The Cycling Dude

From England to Australia By Bicycle: A Video, and Photo Odyssey

All over the world people tour by bicycle, one state, one nation, one continent at a time.

Some go further.

Many of these adventurers share their tales online, sometimes years after the journey took place, when they finally find the time, and resources, to do so.

The latest to be brought to my attention is the following:

Bike2Oz is the unfolding story of a young school teacher who convinced her partner to cycle with her from Oxford to Sydney.Rather than damage the climate by flying, they choose to pedal the 12,000km hopping on cargo ships to get across the oceans. They partied for car free day in Italy, dodged arrest in Iran, get groped in Pakistan and fall ill in India.
Watch the series and find out if their relationship (and the planet) survived the epic trip?

Kevin and Lowanna filmed their entire 12,000km cycle adventure across the UK, Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India,Singapore and finally Australia.

This journey was 8 years ago.

As they wrote:

As the effects of global warming grow, Government action decreases. We wanted to see the world while contributing as little as possible to its' destruction. We also wanted to search for solutions to the transport crisis and found the bicycle offered the best compromise. Both of us are very new to the virtues of the bicycle (having spent most of our lives on four wheels). We were excited to discover that cycling offers you the intimacy of a walk in the countryside combined with the ability to cover serious distances (at least fifty miles a day).

It is amazing how effortless cycling becomes when you swap the old '3 speed' for something designed for comfort

Not only did they record their adventure by video, but there is a blog, and photo collection, that shares the expedition in more detail.

The videos, and photos, are a stunning testiment to the beauty, and variety of the world they travelled, from the weather, roads, and cultures they encountered, to the health, and political dificulties they endured, and more.

What I truly enjoyed most were the wide variety of bicycles encountered in every country they passed through.

Agree, or disagree, about the issue of Global Warming, a visit with the story these travelers have to tell will be time well spent.

Bike2oz: Go Here first, then here for the 2500 photos, and more.

BIKE TRAILS: A Green Acres Theme Song Parody

BIKE TRAILS

Bike Trails are the place for me.
Car free pedaling is the life for me.
Miles of asphalt for me to travel.
Keep the freeway, just give me that cool gravel.

The Interstate is where I'd rather be.
I enjoy the speed you see.
I just adore that multi-lane heaven.
Honey I love you but give me Highway 67.

...The quiet.
...I don't buy it.
...Fresh air.
...Where?

You are my wife.
Good bye, gas guzzling life.
Bike Trails we are there.

With apologies to the folks responsible for the classic TV Show Green Acres.;-D

With Gas prices hitting $3.85 a gal. here, Santa Ana, and averaging $3.50 nationwide, will see more folks finding other ways to commute? ;-D

If you aren't into duets, I've got some other songs. ;-D

Copyright April 2008.

Three Songs Not on Lists of Best Music to Bicycle By?

David Fiedler, of the great Cycling Blog at About .Com, went on a long bike ride recently.

Listening to tunes, while cycling (Normally a no-no, he admits.), he began to wonder "what's on people's lists of best music to ride to?"

It is not surprising to discover that neither him, or his readers who responded to his question, have heard of these soon to be, maybe, possibly someday, classics...

The Bicyclist's Song

Bad Cyclist

I Love to Get on A Bike and Go, Go, Go!

Hee, hee! ;-D

***UPDATE - 4/21***

Make that 4 songs!

I wrote a new one! A duet!

BIKE TRAILS: A Green Acres Theme Song Parody ;-D

***END UPDATE***

Marie Claire Magazine Angers Cyclist

"Ghost Rider" Sweeney, of Bike Commuters Blog, reads womens magazines, but don't hold it against him. ;-D

The other day, I was flipping through the May 2008 issue of Marie Claire magazine, and I ran across something that got my blood boiling. On the last page there’s a column called “The Opinionated Guide to May”, and in that column is a photograph of a bicycle and the caption “Bike To Work Day, Friday May 16: Arrive at Work Day, Monday May 19“…implying that it is such a long, tedious effort to ride a bike to work that one shouldn’t even bother! At least, that’s the implication I’M reading into it!

So, angry as I was, I decided to fire off a letter to the editor.

His letter, and the 27, and counting, comments to his post, is well worth reading.

My commute is 11 miles one way, and it only takes me 60 min. when using a portion of the Santa Ana River to work during the day, and a bit more when riding home at night on the street the whole way, not 3 days. ;-D

***UPDATE - 4/22***

GHOST RIDER responded, yesterday, with the following comment:

Thanks for the "linkey", Kiril...

I just want to point out that there IS a better way to handle a grievance than the snarky, angry letter I sent out to Marie Claire. 

As many of the commenters to the original article suggested, rational discourse gets listened to more than anger.

Still, sometimes it feels good to lash out and get something off your chest!

***END UPDATE***

Is the Toughest Athlete in the World a Female Cyclist?

Sports Illustrated is convinced  the toughest is Tiger Woods.

I like Tiger, but I think the brave gal I read about this morning deserves consideration.

No, not Jill Homer... she only did the short route of The Iditarod Trail invitational, last month. ;-D

The long route is billed as “The World’s Longest Human Powered Winter Race,” and covers an area of over 1,100 miles in length.

Kathi Hirzinger-Merchant became the first woman to complete the longer race last month.

Hardly anyone in the Mainstream Media noticed. ;-D

As Craig Medred, of the Anchorage Daily News writes:

Iditarod and Yukon Quest champ Lance Mackey -- SI's No. 2 pick -- can certainly make a better claim to true, physical, tough-athlete status than Tiger, though there's no doubt that in any kind of human aerobic competition, Hirzinger-Merchant would hand Mackey his lunch.

Lance had his dogs to help him. Hirzinger-Merchant had only hubby, Bill, who, though he biked north with her, wasn't necessarily all that much help.

According to Craig the Event Website had this to say:

On their approach to Nome, Bill and Kathi faced "immense winds and cold temperatures. At one point, when they were protected from the constant wind, Kathi looked at the temperature and saw minus 30 degrees ... Bill described pushing the bikes at a 45 degree angle to prevent the wind from blowing the bikes away.

A 25 1/2 day journey... amazing!

The full article: Think mushing to Nome is tough? Try pedaling it.

A Tip of the Hat to Alaska Cyclist, and Journalist, Charles Bingham, who also sends word that the effort by the Sitka Bicycle Friendly Community Coalition to be recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Cyclists, has moved to the next step in March.

First came a proclamation by the City and Borough of Sitka that says that "Sitka is Bicycle Friendly", and committed the city to "an ongoing process of improvement upon the existing standards of cycling transportation infrastructure, education, encouragement, and enforcement."

According to the website the application has been turned in and they should learn its fate sometime this month. ;-D

PDF's of both the proclamation and the application, can be read here.

Tow, Tow, Tow Your Boat...By Bicycle

Larry Lagarde, of Ride This Bike, sends me a great heads up about a grand adventure in which bicycles are playing an important part:

A Canadian husband and wife team are going on a 6,500 km human powered expedition from Scotland through Europe to Turkey and onto Syria.

For transportation, they will use 2 row boats.

When they need to portage or if the seas are too dangerous, they'll tow the row boats with folding bikes and trailers that are otherwise stored on board.

The team is composed of National Geographic Adventurers of the Year Colin (the first person to circumnavigate the globe only by human power) and Julie Angus (the only woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean from mainland to mainland).

Starting from the northernmost tip of Scotland, the pair will row south in the open sea in two, custom built, single person row boats designed by Colin.

A unique component of the expedition is the School Rowed Trip, an interactive and free program that promotes physical activity by challenging school aged children to match Julie and Colin’s physical output.

Educators and students are invited to participate in the initiative and over 20,000 students are already involved.

Colin and Julie seek to inspire youth to embrace active living, environmental stewardship, and rediscover the outdoors.

By the way, the bicycles being used during the Rowed Trip are full size folding mountain bikes from RideTHISbike.com.

Colin is riding a flat black SwissBike LX.

Julie is riding a baby blue Montague CX.

The bike trailers have been specially fabricated by Tony's Trailers.

At the end of each day, the two rowboats will be lashed together into a catamaran using the frames from the bike trailers to form a platform for a tent.

The Official Website, with Journal Updates, and more, is ROWED TRIP: A Journey By Oar From Scotland To The Middle East.

Regular updates about the trip will also be available at RideTHISbike.com.

Wow! ;-D

Got A Hankering to Travel? 50 Bicycling Vacation Ideas

A while back I was given a heads-up about a link filled piece by Jessica Hupp, of TravelHacker:

If you’re an active person, you’re probably not satisfied with the regular vacation. Rather, you’re more likely to enjoy a trip that involves biking, hiking, and more. These vacations fit the bill, offering gorgeous views, fun activities, and plenty of open road.

Top 50 Biking Vacations.

Anyone with the funds to afford these trips will find a wide variety of choices.

Jill Homer's Tips for Cycling in the Snow

Jill Homer of Juneau, Alaska, raced in the 350 mile human-powered Iditarod.

The Iditarod Trail Invitational, in February, followed the same route used by the famous dog sled teams. ;-D

In one of a series of articles for NPR, in December, she shared her "Top 10 Tips for Biking in Snow".

1. Think surface area.

2. Fat is the new skinny.

3. There is no shame in walking.

4. When in doubt, let air out.

5. Learn your snow types.

6. Don't be disappointed when you fail to set a land-speed record.

7. All brakes are not created equal.

8. Re-lubricate and be free.

9. Stay away from moose tracks.

10. Stay away from dogs.

She writes interesting, and informative, paragraphs on each of these tips.

Jill wrote a Blog for NPR, from November thru March, about cycling in Alaska, and preparing for, and riding in, the race in February.

She also has a Blog, called Up in Alaska.

Oh, and here's a story about the woman to took a historic ride on the longer, 1100 mile, route. ;-D

A Tip of the Hat to Alaska Cyclist, and Journalist, Charles Bingham. ;-D

When Not Just ANY Cycling Shoe Will Do, Who Ya Gonna Call?

Well...hmm, that's a bit of a puzzle now ain't it? ;-D

So let's say you do a Google Search for "Detto Pietro Bicycle Shoes", and you get a selection of shops, and forums, in the mix of Top 12 results (The 1st two are sponsored, one sort of strangely.) out of just over 1300 to choose from...and you see a year old post by some website you never even heard of before come in at #11...

What do ya do?

Do ya head straight for the Forums, or check out this Cycling Dude thing because Google says it's about the History of Detto Pietro?

I don't know what the guy did, in what order, or why, except that he DID spend 27 minutes wandering around my blog, then left a comment to my last post, that I hear-by promote to post status, to share with the readership, in the hopes that someone out there will notice it, and be able to be of assistance to him in his search because I sure can't. ;-D

I'm looking for one or more pair of Detto Pietro, Milremo, or similar shoe in size 11.5 to 12.

They are the old style, of the 70's and 80's, with ventilation holes and without cleats.

Please let me know if you can help.

Thanks,

Stephen Jackson, of Virginia

stephen at tdsengineering.com

Okay, folks, an average of 225, or so, of you stop by each day so there has to be someone out there who can maybe help the guy out! ;-D

New Cycling Term Takes Lane on Wikipedia Highway

CYCLE CHIC:

A term that describes the culture of everyday cycling in fashionable clothes. It is generally associated with the utility cycling practised in cities such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Berne, Basle, Berlin, among others, where citizens practice a high level of bicycle usage. In many European cities, as well as cities in China and Japan, cycling is an everyday transport choice and many cyclists choose to wear their regular clothes, as opposed to outfits generally associated with cycle sport, such as bicycle shorts, gloves and shoes.

Apparetly this is an up and coming trend in cities that are putting money into bicycle friendly infrastructure and facilities.

Get this!

"Citizens are discovering that it is possible to ride in their normal clothes around town."

WOW! Who'd a Thunk it? ;-D

Wikipedia.

A Tip of the Hat to new BikeBlogger Riding Pretty!

A quick tour of her blog indicates that a wonderful new site from California has joined the ranks. ;-D

Riding Pretty is a Berkeley, CA., Cyclist who has designed some really cool Bike Helmet Slip-on Covers for the Ladies (Guys, too, eventually, hee, hee???). ;-D

Bent u een Fietser?

DO U BICYCLE?

Do YOU Bicycle?

Do you BICYCLE?

For over 5 years that question has been the one I've asked on this blog as I spread the word that The Cycling Dude is a place "Dedicated to the proposition that bike riding is good for you and fun", and has the stories, and links to resources, to prove it.

Yesterday I linked to a story, out of The Netherlands, and this morning I received an interesting e-mail from David Hembrow, of Hembro Cycling Holidays/Cycling Study Tours, that serves as an interesting follow-up:

Hi Kiril,

Thanks very much for posting about the Study Tour.

I really hope we can make a difference worldwide with this.

We visited here many times before we emigrated.

It's quite remarkable how this country can be so close to, and easy to visit from the UK, yet even from the UK there is hardly any understanding of what has been achieved in the Netherlands.

Given this, I think it's hardly surprising that it's also not well known in the US.

I sent out thousands of copies of the press release and I'm afraid I can't say for certain how I found your contact details.

I searched for blogs about cycling at one point, so I suspect that is where I found you.

The question on your website, "Do U Bicycle?", would translate into Dutch as "Bent u een fietser?".

However, it is effectively meaningless. Of course they cycle. Everyone cycles. They'd think you're asking if they race bicycles.

I've continued reading in Dutch (which I'm still learning) and English about what is going on here and of course I've kept riding around.

I'm still learning.

It's really remarkable how cycling has become so much a part of the Dutch culture. For instance, I read a few days ago that over three quarters of Dutch people take at least one cycling holiday each year.

Anyway, thank you for helping to get the message out.

As I'm sure you are aware, it's far from just the US which could learn from this.

I'd like to wake people up in the UK about how, despite the huge amounts of paperwork coming from the country where I was born, they're doing nothing useful at all, and in fact watching cycling continue to decline.

I really hope we manage to raise awareness a bit.

It's not just about cycling, but about society (people have to talk to each other when they cycle instead of drive and Dutch society is very peaceful as a result) and about freedom: there is no group in society here which doesn't have personal mobility and that includes children who are not reliant on having parents taxiing them around.

Yours,

David

If you haven't already, I encourage you to check out the articles, and videos, David shares on his sites, and on YouTube.

The videos, especially, are an eye-opener. ;-D

Equal Parenting Bike Trek 2008: A Journey for Children's Rights

Across the nation there are Cycling Events held for some Cause, or another, or no Cause at all, and there are individuals, and organizations taking Cycling Journeys for some Cause, or no Cause at all, as well.

This evening I received word from Robert Pedersen, of A Child's Right, concerningt Five Fathers about to pedal 758 mile for children’s rights, from Lansing, MI. to Washington DC, beginning in early August.

They aim to "raise awareness of a child's fundamental right to be loved, guided, educated and nurtured equally by both fit and willing parents of divorce.

From the time I was Nine, when my Father became mentally ill, I grew up without a Father in my life to help my Mother raise me, and my two sisters, andt we turned out reasonably well, if you ask me, hee, hee. ;-D

However, there are countless kids of divorce who grow up without the benefit of access to a willing parent who does not have custody of them.

I am doing my small part to publicize this issue by joining many others in spreading the word about this event.

The Website is Cycling4Children.com, and this post shares photos, videos, news stories, and more about the 2008 event, as does this one with regards to the 2007 ride (2007 Photos).

Other sites of interest:

DaddyBlogger.com has an extensive report on the 2008 National Fatherhood Summit with a ton of links to coverage.

Cycling Study Tours Offered by Brit Family Living in Netherlands

I recently received the following Press Release from Hembro Cycling Holidays/Cycling Study Tours, and let me say, up front, the resources they steer readers to are extensive, and interesting, and the many photos, and videos are a pure joy to look at, and will most likely make you extremely jealous and probably lead you to wonder why the hell can't the greatest nation in the world do some of this, too? ;-D

FACT GUARANTEED TO BLOW YOUR MIND: All Dutch railway stations seem to have thousands of bikes parked at them. ( Just watch the videos if you don't believe it. ;-D )

CYCLING STUDY TOUR

A Study Tour in the world's most cycle friendly country.

For transport professionals, politicians, campaigners and journalists.

There have been many words spoken about reducing CO2 emissions to tackle climate change, increasing the amount of exercise taken by the population to fight obesity and about the streets being made into places where people matter instead of motor vehicles. However, the English speaking world still does not invest sufficiently in truly sustainable transport. In fact, new infrastructure is still designed very much like the old infrastructure, emphasizing flow of motorized traffic above all else, reducing opportunities to take exercise as a part of everyday life, and decreasing the freedom of people to make use of the space outside their home. As a result, use of sustainable transport is low, obesity is growing and children are not given the freedom to get sufficient exercise.

Many countries seem to produce more words than action. Announcements of available money often sound substantial, but they're spread thinly and have low priority. Along with the lack of money there is the problem of a lack of vision about what good quality design for cyclists and pedestrians actually means. Low quality infrastructure makes the use of alternatives to the car unattractive.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Having made different policy decisions over many decades, the Dutch now travel travel by bicycle more often than by car. There is universal well designed infrastructure which makes cycling an appealing option for most people. As a result, most people cycle. Cyclists feel safe and their journeys are efficient and direct. Virtually all children cycle to school daily, incidence of obesity is comparatively low and reliance on fossil fuels is lower.

The Dutch are doing the right things and they have the results to prove it: More cycling, with a better safety record, than any other nation. Real, proven results, not just good intentions or hot air. Their success could and should be copied elsewhere.

Quick Facts:

In the entire Netherlands around 30% of all journeys are by bicycle. The second highest country is Denmark with around 14%. Most countries have under 2% of their journeys by bicycle, some fewer than 1%. Around 40% of journeys within Dutch cities are made by bicycle.

In the Netherlands, more journeys under 7.5 km / 5 miles are made by bicycle than by any other means.

In the Netherlands, older people are also mobile. Over 10% of cycle journeys are made by over 60s.

Virtually all Dutch school-children cycle to school.

Dutch cycle paths frequently offer shorter routes than the roads. They are smooth and well maintained. Dutch cyclists are not expected to share space with pedestrians, and the standard width for cycle only two direction paths is 4 metres ( 13 feet ).

Levels of public transport usage in the Netherlands are not much different than those in other countries. There is far greater potential for reduction in fossil fuel reliance by encouraging cycling than by subsidizing public transport. In addition it leads to a far greater cut in fuel usage and other benefits for society such as an increase in general health and a reduction in noise and fumes.

London recently announced its largest ever figure for walking and cycling: £500M. This sounds remarkable, and it's very welcome, but breaks down to a level of expenditure which is not particularly high by European standards. The sum is to be spread across several years. For instance, in 2008/2009, £62M is to be spent for both Walking and Cycling. Across London's 7.5M population this amounts to a little over £8 (approximately US$16) per person per year. Another European capital, Amsterdam, currently spends around €26 (approximately £20 or US$40) per person per year on cycling alone. Walking has a separate budget. Unlike UK cities, Dutch cities are not starting from nowhere. They have been spending this much for decades.

So what are we up to with our Study Tours?

Who are we ?

We are a British family who have lived and cycled in many parts of the UK including London, Cambridge, Somerset and Yorkshire. Our cycling experience includes commuting, shopping, tours with and without children, a little racing and even riding Land's End to John O'Groats (the entire length of Great Britain - 1700 km / 1100 miles).

We now live in the green city of Assen in the North of the Netherlands. Winters are cold here and headwinds are fierce, but the population of 63000 people nevertheless makes an average of 70000 cycle journeys per day. We make our share of those journeys.

What are we doing ?

We are organising Study Tours for all interested parties to show how much has been achieved in this country. We will be showing participants the result of design for people rather than for motorised vehicles. We will show the practical results of putting into action long term plans to achieve a more mobile and fitter society.

Over 3 full days we will show commuting routes, school routes, city centres, residential areas, links between villages and the design of new developments. All these were designed with cycling as a priority. We also have a presentation from local experts giving their rationale.

The cost of participating has been kept low in order that it will be accessible to as many people as possible.

Full details of the Study Tour, including photos and feedback from previous participants, can be found on our website:

The first Study Tour this year runs from the 13th to the 15th of May. This tour is now fully booked.

We are now taking bookings for the second Study Tour which runs from the 20th to the 22nd of May and soon will be taking bookings for the third Study Tour which runs from the 10th to the 12th of June.

References:

Articles in English about Dutch cycling policies

Photos:

Photos of Dutch cycling conditions.

Contact Details:

David and Judith Hembrow

E-MAIL: david at hembrow.eu

WEBSITE: Hembrow Cycling Holidays

***UPDATE - 4/7/08***

David Hembrow has sent me an interesting E-Mail in response to this post. ;-D

***END UPDATE***

Orange County Wheelmen Add Training Page to Website

The Orange County Wheelmen Cycling Club, hosts several of the best Cycling Events in Ca., every year, and have a very fine website.

Now it has added a new section to its site, a Training Page.

Front and center is an infromative article of interest to any member planning to do their very first Century ride.

There is a page of dates, times, locations, and miles of Training Rides, currently those for April, in preparation for the upcoming CINCO DE MAYO FIESTA 150 (100 mi. option, too!) - May 3 and 4.

There is another section of the website that has links to a series of training related articles in PDF format.

Non-Members are welcome on all Rides.

The Spring event, the 2008 SPRING CENTURY (103, 64 and 40 mile rides.) - March 29, has come and gone, but...

In the Summer and Fall, the events to look forward to are:

The World Famous RIDE AROUND THE BEAR! (100 mi.) -June 7

Amtrak Century (For over 30 years a great 1st Century Ride!) - Sept. 6

Fall Metric Century [Metric (64) or Half-metric (32) Centuries] - Oct. 25

Summer Cycling Event Celebrates 10 Years in Santa Cruz

The 10th Annual Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge is  Saturday, 26 July 2008, and once again I've been asked to spread the word.

The Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge is put on by The Santa Cruz County Cycling Club.  Proceeds from this annual event go to support the club’s bicycling education activities.

START: 6:30 – 8:30 AM

REGISTRATION:
  $45 early registration, $55 after 12 July 2008
  Registration closes on 21 July or when event is full – whichever comes first
  NO day of event registration
  Pre-registration the evening before the ride at the Scotts Valley Hilton – 5:30 to 7:30 PM

LOCATION: Scotts Valley High School
  555 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley, CA  95066

CONTACT: century@santacruzcycling.org

TWO CHALLENGING ROUTES:

The Century Challenge:  Ride some of the most scenic and challenging roads in the Western US while gaining over 11,000 feet in elevation (110+ feet per mile).  We start out with a Cat 2 climb on the famous Mt. Charley Road (roadbed was laid out in 1851) and moving on to other roads like Jamison Creek and E. Zayante.  Number of Category 1 climbs = 1; Cat 2 = 3; Cat 4 = 4.  Finishers surely have earned major bragging rights.

The Metric Century Challenge: The 65 mile route is by no means a wimp ride.  The course will cover many of the same roads as the full century.  With 7,800 feet in elevation gain, clearly a challenge for the most experienced riders.  Sharp switchbacks on steep descents will require alert technical riding.

FUEL:  Fantastic rest stops loaded with plenty of food and drink to keep you going.  Replenish your body at the end of the ride with a great gourmet burrito and ice cream.

EQUIPMENT:  Both routes require that riders have bikes and bodies in excellent shape, especially brakes and tires for a day on our mountain roads.  Layered clothes are a must with Santa Cruz's (usually) cool weather in the mornings and warmer daytime temps.   

BUZZ: $100 first-place prize each to the fastest man and women climbing Jamison Creek – 3 miles gaining 1,585’ in elevation (528’ per mile) starting at mile 46.

PARKING:  Scotts Valley High School - Please carpool if possible.

Bicycles, Cars, Traffic Circles: Can't We All Just Get Along?

As long time readers know I am not particularly enamored of Critical Mass, but I saw a video, this morning, that is very cool, and very funny.

Maybe it was the music, I don't know. ;-D

Traffic Circle Prank

Citizens Against Government Waste Finds fault with Cycling Pork

Citizens Against Government Waste(CAGW) has announced the release of the 2008 Congressional Pig Book. 

CAGW has been releasing the Pig Book as an expose of the wasteful pork-barrel spending by our leaders in Washington DC for 18 years now.

I scrolled thru the PDF version looking for anything Cycling related so you, dear reader, don't have to. ;-D

Please, Please, there's no need to thank me, honest! ;-D

1. A Project by Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-Mo.):  $551,250 for the Heart of America Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge.

Based on the pictures, and descriptions, here, this seems actually to be money that will be well spent since according to the website, as of 2005 "The Heart of America Bridge can accommodate experienced on-road bicyclists reasonably well in the northbound direction, but not in the southbound direction.

A. A mention in a 2006 article on the website of the Mid-America Regional Council in the Bicycle/Pedestrian Programs Section.

B. Missouri Bicycle Federation Advocacy from 2006.

2. A Project by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.): $686,000 for the Cambridge-Isanti Bike/Walk Trail.

After Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) unsuccessfully attempted in September, 2007 to pass a moratorium on earmarks in the wake of the 35Wbridge collapse in Minneapolis, Chairman Oberstar defended the Isanti Trail, saying “Eliminating important projects that promote tourism and recreational travel will not make up for years of underinvestment in our nation's infrastructure, it will just slow down other segments of the economy.”

A. In Dec. 2004 the Isanti County News wrote about the history of the project, and of Community questions and concerns.

B. Last Sept. the Congressman was only able get the okay for $250,000 in the House Version of a bill.

C. State Sen. Rick Olseen wrote, in October 2007, about "the local and federal partnership involved with the Cambridge-Isanti Bike/Walk Trail, which would increase transportation options in Isanti County, along with providing a safe opportunity for recreation."

D. The State Legislature, in Feb., posted "A bill for an act relating to capital improvements; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds; appropriating money to design and construct the Cambridge-Isanti Trail in Isanti County."

So some State Officials think the trail is a wise investment.

This project provides a safe non-motorized route for students to school, and residents and visitors to travel between the two cities, so what's the problem?.

There are no doubt many more such projects related to bicycling in the full version of the book, for every person who thinks the money is well spent, there are just as many, or more who disagree.

Considering the amount of true CRAP out there that our government officials, Democrat and Republican, from the local, to the county, state, and national level, spend taxpayers money on...I have no problem with much needed, worthwhile, cycling projects getting their share of the funds.

GM Stuns Cycling Industry: Becomes New Owner of Specialized

***UPDATE - 530PM***

APRIL FOOLS!!! ;-D

As one of the pranksters responsible writes me:

Well, the cat's out of the bag.

Specialized had a good laugh about it, but then they asked us to pull the story so we did.

They were getting overwhelmed with phone calls from dealers.

Thanks for posting that link, Kiril.!

Richard (aka Fritz), of Cyclicious

BikeBiz started getting e-mail, soon after posting, from folks around the world, all atwitter over the news. ;-D

The story linked in my original story, below (I was one of several BikeBloggers approached to help "report" the news of the original stories.), have been updated with details on those responsible, and reaction from Specialized, which found it very amusing, even as they found themselves swamped with phone calls from dealers expressing concern. ;-D

A trade news website was among those initially fooled, as reported (With a captured image, from a Google Search) by another conspirator, who shares links to some other spoofs, including cycling ones.

***END UPDATE***

General Motors announces it's taking over Specialized Bicycles!

Wow!

Being a proud, longtime, owner of a Specialized Sirrus Sport Hybrid Road Bicycle, this story caught my attention.

The boards of both companies apparently agreed to this on Friday, according to the report in the San Jose Business Journal.

The deal is expected to be completed later this year pending regulatory approval in the US, and elsewhere.

I found the following quote to be quite interesting:

"In light of global concerns about climate change, GM has been at the forefront in developing new transportation choices that limit our impact on the environment," said Flora Lopi, GM's vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. "GM's engineering, marketing and distribution expertise combined with Specialized's branding among cycling enthusiasts make this a winning combination for GM investors and consumers."

Just as interesting was the following by Specialized founder and president Mike Sinyard:

"All of us here at Specialized are thrilled to be a part of GM.

"Specialized will maintain commitment to the IBD as well as now being available across the nation in GM dealerships. These are quality retail outlets, not big box discounters. Specialized will never be available in mass merchants.

GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner sounds real gung ho about this, too, saying someting about "changing the way we address our transportation needs", and "leveraging the unique synergies of the bicycle community to introduce some of our ideas for addressing critical issues concerning energy, the environment and globalisation."

It will be interesting to see how industry, media, and ordinary folks reactions will play out in the coming days.

I'd love to hear from readers in the comments to this post as well.

Do you think this is a good move by the parties involved?

Is it good for bicycling ?

Along those lines...

There will apparently be a conference call with Specialized founder Mike Sinyard, and Robert Kruse, an Executive Director for GM's North American Engineering Staff, later today.

BikeBiz.com reports it will book a slot on the call:

If you have a question for Sinyard or the GM execs, leave a comment at BikeBiz and they promise to try to use some of the questions during the conference call, which starts at midday, US mountain time.