Progress toward a more bike-friendly SLC

I've heard other cyclists speak longingly of Portland (now ranked number 2 in the world's friendliest bike cities) and other places like Boulder, Davis, and San Franciso. Unfortunately, Salt Lake is rarely considered by locals to be safe for cyclists. This is rather incongruent with the fact that Salt Lake is generally considered one of the outdoor meccas of the United States, if not the world. I was surprised to find that the typical reaction of my friends and family after learning of my decision to bike commute to work was a mixture of shock and concern. Apparently, the streets here are perceived by most as harrowing and dangerous places- owing to the preponderance of drivers who range from the uneducated (and thus don't know how to safely react to cyclists) to the inconsiderate to the down-right pathological. In my own experience, a hand-full of drivers have frightened me well enough so that I am especially appreciative of the exemplary drivers who are observant, considerate, and safe. And yes, such drivers do exist in Salt Lake. My sincere thanks goes to each and every one of them.

However, recent events like last week's horrible crash involving Andy Chapman, a local climber and cyclist and all-around great guy have given me much to think about. Andy was Life Flighted to Provo Hospital for treatment of several major injuries after going through the window of a van whose (uninsured!) driver had cut him off. Thanks to the heroic actions of Adrienne Burke, Andy survived and is currently recovering quickly, but past tragic incidents have proven fatal. Reading through the online comments to the KSL and Deseret news coverage of the incident, it is clear that the cycling and motorist communities are rather polarized. The the solution to bring these two groups together and dispel the animosity underlying the fight over sharing the road is as yet elusive. However, this "problem" deserves our immediate attention as is not likely to go away (as some groups might hope). Indeed, continuing gas price hikes ensure that collisions involving motor vehicles and bicycles are, unfortunately, more likely to increase in frequency.

Still, there is hope for Salt Lake. I was surprised (and delighted) to see new green bike lanes downtown this afternoon. These bright green swaths were introduced on September 17th by Salt Lake's mayor, Ralph Becker, and appear square in the middle of the right-hand lane. They serve as a reminder to drivers that it is, in fact, legal for cyclists to ride in the center of a travel lane. These markings are not meant to replace bike lanes and will be kept as a year long experiment. Of course, we will have to wait to see if they help to increase motorist's awareness of cyclists, but it's definitely a good to see of the city admit that sharing the road is an issue worthy of attention and is taking steps to improve the situation.

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Planks or Pedals?

Date: August 8 - 16, 2008
Location: Park City, UT - Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Featuring: Me (Jake Kirshner), Mike Saltsman, Josh Matta

Low Res YouTube Version:

High-Res Version: http://www.jakecast.com/helmetcast/helmetCast7.m4v
(right-click > save target/link as...)

Recipe for lame crashes:
(1) parts: first biking of the season
(1) parts: first time in clipless pedals
(1) parts: narrow areas between bridges and storage bins

Cheers,
Jake

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Bike commuting in comfort

I've been flirting with bike commuting for a while, but the relationship never really developed into anything long term. This year gas prices and a rising concern for the environment in which I love to play, have prompted me to commit to driving to work only one day out of every week. This translates to a lot more biking than I've ever done before. I don't live very far from my office (about 5 miles), but the way is mostly uphill, and I usually have a fairly heavy load to slog up there- including my laptop. I herniated a disc in my back a couple of years ago, and though I have an awesome commuting backpack that is quite comfy, all the weight has been starting to tweak me out.

I turned to panniers as the solution, and bought a pair of Seattle Sports rain rider panniers based on the review on bikecommuters.com that praised the construction, durability, lightness, and waterproofed-ness of the panniers. I know it doesn't rain very often here in Salt Lake, but with my entire academic career contained in my laptop, I just can't afford to lose it to a surprise September downpour. Sure I back up my hard drive weekly, but not daily, and losing a week's worth of work: not an option (not to mention the cost of replacing my only machine). I've logged a number of miles with my panniers, and though it's been predictably dry during that time, these suckers are amazing. I can carry surprisingly large loads (I brought them along for a recent trip to the library and managed to squeeze numerous reference books in each- I'd guess about 25 lbs or more and they didn't even seem the slightest bit perturbed by the experience... wish I could say the same for my calves on the way back to my office!). Getting all the weight off my back has been a life saver and certainly means that I'm less likely to wimp out and give up on my resolution.

The panniers I got are an updated version from the ones described on bike commuters. The only differences I can see are an additional buckle strap which does come in handy during the rare occurrence of a light load and a waterproof zipper pocket. This is particularly useful for holding wallet, keys, bike lock, or anything else you want to get at quickly and without digging through your stuffed pannier.

Overall, these are an excellent purchase for a bike commuter or someone wanting to go on a long bike trek who requires a light and waterproof pannier. Though they aren't sold on backcountry.com yet.. I'll keep on suggesting it 'till they are!

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Biking vs. Driving

I much prefer biking to driving, especially with gas prices as they are.

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No Foolin' - Backcountry.com Launches Bike Category

As if my wallet wasn't already under fire from the abundance of gear choices, Backcountry.com has to go and launch their newest addition to the world of retail - the bike category. No, this is not an April Fools joke.

I suppose it only makes sense given that during the summer there are mountain and road bikes all over the office. The CEO, who from time to time cracks the whip on getting us to tidy up around the place, hasn't been that keen on the plethora of bikes spilling into the halls around the office, but when both the CEO and President typically have 3 or more sick bikes in their own offices, no one pays much attention. In true Backcountry.com fashion, we just do it anyway, opting to ride to work, stashing our bikes in corners, against walls, under stairs, so there's always a bike handy for lunch time rides.

I suppose that's similar to how selling premium in season bike stuff at Backcountry.com, including bike frames which are purported to be happening spring of 2009, came to be.

For years it was "no way, we'll never sell bike stuff" but enough of the ground troops grumbling over the years grew to a deafening roar of the masses which finally took over. At that point the decision was easy enough - it's time to sell bike stuff.

From the source:

Here you’ll find the gear you need to feed your addiction: everything from Zipp carbon road wheels to Fox protective mountain bike gear; essentials from high-end brands like Crank Brothers, Pearl Izumi, and Mavic; performance clothing from Castelli; impact protection from Six Six One—and the list goes on. Whether you get high on monthly stage races or battle demons on a rocky downhill ride, we’re here to keep those pedals pumping.

Same killer service, same warranty, same knowledgeable staff....but now we're selling bikes. So check out the new bike category at Backcountry.com, tell your friends and family and prepare your wallet as bike season is nearly upon us.

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