Bikes on the Brain...

This last week has been filled with bike stuff. We leave on the 16th for our 2 1/2 week bike tour down Oregon's coast. It's quickly approaching and it feels like we're still so unprepared. Laura and I finally bought a tent, it's an REI 3 person quarterdome.

I've removed my Xtracycle from my Trek 520 to an old Gary Fisher mountain bike. The transition has not been easy. I got rid of the stock suspended fork and replaced it with a Surly 1x1 fork. I have to build a new 700c wheel to run on the rear since the Xtracycle I have is made for 700c and the brake braze-on's won't reach. I replaced the rear der., the bottom bracket, cranks and soon I'll replace the straight bar with a Soma Sparrow bar, which is suppose to be like an English 3spd bar but much narrower.

So essentially, I've been working on two bikes at the same time. Trying to build up my tourer, the Trek, and my cargo bike, the SurlingGary (Surly/Gary Fish mix). The Trek is done. The SurlingGary is a pain in the butt and is still not rideable. I had a shoot today that I had to light so I dusted off my Burley Flatbed . It worked well, but it's definitely not as maneuverable as an Xtracycle.

Yesterday, I took a Road 1 course from Chris Quint, a League of American Bicyclists Instructor. It was great and gave me a bit more confidence in what I was doing. If you have an opportunity to take the class, I highly recommend it.

The classroom portion of the course.

Chris Quint, cycling instructor extraordinnaire.

AUDIO/visual of how a helmet works.

Chris demonstrating the "rock dodge" technique on his Brompton.

When you absolutely, positively MUST stop...shift your weight to the back and squeeeeeze...

To GU or not to GU

People have love-hate relationships with energy gels. The thought of ripping open a little packet of mysterious goop and squeezing it down your throat doesn't seem like the most pleasant thing to do while you're exercising.

They are, however, great ways to keep your sugar up. On more than one occasion I've been coming back from a long ride or assignment where there is no food to be found and I've sucked down a few gel packets that kept me going.

I've tried a few brands but have narrowed my favorites down to two, Hammer Gel and GU. Flavorwise, GU wins hands down (esp. the Strawberry/Banana flavor). Hammer Gel tastes like plastic dipped in juice. However, I will tend to use Hammer Gel more because they offer their potion in large bulk bottles that I can squeeze into a flask dispenser. GU, although it tastes wonderful, still only comes in those little foil packages, which I can picture in my mind filling up a landfill.

So what would you buy? Eco-friendlier goop that tastes like dipped plastic or yummy stuff whose packaging litters streets and inevitably finds its way to a landfill?

I emailed GU today and plan on calling them later in the week to see if they have any plans for bulk bottles (or to see if I can atleast buy a gallon for myself:).