Americans need to stop being wusses and eat crickets. This hit me as I finished off an Impossible Burger. Or rather, an Impossible Slider. I was at a burger place in Scottsdale for lunch, and the…
The Taylor House Ride in Flagstaff – What You Should Know
I just did the Taylor House ride for the second time. I previously did it more than 10 years ago, and exactly three things stood out about it that first time: A tube-socked dude who…
It’s Time to Fix How We Renew a Passport in the US
The process to renew a passport in America is needlessly slow and archaic. I went through that 20th Century, postage-stamp song and dance a few years ago before going to Brazil. I never spared a second…
One Year With an Electric Car
I’ve now driven more than one year with an electric car. I want to share a few thoughts about what I’ve learned for people who are thinking about giving up their gas cars. I think you’ll…
The Best Workouts in Scottsdale
There is no shortage of ways to burn calories and all of them claim to be the best, so I set out to find the best workouts in Scottsdale. I believe that it’s smart to switch…
Papago Plaza is “Dilapidated.” And That Was the Plan.
Papago Plaza in Scottsdale is all but abandoned these days. And don’t think for a second that’s not by design. The exodus of businesses from this once-cool throwback plaza pretty much started with the closing of…
Chevron and its Push Against Electric Cars
Chevron is using retirees to scare people away from electric vehicles. That’s according to a story in The Arizona Republic. You should read the story. But just to catch you up for this blog post, it…
No, the Pool Noodle Bike Hack Isn’t Great. At All.
Someone put a pool noodle on a bike to keep drivers away. And now media outlets are all over the place are saying this a genius and that the pool noodle bike hack is the greatest…
Reborn Marzocchi Bomber Z2: Good News for Thrifty Riders
If you need a solid but relatively affordable mountain bike fork, you should be excited about the Marzocchi Bomber Z2. The original Z2 that came out in the late 90s was a huge step forward with…
Bike Test: Electra Sprocket 1 and Giro Scamp MIPS Helmet
Here’s a long overdue discussion of the Electra Sprocket 1 bike and Giro Scamp MIPS helmet. We picked these items up as early birthday presents for our now-4-year-old daughter. She warmed up to both nearly instantly,…
Bicycle Infrastructure is Cycling’s Big Problem
Better bicycle infrastructure could solve a lot of transit problems. More people on bikes means fewer cars on the roads, more people burning calories and cleaner air. Cycling advocates love to point to the Dutch cycling…
Rio Salado Bike Path: A Ride Guide (With Video)
The Rio Salado bike path is one of the most-overlooked places to ride in metro Phoenix. It’s a 16-mile stretch of sweet car-free riding. I’ve had many local riders act completely surprised to hear about it….
The 737 MAX: One Refreshed Version Too Far
Here’s the big problem with the Boeing 737 MAX: Both Boeing and the airlines are forcing a past-its-prime design to be a flying Swiss Army Knife. They want it to have unparalleled fuel efficiency on short…
Where to Drink Sahti in Finland
I didn’t go to Finland to drink sahti. But tracking down the traditional Finnish beer made a nice side quest during our visit a few years ago. If you’re beer-curious and plan to visit Finland, here…
5 Easy Tips to Eliminate Single-Use Plastic
I’m doing everything possible to kill single-use plastic water bottles since around 2010. During that time, I’ve used everything from the latest stainless-steel marvel to a gourd that I hollowed out myself during an Aboriginal Living…
How To: Choose A Cooler For The OutdoorsÂ
If you are an outdoor type of person that loves going on trips, then you must have a cooler. If you don’t, then you are in big trouble! Fortunately for you, you still have time to…
Gravel Bike Versus Road Bike
A few years ago when the gravel bike trend was starting to take off, one of my local Wise Veteran Riders sniffed “I can do all that stuff on my road bike.” Great. Maybe he can…
This is a huge electric vehicle charging problem. Here’s how to fix it.
It’s easy to ignore a problem that you can’t see. People who live in the Phoenix area can’t deny the brown cloud that sometimes — too often — settles over the Valley. The culprit behind the…
New Sustainable Clothing: Wama Underwear
Ever since I found a pair of Wayi bamboo underwear a few years ago, I’ve been all about sustainable underwear. Really, my whole sustainable clothing interest goes even further back – all the way to the…
Costa Rican Craft Beer in 2018
Costa Rican craft beer just wasn’t a thing during my first visit nearly 15 years ago. That’s changed, with a wide variety of breweries stretching beyond the ubiquitous Imperial lager. But how good is Costa Rican…