Bike There

You can drive there. You can take public transit there. You can even walk there. And you know it's probably not long until Google Maps adds a "bike there" option when you get directions somewhere. GoogleMapsBikeThere is a website encouraging Google Maps to make the change. They offer a petition for anyone to sign as well.

Or you can support RideTheCity, who now have maps for NYC, Chicago, and Austin. Help them support maps for your city. So far they offer direct routes, safe routes, and safer routes.

Legnano Bianchi

Right now on ebay, there's this beautiful Bianchi up for auction. This is just out of my price range, otherwise I might consider buying it. Beautiful design, though.

Legnano Bianchi

Locking Your Bike

As a folding bike owner, locking your bike isn't the biggest concern. It's easy to keep indoors when you're home, or in the trunk if your car isn't far. But it's inevitable, even folding bikes will have to be locked up at times.

Here's a humorous, but informative video on locking your bike.

The First

After my interest developed into an obsession I started to keep an eye out on craigslist for a decent folder. Nashville is not a good place to be looking for one. Luckily I found a few in California a week before I took a trip back home. I got this one the first week I was there.

This is what I hope is the first of a small folding bike collection. It says Bianchi, but I'm not completely sure if it is as I"ve seen tons of the same model online with different labels. But I've also seen others labeled Bianchi so I'll leave it as that. I originally didn't like the purple and was planning to paint it the first week I got it, but after a few rides with it, the color grew on me, so I think I'll be keeping it. I never thought I could get so attached to a bike.

I was never one to fuss with car racks, so the folder suits me best. When it's folded, it's not incredibly compact, but just enough to fit nicely in the trunk which is the main reason I wanted it. I took it to Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Mission/Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach and Newport, which is where the picture was taken. It's a great coaster, the wheels are 20" which is pretty much a BMX wheel which is what I've always been comfortable with. For photographers, it's great because you can pull over a lot easier for shots you stumble upon, and you seem to stumble on them more often. The phrase "stop and smell the roses" comes to mind.

And for bikers in Newport Beach, make sure and take the ferry to Balboa Island.

I did, however, leave the bike back in California, but I plan to get another one somewhere on this side of the country.

The Start of Something

So I recently redeveloped a love for cycling, something I haven't had since I was roughly the age of 13. I used to keep my Dyno Nitro parked on the side of my house until it was stolen, and I haven't owned a bike since.

Last year I saw a documentary made about Reyner Banham, an architectural critic, exploring Los Angeles during the 1970s. Early on in the film, they show the architect riding around town on a bike with 16" wheels (I think). I had never seen such proportions on a bicycle, especially on an older model, and I quickly became intrigued by the style.

This is how I was introduced to the folding bicycle, a concept that was so new to me, but has been around for a while. My intrigue has since been my obsession.

Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles