BostonBiker is happy to be able to give you all a heads up on this fun offer, get in before the crowds do!

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Saturday, October 17th.

“Down 2 Earth(D2E) is happy to partner with Urban Adventours on a great bike ride during one of New England’s best seasons!

Discover Frederick Law Olmsted’s famous system of parks on this bicycle tour of the historic Emerald Necklace. From the shaded boulevard on Commonwealth Avenue to the popular shores of Jamaica Pond to the winding paths of the Arnold Arboretum, this chain of gardens, reserves, and open space displays some of the most colorful flora as the fall sets in. Come enjoy a route that’s a favorite among locals and the best way to see thegreen side of Boston.

The extensive tour, specifically designed to show you the best foliage in Boston, will ride along and through:

* Boston Common
* Boston Gardens
* Commonwealth Mall
* Fenway Victory Gardens
* Arnold Arboretum
* The Southwest Corridor
* And more!

Your tour includes an individually-fitted bike, helmet, water, and, of course, a friendly and knowledgeable guide who will lead you on your travels. The tour is 2.5-3 hours long and covers 10-12 miles. From the Charles River Esplanade to Jamaica Plain you will see the best of Boston’s foliage, by bicycle!

The tour is FREE, but space is limited to 20 reservations. To make a reservation, call (617) 670-0637.

For more information about Down 2 Earth, visit www.d2eboston.com

For more information on this tour and others by Urban Adventours visit www.urbanadventours.com

Metrotuned: Geekhouse x Igleheart from metrotuned on Vimeo.

Could it be Marty Walsh from Geekhouse. If you haven’t checked them out yet, you so should.

Saw a dude get doored in Porter Square. I ran across the street to make sure he was okay and to make sure whom ever opened their door wasn’t going to flee or anything. The guy was okay but he wasn’t wearing a helmet! Seriously not smart.

Dooring is my biggest fear. I have nightmares that I will just be riding along then SLAM on the ground I go.

The driver was pretty shaken up, but I did let her know that it is illegal to open your door without properly looking behind you to see if it is okay to open the door. It’s an automatic ticket for $100 (i think). The lady and the biker exchanged the proper information, so if he or his bike is damaged, hopefully he’ll get some sort of recompense.

I don’t know who was more shaken up, the driver, the biker or ME!? Stupid kid. WEAR A HELMET! God forbid he hit his head, you can bleed internally and not even realize it until you can’t wake up the next morning. gah. scary.

You will have to indulge me here, as this is only tenuously related to riding a bike in Boston but stick with me. I will often have little light bulb moments. Often these little revelations are things that other people have already figured out a long time ago, but I take a certain amount of happiness in being able to come up with them on my own…even if I am years (even sometimes decades) behind much smarter people. So while I don’t think this is an original idea, I came up with it all on my own, so there!

I am a huge movie fan, I like all sorts of movies bad ones good ones, and besides riding my bike and making stuff it is one of the few things I do on a regular basis that makes me really happy. Tonight I got a bit of a hankerin’ to watch Deep Impact. You might remember this movie as “that comet movie, the one without Bruce Willis.” Perversely I LOVE this movie, for reasons that would take a whole other post to explain so I will skip why, just accept that I do.

While watching the movies climactic final scene where the first of the two comets is about to smash into the earth, that light over my head popped on.

There are thousands of people stuck in traffic, traffic of biblical proportions, while behind them the harbinger of doom (a giant comet) is about to kill them all. If only they could move faster, they would escape this horrible fate. One could make some sort of comparison to death and the daily grind, but I will leave that to someone smarter than I. The scene does a superb job of depicting hopelessness, helplessness, and despair all through the visual metaphor of a traffic jam. I started to think, what other movies have used traffic, and traffic jams, and how have they used them.

The first movie to use this metaphor that came to mind was Office Space.

The opening sequence shows the ‘hero’ stuck in traffic, moving from one lane to another in a pointless search for “just a little more speed” only to be thwarted by what seems like an endless stream of cars that only move when he is not in that lane. Out the window an elderly person in a walker slowly moves faster than the traffic. The despair is both real and comic at the same time.

The next movie I could think of was Matrix 2, where they do some kind of car chase on that ominous highway.

Falling Down also came to mind, the movie where Michale Douglas goes crazy after having a very bad day (being stuck in traffic played a huge part of this)

Movies use visual short cuts to tug emotions out of you. It struck me as interesting that over and over again they used traffic jams to showcase, negative emotions, rage, helplessness, hopelessness, fear, despair, loneliness (ironic considering how close you are to so many others), and danger. As I thought about each movie, and how the traffic jam is used in it I started to feel really bad for people who drive. I mean, even if they only experience a small amount of the negative emotions that the people in the movies experience, they would have to do so every day year in and year out…no wonder those horns get honked so much.

I then started to think “well how is riding a bicycle portrayed in movies?” I instantly thought of E.T.

Then I thought of Breaking Away (if you have never watched this movie stop reading this and go rent it now) where the main character races a semi truck.

Then Quicksilver (another great).

In each of these movies the bicycle is used as a metaphor for good emotions. Freedom, speed, health, escape, love, happiness, hard work, accomplishment.

I know movies are not real, and I know they don’t always reflect reality. But I found it striking that in almost any movie I could think of the bicycle represented good emotions, and the traffic jam bad ones.

In no movie that I could think of was a traffic jam a good thing. This might seem obvious, but the second light bulb that went off in my head was that in almost every single car commercial I have ever watched, the car being sold is portrayed on an empty highway free to go as fast and as far as it wants, with no one else there to slow them down or get in their way.

Turn the sound off on these two and imagine someone telling you about the smooth lines and styling and how awesome you will feel while driving them…

When as we all know the reality of car ownership is much more often slow plodding progress through traffic jammed streets.

I would argue that movies about traffic show a much more realistic view of reality than car commercials do (I have more thoughts on this I think I will save for a future post). The point of this unscientific rambling dissertation? If you want to feel free, if you want to escape, if you want to travel the open roads with speed and efficiency, don’t listen to car commercials. They are selling a lie, instead go get on your bike and go for a ride.

When I ride my bike I feel amazing. The wind on my face, the freedom of moving as fast as my legs will make me go, the amazing simplicity of it all just makes me so happy. I feel great when I am done with my ride, healthy, strong, alive. I never think about traffic. I know how long it is going to take me to get from point a to point b, and it is almost always the exact same time regardless of what time a day it is. I never worry about parking. I don’t plan my day around rush hours. I simply don’t think about that sort of thing, ever.

If you drive a car, if you drive one every day, examine how much of your time is spent thinking about things like gas, parking, traffic, etc. Is moving about the city a stressful activity for you? Have you ever decided not to go some place because of traffic? Do you schedule your day around traffic? Are you a slave to traffic? Is traffic reducing the quality of your life?

Do you own a bicycle?

On July 6th (and throughout this Summer), our 25-student “Green Team” will be planting, cultivating, and harvesting organically-grown vegetables from our gardens developed in community spaces. These sites include: neighborhood gardens, those outside schools, and other open spaces within heavily-populated Somerville. Then they’ll sell our produce at the Union Square Farmer’s Market.

Our highly-disciplined, lower-income, Somerville-area high-schoolers work for minimal pay, while learning (by doing) about ecology, nutrition, business development, and the green economy. We also provide unique opportunities for these inner-city kids to experience the natural beauty of “remote wild areas” during supervised overnight camping trips.

Unfortunately, twelve of these youngsters are without bicycles (and locks and helmets) that they’ll use for transport among Groundwork’s Somerville area gardens.

I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you more advance notice. Nevertheless, we appeal to your kindness and generosity to secure this equipment during early July. I hope to hear from you soon.

Best Regards, Warren Sadow
Marketing & Communications Dir.
Groundwork Somerville
warren@groundworksomerville.org

http://www.groundworksomerville.org/

(781) 598-1984 (my cell phone)

So even though Open is officially open, it is having it’s grand opening next Saturday, the 11th. Shop is open from 10a-7p, Chorus gallery reception @ 7p,macaframa premeire @ 9p and then bicycle related events to follow. Entrance is located at the corner of Washington Street & Hawkins Street in Union Square, at approximately 285 Washington Street. (map link)

OPEN launches it’s unique Union Square bicycle shop, art gallery, and design studio. Zachary Teachout and Joshua Kampa, the creatives behind OPEN, quietly unlocked the doors to their new bicycle retail and repair boutique this week. Located in the center of hip and upcoming Union Square in Somerville MA, OPEN encompasses a innovative approach to the bicycle-centric lifestyle, offering new and vintage bicycles, frames, components, and accouterments for a diverse crowd of urban riders. Folded into the newly-renovated warehouse space (formerly
home to Merlin Titanium) is a unique retail store, a full service repair and restoration workshop, a stand-alone art gallery, and a interdisciplinary design studio.

OPEN approaches the Boston metropolitan cycling scene with a fresh and passionate perspective. Both Teachout and Kampa are enthusiastic and committed cyclists and come from creative entrepreneurial backgrounds both inside and outside the industry. They have applied a forward-thinking design philosophy to the shop concept and creation, wiping away the typical “bike shop” structure in favor of a more culturally responsive experience.

Adding to the very unique retail experience, the space will house both the Superbe Design Collaborative and the revolving art gallery, Chorus. The interdisciplinary design studio, comprised of a tight-knit group of young talent, brings to the table an extraordinary range of design experience, from realized large-scale architecture to highly successful brand development projects, as well as published graphic, print and photography work. Chorus, referring to the perception of a number of individual sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound, will operate as a stage for local, national and international artists, designers and makers to display and distribute both their work and vision.

ps. the shop is real purty too.

click below for more great pictures.
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Believe it or not, I’ve sort of been trying to avoid cookies. Or, eating cookies, rather.

I haven’t gone so far as to give them up for Lent, but a desire to lose the winter weight has me sort of watching what I eat. Sort of. Because after my first hour-long ride [perhaps ever, because I can't really remember the last time I've done that], I’ll drop by IBC partially for some promised cookies.

And not just any cookies, but the hotly discussed [at least at IBC] Newman O’s. Oreo’s cousin if it was organic and actually tasted like real food. I ate four. Yeah, four. Because when delicious cookies come in a huge ziplock bag and are tucked away at a bike mechanic’s work station, well, they become that much more irresistible.

The strategic placement of those cookies meant that I was standing behind the counter, in biker gear and almost looking like I knew what I was doing. When customers came in, and all the actual employees were busy, I consequently looked like the lazy douchebag employee who refused to ask the obligatory “How can I help you today?”

Chris later came up with the idea that [given the fact that I can't work at IBC even though he insists on telling me I should every single time I see him] I should just tell people I’m the IBC mascot. Thus, I’m required to hang out and represent IBC, but am completely unable to actually help out any customers.

I like that idea. That means I can hang out endlessly and watch my friends work/ride my bike around the store/fix stuff [note that Chris looks like he's on a mini bike because he's about a foot taller than me]. Just when I was getting a little sad that soon [after the completion of my new bike], I may not have an excuse to drop by IBC “to see my new bike/take a look at the new part that came in/pay Erich,” I now have a reason to perpetually hang out. Behind the counter, even!

But only if cookies are supplied. Oh, and don’t forget the [good] energy bars!

[If you're in the Boston area, come out to the Middlesex tonight to celebrate the publication of Volume 3 of Embrocation Cycling Journal!]

Got this from JP Bikes

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Jeff Ferris of Ferris Wheels bike shop is hosting Bike Movie nights every other Friday, starting March 27th! I have no idea what movies he’s showing, but I am sure they will be awesome! Here are the dates – all movies start at 6:30 pm:

March 27th
April 10th
April 24th
May 8th

Again, all are Fridays, and all for now are taking place at Curtis Hall in JP.

Facebook tells me three of my friends are turning a year older today. Oddly enough [because I wasn't into bikes at all until a little over a year ago], all of them ride bikes.

There’s the OCR 2, the Schwinn [plus wrecked road bike], and a fixed conversion…I mean Mark, Dan, and Jones.

And presents/hats/cookies to be given/sent/made. I know, I’m slacking…I’ve only been able to give presents to two out of the three; and I’ve known the one that’s not getting anything [yet!] the longest.

And he reads this blog! But there will be a hat coming your way, Jones, this summer, and maybe even those Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies [still bookmarked for when you, Lauren, and I are running our bike shop/vintage store/bakery/cafe...or when we hang out again...or when you guys get married (!!!), whichever happens first]. I also sent Lauren a good amount of Herrell’s hot fudge, so don’t let her tell you any different. I’m sure I’ll hear you guys fighting over exactly who finished the last of it, too.

I’m also delivering a giant cookie to Mark – one of the smartest and nicest kids I know. He’s just become the Managing Editor of the Boston College Law Review [congrats!!!], and [voluntarily] sits next to me in Con Law, despite the fact that he’s probably afraid my stupid is going to rub off on him. Get that brake fixed, dude, so we can go on rides. And by “go on rides” I mean we can start off together but you’ll drop me faster than Britney got rid of her kids.

Dan already got cookies. But his band’s playing a show tonight at O’Brien’s. You should go.

Happy Birthday, guys…and I just realized…why haven’t I gone on rides with any of you yet?!

A predicted high of 45F today – yay for warm weather!

Yeah, I never thought I’d think 45F = “warm” but I’m so ready to peel off my Underarmour and fold it away until November. Snow isn’t even pretty anymore, just slightly annoying. The gross brown heaps that it eventually turns into [and then gross brown water that cars like to splatter at me] doesn’t really help make Boston winters any more appealing.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for deferred gratification…just only when it applies to a goal that I can actually see. Desperately hoping for nicer weather that doesn’t involve shards of ice flying in my face, enough layers to make me feel like I’m in a fat suit, and that embarrassing fogging up of my glasses whenever I enter a warmer room…is getting old.

I’m trying to be optimistic though; and even with all the snow yesterday, by early evening it was clear out. The lights strung up on the trees along Comm Ave were cute and pretty enough for even my beer soaked self to appreciate. I didn’t get a picture though [I know, I really should have!], probably because I had no idea what I was doing at that point.

I ended up praying for a red light on my way home, hoping for an excuse to stop. I only hit one, and by the time I stumbled into my apartment, my face looked like a tiki torch.

I think I might have to train a little more for the beers + bikes shenanigans I’m mentally planning for the summer…

Untitled from Seamus on Vimeo.

I have a slight obsession with tupperware.

It kind of goes well with my OCD and my need to at least have the opportunity to compartmentalize everything into its own discrete space. Even if that never really happens because I’m incredibly lazy.

And because I’m lazy, I’m going to steal an idea from Iban, who has blog that makes me not only want to lick my screen, but also press my face against it, while drool dribbles down my chin.

He rides and builds bikes, obviously, but he also bakes sourdough – and for the bread purist in me, that’s enough to make me want to move to Barcelona.

So, “inspired” by Iban [although, let's admit it that I'm just copying him], here is my lunchbox:

Okay, it’s just a turkey sandwich, a sliced apple, and peanut butter crackers to get me through the day. Not very exciting, I know. But the coolest part about my lunchbox is not so much the lunch itself, as the box:

It folds up flat when I’m done, which means that I have a couple inches of extra space in my bag at the end of the day.

Cool, right? It even has Hello Kitty on it! I know, this is going to drive every reader insane with jealousy!

And because, as I mentioned before, I’m lazy, I’d even consider giving it away. But only if you can find me a boy that rides bikes and bakes [good] sourdough, in Boston.

Hello Bikers!

And welcome to the new semester! We are excited about all the activity buzzing these days, and are surprised and pleased to see bikes still chained up around campus even as temperatures dip into single digits and snow piles drive bikers from the curbs. We’ve a lot going for Spring ‘09, projects big and small, so keep an eye out for us on campus and check out our meetings and a posting of minutes (in case you can’t make it to our get-togethers). Our first gathering of ‘09 will be Thursday (tomorrow) Jan 15, at 4 pm in the greenhouse.

2008 was a big year citywide, nationwide, and worldwide for bikers. Everyone’s been abuzz about biking – judging by the number of newspaper articles from the Globe and the Freep and the NYT, even National Geographic had a letter from the editor this month about the Bike Boxes in Portland, Oregon. On a more local level, Comm Ave got the City’s first bike lane (all 7/10ths of a mile of it!), Mayor Menino jumped on a bike and realized what how it feels to be constantly on the brink of being indiscriminately killed, Obama’s transition team has promised major funding toward “green” transportation and everything else, and people everywhere seem to be wising up to the fact that the car-as-we-know-it is going the way of the dinosaur so maybe we should all accept bikers and not feel so antagonistic toward those who choose biking as their mode of transportation and recreation. Hope for the future, indeed!

And BU Bikes is really rolling strong from the momentum gained in our last (and first!) semester. Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve done so far:

* We had three group rides, Halloween being the biggest and best with 16 costumed-clad riders and one guy who joined us randomly along the way – but I think we can do better for our Valentine’s Day Underwear Ride (um, we’re kidding, right?).

* We helped host a movie screening with the Environmental Student Organization and LiveableStreets Alliance about urban traffic patters and how we can and really should be doing better in modern cities.

* We’ve got logos and t-shirts and designs. Soon to be for sale once we work out funding with Student Activities and vendors and the like. All proceeds go to safety gear giveaways.

* We had (slash are still having) our first helmet raffle – inclement weather prevented us drawing a name at the end of last semester (remember that nasty blizzard?), but at our first meeting, winners will be announced and money will be doled out to buy gear.

* We’re still meeting with BU’s Bicycle Safety Committee: working on placing more bike racks (lots more), writing a University policy on how to handle abandoned and mis-parked bikes, re-thinking how to re-route traffic, promoting safe and responsible biking (helmets, everyone), improve signage on campus (anybody notice the little biker logo in the bike lanes? he’s wearing a helmet), and eventually extend bike lanes and get BU Bridge integrated with a campus bike path, plus so much more its too much

* BU Bridge construction is about to get going, but thanks to pressure and the diligence of various advocacy groups in the area, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has committed to bike lanes on the bridge (under construction from 2009-2012 most likely). We will be keeping an eye on the project, if only to watch out for construction cones and gaping potholes as we ride over it every day.

Yes, projects abound, big and small. And there’s plenty of opportunity for you to contribute, if you’d like to get in on the action – to help make clothing or stuffed bike pillows, or attend City meetings for the greater good of bikers everywhere, or stand at Marsh Plaza and give out candy to bikers who ride past, or make fliers to promote bikes, or help plan your own group ride on GoogleMaps, or help make a claymation movie about proper biking practices on Comm Ave, or really anything else you’d think fits with biking, campus, and awesome (our three fundamental tenets).

So welcome to the New Year, MMIX. Keep it rolling, and get involved.

Ride safe, roll smooth,

-bikes

People often think I might have a few screws loose when I tell them that I ride my bike everywhere, everyday. They ask about how I get food, how I get my laundry done, but mostly they ask what I do when it is cold. My answer, I bundle up and keep riding! Here are some fun pictures from the last couple of days here in Boston. The salt trucks are working overtime, and as such I come home a bit dirty…but boy is it fun!

Below is a MASSSSSSSSIVE update on all things Bikes Not Bombs, enjoy. There is a lot of goodness in here so be sure to take a look through it all.

BOOKKEEPER JOB AT BNB

Bikes Not Bombs is looking for a bookkeeper to work 10-16 hours per week. Experience with QuickBooks required. Must have excellent attention to detail. This is a temporary position, with the potential to grow into an expanded, full-time position encompassing financial management and human resources in 2009. Please send your resume to hiring@bikesnotbombs.org or call Sam Wechsler at 617-522-0222, x105 for more information. Position to be filled as soon as possible.

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SEE BNB MOVIES ONLINE

Some volunteer filmmakers have recently completed 2 very short documentaries about BNB’s work. These are both amazing films that really bring out the vibrant community of young people and volunteers here, giving a real glimpse into BNB’s work. Don’t watch just one – see them both, at http://www.bikesnotbombs.org! (scroll down to find the films)

A big thanks to Allegra Anderson for her 6 minute documentary, viewable on the BNB website homepage and also at http://vimeo.com/1706577

Assembly Required: One Peace at a Time from Bikes Not Bombs on Vimeo.

And a big thanks to Rahil Calcuttawala and Sheryl Lanzel for their short documentary, viewable on the BNB website homepage and also at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRzSvVXVYrM

If you want to see Rakim and Sheryl’s other work, check out: rakimagery.com and sheryllanzel.com

much much more below.

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Thank you reddit for this one!

This year’s Art Beat Festival (Saturday, July 19th, Davis Square)is following a ‘green’ theme and will be featuring activities and displays surrounding biking and bike culture. In addition to designing a bike and helmet customization/decoration center, we are aiming to feature a display/contest of artistic,
creative and unique bikes from the surrounding community.

How to Get Involved:
If you are interested in displaying your bike please contact the Somerville arts council with further details and images if possible. Space is limited but they are hoping to display as many bikes as possible!

Somerville Arts Council
Email: artbeatbikes@yahoo.com
Phone Number: 617 625 6600 ext 2985 (Jessie, SAC intern)

DEADLINE FOR ENTERING: MONDAY JULY 7

It’s nice to see bikes being covered in main stream media. Right now most people are using them as the whole “gas prices got you down try a bike” angle, but hopefully that will soon shift to “so you already commute now try all these other fun things you can do on a bike” and “here are tips for how to get the most out of your commuter bike” or even “next up bike fashion sweeps the nation.” A boy can dream right?

From the today show.

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

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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.”

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