Messenger Bag Convert

Ok, ok, ok… I am now a bike messenger bag convert.  I know, in my very first post to the JCC titled Hello World, I posted that messenger bags were not for me.  Well…I have now a seen the light. The first bag I purchased was from Sette Quest, which I bought from Price Point.  Don’t waist your energy on this bag or your money, because you do get what you pay for.  Actually, everything that I bought from Price Point has been replaced with better gear.  This is not a ding on Price Point, I have just learned a few lessons about bike gear since I started biking everywhere.  I will continue to use Price Point to look for deals and plan on checking them out in the future.

I started eyeing different bags after I realized the Sette Quest bag had a quick release buckle, which is pretty standard for most bike messenger bags.   I checked out Chrome, Crumpler and finally settled on the Timbuk2 Medium Classic Messenger bag for no other reason than I could not pass up a good deal at REI.

My Timbuk2 Medium Classic Messenger Bag

The bag is extremely comfortable on my back and it’s made for people like me.  People that use there bike for short trips to get around town.  Last week I went to the Dekalb Farmer’s Market, loaded up the bag with produce and then road off into the sunset to the Avondale MARTA Station.  The bag was definitely heavy but generally comfortable I did feel something poking me though the bag, and I could never figure out what it was, I will have to do a few more test runs with groceries before I can finally give it a seal of approval.

Recently, I subscribed to Chainlove, which is a site run by the folks at BackCountry and the site is truly for bike lovers and people who love to buy gear or need gear.  Chain love sells one item at a time at a ridiculously low price until it is sold out and then they move on to the next piece of gear.  If you need gear check them out.  Last week I ordered a Timbuk2 X-small Messenger bag from Chainlove (See Below) I needed a smaller bag for my every day bike trips that don’t require a larger bag.

My Timbuk2 X-Small Classic Messenger Bag

The bag arrived yesterday and although I think it’s a cool bag the X-Small does not not come with a cross strap, the strap helps with stabilization and was a little challenging on my ride home last night because it was sliding.

Basically the bag is the perfect size when you don’t have a huge load.

Looking Back on 5768

As I sit back and reflect on this new year (Jewish New Year), I can’t help but remember one of my goals from last year; And that was to increase my fun exercise, in other words to have fun while exercising.  Let me explain,  I spent seven years in the U.S. Army, nine years as a personal trainer, one year as a power lifter and two years as a bodybuilder.  No, I am not that old, some of those events occurred simultaneously.  Exercise has always been a part of my life,  and it was how I earned a living, but it turned into work and somehow, I lost the fun I used to have.  I lost the feeling I used to get when I entered my first gym in my 20’s, led my Military Police Company by singing cadence on a run, or hangin’ with the guys during a long ruck march or just lifting more freakin’ weight than the guys in the gym.  And I lost the drive to do better, to be better, I stopped challenging myself because it ceased to be fun.

Now I bike commute on my single speed bike, trying to figure out ways to get around town while avoiding as many hills as possible. Not wanting to use my brakes on the downhills or stop at red lights for fear that I can’t make it up the one hill that I can’t avoid.  I’m using my bike to run errands and using my car less and less and realizing that I don’t need a car (except to take my dogs to the vet).  Not only am I seeing my bike as a source of transportation,  I am having a blast.  I wish someone would have told me a long time ago to dump the gears; and that a stripped down bike would be more fun. It’s probably something that you have to experience for yourself.  The the closest that I can come to explaining it, is to say, that I truly feel like a kid again on a bike.  You don’t have to worry about what gear you’re in, you just get on the bike and go where you want to go.

One more activity that I do and that has brought the fun back in my fitness life,  I  play 3rd base on a Kickball team, GO Powerballs and yes, I still lift weights but now I bike to the gym and I am all warmed up before  I start my workout.  I did it!! I have increased my fun exercise.  BTW I haven’t completely abondoned my road bike, a discontinued Caloi, I will use that bike the next time I take a long ride, and hopefully the next long ride will be on the Silver Comet Trail.

Buying Better Bike Gear

Yesterday I made my trip to Performance Bikes to buy this months supply of gear.  Because of budget constraints I can only buy a little gear at a time.  This time I bought a cyclocomputer, a rack, wrench, bungee type cord for the rack, and a new front light.  In my effort to save money it seems that all of the money that I am saving on gas is currently going into the bike.

I spent a great deal of time at the store trying to pick out the computer that fit my needs but first I had to figure out what my needs were.  For my other two bikes I just bought whatever the LBS recommended because there were never that many choices, but as I am sure some of you are aware of Performance Bikes is like being a kid in a candy store.  Instead of candy there are rows and rows of bikes and gear.  There were to many choices, I new I wanted a wireless computer but there were other options that I wasn’t sure I needed, for example, did I need to count cadence? No, I am riding a single speed bike, who needs cadence.  Cyclocomputers have so many other features and it was just too overwhelming for me to pick out the best one so I finally settled on the Vectra Wireless. The Vectra is a basic wireless computer.  With 5 functions and one large button, that is easy to use and so far it seems very user-friendly.  Perfect for me, although I later discovered that there is no stopwatch on it, which is something that I now wouldn’t mind having.

I also purchased a TransIt Pannier Seatpost Rack.  I went into the store wanting to get the quick release version but I found the quick release version to be heavy.  So I decided on the seat post version instead of the even lighter and cheaper regular rack, because sadly, I have always found racks a bit nerdy and wanted the option of taking it off with out much hassle if I needed to.  I guess I should get over it because if I am ever going to be a true bike commuter I will have to have a rack, there is no way around it unless I constantly want to carry items on my back.

I also bought a Spin Doctor Pedal Wrench.  Not so much for my pedals, although I am sure it will work very well for my pedals, but my bike does not have quick release wheels, the only way to get the wheels off is to use a 15mm wrench. The cool thing is that this wrench will work with almost every bolt on my bike.  One more cool thing about not having quick releases (trying to look at the positive, although at first I was a little perturbed) is that if someone wants to steal the bike when it is locked up they will need a wrench. I now realize that this may be a pretty good security system.

Lastly, I had to by a new front light, my initial light was this but after a few nights of riding home late, it was not just enough for me to be seen, but I needed to see as well.  After sometime, I settled on this Cateye Headlight but I haven’t actually had the opportunity to test it out.  My next purchase will probably be this rear light, it’s much better than the one that I currently have and I really want people to be able to see me.

Not Using the Car and Walking the Dog

Deciding to use my bike as a major source of transportation has helped me to think of other creative ways that I can reduce my impact on the environment by driving less.  I will admit that the impetus for this change was initially to save money; gas prices were skyrocketing, I am now living alone as my partner is in Baltimore working on her Ph.D.  Add that I just moved into a neighborhood where MARTA is within walking distance and everything I need is less than 1 maybe 2 miles away so, why drive. Yesterday for example, I needed to give Buddy a bath, plus he needed exercise so we walked the aproximate mile and half to the doggy wash the Kirkwood Feed and Seed and we walked back giving him plenty of time to dry off.

Biking to the GYM day 3

Yesterday I took my bike to Performance Bikes.  They had to fix all of the little kinks that showed up after I had been riding it for a week.  Like the chain; the chain had already popped out more times than on any other bike I have owned, and every time I went up a hill or stood up on the bike to peddle hard and fast the chain felt like it would pop.  The other weird thing was the seat post.  No matter how many times I tightened the damn post the seat would become loose, or come down or turn and/or all of the above.  It did it so often that I started carrying this little tool around, not that it actually helped.  The last thing they needed to fix was the front brake, it was too tight causing the front tire to not rotate freely.

Just like Tuesday, yesterday and today I rode my bike to the gym, leaving at around 5:50-5:55 am.  Today I got to be more creative and appreciate the fact that I was on a bike. Because this morning, as I was leaving the gym, the long and slow train that crosses Dekalb ave when you are in a hurry was makeing its very slow pace down the tracks. I could have waited but instead I turned the bike around and went up the stairs of the East Lake MARTA station and crossed over the pedestrian walk way and came down the otherside onto College Ave.  The traffic was too heavy to get back on the road so I rode on the sidewalk.  I love this bike, it has a lot of the agility and sturdyness that a mountain bike has and it’s fun.

Biking to the GYM

I got up and out the door a little earlier than usual, all in an effort to bike to the my Gym-Core Body in Decatur and meet my workout partner. It was very early, 5:50 am and I have never been up at that time a day to ride any bike plus it was dark.  Luckily there is a bike path for part of the way which made me feel a little safer.

This morning I had my first real bike malfunction, the chain popped, not that that was exciting, the chain has popped before but this time the chain got caught in what would be the rear derailleur if I had one, but I don’t and I am not sure what to call it on a single speed bike.  Since the chain was caught in the rear it was harder to fix.  It was dark and I was worried I was going to have to walk the bike back.  I finally fixed it and was again on my way but I did feel like the chain was going to pop again.  I will add that to my list when I take the bike in tomorrow for retuning, you know, getting all the kinks out that the store can’t find because someone has to ride the bike.

I saw something interesting today a  woman on a bike with a perfectly good helmet except the helmet was attached to the bike and not her head, maybe its a new fashion trend.

All in all it was a very good ride and an excellent way to start my day.

Biking and Kickball

I am new to kickball and If you have been following this blog you know that I am a new bike commuter, these are not good combinations but I am always one to go overboard.  Today’s adventures led me to bike to my Kickball game, I play for the Powerballs, GO POWERBALLS!!! We won.  Needless to say that my legs are a bit soar and to make matters worse I then road my bike to dinner at Calavino’s in Oahurst.  I probably should have driven my car but I am trying to keep my commitment of not using my car if I can bike somewhere or walk.

My Ride

This is a good time to introduce my new ride the SE Lager single speed.  I also found two reviews for this bike written by Tim Grahl.  1st and 2nd review.

I bought the bike at Performance Bikes a fact that I feel somewhat guilty about because I did not purchase it at my LBS (Local Bike Shop) which for me would be No Brakes, Outback Bikes, or Bicycle South. Performance Bikes, was like being a kid in a candy store, and I was blown away by their prices, their service plan and their buyers club which gives you 10% back on your purchases which you can use to buy more gear.  So far I am really excited about this bike it makes me want to ride.

Shul, MARTA and the Post Office

I haven’t quite figured out how to get to Shul using MARTA and my bike but I will. Today I had my first experience as a bike commuter on MARTA and all I will say about that is that it’s not a good idea to ride late in the afternoon if you haven’t eaten since the morning.

Hello World

Welcome to my new blog, the JCC or the Jewish City Chick.  Yes I am spending this shabbat plugged in.  Mainly because I feel like I need to write but instead of writing I have been spending the last hour trying to set up this blog.   I am hanging out at Kavarna in Oakhurst, which is turning out to be this cool little coffee shop.  I rode my bike over here , which brings me back to my new inspiration for blogging.  I am following in the footsteps of my friend Unsquished and starting a bike blog or to put it in another way I want to write about my experiences of getting around the city of Atlanta and relying less and less on my gas guzzling car. Plus I figured it might help spark some creativity.

My new bike is a  steel frame single speed stipped down road bike with a flip-flop hub (I’ll get to that later) and even though I have only road it for a short time it was so much fun riding it over to Kavarna it was like being a kid again.

So here are the beginning adventures of me riding a bike.  First of all I have to say that I am no novice at riding a bike I just don’t ride as much as I would like and I am hoping that will change.  Next, I have never had pedals with clips, I have always used clipless pedals and who ever said that pedals with clips are easier was lying.  I would get one foot in the clip and then struggle to get the other in, plus my body was on automatic pilot and was reacting as if I was clipped in.

To gear up for my new experience I bought lights and a messenger bag and I have decided that messenger bags are not for me unless someone can tell me how to tighten the damn thing.  The stupid bag kept getting in front of me and in my way.  So I went back and got a backpack.  That’s it for now…oh I almost forgot somehow I ripped my jeans in the crotch on my ride to Kavarna. These are my favorite jeans and they are very bagging so I am still not sure how the ripping happened.