0

Movie Monday – 2009 Brevet de Randonneur des Alpes

I’ve got randonneuring on the brain right now, so here’s a gorgeous video of a brevet through the alps.

0

Did you take a grey bike?

Did you take Mike’s bike?  If so he has a message for you.  (nsfw language).

0

NADA Bike

The NADA Bike project is aimed at getting more people on bikes and less in cars.  How do they plan to do this? By offering simple, bare fixed/single gear frames for a very reasonable cost.

$100 + $49 shipping gets you a frame which you can build any way you like.  If you already have a collection of spare parts, this can transform them into a complete bike on the cheap.  With such a low cost for the frame, you could still end up with an inexpensive fixie even with new parts.

I’d be curious to hear about how the frame works out for those who have built them up already.

0

Build an adjustable bike ramp

I love Instructables.  It seems that site has plans to build nearly anything, including tons of bike related projects.

This one is an adjustable bike ramp for those times when you just have to take your ride off some sweet jumps.  While the instructions claim it is for a kid,  there’s nothing stopping the kid-at-heart from catching air with this as well.

0

Getting back into training

The past few weeks have been busy. Between work, school, and other distractions it has been hard to get in saddle time. I ended up missing the brevet I was supposed to ride in January. I wish I had a good reason, but I just overslept. Oops.

There is another 2 weeks from now. With not being able to ride much I was worried about doing this. I’m certain I can complete 200k, but I also want to turn in a decent time.

Yesterday I finally got in a good long ride and my fitness has not declined much if any. I’m very happy about that. I’m also trying to get a little more structure in both my riding and other aspects of fitness, namely my diet. I’m now keeping a log of all my rides as well as anything I eat. I really need to drop those last 10 lbs that seem to want to stay on me.

As hard as it can be at times, I’m learning I really need to make riding a priority, it seems to help me manage everything else.

0

Movie Monday: Cyclocross Compilation

In many parts (not here unfortunately) Cyclocross or CX is in full swing.  Check out this amazing footage, be warned though, it may make you want to leave the office and get your road bike in some mud!

1

Mississippi getting a 3 foot law?

That’s what we are hoping. I recently received an email from our states main advocacy group: Bike Walk Mississippi about a bill currently in motion.  In addition to mandating a 3ft minimum for motorists to pass, it also makes clear other issues which were previously a bit vague in our current transportation code.

My personal favorite section is this:

SECTION 7. Any person who maliciously and knowingly harasses, taunts, or throws an object at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of One Hundred  Dollars ($100.00) for the first offense; a fine of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a second offense; and a fine of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) and imprisonment for seven (7) days in the county jail for the third offense.

This is great news for Mississippi.  It has passed both the House and Senate committees and will not make its way to the floor for voting.  I’ll be contacting my reps today in support!

0

Movie Monday: Tour Down Under Stage 6

With the Tour Down Under recently concluded, here is the highlight clip of the final stage.

1

Will electric bikes really catch on?

After the buzz around the Sanyo’s Eneloop and other advances in e-bikes, lots of folks think that the technology has reached a point where it will really catch one. This NY Times article provides a good overview about the state of the e-bike.

I don’t think that it’s the technology itself which is the make or break factor for the widespread acceptance here.  What I think will be the largest hurdle is getting over the social stigma many see in riding a bike.  When people find out I ride a bike exclusively they come to one of two conclusions:

1. I can’t afford a car.
2. I lost my license because of a DUI

To be clear,  I can afford a car and I’ve never had a DUI.  This of course leads to the final conclusion… that I’m a weirdo hippie (this part might be true).

While making bikes easier to ride will certainly get some people in the saddle,  I don’t think we will see an explosion of riders until the perception of biking is changed.  Cars are just too entrenched into our culture no matter what technology makes bikes more accessible.  But that’s just my option.

 Loading ...

0

Movie Monday: Bicycle Repair Man

Classic Monty Python… enjoy!