The Cycling Dude

Catch and Release Not Just an Angler Thing, and Other Cycling Terms

Catch and Release: A method of Recreational Bicycling in which the fast traveling Bicyclist immediately puts the slower cyclist he/she has caught up with back into the saddle and returns it to the road/trail on which it was caught.

Other Definitions:

Bicyclist/Cyclist: A person, male or female, who bicycles.

Bicycling Slow Species: A species that thrives in abundance and diversity, threatening the mental stability of some fellow cyclists, and many motorists by their conscious choice to take things slow and easy while out and about riding their trusty steed for recreational use. (See Catch and Release)

Ecosystem: A dynamic complex of concrete, dirt, gravel, motoring, and non-motoring, animal, and human communities and their non-living environment interacting in seperate, or interconnected ways.

Exotic: A species that is not native to a Motoring Environment, but is often encountered in certain Cycling Environments.

Most often associated with humans traveling on foot, and frequently encountered walking or jogging, with Noise Providing Devices (NPD's) attached to their heads, walking one or more Canines, of various shapes, and sizes, or while pushing strange single, or multiple, occupancy vehicles designed to transport their very young from one location to another until they are able to do so safely under their own power (Sometimes these particular Exotics also have an NPD on their heads) .

All of these could be ecountered while wearing special shoes with wheels that allow them to propel themselves faster than normal foot propulsion allows.

Lout: Non-vulgar variation of name (Hey, I'm trying to shield the kiddies reading this!) given to all species of cyclists by those they share an environment with but who think they should not do so for various reasons only understood by them.

Cutthroat Lout: Same as above but specific to that species of cyclist that runs in packs.

Native Bicycling/Cycling Species:The Human Recreationalist who utilizes the Bicycle, and its various related cycling kin, on bike lanes, paved, and un-paved trails, or even regular streets where the law allows for them to be.

Mountain Mud Human: A species of daring, some say unhinged, Human Recreationalist in the Bicycling Family. A native of many  mountain trails, Mountain Mud Humans are an often spandexed, generally seat-of-their-pants, breed of cyclist that lives for adventure, and danger.

Scientific name: Propulsium Nutso.

Whirling Disease: Name given to what happens when a cyclists steed has a flat or other mechanical breakdown, or the cyclist hits a bump, or hole in the road, or trail, collides with a fellow cyclist, or otherwise has one of those moments when he/she becomes separated from their trusty steed, and creatively impacts the road.

Not to be confused with a similar Disease related to encounters with Motor Vehicles, the whirling Disease was first introduced in Europe in the early 19th century, moments after the invention of the prototype early bicycle-like vehicle, and it was given its first test run, and has spread around the world ever since.

Scientific name: Ouchulus Thatsgonnaleaveamarkalis.

(A Tip of the Hat to reader Not Slow Joe, for the video that inspired this post!)

Serfas Bicycle Swap Meet Set for Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca.

Yesterday I got late word of a Bicycle Swap Meet to be held here in the South of Orange County.

The Serfas Company has its Headquarters in Rancho Santa Maragita, and for 14 years it has been known in the Cycling Industry for its variety of quality, innovative, products, including Saddles, Shorts, Gloves, Saddle Bags, Computers, Pumps, Tires, Lights, and Spectacles.

James Thomas sent me the following Press Release:

There will be a Bicycle Swap Meet, hosted by Serfas 29752 Avenida De Las Banderas Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. 92688 on December 6 2008 from 8am – 2pm.

Open to the public and admission is Free.

Download swapmeet_flyer.pdf

Everyone is invited to participate in the swap: Dealers, Reps, Distributors, Friends, Family, etc.

We would encourage anyone that wants to Buy, Sell, or Trade bicycles and bicycle accessories to attend.

We already have participation confirmation from the following: Serfas, Profile Design, Bellwether, Titec, Vigor Helmets, Intense BMX, THE, Rock N Road Cyclery, and Ladera Cyclery and many other independent sellers. 

Booth space is limited so please RSVP to James Thomas 800-424-0047 or jamest@serfas.com by 11/26/08 if you plan on selling merchandise.

James Thomas

Serfas Inc. and SerfasOptics

P.800-424-0047 F.800-825-9641 jamest@serfas.com

I asked James how he learned of little ol' me, and this is what he wrote:

I found your site through word of mouth.

I asked around the office for local blogs and one of our sales guys said he checks your site regularly.

I really like your site, it seems pretty informative.

I especially like the “Oldest shops in the country and the world” stores, and List.

In the soon to be 6 years of the existence of this blog (As of the 1st week of January!) I've never been sure just how much, or how varied, an audience I have, especially locally, or in SoCal as a whole, but from time to time, I get e-mails, tips, and event alerts from folks in the industry, and that is very cool indeed.

This has not been the best of years for me, for opportunities to go on my bike riding adventures, or for BikeBlogging, and I hope to do better next year, but I am glad that folks are still getting something worthwhile from my efforts.

With 2 weeks to go before the Swap Meet I hope some of my fellow SoCal Cyclists learn of the event through this post, and can attend.

British Insurance Company Plugs Bicycling, and Bike Security

Well, this is interesting.

In Great Britain...

As a result of the current economic climate, many people are looking to save money by using bicycles to get to work as opposed to cars or public transport. Sainsbury's Home Insurance research has found that 12% of the British workforce, around 3.3 million people, have recently started doing this.

The findings reveal that cycling to work is on average saving people around £33.70 a week or collectively up to £111.2 million. As well as saving money there is of course an added benefit to their personal fitness and the environment.

Interestingly, Sainsbury's Home Insurance research reveals that men make up a larger proportion of the new cycling community. Some 15% of the male working population have decided to start commuting to work by bicycle in an effort to save money in the current economic climate, opposed to a much smaller 8% of women who are working.

The company says, yeah, this is all fine and dandy, blokes, but are y'all considering the security of your new vehicle?

According to statistics over 1,200 bicycles are stolen in Britain every day.

Advising readers on how to protect their bikes takes up the rest of the article and Sainsbury no doubt hopes you then decide to get your insurance from them so they can get their share of British workers income, too, it seems. ;-D

The Daily Mail noticed the stats, and the comments to this story, though few, provide a mixed reaction.

Bummed No More! Bumstead's Online Again, Prepares for 100th!

In February 2005, I was disappointed to learn that the Oldest Bicycle Shop in SoCal, and possibly West of the Mississippi River, as well, had lost its prescence online, though I was assured it would someday return.

Someday is here.

While it is in the form of a Blog, for now, I hear there are big plans ahead for 2009.

I grew up in the Inland Empire, between La Verne and Rancho Cucamonga, from 1960 to 2002, and my 2 favorite Bike Shops just happened to be the 2 oldest in the region. ;-D

I only went to Bumstead's a few times, over the years, favoring its younger competitor, since it was closer to home, but I could count on quality, in service, and product from them when I did go.

Anyway, the still, very much, developing Blog, run by industry insider, and cycling author, Randy Kirk (More on him in a future post.), has 3 entries so far, that introduce 2 generations of Bumstead's, and a bit of Company/Family History, to the visitor.

Lloyd is the 4th Generation to run this shop, based in Ontario, Ca., and there is something very special about that fact:

One of the oldest bicycle shops in America, and possibly the oldest continuously owned by one family, Bumstead's Bicycles opened its doors in 1909.

On the verge of closing some 20 years ago, Lloyd Bumstead, the forth generation owner, changed career paths and decided to keep the shop in family hands.

His son, and/or daughter, representing the 5th generation, may eventually follow in his footsteps, but for now, the son, Garrison spends some time working there.

There is a nice little 4 min. video of Lloyd walking around the shop talking up the merchandise, and another of Garrison giving a 1 min. plug for one of their top selling Bike Models.

Some folks assume that Corporate always equals Quality, and that small, and non-fancy, should be steered clear of.

Well, they are often wrong, as far as I'm concerned.

The stores I went to in my youth were, and still are, "1 Shop Wonders", but I mean that in a good way.

You want product, they got it.

You want excellent repair work, they provide it.

You want knowledgeable, friendly, owners, and employees, who often know generations of their customers, and are involved with the community?

Well, you get the picture.

Family run shops, and small shops with decades invested in their communities, attract a loyal following who keep coming back for more (Even if they do occasionally backslide, from time to time, for some reason or another, and sneak off elsewhere.), and this somehow enables the small shops to survive having bigger competitors in the region, and sometimes seeing those competitors die out.

Here's to the return of an Online Prescence for Bumstead's, and to an honored place in my List of Elder Statesmen in the sidebar, and I hope this early Birthday Present of a plug encourages the continued growth of that face to the world, in their 100th year! ;-D

New Specialized Concept Store to open in Palos Verdes

In the words of the Press Release:

PV Bicycle Center was already arguably the best bike retailer in the entire South Bay area of Los Angeles. Well known for having a state-of-the-art Specialized certified professional bicycle fitting studio, enthusiasts are more than willing to take the scenic trip up Hawthorne Blvd to visit with proprietor Steve Bowen and talk about the racing or touring scene.

Yeah, so?

Maybe some folks were whining...What have ya done for us lately? or something... because there have been some changes in them thar hills lately. ;-D

They have moved 1/2 mile from their original location into a new, state-of-the-art stand-alone retail space located at the intersection of Hawthorne & Silver Spur,  at the 4B Peninsula Center, in
Rolling Hills Estates.

On the weekend of November 21-23 there will be a Huge Ass Shindig to acquaint SoCal Cyclists with what the place now has to offer.

Something about a "Completely New Retail Experience in this latest Specialized Concept Store."

PV Bicycle Center will change all your impressions about bike retail environments and set the standard for the future.  Then, during this grand opening weekend, there will be a bicycle cornucopia of events, games, group rides, prizes, free stuff, demonstrations, industry super stars, and fun for everyone in the family.

There will be rides around the area every day, and on Saturday...

From 12:00 - 5:00 there will be booths set up in a mini exhibition of leading edge products for all your cycling needs.  Expected exhibitors include Specialized, Look, Raleigh, Mavic, Kona, Fluid Nutrition, Bonk, Sigma, Easton, and Ennervit.  Learn about new product breakthroughs and ways to enjoy the sport even more than you already do.  Free samples and special sales offers are also part of the day.

PRESS RELEASE with all the details: Fun Filled Grand Opening Party at PV Bicycle Center in Palos Verdes California

Visit the PV Bicycle Center Website.

A Picnic Table on Wheels? Yeah, But is it Street Legal?

The amazing Picinc Table Bicycle!

It even has a cooler and a barbecue! ;-D

Are Bicycles Better than Women? How Would NOW Answer that?

Wonder what the National Organization for Women would say about "The Top 29 Ways Bicycles are BETTER than Women"? ;-D

My favorites?

2. You can ride your bicycle any time of the month.

7. When riding, you and your bicycle can arrive at the same time.

10. Bicycles don't care if you buy bicycle magazines.

15. You can have a black bicycle and bring it home to your parents.

18. You can ride your bicycle as long as you want and it won't get sore.

19. You can stop riding your bicycle as soon as you want and it wont get
     frustrated.

22. Bicycles don't insult you if you're a bad rider.

27. You can ride your bicycle the first time you meet it without
     having to take it to dinner, see a movie, or meet its mother.

Read the rest here.

Plan for Official U.S. Bicycle Route System Approved

The Board of Directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) voted to approve and endorse a plan to that will provide a framework to begin the developement of a National Bike Route System.

What's so interesting about this is that the AASHTO, as an organization that recommends policy and technical approaches to transportation issues, is regarded by many as the defining agency in the U.S. for creating and applying standards for road design.

The Departments of transportation of each state in the U.S. are members.

When this group speaks people listen.

Having this agency endorse this Bike Route idea is cool.

Will having them behind it lead to a consistency and interconnectedness between states in developing this interstate system?

Time will tell.

Here's a news release from the Adventure Cycling Association, a major partner in this venture, and for more info about the U.S. Bicycle Route System Project, including the corridor plan and criteria, a corridor plan map, and information about other national and provincial route networks...go here.

A Tip of the Hat to David's Bicycling Blog, at About.com!