Biking in Chattanooga

Stubborn Snake!

2010-10-25T18:37:00.000-04:00

I had to be rescued the other day (Q would say there are many days I need rescue!) I have a very cute lock that Molly, my fellow instructor gave me a while back. I don't know where she got it-it's definitely not something you would find in a bike store. Its probably the lightest weight bike lock you can have and still call using it locking your bike. But we don't have professional bike thieves around here (at least we didn't until recently, I will write about that soon), just thieves of opportunity so even a flimsy lock is of deterrence and this one is so cute. I am sure Mr. Snake scares all would be bike thieves.

My Viscious Bike Lock

Of late, it has been harder and harder to unlock my lock and the day after the first rain we have had in over a month, I found myself locked to a fence unable to get myself unlocked.

So who do I call? Who do I know who can wrestle with an ornery snake and get it to open its jaws? Q, of course, and he showed up in short order with WD40 and if that didn't work, bolt cutters.

Luckily, one squirt of that magic solution and my little snake gave up all its fight. Its been opening easier than ever since. Thank goodness. I would miss my little snake friend if we had had to snip it to its demise.

Q, the snake handler

Parking Ticket

2010-10-18T15:45:00.000-04:00

I don't drive that often and rarely, hardly ever park downtown, so I guess I have an excuse for not knowing parking rules. Because I had errands to run afterwards that necessitated the use of the car, I drove to breakfast at the Blue Plate. I parked on River Front Parkway and totally ignored the parking meter.  It was Saturday. There's free parking on Saturday, Right? Wrong, as I found out when I returned.

   That's when things got really funny with me. I found different parts of my self having very different reactions to this and it was quite uncomfortable having this internal self squabble. My driver self of course exerted itself fast and loud, "What the h...., Its free parking on Saturday. I should get free parking. This is ridiculous what I have to pay now, this is a trick by the city to reach into my pockets."

Now, my alternative self had to work to get a word in," There is no reason to expect the city to subsidize my parking. Willing to pay for my car's needs is all part of being a responsible car owner. The fact that governments have subsidized not just parking but many aspects of car driving has produced many of the issues that we, as a society, have to deal with today. As a bike rider, I experience this everyday.   Now just pay your parking ticket and be quiet."

My car driving self- "It still feels like an injustice. My expectation was I should get it free, so I think it is only right that I do get it free. This is a travesty!"

   My Higher thinking self- "Better pay it quick. That $11 fine grows to gigantic amounts if it is not paid on time. Now just pay your parking ticket and be quiet."

It seems as though my car driving self got outvoted. I paid the fine.

Maybe the tension between bike riders and car drivers is just a bigger version of what went on inside me. And maybe the results will be the same-one day.

2010-10-15T18:59:00.000-04:00

Sunrise over the Tennessee River

I have missed several Breakfast on the Bridge-blogging at least. I haven't missed any to attend, so some Fridays my visits have been short and quick. But I am here to catch you, dear reader, up with some images from the Brieakfast.

Jeffry, a breakfast regular talking with an new resident-a new,Chattanooga resident and a new doctor resident. I now know several doctors riding their bikes to the hospitals. Can I get my nurse daughter to do the same?

Preston Tyree of the League of Americn Bicyclists. He was in town for the Pro Bike Pro Walk Convention in town and came by for breakfast.

Another gorgeous sunrise

Randy Larson looking dreamy on the bridge

Randy Larson's dreamy bike

Randy and his bike together, totally color coordinated

Randy seldoms ride less then 100 miles at a time but this Friday he did a quick short ride (with his keds, no less) just to have breakfast with us.

As for this morning's breakfast, this was the picture for the day:

Q, ever quick thinking, with an unexpected cold and windy morning, modeling his makeshift windbreaker. Offering it to any bystanders taht was looking cold, he had no takers. But several of us fought over his coat he was also sharing!

Moving Video

2010-10-07T16:18:00.001-04:00

Immediately after the wedding, my time was taken up with the ProBike ProWalk Convention. This happened right here in Chattanooga and I got the feeling that many people were positively surprised by our city. In fact many had said so. Coming from places like Portland, Oregon, it was hard to imagine a small southern city would have anything of note going on in the biking/walking arena.

At one of the sessions, given my our own Phil Pugiliese, this video was shown as a light hearted closer. I put this movie together in a very quick mode. I shot this of the bike move with the video recorder on my new phone. To say I am not an experienced movie maker is an understatement and then putting it together was a true learning experience. So excuse any rough spots. With little skill or time, this is what I put together.
So here it is- THE BIKE MOVE, THE MOVIE

No Room For Bikes

2010-10-06T11:50:00.000-04:00

In the previous post I wrote about the neat bike rack that the city had installed in a parking place. I went by it the other day and it was filled up with cycles-motorcycles, that is. That area is a favorite for motorscycle riders, and when their parking places filled up, I am sure that bike rack just shouted motorcycle parking to them.

No room for bikes!

Wedding (rehearsal)

2010-10-02T18:53:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in a while. Life seems to comes at ya sometimes like a steamroller and the past few weeks the steamroller has been coming! A big part of the steam roller was my youngest daughter's wedding. So that was decidedly a fun steamroller, but if you have been a part of planning a wedding, you understand how it can take over your life. This is a picture of me preparing to ride to the rehearsal and then dinner. I didn't ask my YD if I could ride to the wedding, I knew she would nix that in the bud. But she seemed resigned to the fact that I would be riding to the prewedding activities. What an embarrassing burden I have been for my children!

Q took the picture. He came to pick me up at the DoubleTree Hotel where the wedding party was staying. We are in the lobby and if you look through the window, you can see Q's bike parked outside.

My panda on the ride there.

Me on the ride to the dinner. As we rode by these million dollar townhouses, a very stylish woman in a Mercedes stopped to actually gush over me. She was saying I was the picture of fashion forward style. I always crack up when I get fashion compliments. If they really knew! But it tells shows how putting a dress on a bike makes the hohum cutting edge. I am glad I do have that fashion trick!

And here is Q riding in his fashion forward style,

At Blue Waters/Big River we got to bike park in the new bike racks the city had installed. The city actually took a parking place and put up this rack that is shaped like a car. I had not realized that had been done so this was a wonderful surprise.

The evening was wonderful. My family is used to my ways, but the rest of the wedding party did not know quite what to think. A brother in town that I had not seen in 5 years was worried that I was riding from his hotel back to the DoubleTree late at night. I had to convince him that this was par for me. I did get back to the hotel at the same time the young people were getting back and they just stared at me as I glided in on my bike from the street and dismounted. I could tell they didn't know how to react.

Here is a picture of the bride and groom. I won't post wedding pictures because they aren't part of any bike stories (to stay in theme with the blog) but if any readers are interested in seeing some pictures, go here

It was a great wedding!

Good bye, Cortney, We Will Miss You

2010-08-27T17:28:00.002-04:00

This Friday for Breakfast on the Bridge we had a littlest biker to come. This is Henry. He is a little camera shy. And he was busy.
He stopped long enough to have some juice and muffin and then he was off again.

This weeks Breakfast was saying Good bye to Cortney, our Beautiful, Biking Ballerina.

She is leaving us to go to Eugene, Oregon to study transportation. Yay, a biker getting into transportation planning!!! Yay, Cortney is following her passion, to the eventual benefit for us all!!! Boo, Cortney has to leave us. Eugene's gain is definately our loss.

In Cortney's short time here she was a strong force in coelising the biking community here. She started the Brews Cruise.

She planned and led the our Jane's Roll Event, 3 Hoods, 3 Rides. She is repeating this event for the ProWalk ProBike convention next month (we are getting a bit of reprieve when she returns to do this)

And of course, it was just seeing Cortney in her classy presence on a bike.

She was serious about bike riding (and you should see the hill she lived on. In this city of hills, in the part of town that is called Hill City, she had a heck of a hill to go up. I would show a picture, except going up that hill, I was never able to think of taking a picture.).

Yes, we will miss her, and we are hoping for her return. Best Wishes, Cortney. Come back to lead us on more bike advenures!

A View of Chattanooga.

2010-08-20T17:48:00.001-04:00

I am always fascinated by the impressions that visitors have of Chattanooga, and the impression of cycling visitors is of special interest to me. I have written before the visit of Laura and Russ of PathLessPedaled. They are the couple who gave up life as they know it to live on the road-the road on bicycles that is.

   Laura wrote yesterday of their impressions of Chattanooga:

   We found Chattanooga to be a really wonderful city with a “small town” feel. It’s an active city, with a city-sponsored focus on how many amazing outdoor activities are nearby. And it’s fairly easy to get around on a bicycle, as there are a lot of low-traffic side streets and a beautiful greenway that runs for many miles out of the city.
     Of course, when people say that Chattanooga is a “working” town, they’re absolutely correct, and this distinction colors everything that happens in the city. You spend time in Chattanooga and you can feel the work ethic that runs through the veins of the city. Even with all the recent progressive changes, it’s a definite Southern, old-money, conservative place (with a long history as such). But it’s also a city that’s not afraid to get its hands dirty, and Chattanooga has put itself to work transforming itself from the most polluted city in American to a gem of an outdoor recreation destination (Chattanooga is host to the highly successful Head of the Hooch Regatta, which now rivals the Head of the Charles).

It sounds like they got a good impression of Chattanooga and got the nail on the head. But she framed this impression around another impression that we are envious of Asheville. That caught me by surprise, and by the talk around here, it caught a lot of us by surprise. Asheville? I can't say that we talk about Asheville often and as far as I know, it is all positive. A getaway to Asheville is considered a nice thing indeed. But wanting to BE Asheville. I don't think so. We do talk about become the Boulder of the East, but as far as I can tell, it has not been expressed that we are trying to be Asheville. Jim Johnson posted a wonderful reply to that impression. Mostly, I think we are fashioning ourselves with waht we have-a unique mixture of southern conservatism and progressiveness. We are following our own path into the future. We might take our clues at times from other cities but the expression is always our own. So much so, I know that other cities come to study how Chattanooga has done what it has done and how to emulate it.

But over all, I think Laura and Russ enjoyed their time here and we enjoyed having them. They are getting to a lot of towns and I am sure they have learned how to read them. I find reading about their observations and experiences immensely interesting. I am glad we were part of it.

    To read their compete post go here

Breakfast on the Bridge Friday

2010-08-20T17:15:00.000-04:00

It was a beautiful day for Breakfast on the Bridge today. The air had a hint of chill to it. How long has it been since that has happened? Is our long hot summer drawing to a close? The beautiful weather brought out lots of bikes and people to enjoy the walking bridge and breakfast.

The view was exceptional this morning. The reflection of the Market Street Bridge was clear and sharp upon the smooth as glass river .

And there was an interesting cloud formation over Lookout Mountain. Keith, a breakfast attendee, identified it as a lenticular cloud formation. Lenticular clouds are called that because they are shaped like a lens. It is theorized that many UFOs sightings are actually lenticular cloud formations.

What a treat to be in a spot to take notice of such things. Thanks, Keith, for pointing me into the direction of more information.

Moving Lisa by Bike

2010-08-15T12:36:00.000-04:00

When Q heard that Lisa needed to move to a new apartment, he was immediately inspired to offer to move her by bike. But who could blame her for being dubious? Q convinced her he could pull it off, but then he had to convince others to join his moving crew. It was, as our Lady Jane friend called, a hard sell. But I have written before how stubborn Q can be and eventually he had rounded up a crew of 5 movers, strong riders all with trailers. These movers found that saying no to Q wasn't an option!

So early Saturday morning, in the fruitless effort to avoid the heat, they gathered and moved. This was the ideal bike move-the distance between the two places was only about a mile and a half, there didn't seem to be any hills (but of course on a heavily loaded bicycle, the hills appeared!) and while there were big items, the over all amount was modest. It took five movers three trips to do it all.

Watch the slideshow to see the fun!

Breakfast on the Bridge Goes To the Dogs!

2010-08-14T14:26:00.000-04:00

Last week the Walnut Street Bridge was opened to the dogs. It has been opened before but the failure of dog owners to pick up after their dogs and to keep them under control resulted them getting banned. But local dog lovers have been working hard in educating dog owners and working with city officials, so it was decided to give it a try again.

So for Breakfast on the Bridge we had several dog visitors. Next week we will have doggie treats to hand out and bowls for water. We don't want to leave anyone out!

Yelled At-By a Cop!

2010-08-11T19:07:00.000-04:00

I was riding to my weekly Pilates lesson out towards Lee Highway ( have writtean about this bike route here) and I was emerging from the Wilcox Blvd. Tunnel, I heard a "Get off the Road!" A familiar enough, sad to say, yell. But I looked over to the oncoming traffic lane to see who was yelling and discovered it was a police officer in his official police car.

I am used to being yelled at but I was taken aback that a cop would do the yelling. We have cops on bicycles, for goodness sakes! But this was a little out of the city center and I was coming out of the Wilcox Tunnel. As I have said before, cyclists are a rare sight out there and the environment is not extremely bike friendly, but that is no excuse for the officer to yell at me. I was totally within the law.
wil
It is disappointing, when trying to advance the acceptance of bikes, a city official acts in such a way. I didn't get a chance to identify who he was, otherwise I would make a complaint. Who knows if the other drivers around heard him. How many will be taking their cues from hearing that cop yelling at me to get off the road?

More Bike Racks

2010-07-26T15:34:00.000-04:00

Speaking of Bike Racks, Russ of the Path Less Pedaled captured Q as he was installing the bike racks at Stone Cup. Stone Cup, which attracts many cyclists was in dire need and Q had been working with David, the owner, about getting new racks.

I love this picture of Q. Russ, with a true photographer eye, caught the essence of Q, the bike rack man!

And these are the bike racks installed. I am loving these artistic racks!

Thanks, Q!

Bicycle Bike Racks

2010-07-24T20:17:00.000-04:00

The Q-man has taken it upon himself to get more bike parking in Chattanooga. The city and businesses have been very slow about providing bike racks in sufficent quantiy and quality to accomadate the ever growing number of bike riders.

This was where bikes were parked on the outside of Q's daughter apartment building. Q set his sights on remedinying that and after meeting several times with the apartment building manager, new bike racks were installed. Here is Q doing the installing

New Picture

2010-07-24T19:00:00.002-04:00

I have been meaning to get a new blog picture of myself. The picture I have up is a picture taken of my with my bike (though the bike really isn't evident in this cut) for a public service announcement that Chattanooga was doing to encourage to get moving. Different active people were photographed and then put up on billboards and buses with the admonishment to Just Get Moving". I was the biking person and I saw my picture going by on the bus for several years.

So obviously the picture was out dated and I needed a new one. Since I let my hair go gray I felt this picture was a bit misleading. But I liked it. I don't have many pictures-or at least good ones-taken of me so I hated to change it. I happened to see Trisha's picture on LGRAB at the same time that Russ and Laura of PathLessPedaled came into town. What a serendipitous moment! I would get Russ to take pictures of me with my bike for the blog.

So Russ and I met early Tuesday morning to get some pictures and I think I definitely got some to take the place of the currant one.

Thanks, Russ, for helping me update my blog picture. Happy travels to you and Laura!

Entitlement Thinking, Do You Think?

2010-07-23T11:05:00.000-04:00

Cortney, our BBB (beautiful biking ballerina) told her story at Breakfast on the Bridge this morning about being sideswiped by a car. Neither she or her bike was damaged and the driver of the car stopped and started apologizing profusely. Cortney, though shaken tried to get in the state of mind thta would turn this into a teachable moment for the driver in an ever so kindly way.

   So, in her kind and gentle way, Cortney led her in an conversation about what happened. While the driver admitted fault, by way of explaination stated that she thought Cortney would pull over to let her by. Cortney asked if she had done anything that indicated that she was about to pull over and and driver admitted, no she had not. But she assumed it anyway.

   Cortney did explain that the lane was too narrow for a car to pass safely without going into the next lane. In retrospect, she wishes that she had called the police and had her cited for violating the Three Fool Law.

   But I thought it was a telling thought process for the driver to say she assumed Cortney was going to pull over. Why? Because a car was coming by. The driver had more rights because she was in a car? Getting drivers to reflect on their grandiose sense of entitlement is a major feat.

   There was a letter to the editor in the paper recently lamenting one Chattanooga's few bike lanes in St. Elmo. The writer lived on the street was was greatly upset that she was not allowed to park in the bike lane or the sidewalk. She actually had the audaciaty (don't they think at all?) to ask "do bikers need a place on the road? And do strollers need a place on the sidewalk?" She, with no ironly whatsoever truly, thought that other modes of transportation-biking and walking, should be impeded so she could PARK her vehicle. How do we get these people to do some self reflection on what they are truly saying...and expecting.

    I know this is America, and Chattanooga is in the South and the car culture is greatly entrenched. But even in this culture, isn't there even a little bit of sense that being in a car does not grant the driver greater rights and protection then those out of the car?

I am glad that Cortney is all right and hopefully that driver will be driving with a bit more awareness. And as to the writer of that letter, I hope she gets a ticket every time she parks in the bike lane or sidewalk.

6 Bridge Route

2010-07-19T14:38:00.001-04:00

This is my entry for the last phase of the summer Games for LGRB. I combined two events into one-I know that is a point loser but hopefully it won't disqualify me. I took the long ride to work and rode on our greenway to do it.

Any time I take the long way around to something it usually includes the RiverWalk. It just is a nice way to go.

My starting point for this ride was the Y Here is my bike at the bike rack (that Q installed).

I turned right instead of left out of the Y. It is a straight 2 mile shot from the Y to my studio. Today I am going a big loop around.

Turning from 6th Street, right onto MLK and then right onto RiverFront Parkway.

Under the Olgati Bridge. I never mention this bridge because Interstate 27 goes over it and I don't ride my bike on it. So getting underneath it is the only way to experience it on my bike.

Here I am approaching the Market Street (John Ross) Bridge. This picture was taken as the lanes were reduced from 4 to 2. As you can see, traffic is very light, lanes are wide and until this point there were multiple lanes. It is strange that on this street I was agressively honked and yelled at not once but twice. I wasn't on it longer then 3 minutes. It is hard to predict when drivers are going to take strong exception to you being on the road with them.

Under the Market Street Bridge.

Under the Walnut Street Bridge. I am usually writing about crossing the top of the bridge. It is rare view to see it from below.

This is the glass pedestrian bridge I wanted to take a picture as somebody was crossing it, but traffic was light and nobody came over while I was crossing.

This is crossing a bridge by crossing a bridge. I am now on the Riverwalk on the bridge over looking the Veterans Bridge.

The RiverWalk. I just went on a little bit of it, up to UTC. If I had time I would have gone furthur, at least up to Wilcox and have continued to work that way.

Going through UTC I went up Vine Street instead of Oak. Oak is really nicer but I enjoy going down Vine everyonce in a while. Oak Street looks pretty much as it did when I went to school there so many years ago, but Vine seems to be always changing with new buildings. This view didn't exist 30 years ago.

Then I continued on to work in my usual way over the McCallie viaduct. My camaera had died so I couldn[t take a picture of that bridge. All in all, I went under, or over 5 bridges on this route to work-and never crossed the river!

Visitors!

2010-07-17T12:24:00.000-04:00

Imagine selling everything you own, setting out on your bikes, with only your trade of jewelry making and photography to support yourself for an adventure of a life time. This is exactly what Russ and Laura did a year ago and have been on the road ever since. They rolled in Chattanooga Thursday for a week of exploration.

    They headed out from Portland, Oregon a year ago and have been meandering every since. They don't have firm plans set and take suggestions from oneplace as to where they should go next. They were in Nashville when they were told to come to Chattanooga. I don't know exactly who mentioned CKhattanooga, but looking at the Nashville people Russ and Laura talked about I know Dan Hensley of Nashville Bicycle Lounge and Tricia of Let's Go Ride A Bike fame.(though I haven't actually met her in person)

This is their trip so far
View Larger Map

So who are these people? To read more about them go to Path Less Pedaled. Chattanooga was treated to a presentation Thursday night at Outdoor Chattanooga to hear their story. There was less then a day notice to arrange and publicise their presentation but there was a good size and very interested crowd that showed up.

   A small group of us took them to dinner at Taco Mamacita's for Mex fusion food. Russ and Laura are a delightful and down to earth couple. To live such a lifestyle, going with the flow is a valued attribue and they seemed to have just the right amount of mellowness.    But on the other hand, to live a life where you don't know from one night to the next, where you will be sleeping and always seeing new places and meeting new people requires an alertness and sharpness that is often lost in living the same ole same ole. After a year on the road, Russ and Laura seemed to have gotten those two contrasting attributes of mellowness and sharpness about right.

   They love the quiet touring where it is just the two of them, rarely talking to others, and they then look forward to the constant socialization of city stays. It does sound they get the both of both worlds.

Talking to them does light those adventure fires that are always smoldering deep within. Maybe it is time to Sub 24 hour overnight trips (S24O). I used to do those occasionally, long before there was a name for them, but it has been a long time since I have done them. Time to hit the road again, I think. Russ and Laura might be leaving behind a trail of inspired bike tourers in their path. What fun!

SORBA's Ale for Trails

2010-07-13T18:48:00.000-04:00

This past Friday was SORBA's (southern off road bicycle association) fundraiser to raise money to complete the Raccoon Mountain trail system. As awesome as the system is right now, in its completed state, it will be beyond awesome. So this was difinately something I wanted to support. And of course, it promised to be a great party.

I took the short ride to Outdoor Chattanooga in Coolidge Park to practice my panda shots.

I can't figure out how to aim but I was able to get a couple of acceptable shots.

At the party, I was greeted by the music of Strung Like a Horse. Seems like they are showing up everywhere. Delicious wings by Keller's barbecue with plenty of pasta for tomorrow's tri athletes, the food was great. Meeting, mingling, munching. Great fun.

Now to hit those trails!

Blackberry Picking (a Ride in the Country)

2010-07-13T18:11:00.000-04:00

I as invited by my friend Ashlee to come pick blackberries at Ashland Farms. It was a hot day-as everyday is. The farm is down in Flintstone, GA, about an hour bike ride from my house. I didn't race it-it was too hot for that. Going down into Georgia is one of my favorite places to ride-going through St. Elmo and down across the state line is a good distance to go without any hills to speak of. Though the distance is a far bit, because it is such easy riding, much of it in country, it doesn't seem far at all.

At the Gate

Riding in

The Garden

After taking a tour of the garden, it was time for blackberry picking. Into the brambles we went. It was scatchy, sweaty, buggy and possibly snakey. But my toil was rewarded!

Blackberries!

It was cooler as I rode back. My rough, bloody self met Q for dinner and then I rode the rest of the way home, with my treasure.

Spontaneous Bike Fest!

2010-07-08T10:10:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday I went to Speed Work. I haven't been training for anything this season, having decided I wasn't going to be doing Triathlons this year. But as the season goes on, I find myself picking up my training schedule in spite of myself. . The cold weather last winter, while it didn't keep me off the bike for commuting, discouraged me from going outside for any other aerobic activity and my training never really took off. When I saw that I wasn't going to be able to get it together of the Waterfront Triathlon (coming up this weekend), I just went into full lazy mode.

How nice that felt!

But being around active people means I really don't get that far away from it. My daughter is training for a half-marathon and asked me to do it with her. So that has gotten me into the running. Friends have taken to regular river swims and that just sounded like too much to pass up. And while I have not gotten my road bike out once this year, I have regular long commute rides that could double as training rides. So it seems like I am in training mode, whether I meant to or not.

So with that in mind, I went to speed work. Every Thursday runners gather at Fast Break, jog over to GPS track and do what ever torture Joey inflicts on on and then job back. It is suppose to be good for you-if you survive!

It was a pleasant note to see the number of runners who rode their bikes to Fast Break. There is a severe need for bike racks at the running store!I don't know if I am right in my observation, but it seems that runners in training are more likely to use bikes to get around with then bikers in training.

After speed work, most of the biking runners adjourned to the North Cat Chatt for supper, beer, and hanging out. As we were exiting the north CAt Chatt, there was Bike Director Phil and wife Donna. They had been passing by when they saw the large group of bikes with some known bikes in the crowd and though they would come by to say hi and see what was going on. We met them on the side walk and stopped to talk. Then other bikers riding by saw people they knew and stopped to say hi. Soon, the sidewalk was so full of people on their bikes that we started over flowing into the streets.

What fun! It wasn't so long ago, for me to even see another biker was a rare event. Now, just standing on the street corner, suddenly there is a bike party! Wow! After sometime, there was a reshuffling of the groups. Some of the newcomers joined some of those that were at the North Cat Chatt and went back in for more socializing, while others just got on our bikes to go home.

So, it is looking like bike riders can always find others to spend a little time with. Biking used to be a very lonely thing to do, but no more!

Phil and Deborah Gates

2010-07-04T17:00:00.000-04:00

IN the previous post in the Hands Over Sands, I mentioned there was one other bike rider. His bike drew me not just because it was the lone other bike but because it was an awesome commuter with wooden rack and Brooks leather saddle. I unfortunately had forgotten my camera and didn't take a picture with my cell phone that I knew wouldn't do it justice.

I had to identify who owned such a bike and soon found myself talking to Phil Gates. His wife, Deborah, was also there having walked over from their Northshore condo. This friendly couple was soon telling me (after gentle prodding from me) their Chattanooga story. Like many people, they moved from Atlanta to get away from-well, Atlanta-the size, traffic and whatever else that Atlantans seem to find objectionable. They bought a house and fixed it up and lived in it for several years until they decided the house was too big and too much upkeep, so they sold it.

   As they have an internet based business, Phil and Deborah had the freedom of moving anywhere they wanted to. They had lived in different parts of the country over the years so had much experience to detemine what makes a great place to live.

After giving it some thought, they decided that no place else could beat what they could get right here in Chattanooga-the livability, walkability, bikeability and just the plain friendliness of the people. They bought a condo on the NorthShore and have been living the Chattanooga downtown life ever since.

   I always find it interesting to hear how Chattanooga is viewed by those who come from other places. I have always lived here so it is hard for me to be objective about it all. Really, since I have never lived any place else, I have nothing else to compare to. So when people who do have something to compare it to say how wonderful Chattanooga is, I am grandly pleased.

    Phil and Deborah, you certainly add to the friendliness of Chattanooga. I enjoyed coming the Mercatino's for breakfast for your World Cup gathering. I am sure our paths will be crossing often!

Hands Over Sands Report

2010-07-04T16:39:00.000-04:00

Last week I joined in with the local Hands over Sand demonstration, joining hands over the Tennesse River that flows eventually into the Gulf of Mexico. This was a show of support of the cleanup effort of the oil spill and alternative energy. I stand behind that and was there to lend my hands.

But I don't go so far as to demand a ban on drilling. I am very suspect on easy solutions. I have heard it argued if we are going to use the oil, it is hypocritical to ban oil wells on our shores because of the risk. Do we foist that risk on other countries? Other shores? This oil spill is a reminder of one of the ugly aspect of oil use. Do we hide it away from our view as we continue our pace of use?

Obviously before we decide where our oil should come from, we need to seek out ways of using it less. Alternative energies is a place to start looking. Again, I am all for that.

But it seems there was a lack of talk of what should be coming before the alternative energy talk-just using less. Cutting back on an individual level and asking for more infrastructure that would support using less. To me this is the first item of the agenda. Then alternative energy, and then finally how do we get the oil that I know we will continue to use until every drop is sucked out.

So with that in mind, I was expecting more people to show up on bicycles. Even if people had driven to the North Shore and then rode their bikes the last yards, the presence of bikes would have been a strong statement. But there were only 2 bikes to show up-mine and one other. That is is. Out of more then 80 people.

No one else thought to ride a bike to underscore the statement being made. Nobody else thought that avoiding their car for this demonstration would have been a powerful statement unto itself. (there were some walkers that I commend, except there are no visuals for the walkers)

Hmm...I am sensing a bit of disconnect here. Could that be our problem?

Summer Games Round II

2010-06-28T16:56:00.000-04:00

This is my entry for the second round of the Summer Games at Lets Go Ride A Bike. The first event I chose for myself was carrying a load, something I do it all the time. I am ever amazing myself and others on how much I can carry on a bike. I often go shopping without that very crucial question that bike riders should always have-how exactly am I getting this home? When I make it out to the bike with my purchases, reality hits me, as though the bike was a complete surprise. But I found with a little bit of ingenuity that I can fit it all and even ride it home.

These pictures are from a typical Sunday shopping trip. First a trip to the Chattanooga Market to get my produce, then a trip to Greenlife for all other grocery needs. Usually that overloads me to beyond capacity. But on this trip home, I by passed the 2 Bridges Art Festival and I was taken by the bright, big and cheerful flower. My little garden corner is shaded and dark and it is hard to have colorful flowers. I thought this would brighten things up.

Of course, I committed to buy it before I had a plan of getting it home. No problem. The stem went between me and my backpack. I was quite the picture it seems, because several of the vendors stopped me to take their own picture of me.

Carrying Flower Home

"Planted" in my garden

For my second event, I had every intention of doing a maintance task but I didn't get around to it. I am ashamed to admit that doing maintance on my bike is an extremely rare event. I keep regular dates at Suck Creek Cycle for the guys there to keep me running but rarely do any on my own. So while I have done enough to know I am perfectly capable, it just is not a thing that comes naturally to me.

So under pressure to get something done, I reached for something that does come naturally-reading. I read Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne(Q, I bet you didn't notice that I had taken your copy) Q had read it and greatly enjoyed it-telling me choice bits from the book. He had forbidden me from reading it until he had had finished with it because he didn't want me ruining it for him with me telling him those choice bits of othe book. While the book felt familiar because of this exposure, there were still delightful surprises for me to discover on my own. A very enjoyable read.

Boycott BP?

2010-06-25T18:26:00.000-04:00

People seem to be upset, as they should be, about the oil spill in the Gulf. That is a disastor of immense magnitude. But I have to admit, I am not getting this reaction of supporting a boycott of BP. What is that? How is going to another dealer for our oil addiction going to help anything? All the oil companies have their hands dirty with environmental sins.   Making other oil companies more profitable at the expense of BP does nothing except making the high risk oil drilling more appealing to those who stand to grandly benefit from it.

   Where are the calls for lowering oil consumption? BP is the face right now of our oil bloated selves. Calling for a boycott but with no reduction of consumption is like trying to starve the face while feeding the body. How is this oil suppose to get to us? Some magical IV that delivers oil to our systems while by passing the producers of oil? Get real. We and BP and the rest of the oil companies are in this together. If we want oil companies to change their ways, we must change our ways. If we are upset with the profits oil companies are making and the risks they are taking in making those profits, the solution is pretty straight forward-go on an oil diet. Not a crash diet with little long lasting affect, like we did in the 70's during the oil shortage. But real lifestyle changes, the kind that have long lasting affects.

   If we all put the effort of reducing our oil use just 10%, that would start changing things. We can drive 10% less. Buy 10% less producsts that use petroleum. Reduce the use of plastics. Just 10%. That will send a message to BP, the other oil companies, Washington and whoever else. We need everyone on board to get the oil companies more responsible, to get Washington more supportive about helping us find alternatives, and to produce real change in our habits.

   Forget boycotting BP. Just using a little less does a lot more. So go out there and get on a bike, for goodness sakes!

B on B People and Bikes

2010-06-25T17:21:00.000-04:00

It was a great crowd for breakfast on the bridge today. A lot of new faces and faces that we haven't seen since last year. This is Will, who walks to his job as a courier everyday. He lost an amazing amount of weight when he started his transportation walking and has kept it off for 8 years.

Zac of the Main Street Bike Co-op came by today

Breakfast regular, Holly. Cool hat, Holly!

It was Chris's first time. He did a quick u-turn with his bike at the offer of coffee.

And the bike he was riding?

Gas powered. He found the bike in the trash, rescued it and outfitted it with a conversion kit. A little noisy for my taste, but very effective. He uses it to pull a trailor of kids through these Chattanooga hills.

This was a pretty little bike. It is a Sears bike, like I had as a kid. Ha, it brings back my earliest biking memories!

An extenda bike

Over all, we had an interesting mix of people and bikes this morning.

Hoping your morning was as nice as morning on the bridge!

Wayback Treat

2010-06-16T16:31:00.000-04:00

Although I don't often actually attend Riverbend, during the week it is going on, it still dominates on the horizon. There is no escaping from it. But that is not a bad thing, especially when Riverbend comes to me. As part of Riverbend Eat and Greet program, the band Waybacks from San Francisco came to do a few numbers at Greenlife. I made sure my weekly shopping trip coincided with the miniconcert. It was as hot as blazes, but that didn't stop the crowd from enjoying themselves.

Here are a few pictures of the event:

Riverbend Parking

2010-06-15T18:29:00.000-04:00

For the last few years, there has been bike valet parking at Riverbend. I volunteered on Saturday but I did go by and visit on Friday. Since going by the parking site is on my way home, I guess I will be going by it every night of Riverbend, unless I am actually doing more volunteering at it.

Sydney, Chase and Jennifer are waiting for the bikes. It is still early, so only a few bikes have come, but they will be coming. Saturday we were filled to capacity with almost 125 bikes coming in to be parked.

The bikes are coming!

Sunset over the aquarium

Q taking in bikes

The littlest biker (don't worry, he does have a helmet)

It was good seeing all the people riding their bikes to the festival. Why wouldn't they? They got the best parking of all and the use of a clean port-a-potty without a line. Riding the bike is truly the easiest way of getting in and out of Riverbend-except for fireworks night. That night the Walnut Street Bridge will be closed, so I don't even plan on coming to the south side of the river. But until then, I will be coming around. Maybe I will actually go into Riverbend.

Birthday Visitor

2010-06-11T17:57:00.000-04:00

Chattanooga seems to be attracting more visitors who get out on their bikes lately. Sometimes, by living here and being aware of all our warts and blemishes, it is hard to appreciate how bike friendly our downtown area appears to out-of-towners. But bike friendly it must appear because I keep meeting people from other places on their bikes.

Last weekend, as I was coming down Frazier towards my turn on Tremont, I saw up ahead a trio of cyclists making the same turn. They grabbed my attention. Its hard to say why-could it be the balloon attached to the back of one bike? Maybe, but I sensed they weren't from around these parts. I don't know why, because I don't claim to know or even be familiar with everyone that rides bikes in these parts.

I tried to catch up with them but couldn't and I was thinking my curiosity would not be fed. But then I saw them get off their bikes to push them up Tremont. That hill must have caught them unawares. Another sign they weren't from around here.

When I crested that hill, I saw them on the other side of the intersection inspecting a piece of paper. Ah ha! A map! I was not mistaken on that "Where are we?" air about them. As I was interested in meeting them, this was an excuse to start the conversation going. So I asked if I could help them find something.

It turns out they were looking for Riverview Park. Oh, no, they climbed that hill for nothing! And it was very hot and humid. Welcome to Tennesee!

Riverview Park is down the hill on the other side of Hixson Pike. They were visiting from Virginia to see friends. The balloon bike? It was her birthday and her bike had been decorated in celebration. If she was competing in the Summer Games of LGRAB, this would certainly qualify in decorate the bike event. My picture does not do justice to the full effect of the bike. Trust me, it was quite festive.

I neglected to get their names (sometimes I forget to ask the most basic questions) I hope they found Riverview Park, had a wonderful visit, and the birthday girl had a marvelous special day!

B on B Friday

2010-06-11T15:18:00.002-04:00

Another Friday, another Breakfast on the Bridge. The breakfast seems to attract out-of-towners. Many of the people crossing the bridge in the mornings are intense. They are intent on getting to work, intent on their exercise, or just intent on not getting mixed up with that crazy looking bunch on the bridge.

But people from out of town are more relaxed. If they are coming over the bridge typically they are in exploration mode and always seem pleasantly surprised to be invited for coffee by complete strangers.

This is Rob, and oh no, I am forgetting his wife's name. (sorry, if you are reading this, please forgive me; my memory is not what it used to be). But I do remember they were from Kentucky and were on their way to St. Simon. Chattanooga was an overnight stop and though they didn"t get in to the city till after midnight, they were up early for an exploratory bike ride.

Visitors from Kentucky, I hope you had a pleasant visit in Chattanooga. Come back soon!

I Won!

2010-06-08T17:24:00.001-04:00

I just got the word from LJ, I was a winner in the first Round of the Lets Go Ride A Bike Summer Games. Hayy!! I won a Terry bike skort and halter top. I love Terry stuff and I will be looking forward to wearing these! Thank you, Dottie and Trisha of LGRAB. Now on to round II!

Comedy Catch Date Night

2010-06-08T12:53:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I blogged my entry for the 'Lets Go Ride A Bike" Summer Olympics. One of the entries was date night. Since the Lady Jane is also doing this contest, I thought it would be fun doing the date night togetherand with a friend competing in the Comedy Catch Talent Search we had a perfect place to go.

To get to the Comedy Catch, we had to go through the Brainerd Tunnels, which was the first for both the Lady J and her J. Both Q and I have ridden in the tunnel before but not very often. Tunnels can be tricky, and the Brainerd Tunnel is long and during working hours can be very busy. But is has two unidirectinal lanes in each tunnel and for the night, it was clear. We didn't have any problems, coming or going.

There were no bike racks or any indications that people ever parked the bikes in the area, so we found handy poles to lock up to. By the time we got there, the humidity and the long hill up to the tunnel made us ready for cold drinks. LJ's frozen margaritas were looking might good.

We had a great time. My friend, Barb Neligan, was great. She started the evening by getting the laughter rolling and we were laughing all night. I don't go to Comedy Clubs but I think I will have to start. I don't know when i have laughed so much.

This is me, Barb and my son Matthew, who DID NOT ride. By refusing to do so, I was not able to pull out a family ride at the last moment for the LGRAB contest.

To read the Lady Jane's story of the night go here

2010-06-07T12:18:00.000-04:00

I only got two entries for this round of Olympic Games. I never could get my daughters or son to ride with me. They kept giving my excuses about their bikes not working or tire rot or something like that.
But I did get a group ride entry and a date night entry.

I am counting the Brews Cruise as my group ride entry. For my date night, the lady Jane and I with our J's and Q's rode our bikes to the Comedy Catch. I will write about it more fully later.

Now on to the next round!

Soccer Games, Bells, Routes and Meeting People

2010-06-04T18:13:00.002-04:00

Meg and Kelly
Originally uploaded by donolmt

Here are Meg and Kelly. I met them Saturday as we were all heading to the soccer game. Chattanooga recently has formed a semi-professional soccer team and tonight was an Exhibition game with Mexico. Chattanooga has joined in the world's game and at a pretty impressive level. Not only were they able to draw a big crowd to the game but they actually beat the Mexican team.

Riding to the game I found myself crossing the bridge all at the same time with other riders. When there was a regroup with a couple of them at the stop light we introduced ourselves. Meg and Kelly were very appreciative of the bellringing I did to get across the bridge.

Which was rather funny, because I don't have a bell on my bike. I was on a loaner while my trusty steed was getting its every three month check up. Since only half of the bridge is open as the finishing work is being done, it gets very crowded trying to ride through. I never felt a big need for a bell, usually a a "bike behind" call does the job, but the density of the crowds on the bridge sure made getting through tough. It was amazing how the bell cleared the way.

So with the help of the bike and the bell, I got to meet two more fellow bikers. Neither one bikes on a regular basis because of where they live/work but they do get out on bikes when they can.

Another person I met this past weekend was my neighbor. Riding through the neighborhood on a daily basis has made many people familiar with me by sight. By the time I actually meet my neighbors, they feel as though they already know me. Its kinda of strange in a way.

John has long ridden bikes in the fast, hard, far way but has been doing more and more of the tool around the neighborhood type riding. He is an air controller at the airport and would like to ride his bike to work. I told him of my recent trips that take me by the airport and the difficulties of it. We discussed the different routes-Brainerd Tunnel with Brainerd Rd (medium distance, tunnel with bike light and heavy traffic on multi-laned road) Wilcox Blvd(shortest distance, long tunnel with no bike light) or River Park/access road/Jersey Pike(longest distance, nicest route, no tunnel)

I have been taking the Wilcox Blvd way. A recent talk I had with Bike Director Phil, was strongly advocating the Brainerd Tunnel route. But we all agree the RiverWalk was the most pleasant-if you have the time. I wonder if my neighbor will be inspired by our talk and do a bike ride to work. And which route he will take. And I wonder how much sooner I would have to leave to do the RiverWalk route myself.

Meeting these bikers and hearing them express a desire to ride bikes more to more places tells me there is probably a small army of would-be bikers just waiting for more favorable conditions. Build it and they will come, I know. Bikers are increasing all the time but with more support, even just a tiny bit of support of the magnitude given to cars, I know the roads will be flowing with cyclists. How wonderful that would be!

..and then the Brews Cruise

2010-06-02T18:42:00.003-04:00

Jim at Brews Cruise
Originally uploaded by donolmt

The Brews Cruise was set for the last Friday of the month. Uh,Oh, Conflict. First night of Nightfall. Both great events to ride the bike to. No problem, we would just stop at Night Fall for our first beer of the evening (I am writing this as though I drink beer, but alas, for these events, I don't.)

It had been raining on and off all day and was still trying to continue the wet all evening. But eventually, the weather gave it a rest so the bikers that braved it was grandly rewarded. It had been decided that eating first would be best so we met at River Street Deli, that opened just for us to come in.

Andy trying to blend in with the Harleys

Cortney, Q and me at the Brewery

Then on to Night Fall. Night Fall is always good for hearing good music and seeing people that you haven't seen all winter.After mingling in the social scene there, we hopped on our bike to ride to St. Elmo. Chris Hunt of Moccasin Bend had brewed a special beer for us- Pedal Power Porter. All proceeds from that beer would be donated to the Pedal Power Program, a program helping homeless people get bikes. I truly, truly, wanted to be a beer drinker to support that. While the Porter is a little stout for me to develop a taste for beer, I am holding out the notion that maybe the chocolate beer will.

This night the brewery had a band Strung Like A Horse. With a name like that, they better be good, and they were. They were a bluegrass, folk and variety other genre band that had us dancing and kicking up our heels. More people on bikes met us there plus the people that came sans bike. It was a rollicking party night.

Tour De Brews

2010-06-02T16:00:00.002-04:00

Cortney on Tour De Brews
Originally uploaded by donolmt

We finished out National Bike Month with a Brews Cruise, and wow, what a month! I am still behind on my blogging about all the events. This event, the Brews Cruise was a repeat of the Tour De Brews in March. In the future. If I was to point to one event that seemed to kick off the critical mass coming together to form some sort of Chattanooga scene of urban riding,the Tour De Bruews in March was it. We might not be rivaling the Harley culture in this town but I think we are taking shape.

The first cruise was the idea of Cortney (can we survive when she goes away?) and Rebecca Shearer (fellow fashion model!). We met as a group in Coolidge Park, rode our bikes to Moccasin Bend Brewery which is in St. Elmo, not at Moccasin Bend, in spite of the name. Had a great time, testing the beers, taking the tour of the brewery then riding back to Greenlife for dinner.

It is hard to say how many people joined us, with the coming and going, but it was over 30 riders at least. "When is the next one going to be?" was being asked by the riders, but especially by those that missed it. Everyone wanted to join in the fun

Long Bike Day

2010-05-26T18:29:00.002-04:00

2010 05 19 Ride of Silence 025
Originally uploaded by donolmt

Yesterday's posts was all about being in a car too much. Today's post is about having a bike heavy day-though I would not call it as being on a bike too much.

    Day-to-day my riding is to work and back. Things come up that take me elsewhere but mostly i stay downtown with limited miles. Occasionally though I get big bike days and I am off everywhere and the miles rack up. Last Wednesday was a day like that.

     I have written about going out to the Lee Highway area. This trip has turned into a regular thing as I go out there for a weekly Pilates session. So that is just what I was doing last Wednesday. The more I go that route the more comfortable I am with it although the tunnel will never be a nice thing. I went through it today also and I was honked at. I knew having all the drivers being courterous wouldn't last. But over all I have adjusted and settled in the ride.

     But last Wednesday was also the Ride Of Silence. I didn't know how many riders would show up. Last year was the first year for it and it was inresponse to the death of David Meek. We were still in shock over his tragic death and the ride with over 200 riders was very moving and healing.

     This year didn't have that immediate feel. Happily, there was not a bike death this past year so I was not sure how well the ride would be attended. A large group did show up-estimated to be over 100. I have been talking about our emerging bike community here in Chattanooga and I think the attendence at this Ride of Silence is another strong indicator of our growth.

    The after party was held at Moccasin Bend Brewery in St. Elmo, hosted by Q. He had taken goodies to eat by bike trailer before the ride and participants of the ride came and shared a beer in memory. After the long day, I still had to ride home.

By the end of the day, I had ridden 50 miles-and all without bike shorts.  Long hours on a bike is always preferable to long hours in a car. I am so glad my life has developed in a way I can take care of business, go to work, and socialize all on a bike. Wouldn't have it any other way!

Car Travels

2010-05-25T13:03:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was an extensively heavy car riding time. I had to go out to Memphis Saturday- out and back and then Sunday was a trip to Nashville. Total over the weekend I spent over 17 hours in the car-and not one minute on the bike.

   So how did I feel? By Sunday night I was feeling stiff, slow, and heavy. Monday morning I weighed myself and I had gained 2 pounds! Is this what car riding does to a person?

   Granted, this was a very unusual weekend and very few people ride cars that much on a regular basis. (My brother is a truck driver and I do think of him though) But it did have me reflecting on how we transport ourselves shapes our lives and our bodies. Because I rarely ride in cars, I could feel the effect it was having on me. And because I ride bikes so much, I don't notice the effect it has on a day to day basis. It just is. But I know it does

   . People who know nothing but car driving are probably very unaware of what it is doing to themselves-but doing it does. Studies have found there is a correlation to the number of hours in a car and weight gain. From my experiece as a Pilates instructor, I would suggest there is a direct correlation of car riding and the level of basic physical functioning. But because this is on going and so common, very few think of it when they are trying to figure out why they are so stiff, slow and heavy. If people are looking to change, extra lifestyle bits are added to what is already a full and hectic schedule. A proscribed diet or exercise done outside of any connection to any aspect to day to day life are the best things to add. Of course, just look at ads that are trying to get us beleive that adding a very high priced bit will change the effects of all all day-to-day lifestyle choices.

    I am grateful that I have the ability to drive where I need to go. While I did not like the driving part, taking the trips to Memphis and Nashville were valuable to me. I am glad I was able to do it.
But I am especially grateful to being able to come home after all that car travel and get on a bike. I love how biking shapes my life-and my body. And it does it without me having to think of it. I get on the bike because I need to get to work. The bike takes care of all the rest. How simple is that?

Let The Games Begin!

2010-05-21T18:23:00.000-04:00

The inspiring ladies, Dottie and Tricia of the blog Let's Go Ride A Bike is sponsoring Summer Biking Games with GREAT prizes. This contest has nothing to do with how fast or how far you ride your bike. They are not encouraging more spandex wear or arduous training schedule. Its all about getting on the bike and having fun!

Until June 6 is is about Social Biking. My favorite event is dressing up and going on a Bike Date. I might be disqualified because this occured before the official starting date but I will have to enter my Biking To The Ballet, It was the dressiest yet I have been on the bike.

I will attempt to compete in the Ride With Family event. I better start asking my kids. My son did do the ride Tour De Brews (which I WILL blog about soon) with me, but again that was outside the dates and I didn't get pictures. I should be able to get him to come with me again on something. But the real coup would be to get a daughter. My oldest has been spotted on a bike but the youngest daughter on the bike is a rare site indeed. Think I am up for it?

OF course I have the Group Ride in the bag, just deciding which one to enter.

This should be fun. I encourage everyone reading this to join in the action. Go to Let's Go Ride A Bike pick out your event, get on your bike and GO!

Talking about Coffee...

2010-05-21T14:49:00.002-04:00

Speaking of coffee, this is one of those posts that I have been slow to getting around to. At the 3 State 3 Moutain Challenge, I had a nice visit with Kevin Price of Blue Smoke Coffee who was giving the coffee away at the Greenlife tent. I was there at 6:00am helping to check riders in and I NEEDED MY COFFEE

So I was a frequent visitor to the tent and ended up having a great conversation with Kevin. I had met him before at Greenlife when he was stocking the shelf with his wares. (That is one of the things I like about Greenlife, you often actually run into the people behind the products. Hope that doesn't change as it morphs into Whole Foods)

     There is something about bikes and coffee-a natural affinity of sorts. Blue Smoke Rostery is Chattanooga local but thinks globally with a sustainable and very generous spirit. He uses fair trade,organic, shade grown coffee that he roasts in a carbon neutral roaster using green renewable energy. And if that isn't enough to have credentials as a responsible, caring business, he gives 5% of sales to environmental and humanitarian causes. And of course, most interesting for this blog's topic, he makes his local and post office deliveries by bike.

    I have been drinking his coffee since I ran into him around Christmas. About that time the the source of my morning coffee, the Deli next door to my studio closed and I have had to start making my own. While nothing can beat having ole man Joe hand deliver my coffee to me every morning, that smell of fresh brewed Blue Smoke Coffee has given my mornings such a wonderful perk that I am glad for the opportunity to get back into my own brewed coffee.

    If you are interested in great coffee, check out Blue Smoke Coffee.   You can get it in Chattanooga at Greenlife or order it directly. Kevin will bike to the post office himself to send it on its way to you.

A Tragic Breakfast

2010-05-21T14:13:00.000-04:00

Breakfast on the bridge is always interesting. This morning though had a tragic aspect to it as those of us on the Walnut Street Bridge were witness to the aftermath of a suicide jump from the Market Street Bridge. We watched as she and would be rescuers were pulled out of the river. While it was dramatic, the sense of sadness is great. I don't know who she was and what was her story, but my heart goes out to the woman and her family. This kind of interesting we can do without.

On the lighter side, we are always inviting people as they go by to stop for coffee. Reactions are greatly varied, with some people stopping and others not. This guy though immediately perked up and stopped at the mention of coffee.

It turns out to be Andrew Gage, who is starting up a coffee roastery in the business development center. His coffee, which he is calling Velo Coffee, will be sold in Greenlife starting next week. And as you can tell from the name, he is an avid cyclist and hopes to start a coffee delivery service by bike. He has offered to supply some coffee for our breakfast. How wonderful! So people, come out next Friday for a taste of Velo Coffee!

Big River Welcomes Cyclists

2010-05-18T16:24:00.004-04:00

iv
Big River Welcomes Cyclists
Originally uploaded by donolmt

Of course, any landmark event deserves an after party to celebrate. Big River Grille (don't be fooled by their website. They may have grown but Big River is Chattanooga, born and bred) came through for us.

Trek brought displays for the pool table!

Melissa Taylor, Chattanooga'sTransportation Planning Leader, and Phil Pugliese, Chattanooga's Bike Director

Sondra Aten of Collective Clothing and Ruth Thompson of Outdoor Chattanooga

Fellow Models- The Stone Cup Gang- Laura, Rusty and Stacy

Two more who have been known to show style on the bike, Patrick Hall and the Lady Jane

Click here for more pictures!

Collective Commute Bike Fashion Show

2010-05-18T15:00:00.002-04:00

IMG_2108
Originally uploaded by Cameron Adams

Sunday was the fashion show on bike and it was a blast! Sondra of Collective Clothing and Cameron Adams of The Chattanoogan Blog with the help of all at Outdoor Chattanooga put this together.

Much thanks to the hard work of EleaBlake for makeup and Epiphany Spa for hair. They had quite the job to do in getting 20+ models ready for the show.

And thanks for Trek Bikes, Chattanooga Electric Bikes and Suck Creek Cycles for providing the cycles.

The rains came and went, leaving us undecided whether to have it indoors or outdoors. At show time, it was looking clear enough to have it outside.

This was another event just this month that was new for Chattanooga and proof of a coelescing biking community. And it is fashionable! This was our humble entry in the world wide movement of fashion on bikes. Personally, since I am NOT the fashion diva, I would not have put the fashion on bikes. But Cameron, the photographer, has been following this movement for a while and has been documenting the fashion scene here in Chattanooga for about a year now. I was not even aware of how people were finding themselves fashionable on bikes until Cameron took note.

Cameron matching up with Sondra was pure genius. Sondra is eclectic, idiocentric and totally original in her fashion style and Collective Clothing is a FUN place to shop. And the two of them together wanted to a join up with the biking scene.

A call went out for models. It turned out there were more people into fashion willing to get on bikes then those on bikes willing to get into fashion. Many of the models had not been on a bicycle since childhood which made for some wobbly riding. But I think they had fun and I know at least one that was inspired to go out and get a bicycle.

As for me? What I was doing in the show? The biking connection was obvious, the fashion connection was not. And I was over the age of twenty (by a great, great deal!) Thanks, Blythe(who has been known to show style on the bike) and Rebecca for helping to bridge that large age gap-and for being fellow bikers. For a while, I thought I was going to be the odd man out.

Reba rocking it!

Here I am after Darin of Elea Blake worked on me. This is the pre show shot. I actually wore a different outfit in the show. I hope to get more pictures and I will post those. Hopefully, there are pictures floating around on our bikes.

Miracle Worker of Owen's

2010-05-13T17:44:00.001-04:00

Eric of Owen's Cycle
Originally uploaded by donolmt

The night before the 3 State 3 Mountain was the Bike Expo. Q and I went there after our Lookout Mountain Adventure (I will get around to blogging about it) and spent time visiting friends and vendors. I was slated to do some volunteering for the event the next morning so this stop was purely social.

We parked our bikes next to one another and up against the fence. When we were leaving, I had to fight my derailleur out of his pedal. I pushed off and away we went. but It took just rounding the corner to discover that something had gone seriously wrong. Absolutely no rear shifting. Something must have happened in that little bike tangle.

What a nuisance! But, on the other hand, there could not be a better place to have a bike malfunction. So back to the Expo. And I knew exactly who would fix me up.

Owen's Cycles have a booth every year at the 3 State 3 Mountain Expo and they have honed anticipating what cyclist about to do a major ride might need. They are indeed a busy booth! I was hoping, though, not too busy, that Eric of Owen's couldn't take some to help me out.

I have been going to Owen's since getting my first "10 speed" from there way back when I was in high school ( and we are NOT counting the years!) and have over the years bought many bikes from them. Eric has been an owner for a few years now and has continued the quality of service Owen's is known for.

OF course, I also love Owen's because they have been a big supporter of our Bike2Work, going on for many years now.

So, with all that, I knew Eric would help me out. And he so kindly did. He diagnosed a broken cable and quickly replaced it. He also tightened up my brakes and lubed my chain (i know, I know, maintance is not my strong point and I am late for my maintance check up)

So in no time at all, Q and I were back on the road.

Thanks, Eric. You were a lifesaver!

"Looking Good"

2010-05-12T14:39:00.000-04:00

Stopping at a stoplight in East Ridge coming back from the dentist. The window of the car next to me rolled down to reveal two young african-american women. "How old are you?" the one in the passenger seat asked. "52" I admitted. "Wow, you are looking good!!!" She looked as though she knew a thing or two about looking good. I was given the thumbs up as they drive off.

Its always nice to get a thumbs up and as I get older, the unexpected "You look good!" becomes extra sweet. And maybe, I planted a seed for the idea of looking good and bike riding in their minds.

The best kind of advocacy.

Biking to the Ballet

2010-05-10T14:20:00.002-04:00

2010 05 01 005
Originally uploaded by donolmt

I am way behind on my biking posts. This is National Biking Month and I have been so busy doing biking events and just riding around I haven't had time to actually blog about them.

I will be trying to catch up and will be doing my stories as I have time. They won't be in particular order as I will do the simple and shorter stories first.

Last Saturday, Q and I went to the ballet to see our BBB (beautiful biking ballerina) friend, Cortney in in last performance in Chattanooga. She will be leaving us, for what we are hoping only for a short time, to go to Oregon to continue her education in getting a degrree in Transportation. To say she bikes is an understatement-she is making it her life and is angling to work from the inside to promote biking. Yay to Cortney!

Of course, to honor Cortney, we wanted to ride to her ballet. We had our doubts because it had been threatening to rain all weekend (this is the weekend of the Nashville disastor. Because the rain front stalled over Nashville, Chattanooga was spared. It is hard to rejoice on how our biking events weren't rained on when Nashville was hit so hard).
But as it wasn't actually raining at decision time we decided to risk it. We took precautions though. You can see that I have my panniers filled with raingear-totally ready for the monsoon that did not come.

As it was sprinking when Q was preparing to leave, he threw on some rain pants, probably thiking that sitting through a ballet in wet pants would not be fun. He whipped them off when we arrived, to the obvious shock to the elderly couple that was walking by at that moment. It did look as though he was preparing to moon them!

The ballet was wonderful and Cortney danced beautifully. So yes, you can get dressed nicely to go to a formal event and ride bikes. And Cortney is just the one to appreciate that fact!

No More Greenlife!

2010-05-07T12:13:00.000-04:00

Bad news just in! I have talked many times in this blog of Chattanooga's local grocery store, Greenlife. Greenlife is often compared to WholeFoods but, for me, it is much, much better. It was local store with deep roots in this area. Owner Chuck Pruett is a Chattanoogan with long family ties to the grocery business. Many of the vendors were local and I became personally familiar to many of them, meeting them as they were bringing in their goods to the store or out in the community. Greenlife was for me a Chattanooga symbol of our version of sustainable, healthy, food system. I LOVE Greenlife and shopping there is an important element of my sustainable, biking lifestyle that I have been creating for myself.

The bad news? Greenlife has been sold to WHOLEFOODS!?!! NO, NO, NO.... Chuck, how could you? I hate to begrudge you of what I am sure is a wonderful business opportunity. Your vision and hard work deserves whatever compensation that comes your way. But...but...wasn't there any other way?

Youwere successful beyond your dreams in making Greenlife part of the essence of Chattanooga. At least what I considered an essence and I know I am not the only one. While I will shop at Wholefoods (it still is the easiest place for me to shop by bike) it won't be like home that I considered Greenlife.

Forgive me for reacting as though a death had occurred. Because for me it has.

Greenlife

R.I.P.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Rain Barrel Workshop

2010-04-28T16:09:00.000-04:00

I am constantly challenging myself to expand the range and use of the bicycle as transportation. I sometimes feel like riding a bike around is like a puzzle. The pieces are not automatically there like they are with cars. instead, it can be a matter of independent putting together those pieces in order to make riding a bike feasible. When people tell me of the reasons why they don't ride bikes, what they are telling me is that a piece of the puzzle that is missing. Until the infrastructure is put into place as it has been done in many places in Europe, there will not be immense numbers of riders in any given place.

    I think I was an early adopter of bike riding because I love to bike and I enjoy puzzles. Every new application requires a figuring out. Its fun, interesting and beneficial, if not always easy.

    An area of biking that Q is working on is how to haul things around. He has ordered a trailer and is eyeing the possibilities of riding to his construction jobs. Unfortunately, his trailer was not here for us to try it out when we went to a rain barrel workshop. This was at the Chattanooga Food Bank on Amnicola and can be reached so easily and beautifully by bike on the River Walk had so of course we had toride our bikes.

    But with no way to get them home on our bikes, Q went later in the car to pick them up. But soon we will be looking to do that sort of thing by bike. I think...or at least Q is...these hills with a loaded trailer? A piece of the puzzle that will keep us busy for a while!

Rain Barrel Workshop

Q, master rain barrel maker

Mollie, wonderful pilates teacher, was also at the workshop

An Amazing Biking Artist

2010-04-28T15:11:00.000-04:00

Chattanooga has many amazing people in its biking community. And some people have found amzing inspirations bybeing in the bike community. Celeste Sneed is both. She is an artist that started biking a few years ago and has been inspired by her biking experiences to once again to pick up her brush and put that into her art.

She had done the art work for both the 3 State 3 Mountain ride and the 3 Rides 3 Hoods Ride.

I first became aware of Celeste's talent when she did henna art on my wrist during Culture Fest last year. I was impressed with her abilites then but I have to say I have been blown away by her artwork that she has been coming out with the past few months. Check her out to find out more about her and see more biking art.

Now, I just have to decide which print I want to get for myself.

3 Rides 3 Hoods Ride Trial

2010-04-27T18:32:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday was a fun day of riding around town. A group of us were trying out the 3 Rides 3 Hoods ride for this coming Sunday, May 2. This ride, with three parts through three different urban neighborhoods, is part of Jane's Walk.

Here are Cortney Mild, our BBB (beautiful Biking Ballerina) and Jim Johnson of Bike Tours Direct,the planners of this event looking over the route.

Riding the Circle at the Hunter!

No tour of Chattanooga would be complete without a nod to our Civil War history. Jeremy is inspecting the monument at Orchard Knob

Close up of the monument

It was opening day at the Chattanooga Market.

Jeremy and the Lady J during our lunch break at the Market

The ride goes through North Chattanooga and Downtown, Southside into Highland Park and Orchard Knob and then finally into St. Elmo. I wasn't able to do the trial ride into St. Elmo but I will be doing the official ride next Sunday. This trial was fun. There will be speakers at different points on each of the ride to talk about the history of the area. The pace was easy, the terrain was mostly easy-although going up Orchard Knob might be tough for newbie riders. But it is short so nobody will be left behind.

This will be the day after the 3 State 3 Mountain ride. If that ride was too much for you or looking for a sociable recovery ride, come join us for one ride, two rides or all three rides at the 3 Rides 3 Hoods Ride. This is a new ride for our ever growing biking scene in Chattanooga.

Chattanoooga, Bike Friendly?

2010-04-20T17:28:00.000-04:00

The question comes up frequently, "Is Chattanooga a bike friendly city?" Bicycling Magazine has included Chattanooga in their top 50 American Bike Friendly Cities.(see here) Pretty neat to be recognized. But are we really a bike friendly city? My answer is, compared to whom? I could name a dozen ways just on the top of my head on how biking is better supported in other cities. Oh, to live in one of those places!

But, in comparing us to other southeast cities, I guess we are pretty well biking advanced. If you look at the map of where the cities are located, you will see the southeast if not well represented. Chattanooga is the only bike friendly town in the 4 state area of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. The south had a deeply ingrained auto culture that has been hard to break through to give bicycles a fighting chance. I am proud that Chattanooga is breaking through that barrier to make headway and to have our efforts noted is a great achievement. So yes, on a southern scale, we are very bike friendly.

My reaction to hearing the news was similiar to the Lady J's reaction that she wrote for the Chattarati We are not there yet, but we are trying.

Now, if we truly want to be a bike friendly city, following the example of Copenhagen would be moving in the right direction.

2010-04-16T14:22:00.000-04:00

While the bridge opening was the exciting part of Breakfast on the Bridge today, I couldn't let the event go by without mentioning some of the interesting people we had today. We had a good crowd, and with the bridge opening (how did they all find out about it so so?) had some new faces just show up. We love that!

This is Mark. I first met Mark last week on the Tour De Brews (which I will blog about soon) On his commute to work, he discovered the bridge opening and then breakfast!

Officer Mansell (no relation to Q) We love it when the bike police come by. I know them all and are always glad to see them.

A bike tourist from Florida. He goes around biking different cities and had high accolades for Chattanooga as a biking city. He said the people are especially friendly. I wonder if having a bunch of strangers inviting him to breakfast contributed to that impression?

Encouraged by our interest in what kind a gear an experienced tourer carries, he brings out packable sling.

Which the Lady J had to try out. She looks as though she was a born slinger!

Phil, Chattanooga's Bike Director and

Ruthie, with Outdoor Chattanooga came across us while checking out the bridge.

It was one of those mornings that just makes me glad to be alive and living in Chattanooga. Life on a bike is good!

Whooie! The Bridge is Open!

2010-04-16T13:58:00.000-04:00

The Bridge is open and we, the Breakfast on the Bridge Crowd was there to witness it!

This is Gary Ball, owner of Tower Construction (and erstwhile crime fighter). When he showed up on the end of the bridge dangling keys, I knew something was up. I also knew he would be the best source of information about the bridge opening. How exciting it was when the answer to my question was"right now!"

Andy, a fellow breakfaster, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to accompany Gary on his mission. We were the first ones over the Market Street Bridge when it reopened and thought it was cool we were here to be the first over the Walnut Street Bridge.

Blythe was already waiting on the other side of the fence. It amazed me how people discovered the opening so fast. We have been sniffing around the bridge so long waiting for it to open, there was no way for it to open without some of us being there, ready.

The actual moving of the fence and...

off I was-on the newly redone side. Don't the planks look so nice? They now run all the way to the end of the bridge.

Let's give a hand to Tower Construction for getting done ahead of schedule. We could tell the hard work that was going on whenever we looked. You did a great job.

So here it is- wonderful. The bridge opening is wonderful, the weather is wonderful, Chattanooga is wonderful. Let's go ride a bike!

What a Stubborn Man

2010-04-09T12:03:00.000-04:00

Q is a stubborn man. He wanted to start Breakfast on the Bridge today.

Wait till the bridge opens. I told him .

No, he didn't want to wait.  He was tired of waiting for the bridge to open

It is going to be cold tomorrow. Wait until it warms up, I told him.

No, he didn't care about the cold. Hot coffee should banish any chill

Nobody will find you, you will be by yourself, I told him. No, he didn't care if no one came by, he wanted to be there, just in case. And I was going to show up, wasn't I?

   So Q started the Breakfast on the Bridge season.

It was cold and lonely.

Then the sun came out, warmed things up, and people started coming...

And coming...

Q was right after all. What a stubborn man. I'm glad he went ahead and had breakfast.

Come on out every Friday morning (except Bike2Work mornings) between 7 and 9 and join this stubborn man for breakfast. You won't be sorry.

Shout out from Streetsblog

2010-04-08T19:28:00.000-04:00

My blog is listed on Streetsblog, the blog gathering place for all things alternative transportation. In their regular synopsis post, I was given a shout out. What fun! I am not aware of any other mention. Check out the blog, Streetsblog

Local biker sees more commuters on the road - timesfreepress.com

2010-04-08T15:49:00.001-04:00

Take a look-an article of me in the Chattanooga Timesfreepress

Local biker sees more commuters on the road - timesfreepress.com

Another Railroad Fix

2010-04-08T15:37:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned a couple of blogs ago, it is hard riding anywhere in Chattanooga without encountering train tracks. It isn't called the Choo Choo town for nothing. I just wrote about running across the smoothed out rails on my ride to St. Elmo. It must be on somebody's agenda to smooth out some of these crossings as I came across another fixing. Here is a picture of the tracks on the intersection of McCallie and Holtzclaw being worked on. I have to ride over these coming and going everyday and they can be very rough going.
My ride home that evening was just a little bit less rough. Thanks, guys!

Another reason to bike

2010-04-04T13:22:00.000-04:00

    I read in the paper today about how the rates for parking at the Republic parking lots are going up. Expect to pay $9 if parking for over two hours in the lots in the center of downtown.
Tourists will pay that. I go to other cities and find myself paying what, to a Chattanoogan, is totally outrageous rates. But I do it.

   But I do wonder about the locals deciding to go out to eat whether that will influence their choice. It does me. If Q and I are thinking about going out to eat, whether we are on our bikes or in a car greatly influences our choice. The parking of the car is troublesome so we tend to go to places where that problem is easily solved.

   But it always reminds me how troublesome a car can be. Think about how much baggage we take around in the form of a vehicle and we expect to be provided a convenient and hopefully cheap place to put it. Most of our parking is subsidized and we get put out when we have to pay the true cost of parking. I know I do-I am the queen of lets find the cheap (or even better the free) parking place.But then I get impatient if the hunt for such a space has me circling around and around, getting furthur and furthur away from my target. I often start wishing I was on my bike to avoid all that and of course a bike to ride the sometimes far distances I have to walk from my car. Bikes can be a wonder for the lazy, cheap, and impatient parkers!

Broadening My Biking Horizons

2010-04-04T13:07:00.000-04:00

I recently had a need to be out on Lee Hwy and Vance Road. I had never ridden my bike out there and wanted to give it a try. First, finding a route. There is no direct obvious route. So I checked Google Maps to see what it suggests. Hmm-go out McCallie and out Brainerd Rd. Lots of traffic, dealing with up to six lanes of traffic and a tunnel. The tunnel does have a bike warning light. I have ridden Brainerd Rd but is not my idea of a good time.

Bike Warning Flashers on a couple of tunnels in Chattanooga

I wanted to ride the RiverWalk to the end and slide up next to Hwy 153 along the Access Road. Unfortunately, that will only get me as far as Bonnie Oaks and then I must detour a good bit out of my way to get up to Lee Hwy. It would double my riding distant. No good.

So I split the difference. A little ways up the River Walk, crossing Amnicola to go up Willow, the Shallowford then Airport Road. I did have trouble crossing Amnicola becasuse the stop light does not recognize bikes and the traffic is heavy, and it did take me through the Wilcox Blvd Tunnel-a long tunnel with no warning lights. Shallowford Rd was totally torn up in front of Vulcan from the big trucks. But Airport Road was wonderful-flat, country atmosphere with practically no traffic.

Wilcox Blvd Tunnel

Was it a good ride? Well, it won't become a favorite. It is doable even though it has its moments. Surprisingly, since this is not a route that gets many bikes, I did not have one driver honking or in anyway being disrespectful to me. But neither did I receive any thumbs up or extra courtesies. I think drivers were so stunned to see a cyclist there were no reactions. I had more negative reactions going out to St Elmo yesterday on an established bike route. Go figure.

Springtime Bike2Work

2010-04-02T11:26:00.000-04:00

Another month, another Bike2Work. What a difference a month makes. How do people stand to get in their cars to drive to work in this weather?

Neon is the fashion of the day at Bike2Work today. Its good to be seen!

Also seen at Bike2Work: the ever enthusiastic Sergio and his son, Marcos.

As I was leaving Coolidge Park, I stopped to enjoy the view of the bridge in springtime.

Ride to St. Elmo

2010-04-02T10:58:00.001-04:00

It was a beautiful day and closing in Easter weekend, cancellations were coming in fast. Suddenly I had an afternoon free. What to do? Hop on the bike of course.

So out to St Elmo I go to check out the Collective Clothing, a fellow sponsor of the Collective Commute, Chic Cycling in Chattanooga Show. Got me a new outfit and Cameron was on hand to photograph it. Wow! I am on his The Chattanoogan fashion blog. I am not sure I truly make it to his fashion standard, but it is to put out another notice about the Bike Fashion Show.

And now I am enjoying an iced latte at Pasha Coffee shop.

The ride out here is an official bike route which turns into actual bike lanes in St. Elmo. On the route the bikes are taken over railroad tracks. It is hard to go anywhere in Chattanooga without going over tracks. Just getting to St. Elmo from my studio I crossed railroad tracks about a half dozen times.

The most treacherous ones were always the one on the street that runs parallel to South Broad. These were wicked, wicked and I have been severely jarred and almost thrown many times over those tracks.

But look! They have been fixed and all set for smooth sailing. Ahh! It takes a cyclist to fully appreciate what wonders that smooth asphalt can render.

Riding Backwards

2010-03-31T14:07:00.000-04:00

This wonderful weather is getting people on bikes who I never thought would be on the bike. Here is my business neighbor, Shaw owner of Aunt Sue's Pet Bakery.
Huh, Shaw, I know you don't get on a bike much, but I think you are facing the wrong way!

Spring is here!

2010-03-30T19:48:00.000-04:00

Today, tooling my way through town at around noon, I ran across an impromptu bike gathering in front of the court house-a whole bunch of us! Q even pop up out of nowhere. It is extra fun when we come across each other unexpectedly on our bikes, a bonus bright spot ona ride.

I think this is a great sign for this year's biking season to have a group converge like this. We were able to take a moment to visit and meet some fellow bikers. The friendliness of bikes!
Many of this group was being led by Anthony Green, a biking force unto himself. He has commuted to work without missing a day for about 7 or 8 years now. I didn't get a picture of him but I promise to do a whole post with his story.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sandy

2010-03-20T23:49:00.000-04:00

Riding through down town yesterday evening on what could be classified as our first true spring evening of the year, I came across Sandy. Sandy is a fixture of downtown. He dresses himself and his bicycle in a festive natting way and goes to area restaurants selling flowers. Tonight he has daffodils true sign of spring!

Calling All Women (Biker or Not)

2010-03-20T23:23:00.000-04:00

Women recently have been called an "indicator species" for the biking scene. Many less then ideal circumstances tend to keep women off the bike at a higher rate then it keeps men. When there is a healthy biking environment women ride at the same rate as men. The Netherlands have equal men and women ridership. The United States have twice as many men as women. Obviously the health of our biking environment is not very robust.

Wht can we do about that? The first thing is to identify the the things that keep women off bikes. The Association of Pedestrian and Biking Professional is doing that and you can help. If you are a woman, take 15 minutes to fill out this Bike Survey. This is an opportunity to tell your story-whether it is one of biking or not biking. You might also be interested in signing up for their free webinar Writing Women Back Into Biking.

Getting more women on bikes isn't just about getting more women on bikes. Filling women's needs so they will get on bikes will filter out to getting more men and more children on bikes.

Bike Fashion?

2010-03-17T19:15:00.000-04:00

I went to a great meeting this morning at Outdoor Chattanooga to plan a biking fashion show. If you don't think that biking and fashion mix try out this sight-Copenhagen Cycling Chics. Sondra Arden of Collective Clothing and Cameron at The Chattanoogan wanted to put something interesting together for the reopening of the Bridge and are partnering with Outdoor Chattanooga And as it stand now, it looks as though Pilates Chattanooga is going to be a sponsor!

Be looking for more details-this should be an absolutely fun event. Chattanooga definitely has a biking community-it was in evidence last night attending the Trek Store open house. It was a packed house! But most bikers in Chatt-town are road or mountain bikers. That makes sense-the outdoors beauty of this area just draws people to such activities. That's how I started biking. And it just keeps growing.

Bike Commuting has grown also, but the commuting culture has yet to develop very strongly. We are still a small group of individuals. And because commuting is such an individual thing, it probably always be so. But this event can go along ways to putting a face (and style) to the commuter. What fun!

Fence Jumping (on the Bridge)

2010-03-16T15:44:00.000-04:00

I am missing the Walnut Street bridge! I can't wait for it to reopen. But for how much I miss it, I think Q is missing it even more. He has been insisting it will be finished a month early. He has declared he will be riding his bike across it on April 8th.

We were talking about this as we were going by the bridge the other night as I was pushing my bike to walk with Q who had walked to dinner. I challenged him on his prediction-who has heard of a construction project finishing early? Q couldn't let this go unchallenged-he had to check for himself how it was going to confirm his prediction.

Before I could stop him he jumped up on the wall,climbed over the fence and disappeared down the bridge. I was left there holding my bike and checking to see if any law enforcement was around. Those Park Rangers can be pretty territorial about the bridge.

Q walking the newly boarded Bridge

He seemed to be gone for a long time and I got tired of waiting so I followed him in. So there we were, under the cover of the dark, checking out the progress, hoping we wouldn't get caught. After checking it out, Q declared it will be done in two weeks. Was that based on his construction expertise or just wishful thinking?

We climbed over the fence and wall to get out. Safe! We didn't get caught but I was imagining the whole time how I would explain this to my kids if they had to come bail me out!

Caught in the act (notice safety precaution-don't jump fneces without helmet!)

Athens Cool

2010-03-10T15:48:00.000-05:00

On my trip to Athens, Ga to visit my brother I was able to connect with Laura Margaret and have invite her to have breakfast with my brother at Big City Bread Cafe. I call Laura Margaret my third daughter-she was a neighbor and my youngest daughter's best friend growing up. She went to school and is currently still living in Athens and I couldn't pass up a chance to see her.

I texted her to ask her to breakfast and she replied with a yes!!! three exclamation points. Laura is nothing if not enthusiastic. I always loved that about her. When my own children were reluctant about doing something I was suggesting, I always knew if I asked Laura she would eagerly accept and with that enthusiasm sway my own children. She was my secret weapon in getting my kids to go along with my ideas for many years.

So how did this spirit daughter of mine show up for breakfast? On a bike, no else. And looking so cool doing it, I had to take her picture. The yellow purse just made the look!

More Bike2Work Fashion

2010-03-07T20:00:00.001-05:00

Yet again another Bike2Work. It has continued through the winter. I don't always make a post of it, but it continues the first Friday the month at the Outdoor Chattanooga Center. This is where the hardy commuters that have stayed on their bikes throughout this hard frigid winter come.

I posted once on the fashion statements that that showed up at the Bike2Work. It was another day of fashion statements and it wast mostly from guys. Lets hear it for the men.

Here is Jeremy, looking rather cool in all black fixie mode

Blythe was looking quite dashing!

At this Bike To Work we were visited by Cameron. Cameron is the photographerbehind the camera of the fashion blog, the Chattanoogan. I have been following him for a while, never meeting him. We haunt the same streets, see many of the same people, but I had not crossed paths with him.So it was a thrill to meet him. HE also took pictures of Jeremy and Blythe for his blog. Check them out. They are better pictures then mine.

He didn't ask me to pose for his pictures. I am sure he would have if I had had my zebra boots on!

Car Tale continues

2010-03-07T19:24:00.000-05:00

For those of you wondering what happened to my car situation, here is the story as far as it goes. I had taken it in saying it was not starting and because of that was not able to get emission tested. Apparently all they heard was I flunked the emissions testing. They ran diagnostics and pulled out three codes, all have to do with emissions. I was kind of confused. Last year I passed OK and I had no reason to think that was a problem as testing had not proceeded that far.

     I was told I needed to fix one of them definitely which might not solve the problem and then they would just go down the list until it was fixed. I kept asking-well, what about my car not starting. THAT was the issue that brought me in. Finally I was told my battery was fine and I probably had an electrical drain somewhere but it was a big deal to try and find.

     So I didn't get anything done. I want to actually flunk the emissions test before I do anything about that. I thought it was very suspicious that I was told I had all these emissions problems after I had just said I had come from there. They weren't interested in my starting problem.

    I have ordered a thing to put on the battery that turns it off. I will have to go up under the hood to start it but since I rarely do start it up, I don't think that is a problem. My car is running fine now. For the rest of the week I would start it up as I was leaving in the morning. I then drove it to Athens, GA and back and it has been starting every time.

     I will try to run through the emissions again. If I fail it, then I will look at options to fix it. I felt like the mechanics were asking me to jump down a black hole with them, probably never declaring it fixed until I had spend big bucks. So in the end, I spent about $85 in diagnostics to do nothing and for now, everything is fine.

Abandoned (and other car issues)

2010-03-02T21:28:00.000-05:00

I drove my car today. No. I am not driving it because of the wintry mix. I am driving it because the city threatened to tow it away if I did not move it

Abandonment sticker-notice how dirty my car is

    I have not driven my car since- well, I can't remember when I drove it last. It has been several months at least. My car has developed a bad habit of not starting on command. I have to have Q come over and jump it whenever I want to drive it. When you have to go to that much trouble to drive, suddenly very few trips are worth it

     So there it sat, on the side of the road, parked slightly cocked eyed( I cannot for the life of me park straight) collecting dirt, pine needles and other fallout from the trees it is parked next to.

    Apparently it was gathering a forlorn and abandoned air. Someone even left a note on it asking if I was willing to sell it. He would take it whether it was running or not.

     He was not the only one who thought it was a forgotten car. The city came by and slapped an abandoned sticker on it. It said I had ten days to move it or it would be moved for me. How nice of them to offer!

     I meant to move it and clean it up before now, but considering how much trouble it is to start it and then keep it running for awhile so it would start again, I had not done it before today-and today was the tenth day.

     Q came over to jump it (he has been so sweet to do this whenever I asked, regardless of weather, and the "wintry" mix is quite nasty today) and I left it running until I was ready to meet Q at Stone Cup for breakfast I also left it running while in Stone Cup, blowing all my environmental capital that I have earned for riding the bike. Well, I try.

     I did not have any sessions this morning and while I was in my car, I thought it was a good time to get the emissions testing that Chattanooga requires for yearly registration. Since I never had my car out running enough to go by the testing site, my registration expired. Probably added to the abandoned air.

     I went by my studio first to stop and start the car just in case it didn't start up again and I would be where I needed to be. It started fine.

     I went to the testing site, stopped the car, got out and went in the waiting room. It wasn't long before the tester came in and said my car wouldn't start. Test flunked. At least they were kind enough to give me my money back. They wouldn't jump it though and just pushed my car around the corner, leaving me to deal with it.

     I was contemplating what my next step would be- I had already called Q but he wasn't answering- when I tried to start it again, and behold, it started right up! The testers had not even gotten back inside so I asked if we could resume the test. No telling when I will get a chance to come back-probably not till the next time I am forced to drive.

    But no, I was told I had to get it fixed before I came back. Durn!

     But I did get myself to the car repair place to get this figured out. I am sitting here waiting for the bad news.

     I don't think this is going to be pretty!

Beer and Biscuits

2010-02-21T11:57:00.000-05:00

Yesterday it turned nice and warm. What a feeling! People were turning outside like ants from a disturbed nests. I can't remember the last time we had such an extended spell of cold weather and the the build up of the pent up feeling was ready to burst!.
On the ride from work was like I had been let out of school for summer. A small group of us cyclist found ourselves converging into a group on Market Street. Where did we all come from? I love when groups of cyclists come together like that. It means Chattanooga is reaching a critical mass of bicycles on the road if we are finding ourselves clumping together. I hope this is a harbinger of a numbers explosion of bikes in the spring.
I was on my was to meet Q at Greenlife. Laura Jane and Jeremy were two of the cyclists that joined me on Market and they were on their way to Greenlife also. And they ended up joining Q and I. I loved their dinner of beer and biscuits! Ah, to be young!

Ride, Co-op, and Barbecue-A Great Combination

2010-02-07T15:25:00.000-05:00

Tonight Q and I went on an urban ride sponsored by the Main Street Bike coop. It was actually Chattanooga's version of Critical Mass. But this is Chattanooga-it wasn't very critical or very massive. Mostly polite,nice people following the rules as we rode our bikes around town. There were about 8-10 of us, all young, except for Q and I. We find many of our biking adventures put us in the company of those much younger then us. Does that make me feel young? Or old? I don't really know, mostly neither. We get together with people to do what we love. I don't know what it means that many times it is with people the same ages as my kids.

Cortney preparing to strut her stuff

Did I say it was cold? Love Jesse's gloves!

My attempt to taking pictures while riding

We had a short ride through Highland Park, leaving from the UTC Library. It was dark, rainy, and cold which has become a standard around here. We toured through Highland Park (where my studio is) and ended up on Main Street for a tour of the Main Street Bike Co-op. It is a small place set up in a back corner of a restaurant.

I was impressed with the mission and vision of these young men. I believe that getting bikes into the hands of the low income and having a place where all can come and become bike literate will come largely from these grass roots efforts. I wish this co-op well. I plan on becoming a member to support their efforts, and who knows I might find it in me to do some of the maintance on my own bike!

Zac explaining about the Co-op.

To hear about the co-op in their own words watch this:

MSBC Trailer from Main Bike Co-op on Vimeo.

Time to Eat!

I think the original intent was to make the Co-op visit a short visit and then continue on a longer ride. But the restaurant the co-op was housed in was changing format from a Mexican Restaurant to a barbecue place and it was a free tasting night! Woo Hoo! We were staying!

Rachel Conn, who Q and I are familiar with from our triathlon world and Main Street familiarity owns the building that had a Mexican restaurant in it. But when the people who ran it wanted to go back to Mexico, Rachel seemed not to miss a beat. She went down the street where a barbecue master was working out of a trailer parked at Rogers Groceries, a hole in the wall type place. Rachel brought him up to her place which is its own hole in the wall place/art gallery. Unique low brow, up brow combination. I love eclectic!

We had not heard about this tasting but a lot of people we knew had. Mostly the people there had some Main Street connection. We ended up eating with Greg Ross, the owner of Estate of Confusion and also my neighbor. He had with him two more of my neighbors that I had not met before.

The barbecue was great-I had the rib sandwich. Greg had to explain to our neighbors, who are recent transplants from Chicago that because of the bones you can't just bite into a rib sandwich. You eat the ribs first and use the bread to wipe your lips cleans. I had not heard it put this way before, but yes, that is the way to eat a barbecue rib sandwich.

The bread, by the way, were buns from Neidloves which tells you about the place. In town, if a place takes the trouble to serve bread from Neidloves, it is bound to be good. (Angela and John Sweet owners of Neidloves, were there with their little ones for the tastings).

But at a barbecue place, it is the barbecue,after all that makes or breaks it. And this barbecue was good! We really enjoyed it and will definately be back. Come down and try it out for yourself! King's Barbecue House on the corner of Main and Hawthorne.

So there you have it. What could have been written off as a night too cold and wet to go out ended out being a great night for a ride, meeting new fellow bikers, and finding ourselves unexpectedly at a free barbecue tasting with a restaurant of friends and other familiar faces. A perfect night!

Closing of the Bridge

2010-01-10T15:48:00.000-05:00

Regular readers of my blog may have noticed that many of my posts mention the Walnut Street Bridge. Going to town and back, this Bridge is part of my regular commute and one of the things that make riding to work so pleasant. I have never ridden it without getting a sense of being gifted that this is part of my route. The view, the people, the events, everything, makes the ride always different and always enjoyable.

In December the bridge has been closed for repairs and will remain closed until May. Though the repairs need to be done and in the process the wooden part of the bridge will be extended to make it more appealing, it is TOUGH not having access to it.

I have the choice of going to the left,over the Veterans Bridge or to the right over the Market Street Bridge. The Veterans Bridge have on and off ramps and the speed of the cars is faster. But there are wide shoulders. The Market Street Bridge has been newly redone and it is beautiful in its own right. The lanes are narrow and in riding the bike it is necessary to take the lane completely. Early morning motorists don't appreciate that.

Which bridge to take? While I enjoy the Market Street Bridge more, Veterans is faster and closer to where I need to go. So I have been taking that.

Except I keep forgetting to make the left turn that will get me to the bridge. Many mornings I am approaching the Walnut Street Bridge before I remember, in which case I proceed to the Market Street Bridge. Adds to my ride. Which I don't mind-unless it makes me late...which it often does...make a note-remember to make that left turn or leave the house earlier!

All three Bridges

Icy Summer (Snow II)

2010-01-10T15:00:00.000-05:00

Its been a month since my last post. Holidays, being under the weather and life in general has kept me away. So here it is a month after the snow of December post and I am posting about snow again.

The fact that we had snow just once month apart is unusual. And what is most unusual about this month's snow is it is staying around. In December, while we got more snow, it was completely gone by noon of that day. This snow, because of our string of exceedingly cold days, what little we had has stayed around. And turned icy.

Yes, I am still biking in this cold and ice. I will post later my experiences of riding in this frigid cold, Riding Friday into work was not difficult once I got out onto the main roads but traveling my neighbor roads was a little treacherous. While going down hills I made sure I didn't make any sudden moves. Going up Summer was quite a trip though. I was making my way up when suddenly I lost traction. I had hit the ice.Jumping off the bike befoe completely loosing it, I then had the challenge of standing upright . I took a deep breath and looked up Summer, which is a very steep hill. This is what I saw-

Just one giant sheet of ice. Up hill. Ugh! I slowly made my way up, at times loosing ground and sliding back. I could see from the car tracks that I was not the only one having trouble. People of the south really don't know how to deal with this. Snow tires for my bike?

Snow!

2009-12-07T12:26:00.001-05:00

The other day I was saying how the frost on the bridge looked like snow. Saturday we actually did have snow! In December! I can't even remember the last time we had snow in December in Chattanooga. Snow has gotten very scarce around here and when it does come, it is never this early in the year.

Of course, it was gone by noon. A typical southern snow event. So these pictures of snow on the bridge are rare indeed!

Here is Q walking across the bridge. I was on my bike when I encountered him. He was looking very picturesque, I think.

It seems the snow brings out unusual characters-here is Santa Cow! Santa Cow wasn't talking so I couldn't get the reason exactly why Santa Cow was out there. But, hey, why not?

Stone Cup Visit

2009-12-04T11:42:00.001-05:00

Yesterday morning Q and I had breakfast at Stone Cup. Q goes out for breakfast as his regular thing but during the week I rarely do so. I like the coziness of my own home for my morning oatmeal. but circumstances led me to go out with Q on this morning.

Stone Cup was doing a bustling business. It was closes for a while and it is good that business seems to have bounced back. Maybe even better then before. Chattanooga has had,in recent history, great coffee shops with several that do their own roastering (I read once that Chattanooga has more roasters per capita then Seattle. Who knew?) But at one time there seemed to be a trend for these coffee shops to develop ownership/management problems. It was like a virus that fell over our most favorite coffee shops. It was getting hard to go and find a spot to enjoy a good cup of coffee.

But it seems Stone Cup is back. and is better then ever. The new owner has brought in fresh ideas. He has brought more of a reading room atmosphere to the place with lamps were positioned next to the couches and chairs-I never understood why many coffee shops are kept so dark that reading at night is very difficult. Pictures of banned authors have been placed on the wall plus the banned books are for sell.

But of course, a coffee house is about the coffee. The coffee is still being roasted by Jennifer Stone and her gang so that is the same as always. But Q, as much as he loves coffee, judges his morning coffee house visits by the oatmeal being served. While Stone Cup was going through its woes, their oatmeal got very inconsistent. Q, patience finally running out, quit going. There is nothing that can set a negative outlook to life then stiff, lumpy oatmeal.

I am pleased to say Stone Cup has gotten its game back and has been producing consistently good oatmeal. Q believes you can judge the state of the management by the oatmeal and I agree with him. As these coffee shops started going through their woes, the first sign was a decline in oatmeal quality. Don't know why, but that is what we have found in our experience.

Of course, Stone Cup's location provides unique amenities. The view out the garage doors is the one of the best views of the bridge. The doors are raised on nice days to open out to the patio.

And the bike parking is covered! The breeze way next to the shop serves as the ideal bike parking place. On rainy days, I feel bad if I am in the cozy dry while my bike is left out in the rain. And then there is the coming back to a rain logged seat. Invariably I left something in my panniers uncovered. So covered bike parking is the best.

As to be expected for a coffee shop on Frazier Ave, there are plenty of bike riding patrons. The only business that I can think of in town that regularly have more bikes parked outside their door is Greenlife. So Stone Cup is definitely part of the laid back biking lifestyle.

It is so good to have Stone Cup back!

Another Bike2Work

2009-12-04T10:46:00.001-05:00

Today was Bike2Work First Fridays. Another wonderful gathering. It is so nice to see so many bikers even in this cold weather. Bike commuting is such individual activity. We are just going about our business and the bike part is a means and not an end as is social riding or exercise riding is. We have somewhere to go and we have chosen the bike as the best way to get there, whether for practical reasons or aesthetic reasons, or probably a combination of both. So getting together isn't innately part of it.

Although, as more and more people bike, the serendipitous coming together is happening more and more. One time as I approached Mississippi from Tremont, there was a biker coming from each direction of the intersection. I actually had to stop to accommodate bike traffic!

And recently riding through a North Chattanooga neighbor, three of us individual bikers found ourselves riding along together. 3! Totally independent of one another! I think these incidents are showing the growth of biking.

But nevertheless, it is an individual activity and Bike2Work is an opportunity for us to get together and bond with one another. We trade stories and tips about biking, but mostly it is like getting together with friends. I have met great people. I like to know the stories of why,when, where and how (all those journalistic points) of their biking. I encourage any Chattanooga Bikers who are reading this and do not know about this gathering, to come out and join us. Through the winter we are meeting at the Outdoor Chattanooga Center in Coolidge Park between 7:00 and 8:30 am on the First Fridays of each month.

And at today's Bike2Work, Pulse Radio (WPLZ 95.3)called in to check out the Bike2Work and Dale Deason actually asked to speak to me. I have started to send in regular bike reports so I guess my name is becoming known. (This morning I was listening to the bike report and my report was read and they even mentioned my name.) So I talked to Dale about biking. He sounds like he is really behind the biking idea. And I have to say everyone at the station is super nice. I e-mail originally all the names that were in the notice from Outdoor Chattanooga telling us about this report, and every one of them sent a nice reply e-mail back. I am so glad we have these people backing the Chattanooga biking scene. I just know this relationship can only bring good things. How exciting!

The Cold and Radio Report

2009-12-01T12:50:00.000-05:00

Today was cold!!! I think I heard it was 29 degrees. Did I ride? Yes! Now, at one time, the answer could have been no. I used to be more of a weather wienie. When I started biking as a commuter 8 years ago, it was to be fun. So any day that didn't promise fun, I didn't ride.

I still feel that way. It is just my definition of fun has greatly expanded. And cold no longer gives me the chills, so to speak. I have lightened my bundling (though there are those who say I still wear too much) and now love the feeling of exhilaration that only exercise in the cold can give. It is nice arriving at work with no sweat and that high feeling. I once recommended new riders to start in the warm weather but I might be changing that to recommending the cold.

The Walnut Street Bridge was beautiful as always on cold days. It takes on a layer of so much frost, that it looks almost like snow. In extreme weather conditions, only the most die hard bridge users are out. At the moment that I took this picture, there was no one to be seen.

This picture does not capture the beauty that I was seeing very well:

As I continued on, there were other users-the very regulars that I see everyday. This is the true morning bridge community that has become so familiar to me.

I took today to do my first bike report. Pulse News WLPZ-95.3FM has started to do bike reports. How cool is that? During the morning drive time, Denise Galloway, Louis Lee, Dale Deason and Chris Taylor of Pulse News will be taking reports from cyclists about the daily riding conditions. I wonder if this is a first in radio? It goes without saying that it is a first here. The goal is to normalize bike riding. Listeners hearing on a regular basis from cyclists as a normal thing. will eventually start thinking of cycling as a normal thing. This is such a good idea I am committed to try doing my part.

So today, I called about the cold and the bridge was my first report. It was recorded so I don't know when it played or if it did play. I don't listen to the radio at work. I don't know how often I will do these reports. Most days my ride is uneventful. But I will be on the lookout for interesting things to report. Listen for me!

Riding on the Cayman Island

2009-11-25T16:30:00.004-05:00

Q and I just returned from 10 days in the Grand Caymans. Lest you think that we were down there for fun and frolic, there was a real reason for going. We were attending a Stretch and Flexibility course by Kit Laughlin, the international leader in stretching (he is from Australia)

I don't go on very many pleasure only trips-in fact the only one I can think of for many years is the San Francisco trip that Q and I took last year. Most of my trips are for training. I am so work-focused that I was annoyed and perplexed when, in signing up for this course, I discovered there was 4 days with nothing planned right in the middle. What were we suppose to do? We are stuck on a Caribbean island, right on the beach, with no place to go, with nothing to do. It slowly sank in that we were stuck on a Caribbean island, right on the beach with no place to go and nothing to do! Has it been so long that I it takes me a while to recongnize what a vacation looks like?

The workshop was great. We are both totally stretched out and is ready to unleash this stretching technique on the Chattanooga world. And we did get some bike riding in.

First a little background into the transportation program of the Cayman island-there is none. We were staying in a resort at the far end of the populated side of the island which was about an hour's drive away. This end is delightfully undeveloped. Everyone had to have arrived by plane and driven out there. What was in place for us to get around? Basically nothing. We had to pay for our rides to where ever at greatly exorbitant rates. To go to a festival about 3 miles down the road, the hotel was charging $15 a person. Wow!

What about the walking- no, that was not recommended as there were no sidewalks, no shoulders on the side of the roads,and long distances between places to go. What about biking?- the resort had three huffy bikes for loan but no lights or reflectors for night time riding.

While the weather and the flatness of the island made for potential great riding, it doesn't seem to be a favored way of getting around. While we did see some islanders riding their bikes, the locals that attended the course insisted that riding on the island was taking your life in your hands. Seems as though cars are used even for short trips-on this beautiful, flat, nicely breezy perfect to ride on island! How can they not insist on a more bike friendly environment?

Never the less, Q and I took a couple of bike trips. The first trip was to the aforementioned festival. We could not envision ourselves paying $30 to be transported a distance that we would be not just delighted but hungry to bike ourselves. By doing so. we were able to sightsee at different places that the others that were bussed did not get to see.

Here we are mounting on our single speed, coaster brakes Huffies.

Riding on the left hand side was much easier, I am sure, then driving on the left hand side.

There were helpful road signs

Justin was the only other of our group that was inspired to ride-good thing because there was only the three bikes. He didn't quite know what to make of his too small, very pink bike!

On the way home, we stopped at Vivine's Kitchen for an islander lunch.

Here I am, waiting on our food. Hammocks-every resteraunt should have them.

My view of swinging in the hammock-

Ahh, our food!

Conch Stew with plantains and some things we couldn't quite identify (cassava?). Wonderful!

The Beautiful Cayman Island experience!

Urban Riding and Hooch watching

2009-11-09T08:20:00.000-05:00

Today was again one of those breath taking beautiful fall days. We, after an extremely wet fall start, are having our days of such autumn magnificent, that there is no choice but to get out in it.
After a typical Saturday morning breakfast at the Blue Grass Grille, Q and I decided to join the bike club ride to Crabtree Farms. Crabtree is an urban farm owned by the city and is runned by a nonprofit to produce and introduce organic vegetables to Chattanoogans. That is just one of the small treasures of our city that I feel makes it unique and special.

The ride was lead by Sydney Roberts who has a CSA membership at the farm. Periodically she uses her weekly pick up as a chance to organize an easy, relaxing ride for all who wants to join in.
The group was split almost evenly between urban riders with our city bikes and regular clothes and road bikers with bike clothes and dropped handle bars.

Every one seemed to enjoy themselves. At one time when all of my biking was the road biking type, I wouldn't have thought the distance and difficulty level was even worth getting my bike out for. But I am over that line of thinking

It was nice to see the farm and ask questions about its production. It is 22 acres with about half of that in production. They support 60 CSA's, sell at the Main Street Market and to Greenlife and have a U-Pick part of the farm. All organically. That is quite a high rate of production.

I was so busy looking around the farm that I forgot to get pictures. Take my word for it, it was beautiful.
After the ride some of the riders went to the newly reopened Stone Cup for lunch. Here we are sitting outside, overlooking Coolidge Park

Then on to shopping and other errands. The wonderful thing about biking it gets you to experiences just by riding by that was not on your list to attend. Car driving isolates you. Really, the only unexpected encounters to be had in a car are traffic jams.

No traffic jams for me! Instead, all the goings back and forth and along the river gave me a chance to experience the Head of the Hooch, one of the country's largest rowing regattas. Beautiful day, beautiful water, beautiful rowing.

I know I am overusing the word beautiful lately, but what else can I say? Even without seeking it, my bike riding gives me the gift of beauty. Can I help it that I find myself taking notice of it, that I feel it soaking into me, enriching me? That my vocabulary seems to be limited? Maybe I should buy a thesauras.

Chattanooga Biking Style

2009-11-06T16:36:00.001-05:00

Chattanooga Biking Style

Who says there is no style in riding your bike? These are pictures of this morning's Bike2Work. The cold weather brought out a whole different season of style:

This is Laura Jane who is always cool on the bike. I will one day do a post just dedicated to Laura Jane's riding style.

Cortney, Chattanooga's resident ballerina brings a level of elegance on the bike. Bike riding has never looked as graceful as when Cortney rides in full dress up mode.

Patrick is always classic. Classic look on a classic bike. He never goes out of style.

People ask me about riding gear. Want to know what is the proper riding gear for riding a bike around town? Just look in your own closet! Ride with as much style and individuality as you do the rest of your life.

Would love to see pictures of the riding styles of any readers!

Breakfast on the Bridge by Sam Silvey

2009-11-05T15:15:00.000-05:00

Breakfast on the Bridge was written up on LookOutdoorNews.com by Sam Silvey. Check it out!

Breakfast on the Bridge

Fortwood Fall

2009-11-04T18:13:00.000-05:00

I am loving these fall days. Here is a picture of my going to work route through Fortwood. Riding down tree lined Oak Street on this perfect fall day is rather awe inspiring.

Keeping Tootsies Warm

2009-11-02T14:33:00.000-05:00

Ok, I am a weather weenie. Though I put myself out there in all weather, I don't want to be anyways uncomfortable. I like my clothes to protect me from the elements, be comfortable and easy, and if I am lucky, have a bit a style to them, (though I seem to sacrifice the style for the other features).

   I have written about my zebra rain boots. That fits all categories and has wonderful style.. And I love them. I have been wearing them a lot this year because of the rain and that has given me a lot of thought to footwear in other weather. Cold weather is starting to come up so I have been giving much thought on how to keep my tootsies warm on the bike. I have been getting into wool this past year-I will have to write a blog just on my ventures into wool wear. The stuff is amazing.

   So in thinking on how nice it is to wear boots and how nice wool is led me to thinking about sheepskin boots. I have by passed the craze for these-not because I could not appreciate the appeal. But mostly I don't go into fads and I have to personally value the attributes of the item for me to pay the bucks. So it is just now I am considering it.

    In my search for the boots I came across Whooga Boots from Australia. They have extra thick and soft sheepskin lining and they look so,so cozy. My feet are already yearning to slide themselves in. I have a feeling once I put them on, I won't take them off all winter. Heck, the whooga website says they are great in the summer time too. I might not ever take them off! I can't wait!

   I will let you know how they are!

Bus, Baby, and Bike

2009-11-01T19:27:00.002-05:00

I wanted to go visit my new grandbaby today. Since the baby is out in East Brainerd I thought I would take the bus with my bike. I have learned from experience that if I have my panniers weighed down, it is almost impossible to pick the bike up to put on the rack. Since I was taking out frozen food packets for the family, I was pretty heavy. But I keep my things in a back pack inside my pannier and I then can easily take it out of the pannier to lighten the load. Otherwise,I have been in the situation struggling to lift the bike up on the rack while the bus driver is patiently, then not so patiently gazing down at me. It is an uncomfortable thing at the very least.

   The bus was full and as though a party was gong on.. I don't know if it was the day, the route or just coincidence but it seemed everyone knew one another. As new people boarded on each stop, it it was like old home week. Everyone was talking to one another and soon I was caught up in the friendly banter.

It was a very mixed crowd-old and young, able and disabled, black and white, people who looked like they probably relied on the bus for their sole transportation and those who looked as thought they probably had other choices. I love a group with a large variety of different type folks.

I even had a touch of old home week myself. A young mother and her two little children boarded. When she sat down she looked at me and asked, in that tone that people use when they aren't sure if they are making a fool of themselves "Are you a Carboni?" I affirmed indeed I was and she said she had gone to high school with my niece, Karen. When she said that, I knew exactly what family she was from-she had the distinctive family traits of a very large Irish Catholic family that I grew up with. I established which of the family she was the child of and met her children (am I really old enough to know four generations of one family?) I told her about Matthew coming home from Iraq for the birth of his baby and I was on my way out to visit.

The whole bus was hearing this conversation and several people joined in on congratulations of the birth of my grandbaby. It was a wonderful ride. Bus riding is put down as a form of transportation from hell but do people really know what it is like? Chattanooga had a great bus system in terms of nice clean buses, friendly bus drivers and friendly people riders. If more people rode them and it was subsidized by the government as much as individual car driving is subsidized, more routes and additional bus frequency could turn this into a great AND convenient way of getting around. I am all for it!

It came time for me to get off. AS another bike rider had put his bike on the rack infront of me, I asked him if he would assist ome in taking off my bike. He very kindly did so. I was just expecting him to take off his bike so I could get mine, but he instead just reached back behind and lifted the whole bike off.

    From the bus stop it was only a seven minute ride to the home of my grandbaby. I had a most wonderful visit. Indulge me as I slip into grandmother mode-Baby Athens is the most beautiful baby EVER! He looks like his most beautiful mother and is everything a baby should be. My own baby were beautiful and wonderful of course, but I think as a new parent fraught with worry and lack of sleep, it is hard to sit back and truly take full notice. A grandparent has the BEST vantage point in seeing how wonderful a baby is. I basked in the view!

When the visit came to a close, I decided to ride my bike home. I didn't go back the way I came-down Lee highway and Brainerd rode Instead I completed the loop around the city and went down Bonnie Oaks so I could connect with the River walk. It was a crisp chilled fall day. One of those rare days that you just have to feel so grateful in being out to enjoy it.

   It took me about an hour and a half of riding to get home. It took exactly 37 minutes to take the bus/bike combination. The car probably would have been about a 20-25 minute drive. But if I had opted to save a little bit of time by driving I would have missed out on a couple of truly exceptional experiences.

Bus, baby, and bike. What a day! Can life get any better?

Grand baby!

2009-10-27T18:59:00.000-04:00

This past Friday, my son Matthew and his girlfriend made me a grandma. Athens Omero Carboni,weighing in at 6lbs13 oz made his way into the world.

And boy am I excited!

The bike world has changed in the twenty years since I have a little one of my own. Today there are the bike trailors, tag-alongs and every imaginable accessory for getting kids around on bikes. I am ready for it. I can't wait to be taking little Athens to all sorts of places by bike.

My own children did not take to the idea of bike riding. But I know I can get Athens, the first of my grandchildren, to take to it. Just let me have the chance!

Spot of Sunshine on a Rainy Day

2009-10-27T18:39:00.000-04:00

It is being one of those days. Of course it is raining again. I'm used to drought weather , I guess, because whenever it starts raining lately my first thought-didn't we just have rain last week? As though we are only suppose to get rain once a season.

But rain weather has its own joys; like the zebra boots I wrote about recently. So riding in the rain is no problem. At one time it would have sent me scurrying to my car but now I don't even stop to consciously make a choice.

It is only after I get to work that things start going remiss. I didn't have my keys! Now I am really standing in the rain trying to figure this out.

Q did pick me up from work last night. I have systems fo everything to keep me straight but if my system gets disrupted I'm lost. Figuring I had left my keys in his car and hoping to catch him before he left town for three days I frantically tried to call him. No such luck. No answer. He was probably already at the airport.

I next went next door to my landlord. He should have a key. He didn't at least not there on him. Hmmm, what landlord doesn't have keys?

Next plan-go home and get another set. I probably could have asked Shaw of Aunt Sue's Pet Bakery to borrow his truck; he is always the go-to-neighbor for our little block of businesses for almost any problem. He would have generously let me take his truck.

But I had already sent Carol, my student coming for her session home. She was so kind and gracious about it. I am truly surrounded by wonderful and kind people in my life. It does smoothe out the bumps and jagged edges of life. My next session had cancelled and I was already in the rain and had plenty of time to ride home for my spare set of keys

So I did. And it did wonders for making my messed up morning better. My joy of the ride home? Seeing Jill. She looked like pure sunshine on this sunshine devoid day. Jill is a make up master at Elea Blake on Frazier Avenue. I know because she does wonders for me and I even can replicate at times what she does. She is on her way to get coffee and I was lucky enough to see her.

Makes forgetting my keys worth it!

350

2009-10-23T15:48:00.001-04:00

   In this blog I usually blog about the joys and adventures of my bike riding instead of car driving. I do it because it makes sense to me. I try to solve the problems of my life-in this case transportation need, with solutions that upholds my values. I don't usually talk much about that side of my thought processes-I know I can get too preachy so I try not to do it.

But today in the blog is different.  Tomorrow is the International Climate Action Day and I am taking this day to explain what I do in a bigger picture. I will just state the bigger picture-its bad out there.

    Scientists have determined that is the Earth is to conintue to be the way it iat has been the the whole 10,000 years of our civilization and that provides an environment for life as we know it, the atmosphere can have no more then 350 parts per million of CO2. Where does it measure today? 389. That should give us pause to think. And think deeply, and long.

   I am amazed that people still say our activities have no consequenses in our world. When has anything not had consequences. Denying responsibilities does not make those consequenses disappear.

   I am not a scientist. But I have a deep feeling that what I pesonally does makes a difference-either in a positive way or negative. I keep that feeling in the fore front when I am making decisions on my life. I make a difference. My decisions make a difference. My actions make a difference.

   I have been trying, bit by bit, to live a low impact life. In this very rich and wasteful country of ours, it takes planning to live simply. I have long said, our country does not have a problem with not enough, we are drowning in affluence. Try to NOT buy things and brings things into your home. Much harder then you ever would think. It takes more effort to keep it simple and be thrifty then it does to accumalate and be wasteful.

   I ride bikes because I feel the world's future depends on it. But it is not enough. By refusing to take action a long time ago (just think how the picture could have been different if we had stuck to the energy policies being set in the '70's) we are in a position to having to do drastic actions-much like putting off that 35 page paper for world history class until the night before. Its time to pull a world all nighter and get serious about our climate.

    I challenge you to find out what you can do. Go to 350.org   Their mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet.

What you do does make a difference. Live your life like it does.

Bras Over Water

2009-10-20T15:17:00.000-04:00

I never know what I will see on my bike ride across the Walnut Street bridge. It is the scene for more unexpected sights. This sight on a recent morning is a case in point-bras being strung across the bridge.

And here is high five dog all decked out!

Who was responsible for this? Turns out it was it was a breast awareness event sponsored by US 101, a radio station in town-Chattanooga's top rated radio station. Country of course. What else? They were collecting bras for Breast Cancer Awareness.

And here is Ken Hicks, US 101 DJ himself really getting into this bra thing!

I thought I would stop and donate. But then I thought better of it!

Funny Story

2009-10-13T17:24:00.000-04:00

I was leaving Greenlife, making my way with my bike between the parked cars. On the hood of one car was a baby in an infant seat with a woman standing nearby. I stopped to coo over the baby (just can't resist babies!) and out of the corner of my eye I noticed movement inside the car. The car had tinted windows so it was hard to see inside but I did make out a man sitting in there, eating potato chips. The woman and the man (and baby too,) had an air of waiting. Just waiting.

I turned to leave when suddenly another woman comes running up, "That's not my car! I thought it was my mother's car. Her car is over there!" With that, she scooped up the baby and ran off, with her friend who must have been assigned baby watching duty, followed her.

I looked at the man inside the car. He looked at me, smiled and shrugged. Then he went back to eating his potato chips.

I rode home.

Fashion Statement

2009-10-10T15:25:00.001-04:00

I have one thing in my wardrobe that gets more comments then anything thing else I wear. Not that I wear many things worthy of comment-a fahionista I am not.

In rainy weather (and lately that has been most days) I bring out my zebra boots. I bought these years ago because they made me happy. Apparently they make other people happy also because I never fail to get comments on them. Never.

It has been a great opportunity to get to meet people. Once people talk to me about my boots it is so easy to go on to a more formal introduction. Once you bond over shoes you are friends for life. Might as well get to know names. Before I started riding my bike to get around I had little use for rainboots. In fact I had not owned any since I was a kid and then they were just for the rare snowfall. If you use a car to get around and can park close to your destination, the need to protect your feet rarely comes into play. But not in wet weather bike riding! In seeking solutions to my wet feet on rainy days (oh how I hate wet and cold feet) I rediscovered rainboots. And when I found these I found true love. How did I live life without them?

But my boots are getting a little beat up looking and actually have cracks in them. It might be coming close time to replacing them-but I do hate to do it. In fact, I can't stand the thought.

A Moment of Loveliness!

2009-10-10T08:59:00.002-04:00

My very favorite aspect of riding my bike instead of stuffing myself in a rolling box to get to work is meeting of the people I would not otherwise get a chance to encounter. This morning (actually now yesterday morning) coming off the bridge I spied a wonderful couple, dressed to the nines strolling with the "we are in our own world and have all the time in the world" air that only young lovers.can have.

Of course I had to intrude. It was too wonderful of a sight so early in the morning to pass by. I asked what the occasion for dressing up. They looked at one another and she, with a little giggle replied "we are celebrating!". Well, even I could tell I should not question any further.

I took their picture-here they are looking so lovely. I went on to work, having a spot of my day filled with that loveliness. How great is my view from a bike!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

An update-when I took the picture of this lovely couple, I immediately e-mailed it to them (the advantage of taking pictures with my phone. People love having their picture taken if they can get it for themselves). So I had their e-mail when it struck me that I should get permission to put their picture and story up. It was such a private moment and maybe they would object to having it spread to the whole world. Alex wrote back-now I have a name. I didn't ask names before-a lovely note back. These people must be totally wonderful . It seems they just have that inate loveliness with everything they do. Here is the note ne wrote me-

Dear Ms. Colleen,

It was a very fun time meeting you! I have not ever been stopped to have a picture taken of me before, and it was a fun experience. Please do not feel that you were not being intrusive at all.

I must say that the occasion for the fine dress was in fact a celebration of a birthday.

My girlfriend, Naomi, and I (Alex) were having a nice day together after being apart for a long time, and she was treating me to a birthday present.

Naomi and I will be glad to give you our permission for publishing your story, and you can include our first names if you would like.
Thank you for the picture and the fun experience!

Alex

Again, I will say how I love my view from my bike. I get to meet such lovely people!

Breakfast on the Bridge

2009-10-09T21:48:00.000-04:00

Q has been doing a Breakfast on the Bridge for a couple of years now. He found the traffic on the Walnut Street Bridge to be interesting and diverse, with people from all walks of like using the bridge for their place of exercise, socialization or as their passage way to getting to the other side of the river.

Q was inspired to draw these people together in a friendly, casual, no criteria breakfast So every Friday (except for Bike2Work Fridays) Q is out there with coffee and pastries for anyone who stops by. It has been amazing the people who do drop by- kind of a gathering for Chattanooga Characters. I think being a character is a wonderful thing and I always imagine I personally am so bland and unnoticeable next to these wonderful and colorful people. But Q reassures me that I am the biggest character of all (I'm sure he means that as the highest compliment, right? I think?)

I should make a regular feature in this blog about our visitors. This breakfast has been so popular that is has become a community effort. All casual and disorganized of course.

This is Lee. He might be recognized by regulars on the bridge as a bridge troubadour. This is his famous bike. I actually liked it better when it was painted up in bright Christmas colors but I think he got tired of people playing "Where's Waldo" with his bike. Bridge regulars were always reporting to one another where his bike was spotted-he would leave it in the oddest places. But after getting it stolen a couple of times, and getting it flattened by a tree at a construction site, he painted his bike these boring monotone colors and doesn't leave it around as much. But I hate to tell him that his bike is just as recognizable as ever.

This is Laura Jane. I knew Laura when she was born. She was baptized in the same ceremony as my youngest daughter. I met up again with her as an adult because she grew up so very quirky and I seem to find myself getting to know the quirky types. I love Laura Jane! She is wry, intelligent, thoughtful and so fresh as she starts out on her adult life. She has gone car free which in this part of the world a very unusual thing (actually you wouldn't think so judging by the number of people who come to this breakfast who are car free.)

Today the view of. Lookout Mountain from the bridge this morning was glorious.(see the picture above.) I consider myself lucky that riding across the bridge is part of every day for me. I love getting to know the people who are my fellow users. My life is rich and very blessed!

Crash!

2009-10-03T22:03:00.001-04:00

It started with a text from my youngest daughter, "I need my mom." That got my attention out of my oatmeal. My children as adults are independent, capable and lovely. They feel they can handle most situations better then me and often they are right. I feel proud that I raised them to be so self sufficient.

So it is rare that one will send out a "Mom" crisis cry. But once a mother, always a mother and I go on instant alert. Soon I was on the phone listening to my daughter on her crisis. She was extremely upset and I was no way going to tell her I couldn't talk to her because I had to get to work. So I continued to listen to her as I finished my breakfast, finished my preparations and got on my bike.

I know what you are thinking - you rode your bike talking on the cell phone? Technically, I was mostly listening, but yes, I set off on my bike with my phone glued to my ear.

Down the hill I went. i was all ears to my daughter-so much so, I must have shut down other senses. What were my eyes doing at this point? Nothing I guess. Next thing I knew BAM! and an OOF from me. I reared ended a car parked on the side of the road. I never even saw it!

(I will take a short break hear so everyone can have a chance to voice their opinion on my safety sense. Believe me, I have been hearing it for the last couple of days. But what can I say? My baby needed me!)

My first thought as I started to pick myself off the ground was "My new Blackberry!" I could see that it had made it much further down the road then me and it was now it a couple of pieces. I did a fast inventory of my body, which still seemed to be in one piece and I scrambled to get my phone. If a car happened by that would be the ultimate end of the phone. I was lucky-only the battery cover had fallen off. It didn't even lose power but I had been disconnected.

After a couple of attempts (ever notice when you get disconnected then both parties try to connect again you keep crossing wires) I got back with my daughter and reassured her I was all right. I did a compete body check while talking to her-bloody knee, hurting spot on thigh, scraped elbow-all surface and superficial injuries. The bike except for the chain seemed ok. The car was unharmed.

We decided that I would continue on my way after saying good bye to her.

Now it is two days after the accident. i did get a nasty bruise and every morning I seem to wake up with more stiffness in more places. But nothing major. In a week I will be a good as new. My bike ended up with a jammed head set. Makes it hard to steer. I will take it to the bike shop this weekend.

And the crisis that my daughter needed me for? I saw her later that afternoon. She said that after she slept(she works night) the situtation didn't seem so major and she felt she over reacted and she could take care of it on her own. That is my independent baby! I am so proud of her! But never the less, my mother hormones are set to go off at a moment's notice. hopefully next time they won't take me to the back end of a car!