Space-Saving Helmet for Safer Cycling
Post Summary: A simple step towards saving our heads, saving some space, and saving the planet.
More than 1/3 of all car trips in America are within 2 miles. If folks who are able to do so opt to walk, use public transportation, and/or bike instead, this 10% decrease in driving would prevent about 110 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere. (Source: NY Times)
Since finding my confidence in my 30s (especially since becoming a parent), I’m happy to be that person who is always showing up (online and in person) wearing her bike helmet. So much so that I reached out to Closca to ask if they’d be interested in working with me to spread the word about their space-saving + head-saving “foldable” helmet.
In my book, Small Space Style, there’s an entire section about ways to conserve space when storing sporting equipment. Needless to say I wish I’d known about the Closca when writing it.
As someone who gets around almost exclusively by bike (and as someone who has been struck by cars while doing so), here’s why I like the Closca helmet and wanted to share it:
Its unique, collapsible design reduces its size by 55% in mere seconds, making it easy to tote AND easy to store in a small home or apartment.
It offers essential protection and won’t fold while being worn, and it complies with the strict safety standards in Europe, Asia, USA & Canada.
It’s designed to work with Interchangeable visors, so you can swap between a reflective band for increased visibility, or a knit visor in cold weather.
It has a subtle ventilation system, which I appreciate because biking with this messy mane of mine gets hot in the SoCal sun.
Here’s to taking smart, simple steps to save our heads, save some space, and save the planet.
Note: This blog post was not sponsored, but the corresponding Instagram post was a paid partnership.
Painting the "Company Car"
Since our bucket bike is our primary mode of transportation (as both a business and a family), we decided it’s finally time to spruce up our “company car” before 2020 rolls in. (Read my recent posts about our bikes, here.)
We’ll be working with local artist Brittney Banks to create custom designs for the exterior or the bucket. (I’m looking forward to finally removing the bland text-only decal from the side.)
Fun fact: Brittney created the cards we gave to all the guests who attending our home-wedding. I appreciate her playful style, and the ways in which she manages to capture Venice with her brush.
These are very quick prelim designs she made after we rolled the bike into our garden and chatted about the direction we wanted to take with the art. We’ve since modified the concepts somewhat, but the vibe will be the same, and the scenes will be tailored to our funny lil’ live/work world here by the Canals.
After Brittney left, West said he wanted to practice painting in the bike.
The front bench was still in place from his cousins’ recent visit, and it served as an ideal surface for a bit of water painting for the afternoon.
I’ll be sharing the customization process as it progresses. More soon!
Our Fleet of “Company Cars”
I post a fair amount of content on Instagram featuring our family’s fleet of bikes, which we affectionately refer to as our “Company Cars.”
Most of the time I’m simply offering glimpses into our daily routines and lifestyle habits— rarely do I discuss WHY we bike so much and drive so little.
First, I should state outright that pedaling here-and-there as a family like we do is a mix of planning and privilege. This lifestyle works for us because of a myriad of factors that don’t apply to everyone.
Yes, we go out of our way to accommodate the mildly inconvenient realities of biking, such as waking up earlier, carving out more time, bringing changes of clothes, awkwardly carrying bulky cargo, wandering around events or this crowded city with a trio of helmets fastened to our belt loops, etc.
But these are things we are privileged to have the opportunity to do. We are able-bodied, we do not have to commute for work, and we live in an agreeable climate year-round.
In other words, we’re on no pedestal about our bikes > cars mentality. My goal in this blog entry is merely to share why we bike, and what it means to us.
Environmental Benefits
In a recent article from the Climate Fwd: Newsletter offered by The New York Times, we learned that if Americans cut back on their driving habits just 10%, we can have a big and meaningful impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Light-duty vehicles (which are basically the models used for everyday life) account for about 1/5th of our country’s total emissions footprint, and more than 1/3 of all car trips are within 2 miles. If those who are able to do so use public transportation, bikes or simply rely on walking instead, a 10% decrease in driving would prevent about 110 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere.
Family Activity or Solo Relaxation
We’ve found biking— both as a family (with the pups included) and solo— to be such a therapeutic and enjoyable activity. Unlike an errand in the car, a bike ride (with or without an end goal) is a wonderful way to be more engaged within our community and aware of its current state. West and the pups clearly delight in the sights we encounter while out. And when Adam and/or I bike alone or as a couple, it’s a wonderfully refreshing way to get outside and clear our minds.
Health Benefits
I find it extremely hard to allot time in our schedule for working out. We don’t have a nanny or a babysitter or family nearby, nor do we have help with our small business. Because of these realities, it’s tough to find a chunk of time in which we’re available for something other than work, life’s necessities or childcare. (I’m not complaining— just sharing.) Biking has been a great way to stay active and get our heart rates up on a daily basis without having to hire assistance.
Simplicity
In L.A. (and in other cities in which I’ve lived and biked), cycling has a lot of perks. Due to heavy auto traffic, biking is often more time-savvy and efficient than driving on local roads, and there’s always a place to park easily, quickly and for free. Plus it’s a great way to get unplugged. (Yes, we should ALL be unplugged when on the road, but when I look around I see just how many drivers are glued to their smartphones in traffic, and it’s terrifying. As such, ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET! I love my Bern, and West and Adam are into their magnetic-clasp Nutcase helmets.)
The "Company Car" - Our Cottage Cargo Tricycle
A couple years after moving into the Cottage, Adam and I realized that we didn't have to confine our downsizing efforts to just our home. At the time, we had two cars-- a compact 4-door, and an SUV. We decided to donate the SUV to our local NPR station, KCRW. The goal was to rely more on our bikes, and on public transportation. Years have passed, and we've never regretted this decision.
Shortly after West was born, we started looking for cargo tricycles. There are so many wonderful designs out there, but we fell in love with one in particular-- the Virtue Schoolbus+ from Virtue Cycles in San Diego. Not only does it have enough space for #StubsandSoph, but it also has seat belts for up to four children, and can fit West's car seat. (And coincidentally, it even matches our house.) We call it our "company car," and even added a "Tiny Canal Cottage" decal to one side of the cart.
We ride it all over the west side of Los Angeles. (We've even passed a few others at the farmers market and by the beach!) For those who are interested, here is my honest, bullet-point experience with this bike:
- It is a wonderful size if you're regularly hauling children, pets, shopping, and/or plants.
- It's beautiful, from it's leather accents, to its muted green hardware, to the wooden cargo hold.
- The ride is smooth, sturdy, and steady.
- The electric assist (an option) is EXTREMELY helpful when starting the bike, and when going up inclines.
- The steering takes some getting used to, but after an hour or so of test-drives, Adam and I both got it down.
- You can't stand up on the pedals while turning, nor should you take sharp turns at a high speed, as the cargo hold can actually tip.
- It's initially intimidating to maneuver the bike around tight, winding and/or urban spaces. Again, give it an hour or two of practice, and it's easy to master with confidence.
- I regularly switch between my standard bike and this cargo tricycle. It's an easy transition between the two-- I never feel as though I have to relearn one or the other.
We enjoy this bike daily-- especially now that Adam works full-time at the Cottage, too. We're absolutely in love with how it has improved our lifestyle. It keeps us moving, outdoors and healthy, allows us to leave our shared car at home, and encourages us to experience new adventures with our little family here in Venice and throughout West LA.
(Browse all of our bike photos via the #wlmbike series on Instagram.)