Book-ending a Day with Two Guys Named "John"

Sunrise (from work) 2.15.24

    I started re-reading a Steinbeck book last night - Travels with Charley. Steinbeck's observations on people (and their motivations) always fascinate me, and those bits are definitely present in this particular book.  This will be my fourth or fifth time to read it.

    In the first few pages I had a revelation - I am reading it from a different set of eyes. Steinbeck lived the book in 1960 and wrote it in 1962. He died in December 1968. 

    Our timelines on earth overlapped only five months; however, I've been a fan of his writing for three and a half decades. As I've read his work, I've always envisioned him as a much older man than myself, but I can't do that this time.  In the opening pages of the book, he mentions that he's undertaking the journey across America at the age of fifty-eight - just three years older than I am now.

In the book, he talks about a wanderlust he's had his whole life.

    I drink coffee most days with another man named John, a man who always has that urge to get up and go. He reads Steinbeck too, and (like Steinbeck) has named his pickup truck Rocinante. John (not Steinbeck) has been having a rough time lately, rough enough that his wanderlust has faltered a bit. But we heard some encouraging news this morning. 

    Thank you, Lord, for these two men and their impacts on my life and the way they've helped me see the people and places of this world. Godspeed, John.

Sunset (from home) 2.15.24

 May you be blessed with good friends and mentors, and may you have the good fortune to be delighted with the world and the people around you!

An Egret in the Right Light - Leftwich Park

 I don't ride the bike to work much lately. There's always a hurry. There's always some distant errand to run. There's always somewhere inconvenient I need to be.

But yesterday I rode. And yesterday was good. And I feel better. (Thank You, Lord!)

And....I was fortunate enough to catch a snowy egret in wonderful light on the way home. My officemate said I needed to do a blog post. She was right. (No editing, no cropping, straight from the camera)

May you be well and catch something in just the right light today.

(And a special thanks to my wife who provided the bike and the camera (and so much more!)

What more than hugging thorny trees? (Being Well - 7 of my Top 5 list)

Last week was mostly a crap week. My people were away. I was too busy for my other people. The bikes gathered dust. I was inside and mostly distracted. I grew quite tired of my own company.

But this week is feeling much better and more like my normal life. I want to keep it that way; so, let's get a list together:

• Take care of/spend time with your people (and animals)
• Ride your bike
• Build/Repair something useful
• Appreciate nature
• Read your bible and pray
• Write something down or record something else
• Give some stuff away

May your list look (at least) as good as mine!

Be well, friends!

[This next part is for those of you wanting a little more]

Earth Day on Broadway 2022 Follow-up: Bummer, man! What's up with this weather?

Oh, so close! (Click pic for previous post)

Into each life, a little rain must fall - unless you live around here.

I love Earth Day! Any time a whole lot of people deliberately gather to share and encourage ways to make things better for the earth and for all the creatures (people included) who live here, I am a truly happy mesquite hugger.

[As I write this post there are two guys, one with a gas-powered weed-eater and the other with a gas-powered leaf blower just giving it hell outside my window.]

But here's the kicker, for exactly the reason we need Earth Day to help us heal our struggling planet, we ended up having to cancel the Earth Day celebration.

South Lubbock, 4/25/2022

Yes, much of Texas is once again in severe drought and Lubbock is definitely there. This has been a windier than normal April with browner than normal skies. An hour before the celebration was to begin, the wind was 30mph, the sky was the color of Folger's Instant with a dash of original Coffee Mate. There was a higher than normal chance of rain, but nary a mudball fell from the sky. The conditions downtown were not fit for man nor beast nor prairie dog.

What's Plainview got to do with this? (Click pic for video.)

Just as the climate scientists over at Texas Tech have been telling us loudly for a few decades, if we continue to abuse our home by releasing too much carbon and if we continue destroying the natural systems that normally work at healing our environment, our climate will become increasingly inhospitable. This year's Earth Day celebration in Lubbock was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. Yes, it is a bit ironic, but no, it's no surprise.

So, yes, I was a little disappointed. The more I had prepared the more excited I grew. I had put together the (previous) post, borrowed an awning and two really cool e-bikes, given my own e-bike its first bath in a few years, and created a sign with a QR code. (You know it's serious when I bust out a QR code.) I'd even figured out how to haul all that stuff with the family truckster. Then again, the journey is often better than the destination. It felt great doing Mesquite-Hugger-y things and being a little fish in the Lubbock Earth Day playa lake.

So, thank you to Barbara, Miola, Kaitlyn, and all the others who worked very hard on what promised to be a great event. I very much hope to work with you again next year!

May you all be well and striving for better.

Earth Day on Broadway: Lubbock e-Bike Presentation 2022 (Updated for November 19th)

I was invited to have an informational booth at Lubbock's Earth Day Celebration. This page is a supplement for that presentation.

A quick guide to this post:

Part 1 provides information about the current e-Bikes available to consumers.

Part 2 offers info and personal advice about owning and riding a bike here in Lubbock.

Disclaimer: Mesquite Hugger is just a no-profit blog, not a business. I do not sell, service, or build e-bikes.

If you happen to read this before Earth Day 2022, please swing by the booth in downtown Lubbock on the southwest corner of Broadway and Avenue K between 6 and 9pm.

Since the focus of Earth Day is to be Earth-Friendly, the booth (and this post) will center on using the e-bike to replace trips that would normally be taken on/in less eco-friendly transport.

PART 1: e-Bike Info and Resources

Great Sites for Learning More about Electric Bikes

Electrek is my favorite source for EV news, especially Micah Toll's e-Bike posts.

Electrek e-Bike page

An updated look at what is available in November 2022

If you want a place to check out all the e-bikes available in the US, EBR is a great place to learn.

Electric Bike Review

For those of you itching to build your own e-Bike, Endless Sphere is a treasure trove of answered questions and advice.

Endless Sphere EV Forum

Another great place to learn about building your own e-bike is the Johnny Nerd-Out YouTube Channel and/or website.

Johnny Nerd-Out website (click the pic for the YouTube channel)

Mid/Low-Cost Commuter e-Bike Companies with a Solid Reputation ($900-$2500)

Click images to visit websites

Rad Power Bikes has become the biggest e-bike seller in the states by offering solid bikes at competitive prices and by offering excellent service. I always feel comfortable recommending RPB as a great place to start. (I will always want a first-gen RadWagon.)

A few images from my Radwagon Greatest Hits post

Ride1Up is very new on the scene but offers some great prices on bikes that are very well-equipped. I have two friends in town who ride them and rave about them! (I will have one on display at the booth.)

Another newer company on the scene. Blix has also quickly gained a solid reputation for offering dependable commuters at good prices.

Another company known for great commuters at low prices, Aventon e-Bikes are a solid choice. 

Juiced Bikes has been around for years. They are known for their constantly evolving models, high performance options, and some really big batteries! (I've been riding a Juiced bike for four years and have been very impressed with its build quality, dependability, and value. It will be on display at the booth.) (Update - Be sure to check out the $999 RipRacer - I want one!)

Sondors started out as a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that sold one fat-tired e-bike at an impossibly low price. From there the company has bloomed into a wide range of e-bikes, an e-motorcycle, and they've been working for a number of years on a 3-wheeled electric car. (We will have a Sondors X on display in our booth.)

And a few more cool bikes to check out:

Vanmoof: If you like top-of-the-line electronic gadgets, this is the coolest of all commuter bikes. (And they are surprisingly affordable for such a cool machine.)

A runaway success story from the past year, the $999 Lectric XP - and they just announced a second model that sells for just $799. I've spotted four of them running around Lubbock this spring.

The Luna Stealth - a very light and very stealthy roadster from Lunacycle - a company that specializes in high-power, high-quality, mid-drive bikes and DIY components.

The Zooz comes in versions from mild to scary. Ten-year-old-BMXer-me desperately wants one as a play bike - but stuffy-boring-old-dull-guy-me doesn't think it'd be much of a commuter.

For those who want a very different bike with a cult following, check out the Super73 lineup.

If you are the person who wants an e-bike from the Lone Star State or wants something closer to motorcycle, check out the Volcon Brat from Austin.

PART 2: e-Bikes in Lubbock and Mesquite Hugger Info and e-Bike Advice

Where can you check out some e-Bikes here in Lubbock?

Both DFC Cycles and Velocity Bikes here in Lubbock carry e-bikes. I've seen prices ranging from $1500 (commuters and comfort bikes) up to $8000 (high-end mountain bikes). Both shops also offer great service - a huge advantage over a mail-order bike. Be sure to check them out before you order anything online.

Why am I the the guy in the e-Bike booth?

The short answer: I am a hard-core e-bike geek. 

The longer answer: I have been building, riding, and obsessing over electric bikes since 2010. I published my first e-bike blog post in 2013. The more I ride an e-bike, the more I like e-bikes. For the last four years I have been riding a $1200 e-bike and have spent less than $100 maintaining it.

Pics from the first Mesquite Hugger e-Bike post (August 2013)

I do not think everyone should ride an e-bike, but I do believe it is the cheapest, healthiest, and most fun way to get around town - especially for trips of five miles or less.

The Top 10 Mesquite Hugger Reasons for Commuting on an e-Bike

1. It really is great exercise. At 54, I weigh less and have better endurance than I did at 40.
2. I look forward to a bike commute. I dread car commutes.
3. No insurance, registration, or inspection.
4. Charging my e-bike costs less the $1 per month in electricity.
5. E-bikes take away so many analog bike TOO excuses: too windy, too hilly, too slow, too sweaty, too far...
6. No gas pumps. (Charge at home, work, or wherever you find a plug in.)
7. Pedal assist feels like a magic hand pushing you along!
8. Endorphins are the best! I arrive at my destination smiling - not cursing!
9. I know the world is a healthier place each time I choose the e-bike over the car.
10. And, of course, it gives me a little more street cred' as the Mesquite Hugger!

Even more for you crazy people who've read all the way down here: 

(Everything below is from a similar post for the National Solar Tour last year)

More Advantages of Commuting on an e-Bike

This may sound counter-intuitive, but study after study has shown that e-bikes (with pedal assist) have an equal or greater impact on a person's health when compared to riding a non-electric bike. How is that? Well, the e-bike encourages a person to ride more often and further. For people with joint and pain issues, the e-bike helps level out the strain. Riding on a regular basis is shown to improve cardiovascular and mental health as well.

Read it here

When I started commuting on an e-bike, I did not have the health or stamina to ride a non-electric bike. These days, I commute on the e-bike but ride a standard bike for recreation and for trips under three miles.

Tips specifically for suburban commuting (Lubbock, TX)

Avoid school traffic whether by route or schedule

Riding near schools can be hectic. Stressed out parents and/or teen-aged drivers all rushing to the same place at the same time - that is no place to be. Sometimes leaving five minutes earlier (or later) can make all the difference in your stress level.

Ride humbly

Sure, the right of way may be yours, but the law of physics leans toward the F250s and Escalades. In fact, even the Slug Bugs and Smart Cars won't be intimidated by the likes of you and your bike. Your goal is to arrive alive and joyful - middle fingers never help.   

Ride decisively

Signal your intentions to turn, take your turn at four-way stops, take the lane if you're turning left. Car drivers don't like a wishy-washy cyclist any more than they do a wishy-washy driver.

Work at being seen

Admittedly, everyone looks dorky in high-viz clothing, but I see a noticeable difference on days when I wear a reflective vest. My commute takes me across several of the busiest streets in town and the combination of vest and bike lights help no what time of day (or night).

(Choose to) Enjoy the ride!

Your attitude determines the quality of your ride as much as any other element. There are days I take off in a foul mood, but the bike offers time to look around and count my blessings. Sunrises, sunsets, birds, flowers - unexpected beauty and humor have ways of finding people on bikes. Keep your eyes open.

Let your bike carry the weight - not your neck and shoulders.

Bike racks, bags, and baskets go a long way in making bike commutes more pleasant. Also, you'll be surprised how often you'll need to haul something you did not plan for.

Tips for upgrading your bike (electric or not) for commuting

• racks, bags, and baskets (see above)
  
• lights - for seeing as well as being seen. I like small and inexpensive but powerful, USB rechargeable lights that remove easily (for charging or swapping to different bikes.)
• Thorn-resistant tubes - very few new bikes come with these installed. Do yourself a favor and swap these before your first ride. Flats really suck!

Okay, that's enough for now. Whew, if feels good to get that off my chest!

May you enjoy the ride while creating a healthier world for all! (Let me know if you have questions I did not answer.)