Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, all of us…by Bike Ambassador Juliet Byerly

All of us have something in common.  Millions of Americans experience this, yet somehow, such a deep stigma exists as a culture, we generally avoid talking about it.  On May 31st, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open revealing she had been experiencing “bouts of depression.”  Then this summer, at the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles withdrew from the Vault and Uneven Bars finals to focus on her mental health.  

They had the world’s spotlight shining on them. 

They had trained for years for this moment.

Millions of fans waited to watch them compete and see them hoist a trophy or a gold medal once again.

Instead, they used that spotlight to say something few world-famous athletes have ever dared to say out loud: I need to step away from this competition and focus on my mental health. Yes, all of us struggle with mental health issues but most of us are afraid to say it out loud.

2020 was a really bad year for most of us regarding mental health.  2021 isn’t shaping up to be that much better.  So, what happens when the thing I’ve always used to “focus on my mental health” - riding bikes - is the last thing I want to do right now?  I’m going to use this space to go ahead and unpack this for a minute.  

I got my first road bike in 1979.  It was a Huffy Contestant and it was way too big for me.  I didn’t care and I made it work.  I didn’t exactly have the most mentally stable home when I was a child.  As a matter of fact, it was dysfunctional.  There was a lot of love, but you probably could open the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) on a random page and you could find something that would apply to any member of my family.    I quickly learned I could use my bike to escape.  So, escape I did. I rode that thing everywhere in Los Angeles where I was born and raised.  That continued when I moved to Boulder, Colorado for college.  Ever since then, bikes have been an important part of my life – mostly casually for transportation, but also to escape a bad marriage, bad jobs, breakups, you name it.  So then in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic struck and our world was turned upside down.  Naturally, a whole heck of a lot of us got out there on our bikes.  So did I.  As a matter of fact, after my cat died, then I weathered a devastating breakup, and some other awful things happened to me during the lock down, I decided enough is enough and it was time for me to make my mental health my number one priority.  So, I went to my job as paralegal at a fancy Cherry Creek law firm, walked straight into my boss’s office and quit my job.  Focusing on my mental health was going to be my new job. I rode my bike every weekday for 2 months.  As a result, I had never felt better in my life.  I started a new job that I absolutely love that literally fell into my lap in December 2020, but since sometime in September of this year, I just stopped riding my bike.  I just couldn’t do it and I was beating myself up because of it. Why??? What was going on with me?

I can think of a million reasons that I could discuss here ad nausem and none of them really matter.  For a while, I felt guilty about every single one of them.  I felt guilty about neglecting my bikes, not getting all the miles in, FOMO, missed my riding partner/ex boyfriend, et cetera, et cetera.  Here’s where I landed:  I needed to give myself a break.  It’s not a competition!  My bikes got me through the really difficult times, and they will be there for me again when I’m ready.  Mental health is such a mysterious and fragile thing and I’m finally figuring out how to observe and honor it.  For now, I’m taking a break from riding AND IT’S PERFECTLY OK.  I feel much better after I gave myself permission to not worry about it.  I know that one day soon, I’m going to look over at Stella and Sidra (my bikes) and say “let’s go” and it’s going to feel amazing.

Most of us can’t just quit our jobs to ride bikes or do whatever it is that makes us happy.  I was fortunate to be able to do that.  The point is that we have got to listen to ourselves and normalize taking care of our mental health and talking about it.  Whatever that means for each of us as individuals, do whatever it takes to make it happen.  Set up your life to accommodate that, and if you don’t know how, ask for help. If you don’t know where to start, hit me up.  I would be happy to get you started. Until then, enjoy the ride 😊

How to Feel Like a Kid Again by Bike Ambassador Andrew Phillips

This is a picture of my Grandma Bryant when she was about 14 or 15 years old in 1950.  She had just bought this used bike with her own money and was pretty proud of it.  As the oldest of six growing up in a small farmhouse just outside of Salt Lake City, this bike (like all of our first bikes) meant so much more than just a quick way to get to the school house – it meant freedom.

I can imagine her riding it down the dusty roads to explore creek beds or to visit friends.  Or maybe she rode it just to feel the wind in her hair and to laugh out loud as she whistled some new tune.  She loves whistling still – so it wouldn’t surprise me at all.  I guess it’s easy to imagine what it must have been like for her, because I so vividly remember getting my first bike that belonged only to me (I’m the 2nd of 5) when I was about her age.

When I was 15, we lived about 20 miles from my Grandma Bryant in the panhandle of Northern Idaho along the Pend Orielle River.  It was an absolutely beautiful place that just begged to be explored.  One lazy summer day I convinced my best friend Nick Guenther to ride the 20 miles with me to Grandma’s house and promised she would have something good for us to eat.  The Pend Orielle River is famous among bike packers and we would often see them riding by in the summer.  As we set out, I didn’t think it would take too long to get to Grandma’s given that I had ridden to town about 7 miles away a bunch of times and it never seemed that hard.  As I think back on it, I know it was a mere 20 miles – but holy cow that day seemed endless.  I felt like I could have, and in fact did, ride forever. 

We eventually made it to Grandma’s, had some cookies, went swimming in her creek and fished for trout until the late afternoon until we figured we ought to get back on our bikes and start heading back.  It was an incredible day with Nick and though I’ve lost touch with him over the years, I’m certain he would remember that adventure fondly.  This was all before the days of cell phones, so we were completely on our own.  As I look back on it, I can’t believe our parents let us head out so ill prepared.  It didn’t matter though that we didn’t have a spare tube or nickel between the two of us, we were going to just go and have a great time.  We had no mishaps and pedaled along slowly, stopping whenever we needed to get a drink from some creek or another.  Seriously, I can’t believe I survived my childhood!

I’ve had so many incredible adventures (both big and small) on my bike since then and am so grateful that I learned early in my life what an incredible feeling of satisfaction can come from riding your bike.  I guess that’s one of the reasons I keep riding, I love the adventure so much.  I love seeing, smelling and hearing new places the way you never could if you’re in a car.  I hope you can remember some adventure you had on your bike when you were a kid and know that those same feelings are just a few pedal strokes away even when you’re an adult.   

Bikes, Burnout, and DOGS by Bike Ambassador Chris Welch

What a weird year, or has it been two? I know a lot of people have done two things to avoid burnout in 2020-2021: buy a bike and adopt a puppy. As someone who was saved by a stray dog, I thought my story might be important for everyone right now. But first, a little background on me.

My name is Chris and when I am not riding a bike, you can find me defending the public at the Colorado Springs Public Defender Office. I also teach yoga, rescue farm animals as a board member of Iowa Farm Sanctuary, and enjoy spending as much time as possible outdoors. My life is fairly busy and I squeeze a whole lot into very small periods of time. So where do bikes and dogs fit into my busy life? Well it all began on a warm day in August, four short years ago. 

On August 8, 2017, I planned on meeting Crystal and Nick Kovacs for a short bike ride. In 2017, I had an unexpected spinal surgery due to a bike crash and I had just been cleared by my spine surgeon to resume my regular life. I was ecstatic to get back on a bike! We planned to meet on the Heritage Trail in Farley, Iowa. We also planned to follow up our get together with some vegan pizza at Junction 21. On August 8, 2017 my plans changed instantly when a stray dog came wandering out of the woods. The dog was alone, covered in ticks, and full of wounds. He panted so hard for those first few days that I worried about his heart. We called the local police chief to see what we should do. When she arrived, she asked if I could take the dog in for a short time while we searched for his home.

I drove him home and realized that I had nothing for a dog. Luckily, our bike friends Hannah Krieger Ney and Scout (@sheepdogscout), drove here in the middle of the night to help me. They brought a crate, some food, and some puppy supplies. They stayed for a few days to make sure we were okay! The next morning, we got the dog to the vet. The vet turned his wounds into scars, cleaned him up, and he was given medicine for his ailments. The dog began to heal. The next day I got a big crate from my co-worker and the friend who introduced me to ultra-cycling, Tom.  With the crate, I could finally leave the stray alone, and he finally got to sleep in my room! 

Over the next few weeks, we hunted for the dog’s home. We made calls, we posted to social media, we swung by the Humane Society, we exhausted all of our resources trying to find the story where this dog came from. Meanwhile, we went on walks and we began to bond. The dog came to trust me, and met my parents Nan and Jerry. A few weeks went by without us hearing anything and we realized this dog must have been a stray. So one morning after one of our many walks, I took the dog out to the backyard and told him that I wanted him to stay with me forever. We used the Internet and collectively named the dog “Farley.” He was not a stray anymore. He found his home. 

I knew it wouldn’t be easy to introduce a stray dog into my life. I knew I would have to sacrifice some of the bachelor lifestyle that I’ve enjoyed for so long. I knew that I would have to sacrifice some of the long races I had done in the past, as I could not just leave a dog for multi-day events. I knew that we needed each other though. I knew he would bring me love.

As the years have past, I have slowly introduced Farley to cycling. He loves to mountain bike so we try and find trails that are off-leash dog-friendly. He also loves to run in the snow with me while I fat bike, even doing a loop of the Leadville Colorado Fat Bike trails in 2021. I am careful about the temperatures and make sure to bring him lots of water for hydration. I also do not take him on popular trails or places where it would not be appropriate to bike with a dog on or off leash. A lot more preparation goes into even short rides, but it is totally worth it. 

In the last two years, we have been faced with incredible stress. I would be lying if I said that there have not been times were I have been faced with immense feelings of burnout. What has saved me is bikes and a stray dog named Farley. What has saved me is remembering the joy of cycling. The joy for me is found when I see how much fun Farley is having next to me when we ride. The joy is contagious. We do not have to go far, we just have to get out there. If you are feeling low in these incredibly difficult times, what if you tried something simple like just riding your bike? Maybe with a friend? Maybe without your devices? Maybe without keeping track of speed or distance? Who knows, maybe you too will stumble upon a stray dog that will change your life! 

 Ride on, 

• Christopher Welch, @thegraveldefender and Farley, @goodboyfarley. 

Commuting by Bicycle, Even Thru a Pandemic by Bike Ambassador Tim McAndrew

I love riding a bike! And over the last year, the need to get out of the house and experience the freedom that only pedal power truly provides was absolutely essential. I took advantage of it whenever I could. And while I was one of those who was required to go to the office, I took full advantage of the reduced vehicular traffic to commute by bike to work more than usual. Man, was it great having the roads almost all to myself both going in and coming home.

Here we are in June of 2021 and we’re getting awfully close to being back to normal, at least as far as traffic and rush hours go. Normally, this time of year I have a good 25-30 days of commuting under my belt. But, due to the cold, wet spring we’ve had in the Denver area this year, my commuting days are down. But, alas, the weather is breaking and the days are starting to add up.

I started commuting by bicycle back in 2002 while living in London. It started as a way to get around the notoriously undependable and overcrowded trains – I would ride in one day, shuttling two days of work gear, and then run in the next. Getting the logistics down is a key ingredient to successful bike commuting. Now that I’m back in Colorado, my commute is significantly longer so the bike is my primary alternate transportation tool. Fortunately, I have a little closet at the office that I use to store several work “kits” so I no longer have to shuttle gear back and forth each day, and my back thanks me for this little gift every day!

Commuting by bike for me is such a win on so many levels. I get at least one good workout in each day; I trade car/traffic time for exercise time (i.e., I have more time for family); I start almost every morning off with a beautiful sunrise, and I get to totally decompress on the bike when commuting home. What this does for my total psyche is absolutely incredible.

I can’t recommend bike commuting enough and I encourage everyone to give it a try. Start small. Try doing it on a weekend when you have extra time and can explore the best route(s) to get both to work and back home again. This will serve you well when you ultimately tackle it during the work week. And who knows…you may find, like I did, that you have a favorite route that you prefer to do in the summer and another that you keep for shorter commutes in the winter. 

Here’s to seeing you adding bike commuting to your bike riding repertoire! Trust me, you won’t regret it. And remember: #ridemoredriveless

“Parks for the People” Rally by Bike Ambassador Melissa Colonno

This year, one of my goals as a Bike Ambassador has been to get more involved in local bike advocacy. I was thrilled to take part in Denver Streets Partnership’s “Advocacy Academy” this spring and learn about different ways I can advocate for better bike infrastructure in my community. As part of my work in this role, I helped organize a “Parks for the People” event in Denver’s City Park in April.

Denver, like many cities across the world, closed several streets to vehicle traffic during the COVID pandemic in order to make more room for people to recreate safely while still distancing themselves from others. In early 2021, Denver reconsidered the role of these streets in our city and parks, and whether or not the closures to cars should be made permanent. Many parks in the city remain closed to vehicle traffic, but the Denver Parks and Recreation Department decided to reopen most of City Park’s roads to cars.

The April “Parks for the People” rally was a family-friendly event celebrating the use of the park by people walking and rolling. The goal was to bring attention to the safety issues of having vehicles in the park, and also to advocate for a car-free route through the park for transportation and recreation. As part of the event, I had the opportunity to lead a group ride through the park. It was my first time leading a ride, and the experience was one I will never forget. So much enthusiasm! 

Participating in the rally was a very educational experience for me, especially because I am newer to advocacy work. More specifically, in this instance I learned a great deal about opposing viewpoints. I firmly believe in the value of car-free spaces, but I now understand better the ways in which decisions like these might have unintended consequences. Change is hard, and Denver is a city where many chose to be or are forced to be car dependent.

Nevertheless, my work in transportation advocacy is bolstered by the support and enthusiasm of the Bike Ambassador group. I look forward to continuing to work to improve the safety and bikeability of Denver’s streets!

When Exercise is Restricted due to Injuries... Try Cycling! And Ebiking!

A guest post by our Bike Ambassador team member Gerry!

“Gerry, do you like walking on your own or would you prefer a cane, walker, or wheelchair?”

— -Gerry, recounting what his ortho doc said to him

Hi fellow Bike Ambassadors and those who love to ride but might be limited by health issues …

Let me take you way back to when I was 45 years old, circa 1998/99, so you get where I am coming from. I was an avid runner for many years, competing in many races from 5Ks to marathons. I never won a race by coming in 1st, but I won every race because I completed every race I entered. Included in the 10 marathons I ran were two Boston Marathons: 1995 and the 100th running in 1996. My best time was 3:15 which is about 7:20 a mile. 

Then my health issues started coming to the forefront of my life, first limited, and then, eventually stopped my life of running. You have to understand, I loved running, and still do, but my body would not allow me to continue without paying the heavy cost of serious injury and possible incapacitation.  I had a conversation with my orthopedic surgeon about this, and he said point blank, “Gerry, do you like walking on your own or would you prefer a cane, walker, or wheelchair?” Needless to say, I did not want any of those options at my age or, frankly, ever. 

Now fast forward to the year 2000, and I am more or less driving my lovely wife Vera crazy as I whine and complain about not being able to run and continuing to gain weight in a sedentary lifestyle.  I toyed with the idea of taking up cycling. (What!? At this point, I hated bikes and their riders), but the thought of continuing to do nothing was worse than the idea of sucking it up and giving it a try. 

So, the green light was given (most gladly) for me to go buy a “road bike” of some type. Thankfully, the folks at Louisville Cyclery were so very accommodating and so patient with me as I knew nothing about bikes, let alone road bikes! Do you have any idea what these marvels of technology cost!? A heck of a lot more than several pairs of running shoes and shorts. So, I tried my first road bike out, riding it around the block, and around the block, and around more blocks. Wait, what was happening to me? Was this a smile on my face and tad bit of heart rate going up!? 

I bought my first bike: a Schwinn Fastback Pro with more speeds on it than I knew what to use them for. There were three big ring things where the pedals are (yes, I knew zero bike terms) and nine little ones on the rear wheel. Learning how to change speeds with a single click or a swipe, which apparently changes three speeds, was “wow!” So with all this brain twisting tech to learn while riding the bike, there was the whole “CLIPLESS PEDALS” decision to make. Let’s cut this part short; yes I fell over the very first ride going around the block because I did not unclip and forgot all about the angle of attack on a tiny rise in pavement to sidewalk on those damn skinny tires. S l o w m o t i o n... oh damn, did anyone see me?? So, I walked down the sidewalk to the LBS and when reentering, the owner Scott said, “You fell, didn’t you?” Yes, yes I did. 

Riding home after getting the right shifter/brake thingy straightened out, I rolled into the driveway, unclipped safely, and parked the bike in the garage. Went in the house and immediately my wife said, " You fell, didn't you?" "What? Did you see me somehow?" Vera replied, "No, there is a hole in those new bike bib shorts, that's how!" Ok, ok, so the entire bike apparel thing is maybe for another blog post, because it's HUGE! 

Fast forward to March 2015, I had massive pain in my lower back, could not get off the bike, and could barely walk. Had an MRI on Friday the 14th and, just like that, emergency back surgery Saturday the 15th. Would I ever walk again, dance with my wife again, or even ride again? In time, I recovered, and being in very good shape to begin with was so key to this recovery. Yes, I was riding again but not as well. Jump forward again to December of 2018, I started getting constant pain in my right hip, which was unbearable and unrelenting. As suspected, after decades of my own physical abuse to my body (which every bit of it was worth it) I had a hip that was nothing more than bone on bone. February 14th, 2019 was Happy Valentine’s New Hip Day for me, followed by an amazingly fast recovery and a hip that is so smooth, quiet and, so far, bullet proof. I found that I could ride again but not as well, as fast, as far, or for as long. 

Specifically, rides of length and climbing became so very hard but, as you know, I don’t quit, ever. It became rather evident that my drive, ego, need to finish every ride took its toll. After these rides, I would crash on the couch and doze off over and over. This would go on for a day or two. . .sometimes more. Once again, my lovely, amazing wife, Vera, spoke up. “You need to change how you ride so that when you are finished with your ride, you can actually function and do other things that day and the next day. You should look at e-bikes.” Oh no way, as I thought that all e-bikes looked like the bike used in the Wizard of Oz.  Enter SPECIALIZED TURBO CREO SL E5.

I came across this bike in my search and was in love because it looked like a road bike, the bikes I love to ride (yeah, I know from the guy who hated bikes), so I had to have one. The order was placed with my LBS Louisville Cyclery, and I waited for the day for my bike to arrive. I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to ride this bike. I can dial in as much assist as I need and even ride in acoustic mode with no motor assist. I can ride just about any type of route now and not be completely exhausted after the ride. Now, YOU might be if you ride with me. . .sorry about that. Riding my e-road bike is a game changer of huge proportions. This will allow me to ride for many more years with those of you I could no longer keep up with, and I thank you for all the years you waited for me and never complained.

 Riding an e-bike, however, does have some stigma with it, and as a bike rider and Bike Ambassador, it is my duty and obligation to help educate and show others that these amazing bikes have their place in our cycling world. Just think of all the people who can’t or won’t ride due to health reasons. Those who would never commute to work or for errands etc., because it’s just too far or hard. What a journey this has been for me, and it has not been easy because as you all know “if it’s easy. . .it ain’t worth it. . .it won’t last.” I am learning so much every ride on this bike and also how to react when riding with others on road bikes or whatever bike. Approaching another rider and just blowing by without even an acknowledgement is RUDE and WRONG, not to mention not safe. I always slow down, say hi, maybe strike up a chat if it seems right. This way, we are encouraging positive interactions between all riders. We are promoting the life of cycling in all facets, and this is just one part of it. 

My eldest daughter, Kalina, has an e-bike now, and I am so proud of her. She is using her bike for errands and, come spring, will commute to work and back, apparently with some “old guy” on an e-road bike as her commute ambassador. 

Come ride with me. Let’s chat, learn a bit about why I ride, and why I love to encourage others to ride. Let’s grow the cycling world together, one rider at a time.

I thank you for your time.

Gerry Stephenson (retired bike guy with a ‘stache) 

**Our team bike shop is C3 Bike Shop in Golden, CO. We encourage you to visit and support your local bike shop wherever you ride and live!!

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Want to Change Your Commuting Habits? What about a Cargo Bike?

Trying to figure out how to leave your car in the garage more often and spend less time behind the wheel? The answer might just be a cargo bike.

 Cargo bikes have been around since the early 20th century and were originally used by tradesmen to deliver goods before the invention of the automobile. Nowadays, they are extremely popular in Europe and Asia and are used for both recreational and business purposes:  taking kids to school, transporting groceries, family bike rides, and for delivering mail and packages.

 Using cargo bikes can cut down on noise and air pollution. They can be quicker than using cars or delivery vans. Finding parking is also not as difficult in the city. Of course, there is also the health benefit to riding a bike. It is a great way to get in shape!

Despite their practicality, cargo bikes are less frequently used in North America, although they are slowly starting to catch on in the United States.

 UPS, which started in Seattle in 1907 as a bicycle messenger company, announced last year that it would start using electric cargo bicycles to deliver packages in Pike Place Market and downtown Seattle in order to reduce congestion.

Denverite Melissa Colonno is a huge fan of cargo bikes and bought hers in October 2017. While living in Seattle from 2008-2012, Melissa and her husband biked a lot and remember seeing several longtail cargo bikes. Around the time their first child arrived in 2012, Melissa started seeing Madsen (a US brand) “bucket bikes” on social media and immediately wanted one.

As her family grew, Melissa tried out various ways to transport her children.

“When our first child was around one year old, we bought a Yepp bike seat to bike with her around Denver. This worked well. Then, when we were about to have our second child, we bought a Chariot stroller that could also be a bike trailer. We used this frequently to bike with our two kids.”  Melissa has always been intrigued by cargo bikes and once she was pregnant with her third child, she became even more resolved to get one!

When it came time to buy a cargo bike, Melissa and her husband did more research and decided they wanted a tricycle with the cargo box in the front.

She wanted to feel very stable while riding and stopping and wanted to be able to see her kids without having to turn around.
Melissa ordered a Nihola 4.0 with a BionX e-assist from a bike shop in Sacramento, California called from Practical Cycles. They import Niholas from Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Nihola is unique among trikes in that the steering is independent of the cargo, meaning that you do not have to move the weight of the cargo to steer; Melissa adds that is not difficult to ride or steer. It maneuvers very much like a “regular” bike. However, it might not have quite the same speed and maneuverability as an inline (two wheeled) cargo bike. People who are used to high-speed road bikes may prefer an inline cargo bike to a trike. Since her cargo bike has an electric assist, she can go plenty fast if necessary, but usually she goes slower to stay safe and enjoy the ride.

The Nihola 4.0 has two bench seats which easily fit four children. The maximum load of the cargo box is 265 pounds. There are two Y-harnesses and a lap belt. Both benches are removable, so they currently have one bench removed so that their youngest can sit in a car seat for extra support.

Why choose a cargo bike over a trailer? Melissa says that a trailer worked well enough for transporting her kids. However, a cargo bike is far superior in her opinion. The bike is always ready to go since you do not have to deal with hooking the trailer to the bike. In a cargo bike, the kids are closer to the rider, and usually have a better view of the things around them, which makes the riding experience more enjoyable. Also, trailers get very heavy to pull as the weight of your children increases.

Owning a cargo bike has dramatically affected her car use. She is driving significantly less since purchasing her cargo bike. Her goal is to bike anywhere within a three-mile radius unless the roads are too icy, or there is another safety concern. Since Melissa and her family live near downtown Denver, they can get to many things by bike!

Melissa uses her cargo bike regularly to transport her two oldest kids to and from school, but they use it for many other purposes, too! She frequently uses the cargo bike to run errands; it fits all her family’s groceries! She uses the bike anytime they go somewhere that is just a bit too far to walk. If Melissa and her husband are going to the park for a picnic, they will take the cargo bike, so they can transport their food and lawn chairs. Basically, they use it for carrying all kinds of cargo!

She’s often amazed that biking to places does not take that much longer than driving, and you rarely have to worry about parking! Most importantly, biking makes for a much more enjoyable journey.

Generally, people are really excited when they see the cargo bike according to Melissa. They get a lot of stares and some comments; almost always positive. People often say things like “nice set-up!” or “can I get a ride?” Occasionally, people will ask more specifics about where they got it or what the brand is. Melissa tries to “sell” one to everyone who is interested!

In her opinion, so many people would benefit from replacing some of their driving with biking. “Getting outside and being physical has such a positive impact on your quality of life. We live in such a car-centric society, but it hasn’t always been that way and it isn’t in many parts of the world. People sometimes question the safety of my bike set up, but I’m quick to point out that driving is not without risks.”

If you are interested in buying a cargo bike, you should definitely do your research. There are many websites, Facebook groups, and bike shops that can provide advice. Depending on how you plan to use your bike and what type of cargo you want to carry, there are many options from utility bikes to cargo tricycles to electric cargo bikes. New bikes are coming out all the time, so there is definitely a good option for everyone. A cargo bike is a financial investment; but much cheaper than a car!

Melissa Colonno is the author of DELIBERATE.LESS. She provides day-to-day tips on reducing household waste and creating a life that strives to be less hectic. Melissa is passionate about decreasing her family’s waste and environmental footprint by making informed and intentional choices. Melissa holds educational sessions about reducing household waste to individuals, school groups, and professionals.

A Close Call -The Importance of Bike Cameras

“Education and awareness are always the way to go and the results can be most rewarding for all. I hope this helps everyone become better bike ambassadors on the roads, paths and trails.”

Guest Post by Gerry Stephenson – Cyclist, Commuter, and Bike Ambassador

*Gerry uses the Cycliq front and back bike cameras.

Hi, my name is Gerry and I have been cycling since 2001. Presently, I commute to and from work about eight to nine months a year and have been doing so the last four to five years. My route varies from 10-12 miles and includes both road and bike paths. When I ride, I always try to be a safe rider and educate others when it makes sense.

While commuting home on June 29th, 2018, I was riding north on a neighborhood street approaching a T-intersection. It was late afternoon; traffic was very light. I noticed a car and a fire truck preparing to come on the road behind me. The car passed with plenty of room before the intersection and my impending right turn. However, to my surprise, the fire truck driver decided that they had enough room to pass me only to turn right in front of me with clearly not enough space. I had to brake hard to avoid being hit. It should be noted that the fire truck had no flashing lights or sirens on at the time.  

Footage captured from Gerry’s Cycliq bike camera.

I did not attempt to confront the driver or squeeze in to the right of the truck. I did swear and was very upset at this close call. Knowing that I had this entire incident recorded with my Cycliq bike cameras (front and rear mounted cameras), I chose to wait until I got home and review the video and decide what to do. Cooler heads always prevail, and my focus is always on educating others, be it drivers or cyclists, in times like these. After reviewing the video, it was very clear that the fireman was at fault for not allowing me the three-foot rule, and I felt that they did not realize the actual size of the vehicle they were driving.

I emailed the fire department and very politely explained what had happened and included the video of the close call. I never once mentioned that I wanted the driver of the fire truck reprimanded or charged. What I asked for was an apology, and that this video be used to show and teach the department to be mindful of cyclists. Later that evening or possibly the next day, I received an email from the fire department apologizing and promising to add this video footage to their department training. This incident was reported by the liaison to the fire department commander as well.

First response from the fire department’s liaison:

“Hi Gerry,

First let me send you my apologies for the incident with our department, I have notified the Lieutenant and Battalion Chief on duty the day of your incident and the Chief of Staff is aware and corrective actions will be taken.

I will make sure the Chief gets your video and we will be sure to use it as a training piece in our driver/operator program so this never happens again.”

 Second email from the liaison:

“I believe a lesson learned/corrective action is being written, then it will go to the whole Department, then I believe the Fire Chief will send it to you.”

My Email:

“Hi, I truly appreciate your timely response and apology. I try my best to be very viable and obey all the rules of the road while cycling and all I ask in return is that all drivers do the same. So that you know I have a great contact for training in the matters of cycling and traffic laws. Her name is Megan Hottman; she is a lawyer that helps educate everyone on the laws of Colorado. She has done many classes all over the state for law enforcement and the cycling community. If you are interested I can put you in contact with her. Thank you again.”

 A couple of weeks later, I received another email confirming that the fire department had in fact updated their training for the entire department and would be sharing this training with other towns.

“Here is the ‘Lessons Learned’ that was made from your incident. It has been made required training for all crews on our department and was reviewed by all the command staff.”

The following is an excerpt from ‘Lessons Learned’:

Background: In June, a fire truck was responding non-emergent to a commercial fire alarm in a neighboring district. While proceeding northbound on Main, fire truck passed a bicyclist as both were approaching a T intersection. Fire truck Engineer determined that, at the current speed, he could safely pass the bicyclist, and proceeded to do so. The pass and lane change were made into the right turn lane. Upon review of the video provided from the cyclist perspective, it appears that clearance was closer than intended.

Generic Corrective Actions:

1. A general review of the Colorado state laws regarding passing of a cyclist.

§ 42-4-1003. Overtaking a vehicle on the left

1. The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to the limitations, exceptions, and special rules stated in this section and sections 42-4-1004 to 42-4- 1008:

a. The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left of the vehicle at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle

b. The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicyclist proceeding in the same direction shall allow the bicyclist at least a three-foot separation between the right side of the driver's vehicle, including all mirrors or other projections, and the left side of the bicyclist at all times.

c. Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal and shall not increase the speed of the driver's vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

2. Be diligent in making sure that the perspective and safety of the cyclist is given a greater regard.

·      Always be aware of the size of, and space needed for the engine to maneuver.

·      Be sure to maintain constant Situational Awareness (SA) while driving apparatus and avoid becoming complacent about driving responsibilities due to mental focus on the incident the apparatus has been dispatched to.

·      If there is any question as to the safety of a pass, yield to the cyclist, and do not pass.

Note: The name and city of the fire department in this incident have been omitted at their request as well as any public sharing of the video.

How to Plan Your Commute Route: A Guest Post

A guest post by our Bike Ambassadors member, Marieke! 

Route planning tips for bike commuting

Planning your bike commuting route can be challenging. When commuting, you want to get to work or home as fast as possible and you don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of time on a longer detour. Of course, you would like to be safe too. Fortunately, there are different tools and websites available to help you out.

Just like a car route, Google Maps is a great way to start: identify your home and your destination and GO! Make sure to look at the bicycle overlay, which will show green (or brown) lines as bike friendly streets and trails, and use the bike search option, versus the standard car search. Google bike routes are considered in beta version, but the data behind the maps are usually directly fed by municipalities and do give a great first approach of the route to tackle… After a first result, I often check the satellite images for bike lane signs or use streetview to get a lay of the land. It is always good to know if you are on the street, if there is a bike lane, or if you are directed to a poorly-maintained sidewalk that only in name has just been upgraded to bike route. Would you be better off in the street in that case, or should you reroute? Another great way to get an idea where others ride is via Strava heatmaps, which is free and can be accessed without an account. It is fun to see what other riders prefer, and maybe you can optimize your route.

Be aware and prepared, a bike lane or trail can unexpectedly end.

There is a personal touch to each bike route. Not everyone likes or is comfortable riding in the same streets. Some people wish to avoid bike lanes at all cost and are willing to take longer routes to be completely off street on a bike path. Some quirks, like unfriendly intersections, you will only find out by trying your route, which is done best when you are not in a hurry for a 9 am meeting. I usually keep optimizing my routes to be faster and safer for a long time after my first attempt. Bike infrastructure in Colorado keeps improving rapidly, and new bike lanes or trails show up all the time. I also like to ride with colleagues and friends, just to learn new ways. I even have different routes depending on the time of year. In winter, I will partly use a bike trail that is nicely plowed after each storm, has no cars, and is safer and off-street in the dark. In summer, I won't dwindle and go the shortest route, which is unfortunately along a busy highway. A bonus gravel trail along the way makes up for it and is a shortcut and quiet.

If you have the luxury, trails are a wonderful and safe way to commute off street.

Denver, as most other Front Range municipalities, has a network of designated bike trails across town. In Denver these are labelled as D-routes and they are a great way to start plotting your commute. It will be worth to check out what your own city or county has listed as bike trails and routes. Bicycle Colorado has a nice list to get you started for most communities (link below).

A GPS, your smartphone or just a plain old map can be handy to take a peak when you are lost, have an unexpected flat and need the nearest bus stop, etc. And.. rule number one when riding your route for the first few times is to give yourself enough room before your first morning meeting.

Happy pedaling!

Useful websites:

• Google Maps                   www.maps.google.com

• Strava heat maps              https://labs.strava.com/heatmap

• Bicycle Colorado statewide and local bike maps  https://www.bicyclecolorado.org/ride-colorado/colorado-bike-maps/

• Denver bike map            www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/bicycling-in-denver/resources/bike-maps.html

My summer morning commute is unfortunately on the shoulder of a busy highway. It is very scenic and by far the quickest way to work, but I try not to ride here in the dark.

My Bike Trip Around the World: A Guest Blog

My name is Sarah Welle - I live in Longmont, CO and I'm an entrepreneur (I run a gifting company called Colorado Crafted that specializes in Colorado-made products). I'm writing to tell you about the time I spent a year cycling around the world for my honeymoon!

It all started when, in my mid 20s, I got the book Miles from Nowhere as a gift. It's about a couple in the 70s who drops everything and rides their bikes around the world. I had never HEARD of such a thing, but I was completely captivated. Less than a year later, I got married to my longtime boyfriend and somehow convinced him that we should quit our cushy Microsoft jobs, sell everything we owned, and cycle around the world for a year as our unconventional honeymoon. I still can't believe I convinced him it was a good idea, but I did! In 2007 we sold literally everything, packed up our bikes and camping gear, flew to New Zealand, and started cycling. I still remember the feeling of standing in a parking lot right before we left and just dropping my purse into a garbage can because I didn't need it anymore. 

How did you decide where to ride?

We wanted to see SO much of the world. We started off with really ambitious plans, not really having any idea how fast we'd make any progress on our route. We decided to start with New Zealand because we wanted an "easy" country to start in - English speaking, cycle touring is popular there, lots of places to get spare parts in the case of a breakdown, etc. So that's where we started! From there we wanted to check out Southeast Asia, so we booked tickets to Singapore and cycled north through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. After that we didn't really have any concrete plans, but what ended up happening was a big crash in the jungles of Laos, forced skipping of China, and a change of plans that brought us to Eastern Europe where we cycled through Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, etc, etc -- finally ending our trip in Istanbul, Turkey! We'd considered flying to Argentina and riding south but after a year on the road we missed family and friends and were ready to end the big trip.

What was the best part of traveling by bike?

There were SO many things to love. We loved the quiet peacefulness of cycling through the countryside: we could hear birds singing, cows chewing grass, locals chatting and going about their business. It also gave us so many opportunities to meet people and really experience the local culture. When you're resting in the shade and eating a snack you'd be surprised how many kind invitations you get to join people for tea, etc. We were overwhelmed by the general goodness of humanity, which was wonderful. We also loved seeing the landscape slowly change as we cycled across whole countries, and it was a treat to actually see the sunrise and sunset every single day for a whole year.

What was the hardest part?

The reality of being stuck outside in terrible weather, the worst was freezing rain or days & days of windy weather, was much harder in practice than I'd expected. We were also surprised by the difference in our physical abilities; I would feel tired and worn out after far fewer miles than James which caused a few pesky conflicts! ;)

How did you experience the cycling-motorist relationship in different countries? 
This was fascinating to experience - there was a huge range in this relationship. In more third-world countries, where cars are less common, cars and trucks on the road were perfectly accustomed to sharing the road with cyclists (and walkers and mopeds and cows)! We felt very safe cycling in countries like Thailand and Laos. In some Eastern European countries - Serbia stands out in my mind - car owners were unbelievably aggressive and frightening at times. We learned to take back roads as much as possible, as well as avoid riding through major cities, and that did a lot to make day to day cycling more fun.

We kept a blog along the way which is super outdated looking at this point, but the stories are still there! It's at erck.org.  

Two of my favorite blog posts are:

• This roundup, about 6 months into the trip, of our favorite & least favorite things, scariest moments, and our most common arguments: http://blog.erck.org/?p=471
• Looking back on our trip, our top pieces of advice if you're thinking of a similar trip: http://blog.erck.org/?p=782

Dressing for Winter Riding & Commuting in the Dark

Our lovely Bike Ambassadors have been busy writing instructive blogs to help everyone tackle those cold, and sometimes dark, commutes this time of year.  Please click on the links below to read Sue and Laura's tips and tricks! 

DRESSING FOR WINTER RIDING -By Sue 

COMMUTING IN THE DARK - by Laura 

Bike Ambassador Team Blog: Commuting Delivers Daily Joy

Guest Blog post by I-Ling Thompson, Bike Ambassador

More than Miles, Bike Commuting Delivers a Daily Dose of Joy

Just shy of two years ago, we decided to move from the trail mecca of Golden, Colo. (complete with across-the-street trail access) to Denver. While I loved having trail access out my front door, I found climbing in a car to go anywhere exhausting and tough on my carbon consciousness. We found a darling, yet woefully dated bungalow in West Highland that offered a #ridemoredriveless daily lifestyle, shaved my daily commute to 15 minutes by bicycle, and served up plenty of renovation projects to keep us busy.

Our first year was hard – city life was dramatically different than rural Golden. The parking hassles, the noise, pavement everywhere…despite my best intentions to ride everywhere, I found the adjustment to city life difficult and old car habits were hard to break. Add to that my work and travel schedule kept me off the saddle and behind a desk more than ever…the days of carefree riding, simply opening my garage door to roll out on canyon roads or dirt felt foreign and beyond distant.

Interestingly, I found a daily dose of sanity by reaching for my bike to make that 15-minute commute to work. I chose between bikes lanes, bike paths and neighborhoods roads to pedal out the day before and behind me. And despite traveling upwards of three weeks a month, I strapped on my helmet to commute 96 times. The simplicity of grabbing my bike to go to work, dinner or the grocery store is indescribable. My commute became my joy and the system of bike paths around Denver, my new stomping grounds. I finally invested in a cruiser bike, complete with rechargeable lights, a rear wheel lock, fenders, a basket and a grocery getter pannier. The neighborhood was an old friend now, and I knew it’s streets. It wasn’t the foothills of Golden, but it was pretty awesome.

When my second spring rolled around, the quiet streets of West Highland blossomed into an entirely new neighborhood. My morning commutes were fragrant with spring flowers, and train of commuters on my route home brought familiar comfort when my days ran into darkness. I was now going days without moving my car. I added Lyft, walking and begging rides from hubby to my commute mix.

Even bigger this year, my hubby and I took our first cycling vacation. Rather than rent a car, we explored Norway by bike for eight days. The experience of riding our bikes in a foreign country, along quiet roads and boarding ferries to cross a fjord was indescribable. Sitting in a fruit stand to have lunch before pedaling to the next town...pure joy.  

I also found peace with merging my professional job + commuting. I don’t have a shower at work, so the struggle with hair + sweat management + outfit selection is real. I embraced the side ponytail to make my new post-helmet hair manageable and slowed my pace to avoid glistening. I tested my “professional” wardrobe and found that most everything was bike-friendliness for the time/distance required for my commute.  Despite my crazy travel schedule, I managed 92 commutes and 331 rather stylish miles by bike, if I do say so!  

If 2017 taught me anything, it’s that a commuter mindset happens in small, every day actions, not just the bold ones. I'm so grateful for my commuter team..this team is comprised of women from all backgrounds...medical, executives, lawyers, nonprofit leaders, small business owners and mathematicians. Despite their full schedules, these ladies stay committed to the bike commuter lifestyles they want to lead and remind me of the possibilities, joy and experiences to be had by bike. It would be very hard to trade in this lifestyle, given the freedom and hours of car-free life I’ve taken back. 

So here's to 2018! I'm ready for the adventures you have in store!