Because of our dependence on cars, cycling is not nearly as prevalent as it has been in the past. This is partially because of the inherent risks, but also because of our natural affinity to our cars. It doesn’t matter what reason you ride, there is a certain beauty to getting out to ride. If you are looking for an excuse, here are 4 ways to to enjoy riding your bike.

• Commuting
  Whether you are commuting to work, the store, school or wherever, bicycle commuting can be a great way (or excuse) to get out and ride. Because you have to commute to where you are going anyway, you don’t have to make any ’special time’ to ride your bike. Build in a few extra minutes and take your bike. You’ll find that you appreciate the extra scenery and experiences that you come across along the way.
• Cross Country (Mountain Biking, Trail Riding, etc.)
  If you’ve never been out on a trail, now is the time. Although “Mountain Biking” is often seen as hard or challenging, it is really just as difficult as you want it to be. With a little searching, you can find a trail of any difficulty near you. Riding amongst the trees is not only great exercise, but also a great escape.
• Cyclocross
  Cyclocross is perhaps one of the most vigorous, dynamic and challenging forms of cycling. It combines a short course with various obstacles, terrains and challenges that will require you to dismount, carry your bike, and remount on the other side. Be prepared to be exhausted, and covered in mud.
• Riding the Road
  When you think of cycling, you probably thing of the typical road rider: Helmet, Spandex Shorts and a Jersey. While this uniform can make your ride more productive and comfortable, it’s not for everyone. If you’re not comfortable in this type of garb, by all means wear what you’re most comfortable in. The important thing is to go out and ride. Go on a family bike ride, a midnight bike ride, or a leisurely ride through town.

How do you like to ride? Let us know in the comments!

Related posts:

1. 6 Easy Ways to Stay in Shape During the Off-Season
2. How Can We Make Cycling Safer For Everyone?

Photo by Shoupiest

I’ve heard it a thousand times: “I’d love to get out and ride, but it’s snowy outside!” Honestly, I’m just as guilty as the next person.

Now, as significant snowfall descends on Oklahoma for the second time this winter (unheard of!), I’ve decided that it’s time to stop whining and get out on the snow. For inspiration, I used an acquaintance who commutes by bike year round, regardless of snow or ice.

Here are a few tips to get you out on the snow:

1. Studded Tires – For great traction in the snow, break out a set of studded bicycle tires like the Continental Spike Claw Studded Mountain Bike Tire. They keep you stuck to the road and can even be quite fun.
2. Bundle Up – But not too much! It may take a few tries, but remember that after a few minutes in the saddle it could get quite hot.
3. Ride a Trainer – I know, this isn’t exactly the same as riding in the snow. However, it’s a great way to stay in the saddle. If you want to pretend you’re outside in the snow, you could even ride facing a window…
4. Get a Ski Bike – I’ve honestly never ridden one of these, but they look like a blast! Get a snow bike or modify one of your old bikes with some skis. Or, if you live in a place that gets regular snowfall, most ski resorts have them for evening fun on the slopes.

Don’t forget: Stay warm! Stay safe! Have fun!

Do you ride in the snow? Have any good stories? Let us know in the comments!

Related posts:

1. 5 Reasons You Should Ditch Your Car and Ride a Bike

By Henrik Moltke

The entrance and explosion of personal GPS units has changed the way we navigate the world. Do you own one? Have you used one. Chances are you’ve at least seen one.

What, then, does this mean for athletes? What does it mean for cyclists?

Here’s what it means: Enhancement. Sport GPS units provide athletes with the opportunity for better benchmarking, tracking and enhancement. Using them adds flexibility and possibility to your cycling workout that you never had before. You can track elevation changes, speed, routes, cadence, heartrate and tons of other variables that can affect your training.

Which one, then, should you use?

This is an important question to answer, as there are many units available. Each unit offers different features making them better for different types of cyclists. I’ll give the most popular units an overview to help you determine which GPS is right for you.

Here’s the rundown:

Garmin Edge 205

For the most basic of GPS monitoring, the Garmin Edge 205 measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude. It displays this data in real time on its screen as well as storing it for later review.

Garmin Edge 205

Features:

• Easy to install – Snap to your ride and go.
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons, making it extremely reliable for distance and speed information.
• Virtual Partner – Create a virtual partner to race against
• Set courses to easily race against your previous workouts
• Auto Pause – pauses the timer when you slow down or stop and resumes when you speed up again, so you can focus on your ride, not on starting and stopping your GPS.
• Auto Lap – Automatically start timing on a new lap when you pass a certain location

Pros: Easy to use, basic functionality, Virtual Partners, Laps
Cons: No directions, on-screen maps
Who’s It For? All cyclists looking to up their training. This unit is especially perfect for a beginner
How Much? $170 new at Amazon

Garmin Edge 305

The Edge 305 isn’t that different from the 205, honestly. The biggest difference between the two is that the 305 comes with a wireless heart monitor and cadence sensor, which are invaluable for any serious training attempts.

Garmin Edge 305

Features:

• Easy to install – Snap to your ride and go.
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons, making it extremely reliable for distance and speed information.
• Virtual Partner – Create a virtual partner to race against
• Set courses to easily race against your previous workouts
• Auto Pause – pauses the timer when you slow down or stop and resumes when you speed up again, so you can focus on your ride, not on starting and stopping your GPS.
• Auto Lap – Automatically start timing on a new lap when you pass a certain location
• Heart Rate Monitor – Keep track of your heart rate and export this data for analysis
• Cadence Monitor – Monitor your cadence with the self-calibrating cadence sensor

Pros: Heart and Cadence monitoring, Easy Install, Benchmarking
Cons: No Maps, Routing
Who’s It For? Serious cyclists and anyone looking to take their training to the next level.
How Much? $258.97 New at Amazon

Garmin Edge 605

The Garmin Edge 605 combines the computer data and tracking with advanced mapping and navigational capabilities. You don’t have to worry about where you’re at, when you can rely on the included base maps and additional maps to guide you. The screen is easy to read in sunlight, and the unit rugged. You can even add topographical maps for off-road riding.

Garmin Edge 605

Features:

• Easy to install – Snap to your ride and go.
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons, making it extremely reliable for distance and speed information.
• Virtual Partner – Create a virtual partner to race against
• Set courses to easily race against your previous workouts
• Auto Pause – pauses the timer when you slow down or stop and resumes when you speed up again, so you can focus on your ride, not on starting and stopping your GPS.
• Auto Lap – Automatically start timing on a new lap when you pass a certain location
• Heart Rate Monitor – Keep track of your heart rate and export this data for analysis
• Cadence Monitor – Monitor your cadence with the self-calibrating cadence sensor
• Advanced Mapping Capabilities
• Turn-By-Turn Directions

Pros: Turn-By-Turn Directions, Easy to Use, Advanced Mapping
Cons: May be too feature intense for some riders
Who’s It For? Commuters, Day-Riders and Tourers. This GPS is perfect for anyone going on extended trips or riding in unknown territory.
How Much? $349 New at Amazon (Doesn’t include HR and Cadence Monitors)

Garmin Edge 705

The Garmin Edge 705, like the 605, measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, and records this data for your review. Where it differs, is that it also includes a barometric altimeter to give the most accurate elevation readings. This unit is by far the most robust, giving you access to the most accurate ride-data available. You can also share this information wirelessly with other 705 users.

Garmin Edge 705

Features:

• Easy to install – Snap to your ride and go.
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons, making it extremely reliable for distance and speed information.
• Virtual Partner – Create a virtual partner to race against
• Set courses to easily race against your previous workouts
• Auto Pause – pauses the timer when you slow down or stop and resumes when you speed up again, so you can focus on your ride, not on starting and stopping your GPS.
• Auto Lap – Automatically start timing on a new lap when you pass a certain location
• Heart Rate Monitor – Keep track of your heart rate and export this data for analysis
• Cadence Monitor – Monitor your cadence with the self-calibrating cadence sensor
• Advanced Mapping Capabilities
• Turn-By-Turn Directions
• Accurate Elevation Change Readings with Barometric Altimeter
• Share Ride Info Wirelessly
• See Your Power Output with ANT+ Power Meters

Pros: High Accuracy, Robust Features
Cons: High Price, but you get what you pay for.
Who’s It For? This unit is definitely for serious riders. It’s perfect for race training and its rich features make it perfect for long rides and tours.
How Much? $479.95 New at Amazon

Well that’s the rundown. Did I leave anything out? Let me know!

Which GPS do you use on your rides? We’d love to hear in the comments.

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Related posts:

1. Riding the Road: What to Bring on Your Ride

Just You and the Road

photo by Noize Photography

One of the things I love about cycling is its simplicity.

Sure, there are some concerns you have to take into account. They are, however, mostly secondary.

Cycling gives you a chance to unwind, a chance to actually take in your surroundings. It is only as demanding as you want it to be.

It doesn’t matter what kind of gear you have. It doesn’t matter what kind of bike you ride.

Do you ride a road bike? Good. A mountain bike? Good. Do you have a utility bike? Good.

Cheap, expensive, new, old. It doesn’t matter.

What matters, is that you’re out riding and for a brief moment in time, it’s just you and the road.

No related posts.

I very often go cycling by myself, or with a small group. I also bike very frequently pulling my son in a trailer, and this always brings my most safety-conscious self to the forefront. I find myself thinking “what is this car going to do?” “are they going to see us?”

Bicycle Safety

That being said, the trailer actually makes me more visible, and I have had very few bad experiences. I have, however, had a few close calls that made me think twice.

I think that it’s safe to say that many more people would ride if they thought riding a bike was safer. How, then, can we make cycling safer for everyone? How can we do away with the machismo attitude that claims that cars own the road? Here are just a few thoughts:

Our streets would be more bicycle friendly if. . .

Everyone followed a few simple rules and common sense
This could go a long way. Simple traffic rules, safety conventions and common  sense actions could help bridge the gap between driver and rider, which could enable them to finally “share the road”.

Everyone paid more attention
Distracted driving is definitely an issue. Some of the closest calls I’ve been in have been because of distracted drivers. Whether they’re on their cell phones, texting, or just flat out not paying attention, distracted driving endangers everyone.

Everyone was more visible
This is along the lines of simple rules and common sense, but it is an important one. Ride with traffic, not against it. Wear visible colors, switch your reflectors out for lights, USE lights (especially when it’s dark or dusky), and stay in the lane. Most bicycle accidents happen to cyclists who started out on the sidewalk. Why? Because people in cars don’t pay attention to the sidewalk. When you make the transfer to the road, or to cross a street, you’re much less visible on the sidewalk than if you were in the road to begin with.

Everyone was more aware
As is often the case, ignorance is a huge part of the problem. People don’t realize that cyclists have their place on the road. Cyclists aren’t aware of correct etiquette (signaling, positioning, etc), and drivers aren’t aware enough to look for the signals. Ignorance is the issue, and education is the solution.

Have you had some close calls? Share them with us in the comments.
Do you have more ideas to help create cycle friendly streets? Share those too.

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(photo by faster panda kill kill)

Related posts:

1. Riding the Road: Simple Rules and Common Sense
2. 5 Reasons You Should Ditch Your Car and Ride a Bike
3. Riding the Road: What to Bring on Your Ride

It’s a fact: for all intensive purposes, books on cycling can be boring.

You’re constantly bombarded with fitness and training advice. The others are all about maintenance.

While these things are important, it’s sometimes good to step away from the technicalities and enjoy a book about cycling as much as we enjoy cycling itself.

(disclaimer: at least one of these books fits the fitness/maintenance category. . )

Here are 5 picks:

Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne

Bicycle Diaries chronicles the fascination of former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne as he cycles across the world. In the book he gives insight and thought about places such as Sydney, Australia; Manila, Philippines; San Francisco; and New York. He shares his thoughts on the good sides and bad sides of bicycle transportation as well as everything from urban planning to art. His love of cycling stems from the freedom you feel and have on two wheels, which has caused him to become very active in bicycle advocacy in recent years.

The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling: Build the Strength, Skills, and Confidence to Ride as Far as You Want by Edmund R. Burke

I warned that not all of these were as care free as I would have you think in the first paragraph. This is the only one, however, so don’t stop here.

As its name suggests, The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling: Build the Strength, Skills, and Confidence to Ride as Far as You Want by Edmund R. Burke is a comprehensive guide put together by two of the country’s top cycling experts. Learn how to achieve the strength, skill, and strategy you need to bike long distance. Discover how to cycle efficiently, choose the right gear, and train for a ride of any length.

The Rider by Tim Krabbe

The Rider delivers a single bicycle race, kilometer by kilometer. The book bares the sport to its essential, causing you to feel like you are actually a part of the race. As far as the book is concerned, it is the race.

Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures by Erich Schweikher

Twenty-seven true stories. In this book both pros and amateurs share freak accidents, animal attacks, sabotage, idiotic decisions, eerie or unexplained incidents, and other strange occurrences. Check out the wild, unpredictable side of cycling in this book. You won’t be disappointed.

The Art of Cycling: A Guide to Bicycling in 21st-Century America by Robert Hurst

Robert Hurst covers everything there is about riding a bike on America’s modern streets. His piece-by-piece account of cycling will make you want to ditch your car. His practical tips and insights share not only safety, but how-to and cultural interpretation. See the big picture of riding in America.

These are just 5 of the many books out there. What are some of your favorites?

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Maybe you ride every day, or maybe you haven’t ridden years. Do you ride with your kids, competitively, for fun? Everybody rides for different reasons, which only lends beauty to cycling. 

Take a moment and remember the times you’ve ridden; remember the people you’ve ridden with; motivate yourself to ride more or ride again. Let these photos remind and reinforce the beauty in cycling.

Enjoy.

Bicycle Punk

by Paul Keleher

There's a Fixie on the Wall

by wing_clipper

Enjoying the Sunset on the Beach. . . With Your Bike

by Kıvanç Niş

Bicycle Station

by pasotraspaso

Definitely Not In A Hurry

by laffy4k

Vintage Monark | Clean and Simple

by Petteri Sulonen

Fresh Produce. . Delivered by Bike

by Vince Alongi

Transportation, Plain and Simple

by BruceTurner

Getting Into Gear

by ragnar1984

Bicycle Graveyard

by Robert Thomson

Family Outing

by kamshots

Movin' Out

by xddorox

Well there you have it. What are some of your favorite cycling photos? Let us know in the comments!

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3. Would You Live in a Bicycle City?

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a collapsible bicycle are those goofy looking travel bikes with tiny wheels. And then I saw this:

Folding Bicycle

Sure it’s only a concept, but wow! It looks good. Could it really be safe? Look at how the wheels fold:

Collapsing Wheel

If nothing else, it’s a definite good start. I’ve been waiting to see bicycle production go in new directions. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t look like it’d be too easy to take apart. .

Would you ride a collapsible bicycle? Let us know in the comments!

[Gizmodo via Treehugger]

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1. From Bicycle Couriers to Coffee Delivery: The World of Every Day Cycling

Bicycle Couriers (also known as Bike Messengers) may not be your first thought when considering logistics or choosing a parcel delivery service. There are, however, many compelling reasons that you (or your business) should use bicycle couriers instead of  other courier services (aside from the fact that most of them will even bring you your lunch).

In previous posts I’ve mentioned EcoTrack Couriers of Oklahoma City, as well as several other uses of bicycles in business. Time to bring notice to a few more:

New York Bike Messengers Association (New York City)
The NYMBA is a worker’s alliance of bicycle messengers whose mission is to “unite, represent and advocate for the bike couriers of New York City.” Not only do they act as advocates, they organize rides (often for charity) geared toward bringing bike messengers from NYC together.

Breakaway Bicycle Couriers (Milwaukee)
Breakaway Bicycle Couriers brings you great rates and deliveries by a team of cyclists who not only ride their routes, but also compete nationally. Expect fast, cheap, water-proof, co2-free service.

Godspeed Couriers (San Francisco)
Godspeed Couriers, operating since 1999, is made up of  “a group of highly skilled bicycle messengers, amateur road racers, and experienced motorists who all love to be good at what they do.” They claim to bring you dependable rush-time service and won a “best of SF 2009″ award.

Velocity Bicycle Couriers (Charlotte, NC)
Velocity provides reliable, efficient, and friendly courier service in uptown Charlotte, specializing in legal offices. They’re flexible, however, willing to take on any job with a smile.

Are you a courier? Does your city have bike messengers? Let us know in the comments!

Looking for cycling services? Do you run a business that uses bicycle? Click here to check out the DIY Cycling Business Directory - Find a business or add your own business.

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Ditch Your Car - Ride a Bike!

Ask yourself the question: Why do I ride my bike? or Why do I not ride my bike? Do you know the answer? Maybe it’s a simple. Maybe it’s not. Must you ride your bike, due to lack of vehicle? Or is riding a bike a conscious choice? Maybe you don’t ride a bike. Why not?

In any event, I believe it’s important to know why exactly you do what you do. In this case, why do you ride a bike? Why don’t you ride a bike? If you don’t spend much time on a bike, I challenge you (yes you) to ditch your car and ride a bike! If you do spend time on a bike, i challenge you to spend more time on it. I’ll even give you 5 reasons why:

See Things in a Different Way.
Anyone who’s spent much time on a bike knows that the road takes on a different view while on two wheels. You’re going fast enough to get where you’re going, but slow enough to be able to actually take in what you’re seeing. See houses you hadn’t seen before, storefronts you never noticed, or nature you never took the time to look at.

Get in Shape.
This one speaks for itself. On an intense bicycle ride you can burn over 1000 calories per hour. During a leisurely ride, you’ll burn more than 300. Why not get your workout AND your commute out of the way all at once?

Save Money.
Gas prices are soaring, and car maintenance fees are nothing to scoff at either. Save yourself the time and money by riding a bike. After a small investment in gear, you won’t have to spend another paycheck on gas again.

Save the Environment.
This one’s simple: Use less gas! Using less gas, means more harmful fumes and less drilling, which means cleaner air and a healthier planet. More cyclists on the road leads to less crowded streets and cleaner city air.

Stand Out from the crowd.
Take the opportunity to be different. In a world full of people dependent on their automobiles, take two wheels, see the road you’re traveling and maybe meet a person or two.

There you have it: 5 of the multitude of reasons you should ditch your car and ride a bike. Let us know why you ride your bike in the comments!

Click here to sign up for more tips, tricks, news and reasons to ride your bike!

Related posts:

1. Riding the Road: What to Bring on Your Ride
2. How Can We Make Cycling Safer For Everyone?
3. 5 Cycling Books That Aren’t Just Training and Maintenance