So, you, like the rest of the velocommuting community got excited about the recent passage of the Bicycle Commuter Transportation Benefit, right? $20 a month couldn’t hurt in times like these could it?

And then you pitched the idea to your boss…and the gal in finance who does payroll…and anybody else who will listen to you at the water cooler…and watched time after time as eyes glazed over and the conversation seemed to wind around and around getting nowhere…

I know the feeling!

Trust me - there are a lot of folks out there scratching their heads about this benefit to folk like you and me.

All I can say is to try and take a deep breath, knowing there are folks working on it. Just know that your faithful House Representative/Biker’s rights champion Earl Blumenauer is not going to take this laying down.

For now, I recommend going Here to find out the latest recommendations (the League of American Bicyclists promises to update their FAQ on the Benefit as things develop).

And then, if you are still frustrated by all of the bureaucratic bungling, try going for a ride. What’s $20 anyway compared to the daily freedom from the anger and frustrations of car commuting? Ahh…the cold, clean air of a winter morning…

Happy velocommuting!

Check out this hilarious video the folks over at New Belgium have put together to celebrate their new Team Wonderbike blog.

Now, the site is supposed to be only for folks who are over 21 and we know that lots of people who commute by bicycle who are not of drinking age. Regardless, these folks bring the right spirit to the concept of biking to work.

Just read their inspirational page, Why I Ride, to see what I mean…

Here’s a couple of good tips: Be creative, start small, and don’t let obstacles slow you down.

So says Christina Laun in her article posted yesterday over at JobProfiles.org, called 100 Tips for a Better, Greener Career.

This is an outstanding resource and reference that Laun and the folks at JobProfiles have compiled. It is also inspiring to read and contains lots of helpful tips, links, and book recommendations.

One notable exception from the reading list that I will recommend now is The Chelsea Green Guide, Biking to Work, by Rory McMullan. It’s a quick read, but I find it to be a good reference and easy to pass on to a friend who is also considering making the switch.

I will also add one more recommendation to Laun’s list: Try to figure out who YOU are and follow your own path.

You said it, Jim!

You can purchase this comic at The Cincinnati Enquirer website.

Yes, folks, it’s that time of year again. Time to dust off the commuter bicycle and ride to work. Riding a bicycle is an easy choice this Bike-to-Work Month, given the astronomical gasoline prices. I say, save your $5-10 gas money for a day’s commute and ride a bicycle. That way, you can really splurge at lunch time, when you need to fuel up for the way home. Hey, it’s no way to save money, but you could always let your Y membership lapse for the summer.

Remember, if you haven’t ridden a bicycle in traffic in a while, to take the lane if there is no bike path. Don’t ride too close to parked cars or the curb. By taking the whole lane, you avoid the mentality that drivers think there is room for a bicycle and a car in the lane, which is usually not true. If you feel bad making cars behind you go so slowly, pull over, stop, and let them pass.

If you do not have a mirror on your bike, remember that turning around to look at traffic behind you can be disorienting. Use caution looking behind when in traffic.

There is plenty more inspiration and information on velocommuter and elsewhere online. However, if you want a quick little reference book, try Rory McMullan’s “Biking to Work.”

~ms

Lance Armstrong, the seven-time winner of the Tour de France (did I need to mention that?) is a bicycle commuter and he wants more people to be like him. He is opening an 18,000 square foot bike shop in the downtown Austin area.

Artists rendering of the future Mellow Johnny’s (Photo courtesy of Austin360.com)

Mellow Johnny’s, named for the nickname Armstrong earned while wearing the Tour de France leader’s “maillot jaune,” or yellow jersey, will be housed in a yellow- and red-brick building next to the music venue La Zona Rosa. It is a block north of the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, a path that will cut east-west through downtown Austin.

The store will feature showers and a locker room so that velocommuters can wash up before heading to work in nearby office and retail space.

Lance Armstrong, in Mellow Johnny’s on Wednesday with, from left, manager Craig Staley, general partner Bart Knaggs and building designer Michael Hsu (Photo Credit: Austin360.com)

“This city is exploding downtown. Are all these people in high rises going to drive everywhere? We have to promote (bike) commuting,” says Armstrong. “This can be a hub for that.”

Click Here to view a video of Lance talking about his new project.

~ms

(photo courtesy of 1world2wheels.org)

Trek has launched a sustainability website called 1 World 2 Wheels. This is their attempt to show people how to commute to and from work by bicycle. They have lots of useful information and great instructional videos.

We have been impressed by the selection of bikes that Trek has added to its lineup recently. However, while they have the basics covered, the number of options is limited. We need bikes that have the basics covered and that look good when we hop on and ride. For example, why not nice-looking fenders on the Lime? Still not offered for 2008? Hmmm…

~ms

Specialized Bicycles recently hosted a contest entitled Innovate or Die, in which contestants were encouraged to create a machine that is powered by pedals and “transforms pedal energy into new and useful purposes.”

The Winner, shown in the video above, is definitely worth a prize. What a great idea! Way to go guys!

~ms

Well, you know we like the Trek Lime, right? Well, there are a few others that fall into the category of “Bikes for people who don’t like bikes.” Including the Raleigh Coasting:

(Image courtesy of raleighusa.com)

and the Giant Suede:

(Image courtesy of giant-bicycles.com)

Shimano helped create these bicycles for those of us who want to have a smaller footprint on the planet, but don’t really like wearing Spandex or Lycra when we are in public. Just hop on, put your feet on the pedals, and go!

You might enjoy Shimano’s Coasting website, which gives us plenty of good reasons to leave our car in the driveway and go for a ride.

~ms

Take the 2 Mile Challenge! According to Clif Bar’s new biking website, 40% of all car trips in the U.S. are less than 2 miles. They issue the challenge to ride your bike to move about within that 2 mile area.

It’s a great website and another great idea from Clif. Time to get motivated!

~ms