tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41404908271854184032024-03-13T16:52:30.720-05:00Car-free AmericanPromoting healthy: bodies and minds, environment, and communities. The result of car-free/ car-lite life style.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-45324991985644716452023-08-31T18:51:00.002-05:002023-08-31T18:55:19.753-05:00Nature story<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qiVCOh_1xgQK06SSZo5ajiTbCJrfsqqoVJ4vJT9dP1CKYLRWH9sF8_ximpuS1UR3acdqe2pRAYpcCL0uHHBqj5jWkvVRdisp0bSInJcn0Mj7jThc-zna8MA_ioQuJcyMB8PFLLqLPnZ8jycAtmGEvgi-Q6t_ZuEdwzmZibXPgGBVLM-KHMeMhhdR-ik/s4032/DBA57A0D-64A6-435B-879D-AA114EA20811.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qiVCOh_1xgQK06SSZo5ajiTbCJrfsqqoVJ4vJT9dP1CKYLRWH9sF8_ximpuS1UR3acdqe2pRAYpcCL0uHHBqj5jWkvVRdisp0bSInJcn0Mj7jThc-zna8MA_ioQuJcyMB8PFLLqLPnZ8jycAtmGEvgi-Q6t_ZuEdwzmZibXPgGBVLM-KHMeMhhdR-ik/s320/DBA57A0D-64A6-435B-879D-AA114EA20811.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 35px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 35px; font-weight: bold;">A nature story for you</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 35px; font-weight: bold;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">the seedling</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">By Bill Poindexter</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">A story inspired by Iohan, (Yo-Han), the bike wanderer and a man with kind dark eyes.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Far away, long ago, there was a man who traveled the Earth on his bicycle and his name was, Iohan. He was of average height, had dark hair and dark eyes that looked very kind. All he wanted to do was explore the Earth and see what it was like from atop a bike.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> To earn a living he took odd jobs, one of the jobs was planting trees in an area where old trees had been cut down. He said he enjoyed planting trees in the summer. He would walk all over Canada planting seedlings to fund his bicycling adventures. One of the seedlings grew into a fine very tall tree.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> The young tree grew and…”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Go to the site for the full story,</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It is a 8 minute read </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Or listen to the audio by Aimee Hughes </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Read:</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://wholeearthguide.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-seedling-by-bill-poindexter.html?m=1">https://wholeearthguide.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-seedling-by-bill-poindexter.html?m=1</a></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Audio:</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/william-poindexter/episodes/The-Seedling-e28p83g">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/william-poindexter/episodes/The-Seedling-e28p83g</a></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Thanks for reading my story. If you like my writing please subscribe to the site. If you’re interested in supporting my writing and journalism you can find me on Venmo. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Peace and love </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bill </span></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-28216721698366556652023-04-09T08:48:00.004-05:002023-04-09T08:48:37.887-05:00Bicycling touring with Jesus<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 35px; font-weight: bold;">On a bicycle tour with Jesus (pronounced hey-zeus)</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Easter Synchronicity 2022</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I’m not gonna tell you whether or not God exist, or that Jesus was his begotten son… I’m just not that arrogant. I don’t really know. I wish I did, I’d like to think it true. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Here’s what I do know: The earth, nature, animals insects and most people are good. The moon, the sun the stars in the universe are beautiful… And came from somewhere. I feel everything. I always have. I can’t explain it, and I’ve always been on a search for truth and where we come from and why are we here.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And more recent years, I have come to see that synchronicity plays a big part of my life, especially on my bicycle journeys. If you don’t know this about me, I travel by bicycle and ride whenever I get a chance. I’ve ridden all over the states of Missouri and Kansas, rode from New Mexico crisscrossing the continental divide multiple times all the way up to Banff Alberta Canada. I’ve ridden all through Montana and from California down through Baja Mexico, across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, all trips are self contained meaning I carry all my camping equipment, clothes, tools, food and water. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In recent years, I’ve actually had people come up to me, strangers telling me that God loves me and has a purpose for me. I’m serious. I’ve also had people that I know say the same things “Jesus has something in mind for you“ they say. I smile, and I wonder how they know this. I like what they’re saying, but shouldn’t I know it? I’ve always been open the supernatural. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I digress let me get to the point. It’s like I said synchronicity plays a big part of my life and I have lots of examples for you all all and will share more about it later but for now I’m gonna talk about one example. Which happened in a small town last year the day before Easter 2022.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It was late afternoon. I’ve been on the road all day. It was day 17 of my bicycle trip from Kansas City Missouri to Yorktown Virginia via the Transamerica trail. I just rolled into the town Clay, Kentucky, and on my maps <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>there was a notation the town had a outdoor shelter in a <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>city park that I could set up my tent. It was the day before Easter. Clay Kentucky is a small town with just over 1000 people. I decided to explore the town while I was looking for the park. After a bit I thought it would be a good idea to ask for help and looked for a place where I could ask for directions, just then, I turned a corner and I saw a young man mowing the lawn, and I asked him where the park was in town.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He turned off his lawnmower, and came over and smiled. I saw he had some gray on his beard, little bit of a belly, and very kind eyes. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I asked him a question.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“I am cycling the Transamerica trail and I’m looking for a place to stay for the night and I know there’s a park with a shelter”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He smiled, “Yes there is, and you can stay there, but, if you’re open to an alternative, I am the Pastor of the Baptist Church we have a youth center you can stay at if you like?”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A town of 1000 people, and I just happened to stop and I asked one person and happen to be the pastor of a church. I guess if you were playing the odds -one in a 1000? Synchronicity. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I graciously agreed and rolled to the church. He met me there later and showed me where I could stay, invited me to his Easter service the next day, which I attended after a breakfast with the congregation and was welcomed by a lot of lovely people. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I’m not gonna go into details about that. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I left shortly after the service. Spent the afternoon riding in the rain. It was cold, but my heart was warm with that experience… this is what happens next:</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">From my journal dispatch,</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“April 18. I’m in Sebree Kentucky right now, yesterday, Easter, I spent the morning and Clay Kentucky at the first Baptist church with their congregation had a fine breakfast, Easter egg hunt, and joined their service. It was a lovely time and very nice people. I ended up leaving town around 1 PM so I rode through the lovely hilly countryside of Kentucky, so far a beautiful state, and I just made my way to the second town over -Sebree and as I rolled through town a older gentlemen stopped me and asked me if I wanted to have some food with him and his wife there was a bike bike hostel in town at the first Baptist Church, his name is Bob and at the time I told him I wanted to keep going because it was still fairly early only around 330 but as I thought about it and the weather was cool and look like rain was coming how decided to take him up on it and I met he and his wife Violet, and made my way back to the church where there’s a fine bicycle hostel hostel here in the town, I was able to shower do some laundry and Violet invited me over to their home for a fine meal of Cornish game hen, baked potato green beans and a salad and some fun conversation. Bob and Violet have lived in a town for 35 years, where Bob had been the Pastor of the Church amd recently retired. Violet, Could only be described as a southern belle from Mississippi, is one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Going to roll out fairly early this morning. A cold start 42f, it did rain last night so I’m glad I was inside. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Thankful for this opportunity although I tend to feel like I’m rushing it a little bit even though the mileage is not that great, I feel like I need to still relax a little bit and really enjoy countryside nature, the people of been fantastic go on the whole route. I’m very grateful to be here.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> I sent a note to a friend of mine, Fred, who is a good soul and that he and his wife Lauralyn in Kansas City. Fred is very unassuming just a very good man Low-key and has a wonderful soul.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Told Fred I felt a little rushed, and these are his wise words he sent, and to me it’s really more of a poem and metaphor for life so I thought I’d share:</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“h Bill</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">we both have u in our minds</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">… all the time</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">u got born with <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>all the molecules needed <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that getu where u need to go</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">lucky man you are</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">im a complainer when it comes to cold and rain</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">… the only way id get thru… is have buddy like u thee to tell me to shut up and get back on my bike</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">;)</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">yes</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">older guys are like someone hungry at food counter ordering too much food</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">u know your pace… u ll get there soon enough</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">when its over … u ll probably wish it lasted longer</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">see ya on the other end</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">:)”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Wise words in deed, I love it! Well that’s it for now it’s about 4:42 AM in my sleep for a couple more hours and then get up and make a pot of coffee pack up some food and roll. “</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Was any of this Providence? Chance, fate, or destiny?</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I don’t know. But I do know that something good happened and it was very comforting. And sometimes when I’m on these long-distance cycling trips, I catch myself talking to Jesus.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Thanks for reading my writing. Happy Easter </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Bill Poindexter </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EA3uOu6fFccyMH-asL3WJSbomvjZbYim1CIeXfis8etFar7jMwB9oy3pnkwD-g1UndckQx79Ihv5EevYCl-ULe3gqVJzXb3pz0HfDfALvlC_i-NC-xmPXL7_H72KVa1-M0yGohfx2z38xLc3wVfxdbAY3NWH_sHmskZJ3pOODnEu0gRn7C4boCAm/s4032/02BBC4EE-0F57-48FB-979D-0692A9D18C0B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EA3uOu6fFccyMH-asL3WJSbomvjZbYim1CIeXfis8etFar7jMwB9oy3pnkwD-g1UndckQx79Ihv5EevYCl-ULe3gqVJzXb3pz0HfDfALvlC_i-NC-xmPXL7_H72KVa1-M0yGohfx2z38xLc3wVfxdbAY3NWH_sHmskZJ3pOODnEu0gRn7C4boCAm/s320/02BBC4EE-0F57-48FB-979D-0692A9D18C0B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-58710647054081832012023-03-24T16:09:00.001-05:002023-03-24T16:09:51.310-05:00Bike touring words<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjhpqGjtacZmcpZxv9jyDaDxMAv5vaY3LqA7up_5ktFz2jx5vgf_fWlOJKZGo_r8rR0owpLpGCJe2Sw1Iaa3FIx2TmiWeusswu5HVf_bfYR53MAPcu6QcikpUEoCM8wFBcmxAafE-xhc7pF6A8CqMr5cyrvOOYnIzEDWTYs2Z0lQoI2yaqdS6qttk/s4032/4A05EFDF-F460-48BE-B5A2-797E266AA8E0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw6e46lPAMIx6G_iX3l_a_vzXNs_wNDTHCzT9DFgqK0nBtnxleJLmvpPbwGGLab8TPg6OLgPE7uy0ZNKYZMeLo-6Ovn5wx6btQddqzqLJOSQcvzXMFh1xDnBgUznyQvaveos4ILwMrSWVdo6J38waL0oV7vM1GwqitkKmZxln-HXCc-L-cSANgZjN/s320/48009C04-B974-4DAE-BF6E-8E2447D41A3C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqLD7r9HWnALQxrMFZWz6rrsReQdyOkMGhL6WzvIItzaYvZ-F8XKs_3nK7f7P11mZPWT6tBcMWCacQ3gM0L1HcyyCkj2DJCmomyYfRnD2TgWQL-4sdd9V9sBXRvv479kLtZ1I24wl3nbz025B7Bn9bS9wNZNROvFh_G2vNOgAhQ6xzhEGPLrAksc5/s4032/1322986F-5C5F-44A7-8779-7F8BAF39124F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqLD7r9HWnALQxrMFZWz6rrsReQdyOkMGhL6WzvIItzaYvZ-F8XKs_3nK7f7P11mZPWT6tBcMWCacQ3gM0L1HcyyCkj2DJCmomyYfRnD2TgWQL-4sdd9V9sBXRvv479kLtZ1I24wl3nbz025B7Bn9bS9wNZNROvFh_G2vNOgAhQ6xzhEGPLrAksc5/s320/1322986F-5C5F-44A7-8779-7F8BAF39124F.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifm8dEgTxhkXR3q3zJrFhqhctVdnn5jZP8kZXUvSEjocvkvzabOzUepf_FCDJTyAQjhz-OvuGhptvHSVZ5lB13sBdFhkIds3c6-2bNdJX3WNtCq1HI6DmGt-SUh02l3gZJPrLY5qX2ce8r3C8o33KZIZGtaaLnOE_4GiS6Cbu9pm6uzWdlBffBMPBQ/s320/D778C767-9D0A-4748-B6B2-894546059C8C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L_SOcbzMNxWIXh5ucZRHDSOJG5d3nRt_ilZ7N31QWBiDM-e9hQSPuc7IMyPsFEv9h9jBcyr9LU-nrXIW8panBEbl-Yv1tgoMlXFtqz6HDOuFOBTTgjeaTTLC0RwczTc2bmew8cjeqgjsYcDzpBvuMQ9aen0RCRwKiQraWddwbbAGDtII8RKCQV3O/s4030/DFB77683-2B44-43CD-8954-F4E369931161.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4030" data-original-width="1680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L_SOcbzMNxWIXh5ucZRHDSOJG5d3nRt_ilZ7N31QWBiDM-e9hQSPuc7IMyPsFEv9h9jBcyr9LU-nrXIW8panBEbl-Yv1tgoMlXFtqz6HDOuFOBTTgjeaTTLC0RwczTc2bmew8cjeqgjsYcDzpBvuMQ9aen0RCRwKiQraWddwbbAGDtII8RKCQV3O/s320/DFB77683-2B44-43CD-8954-F4E369931161.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdXTxy16DqeJ9kFiFajLc6K5UayUPbIXaRoyMauStxislZLpbHnaOc9BlDXkUq4KENF1q4qypBVAJM9Shsv3pU9nZjEv7WA0iPtiUMSDmlyueBlRN76X2_8z6rICX30EMO6QqVIfVu7Hso8njh6txzM66npVAgERUd2m3CY1QH-j6_TaWLby-VbhB/s4032/EA5A4CAA-2053-4D29-AA28-6AC53A9D62F4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdXTxy16DqeJ9kFiFajLc6K5UayUPbIXaRoyMauStxislZLpbHnaOc9BlDXkUq4KENF1q4qypBVAJM9Shsv3pU9nZjEv7WA0iPtiUMSDmlyueBlRN76X2_8z6rICX30EMO6QqVIfVu7Hso8njh6txzM66npVAgERUd2m3CY1QH-j6_TaWLby-VbhB/s320/EA5A4CAA-2053-4D29-AA28-6AC53A9D62F4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJf-yTLoZnpafde-yUlseMiqTiuI_SHqQqJLPnoAbnYd1937E07QQtaFExxq8f5qoLIwBMZqiyCMQymbVoOF7ZezBXGJ3K8r3N5CwDGdFwviMgu6XErep4XtH8kCQw15ASNYyZeUeyLH7VPEj8YTWLpmPu_b4TusNlVhZVIEA6rh3l3N3WQQBDgua/s4032/F19E8858-B0A2-4922-BD54-1BDE2B7E16D2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJf-yTLoZnpafde-yUlseMiqTiuI_SHqQqJLPnoAbnYd1937E07QQtaFExxq8f5qoLIwBMZqiyCMQymbVoOF7ZezBXGJ3K8r3N5CwDGdFwviMgu6XErep4XtH8kCQw15ASNYyZeUeyLH7VPEj8YTWLpmPu_b4TusNlVhZVIEA6rh3l3N3WQQBDgua/s320/F19E8858-B0A2-4922-BD54-1BDE2B7E16D2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 35px; font-weight: bold;">bicycle touring words</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 35px; font-weight: bold;"> </span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">By Bill Poindexter </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Now having over 100,000 miles of touring and daily commuting by bicycle in my repertoire, I feel even more comfortable sharing my adventures with you, whether you are a cyclist or not. My words are about life and living a life on my own terms, with faults to be sure, but integrity intact. Over the next few days I will be sharing stories from my trips as well as the home front, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I hope you enjoy the simple words. BP</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sunrise fields…</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am lucky. I am one of those people who can sleep anywhere. My favorite thing to do in life is to go on a long cycling holiday, weeks or months, bike all day and as the sun starts to set find a nice patch of ground to lay my bedding.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> I have slept in many fields, once you’re tired from riding all day, any place will do, usually stopping, going past an open gate and walking the bike to a spot where I know I will have the sun shine on me in the morning to come. A road, a field, mountains or plains off to the east, and I settle in for a night of new sounds and sights. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I always wake before the sun’s first light, like a little boy waiting for Santa, I am eager for the first glow in the distance. I can feel the ground below me awake and all the plants, animals, insects…life arising for the new day, time resets and a glow from the East sprouts slowly like a flower blooming. A day a new. I feel everything and grateful for existing, as part of the energy of our universe. I rise and stand with the warmth of the <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>sun on my body. I pack up and ride, smiling, wondering what the next spot to sleep will be after the sun as traveled across the day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am truly happy. </span></p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-85798868193904806792022-03-29T21:53:00.003-05:002022-03-29T21:53:38.507-05:00New adventures<p> New adventures: So rolling south east from Kansas City, Missouri to the Ozarks then will turn east and connect with the Trans America Trail and follow it to Yorktown, Virginia (with a few side adventures). Then plan to roll north using multiple routes which parallel Revolutionary Routes from the American Revolution to Newport, RI and then catch a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts where I will be working on a farm and dairy as a field hand and cheese maker for the summer. At least that’s the basic plan. I won’t be posting too much but will periodically and will share some videos. </p><p>But I will be writing about this entire endeavor and interweaving the cycling expedition and farm experience with history and sharing my thoughts on the present, past and future and maybe offering some solutions on how humanity can get along and treat the planet well so we will survive.</p><p>And I will tell stories along the way as well that won’t be so ‘deep’ but still interesting.</p><p><br /></p><p>You can find the videos at wholeearthguide.blogspot.com</p><p><br /></p><p>Doing this on a tight budget $14/day, cooking my food, won’t pay to camp, so will rely on the kindness of strangers so should be interesting, will use the traveling cyclists hosting service Warmshowers periodically for a shower and laundry. Excited to send dispatches sharing my adventures with all of you. I will be true to my writing and won’t sugar coat anything. </p><p><br /></p><p>If you like my writing and stories and want to support my journalistic endeavors there is link on the site or just reach out. A cup of coffee and a sandwich will help with the budget. But only if you find value in my voice or words. </p><p><br /></p><p>I want to find America again, that’s where the history comes in, sort of a reverse expansion to find our roots from our past start here in KC where Lewis and Clark started in the Frontier for the Western expansion, I will be heading back East sharing their stories, Civil War stories, </p><p>and reminding us about why the American Revolution happened while I roll over trail and share stories of those who came before and are here now and my thoughts on our future. </p><p><br /></p><p>Here are some images of</p><p>My basic route. I leave KC on Friday morning…April Fools day:)</p><p><br /></p><p>Hope you follow, and feel free to invite your friends and family. I will share my gear list in the next few days.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks to Robert Thompson, Natalie, Aimee, Lauralyn, and Justin M Short BA for your generous support as well.</p><p><br /></p><p>Bill Poindexter</p>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-47346589194682826102019-04-01T13:50:00.002-05:002019-04-01T13:50:27.848-05:00Living carfree <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80YubvcuStBWOqdVoztw6mzA1BPy9l2RgOaLmLJ77vCjl6cPDcFvERKV6O1pEoTFNUZFfo0Sf52NI4RCdpmhR-pDSnk77mJC4q7yRuiGeVURvvfpDaMCDam98EsvNvmGK0Mqf3Z1gaJc/s1600/174090F5-8F78-446F-82DB-B8F4C21426B7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80YubvcuStBWOqdVoztw6mzA1BPy9l2RgOaLmLJ77vCjl6cPDcFvERKV6O1pEoTFNUZFfo0Sf52NI4RCdpmhR-pDSnk77mJC4q7yRuiGeVURvvfpDaMCDam98EsvNvmGK0Mqf3Z1gaJc/s640/174090F5-8F78-446F-82DB-B8F4C21426B7.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-80055632343800766902019-02-16T15:16:00.001-06:002019-02-16T15:16:59.723-06:0010 years of living car-free!Hi, as you know this site has not been very active over the years. I am curious to know if you all are still following or have your eyes and hearts on the carfree life style. Send me a note if you are out there!<br />
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bill@poindexterrecruiting.com<br />
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I am working on multiple projects to promote carfree living with the primary focus being to promote a healthier world-people, environment and community.<br />
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Over the last two years I have traveled by bicycle to Mexico, Canada, and on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route which spans from Banff Alberta south to Mexico. I have had some extraordinary adventures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdnIEaet65jhjz8Bpez0XXQ0Y8mPjvIVTfKgNQ9xtDBQTrXaqIKcrhEOmkekHDISPFowUru5qsm9PEjS3yBQvelxi2nEMC3y9KJWgj8J_R-IIDCYhpEMieFo7_sClKitbgvscqUjudTU/s1600/IMG_4801.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="638" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdnIEaet65jhjz8Bpez0XXQ0Y8mPjvIVTfKgNQ9xtDBQTrXaqIKcrhEOmkekHDISPFowUru5qsm9PEjS3yBQvelxi2nEMC3y9KJWgj8J_R-IIDCYhpEMieFo7_sClKitbgvscqUjudTU/s320/IMG_4801.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Feel free to connect with me on Facebook to learn more!<br />
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Here is a tale from the road:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Tip : How to find a place to sleep while traveling on the Great
Divide Mountain Bike Route. What “they” don’t tell you in the Guide books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Non racing)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Jack, Anna, Bahne, and myself had come off a long climb from
Pinedale, WY heading north and were a day away from Grand Teton National Park.
At the bottom of the mountain we stopped at a lodge for the usual GDMBR fare:
burgers, fries, beer. I noticed a couple and a older woman, the mother in law
staring at our disheveled group, but being a vagabond and wanderer I was used
to the stares, as we were a live story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">After we ate I walked outside to gather water bottles for refills.
The couple and old woman followed me out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">They smiled. “Where are you traveling from?” The man asked with kind
eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“New Mexico.” I said and explained the route to them, that we were
self contained, the four of us met on the road, and were traveling together for
a few days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“Where do you sleep” the woman asked as though somehow searching for
her past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“Any place.” I say simply. “On the side of the road, in a shelter,
bathroom, campground, back of a restaurant, lawns, people invite us into their
home, but really, when the sun starts to set any place will do.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Their eyes widened , they looked at each other and nodded in
complete understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“Where will you sleep tonight?” The woman asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“Dunno?” I said smiling. “There is a campground a few miles up the
road, or we may just keep moving till we find something and head into the
woods, something will present itself, it always does.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The couple thanked me for telling them about our travels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I walked back in the restaurant and told my companions what
happened. Seconds later the man came back in, and said, “My wife says you all
can stay in our cabin tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">We graciously agreed, and half hour later we were at the cabin.
Jerry and Anna, and Anna’s mother hosted us for the night.
Unconditional. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Full-blooded Arapaho, Jerry later that night confided in me -he
longed for the “old ways” of his people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">He said, “The way you are traveling on your bicycles, with your
gear, free on the land, was the way my ancestors traveled on horseback or foot.
I am envious.” He gave me a serious look, “You will always be welcomed here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">That night I slept deeply. Embraced by kindness, present and past.
That’s the Wild West, that is the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The next morning we rose to coffee, off the balcony, good food, took
pictures of our new friends and us, then we rode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Side note: While on the Divide three Native Tribes showed me
incredible hospitality- Pueblo, Apache, and Arapaho. I came to the West to see
how the past and present meshed with smells of sage and pine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-53349362540651792082017-07-26T09:52:00.000-05:002017-07-26T09:53:18.205-05:00Surly Troll review-getting lost in Montana and Canada<div class="MsoNormal">
Surly Troll Review-Getting Lost in Montana and Canada </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AKrG8l8Il-oVCN7dFStCiMSH2GUPmdRPmPbmhWh1bSyqRgE9QzK7W5NG645XZQ6jKUzS3W3isYWkEekKl6PnBL70BR-81J1nZYIP6eup66kX4-3N-8wPVz7NtR5121PWE-jVNQkO7ss/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AKrG8l8Il-oVCN7dFStCiMSH2GUPmdRPmPbmhWh1bSyqRgE9QzK7W5NG645XZQ6jKUzS3W3isYWkEekKl6PnBL70BR-81J1nZYIP6eup66kX4-3N-8wPVz7NtR5121PWE-jVNQkO7ss/s320/Image.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Fork Road between Polebridge, MT <br />
and Eureka, MT</td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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I recently completed a 22 day, 1250+ mile, self contained
bike packing tour from Missoula, MT up into Canada much of which was on the
Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Primarily the roads were gravel, forest
service roads, minimal maintenance,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>single track, and pavement. This is my Troll review from that trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When buying a bike I look for these things: Durability,
minimal maintenance, utilitarian options, and looks. The Troll met all
requirements-and then some.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For specs go to Surly website: http://surlybikes.com/bikes/troll<o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall: the Troll handled well over the myriad of terrain
it was put on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Safe ride: whether climbing on loose gravel for 15 miles or bone
jarring descents, I felt completely safe with the Troll’s abilities. One reason
was Jones Bars: They gave me wonderful control on the down hills, and a great
feel on the climbs the wide bars helped open my chest so plenty of oxygen could
get into my lungs. They took me awhile to get use but once comfortable I
adapted-I won’t go back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mud somewhere on the GDMBR in Canada next to Weary Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The Micro Shifters: Simple minimal maintenance. Options to
make them friction so no adjustments needed-I liked that a lot!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gearing: The 27 gears gave me enough options for any
terrain, there were some hike/bike sections on the GDMBR and some of the other trails
I rolled over, but for the most part I was able to stay on the Troll.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seat-WTB: I really like standard seat that comes with the
Troll, plenty of cushion and most riders I came across, like myself, wore regular
clothes and no padded bike shorts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Steel Frame: Heavy-yes. But as they say, “Steel is real.”
Tough and absorbs road shock well. Tough tough tough!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Brakes: I love the disc breaks. With all the downhill
sections I would have worn out pads, but the disc brakes perform excellent. I
did have to replace the rear caliper but that was only because I did not adjust
them properly in the first place. Your local mechanic should teach you how to
adjust them as needed. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowman Lake, Glacier, NP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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Wheels and tires: I used my own custom wheels but my tires
were the Surly Extraterrestrial 2.5s. They proved to be a great choice for the
rough roads- I just lowered the tire pressure and rolled comfortably. When on
pavement for long stretches I would pump up the tires and glide smoothly. I was
able to ride with other cyclists who were on slicks. The rear tread wore down
quickly-2000 miles, but that was expected considering the differences in
terrain. Openly: I beat the crap out of tires and had ZERO flats-will use them
again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love my Troll and
feel like I could take it anywhere: pavement, single track, gravel, it can
adapt to most terrain. Truly it is a bicycle you can take to the ends of the
Earth and –get lost!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The only thing I don’t like, yes there is always that, is
the horizontal dropouts for the rear wheels. Surly says they did it this way
for other options-single speed, Rolf Hubs, and other cool things I most likely
wont use. I prefer vertical dropouts. But then again-options.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIoYGlX-xQUWH0_JH6kUByLVAfz6VJGz3gR2rk8ycM8p2oKI8OPL7WkUSpaekOabY5xgkPDbRXFZz4yIcbbptAWMT2aBLrWZhNC2c3E-8zg_AgoKthn8tnMH2S509eB2Bd5lxldRNC6Y/s1600/IMG_2379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIoYGlX-xQUWH0_JH6kUByLVAfz6VJGz3gR2rk8ycM8p2oKI8OPL7WkUSpaekOabY5xgkPDbRXFZz4yIcbbptAWMT2aBLrWZhNC2c3E-8zg_AgoKthn8tnMH2S509eB2Bd5lxldRNC6Y/s320/IMG_2379.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">road going to the Sun in Glacier, NP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
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Other considerations and thoughts: I used a Surly Rack. I
like the entire eyelet options for water bottle cages and anything cages. The
fact there is the option to ditch the disc brakes and go with old school brakes
is appealing especially if traveling in a 3<sup>rd</sup> world country. 26in
wheels VS 29ers-well that is just personal preference, although again in a 3<sup>rd</sup>
world country 26in wheels are said to be easier to obtain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want one bike that can do everything
well that is extremely durable, cost effective, and will have little, if any,
maintenance issues the stock Troll is an excellent option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met many people on the road with Trolls who
were happy with their choice. Surly has other excellent choices as well for
your cycling needs but the Troll met mine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One last thing, I did not realize how much this bike meant
to me at the end of the trip, until I got off the train and Amtrak told me they
could not find my bike. Now I am a simple man, I don’t do the whole material
possession thing, but when I was told that my heart sunk as though I just lost
my best friend-we had just spent the last 22 days, 1250+ miles exploring
multiple national parks and forest over terrain that would scare a Grizzly, but
we did it and survived. Over the next few days I came to realize how connected
I became to the Troll on the trip. This confidence it gave me on the tour was
amazing, sure it <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back home safe and sound</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
was partly me, but not worrying about the durability of my
bike, well, that was priceless for a bikepacker like myself. I got it back
three days later, but without explanation. I like to think it wanted to have
its own adventure.<br />
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-14304740815150024152016-11-29T10:43:00.001-06:002016-11-29T10:43:55.007-06:00Still CarfreeI'm still loving my lifestyle. For me there is more freedom and beauty in the world living carfree.<br />
<br />
Currently I'm exploring different career options and travel options as well.<br />
<br />
If<br />
You wanna connect with me on Facebook :<br />
https://m.facebook.com/billpoindexter<br />
<br />
Peace!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://m.facebook.com/billpoindexter">Facebook </a>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-47446117549455743622015-01-13T11:53:00.001-06:002015-01-14T11:52:26.379-06:00Book Review-Bicycling Around The World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://kcbicycletouring.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-bicycling-around-world.html" style="color: black; font-size: 20px; text-decoration: none;">Book Review-Bicycling Around The World</a></h3>
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We all want to, but most of us will not make the time or have the fortitude to take extended bicycling treks for weeks, months, or, as in the case of Grace Johnson and her photographer husband Paul Jeurissen, years at a time.</div>
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Bicycling around the world is an excellent, an FREE, collection of pictures from the roads in China, India, North and South America, and many more places.</div>
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Each picture will make you start fantasizing about the possibility of your next adventure. Some will make you laugh while others will make you feel alone and small because of the remote locations photographed.</div>
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Paul has a eye for the depth of his shots in mountain areas few photographers are able to find the right scale. In his images, the lone cyclist making their way through the high passes of India is inspiring.</div>
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The only thing I think they might have done is add some maps of where they were. Otherwise this is a excellent photo book!</div>
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In speaking with Grace and Paul, the future looks grand!</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Why did you all make it free? </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Why not?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In the future we might offer a paper version of the book via Blurb but the cost will be high since the book has more than 200 pages. The only way to keep the printing costs down would be to order a large print run of the book – and that would cost us thousands of dollars up front plus a lot of time spent marketing / promoting the book to ensure that all of the copies are sold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As for selling it as an eBook – of course we could earn some money that way yet it would also cost us more time to market and promote it than a free eBook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">So we decided to just offer the eBook for free so that it would be easier to reach people who enjoy looking at bicycle touring and culture photos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I saw a photo essay once with you all in it in the Adventure Cyclist magazine, do you know what month and year that was by chance?</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">9 / 11/ 2009 <a href="http://www.pauljeurissen.nl/paul-jeurissen-publications/h1DC78063#h1dc78063" style="color: purple; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.pauljeurissen.nl/paul-jeurissen-publications/h1DC78063#h1dc78063</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Do you have any future cycling plans?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Right now we are still on our trip. As for future plans – we would love to go back cycling in South America, especially Argentina. Argentina has the Andes Mountains, a lot of opportunities to wild camp, inexpensive good wine (cheaper than bottled water) and great back roads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Do you use a bicycle for transportation at home as well as on trips abroad?</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I moved from the U.S.A. to the Netherlands in 1986 and still haven’t changed my driver’s license over to a Dutch one. Holland is densely populated and thus has an excellent public transport system plus they are world leaders when it comes to bicycle infrastructure. I don’t miss driving a car at all. It’s so much fun cycling on segregated bike paths to the stores, town and work. Even when you are cycling on roads it feels safe since Dutch drivers are used to watching out for bicyclists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What’s also different from the states is that Dutch people don’t think it’s strange when I mention that I don’t have a driver’s license. When I used to cycle to work in Washington State even the neighbourhood kids asked me, “why are you cycling? Don’t you have a car?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What advice would you give people who want to travel by bike as you did?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Right now I’m busy helping a friend of mine (Friedel Grant of <a href="http://www.travellingtwo.com/" style="color: purple; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.travellingtwo.com</span></a>) update her free eBook <i>Bike Touring Basis </i>which is full of information on how to get started. It will probably go online in February 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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‘Bicycling Around The World’ celebrates bike travel and culture around the globe.</div>
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In 2010, we (photographer Paul Jeurissen and Grace Johnson) set off on a multi-year bicycle tour covering four continents. Wherever we go, we search out bike culture, dramatic landscapes and remote places. So come pedal with us through the icy Himalayas, the barren Pamir highway, tropical East Africa and the chaos of Dhaka in search of unique cycling images.</div>
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We also show you glimpses of bicycle culture via painted rickshaws, overloaded cargo bikes and even two wheelers piled high with cotton candy.</div>
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By the end of this book, we hope you’ll agree that the world is best viewed from a bike saddle.</div>
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<a href="http://www.bicycletraveler.bicyclingaroundtheworld.nl/download/527/" style="border: 0px; color: #9f9f9f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="download" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-325" src="http://www.bicycletraveler.bicyclingaroundtheworld.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/download.png" height="38" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" width="105" /></a></div>
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High and low res photos for reviews can be found <a href="http://www.bicycletraveler.bicyclingaroundtheworld.nl/press" style="border: 0px; color: #9f9f9f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Press">here</a><br />
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I am ready to hop on my bike and join them!!!! BP<br />
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-50783900262763908652015-01-10T00:00:00.000-06:002015-01-11T10:33:58.632-06:00Bicycling in winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Your not riding your bike in this are you? How do you do it?" Someone will asking when the weather turned cold and snowy.</div>
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I smile and tell them, "I am riding in this, and I will be riding all winter and when I can't ride, I will walk." I smile.</div>
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And they roll their eyes, and say cliches like, "Well, your a better person than me. I could never do that"<br />
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But truth be told- they can.<br />
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Winter cycling to me is the most fun. The extreme, often unpredictable weather, adverse road conditions, and lack of day light, make it an adventure.<br />
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I think having a positive attitude is a big part of it as well.<br />
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Here are some things I do to make my rides and commutes safe and fun.<br />
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<b>BE Prepared: </b><br />
I am always prepared for changing weather. I carry extra clothing-shirt, gloves, neck gaiter, socks, hat, helmet cover, pants, and whatever else I may need. <br />
Temperature drops of 30+ degrees are common in winter.<br />
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Bike prep:<br />
My bike is well prepared for winter. I have fenders, rear rack, and multiple lights. <br />
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Actually, three lights in the front an three in the rear. May seem excessive, but it is not, being visible is very important with the low light conditions of winter. Reflectors and reflective clothing are OK, but nothing catches the eye of a driver like a blinking light. And if you can, don't go cheap on a<a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/blog/light-motion-solite-250ex/"> light- it can save your life!</a><br />
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Lubrication-I use a generous amount of oil on my chain, gears, and derailleurs. The salts and sand are very harsh on the bike.<br />
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Obeying the laws:<br />
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One should ALWAYS obey the laws of the road. If you have a driver's license you know you know the laws.<br />
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Winter is a time for me to be hyper aware of my surroundings. I know the road conditions, what is in front, behind, and on my sides 100% of the time. I am also aware of options to get off the street-especially in icy conditions.<br />
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One great strategy to have, all year round, is to assume you are invisible. Too many times people are distracted, and if they are un-use to seeing cyclist, they may not be looking for you and may not see you!<br />
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<b>Biking skills </b>in winter: 'What if you slip on ice or snow?" I think one of the best ways for a cyclist to prepare for the adverse road conditions is by learning how to bike on dirt and gravel trails with multiple terrains. Like mountain biking, winter road cycling has its share of obstacles: sticks, leaves, walnuts, sand, ices, snow drifts, branches, slush, mud, just to name a few. Mountain biking prepares you in that you learn how to go over and through obstacles like these. Tires are not as important as you might think, it is more about the pressure in the tire so experimenting with different tire pressures can help insure a safer ride. Studded snow tires are an option, but I have never felt the need for them....yet. <a href="http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp">Peter White offers an excellent article about studded bicycle tires at Peter White Cycles</a><br />
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<b>Clothing:</b><br />
Why ride in winter? Why not ride in winter?! <br />
Layering, layering, layering! That is the key, there is no magic one piece of clothing, and in most cases less is more. For instance in winter I usually wear, in temps of 20f to 35f, skull cap, helmet rain cover, neck gaiter, fleece gloves, two light weight wick able long sleeve shirts, a light weight wind breaker with a back vent, cycling shorts, wind pants, or micro fleece pants, wool socks, hiking boots ( I use platform pedals).<br />
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<b>Pedals: </b><br />
I went to platform pedals four years ago and have not looked back! They are easier to use and less <br />
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hassle than their clip-less cousins. If you race, you should stick with clip-less. For commuters, in winter, going platform is a better option as use are not clipped in and you can where your winter boots. Better to be able to get your feet down if you hit some black ice.<br />
Our friends at Rivendell Bicycle Works wrote a great article on the benefits of use platform pedals called <a href="http://www.rivbike.com/kb_results.asp?ID=45">"the Shoes Ruse"</a>. I use platform pedals on all my bikes and all year round, including my long distant tours of hundreds and thousands of miles, much on gravel roads.<br />
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In mild dry cold weather I now prefer wearing wool is possible: trousers, underwear, socks, sweat, shirt, hat, gloves, neck gaiter, with a good tough boot. When wet, the one piece of high tech clothing is my <a href="http://www.showerspass.com/catalog/men/mens-jackets/transit-jacket">Transit Jacket from Showers Pass</a> it is hard to beat for functionality, made by cyclists, for cyclists. A little pricey at $160US, but considering the benefits, well worth it. Also great for Walking, hiking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, running, anything outside in winter. The <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/apparel/">Adventure Cycling Association has some great gear options</a> for you<br />
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<b>SWEATING?</b><br />
I regulate my temperature buy the zipper on my jacket, and on my level of exertion. All this takes practice and what works for one person, may be different for another, so be patient. The only rule is: to go ride and experience it for yourself!<br />
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<b>EXTREMES?</b><br />
I have biked in blizzards, sleet, 31f degree rain, snow storms, when temps were well below zero, and all I have to say is: it is FUN...AS LONG AS YOU ARE PREPARED!<br />
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So give winter cycling for transportation a try! Here are some resources that may help.<br />
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<a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/howto.cfm">http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/howto.cfm</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.icebike.org/">http://www.icebike.org/</a><br />
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Happy Cycling and stay warm,<br />
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Bill<br />
(All pictures were found online if you are the taker, let me know.)<br />
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-44269533298015515972014-12-08T11:48:00.002-06:002014-12-08T11:48:44.564-06:00Walk or BicycleI remember back in June of 2009 when I made the decision to be CAR FREE. It was a good move.<br />
I now have a girlfriend who has three kids and she drives a huge SUV, and needs a car, well at least she has a life style that demands it. So now there is a car in my life...but I still manage not to own one and when I am not with them I am car free.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gw9C9bnjgWlrVC8BDOm5l_nv025RUlH5MNlnreJCX6a07hFAa14GH-xLH_xhMSaS1Bp2B-A0qOC-aABWJpGAnaMxjG-zcXILiUkicQQqJUaQlQImgO0xGjtTE7YqujBUq6Hfofjpy7I/s1600/IMG_3054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gw9C9bnjgWlrVC8BDOm5l_nv025RUlH5MNlnreJCX6a07hFAa14GH-xLH_xhMSaS1Bp2B-A0qOC-aABWJpGAnaMxjG-zcXILiUkicQQqJUaQlQImgO0xGjtTE7YqujBUq6Hfofjpy7I/s1600/IMG_3054.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I love living without a car. Transportation is much simpler.<br />
Walk<br />
Bicycle<br />
Cross Country Ski<br />
Bus<br />
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I am healthier (mentally and physically), more in touch with my community, polluting less, and saving money.<br />
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Everyday I wake up is a good day and walk out my front door ask "Do I walk or bike today?"<br />
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I hope you can enjoy this life as well.<br />
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Tell me about your life style...are you living without a car, or do you have one part time?<br />
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Peace<br />
BillBillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-75769087284511292592014-02-04T08:50:00.000-06:002014-02-04T08:47:00.586-06:00Carfree American story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Carfree American story,<br />
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I have been car-free (d. not owning a car) or car-lite(d. owning a car but using it on a limited basis) for 14 years now. <br />
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In 2000, I realized I was living my life for the wrong reasons: just to make a lot of money, accumulate things, get others to respect me for my business success who really did not care who I was or what I did.. I was also very depressed, out of shape, and very overweight.<br />
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One day I looked in the mirror and did not like what I saw-a sad, frustrated, unhealthy person. <br />
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I had always admired the people I knew who lived car-free or car-lite and thought “that is cool, maybe someday that could be me”. <br />
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Living in a car-centric suburb of Kansas City I, like most people, drove everywhere. I personally had two cars. I thrived on the fact that someone would compliment me on the cars I owned, “wow nice car, congratulations” they would say as though I just did something incredibly noble. The truth was the car was completely unnecessary for my life: I lived a block away from a grocery story, I worked out my home most of the time. I could easily bike and walk to most my destinations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AMpkYmU4YGATn2GrTPTolkrSZsuUb9-h2izXntx5vIMO-wO54y_u7gT2IZk4LNmC3Lv_GlFR-p1ohRx3Dj9aalqG-QbVfedbKfT7DKfRUrsFye8qTaAh6Yp0CfxiJxavPsk7MZkeh8U/s1600/40796_421430506852_503796852_5218217_1847540_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AMpkYmU4YGATn2GrTPTolkrSZsuUb9-h2izXntx5vIMO-wO54y_u7gT2IZk4LNmC3Lv_GlFR-p1ohRx3Dj9aalqG-QbVfedbKfT7DKfRUrsFye8qTaAh6Yp0CfxiJxavPsk7MZkeh8U/s320/40796_421430506852_503796852_5218217_1847540_n.jpg" eea="true" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
My life was filled with endless “I wants” with little considerations of what I needed-the American Dream-like eat when your not hungry, drink when you are not thirsty, buy things you do not need, if you want it-then get it as you only live once. I needed change!<br />
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I started to walk for exercise. I gave up; cars, house, and much of the junk I did not need. After a few months I dropped 50 lbs and bought a bicycle. I got rid of the last car and became car-free. Over the two and half years I spent time writing about my experiences and about changes being made in my life. I became a yoga and Pilate’s instructor, and worked in a gym and eventually lost 140 pounds. <br />
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I kept a journal of my experiences and noting what it was like to live a car-free life in a city and suburb that was not car-free friendly; poor sidewalks, no bike lanes, little mass-transit, drivers not use to cyclists, my family even gave me grief. On the other side, there were many friends who were supportive of my life style choice and a lot of people were interested in it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12xLOMStoEXktROqMroBgM9_Dpakct9_1g1oDnoTTo9tKA5kwgspmZsCgmgyXkOgqrf2bp-dmTTnN8voQVbqXaA2YD6ap5PT_2ne2Jo47FaIcRlsReobBxSpf_M9IlSw9KppfVR1SCdI/s1600/IMG_1148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12xLOMStoEXktROqMroBgM9_Dpakct9_1g1oDnoTTo9tKA5kwgspmZsCgmgyXkOgqrf2bp-dmTTnN8voQVbqXaA2YD6ap5PT_2ne2Jo47FaIcRlsReobBxSpf_M9IlSw9KppfVR1SCdI/s1600/IMG_1148.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
In 2004 I ended up taking a new job, and a short time later starting a business. I gave into pressure from my family to get a car (even just for emergencies they said) and become car-lite. For the next six years I became car-lite and missed the car-free life. I kept riding my bike and walking most places. Even car-lite I rode thousands of miles a year for transportation purposes. <br />
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In June of 2009 I decided to go car-free again, but this time for these reasons; for my health, my way to help clean the environment and respect the Earth, support my community relationships like buying only local products, and saving money by not owning a car, around $8,000 per year- per car.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i_c29Qm-tvo1X9kmhVWyehVyRH4y7Q9gebaQBgbyaPHqL4lsqhw8vzePScpgzbcJUu31Ct_NUfutPc2bjxrRRIU0odZMAKjm6MwTAKKQBQJUwzojuJ9Wed9DGfXEgYfsmv3BvvD6et8/s1600/IMG_0737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i_c29Qm-tvo1X9kmhVWyehVyRH4y7Q9gebaQBgbyaPHqL4lsqhw8vzePScpgzbcJUu31Ct_NUfutPc2bjxrRRIU0odZMAKjm6MwTAKKQBQJUwzojuJ9Wed9DGfXEgYfsmv3BvvD6et8/s1600/IMG_0737.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>In the last 14 years I have biked a minimum of 50,000+ miles most of which was for transportation, I have also walked hundreds, maybe even a few thousand miles. I have gotten more involved with alternative transportation advocacy groups, but still strongly feel the BEST way to advocate alternative transportation is to live a life where you incorporate it on a daily basis. <br />
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Now, in early in 2014 I am even more healthy than I ever been. in the last two years I lost another 80<br />
lbs by eating more of a plant based diet. I walk more than I bike now only because I moved an live in an area where everything is two to three miles away. I still bicycle too, but have become more passionate about walking. <br />
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There are times when I wish I had a car, only for the convinence. I do love this life style and I realize, for those who live in a big city it may not even be interesting, but for the rest of us, living with out a car is a true adventure breaking all rules of the American tradition of having a car. <br />
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So, to you, want to be an Carfree <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_umPYN5JhTmny95Y9d_ssVdbFqVYajfKDmIWq2s-uACPd8toKhjQj-KiWRigIIY5IDUBSV_Nnvnjrmpz25hRhJlI7GY9oR_ZoNRbP3ORSA4h_SqmyI9Sy1Q0nHUytWWUwRgaGmPjaXA/s1600/IMG_1172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_umPYN5JhTmny95Y9d_ssVdbFqVYajfKDmIWq2s-uACPd8toKhjQj-KiWRigIIY5IDUBSV_Nnvnjrmpz25hRhJlI7GY9oR_ZoNRbP3ORSA4h_SqmyI9Sy1Q0nHUytWWUwRgaGmPjaXA/s1600/IMG_1172.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
advocate, go walk or ride your bike and let people see you do it. As Gandhi said, <br />
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"Be the change you want to see in the world."<br />
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Carfree is a good way to slow the ravaged plagued society of Obesity, Pollution, and Community degradation. <br />
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Being carfree you will be healthy in your mind and body, the health of the environment, and you will engage in a positive way in your community.<br />
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How I have benefited personally living carfree?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI025QWshNYe3EPgHwMvd4P85xWKFu3cw9pIMwIkB3CKF4F8WqqcJpJ9pSU9KZHH5Uhi2KHbS_KUkgGc68g1XAOSYNi3g90IBlQ7FFICYCs8HF3M5hA6eJu7I_cmQPgmZtoNiOByw-IE8/s1600/IMG_1196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI025QWshNYe3EPgHwMvd4P85xWKFu3cw9pIMwIkB3CKF4F8WqqcJpJ9pSU9KZHH5Uhi2KHbS_KUkgGc68g1XAOSYNi3g90IBlQ7FFICYCs8HF3M5hA6eJu7I_cmQPgmZtoNiOByw-IE8/s1600/IMG_1196.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill Poindexter 2014</td></tr>
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Here is a short list:<br />
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Healthier both mentally and physically<br />
Happier<br />
Doing my part for the environment<br />
I have many friends in my community and meet more every day.<br />
I feel great.<br />
I am more passionate about living and life!<br />
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I hope you enjoy this site. Please let me know your thoughts or ideas on how to make this site or the world a better place. I you are living a carfree life style or want to let me know and I will share your story!<br />
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Be Healthy!</div>
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Peace.</div>
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Bill Poindexter<br />
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-31086422632549452942014-01-06T11:06:00.000-06:002014-01-06T11:10:32.187-06:00Exploring the country by foot in 1909<br />
<h1 class="entry-title" id="post-9380" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 15px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.kansascyclist.com/news/2014/01/kansas-adventurers-tramping-and-camping-with-the-walking-woolfs/" rel="bookmark" style="color: #222222; text-decoration: none;">Kansas Adventurers: Tramping and Camping with the Walking Woolfs</a></h1>
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by randy rasa of <a href="http://www.kansascyclist.com/">www.kansascyclist.com</a></div>
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I stumbled across a very interesting and charming old book, <a class="liexternal" href="https://archive.org/details/trampingcamping00woo" style="color: purple;" target="_blank">Tramping and Camping by the Walking Woolfs</a>, written by Dwight and Stella Woolf of Kansas City, Kansas in the early part of the 20th century. It is an account of their “journey to health”, accomplished by simply walking long distances.</div>
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<img alt="Tramping and Camping" class="aligncenter" src="http://www.kansascyclist.com/img/news/TrampingCampingWoolfs.jpg" height="671" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 0px auto 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;" width="433" /></div>
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The book’s introduction explains it pretty well:</div>
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The unique experience of Mr. and Mrs. Dwight H. Woolf, the champion Long Distance Walkers, has awakened general interest throughout the United States.</div>
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In 1909, Mr. Woolf’s doctor informed him that he would have to get out in the open and stay there, or he would die. He weighed only 107 pounds, including clothes, and was growing weaker daily. Yet he hesitated about giving up his business as a music publisher — his life work; and it seemed a little short of madness to forego all the luxuries — the so-called “comforts” — of civilization.</div>
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But Mrs. Woolf, who was a brave, sensible woman, thoroughly devoted to her husband’s interests, agreed with the physician and suggested a walk to the Ozark Mountains.</div>
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That was the beginning of a most remarkable series of trips through Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and up through the north Atlantic States to New York and Boston, then home to Kansas City — in the aggregate, a journey of about 10,300 miles.</div>
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Yet, wherever the couple went there was really but one destination—health. Mr. Woolf gained strength and, not long after starting, was able to make twenty-five or thirty miles in a day. Clad in neat khaki uniforms, he and his wife– now the leading woman pedestrian of the world — marched from city to city, accompanied by Dolly and Don, their faithful horse and dog.</div>
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The group was often surrounded by cheering crowds, or met by newspaper reporters and escorted with honor by delegations of police into the presence of mayors and other officials, who received the travelers cordially.</div>
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But the “Walking Woolfs” gained something far more valuable than honor or fame; and their advice to others who have suffered from the effects of sedentary work is: “When you get into a rut walk out of it.”</div>
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He who draws close to nature is rewarded in many ways, not the least of which is perfect health. The object of this book is to preach the doctrine of exercise and fresh air.</div>
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It’s fascinating to see how — even in the early days of the automobile and the heyday of the passenger train — walking for transportation was seen as “odd”, and yet something to be celebrated as well.</div>
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The Woolfs camped along the way, setting up a tent in the woods or in the yard or field of a friendly farmer. They encountered everyday kindnesses in the country they passed through, though not all were welcoming: “A woman who saw us and supposed that we were gipsies, pulled her children into the house for fear that we might steal them.”</div>
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The book begins with “Hints for Health”, and these are some good, pithy tips, as valid today as they were a hundred year ago:</div>
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Health comes first.<br />
Get up early.<br />
Go to bed early.<br />
Get plenty of fresh air<br />
Drink plenty of water.<br />
Exercise daily in the open air.<br />
Never be in a hurry at meal time.<br />
It is better not to eat enough than too much.<br />
Two meals a day are enough for persons employed at office work.<br />
Don’t jeopardize your health to make money.<br />
Wealthy men would give their riches for health.<br />
Health is easy to lose and hard to gain.<br />
There is a bright side to life if you look for it.<br />
If you can’t think of something pleasant to talk about, be a good listener.<br />
Don’t worry — get back to nature.<br />
Don’t sleep with a closed window.<br />
Open the window at the top.<br />
Best Remedies — Fresh Air, Sunshine, Exercise, Water, Nature.<br />
Remember — That the largest amount of your ailments come from the lack of exercise and fresh air.</div>
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What’s all this got to do with bicycling? Perhaps not much, but bicycle touring is just another form of the sort of tramping that the Woolfs enjoyed. It’s celebrated by some, met with derision or suspicion by others, and is simply incomprehensible to too many. It depends on the generosity and hospitality of the communities we pass through. And, like walking, it’s a marvelous way to see, and really experience, the countryside.</div>
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You can read the book online at <a class="liexternal" href="https://archive.org/details/trampingcamping00woo" style="color: purple;" target="_blank">archive.org</a>, where it’s also available as a PDF download or an ebook for Kindle or Nook.</div>
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The <cite>Hutchinson News</cite> <a class="liexternal" href="http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/17098849/" style="color: purple;" target="_blank">reported</a> on one of their trips in 1912:</div>
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Tho Walking Woolfs Have Finally Reached San Diego. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Woolf, who style themselves the “Walking Woolfs’, who passed through Hutchinson this summer, walking from Kansas City to tho Pacific coast, have finally reached their destination, San Diego, Calif. Speaking of their arrival there, the San Diego Tribune says “Walking down Fifth street about 10 o’clock this morning a man and n woman, both brown as berries and dressed in khaki on which the alkali dust clung in spots, came, head up and chest out, one on each side of a horse that was pulling a wagon plastered with cards and inscriptions of all sorts. The dog came trotting behind. They were Mr. and Mrs. Woolf, of Kansas City, Molly the horse who has tramped twelve thousand miles, and Don, the dog. They are known as the “Walking Woolfs”. When asked about his trip and the object of it, Mr. Woolf said it was mainly for health. “We left Kansas City May of this year,” Sir Woolf said. “We Walked across the Utah desert two hundred miles with great difficulty. When in the middle of the desert we smashed a wheel, which could not be remedied, and there we stuck for two weeks. We were beginning to get worried about the water and provisions when members of the Utah Construction company rescued us. “When we leave San Diego we go to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and then back to Kansas City, via Yellowstone Park.”</div>
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This <a class="liexternal" href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+walking+woolfs%3A+an+adventurous+couple+trekked+through+Mississippi...-a0161398137" style="color: purple;" target="_blank">article</a> tells a little bit more of their story: “Finally, after having walked nearly 20,000 miles, Dwight, Stella, Dolly, and Don came home for good in November of 1915. From their daily journal, they published a 250-page book entitled Tramping and Camping by the Walking Woolfs. They also published a 34-card set of postcards from the numerous photos taken during their six years of walking across America. It isn’t known what happened to the Woolfs: What did they do throughout the rest of their lives? How long did they live? All of this is a mystery. But one thing is sure–they must have had some great stories to tell.”</div>
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Here’s one of their postcards:</div>
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<img alt="Walking Woolfs Postcard" class="aligncenter" src="http://www.kansascyclist.com/img/news/WalkingWoolfsPostcard.jpg" height="402" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; margin: 0px auto 1em; padding: 4px; text-align: center;" width="550" /></div>
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“Tramping and Camping” is the key to nature.</div>
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-82405909419712804252013-11-18T13:59:00.001-06:002013-11-18T13:59:20.290-06:00Bikes outselling cars in Europe<br />
<h2 class="entry-title" style="color: #666666; font-family: Oswald, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 25px; line-height: 38px; margin: 5px 0px 15px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;">
<a href="http://womanonawheel.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/bikes-outselling-cars-in-europe/" rel="bookmark" sl-processed="1" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;">BIKES OUTSELLING CARS IN EUROPE</a></h2>
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NPR recently featured a story on their website about how <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/10/24/240493422/in-most-every-european-country-bikes-are-outselling-cars" sl-processed="1" style="color: black;">bike sales are outpacing car sales in Europe</a>. </div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_984" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; clear: both; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0.8em; text-align: center; width: 333px;">
<a href="http://womanonawheel.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/where-bikes-outsold-cars-the-most-in-2012_chartbuilder_custom-a15dd9600ccb70ba6a2fd894c74f28ae95e0ab39-s3-c85.png" sl-processed="1" style="color: black;"><img alt="Source NPR" class=" wp-image-984 " height="517" src="http://womanonawheel.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/where-bikes-outsold-cars-the-most-in-2012_chartbuilder_custom-a15dd9600ccb70ba6a2fd894c74f28ae95e0ab39-s3-c85.png?w=323&h=517" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="323" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0.5em;">
Source NPR</div>
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<a href="http://womanonawheel.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/new-passenger-car-and-bicycle-sales-2012-_chartbuilder_custom-52ce0e51cc669b1c7267930f2f65dda1c5ceb3ba-s3-c85.png" sl-processed="1" style="color: black;"><img alt="Source NPR" class=" wp-image-985 " height="517" src="http://womanonawheel.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/new-passenger-car-and-bicycle-sales-2012-_chartbuilder_custom-52ce0e51cc669b1c7267930f2f65dda1c5ceb3ba-s3-c85.png?w=323&h=517" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="323" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="color: #666666; font-size: 12px; margin: 0.5em;">
Source NPR</div>
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I hope these are real number! Thoughts?</div>
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-10763698344544578412013-11-15T12:48:00.001-06:002013-11-15T12:48:30.611-06:00Gear Review - Light and Motion Solite 250EX<br />
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Light & Motion Solite 250EX</h1>
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From the Adventure Cycling Association</div>
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Daylight savings ends in a little over a week, and that's a sad day indeed for cyclists hoping snag a few hours in the saddle after the 9-5 grind. If you're looking for a light to extend your ride time, or perhaps keep yourself visible for those dark commutes to and from the office, the <a href="http://www.lightandmotion.com/bike/solite250ex.html" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Solite 250EX</a> from Light & Motion is a solid option worth checking out.</div>
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This light runs off a portable battery pack that is micro USB rechargeable. It takes a good eight hours to top it off, and at full charge, the Solite 250EX puts out 250 lumens for up to four hours. If you want to burn through the battery at a slower pace, there are some more economical runtime options of 8 hours at 125 lumens and 30 hours at 50 lumens. If you take this along on a camping trip, there is also a 7-lumen setting for...<a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/blog/light-motion-solite-250ex/">read more at the Adventure Cycling site...</a></div>
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Carfree American is a huge fan of the Adventure Cycling Association. When we first started to bicycle for transportation...14 years ago, Adventure Cycling was, and still is, the go to site for: gears reviews, how-to articles, types of bikes to ride, feature travel essays, and much more that promoted adventure cycling and it all translated well into transportational cycling, which, if you commute you are a adventure cycling guru!</div>
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You can also get a FREE COPY of Adventure Cycling Magazine, which is really fun and interesting!!!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.adventurecycling.org/about-us/request-info/?r=YL-GD">Click for a free copy</a></td></tr>
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-50117068579277460572013-11-13T11:48:00.002-06:002013-11-13T11:50:52.847-06:00Commuting tips from Arkel<br />
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This shared from the <a href="http://www.arkel-od.com/us/all-categories.html">Arkel Website,</a> these folks make some excellent panniers!<br />
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Going to work by bike? Welcome to the growing group! Some are doing it by obligation, for health, because of money, political reasons, because it feels good or to save the earth. The following are but tidbits of ideas on commuting.</div>
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My idea is to help fellow commuters to share our combined experiences. Just here at <a href="http://www.arkel-od.com/us/all-categories.html">Arkel</a> do 85% of our staff commute to work on a bike, with dedicated indoor parking!! If you don’t do it already, by all means try it—for whatever reason you want</div>
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</td><td style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;"><span class="photocaption" style="font-size: 0.8em; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Louise,<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />our Quality Control specialist . . .<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />and author of these commuting tips</span><br />
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What to wear depends on where you live, of course. The Canadian climate is not the same as the California climate, but some basic rules can be carried over.<br />
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Work clothes are pretty much off, except maybe for some very short commutes. Two things make that unpractical: sweat and wrinkling. Most of us will sweat somewhat, which is not really appealing when wearing a shirt, but even if you don’t the pedaling motion will wrinkle well-pressed pants in no-time, like behind the knees and at the crotch. Instead wear light, comfortable clothes or breathable cycling wear to maximize your experience.<br />
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Maybe you have a place at work to hang or store your cycling clothes. Maybe you don’t. If you don’t then keep some room in your panniers for them. If you sweat a lot and have to store your riding clothes in your panniers, maybe it would be wise to carry a spare pair of shorts. Spandex are great because they're light and you can wash them in a sink, and they dry in no time.<br />
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The classic spin on work clothes is to prepare a complete set of matchable outfits for the week ahead and drive the lot to the workplace once a week and bring back the old ones for washing. If you’re like many of us here at Arkel who don’t even own a car, it’s not realistic. Commuting can still be accomplished without great pains, as we all at Arkel are good examples of that. For instance, our California guy, Daniel, has his shirts cleaned and “boxed” so there is enough space inside the individual plastic bag they are folded in, to also fit a pair of folded pants, underwear, t-shirt, socks, tie and a belt. For him the T-42's fit everything perfect and give him enough room for a laptop (<a href="http://www.arkel.ca/ca_e/all-categories/laptop-pannier.html" style="color: #f06c3c; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">laptop pannier</a>) , business files, books and his lunch! Everything is so tight that nothing moves during the ride for a wrinkle free look. He even uses the plastic bag to put his bike clothes in.<br />
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Paul, our General Manager, commutes with our Briefcase. He uses one compartment solely for clothes. By compressing the webbing he effectively stabilizes everything for fresh garnments at work.<br />
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<span class="howToPack" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Safety first</span></div>
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First and foremost. <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">always</b></i> wear a helmet. It's cheap brain insurance and it's only a question of time before you will use it, ask anyone!<br />
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Wear bright colors. They are not only more visible during the night, they are more eye-catching during the day too. You can’t be too visible. When riding at night not only should you have all the equipment required by law, but also make sure to adhere to the “see and be seen” mentality. Use active lights front and rear. Make sure your panniers have reflective stripes, wear reflective leg bands and don’t shy away from a reflective vest. It looks dorky, but not more than a suit in a coffin. Your loved ones will thank you.<br />
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Obey traffic laws. We can’t stress this one enough. One day it will save you life. And if it don’t save yours, it may save others by demonstrating the proper example and not antagonizing motorists. Stop at all red lights and stop signs, even when there's no traffic. It's a good habit to get into.<br />
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Obey traffic laws: Keep off the sidewalks.<br />
Obey traffic laws: Stay off narrow, one way streets.<br />
Obey traffic laws: Act like a car which never has the right of way.<br />
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Be predictable. Hand signals were invented for cars. When cars had no directional lights hand signals became mandatory. Use them to indicate your moves to motorists. They’ll love you for it, because neither of you will be guessing what the other is doing.<br />
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Look through the back windows of parked cars to spot drivers about to exit without warning. If passing such a car with unclear intent, extend a hand forward as you come about the door in case the door opens on your side. Providing you are forceful enough you may stop the driver from opening the door in front of your kneecaps...at least long enough for you to pass.<br />
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Don’t shout to motorists, unless absolutely necessary. Life is too short to waste your precious time and energy, and often will do nothing but distract you thus making an accident even more likely. Learn crash manoeuvers, think of possible last minute escape routes and how to ditch, and if all else fails, apply your first aid knowledge for whomever is involved. Practice over grass in your backyard or in the park. It’s a good skill to know anyways. Sometimes in life you must learn to let go.<br />
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<span class="howToPack" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Day-to-day necessities</span></div>
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Commuting and seatbags don’t go well together unless you can park your bike inside your workspace. Leave nothing on your bike that can be removed or stolen. Try to use panniers and stuff everything inside.<br />
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There’s no denying that a backpack or a courier bag is quicker to use than a set of panniers, but consider the following. Panniers are not hard on your back, heavy on your shoulders, hot when you sweat, make you lose your balance during quick manoeuvers or risk snapping a vertebra in case of a fall. Similarly, consider that a backpack will not protect your derailleur on a side impact, will not cushion your bike on a brick wall and does not look good inside of corporate buildings. Our vote: panniers, any day. Are your surprised?<br />
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Be sure to have some money in case of an emergency. A calling card is a minimum and enough money for at least a snack and drink is preferable.<br />
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Stack basic tools inside an old sock that you can then use as a glove for roadside repairs. Basics are a spare tube, a pump or 2 CO2 cartridges (if it fits with your philosophy), tire levers, and anything else you feel comfortable with. Anyways at that point you’ll be late for work! And it will be on the most important day, so always give yourself extra time and use the "spare" minutes to enjoy the flowers along the route.<br />
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Carry I.D. where they can be found. Better to be safe than sorry! While you’re at it, put basic identification inside the seat tube of your bike. Something like "This bike belongs to Jane Smith, 34 Main Street, 555-5656" in case it gets stolen. You never know, you could get a phone call from a bike shop later!!!<br />
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<span class="howToPack" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Bike rigging!</span></div>
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We’re talking commuting! Stay low-key and stay away from loud colors. If you lock your bike outside, think of masking most areas of the frame. Make the bike unappealing.<br />
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Fenders are a must, unless you live in Tucson. Minimal weight, maximum payoff. Hey, bonus advantage: most people think it looks . . . errr . . . un-sexy (well we kind of like them ourselves, but that’s just us), thus less appeal for the would be thief.<br />
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Tire liners, Thorn-proof tubes, Kevlar tires, Slime, whatever makes your tire less prone to flats is a blessing to your boss.<br />
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Anything else is up to you. Racing bike, mountain bike, hybrid, fixed gear, one speed, city bike. Whatever suits you, as long as you enjoy it and it's road worthy.<br />
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<span class="howToPack" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">And the small details . . .</span></div>
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If a shower is available to you, by all means indulge yourself. Don’t forget the towel, and a regular hygiene kit that you can stash in a drawer. Soap, shampoo, deodorant are the basics, plus a toothbrush and toothpaste.<br />
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A hand dryer machine in the restroom also makes a good blow dryer.<br />
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If a shower is not available to you, leave a package of "disposable wet napkins" at your work place. They’re practical and will degunk all but the most intimate parts of your body, leaving a fresh scent too!<br />
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Intricate hairstyles will sometimes discourage riders from wearing a helmet or riding a bike altogether. Small tip: most mousses or hair gels will be reactivated with a little water, easying the task to rebuild a presentable, loveable look.<br />
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-24359980432917904972013-11-05T11:47:00.003-06:002013-11-05T11:47:43.274-06:00The Road Less Traveled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">The Road Less Traveled</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">And sorry I could not travel both</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">And be one traveler, long I stood</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">And looked down one as far as I could</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">To where it bent in the undergrowth;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_OVwKQyU1R-xDQn5QuMeFpDZoXDRO_VTidQx73ZGdLdJ48hgSnv2vrRFYS6twYvuHdZEXrrK39u1Zu2zOPvMJsao3-8EGhe6d3cBccwXLmwFtJZySbK58ssYD_NxWAis4E7fX9ydF7s/s1600/fhnt+2013+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_OVwKQyU1R-xDQn5QuMeFpDZoXDRO_VTidQx73ZGdLdJ48hgSnv2vrRFYS6twYvuHdZEXrrK39u1Zu2zOPvMJsao3-8EGhe6d3cBccwXLmwFtJZySbK58ssYD_NxWAis4E7fX9ydF7s/s400/fhnt+2013+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Then took the other, as just as fair,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">And having perhaps the better claim</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Because it was grassy and wanted wear,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Though as for that the passing there</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Had worn them really about the same,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">And both that morning equally lay</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">In leaves no step had trodden black.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Oh, I kept the first for another day!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Yet knowing how way leads on to way</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">I doubted if I should ever come back.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">I shall be telling this with a sigh</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Somewhere ages and ages hence:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">I took the one less traveled by,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">And that has made all the difference. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Robert Frost</span>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-17281544653864653782013-10-31T12:14:00.000-05:002013-11-01T13:36:17.369-05:005 Myths About Traveling By BicycleFrom <a href="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">reposted from Two Wheel Travel, with permission by Tyler Robertson</span><br />
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<b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Bicycle travel doesn’t have to be hardcore. </b><b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">You can even bring your knitting</b></h1>
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After reading Julie Huck’s article, “<a href="http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/10/knitting-club-tackles-trail-of-coeur.html" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Knitting Club tackles trail of the Coeur d’Alenes</a>”, on the <b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://blog.adventurecycling.org/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Adventure Cycling blog</a></b>, Carolyn and I started talking about the all myths surrounding overnight bicycle travel that might keep people from actually trying it. In her post Julie shares a recent experience convincing her knitting club to go on an overnight bicycle trip. Since most of the group had never done an overnight bicycle trip, it sounded difficult and messy at first glance. The knitters were reluctant until Julie countered their arguments with easy, simple solutions. Proving to her friends that bicycle travel, even overnight bicycle travel, doesn’t have to be hardcore to be fun. Anyone can do it.</div>
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<a href="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/bicycle-touring-doesnt-have-to-be-hardcore.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="bicycle touring can be easy; bike travel; two wheel travel" class=" wp-image-1838 " height="348" src="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/bicycle-touring-doesnt-have-to-be-hardcore.jpg" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="bicycle touring doesnt have to be hardcore" width="464" /></a><br />
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Carolyn pedaling on a quiet gravel road.<br />
Czech Republic. Spring 2011</div>
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<b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Bicycle travel is not as hard as you think</span></b></h2>
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With the idea that overnight bicycle travel needn’t be hardcore to be fun we began plumbing the depths of bicycle forums, message boards, asking friends and the like to come up with the “Top 5 myths about bicycle travel and how to dispel them”.</div>
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Here’s what we found:</div>
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<li style="border: 0px none; list-style: decimal outside; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/2012/11/21/top-myths-about-bicycle-travel/#You have to be a hardcore adventurer" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">You have to be a hardcore adventurer</a></b></li>
<li style="border: 0px none; list-style: decimal outside; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/2012/11/21/top-myths-about-bicycle-travel/#You need special, expensive equipment" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">You need special, expensive equipment.</a></b></li>
<li style="border: 0px none; list-style: decimal outside; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/2012/11/21/top-myths-about-bicycle-travel/#Weather- It%E2%80%99s too hot / too cold" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Weather- It’s too hot / too cold.</a></b></li>
<li style="border: 0px none; list-style: decimal outside; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/2012/11/21/top-myths-about-bicycle-travel/#You need to be a bike mechanic" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">You need to be a bike mechanic</a></b></li>
<li style="border: 0px none; list-style: decimal outside; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/2012/11/21/top-myths-about-bicycle-travel/#It%E2%80%99s not safe" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">It’s not safe</a></b></li>
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<i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Remember as we go through list below, we are talking about beginning bicycle travel for the newbie or someone who might be an avid cyclist but has just yet to take the jump to overnight travel by bike. We want to keep the distances short and the investment in equipment minimal. This list is not meant to be the definitive bicycle tourist’s kit list nor a technical primer, but rather an introduction on how someone might try a bicycle overnight and overcome some of the myths surrounding it.</i></div>
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<b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Dispelling the myths about bicycle travel</span></b></h2>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4140490827185418403" name="You have to be a hardcore adventurer" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></a><br style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" />
1.<b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">You have to be a hardcore adventurer (a.k.a. I can’t pedal very fast or far…)</b></div>
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Like the example of the Knitting Club above, bicycle overnight travel doesn’t have to be hardcore to be fun.</div>
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<i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">You don’t have to go fast.</i> You should see me. I redefine slow. I sometimes need to speed up just to stop. <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /> Our experience tells us that some of the best places are often close by and some of the easiest trips.</div>
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<a href="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/dresden-to-prague-by-bike-3.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="multi-modal bike travel, bicycle touring in europe; bike on train" class=" wp-image-1647 " height="180" src="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/dresden-to-prague-by-bike-3.jpg?w=198" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="Dresden to Prague by bike" width="119" /></a><br />
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Bikes on a train: Multi-modal bicycle travel</div>
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Pedal at your own pace, to a destination that is within your reach. The idea is to get out on your bicycle and go someplace. Even if that place is only on the other side of town. It’s just fine as long as you enjoy it.</div>
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<i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">You don’t have to go far. </i>One option we use regularly for extending our trips is public transit. We use buses and light rail to extend our range or cut down travel time. Check with your local Public Transit agency to see if they will carry bicycles and how they must be loaded on and off the bus or train. After that, it is as simple as picking a destination that is within your range. Remember bicycle travel is about having fun. So have fun. Go someplace on your bike. You can do it.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4140490827185418403" name="You need special, expensive equipment" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></a> 2.<b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> You need special, expensive equipment.</b></div>
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<a href="http://twowheeltravelblog.com/2012/07/17/touring-bike-on-a-budget-going-old-school/img_5306/#main" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Trek; Touring bike on a budget; Two Wheel Travel" class=" wp-image-620" height="134" src="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/img_5306.jpg?w=300" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="Trek Singletrack 930 circa1994" width="180" /></a><br />
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You can tour on an old Mountainbike</div>
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<i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Bicycles. </i>While a purpose built touring bike is great, particularly for long distance trips and multi-day adventures, it’s not required. As Carolyn pointed out in her post “<a href="http://twowheeltravelblog.com/2012/07/17/touring-bike-on-a-budget-going-old-school/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Touring bike on a budget…”</a>, it is possible to convert an old Mountain Bike to a great touring rig with a relatively minimal investment. A City Bike / Hybrid is another good option as long as your travels don’t take you too far off-road or require you to carry extremely heavy cargo. You can ride just about any bicycle that you have. What matters is that it is comfortable over an extended distance and your bike has some means for carrying cargo.</div>
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<i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Panniers. </i>While there is a certain pleasure in having nice touring panniers, it is not a stopper by any means. If you’re sure that bicycle travel is for you, then by all means invest in a quality set of waterproof panniers, like the <a href="http://www.ortliebusa.com/prodInfo.asp?pid=31&cid=2" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Ortlieb Classic Rollers</a>. Nothing can beat them. If you are not yet sure, or perhaps this is your first overnight its not a problem to improvise. A basket, milk crate or a book bag lashed to a rack can hold a remarkable amount of cargo if you pack creatively.</div>
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<a href="http://gypsybytrade.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/2011-07-04_20-59-30_693.jpg?w=873&h=500" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="minimal bikepacking; bicycle travel; gypsy by trade; two wheel travel" class="size-medium wp-image-1861" height="169" src="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/gypsy-by-trade-minimal-bike-packing.jpg?w=300" style="border: 0px none; height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="gypsy by trade minimal bike packing" width="300" /></a><br />
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You can lash light, compact items to your handlebar and saddle.<br />
Photo by Nicholas Carmen at <a href="http://gypsybytrade.wordpress.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"> Gypsy by trade</a></div>
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You can also simply lash some of your lighter, more compact cargo, like a sleeping bag or pad, to the front of your handlebar or saddle rails. Make sure your cargo doesn’t interfere with your brakes and shifters. Nicholas at <a href="http://gypsybytrade.wordpress.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Gypsy by Trade">Gypsy by Trade</a> swears by this technique and finds it superior to panniers over rough terrain as his cargo is more aligned with the center axis of the bike making it easier to handle than with panniers.</div>
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Make certain when lashing items onto your rack, handlebar or saddle that you secure these items very well. The constant motion can entice your cargo to take a tour of its own if not secured, and no one wants that.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4140490827185418403" name="Weather- It’s too hot / too cold" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></a>3. <b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Weather- It’s too hot / too cold.</b></div>
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<i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Be prepared, but not overly so</i>. . While we can’t offer any tips or tricks on how to change the weather while you are on your overnight bike trip we can offer some basic advice on how to be prepared for what ever Mother Nature throws at you.</div>
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Make sure you wear light, breathable clothing in hot weather and bring a hat if you’ll be out during the heat of the day. Take lots of breaks. Drink lots of water. Pace yourself. Bicycle travel doesn’t need to be a race. Relax. Stop and swim, eat some ice cream, check out a farmer’s market…this is supposed to be fun.</div>
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In cool or cold weather, bring light layers, mostly wool. Cotton is out. It absorbs moisture (sweat, rain etc…) and is heavy. A light wool sweater is perhaps the best piece of clothing I could ever think of having on a bicycle trip. In fact we almost always have wool clothing with us even in the summer, it can get cool at night. Wool is naturally water repellent and stays warm even if it’s wet and doesn’t smell after repeated use. Pack light. Remember you don’t have to prepare for arctic weather (unless you’re cycling in the arctic, and if you are, why are you reading this…?), you’ll be moving and staying warm. Bring a rain jacket with pit zips. Again, we bring this item summer and winter. You never know when it will rain.</div>
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So what do we mean about not being overly prepared? Pack light. For a bicycle overnight trip you will rarely need 2 of any piece of clothing, except socks or underwear. You won’t need as much clothing as you think.</div>
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We always use one simple rule for packing clothing: <span style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">One set of clothes on the bike and one set of clothes off the bike plus a rain jacket</span>.</div>
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<a href="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/clothing-for-a-bicycle-overnight-trip.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="clothing for an overnight bicycle trip for two people; two wheel travel; bicycle touring" class=" wp-image-1875 " height="126" src="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/clothing-for-a-bicycle-overnight-trip.jpg?w=300" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="clothing for an overnight bicycle trip" width="192" /></a><br />
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Clothing and sleeping bags for 2 people for a 2 night bicycle trip.</div>
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Sometimes these clothes can overlap further reducing the need for extra clothes. My basic packing list for a 2-night bicycle trip is: bike shorts, underwear, 2x socks, wool t-shirt, wool sweater, rain jacket, swim trunks or shorts, hat, flip-flops. This entire load will fit in a stuff sack while riding, since I’ll always be wearing half of it at any time.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4140490827185418403" name="You need to be a bike mechanic" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></a>4. <b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">You need to be a bike mechanic</b></div>
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<i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">I can’t change a flat tire</i>. Like the last point, we can’t offer any secret tricks to avoiding basic bicycle mechanics, but we can tell you this: There is no substitue for a well maintained bicycle, BUT you don’t need to know much to get started.</div>
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The basic skill needed for short bicycle overnight trips is flat tire repair. You should always know how to change a flat at the very least. The basic tool kit is cheap and easy to carry: A spare tube, tire levers and a small pump.</div>
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<a href="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/basic-flat-repair-kit.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="basic repair kit for a flat tire bicycle; bike touring; two wheel travel" class=" wp-image-1879 " height="119" src="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/basic-flat-repair-kit.jpg?w=300" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="Basic flat repair kit" width="180" /></a><br />
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The basic flat repair kit: inner tube, tire levers and a small pump</div>
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If you don’t know how to repair a flat ask a cyclist friend or check out the multitude of instructional videos on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=repair+a+flat+tire+on+a+bicycle&oq=repair+a+flat+tire+on+a+bicycle&gs_l=youtube.3...2660.11697.0.12486.33.32.1.0.0.0.413.4099.18j6j5j2j1.32.0...0.0...1ac.1.80TMiHZ63X0" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">youtube</a>. It’s really not hard.</div>
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Now it could be said that a well maintained bicycle is less likely to break down. No doubt. That is absolutely true. However the likelihood of a catastrophic breakdown on a short trip is less if your bike has been serviced recently. If you’re planning an overnight bicycle trip and your bike hasn’t been serviced lately it is a good idea to take it to your bike shop for a check over. After that you should be OK for short, lightly loaded touring even with a minimum of mechanical know-how.</div>
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If you plan on doing longer and more heavily loaded tours nothing beats a basic knowledge of bicycle mechanics and some crucial tools. Check <a href="http://sheldonbrown.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">out Sheldon Brown’s encyclopedia of bicycling</a> for almost everything you ever needed to know and more.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4140490827185418403" name="It’s not safe" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></a>5.<b style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> It’s not safe</b></div>
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<i style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Isn’t it dangerous?</i> Everyone has a limit of risk vs. reward. No need to be uncomfortable or feel unsafe, but the facts are that bicycle travel is safe as long as you use common sense and follow the basic rules of the road. If you’re still unsure it doesn’t hurt to get some help, whether that is instruction and/or guided support.</div>
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<li style="border: 0px none; list-style: disc outside; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">The <a href="http://www.bikeleague.org/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">League of American Bicyclists</a> certifies Bicycle Safety Instruction across the US. If you feel the need, take a bike safety course. It’s a great way to get more comfortable and learn the rules of the road. <a href="http://findit.bikeleague.org/search/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">The League website has a great database to help you find cycling resources in your area</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px none; list-style: disc outside; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">If you would like to learn more about how to safely operate your bicycle on public roadways check out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Cycling-Promoting-Fitness-Environment/dp/0736087176" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Andy Clark’s book, “Smart Cycling: Promoting Safety, Fun, Fitness and the Environment”. </a> This book covers most of the items in our list here, including rules of the road.</li>
<li style="border: 0px none; list-style: disc outside; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">The Adventure Cycling Association</a> is the US’s largest bicycle touring advocacy group and resource. These fine folks have <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/index.cfm" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">route maps</a>, <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/tours/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">guided tours</a>, <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/forums/index.php" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">forums</a>, <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/howto.cfm" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">how-to articles</a> and are a constant source of inspiration and information for bicycle travelers not only in the US, but for those visiting from all over the world.</li>
<li style="border: 0px none; list-style: disc outside; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">If your tastes are more international in flavor check out <a href="http://www.biketoursdirect.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Bike Tours Direct</a>. They arrange guided and self-guided tours in over 40 countries around the world, with the main focus being Europe.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/elbe-radweg-31.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="bicycling on the elberadweg; cycling on an off road path; two wheel travel" class=" wp-image-1604 " height="195" src="http://twowheeltravelblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/elbe-radweg-31.jpg" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" title="Elbe Radweg" width="146" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px none; color: #888888; list-style: none; margin: 5px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
Bicycling an off-road path.</div>
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There are also off-street paths that can help you get to your destination safely and comfortably. Some long, Some short. Check your local Parks and Recreation offices and Bicycle Advocacy groups to find out what is near you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-family: 'Droid Sans', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; list-style: none; outline: none; padding: 1em 0px;">
In Portland we have the <a href="http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=679&action=ViewPark" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Springwater Corridor</a>, a well-used trail leading from the city center to the suburb of Boring, OR(<a href="http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewFile&PolPdfsID=425&/Springwater%20Corridor%20Map.pdf" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">MAP</a>). It’s also common to <a href="http://clevercycles.com/blog/2009/04/08/bike-camping-at-stub-stewart-state-park-with-kids/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">combine MAX, our local light rail, with biking to get out to Stub Stewart State Park for a bicycle overnight, even with the kids</a>. In Missouri is the famous <a href="http://www.bikekatytrail.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Katy Trial</a>, runs 237 miles across most of the state. Over half of this trail follows Lewis and Clark’s route along the Missouri River and is dotted with history and accommodations. In the East there is the <a href="http://bikewashington.org/canal/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">C&O canal trail</a>, which is now linked to the <a href="http://www.atatrail.org/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Great Allegheny Passage trail">Great Allegheny Passage trail</a> for a combined total distance of 330 traffic free miles from Washington DC to Pittsburg, PA. Of course none of these trails require that you ride the full distance.</div>
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Now all that’s left is to pick a destination no matter how short or long and get out there and travel by bicycle.</div>
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About Tyler Robertson</h3>
<div class="stripe-line" style="background-image: url(http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/wp-content/themes/sahifa/images/stripe.png); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px none; height: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 5px 0px 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;">
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<div class="post-listing" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(181, 181, 181) 0px 1px 3px 0px; background-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 1px; border-bottom-right-radius: 1px; border-color: rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(221, 221, 221) rgb(248, 0, 40); border-style: solid; border-top-left-radius: 1px; border-top-right-radius: 1px; border-width: 1px 1px 4px; box-shadow: rgb(181, 181, 181) 0px 1px 3px 0px; line-height: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none; padding: 20px 10px;">
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<img alt="" class="avatar avatar-60 photo grav-hashed grav-hijack" height="60" id="grav-c90c0317ae2ac2db8ef754f4472d2e89-0" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/c90c0317ae2ac2db8ef754f4472d2e89?s=60&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D60&r=G" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 4px;" width="60" /></div>
<div class="author-description" style="border: 0px none; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
Passionate about bicycling, photography and great tacos, Tyler is always happiest when in the saddle. Now living in and exploring Eastern Europe by bicycle, he often spends time analyzing how bicycles can change the face of travel and the economic landscape while planning his schedule around bicycle trips (instead of the other way around). If you would like an opinion or contribution on any of the above, please <a href="mailto:tyler@twowheeltravel.com?subject=contact%20Tyler" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">contact Tyler</a>.</div>
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<a class="ttip" href="https://plus.google.com/u/4/113721113460693771094" original-title="Tyler Robertson 's site" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; display: inline-block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; opacity: 0.7; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 55px;"><img alt="" src="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/wp-content/themes/sahifa/images/socialicons/site.png" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: 18px;" /></a> <a class="ttip" href="http://twitter.com/@pdxtyler" original-title="Tyler Robertson on Twitter" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; display: inline-block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; opacity: 0.7; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 55px;"><img alt="" src="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/wp-content/themes/sahifa/images/socialicons/twitter.png" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: 18px;" /></a> <a class="ttip" href="https://www.facebook.com/tylerbrobertson" original-title="Tyler Robertson on Facebook" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; display: inline-block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; opacity: 0.7; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 55px;"><img alt="" src="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/wp-content/themes/sahifa/images/socialicons/facebook.png" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: 18px;" /></a> <a class="ttip" href="https://plus.google.com/u/4/113721113460693771094" original-title="Tyler Robertson on Google+" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #204aab; display: inline-block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; opacity: 0.7; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 55px;"><img alt="" src="http://www.twowheeltravelblog.com/wp-content/themes/sahifa/images/socialicons/google_plus.png" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: 18px;" /></a></div>
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<br />Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-22751861017876283242013-09-23T12:11:00.000-05:002013-09-23T12:36:01.250-05:00Letter from a Carfree woman for life!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">"Hi Mr
Poindexter: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I was reading the blog called
car-free American and saw your wonderful <a href="http://carfreeamerican.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-story-car-free-american.html">article from December 2012</a>. I have
never owned a car in my entire life, mainly due to economics.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> I am a single
black woman living in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Columbus</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Ohio</st1:state></st1:place>. I work as a home based data entry
operator and telephone customer service agent. I have had various office jobs
over the past 20 years and have always used mass transit. I have been lucky to
get jobs that were close to the bus lines. I never liked driving and did not
really take any driving lessons until I was in my late thirties. I took some
driving lessons at one of those driving schools and hated every minute of it. I
was in a student driver car and the other drivers were so nasty and rude. If you
drive at the proper speed limit, they get really mean and nasty. They will blow their horn at you and give you dirty looks. I took these lessons for about a few months
back in 2002, but never did get my driver’s license because I could not pass the
parking part of the road test. I decided to give up driving altogether and stick
with walking and using mass transit. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The bus system in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Columbus</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Ohio</st1:state></st1:place> is called<a href="http://www.cota.com/"> COTA, which stands for Central Ohio Transit Authority</a>. I have been riding COTA for over 20 years.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> I do not
regret being car free, especially in the last 5 years as gasoline prices have
gone way up. Back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> I used to get teased
mercilessly at work and looked down upon because I did not own a car. Some times
I would ignore these people and other days I would get depressed. In the last
few years, since gasoline is well over $3 a gallon, I don’t get teased as much
as I used to. I think that the last recession brought many people to reality as
far as over consumption is concerned. Now, I see many more people ride the COTA
buses to work, school, grocery shopping, etc. COTA has recently expanded the bus
routes and added newer, more efficient buses that run on biodiesel, natural gas
and hybrids. In the downtown of </span><st1:city style="font-size: 10pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbus</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: x-small;">, new bike racks have been installed.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Many people of all income levels are either biking or using mass transit.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It was refreshing to read about
someone like you who seems well-off, affluent and successful, ditch the car and
go car-free. Now I see more people who are way better off than I am go car free
or car lite.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> I am a single woman who makes less than $30,000 per year and a car
would put me into bankruptcy. I only pay $62 per month for a local bus pass that
allows me to travel all over <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbus</st1:place></st1:city>. My condo is only a 5 to 10 minute
walk to the bus stop. I also can walk to the post office and to the nearest
shopping mall. I can take one bus to a really nice mall called <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Easton</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Town</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place>, which has everything. Sorry for
the long email, but I just needed someone to talk/write to that can relate to my
situation. I also plan to get a bike sometime in 2014. I still will use the bus
for most of my transportation needs, but want a bike for the exercise.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Take
care,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Sharon
Lewis<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:sharonartiste43232@peoplepc.com" title="blocked::mailto:sharonartiste43232@peoplepc.com">sharonartiste43232@peoplepc.com</a>"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">What a great note Sharon! Thanks so much for sharing! You an inspiration.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Bill Poindexter aka Mr. Carfree American </span></div>
Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-74070428109493249532013-06-28T11:31:00.001-05:002013-06-28T11:31:22.405-05:00Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-67237975082510092013-05-22T12:19:00.000-05:002013-05-22T12:25:22.976-05:00yoga, touring, and roads less traveled<br />
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yoga, touring, and roads less traveled...</h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristina, Yoga Instructor at Yoga Patch in Kansas City</td></tr>
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I have always and will take the road less traveled in life. That path makes sense to me.</div>
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I am working hard to live my live in the moment, rather than in the past or future. Three thing currently helping me live a fuller life are: Yoga, bicycling touring, and an awareness of the road I have taken in life.</div>
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I found a Yoga studio, only five blocks from my home, the <a href="http://www.yogapatch.com/">Yoga Patch</a>, and as I was arriving for my class, Kristina, one of our gurus, rolled in on her bicycle. She is a superb teacher, and the fact she rides her bicycle for transportation made the class more special. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill doing Tree pose while four birds are watching from a branch<br />
at Middle Creek lake outside of Louisburg, Kansas</td></tr>
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As I come into my fifth year of living carfree, I realize, this is a lifestyle that I will embrace for the remainder of my life.</div>
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I recently took a S24O (sub 24 hour overnight bike tour) with my good friend Randy Rasa of the website Kansas Cyclist fame. Even on that trip I was able to interject the tour with some high quality yoga moments. <a href="http://www.kansascyclist.com/news/2013/05/photos-of-the-week-miami-county-bike-tour/">Randy did a nice write up with great pictures of the tour on his site.</a></div>
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A clarity of thought, breath deep in my belly, finding roads less traveled. </div>
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What road are you going to take?</div>
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Peace and Love, </div>
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Bill</div>
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The poet Robert Frost says it best...</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #f88000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.583em;">The Road Not Taken</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding with Randy always promises<br />
taking roads less traveled...</td></tr>
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Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,<br />
And sorry I could not travel both<br />
And be one traveler, long I stood<br />
And looked down one as far as I could<br />
To where it bent in the undergrowth;<br />
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Then took the other, as just as fair,<br />
And having perhaps the better claim<br />
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,<br />
Though as for that the passing there<br />
Had worn them really about the same,<br />
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And both that morning equally lay<br />
In leaves no step had trodden black.<br />
Oh, I kept the first for another day!<br />
Yet knowing how way leads on to way<br />
I doubted if I should ever come back.<br />
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I shall be telling this with a sigh<br />
Somewhere ages and ages hence:<br />
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,<br />
I took the one less traveled by,<br />
And that has made all the difference. </div>
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<div class="poet" itemprop="author" style="color: black; font-size: 1.417em; margin: 22px 0px 25px;">
Robert Frost</div>
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-28001898368755189652013-03-04T11:25:00.002-06:002013-03-04T11:25:42.524-06:00Cycling In The Metro<br />
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CYCLING IN THE METRO: KANSAS CITY'S UPS AND DOWNS FOR RIDERS AND COMMUTERS</h2>
<span class="itemAuthor" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; display: block; font-family: MavenProRegular; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Written by Eden Williams</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In truth, the ease (or difficulty) of commuting affects our entire city, not just me. Biking isn’t just a fun, recreational activity reserved for the trails – and commuting by bike isn’t just for tree-huggers, either. Commuting by bike can, and does, have a tremendously positive effect on the well-being of the whole Kansas City community.</span></div>
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<a href="http://livingwellnesskc.com/magazine/item/31-cyclinginkc" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Living Wellness Kansas City</a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I’m what you might call an “urban enthusiast.” </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">My entire life could be connected by a short latitudinal span of about five miles, from the River Market to the Plaza. Because my world requires little more than what I can access within my tight geographical bubble, I don’t find it unusual to bicycle, rather than drive, from Point A to Point B. My fiancé and I skip the horrendous Saturday morning parking at City Market by bicycling to the farmer’s market when the weather is nice. We bike to eliminate cab fare when we meet friends at bars. While working in the Crossroads Arts District, my commute home was just four minutes by bike, thanks to several crosswalks and one really big, really fun downhill coast. I love downtown Kansas City so much I can actually relate to those “Live, Work, Play” billboards you see along the highways leading to downtown, begging suburbanites to move back to the city limits.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">However, my routine changed last year. I quit my job to start my own business, and, as a solopreneur (one-person business owner), I don’t have a fixed office where I spend my 9-to-5’s. My work is done all over town, from sales meetings in Overland Park to networking events at the Kauffman Foundation and everywhere else inbetween. My bubble has had to expand, and commuting via bicycle isn’t so simple anymore. In truth, the ease (or difficulty) of commuting affects our entire city, not just me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Biking isn’t just a fun, recreational activity reserved for the trails –</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">and commuting by bike isn’t just for tree-huggers, either. Commuting by bike can, and does, have a tremendously positive effect on the well-being of the entire Kansas City community.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJhxEUKCL9kwO64-e6YXdYGVO-eKt431RHp_558XhlkN8HVSKmyy-K_SrxpwZx3xU6YCVWpwvg9a49lFTVBc522EZeQvQU7FPL6c9eqeEURNZPicD2fDRBEkGPWFGA4iI6TjdJS2kezM/s1600/living+wellness+kc+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJhxEUKCL9kwO64-e6YXdYGVO-eKt431RHp_558XhlkN8HVSKmyy-K_SrxpwZx3xU6YCVWpwvg9a49lFTVBc522EZeQvQU7FPL6c9eqeEURNZPicD2fDRBEkGPWFGA4iI6TjdJS2kezM/s1600/living+wellness+kc+pic.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If we focus solely on the money, there can be an enormous personal economic benefit associated with biking. As reported by NBC Business News, the average American spends $10,000 per car per year, a cost that can be at least partially offset by frequent biking. When I commuted to work, either by bike or by foot, I filled up my 16-gallon tank once a month (if that) and required less maintenance by decreasing my annual mileage. Not to mention, according to statistical analysis by Charlotta Mellander and Richard Florida, writing for “The Atlantic,” there is a positive correlation between a higher portion of bike commuters and affluence within major metropolitan areas. Then, there’s the whole part about encouraging daily exercise, reducing carbon footprints, unclogging rush hour traffic, higher rates of employee productivity, increasing foot traffic to local businesses and so on.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Given the many positives associated with a city rich with biking commuters, it’s frustrating that Kansas City’s landscape actually impairs bikability. The aggressive annexation of the mid-20th century pushed the city limits outward, rather than inviting civilians in. We were left with a massive case of suburban sprawl and one of the lowest population densities for a city our size. This tendency for expansion, in addition to Kansas City’s naturally hilly landscape, deters some of the less determined would-be cyclists. Not to mention, the lack of prevalent biking lanes are natural barriers to a robust biking community. For these reasons, it’s easy to understand why Kansas City stacks up poorly compared to other metro areas in terms of biking.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Based on statistics compiled by the League of American Bicyclists, just 0.3 percent of commuters bike in Kansas City, Missouri, which is half of the national average. Overland Park and Olathe both rank even lower at 0.2 percent. Patrick Dunlap, an avid cyclist, has kept an eye on some of the city’s efforts to make Kansas City more bikable, and the news is not all negative.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“Many younger Americans want clean, environmentally-progressive, community-oriented, healthy cities to call home,” he said. “This has led the City of Kansas City to at least play lip service to the idea of improving biking conditions here.“</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">One such positive development has been the B-Cycle program, which launched last year in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. B-Cycle is a bike-sharing program, sponsored by BikeWalkKC, which allows members to rent bikes at any of the 12 stations located throughout downtown, and then return the bike to any of the stations. Memberships are available from one day to one year, so even visitors to the city can take advantage of this convenient way to get around while downtown. The program has provided 5,320 rides, for a total of 13,622.44 miles, 544,897.51 calories burned and 12,941.32 pounds of offset carbon emissions since its launch on July 3, 2012, says BikeWalkKC’s Director of Communications, Sarah Shipley.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“It was a remarkable summer for transportation,” said Shipley. “Biking is quickly becoming the center of an active, healthy lifestyle and we are excited that Kansas Citians have embraced Kansas City B-cycle as a way to get around town.” Other improvements are due in part to several organizations dedicated to furthering the bicycling community in Kansas City, including the 816 Bicycle Collective, for which Dunlap is a volunteer mechanic.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The 816 Bicycle Collective reclaims old bikes that would otherwise be discarded and refurbishes them to safe working condition. These bikes are then either sold to the general public or provided to low-income individuals through a special program aimed at helping these individuals get reliable transportation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“I (have) been surprised to learn what a dynamic bike community we have in KC and am proud to see it continually improving,” Dunlap said. And he represents a tough audience to please. Dunlap moved to Kansas City to begin his engineering career after earning his master’s degree from the University of Texas in Austin – home to one of the best bike scenes in the country.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The last piece of the puzzle to make Kansas City bike-friendly is also one of the most important: the addition of biking lanes throughout the metropolitan area. Bike lanes make the roads safer for bicycles and cars to share. Plus, the road markings alone bring awareness to the cause for bicycle commuting. Last fall saw the addition of bike lanes on Southwest Boulevard as a part of KCMO’s road re-paving program, as well as the groundbreaking on improvements to Longview Road, which will ultimately include bike lanes. Many of these improvements have come due to the efforts of bike advocacy organizations, such as BikeWalkKC. But the continuation of bike accessibility improvements will depend on the community and the expressed desire to city councils and other governing bodies to have a bike-friendly community.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In Dunlap’s words, “improving bikability and promoting biking as a legitimate method of transportation in Kansas City is not just a struggle against the geography, humidity, or tight city budgets; it is a struggle to also change the culture.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:sarah@livingwellnesskc.com">Article reprinted with permission of Sarah Legg, Editor In Chief, Living Wellness Kansas City</a> if you have comments or article ideas, or would like to subscribe feel free to reach out to Sarah!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">PS I am the male in the picture! Enjoy, Bill Poindexter aka Carfree American</span></div>
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Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-62251274653013352282013-02-28T13:52:00.000-06:002013-02-28T13:52:49.703-06:00Cross Country Skiing with my bicycle<br />
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CROSS COUNTRY SKIING WITH MY BICYCLE</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4zccKBpStyputTptnbII8MoN5p-0Qz_1BH976cUtnJb6dNWgN39QsL3RP4AGryoldiB1zYGfqqpPfrjNNcwHhKU9RN8HLGxQC3VATJ5RzZfaGmUFlcCiFjsScQmaH_MDVNbWLXs64R8/s1600/xc+ski+02+27+13+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4zccKBpStyputTptnbII8MoN5p-0Qz_1BH976cUtnJb6dNWgN39QsL3RP4AGryoldiB1zYGfqqpPfrjNNcwHhKU9RN8HLGxQC3VATJ5RzZfaGmUFlcCiFjsScQmaH_MDVNbWLXs64R8/s200/xc+ski+02+27+13+photo.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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I love winter when we have a lot of snow! This last week, in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Missouri</st1:state></st1:place> where I live we have had about
13-20 inches, making a dull winter very lively…if you like this sort of thing. </div>
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I have been going to the gym a lot, but prefer being outside
walking or cycling. Now with all the snow I am able to do my favorite winter
sport, Cross Country Skiing.</div>
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Right after a good snow, and before the plow trucks and cars
muck up the streets I am able to slap on the ski’s and transport myself
anywhere. </div>
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If you have not tried XC Skiing, you are missing out, it is a
lot of fun and a great workout, but as with walking and cycling for
transportation, you can go at your own pace. I originally learned how to xcski at boarding school in Cheshire, Connecticut. There were 100 acres of woods with great trails. </div>
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One of the best things about being carfree is getting to use your creative juices to figure out how to get from point A to point B with out the use of a smog belching vehicle.</div>
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I love being able to use my bicycle as a ski holder while I
ride to Loose Park and other trail heads around the City for some quality Ski
time. </div>
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Spring is around the corner, OK way around the corner, but
until it arrives I want to play with my ski's. </div>
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Tell me about your winter sports on our adjoining carfree
American Facebook page! </div>
Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-65036607647438652732013-01-13T12:43:00.000-06:002013-01-13T16:31:54.550-06:0015 Car-Free Myths and Truths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<u>15 Car-Free Myths and Truths</u><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Bill Poindexter aka “The Car-free American”</span><br />
<br />
1. It is hard to live car-free!<br />
False. It is not hard to live car-free. It may be inconvenient, but not hard. Think about it, people had been living car-free up to the early 1900s. No one died because they did not own a car, nor will you if you go car-free or car-lite. It takes time to get use to it, but it all comes together and becomes more natural than car use. Basically being carfree is getting back to nature-you get healthier, it is good for environment, and you meet your community-face to face rather than car to car. It is also nice to save money.<br />
<br />
2. It is always fun<br />
True: Most of the time it is FUN. Usually the weather is the fun or non fun factor. But there are other factors too; heavy traffic, if you are tired, or sick, or a strong headwind. Then again, those are all factors that make driving a car not fun too.<br />
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3. People look down at you<br />
True: sometimes they do. That is ok; at the end of the day most secretly wish they could live carfree. Everyone will tell you that it is "cool."<br />
<br />
4. You have to have special equipment<br />
False: Good walking shoes and a bicycle. And you do not have to have an expensive bicycle, just one that works well for you. Overtime you’ll figure out your own personal style of transportation. Keep it simple. If it roles and feels good go with it. Take your time, do not spend alot of money.<br />
<br />
5. You will lose a lot of weight<br />
Maybe, if you burn off more than you take in. You will get fit-that is for sure. Diet is still important though, I recommend a "whole food" diet of non processed foods. Raw nuts, Olive oil, fresh vegetables, quality protein, berries, whole cheeses will give you all the energy you need...I recently lost 70+ lbs eating the above foods.<br />
<br />
6. You will save money<br />
True: No more gas! No more insurance! No more car payment! No more personal property tax! No more oil changes! I think the last time I figured I save about $8,000 per year (what I spent the last year I owned a car).<br />
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7. You cannot live carfree if you have a young family<br />
False: You can, millions do, it is just more inconvenient until you become use to it. It is definitely easier in more urban settings and some suburban. If you live in the country it may not be practical, in which case a car is necessary, but it does not mean you have to use it all the time. Kids are carfree, and they make it work. Don't use your family as a excuse, instead use them as the primary motivation for living a healthier lifestyle!<br />
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8. You will get hit by a car or crash<br />
Big false: Nonsense! Only if you don’t pay attention to your surroundings. The odds are still in your favor…not to get squished. I have spent 10 years riding in traffic a have never been hit by a car. I ride with the assumption the drivers do not see me. If you have a driver's license you know the laws, obey them and you should be ok walking or bicycling for transportation.<br />
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9. People will make fun of you if you do not own a car and /or bike places<br />
False and true: Well, if they do, make fun of them back. They are jealous you are out enjoying yourself. I find that most people want to be carfree, I mean, when they go on vacation, they don't want to go someplace they have to drive all the time, no, they want to go some place to relax, walk or bike.<br />
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10. You will instantly be “Green.”<br />
False: There is more to being green than just using alternative transportation. Carfree is a step in the right direction. A BIG STEP.<br />
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11. You will miss out on event because you won’t be able to get there.<br />
True, sometimes that does happen, but you will be able to see and feel much more than you ever have in a car, so you’ll gain much more richness in your life. You will also learn to support events in your local community and you will add value as you arrive by your own steam. It makes your transportation an adventure!<br />
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12. I will have to own special clothes for bicycling?<br />
False: You can wear anything you want. If you are riding longer than an hour, you may want to make sure you are wearing something comfortable. Bike shorts were made for a reason. Time on the bike will be your best teacher. I now rarely wear specialized gear or shoes. I keep it simple and comfortable.<br />
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13. I do not have time to be car-free<br />
False: most Americans waste a crap load of time in their cars going to places they don’t need to go to or watching TV. I suspect you could find a bit of time to get healthier, save the environment, and make your community stronger. There is always time to do something good for you. It comes down to needs versus wants-“do I really need to drive to the Wal-Mart to buy more crap I don’t need.” Or “can we hop on the bikes and go to the local store to buy what we really need?” Then again...there are exceptions:)<br />
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14. Car-free means never owning or driving a car<br />
False: It is a little confusing I admit. Typically Car-free means living with out a car and Car-lite means owning a car, but using it on a limited basis. Any journey you take without the use of a car, no matter the distance, is car-free.<br />
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15. Living car-free makes me happy!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nUFu1h-F9ERkU_lsJpeidJRmX613tqqLlDHzwsf0TArDREHK9Y8vZebMXsxPC1nw6J861SLteb_T835Cdc4-_bwtRdRkIsEIKD6Xh7xJgzmZHVS8hUE_IDosHMj8Ffi6Dtg3ZoaZCTM/s1600/ard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nUFu1h-F9ERkU_lsJpeidJRmX613tqqLlDHzwsf0TArDREHK9Y8vZebMXsxPC1nw6J861SLteb_T835Cdc4-_bwtRdRkIsEIKD6Xh7xJgzmZHVS8hUE_IDosHMj8Ffi6Dtg3ZoaZCTM/s320/ard2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill's bicycle with the bags, has over 30,000 commuting miles on <br />
it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
TRUE: I love the lifestyle. Living car-free has helped me become healthier, I feel like I am polluting less, I save money, and I have developed very strong relationships in my community because of my lifestyle. <br />
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Bill Poindexter lives in Kansas City, Missouri and has lived the highly evolved life style of living carfree. Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com7Kansas City, MO, USA39.0997265 -94.5785667000000138.310984000000005 -95.8694602 39.888469 -93.287673200000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140490827185418403.post-69450344715565956052012-12-28T11:25:00.000-06:002012-12-28T09:31:44.481-06:00Slow poem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPMrYekN5D4AOSb8i5zBUfxKlmaNflxDcd4_jHRVdNy5Hr7ou1Y7wZrBsOM7FzqlD1fmJqyx4V1qxdcQEbdSDJBYCrQSBnSkl0HNfHMUNIFUmJME8hAu4vs68704dcO29OK00tXifRa8/s1600/IMG00197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPMrYekN5D4AOSb8i5zBUfxKlmaNflxDcd4_jHRVdNy5Hr7ou1Y7wZrBsOM7FzqlD1fmJqyx4V1qxdcQEbdSDJBYCrQSBnSkl0HNfHMUNIFUmJME8hAu4vs68704dcO29OK00tXifRa8/s320/IMG00197.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
SLOW<br />
<br />
While walking and bicycling I see things, <br />
things<br />
while moving slow<br />
Slow is fun and good<br />
but often misunderstood,<br />
<br />
"I could never walk or bike for transportation"<br />
my busy friend says,<br />
"We have too much to do, <br />
and too many places to go,<br />
I need to move fast, <br />
fast,<br />
not slow!"<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRLlp75u09fzhdwTa-CoXTjqDR7oTJsL1c9cKvYlQ0lpAr9d6L-A1NHkLbs4q_OJB8kAg8WAA4XrD9sOJv4SSQcCl44Z4zdcQIUy_4TCNgZ-89-EOIACZMqR3LusppqNUcKTSd5IbqPU/s1600/einstein-bici.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRLlp75u09fzhdwTa-CoXTjqDR7oTJsL1c9cKvYlQ0lpAr9d6L-A1NHkLbs4q_OJB8kAg8WAA4XrD9sOJv4SSQcCl44Z4zdcQIUy_4TCNgZ-89-EOIACZMqR3LusppqNUcKTSd5IbqPU/s320/einstein-bici.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
"Living your Carfree lifestyle<br />
sounds well and good,<br />
but it is not for me!<br />
I'd rather drive a car<br />
save time,<br />
and be free."<br />
<br />
"Now wait just a minute!" I say back to my friend,<br />
"Bicycling and walking may be just the thing you need<br />
just think about what you said,<br />
<br />
"Too much of this<br />
Too much of that<br />
maybe a ride on a bike <br />
or walk <br />
would eliminate this and that."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ7uvXIJnPRNlT4IHidLZA_Kt5Rb5872h-gTTfqebne2CpnJIlQbWVso7mojhiF2MeLctfOZdf5iIKNn4McUPvqVZ8Y816Bz3G5ESZSKQ_PppEE7J1PPP-cImFUJgDGKeMSiFVyuIeKM/s1600/mv+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ7uvXIJnPRNlT4IHidLZA_Kt5Rb5872h-gTTfqebne2CpnJIlQbWVso7mojhiF2MeLctfOZdf5iIKNn4McUPvqVZ8Y816Bz3G5ESZSKQ_PppEE7J1PPP-cImFUJgDGKeMSiFVyuIeKM/s320/mv+pic+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
"Too much of anything is not good<br />
you know?<br />
So again I say, go slow"<br />
<br />
I continue my rant<br />
my friend starts to listen. <br />
I stand up tall,<br />
To confirm my postion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaamsukYcPL93RRKbu7E0kijPA5NhiCcHbd6SQbKJJfgO_wXLECqsGUElf_WKN9mouMrkoiRApG5s0op1_RARDcEBXOUIq1x2hY1U08DiFmhZQByY5gSVTaqyXIwJyr4lM9NCvOKRN89Y/s1600/ab4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaamsukYcPL93RRKbu7E0kijPA5NhiCcHbd6SQbKJJfgO_wXLECqsGUElf_WKN9mouMrkoiRApG5s0op1_RARDcEBXOUIq1x2hY1U08DiFmhZQByY5gSVTaqyXIwJyr4lM9NCvOKRN89Y/s320/ab4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
"You say you want to save time, <br />
that I can see,<br />
but time smelling flowers, seeing the world, <br />
hearing birds, and feeling the earth<br />
Is more important than driving,<br />
Don't you agree?"<br />
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"Better to dump your car <br />
and move slow<br />
than sitting on your arse<br />
in a metal cage<br />
with no soul."Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957646196429963830noreply@blogger.com2