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!

Cold Weather Cycling Garb

It is almost 2016, and chances are you'd like to take care of your health in the coming year. As I've mentioned before, cycling is a great way to integrate exercise into your life, and one benefit of starting in winter is that it only gets easier and more pleasant as summer approaches. That said, I am a big fan of the Scandinavian adage: "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." Here are some tips on what to wear for winter cycling.

For moderately cold weather:
1) Balaclava
2) Gloves or cycling mittens
3) Ibex sweater

A balaclava under your helmet will do wonders to keep you warm! This is superior to wearing a hood over your helmet (it will probably blow off frequently and will catch cold wind even if doesn't). Gloves are also critical. It is important to keep all of your extremities warm for comfort, but your feet are at a huge advantage when cycling due to all of the circulation happening in your legs. Cycling specific mittens that look like lobster claws are available, but I think almost any warm glove does the trick. Just make sure they have enough grip to operate your breaks and gearing. The only item in this list that is brand-specific is possibly the best clothing purchase I've ever made: The Ibex Boucle Hoodie. I wear this sweater almost every day because it is one of those magical garments that keeps me warm without overheating, whether the temperature is moderate or very cold. Added bonus: the hood is essentially a built-in balaclava because of the high-necked construction that zips all the way to the chin.

For very cold weather:
4) Water proof shell such as rain pants, rain coat and/or gators
5) Ski goggles
6) Face mask
7) Excellent socks (I love SmartWool)
8) Thermal underwear

This list is compiled from observations of Kevin heading out for his daily commute around this time of year, plus a few recommendations of my own. In Denver, moisture generally becomes more of a problem in the snowy winter months, hence the waterproof outer layer. That said, waterproof layers are notoriously efficient at sealing in body heat, so extremely cold days (even if dry) are a reasonable time to set aside your "breathable" outerwear and risk feeling a little too warm by the time you reach your destination. Ski goggles are key. On windy days, my eyes feel cold before anything else, and visibility is especially crucial on icy streets. A face mask can supplement your balaclava if your nose gets cold. Socks and thermal underwear are standards for cold weather under any circumstances, but a lot of people forget about them and how versatile they can be. Yes, you can wear ski socks and long underwear to work all day! No one will know and you will be cozy and warm!

For icy paths and pavement:
9) Yaktrax or microspikes
10) Wide snow tires

I just bought Kevin a pair of Kahtoola MICROspikes to replace his broken Yaktrax. Good traction on your feet is key for cycling on snow or ice. You'll be grateful for them any time you stop and put your foot down, and they can prevent a little slip during your ride from turning into a major crash. Obviously, don't use these with clipless (clip-in) pedals. Lastly, take the time to outfit your bike with winter tires. Your local bike shop can help you with this. Even if you can't fit wider tires on your bike, you should be able to get tires with good tread for winter.

If you try all of these and still aren't enjoying cold-weather riding, check out my cousin Kim's Alaskan snow bike adventures for more ideas!

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!

BUnG it up!

In my last post I mentioned that, as a cargo cyclist hauling kids and gear around, it is impractical for me to focus on strength-to-weight ratio. I am also mostly unconcerned with equipment weight. Family biking is a totally different animal than competitive road cycling, so unless you're planning to cycle through the Grand Tetons (which I actually did with my dad in seventh grade, long before I considered myself a Cyclist), don't worry about added weight, especially if it provides durability, convenience, or reliability.

Our current bakfiets weighs about 75 pounds. Add two kids, a sturdy lock, water for everyone, and miscellaneous kid gear for another 75 pounds or more. That means I'm using my own power to propel at least 150 pounds, plus my own body weight, around town. With numbers like that, I figure it is worth adding a little weight for a lot of comfort. To highlight some of my favorite items, I have decided to start a series of posts on gear I love that would make weight-conscious cyclists' skin crawl. I'm calling it Best Unnecessary Gear: BUnG it up!

First item: I admit I took a page from the auto industry's book and outfitted my bike with not one, but two cup holders. Actually, I shouldn't take credit. Kevin (aka Daddy) purchased both cup holders for me, knowing my enthusiasm for hydration generally and decaf mochas specifically.

Any parents out there drink coffee?

The gadget on my handle bars is the PDW Bar-ista™. While it is not compatible with my Thermos® Nissan™ and a variety of children's sippy cups, it holds pretty much everything else, including standard cycling water bottles. At coffee shops, I usually order my coffee in a too-big cup so it doesn't spill on my ride. Bonus: Extra room for the whip cream I can justify by cycling around with a load of 150 pounds. The joy this item brings to my rides is well worth the extra 2.5 ounces of weight.

Even Thumper wants coffee.

How To Ride Uphill

A reader joked that hills are what keep her from cycling. Understandably, she hates having to walk her regular bike uphill, and the thought of trying to propel a load of kids up an incline can't be much more appealing. Fortunately, there are strategies even novice cyclists can use to make climbing easier and more efficient.

This article outlines some of those strategies. To summarize and clarify:

1) Get into a lower gear than you think you'll need for the climb. For me on the bakfiets, that almost always means my lowest gear. Keep your cadence (pedal speed/RPMs) up, and try to maintain speed.

2) Avoid shifting gears frequently, stay in the saddle for as long as possible, and point your toes to get the most power from your leg strength.

3) Be aware of your posture and breathing. Imagine yourself as a star cyclist on an epic climb in a big tour. You have a calm expression on your face, you are leaning into the incline with a flat back, you are pointing your toes, you are breathing deeply and staying focused. Cheeks, shoulders, and fingers should all be loose.

4) Only stand up for extra pedaling power when remaining in the saddle becomes clearly unsustainable. Standing over the pedals is a way to use a different muscle group, but it probably won't get you very far. This strategy should be saved for when your strongest and most efficient muscle group can really benefit from a short break. Shift into a higher gear when standing up. When sitting back down, immediately shift back into lower gear and focus on keeping your cadence fast.

I found a collection of articles on the topic here, so know that you aren't alone in your desire for strategies to conquer uphill climbs! Know that some authors focus on increasing strength-to-weight ratio, which is not practical for those of us hauling kids, water, snacks, diaper bags, and toys.

Family Ride: Kid's Choice Picnic Dinner

Last week, before school, my son said, "After school? I wanna go for a long ride? And have a picnic!"

You got it, kid! The weather was lovely. I had a transportable dinner menu planned. We could take a not-TOO-long ride to a playground near daddy's work, so he would have more time with all of us before bedtime.

Daddy bikes to work, so he was able to ride home with us!

Of course, when I picked up my son from school, he didn't want to do it anymore. But I explained that I had made a plan at his request and daddy would be left at the playground with no dinner, wondering where we were. Fortunately this was amusing enough that he neglected to suggest I use my cell phone to alert daddy to our whereabouts. So, after picking my daughter up from day care, we set out in the box bike for the Downtown Children's Playground.

The playground sports a lot of great equipment and a really neat human-powered water feature. We've visited this playground before, but this was the first time the water feature was functional. The kids loved it!

Our menu included pan-fried chicken cilantro dumplings from Costco and spinach salad with carrot ribbons and yellow pepper spears, all garnished with soy sauce and sesame seeds. Crackers and cheese kept hunger at bay while we waited for daddy to arrive from work. I cooked the dumplings right before picking my daughter up from day care, and was pleasantly surprised that they held their heat so well in our indestructible Ortlieb pannier.

On the ride home, Daddy rode the box bike and coached our son in reading the street names posted over the Cherry Creek Path. Meanwhile, I was riding the commuter bike behind them, hearing both kids yell, "BANNOCK, MOMMY!! BAAAAAANOOOOCK!" More yelling of a new street name ensued at the next underpass. At this rate, our daughter will have a better sense of Denver's layout by her third birthday than I have now.

The kids melted down upon our arrival at home for bedtime. I couldn't really blame them. Who would want an evening like that to end?