Fairytale ride

It always astonishes me how pleasant a simply ride can be if nature is present. I have to admit that although I enjoy to use my bicycle for transportation into the city, the joy I get from urban cycling it is nothing when I compare it with rural cycling. 

The above road is just a road.

But with those tall pine trees aligned in a row on both sides of the road, it is like I'm suddenly on a fairytale land, joining a fairytale ride.

I could hear the birds tweet, the squirrels' squeak while jumping from one tree branch to another and the cracking sound of the falling pine cones. 

I looked up in the far as I was pedalling. My bicycle just rolled and rolled. The road in front of me was a long stretch that seemed endless, but in a good way, as the pine trees ahead covered the horizon. The hour of the ride was also perfect, as the warm light from the sun really complements the surroundings while offering a more romantic feeling to the whole experience. 

I utterly love riding my bicycle! 

Even after all this time, I am still very grateful that I decided to finally purchase it and make it my main transportation vehicle. It actually adds value into one's life. And I'm not referring to the health benefits, that are simply a bonus. I'm talking about the way it can change your life. If you do own one, I urge you to go outside and ride it! You will experience the world differently. You are in direct contact with Mother Earth, the natural environment for all beings. You can release your stress (I know I do) and feel better. You will wake your senses and start to appreciate more of the little things in life. Things that you always took for granted.

One reader emailed me telling she felt sad as she was really stressed and tired from working all day long, and that she wished she could ride her bike and ditch the car. After finding my blog she went for it and now she transports by bicycle 3 days per week and also goes on a recreation ride every Sunday morning along with her 2 children. Now she is happy as she spends quality time with her family and also cut her gym membership, which she said she never used anyway.

What did she relearn? That living is not breathing. It is doing things that feel pleasant. 

Do not forget to live your life, do not let the days simply pass!

A bicycle can be your pal to this suggestion. 

It might be a small change, but don't forget that all changes start small. 

Go yourself and join in the fairytale ride! 

Is it pouring outside?

On the previous post we talked about of how to prepare yourself if the answer to the question "is it raining outside?" was followed by a "yes".

I became an enthusiast and tried to make you understand that riding a bicycle in the rain isn't something difficult if you are prepared, which it true!

However it isn't all nice and cozy, and while I enjoy to ride my bicycle in the rain, I always face myself with the same problem.

It is not a problem with lighter rain or if I ride short distances (aka when I'm already in town) but it is a problem when I'm commuting from home to work or backwards, or when it is pouring outside. 
(I don't want any of you being caught in heavy rain with your bicycle while thinking devious ways of eliminating me, as I was the one who told you to just grab a jacket and your boots and go out with your bicycle, which led to your rain "misery"!)

Fortunately, these cases are more rare than other people think. I don't know if the same applies to you, but to me, it is like that heavy rain starts to fall always after I've reached my destination!

This post also, it is not one for preaching or finding all the answers. It is one that I'm asking help from you, and want to discuss a few problems and how I try to handle them. 

So look outside of the window...

Is it pouring outside?

One of my major problems of riding a bicycle in the rain is wet knees. Usually I choose to wear a skirt when it is raining because tights have the ability to dry up really fast, so I won't find myself walking around with wet knees all day long. However, when it is really cold outside, I prefer to wear a pair of pants which isn't the most comfortable piece of clothing during heavy rain. No matter the length of my coat/jacket, my knees always get wet. I have found that if I don't "sit" on my coat and let it hang freely behind my saddle, then the front part doesn't "open" that much, which protects my knees better, but still not enough.

Another thing I have found to be somewhat irritating when I ride in heavy rain is that I tend to sweat, which is frustrating. I do not know why this is happening, as I tend to keep the same speed and I don't force into it. Also it is not that I'm wearing any additional clothes, I wear exactly what I wear everyday. My thought is that it might be the fact that there is more moisture in the atmosphere when it is pouring, so the heat generated from my body cannot "escape" which leads to sweating. At least that's my explanation.

Moreover, when it is pouring outside and I'm already into the town and just want to travel from point A to point B, I think for a couple of minutes and try to decide whether to use my bicycle or not. If the rain is heavy but normal heavy (which means no sudden air drafts) then I will wear my hood but also grab an umbrella, to protect my face from all the water, and I will ride carefully to my destination. However, if the rain is really heavy and with lots of sudden air drafts, then I will just walk my bicycle and I won't ride it as I don't feel safe doing it due to the air. 

Which leads to another piece of advise, it is wise to know when to give in. When the water coming down from the sky is more than I could take, then I will simply give in and search for another way to head to my destination. Usually by car or bus. The reason I will be doing that is because, at least to me, riding on a downpour feels like drowning, which isn't pleasant at all. I'm serious. There is constant water coming down to your face, blocking your vision and your noise. If you inhale from the mouth, then you drink the water. As I said it is not pleasant. And during a downpour holding an umbrella it is not an option, because not only it will broke in an instant, but it is crucial to use both hands to handle the bicycle. 

But what happens when you have no alternative? Well, this is something I would really like to know. I consider myself one of the "lucky" ones, as in the majority of the times that I need to ride my bicycle from my home to work or the opposite way, the rain is just normal rain or when I'm being caught by a downpour I'm either already in town, or I will simply wait it out as it doesn't last for a long time, only fifteen minutes tops. And in the rare times that there is a big thunder outside I have an alternative way of transportation. 

But I can't hold myself and wonder...
What do you do when there is a downpour and you have to be at your work on a certain hour? Do you use an alternative way of transportation?
Also have you ever notice that you sweat when there is heavy rain, but not when there is mild rain or no rain at all?
And last but not least, how do you deal with wet knees? 

I would like you to share your personal stories with me and give any additional piece of advise.
What do you do to protect yourself when being caught in a downpour?

Is it raining outside?

Now that we are in the very end of fall season and only a breath away from entering to the winter season, I think it is an appropriate time to discuss this topic.

For the last three weeks, every morning that I wake up, I rush out of the bed, open my bedroom door, hug the door lining and ask really loud "Is it raining outside?".

When the following answer is no, I then simply walk back into my bedroom, pick up my robe, wear it and then I just continue to get ready for work as usual.

But when the answer is yes, I run again back into my room, open the shutters and I just stand there for a moment, looking outside and inspecting the intensity and rhythm of the rain. I then pick up my robe again and continue to get ready for work, as usual.

However when it is raining outside, I choose to wear clothes that are more rain appropriate. That doesn't mean I own any special waterproof clothes just for commuting in the rain, not that that's a bad thing, I just preferred not to.

(Actually those of you that own rain gear outfits have made it easy for yourselves.) 

Me personally, I don't have the time to change when I'm in my work, and also because I am an optician and I work in a shop, I have to look presentable. So when it is raining, I simply choose to wear something that is nice and casual. 

Starting from footwear, any kind of boots or booties will do the work just fine. They're waterproof, well sealed and warm. If you're a guy, don't wear athletic shoes that day. They're not waterproof and you won't like to walk around all day with feet that are soggy. You can wear men booties, which came out in a variety of styles, from more casual to more dressy. 

For the inner layers, I simply choose to wear a tank-top and overlaying it with a blouse or a sweater. If it is really cold outside, I will also wear a shirt in between. Usually one that is made from a lighter material and has some feminine details. I'm a girl after all!

For the legs, I will either pick to wear regular pants, skirts or jeans, depending on the look I'm going for. I found that they're all the same in the rain, except from skirts. Because when I'm wearing a skirt and tights, my legs get wet, but dry up instantly after I arrive at my workplace. 

As for the out layers, I normally choose to wear a long jacket or coat with a hood to protect my head or if my jacket/coat doesn't have a hood I will simply wear a hat and cover my neck with a wool scarf. 

And after that, I'm off with my bicycle!

I'm not a fair weather cyclist, not because I pretend to be tough, but because riding a bicycle in the rain is the same as riding a bicycle with no rain. 

The only difference is to cover your head with a hat or your hood and to wear boots instead of athletic shoes (if you're a guy) or ballet flats (if you're a girl).

Now if it is raining outside, then you won't have any problem!

Either if you own rain gear outfits or not! 

But what happens if it is pouring outside?

Next post is following up...

Finding mushrooms

Two weeks ago, when I was out riding my bicycle, I followed a new trail. I rode slowly as the gravel beneath me was still a little bit moist from last night's rain and, although riding on gravel is relatively safe as it isn't slippery, I didn't knew the trail that well. 

So riding on a slower pace gave me the opportunity to observe the surroundings and to take in all of the small details. 

The fresh smell of the pine trees, the soft sound produced by my wheels on the gravel and the different shades of green every plant had.

I kept pedaling and pedaling, and with every stroke of the pedal, I absorbed more and more of the near environment as I was passing by. 

One thing though that it really catch my eye was a particular spot that had lots of rocks and the whole space between each rock was covered by some really small, but very bright, green colored plants. 

The upper leaves of these little plants had the shape of a star. I tried to capture them with my camera phone, but sadly it doesn't show that well. 

They seemed so fragile, however they didn't broke under my weight as I was walking all over them. 

A couple of meters to the left was another plant, with a cooler undertone in its green leaves, and as I was approaching to it, to take a better look, I spotted a mushroom hidden under it! 

And to my surprise it wasn't the only one there! I looked further up, behind the plant and it had a whole area filled with these. They were so beautiful and in total contrast with the environment and the star-shaped plants.

As you can see in the picture, the mushrooms are light brown, flat shaped and medium sized. I didn't touch them as I do not know anything about mushroom hunting. But as an avid mushroom eater, I just can't help myself and until now I wonder if they were edible.

Before leaving that space I just stood there and admired the contrasting colors one more time. Who knew that gray paired so well with green! It is not a combination of colors that we tend to see a lot, at least not for decorating places. 

Have you ever found any mushrooms while you're out with your bicycle?

Do you know how to pick them?

An intreresting frame

Last Sunday, when I was heading home after visiting my sister, I came across an interesting frame that I captured with my camera and wanted to share.

It is an image of a parked boat. 

However, what surprised me the most, it was not the boat itself, but how well it blended with the surrounding environment.

Usually, everyone assumes that a boat belongs to the sea. We are expecting to see images of endless little boats tied on the port throughout the whole winter, and although they are beautiful and we admire them, we do not overthink about them.

On the other hand, a boat parked in the land seems foreign. Most of the times, when I come across boats that aren't in the sea, I find that they are not that beautiful and that they have a neglect look to them.

Not this particular boat though!

As you can see in the picture there are three plants rounding this boat. One with vibrant red leaves, an olive tree full of olives (it's picking season) and last but not least this fluffy one with these bright, almost neon, flowers.

If you compare them all, you can identify their beauty and how interestingly they all blend together. 

The boat, which reminds me of summer and the warmer temperatures, is positioned just nicely in the middle. 

The red leaf plant, which totally matches with the autumn, hovers above it, adding to it a unique charm.

I don't know what type of plant it is. Certainly isn't an ivy though. The leaves have a different shape. 

The fluffy plant has covered the entire olive's trunk and also extends further in the front. Sadly, I do not know the name of this plant too, but I find it so beautiful. It is one of those plants that benefit from the colder temperatures, the morning dew and the autumn's rain and that's why it became greener and brighter and grew these happy colored flowers!

As for the olive tree, it stands there, timeless, with its branches weighted down by all those olives, waiting for someone to pick them. 

And despite the fact that each subject of this frame is different than the other, they all combine a very interesting frame, with a certain "feeling" to it. 

The boat did not "belong" there and normally I wouldn't care for it. However, I found that it had a charming look, as it was surrounded by all those plants. 
The boat represented the summer and the plants the winter.
And while together they create a strong contrast, I find it very appealing.

Losing energy

Have you ever ridden upon concrete?

I thought all those years that riding on concrete would feel like riding on asphalt. But how wrong I was! 

Either riding uphill or on long stretches, concrete makes me feel that I'm losing energy when I ride on it. 

At first I thought that maybe it was due to this road. It is very steep as you can see on the pictures. I also lack on really low gears. So I thought that climbing with my bicycle there literally exhausted me out, not because of the terrain but due to the fact that the incline was more than my bicycle could take. Which is partly true of course!

Two days later I found myself riding on another road! It had an incline, but nothing major. Third gear was more than enough. However, my bicycle felt really sluggish. I pedaled and pedaled but I felt like the tires were sticking on to the ground.

I looked down and photographed what I saw. The road's surface was a mix of gravel and concrete. 

On the first road I blamed the steep incline and my bicycle's inefficiency. On the second road I accused the gravel and the terrain's uneven surface. I did not take into account the fact that when I ride on actual plain gravel, I never feel my bicycle sluggish. 

However, when I rode through this stretch (a new bicycle path near the coast), which is also made from concrete and has an even surface and no incline whatsoever, and felt again the slug, then I started to wonder if maybe the road's material was the one to blame!

I asked my cycling friends what did they thought of this matter. And after waiting for them to stop laughing after I showed them the first road that I climbed with my bicycle (they still could not believe how I managed to do that! And I must say that I surprised myself too for not falling back!) they replied that concrete was one of the worst road materials for cycling and that they avoid the routes that the paths are made of concrete.

One question pops into my mind though. If concrete is such a bad choice of material for road paths, then why all the new bicycle paths are made from it?

Is it cheaper? Maybe..

But asphalt isn't that much more expensive, too.

Who knows..

One thing I learned though is that, to me, concrete absorbs all the energy when I pedal and no matter how much I force into it, the slug never goes away.

Is concrete used as a road material where you live, either on the road or on bike paths? Do you feel the "drag" when you ride on it?

Choosing a bicycle for transportation - Part 3: The types of bicycles

Today we will talk about the different types of bicycles that are ideal for transportation. However, these suggestions are preferably meant for people who live into a city or in the suburbs, and not so much for someone who lives in a rural area, where the riding distances are longer and the shops and buildings are more sparse. 

However you are more than welcome to read this article about bicycle restrictions and also do not skip to read the first part of choosing a bicycle for transportation, where I'm referring to the different aspects that every new or future cyclist will have to take into account, as long as the second part, where I talk about the most important bicycle accessories every cyclist needs to have into his bike, either if he lives and rides into a city or in a rural area. 

The types of bicycles

The regular upright bicycle

This is the most common type of bicycle used for transportation into a city. It is really popular on all European countries, where you see everyone use it. Men or women. Young people or older people. 

(My bicycle falls into this category too.)

This type of bicycle has a lower top tube, which helps for mounting and unmounting with more ease in comparison to a bicycle with a diamond frame. Its wheels are usually 28'' inches in diameter and the tires are bald, with "rain" lines on them, so that the rain water is directed outwards. The handlebars are swept backwards towards the cyclist, which adds to the comfort, as the rider sits upright and relaxed. 

The frame is usually made from steel, chromoly or alloy.

This type of bicycle feels "good" while riding on busy roads. It is easy to handle because of the drawn back handlebars and gains/hold speed easily due to its bigger wheels. 

The folding bicycle

This type of bicycle feels as comfortable as a regular upright bicycle. It gains in popularity as the ideal bicycle on metropolises, due to the fact that you can simply unfold it and carry it as a bag, which is really convenient. 

The folding bicycle has an overall lower frame that helps also with mounting and unmounting. Its wheels are usually 20" inches in diameter (some bicycle brands come with 18" or 22" inches instead). The tires typically are also bald with a few "rain" lines. 

The frame is usually made from alloy (makes the bicycle lighter) but some brands like also to use steel for the frame building. 

This type of bicycle is being misjudged for being "slow" due to its smaller wheels. However that is far from the truth as with the use of gears this problem is solved and when you ride this bicycle in a city, you won't be any slower than any other bicycle. 

When we're talking about top speed, yes this bicycle is slower, but who is riding anyway on top speed into a city? No one!

(I really am considering myself to buy a folding bike as my second bicycle. Despite the fact that I live outside of the city.)

The trekking bicycle

This particular is a low frame trekking bicycle. One of the few and rare true lower ones!

This type of bicycle has either a diamond frame or a somewhat lower frame (more like a lower mixte's frame). Moreover, the drivetrain is positioned higher, so the mounting and the unmounting isn't that easy and has to be performed as if you ride a diamond frame bicycle, even with the "lowered" frame. (So be ready to pick your leg up and over for this part!)

Its wheels are usually 26" inches in diameter, with either bald or studded tires (like on a mountain bike) and also thicker.

The handlebars aren't swept backwards, but they are straight. The riding position isn't that upright. You have to bend over almost to a 45 degree angle. In some bicycles you might need to bend less or more, depending on the frame geometry.

In other words, the trekking bicycle is a bike that has the frame geometry of a mountain bicycle, straight handlebars, raised top bar, thicker tires and 26" inches wheels but with some characteristics of an upright bicycle. The saddle is set lower than the handlebars, although not enough. This bicycle also has a somewhat more upright position than on a typical mountain bike and a wider saddle.

Its frame is typically made from steel or alloy.

When you handle it, this bicycle isn't as obedient as a regular upright bicycle. To me it feels more aggressive, stiff and nervous and not comfortable for riding more than an hour long.

However this type of bicycle has its fans and it is popular among bicycle users.

(This type of bicycle is actually my least favorite of them all. Some people swear for it, but I personally find it uncomfortable.)

So these were the three types of bicycles that are considered ideal for transportation! 

I did not mention road bikes or mountain bikes, because they are not the "ideal" bikes, however if you like them (or already own them), you can use them, too. There is nothing wrong with that!

(Actually I personally find the road/mixte bicycle more comfortable for transportation than the trekking bicycle!)

You must try all types of bicycles yourself to figure out which one works better for you, but do not forget to take into account all the other advises and tips I shared on the two previous posts (again link for part one, link for part two).

Do not forget that bicycles are a personal choice. Do not imitate other people's actions and choices.

Try yourself and choose for yourself!

Bicycles are after all a trial and error method!

Am I fast or am I slow?

This question puzzles me for a while now. It all began a few weeks ago when I did my typical route from my home to the city center, but at that time I was not alone. I was accompanied by a friend. 

He is a regular bicycle commuter too. We live on the same neighborhood and we both work in the city center. Usually our working hours are different, so it was the first time that we actually rode all the way together towards the downtown. 

I own an upright bicycle, he owns a mountain bike. 

The day was cloudy and the air was blowing softly. Perfect! 
I usually ride alone, so I started to ride with company on the same way I ride when I'm alone. He was a regular too, so I thought he wouldn't have any problem following my pace. But after 5 minutes into it, he politely asked me if I could slow down a bit. 

At first, I thought he was kidding so I continued to ride on the same speed. I looked at him and he looked okay as he followed along. 

A couple a of minutes later, he asked me again to slow down a bit. 

I looked him straight into the eyes and I saw that he was not kidding and that he actually wanted me to relax my pace. 

I asked: "Do you think that I'm going fast?"

He replied: "Yes! Why are you in such a hurry?"

I: "I'm not in a hurry... This is how I ride my bicycle. Everyday."

He: "Well, you surely are a fast cyclist. Slow down a bit!"

Until that moment I thought I was an average speed cyclist. Actually I still think I am!

But after what he said about my speed I began to puzzle.

I started to observe other cyclists in the street. The truth is that I overtake every single one that appears in the road ahead of me, and not on purpose, I ride on the same pace all the way on my route, it just "happens" and I find myself passing them. All those time I thought they were just riding slow, not that I was going fast. 

On the other hand, sometimes there will be a moment that an another cyclist overtakes me. When that is happening, I smile and think "wow, he is a fast cyclist and not slow as I am!".

I usually have the tendency to compare myself with this fast cyclist and think myself as a not exactly slow cyclist, but an average speed one. 

I don't understand how did I improve my speed that much, when for the last five months I always tried to "slow" myself down and just keep a momentum when I'm pedaling, because it was summer and now I'm just left with this habit. 

The question popped on my mind every time I rode my bicycle: 

Am I fast or am I slow?

I became obsessed of course and started to ask people what they were thinking of related to my speed. The replies were mixed. My most experienced cyclists friends said I was fast. The ones that were still beginners thought that I was just an average speed cyclist and the non cyclist friends said that I was being both fast and slow. They think I am fast when I am on my way to meet them, and always say "We thought you would be late because of your bicycle", but when they are driving behind me, they find me slow on the straight lines and fast on the turns. 

Still I do not know if I am fast or if I am slow, but I do continue to think of myself as an average speed cyclist, but now I think of me as a one who is leaning towards the "fast" side. 

What about you? Do you ever think of your speed when you are commuting by bicycle? 

What do you think characterises a fast cyclist or a slow one?

Are you fast or are you slow?

Choosing a bicycle for transportation - Part 2: The important bicycle accessories and features

As you might already understood from the previous post, this is not the typical guide for choosing a bicycle for transportation.

I won't tell you what to buy and not! I will just puzzle you and make you think, so you can make that choice!

In the previous post, we talked about the different aspects that you have to consider in order to plan your route and imagine what your life as a cyclist will be. The purpose of the previous post was to prepare you, so you will know what to expect and I believe that you already acknowledge by now your particular needs.

In today's post we will talk about the important accessories a bicycle needs to have in order for you to use it for transportation. Today we will not talk about types of bicycles. The reason I'm not doing that is because I don't want to distract you. 

The accessories and features that we will cover today can be part of and work on any bicycle, no matter the type.

You will probably laugh, as many of these are common sense, but they are not common sense at all for someone who is just starting out. So let's begin!

The important bicycle accessories and features

The bell

The first item I will refer to is the simple and humble bicycle bell. This particular accessory might seem so small and unimportant. Oh, but how wrong you are! This little piece of machinery is a miracle. It is what is letting you communicate with the others.

Are there people walking in the middle of the road while playing with their smartphones? A simple "cling-cling" will immediately scatter the crowd. (Do not forget to slow down though! We must always be polite to pedestrians!)

Is there a car coming on the next intersection deciding whether to pass or not (you have priority), the simple "cling-cling" again will make the driver think that you acknowledge his presence and you can signal accordingly. (You can let him pass if you are feeling to, or not! You show that with your hand.)

You are riding a bicycle on the bicycle path while watching your clock, as you're late, but oh no there are these slow cyclists in front of you chatting and laughing and cutting you off, You desperately want them to make room for you to pass. What to do? Yell? Of course not! The bell is the polite way to go. The simple "cling-cling" on more time will inform the slow cyclists that you are there, and they will make room for you to pass, that's for sure!

In all those cases, the bell is the one that is letting you to communicate with the others! 

Bicycle fenders

The bicycle fenders, or mudguards, or whatever you like to call them, are a very important bicycle accessory as well. I have already wrote a post referring to them in the past, and despite the fact that I wrote that in summer and I was referring to a slightly different matter too (the one involving fenders' weight and why I never take them off my bicycle), the conclusion is the same.

No one likes to ride a bicycle with dirty water and grime splashing all over his back, feet and face. In order to avoid that you have to install a good pair of bicycle fenders. However you must keep in mind that the fenders must extend all the way to the back and cover the wheel completely. If not, the coverage will not be the optimum and ultimately you will find yourself having a dirty mud line starting from the nape of your neck all the way to your buttocks, even if you are using fenders on your bicycle. (This one mostly applies to the clip-on fenders mountain bikes have. Make sure that the fenders' length is enough for good coverage of the wheel.)

A comfortable saddle 

This is where you spend the whole time when you are on your bicycle, so choosing the right bicycle saddle is important. However you must take into account the aspects I was talking you about in the previous post for choosing the right saddle for you. The material, cushion, size, length or shape of your bicycle saddle will be depend on these aspects (weather, terrain, length of the route). Another tip? With bicycle saddles the rule "the more you pay, the better will be" does not apply. Its mostly a trial and error method. However before deciding, give your potential saddle (or saddles) a chance. For more information on this matter, feel free to read this post. You will understand better what I mean when I'm talking about taking into account the different aspects. 

Chain guard

This is another accessory of a great importance. I know I say that for all, but don't you want a nice cycling experience when you transport by bike? 

The chain guard will protect your clothes from getting in contact with your chain and will keep your pants and shoes clean. It also protects you from the splashing oils and dirt produced by your chain when it is raining. Think that the chain guard works like a mini fender for your chain! 

Chain guards come in all shapes and sizes. Some provide good coverage, others don't. The main purpose which is keeping your pants off the chain is succeeded with every shape and size. However the more coverage the chain guard has, the more protected you will be! If you choose a bicycle with internal gears, instead of derailleur gears, then you can also use a full enclosed chain case.

Gears

Chances are you will not ride on flat city. And even if you are, your home might be on the top of the one and only hill the whole area has (thanks to Murphy's law), so having gears on your bicycle is a good advice. 

You don't need a lot of gears, "the more the merrier" isn't applying here. For internal gears, 3 or 5 are plenty enough for transportation and for derailleur gears, 6 or 7 are more than enough! Unless you live on Norway or areas like that (they have some very steep hills there!) If so, feel free to choose a bicycle with more gears. However, a beginner always has the fear of restriction which pushes him to choose a bicycle with a number of gears that he never uses. And before you think "so what?", let me inform you that the more gears your bicycle has, the more complicated the maintenance will be. That is why I advise you not to buy a bicycle with more gears than you actually need. 

Lights

Last but not least, your future bicycle will need some lights. Again, you should invest in a good lighting system. You need a good front light and a rear light! 

Tip: The small blinking ones don't count as bicycle lights! The purpose of these little lights is for additional protection. Not for using as main lights.

Do not forget to take into account the aspects again! For more information on that matter, feel free to read this post, where I talk about the seriousness of having a proper lighting system on your bicycle but while I'm using a humorous tone.

Bicycle lock

Although a bicycle lock isn't exactly a part of the bicycle itself, it is a useful accessory! If you want to find your bicycle where you left it in the first place, you need to buy a good and sturdy lock! Again, take into account the aspects! If you live in a small village where everyone knows everyone and there aren't any foreigners, your lock doesn't need to be fancy or anything. But if you live in the city or in a place with lots of tourists then you need to invest good money on a proper lock.

So these were the most important bicycle accessories and features your future bicycle will need to have, in order for you to use it for transportation.

The latter features do not limit you, and also can be part of any bicycle, no matter its type!

(P.S. Sorry for the blurry images, it was dark and my camera did not cooperate.)

Choosing a bicycle for transportation - Part 1: Consider the different aspects

Choosing a bicycle for transportation is not an easy task. Every person is different. The choices out there are endless, so it is very easy to become confused and overwhelmed by all those different types of bicycles!

Before you even consider paying a visit to your near bike-shop, I advise you to just sit down and think about your future commute. Don't forget that each cyclist you see in the street is unique. We might be cyclists, but we all have our differences. 

We don't live in the same city, and even if we are, we don't live in the same neighborhood. We don't ride on the same terrain. Some of us have hills, some of us don't.

We don't work on the same firm (obviously!) which means our commutes vary on length and the routes we choose to use are different, too.

We aren't made the same. There are tall people and there are short people. Someone's torso is longer in overall comparison with its whole body and others have longer feet. Two persons of the same height and weight are likely to find out that they chose different bicycles in the end. And that is totally normal! What might work for one, might feel totally wrong for another. Even if all of the latter aspects are common (like same town, same neighborhood, same job, same terrain and commute.)

And because we all have our differences, chances are that you have yours, too! So before doing anything else, you must imagine your commute by taking into account not only where you live and work, but also your neighborhood.

Is there a grocery store nearby or not? 

Do you live on a rural area with long distances between each destination or in the heart of a city? 

Last but not least do not forget to take into account the weather, too! Seasons in each place are different. In Volos, where I live, summer and winter are the challenging months! Summer due to the sun and winter because there is humidity! We might not get temperatures below zero that often, but where its humid, even 5°C degrees feel unbearable! 

So do you want to choose a bicycle for transportation? 

The first step is to think!

Plan your routes! Take into account all of the different aspects. 

Do not mimic others and their choices. 

You have to make your own choice! But for being able to do that, you need to consider of all the facts!

Autumn aromas

It is the end of October.

The second month of autumn has passed. Only November is left. We are officially heading into the winter season.

I continue to use my bicycle as my main transportation vehicle, as normal. I won't stop riding my bicycle no matter what. It is something that I really like. Despite the crisp air and the lower temperatures, riding a bicycle during fall season feels different but nice.

Yes, deciduous trees are starting to loose their leaves and nature starts to wear its warmer colors, however if you notice more carefully, you will see that due to the rain's water, other plants are in their period of growth. 

During summer, I remember myself riding among yellow fields, but now, I see vibrant colors of green appearing on these fields.

And it is not only the color that is changing, along with the appearing of green, wonderful scents of all kinds start to fill the air, too.

These little plants have a distinctive smell of freshness. 

On the other hand, these little yellow flowers smell really sweet, and bees seem to really like them, as if I stop riding my bicycle, I hear them buzz all around. 

Arugula is also in its exaltation. You see it grow everywhere and every time the wind blows, its sharp and peppery smell fills the whole air!

Last but not least, I should not forget to mention these little mauve flowers. Those do not have a scent, but they're popping everywhere around, making the surroundings look more beautiful. 

Because we are in the autumn, everyone seems to pay attention only on the falling leaves and the brown colors, but if you start to observe more carefully, you will notice those little plants and how they become greener and greener with every passing rain. By being on a bicycle, which is keeping me outside for longer, I have the opportunity to notice the nearby landscapes and smell all the wonderful autumn aromas.

Those little plants deserve our admiration, as they complete the scenery's look by making it diverse, bright and less boring!