Suja on a cruiser, on a trike, and on a Trek

We love to see everyone—every one of you!—out on bicycles. Healthy living is happy living.

We are very pleased that the entire city council is supportive of bicycle-friendly initiatives. The following three photos feature Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal. We wish everyone would opt to cycle often—especially for local activities.

In the first image, (taken by Diandra Jay of the Press-Telegram, dated June 5, 2009), we see Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal and other cyclists during a ‘First Fridays’ event. Suja rides her orange-colored beach cruiser—a fun bicycle for slow, easy, local riding. A cruiser can be a happy choice for stopping at local cafés… riding along the beach path… going to the library.

In the second image, (taken by GarySe7en, dated April 5, 2009), we again see Suja Lowenthal, this time riding a tricycle. It’s night time and Suja’s trike doesn’t have a headlight. Yikes! Yet if your knees can take it, we see that a child’s trike can be a delightful way to go. Perhaps not the most comfortable or efficient vehicle if you’re heading to the top of Signal Hill.

In the third image, (taken at Jax Bicycles, dated July 6, 2010), we see Suja (and Jax employee Holley Limpach, and LBC president Bernadette McKeever). Suja has selected a new hybrid bicycle—part racer, part urban friendly. Suja’s Trek is relatively lightweight, it has comfortable handlebars, it has upright geometry, and it has plenty of gears. A bicycle of this type feels sprite and nimble. Suja may soon be seen cycling to all corners of Long Beach with her new bike… and, who knows, she may even cycle to the park at the top of Signal Hill.

Might there be yet other types of bicycles in Suja’s future? We’re not going to encourage her to fill ALL the rooms in her house with bicycles… although perhaps this is just the beginning. There are many, many types and models of bicycles out there nowadays, each with its own riding characteristics and personality.

Which types of bicycles do you suppose YOU will be riding in YOUR future?

Out-Spoke-N… July 3rd, 4th, 5th

“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not dispair for the future of the human race.” — H. G. Wells

The next time you cycle along PCH south of Long Beach, say hello to our friends Dominic and Jenny at Out-Spoke-N Cycles.

Out-Spoke-N is a new bike shop. July 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th is the grand opening. Hours 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Out-Spoke-N will give away one great prize to somebody each of the four opening days.

Out-Spoke-N is located in Sunset Beach (technically it is in Huntington Beach), along PCH near Anderson/24th Street. Address: 16400 Pacific Coast Highway, Suites 100-101. That’s about half way between Long Beach and the Huntington Beach pier. You can also reach Out-Spoke-N on Facebook.

Donate old bikes, any condition—June 5 and 12

The H.U.B.—the bicycle repair cooperative—is now ready to receive and recycle donated old bicycles in any condition.

That’s what ’ReCYCLE Your BiCYCLE’ is all about. Friends at Pedal Movement / H.U.B. bike cooperative are working with City of Long Beach Waste Management and with Parks and Recreation to receive donated bikes.

Bikes in salvageable condition will be collected at various local parks. Waste Management will truck them to the H.U.B. to be recycled. H.U.B. volunteer mechanics will piece together old bike parts to create recycled bikes. Later, the recycled bikes will be given away to local youth. Old bike parts that cannot be reused will end up as recycled scrap metal. 

Saturday, June 5th and Saturday June 12th between noon and 4:00 pm, Waste Management vehicles will accept bicycles at donation locations at many Long Beach public parks. El Dorado Park West, Houghton Park, Cesar Chavez Park, McBride Park and Silverado Park. Click on the poster icon on the left for details and park addresses.

Recycle your old bicycle

Imagine the joy of donating an old bike, knowing that it will be recycled and then given to a local youngster.

That’s what ‘ReCYCLE Your BiCYCLE’ is all about. Friends at the H.U.B. bike cooperative (on Long Beach Blvd. one short block south of PCH) love to fix up old bicycles. Now the H.U.B. and Waste Management of the City of Long Beach are working together to recycle old bikes… so that after donated bikes are repaired they can be given away to Long Beach children.

Saturday, May 22nd between noon and 4:00 pm, Waste Management vehicles will accept bicycles in any condition. There will be donation locations at many Long Beach public parks—addresses listed on the poster on the left.

Bikes in salvageable condition will be taken to the H.U.B. to be recycled. H.U.B. volunteer mechanics will piece together old bike parts to create recycled bikes. Later, the recycled bikes will be given away to local children. Old bike parts that cannot be reused will end up as recycled scrap metal. 

Donate your old bicycle Saturday, May 22nd (or Saturday, May 29th, or Saturday June 12th) at one of several local parks listed in the poster.

Hey, New bike Tourists!

Check out this FREE comprehensive guide to bicycle touring.  I haven’t glanced at it yet, but it looks pretty good from reviews and comments.  Let us know what you think, well oiled bike tourists out there in LB!

Wanted: Higher Standards for kid items

A few years ago I discovered that I fit into most “outdoor” kids clothing.  I would rummage through the racks at REI, Big 5 and Sports Chalet.   Back than, I was the lady in the kids section that you were jealous of.  Not because I had kids and was looking for cute zip-0ff pants for my toddler, but because I was paying half as much as you did in the adult section!

It was a good life until….

The dream came to an end.  I realized that the kids section wasn’t holding a torch to the high quality and well fitted adult section.  Now, when I walk into the store (head hung low) I head straight for the good stuff in the adult section. Why don’t they make the kids selection as amazing as adult clothes so that I can go back to paying second hand price for new stuff!

Leave it up to bikeportland.org to relate my story to bikes.

http://bikeportland.org/2009/12/08/need-a-transportation-bike-for-your-kid-good-options-are-out-there/

“He’s not careening down the side of a mountain — he is getting around by bike in Portland like many other civilized citizens do.”

BikeTalk, on radio station KPFK-FM, December 29th

BikeTalk can be heard any time by scrolling through the KPFK Pacifica Radio Audio Archives of recent, previously-aired programs and clicking BikeTalk.

Tune in Tuesday evening, December 29, 11pm, for the first live broadcast of BikeTalk on KPFK, 90.7 FM. Bike culture, politics, technology, sport and friendliness. BikeTalk has been a weekly internet show for several months already, and Tuesday evening will be its first on-air broadcast.

KPFK 90.7fm logo

BikeTalk celebrates bike rides, bicycle collectives, activists, artists, commuters, enthusiasts, professional cyclists, inventors and repairers, and, of course, the bicycle itself as an alternative human-powered mode of transportation. Hosted by Nick Richert and guests, including Jim C of Orange 20 Bikes, Steve Bowers, and Jim Bledsoe and Eric Potter of Bicycle Kitchen.

The first live broadcast is Tuesday evening, December 29, 11pm. You can hear BikeTalk live every Saturday, 10am-Noon, at www.killradio.org. And you can download all nineteen previously recorded shows at www.kpfk.org. Click Programs at the top of the page, then click Audio Archives, and scroll for BikeTalk. Or click List of Programs, All Programs in the left margin to find the BikeTalk general description and contact information. Click on Program Highlights this week to see the announcement and details about the December 29th broadcast.

Rental Bike

I bet it functions 10 times better than the hybrid Raleigh I rented in Portland.

roberts-rental

Check out the story behind this bike.  Thank Ecovelo!

http://www.ecovelo.info/2009/12/22/rental-bike/

What did you carry on your rack today?

I bet it wasn’t this!

Bike-Trailer-Moves-House

Check out this Treehugger article on bike cargo ideas…

Hey Long Beach! Want to be bike-friendly? Get one of these!

A reader (thanks Scott) forwarded this great post from BikePortland.org.

It’s basically a party on a bike!