Welcome
With gas prices heading towards $4.00 per gallon many of us are looking for alternatives. Bikes present an effective alternative to both automobiles and fossil fuel based mass transit. Bikes are fun, have low operating costs, give you a good work out, and they help you get to know the territory between here and there. The advantages of riding a bike are many, but most of us don't know how to get started. This site will help you get outfitted and riding.
Introduction
Bikes are a part of an overall solution I call The Local Lifestyle. A Local Lifestyle puts you in the thick of things. You save time and energy no matter how you implement this solution. I don't adovocate for cycling based solely on energy savings, but rather for the simple reason that most of us just don't have enough fun in our lives. We work in cubicles eight hours a day if we're lucky. Then we strap ourselves into cars and compete in an extended demolition rally to get home. Bikes give you a chance to break out of that trap. Riding to and from work builds a work out into your commute. Plus, the ride in gives you a positive outlook and the ride home gives you a good chance to decompress and let all the work day stress behind you. Bikes, however, are not a panacea to high energy prices. Like everything else they have their limitations. Practically, if you live more than ten miles from work, you might want to investigate other options. Secondly, like any alternative to our current paradigm, bike involve significant start up costs. That said, cycling can still improve your fitness, save you money and increase the amount of fun in your life.
While this site is aimed for a general audience, I currently live in Philadelphia, so I've included a section on places to ride in this region. Philadelphia is a surprisingly bicycle friendly city with quite a few trails and parks that take you completely off the road and into an adventure. I've also included links to local organizations and retailers in the resources section.