You Can Never Be Late

I assumed a philosophy a few years back that ensured that I could never be late. Here it is: “Wherever you are is where you are supposed to be.”

We’ve all heard those stories of the people who missed the plane that crashed because they got stuck in traffic, etc. This philosophy is part that and transcends it. Here is why.

What is the hurry? Why are we always in a rush to get to where we are going? When you get there, are you calm, relaxed, reflective and feeling a oneness with the universe?

I suspect not. You are probably anxious about where you need to be next. How can you be in the moment if you are always in a rush to be in the next moment?

A few years back I was sitting next to a beautiful river with a dear friend. Two dragonflies flitted about and both came to rest on my knee.
I never forgot the moment because it was so tranquil. The entire universe stopped for just that beauteous moment.

I think of that moment when I get my knickers in a twist to rush somewhere.

Where I am off to in such a rush? What will be there? Will I be happier or more satisfied because I got there in a precise manner? Is where I am going so important that I need to be stressed out?

Relish the now. Wherever you are is where you are supposed to be at that very moment. So you can never be late.

And relish the people you are with in that now. It will never come again.

And so it is on a bicycle in NYC. The world screams by in a rush. On two wheels, you can slow it down and savor the moment.

Happy holidays.

My High School Sweetheart

Tender would not be an age to describe me. Hardened, crusty, fossilized - they are more accurate adjectives.
All of us have our internal filters that fool the mirror except when there is that occasional glance that is unprotected and a surprise.
For bicycle riders of a certain age it means you buy certain outfits that fit more generously (as an aside, there is a market opportunity here.)
But I digress.
My first "real ride" (Reynolds 531 all Campy) was purchased from my high school sweetheart's younger brother.
It was my introduction to what riding is meant to be: effortless, joyful, transformative.
I still have it, restored and hanging on a rack. It is eye candy now. I look at it every day before I go ride on one of four other rides (a one speed, a two speed, a three speed and a twenty speed). Occasionally I take it out for a ride and wonder and wander.
So not a day goes by when I do not see and feel 16 years old and everything then.
I think that is good.
New York Tendaberry.

Somali Pirates In The Bronx Return BBUD

I am not sure which is more abhorrent. The fact that my ride was stolen or that I paid a ransom to get it back. After BBUD was stolen I posted on Craigslist that a reward would be offered for its return. Don't you know my cell phone rang and I was informed that BBUD had "been turned in" to a young person in the Bronx who paid money for it. This young person, being a responsible citizen, called me to let me know I could get it back for what they paid for it.
Ransom, terrorism, theft, thugdom. The label is irrelevant.
I paid the fee. I felt awful on so many levels. What would you have done?

BBUD Is Gone. I am so Sad

I guess it had to happen. Someone stole BBUD. Weh.

Walmart vs. Target; Class Differences

You can tell a true commuter bicyclist in NYC with a few glances. Is their skin leatherized (I wear a scarf or mask to prevent this)?. Are they wearing a helmet (only complete idiots leave the helmet home and if your noggin' has ever hit the asphalt and it still works than you know why)? Do they have a plastic bag tucked under the seat?
It's this last phenom that is the real give away. This morning on the way to work a facially leatherized woman passed me on Park Avenue. I always give people nicknames (mental amusement) and some people give me names. Some people call me names but I do not want to be profane. One messenger who I see all the time calls me Armani; I felt honored. I gave the name Pumpkin to the woman who passed me based on her orange coat. Upon closer exam and seeing a Vantage Seltzer bottle where her water bottle would go I decided she should be dubbed Seltzer Pumpkin and then Bubbly Pumpkin. But the true give away to her commuter status was the plastic bag tucked under the seat.

If you commute and leave your ride outside your office, there are days when it is going to rain (like today). So the wise and wizened of us tuck a plastic bag under the seat which we then use to cover said seat while we are inside.

Bubbly Pumpkin had a Target bag under there. I use a Walmart bag. We obviously have serious class differences.

Cheers and keep the rubber on the road.

A Sea Change of Frowns - Please Smile

Showing a dour face while commuting has always been a mainstay of the NYC commuter. After all, you want to appear tough and fearless in the face of the homeless looking for money and invisible to the potential slasher. I have been observing this frown parade for decades and have never thought much of it - - a self protective mechanism at worst.
Lately however I have felt distressed at the grittier, more ingrained frown I observe as I commute on two wheels every day. Bicycling gives you a purview of town you don't get any other way. You literally pass thousands of people and see them up close - one of the beautiful luxuries being on a bike affords you. And here is what I see.
People don't seem too happy. The frown is becoming the cultural norm. It does not seem to want to crest upwards into a smile. There seems to be little joy in the expressions of all the commuters I see them hustling to their offices. They seem to be shuffling along, determined to go to their cubicle and put on the ball and chain until they can turn around and go back home.
This does not seem to be the key to a happy life. If you don't like what you do every day - - change it.
My tonic: ride a bicycle as often as possible. The world becomes a new oasis of possibility and joy with every ride.
PS: Kudos to Janette Sadik-Khan for handing out lights on the west side bike path. I nominate her as Chief Engineer of the Galaxy.
And remember: It's Your Lane! Do something with it.

The Best Analgesic

Last night I gorged in an eating frenzy. It wasn't my fault. American Express sent me a gift certificate to the gourmand capital of American eating: The Capital Grille. It was all delicious, and they told me there was a hoist in the back should I need to be lifted out of my booth (and I think they may have been serious).

Despite the fact that Jeanne and I actually split a entree, the portions are so gargantuan I do not understand how people can eat that much. But it does provide an understanding of why so many of us have so many extra avoirdupois.

I went to bed feeling awful. There were joint and bone pains I never had before. It was not food poisoning - - just overindulgence and I think the body screams at you in its own way.

So I got on my trusty ride and pushed it (now up to 8990 miles!). It hurt. It screamed. But after 45 minutes all the pain seemed to evaporate. My fears of a femur breaking and poking through my flesh on its own accord evaporated. I actually began to feel normal again. (A treatise on what is normal will follow sometime in the next decade.)

So.....next time you feel awful from overindulgence, get out on your bike!

By the way, the new Willis Avenue Bridge is now open. It's ugly but smooth.

Mr. Armani meet Mr. Messenger or... class difference perceptions

So....
It has been a hellish water logged day for many.
The irony, of course, is that the planet is desperate for fresh water and the number of people who do not have access to clean drinking water numbers in the billions.
But whenever there is too much, or too little, it feels like a problem.
Mark these words: in five years water will be the resource managed and valued greater than oil today. You heard it here first.
But back to Mr. Armani.
Even on a torrential day like today in NYC, I rode my bicycle to work. No pontoons.
But here is the funny part.
I dress professionally every day. So, for me, that usually means slacks and a sports coat. Sometimes a suit. I happen to like Armani. The stuff fits me and looks good on my bicycle body.
When weather permits, I ride without a coat.
When it rains, I put my two piece Campmor rain suit over my professional garb. I always arrive dry. And I will go to business meetings all over town using my bicycle even when it rains.

But the looks I get upon arrival are telling:

"The mailroom is on the side of the building"
"We don't accept deliveries here"
"WHO are you seeing? That is a senior executive. Why are you here?"
etc.

Bicycle riders in the "wrong garb" get no respect.
It is a lens on the bifurcated society we live in.
Bicycles are a focal point for bias and a way people display bigotry.

So sad and telling on so many levels.

Are Machines Sexy? Guys v. Gals

I had the opportunity to drive my car (yes I own one) over the NYC Willis Avenue bridge the other day. For those of you who do not live in this fair city, it is one of the most dilapidated East River transverses. The part you drive over is steel grid intermixed with asphalt plus bolted on steel plates (to fill in the holes) and gobs of extra asphalt (to fill in more holes). Should any part of your car be loose (or any of your dental fillings) they will be further loosened by traversing this structure.

Thankfully, there is a pedestrian/bicycle path on the side. While it is less jarring, be sure your bowels are empty before you choose to cross by bike.

Happily, Mayor Mike and his friends have somehow secured funding to replace it (no, not from IBM, Goldman Sachs, or Facebook). The new structure now sits next to the old structure waiting to be put in place. The original was built in 1901 and carries 70,000 cars a day. It cost $1.67million to put in place.
The new one cost $612million (so far).

So here is my question. Are bridges sexy? I think the curves of the old bridge are inspiring. The new bridge leaves me cold. My wife thinks I am absolutely nutty to even attach a human quality to a machine.

Is this a male thing? I look at my bicycles and get dreamy.

What do you think?

Riding Is A Choice/NYC FAQ's

It's raining heavily in NYC today. I chose, like I do every day, to bicycle to work. That's because riding is a choice. It's a choice for you to be healthy, contribute a little bit of something to being a responsible green citizen and having fun.

People ask me lots of questions about riding in an urban environment and NYC in particular. So here are some answers to a few of the top questions:

1. Is it dangerous?
Well yes, it is dangerous. But statistics will tell you that riding a bicycle in an urban area is no more dangerous than walking and crossing an intersection or driving a car (based on number of people and miles traveled). It all depends on how you go about it. In the same way you should not cross an intersection against a light or decide to travel at excessive speeds on a twisty road, you make choices on a bicycle that make you safe.
Wear a helmet, use lights so you are seen and be hyper aware. Try and claim your lane (ITSMYLANE - get it), avoid riding next to doors that are going to open, and make sure your brakes work. It all comes down to paying attention all the time.

That is one of the wonderful things about biking. It keeps you young because you have to be using your senses and your balance all the time.

2. How do you stay dry in the rain?
Like Superman, I have a special costume. It's called a rain suit. It has rain pants and a rain jacket. I put it over my work clothes and stay mostly dry. I am still working on how to keep my feet dry (time for some old-fashioned tote boots). The Swedes are fond of saying: "There is no bad weather. Only bad clothes." It is true, you can find clothes to keep you dry and warm or cool for any weather. It's a choice.

3. Doesn't your bike get all messed up?
That is why my commuter ride is a one speed 1965 Schwinn with coaster brakes that is already rusty. See "BBUD" posting below

So....what is your excuse for not riding to work today?

Interbike 2010

I had the good fortune to attend Interbike 2010, the only North American trade show for bicycles and such. I have been to many trade shows, including CES and National Retail Federation and the mother of them all, the Frankfurt Auto Show. I must say that this show had the least swag and not the most well-heeled crowd. But that is no surprise.

There are about 15-17million bicycles sold in the United States every year (about the same number as during the height of the US automobile market before the recession). But the whole category is only worth about $6.0Billion in total gross revenue. And it is highly fragmented (as the price of entry is extremely low). Over 70% of bicycles are sold in mass merchandiser outlets - - and they tend to be somewhat lower quality. The other 30% are sold in specialized and local bike stores and that is who this show is aimed at.

It was an eclectic crowd, lots of tatoos, ponytails, soul patches, and t-shirts. I may have been one of three people in a sport jacket. And it was not very ethnically diverse.

But there was a passionate vibe in the air. People who are into bicycles are REALLY into bicycles. Given the economics of the industry, you would have to be.

Which as a marketing professional leads me to my big discontent. I do not understand why no one in the category has invested in building their brand to a larger, broader consumer base.

The time is right, the demographics are right and all the trends are in place (not to mention that 50% of the US population is now living in urban i.e., city environs.)

And as I have said, there is nothing more powerful, more beautiful, more joyful than urban bicycling.

America is ready to discover this - - now there just needs to be a brand to take advantage of it.

The ability to blend capitalism with doing good is what the bicycle business can be about.

Why Are People Obese?

On my ride to work this morning I was struck once again by how many people seem to be carrying too much weight on their frame, and I am not referring to their panniers or bicycle frames.

America is an incredible country, perhaps the greatest nation on Earth. But we have too much. Too much food and too many conveniences that allow us to literally be lazy.

It is a choice to take care of your body in a way that makes you fit. And the bicycle is a wonderful way to transform your body and your life.

The joy that one can feel by using two wheels and pedals to transport is boundless. The side benefits beyond physical health are there as well. You can literally see the world around you in a way that you have never experienced it before.

So I encourage you, during this Labor Day holiday weekend, to put the car keys in the drawer, put some air in the tires, and try and use your bicycle for all your errands!

Have A Little Grace... Please

New York City is relatively empty this week so bicycle riding is easier. That said, I am always taken aback at how hostile and aggressive people become when they are in their vehicles (sometimes including bicycle riders to be fair).
Today, when a person cut me off to enter a parking lot, I yelled (as I too often do), "Have a little grace please!".
And then I thought, if all of us practiced just a bit more grace when we deal with our fellow humans the world would be a happier place.
What's the hurry?

BBUD

Here is my daily ride. HisHer name is BBUD, a non gender machine.
We have traveled over 3000 miles in NYC. Coaster brakes mean he/she is good in the rain. One speed means you can focus on the ride. Being ugly means no one wants to steal you.
Post a photo of your bbud.

Welcome to Its My Lane

Its My Lane is about the positive and transforming effect that bicycling can have on your life. Currently it is about urban bicycling because I live in New York City and use my bicycle every day. I have found it to be a complete joy. Mostly because I get to see the urban landscape in a wonderfully indulgent way and notice and experience things you would not normally experience using other modes of transport.

But there is a greater goal. It is my sense that people in urban environments seem to have lost their sense of human joy. The intense over-stimulation of the urban landscape as seen from trains, cars, buses may have desensitized us to what is real and pure and experiential and human. And "mass media" (defined here as anything that comes to you through a screen) has made us fearful of real world experiences. I do not think this is a good thing for human kind.

When was the last time you actually heard your breath as you stepped down a woodside trail? Or enjoyed the intense joy of a stream in the woods? Sadly, the urban landscape coupled with the constant drone of the media has robbed us of the feeling of being human.

A few years ago I attended a technology conference and had a heated discussion about the difference between virtual life and "real" experience. I had difficulty convincing my "arguer" that the feeling you get screaming down a hill at 35 mph on a bicycle was substantially more real than going down a hill in a virtual video game.

The goal of Its My Lane is to create a content rich space that people can use to transform their own urban bicycling experiences. Ultimately this will migrate to the website (www.itsmylane.org). And perhaps a television program that brings these experiences (mine and others) to life in an entertaining way. And there are an infinite number of product ideas that can come from here. And, I hope to help young people in urban environments discover how bicycling can help them grow into productive and happy people.

But for now let me say welcome.