Queercents

You’ve got your bike and you’ve planned your route, but before you head out you want to make sure you’re ready for everything the road can throw at you. At the advent of summer, Trek started a “Go By Bike” campaign that included a handy little diagram of things you needed for your bike. Good idea, but dumb campaign because they included things you should have that are painfully obvious (such as a seat) but neglected things like a rack or wedge pack. You probably don’t need to go as crazy as the guy in the photo but you should have the stuff you need to get you to and from your destination safely and with confidence.

A Handy Dandy Check List of Must-Haves

• A helmet: I think Roland covers this one pretty well.
• A Mirror: Whether you rock the handlebar or helmet kind, get a mirror and use it well. it’s key for knowing where cars are and riding safely.  If you’re really into tech, this is pretty dope.
• Wedge-pack: Ok, this doesn’t sound like a must have, but trust me, it’s key. This is a little pack that you fit under your saddle (bike speak for seat) and use to store tire levers, a spare tube or patch kit, and a multi-tool. With this simple pack you can take on anything. And for those thinking “I don’t really need that stuff”, getting a flat with no way to repair it can really put a damper on your day. Working for Equality Maine, we exceeded our expectations, getting triple the number of signatures we expected but my most poignant memory is getting in a fight with a curb and walking home.
• Frame-pump: That spare tube isn’t going to help if you can’t put air in it.
• Lights: Front and rear.

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Happy Saturday everyone. The summer solstice has come and gone and still it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get things done. Ok, ok, the summer solstice on means more daylight hours but daylight is key. I’ll be spending much of my weekend scurrying about frantically and I hope your weekend proves fun and exciting  as well (or relaxing and low-key, whichever you prefer). Now, the round up.

• This list offers a number of things I’m sure none of our readers do, but nonetheless it’s an interesting read to read about 47 Simple Ways to Waste Money. (Read it at Wise Bread)
• Sometimes personal finance advice can get routine so every now and then nice reminds of why you’re saving are nice. Here, Trent reminds us that avoiding spending is not the same as saving money. (Read it at The Simple Dollar)
• Several authors distilled psychology into a readable collection of 50 ways to be more persuasive. If you can see through the sneakiness of advertising, it’s harder for advertising to work on you so give this a look. (Read it at Alex.Moskalyuk via Consumerist)
• Ramit has a great article about the perils of mental accounting and some of it’s pitfalls. (Read it at I Will Teach You To Be Rich)
• Sometimes just saving isn’t enough to cut it. In his Personal Finance Hour series, JD and Jim offer their own experiences trying to supplement their incomes. (Read it at Get Rich Slowly)

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Before we get started, a little disclosure. I commute about fifteen miles a day round trip and about three quarters of it is off road. As such, I rock a used Trek WSD mountain bike that several of my friends will tell me I have an unusually strong attachment to (no, it’s totally not weird how much I love my bike…). For me, a mountain bike best suites my purposes. But what about for you?

Mountain, Road or…Other?
Since bikes first became commercial available the types of bikes available has increased dramatically. You have your mountain bikes, your road bikes, your single speeds, your fixies, track bikes, cross bikes, cruiser bikes, touring bikes, hybrid bikes, and the the list goes on. It’s pretty overwhelming trying to decide.

If you have a bike already and are looking to start commuting, the Simple Dollar offers the sage advice that buying something in order to force the development of new behavior doesn’t work. Ok, there are exceptions to the rule but as a general note, if you’ve got a bike make it yours. Fix it, mod it, and outfit it (we’ll cover that next week) to make it your dream bike and not only will you have a gorgeous bike that you’re invested in, you’ll also have saved some cash in the process. Bike enthusiasts are well known for their DIY ethic in making their bikes unique and awesome. If you don’t have a bike on hand, keep reading. Read the rest of this entry »

Happy Saturday everyone! The weekend is here. I hope you all have fun and exciting plans for the weekend- or equally nice and relaxing plans. I will be enjoying my Saturday by getting the brakes on my bike fixed. Oh how I’ve missed them…Before that, the roundup.

• Tomorrow is Father’s Day, and DIY Life has some suggestions for 7 romantic ways to spoil him this Father’s Day, but don’t be fooled, these are some pretty good all-purpose ideas. And double the fun if you have two dads you’re celebrating.  (Read it at DIY Life)
• Consumerist has an interesting tidbit on how the FDIC is funded. (Read it at Consumerist)
• Looking for other ways to get your financial information fix? Automatic Finances lists 5 personal finance podcasts worth downloading. (Read it at Automatic Finances)
• Do you procrastinate before writing? Here are a few tips on how to stop digital fiddling and start writing. (Read it at Write to Done)
• Find A Better Bank allows you to evaluate your banking priorities and then offers you a suggestion for, you guessed it, a better bank. (Find a Better Bank via Lifehacker)
• Trent at The Simple Dollar reminds readers that buying something to force yourself into a new behavior doesn’t work. Buying exercise equipment won’t necessarily get you fit and buying new pots won’t necessarily make you a better cook (though they will most likely increase feelings of guilt and stress). Instead, he offers new rules for a new routine. (Read it at The Simple Dollar)

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Choosing to buy online or at the LBS (Local Bike Store for the uninitiated) is a lot like choosing between an online bank and your local community bank. The prices for online stores are almost impossible to beat, even after you include shipping. Local bike stores are generally more expensive but offer instant gratification and extensive knowledge. So which one will you go with?

Local Bike Store
The biggest appeal of the LBS is the that they have knowledgeable technicians who can help you out with whatever questions you have at every step of the process. They’re the ones that will help you size your bike, keep it in tune, replace parts and even offer training rides. If you buy a bike from your LBS, there’s even a chance of getting some sort of maintenance deal. When my brother bought his bike, they threw in a deal on free maintenance for a year.  Unless you’re a die-hard DIYer, this is important for things like figuring out how to replace a disc brake rotor (Do I want a center-lock or a six bolt? What size? For cable or hydraulic brakes?). Though many day-to-day maintenance items can be taken care of at home, when you’re just getting started the LBS is the place to go.

Online
Nashbar is probably the most well known online store for all things bike related. Many of their items are often ridiculously on sale and there are also frequently additional sale prices offered. In an attempt to keep up with LBS they also have started offering Live Chat. Their prices are often difficult to beat, particularly for higher end items (they even have store brand items that are unavailable at a LBS, another cost saving feature). Read the rest of this entry »

After about three weeks straight of rain, during which I began to suspect that I had somehow been transported to a rain forest in the middle of the night, it has finally cleared up and there is sun! At last, I have a respite from biking in the rain and can stop worrying about my garden drowning. I hope you find the weather equally nice where you are, and for now, the round up.

• DeVry is offering 500 scholarships to ” qualified, new students who have lost their jobs in the last 12 months.” (Read more here. Thanks, Nina!)
• More consumer psychology: if you take currency symbols off the menu, customers pay more. (Read it at Consumerist)
• If you’re like me, you’re loving the fact that berries are in season right now. Kris, over at Get Rich Slowly, has three delicious ways to preserve your berries. If you have any left, that is. (Read it at Get Rich Slowly)
• The Unique Personal Finance Blog writes about obtaining your credit score for free. (Read it at PF Blog)
• Trent, who has written a fair bit about the debt snowball method, has a new post on debt snowflaking. (Read it at The Simple Dollar)
• Lifehacker has fresh, homemade bread in five minutes. (Read it at Lifehacker)

Queercents Flashback: In honor of Chaz Bono coming out, here’s a flashback from Serena about a transgender job bank offers transgender employment resources.

Photo Credit: Stock Xchng

For me, planning my route was not only a crucial part of success in sticking with my goal of bike commuting, it was also incredibly counter-intuitive. To get to from where I live to where I work, I can take one of two routes that, according to Google Maps, are 3.4 miles and 3.9 miles. The route that I bike is nearly twice that distance, clocking in at 6.9 miles. The extra mileage didn’t come from some masochistic desire to rival friends who do long distance road biking trips; instead, I examined my options and chose the route that was within my abilities and had low traffic.

Know Your Limits
I live in a relatively hilly area. In fact, when I was testing out routes I discovered that the hill at the bottom of my road was so steep that when I attempted it on my old Panasonic I was so nervous that I was going to flip over backwards that I walked the rest of the hill. That was the 3.4 mile route out of the way. Like exercising or budgeting, you’re far more likely to follow through on your resolution if it’s something within your ability. While I was eventually able to work up to tackling the hill, had I forced myself to do it initially I would have become demoralized and given up. It’s ok to challenge yourself, but remember, you’re already ahead of the game by getting exercise and reducing commuting costs. There’s no need to overdo it.

Safety Is Important
The other obvious route was nixed because it involved a long stretch on a high traffic road that had no shoulder and several blind-spots. Though it’s nice to have an alternate route to mix it up a bit with (particularly because it has a fantastic coasting section), this is a pretty high-stress route because I’m always checking my mirror for cars and being passed by a dump truck on the left with a ditch to the right is not the adrenaline rush I’m looking for. If at all possible, look for the route with the lightest traffic and the widest shoulder. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m fairly certain I have seen the sun twice in the past two weeks and as a result that song, sung atonally by my coworkers, has become a fixture in my life. With any luck, I will be reminded of what the sun looks like this weekend. Hopefully better weather finds you. If the weather is just as rainy as it is here, here’s the roundup to provide some entertainment.

• Savings.com links 30 Deal Hunters to follow on Twitter. (Read it at Savings.com)
• Just like dieting can feel depriving yourself, being frugal can make you feel like your missing out. J.D. asks what makes you feel rich while being frugal? (Read it at Get Rich Slowly)
• If podcasting is more your thing, The Simple Dollar is branching out. Read more about the podcast here.
• Doing some spring cleaning and wondering what to do with what you’ve uncovered? Wise Bread has suggestions for recycling clothes, shoes, electronics and more. (Read it at Wise Bread)
• Gretchen offers thirteen tips for actually getting some writing done. (Read it at The Happiness Project)

Queercents Flashback: For all the graduates who are setting about the business of writing thank you cards, Nina’s post about DIY Love Notes works just as well for DIY thank you cards.

Photo Credit: Stock Xchng

So you’re going to start biking to work. Good choice. Since you’ve already decided to start bike commuting, you probably know about at least some of the benefits. For those who are still thinking about biking to work here are some of the big advantages.

1. Spend less (or nothing) on gas.
Duh.

2. Less traffic.
Though cyclists are required to follow the same traffic laws as motorists, bikes are also far more maneuverable and have access to bike lanes, sidewalks or both. (Just remember to ride safely, which is something I’ll say more about later.)

3. No more diets or expensive gym memberships.
Nearly all of my coworkers are on some sort of diet but I spend the day eating as much as I want because I know that the energy from the extra food will just go to my ride. If I need to clear my head during lunch break, get outside or just move about, having my bike handy is also great for a fifteen minute ride.
My route also sends me past a gym and somehow that smug feeling of getting fit without monthly membership fees just never goes away.

4. Being outside.
My ride is 35 minutes each way, so I’m getting over an hour of cardio a day. Riding outside makes the cardio more interesting and being in the sun leads to better days. Even in lousy weather, just being outside in the open air is something of a pick-me-up. Read the rest of this entry »

It seems to be garage sale weekend and several people I know are selling a range of items at garage sales (fortunately the weather turned around just in time). Are you joining the ranks in doing some end of spring cleaning?

• If you’re participating in the sale–buying or selling–Wise Bread has some tips on thrift store shopping that works for garage sales too. (Read it at Wise Bread)
• Wesabe has a great article about when an investment isn’t really an investment and how to avoid being enticed by shiny new tows. (Read it at Wesabe)
• Eating local is a great way to save money. The Daily Green has 16 tips for eating more local food. (Read it at The Daily Green)
• I’ve been hearing a number of questions recently about credit scores and how they’re formed. Consumerist recently posted an easy to understand breakdown of how your credit score is formulated. (Read it at Consumerist)
• A while back J.D.’s posted a cautionary story about how fees are brutal and can really add up in his story about his $1,500 frisbee. (Read it at Get Rich Slowly)
• On a similar note, setting aside a short period of time is important to staying on top of things (and helpful for avoiding overdraft feeds). Check out Trent’s personal finance routine to see how yours compares or create your own. (Read it at The Simple Dollar)

Queercents flashback: Speaking of garage sales, Dawn wrote about the six myths of garage sale shopping.

Photo Credit: Stock Xchng