Bike Path Sabotage

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Jeff Moser

My friend Christy sent me this photo of a cable strung across one of our city’s multi-use paths. This is the new path between Hells Bells and Lepire that parallels Fairview Drive just north of the 5th Street Roundabout. She says she’s found the gates closed several times, but today was the first cable incident, and said she was very lucky that she didn’t crash. Based on the times of day the gates have been closed, Christy suspects middle school traffic.

Cable across path

Christy reported the problem to the city, and she says they were quick to respond. Here’s the latest:

We are taking care of the cabling and the problem with the open gates. The contractor is setting a permanent post to lock the gates in the open position. And we’ll reconfigure the cabling to make sure that situation doesn’t happen again.

I haven’t been on the new path myself, but from the photo, it looks like the fence around the ditch has been damaged, leaving long sections of loose cable. I suspect this may take a little while to get fixed, so keep your eyes open if traveling this path! Stay safe.

Ergon PC2 Pedal Review

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jeff Moser

As part of the Ergon Commuter Team, I’ve had the opportunity to ride the Ergon PC2 pedals. The PC2s are Ergon’s ergonomic pedals, combining the convenience of a flat pedal with the efficiency and power of a clipless pedal. While I often commute to work using clipless pedals, I only do so because I’ll be using my bike at lunch for mountain biking on the local trails. For commuting and riding around town though, I much prefer wearing my regular shoes, and flat pedals allow me to use whatever shoes I happen to be wearing that particular day.

Ergon PC2 L(arge) Pedals

Here’s how Ergon describes the PC2 pedals:

A more efficient pedal. Ergon introduces the first flat pedal (or Contour Pedal as we call it) to provide an ergonomic and positive connection between bike and user. The first pedal designed with biomechanics and correct foot position in mind. Advantages are increased power transfer, more control and fewer hot spots and knee complaints. The Ergon PC2 is the first non SPD-type pedal constructed with the ergonomic biomechanical demands of the user as a priority.

Grip Tape pedal surface

Design and Ergonomics

Obviously a lot of thought went into designing the PC2 pedals, not only on how they would function, but the materials they’d be built from as well.

Instead of using a jagged metal cage or studs to keep your shoes from slipping on the pedals, the PC2s use grip tape. Where your shoe meets the pedal, the surface is covered with a rugged anti-slip material made of 3M SafetyWalk. Ergon claims the surface allows for the strong hold of your shoes in all weather conditions, but I’m not certain how they’ll function in the snow. With winter fast approaching, we should find out soon.

The PC2 pedals are equipped with large-area integral reflectors made in co-operation with Busch&Müller in Germany. Reflectors in motion, like on the pedals and wheels, are more visible at night than when mounted in stationary locations.

The PC2 pedals are also equipped with exclusively developed, ultra flat and maintenance free polymer journal bearings made by Igus in Germany. Maintenance free sounds great to me, and I’m eager to see how they hold up over a wet winter.

The pedal body is made of weight optimized high performance composite synthetics. This construction was made in close co-operation with German injection molding specialist Magura.

Old bear trap style pedals = bloody shins

The concave surface of the pedals follows the natural contour of your feet. Look at the bottom of your shoes, and you’ll notice they’re not completely flat. They curve up slightly at the ball of the foot. Your shoe naturally rests on the PC2 pedal with the ball of your foot over the axle of the pedal. This is the best position to transfer power to the pedals, and where conventional flat pedals differ. The ball of your foot tends to be more in front of the axle with regular flat pedals. You get less power transfer this way, and also the potential for knee discomfort.

To compensate for the different foot position, the pedal platform is quite long for full support. This not only increases efficiency, but spreads the weight load over a bigger surface (much like the line of Ergon Grips). Additionally, there are inner stops on the pedals that your shoes rest against. This further helps line up your feet, and keeps your shoes from rubbing on the cranks while pedaling.

The surface of the pedal slopes downward at 6° from the crank to the outer edge of the pedal. This follows the orientation of the forefoot and matches direction of the power that is brought to the pedal. If you sit on the edge of a table and dangle your legs off the end, you’ll notice that the outer edges of your feet hang a bit lower than the insides. These pedals take this natural foot position into consideration. I have a pair of Specialized cycling shoes that use this same design principle, and I find them to be very comfortable.

The inner stop of the pedal is nearly flush against the cranks. Minimal Q-factor, basically bringing your feet closer to the center of the bike, is said to optimize the position of the legs for more power and comfort.

Long and contoured surface

The Test

OK, enough with all the fancy design talk. How do the PC2s actually ride? I’ve tried them on 2 different bikes, using 4 different pairs of shoes. Here’s what I found.

I first installed the PC2s on my On One Inbred single speed. It’s setup as a mountain bike, and it’s also the bike I currently have my Ergon grips installed on. The PC2s replaced a set of cheap plastic BMX style pedals. The first thing I noticed was that my feet went right where they were supposed to be, the contours of my shoes matching up with the contours of the pedals. This placed the ball of my foot right over the pedal axle for maximum power. On the old BMX pedals, it took more care to find the right spot, and often the left and right feet weren’t doing the same thing.

Only my widest shoes would sometimes momentarily catch on the pedal’s inner stop, taking me just a second to adjust my foot over in about the same time it takes to clip into a clipless pedal. All the other shoes I tested, which included hiking boots, sport sandals, and sneakers, were a bit narrower, and dropped right into place on the pedal without any interference or delay. My only real complaint is that the over-sized pedals didn’t quite match the appearance of the rest of the bike. The On One is very minimalistic, including the skinny steel tubing of the frame. It had the look of big pedals on a little bike. Nitpicking.

The second installation was on my long Kona Ute utility bike. This bike came with some narrow bear trap style pedals that have always given me problems. Not only did my feet always feel like they were never lined up properly on the narrow platform, the jagged edges of the pedal were responsible for many a bloody shin. The bike is heavy and long, and my legs often got scraped by the pedals, most often when I was just standing over the bike or moving the bike into a parking spot.

Since the Kona Ute is heavy to begin with, and even heavier loaded with cargo, maximum power to the pedals is really important to get the bike moving. The larger surface area on the PC2 spreads the load out over a wide portion of the foot for great power transfer. Stiff soled shoes are just as comfortable as flexible shoes on the big platform. I use this bike year-round, so it’ll be nice to not worry about what shoes I’m wearing. Sandals or hiking boots, I’ll be ready to roll.

So while on the first test bike I felt like the PC2s were a nice enhancement, the Ergon pedals feel like a significant upgrade on my utility bike. This is where I plan to keep them. The PC2 pedals really transform the way the Ute rides, and the long platforms don’t look at all out of place on the long bike. The smoother surface of the PC2 should also keep the skin on my legs where it belongs.

Bottom Line

The Ergon PC2s are a good blend of comfort, convenience, and efficiency, with attention to detail, construction, and materials.

Compliments the Kona Ute

Installation

Since the pedal body mounts flush against the crank arm, there is no way to use a standard pedal wrench for installation. Instead, an 8mm allen wrench is used at the end of the pedal axle. Clean the threads, apply a small amount of grease to the threads, install the pedals by hand to prevent cross-threading, and then finish off with the wrench. The PC2s come with an extensive manual that includes full installation details and other tips. Don’t forget that the left pedal has reverse threads, i.e. turning the axle counter-clockwise tightens it.

PC2 Pedals and sneakers

More Specifications:

Available in small and large (tested here)
Small (max.EU42 / UK7.5 / US8.5)
Large (min. EU 43 / UK 8 / US 9)
Material: Superlight GFK Composite
Intended Use: Touring, Commuting, General Riding
Maintenance free polymer bearing
PC2-L – 506 grams per set
PC2-S – 444 grams per set
Ergon Website: http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/home

Disclaimer: This product was given to BikeCarson.com at no charge for test and review as part of the Ergon Commuter Team campaign. We were not paid or bribed to do this review, and will provide our honest and personal views throughout the entire process.

New Nevada Traffic Laws

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Jeff Moser

As of October 1st, there have been some changes to Nevada traffic laws that affect cyclists.

The 3 Foot Rule

The 3 foot rule, which now requires a driver of a motor vehicle to overtake and pass a bicycle or an electric bicycle proceeding in the same direction by: (1) moving the vehicle into the immediate left lane, if there is more than one lane traveling in the same direction and it is safe to move into the lane; or (2) passing to the left of the bicycle or electric bicycle at a distance of not less than 3 feet from the bicycle or electric bicycle.

“Rush Hour” on Musser Street

I don’t usually have problems with cars coming too close to me while riding around downtown. Speeds are much lower, and it is sometimes possible to take the lane, giving me all the space I need. As the traffic speeds increase though, we definitely need more room. It’s scary to have a side mirror on a 3/4 ton pickup skim your shoulder. This may be a hard rule to enforce, but hopefully drivers will be more mindful of just how far they need to be over. Feeling safe on the road is one of the number one excuses for not bicycle commuting, so hopefully this will help break down another barrier.

Many of us wondered if the community would get the word after the law went into effect. From what I have seen, the news has spread. In the last couple weeks, I’ve noticed many motorists giving me a lot more space than normal, often times much more than 3 feet. This really surprised me. I also heard from a friend that has to use a truck for his job, that their drivers were briefed by management on these new laws. The locals news outlets also did a good job at getting the word out.

Just recently California’s governor, Jerry Brown, vetoed their proposed 3 foot passing law. Part of the CA3 ft law stated that drivers were allowed to pass a bicyclist with less than 3 ft when speeds were under15 MPH. CHP and Caltrans were concerned that drivers would try to slow down to 15 mph or less in constrained conditions in order to avoid the 3 ft passing requirement which would cause numerous rear end collisions.

Good job to all those here in Nevada, including Muscle Powered, who helped get this law passed in our state!

Vulnerable Highway Users Law

Motorists found at fault in a collision with a bicyclist or pedestrian can be charged with reckless driving and face harsher penalties. One hopes they never have to exercise their Vulnerable User rights, but maybe it’ll help deter harassment. Recently in WA state, a teen driver was fined $42 for killing a cyclist. I don’t know about you, but the tickets I’ve received for minor infractions since I was old enough to drive were always steeper than this. During one of the Poker Runs in Reno earlier in the year, a cyclist got a ticket that was over $100 for riding on the sidewalk at the park!

Cell Phone Ban

Driving while talking, typing or reading on a hand-held cellphone or similar device is now illegal in Nevada. Some say driving while talking or texting can delay reaction time as much as driving legally drunk.

For most of the urban and road riding I do, I think the cell phone ban may have the most impact on my safety. Sometimes I’ll find myself right outside a talking driver’s window with no eye contact at all. I’ve become invisible to talkers in roundabouts. I’ve had to be careful not to get pinned by people trying to make three point turns with one hand while in conversation. What’s even more scary is that these incidents usually happen in school zones. People don’t let their kids walk to school because it’s too dangerous…and then go ahead and do the very thing that is creating this danger.

King Street

Arguments against the cell phone ban though, say that people will become even more dangerous now, hiding the phones down low and out of view from law enforcement. Already there are reports of people pulled off dangerously alongside the highways making calls. I still see a few people on their phones, driving with one hand with that zombified blank stare on their face. Obviously there will be a learning curve and resistance to change on this law. I think most people are taking it to heart though.

Responsibilities of the Cyclist

But amidst these victories for cyclists and pedestrians, we have a growing number of new cyclists on Carson City’s streets that seem to have no clue about road rules. In fact, I now have more traffic incidents with other cyclists than cars. Just the other day while riding north on Mountain Street, I saw a cyclist riding towards me on the wrong side of the street. I figured if I held my line, he’d realize his error and cross over to the other side of the road. Instead, he pedaled through the 4-way stop without slowing down, and passed me on my right near the gutter. I may have said something, but the fact that he had no shirt on and was wearing some sort of dust mask or respirator threw me off a bit. If someone was out driving like this, there would be a man-hunt on.

Breaking the rules can’t all be blamed on the newbies though. There are plenty of us seasoned cyclists that share the blame too, specifically in the area of stop sign etiquette. When there are pedestrians present, or cars approaching or already stopped in the intersection, a cyclist barreling through the stop sign without stopping is just as shocking as when a car does it. Not only is it rude, but you might cause a car to swerve and take someone else out. Cycling is all about freedom, but not at the expense of others. If we cyclists want respect on the road, we must also show it back.

What have you seen so far? Have you noticed passing cars giving you more space? Do you see less people on cell phones? Do you feel safer on Nevada roads?

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.

Night Riding

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Jeff Moser

A friend of mine was recently returning from an evening ride he was pulled over by the cops for not having the proper rear lighting. When he explained that he had been up mountain biking in Ash Canyon, and that his tail light had bounced off the mounting bracket, they cop eyed him suspiciously and said, “Don’t you think it’s a little late to be up there riding a bike?”

Bar Mounted Light

As kids, our parents gave us permission to go out on the bike “as long as we were back before dark”. Today, many people cut rides short, leave social events early, and scramble to get home when the sun starts going down. Far too many people enjoy the downtown social life using their cars to get home when they shouldn’t be. But cycling is still possible after dark. For the price of a tank of gas, you can buy some decent bicycle lights and keep bicycling year round, day or night. Lights can extend the hours of available mountain biking too. This is important to many riders, now that the sun is setting so early.

Helmet Mounted Light

I suspect a lot of people don’t know that riding your bike at night can be a lot of fun. Whether you’re pedaling through the dark woods, along a moonlit mountain singletrack, or cruising city streets beneath the neon lights, riding at night is an all new cycling experience. A feeling of floating rather than rolling. Less to look at and far fewer distractions. Many of your usual visual cues are not visible, and you may forget where you are momentarily if you let your mind drift. Your other senses are heightened. You might really feel the wind in your face, or notice just how loud a creek is for the first time. The trail you ride everyday may seem very unfamiliar at night, giving that same old trails new life. It can even be a little spooky at times.

A nice change to the same old trail

High-end lighting technology has come a long way. Thanks to LED lights, batteries are a lot more compact than they used to be, are quickly recharged, and have long burn times. Batteries are now small and light enough to be clipped onto your stem, bars, helmet, or other convenient location. Some batteries are even contained within the light, removing the need for a separate mount.

How much light you need is based on what type of riding you’ll be doing. A cheap $15 light might produce just enough light to alert motorists of your presence, but not provide you much illumination to light up the road. This may be ok if you plan to slowly cruise the city streets, but you can quickly overrun your lights if you pick up the pace. A light system costing a few hundred bucks will light up your world, and will allow you to ride at the same speed you might during full daylight. Lights of this caliber would be a good choice for racing or negotiating technical terrain.

Watching the full moon rise

My current headlight is somewhere in between. It’s a 110 lumen MiNewt from Nite Rider. For around $100, I got the light, rechargeable battery (can also be charged with a USB outlet), mounts for different sized handlebars, and a helmet mount. It’s more than enough light for riding around town at full speed, and provides me with enough light to enjoy the few night time mountain bike rides I do each year. It mounts/un-mounts easily with no tools, and fits in my pocket if I want to take it off once I reach my destination.

Night riding is fun for all!

Bar Mount vs. Helmet Mount

Some lights come with mounting hardware that allow you to mount the light to the handlebars or the helmet. Mounting a light on the handlebars shines light where your bike is headed. A light on the helmet shines light where you’re looking. Handlebar mounted lights are convenient and adequate for most urban riding, but many mountain bikers prefer running both. Riding technical trails at speed requires that you see what’s in front of your bike, but also what’s coming up around the next turn. When doing a fast turn in the daylight, we look through the turn and use our peripheral vision to see what is directly in front of us. Running two lights allows you to do this when it’s dark. The helmet light is also nice for peering into the bushes and making sure that twig you just heard snap isn’t a mountain lion or some other large, purely imagined, carnivorous mammal.

Planet Bike Superflash

Taillights and Other Lights

Taillights are much more affordable than headlights, since their main purpose is just to make you be seen. I went with a Planet Bike Superflash for around $26. It’s a bit more expensive than some of the other taillights, but it’s very bright. It’s a good choice for all season visibility, and has worked good even during snow storms. Some companies make little lights that can mount pretty much anywhere on the bike. You can get creative with these; for example, you might stick some on your seat tube to help increase visibility from the sides.

Be seen at night. Don’t be a bike ninja!

Some Tips for Night Riding

Check the forecast before you leave, and be aware of what the temperatures will be after the sun goes down. It can cool down quickly after nightfall. Wind vests, arm warmers, and headbands don’t take up much room in your pack, and keep you comfortable if you need them.
It’s still a good idea to have eye protection after dark. Get some clear lenses, or wear your eyeglasses. I don’t see very good after dark without my eyeglasses, so I prefer better vision at the expense of a little wind protection.
You don’t need a taillight for off-road riding, and sometimes they can bounce off the mount if you do take them off-road. I keep one in my pack though for the ride home. Once I return to the city streets, I just clip it on.
If you’re wearing a light on your helmet, cover it or turn it off when you look at people to talk to them. It’s easy to forget the light is up there, and your riding buddies don’t appreciate being blinded.
Don’t leave your expensive lights on your bike when it’s unattended on the bike rack. You could easily lose your investment and have to ride home in the dark.

Do you have any night riding tips to share? What lights are you using?

Stay in the Bike Lane!

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Jeff Moser

I was recently yelled at by a pedestrian, of all people, that I shouldn’t be riding in the middle of the road, and should be over in the bike lane. I’m not certain what prompted this man to share his advice, since I wasn’t anywhere near him. Perhaps I just looked arrogant slowly riding my cruiser in the center of the lane as if I had the right to be there.

While the bike lane going down 5th Street is quite nice, I was preparing to get into the turn lane to make a left and head north on Stewart Street. You can’t safely make a left hand turn across 2 lanes of traffic from the bike lane. The bike lane is for thru-traffic, and gives you a safe place to ride when this is where you are planning to go.

From a cyclist’s point of view, I think the resources to crackdown on people riding bikes could be better used elsewhere. This doesn’t seem to be a problem in Carson City, but I do hear of these stings in Reno. While I don’t condone breaking the rules, you do need to be flexible with the law when on a bicycle, since most of our roads were designed with driving a car in mind. Following the rules all the time could get you hurt or killed. Law enforcement crackdowns would have a better return on investment if they went after the people endangering the most vulnerable users. Make the streets safer for people to get out of their cars, fewer cars on the road, less traffic problems.

Here’s a video from New York City. This rider was actually ticketed for straying out of the bike lane! Well of course this made him mad, and he decided to make a short film about his experience.

From the RawStory website:

After receiving a $50 ticket for straying from the bike lane, a New York biker filmed a protest video montage of himself crashing into objects while remaining lawfully in the bike lane. Some of the crashes appear to be fairly painful.

The biker, Casey Neistat, who films documentaries for an HBO show, released the video on YouTube. It received about 150,000 hits in two days.

“Dear [N]ew [Y]ork [C]ity, ticket the people blocking the bike lanes, not bikers,” he concluded. “[A]nd give me my $50 back.”

“Bike Lane” at the Tahoe Keys Marina

I ride the bike lanes as much as possible, but I’m glad these rules aren’t enforced here. Often road signs can’t be placed in the road or on the sidewalk, and they end up in the bike lane. And sometimes people think the bike lanes are parking lots, as reported earlier here on Bike Carson, Highway 50 Bike Path Obstructions. Until the roads around the country are made safer for ALL users, law enforcement needs to back off a little. Especially in a country that REALLY needs to become energy independent to survive in the coming years. Bikes need to be a part of this future.

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

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

Category Archives: urban cycling