Who/What Belongs on Multi-Use Paths?

Lately, I have had a recurring incident on a local multi-use/greenway path that I use to travel by bike to my kickboxing class. The first time it happened, I didn't think much about it, but it has become nearly a daily occurrence now, so I'm curious what others think about the situation. If you are so inclined, I would love to hear your thoughts.

About three weeks ago, I noticed a woman sitting and smoking on a bench that sits just beside the greenway I use regularly. Her smoking, however, was not what immediately caught my eye, but rather the fact that she had a larger, motor-powered scooter (moped?) sitting next to her. I remember thinking it was a bit odd to see a motorized vehicle on the path, but then thought that perhaps she had been on the road (a fairly busy road is just 20 feet or so from this spot) and just pulled over to take in a view, or for a break. Later in the week, I saw her at a different location farther down the path that wouldn't be particularly convenient for a motorized vehicle to get to without some effort. I have seen her several times since then with the scooter on the path, and I couldn't help but wonder why she takes it on the multi-use path.

*Image from Honda
This is not the scooter, but it is similar-looking to this vehicle.

It has always been my understanding that multi-use paths and greenways were to be used by walkers, runners, skaters, bikers, dog walkers, etc, but I had always been taught that motorized vehicles of any sort shouldn't be used in these areas. While it hasn't been obtrusive to me personally, I have to wonder 1) If it is bothersome to others on the path; 2) If it's even legal for her to be on these paths with the scooter; and 3) What anyone would be able to do about it if in fact this isn't a place for her to be running her scooter. I know I wouldn't want to be the one to confront someone about it, but at the same time, I may be completely out of line and these are completely acceptable to be on the paths. While I realize it isn't exactly the same as a high powered vehicle or even a motorcycle, It can still travel (generally) faster than a bike or a person running, which seems as though it could create a dangerous situation.

Does anyone have any knowledge about this sort of thing, or perhaps you routinely see these types of vehicles on your multi-use paths? I'm genuinely curious to know if this is typical and it's just not a behavior I had noticed prior to the last few weeks.

{Part 2} Rivendell Betty Foy vs Sam Hillborne: Are They Interchangeable?

{If you would like to read the first post in this series, please click here}

After making the decision to buy the Betty Foy frame, I knew it would not be something we could build up immediately because the parts would more than double the cost of the bike, and it just wasn't in any way going to fit into the budget for awhile. Not horribly surprising, we had quite a few parts around the house that were for projects never completed, back up parts, wrong parts for other projects, and so on, so very little needed to be purchased to build up the complete bike. I suppose that is the "good" that comes from the never-ending bike search/builds, and also allowed for Betty to get built up quicker than I anticipated.

The infamous Betty Foy heart lugs

Before I get too far along in the process of sharing my opinion and/or comparison of the Betty and the Sam, I should point out that some size changes took place recently at Rivendell for the Betty Foy. She now comes in fewer sizes that are supposed to cover a wider range of riders' heights. I was a little unsure of what to do when I discovered that the newest shipments will come in 50cm, 55cm, and 60cm (for the record, the old sizes were 47cm, 52cm, 58cm, and 62cm), but after some discussion with the folks at Riv, I figured I would give the 50cm a go, particularly after my experience with the far too small 42cm Soma.
Quite honestly, the 52cm would likely have been just a tad large, and while it could be adjusted with stems and so on, I am actually grateful that I waited for the size in between the two former variations to actually commit to the purchase.

More of the Betty hearts

Part of my trepidation with the purchase of a Betty frame had to do with information I had read about the bikes, and the idea that it would ride and compare very similarly to the Sam Hillborne. Duplicate bikes isn't what I am after, but my curiosity simply got the best of me and I needed to know if I could truly sacrifice one for the other. My #1 reason for wanting the Betty was to have a frame that isn't a diamond shape. Particularly in the warmer months, I wear many more skirts/dresses and I wanted the option to wear them on my bike, especially when roaming around town. I know that some are capable of performing this task on a diamond frame, but I am not at all graceful and I know my limits, so having some kind of dip in the frame is a necessity unless I want to change before riding.

Side by side - Sam Hillborne and Betty Foy

The set up of each of these bikes is comparable, with the same or extremely similar components, however, there are differences. The Betty is an 8x3 (24 speed) and the Hillborne is a 9x3 (or 27 speed). To me, this is of little consequence as it doesn't affect my ability to get where I need to go, nor the speeds reachable on either bike. Betty has fenders, a rear rack, and the same handlebars (positioned the way they were intended or "right side up"), and the Hillborne has Grand Bois Hetre tires in cream, while the Betty has black Schwalbe Marathon's. The stems are different on each of these - the Hillborne has a Nitto stem, while the Betty has an Origin8 stem (more on that in a post at another time) that has a significantly greater reach than the Nitto. The saddle bags on each are different as well, and please note that the basket was just added to the Betty, so my thoughts are prior to that addition.

Betty and Sam - both gorgeous, but different

With that bit of background, I will say that while both bikes are comfortable and fun to ride, I find them to be quite dissimilar. Although the looks are undoubtedly Rivendell aesthetics, personally I could not imagine doing a long distance ride (let's say, greater than 15-20 miles) on the Betty, while I have completed many on the Hillborne. Take that information for what it is worth, particularly coming from a rather fussy rider, but there is definitely a different feel when changing from the Hillborne to the Betty or vice versa. I find the Betty to be more upright (not as upright as many European city bikes, but more so than the Hillborne), but while certainly usable for a longer distance ride, may cause discomfort to those more sensitive to positioning. While some might argue this sensation is due to lack of drop bars on the Betty, I will point out that I don't have drop bars on the Hillborne either, and have not experienced that feeling on that particular bike unless I have traveled some distance greater than would be a typical "long" ride for me, and that is due to my own wrist/hand sensitivities, I believe (though please feel free to argue otherwise, if you see it differently or think I am missing something in my thought process). I should also add that there are folks who own the Betty Foy and do use her as the long distance/road bike, as well as riding in the city with her, so while I think there are differences between the two models, it is also apparent to me that some find her perfectly capable and comfortable to take on longer rides. I wonder if this is just differences in rider comfort, size, set up of the bike, or simply that by comparison for any given individual, the Betty Foy may indeed ride like a road bike?

These two bikes are also equipped with the same saddle (although I've had the Hillborne Brooks B-72 laced in the past to help with spreading), so I don't think this is where the differences are coming into play. The reality is that they are simply different in my opinion, and even if one were to get each bike set up with the exact same components, it would be impossible for them to feel exactly the same, and improbable to feel/ride close to the same way. Is the Betty faster than most typical city bikes? I would say most certainly, but due to even very small changes in geometry, it simply feels different, and in my opinion, those differences make it more pleasant and more comfortable for me to use the Hillborne for longer and/or faster rides.

In many ways, I begin to feel as though I'm trying to find similarities in two completely different bikes, comparing an apple and an orange in some respects. Just as bikes from various manufacturers/designers are different, I have a difficult time understanding how these two bikes are interchangeable. While it is not an issue to me personally, I am curious as to how and why these are often viewed as equals, and even thought to be easily used for the same purposes. As I mentioned in the first of these posts, I was prepared to deal with the reality of possibly having two bikes that would ride the same, but I have yet to find that they could be used for the same riding tasks. I understand that I've only had them together to compare for a fairly brief time of a few months, but even prior to adding the heavier bag to the Betty, or the basket, the posture I use on her is simply different - not bad, but different. So, I am left to question whether I would be able to give the Hillborne up in exchange for the Betty, or vice versa.

It would be nearly impossible for me to know ultimately what will happen with these two bikes, but as it stands, it seems that they each have their own functionality, ride differently, and will work well for my personal purposes. So, for the time being I will ride them both and continue to evaluate whether they are interchangeable for me, or whether they can each hold their own spot in the bike fold.

{Part 1} Rivendell Betty vs Sam: Decisions, Decisions

In early summer last year, regular readers will recall that I was toying with the idea of picking up a Rivendell Betty Foy frame and slowly building it up, in addition to my Sam Hillborne. When I mentioned this, I received a variety of reactions, including those who couldn't understand why I would choose to purchase a bike that is supposed to function so similarly to the Hillborne. While on one hand I completely agreed with those folks, and had to admit I did feel a little ridiculous even thinking about the idea, on the other I did see the benefits of having two distinct bikes for different purposes. Although I knew that their functionality could, and likely would overlap, I still found myself thinking that the Betty could be an ideal option. I like Rivendell's geometry, and more importantly have found it to be comfortable for me - allowing me to ride longer distances, so while there are alternate options that could be explored, the Betty just seemed to be one that would potentially have a positive end result.

Sam (hubby, not bicycle) is not a huge fan of Rivendell for a variety of reasons, and while I won't go into details regarding his feelings, suffice it to say he does see the quality in the frames, but also believes them to be over-hyped. He appreciates that I love my Hillborne, but would likely never buy one for himself unless it was found on severe discount somewhere. When I brought up the idea of buying a Betty, I was surprised that he was open to the idea, but at the time I simply let it go because as much as it seemed ideal, I wasn't ready to commit, and wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do.

Soon after this conversation, I started a major hunt for a city bike. I went through a few, but never quite found the perfect one. Part of my issue, I'm fairly certain now, is that I've grown used to having a little more speed and a bit lighter bike while riding the Hillborne (and formerly the Pacer). When we picked up a Soma Buena Vista frame several months ago, I thought it would be the perfect solution. Because of a variety of happenings (the largest of which was buying a frame that was too small), I knew that the hunt was going to continue.

One afternoon while I was pondering what to do with the Soma, I remembered my thoughts about picking up a Betty Foy. Coincidentally during this thought, I also received an email from Rivendell stating that the new Betty's were available and they were offering some incentives to purchasers. Perhaps it was the right time for this project? At first, I talked myself out of it, but the more I thought about it, I realized that one of three things would likely happen.
1) I would fall in love with the Betty Foy and realize that it functions exactly the same as the Sam Hillborne, and would subsequently end up selling the Hillborne to prevent duplicate bicycles.
2) I wouldn't like the Betty at all, and would sell the frame to attempt to recover most of the funds spent.
3) I would discover that the two bikes have completely different but functional purposes for me, and decide to keep them both.

At first, even the idea of selling the Hillborne sent my heart pounding. Could I really sell a bike I love so much if the unthinkable happened? I've pictured myself on more than one occasion riding the Hillborne 20-30 years from now. It's been the constant I've needed in the bike fold, and beyond any of my daydreams, I'm simply attached to him. However, willing to at least consider the possible outcome of any of the scenarios above, I went for the purchase of the Betty frame.

Whatever thoughts run through your head as a reader, believe me when I say similar ideas ran through mine as well. Everything from questioning whether another fairly pricey bike is the answer, to wondering whether I actually need a more step through bicycle ran rampant in my thoughts. When she arrived, however, I was truly ecstatic about the Betty and couldn't wait to pull the frame out of the box. Gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe her, and while definitely a girlie themed bike (and not being horribly drawn to the girlie-girl items myself), I was nonetheless enchanted by all the hearts and beautiful lug work. Perhaps a bit overkill on the heart theme, I still found her to be quite delightful, and was looking forward to eventually building her into a proper bicycle... eventually being the key word.

Planting a Garden - The Vegetable Variety

Over the last decade or so, vegetable planting and gardening seems to be a trend resurfacing in families who don't necessarily live on farms. Although I hate to call food a "trend" it does seem that growing ones own crops has become rather popular of late. That's why when we decided we would give it a try, I couldn't help but think that others might perceive this as a trendy thing to do, rather than a practical activity.

The reality is that we have a small space in our yard that gets sun pretty much all day long, and it's ideal for plants requiring 6-8 + hours of steady sunlight. When we made the realization that we could both utilize some of the yard with plants that would actually grow and potentially use it to both save money and prevent some market visits, I was pretty excited - trends be damned. I should also say that I am not a farmer, nor a gardner, nor am I really able to keep much alive that requires attention (sans the dogs, of course - and this is likely due only to the fact that they will not allow me to forget about them). What would possess such a person to think she is a capable vegetable gardener? I'm not sure I really have an answer, but am looking forward to the adventure.

Maybe I am getting old, slowing down, or realizing that there are better things to do in life, but I am actually giddy about the idea of watering and taking care of something in the yard (hopefully, my mom isn't reading this because she will think someone has invaded my body because I was the kid who avoided yard work at all costs). Trying to figure out the types of food that will grow easily in the clay-like soil of the area has been rather interesting, and determining ways to keep my four-legged kiddos out of the garden is interesting as well. We've purchased some half whiskey barrels, but are thinking perhaps a small fenced area would be better. There are actually many areas in which we could use the barrels in the yard, so I'm not entirely certain what we should do. Any gardner's out there with thoughts on the matter, please feel free to offer your tips, thoughts, suggestions, and etc.

Moving Up to Silver

The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) has increased Longmont's rating from bronze to silver, per a local Times-Call article published today.  It's exciting to see the move to a more bike-friendly city, but I also hope it encourages people to keep pushing and working for a city that supports all forms of travel and allows them to exist together peacefully. We can have all the bike lanes in the world, but if we don't change the attitudes and ideas of those who never touch a bike, or those who think cars are the only ones permitted on the roads, it makes it more of a challenge to call the city "bike friendly," in my opinion.

I am, however, thrilled to see positive changes taking place for cyclists, and I hope it continues. If you haven't had the opportunity to read the article (linked above), it's worth a read, and it's exciting to know that the city, Bicycle Longmont, and cyclists throughout the area are moving in the right direction. Ride on people, ride on.

Grand Bois Hetre Tires Quick Review and Thoughts on Longevity

One of my favorite parts on the Hillborne are the Grand Bois Hetre tires selected for the bike. They make for a cushy but quick ride, and I don't feel every little crack, bump, dip, etc in the road. Initially, I wanted these tires because they were the only cream/white tires I could find in a 650b size tire (I'm sure this is still likely the case), but I have learned to love that they are incredibly comfortable to ride on as well. What I have noticed that I am not as pleased with is that the tires are coming apart fairly early on in their life. Although I have physically had the tires for almost two years, the ride distance they've actually experienced has been no more than 600 miles (between switching out tires, and so on) - seemingly, this would be a point I would expect to just begin to see a break in, not a break down.

Although pictures are not necessarily easy to obtain of the damage sustained thus far, I think it is possible to see that they are wearing oddly. Not only are there spaces and changes in between the tread, but they are also bulging/bowing in some places around the tire. For a $125+ set of tires, I expected they would last at least a couple thousand miles, if not more. I don't ride over very rough terrain, and with the exception of one ride since I've owned the bike it has only been ridden on pavement or asphalt.

Warping has been taking place on these tires since very early on

While these tires aren't known for their puncture protection (which I was aware of when purchasing), I have actually found them to be pretty solid. I've had a total of two punctures: one that took place on a long ride, but was a slow leak that I didn't have to deal with until I got home, and the second one happened when I got a goat head on a paved trail, and again didn't lose air until I was home to deal with it. Not bad for tires not known to prevent flats, I think.

Certainly, I am not a tire expert, and perhaps I am expecting too much of these tires, but I am disappointed that they haven't held up better. Will I buy them again? Probably.  I have simply fallen in love with the ride quality, and I honestly hope that I just happened to get a blem in the group because I know others who have had no issue with the tires. I would recommend them to others, but with the caveat that they may not last as long as might be expected. I bought them locally for the first round, but perhaps I need to try another location the next time? Regardless, having the cushy ride is worth trying them again, and I hope that they are able to sustain a longer life in the next round - whenever that may be. For now, I continue to ride on them, hoping that they don't completely fall apart too quickly.

If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to be Right

{In my continuing theme of putting songs into everyone's heads}

I have recently found myself struggling with my love of the Hillborne - well, not my love of the bike itself, but the fact that I will choose him almost always over others. I have started to wonder 1) if I should have multiple bikes if I'm going to opt for him on most rides, and 2) if I have created this situation because I choose him most often when going for a ride (long or short).

About two weeks ago, I took the Surly out from the moth balls forming around him after storing him through the winter. Our first ride out together was only a few miles, but I just couldn't find comfort. I struggled through the initial ride, but couldn't grasp why I was so ill-at-ease while riding the Pacer when I had enjoyed him so much just a few months ago. What's changed? The conclusion I could come up with (as mentioned above) was that I have simply grown used to the set up on the Hillborne. I wish it were that simple for me to justify to myself, but it bothers me to some extent that I am so particular about bikes, and that I've had such a level of comfort change in a relatively short amount of time.

A few months ago, we removed the fenders, rear rack and large saddle bag from the Hillborne which lightened the load more than 10 lbs. I am aware that the majority of that weight came in the form of all of the random things I put in the larger-than-necessary saddle bag on the rear of the bike, but I was amazed at how much lighter it felt. After these changes, the weight difference between the Hillborne and the Pacer was negligible, and I found myself able to keep the same speeds on either bike. Sam and I began discussing the possibility of selling off the Pacer because I really don't want to have bikes that I'm not using.

The middle ground that we have reached is that Sam has decided to pick and choose parts to exchange on his Bianchi that were more worn out, and we are talking with a friend who is looking to build up a road bike... and so, it appears as though the Pacer may be on his way out of the house, at least in part. When I end up selling off a bike I haven't had for very long, I cannot help but feel a little sad, and a bit guilty - but of course, I don't feel great about housing bikes that aren't used either, so it always poses a dilemma for me. Do I keep it and hope that I'll find a renewed interest/comfort/etc, or do I simply set it free? I will say that having the Pacer helped me realize what I needed/wanted in a bicycle. It has helped me hone in on what makes riding enjoyable for me, and also helped me see that an increase in choices doesn't necessarily make riding better, more exciting, or speedier (necessarily). Will the Hillborne be the only bike? Unlikely. But, it is great to know that the right fit can be found, even for a persnickety individual like myself.

Have you found yourself confused about changing opinions about a particular bike you've owned (either for the good or bad)? Did/do you typically try to make changes to a bike you own, or look for a better fit on a different bike when things don't seem to be working out?

It's the Final Countdown!

{Is anyone else now singing like me?}
This is just a quick post to say that I have ONE - that's right, you read correctly - one day left of finals and then - well, then I suppose life will continue on as it was before, except that I can say I finished my degree. Hard to believe it's all coming to an end, but pretty exciting as well.

I just wanted to say that I do have a few posts lined up, but because I've had an insane amount of work to get wrapped up this week, I haven't had an opportunity to take photos, so as soon as I can get those taken, there will actually be something to read here that isn't 1) me complaining about lack of sleep or too much work, or 2) just a reminder that I'm still alive. My dearest Sam said he keeps refreshing the page because he knows I've been writing in between projects but never sees anything new... well, dear Sam (and anyone else who hasn't lost interest during my hiatus), I promise the posts are coming, but I think pictures always make things better. Perhaps this is because I'm such a visual person, but I doubt an extra day or two will be too much for anyone to handle.

Thank you to everyone for enduring the last four months with me. I hope to have somewhat of a normal schedule again going here in the next week or so, and I'm looking forward to it.

Finding Motivation Outside of Weight Loss

In a few days, I will have been on this new journey for two months. Initially, I lost a solid chunk of weight... and then, it slowed down dramatically. This isn't new for me as any time I have tried to lose weight, I lose it incredibly slowly (despite having plenty to lose). I have never quite understood it, but I've just come to accept that this is the way my body works. It should be a good lesson to never allow it back on my body because, despite what many want to believe, I can literally gain several pounds over night. Because it is so easy to focus on the number on the scale, I have attempted to find other things that provide motivation. It hasn't been easy.

Over the last 5 weeks, I've also started a kickboxing class as was discussed here earlier. I am sore constantly because I push myself to go beyond what I currently believe are my limits, but this action, I believe, is helping change this extremely large body into something new. I have muscles in places I never thought I had muscle. I'm getting stronger, and for once in my life I am actually enjoying it. 

Last night I had an opening to work and ran into a cohort who asked, "Have you lost weight?" I couldn't help but smile because while I haven't lost what I should have over the last month, it was nice that someone else noticed my hard work paying off - even if it isn't on the scale.

I have to remind myself that the number on the scale isn't everything. I started this because I wanted to feel better, be stronger, and know that I am living a healthier life for good - not for a temporary fix. While it's easy to say that I just want to be healthy for health's sake, it's difficult to put in so much work (both food and movement -wise) and not see the number drop the way it should. There are plenty of ways to find motivation - from being able to do something I couldn't do before, to simple comments from others, and I just need to remember that I am progressing, even if it isn't at lightening speeds.

First Check In

It's already time for the May 1st check in, and while I realize not many are participating in our self-motivated contest, I wanted to keep myself honest, so I'm still "checking in" regardless of the numbers of individuals involved. My personal goal for the first of May was to be able to get through my kickboxing class without having to stop for air. I'm not entirely sure this was a fair goal to set for myself for a variety of reasons. 1) The class varies from day to day in intensity and level of use of particular areas of the body. Because of this, there are days that I get through just fine, and other days that I struggle much more. Since I carry more weight in my lower half, obviously the days of lower body work are more intense physically for me. 2) How does a person really judge if s/he is improving cardiovascular-wise based on how hard s/he is breathing in the class? Based on info provided in my first reason, I don't know that I can say I haven't improved, but I definitely find myself still breathing quite hard during long rounds.  3) I believe my personal intensity has increased over the last month in this class, which makes me think that while it seems as though I'm not improving, I actually am, but don't see it breathing-wise because I push harder while working out.

Perhaps I'm merely fooling myself with the breathing aspect of this class, but I do know that there have been other improvements. For example, these strange, solid bulges appear to be forming in places that never have before (some may call them muscles). I am also doing push ups. Push ups. This is so ridiculously insane to me because never in my life have I been able to do standard push ups. Yes, I still struggle doing them, and they're not perfect, but since we're not permitted to do "girl" push ups in class, and we do them during every class, it has forced me to adapt. I'm also pondering new activities. I've always wanted to participate in roller derby, but I fear it because I can't skate (mostly because I'm so klutzy and have no balance) and have a complete fear of falling (as has been documented here in the past). But, I think I may set it as some kind of future goal - to at least give it a try because I know they will train people who have no experience with skating at all (unfortunately, I do have experiences - they are just all very bad experiences). Oddly, I've also already surpassed my June 1st goal, so I'm not sure what to set as the next goal. Actually, I've almost met my ultimate September 1st goal, too. So, I may have to revise these goals completely (not that it's such a horrible thing to have happening).

Overall, I feel good. I believe I'm moving in a positive direction, although I am cautiously optimistic about where it is exactly that I'm going. I know myself and know that I can get obsessive about things (exercise, weight loss, eating perfectly, etc), and I can quickly take a nose dive when things don't seem to be going well.  I am trying to find positive things to focus on, such as feeling muscles growing, or clothes fitting better, rather than actual pounds lost because I know this is dangerous water for me to be treading.

How are you doing with your goals? The next check in point will be June 1st, so if anyone wants to start now, or just wants to participate for a month rather than the full 5 months, feel free to check in as it works for you.  Happy May Day! Hopefully your weather is beautiful and gets you out on your bike.