A Di Day

We live in such a society where it is beyond the understanding of many that God simply wants us to slow down. In such a society where multi-tasking, economy, efficiency, and so on are paramount to our role as citizens, we have no idea how to not do anything. Even when we are completely wasteful of our time, producing absolutely nothing besides excess fat, we consume our minds with stimuli from video games, televisions, phones, and iPods. How many people actually take the time to notice how a sunbeam on an ordinary brick wall can bring a smile to their face and allow their heart a little leap of joy?

If you haven't already noticed, I have had a very special day. I decided to make it a "Di day." Sure, I've done this in the past, but none have been quite as successful as today. Even while climbing the last, brutal hill homeward, I found myself smiling as an audible giggle slipped out. Cycling does this to me.

I set out at 2:20, with a backpack containing a pair of sandals, a long-sleeved shirt, if needed, a cycling rain jacket for the predicted scattered showers that never occurred, a phone, money, camera, and hairbrush that was never used, but already in the bag.

Like many of my fellow citizens, I am quite focused on the end and hardly ever notice the means. Today, I chose to somewhat blindly head to Houghton in search of something to do. I really didn't know what. I took my time riding to Hancock. It was very windy all day and I wasn't in the mood to fight it, so I lollygagged a little on my ride. The direction of the wind allowed me to coast through Hancock while braking because the traffic was going slower than my bike. I actually considered passing the cars, but chose to hold my course. I rode around Houghton for a while and meandered over to Michigan Tech and up Sharon Avenue in search of a twist ice cream cone at Dairy Queen. For the first time, ever, I patiently sat in front of the DQ, slowly circling my tongue around the ice cream as I ate it slowly, taking the time to taste it. I felt calm as I enjoyed the view of the sun shining against the strip mall on the green hill across the street.




Michigan Tech and Houghton from the Hancock side of the canal.

Life is short. Eat dessert first. That's exactly what I did. I repeated my roundabout course as I rode back to Michigan Tech only to reverse direction and head back to downtown Houghton. I locked up my bike across the street from The Library and headed in for a long dining experience. I special-ordered a small basil and tomato pizza and drank a few cups of coffee as I slipped into a trance produced my leisurely eighteen mile ride. I said my goodbyes to The Library staff and slipped back onto my bike and headed for the Portage Lift Bridge to journey homeward.



Views of Mont Ripley and Hancock from the Houghton side of the canal.

As I crossed the ridge, a black car with a bike rack, heading for Hancock, honked and the driver waved to me causing me to smile. I have no idea who was in that car. All I saw was a hand. However, they left me full of pride and joy. How fortunate I am to live in such a community. Every time I commute, someone recognizes my bright, green Jake the Snake and they honk or yell my name. Having lived in communities where people were less than eager to greet one-another, or welcome a new member into the community, I absolutely recognize the grace God has given me by placing me in such a warm community where so many people have a strong bond with one-another simply because of a simplistic invention called the bicycle.


Portage Lift Bridge and Hancock.



Quincy mine.

I happily rolled home, and even enjoyed my long climb up White Street and US-41 – the dreaded Quincy Hill – without failing to notice how the sun shone above the cities creating a beautiful, lush appearance around the deep blue Portage Canal as waves thrashed about in the wind.

The newly-formed leaves on the trees created a spectacular view as I rolled closer to home. I felt strong, accomplished, happy. I continued to smile. My heart did flips.


The road home.


This is what I came home to.

Rails-to-Trails

I joined in on the local bike shop ride tonight. It was great fun and quite challenging. I chose to go with the moderately-fast group, which turned out to be the fast group. Yes, they had to wait for me every now and again. I pretty much rode by myself, but managed to make a strong showing on certain sections of trails, especially the ones that didn't go up.

I drove to the ride tonight. One reason for driving was that my bike was at the bike shop for its "30-day tune-up." It was a new bike last fall when I bought it and winter kind of took away the breaking-in opportunity, so my 30-day tune-up was done seven months later. Such is life in the UP.

I fully intend to work up to riding the snowmobile trails to the group rides and still having energy to ride and come back home. I tried riding to Michigan Tech already, and didn't have a whole heck of a lot of energy, but I still managed to get a decent mountain bike ride in. Swedetown is further away, and will require a little more work.

While we have snowmobile trails for commuting around here, other places have rails-to-trails. These are excellent prospects for getting around and even doing a beginner mountain bike ride. They are handy and safe and waiting to be used.

Visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy web site to learn more about the organization, find trails near you, and learn how you can simply help.

Invite a Friend for a Ride

Summer really doesn't seem to be trying all that hard to arrive in the Keweenaw. It hit just under 60 degrees and I threw on my short sleeve jersey and shorts for a ride into work to do an ultrasound. I returned home two hours later to trade in my cross bike for a mountain bike and I hit some nearby trails. It peaked at 60 degrees, so the short sleeve jersey was a good idea. Well, that's what I'm telling myself. It's a good thing I had the trees to break the wind for me, because I could feel some pretty cool gusts on the road. The weather people lied, as usual – the wind far exceeded the forecasted 6 mph.

Even though the weather is less than desirable for this time of year, it is still National Bike Month, and it is the perfect time of year to get a friend out on the road or trail with you. Invite a non-cycling friend and plan to do an easy, social ride in an effort to get them hooked. Remember when you first fell in love? Your friends deserve that, too.

My friend, Erin, did a cycle of training for her degree here in my town. Fortunately, her clinical instructor is a riding friend of mine. It didn't take long to get Erin excited about mountain biking. She was hitting up the Tech Trails and Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids with us quite frequently. She also happily took part in the post-ride meals and beverage, read: beer.


I stole this picture form Erin's blog. Left to right: Mike, Cynthia, Di, Kevin, Arlyn, and Sandy. Erin is behind the camera. We are all contained within the Keweenaw Brewing Company. I personally believe that is what Heaven will be like.

I am proud to say that we have done well with Erin's training. She accepted a job in Washington and moved there a couple months ago. Erin's new adventure is our great loss. We miss her dearly, but we are proud to say that the Keweenaw has forever left its impression on her. She continues to mountain bike in Washington.

Ride of Silence

The following is quoted from the Ride of Silence web site.

Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 kph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

WHY DOES THIS SITE EXIST?

* To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
* To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
* To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

THE RIDE OF SILENCE? WILL NOT BE QUIET

On May 21, 2008, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence? will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors, no registration fees and no t-shirt. The ride, which is held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.

- http://www.rideofsilence.org

To find a ride near you, click here!

Cycling Advocacy: Exercise the Power of the Word

What is National Bike Month without a little advocacy? Today is a great day to pick a cycling topic that needs the attention of your local government, or even the state or federal government, and write your representative(s).

I first heard about a clearance law when I was reading a blog by an American girl who was living in France. I thought it was a spectacular idea and wondered why a law like that didn't exist here. After more searching, I found that many states have already incorporated the 3-foot pass law: a passing vehicle must allow three feet of clearance between the vehicle and the bicycle.

My state currently does not have the 3-foot pass law, and I have started an email/letter writing campaign this week to find out if this is currently in the works and to demonstrate my support for it.

My first email was sent to the League of Michigan Bicyclists:

Hello –

It was recommended to me to contact you regarding the 3-foot pass law – requiring three feet of clearance when a vehicle passes a bicycle – that many states have incorporated. I have read quite a bit about this and I would like to know if someone is currently working on this in Michigan. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Diane U.

LMB reply:

We have discussed the 3' foot law with legislators. The current law says that motorists must give safe distance when passing. Our legal experts and the legislators believe that putting the measurement of 3' in the law would then end up with lawyers arguing whether they were 3'2" or 2'10" away when they passed.

Obviously if a motorist strikes a bicyclist, they did not give a safe passing distance. Our legislators are more comfortable with a law that provides penalties for hitting a bicyclist, a vulnerable user law similar to the construction worker law.

States that have the law have not seen the gain they had hoped from it. One state, Arizona, has the 3' law, but in the same state you must give motorcyclists 5'. My experience in riding in states that have the law is that there is not difference on how motorist treat you. The real problem is that we need to educate motorist that they need to share the roadways with other legal users. Passing any law without education is useless.

In this case we have a law that says motorist must give us safe passing distance. What we need is education campaigns. Think about this, the federal government runs motorcycle safety campaigns, seat belt safety campaigns and my favorite, deer safety campaigns just to name a few. They run a campaign each year to protect 50 million deer, but they do nothing to protect 35.6 million tax paying citizens.

At this point we are focusing our efforts on the vulnerable user law and working on ways to educate motorist on sharing the roadways.

I would encourage you to join LMB (www.lmb.org) and become part of the voice that is working to improve bicycling in Michigan.

I replied suggesting, in short, that the state require that drivers show the same courtesy to cyclists that is required of motorists when passing a police car that has someone pulled over.

I also acknowledged that education is necessary; however, there are many drivers who will do the absolute minimum that is required of them. I also mentioned that it is legal for a motorist to share a lane with a bike, which I'm fine with in certain situations, but it's not necessary in most. Now that I have gotten more information regarding the idea of interest, my next step to contact my local representatives.

National Bike Month tip of the day: write an advocacy letter to your representative about a cycling cause that concerns you.

The New American Revolution?

Today is Bike-to-Work Day. It marks the end of the Bike-to-Work Week, but that doesn't mean you should quit riding for transportation.

This week's blogging was all about bicycle commuting and some of its benefits. Of course, the benefit of gas savings is in the forefront of everyone's mind and that is why bicycle sales and restorations are spiking. A couple days ago, someone commented on seeing a story about this on the news. I did a little surfing and found the story.

Hop On A Bike To Save Gas

With gas just shy of $4 a gallon, the alternative-transportation wheels are spinning for people in mid-Michigan.

"They've been coming in, buying new bikes, bringing in their old bikes and getting them repaired," says Dirk Bus, manager of Eric's Fitness and Cycling in Lansing.

Bus says new bicycle sales are up 20 percent from the same time last year, and bike accessory sales are through the roof.

"What I've really noticed is the extra numbers of racks and baskets people are buying-- [sales] have probably quadrupled," Bus says. "[They use them] to get groceries at the corner store, get a gallon of milk..."

People like Jessica Yorko, who works for the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council.

She uses her bike to "take my kid to school, I'm driving to work, I'm using it to go to the store to pick up a few things."

The environmentalist says biking saves her hundreds of dollars a month in gas. Now, she says, her peers are trading their cars for bikes- and enjoying the health benefits, too.

"For me, it's the difference between eating cheesecake," she jokes.

But if the demand for this two-wheeled transportation keeps up, people could find themselves standing in a waiting line before they're riding their very own bikes.

"The manufacturers haven't anticipated this," Bus says of the demand. He says already certain bikes are becoming scarce, and picky shoppers might have to wait four to six weeks for their bikes.

But with gas prices showing no sign of slowing down, the bike-riding trend might still be full speed ahead.

May 13, 2008 - WILX 10, Lansing, MI

After seeing this story, I felt happiness for the local bike shops. They are experiencing increased sales and providing increased service. I think about all the couch potatoes strapped to their bucket seats sitting in traffic and then I think of how some of them are converting to active cyclists using a great alternative for getting to work. For the first time, I'm seeing the silver lining to the increasing gas prices.

Could this be the new American Revolution? One could only hope. Well, one could also ride his/her bike to work.

Unfortunately, hardship breeds progress, and there usually isn't much interest in change by the majority until hardship is felt by them. Perhaps these increased fuel costs will spur the horse around the track and strongly encourage some more environmentally friendly alternatives.

From Prozac to Road: Cycling for Happiness

It is amazing how a vigorous ride to school sucked all the stress out of my body. I would sit in my 9 a.m. class with a runner's high and not a care in the world. I also felt an incredible sense of accomplishment and self-confidence. This is a far cry from what I used to experience in my daily life.

Ten years ago, I was an overly-stressed, directionless student searching for accomplishment. I was the only Russian major at Michigan State University and I joined an intramural floor hockey team, the MSU Running Club, the MSU Equestrian Team, and I worked 30, sometimes 40 hours per week.

The business of my life was coupled with huge insecurities, shyness and fear of people I didn't really know, and a strong dislike for myself. I lost all motivation to show up for class and work. I reluctantly went to work, I skipped class, but I did manage to get to my equestrian team carpool the mornings of competition. One morning, as I was heading to East Lansing down I-69 at 5:30 am, I found myself bawling, literally bawling the whole 40-minute drive. It was about that time that I spent an incredible amount of time in bed and miraculously lost 20 pounds. Anyone who knows me knows that 20 pounds doesn't just melt off of this body.

Before I knew it, my relationship with the MSU Equestrian Team was mutually terminated, I dropped out of the Running Club, floor hockey ended, and I quit going to classes. I just couldn't handle . . . anything.

When I was 19 and living in California as a Private in the Army studying Russian, I simply wanted to die. That thought came to a climax at the implosion of my Spartan life and I didn't only have thoughts and hopes of suicide, but I was actually trying to figure out how I was going to do it and I was searching for the strength to complete it.

I had reached a point in my life that was filled with nothing but complete emptiness and loss of hope. I had emotional outbursts and fits and simply lost any control I might have had. I ended up in the emergency room twice because I had no idea where else to go and I felt nothing but the incredible turmoil going on inside my mind. That turmoil had spread beyond my mind throughout my body culminating in physical pain.

The emergency room nurses directed me to a psychologist who I met with a couple times and ended up absolutely hating. I skipped my last appointment with him (I think I had three) and left it at that. Shortly thereafter, I read an article that listed all of the symptoms a woman might feel from premenstrual syndrome. Wondering if this was what I was truly suffering, I cut out the symptoms and took them to my family doctor. I told her that I was experiencing all of these. They weren't things like "cramps," but things like excessive crying, stress, unusual weight loss, etc. We cycled through Paxil, which only made my suicidal tendencies stronger, and then began a several-year relationship with Prozac.

Life was still difficult, but Prozac took away my suicidal thoughts after one or two months and put me in a mindset that allowed me to eventually go back to school to obtain my Associate Degree graduating with a 3.8 GPA, and achieve independence. I spent many years going on and off Prozac. I remember the feeling of euphoria I would sometimes get while on it. The last time I used it, I lived in Appleton, WI in 2005. I took it for several months under the advisement of my doctor.

In January 2006, I moved to Hancock, MI for a new job. The lead ultrasound tech taught me how to cross country skate ski and I did it religiously through the end of April. When the snow was no longer there, I decided to take up trail running and train for my third marathon. The goal was to run Detroit in the fall. In May, I met someone who would change my life in such a profound way. She invited me to go mountain biking at Michigan Tech. I met her one Saturday morning in late May to go for my first, real, mountain bike ride.

For the next two weeks, I alternated riding with running and continued to get exercise four days a week, like I did during ski season. I started exploring more of the Tech Trails and enjoyed mountain biking so much that, by the third week, running had suddenly disappeared from my life altogether. The rest of the story begins with second post of my blog.


Bicycling maintains my emotional well-being these days. It also causes random giggles on the trail and even on the road.

I have been Prozac-free since 2005. I quit my job last year, not because I couldn't handle it, but because I detested certain aspects of it and felt a need for change. I wanted to make a difference that I couldn't make in my present position. I decided to become a doctor.

If I hadn't begun cycling, I probably wouldn't be embarking on this newest journey in my life. Truth be told, I never thought I was smart enough to be a doctor. Now, I realize that it is something I really do have the capability of becoming. Many of my riding friends are either PhDs or MDs, one is both. My cycling friends who aren't of these credentials are highly accomplished folks in other careers. All are inspiring, intelligent, community-minded people.

Cycling has changed me physically, in the sense that I am healthier, stronger, more confident, happier, and emotionally stable. It has also changed my social life as this sport is the glue that holds my social network together. I am inspired by cycling and cyclists on a daily basis.

As I continue to use my bike, not only as a recreational toy, but as transportation, I take delight that my Prozac-induced euphoria has been replaced by a cycling-induced runner's high that is much better than what any drug can provide. Most of all, I found my sanity in cycling.

Exercise Is a Benefit of Commuting

One of the first things I noticed when I began commuting by bike is the lack of guilt I would often feel when I chose not to ride after work. This is probably because I got my ride in on my way to and from work. Go figure.

My work place is only about six miles away, and school is eleven. Even though it takes longer to get to school and work, I am actually saving time because I am getting my exercise when I would usually be sitting in the car driving. My biggest fear in giving up my vehicle was the big hill I have to climb.


Di riding to Copper Harbor, a trip that will hopefully be made many times this year.

There is an elevation change of several hundred feet on my way home from school. During the first couple weeks, I had to take a roundabout way up the hill that resulted in four miles of continuous climbing. In just one month of bicycle commuting, I noticed considerable changes in my speed and climbing ability. Suddenly, I found myself tackling hills I thought I would have to walk up. Now, I look at all these hills with the confidence that I can, and will, ride them.

It is simply amazing the fitness gains I made just from riding my bike for transportation. I consider commuting just one more little perk to my cycling life.

Stick It to the Oil Companies

Surfing through the MMBA forum, I found myself admiring those who regularly made their commute by bike in the Greater Detroit Area. It's not like anyone got online and said, "I commuted, today." My knowledge of these commuters came from their stories of bike-car collisions.

When money got tight for my student-self this spring, I realized that bicycle commuting was going to be my savior. I could no longer afford several $60 fill-ups per month for my Pathfinder. Actually, I really could never afford that. This year, I chose to do something about it.

I grabbed my backpack and removed the unnecessary books that I normally carried to class and replaced them with clothes, shoes, and snacks, hopped on the bike, and used that as my main mode of transportation. Suddenly, I found myself buying only one tank of gas for the month. It is simply amazing how cycling can cause such a savings in your life.

I recently put a little over a half tank of gas in my Pathfinder in case I get called into work for an emergency. My goal is to make this half tank last until June 11 – one month. One-half tank of gas for one month. How many people can honestly say that is all they use? With a bike, it is entirely possible.

Let's do the math. Say I fill up with $60 once a week. That isn't all that unusual for the average American. Now, if we cut that back to one-half tank of gas per month, that would be a total of $30 instead of $120 per month. In my case, the oil companies are actually losing money by raising the gas prices so high. Now, imagine what would happen if everyone did what I did. The oil companies wouldn't fare well at all. That would be a huge financial loss on their part.

Do you want to stick it to the oil companies? Commute by bike, and get your friends to do so as well.


Unfortunately, my one day of work this week started at 7 am this morning. I had my backpack filled but I just couldn't get ready fast enough to allow time to ride the bike in. So, I spent my Bike-to-Work Week (day) driving my SUV in. I decided to make good use of the driving and pick up some groceries I wouldn't be able to carry by bike due to weight. I'm looking forward to riding my bike tomorrow. I won't be working anymore this week, but I will surely play.

Bike-to-Work Week

Today begins Bike-to-Work Week. Make a point of readying your clothes and cycling gear the night before and head to the office or school on your bike.

The Internet is full of information regarding bicycle commuting and cleanliness at work. Since the days are cooler in my area, I don't break much of a sweat on my ride. I shower before I head out and tie my hair back. When I get to work, I change into my work clothes, wet my hair if it needs help, and let it air dry before I do a final brushing. It's probably simpler than that for the guys.

My commuter isn't really a commuter. It's a cyclocross bike that I really do use for cyclocross and road riding as well. I carry a backpack when I commute. I put clean clothes, regular shoes, lunch, and whatever else I may need in it.

As a person who usually runs late, I have learned that packing my bag and laying out my clothes the night before helps me quite a bit. The less I have to do in the morning, the easier it is for me to get going and be on time. I am actually thinking about making a checklist so I don't have to deal with that nagging feeling I've forgotten something.

I have only one day of work this week. I will have to get up at 5 AM. on Tuesday morning and slowly come to life and breakfast so I can ride my bike to work. One day of work...and I will celebrate Bike-to-Work Week by doing just that - biking to work.

Comment on The Shoot Out

Sunday, I gave you some information about a ride called "The Shoot Out". Click here to read it.

As part of the cycling community, it is easy to get caught up in protecting our rights. We have a right to riding peacefully and without harassment from motorists and police. This isn't occurring in Pima County. In fact, the right to ride through the local reservation might be taken away.

Cyclists, like motorists, have laws to follow. We are to follow all the basic traffic laws and some additional laws that pertain only to bicycles, like riding as far to the right as practicable, and riding no more than two abreast. Taking the lane is only to be done when moving at the speed of traffic, or the speed limit. I personally think these are reasonable. These laws are necessary to create harmony among motorists and cyclists. If everyone follows their own rule, we have a problem.


Motorists can't share the road if we don't share as well. Sharing is not one-sided.

In the VeloNews article, it is brought to our attention that riders are riding more than two abreast, even through the reservation where the law is single file. Complaints have been made about indecent exposure when cyclists relieve themselves in not very discreet places (not just number one, but number two as well). They offend others and impede traffic.

On the flip side, these cyclists have been harassed by drivers and police. Accidents were caused by police, one case being when the cop swerved his vehicle into the lane of the cyclists (oncoming) causing the front cyclists to brake hard resulting in the middle of the peloton to go down. Bad injuries were incurred. The cop showed no remorse, and reprimand from the police department is unlikely. Motorist's behavior is encouraged by the police with a pat on the back.

I was disappointed in the VeloNews article in the respect that, although the offenses of the cyclists were outlined, the police and motorists seemed to be more to blame. I agree that what they are doing is very dangerous and quite unacceptable, and the job of the police is to, well, police. They are to be the mediators between the offenders and the victims. What I don't like is how my viewpoint never really came up.

I believe that both parties are wrong. We know that the motorists and police simply have to quit harassing the cyclists. It's not just an irritating game, it's a potential death sentence for the cyclists. None of this is important enough to incur a death.

What many cyclists fail to do when they are facing a situation such as the Pima County conflict is look at what they can do to change the behavior toward them. Many residents don't like the cyclists, police included. There have been many complaints about the cyclists, complaints for behavior that I believe is completely unacceptable (read the VeloNews article for a nice survey of the offenses). These cyclists continue to break several laws and have no regard for other traffic on the road, yet they want respect. They want people to like them.

If we, as cyclists, want others to respect our right to share the road, we have to be willing to respectfully share as well. This is something of great importance to consider as we head into National Bike Month.

Stabbing at Local VA Clinic

No one gave their opinion on yesterday's post, so I will present my opinion Wednesday. That gives all four of my readers the great opportunity to voice their opinion about the Shootout. Just kidding. I have more than four readers. ;-)

I haven't ridden since I last rode. I can't remember when that was. Looking at my log, it was Thursday when I had to ride to the VA Clinic for a fasting blood draw. That was fun.

I rode six miles with only water in my stomach so someone could stab my arm. It wasn't very fun. She missed the vein on the right arm, and left a nice, knobby hematoma on the left. Translation: she went through the vein. In all fairness, I'm getting to be a pretty difficult draw as I age. That's a scary thought considering I'm only 31. At this rate, they'll need to put a PICC line in when I'm 51 to have any kind of access to my veins. ;-)

The blood actually tracked up my arm, so there is a "tail" to my bruise. It's kind of cool, but I prefer the kind of bruises that result from colliding with chainrings and rocks. They want me to come back for another draw so they can test for iron because my hemoglobin count was low. That's ok. I can already tell them I haven't been eating enough iron. I think I'll put off the next great opportunity to get stabbed until I heal from this last trauma.


In recent years, I tend to bruise after blood draws. This one hurt.

Some of you are probably thinking I'm a bit morbid with my terminology, but that really is how "we" in the medical profession refer this blessed event. In brief, you are a "draw" and they "stab" you to get the vein. Fun stuff!

I didn't want to return home without something in my stomach, so I packed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and bagged some strawberries. I took along two bottles of Heed as well. I ate the strawberries when I walked out of the clinic and ate the sandwich while riding home. I really like the concept of eating real food on the bike (as opposed to gels and bars). I got the idea from a Lance Armstrong book I bought.

So, I hope this post has been useful by teaching you how you, too, can successfully ride your bike to your next fasting blood draw.

The Shoot Out

The Shoot Out is a weekly group ride of professional and advanced amateur riders that starts at the University of Arizona. Great idea, eh? One would think.

Now consider this: there seems to be quite an anti-cyclist attitude by the local police. In fact, an accident was even caused by the actions of a police officer: crossing the double yellow line in an attempt to stop the peloton for breaking a traffic law.

Now, for those of us who ride the road for training or commuting purposes, who are concerned about the safety of cyclists, and who support laws that are designed to protect our well-being, we might become a little irate at seeing this news regarding the police-cyclist interactions in Pima County.

Ride Strong has provided us with a video on their blog and some comments from local cyclists. Their video can be viewed below.



But wait! There's more! OH, there is so much more that I am going to let you read about it at VeloNews: Legally Speaking with Bob Mionske - Shootout at the UA Corral.

Now that you have seen the video and read the VeloNews article, what do you think? Who is wrong in this situation? What needs to be done? Please share.

I will let you know what I think in tomorrow's post.

Michigan Bicycle Laws

Sometimes, bicycle laws are a gray area. Even when there are clear laws on the books protecting the rights of cyclists, law enforcement may shift any blame to the cyclist. In many cases, law enforcement is more than happy to protect cyclists' rights, but motorists feel cyclists have no rights, and most of the time, motorists don't even know that there are laws giving us rights.

That may be a bit of a confusing paragraph, so let me sum it up. If you ride on the road, know your rights. Click on the League of American Bicyclists link to the right to help you find information for your state. Michigan law is summed up below.


In general, cyclists should follow the same laws as motorists.

State of Michigan: What Every Driver Should Know
Bicycles and Mopeds pp 105-106, pp 107-108 of the .pdf

Much of the advice about motorcyclists also applies to bicycle and moped riders. Bicycle and moped riders are allowed to ride in a traffic lane, but must stay as far to the right as practical, obey traffic signals, not ride more than two abreast in a single lane, and must ride in the same direction as other traffic. Bicyclists entering a roundabout are encouraged to ride in the center of the lane, traveling at or near the speed of circulating traffic. Motorists who encounter bicyclists in a roundabout are urged to use caution, be courteous, and share the road.

A bicycle or moped ridden after dark must have a front headlight and rear reflector. But these may be hard to see. A person riding a bicycle on a sidewalk meant for pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and sound a horn or bell before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.

Watch the side of the road for slow-moving bicycles and mopeds without reflectors. Be ready to dim the headlights. While it is safer not to, you may drive beside a bicycle or moped in the same lane. Leave plenty of room. A rider may turn sharply to avoid something in the road or a door being opened from a parked vehicle.

The Michigan Vehicle Code does not require vehicles such as go-peds and electric scooters to be registered. Some municipalities have outlawed the use of go-peds and electric scooters on roads and sidewalks.

Although the law only requires moped riders under age 19 to wear approved, properly fastened safety helmets, all moped and bicycle riders should wear them as well as reflective clothing.

State of Michigan: What Every Driver Should Know

MDOT: Mackinac Bridge

How can my bicycle group get across the Mackinac Bridge?

Answer:
Bicyclists are not allowed to cross the Mackinac Bridge on their own. The Mackinac Bridge Authority will transport your group across the bridge in Mackinac Bridge Authority vehicles. The fee is $2.00 per bicycle.

If you are traveling northbound, there is a phone at the south end of the bridge. Instructions for using the phone are posted in the phone box.

If you are southbound, please go to our service window in the administration building and ask for assistance. The administration building is located on the north end of the Mackinac Bridge on the east side of the toll plaza.

The service is provided on an as needed basis. If you need additional information please call us at 906-643-7600.

MDOT Frequently Asked Questions: Mackinaw Bridge


The Mackinac Bridge Authority will transport your group across the bridge in Mackinac Bridge Authority vehicles for $2.00 per bicycle.

League of Michigan Bicyclists

YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY
Section 257.612.1(a)
Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians and bicyclists lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.

Section 257.612.1(d)
The vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and bicyclists lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

MANDATORY SIDE PATH
Section 257.660.3
Where a usable and designated path for bicycles is provided adjacent to a highway or street, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may, by local ordinance, be required to use that path.

EXCEPTIONS TO FAR RIGHT
Section 257.660a
A person operating a bicycle upon a highway or street at less than the existing speed of traffic shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except as follows:

(a) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(b) When preparing to turn left.

(c) When conditions make the right-hand edge of the roadway unsafe or reasonably unusable by bicycles, including, but not limited to, surface hazards, an uneven roadway surface, drain openings, debris, parked or moving vehicles or bicycles, pedestrians, animals, or other obstacles, or if the lane is too narrow to permit a vehicle to safely overtake and pass a bicycle.

(d) When operating a bicycle in a lane in which the traffic is turning right but the individual intends to go straight through the intersection.

(e) When operating a bicycle upon a 1-way highway or street that has 2 or more marked traffic lanes, in which case the individual may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.

2-ABREAST RIDING
Sec. 257.660b.
Two or more individuals operating bicycles upon a highway or street shall not ride more than 2 abreast except upon a path or portion of the highway or street set aside for the use of bicycles.

PARKING A BICYCLE ON A SIDEWALK
Sec. 257.660d.
(1) An individual may park a bicycle on a sidewalk except as prohibited by an official traffic control device.

(2) An individual shall not park a bicycle on a sidewalk in such a manner that the bicycle impedes the lawful movement of pedestrians or other traffic.

Entire Law
LMB Bike Advocacy Center

Secret Weapon Training Method

It is no secret that road riding is quite beneficial to competitive mountain bikers. It promotes endurance at a steady pace and allows the rider to work on techniques such as more efficient pedaling.

I chose to trade in my Nissan Pathfinder for a Kona Jake the Snake. Jake and I spend a lot of time together. We roll to school and work and we're even starting to shop and attend meetings together. Currently, our shopping is limited to a new stem and a rear view mirror for Jake. Jake will be sporting the new goods, but I'll be able to ride with more comfort and with a visual on traffic approaching from behind. Jake and I will be safe together.

In just a couple weeks of riding, I've noticed something else. I'm losing weight, I'm getting stronger, and my commute time is getting shorter and shorter by the ride. My commute involves a lot of climbing with a few sprints sprinkled here and there.

My commuting experience has proven to be quite an effective tool for increasing speed and power. I can't wait to find out how this translates to the trail.

The Feminine Face of Cycling

I live in a cyclist-dense community. Two small communities connected by a bridge over a canal contain one university cycling club/racing team, two community cycling clubs, and an adult cycling team. Allow me to briefly plug these groups:

* Copper Country Cycling Club (C4) - Michigan Tech's cycling club and racing team
* Keweenaw Cycling Club - Still in the beginning stages, the KCC is a new cycling club that is also starting a kid's competitive cycling team.
* Red Jacket - BlueSky Health Racing Team - A group of close-knit riders who fell in love with the camaraderie brought about by the impromptu Red Jacket cyclocross team.
* Trekkers - Started as a group of adults getting together for adult fun time. It evolved into what is now a large community cycling club with Monday night rides and potlucks.

These two small cities have more cycling clubs than many large cities. What makes them special is that they are not just cycling clubs, they are communities. The people in these clubs spend a lot of time together because the lifestyle of cycling is what brings them together. What makes all of this even more special are the familiar faces you find around any random corner and the conversations waiting to be had by bumping into one of these people.

I ran into three of my fellow cyclists within five minutes of each other at Michigan Tech today. What was even more unusual is that the four of us are all women. I couldn't help but smile as I walked through campus thinking about the good fortune I had just experienced. The masculine face cycling originally presented itself to me as was transforming into a symbol of feminine strength and means.

Today's occurrence may not be of much significance to you, but it is of great importance to me. I greatly admire the female cyclists in my community because they are my role models. Men have Lance. I have Bobbie, Heather, Kathy, Lori, and Melanie, to name a few. These are women who have allowed cycling to play a significant hand in their lives while juggling what life throws their way: school, work, relationships, travel. Most of them can identify with me. To see three of them doing what I do: going to school, some commuting by bike, is a great motivation.

Breakthrough Riding on a Regular Commute

Today was another commuting day, but something was different. It was the first time I've ridden my bike since my race on Sunday. I switched out my cross tires for my road tires and found myself running ten minutes late. I was already planning to not show up for my 9 a.m. class. Then I proved something to myself that I already knew: my road tires were faster. Oh, yes. I was faster. Suddenly I felt really good and decided to see how fast I could get to Hancock.

There was a method to the madness. It wasn't an all out sprint uphill for six miles, no. I can't do that. However, I chose to do a series of sprints on my way there. I pushed the biggest gears I could while maintaining 70 to 90 rpm. I did this several times and finally made it to Hancock, and running on schedule! I was able to exceed the speed limit down the hill and hopped on US-41 heading for the Portage Lift Bridge. With the road tires, the sidewalks were no longer safe since they were covered in sand and some soft snow. I chose to ride the right lane and maintained a speed of about 17 mph. The drivers were pretty respectful and shared the road with me. It felt good.

The best part is that I made it to class on time and sat through a lecture on a runner's high.

On the return trip, I climbed the hill to the north of town. Now, it was mostly downhill. I managed to do some sprints holding steadily at 34 mph. Mind you, this is not something I can do without the help of gravity, so the speed isn't what was so special about this. The moment of glory is when I realized that I could spin fast enough to keep up with my drivetrain. My pedaling at this speed was productive, and I wasn't bobbing on my saddle like I did last year when I couldn't pedal fast enough to keep up with the speed. My legs are faster and stronger. What a great feeling!

Give Me Wings, Or Give Me Wheels!

When I was a kid, I used to have a dream that ended with me flying through the air like Superman. It didn’t matter that I was only flying two feet above the ground. Oddly enough, it was in the direction of my favorite park.


A little bird was caught in my porch the other day. He watched me go out through the door, and later tried it himself.

I recalled that dream today as I was riding home from school. A little brown and white bird made quite a bit of noise as it left the snow bank flying across my path and soon with me for a short bit. Seeing the bird and the road in front of me recreated that dream for me, except I wasn’t Superman, nor was I a bird. I was riding my cyclocross bike.

I felt a strong sense of gratitude as these signs of spring greeted me, even the sun was out, and I realized that bikes are God’s way of giving us wings.

2008 Goals

The sky is blue, the pines are green, the snow is still here. To those inexperienced with life in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, one might think it is still winter. Look closer, and one will see that it is over 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the snow is sliding off the roof.


A good sign of the spring thaw, icicles forming as the snow melts off of the roof.

Many of us have already started riding. All we need is a cleared off road and sunny sky to motivate us. With spring in the air, many of us are thinking about the dreaded “T” word - training. Ok, this early in the year, most of us are enthusiastic about the “T” word, and we’re very much looking forward to it.

This is the time of the year when we map out our goals and decide how we are going to meet them. I had already verbalized my goals for 2008 by the end of last year’s cyclocross season. I started out with the bigger goals, then I moved onto the little goals that will help me get there.

My Cycling Goals For 2008

• Podium finishes for all my races in my age group; first place age group finishes for the Keweenaw Chain Drive, Great Deer Chase, and Fat Tire Festival
• Lose fifteen pounds
• Become a stronger climber
• Use the bicycle as my primary mode of transportation
• Include cross-training to balance it all out

Race Finishes

I had podium finishes for all of my races last year except for Ore to Shore, when I took seventh. It is difficult to improve when your goals are the same as your results from the previous year, so instead of stating “I want a podium finish for all of my races,” I raised the bar to achieve first place in all the races I previously placed in. Realistically, I may not achieve the second part of this goal this year, so it’s a great goal to carry over to next year. I am certainly off to a good start.

Lose Weight

Last year, my goal was to lose twenty pounds, and I did it! I gained five back after about a week, and I gained ten more while on antibiotics this winter. I’ve lost the antibiotic weight already, so I’m still down fifteen pounds. In a nutshell, I am at my 2007 cycling weight.

My goal for 2008 is to lose an additional fifteen pounds. My goal was originally twenty pounds, but I feel fifteen is a much more realistic weight loss goal. I currently weigh 170 pounds, and my body loves this weight. Fifteen pounds would bring me down to 155, a weight I haven’t been for over ten years.

Losing this excess weight will do a lot for my cycling. This has been my greatest motivator. I’ve found that putting in at least eight hours a week on the bike helps me to easily achieve weight loss.

Become a Stronger Climber

Most places are fairly flat with some hills thrown in. The Keweenaw is the opposite: many hills with a few flats here and there. It is difficult to find a flat section of road to train on. For this reason, most of the cyclists in my area are very good. Even the mediocre cyclists are good by other people’s standards. We get a hill workout every time we ride. How we use those hills is what separates us.

This year, I plan to tackle the most difficult hills with enthusiasm and gratitude.

Commute

With rising gas prices and my goals of become a better, stronger rider, it makes perfectly good sense to ride my bike to work (6 miles) and school (11 miles). School will automatically give me four twenty-two mile road rides per week. With careful planning, I may lengthen that commute a couple times a week.


Even though there is still snow on the ground, the weather is warmer and some have already begun riding to work and school.

Balance My Training Regimen

Cycling alone can help you achieve a muscle imbalance thus setting you up for injury. This winter, I began incorporating a regular yoga routine along with weight training into my week. The yoga promotes muscle balance by maintaining flexibility while minimizing the possibility of pain and injury. I began an upper body weight training program to strengthen the muscles that tighten the most while cycling. I figure that a stronger upper body would minimize the muscle-tightening that is throwing my body out of alignment, because the added strength would minimize the stress (this is my own theory). It also makes climbing easier.

That’s a lot!

It may seem like I have a lot of goals for 2008. However, I really only have one pinnacle goal, while the remaining goals serve as the plan for achieving that goal. It is much easier to achieve the bigger goal in little steps. The best part? I’m making positive lifestyle changes that will benefit me not only physically, but financially as well.

Dressing for Cold Weather Rides

Cyclists like me are anticipating the warmer weather and are already hopping on our bikes for what we like to call training and commuting, but the truth is, we want to play. The minor challenge presented to us is this little thing called the weather. It continues to snow throughout most of my state. One day, the top layer of snow melts in the sunlight on a breezy 40 degree (Fahrenheit) day. The next, there is a wind chill of 9 degrees and there is a fresh four-inch layer of snow covering the ground.

I read a guideline in a forum that I feel is a good rule of thumb: don’t ride if it feels like it is below ten degrees. Personally, I don’t feel like riding if it is that cold. Pay attention to wind chill as that will greatly affect how it will feel outside. It can be 15 degrees but can feel like five with a wind. For the days that are suitable for riding, it is important to find the right clothes. After you’ve done that, your ride will feel just fine. You may even break a sweat.

Luckily for me, I live in an area where Nordic skiing is the norm. I didn’t have to buy additional clothing for winter riding. All I had to do was look at my ski stash.

Everyone has a different idea of what works. I’m willing to bet it’s because we own different things. Therefore, I will share with you what works for me. Since I live in a little peninsula surrounded by Lake Superior, you may find that my opinion is worth noting.

Method Behind the Madness

The first rule of thumb for winter riding is layering. The layers should be slightly loose to allow heat from your body to settle between the layers creating warm air pockets. These pockets are what will keep you warm. Add another layer, create another pocket. If it’s too warm, get rid of a pocket by removing a layer.

The second rule of thumb is the type of material used. Cotton will soak up sweat causing your clothes to become wet creating the perfect environment for hypothermia. Breathable clothing has become quite popular over the last ten years. I’m sure you’ve heard of COOLMAX®, Nike Dri-FIT, Columbia Omni-Dry®, and Patagonia Capilene just to name a few. These fabrics are all designed to wick moisture away from the skin to the surface of the garment to promote evaporation of sweat. This keeps you dry. All of these companies produce quality clothing. It is up to you to find the brand that fits you best. Just make sure the label says breathable.

Check out the plethora of sports equipment web sites out there and you’ll find that these fabrics are used to produce garments that are intended for use as different layers, for example: base layer and shell.

Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Unless you are buying clearance, which I highly recommend, you’ll find that breathable clothing is usually quite expensive. Now consider this: I’ve been using most of my winter cycling wardrobe for over four years, for different sports, and quite religiously in the winter. With the exception of the reflection material slowly peeling off of my ski tights, everything is holding up well. All the stitching is top notch and there are no holes. The best part is that most of these garments are stretchable for maximum comfort and they will fit you well through quite a weight range . . . just in case you’re planning to lose weight.

The last thing to note about breathable fabrics, and the most important, is care. Breathable fabrics should be washed in cool water without fabric softener and should be hung to dry. Keep in mind that these are polyester fabrics. Plastic can melt in the dryer. Melting clogs the pores of the fabric rendering it useless in the breathable category. Fabric softener also clogs the pores of these fabrics rendering them useless, however, this can remedied simply by rewashing the fabric.

The Layers

Unless you’re a man who needs little support, this first part pertains only to women. The layers are only as good as the base layer. For women, that base layer begins with the sport bra. There is an abundance of sport bras out there waiting for you to buy them. However, not all sports bras are created equal. Aside from finding the one that fits you best, make absolutely sure it is made of a breathable fabric. The other layers can’t wick if the sweat stops at your bra. Underwear could be an issue, but we’re all cyclists. We don’t wear underwear. If you don’t wear a cycling short with a chamois, then you may want to consider buying breathable undies as well.


Clockwise from top: 1 – Nike Dri-FIT cycling jersey; 2 – Columbia Titanium base layer; 3 – Pearl Izumi ski jacket; 4 – Columbia Titanium wind jacket; 5 – Pearl Izumi ski pants; 6 – Nike cycling shorts.

I like to start out with a base layer. I currently use the Columbia Titanium layer shown in the picture above (2), or a blue Patagonia Capilene base layer that I like equally as much. Throwing a cycling jersey (1) over it allows use of the rear pockets while helping to keep the torso warmer. I wear these two layers on most spring rides in temperatures ranging from the upper 40s to the upper 50s. In the 50s and low 60s, I may use a light wind jacket (not pictured) for really breezy days. If it is in the lower 40s and below, I will throw on my Pearl Izumi ski jacket (3) or my Columbia Titanium wind jacket (4) depending on the type of weather. If it’s cold enough, I’ll wear both. It’s better to have too many layers because you can always take them off and throw them in your tool bag or CamelBak.

The legs are much easier to work with. In colder weather, it is very important to keep the knees covered. I wear ski pants (5) over a traditional cycling short (6) through the 50s and in the 60s if there is a cold wind.


This outfit is perfect for mild spring and fall weather that is above 50 degrees. The cycling shorts and ski pants are worn in the wintertime as well.

Accessories are equally as important as all the layers you wear on your body. Without the accessories, your ride could become miserable because your toes are numb or sand from the road is blown up into your eyes.


1 - Trek Interval WSD Sport helmet; 2 – Mountain Hardwear Gore Windstopper Dome; 3 - Kona gloves; 4 – Dakine inserts (came with Dakine Women’s Camino gloves); 5 – Swix Women’s Cross Gloves; 6 – Columbia neck gator; 7 – Optic Nerve sunglasses; 8 – Nike mountain biking shoes; 9 – Planet Bike wool socks; 10 – Wigwam Ingenius ski socks.

In Trek’s helmet owner’s manual, it specifically states that hats should not be worn under the helmet to ensure proper fit. In reality, if you don’t wear a hat during part of the year, your ears will fall off. I use either a headband or a snug-fitting cap like my Mountain Hardwear hat (shown above, 2). You will need to readjust your helmet when fitting it over a hat or headband. Make sure it has a snug fit. I know people who have gone down on the ice and hit their heads. If you experience a fall like this, it will be one of the hardest falls you will encounter as a cyclist, and you will be grateful you were wearing a helmet after the pain the rest of your body experiences. Don’t be afraid to readjust your helmet midway through the ride.

Gloves are an area of debate on some mountain biking forums. I usually wear my ski gloves (5) and they do a great job keeping my hands warm while riding. Recently, I couldn’t find them and chose to wear my Dakine inserts under my mountain biking gloves (4 and 3 respectively). Due to layering, I can see how the second choice can be warmer than the first, but the difference is negligible. If you’re looking for a single pair of gloves for winter riding, Swix makes a perfectly adequate cross country ski glove. I’ve laughingly heard others say, “yeah, but bikers travel faster than skiers.” That may be so, but cross country skiers are also found on the trails in below zero weather wearing those very same gloves.

Riding is not fun when your face is freezing. For skiing and for biking, the odds are good that you will find me wearing my neck gator (6). Sometimes I keep it around my neck, sometimes covering my face, and many times I move it back and forth. It has made what could have been the most unbearable ride into a perfectly enjoyable ride.

One of my bike shop guys says, “Glasses are the second most important piece of safety equipment.” I agree. As a mountain biker, I wear glasses to keep bugs, dirt, and tree branches out of my eyes. Having mud or sand flung up into my eyes and sticking to my contacts isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. I always bring my glasses with me (7). I prefer the clear lenses, but the amber lenses are ideal for sunny days. They’ve offered protection from the wind and the sand on my road rides.

I don’t have the fortune of owning winter specific cycling shoes or neoprene booties to put over them. I wear my regular cycling shoes with packaging tape (8) over the vents to help keep the wind away from my toes. I always wear two pairs of socks for that layering effect – cycling socks or something similar (9) over ski socks (10).

When you step back and look at all the gear you need to keep comfortable during a winter ride, it seems like a lot of stuff. It is. However, all this stuff will make your ride much more comfortable and enjoyable so you, too, can join the rest of us nutcases out there on those cold, slushy roads.