Wednesday, April 29, 2009

What the month of May brings . . .

Bob Lebow Bike Tour Registration
This is a bike tour in support of Terry Reilly Health Services. The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2009.
For more information click here.


Boise Bike Week

Sunday, May 10
Think Globally, Bike Locallys @ 5:00 PM
The Flicks, 6th St. and Myrtle

Monday, May 11
Kickoff Celebration @ 7:30 AM
City Hall Plaza, 150 N Capitol

Twilight Mardi Gras Ride @ 7:30 PM
Hyde Park Cycle Sports, 1517 1/2 N 13th St (Boise)

Bike Maintenance [Boise Bicycle Project] @ 7:30 PM
Located at Boise Bicycle Project, NE corner, 6th & Front St

Tuesday, May 12
Adapted Cruise @ 6:30 PM
Municipal Park, 500 S Walnut

Road Biking Intro and Skills Ride@ 6:30 PM
Eastside Cycles, Bown Crossing

Wednesday, May 13
Commuter Basics REI @ 7:00 PM
REI, 8300 W Emerald

Women's Road Ride @ 6:30 PM
See Jane Run, 814 W. Idaho St.

Bike to BUGS Sierra Club @ 6:30 PM
Sierra Club Office, 503 W Franklin

Thursday, May 14
Bicycle Block Party @ 6:30 PM
Boise Basque Block

Friday, May 15
May in Motion Alternative Transportation Celebration @ 7 AM to 1 PM
8th Street between Idaho and Bannock

Mountain Biking Intro and Skills Ride @ 6:30 PM
Camel's Back Park, east side of tennis courts

Recumbent Rally @ 6:30 PM
Julia Davis Park, near bandshell

Saturday, May 16
Street Smart Cycling @ 10:00 AM
Boise Public Library!, Marion Bingham Room

Urban Streetscapes of the Capitol Mall @ 11:00 AM
Boise Public Library!, 715 S. Capitol Blvd.

Pedal Power Parade & Finale @ 5:00 PM
Capitol Park, 6th St between Jefferson & Bannock

Information courtesy of http://www.boisebikeweek.org/2009schedule

Oh, and here is the VERY cool poster for Boise Bike Week! Nice job!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

May is Bike to Work Month



Pedaling past the silent glistening river, passing a family of three enjoying the arrival of spring, and meandering through the neighborhood, discovering a new route are all beautiful byproducts of riding one's bike. Imagine having this peaceful experience while heading to work. May is Bike to Work Month and the week of May 11-15 is Bike to Work week.

Here are some interesting facts obtained from REI's Bike Your Drive website that might inspire you to ride your bike to work one day during the week.


Biking Facts: Did You Know?

5 reasons to bike your drive

The average person loses 13 pounds their first year of commuting by bike.

40% of all car trips in the U.S. are made within 2 miles of home.

60% of the pollution created by autos happens in the first few minutes of operation, before pollution control devices can work effectively.

Just 3 hours of biking per week can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%.

The U.S. could save 462 million gallons of gas a year by boosting bicycle trips just half a percentage point: from 1% to 1.5% of all trips.

Information courtesy of Trek Bicycle Corporation.

For more information about what your community is doing to participate in Bike to Work Month visit the League of American Bicyclists website.


Idaho Events for Bike to Work Month

Thursday, April 16, 2009

REI Seminar: Preparing for Touring Rides

Bike touring . . . what does that mean? It sounds like a lot of sweating, blisters, and Gu. Could it really be fun? The STP Gang wanted to know, so we took a trek over to the Boise REI to learn more about touring.

The free seminar lasted about an hour and 20 minutes and proved to be another fabulously informative class. (Did we mention it was free?) Representatives from the YMCA, Ride Idaho, and Boise Bike Wrench were present to cover topics such as: training, gear, nutrition, and bike mechanics.

Emily Williams with the YMCA covered what to expect of a bike tour and used Ride Idaho as an example. Ride Idaho is an annual event that explores the wonders of Idaho. It is described on their website as, ". . . seven days of great food, outrageous fun, awesome entertainment, and some riding that will curl your spokes." Two hundred and forty participants are expected for this year's race scheduled for Sunday, August 9 - Saturday, August 15, 2009.

How do you TRAIN for a bike tour?
Brett Tinker talked about the importance of proper training. Items he covered were:

  • Community Bicycle Rides - Get some mileage in. Join a local cycling club.

  • Cycling is an Ageless Sport - You will find riders of all ages on the road. You are never too old or too young to start.

  • Commute - Commuting is an easy way to increase your mileage.

  • Hills - You will have to climb a hill at some point in your cycling career. You CAN do it. Go at a pace you are comfortable with and you will be successful. Oh, and remember, you have to come down that hill, too.

  • Nutrition - Hydration + Nutrition are KEY!


  • Train - The YMCA provides a great training guide here.

  • Spin - Spinning class is good!

  • Two Days - You will need to work up to trainings that happen two days in a row.


What kind of GEAR are you going to need?


  • Air Pumps - You will need a floor pump with a gauge + a small, mini pump to carry on your ride.

  • Tube - Tuck this bad boy into your seat pack. You will need it at some point.

  • Polyester - Clothing made for wicking away sweat can be a life saver (or comfort saver).

  • Sunscreen

  • Helmet

  • Bike Shoes - Stiff shoes transfer more power to the pedals. No need to lose all that energy--use it!

  • Bike Fit - Make sure your ride is properly fitted for you (the recommendation was to look into GFIt).

  • Water Bottle or Hydration Pack - Drink, drink, drink, drink!

  • Chamois Butt'r or Body Glide - Keep your parts chafe free (hopefully).

  • headband or beanie

  • Arm Warmers

  • Leg Warmers

  • Booties

  • Cycling Socks

  • Bike Shorts - You know, the spandex kind with the padding in the center. It will save your . . .

  • Jacket - The dayglo variety adds a safety factor and keeps you warm.

  • Sunglasses


What about NUTRITION?


  • Eat Breakfast. Eat it every day. It is the fuel that makes you successful. Make sure to add protein for additional sustained energy.

  • Steer clear of artificial flavors and colors.

  • Drink water and juice (you don't need no stinkin' Gatorade). If you do use a specific sports drink bring it with you on tour. If you start drinking Gatorade on a tour and you never drink it, you may wind up with diarrhea--not cool!

  • Eating Nuts + fruit on a tour will keep you from tanking.

  • If you eat energy bars make sure they have pretty equal parts of protein and sugar. You also want to make sure you are getting potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium in these foods.


Basic Bike MECHANICS to know.


The Boise Bike Wrench, David Seamons, gave tips on basic bike maintenance to make your riding easier and more efficient. Here are a few tidbits from his presentation:

  • Proper Bike Fit - Your legs need to clear the tube and you want to make sure the distance from seat to handlebars is fitted for you correctly.

  • A Clean Bike - A clean bike is a happy bike. If you keep a clean bike you will have less issues with parts later on.

  • Nix the Wax Lubes - Just don't use wax lubes. They collect dirt and are not as effective as other kinds.

  • Service Your Ride - Service your bike before you go on a long tour.

  • The Seat - An uncomfortable seat is just that, uncomfortable. Find one that works for you.

  • Air in the Tires - Air up those tires every time you ride.

  • Secret Stash - Carry a tire tube + a bike tool (allen wrench #5 is pretty universal) with you in your seat pack.

  • Flat Tires - Know how to change a flat tire. No one escapes one of these, especially in Idaho.

  • Lube Your Chain - Lube your chain AFTER you get back from a ride. This way you're ready to go out of the gate.



We would like to thank REI for hosting these great seminars. We learned a lot and hoped you did, too. Check out the links below for information from the seminar.

Links
The Bob Lebow Ride
Lost River Cycling Club
Community Bicycle Rides (Nice website!)
Boise Bike Wrench
YMCA Idaho

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Getting Tuned Up

Today we took our bikes in to REI to schedule tune-ups. Besides finding that our rides might be *sorely* inadequate for the trip, we learned a few new things, too. Upon telling the resident bike expert, Maureen, about our venture (she probably thinks we are a couple of poor, crazy amateurs ) she started freely sharing information. She talked to us about specifics of bike fit, components, the importance of a good saddle, and peddles. All in all, it was very informative for a quick trip to REI. I am sure we will be seeing more of Maureen.





Next up . . .

We will be attending a class on the Basics of Supported Bike Touring--just what we need!

Friday, April 10, 2009

The Race


The Seattle to Portland ride spans 204 miles of forests, farmland, and valleys. It is held each year in July and on average there are 10,000 participants. We will travel through Kent, Spanaway, Lexington, St. Helen's to Portland. 

Quick Facts
  • Last year there were 9,500 participants-73% male and 27% female.  
  • Riders came from 44 states last year. Most riders came from WA, OR, CA, and ID.
  • The oldest registered rider was 85 and the youngest was four. 

Find more information about the race: The Seattle to Portland Low Down


Thursday, April 9, 2009

Our First Class

Do you know how to change a flat tire on a bicycle? Do you know how to adjust your brakes? In our journey to become well informed cyclists we attended our first official bike class last night. Brook Robinson of REI demonstrated basic bicycle maintenance as part of REI's regular (and usually free) ongoing clinics. Flat repair and brake adjustment were just a couple of topics covered. It was a very beneficial class for both beginners and avid riders both. 

To check out the other workshops the Boise REI offers go to: http://www.rei.com/stores/store_events.jsp?store=47








The Story

Yes, that's right. Two average Janes are embarking on the journey of a lifetime to ride 204 miles from Seattle to Portland. Crazy? Maybe.

In training for the next year to participate in the 2010 race, Debbie and Paige will be documenting their adventure in a "bikeumentary" here on the web.  Neither Debbie or Paige are professional cyclists--they can best be described as recreational riders. Join them for the experience that shows two average Janes can do something extraordinary.  






Tuesday, April 7, 2009

204 miles.

Two women.

Two bikes.

Two hundred four miles.

Seattle to Portland.