The Streets of Chicago.

Chicago's First Protected Bike Lane.

2011-06-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-26T13:12:00.001-07:00

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.

2011-04-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Judgment- Enough to Go Around.

2011-04-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-04-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-04-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-03-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-03-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-03-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-10-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

A bicycle Missed Connection.

Bike Lanes- are they really helping us?

2009-09-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-09-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-08-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

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"

2009-08-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

An interesting take on the "door zone."

Surly Long Haul Trucker

2009-08-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-30T11:03:00.001-07:00

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.

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.

2009-07-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-07-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-28T16:07:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-05-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-05-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-05-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-01T08:46:00.001-07:00

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..."

Bicycle Tax Credit vs. Mass Transportation Credit

2009-04-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

I have fielded lots of questions about the bicycle transportation tax credit in the last few months. The bicycle transportation tax credit offers $20 a month or $240 a year untaxed reimbursement for bicycle commuter expenses.

The New York Times recently summed it up as follows:

"The law's real rub, especially for New Yorkers, may be that commuters can pick only one tax-free method of travel per month.

For instance, a commuter who rides a bike to a subway stop, locks up at one of the city's fancy new bike parking kiosks and gets on the train or a bus can take a credit only for the MetroCard or other approved mass transit -- up to $120 -- or take the more paltry $20 for cycling. Will cycling New Yorkers give up $100 tax-free dollars a month to make a point about riding their bikes?"

Bob Matter, a local transportation cyclist, utilizes the mass transportation credit rather than the bicycle credit, although he qualifies for both for just this reason. Bob lives in Indiana. Every day Bob rides his bike from his house to the South Shore Metra. Bob takes the South Shore line downtown to his office. Bob elects to take the $120.00 monthly mass transportation credit rather than the paltry $20.00 per month bicycle credit. Even though it is reasonable that one might use more than one type of transportation to get to work every day, only one transportation credit may be claimed by an individual.

For people who only ride their bike to work the bicycle transportation credit is better than nothing. If you use a combination of CTA or Metra it's probably going to be a better deal to take the mass transit credit instead.

The League of American Bicyclists gives details about the bicycle transportation benifit here.

Momentum- Chicago's Regional Release.

2009-04-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

Momentum Magazine has announced the release of a Chicago regional issue. Apparently along with the release of the new regional issue, there is expected to be increased distribution (note that copies are available free of charge at Boulevard Bikes).

Momentum, The Magazine for Self-Propelled People, promotes cycling for utilitarian purposes. They are big on using bikes for transportation. They practice what they preach too- Local distribution is done by bicycle.

Blue City Cycles

2009-04-08T07:24:00.001-07:00

A new bike shop specializing in bikes for transportation and frame building has opened on the south side. As anyone who lives on the south side knows- they can use another bike shop. Apparently Blue city is a Schwinn dealer, and among other things, you may be able to find that reasonable used bike at Blue City.

Please welcome Blue City Cycles- at 3201 S. Halsted. John Greenfield's interview with Owen Lloyd on Vote With Your Feet is located here.

Others may know Mr. Lloyd as the owner and frame builder for Lloyd Cycles, or you may know him just as "The New Guy - 2008."

Where can I get my bike painted?

2009-03-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

We often get people asking, "Where can I go to get a quality paint job in Chicago?" This can be tough because conventional paints will be soft or chip easy, and most a lot of "professional" painting operations are unskilled at handling bicycle frames. It is rare to see good results from a place that does auto painting, becuase they just aren't use to dealing with the tight bends, corners and crevases in bicycle frames. Further, most auto paints don't last long under the wear and tear of normal bicycle use.

A good alternative is to have your ride powder coated. Powder coating is about the strongest finish I've seen for bicycles. It doesn't chip easily, it's hard, and it cam be done in lots of colors and finishes.

Yuval Awazu, UV, has announced that UV Me tal Arts has added professional powder coating to it's offered services. For $199.00 you can get your bike frame and fork stripped and poweder coated. UV mixes his own colors too, so you can choose practically any color under the sun. He can do cool effects such fades from one color to another (I also dig the metallic flake finishes). He can coat anything metal, and any type of metal. So if you want extras, such as a crank, stem or matching rims and hubs- UV can do it. See the pretty blue rack he powder coated above. See also the cool powder coated spokes shown here. A picture of the complete bike (build by Marcus of Yojimbo's) is below.

UV's shop is in located at Bubbly Dynamics, in Bridgeport.

If you would like to see and example of UV's work you can check out the new custom Llyod Cycles touring rig in the front window of Boulevard Bikes.

Cascade Couriers

2009-03-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

As the velorution continues I notice more and more people recognizing the benefits and advantages of local cargo delivery by bicycle. In Bend, Oregon, Cascade Couriers is leading the way with a fleet of cargo trailers.

Besides offering cargo delivery services, Cascade Couriers offers composting service. When a Bend resident signs up for composting service a Cascade Courier stops by their house and drops off a composting container and a supply of compostable bags. Then they stop by on a regular basis to pick up your compost and deliver it to local farmers, where your discarded vegetable waste is used to grow fruits and vegetables. Daniel Brewster, of Cascade Couriers, says that there has been a learning curve as the business has grown, but public interest and cooperation with the local farmers has been encouraging to say the least.

Cascade Couriers uses trailers from Bikes at Work. They have a traditional truss frame Model 64 and a new and improved Bikes at Work Model 64 with I-beam construction. As I am a proud owner and user of the traditional Model 64 I was curious as to the performance of the new trailers. Brewster reports that the new model 64 actually has the same capacity as the old model 64, however, they are of the belief that for some reason the old model 64 feels faster. Weird, huh?

Kill a Cyclist?

2009-03-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

A woman driving a pickup truck in Tucson killed an off duty police officer who was riding his bicycle. Apparently she struck him from behind. One would think they would issue a ticket or two in connection with such an event...

Crappy drivers caught on video.

2009-03-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

Jeff is tired of being harassed and passed to closely, and he's trying to do something about it. He outfitted his helmet and bike with cameras to catch crappy motorists.

See Jeff's blog here.

Problems with Paris' Velib bike-share program.

2009-02-11T13:24:00.000-08:00

After a year and a half, problems are starting to surface with respect to Paris' bike-share program, According to BBC almost half of the original Velib fleet has been stolen, many have been vandalized and, of course, many have required extensive repairs.

Below is a video "Velib Extreme," wherein some Parisians with apparent BMX experience test the capabilities of a few Velib bikes.

See the original BBC article here.

Montreal's Bike Share program.

2009-02-03T06:35:00.000-08:00

Montreal's Bike share program is in the works. See a slide show here.

I will reserve judgment on the bikes. They were apparently designed to be rugged, with as many internal parts as possible. They were also clearly designed to be difficult to steal or useless to part out.

Note that they are equipped with generator hubs. I think that would be an absolute necessity for any bike share program in Chicago since bicycles are required by law to have a front headlight at night.

Even Tulsa has a bike share program...

2009-01-30T12:12:00.000-08:00

In July I blogged about Paris' bike share program and Pensacola's less official bike share program. Yehuda Moon is trying to start a bike share program. Now, even Tulsa has developed their own bike/share program.

See Tulsa Townies here.

Doc pleads "not guilty" after teaching cyclists a lesson.

2009-01-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

In a follow up to an entry in July of 2008, a California physician, Dr. Christopher Thompson, who allegedly injured two cyclists last summer by slamming on his car brakes in front of them plead not guilty on January 15.

See the article here.

Apparently this wasn't the first time either. Four months earlier, another cyclist allegedly got into a scuffle with Dr. Thompson. Patrick Watson testified that he and a friend were cycling down Mandeville Canyon Road in March when they heard a fast-approaching car behind them. Watson said he moved in front of his friend to get out of the way. "The car was so close to me I had to jump the curb. I thought it was going to hit me." Watson said he veered back onto the road to avoid a drain, and then the car's driver "slammed on his brakes . . . directly in front" of him and his friend. Both cyclists avoided running into the car.

I am always interested in the comments to such articles...

My sympathies are with the doctor. Far too often I see pretentious idiots wearing tights who think they are Lance Armstrong riding bicycles recklessly. This incident is an excellent example. How fast does a bicyclist have to be moving to generate enough force to ram their head through the rear windshield of a car.? The fact of the matter is that these bicyclists were riding way too fast and were a hazard to everybody on that road. By their own admission when the doctor told them to ride single-file (AS REQUIRED BY LAW) they hurled profanities at him and made threats. I'll bet they were chasing the car and thought they could catch him at the bottom of the hill.

[Cyclists] seem to want to teach us as lesson. They like to ride during rush hour when parents are trying to get their kids to school on time and others are trying to get to work. They appear to be daring drivers to hit them. When drivers honk or pull up and ask them to move over for everyone's safety, they release a stream of obscentities. Something needs to be done...

I agree with the others. The cyclists are arrogant and ride very dangerously. They ride way too fast and hog the road. Mandeville Canyon is very narrow and windy, plus there is no sidewalk.

The road is for CARS, not bikes. These idiots think they can slow down our roads just because they wear tights that say USPS on it. And why wouldn't you want this man as your doctor? He could be the best doctor in the world and because he proved a good point you people say you wouldn't want him as your doctor? Real smart...

I think bicyclers belong on a freaking BIKE PATH. Roads are for cars -- get off of them, recreational bicyclers. Go do your little riding in the park and stop annoying the rest of us with your ugly outfits and traffic-slowing, two-wheeling ways.

Too often bicyclists use the pretense of being green and fit as a way to deny the rest of us the right of safe passage.

The bicylists were behaving in a predatory fashion, and they got what they deserve, in a sense.

And BTW bike jerks next time you get on someone's butt remember what happened to these guys, and wonder if you are next. I hope you do it to me. You see Officer, a chipmunk ran out in front of me so I attempted to stop.. and that why Lance is stuck to my trailer hitch.

Hydraulic Rim Brakes- An Update

2009-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year I installed a pair of Magura Hydraulic Rom Brakes on my tractor bike. I had two main concerns:

1) How user serviceable are these brakes?
2) How will these brakes fair in ultra cold weather?

With respect to the first concern I have, in fact, confirmed that Magura Hydraulics are difficult to initially set up, but once you get the proper adjustment they need little maintenance. Swapping brake pads is also a cinch. You literally just pull the old brake pads off and click new ones in. Oh, if only they made cantilever pads as easy to swap... Having said all that, I have yet to have a brake line burst, which has been a problem for a couple friends who run hydraulics. Unquestionably, that will not be something I'll be able to fix on the road.

With respect to my second concern...

This week we finally got the cold snap to really test the function of my hydraulics in cold weather extremes. This week Chicago experienced sub-zero lows complimented by Chicago's signature winds. Despite the extreme elements my hydraulics functioned well. Their return was a bit sluggish, but this did not interfere with their function.

After months of riding under all conditions, I'm still convinced that the Hydraulic Rim brakes are the best brakes I have ever used for heavy cargo delivery. Now I just wish there was a way to equip my trailer with effective brakes...

Man Gets Five Years After Five DUI's and Killing a Pedestrian.

2009-01-08T07:49:00.000-08:00

The Chicago Tribune is reporting today that Mateo Ortiz was charged with five years in connection with a crash that killed a pedestrian in August. Mr. Ortiz was allegedly intoxicated and tried to flee the scene of the crash, but was prevented by a motorist who witnessed the crash. According to the Tibune Mr. Ortiz had four additional warrants for DUI.

On-Line Bike Shop Reviews...

2008-12-15T16:26:00.000-08:00

Chicago Bike shop Database... "Mechanic actually shouted at me..." June 12, 2008.

Yelp "Mechanic Jim... Fucking red hot stud" November 22, 2008.

Yeah those are both me I guess. What can I say? I get mixed reviews. Most bike shops have their fair share of negative reviews (except for West Town, which only get's rave reviews for some reason).

My problem with posting an on line review is that if you are really dissatisfied with the service an on-line gripe allows you to anonymously lash out, but it doesn't really give the business an opportunity to fix your problem. Most businesses will want to rectify any individual problems- posting an on-line gripe deprives both the customer and the business of the opportunity to make things right.

Smart bikers find a local bike shop that they feel comfortable with, and they get to know the staff. Newbies can sometimes feel intimidated by the "scene" in a bike shop. Just relax. Try out a couple local bike shops, and I bet you'll find one you're comfortable with. Once you start to develop a relationship with your mechanic you'll find you get tremendous personal service.

Justyna gave a pretty good rundown of her gripes regarding on-line reviews on The Chicago Bike Blog.

Headlight Awareness Promotion.

2008-12-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

The Active Transportation Alliance will be equipping cyclists with headlights and red reflectors tonight in effort to educate cyclists about proper lighting and reflective equipment.

See the Tribune's coverage here.

Guilty Plea in XXX Hit and Run.

2008-12-05T13:34:00.000-08:00

CBR reported that Thomas Lynch struck a plea agreement to avoid trial for seven felony assault counts in connection with a hit and run he allegedly perpetrated last year in which he passed a pace line, swerved in front, slammed on his brakes causing a pileup, then fled the scene. In connection with that plea agreement he will serve two years probation, write a letter of apology to the League of Illinois Bicyclists, pay $3,500 to Alternative Transportation Alliance, and and he is required to undergo anger management evaluation and treatment. He is also prohibited from driving on St. Mary's or Everett roads.

A copy of the letter he wrote to LIB is here.

Anti-dooring...

2008-11-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

http://anti-dooring.org/

Some information about doorings and how hey can be prevented from both a cyclist and motorist viewpoint.

Three Feet Please...

2008-11-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

Many states have enacted three foot passing laws, including Illinois, however, the education of drivers has proved to be a difficult hurdle to overcome. In response to this problem Joe Mizereck has introduced a jersey aimed at educating drivers. See his web site at http://www.3feetplease.com/

Big Dummy... Xtracycle...

2008-10-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

In case you don't know- cargo hauling is one of the new trends in cycling. It's nice to be able to stop on your way home and hit the grocery store and not have to worry about things like your very limited cargo capacity. One possible solution is the Xtracycle or Surly Big Dummy.

The advantage to the Xtracycle or Big Dummy is that you don't sacrifice much in the way of handling or efficiency compared with other modes of hauling cargo. First off, at a minimum, a trailer adds a number of feet to the length of your ride, and it gives you something extra to deal with if you're trying to go indoors. Typically one has to separate the trailer and bike to put things away unless you have the luxury of a roll in garage. The Xtracycle or Big Dummy only adds about 18 inches of length. I also suspect that there are rolling resistance advantages when comparing a trailer and a Xtracycle conversion or Big Dummy. My experience is that the number of wheels you have on the ground plays a role in the amount of rolling resistance. The Xtracycle or Big Dummy offers a respectable amount of cargo capacity without substantially increasing the length or rolling resistance of your bike.

Bob Matter, an avid Xtracycle user, says that the Xtracycle is ideal for cargo use because you always have cargo capacity- and a lot of it at that. Bob says, "Say you ride by a garage sale on your way home and you just can't pass up the table that costs a dollar. With the Xtracycle you just strap it on and ride away." Bob also point out that the weight is carried low, which means that the load is stable and tracks well. Finally, he points out that an Xtracycle is easy to hang on a wall mounted rack or hook, and when stored in this fashion the Xtracycle doesn't take up any more room than a regular bike.

The Xtracycle conversion kit complete costs just under $500.00, while a bare Big Dummy frame costs in the neighborhood of $1,000. Xtracycle offers a complete Big Dummy for around $2,000. That's probably what we could do a custom build for at Boulevard.

One of the things you might notice about the Big Dummy is that this year they were hard to get. We had a customer who badly wanted a big dummy, but every time we tried to order one for him they were out of stock. What's up with that? I e-mailed Andy Courson of Surly to find out.

[LJ] It looks to me as if one of the big future markets of bicycles involves cargo capacity. Surly has answered this call with the awesome Big Dummy, but we have had a hell of a time getting one at Boulevard when customers request them. Why is production so limited? Isn't there demand?

[Andy:] There is demand. Actually a lot of it. The first thing to understand is that although from this vantage point it is now obvious people are responding positively, there hasn't traditionally been a lot of positive history for such items in the U.S. and we have been careful to keep from overextending ourselves. But more to the point, production of these takes much more time and space than normal bikes, and this affects how many can be done, how they are stored and transported, and how their production affects production of our other stuff. The logistics and unique challenges in making Big Dummies make it very difficult to simply subcontract out the work, nor would we want to do this since quality of work varies a lot and we know and trust our manufacturer. We have worked hard to increase production capacity and have committed to Big Dummy complete bikes as an option next year, which should cause a separate and significant increase in demand. This is a calculated risk, and we believe in this idea to be much more than simply another product offering, but it has involved a lot of money and energy to make happen. In short, it's a balance we have to strike.

Sorry for the wait but there's light on the horizon.

Sunday Parkways

2008-10-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is coordinating the second Sunday Parkways this coming Sunday. The inaugural Sunday Parkways was a great success. A great write up of the event can be seen at Vote With Your Feet.

The second Sunday Parkway will close the inner boulevard from Central Park at Madison in Garfield Park, south to 24th and California. Parkways will be closed from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Stop by the Hub Housing Cooperative when you're at 24th and Marshall and see bike friendly cooperative living at it's best.

Andy Corson of Surly regarding the Steamroller.

2008-10-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

So after scratching my head for some time about the Steamroller and it's lack of proper eyelets and braze-ons I contacted Andy Corson of Surly.

[LJ:] The Steamroller is an awesome bike. I have long touted it's awesomeness as a winter commuter for it's sturdy steel frame and it's versatility in that it has clearance for fenders and wide tires, but I find myself in the same breath criticizing it because there are no eyelets for fenders or racks. Why no eyelets?

[Andy:] First, it's got horizontal dropouts, which can be tough to use with full fenders since the wheel has to come back instead of down to escape the frame. As well, it's designed tough and somewhat outside the track bike category but it's still a fixed gear, stripped down to the bare minimum. We have other models, such as the Cross Check, which can be run as fixed gears but are more suitable to racks and fenders.

I dunno. When I outfitted my Steamroller with full fenders it was slightly more difficult to change a rear flat due to the fender/horizontal dropout combination, but I would just carry a 10mm wrench to loosen the fender eyebolts. The addition of a few eyelets seems like a small addition to make a big change in the overall versatility of a bike that seems otherwise designed to be a sturdy super versatile bike.

Single Speeds - Some Ideal Winter Commuters

2008-10-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Single Speed bikes are a good choice for a winter commuter becuase they require less maintenance. Winters is tough on bikes. since we're reaching that time of year I thought it might be good to do a review of my favorite single speed commuter bikes.

In my experience the biggest problems with winter commuting is dealing with the salt. You have to get the salt off your bike after you ride. If you leave a bike salty for just a few days you'll come back to find rust. Nothing causes a bike to rust faster than leaving it salty. Thus the beauty of a single speed- clean the chain and you're done.

Whatever bike you choose to ride in the winter I always suggest using full fenders. Winters are wet. Even when it isn't actively raining or snowing, there is a lot of melting crap on the roads, so the roads are almost perpetually wet. Fenders keep the wet off your person and parts. That gives your bike and parts a fighting chance so they'll last longer.

My personal favorite for single speed commuting is the Surly Steamroller. The steamroller is marketed as a track bike, and it boasts a track bike geometry. Steamrollers are sold as a fork/frame or as a complete bike. You can see an example of a custom build here (this one cost about $1,200.00). Surly's standard pre-built complete Steamroller sells for about $700.00. I like the Surly for my own nostalgic reasons, as I have ridden one for years, but also becuase it is a fairly versatile bike. It has big clearances so that it is easy to run fenders or wide tires (although there are no brase-ons, so you must get creative when mounting fenders). The downside is that mounting a rear rack to a steamroller is difficult to say the least. When I have seen Steamrollers equipped with racks they are usually custom front racks.

I also like the Binachi San Jose. It comes standard with a flip-flop hub, and full set of cantilever brakes. It has all possible rack and fender brase-ons, and huge clearance for wide tires and fenders. This is probably one of the most versatile single speeds on the market today. The 2008 San Jose sells for $675.00 at Boulevard Bikes.

The Red Line 925 is a pretty solid winter commuter. It doesn't quite have the huge clearances for big tires of the Steamroller and San Jose, but it comes complete with full fenders and full side-pull caliper brakes. It also has brase-ons for a rack. Having built a number of the 925's I can tell you that I'm really impressed with Red Line's attention to detail. They don't skimp on parts where the consumer can't see it, as some other manufacturers tend to do. the word is that Red Line is trying to break into the huge road bike market, so right now they are really building their bikes right. The 925 sells for around $550.00.

You might also check out the Kona Paddy Wagon. The Paddy Wagon comes with a flip-flop hub, and side-pull caliper brakes. It has clearance and mounts for fenders and a rack. The 2008 Paddy Wagon sells for around $650.00, the 2009 is expected to sell for closer to $700.00.

What do all these bikes have in common? They're made out of steel. Steel is the perfect material for commuter bikes becuase it is strong, yet it has good shock absorption qualities, so it provides a comfortable ride on rough streets.

Suspension sucks for commuting.

2008-10-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you're commuting in Chicago forget about suspension forks. Suspension forks and frames serve no use in Chicago unless you're commuting back and forth from the west side on Kinzie. Suspension sucks for four big reasons:

Suspension makes you slower. Any flex in the frame/fork will reduce the power you're attempting to use to propel yourself forward. I notice this especially when taking off from a stop, presumably because that's when I'm using big efforts to get up to cruising speed. Admittedly, newer high end suspension equipment has come a long way to deal with this problem, but you're not going to see any of that high end equipment on a reasonable commuter or mountain bike.
Suspension lacks longevity. It is very difficult to find replacement parts for suspension equipment after a few years. Quality Bike Products only stocks suspension replacement parts for the last three years.
Suspension requires maintenance. Ever ride a suspension fork that just feels like a springy piece of crap? Suspension forks blow seals or wear out and require maintenance. If your suspension fork is nice enough to be serviceable in the first place, and you can find parts for it, it's still going to cost you to maintain it.
Suspension is expensive. When it comes to suspension you get what you pay for. The bottom of the line serviceable shock fork starts at about $300.00. Anything cheaper is basically garbage.

Suspension serves a valuable purpose for mountain biking. I'm a big fan of a hard tail/suspension fork for mountain biking, which we don't have much of in this part of the country.

On Chicago streets you just don't need suspension. People say, "...but I like my shock fork for potholes and curbs and such..." Are you kidding me? How about going around potholes if they are so frigging big as to require suspension? And curbs? What are you, riding straight into curbs at full speed? How about using curb cuts?

...and don't get me started on people who ride full suspension mountain bikes in the city.

Inexpensive Commuter Bikes- a Primer.

2008-09-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

Doug sent the following e-mail:

What's up, Jim?

So I just wanted to see if you had any advice for me on buying a new bike.

I currently have a Specialized Hard Rock mountain bike, but it has a few issues and rather than replace all of it's problems again, my mother offered to buy me a new one as an early Christmas present. I bought the one I have from a friend and i'm not sure how much he paid for it, but on the Cozy Cyclery website it says that the 2009 version is under $400.

Would it be worth my while to spend a lot more than that for something like a lighter frame?

If I was going to spend about $500, what would you suggest? Also, they have some listed as "mountain", and some as "comfort & hybrid", but they looked similar.

I'm mostly going to be commuting to work, which is better?

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have.

You're always the first one I think of when it comes to the bike world. :o)

Doug needs a commuter. Whenever someone asks me about economical new bikes I always think of what Tati told me of hybrids, "I wouldn't know the first thing about selling a $400 hybrid." To Tati's credit, he knows about everything there is to know about custom frame building and high end racing bikes, but the entry level hybrid is another animal altogether. Having built and sold innumerable entry level hybrids I believe I can offer some insight on the topic.

First off, I wouldn't worry about weight. Weight is important to elite racers- Tati's customers. Outside of upper echelon racers weight is totally overrated. Shaving a few grams here and there isn't going to make a noticeable difference for the average commuter, so don't worry about weight too much.

Second, commuting is hard on bikes. I discussed this with Sam of Rapid Transit who said, "Commuting is harder on bikes than anything else- except maybe downhill mountain biking- and that's a big maybe." It's true too. Nothing is harder on a bike than riding it daily and leaving it exposed to the elements- especially water and salt. Have you ever seen what a Chicago winter can do to a bottom bracket?

Commuters have some special needs when it comes to bikes. Commuters like Doug don't need a fancy racing bike, they need a sturdy bike that will stand up to the rigors of daily use and exposure to the elements. First of all, forget about suspension (I'll cover why in Wednesday's blog). Second, if you're serious about commuting you're going to need a rack and fenders, so get a bike versatile enough to accommodate both.

I always try to impress on people the importance of a proper initial assembly when purchasing a new bike. A proper initial assembly can make all the difference between a bike that lasts a season and a bike that will last for years- especially when it comes to commuter bikes.

Doug asks about the difference between a hybrid and a mountain bike. While they look similar due to the fact that they both are typically equipped with flat or low-rise handlebars, they are designed for two distinct purposes. Mountain bikes typically are designed with 26" wheels, a higher bottom bracket and a more streamlined geometry. Hybrids are typically designed and 700c wheels, and the frame geometry is such that the rider sits more upright.

Many commuters, like Doug, are looking for an economical purchase. There are numerous models on the market in the neighborhood of $500. Here are a few suggestions:

Bianchi Cortina - 2008 model, aluminum frame ~$350.00
Bianchi Torino - 2008 model, aluminum frame - $490.00
Jamis Coda - 2008 model, steel frame ~$475.00
Marin Larkspur - 2009 model, aluminum frame ~$490.00

I'm a big fan of the Bianchi Cortina for commuting purposes. Of course I'm partial to it becuase we carry it at my shop, but it is also a great bang for your buck and a solid commuting ride. At Boulevard Bikes, we have many regular customers who commute every day of the year on a Cortina and it's older steel brother, the Binachi Avenue. I know people who have commuted on their Avenue for years, and they hold up wonderfully.

All of the bikes listed above have clearance to install full fenders and braze-ons for a rack. Full fenders make the difference between a wet-ass ruined day and a dreamy commute. They also keep the street salt and sludge off your components, leading to longer life of your parts. Racks are a must as well. Carrying the weight on your bike rather than your back makes a big difference in the pain factor of your commute.

Hit and Run driver in West Dundee caught.

2008-09-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

The Daily Herald has this story about a hit and run driver that pulled a U-turn and fled the scene from which he allegedly left a cyclist in critical condition.

Armstrong... back in 2009.

2008-09-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard yet- the rumors have been officially confirmed by Mr. Armstrong himself. Today the AP has reported that Lance confirmed that he will be returning to professional cycling in 2009.

If you think Lance's primary interest is cycling you're mistaken. Lance is really into fighting cancer. He's returning for the express purpose of drawing attention to cancer victims and survivors.

I'm stoked that he's back. I have always felt that cycling isn't taken seriously as a sport here in the States. Lance is a superstar in the field- one who brings great credibility to cycling as a sport. Now that he's back perhaps he'll shed some light on the reality of the guys in spandex. In case you don't know- those guys are jocks.

Hit and run caught on tape.

2008-09-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

A hit and run in Washington Park was recently caught on videotape. Watch it here.

Police Sting to Target Aggressive Drivers

2008-09-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

A friend from Georgia sent me an e-mail describing aggressive driver stings. The scenario involves a plain clothes police officer riding a bicycle. An unmarked police car follows a few cars back. When a driver acts aggressive toward the cyclist, the following police respond.

I love this idea. If anyone can find information about such stings please forward it to me.

Cargo Bikes on NPR.

2008-09-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

According to NPR bikes are getting more attention because of gas prices. Bicycle Couriers have felt a crunch due to electronic document transfers cutting into their business, but they are starting to branch out to cargo delivery.

When asked why they use bicycle couriers for their magazine distribution TC O'Rourke, Newsstand Distribution Manager for Time Out Chicago, will say, "

I am a an avid cyclist. I don't own a car. I recycle. I conserve as much as reasonably possible. I believe that by using a bicycle I can reduce my carbon footprint. I want to do my part to preserve the world, and protect the the environment.

While I appreciate all those advantages of using bicycles over motor vehicles, we use bikes at Time Out for none of those reasons.

We use Bikes because they're simply cheaper, easier and more efficient in downtown Chicago.

I have long maintained that bicycle cargo delivery is cheaper and easier in cities. Perhaps other people are starting to realize that as well.

NACCC- The North American Bike Polo Championship.

2008-09-03T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hardcourt Bike Polo has better coverage than I could offer.

I will say that Philly was a pleasure to watch. They didn't play a physical game, nor was their game real fast. They worked well together and they used strategy and technique to kick everyone's ass. I hear Ottawa is the same way. It certainly was an impressive weekend of Polo.

Having said that, I was hit twice in the face with mallets on Saturday and another guy was smashed in the forehead. We must be more vigilant with respect to high stick violations I think. To me one of the nice things about Polo is that it is relatively safe. We should keep it that way.

The Future of Urban Cargo Delivery?

2008-09-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

I snapped this picture just outside of the Seneca Hotel in Chicago, just east of the Hancock Building. I always tell people that the trailer is the vehicle of the future.

The trailer on the left is used to deliver for Time Out Chicago. The trailer on the right is owned and operated by Velocity.

A bike thief could do more than just steal your bike...

2008-09-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

In case you don't already know it- garages are a bad place to keep your bike. They are easy to break into, and bikes, unlike cars, are easy to carry off.

If they only steal your bike you should keep in mind that it could be worse.

See this article from a newspaper out of Washington State...

The Anti-Cycling Movement...

2008-09-01T04:01:00.000-07:00

Rob Anderson has spent a portion of his recent years successfully opposing bicycling in the San Fransisco area. An August 20, 2008 front page article in the Wall Street Journal highlighted some of his successful efforts to stop the implementation of bicycle infrastructure in San Fransisco based on the theory that reduced auto infrastructure would potentially cause more idling cars and therefore more pollution.

Having not owned a car in 20 years, he says he has had several near misses with bikers roaring through crosswalks and red lights, and sees bicycles as dangerous and impractical for car-centric American cities. Mr. Anderson was also bugged by what he describes as the holier-than-thou attitude typified by Critical Mass, a monthly gathering of bikers who coast through the city, snarling traffic for hours. "The behavior of the bike people on city streets is always annoying," he says. "This 'Get out of my way, I'm not burning fossil fuels.' "

Mr. Anderson's political page , Rob Anderson for 5th District Supervisor, also addressed Critical Mass almost as an aside:

One of those “other issues” city progressives are befuddled about is Critical Mass. On the last Friday of every month, bike riders still go downtown to screw up rush hour traffic. How this furthers the cause of bike riding in the city is rather murky. Instead, it just angers people trying to get home from work, while the city has to pay overtime to police assigned to the politically obtuse demonstration. Isn’t it time for progressive leaders to call for this to stop?

Finally, I would refer any interested readers to Mr. Anderson's blog which explains "BikeThink: The Ideology of Bicycles."

In view of all the flak about the injunction I'm getting from the Bike People and their fellow-travelers here in SF, you may have noticed that they all share a number of assumptions---often unspoken---about bikes, history, and the state of the world. Calling this mish-mash of historical ignorance, self-righteousness, self-congratulation, and anger an ideology is of course overstating the case. Still, add all the nonsense up and you have a more or less coherent point of view.

* First on the list is the fact that bicycles don't burn fossil fuels. It's this reality that fuels, so to speak, their self-righteousness: Get out of our way, we don't burn fossil fuels! These folks are not just choosing a rather risky form of transport by riding a bike in the city, they are also striking a blow for the environment and world peace.

* Cyclists, especially in connection with Critical Mass, like to talk about "reclaiming" the streets for bikes, as if at some Edenic time in our distant past bicycles roamed the streets freely, unimpeded by devilish motor vehicles. The reality is that bicycles are a late Nineteenth Century invention, which was long after the city streets were laid out for horses and horse-drawn conveyances, not bikes.

* Lately, given fuel prices and the turmoil in the Middle East, cyclists are increasingly talking about a car-free future for the US and the world, as if Americans and the rest of the world will just give up motor vehicles as soon as the price of gas gets high enough. Given the state of hybrid and electric motor technology, it's safe to assume that different ways of powering motor vehicles will become widely available if that unlikely dystopian reality comes to pass. It just shows how little these folks understand both the modern world and even their own society to think that we'll ever see a time when, out of necessity, Americans turn en mass to bicycles.

* Cyclists as oppressed class: This may be the most astonishing bullshit in the worldview of cyclists---that they are an oppressed minority, much like blacks, gays, and women in days of yore. The corollary to this preposterous, self-pitying assumption is that some day they too will get to the top of the mountain and see the Promised Land. Who will lead them into that blissful utopia? Andy Thornley? Leah Shaum? Marc Salomon? That remains to be seen, as this great inevitable historical process plays out over time.

* The elitist assumption underneath the whole crackpot bike trip: That the Bike People are the grossest elitists is obvious from their behavior individually and collectively. The arrogance of individual cyclists in SF is legendary, and its a rare pedestrian who hasn't nearly been run down in a crosswalk by a cyclist running a stoplight or stop sign. Collectively their arrogance is displayed every month at Critical Mass, which takes place during rush hour on Fridays, making it more difficult for working people to get home after working all week. How's that for PR? That will show the non-cycling public that cyclists deserve more consideration on the city's streets!

Elitist arrogance was on clear display during the attempt to sneak the massive Bicycle Plan---a 460-page combination manifesto and SFBC wish list---through the political/legal process without the environmental study required by law. The howls of outrage after the injunction came down are evidence of this arrogance: Why should we be subject to the same laws as everyone else? We don't burn any fossil fuels! Bikes are Good and Cars are Bad! What else do you need to know?

Mr. Anderson's views seem to have some support too. Want to be infuriated? Read the comments on his blog in the aftermath of the Wall Street Journal article.

Mr. Anderson clearly dislikes the Critical Mass. Personally, I have had a number of inquiries about the Critical Mass. Is Critical Mass a good thing or a bad thing? The problem, as Bike Snob NYC points out, is that every time you get a crowd of three thousand people together there are going to be some idiots. If there are 5% vocal idiots in a crowd of 3,000 people the idiots will take over and taint the objective impression left by the crowd. In other words, a few asshats are bound to ruin it for the rest of us.

The point is this- when you ride recklessly or don't use proper equipment (lights and brakes) you only enable people with Mr. Anderson's views to justify themselves. Sure, there will always be people who will hate cyclists. Further, there will always be drivers who will break the law. Neither of those things justifies a cyclist endangering others or flagrantly disregarding the law, they only distract from the real issue. If you really want to fight Mr. Anderson and his views the best way is to show people like him that the bicycle is a civilized and dignified form of transportation. Ride safely and respect others- drivers, pedestrians, and other cyclists alike.

My Take on Biking Western or North Avenue.

2008-08-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

Western Avenue and North Avenue have reputations as being among the more dangerous streets on which to bike in Chicago. Personally, I dig either street for certain purposes.

If you're going to ride your bike on a high speed/high traffic street the key is to haul ass. Drivers on such streets don't want to get stuck behind a pokey cyclist, so if you're not interested in going fast you might as well take a side street. If I'm in a hurry and I need to make time- Western is awesome almost anywhere, and North Avenue west of Western is equally awesome. I have always thought of Western as the fastest route North or South through the City. The trick is to haul ass- no poking along.

See the Trib's take on Western here.

Hit and Runs...

2008-08-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

The Daily Herald is reporting a recent hit and run involving a truck towing a horse trailer.

Just in case anyone still thinks some drivers aren't out to get bikers...

Chicago Bike Racing also reported another hit and run on St. Mary's road. I guess a truck deliberately took out Alberto's racing team. This is yet another example of a car being used as a weapon. This is exactly why I equate such actions with being assaulted with a gun.

Taxi Strikes Eleven Cyclists in Miami.

2008-08-25T16:18:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning a taxi in Miami drove through eleven cyclists. The taxi was travelling in the same direction of the cyclists, and he apparently struck them from behind. One cyclist was stuck under the car and is in critical condition. See the Miami Herald article here.

Hybrids- Maintaining the Status Quo.

2008-08-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

The auto industry wants you to believe that by buying a hybrid you are part of real and meaningful change.

See this commercial for example...

Emit up to one tonne less of CO2? What about the two tons you're still going to emit using a hybrid? Assuming 10K miles per year (That is about a 21 mile commute each way- with no other usage) you still end up emitting about two tons of CO2.

I don't understand the "change" offered by hybrids. Whenever I see a hybrid I think to myself, "There's someone who feels bad about their consumption, but they don't feel bad enough to really change anything." The auto industry wants people to believe that by purchasing a hybrid one is doing his/her part to effect meaningful change in the world. They market hybrids as the answer to our problems.

I think it's an illusion. Hybrids are just another way of maintaining the status quo. People don't want things to change. They want to preserve their precious car culture and their luxurious way of life.

When I make this argument the response is often, "We can't all ride bikes you know." This response belittles my efforts to preserve the world and reduce my carbon footprint, and it makes light of something that without question is at least a part of the solution to the overwhelming energy crisis facing the world today. One who makes this statement is usually trying to justify their feeling of helplessness- "What can I do? I'm just one person, and I need my car."

If one really wants meaningful change, perhaps they should consider investing in transportation infrastructure other than the auto industry. What we need now is support and investment in public transportation such as rail and bus infrastructure.

Anyone who thinks life can go on like this forever is fooling themselves. Sure, realizing that your SUV really isn't cool is a start, but you shouldn't break your arms patting yourself on the back because you bought a hybrid. Be realistic and recognize that you continue to consume and pollute. Demand real change, support public transport infrastructure development.

NACCC...

2008-08-19T22:53:00.001-07:00

It's almost here...

NACCC, and of course...

NACCC Bike Polo.

From NACCC's website:

The North American Cycle Courier Championship (NACCC) is a weekend long endeavor that has been held annually for over ten years. This is the 11th installation and Chicago was chosen as the host city following last year's event in San Francisco.

The weekend consists of several activities to keep the best of the best entertained. Messengers of all shapes and sizes get together to exchange our wisdom, exhibit each of our styles and share our love for this industry and culture.

The feature of the NACCC is and always has been a race. The race is done a closed course within the city. Saturday is a day long qualifier followed by a Sunday final race. Each year, the host city creates a controlled environment that mimics the stresses and excitement of everyday work for bike messengers. Since this event floats from city to city, it usually incorporates a taste of each city's unique challenges. The top male finisher and top female finisher to handle the course and workload the swiftest is then crowned Male and Female Champion of North America, respectively. We all then hail them as the greatest things to ever do this job.

Don't run a red light in Denver.

2008-08-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

According to 9NEWS.com two Denver Police officers may face charges with with respect to an assault in connection with an arrest made on a man who ran a red light on a bicycle.

Ride Bike Shop

2008-08-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Located at 1152 N. Milwaukee, just south of Division, Ride bike shop is a new addition to the Chicago used bicycle market. Ride Bike shop appears to deal exclusively in used bikes, ranging from some mid range Cannondales to old school lugged steel to downright crappy three speeds.

Space is limited, and bikes are piled to the ceiling. Ron, the apparent owner, was nice enough to give me the abbreviated tour. I hear they don't have regular hours- seems like they are usually open by 10:00am. Supposedly they are working on a website, which has yet to be launched- www.ridebikeshop.com

Perhaps this is a viable alternative to other used bike shops. From my point of view, Ride is filling a badly needed gap on the west side. There aren't any good used bike shops in Bucktown or Logan Square, so it's good to see someone stepping up to fill the void.

At Boulevard we often get customers asking if we sell used bikes. My answer is usually, "not really." People asking that type of question are typically looking for something that costs less than a couple hundred bucks. If we get a used bike at Boulevard it's bound to be something special, and it's usually not cheap- see Nate's Trek that was on the block for a cool grand. Now I have a place to send people for economically priced used bikes.

I always impress on people that when they buy used bikes they should expect that the bike has been used and therefore will probably require more initial and possibly long term maintenance than a new bike. I wouldn't expect Ride to turn out perfect bikes, but I would expect them to turn out adequate bikes at a discounted price.

Hydraulic Rim Brakes.

2008-08-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

Three words- strongest brakes ever. I have been using a set of Magura rim brakes for the last three weeks on my tractor bike. I think I'm in love.

Talk about incredible stopping power. These brakes are so strong you can see the seatstays flex when you squeeze the lever. I am told that the downside of running hydraulic rim brakes is that I'll wear through rim sidewalls like I'm changing underwear, but that's acceptable loss for a guy who doesn't mind building wheels.

I assume that the overwhelming stopping power is due to two factors. First, the strength of the brakes lies with the use of hydraulic actuation as opposed to traditional cable actuated brakes. Second, rim brakes put the braking force on the outside of the wheel, giving the brakes more leverage with respect to stopping power- as opposed to disc brakes, which use a comparatively small rotor. A 203mm seems to be the biggest standard rotor these days- which is dwarfed by a 26" rim. If you check Magura's website, you will notice that their hydraulic rim brakes are equipped with a booster, and it's necessary to help prevent the brakes from bending the frame brake posts.

These brakes are a bear to set up. Kevin claims that they are easy, but I set this pair up twice, and I think they're a monster to get right. The cool thing is that once you get them right you don't have to ever screw around with the adjustment as long as you use uniform rims. Changing pads is as easy as popping the old ones out and clicking the new pads in. No more completely setting up the brakes every time you put in new pads.

The ingenious quick release mechanism is also pretty impressive. One side of the brake comes loose with the flick of a lever for easy tire removal. When you put it back, the booster insures that the brakes go back to their original position, so no readjustment is needed.

We have yet to see how these brakes score on the test of time, but in the short term I'm very happy with their performance for hauling heavy loads or cargo. I'll be excited to see how they perform in col weather. A representative from Magura USA maintained that the return on the brakes may become slightly sluggish in extreme cold weather, but he was adamant that the brakes would work beautifully in any conditions. We shall see.

Race Judicata

2008-08-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

In order to better my day job I sometimes engage in activities that I would otherwise prefer to forgo. Tonight was one such example. I ran the Race Judicata 5K.

As with all things, I'm competitive. I muscled my way up to the front to get a good starting position. I have one word to describe my thought as I was amidst thousands of runners herded through a starting gate 10 feet wide- cattle. Despite having to claw my way over several spastic running counselors, I made a pretty good pace for the first two mile. I started to feel a stitch in my right side around mile 2 that forced me to slow down a bit. The stitch became progressively worse. Just before I hit mile three I thought I might barf, but that subsided, and I was able to finish the race with a pitiful sprint. Team LawyerJim- a team of one, finished with an time of 21:58- an average of 7:06 minute miles. Not bad for a guy who doesn't really run I guess.

37,000 people showed up tonight for the 5k run/walk.

Driver/cyclist tensions are rising- What can you do?

2008-08-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

A recent NY Times article drew attention to the escalating tensions between cyclists, drivers and pedestrians. It is worth a read.

It is clear that we must do what we can to improve our image in the eyes of the rest of the world- namely pedestrians and drivers. It is true that some will never respect our rights to the road and will always see us as an annoyance, but there are some things we can change to make many people tolerant of our presence. First and foremost, we can set a civilized example of how one should carry oneself. This means that we should be considerate of others and obey traffic laws. Be considerate of drivers' rights to the road.

I know it's hard. Especially in the face of the overwhelming danger posed by an inconsiderate, oblivious or intentionally bad driver. From our point of view they sit in the lazy safety of their steel cage and use their cars as weapons toward the exposed cyclists and pedestrians for nothing more than the sake of their illusory hurry. We must rise above our fear and anger.

Kevin gives some strategies for improving our image. These are basically things that we can do to make our actions less irritating to driver. First off, Kevin never blows lights through crowded traffic. Second, if there is a lapse in traffic, Kevin always looks in both directions with intentional and obvious movements of his head to make it clear to any watching drivers who remain stopped at the light that he is taking no chances and being careful. To that end, Kevin also intentionally slows down when he approaches a red light or stop sign so anyone watching would again see that he is being careful when he rolls a stop or cuts a red. Another visible sign of deceleration is to stop pedaling and coast as you decelerate toward a stop sign or red light. I am not advocating that anyone break the law- in fact I specifically advise everyone against illegal actions, however, if you're dead set on rolling stops or cutting red lights, do it in such a manner that you objectively appear to be cautious and careful- with regard for other people's safety.

We will be defined by our actions. In the absence of police enforcement, cyclists will continue to disregard traffic control devices. This is irritating to drivers and causes biases and prejudices that harm cyclists as a whole. Do your part to set a civilized example and perhaps we can begin to improve our image.

Pink: a (love) courier service...

2008-08-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

Couriers have been dropping little bottles with pink bows and notes all over town. I returned to my office late Thursday afternoon to find one such bottle hanging from my doorknob. The cryptic note read:

time
wicked time
wicked ocean

come back to me love
the sailboat waits at the dock.

or maybe it has left

i am the sea, sailor

i am the princess of equador

ia m

temptsti n

so sue me.

Don't comment that I screwed up the spelling or grammar of the note- that's exactly how it appeared. True that the only love of a sailor is the sea. Princess of Ecuador? Anyone get that reference? Certainly sounds tempting.

You, like me, may ask, "What the hell is this?" As it turns out, it's a performance art project imported from Austin, Texas. The project, operating out of 2215 W. North Avenue, will be in Chicago through August 15, 2008. See Jaclyn Pryor's website at http://www.jaclynpryor.com/pinkontour/home.shtml

I stopped by the Pink headquarters that evening to investigate the event. The Pink factory is actually pretty interesting. Love notes in a bottle are built assembly line style with various tasks being performed at each station, including a note typing station complete with an old school analog typewriter- thus explaining my note's typos. My understanding is that it is free to send a note, although they accept donations. They also sell a number of handmade clothing articles. As I wanted to support their cause, I bought a pair of pink briefs.

So I don't know who sent bottle number 106, but it made an otherwise miserable day slightly less miserable. Thanks to my temptress.

NYPD Officer Attacks Cyclist.

2008-08-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Although no one may be surprised that this happened, it is still a shocking video to watch. A few seconds in you see an officer pick a cyclist, seemingly at random, he then approaches and tackles the cyclist, who was clearly trying to avoid the officer.

I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to get these violent cyclists off the street.

See the story here, and here.

See the NYPD officer's testimony about the incident here. Funny- it looks to me like the only person attempting an assault was NYPD.

Driver Kills Two and Walks.

2008-08-03T19:36:00.000-07:00

William Johnson was recently acquitted of manslaughter charges in Kansas City last month for the deaths of two cyclists he struck and killed. William Johnson was charged with two counts of manslaughter with respect to the deaths of Sierra Guant and her Grandfather, Larry Gaunt. Larry Gaunt, and avid cyclist, was helping his granddaughter train for an upcoming MS 150.

Prosecutors in the case argued that Johnson was driving 54 MPH in a 45 MPH zone and saw the bicyclists at least 12 seconds before hitting them- when he was about 1000 feet away. Rather than moving into the adjoining empty lane to safely pass, he drifted onto the shoulder. According to the Kansas City Star, Johnson claimed that the bicyclists swerved over in front of him, causing the crash. Johnson didn't move over when he saw the bicyclists because that wasn't his driving style.

The route the cyclists were traveling is one of the most popular cycling routes in the Kansas City Metro area. Johnson lived in the area and had often seen cyclists on that route.

I never believe the, "cyclists swerved in front of me" defense. I have seen it in almost every instance where a cyclist is struck from behind. It defies logic that two cyclists would simultaneously make a sudden suicidal swerve into traffic. One of the goals of the three foot passing law in Illinois is to make that defense more difficult to believe.

William Johnson clearly isn't very good at sharing the road. I suppose Mr. Johnson is preparing to defend himself with respect to the civil suit. I'll keep an eye on it to see how that shakes out.

Peter White's WMDs

2008-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Peter White Cycles now offers WMD's.

Check out Peter White's Web site here.

Bianchi Lugged Steel- a first look.

2008-07-29T16:15:00.000-07:00

Bike Hugger posted pictures and a review of Bianchi's 2009 lugged steel, the Dolomiti, whiich will be offered in Binachi's signature color, celeste. It will also proportedly be equipped with a Campagnolo Veloce 10 speed group.

From Bianchi USA's website:

Steel is one of the most common and best known materials and while it is the material originally used in the construction of bicycle frames, steel remains an excellent frame material...

Today's steel ensures the utmost performances with particularly limited weights, far lower in comparison to those of years past. The new alloys have a weight very close to aluminum alloys and a good ela stic response, qualities which are particularly appreciated on frames suitable for covering long distances.

Steel, unlike aluminum, has better stability through time and does not require exacting maintenance cycles. In normal use conditions it has an almost unlimited fatigue resistance, if properly treated against rust. Steel frames have optimal performances, they are stiff and comfortable at the same time, suitable for every kind of use.

Word is you'll be able to buy this bike for the paltry MSRP of "less than $3000.00."

Pensacola's Bike Share Program.

2008-07-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

You gotta love Pensacola Florida. The white sand beaches are stunningly beautiful. Once a year for the last ten years or so my whole family would descend on Pensacola for one whole week of relaxation, gluttony and sun bathing. This year the trip was rerouted to Tablerock Lake in Missouri due to the prohibitive cost of fuel. A sign of the times I suppose.

Pensacola is actually a pretty awesome place to ride a bike. They have lots of bike paths, some limited bike lanes, and the drivers seem accustomed to the presence of bicycles on the roadway.

About four years ago I first noticed the presence of yellow bikes at various bike racks or other conspicuous places around the island. As it turned out, these were "Public Bikes." Some were three speeds. Others were mountain bikes. The only common factors are they were cheap, used and yellow.

The public bikes all bore the same sign (pictured above). I made a call to Flounder's Chowder House and verified that they spearheaded this whole operation. The signs on the bikes instructed users to return the bikes to Flounders for service. The bike rack at Flounders , pictured above, appeared to have the largest concentration of public bikes in one place.

The picture to the right was snapped as we entered the island. I include it to show how public bikes could be found in random, but always obvious places. This public bike was left by the road in front of a fish market, just waiting for the next random rider to come along and ride it to it's next destination.

Pensacola's bike share program highlights one of the advantages of bicycles- they are cheap. Clearly Flounder's didn't drop a lot of money into the Public Bikes. Apparently the Public Bike program was short lived though. People were hard on the bikes, and the salty weather and hurricanes were harder. The program lasted about a year and a half before it was abandoned.
Hats off to Flounder's for assuming some initiative and instituting Pensacola's first attempt at a bike share program.

Velib- Paris' Bike Share Program.

2008-07-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

TC spent a week in Paris after the 2007 Paris-Brest-Paris. After the PBP he extensivly utilized Paris' Velib bike share program. While there have been other bike share programs, Paris apparently went all-out when implementing their program, putting 20,00bikes on the road and installing 1,451 docking stations, which are never more than 1,000 feet apart. According to TC the Velib bikes have non-standard, non-removable parts, making them unattractive to would be thieves. Apparently you swipe a credit card to get access to a bike at an automated bike docking station. TC said the system is awesome, and it made getting around in Paris a real breeze.

Supposedly Mayor Daley wants to implement such a system here in Chicago. How cool would that be?

Disc Brakes... a liability?

2008-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Some people have asserted that disc brakes are hazardous because when applied the tendency is for the force of the disc brake to eject the wheel out of the dropouts and potentially causing a serious wreck. Apparently there was a successful lawsuit brought with just such a claim in the UK recently. See this link.

The interesting thing to me is the list of experts, including none other than Jobst Brandt, author of The Bicycle Wheel.

The solution proffered on the above linked site is to mount the disc brake on the front of the fork, so that the forces asserted by the disc brake tend to push the wheel into the dropouts. See the link above for a detailed explanation. Apparently, this solution is impractical for mountain biking because it would expose the brake mechanism, making it easier to damage. The industry has responded by making dropouts on shock disc forks horizontal rather than vertical.

With the introduction of disc brakes for the cargo bike, I have personally experienced this type of failure. I recently installed Pitlock locking skewers on my cargo bike. Pitlock warns users not to over tighten the pitlock, so naturally, I didn't tighten the skewer down enough and it came loose. I initially noticed that there was a lot of play in the front end when I applied the brake, which I initially attributed to a loose headset (because that's what it felt like). Upon further investigation I discovered that my front skewer had come loose and the wheel was moving around in the dropouts with application of the brake. Ironically enough, I was saved by the "lawyer lips" on the fork, which prevented the wheel from ejecting, although that's clearly what would have eventually happened had the skewer loosened enough.

The moral of the story is to be sure you have properly installed and tightened your skewers on your disc brake wheels.

A Review of the New Tractor Bike.

2008-07-21T08:00:00.001-07:00

Uhg. Getting used to new equipment is a real drag. As you may have anticipated, there were several problems I encountered with my new Tractor Bike.

First and foremost, the rotors on disc brakes are super easy to damage and bend. Once they are bent they are difficult to true. I bent my rear rotor before noon on my first delivery day with the new Tractor Bike. The rear rotor was caught by the trailer arm when I laid the bike on it's side. This problem should be alleviated by using a slightly smaller rotor. I'll make that change this week.

The second problem with the New Tractor Bike is that it is a 9 speed. This presents three major problems. First, nine speed parts are three times as expensive as seven speed parts (chain and casette). Second, nine speed drivetrains wear out faster than a chunky seven speed drivetrain. Third, I prefer big changes in gearing when riding with a heavy load. This is the real practical problem for me. Although I didn't realize this before, when I start from a complete stop with a load I tend to start out in a real small gear and I stay in that gear until I reach a super high cadence, then I make a big shift to a much heavier cruising speed. Even with the seven speed this usually involves a shift of two to three gears at once. With a nine speed it's more like four or five gears, and making a big shift of four or five gears is kind of a pain with trigger shifters. Click, click, click, click, click...

Speaking of shifters... The shifters were the next big problem. Trigger shifters have two main disadvantages from the old school Deore thumb shifters to which I have grown so accustomed. First, it is impossible to tell what gear you are in by feeling the position of the shifters. Trigger shifters do not change position with each gear change, rather you shift and they return to their original position, so you must look at the shifters or your chain, or just start pedaling and hope your gear isn't too low or high. With thumb shifters you can make a quick tactile examination of the shifters and determine exactly what type of gear you are running at any given time. Second, trigger shifters are less forgiving than thumb shifters. Thumb shifters shift dependably and reliably. Trigger shifters must be precisely adjusted or they just don't work- and when they are out of adjustment it's a real drag. If your thumbies come out of adjustment and you can't dial it in- no problem, just switch over to friction shifting and ride out the rest of the day until you can get to the shop to go CSI on your shifter problem.

The fenders are a bit of a drag. I originally chose those fenders because they were our last pair, and they have a cool reflective stripe (as you all know I think one can never have too much reflective stuff on your bike). The downside is that they have plastic hardware that is designed to break loose if something gets lodged in your fenders. Plastic hardware is just plain lame. Break away hardware may be safe in theory, but if you're careful to avoid riding over beer cans you throw in the street there shouldn't be too much of a problem with stuff getting sucked into your fenders. Planet bike makes a plastic fender with metal hardware that retails for about $30.00. for the money I prefer those fenders over any other plastic fender with plastic hardware. You can't beat the price, and in the unlikely event that something does get sucked into them- they're cheap enough that you can just buy another pair.

Finally, the geometry of the bike does not lend itself to speed. I intentionally left the steerer tube uncut to give a very upright and comfortable riding position. As it turns out, the Trailer Bike is a very comfortable and somewhat upright ride, however, the riding position seems to make the bike ride a little slower.

I'm not giving up on the new ride just yet. I'm going to swap out the rotor and see if things go any better next week. In the meantime I intend to rebuild my trusty seven speed Trailer Bike with old school Deore thumb shifters and a set of Magura hydraulic rim brakes acquired from West town Bikes. Supposedly their downfall is that they are so darn strong they'll crush your rims. We shall see.

What Would Jesus Drive?

2008-07-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am sure every reader of my blog has pondered the deep and philosophical question, "Would Jesus drive?"

It seems that even some Evangelicals are now concerned with the impact car culture is having on the world. While their website doesn't give us the make and model of Jesus' probable ride, it does seem to promote some degree of conservation, and it also touches on some recognition of the human cost of our appetite for foreign oil.

http://www.whatwouldjesusdrive.org/

As Christians we confess Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. The Lordship of Christ extends throughout every area of our life. Nothing is excluded from His Lordship. This includes our transportation choices. The Risen Lord Jesus is concerned about the kinds of cars we drive because they affect his people and his creation.

Obeying Jesus in our transportation choices is one of the great Christian obligations and opportunities of the twenty-first century. Pollution from vehicles has a major impact on human health and the rest of God's creation. It contributes significantly to the threat of global warming. Our reliance on imported oil from unstable regions threatens peace and security.

Making transportation choices that threaten millions of human beings violates Jesus' basic commandments: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mk. 12:30-31); and "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Lk. 6:31).

In making our transportation choices with the Risen Lord Jesus, we believe He wants us to travel in ways that reduce pollution and consumption of gasoline.

We therefore invite the evangelical community to engage in a serious, sustained dialogue with these urgent questions: What transportation choices would Jesus make? What Would Jesus Drive? If we do that with faithful submission to biblical truth and humble exploration of the best scientific data, biblical Christians can help create a better society for our families and our children’s children.

For ourselves, as we renew our confession of Christ as Lord of every corner of our lives we pledge:

to walk, bike, car pool, and use public transportation more;
to purchase the most fuel efficient and least polluting vehicle available that truly fits our needs;
to educate others about the moral concerns and solutions associated with transportation;
to encourage automobile manufacturers to produce the most fuel efficient and least polluting vehicles possible that fit the needs of the American people; and,
to urge government leaders to support public transportation, a significant increase in fuel economy standards, and research and development for promising new transportation technologies that reduce pollution and increase fuel efficiency.

In obedience to Christ our Lord, who is the Creator and Reconciler of all things (Col. 1:15-20), we call on all our Christian brothers and sisters in the United States to join us in this Call to Action. And we invite all our neighbors to reflect anew and join the dialogue on the way our transportation choices are moral choices. Today the excessive gasoline consumption resulting from the cars, SUVs and trucks we drive is causing serious air pollution and global warming, tragically harming those Jesus died to save (John 3:16). It is time to repent and change. Together, let us enhance human health, protect creation, and help promote stability and peace in the world.

I have heard it asserted that, in fact, Jesus would not drive- he would walk (see video below). All speculation aside, I happen to know that Christ rides a touring rig with 26" wheels.

So I have to stay in jail now...for a whole week?

2008-07-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

An intoxicated road rager asked the above question to the judge at the initial hearing in his criminal case. He had tried to run a cyclist down, who was thrown up on the hood. The video below shows the car speeding by with the cyclist clinging to the windshield wipers.

See the whole story here.

Cyclist on car hood

Also see Bike Portland's coverage here.

The New and Improved Tractor Bike.

2008-07-14T08:00:00.001-07:00

This week will be the inaugural ride of the next generation of my cargo bike. I call it the "cargo bike" but, as people sometimes point out- it is actually a tractor bike made specifically for pulling a trailer.

In my quest for the perfect tractor bike I have found a few things that are imperative.

26" wheel- they have the best strength to size ratio.
Steel frame- 'nuff said.
Lots of gears, and really small gears- otherwise almost any hill is insurmountable with enough weight.
Awesome braking power.

The need for awesome braking power precipitated the current build. Over the last couple months I came into a couple sets of disc brakes, and it occurred to me that this might be the appropriate application for such things since I am forced to deliver under all possible conditions including rain, sleet snow and whatever else Chicago can throw at me. My preferred rim brakes are linear pull or V brakes. Canti's just don't have the stopping power. Having said that, any rim brake won't work as well under wet or icy conditions. Thus the decision to try disc brakes with the biggest rotor available- 203mm.

I decided to splurge on the frame and purchased a new SOMA Groove- that's right, I actually bought a frame Two things initially concern me- first the cable stops are braised to the top tube- a place I like to use to lock up. I'm concerned that the braise ons will be easily damaged because of their location. Second, the chain stays and seat stays have gentle sloping curves that seem to impinge on the space my heels sometimes want to occupy, so when I attach the hitch I find that I tend to rub the hitch with the heel of my left foot.

The fork was also a new acquisition. I bought a new IRD rigid fork. Very nice- but pricey for my tastes. I didn't cut the long steerer tube with the idea that I was trying to accomplish a more upright ride. I figure I can always cut more off, but one can never grow a longer steerer tube.

All the other parts were cannibalized from other bikes. It seems that it took about three bikes to build this one. For now I'm using cable actuated disc brakes, but I recently obtained a set of hydraulics that I may use in the future if I can get them into decent working condition.

Two other cool additions: First, I installed a new Lumotec IQ Fly 1 watt LED headlight. Second, I installed Pitlock locking skewers to secure my wheels. The IQ Fly is a pretty awesome light. It throws a super bright beam, and it only draws one watt of power, thus causing less rolling resistance with respect to your generator hub.

The Pitlocks are awesome. I was reluctant to buy them, but decided to on a fluke, and I am totally impressed. After screwing around with them I am convinced that they are highly superior to the Pinhead or Kryptonite locking skewers that I have personally found to be defeatable.

So now it's time to test the bike out. We'll see how it goes. As always, you can count on me to complain about everything that fails.

Mountain Biking in The Ozark Mountains.

2008-07-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Last week I took a badly needed hiatus from my duties and spent the week with friends in southern Missouri. While I was there I had the good fortune to visit one of my old haunts- Busiek National Forest for some real mountain biking- or "trail biking" as my brother says.

The trails at Busiek are single track or double track. I ended up lost, and took nearly all the main trails, and a number of side trails on the East side of the park. This forest offers long uphills and downhills. The terrain is rugged and rocky. I love the downhills- they're long and rough.

The rough terrain seemed like a great place to try out my new mountain bike- a Gary Fisher 29er. This is a recent acquisition. When it came to me it was somewhat dilapidated, and required basically a complete overhaul- total recable and some new parts. This model was equipped with Avid BB5 cable actuated disc brakes and a full Shimano Deore LX drive train.

I found the stock Rock Shock fork to be a big disappointment. I have always been of the mind that shocks are lame, but for this application they are a necessary evil. For my purposes I find that any flex in the frame/fork takes away from torque that would normally propel me forward, and this was no exception. Having said that, I have ridden in Busiek without a shock fork, and admittedly the downhills were smoother and more stable, and at the end of the day my wrists were grateful for some suspension.

The disc brakes worked OK. I was underwhelmed by their stopping power, but bigger rotars would have solved that complaint. The nice thing about disc brakes is that they work under lots of conditions under which rim brakes have problems- such as wet sloppy muddy rims.

One of my biggest complaints about the bike was the low bottom bracket. Numerous times I suffered irritating pedal strike due to this problem. One could put a shorter crankset on than the stock 175mm Bontragers, but that would mean a loss of leverage and torque. I'd prefer to see a higher BB. Apparently this bike was never really intended for mountain biking- Kevin says that Gary Fisher built this bike to be a city commuter. My question is, "Why would they put a crappy shock for on it then?" Shock forks make installation of fenders and racks an exercise in trouble shooting- not to mention my other complaints about shocks (longevity, maintenance problems, expense, etc.).

In my opinion the shock fork benefits are far outweighed by their disadvantages for city and communing purposes (and I don't want to hear any crap about potholes and curbs- I know more than one person in Chicago who seems to do just fine negotiating those things on a track bike).

On a positive note, the 29 inch wheels were a dream. Busiek trails are rugged- some of the roughest and rockiest "trails" I've been on in the Midwest. The 29ers did seem to roll over the big stuff better than the normal 26 inch wheels making the uphills more tolerable and the downhills much smoother.

See Branson Bike Shop's review of of local trails here.

More Road Rage Violence.

2008-07-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

See this shocking article about a road rage attack on a couple cyclists in California. It sounds eerily similar to another somewhat publicized incident closer to home.

I would point out that the road rage driver in California was a 58 year old physician. A driver's willingness to commit acts of such shocking violence never ceases to amaze me. In case you haven't noticed, it isn't as if thugs are the only people violating cyclists' rights.

Lighting systems- The Cargo Bike.

2008-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

In case you don't know, the law in Illinois requires bicycles to be equipped with a white front headlight and a red rear reflector if they are ridden at night. If you get into an accident and you don't have the required equipment you will likely be blamed for the accident.

I got tired of dealing with batteries, so this year I went to the generator lights, and I may never go back (with respect to my commuter bikes). Generator lights work in all weather and all temperatures. As any year round cyclist knows, battery powered lights get dimmer in cold weather, and in extreme cold, they may stop working all together. No such problem exists with generators.

For my cargo bike I used a Shimano disc-brake dynamo. A smart guy may note that I used a disc brake hub when I don't run disc brakes. Fear not, there is a perfectly rational reason- the disc brake hub was on sale.

For my lights I decided to go with the German made Busch & Muller Lumotec Oval plus. The headlight is a white halogen light with an LED standby light. The standby light has a capacitor that charges during use so that the light that stays on when the bicycle is stopped for about three to five minutes. The rear light is a Busch & Muller Seculite single red LED that also has the standby light function.

I spent a good deal of time making alterations to the wiring of the lights to two switches. One switch to turn the lights on and off and another switch to turn the lights to, "Stealth Mode." Stealth mode kills the power to the capacitor so that the standby lights turn off immediately rather than staying on for three minutes after you shut the lights off. This is useful in the event that you need to take evasive measures. This is not something I use too often, but when you need it- it's good to have.

Overall I'm super happy with the generator lighting system. Generator hubs can generate more power than the average AA battery lights, so the lights tend to be much brighter and there's no screwing around with batteries that are dying at inopportune times.

At Boulevard Bikes, we have one generator disc hub for $85.00. to build that into the wheel of your choice would probably cost between $200 and $250 depending on rim choice. Generator lights cost between $30 and $70. Yeah, it's $300 bucks for a generator light system, but for a real commuter who uses her bike as transport to get home every night the dependability and superb function makes a lot of sense ($300= 4 tanks of gas).

Kevin's New Ride- De Fietsfabiek

2008-07-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

Kevin purchased a front loader long bike a few months ago, and after a long wait it finally arrived on Saturday. Believe it or not, Kevin actually paid extra for the orange paint- when asked why he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "My cat is named Orange."

Kevin plans to use this bike for transporting cargo, and more importantly, to transport his one year old daughter. It comes equipped with a fold up seat inside the bucket with two sets of tiny seat belts. The weight capacity is thought to be around two hundred pounds of cargo- a far cry from the overwhelming capacity of a heavy duty trailer.

The Fietsfabiek Model 995 was delivered by the Chicago distributor, Jon Lind, with a crowd of Dutch friends all riding cargo bikes.

I had an opportunity to ride one of their three wheeled front loaders. It was sluggish, but smooth and stable. I would use one if I had it, but the hefty price tag is prohibitive for now.

Kevin's model comes equipped with a coaster rear bake and drum front brake. The front wheel is 20" with industrial spokes- very strong I expect. The rear wheel is a standard 36 spoked 26" wheel built around a SRAM internally geared hub with a coaster brake. Fietsfabiek doesn't skimp on anything it seems. Often bikes come stock with crappy tires, but not here. Their bikes come standard with Schwalbe Marathon Plus- the most flat resistant tires I have ever used. They also don't skimp on the frame extras. The 995 has all possible rack/cargo/brake mounts.

One of the first things I noticed is how stable this bike is when parked. The flip down kickstand makes parking, loading and unloading the bike a cinch.

It handles like other long bikes I've ridden. I usually compare them to cigar boats. They turn a bit differently than your standard safety bicycle, but I found Kevin's model to be stable and easy to get used to after a few minutes of experimentation.

Locals may say- "Fietsfabiek? Haven't I seen one of those around before?" Perhaps. The first one I ever saw was Andy's. Andy brought his back from Amsterdam a couple years ago. If you've seen this one around you won't forget it. Andy is almost seven feet tall, and accordingly his bike looks like it is made for a giant. Andy wasted his SRAM internally geared hub, but I wouldn't hold that against SRAM- Andy is known for being exceptionally tough on his bikes.

I also regularly see an orange Fietsfabiek cargo bike with front and rear racks parked just south of Chicago on Rush.

See Yehuda Moon's series on long cargo bikes.

See also www.defietsfabriek.us

Prarie Fever

2008-06-24T07:45:00.000-07:00

My buddy, Ted, is a prolific writer on some really bikey topics. Ted is currently in the process of researching good bike rides in Illinois and Chicago for a couple guide books he's working on. Below is a link to Ted's blog. His current post announces the release of the second edition of his book, 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Chicago.

In case you don't know, the backroads of southern and central Illinois offer some tremendous riding opportunities. Southern Illinois is literally covered with parks and low traffic roads that offer some of the best road riding and touring in the Midwest. I look forward to Ted's suggestions for routes.

http://www.tedvillaire.com/

Car free streets.

2008-06-17T09:25:00.001-07:00

New York has plans to try closing off streets to car traffic. Oh how I love that idea. Imagine how wonderful it would be to ride without having to deal with car traffic.

There is a movement afoot to close some of the Boulevards to car traffic on Sundays in Chicago. Sunday Parkways is based on similar programs instituted in other countries. I experienced the car free parkways in Guadalajara, and it was pretty awesome.

Personally, I'd like to see a general yield to bikes rule on the boulevard side streets. In my view if you want to speed you should be out in the main Boulevard. The side streets aren't safe for speeders, and they really aren't wide enough for cars to safely pass a cyclist with the required three foot passing distance.

George the Cyclist

2008-06-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

To say that George Christensen is an avid touring cyclists would be an understatement. George has toured all over the world. In the past I always looked forward to one of his e-mail reports on his travels, but now he has a blog to report on his many adventures.

See it at http://georgethecyclist.blogspot.com/

The "Door Zone"

2008-06-10T06:57:00.000-07:00

Doors... They are so dangerous to cyclists. I would guess that at least 30% of accidents in Chicago involving bicyclists and cars are the result of car doors being opened in the path of a cyclist.

Illinois law and Chicago law prohibits drivers from opening their door into traffic. Despite this law, I find that people rarely look before opening the door of their parked car. They just don't seem to know any better.

This is a hazard we must learn to avoid as cyclists. One way to avoid this is to ride outside of the "door zone." Ride far enough away from parked cars that even if the door were opened it would not hit you. Sometimes it isn't always possible to do so- in such instances it is important to look onto rear view mirrors to see if there is someone sitting in the car- if so reduce speed and approach with extreme caution. Finally, when I pass a car closely I will always stick my hand out as if I am anticipating the door opening. At least twice I have caught and closed opening doors in this manner.

Once I was riding with a few other people when I caught a cab passenger door from someone who was trying to exit the non-curb side- it was like a ninja move. I knew I was passing the cab closely- within two feet. I put my hand out in anticipation of the possibility of the door opening. It opened into my hand and I slapped the door shut as quickly as it was kicked open. It only made it open a few inches. The rider behind me started cheering. I totally would have been doored had I not already put my hand out anticipating the possibility that the door would open.

You can't rely on others for your safety. A seasoned urban cyclist learns to anticipate the mere possibility of danger and respond accordingly. If you can't see something is safe for sure assume it isn't and act accordingly. Watch those doors and stay out of the door zone.

Is this really what we're up against?

2008-06-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Check out this CL posting...

or

This one...

The second guy is just waiting for someone to escalate the situation. Like I say- don't escalate the situation. Stay cool, get the plates and call the police.

Justice- Chicago Style.

2008-06-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I hear stories of cyclists being treated like second class citizens. The links below appear to be just such a story...

Four cyclists were almost hit by a drunk driver. The responding officer was less than helpful.

They went to Court to be sure the guy didn't get off too easy. The prosecuting attorney was less than helpful.

A fellow witness and attorney gives his recollection of the events here.

Isn't it irritating to see that so many people in positions of enforcement (officer and prosecutor) want to let off a drunk driver who is willing to use his car as a weapon before fleeing the scene of the crime? I have an idea- charge this guy with aggravated assault.

This situation raises an interesting point...

When faced with a crappy driver or an all out attempted assault it is of utmost importance that you maintain your composure and refrain from doing anything that could be seen as escalating the situation. Most drivers will take great offense to such things as slapping the side of their car. I once had a guy threaten to beat me up for literally touching his car- irrational but true (a situation that almost ended in possibly the most embarrassing ten seconds of his life, but he wisely chose to peel out and drive off).

Don't escalate the situation. Keep your composure. If the police have to be called or you have to explain the facts to a jury you'll look much more sympathetic if the driver can't paint you as an aggressive cyclist while defending themselves.

TOC's Bike Issue.

2008-06-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

Last week's issue of Time out Chicago was the Bike Issue. This year it included a centerfold of our very own Jeff Perkins. You may know Jeff from his employment with 4 Star or his involvement with the Chicago Cuttin Crew. I'm a big fan of his ride- a Binachi Reparto Corsa steel track frame in Binchi's signature Celeste. Mmmmmm.... Italian steel...

Also included in that issue was an interview with Sarah Miller of West Town Bikes. In case you don't know, Sarah has been an instructor with West Town Bikes for quite some time and has even assumed some of the overwhelming administrative duties at WTB. She spent time as a Bicycling Ambassador and also teaches mechanics to high school kids as part of Chicago's After School Matters program. Miller is no hack mechanic either- she's a pro. I was a little disappointed with her interview, which painted a shallow view of Miller and failed to emphasize her tremendous efforts to educate Chicagoans about cycling and mechanics. Oh well, how can one write a half page article about someone worthy of a book?

Car crashes into peloton in Mexico.

2008-06-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Ouch. According to CNN, one biker was killed when this drunk driver fell asleep at the wheel.

Bicycles are not toys.

2008-06-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

According to Chicago Bike Racing, "a Chicago cyclist this weekend was fined in Fox Lake for violating Village Code 8-3-7: 'No person upon roller skates or riding in or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk.' Toy vehicle!? Fortunately there’s a happy ending: The CBF swooped in to get the ticket dismissed and enlighten the police officer."

Obviously this officer doesn't know that the law in Illinois is that Bicyclists are permitted users of Illinois roadways or that in many municipalities, such as Chicago, it is illegal to ride your bicycle on the sidewalk.

Chicago Bike Polo's Website.

2008-06-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

http://chicagobikepolo.com/

Chicago Bike Polo continues to develop. Now we've got a web site.

Check here for news and upcoming events.