MetaFilter posts tagged with bikes and cycling

The first issue of The Ride Journal as PDF

You Should See the Other Guy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:03:33 -0800

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.

Bike vs. Cars War

nometa — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:39:24 -0800

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.

To Cape Town..

fire&wings — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:55:49 -0800

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. His "Long Ride Home" a 3 year cycle journey from Japan to England saw him cover over 48,000km unsupported and largely alone. Along the way he had his bike stolen by a crazy Nepalese butcher, lost half his belongings down a gorge in Tajikistan, had a run in with Iranian shepherds, and sneaked across Tibet, before being caught, fined and sent back. Of course, he cycled on. The Long Ride Home produced some very special photography (some collected highlights here and here, as well as images of Camping Wild and of his bike) and his latest adventure down through Europe and into Africa promises more of the same. You can follow him on his blog, Flickr stream, and on Twitter.

If it ain't broke, fix it.

You Should See the Other Guy — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:51:09 -0800

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).

Ian Hibell, cyclist.

chinston — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:33:14 -0800

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”. A page on Ian Hibell, set up by a friend, is here, with pages on Hibell's bikes and earlier trips to Indonesia and Peru, and his companion, Laura. Another fine example of the English art of the obituary is here. Hibell's memoir, Into the Remote, is out of print, at least in the United States.

History of Sturmey-Archer

Rafaelloello — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:51:20 -0800

Hubba, Hubba, Hubba A great pictorial history of the Sturmey-Archer company. There's even a fixed gear three speed hub in the works for you young whipper-snappers

The Bicycle Tutor

Effigy2000 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:46:01 -0800

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]

Bicycles + Coffee, Together Forever

bassjump — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:07:02 -0800

The Love Affair of Bicycles and Coffee. Also: Coffee Bikes. Coffee Delivery by Bike. Bike-Coffee Love Affairs. And the Coffee-Bike Project. Previously.

That's a lot of miles

mathowie — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 20:19:39 -0800

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.

BikeTown

RockyChrysler — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 14:43:23 -0800

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...

I Want To Ride It Where I Like

fandango_matt — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 21:39:11 -0800

Moving By Bicycle. "I've moved several times entirely by bicycle. I've hauled huge things, including couches and washing machines."

As seen on the sidewalk, bien sûr

Dick Paris — Mon, 30 Aug 2004 15:56:29 -0800

And the training wheels would go where, exactly, on the Sideways Bike?

HardSeatForHardAsses

srboisvert — Sun, 08 Aug 2004 08:08:16 -0800

Stone Cold Saddles for hard ass cyclists.

bicycling in the bog

bragadocchio — Fri, 04 Jul 2003 11:03:02 -0800

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?

Man dies naked

shepd — Wed, 25 Jun 2003 21:09:49 -0800

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]

Bike to Work Week/Day

john m — Wed, 14 May 2003 16:06:36 -0800

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?

A Riders Digest

normy — Fri, 17 Jan 2003 07:39:47 -0800

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.

rotifer — Fri, 06 Sep 2002 14:41:28 -0800

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.

suprfli — Mon, 10 Dec 2001 13:42:08 -0800

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.

bondcliff — Thu, 17 May 2001 09:40:55 -0800

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?"