Lot's of Playing with Video - More Joy to My Commuting

I continue to play around with experimental camera shots - the above is an example of my hand-held while riding adventures. The sense of speed is higher than my actual speed, but I like these shots, I mean, you can only take so many of the same Portland buildings and bridges, especially when the light and weather are basically the same day in and day out.

Here's one on the Radac. I like the coloring on this as I forgot to reset the white balance and the image was originally shot for tungsten light, so the original was very blue. De-bluing created a different image than if I had shot with an outdoor white balance mode.

Maybe you noticed an odd, wired thingy attached to the Radac's stem? It's my latest toy, a bullet type point of view (POV) video camera - woohoo! A bit more on that later, though (feel the tension).

At work we have a VP who is occasionally biking into work, and so she has expressed full support for any recommendations on improving our bike storage woes. Not bad. I have a meeting with her in a bit over a week - VPs are so hard to get a meeting time. In the interim, I do track issues and have become somewhat of the org's bike advocate. So, I arranged to meet with John from OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University) from their Transportation Options group. OHSU has done some cool work in new building incorporating bike storage, both for staff and for their clients.

Above is their free bike valet parking with approaching 200 bikes! There are staff (riding up the tram from here near the Willamette River up into the west hills where the main campus is) and client bikes. For after hours, the bikes are brought into the parking garage to one of the many bike storage cages which are key card access only.

Here's one area of lock-it-yourself near the tram. I am so impressed with the number of people biking to work and to their appointments. These racks are basically staple racks with a secret - there are 5 staples welded to heavy steel flat bar. These are not attached to the ground which allows for flexibility in placement on an on-going basis. Pretty cool idea. Again, I was in awe of how many bikes were all over, including I had to lock my bike to a sidewalk post and cable fence. Bikes were locked to benches, every where and anything. Truly supports the notion, if you build it, they will come.

In their garage (part of the local services building) there are several cages, which all have vertical racks. These were not full, but all had bikes in them. I have some great ideas to bring back to my work and see how we can maximize the spaces we have to accommodate bike commuters.

So, about the new video toy. I have played around with both bike mount and helmet mount configurations. I like the bike mount for image predictability and I like the helmet mount for flexibility.

My Vimeo - Shadow Video

I have a couple of other videos there, as well, enjoy.

Gear, Gear Everywhere - Organizing My Tools and Extras

We all know about things like messenger bags, backpacks, panniers, saddle bags and frame bags. These are all great at carrying the things we need for recreational riding, touring and commuting. The challenge I have is how to carry the things that go inside so that they are easily accessed and at the ready? My recent adventure in flat repair in the rain on my commute to work showed I need help.

The gear I needed was spread in different sections between both of my panniers, plus inside my daily messenger bag (aka purse). A lot of things got wet!

• Spare tube
• Patch Kit
• Tire levers
• Multi-tool
• CO2 / Mini-pump w/2 CO2 cartridges
• Some wipes and rubber gloves

I've tried putting everything into different types and sizes of travel bags, stuff sacks and what have you, I just never really liked them. I guess cuz everything was, basically, still just thrown in. I know, I know, who cares as long as you can get to them, right?

A while back at the Handmade Bicycle Show, I bought a cute organizer because it was cute and purple, how could I refuse? Anyway, that was definitely form way over function as I really could not use it with the stuff I had (sniffles and frown).

Well, the other day, I got it back out and laid out my stuff and thought, "how can I use this?" Well, the only way was to actually remove all the nice pouches, elastic and internal velcro and "rebuild it, we have the technology, it will be better" (in my best million dollar man voice - haha).

After a lot of seam ripping, stitch tearing, measuring, cutting, new stitching and re-stitching the inside and outside layers I can roll up all my stuff, except for the spare tube and patch kit.

See, I told you it was cute, just love the color! The nice thing is that I can easily transfer this to whatever main carry system I am using and should I have to use anything and it is a bit grungy, whatever is around it should still stay fairly clean.

Here is what the inside looks like. The CO2 filler/mini-pump is held in place with an elastic band at the bottom and a velcro strap near the top. This makes access easy. The two CO2 cartridges are held by elastic. In the middle, obscured by elastic are the two halves of my multi-tool and then, last by not least, are the tire levers. Just above the pouch you can see the baggie that has my wipes and 1 pair of rubber gloves.

I guess I should also note that I have ordered a Soma Stash Bottle (7.5" tall), which I think my pouch will fit into. Not sure about the tube and patch, though, will have to wait and see when I pick it up on Wed (1/19).

I know, a bit vain, but, hey, I am the one carrying it all after all. Anyway, I must like it since I am writing about it and feeling inclined to "show it off" to everyone. LOL I guess the other thing that comes to me is that I am really picky and often have to create, build, sew up what I need, because I cannot seem to just buy something generic off the shelf and have it fit my needs and aesthetics.

Appreciate My Employer's Transportation Benefits

Earl Blumenauer's Bike Commute Act Page. Being a new, regular bike commuter, I find myself searching for a variety of information. I found and read about the Bike Commute Act and it reminds me of the pretty cool benefits I have from my employer.

• Indoor, secure bike storage -- I have to say it is pretty nice to be able to roll into somewhere dry and not worry about my bike sitting vulnerable for 8 or more hours each day.


• Lockers and showers -- though my goal is to ride in ready to work, I know others have further to go and do appreciate being able to spruce up for the day.
• Public transportation -- I also have a paid-for TriMet pass which I appreciate as my back up for when I absolutely cannot bike in or if I have a non-repairable emergency. Buses and our light rail, MAX, all transport bikes.

I hope more and more employers take advantage of the benefits to providing their bike commuters with any combination to provide more incentives ($20/commute month, offsetting maintainance of bike storage facilities).