Evidence Of Growth

Its December 15th, its chilly, and there is a light rain falling. Yet today on my morning ride in I saw maybe 30 cyclists. A number one would have only expected on a beautiful sunny day 2 years ago. I see these bits of anecdotal evidence everywhere. Bike racks that once were empty are now full, friends previously not into biking buy one, more people with helmets strapped to their bags in stores. Everywhere it seems cycling is on the rise here in Boston. Sure I could just go look at bike count stats, but I find these peripheral bits of evidence more compelling.

What bits of anecdotal evidence have you seen? What tells you cycling is on the rise? Share in the comments.

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Fourth Of July Open Thread

Its that time once again, America proudly proclaims “YOU AIN’T GETTING THIS SHIT BACK ENGLAND!!!” with much fanfare and exploding of things (that’s how we keep those limey bastards from getting up the courage to try and retake the colonies).

How will you celebrate the fourth? Cycling picnic, cycling BBQ, cycling fireworks, cycling, riding a bicycle, having fun with bicycles, bicycle related flag displays, overhauling the bottom bracket in your bicycle…for America, or just plane bike riding?

Leave your cycling (or non-cycling, but really if you don’t cycle on the fourth the British have already won) related plans for the three day America (fuck yea!) themed weekend in the comments.

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The Joys Of Boston By Bicycle

I have noticed that there are a lot of small things you can’t appreciate any other way in Boston unless you are on a bike. Tiny things you don’t think about until you are put in a situation in which you don’t have your bike. These benefits of cycling in Boston don’t happen all at once, but over time they build up into a compelling argument for a bike heavy lifestyle in this town.

In no particular order.

Sometimes you have to go many blocks out of your way if you are in a car, simply because you can’t get off your bike and walk 20 feet down the sidewalk to the next street.

The north end is almost impassable by anything but bike or foot.

The sudden realization that “shit I am in a car, its going to take forever to get downtown” never happens on your bike.

Castle Island picnics, laying in the grass with friend surrounded by bicycles.

There’s always bike parking in Harvard Sq.

When its pouring rain, and you are drenched to the bone, and you suddenly start to smile like an idiot. This is the exact time when someone in a car will look over at you and catch your smile. Bike smiles are contagious.

Hot people on hot bikes are doubly hot.

You can smell the flowers without a metal and glass box around you.

Bumping into friends and being able to stop and chat before cycling off.

The feeling of the sun on your legs as you charge up the hills on Beacon.

Getting honked at by surly Boston drivers only to stop and wave at them at every single red light all the way down Mass. Ave.

The fact that Boston is the city that sleeps, riding your bike anywhere after 2am is an amazing experience.

Riding your bike to The Common and eating felafel with all your bike friends.

Never, ever, worrying about traffic.

Never, ever, worrying about the T.

Never, ever, worrying about cab fair.

Getting flat tires and meeting new friends who pull over to lend you a tube.

Chatting with other cyclists at red lights.

Finding “bike houses” of people who have entire rooms dedicated to the residents bikes. You can always tell a bike house because they always have a couple bikes locked up to the fence out front, and the occupants all have really nice legs.

What are the little things that make you happy to be a cyclist in Boston? What keeps you madly in love with cycling? What is best about Boston by bike?

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Hungry For Miles

I have written before about some longer bike rides I have taken, and with the weather getting better that hunger for getting on my bike and heading off into the distance has been returning. Lately I have been feeding my desire for more and more miles by going out after work and doing 20 and 30 mile loops, buts its not working.

The feeling lately has been more than just a normal “hey lets go for a ride feeling” but a physical desire for going on long fast rides. I was in Harvard Sq. sitting in the sun, thinking about cycling, and without realizing it my feet were doing little pedal motions, like a dog dreaming about running through a field. I have never wanted to ride my bike this much before in my life…

There is just something so magical about loosing yourself in a long bike ride, something pure about the physical and mental experience of self propulsion. The magic for me only happens at about mile 50 or 60, that’s when my brain sorta flips over, my legs sort of go away, and I can really enjoy the feeling of flying.

The problem is I am running our of good routes from Boston to someplace and back. Does anyone have any good routes that start in Boston, go out 20-30 miles and come back? I have done the minute man loop, the neponset river greenway loop, the minuteman-concord-walden pond and back loop, any other suggestions? Links to maps would also be awesome.

Do you like long rides? How do you feel on them? What makes them magical for you? Are you interested in starting some longer rides? So many questions!

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RAGBRAI: Call For Information Open Thread

I am doing RAGBGRAI this year, and have never done it before. I would like to know if anyone else has done it, what its like, what sort of level of physical fitness should I be at, would it be crazy to do it on a fixed gear.

I know Iowa is flat, but I hear there are hills too, if I was going to do it fixed, any suggestions for gearing?

Share your RAGBRAI knowledge with the world in the comments.

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