We rode with Charles McDonald a few weeks on a gravel grinder ride in Shawnee State Park. Super nice guy and incredible cyclist.
Article and video here at Cincinnati.com
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Saturday, February 23, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
DC's ambitious plan to become 'the healthiest, greenest, and most livable city' in the US [bettercities.net]
Earlier this week Washington, DC mayor Vincent Gray announced a bold sustainability vision that is as comprehensive and ambitious in its aspirations as any in the country and, frankly, worthy of comparison to those for other cities around the world. If successful, the 20-year program contemplated by Sustainable DC will bring the benefits of green living to traditionally underserved neighborhoods, cut obesity, substantially increase the presence of nature in the city, grow jobs, dramatically cut energy use and carbon emissions, and much more. If you’re not on board with these goals, then you just don’t care much about the urban environment.
In the US, the west coast cities of Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco have long led the way when it comes to environmental thinking and ambition. More recently, Chicago, New York and especially Philadelphia have produced seriously impressive plans and programs. I’ve even applauded terrific initiatives in El Paso and Rockland, Illinois. DC has been flying under the radar on these issues.
But, actually, Washington has been building a praiseworthy green portfolio, step by step, without a lot of fanfare, for the last decade. (I’ve reported on some examples, includingzoning reform, a wildlypopular bikesharing program, and tree planting.)
The new plan, which has been officially in the works for a year and a half, builds upon these efforts with something much bigger and certainly much more public. The fanfare helps, in my opinion: when you announce your intentions to the world, you put yourself in the position of having to deliver on them or produce good reasons why you didn’t. That’s a good thing. [Keep reading at bettercities.net]
i'm Here
 Always connected, always ready to respond.
i’m Here’s technology is simple and efficient: from your smartphone you connect to i’m Cloud, which asks the device to find its position. Once identified, it shows you its location on Google Maps.
Using latest generation technology, i’m Here is able to transmit its location anywhere in the world. Its secret? i’m Here uses its integrated SIM to access the global GSM mobile network to transmit its position. It does this upon demand, if you ask it via the i’m Cloud service, or automatically at pre-set intervals. This is useful, for example, when sailing or hiking alone, when you want to let others know your position or when you’ve finished and want to analyze your route. And in the pocket or on the wrist of your child, it becomes an invaluable safety device.
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Take Action [LAB]
Transportation agencies across the country are about to miss an important opportunity to improve non-motorized traffic safety and encourage healthy and active transportation options.
The US Department of Transportation is required by the new transportation law to establish national safety goals and performance measures to guide the states. Right now, they are NOT proposing any separate national goals or performance measures to improve the safety of bicyclists and/or pedestrians. We cannot let this happen – these measures will be used to guide traffic safety policy and funding at the national and state level for years to come
If this is allowed to happen, there will be no national target to improve the safety of cycling or walking; there will be no measures established to track or monitor pedestrian and bicyclist safety or collect data related to these areas; and there will be no incentive, guidance or leadership given to state and local agencies to tackle this important piece of overall traffic safety policy. Without a specific performance measure to focus on nonmotorized safety, bicyclists and pedestrians will remain firmly in the blindspot of traffic safety.
Funding for overall highway safety programs was almost doubled in MAP-21. Even though bicyclists and pedestrians now account for almost 16% of all traffic fatalities in the US, states are spending less than 0.5% of their safety funds to solve this problem. This is exactly the time to establish meaningful national goals and performance measures to tackle bicyclist and pedestrian safety as part of an overall, comprehensive and multi-modal traffic safety program.
That’s why we have written this letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood asking him to include specific national goals and performance measures for bicyclist and pedestrian safety. We urge you to add your voice to our request. Send an Email to Secretary LaHood now
Thanks
Andy Clarke,
League of American Bicyclists
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Triformance - Your Cycling Authority
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Proposal for bicycle ban raised in Missouri [BikingBis]
Here we are, less than two weeks after the Colorado Supreme Court overturned a bicycle ban in the town of Black Hawk, and the issue of banning bicycles from the roadway is back again — this time in Missouri.
The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation (MoBikeFed) says a state legislator is circulating a draft bill that would ban bicycles on any state road within two miles of a state-owned bike path or trail.
This so-called “side-path law” probably makes a lot of sense to motorists and legislators who don’t ride bicycles. I’m sure they look at the perfectly good gravel path they made for bicycles and can’t understand why a bicyclist would opt for the road instead.
To anyone who rides a bike, the proposed law makes no sense at all.
Bunyan Velo Magazine
Bunyan Velo is a quarterly collection of photographs, essays, and stories about the simple pleasures of traveling by bicycle. Issue No. 01 brings together a small group of bicycle tourists, commuters, mountain bikers, mechanics, and racers, each of whom offers a unique perspective and assortment of cycling experiences.
XXC Magazine
66 pages, published September 4, 2012
After a long summer of riding and racing XXC Magazine is back with issue 17. Weighing in at 66 pages this issue is one of the biggest issues yet!
Here’s what you’ll see in XXC Magazine No. 17…
• Longtime contributor Eszter Horanyi recaps her pre-Tour Divide adventure at the Stagecoach 400
• Chris Schotz takes time out from his W.E.M.S. racing to recap his 3rd place finish at Trans Iowa v.8
• Markley Anderson takes us along with him on the 2012 Hut To Hut 200
• Michael McColgan shares some pics and thoughts on missing out on the Dirty Kanza
• Huw Thomas checks in from the UK with a recap of the Black Mountain 3 Day
• XXC Magazine’s Jason Mahokey talks diet with 7 successful mountain bike racers
• Scott Cornish travels to Belgium for the BeMC stage race
• Gairy Mannion bikepacks the Alps
• Adam Lisonbee recaps the hell that is the Crusher In The Tushar
• Chris Schotz takes time out from his W.E.M.S. racing to recap his 3rd place finish at Trans Iowa v.8
• Markley Anderson takes us along with him on the 2012 Hut To Hut 200
• Michael McColgan shares some pics and thoughts on missing out on the Dirty Kanza
• Huw Thomas checks in from the UK with a recap of the Black Mountain 3 Day
• XXC Magazine’s Jason Mahokey talks diet with 7 successful mountain bike racers
• Scott Cornish travels to Belgium for the BeMC stage race
• Gairy Mannion bikepacks the Alps
• Adam Lisonbee recaps the hell that is the Crusher In The Tushar
Name your price! You can download your digital copy* of XXC Magazine #17 for as little as $1.00. Yep, ONE dollar. The digital cover price is $2.75, but you name your price! Wanna pay a $1.00? Pay a dollar. Wanna pay the $2.75 cover price? Pay the cover price. It’s up to you. Price fields can be edited and updated prior to checkout. Don’t forget, digital copies are FREE with every purchase from the XXC Magazine Store or with your purchase of a print copy at MagCloud.com.
XXC Magazine #17 – $2.75
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Shinola Runwell at Tour de Troit
The Shinola Runwell rides Tour de Troit from Shinola on Vimeo.
Inspired by the enduring French style of Porteur bicycles, the Runwell
delivers a classic blend of urban style and practicality. Meticulously
designed to yield the best characteristics of a lugged steel frame and
fork, we’ve engineered the Runwell to handle predictably and
smoothly for city riding, commuting and errand running. Virtually
maintenance free, courtesy of the high-end Shimano Alfine 11-speed
internal hub, daily riders will never need to worry about adjustment,
maintenance or exposure to rain and snow. Stopping power, in any
weather condition, is assured with the quiet and smooth disc brakes.
Internal cable routing keeps the cables out of sight and out of the
elements. Racks and fenders fit easily on the frame. Responsive and
predictable handling, classic and enduring style, low-to-no
maintenance, stopping power in any weather condition— with a made in
America frame and fork, the Runwell is truly a unique and worthy voice
in the crowd. Men's 55cm in Red now available. Navigate right for
detailed specs. TO ORDER, CALL US AT 1-888-304-2534, OR EMAIL
info@shinola.com.
Abus BORDO
Form follows function. This is the principle the ABUS designers followed in the development process of the Bordo. They succeeded in bridging the gap between the high security demands and a compact, clean design. Even the Bordo Granit X-Plus, which corresponds in its features to a Granit product with the highest security requirements, has a balanced and harmonic appearance. With its facelift, new design aspects come into their own. Even here, the design contributes to the function: The links are covered with a two-component coating (Bordo 6000/6100). That way, the bicycle's paintwork is protected and the colour variants are possible. The silicone cover for the lock body (Bordo 6000/6050) increases the ease-of-use through a better handling.
The uncomplicated and noiseless transport bag was an important point in the product specifications. The lock and its bag were developed simultaneously and are perfectly adapted to each other. Only that way can the virtuoso shape and perfect function are achieved.
City of Columbus - Current Bike Projects
Projects In Construction
Scioto Alum Creek Bikeway
(Route Complete but detour in progress due to I-670 construction)
On street bikeway completed in 2011
(Route Complete but detour in progress due to I-670 construction)
On street bikeway completed in 2011
- View Detour Information (Link to map)
Bike Shelters - Phase 2
(In Progress)
Bicycle Shelters are being installed at various locations in the City (Completion expected by Summer 2013)
(In Progress)
Bicycle Shelters are being installed at various locations in the City (Completion expected by Summer 2013)
Projects In Design
Ohio-Champion Ave Bikeway(In Progress)
Bike lanes are being designed for Ohio and Champion Avenues between Frebis Ave and Mooberry St
Bike lanes are being designed for Ohio and Champion Avenues between Frebis Ave and Mooberry St
Sullivant Ave Bikeway(In Progress)
An east west bikeway connection between Camp Chase Trail and Scioto Trail via Sullivant Ave corridor
An east west bikeway connection between Camp Chase Trail and Scioto Trail via Sullivant Ave corridor
Near East Bikeways(In Progress)
The combination of three bikeways projects involving the Near East area:
The combination of three bikeways projects involving the Near East area:
- An east west bikeway connection between Front St and the Alum Creek Trail along State St, Grant Ave, Oak St, Sherman Ave, Fair Ave, and Franklin Park South
- A north south bikeway connection between Mooberry St and the I-670 Trail at Leonard Ave along Ohio and Champion Avenues
- Click to view Project Website
State Route 161 Shared Use Path(In Progress)
Potential Bikeways to include with 2013 Resurfacing
The City of Columbus is adding bicycle facilities to city streets in conjunction with resurfacing projects during 2013. These projects will add miles of bike lanes and shared bike/motorist pavement markings (sharrows), helping motorists and bicyclists safely share the road.
(In Progress)
The City is considering the addition of bikeway markings with the following 2013 roadway resurfacing projects. These could include bike lanes or shared-lane markings (sharrows)
The City is considering the addition of bikeway markings with the following 2013 roadway resurfacing projects. These could include bike lanes or shared-lane markings (sharrows)
- Alum Creek Dr - Livingston Ave to Main St
- Champion Ave - Cole St to Leonard Ave
- Oak St - Grant Ave to Lester Dr
- Ohio Ave - Cole St to Mt Vernon Ave
Intersection improvements for bicycle safety
- Livingston / Alum Creek Trail
- College / Petzinger
- Dublin Road at Twin Rivers Drive
- Dublin Road at Olentangy Trail crossing
- King Ave / Olentangy River Road / Olentangy Trail
Projects Completed
Bikeway projects completed since 2011:
- King Ave - lanes
- Bryden Rd - sharrows
- Neil Ave - sharrows
- Lincoln Ave - sharrows
- Sharon Woods Blvd - sharrows
- Dexter Falls Rd - sharrows
- Chittenden Ave - sharrows
- Sandalwood Place - bike lanes
- Tamarack Circle - bike lanes
- Karl Rd - bike lanes and sharrows
- Dublin / Urlin - intersection improvement
- Bike Shelters Phase 1
http://publicservice.columbus.gov/bikeprojects/
An Explanation for the Gender Gap in Biking [Atlantic Cities]
It's no secret that American women are less likely than American men to ride bikes in cities. Some reports put one woman on a bike for every two men in the United States, and some have the ratio at a lady for every three guys. This isn't a universal condition by any stretch of the imagination; in European countries like Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, the split is right around fifty-fifty.
In other words, American cities are doing something wrong here. Just what that something is has been the subject of debate before at Cities. Genevieve Walker has argued that making bike stores friendlier to women would be a good step toward reducing the gender gap. Alex Baca, writing in response, concluded that the task requires stronger infrastructure, convenience, and community — in short, a stronger biking environment.
New research on the subject emphasizes the importance of safety, above all, on a woman's decision to ride. Writing in the International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, a study groupled by Gulsah Akar of Ohio State University conclude that "women are less likely to feel safe" on a bike than men — particularly in an area with lots of car traffic.
[Keep reading at Atlantic Cities]
[Keep reading at Atlantic Cities]
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Singletrack High Teaser
Singletrack High Teaser from Pedal Born Pictures on Vimeo.
Many kids in America stop riding bikes in high school. Riding through puddles is no longer cool. Two wheels get traded in for four.
For hundreds of kids in Northern California, the ride never stops...it gets faster. These are the student-athletes of the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League. They come from the mountains, the suburbs, and the city. Some ride carbon fiber race bikes, others old steel clunkers. They ride to win, to finish, and to escape. For six weekends every spring, they don their school colors, roll up to the start line, and fly.
This is Singletrack High.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Pondering the Point of Snow Bikes While Riding With Wolves [Wired]
- Three Fat Amigos! The green one is a Surly Krampus and runs an even larger 29r wheel size. The orange and blue are Salsa Mukluks and this is the park bench stop on Adams Gulch in Sun Valley. We reached this in an unusually hard effort, 'cause behind us were the wolves.
KETCHUM, Idaho – Snow bikes are good for hucking about on groomed trails. They are not good for outrunning wolves.
This became obvious as a group of us, dressed in garish red Lycra suits and riding black, orange and DayGlo-green bikes with cartoonishly large tires, pedaled frantically through the snow after a trio of wolves caught our scent.
The experience made me ponder the point of these bikes, and the questions those building them must answer if snow biking is to catch on. It isn’t as if people often see apex predators when riding. But my encounter with canis lupus highlighted the shortcomings of bikes that are a hell of a lot of fun but struggling to find their place.
Snow bikes are, of course, designed to ride over snow. Fat, cushy tires pumped to a whopping 5 PSI keep you from sinking. Garage tinkerers in Alaska and other cold climes have been building them forever, welding mountain bike rims together to double up on tires and fashioning frames to straddle them. The DIY ethos went corporate a few years ago when industry juggernaut Quality Bicycle Products joined the party.
How to Build a Better Bike Lane (and Get More People Out on Bikes) [Atlantic Cities]
How to Build a Better Bike Lane (and Get More People Out on Bikes)
Martha Roskowski has been a bicycle advocate in the United States for some 20 years. It hasn’t always been easy. These days, though, things are starting to feel different.
"In the past few years, we have seen a sea change," says Roskowski, who is heading up a two-year effort called the Green Lane Project (GLP) for the national advocacy group Bikes Belong. "Top city officials are now seeing bicycling as a really practical, rational part of the mobility picture." In other words, it’s not just a bunch of "bike nuts" who see the benefits of building better bike lanes. Urban transportation officials, facing growing populations, automobile congestion, and strained transit systems, are increasingly looking to bicycles as part of an overall solution. "Cities are really leading this, even when the feds aren’t," says Roskowski.
The GLP aims to foster this evolving mindset by helping six target cities to adopt high-quality bicycle infrastructure – bike lanes where people can ride with at least some protection from car traffic in the form of bollards, parked cars, raised pavement, or other separation. Often they are painted – that’s right – green. GLP is educating city officials through travel and the exchange of information with peers around the world; identifying obstacles to implementation of better bike infrastructure; and gathering data to quantify the effect such lanes have on riding patterns and demographics. It will make its findings available to the general public as the project progresses.
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