Kick Scooter DreamsKickbike, footbike, scooter, Xootr, or Trikke it!

Fixing a flat made easy (Video)

Sooner or later, if we do any writing at all, were all going to end up with a flat tire. And, it's never happened when it's convenient for us. Thankfully, fixing a flat tire isn't rocket science. What little bit of practice and some self-confidence almost anyone can do it.

This video tutorial uses a tarot trike recumbent trike, but the basic advice and techniques work fine for other manufacturers and models.

I wish they spent a little more time explaining the process for mounting and dismounting the rear tire, especially the routing and adjustment of the chain. When I have the time I'll check see if there's another video that goes into that in more detail.

The tools required are minimal and can be easily packed along with you when you ride. Although I've been riding a bicycle since I was about four years old, and changing tires soon after that, I was very pleased to find that there is still things to learn that can make my cycling life easier and much more enjoyable.

For example, with a recumbent trike there is no need to remove either of the front wheels when you have to fix a flat. It might seem obvious, but it sure wasn't that obvious to me until one of my friends asked me how difficult it was to fix a tire on a trike.

Which camera mount location is best for cycling videos? (Video)

via www.youtube.com

Trying to decide on different camera mounts to capture videos while cycling. So, YouTube is invaluable to learn from other people's experiences, both good and bad.

So far it looks like a chest height mount would give the best viewer experience and be the most dynamically stable.

Finnish kick scooter guys are maniacs (Video)

We thought that our physical shape and endurance was improving, and that with a little more training we would be able to really cover some distance. But, after watching this video featuring some Finnish kick scooter maniacs out on a high speed, high tempo, training ride, we realized how far we have to go.

National Footbike Day - March 28, 2009

While most countries have yet to discover the wonders and tremendous health effects of exercising with a footbike, the Dutch are way ahead of the game, and no doubt much healthier.

They have declared March 28 as “opstapdag” and are staging official footbike events at over 40 locations.

Twisted Spoke Flower Child

Okay - so I'm a flower child at heart, right out of the 60's - a hippy in street clothes disguised as a businessman. But, deep down inside, in my heart of hearts, I yearn to do wild and crazy kind of hippy stuff, like lacing up bicycle spokes to look like flowers. 

Putting Footbiking On The Map

One of the biggest barriers to the active expansion of footbiking, kickbiking, trikking, and other foot/leg driven hpv sports is that the devotees are relative small in number, and are “apparently” physically separated by large distances.

CYCLE MODE international 2005

Stuart, who lives in Osaka, was kind enough to send me a heads-up about the new CYCLE MODE International sporting bicycle trade show that takes place later this month.

Liability Awareness Comes To Japan

 Bicyclists (and Kickbike/kick scooter users) often find themselves trapped in the middle between pedestrians and motor vehicles. The pedestrains don't want the bicycles on the sidewalks, and the drivers don't want to share the streets with them. Many countries and municipalities have regulations against riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, and Japan is no exception. The official regulations vary from prefecture to prefecture, but as a general rule it's illegal to use your bicycle on the sidewalk. Of course, you would never figure that out by observation since people here constantly do it.

An article recently posted on the Japan Today website in the Kuchikomi (word-of-mouth) section highlighted what appears to be a burgeoning liability awareness here:

"A high school student pedaling his bicycle furiously down the sidewalk of a Tokyo neighborhood bowled over a housewife, breaking her femur. The district court, citing the student's "negligence in his obligation to ride safely," ordered him to pay her 1.4 million yen in damages."

"... police are starting to clamp down on traffic violations by cyclists, including riding under the influence (up to 3 years imprisonment and a fine of up to 500,000 yen); riding at night without proper illumination (fine of up to 50,000 yen); and riding on the sidewalk except where specifically permitted (up to 3 months imprisonment and fine of up to 50,000 yen)."

"... Both cycling with an open umbrella or while utilizing a cell phone - violations probably committed by roughly half the riders in central Tokyo - are punishable by up to 3 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to 50,000 yen."

The sidewalks ain't safe

Kick Dragster

John Ramp, a kickbike/footbike enthusiast in the Netherlands posted this interesting photo on his website:

Anybody want to drag???

Exploring Chiba - Tokyo Bay Beach Area Near Inage Kaigan

The weather is finally starting to warm up, and the forecasters are predicting we’ll see cherry blossoms within the next two weeks. It’s definitely time for me to get serious about exercising – no more excuses. Thankfully the area where I live presents lots of interesting opportunities to get out and enjoy. The old Tokyo Bay shoreline is about two miles inland, so local area is relatively flat with lots of long, straight roads and cycling routes. Since the weather today was great – crystal clear and just a little cold, I decided to kickbike around the local area, take some photos, and write up this post.

The most convenient station, assuming you’re coming by train, is Inage Kaigan on the Keiyo line out of Tokyo. It’s about 40 minutes by local train, and a few minutes less if you are fortunate enough to catch the express. Come out of the station via the south exit and you’ll see the bus rotary and Marinpia – a large department store run by the Aeon group. From the station to the beach front park is only about a mile along the main street, so it’s a quick cycle/kick, or a 15–20 minute walk. There are also buses and lots of taxis available.

The area is predominately flat with long straight aways – easy cycling, kicking, jogging, or walking.

The beach front park includes lots of open areas for picnics, equipment for the kids (and parents) to play on, and plenty of rest rooms and facilities.

The park landscaping is very traditional including ponds with koi and ducks.

One of the major attractions is a huge flower museum with lots of exhibits year round.

Of course, like most large Japanese parks built in the 1980’s, it has a large flower clock. . .

Dogs are certainly welcome, and well mannered. If you happen to visit the park early in the morning, or about an hour before dusk, you can see lots of the local inhabitants walking their dogs, and socializing.

The central section of the park has large open spaces that are great for flying kites, playing badminton, or just laying out a blanket and picnicking.

There are several breakwaters that run out into the bay. They are usually open to foot traffic (I have been known to ride my kickbike out on them). Some people fish from them – though personally I don’t think I would risk actually eating anything from the bay.

The beach front is very long, and kept extremely clean. After a major storm or typhoon you might find piles of driftwood and debris, but on any normal day the beach will be almost spotless. The end of the beach closest to Tokyo attracts a lot of wind surfers that are fun to watch. There are some areas set aside for swimmers (during the summer) as well.

At the Chiba end of the park there’s a water slide park. It’s not open for the season yet, so make sure you check ahead if you plan on taking the kids.

There are also a number of water fountains, and even a small museum that has some early aircraft.