Africa Bikes... and a call to aid

I read a story about some interesting advocacy efforts, in the latest Bicycle Retailer, being done for the poor of the world. Different organizations are donating bikes, parts, time, and money to the aid of impoverished nations. Organizations such as Bicycling Magazines Bike Town, SRAMs World Bicycle Relief, Konas Africa Bike, and Ritcheys Project Rwanda. Bicycles help health care workers to get to thier patients quickly, they help poor farmers transport crops more efficiently, and they help with transportation in general. A neat one I saw is the Eco Truk, the bike itself is an extended bike with a platform on the rear that can carry goods and people if needed. Eco Truk is also part of Wolffs Bike Shop(the designer of the bike) bike in a box program, where they ship 200 bikes, tools and parts to Africa to entrepenuers interested in starting a bike shop. I am really inspired by this and plan on doing something on a bit of a local level. I am planning on donating some of my time to Gods Pedal Power, and I also hope to get other volunteers to join me in this notion. Another thing Ive really been interested in is putting together a Bikes Not Bombs chapter here in the St. Pete/ Tampa bay area. this would be something on a local level that would help donate time, bikes, parts, and whatever to a needy cause... where ever that may be. more on that to come.

this is the Eco Truk... more info on this at Ecotruk.org

other interesting websites:

http://www.basecampcomm.com/

http://www.projectrwanda.org/

http://www.5000bikes.com/

http://www.bicycling.com/biketown

Bicycling Life... and commuting miles.

http://www.bicyclinglife.com/ I found this website that has a lot of really good information on bicycle commuting and riding in general. Lot of good insight on dealing with the hazards of commuting by bike. and it gave me a neat idea. My commute to work is roughly an hour, I ride from my appartment in St. Pete across the Friendship Trail Bridge and into Tampa to work. My total commute is about 15 miles. So im thinking of keeping a daily log of the milage i accrue through the year... as of yet I have ridden the new route to the trek store 3 times... twice i took the bus the first half so i rode about 60 miles last week and yesterday. im not even going to count the last job so as to make this cleaner in my mind... so as of my first post on this matter Im going to officially count 60 miles so far for January.

New Years Resolutions.. and last years outs

well... here it is, a new year.. I dont have much time to get to a computer lately so ill try to cover a lot in this one post. Over the last couple months a lot has happened. I have been commuting to work by bike and by bus a LOT lately, and it is a scary ride. I ride from st pete to tampa and car drivers are just not happy people... and it is downright dangerous for a cyclist out there. Ive had people yell at me to get off the road on several occasions and several honks to which I cannot say ive always reacted to in a civil way... but then why should I? I have a right to be there.
I mostly ride my fixed bike when i commute and people think im crazy for it. but ive found that when i ride safetly, in control and defensively, I feel pretty safe. If im going to get hit im going to get hit on the fixie or any bike I choose. on the occasion that i have needed to bring more things with me i have brought the Long Haul with my old trek bags... which are actually quite handy and I am starting to fall back in love with them. On that note... I have decided to make my own bags based on some information i got off of Ken Kifers page (kenkifer.com/bikepages) I am using some of the old duffel bags i got in the Army, so my bags will quite litterally be "green" bags. and I will try to document the step by step process as i move along. at the moment im so low on funds that i cant afford thread. but that will change. which leads me to another story. I got a new job... and its a move up for me, which I am very excited about. Im working with my buddy Ted(of the Single Speed Mafia) at the new Trek Store of Tampa. I am working in a service department this time instead of doing sales as well, and its kind of refreshing being able to focus on my work. I am an hour closer by bike to my appartment and the route is a bit safer. I can see a lot of opportunities for my future with this job and the guys I work with are really supportive.
On another note I have decided to start eating mostly vegetarian.. At the moment I really cant afford food so this has not been a tough process at all, but when I shop I have been buying veges. The few exceptions are hooters wings on fight nights and chicken at carrabas. Aslo I have cut out soda from my diet entirely. It has been since the last week of december and I have been running strong with no real desire to drink it. I have noticed a change in my energy levels throughout the day and I have not had a sugar crash all year.
I ride practically every work day so it has been tough to ride for pleasure over the past months but i do hope to get in some more off road riding this year. I also hope to start donating some of my time to cycling related charities like Gods Pedal Power.. and I want to do more to become a bigger influence in cycling advocacy by joining IMBA and by doing some grass roots advocacy.
Most importantly I would like to have my bags done in time to do some camping trips with my family this spring, and I hope to ride with them more in general.
well.. heres to a better year and a successful life.

frustrating months

to all who have faithfully followed my blog...
in october my car was broken into and all of my Arkel Bags and all the camping equipment in them were stolen. I have been depressed about it but surviving. I took a bit of time from being excited about cycling and I have to admit I may have been a bit bitter. I have however been riding... a lot. For the past two months I have been commuting almost exclusively by bike and bus to work. I have been keeping myself involved with the cycling community by riding and by equiping myself for some serious advocacy or, for better words, activism. I am starting to charge myself politically for the cycling community and me and my street fixed bike are going to start making some noise for cycling. you will find more info here on some important issues involving the cycle commuting community, and on other aspects of riding a fucking bike. anywho.... im back and im charged... late.

Gods Pedal Power

My friend Mike gave me my Gitane frame to build up my fixie. Mike also happens to run Gods Pedal Power Ministry. If you work at a shop in Tampa you have probobly met Mike. He collects parts and bikes donated by our customers and those of other area shops and uses them to build bikes for those in need. These pictures were taken on his home property where he stores hundreds of bikes and parts as well as a few old trucks.. and a couple other shots were taken on location at GPPM at University Baptist Church in Tampa. For more info about GPPM visit www.godspedalpower.org.

This is Mike... say hello!

My New Timbuk2

Got me a new messenger bag this week and I love the freakin thing. Its a Timbuk2 Classic Messenger bag in a size medium... in some pretty earthy green colors. I was used to carrying a backpack with me when i commuted on my fixie to work or when I took the bus. Its much better than the backpack while riding because i can get into it without getting hurt... and its easier to throw stuff in with out worry of where its going. its very easy to file stuff away as there is a ton of little pockets for things like my camera, my cell phone, and my wallet and such. one of the best things... this thing can carry a sixer of some sweet Red Hook with plenty of room for more shit. more info at www.timbuk2.com