Monday, 3/23/09 at 1:17 PM
by Sara Jarrell
by Sara Jarrell
Tips on Being a Green Cyclist
If you are reading this blog chances are that you ride a bike in some form or fashion. Cycling is by its very nature an environmentally friendly activity whether you are a seasoned commuter or a recreational weekend warrior. For whatever reason you have chosen to ride your bike as a cyclist we have a responsibility to do what we can to protect our planet and just riding is not enough. Here are some tips on ways to green up your ride:
Recycle old tubes: There are a couple of ways to recycle old rubber, which is one of the largest waste products of the cycling industry. The next time you get a flat and it is not a blow out, patch the tube. I know a patch is not a guarantee that a tube will hold air but is worth the effort as the price of tubes continues to rise. If you end up with a tube that is blown out you can cut it into strips to use as shims for computer and light mounts on bikes. A non-patchable tube can also work as one of those stretchy bands that you get from a physical therapist to help strengthen an injury, or to aid in stretching. I have also seen old tubes used as substitutes for bungee cords on bike racks, car racks, and other varied situations. Also a company called Alchemy Goods out of Seattle, WA makes cool bags, wallets, and other accessories out of recycled tubes. They have a program run through participating bike shops that collect old tubes and send them off; more information can be found on their website http://www.alchemygoods.com/. As for old tires, some areas offer rubber recycling, but you usually have to drop the tires off at a specific location and sometimes you are charged.
Use eco friendly lubes and washes: Most lubes and washes on the market for bicycles are not earth or user friendly. Pedro’s is a company that makes tools, lubes and many other bicycle related products and they do it with an environmental slant. They offer lubes as well as washes that are environmentally friendly and do not come with the “has been known to cause cancer” warnings found on many similar products. Check out http://www.pedros.com/ for more info on all their eco friendly products.
Watch what you eat: There are a lot of companies out there that make supplements of one kind or another to keep cyclists fueled and healthy. Clif Bar and Company is a company that is all about sustainability down to their core. They offer all sorts of bars, Bloks, and drinks that are made from organic and all natural ingredients. As if that was not awesome enough they offer a Wrapper Brigade recycling program. This program is aimed at keeping wrappers out of the landfills and recycles them into new eco friendly products. See this site for details on this cool program http://www.clifbar.com/soul/sustainability/. Also companies like Hammer Nutrition are making some of their supplemental gels in larger containers and selling a reusable flask to hold the gel while riding. This is also helping keep less of those pesky, hard-to-open and hold-onto-while-riding wrappers off the trails and roads we all enjoy so much.
Be a cause: As cyclist we all spend time outside whether it be on a trail or a road and we need to respect the places our wheels grace. For some this may mean joining an organization like the International Mountain Biking Association (http://www.imba.com/) and spending some time working on and repairing local trails. For others it could mean picking up discarded trash along your favorite routes. The truth is that every little bit helps. To find principles for being a better outdoor enthusiast check out Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics at
http://www.lnt.org/programs/principles.php and become a member.
Carpool or Ride to Events and Races: Every time you think you have to get in your car to get to the spot where you want to ride your bike think again. Could you ride your bike to where you are going and get a better work out? If you have to drive are there people you can carpool with? This idea can be extended to the next trip to the grocery store for milk and bread, to the office, or even to an appointment. Basically every time we keep ourselves from driving not only are we choosing to help the environment we can also end up helping ourselves with a little extra exercise. Hopefully one day a family of four will only average one or less vehicles… imagine that!
These are only a couple of tips to help keep our wheels rolling in a happier and healthier equilibrium with our planet. There are many ways to contribute to this cause and finding the one that works for you is a goal for all of us for years to come.
Keep it Green!!!
Sara
Recycle old tubes: There are a couple of ways to recycle old rubber, which is one of the largest waste products of the cycling industry. The next time you get a flat and it is not a blow out, patch the tube. I know a patch is not a guarantee that a tube will hold air but is worth the effort as the price of tubes continues to rise. If you end up with a tube that is blown out you can cut it into strips to use as shims for computer and light mounts on bikes. A non-patchable tube can also work as one of those stretchy bands that you get from a physical therapist to help strengthen an injury, or to aid in stretching. I have also seen old tubes used as substitutes for bungee cords on bike racks, car racks, and other varied situations. Also a company called Alchemy Goods out of Seattle, WA makes cool bags, wallets, and other accessories out of recycled tubes. They have a program run through participating bike shops that collect old tubes and send them off; more information can be found on their website http://www.alchemygoods.com/. As for old tires, some areas offer rubber recycling, but you usually have to drop the tires off at a specific location and sometimes you are charged.
Use eco friendly lubes and washes: Most lubes and washes on the market for bicycles are not earth or user friendly. Pedro’s is a company that makes tools, lubes and many other bicycle related products and they do it with an environmental slant. They offer lubes as well as washes that are environmentally friendly and do not come with the “has been known to cause cancer” warnings found on many similar products. Check out http://www.pedros.com/ for more info on all their eco friendly products.
Watch what you eat: There are a lot of companies out there that make supplements of one kind or another to keep cyclists fueled and healthy. Clif Bar and Company is a company that is all about sustainability down to their core. They offer all sorts of bars, Bloks, and drinks that are made from organic and all natural ingredients. As if that was not awesome enough they offer a Wrapper Brigade recycling program. This program is aimed at keeping wrappers out of the landfills and recycles them into new eco friendly products. See this site for details on this cool program http://www.clifbar.com/soul/sustainability/. Also companies like Hammer Nutrition are making some of their supplemental gels in larger containers and selling a reusable flask to hold the gel while riding. This is also helping keep less of those pesky, hard-to-open and hold-onto-while-riding wrappers off the trails and roads we all enjoy so much.
Be a cause: As cyclist we all spend time outside whether it be on a trail or a road and we need to respect the places our wheels grace. For some this may mean joining an organization like the International Mountain Biking Association (http://www.imba.com/) and spending some time working on and repairing local trails. For others it could mean picking up discarded trash along your favorite routes. The truth is that every little bit helps. To find principles for being a better outdoor enthusiast check out Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics at
http://www.lnt.org/programs/principles.php and become a member.
Carpool or Ride to Events and Races: Every time you think you have to get in your car to get to the spot where you want to ride your bike think again. Could you ride your bike to where you are going and get a better work out? If you have to drive are there people you can carpool with? This idea can be extended to the next trip to the grocery store for milk and bread, to the office, or even to an appointment. Basically every time we keep ourselves from driving not only are we choosing to help the environment we can also end up helping ourselves with a little extra exercise. Hopefully one day a family of four will only average one or less vehicles… imagine that!
These are only a couple of tips to help keep our wheels rolling in a happier and healthier equilibrium with our planet. There are many ways to contribute to this cause and finding the one that works for you is a goal for all of us for years to come.
Keep it Green!!!
Sara
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