How Cool is THAT!!!

Bailout Bill Includes Tax Benefits for Bike Commuters

The $700 billion bailout bill intended to stop the tailspin of the nation's financial sector did something else: It includes federal tax benefits for people who commute by bike.

Starting in January, workers who use two-wheelers as their primary transportation mode to get to and from work will be eligible for a $20-a-month, tax-free reimbursement from their employers for bicycle-related expenses. In return, employers will be able to deduct the expense from their federal taxes.

"It significantly legitimizes bicycling and elevates it to a credible commute mode, like riding a bus or train," said Andy Thornley, program director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

The money could be used to purchase, store, maintain or repair bikes that are used for a substantial portion of an employee's commute.

Bike advocates have been trying for seven years to get such a provision passed in Washington, but came up short until Congress rushed through the Wall Street bailout package last week and lawmakers squeezed in pet projects. The bicycle benefit was championed by members of the Oregon delegation.

Backers estimate that the federal tax rolls may lose out on about $1 million a year due to the new employer write-off, according to the advocacy group League of American Bicyclists.

Willy Dommen, 49, regularly rides his bike from his San Anselmo home to his job as a management technology consultant in San Francisco's Financial District. He said the $20-a-month perk for cyclists won't amount to much in term of covering actual expenses. But, he said, it will help raise awareness of bicycling, "and that recognition is great."

San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi plans to introduce an amendment to a law he sponsored earlier this year that requires all but the smallest businesses in the city to provide their employees with incentives to get them out of their cars and onto transit.

Under the city law, which will take affect next summer after a six-month public education period, employers with 20 or more employees will have to offer their workers transit passes or vanpool reimbursements or offer them door-to-door shuttle service, or set up a program in which employees could tap into an existing federal program that provides tax breaks for those who commute on transit. Mirkarimi hopes to add the new fringe benefit for bicyclists as an acceptable alternative.

"It's another opportunity to encourage good commuting habits," he said.

The federal bike bill would not allow participants to tap into both the transit credit and the bike reimbursement.

Claxton

I'm training for the Claxton Century between now and November 8th.

I can't seem to get my "registration plans/accommodations" set. I'm weird like that...I hate the unknown and it makes me antsy when things aren't organized or confirmed.

I'm also fearful...what if I can't hold on my own? Three other club members are going along. What if I loose my cool, cry like a baby or worse? What if I can't make it through?!?!

How do I settle my thoughts, calm my anxiety, settle my plans and still find time to put in at least 100 miles a week???

It's not a utensil buddy...so fork you!

I have a fork! I can't really speak openly about how I got it, but lets just say that two very awesome guys took pity on me and hooked me up in a major way. I was so excited when I was presented w/ said fork that I nearly cried. Seriously. But tough girls don't cry...

I spoke w/ AC's hubby today who is former car painter and he's going to look into paint for me. He seems like a totally nice guy with lots of skill so there is a good possibility that I will find a way to make this fork match my bike - right now - it's red and black and white - it comes from a Scott CR1 - all carbon, including the steerer. Not the lightest fork on the market but MUCH lighter than what I had!

As a side note, I was looking at the photo of the bike on my blog which is a stock photo and not my actual bike (duh!).... I just noticed that the fork on my bike is all black w/ Easton decals. I went to Jamis' site and sure enough...same pic. If you've seen my bike, you know that my bike's fork fades from the "pistachio" (yes, that's what it's called...and yes, I do realize it doesn't look pistachio...) to black. Weird. But at least I have an idea of what the all black fork will look like on my bike...

Anyone know where I can get some good Jamis decals that'll match my bike?

I'm also gearing up for the Claxton century; this will be my first full century and I'm crazy nervous!! A few SCC members have shown interest so I expect to register and start looking into a room sometime over the next week or so...anyone wanna room w/ me?

Why do I care??

The novelty of my crash has now worn off and it's time to seriously determine what to do about the damage to my bike. I did a 50+mi ride this weekend and noticed quite a bit of wobbling in the front tire/bars/fork area. Undoubtedly, this is b/c I was riding on a bent fork.

To fork or not to fork? That is the question...

Here are my options:

1) TSD has an AWESOME used fork that is way more than I'd ever buy new and is willing to let it go for a good deal.

2) Ride my bike as is and hope I don't wreck as a result of the wobbling

3) Buy a new fork.


Here are the problems w/ each option:

1) TSD's fork won't look very good on my bike as it's red and black. TSD suggested having DH apply some vinyl of some sort that matches my bike. DH says he probably wouldn't be able to match the "pistacio pearl" and that it'd eventually just come off and need to be redone all over again.

2) Do I really need to explain the problem w/ this one???

3) I can replace the one I have for about $220.00. It has a reputation for being a good stiff fork and while it wouldn't match either - it'd be closer (it's solid black/carbon) than the one TSD is offering - but not nearly as good quality. There are others that I've looked into - the Reynolds Ouzo Pro Carbon looks nice but it runs upwards what the new version of TSD's fork would cost...


So what is the biggest issue - asthetics or finances? Dh would definitely say finances but I lean towards asthetics... I love my bike, I love to ride and I can see keeping it around for a long time. This being said - I don't want to skimp on something so important. I'd rather spend what I want to get what I want and be happy with the purchase I make. Nothing is going to be as pleasing to the eye as the current fork as it's painted to match the frame.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
But I'm not worried about how it looks THAT much....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

(If you thought I was serious...you don't know me well...)


Soooooo.....I stumbled across this.....you know, b/c I was worried about asthetics. Is this amazing or what? Look at the finished product....I wonder if dh could re-paint my whole bike???

Where do you find men who paint bikes for their wives?


Thoughts? Comments? Fork suggestions? Leave a comment...

Why, sometimes, 15 mph isn't so bad...

I choose to "group ride" because I love the feeling of 4, 8, 15 or 40 bikes moving together as one vehicle - turning corners, climbing hills, and maintaining a pace as one unit despite the strongest or weakest rider.

Below is a passage that makes a great case for group riding. Sometimes you read something that moves you...this passage reminds me of why I ride, the rider I strive to become and why I choose to ride with those that I do...

From "Tales from the Bike Shop," by Maynard Hershon:

Our Rides

There was a time when our club rides lost cohesion, when they routinely turned into ragged hammer-sessions. No one liked that kind of disorder or benefited from it, not even the guys who regularly dropped the rest of the group.

It seemed that when we had two or three cycling "elder statesmen" in our number the rides stuck together better, out of respect for those guys, I guess. Most people thought those men knew how things should be done, so riders would follow their example. They'd form double pacelines where there was enough shoulder, and single, disciplined lines where there wasn't.

When the respected riders came along, our group started at a gentle warm-up pace, then gradually picked up momentum. Sometimes we'd drop a rider or two on a climb, then pause so the stragglers could catch. When strong but undisciplined young men surged off the front, the group would let them go. Soon those guys learned that peer approval came from a quiet display of pack-riding skills, not head-down, big gear showboating.

During the rides, you could see those group values in action, but it was hard to talk about them off the bike. You'd hear questions like "Isn't the hard solo effort the better workout?" and, "Isn't this ride going the speed of the slowest participant?" and, "Shouldn't I go hard if I'm feeling extra good today?" Questions like those are hard to answer.

A new rider could go to the shop where he traded and get answers to all sorts of cycling questions. He could become technically sophisticated simply by asking questions at the parts counter. He could find out how long the chain should be on a derailleur bicycle, how to wash wool clothing, and how to join a bike club. Someone knowledgeable could tell him about pedal cadence and position on the bike.

He would still not have a clue about negotiating fast downhill corners elbow to elbow in a pack.

At the chaotic time I mentioned, our looked-up-to riders were temporarily absent. One quit riding to work on his new house, and another left to race in the east. Our rides quickly deteriorated. Maybe a guy or two would slip through a light just before it turned red, then look back and see the distance "gained," and decide to try and stay away.

And maybe then a couple of other guys would give chase, and two or three more would take off after them. That would generally be enough to string out the whole group and ruin the ride. The people who hadn't chased or who hadn't even felt warmed up yet got discouraged at the sudden disappearance of their training ride. The escapees rode hard but raggedly and learned nothing. The chasers who caught learned nothing, and the chasers who didn't catch gave up in disgust and oxygen debt.

Numbers at the start of the runs began to dwindle. People started to speak disparagingly of "the ride." Separate smaller groups sprung up, leaving 15 minutes earlier or later, or doing the ride route backwards. I heard the grumbling and saw the rides, which had gone on for years, falling apart.

I caught Bob right after closing at his shop. He nodded his head as I told him about our problems, as if he'd heard stories like them before. He said he'd do what he could.

Next morning Bob turned out in front of the shop for the ride. He counted the guys: only six.

"Six," Bob said. "We start with six; we finish with six."

That ride was a dream. We rode in a double line mostly, at the most even pace you could imagine. Twice, a guy rolled off the back on long uphill grades. Each time, Bob dropped back and towed him up to the group. Clearly, Bob was stronger than anyone else on the ride, but he used his strength to hold the ride together, not tear it apart.

The following day was better yet. One man brought a friend who had decided to give our rides another chance. That made seven. Bob counted but said nothing. The seven of us finished together.

At one point, the friend got dropped badly on a climb. Bob rolled back to him, put a hand on the back of the man's saddle, and pushed him up to the pack. Nobody'd ever helped the guy before. He raved about Bob. He said it was the first time he'd ever finished a training ride with the bunch.

The guy's gratitude and amazement touched me. I thought about how, in team sports, the casual observer gets impressed by the solo "hero" effort. The true aficionado prizes the unselfish labor of the team player, the athlete whose good day brings everyone up.

Sure enough, word got around about our remodeled rides. Numbers rose rapidly as we regained dropouts and added first timers. Bob spent most of his time with the new riders, explaining about smooth lines in corners and warning them about overlapping wheels.

One day a week he led us in pack intervals. Another day we'd sprint for city limit signs, then immediately reform into our accustomed double paceline - elbow to elbow, six-inch gaps, friends.

Bob rode with us until he felt sure the discipline had taken. Normally he preferred to ride after he closed his store in the evening or very early in the morning. When our racer returned from his campaign in the east, he happily dropped right into our training routine. He told us, his second day back, that some of the places where he'd stayed had crummy rides.

"It was every man for himself," he said, "nothing like this."

My Story and Booboos

Alright...here's the rash:

The not so bad part...

is my elbow.

The more painful part....

is my left leg.

My hip has a bit of bruising and rash too but it's on a part of my hip that I don't really want to make front page news -if you know what I mean...

So here's the story:
I was having a great night and the guys I was riding with (Mark H, Michael C and Jerry) asked me to pull when we reached chambers and 81. I was glad to do so - I've been riding strong lately and I was feeling confident. We headed up 81 and when we got to New Morn, no traffic was coming head on so I proceeded to turn left. As I was doing so one of the other riders yelled "clear, up" but I thought I heard "car up". For those that don't ride, "car up" typically means there is a car up ahead coming towards you. As I turned, I remember being afraid that a car was coming at me along 81 so I looked to my right to see. The next thing I remember is looking back in front of me and realizing that while I was looking, I turned too wide and the shoulder of the road was quickly approaching. My front tire went of the right shoulder and I reacted by pulling back towards the road. When my tire caught the pavement again, I lost control. I hit the ground and with my left foot still clipped into my pedal, I slid with the bike on top of me. Mark H was behind me and I opened my eyes to see him sail across the top of my body in the air and go head over handlebars into the dirt. His mountain biking skills came in handy - he attempted to bunny hop me but his back wheel landed on my back tire and ran over me. He still swears he isn't hurt but I get the impression he wouldn't tell me even if his skull was broken.

After rushing over to make sure I was okay, the guys poked and prodded and bent my bike back into a "rideable" condition and I decided to finish the ride.


What?! gimme a break.... I was pumped up w/ adrenaline.


There's another side story here...I think I freaked out Mark H's wife - I won't go into detail but let's just say I have diarrhea of the mouth disease and I said something stupid. It happens to us folks who long to be funny but lack that filter that tells us when it is and isn't okay to make comments... She says it's okay but I feel like crap about the whole thing.

I had a good ride although I now know that when wind blows on fresh road rash - it hurts like hell. By the time I got back to the shop, I was shaking like a leaf. As we barreled down Mt. Carmel Rd, A-2 (or whatever the people who fall off the back of A group are called) caught up to us and we finished the ride as one big group. Somewhere near the end I remember hearing someone ask Mark why his jersey was so dirty...I think it may have been Scott because shortly after I pulled to a stop in the parking lot, he pulled up beside me, pulled my arm up to take a look and kind of visually "alerted" everyone to my injuries. Suddenly I had 5 guys and a girl standing around me spraying me down with bactine and rubbing my limbs with alcohol wipes... It was a little overwhelming - I had to focus b/c David H. (OR coordinator at Henry Medical Center) was giving me first aid advice and telling me how to treat my "abrasions" and "contusions"!

I picked up my bike today - when I went down I kind of went handlebars first and then to my side before sliding. Apparently, the impact caused me to bend the fork where my carbon meets the aluminum. I'm glad I don't ride a bike w/ an aluminum fork - if I did I'd need a new one about now. My wheels were bent but are now mostly straight. The fork took a little "rigging" but Mike got it in order until I can decide if I want to purchase a new one.

So that's the story...my pride is hurt as badly as my body. Accidents will happen when riding a bike but it stinks when you cause another rider to go down with you - it really makes you feel like bad.

Crash Test Dummy

I'm finishing a beer and two Advil and I'm headed to bed... I had my first crash tonight...

I'm fine and no bones are broken - only my pride. A good amount of road rash, a lot of soreness and stiffness and a bike in need or some repair.

More tomorrow...