Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Google Maps Bike Directions!

Finally. Google Maps has added the feature in its maps function to get directions by bicycle!

Punching in your desired start and end points will then allow you to select "By Bicycle" to see all the routes, including dedicated cycle paths. Awesome! This is still in beta, and I am sure that it will be improved with time. In the meantime, time to play!!

Google Maps

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Trike vs. Highracer Part 2

Well the riding continues on both sets of wheels and the averages continue to be about the same. Roughly 1MPH slower on the trike than the 2 wheeler. Infinitely more comfortable on the trike. Lots more room given to me by traffic when riding the trike on the same roads.

Soon I hope to have in-hand a new helmet mount camera that will allow me to record some of each ride - specifically the distances given from approaching vehicles. That will add a bit more to the pile of evidence that a trike in traffic is not as crazy an idea as most people initially think.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

The 2010 Human Power Challenge - Be There!!

Registration is open for the 2010 Human Power Challenge. Check out all of the details at the link below. This is a great event and a chance to see lots of recumbents from trikes to velomobiles to streamliners all in one place - it's just a lot of fun!






Monday, March 1, 2010

Riders - PLEASE Use a Light at Night!!

Had a heart pumping few moments tonight on a bust road while driving home. To the riders who insist on tooling down the road in the darkest camo sans lights at night: You MUST have a death wish. Either that os you must have 100% faith in all drivers abilities so watch out fro you like they have night vision.

Came up to a rider who was "taking the lane" so to speak. At 8PM at night on a not-so-busy road but a fast one where cars hit 45 MPH regularly. This guy had on a black shirt, grey pants with some black "long underpants" and his bike had zero light on it. Only a tiny rear reflector. I spied this guy in front of me with just enough time to get over after hitting the brakes.

With all the tapes and lights available today - being seen is not such an impossible task. When riding at night take precautions to be seen. If you are going out and there is a chance you will be out after dark - make sure you are prepared! If you are out after dark and you are not prepared, don't ride the center of the road and assume that you will be seen in your black shirt.

Yikes.