The Evolution of My Bicycle Commuting, Part 3

Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. And the last of my story…

So, all in all, since the beginning of May, I’d say I have driven less than 100 miles – and 80 of those miles were acquired by helping my dad move here from another town. So in a “normal” summer, I would’ve driven less than 20 miles in two months. Wahoo!

However, there were still a few “glitches” in my system. A few weeks ago, I decided to go to the grocery store once more to see if I could get what I needed and get home safely now that I had my basket. Unfortunately, my load was way too big and heavy for the basket! I put what I could into it, and the rest in my messenger bag and almost fell off my bike trying to ride through the parking lot – SO HEAVY! Then I unloaded, hung everything on the bicycle and walked a mile, before realizing that at that pace, and with two more miles to go, it would take me over an hour to walk back. So…I repacked my messenger bag, prayed I wouldn’t have to make any stops (stopping and starting was really difficult with that much weight), and rolled on home. I barely made it up the steep hill near my house, but success! And when I got home, I weighed everything – 28 pounds of groceries!

At that point, I realized that if I want to get serious about this, I’m going to need a trailer for the bicycle. I started looking for one on Craigslist, and then was offered a great deal on one from an awesome friend in Portland (thanks, A!). However, a few days later, my machinist friend and my brother presented me with a surprise – a trailer they had built just for me! They made the whole thing – and I don’t mean assembled. I mean welded, screwed, sanded, shaped, painted…MADE it. From scratch. They even painted it to match my bike! I’m so tickled about this thing, I can’t even tell you.

Copyright: Five Seed

I bought a flag for it (I’m concerned about visibility issues and want to make sure people see that my bike doesn’t end where they think it does), and have experimented with some different options with boxes and bungees to find something that seems to work really well. I started out with a small basket on the side, so I could fit longer items on the other side, but ended up buying a huge plastic (ick, I know) crate with a top that mostly covers the entire trailer, allowing me a TON of storage capacity, as well as better balance for the items, once they are loaded. As the trailer fills, it obviously gets heavier and heavier to pull, and up hills it can be a bear. However…I’ll be in really good shape after a few rides with this baby! Parking is also a bit of an issue as this trailer is as long as my bicycle – so I have to find creative places to park it!

With the new flag, on my way to get my CSA veggies. Copyright: Five Seed

And back home with my veggies. Copyright: Five Seed

So all in all, I’m making some good progress. I noticed at some point that I am less afraid of driving in traffic than I was in the past. However, I almost never make left turns on my bike (something I had attempted a few times last year). I just get too stressed and find that it’s not worth it. I either take an alternate route or just walk the crosswalks. I haven’t had many issues this year, thankfully (no near-accidents, and no high school boys harassing me which happened often last year), except for one young man in a giant pick-up truck who pulled up behind me while I was at a stop sign one day and honked at me continually for me to get out of the way so he could go ahead of me. I knew the law was on my side so I ignored him. Other than that…it’s been smooth sailing.

I don’t even obsess about my bicycle getting stolen anymore. I just lock it up and leave the parts (lights, basket, saddle, etc.) attached. Though, don’t get me wrong – if it ever got stolen, I sure would be upset. And it would be pretty easy to steal the trailer, since it’s only attached to the saddle – just detach the saddle, and one could walk away with the entire trailer. But…I’m not going to let myself worry about that. I need to make sure my bicycle is covered by my insurance and just trust that everything else will be okay!

The coolest thing about bicycling is that when you are committed to it, and people see your commitment (by seeing you ride every day, or by seeing you use your bicycle to shop or do other things that would usually require a car), it is something they will remember. It suddenly becomes possible to, say, haul a kiddie pool across town on your bicycle, instead of using a gas-guzzling SUV. (I know it’s possible because I did it!) People take notice of that – kids, especially. My nephews have come to associate me with bicycles. In fact, at our town’s 4th of July Parade, I was holding my 2-year-old nephew on my hip when a bunch of bicyclists rode by. He yelled, “Is that Auntie?!” I said, “No, silly, I’m right here!” He laughed and said, “Oh, yeah,” and in that moment, I realized how strongly he associated me with bicycles. And when they see my trailer, they are so fascinated by it. Kids take notice of what we do, especially if it is different than what other adults do. Imagine the seeds we can plant in their minds if more and more of us eschew our cars for bicycles.

Yes, it can be done! You can haul just about anything with the right trailer! Copyright: Five Seed

Copyright: Five Seed

So how about you? Have you made any changes in your commuting habits?

The Evolution of My Bicycle Commuting, Part 2

Read Part 1 here.

In October 2010, I went on my first night ride ever – I didn’t even ride at night when I was a kid, so it was a very exciting adventure for me! Until I almost got hit by a car. I was riding down a main street in town, and there was no traffic in either direction (thank goodness). I was only wearing a flashing LED light around my neck and am armband reflector. I admit, I did not have the legally-required headlight on my bike, though I don’t think this would have made a difference. A car came barreling out of a church parking lot, the driver not even looking in either direction, and I swerved into the other lane, and barely righted myself as he drove off. I suspect he was looking for the glow of headlights in his peripheral vision and when he didn’t see it, he just rode on out.

Reflective arm band and LED necklace - not enough to make yourself visible! Copyright: Five Seed

After that, I became extremely scared of riding at night, though I realized that it was largely – perhaps entirely – my fault. It is every cyclist’s obligation to make themselves as visible as possible at night. So…I bought myself a reflective vest with LED lights embedded along the front and back, an LED headlight for my bike and LED spoke lights for side visibility.

LED reflective vest. Copyright: Five Seed

LED headlight - surprisingly bright! Copyright: Five Seed

Multicolor LED spoke lights (which are totally awesome-looking when the wheels are in motion!). Copyright: Five Seed

I ventured out at night again (around 9PM) in mid-November. The temperature was in the 30’s, but I felt invigorated and was so excited with my little “light show.” I felt confident the drivers could see me, and thankfully, there weren’t that many to begin with at that hour of the night. Unfortunately, I realized that my lights would draw all kinds of attention, and sure enough, that night, on a deserted side street, I passed a young man who kept yelling at me to get off my bike and come talk to him, that he thought my lights were so cool and wondered if I had a cigarette. Nothing happened, but the encounter scared me a bit. And that’s the last time I ever rode at night. Though I hope to try it again someday soon.

As winter came along, I continued to bicycle orders to the post office fairly often through Christmas. (The only times I really didn’t bicycle were when we had snow on the ground – our neighborhood’s streets do not get plowed during the winter, so it is impossible to ride the first mile to the post office.) After that, I slacked off a lot (though not entirely) for the next three months.

Once “spring” came around (I use that term loosely since we technically don’t have a spring in this area), I felt inspired to recommit myself to defaulting to the bike rather than the car. I also had a new tool at my disposal: a handlebar basket! I had received it for Christmas, but it sat in the garage for months, as I didn’t know how to attach it. I finally asked a friend, and was disappointed to find out that my handlebars are too thick to accommodate the mount for the basket. My disappointment was short-lived, however, as my friend is a very talented amateur machinist and within a week, he had created a sturdy metal mount for the basket that I must say, is superior to the one that came with the basket!

This basket has been a lifesaver for me. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy having it. It’s a little tricky to have on – it weighs down the handlebars and pulls them to the side when I park, causing the bike to fall over if I’m not careful (and even more so when it is full of stuff). And the heavier it is, the more careful I have to be when steering in order to keep the balance (though I’ve noticed that the more I ride with it, the easier it gets). But I LOVE this basket so much. It’s so cute, and it made me so excited to go out and run errands. It has made things a lot easier for me, in terms of storage capacity.

July 2011: Picking up veggies from my CSA in my awesome basket. Copyright: Five Seed

Stay tuned for the story of my bicycle trailer and my new bicycle adventures…

The Evolution of My Bicycle Commuting, Part 1

For years now, I have been feeling increasingly uncomfortable with our society’s dependence on oil. It is truly everywhere – powering our homes, our cars, and in the plastic that seems to be everywhere in our lives. Last April, after the BP oil spill in the Gulf, I reached a breaking point. I decided it was time to stop using my car so much (while cultivating the dream of getting rid of my car entirely).

I immediately set a goal for myself last spring to bike or walk anywhere that was 8 miles or less (one way). I already owned a red mountain bike that I had bought from WalMart in 2002 (and of course, the proper accessories including a helmet and gloves). However, my history with bicycling was purely sport – before my 2007 knee injury, I used to bicycle 10 miles a day and 20 miles every Saturday out on the back roads and trails in my town. I always found it to be a great stress reliever. I would never then (and still to this day) define myself as a cyclist – not in this town. I live in an area where bicycling is a SERIOUS sport – many cyclists around here do 20+ miles every single day during training season, all of them have racing bicycles, and all wear the standard racing gear when out and about. But me, I’m nothing like that. I’d just go out in my sweats on my super clunky, heavy mountain bike, and take my time riding my 10 miles.

Despite my many years of riding, I had basically no experience driving in traffic when I started this “project” last spring. I would hardly call my town a busy, intimidating city, but even so – riding in traffic can be daunting no matter how many (or how few) cars are on the roads. So when I first began, I usually opted to walk rather than bicycle – it seemed easier to me than worrying about traffic lights, left turns and the like. I also worried a lot about having my bicycle or components of it stolen while I was in stores. In fact, I worried about this so much that I would disconnect everything that wasn’t bolted on (the speedometer, the lights, even the saddle!) and carry them in my messenger bag while I shopped – which you can imagine was cumbersome and time-consuming!

September 2010, on the way to the post office. Copyright: Five Seed

Storage was another major problem for me. Because of the way my bicycle is built (it has a crazy-weird suspension system for those mountain trails that I’m never on!), it cannot support a rear rack. The handlebars are also problematic with the brakes so close to one another – it made the idea of getting a handlebar basket seem impossible. So I stopped going to the grocery store on my bicycle, using it only to get to friends’ houses, the bank, the library, or the post office. The grocery store was a journey I made in my car so I would have enough room for all the groceries, all the time bemoaning the fact that I didn’t have a bicycle trailer to do the same job sans petroleum!

Autumn came, and I didn’t think much about bicycle storage anymore. I challenged myself to bike to the post office whenever possible, which didn’t always work. (Gosh, I can be lazy when the skies are gray and the wind is blowing!) But many times, I was able to get out there and ride, despite the cold. I can remember my fingers feeling nearly frozen one day, and reminding myself that it was time to start doubling up on gloves. I also found a pair old earmuffs in a drawer and found them to be an absolute miracle at keeping my ears and head warm during autumn riding (and the cold days of winter to come).

Ear muffs really do make a huge difference when riding in cold, windy conditions. I highly recommend them! Copyright: Five Seed

Stayed tuned for an account of my experience with riding at night…

Five natural, eco-friendly skin cleansers

Go natural with your face washing routine. Instead of chemical-laden commercial soaps and cleansers, try one of the following:

Baking Soda
Sprinkle a little baking soda into the palm of your hand, add a few drops of water, and gently rub over the face. This is a wonderful way to exfoliate the skin, and to really get a deep clean. However, it is recommended that you only use baking soda once a week. Daily use can cause dryness or irritation. This is a good choice for oily skin types.

Castile Soap
Dr. Bronner’s castile soaps are effective and eco-friendly. They are made from fair trade, organic oils, and are so highly concentrated that one bottle will last a very long time. Use the bar, or the liquid for a gentle and earth-friendly wash. All skin types would benefit from this product.
Honey
This is another item that all skin types can use. It may sound like a sticky disaster, but honey is one of the best facial cleansers you can use. Simply squeeze a little onto your hand, work into moistened skin, then rinse. It comes off cleanly, and gets the job done. You can use honey as a mask, as well – just leave it on the face for 10 minutes, then rinse. Add a bit of brown sugar for a great an exfoliating paste.

Oatmeal
Soak about a tablespoon of oatmeal in warm water, then massage onto the face, and rinse. This is also great for exfoliation, and is excellent for oily skin. (You can find this in the bulk bins in most grocery stores and avoid the needless packaging.)
Oil
Oil?! Yes, oil! This is the method I use. Some people just spread a light coating of oil (like jojoba) over their skin and then rub off with a warm washcloth. I use jojoba with a touch of castor oil to really cleanse the pores, and I let it steam into my face with the hot washcloth before wiping it off.
The best way to wash your face? Just splash with water. If you wear makeup, gently rub it off with a wet washcloth. Nothing is more natural, eco-friendly, or inexpensive than that!

Updated and reprinted from my article at Examiner.

Cleaning and greening your pantry

If you neglected your pantry during your spring cleaning, it’s not too late to get in there and clean it out before you start canning and storing for the winter!

Check expiration dates

If anything has expired, it is time to toss it. Unopened pantry staples can last anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 years, depending on the item. If you are in doubt of an item’s freshness, it is safest to discard it. To prevent future food waste, buy only what you can use in a short period of time. This will help you save money and keep your pantry organized.

Eliminate processed foods

Stick to the basics in your pantry – flours, nuts, beans, spices, pastas, whole grain cereals, etc. Processed foods are full of preservatives and chemicals and have been linked to diabetes, heart disease, obesity and even types of cancer. Get rid of anything containing artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, and trans-fats (partially hydrogenated oils). Greening your pantry means eliminating foods made from chemical cocktails.

Be savvy about GMOs

Unfortunately, many of the United States’ staple crops, like corn and soy, are GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Currently, the GMO labeling laws are so full of loopholes that they are almost useless to consumers. Because of this, GMOs can be extremely difficult to spot in the grocery store.

There are widespread concerns about the long-term health and environmental effects of GMOs. Until we know for sure, the safest bet is to stick with foods that are as natural as possible. That means avoiding non-organic foods that contain corn or soy. Canola and cottonseed oils are also something you want to avoid, as well as non-organic table sugar and anything containing any of those items. Always look for USDA certified organic labels if you are unsure. When it comes to produce, avoid stickers with five digits that start with the number 8 – these are GMOs.

Avoid heavily packaged foods

If your pantry is full of packaged food, then it is an indication that you are eating too many chemicals and preservatives. The more packaged a food is, the more processed it is.

Additionally, the packaging from processed foods is damaging to you and the environment. Toxins can migrate from the packaging into your food, and the waste created by packaging contributes to our growing landfills.

When it comes to cleaning, greening, organizing, and stocking your pantry, stick to the basics: Fresh, whole, naturally-grown foods.

This post was updated from my previously published article over at Examiner.

Summer Self Care

I think a lot of people push themselves too hard in the summer without realizing it. The sun is out so early and so late – who wants to stay in bed when it’s sunny and warm outside? There are sports to play, family to visit, barbeques to plan, gardens to weed… It’s such a pleasant time of year that I don’t think we realize how hard it can be on our bodies. Heat, sun exposure, long hours of physical activity and allergies can all conspire to wear us out.

Copyright: Five Seed

Are you taking care of yourself? Here are a few things to try to keep yourself healthy this summer.

::Carry a spray bottle of hydrosol with you when you go out. It is a great way to refresh yourself and hydrate your skin. I like lavender and rose. (This is especially great for those of you who bicycle a lot, like me. A little spritz of hydrosol after a hot ride is incredibly refreshing!)

::Practice yin yoga. Many people are much more active during the summer doing all the things we don’t always get to do in colder temperatures – including biking, walking, hiking, jogging, rafting, etc. These are all great for our health, but you may start to feel certain muscle groups getting tense from all the repetitive movements. Yin yoga really helps stretch the large muscles in your body, counter joint stress and it can help “reset” everything so that you feel fresh and rejuvenated.

::Use a clay facial mask once or twice a month. This will help draw out the excess oil, sweat and dirt that can accumulate on your face during active summer months. It feels so great on the skin, as well. I highly recommend using rhassoul or french green clay, as neither dry out the skin. Just be careful not to overuse clay masks, or you will cause your sebaceous glands to overcompensate by creating more oil.

::Wash the pollen out. If you suffer from major allergies, wash your hair more often, use a neti pot and change your pillowcase frequently. These are all common pollen traps (it gets into our sinuses, and into our hair, which is rubbed all over our pillows each night), so keeping your hair and sinuses clean can help to alleviate some allergy symptoms. Again, though, just be careful not to wash your hair too much, as it will become oilier if you strip it of its natural oils!

::Get some rest. This is a hard one for me. When it’s so sunny and nice outside, I don’t want to go to bed and I sure don’t want to linger in bed in the mornings! But we still need a good 6-8 hours each day, so try to keep yourself on a consistent sleep schedule.

::Stay hydrated. This is an obvious one, but it bears repeating. It never fails, every year, that I let myself get dehydrated without realizing it until my body forces me to stop and get some water. I think this is because I just want to be out and about, doing, doing, doing. I don’t want to stop for a glass of water unless I’m riding my bike (which makes me super thirsty). Big mistake, though! Water keeps us going.

::Let your skin breathe. I cannot emphasize this one enough. You don’t need a lot of heavy moisturizers or makeup during the summer. The less you wear, the more your skin can breathe and maintain its natural balance. Further, if you wear less makeup, you can splash your face with cool water during the day – which feels GREAT – and not have to worry about your makeup running!

::When you have time off – whether it’s a vacation or just downtime – take the time to relax! This is a time to stroll, not walk. To read out on the patio, not spend all day on your computer. To laugh with family and friends, not sit alone texting everyone on your iPhone. There’s nothing to get done. Just relax and have fun.

::Indulge your skin. With the heat and sun exposure, our skin can take a beating during summer months. It is a great time to make infusions with plants from your herb garden and take some time out every single day to massage it into your skin. And don’t forget to exfoliate! Use scrubs, skin brushes, coarse washcloths, or whatever else you have around.

Hope you’re enjoying the warm weather!

Trusting Mother Nature

On most days, if you ask me, I would say my faith in Mother Nature is pretty strong. I believe that She is wise and totally self-reliant. She doesn’t need our interference to keep things going or do things right.

My faith was tested two weeks ago, however, when I noticed my garden – one head of lettuce in particular – was overrun with ants. This didn’t happen last year, so I was surprised and worried. Yes, they were on lettuce, so perhaps they were having an aphid feast. But still, I had visions that they would tunnel through my entire garden and destroy everything. (Oh, the drama!)

I immediately ran to several stores in town to buy diatomaceous earth, only to find that no one around here carried it. A few days later, I dropped $30 on a 5 pound box of it that I found online. When I feel my garden is threatened, I pull out all the big guns! (And apparently, lots of money from my poor wallet.)

While waiting for it to arrive, I talked to a local farmer about my ant problem, asking her what I should do. She asked if they had damaged any crops. I said no – even though they were literally covering my lettuce heads, the lettuce appeared to be unharmed. Then she said, “Ants are helpers. They eat all the other little bugs around, and if they aren’t hurting your crops, I’d just let them be.”

Suddenly, I realized what I’d done – lost faith in Mother Nature. This tends to happen when things swing out of balance. I forget that Mother Nature is perfectly capable of rebalancing things all on Her own.

I see this happen a lot with myself and others when it comes to beauty. Our hair gets a little oily one day, and we feel panicky and start to wash our hair more often not realizing that this throws our hair too far in the OTHER direction. We get a pimple and worry that more will follow. The next thing we know, we are smearing on benzoyl peroxide and salycylic acid, not realizing how deeply this is disrupting the balance of our skin, potentially causing MORE pimples.

So guess what happened the day my diatomaceous earth arrived? I went outside to the garden and the ants were gone. Just like that. They had eaten their aphid feast (presumably) and then went along their merry way, leaving my garden as pristine as it was before they had arrived. The picture of the lettuce above is the one they had swarmed for a week – as you can see, it is perfect! (Boy, I wish I could get that $30 back!)

Just a little reminder to trust Mother Nature. Trust your own body to find its perfect balance. Do less to your skin, to your hair and let its natural beauty come out on its own. Mother Nature will always find balance whether its your garden or your body!

Green transportation: Bicycle safety tips

Now that the weather has warmed significantly, it is the perfect time to lower your carbon footprint by biking more and driving less.

Me! Biking home from a 4th of July dinner, 2011.

If you bicycle a lot, like I do, you know that tensions between drivers and cyclists can run high. A common complaint by drivers is that cyclists ride two or three abreast. This has been an ongoing debate in my area. The Oregon Department of Transportation states that riding two abreast is only okay when it does not impede the flow of traffic – I’d imagine this is true for all areas. If cars can’t pass you safely, then you should ride single file. Ultimately, making it easier and safer for cars to share the road with you makes is easier and safer for everyone!

When cycling on roads, act as if you were driving a car. This means riding with the flow of traffic, instead of against it, remaining in your lane, using signals when turning, yielding to pedestrians, and navigating intersections safely. For instance, if you want to turn left in an intersection, do not turn from the bike lane on the right side of the street. Use hand signals, and merge into the left turn lane, as if you were a car. (If it is a busy intersection and you are worried about your safety, get off your bike and cross on foot at the crosswalk.) At roundabouts, merge into the center of the lane, and use hand signals to indicate where you will turn out.

Keeping your bike in good condition is another important aspect of cycling safety. Make sure your tires are filled to the recommended pressure. Keep your chain and derailleur clean and well-lubricated. Shift carefully while biking to avoid slipping the chain. Most importantly, be sure your brakes are in perfect condition.

The most critical aspect of safe cycling is to protect your body and make yourself visible to drivers. Wear a properly-fitted helmet at all times, and be sure to lock the chin strap snugly in place. Additionally, be sure that your pant cuffs can’t get caught in the bike chain. Roll them up, fold them into your socks, or wear a rubber band around them to prevent this.

Be sure your bike is outfitted with front and back lights and reflectors, especially if you are riding in the evening or at night. Oregon law requires a “white light visible at least 500 feet to the front or reflector visible at least 600 feet to the rear.” Again, I’d imagine this is true for all states. These are minimum requirements, and the safest bet is to install lights at both ends of the bike, and wear reflective clothing, or arm bands, as well. The majority of accidents involving bikes and cars happen because the driver didn’t see the cyclist. Make sure you are visible at all times. I have learned this the hard way and I now only ride at night with a headlight and a reflective vest that is embedded with red LED lights.

My awesome vest.

Get out there and ride!

This post was updated from my previously published article over at Examiner.