Keefer Madness

Bicycle Advocacy The Right Way

// June 15th, 2012 // 1 Comment » // Cycling

Nice article from “Commute Orlando” about using the right message and strategies for encouraging bike commuting and cycling in general.

Bicycle Advocacy The Right Way

Car Free – We Can Dream

// November 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Cycling

Nice image. We can dream can’t we? The part of I-540 (or I think it’s actually designated as NC-540 now) I drive around here commuting to the new office, I can totally envision biking. Traffic is pretty sparse, and would be really cool cycling. Like I said — we can dream.

Car Free – We Can Dream

It's National Bike to Work Day

// May 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // Cycling

It’s National Bike to Work Day at the end of Bike to Work Week here in the United States. Sadly, I was only able to bike in yesterday, due to work schedule and crappy weather. The original plan was to ride in today as well. Oh well. Regardless, it’s established in my mind that I can get to and from work in a safe and efficient manor. The hope is Bike to Work Day and Week do the same for a lot of people — establishing the benefits of adding a two-wheeled commute option. Obviously, for most, it’s not feasible daily, but for me, my goal is to ride two days a week, and hoping others will set similar goals. It’s a great mental boost. It’s a great workout, and it’s just plain fun. Here’s to many more bike commutes.

The link below can give you a rough estimation of your cost savings biking into work. It even factors in the average cost of maintenance and care on your bike versus vehicle.

How Much Can I Save Bicycling to Work?

Google Maps to Offer Biking Directions

// March 10th, 2010 // No Comments » // Cycling, Internet / Web

Here’s an often requested and often rumored feature that looks like it is finally going to come to Google Maps. They’ve already got driving directions. They’ve already got walking directions. Now for the delight of cyclists, commuters and overall two-wheeled road warriors everywhere across the U.S. (according to the press release, that’s over 57 million Americans!), Google Maps will offer up cycling directions. I wonder if and how the integration will be with my Garmin Edge, when it’s working that is.

Visit http://maps.google.com/biking to try it out. Like so many Google products, this one is in beta. Time to put in directions from the home to the new office to see if it’s anything like the route I’d take.

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LightLane, the Bike Lane That Rides With You: Now a Reality

// June 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Cycling

I’m feeling like I’m not posting enough bike/cycling posts here at Keefer Madness, though two (not including this one) currently on the home page fall under the cycling category. Anyway, here’s a new gadget for those night time bike commutes to add a little safety, projecting a laser line on either side of you and your bicycle to encourage drivers to pass you with a little bit of distance, with a video to demonstrate.

LightLane, the Bike Lane That Rides With You: Now a Reality

I Burned 3400 Calories on My Morning Commute Yesterday, How About You?

// May 16th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Cycling, Health & Fitness, Personal Crap

Yeah, that’s right. I burned almost 3400 calories just getting to work yesterday morning. In honor of it being bike to work week, I wanted to get at least one bike ride in, despite a pretty busy schedule and bad weather that necessitated having a car at work. Typically my bike commute is more of a hybrid commute, driving me and my bike to Crabtree Valley Mall, and then cycling in from there. But I’ve always wanted to give it a go commuting door-to-door.

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Bike to Work Day, and I'm Gonna Do it!

// May 15th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Cycling, Local (Raleigh Durham)

So today is Bike to Work Day, ending Bike to Work Week in the middle of Bike to Work Month. Well today, I’m going to do something I’ve never done before – bike to work. Sure, I’ve driven part way and parked the car at Crabtree Valley Mall, then biked the just over seven miles in. But today, I’m going the whole distance – door to door.

There’s a lot of unknowns: the total mileage of this bike commute, the total time it’s going to take and how much traffic I’ll encounter. But I’ll start to find out here in a little over a half hour. My guesstimate is that is going to take me about three hours to get from my home in Durham to downtown Raleigh. My route is pretty convoluted, but keeps me in residential neighborhoods almost the entire time. Wish me luck, and expect another post somewhere later today with the details of my maiden Durham to Raleigh commute. See you on the road.

Bike Commute in the Morning

// April 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // Cycling, Personal Crap

Well it’s been quite awhile, but I’m going to start and end my work day tomorrow with my bike commute. I’m so sick of the crappy weather – near freezing temperatures and lots of rain.

Granted, just glancing at the weather for tomorrow, my morning commute is going to be on the chilly side – around 40 degrees, but my afternoon commute will be around 70 degrees. Welcome to central North Carolina, home of the 30 degree temperature swings of both spring and fall. Oh well. I’ll survive tomorrow’s commute and be healthier and saner for it. Despite the cold, I’m looking forward to the early morning ride as the sun rises to start my day, and then looking forward to the warmer return commute, spinning out some stresses of the day and starting the weekend off right – in the saddle.

Recording Those On-Road Close Calls

// March 30th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Cycling, Video

Here’s a great piece on a fellow road cyclist whose close encounters with vehicles, their mirrors and driver’s bad attitudes (on just plain oblivion). Kudos to the cyclist for documenting and standing (or cycling) his ground.

Getting There From Here

// January 9th, 2009 // No Comments » // Cycling, Local (Raleigh Durham)

Here’s an interesting writeup on biking throughout the Triangle here in North Carolina. Unfortunately, the article is very brief. I was hoping for a couple of nice tips (or wormholes) for me commute from here in Durham to Downtown Raleigh safely and efficiently

Getting There From Here