Sorry to have not posted for a while. I have had
exams, and lots of assignments to hand in. Then I went
away camping for a few days. I will be going away
again in a week or so, for a couple of
weeks.<br><br>Anyway, haven't checked out those other sites yet, but I
will.<br><br>As for the riding at night without lights, I do it
sometimes, but very cautiously. Sometimes you go out, noit
expecting to be riding home in the dark. I think it is
pretty dangerous, but if you ride really carefully and
assume that cars cannot see you, it can be
done?!?<br><br>Well, what I mean is, I dont catch a taxi if I'm in the
position of having to ride without lights, but I try to
avoid doing it if I can.<br><br>Happy (and safe)
cycling,<br><br>Ben

its not much but its ours, you can post on it if you would like to, or lets us
know of a good link

Nice site! I am slightly involved with a program
here "Bicycle Works". It is primarily just the
bicycling recycling/earn a bicycle sort of program. I have
helped with some of the bicycles as well as acted as an
adult leader on their rides including anual overnite
trips to a nearby State Park.<br><br>I also lead
occasional short urban bicycle rides for the local HI (AYH)
group. I commuted for 25/30 years befor I retired &
sometimes go on the monthly CM ride. Nothing very wild as
far as advocacy, but maybe we also help by being an
example when we use the bicycle for "practical" things.

Not mine per se, I have been volunteering with
them and teaching kids fo going on three years. The
bike revolution (hey that sounds wicked corny) takes
many forms. I'm a bike commuter, but still use my car
when I want. Not your typical BNBer but I still feel I
am an advocet for bikes (I also do work with a local
touring club www.nbwclub.org) as well as a sometimes
Masters racer. I don't feel that a movement has to be
particularly political or even noticeable, though modt my BNB
friends disagree. I hope that thing pick up in the yahoo
club, to both broaden my knowlegde and hopefully give
me some stuff to bring to my passive
activism.<br><br>Happy holidays to the US members, be thankful for the
bike.

brucevelo is that your web site ?bikes not bombs?

www.bikesnotbombs.org

It's been quiet around here lately. I'm not sure
why. I might have posted more, but don't like
following myself up. Makes me think I'm talking to
myself.<br><br>I was thinking about posting a helmet rant just to
see some traffic :)<br><br>Honestly, I was looking
into some advocacy in my area, and doing some work to
improve the number and safe practices of the local
velocommuters.<br><br>We have quite a few that don't own cars around here,
but that's due to the living expense. They often ride
at dusk in dark clothes and without lights or
helmets. It's a bit dangerous.<br><br>JOKE

hahaha ha see what i mean

Thank you for your kind words Tony.<br><br>www.bikesnotbombs.org

since i have been comeing here I have seen
nothing to make me beleave that this club has anything to
do with a <br>Cycling Movement of any kind did you
all leave give up sell your bikes ? what
www.psychocycles.org

is anybody out there ?

This morning, I got an early start off to work.
My new commute path includes a ride through the edge
of the San Fransisco Baylands on a bike trail. It's
low traffic, and shorter than the rough road option
around.<br><br>So this morning, as I'm riding along the baylands, I
watch the sun rise over the hills. A low fog was
floating out of the waterways, and a clear patch over some
marshy ground made the picture complete. It was
something so see, and I definetly would not have seen it
had I driven.<br><br>That's not the only reason I
ride to work, but it is a good one.<br><br>JOKE

THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH IS CRITICAL MASS DAY IN KENT OHIO ITS GETTING
BIGGER BUT WE STILL NEED HELP THANKS BIGFUN

Great Jo!!<br><br>Congrats. on your record!!  I had only 2 or 3 years where I
was able to bicycle EVERY work day.  It is good to hear that it is working for
you.<br><br>Karl

Well, I moved to be further from
work.<br><br>Actually, I moved due to a rent increase that was beyond
reasonable. However, now I have a more senic commute. Now I
can ride through the baylands on my way to and from
work. It's more relaxing than riding through suburban
sprawl.<br><br>It is far enough, though, that I now need to wear
bike shorts for the ride. I used to be able to do it
in street clothes, but now it's far enough that I
get chafed if I do.<br><br>My record remains, though,
that I have not driven to work this calendar year.
Every work day involves a bike. It looks like I can get
through the end of the year without driving to work. It
feels like a great accomplishment.<br><br>Ride
on,<br>JOKE

This guy got lucky, in an unlucky sort of way.
Hopefully the URL will show up as a link. Otherwise, you'll
have to cut and
paste.<br><br><br><a
href=http://www.foxnews.com/etcetera/crime/092900_stolen_bike.sml
target=new>http://www.foxnews.com/etcetera/crime/092900_stolen_bike.sml</a><br><\
br><br>Earlier this year, my montain bike got niced. I have
learned that bike theft is not heavily persued. Further,
there is no consistent nation (or world) wide stolen
bike registry that police forces use. A bike my get
nabbed, then taken as evidence during a bust in the next
town over, and even if yyou gave a seial number, not
get the bike back. The cops in the other town won't
know who has it!<br><br>I'll be buying a replacement
bike soon enough, but it still sucks to walk home (or
get a ride) when you rode somewhere. I have started
believing in commutting on a junky looking bike. But be
careful of putting good components on it, as many thieves
know bike parts.<br><br>-JOKE

I have found having mub guards has been really
good. Then at least you dont have to worry if it has
just stopped raining (water off the road).<br><br>If
it is actually raining at the time I want to ride, I
usually get changed when I get where I'm going. I have
tried waterproof pants, but the ones I have got aren't
very good, so I got pretty wet anyway. Sometimes I
will just put up with having wet legs for a couple of
hours. But then I'm a student, so it doesn't matter how
I look when I'm walking around campus.<br><br>The
key is MUD GUARDS! though.<br><br>Ben

Increased my riding since when?<br><br>Well, I
have increased my riding in most cases. It has
decreased a bit over the last couple of months. Winter's on
its way - the days are shorter. I used to ride an
extra 30 Km two days a week after work, and I stopped
that due to lack of sunlight.<br><br>As for over the
last year, it has increased. I started riding to work
in March of 1999. I drove to work a few times then,
but have yet to drive to work this calendar
year.<br><br>As a side note, it is raining today here (Silicon
Valley.) Due to the lack of "real" cold weather, I just
wear shorts and a waterproof jacket on the ride. I
change into the khakis at work. How do others deal with
the rain, assuming it's not by driving?<br><br>JOKE

Well, I increased my bike riding when I started
riding to work and I am a student now so I ride to
school now.<br><br>I actually used to drive quite a bit.
It makes me cringe when I think about it. I stopped
driving so much when I moved into the city, but I think
if I moved back to the suburbs again, I still would
not get a car. In fact I did live back at my mums
house for about a month, and I used to ride into work
in the city every day (about 25KM). I just allowed
the time.<br><br>I can understand that some jobs are
difficult in that they require a lot of travel, my partner
has the same problem. However, what we do is, when we
go out, we always make a point of either riding our
bikes, or catching public transport.<br><br>We always
shop locally, thereby eliminating the need for the car
there and generally just allow enough time to ride or
catch public transport.<br><br>Is it possible for you
to leave your car at work and only use it when you
need to go out on a job?

How many have increased their bike riding? If so
by how much? What is your motivation?<br><br>Answer:
My bike riding has decreased. My job requires much
time on the road. A bike would not do it. I am
planning to join a bike group soon.

Melbourne Critical Mass will celebrate its 5th
birthday this November 24th (N24).<br><br>Critical Mass
meets the last Friday of every month at 5:30PM outside
the State Library on the corner of Latrobe and
Swanston Streets, Melbourne.

Tour De Julian (Event Contact Phone:
760-765-2200)<br><br>7:30 A.M. Registration and check in. <br><br>8:45 A.M.
32 mile road ride departs. <br><br>9:00 A.M. 22 mile
mountain bike ride departs. <br><br>9:15 A.M. 17 mile road
ride departs. <br><br>The Tour de Julian features 2
road rides of 17 and 32 miles with lots of ups and
downs. <br><br>Both rides include a stop at Menghini
Winery where you can tour the winery. <br><br>At rides
end enjoy Julian Pie and Ice Cream along with
refreshments. <br><br>Both rides feature rest stops with fruit
and Dudleys bread and water. The 22 mile mountain
bike route starts with 7 miles of pavement through
beautiful countryside before you hit the dirt. Then its
several miles of single track through a meadow before you
descend over 8 miles on dirt road past old gold mines to
the tiny town of Banner. Then its a 3 mile dirt road
and single track climb with about 1300 feet of
elevation gain back to Julian. <br> <br>Date:<br>September
24, 2000<br>Location:<br>Jess Martin Park<br>City:
Julian<br>State: CA<br>Country: USA<br>Fees:<br>Adults 19 & over -
$30/$35after 9/20 / Youth 18 & under $21, $24 after 9/20/
Tandem-Teams $54, $59 after 9/20<br>Distances:<br>17, 22 and
32 miles<br>Online Reg Closes:<br>September 22, 2000
0:00 AM Mountain Time

(This may have been covered)<br><br>Which cities are better for bike riding?  I
live in Los Angeles and it is OK, I guess.  I do not have much to compare
regarding cycling.  Any input?<br><br>Greg

Welcome Derek,<br><br>Glad you have joined.<br><br>The revolution is coming, and
it wont have an engine.<br><br>Happy cycling,<br><br>Ben

A strike has been called in Los Angeles between
the bus and train drivers and the MTA. I wonder how
many people will hop on bikes to get around.<br><br>I
would think that higher prices for gas and now the
strike will push people to ride their bikes. I can only
dream of the days where bikes are so common that a car
becomes a symbol of backward thinking. <br><br>Just
babbling,<br><br>greg

Thanks to all for the suggestions.  I am going to look around for another
"street surface" bike.  Maybe the recycler.com can help me.  <br><br>I will
update all.<br><br>Gregory

Glad to see this club growing and surprised i
didn't find any others on this theme. <br><br>In recent
years (i'm 32) i've become more aware of compromises
and costs of sticking to my bike (sometimes bus)
versus car transport. Luckily, i'm also clearer recently
about what parts of me are really central to my values;
and guess what!?<br>I not headed anywhere near a car
dealership yet. <br><br>Keep pedalling<br>Derek

Greg, the problem with mountain bikes on the road
is not the weight, but the tires. The mountain bike
frame will keep you more upright and generally more
comfortable than a road (racing) frame. <br><br>The
popularity of MTBs mean that road bikes are expensive, and
generally lesser values. You may think about a "city" or
"hybrid" bike. They have road compatible tires on MTB
frames, and are made for casual city
riding.<br><br>Mountain bikes generally use knobby tires. These blocks of
rubber squirm when on hard surfaces, and the power
sucked up in that squirming comes from your legs. It you
ride off road on hardpack, or anywhere but pea gravel
(or Birtish Columbia), you would be served quite qell
with semi-slicks. They have a generally slick center,
but knobs on the side.<br><br>If you ride only on the
road, get fully slick tires.<br><br>As for what I ride,
I got a deal on a Trak Y-Foil 66. This is a
time-trial racing bike made from carbon fiber. They stopped
making this model, as UCI changed the profile rules for
time trials and the frame is not allowed anymore. It
has a long cantilevered arm that really smooths out
the ride. I have come to love carbon, though it is
pricey.<br><br>I am considering another bike, as this one is bad
for general commuting. I'm afraid to leave it behind
- too tempting a target. I'm looking at getting a
cyclocross bike. This is a road-like frame with large tire
clearences and skinny knobby tires. Cyclocross is an
interesting form of racing, look it up. The model I'm
considering has pannier mounts, so it would make a good light
touring ride - just change the tires to toruing
types.<br><br>JOKE

I agree that Mtn. Bicycles are heavier!! A road
bicycle ("10 speed") will certainly be easier if your
ride is on pavement. I have 3 bicycles: (1)A cheap
mountain bicycle that I use for short errands & casual
city rides-almost never off pavement though. (2)A
touring road bicycle that I have used to carry camping
gear & go off on to tour a series of local state
parks--again all on pavement. And my "good" bicycle -- (3)a
1970s model road racing frame that I found for $25.--
at a resell-it shop. I upgraded with some alloy
components to 18 speeds & use it to chase my friends on
group rides.<br><br>happycycler/Karl

From time to time I will post different cycling events in the group.  I wil try
to find info on the different levels as well as the locations, times and entry
fees.<br><br>Greg