Dan - Globe Experience

Bookmobile

2010-01-31T02:09:00.000-08:00

Maybe one of these days I'll come across a pedal-powered bookmobile.

Public Art

2010-01-25T09:24:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite activities in the San Francisco is to explore by bicycle the variety of public art. This "natural" piece is located in Hayes Valley.

Reflection

2010-01-23T10:18:00.000-08:00

I was riding along the waterfront near the Bay Bridge and noticed my reflection against a building window.

MLK Jr. Day

2010-01-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

It's been raining on and off during the past week in San Francisco so I haven't been riding as much I usually do.

But today, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I found time to participate in a Tour de MLK Jr. with a few stops during rain breaks.

Pavement to Parks

2010-01-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

I joined a few friends on a short bike ride to see one of San Francisco's "Pavement to Parks."

This is an innovative program to transform underutilized space - sometimes roads that aren't critical to the city's transportation network - into public gathering spaces.

This is the Showplace Triangle located near an art college. During the day, it's a gathering spot for students and popular for lunch breaks.

This space used to be a road and a car parking lot - and now it's a gathering spot for pedestrians and bicyclists.

One of the goals of "Pavement to Parks" is to transform these public spaces with simple changes that don't require much money.

Labor March

2010-01-08T23:34:00.000-08:00

The Globe Live 3 makes its debut capturing footage of the recent high-turnout labor march for hotel workers in San Francisco.

Union Rally

2010-01-05T23:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I participated in a protest march with UniteHere! Local 2 hotel union employees who are fighting for fare wages and benefits.

I biked along with the march of thousands of hotel workers and their allies, plus hundreds of police officers.

Along Ocean

2010-01-04T23:27:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I took a bike ride with friends along Ocean Beach. I captured parts of the ride on the dedicated bike paths along and near the beach.

Ocean View

2010-01-03T23:22:00.000-08:00

The first weekend in 2010 brought incredibly clear skies weather. That basically means a bike ride to Ocean Beach, which is about a 20 minute bike ride from my place.

The "One Less Car" tube top continues to get lots of attention from strangers who appreciate the simple message.

BYOBW

2010-01-02T23:34:00.000-08:00

Another fun San Francisco tradition is the Bring Your Own Big Wheel (BYOBW) event that takes place on Easter Sunday. Next year will be the 10th anniversary.

BYOBW used to be held on the famous crooked Lombard Street in San Francisco.

But enough neighbors complained so for the past few years BYOBW has been held on the less famous crooked Vermont Street in Potrero Hill.

It's wonderful to see all the participants dressed up in the spirit of utter lunacy and fun.

You can search BYOBW or the full name of the event to find all kinds of crazy YouTube videos.

Smores Bicycle

2010-01-01T23:23:00.000-08:00

My friend David G. has this amazing bicycle to make smores.

You can view other photos of his unique bike here.

It's an amazing treat to share with strangers, who clearly don't expect to be roasting marshmellows from a bicycle.

Photo credit: David G. from his camera phone.

NYE Ride

2009-12-31T23:31:00.000-08:00

This is our second annual New Year's Eve bike ride. It's a mobile bike music party through the streets of San Francisco.

Best way to celebrate NYE: on a bike with friends and music.

One More Rack

2009-12-30T20:35:00.000-08:00

One less car. One more bike rack.

Bike Rack

2009-12-29T00:16:00.000-08:00

Nice to see some bike racks that match the elegance of the Globe Live 3.

Christmas Day Ride

2009-12-28T11:53:00.000-08:00

I love social bike rides on holidays because the streets tend to be quieter and saner - and most people are in good spirits.

And wearing a Santa outfit while riding my bicycle is perfectly normal. Sort of.

Holiday Essentials

2009-12-27T00:08:00.000-08:00

Essential items for the holiday season in my front bike basket: Santa hat, bell, mug, iPod mount, and speaker computer bag.

Santa Claus

2009-12-26T03:16:00.000-08:00

Last year we started a tradition of a Christmas Day bike ride.

We had amazingly warm and clear weather this year thanks to Santa Claus.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T07:33:00.000-08:00

I edited this video from clips I captured of the annual Holiday Lights Bike Ride organized by volunteers associated with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

The music is "Jingle Jane" and "Imagine Santa" from the first A Very Bootie Christmas.

Holiday Lights

2009-12-24T11:26:00.000-08:00

About 100+ riders enjoyed a night ride to check out holiday light displays in the city.

It drizzled during the first 30 minutes, but then the rest of the night was spectacular.

The rain on my camera lens, plus the lights, distorted the below photo. It looks like luminescent snowballs are surrounding my Glove Live 3.

Car Battery Charger

2009-12-23T23:22:00.000-08:00

Today I transported a car battery charger back to Kragen Auto Parts by bicycle.

Yes I fully recognize the irony.

Bike Angel

2009-12-22T23:56:00.000-08:00

It's obvious to me that this stoic angel would be much happier if he was riding a Globe bicycle.

Marin Headlands

2009-12-21T23:42:00.000-08:00

This is the view of the Marin Headlands and Pacific Ocean from the Presidio. It's one of the best rides within San Francisco on a beautiful clear day.

Globe Nativity

2009-12-20T23:37:00.001-08:00

I think my Globe Live 3 fits perfectly in this nativity scene.

Ocean Beach

2009-12-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

I love riding to Ocean Beach.

It's a 20 minute bike ride from my place through Golden Gate Park to the ocean.

On warmer days, people stake out spots on the beach for evening campfires.

My friend Lilia took this photo on one of my many rides. My Globe Live 3 works fine in relatively hilly San Francisco.

Efficient Parking

2009-12-18T19:07:00.000-08:00

I dream for secure and efficient bicycle parking like this in San Francisco, especially near our transit centers.

Kickstand

2009-12-17T23:55:00.000-08:00

One of the features of my Globe Live 3 that people always comment on is the double-legged kickstand.

It raises the back wheel higher than most other double kickstands that I have seen.

It almost makes the bike look like it's meant to be noticed with such a high stationary position. And people certainly do notice the bike.

Tour de France

2009-12-16T23:40:00.000-08:00

For anyone who has ever watched the Tour de France, this is one of the funniest videos ever.

Night Ride

2009-12-15T23:38:00.000-08:00

I've been taking a lot of videos of just regular bicycling in San Francisco to give people a flavor of how and where I ride.

I love riding home late at night. It's a quieter time on the roads with the city lights and shadows creating wonderful impressions.

The bike "sharrows" on Page Street signify that this is a designated bike route and encourages people to share the lane.

Tube Sleeve

2009-12-14T23:33:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite new bike accessories is the Top Tube Sleeves by Rickshaw Bags with the message "One Less Car" emblazoned on both sides.

I think the yellow, which color matches with my messenger bag by the same company, looks pretty good contrasted with the blue Globe Live 3.

Food Delivery

2009-12-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

For the 4th Annual Supermarket Street Sweep, 198 racers brought in 7,507 lbs. of food for the San Francisco Food Bank.

The overall winner was my friend Jeremiah Ducate, who pedaled in 962 lbs after stopping at 5 different supermarket checkpoints.

I accompanied him for most of his journey and filmed his progress.

Whoa

2009-12-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

Apparently, some of my friends are in awe over the Globe Live 3.

Museum Bicycle

2009-12-11T23:35:00.000-08:00

I love taking my Globe Live 3 to visit museums in the city.

FunCycle in the City

2009-12-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

Last spring we rolled out the FunCycle with music system to explore the streets on San Francico on our way to the car-free Healthy Saturdays kick-off in Golden Gate Park.

People aren't used to seeing a 7-person bicycle on the streets, especially one that is powering the sounds of Tina Turner or Michael Jackson.

So it's always fun to see the reactions from people and the street dancing that inevitably happens when people hear a familiar song.

The FunCycle sits in my garage on extended loan from my friends at Bike and Roll. All my friends think it's hysterical that my prime garage spot in the heart of San Francisco is occupied by a 7-person bicycle instead of a car.

I actually lock my Globe Live 3 to the FunCycle in my garage so it serves as a bike rack too.

Where The Wild Globes Are

2009-12-09T23:02:00.000-08:00

My Globe Live 3 is where the wild things are.

Christmas Trees

2009-12-08T23:09:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year.

But thankfully I live in a region where I can bike year-round, even when the holiday season is upon us.

Golden Gate Bridge

2009-12-07T23:10:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what it feels like to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge?

I rode the Glove Live 3 across the bridge from San Francisco to Marin and back.

It was an amazing day. It's usually quite windy on the bridge, as you can hear in the video.

In fact, the headwind is very powerful at times. The wind was so loud that it almost drowned out the music blasting from the sound system sitting in my front basket.

Biking across the Golden Gate Bridge is a very popular tourist activity, but more challenging than most people expect because of the wind.

The west side of the bridge is exclusively for bicyclists, but it can be crazy with the mix of seasoned recreational cyclists speeding fast across the bridge mixed with tourists - many of whom ride like they haven't been on a bicycle in 20 years.

On this day, I witnessed an amazing sunset riding back to San Francisco across the bridge. You can also see the San Francisco skyline afar.

Glide Bike

2009-12-06T23:58:00.000-08:00

A quick stop at Glide Memorial Church in the Tenderloin on my Globe Live 3.

Bike Box

2009-12-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken by my friend Brian G., the editor of Streetsblog San Francisco.

He took this photo to capture the newly painted green "bike box" on Scott Street a few blocks from where I live.

Notice the front damaged fender in my basket. The photo was taken just before I went to Mike's Bikes to fix my fender.

These bike boxes are wonderful because it creates a space where bicyclists can move up to the front when the intersection light is red.

Bike Zone

2009-12-04T00:28:00.000-08:00

Market Street in San Francisco is undergoing a car road diet.

Over the past month, the City has limited private auto traffic to create a more friendly environment for pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit riders.

New colored pavement signals to people to respectfully share the road. This "sharrow" shared lane marking started in San Francisco.

Union Square

2009-12-03T01:23:00.000-08:00

Union Square is one of the major busy commercial centers in San Francisco. The holiday tree is displayed in Union Square after Thanksgiving.

Whenever I bicycle in the area between Union Square and downtown, I'm extra defensive because it's sensory overload with so many pedestrians, cars, tourists, taxi cabs, and delivery vehicles.

Inspiration Point

2009-12-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

This is the approach to Inspiration Point in San Francisco's Presidio with views of the Bay, Alcatraz, Palace of the Fine Arts, and Angel Island in the background.

We rode through the Presidio to get to the Palace of the Fine Arts, which is the far-away domed structure in the background of the video and top photo.

And below is the close-up shot of the lovely Palace of the Fine Arts.

Globe Yoda

2009-12-01T00:16:00.000-08:00

We cycled to pay homage to the wise one at Lucasfilms's digital arts center.

Yoda said to my bicycle: “Do or do not... there is no try.”

And then Yoda said: “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is."

And as we departed on our bicycles, Yoda said: "“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.”

Fender Bender

2009-11-30T00:13:00.000-08:00

Yes that's my damaged front fender of my Globe Live 3. I've been riding my new bicycle everyday.

Unfortunately, I was riding through the Presidio on Saturday when I ran over a tree branch on the ground.

The tree branch got stuck under my fender and completely bent the aluminum fender and warped the fender attachment (the wire to the left of the blue fender).

I've never had a bicycle with fenders so I didn't think about a tree branch getting stuck under my fender and essentially destroying it.

Now my bike has one less fender so I hope I can order a new one soon.

Consider this a warning: if your bicycle has a fender, watch out for tree branches!

Sundown

2009-11-29T00:29:00.000-08:00

I'm quickly discovering the limits to my Globe Live 3. It's not a beach cruiser so I didn't make much progress riding in the soft sand. But that doesn't mean we can't admire a beautiful winter sunset over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Along The Bay

2009-11-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

My computer bag is a brown Fi-Hi stereo bag with built-in 3-watt speakers and amplifier.

The bag perfectly sits in the front basket of my Globe Live 3 to connect to the iPod on my handlebars.

Unlike my other speaker systems, this doesn't require me to carry any additional equipment since the system is built into the bag. The sound doesn't project too loud, but it's fine for riding on my own or with a few other people.

While enjoying the late afternoon light on a dock in the Bay, I couldn't resist playing a setting-appropriate song. One man I rode by complimented me on my "perfect song for the occasion."

I'm pedaling on the dock back towards AT&T Ballpark, the home of the San Francisco Giants. Then I turn right along the marina to enjoy the outdoor sculptures along the waterfront.

Globe Dream

2009-11-27T00:28:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed that we haven't reached the mountaintop until more people ride bicycles.

Okay, not really, but The Martin Luther King Memorial at Yerba Buena Gardens is a lovely spot in the midst of a bustling part of San Francisco.

"No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. - Martin Luther King Jr.

Bike to Ice Skate

2009-11-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

The best months to visit San Francisco are September and October. These are typically the warmest "summer" months of the year even though it's fall.

"Summer" has extended into November since we've had incredibly warm weather over the past few days.

I biked to the Ferry Building, noted by the clock tower, and caught some families enjoying the outdoor ice skating rink.

It's funny to bike in a short-sleeved shirt and watch people ice skating under warm skies at the end of November.

Doe a Deer

2009-11-25T23:37:00.000-08:00

I parked my Globe Live 3 on Market Street to take a closer look at the new public art along the city's signature corridor.

Deer and bicycles make good bedfellows.

Working Hard & Being Lazy

2009-11-24T00:23:00.000-08:00

These are the new Globe bicycles that will be unveiled in 2010. Okay, not really.

My friends Brian and Michelle have to work hard to ride these small bicycles at the Tour de Fat.

In contrast, I perfected the fine art of laziness on this comfortable reclining bicycle.

SF Bike Expo

2009-11-23T11:05:00.001-08:00

On Saturday I took my Globe Live 3 to the SF Bike Expo.

The SF Bike Expo is almost everything you can possible imagine under the bike sun: part-swap meet with people selling used and refurbished parts and bicycles and part-expo with vendors selling the latest bicycles and accessories.

The route to Cow Palace is not the most bicycle-friendly with relatively fast-moving cars, but we had a group so we took the entire lane during most of the ride and became a relatively fast-moving, visible, music-grooving mass of bicyclists.

The bike ride was made even more fun since I was playing music from my sound system that was sitting in my Globe front basket. The music in the video was not edited into the video, but was actually projecting from the sound system hidden underneath my yellow Rickshaw messenger bag.

Before the bike ride to the SF Bike Expo, I stopped in Dolores Park to catch up with my friend Cindy W.

When we arrived at SF Bike Expo, we were greeted by smiling, friendly volunteers. Why wouldn't you be happy to be at the expo if you're a bicycle lover?

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition provides free, secure bike valet. In fact, I love that San Francisco requires that any event that leads to significant street closure or anticipates greater than 2,000 person attendance must provide secure bike parking within a one block radius from the entrance.

I never have to worry about anyone stealing my bicycle when I go to a major outdoor event in San Francisco when bike valet is available. Notice my Globe bike with distinct orange-colored helmet parked in the corner in a sea of new friends.

Last Night A DJ Saved My Bike

2009-11-22T00:02:00.000-08:00

I love to provide music for group rides.

One of the benefits of having a front basket is the ability to carry a portable sound system that can easily connect to an iPod.

My friend Mike S. built this portable sound system out of PVC pipe, cooking pot lid, amplifier, speakers, and rechargeable batteries.

As you can tell by the video, I can turn up the volume fairly high. And below are photos of the sound system.

Introducing...the Globe Live 3

2009-11-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

I just picked up my Globe Live 3 from Mike's Bikes.

It was great to see the other Live models in the store. I didn't notice any Hauls displayed but that's because one of the bike shop employees said the Haul already sold.

I think these Globe bicycles will sell quickly.

Below are initial photos of the bicycle. Notice I've already attached my Felt drink holder, my iPod bicycle mount, and my favorite "I ♥ My Bike" bell.

Low Rider & Big Wheel

2009-11-20T11:54:00.000-08:00

My friend Celia tries the low rider at the Tour de Fat, while Cindy tries the big wheel that's perfectly sized for her.

Tour de Fat

2009-11-19T00:03:00.000-08:00

One of the many wonderful benefits of living in San Francisco is that it's one of the cities that New Belgium's Tour de Fat visits.

Every year the Tour de Fat organizers bring many wonderful bicycles for participants to try out. Riding these crazy bicycles, like the shoe wheel bicycle or the many-wheels bicycle, is one of the highlights of Tour de Fat.

I love the Ten Commandments of the Tour de Fat, especially the first two commandments:

"1. Put no means of transport before thy bike: Come by bike because not only are bikes fun, but they help stave off some of our most wicked ills: Traffic, laziness, and pollution. Tour de Fat has a solution: ride this day, every day, and definitely when Tour de Fat heads your way.

2. Honor all other bikes: All bikes are good bikes, and all those who ride them are good people. This is the one Bike Festival that cherishes bicycle diversity on our Cruise-ade through town."

SF Tweed

2009-11-18T13:07:00.000-08:00

This is my friend and bike advocate Janel, who is dressed tweed-style for a film featuring her performance group The Bay Area Derailleurs.

She usually doesn't wear a fake mustache.

San Francisco Tweed is an increasingly popular bike ride for those who prefer a more casual, sophisticated, and well-mannered ride through the city.

Bike Talk

2009-11-17T23:46:00.000-08:00

Overheard: "I'd like to order two Triassic era pizzas with some extra breadsticks."

Stardust

2009-11-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

My Globe bike has supposedly been shipped.

Until I receive my Globe bike, I'll continue to regularly post photos of some of my favorite pedal-powered vehicles that I've seen in San Francisco, at Burning Man, or wherever my travels have taken me.

Here is the Stardust tricycle making a stop at the base of "The Man" at Burning Man.

PARKcycle

2009-11-15T01:23:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite pedal-powered vehicles is the PARKcycle built by the amazingly talented and creative innovators REBAR.

I took the following photos during this year's PARK(ing) Day.

Umbrella

2009-11-14T00:38:00.000-08:00

Apparently, this bicyclist read a different weather report than everyone else.

Or perhaps he is Rihanna's #1 fan on a bicycle.

Non-Human Bicyclists

2009-11-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

Contrary to scientific evidence, dinosaurs are alive and well. They continue to ride bicycles to forage for food.

Squirrels are amazing multi-taskers. They can eat and ride a bicycle at the same time.

It's a Bug's Life on a Bicycle.

In-N-Out Bicycle

2009-11-12T00:40:00.000-08:00

In-N-Out Burger has never looked so healthy than on this bicycle. Notice the spatula in one hand too.

Bicycling Against Oil Wars

2009-11-11T00:51:00.000-08:00

Many bicycles made an appearance at Dias de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead festival.

Even the "dead" bicycle against oil wars. Click on the photo to see a larger photo image.

I don't know what kind of verbal exchange is taking place in the photo, but it looks like the pedestrian is yelling at the bicyclist that "you f$@#ing ran over my dead foot!"

Burning Man

2009-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

This is my pink beach cruiser that I take to Burning Man every year.

For one week each year, the desert in Nevada becomes the temporary home to over 45,000 inhabitants.

One of my favorites aspects of Burning Man is that pedal-power is the primary mode of transportation in Black Rock City, the name of the town that springs up every year in the Nevada desert.

If you ever wonder what it would be like to live in a city where 80% of inhabitants ride bicycles, Black Rock City during the week before Labor Day is the answer.

I love that Burning Man specifically emphasizes: "Crummy is Cool. Do NOT bring a 'good' bike to the event. Dig: the desert will reduce a valuable bike to a rust bucket posthaste."

Bike parking and riding dominate the Burning Man desert landscape:

Make Way For The Dead

2009-11-09T10:02:00.000-08:00

Nov. 2 is Dia de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead.

Dia de los Muertos is "a traditional Meso-American holiday dedicated to the ancestors; it honors both death and the cycle of life."

The festival is huge in San Francisco. Even bicycles play a role in honoring the dead.

I caught this pedal-powered carriage making its way along the 24th Street corridor in the Mission district.

The carriage pulled by bicycles.

The back of the carriage has a sign that reads "The End."

People write the names of the deceased they wish to honor on hanging paper.

Candlelit altars on porches and staircases in front of homes.

Halloween FunCycle

2009-11-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

We call the conference bike the FunCycle because it's definitely more fun than a conference.

My friends at Bike and Roll allow me to use the 7-person bicycle for community and bike-related events. It sits in my garage.

I took the FunCycle out to our car-free Halloween neighborhood block party.

Put a 7-person bicycle with music, disco ball, and lights on a car-free stretch of road and watch the joy literally spill out onto the streets.

Folding Bicycle

2009-11-07T00:05:00.000-08:00

This is my old crappy folding bicycle that I bought off of Craigslist for $50.

This was my primary everyday bicycle for about two years until it started breaking down too often.

I even took the bicycle to two bike repair shops and both of them told me the same thing: the cost and time to fix it was not worth the trouble and expense.

When functioning, it's a great bicycle, however, for indoor bike races in the office.

Halloween Critical Mass

2009-11-06T06:02:00.000-08:00

My friend Sunny covered last week's Halloween Critical Mass in San Francisco.

The video features short snippets from me and my friends Beth and Sacha.

You will even see me riding away with Sacha dressed as a mermaid along with a big orange inflatable fish attached to the back of my bike.

This year's Halloween ride was the largest Critical Mass I've seen with likely over 3,000 bicyclists, many in costume, enjoying a warm Oct. 31 evening.

Critical Mass began in San Francisco and has been replicated all over the world.

One More Bike

2009-11-05T00:02:00.000-08:00

Isabella wears the best t-shirt.

Pure Joy

2009-11-04T00:45:00.000-08:00

Most of the Globers blogging about their bicycling experiences are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new bikes.

This video of my neice Lilian receiving her first red tricycle for her birthday is a blissful reminder that the bicycle is about joy, and to a certain extent, a sense of wonder and childhood freedom.

I love the joyful surprise in Lilian's voice: "Oh, it's bike. It's tricycle. It's pretty. It's pretty to ride it inside. Can I ride it?"

And of course, a bicycle is not complete without the lovely sound of a bell.

Vote By Bicycle

2009-11-03T18:22:00.000-08:00

You can vote by mail. Or drive or walk to your polling place.

But I chose to vote by bicycle today on election day.

My Bicycles

2009-11-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

I have a fleet of bicycles.

The Globe Live 3, which hasn't been shipped to me yet, will be my everyday bicycle.

To some, it may seem excessive to have more than one or a few bicycles.

But to me each bicycle has its purpose for my active lifestyle.

Xtracycle: The above photo is me on my Xtracycle taking my friend Cindy on a musical bike ride with my sound system. This bicycle opened up a world of possibilities for transporting cargo and people. The FreeRadical extension is compatible to most bicycles with 26" wheels. I use my Xtracycle for mobile DJ bike rides, to carry friends who might not have a bicycle or don't know how to ride, to pick up pizza boxes for a party, or bring a sound system for a political rally.

Folding bike: I have an old folding bike I bought on Craigslist for $50 that is beyond its shelf life but sometimes I manage to breathe life into it. I take this bike out to meet non-biking friends but might want the option to throw the bike into a car trunk if I want to join the group to the next stop on our social calendar.

Specialized Allez road bike: I only started long-distance recreational cycling a few years ago, primarily for long rides across the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin. My brother's friend Andy builds bikes and loaned me his old bicycle. He told me to keep the Allez road bike as long as I keep riding. Well, I've kept riding, including my first 545-mile AIDS/Lifecycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles this summer. The below photo is me with big smile on my last day near Malibu on the AIDS/Lifecycle ride.

Pink Cruiser: This single speed beach cruiser gets mileage for one week during the year in the desert of Black Rock City for the annual Burning Man. I bought the cruiser at a police department-organized unclaimed bicycles auction many years ago for for $25.

Mountain Bike: I have a mountain bike that I bought on Craigslist for $100 for casual off-road rides.

FunCycle: I don't own this 7-person wonder. It sits in my garage on "extended loan" from my friends at bicycle rental company Bike and Roll to support community building and bicycling-related events throughout the city.

That's a lot of wheels, huh?

Those are my bicycles - for everyday transportation, for carrying people and cargo, for long-distance rides, for off-road rides, for joy rides with six friends or strangers I might meet during my rides around the city.

I Love Bicycles

2009-11-02T13:30:00.000-08:00

It's a love affair that became intensely integrated into my way of life when I moved to San Francisco and deeply immersed myself into the community and politics of bicycling in the city.

During the past few years I've come to realize the essential function the bicycle has played in my life.

While growing up in bicycle-friendly college town of Chico, California, my first jobs in late elementary school and early junior high school were my bike newspaper routes.

I grew up learning to appreciate the outdoors thanks to many days exploring the beautiful trails and paved roads of Bidwell Park. And I regularly biked to public schools and continued to bike through college and graduate school.

I didn't own a car until 1999, which I barely drive now except for out of town travel. The bicycle is my primary mode of everyday transportation now.

Since moving to San Francisco, I've transitioned from casual, recreational bicyclist to full-fledged bicycle advocate - an advocate encouraging my friends to rediscover bicycling for transportation and/or recreation, an advocate to make bicycling an integral part of San Francisco's transportation network and livable city movement, and an advocate for using the bicycle as a way to build community.

To learn more about me and what motivates my passion for bicycing, read this profile written by my friend Michael, who runs the informative neighborhood BIKE NOPA blog about my amazing neighborhood in San Francisco.