Crazy Commuting Cyclist

June’s final cost

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 22:27:00 +0000

Over the years I have had a few people ask about my reasons to commute by bicycle. I tell them the usual reasons like health and mental health and that it helps with finances. Out of all the reasons, the financial aspect of commuting gets the most follow up questions. Like an unprepared student for a class book report, I didn’t have the important data to give to them, until now.

Cycling is a great way to stay healthy both mentally and physically but how about financially? According to AAA there are a lot of factors that contribute to the cost of driving. Things like; insurance, fuel, the type of car or truck you drive, how much you drive and so on. All those data points are enough to make your head spin.

So I thought I would keep my data collecting simple. I would only collect data that relate to my fuel and leave the rest aside. Because in the end, what we spend on gas draws our attention the easiest.

The average miles driven per month, according to Car and Driver, is just over a thousand miles for a total of 13k a year. To be fair, at the peak of our everyday driving now, I'm sure I fall very short. Not just because I ride a bike, but my wife works from home and I’m kind of a hermit. So other than errands, appointments and visiting friends and families, we don’t drive all that often.

The data I collected is simple: fill the tank of my truck, note the cost per gallon, collect the miles driven and average miles per gallon I got. All that should translate to what it cost to drive each week. I’ll include my math in the notes for this video.

So this post doesn’t drone on and put you to sleep, I’ll cut to the chase. By the end of the month I had driven 229 miles. I spent $69.96 on gas. I cycled 133.78 miles. Because I didn’t drive those extra miles, I saved $43.51. I’ll include the weekly calculations so you can pour over at your leisure.

I know $43 doesn’t sound like a lot to some but if that's what I saved each month? I would have an extra $516 in my pocket at the end of the year. What would you do with that extra cash?

Let’s not forget, less miles driven is less wear and tear on the car. It will be longer between the oil changes that you have to pay for. For example, On my Jeep and the truck, it was three years each before I drove 6 thousand miles and needed an oil change.

So if you’re looking to save money, work some stress off and get healthy, think about cycling as a way to do it. Who knows, it just might be the thing that changes your life.

If you found this informative, pass it along. My intention is to spread the love that I have for cycling as transportation through these videos.

Thanks again for spending your valuable time here when you could have spent it elsewhere. Until the next post or video, remember, cyclists are traffic too!

The numbers:

Bike miles6/1/24 to 6/8/24; 30.51 miles.

6/9/24 to 6/15/24. 36.14

6:16/24. - 6/22/24 42.14

6/23/24- 6/29/24. 24.99

Total: 133.78
Car miles and Gas

6/1/24-6/8/23; 53.7miles 12.2mpg 4.3 gallon used. $16.69 spent this week

6/9/24 6/15/24. 79.8 13mpg 6.13gal. $23.78

6/16/24 - 6/22/24. 44.4 miles @ 12.6mpg 3.52 gallons *$3.88 =$13.66

6/22/24-6/29/24 51.5 miles @

12.5 mpg= 4.08 *$3.88= $15.83

Tuesday on the trail

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 13:00:00 +0000

A short video I created this week. I’m working on a longer video with different cameras that were attached on my cycle. Stay tuned. Hope to have it done Sundayish.

EV Debate

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 17:51:00 +0000

Just Imagine.

You are pulling into a gas station when you notice that there are two people up ahead of you in an intense discussion. A bearded man with a red cap, a canvas coat over a red flannel shirt filling up a jacked up truck with oversized tires. A redneck truck.

In front of him stands a woman with long brunette hair and in business attire clothing. She looks to be charging her car at the station on the opposite side of the man.

Now, this setup isn’t of my imagination, this is something I saw on the internet. So just play along.

As you approach the air pump a few feet from the two of them you start to hear the man belittling the woman about her car.

“An electric car? Do you really think you’re going to help the environment with that? You realize, it takes precious metals that are mined out of the earth to build that battery you’re charging. And where do you think you are getting that energy from to charge it? I don’t see any solar panels connected to it. It must be coming from the coal fire plant we are all hooked into! So I ask you, how much of a difference do you think you are making?”

Now you see her looking dejected and without a reply. Maybe she felt silly and just wanted to get out of there without a screaming match. Who knows? But that is the typical argument on why EV’s are not the solution, but are they not?

The batteries that power the car are made from minerals like cobalt, lithium, copper and nickel. All the minerals have to be mined and refined then made into a battery. And yes the energy that charges it does come from a coal or natural gas fired plant most likely. Which leads to a heavy carbon deficit in order to become a car. But depending on the source of electricity, that deficit can be made up in one to five years according to a google search. Some sites have the time longer, about 10 years.

Is it a perfect solution? No. The minerals are limited, the batteries can be problematic to put out once on fire and they are expensive to replace. Not to mention they are heavy and you’re not going that much farther than the average automobile.

But let’s look at a regular automobile. Although there isn’t lithium needed for the battery, there is still copper for the wires and other metals for the body of the car. It takes gas which has to be refined and delivered by a large truck. And unlike the electric car, the automobile will never be carbon neutral because of the combustion byproduct being carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other greenhouse gas.

But an EV car is a step in the right direction. We are reducing carbon emissions while we use it. And there are more ennovations on the horizon with battery technology and hydrogen powered vehicles. The EV is one stepping stone to the next innovation that will eventually lead to a carbon neutral form of transportation that fits the lifestyle the majority wants. For the few, there is a carbon neutral form of transportation that we have that very few use, I'm of course talking about the bicycle.

According to Trek they came up with a formula that calculates out the miles you must ride in order to achieve carbon neutral for a model of their bike, it’s called the rule of 430.

Most bikes are fundamentally made the same so you can use this amount as a general rule of thumb. On average you must ride 430 miles in order to become carbon neutral. For me if I’m only riding to and from work, it would take 96 days to pedal 430 miles. Truly, a person could do that in one season riding from mid spring to mid fall. That is 5 months you can spread those 96 riding days between.

My point is that the electric car is not the perfect solution to our climate crisis but merely a stepping stone to a better answer. With technology of the battery growing and hydrogen just on the horizon, we may soon be driving the perfect carbon neutral car. Until then, we could all at least ride a bike to work and home now and again, don’t you think? So get on your bike and ride.

Time off

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000

I have taken some time away from the bike this past month or so. I can give you a litany of reasons why I did it, some valid, but none really good in reason. I guess in the end it's ok because I needed the time away from the bike to get inspired to maybe remember why I like to bike to work rather than drive. To think of new topics that I could blog about that include my interests beyond the bike. Maybe in the end I just need to reinvent my space to fit my needs to keep myself distracted from the dark stuff that is going on in the country and the world.

I would like to give a list of things that I am going to talk about this year, but right now I have no clue what I am going to cover or even if I will be somewhat timely with post. There is a lot that goes on in my life like work, the stuff I do to keep my house from falling down, dogs, and everyday stuff. Not to mention I am working on cooking. That's right, I am trying to be a better cook for my wife and myself. With all the changes relating to my wife's employment, I have taken on the cook title. I do say I think it is going well. Now instead of my wife turning green, getting sick or say "Never Make That Again," she has been very happy with requesting seconds. I think I am turning into a good little house husband.

So this month I have decided to mix my photography with my cycling on my site. I still will have a blog for cycling only here. I will just have a link that is in my photo site to here. How it will work is that I will have a section where I ride the bike out to find a place to do some landscape photography. The video and photos, if there are images, will appear on the website blog and here. So there will be that content shared in both places, but there will be content that I will only share here. I figure it will be stuff that will be exclusive to cycling only. One idea is to create a video on how to function in traffic as a cyclist. This is one thing that most people seem to be confused and frighten about. I will also use this as a sounding board about things that piss me off, like the healthcare system. That may take a lot of posts so yeah. Oh and local beer. Love me some beer and want to share what I am drinking. All of the subjects I listed I am not sure will really fit with what I am trying to do with my photography.

And now for your entertainment here are some videos that I had created..

https://youtu.be/BSbFrbDra4o

https://youtu.be/HKeh4mndlqI

https://youtu.be/uUL4w1fG5nU

Until the next post!

Winter Cycling

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 20:43:00 +0000

Winter time is when most commuters put up the bike and either drive the car or take public transportation until warmer weather arrives. That is usually what I do but this year I am going to do my best to ride at least two times a week all winter long. Now I am not out to prove I am a supper hero or training for some ironman Iditarod, nope I just feel it is time to think about my health and the environmental legacy I am leaving for future generations. Well trying to leave despite the efforts of others. Winter cycling is not hard even though the cold temps can be a deterrent, you just have to dress for the ride and not let the idea of the cold stop you.

So my health is, as of right now, in good place. I am a little over my weight and without doing a blood test, I am sure my cholesterol level is high and that is all on me. But I don't have the desire to pay a gym membership fee, because I know I would be just throwing it away. Oh not at first but I give it two months or so and then I will find some excuse on why I can't go and workout. Now I can say the same thing about riding a bike to work, "Give it a few months and you'll quit." Maybe but the one thing a gym doesn't have that work does is guilt, and biking is free. This guilt is in the form of meeting people who come in each day with some aliment that could have been prevented or minimized by an active lifestyle like biking to work. Each time I see that I am reminded that I still have time to mitigate or eliminate my issues of some health crisis. Did I mention that biking is free?

The other half of that coin besides the exercise of active transportation is what I am consuming. There is no gain of health if you keep eating junk. This I am struggling to get a handle on. I have tried many diets through out my life but the one I know I had success with and can live with for the rest of my life, is a little to no carb type of diet. My wife and I tried it about a year ago and with little to no effort I started to drop weight. I started at 190 and dropped to 177 in a few months but then the whole virus thing happened and work got crazy and on and on..Well the planning of food and shopping kind of went by the wayside and needless to say when I stepped on to the scale I found myself back where I started. Fuck. Again it's on me.

As of this blog post I have completed two of the three weeks of biking to work twice a week. This week I am planning to ride Thursday and Saturday. Thursday is suppose to be a 6 below in the morning but I will not let that stop me. I will just have to bundle up a little more and keep moving. Besides, I only live 2 miles from work which is another reason I need to bike instead of driving. As much as I love to jump into a warm car it pains me to think I have to let it idle for 10 mins to warm it up, only drive it for another 5 mins to work. What a waist of fuel and at 13mpg I can't afford to keep doing that.

So while all of you stay warm in your beds at 3:30 in the morning, I will layered up with my lights on, pedaling my way to better health. I am sure I will fall short sometimes but I will always have work to remind me that I need to get back on the bike and continue on my active transportation life.

I have a few videos up on my channel you may or may not find interesting to watch. I am working on my winter ride right now and hope to have it finished with in a week or two. Between work and the things I do around the house, putting a video together has been a project I do when I find time. It's a good thing I don't do this for a living because I would be flat broke and living on the streets. So here is a link to a video that expands on the idea of this post.

Thanks for your time and if you have any questions or comments feel free to put them down in the comment section.

Its Been Some Time

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 11:00:00 +0000

It has been two years since I have made a blog post on this site and a lot has changed.What hasn't changed is enjoyment of cycling but with job hours drastically changes and the loss of a bike, I have had to put cycling on hold. I am not offering excuses to my ignoring this site but my motivation to write about something I am not doing is, at best, very low until now. So let me break it down on what has happened from then, 2018 until now.

My bike of which I rode almost everyday, broke at the bottom bracket and because it is made of aluminum, I can't easily fix it. In fact there is no one around here that will even touch it so it sits downstairs where I need to strip all the good parts off and save them for a bike frame I will eventually pick up. Until then I have a friend who has lent me a bike until I get a new one.

A few years ago I switched hours and instead of going to work at 10 am I now go in at 4 am. This has changed my sleep schedule drastically, now instead of getting up at 6 or 7 am and working on my photography or this I get up at 2:30. This change has taken a long time to get use to and two years of this I think I am almost set in my rhythm of sleep not to mention my fate of my vocation.

I have been a phlebotomist since 2009 for now 2 hospitals. I am the person that collects the blood for the doctor to send down to the lab. Technically I work for the lab and not the doctor but that is neither here nor there in the big picture of things. I use to work from 10 am to 8:30 pm at one hospital but since changed employers and now work 4 am to 12:30 pm. This change in my life has been the big factor for sometime on my riding habits or should I say, lack of riding habits. With the change of time it is hard to motivate oneself to get up and go to a job where I wake people up at 4 am and stab them in the arm. I reckon that isn't the best way to start the day but it has to be done and with 8 others, we complete our task as best as we can.

With aging has come the aches and pains of joints and my back making my job a little harder each year, not to mention the amount of verbal as well as physical abuse that comes with the job. With all that pooling up and weighing me down the thought of waking up at 2:30 and getting on a bike to ride to a job that you are not happy to do, has been tough. So I have not been riding up until a few weeks ago. Oh I have ridden a day or two here and there but until then I haven't been committed to riding everyday I can.

Why now? I guess it is the thought of getting old, wider at the waist and all the health issues associated with age and being over weight that is a stronger motivator than my feelings about my job. As I see it my vocation, though without great effort, is not going to change anytime soon, so why waste time on unhealthy habits and end up like some of the patients I draw blood from. No it's best to try to ride the bike to work as well as change my choices when it comes to diet and try to be physically healthier and maybe my mental status will follow.

So what now? I will try to blog about my commute, health, photography and the bike I am currently looking for. I may even try to create more videos of my rides with a voice over of my blog, or teachable moment that relate to biking. Who knows but all I can say for now is hang on it could be an interesting ride from here on out.

Next blog post; My spread sheet on the next bike.

Choosing a Route

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Now that you have made the commitment to make driving a bicycle to work a part of your transportation choice, and you have either fixed up a bike or bought one, it is time to plot your route. This stage is all about making the drive to work interesting, comfortable but most of all safe.
Because if one of any three of these criteria are not met, especially safety, your chance of continuing your active transportation will be nil. By the way, it is not a typo when I wrote "drive" because you do drive bike, you ride a bike if you are a passenger otherwise we drive a bike. And by thinking that you are driving a bike the more you will feel like a part of traffic.

When selecting a route not only consider your comfort level in traffic but also look for routes that have bus stops that you can take advantage of if the need arises. Most of you should be familiar enough to know the routes to work and back that you would be comfortable blending into traffic. But if not here are some tools that you can use to help you with your route choice.

Google maps is a good way to create a route. By putting your address of home and work and choosing the bike icon you will get a route that is bike friendly, for the most part. Now most of the routes chosen, like the directions you get driving a car, will generate a few routes that are the quickest way to get to your destination. These aren't always the best routes but at least it is a starting point for the final route. When I put my work address, one of the routes I get is one that goes down 1st avenue which is one of the busiest streets in our city. For me I would not have a problem riding it if I was running behind but for an everyday route, I wouldn't take it. The alternative routes suggested by Google are safer and just as direct which, if I was not a skilled rider, I would be more inclined to take.

Another tool to aid your route choice is the bike trail maps. If your city is trying to incorporate bike/walking paths to appeal to a growing population of young professionals, then you will find these maps in your local bike shop. Most of them will not only have the bike trails marked on them but also have the bike lanes that you see on city street on them as well. As an added bonus one of our versions had bus routes that coincided with the bike paths. I found this to be handy when it came to bad weather day. With these maps along with Google maps you may be able to find either a more direct route or one that you feel more comfortable on. For me I use a combination of city streets and bike trail because it offers extra miles I could travel. I have three routes to choose from depending on how much time I have. My first is a 3.9 mile for a quick ride, the second is 4.25 miles for an average day and the last is a 5.5 mile for the really nice days.

Now that you have a route or two picked out, it is time to ride them on your days off. The goal here is to not only find out if you are comfortable in traffic but also find out how long it takes you to get to work. This test ride should not be a sprint but instead a leisurely ride to work so you can figure out what time you need to leave home so you are on time for work. If you sprint this then you will always be under pressure to make it to work in that short amount of time. This will not only cause you to be late to work from time to time but build in an element of dread that will cause you to give up cycling altogether. By riding at that laid back pace you will build an assurance that you won't be late as well as success in your desire to have cycling as part of your life style.

While you are on this first or many test rides you should also try to feel that you are apart of traffic by simply following the same rules you do as a driver. This can be intimidating at first so this is why I suggested you chose routes that matched your riding skill level. The simple things to remember as you ride; be visible, be predictable, be courteous, but most of all drive defensively. To be visible can incorporate the use of clothing and lights. By using bright clothing like jackets or reflective vest like the ones used on road construction areas, you give yourself a chance to be seen by other drivers. An alternative to the bright closes is the flashing lights on your bike. Lights are not only useful at night, but flashing lights in the day can be just as effective. Being predictable is simply archived by not weaving in and out of parked cars, holding a line in your lane. Basically drive the bike as if you are driving your car. Courteous and driving defensively go hand in hand. Obey the rules of the road, give way to faster traffic when you can, and always watch the driver and see if they are looking at you. That is the biggest lesson I have learned that carries over to my skills behind a wheel. If a driver is not looking at you then you know they do not see you and where ever you are on that road, you need to be prepared to react. I don't want to scare you I just want you to be aware of your surroundings, be a better cyclist then you are a driver of a car, that's all.

If you still feel a little uncomfortable riding in traffic then I would seek out an experienced cyclist that is commuting to work and ride with them. By riding with someone you can see how they handle traffic, see their lane choices, how they choose to get into a turning lane not to mention how they dress and pack for the ride. There is nothing like riding with someone else from time to time and especially if you are just beginning to incorporate cycling as part of your commuting practice. The simplest way to find someone who commutes by bike is to find where they park and the bike that seems to be there the most. Once you have found it, I would just leave a note with your contact information along with why you are seeking them out. Most commuting cyclist are open to give you some help.

Route choice is key to a successful transition from car to bicycle. By using Google Maps, bike trail maps and the wisdom of an experienced cyclist you will find that route that suites you best. Be predictable, visible, courteous as well as driving defensively and you will blend in with traffic. But most of all have fun when you ride. Remember your cycling time is giving you the chance to work on your health and mental health at the same time. And when it gets tough or if you are having a tough time getting started, seek out another cyclists, most of the time they will be happy to help.

Ride Safe and Ride Often.

If you want the podcast version you can listen to with this link

Pre-BTWW

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:00:00 +0000

If you are thinking about participating in Bike To Work Week (BTWW) but you are not sure where to start then read on. BTWW is a great way to get an idea of what you need to be a commuting cyclist and to start a good habit by getting exercise, working the stress out and not having to worry about where you are going to park. Before you start there are some things you first need to think about. First is do you have a safe and functional bike. Second, do I have a route that I feel safe with. Third, do I have a place to park and change. Checking off these three thing will get you well on your way to an active transportation life style that will ad years to your life

So let us start with your bike. Assuming that you have a bike, you need to assess whether or not it is functional but most of all, safe to ride. Most people have a bike in the garage that has likely sat for many years untouched. These bikes will do the job of getting them around town as well as be a good commuter bike. But before you pump up the tires and take it for a ride, take it to your local bike shop to have it inspected. Tires rot, brake pads harden, cables become brittle and parts lock up with rust. The mechanic at the shop will look it over and tell you what needs to be done to make the bike safe to ride. They will also be able to tell you what accessories you can add to the bike to make your commute better such as helmets, lights and bags.

For those who do not have a bike it is time to go to a local bike shop and ask a lot of questions. I really recommend local bike shop because they have the knowledge of the myriad of bike types that are out there and the skill to match one up to you. And don't be surprised on the expense of the bike these days, I know I was at first. But think of it this way, a bike is not a toy, it is a serious form of transportation just like your car. You paid over $15k for a new car or more, for most bikes you are only paying more or less than $1500 with everything you need. Think of it too as an investment in you and your health. By riding your bike as often as you can you are saving money on gas, working stress out of your day, getting the exercise your doctor keeps harping about all the while you are commuting to work. Not to mention, building your health and lowering your need to visit the doctor for trivial health issues like cold and influenza. Once you have the bike purchased or tuned up it is time to get the additional accessories that will make your ride to work easier.

Bags; the right bag will make the trip so much easier. There are a three types of bags I have used in my years of active transportation. The first one I used was the back pack. Most people have a back pack laying around the house and as long as it is not too beaten up this type of pack will work. I chose to use this for the simple reason that I was not 100 percent sure I was going to stick with cycling to work. So instead of spending a lot of money that I did not have, I chose to take a more thrifty route and use the stuff I already had. Besides, I could always buy a better bag once I found I was truly committed to the endeavor. I found with the back pack, I had to be smart on what I packed in it. There is a limited amount of space so I had to decide what was truly need in the pack and what I could leave behind. As far as clothes I was luck in the fact I did not have to wear a suite and tie but instead a nice shirt and pants along with nicer shoe then what I was riding with. I also had to pack a lunch and transport it to work. Now with lunches you could buy your food at work if that is an option, but I was trying to save money. The downsides of this bag is that they don't hold a lot and the body heat that gets trapped on your back, which if your riding in your work cloths, can be unpleasant.

The next bag I had was a messenger style bag from Banjo Brother that I used and still have for at least 10 years. This bag held a lot of stuff so I was able to pack my cloths, shoes and depending on the season, extra clothes for a wet or cold ride home. The bag slung over the shoulder and rested on the lower part of the back. The bag also had a small strap that would connect to the lower part of the bag and the shoulder strap so that it would remain in place as you ride. Now that strap did detached somehow and before I got it sewn back on, it was lost. Because this bag can be balanced by the way you pack it, I found I really did not need it. If you don't have a rack system this type of bag is the one I would recommend.

If your bike has a rack system then I would recommend the pannier bag. Unlike the for-mentioned bags, you will not suffer any ill effects of weight on your shoulders and best for all, no back sweet. Again I have a set of bags for my last bike and I loved them the best. They are Banjo Brothers bag which are durable and water resistant keeping your stuff dry. Now the only downside that I found with this bag set up is the fact I must take them off the bike once I have arrived to work, which isn't terribly hard to do. Despite that I do believe that if you have a rack set up for your bike it is worth the investment in the pannier bags just because they make life so much easier.

Lastly but just as important is your safety equipment; lights and helmets. As a cyclist one of your responsibilities is to be seen on the road that is why lights are important to have. There are many brands of light ranging from $10 dollars to $200 or more that have different light intensity and functions. I recommend not to be cheap on your lights but know that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get one that works the best for you. By having a conversation with your local bike shop person about the routes you will be guided to a light set that will help keep you visible. The set I own have a flashing light mode and a bright steady light on mode. I ride mainly bike trails that aren't lit the best so the bright LED steady on mode works the best in that situation. If I was riding on the street between dusk and dark, the flashing light is what will attract the attention of drivers. Think about it, when your driving down the road what kind of light draws your attention most? Flashing right? Especially if they are red, blue and about to pull you over. So a flashing mode of light is essential for night street riding as well as having a back red light.

Helmets are also something I would recommend but remember it is a personal choice. I wear a helmet and the day I was hit by a car, I was glad I had one one. After I got up from the impact of the car I found that my bike was damaged and I had a few road rashes but over all was ok. Once the ordeal was over I thought to closely inspect my bike then my helmet, which I found a crack on the side I was hit on. My head was fine but the helmet took, as small as it was, the impact of me hitting the pavement. Helmets are designed to protect the skull and minimize the damage in an accident, they are not perfect but they are helpful. So just to add an extra layer of protection for your head, I do recommend a helmet. Besides if you really get into riding and want to join group riding events, you maybe required to have a helmet on. It's your choice.

In the next blog post I will be discussing the way you chose a route that will fit for you and on the last post strategies on parking and changing at work.

Cycling has helped me be in better shape both physically and mentally not to mention I have a greater appreciation for the environment. If you are one looking to get in better shape without getting involved in a gym or having to set a time to do a workout, then this is your way to a healthier life. Like anything that is good for you, it does take some time and effort to make this a part of your everyday routine, but it will be worth it.

Bike Safe and Bike Often.

Spring and BTWW

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Podcast file: BTWW
open and enjoy the audio podcast. Just a little odd in the format but I am working on it.

Bike to Work Week (BTWW) is coming up
https://www.bikeleague.org/
https://peopleforbikes.org/
http://www.cedar-rapids.org/local_government/departments_g_-_v/public_works/bicycles_and_pedestrians.php

Flu Season What a tough Season
CDC Flu Report:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6706a1.htm?s_cid=mm6706a1_e

Your health; eating right can help you immune system

Gut Bacteria and Immune System
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/research/advancements-in-research/fundamentals/in-depth/the-gut-where-bacteria-and-immune-system-meet
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130916122214.htm

Vegan Sites
Pure Plant Nation
https://www.plantpurenation.com/

50 best Vegetarian Recipes
https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/g2373/vegetarian-recipes/

Food and Health

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Besides being a photographer one of my other hobbies is being an avid cyclist. Not the kind that races but one who loves to ride a bike to work or just for fun on the weekends. I have been doing this for many years now and will hopefully continue for many more to come. Cycling is one way for me to get the exercise that I need throughout the week and face it, it is way better for the environment overall. Now that I am older coupled with my other profession, my health has move up to be a top priority. For most of my adult life I have struggled with my glucose and more so, my cholesterol and cycling along with diet is the way I try to control it.

At its highest point a few years back, I had made some dietary changes and in a few months I had dropped it some 40 points. At that point I figured I was on the road to recovery but that couldn’t have been farther from the truth. A few weeks ago, I had to complete some fasting labs for a life insurance policy and there it was again, staring right at me in the results, my high cholesterol. I wasn’t expecting great numbers but some improvement but that did not happen. Instead I managed to keep the number at the same level as before. My glucose was way down as well as my weight, but the cholesterol stayed the same leaving me frustrated. See I do not want to go on any type of statin to reduce my levels because of the damage they can do to your liver, not to mention most people on the report feeling odd while on them. That can’t be good. So, my solution is to drop all dairy, egg and anything that has a hint of cholesterol to try to get my numbers down by the end of next months physical.

What I think that is happening is that my body just can’t process cholesterol as the rest of you do. So instead of getting rid of what I don’t need, it gets painted on the walls of my arteries and veins leaving it there as art. If not taken care of will eventually cause high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes which isn’t all that fun. And I should know I have seen them play out in the emergency room time and time again.

I thought I would write about this because I know I am not the only one who struggles with this particular plight, there are many others who are in the same boat. Some know it and others will know it with their first heart attack or stroke. I want to blog about it here and in my cycling blog because I wish to bring to light two things. First; there is life outside of our western diet that is killing all of us slowly in one way or another. Second; your health both mentally and physically shouldn’t be a forethought only coming to light after some major health incident or a death of someone close to you of very preventable dieses. It takes work that will not only payoff for you but the people who count on you being there in their lives

Because I love photography I thought I would combined some of these blogs with photos of the activities and food I have. Tonight, we had Salmon with asparagus and red wine. The Salmon is one of the few things I can cook without poisoning my wife. Really, I am a bad cook and if it wasn’t for salad, raw vegetables, and fruits I would starve. I am not going to get into how I prepared it but instead I thought I would photograph it for you to admire it. If you want the recipe I can send you a link to it.

Health care shouldn’t be expensive, but it is and because we love the convenience of our processed foods. Millions of us are dying of preventable disease while the rest of us are ticking time bombs waiting to have our turn in the Emergency Room. While you read this ask yourself if you could be next, then if you haven’t had a physical, make an appointment and get checked out. Maybe you will be one of the lucky few that everything is ok for now, but I am betting you won’t. My guess there will be something that with a little change in diet and exercise could change your path from the ER to a very healthy life.

So, get up and get it done and once you have been checked out and even if everything is A-Okay, make some life changes anyway. Get away from processed foods and eat way more vegetables and fruits. Next, look into getting a Fitbit or something akin to it. I found it to be a great tool in keeping track of my activity, sleep and quality of food intake. Look into them they are simple to use. And finally think about cycling to work. I have this blog that I put out information about cycling and commuting to work that I think would help. Spring is coming, tune up the bike or buy one at a Local Bike Shop and get your exercise while working out some of your stress in life while commuting to work. What have you got to lose but a few pounds and some stress in your life. Remember if you don’t want to pay high prices of health care then you must start with yourself by taking care of yourself. If you don’t do it for yourself then do it for the ones you love.

Here to Help

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 23:00:00 +0000

Have you ever had one of those moments when someone has said or done something, and you react in a way that you wished could have been different? I had one of those moments recently with a patient that I wish I could go back and give a better response to what they said and did. It is not that I said anything negative or acted inappropriately, in fact I was professional about the whole thing. It was more about presenting a viewpoint about their situation that shifts responsibility back on to them. The comment, which I will get into soon, was accusatory to the fact the people responsible for their care was purposefully hurting them instead of helping and that one bad painful stick means the healthcare provider was the least skilled then the last.

The comment that sparked my frustration and yes, anger, was stated at the time they had been out of a procedure while a nurse was applying pressure to a wound. I had entered the room, introduced myself and stated my reason of being there. I then proceeded to gather my tools and moved to the patient where I explored and found a vain that would, I believe, yield the blood I need. After preparing the site I pushed the needle into the skin and through the wall of the vain. This is where I got belittled. “You are worse than the Paramedic who tried to get an IV started! DAMN!” To make matters even darker, I did not get the blood. I apologized and remained quiet while I stuck them for a second time. It did however go better that time and I manage to obtain an excellent sample. But the damage was done there was nothing I could do about it and the moment I stepped out I knew they would rant about my skill level. To which all I could say to myself is “Bite My Shinny Metal Butt!”

I have had a few people complain before when I stick them. I know it hurts and I do my best not to make it anymore painful than I must. Most people are forgiving with the few who are not. Those who aren’t I find are under the impression that people in the health profession get a sick thrill in causing them pain, which we are not. For the most part I know what it is like to have a needle poked into most parts of the body like the foot, wrist, hand and even the nether region so I try not to cause more pain than necessary. But this group of people will always think otherwise and will not be swayed by anything we say.

I think what they said and how they not only criticized me but in one statement placed judgement to the person at the beginning of the whole ordeal, the paramedic who failed at the IV. Their statement rang in my head for the rest of the night, thinking about really what they said and not the accusation leveled at me. What could I have said that would have put the situation into a perspective that would have made them think better of the paramedic and the rest of the healthcare providers. And after some time, this is what I had wished I had said.

“You are worse than the Paramedic who tried to get an IV started! DAMN!”

“And yet you have made it here where you have gone through a lifesaving procedure so that you can have many more years with your loved ones. Although the paramedic that had caused you some pain, had obviously did their job well enough to get you here, to the doctors and nurses who will do all they can in the best interest of your health and life. And some of what they do my cause you pain please know they are doing it not to be cruel but to further your years with your loved ones. And let me be the first but not the last who sorry. I’m sorry that I have caused you some pain, but it is not my intention. I hope you will believe me and all those who are part of your care from here on out.”

There are consequences to our life choices in what we do and consume. If you tend to eat in the fast food lane then expect to be in the fast lane to a heart attack, diabetes, gallstones, and a myriad of other health issues. But remember this, as you get poked, cut open, and have procedures that cause extreme pain, it’s your fault and no one else’s. And if you end up in a painful procedure or a blood draw goes bad just know that we feel bad when we cause more pain than intended. After all we are there to help, not hurt.

Maintenance

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 00:51:00 +0000

If you are one to ride in the winter, then you know how quickly your bike gets dirty. With all the sand, grit and salt that is on the road it is important that you keep your bike clean and your moving parts lubed. Otherwise it will end up a rusted mess that will need a complete overhaul. And believe me, that can be expensive.

Some quick tips on cleaning your bike.

Warm soapy water and either a spong and rag goes long way. The soap breaks up the dirt and oils and the rag can get into places the spong can’t.
Don’t be afraid to pore clean water over the bike to rinse off the soap. This way all the grit still on the bike will be washed off. An if need be wash the bike again. Getting it clean is important
Degrease and re-lube the chain and the rest of the moving parts. Also, make sure your lube is designed for this weather. Wet lube has a wax that coats parts and help protect them from water and dirt. Oh to clean I like to use a shoestring like cleaner to get in between the cogs. Just saying.

Once you have it cleaned and lubed, let it set for a day to dry out. Don’t need to have the parts frozen and locked up on your ride because it didn’t dry out.

Now that it’s dry, it’s ready to ride on those dirty dirty streets and trails. So remember, if you ride during the winter kudos to you because it is a lot of work both keeping warm and your bike clean. Ride Safe and Ride Often.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 16:12:00 +0000

Happy New Year Everyone! I recorded a New Year video that I wanted to share on this page but it seems that it will not upload. So I provided a link to my YouTube page so you can watch it. So happy New Year and Ride Safe and Ride Often.

To The Video

I’m back on 2 Wheels.

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 22:42:00 +0000

I wanted to share this video of the first ride I had done in little over a year. I just want to say it is just me rambling on about what is happening and some of the techniques I use while riding in traffic. Oh and an “F” bomb or two. Also there are a few spots that the audio doesn’t quite sync with the video.

After doing this video I am thinking of doing video and podcast about cycling; in between photography and podcasting about that. It’s a goal and we will see how well I hit it but until then enjoy

The Ride

Locking Up Your Bike.

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 12:00:00 +0000

While looking for stories to tweet about I notice the large portion of articles on bicycle being stolen. I'm not sure why there is a lot reported now but there is a lot and more most likely to come. So how do you stop a thief from making off with your bike? Lock it up correctly. What does that mean? Well it means you need to make your bike look too hard and more trouble to take than it's worth.

When I was starting out commuting on a bike, parking and keeping my bike safe was my greatest concern. So I looked on the internet and found Hal. Hal is a bike machanic out of New York City and no stranger to the sob stories of lost bicycles. So he made a video on what a good lock up should look like. He graded locking job on the bikes on the street as they came upon. He would explain how and why the locking job is good or bad in of course a New Yorker humorous way.

So the other day I took some photos of my locking craft to share some ideas on how to do it or at least how I do it. My work is not a thing of beauty but I do believe that the mess will and has discouraged would be thieves.

Notice that I use a cable and a ULock. The cable is thick but not immune to being cut with a good bolt cutter. However notice that the cable holds the front tire while the ULock holds the back wheel but more importantly, the frame. As a thief I would think that is a lot of work just to get a front wheel and maybe a seat. For me a loss of a front wheel is cheap compared to the rest.

So watch Hal's i, look at how I locked up my bike as well as others who are successful and unsuccessful. Then creat your own way of locking up your just make it look like it's too much work for the prize.

Ride Safe Ride Often.

Betelgeuse

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 20:27:00 +0000

Ever since I was little I have been enamored with the night sky. To look at all the stars and think of all the possibilities that could be out there. I was a child born in the later days of the space race. I was two when we Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon while Michael Collins orbited over head. Back then all of space was possible and still is even today

Though humans have not traversed the solar system ourselves the instruments we have sent up to look upon the rest of the galaxy has captivated me. Wishing my talents would have been in the math and sciences I nonetheless work to understand what is being presented to us. I believe that a better comprehension of what is out there and our place in it will result in a better appreciation for what we have. Let's face it the beauty created by the creation and destruction of stars is "far out!"

One of the cool thing I learned and have seen is about the star Betelgeuse which is found in the constellation of Orion. It's the top left star that is red. So what is interesting about Betelgeuse you ask? Well it is 642.5 light years away, it is 5 million times the size of our sun and it's about to die.

Betelgeuse is not going to just burn out and be no longer, nope. Betelgeuse is in the phase of being a Super Red Giant and soon to collapse on to itself so hard and fast that it will then explode as a Super Nova. The energy that will expelled by this event will be more than our suns output in its lifetime. The brightness of the explosion at is peak will be brighter than any output of any given galaxy. Super Novas are where heavy metals like gold and platinum are created and it is possible that we may see such an event

But when, we don't know. Again the star is 642 light years away. If the star has gone Super Nova, the light from the explosion is still on the way along with the gamma radiation burst. Oh did I mention the gamma radiation burst that happens when a star goes Super Nova. Apparently if the beam of gamma radiation is pointed directly at us,most likely our planet will be fried. But it's space and the narrow beam must be pointed perfectly at us from 642 light year away. I mean the Likelyhood of that is the same as the Cubs winning the World Ser.... Well let's just say it is a good chance we'll be enjoying a great light show without the gamma rays.

So when you bike to work each morning or take the dogs out for their morning walk make sure you look up at the sky, Southeast at Orion. You may get lucky and see something very few people have witnessed throughout history, a star exploding into a Super Nova.

Ride Safe Ride Often

Fat Sac&Fox

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 01:54:00 +0000

I just wanted to give a quick shoutout to an event this is coming up in December, specifically the 10th of December. It's the is Go CR Fat Sac&Fox Enduro Ride. This is the first race that we are hosting and we are not only having a race but there are events that the whole family can enjoy

First is food. There will be food venders to not only have tasty food but food that will keep you warm. Our new Nature Center will be open to the public. It is a great Center with fun educational displays to see. I love exploring the grounds even in the winter. Also Santa is rumored to be there.

The event is still in the process of finalization so more things could be coming up. I can't stress this enough, racing is going on but the event is all about family enjoying the outdoors and the jem of the Nature Center not to mention what a great city Cedar Rapids is.

So please check it out and make it a weekend at a great city and event. For more info www.GOCRfatbike.com.

Snow Is Coming!

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Are you ready? Because winter is around the corner and of all the seasons, winter is the hardest one on you and your bicycle. Not only does the cold take a toll on you and the bike but add salt and muck to the mix and you have a recipe for a very broken bike if you don’t do some preventive maintenance before the first snow. Listed in the lower paragraphs are simple steps that anyone can do but like anything else you can dive in deeper into the winterizing process. This usually means a higher level of mechanical skill, which if you have it, great! I would encourage it especially if you are a hardcore winter rider. But if your skills in bicycle mechanics is lacking, fear not. Complete some of the basics and leave the rest up to your local bike shop mechanic. So let’s get to the fun part, shall we?

Start out with an overall inspection of the bike on the work stand. If you really like to work on your bike and you haven’t already, get yourself a bike stand. It beats propping your bike against the wall only to have it fall on you as it is being worked on. Once it is up run through each component to make sure it is in working order. This is how I start, ground up.

1: Winter Tires; check for cracks, wear and sharp object before putting them on. Check your tube for wear and if they are a year or more old, you might want to replace them. The cold could push them over the edge which may lead to a blow out. You think changing tires suck on a warm day, it suck twice as much in the cold.

2: Drivetrain: chain, dérailleurs, cassette, crankset and the cables that pull them. Starting with the cables, check to see if there is any breaking of cable strands or unwinding and if so then replace them. Cables can be under a lot of tension then add the cold and they become brittle. If all is well or you replaced them, give them a little lube. I like to spray a wet lube in the plastic housing to keep them sliding well. Some say to lightly grease them as well.

Moving parts lubed accordingly

Inspect the chain for rust and grime then clean and apply lube. When the weather turns wet and cold replace your dry lube with a wet lube. It will keep the chain from rusting but you will need to clean a little more often.

Chain clean and rust free

Inspect and clean your derailleurs and cassette. Make sure the back and front derailleurs move freely, clear of dirt and lube them accordingly to weather conditions

Inspect your cassette and crankset for pinning of the teeth or any other condition that will take away performance. Again clean and lube accordingly. Pinning of the teeth is what happens when they wear out. The teeth become pointed and can’t hold the chain when you apply torque on the pedals.

White circled is a pinned tooth the red is normal

3. Brakes: Inspect the wear of the pads and make sure they are free of grease and dirt. Brake cables should have been inspected just like the shiftier cables. Once the inspection is complete make sure they are in working order.

Brake pads clean and grease free

4. Moving Parts: make sure all moving parts are free and have no issues. All bolts can be greased and placed back in proper order. Now if you are really skilled or ambitious you can take apart the handlebars and stem to properly lube the bearings there or leave it to your LBSM

Cables rust free

5 Frame. Check for cracks, rust or anything that could make it unsafe. Give it a good once over, clean it and apply wax. The wax will help repel the dirt and salt while protecting the bike.

Now if you are wanting a more intense winterizing you can do one of two things. Take your bike to LBSM (local bike shop mechanic) and have them do it or YouTube some videos on how to do it. Personally I have the Big Blue Book of Knowledge (Parks Tool Repair Guide) so I like to do my own repair, but that is not for all.

Once the snow flies make sure after every ride you clean off your bike and parts to aid in fighting the effect of the salt and muck. At the end of the week I would do a full wash, degrease and lubeing of the chain. When I did this it helped extend the life of all my components through the winter months. Don’t let the cleaning slip! If you need a visual of what happens when you don’t keep up with the maintenance look back to my rebuild photos. Yea that mistake cost me about $300 in parts not to mention the time to do it.

The winter is a great time to ride. There is nothing like the sound of the snow under the tires as you cut a path down a bike trail. Winterizing your bike along with keeping up with the weekly maintenance will insure a safe and fun time. Until then

Ride Safe and Ride Often.

The Job Influence

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 18:00:00 +0000

The alarm goes off, it's 04:45. I am sleepy, warm and trying to convince myself that I need to get up and ride to work. Most of my internal conversation is mainly based on guilt. The guilt of not doing what is good for me, or for my family.I go back and forth between the positives of riding and how I am healthier for it and the negatives of the cold and going to job that I am dissatisfied with. The arguments against riding to work win out more times than I care to admit. The job dissatisfaction seems to close the driving deal more and more, that's not good.

There are many things you can do to make your ride to work more attractive. For instance a change of music, new clothes or equipment for the ride. I like to change up the route from time to time. There is nothing like a change of scenery to make a ride more inviting. Maybe this is a little twisted but when it snows or gets cold I like to ride. You have to do these things in order to keep the commute fresh but the biggest buzz kill I struggle with is my job.

Back in my bed at 04:45 the lack of affection for my employer pushes out all desire to get up and ride to work. There was a time when it wasn’t so hard to repress my desire to stay in bed until the last possible moment get up, shower, grab lunch, hop in the car and drive to work. It was summer, warm and the sunrise was always nice to see. I found it metaphorical, you know a new day new possibilities on the horizon. But now that it is fall, cold and dark the monster that shreds my drive to do what is healthy wins out more and more. It sad that my feelings and stress of my job is influencing the rest of my life which is a red flag that says it’s time to move on. Believe me I am trying to find something new but not having a lot of luck.

So what do you do until then? How do you not let the stress of day to day life or job not influence your riding. I guess I need to first forgive myself for missing a ride or two or three. Next remind myself that you will feel better once you get there and amazing on the ride home, which I do. Maybe treat myself to a few new tunes and warmer wearable for the ride. Or maybe figure out a way I can make a business around something I do love, cycling and photography, a paying gig and until then or something better comes along think of the job is temporary. Stop letting the job wind me up so tight. We’ll see. Until then I will work on the mantra the 4 wise men taught us all “Let it Be.”

So “Let it Be” and Ride Safe, Ride Often.

And now a photo that has nothing to do with this post.

Hey if you have anything that helps you get on the bike and riding when times are tough, please share in the comments below.

Morning Ride

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 11:00:00 +0000

I thought I would post my morning ride to show why I love to drive the bike to work each morning. The calm over the city, the coolness of the air, and the twilight of morning gives me such a peace that washes any stress I may feel. We should all experience this before work and maybe just maybe the attitudes and snibbling behavior towards each other would sease. The bicycle can be the solution to the world’s problems

See and to been Seen

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Now that fall is drawing closer and the light breaking the horizon is growing later it is time once again to think of choosing lights for your bicycle if you don’t have a set already. “But how do I chose the right light from the myriad of lights on the market “ you ask? Well it is rather simple if you understand the type of riding you do. What I mean is, are you a commuter, a trailblazer or maybe both? Then take in account your understanding of lumen and how they affect your ability to see. And finally your budget, is the light you are buying fitting your budget while meeting your needs? This is not a review of any light set I own or looked into. This is just an outline to get you to think about what you need out of your lights before you buy them.

For myself I am a commuter to and from work. I travel well lit streets so I can see most obstacles and potholes coming my way. So my needs from my front and back lights are to be seen which means they need to be bright enough and have a flash mode. I am a big proponent of the flashing light over a straight bright light. The flashing light draws more attention to you than a straight light because it's flashing. Think of all emergency vehicles, the bright intense flash of the lights and strobes around them. Even if you could not hear them, you would still notice them from blocks away because they are flashing. My own experience I have seen drivers take a second look at me at stop lights and signs more often when I use a flashing light then when I don’t.

With a flashing light you also need a healthy dose of light or lumens to help garnish attention. Lumens is the measurement the output or brightness of the light. It is a kin to candle power. The higher the number of lumens the brighter the light is. To give you a reference point; a car’s or motorcycle’s low beam is 700 lumen and the high beam is 1200 lumen. For the average bicycle light you have a choice of 250 lumen up to 3500 lumens. Most of the commuter ones I have owned have been between 250 to 400 lumens. I prefer the 400 lumens because it is bright enough without blinding motorist and they have longer run times. As you move into the 700 and above lumen you are getting into the trail lights as well as moving up in price. Some trail lights can run up as high as $250 and require small battery packs.

Maybe a trailblazer or mix of both is the kind of riding you do. Great then I would suggest a mix of both trail lights and flasher or one light that does both. Again if you are trailblazing in some dark areas you should try to find a light that will illuminate your path well enough. Most trail lights start at 700 lumens and go up in power and price with the real powerful ones needing a battery pack and a charger. Which one that will do work best for you is something you must be willing to research by asking others about their experience. You can choose just to get the most powerful but end up with something you are not happy with.

For backlights their task is simple, to bee seen. Like the front light it too should flash and be bright. Most backlights that I have bought have not talked about the lumens. What I have looked for is the fact it has a flash pattern and that it looks bright enough for the job. There are a lot of them out there and some have a flashing beacon in addition to the red lights. So to be seen by traffic from behind should not be a problem.

So whether you are riding trails or commuting on the street, if it is dark then you must have lights and what lights you choose should match how you ride. Over all it is best to spend a little more money for the power of the light and modes then to buy a cheap one. And if you are not sure which ones to chose the best place to get answers is your Local Bike Shop. The professionals there will be able to help you choose the best light for the riding you do.

Ride Safe, Ride Often.

Runtastic Road Bike App

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Over the past month I have been using the Runtastic Road Bike App to track my mileage I put on my bike. My goal is to track the miles I ride, average speed and a way to post it with the added bonus of calories burned, my route and notes on the ride. Why? I have two projects I could use this data for. One project is to calculate the true cost of driving a car and the second is to develop a way to track a group’s progress.

The app like most is easy to navigate. When you first start up the app you tend to get advertising after the start up screen. Like most free apps the upgrades will cost you. You can click out of most ads or skip the commercial after a few seconds and once that is done you are placed into the session screen.

The session screen has the stopwatch at the top left which is easy to read, the miles on the right of that. In the settings you can change this from miles to kilometers easily if you choose, I kept the miles. Middle left is the miles per hours and again you can change this like the distance. To the right is the calorie burned during the session which I am not sure how it calculates for you. My guess is the data from miles or kilometers traveled along with how fast you went, equals the calories burned. So it may not be very accurate with this data point unless you use a sensor. Next is the elevation which for me is just a bonus since my town is rather flat. And lastly is rpm, bpm and mph. These readings must have a sensor for each one in order to track it and in this case, I don’t so it remains blank. The tabs below are the music control available only in the pro version and the voice feedback. I switch this off because I find it a little off putting to have my app talking to me.

In this screen you will see a satellite photo of where you are now with a green “Start” bar. Once pressed you will be asked whether you are “Cycling,” “Race Cycling,” or “Handbiking.” For everyday commuting I just chose “Cycling.” It will then ask you if you want a live update put out over the internet. Sounds cool but I did not try this feature due to the fact it wants to open Safari. Oh and I am not sure how much data that will eat either. There will be a countdown of 15 second which the last 5 seconds will silence your music until “Go” then your music returns. I find this helpful because I tend to turn off the display of my phone so I don’t know when the clock has started. Below the “Start” bar is the mode choice.

First is the “Session” icon of a cyclist in which you are engaged or about to engage in a session. The next is the “History” mode where you can see all your past rides. Next is the off line map which I did not use, and lastly is the setting mode. This is where you set your units of measurements, connect to the sensors for the heart rate monitor, as well as the speed and cadence. The settings is also where you access your user account. In this you can set the app up to post to your Twitter and Facebook accounts so you can boast of your riding achievements. You can also link up to the MyFitnessPal. I don’t have an account with this app so I am not sure how well this works.

When your ride is finished you slide your finger on the "Slide to Pause" bar at the bottom of the session screen, This will stop the clock and if you are not finished with the ride you can leave it until you are ready to ride again then just press resume. If you are finished then press finish and you will be taken to the next screen where your ride will be recorded on the Runtastic Servers along with Facebook and or Twitter if you wish. Once it is posted your friends then can see the results of your ride or get further results by clicking on the post and creating an account. This feature is where you can share information with friends on your workouts and help motivate each other.

Over all I liked this app because I can grow into the features I ignored. I think that is important to be able to grow into the app do to the fact, like me, most of us are not sure exactly what we want in out of it. There is nothing like paying for an app then after it has been weighed and measured, it has been found wanting. This app for me has many other things I wish to explore later but for now I am content with what I have explored on it. For now I can confidently recommend this app but with the caveat that I will be exploring other just to make sure I am set before I spend the money on the pro app.

5 Bicycle Facts

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 11:00:00 +0000

5. The basic design of the bicycle has not changed since 1890 when the Rover, created by J. K. Starley, was unveiled. It was also called the safety bike because the design was fueled by the need for a safer bike then the High Wheeler or “Penny Farthing” bicycle. The elements of the Rove rare the diamond shaped frame, set above the pedals and in front of the back wheel. The pedals powered the back wheel by a chain and gear system while the front handle bars were connected to the front wheel in order to steer the bicycle. Other than a few improvements the same elements are still used in the modern bicycle of today.

4. Bicyclist are Healthier. In a recent article penned by Carlton Reid in Bikebiz Magazine on Aug 10 2016, according to an EU funded reports states that people who drive cars as their only form of transportation are heavier than those who choose to cycle. Which sounds so obvious right? The report goes on to state that those who are inactive have a higher risk of developing chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke, heart attack along with being overweight. Incorporating walking and cycling in your transportation will reduce your risks.

3. All bicyclist must follow the same laws rules of the road that motorist do. In Iowa a cyclist must follow the rule of the road and can be sited with fine if caught.

2. Bicyclist do pay taxes for the roads we are on. Iowa Road Fund comes from registration of license plates we all pay each year and the Iowa Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF) which is funded from the tax on our fuel. Most cyclist I know still have a car and pays for the registration and fuel.

1. Bicycling is safe. Despite the amount of stories of accidents and deaths of cyclist, Bicycling is still safer than driving cars. 29,989 people died in car accidents in 2014 compared to 720 cyclist who died that same year. So when you take the number of licensed motorist on the road in 2014, which is 214 million, and have it divided by the deaths and do the same with 66.83 million cyclist and their deaths you will find that you are 10 times more likely to die in a car than on a bicycle. Oh by the way the contributing factor in the cyclist death that year were collisions with motor vehicles. As a cyclist a little defensive driving and following the rules you should be safer than the people in cars.

Art Staed Replay

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 11:00:00 +0000

I just got a replay from State Rep Art Staed today. This is what he wrote;

Dear David,

Thank you for sharing your experiences and your concerns regarding safe bicycling in Iowa. I, too, am a cyclist and am concerned about the recent fatalities. As you mentioned, we need better clarification of the “safe distances” and a strengthening of the law and enforcement. In the next legislative session I will be supporting legislation to improve the current statutes dealing with cyclists and motorists.

Thank you for your advocacy.

Sincerely,

State Representative Art Staed

House District 66, Cedar Rapids

So I urge all of you who live in the state of Iowa that read this blog, get involved with this cause. We need to have our voices heard and our representatives to do what they were elected to do. Write your representatives tell them of your position on this matter and when it comes up for debate and for passage, please pay attention and be involved. Together we can make a difference.

Ride Safe, Ride often.

Dear Tom

noreply@blogger.com (David Glandon) — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Tom Tjelmeland, guest columnist

Jul 28, 2016 at 3:26 pm | Print View

For a long time, it has been a big concern of mine about the increasing bikes on the public highways. What I am about to put into words may not be popular with some of my friends who are cyclists.

Many times I have encountered cyclists riding on the Ely Road (W6E) since the new bike trail to Ely was completed. The cyclists appeared to be experienced and serious cyclists and should know riding on this excellent trail is much safer.

Over my 25-plus years as mayor I was involved in many discussions about completing a bike trail on the old Rock Island Railroad bed. There had been many problems with this as the funding was to be paid by tax payers on all levels of government. It was and still is my contention that bikes should be licensed for two reasons: first, to help pay for trails and, second, to be able to track down violators.

Many times after the Ely trail was completed cyclists have gone through stop signs in front of me when coming off the trail onto a city street. Serious cyclists should know all the traffic laws apply to them as well. Currently, the Ely Road is being resurfaced affecting two bike crossings on the trail to Ely. Some cyclists have decided to follow the detour route on Jappa Road to Ely. This route is dangerous because of the hills and the curves with minimal sight.

I myself had a close call with cyclists when I was driving over a hill and found two riding abreast. If another car would have been coming from the other direction I most likely would not have been able to stop in time. I was not speeding nor was I distracted by a phone, bikes are just slower.

I buy license plate tags every year and pay a tax on gas to help maintain the roads. I believe cyclists should be required to do their part for trail building and maintenance by being registered, purchasing plates and an annual sticker for their bicycle. This in my mind would give them the right to use and to obey all the traffic laws on the open road and trails.

It is our responsibility to not be distracted while driving and it is cyclists’ responsibility to make sure they use a safe route to ride.

• Tom Tjelmeland is a former mayor of Ely.

Dear Tom;

I appreciate your concerns over the issue of cyclist on the highway and how they should utilize the great trail that connects Cedar Rapids to Ely and beyond as well as the work you put into it. I am also sorry that you have had your share of bad encounters with cyclist that refuse to follow the laws of the road. I too have had that problem with cyclist not following the rules of the road while operating my car and my bicycle. There's nothing like poor cyclist or motorist to give a bad name to their class.

This issue that I must take up with you is the bogus argument that cyclist do not pay their way to help maintain the roads and trails. This is so far from the truth. Most cyclist I know and including myself, do hold a valid Iowa driver's license. We make many purchases of goods and service including gas that is taxed as well as pay our federal and state tax. All of which goes to the funding of roads and trails among other things. Some of us even donate money and time to these project because we believe in the greater good that they will bring for many generations beyond us. We are not dead beats and freeloaders that let others pay our way so we can reap the benefits. Most of us are responsible, upstanding citizens that pay their fair share.

The issue you have with cyclist are the ones who aren’t cognizant of the responsibilities and rules of the road. Who don’t understand the impact of their behavior either because they are naive or think they are above it. Sound familiar? These are the same issues cyclist have with motorist. The solution to the problem is education of both the motorist and the cyclist. If we can teach the cyclist that they must follow the rules of the road, be visible and predictable I believe we could cut down the number of incidents between cars and bicycles.

I would also stress this to motorist, that cyclist do have a right to be on the road and deserve the respect often given to fellow motorist. We also need to end the distractions of our electronic devices such as the cell phones. Cars are not phone booths. And if a motorist does come up to a group riding 2 by then please be patient and give a courteous honk of the horn. If they are good cyclist they will move to a single file line. If not pass on and in the left lane giving them room. Someone could be the bigger person in this situation, why not a motorist?

Blame and finger pointing is not the solution to the problem. It is education, patience, and tolerance that will win out the day for both parties. I see that you are passionate about this subject and hope you will turn that into advocacy that both parties will benefit from. Again thank you for your work on the trail system, I find it to be a great ride and hope others will do the same.

David Glandon
Crazy Commuting Cyclist