satélite

Satélite, by Chilean artist Iván Navarro, was the entrance piece for the exhibition Fantasmatic, in Santiago’s Museo Artes Visuales.

Based on this and the February 15th entry, velodromo, you have two guesses where I’ve been recently.

bicycle lift for roof rack

When I first saw this, I thought it unnecessary. But as I watched the video and thought it through, I reconsidered. Something like this lift assitant makes using a roof rack possible for people under 6ft or without the upperbody strength to lift your 50lb downhill rig on top of your car.

I remembered conversations with friends who have commented that they would never be able to use a roof rack. I don’t know what this lift costs, but it looks like a simple lever system that DIY-minded folks could figure out. Nice idea.

The Outspokin’ Cyclist: Drivers, bikers must share responsibility for safety

Phillip Barron
The Herald Sun
February 23, 2006

DURHAM — Some in the Triangle suggest that recent bicycle-related fatalities, one in November and another in January, highlight the inherent dangers of cycling. There is an undeniable risk to cycling in traffic, but more soundly these deaths serve as a reminder that the privilege of driving an automobile and the right to ride a bike on North Carolina’s roadways are each coupled with corollary responsibilities. Those responsibilities have to do with safety.

Sometimes accidents happen. The very nature of the word ‘accident’ suggests two things: first, it suggests that no one is at fault, and second it suggests that these unfortunate incidents are unavoidable.

When you look at statistics, fatal bike accidents don’t happen too often. Although every year Durham county sees an average twenty-eight bicycle accidents involving automobiles, rarely is there more than one fatality per year. Nevertheless, one is too manyfor me.

So while it might be the case that (actual, unavoidable) accidents happen, it might also be useful for us to believe that all accidents are preventable, whether or not this is strictly true. That is, if thinking that accidents are avoidable leads us to adopt better habits (while driving or riding), to don more safety gear, or to be more patient on the road, we might all share the road with more confidence and respect for our fellow travelers.

And that may make the roads safer places for you to be, whether you’re in the driver’s seat, in the passenger seat, or on the saddle.

For a cyclist, safety begins with what we wear.

Growing up, at some point you probably reached an age when you wanted to take the factory-issued reflectors off your bike. That illuminescent red disk on the back of your seat post might slow you down, or the clear reflective mis-shapen rectangles claspingyour spokes might off-set the balance of your wheels so you argued with your parents, anyway. Really, you took them off because they weren’t cool.

Cool or not, reflectors are an inexpensive way to make your bike more visible on low-light or night time rides. If you have to ride in the dark, and many commuter cyclists do, then your number-one concern is making yourself visible. Think about putting those reflectors back on your bike. Reflectors don’t weigh much and don’t require batteries to light you up as you cruise down the road. If you gave them to the kid next door, you can pick up a set of new ones at your local bike shop for about $10.

Bright orange reflective vests ($15), with neon orange mesh and safety-yellow reflective strips, brighten up your torso. But keep in mind that a vest won’t do much good if you wear a backpack.

The local bike shop is also your source for bike-specific headlights and tail lights. Not only are adequate lights (front and rear) required by N.C. state law, they really do make a difference in your ride.

Geoff Martin of the Bicycle Chain thinks that the single most important piece of safety equipment a bicycle commuter can have is a blinking tail light. Whereas reflectors work only when a beam of light hits them, the battery powered, blinking LEDs scream I’m here, I’m on the road too all the time. This means that even before a car’s headlights shine on you, a good blinkie can be seen from a hundred yards away.

LEDs, the light emitting diodes that most blinkies are based on, require very little power, so the batteries powering them seem to last forever. However, if you ride in the dark often you may want to consider investing in a set of rechargeable batteries and a charger. Recharging your own batteries produces far less waste than relying on disposable ones, and it ends up saving you money in the long run.

When looking for a blinking light or other commuter accessories for your bike, look for components made by Planet Bike. Planet Bike makes a range of quality add-on products for your bike from fenders to lights to speedometers and donates 25% of their profits to bike advocacy organizations. They sell blinking red tail lights and blinking white handlebar-mounted lights for $15 each.

LEDs have made their way into headlights as well, and there are more than a few models to choose from at your local bike shop. Cateye makes a headlight ($40) that throws a beam more than twenty-five feet in front of you; its mounting system stays with the light, so you can easily move the light to another bike or reposition it to a better spot on your handlebars.

Finally, although not required by state law, wearing a helmet is never a bad idea. Helmets start at $40 and the prices climb pretty steep. Differences in price have mostly to do with the aerodynamics and comfort features integrated into the helmet. Which ever style you’re most comfortable with, just make sure your helmet is ANSI certified.

For more ideas on how to ride safely on the road or just to caffeinate on your way to work, stop by Mad Hatter’s Café and Bakery tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of Durham’s Bicyclist Breakfast.

–
Bikers Breakfast
7:30 9AM, drop-in
Mad Hatters Café and Bakery
1802 W. Main St.

weekly ATT night ride


(last week’s crew)

American Tobacco Trail
Thurday night rides, January 26 - April 6

No Drop Group Ride — Rain or Clear Skies

Who: Cyclocross/Mountain Bikes/Road Bikes. All fitness levels.
Where: Meet at the Bicycle Chain in Durham (639 Broad St)
When: Roll out of the shop by 7:45pm. Ride distance varies.
What to bring: Flashing tail light, headlight, spare tube, pump

More information? Contact Danielle


(Allen trackstands in the parking garage at Corcoran and Ramseur)

flexible fenders


Planet Bike claims their Freddy Fenders are made of “Superflex™ unbreakable all-weather polycarbonate.” I’ll say they’re unbreakable. I rode through one of the construction-related gaping holes in Main St. on my way to work yesterday morning, and the rear fender clip popped off the frame. The fender started swaying left and right, then grabbed my pants leg. Because my bike is fixed, I couldn’t stop pedaling. My left foot quickly pulled the fender back, bending it, and pushed it into the spokes of the rear wheel.

By the time I was able to stop, the fender was nearly doubled back and clicking on each passing spoke. I was able to pull the fender out, and it instantly popped back into its normal shape. I rotated the support hardware along the wheel, and the fender easily clipped back to the frame. All told, it took less than 20 seconds to fix — but still, I’d like to figure out why it happened in the first place.

April Fools goodness

With beautiful concept creations like these already out there, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this year’s April Fools jokes.

Unfortunately, Specialized really has no plans to develop the Venom line promoted here. The Scorpion looks like it would be a fun commuter bike. It’s already got fenders… it might be difficult to hang some panniers from the rear, however.

Bull City Bikers: Danielle Newton

February’s Bull City Biker is Danielle Newton (27), a local mountain bike racer who’s originally from California. Not afraid of the dark, she’s the organizer of this winter’s weekly night ride on the American Tobacco Trail.

What’s your primary flavor of riding?
I’m a mountain biker at heart. I was a tomboy growing up, and I guess I still kind of am. I crave dirt, logs, roots and the sound of leaves crunching under my tires. But I spend a lot of time training for cross country mountain bike races by riding my cyclocross bike on the fire roads at Umstead State Park and the Duke Forest. I sometimes ride on the road, but it’s not nearly as much fun as ripping through tight singletrack and riding over a log pyramid! I also sometimes ride my bike to coach my swim team, and I will do more of that once the weather warms up.

What’s the length and frequency of your average ride?
In the middle of my race season last year, I rode 4-5 days a week — most rides were about 2 hours. Right now, I’m in my base building period, so I’m just riding for fun with no real schedule. I’m not using a heart rate monitor, and I’m trying to learn how to climb at a moderate pace, because I’m a pedal-masher freak when it comes to climbing!

Why did you start riding and why do you still ride?
I’ve always enjoyed riding, but I didn’t get serious about it until my parents bought me a new bike after I graduated high school in 1996. I was 17 years old, craving solo adventure and just something bigger than I’d ever done before. I remember my first big ride - I rode from Dixon to Vacaville (in Northern California, where I’m from) and back in a couple of hours. My Mom yelled at me when I got back home, said it wasn’t safe for a young woman to ride that far by herself.

A couple of months later, I was a freshman in college at Chico State University, riding all over, exploring every nook and cranny of that beautiful town. And my Mom couldn’t stop me! Heck, I couldn’t stop myself! I’d ride through Bidwell Park, see a trail go off into the woods, and I’d take it wondering where it would end up. Before I knew it, I was a full-blown mountain biker and cycling enthusiast.

I rode everywhere - to classes, to work, to the library. I joined the Chico State Cycling Team my sophomore year and raced a ton from 1997-2000. I’m still riding and racing after all these years because it’s so much fun. There’s nothing more fun than getting out in nature, feeling the wind on my face as my heart beats out of my chest on a gnarly climb. It’s just plain FUN — that’s why I ride.

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve seen while out for a ride?
For about a year after September 11th, whenever I’d ride my bike from Sausalito to San Francisco going over the Golden Gate Bridge, I’d have to ride past fully armed National Guardsmen on bridge watch. When I’d stop in the middle of the bridge to look out at the ships coming into the Bay, I could feel their eyes on me, as if they were sure I was going to reach into my Camelback and pull out a bomb or something. I understood why they had to be there, but it sure did give me the heebie-jeebies.

Speaking of guns and arms, I do remember seeing a real skeleton posed with an AK-47, complete with rounds hanging off it, in someone’s front yard. I was way out in the middle of nowhere, near Pescadero, CA. I guess that was their way of saying, “No Trespassing“.

How would your world be different if you wake up tomorrow and there are no more cars?
I’d have to ride to work, back and forth 2 times a day, because I work a few hours in the morning and few hours in the evening. I’d also have to build up a “townie” bike with a big basket on the front, for getting groceries and stuff. I wouldn’t get flipped the bird, honked at or have to breathe exhaust fumes during my rides into work. I’d have to leave for the Tsali race a week in advance, in order to ride there and not be too tired to race by the time I got there. Come to think of it, this all sounds like fun! When’s this gonna happen?

What’s one thing Durham could do to become more bike friendly?
Durham needs to expand its open space greenway trails to include some that go from the east side of town to downtown.

Danielle’s stable of bikes includes a 2006 Marin Mill Valley cyclocross bike, a 2005 Marin Mount Vision Pro full suspension race bike, and a 2002 Marin Team Issue hardtail race bike. Does she like Marin? I’d say so.

(Danielle, on a recent night ride, demonstrates her trademark dismount.)

velodromo

Argentina’s national velodrome, in Palermo Park, Buenos Aires

Mountain bike tour of Oaxaca, Mexico offered this fall

Andy Bohlmann over at Sand Creek Sports (based in Colorado Springs, CO) is organizing a guided mountain bike tour of Oaxaca, Mexico this September. The state of Oaxaca extends from Mexico’s southern-most Pacifc coastline (where Puerto Escondido is known as the Mexican Pipeline, drawing surfers from around the world) to the peaks of the Sierra Madres. The elevation changes make for some incredible mountain biking, and a 15 day tour of the state is sure to hit some of Mexico’s best singletrack.

The Sand Creek Sports tour will be led by Pedro Martinez, former cycling world champion and member of the Mexican national mountain bike team, who lives in Oaxaca. I was lucky enough to visit Oaxaca this past summer, and while I was there, I rented a bike from Sr. Martinez — an extremely nice guy with a shop full of quality mountain bikes.

For more information about the tours, check out the Sand Creek Sports website or contact Andy Bohlmann.

traffic calming

Click the image to see a video of an innovative, experimental traffic calming technique being used in the U.K. Notice everyone, including the cyclists, makes it through the intersection safely. I hope that soon we can implement some of these in Durham.


First noticed over at goclipless.com

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