We look back on 2013 with some photos from our bike travels, bicycle touring and commuting build projects and other fun stuff.  Photos of our Natural Living Organic Food Co-op, my wood working projects and more.  It has been a lot of hard work and effort and we are grateful for all the help and support we have received from our local community and garden project.  Looking forward to 2014, Enjoy.

Baby, it's cold outside and as the temperature drops I can hear Ray Charles singing warm cozy songs to get me through the day. 
 
A nice winter chill is good for my soul and Lisa notices how it cheers me up and boosts my spirits to feel the dry cool air.  It's not like when I lived in Colorado choosing to bicycle commute because it just made good practical sense.  What with snow plows often times plowing the wrong side of the road thereby burying the driveway entrance in four to five feet of solid ice and snow.  One time it was so cold (several degrees below zero) when I drove my car home from work, got out and shut the door and the windshield cracked.  Yikes!  It wasn't a hard decision to commute by bike after that.  Not only did I save money on gas and other auto maintenance expenses, I didn't have to deal with costly repairs caused by such extreme cold.  

Nowadays, bicycle commuting is easy.  Here on the Texas gulf coast winter is a welcomed diversion from hot, humid, mosquito infested summers.  This winter there has been plenty of rain and with the lack of bike lanes it means that the side street dirt paths that the locals have carved out will be slick with plenty of puddles. 

Today's priority is adding a front fender to the "Rigamaroll".  Affectionately named so as it's a piecer built from some new old stock components and added to over the past eighteen months or so as a suitable commuter bike for this area's terrain.  Pot holes, old streets, brick, cobble stone paths and the aforementioned street side pathways call for a solid "all rounder" with Mavic  26" disc wheelset I'm not concerned about having to true its' wheels very often.  I had considered a fat bike but felt it was a bit redundant and simply unnecessary as I can ride pretty well over beach sand with the Rigamaroll's 2.35" tires.  Anyhow, back to the fender.  I had an old aluminum full front fender pulled from a junker with a bent frame.  Due to the rigidity of the fender material it wasn't necessary to install a full front fender and due to the suspension corrected length of the Kona Project 2 fork installation would have required purchasing or making an adapter so that an equal distance between the tire and fender could be established.  Totally unnecessary for this so I simply cut it down, screwed it on and oala!  It looks pretty nice if I do say so myself, even if the pseudo "hammered finish" gives the appearance of a garbage can lid.  It does the job and didn't cost me a penny, which is always good for me.  
Now that I hear police have been sighting bike commuters for not using a front light, that's next on the list as winter brings longer nights. Since my birthday is this week, think I will wait as I know what the girls are getting me for my bicycle commuting lighting needs.  Hoping it's the Cygolite 300 as I shared a link with Lisa while they were on sale, now there's only four left if anyone's interested.  It's an excellent front bicycle light for my bike commuting needs and for bicycle touring it can be recharged via most solar USB chargers.  Good Stuff. 

When selecting a bike for commuting here are a few things to consider for practical purposes of moving about the town and if need be, country side. Mountain bikes work very well for bicycle commuting particularly when one feels comfortable enough wearing casual clothing while riding their bike.

Mountain bikes are economical and efficient here's some reasons for that. Rather than go on about the various types of mountain bikes, reference the photo above for the rigid mountain bike design which typically weighs less than mountain bikes with suspension, cost less to maintain and service, easily install racks and fenders. "Relatively" light weight.  If I wanted to throw my bike on a bus or transit train I wouldn't want it to be burdensome.  Less weight lends to efficiency while riding, a heavy bike (without cargo) isn't all that much fun to push along or up a hill.  A bicycle's weight contributes to handling, a lighter weight contributes to a more nimble bike, which creates confidence and performance.  For the most part mountain bikes are designed to be durable, churn along through dirt, rocks, mud, water, pretty much anything a biking trail might offer.  For this reason wheels and components are plenty reliable to meet the demands for bike commuting and requires less maintenance costs, ie wheel truing in particular. 

Canada's Gerald Lauzon has offered this simple yet concise free e book for download.  Filled with simple information for the DIY'er or for those just wanting to understand basic bike nomenclature or ability to speak some bike lingo at the local bike shop.  Here is the quote from his blog where this handy little manual is available at http://howtofixbikes.ca/

"Well, here it is. The bike book for the average Joe and Jane who doesn't know squat about bike repair or maintenance. 40 pages of instructions and tips written with the novice in mind, you won't lose yourself in technical terms with this one and I have added some detailed images to help you along.

This book is my first written document following 16 years of experience as a rogue bike mechanic and 3 years of publishing my knowledge of bike care on the web at howtofixbikes.ca.

Download the pdf for free right now and feed on my experience. Yeah, you read it right, free! Print it, use it. You're only invited to make a donation of the amount of your choice".

Here is a fun collection of Poems from S Conant Foster from 1884.  Although the language and vernacular of the times is very dated, it's a fun little book that includes 80 pages of poems all having to do with bicycle commuting or touring.

A fun gift idea, for the family bike enthusiast.

Here'slink for free download when file opens simply click on arrow in upper right to download or icon to left of arrow to share.

The Indispensable Bicyclist's Handbook by Henry Sturmey from 1887 is a fun read. Even though most of the technology of today's bikes is of course antiquated many of the principles and ideas remain the same.  Seeing and recognizing the timelessness of a bicycle makes this book very interesting.


Click on cover photo at left of here's alink for free download.  Click on arrow in upper right to download after file opens.  This is a large file 17 mb so once it is done loading indicated by blue bar on bottom of screen then download or use the icon to left of arrow to share.
Enjoy.

An 1890 classic with a chapter on bicycle touring discussed touring on a Safety Bicycle with instructions on how to attach and load panniers at that time period which was written in 1890.  Fun and inspiring for appreciating the ease of use for today's advancements in bicycle commuting and touring accessories.

Here is a link for free download in PDF format or click on cover photo at left.

Enjoy.

Updating this article one year later for folks interested in whether or not these panniers for commuter touring bikes are worth the value.  The all weather touring panniers discussed below have become so popular and well reviewed that they are frequently out of stock.  Photo at left is of an alternative set of panniers which include rain covers and are very well reviewed.  

Ibera Bicycle Clip-on Quick Release Panniers include the same rack mounting system with the main difference being the external zipper pockets.  Here are some of the listed product features.

• Compatible with most bikes
• Quick-release PakRak bag mounting system, install and release bag within 3 seconds
• 3 point connection, no flyaway straps
• Built-in rain cover in hidden compartment
• Multiple compartments, carrying strap for off-road use, reflective trim

Of course there are other bike panniers that cost twice as much from Ortlieb, Vaude and Axiom, respectively.  This article has the intended purpose to share information regarding an affordable quality alternative.  A year later Ibera has been producing some quality items for folks interested in traveling one their bikes.

I have been searching hither and yawn for a disc compatible front rack for a recent mountain bike build.  Here's link to an earlier post regarding a mountain bike for trekking, touring and commuting build project. A process of building a new mountain bike for trekking and touring has been a bit frustrating searching for a front rack that would suit the build.

I kept looking at Old Man Mountain products but I had a goal of keeping the build project as reasonably priced as possible without compromising on quality. For this reason I couldn't justify spending $150 on a front rack, or more after shipping and mounting brackets.  

After a few months of searching, looking, perusing and most all forms of asking "where is the rack I'm looking for?" I began to become a bit discouraged.  Knowing the proper rack exists to meet the following criteria:

1. Mount to canti bosses on fork
2. Disc brake compatible
3. Fits 26" wheels
4. Top plate for an aerodynamic camera bag instead of a wind block handlebar bag.
5. Steel construction 

I posted a disc compatible front rack primer this past September, so I was on the look out for a rack probably a month or so prior to that article.  I really like the Kona Project 2 fork but was disappointed when the 440 cm length didn't include threaded eyelets for midway fork mounting.  Now I'm happy with the design as the Minoura MT-4000SFFront Pannier Rack looks like the sweetest front rack for this build.  Not only does it meet all the criteria listed above, but it is very reasonably priced at under $60.  I have not found any reviews of the rack on line. My only experience with any product from Minoura has been the Workman Pro portable wheel truing stand and is an excellent product.  So, I've order their front rack to see how it is. So far it appears to be extremely versatile for suspension fork mounting with clamps or to canti brake bosses and can fit both 26" and 29" wheel sizes.  Mounting hardware included with price, nice.

Girls here keep asking "what do you want for your birthday or Christmas?"  I just didn't have an answer, couldn't think of anything, really and thought "oh let's get some beer and pizza and watch a movie".  Yep, that's just what it feels like to have found this front rack, everybody's happy.  Yep, I feel we are building a pretty nice "all rounder".  
Cheers! 

At some point I may change out my current front rack to another model from Minoura on my road touring bike.  Will wait to see how happy I am with the mountain bike model and will definitely give it a "blog about" for product review.

However, the price, apparent quality and steel construction of the Minoura FRP-3000 is a bit pricey.  It's worth the investment if you're in the market for a quality Front Pannier Rack for Bicycle Touring.

Links related to this article:
Versatile Front Touring Rack, Minoura FRP 3000
Steel Front Rack Provides Mountain Bike for Bicycle Touring

Here at Bike Tourings we refurbished an old '98 Dahon Mariner and we have developed such a fondness for this bike as over the past few years it has provided so many fond memories.  When our girls were little it was the bike they learned to ride on.  With handlebar basket it has been used for many a beer errand and has been crashed a couple of times getting to and from the pub, with the only consequent bruising being to my own ego, not really.

This time of year we usually find ourselves on long road trips to visit family with the Dahon folded and tucked in our minivan beneath suitcases and bags of mostly women's clothing, food and gifts.  Good times, good memories, that's one of the perks of having bikes in one's life.  Besides, it's that time of year to be a bit sentimental anyhow. 

It's a tough little old bike with plenty of life left, particularly now that we have some new components to add, will blog that later.  While surfing the internet today I came upon this link at Dahon for their Green Awards and their Turn a New Leaf pledge similar to People for Bikes pledge to develop more bike commuting habits as a method of improving our environment.  

I nominated Lisa Piper of Natural Living who founded an area organic food co-op, implemented bikes for food delivery before the business grew much larger than bike deliveries can now handle.  Since those early start up days she has brought community area leaders and folks together to establish a food co-op garden.  Lisa also teaches organic cooking and food knowledge to kids and hosts an annual kid's cooking camp out. She also invested in alternative energy resources by installing a solar powered geodesic dome in cooperation with Pacific Domes of Oregon.  Since the kid's camp out is for both boys and girls, everyone pitches in to help set up a tent for the boys and the girls get to sleep in the solar powered dome, also Bike Tourings' work shop.  


Most of us bike folk appreciate green practices, healthy food, alternative energy all of which align with the various grass roots bike organizations that promote bicycle commuting and bicycle touring.  I'm one such person and have been wanting to find a good "excuse", not that I needed one to help promote the kind, generous and thoughtful efforts of Lisa's team of women who help keep the Natural Living efforts prosperous and smooth.  Oh ya, did I mention she enjoys bike commuting?  Of course she does.

Hey Dahon, give this woman some strong consideration for your Green Award, she (and women she works with) certainly deserve it.

Lots of bikes passed through the Bike Tourings' workshop this year.  Friends who (in one form or another) crashed their bikes pretty hard required cold setting of frames, handle bars and derailleur hangers.  It was a fun, busy year and looking back we certainly got through some challenging times.  It's a good time of year to take stock and reflect on the things we are grateful for, even if it's a reminder to do so more often.

Some of the bikes here proved to be very challenging, each with its own unique scenario, for example completely stripping the rusted and corroded copper and paint from the poor old Puch Bergmeister.  Trying to get a a brushed and polished steel frame clear coated to prevent rusting proved to be a chore.  Bent fork and steer tube wow, looking back I can hardly believe that worked out so well.  Notice the raked out fork, beautiful for a touring bike wheel base, even if it is a bit silly.
    
Lost but not forgotten vintage Motobecane Prestige left at our property in Colorado for several years with original roller generator and spoke lock, another one of a kind find that while I had listed it for sale I hoped it wouldn't sell.  I enjoy the silly thing not only for it's unique steel lugged classic design with unique Sachs Huret components and steel rack, fender accessories but also the silly integrated chain guard on the crankset that permits me to ride it with any work pants and not tear up the pant leg or cover with grease stains. A true commuter's bike with roller generator lights works very well with Scwalbe Marathon tires. Chrome rear rack and even has anti theft spoke lock, tiny braze ons for routing the light wires from generator to lights, very well thought out design for bicycle commuting and touring. Even with the 58cm frame size being a bit tall for me, I still enjoy it.  

Each bike shown here with exception of Razesa and the Diamond Back were in such a state of disrepair that our local bike shops either wouldn't want to mess with having to come up with creative solutions for the repairs and upgrades or they would have charged a huge sum in repair cost.  That having been said these bikes serve as analogies of having been beaten down and here they are back on the road, looking good as dependable, safe, enjoyable rides. A reminder that patience with ourselves and hard work are worth the effort and though I cussed quite a bit through some of the painstaking efforts and mistakes, I am grateful for these simple things in life.  Here's a link to Vimeo video that lends a bit of a sentimental touch to refurbishing vintage bikes.  Reminds me that Lisa suggests I get before and after photos of these projects.  Guess I haven't figured that out, not that it's necessary.  At least I had the where with all to thank her for putting up with my grumbling efforts.  Enjoy.

Ever popular MTBR (mountain bike review forums) has a Top Five List of Beers for the Mountain Biker. As most of us have discovered over the years mountain biking and beer are a blend of heaven, particularly at the campsite with good friends or family after kickin' it on the trails.

Companies like New Belgium Brewing with their Fat Tire line and so many others.  While growing up in Portland, Oregon during the 80's there were no craft or micro breweries like there are today.  Today, bike folk take to pedaling the streets to tour some of the finest craft beers in the country and has become a popular sub culture of bike and beer aficionados.  

I have a dear friend from those Henry Weinhard days of Portland (thank goodness that's done) and I can here him now "Hey brother, I'm on my way with my bike, I'll pick up the road sodas".  And he always picks up Guinness knowing that's all I want to drink.  Now is that a friend? That's a friend. 

It isn't pure selfishness on my part and he isn't kissin' my butt for me to guide his ride here, he understands now that if you're going to drink beer don't get ripped off, get something from it.What do I mean my that?  Here's a link to a Study found on nutritional benefits of Guinness, a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys knocking back a few while bicycle touring or on the way home from work during their bike commute. Here are four ideas to suggest you visit the article at link provided to read the rest of the good stuff for a quality bike beer.

1. This tastes-great, more-filling formula defies nutritional expectations because Guinness is so low in alcohol, a source of empty calories. Guinness is 4.2 percent alcohol by volume, the same as Coors Light. Budweiser and Heineken check in at 5 percent.
2.  If the guidelines are less alcohol, fewer calories, fewer carbohydrates and, to top it off, protection against heart attacks, blindness and maybe even impotence, then it's the Guinness drinker, hands down.
   
3. Guinness has a higher concentration than lighter beers of vitamin B, which lowers levels of homocysteine, linked to clogged arteries. And researchers have found that antioxidants from the moderate use of stout might reduce the incidence of cataracts by as much as 50 percent
   
4. It's milk's line, but beer gives you strong bones, too.
   

Everything in moderation including moderation is a motto I've heard bike folks to live by.  Whether they're referring to miles on the bike or beer intake or both or neither, whatever to each their own.  For some good ideas regarding moderation check out the Positivity Blog. 
Cheers!
Oh, and I enjoyed sipping one while I wrote this article.

Looking for a way to fuel your bike commute?  While bicycle commuting is great for the environment and a person's health, it can also be a bit demanding depending on distance, environmental factors including air quality, hills or necessity to push hard to keep up or get through traffic.

Proteins, amino acids, selenium for keeping the immune system strong are all important elements for fueling the body.  Problem is most folks aren't getting these essential nutrients from an average American diet.  Most of the so called healthy supplements that are full of caffeine and sugars found in many energy drinks are empty of real nutrition.  

For the last three years I have been working with Natural Living, a country store and organic food co-op and have been introduced to many beneficial ways of getting proper nutrition.  I was first introduced to natural and holistic methods of diet as healing several years ago when I discovered I had a bacterial ulcer.  I was drinking cow's milk at that time and a friend helped me figure out why I was having so much stomach pain by referencing an indispensable reference book Prescription for Nutritional Healing.  

I was talking to one of the Store's customers about this and she suggested I try Goat's milk, so I went about researching the health benefits.  What I found is quite amazing.  Not only does Goat Milk provide the proteins, amino acids, selenium, B12 and potassium I was looking for, it's also good for different types of inflammation and is anti mucous forming.  Not only is goat milk extremely nutrient dense, it has been used to nourish and regenerate an over taxed nervous system and provides good bacteria.  So, if you've had a day of nerve racking bike commuter traffic, grab a glass of goat's milk and relax a bit to aid your bodies recovery. 

What's even better is adding a tablespoon of a "green drink" powder supplement like these from Amazing Grass Super food.  One of the reasons I like that company's line of products are the various formulas for men, women, kids, joint pain, etc.  There are so many health benefits from getting the nutrients our bodies crave from this form of supplement, one of which is absorption.  Whereas there was the debate of vitamins being passed through the body without proper absorption so as to say it was a waste of time to take vitamin supplements.  With this form of supplement the body absorbs the rich nutrients readily and effectively.  An excellent way to stay strong, healthy, keep from bonking and maintain a strong immune system. Another benefit of this type of supplement is for bicycle touring when you want to pack something light weight that doesn't take up a lot of space in your panniers.  With this you can pack the green powder however you want, zip lock bag for example and add a tea spoon or table spoon to a full water bottle to fuel those bike adventures. 

A quick search provides lots of information about goat's milk, we get our milk from a local free range goat farm at Proverbs Farms.  Visit their wonderful family owned site for more information.

For some fun energy bar recipes that are convenient to snack on and fuel bike touring adventures visit the Natural Living site for free recipes.