Open Streets Coming to SLC

Salt Lake City and Bike Utah are partnering to bring Utah it's first Open Streets event event on Saturday, May 4th.

Are you wondering what an open street is? Well, the Open Streets Project temporarily closes a street to automobile traffic, so that people can use it for walking, cycling, playing, dancing, etc... Basically, it's a huge street party that cars aren't invited to. For several hours on May 4th, Broadway Ave (300 S) in SLC will be car-free.

The concept started in Bogota, Columbia in 1976 where on each Sunday and holidays certain main streets are closed for several hours to auto traffic for the use of pedestrians. These weekly "ciclovias" are used by approximately 2 million people.

Here in the US of A, there are currently 80+ communities that participate in some form of Open Street event.

If you are interested in learning more, or if you want to help, there is a kick-off on Thursday, Feburary 7th at Squatters Pub from 4 pm to 7 pm.

It sounds like a lot of fun. Let's go do what our parents always told us not to do and play in the street!

First Ride of the Year

Early last week I got a text from my good friend, Greg asking if I wanted to ride on Saturday if the weather was good.

As you can see in the photo collage below, the weather was fantastic. We grabbed our friend, Scott, and took off for a planned 30+ mile ride.

Well, a couple of flats shortened our distance, but it still was great to get out so early in the year. Apparently we weren't the only ones with the same idea. While we were sitting at an intersection, a club group of about 20 guys comes up behind us. Pretty good to get thay many out on a club ride in February.

I also took out a couple of items that I recieved at Outdoor Retailer for a test ride: Smith Optics PivLock V2 glasses, and a LifeProof bike mount. Full reviews on both products are coming soon. But, let me quickly say that both worked great! I love the glasses, and the mount securely and conveniently held my phone.

If this is what 6 more weeks of winter looks like, I won't complain.

Enjoying the Ride

We got back from our long weekend trip last night. I didn't make it out for a ride before we left St. George , but figured that I would take care of my ride to keep my 30 Days of Biking streak intact after we got home.

What I didn't take into account was how tired I would be after all of that travelling. My wonderful wife kept on telling me that I needed to get out before it got dark and the weather turned nasty, and that I didn't want to miss a day. She was pushing me to go out and ride?! Gotta love her!

I honestly have to say that I wasn't looking forward to a ride - blasphemy! - until my 8-year-old piped up that he wanted to go with me. Suddenly what I was expecting to be a ride of drudgery turned into a great father and son bonding experience. I let him set the pace, and direction, and we went off for an enjoyable ride. We talked about this and that; the goats and other animals that we normally see, school, running, etc... Both of us had a great ride.

It made me realize that as much as I enjoy going fast, and as much as I appreciate the feeling of completing a century, the rides I enjoy the most are the ones I take with my family.

It's memories like this that are important.

I'm glad I went riding last night.

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