Overcoming long distances - it's all in the head!

These white houses in the distance where the starting point.

In spring 2013, when my bicycle was still brand-new and I was a newbie, I didn't ride the distances that I am able to ride now.

I could easily move around the city, due to the fact that the distances are shorter, but as the summer was approaching, I felt uncomfortable to ride longer distances. I was convinced it would be hard and tiring. At that time I didn't even think of doing the route I'm doing today as part of my daily commute.

I cycled the whole round. As you can see,  this isn't a big ride but neither a small one!

But in the end of summer 2013, I felt the curiosity to explore my limits. I wanted to ride further. The opportunity came when my schedule changed and I had to be in places in inconvenient hours of the day. I still remember the day that I first attempted to ride from my house all the way to the city center. At that time I thought it was a really long distance, and the idea of that was bolstered by the fact that it was an unknown route. But of course in reality it wasn't such a long distance, it was only an 11 kilometers round trip.

Resting in a restaurant, which was still closed at that  time.

And that was only the beginning! After that time I started to ride further and further! And all of that by using my one and only upright bicycle. 

At first, people tried to persuade me that with the particular kind of bicycle that I own, I couldn't be able to ride longer distances, but in the end I realised that it is not the bicycle that matters, it is the rider! It is the willingness!

Again, the starting point! The houses that are in the left side of the picture.

Sure, with certain types of bicycles long distance riding becomes much easier, but that doesn't mean I cannot go for a big ride because I do not own one of those bicycles.
It's what I write in the title, anyone can overcome a long distance ride, it's just all in the head! Do you want to try it? Go ahead! Don't think about the type of your bicycle as an obstacle. Just grab it and go out there and ride, explore different routes, other neighborhoods, the nearby villages, your local forest, find trails that are quite and motor vehicle free and just ride.

While resting, I took some pictures. I really like this one!

Now I am able to ride for even a 60 kilometers round trip. It is not that long if you consider the fact that many cyclists have this distance just for an appetiser. But it is surely a significant distance for me, a typical rider, who just commutes with a bicycle when going to work or rides her bike just for enjoyment, and all of this by using the only bicycle that I have. It is not perfect, I know it and I accept this, it is slower but I like it and I find it comfortable. Riding it feels nice, why should I bother change it or consider to buy another one? As long as it feels right, just use what you have! 

I like this one, too! The water's swirling between the rocks.

If I ever feel the urge and need for something more, then and only then I will buy another bicycle! 
Keep in mind though, you can go for a long distance ride, you can go to your work which is 6 kilometers away with your bicycle, you can travel by bicycle to the near village to say hello to a friend and pay a visit. 

In reality it is not the long distance that you have to overcome, it is these doubts in your head. Do not let them be an obstacle!

Enjoy your ride!

Health benefits - heart function, stamina, weight

A ghost bicycle made from beans! This is the best I managed to create...

After I started to ride my bicycle more consistently, I've noticed in myself some benefits that are related to health.

But before I begin to tell you about it, I must say that I was already a healthy person and that I'm young and a non-smoker. Additionally, before taking up cycling, I used to work out too. I did some cardiovascular exercises, a bit of pilates and some weight training. So I didn't expect to observe any differences to myself with cycling.

However, the first thing that I've realised that had changed after starting to ride my bicycle more regularly, was my stamina, it had increased. This realisation was a bit of a shock to me, as when I cycle I don't usually hurry doing it. I consider myself an average speed rider (although my traveling times are still getting better and better, even after one and a half year of cycling) and as I told above, I was already working out. 
I've also noticed that I had all this extra energy, that I got "lighter" feet and that I was more responsive to everyday tasks.

Additionally, in the beginning of Autumn 2013, I went to do a routine check up, just out of curiosity, on a local doctor here in Volos, who has a new diagnostic software called electrocardiorama, which, among other things, shows a 3D picture of both sides of the heart, and after doing an examination with the help of this diagnostic tool, the doctor is able to see any heart diseases or problems, before they even occur.

So after doing the examination, the doctor said I had a totally healthy heart, as I expected. 

But after two and a half months, when I went back to the same doctor to do again this particular examination, he said that I had now the heart of an athlete and that all this everyday bicycle riding was really beneficial for my heart function.

Last but not least, after taking up cycling, I noticed that my clothes started to fit differently. I didn't loose much weight, as 2-3 kilos weren't considered a significant amount of weight, but my body became tighter all over. And to think that I've stopped all the other cardiovascular exercises, I only kept cycling as my main cardio and my main way of transportation and occasionally I do some pilates and weight training. 

However, I should also note that by habit, I'm a healthy eater too. I random eat from outside (souvlaki, cheese and mushroom pizza, grilled fish or calamari) and I never eat junk food (not a fan of burgers, chips, etc.) I prefer to eat homemade food, as the variety is greater and the flavors are better! Furthermore I eat a fruit every morning and I consume a lot of veggies during lunch, as a side dish. We are a "cooking at home" family after all, and this is how my mother raised us from the start. Of course it helps that we live in a country that offers  such a big variety in organic and unprocessed food materials.

So these were the changes that I've observed in myself after incorporating cycling into my everyday life. I must admit, these weren't any significant changes, but keep in mind that I was already healthy, that is why I noted that in the beginning of the article. Take into account that everybody is different. Some might had greater changes that mine after starting to ride for transportation, and others might had smaller changes. What I say is that I'm happy with all these health benefits that this everyday bicycle riding did to me, and that is something pleasant, as when I started to transport by bike, these health benefits were not into my goals. 

These health benefits were just the cherry on top!

What differences did you observe to your general health after starting to commute by bicycle?

Bicycle baskets and racks - the misjudged accessories

First let's talk about bicycle baskets!

This is by no doubt the most misjudged bicycle accessory of them all! The majority of people, at least in cities with little bicycle culture, believe that a bicycle basket is only something that belongs to a woman's bicycle. How faulty this belief is though!

Yes, typically you notice more women than men having baskets in their bikes, but that happens not because a bike basket is a woman's accessory, but because women carry purses and handbags. This is where we put our bags when we ride our bicycles! It is uncomfortable to ride a bike when having a handbag in one shoulder. The balance isn't just right. We are not unable to ride with a bag in one shoulder, but it is inconvenient for anything else but small trips around the city centre.

The other day, when I was returning home after work, there was a man in front of me with grocery bags in his handlebars. When I propose to him to install a bicycle basket in his bike, he replied that bicycle baskets are useless. Then I showed him my basket. Suddenly, he turned his head and looked at me with a big question mark on his face. We were talking, but at that moment he realised that my bicycle basket wasn't there for the looks, but for usage. Inside I had my handbag (of course) and my lunch. These two items didn't occupy a lot of space, so the bicycle basket had a lot more room to fill in, "even for my grocery bags" he noticed with a grin. "It is more convenient than hanging the bags from the handlebars" I replied to him.

...Which now leads to the second misjudged accessory, the bicycle rack! 

Either installed in the front or in the rear, a rack is a very useful item. If you want a basket in your bicycle, I strongly advise you to buy and resemble a front rack first and then put the bicycle basket on top of the rack. It offers more durability. The bicycle basket won't break, it is more stable and you can carry more or heavier loads this way.

Also, in combination with a front rack you can use a rear rack too! A rear rack is even more durable than a front rack. It is also bigger and you can use it on it's own or with panniers. If you simply don't appeal to the idea having a front basket on your bicycle, you can install just a rear rack and use that! And if you buy panniers too, then the load capacity of your bicycle will increase considerably more! This way your bicycle still remains masculine while being more convenient. 

Deep down, I believe most guys already acknowledge how useful baskets and racks are! I don't think it is a coincidence that I see a great amount of guys passing in front of my workplace while riding their girlfriends' borrowed bicycles!

Sure a front basket gives a certain character to a bicycle!

I'm not saying everyone should have a basket because I do, or a rack because I also do. I am not implying that I'm right and you're wrong. I'm just giving you options. Baskets and racks were originally created for giving the opportunity to bicycle users to carry loads with their bicycles easily. It is in your choice to use them or not!

Everyday though when I load up my bicycle, I always smile and think that I just couldn't be without a bicycle basket or a rack. I use them all the time!

How do you carry your stuff when riding a bicycle? 

How to fix a flat tire

It happened again, yes!

I'm thinking that maybe it is due to the hot weather. 

Bicycle tires are more prone to punctures when the weather is either too hot, or too cold, or even too wet. 

In a period of two weeks I had to repair a flat tire twice. However the first time it was entirely my fault! 

While I was taking pictures for a previous post, I accidentally dragged my bicycle into some thorns. I didn't realise it until much later, after finishing the photoshoot and walking towards a bench, where I wanted to sit down and eat my delicious herb-pie made by a local bakery while admiring the sea view. When I noticed the round shaped thorns, I kneeled and started to pull them out one at a time. I was doing a great job, but when I pulled the fifth I immediately heard a "ffff" sound. That was the first puncture!

So I packed my things and rode back to the city center, as I didn't want to walk the whole way back. Then I locked up my bike and sat on a bench right opposite of my workplace to eat my pie, as I had another 30 minutes before showing up to work.

The next day I bought the tools for fixing up my flat tire myself, as I already knew how it was done when I watched the bicycle shop owner do it in the past. 

However, after about 4-5 days my bicycle tire got another puncture. Needless to say everyone thought I didn't do a proper job when I fixed the first puncture, so I was so delighted to reply to them that this time the other tire was flat and not the one I repaired!

The cause of the second puncture was found after investigating the tire from the inside and the outside repeatedly! It was a tiny piece of debris pinned on the tire from the outside and in normal conditions this piece would never lead to a puncture. That is why I blame the weather and the bad timing for getting a flat tire, as the hot temperature might  have"soften" the tire and a certain bang gave that result!. 

Now let's proceed to the actual tutorial of how to fix a flat tire.

The Steps

Step 1: Gather all the tools together. 

You will need a pump, sandpaper, the special sticker for repairing an inner tube, glue and 2 small spoons (if you don't want to buy the special calliper for the bicycle tire) and a container filled with water.

Step 2: Open the tube's valve and let the remaining air to escape. Then with the help of the two spoons pull the tire out of the rim.

Notice the stcker from the previous flat!

Step 3: Carefully with your fingers grab the inner tube and pull it out of the tire. After removing it from the tire, inflate it a little bit using the pump and then dip it into the water every bit at a time moving it clockwise until finding the hole.

Step 4: After finding the hole, with a pen draw a circle around it.

Step 5: Rub the hole using the sandpaper so it will have more grip for holding the sticker.

Step 6: Apply glue all over, not only on top of the hole, but in the round area that surrounds the hole too. Wait for 10-20 seconds (depending the glue) and then put the special sticker on top and press with your finger firmly. 

Step 7: After waiting for 5-10 minutes for the glue to harden completely, slowly start to push the inner tube back into the tire with your fingers. When the inner tube is in place, grab the tire with your fists and squeeze it back into the rim. Inflate the tire completely using the pump and now you are done with fixing your flat tire!

Tips: 

1) If you just want to replace the inner tube with a new one, skip steps 4,5 and 6.
2) Don't forget to open your brake before attempting to pull out the inner tube.

3) For step 7, it is easier to have the bicycle upside down.

4) After step 6 and while waiting, inspect the inner side of the tire along with the outside  and remove any bits that are pinned to your bicycle tire.

Hope I've helped! 

Now you know how to fix a flat tire, too!

The scent of rain

I was pedaling uphill. 

The only sound in the air was the one produced when I rolled my bicycle over some dried leaves. I had seen the clouds in the sky earlier. A storm was approaching, but I've decided to take my chances and go out with my bicycle. Nobody else was outside at that time. I was all alone. Me and my bike.

And then I smelled it. The scent of rain finally was reaching my nose. 

Rain has a distinctive scent that I love! And also depending how far the approaching storm is the scent changes accordingly. To some that scent smells the same from the begging until the end, others don't even notice it, they're not able to smell it. I feel sorry for these particular people. The scent of rain is my favorite scent of all! It makes me feel wonderful! 

When the storm approaches, the air fills with a distinctive aroma of ethereal freshness. I've read somewhere that this freshness is the smell of the ozone. 

When finally the first drops start to hit the ground, the scent changes, it becomes more grassy but not exactly. It is more like a smell that combines aromas of flowers, herbs and the smell of wood.

Last but not least, when the storm has passed, the scent of rain changes again. This time the scent becomes more earthy. This scent is the strongest of them all. People who are not able to smell the first two initial scents can smell this last scent.

So after I started to smell the rain I knew that the storm was close. After a little bit I heard it also. The sounds of the distant lightning strikes were reaching my ears, too.

So I found shelter to a nearby old and abandoned house. I didn't enter it. I just sat under the canopy of the front gate. Fortunately it was quite spacious. 

I just sat there and enjoyed the rain! The scent, the sound, the beautiful scenery all around!

When it was over, I continued my ride. This was one of my best rides! I don't need hundreds of kilometers to enjoy a ride nor a big group of people all around me. I just want to observe the surroundings and feel close to nature. So what if a thunder is on my way? The more intense the rain, the better! 

Don't you just love rain?

How to open a V-brake

Today's post is dedicated to a technical matter that everyone who owns a bicycle is good to know and that is how to open a V-brake.

I advise you to learn how to do it, because in 70% of the technical cases that relate to a bicycle the first step is opening up the brakes. But the most common cases are when you must open your brake to take your bicycle wheel off or to fix a flat tire or when you just want to check if the brake pads caught any debris so you can clean them. 

I understand that probably the majority of you might already know how to open it, but as I didn't know it myself at first and someone else showed it to me, I thought that is would be nice to share it with you so you can learn, too. 

The Steps

It takes only about a couple of seconds to finish the whole process, so let's start!

Step 1: You must first slide over the little rubber tube that covers the cylinder which is circled in the photograph above.

Step 2: After baring the cylinder, you must press both sides of the brake towards the middle.

Step 3: While still holding the sides of the brake, you must then release the cylinder from its metal handle.

Step 4: After releasing the cylinder, now you can stop holding the sides of the brake and leave them to fall open at the sides of the tire as shown in the picture.

Your V- brake is now open!

For closing it, you just repeat the steps in reverse.

Note: Don't forget after closing the V-brake to slide the rubber tube back on to cover up the cylinder, because the cylinder must not get wet or it will rust.

Now you know how to open your V-brake, too!

Do you do your own maintenance to your bicycles?

The iron bicycle

This bicycle is a project created by the students and the teachers of an elementary school in a small town that is located 70 kilometers norther from Volos.

As you can see in the picture, it's really obvious how big this sculpture is! Especially if you compare it with the regular bicycle that is shown in the photograph.

The purpose of this project is to promote cycling as an alternative way of transportation. The frame of the iron bicycle is made from steel tubes, the tires and the bottom bracket are made from old cars' wheels and the saddle is a car's tire pinned in the seat tube.

The first time that I saw it I wondered why did they use car parts for building a bicycle sculpture that promotes cycling? But after some thought I realised that it must be a metaphor. In my mind it is something like: "where cars die, bicycles rise", which means bicycles are the future, either we like it or not and either we understand it or not. 

The sign says "I ride a bicycle: for better health and cleaner environment". It's nice to see efforts like this, especially if they are made from such a young audience, because these kids are the future's citizens. They're the ones that will not depend on their cars when they will want to go from one location to another, but hopefully they will just jump on their bikes and ride. As simple as that!

It is known among it's users, that the bicycle is indeed a very convenient mode of transport when someone wants to move around into the city. You don't have to worry about parking, red lights, traffic and gas. 

Furthermore bicycles are quiet and take up little space. Why am I saying this? Imagine that there are two streets. Each one has 100 people who pass through there every day and multiple times per day. In the first street people are using cars. In the second street people are using bicycles. The result? In street number one there is chaos from 100 passing cars with their honks, fumes, pollution and noise. In street number two there is nothing but peace and quiet, as 100 bicycles won't even be noticed and the only noise you will hear is an occasional cling-cling from a bell, which to me is so pleasant to hear!

Where would you rather your house to be? In street number one or in street number two? The answer is right in front of us. Cities weren't built for cars, they were built for citizens. 

You want to live in a modern, livable city, that is safe, user-friendly and clean? Ride a bicycle! 

It's the most simple, easy to use, autonomous and flexible mode of transportation ever made! 

Cycling through a jungle

Can't the city at least try to pretend it cares for people on bicycles?

Is that too much to ask? 

We know it's summer! We cyclists understand it better that anyone. We feel it right upon our skin every day, when the sunlight caresses our skin and helps us preserve our lovely tan. 

We observe it in nature, too! The trees are full of leaves and the weeds are growing wild. Usually we do not have any objections with these nature's acts, but when nature starts claiming the little space we've got for movement then we start to wonder...

...When will the city finally decide to clean the weeds? 

It is now officially August, the third and last month of the summer. Every time that question came up in the past the answer was "It's still early for that". But, is it?

They had to follow the trends and built "cycle paths" because there was an EU financial program that promoted cycling in cities and offered the founds for building cycling infrastructure.

Every citizen now is asking where these founds went, because surely they didn't spend them for bicycle infrastructure. Almost every part of the so called cycle-paths were already premade. (Even the brick path from a previous post that many of you e-mailed me telling how nice it was, in reality is the sidewalk that goes around an equestrian Club).

So deciding to take us out of the way and making us ride on the narrow pavement at the side of the street, after painting it red and naming it cycle path, and forcing us sharing the space with pedestrians, are some things that we cannot do anything about, even if it annoys us due to the fact that our travelling speed is different. But having to squeeze ourselves riding on a painted pavement with pedestrians while weeds are slapping our legs and faces, then no, we will not tolerate that. 

We might use bicycles for transportation, but that's not making us unimportant or less of a citizen. Bicycle users are citizens of this city! We have every right to not collide with anything in our ways. And because building a truly efficient and separate cycle path is out of the question, at least please, clean the paths from the weeds!

Are cyclists in your city considered as citizens or the city's council forgets about them?

Sightseeing by Bicycle: The Neolithic Houses

In Anauros, right across from the Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum of Volos, there is a reconstruction of the Neolithic Houses that were found in Sesklo. Today I've decided to share with you the history of the original ones! (Note: all the pictures show reconstructive replicas).

In Kastraki hill and the surrounding area, near the present village named Sesklo, there was developed one of the most important Neolithic settlements in Greece and Europe, which gave its name to an entire phase of the Neolithic Age in Thessaly. It was inhabited from the beginning of the Neolithic Period (7th millennium BC) to the Middle Bronze Age (2th millennium BC). However, it's experienced its acme in the 6th millennium BC, during the Middle Neolithic Period. Most of the architectural remains that we see today are from that Period.

What is left today from the beginning of the Neolithic Period, when the first signs of permanent establishments appeared in the area, were only some ellipsoid trenches from the bases of the first huts that were constructed by the Neolithic people from branches and clay.

During the Early Neolithic Period, the settlement gradually expanded more extensively. The buildings became quadrilateral and the walls were built with bricks and wood, while in some of them the foundations were made from stone. 

However during the Middle Neolithic Period, the houses were constructed with more durable materials, such as stone and clay, and were square shaped or rectangular. 

The foundations were made from stone and the walls were built with raw bricks, which were highly insulating. Clay was also being used, as it was in abundance in the surrounding area, and it was combined also with straw and wool from sheep and goats.

The roof was constructed with wood and reeds, and was usually two-sided or four-sided, depending on the size of the house, and was covered externally with layers of clay. On the roof, the Neolithic people also left a hole, so the smoke from the hob had somewhere to escape from. In the end, the whole house was calcined with a thin layer of clay and often the exterior walls were painted with color afterwards.

In the interior of the original Neolithic houses, we notice preserved hobs, small storage facilities, areas for food preparation and also sleeping areas.

The houses that were reconstructed in front of the Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum were from the Middle Neolithic Period. Sadly they were locked, so I couldn't take any photos of the interior. But I have been inside of these houses in the past, and I assure you that these replicas have all the facilities that were described above. 

Imagine living at that period! When the humanity was in its earliest ages of development. As you can see, these houses could easily pass for current country houses at some small and undeveloped village, but no! These originally were designed and built so many years ago! 

How fascinating history is!

Daily commute

Every single morning I leave my house at approximately 8:30 a.m. and I pedal for 5,5 kilometers to finally arrive at my destination, which is the city center. It takes me about 20 to 25 minutes depending on my speed, the air direction and the traffic lights. During my commute I ride upon different variety of terrain.

At first there is some gravel.

Then there is asphalt.

There are also some hills. 

This is the part of my commute that it is pitch black after nightfall. When heading to town, it is easy to pass through. But when returning home, as I previously wrote here, it is scary and somewhat tiring, because I have to ride uphill.

...And some downhills.

A couple of kilometers later, I come across the cycle path, which is sadly constructed on the sidewalk. At least at this point it is made of asphalt. 

As you can see, after riding for 100 meters, the cycle path now it is made of tiles.

Some time later on, I find myself riding on bricks. 

And then on asphalt again. No more cycle paths here. I'm using the main street from this point.

Don't let the emptiness of the road to fool you, it is because the traffic light behind me is still red!

From that point, I didn't take any photos, as it was more difficult to do that when navigating through busy roads.

Sorry for the grayish photographs, it was a cloudy day!

But when finally I'm almost in the end of my ride, I ride through the pedestrian's shopping area. 

But I only do that because it is still very early and no one is walking. You see only bicycles here in this early hour.

And that was my daily commute. It is an 11 kilometers round trip. It is not perfect. It has it's difficulties mostly because bicycles aren't considered as vehicles and don't have any priority. Although it is my commute and that everyday riding just makes my day!

How long is your commute? Do you have cycle paths or do you ride in the streets?