The Ride Journal is a lovely mag by/about/for cyclists of all types: bmxers, fixed gear riders, road racers, tricyclists, casual riders... you name it! It's a beautiful publication--great photography, nice paper, good personal stories. However, it's a print mag. As their 3rd issue is being mailed out, they've made their first avaiable for download as a 26MB PDF.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy on Nov 11, 2009 - 5 comments

"There's people from literally across the world making these bikes, from Portland, Oregon, to Japan to Australia to Jamaica." The "Scraper Bike King" talks about the DIY community-oriented movement (YT), which started in Oakland was popularized with this video and covered by NPR.
posted by aniola on Oct 25, 2009 - 35 comments

In light of the recent tragic death of a cyclist in Toronto, even normally well-balanced MeFites have polarized in the bikes vs. cars “war”. But according to Guillermo Penalosa, the fight is really about better urban design. He helped to radically reinvent the transit and parks infrastructure of Bogata, making it of the best cycling cities in the world. The recent changes to Broadway in New York were influenced by Bogota's success. Gil now advises the Project for Public Spaces and is Executive Director of Walk & Bike for Life. Their solution to the pedestrians vs. cars vs. bikes battle is simple: better urban planning (previously on MeFi) that gives everyone their own safe space. Not sure if your city's infrastructure is up-to-snuff? Apply the 8/80 rule. In the meantime, keep safe out there.
posted by nometa on Sep 3, 2009 - 175 comments

The Big Africa Cycle. Peter Gostelow is cycling from Dorset, England to Cape Town to raise funds for The Against Malaria Foundation. And it's not his first big adventure. [more inside]
posted by fire&wings on Aug 28, 2009 - 2 comments

"This is the lock you got from your parents when you were 8." "I could chew through this lock." Hal Grades Your Bike Locking (2003). Hal (and Kerri) Grade Your Bike Locking (2008). Hal Grades Your Bike Locking 3: The Final Warning! (2009) Skip to the last one unless if you're not truly dedicated to locking minutiae. (via)
posted by maudlin on Jul 17, 2009 - 59 comments

BauBike
posted by ardgedee on Jun 12, 2009 - 63 comments

Police in Denmark target bike riders. SLYT Police in Denmark take drastic steps to change the habits of bike riders...
posted by HuronBob on Apr 28, 2009 - 49 comments

I like watching videos of people riding fixed gear bikes in the city: Empire, MashSF, Macaframa, Fast Friday, Bootleg Sessions, Lucas Brunelle's crazy vids (linked on MeFi before). Don't like videos? Try Fixed Gear Magazine (pdf of vol 1 and vol 2) or CogMag (dead tree mag, but excerpts from each issue are on their site).
posted by You Should See the Other Guy on Feb 9, 2009 - 54 comments

I like old bicycles. High-wheelers, choppers, BMX bikes, mountain bikes and old ten-speeds. Especially personal bikes from personal collections. I like 'em all. Also Queen videos. (Previously.)
posted by box on Jan 6, 2009 - 20 comments

R.I.P. Ian Hibell. Bikes rarely let him down. Escaping once from spear-throwing Turkana in northern Kenya, he felt the chain come off, but managed to coast downhill to safety. He crossed China from north to south—in 2006, at 72—with just three brake-block changes, one jammed rear-brake cable and a change of tape on the handlebars. In his book, “Into the Remote Places” (1984), he described his bike as a companion, a crutch and a friend. Setting off in the morning light with “the quiet hum of the wheels, the creak of strap against load, the clink of something in the pannier”, was “delicious”. [more inside]
posted by chinston on Sep 17, 2008 - 22 comments

Hubba, Hubba, Hubba [more inside]
posted by Rafaelloello on Sep 5, 2008 - 16 comments

"Beat It," as reenacted by the Pedal Pusher Society, Milwaukee's finest all-girl-and-tranny bike gang. Oh, did I mention the co-founder is Metafilter's Own™ binocularfight?
posted by designbot on Aug 22, 2008 - 35 comments

Ines Brunn and her bike. {mlyt}
posted by dobbs on Jul 7, 2008 - 47 comments

The Bicycle Tutor is a site with lots of video tutorials designed with a sole purpose; to teach you how to fix your own bicycle. [via mefi projects]
posted by Effigy2000 on Jun 17, 2008 - 29 comments

The Love Affair of Bicycles and Coffee. [more inside]
posted by bassjump on Mar 11, 2008 - 26 comments

Following up on some recent cyclist deaths in Portland where cyclists waiting in bike lanes at red lights were crushed by right-turning trucks (discussed here), the city is introducting 'bike boxes' to encourage bikes to wait out in front of stopped traffic. The city also plans to promote lower-traffic streets as 'bike boulevards' as an alternative to bike lines on high-traffic streets.
posted by PercussivePaul on Jan 11, 2008 - 83 comments

Pictures of bicycles. And previously. Please be advised, there some pictures of girls that might be considered Not Work-Safe, but mostly just lots and lots of really sexy bicycles.
posted by From Bklyn on Dec 10, 2007 - 38 comments

Bike Hacks! Bored with your generic two-wheeler? Check out this collection of funky bicycle modifications. My favorite is the grocery cart.
posted by brain_drain on Oct 18, 2007 - 17 comments

A narrated bike-ride through NYC with David Byrne (requires Quicktime)
posted by deern the headlice on Oct 15, 2007 - 13 comments

Cycling for a cause is the project/site of Canadian college student Michal Brichacek. On May 3rd of this year he set out from Alaska on his bike, aiming to ride all 12,000km (7440 miles) by early August. He's riding to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and he's over halfway done, currently riding across a hot Mexico landscape. His blog has his daily adventures (mostly about having to look for tent spots, supplies, and meeting interesting strangers). He's also posting daily photos of the trip.
posted by mathowie on Jul 9, 2007 - 9 comments

Bjarne Riis, current coach of premier cycling squad Team CSC, used drugs to win the Tour in 1996. His protege, Ivan Basso, was suspended from Team CSC before last year's Tour for suspicion of doping. Team Discovery hired Basso to fill Lance Armstrong's seat as captain, but Basso quit shortly before he had a chance to win his second consecutive Giro d'Italia, and is out for the season, if not permanently. The conclusion of Floyd Landis's appeals to reinstate his 2006 Tour victory will wait until some time after this year's Tour de France. Jan Ullrich capped a good but unsatisfying career by retiring early and under a cloud. Several of Ullrich's former Deutch Telekom/T-Mobile teammates, including Erik Zabel, admitted to doping, and the team masseur claims to have personally administered EPO to Ullrich. Ullrich, Basso, numerous other leading riders, and the majority of some team rosters continue to be under suspicion as the Operación Puerto EPO lab investigation grinds onward. It might be the best time ever to market a competition road bike called the Addict. (previously, previously, oh-so-very previously, )
posted by ardgedee on May 27, 2007 - 14 comments

"We, due to our experience in riding chopper bicycles, tallbikes, and the like, will finally find ourselves at the top of the food chain, and it is we who will lead humanity out of the rubble Welcome to the world of mutant and freak bikes. While just fun for many some folks see the freak bike movement as something political but as often happens politics can bring controversy. It's a worldwide phenomina with roots going back to the 19th century. Mutant and freak bikes at flickr. A previous related post.
posted by arse_hat on Mar 1, 2007 - 11 comments

The Wall of Death. Celebrated in song and art, the act of riding a motorcycle on the vertical wall of the inside of a cylinder, was a popular carnival attraction, mid-century. Although on the wane since the 70's, there are still a few practitioners, some of whom have better websites than others.
posted by Devils Rancher on Dec 31, 2006 - 9 comments

Radial engined motorcycles are insane, but not unprecedented.
posted by mr_crash_davis on May 12, 2006 - 24 comments

Free bikes! BikeTown will give away 600 bicycles this year to residents of NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, Dallas, Houston, LA, Chicago, Detroit, Boise, Baltimore, MD (and the Gila River Indian Community in AZ). BikeTown research has shown that, on average, its participants rode 10 miles per week, mostly for pleasure or exercise. But more than 40% rode for transportation purposes, happily trading their car and the cost of gasoline for a bike...
posted by RockyChrysler on Mar 29, 2006 - 16 comments

Bike furniture - now that's recycling!
posted by madamjujujive on Mar 3, 2006 - 26 comments

Moving By Bicycle. "I've moved several times entirely by bicycle. I've hauled huge things, including couches and washing machines."
posted by fandango_matt on Jul 23, 2005 - 61 comments

Huck This!
The internally geared GT IT-1 solves many a mountain biker's problems in one elegant way.
Also, not to be missed, the Rohloff SpeedHub 500/14, a 14 speed internally geared masterpiece.
Via
posted by fenriq on Jul 18, 2005 - 44 comments

Bicycle enthusiast Brano Meres constructed this bike frame from bamboo. I'm not sure how well it would hold up, but it looks pretty sweet. [via coolhunting]
posted by btwillig on May 12, 2005 - 15 comments

NYC Critical Mass ride dampened by heavy police presence Critical Mass, A peaceful demonstration that takes place on the last friday of the month at hundreds of cities around the world. The gathering of hundreds to thousands of cyclists to stress the importance of nonpolluting transportation alternatives and promote the cycling community. Last night's critical mass was faced with a very heavy police presence (including 3 helicopters that followed the cyclists on the route). I was there and the police were peaceful, but perhaps necessary and the helicopters were just intimidating. The whole aura assumed there was going to be some type of crime. There type of people that take part in Critical Mass are generally the opposite of violent. It felt violating to be followed around, by not one, but three helicopters and hundreds of officers on scooters. The Critical Mass was being treated as if we just shot up a building or robbed a bank. The whole thing was stupid, and people got arrested for stupid reasons. Thanks NYPD the Judge said we could be there. 33, 47, whatever, it was too many.
posted by Glibaudio on Oct 30, 2004 - 108 comments

And the training wheels would go where, exactly, on the Sideways Bike?
posted by Dick Paris on Aug 30, 2004 - 18 comments

Stone Cold Saddles for hard ass cyclists.
posted by srboisvert on Aug 8, 2004 - 6 comments

Striping Guitars with Eddie Van Halen (in what appears to be his living room). More of his painted and unpainted guitars. Extra guitar geekiness: watch the evolution of Frankenstein.
posted by turbodog on Jul 13, 2004 - 59 comments

Little toys for big boys. With video too!
posted by xmattxfx on Jun 25, 2004 - 23 comments

The World Naked Bike Ride unfortunately took place yesterday, but is probably something worth doing next year. I imagine it's a lot like Critical Mass, with less driver anger and more rider embarrassment. Sounds like it was fun in Portland. (slightly NSFW photo on the front page of WNBR)
posted by mathowie on Jun 14, 2004 - 27 comments

The coolest thing I've heard of all year: Magicbikes (NYT registration required) "Mr. Gitman, an artist who is teaching a class at the Parsons School of Design in collaboration with Eyebeam, a media arts organization, intended the stunt to be a demonstration of his Magicbikes - ordinary bicycles rigged with networking gear that transforms them into wireless Internet access points, using the wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi, technology now built into many laptops. "
posted by lilboo on Dec 17, 2003 - 6 comments

Congress to bicyclists: get a car! A new transportation appropriations bill would eliminate $600 million of annual federal funding for "transportation enhancements" (more info here), such as bike paths and walkways, while increasing funding for highways. Is this a proper reflection of U.S. transportation habits, or just a scheme to deprive alternate transportation of much-needed funding?
posted by jdroth on Jul 23, 2003 - 20 comments

Wales and sports. I'd not put the two together, being from across the Atlantic. But, as we approach next weekend's Mountain Bike Bog Snorkeling Championship, I'm amazed the sport isn't better known in the States. Though, after reading about it from the 2000 Woman's champion, I think I'd rather participate in their horse racing marathon (there's a big bonus for crossing the finish before the horse) or bikeless bog snorkeling events. What sporting events are there where you're from that haven't yet gotten the world wide audience they deserve?
posted by bragadocchio on Jul 4, 2003 - 1 comment

Man exercises personal liberty to ride nearly naked. Within 2 months of the story he dies, likely falling off a cliff, after having been arrested for earlier for a lack of clothes. A tragedy. Who is willing to take his place? [Links from Jester69/#mefi]
posted by shepd on Jun 25, 2003 - 8 comments

Once again its Bike to Work Week (now) and Day (tomorrow). There are at least 40 reasons to ride to work. Obviously, riding a bicycle is good in many ways. This isn't just for out of shape Americans, either. Will you be out there on a bike tomorrow?
posted by john m on May 14, 2003 - 53 comments

I should have expected a country that largely dismisses cycling as a viable mode of transportation would fail to understand the subtlety of riding skills that ultimately led to their plonking a man on the moon.
You don't need to be a cyclist to enjoy the intelligent and generous breadth of content at BikeReader - A Rider's Digest.
posted by normy on Jan 17, 2003 - 8 comments

Dwagenheim through the Americas. Dwagenheim is an Alaska marine fisheries biologist riding his bike from Prudoe Bay, AK to Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina. Great stories and beautiful pictures.
posted by rotifer on Sep 6, 2002 - 3 comments

Bikes and cars don't mix. At least, according to the author of this column. As someone who cycles for fun and commuting, I was alternately amused by his anti-bike spewing and terrified that he's a case of road rage waiting to happen. Remind me never to bike in Pittsburgh.
posted by RakDaddy on Jul 24, 2002 - 77 comments

Zed's dead. It's a chopper, baby. I remember kids in the neighborhood making custom bikes. The choppers weren't the easiest to handle or most practical but they looked hella cool. Now they're selling for $2500US. Check out the showroom and the photo video gallery.
posted by suprfli on Dec 10, 2001 - 9 comments

Father's day is almost here, and I KNOW that I deserve a great gift for being such a good Dad!

Not buying it, are you? Neither are my kids, which is probably why I won't be getting one of these. Any other fathers out there with a wish list?
posted by Sal Amander on Jun 13, 2001 - 17 comments

I'm posting this link mainly so I have an excuse to discuss bike commuting. I recently started riding my bike to work. At first, I did it just to get into shape but I'm beginning to enjoy it for a number of other reasons. The sights, sounds, and smells (not always good, but still...) of the daily ride are much more pleasant than the daily stress of driving. Not to mention the whole "1 mile in a car emits 1 pound of noxious fumes" thing.

Do others ride to work? What are your experiences? Any good stories? Bad stories? How often do you get yelled at to "get out of the road?"
posted by bondcliff on May 17, 2001 - 44 comments