Comments for EcoVelo

Comment on Thor USA Custom Belt Drive Dahon by David F

David F — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:08:19 +0000

I’ve been toying with that idea for a while now, just battling to decide if I should do a lightweight single speed Mu, or a more versatile hub geared version. Glad to see it works fine clearance wise.

Comment on Turn, Turn, Turn by Dottie

Dottie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:45:17 +0000

I’ve been desperately seeking any flowers, even the tiniest bud, but so far nothing. Knowing that flowers do exist outside my imagination somewhere in the country makes me feel better :)

Comment on Thor USA Custom Belt Drive Dahon by Alex

Alex — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:02:02 +0000

When I saw the title I was thinking there must have been frame surgury to get the belt in there, but with just the single set of stays, there’s no need.

Comment on A Friend’s Bike Stolen at NAHBS by Bill Martz

Bill Martz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:44:48 +0000

Mike, when I visited your display during the NAHBS I thought to myself upon noticing how you had you bikes locked up in your display, WOW, is this town that edgy that you would have to lock you bikes in the Convention Center……? Well I guess I am no longer that naive. I hope you get you bike back, you are a real gentleman and I enjoyed meeting you and seeing your bikes. Good Luck.

Comment on Turn, Turn, Turn by Alan

Alan — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:25:41 +0000

Thanks, Adam!

Alan

Comment on Turn, Turn, Turn by Alan

Alan — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:25:21 +0000

@Curmudgeon

:-)

Comment on Civia Loring: 3 Months Out by Jay

Jay — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:14:17 +0000

@Scott:

You’re exactly right. I put full SKS fenders on my bikes this past year, and now getting them down the stairs like I used to (holding them by the handlebars “reared up” vertically so just the rear wheel was on the ground) is very difficult, because the fender catches on the steps as I go down the stairs, so now I just roll them down the stairs normally, which is harder because it requires standing next to the bike rather than behind it – hard on a narrow stairwell!

Comment on People for Bikes by “If I ride I can ride lycra like Spiderman’ a poem to biking from People for bikes « Adelaide Cyclist

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:35:22 +0000

[...] “If I ride I can ride lycra like Spiderman’ a poem to biking from People for bikes Posted in Uncategorized by anguskingston on March 11, 2010 via ecovelo.info [...]

Comment on Civia Loring: 3 Months Out by Scott

Scott — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:41:52 +0000

I’ve found almost all rear fenders to be too short these days. They’re made so that you can easily “rear up” the bike onto the rear wheel with the front wheel in the air, to hang the bike from a hook or fit into an elevator or whatever. Long fenders get in the way of this. The best compromise seems to be an extra long flexible mudflap on a shorter fender.

Comment on Critical Mass Could be Challenged in SF by Harm

Harm — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:07:48 +0000

Just to add to my last post. Here in Rotorua New Zealand we’re playing with the idea of ‘The Bike Bus’ It’s loosely based on forming local groups in your community that will ride together into town to go to work. A general meeting point and time is discussed, people meet there to form a group and ride into town together. Non-obtrusive, Positive, Visible and Social, and every week day!! Being seen in numbers is the idea behind it. Rotorua is a very small town in relation to places like NY but this could work very well in larger city’s also. I live about 12.5 km from Rotorua and there are about half a dozen riders that make the same commute each morning. The funny thing is that I hardly see them because they we’re all heading in the same direction! What better way to wait a wile, meet up and ride together? Even the school bus passes us. This could mean that maybe they get the idea and join in too.
Anyway, just thought I’d share this little snippet of info to all you big city folk :)

Comment on Zimbale Leather and Canvas 11 Liter Saddle Bag by shawn

shawn — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:17:30 +0000

I picked one of these up at Hyde Park in Boise last weekend for my Hillborne. It’s a quality piece of kit; well-constructed, attractive, and useful. Beth’s point is well taken, but I do believe that there is something to be said for variety, even when it’s subtle. I think I’d have a lot less fun at the bike rack if everybody rode the same handful of perfectly serviceable designs outfitted with a limited range of perfectly serviceable gear. Sometimes it’s the small differences that carry all the appeal. Ride on!

Comment on Turn, Turn, Turn by AdamM

AdamM — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:04:35 +0000

Alan, that is just a beautiful picture, entirely summing up early spring. Nice one. It’s definitely still feeling like late summer here in Australia, but the temperatures are slowly dropping.

Comment on Civia Loring: 3 Months Out by Dave Burns

Dave Burns — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:29:25 +0000

I bought my wife a Loring a few months ago to be her primary errand and commuter bike. Like you, my wife absolutely adores her new bike and seems giddy like school child whenever she rides it.

A few things I’ve noticed:

1. I’m even more envious of her Brooks saddle than I anticipated (I do not own one myself)
2. People regularly stop my wife to compliment and/or ask questions about the bike.
3. People really seem to be interested in the bamboo

On the negative, I’d say that the rear fender is too short, that is to say the coverage could/should be improved. We life in Seattle as it’s the rainy season, riding behind the Civia is a drag as spray seems to shot right at me (or anyone else) riding within 10-12ft. I seem to think that an additional 3-4 inches would heed significant benefits to curbing the spray. That said, the rider him/herself will be sufficiently protected from splatter.

On a separate note, I equipped the front wheel with the SRAM iMotion dynamo-hub and paired it with the Schmidt Edelux headlight. And to to cap off the package, I picked-up a pair of Ortlieb Bike Shopper panniers.

I own many high-end bikes, but I continue to find myself jealous of my wife’s set-up. The Civia is such a great bike!

Comment on People for Bikes by clifford

clifford — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:49:07 +0000

Yes! That’s just fabulous, moving, and one of the few GOOD representations / promotions of cycling.
I run a sustainable transportation campaign, and we just released the following two short commercials for the program. We did it on a shoestring budget, and hope our small contribution can help the work of colouring in the missing healthy representations of cycling in media.
Bike to Work
Walk to Work

Comment on Turn, Turn, Turn by Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:40:20 +0000

Now I’ve got that song in my head… thanks a lot.

Comment on Civia Loring: 3 Months Out by Alan

Alan — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:51:00 +0000

@John Boyer

“Alan, Do you read minds?”

LOL… I think it’s more like “Great minds think alike.” ;-)

I thought about you when I wrote this post, knowing that you’re as enamored with your Loring as I am with mine.

Here’s John’s bike (he’s the proprietor of the Edible Pedal delivery service in Sacramento http://ediblepedal.com/):

Alan

Comment on Turn, Turn, Turn by Lexica

Lexica — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:46:32 +0000

As well as the visual changes, there are olfactory ones as well. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been having moments while on the bike of “*sniff* *sniff* Ooh, the jasmine has started blooming!” (Or “mimosa” or “sweet alyssum” or whatever happens to be nearby.)

Also, the birds have been chirping and twittering like mad. Riding under a tree whose branches are alive with finches fluttering from branch to branch singing to the sun is wonderful.

I love spring. Love it even more on a bike. I’m in danger of getting bugs on my teeth from grinning so much while I ride.

Comment on Civia Loring: 3 Months Out by PJ

PJ — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:33:17 +0000

Hello,
The fenders do work! I can say from experience that they catch most everything ridding in the rain or in puddles. I think part of this is due to the width, so if you ran tires large enough you may start to see some side spray.
The front rack can only be rated up to 20 lbs so that is what it is rated to. I think the regulation has to do with how a fork mounted rack will impact steering beyond that capacity.
I hope this helps.
PJ
Civia Cycles

Comment on Turn, Turn, Turn by John

John — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:43:02 +0000

No flowers here yet (Denver) – but soon there will be. Can’t wait!

Comment on Civia Loring: 3 Months Out by Sished

Sished — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:02:12 +0000

I’m 46 and have been car free all my life. Over my adult life I have only had 3 bicycles and only ever had one bike at any one time. The 80/20 rule dictates that they have not always been perfect for the task, but they have always been good enough. I have never felt the need to hold a stable of many & varied bicycles fine tuned to specific limited tasks. This may not endear me to the cycle industry!