The sun has been bright; the roads dry but I’ve stayed off the bike this week. I did see three bikes out yesterday including Extreme Eric headed down 22nd. Darn.
After you see this video you’ll wander why I’m such a wimp not riding on such fine days as we’ve been having.
Why is that fun? –Corrie
We seldom leave our bikes for longer than an hour and then only where we can see them. But if you bike in town, doing errands, you can lock your bike but what about your tools? Take ‘em with you with the Cage Rocket.–Corrie
When you commute or run around town you often lock up and run in and out of places. You still face the threat of that minor mechanical problem or flat tire so tools are a necessity. A variety of small bags for tools are designed to fit under your seat or possibly connect to your frame, but they are not easy to remove and if left on your bike can be appealing to others.
When doing some online searches I ran across the “Cage Rocket.” It’s a dumb name for sure, but it’s a great product. It fits in any standard water bottle cage and you can store all the major tools you might need on the road. The great thing is that when you leave your bike locked up, the bottle slips right out and you can easily take it with you. Get more info on cage rocket specs from their site.
Thanks to Jim McCracken for this piece. Now back to work, Jim. Quit wasting your time surfing the web.
Seattle Times staff reporter
KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Bob Barrett pedals two miles across Puget Sound from Ketron Island to Steilacoom. “Here, you’re part of the Sound itself,” he says.
“I don’t have a death wish. I’m not here to drown and I’m not risking my life,” says Bob Barrett, who’s been making his water-bike commute for nearly seven years.
Related
Nat Hong and Bob Barrett commute on Puget Sound by bike — water bike, that is — to their jobs in Bremerton and Steilacoom.
“This is pretty hard to beat in terms of a pleasant commute,” said Hong, who lives on Bainbridge Island and teaches at Olympic College in Bremerton.
The drive would be 80 miles round trip. But with his water bike, the trip to work is just 12 miles — including one mile on the water.
Here’s a site for all things bike commuter. BikeCommuters.com
I expect Doug to have this rig up and running tomorrow.–Corrie
January 19th, 2008 by Jack “Ghost Rider” Sweeney · 7 Comments
Our buddy Quinn sent in the following cool cargo trick — a detachable carrying system:
Don’t feel like carrying the extra weight of panniers and a rack when you don’t need it? Do you feel the need for streamlining and speed? Well, Quinn devised a method using a spare seatpost and saddle, an Axiom Odyssee seatpost rack and a pair of Cannondale panniers.
No, not Abernathy. Armstrong.
Boston Marathon is Lance Armstrong’s next challenge
by Gene Bisbee at 02:10PM (PST) on January 17, 2008 | Permanent Link | Cosmos
Lance Armstrong’s 2007 New York Marathon results
Lance Armstrong must be getting to like his running game. I wonder if he’s lacing up his running shoes more these days than his cycling cleats.
Armstrong is running in the high-profile Boston Marathon on April 21 to help raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. It will be his third marathon.
10 great winter and early spring bike swap meets
by Gene Bisbee at 05:00AM (PST) on January 20, 2008 | Permanent Link | Cosmos
Did you give yourself a new bicycle or new bike gear for Christmas and need to get rid of some old stuff, or are you just looking for bargains?
Either way, the next couple of months are popular times for bicycle swap meets where you’ll find retail dealers or your neighbors offering great prices on bicycles and equipment.
Some of the larger bicycle clubs put together these swap meets, which are sometimes paired with an overall bicycle expo or classic bike show. Here are a few of the high profile ones in St. Louis, Seattle, Baltimore, and Minneapolis-St. Paul, among others (check your local bicycle club for local listings):
Published January 17, 2008 by VeloNews
By Robert Mionske, JD
Dear Readers,
Two weeks ago, we received a letter to the editor from Darin Baer asking about the availability of insurance for expensive bikes. We received several letters in response, including one asking about protection for the rider. We figured all of it might be a good subject for our legal columnist to take on. - Editor
You wouldn’t expect me to give a hoot about style but these cyclists have panache–Corrie
Just click on the Bicycles link below if you want to see more stylish men and women from around the world on bikes.
Bicycle lost and found: Leaving your bike on the bus
by Gene Bisbee at 07:24AM (PST) on January 18, 2008 | Permanent Link | Cosmos
In the world of bicycling, one of the biggest mysteries to me is how someone can lose a bicycle.
I can understand a person losing track of a bicycle that is stolen and ditched, but apparently people will occasionally park a bike and then not retrieve it. Do they forget it? Did they die? Were they whisked away by aliens?
For instance, the Seattle Metro transit system reported that 863 people put their bicycles on bus racks in 2007 and forgot to remove them.
Of interest is this history of the invention of the bicycle by Scotsman Kirkpatrick Macmillan. I discovered this while looking into my ancestory. My great, great, great grandfather, James McCracken was born in Galloway Scotland, the region where the bicycle was invented. The scots also invented fly fishing. What a great bunch of lads!
–Jim McCracken
Macmillan was a Scottish blacksmith who is credited with the invention of the pedal bicycle.
Kirkpatrick Macmillan was born in 1812 in Dumfriesshire, the son of a blacksmith. He did a variety of jobs as a young man, before settling into working with his father in 1824. At around that time he saw a hobbyhorse being ridden along a nearby road, and decided to make one for himself. Upon completion, he realised what a radical improvement it would be if he could propel it without putting his feet on the ground. Working at his smithy, he completed his new machine in around 1839.This first pedal bicycle was propelled by a horizontal reciprocating movement of the rider’s feet on the pedals. This movement was transmitted to cranks on the rear wheel by connecting rods; the machine was extremely heavy and the physical effort required to ride it must have been considerable. Nevertheless, Macmillan quickly mastered the art of riding it on the rough country roads, and was soon accustomed to making the fourteen-mile journey to Dumfries in less than an hour. His next exploit was to ride the 68 miles into Glasgow in June 1842. The trip took him two days and he was fined five shillings for causing a slight injury to a small girl who ran across his path.
He never thought of patenting his invention or trying to make any money out of it, but others who saw it were not slow to realize its potential, and soon copies began to appear for sale. Gavin Dalzell of Lesmahagow copied his machine in 1846 and passed on the details to so many people that for more than 50 years he was generally regarded as the inventor of the bicycle. However, Macmillan was quite unconcerned with the fuss his invention had prompted, preferring to enjoy the quiet country life to which he was accustomed. He died on 26 January 1878.
The good people at Bicycle Fixation have recently posted a colorful collection of photos showing some of LA’s more interesting bike racks.
From Richard Risemberg, who edits the site and did the bike rack photography:
“Los Angeles has for a long time been a city of dreary architecture, spaces seemingly designed under an imperative towards blandness,” writes Rick. “In an effort to improve both the functioning and the appearance of our city, Los Angeles has placed a number of bike racks in the area around downtown that try to do more than just give you a place to loop a U-lock: acknowledgement not only of the bicycle’s efficacy and nobility as transport, but also of the very real and fundamental human need for beauty. . .”
See the complete photo collection and essay on the bike racks of LA
More Bikes Than Cars Sold in Australia in 2007
Australia’s Cycling Promotion Fund released a report this week showing bicycles outsold automobiles down under by nearly 50% in 2007, with 1.47 million bikes sold vs. 1.05 million cars. It’s the seventh straight year that bikes have surpassed autos in sales in Australia.
“Soaring petrol prices, concern over climate change, crippling traffic congestion and the desire to lead healthier lifestyles all contributed to the record breaking year” said Elliot Fishman, Policy Advisor at the Cycling Promotion Fund.
Bicycles are vehicles on the road and must obey all laws and pay all “fees” Virginia may have gone too far this time. –Corrie
Newport News - Kajuan Cornish, 19, ran afoul of the General Assembly’s controversial abusive driver fees Thursday, when he was convicted of reckless driving in Newport News traffic court.
The conviction for crossing over Warwick Boulevard during afternoon rush hour triggered more than $1,050 in fees under a program designed to raise money to pay for highway maintenance.
Cornish got the ticket while steering his 18-speed Huffy bicycle back to work.
Davic Fiedler’s tips for commuting gear.
Essential Gear for Bike Commuters
If you plan to ride your bike regularly to work or school, certain things make it a safe, comfortable, convenient ride. Having the right gear for bike commuting certainly makes its more fun and easier to sustain for the long run. You’ll need things like:
Find out about these and other necessities in our complete guide to basic gear for bike commuting to help you get to work or school on-time, comfortable and safely.
First snowboarders and now BMX . . . Corrie
Did you know that BMX racing is making its debut as an Olympic event at the 2008 Games this summer in Beijing?
48 of the world’s best racers, both male and female, will slug their way through several rounds of racing to see who can be the fastest around on the 350 meter (approx 1/4 mile) track and claim a medal on the podium when it’s all done.
“BMX in the Olympics is like a dream come true, because I started racing in 1981, at 8 years old, and there was always talk of BMX being in the Olympics. And for it to actually come true is extraordinary,” said long-time American BMX pro rider John Purse in an interview with CNN.
Links:
C.I.C.L.E. :: » Portland, Ore., Acts to Protect Cyclists
Portland, Ore., Acts to Protect Cyclists
Published January 10, 2008 by New York Times
By WILLIAM YARDLEY
“Ghost bikes,” riderless and painted white, were placed at two busy intersections in Portland, Ore., last October, makeshift memorials to two bicyclists killed when they were hit by trucks in accidents that month.
This spring, at those same intersections and at 12 others across the city, “bike boxes” will be laid out on the roadway to provide a clearly designated place for cyclists, in front of and in full view of drivers, to wait for traffic lights to change. The boxes will be marked with signs and wide stripes alerting drivers to stop behind them at red lights.
Linda worries that I don’t get enough exercise in retirement when the weather keeps me off my bike. She wants me to walk. Walk. Imagine. So, I’ve hiked the mile or so over to the grocery a couple of times, but hiking or biking, you can’t bring home many groceries–Unless you live in Cambridge. –Corrie
The eco-friendly way of shopping
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Jenny Bailey with one of the new bicycle trailers.
SHOPPERS at a Cambridge supermarket are being asked to saddle up for a new green initiative.
Waitrose in Hauxton Road, Trumpington, has teamed up with the city council to provide special trailers to allow cyclists to transport their shopping home using pedal power.
Shoppers will be able to fill up a trailer as they walk around the store and simply hitch it onto the back of their bikes when they have paid.
The free-of-charge trailer will then have to be returned within three days.
These are bit more mainline than shopping cart attachments. –Corrie
Bike commuters know about traffic. You know about potholes and rain. You know about the joy of a traffic jam because it lets you actually beat the cars to work. You have the satisfaction of waving a dollar bill at Exxon and shouting “Can’t have it!” But why should the ability to enjoy a hot cup of coffee or take an important phone call on the way to work be limited to those unfortunate people still stuck in cars? That’s why we offer you the top accessories to cushify your daily commute.
For those of you on the Palouse unable to get out, try dressing up your ride for that cycling thrill.
Products-Road Bike Bar Plugs
All barplugs listed are priced PER PAIR. Plugs are chrome-plated, plastic, will not rust, made to fit snugly inside of almost all road bike handlebar ends, will not work loose and become lost. Designs are secured with heat-treated laminate, then finished with a semi- gloss acrylic clearcoat to keep design clear and secure through most weather conditions. To view entertaining (hopefully) and enlightening descriptions and options click on the bar plug title you are staring at.
 Chrome Bar Plugs $4.00
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I can’t ride the white line let alone a curb. Watch as this guy casually ‘walks’ his bike across town.
