Blog
Death Ride
Jul 22, 2009So maybe the Death Ride was a bit of a stretch for my first organized ride. Let me admit from the start that I REALLY wanted to get out of it, and I almost didn’t go. My plan of riding a century every month completely failed—I was completely under trained by the time the Death Ride rolled around, only having ridden about 100 miles in a good week and maybe I’d done 2 or 3 60-70 mile rides all... read the whole blog post.
Anyone have a helmet cam mount to spare?
Jul 07, 2009I give you the following request from SVBC board member Paul Goldstein:
Commissioner Carl Guardino has asked MTC to investigate adding the segment of SR 9 to the Regional Bikeway Network in order to add shoulders which will allow cyclists room to ride on SR 9. The installation of center line rumble strips is a safety concern for cyclists since motorists may be reluctant to cross over... read the whole blog post.
The bicycle for everyday use... in Africa
Jun 16, 2009It's amazing what you come across by searching for "bicycle" in Google News. I just stumbled across this story about the Africa Bike: a heavy single speed with coaster brakes that is apparently just what the doctor ordered for remote regions of the African continent. This thing is 45 lbs. and carries 100 kg of cargo (that's 220 lbs!).
It may not win any crits, or get oogled by the fixie... read the whole blog post.
This just in: Hurling trash at cyclists not cool
Jun 16, 2009It seems Columbia, Missouri has just passed an ordinance making it a crime for motorists to "harass" cyclists. From the Columbia Missourian:
"The ordinance, which is modeled after similar ordinances in South Carolina and Colorado, makes it a misdemeanor to do the following: throw an object at or in the direction of a cyclist, threatening a cyclist to frighten or disturb the cyclist,... read the whole blog post.
Found shades at San Mateo BTWD Bash!
Jun 12, 2009UPDATE: the owner has been found!
My bad! I found a pair of sunglasses at the San Mateo Bike to Work Day bash, threw them in my bag, and promptly forgot about them. They seem expensive. Did you lose some shades at St. James Gate? Do you know someone who did? Send me an email or give me a call at (408) 287-7259 and describe them. Sorry I took so long!
World Environment Day
Jun 05, 2009Apparently, today is the United Nations Environment Programme "World Environment Day 2009." Who knew? If you'd like to learn more, go to http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/
Car-free June
Jun 01, 2009Hello my friends,
Did you know? Throughout the month of June, TransForm is hosting the Car-Free Challenge. I've joined, and I'm heading the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition team.
Sign up here: http://transformca.org/car-free/sign-up
You should sign up, it's pretty much the coolest group of kids in town. Plus, you get to ditch your car - maybe even more than you already do... read the whole blog post.
We came, we saw, we biked to work
May 19, 2009Wow. As a recent transplant to San Jose and the Bay Area I was already impressed by the local effort to promote bicycling. I've never lived anywhere with such an avid biking populous, and I was certainly not expecting this kind of enthusiasm in a giant metropolis.
That said, you all awed me again on Bike to Work Day last Thursday. The multitudes of bicycle commuters, and the success of... read the whole blog post.
Like you needed another reason...
Apr 28, 2009I think most of us value our bicycle commutes for a number of reasons, mostly positive. We get some exercise, get to know our cities better, and, most importantly, we have fun! Our friends at 511.org remind us that by biking to work, we're also missing out on the daily slog through traffic, costly gasoline, and, of course, the hazards of stale pastries.
Check out their video, "How Was... read the whole blog post.
Trials of a racing / recreational rider relationship
Apr 24, 2009The subsets of cycling are sociologically fascinating to me… and it’s always fun to explain them to noncyclists. Lately in my own life I’ve been having a bit of an identity crisis as a cyclist.
I started out mostly a transportation cyclist, with the occasional recreational weekend mountain bike ride. But after I joined the SVBC staff, somehow at some point riding also became a serious... read the whole blog post.