Monday, August 15, 2005
Take a kid mountain biking day
The IMBA's Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is October 1, 2005. A joint U.S. Congressional resolution has been introduced to officially recognize the day in memory of Jack Doub, a teenage mountain biker from North Carolina.
U.S. bicycle helmet laws
Some of the points I found interesting:
- When discussing arguments against mandatory helmet laws, the study authors listed "The law could lower bicycle ridership" and claimed "little data exist to support or rebut this argument."
- The posture of the bicycling community on these laws was mixed: some groups supported legislation (usually minors-only laws); some were opposed; and some were divided on the issue.
- In several jurisdictions, motorcyclists who opposed motorcycle helmet use laws also actively opposed bicycle helmet use laws.
- Officers cited challenges in ticketing children. “Who do you give the ticket to? Do you put the bike in the trunk and drive the child home?”
- The law conjures the distasteful image of “troopers ticketing kids.”
- An issue often raised, chiefly by those in the bicycling community, was that bicycle safety efforts are (or are perceived to be) singularly focused on the adoption of bicycle helmet use laws. They observed that bicycle helmet use laws do not “solve” all bicycle safety problems yet they are concerned that the focus on bicycle helmet use laws distracts attention and resources from other bicycle safety issues.
Because cycling is no more likely to result in head injury than riding in an automobile, mandatory helmet use for cyclists is ridiculous. The experience in Australia with their mandatory bike helmet law has been disasterous for cycling, with mandatory bicycle helmet use resulting in increased hospital admissions in spite of the reduced popularity of cycling, and damage to overall public health.
If you are fighting mandatory bicycle helmet legislation in your area, I urge you to read Avery Burdett's Helmet FAQ.
I hate it when that happens
One of the better sources of international cycling business news is the UK-based BikeBiz.com. The BikeBiz editor reports that he is "bruised, battered and will not be providing a full news service this week." A motorist blew through a stop sign and hit the rider, damaging the rider's Dura Ace equipped CF road bike. The rider is not seriously injured.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Presidential Perk: Ride with Lance
Lance Armstrong will travel to Crawford, TX to mountain bike with President Bush next weekend. "It's a dream scenario for me," Armstrong said. "Now that President Bush doesn't run anymore, he rides his mountain bike fanatically. People wonder why he's stays at the ranch so long, it might be the mountain bike trails."
Armstrong said although the president certainly couldn't whip him, he's impressed with how seriously Bush takes the his new sport.
"I know people who have ridden with him," Armstrong said. "I can tell you he's one very competitive guy. Very competitive, there's no talking. A few minutes of warm up time, a little chitchat, then you go."
That matches up with what this journalist says about Bush's riding.
Armstrong said although the president certainly couldn't whip him, he's impressed with how seriously Bush takes the his new sport.
"I know people who have ridden with him," Armstrong said. "I can tell you he's one very competitive guy. Very competitive, there's no talking. A few minutes of warm up time, a little chitchat, then you go."
That matches up with what this journalist says about Bush's riding.
The truth about the Biker-in-Chief is that the man can really ride. Over the course of a two-hour Tour de Crawford, Bush humbled every rider in Peloton One with a strong and steady pace over scorching hot paved roads, muddy creek crossings, energy-sapping tall grass and steep climbs on loose and crumbling rock.
"This is not a race," he insisted at the start of the ride. "This is a chance for me to show you a little slice of heaven, as far as I'm concerned. You know, some guys go on their ranch and ride horses — I like to ride my ranch on a mountain bike."
Keeping up with Bush — whose fitness level was recently rated in his annual physical exam as being in the top 1% of men 55 to 59 — was as difficult as any race I've entered.
Canada: Gas busts through $1 barrier
Friday, August 12, 2005
Eredi Chiarini bicycles
Melissa the photographer writes about these yellow bikes in Florence, Italy.
Riding a bicycle is a great way to get around the narrow streets of Florence and explore beautiful Tuscan hillsides dotted with villas, olive groves and ancient churches.Here are additional resources on bicycling in and around Florence.
Patrons of the exclusive menswear boutique, Eredi Chiarini, located in the historic center of Florence, are allowed borrow one of the store's bright yellow bicycles, but even if your pocketbook doesn't allow you to shop there, Florence offers many other options for visitors who wish to explore the city by bike.
The city of Florence rents out approximately 2000 bicycles on a daily basis. Costs are low: € 1.50 1 hr. - € 4.00 5 hrs - € 8.00 all day. Rental points are open generally from 8:00am to 7:00pm Mon-Sat. and can be found at the Santa Maria Novella Train Station (also open Sundays), Campo di Marte train station, Piazza del Cestello, Piazza della Calza, and Parterre. You will need to present a form of ID, to rent a bike.
- Florence Bike Pages is an informative English-language site including itineraries, bike paths, cycling events, all information regarding bicycling in and around Florence and travelling by bike.
- Florence By Bike is a large bike rental and tour company.
- I Bike Italy offers single day tours throught the Tuscan countryside.
- Alinari Rental rents bicycles and scooters.
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