One day last week I was driving around with a student in Independence and I saw this old blue cruiser bike with a saddle-bag baskets on the back. It was $25. All summer I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a bike for Nicole. That evening we went and bought it. The man we bought it from looked like he had mild retardation but was a nice guy. The one problem the bike had was the seat wouldn't budge and it was VERY high up. I borrowed some tools from my dad one day and failed to get the seat to move. I heated the rod up with a blow torch and then proceeded to beat the ever loving shit out of the post after applying a liberal amount of Liquid Wrench which caused small explosions when I smashed the...

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SANTA CRUZ -- Jessica Coles, an assistant manager at Westside Animal Hospital in downtown Santa Cruz, figured riding her bike to work was a good way to stay active and save a few bucks. Free bike maintenance is also available at selected sites, as are free massages and even acupuncture. That solution -- downsizing from four wheels to two -- will be on display Thursday for Bike to Work day, when 7,000 county residents, including schoolchildren, are expected to take part. But her commitment to her new method of commuting sets her apart: She sold her Toyota Corolla to a co-worker, opting instead for an old beach cruiser with a basket attached for errands. "I went from paying $420 a month to having it in my bank account instead," Coles said. The rain is something Coles is still getting accustomed to, along with other wrinkles that come with not having a car, such as visits to out-of-town friends or distant appointments. Organized by Ecology Action, this fall's event day includes a hearty breakfast available at 16 sites throughout the county for bicyclists.

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