If you could have only one bike to commute on, gather groceries with, tour, cyclocross race, use, abuse, and not worry about where you lock up, what would your choice be? Four years ago I purchased a Surly Cross Check frame to build up as my do-everything bike, because, as their website states, "it takes a lot of crap, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg."

I must admit I have never given road bikes a fair chance up to this point. The few I have ridden where either the wrong size, or were grotesque Franken-bikes pieced together from old parts. I never warmed up to drop bars because of previous neck and shoulder injuries, so the opportunity to ride the flat bar Giant Rapid 2 has shed new light on my road riding future.

I've been interested in trying a front rack equiped bike for some time now. I know quite a few people who swear by carrying weight on the front wheel, and my touring experience has shed some light on the benefits of loading the front of a bike.

It's no secret that I've been living in Belgium since January of 2009. I've documented a good bit of my perspective of Belgian cycling culture in my Wash Your Fiets column in each issue of the magazine. It's a small country, but cycling is huge. It's that simple.

The 40th anniversary of Earth Day was a little bit extra special in Denver last week, as the city officially launched the first large-scale bike-sharing program in the United States. As of April 22nd, residents and visitors in Denver now have the ability to commute on one of 400 red Trek B-cycles available at 40 "B-stations" around the city. Within two months, the city plans to expand the program to include at least 500 bikes and 50 stations.