Columbus Rides Bikes!

If ever there was an event designed to showcase bike riding, it’s Earth Day. What better way to demonstrate you care about the health of the planet than by utilizing an emissions-free, ultra efficient, low maintenance form of transportation? From an environmental perspective, the bicycle has no peer.   As a company filled with diehard bike commuters, we walk the talk every day at Seven. We view ourselves as part of the environmental solution, both in the products and services we provide, and the way we run our company. We actively take steps to reduce waste and minimize our ecological impact wherever possible, while still creating a rider experience that is uniquely yours.   Now we have challenged ourselves to do even more in support of these beliefs. We examined all aspects of our business, and came up with a limited edition bike to commemorate Earth Day on April 22, 2009.   The Frame We start with the Muse frame, which uses our Integrity 325™ straight gauge titaniu...

Why are we asking this now? Because research published yesterday suggests that when cyclists ride in dedicated lanes motorists give them less room. Teams at Leeds and Bolton universities, supported by CTC, the national cyclists' organisation, put a camera on the back of a bike being ridden along three roads in the north of England. Analysis of the footage revealed that drivers gave up to 18cm (seven inches) more space to cyclists on stretches without cycle lanes. The findings question the perceived wisdom that slapping down strips of green paint and white lines makes riding safer. [Editor's emphasis]  And as cycling continues to enjoy a boom, the suggestion that cycle lanes could be endangering rather than protecting users highlights increasingly fraught relationship between riders and drivers. Why is this a big deal? Cycling is booming like never before. In the capital alone there has been a 91 per cent increase in the number of cycle journ...

From Wikipedia -  Vehicular cycling  (also known as  integrated cycling ,  integrated traffic cycling ,  cooperative cycling , and  bicycle driving ) is the practice of riding  bicycles  on roads in a manner that is in accordance with the principles for  driving  in  traffic . The phrase  vehicular cycling  was coined by  John Forester  in the 1970s to characterize the style of cycling utilized in his native country, the  United Kingdom , in contrast to the deferential-to-cars style of cycling and practices that he found to be typical in the  United States . In his book  Effective Cycling , Forester contends that  "Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as  drivers  of vehicles" . [1]  Forester's book is generally considered the primary modern reference work about vehicular cycling, along with  Cyclecraft  by John Franklin, which is part of  Bike...

Join us Saturday April 28th, 2012! The ride is designed for novice to expert riders. There are 3 routes to choose from ranging in 10, 30, and 75 mile increments as well as two "unsupported" shortcuts with a total of 45 miles or 60 miles in length. Register today for only $35 and you receive a complimentary t-shirt and raffle ticket for a chance to win a brand new 2011 Giant Cypress ST donated by GIANT. Register today! . Location:  200 Cemetery Road  Canal Winchester, OH  43110 |  Get Directions Registration:  7:30am |  Start Time:  9:00am Want to help but don’t want to ride? No problem! Our idea is that nobody can do everything but everyone can do something. We understand that not everyone can ride and without volunteers this would not be possible. Rather you are checking riders in, refueling riders at the food stops or just flat out sponsoring the event there is something for everyone to contribute.  Learn More. [Learn more a...

From the The Free Weekly Guest Opinion Matt Petty If you appreciate the bike trails in Fayetteville, but you find yourself driving more often than not, you aren’t alone. Unless you live close to a trail and reaching your destination is convenient, it probably makes more sense for you to drive. Riding a bicycle is supposed to be a relaxing, joyous activity, but that ends once you have to leave the trail and ride in traffic. For casual riders, there are three criteria which a prospective ride must meet before most people will even consider using a bicycle to reach a destination: safety from traffic, general comfort, and a clear route. Trails are fantastic at addressing each of these, but what if a trail won’t take you all the way to your destination? It’s a good question, and it’s not one Fayetteville’s Alternative Transportation Plan answers. Think to yourself: what route would you ride to get from the Fayetteville High School to Gulley Park on East Township? If a clear route...

Ludwig XIV is in the vanguard of the Schindelhauer-Family: he shines with one ́s head held high above them all. Equipped with a 14-speed gear hub by Rohloff, the new found head truly lives up to his name. The new tourer combines in the customary fine Schin-delhauer aesthetic both freedom from maintenance of the Carbon Drive belt paired with the efficiency of the Rohloff shifting system. In spite of its features like disk brake, Brooks leather saddle and if requested splash guard, Louise XIV embodies simple elegance of his Schindelhauer ancestors. [Schindelhauer website]

The shade of green paint used to mark the mile-and-a-half bike lane that runs along Spring Street downtown is not film-friendly, it turns out. (Los Angeles Times) February 14, 2012 Los Angeles has a bike plan, and it's a fine idea. We have quite enough cars and quite enough drivers, thank you very much, and the counter-stereotypical truth is that we also have thousands and thousands of bicyclists who would gladly leave the car in the garage (or not buy one in the first place) and take to the pedals if only we could make enough room for them on the pavement. That's the idea behind the mile-and-a-half or so of green-painted bike lane that runs along Spring Street downtown. By itself it's not much, but as the anchor of a bikeway network, it's an inviting path. Of course, bike lanes are nothing new, although they always seemed to work out well enough without being painted a garish color. And this green is just so, well — green. Kind of a gimmick, ri...

(Photo courtesy of  Paul Krueger ) “I’ve noticed there aren’t a lot of people using the downtown bike routes. I worry that they just weren’t a very good idea.” A well-meaning friend said this to me yesterday. A day later, I have figured out what I  should  have replied. Better late than never, I guess. In a nutshell, people are slow to embrace change . In fact, it’s quite fascinating to look back to the advent of motors cars, and see how  people resisted cars as fiercely as some people now resist bicycle lanes . Cars were first invented in 1885, but it would be decades before they posed any threat to horses and bicycles. As late as 1907 they were seen as little more than annoying, noisy, smelly nuisances. The editor of the  New Glasgow Eastern Chronicle  commented: “The automobile fever is catching.  [Soon] ... the chug-chug noise will be quite common. ... The horsemen need not get alarmed that the motor car will injure t...

Kurt Boone has been a bicycle messenger for more than 15 years. He is the author of “Asphalt Warrior,” a memoir about his life as a messenger in New York City. You can see his work at  www.kurtboonebooks.com The messenger industry in New York City is a serious — if not dead serious — multi-million dollar business. Running in and out of bumper-to-bumper city traffic or hopping on and off subway lines to crisscross the city during rush hour requires some skills when you’re on a bicycle. Kurt Boone has been working as bicycle messenger in New York City for over 15 years. He is also the author of “Asphalt Warrior,” a memoir about his life, and a producer for “The Messenger Poet Show." Photo Courtesy of John Sarsgard I’ve been writing about messenger life for the past 10 years. Through this work, I have interviewed a number of bicycle messengers about their thoughts on the city’s new bike lanes. Bicycle messengers have always been scrutinized for how they ride in t...

This 143-km (89-mi.) route is born of an alliance between farm producers and restaurant chefs in the region eager to highlight products from the fertile fields of Charlevoix. Members work in close cooperation to grow, process, prepare and feature products from the Charlevoix region. Visit the Web site for full details and a map of the route. C harlevoix’s unique products and dishes are the result of a lengthy process that involves producers and transformers. Production and transformation of local Charlevoix products is done in genuinely traditional fashion. Bonjour Quebec site  Many of the local flavour Craftspeople have been practicing their art for several generations. Dozens of enthusiasts develop local products which inspire even the most demanding Chefs’ creativity.  Thus, and for over 10 years, the region’s producers and transformers have pooled their knowledge to make Charlevoix a reference in Québec’s farm produce industry.  Discover the Trail’s fruits, v...

Welcome to Joe Bike, a full-service retail and repair shop that specializes in the most advanced, most dependable, cleanest, most practical, and lowest-maintenance urban bikes available, equipped with Gates Carbon Drive, the best internally geared and dynamo hubs, and hydraulic or mechanical disc brakes. [Check out their site - Joe Bike]

Detroit Bike City will be held on March 24, 2012 from 10:00 am–6:00 pm in The Michigan Hall at COBO Center. 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226 Detroit Bike City is Detroit’s first annual bicycle show and swap meet. Offering 100+ vendors from all over the Midwest the opportunity to show, sell and swap bicycles, parts and everything bikes. Bringing together the whole community with all forms of bicycles from road and racing to mountain and BMX, Detroit Bike City has something the enthusiast or casual rider can enjoy, plus a full day of bicycle activities and demos for the whole family. A real chance to get some great deals, be sure to come out to Detroit Bike City to buy, sell, swap and browse. Admission is $8 and is free for kids under 12 Individuals are welcome to bring in small items for trade i.e. a hub or pedals (anything other than complete bikes, frames/sets, or wheels) at no additional cost to admission. Individuals wishing to sell and/or swap complete b...

Date:  9-Jun-12 Start Location:  Westerville Central High School Event Manager:  Tisha Horst Email:  thorst@diabetes.org For more information, call 614-436-1917 ext. 6622 or Contact Us . Event Highlights Many people will participate in the Tour de Cure for the stimulating competition, camaraderie and physical cycling challenge, but the real reward comes in knowing that every mile we ride and every dollar we raise brings us that much closer to stopping this disease that affects nearly 26 million Americans. Be one of more than 50,000 riders nationwide committed to helping us Stop Diabetes!  From coast to coast, in over 43 states, the Tour de Cure is changing the future of diabetes! EVENT DETAILS Date: Saturday, June 9, 2012 Location: Westerville Central High School Address:  7118 Mt. Royal Avenue, Westerville, OH 43082 Distances:  12, 30, 60, 100 mile Fundraising Minimum: $150 Tour Director:  Tisha Horst    ...

Reforming Bicycle Traffic Laws The Ohio Bicycling Federation has the following proposals and informative articles available.  Note: Most will open in a new window that will be re-used if you open another article. We have proposed a series of  Ohio Bicycle Law Reforms . These are also described in a  12-page  booklet  that can be given to lawmakers. We have written a  Digest of Ohio Bicycle Traffic Laws  that summarizes the laws and explains what they mean. For those with an interest in researching other aspects of the Ohio Revised Code, you can  search it electronically . We have a new  Bicycle  Transportation Policy Statement  to promote best practices, based on education for safe and effective bicycle transportation planning. This is suitable background information for those involved in local advocacy to present to planning boards and government agencies. We have also prepared a general article on  Improving Sta...

What Will We See (1) by Molly Winters SoundCloud link here To celebrate Columbus’ rich and talented community of musicians, the Celebrate Columbus in Song contest invited Columbus musicians to submit original songs inspired by Columbus. The contest had an overwhelming response. The initial 123 submissions were narrowed to the list of 29 songs below by a panel of community members who considered adherence to the contest rules as well as other song characteristics including relevance, musicality and overall vibe. Celebrate Columbus in Song is designed to support local artists as they support the Bicentennial and for everyone to celebrate and enjoy the city's amazing creative talent. The top 10-12 songs receiving the most votes will be featured on the CD, along with the Columbus Bicentennial Anthem, written by Milton Ruffin, the principal of Ft. Hayes High School. The musicians/bands selected will receive a cash prize of $500 and an opportunity for professional re...

Ready for the job. Without a big truck (he uses a cargo bike and a large trailer), Chris Sanderson is finding a niche with his construction business. (Photo: Courtesy Chris Sanderson) Chris Sanderson, the man behind new bike-based business 'Builder by Bike', is a licensed general contractor who wants to show it's possible to be a home remodeler, deck builder, and painter, without owning a big truck. "There's a real macho thing in this business with trucks," he said during a brief stop at my office last week, "But I'll see them drive away from the hardware store with 2-3 two-by-fours!" That size of load is nothing for Sanderson, who has a massive  Bikes at Work trailer  and a sturdy  Yuba Mundo  cargo bike in his work fleet. Both set ups can carry up to 400-450 pounds of materials and equipment. [continue reading at Bike Portland]

The Facts A Hybrid Sack/Backpack VITAL STATISTICS About 2.5 times the size of a standard-issue EcoTote (big enough for one of Farmer Pete’s prize-winning watermelons). Main compartment contains three large shelved pockets that unhook to create a full cylinder, plus an interior change pocket. NEW!  Top rolls up like a dry bag and secures with a tough Velcro strap. NEW!  Made of water-resistant cotton canvas + a Cordura Nylon liner for extra protection. NEW!  Super-bright interior makes finding your stuff easier. NEW!  Other goodies: reinforced bottom, blinding reflective strips, utility loop, padded shoulder straps, adjustable chest buckle. 100% machine-washable. One of the very few products we make outside San Francisco (specifically, China). [Betabrand Cornucopia Bag]