A foreword & the fine white line

Just to set the stage, and to complete the formal introductions necessary when one starts to confess addictions: I like to ride my bike.

Vital stats:

1. Working stiff who likes to pedal...wherever, whenever, whatever is available
   
2. 33 years old
3. 6 feet, 160 lbs.
4. Obligatory wife, 3.2 kids, and a station wagon with a canoe strapped to the top
5. All the usual idiosyncrasies of a guy who rides 48 miles round trip for a commute everyday (i.e. hates cell phone using teenage girls driving with lap-dogs and sunglasses better suited for shielding bugs on a Harley than shading eyes from the sun's rays; wishes street sweepers worked harder; thinks former Salt Lake mayor Rocky Anderson should have to ride Beck Street every day to get to his office as punishment for taking so long to put in a bike lane, etc.)
6. Like to race, even though I never win
7. My small stable of bikes includes a road bike, a f/s mountain bike, a single speed mtn. bike, and a comfy cruiser (has a bell but no flag). I need more bikes.

In the coming days, weeks, and months I will talk about:

• bikes
• bike racing
• bike riding
• random musings
• other things

This will not be an attempt to compete with or mimic more serious and meaningful bike blogs like the pre-eminent Bike Snob NYC. And I don't have any really good causes to take up and share, like the always inspiring and entertaining Fat Cyclist. I just want to write something that isn't part of what I do for a living.

And partly because of this: Over that past three years my wife has started riding, my son started racing, and I've decided all the world's problems would be greatly reduced if we all road bikes. (It's sure brought harmony to our little piece of the universe.) Less anger, better health, fewer cars on the road (and better roads to ride on), and a better perspective from everyone on the issues of bikes vs. cars.

That fine white line that separates the two seems to be getting thinner....