Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There's something wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym. ~ Bill Nye the Science Guy
Just a quick post. Found the above quote & figured it deserved posting. Not that I drive to the gym, but I am a serious offender of walking to the gym to run on the treadmill. Haha, and as much as I run outside I won't even try to pretend I don't spend a serious amount of time on a treadmill. So, I'm excited to be spending a whole summer exercising outside...well I say that now... I may change my tune when its 104 degrees and humid or 293857293410937 degrees in North Texas and civilization is MILES away. But for now, I'm pumped.
& in other news. Spring break starts tomorrow, and though I won't be home 'til Saturday evening, I've checked out the weather & it looks like I'll be able to put some quality miles in. Some of the roads near my house in Pittsburgh are intimidating, high traffic, many potholes, not something a novice rider should really learn on. So I'm excited to be back in KY where everything is a little bit slower, the roads better maintained & the speed limit slower. My goal is 150 miles while I'm home over break, plus whatever running I get in. Bring it on!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Bike & Build Video
Saturday, February 18, 2012
89 Days 'til SUS '12!
"A bicycle does get you there and more.... And there is always the thin edge of danger to keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive. Dogs become dogs again and snap at your raincoat; potholes become personal. And getting there is all the fun."
~ Bill Emerson
Went out for a nice long-ish run this morning, only 9 miles, but the weather was perfect and I decided that when I got home it would be the perfect time to take my bike out for another spin. I, and my roommate agreed, that he was likely to fit in my car if I put the back seat down. Well, after much shoving, pushing, and frustration I have determined that as is he (the bike) will not fit in my car. On his side with pedals attached he is too tall to make it under the divide between trunk and backseat. So...instead of riding in a local park like I planned (I was so not in the mood to disassemble, reassemble & disassemble again.) I spent some time riding around the few low traffic streets near my house. I'm not quite ready to take it to the real streets with stop lights, heavy traffic, & more potholes than real road. But I'm getting there. I figured out how to downshift, which I figure will at some point come in handy. Haha.
I've been generally looking around at bicycle quotes & comics & found the one above. Seemed to be pretty true. Only 89 days 'til the start of SUS '12 (my route). I'm slowly working my way to my fundraising goal of $4500. BUT...don't forget to buy a t-shirt, my goal is to sell 100, right now I'm at 10, so 10% of the way! They're only $15!!! A few posts back there is a picture of the design, and you can check out my Facebook as well for the picture. Leave a comment here or send me an e-mail to order one! :)
~ Bill Emerson
Went out for a nice long-ish run this morning, only 9 miles, but the weather was perfect and I decided that when I got home it would be the perfect time to take my bike out for another spin. I, and my roommate agreed, that he was likely to fit in my car if I put the back seat down. Well, after much shoving, pushing, and frustration I have determined that as is he (the bike) will not fit in my car. On his side with pedals attached he is too tall to make it under the divide between trunk and backseat. So...instead of riding in a local park like I planned (I was so not in the mood to disassemble, reassemble & disassemble again.) I spent some time riding around the few low traffic streets near my house. I'm not quite ready to take it to the real streets with stop lights, heavy traffic, & more potholes than real road. But I'm getting there. I figured out how to downshift, which I figure will at some point come in handy. Haha.
I've been generally looking around at bicycle quotes & comics & found the one above. Seemed to be pretty true. Only 89 days 'til the start of SUS '12 (my route). I'm slowly working my way to my fundraising goal of $4500. BUT...don't forget to buy a t-shirt, my goal is to sell 100, right now I'm at 10, so 10% of the way! They're only $15!!! A few posts back there is a picture of the design, and you can check out my Facebook as well for the picture. Leave a comment here or send me an e-mail to order one! :)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Affordable Housing Myth
Myth
People who live in high-density and affordable housing
won’t fit into my neighborhood.
Fact
People who need affordable housing already live and work
in your community.
According to government definitions of affordable housing, families should devote no more than 30% of their income to rent or mortgage payments and utilities. Affordable housing often means housing whose residents don’t pay too large a share of their incomes on rent or a mortgage. Households earning lower incomes can have a variety of occupational and educational backgrounds. Families earning less than four-fifths (80%) of the area’s median income are officially lower income households; families earning less than half of the median are known as very low-income households. For example, a starting elementary or high-school teacher in Mountain View (Santa Clara County), with a gross monthly income of around $3,200, can afford to pay $960 a month in rent, which qualifies as low-income if the teacher lives alone; if the salary must support a spouse and a child, the family
would be a very low-income household. A starting air-traffic controller in San Diego County, with income barely higher than $31,000 a year, would also qualify for affordable housing. Librarians, sheriffs’ deputies, nurses, fire fighters, and many other vital members of our communities all need affordable housing. People motivated by these concerns may just need to “meet” the residents of high-density and affordable housing. Residents often have been long time
members of the community, and will continue to make contributions to
their neighborhoods.
From an article entitled "Myths & Facts About Affordable & High Density Housing" regarding the current state of affordable housing in the state of California.
People who live in high-density and affordable housing
won’t fit into my neighborhood.
Fact
People who need affordable housing already live and work
in your community.
According to government definitions of affordable housing, families should devote no more than 30% of their income to rent or mortgage payments and utilities. Affordable housing often means housing whose residents don’t pay too large a share of their incomes on rent or a mortgage. Households earning lower incomes can have a variety of occupational and educational backgrounds. Families earning less than four-fifths (80%) of the area’s median income are officially lower income households; families earning less than half of the median are known as very low-income households. For example, a starting elementary or high-school teacher in Mountain View (Santa Clara County), with a gross monthly income of around $3,200, can afford to pay $960 a month in rent, which qualifies as low-income if the teacher lives alone; if the salary must support a spouse and a child, the family
would be a very low-income household. A starting air-traffic controller in San Diego County, with income barely higher than $31,000 a year, would also qualify for affordable housing. Librarians, sheriffs’ deputies, nurses, fire fighters, and many other vital members of our communities all need affordable housing. People motivated by these concerns may just need to “meet” the residents of high-density and affordable housing. Residents often have been long time
members of the community, and will continue to make contributions to
their neighborhoods.
From an article entitled "Myths & Facts About Affordable & High Density Housing" regarding the current state of affordable housing in the state of California.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
"New" Route
There has been a slight change in route, we now are only riding 3921 miles (big change from that 3995 we were riding! HA!) BUT...this means we will get to bike through YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK!!! This in addition to hitting up 4 corners, the Grand Canyon (CAN'T WAIT!) & Zion National Park there will be plenty to make up for the hell that is sure to be North Texas in July. :)
Don't forget to donate if you haven't already!
AND...only 98 days til Jacksonville & the start of SUS 2012!
Don't forget to donate if you haven't already!
AND...only 98 days til Jacksonville & the start of SUS 2012!
Monday, February 6, 2012
BIKE BIKE BIKE BIKE BIKE!!!
I can hardly contain my excitement, so excuse the serious overuse of CAPITAL letters and EXCLAMATION points!!! My bike arrived via UPS today. I RUSHED home after work. Only to find the instructions much more complicated than anticipated after reading of another rider's ease in the assembly process. After about forty minutes or so of confusion I produced something resembling a bike...I recruited my roommate Joe to help me test out the saddle height. After some intense readjustment it was time to head out for a brief ride. Keep in mind the last time I was on a bike that wasn't stationary was probably 8 or so years ago. & the last time I was on a road bike...never. I must admit I was pretty apprehensive heading out, and I don't think my lack of riding experience did much to assure my roommates I would survive my jaunt down the street. But nonetheless I strapped on my helmet and headed off!!! I am glad to report I made it safely to and from my "destination"! And on the way back even figured out how to upshift gears, downshifting is still a mystery, but I'm sure I can read up on it in the morning. Check out the pictures, and visit my Facebook for more pictures if you so desire! I've already decided it's a he, and just as I name my cars I must name what will be my vehicle of sorts for over 4,000 miles this summer. So I'm of course taking suggestions for names, and we'll see what feels right.
Also, don't forget you can order a t-shirt by e-mailing me at modrallj@gmail.com just make sure to include your name, size(s) and phone number. They'll be $15 with an additional charge for anything over an XL. Delivery can be provided to those in PGH & NKY/Cincinnati. But shipping can be provided for a small additional charge as well. :) My goal is to sell no less than 100, so far I've got orders for 8, so 92 more to go!!!! Don't forget they make great gifts. Haha.
Also, don't forget you can order a t-shirt by e-mailing me at modrallj@gmail.com just make sure to include your name, size(s) and phone number. They'll be $15 with an additional charge for anything over an XL. Delivery can be provided to those in PGH & NKY/Cincinnati. But shipping can be provided for a small additional charge as well. :) My goal is to sell no less than 100, so far I've got orders for 8, so 92 more to go!!!! Don't forget they make great gifts. Haha.
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