The Spokesman from dean saffron on Vimeo.

Small Steps

It's spring, and there are many more bikes on the road. Others want to start biking. But changing to any new mode of transportation is a big lifestyle change and takes time. Just like learning to drive:

When I finally started biking, it was intimidating because I didn't know "how" to do it.... just like all the other things I found intimidating.

 

But biking was one of those things I had to learn by doing.

Over time I learned how to adapt my lifestyle.

 

 

So if you are considering biking, you can't change overnight. Break it down into small steps.

Perhaps one day you'll wonder how you ever got around without a bicycle.

Bikeyface

So many helmets, so many choices.

Bike Helmets: How to Choose

Few people would choose to ride in a car with no seat belts. So why hop on a bike without a bike helmet?
Helmets simply make sense in all riding conditions. At least 21 states and Washington, D.C., even have laws requiring them.
Here are some tips for choosing a bike helmet model that is well-suited to your needs.

Which Type? Sport, Road or Mountain?

Cycling helmets come in 3 basic styles: sport (also called multi-use), road and mountain. All types are designed to protect a rider's head from impact while being lightweight and comfortable. The differences:

• Sport (multi-use) helmets ($35-$60): An economical choice for recreational, commuter, road and mountain bikers; also popular with skateboarders and inline skaters.
• Road bike helmets ($60-$250): Preferred by roadie enthusiasts for their low weight, generous ventilation and aerodynamic design.
• Mountain bike helmets ($35-$200): Designed to ventilate well at low speeds; distinguished by their visors, enhanced rear-head coverage and a firm, secure fit for tackling rough terrain. Often used by cyclocross riders, too.

Shop REI's selection of bike helmets.

Find the Right Size

A good fit is vital. Multi-use helmets usually offer a single, adjustable size. Most others come in small, medium, large or extended sizes.

To find your size, wrap a flexible tape measure around the largest portion of your head—about 1" above your eyebrows. Or, wrap a string or ribbon around your head, then measure the length of string with a straight-edge ruler or yardstick.

Look for a helmet size that matches your measurement. On REI.com, the size range is listed under the "Specs" tab on each product page.

General sizing parameters for adults:

• Small: 20"-21.75" (51cm-55cm)
• Medium: 21.75"-23.25" (55cm-59cm)
• Large: 23.25"-24.75" (59cm-63cm)
• Extra-small, extra-large: Below 20" (51cm), above 24.75 (63cm)
• One size fits all (men): 21.25"-24" (54cm-61cm)
• One size fits all (women): 19.75"-22.5" (50cm-57cm)

Most kids' helmets are one-size-fits-all with a range of 18"-22.5" (46cm-57cm). Some adults with smaller heads can wear these comfortably.
Between sizes? Opt for the smaller size.
 

For the complete article, click here.

A U.S. Template for a Third-Millennium City

Photos by Enrique Peñalosa
The city of Bogotá, Colombia, built the Porvenir Promenade, a 15-mile (24 km) “highway” restricted to pedestrians and bicycles.

In 40 years, 2.7 billion more people will live in world cities than do now, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Urban growth in China, India, and most of the developing world will be massive. But what is less known is that population growth will also be enormous in the United States.

The U.S. population will grow 36 percent to 438 million in 2050 from 322 million today. At today’s average of 2.58 persons per household, such growth would require 44.9 million new homes. However American households are getting smaller. If one were to estimate 2.2 persons per household—the household size in Germany today and the likely U.S. size by 2050—the United States would need 74.3 million new homes, not including secondary vacation homes. This means that over the next 40 years, the United States will build more homes than all those existing today in the United Kingdom, France, and Canada combined. Urban planner and theorist Peter Calthorpe predicts that California alone will add 20 million people and 7 million households by 2050.

To meet this demand, completely new urban environments will have to be created in the United States. Where and how will the new American homes be built? What urban structures are to be created?

 

Click here for the complete article

Coeur d'Alene Bicycle T-Shirts

Coeur d'Alene Bicycling Tees are available. We have cotton in red and poly blend in blue. Please call 208 292-5766 to get a shirt.