May 15, 2008 · 08:57 PM · permalink
Reminder — Tomorrow is Bike to Work day, the best day all month to commute on your bike. Here in Seattle we’ve got an event organized by Cascade and sponsored by Starbucks (among others) replete with stations all over town where you can check in for some schwag. No worries if you’re not in Seattle, are rides all around the country.
Now, schwag is lovely, but it ain’t really enough to get me to stop most days. What should get you our riding and maybe even stopping at a promo-hut is the chance to get counted. Turns out our fair city doesn’t do an annual census, and tomorrow’s the day to vote with your feet — show the city how many of us are out there for transportation and how vital our cycling facilities are.10,000+ riders rode last year, it’ll be interesting to see how many more this year with gas prices up over 40 cents a gallon from last year. Plus the weather in Seattle is supposed to be fantastic tomorrow, so we’ll see ya out there. If you’ve checking in post commute — how’d it go?
May 15, 2008 · 07:25 AM · permalink
Business and cycling meet at the Biz, Bikes, & Brew event — similar to our Mobile Socials with an emphasis on networking. We posted on deals on the bike earlier and have ridden with Dahon and others. A couple weeks ago, I met up with a potential new business partner and Bike Hugger was vetted by REI during one of their legendary lunch rides.
There isn’t a handbook for these rides, but I’d suggest
- Take a pull and a good, hard one
- Ride hard, but don’t drop the VP of whatever
- Don’t pop-off about your skills and then suck
- Bring the good wheels
- Ask where the sprint is and line up for it
May 15, 2008 · 06:32 AM · permalink
Our friends and Clever Cycles and Recyclery have offered to help us with bike parking at the end of the ride during the Mobile Social. They’re right across the street from Lucky Lab Hawthorne where the reception will take place.
We’ll just ride on over, drop our bikes off, and not worry about bike thieves.
If you need a bike, Clever Cycles has a good assortment of Bromptons and more to ride. Contact them and ask for Martina. Waterfront Bikes is also renting and just mention us for a hookup.
May 14, 2008 · 06:45 PM · permalink
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May 14, 2008 · 11:37 AM · permalink
So we’re all busy with our day jobs, working on the Mobile Social, totally distracted by Bettie 2.0 (lots of new gear) and Bike to Work day shows up on the calendar!
I’m out riding that day in a hugga kit saying hello, and we gave a bunch of hugga socks to Cascade for their stations.
You all riding to work as well?
May 14, 2008 · 06:21 AM · permalink
A reader wrote to say
The Mobile Social. What the heck is that? It sounds like so many wonderful things. I’m interested in the intersection of bike culture and mobile technology.
Well that’s exactly what it is! The Mobile Social is the intersection of bikes, technology, and culture. We ride bikes, we’re mobile, use technology, socialize, and into gear. So we combined all that into an event and called it the Mobile Social. We think it’s wonderful and the first one was a success. Our next one is a week from today in Portland. And here’s what you need to know
Comment if you’ve got questions and we’ll see you all there. I posted on all the schwag and just added to the list is a free SXSW 09 Interactive pass.
May 13, 2008 · 12:14 PM · permalink
About this time of year, I get really burned out on my current stock of energy bars. Taste change and so I don’t have a “best bar,” but try to rotate them in and out and mix it up with pastries, bagels, and a good old PB&J. I travel with the PRO Bar and Bear Valley Pemmican Bar. Those are considered meal replacements. A jersey-pocket standby is Clif and their shot chewy things are good for a nervous stomach right before a big race.
Rotating into the choices are bars from Zing. They’re developed by nutritionalists, taste like food, and are all-natural. They’re good and a nice change. For the bike, they’d need more substance for more calories. And, I wish that Natures Path would form their toaster pastries into bar shapes for my jersey.
What’s your bar of choice?
May 13, 2008 · 08:20 AM · permalink
It’s that time of year when more bikes start coming out. Cyclists are riding to work and lots of them are prepping for a tour with some big miles. Even if you’ll never kit up, pin a race number on, or turn a pedal in anger, some racer skills will help protect you and other cyclists. Flying around a blind corner, turning abruptly and other sketchy moves that’d take down a pack in a race can have the same effect at Seattle to Portland, on your commute, or an event in your area.
Last week, a woman was roaring down the Swing Bridge nearly right into me as I was coming up onto it (possibly setting a personal best on her commute). Later a commuter swung wide into a blind corner nearly clipping me and another came just whizzing out across the yellow line. I don’t know if it’s rusty skills, maybe they have no skills, or don’t care, but staying the course and holding your line is a good thing to do even if all you ever ride is a tourist bike path.
May 12, 2008 · 09:06 PM · permalink
Anyone else seen this?
Uploaded by shaderlab | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.
May 12, 2008 · 11:59 AM · permalink
Noticed this Ibex softshell jacket at a cafe in Seattle. With that well-worn patina and mud spray it’s obviously used for more than just looking nice. The owner said he loved it. I’ve got a blue one (on clearance) and it’s perfect for chilly spring days — in a week or so it’ll get too warm for it, but it’s currently my fav. I also took it on my trip to Chicago.
What’s your fav well-worn jacket?
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