Second Class Citizen

About a week ago, I had some errands to run around town. It was actually a lovely, albeit brisk, autumn day with a small amount of ice on some roadways from snow that had fallen a couple of days prior.

I think that this time of year might actually be my favorite for riding in many ways. It's cool (sometimes cold), but with a few layers on a sunny day it can actually be quite nice to get out on a bike. Plus, as I've mentioned prior, I have found motorists to be far kinder and frequently more aware when the weather turns cold, at least as a general rule.

On this particular day as I pedaled about town, one of my stops was to a store that recently opened in our currently-being-constructed mall. The mall itself is a bit of a hot topic locally, with some residents taking issue with the removal of the former indoor mall in favor of the outdoor one under way, as well as some being disappointed (to put it politely) about the types of stores going in to this new construction.

But, since I'm not much of a shopper anyway (unless it's related to bicycles), this hasn't been of great concern to me. I'm actually happy to see something being built that will hopefully get use and bring some tax dollars into the local economy.

Part of the discussion about this new build encompassed thoughts on making the area more bike friendly, and even improving paths to this location on heavily motorized travel roads. So, when I pedaled my way through the construction zone to the store I was needing to visit, I was unhappy to see that there were no bike racks anywhere to be found.

I was informed several years ago that bike racks were a requirement for any new construction taking place in city limits, so I was definitely surprised to see that none existed. It was especially disappointing because I was visiting a sporting goods retailer, which one would think would be more likely to push for bike racks outside their establishment.

But, I figured I'd wait to see what happens, as frequently racks tend to get installed at the very last point of construction. As you can see from the photo above though, there aren't a whole lot of options for locking up. So, my choices became a stop sign at the intersection, or one of the light poles. I opted for the light pole as it seemed a bit sturdier, despite it being a bit more awkward because of the cement barrier built up around it.

After finishing up at this store, I needed to travel to a couple of other locations. I was debating which way to go as I pedaled through the parking lot, but ultimately knew I'd have to cross a busy road. So, as I sat waiting at the signal to cross, I checked out the traffic all around me, happy to just be out on such a beautiful day, and lost in my own thoughts.

Suddenly, I was kicked out of my blissful utopia by someone screaming, "Get a car, you loser!" I looked around, wondering who this person was yelling at, only to come to the realization that he was speaking to me. I must've looked confused or lost because he continued his rant, "Yeah, you! Get a car!!" At which point he began to honk his horn like a stark-raving mad lunatic. By this time, the cross signal had changed and I was heading across the street and could no longer make out what this person was attempting to say to me, but I couldn't help but laugh as I crossed the road.

It's frankly not the first time someone has shouted at me about being on a bike, but I couldn't quite figure out what it was I'd done to upset him so much. I was following all the laws and rules, waiting at the red light. I'd pressed the cross button and waited for it to turn before proceeding. I was out of traffic, and honestly not in any way disrupting his day because he was heading in a different direction anyway.

Was it just my existence that had upset him? The fact that I was smiling and actually enjoying my day? Why was I automatically deemed a "loser," and furthermore why did he assume I don't have a car. Why would my not having a motorized vehicle make me a loser anyway?

As I reached the other side of the road and his signal had changed green, I could hear the engine revving and his screeching tires as he made his way around the corner in the opposite direction. I'll admit it was one time I was grateful to have so many cars around me as witnesses in case of some sort of incident, but as is usually the case in these moments, the yelling was about as bad as things became.

Still, as I pedaled (ironically, back to pick up our car which was being serviced) I couldn't help but have an imaginary conversation with this fellow. I always wish that these moments weren't so anger-filled and that I could have a rational conversation with people involved in these run-ins, in hopes of understanding what it is that upsets them, and hopefully having the opportunity to explain to him/her that there is nothing transpiring that in any way disrupts their life.

There seem to be the few who simply despise people on bicycles and the anger seems misplaced, in my opinion. More often than not anger arises due to traffic delays and if anything I am helping to alleviate this problem by being on a bicycle. I understand that there are always going to be those who are not courteous or don't follow the law, but the same can be said for motorists as well. If a car rolls a stop sign, no one rolls down their window to yell at them, but if I were to do the same on a bicycle, even if I look in all directions and am aware that there is no traffic coming, motorists seem to have need to yell at those on a bike because of this.

Perhaps some of this is born out of fear? I know some motorists who worry when they see a cyclist because they are concerned that the cyclist will suddenly weave or dart out into traffic. While I cannot assure anyone that a cyclist wouldn't do exactly that, I think as a general rule, most people on a bike are well aware that those in a car have the size and weight advantage and are not going to ride unpredictably because they do not have a death wish.

People on bicycles often seem to be perceived as second class citizens in many parts of this country as is evidenced through lack of bike parking at establishments, proper/adequate/safe bike infrastructure, as well as lack of laws to protect vulnerable road users from injury and/or death. The pervasive thought that those riding a bike are not paying for the roads has been proven time and again a faulty argument, yet I hear this as reasoning for not wanting bikes on roadways as well.

After many years of writing here and reading in other places, I still find frustration with the lack of urgency and speed in resolving problematic roadways that would allow all road users to get to destinations in peace, with ease of travel and safety for all. There are ways to solve these issues, but the progress always seems slow and at times non-existent, and I frequently wonder if change will take that anger away from some motorists who seem to feel rage for no real reason at all.

What do you view as the problem with your local roads (if any)? Could issues be simply resolved or will it take massive change over many years (or decades)? Have you encountered an angry motorist when you were not impeding traffic? What was your response?

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving (for those in the U.S.) and safe two-wheeled travels wherever you roam.

Choosing Bicycle Over Car

The more I ride my bike(s) the less I want to be in a car. We've talked for years now in our household about being car-free or car-light, and while I don't think we will ever be able to be completely car-free, I've shared here that my preference would be to live a life not requiring the use of a vehicle. There are always things that can be done to make it happen, but I've managed to find reasons to hang on to cars that seem completely logical - at least in the past. I'm sure there are others who can identify with some of these sentiments, but I think the reality of not wanting to be in a car has become even more true for me this year. I'm not entirely sure what has changed or been altered within me over the last several months, but I really have almost no desire to ever travel in a motorized vehicle (the rare occasions seem to be when we need to get somewhere more than 30 miles away from home). I have a theory that there are several factors taking place, creating a situation in which I will almost automatically turn to a bike before a vehicle. So, I figured what better place to share these thoughts and to filter through the things that seem plausible and those that are perhaps completely ludicrous.

#1: The Weather
We had an incredibly light winter season and a glorious summer (it's really not over, I suppose). Truly, we had our ridiculous amounts of snow in late spring, and I even managed to ride through a lot of that time, appreciating cycling cautiously and a bit more slowly. Short rides, traveling only to places I needed to go, were the order of the spring snow weeks/months, but beyond that 6-8 weeks of getting dumped on, it's been a pleasant, fabulous, beautiful year. Okay, we've had our time of flooding, which has been incredibly crazy here toward the end of summer, but even that hasn't seemed to keep me away from riding. It's become difficult to stay off a bike when it is (and even isn't) so nice outside. Who wants to be cramped up in a car, fighting with traffic, yelling at people who are texting on their phones anyway? Speaking of yelling at people in other cars...


#2: The "Mr. Wheeler" Effect
I will freely admit I have my moments as a "Mr. Wheeler." It may not be quite as bad as illustrated in the cartoon (well, maybe it is), but I find myself angry almost instantly when getting behind the wheel of an automobile. I believe some of it stems from being on the other side and watching the extremely dumb things some drivers do on the roads, but it also comes into play when people don't know the rules of the road, aren't paying attention while driving, are driving too fast/slow, pretty much you name it and it probably angers me while driving. If I'm walking or riding a bike, these things don't seem to get to me. Even if there's a momentary incident (for instance, someone running a red light and nearly killing me, causing me to fear for my safety and causing me to lash out with an angry word or two), it seems to pass incredibly quickly. I don't dwell on it, and usually (unless it's a really bad/scary incident), I tend to forget about them within seconds. I don't like the person I become in a vehicle, however, so I tend to be opting for a bike whenever possible.

#3: Bicycle Adaptation
One of the things that really helped out with using a bike instead of a car was finding a solution to the trips that require me to carry more items than a mere bike rack can handle (God bless the bike rack, but it isn't always the most convenient solution). The reality is that sometimes there are loads that need to be carried that require a bit more space. We had talked about getting a box bike or a longtail that would allow for more carrying capacity, but we have enough bikes and the reality is that it would only be used a few times a month for short trips. Investing thousands (or even hundreds on used) in another bike just seemed unnecessary, not to mention lack of storage space. Enter the genius, Sam. He scoured Craigslist looking for an older Burly trailer, took it apart, and created a platform that I can use to carry an array of items. In the photo above, I was carrying about 50 lbs worth of paint supplies (both in and out of a large box), but it works just as well for big loads of groceries, giant bags of dog food, and anything that doesn't work with the normal carrying capacity of a bike. I don't need to have it on the bike all of the time because it is added or removed from a hitch with one motion. Easy peasey. Total investment was about $70, and it basically took away almost any excuse I could have to drive a car. If I can carry what I need to, can I really say that I "need" the car?

*Image found here

#4: The Right Bicycle for the Right Job
This year has found me a bit confused about my own bike-self. What I mean by this is that I love transportation cycling because it's fun, easy, and of course, better than being in a car, but I have also found myself wanting to extend my road bike rides - my training rides - my other-than-picking-stuff-up rides. This had me searching for a lighter road bike that would take me (hopefully) to places I wanted to go. I also discovered a desire for more dirt and gravel type rides. One of the great things about my Rivendell is that it's a great middle of the road kind of bike. In theory, it can do all of these things, but it wouldn't be the best choice for all of these things, all of the time, with a singular set up. In truth, I like using the Riv as my city bike, knowing that it can take me beyond just the city itself, but I also like knowing that I have a road bike that will take me on a century a bit faster, and having a gravel bike that's set up with appropriate tires to take me on those types of rides. Having the right bike for the appropriate ride makes me want to use each of them more because I find that I am more comfortable with a bike that's suited to the specific type of riding I'm engaged in at that moment. When I'm not miserable after a ride, it's easy to go on another, and then another. Basically, it feeds itself without a lot of extra work.

There are other valid reasons that keep me choosing a bike over an automobile, but I think these are the major contributors to my personal mind shift. What do you think? Are there times when it seems inappropriate to choose a bicycle, or have you integrated cycling into your life to the point that a car seems unnecessary?

Cycling on roadways: How to spread the "Rules of the Road?"

The other day, I was in a vehicle with a couple of friends and somehow bicycles came up as a topic of conversation (shocking, with me in the car, I know). Anyway, neither of these two lovely ladies ride - or at least not very often, and it's always interesting to hear the perspective of those who don't ride a bike versus those who do. The conversation turned at one point and one of these friends said, "Some cyclists just think they own the road. They're just rude." Of course, being the snarky gal I am, I had to say, "Yes, and some drivers are rude." I said it as a joke to lighten what seemed to be on the verge of turning into an argument, but I wasn't really kidding. There are rude drivers AND there are rude cyclists. In fact, there are lots of inconsiderate people in every day life, and it may have absolutely nothing to do with their mode of transportation.

We continued to talk and they both stated that they dislike it when cyclists ride on the sidewalk, particularly when traveling on the "wrong side" of the street. I agreed that it is not the safest place for a cyclist to be, but here in Colorado, unless stated otherwise, it is legal to ride on the sidewalks.  They had a couple of other complaints about cyclists and the things they do on the road, and I had to point out some laws that they weren't completely aware of when it comes to riding and driving on the road.  I have found that sometimes I am expected to be the representative for all people traveling via bike, and honestly, I'm not exactly comfortable with that role; however, I also don't like to hear drivers say things that don't actually coincide with the law. I'm always amazed at how many people don't know the rules of the road.

A sharrow indicates that cars and bikes share the lane of travel (on the left) vs the bike lane indicated to the right of the photo above
*Image found here

As we continued to chat, I wondered (as many others have over the years) how to get this information out in mass to drivers without coming across as just another a$$hole cyclist, or as a holier-than-thou sort of rant because that is never my goal. As both a driver and a cyclist, I do my best to be aware of everyone out on the roads. Sure, I have bad days, and perhaps I do a random stupid thing once in awhile, but I always try to be safe and have patience with everyone on the roadways.

Some days are better than others. For example, when riding home from a kickboxing class recently, I pulled up to the middle front of the lane at a signal so that those who were turning right could do so when safe. Apparently, the car behind me (who was going straight across, as I was, and had to sit and wait for the light to turn green, just as I was) didn't like this and decided to honk and rev his engine behind me. Mind you, I'm in a residential neighborhood with children playing in yards, people out walking, and so on. When the light turned green, I mashed my pedals to get going (it was on a slight uphill) and started moving to the right where the bike lane began on the other side of the signal, but before I could get there, he squealed his tires and raced around me. When I'm on my bike, it's not my goal to piss off all the drivers on the road; just as when I'm driving, I have no desire to run pedestrians or cyclists off the road. As corny as it sounds, can't we all just get along?

The reality is, however, I had the right (and really, the responsibility) to be where I was so as to not impede traffic. Too many times I have stayed to the right and had someone in a car come around me on the left to try to make a right hand turn, only to have the light turn green. Then, I'm being cut off by the car trying to go right when I'm attempting to go straight. It's just not worth the potential danger, and it's a lot easier to just ride like a car. The quick video shown above is hardly all-inclusive, but it's a nice reminder to everyone that cyclists are vehicles and should ride as such. What I dislike about the video is that it's aimed specifically at cyclists rather than both cyclists and drivers. While there are often cyclists who don't know the rules of the road, I find that drivers are often confused when a bike rider takes his/her spot in a lane.

In Colorado, these are some of the most common things I have heard or read drivers complaining about when it comes to cyclists, so I thought it might be nice to share them here. Colorado statutes for bicycles can be found by clicking here, or here, and there are some quick cycling tips here, but I thought it was worthwhile to pick a few to put here specifically.

Bike signals * Image found here

1. A bicyclists may use a lane other than the right-hand lane when:
a. Preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private roadway or driveway (heads up drivers - that means a cyclist has every right to be in the left hand turn lane to make a left turn);
b. Overtaking a slower vehicle; or
c. Taking reasonably necessary precautions to avoid hazards or road conditions.

2. A bicyclist shall not be expected or required to:
a. Ride over or through hazards at the edge of a roadway (this means, as a cyclist, I may have to come out into the lane), including but not limited to fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or narrow lanes; or
b. Ride without a reasonable safety margin on the right-hand side of the roadway.

3. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding bicycles two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.

One thing to also point out is that it is the cyclist, not the driver who decides what is an unsafe condition.  Above all, I think drivers tend to forget that a cyclist is at a disadvantage when it comes to size/weight. When a driver behaves unsafely, s/he is driving a several ton piece of machinery designed to go at much higher speeds than a bicycle. Hitting a cyclist, even at slow speeds can do some very serious damage (perhaps even kill him/her). The blog author of Cyclecious, sadly, has frequent reports of drivers hitting cyclists - and it rarely turns out well for those on a bike.

So, dear readers... how do we get the word out to those who aren't likely to seek out this information? How do we get safety across as a message of cooperation rather than using it as a tool for argument? A lot of us choose to use the method of riding responsibly ourselves - a model of "do as I do," but that really doesn't educate drivers who insist that a bicycle shouldn't be on the road at all. A quick search of the web turns up a slew of anti-cyclist rants/blogs (of which I will not link to because some of them are just flat out scary and I don't want to encourage bad behavior), and Tom Stafford wrote an interesting article for the BBC recently on why motorists have such disdain for bike riders, but none of these things seem to really help the situation. I don't want to ask how to "educate motorists" because it comes off as prissy and elitist (I think), but there must be a way to get information to everyone who uses the road without it turning into a ridiculous argument that doesn't help anyone. Suggestions? Thoughts? I'd love to hear.

In the meantime, I continue on, attempting to be a "representative" (at least among the people I know) of all cyclists - hoping that I don't anger the drivers even more.

When Painting is Not Like Painting: The VW Beetle Project

Most of us have heard the expression, "Be careful what you wish for..." When the Beetle saga first started, I was excited about the project and seeing the transformation of something that had been discarded coming back to life. It's not a bike, but for a motorized vehicle it's probably about as close to a bicycle as one can get. Who are we kidding? A 60-horsepower engine isn't putting out much power, and while it is still a consumer of gas/oil/resources/etc, if I'm going to have a car, I'd rather it be a small one, that gets decent mileage. Of course, there was the added bonus of my history with the Beetle which helped initiate and move this project along. As much as I don't want to love a car, this is one I am definitely drawn to (and always have been). I can't seem to help myself. It is simply unique. Maybe not in numbers (goodness knows there were a buzzillion of them produced and there are still plenty out on the roads), but certainly there has never been another car that quite rivals the exterior of the Beetle. Everything from its shape to its unmistakable muffler/idle noise brings a smile to my face, and for most people who have ever owned one there is always a story (or several) to go along with their bug.

The Beetle prepares to be transported to the farm/work space

As I was saying, at the start of all of this, I was excited to see what was going to happen. I had grand illusions (delusions) of a couple of weeks of working on the hunk of metal and suddenly having a beautiful, perfectly painted and running car. It didn't help matters that Sam had set a maximum 3-to-4-week timeline from "start to finish." Ha, ha! I should know better. HE should know better. I had never worked on a project like this, so I really do claim some ignorance here. In fact, let there be no mistake about it, when it comes to cars, my experience with them is about as grand as putting gas in, or in an absolute "crisis," changing the air filter. I've been fortunate to have mechanically-capable folks around me most of my life, so when something goes wrong I attempt to explain the problem/noise by making strange gurgling sounds to imitate the malfunction. They laugh. I laugh. The whole problem gets resolved fairly easily. It is a great system.

The pan/truck of the Beetle in its received condition - certainly not nearly as bad as some I've seen, but not great

From the start of this project, Sam stated that I didn't have to be involved with it at all. He presumed (as I have to admit I did as well) that I would come out at some point near the end and purr and coo over the lovely "new" car; or maybe, at most be there to add a few finishing details. As I pondered the idea more though, I couldn't help but remember all the times I had begged my dad to do a project like this with me in my teenage years. He'd always said he would end up doing all the work, and he wasn't going to take on the bulk of the responsibility for such a project. {sigh} The resto-project never happened in my youth, nor at any point in adulthood - that is, until this project presented itself. I couldn't help but ask myself if it was fair to expect Sam to do exactly what my dad hadn't wanted to do in the past. Sure, it was Sam's bright idea (this specific car, anyway), and this was supposed to be a gift and all, but {sigh}, I couldn't help but feel responsible for putting the idea in his head. So, I offered up my assistance, which was quite quickly and vehemently declined.

Sheesh! I'm not completely incompetent. I don't know anything about putting a car together (nor taking it apart for that matter), but I can follow simple instructions (sometimes). After a day to think it over, Sam decided that there may be a "few things" I could do to help out, so we went for our first visit to "the farm" (our name for Sam's fathers' place as it's on 40 acres in the middle of nowhere - though there's actually no farm on the property) to assess the damage. Ah, the damage. I'd already had the opportunity to view a few photos Sam had shot of the car being transported to the farm. I believe my comment at first view was something like, "Hmm... rusty, isn't it." It was a statement - not a question. I'm sure my nose wrinkled up and I likely made some sort of face at the sight of something so unfinished. I do love rust (not when it comes to keeping things in one piece, but I simply find something fascinating about the rusting process itself), but was not thrilled with the idea of something I'd be working on having so much of it. I was assured that it was all "surface rust" and that the body was actually in "good shape." I would soon learn otherwise.

Look, "surface" rust

It's not that I think Sam nor his father were lying to me. I want to believe they genuinely thought it was in good shape, but the reality soon sunk in as all of the paint was stripped off the parts that still had a bit on them (that was the good news - at least paint didn't need to be removed from the body of the car). There were plenty of rusty spots - as in, completely rusted through, and lots of surface rust as well. In addition, there were, of course, lots of dings and larger dents - places on the body that had somehow been tweaked out of shape over the years - and now it was time to fix these as best we could.

Sam's dad "supervising" my sanding off the hood paint - Yes, I'm wearing an Oscar the Grouch shirt - believe me, it was appropriate (as well as 5 layers of clothing because it was freakin' freezing!).

I won't bore you with the long and drawn out details of the several rounds of scraping, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, scraping, etc, nor the "fun" surprises discovered as we went along, but I will say that it took a good seven weeks to actually get paint on the car. When I tried to estimate man hours, I figured it somewhere between 250-300 hours of just getting the body to a point of being able to primer the car. Those aren't all my hours, but I had a fair chunk of the time. It's funny how the mind wanders when one is engaged in such a task. It's also amazing how quickly the day goes by when all I wanted to do was get to an end point, and just couldn't quite get there.

Beetle pieces sanded - sort of

When this project started, I imagined the paint process being similar to a painting I would produce in every day life. I have no idea why I thought this, but it seemed like a similar idea. I have to build the surface, prime it, and then when the surface is finally to my liking, I can go ahead and start painting. One of the biggest differences is obviously size, but there is also the reality that a painting is generally done on a flat, smaller surface. The surface also isn't sitting out in the elements for several decades getting pounded by rain, hail, snow, nor is it being moved around in the universe at 50+ mph having things fly at it with little regard. In the end, painting a car has similarities to a piece of art, but there is a lot more labor time that goes into the process, certainly (perhaps not for an expert, but for the novice/weekend restoration types, it takes time).

One of many, many rounds of bondo and sanding

One of the biggest hurdles for me personally to get over was choosing a paint color. Typically, an individual goes to a dealer or a private party and the car is the hue that it is. There's no changing it unless you want to special order or take it in for an expensive paint job after purchase. I realized that my mind ran wild very, very quickly across the spectrum of color. What did I want to see on this Beetle anyway? In order to limit things down a bit, I decided to stick to classic VW paint colors. One would think this would do the job as far as thinning the selection, but there are so many different options from the late 40s through the 70s that it was almost as bad as choosing a color at random from the world. Then there are those who think that the color should be from the year the car was made, and those who think it should be the original color of that specific car, and still others who believe that any color out there is perfectly acceptable. I found myself spinning. Each day I had a set of 5-6 colors that the car could be, and they changed almost daily. I would research the colors online, looking for a representation on an actual Beetle. Every photo would look different for each color I was researching, and in the end, I realized I was just going to have to choose a color and hope for the best. I was able to get it down to a few choices, but ultimately decided on the VW color L351, or as most would refer to it, Coral Red.

Yep, this is the paint color - though it's not even the same here as it is on the Beetle

Even after I chose (and had purchased) the paint, I was changing my mind. What if it looked weird? What if it wasn't like any of the colors I'd viewed online? Maybe it was too bright or too in-your-face? Perhaps I should go with a more muted choice? I knew it was only paint (although this phrase has new meaning for me from this point forward - "only paint" means something completely different than it would've meant a few months prior), and I wanted it to be something a little different, but not so different that I'd end up hating it in a few months to a year.

The start of the paint job (though I didn't see this photo until later)

The weekend of painting I wasn't able to be at the farm. We were taking the dogs with us each visit, and having them there for this portion would mean extra work to keep them out of the painting space, and more importantly we had to keep their hair away from the paint/car. Since we couldn't leave them for two days unattended, Sam went to help his dad and brother with the work, while I was fidgety the entire weekend. All I wanted to know was how it looked, what had happened, and was I going to like the color. I imagine it's what an expectant father in the 50's hospital waiting room must've felt like. Okay, perhaps it's not that dramatic (nor as important as bringing a life into this world), but I was a wreck. I was promised photos - that's plural - but finally received one fuzzy photo late in the evening. It wasn't a great photo, and the car looked pink. Pink? I really didn't want a pink car. I know there are a lot of lovers of pink, and I don't hate the color, but it wasn't what I had in mind. Sam had sent an email indicating that the color "looked great" and that he thought I would like it, but from what I'd seen, I wasn't impressed. More photos followed at a later time and I could see that the color was different in each one. So, which one was accurate? It was as bad as doing the research online.

The fuzzy photo I received to indicate the color of the Beetle

Finally, I was able to go up and take a look at the paint job for myself. I was easily able to see that nearly every photo I had viewed of this color was accurate. How was that possible? In some lighting it appears to be a pale salmon color, and in others it looks to be more of a rusty orange color. It really is interesting that it changes so much.

After the excitement of seeing the color with my own eyes had worn off, it was time to get to work on the rest of the car. I was less involved with this portion (at least for a time) because a lot of it required mechanical aptitude, and as most are aware (and as pointed out earlier), this is not my forte. Instead, I worked on grinding rust off of wheels, hammering and buffing bumpers and other such tasks. Sam was feverishly working to get the engine in the car (which ended up taking longer than expected) and getting all the wiring in place for both the front and rear items (such as lights/turn signals, etc).

The pieces were all getting painted - now it had to be put together

At some point during week 9 of the project, my mind began to wander yet again. This time, it had nothing to do with paint, but rather questioning whether or not we should be doing this at all. The project, which seemed like a great, cost-efficient idea in the beginning, was now sucking the life out of both of us. We hadn't had a weekend off since November (and even worked through the holidays to try to get some momentum going) and it was taking its toll. I found myself just wanting the project to be over and done so we could go back to normal weekend activities - even if that meant cleaning, running the dogs, etc. This wasn't my idea of "fun" anymore, and I had definitely had enough of it. I started looking at newer cars, thinking that maybe we should just find an older model vehicle that runs well so this could all come to an end. We could sell the Beetle off as a project to someone else. At least it was in far better shape than when we bought it.

The frustration level for Sam had increased tremendously as well. His dad wasn't helping matters by continuously telling him to just give it up. "Why are you in such a hurry to get this done?" was a regular question he was plagued with responding to from both his father and his dad's friends. The truth is, neither one of us are good with super long-term projects, and getting this wrapped up soon was a necessity or it wasn't ever going to be finished. It would end up like most long projects we start: in a pile somewhere that gets forgotten until years later, and then eventually gets sold or donated to someone else.

The wheels were getting put on the car so it could stand on its own,and the engine had
at least been dropped into the car.  As a side note, how cool would this car look with cream tires? Man, I wish someone made those (not the white-walls, but actual, all cream tires... drool!).

Time really seemed to be wearing on, and although in truth this project was getting completed incredibly quickly (particularly in comparison to most vehicle restoration projects), it was difficult to maintain interest and enthusiasm. I believe we both felt that once the paint was on the car, the rest of the project would be done soon thereafter. It didn't exactly work that way. Every little piece seemed to take two to four times longer than expected and the most difficult thing was knowing we had reached a point at which there wasn't much I could do to contribute to the project. This left Sam with the bulk of the work and I have no doubt it put a strain on him. It didn't help that I was constantly upset about both the time being spent working on the project and the fact that it seemed to be taking so much longer than the initial time frame.

The outside of the car still wasn't completed yet either (despite what I had believed). I had gone over the entire car buffing out the paint, but there were a lot of bumps and spots that just didn't look right, so it was determined that I would need to wet-sand the entire car and then buff it again to get the paint job to the best it could be for a home-done project. I had accepted that the car wouldn't be perfect, but I still wanted it to be its best.

When I arrived one Saturday morning to set to work on this task, I discovered a few decent sized scratches over one of the rear fenders. "What the &$@# happened?!" came screeching out of my mouth. I couldn't help myself. All of this work, and it already had scratches. It hadn't even been on the road yet. Sam shared that while attaching the fender he'd scratched the side of the car, but that it wasn't down to the metal. Trying to calm myself down, I repeated silently that in the grand scheme of things, it really wasn't a big deal. Again, this is a 40+ year old vehicle, and it isn't going to be perfect, but I was so beside myself seeing what had happened that I couldn't control my annoyance. I was assured that touch up paint could be used, and that there were other spots that needed to be fixed anyway.

Beetle bumpers had to be replaced - these aren't perfect, but I cleaned them up as best I could for now

I decided it was pointless to wet sand the car on this particular trip out because there was still work being done to the outside of the vehicle, so I opted to wait until later when it was almost finished to do this task. In the meantime, insulation was something I might be able to handle doing, so I went about that process, while Sam continued to work on getting the details on the front end correct and getting the final tire mounted to the front wheel (which had become a huge issue at this point). The inside of the Beetle was still a wreck for the most part, but the interior had been saved as one of the later projects to keep the new light colored upholstery and headliner from turning brown while exposed to the dirt and grime in any working garage. Pieces seemed to be everywhere, and while we probably should've organized them in a somewhat logical fashion, that just doesn't seem to be the way we do things.

Now, at 12 weeks into the project, I was told that there was one week left. Of course, I no longer believed Sam's timelines, so I presumed we had at least another month left to work on the Beetle. Sam feverishly worked on installing the carpet and getting interior pieces put in to the dash. He even bought the roof rack I'd been wanting; I'm sure, in an attempt to keep me motivated about the project. It wasn't that I had lost faith in him, but I was mentally and physically done with the constant trips to the farm and the seemingly never-changing outcome of this car. It had to be finished at some point, right?

The Beetle interior, slowly coming together. Getting that steering wheel to fit was like magic, too. It wasn't supposed to fit this year of Beetle (and didn't, as I can attest), but the wonder of Sam made it happen. 

The weekend that followed, we attempted to put in the headliner, thinking that this would be a simple, though perhaps slightly time-consuming portion of the project. Unfortunately, we couldn't figure out what we were doing wrong in the process of putting it in, so we had to do some research before we could go any further. It also meant that we couldn't move forward with the interior because the headliner had to be in so that we could put the window rubber and glass in to the car.

By the middle of the following week, a video had arrived to help us understand what we'd been doing wrong with the headliner, and because I was in freak-out mode, Sam said he would go up that weekend alone to work on the headliner and to get the windows put in. The headliner was still quite a difficult task and still isn't quite right (we've discussed possibly having a professional redo this at some point in the future, or possibly if/when a ragtop is installed later). It doesn't look too horrible, and for people who don't do this sort of thing on a regular basis, it is satisfactory for the time being.

Most of the windows had been installed at this point... very exciting... and a bit of the insulation work is visible too!

The windshield turned out to be yet another headache. Sam and his dads' friend tried for over 8 hours to attempt to get it in with no luck. No matter what they did, the windshield refused to cooperate. Finally, Sam's dad said he would take it into a shop during the week and have it shaved down a bit; however, we learned quickly that it was actually the rubber purchased for the windshield that was creating the problem. After the correct rubber was found, the windshield went in pretty quickly (in about an hour). The lesson? Don't spend 8 hours attempting to install something that doesn't fit. The rest of the windows went in as expected, for the most part, and the addition of rear pop-out windows will be much appreciated when both defrosting the rear window becomes necessary, and when the temperatures heat up to allow for extra air circulation.

Hey wait, no A/C?! I don't remember agreeing to that.

At this point, we knew that the end was in sight, but of course, there were small things discovered that were missing. Items such as a missing taillight lens, and a screw for the front turn signal were becoming a nuisance. They were items we couldn't find locally, so the internet was the only resource that made sense. This, of course, created some additional delays (although we became experts at ordering on Sunday evening in order to receive parts on Friday, so as to not delay the process further). On the up side, the engine had turned over at this point - and from the actual ignition switch, rather than needing to be jumped - so we were excited that things were finally starting to come together. "One more weekend" became a regular saying in our house, but every weekend it really did feel as though we only needed one more.

Eventually, that one more weekend would have to be a reality, but it wasn't time for that just yet. As the project moved toward an end point, Sam became frustrated with wiring the turn signals. When the Beetle had been disassembled by its prior owner, he had removed all the wiring, so it was incredibly frustrating attempting to understand where everything was supposed to go. With our wish to finish this project sooner than later, Sam was beyond annoyed that he'd spent endless hours attempting to decipher a "mapping" of the wiring he'd found online. In the end, it made more sense to spend our time elsewhere on other items, and Sam asked his dad for help with this piece, since this is what he does for a living after all.

Sam got the headlights to work, and fashioned a system to utilize these older style bumpers... he's a handy fella!

It was time to start getting more of the little things done to the Beetle. Things such as installing seat belts, mirrors, trim, and the like were getting closer to actually being attempted. The last weekend of this project there were a multitude of seemingly small things that needed to get done, but some of them would require creativity. For example, we'd had to purchase new taillight lens/covers, and they just wouldn't fit, so figuring out a way to "make" them work was a head-scratcher. Sam also wanted to fashion a hitch for a trailer (goodness knows I'll look like a lunatic towing anything behind this baby, but hey, I'm game to give it a try!), which needed to be fabricated and installed. All the trim still needed to be put on the car, as well as side-view mirrors, door panels, and the seat heater (that's right people... I get a driver's side heated seat in this little beauty - believe me, it will be necessary in the cold of winter). The stereo needed to be connected, the back seat needed to be properly installed... oh, and there was this pesky little business with an oil leak that needed to be fixed.

The "final" weekend (otherwise known as week 19), I was not present at the farm. Sam decided to take a long weekend and just get everything wrapped up. I had work to do at home, and he does better without distractions, so he went to town attempting to get everything completed on his own (I think he secretly wanted the pleasure of proving he could finish the car, and being able to drive it home to "officially" give it to me). There was quite a list of items to be done though, even if they were seemingly small things. I had high hopes that this was the final push and the project would come to an end, so I held on, waiting to hear how all was going.  The emails were few and short, but I received the photo below with a note that the car is "a trip to drive."

Finally, in the outdoors, she is starting to seem like a "real" car.

The Beetle arrived home on Sunday - my very own little Easter basket. It wasn't exactly finished, but the things that are still missing will be done during short stints at home, rather than attempting to travel the distance to the farm each weekend. I happened to be working in my studio when Sam arrived home, and I have a view to the street. As I saw the car drive up and park just in view from my window, I couldn't help but feel absolute joy. Oh, what a happy day! I'm sure I was grinning ear to ear like some ridiculous Cheshire cat. Even the neighbors popped over for a quick look at the newest addition. It's hard not to notice it, I think. Even during a quick drive to remove the filth that had built up and to put gas in we received several glances - even a, "Nice car!" from the guy filling up next to us. It's funny to see people smiling at a car. I think there really are so many memories for those who had experiences in a Beetle.

Kind of strange to see the same car in a different state of existence

Okay, so the dash isn't finished yet, and the air flow unit isn't exactly working, it's missing side mirrors, it's leaking water in a few spots, there is a piece of rubber missing, and a few other items to be resolved, but I was so, so, so excited just to be able to get behind the wheel of this project that seemed as though it would never come to an end. True, it isn't exactly over, but I am elated that it is here and usable while we finish up.

The dash isn't quite wrapped up, but certainly better than it was prior

There are several modifications on this Beetle from its original state (some that are perhaps more apparent, and others that are likely only noticeable to a VW enthusiast), but it is definitely, uniquely my car (okay, it's our car... but believe me when I say my personal aesthetic choices are everywhere). We even nicknamed it, "Frankenbeetle" for a time because of all the seemingly bizarre choices that probably shouldn't work, but somehow came together in the end.

Through all of this, I have learned that vehicle restoration is not for the faint of heart. Nor is it for those with little patience (myself included). Whatever the budget may be, it needs to be doubled (or maybe even tripled, depending on the base of the original budget), and if it's a vehicle that is older, more than likely sending away for parts is the only way to obtain what is needed - and that, of course, adds to the time frame needed to complete the project.  I have learned that we (as a couple) have the ability to do almost anything together, and even if we bicker about the little things sometimes, we can find solutions that work. I have witnessed the fact that we are both capable of sacrifice for one another, and it isn't something that will be lorded over the other at some point down the line.

While Sam quite frequently gives in to my requests, I am thankful he didn't let me give up on this car. Yes, it's just a vehicle and a means of transportation, and it is certainly replaceable (though the exact car is not, as it contains quite a mix of parts throughout the Beetle decades of manufacture), I don't think the experience of this project is something that could be duplicated. I believe we both learned that we can motivate each other when we don't necessarily want to continue on, just as we can be each others' doom when in the wrong frame of mind; but in the end, we can depend on each other when it's really needed...and who doesn't want to know that in a relationship?

Although the Beetle isn't entirely finished at this point, it is to a state that it is now drive-able and usable. While I wouldn't want to start over on this particular project, I am so very grateful for the experience - and for the adorable, fun vehicle to get us to where we need to go. So, to all who have endured this written tale and/or heard the constant statement, "We're working on a project. It should be done soon," here you go... the Beetle saga, somewhat at its end point. Oh, and if you're wondering, she does have a name:  Gidget Francis (any mid-century era So Cal surfers will likely get the Gidget reference, and Francis to stick with the "Frankenbeetle" idea). My thanks to Sam for his patience with me and this project, as well as kudos to his mighty talents, which never cease to amaze me. Now, I just have to test out a theory - am I actually faster on my bike than in this VW? :O)

**Note: If like me you just can't get enough of the photos, there are a few more to be seen here of the project through various stages of progress.

Happy Black Friday and Goodbye to an "Extra" Car

Well, since I missed wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving (boy, yesterday was a crazy-busy day for a holiday, and I spent entirely too much of the day in the kitchen), I will hope that all had a beautiful day and that "Black Friday" won't be/wasn't horribly painful. If you're like me, you avoid any semblance of shopping the day after Thanksgiving anyway, and definitely only want to go places I can ride my bike. Today was absolutely no exception, and we found ourselves only wandering into second hand and other thrift-type stores. Funny enough, we can't seem to miss the bicycles, even when we're not looking for them. Our local Habitat for Humanity has several bicycles for the cost of a few cups of coffee (apologies for the not-so-great photos).

This Fuji just needs a bit of work, but looks to run just fine.

The Gary Fisher here was quite small, but looks to be a well running mountain bike... hey, wait if someone wants a mountain bike, I have my own I'm trying to sell. :O)

Today is also about as opposite of a "Black Friday" as one could imagine for us. Instead of spending money, in the long run we will actually be putting money back in our pockets with the sale of one of our vehicles. The Honda Civic has been sold and officially departs our ownership as of 3p (MST) today. Neither of us could be more thrilled. Losing this payment and the insurance costs alone will be a major addition to our income, and we're both kind of amazed that it's taken us so long to realize that we definitely don't need this kind of extra in our lives.

So, even though it's the day after Thanksgiving, I would like to give thanks for the ability to get out from under this good size financial burden, and for knowing that we'll be able to live more comfortably in the long run without this cash-draining machine (which is not to say that it was a bad car at all - for a car, it's actually quite cost-efficient. Is that a kind of oxymoron? Not sure). We were able to get out of the payments almost exactly evenly, which makes the sale all the better. While I'm a bit nervous about what is in store for us, I know that this is the best decision we could have made at this point in our lives.

The Move to a Car-Less {or Car-Limited) Life

I'm always a bit hesitant to talk about cars in our household, mostly because I realize what a true dependency is present in our lives. While I love my bicycles and ride whenever possible, vehicles have also been a huge part of my life since the day I earned my driver's license at age 16. I have had a love of cars that has been quite intense, but over the years that love has slowly waned. In our time together (about a decade), we have been a two-car household, but for the first time in our lives we will very soon be a one-car home - by choice.

*Image from Activerain.com

The Brief Back Story...
Both of us have always been car people, and by car people I don't mean that we feel the need to go everywhere in a car, but rather that we've both always been in to cars. We appreciate the looks, the feel, and the speed. Unfortunately, it's difficult to tell someone who is completely in love with the very idea of cars to just give them up, particularly when said person doesn't live in an area with a lot of good public transportation or bicycle infrastructure. Even with our extreme love of getting around by bicycle, it's no easy feat to say adios to the four-wheeled transportation.

Sam grew up with a father as a mechanic and definitely got a lot of skill and aptitude from him (as well as a love for cars). He grew up working on his own vehicle and helping out friends who weren't as blessed with the mechanical gift. He's certainly seen his fair share of cars, and quite honestly, I've probably been the worst influence on him when it comes to new cars - thanks, at least in part, to my obsessive need to check out the latest vehicle on the market. I've been no better having owned nearly a couple dozen cars during the driving portion of my life.

Somewhat recently, I was sucked in by the Fiat 500 commercials (I'm not a huge JLo fan, but that car is adorable and quirky - like me!) and I made it my mission to talk Sam into coming with me to take a test drive. While normally this would start an instant need-to-have obsession that wouldn't stop until purchase of the vehicle, something surprising happened. I didn't love the car, or, at least the idea of the car. Sure it was cute, unique, and fun to drive, and people were staring and smiling as we went down the road, but something clicked in my head. It started with questions about whether or not it was actually functional for me. On a regular basis I have three dogs to haul around, and on top of that, I have large paintings that have to be carted as well. Is this really an appropriate choice for our needs (not my wants)?

The Reality Check...
Beyond functionality of a new vehicle, we have two late-model cars that run perfectly fine. For years now, we've talked about living somewhere that would allow us to live car-free (or at least with only one car that we don't make payments on), and while we're not exactly in that location, we've discussed the very real possibility of selling one of the cars and finally being free of at least a portion of the monthly shackles. Buying a new car is certainly not taking us in that direction. Am I suddenly becoming logical and reasonable? Am I (God forbid) growing up?

This week, we've made contact with a few places to get bids for the purchase of one of the vehicles in our household. The best part about this potential sale is that it's going to eliminate a $390/month car payment, $40/month in insurance, and about $100/month in gas - not to mention car registration costs, maintenance, and so on. This in turn may actually allow me to pursue my dream of working solely as an artist. Once we realized that the costs of this one vehicle would cover the costs of my school loan repayment, how could we not give it up?

A Brighter Future...
While this isn't going to leave us completely car-less (I'm honestly not sure that our location and responsibilities will ever allow us to be completely car-free), it is moving us in a direction that we believe to be much more positive in respect to both our overall health (we'll definitely ride more if a car isn't always at our disposal), and our pocket book (the cost savings of over $500/month is well worth the loss of a car, in my opinion). I know it will take some adjustment for both of us, but I am thrilled to be moving down a path that will actually allow for more freedom. After hearing the local story about the folks who lost their cars, I think the sooner we become less dependent on this machinery, the happier we will be in the long run.

No Car = No Survival?

There's a news story circulating about a couple outside of Denver (in Wheat Ridge) who recently lost both of their cars due to an unknown individual torching both cars via the gas tanks. Here's the actual newscast.

I don't want to sound heartless, because I really do feel for these people, and no one deserves to have anything taken from them that they own. However, I do think this is an interesting example of people claiming that their lives are basically over because they don't have a car any longer. It's amazing to me how completely dependent on these machines we have become. Do we really need a car to find a job when there is a bus system to get around, a bicycle, the light rail, or any number of other possibilities (like walking, asking a neighbor for a ride, etc). To provide some perspective, here is a map of the Wheat Ridge area and its proximity to Denver {scale is 1 inch = 2 miles}.

Full size map and source from Google 

When I listen to the newscast, I get a definite sense from both the owner and the reporter that not having these two cars is going to all but end their lives. It makes me a bit sad that people aren't more resilient and able to see possible alternatives. What if all the cars burned up? Would life suddenly come to a halt?

I think this particularly hit home for me as we have some household discussion in the works that I'll be sharing very soon, but in the mean time, I'm curious what others think. Do you think your life would be over if you lost your automobile(s) and could not afford to replace it, or would you simply find other ways to get around?

Expecting the Expected

I was on a group bike ride a few weeks ago. We were riding along, enjoying our Friday afternoon, decompressing, and taking in what was left of the daylight. As we approached a red signal, we all came to a stop in the middle of the lane, waiting for the light to turn green so we could proceed to the other side. As we waited for the light to change, a car turning left to head in the opposite direction yelled out to us. Everyone seemed to ignore it, or look a little perturbed. I glanced over at Sam, confused about what was happening. Shaking his head he said, "It takes all kinds."

*Image from bicycle.net

This only confused me more. "What?" I asked. "The woman," he said, "shouting out rude things to us." I couldn't help but laugh. I said, "She said, 'Great job! Keep it up!'"

This incident made me think that as bicycle riders we may be anticipating and even expecting motorists to be rude, say hateful things, or try to nudge us (or in some cases, full on push us) off the road. I couldn't help but wonder if, at times, perhaps we are creating a world in which we "expect the expected." Meaning that we so often see and experience bad behaviors on the road that it can cause us to think that every driver on the road is out to get us.

What do you think? Is it possible that we sometimes create an incident or make it a larger matter than it really is because we are so keenly aware of the possibilities and/or past experiences while riding?

Bicycle vs Car

An interesting quick video on one woman's choice to pick up a bicycle instead of driving everywhere.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Now, if only people would come to a similar conclusion when gas prices are down. I understand that the cost of a gallon of gas is often a huge motivator for people to try to save some money, but I think it goes beyond the price of filling the tank. Shouldn't we just take these short trips by foot or bicycle anyway? It seems so wasteful of resources to take those 2 mile and under trips by car... but maybe that's just me?

Critical Mass Disaster

Holy cow! If you haven't seen this video, I hope you'll take the 22 seconds to watch it. My jaw literally dropped watching this, as I cannot believe someone would be so brazen in his/her attempts to run over bicyclists.

The peaceful critical mass ride was taking place in Brazil. More on the story can be found here.

The New Car

About a week and a half ago, Sam and I were roaming about town, checking out some flea market/mercantile shops, and just generally enjoying ourselves. We got onto a topic that had been coming up with more frequency recently: my car. My CRV, though not very old chronologically, had acquired a lot of miles. Between the job I held prior to going back to school in which I easily covered 600-800 miles each week (sometimes more), and my current 70 mile run to classes each day I attend on campus, I had very quickly racked up high mileage on the car. The plan was to hang on to it until I am through with school because we saw no real point in getting a newer car with lower mileage until I am once again working and bringing in an income.

The CRV carrying the now-sold Raleigh Super Course MK2

While Sam and I were talking about the mileage accruing on the CRV, we decided that I should really start looking at other cars to see what I like and what I want. We had talked in the past about another Honda, as I like the reliability, and I thought perhaps an Element or even a Fit. The Element had the benefit of lots of room for trips and for dogs and such, but the Fit would get great gas mileage and be more economical. We decided to go and test drive the two so I'd have a better idea of what I would like in the future. Long story short, with absolutely zero intention of purchasing a vehicle, we ended up buying the Honda Fit.

The Fit at one of the dog parks we frequent

There were several reasons for the purchase. First, I have no choice but to drive to school, unless I want to spend 6+ hours a day on a bicycle, and even then there's the issue of transporting very large canvas or Masonite supports, paints, brushes, etc with me on a bike. While the CRV likely would've seen me through the rest of my schooling time, it was due for some fairly major repairs that would be costly (reason number two), even with a mechanic for a father-in-law and a husband who's pretty mechanically inclined. Then, the car payment we were making on the CRV was quite costly. When we purchased the CRV used, it already had quite a few miles on it and we had another car wrapped up in the costs of that vehicle. Needless to say, the payment was not cheap. Honda was offering 0.9% financing with zero down, and our payment would be reduced significantly.

Hard to see, but the dogs are hanging out in the back of the Fit
(Yeah, I've already branded it with my bicycle sticker)

Honestly, I never thought the deal would even go down, but things just kind of worked out, and we figured it was for the best. The car is actually quite reasonable (cost wise, fuel wise, and size wise), and if I'm going to have a car, I'd rather it be something that is functional and economical. My biggest issue is that I was worried about transporting the dogs. I take them to a dog park almost daily so they can run and play and because none of the parks are within walking distance, I need to be able to transport them.

Gandolf, Levi and Chablis after running at the park

As you can see, they all fit just fine in the back of this little car. It helps that the back seats fold completely flat like a truck bed. The down side of the whole thing is that the interior of all the Fit's are black, and as you can see, our dogs are all different colors (and the lighter ones shed the most). The car is completely covered with hair, but I suppose it's no different than it was before, except that I can see all of the hair now.

Back of the Fit with seats folded down

We put some plastic rolls in the back of the car to help keep some of the hair down, and to keep mud off the fabric of the seats, so I think that has been beneficial, at least somewhat. It also helps with transporting paintings. There is a limit to the size I can get in the back of the car, but I doubt I would be painting anything that large, unless it was on-site at a specific location.

As I mentioned the other day during one of my rants about bad drivers, it already has scratches to the paint, due to a large, speeding semi truck that was hurling chunks of metal at me while driving on the interstate. There is some damage to the hood plastic (which is the purpose of this covering) and a few dings to the paint on the front bumper.

Paint damage to front bumper

While I know that damage is inevitable on any moving object, I was so bummed that it happened just a few days after getting the car. Regardless of the small amount of damage, I think this was a reasonable decision and one that will help out financially by both reducing the car payment and reducing the amount of money spent on gas. After already putting nearly 1,000 miles on the car, I have to say, it's been a joy to drive... and though I know I won't be giving up my bicycles any time soon, it's nice to know that a reliable and economical vehicle is there for the long trips.