Their predicting as much as 30" of snow this weekend in and around Washington, DC
If you think Boston drivers are bad when it snows, you have not been to DC. The talk around the Capital City is that mostly everybody are new comers, transferred from another part of the world that have never experienced a snow storm,let alone a Blizzard. I was once asked, "What do you do when it falls on you?"
One snowy day I was in a car, driving on the Belt Way,Route 495, going about 40 mph. I was in the second lane from the right and had a driver in front of me having a hard time. He slowed to a stop and got out. He did not bother to pull over, he just stopped the car, took the key and walked away leaving the car in the middle of the highway. I knew I was in a very different part of the world at that moment.
Snow at 30" is not good. Well seasoned New Englander's will agree. One can only guess how the folks down south will do. Lets hope they have power to watch the Super Bowl, "Americas Television Holiday."
If there's good News, its that its not happening here.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Bike Aid for Haiti
Last night's event was a total success. It was amazing to see how fast the bike shop was transformed into a full on party space. The Wheelworks staff turned into "ant people" and moved everything in minutes. It was incredible!The turn out was large. Wheelworker's from the past, friends and family and a huge amount of our customers turned out to support this great cause.
There were way too many prizes, some that never arrived at the store in time for the event, so we will be extending the raffle for another week. Check the Wheelworks web site for a list that will be posted this coming Tuesday.
If you were not able to attend and still want to donate, Call the store at
616-489-3577 and ask. Wheelworks will be excepting donations for the next couple of days.
Here are some of the photos from last nights event:
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Todays Photos
John H Benson's Virgin Mary, 1929. AKA: The Praying Lady Statue in South Natick along the Charles River.
Daniel Sargent Foot Bridge
Riding in a Winter Wonderland
What a beautiful winter day, Im so lucky to have the day off! Im heading out for a ride and photo shoot. Sort of a around the block kind of thing. The sun is out, but its still snowing, Kind of like a huge "Snow Globe". The perfect day for a short ride, a long photo shoot and what a great part of the world to do it in! Check back later for the photos.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Hit by a Car!
I was once told that there are two types of Cyclists. The one's that have been hit by a car and the ones that will.
Face it, out of all the many road hazards, Cars are "Number One." Its gotten to the point with the increased number of drivers and there use of Cell Phones and Texting, Cyclists really take a chance while riding on the street.
Having to use a bicycle all the time, I have found that the more the visual spectacle you create, the better off you will be. I ride as if the driver doesn't see me at all and predictable at the same time. Bright colors and bright lights for night riding is a good start. It has never been easier to light you and your bicycle then it is now.The advancement of bicycle lighting and bicycle reflectors has been huge over the past 20 years and seems as if there is another new idea every week.
When you are hit, it really helps to have been in the right. Following the rules of the road and the laws set for cyclists, you will get far more respect from the Officer reporting to the accident. I only know this from being in the right each time.
Being a "Helmeted Cyclist" helps your head as well as the case. A Cyclist wearing a helmet shows that you are a responsible rider and when the report goes in to the station, it is reported first if you are wearing a helmet and second if you have a light.
If your in the right, you will also have witnesses. People for the most part are good, and when they see wrong done to someone in the right, they stick around to speak their mind to the reporting officer and the EMT's on site.
The last time I was hit, I was hit by an off duty Police Officer on his Cell Phone. How about that?
I had been waiting to cross Route 20 in Marlbro to head over to the Wayside Inn. I was at the stop line wearing bright Yellow and Orange on a bright Orange Recumbent Bicycle. In plain sight and out in the open. When the light changed, I clipped in and into my second pedal stroke, had the driver who had been sitting across the street at the stop line full speed turn in front of me and hit me broad side.
I was thrown through the air, turned upside down and landed on my back with the bicycle on top of me.
I was so much in view of everybody except the guy on the phone behind the wheel that hit me, that everybody got out of their cars to report. There were 8 witness's walking around waiting to make sure I was OK, I got 3 business cards given to me from folks wanted to be contacted if I needed help.
I went through the many number of tests with the EMT's to be sure in there mind that I would be OK to continue riding home.
I passed with flying colors and after a little straighting out of the bike continued to ride to work.
The insurance claim against the driver is a totally different story. When ever you talk to people that have not been hit and gone through the aftermath, They think that you will be making a lot of money. Bicycle cases don't go to Cort. I was told by a lawyer once "There's good news and there's bad news. The Good news is you haven't been injured for life and the bad news unless you are injured for life, you wont be awarded much." The amount of your settlement is what you lost for personal belongs, Bike, Clothing and the amount of time you lost at work. The amount of medical charges will depend on what you will receive for a "Pain and Suffering" settlement.
Pain and suffering is adjusted to the amount of actual hospital time, hours in physical therapy and the amount of drugs you had to purchase. For someone that doesn't like spending time in the Hospital and taking drugs, the "Pain and Suffering" will not look like much and as a result the settlement will be small.
If you were walking when you were hit things would be different but as a cyclist you will have to wait for about a year and a half before you see any coverage for the bills accrued. The Property Damage Settlement gets taken care of sooner if you let your insurance adjuster know that you will be renting a bicycle to replace your bicycle or the repairs to fix your old one.
Every situation is different. Sometimes you get out without a scratch and other times you will need to be taken off to the hospital.
I have a friend who was riding home late one night in San Francisco. Going through a green light he looked up at the last second to see a speeding automobile running the cross street's red light and going to hit him. He jumped up and cleared the car. The bicycle was totally ruined but he did not get a scratch. The car was going 35 miles per hour when the Police figured the speed for the accident report.
Expect the worst and hope for the best. Probably the best rule to follow in all cases.
Be seen and not sorry. It blows my mind when people are cheep to themselves when it comes to buying safety gear. Create a light show and you wont be sorry. There are of course safer times to ride on the street that others, but with a little precaution, we just might survive. Maybe.
Face it, out of all the many road hazards, Cars are "Number One." Its gotten to the point with the increased number of drivers and there use of Cell Phones and Texting, Cyclists really take a chance while riding on the street.
Having to use a bicycle all the time, I have found that the more the visual spectacle you create, the better off you will be. I ride as if the driver doesn't see me at all and predictable at the same time. Bright colors and bright lights for night riding is a good start. It has never been easier to light you and your bicycle then it is now.The advancement of bicycle lighting and bicycle reflectors has been huge over the past 20 years and seems as if there is another new idea every week.
When you are hit, it really helps to have been in the right. Following the rules of the road and the laws set for cyclists, you will get far more respect from the Officer reporting to the accident. I only know this from being in the right each time.
Being a "Helmeted Cyclist" helps your head as well as the case. A Cyclist wearing a helmet shows that you are a responsible rider and when the report goes in to the station, it is reported first if you are wearing a helmet and second if you have a light.
If your in the right, you will also have witnesses. People for the most part are good, and when they see wrong done to someone in the right, they stick around to speak their mind to the reporting officer and the EMT's on site.
The last time I was hit, I was hit by an off duty Police Officer on his Cell Phone. How about that?
I had been waiting to cross Route 20 in Marlbro to head over to the Wayside Inn. I was at the stop line wearing bright Yellow and Orange on a bright Orange Recumbent Bicycle. In plain sight and out in the open. When the light changed, I clipped in and into my second pedal stroke, had the driver who had been sitting across the street at the stop line full speed turn in front of me and hit me broad side.
I was thrown through the air, turned upside down and landed on my back with the bicycle on top of me.
I was so much in view of everybody except the guy on the phone behind the wheel that hit me, that everybody got out of their cars to report. There were 8 witness's walking around waiting to make sure I was OK, I got 3 business cards given to me from folks wanted to be contacted if I needed help.
I went through the many number of tests with the EMT's to be sure in there mind that I would be OK to continue riding home.
I passed with flying colors and after a little straighting out of the bike continued to ride to work.
The insurance claim against the driver is a totally different story. When ever you talk to people that have not been hit and gone through the aftermath, They think that you will be making a lot of money. Bicycle cases don't go to Cort. I was told by a lawyer once "There's good news and there's bad news. The Good news is you haven't been injured for life and the bad news unless you are injured for life, you wont be awarded much." The amount of your settlement is what you lost for personal belongs, Bike, Clothing and the amount of time you lost at work. The amount of medical charges will depend on what you will receive for a "Pain and Suffering" settlement.
Pain and suffering is adjusted to the amount of actual hospital time, hours in physical therapy and the amount of drugs you had to purchase. For someone that doesn't like spending time in the Hospital and taking drugs, the "Pain and Suffering" will not look like much and as a result the settlement will be small.
If you were walking when you were hit things would be different but as a cyclist you will have to wait for about a year and a half before you see any coverage for the bills accrued. The Property Damage Settlement gets taken care of sooner if you let your insurance adjuster know that you will be renting a bicycle to replace your bicycle or the repairs to fix your old one.
Every situation is different. Sometimes you get out without a scratch and other times you will need to be taken off to the hospital.
I have a friend who was riding home late one night in San Francisco. Going through a green light he looked up at the last second to see a speeding automobile running the cross street's red light and going to hit him. He jumped up and cleared the car. The bicycle was totally ruined but he did not get a scratch. The car was going 35 miles per hour when the Police figured the speed for the accident report.
Expect the worst and hope for the best. Probably the best rule to follow in all cases.
Be seen and not sorry. It blows my mind when people are cheep to themselves when it comes to buying safety gear. Create a light show and you wont be sorry. There are of course safer times to ride on the street that others, but with a little precaution, we just might survive. Maybe.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Dover Center, Kite View and other Header Photos.
This section will become a stock pile of used header photos that I like too much to put back into my file. Click on them to make them larger. I hope you enjoy them. You can also press F11 for a full screen after you have clicked on the photo. To get back, just press F11 again. Have Fun.
A Kites view of Dover Center from Fuller's Field in Dover.
Echo Bridge at Hemlock Gorge in Newton Upper Falls. The bridge houses the Boston Waterworks Aqueduct. It is said the a single blast of a bugle while standing on the landing on the left side, will give 11 clear returns,thus the "Echo" in the Bridge.
A Kites view of Dover Center from Fuller's Field in Dover.
Echo Bridge at Hemlock Gorge in Newton Upper Falls. The bridge houses the Boston Waterworks Aqueduct. It is said the a single blast of a bugle while standing on the landing on the left side, will give 11 clear returns,thus the "Echo" in the Bridge.
Back to the Bikes
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Its still surprises me that when ever I meet new people and find ourselves talking about recumbents, the recumbent style of riding and The sitting position always comes up as a question. "Is it comfortable?" When ever I look at a recumbent, I see a lounge chair. I see the same sitting position as you would be in while driving a car. Coming up along side of a driver, puts you at the same eye height.
Although while climbing a hill, you cant stand on the pedals. Learning how to ride a recumbent requires a new style of hill climbing that takes about 2 weeks to figure out. The back of the seat can be pushed back into giving a new power position that is not found on any up right bicycle and missed when you go back. The reduced wind resistance because of the smaller profile of the rider into the wind, makes simple rolling easier then if you were sitting up. I like to use the "Hand outside the window of a car" to explain the difference. I think everyone now has experienced that effect. With your hand out flat, you feel far more drag then sideways.
Like they say, The proof is in the pudding. Getting on a recumbent and trying a ride will answer more questions then talk. Bicycle shops that sell Recumbents offer test rides. My job at Belmont Wheelworks offers rides as long as the streets are clean. We have a safe place to teach how to balance and after a few "roll outs" everyone figures it out. The heads up approach of riding will have you smiling in a very short time.
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