Doored! The Animated Feature

Please look before opening your car door.



Bus drivers I know talk about "catching a door" - though usually the bus is barely scratched. Legend tells of a mythical bus driver in Los Angeles who paints little doors on his bus, kind of like enemy kills on a fighter jet plane.

California Vehicle Code Division 11, Chapter 9, Section 22517: No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of such traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open upon the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.

Via Urban Velo.

Deep V rims with coaster brakes

About a year ago, Johnny in Oakland, California wanted the fixed gear look with deep V rims, but he also wanted coaster brakes. He looked all over and couldn't find anything pre-made, so he built up his own deep V wheel with a coaster brake.



People saw him riding around and wanted the same thing, so he started selling his "Coasties" wheels. Over the past year, he's sold about 100 coaster brake wheels around the Bay Area, and since he launched his online presence just three weeks ago, Johnny has fulfilled several orders around the United States and Canada, especially after Urban Velo mentioned them.

Johnny notes, "You can run a big, flat BMX pedal without pedalstrike or straps, allowing more comfy everyday riding and shoe choice." But he also reminds users that "these are Get-around-town wheels, not high tech track wheels."

Johnny counsels at risk youth for his day job. Social work has its emotional stresses, and Johnny's daily bike commute and the mechanical work of lacing wheels are his therapeutic outlets.

It turns out also that Johnny is a total coaster brake nerd. He started telling me about design features of various coaster brakes. "My goal is for the website to be a repository for coaster brake knowledge," he says.

Machined, 33mm "Deep V" double walled rims with 18t cogs and mounting hardware are available in red, white and black for $140 + $25 shipping. Non machined 42mm "Super Deep" wheelsets are $185 + $25 in nude and white.

Visit Coasties for more.

Stuff I like: Bike clothing

While I love the trend to wear normal, everyday clothing while cycling, I often ride longer distances on the road and go for functional bike apparel. If the cyclist in your life can also appreciate bike specific clothes, here's are the threads I've used and liked this year.

I absolutely love love love my Chrome Shins cycling pants. It's not unusual for me to toss them in the wash in the evening so I can wear them the next day. I ride to the office in them and wear them all day at work. I'm well into my second year of using these pants.

My only beef: they're a little heavy for warm weather cycling. Chrome now has lighter weight riding knickers available (which I haven't tried).

See Commute By Bike for my earlier review of these pants.

Bike Jerseys. My favorite are full zip jerseys from Hincapie Sportswear. They fit, they work, they feel good, they don't fall apart.

Bike Shorts. I have some of the expensive fancy pants, but for everyday riding I really like the basic BG Shorts from Specialized.

Bike Shoes. I own cleated cycling shoes from Shimano, Lake, Specialized, and along with a couple of "off" brands not worth mentioning. For road, mountain biking, and just plain commuting, I really like my Specialized BG shoes for clipless pedals. They're a good value for the money.

Bike Socks. I'm a sucker for Sock Guy socks. I like some of the designs from DeFeet, but they make my feet stink. YMMV.

Bike Gloves. For summer time, I really like my Pearl Izumi Pro glove. Great ventilation and just the right amount of padding.

Avoid cheap, off-brand cycling gloves -- there's often too much padding right in the center of the palm, which can cause numbness as the padding can push right on the nerves that travel through the middle of the hand.

For cooler weather cycling, I still use the CLC Tradesmen gloves I purchased at a home improvement store five year ago now. They're stretchy and comfy, comfortable to about freezing, allow sufficient finger movement for shifting, braking, zipper use, and light operation, and have the all important terry cloth thumb wipe.

Disclosure: I might have gotten "bro deals" on a few of these items, but I've paid for all of these items myself.

Tell me: What bike apparel recommendations can you make? Is there something I should take a look at for next year?

Next up: Books, bikes, and bags.

Gran Fondo for charity

Here's an amusing but fun idea: take the Italian Gran Fondo mass start bike races and bring it to America as a charity ride.

Italian Gran Fondo rides are mass start bike races that mix pros, licensed amateurs like you and weekend warriors like me and put them on a pro racing style course, complete with road closures, police escorts, photographers on motorcycles, feed stations, fans on the sidelines, and apres bike food and drink on a grand scale.

There have already been Gran Fondo style bike rides in the United States, and the Levi Leipheimer King Ridge Gran Fondo around Santa Rosa is even a fundraiser to help the city of Santa Rosa pay expenses related to its annual hosting of the Tour of California.

The Echelon Gran Fondo aims to Americanize this Italian tradition by combining the Gran Fondo with the American charity ride. Cyclists register for the "big ride" and raise funds for a local charity. Unlike a typical charity ride, licensed racers can compete for prizes, and Echelon organizers promise "epic courses" ranging from 30 to 100 miles and "the pageantry of the Tour de France" on roads with rolling road closures, police escort, feed stations and even motorcycle photographers.

The first ride in the Echelon Gran Fondo series takes place May 23, 2010 in Napa, California, with the next beginning in Portland, Oregon.

Marin County: More people biking

Weekday bicycling rates have increased 118 percent since 1999 and the number of pedestrians has risen 51 percent in that same period, based on counts taken for a federally funded pilot program designed to encourage bicycle and pedestrian transportation.

More --> Marin Independent Journal: More people walking and biking in Marin. See also Walk Bike Marin.

More bike news below...

---

San Jose, California: Triplets of Belleville this Thursday night at Bike to the Movies.

Boulder County, Colorado: Highway 66 through Longmont is again open to bicycles and pedestrians.

Denver, Colorado: Thursday evening at REI in Denver, Jim Sayer from the Adventure Cycling Association will give a presentation on the National Bicycle Route and will talk about good bicycling in general. You don't have to be an ACA member to attend. It is a fun and informative get together, beginning at 7:00pm. More --> Adventure Cycling Association Parties and Gatherings.

Big international bike brands begin expanding their business to India as interest in recreational cycling picks up.

Roll in style with Couture Cruiser bike basket liners and bags.

Chicago: Bike Winter visibility craft night

Chicago area cyclists are invited to Bike Winter's "Make it Reflective Craft Night" on December 11, 2009 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Active Transportation Alliance, 9 W. Hubbard, 4th floor, Chicago.

Jane Healy will give a short presentation on visibility. Topics will include lights, reflectors, vests, and simple skills that will make you a shining beacon of the cycling world. willow naeco will help you get your crafty juices flowing. If you have craft supplies and/or clothing/accessories you would like to make reflective, bring them along!

Free Bike Winter balaclavas (face masks), gaiters (head or neck wraps), and scarves will be passed out, along with a few lights and reflective goodies.

Light refreshments will be provided; bring more to share if you'd like to.

See details at The Chainlink: Make it Reflective Craft Night