Features
- By Claire Bonin, Amy Ensign, Sara Raposo
Fourteen Northwest Racers Bound for Beijing
As Olympic competitors from across the globe get ready to head to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Games, it is interesting to note that 35 percent of the combined Canadian and USA cycling teams is comprised of Northwest riders.
- By Sara Raposo
Bikes Can Ride Buses, Too
One option that many cyclists have, but are often hesitant to take advantage of, is the opportunity to combine their bike and bus commutes. Since 1994, two-bike racks have been installed on all Metro Transit buses, thanks to a $915,000 federally funded grant, while Sound Transit buses are equipped with three-bike racks, making multimodal commuting easy and enjoyable.
- By Erik Moen
Dynamic Bike Fitting Made Easy and Accurate
The profession of bicycle fitting has become fairly popular these days, and for good reasons. More people recognize the importance of an appropriately fitted bike, as it helps improve comfort and efficiency while reducing exposure to overuse injuries, pain syndromes and poor cycling performance.
- By Joe Sales
Rock Star Racing for Everyone
“We need to put the rock star back into cross-county,” said Dean Payne, the man behind the vision for the BC Bike Race, as he watched over 400 tired but elated mountain bikers depart Whistler Village in a big flurry of wind, clicking gears, humming tires and laughter as they headed out on the final day and the last 44 kilometers of single track in the epic seven-day mountain bike race.
- By Dan Norton
Fall Isn’t Coming Fast Enough for Some
With the heat of summer upon us, after a too-long and too-wet spring, most cyclists are enjoying the sun and heat. However, there is a large, twisted segment of the cycling population that is checking weather sites, doing rain dances and actually praying to a wide variety of deities for bad weather. I won’t even mention the running they do. So, what gives? The answer is: the anticipation of another 'cross season.
- By Michelle Poyourow
Make the First Commute a Great One
Making a bike trip fun and satisfying the first time, rather than frustrating or even scary, is key to getting a new bike commuter to stick with it. If you are going to try bike commuting, or (more likely, since you’re reading this publication) you’re going to help a friend with the same, here are a few factors that can help make it a great commute.
- By Joel Cameron
Portland Mountain Bikers Seeking Increased Access to Urban Singletrack Trails
Recently, Portland, Ore. was designated as a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. This was a significant accolade, as this municipality is the first major city to receive this honor. However, even though there is no doubt that Portland is a great place to pedal, if you are looking for a site in the city to mountain bike, the options are few and far between. Especially lacking are singletrack trails, leaving many in the knobby tire set scratching their heads as to how such a highly sought after and popular form of outdoor activity could be conspicuously absent from the city’s off-road offerings.
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Opinions
- By Maynard Hershon
Just This Morning...
Also this morning I stopped to help a young woman who’d had a flat tire. She was sitting on the ground next to the bike path very deliberately dealing with her flat. I sensed she might need at least guidance, and perhaps a hand or two, on the bead of her tire.
- By Joe Kurmaskie
Storming a Walled Italian City Never Conquered in Recorded History
We join the action as my family faces down a fortress of brick and mortar that encircles the quaint city of Lucca. Reality could take a holiday because I was indulging in what our family history would record as the “Storming of Lucca, 2008.”
- By Joe Kurmaskie
Farewell To a Friend
Alejandro Alverez had a way of moving a bicycle so effortlessly that, even though I stood half a foot taller than him, he dwarfed me with his skills. My friend from Monterrey, Mexico rode like it was the first and last time he might own a pair of legs
- By Maynard Hershon
On the Paths
I love riding bike paths. They’ve encouraged me to stay on my bike when traffic has nearly succeeded in prying me off it. I’m not saying that the paths are perfect, or that your fears about them are unwarranted.
- By Gordon Black
For This Revolution, No Lycra Required
When bicycle advocates and visionaries lust for the volume of cyclists of a Copenhagen or an Amsterdam, they don’t see massed throngs of black lycra and neon-yellow jackets pedaling through the streets. That’s because in places where bicycles are truly an integrated part of people’s daily transportation, those good folks do not necessarily identify themselves as “cyclists” and don’t wear special clothes. Mostly they don’t wear helmets, either. They put on skirts and suits, don regular shoes and grab a bike for trips to the store, the movie theatre, work. Think about it: if you own a car, do you have special driving gloves of the kind that people wore in black and white movies? If you ride transit, do you have a special bus outfit?
- By Joe Kurmaskie
Create a Million Riders and a National Bike Movement [Seriously.]
The cycling equivalent of Woodstock is coming. Instead of joining rock fans on a muddy farm, one million folks on bicycles and supporters of personal health, clean, oil-independent transportation and more livable communities will gather for celebrations and purpose-filled action in 50 states for upwards of 300 rallies. Even more remarkable, all of these unified, localized events will roll out on the same day.
- By Maynard Hershon
If Your Mammas Knew...
Until yesterday, only 123 cyclists in 12 U.S. states rode fixed-gear bicycles on public streets. Track racers rode them on velodromes—banked wood or concrete ovals. A few old-school road riders used them for winter road miles in low, leg-loosening gears.
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General News
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Deda Forza Handlebar Stems Recalled
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary… -
Lynnwood Needs Show of Support for New Bike Lanes
The City of Lynnwood intends to re-stripe several arterial streets and add bike lanes this fall. The city has received grants to… -
Spokefest and Bike Swap - Riverfront Park - Spokane
Spokefest, a project of the Spokane Bicycle Advisory Board, is a celebration of cycling! This event features a one-mile fun ride… -
Paralympic Games on YouTube
Bonn, Germany - Today, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has taken further action to promote Paralympic sports and the… Read more general news »
Racing News
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Canadian Cycling Association Looking for a Track Coach
The CCA is searching for a track coach to lead the 2008/2009 national track season The Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) is the… -
Gould Finished 8th in Beijing
Beijing, China (August 23, 2008)-The United States Cycling Team closed out its 2008 Olympic Games campaign on Saturday with mixed… -
Pain on the Peak - September 13
Portland Velo and Sunset Cycles are excited to present the first dose of CX for the Portland area in the the 2008 season! Pain… -
2008 Rad Racing GP Cyclocross Race
Olympia, Wash. – Rad Racing NW is proud to host the Rad Racing GP of Cyclocross Presented By Kona and Full Speed Ahead on September… Read more racing news »
Industry News
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SCOTT Bicycles Discountinues Sponsorship
Sun Valley, ID, August 26, 2008 — SCOTT Bicycles announced today that it will discontinue the sponsorship of the SCOTT-American… -
Bicycle Pedals Recalled by Look Cycle; Pedals Can Break Causing Cyclists to Fall
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary… -
Rocket Shower(R) Solves Sweaty Problem for Bike Commuters: "Showerless" Body Cleaner Essential Commute Accessory
Fredericksburg, Texas (July 25, 2008)-- Bicycle commuters are solving a key problem of human-powered transportation with Rocket… -
Bio-Degradable Bike Bottles offered by California Springs - an Industry First
Santa Fe Springs, CA (July 9, 2008) California Bike Gear has developed BioGreen Bottles(TM) a new line of biodegradable bike bottles… Read more industry news »
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