I haven’t used a disposable plastic water bottle in years, and that’s because of great reusable water bottles such as this. It’s BPA-free and has a filter that can handle about 300 refills before being replaced, which is great when I’m filling up in bathroom sinks while Traveling at the Speed of Bike. (Whatever happened…
Tag: Pedal Power with Pattie
Gloves I love
Granted, I don’t invest very much in anything “cyclist” because that’s just not how I see myself as a bike rider. However, when Attica’s rubber brake hoods (where I usually rest my hands while riding) ripped off (they were original to this circa-1989 Schwinn LeTour that had been in my attic for twenty years*), I…
Cork handlebar tape
Yes, I’m pro cork. In fact, the first time (just a few years ago) that I rewrapped a bike’s handlebars since I was twelve years old, I purchased a cork-based handlebar tape that made me feel good because of that whole traipsing-through-the-cork-forests-and-factories-of-Portugal investigative journalism thing I did a few years ago. (If interested, see here.)…
Deodorant
Truth? One can stink to high heaven after Traveling at the Speed of Bike (especially on days you don’t get a chance to run through fountains mid-ride). I know, because I have (and if you’ve sat next to me after I was riding, you know it, too). That’s due in large part to the facts…
Body camera, harness, and batteries
This is the full version of the photo that’s on the cover of my book, Traveling at the Speed of Bike. My 85-year-old dad took it (that’s his shadow) when I came back to the place where I grew up (Mineola, NY) to ride around on a bike I bought that day (which I named…
Bike shorts
If you want to wear skirts and dresses while riding a bike (which I do), then wearing simple shorts underneath makes sense so you don’t need to worry about flashing the world. But that’s just the beginning of your freedom. Bike riding causes feel-good energy to surge through you, and you may therefore find yourself…
“Regular clothes”
There are those of us who like Traveling at the Speed of Bike as transportation to actually go places, and we’re big advocates of wearing “regular clothes.” However, if you ride often, you learn some quick truths*. Wide pant legs, for instance, get caught in chains. Certain necklines reveal your entire chest if you are…
Bike lights (back)
They say that a flashing light catches motor vehicle drivers’ attention more than a continual light (although, frankly, you’re sh*t outta luck if a driver is impaired or distracted, but that’s where route selection, some other hazard-avoidance techniques, and advocating for safe and separated access at your local city hall come into play. You can…
