Today's Tuesday discussion deals with a recent harassement ticket given to a cyclist as mentioned in a comment on 303cycling. Here is how their side of the story happened....

"I was given a ticket from Boulder County Sheriff for harassment last night. I was going down Highway 93 towards Marshall Road when a guy in a pickup truck felt it was necessary to honk as he sped past me. I was going about 40, he was going about 60. I caught up to him at the light and hit the bed of his pickup with my fist. I clearly let my emotions get the best of me. Regardless, we were both wrong but drivers simply don't understand how vulnerable we are, even to a car honking its horn. (And I kept my line, wasn't in traffic)."

I've been their before and let my emotions get away and hit the side of the car/truck in protest of their actions. But who is harassing who here?

BOULDER – Community Cycles, a nonprofit organization that educates and advocates for the safe use of bicycles, will receive two grants totaling $120,000 from the Denver Regional Council of Governments and Boulder County. These grants, which begin in 2012, will expand Community Cycles’ programs, including its Earn-a-Bike, jail work release, workplace training, and children’s safety programs.

·- DRCOG awarded Community Cycles $50,000 over a two-year period as part of a Federal Highways’ Congestion Mitigation Air Quality initiative. Community Cycles will apply the funding to conduct bike-training workshops at local businesses to encourage bike commuting. This program will begin in March. Businesses in Boulder County and along the U.S. 36 corridor are eligible to participate.

I love commuting to work on my bike and have always used a messenger bag to carry my stuff (i.e. clothes, shoes, lunch, laptop etc.). It's either old age or the amount of stuff I need to carry but the messenger bag tweaks my back, shoulder, neck etc. I decided to give a backpack a try to alleviate the stress on my body.

I gave the Chrome - Pawn RollTop Pack a try. Chrome describes the pack as Our most compact, all purpose pack with a seam-sealed, roll-tight, waterproof compartment (beer cooler). Made in the USA. Guaranteed for Life

When I first took the backpack out of the box I was very impressed. The bag is designed for commuting and keeping what ever you are transporting safe and dry. From the thick Codura outer shell to the rubberized waterproof main chamber to the waterproof zippers to name a few. There are other little design details that really make the bag stand out.

My commute is 15 miles each way and the bag has functioned perfectly. It is very stable on my back even with all the stuff in my bag (i.e. change of clothes, Mac Book Pro, shoes, lunch etc.).

The last thing I want to say about the bag is that it can keep you organized. I know with my old messenger bag it was bottomless pit with one very large compartment. This pack has one larger compartment and a few smaller ones which I really loved.

From more information about Chrome products check out their website.

Specs

• Weight: 3.7 lb.
• Fabric: 1000 denier Cordura outer shell, 18 oz. seam-sealed truck tarp liner
• Flat Dimensions: 18” wide, 19” high, 6” deep
• Features
  • Weatherproof 1,000 denier Cordura outer backpack
  • Fully waterproof seam-sealed main chamber
  • Watertight rolltop closure
  • Laser-cut unbreakable stainless steel hardware
  • Weatherproof urethane coated YKK zippers
  • External wet-dry pockets
  • Haul loop handle and daisy chain lash points

More Pictures of the pack

Second is still a good finish worthy of a celebration right? The finish at Steamboat Crit this past weekend. See how the finish really turned out