http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress Encouragement, Education & Advocacy for Bicycling in the Real World Thu, 24 May 2012 02:02:01 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Encouragement, Education & Advocacy for Bicycling in the Real World Commute Orlando no Encouragement, Education & Advocacy for Bicycling in the Real World http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/category/equipment/product-review/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/12/08/my-madsen-winner-announced/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/12/08/my-madsen-winner-announced/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:37:07 +0000 Jesse http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=10936 I don’t want to do this.  I really don’t.   My stomach hurts.  This whole thing is intellectually decided, but spiritually it is strongly rebelled against.  But here I am with the ability to give somebody transportation for no money at all.  Completely remove the market from the picture.  That’s huge.  Plus I can give back something when I got something.  That’s nice.  Right?  Plus I already said I’d do it.  So I kinda have to. No more whining about it.  Here goes: [reluctantly] I said I’d have a winner today, so here are the results: All the entrants were compelling.  But I developed a simple rubric based on 1-5 point scale.  Below are the results: Rodney: track record of success  5—Many CO readers know how committed Rodney is. possibility of longevity 4 Not many young, small children means fewer years’ use. making of a one-car family  3 The level of Rodney’s success indicates that he is already so car-independent that little change will be made. Janet: track record of success  5—you already transport kids without a car. possibility of longevity 5—your children are so young that you have room to grow. making one-car 5—you can really do this with a [...]]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/12/08/my-madsen-winner-announced/feed/ 14 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/11/30/update-on-the-contest-as-well-as-improvements-that-you-might-not-notice-but-you-should/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/11/30/update-on-the-contest-as-well-as-improvements-that-you-might-not-notice-but-you-should/#comments Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:02:50 +0000 Jesse http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=10839 Update on the Contest: Thanks for being patient as I wade through all *11,000 comments on the previous story in an effort to give away the NEW (to you) MADSEN!!!  *Creative decimals being used. But, seriously, I really do want to thank those of you who have “entered” the contest for being patient–particularly because I would like to use this as a LAST CHANCE!!! to win my old MADSEN.  It’s a great bike, and I know I’m dragging my feet, but I still feel very sad when I sit on it at night, by myself, holding the handlebars, remembering.  But I have to pay it forward.  It’s the right thing to do.  It hurts.  But I know it’s just a growing pain. So, as I set my jaw and wrap a belt around my hand and brace for the pain, I hereby declare that I will choose a winner one week from tomorrow night (that is December 8th, 2010 for those reading in the archives).  Then I will meet you on the top of Mount Cady Way, and I will send you on your way (please follow the comments for updates on the winner). Now, *10,000 of you actually won’t [...]]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/11/30/update-on-the-contest-as-well-as-improvements-that-you-might-not-notice-but-you-should/feed/ 1 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/11/21/a-look-at-the-new-madsen-or-write-for-a-bike-details-inside/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/11/21/a-look-at-the-new-madsen-or-write-for-a-bike-details-inside/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 02:02:20 +0000 Jesse http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=10735 I was honored to be contacted by MADSEN Cycles as of late so that I could review the new 2011 MADSEN.  And since it was Commute Orlando that originally published an article about my using a MADSEN utility bike instead of an automobile, thereby garnering the attention of MADSEN cycles, I thought this would be a great place to do three things: Announce that I am now sporting an awesome, brand-spanking new, Tiffany blue cargo bike.  Many thanks to MADSEN Cycles for considering me for this. Post a review of this bike. Pay it forward and announce that I now have a one-year-old MADSEN bike, with custom-made Hibiscus seats and only three thousand miles, just sittin’ there, just waitin’ for something, just waitin’ for a brand-spanking new family like you!!! So this is an official announcement of a contest.  Now, I have carried grown men, women, children of all ages, four princesses after a slumber party, a facade that recreated the boat from Peter Pan, 167 canned-food items for a Thanksgiving food drive at a local high school,  a week’s worth of groceries including milk and a watermelon, 600 feet of heavy-duty garden hose and a case of beer, drywall, [...]]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/11/21/a-look-at-the-new-madsen-or-write-for-a-bike-details-inside/feed/ 11 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/06/17/burley-travoy-trailer/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/06/17/burley-travoy-trailer/#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:04:24 +0000 Mighk http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=8139 Check out the new Burley Travoy trailer. Looks quite promising.  Base MSRP is $289; specialty bags extra. Here’s a review from BikePortland.]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/06/17/burley-travoy-trailer/feed/ 6 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/03/30/build-a-trailer-workshop/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/03/30/build-a-trailer-workshop/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:37:52 +0000 Rodney http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=7215 As many of you may have noticed, I have been the Man-Around-Town with my custom trailer.  I originally built the trailer for grocery shopping and transferring my toolbox between hangars for work. Bicycle Rescue Inspired by Angie,  our family cycling expert, I added a skewer mount so that she wouldn’t be the only bike rescue service in town! With regret, this set up has not been tested.  Originally was to be used to deliver my bike to the LBS for a tune-up.  Maybe next time. Trailers have added an extra dimension to my utility cycling landscape.  Late 2008, I received a round of oohs and aahs when seen hauling two 40 pound bags of dry dog food.  Once I delivered a case of synthetic motor oil to a customer. Grocery Shopping I have fun with the clerks at the    grocery store by asking them to pack everything tight because I am on a bicycle.   If you could only see their faces!  Imagine their surprise as we rolled up with the trailer loaded for their perusal and review. The possibilities become endless with the use of a trailer. Doggie Day at the Park Just a few months ago, CommuteOrlando held a [...]]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/03/30/build-a-trailer-workshop/feed/ 7 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/01/23/vio-pov/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/01/23/vio-pov/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:31:13 +0000 Keri http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=6155 I don’t know much about video cameras. I’ve never owned a camcorder. So please take this post as my observations, not expert advice. My adventures in bike video and video editing began in October 2008 when Brian DeSousa came to Orlando. Brian was generous in showing me CyclistView equipment and methods. And, of course, in providing valuable video of me cycling in Orlando traffic. With all that great video, I had to learn to do some basic editing. I hacked away at iMovie (the free version), later upgrading to the more-robust-but-frequently-aggravating iLife version. This was my first iMovie product. Brian returned in March. He spent a few days here and shot a bunch more video with me, including some group video that Dan Gutierrez used for an educational piece, and the downtown cruiser video I edited for this post. All of this video was shot on a VIO POV 1. I also had the opportunity to use a VholdR while Brian was here in March (more on that later). Since Brian’s first visit, I’ve had the itch to buy my own camera. Bike cam video is such an incredible educational tool. But I wanted the best camera for the job, [...]]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2010/01/23/vio-pov/feed/ 14 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/12/04/vests-bad-for-cycling/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/12/04/vests-bad-for-cycling/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:24:55 +0000 andrewp http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=5769   So …………………. the wife wants to get me this for a X-mas present.  And it’s a nice vest, lightweight, and very reflective (here is the actual link to the product).  I have no doubt it would increase my visibility on the road. But ….. is this bad for cycling? By wearing this, am I announcing to the public that it is so risky to ride a bike that I must don special clothing in order to remain safe?  Is this the kind of message we want to send to people thinking about taking up riding — special gear is required?  And is this so different than having cyclists riding on sidewalks — again, sending a message to the public that this is where bikes belong? On the other hand, why is it wrong to choose options that can lower the risk of not being seen and therefore possibly injured on a bike?  One train of thought is about personal safety and how you feel, the other is about how cyclists are seen as a whole and how that affects all of us.   I don’t know …….. do you have an opinion?]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/12/04/vests-bad-for-cycling/feed/ 41 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/07/05/the-earch-for-summer-shoes/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/07/05/the-earch-for-summer-shoes/#comments Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:37:25 +0000 Keri http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=4060 Before I begin, let me preface by saying I feel more comfortable when my feet are attached to the pedals, so I wear cycling-specific shoes with cleats for clipless pedals. Cycling specific shoes are not necessary, though stiff soles are a good idea if you have a longish commute. Soles that flex not only steal power from your pedal stroke, they can hurt your feet. My primary commuting and touring shoes are the ones pictured on the right. They’re incredibly comfortable and easy to walk in. I’ve had mine for a year and am very happy with them. But summer in Florida means riding in the rain — heavy rain. It only takes ten seconds in a Florida afternoon downpour to have shoes full of water. People with platform pedals can solve the problem with water shoes (as Andrew does), or hiking sandals (something with traction). I decided to buy a pair of the uber-popular Shimano SPD sandals. I know so many people who swear by these things. They love them so much, they wear them in winter… well, this is Florida. I know an ultra-distance rider who wears them exclusively. I really didn’t want them for distance riding. I [...]]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/07/05/the-earch-for-summer-shoes/feed/ 19 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/06/12/dont-be-a-johnjane-doe/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/06/12/dont-be-a-johnjane-doe/#comments Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:28:10 +0000 Rodney http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=3852 With the weather warming up (sometimes too warm), many folks have taken to riding their bicycles, walking, and just getting outdoors.  I recently have been reviewing the linked cycling blogs at CommuteOrlando.com. Some unfortunate and distrubing news of cyclists/people on bikes getting injured, maimed, and killed.  These results were in my mind as I started my commute back in October 2007. For those who don’t know my story, I began commuting by bicycle at night! Imagine the anxiety of driving my bicycle on the road to begin with, then add the element of complete darkness.   Sounds fun, huh?  It was and still is.  I’ve since changed my commuting times and continue to enjoy driving my bicycle in the road. Back to the topic.  The stretch from Hoeffner Rd./Conway Rd. to the Beeline/528 did not have much lighting.  The thoughts of accidents/crashes filled my head.  My spandex/lycra riding shorts were not designed with pockets, so how could I make readily available my personal identification to Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Services? I found RoadID to be my answer.  I chose to purchase the Interactive version instead of the original version.  View a demo if the Interactive. I own and prefer the [...]]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/06/12/dont-be-a-johnjane-doe/feed/ 4 http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2008/11/25/more-fun-in-the-dark-side-lights/ http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2008/11/25/more-fun-in-the-dark-side-lights/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:48:47 +0000 andrewp http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/?p=1467 A while back, Keri wrote a descriptive article about having fun in the dark with lights.  One of the things that I was thinking about was side reflection, and how most of our lighting is aimed forwards and backwards.   While no one would argue the merits of “been seen” lights on the front and back, what about when you want to be seen from the side?  Keri did talk about how you can use colored or reflective tape, clothing, or even, getting fun, led lights that attach to your wheels.  Several of you commented on trying out some of the options she listed, but perhaps they were a bit too much (looks or $). Well, I too was thinking about how to better get side lighting for a bike without looking like a circus, when I ran across this product:  Spokelit LED wheels.   I thought this might be a product worth trying out, and for only $7 apiece I ordered two. The plastic-encased lights are designed to slide in-between your spokes and be held securely there.  Pressing the center button turns them solid, and pressing again puts them into flash mode. So how well do they work?  I think pretty good.  I’ve [...]]]> http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2008/11/25/more-fun-in-the-dark-side-lights/feed/ 6