So I set up a little tubmlr blog for myself and Symbiot stuff. It's a great application that I can update using my phone and will have other stuff then just Symbiot news, gear and backpacking tips. Check it out if your bored.

http://symbiot.tumblr.com/

You might have noticed a lot of new bike lanes popping up in your metro area. If so there are probably lots of you who want to know about getting around your city safely. Some of you might have seen a while back Symbiot gave a guide to bike safety. As informative as that was I've decided to add a much needed amendment to give the many new urban bicyclist a heads up to what you really need to know and watch out for when riding.

First off the basics still apply.
-Wear A helmet
-Keep your bike in proper working order
-Don't do anything stupid

Second there are things you need to look out for when riding. Below is a list that applies to my experiences of riding in NYC. Some cities may order their dangers a little differently. For instance pedestrians in NYC are the worst but in Philadelphia cars are the worst.
-Pedestrians
-Car without Turn signals
-Cabs
-Attractive People, I know you're looking
-Truck/Car Mirrors
-Other Bikers
-Cars
-Buses/Trucks

Third there is a wealth of information out there that will guide you around your metro area safely.
Below are a few links to some major metro areas to help you can get around, and of course you could always use google bike maps.
NYC Bike Map
City of Chicago Bike Map
Philadelphia Bike Map
LA Bike Map

Skirting Obstacles


Whether in the Cascades or the Everglades, you typically can’t beeline toward your bearing; at some point, a blowdown, cliff band, pond, or some other barrier will block your path. To bypass it while still staying on course, do the following:

1. Turn 90 degrees right or left from your bearing. You don’t have to calculate a new bearing—just sight along the front or back edge of your compass’s baseplate, perpendicular to the direction-of-travel arrow.

2. Count paces until you're past the obstacle. A pace is a double-step—count every left or right footstep. (The original Roman “mile” was 1,000—or mille—double-steps.)

3. Turn and walk your original bearing until you've passed the obstacle. Now turn 90 degrees again—leftward if you turned right at the start and vice versa. Count the same number of paces; then resume your original course.

Pace counting is rarely effective beyond about 200 paces—roughly a quarter-mile. To improve accuracy, note the time you travel on the outward leg, and try to match both time and pace count on the return leg.

Got Height?
You can easily pinpoint your position along a trail, creek, or ridgeline using just an altimeter and map. First, check the altitude on your altimeter. Then find the contour line closest to your elevation, and note where it intersects the trail, stream, or ridge. That is where you are. This technique works best during a steady ascent or descent, since undulating trails or rolling terrain may cross a contour line multiple times.

Now that it's warm out we all have been riding our bikes more. Here is a great guide to giving your bike the tune up it needs.

Depending how much work is needed you’ll need a several tools for this job. Most importantly you’ll need:

* Dish soap, water and some rags.
* Chain oil and a light lubricant like Tri-Flow.
* An air pump and tire pressure gauge.
* A set of metric allen wrenches (4-8mm).
* A set of metric open-end wrenches (8-17mm).
* Two 13mm and two 15mm cone wrenches.
* A set of appropriate sized headset wrenches.
* A spoke wrench for wheel truing.
* A chain wear indicator – Alternate Method.
* A repair stand or some rope to hang your bike from the ceiling.

Wheel Cleaning and Tuning

First disconnect your brakes and remove both wheels. This makes it easier to clean the bike frame and tune-up the wheels. Clean between the sprockets of your freewheel or cassette using a rag or a proper cleaning tool. Using a dry rag, wipe down the hubs, spokes, and rims on both wheels. If they are difficult to clean dip your rag in some mildly soapy water and try again. Never use harsh cleaners or a water hose to clean your bike. Check both hub adjustments to make sure they aren’t loose and that they spin freely. Adjust or overhaul them as necessary.

If you have a truing stand, deflate the tires and check the alignment and spoke tension of both wheels and adjust them as needed. Inflate both tires to the recommended pressure and set them aside.
Frame Cleaning

Now wipe down your entire bike frame and components. I usually start at the handlebar and work my way to the rear derailleur in order to keep my rag clean as long as possible. Again you can dampen your rag with soapy water if needed to loosen up any tough grime.
Frame and Parts Inspection

Once clean it’s a good idea to carefully inspect the entire surface of your frame for any hairline cracks or damage. If you notice anything you should take it to your local shop right away for further assessment, as it can be dangerous to ride on a cracked frame. Inspect all of your components as well, paying particular attention to the brake and shift cables. If they are frayed or have damaged housings, now is the time to replace them.
Lubrication

Now apply a few drops of some light lubricant to the inside of your cable housings and all of the pivot points on your brake and shift components. Avoid getting any oil on your brake pads, and wipe off any excess so that it doesn’t collect dirt. Here’s a video that demonstrates cable lubrication.
Headset and Bottom Bracket

Check the adjustment of both your headset and bottom bracket to make sure they aren’t loose and spin smoothly.
Brakes

Inspect all of your brake pad surfaces and carefully trim away any wear ridges with a razor blade. Resurface them with rough sandpaper to clean up road grime. You should replace the pads if they are worn past the indicator line, or if you can see metal poking through the surface. Watch the brake tutorials.
Tightening

Now check all of the bolts on your bike to make sure they’re tight, but be careful not to over-tighten. If they already feel tight enough don’t force them any tighter. Important areas to check include your handlebars, levers, shifters, stem, seat, seatpost, brakes, derailleurs, cranks and pedals.


Final Adjustments

Now reinstall the wheels and reconnect your brakes. Adjust the brake pads and cable tension as needed. Clean the chain, check for chain wear, and then lubricate it with chain oil. Then adjust the rear derailleur first, and the front derailleur second. Now place the bike on the ground and adjust your handlebar and seat position if needed.
Test Ride

The last step is very important. Take your bike on a thorough test ride, running through all of the gears and testing the brakes. Most of the time you’ll have a few minor re-adjustments to make before your bike is fully ready to ride.

Thanks to bicycletutor.com for this guide.

Happy Earth Day! 40 years!

Everyone should take some time out of this day to celebrate this amazing planet that we call home. Take some time to take a walk, smell some flowers and hug some trees. Also take this day to think about what you're doing to be a good steward of Earth. Did you turn off the lights when you left the room? Did you recycle that water bottle from earlier today, and hopefully you’re turning the water off at the sink when you’re brushing your teeth. Remember every little thing you do will all add up. Think!

“Carbs are critical to recovery, but they can’t do the job alone,” says Stacy Sims, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist and sports nutritionist at Stanford University. “To get glycogen into your body and repair the muscle microtears that occur during any strenuous workout, you need protein.” To reap the benefits, Sims recommends eating 20 grams of protein immediately after a hike or workout (also snack on protein-rich foods throughout the day, aiming for a total of .6 gram per pound of body weight on high-exertion days). Whey, egg, and soy sources are easiest to digest. We tested 10 recovery products to bring you the three best new choices—plus one old favorite.

Best for workouts Hammer Nutrition Recoverite
Testers reported noticeably less next-day fatigue when they downed a Recoverite after a tough hike. This milky drink hits the sweet spot with a 3:1 ratio of complex carbs to whey protein isolate (an easy-to-digest protein derived from milk) and it’s full of antioxidants and electrolytes. Best flavor: strawberry. Calories 170 Fat 0 g Carbs 33 g Protein 10 g ($2.69 per packet; hammernutrition.com)

Best for the trail Clif Shot Roks
Crunchy on the outside and nougat-soft in the middle, these malted milk ball-like bites are easy to pop on the move and contain two grams of highly digestible protein per piece. Testers reported that the Roks prevented bonking on long days and reduced muscle fatigue the morning after. Bonus: Roks never melted, even in the hottest summer weather. Best flavor: peanut butter. Calories 270 Fat 4.5 g Carbs 38 g Protein 20 g ($3; clifbar.com)

Best for a sweet tooth PowerBar Recovery
This caramel-filled, chocolaty bar may taste like junk food, but its 12 grams of highly digestible whey and soy protein isolates elevate it above typical vending machine fare. It’s like a candy bar with nutritional value and full recovery benefits. Best flavor: peanut butter caramel crisp. Calories 270 Fat 10 g Carbs 30 g Protein 12 g ($1.60; powerbar.com)

Best value Eggs
This favorite meets all our essential amino acid requirements and packs six grams of easy-to-absorb protein per egg—and is also an excellent source of antioxidants like choline and selenium. Carry them in a reusable plastic egg crate, crack a few into a water bottle and scramble them in camp, or hard-boil a few and stash them in a plastic bag (in cool weather, they’ll last for 48 hours). Calories 78 Fat 5 g Carbs .5 g Protein 6 g ($.25 per egg)