Flying & Bicycling
I’m a private pilot that loves riding bicycles. On the surface, you might assume that flying and bicycling have very little in common, right? It turns out that flying and bicycling have many things in common. Here are just a few… What were the Wright Brothers doing before they built that first, famous airplane? Building bicycles! Riding a bicycle is [...]
CoMotion Americano Rohloff
“American Made, Oregon Made, Handmade” That’s the slogan of custom bicycle builder CoMotion Cycles. About a year ago, smitten by the bicycle touring bug, I decided to start putting some cash aside so I could purchase what many bicycle tourists agree is one of the top touring bikes on the market – the CoMotion Americano. I was determined, too, to [...]
The Bicycle as Transportation
Ride to work. Ride to breakfast/lunch/dinner. Ride to an event. Yes, all of these are possible, but only if you’ve been awakened to the fact that the bicycle in your garage can be so much more than a fitness device. Before my own awakening, back in the early part of 2008, I actually remember worrying about things like “how would [...]
Review: Burley Travoy
“Cool! What is that?!” That’s a typical response I get when riding my bicycle with the Burley Travoy attached. The Travoy is an attention getter both because of it’s unique look and it’s uncanny ability in a manner of seconds to add cargo carrying utility to nearly any bike. I have used my Travoy to: Carry all the equipment I [...]
2011 : A Year in Review
In 2011, riding my bicycle to/from work helped me avoid purchasing 100 gallons of gasoline which put just over $300 back in my pocket. Thank you, bicycle! Thanks to Garmin Connect it’s easy to look back and analyze my 2011 bicycle mileage: Transportation: 1,190 miles (commuting, errands) Training: 607 miles (prep for cycling events like Tour de Cure) Fitness: 240 miles [...]
At 9am on Wednesday, December 30th I rolled out of my driveway on my Trek Valencia and embarked on my second bicycle tour. My destination, Wimberley, TX, was about 50 miles northeast of my home. I planned the route using Garmin’s Mapsource program on my PC and downloaded the route to my Garmin Edge 705 so I’d have the benefit [...]
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Happy New Year! Time to reflect on my year-end total mileage and key milestones for 2009 (thanks to Garmin Connect which lets me track all of this). It has been an incredible year for my cycling! Here are some mileage totals and some key events that made 2009 an amazing journey on two wheels. Mileage Totals: Commuting: 2,118 (biking to [...]
I purchased a Trek Soho S this past weekend and have managed a few short rides on it. I plan to do a comprehensive review similar to my series on the Trek Valencia. The Trek Soho S is a single-speed bicycle which shares an almost identical frame to the Valencia – this means you’re getting a stable ride and a [...]
That was my sentiment today as I stared up at the overcast sky and felt a light mist fall on my face. I’d just arrived at nearby Bullis Park and was going on a bike ride despite Mother Nature’s prescription of drizzle with temps in the mid-50’s. My road bike is quite familiar with Bullis Park as this picturesque location [...]
The sounds of my three cats meowing and a much needed reminder from my wife ensured that I’d be making a trip yesterday to grab a new bag of our favorite cat food, Science Diet Hairball Control Light. Two of our cats are very furry and one is notorious for eating things. The “hairball control” has been a life-saver…but that’s [...]
During my bicycle commute home on Thursday afternoon, I rolled past the 2,000 mile mark. 2,000 miles of bicycling back and forth to work since January 1st, 2009. As a result of this milestone, I thought I’d pause and reflect for a moment. My primary reason for bicycle commuting, as I’ve said on more than one occasion, is to maintain [...]
During my sojourn to Fredericksburg, TX on my bike, my Trek Valencia crossed the 2,000 mile mark. I thought I’d pause and reflect on this milestone and give an update on how the bicycle is doing. I purchased the bike in December of last year. In a nutshell, it’s doing great! The bike has really held up well despite taking [...]
While my little bicycle tour is fresh in my mind, I wanted to take the opportunity to document some of the key insights and lessons learned so I can make my next bicycle tour even more enjoyable. So, without further adieu, here they are in no particular order: Sunscreen is a must for any trip. Period. Better planning for water [...]
Yesterday I completed a 65-mile, 6.5 hour journey from my home in San Antonio to the town of Fredericksburg, Texas on my bicycle. It was an amazing experience and a true physical/mental challenge. It was a physical challenge because: Much of the route involved climbing, including a long, curvy climb with a 3% grade. Oh…did I forget to mention? This [...]
As I write this, I am making final preparations for my 68-mile journey from my house in San Antonio, TX to the town of Fredericksburg, TX. As a road, mountain and commuting cyclist it was only natural that I instantly gravitated to the sense of adventure and freedom that bicycle touring offers. A few months ago I joined the Adventure [...]
