Erstwhile Talking Head and conceptual artist David Byrne is also known as a die-hard cycling advocate. The 58-year-old has used bikes as his primary transportation around New York City for nearly 30 years. 

Lately, he's been at the forefront of the bike-everywhere movement, speaking at advocacy meetings and even designing whimsical bike racks shaped like coffee cups or stilettos. Here are some of his directives for a better life through biking.

Be Secure
"I got some security bolts that require specific tools to unscrew [and] replace the quick releases and the seat release.... Neither my wheels nor my seat have been stolen in a while."

Be Safe
"In the winter and on cold days, I wear a skateboard helmet. They cover a lot of your head and they don't have holes in them, so they're warm. When the weather gets milder, I wear a more expensive racing model with a lot of holes in it, which doesn't prevent helmet hair but allows my scalp to breathe a little."

Be Cool
"I find that unless it's really hot out, I can dress pretty normally, which often means long pants and a shirt with a collar. If I relax and don't push the speed, then I don't turn into a fountain."

-- Excerpted from "Bicycle Diaries" by David Byrne (Viking, 2009)