Now that the weather is milder this week, I'll try to get the bike out once or twice before the end of the year. New Year's Eve is a possibility.

What's up, bloggees? Email your suggestions for fun areas of the metro to ride around.

December 19, 2005

Temps this last weekend hovered around the single digits, and this morning the thermometer shows it's four degrees below zero. There will be weeks when bringing out the bike isn't practical or sane.

December 12, 2005

What kind of a person drives a Hummer? I can't help but believe those few selfish Americans who own one have completely lost their sense of belonging in society. What's more, some of these nitwit Hummer owners have deluded themseselves into thinking that Hummer hatred is rooted in envy of those rich enough to buy one. The worst offenders are those with "Support the Troops" magnets on the back. It should read "Support Cheap Oil So I Can Haul My Fat Ass Around In This Truck." Below is a picture of a Hummer with no passengers and a picture of a conference bike with five passengers and one operator. Which is more sensible?

December 8, 2005

A market economy demands market solutions. If you drive, have you purchased a Terra Pass? Check it out.

December 5, 2005

In the United States last year, 42,636 people died in auto-related accidents for an average of 3553 per month. Yep, per month. The good news is that number was down from the previous year but the average every year is always somewhere north of 40,000. In Minnesota, the number of people killed by cars in 2004 was 567, yet where's the hue and cry from the people of the state? Have we grown so accustomed to these big numbers that they're now accepted as the price for the convenience of car ownership?

Yesterday an 11-year-old boy from White Earth died in a sledding accident when he crossed into oncoming traffic. It was one of those accidents you hear about all the time on the news. Somehow, accidentally, a child gets out into traffic and is killed. The victims--the child who was killed, and the driver of the car, who must forever bear the memory and some sense of guilt regardless of fault--are forever changed in an instant of time. That's a tragedy that doesn't have to happen.

Still nothing really changes the way we move from point A to point B. Perhaps it's that old adage, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Well, evidence abounds that it is broken, in fact, it's hemoraging all over the emergency room floor every day everywhere, but we've chosen not to look. Blame can be shared evenly by elected officials, auto manufacturers, city and state planners, and the driving public. Pedestrians are at fault as well, but when they're dead or in a wheelchair, it's easy to cut them some slack.

Over forty thousand people every year. Wow.

December 3, 2005

Well, it kills me to do this, but I'm not taking the bike out tonight because there's too much snow on the secondary streets, and I don't really have experience with this beast on the snow. Pulling the trailer with my little Saturn might be dangerous as well. There's no reason to take an unnecessary risk with so young a company.

But I did make it out last night. Temperatures were in the midteens as predicted, so I layered a couple of wool sweaters and jeans over a union suit, doubled up on hand and foot protection, and I was okay.

November 30, 2005

Blog entries generally appear in reverse, so as you scroll down this page, you're going from today to yesterday and beyond, from November 30, 2005 to September 24, 2005, just two months in time but a world of knowledge gained.

I'll be on Nicollet again this Friday and Saturday, most likely after the Hollidazzle parade. Temps will be in the mid to upper teens--not a problem if you dress for it. Check here and the calendar for times.

November 27, 2005

Almost any activity that can motivate people to go downtown and walk around is good for business--mine and others, such as bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and some of the hotels. Last night two events brought it in to downtown Minneapolis: the Hollidazzle Parade and a Dave Matthews concert.

Leg and feet muscles powering a conference bike

First Avenue was kind of a mess. Just imagine how much less traffic there would be, and how much more fun, if cars were restricted to the city fringe and people got around by conference bike or a simple pedicab. With a full bike, we got through the worst of it without any problem--and it's a wild ride on a Saturday night in November when the wind starts to blow! Too cold in Minnesota? Bring it on and let's see. I'm really curious to know where the temperature becomes intolerable for passengers.

My camera ran out of storage, so there's just one picture here of the Christmas tree light bulbs and the people below who I artfully coaxed away from steamy-hot coffee. A few times the bike filled to capacity--which is very cool and fun because you can feel both the weight and the power of seven people providing energy for a vehicle that carries seven people--just like an SUV, huh?--guilt free. Plus I got some nice tips bringing concert goers to the Target Center.

Navigating through traffic was a breeze, but simply going up and down Nicollet is preferable, and it's from there that I think I'll start to concentrate in devising a route for downtown tours and rides.

11-26-05 - Nicollet Mall, Hollidazzle Parade

Switching to Sunday (today): In the late morning and early afternoon, I tried going up and down Nicollet to draw attention and fares. I don't know if Sunday is going to be a good day to be doing business unless people in that part of the city start looking for it and are expecting it to be there. Then I might make some money. Hey, what do you think, bloggees? I'm especially interested in hearing comments from bikers, bicylists, bike commuters, people who sell bikes, people who design bikes, restaurant-bar owners and managers, people who normally walk on Nicollet, and anyone who is into advertising and marketing. Wow, that's a long list!

November 24, 2005

Suburban shopping mall parking lots mostly lie empty in Edina in the evening, especially the day before Thanksgiving, so I saddled up the bike, and from my driveway, pedaled the distance to Southdale mall in just five minutes. This was one of those unannounced visits I make when trying out something new. In this case, it was a blinking safety light which I erected atop a long PVC pipe and secured to the back of the bike with a flagpole mount. Pretty cool.

And so was the chilly reaction to the conference bike--initially. BRRR!! I think I went to the wrong places. First it was Starbucks outside of the Galleria parking lot where just about everyone, inside and outside, tried hard not to notice the weirdo on the bike. Then I went over to Guitar Center and tooled around in their parking lot, deciding whether or not I should go in and lure the employees from their jobs. But just then a couple of women shanghied me for a ride, so we rode though a couple more parking lots to Bruegger's nearby and then back.

A word about all these parking lots in Edina: The greatest untapped resource the city has is the empty parking lot acreage. Will it ever get developed? How? The city council promised to have a third community meeting in which is revealed the final version of a 30-year land-use plan for the Greater Southdale area, but no date has been set for that. Developers, however, aren't wasting too much time. Roger Staubach (formerly a famous football player for you youngsters unfamiliar with the name) wants to build an 18-story condominium and hotel where an empty AMC movie theater now stands. That kind of density would seem to require more sidewalks and, perhaps even some attention to bike lanes within the city. Good if they do it right. Bad for those who've bought townhouses around Centennial Lakes. The sun's going to set a little earlier for some of those folks:-( Bummer.

Once the conference bike becomes more popular, the Greater Southdale area will be a good place to go to make money on tours and perhaps as a pedicab, but until that time, I'll probably just use it to keep in shape and develop an endurance for low temps. It was 27 degrees last night, but by generating enough heat from pedaling, I barely felt it. . Tomorrow morning might be worth a spin to see what 15 feels like.

11-23-05 - Southdale Mall, Edina

November 20, 2005

Cycle Seven Crosses the River into St. Paul

What a crazy business this is. One part is spectacle and exhibition, another part is sheer physical labor and concentration--particularly when confronted by traffic--and the rest of it is putting up with all the questions and weird comments although 95 percent of what I hear is extremely positive and bodes well for the future of transit via conference bike.

Overall, last night was a success. I hitched the trailer to my Saturn wagon and with great caution took I-94 to St. Paul. My little car isn’t the best vehicle for hauling stuff, and losing a $13,000 bike on the highway would be the end of Cycle Seven, but I made it safely and parked across from the Radisson along the river where the bike was quickly surrounded by a wedding party and their photograhpers. And suddenly close behind them--drawn to the bike--were several weathered drunks, a little beligerent, but mostly in awe. Could there be a bigger contrast? This good-looking group climbed on board while the professionals fired away, and then they agreed to "just one more picture" which I took:

11-19-05 - Kellog Boulevard, St. Paul

After waiting for the parking meter to wind towards FREE (4:30 p.m. Got to remember that!), I pedaled slowly along the river in the park, but then the drunks started hassling me and tried to get on the bike (what a nightmare that would have been!), so I gunned it towards the central core of downtown with the intention of making a little money.

Downtown St. Paul is a mystery to me. It’s not hard to get around, but when someone asked me for directions, I couldn’t help. The one-way streets, the oddly-shaped blocks, the occassional deadend, and the lack of a coherent grid, all make direction-giving difficult. For the first hour or so, I wandered aimlessly in order to get an idea of how to get the bike around, picking up St. Paulites along the way, and thanks to them, it was a little easier to get my bearings.

It’s the hilly streets in the center of the city that are my biggest concern. The three men you see above on the left (my apologies to the man whose only body part showing is a hand) helped me climb towards the capitol building, but when they got off, I couldn’t make it all the way by myself, so I coasted back towards more manageable city streets and the Xcel Energy Center where the Minnesota Wild were playing the Nashville Predators. The man on the right, coincidentally a transplant from Nashville, rode along for about 40 minutes, insisting all the while that people from Tennesee just don't play hockey, and I believed him, but apparently Nashville does have a hockey team. By the way, the Wild doubled Predator goals to win it 4-2.

The area surrounding the sports arena is full of cool restaurants and bars, and it was here that I got tips!!! Wow! Cycle Seven made its first buck. And this was legal. I had talked to someone in the city licensing department the day before, and he said that, unlike Minneapolis, it wasn’t necessary for me to get a pedicab license--not yet.

This is another reason why it’s so great to live in the Twin Cities. If you can’t get what you want in one city, you go to the other one. Will Minneapolis city council members finally approve my application this week? We’ll see. But back to the money....I actually made some money in tips! It wasn’t much. The public still has to learn how conference bike rides can work, and I have to educate them, but it was a relief to get a little green. However, I still believe and hope that most of my money will be made in tours and rentals. This nice foursome heading to Pazzaluna gave me a tip even though I said that I wouldn't charge them anything. I've got to stop doing that!

11-19-05 - Rice Park, St. Paul

Three hours were enough. On the way home, I recounted all the fun I had with the people of St. Paul and the exhileration of steep, breath-taking descents on those crazy hills downtown. I’ll definitely be going back. St. Paul rocks!!

November 19, 2005

Cycle Seven will make an appearance today in downtown St. Paul.

November 18, 2005

Where to this afternoon? Loring Park is ideal, but I've got to try something different. Maybe Dinkytown? Loyal readers of this blog might have a suggestion. There are still a lot of vacancies for tomorrow's ride. It might snow in the morning, but the afternoon looks okay. Remember, these rides are still free!

November 16, 2005

This was one of those days when biking to work was just impossible on my regular bike. Most of the roads that I would have taken--residential streets--are still covered with a thin sheet of ice. See it's not always the cold that prevents bike riding. The road conditions are actually more important. However, the line get drawn somewhere between 0 and 10 degrees.

No takers yet on the weekend ride. Huhh?? I don't understand that. Riding the bike is such a rush, especially when there are seven people pedaling to make this monster go. Motorists and pedestrians are stunned upon seeing it, and many onlookers immediately want to get on. Some are ready to pay me for the ride (although I have to say no because I'm in Minneapois and they haven't approved my business license yet).

I really look forward to riding on snow and seeing how the bike performs in the cold. But perhaps its beter to first learn how those low windchills are going to affect me and other riders! It's worth noting that it doesn't take long to generate heat on a conference bike, and then you have to figure out how to accomodate that heat and then the need for constant movement to stay warm when you stop.

This is another cool thing about the bike. Although I haven't done it yet, I believe it will be possible to take the bike out in the dead of winter and ride it. Unlike a two-wheeled bike which is vulerable to ice and slippery, snowy patches, a conference bike has the weight and the stability to stay upright--even in the windiest conditions. Ain't that cool?!

November 15, 2005

Eric Staller continues to navigate through the South on his U.S. tour promoting the conference bike. Look who took it for a spin--Jimmy Carter! Check out Eric's blog.

This weekend, preferably Saturday, I want to arrange a long ride from Southdale in Edina through Minneapolis. This is another promotional stunt, so it's free, and if you want to participate, just go to the contact page for my email or phone number and let me know if you want to do it. Figure on a two-hour ride but it could be longer.

November 12, 2005

The most recent Rolling Stone has some great articles on global warming and who's stepping up to the plate and who isn't. Al Gore is featured with a short essay.

Today I drove around the Uptown and Loring Park neighborhoods to try to figure out a good route in that area along Hennepin Avenue. It would also make a great place for neighborhood rides. Traffic is relatively light and there are a lot of gently slopped hills. So I stopped outside of the Electric Fetus and gave rides for about an hour. Below is a picture of some enthusiastic Conference Bike fans from Kansas City, here in the Twin Cities on a business trip.

4th Avenue S. near Franklin, 11-12-05

To the guy who gave me his business card, I can't find it, but I'm interested in your take on the bike. Call or email.

November 11, 2005

The offer for free rides this weekend still stands. Email me. When the "free-ride campaign" ends, you'll be kicking yourself. See the November 10 entry for details.

I need to find a photographer or someone handy with a video camera to go along with me on rides.

November 10, 2005

Well, thanks to a city hall snafu, a decision on my business license won't be known for another two weeks. Now I know why others have complained about an overly bureaucratic Minneapolis city government. So, where do I go tomorrow night? I can't do business legally in Minneapolis, but I can give free rides. Or I can just go to another city. How about St. Paul? Edina? St. Louis Park? If anyone has an idea, contact me.

I'd also like to try one long ride this weekend, preferably Saturday or Sunday morning. This is free. You'd be helping me promote my bike and my company, and in return you get to do something cool and fun. I really want to try six people, and I'd like to try a route around the lakes in Minneapolis which seems ideal. Can you get six people together?(including yourself--so just five actually). This might require really vigrourous biking or else people will have to get out and push me where it's steep, so be ready to pedal. First come, first served. Just click on contact.

N.S. Gill. blogged my site today. Word is starting to get out about this bike.

November 7, 2005

Southdale Mall was next on my list of places to visit-- just to see how hard it would be to get the bike around the place by myself. I'll always have to stop without riders to avoid overexhaustion, but it was a heck of a workout, and rolling west from Southdale was fun. You can feel the way the land is sloped around the mall. As I biker I'm aware of it, but riding the conference bike I can really feel, under all that pavement, the pull of that big ridge just past York leading to the sledding hill in southwest Richfield. Going down that hill towards Penn is a blast.

Yeah, gravity is a powerful force! $$$/gallon=$0.00.

Here's the bike in front of a boarded up Mervyn's at Southdale:

Southdale Mall, Edina 11-07-05

November 6, 2005

Isn't Minneapolis a beautiful city? Even those cold-skinned skyscrapers downtown are impressive at the very least for the depth of their inhumanity and the cold chill they send through your spine in February. But really, does each one deserve its own block? Well, at least there's the skyway.

To start out the day's"Free-Ride Campaign," (Three people tried to give me tips--thanks--but I refused because I don't want to run afoul of the law without a business license--this week please!) I parked in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, which I love to visit because of the character given to it by its Somalian residents. And the bars there are fun.

It takes about five minutes to go from there to the Metrodome, and I wasn't even breaking a sweat doing the ride by myself.

Working for tips might be the best way to do downtown rides. It seems most people just have a few blocks to walk and they're really unprepared to jump on a bike.

Hey! Suprise contest? Which group got into the ride more? These nice folks working at the metrodome?

...or this group hanging out at The Corner Bar?

The results are unbelievable!! It's a tie! Both groups had a really good time.

November 5, 2005

Last night I parked my trailer over by the sculpture garden and then drove through Loring Park where I met these three guys who helped me get my bike through the city for the better part of two hours, picking up riders along the way.

11-04-05 - Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis

Free rides again. I don't know how much longer I can do that. I'm still waiting to hear from Minneapolis on an approval for a business license. A pedicab license cost me $83.

Loring Park is such a beautiful place. It's really the perfect location to ride through. And I don't feel as though I'm knocking anyone off of the bike paths because there are so few people in the park. In fact, the city should welcome the possibility that I'd use it there because bringing people into a public space makes it safer and more welcoming. It takes about 15 minutes to go from the park to Hennepin Avenue, and then I cut over to Nicollet Mall and head south back towards the park. That's an awesome route.

To the guy who offered us free beers--sorry! We were suddenly swamped with new riders and we couldn't get over to the bike shop. Email me if you read this and I'll try to make a trip over there next Friday or Saturday.

And then this morning I took the bike through Edina's 50th and France shopping district. What a cool area that's starting to become. If only they could figure out the traffic volume--which might cause some problems for me if I ever consider doing business there. Nobody jumped on for a ride.

November 3, 2005

Free rides from Loring Park tomorrow, Friday, 4:30 to at least 6:00 p.m. Email me for a reservation if you want to lock in a time for six people. I'm flexible.

November 2, 2005

71 degrees in early November in Minnesota! What a beautiful day it was . But what an eery beauty when you're expecting 31.

October 29, 2005

Riding through downtown Minneapolis last night was a lot of fun. It really opened my eyes to the possibile uses for a conference bike. Not only could it be used for touring and rentals, I think this is the cheapest and most interesting form of mass transit available. This bike costs $13,000. How much does a bus cost?

10-28-05 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis--fully loaded.

Not a good comparison? Naysayers will immediately doubt its use during inclement weather, but consider the possibility of an enclosure, and a conference bike can go year round with ease. But is an enclosure even necessary at 10 mph? In Minnesota, active people don't stay indoors all that much. They ski, skate, walk, snowshoe, run, bike, and some crazy people even swim. A conference bike with its wide base and front and rear disk breaks should be able to handle icy and even snowy conditions. So if it can be used year round, which would you rather take, a bus or a big fun bike?

The picture above is of some critical massers who gather the last Friday of every month in Loring Park for a little civil disobedience and mischief throughout Minneapolis. The Halloween ride is especially fun and I sure was sorry to have missed it this year, but I've go to promote this bike. Who better than that crowd to give free rides too?

Among the unusual questions from passersby, I keep getting this one: What does it run on? When they see the brake fluid reservior for the hydraulic brake system, they think that might be where the gas goes. Isn't that funny?

Brake fluid reservoir and foot brake.

I also hear a lot of comments from riders about the speed of the bike and the potential for it to go faster. I think the current speed is just fine. In fact, it's probably a good thing that it doesn't move too fast. When it coasts down a hill, it offers a nice break from pedaling and when going up a hill, the resistance to the climb is very manageable as everyone pitches in to pedal.

In traffic the bike is very manueverable. It has a tight turning radius and its height makes it visible to motorists. Well, you really can't miss it can you? Contrast the bike with other modes for downtown fun such as a horse-drawn carriage. The carriage is romantic as hell, but then you've got to deal with horse shit which adds to the experience but there's more bad than good in that whole deal. Plus I always feel sorry for the horse.

Other observations based on last night's ride:

- 98% of the people who see this smile.

- In heavy traffic the bike can go as fast or faster than a car.

- Group dynamics are unlike anything I've ever participated in. The experience invites discussion, and at the same time, a rider can easily kick back and just listen to others speak.

- As an operator of the bike, I have to make sure that everyone is comfortable.

- This thing gets a lot of attention!

October 27, 2005

Tomorrow I'm giving free rides from Loring Park in Minneapolis from 4:30 to 6:00 or whenever Critical Mass takes off on its monthly ride. I'd like to try it out on a few bike lanes to see how that feels. Manuevering among cars will be a challenge, but the thing is so big, drivers of cars will simply have to respect the bike as a vehicle--one that carries seven people.

October 24, 2005

It's a shame that so much money is wasted on putting down pavement for cars to travel on. Consider the money that could be saved if we all lived closer together and could bike to the places where we needed to shop. Impractical? No. Impossible? I still believe that the United States is a place where you can dream big and achieve what seems impossible.

One conference bike is a novely. A hundred become a transportation system for a town of four thousand. Ten thousand conference bikes become part of a public transit system in a major metropolitan area. Not impossible.

October 19, 2005

It seems there are some modifications that can be made to this bike to make it go faster. I might wait to experiment until I buy a second bike and get a little revenue flowing, but surely this thing can go faster. I'll need a lot of help from the local bike gurus: www.edinabike.com

October 17, 2005

The seats arrived today. It took about nine days from when they were sent to when they arrived. That's not too bad considering they were sent from Germany. The bike now looks awesome!!!

Here it is in my garage:

October 16, 2005

Rosland Park was a bust, so I took the bike over to Lake Harriet and gave a lot of free rides. The reaction was very positive. Most people asked the same questions: Who makes it? How do you make it go forward? Does everyone have to pedal? What happened to the other two seats? Hopefully, they'll be arriving this week.

Here's a picture of some riders at Lake Harriet:

Minnesota's first conference bike! Yeaahhh!

Watching people laugh and have fun is the best part of this business. But I've got to figure out how to make some money. Thus far: $0.

October 15, 2005

Free ride tomorrow. Try to come on a bike. I'll be at Rosland Park in Edina (66th and Valley View by the pool and frisbee golf course) at 11:00 a.m. and I'll be ready to go soon after. There are only four open seats available as I continue to wait for the other two from the company. Sorry about that. There should be space for six riders.

First come, first served. A long ride would be fun, although I hate to excude anyone who's interested in riding, so let's see who shows up. !

October 14-15, 2005

I bought a trailer today/yesterday from a guy in Burlington, WI who auctioned it off on Ebay. It took just 12 hours there and back. All that driving was agony, but the trailer is the perfect size: 6 x 12 and unenclosed, so it'll fit in my garage. Good deal.

October 12, 2005

Cycle Seven is clear for take off! The insurance company I'm working with said that I'm insured as of October 10. If you need to insure your own human-powered business, go to www.insuranceforbicycles.com The others I contacted didn't even return my inquiries.

The Sibley Bike Depot in St. Paul uses them as well.

Embracing the new millenium. Is that a good slogan?

Dynamex, the company that delivered my bike last week, is trying to overcharge me for for the delivery. Just remember, folks. Dynamex is a bad delivery company until they can change the way they billed me, and all the thousands of people in the Twin Cities who read my weblog everyday now know it. (webstats are up this week, so that doubles their pain!) They charged me for minutes consumed by a driver who was yakking on his cell phone. Fact. And now it's known for all the ages.

October 10, 2005

I get honked at sometimes from drivers who think I'm doing something wrong when I ride my regular bike in the street. Whether it's blowing through a red light (which I sometimes do), or crossing before drivers behind me are signaled to go (which I frequently do!!), or for simply getting in the way (which I love to do!), I get honked at, but it's not as often as it must happen to bicyclists who are closer to downtown Minneapolis.

The suburbs of Edina, Richfield, and Bloomington have tremendous potential as bicycling communities when compared to the city. So what are our local leaders and business community doing to promote a more sensible form of transportation? Wish I knew. In the meantime, I've got to look out for my own safety, and if that means breaking a few laws, that's what I'll do.

My commuter bike - ain't she sweet!

Now for something kind of unrelated from an article by KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer:

Two Midwest governors, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Tom Vilsack of Iowa, are shifting to SUVs that run on E85, a gas-ethanol blend. Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne started using an E85 Chevrolet Suburban after helping open a pump for the alternative fuel in Boise.

Pawlenty, who is awaiting a black Chevy Suburban, considered getting a hybrid. He chose an ethanol-powered SUV because he couldn't find a hybrid large enough to accommodate himself, three family members, security, equipment and staff members.

"Our country has been asleep at the switch on these things," Pawlenty said. "The basic economics are that the supply of fossil fuels is limited and the demand is outstripping the supply. It's a recipe for continued crisis if we don't start changing our ways."

... but what of the person who decided to get an SUV simply because he or she feels safer? A pedestrian is two to four times more likely to get killed when hit by an SUV than by a coupe or a sedan. The debate against SUVs isn't just about gas consumption. This is also a safety issue. Are SUVs in the public interest if their very size makes them more dangerous than the average vehicle? Where does the line get crossed between public and private interest? Haven't things gotten our of hand here? A little? Or A LOT!?

The obvious thing to say here is that an SUV is a bad choice, regardless of its fuel source. Deep down we all know that's true. Size is an issue because large vehicles have an impact on fatalities.

Also note that politicans are starting to recognize the political mileage gained from conservation.

October 9, 2005

Edina is an awesome place to ride a bike. Were it not for a few hairy intersections, France Avenue, and the occassional impatient, rude driver, this city could become extremely well-suited for year-round bike travel. The city council really has to start thinking about bike lanes throughout the city, but especially in the Greater Southdale now under consideration for major redevelopment.

Yeah, the winters are cold and frostbite does happen, but if you took out the most extreme weather--those days that are 10 below-- a person could conceivably ride a bike here at least 10 months out of the year, March through early December. And this is not to say that some days in December, January, and February are impossible because they aren't when we have temperatures in the 20s and 30s. Temps below 10 degrees hurt, but it sure is exhilerating!

Gas prices are at $2.65 today. That's down from a high of about $3.39 around the Twin Cities just a month ago. There was a lot of scoffing from the general public and some politicians when experts foretold $3 gas as a national average, and now that some are saying we might soon hit $5, let's hope that the people and politicians start listening a little bit more.

October 6, 2005

There's such a thrill in doing something for the first time. After uncrating the conference bike and rolling it off its pallet, I took it down Southdale for a test run. It operates perfectly--just as advertised, and it is possible for one person to ride it, but you really have to be in shape. A couple of my neighbors saw me glide past their house and came over to have a look, and then the three of us took a ride around the neighborhood. Needless to say, this thing gets a lot of attention.

I should get word on insurance coverage today from this company: http://insuranceforbicycles.com/. It will be insured as a pedicab.

October 5, 2005

The bike arrived yesterday! It was kind of a hassle getting it to my house because I don't have a loading dock and usually when a business receives a 700-pound crate it needs a dock, so I had to hire a trucking company (Dynamex) to bring it to my garage. Central Transport in Roseville originally received the bike when it arrived in Minnesota, but they didn't have a truck with a ramp or a liftgate, which seemed like a bunch of bullshit, but what do I know?

Here's a picture of the bike on the truck.

One reason for this weblog is for future conference bike buyers to learn from my experience of buying a bike or several bikes as I hope to do.

I also learned the name of the company in Germany that makes the bike. Here's their address: www.saliko.de

September 29, 2005

I asked Eric Staller about this http://www.traptap.nl/ and he said it was based on his design. What a great idea! But a mobile beer truck in the Twin Cities? What city council would approve that?

September 26, 2005

Almost every morning I contemplate the trip to work by bike. Today there was no forecast for rain, so I took my bike. It's about 40 minutes from Edina to Bloomington and the Mall of America where I'm a teacher. I teach English as a second language to adults, most of whom live around downtown Bloomington (a.ka. Mall of America).

September 25, 2005

This morning I drove up to Elk River and met a guy who builds trailers. I think I'm going to hire him to custom build a trailer for the conference bike. I couldn't find a trailer with the dimensions I need on Ebay. Besides this is better because I'd be employing someone locally.

September 24, 2005

Here I am on the precipice--waiting for my bike to arrive, about to start a new business, wondering if I'm going to make money or fall on my face. The investment represents the value of a slightly used car, so I'm not in too deep, but who wants to lose money? It feels like a lot of money for a man who makes the salary of an English teacher. So, as you may have guessed, a loss here would be a bummer.

Well, whatever happens, here's my dream: I want you people to give up your cars. Seriously. Change your life and try to live without one, or do with less and consider alternatives. Whether you walk, bike, take a train or the bus, it really doesn't matter. Commit to driving less. Can you do it? Can you make your lifestyle work around one car or no car at all? What would you have to give up to make that work?

How about taking a bike? You get a better view of the city and the people who live in it. A bike doesn't create any pollution. It helps tremendously in reducing stress, and perhaps best of all, you can save a lot of money by leaving the car in the garage!

I live in Edina, a suburb of Minneapolis. It's a nice place to live, but sadly most people here don't think twice about jumping in their cars and driving five minutes to pick up a gallon of milk, whereas that same trip could be made in ten minutes, stress-free, pollution-free, on a bike. Let me ask you. Which ride was better? The one in the car or the one on the bike?

(I own two cars because I need them, so I'll be open to charges of hypocrisy from those who say I don't practice what I preach; however, I do ride my bike or take the bus whenever possible, and my car does a lot of time in the garage.)

Perhaps it's the fear of getting creamed by an oversized SUV that dissuades people from biking on city streets. Maybe it's the time factor. Afterall, 10 to 15 mph on a bike would triple the typical run to a store. You also can't throw all your kids in the back seat and drive them to soccer practice. On the other hand, if we lived in a more bike-friendly city, it's possible the kids could get themselves to soccer practice by bike.

GET ON A BIKE!