Chicago's First Protected Bike Lane.

According to Chicago Breaking News, Chicago is in the process if installing it's first "protected" bike lane. The new lane is expected to be completed by June, 17, 2011, and will be installed on Kinzie Street between Milwaukee and Wells. No details are available regarding the construction of the new "cycle track," but it is intended to separate bicycles from moving traffic on the street.

Michigan Amtrack to Have Roll-On Service

According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, Amtrak is implementing roll-on bike service on all three of it's operating lines by next spring. Roll-on service is a huge perk over typical luggage service in which a bicycle must be partially disassembled and boxed.

While this is good news for the would be bicycle tourists, I suggest you confirm all services offered before you show up. My experience is that Amtrak employees are not familiar with roll-on service, and I have found myself explaining that I should be allowed to simply take my bike on the train without boxing it. Know your rights and Amtrak's policies. Do not depend on the conductor or ticketing personnel to know how to accommodate your bike.

Pockets Trailer

Apparently Pockets uses a bicycle trailer for some of their larger deliveries. I noticed this rig behind the office today.

Yet another sign that the velorution is under way...

Bike Lane Nazis in Vacouver.

Judgment- Enough to Go Around.

I'm not ashamed to admit it... I have a friend who drives a Hummer. He's a great guy, and a guy I look up to in many ways despite his Hummer. I remember hearing that he bought a Hummer almost eight years ago, and I was so disappointed. I never said a word about it. Recently for the first time, I had an opportunity to talk to him in earnest about his Hummer.

He told me that people constantly harass him when he drives around. People yell at him and spit on his car. One time a passing bicyclist threw a drink on him through his open window. He says the cyclists are the most vocal of his harassers.

Through all that, he understands the objections. He understands that people see his Hummer as an excess. He also understands that it's not an efficient car. "I get it," he says of his objectors as if he's exhausted. In fact, because of all the trouble it's caused him he has come to hate and resent his Hummer. Why does he drive it? Money. It's paid for, and has been for a few years. I believe him when he tells me that he'd trade it for a Prius straight up, but who would make that trade?

People make transportation choices for a number of reasons. My brother drives a big SUV- a Ford Explorer. It was originally rationalized as a practical vehicle that could accommodate his big family. In the years that followed that purchase he paid the car off, gas prices went through the roof, and his wages were cut. My brother also would be willing to trade his SUV for an efficient car, but now he can't afford to have another car payment. No one wants an Explorer these days. It's trade in value is nominal at best. Through his own practical reasons he still appreciates certain mistakes in judgement that led to the initial purchase decision, but he sees himself as stuck. We can argue about my brother's options, but I don't think he should be harassed for making poor decisions that, in many ways, are a cultural norm.

Through and through, I'm an advocate of rational civility. I have a dream of a future where cyclists and drivers can share our transportation infrastructure. An important step toward that dream is to show the world that the bicycle is a civilized form of transportation. That goal is not accomplished through judging and harassing others for nothing more than their choice of conveyance.

Cyclists are diverse, and as such are not subject to judgement based solely on their decision to ride a bicycle. Some people ride bicycles becuase they have no other practical choices. Other people have a world of transportation resources, but they choose to cycle based on "principles." My assertion is that the end goal is not served by judging or harassing others for their transportation choices, just as we would like to not be judged ourselves.

Personally, I don't think I ever really got into bicycles becuase of some principle. I enjoy the athletic output and the mechanical puzzles presented by the bicycle. I'm competitive. I want to be fastest. I want to haul the most. I also want to tinker, and the bicycle presents endless opportunities to experiment with mechanics. Ask any bicycle mechanic- they'll tell you that every day at the shop presents new and novel mechanical problems to be solved. While I came to appreciate the other benefits of cycling over the years, my original motivation was only to satisfy my own needs. Am I entitled to veneration by my cycling peers despite my egocentric motivations to ride a bicycle?

As a bicyclist, I know that some drivers judge me for nothing more than my choice of conveyance. I can't tell you how many times I've been the victim of aggression on the streets of Chicago. Any urban cyclist has experienced drivers passing too close, cutting them off, pulling out in front (even though they see you), or any other innumerable acts with a clear intention- to intimidate or harass. Why do they want to harass me? They do so because of nothing more than their judgement based on my choice of conveyance.

When you spit on a car... When you throw a drink... When you hurl obscenities... ...you reduce yourself to their level, and in so doing you compromise yourself and everyone in your "community." You become the barbarian, and everyone who witnesses your barbarism judges not only you, but everyone associated with you. They judge bicyclists as a whole.

We can't afford to let that happen. We must set an example to which drivers should aspire. Everyone knows that it's fun to ride bikes. We did it as children, and you can do it as an adult. If a person sees bicycles as a viable and fun form of transportation it will further our cause, but if that person associates bicycles with lawless barbarians we'll have one more person against us.

Don't judge people for their choice of conveyance. Don't harass people just becuase they don't ride a bike. Share the road as you expect it to be shared. Be considerate of others and show respect. If we want to be respected and taken seriously, we will have to convince the public at large that we are worthy of respect and consideration. That isn't a cause that is furthered by throwing drinks, spitting or hurling obscenities. We must lead by example.

Securing Your Handlebars and Fork.

So you're locking your bike to the hilt... You've got a u-lock through the rear triangle and a cable through the front wheel, or better yet, you've hobbled your bike... but did you ever stop to think about how easy it would be for a thief to simply loosen your thread-less headset and take off with the whole front end of your bike? In one quick action, the thief would run off with your front fork, brake, handlebars and levers.

This happens more often than you'd think. It's actually a common occurrence in Chicago. Especially for a commuter who parks his/her bike in the same spot every day for hours a day.

To confound this anticipated method of thievery I like the application of quick setting plastic epoxy in the headset top cap bolt hole. The epoxy makes removing the bolt all but impossible since the would-be thief can't get a wrench into the hole. If they can't remove the top cap, they can't take your front end apart. CAUTION: If you do use plastic epoxy make sure you grease the hole, next push a 5mm wrench into the hole to squeeze out any excess grease. Finally, you can drop in some epoxy and let it set. If you do this right you'll be able to come back later and pop out the epoxy "plug" in one piece. If you do it wrong you'll spend a good long while chipping out plastic epoxy chunks stuck to the little corners of your stem bolt hole. I have heard of people using a BB and beeswax, but I don't personally consider this to be a high enough security method.

Cargo Bikes... Xtracycle Type Cargo Bikes.

The most recent Bicycling Magazine has a review of their favorite cargo bikes. If you're thinking about buying a cargo bike it might be worth a read, but by no means should it be considered authoritative.

One of their favorites is the long tail cargo bike, Yuba Mundo. When I was at Blue City Cycles last fall they had one of these in their front window. Since I'm a big cargo bike weenie, I was intrigued. The Yuba Mundo is a version of the Xtracycle cargo bikes that have become popular over the last few years. Surly has the Big Dummy... Madsen kg271... Even Trek has come to the table with their offer, the Transport.

My paralegal, Bob, has been using a Xtracycle Free Radical for years. He loves it too. He likes that it is basically a regular bike. Having the added few inches doesn't significantly change the handling of the bike (...although the bike weenies at Bicycle Quarterly would beg to differ. The most recent issue of Bicycle Quarterly has a review of the Big Dummy. They don't like carrying cargo over the rear wheel, and they claim it has detrimental effects on handling. They much prefer the handling of a front loader long bike. I appreciate the super wisdom of the guys at Bicycle Quarterly, but sometimes they split hairs.) Longtails are versatile in the type of cargo one can haul, and it even comfortably seats a person in a pinch.

If you're looking for a good all around cargo bike that isn't going to break your pocketbook a longtail might not be a bad choice. The Yuba Mundo is available in Chicago from Blue City Cycles.

Proper Use of a U-lock

First off- If you think you're going to get away with using a cable lock in Chicago you might as well just leave your bike unlocked. Don't take my word for it- check out the Stolen Bike Registry and see how many people lose their bikes to cable locks. I can't believe the bike industry gets away with selling that crap as a primary means of security. If you're going to use a cable lock as your primary form of security your bike will be stolen.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the lock is only effective if you lock the bike properly, and you lock it to something secure. Street signs are not necessarily secure- you must check them to be sure they can't be removed- most have a bolt in the bottom- if that bolt is gone perhaps it is best to find something else to lock to. Of course the best thing to lock to is a bike rack, but that's not always possible so just be sure if you lock to something that it is secure.

For the last 20 years or so the bike industry has had a flaming love affair with quick release skewers. Quick release skewers are a good thing if you're in a race and you need to swap a tire quickly, but for most urban cyclists the utility is lost. Stealing a wheel with a quick release is a crime of opportunity in Chicago.

Some people think the rear wheel is harder to steal, so they lock the frame and front wheel. It is true that the front wheel is somewhat easier to remove because you don't have to negotiate the chain, but let's be honest- the whole idea of the quick release is to make removing the wheel as easy as possible. Just last week I witnessed a thief stealing a back wheel off a bike parked at 900 N. Michigan. I called him a thief and he fled. It is easy to remove a rear wheel- you just have to hold the chain out of the way.

Also keep in mind that your rear wheel is usually more expensive than the front. Front wheels are typically cheaper than rear wheels, but if your rear wheel is stolen off your bike you lose your freewheel/cassette too, and you might end up with a bent derailleur hanger. A 9 speed cassette runs about 65 bucks, and a six speed freewheel is about 25 bucks.

People also think you have to lock the frame and rear wheel to secure both the frame and wheel- this is not so. If you lock the rear wheel inside of the rear triangle of the bike you effectively secure the wheel and the frame. You don't get that effect if you lock the rear wheel outside of the rear triangle- in that instance you just lock the wheel and someone can run off with your frame. If the wheel is locked to something secure inside of the rear triangle the would be thief will have to either cut the lock or cut away the wheel to steal the frame.

The proper way to lock your bike using only a u-lock is to "hobble" the bike by removing the front wheel and locking the front wheel and rear wheel inside the rear triangle (or if your lock is big enough you can lock the front wheel, frame and rear wheel) to a secure object. Hobbling can create problems though. Hobbling takes a little time, and over time it will cause damage to your fork ends.

Locking skewers are a good idea, and they obviate the necessity to hobble your bicycle. My favorite locking skewers are "Pitlocks." In my opinion these are the best on the market and multiple pairs can be ordered to the same key. On Guard or Pinhead locking skewers are adequate too, but they can be defeated easier than Pitlocks. The key is also much bigger than Pitlock's, and multiple pairs can't be keyed to the same key, so if you have more than one bike you'd like to outfit On-Guard and Pinheads are less than ideal.

Facebook for Bicyclists?

The Chain Link is almost 5,000 members strong as of the date of this post, and the Chainlink is local. That's a lot of members for a Chicagoland bicycle specific social networking website. I remember sponsoring their 1,000 member party just a couple years ago. It's come a long way in the past few years.

The Chainlink is like Facebook for bikers. It provides a forum where Chicago bicyclists can interact and network on all topics bicycle related. Members organize bike rides, promote bike-centric events, or discuss any number of bike related topics. The Chainlink is a powerful educational tool for local cyclists as well. Do you want to find a job as a bike mechanic? Want to know what businesses habitually block bike lanes? It's all covered in the forum.

If you're new on the scene I'd suggest opening an account. There's a ton of useful information on the Chainlink, and the networking potential is endless.

Stolen Bicycles in Chicago.

So your bicycle was stolen in Chicago and you're trying to figure out what to do...

My experience is that dealing with CPD is a little frustrating. The fact is, they have real problems to deal with, so taking resources away to look for a bike isn't realistic. They just don't have a lot of success recovering stolen bikes.

It is also my experience that most people don't have a record of their bicycle serial number. Sometimes the police won't even take a report if you don't have the serial number, and forget trying to collect your bicycle from the police if you don't have some proof of ownership.

It also helps to have other ways to prove ownership. Mr. Bike suggests putting a card with your name and phone number in a baggie and sticking it in the seat post or handlebars. I tend to carve my initials in the bottom bracket or on the shop sticker, but it is always best to have a record of the serial number and a receipt of purchase.

The easiest way to keep your bike from being stolen is to properly lock it, but if you're reading this post you've probably already been the victim...

There are several things you can do in attempt to recover a stolen bicycle:

1) Craigslist. Check Craigslist for your bicycle. If you find your bicycle on Craigslist expect that the person selling your bicycle will be suspicious becuase they are selling a stolen bicycle. You'll have to make your own decision about how to handle the situation, but I have heard of more than a couple instances of people tipping off a would-be-thief-salesman, never to see their bicycles again. If you can, set up a meeting in a public area, and call to invite the police. Sometimes they are interested in busting a bike thief red handed.

2) Flea Markets. I have also heard of more than a couple people recovering their stolen bicycles at flea markets. A popular destination for stolen bikes these days is the Ashland Swap-O-Rama or the Maxwell Street market.

3) Stolen Bike Registry. Admittedly I haven't heard a lot of success stories about bicycles being recovered through the stolen bike registry, but it can't hurt to list it, and it doesn't take long.

4) The Chain Link is also a good spot to let others know. If someone spots your ride they can tip you off to it's location.

Pedal to the People.

Allow me to introduce Chicago's premier human powered mobile bicycle repair shop. Need a tune up, but don't want to go to the shop? Don't have a local bike shop you're in love with yet? Give Pedal to the People a call, and Adam will make ride his bicycle with mechanic trailer over to your house and fix up your bike.

His rates are very reasonable too. A lot of the cost wrapped up in owning a bike shop is in the overhead. Adam has very little, so as you might anticipate, he's able to give good rates along with his "house call" service.

Adam has experience working for Yojimbo's Garage and Rapid Transit Cycleshop. He is also one of the few United Bicycle Institute (UBI) certified mechanics in the city. More interesting than that is the fact that Adam has quite a bit of experience building and repairing frames. You think his bike trailer is cool? He built that from scratch.

If you're interested check out Adam's rates and services here.

Story link: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Chicago Hardcourt Bike Polo

In case you don't know, Chicago is home to some of the world's best bike polo. In 2010 Chicago Bike Polo placed 2nd at the 2010 World Hardcourt Championships in Berlin, Germany. I'm especially proud to have been one of their sponsors last year. Having played on and off with these guys over the last few years, I have first hand knowledge of their dedication to the sport.

I guess the Midwest is breeding champion bike polo players. The first placed team was from Milwaukee. At the NACCC in 2008, I was especially impressed with the Canadian teams. The explanation offered for their proficiency was that bike polo shares some fundamental principles of play with hockey- thus a bunch of awesome Canadian bike polo players, but no match for CBP 2010.

Congratulations to CPB for their success in 2010. Let's do it again in 2011.

Stolen bicycle?

A bicycle Missed Connection.

Bike Lanes- are they really helping us?

I've often heard people argue against bike lanes for various reasons. The most common theory against bike lanes tends to suggest that if there is separate infrastructure for bicycles motorists will tend to think cyclists should not be using car infrastructure. The criticism in Chicago is often that bike lanes are in the door zone, causing bicycles to be subject to doorings. This is a valid concern as well. In my personal estimation about 1/3 of all bicycle/auto collisions in Chicago result from doorings.

A UK study suggests that cars will tend to give bicyclists a wider berth when passing with no bike lane, but when the cyclists is riding in a bicycle lane the motorist will tend to give a cyclist less room. I can't help but wonder what the results of such a study would be in Chicago.

Man tired of pedestrains in the road takes matters into his own hands...

Man tells police he hit pedestrian with his car on purpose

Published: September 8, 2009

KANNAPOLIS -- A North Carolina man is in jail with his bond set at $2 million after he told authorities that he killed a pedestrian with his car because he was tired of people being in the road.

Kannapolis police said that Berry Cook Jr., 28, is charged with attempted murder. Officials say that Cook used his car to try to kill 51-year-old Jimmy Douglas Mauldin.

Mauldin was standing across the street from the assisted living center where he lived when he was hit. He died Saturday night.

Kannapolis police Lt. Ken Jackson said that Cook drove across the center line and hit Mauldin. Cook was being held in the Cabarrus County jail yesterday.

Memorial to Fallen Bicyclists...

In Arizona they have taken Ghost Bikes to the next level.

From the Arizona Star:

The first permanent memorial for bicyclists killed on the streets here was installed just north of downtown on Friday. For many years, makeshift memorials have been set up along roads: dried flowers, wooden or metal crosses, pictures, candles. Then white "ghost bikes" started to appear here last year, marking the spots where bicyclists died in traffic accidents. City officials leave those memorials alone unless they pose a public-safety hazard, such as blocking a sidewalk or reducing visibility for drivers. But nothing permanent has marked the lives lost over the years or spread awareness about the people killed.

It's big enough to walk into, and because it's all-metal, mementos of cyclists can be attached with magnets. The structure is lighted at night with solar power.

More photos and another story are here.

"Door Zone"

An interesting take on the "door zone."

Surly Long Haul Trucker

This is the first "new" bike I have purchased in many years. My co-worker, Doug, built up a 2008 LHT with the intention of riding it for a while before selling it. He likes it so much he just couldn't bring himself to sell it.

Every year there are a couple bikes that really stand out, and you know in the future those bikes will riding strong. I often think of my old mid 80's Schwinn Traveler as such an example. What a great bike- back when they were making them right. I expect that the Long Haul Trucker is a bike that will also stand the test of time.

Overall I was super impressed with the quality of the stock LHT. The 2009 Long Haul trucker has beefier rear dropouts than in previous years, making an already beefy steel frame even beefier. The stock wheels are OK, but I rebuilt the for good measure. You will notice that I swapped out the stock headset, but that was only becuase I had this awesome IRD lying around. The stock Ritchey headset is actually a pretty good headset.

The one thing I was a little disappointed with is the brakes. I'm not such a big fan of Cantilever brakes in general due to their limited stopping power. I feel a need for ultimate braking power since I often carry heavy loads, so I opted to abandon cantis for the power of v-brakes. This also meant I had to acquire a set of drop v-brake levers. Tektro and Dia Comp both make such a lever, but Tekrto's lever is about half the price.

You may also notice the addition of a Schmidt SON generator hub. Yeah, I dig generator systems. It's nice to be able to jump on your bike and just flip a switch to have full lights no matter what. The lights are by Busch & Muller. My favorite headlight is the one watt LED IQ Fly. The presumption is that the one watt LED creates less drag than a traditional 3 watt halogen, and the LED lasts a lot longer than a whole box of halogen bulbs.

Finally, I added a set of fluted aluminum fenders and full racks. The fenders are awesome, expensive but awesome- and well worth the money in my opinion. My plan is to set up a porter front rack, but we'll see how that goes.

2009 Surly Steamroller.

I haven't posted a bike build in a while, so I guess I'm due.

Earlier this summer we built a somewhat custom Surly Steamroller. Personally I can't stand bullhorns, but they are all the rage these days it seems.

The stock Steamroller wheels seem to be better built this year than in years past. These wheels needed little work. They need to be sturdy too as you can see the guy riding this bike is taller than six feet.

67 Year Old Naperville Woman Charged in Hit and Run.

From the Naperville Sun:

A 67-year-old woman from Naperville's north side is free on bail, accused of deliberately striking a bicyclist in the city's downtown area and then driving away with his $3,000 bike impaled on her car.

Bond was set Tuesday at $100,000 for Mary Ann Rehm, of the 500 block of East Bauer Road in the city's Maple Terrace neighborhood. She was released after posting $10,000 bail, and is scheduled to appear Aug. 24 for a preliminary hearing in DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton, according to court records.

Rehm faces Class 3 felony charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery in a public place, court records indicated. She is accused of running down bicyclist Jereme Peterson, 17, of Lisle, in a reputed case of road rage.

Police Sgt. Gregg Bell said the incident occurred at 4:16 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Washington Street. Peterson told police "he had been traveling northbound on Washington Street in the roadway when he was intentionally struck by a motorist who was behind him," Bell said Tuesday in a written statement.

From the Daily Herald:

A Naperville woman is charged with felony aggravated battery with a weapon after police say she intentionally struck a bicyclist with her vehicle Monday.

Mary Ann Rehm, of 519 E. Bauer Road, is charged with aggravated battery with a weapon and aggravated battery in a public place, both Class 3 felonies, after police said she struck a man traveling north on Washington Street in the roadway around 4:16 p.m. Monday and continued driving while dragging the man's bicycle along the way, Naperville police said Tuesday.

Police found Rehm and her vehicle at her residence and arrested her. She is currently held at DuPage County Jail awaiting a bond hearing, police said.

The victim suffered non life threatening injuries, police said.

CBS Coverage here.

Off Duty Firefighter Charged with Attempted Murder of Bicyclist.

An off duty fireman has been charged with first degree attempted murder after shooting a bicyclist. Apparently the perpetrator couldn't stand to see the victim, the victims wife and their three year old child riding bicycles on a busy street, so he confronted the victim. As the victim walked away the perpetrator pulled a firearm and shot the bicyclist in the head. The bullet went through the bicyclists helmet, but did not harm the bicyclist.

See the full story here.

Velib- Two years later...

July 15, 2009, marked the two year anniversary of Paris' Velib bike share program. The Paris program in unique in a number of ways, not the least of which is the headfirst plunge Paris took in implementing Velib. Paris installed 1500 velib stations and 20,000 bicycles. A large investment for sure, but one that pales in comparison to many other transportation projects.

Hopefully Chicago will follow Paris' example and really pursue a full throttle institution of our bike share program rather than a small an ineffective pilot program.

See Velib links here:

Perils For Pedestrians in Paris. (The second half of this video is a very in depth look at Velib)

You Tube video

Chicago's Bicycle Share Program - First Look

This morning Chicago bicyclists took a first look at Chicago's planned bicycle share program at the Chicago Bike to Work rally. The bikes will initially be available at Bike and Roll rental locations, but the plan is to implement an all out citywide bike share program.

Apparently the scope of Chicago's bicycle share program is still being negotiated. Originally it was intended to encompass an area just outside of downtown- with the northwestern point being North and Damen, but negotiations are in the works to expand the program citywide and beyond.

The Bcycle three speed seems to be intended for urban use. The bicycle has clearly been designed to minimize the external components. It uses standard 26x1.5 size tires, a good choice in my opinion for city use. They run full drum brakes. The steering is springed (because of the basket), and the rigid fork has a weird design around the headset. Alex Wilson, of West Town Bikes and Ciclo Urbano says, "In my experience the triple tree configuration tends to rattle the headset leading to all sorts of headset problems." It may be that this fork design was used specifically to accommodate the large front basket.

The front basket is a popular design but, I question it's practicability in this instance. Cargo loads are more stable when carried as low as possible, and there really isn't a way to get the cargo load much higher than to carry it in a front basket. Also, cargo weight added to the front of the bike tends to make handling much more difficult and unstable as compared to carrying cargo on the rear of the bike. I can't help but suspect that the front basket was chosen for only aesthetic reasons rather than functionality. I anticipate that if they had just put the basket low on the rear (where it is more appropriate to carry cargo), they could have avoided the need for the complicated fork/headset and springed steering, while making the bicycle more stable.

Cables are routed through the frame, another aspect that gave Alex cause for concern. "I wouldn't want to be the one that has to recable this bike," Alex pointed out. While I'd agree that routing the cable through the frame makes the mechanic's job a little more difficult, it exposes less of the cable and housing to the elements and damage.

I totally approve of the use of the Shimano dyno/drum hub (I didn't even know that Shimano made a dyno/drum combo- I am only familiar with Sturmy's dyno/drum). The hub powers lights, so people who use Bcycles won't have to worry about lighting issues at night.

Drum brakes are a reasonable choice as they reduce exposure to outside elements. They should be more dependable in all weather conditions and less susceptible to the elements. Besides not requiring the constant maintenance of brake pads and adjustment, drum brakes don't wear out rims. Note the unique axle nuts and fender bolts, undoubtedly intended to reduce theft.

Overall I'm impressed with the Bcycle. Other than the front basket, these bikes seem well designed for urban use. I'll be excited to see how Chicago's bike share plan is implemented and how the Bcycles hold up under the test of hard urban use.

Check out Bcycle.com for more info on Bcycles.

Dura Ace Electronic Shifters: DI2 Technology

This is nutty stuff. In case you don't already know, Shimano has introduced an electronic shifter. No shift cables on these babies, just a thin electronic wire. I guess the new Dura Ace electronic system boasts a number of advantages including automatic trim on the front derailleur, depending on the position of the rear derailleur. Although I always thought shifting to be a more or less effortless endeavor, these shifters apparently operate at the soft press of a button. They also claim that since the derailleurs are not cable actuated there is no friction, so the shifts are super smooth.

What's the catch? Batteries. Imagine saying, "No, I can't go for a ride I have to go home an plug your bike in." While the batter is detachable and charged via a dock, you still have to deal with another battery.

One might as the question, "Why not go wireless?" Apparently the wireless setup would be heavier becuase of the need for more power and thus, more or heavier batteries.

See the electronic setup on a TT bike below. I couldn't find the battery... Apparently it mounts to the frame.

I dunno... It seems like the equipment I use works just fine, and it doesn't require the added hassle of batteries.

This stuff isn't for the small pocketbook either. The price is hefty: $800 for a rear derailleur, $750 for the front derailleur, over $900 for the shifters, not to mention $100 for the battery...

Andrew Bird's Heron Bicycle

If you look at page 25 of the July issue of Bicycling Magazine you'll see a picture of Chicago's very own Andrew Bird straddling his beautiful lugged steel Heron touring bike in front of the Hideout. Now let me think... Where have I seen that bicycle before? Perhaps here.

Here's a picture of Mr. Bird's beautiful Heron just before it left Boulevard Bikes. Since then it's seen the addition of a set of hammered aluminum fenders and a rack. Note the care taken to preserve the vintage feel of the bike. I don't know for sure, but I suspect that might be some Brooks leather bar tape on Mr. Bird's drops.

Want to get a Heron for yourself? Good luck. They're out of business due to difficulty finding a stock of good lugs. Seems like lugged steel will only get harder to find.

Rock stars have all the style...

Fatal Hit and Run on the South Side.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, "A 39-year-old off-duty Chicago Police officer has been relieved of his duties after allegedly striking and killing a 13-year-old boy on the South Side in a hit-and-run crash early Friday near the boy’s Gresham neighborhood home."

From WGN's coverage:

Brian D. Jackson and a friend said they were among a group of people standing outside a night club near the intersection of 81st and Ashland. The boy was riding his bike south down the second lane from the curb when a black Dodge Charger came up from behind at high speed, striking the boy near the intersection.

"The car never slowed down," Jackson said. "He didn't even have a chance to hit the brakes."

The collision threw the boy into the air, flipping him over several times before he hit the ground in front of a gas station more than 50 feet away, the witnesses said. Another young boy was riding his bike alongside Booker, they said, but he fled after the accident.

The driver continued south, swerving and still driving at high speed, as a crowd gathered around the boy's body, they said. The boy appeared to be dead upon impact, Jackson said.

A couple cars in the northbound lanes of Ashland turned around and tried to pursue the Charger, Jackson said.

Another witness, who declined to be named, said the stoplight had turned red before the accident occurred.

From ABC's coverage:

"To hit a child, somebody's child, and keep going? What type of person are you? What type -- I mean, I'm not understanding that. That's still what got me shocked," said Aletha Coaks, the boy's stepmother.

"I think for you to hit somebody and try to keep going, I think you are a dirty dog. That's dirty. That's dirty. And you'll get yours one day," said Terrence Booker.

Ride of Silence

Chicago's Ride of Silence will be held this evening. The Ride of Silence is a group ride wherein all the riders ride in complete silence in memory of riders who have been killed or injured. It is intended to bring awareness to cyclists rights to use the roadways.

From the Chicago Ride of Silence Website:

The Chicago Ride Of Silence will gather at the Eternal Flame in Daley Plaza at 6:45 PM and depart at 7 PM.

The 10-mile route will pass the sites of crash victims. Many sites are marked by Ghost Bikes, which are powerful memorials to fallen cyclists.

UIC Bicycle Seat Study...

Every male who rides a bike has probably heard rumors of bike seats causing problems down under. Although I know of no one who admits to such problems it seems worthwhile to medical exploration to either debunk the theory or deal with the problems posed to men on bikes.

The University of Illinois is conducting an experiment that will study the restriction of blood flow in the perineum caused by bicycle seats. Subjects have to make two trips to UIC. One to have an ultrasound performed, and the other to ride their bike on the lakefront. If you want to participate please see the conscent form located here. (Thanks CBR)

Ciclo Urbano Grand Opening

West Town Bikes is moving from its North Ave alley location to a storefront on Paseo Boricua at the corner of Division and Campbell. West Town Bikes will continue to offer a variety of mechanic classes and events for adults and children at the new location in addition to opening Ciclo Urbano, a full service community bike shop. All sales from the shop will support West Town Bikes’ larger mission of providing bicycle education for Chicago youth.

I was able to see the new space at their grand opening party this weekend. The new space is a step up, to say the least, from their old space in the alley behind the gas station.

My understanding is that the new bike shop, Ciclo Urbano, will be a more or less regular bike shop offering sales and service. As any regular of the former West Town Bikes knows, sales and service is a new thing at West Town.

Horrific attack on a cyclist...

On April 14, 2009 a bicyclist in the UK was attacked by a passing motorist. Apparently the motorist swung a bag of bottles into the face of the cyclist as they passed.

Chris Williams, 35, from Worthing, a former retained firefighter in East Preston, was driving past the scene when he saw the man's bike laying in the road and the victim laying nearby.

"I was shocked by the state of his injuries," said Mr Williams. "His face and head was completely smashed. The amount of blood was just incredible.

"It was quite a vicious attack. I honestly thought he was going to die."

The victim, described as in his early to mid 30s, regained consciousness and told Mr Williams he wanted to go home to his wife and children.

Assaults in Kane County

As Chicago Bike Racing says, "Its that time of year again." CBR reports that a black truck has been harassing cyclists by buzzing and brake checking them on Beith Road near Highway 47 in rural Kane County.

You've got to train yourself to get lisence plate number. Don't let people get away with this type of stuff. Always think, "Get the plates..."