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Showing posts from August 26, 2012

New Albany, Westerville on planned U.S. bike route [ThisWeek]

New Albany and Westerville could be part of a national bicycle route that stretches across the United States and links to Canada and Mexico. New Albany City Council last week approved a resolution supporting U.S. Bicycle Route 50, which would run through the city limits. Mike Hooper, Westerville's parks and recreation development administrator, said Westerville City Council has not yet heard legislation to support the route. Kathryn Meyer, New Albany's deputy community development director, said the bicycle route mostly would use scenic back roads, not heavily traveled roads. Meyer said the preferred route designated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials comes through Prairie Township and Galloway on the Far West Side of Columbus and meets the Alum Creek bicycle trail. It runs on the border of Bexley before heading north into Westerville. It then runs through New Albany and on to Granville and Newark. Heather Bowden, bicycle and p

Ohio Gran Fondo on Sunday is CANCELLED

Based on the impending weather which has a forecast for thunderstorms all day Sunday and the large number of individuals who have indicated they will not participate, the ride will be canceled and all fees paid will be refunded. http://www.ohiogranfondo.com

randonneur. [Thanks, David H!]

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Google Maps for Android adds turn-by-turn biking navigation

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Whether you’re a seasoned century rider or a casual beach cruiser, finding the best biking routes can be a challenge. That’s why today we’re bringing mobile biking directions and navigation to the 10 countries where we launched desktop biking directions last month (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK). Plus, we’re adding turn-by-turn, voice-guided biking navigation to Google Maps Navigation (beta) in every country with biking directions. Mount your device on your handlebars to see the turn-by-turn directions and navigation, or use speaker-mode to hear voice-guided directions. Turn-by-turn biking navigation in Copenhagen We know there are lots of ways to get from here to there, which is why in 2010 we added biking directions to Google Maps in the U.S. and Canada, and continue to work to bring more biking features to more places. Today, there are more than 330,000 miles (equal to more than 530,000 kilomet

Ohio Gran Fondo IMPORTANT Announcement

Dear Rider, Due to matters beyond our control I am writing to inform you of a change to the Ohio Gran Fondo event. Out of a concern for the safety of riders, we will no longer be treating the Ohio Gran Fondo event as a competitive mass start, timed event. What this means is that the ride will now officially be treated a tour where riders start at their leisure and official start and finish times will not be kept. Everything else about the ride will remain the same. Routes, start/finish line, shirts and swag, maps, painted and marked routes, aid stations, post ride catered meal etc. will all still be part of the event. We will provide a clock so riders can see when they start and finish, but officials will not be scoring the event and posting official finish times. Again, the only change will be that there will not be a mass start with law enforcement present to close intersections and there will not be official timing and scoring.  We hope that you understand but our primary concern wa

The Old West Scenic Bikeway

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Urban Velo - Bicycle Culture on the Skids

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Urban Velo is a magazine dedicated to bicycle culture in cities around the world. www.urbanvelo.org FREE issue #33 here:  Urban Velo - Bicycle Culture on the Skids

Detroit Avenue in Cleveland will soon cater to those on 2 wheels (Columbus still confused)

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View full size Marvin Fong, Plain Dealer file Biking along Detroit Avenue soon will be safer with the addition of 5-foot-wide cycling lanes. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Detroit Avenue, a major traffic artery on the city's West side, will soon make room for those driving on two wheels. The city unveiled a plan Tuesday night to stripe 5-foot-wide bike lanes on Detroit from about West 25th Street to Lake Avenue. The 1.7-mile stretch will narrow to one lane in each direction for cars. Parking along the curb will remain. The  biking community  applauded the plan, which could be in place by year's end or by next spring. About 70 people, most of them biking enthusiasts, filled an auditorium at the West Side Ecumenical Ministry, West 52nd Street and Detroit, to see the plan's rollout. "It's a great beginning," said veteran cyclist Joe Milan, 48, of Tremont. He's among a growing number of bicyclists who want a wider network of dedicated lanes and amenities in the

Stuck in traffic, cancer surgeon commandeers little girl’s bike to get to the hospital [grist.com]

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Breast cancer surgeon Catherine Baucom is six feet tall, but she rolled up to work last Wednesday on a  little girl’s pink bicycle . Baucom had been stuck in nightmarish traffic after a serious accident that shut down the interstate, but she knew her patient was waiting at the surgery center. So she hopped off the highway, drove to a friend’s house, and commandeered his 8-year-old daughter’s bike. [Keep reading at grist.com]

Minneapolis Takes Away Car Lanes; Columbus downtown business owners would say that is silly and frivolous

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Hennepin County’s public works department will repave and restripe Park and Portland avenues in late September. Plans suggest reducing the number of traffic lanes from three to two along much of the streets to allow for buffered bike lanes. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz) Plans to reduce the number of traffic lanes on Park and Portland avenues are raising hopes that the corridors will serve as more than a speedy route between south Minneapolis and downtown. Hennepin County’s public works department has presented plans to remove one of three traffic lanes on much of Park and Portland avenues between East 46th Street and Washington Avenue  in favor of a bike lane  with wider separation between traffic and parked vehicles. Plans also call for moving existing bike lanes from the left side of the streets to the right side, and reducing the speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph. Sections around Lake Street and downtown Minneapolis would remain largely unchanged. The reconfiguration will

Columbus Transportation and Pedestrian Commission Bicycle Subcommittee Meeting TONIGHT

Bicycle Sub-Committee Home COLUMBUS TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION BICYCLE SUBCOMMITTEE July 25th, 2012 Sub-Committee Meeting Notes  (pdf) August 29th, 2012 Sub-Committee Agenda  (pdf) THE NEXT MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29TH, 2012 NORMALLY MEETS THE LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH 109 NORTH FRONT STREET, GROUND FLOOR, ROOM 100 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. AGENDA: COLUMBUS TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION BICYCLE SUBCOMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING AGENDA 109 NORTH FRONT STREET, GROUND FLOOR, ROOM 100 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. ______________________________________________________________________ I. Call to Order II. Previous Meeting Notes III. New Business 1. Sullivant Avenue Corridor Overview 2. Intersection Improvements Overview a. Dublin Road @ Olentangy Trail b. Dublin Road @ Twin Rivers Drive c. King Avenue @ Olentangy Trail 3. Cleveland Avenue Corridor Study 4. Fourth Street Bike Lane IV. Old Business 5. Downt

46-Year-Old Cyclist Dies After Being Hit Monday Morning [NBC4i]

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A bicyclist who was hit early Monday morning while riding on North Hamilton Road has died from his injuries. Related Hamilton Road Reopens After Bicyclist Struck By:  JASON MAYS   |  NBC4   Published: August 28, 2012 COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A bicyclist who was hit early Monday morning while riding on North Hamilton Road has died from his injuries. Monday at about 5:15 a.m., a man riding a bicycle in the northbound lanes North Hamilton Road near Sawyer Road was hit from behind by a car. The rider, identified as 46-year-old Thomas Leonard, was taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition. Police said Leonard later died from his injuries. The driver of the vehicle, 59-year-old Antonia Benavidez, stayed on scene and cooperated with police after the crash. Police said it is unknown if alcohol is a factor in the crash. Police are investigating. [NBC4i]

The Future of Travel: Bicycles [Huff Post]

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Travelers--the future is on bicycles! Don't believe it? Consider the following trends, all of which show a dramatic increase in vacationers traveling by bike. This list comes courtesy of  Adventure Cycling , the largest (and as they are quick to note, growing) cycling membership group in North America. For full disclosure, I will say that I am very biased: I spent two years traveling by bicycle, and I think bike travel is the best way to see a state, country, or continent. It appears that an increasing number of people agree. Major Cycling Events Continue to Grow:  David Harrenstein, executive director of the National Bicycle Tour Directors Association ( NBTDA ), told us that attendance at major recreational cycling events has been going up. According to a recent study by  Bikes Belong , these events (such as Ride the Rockies or RAGBRAI) are a huge economic boon: in 2008, 1,700 road riding events in the U.S. drew more than one million participants, raised more than 200 millio

Laufradeln - Running bike [VIDEO]

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Vuelo Velo

Vuelo Velo from Vuelo Velo on Vimeo . The Vuelo Velo "1" ridden on the Sydney Olympic Velodrome and inner city streets. Music - "All Things To All Men" by The Cinematic Orchestra. http://vuelovelo.com/

Vulnerable on the Open Road: Five pro cyclists reflect on bike safety

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Take the PeopleForBikes.org Survey

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Every year, PeopleForBikes.org surveys our supporters to understand how bicycling fits into their lives. We have found that some of you are crazy about bikes and ride every day, while others ride occasionally or even not at all. That's what we think is cool about our movement - we represent everyone who is for bicycling, no matter how many bikes they own or what type of riding they do. We know you are busy, so we shortened our survey from last year's edition. Please consider taking a few moments to fill it out. The information you submit helps us make the case for bicycling and understand how and why Americans ride bikes. Completing the survey makes you eligible to win one of two $250 gift cards redeemable at a local bike shop or one of five PeopleForBikes.org prize packages. Click here to take survey: http://feedback.leisuretrends.com/fs.aspx?surveyid=7f053e53e3446c1b3e2b67c572102b2&fspid=5D0CD442-E64E-447D-B7BA-732492D76F85 Survey rules

STREET SHARK SPRINT SERIES PT IV registration is Tuesday, August 28, at Paradise Garage

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Registration- Tuesday, August 28, at Paradise Garage from 11 A.M. till 8 P.M. . $5 buy-in gets you registered and a spot in the bracket. Race Day- Friday, August 31, at 8:30 P.M. neet -up at Paradise Garage and group ride to the SHARK TANK at Mt. Vernon & 6th. ALL RACERS MUST CHECK-IN AT PG TO RACE. ALL SPECTATORS ARE WELCOME TO RIDE WITH US TO THE SHARK TANK OR ARE FREE TO MEET US THERE!! FYI: I noticed at the last sprint that there were quite a few races where one sprinter cut the other sprinter off. Not cool. All sprinters must keep their own line. DQ's will be handed down if this persists. Your safety is my main concern! If you have any concerns or questions, message me in private and we can discuss this. Much thanks to all of you who have been racing and spectating! Keep getting the word out!! [Facebook event]

Wooden It Be Good? [Brooks]

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It’s generally agreed that the very first machines we can nowadays still recognizably describe as “bikes” were built in the early 1800′s. Two wheeled, human powered… and made almost entirely of wood. A  minor trend  has developed over the past few years for eschewing carbon, steel and aluminium frames in favour of something more tree-y. We have some pictures this morning of a fine attempt from one of our readers. [Brooks]

Halo Belt

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HALO Belt: HALO is a sport safety belt that is illuminated by a patented LED system that utilizes thermoplastic polyurethane fiber optics. The LED system is powered by two nickel lithium batteries (CR2025) that are encased within the belt. Light modes of your choice: strobe, flash, or solid. One size fits most: Women size 0 to Men size 38. Order your HALO now! (expected shipping date November 2012)

Tuf Rack

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Every Tuf Rack is built by riders for riders. Rack Specs: Laser cut 16-gauge steel MIG welded Powder coated Industrial-grade ratchet strap rated to 500lbs 1/8 plate strap brackets Receiver piece – .238 wall receiver tubing plus one receiver pin Hitch – zinc plated 1/8 2×2 rectangular HSS tubing plus one receiver pin Tough like a tank, yet still on average 25% lighter than the competition’s tray style racks. Built with pride using only North American materials,  Tuf Rack  is guaranteed indestructible. And the  Tuf Rack  is modular, which means numerous racks can be attached inline on your vehicle. Our racks feature a simple user friendly design that is as strong as it is easy to use. A hitch bar attaches using a hitch pin, the racks then slide on and are also held in place by hitch pins. In order to hold the bike securely in it’s tray, a custom ratchet strap drapes over the top tube ensuring that your ride isn’t going anywhere. Due to the rack’s modular design

Hamilton Road Reopens After Bicyclist Struck [NBC4i]

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Northbound North Hamilton Road has reopened after a bicyclist was struck by a vehicle early Monday morning. By:  JASON MAYS   |  NBC4   Published: August 27, 2012 COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Northbound North Hamilton Road has reopened after a bicyclist was struck by a vehicle early Monday morning. Columbus EMS was called to the intersection of North Hamilton Road and Sawyer Road on a report of a pedestrian struck at about 5:20 a.m. EMS personnel found a man in his 50's who had been hit by a vehicle while riding a bicycle. The man was taken to Grant Medical Center as a level 1 trauma. Police tell  NBC4  that the bicyclist was riding in the middle of the northbound lanes of North Hamilton Road when he was hit by the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle stayed on scene and was being interviewed by police. Northbound North Hamilton Road has reopened to motorists at Sawyer Road. No further details were readily available. [NBC4i]

STREET SHARK SPRINT SERIES PT IV is this Friday!

Registration- Tuesday, August 28, at Paradise Garage from 11 A.M. till 8 P.M. . $5 buy-in gets you registered and a spot in the bracket. Race Day- Friday, August 31, at 8:30 P.M. neet -up at Paradise Garage and group ride to the SHARK TANK at Mt. Vernon & 6th. ALL RACERS MUST CHECK-IN AT PG TO RACE. ALL SPECTATORS ARE WELCOME TO RIDE WITH US TO THE SHARK TANK OR ARE FREE TO MEET US THERE!! FYI: I noticed at the last sprint that there were quite a few races where one sprinter cut the other sprinter off. Not cool. All sprinters must keep their own line. DQ's will be handed down if this persists. Your safety is my main concern! If you have any concerns or questions, message me in private and we can discuss this. Much thanks to all of you who have been racing and spectating! Keep getting the word out!! [Facebook event]

Lance Armstrong doping campaign exposes USADA’s hypocrisy [Washington Post]

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View Photo Gallery —  USADA says Armstrong will be banned from cycling: The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says it will recommend that Lance Armstrong be stripped of his titles. First of all,  Lance Armstrong  is a good man. There’s nothing that I can learn about him short of murder that would alter my opinion on that. Second, I don’t know if he’s telling the truth when  he insists he didn’t use performance-enhancing drugs in the Tour de France  — never have known. I do know that he beat cancer fair and square, that he’s not the mastermind criminal the  U.S. Anti-Doping Agency makes him out to be , and that the process of stripping him of his titles reeks. A  federal judge wrote last week , “USADA’s conduct raises serious questions about whether its real interest in charging Armstrong is to combat doping, or if it is acting according to less noble motives.” You don’t say. Then when is a judge, or better yet Congress, going to do something about it? [Keep reading at  Washington Pos

CAP CITY MTB SHORT TRACK SERIES Final is today!

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The series will be wrapping up Sunday with the final race. That being said we have some COOL people coming out and sponsoring the final race. Race Schedule 11:00am – Course Open 12:00am  – Cat 3 Men/Women + Juniors – 15 minutes 12:35pm  – Cat 2/3 Men/Women + Single Speed – 20 min + 1 lap 1:15pm  – Cat 1/2/3 Men/Women – 30 min + 1 lap 1 – Advanced 2 – Intermediate 3 – Beginner Men/Women 1/2/3 – $15, Juniors M/F $10 We have 3 super rad sponsors coming out this weekend! First of them is Seagull Bags. They’ve donated 2 awesome bags to be given away at the race. Be sure to thank them for their support! Second is Westerville Bike Shop. While Mason may not be there to hand out the prizes, expect some rad stuff. Finally, the Sufferfest gave up some videos to race for. Other than that, be sure to check the times. It will be the same format as the third race. If more riders come out, we will move races around as needed. But be sure to show up on time and ready to