Paris, London, San Antonio...

A few years ago I went to Paris with my grandmother, and fell in love with the Velib idea: bikes available to borrow at locations all over the city, an easy ride from one to the next. I was also dismayed to find out that my American credit cards wouldn't work in the automated kiosks (you can now purchase a ticket online, however, which makes me want to go back even more).

It's spread both internationally and domestically, and has now spread to a city quite close to me: San Antonio.

This is a FANTASTIC idea. For one, San Antonio's downtown area is fairly condensed. The Alamo, the Riverwalk, La Villita, Hemisfair Park & the Tower of the Americas, are all pretty close to one another...though perhaps far enough apart that you wouldn't want to walk.

Nor would you want to give up your drove-around-the-block-three-times-trying-to-find-an-empty-parking-space steps from the Riverwalk.

So a bike share is PERFECT.

My last trip to San Antonio I was surprised by how many cyclists were whizzing around downtown. They continued steadily even after dark, as tourists stumbled back to their hotels, a stream of lights bouncing along on two wheels in front of the Alamo.

I can't wait to join them!

"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race."

The good news: more and more states are moving towards bike-friendliness.

The bad news: Texas still ranks #41. On bike to work day I had a car pull up next to me and honk for no reason except, apparently, to see if he could get me to react. A friend had a truck pass him, pull in the bike lane, and suddenly stop just to try & make him crash. A cyclist in Alice was hit Wednesday and left on the road.

Do I deny that there are cyclists who don't follow the rules as they should? Definitely not; they are, in fact, one of the main reasons I usually ride alone.

But I beg drivers to think of it this way: if I'm on a bike, it means I'm not another car on the road. It means less traffic, so you get where you're going faster--and without speeding! What safety for cyclists really means is safety for everyone.

Also: It's 2MC season again! I've kicked it off with 16 miles the first week, hoping to bike more this weekend!

It's Bike to Work Day!

There's a new crew in town, and that crew is the SpokesPeople. I have, unfortunately, missed every single one of their rides so far, but when I saw they had organized a "Bike to Work Day" event on Facebook, it was the kick in the pants I needed.

This brings the number of bike commuters at work to three, possibly four (and how cute is that white cruiser, I ask you?), which I like to joke is all of us in town (according to the official report, Corpus Christi has 0% female bike commuters).

So last night I checked my lights, trunk, and tires and went to bed early so I could make my first ride from the new house.

It was muggy as all get out, but it made me remember how nice it is not to be stuck in my little gasoline-powered bubble. No A/C, no radio, just me and the waves and the birds.

It doesn't get better than that.

Back from the Wars!

So. I've been MIA for a while.

It's been a busy year!

I shopped for and bought a house, moved, and changed jobs all within a few short months. I've also been planning a trip to Europe with family (and of course included a bicycle tour of Barcelona!).

One of the biggest selling features of my house? The garage.

Living in an apartment led me to the purchase of my delightful, folding Dahon Cadenza. A full sized bike that can fold up and be hidden in a closet? BRILLIANT!

My next place, a townhouse, had a patio that I initially planned to keep the bike on. Unfortunately it was a very WET patio, so the bike was moved inside under the stairs--and I bought a cruiser to keep it company.

But this house has an actual garage! I can pull my car in, the lawnmower, my bikes, garbage & recycle bins. I'm in the market for a bike lift to free up a bit of floor space, but all in all things fit rather well!

While my new house is a bit further out than the old places, it's still convenient to the nearest road with bike lanes (few and far between here in Corpus), and I can easily get to the grocery, etc. It'll be even easier once they finish up all the construction surrounding the new Wal-Mart, which apparently involves ripping up every road, sidewalk, and cross walk in a three mile radius. I'll be especially pleased if they add bike lanes to the street the Wal-Mart is on, though I kind of doubt it...

The Amazing Zip Tie

While I don't have to deal with snow except every 100 years or so, I know some folks do and found this article simply fascinating!

How to make bicycle snow tires with zip ties.

Honestly, is there anything a zip tie can't do? I always have some in my trunk bag, just in case. Headlight no longer want to stay on straight? Zip tie. Panniers dragging in your wheels? Zip tie. Need to secure a piece of unruly cargo? ZIP TIE.

Black Friday on a Bike

Well, I didn't actually bike ON Black Friday...but I did this weekend! I did my Christmas shopping by bike, and what fun!

Picked up some garland and lights at the hardware store & took them home to decorate, then headed to the shopping center for some more goodies (somehow I seem to have only shopped for myself!), and ran back home.

I have to say, biking is way more pleasant than driving among the holiday crazies! I stuck to the back streets, used my signals, and enjoyed the cool weather (thankfully we got a cold front this week, so everyone's now in the Christmas mood). Even better, I didn't have to mess with traffic!

Gearing up for the season, I'm hoping for this adorable Nutcase helmet and will probably treat myself to the fantastic Dahon commuter that I keep rambling about.

Any fantastic new toys or tools on your Christmas lists?

Temptation

Oh goodness, what to do!

I was saving up for a new computer...my old one is 5+ years old now, and showing its age.

BUT.

My dream bicycle is on sale.

So the question becomes: do I treat myself to an early Christmas present with my cash, or go ahead and buy the bike? It's not like I actually need either of them, but boy do I want them both.