MetaFilter posts tagged with bicycle

Reasons to wear a helmet

Toekneesan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:54:41 -0800

The world's worst bike lanes according to readers of the Guardian. The Flickr group where readers submitted their candidates.

Safe Bike Routes Made Easy

netbros — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:19:05 -0800

Ride the City maps the best or safest urban bicycle route from point A to B. Presently featuring multi-lingual maps from New York, Chicago, Austin, Louisville, San Diego, and Seattle. Their blog posts updates about new cities added to the grid, or other topics relating to urban bicycling.

A wheel. You know... For kids!

ObscureReferenceMan — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:43:00 -0800

A better way to get kids to learn to ride - a single training wheel. The folks at bikecommuters.com liked it too. Available December 1.

Fear of Cycling

parudox — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:25:24 -0800

Fear of Cycling, an essay in five parts: introduction, constructing fear of cycling, helmet promotion campaigns, new cycling spaces, making cycling strange.

We live in the city of dreams, We drive on the highway of fire

Toekneesan — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:59:08 -0800

David Byrne has just published a new book about bicycles called Bicycle Diaries. A long time rider, Byrne muses on how the world looks and works from the vantage point of a cyclist. It's getting pretty good reviews. To launch the book, Byrne is touring the US and arranging public forums. Each event features a civic leader, an urban theorist, a bicycle advocate, and Byrne himself speaking about bikes in cities. Here’s a schedule of the upcoming events. He’s also designed some bike racks for his hometown of New York City. Special Bonus Links! Byrne's review of Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities by Jeff Mapes A map of Byrne's Bike Racks. A three part tour of Byrne's New York studio. David Byrne on the perfect city. (Previously)

To the edge of human endurance, and beyond

filthy light thief — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:52:09 -0800

Jure Robič raced on bicycles in his hometown in Slovenia, skilled enough to race with small Slovene teams but nothing professionally, supporting himself with a sales job for a bike-parts dealer. It was with the death of his mother in 1997 and his subsequent depression that Robič discovered his calling: ultra-endurance cycle races, in which he competes with a methodical madness. (1 page print version, via). About ten years ago, a friend of his suggested he train for the Crocodile Trophy in 1999. Robič finished third, with 2 stage wins. In October of 2001, Robič completed a 24 hour time trial and covered 803.5 km (499.3 miles), and also qualification for Race Across America (RAAM). A year later, he quit his job and volunteered to join the Slovene military, undergoing nine months of intensive combat training (he surprised his unit with his penchant for late-night training runs). He earned a coveted spot in the sports division, which exists solely to support the nation's top athletes. For Robič, the post meant a salary of 700 euros (about $850) a month and the freedom to train full time. Robič continued with cycle racing, and his results continued to climb, placing second in the Crocodile Trophy in 2001 and 2002, 3rd place in Race Across the Alps in 2002, covering 550km and a 13500 meter ascent in 23:39.33 (the winner, Paul Lindner, made it in 22:47.25). In 2003, he dominated the men's solo category of the Silberreiher-Trophy 24 hour race, covering 911 km in 23h 41 min. He set the official European record at 2004 Kraftwerk Trophy - Krems Austria 24h road race, getting 1st place for covering 974,4km in 24 hours. 2003 was the year Jure Robič placed 2nd in the Race Across America, traveling from the 2921.7 miles from San Diego, CA to Atlantic City, NJ in around 9 days, losing to Allen Larsen's time of 8 days 23 h 36 min. Robič went on to get first in RAAM in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008. In 2005, he also got first place in Le Tour Direct, which is also known as Tour de France in one stage and that name tells it all. Instead of tackling the route in sections, it's covered in one continuous go, all 4,022 km (2,500 miles) and 47,000 m (~140,000 feet) of climbing at once, first one there wins, whatever it takes. For Robič, that's a craziness of the most literal sort, and it's re-shaping the understanding of human limits. As told in the New York Times article linked above the break:

The craziness is methodical, however, and Robic and his crew know its pattern by heart. Around Day 2 of a typical weeklong race, his speech goes staccato. By Day 3, he is belligerent and sometimes paranoid. His short-term memory vanishes, and he weeps uncontrollably. The last days are marked by hallucinations: bears, wolves and aliens prowl the roadside; asphalt cracks rearrange themselves into coded messages. Occasionally, Robic leaps from his bike to square off with shadowy figures that turn out to be mailboxes. In a 2004 race, he turned to see himself pursued by a howling band of black-bearded men on horseback. ‘‘Mujahedeen, shooting at me,’’ he explains. ‘‘So I ride faster.’’ ... He is not always the fastest competitor (he often makes up ground by sleeping 90 minutes or less a day), nor does he possess any towering physiological gift. On rare occasions when he permits himself to be tested in a laboratory, his ability to produce power and transport oxygen ranks on a par with those of many other ultra-endurance athletes. He wins for the most fundamental of reasons: he refuses to stop.

Research into fatigue and exhaustion initially assumed that it was the muscles themselves that reached their limit, but more recent studies have shown mental fatigue can affect physical endurance, though the definition and sources for muscle fatigue are complex, making studies of fatigue complex to say the least.

To boost urban cycling, figure out what women want.

lunit — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:59:50 -0800

In part because a gender gap persists in urban cycling, women are considered an “indicator species” for bike-friendly cities. If you're interested in reading more about women and cycling, Jan Garrard at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia has a ton of publications available.

Super chilly and super tough 2D flash biking game

The Devil Tesla — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:15:09 -0800

Icycle is a flash game about a naked man, a bicycle, and the end of the world. Also death, lots and lots of death. Via Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

The Bicycle Diaries

Burhanistan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:26:07 -0800

The Bicycle Diaries - UK cyclist Douglas Whitehead rides from England to India. He just left Uzbekistan.

Conceptual bikes

madamjujujive — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:13:40 -0800

Putting heart and muscle into the term "bespoke," Josh Hadar creates hand-crafted metal sculptures that double as functional bikes. He describes his process in a recent interview with RocketBoom. Intrigued? A bicycle custom built to your whims could run from $12-$35k, or if you live in NYC, you can try your hand at welding and metal sculpting at his Burn Clinic. (via bioephemera)

Former Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant involved in death of Toronto cyclist

maudlin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:54:06 -0800

Late last night, a cyclist was killed in Toronto. "Ontario's former attorney general Michael Bryant ... will be charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous driving causing death, a police source tells the Globe, after a collision left a 33-year-old cyclist dead." Accounts vary, but the sequence appears to be 1) Some collision and argument between the cyclist and the driver; 2) The cyclist grabs the driver's door and hangs on (or he may have been caught on the car accidentally) while the Saab convertible drives on; 3) The car drives into the opposite lane, across a construction zone, and the cyclist is battered against mailboxes and light posts; 4) The cyclist falls under the car's back wheels and is killed. This map shows the path of the accident and includes links to picture and video. (What it doesn't show is how torn up by construction the area is, like much of downtown and midtown Toronto.) Witnesses describe what they saw at the scene. The cyclist has not yet been identified to the public. Feelings have already been running high in Toronto about the Toronto Bike Plan and what many motorists consider a War on Cars. A few weeks ago, a woman was killed by a teenager cycling on the sidewalk, but the cyclist was not charged. Coincidentally, a study based on Toronto accident statistics was recently released, showing that 90% of bicycle-car accidents are caused by clumsy or inattentive drivers, although these results have been disputed. And while traffic services has been cracking down on both driver and cyclist infractions this summer (and some Critical Massers seem to agree that sidewalk cycling should be cracked down on), some people think cyclists are getting treated with kid gloves, that they shouldn't be on anything but residential roads, and that no more money should be spent on cycling infrastructure. Catch a taste of non-CBC Canadian talk radio here (live streaming here.) Meanwhile, I suspect another ghost bike is being prepared.

See, you want to go fast and not crash...

schyler523 — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:30:41 -0800

Can't Wait for Friday Flash Fun: Cyclomaniacs is a bicycle racing game. Pretty self explanatory (GO FAST AND SPIN A LOT!) and fun.

+fixie -hipster

unSane — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:10:11 -0800

Two girls, one bike. SLYT, SFW. One bike starts at 2'25".

Freakanomics on used bike prices

fixedgear — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:10:37 -0800

Bicycle Inflation in Paradise? Freakanomics looks at used bike prices in Portland. Interesting reading.

Flying pigeon run over by Buick

concreteforest — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:30:23 -0800

With a forecast of 20 percent growth in sales throughout 2009, China is a fascinating example of a society grappling with the effects that the automobile brings. Personally, I'd stick with bikes for the city, guys - it seems more fun.

Pooh pooh

Blazecock Pileon — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:20:10 -0800

Bicycle Snobbery - whether "mustache handlebars", silly tattoos, "mankinis" or other male cycling fashion statements, brass knuckle bicycle grips or celebrity brokeback pie-plates, NYC's Bike Snob casts judgment on all he surveys from one high gear

Vélo + Couture = Bikes + Fashion

dersins — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:36:25 -0800

The Vélocouture flickr pool. Over 1600 photos of stylish (and, uh, "differently-styled") bike fashion, from the hipster to the formal, the casual, the young, the old old-timey, the new old-timey, and much, much more. There's also a blog.

Kiss the cobbles

tellurian — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:31:38 -0800

The Paris-Roubaix is about to start. With an average of two punctures and one prang per competitor this a an exciting bike race.

Complete Streets

aniola — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:47:57 -0800

COMPLETE STREETS are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and bus riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street. Senator Tom Harkin (IA) and Representative Doris Matsui (CA-5) have introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2009 into the US Senate (S. 584) and House (H.R. 1443), to ensure that federal transportation infrastructure investments provide safe travel for Americans whether they are driving, bicycling, walking, or taking public transportation. They were joined by original co-sponsors Sen. Tom Carper (DE), Rep. Ellen Tauscher (CA-10), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14), and Rep. David Wu (OR-1). Check out press releases from the Coalition (pdf), from Congresswoman Matsui, or from Senator Harkin for more information. Blog posts at The Infrastructurist and the Transportation For America campaign explain how the bills relate to the recent economic recovery package and the impact they could have across the country. Johnathan A. Schein wrote about the bills in The Huffington Post, saying the "many economic and climate rationales behind Complete Street policies" make it "obvious that swift passage of The Complete Streets Act would greatly benefit our nation's general health."

Didi Senft keeps it Real

rageagainsttherobots — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:44:25 -0800

Bike fanatic Didi Senft, who's been building crazy cycles for years, shows off his latest "angular" bikes.

I've been from state to state, followers tailgate

cashman — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:31:13 -0800

Journalist Jill Homer writes about and takes media of snow cycling Up in Alaska. Now deputy managing editor of the Juneau Empire, she has written for NPR about being a snow cyclist. From the first cycle tour she went on in 2002 to recently when Jill said "If I don't die or worse, I'm gonna need a nap.", there is no shortage of pictures and video and accounts of scenic places encountered via cycle along the way, all over the country. There are a wealth of stories to read and pictures to look at while you sit out Winter in your home. While her current blog is active, the archive of her previous site is kind of jagged - here is somewhat of an index of that content. Over the Rocky Mountains. Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri. Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio. Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York. Colorado. Utah. Through BC to Alaska. A Realization of the American West: Childhood images of America become a reality. Over the Top: Exhausted cyclists find joy in conquering the Continental Divide. The Stages of Bicycle Touring: Long-distance riding is a progression of steps. Finding Comfort on the Prairie: Adjusting to the ever-changing landscape. Leaving My Comfort Zone: The reasons why cycle tourists travel by bike. Unspoken Divide: At 10 mph, the country becomes enormous. A Definition: Bicycle touring is everything but a once-in- a-lifetime experience. "Rules" of Touring: A few things for bike-packers to remember. Why Bike? Musings on an unconventioneal mode of travel. Leaving Cortez: Simple luxuries of getting away from the city. Art of Camping in a Ditch Making the most of where you stay. Getting Away from the Pack The difference between road bikers and tourists. The Bare Necessities What to take on a long-distance bike tour. Pure Will: Why cycle tourists can keep on riding. The Wasteland Take a ride through an urban ghost town.

The Bicyce Thief

fixedgear — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:48:58 -0800

someonestolemybike.com Videos of folks who have had bikes stolen. Kristy chased the thief down and got hers back.

The Lure of the Open Road

Fuzzy Skinner — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 10:39:43 -0800

Wartime wandering through the Eastern states by bicycle, truck, and riverboat. 1944.

In 1944, a dear friend, Doris Roy, and I undertook an adventurous journey that we dreamed of during countless hikes together over our college holidays. We had been Camp Fire Girls together, loving the out-of-doors, camping and hiking the open road. Our dreams finally developed into a plan to ride bicycles from our home in Buffalo, New York, to Cairo, Illinois, where the Ohio River met the Mississippi. We admired Mark Twain’s adventures, had read his Life on the Mississippi, and sought to follow his path to the Midwest. We were 21 years old...

When Borrowing to Save Actually Makes Sense

Toekneesan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:03:17 -0800

Portland's got white ones, Austin has yellow ones, Vassar has them in pink. What are they? Community bikes. Colleges, universities, even whole cities are seeing the benefits of offering their students and citizens an alternative to cars, fossil fuels, and parking lots. Want to start a shared bike program in your community? Here's how. (previously)

Around the Country in 121 Days

netbros — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:07:47 -0800

62 year old emergency physician John Hall and his wife Jane took off on a Bike Ride Around America to promote cancer awareness. They started on April Fool's Day, and completed their 12,000 mile journey around the perimeter of the country just today. Along the way they encountered hundreds of towns and thousands of friendly people, and a few not so nice. All in all, a pretty amazing accomplishment in my book.