Bici Reunion

Among a gazillion social events, vacation, a water leak at my apartment, freelance writing/editing and work this month, I've really missed my regular cycling crew. It's been, oh, weeks since I saw the breakfast on the bridge folks. Grace and her kimchee magic have been absent for I don't know how long. Two weeks? The Sunday market, all the Chattanooga Football Club games.... passed.

In light of my absence (from the blogging "industry" as well), I needed a refresher ride. Last night I joined about 20 other cyclists at Link 41 for the Beer, Brats and Bikes cruise around town to recognize Local Foods week.

The best part? I've never seen many of these cyclists. It felt like sweet success, like I could just sit back, relax, and enjoy myself instead of feeling obligated to drum up support, converse, socialize. Chattanooga's cycling community—and no, I'm not talking about roadies!—is growing. These folks came out in shorts and sandals (eh..) on cruisers, on mountain bikes, one BMX ride, you name it.

J and I didn't stick around for many of the festivities. In fact, we were almost overwhelmed by the crowd at Terminal. I ran into numerous friends, including former high school stand-outs who were catching up over a beer. Apparently it's time for my graduating class to get hitched. The first thing said long-time aquaintance did? Grab my left hand and look for a ring. She'd heard that someone with my name had gotten married, but no, it was a different girl with my name.

Either way, it was great to briefly catch up, exchange high-fives, ride around with J in the cool night. He spotted a shooting star from the porch—and we were the only ones who saw it! Exhausted from my midday kettlebell new workout, one of my new obsessions, I rode up Georgia with J, which I'm slowly growing accustomed to, and passed out.

Another day and we'll be headed to Philly for a family-filled 4th of July weekend. No bikes, again, which hurts my heart a little, but I revel in the excitement and adventure of traveling, especially in big cities.

New end-of-year goal? Finding a new place to live. More details to follow. 

I bike to be free!

I woke up to booming thunder and rain hitting my windows. I had been waiting for the line of T-storms to hit this morning, anticipating a frightful commute to work.

However, my fears were quelled by—who would've guessed—the Chattanooga Times Free Press!

This morning's paper was simply PACKED with pro-commuter, pro-cyclist information. The cover story discussed the push for a "complete street" concept to be included in future road construction and reconstruction.

A4 featured our very own Colleen Carboni and discussed her dedication to commuting. I consider Colleen to be my commuting mentor. I used to see her cycling in high school when I worked at the G. Who knew years later I'd so look forward to cycling with Colleen and Q and bike to work and Q's breakfast on the bridge, which I've been eagerly anticipating for months.

Colleen is a real inspiration. She talks of crazy commutes out to Lee Hwy, and I admire her steadfast dedication to her cycling and "locavore" ethics. I LOVE running into Colleen. She helps keep me positive when others get me down.

B1 featured a blurb about the Bicycling magazine article I mentioned in the previous post. The article quoted some bike shop gurus, including Mike Teff of the local Trek store. Apparently he's a full-time carless commuter as well! Congrats again, Chattanooga—we have so much to work toward.

I could barely control my enthusiasm for Bicycling magazine's designation for Chattanooga. I'm discovering that writing about cycling for transportation is one of the my favorite topics. Combine my love of Chattanooga with springtime weather? Recipe for success.

And in closing:

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving."
— Albert Einstein

Chattanooga Named One of America's Most Bike-Friendly Cities

I just read the small blurb about Chattanooga's designation as a bicycle-friendly community in Bicycling magazine. My initial reaction, of course, is "yeah...right." But I think the designation goes deeper than the short blurb Bicycling mag gave us. In fact, this town makes it feasible for me to live and play—comfortably—without a car.

Many facets of Chattanooga make it biker friendly:

1. The Riverwalk. On first thought this paved greenway in Chattanooga seems to lack connectivity to businesses or residential areas. However, it provides cyclists and pedestrians with a safe, smooth pathway with access to various parts of town. Fellow cyclists and commuters use this path to commute to and from Hixson or to the Bonny Oaks area—and beyond. I'm always amazed at commuters who talk of cycling to the Lee Hwy area—or Cleveland!

2. The neighborhoods in and around downtown. Residents in North Chattanooga, downtown, Southside and St. Elmo all have bicycle-convenient, relatively affordable access to housing, jobs, retail, restaurants, great parks and excellent cycling. Sometimes I laugh because my life fits in a few minimal square miles—my commute to work is about 2 miles, most of my friends and family live not too much further than that, and all of my shopping and recreation happens not too far from that small radius. Some might consider it a bubble; I think it's spectacular, convenient and fun.

3. Recreational cycling outlets. Road and mountain bikers alike can attest to the beauty of the region. With numerous regionally (nationally?) renowned mountain biking trails (see SORBA) and popular scenic road routes (see CBC), competitive and recreational cyclists have access to a variety of rides. Also, the 'hoods mentioned above are close enough to great scenic cycling routes, enabling bikers to ride from their homes. The ride to Flinstone, Ga., the Tuesday night Soddy ride and Moccasin Bend—all great rides close to home.

Mostly, I think ALL Chattanoogans need to start considering our city a bicycle-friendly community. The more we adopt the moniker, the more people will start to cycle on the streets, the more attention cycling will receive. All of this two-wheeled forward motion can lead to fixing some of the "problems" that many cyclists complain about, including poor road conditions, poor driver-cyclist relations and not enough "fun" non-racing cycling events. This recognition from Bicycling magazine is a welcome display of how far the cycling community has come in Chattanooga, and I hope it only spurs more growth.

I also would like to extend an invitation to all cyclists to attend the local 3 Rides, 3 Hoods: Perspectives on the City ride on May 2. From the Facebook invite page:

"Celebrate the bike-ability of Chattanooga and the start of National Bike Month with three short and easy rides through three of Chattanooga’s bicycle-friendly neighborhoods: the Downtown/North Shore area, the Southside, and St. Elmo. Participate in one, two, or all three loops. Along the way, we will share perspectives on the city through both stunning visuals and engaging dialogue, meet local community leaders, learn about Chattanooga, discover sites for urban wilderness experiences, and discuss our city’s successes and opportunities."

Google Map adds option for biking directions

I just skimmed this article about Google maps adding bicycle directions. This is a fabulous idea and concept, and I hope it can be implemented effectively. I checked Chattanooga, and all I could see within the two-mile radius of my house was the Riverwalk—a bike-only path. It's a start!

Public Meeting for a Sustainable Tennessee Valley Region

Neighbors! Friends! Community Members!

Come out to the public meeting for the 2009 Sustainable Design Assessment Team.

Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 p.m.

UTC's University Center Auditorium

East 5th Street, Chattanooga, TN

Please join the nationally renowned team as they share their initial findings and observations about creating a sustainable Tennessee Valley region.

This presentation is made possible by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Lyndhurst Foundation.

In conjunction with AIA Chattanooga, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Catoosa County, EPB, greenspaces, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Main Street Farmer's Market - every Wednesday!

As the rain continutes to fall on Chattanooga, Tenn., all I can seem to do is find distractions from the piles of applications and resumes I should be sending to various companies. Maybe that has to do with Jolie Holland singing in the background, or the damned TweetDeck I uploaded this week.

I really have mixed feelings about Twitter and its connectivity. No, MY connectivity. Wireless internet at the folks' house keeps me far too "updated" on all web happenings. I try to see it as one day finding work, discovering new events happening in town, and promoting events and issues I care about. Not to mention finding a JOB, a REAL JOB editing, writing or promoting something on the web. Sadly, print is dying. Web is the preferred medium, in my opinion, or if not preferred than the dominant medium.

I started to recognize a few things I miss about Oregon this morning, particularly about the weather and produce, but my friend Chris quickly commented on Fbook about the local produce available at Wednesday's Main Street Farmer's Market!

Wednesdays from 4:00 - 6:00 pm
On Main St. Between Market and Broad
On the Corner of Main & Williams...Across from Hiroshi's Sushi
Downtown Chattanooga, Southside

What's Ripe this week

Alexzanna Farms: Strawberries, nettles, cut flowers

Clover Wreath Farms: Lettuce, Green Onions, Herbs, Tomato Plants

Dancing Fern Nursery: An assortment of perennial natives plants from
this wonderful native plant nursery located at
Sequatchie Cove Farm. Come and talk with
Miriam about what native plants will grow
well in your yard.

Irie Hilltop Farm: Vegetable plants for your home garden

River Ridge Farms: Grass Fed Beef, Pastured Pork, Spinach, Radishes

Sale Creek Honey
Honey from the hills and valleys around us. Eddie McKenzie is a master beekeeper; we and the bees are lucky to have him in our region.
Local Honey
Local Beeswax candles

Sequatchie Cove Farm:Strawberries, Eggs, Grass-fed Beef, Pastured Pork, Lettuce, Baby Spinach, SunSugar Tomato Plants, Chive Plants, Fresh Cilantro Bunches

Williams Island Farm: Eggs from hens that roam the island freely, Lettuce, Arugula, Kale, Baby Bok Choy

I'll be in attendance, won't you? I wish I knew how to hide that list so you had to click on it... who knows how to do this? Errrr. Web skillz fall short of this.

Take a STAND!

(Ed. Note: This blog was inspired by ChattanoogaStand.com. I formally invite YOU to let us know what Chattanooga's future should look like. Let's here it!)

What do I want in Chattanooga?

I want to protect the natural beauty of Chattanooga, and clean it up while we're there.

I want to teach others how to care for the land on which we play, regardless of political agenda, upbringing, etc. Demonstrating the direct effects of taking good care of the earth and how that benefits EVERYONE...it can be done. It's more than a marketing message.

I want to see more school communities like the one I attended as more affordable and accessible options to more families.

I want a health food store other than Greenlife. I want grocers to be community leaders AND business folks.

I want to see more commuting bikers and organized neighborhood bike rides. This is a beautiful place, and two-wheeled tours engage riders and connect them with neighbors, neighborhoods and new places.

I want a movie theater that serves beer and shows movies for cheap.

I want speed bumps on West Mississippi Ave. I want passenger trains to go through at least one Central or East Tennessee town.

(Print is dead, Laura Jane. Shut your trap about weeklies! You remember how angry the ones in Portland made you? Sheesh. Stick with this web business. It's sticky, and fun.)

I want a First Friday art walk (or maybe I just don't know about it).

I want to ban smoking from all restaurants and bars!

(And for this to happen...) I want to be on a first-name basis with my elected representatives.

All of these things are centered around me and my needs. Not once did I write about organizations that feed and shelter the homeless...gentrification...minorities. There is a lot of social and ethical concern, but it's not on my front burner. I think I underestimate a lot of what goes on in the up and coming area where we boogied down last night. I think I underestimate a lot of Chattanoogans.

I want to learn humility, patience and how to love wholly and freely.

I want to help erase cynicism from the forefront of my generation's mind and attitude.

I want to embrace that which makes me uncomfortable and uneasy.

My first list of wants would indirectly benefit or effect others, I guess. My motivations aren't awful.

Biking through otherwise overlooked neighborhoods puts individuals in touch with the neighbors. Riders aren't behind glass windows, afraid of stereotypical "bad neighborhood" behavior, but are waving to folks, ringing their bike bells and smiling. The connection between bike riders and front porch folks could SOME DAY change a driver's perspective behind the wheel.

Art on Wheels? First Friday comes to the lovely Chattanooga? Monthly neighborhood/event bike rides?

so good to be home

Thanks, Chattanooga, for cheerin me up exactly when I needed it.

Last night Kelly, Keith and I rolled over to CreateHere for Pecha Kucha Night No. 3. The global network of events offers an evening of brief, less than seven minute presentations, with each presenter allowed 20, 20-second slides. It's quick, interesting and from my first experience, quite entertaining. I learned about the brains behind cabeen originals, about the TreMontsters from an architect, and from the Norhtshore Yoga inspirations Jessica Jollie and Sara Mingus.

I left thinking, "What would I want to present?" The wheels are turning. Copy editing for dummies? Critical mass and all its glory? Group bike rides in general? Bicycle enthusiasm? Proposing downtown rides?

I want to thank Knoxville for the training wheels so literally provided for me. Only after moving across the country did I fully see, love and appreciate the good energy, events and GREAT folks there. The biking organization, the art scene, First Fridays, new neighborhoods, attention to pedestrian culture, Jack Neely... bangin' businesses like my brother's bike shop, the Fountain City Pedaler.

I could go on! And I should. I need to utilize my networking skills for the best. I'm good at this web stuff, and I can make this web stuff work for me. It's time! Pecha Kucha here I come.

And Chattanooga, thanks for havin' me back.

Almost.

I lay under smokey clothes on my bed for what I hope to be the last time. I'm awake at an ungodly hour again, which seems to be the norm for me these days. Lets see... 8:30 a.m. EST... translates to... 5:30 a.m. PST?!

heh. That might take some adjusting.

So will many things on the West Coast, I'm sure. I'm ready for the change, the introduction, the peaceful transition. Our great country is experiencing one right now, and damnit, so will I. The music of the moment? The Dodos. Thank heavens to Stelth the couch surfin' clean hobo who gave me some damn fine tunes. In turn, we dropped him off at a truck stop in West Knoxville. They were headed for Nashville. It was a nice celebration of friends and birthdays.

A sweet friend gifted me some of the most beautiful dresses and clothes last night. It's like a new Oregon wardrobe...which means I'll have to pack again, but that's OK. This is incentive to leave old clothes behind that simply won't make the cut and shouldn't have in the first place.

I laughed last night at the dinner I ate out with my folks. We attempted to go to this new restaurant in Chattanooga, the Terminal, on Market Street. It's a three-story, triangle building deal that seemed to have a nice brew pup atmosphere. That unfortunately came with an hour-long wait. Knowing my own lack of patience for crowded spaces and standing among folks eating while attempting to drink, I didn't want to stay. Before I got a chace to voice that though, there was an exchange between my dad and stepmom that made me laugh inside. It was my dad's own intolerance of the very same crowded spaces and his sensitivity to a comment that I internalized, I saved for myself. It's not every day I see myself in my dad so clearly.

And just the mention of "Laura's last night" brought a flash of tears to my eyes. They didn't last; the excitement took over after an IPA (uuuugh) at Big River. Oregon this, Oregon that. New music from old friends, random encounters planned for Monday afternoon, romanticism over the top (incomplete love? so says Robert Bass), and...the biggest sigh of relief (and some tears) about turning over a (big) new leaf.

It's here! I'm moving across the country on Tuesday! And I'm bringing a hot red dress, pink dress, blue skirt, red skirt and comfy smokin' hot jeans to boot (and boots)! Eeehehehe...

The city center of Knoxville seemed so calm as I drove away yesterday, tears and all as I blasted Belle and Sebastian one more time. It seemed like I could pinpoint all of my friends and cohorts within the city, each buzzing around, each energy in it's appropriate place. I left a place I love so much.

Now I'm at my parents house, fresh from a morning workout and ready for a hike with the pups. I don't think Beau, the new, tiny member of the family (above), will be coming. He's spoiled, but amazingly cute. I repacked all my stuff and I think it will fit. The car is still packed to the brim; I'm unloading at Mom's house tomorrow probably after church.

Cozy, calm and collected. Being with family in Chattanooga is the perfect way to blastoff. I couldn't handle the good-byes from Knoxville. It honestly would be too hard to leave. I'll be nearly overdue by Tuesday here though.