Ride Your Bike to Work This Month
May 11, 2010 by Nancy Sathre-Vogel · 4 Comments
It's all about biking this month - Bike to Work Month. Ditch your car, skip the metro, hop on your bike. All month.
I urge you to join others throughout the United States who have decided to ride their bicycles to work this month. And once this month is over - I hope you will make the decision to keep cycling.
I know - it's a tough decision to make. It's hard to leave behind your nice, warm, comfy car. It's hard to take the extra time it takes to ride the bike. It's hard to face the wind and rain. But there are many, many good reasons to ditch the car and ride the bike.
Thank you for asking - I'll tell you why. By biking to work for only one month you can:
1) Burn 18,800 calories
2) Save $88.00 in gas money
3) Attain a C02 reduction of 384 pounds
4) Brag to your friends about points 1-3
OK - you're thinking all those things are great. Burning the extra calories is a good thing and saving money and being friendly to the environment - they are all noble ideas. But we all know the real reason for digging that bike out from behind all the junk in the garage:
Biking is more fun
Allow yourself to be a kid again. Allow yourself the pure unadulterated joy of flying free in the wind. Splash through puddles - how bad can the day be if you can splash in puddles on your way to and from work?
I know - you've got your list of excuses all ready to go. You can't work in your biking clothes. You have no place to store your bike. And (my personal favorite): what will people say?
But really, all of that is just excuses. If you really make the decision to bike to work, you'll find a way. Take a week's worth of clothes and leave them in the office or stash what you need for the day in your pannier. Talk with the security guard about some old, rarely-used closet where you can stash the bike. It might take a bit of creativity, but it'll work. If you make it work.
My challenge to you is to bike to work this month. Every. Single. Day.
Nancy Sathre-Vogel discovered the joys of bicycle touring nearly 30 years ago and has watched the changes in gear and equipment through the years. For help planning your own bicycle tour, check out her website, www.familyonbikes.org.
Tags: bicycle, Bicycles, bike to work, Cycling, environment, health, recreation, Sports
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Comfort While Bicycle Touring
April 19, 2010 by Nancy Sathre-Vogel · Leave a Comment
Does the thought of bike touring make you squirm in your seat? The idea of sitting on a bike seat all day, crouching around a tiny stove in the evening, and then being crammed into a teeny tiny tent all night sound uncomfortable? Then don't live that way! With proper planning and attention to your needs, your next bike tour can be a fantastic, comfortable experience.
Throughout the years, bike tourists have carried just about anything you can imagine - guitars, lawn chairs, even a surfboard! The trick is to figure out what you need and make sure those items find a place on your bike. Your comfort items won't be the same as your partner's, so be sure to consider what you need.
As you're planning, it will help to think of your touring day in three distinct parts: during the day when you are biking, evenings in the campsite, and sleeping at night.
On the bike: Be sure your clothes are comfortable. There is nothing worse than spending the whole day cycling in clothes that rub the wrong way. By the time you reach the campground, your skin could be rubbed raw in places and hurt! Some people know of one type of bicycle shorts that are tried and true so take multiple pairs of that type. Others find a variety work better in order to vary the pressure points.
The other major consideration is making sure your bike fits well. If your seat is too high in relation to your handlebars, you'll be standing on your hands all day. If your handlebars are too close to your seat, you'll be bunched up; too far and you're reaching way out. The best thing is to take your bike to a good bike shop who knows touring and have them watch you ride your bike. They will be able to give you some pointers on getting your bike to fit.
In the campsite: Cyclists are an interesting bunch - we all like different things. Some of us are comfortable sitting on the ground, while others carry a chair of some sort. Some of us cook dinner in one big pot; others want a variety of pots. Some continue to wear their cycling clothes all evening; others need to change as soon as they get off the bike. Some cyclists are OK to hang around shooting the breeze all evening, while others need a book or some craft to keep their hands busy.
The evening hours are the hardest for many people. They are tired and want to rest, but can't rest unless they are comfortably set up. Consider what you will need and make sure you pack it on your bike.
Sleeping: Consider your tent carefully. Are you OK being crammed in or do you require more space for sleeping? Will you feel claustrophobic if the tent is down low over your face or will you need a higher profile tent? What a pillow? Some cyclists carry down pillows, while others simply stuff clothing into a stuff sack. Big thick inflatable pad or thin closed cell foam?
If you don't sleep well at night, you won't function well during the day. Make sure you take enough comfort items to allow you to sleep.
Bicycle touring doesn't have to be an uncomfortable experience - in fact, it shouldn't be. Plan out what you will carry so that your needs are met, and it'll be a fantastic experience!
Nancy Sathre-Vogel started bike touring 30 years ago. Later she toured with her husband, and now travels with their two kids and is an expert on bicycling with children. For tips on planning your own family bike tour, check out www.familyonbikes.org.
Tags: bicycle, bicycle travel, bike touring, Cycling, equipment, health, recreation, Sports, travelRelated posts
Biking With Children
April 2, 2010 by Nancy Sathre-Vogel · 1 Comment
Never before have there been so many options for families wishing to get out together on their bicycles. As each family is a unique entity and has needs of their own, there is no one way of biking that is best. Consider the best option for your family!
Small children will need to be attached to your bike in some manner. Your options are: trailer, trailer bike, tandem, or a couple to attach your child's bike on to the back of yours.
A trailer is the perfect option for many families. Your child can ride comfortably and sleep when he wants. He can play with toys in the safety of his little home. It is also easy to protect children from the elements in a trailer and you can stash extra gear in there with him.
Trailers aren't perfect though; there are some disadvantages. Many parents find their children sleep all day in the trailer and then want to play all night when the parents need to sleep. Also, some children can get frustrated that they are not part of the team helping to propel the bike.
Trailer bikes are one-wheeled contraptions that attach to the back of your bike. Your child will be able to pedal when he feels like it and rest when he wants. Some trailer bikes come with gears, which is highly recommended so your child can help pedal up hills. This option has the advantage in that the child feels he is helping with the workload. When you reach the top of a hill, he knows he's helped and can be proud of his accomplishments. He is a member of a team and takes full credit for victories won.
The down side to the trailer bike option is that the child is exposed to the elements and is not easily protected. Even with proper rain gear, it will be hard to keep his hands and feet warm and dry if the weather turns bad. You've also got the issue of falling asleep on the bike. Depending on traffic conditions at the time, this could lead to a dangerous situation.
A tandem is a great option for touring with children. Many of the advantages of the tandem are the same as for the trailer bike - being part of a team and being able to help out with the workload. But the tandem also has the advantage of pedaling in sync. As the pedals are hooked together, a child on the back of a tandem learns to pedal with a normal cadence and is more closely connected to the captain. You can carry on a conversation easier due to sheer proximity. In addition, the tandem is more rigid than a trailer bike so is a more efficient machine.
Disadvantages of the tandem are primarily price related. Tandems are not cheap. Besides that, the tandem is forever together and you can not simply disconnect it to run errands by yourself. Another disadvantage to tandems or bigger multiples is the hassle of shipping them - they are very much oversized and some airlines won't take them.
One more option that works for touring with children is a small connector that connects an adult's bike to a small kid's bike. The child can ride his bike on his own when desired, but when tired can be towed behind Mom or Dad. The two connectors currently available are the Trail Gator Tow Bar and Follow Me coupler.
When your child is a bit older, a single bike becomes an option. Not all children mature at the same rate, so it is difficult to give an age - one child might be ready to ride his own bike at age 8 while another child would need to wait until a teenager. Pay attention to your child and make the decision based on his skills and personality. Consider his physical strength, coordination, ability to be aware of surroundings, and maturity.
If you have children of varying ages, you may find a combination of approaches to work. A tandem with a trailer works well. Many trailer bike companies are now making them with the ability to hook a trailer behind. You may find yourself traveling through town on a long train, but at least you'll be out and about on your bike - which is great for the whole family!
Want to find out more about bicycling with children, then visit Nancy Sathre-Vogel's site for tips and inspiration from afamily on bikes.
Tags: bicycle, Bicycles, bicycling, children, Cycling, exercise, family, recreation, Sports, travelRelated posts
Advantages Of Bicycling With Children
March 19, 2010 by Nancy Sathre-Vogel · 1 Comment
As a teacher with 21 years of experience, I can honestly say that travel is the best education any child could ever receive. Many people feel that children are better off sitting in a classroom, but I believe getting out to see and experience the world is the best way to learn.
Travel is good for kids in so many ways, and traveling on bicycle is even more beneficial. There are many reasons I feel seeing the world from the seat of a bike are good for both parents and kids:
* Determination. One of the most important skills for people today is the idea of sticking with a task even though it may be hard. Our children have learned that task when they try to climb a tough hill or battle fierce headwinds. They've learned that by taking baby steps they can reach their goal - it may take a while, but they'll get there!
* Some days are not so nice. In life, some days are not all we want them to be, but we plod through. On our journey, some days are cold or rainy or snowy or blistering hot - but we push on knowing that MOST days are nice. Isn't that how life is?
* Earth holds no boundaries. If a child can ride his bike across the state, country, or world, is there anything he can't do?
* Religion, color, or language does not define a person. When children play with others from various cultures, they discover humanity's similarities rather than focusing on the differences.
* Real life video games with Mother Nature. Who needs some little idiot box when Mother Nature is all around you?
* Imagination. Children can't carry a lot of toys with them on the bike, so they will learn to be creative with what they can find - sticks, stones, pine cones, berries...
* Learn in context. We may learn a whole lot of random facts and figures, but they all come in context so they mean something!
* Active. One of the major problems with children today is the sedentary lifestyle they are leading. Getting them out on the bike teaches them to be active and healthy for life.
Learn more about traveling with children. Stop by Nancy Sathre-Vogel's site where you can find out all about bicycling with children and how you can take your children out too.
Tags: adventure travel, bicycling, bikes, children, Cycling, family travel, touring, travelRelated posts
Bicycle Touring With Small Children
March 4, 2010 by Nancy Sathre-Vogel · Leave a Comment
Children as young as year or so can enjoy bicycle touring - not in the same way as parents, but they'll have a blast out seeing the country and traveling with Mom and Dad. Of course, young children can't ride their own bikes, but there are number of options to consider:
Trailers: For kids under about age 3, a trailer is the only way to go although children up about age five may be comfortable in the trailer as well. Pay attention to the needs of your child and decide if a trailer will work for him.
Trailers are wonderful in that children can sleep while you are pedaling. While awake, they have the choice of watching the scenery or playing with toys. Plus - you can use extra space in the trailer for additional gear.
Trailer bikes: Starting at age 3 or 4, you may be able to transition your child onto a trailer bike. A trailer bike is a one-wheeled contraption that hooks on to your bike, and has the advantage of allowing your child to help you pedal.
The downside to a trailer bike is the lost efficiency - the connection system simply isn't as rigid as a tandem so you will be wasting a fair amount of energy hauling the trailer bike. Also, if you get a cheaper, one-gear trailer bike, your child will not be able to help pedal up hills.
Tandem: The tandem is the best option for kids old enough to help with the pedaling, but they don't come cheaply. They are much more rigid and efficient than trailer bikes, and have the added advantage in that you are teaching your child proper cadence and traffic safety as he pedals in sync with you.
You can buy a tandem that is quite large for your child and put a "kiddie crank" (child stoker kit) on it to raise the pedals up. That way, as he grows you'll simply lower the pedals until you can remove the kiddie crank altogether. In this way, you can get many years of service from your tandem.
Coupler with child's bike: Another great option is to have your child's single bike with you and connect it to the back of your bike when needed. Using either the Trail Gator or Follow Me coupler, you can hook your child's bike to the back of yours and tow him through tricky situations. When you get to safe areas, you simply unhook it and he can ride on his own.
Bicycle touring with children is a great experience for all involved! Get out there and build some memories now!
Want to find out more about bicycling with children, then visit Nancy Sathre-Vogel's site for tips and advice on taking children on a bike tour.
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A Trailer Bike is a Great Way to Bicycle with Children
February 24, 2010 by Nancy Sathre-Vogel · Leave a Comment
After bicycling with your children in a trailer, you may be wondering if your baby is now able to move on to her own trailer bike. The answer to that question is - maybe. Most children are able to ride safely on a trailer bike from about age 3 or 4, but it will depend on your child.
Your child can be part of your team when she rides on a trailer bike (tag-along, trail-a-bike) - a one-wheeled contraption that hooks on to your bike. As long as she is tall enough to reach the pedals, she'll be able to ride safely. She will have her own little bike safely attached to yours.
Please consider all factors of the trailer bike - both advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
She is working right alongside you rather than being dead weight. As a team, you will climb hills together and will rejoice when you reach the top.
On the trailer bike, the pedals are independent of yours, which means she can pedal when she wants and rest when she wants.
Disadvantages:
You will have to plan for rain or other inclement weather more carefully. In the trailer, it is easy to protect the child but is much more difficult on the trailer bike.
Just like being lulled to sleep in a car, your child can easily fall asleep on her trailer bike. If you feel a jerking on your bike - stop!
If you have the single gear variety of trailer bike, she won't be able to pedal going up hills. Just like you, she needs gears - but does she know how to use them?
Bicycling with your children will be a wonderful experience for both of you!
Looking for info on bicycling with children, then visit www.familyonbikes.org to find the best advice on taking children bicycling.
Tags: Bicycles, bicycling with children, bikes, Biking, children, Cycling, family, family bikes
