Cult of the Bicycle

May 2008 - Posts

• The most popular vehicle in the world today is the bicycle

  Visit Cozy Beehive for the full sized graphic of this cool poster. Posted May 13 2008, 05:05 PM by Cyclelicious

• Then and now

  Railroads in the United States pay for their own police forces. They are certified law enforcement officers and carry full police and arrest powers. Railroad police have full peace officer status in some states, while in other states they are limited to enforcing the law on railroad property. From the Union Pacific Railroad Officer Down Memorial Page: Monday, August 19, 1878: Special Agent Robert Widdowfield and Special Agent Henry Vincent were killed when they were ambushed while pursuing a suspect from a train robbery in Carbon, Wyoming. As the officers approached the suspect's campsite they were ambushed by the suspect. The suspect was later arrested and sentenced to death for the murders. Before being executed he was lynched by an angry mob. Saturday, July 9, 1977: Special Agent Boles was shot and killed after interrupting a burglary in progress in Denver, Colorado. Agent Boles called for backup, but by the time they arrived Agent Boles and been shot and killed by the suspect. The suspect was later arrested and convicted for Agent Boles' murder and served 15 months on a reduced charge. Posted May 13 2008, 12:36 PM by Cyclelicious

• Bike to work challenge

  My employer's Eco Responsibility group and fitness center is offering incentives to those who can spend 2,000 minutes biking to work over the next 12 weeks to promote alternative transportation, environmental awareness and wellness. The human resources department sent an email to all USA employees promoting this program, and I've actually heard people who normally don't bike to work in the hallway talking about it. 2,000 minutes is a genuine challenge -- it'll take effort even for me to get those many hours in. I know the people who put this program together, but unfortunately I don't think it will do anything to encourage newbies to try bike commuting. Posted May 12 2008, 07:22 PM by Cyclelicious Filed under: work

• Bicycle love

  Ewwwwww. Posted May 12 2008, 06:04 PM by Cyclelicious

• Bikes Belong Awards $44,200 in Grants for Recreation Projects

  Bikes Belong is celebrating the joy of cycling and trailbuilding this spring by awarding six recreation-focused grants to grassroots groups across the country. The projects—all made possible by dedicated volunteers—include a riverfront path, a freeride trail, a BMX freestyle park, and some really sweet backcountry singletrack. From all of us at Bikes Belong, enjoy the ride! Willimantic Whitewater Partnership—Hop River/Airline Extension Bike Path (Willlimantic, CT) The Willimantic Whitewater Partnership will receive $10,000 to help build the Hop River/Airline Trail Extension bike path as part of their riverfront recreation park. Bikes Belong's grant will match SAFETEA-LU and Recreational Trails Program funding for the dynamic project, which also includes a whitewater park for kayakers. Willimantic Whitewater Partnership is an innovative community coalition of corporations, families, and nonprofits working together to revitalize the historic riverfront and create a recreation hub in the town of Willimantic. The multi-use path will link to the East Coast Greenway, a national trail extending from Key West, Florida to Calais, Maine. More about WWP. . . California Off-Road Bicyclists Association—Mount Hillyer Freeride Trail (Los Angeles County, CA) The Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) will use their $10,000 award to help build a freeride trail in the Mount Hillyer area of the Chilao Recreation Area and enhance the surrounding trail system. Bikes Belong's funding will leverage pending grants from local businesses as well as donations from CORBA members and other local riders. CORBA has gained the full support of the Forest Service for this exciting project, which sets a huge precedent: It will be the first legal freeride trail in Angeles National Forest. More about CORBA. . . Vermont Mountain Bike Association—Green Mountain Trail Access The Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) will receive $9,200 for their Green Mountain National Forest Access Program. This grant will help VMBA in its effort to reconstruct and extend three sections of singletrack in the Green Mountain National Forest's Moosalamoo National Recreation Area—previously off-limits to mountain bikes. Bikes Belong's funding will leverage a National Forest Foundation grant as well as state funding for this important mountain bike initiative. VMBA, the state's stellar mountain bike advocacy group, works to increase ridership in Vermont while minimizing impact on public lands through sustainable trailbuilding and stewardship. They also foster active, healthy lifestyles through Trailheads, their youth mountain biking program, and are working to promote mountain biking at eastern ski areas in the summer months. More about VMBA. . . Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship—North Yuba Trail Extension (Downieville, CA) Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) will use their $5,000 grant to help complete the final 4 miles of the North Yuba Trail—referred to as the Golden Spoke—which will connect 14 miles of singletrack. This non-motorized trail will enable cross-country mountain bikers to ride to the renowned Downieville trails from town instead of drive. SBTS has established itself as a strong partner with the National Forest Service and promotes community support for trails through their innovative Trail Adoption program. They've also garnered state funding for this project. More about SBTS. . . Friends of Pathways—Order of the Arrow Trail Construction Project (Jackson, WY) Friends of Pathways will receive $5,000 for their "Order of the Arrow" initiative, which will replace 10.5 miles of eroding, illegal trails with fun, sustainable singletrack on Teton Pass. Bikes Belong's funding will bolster grants and volunteer hours from the National Forest Foundation and the Teton Freedom Riders. More than 650 Boy Scouts from the trail's namesake service team will donate their time to trail construction this summer. Friends of Pathways promotes active healthy lifestyles through great trail facilities. Their advocacy and fundraising work helps to connect and enhance communities and recreation opportunities—from paved paths to backcountry trails—in and around Jackson Hole. More about Friends of Pathways. . . Village of Mexico, New York—Freedom Skate/BMX Park The Village of Mexico, New York, will use their $5,000 award to complete the Freedom Skate/BMX Park. Bikes Belong's funding will go toward bike-specific elements in the park and help leverage city funding as well as money raised by the BMX and skate communities. The Tony Hawk Foundation has also contributed to this great project. The shared-use facility, which has strong support from the city's mayor and parks & recreation commissioner, will provide a place for freestyle BMX riders and skaters to coexist happily—and free of charge. It will also be a venue for events, clinics, and after-school programs. Don't miss the IMBA World Summit! If projects like these get your adrenalin pumping, head to Park City, Utah, June 18–21 for the IMBA World Mountain Bike Summit. Bikes Belong is a proud sponsor, and we'll be representing (and riding) at the event. Hope to see you there! More about the IMBA Summit. . . About Bikes Belong Bikes Belong Coalition is the U.S. bicycle industry organization dedicated to putting more people on bicycles more often. Bikes Belong lobbies to increase federal bike funding, awards grants to support innovative bike projects, promotes bicycling and its benefits, and backs crucial national efforts such as Safe Routes to School, Bicycle Friendly Communities, and the National Bike Summit. The affiliated Bikes Belong Foundation focuses on improving bicycle safety and enhancing children's bike programs. Since Bikes Belong's Grants Program began in 1999, we have funded 166 grant proposals in 44 states and the District of Columbia, awarding nearly $1.3 million in cash and leveraging more than $476 million in federal, state, and private funding. Our facilities grants alone have helped finance nearly 1,400 miles of bike paths and trails that link close to 6,400 miles of trail facilities. For more information, visit bikesbelong.org. Posted May 12 2008, 12:58 PM by Cyclelicious Filed under: news

• Welcome to fair weather bike commuters

  Jonathan at SFist writes: We were there through the bitter season--the mud, the rain, the cold, the mid-afternoon sunsets. With dripping, grime-streaked rain gear covering our heels and neckties, we rode our rusting, filthy commuter bikes to the Caltrain station all through the winter, a sweaty, soggy bunch, smelling of mildew and Tri-Flow. And now, with the arrival of the easy, sunny days of spring, you’ve joined us. And we’re happy to see you, really. As Jonathan writes, the bike cars on Caltrain have been getting awfully crowded lately. I too see a lot of shiny brand new bikes, some with price tags still dangling just like those showing what Minnie Pearl paid for her big hats. Welcome aboard, and please read the Caltrain tips for newbies page. Read more at SFist. In other news: BART experiments with removing seats to make room for bicycles and luggage. SF Weekly: "Can't we all just roll along?" examines how public policy and attitudes impact the safety of bicyclists. When you ride your bike, try not to hit the train. Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said this was the first incident she had heard of involving a moving bicyclist striking a moving Caltrain. There was a "celebrity bike ride" this morning in San Jose. I saw them gathering at Diridon Station but they got going too late for me. Posted May 12 2008, 12:55 PM by Cyclelicious

• In the news: Bike shops report strong sales

  Teacher Joyce McCusker of Herndon, Va., owns a bicycle for the first time in years. She bought it last month and uses it to make the eight-mile trip home from work. Bicycle shops across the country are reporting strong sales so far this year, and more people are bringing in bikes that have been idled for years, said Fred Clements, executive director the National Bicycle Dealers Association. Mark Krenz, 48, is giving it a try. The Bismarck auto-parts store manager recently spent $750 on the 24-speed bike and is building up his mileage to prepare for his hilly commute. "In this business, everybody is constantly talking about how to save gas," Krenz said. "I bought a bike because I figure it's a good way to save money, get in shape and save wear and tear on my pickup." Rocky Schell, owner of Val's Cycle in Minot, said this may be one of the best years in the history of the shop, started by his father in 1960. It's seeing a spike in the number of tuneups and repairs, which had been declining for the past 15 years. Schell said he's also selling lots of bike trailers designed to haul children — customers are using them for groceries instead. Dahl, the Bismarck bike shop owner, said he's worked several on "dusty and rusty" bicycles that hadn't been ridden in at least 25 years. He said many families have told him that that they intend to go on a bicycle tour this summer instead of driving somewhere for vacation. "Millions of people have bicycles hanging in the garage and they're getting them down and riding them," said Rebecca Anderson, advocacy director for Trek Bicycle Corp. "People are looking at the bicycle as more than just a toy." Read more in this Associated Press article. See also: Drivers turning to bicycles because of high gas prices. (Video also available) Some commuters prefer pedaling to work. Los Angeles: Riding a bike to work is more than a healthy commute: It's a sign of adulthood. Wasau, WI: Let's go for an easy bicycle commute. Remember, May is National Bike Month in much of the United States. Bike To Work Day is Thursday, May 15 in California and many other locations. Posted May 12 2008, 01:16 AM by Cyclelicious Filed under: news

• Bay Area bicycle discussion forum

  Bikeness is a new bicycle website with discussion forums for casual and avid cyclists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Check it out: Bikeness.com. Posted May 12 2008, 12:40 AM by Cyclelicious Filed under: san francisco

• You and me in our sport utility vehicles

  Oh you and me in our Sport Utility Vehicles, cruisin' to 7-11 for a bag of Frito-Lays! Oh you and me in our Sport Utility Vehicles, we'll slam into 4 wheel drive, and pick up a dozen eggs. You and me in our Sport Utility Vehicles cruisin' to Dunkin Donuts for a cup of steaming Joe! Oh you and me in our Sport Utility Vehicles we'll slam into 4-wheel drive for a scoop of rocky road. Posted May 10 2008, 10:21 PM by Cyclelicious

• Mellow Johnny's opens on Saturday

  Mellow Johnny's (maillot jaune, get it?), Lance Armstrong's new bicycle store in Austin, Texas, opens this weekend. Armstrong anticipates that the majority of the sales will be high end road racing gear at his Trek dealership, but he says that the bike will be an important way for people to get around. Besides offering fitness training, Mellow Johnny's also has secure bike parking and showers specifically for commuters who cycle into downtown Austin. Read more about Lance Armstrong's hopes for his new shop in this Momentum Magazine interview with Lance Armstrong. Posted May 09 2008, 03:57 PM by Cyclelicious Filed under: texas

• Separated bike lanes proposed for S.F. Market Street

  A group headed by the business-backed Market Street Association, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and the civic think tank San Francisco Planning & Urban Research Association is hatching a new idea to improve Market. The thought is to create dedicated bike lanes, physically separated from vehicles, such as has been done in Frankfurt, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; and closer to home in Eugene and Bend, Ore. Proponents of that idea have sketched out a primitive design in which sidewalks and traffic lanes would be narrowed along some downtown segments of Market Street to accommodate a dedicated bike path. Read more in the San Francisco Chronicle: "Despite efforts, Market Street traffic lingers" Posted May 09 2008, 01:19 AM by Cyclelicious Filed under: san francisco

• Clipless mishap leads to broken ribs

  Most of us who use pedal retention systems have experienced the embarrassing moments of failing to release from the pedal when we first learn use them. I was talking with a friend last night whose fiancée tried clipless pedals for the first time last week. As she keeled over during a stop, the handlebar flipped around and she fell right on the end of her flat bars! After a few days of pain, she went to the doctor who diagnosed the broken ribs. What's the worst newbie injury you know of from failure to disengage from the pedals? What about injuries from unintentional release from clipless pedals? Posted May 08 2008, 12:00 PM by Cyclelicious

• Thank you for taking the survey

  Thank you to all of you who took the Cyclelicious survey. I'll look over the responses over the weekend. I really appreciate that you've given me your thoughts about Cyclelicious and I really appreciate the encouragement that several of you gave. I've selected a winner and sent notification this evening. I used a random number generator from Random.org to select from among the email addresses that were entered. Thanks again! I'm fairly busy this week, so I'll direct your attention to a new bike blog I ran across: Cycle Pig. CyclePig is Pete, and his site is not about racing or the serious side of cycling; it’s about how to have fun on a bike. Whether you are a recreational cyclist or long distance cycle tourer you will find hints and tips that will help you get more out of your cycling. Posted May 08 2008, 12:31 AM by Cyclelicious Filed under: blog

• Shout out to Camille and Heather

  I hadn't seen Camille since she moved away from Santa Cruz a few months ago. I ran into her completely by accident at Maker Faire last weekend and I finally met her fiance (congrats!). Her friend Heather was there, too. Heather is an art teacher in Cupertino, California. She had her students do a collage illustrating environmental problems and solutions. A couple of her students had an anti-car or pro-bicycling theme in their problem/solution project. Posted here with Heather's permission. "Ride a Bike" "Cars Are Evil" Here's the collage that Heather did, which also illustrates the bicycle as a solution. Posted May 07 2008, 01:15 AM by Cyclelicious

• Free web listing for your bike business

  During the month of May bike shops, tour operators, and accommodation owners that link their site to TheCyclePeople.com will get free listings for the remainder of 2008. Manufacturers have already uploaded thousands of products to the site's database, making it easy to search for the latest cycling gear. Over 7,000 US and UK bike shops are listed as well. Shop owners that take advantage of this opportunity will get an enhanced listing for their shop, complete with details on the product lines they carry. Tour operators and accommodation owners can upload photos and detailed descriptions of their offerings as well. It's a completely risk-free way to gain exposure to over 1.5 million cyclists this year, on a site dedicated to becoming the one-stop site for cyclists around the world. Businesses wishing to take advantage of this offer should visit www.TheCyclePeople.com/Advertise before the offer ends on May 30th 2008. Posted May 07 2008, 12:24 AM by Cyclelicious