Bicycle Commuting / Cycling / Less Driving - UnPollute2024-03-29T10:30:46Zhttp://unpollute.ning.com/forum/categories/bicycle-commuting-cycling-less-driving/listForCategory?feed=yes&xn_auth=noCommuting Gear: Pollution Masktag:unpollute.ning.com,2018-12-06:2112133:Topic:298232018-12-06T11:38:52.419ZEmetthttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/EmettStasiuk
<p style="text-align: left;">I always thought it was funny about masks outside in the "fresh" air. But, sometimes, a little filter might be nice. Maybe I'd like a little thing to keep in a pocket or bicycle pouch...</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Don't breathe in toxic fumes, but a mask can help with known particulate caused risks to your health. Bad city air might be pretty dang bad for you. In the studies about smog particulates versus exercise, it…</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I always thought it was funny about masks outside in the "fresh" air. But, sometimes, a little filter might be nice. Maybe I'd like a little thing to keep in a pocket or bicycle pouch...</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Don't breathe in toxic fumes, but a mask can help with known particulate caused risks to your health. Bad city air might be pretty dang bad for you. In the studies about smog particulates versus exercise, it turns out that starting exercising is good for you, but then how long you are in the bad air, the exposure time, will determine if that is true in the long run. Worse air, less time before break even. There's a bit of a gap between break-even and actually killing you, but in pollution like full-on worst-ever, you just should not breath it, especially extra deep and hard due to exercise. That study was just about particulates, the rest of the world of pollutants and their health risks are , haha, up in the air. </p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-people-in-Beijing-exercise-with-such-bad-air-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.quora.com/How-do-people-in-Beijing-exercise-with-such-bad-air-pollution</a> ?</p>
<p>Smart Air founder, <span style="font-size: 2em;">Thomas Talhelm,</span></p>
<p>answered so fantastically! I don't have any personal experiences to relate. </p>
<p></p>
<p>His fact about masks are great. Valves for exhaling would be recommend, if you need one.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Drive Less Connecttag:unpollute.ning.com,2012-09-03:2112133:Topic:198882012-09-03T14:49:08.781ZEmetthttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/EmettStasiuk
<p><a href="http://drivelesssavemore.com/pages/drivelessconnect" target="_blank">Introducing Drive Less Connect</a></p>
<p>Oregon has a new free tool that can save you money and more on the road—Drive Less Connect. It’s now even easier to take advantage of travel options for work and recreation that can save you money and more on the road. Track your alternative transportation miles, even mixed mode, and monitor your pollution reducing impact</p>
<p><a href="http://drivelesssavemore.com/pages/drivelessconnect" target="_blank">Introducing Drive Less Connect</a></p>
<p>Oregon has a new free tool that can save you money and more on the road—Drive Less Connect. It’s now even easier to take advantage of travel options for work and recreation that can save you money and more on the road. Track your alternative transportation miles, even mixed mode, and monitor your pollution reducing impact</p> The Safety of Tag-Alongs, Bike Trailers, Kid Tandemstag:unpollute.ning.com,2011-01-19:2112133:Topic:63982011-01-19T00:36:14.000ZEmetthttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/EmettStasiuk
<p>Clearly need a forum for this subject!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'll start by staying I love taking my 9 year old around by tag-along, we started when she was 7 or 8 years old. Ours is a used "Trail-a-Bike" we got from a friend for 40 bucks. Starting at 5 we walked my bike to the bus and she might stand on a pedal for awhile. At 6 she was often a crossbar passenger-- that was my favorite!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once, while tag-alonging, Maiya's ability to add to the overall balance of the system saved us…</p>
<p>Clearly need a forum for this subject!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'll start by staying I love taking my 9 year old around by tag-along, we started when she was 7 or 8 years old. Ours is a used "Trail-a-Bike" we got from a friend for 40 bucks. Starting at 5 we walked my bike to the bus and she might stand on a pedal for awhile. At 6 she was often a crossbar passenger-- that was my favorite!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once, while tag-alonging, Maiya's ability to add to the overall balance of the system saved us when I lost balance due the front tire slipping out. Together we recover it and did not fall. And the only time she's ever been hurt at all was once I kicked her getting off the bike. Learning curve: now she dismounts first.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'm never planning on getting on the driving learning curve with my children in the car. Note: if you're alive, then you're on a learning curve...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>See the exploded internet discussion on bikePortland.org about proposed house bill 2228. BikePortland is featured on Unpollute's main page a couple of times over...</p> Taking the Lane!tag:unpollute.ning.com,2010-09-08:2112133:Topic:62922010-09-08T05:34:40.000ZEmetthttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/EmettStasiuk
Message to Silly Honkers: bikers (in Oregon) can take a whole lane of traffic any time we deem it unsafe for you to pass within the lane! Go around, or wait! If you are honking in support, it doesn't usually sound like it...<br></br><br></br>Message to Angry Honkers: You're Uncool. Find your center. Learn from whatever or whoever upsets you. Maybe you're really just jealous -- me teaching you biking is easy by just doing it. I am doing it to show that it can be done. Mostly likely there is a way…
Message to Silly Honkers: bikers (in Oregon) can take a whole lane of traffic any time we deem it unsafe for you to pass within the lane! Go around, or wait! If you are honking in support, it doesn't usually sound like it...<br/><br/>Message to Angry Honkers: You're Uncool. Find your center. Learn from whatever or whoever upsets you. Maybe you're really just jealous -- me teaching you biking is easy by just doing it. I am doing it to show that it can be done. Mostly likely there is a way for you to do it too, join the wave... <br/><br/>Bikers: If you disobey stop signs and lights and bike crazy (in the dark with no lights and no helmet, crossing lanes, etc), you might get honked at. Or a ticket. I've been pulled over for missing a stop sign! Ha! Also, be nice and slow and calm on sidewalks and shared paths for the nice walkers. (Note: Bike traffic is disallowed from sidewalks within 13 blocks of downtown Portland).<br/><br/>enjoy life,<br/><br/>e<br/><br/> Cyclist's #1 enemy: Flat tires...tag:unpollute.ning.com,2010-07-06:2112133:Topic:61992010-07-06T14:59:23.000ZEmetthttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/EmettStasiuk
Rant about your last rash of flats here! Yes, I know the always happen in bunches... it's a Quantum Universe!<div><br></br></div>
<div>....<br></br><div><br></br></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Here I was, heading into work, when I felt that dreaded squishy almost slippery feeling of the back tire going flat. I actually did the right thing…</span></div>
</div>
Rant about your last rash of flats here! Yes, I know the always happen in bunches... it's a Quantum Universe!<div><br/></div>
<div>....<br/><div><br/></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">Here I was, heading into work, when I felt that dreaded squishy almost slippery feeling of the back tire going flat. I actually did the right thing this time and was not late to work. Why start a road-side repair, which can fail or prove impossible, before at least trying to just pump it back up. Luckily it worked, and with just one other quick pump stop (before my last monster hill), I made it to my destination.<br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/><br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/>I wasn't really caught to much by surprize, because while I leave at about 06:00, checking my bike is one of the first things I do to get readly to go, so at 05:15 I was started fixing the flat I found in the rear. It held pressure, so I had to wonder if I should just ride it. But I could actually hear a pretty good hissing, so it'd be flat or too soft in less than 10 minutes. I repaired the tube, searched for glass or other issues with the tire, my rear Armadillo, surprized that something got through... I found lots of little pieces stuck in the rubber but nothing that made it through the Kevlar. I also repaired an old back up tube that has been waiting months for this to happen.<br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/><br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/>The tube repair worked, and the tire was double, triple checked, so I remounted the tube and tire and pumped it up all in good time to leave before 05:50. But then the pump attachment stuck to the tube valve and I broke the valve stem or it's seal removing the pump end! That sucked, and I can fix that, but it takes 24 hours for the glue to dry... So, after a whip job with mounting back-up tube, I got out of the house in time for a fast ride.<br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/><br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/>So, here I am at work, and I must go fix it again. Either the issue remains with the tube (embedded, hammered-in, glass), a new puncture occured, or I failed. I guess I might have missed another hole or multiple holes in the tube. Or the patch failed, it was the oldest patch I had... but most likely is that the patch-job failed or was ruined when I mounted the tire.<br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/><br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/>I guess I'll go try again with the rest of my lunch break. I'll be sure to note where the flat happened on the tire this time. :) Time to get busy! (later: lining up the tube with the tire allowed a specific search of the area of the puncture, and there it was, between the treads and barely, just barely through the armor, the less than a cm long point of a needle or wire still stuck in the tire. I removed it with pliers.<br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/><br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/>peace -e<br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/><br style="font-size: 1em; xg-p: static !important;"/>P.S., unpollute.ning.com looks good, and thanks thanks thanks to my members for keeping a steady heartbeat going with added pictures and blogs and everything while my life has been rather shaken up lately</span></div>
</div> Track Your Commutes and Other Rides.tag:unpollute.ning.com,2009-10-11:2112133:Topic:50752009-10-11T13:42:54.000ZEmetthttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/EmettStasiuk
<p>Use the <a target="_blank" href="http://bikecommutechallenge.com/">The Bike Commute Challenge site</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Or try <a href="http://drivelesssavemore.com/pages/drivelessconnect">http://drivelesssavemore.com/pages/drivelessconnect</a>. </p>
<p>Use the <a target="_blank" href="http://bikecommutechallenge.com/">The Bike Commute Challenge site</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Or try <a href="http://drivelesssavemore.com/pages/drivelessconnect">http://drivelesssavemore.com/pages/drivelessconnect</a>. </p> close callstag:unpollute.ning.com,2009-07-17:2112133:Topic:46212009-07-17T17:08:36.000ZJoseph Fortinohttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/JosephFortino
careful with the sun up and drivers distracted by AC inside the rolled up windows it can<br />
be a jungle riding on the street during summer months.<br />
<br />
I was almost killed by a run away car coming off I-5 thursday.. my time is not over yet<br />
<br />
peace all,<br />
Joe
careful with the sun up and drivers distracted by AC inside the rolled up windows it can<br />
be a jungle riding on the street during summer months.<br />
<br />
I was almost killed by a run away car coming off I-5 thursday.. my time is not over yet<br />
<br />
peace all,<br />
Joe Riding in the hills, Wilsonville Oregon.tag:unpollute.ning.com,2009-07-02:2112133:Topic:45222009-07-02T22:01:27.000ZJoseph Fortinohttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/JosephFortino
I ride everyday at lunch up to the hills from Wilsonville to say, Bell Rd, Peets Mnt Parrott why do cars speed on these nice roads? anyway gets really nuts. today July 2nd was cut off just before a corner really scary lady slammed on her breaks since she was going way to fast, why pass like this? be safe all. some drivers wait almost all these days do not care about anyones safety. This little town is infested with autos we have ride smart? ohh thats a diffrent story... :)<br />
<br />
Joe
I ride everyday at lunch up to the hills from Wilsonville to say, Bell Rd, Peets Mnt Parrott why do cars speed on these nice roads? anyway gets really nuts. today July 2nd was cut off just before a corner really scary lady slammed on her breaks since she was going way to fast, why pass like this? be safe all. some drivers wait almost all these days do not care about anyones safety. This little town is infested with autos we have ride smart? ohh thats a diffrent story... :)<br />
<br />
Joe Riding\bike lanetag:unpollute.ning.com,2009-06-12:2112133:Topic:42212009-06-12T18:14:42.000ZJoseph Fortinohttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/JosephFortino
Question to all: notice all the crap in the bike lanes these days. man! wreck a good set of tires if your not careful! watch out we have limited areas to ride and rolling over crap seems normal these days :(<br />
<br />
Joe<br />
Wilsonville Or.
Question to all: notice all the crap in the bike lanes these days. man! wreck a good set of tires if your not careful! watch out we have limited areas to ride and rolling over crap seems normal these days :(<br />
<br />
Joe<br />
Wilsonville Or. Bike Tips from a 100% Commuter...tag:unpollute.ning.com,2009-05-20:2112133:Topic:39682009-05-20T12:05:10.000ZEmetthttp://unpollute.ning.com/profile/EmettStasiuk
Tips for bikers. From me. Comments with more tips are very welcome here or in your blogs or a new discussion... we'll update it as needed!<br />
<div>Since I've featured this as a highlight of the week (or whatever--ha) I'd better update it a little:</div>
<div>TOP ISSUES I spot when I notice other bikers:</div>
<div>1) Helmets! Adults, kids, few are wearing them! Also, wear them down on the forehead, just above the eye-brows. That's the only way to protect the top of your head and…</div>
Tips for bikers. From me. Comments with more tips are very welcome here or in your blogs or a new discussion... we'll update it as needed!<br />
<div>Since I've featured this as a highlight of the week (or whatever--ha) I'd better update it a little:</div>
<div>TOP ISSUES I spot when I notice other bikers:</div>
<div>1) Helmets! Adults, kids, few are wearing them! Also, wear them down on the forehead, just above the eye-brows. That's the only way to protect the top of your head and face!</div>
<div>2) Flat tires. Go ahead and pump those puppies up. With a hand pump, pump basically as hard as you can. The tire itself should feel basically rock hard, barely a dent possible with your thumb straight down. Squeezing the sidewalls may feel a little softer. Floor pumps can get you too much pressure, but pump at least to the middle of the pressure target given by the lowest of either your rim's or your tire's printed limits. You'll go faster now, with better control, a longer lasting tire, safe from pinch flats, and it'll be easier to pedal!</div>
<div>3) Light clothes. At least not all black. Lights and reflectors are great too. Even a legality</div>
<div>4) Oil. Mostly for the chain. (WD40 is okay for chain cleaning and lube, but more so for the cleaning. Avoid getting WD40 in any hubs. Don't worry about the derailleur jockey hubs, blast 'em!) ) But pedal hubs, front and rear tires and the crank hub all like a few drops of non-solvent based lube. check these hubs for being too tight (don't spin well) or too loose (wiggles side-to-side, has play) and overhaul them if needed, big difference. Most of your well-adjusted hubs will go for years on just a few drops of oil every couple of months though.</div>
<div>5) Wave, head nod, and/or smile! I try to.</div>
<div>And now back to the old un-updated post:<br/> <br/> Bike lights can pop off or open when biking over bumps, so use some clear tape (or a flexible glue) to give it flexing strength to handle a good jolt. Tape it shut and tape it to the click-in attachment. This also makes them a pain to steal. Clearly, this won't do for those who need to remove all the accessories all the time, but I recommend at least taping stuff like lights shut, just because of how bad it sucks when the battery case breaks open (likely in the dark, there's scary traffic, and the parts flew into the gutter in various places, etc). It's a risk worth mitigating, and the solution is easy...<br/>
<br/>
In a heavy enough rain, you'll be all wet no matter the gear, but those kinds of rides are rare, even for me. It's only been bad once this year and it's been a few years before that since the last buckets-and-hoses rain storm happened right on my commute, right when I was there. I help to keep it rare by looking at the rain scanner (Doppler radar from the News) and trying to dodge the showers by adding or subtracting 20 minutes from the usual time I might leave for work (and coming home too, except that I never get to come home early). It really can help, sometimes. Other times, it'll help you figure out how much extra rain gear to put on, or just forget it and go in a swimsuit, there's been a few rides where I wished I had!<br/>
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You have your pump and tire patch kit and/or extra tube, right?<br/>
<br/>
Then enough's, enough. Just go bike. "Just do it." No more excuses. (I <i>need</i> my car... why? it that really true, you've never seen or heard of anyone doing what you <i>need</i> it for without one? Think and research about it, then change your actions to match what you've learned, if you can make it work for you. Try it.) Bike to work (Unpollute Your Commute), or maybe drive your bike into work and then bike for lunches and home all week, then drive it home on Friday. That'll get you started! The rest you'll figure out as you go, or ask about or read about. You'll love the easy, stress-relieving fun of cycling, and you'll enjoy the beauty of your nieghborhood, town, or city, including many more birds and wildlife than you'd ever notice from a inside a car.<br/>
<br/>
And my biggest advice, you may have seen me mention it before: stop and pick up debris on your route! Flat causing pieces of metal, like nails, screws, are only OK when they're not in road. Medium and large rocks are good to remove too. Glass and small rocks should just be avoided...<br/>
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Alrighty, bike on. Peace... and Please Add More Tips to the Comments List here!</div>