Cyclist-of-the-Month

February 2012: Heron Simmonds-Price

The Cyclist:  My name is Heron Simmonds-Price, I am a philosophy professor, I am 41.  I did not learn to ride a bike until I was 19.  Cycling has been my primary mode of transportation since then.  It has changed my life for the better and I advocate cycling to everyone.  Besides personal reasons, fitness, intimacy with your environment, and saving money, there are deep environmental reasons to cycle.  

The Cycle: My bike is not terribly cool, it is blatantly utilitarian.  This was actually my back-up, winter bike.  For several years I rode it as a single speed and bought it for that purpose.  The rear wheel was flipped around and 5 speeds put on the back, so now it is a 10 speed again, but with no front shifter so it is really ridden as a 5 speed. The bike is an old steel frame and kinda heavy by current standards.  I have covered up rust with gray duct tape, which goes well with the blue paint that is left.  The most important feature of the bike is its sturdy rear rack and white crate that I have attached with zip ties.  This is crucial as I have back issues and cannot carry loads on my body.  Also the white crate greatly increases my visibility at night.  This became my primary bike when my primary bike was stolen in October of 2011.  The pad lock that held the chain link in place was cut with a bolt cutter. Ironically that bike was a replacement for another bike that was stolen the previous year.  Theft is a problem with bikes, but since bikes are relatively inexpensive in my personal experience, theft has never stopped me from riding.

Commute: In 2010 my family gave up our car.  So I use my bike for commuting, taking my son to school, most shopping, and general transportation.  I ride in all sorts of weather and have a pretty good range, biking from downtown Buffalo to my mother-in-law in Williamsville several times each summer.  I ride to work daily and definitely consider my riding part of my exercise.  We have a trailer, which I use to carry my two year old and to carry extra big loads too big for my rack crate.  The most common use of the trailer is taking my two year-old to Church on Sundays. 

My Other Bike is a: Currently, I only have one bike, which makes me feel rather vulnerable.  Besides bikes, I use Buffalo CarShare, rent cars for long trips from Enterprise Car Rental, and I use public transportation on days where the weather makes riding untenable.  My neighbor has an adult tricycle he is not using and I plan on making an offer on it in the Spring.  If a pile of money fell in my lap, I would surely upgrade all of my family's bikes.  My 2 year old has a tricycle.  My son is riding a friend's bike (5 speed), as his was also stolen in October, and my wife is also is riding a loaner (1 speed cruiser) for the same reason.  We have discussed getting a family bike: one of those highly adjustable folding bikes, which could accommodate my 8 year old, who is just over 4 feet tall, to my 5' 7" wife, and me at 6' 2".  Such a bike would also serve as a loaner to visiting friends!  My ideal bike situation is each person in the family having 2 or three bikes and a if we had to have a car, it would be a hybrid.

Cycling in Buffalo: I've biked in several cities: Boston, New York, Tampa, Toronto, and Buffalo.  Buffalo used to compare poorly with Boston and Toronto due to the fact that those cities have very vibrant bike cultures.   But over time Buffalo has stepped up its bike consciousness.  While the people of Buffalo have improved markedly, the political structure has responded more slowly.  Buffalo does not compare well to Toronto in terms of public infrastructure and my recent trip to New York was enlightening.  NYC has taken major strides, at least what I saw in Manhattan and Brooklyn was very impressive.  But we in Buffalo are on our way and can be a top-tier biking city in short order with some serious investment. Given the size of the city and the enthusiasm of its people I am hopeful!

January 2012: Julian Montague

The Cyclist:

Julian Montague, 38. I’m an artist and a graphic designer (Frazer/Montague Design). My family moved to Buffalo when I was 11. I was away for college and a little while after that. I have now continuously lived here since 1998. For the last 6 years my wife and I have lived near the Peace Bridge on the West Side (a neighborhood properly known as Prospect Hill).

The Cycle:

I have three bikes for the three different kinds of cycling that I do. For my every day city riding I have a 2009 Raleigh One-Way. It’s a steel single speed bike with drop bars. For longer distance riding (day rides, touring etc.) I have a Surly Cross Check. And for the winter I have a 2005 Raleigh C-500 Aluminum hybrid that I have modified for winter in a number of ways. All of my bikes have long metal fenders and leather mud flaps. Most of the plastic fenders available are far too short to be effective. In general I’m interested in the aesthetics and practical ergonomics of the classic French Randonneur and English and touring bikes.

The Ride:

I work from home so I don’t have a proper commute. I do, however, wake up every morning and ride my bike 1.3 miles to Café Taza on Elmwood near Allen St. I also use my bike for whatever other errands I need to do during the day. I’ve been into doing longer rides for the last couple of years. My longest day so far was a 112 mile ride to Toronto in July. I would like to do some real touring next Summer. I also participate in the Buffalo Lazy Randonneur Club’s yearly Tweed and Seersucker rides.

My Other Bike is a:

My wife has a Volkswagen Passat that I use when the task at hand is not possible to do with a bike. Down the line I could see getting something practical like a Ford Transit Connect. Moving art around is not easy to do on a bicycle.

Cycling in Buffalo:

Having been a year round cyclist in Buffalo for over 14 years, I definitely think that things are going in the right direction. There are more people than ever riding and a lot more people riding through the winter. But the percentage of bicycle riders is still pathetically small given how easy it is to get around here by bike.

December 2011: Angela Lopez

The Cyclist:

I'm Angela. I live on the West Side near the burgeoning Grant and Lafayette intersection. I am an Americorps ABLE service member working with Science Firsthand, teaching after school science to K-6 by day. I also work at the Elmwood and Bidwell Farmers Market slingin' sausage with Avenue Boys Smokehouse, and am a dancer and performer with the local dance and performance community found in the City. 

The Cycle:

My current bike is a Raleigh Marathon circa 1984. I bought it at Rick's Cycle Shop in Allentown. It isn't too swanky, but it's a monster and gets the job done. It weighs a ton, probably because my panniers are almost always packed with sciencey things I show my after school kids during lessons. It's my first road bike, and has been my only bike for three years now.

The Ride:

I ride to work as often as I can. Because I don't own or even know how to drive a car, it's my only mode of transport other than a good friend or the good ole NFTA.  My regular commute is from the West Side to South Buffalo. If anyone knows the condition of the roads leading into South Buffalo, you would probably know that it is a long bumpy ride with large bridges that make your quads scream. It's not a long commute, usually topping out at 45 minutes, but it is a tough one especially when I'm hauling around worms and bugs in my panniers and trying to end up with live specimens by the end of the ride into SOBO.

"My Other Bike is a":

I have amazing friends who have cars. When I'm not feeling the commute, if its too cold, or I have rescued a snapping turtle that I want to show to my after school kids, I ask a friend to give me a lift. But I just finished the 'Winterize your Bike' workshop at Blue Bike. So now I have another beast of a bike that just may allow me to get to work even when it snows! I can't wait until the snow sticks so I can ride in it!

Cycling in Buffalo:

As a self-appointed ambassador of Buffalo biking, I ask whoever has the authority and ability to pave roads . . . please for the love of Buffalo . . . PAVE SOUTH PARK AVENUE BETWEEN THE FIRST NIAGARA CENTER AND TOPS!  And  . . . PLEASE PAVE SWAN STREET INTO SENECA STREET ESPECIALLY UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE! My butt and wheels seriously hurt from slamming into all of those potholes.

July 2011: Teresa Watson

The Cyclist: Hi. I'm Teresa (Watson), and I just graduated from Niagara U about four months ago. I studied Political Science, Environmental Studies and Writing - and the writing is sort of how I've stayed involved with Blue Bikes when my life gets crazy busy. I currently have three jobs (Ronald McDonald House Charities, Autistic Services and WNY Liquidators) so I volunteer more sporadically than I'd like to, but I get to edit some press releases and other bits of writing for them, which is fun. Not quite as much fun as learning how to fix up bikes in a workshop, but writing and editing are still a pretty important part of my life. I also really love Slam Poetry and Spoken Word, and I run a monthly Open Mic with my friend and fellow poet Jasenka. We call ourselves Buffalo Open Mic and we're kind of a new and small operation, but we have fun and all of our profits go to different charities - and it's great to be able to keep writing in my life.

The Cycle: My bike right now is just an old street bike, a red Huffy Ultima. He's got a few years on him, but he's a good bike for me right now and he gets me where I need to go without a ton of problems if you consider how much mileage I ask him to cover. I found him at a flea market a little over a year ago when I realized I'd definitely outgrown the mountain bike I'd had since I was a kid, and started riding him. He had a few problems with the back wheel, though, so I got a new one on him for this coming summer.

The Commute: Last summer I lived in North Tonawanda but I worked on Harlem Road in Cheektowaga and also on West Ferry (the Ronald McDonald House) here in Buffalo, and we would make those journeys together. The summer before that, I lived in Cheektowaga and worked on Ferry and also had an internship with the Riverkeepers on Niagara Street (which, incidentally, is an awesome place to be). For a little while I took the train part of the way in, but then I realized I wasn't actually saving that much time, so I just biked the whole distance on a more direct route. Now I live in Buffalo but I work in Hamburg, and that's not a ride I've undertaken yet (I haven't figured out a SAFE enough route yet, but I will). I still bike everywhere else I can, which includes a lot of the city. I just love the feel of being on a bike - the exercise, the wind in my hair, the ability to go the wrong way down one-ways, not having to pay for parking...I even like biking in the rain.

My other bike is a: '96 cavalier, actually. I thought about selling her but, again, I work in Hamburg right now - I carpool! - and though I looked into the carshare and buses, right now I think I need my car. I do aspire to be car-free, but that's a long-term goal. A shorter-term goal, once my schedule settles itself a bit, is to build a bike from the frame up and use my Huffy for friends or company, and not as my primary bike. I could extend my biking season further, maybe into the winter if I had a bike that could stand it - which would be very freakin' cool.

Cycling in Buffalo: If we could get bike racks on all of our buses, that would go such a long way (just for me personally) to be able to take a bus part of the way and then finish a commute by cycling. Also, it's great that we have the train, but it needs to cover a lot more ground than it does - it's nice to be able to travel Main Street and bring my bike with me, but I usually don't stop my commute along Main. I would love to see a really comprehensive overhaul of our public transportation system here - a few years ago I lived in the Falls and worked every other weekend in Buffalo. I was trying to live without a car, but the bus commute was roughly three hours. Then, I still had to walk an extra twenty minutes to get to my destination. No to mention, the busing system to and in the suburbs is a joke. Very few people are going to deal with that, so they don't see public transport as a viable transportation option even if though a much greener and cost-effective alternative - and that's a shame. I just want the city I love to give us more options that are really feasible - it's really a beautiful place to explore on a bike, and I get to take in a lot more scenery if I'm not driving. I want to be able to do that all of the time.

June 2011: Kengo Yamada

The Cyclist?

My name is Kengo Yamada. I’m a professional jazz saxophonist originally from Japan and moved to Buffalo in 2009 to get my master degree in Business. My grandfather was a bike shop owner and huge karaoke lover, so I grew up with a big karaoke machine and tons of bikes in my house. That would explain how I’ve been so into biking and playing music.

The Cycle?

My bike is a classic Schwinn. I bought it from an old man in Dunkirk whose hobby was fixing bikes. I used to bike about 30 minutes to school every day when I studied at SUNY Fredonia. When I went to a bike shop near my house to fix a flat tire, the bike shop owner saw the number on my bike, looked into his old notebook, and told me that this bike was sold by him in 1978. I was very surprised to know the bike was older than me!

Commute?

Upon my graduation, I got a part-time job and decided to bike to work. My co-workers think I’m crazy because it takes about 50 minutes to commute. I agree it’s little far for biking but believe it’s a healthier choice for me and also for our planet. Also, the weather has been great for biking lately.

My Other Bike is a?

My other bike is a classic Peugeot bicycle. Last month, I accidentally rode on broken glass on the street. The bike got a flat tire but it was repaired at Green Options Buffalo Community Bicycle Workshop. Moreover, the bike was also tuned up perfectly (many thanks to people at the Workshop!). Someday, I want to try building my own bike at the workshop. I might have a good gene for building bikes.

Cycling in Buffalo?

Cycling in Buffalo isn’t bad but still somewhat dangerous mainly because of lack of awareness by careless drivers. They often speed, go over stop lines around corners, and turn without blinking, as if they are assuming there wouldn’t be someone biking. This problem would be solved if they see more people biking in Buffalo. So, if you don’t own a bike or have a broken bike, you should go to the bicycle workshop and start biking safely. If you already bike, please make your friends cyclists and raise awareness. How could Buffalo be a bike-friendly city if only a small percentage of  people are biking?  

P.S. I greatly appreciate those who made any effort towards Japan's earthquake relief!

May 2011: Todd Salansky

The Cyclist? My name is Todd Salansky, I'm an Allentown resident and I'm in marketing at online thymes in an office between Allentown & Elmwood Village.

The Cycle? My bikes, I have two. The first bike is a mountain bike I bought just after college. I used to mountain bike a bit in the southtowns but not anymore. My daily bike is recycled from the GO-Buffalo Bike Shop (or whatever you want to call it). I've only had to replace a tube so far so it's as factory as one can get.

Commute? In the Summer I can be seen riding to my office about 3-4 days a week, the others I need a car to get to appointments at clients in the suburbs. I have had to utilize my Buffalo CarShare membership a few times when an unexpected appointment pops up, but that is rare. In the Winter I ride a little, but would often walk to my office.

My Other Bike is a? I have a truck and an antique car, however I try to keep the mileage low on those. I put about 6,000 miles on my truck a year at $1.44/mile (I've done the math) so I'm using Buffalo CarShare more and more. Being in Allentown and Elmwood Village there is always a car available for last minute trips just a few blocks away.

Cycling in Buffalo? The first thing that comes to mind is Rusty Chain. It's my favorite beer for a lot of reasons. First, it tastes good, secondly, it promotes bicycling and third, Tim Herzog does a ton of work to help support our community. I think Buffalo has come a long way since I moved into the city and I expect it to grow. My hat goes off to everyone who rallies behind GO Buffalo & Rusty Chain.

April 2011: Dana Saylor & Jonathon Furman

Cyclist: Dana Saylor and Jonathon Furman, Buffalo residents for 2.5 years, avid cyclists for 1 year.  We're both self-employed artists (jewelry designer and graphic designer, respectively).  We live in Buffalo's historic West Village, a very walkable/bikeable area that is close to downtown and Allentown. We love the old architecture around here- our street is filled with Civil War-era brick Italianates, and right around the corner are Whitney Place and Johnson Park.  Our own house was built in 1869, and Dana (who is also a professional genealogist) has learned that the original founders of Oliver's Restaurant lived here in 1910, among a host of other fascinating residents.

Cycle: Dana's bike is "Elma", a 1972 brown Schwinn Suburban 3-speed.  She's a beaut, though she weighs about 50 pounds!  Thankful that a neighbor decided to gift us with a newer, fully suspended 21-speed Schwinn mountain bike for wintertime riding.  Jon's bike is an 80's Free Spirit Sovereign 12-speed road bike.  (He refuses to name his bike, claiming he "doesn't want to get attached"!!!)  It's not too fancy, but he's customized it for safety with a bunch of reflective tape, extra lights and a bell.  He's in the process of repairing the bottom bracket, so for now, it's the mountain bike.

Commute: We bike everywhere we can, since we sold our car three months ago.  This is just another facet of our "green" lifestyle...we even started a blog about it to document our experiences, called Eco Buffalo (http://www.ecobuffalo.blogspot.com).  We go grocery shopping, to the library, art openings, events, and parties on our bikes, and we even have a trailer to cart Dana's jewelry to shows, or for heavier loads.

My other bike is: We're members of Buffalo CarShare and have been using the city's public transportation (buses, trains) a little more in the winter.  When you bring all these elements together, it creates a cohesive picture for getting around.  We've found there's very little we can't do just because we don't own our own car.

Cycling in Buffalo: In our year as frequent cyclists in the city, motorists haven't shared the road as much as we'd like.  The general public seems to disregard cycling as a serious mode of transport, endangering those of us who are then relegated to side streets, for fear of getting cursed at or run over by careless drivers.  This could be remedied through better education (at the time of acquiring a drivers' license), and all those who bike acting as ambassadors, talking about their experiences with their neighbors and friends.  Cyclists in Buffalo need to not only follow the rules of the road (for all our protection), but also band together to get legislation passed that will make the city as a whole more bike-friendly.  Our vision is to make Buffalo the biking capital of New York, or even the Northeast! We can learn from other cities that are implementing new bike lanes and public education campaigns.  Support for advocacy groups such as Green Options Buffalo is critical, as they are out there speaking on our behalf and bringing us information that we need.

March 2011: Ed Z

The Cyclist? Ed Z lives in the Elmwood area and works on computers and stuff. Doesn't like wearing boots.

The Cycle? Out of the box Schwinn ATB, all aluminum with nasty "Velociraptor" tires!

Commute? I ride daily 365 days a year. Been winter biking for maybe four years now. Really enjoy biking in the snow, it's so refreshing to be in the elements, out in the environment. It affords a real sense of connection to weather, landscape and nature. I've grown to dislike the confinment of riding in cars, and I abhor seeing the world through a windshield filter. It amazing what you see, smell, hear and feel biking across town. Once you give winter biking a chance, you get hooked.

My Other Bike is a? My other bike is a 700c flatbar commuter, and an 8 speed internal geared hybrid, and a vintage 3 speed Hercules Sturmey Archer "English Racer", and a vintage coaster break 26" Murray, and... should I go on?

Cycling in Buffalo? I really love Buffalo for it's 'walk-ability', and we have a really great and growing 'cycling culture' here. There is a surely a great deal of improvement to be desired, making walkers and bikers safe from car traffic, and so many seem to be thinking and talking that way, so I am hopeful. Much of Buffalo was originally laid out during the time of walking, horses and trolleys, so we have a great foundation to build on. It may be that in the near future we'll find ourselves coming full circle, resurrecting the genius of Olmsted. Buffalo could become an exemplar green city, where people powered movement and sensible human centered transportation is available for all. I say that the time has come.

February 2011: Robin Paget

The Cyclist? My name is Robin Paget.  I’m from Pennsylvania, but I’ve lived in the West Side of Buffalo about five years.  I work for the Erie County Department of Environment & Planning managing a grant to reduce diesel emissions from school buses in Erie County. 

The Cycle? When I started working downtown, I realized how stupid it was to drive a couple miles and pay for parking, so I decided I needed a bicycle.  I started out with a garbage-picked Free Spirit, but after a few months I bought a Raleigh flat-bar road bike from Rick Cycle Shop.  I’ve added features that make it ideal for commuting: bell, lights, a rack for saddlebags and fenders.  My Raleigh is great, and it’s never let me down.

Commute? I primarily use my bike for commuting to work downtown  and running errands .  But I have had several adventures, like the time I biked over the Peace Bridge by myself and went down to Crystal Beach.  I’ve also biked along the Niagara River hundreds of times.  It’s a great way to experience the river.

My Other Bike is a? My other bike is a spinning bike.  I LOVE spinning class at the gym, and I hope to own a Keiser M3 spin bike someday.  Spinning keeps me in shape during the winter when I’m not riding outside as much.

Cycling in Buffalo? I’m continually amazed and outraged by the disregard many motorists have for the safety of cyclists.  Yes, some cyclists take unnecessary risks, but no one’s desire to reach their destination two seconds faster justifies putting someone’s life at risk.  I really wish we had more bike lanes in the city, and I wish that Elmwood Avenue was more bicycle-friendly.  I hope that City Hall takes the Complete Streets initiative very seriously and improves cycling conditions in Buffalo.

January 2011: Tony Mueckl

Cyclist: My name is Tony Mueckl. I am 23 years old I work at Campus Wheel Works and Joe's service center. I am a student at ECC downtown and I am majoring in business administration. I would love to own or help run my own bike shop or work for a bike company in the future. I love to hang out with my beautiful girlfriend Kristen Waite and good friends and listen to music and go out riding.

Cycle: Right now I ride a Volume Cutter fully custom built. It has Velocity Chukker wheels, Truvativ bars and cranks, Odyssey pedals, Burrow straps, and a Redline fork. This is my commuter/trick bike. It is a very heavy duty bike and great for Buffalo's beat up streets.

Commute: I commute to both of my jobs and school on my bike in rain, snow, sleet, and what ever mother earth hits us with. I am prepared for all types of weather conditions.

My other bike is: I also have a Jamis Dakar XLT 1.0. This is a full suspension mountain bike. This is also another hobby of mine is to go mountain biking with friends. I do not own a car. It is kind of funny that I don't own a car because I have worked on cars for 5 years of my life and I have my NYS inspection license. I just love to bike so much and when i did have a car it just sat at home because I would bike everywhere.

Cycling in Buffalo: I love to cycle in Buffalo. There are so many great people that cycle. I love riding by another cyclist in Buffalo and they wave and say hi. Also buffalo has awesome scenery. The only thing Buffalo needs is some more cyclists and more bike lanes. Come to Campus Wheel Works and I will get you set up on a amazing bike and you will have the time of your life.

December 2010: Jesse Callanan

The Cyclist: My name is Jesse Callanan. I've lived in Buffalo all my life, and right now there's nowhere else I would rather be. I'm a junior at Tapestry Charter School, a public school on Great Arrow Avenue right off of Delaware. I'm the head of janitorial services at Campus Wheelworks on Elmwood, (visit us and spend tons of money!!!) every Thursday, and it's the best job ever.  I am extremely honored to be nominated for the Cyclist of the Month, thanks to everyone who made it possible.

The Cycle: My every day/soon to be fair weather bike is an old Schwinn turned fixed gear. It started its hopefully long life as my bike as a cow-themed single-speed, and then became the rarely recognized space-themed Galaxy Wolf. This summer, I hope to put the patriotic Velocity Stars and Stripes wheels to good use and deck it out like and American flag. Say hey if you see me around!

Commute: My Schwinn is for the most part an every day workhorse. I ride to school as often as possible, and had a (give or take) 150-day streak of 1+ mile riding over this past summer. I ride to Wilson Farms, to Campus Wheelworks almost every day, around Hoyt Lake and occasionally out to the tennis courts for a little polo.

My Other Bike is a: My other bike is a pair of skis. I can't wait for the hills to open. I just got a new pair of Lines this year, and can't wait to try them out. When I can't ride my bike or need to go somewhere with the family, my mom has a Ford Taurus. I just got my permit, so when I can, I drive all over the place with my mom.

Cycling in Buffalo: Buffalo's alternative transportation scene is on the rise. There are so many great cycling organizations here, our city can't do anything but improve. (Thanks cycling organizations) I can only speak for my own experiences of biking around the city and what I've seen, but as far as I can tell most cyclists have a fine time getting around. The drivers here are (for the most part) very considerate and aware, so for me Buffalo is a great place to bike. As for alternative transportation, I would say that most of the community is very welcoming to the local unicycle gangs that rove the Elmwood village.

November 2010: Tyler Madell

The Cyclist? My name is Tyler Madell and I am a senior at City Honors High School.  I live on the West Side near the Peace Bridge.

The Cycle? I have a couple of bikes.  My favorite bike and the one I use for longer rides is a Trek road bike (I'm not sure of the model since the entire bike is covered in various stickers from places I've biked to). My father gave me this bike last year and I've probably put about 4000 miles on it.

Commute? Since the age of 13 I have increasingly been riding my bike everywhere I have had to go around Buffalo.  I have ridden my bike everyday to school for the last 4 years.  I bicycle because it is convenient, it gives me more freedom to move around, and it's just plain awesome.  Also this past summer I biked coast to coast from Seaside, OR to New York City.  It was a great way to see the countryside and the many cities we went through.

My Other Bike is a? My own two feet.  When I cannot ride my bikes (usually just for 5-10 days in the winter I take the walk where I have to go.  There are those few times that I do get rides from my parents in their cars, but I try to ride my bike as much as possible.

Cycling in Buffalo? I have always thought Buffalo was adequate for bicycling.  After seeing the great American bicycling cities of Portland, Minneapolis, and Madison I think Buffalo has a long way to go to make it on the list of "10 best bicycling cities of America."  It would be nice if we get some more bike lines, perhaps on busier streets like Main Street, Delaware, and Elmwood.

October 2010: Leslie Duggleby

The Cyclist: Leslie Duggleby is a 45 year old teacher of technology integration in the Buffalo Schools. She bike commutes to work and currently resides in the Elmwood Village area of Buffalo’s West Side with her husband and teenage son.

The Cycle: Leslie rides several bikes, including a Bike Friday New World Tourist. This particular bike folds up to pack into a suitcase, which can be checked as regular luggage on a train or plane, with no additional fees. She recently bought a frame for the suitcase so it can be turned into a trailer, but has not yet had a chance to check this out.  Watch for her out on the roads: she is thinking she will attach a wooden platform to the frame for now and use it for groceries.

Commute: She is increasingly car resistant, leaving her vehicle in the driveway for others to borrow and just completed a coast to coast self-supported bike tour of the USA on the Bike Friday. What used to seem long distance errands no longer seem very far.

My Other Bike is a: Her other bicycles include a late ‘70’s era road bike with mysterious origins and an antique Ross mountain bike. The Ross gets abused as a winter bike. Every one of her bikes has a rack to carry all kinds of stuff.

Cycling in Buffalo: Though Leslie really loves Buffalo, she recently returned from Portland, OR and got to see how the other half lives. While getting on a really full light rail train, people moved out of the way in order to allow Leslie and 4 of her friends to get on the train and use the bike hooks to hang their bikes. Later, while attempting a left turn from the bike lane on the right, Leslie signaled the turn.  The cars in three lanes on a one way street stopped to allow her to cross to the left side for the turn. An amazing bicycle culture.

She would like to see this culture mirrored in Buffalo and will begin a quest to make it so. She would also like to encourage people to cycle in the winter. Quite pleasant.
 

September 2010: Ray Reichert

Cyclist: Ray Reichert, tax partner in the law firm of Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP. Age--57. Three open heart surgeries, blind in my left eye (and other eye isn't that great, either!). Don't drive. Don't like hills, so Buffalo is a great place for me. Live in Buffalo, near the UB South Campus.

Cycle: Trek 7300. Kevlar tires. Even though most of my riding is on the road, I use hybrid tires, for the times I'm biking the Canal path and other crushed stone paths. MTX rack and bag that converts to pretty decent (but small) panniers. Bag slides in and locks to rack, which is great. Handlebar mirror, which is a must due to the eye thing.

Commute: I ride to work usually 3-4 times a week, counting weekends. The commute is 5.4 miles, straight down Main Street. Really stinks they didn't put a bike lane in when they redid Main Street from Bailey to Humboldt. Also like to hit the River Walk path, the Amherst path, and the Clarence path. I don't ride in the dark, so I don't commute once the time changes.

My other bike is: the NFTA, which conveniently built a transit system which is a 4 minute walk from my house, and which lets me off directly in front of my building. My other source of transportation is my wife, Mary Anne, who does drive, but since she bikes more than I do, we really don't use the car very often.

Cycling in Buffalo: is fun. I love biking up the Niagara River on a warm sunny day and stopping in at Cousin Vinny's for some ice cream. And bike commuting is great because it provides both transportation to get to work and exercise. My major complaint is my building doesn't allow bikes to be brought in, and doesn't provide a safe place for them to be parked. But, in the scheme of things, not such a big issue. And besides, I intend to remedy that issue when our lease expires.