1. Learn Stuff – Riding Bikes is Fun!

Do you remember the carefree days of being a kid? The freedom of a summer day when the most taxing decision was whether you wanted a vanilla malt or a chocolate one? When you hopped on your bike it wasn’t for fitness, it was for exploration and FUN! As the warmth of spring descends, we want to share a little film we recently put together to remind you of all that is joyful and fun about throwing your leg over your top tube and pedaling all over town.

Planet Bike on Vimeo.

2. Accessory Handbook – Superflash Turbo

In 2006, our introduction of the Superflash tail light ushered in a new era of innovation in bicycle lighting.  Building on our tradition, we are now proud to introduce the evolution of bicycle safety: the Superflash Turbo.  We paired our time-tested design with a powerful 1 watt LED, then added the new attention-grabbing Turbo flash pattern. It’ll give you peace of mind riding day or night.

• 1 Watt Power LED plus 2 red LEDs for visibility up to 1 mile
• New attention-grabbing Turbo flash pattern
• Soft-touch power switch accesses flashing or steady mode for up to 100 hours of run time on two AAA batteries
• Ultra compact vertical design is weatherproof, lightweight and durable
• Includes bike mounts and clip mount for multiple mounting options

3. Advocacy Update – Get Connected

As you may already know, May marks the 55th annual National Bike Month, with Bike-to-Work Week taking place May 16-20 and National Bike-to-Work Day on May 20. Each year hundreds of thousands of people participate in Bike-to-Work week and all the other planned activities that celebrate the bicycle.

If you’re not already a member of your local, regional, or state bicycle advocacy organization, perhaps the fun you have participating in Bike Month festivities will propel you to become a force for change in your community and get involved in your local bike advocacy organization.

To find the group nearest you, visit the web sites of either the League of American Bicyclists or the Alliance for Bike and Walking. Both have searches to help you get connected to your grassroots champions of bicycling.

4. Supercommuter – Geoff Williams, East Providence, RI

Ask Geoff Williams when he decided that commuting by bike was a viable means of transportation and you’ll likely get a confused look. “It has always been a viable means for me,” says Williams, the spring Super Commuter.

Geoff grew up on his bike in the Seattle area “bombing hills and scraping skin off his bony knees every week.” The bike became his tool for exploration during summers in D.C. As Geoff grew older his love of bikes did as well. The scope of his two-wheeled explorations increased into high school, taking him on a two week tour around the San Juan Islands.

Grad school landed Geoff in Michigan where he started racing mountain bikes. This proved to be the stepping stone to his cyclocross obsession. After learning of a new local series Geoff gave it a try and was instantly hooked. After grad school Geoff landed a job that sadly came with a 70 mile commute to and from work, making him unnaturally bound to his car. He continued to ride and race when he had time, but the massive commute on top of starting a family took its toll. After several years, Geoff was offered a dream job in East Providence, RI. He leaped at the opportunity. For the past six years, his family and his cycling has flourished.

Geoff’s commute to Brown University is now a manageable 17 mile round-trip, which he travels year round. Normally a 40 minute commute, the east coast winters can more than double Geoff’s time on the bike. Being resourceful is always a great attribute for the year round commuter. Geoff concurs saying, “The hardest part of commuting is trying to dry shoes and clothes before the commute home after a wet morning ride.

In addition to reviving Geoff’s bike commuting lifestyle, his move to Rhode Island also landed him in the middle of the East Coast cyclocross hotbed. On top of his daily commutes he also gets his fair share of cross racing nearly every weekend from September through December.

It takes a commitment to become a full-time bike commuter, but once you make the jump it becomes a way of life. As Geoff says, “The best part of the commute is the sunrise riding up the East Bay Bike Path. The former rail bed takes you past a lighthouse. At a few points there is water on both sides. Being surrounded by sea birds and water is the most tranquil scene. It’s what I live for on the commute. I’ll occasionally stop and soak everything in. Nothing unsettles me on days when the morning commute is perfect.”

If you would like to nominate a Super Commuter, please contact us at info@planetbike.com.

©2011 Planet Bike.