Poetry in Motion

Thick warm air through which
I glide like fingers pulled through
A slow flow of water.

Vittoria Randonneur Cross Tires are the way to go

The Vittoria Randonneur Cross tires are the best rubber I have ever put on my rims. Hands down, no contest. I purchased these commuter tires almost a two months ago and have ridden nearly 700 miles on them.

To date, my Randonneur Cross tires remain unscathed.

Vittoria uses what they call a “Double Shielding” system in this series of tire. The first layer of the system is “a specially engineered hard rubber” that is designed to resist “most sharp objects”. I cannot explain the chemical composition of this rubber and what makes it different, but I can tell you this: the tread of these tires looked and even smelled different than other tires from the moment I picked them up. They had an almost plastic sheen to them. I can tell you that there is a noticeable difference in the rubber in terms of both appearance and – more importantly – performance.

The second layer of the “Double Shielding” is a strip of nylon fabric that lives on under the tread. Its purpose is to prevent really sharp objects and really small objects from penetrating the tire and puncturing tube. The outer rubber of the my Randonneurs remain unscathed, so I do not yet have any first hand experience with how well the nylon works. However, given the overall performance of the tires, I have no reason to question it.

My previous tires (the Vittoria Adventure) did a fine job for the five months I was rolling on them, but the damage from road debris was evident from the beginning. The double layer of rubber this style of tire uses for protection seems intended to absorb damage rather than repel it. After a commute, I could easily spend 10 minutes scanning the tires and picking out the gravel, goatheads, and glass that were embedded in the rubber. I had glass puncture all the way through the Adventures on at least one occasion.

In dramatic contrast, my Vittoria Randonneur Cross tires have remained pristine. I ride the same route and the streets continue to collect the same clutter of debris. What’s more, as we dry out for the summer here in Albuquerque, the goatheads are just getting worse. These tires have handled these conditions wonderfully.

The Vittoria Randonneur Cross is available in two styles: 26 x 1.75 and 700 x 28. They weigh in at 590 grams and 500 grams, respectively. The pressure rating is 60 to 70 psi. Cost is about $28 per tire.

These tires are simply phenomenal. If you commute on a regular basis along the hard asphalt pathways of our Southwestern urban environment, the Vittoria Randonneur Cross is the way to go.

The Bike Commuter Act of 2007: Senator Bingaman Writes Back

Senator Jeff Bingaman is the first to respond to the emails I wrote regarding the Bike Commuter Act of 2007. Here’s what he had to say:

“Dear Mr. Kelly,

Thank you for contacting me regarding S. 858, the Bicycle Commuters Benefit Act of 2007. I appreciate your taking the time to write. As you know, this bill was introduced by Senator Ron Wyden on March 13, 2006, and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. I agree that we should encourage alternative modes of transportation other than automobiles. As a member of the Finance Committee, please be assured I will keep your comments in mind should this bill come up for consideration. Again, thank you for writing. I hope you will continue to keep me informed of issues of importance to you and your community.

Sincerely,
JEFF BINGAMAN
United States Senator”

Thank you, Senator Bingaman, for taking the time to respond. It is greatly appreciated.

Has anyone else heard back from their Congressional reps? If so, post the response so we can all read it.

The Senator points out that the Senate version of the Bike Commuter Act has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee for approval; this is the first hurdle the bill must clear if we want to see the tax code changed. Senator Bingaman is a member of the Finance Committee, so his general support of this measure is noteworthy and critically important.

For those of us living in New Mexico, Senator Bingaman is the guy. Get your fingers typing or your pen scribbling! Let the Senator know there are plenty of reasons (you, me, and every other person in the state) for him to support the Bike Commuter Act of 2007.

For those of you not from New Mexico, here is a list of other Senators on the Finance Committee arranged by party and state. Just like Senator Bingaman, these folks are the key to clearing the first hurdle. If one of them is your Senator, voice, type or scribble your support for the Bike Commuter Act today!

Democrats
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR
KEN SALAZAR, CO
JOHN F. KERRY, MA
DEBBIE STABENOW, MI
MAX BAUCUS, MT
KENT CONRAD, ND
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, NY
RON WYDEN, OR
MARIA CANTWELL, WA
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV

Republicans
JON KYL, AZ
CHARLES GRASSLEY, IA
MIKE CRAPO, ID
PAT ROBERTS, KS
JIM BUNNING, KY
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
TRENT LOTT, MS
GORDON SMITH, OR
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
CRAIG THOMAS, WY

Silver Ave. Bike Boulevard

BikeABQ is taking the initiative to transform Silver Ave. into a bike boulevard between University and Carlisle Aves.

What does that mean?

Bike boulevards are best defined as “bike priority streets”. Both bicycles and cars continue to the share the asphalt, but specific measures are taken so that motorists expect to see cyclists using the roadway and travel at speeds similar to a bicycle. Both Portland and Berkeley have developed bike boulevards that are successful for the entire community; check out the videos linked below.

For Silver Ave. the change to a bike boulevard would include:

1. a speed limit of 18 mph
   
2. street signage designating the road as a bike boulevard (including giant street stencils)
3. traffic calming features such as speed humps, traffic circles, diverters and chokers
   
4. unimpeded flow on Silver Ave. by removing the stop signs, while requiring cross traffic to stop before continuing (at Girard, for example)

The above photo is an artist rendition of what Silver Ave. could look like after the first phase of the project (photo borrowed from the BikeABQ web site).

The benefits of this development to the bike commuter are immediately obvious. But what about the rest of the community? Folks familiar with the bike boulevards in Portland report these bigger-picture benefits as well:

1. the road becomes nicer for pedestrians and neighborhood residents (because of the reduced traffic and speeds)
   
2. the road becomes safer for motorists (because they are expecting the cyclists)
3. automobile traffic in the area is reduced (because more folks feel safer commuting by bike)
4. property values around the bike boulevards rise

BikeABQ is focusing its efforts on Silver Ave. because the road is already used by countless university-area cyclists as an alternative to the immensely busy and potentially dangerous Central Ave. BikeABQ will be working with area neighborhood associations, merchants and the City Council to make this plan a reality.

OnLine Petition
BikeABQ also has an online petition to gather support for the Silver Ave. Bike Boulevard. Sign it today!

Videos
Check out a couple of videos about the bike boulevards in Portland and the bike boulevards in Berkeley.

Community
Also, check out the comments at the end of the Duke City Fix article about the Silver Ave. proposal to see what other people in our community think about the bike boulevard plans.

Maintenance: The Curse of the Singing Chain

This is not a Scooby Doo episode from your childhood.

I’m talking about what happens when bike commuters don’t wash and lube their bicycles on a regular basis. It’s that metallic, droning squeal that pulses with each pedal stroke. It’s a sure sign that your ride is in need of a good bath and lube.

It’s a sure sign that you’re doing damage to your bike.

Friction is the greatest enemy of moving parts, and a bicycle is just a giant collection of such parts. Your chain sings when it is dirty and dry, and this actually causes damage to the chain and cogs. Friction also reduces the efficiency of power transfer from your legs to the bike’s drive train; it just makes pedaling harder. A dirty and damaged chain will also slip and, combined with a dirty and damaged set of cogs, will prevent smooth shifting between gears. Again, this makes your commuting life much harder.

Here’s three tips to keep things running smoothly:

Bathe and Lube on a regular basis: Cleaning and lubing your bike on a regular schedule is a great habit to develop. The schedule you should follow all depends on the amount you ride and the conditions your encounter. I ride 100 miles week at a fairly fast pace and the conditions here in Albuquerque are dry and sandy for the most part. Here’s the schedule I follow:

• Clean and lube my bike once a week.
• Lube the chain 1 time mid week.

Know your bike: Pay attention to your bicycle when you’re riding. How does it feel when you shift? How does it sound when you pedal? If something seems off or you notice a change in the performance of your ride, look things over. In fact, always give your bike a good look over at least once a week to get familiar with it and see what’s happening. Things to look for:

• A chain that is black and full of grit.
  
• Tight links on the chain. That is, they seem to stick together and bend awkwardly when moving through the rear derailleur.
  
• Cogs that are dirty and full of grit.
  
• Worn or broken teeth on the cogs.
  
• Derailleurs that don’t move smoothly when shifting.
  
• Cables (both shifting and brake cables) that don’t slide smoothly through their housings.
  

Wipe your chain one more time: After you lube your chain, wipe it down with a clean cloth. Then wipe it down again. And one more time. Extra lube on the chain just collects dirt and grime. This is just as bad as a dry chain. Your chain should be almost dry to the touch with just a slight feel of lubricant.

A How-To Video
The how-to of cleaning and lubing your bike is a whole other topic and post. If you're jonesing for some real instruction right now, check out this great video below. It nails all the important info, shows the equipment to get and the technique to use. Enjoy.