Category Archives: Loving The Bike

Friends On Two Wheels

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During yesterday’s ride I encountered a couple friends on the road.  Always fun to see people you know enjoying their bicycle.

Route 31

The first meeting took place on the ever popular and busy bicycle route 31.  I had just turned east on St. Elmo heading to Vinson Dr.  My friend, Stanton, had just turned off Vinson and we recognized each other on the bridge crossing the RR right of way.  We stopped to briefly chat.  He was trying to catch up with a group ride after a derailleur malfunction.

Shade of Tillery

The second encounter was on Tillery.  It is not on a numbered bicycle route but is a popular street for cyclists.  In my own case it provided some much needed shade.  I was pedaling along leisurely when a fellow bike subversive, Jennifer, caught up to me.  She was heading to the Yellow Bike meeting and was surprised to see me coming from this direction.  I explained the day’s insanity to her and we rode together to the meeting chatting about various things.

She asked what my family thought of me riding so many miles.  My reply was:

they think I’m nuts

That got a chuckle.

Collective Smug

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One of the many things that makes me proud to be associated with Austin’s Yellow Bike Project is our attempts to walk softly on the earth.  We’re not perfect but we try very hard.

IMG_0726I was recently reminded of the little things we do while trying to explain to someone why our “front yard” looked so wild. We recently applied for and received wildlife habitat certification.  This means that the land around the shop has the essentials for wildlife:  food, water, shelter, place to raise young, etc.  A casual glance at the front of our shop reveals what looks like lazy people who don’t like to mow and trim.  Closer examination, especially over time, reveals a plant succession taking place.  Pioneer plants being slowly replaced by native and adapted communities.  A diverse insect population.  Birds and squirrels.  Lizards.  Haven’t spotted any snakes but I’m sure they’re somewhere close.  Wildflowers, trees, vines.

The great thing is  this land is recovering (albeit slowly) from being an electric power substation.  Compacted soil.  Probably a few chemicals I don’t want to think about.  My inner ecologist (ecology scientist not environmental wacko) is smiling.

IMG_0725We also run a community garden in the back, complete with composting system.  Not a huge affair but it does provide some food.  This is also helping bring the local soil back into balance and health.  We had bees at one point but the elementary school next door complained and our bee mistress moved them to another community garden.  At some point it would be great convince the school that properly husbanded honey bees are no threat to children.  Sigh.

IMG_0723A large part of our small footprint is the design of the shop building.  Heating and cooling are passive.  Once you get the doors and windows open, this place actually becomes comfortable, even in Austin summers.  The south side of the building includes a pergola that was intended to serve as an arbor for deciduous vines.  Shade in summer, sun in winter.  The soil around the building is so compacted our vines have had a rough time.  So we recently installed temporary shade cloth and have a small project to rehabilitate the soil to get the vines going.

We also rented out a portion of our roof to Austin Energy.  They installed a set of solar panels which generate electricity to the city grid.  We get a small amount of cash and the city gets “clean” energy from our south-facing roof.  At some point in the future it would be great to add our own panels to reduce our electric demand, especially during peak hours.

The other huge impact we have is keeping old tired bikes out of the landfill and rivers.  While we don’t operate as a metal recycling operation, we do salvage as much metal as we can.  Any frames or components that are unusable or repairable go to metal scrap recycling.  Some of it ends up at the Austin Bike Zoo, where it is turned into fanciful bicycle art and mobile creations.

We do generate a lot of rubber waste from unusable tires–would be nice to find a beneficial use for this material.  And I think we can handle our hazardous waste (oil, lube, grease, solvents, paint) a little better.  We participate in the city’s single stream recycling program and we take bulk cardboard (when it isn’t used for signage or labels) to a local non-profit that assists homeless people.

A little smug, with an awareness that we can do better.  Besides there is that whole human-powered transportation thing going on.

Of Taps and Snakes

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For want of a nail…

IMG_0721My step-daughter is riding in the Real Ale  this weekend. She asked me to look at her bike to make sure it’s ready.  It was in good shape, just needed a few minor adjustments, some chain lube and air in the tires.  Everything was going well until I got to the rear brake. As I was tightening the cable anchor the bolt stripped.  Don’t know if I over torqued the bolt or it got cross threaded during last maintenance.  When I removed the bolt to investigate a bunch of aluminum thread came out with it.

I removed the brake and headed to the nearest local bike shop.  On the way I was entertaining myself with thoughts of worst case.  What were the chances that the LBS had a stock of piece parts for various brakes?  I could just hear the  service representative suggesting purchase of a new brake.  Now what are the chances that they had a the right brake in stock?

I was pleasantly surprised when the service representative turned out to be a bike mechanic.  We’re in luck.  He pondered the brake for a few minutes and then walked into the parts area mumbling something like “let me see.”  He came back out with a set of taps and proceeded to rethread the anchor.  Found a new bolt and presto…operational brake.  I thanked him profusely and headed back to the house to reassemble the bike.

On the return trip I began to ponder why I didn’t have a set of taps in my toolset.  Have to put that on the wish list.

Texas Wildlife

IMG_0720When I got back to the house I found this fellow sunning himself on the driveway.  Don’t know if he was just hanging out or wanted to offer bike fixing advice.  He didn’t stick around long, slithering off into the bushes, probably in search of things to eat.  Or maybe just some peace and quiet away from annoying bike mechanics.

First Tuesday

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First Tuesday is the monthly collective meeting for Yellow Bike.  I always look forward to these days.  It usually means a leisurely bicycle ride followed by meeting with my fellow bicycle subversives.  Sometimes the meetings are fun.  Sometimes they are tedious.  But I never feel like I’ve wasted my time.  Tonight’s meeting included creating a “book club.”

Lately the meetings have been followed by a post-meeting.  Time for fellowship, beer and interesting discussions.  This evening we debated the impact of 3D printing and the relative merits of nail guns versus manual hammering.  There were several side discussions about wheel building, whiskey and scotch, various beers.  Then there was wide-ranging banter about employment selection and management.

IMG_0705

Bonus:  I got to drink beer in yet another bar I’ve never been to.

New Moon

Said my good nights and headed off into the moonless night.  Quiet streets of late night Austin.  A nice tailwind.  I love riding during late night.  Sparse traffic, well-behaved.  Arrived tired but energized.  Sipping a beer, listening to tunes, struggling with a way to describe what it’s like to ride late at night in this town.

Memory Triggers

On my ride down to the shop this afternoon I observed at least 4 cars sitting on the side of the road, emergency blinkers on, driver standing on the curb cell phone in hand desperately seeking assistance.  Broken down.

The car is without a doubt very convenient method of transportation.  If you can overlook the death, injury, environmental mayhem and debt.  But when the car stops working…With my bicycle there is very little in the way of failure or breakdown that I can’t remedy with a little work.  At the very least I can walk the damn thing home.  Most cars these days require rescue and tow truck transfer to a repair bay.  Fortunately, these individuals were safely within the confines of an urban center.

The sight of these broken machines reminded me of two occasions when my car broke down literally in the middle of nowhere.

Montana Snowstorm

Was driving from Spokane to Missoula in my Datsun pickup.  It was late December night in a blinding snowstorm.  I had just crossed the pass between Idaho and  Montana and pulled into a rest stop.  Unknown to me the idiot light for the alternator had burned out, so my vehicle couldn’t tell me that I had been running down my battery.  After warming myself in the restroom I ran out to my truck, jumped in and turned the key.  Click.  Not the sound of a starter motor struggling to turn over the engine. Just the simple click of the key.  It was then that I noticed that none of the lights on the instrument panel were working.  Dead battery.  And I mean dead.

It’s late at night on a remote stretch of interstate highway.  Nearest town is 20 miles away.  It’s -10 F and snowing.  Not looking good.  As I was pulling out my camping equipment and preparing to settle in for the night (and maybe longer) a trucker pulled in to relieve himself.  I asked him for a jump but his electrical system was incompatible with mine.  We did manage to wrestle my truck in front of his and he gently pushed me so I could pop the clutch and get the engine started.  Drove straight through and parked in front of an auto parts store so I could buy a new battery in the morning.

Arizona Desert

I had just finished attending a mapping and mission planning conference at China Lake, CA.  I decided that I could drive straight through and get home to Yuma that night.  I was on I-10 just west of Blythe, CA when blam!  Tire blowout.  Pull over and change the tire.  My car had a full sized spare.  After getting back on the road I began a little mental debate.  One voice was telling me to stop in Blythe and get the tire repaired.  The other voice was calling me a wimp and saying I could make it no problem.  What are the odds of another tire failure anyway.  The voice of caution lost the argument and I pressed on.

There was a brief repeat of the debate as I exited I-10 at Quartzite to head south on 95 to Yuma.  It was almost midnight and the voice of caution was not happy.  But it lost again and I pressed on.  You can see where this is going.

Twenty miles south of Quartzite BLAM! Another tire failure.  Oops.  Now I’m screwed.  This is a remote stretch of highway.  When I got out of the car the only sound was a soft desert wind and the baying of coyotes in the distance (at least I hope it was distant).

My luck turned when a north bound car stopped and offered me a ride back to Quartzite.  After waking the local on-call repair guy (it was now almost 2 AM), we headed in his tow truck, got my car and back to his shop where I bought two used tires.

Somehow I just can’t complain that much about throwing a chain or having a flat on my bike in the middle of a city.

Mental Journey

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Jumped out of my skin

Staying at the grandkid’s house this weekend as the parents are off for some time by themselves (aren’t grandparents who live in town the best or what?). Awoke this morning before everyone else and joined Captain, the super lab, on his morning ritual. While he fruitlessly chased small animals and other things, I became mesmerized by the beautiful pre-dawn sky.

The strong cold front that brought unseasonable chill and winds also brought sharp night sky, with clear views of my friends the stars. Sipping my morning coffee, I let my mind wander. I was wondering why there were no bicycles in the latest Iron Man movie, which my grandson and I saw yesterday afternoon. I was wondering what a bicycle Transformer would look like (we watched that movie later last night at home).

Listening to the night birds and soft rustling of the trees I was planning my next long bike ride, trying to imagine myself on the last leg of a randonee in the cool Texas pre-dawn, when…

aaaaggghhh!!

Captain had snuck around behind me coming from an unexpected direction. The first I knew he was there was when his nose touched the back of my leg. Scared the crap out of me. His only response was an innocent tail wag session and the usual signals that it was time for breakfast. I choose to believe he knew what he was doing and the tail wagging was joyful celebration that he snuck up on me.

What’s new with you?

That was the closing line of a recent e-mail from a colleague, dare I say friend. We had not talked or corresponded in some time. Our orbits rarely interact these days. It was good to hear from him. I was honored a few months back when he asked advice about life path. He took one of my suggestions and is actively pursuing it. I hope it works out, his participation in this effort will have positive influence on the future of this city.

In my response e-mail I shared with him the growing desire to pick up my lance and go tilting at windmills. His query about what I was up to reignited that thought stream. It coincided with another e-mail exchange from a recent acquaintance.

Give a man a bicycle…

…and he’ll break it. Teach a man to fix a bike and he’ll ride it forever.

I’ve been struggling with how to approach the whole fight-poverty-with-bicycles thing and the perceived contradiction in my current role at Yellow Bike. That role is to teach people how to assemble and fix their own bicycles. Often, people in poverty, don’t have the time to be bicycle mechanics. They just need reliable, inexpensive transportation. Yet more contradictions given the state of bicycle industry in this country and the challenges of refurbished bicycles.

This morning, communing with stars, before I was so rudely startled by sneaky labrador, I was reviewing my recent “hand up”. We donated a bicycle to somebody just getting back on their feet. Recently graduated from a job training program, got out of a homeless shelter and got a job. We are assisting with the transportation.

The refurbished bicycle he got had an issue. The rear wheel would not stay in the dropouts. This issue didn’t appear on the test ride and my QA check. I met him at the shop last week to fix the issue. The nut on the quick disconnect skewer was worn. It was slowly loosening. Found a better skewer in the used parts bins and the repeated a tutorial about how to use it properly.

Yesterday I receive an e-mail from this individual about his first flat. I reminded him of the patch kit we gave him and how to fix a flat. Also sent him a link to one of the better web tutorials. I was frustrated that my first instruction didn’t take. I then chided myself. I’ve been fixing flats on bikes for well over 45 years. Realization that my instructional techniques need work. Memories of struggling through freshman calculus with a professor who was a horrible teacher despite being a brilliant mathematician who could do derivatives in his head and unconsciously skipped steps while scribbling on the chalkboard.

Don’t have any answers to the contradictions yet. Now is time for more coffee and get ready for flag football.