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Showing posts from April 14, 2013

albert hofmann 1943 - a bicycle trip (2009)

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The City Exposed: Piano Bike

The City Exposed: Piano Bike from San Francisco Chronicle on Vimeo .

MAYOR’S TWILIGHT RIDE is Friday, July 12 #letsride

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MAYOR’S TWILIGHT RIDE  Please join Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs, Columbus Public Health officials, other dignitaries and fellow cyclists for a fully supported evening ride promoting the benefits of active living. Proceeds will fund bikes and helmets for kids in need and support bicycle safety initiatives. FRIDAY, JULY 12th 2013 The ride begins at 6:30 pm at COSI, 333 West Broad Street, Columbus Ohio 43215. The finish is at the pedestrian/bicycle north side of the Main Street Bridge. Riders have the choice of a 10 mile or 25 mile route. Bike parking will be available. Cost is $25 and only $10 for newly designed Twilight T-Shirt until Wednesday, July 10th. Government, non-profit and corporate team categories with great prizes! NEW FOR 2013 All riders return to free entertainment at Bicentennial Park as part of Rhythm on the River - free bike parking will be available. ROUTE This unique tour takes riders through the vibrant downtown area, including the Scio

Year of Yay 13.4 - The Environment is April 20 9AM #letsride

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Earth Day is on it's way and that means for this month's Year of Yay! bike ride we have an obvious theme: The Environment! Join us on April 20, 2013, at 9:00 AM at the open at Goodale Park near the playground. Rides are generally around 15 miles with 2 - 3 stops along the way. Oh, and don't forget that you will also receive a small button pin of the above picture. The YEAR OF YAY! is a series of 12 tours on the streets of Columbus to get people out riding bikes and helping to support our community and small local businesses. You'll be amazed at what you'll discover! HELMETS are *strongly* encouraged on all YB! rides. LOCKS are also useful at our stops. All YoY rides are FREE for Yay Bikes! members and $5 for everyone else. Membership is only $25 and helps support bicycling advocacy in Columbus. Become a YB! member at  http://yaybikes.com/membership/ . The lowdown: The what: Year of Yay 13.4 - The Environment The when: April 20, 2013 at 9:00

Brooks England Panniers

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Important Note: Pannier Sold Individually. In order to purchase a set of panniers as shown in the photo, please place 2 in the shopping basket. Panniers can be mounted on the left or right side. Our new travel panniers are named after the famous “Land’s End to John O’ Groats” cycle route which traverses the length of the island of Great Britain between its two furthermost extremities. Hundreds of cyclists attempt this 874-mile route yearly, facing the challenges of Britain’s inclement weather. The panniers are waterproof, light and durable to meet the demands of long distance cyclists, without sacrificing style. The closing system of the bag featuring a stylish leather insert enables cyclists to adjust the volume of each bag from a minimum to a maximum, as follows: -JOHN O' GROATS Front Panniers min/max 12/15 l -LAND'S END Rear Panniers min/max 19/23 l [Brooks]

Why You Should Explore Cities by Bike [MomentumMag]

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Jim Darling One of the best things about seeing a cit by bike is feeling the wind in your hair while you explore diverse neighborhoods, such as Washington, DC's Chinatown, pictured here. There is something inexplicably thrilling about using a bicycle to explore a strange new city, its streets pulsating with life. The glass and steel of buildings shimmer with a certain magic, street life seems more vibrant and the smells and sounds of a metropolis at full tilt threaten to overwhelm your senses. When you’re on a bicycle, you can’t help but feel completely alive and immersed in the moment. Instead of merely gazing passively through window glass, you experience and interact with a place in an immediate way. On a bike, you’re privy to the slight inclines of city streets, you can smell restaurants before you see them, and you can hear the different languages that are spoken in different neighborhoods. Cities provide fascinating opportunities to explore new cultures an

The business benefits of on-street bike corrals: An infographic [BikePortland.org]

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Bike Corrals: Local Business Impacts, Benefits, and Attitudes , by Drew Meisel. (Click for larger image -  Download PDF ) Yesterday  we shared that the Portland Business Alliance believes , "converting on-street metered parking spots and loading zones for non-auto parking use should be avoided." The PBA's position that auto parking and loading zones should remain the top priority over other uses of the public right-of-way in the downtown core was made clear in a letter to PBOT about the Street Seats program (a program that allows cafe owners and other organizations to convert parking spaces into customer seating areas). After seeing our post, Drew Meisel, a planner at  Alta Planning + Design  in Portland, sent us over an infographic about bike corrals. Meisel  published a study on bike corrals in 2010  as a graduate student at Portland State University's School of Urban Studies and he created the infographic for a presentation he gave this weekend at the Ame

Crossing Washington On The John Wayne Pioneer Trail - Check out the pics, OH YEAH!

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Day 1 was the first bona fide day of touring and the plan was to ride about 50 miles, from about mile 15 on the map below to about mile 65. The only access to any kind of services (i.e. food, water) would be in Rosalia, which was about 10 miles in.  The big event for the day would be passing by Rock Lake, which is the long, skinny body of water sitting under the 50 mile marker on the map. For the appetizer, we ordered up more classic Palouse farm country. I knew however, that we would be trying something different for the main course. One of the brazillion deer we saw.  Wha?? One of the brazillion rock cuts we pedalled through. They never got old though.  As we were just about to cross the rad trestles leading into Rosalia, Eric noticed that the filling had squished out of Scott's sleeping burrito. See the blue rolled-up pad and the sleeping bag inside it on Eric's bike? That's exactly the way Scott

Brooks introducing new rubber and cotton saddle [Bicycle Times]

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Brooks England  has been building its traditional leather bicycle saddles for more than 100 years, and this summer the brand is introducing something completely new. The Cambium C17 is made from uniquely flexible natural rubber and organic cotton, enhanced by a thin layer of structural textile for added toughness. Unlike the traditional Brooks saddles that require patience before they break in, the vulcanized, waterproof top of the Cambium follows a riders’ movements, is immediately comfortable and maintenance-free. Before the saddle’s summer release, Brooks is inviting the public to register to be one of 100 individuals worldwide to be the first to try it. They will ride the saddle for a few months and give feedback for the Brooks website. The individuals selected will be as diverse a group as possible, with one third being long-time Brooks saddle riders, one-third who use both Brooks and other saddles, and one-third who have never ridden a Brooks. Visit the  Brooks Ca

Breaking Away Masi [Urban Velo]

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We  first posted  images of this film used Masi from  Breaking Away  back when I shot it while on display at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show a couple of months ago. At the show it was stated to be one of three Masi’s used in the film, and one of two in the collection of Chris Brown, a friend of the screenwriter. I’ve since received more information on it and the other bikes in the film from Tom Schwoegler, the film’s technical advisor and bicycle mechanic. “At the conclusion of the film one of the two Masi’s that were purchased was given to Steve Tesich (the screenwriter) and the other returned with the production company in Los Angeles. This 2nd bike was purchased by Dennis Christopher and can be seen in the October 12/19, 2012 copy of Entertainment Weekly. There was a spare fork purchased from Masi that we had to bend for the scenes after the pump insertion. But whoever stated that there were three Masi’s built for the film is incorrect. The “third” bike was a Sears

ATT CYCLISTS/RUNNERS in Antrim Lake area - MISSING DOG ALERT!

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ATTENTION all runners and cyclists on the Olentangy Trail. MISSING DOG. Lost earlier today near the Antrim loop. Is chipped and tagged (goes by LuLu). Contact Jill at 614-561-8082 for any sightings.

A Forgotten Hero By Ken Kifer [Major Taylor Association]

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  About twenty years ago, I was browsing in a college library, looking for something interesting to read, when by chance I discovered Major Taylor's autobiography, next to a book on weightlifting.   I have never been much of a fan of bicycle racing; however, I was intrigued by this story of a sports hero I had never heard of before, who raced back in the golden age of cycling at the turn of the century, and I read his book completely absorbed.  It was his personality, his struggle, and his open and unpolished writing style that made me his admirer, rather than his victories on the track.   In our involvement in cycling, Taylor and I did not have much in common. I go on long, slow rides to enjoy the beauty of nature; Taylor's cycling consisted of short, vicious, high-speed battles that seldom lasted much over four minutes; nowhere does Taylor even mention the pleasure of cycling outdoors.   On the other hand, as a cyclist and as a person, I have experienced undeserved at

One Gear, One Goal: Bike Is 'Good To 100 MPH,' Builder Says [@NPRNews]

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What does it take to ride a bicycle at 100 miles per hour? That's the question being explored by Britain's  Donhou Bicycles  and frame builder Tom Donhou, who has mounted a mammoth chainring onto a custom bicycle. He says the steel machine has already hit 60 miles per hour on the open road. Update At 3:30 p.m. ET: No Record At Stake.  As our readers remind us, bicycles have previously reached 100 miles per hour. For instance, Jose Meiffret passed that mark in 1962, paced by a car on Germany's Autobahn. And in 1995, Dutch cyclist  Fred Rompelberg reached 167 mph while using a top-fuel dragster to pace him at Bonneville Salt Flats. While our original post didn't report that Donhou was trying to set a new world record, we've revised parts of the text to emphasize that it is his use of fairly common materials, on a hand-built bike, that captured our interest.  Our original post continues: The project began as a daydream, says Donhou, in notes accompanying the

Royce Racing Gold Bottom Bracket Axle

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The Racing Gold Bottom Bracket Axle features a ground and laquered Carbon Fibre Spacer, special cups and offers a weight saving of 10% over the Royce Talent Bottom Bracket Axle.  The Axle is precision machined from a very tough material  6A1-4V Titanium. The precision Bearings feature contact seals as standard and the low profile cups are machined from aerospace grade Aluminium.  The Titanium End Bolts are Nitrided to produce a Gold wear resistant finish. This includes the complete Bottom Bracket Axle assembly, End Bolts and Royce Anti Shake Compound. These Axles are only available in shorter lenghts - 80, 85, 90, 95, 102, 103, 106 and 107 mm.  For the cyclist requiring a very low "Q" factor is the reason we produce these unusually short axles. Special Order Only [Royce]

Loopwheels: for a smoother, more comfortable bicycle ride

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The project Yep, this project is about reinventing the wheel.  But don't let that put you off - this is serious!!  I have spent much of the last four years developing bicycle wheels with integral suspension.   We showed our loopwheels for the first time in public at the Bespoked Bicycle show in Bristol 12-14 April 2013. The reception and feedback was brilliant - thank you to every one who came to our stand. There are pictures and Twitter feedback on the Loopwheels Facebook page. We are at the final push now: I need your help to take our fully-functioning and tested prototype 20" front and rear bicycle wheels into production.   What is a loopwheel? Loopwheels are a brand-new 'pat pending' 20" bicycle wheel with integral suspension.  A spring system between the hub and the rim of the wheel provides suspension, cushioning the rider from bumps and potholes in the road.   Loopwheels have a conventional hub with a hub brake and hub gears.  But the spokes a

Our PR Problem: Self-righteous Spandex-wearing Scofflaws [The Bicycle Blog of Wisconsin]

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“Bicycles Also” signs like this should not really be necessary, for a lot of reasons. I can’t tell you how many times people complain about “cyclists” who run red lights, blow through stop signs, ride without lights at night or and don’t pay for the roads.  If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that cyclists should be taught the rules of the road and given a test like motorists, I could retire and move to Copenhagen where those things actually happen. But it surprised me to still hear these tired myths brought up in response to sincere requests to level the playing field when innocent people riding bicycles or walking are killed by someone driving a car who has been proven to be negligent. It is one thing to complain about “scofflaws” and quite another to tell someone who has lost a loved one or friend that anyone walking or bicycling deserves what they get because roads are meant for cars and all “cyclists” are self-righteous, spandex wearing law breakers. Last Tu

Bike the C-Bus 2013 registration is OPEN! @yaybikes #letsride

The  $30 registration fee  includes an official Bike the C-Bus 2013 t-shirt (if you register by August 23) and wristband along with drinks and food at designated rest stops, plus a free lunch in the hospitality area. Online registration ends at NOON on Friday, August 30, 2013. On-site registration will increase to $35 on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Are you a Yay Bikes! member? Yay Bikes! members get $5 off registration. Email rgeorge@bikethecbus.com for your discount code if you are a CURRENT Yay Bikes! member.  If not, become a Yay Bikes! member today and email for your code.

Simplify your life: Go car-free [CNN]

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(CNN)  -- When 25-year-old Emily Knies moved from Seattle to Chicago two years ago, being able to easily and happily live car-free was a key consideration. For one thing, she doesn't have a driver's license -- and from the time she was a kid, she never wanted to own a car. "I knew I wanted to live in a city where I could find a job and the culture I wanted. That normally comes with public transportation," says Knies, program events manager at the nonprofit Step Up Women's Network in downtown Chicago. If there's a work meeting outside the office, "I am much more prone to just walking; it's always my first instinct." Living in the artsy Ukrainian Village neighborhood west of downtown Chicago, she finds having a vehicle "is just not that necessary. It doesn't make sense to buy a car to go to the grocery store or to the movie theater. I would rather have a really nice dinner than fill up a tank of gas." If she and her partner ne

Apple’s Campus Bikes Are Classically Minimal [Wired]

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Neither high-tech nor fancy, Apple This bike is the Apple campus bike. The photo above, taken by designer Everaldo Coelho, shows one of the bikes apparently used to get around at Apple’s headquarters at One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California. If you were expecting a high-tech machine that looks more like Eve from  Wall-E  than a silver mixte that could come from any decade in the past 50 years, then you will obviously be disappointed. But take a closer look and you’ll see that this bike is as well suited to its task as an iPad is to its own market. First, it looks great. Everything is silver, gray or black, even the panniers that sit astride the rear rack, ready for an iPad, a MacBook Air or even (gasp) stacks of paper. Next up is the style. The mixte frame is somewhere between the step-through bike and the more familiar diamond-framed design with a high top-tube. The mixte is easy to mount, but still uses triangles in the frame to keep it strong and rigid. Meanwhile,

Bicycle - Wikipedia

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A  bicycle , often called a  bike [2]  (and sometimes referred to as a "pushbike", [3]  "pedal bike", [4]  "pedal cycle", [5]  or "cycle" [6] ), is a  human-powered , pedal-driven ,  single-track vehicle , having two  wheels  attached to a  frame , one behind the other. [7]  A person who rides a bicycle is called a  cyclist , or bicyclist. Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century in Europe and now number more than a billion worldwide, twice as many as  automobiles . [8]  They are the principal  means of transportation  in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for such uses as children's toys, general fitness, military and police applications, courier services and bicycle racing. The basic shape and configuration of a typical  upright , or safety bicycle, has changed little since the first chain-driven model was developed around 1885. [9]  However, many details have been improved, esp

Columbus OH Trails Update

Highlights Ride started at JFK Park in Reynoldsburg Then headed south through Huber & Blacklick Metro Parks Trail used to end on the south side of Tussing but continues along south side of Tussing to Hines. Intersections are a little confusing for both motorists/cyclists because signage is not installed yet. Interesting "no pedestrians" sign on Hines Road section of trail which is on the west side of the road. Why would there be one? At the end of the straightaway the trail crosses back over to the east side on a controlled intersection, but it was not fully functional yet. At Refugee Road the trail turns to dirt for a few hundred yards and reconnects to paved trail. The bridge from Motts Place Rd and Long Rd has been reopened to pedestrian/cycling traffic. In Gahanna there is a lighter traffic option compared to Taylor Rd. If you are heading east on Tech Center Drive continue across Morrison and continue through the industrial park up to the top of the hill. Th

LaHood: Zero Tolerance for Drivers Who Disrespect Cyclists [DC Streets Blog]

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Secretary Ray LaHood (left) and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn (right) ride along the Riverwalk to kick off U.S. DOT's bike safety summit. Photo: City of Tampa, via  Fast Lane First there was “Click It or Ticket.” Then there was Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Now, U.S. DOT is campaigning to end another life-threatening behavior: disrespecting cyclists. “We need to develop zero tolerance for people who don’t respect cyclists,” Secretary Ray LaHood said yesterday at the first of two national bike safety summits hosted by U.S. DOT this month. “That’s the campaign we’re kicking off today.” At yesterday’s summit in Tampa, Florida, LaHood announced a new, long-term, national-level campaign to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety through aggressive education, enforcement and engineering. “It’s simple,” LaHood said yesterday. “When you build a road, build a bike lane. When you’re fixing up your street, build in a bike lane. Do that, and we’ll be supportive of that at the national

Victorinox Swiss Army Bike Tool

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The Victorinox Swiss Army Bike Tool is the newest addition to the  Swiss Army Knife  Collection.  Small and robust, equip yourself for any ride with 5 essential tools in 1 compact case.  The Bike Tool is the perfect companion for cyclists or leisurely bike riders.  Weighing in less than 3.5 oz., it won’t add unnecessary weight to your ride and the rounded edges provide protection against injury. To shop companion pouch and accessories for the Bike Tool,  click here . 

SBU V3 - One Wheel. ∞ Fun.

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SBU V3

Blink Steady

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Easy, Secure, Beautiful.  Machined from solid aluminum, the Blink/Steady bike light turns on automatically and shuts off when you’re not riding. There’s no need to remove it when you lock up because it’s secured by your seatpost. Our elegant, low-profile design is the bike light you’ve been waiting for. On and off – on its own.   The Blink / Steady bike light uses an accelerometer that knows when you’re moving, and a light sensor that knows when it’s dark enough to turn on. After you lock up your bike, it turns off after 30 seconds. No buttons, you’ll never have to think about your bike light again. Blinking or Steady.   No more clicking through blink patterns because Blink / Steady has two dead simple, but equally effective options. Blink / Steady operates in Blink Mode if installed one way; flip it over and it works in Steady Mode, holding a bright, but evenly distributed light. Using its accelerometer, it knows which way is down. Beautiful and Incredibl