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Showing posts from August 25, 2013

Here’s an astonishingly simple trick that could keep you from killing a cyclist | Grist

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Gary Rides Bikes If you’re a city cyclist, you live in fear of car doors. On your right, there’s often a line of parked cars, most of them sitting silently, harmlessly, empty. But inside some of them lurks that most dangerous of creatures — a human being — just waiting to stupidly open up the door in your path, giving you the terrible choice of a) swerving into the parked cars, b) swerving into traffic, or c) hitting the door and flying either head-first off your bike or helter-skelter into traffic and under the wheels of a car which will kill you. [Keep reading at Grist]

Share the Road Columbus

Surly ECR 29er Off-Road Camping Bike -- Best New MTB Gear 2014

Bike shops: The new Starbucks? | MarketWatch

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Steve Remich Will Levandowski and Cecie Levandowski study at the Denver Bicycle Cafe on Aug. 24, 2013. Denver Bicycle Cafe opened in 2011 and combines a cafe and bar with a full service bike repair shop. At CamRock Café and Sport, in Cambridge, Wis., patrons can rent a mountain bike, get their brakes adjusted or load up on cycling accessories. Or they can nibble crepes and attend an art opening. Before CamRock opened last year, avid road-bikers Mark and Vicki Sewell, husband and wife, typically headed to Madison, the state capital, for entertainment. Now, Mark, a 55-year-old attorney, and Vicki, a retired schoolteacher, make a weekly pilgrimage to CamRock, in the heart of Wisconsin’s dairy country, for yoga, spin classes and a post-class glass of wine—all while getting their bikes tuned up. They also like CamRock’s concerts (which range from string-quartet to steel drumming) and even spent New Year’s Eve there, when a guest chef whipped up cioppino in the cafe fireplace. It may

Bike the C-Bus 2013 @bikethecbus online registration ends TODAY. Save $5 REGISTER NOW! #letsride

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REGISTER TODAY!  Bike the C-Bus is celebrating our SIXTH year! The ride is a fun way to explore a few of the neighborhoods in and around Columbus. Experience segments of the King Lincoln District, Woodland Park, Olde Town East, Downtown, Short North Arts District, Italian Village, Harrison West, Victorian Village, Arena District, Franklinton, Brewery District and German Village. The entire ride will cover approximately 25 miles over 4 segments and will feature stops that highlight change that is occurring in our neighbo rhoods. Each stop will be sponsored by businesses and community groups and provide snacks, drinks and entertainment for the riders. The ride is configured to allow cyclists to complete segments if they do not feel comfortable riding the entire route. The $30 registration fee includes an official 2013 Bike the C-Bus t-shirt ( if you registered by August 23 ) and wristband along with drinks and food at designated rest stops, plus a free lunch at the hospitality tent.

L’Atelier des vélos

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Well, You’ve certainly seen an engraved crankset or something, leaked on the web last months… Here is an excluziv preview of these beautiful engraved bicycle parts coming straight from  L’Atelier des vélos . The Tomasini bicycle is the #1 from the Tommasini x ADV “plongeante” Limited edition series. Quentin (ADV owner) wanted to build a unique piece using Campagnolo, Nitto NJS parts with something different, something “new”: He asked to his friend and craftsman “Christophe” to add some “arabesques” on each parts (The handmade work is just amazing! We had the chance to be at L’Atelier when Christophe brang them and we were totally Knocked Out!). Quentin wanted to show a “made in france” artwork and “Savoir faire” and promote Christophe’s work by the way. (Christophe, your artwork is just amazing and beautiful : BRAVO !) He is now thinking about a possibility for people to get this on their own bicycle parts…(email for any infos). This is just the begining, Quentin has

Detroit Bikes

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YES, IT'S A BICYCLE MADE IN THE MOTOR CITY But that’s only where it begins. What we really do is build bikes for people who haven’t forgotten how to ride one. Whether you commute twenty miles five days a week or haven’t touched one in twenty years, we build bikes for everyone. We build them in a city with manufacturing prowess and deep traditions of bicycle production, touring, recreational riding, commuting, and racing. The prototype was constructed in a coach house off Woodward Avenue, a couple of blocks from where Henry Ford once lived. We manufacture every frame at our factory in West Detroit. We weld them here. We paint, assemble and package them here. You? You ride them joyfully wherever the road takes you. Riding a bike should be simple. Whether you’re commuting five miles between home and work every day, darting down to the store to grab some groceries or cruising by the river on a warm summer night, this is a durable bike that is fun to ride. Riding a bike sh

Pump Trax USA | Gahanna, OH

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WHAT IS A PUMP TRACK? A pump track is a progressive bike course that can take many shapes or sizes, that uses an up and down ‘pumping’ motion to propel the bicycle forward instead of pedaling. Pump tracks are a perfect feature for practicing balance, learning skills and improving confidence on the bike, while attracting new bike riders to your park. They are safe and great fun to ride for all ages and skill levels and are suitable for any size bicycle from kid’s bikes to BMX and full size mountain bikes.   THE STANDARD PACKAGE Our Standard pump track is an oval. It can be ridden in either direction. The Standard is perfect for a community that wants to add a pump track to the park system at the most affordable rate. The Standard is perfect to add to an existing skatepark area, abandoned tennis court, or any flat park area. THE ULTIMATE PACKAGE Our Ultimate pump track offers more features, and is designed for beginners and advanced ride

Bike Cult Show | NYC

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Bike Cult presents a show of beautiful bicycles in Brooklyn.  Held in Williamsburg's landmark Warsaw concert hall, the Polish National Home "where perogies meet punk," on Labor Day weekend.  Exhibitors include some of the finest artisans of custom hand-crafted bicycles from NYC and elsewhere.  Over 20 makers will display their brand of made-to-order cycling machines, using a variety of materials and methods, where cliches like form vs .function, the genius in the details, and 10,000 hours practice surely apply. That the bicycle has come to be so cool is no fault of its own.  The world's most efficient vehicle is not only about self-propelled transport and synergistic fun and freedom, it's also profoundly aesthetic as a personal fashion statement embodied with wheels. Entry Fee:   $10 per day per adult, children under 14 free. Two day passes available at the door for $15 The Bike Cult Hand-Built Bicycle Show is dedicated to Ezra Caldwell of Fa

Cyclist passes 589 cars on way to work | The Age

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"War on our roads. Cars versus cyclists, the new front line on Australian roads. Depending on which side you're on ..." So began a report on last week's  Sunday Night  program on Channel 7 . Fuelled by confronting footage of cars colliding with cyclists, the promos had preceded the shows for days. Good news cycling stories are everywhere – and they'll often catch you by surprise.   And just to get the pulses racing, there was a clip of radio announcer Derryn Hinch encapsulating his view of cyclists: "Cockroaches on wheels." In bumper to bumper traffic, bicycles are often the only vehicles moving.  Photo: Justin McManus Like any good promo, it sucked you in. But what followed was, in the main, a sensible, reasoned plea for more calm and consideration on our roads. To reinforce this message, the program highlighted what can happen when things go wrong, focusing on two women who had sustained awful injuries through the actions of careless mo

Cogburn Outdoors Hunting/Fishing Bike

Introducing Cogburn Outdoors from Cogburn on Vimeo . Buy it at Realtree This new Realtree®  camo bike  allows you to access your hunting or fishing local quickly and quietly. The  Cogburn CB4  fat bike will take you deep into the backcountry on massive 3.8” tires run at low pressure. The CB4 frame is fully finished in the  Realtree Xtra ®  camo pattern . The rims, handlebar, crank and other components are anodized black with a no-glare finish. The CB4 camo bike is equipped with full-range gearing, all-condition disc brakes and a wide handlebar for control even while loaded. It features attachment points on the frame for a rear rack and cages for water or fuel bottles. The fork has additional attachment points to expand carrying capacity. The CB4 camo bike is designed, finshed and assembled in the USA. Safely carry your rifle, rod or bow on your bike using Cogburn’s Scabbard. The Scabbard attaches to a rear rack on the CB4 or any bike. It’s made of light, strong aircraft-grad

How Bicycles Can Save Small Town America | Path Less Pedaled

How Bicycles Can Save Small Town America - PathLessPedaled.com from Russ Roca on Vimeo .

Bike to Work 3: Separate or Equal? | Jan Heine

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In recent years, there has been a worrisome trend in the U.S. to advocate for separate bike paths (“cycle tracks”), or at least some visual barrier between bike and car lanes. An organization called  “Bikes Belong”  advocates for “protected bike lanes.” Recently in Seattle, guerilla cyclists installed pylons  to separate a bike lane from the car lanes. Why do I call this worrisome? At first sight, separate bike paths seem appealing. You are away from cars, riding by yourself. (The photo above shows that some riders still don’t feel safe on blacktop and prefer the sidewalk.) Unfortunately, this idyllic view hides some very real dangers. To understand bicycle safety, it is important to look at the actual, rather than perceived, dangers. The danger of being hit from behind or being “clipped” by a car passing too close is very small. It accounts for  less than 5% of car-bike accidents . Most accidents involving bikes and cars occur at intersections. Leaving aside accidents tha

'Guerrilla stripers' add bike lanes to Detroit Avenue in Cleveland to protest slow city action | cleveland.com

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View full size A cyclist took advantage Monday afternoon of the "guerrilla striping" of bike lanes on Detroit Avenue. Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Renegade bicycle enthusiasts installed makeshift “bike lanes” on Detroit Avenue on Cleveland’s near West Side over the weekend, bringing to Cleveland the illegal practice of "guerrilla striping." The lanes consist of sometimes meandering strips of tape installed about four feet from the curb on both sides of the avenue between West 29th and West 32nd streets, with stenciled bike lane signs spray-painted onto the pavement. A steady stream of bicyclists used the lanes Monday afternoon, and motorists generally respected the stripes. Jacob VanSickle , head of Bike Cleveland, the city’s leading non-profit advocacy group for cyclists, said he  posted an statement  on the organization’s website Monday that the group doesn't endorse guerrilla striping. [Keep reading at cleveland.com]

A woman's bike was stolen. Then she found a listing for it on Craigslist. Here's what she did. | HappyPlace

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"No beats, no thumping, but a little shit kicking might do him good." Spoiler alert! Redditor  girlgetsbikeback  got her bike back. But it's how she did it that's really inspiring. After the woman's bike was stolen, she thought it was gone for good. Then a friend let her know the bike was being sold on Craigslist—only two blocks from where it was stolen. The bike owner tried to get police involved, but they were being slow, and she was afraid her bike would be sold before she could get it back. So she  decided to meet the thief  in a McDonald's parking lot by pretending to be an interested buyer. [Keep reading at HappyPlace]

Dutch junction design | YouTube

Bike Alive

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Bike Alive is a SAFETY DEVICE that mounts on bicycles for both left and right-hand traffic which encourages passing motorists to give the rider more space. BikeAlive consists a rear tail-light behind the saddle and at the end of a flexible stalk, as well as a forward light facing white LED light and side light. Super high brightness LEDs ensure the lights are visible even in direct sunlight. The stalk can be raised horizontally towards the passing traffic, or lowered when pack-riding or in tight slow moving traffic. http://www.bikealive.co.nz/

Pickaway County Teen Killed In Bicycle Crash | NBC4i.com

PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio - Deputies from the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office are investigating a fatal crash that occurred Saturday night. According to the sheriff's office, deputies responded to the area of Tarlton Road, east of Morris Leist Road, in Pickaway Township, on a report of a crash involving a bicyclist at about 8:41 p.m. Deputies say 16-year-old Brandon Wolfinger, of Circleville, was riding his bicycle eastbound on Tarlton Road when the rear of his bicycle was struck by a 2002 Chevy Impala, driven by 37-year-old Amy Rowland. Wolfinger was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies continue to investigate the crash. http://www.nbc4i.com/story/23249110/pickaway-county-teen-killed-in-bicycle-crash

Bike Purifies Water with Pedal-Power | Wired

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The CycloClean from Nippon Basic CycloClean is a Japanese designed bike which purifies water with pedal-power. Aimed at the developing world, the bike can suck up, scrub clean and then store water from pretty much any source. Then all you need to do is ride home. It works like this. You park up next to a muddy river or dubious looking lake. Lower a hose into the water, hitch the bike up on its stand, and climb back on. The rear wheel is kept off the ground, and the pedals now power a pump. Water is forced through a primary filter before moving on to an activated carbon filter, like the one you may have in a Brita jug at home. Finally, the water passes through a “micro-filtration membrane filter” before being stored in the vessel of your choice. [Keep reading at Wired]

Bicycle Ice Cream Maker - Innovate or Die | YouTube

Surly Troll Review | While Out Riding

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down the (dirt) road The bicycle you choose to ride on a long journey is always an important matter, worthy of much pondering, head-scratching and debate. After all, we’re talking about your mechanical soul mate, the companion with whom you’ll be sharing the best of times, and the worst of times… I’ve now clocked up a few thousand kilometres on the Surly Troll, in several guises – traditional front and rear panniers, framebag, suspension and rigid. The Troll and I have journeyed together fully laden, and often on dirt roads, from Costa Rica to Ecuador. More recently, it’s reintroduced me to my local Bristolian singletrack, and I’ve now tried it in bikepacking getup on the beautiful but distinctly un-Latin American  Devon Coast to Coast . Troll Talk I prefer the path less travelled and the Troll fulfills almost everything I seek in a mountain bike tourer. It ticks a lot of boxes: a burly chromo frame, suspension corrected geometry, 26in wheels, a choice of V brakes or discs, f