Friday Comparison: September 30

Our trip meter August 21-26:

Miles Walked: 12.5

Biked: 50.9

Bused: 2.1

Drove: 0

This week-August21-26

 August 28-September 2:

Miles Walked: 6	Biked: 70.4	Bused: 0	Drove: 4	This week-August 28-Sept 2

September 4-9:

Miles Walked: 8	Biked: 43	Bused: 0	Drove: 24	This week-Sept4-9

September 18-23

Miles Walked: 0	Biked: 51	Bused: 2	Drove: 52	This week-Sept 18-23

 This week, September 25-30, 2011 we certainly covered more miles on the bike. I think this is because I made two downtown trips this week and a grocery run on a Sunday as well as today. We kept the van miles down by only driving the children to school and picking them up in the vehicle today. I put in a call to the PATH folks about their plans for improving/completing the route between our neighborhood and Our Lady of Fatima Parish school. Still waiting on a call back. I felt that the grant for Safe Routes to School would be something I could assist them in applying for. It was also on that website that I discovered this Wednesday, October 5 is International Walk to School Day. Are you participating?

Miles Walked: 1	Biked: 70.2	Bused: 0	Drove: 20	This week-Sept 25-30
54.7	443.2	12.6	567.2	Since August 14, 2011

Friday Comparison: September 23

Our trip meter August 21-26:

Miles Walked: 12.5

Biked: 50.9

Bused: 2.1

Drove: 0

This week-August21-26

 August 28-September 2:

Miles Walked: 6	Biked: 70.4	Bused: 0	Drove: 4	This week-August 28-Sept 2
43.7	183.3	12.6	403.9	Since August 14, 2011

September 4-9:

Miles Walked: 8	Biked: 43	Bused: 0	Drove: 24	This week-Sept4-9
51.7	233.8	12.6	446.2	Since August 14, 2011

The trip meter today, September 18-23, with a lot of data missing from my absence in Phoenix this past week. I did my best to guess at what miles were driven by Brent and when they biked, etc.

It appears that we have managed to drive about 100 miles in two weeks (between September 9-23) and ride 130 miles on our bikes. Our walking has decreased substantially as we have found biking is more efficient and enjoyable. We have pretty much abandoned the bus. It hasn't been cost effective, or timely, to bus a family of six when there is a car in the drive way, when we need to go places we can't get to by bike. 400 of those car miles are from the trip to Columbus. 40 of them are from the two trips to the airport. The rest are to and from school. I don't think this is too terrible, do you?

These comps do not include Saturday on the This Week line, but it's in the cumulative. I set up this post during nap time on Friday and don't know when I will have time on the weekend.

To complicate things I have been word-smithing "bike" as a verb. When I write about riding, I don't typically use  bike, biking, biked, but it made the most sense here to save on space and explanation. These are the crazy things I contemplate and waste my time with.

Miles Walked: 0	Biked: 51	Bused: 2	Drove: 52	This week-Sept 18-23
53.7	362.8	14.6	547.2	Since August 14, 2011

My First Yuba Mundo Ride with Our Children

Our bikes at school.

When I got off the plane on Tuesday I was reading Bike Snob and thinking about the new bike in my garage. Brent managed to pick up the Yuba Mundo from Huntington Cycle and Sport on Friday. I contemplated having him wait until I got back, but I also wanted him to show it off at Critical Mass that night, which he did. No modesty here.

In case you missed the clip from another post, here's the video of Brent's ride with the three boys during Critical Mass. London rode my bike along side. I believe Brent's brother Aaron shot the video for him.


Yuba Mundo Inaugural Ride from delano on Vimeo.


I knew this bike was amazing because I rode it in Columbus last month, but I had never ridden it with any weight or even up a hill. You can't pay for hills in central Ohio. Test riding cargo bikes along our section of the Ohio river is near impossible, but I did make a few attempts to track some down, to no avail. Brent gave me his opinion from his ride on how to stop and handle the balance load and turning radius. I had been reading dozens and dozens of blog entries and watching videos for a couple of months. 

When I got home, I took the Yuba out first thing. I didn't even bring in my bag. I went straight to the garage and road it around the block. It was too dark to see the shifters and I wasn't even sure of the street conditions. I was a bit wobbly and uncertain, but elated. Yesterday I spent time thinking about riding and finishing Bike Snob. Today I set my mind to pick up the children from school with the Yuba Mundo. Brent left one bike at the school for a child to ride home and I set up the new bike with the iBert and stared at it from end to end. There were several parts missing that I had ordered; disc brakes, wheel skirt, and double kick stand, and noted to myself to call the shop to get an ETA.

First attempt with three boys at school.

I loaded Oliver into the rear seat, as that was his preference and I practiced going around the block several times getting used to the weight and handling. I really do not like rear weight. It feels like the front tire is going to lift off the road on every hill. The height of my saddle was suitable, the space between the iBert and my knees was far better than the other bike and the rear child seat looks more comfortable than the front. I planned to ride Avery in the rear seat, Elliot on the deck and Oliver in the iBert, but I knew that London would beg to ride on the deck often.

Circling the parking lot.

Brent came home from work to ride to school with me just in case anything would happen. He's a worrier, but I was happy to have time with him. He decided to hook up the trailer to his bike so we could load the children's back packs, as I still haven't ordered saddle/pannier bags for the Yuba. Every time we ride to the school we argue. We just have a different opinion about which route to take and where to ride on the road. The first tiff took place before the first block was behind us. I like to turn up the first road, he likes to take the second. Because he was behind me and saying "go here" and I didn't know where "here" was, I stopped on a steep uphill and tipped the bike to the right, with Oliver in the back, just about to the ground. Hmmm, this was going to be difficult.

Having learned my first lesson, to put both feet on the ground and hold both brakes when stopping, I took the second turn with Brent, which was indeed less of a climb and easier to ride. It was also slightly more difficult to make the next left at the intersection but not impossible or dangerous. I climbed up Wiltshire without much trouble and we disagreed about which direction on Woodland to ride and whether it was safer to take the lane on Norway or to use the side walk. We compromised with going to the right on Woodland, looping back down Fairfax and taking the lane on Norway.

I was sailing well until the climb on the one way portion of Norway. Brent has been telling me to take the pressure off the chain when I shift gears and I have been practicing, but I am not very good at this task. If I take the pressure off, then I slow down and have to apply more pressure. While climbing Norway I was moving into a lower gear and the chain came off the front chain wheel completely. I wasn't going anywhere. This is why I was glad Brent was there. I was able to hold the bike while he realigned the chain. Had I to do this alone I would have had to remove Oliver on a busy street and figure it out. I couldn't even walk the bike up the hill, the chain was locked up. Lesson two, take pressure off the chain before shifting gears.

Once at the school with all the children retrieved I was feeling really anxious. I didn't do so well getting there and now I was adding two extra children to a bike I was still very uncomfortable on and unfamiliar with. We loaded everyone up and I practiced starting and turning and stopping in the parking lot. I think I did about six loops in different directions to figure it all out. I lectured the boys about moving and tipping, as this would injure us all. With Brent hauling the trailer full of back packs, London on her Junior Viper and me carrying three children on the Yuba, we set off down the hill toward the Bookworm's Attic. It was still Thursday, our bookstore day, and we were not going to get sidelined from our agenda.

Heading down the one way portion of Norway on the sidewalk.

Stopped to return books.

Parked out front of the Bookworm's Attic

Books and candy purchases, bodies cooled, we strode out again for home. During our ride I observed many things about the differences in riding this long tail verses the old mountain bike. The first was the balance. The second was braking and foot position. Third, chain pressure and shifting. Fourth was the impact of the rear passengers over bumps. They took a huge jolt even over minor surface features. There jostling around had me swerving the front end to keep my balance. I do think I was truly bothered by the terrible roads and sidewalk conditions for the first time since riding. Before they were just annoying, now they were dangerous. The fifth thing of notice was the need for smooth transitions between surfaces. This goes beyond jacked up sidewalks and potholes. This bike really needs those ramps at crosswalks. I couldn't take the curb and just bounce down them like with the other bike, I would loose control. Unfortunately a few spots on our route don't offer these ramps at convenient places, but I found ways around them. In some situations I used drive ways and others I went an extra half block back to use a ramp. While I realize my place should be on the road, if you were a driver on Norway, you would not be expecting a cyclist, especially a slow one with three children. The sidewalk is safer, but not by much. (Sixth) The Yuba also didn't like going through thick gravel where the side walk was covered in some portions. Wobbly conditions at best. I believe this is because all the weight was in the rear and if there were more on the front, it could have been a better scenario. Yet I don't have front racks or bread baskets at this time and this is the best I can do.

Panting up Norway.

Pushing up Fairfax.

This is deceiving, we were actually flying down Wiltshire.

This looks like a long list of complaints. Almost like buyers remorse. I am a complainer but these are just kinks I am working out. I have confidence in this bike and know that with more practice things will be easier. I can't do much about the route conditions (although I am considering filling out one of these forms) but I can keep trying and be patient.

To give the Yuba Mundo the praise it deserves, it was easier to ride up hills than my other bike. It was great to be able to carry three children at once. It was wonderful to sit more upright and my back is appreciative too. The shifting was smooth, except when I managed to thwart it's natural talent. It is certainly a show piece, and a fabulously functional one. I was going to have the children give the bike a name, as they have named our cars and it seems appropriate and a bit ridiculous. Suggestions for names? I will run it by the panel judges and let you know what they decide.

All these miles below are approximate because we haven't keep very accurate records since my departure last week. I hope to get my act together and record them better next week. The two miles on the bus was from Brent taking his entire class on the free downtown bus to get coffee at River and Rail yesterday. I would have loved a professor like this when I was a freshman, but it might have creeped me out as well....

Miles Walked: 0	Biked: 46	Bused: 2	Drove: 44	This week
53.7	358.8	12.6	539.2	Since August 14, 2011

Night Biking

Rear light attached to London's new helmet. She's riding my bike. Brent went with her to scouts and took all these night pictures.

Tuesdays are just busy days around here. There's the school and work thing, then there is the CSA and egg pick up and some times, like tonight, there's Girl Scouts. Going over for Girl Scouts puts us closer to Kroger, making it also a grocery night. Since autumn is approaching the sun is setting earlier. Evening activities and late nights at work require bike lights!

This was something I actually prepared for, unlike our shortage of rain gear that I have yet to fix. The children's helmets are equipped with small visibility lights. They are not bright enough for them to see where they are going, but enough to let everyone know they are there. London and Elliot's bikes have rear red lights next to their reflectors. Brent has a proper head light and tail light. As of tonight, my bike has a head light and we attached the tail light to the trailer.

In addition to these night time biking safety features, Elliot and London's bikes are also sporting bells with inaccurate compasses attached. I think we paid about a buck fifty for each bell, we didn't expect much more than noise makers. They love them. My ears do not, especially indoors, but they are highly effective for children who claim to be too shy to shout, "on your left!" to pedestrians.

We are pretty giddy about being in better compliance with the WV state law. Good stuff.

Showing off the new helmet, a Raskullz we ordered from Target.com

 Tomorrow it will be one month since I began tracking our miles, however unscientifically. We are over 300 miles we have covered without a gas powered engine! I thought that was pretty impressive for our little family. That's a tank of gas.

Miles Walked: 2	Biked: 44	Bused: 0	Drove: 13	This week
53.7	282.8	12.6	450.2	Since August 14, 2011

Friday Comparison: September 19

This tally is a total account of our joint family miles. If we bike or walk together, like we do for errands, they only count once, but if Brent's biking to work and I am biking to school, those are separate miles. I was not to sure what to do if London biked home from school but the boys and I walked with her, so I counted them separately because they were different modes. 

Our trip meter last week August 28-September 2:

Miles Walked:6

Biked: 70.4

Bused: 0

Drove: 4

This week

Today, September 4-9:

Miles Walked: 8	Biked: 43	Bused: 0	Drove: 24	This week
51.7	233.8	12.6	446.2	Since August 14, 2011

We certainly drove more this week. Twenty of those miles were Brent taking the children to school in the morning. I am driving for pick ups on Friday so we can bring home play mates. Come to think of it, the round trip miles to school are 4 and there were only 4 days of school this week, so that number should read 20. There's no doubt my tracking system is flawed. Oh well, it's something.

I am still looking for alternate ways to get to school if anyone has suggestions. Please read up on our trials and tribulations of school commuting to get the scoop on issues with biking, busing and walking. Carpooling was working, but Brent really likes seeing his children to the door, especially Avery, as it's his first year.

Special Mentions
It's been an unanticipated thrill to write A Simple Six. I would like to thank everyone for reading and if you came here because I bombard you with links on my Facebook page, sorry, but thank you none-the-less. I really appreciate the car-lite community interviews with Raine and Jenny and the traffic they have so wonderfully reciprocated toward my blog. I did a great big happy dance when Simply Bike featured our Breakfasty Bike Date today on her blog under a new tab just for mamas and papas. I am "meeting" some amazing families out there in the world and beginning some great projects here in Huntington because of them. This adventure in blogging continues to be the change I want to see in my world. Thank you. Without your readership and support, it would not be.

Looking Forward
The next couple of weeks my tracking and logging will probably diminish as I am taking a long trip to a far away land. My husband's ability to care for our children in my absence will be tested, and should I ask him to keep a record of his miles he may develop a twitch. I am preparing to travel sans-technology, but may be fortunate enough to pry the iPad from Brent's hands.

While on my solo adventure in Phoenix, where I am meeting up with hoards of other wedding goers, I hope to do something, transportation wise, to write home about. The evening temperatures in Arizona are expected to be in the 100s, so I may find myself in air-conditioned cars enlarging my dusty carbon footprint.

Friday Comparison: September 2

Our trip meter last week August 21-26:

Miles Walked: 12.5

Biked: 50.9

Bused: 2.1

Drove: 0

This week

Today, August 28-September 2:

Miles Walked: 6	Biked: 70.4	Bused: 0	Drove: 4	This week
43.7	183.3	12.6	403.9	Since August 14, 2011

We walked half as many miles this week and biked about twenty more. Most of those biking miles were Brent's. As a reminder, this tally is a total account of our joint family miles. If we bike or walk together, like we do for errands, they only count once, but if Brent's biking to work and I am biking to school, those are separate miles. I was not too sure what to do if London biked home from school but the boys and I walked with her, so I counted them separately because they were different modes.

Not included are the carpool miles. We were not driving, but the children were riding with someone else. Should those be included? Would they be a separate column or just under "drove?"

Savings!
Reducing our driving miles combined with giving away the car meant I got to call our insurance agent today and change our policy. We were paying roughly $1300 a year, or more precisely $117 a month to insure two vehicles, one with full coverage. Reducing the van to liability dropped the rates to $935/yr or $78/m. When I looked over the declaration I noticed we were listed as driving more than 8000miles annually for the van. Talking to the agent today we noted the change in our driving habits. Combining this mileage reduction with the removal of the car our annual rate is now $520 or $44/m. This savings is equivalent to two dinners out with the family, or a light week of groceries, every single month. While I hope we get to enjoy some of these things with our savings, it will also give us more to put toward our second mortgage, more for bike safety equipment and a bike purchase, more for sharing with our friends, more breathing room in general.  

Measuring Our Miles

Writing about where we go and how we get there is good, but Brent and I love to talk about how many miles we have covered each day. We don't have any bike computers or pedometers, but rather rely on our Google maps. I hope to begin each post with a header including the distances covered to date for each bicycle, bus, van/car, and foot method. We weren't sure if we should single out the children from the adults but decided on just a cumulative distance for the day regardless of one or five or all six of us.

Until I can create a gadget/widget for keeping it on the side bar or elsewhere, it will just be typed something like this:

Miles Walked: 4	Biked: 0	Bused: 0	Drove: 0	This week
4	0	0	0	Since August 14, 2011