Humble Bike: Hello GTC

I would like to open with a big thanks to Paul for the invite to contribute on GTC and express even deeper gratitude for opening my mind the concept of bicycle commuting. While I have ridden off and on for over a decade it was always recreationally. The notion of bicycle commuting was a relatively novel concept like communism, good in theory but not in practice. That was until Paul’s first hand example inspired me. I have now been bicycle commuting to work (and all over Tempe) for a year. I will never go back to the daily rush hour grind behind the wheel of my petro beast.

Largely, transitioning to a bicycle commuting lifestyle has been easy in Tempe, which I would contend maintains rank as an above average city on a bike friendliness scale. Aside from the fact that in summer it gets hot enough to melt the fillings out of your head, this is a great place to ride. The City has over 160 miles of bike path and Tempe generally maintains the topography of a pancake. Essentially you can haul arse anywhere you please and you never have to deal with rain, snow or any other form of precipitation.

My mainstay is a 1971 Schwinn Sport Tourer that I have converted to a single speed. I love riding American steel and the beautiful hand brazing makes an elegantly seamless frame. However my favorite ride by far is a retro tricycle I purchased from Handlebar Helpers. It’s a great program that let me kill a few birds with one stone. I picked up a sweet ride for peanuts, I supported a program that is exposing the next generation to the world of biking, and as an added bonus I get an underserved but very real over inflated sense of self-worth for contributing to a cool local program…but back to the trike.

I largely attribute my love of the trike to the fact that it so brilliantly allows me to combine my passions: riding and imbibing beer. Riding a bike always makes me feel like I am roughly 7 years old. Beer always makes me happy-go-lucky. With their powers combined I essentially become a euphoric 7 year old. How could you go wrong? Well actually when riding home on two wheels full of liquid courage it happens pretty easily. I have numerous scars to show for it. (Kids if you should choose to drink and ride consider yourselves warned.) That is why the trike is great, the third wheel keeps me peddling down the road scar free while still enjoying as many bubbly suds as I care to.

While I am on the topic of bike + beer = fantastic, here is a great combination for a weekend ride. It is a quick cruise through Indian Bend Wash that ends at Four Peaks Brewery for some refreshments. I think this makes a particularly nice Sunday morning ride because of the potential to end in brunch. Once there I strongly recommend a Hop Knot. The beer is crisp, floral and refreshing which makes for a perfect post ride libation.

-Shaun