Bicycling March 2013

The Road Forward On a winter afternoon that was sunny and bleak, I rolled out for an easy spin. I’d missed the lunch ride again, for maybe the 10th time in a row, so I was on my own. I clattered into the parking lot swaddled in windproof gear, still laden with the creamy soup I’d eaten at lunch. I felt tired and heavy and cold. Even the simple act of pivoting a leg over the top tube demanded an effort, but I did it and clicked in. I pedaled out of town past a cluster of strip malls, a route that is busier but easier than the alternatives. Though I’d left without a destination in mind, I started drifting toward a couple short, flat loops that I could daydream…

In the first installment of his monthly column, Personal Trainer (p. 26), coach JAMES HERRERA helps you reach your ideal riding weight. “If you can watch what you eat 80 to 85 percent of the time, you’ll be in a better place,” he says, while admitting that he’s “definitely a chocolate person.” herrera, the founder of Performance Driven Coaching in Colorado springs, Colorado, also coaches the United states national BmX team. Brooklyn-based illustrator JOSH COCHRAN brings your 2013 readers’ Choice responses to life on page 63. “I could definitely relate to the question about repairs that stump you,” says Cochran, who recently converted his bike into a porteur-style cargo model. His work has appeared everywhere from Beck’s sheet-music album, Song Reader, to the book Collecting Art for Love, Money, and…

In our December issue we interviewed derailleur curator Mike Sweatman. “I love when people uncover the histories of items we take for granted,” wrote Facebook fan Ann Jasper. “It’s clear arriving at the current design wasn’t easy.” T. Caldwell says, “I’m sure you’ve received lots of mail about it, but it’s funny how much the pink Ofmega rear changer looks like a little penis. Or maybe I’ve just seen too much graffiti while pedaling in rural Washington.” We hadn’t, but thanks for sharing. PURPOSEFUL PEDALING After reading Peter Flax’s “Purpose Driven” (Editor’s Letter), I wanted to share this: When I was in college in 1984 I needed to learn English, so I subscribed to BICYCLING to practice the language. Six months ago I picked up the magazine at a bookstore.…

Built in 1913, this 75-mile stretch of pavement near Portland is the first scenic byway to be designated a National Historic Landmark. Cars are banned from roughly 10 miles of the road, which winds past waterfalls, cliffs, and Cascade Mountain peaks. For a mind-blowing 30-mile out-and-back, start in Hood River and follow the highway through the famous twin tunnels to Mosier. Then pedal up a gentle grade toward the Rowena Crest, where you’ll sail down a series of sweeping curves, the Rowena Loops, before turning around. STOP HERE Three more reasons to ride the Gorge 10-SPEED EAST COFFEE Perk up with a midride macchiato at this coffeehouse, also known as Mosier’s Living Room, where the single-origin beans are locally roasted and ethically sourced. ROWENA CREST VIEWPOINT Rest your legs at…

DONE THIS? Coffee-shop trips TRY Riding to work If you’ve negotiated traffic to sip a latte at your local java joint, you’re ready for more purposeful pedaling. But do a test run first. “Try different routes on the weekend to find ones that are fun, scenic, or low-trafifc so you’ll look forward to riding every day,” says Carolyn Szcz-epanski of the League of American Bicyclists. Use this time to figure out what to wear, carry, and pack. For more tips on riding to work, go to BICYCLING.com/getthere. DONE THIS? Long solo rambles TRY Group rides Riding with a group is easier—and more fun—than going alone because you share the work, says Andy Applegate, a coach with Carmichael Training Systems in Brevard, North Carolina. The trick is to choose the right…

1 Rapha Hi-Vis Gilet, $160 (men’s and women’s) 2 Eno Winged Bicycle Reflective Pant Clip, $25 (pair) 3 RydeSafe reflective bike decals, $9–$16 (dozens of colors and patterns to choose from) 4 Dargelos Tufts reflective tassel (dangle from a backpack, belt loop, or zipper pull), $16 5 Rickshaw Bagworks Zero Messenger Ultra-Glo Reflective bag, $120 (size medium) 6 Betabrand Wool Pinstripe Bike to Work Pants, $128 (men’s) 7 Vespertine Trench Coat, $536 8 We-Flashy Reflective Houndstooth Tee Evergreen, $65 (men’s and women’s) 9 OneTwoThreeSpeed Reflective Bike Helmet Bow (straps to the back of your helmet), $15…