New York Bike Expo

This past weekend I attended the NYC Bike Expo with The Bike Diva. It was mostly a sign-up area for the Five Borough Bike Tour with some vendors and informational segments, but it was free and totally worth the time to be around so many bike people. I was able to get some terrific pictures and there was also a spin class on the water that TBD attended.

This was her view while spinning away -

Nonetheless I had a great conversation with Bruce Weinreb, who is a sales Director at Worksman Cycles. This company has a reputation for building great quality bikes right here in New York City. I never realized how affordable their prices are and purchasing from them would be supporting a local manufacturing business, which is always good.

Their bikes are built the old fashioned way, with lugged steel frames. As much as I love my Pashley, this bike might be of slightly better build design as their rear rack is welded on instead of bolted on. I have had problems with my rear rack shifting with use over time. TBD needs a good commuter bike and we may go visit the factory in Ozone Park, Queens to check some bikes out.

The coolest thing I saw was the commuter bike train being set up by NYC Bike Train. Let me preface by saying that I truly believe that if more people biked in the city instead of drove, this city would be a better place to live, work, and play. I also believe that there is safety in numbers which is one of the reasons I started this blog. I want to encourage people to bike when they never thought it possible before. I want people to realize commuting by bicycle is a viable option that is good for you, good for the environment, and good for our civilization.

I have gotten many people to start biking when they never thought they would and I continue to encourage my non-biking friends to do it. The biggest excuse I get is, I'm scared to bike in Manhattan. That is a valid excuse. I've been biking for about 30 years and I'm scared sometimes on the NYC roads. That is why this bike train is AWESOME! I urge you all to follow them on Twitter @nycbiketrain or start similar initiatives in your towns.

Biking alone is great, but biking in a group is awesome because it is safer, less stressful, and social. As one of the presenters said, you impart the experience of the train conductor to those less experienced in the train. It's a great idea I wish to push to everyone I know. Join a bike train!

Please click  "Read More" below for some pictures.

The Bicycles of Cali, Colombia

There are a lot of bicycle riders in the streets of Cali, Colombia. There are a lot more then in the streets of NYC. It probably has something to do with the large degree of poverty in Colombia. There are few means of transport that are cheaper and more reliable then a bike.

Most people in Colombia seem to use their bikes for commuting and single speed roadsters are common in the flat mountain valley that is Cali.

But even BMX bicycles are common means of transporting people and goods for sale. The gentleman below is apparently selling brooms off the back of his BMX.

Tricycles are also very common as they can carry more stuff and are more stable. There were a myriad of sales people selling anything you can imagine. This is the milkman making his "special" delivery.

There is nothing tastier then fresh bread. Well, this particular baker sells his wares off the front of his trike. His wheat bread is all natural and delicious! Although he looks angry, I asked his permission before I took the picture.

This was an attempt to take the picture without a flash on a different night when it was raining. As you can see, I wasn't very successful.

Selling ice cream off the back of a trike was also very common.

This dude's megaphone plays Fer Elise. You don't believe me? See the video.

 

These two dudes are selling something called mazamorra. It's a creamy and milky drink that is served cold and has bits of corn floating around in it. It is kind of bland in my opinion and I don't find it particularly appealing but Colombians LOVE IT!

Sometimes trikes were used to carry cargo such as dishwashers, fridges, or dryers. Unfortunately I did not have a camera handy or was in an unsafe place when I saw them so I have no pictures. The closest I came was an empty one.

Then there was a night watchman that I would hear every night honking his horn. He was out there in the wee hours of the night, rain or shine. Finally two nights before I was to leave I was able to take some pictures of him and video tape him.

Biking up to Hacienda El Paraiso in Palmira, Colombia

As some of you may know, I have been in Colombia now nearly a month chilling with my mom and helping her out after some major surgery she had undergone. She is feeling much better and I have more time so I figured I would post some of my pictures of bicycle riders in Colombia. Taking out a camera in Colombia is not the safest of things to do in some places, so I missed a lot of pictures.

I was of course desperate to bike ride in Colombia, though I was told that it was not safe nor recommended. When I arrived I saw a lot of people bike riding, which further encouraged me to get a bike. In the days before my mother's surgery I was able to speak with some construction workers that were labouring across the street. They had some sweet bikes so I asked them if they knew where I could get a sweet bike like theirs. They told me 8th Avenue. I asked my mom if I could walk there and she said it was too dangerous over there. She was sure there were other places where they sold bicycles.

Later that day my mom's friend came by to say hello and he mentioned he used to be a pro biker in his younger days. I asked him where I could find a bike to rent or buy. He also said 8th Avenue. The next morning me and me mom walked to 8th Avenue. Needless to say it was too dangerous for me to take out even my cell phone and take pictures.

The former pro-biker, at hearing of my love of biking invited me to his families ranch in a nearby city and to Hacienda El Paraiso.

 
There we could bike ride up a small mountain to a river where we would celebrate my mom's birthday. Below are some pics of the attempt. I say attempt because we never made it to the river on the bicycles.

My fat butt broke both bikes on the way up the mountain. The rear dérailleur started acting up and the gears were not changing properly.


A look of terror come's across this man's face as he realizes his vintage 1972 Cannondale is about to die.

With both bikes broken we tied one bike to the roof of the truck we were in and I rode the rear bumper of the truck. It was finally safer to take out my phone and camera to take pictures.

In the end we made it to the river by car for some relaxation, sancocho, and a swim.

February 1st and I'm Biking in Shorts?!

 Is it possible that yesterday was February 1st (my birthday), and I was bike riding in shorts?

It's true - it was 61 degrees and  I went with Queen D to drop off my laundery and pick up Bike Diva's laundry.

 With the laundry safe and sound on the back of my bike, a bottle of diet pepsi and the Diva's "special" laundry detergent in the front basket, I'm off for the 2 mile bike ride back to the Maison du Jouir. Protein gets out protein!

Once safe at le Maison du Jouir, I proceeded to set up my telescope in the backyard (an awesome gift from the Diva) and looked at Venus, Jupiter, the moon, Mars, and Saturn until the clouds came and the cannoli birthday cake (a gift from Diva and Queen D) beckoned. Notice the star Sirius eight behind the telescope. It was a great birthday thanks to some great friends and cooperative weather.

Bicycling with Laundry and Good Bye 2011

This will be the last post of 2011 so good-bye 2011 and off to bigger and better things (although this year was pretty rad with Good Times winning their 4th Championship in 6 years)! This year my new media agency, 720 TECK, will be launching several exciting projects for us and for clients. One project that is near and dear to me is The Grand Agora. I have worked on many client's ecommerce sites before, but I have never OWNED my own. Like I said, this is going to be an exciting year.

Sam the Eagle is having a New Year's Eve party tonight so I needed to pick up my clean clothes from the laundromat (just to get them dirty at the party - I hope). It is December 31st and it is about 50 degrees so I thought it best to take my bike. I asked my housemmate, Queen D, to take some nice shots as I biked away. She kindly obliged and here are some of the results.

I need to drop off some dirty laundry and pick up some clean laundry so I have something to wear tonight at Sam the Eagle's New Year's party. I brought in about 30 pounds of laundry on the back of my bike

If the weather is nice it is always better to get the exercise then to drive. Remember where that gasoline you are putting in your car comes from. It comes from Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Venezuela (among a few other places). None of these places are particularly friendly to us, yet we flood them with American dollars to wage war against our interests!

Save some dollars, burn some calories, and do something good for the America - ride your bike!