tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218842002024-03-12T16:33:09.686-07:00The Bicycle DiariesGetting A Grip on the Handlebars of Life.Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784243328798635180noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-72048411377436144322015-06-27T08:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T08:00:05.789-07:00Does Ford See The End Approaching?Ford designers have had a go at electric bikes. The annual Further With Ford trends conference in Palo Alto saw the release of a video touting the new Ford MoDe e-bike:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R4Hiclb18RM" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
The bike has a couple of interesting features, such as replaceable front and rear ends, allowing it to be modified for different environments.<br />
But anyone who has been paying attention is used to re-thinks of basic cycle design: from frame and gear versions (like touring frames or fixed gearing) to collapsible bikes and extended frame transport cycles, and the wide variety of three- and four-wheel designs. This is one of the joys of bikes--they can be altered, mashed, modified, run through a bike kitchen or an art collective and still function.<br />
But two things stand out about the Ford announcement; one, that they see a chance to make a buck, meaning the car alternative movement has become large enough for a massive multinational to pay attention. And two, that an iconic "American" company's imprimatur might bring the movement to middle-America's attention. Neither of these are a bad thing.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-32775452128051637392015-03-31T08:47:00.000-07:002015-03-31T08:47:34.938-07:00Crappy Bike Paths<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.cbc.ca/1.3015738.1427759545!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/hampton-illinois-bike-path-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.cbc.ca/1.3015738.1427759545!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/hampton-illinois-bike-path-sign.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
The above sign is found in Hampton, Illinois, and is addressing what we can only hope is a Hampton, Illinois-only problem. Someone is pooping on the bike path.<br />
No, not a dog. Yes, pooping. <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/town-actually-tells-people-to-stop-pooping-on-its-bike-path-1.3015730">According to the CBC</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The culprit has enough forethought to bring a roll of toilet paper out
on the path, and yet can't make it to the nearby commode. Finally, the
fed up village is demanding that for whoever is behind this public
nuisance, the next time nature calls, don't answer. </blockquote>
Yes, someone is grabbing up some toilet paper, heading down the bike path to a place <i>near a public restroom</i>, and dumping on the bike path. Clearly not someone adhering to consensus reality....Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-24852132882507553952014-02-16T09:54:00.000-08:002014-02-16T09:54:17.639-08:00Cycle Babble website!I've just found a charming website about local history and bicycles. Check out <a href="http://web.uvic.ca/vv/student/cycle_history/cyclebabble/home.html">Cycle Babble</a> and the link to archival materials on Victoria history and bicycles from the 1890s!Paula Johansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546604458659721403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-84246440214301232342013-11-09T12:28:00.002-08:002013-11-09T12:28:37.103-08:00The Invisible Bike HelmetOkay, so I wouldn't say invisible. Still pretty cool, though. Here's a bit of the story from the inventors/designers.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/43038579" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-66453420695434390862013-08-16T14:35:00.001-07:002013-08-16T14:35:32.887-07:00The Ultimate One-Off<a href="https://medium.com/what-i-learned-building/fd2c7e059878">Mike Swartz blogs</a> about his experience in taking 9 months to build a bike. I mean seriously build: he started with the designing the bike he wanted and then building it from tubes. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h2 class="" name="248d">
Melting metal</h2>
<div class="" name="426a">
This
was by far the most fun, scary and rewarding part of the build. I
decided to fillet-braze the bike, which means mastering the handling of
the oxy-acetylene torch. If you’ve never seen one, it’s a pretty
hardcore setup. One tank of oxygen, one tank of acetylene, a
ridiculously flammable gas. This potent mixture can produce a flame that
burns at around 6000 degrees Fahrenheit. It can also explode and kill
you. So being careful is pretty key.</div>
</blockquote>
It's a really interesting journey. Just as biking will occasionally put you in a space you weren't expecting, so does building.There is something primal about the maker urge.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="" name="9c4f">
It took about three weeks to build the whole
thing with the setbacks, parts that didn’t fit, and the wheel building.
There were a few nights out in the garage where I was tempted to just
rip through and finish the build if I had to stay up all night. But I
decided to wait, and give myself some time to think about the problem or
order the right part instead of scrounging/modifying what I had. I
heard a great piece of advice from another guy at the workshop:</div>
<blockquote class="" name="edaa">
Whenever
I think I’m 30 minutes away from finishing a project, I stop and come
back to it the next day. This way I don’t rush, and force myself to be
smart and do it right.</blockquote>
<div class="" name="b4cb">
I think about
this a lot and how useful it is when applied to basically everything.
Don’t rush, do it right. You don’t want to ruin 9 months of work because
the hardware store was closed.</div>
</blockquote>
Mike's<a href="https://medium.com/what-i-learned-building/fd2c7e059878"> posts are a short and interesting read</a>. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-69629239741983689102013-08-16T06:00:00.000-07:002013-08-16T06:00:11.525-07:00Excellent (And Pricey) Bike LItes!via <a href="http://grist.org/list/worlds-coolest-bike-lights-turn-your-wheels-into-lightning-flames-or-cartoon-animals/?utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&sub_email=ebklassen%40gmail.com">Grist</a>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://grist.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/sq4qglq.gif?w=325&h=191" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://grist.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/sq4qglq.gif?w=325&h=191" width="320" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It’s a fairly simple product, actually. You get a unit that fits onto
your wheel. The unit has four bars of LED lights. Then you upload
graphics or animations. And then you just pedal — pretty fast — and the
lights turn on and the motion of the bike wheel turns them into
animations and you’ve got the coolest thing going on the road. Cars will
definitely, definitely see you.<span id="more-192234"></span><br />
But it’s, uh, pricey, at $660 for one unit (i.e., if you want both
your wheels tricked out like this, you’re out more than $1,300). Still,
you could have bike wheels <em>with an animation of you riding a bike on them</em>. Think about it.</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://grist.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/other-gif.gif?w=270&h=253" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://grist.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/other-gif.gif?w=270&h=253" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="span-2 no-gutter">
</div>
<div class="span-14 grist-source-list">
<ul class="list-style-type-none">
<li><a href="http://www.monkeylectric.com/monkey_light_pro/" target="_blank">MonkeyLightPro</a>, MonkeyLectric</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-10437907768354409852013-08-12T12:22:00.001-07:002013-08-12T12:22:24.790-07:00The Rural Ambulance<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/07/09/kakyo-grace_wide-e690900e9c0468b3464af7804ef49151d6668366-s40.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/07/09/kakyo-grace_wide-e690900e9c0468b3464af7804ef49151d6668366-s40.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/08/12/200428557/in-rural-uganda-homemade-bikes-make-the-best-ambulances?ft=1&f=1001">NPR</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/08/12/200428557/in-rural-uganda-homemade-bikes-make-the-best-ambulances?ft=1&f=1001">NPR is reporting</a>: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When Chris Ategeka was 9, his younger brother died while Ategeka was
helping to carry him to the nearest hospital — 10 miles from their
village in Fort Portal, Uganda.<br />
There was no quicker way to get
his sick brother, who was coughing and had a bloody stool, to medical
care. "I did not understand the concept of lack of mobility being the
biggest factor until it got later in life. I realized how that could
have helped so much," he tells Shots.<br />
Ategeka and his five siblings became orphans after their mother and
father died of AIDS. But Ategeka, now 28, considers himself lucky.<br />
A U.S. aid organization
helped AIDS orphans like him attend school. Ategeka did well. He
impressed the California family that sponsored him so much that they
invited him to come live with them in 2006.<br />
Since then, he has
earned engineering degrees at University of California, Berkeley, where
he'll begin a doctorate in mechanical engineering this fall. And he's
been using what he learned already to solve the problem that contributed
to the death of his brother nearly 20 years ago.<br />
Ategeka founded ,
a nonprofit that teaches villagers how to build bike ambulances and
wheelchairs from scrap metal. "I teach you how to make it, and I teach
you how to fix it," he says. "If it breaks, you know what to do, and if
you want to build something you think outside the box and you do it."</blockquote>
Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-70857570057473648692012-12-12T16:31:00.001-08:002012-12-12T16:31:32.382-08:00Local Bike BlogLocal mountainbiker Rivers Mitchell has a nice <a href="http://www.singletrackgeek.com/">bike blog</a>. You might want to check it out....<br />
He's also spearheading the formation of a multi-author blog going called The Mountain Bike Life that should be going live in the new year. Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-33696477175738686822012-10-16T11:06:00.000-07:002012-10-16T11:06:01.652-07:00The $20 BikeIsraeli inventor Izhar Gafni has designed the $20--retail!--bicycle. Why so cheap? He's built the weatherproof, durable, light bike out of cardboard.<br />
From<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/15/us-israel-cardboardbike-idUSBRE89E0DF20121015"> Reuters</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="articleText"></span><br />
Izhar Gafni, 50, is an expert in designing
automated mass-production lines. He is an amateur cycling enthusiast who
for years toyed with an idea of making a bicycle from cardboard.<br />
<span id="midArticle_2"></span>He
told Reuters during a recent demonstration that after much trial and
error, his latest prototype has now proven itself and mass production
will begin in a few months.<br />
<span id="midArticle_3"></span>"I was
always fascinated by applying unconventional technologies to materials
and I did this on several occasions. But this was the culmination of a
few things that came together. I worked for four years to cancel out the
corrugated cardboard's weak structural points," Gafni said.<br />
<span id="midArticle_4"></span>"Making
a cardboard box is easy and it can be very strong and durable, but to
make a bicycle was extremely difficult and I had to find the right way
to fold the cardboard in several different directions. It took a year
and a half, with lots of testing and failure until I got it right," he
said.<br />
<br /></blockquote>
Izhar has released a video of his bike in construction and in action:
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/37584656" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe>
<br />
More from the Reuters article:
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The bicycles are not only very cheap to make, they are very light and do not need to be adjusted or repaired, the solid tires that are made of reconstituted rubber from old car tires will never get a puncture, Elmish said.
"These bikes need no maintenance and no adjustment, a car timing belt is used instead of a chain, and the tires do not need inflating and can last for 10 years," he said.
A full-size cardboard bicycle will weigh around 9 kg (about 20 lbs) compared to an average metal bicycle, which weight around 14 kg.
The urban bicycle, similar to London's "Boris bikes" and others worldwide, will have a mounting for a personal electric motor. Commuters would buy one and use it for their journey and then take it home or to work where it could be recharged.
He said that as bicycles would be so cheap, it hardly mattered how long they lasted.
"So you buy one, use it for a year and then you can buy another one, and if it breaks, you can take it back to the factory and recycle it," he said.</blockquote>
Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-89550032965883488622012-08-23T09:09:00.001-07:002012-08-23T09:09:43.876-07:00And Why Not?From the hotbed of cycling activism, the invisible helmet.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/43038579" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe>
And that's a new idea.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-41443434200683526272011-11-17T10:34:00.000-08:002011-11-17T10:39:16.125-08:00Before Voting TomorrowJust found this link to the BC Cycling Coalition's website. They've got a link to the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition's site, with a list of the candidates in the municipal election. <a href="http://bccyclingcoalition.blogspot.com/2011/11/vote-for-cycling-on-november-19.html">Read here</a> for some questions and answers before you go vote tomorrow!<br />And yes, it matters if you vote. If you ride a bike, you already care about your body and your environment. Voting is one way to show that you're taking an interest in your community's bike legislation.<br />For me in Saanich, I'm making note of which candidates commute on their bikes. It's one more factor helping me feel like I'm selecting my votes carefully.Paula Johansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546604458659721403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-59629266276503864722011-11-15T11:00:00.000-08:002011-11-15T11:28:32.297-08:00More Work on the E&N Rail Trail!<span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Great news from the Capital Regional District of Greater Victoria.</span> <span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Parts of the E&N Rail Trail are now open! This path is being created to follow the route of the E&N Rail line from downtown Victoria through Esquimalt, all the way to Langford.<br />Check out <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/enrailtrail/">this link</a> to see some photos of the Trail being constructed beside the railway line in Esquimalt. I was down there yesterday and saw people walking on the nice smooth blacktop trail!<br />The route is already taking some of the traffic from the Galloping Goose trail, which sees a lot of commuters on bike and foot during the summer months. Even in winter, both trails are expected to see a lot of use. Recreational users as well as commuters are looking forward to the expected completion of the new trail.</span> <span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Here's the latest press release from The CRD on the new trail:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K6LIfcI1Rpk/TsK4JRRMALI/AAAAAAAAAVg/m8NNyD9MjIY/s1600/portlandspringwatertrail_000.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 124px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K6LIfcI1Rpk/TsK4JRRMALI/AAAAAAAAAVg/m8NNyD9MjIY/s400/portlandspringwatertrail_000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675300949834072242" border="0" /></a><br />CRD Media Release<br /><br />For Immediate Release<br />November 14, 2011<br /><br />E&N Rail Trail-Humpback Connector Closed from Esquimalt Rd. to Admirals/Colville Rd.<br /><br />Victoria, BC – Construction of a section of the E&N Rail Trail-Humpback Connector from the<br />intersection of Admirals and Colville Roads in Esquimalt to Esquimalt Road in Victoria is<br />underway. Due to requirements by rail operator for public safety, this section of trail must be<br />closed until the intersection upgrades are complete. These upgrades are on hold until the future<br />of the railway is determined by the rail operator and other parties.<br /><br />The first portion of work including construction of 2.3 kilometre of trail surface is nearing<br />completion. However, the second portion involving improvements to five road intersections,<br />including upgrades to rail signals and pedestrian crossing infrastructure is delayed due to<br />circumstances beyond the CRD’s control.<br /><br />“While there is currently no passenger service running on the line, it is still considered an active<br />railway and therefore subject to all safety requirements to which the CRD must adhere,” says<br />Lloyd Rushton, General Manager of CRD Parks and Community Services. “We ask for the<br />public’s patience and cooperation as we work to construct our next regional trail.”<br /><br />The E&N Rail Trail-Humpback Connector is a commuter cycling and recreation trail that is being<br />built largely within the rail corridor in Victoria, Esquimalt, View Royal and Langford. The trail is<br />being built in phases. Phase one is underway. It will provide a 14.3 kilometre contiguous route<br />from Esquimalt Road in Victoria to Jacklin Road in Langford. Eventually this multi-use path will<br />stretch from the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria to Humpback Road in Langford. It will be an<br />important multi-use transportation link between Victoria and the Westshore. It will also form a<br />key part of the trail network managed by the Capital Regional District, which includes the<br />popular Galloping Goose and Lochside regional trails.<br /><br />You can find additional information at <a href="http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/e_n_railtrail.htm">http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/e_n_railtrail.htm</a> (including a map of the Galloping Goose and E&N Rail Trails).<br />Attachment: Rail Trail Bulletin<br /><br />-30-<br />For further information, please contact:<br />Laurie Sthamann, Communications Coordinator<br />CRD Regional Parks<br />Tel: 250.360.3332 | cell: 250.889.8030<br />lsthamann@crd.bc.ca | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.crd.bc.ca/parks">www.crd.bc.ca/parks</a>Paula Johansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546604458659721403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-43783928147385097812011-09-23T09:08:00.000-07:002011-09-23T09:08:14.355-07:00Some New Designs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.ford.com/images/10031/eBikeMediaFord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://media.ford.com/images/10031/eBikeMediaFord.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Gorgeous, right? It's an <a href="http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=35270">ebike designed by Ford</a> and unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Li-Ion powered to a motor in the front wheel, it also features a <a href="http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/">Carbon Belt Drive System</a> for getting your human power to the rear wheel. It's adaptively powered:<br />
<blockquote>
In the Ford E-Bike, the first application of this technology in the
bicycle industry, the sensors read the revolutions in the inner bearing
and relay this information to the control unit within a hundredth of a
second. The control unit then instantly activates or deactivates the
electric motor, providing a seamless integration of the power of the
legs with the power of the motor.</blockquote>
It utilizes a trapezoidal frame profile made from aluminum and carbon, looks crazy cool, and will not be available for purchase. Ever. It's a "concept bike", much like the "concept car".<br />
<br />
But, on the other side of the coin,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.brompton.co.uk/extranet/downloads/Key_Models_2011/mid/M3L_HotPink_angle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.brompton.co.uk/extranet/downloads/Key_Models_2011/mid/M3L_HotPink_angle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
the very popular <a href="http://www.brompton.co.uk/">Brompton Folding Bike</a> (available at both <a href="http://www.northparkbikeshop.com/">North Park</a> and <a href="http://www.fairfieldbicycle.com/">Fairfield</a> bike shops here in Victoria),announced today (21 September 2011) that it will be offering an electric version of its folder; the eBrompton. Rollout is scheduled to be first in the UK and German markets during 2012 with a worldwide launch in 2013.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-51502046539821238052011-07-14T13:47:00.000-07:002011-07-14T13:48:57.800-07:00Bikemobile!OMG, guess what the public library in Victoria is doing now? They've got a Bikemobile touring the streets and attending local events.<br />http://gvpl.ca/about-the-library/our-community/bikemobile/Paula Johansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546604458659721403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-21543240716831381322011-07-11T19:42:00.000-07:002011-07-11T19:44:11.255-07:00Places You Can't Ride BikesCheck out the blog at <a href="http://terratrike.com/blog/2009/09/22/5-places-riding-your-trike-or-bike-is-banned-or-illegal-youll-be-surprised/">terratrike.com</a>! Someone's posted a list of five places where you can't ride a bicycle.Paula Johansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546604458659721403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-15808055297870216302011-06-07T17:34:00.000-07:002011-06-07T17:54:04.842-07:00New Linear Trail!<span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Just got a press release from the Capital Regional District (CRD) here in greater Victoria. Looks like the CRD is trying to pick a new name for the new linear park. It's a trail that mostly follows the route of the E & N railway from downtown Victoria through to the western communities. The trail will be used by bicycles and pedestrians, much like the existing bike trails in the Victoria area. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>The need for this trail has been obvious to anyone riding on the Galloping Goose trail in summer. The Goose has become a crowded commuter route! With any luck, the new trail will take some of the bike traffic along a convenient route. Here's the press release:</em></span><br /><br />Media Release<br />For Immediate Release June 2, 20112<br /><strong>Be A Part of History: Name the CRD’s Next Regional Trail!<br /></strong>Victoria, BC – The Capital Regional District, in partnership with CFAX 1070, is launching a community contest to name its next regional trail. You can be a part of history by giving it a name!<br />This new commuter cycling and recreation trail will be built largely within the E & N rail corridor in Victoria, Esquimalt, View Royal and Langford.<br />“This next regional trail will be an important multi-use transportation link between Victoria and the Westshore,” said CRD Regional Parks Committee Christopher Causton. “With construction of the trail underway, it is an opportune time to create awwareness, enthusiasm and support for it through a naming coontest. The working name E & N Rail Trail is also a candidate.”<br />The contest is open to everyone. Make it memorable. Make it relevant. Make it fun. But enter a name before the contest closes on July 14th.<br />A jury will help to select a name. Final decision will rest with the CRD Regional Parks Committe and CRD Board.<br />For contest details and entry form visit <a href="http://www.blogger.com/sustainableu.ca/namethattrail">sustainableu.ca/namethattrail</a>.<br />- 30 -<br />For further information please contact:<br />Laurie Sthamann, Communications Coordinator, Regional Parks<br />Capital Regional District<br />Tel: 250.360.3332 Cell: 2500.889.8030Paula Johansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546604458659721403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-6637662171543246562011-05-28T20:42:00.001-07:002011-05-28T20:58:07.683-07:00Tour de VictoriaThe first <a href="http://www.tourdevictoria.com/">Tour de Victoria</a> took place today, and I had a great time without even getting on my bike. I was a volunteer marshal, one of over 400 volunteers for the bike event. In a perfect world, I would have ridden my bike to the spot I was assigned, but Bernie dropped me off as he took Karl & Stephanie's car to go bird-sitting.<br />It was a thrilling day! I got to see the host for the ride, Ryder Hesjedal as he rode past my location. I'm sure that one of those hard-bodied speed demons in the lead peloton was Ryder. They all looked muscular, and focused. Lemme tell ya, after a hundred and twenty klicks with a few hills along the way, fifty guys all wearing Lycra and a layer of sweat & road dust look a lot like Ryder. And that's the way it should be.<br />There's a reason I participated in the Tour as a volunteer rather than a rider. The route was 140 km long, and people were expected to complete it in less than six hours. There was an alternate route only 90 km long. And for those shrieking "ONLY?" there was also a Family Ride around Beacon Hill Park with Silken Laumann, which was a very inclusive alternative.<br />Out of the twelve hundred or so riders I applauded, there were three odd bikes on the course. One was a recumbent, another a tandem, and I spotted a folding bike's tiny wheels. One woman wore a helmet cover that looked like a yellow puffer fish -- very sporty! But my vote for Biker of the Day goes to the man riding next to a woman as their peloton of friends approached the hill on King George Terrace. He stretched out his arm and put one hand at the base of her spine, giving her a little boost as they took that first curving slope on the double-slope hill. Good man.Paula Johansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546604458659721403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-89965109839591999712011-05-22T13:23:00.000-07:002011-05-22T13:24:53.902-07:00My sexy new ride: Norco Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbs7Gfqcx4A/TdhXwocaATI/AAAAAAAACXg/uLu1D8VX_rU/s1600/IMAG0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbs7Gfqcx4A/TdhXwocaATI/AAAAAAAACXg/uLu1D8VX_rU/s640/IMAG0038.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Just picked this up yesterday. I was looking for something inexpensive for noodling around town as I get a little paranoid leaving my <a href="http://bikediaries.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-wheels.html">Salsa Fargo</a> locked up by itself. Sticker price on this bike is $390 Canadian (I could buy 5 or 6 of these for what the Fargo is worth).<br />
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It's a single-speed bike, the rear hub is a "flip-flop" which will let you run it freewheel or "fixie" for old-school riding (just turn the wheel around, there are cogs on both sides). I added the white pedals to go with the white wheels and white chain. And got a nice looking white cable lock to finish the look.<br />
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Another shout-out to the guys at <a href="http://www.oakbaybikes.com/">Oak Bay Bikes</a>, they gave me a great deal on an already inexpensive ride. Specs: <a href="http://www.norco.com/bikes/urban/suit/heart/">http://www.norco.com/bikes/urban/suit/heart/</a>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818199899271155699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-77138369453859684402011-02-13T15:04:00.000-08:002011-02-13T15:04:25.260-08:00Back to the Future part whatever...The Victorians built them. There are still collectors looking for them and paying premium prices. Have a look at a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/12/bamboo-bikes-in-philippin_n_822091.html">Bamboo Bike </a>being built.<br />
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<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="320" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.newsinc.com/single.htm?WID=2&VID=23317874&freewheel=69016&sitesection=ndnsubss" width="425"></iframe>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-69708037028958747042011-01-06T15:36:00.000-08:002011-01-06T15:36:50.903-08:00Bikes. They're Not Just For Bikes Anymore.Hackable. Open-source. Not usually phrases attached to bikes. But this is the age of Velosynth. Coming from <a href="http://effalo.com/">EFFALO</a>, a maker collective (<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="yellow">EFFALO</span> was chartered to synthesize, modulate, and deploy multimodal interaction environments that promote expressive feedback between humans, nature and technology</span></i>)out of Portland, Velosynth is a bike gear add-on that converts multiple inputs from your cycling experience into data read by a synthesizer. As John Lennon said; "Strange days indeed."<br />
There's an excellent short article at the <a href="http://www.synthgear.com/2010/diy/velosynth/">synthgear website</a>, and the velosynth preview video should be embedded below. <br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/12657830" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/12657830">velosynth release#001</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/velosynth">velosynth</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-70599642478323441142011-01-04T19:25:00.000-08:002011-01-04T19:54:17.878-08:00Bicycle Kitchen for Walker RepairsBicycle Kitchens Rock!<br />Well, we knew that. We knew that for certain when a Bike Kitchen was set up at the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria. We've been on the UVic campus, scooting around with a friend and her kids on bikes, and made darn sure to get everybody over to the SUB. There's the Bike Kitchen, with clamps and pressurized air, and all sorts of tools tethered to the posts.<br />Today we found another use for the Bike Kitchen: doing maintenance on a walker. Nope, not a pedestrian -- the wheeling frame that some people use for support when walking. Celu's walker had developed an annoying squeak in the front wheels after the December snowfall. When she mentioned it, Bernie's talents at tuning up bicycles got mentioned also. Could he possibly oil the squeak? He turned up on campus to meet her for tea, with some tools and a couple kinds of bike chain oil (I'm not sure what all was in his knapsack).<br />It was great, to see him take each of the four wheels off Celu's walker, clean them, lube them, and put them back. Who would have thought that walkers could get maintenance as simply as bikes? Hot damn! Three cheers for human powered transportation, in yet another form!Paula Johansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546604458659721403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-26148571860654935682010-09-21T18:03:00.000-07:002010-09-21T18:03:21.659-07:002010 Norco CCX-SL - A preview of what is to come! on Twitpic<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Uh oh.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Must. Resist. Temptation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://twitpic.com/74ttr" title="2010 Norco CCX-SL - A preview of what is to come! on Twitpic"><img alt="2010 Norco CCX-SL - A preview of what is to come! on Twitpic" height="150" src="http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/74ttr.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818199899271155699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-20064507899524114222010-07-12T12:26:00.000-07:002010-07-12T12:33:44.278-07:00Bendable bike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef0133f23a86da970b-800wi"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 650px; height: 450px;" src="http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef0133f23a86da970b-800wi" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Bike uses a ratchet system to maintain rigidity while riding. When you go to lock it up you can wrap the whole bike around a post!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://news.discovery.com/tech/bendable-bike-wraps-around-post.html">http://news.discovery.com/tech/bendable-bike-wraps-around-post.html</a></div>Jonohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818199899271155699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-18512811663739478702010-05-23T20:46:00.000-07:002010-05-23T20:46:18.156-07:00Two-Wheel Triumph!From the Guardian:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Society/Pix/pictures/2009/11/19/two-wheel-triumph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Society/Pix/pictures/2009/11/19/two-wheel-triumph.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/journalismcompetition/professional-two-wheel-triumph"><i>Armed with a netbook, medical supplies and a bicycle, Bangladesh's InfoLadies are giving millions of poor people access to crucial information on their doorsteps that will improve their chances in life.</i></a><br />
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Seriously, check out the article. <i><br />
</i>Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21884200.post-11232630865373658972010-04-28T12:20:00.000-07:002010-04-28T12:20:27.761-07:00The Controversy!Here we see the American cycling team in black Lyrca bike shorts:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatnineghost.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/pic28321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.eatnineghost.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/pic28321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And here we see the Polish (I believe) team in red Lycra:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.eatnineghost.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/pic19558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.eatnineghost.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/pic19558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
(Images thanks to <a href="http://www.eatnineghost.com/why-bicycle-shorts-are-always-black/">eatn!neghost</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/27/lycra-cycling-shorts-sexy?&CMP=EMCENVEML943">So the controversy continues--can anything other than black Lycra bike shorts ever look good?</a> Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669383253389665728noreply@blogger.com1