The first mobile post. This year has been a wash so far, the most recent problem is recuperating from a sports injury.

Long time off the saddle

I am planning on finally getting to work and back on the bike on Friday. I have not even been on the bike this year but I need to get back to it if I want to best replacing 20% of my commuting miles again this year.

The new son is sleeping much better and the everyone is doing better at home. Worried about the wind, but will have to take it a little at a time.

Quest is going going....

My brother in law has been looking for a cheap bike and my garage is getting too full. I was going to convert the Quest into a rain bike. I'm running out of time and the Trek has not been getting flats since I switched tires, so it's expendable. BIL meet quest. Get it out of my garage! It will hold up alright for him and he gets a bell and a few other goodies too. I need to spend some time to get it better working order, so it's not gone yet.

Bike Friendliness State Rankings

I think I need to join the League of American Bicyclists. The league ranked all 50 states for how bicycle friendly they are. I'm discouraged by the results.

State Ranks
23. Virginia
31. Delaware
34. New York
35. Maryland
38. Pennsylvania
50. West Virginia

The District of Columbia is not ranked for obvious reasons.

There are only three communities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed that have been recognized as bicycle friendly by the league.

1. District of Columbia (Bronze level for Engineering)
2. Arlington, VA (Silver level for Engineering,Education,Encouragement,Enforcement)
3. Charlottesville, VA (Bronze level for Engineering)

I'm not suggesting that we only use bicycles to commute, but it would help address so many problems if we developed policies and infrastructure to make it easier for cars, trucks, buses, pedestrians and bicycles to share the road.

The reason why I'm not riding as much

My goal for 3000 miles this year might not be met. No big deal. I'd rather have two kids and a happy wife right now. The second kid is a little late, and I'm going to be really cutting back on commuting for at least the next month. I might get one or two trips into work. I'll try riding to the stores while people sleep.

Breaking the Strap...

By far the majority of the miles I ride are replacing miles that I would be driving. Either I'm commuting to work or getting to the store to pick up a those items that I can pack into my backpack. Today I decided to take a trip to Fort Smallwood park and back while my daughter and very pregnant wife were both taking naps. Total recreation. Not what I'm used to.

So I manage to break the left pedal strap. Before I even get two miles into it. Had to limp home. On the way home I hit a red light, no shoulder, so I take the lane. But apparently not enough of it since a MG decides to pass me at the red light. Threads the needle between me a left turning pickup truck.

So much for recreational riding. Time to replace the straps...

Totals through July

So how have I been doing this year....

Yearly totals through July...
Car Miles Saved: 1,670.60
Gallons of Gas Saved: 49.76
Gas Money Saved: $176.71
Bike Commute Round Trips: 50