The Packing Post

If you are planning a trip of any sort, you've probably encountered a mountain of advice about packing, solicited or not. If you're reading this, hopefully you're doing what I did: researching in excited anticipation of your trip! Unlike most bloggers, I do not currently have any sponsors or affiliates. All items here are provided simply because I purchased them myself.

1) Dry shampoo. I had heard about the wonders of dry shampoo but didn't purchase any until my last haircut before the trip. My stylist taught me how to use it and I bought a travel-sized spray can. I loved having it in my bag! I don't style or even blow-dry my hair. Still, when traveling there were days that I had to let my hair go unwashed a little longer than I would've liked, or had dinner reservations at the end of a day of cycling in the hot sun. Dry shampoo was an easy, no-hassle way to spruce up fast.

2) Cycling shorts. This is an item I didn't pack but should have. This trip was structured around cycling, after all, but I imagined leisurely rides with lots of stops. Honestly, that is mostly what we did, but several consecutive days of leisurely rides adds up to a sore rear that really could've used some cushion.

Reeuwijkse plassen, South Holland, Netherlands

3) Crocs. Perhaps I am biased as a Coloradan, but these shoes were objectively great for the trip. They added color to monochrome outfits, were classy enough for restaurants, passed for slippers at Spa Gouda, and functioned like flip flops at the beach and in locker room showers. I ended up using them far more than the ankle boots I packed for cooler weather and hiking.

Can't wait to get back!

4) Collapsible water bottles. It took us the entirety of our trip to figure out how to get free tap water at restaurants and other establishments in the Netherlands. We never figured out a way to access free potable water on trains. So these Platypus soft water bottles served us well. When empty, they cram easily into even overstuffed bags; great for airport security.

Overkill? Probably. But we lost two of them during the trip.

5) Compression socks or leggings. Jet lag wasn't too bad for me after our arrival, and I give partial credit to my compression leggings. If you plan to take long rides, they'll be useful for muscle recovery, too. They are light, take up very little space, and can be paired with a dress for versatility.

6) Travel towel. I doubted whether we would use this, and almost left it at home. About halfway through our trip, we moved it into our small packet of items to take everywhere, no matter the circumstances. It turns out The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy was right, one should always know where one's towel is. We used it as a blanket for a tired kid, a giant handkerchief for a nosebleed, a wipe to treat road rash, a shawl in unexpected cold, a picnic blanket and—yes—a towel. That said, one travel towel was plenty for our family of four; there is no need to pack one per person.

7) That's it. Seriously! It is nearly impossible to pack too little for a trip to any first-world country, especially during a warm season. As a friend assured me before my trip, almost every problem can be solved with a passport and debit/credit card. Here is a list of things I'd take again that you'll find on any packing list, but even these could've been purchased at our destination(s) without much hassle.

• Zip-off pants
• Rain jacket
• Swimsuit
• Sun hat
• Minimum quantity of clothing in quick-drying material. Try to pack only two tops, one bottom in addition to the cycling shorts and zip-off pants, and a dress for us gals. 4-5 pairs of underwear. Your compression socks are probably the only socks you need unless you never wear sandals.

We were able to pack one backpack per person, plus a packable bag for the whole family to use for overflow, laundry or shopping. I bought most of our backpacks at Arc Thrift, but splurged on this awesome convertible backpack pannier for my spouse. We averaged about 15 lbs. per person and in retrospect, I would've packed even lighter!

I over-packed.

Bike to Work Day

Mr. Rogers said that "play is really the work of childhood." So, it seemed fitting that today this guy biked to his play/work at SPREE camp like a boss.

He loves riding on those pink rumble strips! It was mercifully overcast today, making for near perfect riding conditions. We got a lot of smiles from other cyclists, and a few people encouraged or complimented him. On my ride home with his red bike in the empty box bike, I also received a comment from a stranger: "Good work, mom."

Good work.

I hope everyone had a lovely ride to work this morning. I know that our sometimes excessively long bicycle commutes help our whole family stay happy, healthy, and more productive, for which I am grateful.

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fredrogers193081.html

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fredrogers193081.html

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Family Biking (Part 1)

The Agony

We finally had our Murphy's Law ride on Saturday morning. We embarked on a 10 mile ride (one way) to a friend's house for brunch. I was feeling wiped out already, and considered driving while Kevin rode with the kids. "Go on, it's sunny! Exercise will do you good," offered an encouraging, angelic voice in my psyche. So I dragged myself out to the garage and hoisted myself onto my regular bike.

A spoke broke on the rear wheel of the box bike (aka The Beest) about halfway though our ride. We couldn't really single out a traumatic event that caused it, so we chalked it up to possible prior damage from our cafe lock. However, the wheel was visibly out of true, making The Beest wobble like crazy for approximately four miles (not fun for Kevin).

Within a mile of our destination, the rear wheel just shredded; ultimately a total of 5 spokes broke. We were a 15 minute walk from our friends' house, so we disembarked and started walking. Fortunately the kids were fairly well rested for the walk, having ridden in the box bike for quite a while. I texted another friend attending the brunch who was just leaving home. She split up with her husband so they could bring an extra car for us in case we needed a ride home (it is a good thing that they did).

A couple of months ago, we joined AAA because they offer a ride for you and your bike: free for the first 7 miles and a nominal fee for further distances. Kevin called AAA, explained that we had a cargo bike in need of transportation, and walked The Beest to our friend's house so it would be ready to load when AAA arrived.

I'm not sure what the dispacher thought "cargo bike" meant, but they certainly were not prepared for The Beest.

There goes plan B.

The AAA driver exclaimed at least 50 times that he had never seen anything like this in his life.

We determined that The Beest could fit in our friends' SUV while I went with the AAA driver and shredded rear wheel (with my own regular bike on the standard bike rack) to our cycle repair shop, Campus Cycles. We love a lot of bike shops in the area but Campus Cycles has a spoke cutter, which allows them to repair our non-standard wheel quickly. It is an easy ride home from Campus Cycles, so I could get the car and drive back to brunch to retrieve the kids. Kevin went home with our friend in the vehicle carrying The Beest.

Bottom line: we all got home and no one died of exposure... thanks to our vehicle-driving friends, lots of delicious food and beverage* at our destination, and AAA. Next time, we will be sure to emphasize to the AAA dispatcher that a cargo bike cannot fit on a standard bike rack, nor in the back of a van. We'll measure the full length and offer that for clarity, and mention that the thing weighs about 100 lbs. Hopefully, the wheel will be rebuilt superbly and there won't be a next time.

*We always pack lots of food and water for long rides. Juice boxes were key in getting the kids to walk to our destination. Still, it helped immensely to have a comfortable, cool place to rest and eat while we waited for AAA.

Family Day at the Opera by Bicycle

Today, Denver is blanketed in snow. Yesterday, it was a beautiful sunny day with highs in the 60's, perfect for a family bike ride to Opera Colorado's Hansel and Gretel!

We started with brunch at a friend's house, whom I talked into buying a Babboe City Cargo Bike a year or two ago. In fairness, she was already leaning toward the purchase and I probably just re-enforced the decision, but I was happy to hear her husband describe the purchase as, "The best money we've ever spent," as we set out on our ride.

We weaved through the neighborhood to the Cherry Creek Path, which took us to within a few short blocks of the spectacular Ellie Caulkins Opera House. As usual, the extra time we spent getting outdoor exercise on our bikes approximated the time we would've spent looking for parking. There were plenty of empty bike racks at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

We made our way into the lobby just as the doors to the house opened. I was pleased to see extremely courteous ushers decked out in their usual tuxedos, treating the children like royalty AND distributing tickets for free concessions! We were ushered onto the stage itself for a breathtaking view of the opera house from what Klaus Frahm calls The Fourth Wall.

Families had access to a backstage bathroom, which was more than simply practical and accommodating. It gave kids and their families access to another space that is typically reserved for performers, which complemented the "Fourth Wall" perspective to blur the line between audience and performer. Seemingly small choices such as these go a long way toward encouraging audience members of all ages to be more active participants than passive consumers, an outcome highly prized by artistic organizations everywhere that thrive not only from ticket sales, but primarily on charitable contributions from engaged and enthusiastic patrons.

The set was versatile and fun, the costumes were wonderful, the young artists extremely talented, and the pianist remarkably adept, sensitive, and focused as she did the work of an entire orchestra non-stop for an hour.

My two year old didn't make it through the hour, so we headed back out to the lobby to get some wiggles out after 40 minutes or so. There were still tables set up with activities that we missed beforehand: coloring, crafts, and a fun photo op:

The concession stand was open, so we traded our tickets for some chips, hot cocoa, granola bars and a banana, which gave us all energy for the ride home. What a day at the opera!

This isn't even all of us! Thanks to everyone who made it such a fun afternoon!

Thankful for Stormy Skies

Last week I had to run a mundane errand downtown. I decided to make the most of it by riding my bike. The ride to my destination was uneventful; boring, even. My mind kept churning on its usual unsolvable problems, but I enjoyed myself nonetheless. The ride home was a different story. I exited the government office just as a cold front was blowing in, sending sleet-flecked gales down the city streets between the tall buildings. I was inadequately dressed, so I resolved to work up a sweat in an effort to stay warm. I unlocked my bike and pointed it straight into the oncoming storm. Two blocks later, the wind was alternately whipping me out of the bike lane and slowing my speed to a crawl. I was putting in all of my effort and literally inching along. I gritted my teeth, bent low to the handlebars, squinted my eyes to protect them from the leaves blowing in my face, and felt ice sting my cheeks as cars whizzed past while I struggled to stay upright and move in my intended direction.

It became absurd, nearly hopeless, just before the exhilaration hit.

The usual unsolvable problems were forgotten. "Enjoyment" as I typically understand it was out of the question. Suddenly, I didn't care how fast I was moving on my bike. I just needed to keep moving. I didn't care how long it took me to get home. I just needed to get there. Bizarrely, this was exactly what I needed that day. No race. No complexity. No nuance. Just a goal, and adversity.

This Thanksgiving, I reflect on recent hardships. I am extremely fortunate in so many ways, but it turns out I am most thankful for the adversity I've faced in recent years. It reminds me of what is important:

Home
Family
Health

These aren't things that are raced toward. They are cultivated, often among harsh conditions. This year I am thankful for the adversity that brings the truly important things into sharp relief. Thank you for reading and have a very happy Thanksgiving.

Group Ride: Sunday on 16th

We organized a group ride for Sunday, November 1, without much of a plan in mind. The combination of Halloween and the daylight saving time change meant a lot of variables that could have resulted in some serious meltdowns. It ended up being a great, educational ride!

We met at the REI flagship store, then made a lap around City of Cuernavaca Park. A train passed by, which prompted us to head to the Millennium Bridge to get a closer look. After taking our bikes up the elevators ("We're allowed to put our bikes in there?!?!") we saw two trains going in opposite directions and resisted the urge to make up a word problem about one going to Chicago at 18 MPH and the other going to San Francisco...

On the Millennium Bridge

Two Trains pass under us; one empty, one full of coal

Waiting for the elevator with 16th Street in the background

My artsy shot from the bottom of the elevator. All other photos in this post taken by Kristina!

Then we hit 16th Street Mall. Monday-Friday, 16th Street is available to buses ONLY. On Saturdays and Sundays, however, cyclists can use it, too. The buses are infrequent, so we basically had an entire LoDo street to ourselves! Everyone got a kick out of seeing traffic lights with bicycle cutouts specifically for us.

We also discussed our Broadway pop-up lane ride. Our unofficial photojournalist, Kristina, mentioned that she had seen green cycling lanes elsewhere in town (on 14th Street, for example), and asked about implementation of the Broadway lanes. Bicycle lanes are city infrastructure, so government decides where, how, and when cycling infrastructure is implemented. There will be a Community Workshop on November 10 from 4-8 PM, during which constituents and stakeholders can voice their opinions on future changes to Broadway.

For lunch, we went to The Market on Larimer and got enough food for an army. It was all delicious. Then we headed back to REI and went our separate ways for the afternoon. The kids had some quiet time in the bakfiets with dad, and I cycled to rehearsal downtown. Thankfully I thought to bring my instrument in its ultralight case with me on our ride!

If you'd like to take part in our group rides, head over to our Facebook group page and request to be added. We have a lot of fun!

Recipe for a Fall Ride

1) Cycle to the grocery store to pick up a bunch of canned goods, a couple of bell peppers, and whatever else you need to make Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Chili (it isn't very spicy unless you add more than a dash of cayenne).

2) Check tire pressure and gear. Gather helmets. Decorate bike(s), if desired.

3) Rest overnight.

4) Throw everything in the crock pot and cook on low while you ride around for anywhere from 4-12 hours.

5) Skip the croutons described in the recipe and serve the chili with tortillas, cornbread, biscuits, etc. We aren't vegan, so I use real mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese as topping.

Enjoy!

Inaugural Group Ride a Success!

We had a BLAST on our first group ride! Playtime at the Cheesman Park playground followed by food at the Farmers' Market at East High School. Good times, great people, no flats! Join us on Facebook - just send a request!

Two Problems and a Solution

Recently I read this article by Julia Belluz on Vox which answers the age-old question: If there were more time in the day, what would you do with it? According to the 2015 Food and Health Survey, 36% would use an extra 4 hours per week to exercise more. Belluz gives suggestions for incorporating exercise into one's day, but missed an important opportunity: cycling as an alternative to driving. Moreover, the survey also found that 31% of respondents would spend more time with friends and/or family. As a parent, a lot of my "commuting" (getting kids to and from school and activities, as well as running errands) is done with my kids, and sometimes with friends and/or my spouse.

The very same day, the New York Times published an article by Jane E. Brody on the "Well" Personal Health blog, outlining the price children pay for screen addiction. Among studies showing myriad health effects, from stunted social development to increased violent behavior, one personal anecdote jumped out at me:

"Two of my grandsons... stay plugged into their hand-held devices on the ride to and from school. 'There’s no conversation anymore,' said their grandfather, who often picks them up."

What struck me was the the image that came to mind as the obvious alternative, and my own reality:

I use this bike (unfortunately no longer available from Joe Bike) to run errands and take my kids to school and day care. Instead of weaving through the city by car with kids fighting in the back seat or plugged into electronic devices, I get my workout and my kids engage with the world... especially if we pass a construction site!

This week, I rode to the Botanic Gardens to see "Stinky" the Corpse Flower and avoided parking hassles as thousands flocked to see the rare bloom. My husband and I frequently cycle for "date nights," stopping at a nearby restaurant and taking a long route home if the weather is nice. There are so many ways to incorporate cycling into daily life that eliminate hassles (parking especially) and really don't take much more time than driving or taking mass transit. So cancel that gym membership, put away the iPads, and put the time you would've spent in your car to good use!