Wednesday Quote Bike Lanes

2nd street bike lane Stone Harbor NJ.

"Bike lanes will abound in Utopia"  Author Unknown


I am spending a little R&R time at the beach this week.  Getting in some quality kid time before they are back to the hustle and bustle of school.

We are staying in Stone Harbor NJ and it is nice.  Then I read this in the visitor's guide...

"HOW TO GET AROUND.
Bring walking shoes and your bike since the entire island is accessible with bike lanes in both directions on Second Avenue. Park your car and forget about it!"

I knew I liked this place.  Since I am spending some time relaxinin I am not going to spend a bunch of time on the computer.  So lazy picture blogging it is.

Bike riding has been great.  The beach cruiser is serving it's intended purpose quite well, and the road bike has been getting a few miles as well.

I have also been getting a fair amount of time sitting in the sand but I will save you the almost obligatory shot of my toes in the sand.

Shopping on the other hand is definitely questionable here.  Which I guess is a good thing since more dollars stay in the pocket.

I just report what I see

I didn't buy any

Miniature golf has been played as well.  I fare better at that then arcade basketball.  The trick is to stay away from the sharks.

Gotta run I have some nothing to be doing.

Wednesday Quote Choice

“There are always two choices. Two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it's easy.”  Author Unknown


This quote resonates because setting up the new business has been quite a task.  The new gig is essentially what I have been doing for 16 years but now I work for me, subconcracted to the man, instead of working for the man.  


Truth be told it's pretty liberating.  The products are kick ass.  All things I use, and already am behind.  It is the minutiae that is amazing.  Setting up an LLC, building a business plan, etc.  All these things are things that the man has dealt with before.  Now I am the MAN.  


I knew this day would come.  I'm gonna get me to go get me a cup of coffee.  Then I am going to tell me to get my laundry.  These kit's don't wash themselves you know.   


Now to take an abrupt turn let's talk about my new bike.  I have one of these on the way.

Mine will have all Easton components of course.  When the beast is built I will post a full part's list and pictures up.

HUGE thank you to Kris Auer from Twenty 20 Cycling and team director of C3 for getting me this bike.  I am excited to be racing on the C3 team this year.  This is the first team I have ever actually raced for.  Correction: this is the first team I actually will race for since I haven't actually turned a pedal in team regalia yet.

This will all change September 10th & 11th when I line up at the Nittany cross.  The C races best be prepared for my ability to take this event as seriously as I feel like it at the time.  The following weekend I will be lining up for the Charm City Cross.  This race is Captain Auer's event and will be a special one for two reasons.  1. It is the "team" race 2. I will be lining up with less than 5 hours of sleep fresh from Interbike and getting off a plane Friday night at 11:30 at night (if the plane is on time).  The race starts at 9:00 AM in Baltimore.  If I manage to keep my breakfast down I will deserve a medal.

It is time for me to dream of tubular cross tires and the smell of tubie glue.

Hasta La Bye Bye

Stevie Wonder Saturday You Haven't Done Nothin'

I haven't done nothin' yet besides eat danish, drink coffee, hang out with my kids and my mom.  Sounds like perfect pre-ride prep to me.  Now to listen to a bit of Stevie and some assorted funk and my preparations will be complete.  I'm gonna start with this.

Eventually my butt will hit the saddle for several hours I have a Funk playlist lined up to push me along.  It starts with Rick James.

 

Holy 80's flashback

Wednesday Quote Chuck Norris

I was going to get multiple pairs but then Jordan set me straight informing me that "They are Chuck Norris pants you only need one pair"  Words of wisdom from the skinny quick kid

"A lot of people give up just before they're about to make it. You know you never know when that next obstacle is going to be the last one." Chuck Norris 

Wait? What did he say?  Whatever..... he's "Chuck fu@#in Norris" I'm not about to correct him.

I have been as busy as a one armed painter with an itchy ass lately.  Getting this new gig together is work.  Oh wait it's supposed to be work.  Never mind carry on.

My work took me to the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City last week.  I have been to over 20 Interbike's but this was my virgin trip to O.R. There were lots of meetings, much training and  it was very informative.  As I stated over on the book of faces Outdoor Retailer Is kinda like Interbike, with more women, no bikes, and less dirtbags. So not really like it.  

There was a ton of fun to be had checking out all the gear.  Who knew there were so many shoe and sock companies?  The barrier to entry for making socks must be pretty low comparatively speaking.  Making good quality socks on the other hand is not overly easy and not something everyone does well.

I did see this at Outdoor Retailer and fell instantly in lust.

I am talking about the adult big wheel not the blonde.  I have my eyes on a red head.


A few days later Patty the wonder girl of Action Wheels fame saw this beauty at the Mothership of the big red S.

I say we drag race. I am not afraid to get whooped up by a girl.


Speaking of the awesomeness that is Patty, she saw this and thought of me.  I must say I am bursting with pride.  Also I can think of no better way to end today's post.

Wednesday Quote Sharing

“Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind; it requires the same effort of the brain that it takes to balance oneself on a bicycle."    Helen Keller

When we are small children one of the thing that parents teach us early on is sharing.  It is a tough concept for children to grasp but most children seem to get it rather readily.   It seems many people forget this valuable lesson as they get older.  In particular I am speaking about drivers attitudes to bicyclists.

I understand that there are certain cyclists are crappy and ignorant.  These can give cyclists a bad name.  Just as crappy drivers exist and can give drivers a bad name.  These outliers are not who I am speaking of.

I have had several run-in's with drivers this year that seemed to be driving well and not dangerously.  They took it upon themselves to "educate" me that I was breaking the law by riding as I was or riding two abreast.  In two instances I got pretty agitated.  Afterward I got pretty down on myself for yelling at drivers.  I used to be a hot head on the bike but thought I had grown out of it.  

In retrospect one time I believe I felt threatened and was definitely irritated that the beautiful young lady I was riding with were not all together safe.  This was two instances within five minutes of each other.  The first was getting yelled at by a motorcyclist who frankly should know better.  The second person who was "educating" us took the brunt of my anger and frustration.  

The other time riding with T-Rav we were told that if we were riding two abreast (on a wide secluded back road) that he would probably hit us.  He said he was just "looking out" for us.  If he would hit cyclist's riding two abreast how the hell is he going to pass another vehicle safely?  Again I hollered at the driver.  T-Rav looked at me like I was crazier than usual.

Both times I ended yelling at people with "Read your Drivers Manual"  I was 99% sure I was correct but I doubted myself a bit and went and looked up the PA and NJ manuals.  I am happy to report that I was correct.

In New Jersey you can see the rules of the road pertaining to bicycles HERE.

A few highlights from this document are.

First of all "In New Jersey, the law states a bicyclist must obey all state and local automobile driving laws"

The one that I was concerned with "To travel no more than two abreast when traffic is not impeded, but otherwise ride in single file"

In Pennsylvania you can see the rules of the road pertaining to bicycles HERE. 

PA states "Bicycles are considered vehicles under Pennsylvania Laws and must obey all the rules of the road which apply to vehicles"

PA also states "Persons riding pedalcycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast"

I was glad to know I was correct, but this knowledge is not going to change other peoples minds about where we as cyclists should be.  Also hollering at a driver is potentially dangerous.  I learned this the hard way as a hot headed youth when I gave a driver the one finger salute for cutting me off.  He chose to answer my one finger salute with a pipe to the rear wheel.  Completely destroying it.  Luckily it wasn't aimed at me.  

Be safe out there hold your ground know your rights and keep the rubber side down.  

Maybe cyclists and drivers alike should abide by Helen Keller's quote and have some tolerance of each other