Street Machine Gte on Bear Mountain

HP Velotechnik's Street Machine Gte improves an already gorgeous view from the top of Bear Mountain.

The other weekend I had a nice 2-day ride across Harriman State Park (New York).  I had clear, dry, non-smoggy air, perfect temperatures, and, as always, a great view from the top of Bear Mountain.  I packed light and slept at the Adirondack Mountain Club's camp.  On Sunday, it rained.  Those who enjoy riding recumbent bikes up hills would enjoy this trip.  Bear Mtn. has an average grade of about 6% with a short section of around 10%.  In the city, I get a lot of "cool bike!" comments when I ride an HP Velotechnik.  But on Bear Mountain, I got many a "good morning" and thumbs-up from the road cyclists who frequent Harriman's roads and who, maybe, up until that point thought that recumbents "can't do hills."

A "cool bike" posing for a photo in front of the Bear Mountain lookout tower.

Have fun and support your state parks,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

Pedals of Honor

Nano (L) and Antonio (R) are two of New York's most recognizable athletes. They lead an 8am Saturday morning hand-cycle training ride in Central Park. In upper left hand corner, left to right, Robert Matson, Joe Traum and Sze Wing Kwok speak with an athlete about hand cycles and an upcoming race.

Lining up to ride the Central Park loop.

Today I assisted with the recumbent trikes at the Pedals of Honor program from the VA Veterans Integrated Service Network 3 Adaptive Sports Program.  Neile Weissman, New York Cycle Club's 'bent-riding ride leader extraordinaire, helped.  The HP Velotechnik Gekko fx seemed to be the favorite trike foot-cycle.

Nice shirt.  Photo of me (Robert) taken later that day. During
the event I was too busy to ask for a photo, as usual. I need
to start asking people for photos, while the action is...in action.

What is "Pedals of Honor"?

From the press release...

Pedals of Honor makes cycling a reality for Veterans with limb loss

A new program from the VA Veterans Integrated Service Network 3 (VISN 3) Adaptive Sports Program and Achilles International invite Veterans with limb loss to participate in a bike riding experience, Cycling in Central Park, on Wednesday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event, sponsored by DAV Transportation Network, the Long Beach VFW Post 1384, Hicksville VFW Post 3211, VVNW Nassau County Chapter 82 and DAV Amputation Chapter 76, serves as the kick off for what will be a weekly cycling program in Central Park for Veterans.

"Adaptive sports are an amazing way to facilitate overall health and wellness while providing an opportunity for our New York and New Jersey Veterans to explore the city in ways they haven't before," said Leif Nelson, Prosthetics Clinical Coordinator at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, which houses the VISN 3 Prosthetics Program.

Achilles International has partnered with the VA VISN 3 Adaptive Sports Program to provide top level instruction for Veterans wanting to participate in cycling. The program uses top of the line cycles that will accommodate Veterans with a wide range of disabilities including Spinal Cord Injury, Limb Loss and Visual Impairments.

Eligible Veterans can participate in group rides and instruction and the program is open to all experience levels from beginners to experts. Equipment can accommodate any and all disabilities.


Have fun and stay well,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

This will be trouble: CitiBike bike racks prove they make great...city bike racks.

CitiBike enthusiasts find common ground with city bike enthusiasts: "CitiBikeRacks" are great places to lock up a bike.

New York City has been slow to install sufficient numbers of bike racks.  Now, in several fell swoops -- and after over 400 community board meetings -- the CitiBikeRacks have been installed all over South Manhattan and North Brooklyn.  However, ordinary city cyclists still need ordinary city bike racks.

Problem solved, hardly.
This evening at the Bike to Work party hosted by Transportation Alternatives we saw a future battle that will be played out here in NYC, between CitiCyclists and city cyclists.  Visitors to the party had claimed every pole-like object within 200 yards of the party.  Some, unable to find nearby bike parking, saw the CitiBikeRacks and must have thought "Hey, a bike rack" and locked up their bikes there.  As long as your chain was long enough, the CitiRacks worked perfectly.  (I tried, but my chain wasn't long enough.)

Attention New York City Department of Transportation: start installing large numbers of ordinary bike racks for everyday cyclists.  Otherwise, the CitiBikeRacks will be full of ordinary bikes and CitiBikers will be unable to use them for their intended purpose: to return bikes.  I wonder if this doesn't also herald a certain class consciousness among cyclists: CitiCyclists who don't own bikes, or who are tourists, or who are occasional riders, and who will be readily identifiable by their cute blue bikes and harder-core city cyclists who own their own bikes and commute beyond the horizons of the CitiBike program.

The City needs public bike racks that provide secure bike parking, in large numbers, in all neighborhoods.

I applaud the bike share program, but we've jumped forward with it without also massively expanding bike parking and that may create problems.

Idea: install more city bike racks, sell ad space on those racks, and apply the revenue to improving bicycle infrastructure.


How YOU can increase bicycle parking in your neighborhood: help install a bike corral.

Bike corrals are rows of [New York] CityRacks installed in the curbside lane of the street instead of on the sidewalk. This design is a great solution for places where demand for bicycle parking outstrips the available sidewalk space. Anyone can request a bike corral but every bike corral needs a maintenance partner to keep the bike corral clear of snow and debris.

This website at the NYC Dept. of Transportation gives the skinny on bike corrals: how to apply, a link to a downloadable application, locations of completed bike corrals, and a list of bike corral community board presentations.

Nothing will improve unless YOU get involved.

Just CityRide,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

Customizing the padding on a hardshell seat

Here's a solution for customizing a hard shell seat pad, brought to us by Neile Weissman.  Images below.

Top is a thin, light, washable, and very durable Zotefoam. Foam additions are layers of (disposable-reusable) commercial packing foam from shipping department of a computer retailer. (Get it out of the recycling.) Materials also include 3M spray mount adhesive, 2" wide strips of velcro and a box cutter.

The firm but resilient foam affords a modicum of shock protection, but it's not so soft that I (Neile) lose power while pushing hard on pedals. The addition is very light in weight: a few ounces total. You can also shave a few grams and alter the shock absorption quality by dremeling some holes.

It's absurdly light and durable. And the "chevron" pattern works well ducting perspiration and providing ventilation. Bacchetta open foam pads were sweat pads -- they also sandpapered jerseys. Downside is that this padding provides zero shock absorption on a carbon shell. So extending a layer of softer packing foam under the butt helps if you intend to ride on rough roads (hardpack).

I got the top layer Zotefoam pad here:

http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=83706&highlight=zotefoam

Neile Weissman is a bent-riding trip leader extraordinaire for New York Cycle Club (NYCC) and a hard-working advocate for cycling in the region.  He leads about 50 trips a year, loves taking the hilly route, and is a veritable walking encyclopedia -- riding encyclopedia? -- of fascinating bike routes in the Greater NY Metro Area.

Custom foam fitting, close up.

Foam with dremeled holes.

Foam with velcro.

Have fun and consider padding your...seat,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

New Jersey Department of Transportation Announces Online Bicycle Map and Resource Guide

Just now, I heard some great news from the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition:

On May 9, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Office of the NJ Dept. of Transportation announced an online New Jersey Bicycle Map and Resource Guide, a "comprehensive tool for those traveling by bicycle for recreation or transportation in New Jersey." The map includes 18 (count them) state bicycle tour guides (routes), elevation, on-road bicycle facilities, a gauge showing suitability for biking, and cultural, historic, recreational and other points of interest along the way.

The guide divides New Jersey into two regions. (Click the links to download the associated PDFs, but beware, some of them are big):
a Northern map and Resource Guide highlighting the Newark area
a Southern map  and Resource Guide highlighting the Camden area

One highlight is the state atlas.  With this, you can zoom in on sections of the state where you want to ride.

Lastly, the 18 State bicycle tour guides have all been digitized.  You can download them to your smartphone, see where you are on the route, and track your progress.

These new resources reinforce the New Jersey Department of Transportation's support for bicycling and the Complete Streets philosophy, and its goal to promote sustainable, walkable and bikeable communities.

Help keep NJ great.  Support the advocacy work of the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition by becoming a member. (click there).  Annual memberships range from $35 to $250.


Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

Customer generosity: fundraising for "Moveable Feast"

Anne G., on her famous telemagenta Street Machine Gte
at the 2012 event, covering 140 miles.
(bike is from New York City Recumbent Supply)
Photographer: unknown (as of now)

Anne Griepenburg, a friend and customer, is raising money for Moveable Feast, an organization dedicated to providing nutritious meals to folks with HIV and their families. Her team name? "Bike Curious."
Click here for Anne's fundraising page.

Anne's fundraising goal is $3,000 and, as of the time of writing, she's over half-way there.  Help her go over the top!

Your donation = meals delivered.  The generosity of people like you, reader, enables Moveable Feast to deliver nutritious meals to folks with HIV and their families. Last year, Anne, her amazing team of riders, and their wonderful supporters raised over $19,000!  This meant that over 14 people and their families were fed for an entire year thanks to the Bike Curious family!

But I (Robert) am getting ahead of myself. There's a cycling event behind this. It's called "Ride for the Feast" (RFTF).  It's a two-day, 140-mile charity bike ride. Day 1 is a 100-mile ride from Ocean City, MD to Wye Mills, MD.  There's an overnight stay at Chesapeake College.  Then, on Day 2, riders pedal from Sandy Point into Baltimore City and cross the finish line at Moveable Feast's East Baltimore headquarters. The ride is 140 miles long because that is the exact distance a Moveable Feast driver must go to deliver to their farthest client.  100% of the money raised by participating riders and crew members goes directly towards putting food on the table for Moveable Feast's clients.

The 11th annual "Ride for the Feast" takes place next weekend, May 11th-12th, 2013.  Interested in riding next year?  Watch the org's website at: www.mfeast.org


Join the Bike Curious Team.

Team Bike Curious is riding together for their 4th year in the 2013 Ride for the Feast!  They are artist, health care professionals, educators and technologist from the Baltimore area who ride to raise money and awareness for Moveable Feast. They see it as their way to give back to the community through a grassroots organization that is providing healthy food and other services for people living with AIDS, breast cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Team Fundraising Goal: $20,000.00
Total Raised: $12,191.00

Members Recruited
Recruitment Goal: 15
Members Recruited: 8


Have fun, stay healthy, and deliver some love and nutrition to those who have less than you,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

HP Velotechnik Gekko: Attaching the seat cover

A customer who recently bought an HP Velotechnik Gekko was mystified as to how to attach the nylon seat cover.

He wrote me:

"Does HPV make a rain cover that actually fits the mesh seat?  That one I bought from you is unusable."

I replied:

Hi J___,
Thanks for checking in.
Attaching the seat cover...
The top of the seat cover attaches to the inside of the seat back pocket.
You'll see the velcro.
The bottom of the cover attaches at the front of the seat, to plastic hooks on the bottom of the seat.
Sorry for forgetting to show you how to do it.

This may have solved three mysteries at once for this rider: Why is there velcro in the seat back pocket?! What the heck are those plastic hooks for?! And, yes, how in the world do you put on the seat cover?!?


Have fun, stay healthy, and keep your seat clean,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

How to Improve Bicycle Access to the PATH Train (and here are the existing rules).

Today's Rules about Bike Access on the PATH Train (as of May 2013)

• Folded bicycles are permitted on the PATH train at all times. (I could see no definition for what constitutes a folding bike.)
• Non-folding bicycles are permitted at all times except weekdays between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM and weekdays between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM (rush hour).
• There is a limit of two bicycles per PATH railcar.
• No bicycles are permitted in the first railcar of a train.
• Bicyclists must use elevators or stairs and may not take bicycles on escalators.
• Cyclists may not ride bicycles in trains, on platforms or in the stations.
• PATH or PAPD (Port Authority Police Department) may require bicyclists to wait for the next train.
• Cyclists are to hold their bikes while on trains and not to block aisles or doors.
• In the event of an evacuation, leave the bicycle on the train and ensure that it does not block aisles or doors.

Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's web page about bicycle rules.

Suggestions for cyclists:

• Join New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition and advocate for better bike access on New Jersey trains.
• Be polite, cooperative and deferential to officials and other passengers, no matter what.  When you board a train with a bike, especially if it's a recumbent, you are representing all 'bent riders and cyclists in the Metro Region.  If there is a problem, please do not get into a dispute with the "nice official" (and if his name is not "Sir," then it is "Ma'am.")  But do get the official's name, time of incident, nearest station, etc., take photos or video if possible, and write a note for yourself so you remember the details.  Then file a complaint here: http://www.panynj.gov/contact/contact-us.html.  This is the online submission form for the Port Authority.
• Do NOT just sit and take it.  Go to Port Authority board meetings and speak during the public comment period for increased bicycle access.  You can contact New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition if you would like assistance in preparing a statement or would like other advice on presenting at a Port Auth. board meeting.  Personal stories make very compelling testimony.  (By the way, the people who attend these meetings can be quite interesting.  It is time well spent.)
• The schedule for the Port Authority's board meetings is here:
  http://www.panynj.gov/corporate-information/schedule-upcoming-board-meetings.html

Have fun and advocate for a better world of cycling, which is redundant,

Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

HP Velotechnik Scorpion fs 26 / Review

Photo credit: Bentrider Online, 2013

Here is a review of HP Velotechnik's Scorpion fs 26 by Bryan Ball, from Bentrider Online.

HPVelotechnik Scorpion fs 26
By BRYAN J. BALL, Managing Editor
Posted on April 30, 2013 by Bryan Ball

"HPVelotechnik has an unqualified hit on their hands with their Scorpion fs full-suspension tadpole. Dealers are moving them quickly and owners adore them. However, it’s not in HPVelotechnik’s nature to ever leave well enough alone. Therefore, it was inevitable that there would be a new version eventually. So came to be that the new Scorpion fs 26 that was unveiled with much fanfare at last year’s Eurobike show...."


Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

Be part of it. / Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure / Cruzbike: 3000 Miles to a Cure

Last summer (2012), Maria Parker's sister Jenny was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer.  In 2013, she is going to ride her Cruzbike Vendetta in Race Across American (RAAM), one of the most grueling races in the world. It's her goal to raise one million dollars for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure, an organization she believes is truly capable of finding a cure.  They are calling this movement "3000 Miles to a Cure."

Maria is asking all of us to race with her to find a cure.  Please consider donating just $10 right now by texting the word "race" to 20222. You can also go to www.3000milestoacure.com to donate any amount you like.  Finally, she asks that we all share their website and Facebook page (Facebook.com/3ktoacure) with our friends and family so they too can consider being a part of finding a cure.

Maria writes "Thank you so much for being a caring part of my community, my Cruzbike Family."

Ride hard, promote health, give it your all, and then give it more,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson