The new (old) bike

The green L.L. Bean hybrid bicycle that appears to the right is no longer with me. Last month I sold it in an effort to reduce my bicycle inventory (mine was a two person, seven bike household). This initiative also included the sale of my 1979 Peugeot UO-10 single speed conversion.

There was really nothing wrong with the Green Bean. It was a perfectly serviceable bike. The bottom bracket was starting to get a little creaky, but other than that, it was mechanically sound. I've heard that the new owner is making good use of it. I just wanted a change.

Since the sale of the Green Bean, I've been using two of my remaining three bicycles for my commute. One is a 2005 Raleigh M40 DX, which I'll be become my primary bike after I complete some alterations (more on that in a future post).

In the meantime, the bicycle I'm riding most often is a 1979 Peugeot UE-8.



Well, most of 1979 Peugeot UE-8. Students of bike boom Peugeots will notice that several parts are missing and detect a number of alien components that are not native to this bike. For the most part, however, it's pretty much what you got in an entry level bicycle 30 years ago. In other words, it wasn't exactly high tech, even back then. Still, it's almost perfectly suited for commuting and a lot of run to ride.

Seven miles and two costume changes

In the crazy world of bicycle commuting, there are people who commute 30 miles or more everyday in all kinds of weather. Commutes of this kind generally require cycling-specific clothing, access to showers and lockers at work, and plenty of willpower. My roundtrip, by comparison, is around five miles. Except for today. I've already ridden more than seven.

Today I rode to work with my wife's keys in my pocket. Just as I reached the office, she called to report she was locked inside the house. I pedaled -- double-time -- back to the house to release her so she could go to work. On arrival at home, I was more moist than I would prefer to be at the beginning of the workday. So I had to cool down and change into dry clothes before heading back to the office.

I've commuted to work by bicycle almost every day for almost a year. During this time, my decision not to drive has created few negative consequences for me or my employer. Still, on hot and humid days like today, it would have been much easier simply to turn the car around and zip back to the house.

Remember me?

I am alive and riding. And I'm planning to resume regular posting soon. But first, a bit of news. I've recently learned that the first ever Georgia State Bicycle & Pedestrian Conference is scheduled for Oct. 24 and 25 at the Holiday Inn in Decatur. Sounds like there are some good sessions on tap, including:

• Bicycle, pedestrian and multi-use trail facility design
  
• Traffic calming
• Updates from the GDOT and Federal Highway Administration
  
• Best practices from bike and pedestrian friendly communities
  
• Bike, pedestrian and greenway planning
  
• Funding sources
  
• Safe Routes to School programs
  
• Economic development and tourism
  
• Travel Demand Management
  
• Data collection and analysis
  
• Mobile bike/walk workshops

And of course:

• More

Additional information can be found here.