Just because its not illegal...

I've ranted about people breaking bicycle related law in the past. Yet most of the things I get ticked off about are stupid and not just illegal. Such as riding the wrong way down a one way street.

Well heres something thats not illegal (nor should it be) just stupid. People who ride their bikes on major streets. I'm talking about multi-lane roads that are intended to get motorists from one side of town to the other.

I live in bike friendly Chico California and many major streets even have bike lanes. Which is fantastic, its the roads that don't have bike lanes that worry me. When there's not a designated bike lane, there's not really room for cyclists. Motorists make way for cyclists by moving partially into the next lane which is dangerous for other motorists.

There are several options open to cyclists to avoid these heavily trafficked streets but people don't seem to use them. Firstly there bike paths which cross town in much the same way as above mentioned thoroughfares. Secondly there are designated bike routes, which are often on less busy streets running parallel to the busy streets in question. Thirdly there are streets with bike lanes, which I mentioned before. Finally if none of the routes laid out by the city for cyclists take you where you need to go, theres always maps and a little planning.

Its dangerous and stupid to drive at less than half the flow of traffic and its more dangerous and just as stupid to ride a bike at less than half the flow of traffic. Even when I'm cruising along in my highest gear I top out around 15mph and the streets I'm talking about have speed limits of 35mph which means that people drive at 40mph. Going 15 in a 35 will get you pulled over in a car and you shouldn't do it on a bike either.

So if you have a bike. Get a bike route!

Get a Camel Back

As you may have noticed I've started a new category of posts. I don't have any thing to rant about right now, so I thought I'd post something useful. Here's a hint to those of you just getting into cycling or anyone still using old fashioned sports bottles.

If you're going to do any serious cycling you need to bring water with you. Otherwise you will get dehydrated, which I guess is up to you. If you like your body and dislike dehydration headachs I suggest you get a Camel Back.

For those of you wondering why I'm suggesting that you graft a dromedary to your back, I have an explanation. When I say 'camel back' I'm referring to a type of backpack with a watter pouch and drinking tube. Think beer helmet only useful. The company CamelBak was one of the first manufactures to sell this type of hydration system. Hence the name I'm using for them. Plenty of other companies make similar products but CamelBak is the most popular I know of.

Whatever brand you go with its a great idea. You have a backpack with water in it and a tube with that runs out to a mouth piece so that you can sip water whenever you need it, hands free. I use one whenever I go riding or snowboarding.

The one I use when cycling is a backpack that happens to have a pouch for a hydration system and holes for the tube. I also use the backpack to carry a laptop or small products when I go shopping downtown by bike. When I'm snowboarding and don't want a full day pack to get in my way and hamper my movement I have a smaller pack that is just large enough to hold a two liter pouch of water and my wallet (for lunch at the lodge). Either way I have water with me all day so I can sip on it whenever I get thirsty.

Weather you bike, board, hike, camp, or kayak you need a source of water. So get a Camel Back!