August 26th, 2010
2K
For some reason, I always feel compelled to note these little milestones.
August 25th, 2010
EcoVelo Houndstooth Wool Caps
A shipment of EcoVelo Houndstooth Wool Caps just arrived from Walz Caps. These are sumptuous, 4-panel black/white houndstooth wool caps, embroidered with the EcoVelo logo on the right side. Supplies are limited, so order yours soon for the upcoming tweed season!
August 25th, 2010
Shimano and Peak Oil
I ran across this interesting article at Seeking Alpha suggesting Shimano may be a good “peak oil” investment. In an article at Alt Energy Stocks, the same author recommends other bicycle and scooter stocks as good peak oil investments.
August 25th, 2010
London Cycle Hire Stats
The Telegraph published an interesting graph showing London cycle hire usage plotted against temperature and rainfall. The data suggests usage is related to temps and rainfall (not surprising). How about you? Are you a fair weather commuter or do you brave the wet and cold?
August 20th, 2010
Walking and Cycling to Health
A new study authored by John Pucher, Ph.D. and three other researchers was published this week in the American Journal of Public Health. The study sought to determine the relationship between active transportation and rates of obesity and diabetes. From the abstract:
Objectives. We sought to determine the magnitude, direction, and statistical significance of the relationship between active travel and rates of physical activity, obesity, and diabetes.
Methods. We examined aggregate cross-sectional health and travel data for 14 countries, all 50 US states, and 47 of the 50 largest US cities through graphical, correlation, and bivariate regression analysis on the country, state, and city levels.
Results. At all 3 geographic levels, we found statistically significant negative relationships between active travel and self-reported obesity. At the state and city levels, we found statistically significant positive relationships between active travel and physical activity and statistically significant negative relationships between active travel and diabetes.
Conclusions. Together with many other studies, our analysis provides evidence of the population-level health benefits of active travel. Policies on transport, land-use, and urban development should be designed to encourage walking and cycling for daily travel.
The results aren’t surprising, but the conclusions are important because the researchers are recommending policies that encourage active transportation.
Walking and Cycling to Health: A Comparative Analysis of City, State, and International Data →
August 16th, 2010
What’s In a Name?
Just another nameless commuter bike…
I’ve never been one to name my bicycles. I certainly don’t see anything wrong with christening a favorite bicycle with an affectionate moniker, but somehow, I’ve always felt too self-conscious to do so. Perhaps my hesitation stems from growing up as a skinny kid in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood where naming a bicycle was sure to draw ridicule from the “tough guys” on the block. Or perhaps it stems from my proclivity to view a bicycle more as a tool, or even an objet d’art, than as a mechanical horse imbued with a personality. In any case, as much as I enjoy my bicycles and truly appreciate them for the mechanical marvels that they are, I’m afraid they’re destined to remain nameless while in my custody. How about you? Do you name your bicycles?
Loading ...August 14th, 2010
Momentum Mag Call for Submissions
From Momentum Magazine:
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Momentum Magazine # 48
The Photography Issue
Seeking high resolution, professional quality images capturing the cycling zeitgeist of 2010.
In November 2010 Momentum will publish a “year in pictures” photography issue that will tell the biggest cycling stories visually.
We are looking for the highest quality images to portray the current moment in the evolution of North American urban cycling – culture, style, advocacy and fun.
August 12th, 2010
Bamboo Bikes in the NYT
An article on bamboo bikes appeared yesterday in the Fashion & Style section of the New York Times. From the article:
BAMBOO is one of the world’s fastest-growing plants, adding as much as three feet in a single day. That growth rate, along with the giant grass’s sturdy hollow stalks (with a strength-to-weight ratio similar to that of steel) may explain why bamboo is being heralded by bikers, environmentalists and social entrepreneurs as a material with no carbon footprint and the potential to provide cheap wheels in poor countries. Serious spandex-clad cyclists like bamboo bicycles, as do tattooed bike messengers and thrifty Ghanaian shopkeepers.
August 11th, 2010
Details
One of the things that intrigues me about folding bikes is that they’re loaded with little details you only notice when you take a close, careful look. Take the horn of this Brompton saddle for example. See the little indents on the underside? Any guess at what they’re for (no Brommie owners, please)? It’s only one among many well thought out details that you’ll find on these, and other, folders.
Factoid: Did you know that each Brompton consists of some 1,200 parts, over three-quarters of which are unique to their bicycles? I don’t know if this is good or bad, but it makes me say a little prayer each day that they’ll stay in business for a very long time (they’re selling bikes as fast as they can make them, so no worries).
August 10th, 2010
Joe Breeze at DealerCamp
Joe Breeze discusses the history of mountain biking and the future of transpo bikes at DealerCamp.
Breezer →
August 9th, 2010
Rowdy Kittens in the NYT
Our pals Tammy & Logan of Rowdy Kittens were featured in an article in the New York Times titled “But Will It Make You Happy?“. Here’s an excerpt:
Inspired by books and blog entries about living simply, Ms. Strobel and her husband, Logan Smith, both 31, began donating some of their belongings to charity. As the months passed, out went stacks of sweaters, shoes, books, pots and pans, even the television after a trial separation during which it was relegated to a closet. Eventually, they got rid of their cars, too.
Tammy & Logan walk the walk; they truly live their tag line, “Social Change Through Simple Living.”
August 1st, 2010
EcoVelo Flickr Group
The EcoVelo Flickr Group currently has 268 members with a total of 3,272 photos submitted by group members. If you’re a Flickr user, please consider contributing to our group, and if you’re not, enjoy the photos!
July 29th, 2010
Thursday Morning Commute Free Association
A few random thoughts triggered by this morning’s commute photo:
- Bike commuting beats the heck out of sitting on the freeway in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
- The new bars and saddle really changed the character of this bike. I didn’t think the below-the-saddle bar height was going to work for me at all, but it’s nice having my weight distributed a little more evenly between the bars and saddle.
- Speaking of saddles, the Selle An-Atomica beats the heck out of the Brooks it replaced for sheer comfort. BTW – does anyone know the status of S-A with Tom Milton’s passing?
- The Pass & Stow porteur rack with matching Freight Baggage Rack Bag make a super front catch-all carrier.
- I realized the other day that I’ve probably shifted to the granny ring on this bike all of 3 times over the past two years, and then only to test a shifter. With that in mind, I have in the works to turn this into a 1×9 drivetrain. More on this later.
- At the right of the photo is an intersection where one of our bike trails meets one of our bike lanes. Notice the stop sign and the generous width of the the bike lanes going in either direction perpendicular to the path. The same type of on-street lanes connect with the off-street path on the other end as well. It’s not a bad system.
- That Arkel Bug is a tough bag. It’s seen a ton of abuse and it looks like new.
- Surly needs to put kickstand plates on their LHTs.
- The Canon G10 is a sweet little on-bike camera.
- The best thing in this photo is the little highlight on the top tube.
Have a super day and a safe commute!
July 28th, 2010
Civia Design
Burton Avery, the industrial designer at Civia, posted the first in a series of articles about the design process behind their belt drive Bryant. From the blog post:
I’m the industrial designer here at Civia. I collaborate with a team of people, such as engineers and a brand manager, on Civia’s products. I am responsible for what industrial designers call form, or the way our products look in terms of shape.
In the next few blog posts I’ll be delving in to the design process for the Civia Bryant. By explaining design features in detail, hopefully you’ll get the idea that the Civia Bryant is more than just the sum of it’s parts. The Bryant’s modular dropout allows for a range of different drivetrain solutions.
Interesting!
July 27th, 2010
BP = Bicycle Power
Eric over at Tubulocity has designed a new T-shirt in response to the BP disaster in the Gulf. From Tubulocity:
Like everyone, I’ve been troubled by the BP disaster in the Gulf. Many people are hoping for future alternative energy technologies that will allow them to continue driving their cars. I believe the solutions start at home and a lot can be done right now through conservation and becoming an educated consumer. While the bicycle may not be the only answer, those of us who ride know it is a beautiful alternative that’s great for our bodies, minds, social lives, and the environment.
I created this design as a way of of raising awareness that there’s an alternative BP. That alternative is BICYCLE POWER.
Well said, Eric! The shirts can be ordered online for $20.
July 27th, 2010
Sweep
Here are a couple of Panda portraits showing my new Civia bars versus my old Nitto North Road bars (both installed on the LHT). As different as these bars look, surprisingly, the fore/aft grip positions are nearly identical. The wrist angles (aka sweep) are different though; the Nitto is at 70 degrees, while the Civia is at 50 degrees. While the Civia wrist angle provides more leverage and a feeling of quicker, more secure steering, the 70-degree angle of the Nitto is more casual and relaxed. The Nitto has a couple of centimeters of rise which also contributes to the relaxed feeling. I haven’t yet decided which I prefer…
Civia Aldrich – 50 Degrees
Nitto North Road – 70 Degrees
For those of you who are riding bars other than drops, how much sweep do you prefer?
Loading ...July 25th, 2010
His & Hers Step-Throughs
When Michael was little, she always wondered why “boys” bikes had the high bar since they were the ones who had something to damage. Makes sense to me. Perhaps it’s time to officially declare the step-through “gender-neutral” or even “man-friendly”.
July 25th, 2010
1 Girl + 2 Wheels
Our friends Rick & Erin are bicycle advocates who organize the popular Tweed Rides here in Sacramento. Erin recently started a blog chronicling her experiences as a woman living car-free. As you’ll see when you visit her site, Erin is an excellent writer and photographer who is not afraid to tackle difficult topics. Have a look, and if you like what you see, consider adding her RSS feed. I’m looking forward to following her daily updates as the site grows over the coming months.
July 22nd, 2010
Still Life
An estimated 3 million people (1 million on bikes!) attended a 37-mile closure of Germany’s high-speed autobahn network this past weekend. The event, appropriately titled “Still Life”, was a celebration of the Ruhr region being chosen as a “European Capital of Culture” by the European Union. Approximately 22,000 tables were set up, which has to qualify the event as the world’s largest picnic. It must have been quite a sight, seeing such a long stretch of high-speed roadway filled with pedestrians and bicyclists.
July 22nd, 2010
Spokes: Are Flats Related to Heat?
In yesterday’s New York Times “Spokes”, J. David Goodman asked if heat is the culprit behind the higher number of flats bike shops see during the summer. The theory is that higher temperatures raise the air pressure within bike tires, increasing the likelihood of flats.
Personally, I think heat is definitely not the culprit. If anything, higher pressure would lead to fewer flats by reducing the chances for pinch flats (of course, the probability of having a blowout increases with high pressure, but we’re talking flats, not catastrophic blowouts). I think it’s explained by the fact that more people are on their bikes during the summer, and that there is more debris on the road during the dry season (rain and wind help clear away debris fall through spring).
What’s your take?
