Is Daily Cycling the Secret to Long Life?

In a cover story in today’s Long Beach Press Telegram, Doug Krikorian writes about Naples resident Jack Thacker, 96 years old, who rides several hours a day, currently from his home to the Queen Mary and back each day.  Could we attribute his longevity to his spending a couple hours a day in the saddle, pedalling through our gorgeous city? Of course we could. I’m not saying we are, mind you, but we could.

Of course, Mr Thacker also drinks two glasses of wine a day. Maybe THAT’s the secret. Who knows? Just read the article and see for yourself.

A different kind of Cellist

Nothing wrong with a little solar assistance, especially if your are touring with a very large instrument by bike

Read the Treehugger story!

Photo courtesy of Kristin Rule

Link of the Week—Laura and Russ

Friends Laura and Russ departed Long Beach at the start of August of 2009 on an open-ended cycling adventure they call “Path Less Pedaled.” One year in, they are still cycling and exploring. Cheers Laura and Russ!

This week, Adventure Cycling dot org offers a clink of the wine glass, (or a ding of its bike bell, if you prefer), in honor of Laura and Russ—Pathlesspedaled dot com. They are being honored as ‘Link of the Week.’

Of course we can easily go directly to Laura and Russ’ website by typing in pathlesspedaled dot com… and of course we can easily go there by clicking on the words Path Less Pedaled in the column to the right. Well, this week—this week only—you can also link to Path Less Pedaled via Adventure Cycling dot org.

We at Long Beach Cyclists do not anticipate Adventure Cycling to feature Long Beach Cyclists dot com as an upcoming ‘link of the week’ anytime soon—even though living in Long Beach is its own kind of adventure.

We are not grumbling. They say that at this point you cannot get on the cover of the District Weekly at any price. Not even Laura and Russ can do that.

Numbered cycling routes across the country

Imagine an extensive, country-wide network of routes for cyclists. Such a network could identify routes of amazing beauty or interest, for example, and could identify routes that cyclists might prefer over other highways, taking into consideration traffic volume, topography, etc.

Lovers of cycling adventure are pushing for the creation of an extensive, nationwide, numbered route system. Back in 1976, during the Bicentennial, two numbered cycling routes were identified in the eastern U.S. Since then, Adventure Cycling Association has created maps identifying many dozens of suggested cyclist routes around the entire country. Go to its web site to learn about the project underway to fund further development of the U.S. Bicycle Route System.

Friends Laura and Russ lived in Long Beach, California until last August. Since then they have been on the road, on a cycling adventure they call pathlesspedaled.com. They are now in Tennessee. The amazing route Laura and Russ have cycled during the past twelve months does not have a number… yet.

At the same time, the City of Long Beach is implementing its own numbered system of recommended cycling routes. Some of the numbered Long Beach Bikeways will guide us along separated facilities, and others will suggest routes along existing roads that the cyclist may prefer. Much is happening these days—locally, nationally, and in many other parts of the world—as ever increasing numbers of people embrace cycling as a serious transportation option.

Creative Reuse Public Art Bike Rack—Aug 21

Long Beach artist Trace “Tres” Fukuhara will unveil his bike rack art creation on Saturday, August 21 at 1:00 p.m. The rack will be located in front of the Long Beach Depot for Creative Reuse (320 Elm Avenue near 3rd in the East Village). All are invited to be there to celebrate the unveiling.

To get a sense of Fukuhara’s artistic vision, be sure to cycle by his delightful Pacific Wind Arts garden located at 2095 Martin Luther King Avenue (corner of 21st).

Scott’s bike ready to cross the ocean

Long Beach Cyclists member Scott Casey forwards us a snapshot of his new bicycle made of leftover corks. Although he didn’t make this claim, we are certain that Scott’s new bike floats.

We suggest that Scott try pedaling from Long Beach to Catalina Island… and if that works, then he should consider a longer voyage. The image of the T.S.S. Volendam is included here to inspire him. Perhaps Scott may wish to pedal across the ocean in the surf of a very large ship.

On the other hand, we ask ourselves how is it that Scott accumulated so many corks. (What does he stuff into his bike bag?) Also, we ask ourselves how much air Scott pumps into his corks, because his knees might get wet if the corks are low. And we ask ourselves how Scott’s wheels spin, given that they don’t have real axles.

Scott, happy cycling on your beautiful cork bike!

Life Cycle—cartoon by Andy Singer

It’s summer and the weather’s great. Get out on your wheels!

Whether one is young or old or in between, and whether one is in great shape, not in great shape, or somewhere in between… now is the perfect time for a bike ride.

No Exit cartoons are reprinted at longbeachcyclists.com with permission. All Andy Singer / No Exit cartoons are copyright 1992-2010 by Andrew B. Singer. To see more of Andy Singer’s humorous, insightful work, visit www.andysinger.com.

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?

Lunch Discount for Cyclists—Friday, July 2nd

Support local bike-friendly businesses.

On the first Friday of every month, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, many Long Beach cafés and restaurants offer lower prices to customers who show up on a bicycle and dine in. To participate, we are asked to show our helmet or bike lock key.

Click on the thumbnail Lunch Breaks PARTICIPANTS LIST to the right to see the list of the 29 current participants for addresses, web sites and discount particulars.

Lunch Breaks for Cyclists is part of the Car-Free Fridays initiative coordinated by the City of Long Beach (as promoted by BikeLongBeach dot org) in which all people are encouraged to bike to work, one day per month at the very least.

The current list is based on the participants list found at bikelongbeach.org.

Bike-to-Work Day—Thursday May 20th

Have you decided which of the three Bike-to-Work pit stops you’ll stop at Thursday morning, the 20th?  

There will be pit stops near City Hall, and at CSULB, and on Second Street in Belmont Shore.

We suspect that all three pit stops will be worth visiting… so at this point we’re thinking of calling in ‘sick’ so that we have time to stop by at each location. (Click the posters below right for specifics.)

Volunteers from Long Beach Cyclists will be at the Second Street pit stop (in front of Jones Bicycles). Scroll down three articles to read Bernadette’s blurb about what we’ll be doing at the Second Street pit stop.

Be sure to stop by our pit stop to say hello and for your coffee and give-aways, for a free, quick bike tune-up, and to participate in the raffle.

The green sharrow lane along Second Street is plenty wide for wide-load bicycles (such as those with a desk attachment as illustrated here by Andy Singer). And if you ride to work or play on a conventional bicycle, that’s fine, too.

Our friends from CSULB Cyclists and Jax Bicycles and Rideshare will be at the CSULB pit stop… so of course it makes sense to stop there. And the City Hall pit stop places you right downtown, in the center of the action. Call in sick to stop at all three locations? What a dilemma!

Enjoy your cycling Thursday morning.

No Exit cartoons are reprinted at longbeachcyclists.com with permission. All Andy Singer / No Exit cartoons are copyright 1992-2010 by Andrew B. Singer. To see more of Andy Singer’s humorous, insightful work, visit www.andysinger.com.