than you all think I should. When in the box bike because stopping and starting can be easier ( with a trike there is no foot down, stability issue) I will slow down and pull behind a parked car to let a big truck or car pass behind me a la pulling over for an emergency vehicle. I will only do this if I am on a downhill or flat land as starting on an uphill can be a pain in the rear and not worth it for me to be "nice". Having the motor has helped a lot as when I feel the heat of cars behind me I now turn on and pump hard to move fast. I kind of feel like putting in the effort shows the cars behind me that I do want to move along and I don't want to be in their way- not sure if that comes off the way I want or not, but I feel better about it...

5. I am practicing holding my own on a two wheeler though. I've noticed a spot in my route to Waban, Newton down Beacon street and the road narrows and cars really pass me closely. I do not like this at all and I am hoping to take the lane in that spot. It is right after a light ( which I am nearly always stopped at) and I do stop myself squarely behind cars putting myself in equal line, however I need to stop moving to the right once traffic starts and staying nicely in the middle until that narrow section is passed. It's not very long. It's often "late rush hour" ( ie rush hour for people running late- 9am) so I feel certain I'll get some feedback on this tactic but I will feel safer doing it this way.

View Larger Map

(Beacon/ Chestnut intersection. )

6. My starts and stops. I really would like my seat just a tad higher. I just can't do it though. At each light I promise myself to hop off and practice starting and stopping out of the saddle, and each time I am stopped but try to slip off the saddle to start correctly- I feel unstable and stay firmly in the seat. I can start well enough, but I seem to continue to have clumsy moments when my foot slips on the pedal, or I turn the cargo bike just too fast and one wheel pops up and my feet touch the ground ( bike was empty and I was cruising!). these moments always make me feel silly and embarrassed and I need to get over it. At Harris a while ago one of the bike mechanics whose name I don't know, mentioned just falling over while stopped. One minute he was up and one minute he was down. Skill had nothing to do with it. So that made me feel better and I am working on laughing at these moments. I did laugh and smile when I popped that wheelie earlier this week so I am improving.

7. I am wobbly. I just am. B does this weird sound track for me when imitating me on bike. It sounds all rickshaw and bouncy sounding if that makes sense. No matter what I do I can't seem to hold a good straight line. Especially when starting as I push that pedal my wheel turns and then I wobble until I pick up speed. Sometimes I'm smooth, lots of times I am not. I know that speed helps me stay smooth ( just not overspeed) and this is why I like electric bikes so much, it's when I am struggling and tired and moving slowly that I wobble the most and get myself in the most danger. The faster and in control I am- the smoother I am. Also the more I think about holding the line- the more I start to swerve, like a sick self fulfilling prophecy. Add a truck barreling down and I am a cutting a curvy line at best, which also makes me veer to the right. I work hard and going to the middle of the lane when I am feeling most nervous ( with light traffic flow) and this does help me as I know the cars will have to cross the yellow line to pass me.

Things that freak me out. Multiple entry intersections ( five or more). Trucks passing me, and cars passing me fast. Since I don't take the lane and feel ok with a car passing me, I would really prefer they pass me slowly. Of course it's best if they just cross the yellow line. I hate left turns with a passion and I don't like long lines of cars before a red light.

I want to keep pushing boundaries and riding farther and into Boston proper. I want to achieve that goal of VC riding at least more than I can now. Until I can, I muddle through and remain a nervous nilly rider on the roads. I think I belong there. I wish that things were set up more for people like me.

Pushing boundaries

2011-10-12T20:20:00.005-04:00

(Boxcycle with Girlpie's yoga mat and my dry cleaning)

I have been pushing my boundaries. It feels wonderful. Slowly but surely, each day I come home and jump up and down telling B what I have done that day for the first time.

Tuesday instead of going to the farmer's market as usual I decided that we seriously needed to return a book to a community library across town. The book had been lost on our bookshelves until Girlpie and I culled her books in order to donate books to the very same library. I quickly noted it's telltale pink star sticker on the spine. So, not only did I have a book that was likely due last march to return, but I also had a paper shopping bag full of picture books and easy readers to drop off as well.

Going to the community library is a trip I always wanted to do by bike, but it's 2.6 hilly miles away. It would have taken me way too long to do it without a motor and it wouldn't be very fun doing it. However, with motor, we arrived very quickly- perhaps about 25 minutes or so. ( The route requires I stop at crosswalks and wait for the ped light in several places making my time longer than if I was VC riding straight in traffic the whole time- which I wouldn't at these huge crazy intersections).

Heading home, Girlpie reminded me that we needed to buy poster board for her project that is due Thursday and so we rode past home and down toward the CVS in our neck of the woods and then back home again. Total milage with the kids was 7.1 miles. I never broke a sweat or struggled and we had a load of fun. We might have done the loop a bit faster by car but we were gone from 2:15-4 so I can't think it would have been that much shorter- eh sure we would have been able to stay longer at the library ( closing time was 3 so we would have gotten there probably around 2:25ish instead of 2:40). But the trip to CVS and home would have been pure hell with parking being a prime pain in the rear. Instead we were in the sunlight and feeling good.

Wednesday, I had a meeting 2 miles away and then I needed to return a voltage converter to Radio Shack on Needham street. I seriously have never ridden on Needham street but decided that I would give it a try. I really didn't want to ride to the meeting and then home only to pick up my car to deal with the radio shack errand. Both kids were in school until 3 and I had nothing but time. I decided to do the route on the sidewalk as Chestnut street is awfully narrow and I knew I'd take Needham by sidewalk as well. It worked out ok. Sidewalk riding is so much slower and indirect and I often hop off to pass pedestrians or go over huge curbs or obstacles ( it was garbage day in that neighborhood), but I made it. I stand by my sidewalk riding decision. Needham street is insane and people simply are not looking for anything that isn't a huge car. I did flip off a few people who zoomed past me in a crosswalk. So it was insane, but doable for me.

Dealt with Radio Shack, stopped in at TJMaxx and got a ski jacket for myself and a fleece for Tuber. I stuffed all of that into my bag and was pedaling away when I remembered my friend works on Needham and it was 11:30am. I stopped and texted her and we ended up having a perfectly time lunch together. If I had been driving, I never would have stopped ( I would have had to park somewhere and then call and then drive to park in her office's lot.... as it happened I had stopped literally right across the street from the office building.)

(Bike & box store. A first date, but it looks like a long relationship in the making.)

After lunch I continued on the sidewalk until I got to Centre Street and took the road again into Newton Center to run into a store for a minute before heading home to chill out for an hour before switching bikes to go pick the kids up at school and drop Girlpie off at her yoga class.

My morning's errand run put me at 7.6 miles and the school yoga run added another 2 miles.

I'm so glad I pushed my boundaries. While each time I ride it replaces a car trip, days like Tuesday and Wednesday really show me how much I am replacing my car each day. I'm not just going one mile to yoga and back home, but instead I am doing multiple errands and accomplishing a lot in the same time with a hell of a lot more fun.

Tomorrow calls for morning downpours and I won't feel the least bit guilty or bothered taking my car down to yoga. I've used my car about three times since Labor day.

Photo of the week

2011-10-06T16:00:00.001-04:00

Wednesday morning I had to pick up a 3x2 poster from Staples. On my way home, I stopped at Pete's Coffee. Two miles, one poster, one cup.

-- Post From My iPhone

kid tested. Kid Approved.

2011-10-03T16:33:00.003-04:00

Saturday the kids and I had lunch plans with the neighbor family. Girlpie's friend is turning 9 and we wanted to celebrate and made plans to meet at a bistro a mile away at 12. The neighbor family were going to be running errands before lunch and had a soccer game after, so I figured we'd just bike over and meet them there.

About 11:40 I pulled the bike out of the garage and started getting ready. I sent Girlpie and Tuber outside to ready themselves as I did last minute things to shut the house down. The birthday girl came running over seeing the bike and kids outside and asked me if she could ride with me. I said "sure!" She asked if her brother could come too and I said sure again. They ran across the street to grab their helmets, shouting at their mother " By mom, we'll see you there!!!"

The 9 year old is a precocious 9. She is also very athletic and often goes for 10 mile bike path rides with her parents on the cape. She has in the past ridden her bike along side me riding my kids and her brother. But sometimes sitting next to your friend laughing and waving to every single person you wiz past is a lot of fun.

As lunch was winding down, She asked if she could ride home with me. Turns out her soccer game was cancelled due to soaked field and I was more than happy to have her join us. I feel that her willingness to hop in the the Boxcycle is the biggest testimonial around. Kid approved. Heck, I think it would be really cool if Girlpie would use the Boxcycle when she's a teenager to ride to the train station for trips into the Boston. Better yet if she lets her friends hop in for a ride. That would be a true sign Cargo Bikes are fully accepted here in the US.

(This picture was taken a week ago when we five were en route to school)

more soon I promise

2011-09-26T20:23:00.002-04:00

I've been quiet because I've been out riding my bicycles. I haven't been in my car since the morning of my last post. I do have to take that stupid box of tin to get the engine fixed so I can pass my inspection so I'll need to drive it- but who wants to stop enjoying life so they can take care of a silly box of tin?

I keep waiting for a rainy day but none have come hard enough to keep me from riding.

I ride. I ride. I ride.

My legs are freaking bricks and I am uber happy.

I promise to take out the good camera, and write up about adventures soon!

Until then- I ride.

Power Up!

2011-09-15T14:10:00.002-04:00

I just dropped Tuber off at a playdate. The friend's house is a bit over a mile away down the carriage lane in newton. However anyone who knows Newton knows that the carriage lane ( AKA Comm Ave) is one hilly road. The home of the Boston Marathon's famous heartbreak hill, which took me forever to figure out WHICH hill was heartbreak hill. Let me tell you on a cargo bike- they kinda all are as they keep coming!

Anyway- I rode over with Tuber being conservative on the power just because I'm like that. However while dropping him off the skies opened up and a full on thunderstorm came on. I quickly kissed Tuber and ran off to bike home. I was invited to wait out the storm, but the idea of sitting inside while the bike got soaked was not going to be fun, so I thought- what could a little water do to me. I was wearing cotton, it's warm and I didn't have any kids to fuss at me.

Well let me tell you I powered up the whole way home with the exceptions of my downhill parts. I had to start out on a long uphill and was thankful for the boost to get me going. Going past the fancy golf course, the landscaper in open topped golf cart and I wave at each other. Electric vehicles unite.

Well I was seriously moving. And also totally in control of the bike. It was a great feeling to be able to move so quickly. Of course the faster one goes, the harder the rain seems, but it was worth it to just get home. Plus I think being able to move fast versus struggling makes me look less pitiful biking in the rain. I waved at my fellow cyclists and runners on the road and got home perhaps in under 10 minutes. Not a feat that I could have done without extra power.

Funnily enough while writing this post, B called me with time sensitive post office errands. So I stopped writing to bike down to the post office to mail his precious business letters that needed postmarking for today. Luckily for me, the rain stopped and the sun came back out. However this time I took the Public. I'm glad only one bike got drenched. I need to use both bikes tomorrow and will need to dry out the box for passengers ( I was too rushed to pull out the rain shield).

Today I drove 16 miles ( 8 mile one way to special dentist office- bad gums) and then 6-8 miles of biking errands afterward. I wont need my car again until- I don't really know when!

A good reason

2011-09-11T21:15:00.003-04:00

I'm always thinking about how I cargo ride my two kids, one of whom is 8. Lot's of people might think she should ride on her own. I wrote a post last spring about my feelings about it all, but it remains on my mind a lot and I like noting all the reasons why I keep letting her remain cargo.

The biggest thing is that I am not really a fair weather- leisure cyclist. So if we just biked to the park when everyone was up to it- then yeah- she would be on her own. But honestly each time I mentioned the idea of riding on the rail trail on cape cod- she pooh pooh'd it. So I stopped asking.

Case in point on non leisure riding: Tonight we rolled in from a weekend on the Cape. It was after 6 and we decided that we wanted to have pasta and meatballs. The kids were out of the tree from the 2 hour ride and needed to not be in a car one more second. So we went home to unpack. Well B unpacked and then filled his completely empty car up with gas as I took the kids in the opposite direction to pick up Comella's meatballs. One mile on a fairly hilly terrain- at 6-7PM. Not the ideal time to try to get an 8 and 5 yr old to ride quickly and make haste to pick up some food. No worries though- they happily hopped on the seat, Girlpie bringing her book along and she and Tuber chatted and read while I rode a strictly utilitarian ride for dinner.

The motor made the hills easier especially as I was feeling like I wanted to make the trip and back in as little time as possible. I neglected to time myself- but next time I will.

The dream bike

2011-09-09T16:39:00.004-04:00

So the new bike is here and I am loving it. I'd say I am loving it more than I thought I would, but I actually knew I would love it so much. I was afraid I wouldn't love it enough. But I do.

Anyone who has been reading this blog for any time will know that one thing I have been obsessed and fascinated with is an electric bike. I like biking as an activity but over the years I have grown to realize- I like what biking can do for me. The feeling of the open air and the feeling of flying down a street. The ability to be out in the community and see and talk to neighbors more readily. The ability to find parking right outside a store. The sheer esthetics of the bike as well. And while I enjoy the motion of biking I don't necessarily enjoy working hard up a hill. I feel embarrassed to say so- but I just don't.

Before I ever started riding as transportation I was intrigued by an electric bike. Although 10 -12 years ago when I saw them at an Eco fair by the Charles the bikes were well out of my budget and while I longed to try one or even own one- it seemed like an idea out of a dream.

Well dream no more. I now own a bicycle with an ignition key and I am ever so happy. I'm not out for speed. Just ease in movement and less awkward starts at the stop light and of course as always a gentle push up the hill towards home.

I'd say for the past 6-8 months I began to put away any and all of my earnings from my little per diem job in hopes of buying a dream bike. Over this time period this dream bike has changed and shifted as I tried to prioritize which of all the types of bikes I coveted should I spend my hard saved money on.

I searched electric bikes and spent my winter hunkered down onthe couch under a blanket watching youtube videos and reading reviews for Kalkhoff and Sanyo bikes. I remember one cold snowy day watching a 10 minute video of the someone from the Kalkhoff store in portland riding through the streets on an electric bike and wanting to jump into the video and take over the bike for my own. In March I went down to NYC and forced B to stop on the Upper East Side for me to try out a Sanyo only to find out when we arrived that just that week NYCeBikes decided to discontinue selling the bike due to unreliable customer service from Sanyo US and in Japan. I was so sad as I was finally sure that that would be the bike for me. I test rode a Gepida bike instead and it's easy assisted ride told me I really wanted an ebike of some kind. Although the Gepida just wasn't the one for me.

However I began to second guess myself. B said an electric bike was silly. I felt like I was at square one all over again and began to covet a Yuba Mundo electric bike. And I returned to the internet for reviews and videos of any kind. I refreshed websites hopefull of any new info that would help me figure out if this could work for me. I thought of ways to get to New Haven to test ride Sara's. I spent a lot of time thinking about it and finally thought, I am no good at riding the xtracycle, why would a Yuba work better for me? I knew I couldn't take the gamble and took it off the table.

At the suggestion of Velouria, I decided to just focus on myself and what I wanted for a true bike ride. I abandoned the electric idea and began thinking about a custom bike that would be my regular ride around town and tour cape cod bike. I'd work to make it zippy and abandon the internal gearing and look toward a mixte frame and well gosh darn it I had some pair of legs and who needed an electric bike for two wheels anyway. I started conversations. I was one day away from laying down my credit card info and was all finally satisfied with my choice and then I got an email.

A few months before I had made an inquiry like so many inquiries that I have made over the past three years and figured the response would basically be, "not in your timeframe" and I'd move on. However it turns out that the bike I was curious about *would* in fact be available here in the US and it could in fact be mine by Sept. Was I still interested?

8 months of thinking, review searching and daydreaming came to a screaming halt. That "dream bike" that I said I started saving for- *this* was it without my knowing it would be available and so I emailed back a resounding "Yes!" without thinking of anything else.

Well Sept has arrived. And so has my bike. Of course this week has been uber rainy so I have only gotten on a few times. A full review and tons of posts about it's ride and specs will be forthcoming. But right now my dream of an electric Cargo Trike is here.

And we are ALL pretty freaking happy for it.

last summer thrill

2011-09-06T20:23:00.000-04:00

Last week I got a special treat and was able to hook up with a very good friend from college whom I hadn't seen in about 12 years. My friend T and her partner were up here staying one town over for their vacation and we finally were able to connect. ( I spent the better part of the week hunkering down as we lost power for four days due to the hurricane.)

My mother in law gladly took the kids to play games and I took the Orange Bike for a lovely solo late afternoon ride to meet T and S at a restaurant for Oyster Happy Hour. Discounted Wellfleet Oysters, wine and prosecco and chatting away.

The nice thing about good college friends is that it always seems like you pick up where you left off and we were yapping and giggling as if no time had past since we were wandering the dorms and creating radical student life changes.

The other nice thing is seeing how many people in my life appreciate bicycles. T owns a sweet pink Brompton for commuting in NYC and both she and S are looking for new bikes. A road bike for S and a zippy commuter for T.

As we parted, They off to mini golf and me off to take over parental duty again, we walked to my parked bike and ohhed and ahhed over it. T took a quickie ride in the parking lot and her first impression was pretty good. A nice smooth comfortable ride. Didn't hurt that at least two sets of people walking by commented by saying " Nice Bike!!" I'll be ready for a review of the Public soon but until then, this picture says it all to me. The bike makes people smile!

Teaser

2011-08-26T09:39:00.002-04:00

As the summer winds down I am feeling bittersweet.

Sad the summer is ending and our days of cape cod summer living are coming to a close. It's been a fabulous summer and I have honestly each day thanked the universe for giving me the chance to be here all summer. I know how super lucky I am and I won't ever forget it.

But extremely excited about a bike that should be coming my way before the start of school. I leave you all with this teaser. Suburban Bike Mama hopefully will be refreshed and reloaded in just a few weeks.

Stay tuned.

Bike yoga date

2011-08-23T23:19:00.000-04:00

B and I had a mini date tonight. I talked him into a yoga class and got my father in law to watch the kids. We biked over and had a good stretch. B enjoyed it, found it hard yet not intimidating and did a great job. Afterwards, we biked to the market to pick up some steak and salad for dinner.

A cool late evening ride home and we were greeted to hugs and kisses from our children. As we cooked the kids got ready for bed and after lights out we enjoyed steak, salad and our favorite from New Haven bread that the market sells. My favorite red wine and we enjoyed a quiet night on the coach watching Netflix movies ( Kick Ass- violent but decent).

I was enjoying myself too much to snap a picture. But another great couple outing brought to you by the two wheeled vehicle.

Although as per usual, his Lemon and my public do not share the same speed. That's OK I get to check out his ass while we ride. ;-)

-- Post From My iPhone

Orange orange orange

2011-08-18T09:40:00.001-04:00

Yellow is my offcial favorite color. Has been since I was about 9. I'm drawn to bright sunshine true yellows. I love chartruse yellows and neon yellow. The best yellow to me is the sport yellow. Think of the Sony Walkmans of yore.

But orange is a close second and whenever yellow isn't available I choose orange. The truer the orange the better. Actually a good yellow orange works well and I do own a coat that is a red orange that I love.

I was thinking about orange yesterday as I kayaked around the bay. It's been perhaps 10 years since I've been in my kayak. Being pregnant or parenting small children over the last 9 years has made the work of cleaning the boat out and taking it for a spin undesirable. However yesterday I got her ready ad took a short easy time out and even took the kids out between my legs for short jaunts later in the afternoon.

Below is a glimpse of me on the water. Pics are horrible due to bright sunlight ( I couldn't see what I was doing) and plastic bag around my phone.

-- Post From My iPhone

Bike friendly cape cod towns

2011-08-15T15:01:00.000-04:00

Each summer I try to visit my friend and her family in woods hole. She lives in japan and so it's my only chance to see he each year win she comes with her two small kids for a month in the summer.

Over the years, I have come to really look forward to visiting her, her wonderful family and Woods Hole. Woho as locals like to call it, is a really neat town and while I am often all about the outer cape towns of Wellfleet, P-town and so on, Woho is worth the trek to the other side of this long cape shaped land.

My favorite thing about Woho is how walkable and bikable it is. We ( I often visit with a friend from eastham) drive down to their house and often don't touch the cat for our stay. Instead we take twice daily walks to town for ice cream, coffee and wine for dinner.

The other week I was able to bring the kid's bikes down as well and while the adults walked, the kids biked to town. How I wish I could bring the sorte along. Or even my orange bike, but I don't have space for either. Girlpie's bike is just small enough to fit in the trunk as it is.

Some pics of the kids riding and the Hello Kitty bike I saw locked up in town.

-- Post From My iPhone

Party by bike

2011-08-09T11:33:00.000-04:00

The local preschool was having a fundraiser party at the yacht club a half a mile down the rode. My cousin and a few friends are involved in this school so I wanted to support it by going to the party. Plus, who could turn down a party being held so close by?

Of course I went by bike. It was a lovely affair and I hope it is the first in many to come over the years.

One funny thing is that the orange bike is already famous. I ran into a woman who sells flowers and greens at the farmer's market and she said she knew I was there because she saw my biked parked out front. I tell you, bikes create community.

I got outbid on the one auction item I wanted- surf lessons and a massage combo. But I enjoyed lovely food donated by all the local restaurants and chatting with friends and relatives and dancing to the live rockabilly band.

A sweet short ride downhill was sea and charcoal scented with the dusk-y sky and sea as my view. A really wonderful night.

-- Post From My iPhone

Fourth of July parade by bike- cool pics from the vault.

2011-08-07T18:13:00.001-04:00

Editing this post to add I realized way back in July I uploaded all of these pictures with the intent to sit down and write prose to go with it. And am just remembering and seeing them. I'm too "beyond the 4th" to be able to write decent prose so I just posted it as is...

But short story is: this is the Wellfleet Parade which I love. We biked to it, which is the way to go b/c parking is hard to find and leaving the parade at the end is a nightmare. I on my huge Xtra was almost stuck in traffic myself as cars and people were so thick it was hard for me to get through easily. But I did and left the masses in the dust. My father in law is the gentleman in orange. He always rides to the parade for as long as I've known him.

Cape cod days

2011-08-07T11:18:00.001-04:00

I'm on the cape for the month and so my posts are spotty. All I have to upload pictures is my phone. But I'm here and riding when possible!

Two weeks ago B stayed at the house with the kids and I took a ride over to the farmer's market. Anyone who has read this blog during summer months knows I love farmer's markets almost to a pathological level.

Wellfleet's market is new this year and still quite small. I hope it will grow over the years. However a short ride into town for fresh veggies and a stop to the fish market for fish for dinner was just what I needed that morning.

Here are pictures of the orange bile by the pier, and loaded up with goodies.

-- Post From My iPhone

bad bike day

2011-07-22T19:46:00.002-04:00

So bad I didn't even take a picture.

I've been riding to the train all week and I have heard a clicking noise around the rear but didn't pay it any mind. Perhaps thursday or weds, I swore I heard something fall off the bike, but I couldn't see it and couldn't imagine what it could be.

Today after walking the bike and kids to the camp bus stop I tried to park it in my usual out of the way spot by backing it up and the rear wheel froze. I leaned in to inspect and saw that the bolt that connected the rear rack and rear brake to the frame was gone.

I was having a horrible morning so far anyway and so once the bus rolled away I decided to try to ride slowly to the train station. I stayed on the sidewalk in case of trouble but the sidewalks are all bumpy due to frost heaves and roots and a few bumps tossed the rack down the wheel. Of course I didn't realize this for a block or two and when I stopped to check it my eyes didn't even want to register that the rack and my bag clamped in it were hanging out at the bottom of the rear wheel fender. But once I did, I saw my fender was scratched.

So I walked the bike the .25 miles to the station and bungeed the rack to the frame and locked her up.

Coming home I had a slow ride down hill and luckily B came home early and was able to move my brake completely out of the way so I could ride to Harris without any parts bumping and grinding. I rode so slowly since I only had a front brake to work with and arrived at Harris 20 minutes before closing.

I left the little orange sunshine there to get fixed up and thankfully she will be ready to take with us to cape cod tomorrow.

funny how I make sure my bike is working. My car really needed to be looked at this week but I never brought it in. But my bike- no way can it be mildly out of wack.

racks rule.

2011-07-15T14:19:00.005-04:00

This week the kids have been in Camp. They take the bus and get on at 8:10 and the bus returns around 4:40-5. That is a lot of time of kid free time isn't it!

This week I worked a few days and got to play the other days. Best is I lived a 95% carfree life all week. I did have to use my car to pick the kids up one afternoon in order to get them to a birthday party that started the same time camp ended and was one town away. But other than that timing issue- I haven't used my car at all and have been really enjoying getting to know the public so much more.

But more importantly I realized, this is really my first real two wheeler. I am discounting the Townie b/c that flat footed technology which intrigued me as a new rider who needed to put her full foot down- really wrecked my knees and gave me the wrong impression about bike fit and efficient pedaling. My halfway has not enough cargo to really use it the way I need to. So this week has been all about testing the limits of my two racks, bungee cords, Rat Traps and basket. It's been a lot of fun.

After work I ran by whole foods for a rotisserie chicken, black beans and bread for a summer chicken and rice salad we love. I also have my work tote with clip board and pad underneath the bread. A two pack of Epi-pen Jrs. are tucked into the basket as well.

I was caught without a reusable shopping bag when I dropped by the toy store for a birthday present for the aforementioned birthday party. Some art supplies for the kids are int here as well.

I shift my basket from front to back depending on my mood. I've got it on the rear rack now as it was too noisey from pot holes and effects my steering a little as I tend to make it heavy. My LV bag is on the rear rack in this picture but by the end of the week it resides on the front rack. I think it looks tres chic on either rack personally.

Thursday I spent the day in Boston. I did a bit of window shopping and well, that turned into real shopping and I am glad I was able to fit an art book from the MFA, Lush products, two pair of sale pants ( I refused a bag at that store and they are in with the MFA stuff) and I had to stop at whole foods again for some fresh pasta and sauce for Pasta Thursdays.

I forgot to take a picture of my basket filled with veggies from the farmer's market and my yoga mat snapped on the front rack when I went to Yoga Weds.

My favorite parking spot from two wheelers or three at the T station. I can't bare to crowd her in the small bike rack with all of those beat up bikes. So I keep her all on her own by the railing. And it's the only place with enough space for the Cargo trike.

orange and blue

2011-07-10T16:29:00.002-04:00

My lovely new lady. Yesterday I rode over to Harris to have my light bracket tightened, to have the mirror installed ( although now I just see myself in it- NOT the cars :-/) and to have the rack secured on better. I installed the racks myself but it needed a little expert attention. Also when I put my stem on, I did something and got the rear brake cable caught up so my rear braking was not working well. Now she's all set and pretty much how I need her to be to get around town. I have a basket and I need some panniers. I just don't know what to pick. I've thought of the colorful ones Public is selling. I am wary of adding too much weight though as I am want to do...

In any case, I cannot wait to go to work tomorrow and ride to the train station. The kids are in camp for the next two weeks so I am going to be riding her everywhere. I hope to push some boundaries and ride her over to a meeting in Watertown on Friday with a breakfast stop at Sofra in Cambridge beforehand! I'm nervous about it but I think I can do it.

I am realizing- this is really my first normal two wheeler. The townie was a funky ride. Then it was an Xtracycle. And the Sorte is - well the Sorte. And the Halfway is a foldie and had it's limitations. It's like I'm a newbie all over again.

Yay for summer bike new love.

My Public

2011-07-09T15:49:00.000-04:00

SO yes, I bought a public bike.

I've been coveting one for a while now. I think I'm also a sucker for good marketing and have gotten sucked into their FB page, newsletter emails and promotions they've had over the last few months. So far I think they are a solid company* and I like what they aspire to do. Bring pretty bikes to the masses. There are lots of pretty bikes out there- but I decided to go with this one for a few reasons.

1 price. Most of the bikes that had the same components I was drawn to ( loop frame, racks, looks) were over $1000. The bike I choose ended up being just over $700 ( with racks which I do wish they'd just include...). Plus I ended up with free shipping.

2 looks. I was overwhelmed by all the "pretty bikes " out there. And the pastels, whites and blacks and even reds didn't really pull me in. I'm a bright rainbow yellow and orange kind of person and I really liked the orange. I liked that better than the white and red of a pashley Sonnet. And while I love the orange, the price point let me indulge in a color bright bike. I do plan to get a more subdued colored bike at some point. But sometimes a girl wants big and bright and this was a good way to get it.

3 I was intrigued by the gearing. The frame I choose has a derailleur and while that seems awfully weird with this type of frame, I thought perhaps it might halfway cancel out the fact that a loop frame really is not the right bike for my town. I know it isn't but I STILL WANT ONE DAMMIT. So there. So far I've liked it. I know there's a lot of talk about internal being better in winter- but my halfway has gone through two winters and it's pretty fine. It did slow up on me one super cold day but I hear Alfine internal hubs do at super cold temps as well so... I don't do my own maintenance so I'll just be good about taking her to the shop.

4 I just plain wanted it. And after entering a contest and loosing and thining about bidding on the yellow version and backing out, I finally saw the free shipping promo and decided- now is the time. I'm glad I did, b/c the bike has changed now. It has a slightly different look with stripes on the fenders ( I don't like it) and the frame is made of different steel. I am curious to know what people think of the change in steel. Mine is Chromoly and the new ones are Hi-tensile steel. They also have a range of gears and some with internal gearing ( but it's 3 speeds and I would never go for a 3 speed bike in Newton or Cape Cod)

So, yeah I got a new bike. B is full on annoyed with me and my bike love. I don't ask for diamonds I just want bikes. I figure when I get the super duper sweet bike when I can afford one, I'll send the public to live in Cape Cod, but for now I'm enjoying her.

A review to come after she and I really get to know each other.

* Disclaimer: So far I am happy and digging Public as a company. However it also seems like they keep changing and shaking things up every so often. This may be growing pains of a new company and them rolling out new models etc, but I feel like the changes in my particular bike so quickly after it being avail is a bit odd. I am hoping they stable out so one knows what to expect. Change and keeping things new is good. but having your customer constantly confused at new and changed stuff avail within the first year of business feels a bit wacky. I really hope that in 30 years my public will be a vintage bike of a still around well established company- time will now tell I guess.

Newtonville: Our Home Village

2011-06-23T18:00:00.000-04:00

Girlpie and Tuber waiting to bike to Newtonville

Newtonville is our "home village". A mere mile away down the hill and between my house and the kids school, it's where I spent most of my time. I was thinking a lot about what Andy at Carbon Trace talks about "third spaces" and what makes neighborhoods a good viable bikable/walkable place to live and Newtonville is a good place to live near. Although it may be the economic times hitting precious Newton, three businesses are currently closed and empty. Last fall I took a bunch of pictures for the purpose of this very post and never got around to it until now. Sadly one of my favorite place, an Asian Grocer has closed this past spring.

Asian Grocer closed its doors this past May. Pocky is now more than a mile away.

I am hopeful the empty stores will turn into good businesses. But as I wait, Newtonville still has a lot going on for it.

On the day I took pictures, the kids were both out of school. I believe they had been sick and were feeling better- yet were still not well enough to go back to school. So we took the day to hang out and get things done together in the sorte.

Tuber got a haircut at one of the two Barber shops. Girlpie gets her hair cut at one of the two salons. And while Newton is known for having tons of banks and salons, I appreciate these particular businesses and frequent them a lot.

After a haircut we went for lunch at one of several cafes. There is a starbucks and three indendent spots. Taste Coffee has crepes, coffee, lunch fair and egg sandwhichs that make my children pull me to the door regardless of the time of day. The three of us can hang out in Taste happily for a while and we often do.

There is a pet store, a specialty beauty gift store and an optician where I realized I could go to get my eyes examined to update my glasses. I have an appt in a week or so- no shlepping on the train for that! The kids love the "bread store" where free samples are available and they know my kids by name. I also run in there near daily for my favorite non strong cup of coffee- blueberry flavored. ( don't hate!) And as if that wasn't enough there is a bakery around the corner where I will go to diversify my eatery, baked goods and coffee eating.

Best of all is the Yoga studio that opened this past fall. I have become a regular and you can find me there 1-2 times a week. Girlpie has started to go this winter as well.

We have two shoe stores a book store and two personal training businesses. There is a karate dojo that I have been interested in as well but can't really tell if it's a good spot or not.

There is a slightly fancy restaurant where B and I have been going to quick night outs to. Back when we first moved here, we would go for dessert and drinks. Having a newborn at the time, we didn't have the energy or time to go out for a full dinner, so we'd eat with the family and in laws, put the kids to bed and go over for a drink and chocolate torte. Our first time there, the local bookstore down the block had their ongoing books and brew where after a reading they go to a local bar to drink and chat and it was crowded. Not only crowded, but we had just met the bookstore owner so we knew him as well as one of the readers in the event who went to college with me. Finally next to us at the bar was our new neighbor and another neighbor stopped in as we were leaving. We've since upgraded to dinner and sometimes after dinner times there. ( Once left a school outing to grab a drink and small bite before relieving the babysitter- and that happened to be a bike date that night!)

Last week I was so thankful for the coin op laundromat as our washer broke and Tuber sometimes pees in the bed.

I've actually just rattled off on what's available on a two block radius, but over the bridge across the Mass Pike are more businesses that I sometimes forget about. Among them the aforementioned barber shop, a cool bead shop and a luxury kids clothing store that I troll for sales in. My point is that within a one mile ride I have much of what I need to run daily errands, spend fun family time as well as relaxing me time for my body and soul. I feel lucky to have Newtonville as my home village. Even luckier that when I get bored of Newtonville as I did the other day, I bike a mile in the opposite direction to Newton Highlands for a cup of joe and impromptu meet up with friends before school pick up.

Newton, a suburb for this city girl

2011-06-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

Yes, this is me on my new Public bike. More about this in another post!

This is a post that has been a long time coming. I think I'll break it up and do an ongoing series about Newton, its villages and why it's a near perfect place to live for this city girl.

Back History: I was born and raised in NYC. My father did move to NJ in 1983 therefore making me a suburban dweller. However despite that, my mom still lived in Harlem/ Upper West Side and I stayed with her every other weekend and half of my vacations including the month of July. So while I can appreciate a good mall, I always felt like a New Yorker. Suburban living was never anything I longed for.

Also, even though I lived in Jersey, I didn't learn to drive like everyone else did junior year. Drivers Ed was the only class I cut the whole four years of High School b/c the teacher was handing out the drivers exam and I knew I didn't pass and didn't care. But I didn't feel like dealing with the humiliation of having him declare my less than passing grade as I knew he would. I lived mere blocks from two bus lines that went straight to NYC, the high school 2 miles away and the library as well as a short walk to a bus that took me to the mall. I was a latchkey kid so no one was ever around to give me a ride places, so I carried bus schedules in my pocket and walked everywhere a bus didn't go.

My dad and stepmother both worked in the city and took the bus, thus our one car stayed in the driveway until weekends for errands. My stepmother did not know how to drive. Errands were run all together.

I tell you this backstory b/c I think it might be unique. Perhaps not in the 80's. But certainly it would be now. I also think this way of living gave me the foundation to see transportation as multivariabled, one can get around many ways and I never relied on anyone to get where I needed to go.

The Here and Now:

So flash toward to now. I personally picked Newton as the place we would live when it was clear we were moving back to the Boston area. My first choice was Jamaica Plain a hip and cool neighborhood of Boston we lived in pre-kids. However marriage is a compromise and B felt strongly that he wanted a little more green space both private and public. So I knew nothing about Newton except it was a fairly well to do "city" with a train line and "great schools". In college I met a few very "cool" skaterboys from Newton and the town stuck in my head as an interesting place. I also knew it had a nice sized Jewish population and being from NYC that made me feel more comfortable as well. And with that knowledge I pretty much told B I would live no other place except JP or NYC and we bought our house.

It's been 5 years and a bit of a culture shock to start. For the first few years I felt I made a huge mistake and desperately wanted to move. I looked out my window that first summer and rarely saw a soul walking by. Everyone was busy, driving huge luxury SUV's and minivans and I felt out of place.

Cue biking. I started biking three years ago. It was like an epiphany. I had been walking the kids in a double stroller but they were getting too big for it. I saw an online article about xtracycle and saw a picture of one with two kid seats and immediately it was like -I need to do this.

The thing about Newton is that there are 13 villages here. A lot of village centers are about one - two miles from each other and I personally live in the middle of 5-6 of them all about 1-2 miles from my door. Walking was too slow, but I learned that it was the perfect biking distance. The train line runs about a mile from my house. I have my pick of two stops that are particularly easy to get to. One Sunday in March I needed to get into Boston to deal with my eyeglasses and I biked to the train in and back. It took me two hours door to door, which I thought was a reasonable amount of time. Sure it's 15 minutes in by car, but then I'd have circled around for parking, paid an arm and a leg for it and well this was my two hour kid free weekend time so I enjoyed every minute of it. I happen to think it could be incredibly easy to be car-free or car lite via bike here as an adult. ( y'all know my trials at family biking so I feel the same as a family but one needs the right bike set up to do so).

There are weeks that I circle in the same five mile radius getting stuff done. Being able to do it by bike only makes the journey enjoyable.

This coming sept, Tuber will enter elementary school and will take the bus to get there. This means I won't be responsible for getting him to and from school which saves me a lot of time in my day to run through my circle or take the train to work. Because of that increased time and need to only transport myself each day from the hours of 8:15-3:30 (and 12:45 on the three half days for kindergarten) I hereby take my oath to not use my car during those times for trips in Newton or to Boston. I'm not going to be extreme about it, and I may wimp out in nasty and extreme weather, but that's pretty much my goal. All this year I've been a wimp and driven Tuber over the hill to preschool ( often times to use the folding bike to bike my circle before driving him home) and each day I did, I kept the mantra- next year I won't need this box of steel really at all!

I'm excited for September. I'm excited to write about village to village riding in more detail. I'm excited to prove how perfect Newton is for riding. To share how riding made this city girl fall in love with a suburb.

Circle of Mom's top 25 biking family blogs

2011-06-07T15:17:00.003-04:00

I woke up today to find out I have been nominated as one of Circle of Mom's 25 top Family Biking Blogs. I have no idea how I got to be added in the wonderful present company but I feel honored to be there.

This blog is a simple completely low key novice blog. I've been riding for three years now and blogging for just over 2! I pretty much ramble about my trials at getting around by bike. Somedays I live car-lite really well. Somedays I don't. I would hope that this is a place to simply represent what I do and how it works for me. Knowing I have this space to document what's working, keeps me inspired to keep hopping back onto that saddle. Knowing there is a readership out there joining in on my ride makes me smile.

If you'd like to vote for me- please do. It would please me ever so much. However, I'd rather have your comments egging me on with each post, so please keep commenting. I have a few projects in the waiting and hopefully by fall I'll have a renewed mission to share with you all.

Until then- doesn't anyone want to know what new two wheeler I got???

Selling the Sorte Jernhest

2011-06-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

I'm very sad to have to part with this bike. She's been like an old big friend. However, it's time to pass her on.

I will first say, I love this bike. Seriously. I love it. Riding it makes me happy. And it does ride like butter. It would just be happier on flatter lands and perhaps some place with a tighter circle to travel, Newton is huge and has 13 villages. A place like lexington or Arlington with a single town green and a bike path off of it would be the ideal I think.

So here is the official statement of my love, my bike.

Sorte Jernhest Cargo Trike Fire Sale:

Original price $4299. For Sale for $2000.

Rear steering

5 speed internal SRAM hub.

Red canopy perfect for rain or cold windy weather.

Padded mat to sit on and back rest.

Carries up to 350lbs in the box.

Cateye bike computer on rear wheel

Bike rides smoothly and handles large weight surprisingly well. Can fit two children happily and four kids if they sit criss cross. I have happily had 1 eight year old, 1 seven year old, and 2 five year olds and biked easily along flat lands. Great for school runs and groceries or anything else you'd need to haul.

Edited to Add measurements: box is 36X26.5 inches. To park in a garage one would roughly need a 7X3 ft space to put it. ( I drew a chalk box around it and measured that...). From floor to the top of the handlebar it's 46 inches.

This bike is happiest in flat lands, and with quiet suburban streets and bike trails to take one's time going along.

Would prefer local pick up- Bike fits in a pick up truck.

Contact allen.vanessa72@gmail.com for more info.

I'm a safety girl!

2011-05-25T16:45:00.003-04:00

Or am I?

I'm the Safe Routes to School Rep for our school. Bascially I organize the walk to school days in the fall and spring. I could do more walk to school stuff but since I live 1.3 miles from school and my kids take the bus and I never walked to school- I don't focus on it. It seems like we have a good group of walkers anyway.

I also organize the Bike safety Trainings for the 3-5 graders. It's a great program and we have the police dept come and show a video ( scary one this year! A bowl of jell-o with a plastic brain in it. Need I say more?) And does a rules of the road talk. Then the classes go out for a mile ride around the neighborhood to try out riding in the road.

It's fun, the kids love it and I think they learn something each time.

However, in this role, I'm seen as a safety person. When talking with other Safe Routes people talk always come around to helmets and safety issues. A lot ( not all) of the reps are I'd say more pro walking than biking. They are fine with biking, but it's something to put policy around to "keep safe".

At the Safe Routes citywide meeting last month one of the City Dept of health nurses came up to me to ask about helmet safety. She had spoken to a parent who wanted info on how to convince her teenage son to wear a helmet. Apparently he was refusing to wear one. She wanted some scare tactics etc to give him to make him wear one. Make him want to wear one.

I didn't really have any info to pass along. But I felt in a funny position. I wear a helmet most of the time, mainly for PR and role modeling it with the kids. But I have a live and let be stance on helmets. My first thought upon seeing a helmet-less picture of a cyclist is not to shake my head about it. I just enjoy the picture. And there are times I choose to not wear my helmet. In fact, I did not wear it on my way to the meeting ( all of four blocks) even though I brought it with me. I did wear it home and I think my reasoning for not wearing it was because my hair was still wet, fresh from the shower and I wasn't in the mood to squish it. Yeah- shallow but as an adult I made that choice.

Not sure of my point- except that I feel a bit like a poser in this bike safety role. I'm all about bike safety, meaning teaching kids how to ride correctly inthe road or on the sidewalk. I'm all about talking about having no shame in walking across a crosswalk of a busy intersection. Of teaching them hand signals. Of getting them used to riding. I also do want them to know how to wear a helmet and have it fit correctly. But I'm not about policing teenagers and most definately not about policing parents in helmet use. Smart common sense riding? Hell yeah- but what they wear on their heads means less to me.

That said- I think I might be the North East US personal rep for funky alternative helmets. I love my Yakkay and get comments on it daily. Now that it's avail in the US for sale I am constantly telling people the websites to buy one. And I just came across Ribcap and very much want to try one out! Not sure I trust it totally ( ie not sure I'd get one for my kids... although I bet they'd love it especially for skiing...) but I would trust it for myself I think b/c I personally feel comfortable on short slow rides without one. Has anyone heard of this? Seen it in action. I see it is for sale in the NW US and am going to call one of the stores to ask about their thoughts on safety etc. So stay tuned- you'll likely see me in one next winter. I do wish they had a sunhat version!!

image via Ripcap.ch

Sweet bike sighting.

2011-05-23T15:34:00.000-04:00

One morning as I was leaving Yoga I saw this bike parked outside the studio. I ooh'd and ahh'd at it and kept on going. A little while later I saw it and its owner going up the street and realized it belonged to someone who I was just speaking to in the yoga studio. We had in fact just introduced ourselves after a brief chat and so as she rode down the street we waved at each other. I smiled to think that there was another person riding around town with a cute bike and basket.

The next week I went to Yoga and again as I was leaving I saw the bike parked. The owner and I take different classes with different end times and I was on my way to Girlpie's school for a meeting so I figured I wouldn't see her unlock the bike any time soon. I was going to write a note to leave in the basket- but I didn't.

After biking over to Girlpie's school and doing my business there I was going to the bike racks to go home and I saw the bike locked up to the fence ( the above photo!) and I smiled and stopped to take a quick picture. This time I did pause to grab a piece of papers and pen to write a note saying hi. I hope to connect sometime again, maybe I'll have a riding friend which would be really nice. Very nice to see we both have kids at the same school.

Hooray for bike love and leaving notes.

Sunday chill time

2011-05-22T14:45:00.003-04:00

It's been a cold and rainy week. I've been super busy too. Lately I've had to drive to work which is a real bummer. I look forward to Sept and the new school year to begin ( after a full and long fun summer of course) as both kids will be in elementary school and both can take the school bus from near home. This means no one mile trips to preschool that take me out of the way of the train station or anything for that matter. My hope and goal is to seriously up my biking come Sept. In the meantime I'm enjoying being on my bike whenever possible. I got to enjoy two misty days of riding later in the week which seriously helped my weather affected mood. I was far less cranky than my counterparts and I believe it was because I seized the moment and got on my bike during clear-ish breaks in the day.

I've also been excited because I am making a breakthrough and have made some bike purchase decisions. It's been over a year of me thinking, researching and test riding for me to come to finally make some decisions on what bikes I want to call my own. I'm going to keep it secret for now although one purchase is currently on its way- the second more exciting purchase is only just beginning so dear reader- you will have to wait on that one.

I'm also thinking hard about my bike transpo on cape cod. I will be there for half of the summer and I do have my townie Xtra there. It's not the best ride and I don't know the term for it- but it feels spongy to me. I haven't gotten a chance to ride it much this spring as the weather hasn't been good and it's behind B's Laser and I can't get at it. I am hoping we clear the garage so I can get at it- pump the tires and ride it in two weeks when we are there next and hopefully I'll make a good decision about that. I'll share that my thoughts are three choices, 1. Purchase a stokemonkey for the Townie Xtra ( But I think this might be adding money to a money pit) 2. Ditch the townie and get a Radish 2011. 3. Stick with the bucket bike idea and ditch the townie and get a Madsen. All are two wheel options b/c I can't afford a three wheeled option at this point...

But onto Sunday. It's cold and grey. We went to church today and came home to chill out. Here's a Photo Essay on our afternoon. Even though I am looking forward to warm sunny days, these cloudy cool spring days are calm and relaxing.

Above is our veggie garden with composter bin next to it. I just told the neighborhood children that when they run through our yard, they have to give the bin a turn. I keep forgetting to turn it and our compost isn't composting very well or fast. I am hoping a little child run turning will get it going and give us some good compost.

Why Cargo an 8 year old?

2011-05-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

Well, girlpie isn't 8 yet, but she'll be turning 8 this summer. As I use the Sorte and see that I am really not ready to switch to a longtail style of bike nor ready for her to ride independantly I ponder the situation. Sometimes I think people think I'm, weird for carting a nearly 8 year old. It's like having a 5 or 6 year old in a stroller.

Although she'd happily sit in a stroller if I had one for her to sit in so perhaps I'm guilty as charged.

But...

Girlpie isn't really athletically inclined. She can ride a bike. She likes her bike and she enjoys riding it up and down the block. She enjoys riding it to the library and back. I'd even say she likes the IDEA of riding her bike to school. However in reality- she gets tired and stops enjoying it pretty fast. I feel that even though she really isn't interested in riding long distances herself, it's ok that I provide the work. She's getting fresh air and she's learning that there are lots of other ways to get around besides driving. It's part of her lexicon. She is only 7.5 and even if she rides as cargo for another year or two- it's ok.

The other night we were eating dinner and she began to talk about when she grew up and had her own children. She said " I'll have a big box bike and put the baby in it facing me with pillows all around. Then he can look at me" I told her I'd buy her a bike when she had her own children and she said " Or I'll just take yours."

When I was a kid, my father who was a big athlete wanted me to be a jock so badly. I knew he was a tad bit disappointed that I didn't like to run, I barely wanted to put my face in the water when learning to swim and I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 10 years old. It's true as a child I would have much preferred to sit and read a book, draw a picture or play with my dolls than run around, play catch or do anything that caused sweat. I held my dad's hand while walking until I was about 11, mainly b/c it allowed him to drag me along. Yet despite that sort of "lazy" non athletic childhood I regularly ride my bike, take yoga classes weekly ( multiple times a week if given the chance) and have done two long distance open water swims and one sprint triathlon and I have just started taking tennis lessons.

You know what the slow bike movement helps me remember- don't rush it. If we are lucky- we'll live a long time and there is always something new to look forward to. My bucket list approach to life was never - let's make a huge list and try to do everything on this list quickly before I die, but more of a moment by moment goal setting. In my late 20's I had a goal of a triathlon by the time I was 40. Done. Now in my late 30's I have a goal to learn how to surf before I am 50. No rush, take it slow, when the time is right I ( and Girlpie) will jump on it and live it to the fullest.

Spa Night

2011-05-17T15:07:00.001-04:00

A week ago my mother's group had a Spa Night. It was a overcast evening and it had been on and off again raining all day. However my weather app said that there would be no more rain after 7PM. Here I am showing off my new jacket with high collar that is great for dealing with head winds on chilly spring days.

And here I am after it began to rain on me while B took the first picture. The rain actually only lasted long enough for me to run inside and grab the raincoat, but I was glad to have a little waterproofing and I don't think it looked THAT bad actually.

The Best Mother's day. Ever!

2011-05-15T14:39:00.001-04:00

Mother's day I chose to take Girlpie into Boston by Sorte to train to go to The Common to test ride a Boxcycles Christiania bike.

It was the perfect day- what better than a walk through the city, a little H & M shopping for summer clothes ( with JUST one kid!) and then a stroll through the common to meet up with Will of Boxcycles. He was kind enough to stop midway to delivering the bike to the north shore for me to test ride. I eagerly plopped Girlpie, our shopping bags and umbrella into the box, Girlpie was still eating a hotdog when she sat down and I took off to roll around the common and test out the hills and the front turning action.

The Christiania rode lovely and once I figured out how to lean into the turn, the turns were not so freaky ( I was leaning my weight WITH the box making us more tippy than necessary.) I did try on steep hill and did stall out ( I was being a badass and tried to go up in gear 3 rather than go straight to 1- I was still turning incorrectly too so I was a bit scared of the bike and quickly bailed and walked it down the hill backwards)

But other than that- I enjoyed it a lot. It rode a lot like the Sorte except the Sorte I find has a wobble effect when breaking downhill or going too fast and coasting. The Christiania wobbled when I pedaled b/c I'm a goofy rider who tends to tug on the handlebars a bit so I kept making tiny turn motions and the bike would wobble as I worked to get up to speed. For some reason this doesn't show up as much on my rear turning Sorte- but only as I zoom faster and it gives an out of control feeling on the downhill. So I go pretty slowly and have learned to deal with that feeling well.

My only issue with the Christiania was that I felt the Sorte's braking was a bit more on a dime. It may be that I am more used to the Sorte's handling so I am unafraid to brake hard and fast when needed and I was a lot more hesitant with the Christiania.

If I had been able to ride both at the same time when I was looking- I may have chosen the Christiania because of a few facts. 1- Seven Gears 2- the box seat for kids to sit on. Girlpie enjoyed this feature a great deal and there were seatbelts which could be nice too. Finally the seat top comes off and can be locked to provide a safe storage area which could be very useful. But other than those features, it was reassuring to me that both bikes rode very much the same and in a way I felt the learning curve of riding the Sorte was far easier than the Christiania. The Sorte has the canopy aways avail which my kids love, so if it begins to rain or hell becomes windy, they cover themselves up. Likewise when I leave the box locked up for a while I know the seating will be dry for them when we return no matter what...

Anyway- it was lovely meeting Will, he was a nice down to earth guy and I am so happy he is out there bringing trikes to the US. If he starts importing the electric version of the Christiania I'll be all over it like white on rice.

Joni Mitchell never lies

2011-05-13T14:30:00.000-04:00

As soon as I had it set in my mind to sell the sorte as soon as possible I began to use it. I've ridden it three times last week and aside from that bleeping hill I live on top of, I loved every minute of it.

I -MA Walk to School Day.

May 4th was walk to school day and it was supposed to rain. I figured I would just get soaked while I road the kids to Girlpie's school. Lucky for me it was just overcast with promises of rain later on. I rode 4 ( FOUR) children down to school which was really fine going down hill and on flat lands. After a good showing of kids I said good-bye to Girlpie and took Tuber to his school and we weren't even too late which was good. On my way home I decided that I would stop in town for a cup of coffee to cool off and ended up sitting and chatting with some parents I know. After that I decided, since I was out and about- why not stop by Whole Foods for some groceries. I love shopping with the sorte because I can shop without thinking - how will I get this home? I even finally got some torch candles I promised the kids I would get for summer beach picnics.

I was standing next to the sorte all loaded up about to go home when a woman came up to me to chat. Her son lives in Copenhagen and they have two trikes to get around and she was so happy to see someone in the US with such a bike. We chatted and then I went home.

II Friday Fun Night:

Friday night our church was having a family fun night to work on building intergenerational community. It was a beautiful evening out and I wanted to stop by. I also wanted to go out to a pub with B and the kids. I worried about biking the kids home in the dark and decided I would bike and he could drive the kids home and I would slowly make my way home alone. However thank goodness for daylights savings, because we were ready to go home before dark. It ended up just perfect- a ride to church ( with my true nemesis hill to tackle) and a short visit with people there. then we rode basically across the street and around the corner to meet B at the pub for a yummy dinner. Girlpie ended up coming home with me which was ok since it was still light enough for us to be seen. I did have a hard time setting up a good spot for my blinky light so I'm glad I didn't really need it. A good 3.88 mile round trip.

(Girlpie and I about to leave Paddys Pub)

III Saturday quick errands:

Saturday was set to be a busy day. We had dinner plans at our house and B had to go to the supermarket and Hardware store and left me with the kids in the morning. I knew I needed to get out before a afternoon birthday party and I decided to take a run to drop off Good Will clothing as well as pick up a book as a birthday present. I really wanted to bring a few things to the tailor but ended up forgetting that!

(children with Good Will Bags behind them)

On our way back we stopped at a church rummage sale and ran into a neighborhood friend of ours. Each kid got to pick a small toy at the sale and we hopped on the bike back home, slowly slowly up the hill.

(after the bookstore)

I'm really loving this cool spring actually. Perfect temps for riding the sorte. I have to say- the Sorte really is a wonderful effortless bike when going flat or downhill. Slight hills are no problem either- it's the long sloping hill that becomes Not Fun fast. But the box bike set up is my favorite. My kids where bouncing around, relaxing and reading and holding tiny LEGO pieces on all or some of the trips- none of those things would work out well on a longtail ( perhaps reading but I know both would be too scared to go one or no handed...). How I wish I had a way to deal with those hills. Someone will be a happy camper I hope when they take over the Sorte.

But until they do I'm enjoying her cuz Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got til it's gone?

Mr. Cunningham and his scooter

2011-05-07T16:33:00.003-04:00

Earlier this week the kids and I were going to a local library for their weekly LEGO club. Tuber adores this club and begs to go every week. They spill out LEGO on a sheet and kids crowd around and build stuff for 45 minutes. At the end you can put a special ship in the saved box for the next week. Each week at 2:15 the save box is up for grabs. Tuber works on the same ship each week and so arriving on time is key.

Anyway as we were going over I noticed this scooter thing and stopped to talk to the owner Mr.Cunningham. He's had one of these for the past 12 years. This one is his second. The first one in he went through two batteries in the 12 years of ownership, then he sold it to a friend and upgraded to this one. It goes 13 miles per hour and he started using it once he was no longer able to drive. He rides on the road and says that no one has given him any problems.

Publish Post He was very confused as to why I was so interested in his scooter. He thought I wanted to buy one myself. It wasn't until I said " I'm just very interested in ways to get around without using a car" that he really opened up and told me all the places he goes to. Waltham, across town, senior center, doctors appointments and so on. He and I marveled over the fact that his cover keeps him dry and warm too.

It's not a bike- true. I would have loved it more if there was some actual pedal action going on- but I still love the fact that he's found an alternative way to get around. If for some reason I can't handle an electric trike when I'm over 80, I'll try for one of these!

Friday is girly girl day

2011-04-18T12:37:00.001-04:00

School Vacation is on and I am about to spend a lot of quality time with my whole family. This is a good thing of course, yet at the same time- perhaps too much of a good thing. I decided that I needed a bit of Me Time and I spent the day in Boston.

I booked myself a facial at Elizabeth Grady. I won a gift certificate at a fundraising auction two years ago and thought I better use it. The original certificate was only good for the Chestnut Hill location which used to be on route 9. I realized this after I bid on it and I was not all that enthused with going to route 9. But as it turns out, that location closed recently and so I thought I would take my chance of using it on Newbury street. Win for me.

I dropped Tuber off at school early and came home to shower and get ready. I then biked to the train station and took the train in to Arlington street. Elizabeth Grady was a few short blocks from the station. I will say that the Green line is so slow at times and it didn't help that the train in front of mine broke down so my train ended up overcrowded and super slow making me about 20 minutes late. But I had a good abbreviated facial anyway. After the facial it was time for a bite to eat at L'Aroma Cafe. I like this place as there is one in Newton near Tuber's school. The two locations are night and day. Newbury being hip and filled with young hip people all day long and Newton filled with moms and kids by day and city hall town meetings with the mayor by night!

Then on to window shopping and picking up a few tidbits. A LUSH stop as I have run out of Buffy the body bar. I also picked up some bath bombs shaped like robots for the kids' Easter Baskets. I really really wanted to trek over to The South End to peak into some of my favorite shops over there, but I was running low on time. It was fairly windy and I really wanted to take a pedicab over to save time. However there were none to be found. I wasn't sure if it was because the roads were closed for the Marathon prep, but one day I would like to take one. I often wonder how well they do. The Lazy who would take a cab a short distance probably want climate control. Those who would be into the idea, like myself- would usually just walk the distance.

I saw lots of runners walking around with their family and shwag.

And finally off to home to pick Tuber up from his playdate that allowed me a luxurious time walking about. The train ride home was much faster and calmer.

My bags hanging out while I get myself together.

A downward shot on my skirt, coat, scarf and pocketbook while I am in my driveway. I can't do a Panda to save my life.

All in all a lovely day. After I picked Tuber up, my in-laws arrived to babysit over night. Ben came home and we went out to the ICA to see the new exhibit on vinyl records complete with listening stations. After that we ate at LTK and enjoyed a nice night out that made me feel worthy of my newly supple skin. Listening to The Smiths made me feel as young as my skin looked.

Perfect weekend

2011-04-17T18:30:00.001-04:00

( Disclaimer: this post is over two weeks old. Time lag for uploading pictures! and I don't know why this is hyperlinked! blech)

A terrific weekend was had. It wasn't all on bike or particularly car free- but I got in culture and self care and a way to be car- reduced.

Saturday:

Wonderful old friends who live on the Cape came up for a city day and we went to the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation in Waltham. Once they arrived we squished together in my friends car ( I made a compromise on the Car seat rule b/c you simply can't fit 6 people in a car with two car seats!) and we drove together over to the museum. They had a Steampunk exhibit that is up until May 11. The Museum is right on the Blue Heron Bike path and I had biked right over there last spring when I decided to explore the path a little. I wish we could have biked there- but I only have one cargo bike and one folding so that wouldn't have worked well. But I highly recommend all you locals to hop on to the bike path and check it out. The path is a bit dodgy out that way with starts and stops on the path. But on a nice day it could be a nice trip. Past the museum across moody street the bike path is quite lovely and we did take a windy stroll down there as a group.

I love this his and hers tandem!

Tuber and Girlpie getting their Steampunk on

After our stroll we walked past our car in search of an italian bakery we thought we saw, but after a 3 block grouchy walk we found it was more of an Italian Bodega with no fresh pastries to be found. I did buy a pound of fresh pasta and we did drive over to Antoine's in Nonantum before heading home. Being with friends traversing around the cities of Waltham and Newton was great fun and my kids were nicely tuckered out by bedtime. Being squished together in one car meant for lively chatter to and from and it made my giving the driver directions far more easier than having her follow me. While I don't condone being flexible on the car seat tip, I find for me it does end up working and making my life a lot easier for short carpools

Sunday:

Sundays are often busy and we have church in the morning and I haven't gotten to the point of riding the Sorte to church again. I had been in the past a lot, but it's a hard ride and it takes quite a bit of time and I'm always in a rush to get to church and get home so we can do our other activities as well. So I drove to church and back and I did drive Tuber to a birthday party on Needham street. While not far in miles, it's not a ride feel that I comfortable doing by bike. Once home from dropping him off I saw B and Girlpie on their way to bike to the library. So I donned my helmet and went with them and picked up a few books for Girlpie and I. B and Girlpie decided to keep riding a bit down the carriage lane while I ended going to Newton Center for a haircut. It was windy but sunny and I got to use the brand new bike racks put up by B street Bistro.

Utensil shaped bike racks. My fav place to lock up now.

Ben ended up using the car to pick Tuber up and then swing out to Waltham to pick up our meat CSA from Chestnut Farms and I met him at home after my hair cut.

Could I have done the whole weekend without a car? Possibly? If I had more bikes in my stable and perhaps an electric cargo bike like an Xtra or Yuba I could have gotten my crew to ride over to the museum. ( they I bet would have been game) But that was a fact of lack of gear. The same for today except for the whole Needham street and Meat pick up ( well I know B would not been interested in biking 10 lbs of meat home... but his trips don't count). But my point is I do what I can when I can. I've finally come to the place where biking for me is about experience. Not for saving the earth b/c we all know it's way more complicated than that. Not to save money on gas b/c I am lucky in that the cost of gas and cars is just a factor in our budget and we can handle it. However, for me it's the experience of community, being in the world seeing my surroundings, smiling and waving at co-residents and feeling the freedom of movement. So if I can get that feeling even once a day- then life is really good.

Public bikes.

2011-03-28T17:18:00.002-04:00

This blog is really becoming my forum to ask questions. I could try to sort out some of the forums, but I feel intimidated by them and here I can ramble on with my non tech questuons and thoughts and some of you who have hung in there with me know where I'm coming from and are kind enough to answer. I appreciate you all. I was thinking how all of my previous online lives have been in women only arenas. Mothering forums, Mothering blogs, Crafty blogs etc. This blog is the only place ( beside facebook from old friends) where I regularly get male feedback. It's interesting and I like mixing it up a bit...

On to Public Bikes. I did test ride the mixte frame back in October and found it to be a solid fine bike. My biggest issue was the upper bar was too high for ease in dismounting and I prefer a lower bar whenever possible. The newer step through frame looks sweet and is affordable in my book for a bike. The prices will be going up as of April 1 and I had been toying with buying one over the summer but now might push it up to this week to get a cheaper deal... But as I have been searching for a bike for several years now I am feeling hesitation. Honestly I had a dream two night in a row about it. One night all thoughts pointed to buying it, and the second night all thoughts pointed to not buying it.

There is also the auction going on with one of a kind colors and there is one that would fit me in my favorite color. Sometimes I think it's a sign. Sometimes not....

Perhaps not since there is a second bid on it now...

So I'd most likely bring this bike to Cape cod with me for single tooling around. Trips to the yoga studio, The grocery store and around town while the kids are with their father or grandparents or camp. Also for much important bike dates with B. I'd bring it home for a full sized bike at home for a while too. The problem is- I want too many bikes. Can I justify having them all??

That may be a post for another day- all the bikes I want. Today I just wonder if I should give public a shot.

The sorte is two: a sort of birthday ride

2011-03-16T11:26:00.001-04:00

After not being on any bike for a while it was time to hop on and take the sorte out for a spring ride. Coincidentally, I have had the old girl for two years now, so it was a nice birthday ride. It was supposed to be 50degrees on sat, but it ended up being windy and fairly cool. We were dizzy with the sunny day anyhow and my kids were outside pretty much all day. They started riding bikes in the yard at 9:30 and I had to drag them in around 5.

We decided to go and have lunch at the new station diner. I love diners and I waned check it out as a potential location for a bike to brunch event.

Girlpie wanting to do tricks

The diner was ok. The inside is awesome and has been reenovated to add steampunk features. Being a steampunk lover I was all over the decor. It was crowded and we had to wait a half hour to be seated. The food was fair, not excellent but fine and dandy. I read reviews that said that as well. My
Biggest issue was when I asked the manager if they would make an exception to the no reservations policy if I organized a bike newton event there, the manager was really rude to me. I was fine with him saying no, but there was no need to be rude, so I am not sure if I'll be back. Too bad I want to love and support them.

After lunch we went to the playground for some fun. The kids ran around and I even hopped on the swings myself.

My new cowboy boots from Austin!

The ride was a good one. It was good to be out and on a bike. The weather has been funky lately. I did this ride two weeks ago and am on my halfway now but haven't gotten a lot of riding in, in between.

This post is wack bc I am using an app on my iPad. I was hoping to start the post on the iPad and then access the post on my desktop of ease of editing and format fixing but I cant. But it's been sitting here waiting to be fit to publish for a week now, so here we go. I might edit once published. Y'all are used to my typos anyway right?

You're in Texas Girl.*

2011-03-09T18:41:00.000-05:00

The family and I made it out to Austin two weekends ago. Good friends of ours relocated last summer for a job. We missed them terribly. Girlpie loves to travel and earlier this winter pitched a fit that we had no travel plans and wanted very much to go someplace warm. This trip seemed to fit the bill. Then one day I happened to decide to click on the NAHBS link that several bloggers and framebuilders were talking about and voila, I find out The Show was happening the same time as my trip.

So while it was not a bikey trip, I did get my bike on and had a really good time.

I'm really happy and impressed that my friends were so flexible and they were all happy to swing by the show even though the price tag for a family of four wasn't all that cheap. But it was fun for all of us and as we split up each adult taking one of their kids, we all marveled at the same things. My friend, A, loved the Sheila Moon booth and while I didn't buy anything I am thinking about getting some leggings or shorts online. What pleased me the most was that Girlpie walking with me was just as excited about some of the bikes and accessories as I was. We both carried cameras ( hers an old iphone of B's) around to take pictures of things that we liked the most.

Candy colored saddles at Brooks.

Girlpie snapping a bamboo bike. We have Bamboo in our yard, G thinks we need to start making bikes

wooden wheels and handlebars!

I was glad to see the show really was for anyone. I thought it was more technical and that I would be out of my element. But there were quite a few families milling about. People chatting with frame builders and talking about bikes. I tend to be a bit shy, especially around the bike scene as I am so clueless, I feel a bit out of place and it brings back the old 80's notion of being a "poser". But I did chat at one booth (Yipsan Bikes) when I realized they made the sunflower bike I saw in Bicycle Times last year. I loved that bike so much as I love sunflowers and the color yellow. It was nice to just let him know how much I dig it and hear how he read the same article without knowing they was going to be in it.

I made a search for ANT and Geekhouse the two local builders I know of and have been following. I was very shy to see Mike of ANT b/c B was teasing me that he would think I was stalking him. But when I got to the booth he wasn't there, perhaps taking a brake, so I was able to oogle and stroke the bikes without being self conscious.

Clearly I look really good with an ANT. So does Girlpie!

I also made it over to Geekhouse and briefly chatted with Marty Walsh. Again I was a bit shy b/c I think he's so darn cool and I am so not cool anymore. I'm so uncool that I'm not sure if saying Marty is a hipster would be an insult or not so I'll just keep on with the term cool. Even though it just doesn't quite add up. In anycase it was nice to meet him and talk to him briefly. There is a bike out in the world nearby that I might be able to test ride too. I'd love a Geekhouse.

My favorite bike however was the Vanilla Bikes kid's bike. I read about last years version in Bicycle Times and loved it. It was great to see one in person. Basically the bikes are built for 8 year olds and is built to grow with the kids possibly over the next 10 years. It's a real transportation bike. Girlpie seemed to appreciate it's beauty. How I would love her to have such a bike.

I tried on some Sheila Moon bike shorts to wear under a dress. The padding was a little weird to me but I could see it ending up comfortable after a while. I really really liked the tweed shorts but I can't see myself ever really wearing tweed bike shorts or capris but I do appreciate the look. I need to go online and look more closely at all the styles and colors.

I had a ball and was glad to share my obssession with my friends.

On another note, I noticed that Austin is a road biking town and that it's legal to ride on the highway. Coming to and from the airport as well as driving the 8 of us into the city we were going along 3 lane highways with Roadies zooming along the side of the road. My friends said that there are a lot of bikers and it all seems to go smoothly. Drivers are used to them, the side of the road is wide. The exits are the places that it seems to get a little dicey. It was neat to see them even though I am not sure with my eastern sensibilities, I would feel comfortable doing that.

Austin was a great time. Bike show, Brisket, Tex Mex, Tequila and Beer. Plus a pair of new cowboy boots and weather warm enough for a dunk in the heated pool. I kind of can't wait to go back.

* About ten years ago B and I were flying to Mexico with a layover in Dallas. When we were landing I remarked that I was hungry and hoped there would be good food in the airport. The man in front of us who was clearly returning home looked at me and simply said "You're in Texas Girl", I assume to mean, of course there is good food here. B and I often re-quote him whenever we speak of Texas, so it was a fitting title.

Oh so mainstream

2011-03-08T07:57:00.002-05:00

My account of my trip to austin is almost done. Just needs som tweaking and pictures uploaded.

But in the meantime here is what I got in my inbox today. We've hit the mainstream peak big time.

I never had a problem with mainstreaming things ( like yoga, biking) for two reasons. 1. I've never really fit in with the first wave or pre-mainstream group ( although with yoga the first wave started before I was born really but still) and 2. I always ended up feeling pretty comfortable with my love of such activity be it yoga or biking that I'm not concerned with any fads. Hell I started doing yoga seriously 13 years ago. I'm still at it. I did take a little unfocused break from it but am not back and almost ready to give up my gym membership as I have been going 2+ times a week to the yoga studio. I pratice side by side with women in their 60's or 70's who rock headstand in the middle of the room and I can only aspire to have such an awesome practice in 30 years.

I suspect that biking will be apart of my life just as long. I've already been eyeing electric trikes that would be perfect to go back and forth to the senior center a mile away :-)

NAHBS 2011

2011-02-17T12:37:00.002-05:00

So, tell me about the NAHBS.

I am going to Austin the same weekend the exhibit is happening. I'm visiting friends and traveling with my whole family. But it seems like divine intervention and I really would love to go.

What should I expect at this show? Would it be worthwhile to try to swing in for a little while Friday afternoon? I am not sure if I can get away any other time. Is there any test riding of bikes or just looking. Is there anything captivating to small kids?

what would you do?

Biking is in our soul.

2011-02-14T16:49:00.002-05:00

Due to the amount of snow still on the ground, I have not been on my bike since sometime in late December. It's been a long winter and I've let myself get a bit down about being in the car. However as I look back on the last few months and comments my kids have said, it is clear, biking is in our soul. And that for my crew- our not biking isn't because it isn't possible, it's just what we are choosing not to do right now.

I thought I'd share a few stories as well as post some pictures of us and the Sorte. to me these pictures illustrate how the Sorte inspires Joy.

Late January we went to a camp fair. The camp fair was within our Sorte range and on a day with less snow- we would have biked there for sure. However it was in between storms and the snow was at it's highest. The snow also was in the way of my short cuts and cut throughs, so we drove. As we arrived the parking as has been, was INSANE and I began my usual muttering and Girlpie said " We should have biked! Why didn't we just bike?" I agreed that I sure wish that we did bike. ( Although at the fair we did meet up with friends and were invited to their house which I would not have been able to bike to due to the crazy hill they live on... another reason I dream of power. )

Last week I was taking Tuber to school and we were running late and so I backed out of my driveway a bit fast and ended up swerving into the snow getting my rear wheel stuck in snow. I had to get out and shovel it out to no avail. I got back in the car and said to Tuber " I don't think I can get out to which Tuber answered " Let's just bike!" We were really late and I still wasn't ready to take to the streets, and I did geet us out ( burned some rubber to do so. eww)
In church on sunday Girlpie's sunday school class which I am teaching, talked about love and how we show love to our families, friends and earth. We went around and Girlpie's response to how she shows the earth she loves it is by " biking around".
The other day the garage was open as I was putting my snowshoes away and Girlpie looked longingly at her bike and said " I can't wait to ride my bike again" I agree sweet girl, I agree.
This last pictures, Girlpie is screaming " Bikes Rock!" I agree, bikes do rock. And on this warm day I saw lots of bikers out commuting to work, spring is coming and I can't wait to start pedaling.

Ok then, screw that I guess.

2011-02-07T20:56:00.004-05:00

It seems clear- no power for the sorte.

So I will be selling the old girl probably after this summer. Maybe during this summer. But I'm just not going to think about it. I can't tell you how much pleasure I have gotten out of throwing crap into the box and riding away. My whole winter wool wardrobe from the dry cleaners? check A cake? check. Sleds? check. Four kids for ice cream? check. Random bags from a fun day of shopping for xmas presents? check. Pick up three kids from school? check. Take two kids and two scooters/ bikes to the train station? Check. It was slow, but steady. I always felt safe and even though it's wide and when I bought it thought I would never be able to ride on the sidewalk ( yeah I do that when intersections are CRAZY) it actually went from sidewalk to road very easily and I felt safe on the sidewalk due to being so large and slow I really was like a jogging stroller coming down. Except I didn't have to jog. I always felt so safe and so seen with the sorte. And the geometry on that bike is SWEET. Every bike before and after has been shitty in comparison. And my kids are just getting too big. 7 and 4 as opposed to 5 and 2 when I started.

I have an xtra. I don't ride it much. It's on cape cod and no one likes it. Girlpie at 7 and over 45 pounds demands to be in the pea pod and hates being on the end. Toby puts his hands down my pants holding on for dear life. I ride slowly struggling with the wobbly nature.

Perhaps I will just give up the family biking. Bike on my own and drive them around. Nothing special or radical here. And move on. It's been a fun two year trial and I've enjoy each minute of it. It's a lovely bike- but better suited for a flatter area and perhaps with a smaller radius. At least I gave it the A+ try.

Thanks for all of your advice or comments and ideas. If anyone knows anyone local who lives in a flatter area ( or has better legs) and is interested. Let's talk.

I need YOUR help!!!

2011-02-04T12:47:00.004-05:00

It's been a while again. I'm behind in just about everything I'm doing right about now. I'm even behind in reading my beloved blogs, bike related and otherwise.

I've held off on this post b/c I wanted to get it right. Hit the right tone and not be too needy and also articulate what I need as well as I can. However I just don't have time to be thoughtful. I can't think, the snow has eaten my brain surely.

But the last few days I have had the worst driving days I have ever had. At one point this morning I was circling a parking lot of a hardware store trying to get inside to buy a snow rake that were being sold rapidly as I drove around. I began to shed tears of rage and helplessness of being in a ton of steel.

The only thing that will make me begin to feel better is to see if I can gather your assistance and make my last ditch effort for electric power on the sorte.

So here is where I am at in bullets and here is where I need a lot of Help.

1. This Fall a dear reader mentioned that he thought a stokemonkey would work on the sorte with some modifications. I had just given up hope and was thinking of selling the old girl. This thought gave me new hope-yet I haven't acted on or researched it much b/c I just wanted to live in that limbo land of possibilities.

2. I did make one reach out to Clever Cycles about the stoke monkey and the Sorte and was told that they only support it for the Xtra. I could buy it and put it on, however they would not be able to help me out with it. Here is more of what they said.

You would also have to have a mounting bracket made that would fit the main tube
of your trike. We also feel that a rear wheel steering set up would
be unstable with out some sort of steering dampener. The stokemonkey
kit is limited at 20mph and I think that you would probably want to
lower that setting on this trike by quite a bit.

3. I don't really know what any of that means. I don't even know how to begin to understand and figure it out. That is where I need serious help from someone who has some time and brain power and wants a project to get this mama back up and running with her two kids in the Sorte. Is there anyone out there who thinks they could help me? I need serious help.

4. The dear reader mentioned in #1 did seem to have expertise however they live in CA and lives a busy life and I have since lost the email to get back in touch with to send some pics of the Sorte.

5. I did save this website that Dear Reader sent me and did try out the dutch speaking contact I was given, but the email came back. This set up looks vetted, but I have no idea how to get it set up here in the US.

6. So basically I need help. It's Feb. I've saved up all fall from working money to buy a stoke monkey. But I need to figure out if it's gonna work. I dream about it. I long for it. I still would be using my car right about now b/c the narrow roads make me feel unsafe ( esp with such a wide bike like the sorte) but knowing I had it to use once things melted would make me deal with the insanity that is the Boston Area roads at this point in time.

7. My own dear husband has ordered me snowshoes. I might just take up snowshoeing until the snow melts.

Ok- I'm totally beat down and tired. I was supposed to snowshoe this AM but had to find a snow rake to save ourselves from possible leaking tonight and then I got into a fender bender and now need to fix my car. I'm starving and a bit crazed from having snow days each week and not getting anything done in my life. So I am hitting POST typos and all. Please be kind and gentle and send this around to anyone who maybe be of help. Esp anyone Local to Boston. That would be great. Ok internet- here we go.

--Mamavee

???

2010-11-20T18:04:00.001-05:00

Does anyone know if the Public Bike contest winners have been named?

I assume no news means I didn't win anything, but I was hoping fora grand announcement in case any internet friends won.

Oh Hello!!!

2010-11-15T13:43:00.007-05:00

It's been far too long and the longer it gets between posts the harder it is for me to come to the table so to speak and write. My brain is both filled with posts to write and full of fluff like Pooh.

So I'll just start with a little photo dump and ramble to get me back to speed.

Back in October I test rode a Public Mixte. I had been talking it up as a bike worth looking into to my friend. My friend is looking for a bike to use with a trailer to ride her 3 year old to school and back some days, as well as to tool around with both of her kids for short easy jaunts around the neighborhood. She doesn't own a bike, yet is intrigued by biking. She even made an order for a Madsen but at the last minute cancelled it afraid she would not use it. As she lives in the Bay Area I suggested she give Public a try. Of course then, the Mixte frame was about 700 or 800 dollars and she found that a bit pricey. Now the new under $500 frame is out she should give that a try.

In anycase I figured I should ride one before I recommend anyone else to try it and went over to Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington. At the time few of Boston Bike Bloggers were talking about Ride and it's interesting niche of bikes and cafe. Velouria wondered how long they might stay in business. I wonder the same thing. When I arrived I had planned to chill out in the cafe and eat a light lunch before my ride, however for whatever reason, the cafe was closed that day. So I had to go across the street and get food elsewhere and then I came in to the very quiet shop.

Lexington is right on the Minute Man Trail, so I first took the bike out about 15-20 minutes down the trail and then back. The ride was smooth and stable and fairly nice. I was riding behind a woman on a road bike all decked out in spandex (just a fact- not a judgment!!) and my first thought was " I wonder if I could keep up with her". She was coasting along slowly and I was pedaling not fast but moving nicely along and stayed right behind her. Then it was clear that if I choose to pedal fast I would pass her. As we got to an intersection in the trail and I pushed the button for the light to allow us to cross, she complained about having to start and stop- she wanted to just get in a groove. I smiled at her and at the light, I zoomed ahead of her and never saw her again until I turned to go back. I respect her need ( for speed? ha!) although I did just fine pedaling happily and crossing at every break in the path with no issue. I wasn't out for excersize mind you- but I did feel like my body was moving well- like going on a brisk walk.

Once back in lexington center I had the bike adjusted a bit and then took it through the neighborhood to see how it faired on hills. I scaled a few hills fairly nicely and it handled the real suburban terrain I am used to quite well.

I enjoyed the bike a lot except for a few things. The fit was wonky. I felt like I needed the seat up too high to extend my legs straight enough. While I pedaled along the flat trail my knees were squeaky and ached. My leg alignment was much better once the seat was lifted, but my knees were already sore so I couldn't tell if I was feeling any new soreness. I also felt like my torso was too short to reach the handlebars. I don't know why they didn't put on those swept back type handlebars instead of the straight ones. I wanted a more upright feeling that I didn't get as much. Finally I think Mixtes are not the right bike for me as the top bar was still too high for my leg to get past when dismounting. I admit I am used to a moving dismount with my townie and halfway ( both with low bars) and I do a jump off the bike and then walk quickly alongside as I slow the bike to a stop. I attempted this without thinking and nearly fell off. I could convince myself to get used to the new height, but I think that was a deal breaker for me. Even being mindful while dismounting I was awkwardly dragging my foot over the bike.

Now I see they have a new loop type frame and I am very intrigued by it. I am hoping beyond hope that I win one in the contest that just passed. If I don't I hope Ride Studio Cafe stays in business long enough for me to test ride one to see how I like it.

II:

Around Halloween I found myself with a weird amount of time on my hands one day. Tuber's class had a Costume parade in the middle of their three hour school day so when it was over I had about an hour to kill before picking him up. I decided to stick close to the school and was going to sit with a cup of coffee and check email during that time. On my way to coffee, I stopped into Harris to buy a taillight. I noticed outside a Giant Electric bike on sale for $1600 instead of $2100. I decided I should take the bike for a spin. Harris is right in West Newton at the base of the Prestigious West Newton Hill and so I took that bad boy around the hills I would never attempt to scale under my own power. I hate walking these hills ( especially with a stroller as I did when I first moved here) But before I got out on the street- there was a gentleman in the shop buying a new pair of clip-y shoes ( like my technical terms?). He overheard me ask about the Giant for a ride and while Susan ( who works there) went to the back to attend to his shoes being adjusted he turned to me and said " you won't get much excersize" I looked at him and smiled and paused. I wanted to kick him quite frankly. What sexist presumptive bullshit. Who is he to tell me what I will and will not get out of a particular bike. I didn't tell him I thought his shoe were silly. ( I don't really- don't really care about them either way). But I was polite and after a pause I said " I don't do it for exersize." Then he nodded and said " Oh you commute " I nodded even though to be accurate I don't, I ride around town. But his small mind could only categorize me in those terms so I agreed. I mentioned that Newton is a really hilly place and at night when I am going to a meeting I'd feel safer with a boost then mashing up a hill and swerving in the dark.

Ok- on to the ride. I was a bit scared of the bike but it was actually quite gentle and pleasant. I rode up some of the biggest hills with almost no effort. However it wasn't like riding a scooter or a motorcycle, I was still moving my body and while I didn't break a sweat scaling hills that would have killed me otherwise, I felt a nice warm feeling- much like I felt riding the Public along the flat trail at a nice and easy pace. I enjoyed it a lot except for one detail. The battery pack was on the rear rack and every bump or crack I went over reverberated through the bike and made for a bumpy ride that I didn't care for. I also didn't like that the battery pack took up a lot of pannier space and required ( ?) one to use their bag on the back. I would want to use my own bag and switch it up like I would a purse. The bike also felt slightly too big for me- but manageable. Finally I find the giant ugly and the frame itself does not inspire lust or love within me. Too bad b/c if it didn't have the weird bumpy feeling and was a more pretty bike- I think I would have snapped it up at that sale price. What I liked most was the feel of the motor helping me along. If I could get that feeling on the Sorte I would shout from roof tops.

III:

It's Mid November and the Farmers' Market seems so long ago. The one place I used the Sorte the most was on trips to the Market. I would go with it even by myself to pick up our frozen meat CSA as well as with the kids bringing home big pumpkins. The Farmer's Market is my favorite thing each summer and every late October I am sad it's over. Can't wait for next July.

check those tires!

2010-09-15T11:02:00.003-04:00

The morning started off wonderfully. Drove Tuber to school and loaded the halfway int he trunk for a ride across town to meet a friend for breakfast. Drop off went smoothly. Bike unfolded without any hitches. I hopped on bike to go over and found it so sluggish. The whole way I was hating it and feeling angry that it felt so hard. My legs killed me as I did "legs" at the gym yesterday and did the sorte with the kids and later road the halfway to a meeting up a very big hill. I thought- am I out of shape? Maybe I do need the electric bike I have been coveting.

I noticed that not only was the ride sluggish and slow, but it was awfully bumpy and uncomfortable. Finally I stopped and took a feel. My back tire is super low. Not popped flat, just low low low. I am now running late and I walk the bike and ride it a little to get to breakfast.

My friend drives me home and I try to refill the tire but I think it's too far damaged from riding on it? Or it really was popped and it was a quiet and slow leak and now it's gone.

Sigh- now I have to walk to the school to pick up tuber and my car. I should head off now with the bike to fix it. But walking a flat tire'd bike up hill sounds really not fun. So maybe not. Must get it fixed by tomorrow though!

I'm so glad I am not out of shape though.

some kind of wonderful

2010-09-14T17:02:00.003-04:00

Perfect low 70 degrees out. Breezy and sunny at the same time. Favorite Feral Childe dress with black leggings and cardie. Windy bike ride to farmer's market with kids playing "fishing/whale watch" in where minivans are whales and other cars are sharks to be fished up. They pointed and yelled " I see one! I see one" just like on a real whale watch.

Farmer's Market to see friends, chatting about organic food, new houses and mating frogs. Running into old friends who are now new neighbors and squealing and hugging with joy. Kids rolling in the grass. Kids trying out the lightbulb bike and tasting goat cheese and pea "pesto spread" which tastes awesome and were bought and brought home to savor. Fresh creamy ice cream and little pumpkins. Knowing happy lamb chops and braised leeks are for dinner.

Slow ride home for more "fishing" and seaweed gathering. Children jumping in and out of the bike ( while on sidewalk!) to grab fallen leaves and sticks that are seaweed. Late afternoon sunshine on my face and arms. Slight heat in my body. Feeling in love with life.

A Rant

2010-09-13T12:40:00.004-04:00

It seems every few weeks there is a MVA involving a pedestrian or a cyclist this summer. The latest is a series of middle school age children being hit. I'm feeling really angry and done about this. I keep reading articles online about cycling and reading the comment simply depress me. The amount of "Bikes don't belong in the road" comments and stories of people in cars being inpatient and filled with road rage toward pedestrians and cyclists makes me sick.

It has to stop. As an adult I can handle it. It makes me angry and I want to go head to head with anyone giving me attitude while I am walking or biking, but I can handle it. However- this attitude that it's all about cars going as fast as possible to point A is getting dangerous and all of these drivers are forgetting something. Our Children travel along these sidewalks and roads. Our Children cross these streets to go to school, visit friends and go to the library. Our Children who cannot drive cars ride their bicycles on sidewalks and roads to get around. I moved to this small suburban city ( ahem town can't really call it a city now can I?) because I wanted to be able to walk to schools and parks. I wanted the beauty of having my kids ride their bikes down the sidewalk in front of the house.

I moved here because the idea of playing capture the flag and tag and hide and go seek on our block is one out of fantasies for me- yet a reality for my kids. I feel like we've hit on something perfect when I see my kids and the kids on the block running across the street and through each other's backyards talking on walkie talkies and playing games. Come winter watching the neighborhood kids drag their sleds three blocks down for an after school sledding stint to release some energy before dinner and homework. Can life get any better than that?

However if people in cars continue to believe that once they enter that box of metal they own the road then that lifestyle becomes less and less possible. Cars come speeding down my street as it is a cut through to avoid a light. I nervously watch my 4 year old from the window or door step as he plays with the older kids. I want him to have the space to play without me hovering. I am thankful of the 13 year old who likes Tuber and will watch out for him as they act as a team to hide and seek together.

Still, these ideas that people need to get the F*** out of the way of cars so cars can get through faster just makes my blood boil. No. The roads belong to the neighborhoods and the priority belongs to the kids who live there. Period. Get the F*** out of OUR way and slow down. And don't give me any back talk when I shout out for you to slow down either. I once had a woman stop mid block to shout out " I wasn't going that fast". Luckily I was two houses down from where she stopped. She didn't realize who she was talking back to. I got my NYC attitude up real quick, however she drove off before I could get to her to tell her I didn't really care if she was traveling 5 mph- but if a resident of a street waves her down while she travels through- she best listen to us. What she didn't know was that the kids were running down the driveway in prep for crossing the street and I wanted to be sure the kids stopped and to be sure the car stopped in case the kids did not. I can't tell you how many times balls, scooters and random stuff rolls out into the street. If I ask a car to stop- there is a good reason why. Yet they never do.

Now I need to get this anger to city hall and help make something happen. I am ready for the articles about kids and adults being struck by cars to end. Now. and not because winter is coming thank you very much.

Xtra Video

2010-08-30T20:57:00.004-04:00

I'm feeling grumpy still. It's been a hot summer, I'm still trying to figure out my set up particularly since the Sorte is without motor. Now that I know there doesn't seem to be hope, I'm thinking of unloading it. Although I love it so that if there was a way.... sigh. I could complain. I will complain soon. But for now...... (testing this video- if it doesn't work I'll fix it!)

And if you do see the video- you can see the alignment of me and this bike is all wrong. I have the saddle set low so that I can put my feet down and handle the weight of two kids on this bike. So my knees ache and my wrists ache as well. I'm a better cyclist and now feel very uncomfortable when I don't have my saddle high enough. I need to find the key to the bobike seat in order to have access to the seat height. I keep forgetting to find it before I go to the cape...

white dress bike ride

2010-08-17T16:10:00.003-04:00

I wore my white flare dress today. Rode the kids to the farmer's market like I do on tuesdays and the dress was happy as a clam. The big box protected people from a view up my dress and the bike kept my dress clean. Just another day around town.

However once at the market when I ordered the kid's ice cream I realized my downfall. Tuber asked for Chocolate ice cream. The Ice Cream lady who has seen us weekly for four summers, said " whoa, your son is having that? You are going to get it all over you!"

Lots of towels and water later and a ride home with Challah bread in the shape of a kitty cat, garlic goat cheese and shallots I am still clean.

Sorry no pics. I am doing more and less documenting which has it's ups and downs. But I thought I would share since I've been quiet lately.

gym and market

2010-08-03T21:00:00.002-04:00

I'm still here. Not riding as much as I wished. I am realizing that I am not a big summer cyclist. I really hate feeling hot and once I start pedaling in summer heat I just long for October. I seriously ride and dream about October and November and riding in fall skirts and boots and sweaters.

But I rode to the gym today and on my way back did some double time. I was halfway home when I thought my phone had fallen out of my bag. I turned around and rode/walked back looking for the phone. I was already sweaty and hot. My hair was wet and the water drops mixed with sweat and dripped into my eye. My helmet was pissing me off and I took it off and hung it ont he handle bars. Halfway back to the gym I adjusted my bag on my shoulders and saw the pink case right where I put it. Big sigh and back home I went. But my thighs, well I've never been prouder of how strong and shapely they've become.

Later I went to the Farmer's Market to pick up our monthly meat share. B was at home today so I left the kids with him and took the Sorte empty to the market. What better bike to carry a cooler full of 10 pounds of chicken, beef, pork and lamb? I didn't stay long as I had frozen meat to get home so I loaded the trike and sped off home.

As I rode home a friend who I haven't seen in a long time rode up beside me and we chatted briefly until traffic pressed up on her. It was good to see her and I know I'll see her next week at the market.

A few blocks from home I was feeling sweaty again and saw a man watering his lawn. Oh how refreshing it looked and I just wanted some water on me! I shouted out " Oh hi there. A little spray, A little spray!" He asked me "Really?" and I said "Yeah!". Two quick squirts yielded a lovely shower of cool water to sprinkle on my arms and face and I sighed with happiness and said thank you as I kept on.

Just those brief stints on a bike today are little stories in my summer that make me happy and keep me going. The wind in my hair, the sound of a friend calling out " Girlfriend!!!" and the coolness of hose water when one needs it most. This is what biking does for me. And I am lucky for it.

cargo passes roadie

2010-07-26T12:57:00.002-04:00

This weekend I was on the cape with the family. We stayed close to home and the beach all day saturday, but I made one trip in the late morning to pick up some Box Lunch wraps for our time at the beach. I called ahead as there is always a crazy lunch rush. As I rode over with the Xtra all by my lonesome I was going up the hill right near my in laws home. ( I am seriously always talking about hills aren't I. I swear Wellfleet or Newton I live near some serious hills!)

I'm chugging along slowly on the townie wearing a beach throw over my suit and no helmet and I hear a ding of a bell and move over to the side to let the bike pass. A gentleman of about 50-60 on a road bike with full on outfit makes his way past me and we say hello. The hill gets steeper and I stand into it a bit to move past the hill and get to the downhill zoom part. He's a few feet in front of me and he's not gaining any distance. In fact I notice I am closing in on him. I as I slowly make way to pass I say " Come on Roadie- you can do it!!" I come up beside him and he says" I'm old!" To which I replied, "I've got a huge 70 pound bike!!" and moved in front of him. He yelled out " Hey, be nice!" as I hit the peak of the hill and shifted up and zoomed down the hill to pick up my lunch.

I may be super slow- but I passed a weekend warrior roadie.

And I have to say- biking to Wellfleet center is the only way to do it. ( as if there was another way!) Box Lunch was crowded and the cars coming in and out of the lot were all backed up and confusing. I would have had a lot of trouble if I had driven- especially B's huge volvo. I just slid in and slid out and hopped on as everyone sat idling in their hot cars looking cranky and pedaled away for some wonderful beach time.

changing the stable

2010-07-11T13:52:00.003-04:00

So it's official. There will be no motor for the Sorte. I heard back from Metro Pedal Power who had come by last fall to look at the bike and see what could work for it. Basically the drivetrain is such that major modifications would have to be made. All of this would cost as much as the bike itself.

When I bought the Sorte, I knew that I wanted a motor. I knew that my terrain would not be friendly to a 70 pound bike filled with 70 pounds of kids. I have been able to use the bike but not to the breathe that I wanted to. I was hoping to go to all playdates, all classes, all errands within the city and maybe intercity as well.

So I am wondering, should I just sell the Sorte. I am not a seller. I buy things and I keep them forever. There stress of recouping what I paid is often too much for me and I often just give stuff away when I am done with it. And most things I keep.

I really love the Sorte. I love riding it. I love it's look. I love how it feels. I love it;s geometry. I love how stable it is. I love it's three wheels and its canopy and its Danish roots.

But I ride the bike path toward Harvard Square and I feel grumpy that I can't take the Sorte out that way. I want to use my bike further and go places I haven't been on bike before. I love how I feel on the bike- I want to feel that way all the time.

I don't know what the alternative would be. The Xtra is too big and overbearing for me. The kids don't like it either. Girlpie has gotten used to being down low. She doesn't like hanging on. She is also no where near to be ready to ride on her own. I wanted to take a spin out on the carriage lane today and she refused. She gets hot very quickly and pretty much likes to take a break often. Riding for transportation is not her thing right now.

Someone I know in town has a madsen. I plan to give it a test ride. I wonder- if I was able to sell the Sorte and buy a madsen would that help? I don't know. I wish I lived on flat land, that would solve a lot. Who could I sell it too anyway? I haven't met many people ready to shell out the money for it and I can't give it away.... And why would the madsen feel any easier for me than the xtra?

What would you do?

impromptu adventure

2010-07-09T21:39:00.005-04:00

Today with the kids at camp I thought about something fun to do. I need to do some work related things but I ended up designating Monday for those errands and instead I thought I would drop by the Newton Farmer's Market at its Friday location. I haven't been to it since I first moved here mainly because it's in a parking lot and the space isn't very kid friendly. The Tuesday location is in a big park where the kids can run around, climb trees and ride bikes on the black top.

This would be a mainly shopping trip.

I putzed around the house in the morning, cleaning here, folding and putting away laundry there. Real fun stuff. I read my book a little and then I felt the need to hit the road and without looking at my watch I just hopped on my bike and took off toward the Market.

On my way I was surprised by seeing Velouria and Mr Velouria riding in the opposite direction. We both said "hey" and kept going. I thought of stopping but didn't want to cause an accident or slow them down as they had been riding for a while I bet.

I kept on trucking and as I came upon the Market, I see it's not open yet. I'm 45 minutes early. Sigh. So I decide to keep on going and try out the bike path a little ways. I traveled down Nonantum road and onto the path along the Charles.

It was really lovely and while it was still very hot out, I felt happy zooming along with the breeze in my face. I was only going to go a little ways and then turn back but the further I went the more I wanted to see what was going to come up next.

As I reached a cross walk I see two women biking toward me. I first notice bright colors and a wire basket and my bike juices are flowing. I then see a kid seat on the back on one and two saddle bags on the other. These women are totally working my bike style. And as we pass each other I smile. And one woman asks me if I am Mamavee and I say yes. Well it's just my lucky day because I ran into Dorea and Angela from Car Free with Kids! It was a Boston Bike Blog fest on the path I tell you. We chatted a bit but Angela was correct when she noted that biking was much cooler that standing still and we each headed off.

I was getting hungry as I hadn't planned to be out for long. I was only going to pick up some veggies and perhaps some lunch and go back home for more cleaning. I kept riding in hopes of finding something to eat which was kind of stupid because there are no stores on the bike path along the river.

I came onto an inlet with a community garden, people kayaking, fishing and having picnics

And then I looked around me and saw that I was coming up upon Harvard Square and I began to crave a falafel so I went into Harvard Square, locked my bike and bought a falafel. There was a farmer's market going on so I browsed that one and then sat down to eat. I even bought some sale aveda products.

Perhaps not a typical picnic, but it was dining alfresco and with a basket so I think this counts!

I even struck up a conversation with a guy who liked my basket. We chatted about riding about town and life in Boston. He was pleasant and nice and not even trying to flirt with me. I bid my adieu and rode back home.

Cycler wrote about her experience on this path up in Boston and Community Boating. Down by my end we have Community Rowing. This picture doesn't do it justice but the building is really cool and the facade looks like water ripples. I wish I were remotely interested in rowing as I would love to bike here to row. Who knows maybe someday.

I had hoped to try out the path and see how it felt. I had no idea how easy it would be to get to Harvard square. To think I have taken the bus! Never again. I can't wait to go again. Next time without the basket which doesn't like long bumpy rides.

So, while I went off trying to get some produce I ended up doing two events for this part of the Summer Games.

how do we get more parents riding?

2010-07-02T15:12:00.002-04:00

I saw this post which I loved talking about how to lure more parents out to bike. It also seems to be the magic question most bike advocates have on their mind. How to increase our numbers.

I think I have it.

Ride. And then talk about it. Post about it on FB, livejournal and blogs.

I think that is simply it.

Think about it- I started riding mostly because my friend JJ casually wrote in her LJ blog years ago about riding her bike to meet friends for dinner. The idea of her in a "going out" mode after a long day with kids, on a bike to a local establishment touched my brain in ways I couldn't articulate. I simply liked the idea a lot.

Then I got an email from a now defunct daily green email newsletter about Xtracycles and I instantly clicked that this was something I wanted to do. Flash forward two years and I own a xtra and a cargo bike imported from Europe. Kinda crazy eh?

I've noticed from FB and LJ many friends getting interested in this whole bike thing. One by one friends are buying Madsens and bikes and trying it out. As a local friend I ran into said " they didn't tell me at the bike shop that to ride was to become obsessed." I nodded knowingly.

I write this because I just got a message from someone I knew in high school over on FB. She has four kids, two little ones and two older. She just got a new bike. Heretofore her husband rode with the olders and now she wants to join too. I won't say I got her into it. But I do post a lot of bikey status updates and she thought I might know something about what gear might work for her. I told her about trailers and trail a bikes and copilots etc. All the mainstream stuff and then I said" If you find yourself getting obsessed check out Madsens". Who knows, but wouldn't it be a hoot if she took the bullet and bought one.

I'm telling you- ride, take pictures, write about it. I swear I think this is the secret.

riding gets the ya yas out

2010-07-02T11:30:00.002-04:00

As Townmouse mentioned in the comments of my previous post- not riding makes a cyclist grumpy. It's true, the more I am off my bike the more grumpy I get. After I wrote my last post, I took the Sorte out to the library to pick up the second to last book in the Trueblood series. I'll be happy to be done with the series only because I'm so obsessed with it that I need to take a break and get back to life. I finished that book last night too. I don't know what to do with myself without the next book to pick up...

Anyway- after the library I rode over to the camp both kids are at and picked them up and headed home. The ride down was lovely and relaxed and I didn't break a sweat. The ride back was fine but slow slow slow. It took me about 30 minutes to get home ( probably close to that to get there but it seemed faster). The temp out was cool enough for me to just be sweaty from the effort but not insanely hot and disgusting. However this morning as I drove them to camp ( every second I can get in the morning before stepping out the door is golden golden golden) they asked if I was picking them up with the bike. I asked them if they'd like me to and they both said a loud no. when asked why- they said because it takes too long. Tuber in fact said " yeah it takes so long, hours and hours!" :-/

Once home and the kids were frolicking post lunch, I called Dutch Bike Co in Boston to ask about their thoughts of the motor I had been looking at. They have an engineer would works with them and I was told the engineer didn't seem to think it was a great idea. I was so heartbroken I admit I didn't ask good questions as to why. The most annoying thing is my ignorance over this all so I can't just figure it out on my own. But it sounds like probably no for the Sorte.

which saddens me. I love the sorte. It makes me so happy and I love carting kids or non kids in it. I love the three wheeled stability. It's just made for a flatter landscape. I realized also that while when I pump fast it responds quiet nicely and moves faster for me, the second I take a second to coast I loose much speed due to the bikes girth, esp when going up hill. I rode this morning on the halfway and powered up the hill that kills me with the sorte. I did get tired by the top but it was a good fast burn. I was able to stop pedaling for a second or too without loosing much ground.

So I did get the ya ya's out. But I'm still sad and trying to figure out my next move. Sell the Sorte? I really don't want to. Just do recreational rides and drive those routes that kick my ass. Figure that in a few years they'll be riding on their own and I'll ride a two wheeler mostly?

Sigh sigh sigh. At least I still feel the nice burn in my legs from this morning.

I promise to get back into photos soon!

doledrums

2010-07-01T09:45:00.003-04:00

Sigh. this is going to be a venting ramble.

I want to say thank you to Space Rider Girl for the sunshine award. I really appreciate it even though at this point in time I feel I don't deserve it. I'm quiet grumpy about my biking right now. I'm going to be lame and not pass it along. I am in a funk. But I would have given up if it were for the small bike community I've gotten to know through this blog, so thank you everyone who reads and has commented here.

We went on vacation a week ago which was lovely but more of a working vacation as we needed to work on a family house to prepare it for renting. I got the better part of the deal and was on kid duty most of the time so that meant I got to swim and hang out rather than weed or clean out roly bugs. Still it wasn't a relaxing week and I didn't get to ride. My xtra is there, yet I need help getting it out of the garage which is down steps. Plus I haven't ridden it with two kids in a year and I need to just take a slow ride in the beach parking lot to get Girlpie to relax and see it as a fun thing. Tuber also doesn't love it and prefers the comfort of the sorte and while in the bobike seat holds my pants or waist which doesn't feel comfortable. And finally it was hot as hell and I hate being hot and sweaty and I just opted for easy.

Grump grump grump. But I hope to make B help me move the bike to another location that is easier to get access to on my own. I hope this weekend to practice riding with the two and I hope that G likes it. We'll see. B's ankle is still sore so he isn't into riding right now.

I'm at a crossroads. I began some conversations about doing a motor on the sorte again but the disk ( or drum??) brakes on my rear wheel mean I have to have a front wheel hub motor but since I have two front wheels, I am not sure this will work well. I have asked for some assistance in this matter, but haven't gotten any answers. I'm working with cycle 9 out of NC but she doesn't know the sorte well...

I'm also wondering if I should motorize the xtra. that could be easier as there are already tried and tested motors for xtras. I am leaving the bike at the cape and hope spend large portions of my summers there in the coming years. I have a fantasy of taking the ferry down and being carfree with the kids- yet the bike situation must work for that to work. I'm not sure it will as the grocery store is 20 miles away. Girlpie's favorite pond is across route 6 and down a long sandy road and I am not sure I could bike the sandy road. I guess I could make the kids get off and walk but it's long and they are slow. I should give it a try- my tires are fat enough, but I think it would be a slippy ride. Even still it's hilly and I am so sluggish on the xtra due to it's townie frame.a motor might help.

And a motor would really make the sorte better too. So basically I want to throw more money into the project. I feel silly by wanting to do this. But I feel just almost there. I love love love biking. I hate hate hate the effort it takes to get home up my hill.

I wish I had more knowledge of the motors and bikes so I could make a good decision and just do it. Harris may be able to hook up the sorte although they were dubious. My friend Peter said he's happily build the xtra on the cape. Both together would be thousands of dollars.

So I'm in a funk. It was super hot this week and I've been in the car more than I'd like. I did ride to the pool one very hot day. I retrieved my water bottle from the car and it was so hot in there, there was no way I would get in it for a 1.5 mile trip. The ride was much cooler on the way there, and not so bad on the way back as I was wearing a wet bathing suit so I'm glad I did it. I even brought three kids down and then my two back. I can do it, it's just sometimes I just don't want to and I want a little help.

grump grump grump

sorte is for loading

2010-06-17T19:30:00.003-04:00

An official LGRAB Summer Games Entry!!

I feel this is slightly cheating as I carry a load pretty much each time I ride this bike. However I'm adding it b/c I am not sure I can read my new bike book in time as I am currently devouring the TrueBlood series.

Wednesday was the end of yar class picnic. PArents were to come and bring a picnic lunch for themselves and their kids and bring something to share for the whole class. Also a ball or two for the kids to play outside with. I originally was going to ride the halfway since I was on my own to and from the school. But I realized that the boxes of juice pouches I had purchased to share with the class, would not find in my bike bag. Nor the blanket. So I decided eh why not bring the Sorte even though I was not going to have a single child en route.

At the last minute I through the ball in since I had plenty of room. Almost brought two scooters but figured we wouldn't have access to black top where the picnic space is.

At clean up time I filled the two shopping bags with recycled good to bring home and through in my recycling bins, so I had a little cargo both ways. I sadly forgot the ball since the kids were still playing with it while I loaded up in prep for going home.

I brought the Sorte ( and tuber) to last years picnic and the Sorte is always a conversation piece. It's fun because I get to meet all the other bikey parents in the class that I don't see at school since Girlpie buses. it's nice meeting relaxed cool bikey parents who are dealing with similar issues that I deal with. Safety, kids, time and trying to just enjoy it all.

safe routes bike safety roundup

2010-06-11T12:30:00.001-04:00

My last act this year as the Safe Routes rep was to coordinate a bike safety training session for the school kids.

We get the newton Plice Department to come and do a safety session with the kids and then take classes out on a one mile ride to practice riding. For a lot of kids this is the first time ( and perhaps only time for a while) to ride in the street.

Last week we did the 5th grade classes and unfortunately, the police officer had to cancel at the last minute. The P.E. teacher and I scrambled a bit and found a video online to show the kids. After the video she and I talked to the kids reviewing hand signals, talking about sidewalk riding ( since it is a reality for that age) and answered questions. The kids had a lot of good questions.

Then we went for a ride. We did get a police motorcycle escort to block intersections and help us out and after each ride he talked to the kids noting things he saw on the ride.

This week we did the 4th grade class and the traffic safety officer was able to come. We found out that the NPD uses the same video we found online, which is actually a good video geared to school aged kids. We did another question and answer period with the PE teacher and I interjecting some points that came up last week about sidewalk riding and hand signals. And went for our rides.

Both days were perfect late spring days with the sun shining and the air warm and bright. the kids were so psyched to have a chance to ride outside in the middle of the school day. the 5th graders got to travel down a busy street and business district and I think each group learned some real life lessons of cars and delivery trucks and so on. A lot of kids in both grades tried out hand signals. Both days were a lot of fun.

Best of all was the 4th grader who was riding a full on dutch bike. I told her I loved her bike and asked her if she picked it out herself. She did and when I asked why noting that it looked different than any of the other bikes, she said " Because it's European!" A girl after my own heart. After I mentioned it a lot of kids were saying " yeah it is really different. Big and Black and kind of wierd. But... it's cool." I'm not sure if I helped the cool status or not but she seemed pretty sure of herself.

I'm already excited about some ideas I have for next year. We'll do some bike training for next years 4th graders in the fall and then catch the 3rd graders in the spring and give the outgoing 5th graders a reminder next spring as well. It will be interesting to see how they've grown over the year. I'm hoping to incorporate the American League of Bicyclists into the trainings some how. I like having the NPD involved and doing safety, but they tend to be rule/ safety based and less about the real life practicality of riding/advocating to ride etc. I think a mix of the two could be a nice foundation.

The MBTA to Redbones

2010-06-09T16:02:00.000-04:00

Monday night I went to the Redbones bike party. I originally wanted to get a babysitter and leave the kids at home, but no one was available. I also decided that they might have fun too so I'd bring them along.

B works on Cape Cod on Mondays and I thought it was best that we meet him there, rather than him coming home first. So I plotted the route and found that we could get there fairly easily by bus and train.

The kids reacted positively to the news of another bus and train ride. This time the start and end of the route were both fairly close to home and Redbones so there was minimal walking needed. The kids wanted their scooters anyway so we brought them along. Leaving Newton at 4:20 and catching a 4:40 bus, traffic was pretty ok. We got seats on both buses and while the red line was a bit crowded, people took pity on us and offered both kids a seat. We arrived at Davis Square at 5:30. Not too bad actually. B left Hyannis around 4ish and arrived at 6 mainly due to traffic coming into the city.

Two suburban kids on the train.

I had a good time, they had a mildy good time. They don't like crowds, nor loud music and Girlpie had a hard time when the brass band played. Particularily because her Mama loves brass bands and dragged the family to right up front for the first few songs. Finally she demanded to go back by the tables where the sound was quieter.

Up close and personal with some nice brass band sounds

Girlpie is not happy. It.is.too.loud.

I had been hoping to win a raffle prize. I was crossing my fingers for the ANT basket bike or the Geekhouse certificate, but I did end up winning a T-shirt and book and a few gift certificates. Anyone know what I can get at ACE Wheelworks for $25? I sadly found out that I won a book and shirt from OPEN but I was supposed to redeem it at their tent that night. Once it was clear I was not going to win the ANT we took our overtired children and went home.

I did get to meet up with Cycler and of course I noticed her beautiful bike and basket first, her pretty dress and white helmet second and then I looked at her face and met her eyes and we both smiled. It's nice meeting people from online because I sort of felt like I already knew her even though we did shake hands officially. Cycler waited for the raffle call among B and the kids and I in a tight crowd. She was good natured about my whining kids which was nice.

I saw a Christiana bike but never saw the owner. I wanted to say hi, since it was his blog and link to the Dutch bicycle Co that lead me to purchase the Sorte. I originally wanted a Christiana as they have in the past been motorized...

I salivated over the ANT basket bike but I was a bit shy when it came to chatting with Mike and I also salivated over the Geekhouse bikes. However I wished they had brought a Mixte with them. All those diamond frames just don't beg me to want to hop on them. There wasn't test ride room anyway.

It was fun to go even though it was crowded and my kids ended up staying up way past their bedtime. They both went to sleep fairly well and Girlpie wasn't the evil bear I assumed she would be upon morning. I've got a new bike book to read just in time for this session of the summer games.

Again and as per usual these days, life is really good.

redbones anyone?

2010-06-07T10:26:00.002-04:00

So.. who is going to the Redbones party tonight? I hope to be there.

Bus it.

2010-06-04T22:02:00.004-04:00

Often on Friday nights we have an inter-family happy hour playdate with friends. We rotate between houses and we each live in three different neighboring towns. Both friends are out of my family biking range. However one person lives not too far from the bus route. I've been trying to work it out to take the bus, but have been trying to figure out how to best get the kids and I from the bus stop to her house a half a mile away. My kids hate walking for long and bikes are too big to take on the bus. Man I wish there was a way to get the sorte on there as the ride is so sweet and flat once we are in the area. Then finally both kids had fold up scooters and I had a plan.
We scootered the four to five blocks to the bus stop from our house and the kids scootered and played around while we waited for it to arrive.
You can't lean down and rest one's head on your mama's lap if she's driving in the front of a car now can you?
Girlpie kept her helmet on for the whole bus ride. Now sure why but it was one less thing for me to carry so I didn't inquire more.

Once we got off the bus, the kids were dragging a bit and did wonder outloud how far it was to scooter to their friend's house. I showed them the map on my phone and Girlpie seemed to relax seeing the route we had to take. Tuber did whine a bit, but he did manage to keep up. We arrived and the kids were happy to see each other and ran off to play. I grabbed a cold beer to cool off and didn't have to worry about driving home with overtired kids in the dark. B arrived a little while later from work in his car and after a nice dinner of ribs and mac and cheese ( I brought the pasta and cheese in my backpack) he drove us all home.

Tag that bike!!

2010-06-03T21:07:00.004-04:00

This is another official entry to the LGRAB Summer Games!!

I tend to be fairly friendly when I see bikey people. As a newbie I'm so psyched to see fun bikes out and about. A few weeks ago I was in Brookline and saw a woman riding in a sweet dress on a sweeter bike down Beacon street. She was moving too fast for me to take a picture but I watched her until she left my sight. Turns out she was going to the same place I was, Zaftigs for lunch. She was still outside waiting for a table when I walked up and I stopped and said I loved her bike. she said " Well, it's a gorgeous day for a bike ride!" I lifted my arm to show my helmet hooked around my elbow. We chatted helmets and I grabbed a spot at the bar for lunch. I admit, I was too shy for a photo op.

Yesterday I approached a woman at whole foods with her trailer, shopping bag and child. We chatted family biking a bit and local bike paths. Again, I was too shy to take a picture.

Today I was going to the gym and I see a sweet basket by the bike rack as I am coming up the block. I think, oh I should tag this bike.

I go work out, I come out the bike is still there. I go get a cup of coffee- the bike is still there. I go run a quick errand and then bike is still there.

So I stop at a bench and rip a piece of paper and grab a pen and tag that bike!

such nice details

However, does anyone know what this is below?

Another group ride

2010-06-02T12:53:00.002-04:00

Bike Newton held a group ride that was just my cup of tea. While I like the rally and ride a lot and go each year, for me riding my bike needs to take me places and riding just for the heck of it isn't usually my M.O. Sometimes I'll take a spin for fun if I am feeling a bit of cabin fever, but usually I make an errand out of it.

Sunday May 23rd was the Newton House Tour. I've seen this tour advertised in years past but I've always been doing something that day. This year Bike Newton joined with the tour organizers to offer a bike tour of the tour. Lois Levin of Bike Newton got the house addresses and plotted a route that was as bike friendly as possible and avoided as many hills as possible. This being newton- the route was not flat, but it was as good as one can get. She printed out maps for the House Tour people to hand out to anyone who wished to go by bike. In the past one would have to show up and get the pamphlet and then try to plot it out on their own on the spot. ( addresses are not released until the day of) This is a lovely addition to the tour and I hope it will be a yearly thing.

Bike Newton also had a convoy that would head out together with two Bike Newton reps leading the tour. I choose to ride with them due to timing and for fun and companionship. And it was really a lovely time. I only had about an hour and a half to join them as I had an event that started at 2. But I skipped out on church and left the kids with B and his mother and rode off to get some coffee before meeting the group.

Cyclists checking in and waiting to head out

We started off as 8 riders. The two Bike Newton reps, a couple, a family of three ( young adult daughter) and myself. The family liked to linger at each house so we lost them fairly soon.

Our whole convoy right before we took off.

Riding with other people was so helpful in building my confidence. I rode on Washington St behind one of the leaders and down beacon street near B.C. I was able to chat a bit, enjoy the perfectly sunny day and see a few really nice houses. My favorite and last house was owned by a Bike Newton member and she had bike parking set up for us. Her house was an awesome 1957 modern house that has completely pulled me over to the modern side. I am normally a victorian or craftsman lover, however this house was so perfectly laid out I fell in love on the spot.

Lois and I posing in front of Molly S's modern house and bike parking.

We rode off to the fourth house and I left the group at that point. I had to meet up with B and the kids and go to the next event. Sadly B broke his ankle and cannot bike so he had to drive over to pick me up. The halfway comes in handy here as I met him at a central spot and folded up the bike and waited for him to come and get me. Off to a family ice cream social and then home again for a yummy dinner. Post dinner watermelon on the front steps listening to Taj Mahal.

Life is good.

Girl time

2010-05-26T11:19:00.005-04:00

Girlpie and I took a trip to the library this weekend. She had to return some books and wanted some new ones. She decided to take her scooter while I biked.

She picked out her footwear and I think she has a strong handle on the whole cycle chic thing.

We'll leave it there and not talk about how the shoes were actually a size too big and caused some foot discomfort and a meltdown. Pretty shoes are only pretty if they are comfortable. At least that's how I feel about pretty shoes which is why I'm usually in flats or some funky comfort shoe.

Why I push for Madsens

2010-05-24T07:54:00.002-04:00

In my last post I digressed into a short speech on not wanting to tell people how much my bike costs. One commented, commented that pricey bikes can be less expensive in the long run due to how well it works and not needing new parts etc. Let me say I am the first to appreciate a sweet pricey bike. It's kind of a weakness. I want everyone on an ANT or Geekhouse or at least a Rivendell.

However I think hearing a bike costs several thousand dollars is daunting. Especially for a community that still highly values its cars.

A year ago I was biking my Sorte and had the neighbor bike the Xtra as we six ( two adults and four kids) made a playground trip. As I was going down one block a woman came running out of her house. We, it happens were ( and still are) on the same email list group. I had recently replied to an email about bike trailers and in the email mentioned I had moved on to a unique situation... She had seen me bike by a few times and finally came running out to ask about the bike. She had a four year old who biked on his own and a one year old. she used the trailer for both of them but liked the idea of the Sorte. She asked me how much it was and visably blanched when I told her. I told her about the Madsen and quoted that price as well and she nodded and said " Well... he's already riding on his own.... I guess I'll just stick with the trailer..."

I felt badly b/c she seemed so into the idea but clearly was not in the position to spend a lot on a bike option. ( perhaps monetarily- or simply psychologically)

Flash forward to a few weeks ago. I saw her name on an email about kids drop in yoga classes and I emailed her back asking how the classes were. She emailed me back immediately asking if I remembered her and telling me that she had been thinking of me because she finally got a Madsen. She had gone to the website and longed for one for quite some time and then finally saw they were having a sale off of some scratched bikes and she splurged and got one. She sounded really happy with it.

Another friend of mine recently moved to Salt Lake City and was really wanting to try out family biking as a way to get around. She found Madsen who are right there in Salt Lake City and I believe she got a good deal on a bike as well. There were some glitches with the delivery/ pickup and she didn't get her bike on time, so she was given some upgrades as an apology. I've read her reports on riding with the kids and she's loving it as well.

I love my fancy Danish bike. For a hot second I wondered if I should have saved a lot of money and gotten a Madsen as well. However truth be told, it was the Trike that sold me and I think while I would have gotten used to two wheels, three wheels has suited me much better. I feel lucky to have the Sorte and now I have a taste of a really well made bike. But I am really glad Madsens are around and are so easily shipped. They might just help America take on on this family biking phenomenon.