Bahati Foundation

Short post and a cool video. Rahsaan Bahati is one of the top sprinters in the US. Three-time winner of the Manhattan Beach GP, Athens Twilight, and 2008 US Criterium Champion. The Bahati Foundation, "works with local communities to provide inspiration, insight and opportunities for underprivileged youth through the sport of cycling". Cool idea from a cool dude. And he plays a mean snare:

Bicycles Against Poverty

A group of Bucknell University students have created a unique aid project that combines sustainable transportation (bicycles) with microfinance. Bicycles Against Poverty provides bicycles to low-income families through a loan/lease program. From their website:

"The mission of Bicycles Against Poverty(BAP) is to use bicycles to encourage community cooperation, to improve accessibility of important resources, and as a tool for economic development for low income families in and around the world."

I'm already a fan/lender with Kiva, and you know how I feel about bicycles. And yes, they are planning on expanding the program to Haiti, and had been even prior to the earthquake.

Too Cold to Ride?

Deep winter
and my partner
calls to me:
"Come out!
Come out and play."

Send Money

This will be a short post. Haiti needs help. Send money. There are many organizations sending people, supplies, food, and water. (You) send money. Here are a few (send money):

Doctors Without Borders
Oxfam
The Salvation Army
Partners in Health
Save the Children

Damn, this traffic jam!

It's been a lonely slog this winter. Especially the first two commutes of the year, when I didn't see another cyclist out on the road. Can't blame them, really. Mid-40s, dark, and raining didn't exactly make me leap for joy to be out riding. Forecast was for rain again this morning, so imagine my surprise to see stars and the moon when I went out to get the paper. Do I ride the nice bike? Better not press my luck. Rain bike it is.

I pull up to the stop sign at the bottom of the first hill to wait for cross traffic. And the cross traffic is: another cyclist! I make my left and pull in behind him. We wend our way to the bottom of the second hill and: the light is still green! Through the intersection, and cyclist #2 turns right, but up ahead I can see: cyclists #3 and #4!

Down the third hill, we pass cyclists #5, #6, and #7 coming up the hill. Stoplight at the bottom, and cyclists #8 and #9 pass through. Onto the bike path, turn right at the next street and I leave #3 and #4 to head north. I make my solitary way for the last mile, but it was nice to have the company this morning. Pulling into the parking lot, I'm greeted by this (can Spring be far behind?):