Training Days

Few Memphis commutes would be complete without a train.

Who Rides Bike Share Bikes?

At last month's Pizza With Planners meeting the majority of the attendees were active cyclists; we have bikes, we ride regularly and we know the most efficient routes through the city. So why would we pay to ride a heavy bike for a very short amount of time?

Practical, Comfortable, and Safe
To get people riding bicycles for transportation certain criteria must be met. These are different for everyone. My threshold of practicality is 20 miles, one direction, where I don't have to be "dressy" and I don't have to bike on super busy streets like Poplar for the entire ride. Your threshold might be 3 miles on protected pathways. That's why Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors.

While it is not practical for some people to ride to work, opting for a bike for a quick errand instead of a car while at work might weigh in on the practical side of things. I used to work downtown and would constantly be walking documents from Monroe to the government buildings. At another job I would sometimes walk from South Main to Peabody. Those seem like short walks but in 96 degree heat I would much rather have had a bicycle. That's downtown. In midtown, I know of several people who get in their cars to go down the block for lunch. They might share bikes because it makes more sense than getting in a car.

Bike share bikes are built for comfort. They feature wide seats and upright riding positions. I have yet to hear of a bike share alleycat (but nothing is impossible). Let's remember that any bike can be uncomfortable if it is adjusted poorly. But there are instructions on the bike share kiosks that demonstrate how to properly adjust seat height. Many people are also uncomfortable with the mechanics of bicycles; fixing flat tires is probably the most common problem. If you get a flat tire on a bike share bike you just park it at the kiosk and grab another bike.

So you have a bike on which you can cruise comfortably. Through all indications, bike share in Memphis would be implemented in downtown and midtown. Downtown riding is quite safe, even for the novice, on the Main Street Mall. Be mindful of the Trolley tracks and you'll be fine. Midtown is being repaved with bike lanes. By the end of the summer we shall have achieved connectivity with the repaving and striping of Cooper St and (possibly) the protected Overton-Broad Connector. Once cars learn to drive outside of bike lanes midtown will be quite safe as well.

Tourism Dollars
While the speculation is that most bike share income will be generated by local users we can't forget about tourists, after all, we get about 10 million of them a year. All those people are not going to ship their bikes here to ride but seeing as how the top producing international markets are the UK, Germany, Netherlands and France you can bet that they are used to getting around by bike.

When Emily and I went to Denver we had to rely on our family to drive us around. Independent as we are, we felt like a burden. So instead of making them our personal chauffeurs we got dropped off downtown, rented B-Cycles, and visited malls, museums, bike shops, restaurants, and even rented a kayak; and generally bought something at each place. We were able to efficiently navigate a new city while letting our family do what they needed to do. After all the shopping, restaurants, drinks with friends and B-cycle rental we each spent over $500.

With a little more research we could have found rental bikes that probably would have cost 5 times the B-cycle. With a bit of luck we could have found deals on craigslist (cycling meccas like Denver have incredible craigslist ads) and if the bike was good enough, shipped it back to Memphis. That would have been 20 times the cost of the bike share. But as a young tourist, the B-cycle was indispensable.

Here's the thing: bike share bikes are not meant for us. Does that mean we should not attend the meetings? No. We must attend the meetings because our knowledge will prove crucial to the process of implementing a bike share system.

When is the next meeting? Walk Bike Memphis will host a meeting June 11th at 5:30 PM at Otherlands Cafe on Cooper St.

Can Memphis Share Bikes?

As Memphis continues our upward trend in the bicycling community several of us have asked the question: "What's next?" We have but to look at other cities who are years ahead of us for our answer: the bike share program.

Here's the idea: Place bikes at various locations spaced throughout a bike-friendly portion of the city. The public has use of these bicycles for free or for a small fee. You pick up (or rent) a bike at one location, ride it to another that is close to your destination and leave it there for the next person to use.

This has happened with varying degrees of success throughout the world: Austin has a (I actually think it is the oldest and free-est) system called Yellow Bike, Paris has Velib, and Emily and I used B-Cycle in Denver. The list goes on and on; even Nashville and Chattanooga have bike share programs.

For this year's Bike To Work Day Em and I had the idea of setting up three stations downtown, one in the Pinch District, one around Poplar and one in South Main (all along Main Street) with some bikes and volunteers from Revolutions. An idea which proved to be logistically daunting in such a short amount of time.

But given time, money and a bike share system, where would you put stations? Near restaurants? Cultural attractions? Stadiums? How many stations do you think Memphis can handle? Can we even handle a bike share at all?

Tell it like it is at tonight's Pizza with Planners session!

Come hear the project team from Alta Planning and Design discuss the feasibility of a Bike Share Program for the City of Memphis and give your input.

Date: Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Time: 5:30-7:00 pm

Location: Benjamin Hooks Public Library, 3030 Poplar Avenue

Thank you Alta Planning and Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop for sponsoring this event!

This event is free and open to the public. If you haven't registered yet, click on the link below to RSVP.

Register Here

Meditations on Two Wheels

My friend Elizabeth sent this to me. I don't think I know this guy Robert Rowan. I may have met him once or twice but you know what? I love the fact that I don't really know him.

Electric Rentals Downtown - Soon!

While finishing up the Thursday Night Ride we cruised by Madison and Main. Live From Memphis was projecting a film onto the side of the WellWorx building and as we stopped we noticed the several electric assist bikes in the window.


Sorry for the crappy pics.

Bike To Work Day 2012

We're getting ready to celebrate another year of biking to work by having a huge party downtown. The deal is that you have to register for the party, which you can do here. You get some sweet prizes if you register so do it. If you aren't able to make the party downtown at Court Square then let me know if you might want to lead a group ride to another area, like maybe if you ride to work going east on the Shelby Farms Greenline (*cough* Ty or Matt).


View Bike to Work Day in a larger map
There's so much more to this than just a party so keep checking back for updates!

Bicycles Flood Pictures & Videos

Steven sent me this pic and video of some BMXers hanging out pre-crest. I can't tell at all who's there, but they did manage to pop off some nice tricks:

Jesus's Bicycle

Danny Wilson snapped (maybe snaked is a better word) this photo when the Mississippi had yet to crest. He thinks someone else set the bicycle there and was going back for their camera when he swooped in and took the picture.

Any idea on who the original photographer might be?

Got any flood pics with bicycles in them? Let me know! - fixmemphis@yahoo.com

Powerhouse Bicycle Rack #1

Yes, Powerhouse Bicycle Rack #1. The Powerhouse, a now defunct art gallery is home to 3 bicycle racks. This rack is a standard wave rack capable of holding 9 bicycles: seven within the rack and 2 on each side. You are probably asking, "Why does an empty building need all this bicycle parking?" Then you remembered, "Oh yes, the Memphis Farmers Market!" (Which starts in about a month!) The plaza which contains the bicycle rack has ample seating in case you need to change shoes or pack your panniers or trailer with groceries.

Here's how it racks up:

Form - Wave
Function - Pass
Environment - The rack's form does not mimic its surroundings.
Points of Interest - Memphis Farmers Market, Blue Monkey Downtown, Earnestine & Hazel's, Arcade Restaurant, South Main Arts District

Greenbelt Park Bicycle Rack

The Greenbelt Park Bicycle Rack was created by Jill Turman in 2002. It reminds me of the magic trick from Cracker Barrel that I solved once but could never remember how I did. It serves its intended purpose quite nicely, with the added benefit of being a climbing structure for kids. I don't know if that was intended but If I was a little one I would be climbing all over that thing! I'm sure that plenty of events take place throughout the year at Greenbelt Park but the only one that comes to my mind is the annual Outdoors, Inc. State Cyclocross Championship. Keep in mind if you want to ride here you have to climb the Auction Street Bridge.

Here's how it racks up:

Form - Artistic
Function - Pass
Environment - The rack's form does not seem to mimic its surroundings.
Points of Interest - Greenbelt Park, Harbor Town, Miss Cordelia's, Pizza & A Movie, Paulette's, etc...

And yes, the river is very high in that picture.

Bicycle Swap Meet

Check the facebook event page for all the up-to-date info!

Memphis Bicycle Polo in the CA

Read the article here.

There are some good pictures of us playing. Future photos will look a little different because of last night's mallet workshop:


And a video:


More photos on my flickr.

On a side note: The picture in the middle up top, clear pink mallet head, is a Nalgene Grip-N-Gulp bottle. Its a 12oz bottle meant for kids like a sippy-cup. Anthony previously tried to use a bottle as a mallet head but it cracked when he bolted it down. Maybe the plastic he was using was too hard. Mine didn't crack. Nalgene is known for their indestructible bottles but the real test will be Sunday when I can actually use it in a game.

Survey Time

Take this Bicycle/Pedestrian survey meow.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BikePedUpdate2010

Ditch Ride: Event Horizon

From the same entry point as our previous ditch ride we decided to take off in the opposite direction. While we were still ducking and dodging overhanging branches and broken glass there was a lot more room to navigate. It was also apparent that this part of the ditch saw a lot more action.



At about this point we found several exits: one led up to some railroad tracks and was labeled North Nut Bush and the other, well, let's just say that we rolled up on a guy making an exit of his own. Needless to say we kept riding. Unfortunately, not for very long. My considerations for titles of this post included "Where the Sidewalk Ends." A portentous bit of greenery ahead marked the turning back point of this ride.

Scores for this ride: golf ball, composition book with gossip, and a Frisbee golf disc. There was one split that I would like to explore sometime before it gets too cold. Just keep checking back and hopefully you'll join us when it happens.

More pictures of graffiti and shenanigans are on my flickr

Cyclocrunk Dates

According to reliable sources the dates for Cyclocrunk 2010 are October 12th, 19th, and 26th. Same as last year on time and entry fee, like a good drink: 7 & 7. Still taking place at Tobey Park, with some "surprises."

Cyclocrunk is a non-points series purely for the love of bicycles and beer. Visit cyclocrunk.com for pictures of last years series. The dates there should be updated soon.

Some of my 2009 pictures: Cyclocrunk pictures

Ditch Pictures

Part I: Always be prepared.

I awoke at 8:15 to make sure my light was charged for my first ditch ride (I was out of town for the previous ride); it wasn't. Thankfully I still had an hour or so before Taylor arrived so I plugged it into the charger and set about organizing the rest of my supplies. I was never a Boy Scout but I do like to be prepared:

Spare tubes, spare tire, multiple CO2's, batteries, water, knife, headlamp, and a handpump. I didn't have a first aid kit but I know I can always make due with some water, a t-shirt and some electrical tape.

By the time Taylor arrived my light was sufficiently charged and we headed over to Dennis'. They were set up and we made our way to the in-progress greenline.

Even though the line isn't officially open there are plenty of people already enjoying the space. Right when we hopped onto the line a couple passed us on road bikes. They may have been riding 25's but they certainly weren't cross or mountain bikes. The terrain is loose gravel so I'm sure they weren't having as easy a time as we were.

Kudos to them; and to the father and son riding extremely slow. I feel bad because I passed them as some other riders were heading our way. I think I scared the dude in front as I cut back across to the right side. I stopped at the entrance and while we were waiting until everyone was out of eyeshot (we didn't want anyone seeing us actually entering the ditch) Dennis thought it would be a good idea to splash me with water. So I think it's a good idea to post this picture of him laughing. Laugh on, crazy face, laugh on.

Part II: Enter the Dragon


The GPS was no help. No one wanted to wait around long enough for it to find the satellites but we felt confident that with our knowledge of Memphis city streets that we could just poke our heads up and

know where we were. We took off riding, ducking and dodging low branches, criss-crossing the small stream by popping wheelies over it where the debris wouldn't allow straight line. We rode for quite a while like this and even ducking through some tunnels, none of which we more that 30 yards long. We could always see the light at the end of the tunnel and none were so low that we uncomfortable riding through. Until we came to one tunnel.

We stopped for a second and poked our heads up to see where we were. We saw a playground and figured we were looking at an area of Poplar. So I figured that when we took this new, longer and lower tunnel we would be riding under campus and come out near Southern.

One should never presume anything. Riding through this tunnel proved more difficult the further we went in, not onaccounta debris but for the low ceiling. It got to the point where we were laying on our top tubes, one foot on one pedal and pushing with the other, craning our necks to see where our lights were pointing, calling out pieces of wood and rebar that had been strewn about the floor. We were relieved to come to this one point where we could stand up and stretch. Johnny looked down and found a hammer, recalling earlier exploits in the ditch by Phil, Hal, Bobby, etc... Dennis put it nicely when he said something like, "If I had known we were going to be leaned over for so long I would have stayed in that spot for longer." We rode for quite a while longer, occasionally taking a break, squatting and letting our necks rest. After several 'how much longer's' and a few 'maybe we should turn back's' we saw a light. Thankfully the rebar was loose enough so we could bend it back enough to get our bikes and bodies through.


Part III: Urban Trespassing
We rode for a little bit longer and came to an even smaller round tunnel. Time to climb out. Luckily it was fairly easy to get out, though standing on fences proved precarious. We ended up running cross style through someone's back yard and hopping their fence. It was a very 'Ferris Beuller's Day Off' kind of feel, minus girls in bikinis.

Remember how we thought we were going to pull out on Southern? Wrong. We pulled out next to Shady Grove just before a police officer drove down the street. I think being in the dark for that amount of time disturbed our sense of space. We rode down Shady Grove and passed Memphis Thunder on some kind of Labor Day training ride. Maybe it was just a joy ride because they weren't going very fast.

And that's all. We'll let you know the next time we go.

CX Practice Sessions

The cyclocross season is fast approaching as evidenced from Tracko and Hipster Nascar. Adding to the list of reasons why we call it "The Dirty South," cyclocross practice sessions have started early this year in anticipation of a longer, fuller race schedule. The practice sessions are taking place in Tobey Park early Wednesday mornings. I'm not sure what the course looks like since the new dog park went in. Speaking of which: the dog park is wonderful. I see more people each time I ride past. Thank you Memphis for making the city better. Although, onaccounta the dog park, the rumors ringing from the cowbell point to a new course/location? for Cyclocrunk.

Other Events: Returning to Olive Branch is the Tour de Cross CX Series. I also heard rumor of another series but can't find any info right now. If you've seen it let me know. Given that last years cyclocxt was such an epic fail (except for the people who actually showed up) I don't think I'll be resurrecting that race. Unless I move the date. In which case it will be renamed to one of the following:

Cross My Heart (to be held around February 14th)
Cyclo Cross-dressing (self-explanatory)
Kris-Cross (do your bibs work as well backwards?)
Crossmas (or CXmas)
Cross Town Traffic (the hippies will like this one)
Cross Pollinate (throw seeds as you ride!)
Crosseyed (lots of beer!)

Stinky Stanky

I can't find any info available online but this Sunday, May 30th is The Stinky Stanky Bike Jam & Jumping Contest to be held all day at Bartlett Park. I'm sure a lot of our BMX friends will be there as they've invested a lot of time building the dirt jumps and rails that are out there. Not a whole lot of info on the flyer, just that cash prizes will be awarded. Here's a map of Bartlett Park:


View Larger Map

Handicat Photos!

This past Sunday Brett threw a well attended and exciting alleycat. Emily and I ran a checkpoint (probably the most relaxed one, since we just hung out in a park and climbed a tree). Here are some of the photos I got of our checkpoint, the riders and the after party:





Check the rest on my flickr.