Reality Sucks

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Jeff Moser

I remember the years I spent in college. I had a lot of cash to throw around, I drove a fancy car, and parking was free and plentiful. And I’m sure it’s even better today. General Motors knows this of course, and wants to save college kids from the humiliation of riding a bike. I mean really, who rides their bike at school? People who suck, that’s who. If you bought into the whole “cycling is a whole lot of fun, good for you and the environment” B.S., don’t worry. GM has a debt program for you!

Reality Sucks – GM ad running in college newspapers

It’s time to stop pedaling, and start driving, says GM. If you’re on the fence about giving up your bike, the League of American Bicyclists might help you decide.

If you are a student looking to add tens of thousands of dollars of long term debt, care little about the environment, and want to lump two tons of steel around campus while paying through the nose for insurance, gas, and parking…General Motors has got a perfect deal for you. Bonus: it’ll make you fat and unhealthy! All you have to do is give up that dorky bicycle that’s easy to use, practically free, gets you some exercise and is actually fun to ride.

But riding a bike around campus is not the only place that bikes sucks. They’re awful for commuting as well. Here are 9 reasons why you should never bike to work over on semi-rad.com.

More on this socially responsible ad campaign over on Bike Portland.

Disclaimer: As a responsible corporate citizen, General Motors is dedicated to protecting human health, natural resources and the global environment.

Ride With The Carson City Board of Supervisors Monday, May 9th 2011

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Jeff Potter

Left to Right: Dave, Bill, Jeff, Jeff, Pegg?, Jenny, Molly, Chas, Mayor Bob, Denis, Steve, Shelly, Karen, and ?

Showing their continued support of Muscle Powered’s efforts to increase livability in Carson City, Mayor Bob Crowell, and Carson City Supervisor’s Karen Abowd, Shelly Aldean and Molly Walt joined members of Muscle Powered on a ride around the west-side of Carson to promote Bike Month and the Carson City Corporate Challenge.

We experienced a wide range of tandems at this event. Bill Story, State Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator for NDOT, brought his road tandem (which can be expanded to a triple, quad, and even a quint, depending on how many family members are going for a ride that day) and pedaled Mayor Bob on the loop.

Supervisor Shelly Aldean climbed on the back of my mountain bike tandem for the road ride. I offered to take her offroad on the Flume Trail this summer and she replied with an enthusiastic HELL NO! Actually she said she would like to do that. Maybe we can arrange for a BOS Flume ride in late August.

Supervisor Karen Abowd was the stoker on a comfortable cruiser-ish tandem piloted by Muscle Powered president and Bike Carson administrator Jeff Moser. Karen and Jeff were one of two tandem teams that looked like they could ride all day, the other team being Molly and Dave.

Dave Simpson chauffeured Supervisor Molly Walt around on his recently acquired recumbent tandem (Dave is the man who is responsible for the trails in Centennial Park, and is the person who inspired me to build trails). Molly was very pleasant during the ride but seemed to be preoccupied with the entertainment system which comes with the recumbent’s deluxe package.

Photo by Amy
Also along for the ride was Parks & Recreation Commission Chairman Steve Lasco, Lumos & Associates’ Chas Macquarie, Denis Coyne from Bike Habitat, Jenny Scanland from Nevada State Parks, and Muscle Powered walk leader Donna Inversin.

Judging by their smiles I think everyone had a lot of fun.

All photos by Ashley Dale unless noted otherwise

A big THANK YOU! to Ashley, Jenny, and Amy for braving the poor weather conditions and documenting this ride.

Upcoming Bike Month Events

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Jeff Potter

There are a few events coming up next week to prepare you for Bike to Work Week and the Carson City Corporate Challenge, so mark your calendars!

Our first flier

Monday, May 9
Cruiser Ride With the Carson City Board of Supervisors
Meet at 11:00 a.m. at Telegraph Square (Telegraph St. & Curry St.)

We have four tandems available for the BOS. Mayor Bob and Supervisors Karen Abowd, Shelly Aldean and Molly Walt have placed their lives in our hands and are climbing aboard for a fun ride around downtown Carson City with stops along the way for pics at; Telegraph Square, BAC, Governor’s Mansion, Sunset Park and the Capital Grounds.
Please come out and join us!

Skinny Guy with CC Supervisor Shelly Aldean

Wednesday May 11
Vulnerable Users Procession
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at Greater Nevada Credit Union 911 E. Second

The procession is to support AB328 which amends Nevada’s reckless driving statute to include striking a bicyclist or pedestrian as reckless driving, with penalties up to a $2,000 fine and license suspension. While the law would not of course do everything to protect vulnerable users, its intent is to put drivers on notice that they are sharing the road with these users, and that there will be significant penalties for striking them.
Please come out and show your support!

Flat Tire Repair Clinic at The Bike Smith
900 N. Carson St at 6:00 p.m.

First person to name the Three Bees wins a prize

Are you the type of cyclist who loves to ride but has yet to learn the skill of fixing a flat tire? If you would like to learn this valuable and necessary skill you’re in luck. Micky McDowell is teaching a free flat tire repair clinic at The Bike Smith in downtown Carson City. He will demonstrate wheel removal, how to locate the source of the flat, how to repair the flat, and how to reinstall the wheel. All without looking like a grease monkey. If possible, travel to the clinic by bike, and bring a friend.

Bike to Work Week Corporate Challenge May 16 – 20

There is still time to register for this fun event. To register please send your team name, number of employees, and contact info to: corporatechallengecc@gmail.com

The Jeff’s during Bike Party Half Time

March Begins

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Jeff Moser

March has begun, and the great piles of snow have started to melt. There are storms on the horizon, but the temperatures seem to be on the rise. My bike has been brought back into the commuting mix, and the road bike even came out of the shed this morning. The plan is to go out at lunch for some miles and a little hill climbing. I have a feeling it’s going to hurt!

Muscle Powered at Comma Coffee

I was recently riding by the gas station, and got this photo of the rising gas prices. These prices remind me of the $4 gas from a couple years ago. Demand for simple commuter bikes went up during this time, and the bicycle industry shifted focus from racing replicas to producing full lines of great city bikes. The gas prices went back down again, many people went back to their old ways, but the great selection of bikes still remains. I see this being a great year for the bicycle industry, and I’m hoping we have large participation in May’s Bike Month this year!

Gas prices on the rise – Yet another reason to ride!

I think a lot of people feel trapped when energy prices get so high, often blaming someone else that it’s just not fair. What can we do? Bicycle traffic only accounts for about a percentage or less of all traffic modes here in America though. We need to look at what other cities are doing, especially some of those in other countries.

Bicycle Rush Hour Utrecht (Netherlands) III

Check out this video of rush hour in the Netherlands. Some things to notice: A ton of bikes and people walking. People of all sorts participating. Regular clothes and no helmets. A lot of public transportation. A lot of skinny people. It all seems to work rather nicely!

Hope everyone is getting their bikes back out and enjoying some riding!

February (NOT) Riding

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Jeff Moser

February started off pleasant enough. The riding was great, and the groundhog assured us that Spring was just around the corner. But then winter returned in a big way, piling up snow to depths we hadn’t seen all winter, and left me questioning our faith in leaving weather predictions to rodents. And to top it off, I caught a nasty bug that kept me in bed for several days with a fever. I’ve barely been on a bike the last couple weeks, and my mountain bike has been nothing more than a high-priced laundry rack.

A pleasant beginning to February

I recently moved to the downtown area, closer to work, putting me dead center of most of the places I need to go. During this foul weather, walking has become the preferred method of transportation for round trips less than a mile. It hasn’t been worth the hassle of the extra cold weather gear for these quick trips. The ice bike has still come in handy though when I need get somewhere further in a reasonable amount of time, and getting the utility bike out for neighborhood spins on the sunny days has helped me keep my sanity.

Snowy Main Street

I recently read a 1993 statistic that says that over 40% of American’s car trips are for shopping, social or recreational purposes, and that the commute to work itself only constitutes a quarter of all trips by car. These numbers are most likely worse now, 18 years later, as we’ve continued to build the places we need to go further away from town, increasing our dependency on motor vehicles. With these numbers in mind, I’ve been thinking a lot lately of how I can decrease my reliance on my car. Simply commuting by bike no longer seems enough, so I’d like to incorporate the bicycle as much as I can into the other areas of my life. Gas is once again getting expensive, and it seems that every time I use my aging vehicle, something breaks or falls apart. I’d rather spend my money elsewhere, lose the frustration of driving, and have some fun and adventure.

A cold and downtrodden Kit Carson

One of the roadblocks to a car-free life is simply the fear of the unknown. We get comfortable in our habits, and don’t always like to face the challenge of relearning how to do things. I’ve been getting more familiar with the downtown area. Learning where useful services are. Locating bike racks. Finding bus stops and figuring out where the buses go. I learned that I can replace my once a week driving trip to the shopping center south of town with a bus trip for only $2. With the gas prices the way they are, this almost seems free. Additionally, the downtown bus stops have bike racks, and the buses also have bicycle carriers. Using multi-modal transportation can really help you extend your car-free distances.

Running errands and enjoying the sun

March looks like it will warm up some, and I’m looking forward to getting out for recreational riding again. My spirits have suffered greatly from being off the mountain bike trails for so long. I’m also excited to explore new ways of doing things, using the bike more in my life, and sharing my experiences with others.

What has your February been like? Has anyone got some decent riding in?

2011 Ergon Commuter Team

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Jeff Moser

It’s my pleasure to announce that Bike Carson will be partnering with Ergon in 2011 as part of the 2011 Ergon Commuter Team! Ergon is a bicycle accessory company whose aim is to develop products that offer the best ergonomics for cyclists, which combine the best scientific principles with the practicality of real world usage. The development team at Ergon is made up of specialists in various areas; there are bike experts, racers, sports scientists, ergonomics experts, engineers and industrial designers.

ERGON Urban Cycling from ergon on Vimeo.

12 riders out of hundreds that applied were selected from all over the USA and Canada, and will make up the first ever Ergon commuter team. Here’s a look at the riders and where they’re from:

Chris Huller – Washington DC
Arleigh Jenkins – Charlotte, NC
Tom Armstrong – Louisville, KY
Kenneth Walker – Kansas City, MO
Jeff Moser – Carson City, NV
Kenneth Cheeseman – Boston, MA
Dave Malwitz – Newbury Park, CA
Jon Makela – Portland, OR
Andrew Coffey – Chicago, IL
Jack Sweeney – Tampa, FL
James Osborne – Denver, CO
Ron Adolf – Vancouver, BC

During the year, these select riders will share their commuting experience…all while using some of the Ergon commuter friendly products like the GP1 BioKork grips, BC3 backpacks, PC2 pedal, and new gloves. More information about the Ergon Commuter Team can be found on the Ergon blog HERE.

I will be sharing my experiences here on Bike Carson, but you will be able to follow the whole team via the Ergon social media sites.

Blog: www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/blog/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Ergon-International/29970736242
Twitter: twitter.com/Ergon_Intl

Bike to Work Week 2010 Wrap Up

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Jeff Moser

Bike to Work Week 2010 has come to an end. Here’s a look at all that went on last week.

Freeway Multi-Use Path Cleanup

On May 15th, Muscle Powered assisted the Chamber of Commerce and others with a cleanup of the multi-use path that connects College Parkway to Northridge Drive. The entrance was the worst, with huge piles of tumbleweeds and trash stuck to the fence.

Freeway Bike Path Cleanup – Before

But with the help of about 30 volunteers, we cleaned the whole place up in a few hours! Full story on the Muscle Powered blog HERE.

Freeway Bike Path Cleanup – After!

Movie Night at Capitol Automotive

Later on the 5th, after the big cleanup, cyclists rode down to Bicycle Movie night at Capitol Automotive. We filled up the parking lot with bikes, and Marcus had a theater setup inside the shop. Pam Anderson down at the new Straw Hat pizza on HWY 50 donated several large pizzas. We had a good night filling up on pizza, socializing, and watching movies.

Marcus and Lisa Marchegger, Owners of the Capitol Automotive Theater

Cocktails in the Theater Lobby

Commuter Libation at the Feisty Goat Pub

Bike to Work Week started off with less than desirable weather. Although the weather wasn’t as pleasant as in years past, it probably shook up the results of the Corporate Commuter Challenge by adding even more challenge to the contest. We celebrated the first day of the contest with a pint down at the Feisty Goat Pub on East Long Street.

Commuter Libation at the Feisty Goat Pub

Flat Tire Repair Clinic at The Bike Smith

On May 18th, The Bike Smith hosted a Flat Tire Repair Clinic. Several people attended to learn one of the most important repair procedures you can learn on a bicycle. Think of how far you can ride your bike in an hour. Knowing how to fix a flat will keep you from walking for miles and hours. Mickey did a great job with his demonstrations, and then attendees put their new knowledge to the test with various wheels.

Flat Tire Fix clinic at the Bike Smith

Mickey Demonstrates Flat Tire Repair

West Carson Cruiser Ride

One of the most popular events of Bike Month is the West Carson Cruiser ride. At least 50 riders of all ages showed up in spite of the strong winds for a leisurely cruise around Carson City’s quiet west side. We always get a friendly response from the residents along the four mile route. Most people are really surprised to see 50 bikes come out of nowhere down their normally quiet street. One rider told me she really likes this ride, because she feels uneasy about going out on her own. It’s a great way to encourage new riders! After the ride, many folks went over to the Firkin and Fox to warm up by the patio fire.

West Carson Cruiser Ride

Look for more Muscle Powered cruiser rides to start in June! It will warm up, I promise.

West Carson Cruiser Ride

End of the Week Party and Fundraiser

On May 21st, we finished up with the big Corporate Challenge, and celebrated the week’s accomplishments with a party down at the Firkin and Fox. The wind was howling, and the rain and snow were coming over the mountains. It was one of those nights that made you want to stay home by the fire.

Plenty of Bike Parking at the Firkin and Fox

But even with the foul weather, lots of people still came down. And for good reason… The Firkin and Fox and New Belgium Brewing donated a keg of Mighty Arrow Pale Ale for the party. We had a whole bunch of prizes to raffle off including two beach cruisers. Singer / Guitarists James Wilsey came down from Reno to perform for us. We huddled by the fire, watched the occasional snow fly overhead, and had a good time. We signed up a few new people for Muscle Powered memberships, and raised money for our organization with raffle ticket sales and beverage donations.

Kathy and Fritz, holders of one of the winning tickets!

It finally came time to raffle the beach cruisers that were made possible by the generosity of Dan Turner at the Bicycle Authority. People around the fire began to chant, “Bikes, bikes, bikes…” as the ticket can was shaken for the final drawing. It was very tribal!

Kathy, Fred, and Fritz always buy a LOT of raffle tickets. And they always win a lot of prizes. Jesse Richardson gave his tickets to them before he left, and as it turns out, one of them turned out to be a winning ticket! Jesse wouldn’t learn of his good fortune for a couple days though…

Jeff Resler won this cruiser and surprised his wife with a new bike!

Jeff Resler won the second bike. He was happy to win the woman’s bike, as it made a fantastic surprise for his wife!

James Wilsey played us music as long as his frozen fingers could take it!

Staying Warm at the Firkin and Fox Bike to Work Week Party

When Jesse arrived to work on Monday, he had a big surprise waiting for him in the office. From the photo, he appears pleased.

Jesse’s New Ride

And as always, just because Bike to Work Week is over, it doesn’t mean you put your bike away. Keep riding to work throughout the spring and summer. Have fun, get fit, and protect the environment.

The complete photo collection of May’s Bike Month can be found on Flickr HERE.

Bike Carson

Bicycle News, Culture, and Lifestyle in Carson City, Nevada

Category Archives: car free

Reality Sucks

Ride With The Carson City Board of Supervisors Monday, May 9th 2011

Upcoming Bike Month Events

March Begins

February (NOT) Riding

2011 Ergon Commuter Team

Bike to Work Week 2010 Wrap Up