She will consistently fail you when you need her the most. Or at least when I depend on her the most.

She whispered in my ear that everything was fine - good, even! - while I spent sweaty hours at my sewing machine figuring out what worked for the hats and what didn’t. She assured me that this was the best way to make the brim, or line the hat, or whatever. She told me everything I wanted to hear.

And then, like most relationships, something happened. I didn’t believe in her enough. She didn’t want to keep up the endless moral support. She pointed out everything that was wrong with the construction of the hats. I pouted furiously because they just confirmed all of my suspicions and hated her for her dishonesty.

Confidence can be such a fickle bitch.

But a few more frustrated sweaty hours in front of my machine at least gave me some new ideas, and the promise of a better product. The brims are better; hopefully sizing won’t be such an issue, and just between you and me, I have some high hopes.

So fuck Confidence. I can roll out new (and better) hats without her.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino cordially invites you to
The Healthy Main Streets
Where’s Charlie Family Fun Celebration
on Saturday, August 2nd at 10:00 a.m.
at Town Field, 1565 Dorchester Avenue in Dorchester

Come celebrate Healthy Main Streets’
Where’s Charlie initiative! There will be fun fitness giveaways and a free drawing for great prizes including a 2009 model Specialized Globe Carmel 1 bike from Back Bay Bicycles!

Over the month of July, Healthy Main Streets encouraged residents of all ages and ability levels to explore various Boston Main Streets districts in search of Charlie. More than 50 Charlies were hidden in Main Streets businesses in 7 participating districts. Those who found Charlie won a fun summer fitness prize-pack including a MBTA pass and a pair of sneakers! Congratulations to those who participated!

Come celebrate with your friends and neighbors who participated and you’ll walk away with some exciting summer fitness prizes as well!

One reason why I hate public transportation. Or more accurately, one reason I need a bike friday.

And while even my own mental image of myself riding around on a folding bike is absurd, I still would have rocked that thing all over NYC yesterday when, after waiting 10-15 minutes for the 6 train, the metro employee decided to tell a handful of those who asked that the 6 “wasn’t running.”

(At least I got to go to the Museum of Sex.)

Which brings me to Bike Friday. The one in Beantown that started at the masochistic hour of “before 7am” and promised a police escort to government center. And free breakfast.

It was probably the latter that had me shooting down my usual commute to work to meet up with a convoy in the sticky heat. It was totally worth it. The police made corkscrews at every intersection, and for once, I rode in without anyone trying to kill me, honking at me to move into the door zone of parked cars, or feeling the need to race that one guy who thinks he’s faster than me but isn’t.

And, you know, there was free breakfast.

Hopefully I’ll be leaving hats around at the next one…

Measuring up has never really been my forte.

Even literally. Something’s always not right. I’ve mastered the art of miscalculation of seam allowances. Making patterns from my own measurements means drawing, cutting, sewing, making adjustments, ripping it apart, then repeating, repeating, repeating.

It’s easier when you have a friend be your “model.” You don’t have to twist around so much while using three strategically placed mirrors to make sure the back of the shirt you’re making is just right while you manage to jab yourself with about ten pins. In, like, your armpit.

But it’s also harder to please someone who isn’t you. Because everyone judges. I claim not to, but I still will. “The hem line is crooked.” “The thread tension’s off.” “Look at all the mistakes - I can’t ever wear this in public.”

Which makes making things that much more excruciatingly painful and annoyingly perfectionist.

“Why don’t you ever wear what you make?” my best friend once asked me.

“Because I’m too embarrassed by all the mistakes.”

“I think you’re just OCD.”

That’s probably true. But I’m still not sure if I’m measuring up, or even measuring correctly. So I’m still worried about the fit of the hats. Are they too small? Too big? What about the brims? Too small? Too floppy? Too…something?

Am I measuring up yet?

I’m still on that cheating high where you feel totally awesome because at least one person is sweating you hard enough not to care that you might actually be dating someone else.

Like when you get compliments and looks because of your shiny new bike and you totally forget about your trusty old beater and how you’re not even going to look at that new ride once it starts snowing.

Or like when the cute bike mechanic abandons the bike s/he’s fixing to look at yours. (But come on, like some dude’s mountain bike can really compete with your carbon frame, brakeless, fixed gear with 52/12 gearing, 650 on the front and 700 on the back?)

So I sent this hat out - to a (yet) undisclosed location. Via mail.

My bike probably hates me. But USPS is loving me…right?

There’s really no point in cheating.

Because in the end you figure out/come to your senses that you should have stuck with whatever/whomever you’re cheating on in the first place.

I would know.

Or at least my legs and ego would. (Who would have thought that I could get up hills faster with one gear as opposed to, say, twenty one?)

So I know I shouldn’t be cheating, but I am. I’m sending these hats out to one of my favorite bike shops in the area - International Bicycle Center in Allston. And technically that’s cheating because I’m supposed to drop them off by hand. I’ll feel the guilt later.

Oh and the return address? I borrowed that one from a friend. Because we all could use a good alibi when we’re, you know, cheating.

It’s hot out.

Like the sewing machine is melting off my face hot.

So maybe someone can use a hat or two in this heat. Or hopefully the owner of a white bike with matching helmet parked across the street from the Loew’s can.

At least it’ll keep the sweat out of your eyes. And, you know, it’s free.

You know when you start hooking up with someone who is clearly psychotic and who keeps trying to rip your balls off but you keep going back for more? And you tell yourself that it’s because the sex is so awesome or because she’s so hot and you probably couldn’t do better and all your friends are jealous of you? Until you realize that you don’t actually think she’s that hot anymore and you’re sick of disinfecting the bite marks she leaves on you?

That’s kind of what I’m beginning to think this project might be. Some misguided project in complete masochism.

It could just be my OCD though. I have no idea what happened to that hat I left last night at the Otherside. Which kind of bothers me.

But I have more. People seem to want Boston bike hats. Okay. But where do you people even park your bikes?

I’m letting this one go.

Part of me doesn’t want to. Probably because I’m OCD.

All the future mistakes bother me. The size won’t be right, the shape will look weird on whoever finds it, the fabric’s…kinda shiny, the brim’s bound to tear, the blind hem will come undone, the everything that’s wrong with this.

Yeah, I’m OCD.

But then again, they say perfection’s pretty boring.

So maybe it’ll tear or whoever finds it will throw it out or cover it in pins or patches or abuse/wear it until it falls apart. Whatever happens, it’ll be completely unpredictable. Maybe whoever finds it will even send me a picture of them wearing it. Maybe they’ll even like it. Maybe I’ll stop obsessing. All of which would be awesome.

And (imperfectly) perfect.

I have certainly seen a whole lot more bikes on the road since gas hit 4 dollars a gallon.

Hi Guys!

I did a little search in the net and I’ve found these info…enjoy!

How to Maintain a Bike

Bike maintenance helps you identify and resolve potentially hazardous safety problems, from loose bolts to leaking tires to faulty brakes. Moreover, prolonged neglect of your bike can lead to major, expensive repairs.

Performing routine maintenance is the best way to avoid these. The main tip: A clean bike is a happy bike.

Learn the proper way to clean a bike (hint: the pressure washer at the car wash ain’t it), and keep it clean especially after nasty muddy/dusty/wet off road rides.

1° Keep the chain cleaned and lubed (there are lots of good chain lubes, I won’t get into the religious warfare there). It’s recommended that your chain be replaced every year or 1000 miles. If you ride hard, or ride in mud and dust, you may need to replace it more frequently. If you’ve broken your chain, there may be some warp you can’t see, and the chain will eat away at the teeth of your rings, creating poor shifting and may even break while hammering up a hill or on a flat. I’ve broken many chains and it’s no fun when the power your legs once had turns into free-spinning inertia. The result usually leaves me bouncing my knee or chest off my stem/handlebar—ouch.

2° While you’re cleaning, inspect the frame and components for cust, cracks, bends, scratches, bulges etc that shouldn’t be there. Catch problems on the washing stand instead of on the trail.

3° Pay attention to your “consumables” mainly tires and chains - they wear fastest and take a lot of abuse, inspect them regularly.

4° Braking: This does not apply to disc brakes, but if your cantilevers have worn down the sides of your wheel from hours of braking, it is likely your rim has been slightly concaved. The brake pads create a channel from braking and this creates a loss in braking power. On long rides, if you’re finishing the ride on some radical downhill, the last thing you want is to have crappy breaking power. Your hands and forearms will be too tired to grab a reliable fist of brake, leaving you with a freaky forearm cramp or worse yet flying off a trail—been there.

5° Cable Cleaning: A dirty brake cable makes it harder to apply the brakes, and can keep the brakes from rebounding fully away from the rim. A dirty cable can also lead to terrible shifting and even broken shifter pods if not taken care of. There are two schools of thought about cleaning your cables. Both say to take a clean cloth and wipe the cable as clean as possible, however one says to oil the cable after cleaning. I generally follow the former. I think adding oil to the cable invites dirt and grim a nice place to live; adding oil to the cable just expedites the problem you’re tying to avoid.

How to Prepare for Adventure Hiking and What to Bring with You

# Define Your Trip Style - Does hiking in the Adirondacks or the Rockies sound like fun? Do you want to camp out at night, bunk in a rustic hut or overnight in a luxurious lodge? Would you rather walk from one European town to the next, stopping at small cafes where you can chat with locals while eating lunch? Does trekking on rough trails in third-world countries push your “gotta do it” button? Once you’ve defined your wish list it’s time to find a trip.

# Finding Your Trip - Now that you’ve dialed in on the type of hiking, trekking or walking trip that most appeals to you it’s time to find a trip. Many companies, including these offer walking and hiking trips. Talk to each company that has a trip of interest and ask what kind of shape you must be in to enjoy the experience.(On some European walking trips, cars will pick you if you decide not to walk all the way to the next town.)

What Green Tourism is and its effects on the Environment

Green tourism is a more popular form of tourism. general travel is going more green. But more expert say that the global warming is also caused by travel.

Citing green hotels, coconut oil fuel for airlines and even recyclable golf tees, executives in one of the world’s largest industries say they are urgently trying to shrink tourism’s oversized environmental footprint.

But with global travel projected to keep soaring, and those very leaders still eager to expand their own ventures, some doubt such efforts can significantly lessen global warming and other ecological woes.

“There are no simple solutions,” Anna Pollack, head of a British tourism consultancy, told a two-day conference which ended Wednesday. “Tourism is both a victim of and a contributor to climate change.”

What a Bike tour of Sicily suggested me during my last trip…

If you want to see our trip in Sicily. Please have a look below and find the attractions we visited. If you have the suggestions or practiced the same itinerary please comment below and stay tuned.

1° Arrival From Catania airport to Palazzolo Acreide, an important village on Iblei Mounts because its San Paolo and San Sebastiano Churches are included in Unesco World Heritage list.

2° From Palazzolo Acreide bike through Iblei Mounts until Cavagrande Canyon. Here the Cassibile river has created canyon and splendid waterfall where you can have a relaxing bath after hard biking.

continues here…

Guide to Tuscany Bike Vacations

From Florence to Pisa - A 8 days self guided biking in Tuscany from April to October

Program - Km 252

* Day 1: Individual arrival in Florence
* Day 2: Florence – Passo dei Pecorai 32 km
* Day 3: Passo dei Pecorai – Radda in Chianti 41 km
* Day 4: Radda in Chianti – Siena 40 km
* Day 5: Siena – Colle Val d’Elsa 41 km
* Day 6: Colle Val d’Elsa – Volterra 40 km
* Day 7: Volterra – Pontedera by bike and Pontedera – Pisa by train 58 km
* Day 8: after breakfast end of the tour

…more

The giro Italia tour by Bike in the Dolomites

In the winter there’s skiing, and the summer you can bike and hike the Dolomites. Cortina d’Ampezzo is perhaps the most famous mountain resort destination, called the “Queen of the Dolomites.” In summer, it’s a dream mountain-climbing destination as well. The Cortina Adrenaline Center will supply you with all you will need to get the adrenaline flowing:

“Adrenalin Park, Canyoning, Rafting, Kayak, Hydrospeed, Wheel Taxi Bob, Mountain Bike, Taxi Bob, Snow Rafting, Crazy sledge, Moon light sledge, Trekking with Snowshoes, Trekking with Snowshoes and sled, special events for conventions with Gymkhana,Sky race and much more.”

…more

http://bicycling.511.org/

You are the most important part of your bicycle. Your bike should be sized to fit your body proportions and should match your style of riding, your skill level and where you plan to ride. The equipment you need depends on the type of riding you plan to do, but a safety-rated helmet and a strong lock are essential. Whether your bike is new or old, its gears, chain, brakes and tires must be in good working order.  Continues…http://bicycling.511.org/aboutyourbike.htm

http://www.sbbike.org/

Want to find out what’s happening on the Web for bicyclists? Here is our list of sites to check out, with an emphasis on California and regional resources. Clicking on any site will open it in a new browser window. Jump to the area that interests you most:

• Santa Barbara County bicycling
• California bicycling advocacy
• US bicycling advocacy
• International bicycling advocacy
• Bicycling standards & planning
• Sustainable transportation
• Online periodicals about bicycling
• Bicycle commuting

http://la-bike.org/

The following presents a few guidelines for safer riding for cyclists and motorists:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Always ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Be predictable and ride in a straight line. Do not weave in and out of parked cars
• If the lane is wide enough to safely share with cars, ride to the right side. Do not try to share the lane if it is too narrow. Do not ride in broken pavement or debris at the side of the street. Take the center of the lane if necessary.
• Ride far enough in the lane around parked cars so that you will not collide with opening car doors.
• When proceeding straight through an intersection with right-turn lanes, move to the lane going straight and allow vehicles to turn right on your right side.
• When making a left turn, move to the left before completing the turn, just like a motor vehicle. If you do not feel safe doing this, ride straight and cross the street you want to turn onto. At the other side of the street, dismount and turn your bike in your desired direction, then proceed when it is safe and legal to do so.
• When riding at night, always wear light colored or reflective clothes, and use both front and taillights, as well as reflectors.

http://www.bicyclesource.com/

Choosing Bike parts and gear:

Saddles: Is Softer Better
The first impulse a newbie rider who finds a saddle uncomfortable is to replace it with a softer one. Soft seats put the force of the rider’s weight in all the wrong places, rather than the sit-bones. Big springs may look plush, but they don’t work.
Bike Suspension

Suspension has been advancing rapidly mainly because of the spread of mountain biking. Whether it is front or rear, this article describes the advantages of each different type of suspension for your bike.
Sportswear Fabric Types and Attributes

What to wear on a ride? This article describes the differences between several different fabrics. GoreTex, Dacron, Lycra, Polypro: which material will give the best performance in a given condition?
What to Bring on a Ride

A comprehensive list of what to bring on bike rides, remember it’s always the tool you don’t have that your bicycle will need. How much food you will need and how to not get lost, be ready for anything….
Frame Construction

Learn about the different ways bike companies are manufacturing their frames. Strength, weight, durability of each construction technique.

What should your new bike have? Better find out…
Testing Brake Pads

Brake pads can make a significant difference in the stopping power of your bicycle, especially mountain bikes. This test shows which pad performs best in both wet and dry conditions… read on…
Brake Performance

A paper testing the temperature rise and performance on a steep descent from using two rim brakes, only the rear rim brake, and using a coaster brake. Lots of interesting information.
Bicycle Hardware Manufacturers on the Web

Links to scores of web sites of companies that makes bikes and components for both the road and trail. One of the best cycling company hyperlink lists on the World Wide Web.