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Howdo. My name is Zach Magoon and I have been commuting year-round by bike for the last 7 years in both Boston, MA and Portland, ME. Because each day brings new challenges, whether it be changing weather conditions, crappy drivers, sore muscles or mechanicals, I think my ramblings will be, at the very least, moderately amusing.
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Commuter Files
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Written by Commuter Files
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Friday, 14 November 2008 |
So where the hell did everyone go? All of those folks who started riding to wok this summer have gone back to their cars? Just buy a light, the fun continues even after darkness falls. I have a theory (ok it may be unfounded, but a theory nonetheless) that it may be safer to commute home in the dark with the appropriate lights. My rear flasher can be seen up to 600 yards away--no joke. And it has 4 different flashing modes to mesmerize even the most inattentive drivers. My front headlight prompts drivers to flash their high beams at me from time to time. Do I get that kind of attention in the summer? I don't think so.
It's lonely out there. Sure the old standbys are still riding--Old dude on the 10 speed with the tie--he's still rollin. But what happened to Happy girl? I would see her on the Back Cove trail almost every morning. She even got a cool new cyclocross late in the season. That's it? Season over? She would smile every day and I would smile back thinking she's gonna make it to at least the Holidays. Nope.
Well here's to those of you still pluggin along. Keep the lights charged and ready, and get some studs for when the snow flies. I hope to be stepping up my posts this winter with some more photos and footage. Bikeman has a new content management system that allows me to post my blogs--it was a little more complicated before. Next week I'll be on NBC.com with a funny little "Green Week" video about bike commuting. I'll post the url when I get it. |
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Written by Commuter Files
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Wednesday, 08 October 2008 |
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Fiat Lux. I took four years of Latin in High School. Although I don't consider it a total waste of time (calculus takes that cake) I'm able to intersperse little phrases like fiat lux into my daily life. It basically means "let light be made." So as we creep towards the bike commuters darkest time of year, I would like to share my initial thoughts on bike lights. You can check back to my last year's blog post for the lights that have failed me in the past. I also got some great recommendations from readers as well. But this year, after some research online and asking some folks at the shop, I think I've found a great lighting system.
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Written by Commuter Files
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Monday, 25 August 2008 |
I have a bunch of little rants this month--a few things that have been bothering me. But, I throw in some nuggets of joy as well:
I hate cigarettes. Some jackhole threw one out the window after blowing a big puff of smoke as I rode by him. How gross is that? I let out a big cough and a "thanks chubs" and apparently the dude heard me because he said he was sorry. But come on, stop throwing that crap out the window. I guess littering goes along with the stupidity of smoking. What a great couple of habits. |
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Written by Commuter Files
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Wednesday, 02 July 2008 |
I'm on vacation this week which means no commuting. I'm feeling like a blob and really feeling the pinch of that whole gas thing. Neither my wife or I have to buy gas to get to work (she works from home) so it was a real shocker to fill up a tank for $60 only to see it drain away on a long car trip to Southern MA. I remember the days early on in my career that I was commuting an hour and twenty to get to work. It was 52 miles one way with $1.10 in tolls. What a huge waste of time and resources. I still feel like I'm trying to offset that one. Of course that was when gas was $.90/gal, so at the very least I could just about afford it. I've found a little calculator out there that helps you get an idea of just how much you're saving in gas and how much CO2 you offset.
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Written by Commuter Files
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Thursday, 05 June 2008 |
My friend sent me a link to perhaps one of the most horrific bike crash photos I've ever seen. I just can't imagine how something like this can happen. A group of racers are essentially bowled over by a drunk driver in Mexico, killing one American and injuring ten others. The driver, a 29 year old, fell asleep while drunk at the wheel.
I've seen a couple of different crops of this photo and on this page it shows a police vehicle, which was being used as a pace car, swerving out of the way to avoid the oncoming drunk. Had he just stayed in the path, or skidded a little sideways, he might have saved the bikers from the impending crash. Perhaps he tried, who knows. |
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