FitSugar

Urban Biking 101: "Sharrows"

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:02:02 -0700

You know I love a little word play, and "sharrows" might just be my new favorite portmanteau.

I have seen these arrows on the road for years but learned their formal name this morning listening to a radio program about San Francisco's new bike plan. Which sounds awesome, by the way! The share-the-road-arrows are painted on the road to help guide cyclists through designated routes and demarcate bike lanes. They also act as a visual reminder for drivers to share the road and to look out for cyclists.

In Praise of Urban Biking

FitSugar — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 02:30:00 -0700

After watching An Inconvenient Truth, I started asking "What would Al Gore Do?" as I walked around my house turning out lights left on in empty rooms - or when my husband left the car idling. I guess the answer to that question would be, "He would win a Nobel Peace Prize! That is what Al Gore would do."

FitSugar gives a big congratulations to Al Gore and the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for their shared win of the Nobel Prize. In honor of this momentous nod to changing our ways to positively affect climate change, I wanted to take a moment to praise urban biking. Biking is a great way to get about town and not only decreases your carbon footprint, but it gives you a workout too. Parking is easy as well. You just ride right up to where you are going and lock up your bike. If the streets are over congested, you can speed past all those cars on your agile two wheeled, pedal-powered bike. That's why David Byrne likes to bike in NYC.

Do you bike around town? Tell me about why you like it in the comment section below.

P.S. I am wondering where this cute urban biker's helmet is? I do think Al would suggest protecting her noggin while protecting the environment – don't you?

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All Kinds of Gifts For Bikers

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:32 -0800

Nothing beats heading out for a ride on Christmas day decked out in new gear with all sorts of new biking accessories. From full fingered, padded cycling gloves - a wintertime must have - to entry level biking computers, this list has something every cyclist wants. If your biking friend has everything, splurge and give them a biking computer with a built in heart rate monitor for the full fitness riding experience. Fancy cycling knickers are a perfect gift too. Even if there is snow on the ground, these padded knickers will be great for early Spring rides after the thaw. Don't forget the urban cyclist either. I have found a great set of panniers and a super cute bike basket as well. Take a gander at the gifts and tell me what cycling gear you covet for Christmas.

Get in Gear: Jeep Compass Folding Bike

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:00:00 -0800

Bikes are a great way to get out and explore while burning a few (hundred) calories. Problem is that many of us don't have room for a bike in our small city apartments, or that we don't have bike racks on our cars, and we can't fit them inside. You want to bike but what is a girl to do?

With a Jeep folding bike, those problems finally become things of the past! The Jeep Compass 20" folding bike ($299) takes less than 8 cubic feet of cargo space, that's less than 1/5th of the cargo space in a typical mid-size SUV -- It even fits easily in the trunk of a mid-size sedan with plenty of room for all your stuff. The Jeep folding bike has 6-speed indexed gear shifting to ease the hills, and the rear rack can carry your gear for you. This bike has quality construction throughout, including an aluminum folding frame, mudguards and a kickstand.

Now you can keep a bike in your small apartment or even in your dorm room. How cool is that? Buy one on ABikeStore.com.

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Fit's Tip: If you are an avid biker, this may not be the bike for you as it is meant for people who want to bike but can't due to space restrictions, not for people who clock 200 miles a week on their bike.

Electronic Foldable YikeBike: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:29:51 -0700

If bikes were as ubiquitous as cars, the ozone might not look like lace. In addition to being a great form of exercise, biking is also a great way to deal with heavily trafficked urban streets. In case you don't want to pedal, but still don't want to sit in traffic, there is the YikeBike. This mini two-wheeler is electric, so there is no need to pedal. It has been redesigned in other ways as well. The handlebars are next to the seat so you sit upright instead of hunched over to improve visibility. The speed is limited, so it can only go about 12 mph (20 km/hour), even downhill. Being fairly new, this bike costs around $5,500 - considerably more than a really nice road bike. Check out this video to see the YikeBike in action.

Do you like the Yike?

What Type of Bike is Right For You?

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Are you looking to get a new bike this summer? It can be pretty overwhelming to choose the right one once you see them all lined up at the store.

The best way to find a bike that is right for you is to ask yourself "What kind of rider am I?" Are you planning on riding on rocky terrain or do you plan on sticking to paved roads and bike paths? Are you a racer looking for a speedy, lightweight bike? Or do you plan on using your new bike to casually commute or enjoy a light Sunday ride?

Here are a few different types of bikes and what they are used for:

Mountain Bike: This bike has wide, knobby tires, so you can ride on almost any surface including dirt roads, mountain trails, and paved streets. This bike has a gear system, which is helpful when you're trucking up hills. It also has a sturdy frame and suspensions, which are helpful when you're on rugged terrain. It's a popular bike (it's what I have) since it's durable, fast and versatile, so you're not limited to certain types of roads.

Want to learn about the other types of bikes? Then read more

Road Bike: This bike is built for speed, so it can be used for racing, but also just for riding around. It has a lightweight frame and strong yet thin tires that are less than an inch wide. If you're planning on sticking to paved bike paths and streets, this could be the bike for you.

Hybrid Bike: This is a bike designed for use on roads and bike paths. It is influenced from both the road bike and the mountain bike, hence the name hybrid. The bike aims to retain the features of mountain bikes, which have made them accessible and popular, but are designed to be more suitable for urban use. Ultimately the manufacturer determines if the hybrid leans more to the mountain or road bike side.

Track Racing Bike: This bike is for serious racing. It's extremely lightweight and has no brakes, since brakes would add extra weight. It also has one fixed gear, so the rider can go as fast as possible. The handlebars are low, enabling the rider to lean down and increase his speed. If you are planning on racing, this is the kind of bike you should look at.

Street Bike (City Bike/Granny Bike): These bikes are made more for casually strolling the streets and/or commuting than for serious riding. The tires are like those you would find on a road bike but the bike itself is more elongated than your average bike. The city bike is very popular in urban areas right now, but they're especially popular in Holland.

Fit's Tips: I definitely recommend going to a trusty bike shop and riding a bunch of bikes to see what feels best to you. Also be sure to pick up a helmet when you buy that shiny new bike - You've got to protect that fabulous brain of yours.

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Get Paid to Bike to Work - Maybe

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:00:00 -0700

In January of this year, bicycles were added to the list of qualified modes of transportation to receive tax free benefits, previously just forms of mass transit qualified for the tax break. If biking to work is your standard commute, you could receive up to $20 month, tax free, too, from your employer. You can use that annual $240 to buy a bike, get some replacement tubes (urban biking leads to many flats!), or to invest in a new helmet. To qualify for the reimbursement you must regularly use your bike for a substantial portion of travel between home and work. However, "substantial portion" is defined rather vaguely defined.

Unfortunately, this program is voluntary so your employer isn't required to ante up even if you peddle yourself to your place of employ. I had hoped that commuting via bike would become a line-item tax credit on the federal income tax form - a cyclist can dream. Have any of you cyclists been able to take advantage of this new tax code? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Why Do You Ride a Bike?

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Whether you're a biking newbie or a seasoned urban biking vet, I can give you plenty of reasons to ride. It's fun, it's good exercise, and it's an eco-friendly way to get around. So what's your reason?

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Fit Gift: Citybike for the Urban Chic

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:00:00 -0800

Some people consider the urban lifestyle totally unhealthy but that does not have to be the case. Urban transportation is usually walking, biking, subway, bus or taxi. Walking can be time consuming and biking seems scary on a road bike with über-thin tires and mountain biking on Park Avenue seems wrong since mountain bikes are, well, made for mountains.

Ever been to Europe -- particularly the Netherlands-- and noticed all the bikes? Nearly 30% of transportation in Amsterdam is done by citybike, but it has never even been a real option over here.

Want to get your own super cool citybike? Then, read more

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Jorg & Olif Citybikes ($795-$1295) are bringing the citybike west for individuals who wish to redefine urban living...and do it in style. What is a citybike anyway? Unlike mountain bikes or road bikes, which are designed for off-road use and speed, citybikes are deliberately designed for city riding. Not sure you're into biking? 75% of Jorg & Olif's customers are new bikers. Their first US customers, Daryl Hannah and Chloe Sevigny, are pictured above.

First the Danish introduced us to banning trans fat and now the Dutch are introducing us to the citybike -- I'm beginning to think they've got a good thing going over there in Europe.

The bikes are so popular that they are on back order right now but the good folks over there know that when you order something, you want something so all orders will come with a free basket and very cool Christmas tree ornament. Leaving something to put "under the tree" until your bike arrives (in February).

*Thank you to Jorg & Olif, who provided me with the great pictures!

Could the Low-Car Diet Be For You?

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0800

There are many reason to rejoice for the low cost of gas, but our nation's overall health may not be one of them. One of the few benefits of shelling out big bucks at the gas pump was that people starting walking and biking more, as well as taking mass transit, which ultimately means walking more. This added exercise was not only good for the planet, but good for the waistline, too.

A recent study found a correlation between rates of "active transportation" - code for "not driving an automobile" - and obesity rates. Countries like Sweden, Netherlands, and Latvia have high rates of commuters, over 50 percent, who walk, bike, or use mass transit. These countries also have low obesity rates. Sweden's is only 9 percent. To contrast, some US states have obesity rates as higher than 30 percent and Colorado has the lowest at 19 percent. It is not surprising that Europeans "walk three times as far and cycle five times as far as Americans."

Zip Car, an eco-minded urban car rental company serving 12 US cities, has created the Low-Car Diet Challenge. It asks that you put your car keys away for 30 days and use some "active transportation" to get yourself around. By giving up driving for a month, people on the "low-car diet" increased the miles they walked by 85 percent and the miles they biked by 136 percent. With stats like that we could rival some of those European countries. This might not be the easiest thing to do in the Winter months, but it is a great idea. Maybe a possible New Year's resolution?

So I am curious . . .

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