TWIN CITIES BIKING NEWS

Around the World

Example of "Naked Street" Example of "Naked Street"

Where The Streets Are Naked

 

Title:  "'Naked Streets' Trial Improves Cycling Safety"
 
Subject:  Open traffic-biking-pedestrian space improves safety record in some cities
 

Notable:  "The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is bucking the trend, claiming that a revolutionary 'shared space' traffic-management scheme on Kensington High Street has cut serious and fatal injuries to cyclists by 19 percent, whereas there has been a nine percent increase across Greater London.  Otherwise known as the 'naked streets' experiment, the idea works on the principle that driver behaviour becomes more cautious when there are no road markings, or traffic lights to control them.  The free mix of traffic and pedestrians blurs priority and requires each to look out for the other."

 
Quotable:  "The 'shared space' idea is recommended for particular zones of the city, in much the same way as pedestrianisation works in shopping areas. In Germany, where the scheme is in wide use, the magazine Der Spiegel has said that road rules strip motorists of the ability to be considerate.  The Dutch inventor of the idea, the late Hans Monderman, who died this year, is quoted as saying: 'We're losing our capacity for socially responsible behaviour. The greater the number of prescriptions, the more people's sense of personal responsibility dwindles.'"

Source:  Cycling Weekly
Date:  September 26, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Shared Space

 

 

Istanbul Biker (Turkish Daily) Istanbul Biker (Turkish Daily)

Biking on the Bosphorus: Dire Straights

 

Title:  "Where bicycling is only for the brave"
 
Subject:  Barriers to riding in Istanbul
 

Notable:  "Legendary band Queen sang 'I want to ride my bicycle. I want to ride it where I like.'  Almost 30 years ago and Istanbul could have provided the backdrop. But, in 2008, with 12 million people and more than 2 million cars, Istanbul is no longer the ideal city for cycling.  If one were to ride freely in this city today, possible scenarios include being hit on the head by a grocery basket thrown from a window or being stopped by pedestrians confused about which way to walk when they see a bike rider.  'I was riding on the pavement and someone spilled a bucket of water on my head,' said 19-year-old Mehmet Sayhun, a university student."

 
Quotable:  "There are many obstacles to bike riding. A lack of bike lanes and parking spots is one; let alone the aggressive drivers and picnic-lovers invading the few bike lanes that do exist. Contrary to many European cities, one might easily live without ever learning how to ride a bike in this city, as with Poyraz Ersan, a 28-year-old writer who learned how to ride a bike after the age of 25."

Source:  Turkish Daily News
Date:  September 26, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Istanbul

 

 

Protest: Jenny Seagrove, left, and Felicity Kendal with (from left) Louie, Millie and George in Kensington Gardens (Evening Standard) Protest: Jenny Seagrove, left, and Felicity Kendal with (from left) Louie, Millie and George in Kensington Gardens (Evening Standard)

"Rogue Cyclists" Allegedly Kill Four Dogs in London

 

Title:  "Actresses take the lead as rogue cyclists kill four dogs"
 
Subject:  London dog owners rally against cyclists on paths
 

Notable:  "Actresses Felicity Kendal and Jenny Seagrove led dog lovers today in calls for a crackdown on cyclists, amid claims that four pets have been knocked down and killed in a London park.  Pet owners accuse bikers of riding illegally on pedestrian-only paths.  They say that in the past six months four dogs, including a puppy, have been run over and killed in Kensington Gardens. Two other pets are reported to have been seriously injured."

 
Quotable:  "Dog owners and their pets formed a human-canine chain across one of the pedestrian-only tracks they say are regularly used by cyclists.

The group included Mimi, the dog in BBC drama Judge John Deed."


Source:  Evening Standard
Date:  September 25, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Bikes and Dogs

 

 

One of Calfee's Bamboo Bikes One of Calfee's Bamboo Bikes

Au Natural

 

Title:  "Natural Materials Making a Comeback in Tech Cycling World"
 
Subject:  Use of natural, renewable materials in bike-building and clothing
 

Notable:  "Natural materials like bamboo, wool and flax are making a comeback in the high-tech world of modern bicycles.  The Belgian framemaker Museeuw is weaving ancient flax fiber with ultramodern carbon fiber to create a Flax Carbon Hybrid composite that has exceptional shock-absorbing capabilities, the company claims. The company, which was showing off its flax-enhanced commuter bike here at the annual Interbike trade show, is just one of many companies experimenting with incorporating ancient materials into high-tech bikes."

 
Quotable:  "Bikemaker Craig Calfee is using another ancient material to makes bikes: bamboo.  Calfee's workshop in Santa Cruz, California, makes road bikes, mountain bikes and even tandems out of sections of bamboo bonded together with a hemp epoxy. The bamboo bikes are as strong and as light as metal, Calfee says, with the added benefit of being green."

Source:  Wired
Date:  September 25, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Bamboo and More

 

Related Links:

Calfee Website

 

 

On the Cicloton On the Cicloton

When Bicycles Rule

 

Title:  "In Mexico City, bicycles rule the Sunday streets"
 
Subject:  Tens of thousands of cyclists respond to car-free Sundays in Mexico City
 

Notable:  "Every Sunday morning, some of the biggest streets of car-flooded Mexico City are handed over to bicyclists, who roll in by the tens of thousands. Joining them are skateboarders, rollerbladers, toddlers on push toys and parents behind strollers in what has become a weekly festival on wheels.  The leftist government of Mayor Marcelo Ebrard launched the program last year, barring cars, trucks and buses from the regal Paseo de la Reforma and other streets around the historic downtown. Once a month, the route is expanded to form a 20-mile, engine-free circuit called the Cicloton."

 
Quotable:  "Though mocked by some as a political gimmick, the Sunday ride has proved highly popular since it began in May 2007. The shorter downtown rides routinely draw 10,000 or more participants, the Cicloton as many as 70,000.  It's an upside-down day. For a change, cars are the intruder while cyclists get a leisurely, intimate view that makes this huge and tumultuous city seem, well, not so huge and tumultuous."

Source:  Los Angeles Times
Date:  September 25, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Mexico City

 

 

The Accused The Accused
Dismissed

Title:  "Assault Charges Dismissed Against Fixed-Gear Bicyclist; Phoenix Prosecutors Could Re-File"
 
Subject:  Phoenix alleycat race goes awry, assault charges filed and then dismissed
 

Notable:  "Hannah Ruebbelke-Smith got both good news and bad news in court this week.  The assault charge the 28-year-old bicyclist was facing in Phoenix Municipal Court was dropped by Judge John L. Wiehn on Tuesday morning after the city prosecutor’s office filed a motion to drop the case 'without prejudice.'  The bad news?  'Without prejudice' means that prosecutors have the option of re-filing the charge against her until next June.  The motion for dismissal was filed by Assistant City Prosecutor Joshua Fisher, who informed Wiehn that his office felt 'uncomfortable in proceeding to trial' with the case."

 
Quotable:  "It’s just the latest twist in the Ruebbelke-Smith’s ongoing legal drama. As I reported in my July cover story on the growing popularity of fixed-gear cycles (single-speed, direct-drive specialty bikes that typically have no hand brakes) among Valley riders, Ruebbelke-Smith was accused of assaulting Arizona State Hospital security guard Giovanni Vitte during an incident at the facility in June.  Along with 15 to 20 other fixed-gear bike riders, she mistakenly pedaled into the hospital compound while competing in an “alleycat,” a type of gonzo, multi-checkpoint urban bike race. Vitte claimed in hospital incident reports to have been assaulted by several of the riders, including a female matching Ruebbelke-Smith’s description, after confronting them.  Conversely, Ruebbelke-Smith and other cyclists claim Vitte attempted to run them over in a hospital minivan during the incident, striking a few of them with the vehicle. Almost all of the cyclists fled the scene, with the exception of Ruebbelke-Smith, who was arrested and cited for assault."

Source:  Phoenix New Times
Date:  September 24, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Fixie Assault Case

 

 

Astana, the Capital of Kazakhstan Astana, the Capital of Kazakhstan
Astana for Armstrong

Title:  "Lance Armstrong racing for Astana"
 
Subject:  Armstrong on Astana, Tour, Cancer Awareness, and Contador
 

Notable:  "Cycling legend Lance Armstrong said Wednesday he would join Kazakhstan's Astana team for his competitive comeback -- but he didn't promise an eighth Tour de France victory."

 
Quotable:  "He announced a Livestrong global summit in Paris after the Tour de France to promote cancer issues. But he downplayed the idea he might actually win the Tour, the sport's greatest challenge.  'I don't know, honestly. I've been off the bike three years,' he said. 'I'll be nearly 38 years old.... So I honestly don't know. I will try to be as prepared as possible. I don't know that that equals victory.... I have a fair bit of confidence, but not that kind of confidence.'  Nikolai Proskurin, the deputy president of oil-rich, ex-Soviet Kazakhstan's cycling federation, said Armstrong would share Astana's leadership with current leader, Spaniard Alberto Contador.  However, Proskurin acknowledged that the return of the cycling hero was causing tensions with Contador, winner of the 2007 Tour de France.

'Currently there's certain tension in the team but I hope we are capable of keeping the situation under control,' Proskurin said. 'Armstrong will not be the only star, he will be one of the team's leaders.'"


Source:  Bike Radar
Date:  September 24, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Armstrong

 

 

Looking in the Mirror

Title:  "Trucks to be fitted with safety mirrors"
 
Subject:  EU seeking to cut cyclist, pedestrian deaths by equipping trucks with safety mirrors
 

Notable:  "Heavy trucks will have to be fitted with new safety mirrors from January 1st in a European Union-inspired move to cut deaths among pedestrians and cyclists who have been killed by truck drivers who simply could not see them.  Currently, because of the current style of mirrors fitted to many cabs, truck drivers are unsighted to their left and down, so often they fail to spot pedestrians who walk off a pavement at the last minute, or a cyclist on their inside."

 
Quotable:  "Fitting such mirrors will contribute to reducing fatalities and serious injuries among road-users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians."

Source:  Irish Time
Date:  September 24, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Safety Mirrors

 


Gibson's Art Gibson's Art
Street Wise

Title:  "Peter Gibson’s Street Art Critiques Car Culture"
 
Subject:  Montreal artist takes back the streets with his art
 

Notable:  "Graffiti meets environmental and social activism in Peter Gibson (a.k.a. Roadsworth)’s literal take on street art. Frustrated with the lack of safety provided for cyclists in today’s cities, the artist began (illegally) spray painting extra bike lanes onto the streets of Montreal in 2001. It wasn’t long before he began to branch out and address other civic and environmental issues through his cutting brand of creative imagery. "

 
Quotable:  "Peter Gibson continued his street art until 2004, when he was arrested and charged with over 80 counts of public mischief. With public support on his side, his sentence was lenient: a minor fine and 40 hours of community work which entailed creating legal artwork. Today he is often commissioned to create works of art."

Source:  Inhabitant
Date:  September 23, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Peter Gibson

 

Related Links:

 

Statement of Gibson re: his art, arrest


Website of documentary about Gibson including trailer for movie

 

 

Pod Prototype Design Pod Prototype Design
Rinse Cycle

Title:  "Another barrier to cycling goes"
 
Subject:  Shower pods in Australia for bike commuters
 

Notable:  "A prototype bike pod with showers and facilities for bike commuters to freshen up before work is about to be unveiled in Melbourne [Australia].  Melbourne Council has developed the pods in a bid to encourage more people to ride to work.  Catherine Ng, who chairs the city’s Planning and Environment Committee, said a lack of showers was one of the main factors stopping people from riding to work.  'People don’t want to be sweaty and smelly at work all day, so these bike pods will help overcome what is the biggest impediment for people wanting to ride into the city for work,' Ng said."

 
Quotable:  "While the prototype cost ratepayers $175,000, Cr Ng said the unit cost would fall to a fraction of that amount once full-scale production was under way.  Each pod, containing two showers, change facilities and a central core with hydraulic and ventilation systems, would take up the equivalent space of two car parks.  'It is extremely difficult and expensive to retrofit shower facilities to a basement car park, so that’s why (the council’s) urban design people came up with the pod idea,' Ng said."
 
Source:  Melbourne Leader (Australia)
Date:  September 23, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Pods

 

 

It'll Cost You in Cali It'll Cost You in Cali
Listen Up

Title:  "Cops Writing Tickets For Wearing Headphones On Bikes"
 
Subject:  Cyclist gets $150 ticket for listening to iPod on California boardwalk
 

Notable:  "First there was the cell phone law. Now police are writing tickets for people riding bicycles with iPods. A viewer contacted News 8 after a co-worker got busted for listening to music on his bike.  Take a bike ride on the Mission Beach boardwalk and there's no mistaking the rules of the road: no alcohol, no smoking, and now it's illegal to listen to your iPod while riding a bike."

 
Quotable:  "The law has actually been on the books since 2004. Under the California vehicle code, 'A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears.' It applies to any street, any sidewalk - even the Mission Beach boardwalk.  'I haven't had a problem with it yet. The girls in bikinis are more of a distraction than my headphones, I'm sure,' one resident said.  'I can understand it… the same reason they don't have it in cars. But at the same time, we're on a boardwalk,' another person said."
 
Source:  KFMB-TV (California)
Date:  September 23, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Ticketed for iPod in CA

 

 

2008 Tour of Missouri 2008 Tour of Missouri
Cycling, American Style

Title:  "Cycling in America Is One Big Exchange Program"
 
Subject:  Comparison of US Cycling Style, Tour of Missouri to European Style, Events
 

Notable:  "Cyclists in the United States are heavier and thicker, relying on muscle and a sprint to power to victory. They have less fear, rubbing elbows, handlebars and hips with rivals in a fight for position as they toward the line. It’s Nascar compared with Europe’s Formula One style of cycling.  Sprinters are numerous in the United States because the North American race calendar is rarely hilly or mountainous, and is weighted with events that are short and flat city-center circuits. The rider who enters the final corner first usually wins.  The Europeans rely on the distance of the race, the difficulty of the course and the strength of their teams to forge the gaps between riders. The pushing and bumping that is expected and accepted in American racing can make a rider an outcast in Europe."

 
Quotable:  "The European teams come to the United States to race for their sponsors, who want to boost their exposure here, or to fill a hole in the calendar to maintain their riders’ fitness. For many European cyclists, it is their first trip to the United States. They shop for clothes and electronics, try new foods, are shocked by the size of a coffee and try to become accustomed to the different lifestyle and way of racing."
 
Source:  New York Times
Date:  September 22, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Cycling in the US vs. Europe

 

Ghost Bike Ghost Bike
Memorial Vigil for Cyclists in Wisconsin

Title:  "Cycling advocates plan vigil for those killed in crashes"
 
Subject:  Milwaukee cyclists plan vigil aftre rash of cycling fatalities
 

Notable:  "Organizers of a memorial vigil at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Tuesday night hope to honor the dead and protect the living, amid a disturbing series of crashes that have killed bicyclists in southeast Wisconsin.  Since Nancy Sellars, 48, was struck and killed by a woman alleged to be driving drunk on July 9, at least three other cyclists have been killed by hit and run drivers in Kenosha and Racine Counties.  Statewide, the number of cyclist fatalities has grown to eight for the year, including Greg Bednorski, who crashed into a parked truck and died in Marathon County last Thursday.  At this time last year, six cyclists had been on state roadways, and the total for 2008 was 10."

 
Quotable:  "Jessica Wineberg, a program manager with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, helped organize the vigil with a mind to remember the victims and focus attention on the need to educate motorists and push law enforcement to prosecute guilty drivers."
 
Source:  Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Date:  September 22, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:    Vigil in Milwaukee

 

 

At Ground Zero At Ground Zero
Tour de Force

Title:  "Biking from Pentagon to Ground Zero"
 
Subject:  Law enforcement ride from D.C. to New York for those killed in line of duty
 

Notable:  "In 2002, a year after hijacked planes destroyed the American ideal of peace and liberty, a small group of law enforcement officers banded together to ride bikes from Arlington, Va. to lower Manhattan. They did so in order to raise money for the families of those who died in the line of duty on Sept. 11, 2001.  They have continued the tradition every year since then, and this year, 41-year-old Hoboken resident Joan Zarodkiewicz joined the trek.  The 262-mile expedition - called the Tour de Force - is limited to police, fire, and emergency workers, and to family members of those in the professions. Zarodkiewicz's brother is a police officer in Connecticut."

 
Quotable:  "In 2002, the group consisted of only about 10 riders. This year, 132 people two-wheeled it from the Pentagon to Ground Zero, starting Sept. 8 and finishing on Sept. 11. 'It was challenging, and not just physically,' Zarodkiewicz said last week, calling the law enforcement riders "an intense bunch of people.' The donations made from the fundraiser are not limited to families affected by 9/11, but for any family who has lost a loved one in the line of duty.... Over $200,000 was raised, according to Event Director Mike Depaolis. The money will be distributed over the next year."
 
Source:  The Hudson Reporter (NJ)
Date:  September 22, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Pentagon to Ground Zero

 

 

30,000 in Taipei 30,000 in Taipei
Now That's How It's Done

Note:  Monday is World Car-Free Day, and due to time zone differences, several parts of the world have already had events as I write this on Sunday evening.  The day will pass will little fanfare in the U.S.  It's a different story elsewhere.

Title:  "30,000 Taipei cyclists join World Car-Free Day"
 
Subject:  Celebration of World Car Free Day in Taiwan
 

Notable:  "Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin led nearly 30,000 cyclists yesterday along an exclusive 16-km bike route set up for the 2008 World Car-Free Day. The event successfully attracted ten times more participants than originally planned along the car-free-itinerary that started at Taipei City Hall and ended on a riverside plaza near National Taiwan University, said Taipei's Department of Transportation, the organizer of the event."

 
Quotable:  "World Car-Free Day was initiated in France on Sept. 22, 1998, and soon gained international support. Today the annual event is celebrated by over 100 million people in about 1,500 cities worldwide."
 
Source:  The China Post
Date:  September 22, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   30,000 Bikers in Taipei 

 

Related Links:

 

Major European Cities Ban Cars for World Car Free Day

 

50,000 Bike in London on Car-Free Day

 

 

Contador Contador
Making History

Title:  "Contador secures historic crown"
 
Subject:  Spaniard Alberto Contador wins cycling's three major tours in 14 months
 

Notable:  "Alberto Contador has secured overall victory in the Tour of Spain, in Madrid, to join a select club of cyclists to have won all three of the sport's major Tours.  The 2007 Tour de France winner also won this year's Giro d'Italia, meaning he has become only the fifth rider in history, and the first Spaniard, to win all three of cycling's three-week Tours."

 
Quotable:  "French duo Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgian legend Eddy Merckx and Italian Felice Gimondi all distinguished themselves from riders who concentrate only on the Tour de France by also winning La Vuelta and the Giro.  But Contador's achievement is all the more impressive given he has done so in the space of 14 months.  'It's something that is simply unimaginable,' Contador said on Saturday after virtually securing the leader's gold jersey, which he took after the race's 'queen' stage to the summit of the feared Angliru climb on stage 13.  'Now I want to really savour this win and get some rest,' he said after securing the victory."
 
Source:  Fox Sports (Australia)
Date:  September 21, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Contador

 

 

The Rogue Faction on the Bridge The Rogue Faction on the Bridge
Bridging the Divide

Title:  "Pedal protest sprints over bridge "
 
Subject:  Cyclists ride to expand biking, pedestrian focus in New Zealand
 

Notable:  "Dozens of cyclists staked a claim to the harbour bridge yesterday by riding across it to a rally of 400 pedallers and walkers on the other side.

Organisers of the Getacross rally, called to push for bridge cycling and pedestrian paths, said the illegal dash over the southbound clip-on at 1.20pm was by a "rogue" faction."

 
Quotable:  "[One cyclist] said they were experienced cyclists for whom the ride was no more dangerous 'than any other day in Auckland traffic.  We did it to protest about a situation where cars rule Auckland.'"
 
Source:  New Zealand Herald
Date:  September 21, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Bridge Crossing

 

 

Cabbing it in NYC Cabbing it in NYC
Cycling for Dollars

Title:  "How to make big bucks as a pro cyclist"
 
Subject:  Making a living as NYC pedicab operator
 

Notable:  "So what if I told you that I could get you a paying cycling job tomorrow? That you would enjoy the consummate cosmopolitan benefits just as other top cycling pros do. And to top it off, even though you’ll be riding 6-8 hours per day, you’ll never have to tackle a hill and headwinds will be as rare as a 12 ounce Ruth’s Chris ribeye. Furthermore, you’ll never have to answer to a surly directeur sportif who doesn’t even speak your language, never have to sacrifice your legs for an ungrateful prima donna team leader and never suffer the ignominy of watching an Italian gregario who has been latched onto your wheel for untold kilometers suddenly bolt by you to win a Grand Tour stage that so rightfully belonged to you."

 
Quotable:  "To be perfectly honest, I’m not talking about a racing gig, but rather the next best thing – raking in the big bucks as a pedicab driver! On a recent trip to New York City I learned all about pedaling tourists around from Kemal, a young Turkish student who has been plying this trade for close to a year. To cut to the chase, in New York, a pedicab driver can make $200 or more per day working a full 8-hour shift."
 
Source:  Examiner.com
Date:  September 20, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Pedicabbing

 

 

You Look Marvelous

Title:  "Stilettos on wheels: Cycling goes chic"
 
Subject:  As biking moves to mainstream, Canadian looks to Europe for how to bike fashionably
 

Notable:  "Fashion, they say, comes and goes in cycles. Now, it's cycling that's in fashion; the style brigade has taken up the two-wheel ride and, in doing so, is changing the image of the cyclist.  'A different type of cyclist is emerging - a cyclist who is not concerned about sport or how many gears they have on their bike but who simply wants to get from A to B, and look good doing it,' says 29-year-old London cycle-chicster Caz Nicklin, who started cycling in the English capital little more than a year ago and quickly became frustrated by cycling's 'geeky image.'"

 
Quotable:  "The sight of a stylish person cycling pleasurably can improve an urban landscape immeasurably. 'I'm always struck by how well it looks together - an amazingly dressed person and a vintage bike,' says Winnipegger Catherine Arbour, an art student and mother of three, who rolls around town on a white Free Spirit roadster, dressed, on this day, in a straight knee-length skirt, V-neck sweater and long thin scarf.  Europe, of course, is known for its bike culture, even among the corporate class. The sight of a briefcase-toting 50-year-old suit cycling to work is as common as pâté at a picnic. But in North America, despite biking's many credentials - eco-friendly, economical and a practical way to get exercise into your day - cycling, outside of sport activity, still lacks the thing that most drives our society: status.  But some highly esthetic bikes and a growing list of Spandex-spurning Web sites dedicated to stylish cyclists is shifting the template. I recently found more than 50 Web sites promoting the fashion/cycling relationship - for example, amsterdamize.com, copenhagencyclechic.com, and Caz Nicklin's cyclechic.co.uk."
 
Source:  National Post (Canada)
Date:  September 20, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Biking Chic (this fall's must-have: a cape)

 

 

How It Was Done

Title:  "Book review: Heroes, Villains and Velodromes: Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution"
 
Subject:  Story of How UK's Cycling Program Became a Success and a Phenomenon
 

Notable:  "As Chris Hoy thundered round the track to another victory in Beijing, BBC commentator Hugh Porter enthused about Richard Moore's book, Heroes, Villains & Velodromes. 'It's an excellent read, I couldn't put it down,' said Porter.  Beijing was Britain's best Olympics in living memory and at the heart of that were gold medals on the water and on wheels.  People with no previous interest in cycling suddenly became avid fans, dropping everything mid-morning to see gold after gold by the all-conquering British cyclists.   So how did Britain suddenly become the pre-eminent world force in track cycling? How could Chris Hoy, this unassuming lad from Edinburgh, come from nowhere at the age of 32 to become the first Briton in 100 years to win three gold medals in a single Olympics?"

 
Quotable:  "No one is better placed to answer these questions than Richard Moore, a former Scotland teammate of Hoy's at the 1998 Commonwealth Games ("I was there, if I'm honest, for the T-shirt," he claims) and now award-winning journalist and author who has remained close enough to British cycling's elite inner circle to know exactly how it was transformed in the space of a decade from a shoestring set-up to the most successful and professional operation on the planet.  Moore reveals how a confluence of factors: lottery funding; dynamic people in the right place at the right time; the training regime; the psychology and the "secret squirrel" technology all created an environment which allowed raw talent to reach its full potential."
 
Source:  Scotsman
Date:  September 20, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  UK's Cycling Emergence

 

Book is at Amazon here:

Heroes, Villains & Velodromes: Inside Track Cycling with Chris Hoy

 

 

Gregg Bednorski Gregg Bednorski
Well-Known Wisconsin Cyclist Loses His Life in Bicycle Crash

Title:  "Cyclist's death shocks fellow riders"
 
Subject:  Death of Wausau, Wisocnsin competitive cyclist Gregg Bednorski
 

Notable:  "The death of Gregg Bednorski in a bicycle crash Thursday sent shock waves through Wausau's cycling community.  Bednorski, 41, of the town of Mosinee was one of the best bicycle riders in the state, a passionate competitor who raced mountain bikes and road bikes, and was well-known among bikers throughout the region."

 
Quotable:  "Off his bike, Bednorski was easy-going and funny, devoted to his wife, Tammy, and two children, Isabelle and Adam."
 
Source:  Wausau Daily Herald (Wisconsin)
Date:  September 20, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Gregg Bednorski

 

Related Links:

 

Coverage of Mr. Bednorski's Funeral

 

 

When Tresses Are A Mess

Title:  "Women won't cycle because of concerns about 'helmet hair'"
 
Subject:  Study of womens' attitude toward bike commuting in UK
 
Notable:  "Over a quarter - 27 per cent - of women aged 18 to 34 were concerned about "helmet hair", where their carefully styled tresses are ruined by wearing a helmet, while 19 per cent did not want colleagues to see them without make-up.  In the same age group, 58 per cent said they would not cycle to work because they did not want to arrive sweaty and 38 per cent did not want to carry a change of clothes."
 
Quotable:  "The research backs up Government figures which show that men are three times more likely to cycle than women, despite celebrities such as Elle Macpherson and Agyness Deyn promoting pedal power.

Two thirds of all women never cycle and just two per cent ride a bike every day, according to the research commissioned by Cycling England."

 
Source:  Telegraph (UK)
Date:  September 18, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Survey

 

 

Put Those Car Keys Away

Title:  "Pedal Power: Monday is World Car Free Day 2008"
 
Subject:  Car free day on Monday
 
Notable:  "As you're getting ready to start your week this coming Monday, you might want to give yourself a bit more time to get to work. Why? Well as you're heading out the door, be sure and remember to skip those car keys and reach for a trusty train ticket (or bicycle helmet) instead, because September 22 is World Car Free Day 2008."
 
Quotable:  "Started by the UK's ETA (Environmental Transport Association) in 1997, nearly 2000 towns and cities in 38 countries took part in the anti-internal combustion event last year. Saying that "with people facing high fuel prices and concerns about the environment, this year's Car Free Day is timely," ETA Director Andrew Davis wants to highlight alternatives to traveling by car as well as the rights of pedestrians and cyclists on public roads and the need for better public transportation. However, he stresses that "the idea is not to put cars on trial," just encourage commuters to re-think the way they travel for a day."
 
Source:  Wide Open Throttle (website)
Date:  September 18, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Car Free Day

 

 

Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley
Riding Yosemite

Title:  "Try Yosemite – on two wheels"
 
Subject:  Twelve miles of biking trail in Yosemite National Park
 
Notable:  "It's not exactly a news flash that Yosemite Valley is one of the best places on Earth to go hiking.  But what people might not realize is that this incomparable landmark is also a great place to go bicycling.  One of the least-known facts about Yosemite Valley is the existence of more than 12 miles of paved bike paths and roads closed to automobiles. And no matter how many times you've been there, exploring the valley on two wheels is an entirely different experience than if you're on two feet."
 
Quotable:  "After pedaling around for about four hours, I started to wonder what it would be like if Yosemite Valley was closed to automobiles and bicycles were the primary mode of transportation. This iconic place would be completely different – and certainly more peaceful.  That won't happen any time soon, but park spokesman Scott Gediman said the nonprofit Yosemite Fund is raising money to repave the Valley Loop Trail, an old horse trail that encircles the valley floor.  When it's completed, cyclists will be able to ride from the Yosemite Lodge past El Capitan Meadow all the way to Pohono Bridge. Now that's something to get excited about."
 
Source:  Fresno Bee
Date:  September 18, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:  Yosemite

 

 

Moving Pictures

Title:  "Bicycle film fest comes to Austin"
 
Subject:  Sought-after Bicycle Film Fest makes first-ever Texas stop during its worldwide tour [BFF was in Minneapolis in July]
 
Notable:  "No matter if you ascribe to one, multiple or none of Austin's varied bike cultures, this weekend's Bicycle Film Festival will appeal to you. The Bicycle Film Festival started eight years ago, shortly after its founder, Brendt Barbur, was hit by a New York City bus while riding his bike. Barbur didn't have the resources or will to pursue a legal fight, nor did he believe it would result in any meaningful change. Instead, he decided to create something that would raise awareness for cyclists in a positive and engaging way. The Bicycle Film Festival has grown into a 17-city worldwide tour, visiting Tokyo, Zurich, Toronto, San Francisco, and Portland, Ore., among others, and selling out nearly everywhere it goes."
 
Quotable:  "'Of all the places that want the festival, Austin has been the most enthusiastic,' [film fest founder] Barbur says of the Bicycle Film Festival's first foray to the Lone Star state. Of course, it doesn't hurt that much of that enthusiasm comes from Austin's most recognized cyclist, Lance Armstrong. With the opening of his new downtown bike shop, Mellow Johnny's, Lance and company sought to create a place where the many disparate bike cultures could co-mingle. To aid in achieving that vision, Armstrong set up a meeting with Barbur in New York and asked him to bring the Bicycle Film Festival to Texas."
 
Source:  Austin 360 (website)
Date:  September 18, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   Bike Film Fest

 

 

Magpie Attacks Postman Magpie Attacks Postman
Birds Gone Wild

Title:  "Feathered fighters launch aerial attacks"
 
Subject:  Australian Cyclists Cower as Birds Dive Bomb
 
Notable:  "Take cover -- the swooping season has begun.  Cyclists, pedestrians and even the postman have been attacked by magpies, butcher birds and plovers as these feathered fighters release their fury."
 
Quotable:  "During the breeding season, Ms. Biasol said it was wise to stay away from known swooping areas and nesting trees.  'If you must enter the area, move through it quickly, but don't run. Be magpie-smart and wear a hat and sunglasses or carry an umbrella,' she said.  'Cyclists should dismount and walk through the territory.'  Many cyclists have tried painting eyes on the back of their helmets to scare off the the attacking birds and found out the hard way it is not much of a deterrent."
 
Source:  Gold Coast (website)
Date:  September 17, 2008
 

Link to Full Story:   When Birds Attack (with more photos)

 

[Note:  The above is a TCBN follow-up post to 9/1 archived entry on Australian's struggles with bird-diving]

 

 

Burlington Rally Burlington Rally
Two Hit-and-Runs in Burlington, VT Spur Rally

Title:  "Cyclists rally for safe streets"
 
Subject:  Vermont riders, ignited by two recent hit-and-runs against cyclists, gather to push for safety improvements
 
Notable:  "A cyclist waved a poster at Tuesday’s Rally for Safe Streets that read 'I learned to share in first grade.'  The sign was meant to convey the message that cyclists and drivers need to learn how to peacefully coexist on Vermont’s roads.  That message was echoed throughout a impromptu lunchtime rally at Burlington’s City Hall Park, prompted in large part by two recent hit-and-run accidents in Chittenden County involving cyclists and cars. While many attendees were angry about the recent hit-and-runs, most agreed that cyclists and motor vehicle operators bear equal responsibility when it comes to road safety."
 
Quotable:  "Spencer detailed a five-point plan aimed at making Vermont's roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The first part of the Local Motion initiative is to secure more bike/pedestrian education funding from the Vermont Governor's Highway Safety Program.  According to recent state statistics, cyclists and pedestrians make up 5.8 percent of traffic fatalities. Of the Governor's Highway Safety Program's discretionary funds, 1 percent is allotted to bicycle/pedestrian safety funding.  Spencer also advocated for an aggressive-driver reporting initiative; lower speed limits in Burlington's downtown and in neighborhoods with no posted speed limit; targeted enforcement, including ticketing rule-breaking cyclists or crosswalk stings; and personal responsibility."
 
Source:  Burlington Free Press
Date:  September 17, 2008
 
Link to Full Story:   Bikers Rally


WTF? WTF?
Nailed

Title:  "Warning as cyclists find nail traps"
 
Subject:  Three-inch nail traps victimize cyclists in UK
 
Notable:  "Cyclists were horrified when they found a spiked trap buried along a popular biking route.  Five of the man-made traps – each with three inch nails attached to a small piece of wood – were found by members of Team Adrenaline on Wheelton Moor, near Chorley [UK]."
 
Quotable:  ""I looked at the inner tube and thought it was barbed wire." 
 
Source:  Lancashire Evening Post (UK)
Date:  September 16, 2008
 
Link to Full Story:  Nail Traps


Meyersdale, PA Meyersdale, PA
Safe Passage

Title:  "Celebrating the Great Allegheny Passage"
 
Subject:  300-mile trail system between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.
 
Notable:  "With two great termini – Washington and the Point – and untold acres of unmatched flora, fauna, and history neatly sandwiched in between (including sites from the French and Indian Wars, American Revolution, Civil War, and Industrial Revolution), they come from all across America to ride [the Great Allegheny Passage]. They come from as far as China and Japan, New Zealand and Australia, England and France, Canada and South Africa, Israel and Italy and Ireland. Last year alone, people came from some 43 states, including California, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii."
 
Quotable:  "'It’s been 30 years,' [the Allegheny Alliance President] says. 'It’s really remarkable that our little trail system that started with nine miles at Confluence and Ohiopyle now goes all the way to Washington. Our promise to ourselves and our communities and our region was to help re-invent the region around the trail, to re-invigorate these communities that had been left behind by steel, coal, and railroads. There are 750,000 visits to the trail every year – and now we expect it to double.'" 
 
Source:  Pop City Website
Date:  September 17, 2008
 
Link to Full Story:  Great Allegheny Passage

Related Links:




100 Decibels Strong 100 Decibels Strong
Loud and Clear

Title:  "Just in: D-lock with in-built alarm system"
 
Subject:  100 Decibel Alarm in a D-Lock
 
Notable:  "Made from a strengthened steel body and powered by six LR44 batteries; this lock is tough challenge for potential thieves. The smart chip which controls the alarm has a tolerance to certain forces, but as soon as someone tries to meddle with the lock, they (and everyone around) will know about it."
 
Quotable:  "If the alarm is triggered accidentally, it will turn off in 35 seconds – provided it’s not interfered with." 
 
Source:  Bike Radar (UK)
Date:  September 16, 2008
 
Link to Full Story:  D-Lock Alarm


Flickr Bike Flickr Bike
World View

Title:  "'Flickr Bikes' Photo-Map Locales Across the Globe"
 
Subject:  GPS, camera-equipped bikes map rides and auto-upload pics to Flickr
 
Notable: "For their new 'Purple Pedals' campaign, Yahoo has dispatched a handful of GPS-enabled bicycles equipped with cameraphones that automatically shoot and upload photos to Flickr to riders in cities all over the world, from San Francisco to New York and soon, to Singapore, Denmark and the U.K.. The bikes come with solar panels which power the camera, and special software that uses the phone's accelerometer to snap photos every 60 seconds automatically when the bike is in motion."
 
Quotable:  "Once the bike is charged and ready to roll, you just get on and start riding. A small shutter light on the back of the camera housing illuminates every minute to show the rider when it's taking a picture. Automatically, with no intervention at all, the phone uploads the photos it takes to Flickr in the background as you ride, mapping your path almost real-time."

Source:  Lifehacker (website)
Date:  September 15, 2008
 
Link to Full Story, Videos, Comments:  Flickr Bike