On the heels of Josh King’s gear recommendations for Urban Bad Weather Commuting, I found more recommendations for winter cycling equipment and a review of the best bicycle tires for wet or snowy conditions–both on Yahoo! Sports, of all places. (I confess, Yahoo!, I underestimated you.) The California Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a four-week…
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Commute by Bike
The folks here at UtilityCycling.org are very excited to announce our recent partnership with Commute by Bike. If you don’t already follow Commute by Bike, it is a blog and resource dedicated to providing tips, advice, reviews, and other great information for bike commuting. Commute by Bike focuses entirely on bicycle transportation, and it contains…
Three Mobile Apps That Cyclists Need To Know About
When you head out cycling you usually take a few of the essentials with you. Pump, tire levers, spare inner tube, keys, and mobile phone. The final one can double up to offer a ton of useful functionality. Here are three apps that may be of use. 1/ Bike Doctor [Disclosure: This is my app!]…
Urban Trails and Bike Paths, Safe Alternatives or Hidden Perils?
For many utility (and recreational) cyclists, urban trails and paved bike paths are a welcome alternative to riding and commuting on the street with motor traffic. Bike paths can provide worry-free riding away from the woes of unaware motorists. As a child, I first learned how to ride a bike on the local paved bike…
Electric Bikes: Future or Fad?
Well, like it or not electric bikes are growing in popularity and they look like they are here to stay. Many traditionalist have raised a questionable eyebrow at the growing popularity of electric bikes, also known as “e-bikes.” But even the most dedicated fixie hipster can’t deny the growing sales numbers world wide of e-bikes….
The State of Cycling in the U.S.
We have all seen it, a cyclist riding down a one way street going the wrong direction, blowing a stop sign, or just not obeying the rules of the road and riding all over the place with out any where with all, acting as if because they are on two wheels the have the right…
Cyber Monday Deals
Today is Cyber Monday and great deals abound on the Internet. To that end, we would like to tell you about some of the deals we are offering on Bike Trailer Shop and Bike Bag Shop to make your holiday shopping experience that much easier. Vaude Panniers and Bike Backpacks Sale We are currently offering…
More on Bike Parking
I’ve been inspired to think about bicycle parking lately in part because of the new bicycle parking facility in my home-state of Arizona, in part because school is back in session, which means there is a huge influx of new riders by the university and crowded bike parking, and in part because it isn’t something…
Bicycle Mapping
We are all map-users. Whether or not we recognize this fact (or like it, for that matter), is a whole different story. Maps are made for accomplishing a wide range of tasks from navigation to defining boundaries to measuring bits of information to showing elevation and much, much more. Maps are literally visual representations of…
Starting With The Basics
Now that we know a bit more about the history and practice of commuting, it’s high time we get down and dirty and start talking about the different elements that make up the practice of bicycle commuting. There are some really great resources of the web for bicycle commuters: Commute By Bike, Bike Commuters, Paul…
Commuter Checks for bicycling now available
All of the pre-tax employee transit benefits I’ve seen have been in the form of “Commuter Check” programs that are outsourced to third party benefit providers hired by human resources departments to handle the paperwork and distribute the transit benefits in the form of “Commuter Checks” that are redeemable at transit agencies. One of these…
Kooks, freaks and weirdos on the bike
I got a note over the weekend from Canadian journalist Lesley Simpson, who wants “eccentric characters about the global commuting movement among cyclists for a CBC TV documentary.” With an explosion of bike commuters over the past year as wallets have taken a hit from rising gas prices and declining income, it’s sometimes a little…
Happy Canada Day!
It is July 1st, which means it is Canada Day! Since my company decided to switch our day off to Monday, so we get a 3 day weekend, I have to work on the birthday of my nation. So, I decided to share my commute with you. A. My ride and her parking spot. Affectionately…
BSO redux
I stirred up some controversy way back when with my post on bike shaped objects. BSO lovers can rejoice in THE BIKE OF DOOM. This is the journal of an admitted bike snob who bought a low-end Canadian Tire Bike Shaped Object for his bike commute. He’s put 900 miles on the bike so far…
Studded tires
Nashbar studded tire Originally uploaded by richardmasoner. Although my icebiking friends in Alaska continue to use their studded bike tires, most of the Northern Hemisphere has escaped the grip of winter. Al asks, though, about information on studded tires. This photo shows my Nashbar studded tire. Nashbar sells a 700×35 version also for CX and…
Banjo Brothers Messenger Bag Review
Introduction: Banjo Brothers Messenger Bag — The new design for 2006 has huge capacity and new shoulder strap design with quick-release buckle, plush shoulder pad, and one-handed, on-the-fly strap adjustment. Big reflective strip to help be seen. A great way to carry your stuff around town. Specs and Features: Huge 2000 cubic inch capacity (18L…
Sette Rival Shoes Review
Disclaimer: As a product reviewer for Commute By Bike, I am providing my unbiased opinion of any products provided to us by any company. I do not posses any type of relationship with the product’s company or parent companies. Companies that send in their goods to be reviewed do not compensate me in any way….
Riding Randy
We’d like to introduce our newest staffer/member or what ever you want to call him. Please put your hands together for Randy Policar! RL(left) Randy (right) Yes, Randy is my brother. He resides in New Cumberland PA. He’s been a commuter for a while now and thought we could benefit from his insight on…
Happy New Year!
This morning my brother Randy who’s been visiting for the holidays along with a few other buddies and I rode around at the Fullerton Loop. We had some good times on the trails as well as on the jumps. Here’s my fake attempt at a Superman! Randy and I with the Fezzari. The fellas…
Biking to work picks up speed
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays Kevin Hainchek from the swift completion of his morning bike commute — as long as the snow is light and the rain hasn’t actually started. “I’ve ridden with 15-below wind chill. I’ll ride in single digits,” he said. “I’ll ride if it snows lightly….
Trading cars for bicycles to reach Seoul
A bicycle path connecting the city of Gwacheon in Gyeonggi province to Seoul’s Seocho district opened Sunday that gives Gwacheon residents a new commuting option. The Yangjae Stream Bicycle Path cost 5.7 billion won ($5.5 million) and took 18 months to complete, according to Gwacheon city. The 5.7-kilometer (three-mile) path, landscaped with trees and flowers,…