In a surprisingly transparent article about the fears she has jumping into the world of blogging, Bicycle Retailers and Industry News editor Megan Tompkins expresses her skepticism about new media while acknowledging the influence blogs can have in politics and business.
You can find the BR&IN blog here, and so far it looks like they've got things right: comments, RSS feed, and transparency. Good work, Ms. Tompkins, I'm looking forward to more.
Bicycle Retailers and Industry News is the publication for bike retailers, covering all aspects of the bicycle industry ranging from the state of retail sales to labor rates in China. The BR&IN is published by the National Bicycle Dealers Association and is run by people in the bike business. If you can snag a copy it has some fascinating stuff.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Emma Alice Smith, RIP
Sussex (UK) police have reopened the case of Emma Alice Smith, the 16 year old girl who disappeared while riding her bicycle in 1926.
Here's what the police know: Emma left her home in the morning, riding her bike to the train station to get to work. That was the last time she or her bike was seen.
I've read about Emma Smith before sometime, but I can't find the online article. An amateur sleuth supposed that Emma brushed off the advances of a creepy stalker so he killed her and dumped her body and her bike.
A family member now says that a man gave her a deathbed confession that he was Emma's killer. Read more here.
View a video about Emma Smith and a video short story based on her disappearance.
Here's what the police know: Emma left her home in the morning, riding her bike to the train station to get to work. That was the last time she or her bike was seen.
I've read about Emma Smith before sometime, but I can't find the online article. An amateur sleuth supposed that Emma brushed off the advances of a creepy stalker so he killed her and dumped her body and her bike.
A family member now says that a man gave her a deathbed confession that he was Emma's killer. Read more here.
View a video about Emma Smith and a video short story based on her disappearance.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Danny and the Demoncycle
This 1972 bicycle safety comic book from the Highway Safety Division of Virginia is a like a Jack Chick tract for safe cycling.
Flip through the whole comic at Comics With Problems and follow "Dan the Disaster" as he learns his lesson to become a safe cyclist. Scofflaw cyclists, repent of your wicked ways and take this important lesson to heart!
Flip through the whole comic at Comics With Problems and follow "Dan the Disaster" as he learns his lesson to become a safe cyclist. Scofflaw cyclists, repent of your wicked ways and take this important lesson to heart!
Recent finds
Ow, my aching bottom. I rode 22 miles to work on a 54 pound bike this morning. The Schwinn Tailwind has a suspension seatpost and cushy gel saddle that works very well, but I replaced it with a standard seatpost and skinny saddle so I could tow my daughter on her trailer bike over the weekend. The extremely stiff aluminum frame results in a punishing ride if you lose the springy seatpost -- don't question the wisdom of the bike designer who specified the suspension seatpost!
Otherwise, the bike is wonderfully solid on longer rides. It tracks straight, there are no rattling bits, it goes where I want it to go, and pedaling the 8 speed Nexus hub feels efficient even with the motor completely disengaged. Have I mentioned the full chaincase and fenders on this bike, yet?
Here are some recent bicycle blog finds and some not so recent in my semi-regular link love reciprocation.
Let's Go Ride A Bike: Trisha in Nashville and Dottie in Chicago are "two girls who recently discovered city cycling" and write to "share our stories, learn more about cycling and encourage others to rediscover the fun of riding a bike."
VELORUTIA in... Romania? I can't read a thing on the site but it looks good.
Biking Las Vegas.
Chiggins' It's Just A Ride.
Don't forget: San Francisco Thursday Tweed Ride is on February 12.
Will I ride Tweed to the Caltrain JPB meeting this Thursday, February 5? Probably not: Rain is in the forecast.
Twin River Cyclists.
Eco Velo.
Get Downtown Blog: Commuting options for Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Bikengruvin Bike Art.
Da Isser.
Atomic Miles.
Ultra Rob.
Keefer Madness.
Pseudopolymath.
Ruminations on life and cycling in northern Illinois.
Roger Kramer in southern Illinois.
Bicycle Musings
Malaysian track cyclist Azizu Hasni.
Canada Cycling Blog.
Pedal maniac.
Cycle Snack. Yum.
Liberation Cycling.
Bikes For the Rest of Us.
Kansas City Bike.
Raleigh Commutes.
Slow Motion Revolution.
A Social Media expert flies from Atlanta to Memphis to teach FedEx a lesson on social media. The tables are turned, however, when it turns out FedEx already understands the influence of social media better than the marketing expert does.
Otherwise, the bike is wonderfully solid on longer rides. It tracks straight, there are no rattling bits, it goes where I want it to go, and pedaling the 8 speed Nexus hub feels efficient even with the motor completely disengaged. Have I mentioned the full chaincase and fenders on this bike, yet?
Here are some recent bicycle blog finds and some not so recent in my semi-regular link love reciprocation.
Let's Go Ride A Bike: Trisha in Nashville and Dottie in Chicago are "two girls who recently discovered city cycling" and write to "share our stories, learn more about cycling and encourage others to rediscover the fun of riding a bike."
VELORUTIA in... Romania? I can't read a thing on the site but it looks good.
Biking Las Vegas.
Chiggins' It's Just A Ride.
Don't forget: San Francisco Thursday Tweed Ride is on February 12.
Will I ride Tweed to the Caltrain JPB meeting this Thursday, February 5? Probably not: Rain is in the forecast.
Twin River Cyclists.
Eco Velo.
Get Downtown Blog: Commuting options for Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Bikengruvin Bike Art.
Da Isser.
Atomic Miles.
Ultra Rob.
Keefer Madness.
Pseudopolymath.
Ruminations on life and cycling in northern Illinois.
Roger Kramer in southern Illinois.
Bicycle Musings
Malaysian track cyclist Azizu Hasni.
Canada Cycling Blog.
Pedal maniac.
Cycle Snack. Yum.
Liberation Cycling.
Bikes For the Rest of Us.
Kansas City Bike.
Raleigh Commutes.
Slow Motion Revolution.
A Social Media expert flies from Atlanta to Memphis to teach FedEx a lesson on social media. The tables are turned, however, when it turns out FedEx already understands the influence of social media better than the marketing expert does.
Cash prizes for amateurs at San Jose Cycling Classic Criterium
Thanks to a contribution from Click Safety, the Criterium built by WEBCOR will include a total of $2,000 in cash prizes for amateur riders. The Criterium built by WEBCOR, held during the San Jose Cycling Classic at 8 a.m., Saturday, February 14, also includes $5,000 for top male professionals and $5,000 for top female professionals.The Criterium will start at Park Avenue/Market Street/South Almaden Blvd. Packet pick-up begins at 7 a.m., San Jose City Hall Wing, Rooms 118-120, 200 East Santa Clara Street.
To be staged in downtown San Jose with the Plaza de Cesar Chavez as the event’s main backdrop, The Criterium built by WEBCOR, a first to be produced by the City, will provide a day of racing for both amateur and professional riders who will test their abilities to corner rapidly and sharply—and ride to win within a large group on a short circuit.
“The Criterium will be an exciting addition to our Downtown, offering both athletes and fans a great opportunity to be a part of an intense, action-filled event,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “We are pleased that WEBCOR has joined with the City to help bring both professional and amateur cycling in San Jose.”
Marked by high speeds, short courses, multiple laps, tight turns, and side-by-side racing, a criterium, or “crit,” is one of the more exciting spectator events in cycling. The .86 mile urban downtown “track” will feature these elements as well as cash and prizes, including $5,000 for top male professionals and $5,000 for top female professionals.
According to Andy Ball, president and CEO of WEBCOR, his company continues to be a strong advocate of cycling as a professional sport as well as an accessible form of transportation and leisure for all.
“Webcor has been a longtime advocate and supporter of cycling,” said Andy Ball. “We have been active with the Webcor/Alto Velo Club and the Webcor Women’s Professional Racing Team for more than eight years. We have partnered with the City of San Jose and the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition to advocate for bicycle safety and promote cycling as a viable mode of transportation with Bike to Work Day. The benefits are better fitness, reduced congestion, and the development of environmentally responsible green practices. We are pleased to partner once again with the City of San Jose in the Downtown Criterium built by Webcor, which further demonstrates that San Jose is the most cycling progressive city in the U.S.A.”
The Criterium built by WEBCOR is the first cycling criterium ever to be produced by San Jose in the City’s 232-year history and further complements San Jose’s long cycling legacy. One of the first pedal bicycles was invented in San Jose and the City’s first bicycle club was formed in 1884. In addition, the City is home to one of only 19 operational velodromes in the United States and was recently recognized by the League of American Bicyclists with the National Bicycle Friendly Community Award.
To register for The Criterium built by WEBCOR, visit www.sanjosecyclingclassic.com.
The Criterium built by WEBCOR map is available at http://sanjoseclassic.com/downloads/CritMap.pdf
Produced in anticipation of the upcoming Amgen Tour of California, the San Jose Cycling Classic will be held February 14-21, 2009 throughout San Jose. This is multi-pronged event encompassing professional, amateur and community cycling activities, including the King of the Mountain Time Trail Race and Ride sponsored by Mattson Technology, the CEO Challenge powered by SunPower and The Criterium built by WEBCOR. Other activities include a Cycling Film Night, a GET BACKON YOUR BIKE! presentation and BIKE SHOW: A Celebration Of Cycle Art & Culture art exhibition. It is expected to attract more than 1,000 cycling athletes, 20,000 spectators and cycling-related exhibitors.
Funds raised from The Criterium built by WEBCOR and all San Jose Cycling Classic events will support health, fitness and cycling. Beneficiaries include the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, and Fit for Learning, an initiative—provided by the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) in cooperation with Healthy Silicon Valley—that will increase physical activity and encourage healthy nutrition among elementary school students in Santa Clara County. In addition, the San Jose Cycling Classic provides a platform to raise awareness about green mobility and the San Jose Green Vision.
For more information about the San Jose Cycling Classic, please visit, www.sanjosecyclingclassic.com.
This scheduling really puts me in a bind! The Tour of California -- where Lance Armstrong makes his USA professional racing return -- starts the SAME DAY in Sacramento. I'd like to support the local cyclists, but I also really really want to cover the Tour of California and there's only one of me. What to do?
Monday, February 02, 2009
Manic Monday bicycle news
Sorry for the super late post. I'm late sending a review of the Schwinn Tailwind ebike to Momentum Magazine and I'm running late. Watch for the review there in the March / April issue (assuming I get it to them in time!)
Heavy snow brings transportation to a crippling halt in the UK. The >Guardian says biking in the snow is too hard. London Mayor Boris Johnson congratulates the 'hardy' drivers getting to work while he mentions non-chalently that "I came in here by bicycle; it is possible to get around." Via.
Bike commuters take fewer sick days. Via.
Hugga: What are your bike ride roadside finds?
Fenders on George Hincapie's custom built racing bicycle. Via Velo Orange.
The Sacramento Bike Kitchen has moved to a new location: 1915 I Street. Sac Bike Kitchen is a community bike shop offering tools, classes and repair space for the do it yourselfer.
Winter Biking Wiki -- contribute your expertise.
Guide to promote cycling on Federal lands.
Open Street Map Mountain View Mapping Party, Saturday February 7th and Sunday February 8th, 11am-4pm at Red Rock Coffee, 201 Castro Street, Mountain View , CA. OpenStreetMap is a free editable map of the whole world. It is made by people like you. OpenStreetMap allows you to view, edit and use geographical data in a collaborative way from anywhere on Earth. They will loan out GPS devices to attach to your bike to help with the mapping.
Holier Than You is a fan of Lance Armstrong.
Next week: Get ready for the Ride of Your Life.
I'm taking this Thursday, February 5 off to attend the Caltrain Joint Powers Board meeting. Bike capacity on the trains is on the agenda. The meeting starts at 10 AM. I haven't decided yet if I'll bike all the way from San Jose (or even from Santa Cruz) Thursday morning, or if I'll take the train and look a little more professional and presentable. Forecast is rain for Thursday, so it'll be a fendered bike either way. Which way should I go, bike friends? Sweaty like a cyclist? Dressed in slacks and button shirt like a professional office dweeb? Or even a tie and sport jacket?
Heavy snow brings transportation to a crippling halt in the UK. The >Guardian says biking in the snow is too hard. London Mayor Boris Johnson congratulates the 'hardy' drivers getting to work while he mentions non-chalently that "I came in here by bicycle; it is possible to get around." Via.
Bike commuters take fewer sick days. Via.
Hugga: What are your bike ride roadside finds?
Fenders on George Hincapie's custom built racing bicycle. Via Velo Orange.
The Sacramento Bike Kitchen has moved to a new location: 1915 I Street. Sac Bike Kitchen is a community bike shop offering tools, classes and repair space for the do it yourselfer.
Winter Biking Wiki -- contribute your expertise.
Guide to promote cycling on Federal lands.
Open Street Map Mountain View Mapping Party, Saturday February 7th and Sunday February 8th, 11am-4pm at Red Rock Coffee, 201 Castro Street, Mountain View , CA. OpenStreetMap is a free editable map of the whole world. It is made by people like you. OpenStreetMap allows you to view, edit and use geographical data in a collaborative way from anywhere on Earth. They will loan out GPS devices to attach to your bike to help with the mapping.
Holier Than You is a fan of Lance Armstrong.
Next week: Get ready for the Ride of Your Life.
I'm taking this Thursday, February 5 off to attend the Caltrain Joint Powers Board meeting. Bike capacity on the trains is on the agenda. The meeting starts at 10 AM. I haven't decided yet if I'll bike all the way from San Jose (or even from Santa Cruz) Thursday morning, or if I'll take the train and look a little more professional and presentable. Forecast is rain for Thursday, so it'll be a fendered bike either way. Which way should I go, bike friends? Sweaty like a cyclist? Dressed in slacks and button shirt like a professional office dweeb? Or even a tie and sport jacket?
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