Cycles

"His claim to fame is that he retired at age 30. He swears that you can achieve greater financial freedom too, if you follow his example by eliminating unnecessary expenses and investing wisely. He calls himself Mr. Money Mustache. And he says nothing is more essential to his philosophy and wealth-building strategy than riding a bike. Mr. Money Mustache rides through the snow with 85 pounds of groceries. Pin this picture up next to your car keys. Photo: MMM Mr. MM (his real name is Pete, but that’s no fun) has been dishing out lifestyle advice on his personal finance blog for two years to a faithful following that now numbers about 300,000 regular readers. In a recent interview with the Washington Post, he counseled prospective early retirees to live close to work and “of course, ride a bike.” In fact, MMM says, it’ll take you forever to retire if you keep wasting money on cars. He estimates it costs a person $125,000 and 1.3 working years’ worth of time to drive 19 miles each way to... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"PIXIE POWER Adult tricycles—even e-tricycles—are already a thing. But are they cute enough? North Carolina start-up Organic Transit is addressing that problem with the Elf, a pedal-electric solar-powered tricycle that makes low-carbon conveyance easy and adorable. Big enough to carry an extra passenger or up to eight bags of groceries, the enclosed, egg-shaped Elf is still legal to ride on bike paths. When they cross the Misty Mountains, elfin riders can turn the throttle to get an electric boost—a lithium ion battery will take the trike 30 miles at 20 miles per hour and can be recharged from a wall outlet. Company founder Rob Cotter says the target market is people who never imagined commuting by bike. "Do you really think my aunt Kiki is going to ride uphill in the rain?" LEAN, GREEN PHILIPPINES Gas-powered trikes are popular in the Philippines, where 3.5 million are in use, but their emissions aren't: They account for more than two-thirds of the nation's transportation-related air... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"The information on the following pages has been developed specifically for bicyclists and motorists sharing California highways. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) promotes public safety by continuing its commitment to inspiring generations of safe bicyclists. In addition to bicycle safety, DMV also connects the bicycle community with the Caltrans Bike Program and a summary of Codes & Laws related to the operation of bicycles. Come join us in making California a safer place to ride your bike!" - Russian Space Lizard from Bookmarklet

"On this week's Word on The Street, AggieTV asked students what bike accidents they have experienced or seen on campus!" - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"I have found that sometimes I am expected to be the representative for all people traveling via bike, and honestly, I'm not exactly comfortable with that role; however, I also don't like to hear drivers say things that don't actually coincide with the law. I'm always amazed at how many people don't know the rules of the road." - Russian Space Lizard from Bookmarklet

Yup. No one ever expects a single driver to teach all other drivers to drive safely but they expect it of cyclists. Both tasks would be hard! I think getting bike education into PE at schools would help. So would including a larger portion of bike questions on the DMV test and practical. There's an organization down here that offers urban riding classes and that can help. And, same as... more... - Spidra Webster

"The exhibit illustrates that biking is a viable alternative to driving, especially for local errands and commuting to work or school. Exhibit highlights include a wide variety of affordable commuting and recreational bikes, classic bikes, materials on biking safely, illustrations of bike-friendly street-design, videos of bike commutes, a wall-size map of bike routes in Los Angeles County, and displays of biking accessories that make riding safer and easier. “Half of all car trips are less than three miles. Since that’s a distance that just about everyone can bike, we wanted to focus on biking as an easy, everyday activity that has many benefits — for your health, the environment, and congestion reduction,” said Caltrans District 7 Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Dale Benson. “You don’t have to be an athlete, own a $5,000 bike, or have special clothes to ride a bike. Anyone can do it.” The District 7 office in Los Angeles says this bike exhibit underscores Caltrans’ commitment to... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Not far from Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, there’s a nondescript building that looks like it might be home to stealth startup. But if you walk in the front door, you won’t find cubicles or computers. You’ll find a secret bike shop where people like Robert Jimenez and Terry Mac twist wrenches and true tires all day long, rocking out to AC/DC and Pink Floyd. Then, if you slip into the back room, you’ll see them: 1,300 green, blue, red and yellow Google Bikes, stacked Santa’s workshop-style as far the eye can see. This building is the nervous system for a remarkable campus-wide bike-sharing program that doubles as a mirror of the search giant’s corporate culture. On any given day, you can find about 700 of the bikes scattered like toys across Google’s Mountain View campus. All morning long, Google’s private shuttle buses drop off employees in front of clumps of bikes. The Googlers mount up and ride to work. Jimenez and Mac are part of a seven-person army that keeps... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

The conference bike is seriously cool. - Spidra Webster

"Bicycles and good food can be found rolling hand in hand everywhere you look, and that’s why Elizabeth Callahan decided to leave her comfortable office job to bring the two a little closer together. Photo by Emile Faga Custom design work by illustrator Jimmy Mezei adds fun and flair to Lilly's Lunches Pashley Delibike. Lilly’s Lunches started up less than a year ago, but Callahan’s adorable deli bike is now a commonplace sight, weaving through Toronto, ON, city traffic to deliver homemade lunches to downtown businesses. Callahan explained, “I had always wanted to start a local business, and my love for food tied in perfectly with the idea of bringing office-bound people lunch.” Trading her photocopier for an industrial oven, Callahan funded the development of Lilly’s Lunches with her personal savings and collaborated with a diverse network of friends to launch her business. After a successful opening party, Callahan started with 20 customers to serve during her first week. As word of... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Police in Beverly Hills have new footage that shows a clearer image of the motorist who deliberately drove his BMW into a cyclist earlier this month. The brief clip, posted on L.A. Now, shows the white BMW 328i that was captured on video in an alley off Wilshire Boulevard on April 3, turning around and driving head on into a bicyclist. The crash prompted the cyclist to punch the driver in the face through the open car window. The Beverly Hills Police Department said in a release that the suspect they're looking for is a Middle Eastern or white man in his mid-30s with dark hair, dark eyes, and a thin build. The cyclist's identity has not been released. He sustained non-life threatening injuries in the incident. The bicyclist reportedly told investigators he had a fight with the driver prior to the alley confrontation. Anyone with information about the motorist is asked to contact the BHPD immediately." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Cops say a bicyclist and a BMW driver got into it earlier this month resulting in the motorist having a fist sandwich courtesy of said rider. But that wasn't the end of the story. View Larger Map Enraged, the driver allegedly followed the two-wheeler into an alley in the 9000 block of Wilshire Boulevard and then "intentionally rammed the bicyclist with his vehicle pinning him to a metal rolling trash bin," according to a Beverly Hills Police Department statement. The bicyclist was treated and released, Lt. Lincoln Hoshino told us. The driver took off, and now detectives want to have a word with him. It all happened April 3, but now cops have released surveillance video (below) of the BMW in question hoping the public will help track the suspect down. 13-13027 from Beverly Hills Police Department on Vimeo. The car is described as a white 2008 BMW 328i sedan, possibly with front-end damage. The man behind the wheel appeared to be in his mid-30s and had dark hair, dark eyes and a thin... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"The Three Foot Passing Bill introduced by Assembly Member Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) in February received eleven “aye” votes and two “no” votes today in the Committee on Transportation. The bill now moves on to a hearing in the Committee on Appropriations at a date to be determined. The members of the Committee on Appropriations you should contact to voice your support can be found here. The bill would require the driver of a motor vehicle passing a bicyclist to allow three feet of space “between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator.” The bill mandates a fine of $35 per infraction, with the driver paying an additional $220 if there is a car-bicycle collision that injures the bicyclist because the driver did not provide three feet of passing space. Mayor Villaraigosa supports this bill, and it will be important for the next mayor to maintain that support to ensure this important bill becomes law." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"I give up. Los Angelopes wins. #CicLAvia " - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"A swarm of bees took up residence in a bicycle basket parked in front of Cantina Real on Pier Plaza Saturday afternoon. Melinsa and Josh Irvin. Melinda Irvin brought her son Josh to the restaurant for a birthday lunch. After eating, they found Hermosa Beach Community Services Officer Janet Dreste warning passersby to stay away from Irvin’s bike, which was parked in front of the restaurant. Community Service Officer Janet Dreste contemplates her next move. Dreste speculated that the swarm came from a hive in one of the palms that line Pier Plaza. Cantina Real owner Joline Blase said a swarm of bees took up residence on one of her patio tables a few weeks ago. USC Safety Leon McQuay, of Seffner, Florida, and wide receiver Darreus Rogers, of Carson show they are not easily intimidated. A bee keeper used a shop vac plugged into his pick-up truck’s battery to collect the bees from Irvin’s bike basket." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman John Townsend has apologized for his offensive comments in my cover story this week on the mythical "war on cars" in the District. Townsend is presumably referring to his remarks about Greater Greater Washington blogger David Alpert, whom he called "a nerd" and "developmentally retarded," and whose criticism of AAA on his blog that Alpert might not make in person Townsend compared to "the Klan hiding behind the white masks." AAA Mid-Atlantic just tweeted the following statement: The remarks attributed to John Townsend reported in the City Paper article are inappropriate, and in no way representative of AAA Mid-Atlantic's views. Mr. Townsend apologizes for comments attributed to him that were offensive. It was never Mr. Townsend’s intention to be insulting and agrees that there is absolutely no place in the public discourse for personal attacks. That said, Mr. Townsend believes that many of the statements were presented out of context and mischaracterize the... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"What’s this? A vegan Brooks saddle? It’s true. You can register to test the newest addition to the Brooks England line, the C17 Cambium vegan saddle for free! Simply check out more information and photos below. Even I want to try one of these out. Register to Test the C17 for Free. Brooks England Invites First 100 Cyclists to try the “Brooks C17”, a Revolutionary New Saddle Birmingham manufacturer invites interested parties to register at www.brooksengland.com/cambium. Birmingham, 17th April. Brooks England, the world’s oldest bicycle saddle manufacturer famous for the iconic leather saddles, is inviting 100 people to try the Cambium, a new generation of saddles with no equal on the market. The Cambium is made from a uniquely flexible natural rubber and organic cotton top, enhanced by a thin layer of structural textile for added resilience. This vulcanized waterproof top, which follows the rider’s movements, is immediately comfortable, maintenance-free, and highly abrasion-resistant... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

I signed up to test it. Not because I need a vegan saddle so much as that you get a 10% off coupon for their website whether you are chosen to test or not. And my vintage '70s Brooks saddle probably isn't much longer for this world (not because it's low quality but because it wasn't lubricated and maintained while it sat for decades in my parents' garage). - Spidra Webster

"THE safety of hundreds of cyclists was threatened during a major sports event when drawing pins were thrown on to the road and more than 1,000 route signs vandalised. Organisers of UK Cycling’s New Forest Spring Sportive were forced to take drastic action at the start of the two-day event when the participants were put in jeopardy by the reckless actions of the vandals. Marshals had to sweep up the tacks off the road in Boldre – but some tyres were still punctured. Riders have also spoken of one group of people in the road, shouting at the passing cyclists and deliberately obstructing them as they passed. And event organisers also found that more than 1,000 direction and safety signs had been removed or defaced, forcing safety teams to replace them before the 1,850 cyclists set off. Heavy rain added to the organisers’ problems, forcing them to cancel the second day as the hosting field in Brockenhurst became waterlogged. Martin Barden, director of UK Cycling, said there were no... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"He rides a pink cruiser on the marble floor of the Longworth House Office Building and wipes out. NBC News producer Frank Thorp posted the post-crash action to Instagram for your benefit." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Going to the gym may not be enough to keep off the pounds if you drive to work. That’s the result of a study published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Bike commuters gain less weight than car commuters, an Australian study found. Image: Bikes Belong According to an Australian research team, active commuting is an effective defense against gaining weight. Among a sample of 822 Australian adults tracked over four years, people who walked or biked to work gained about two pounds less, on average, than daily car commuters. Lead researcher Takemi Sugiyama, a behavioral epidemiologist at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, said it may be difficult for people who drive to work to find the extra time to devote to exercise. “In order to achieve the level of physical activity needed to prevent weight gain, it may be more realistic to accumulate physical activity through active transport, rather than adding exercise to weekly leisure-time routines,” she... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Hollywood Director Danny Boyle told Jon Stewart that making the opening ceremonies for the London Olympic games was so tedious, he had to take an eight-week break to do something creative. He made his just-released movie, "Trance. " "You spend most of your time at those meetings figuring out what the acronyms mean," he said. Covering the environment often feels the same way. I'm in favor of revamping CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), not because it slows down development, but because it makes everything it touches turn to excruciating boredom. Also, putting every project through the CEQA meat grinder produces the same kind of unrecognizable sausage for public consumption. Case in point: a feasibility study and implementation plan and EIR (Environmental Impact Report) for 16 Emerald Necklace projects from the WCA (Watershed Conservation Authority) and the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC). That's the CEQA description and pretty much... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"April is Bicycle Month. To kick off the celebration in Lafayette Parish, cycle enthusiasts can enjoy bike riding and Zydeco dancing all at once. Cycle Zydeco, sponsored by the Transportation Recreation Alternatives In Louisiana (TRAIL), began Thursday and lasts through Sunday. Cycle Zydeco was established by the Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission to promote Acadiana to cycling enthusiasts from around the world. A 200-mile bike tour gives riders a Cajun and Creole experience with live Louisiana music, local cuisine, swamp tours and zydeco dance lessons. This year, TRAIL welcomes riders from 47 states and Canada. The bike tour is designed for riding at a moderate or leisurely pace so participants can absorb the culture and still have energy to dance to lively Cajun and zydeco music at the end of the day. The tour started in Lafayette and will travel throughout the area before ending on Sunday at Parc Sans Souci for FestiVÉLO. FestiVÉLO is from 10:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. It will offer food, live music, a bike show, group bike rides and other activities. For more information, visit latrail.org." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Awhile back, OC cyclist Mark Goodley wrote a guest post calling for cyclists to ride with ultra bright bike lights both day and night for increased safety, following his own near-fatal riding collision.  At the time, he mentioned he was working on a review of some of the brightest lights on the market, which would be easily visible in daylight. So I offered to post his review once he got it finished.  And here is it, representing an exceptional amount of work and out-of-pocket expense." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"REG: Cyclists have bled us white, the bastards. They don’t pay road tax, they run red lights. And what have they ever given us in return?" - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"FRANCIS: Yeah, America’s first car was built by the Duryea brothers: they were bicycle builders first. And powered flight, Reg, that was developed by the Wright Brothers: they owned a bike shop and built bikes. REG: All right, but apart from the pneumatic tyre, ball bearings, differential gears, roads, motoring, car ads, and aviation, what have cyclists ever done for us?" - Spidra Webster

pstp bike 29er (bicycle) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... - Thomas Page from Bookmarklet

Quadracycle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... http://www.facebook.com/media... sort powered hybrid of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... 3 -24 http://www.contesengineering.com/ segway quad http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/320... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... sort http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... - Thomas Page

"Things come in waves and right now the wave is full of patterns. I haven’t pedaled in almost two weeks now. At all. But maybe some rest is a good thing, right? Last night I worked on two patterns for some tall guys. Their frames are huge. I’m sure one could fit a small child in them. I’m not advocating that, simply pointing it out. Since I was in the bag making spirit I also worked on my own custom bag. Seems like bags for myself always fall to the back of the line. I’m sure that’s true for anyone that makes anything. Something about the cobblers kids have no shoes. I was able to install the zipper on the drive side panel of my bag. Now I just need to lock down the patch placement. I’m pretty sure they will go here. It looks pretty good they will be a good distraction from the small child trapped in there. I mean, uh, nevermind." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Hilarious comment on the blog "Can you make one that will fit two medium size toddlers for me?" - Spidra Webster

"As part of our complete streets networks, streets on the bicycle-enhanced network will receive a number of enhancements that aim to encourage riders of every age to bike and feel safe while doing so. See our features glossary and the Bike Plan Technical Design Handbook (links above) for definitions of the features. Learn more about the bike-enhanced network in our blog at la2b.org. Sample enhancements for Backbone Streets (see the relevant sections of the Bicycle Plan Technical Design Handbook or NACTO, linked above, for a detailed explanation of the features) Wide Bicycle Lane with Additional Pavement Markings (9.1); Raised Bicycle Lanes (9.12); Cycle Tracks-Protected Bicycle Lanes (9.13); Dedicated Bicycle Lane w/Bus Lane (3.5); Colored Bicycle Lanes in Conflict Areas (9.6); Colored Bicycle Lanes at Interchanges (9.7); Bicycle Box (9.8 or 9.11); Two Stage Turn Queue Boxes (NACTO) Sample enhancements for Neighborhood Streets (Bicycle Plan Technical Design Handbook Reference)... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Survey at the link. - Spidra Webster

"So whaddya know? The supposed "us and them" war raging twixt cyclists and drivers is actually more love-in than pitched battle. As the editor of performance car website and associated forum PistonHeads I should know, having recently posted a blog about my new-found love of road cycling on the homepage and received … nothing but enthusiastic support. Now, on the surface, sites like PistonHeads would appear to be the last bastion for petrol guzzling horsepower junkies with views on cycling somewhere to the right of Jeremy Clarkson or James Martin. We write about and discuss cars – mainly fast, noisy and extravagant ones – but among the vast, diverse and extremely vocal community there thrives a strong pro-cycling spirit that happily pours scorn on the idea you're either a driver or a rider. As the bike-mad editor I saw no problem posting a story about my born-again roadie awakening and drawing comparisons with that and my love of fast cars. And I was vindicated with an enthusiastic... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Step back. This is a bit of a rant. I have been working at the bike shop for almost a year now, and here is a true fact: I have seen many couples come in to buy bikes together, and not once — not ONCE! — have I seen a couple leave with a pair of bikes, where the woman’s bike cost substantially more than the man’s. I’ve seen lots of men ride out on fine $1,000 road bikes or high-end hybrids, while the partner chooses a mid-range hybrid, or worse—a clunky “retro” upright or a step-thru ladybike. In the case of couples I can only assume this is because a) the woman’s needs are assumed to be less budgetable than the man’s, and b) the man would feel emasculated to ride on a lesser bike than his partner. I’m waiting for a better explanation, but I haven’t heard one yet. I am sick of seeing women buy shit bikes. I refuse to cooperate in selling women bikes that will not serve their needs, enhance their mobility, or contribute to their liberation. What I hate most are the ladybikes. You... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Hybrid tandem. Half leg crank, half hand crank. - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Joining 30 Days of Biking means that even if you’re biking solo, you’re never alone. We’re cheering you on from all around the globe." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet