Chris Balish: How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life
We love this book! Chris Balish provides readers with practical, every-day tips on how to go car-lite or even car-free. We wish we'd written this book ourselves, but it somehow rings much more true coming from this self-described "mainstream" guy. NOW AVAILABLE in a Special Arlington, VA Edition! (*****)
Mark Ovenden: Transit Maps of the World
If you like maps and you're a transit fan then you'll love this new collection of transit system maps from around the world. Includes rare and historic maps, diagrams and photographs. Beautiful and fun. (***)
Maybe it goes without saying but freshly fallen leaves, damp mornings and downhills can make for a scary combination. Avoid skids by giving yourself extra time on those downhills and brake quick & often. Oh yeah and be careful with the front brake - it's got a lot of stopping power but use it too hard and you could go airborne!
But you knew all this already - now get out there and Bike Arlington!
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Ken Matthews lives and bikes to work in Arlington
Vive le cafe...ok, pardon my French, but I've gotten so many comments on this little cup that I just had to write about it. And there's a new incentive now that it gets me a $0.25 discount at the local coffee shop. It's really nothing fancy - just an old cup but everyone seems to have something to say about it. One guy thought it was from the Civil War era! I was perusing the shelves at the Corner Cupboard (Washington Blvd. and Pershing St.) when I happened along this enamel-ware cup. So it now adorns my bike clanging from the carribener attached to my bike bag.
Now I don't normally drink a lot of coffee so a little bit goes a long way for me so my drink of choice is a double-espresso macchiato. Normally $2.25, I get it for $2 because Java Shack gives you a discount for bringing in your own tumbler (or whatever coffee-porting device you may have). So this little fella has paid for itself and I'm not wasting a cup. Although that doesn't matter much since the coffeshop already uses recycled/biodegradable cups. Sounds like it pays to be green too - they were recently certified as a Green Restaurant. I'll sip to that - vive le cafe!
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Ken Matthews lives and bikes to work in Arlington
Diana gave a nice introduction to a recent two-day bike/camping adventure I just completed this weekend. As promised, here's a summary of what happened.
What to Bring
For two days, you don't need a lot but it makes sense to pack wisely. Here's a quick list of what I packed (on my 1972 Peugeot 3-speed):
The VA Leg
My main goal was to see if it's possible to do the trip on a 3-speed - clearly it is. But the VA side has more rolling hills than the MD side (C&O Canal towpath). I stopped plenty of times so the pace was leisurely and allowed me to take in the scenery, animal sitings, smells and good conversation with folks.
My first stop was only three miles into the trip where I met Janet (blue shirt) and Beth (white shirt) working in their community garden. Kudos to them both for having heard of commuterpage.com and for letting me blog about them - thanks ladies!
Later down the road, I met with gentleman in his mid-sixties. He joined me to Vienna and shared with me he gets out five times a week, each time logging somewhere between 25-40 miles -- wow!
The ride was pleasant and I stopped in Reston to "run an errand" and pick up a CD from a friend. We decided to have lunch together (I ended up burning close to 2 hrs but I didn't mind) before I headed out again. The heat kept many cyclists (and joggers) at bay so the trail was sparse but I saw plenty of groundhogs. Other sitings included rabbits, mama deer with baby, black non-poisonous snake, cardinals, woodpeckers, turkey buzzards, horses and humongous turtles! I probably saw more species of animals than species of vehicles!
In Ashburn it started raining and I sought refuge under a pine tree to wait out the storm. Thankfully I brought along a tarp and I used it to cover my sleeping bag, pillow and ground pad. After the storm passed, I could see steam rising up from the pavement. Ahh, but the smell of freshly fallen rain - it just doesn't smell like that in Concrete City.
At Leesburg, I veered off the W&OD trail heading into downtown and rewarded myself with a gelato. From here, I had to use King St. and then US Route 15 North to get to White's Ferry. Only a small portion required me to travel on the highway but I never felt threatened by traffic. The turn off Rte. 15 sent me down a lovely country road winding towards the Potomac River. For $1, I crossed the river on the Gen. Jubal Early over to the MD side (cars pay $4). This is the only ferry still in operation and is still privately owned.
The MD Leg
Once on the MD side, I immediately saw the sign for the C&O Canal and headed onto the shaded trail. I was afraid my 700x28 tires (700cm wheels - commonly found on road & cyclocross bikes; 28mm refers to width tires) would be too skinny for the trail, but I never had a problem -- no flats, no broken spokes, nothing. It wasn't long before I came upon the first campsite (Turtle Run) where two guys were already set up for the evening and in bed ready to call it a night. Further conversation revealed they were from west of Pittsburgh on a 10-day journey. What most impressed me was their gear (or lack thereof). They only had one backpack and traveled by mountain bike (no racks or extra accessories). They used a piece of tarp for a tent and lashed together branches for bracing the ends of a lean-to tent. The campsite we shared was basic, providing an open area to set up a tent, a port-a-john and water pump. There was a short trail to the river at the back of the campsite (lots of poison ivy everywhere though). NOTE: water is potable and checked regularly by the park.
The night sounds were filled with frogs calling back and forth and the occasional turkey call mixed in. I was so tired that I went to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. The next day I had breakfast and broke camp by 9 a.m. Back on the trail, I quickly met up with John, a mid-40s Marylander who was training for the Tour de Canal in September. I slowed my pace down and joined him the rest of his journey and we discussed strategies on how he could work in more cycling into his work week (despite the fact he lives in Gaithersburg and works in Tyson Corner). John, maybe I'll see you in Sept.!
More animal spottings on the MD side - on this side of the river it was a beautiful hawk, horses, turkey buzzards, lots of turtles and then many ducks towards the end of my ride. The closer I got to D.C., the more activity there was on the trail. There were fishermen putting in boats at Edwards Ferry (mile 30), a group of cyclists ready to head out at Seneca Creek Aqueduct (mile 23) and canal boat reenactment at Great Falls Tavern (mile 15). NOTE: The C&O Canal is considered a National Historical Park with no trash cans. So whatever trash you bring, you must tote it out.
I'm ready for another trip and already have things I can cross off my "to bring" list. As you can see, it doesn't require fancy gear and you don't need 20+ gears to get through this two-day adventure. So pull the cobwebs off your bike, get it ready to roll and set out on your own adventure. Then tell me all about it!
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Ken Matthews lives and bikes to work in Arlington
Well that was quick - I'm back with my second Bike Find and this one comes from the Lyon Park neighborhood of Arlington. With a recent shower and a good scrub, this 49 Plymouth Special Deluxe is waiting for a new owner to take her away.
Having a curious nature, I just had to know more about what was under the hood; here's what I found out:
Let me know if you have thoughts, comments or suggestions about Bike Finds. Enjoy!
Ken Matthews (aka vintage_3sp)
1972 Peugeot PE41 3-speed
1964 Raleigh Sports Deluxe 3-speed
I've gotten the nudge from fellow coworkers and feel the need to convert those nonbelievers who prefer to drive in rather than enjoy a workout, see something you normally wouldn't be able to and save gas all at once. So I'm starting a series posting and here is Number One.
Framed by fencing on the bridge over I-395, I took this photo of the "fellas" hanging out and people-watching down below. I wonder what they were chatting about. "Hey mac, I'll give you my spare breadcrumb if you hit that VW Beetle." Note the backed up traffic heading north (right lane) towards D.C.
So there you have it - my first Bike Find to start off a new series. I won't promise any set schedule for when the next one comes out, so just check back often . There are plenty of good posts on this blog. Enjoy!
Ken Matthews (aka vintage_3sp)
1972 Peugeot PE-41 3-speed
1964 Raleigh Sports Deluxe 3-speed
First I must share with you I have this bug for old things and I don't mean from the 80s or from the disco era. There's a voice inside that occasionally whispers things like "you gotta get that old Westinghouse oscillating fan" or "that vintage 'Louis Armstrong Hot Five' LP would add nicely to your collection." The other day, the whisper returned, this time luring me towards a vintage Raleigh 3-speed bicycle (1964 to be exact).
Call me nuts, but 27-speeds are about 24 speeds too many. I walked into a bike shop the other day tapping on each bicycle, searching in vane for one bike that was made of good ole' American steel (or Japanese for that matter). When I asked, the response was "we don't cater to those bikes and why would we when carbon fiber frames make your bike float and plus, steel is overrated anyway." --pause-- "Whoa dude, is that an old school Raleigh? I dig your ride man!!" And with that, I contently exited the shop on my non-carbon fiber ride with my selection of three speeds, I pedaled onward, content with my recent purchase. So why the "whoa dude" response if steel is overrated? I'm glad you asked, allow me to demonstrate the whoa dude factor:
Whoa Dude Factor #1: Chrome Bezel Headlamp
You'd be hard-pressed to find chrome (or any kind of metal) bumpers on automobiles today. The same goes for bicycle accessories like lights, but not on this steel machine. Note the switch on top - this is to toggle between a long and short beam. One illuminates closer to the front wheel while the other sends light further out. Oh and if you push the side button, the face swings out to reveal the guts and a spare bulb inside (or stow away a choice non-conductive item inside). And you ask, what size batteries does it take. Well, I'm glad you asked...read on.
Whoa Dude Factor #2: Bottle Generator (Green Power)
So the million dollar answer is "no batteries required." That's because the headlamp (and smaller rear light) run off a bottle generator conveniently located on the front fork. Push a lever, and the generator moves over where the top turning wheel meets the sidewall face of the front tire. When the bike moves, the generator wheel moves creating electricity to power front and rear lights. When I'm at a stop, there is no light and the intensity of the light is directly related to my speed (faster = brighter, slower = dimmer). It also provides a good workout on hills since there is a bit of drag created when the bottle generator is resting on the sidewall. End result: no more chicken legs.
Whoa Dude Factor #3: Broken In Leather Saddle
Raleigh partnered with Brooks to install their leather saddles on each and every one of their bikes. When well taken care of, a Brooks leather saddle will outlast anything else on the market -- just don't get it wet or leave it oz`ut during a heavy downpour. Note the two horizontal slots on the back. This design is to receive a tool bag or travel bag with straps to carry a few choice items on longer trips. I found an old Czech ammunition bag that works well for carrying a few of my "choice items" to and from work. Since I didn't utilize the slots, I could add a second bag if I wanted. But I've ordered a vintage rear rack instead to put pannier bags and carry lots more (already planning a trip).
Whoa Dude Factor #4: All Steel Fenders
That's mudguards for your British lads and lasses. On rainy days, I can still bike to work thanks to these generously wide steel-reinforced fenders which are a staple of the Raleigh 3-speeds. On the front, there's even a chrome tip for an added touche d'elegance. Apparently the white stripe has a history to it. It was part of regulation in England to make the bike road-ready and more visible when mixed with traffic. I couldn't find any supporting documentation so I'll let you make up your own legend.
Whoa Dude Factor #4: Quackin' Ducks
Hear those ducks a' quackin'? Take a close look at the front chainring and you'll see three ducks turning head over head when pedaling. Interestingly enough, the front badge contains a duck head as part of its emblem. Try finding any sort of handmade artwork on modern chainrings. Does anyone out there know the significance of this bird? At second thought, maybe they're swans, storks or egrets. Wait, do they quack? That'll mess my title up. If you know anything about the history of the badge or the bird, e-mail me:
C.M. Ducks N.R.O.?
L.M.N.O. Ducks
O.S.A.R.
C.M. Wangs
L.I.B.
M.R. Ducks
Ken Matthews (vintage_3sp)
1972 Peugeot PE41 3-speed
1964 Raleigh Sports Deluxe 3-speed
Four years ago, I wouldn't have thought of biking to work in the winter. I'm not a cold-natured person and I never stocked up on proper clothing (fancy cycling clothing not necessary — see below). But now that I'm well-equipped (bike, accessories and clothing), it's a breeze to get to work by bike. I opted for the vintage route as you'll notice in the photo at right (1972 3-speed Peugeot Model PE41 - hmmm, another blog possibility). What, only three speeds?! And to that I say, "what, you need and use all 30 gears?!"
I've been biking year-round now since 2006 (but generally biking to work since 2001) and have finally gotten used to the point where the cold doesn't bother me. Here's a rundown on my gear, most of which can be easily acquired.
The detailed list of proper apparel is important, because I enjoy my ride to and from work and can think about other things. Since I cut through Bluemont Park, Mother Nature always has a pleasant surprise for me (take your pick from hard-at-work woodpeckers, black squirrels, dashing rabbits or "sitting" ducks). If it rained the night before or early that morning, I usually see the aftermath when crossing the footbridge over Four Mile Run.
Do e-mail me if you're on the fence about biking to work and need a push in the right direction or just some friendly advice. Hope to see you on the roads and trails!
Ken Matthews (aka vintage_3sp)
1972 Peugeot PE41 3-speed
1964 Raleigh Sports Deluxe 3-speed
