Cyclelicious

Fred rides a track bike

2010-03-17T18:59:52Z

Copenhagen, Denmark isn’t just a city of of well dressed, beautiful women riding bikes in high heels. Next week, the UCI Track Cycling World Championship will take place there at the Ballerup Super Arena Velodrome.

The Danish crown prince, His Royal Highness Prince Frederik, took a spin around the velodrome on a track bike, looking appropriately Fred-like as he rode with the Danish national track team.

He reportedly had a great time trying the brakeless bikes. Prince Frederik will attend the opening ceremonies at the Track World Championship next week.

Props to Claus for the heads up!

San Jose NCAA Tournament parking

2010-03-18T06:35:08Z

Parking and transportation information for the 2010 NCAA basketball “March Madness” Tournament in San Jose, California.

The 1st and 2nd round of March Madness comes to the HP Pavilion in San Jose this week on Thursday, March 18 and Saturday, March 20.

San Jose NCAA Tournament game start time.

Session 1: Vanderbilt vs Murray State begins at 11:30 AM; Butler vs UTEP will begin 25 minutes following the first game end, about 1:45 PM.

Session 2: Marquetts vs Washington begins at 4:30 PM. New Mexico vs Montana begins 30 minutes following (about 6:45 PM).

Saturday game times are To Be Determined.

Parking at HP Pavilion. The short is answer is “don’t.” But if you must: There is a 1,500 space parking lot directly behind the HP Pavilion that will charge you $10 to $20 to park. Don’t circle around looking for “free” parking — you won’t find any. Parking at nearby lots also charge market rates (about $10 to $20, depending on distance), but on Thursday most of these will be filled with commuters who ride the train or light rail to work. Parking will be more available on Saturday. Dropping people off in front of the HP Pavilion is prohibited; everybody will need to walk some distance so wear comfortable shoes.

Public Transportation – easy and fast.

Well, mostly fast, and it will certainly be faster than driving on Thursday.

HP Pavilion is located directly across the street from Diridon Station, the major transit hub for downtown San Jose. Caltrain (serving Santa Clara County and San Francisco peninsula from Gilroy to San Francisco); VTA light rail and buses; ACE (commuter rail serving San Jose, Livermore, Pleasanton, Tracy, Stockton); and Amtrak Capital Corridor (commuter rail serving San Jose, Santa Clara, Fremont, Oakland, Berkeley, Sacramento) all dump into Diridon Station. Avoid parking fees, congestion, and frustration by taking transit.

VTA Light Rail Winchester-Mountain View line stops at Diridon Station directly across from HP Pavilion. The Tasman-Santa Teresa light rail line stops roughly 8 blocks away. If you ride the Tasman-Santa Teresa line, get off at the Santa Clara stop. Walk up to Santa Clara Street (if you reach the end of the block and hit San Fernando, you went the wrong way so turn around and walk to the other block), turn left, and follow the crowds walking on the sidewalk to the HP Pavilion. If you’re staying at a hotel in the San Jose area, you’re possibly within walking distance of a light rail station. Ask the concierge (or leave a comment below).

Downtown San Jose has pedicab service if you don’t want to walk, though finding them might be a challenge. Please tip the rickshaw operators well. If you get lost, just ask somebody how to get to the HP Pavilion.

Downtown San Jose is safe so you don’t need to freak out about wandering lost around the city. If you see a guy on a bike shooting your photo Thursday evening, that very well might be me. Wave and say hello.

Biking to the games.

This is a cycling website, so of course you can bike to the HP Pavilion. There are no bike lanes on Santa Clara Street, but the lanes are mostly wide enough for sharing — obey the traffic rules, watch where you’re going and you should be fine. Traffic can be very heavy on Santa Clara Street, especially at evening rush hour on event nights, so watch for turning traffic (nobody knows how to signal) and sudden stops. If you filter between the right lane and parallel parking, be very wary.

Bike parking is limited and you may need to lock your bike to a post somewhere. Use a high quality lock and be sure your bike is properly locked. Watch the video here for helpful bike locking tips.

Have fun and enjoy the games! If you have questions about using transit or directions, please feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll try to help.

Bronx cyclist doored, killed by bus

2010-03-17T23:05:30Z

A 57 year old woman riding her bike was doored and flung into the path of a bus Wednesday morning.

The unidentified woman was cycling down Crotona Avenue this morning when a driver of a 2005 Toyota Camry opened the door right into her, throwing the cyclist directly into the path of a southbound BX17, according to the New York Daily News. Condolences to the cyclist, her family and those he knew her.

And now for the rant.

This part in the Daily News article especially ticks me off: “Cops issued the unidentified driver of the Camry a summons, though it was not immediately clear why.” How about New York vehicle & traffic code Section 1214?

Opening and closing vehicle doors. No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonable safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic.

Don’t these morons know it’s ILLEGAL TO OPEN YOUR DOOR INTO TRAFFIC LIKE THAT? At least the News doesn’t report this as an “accident.”

If you, as a motorist, ever wonder why “entitled, selfish, inconsiderate” cyclists ride way out into the lane, this dooring incident is a prime example of why. It’s illegal to open the door into the path of any vehicle (including a cyclist), but I see people opening their doors adjacent to me almost every day I ride in traffic. I’d be dead or maimed if I rode in the door zone, so suck it up as I take the lane in front of you. My safety trumps your convenience in any system of ethics.

This NY1 article suggests bike lanes as a solution to the dooring problem, but many bike lanes are perfect door zone indicators.

If you don’t care about the cyclists, then consider it good for your own well being as well. Losing a hand to a bus can’t be fun.

Read Riin’s Door Zone Project for more examples.

Deputy crashes to avoid hitting cyclist

2010-03-17T18:53:53Z

Maybe the Santa Clara CA Sheriff department can take lessons from Baton Rouge: A deputy driving fast and responding to a call for assistance sees a cyclist and swerves off the road to avoid killing him.

The un-named deputy for the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office ran his vehicle through a brick wall — twice. He totaled the vehicle and was hospitalized for “broken bones and other minor injuries” (emphasis mine), according to a Sheriff’s office statement.

Full story (with photos!) here. Props to Biking In LA, who describes this deputy as “my candidate for hero of the month.”

Indiana city to state officials: “We want complete streets”

2010-03-17T16:48:27Z

Indiana residents: Read below to see how you can help.

Richmond, Indiana is putting the new bike-friendly federal transportation policy to the the test. The City of Richmond, Indiana has officially asked INDOT to change course on the $22 million dollar U.S. 27 project through the middle of Richmond and develop an additional proposal based on Complete Streets principles that give greater weight to the concerns of pedestrians and cyclists.

Currently, US 27 through downtown Richmond is a 25 MPH four lane street, with some one way sections. According to Mark Stosberg of Bike Richmond, the INDOT plan to improve a two mile section of US 27 includes costly changes (including right of way acquisition) that increase traffic speeds as Highway 27 enters the downtown area.

When INDOT began creating the US 27 plan, state transportation planners sought input from parties who could comment on many aspects of the road’s impact, from water and air quality to hazardous materials, historical homes and social justice concerns. Notably absent from the list of contact parties, however, was representation of transportation modes other than motorized vehicles.

The city of Richmond has asked INDOT to redo the US 27 proposal, specifically seeking input from groups representing non-motorized groups such as Bike Richmond and Health By Design. In the city’s note to the state transportation department, Mayor Sally Hutton notes that this project “is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It is prudent for us to not only consider the best practices of today, but to seek transportation options that will serve our needs 20 years in the future. The project location is exactly where we need to promote walk-ability and bicycling access in our urban center where many people need to walk or bike safely.”

Indiana residents: How you can help.

Comments to INDOT on this project are due by TOMORROW, THURSDAY MARCH 18, 2010. Indiana residents, please tweet, blog, and post to Facebook and other social media sites to get the word out about this petition. You can also send comments directly to INDOT Hearings Examiner Mary Jackman via email (mjackman at indot dot in dot gov) or by sending a letter (postmarked by March 18) to

Mary Jackman
INDOT
100 N. Senate Ave., N642
Indianapolis, IN 46204

In your email or letter, reference DES #0100701, US 27 Richmond, Wayne County and express your support for the city of Richmond’s petition for a new US 27 proposal that incorporates Complete Streets design principles. Including your personal contact information (address, email and phone number) is a good idea but not required, but at least put your city of residence in your note.

A win for this project could spur faster adoption of Complete Streets principles in other projects administered by the state transporation departments.

La Primavera – Milan San Remo

2010-03-06T00:19:46Z

La Primavera — Milan to San Remo in Italy — is the original “Spring Classic” bike race. This 300 km one day race takes place this Saturday, March 20, 2010.

Milan to San Remo is the earliest of the “Classic” European bike races on the professional racing calendar. The legendary Eddy Merckx holds the record with seven victories in this race. This is also the race where Erik Zabel famously lost to Oscar Freire when Zabel did his victory salute over the finish line while Freire continued to push and nosing just ahead of Zabel over the line.

The long flat course favors sprinters, and it especially favors sprinters who work to stay in shape over the winter. Manx sprinter Mark cavendish has set his sights on winning this race to defend his 2009 title. Lance Armstrong will also participate in this race.

For 2010 race results, follow the Steephill.TV Milan – San Remo dashboard.

Blind Andrea Bocelli rides a bicycle

2010-03-16T22:44:27Z

Italian pop tenor and star Andrea Bocelli doesn’t stop a little thing like blindness stop him from riding a bicycle. Bocelli was spotted riding his bike to the store.

Bocelli was born with vision problems and lost his eyesight completely at the age of 12. In this amazingly touching photo we see the famous opera singer holding his son Amos’s shoulder as the family bikes across heavy traffic in Forte dei Marmi, Italy.

What was that you were telling me about why you can’t ride your bike?

Click through to TMZ for the copyrighted photos.

Electric rental bike solar recharge stations

2010-03-17T03:58:06Z

Sanyo has combined three cool things I like into one, easy to use package: solar power generation, bike share, and electric bikes. This is so amazing I think my head will explode.

Sanyo recently installed two electric bike share stations in Japan at train stations in Tokyo. 100 Sanyo “Enelooop” e-bikes at each station are available for community use. 7.5kw photovoltaic panels mounted over the bike station charge the bike batteries when they’re stored in their kiosks at the bike station.

Update: Akihabara News has photos and video of the Sanyo bike parking grand opening. Now that I’ve seen a 100 pedelec bike share station, my had has exploded, so please excuse me while I clean up the mess.

The city of Setagaya in Tokyo operates these bike share stations at Keio Line Sakurajosui Station and Tokyu Den-en Toshi Line Sakurashinmachi Station. The solar panels generate sufficient power to recharge the batteries of a total of 100 “eneloop bike” units and illuminate the LED parking lot lights. According to Sanyo, the bike share station is capable of operating completely off-grid to minimize CO2 emissions in Japan. The e-bike parking lot is a demonstration of Sanyo’s “Smart Energy Systems” program, combining technologies for Energy Creation (photovoltaic system), Energy Storage (lithium ion rechargeable battery), and Energy Saving (scaling these systems in a commercially viable way).

More –> Sanyo press release: “SANYO Completes Installation of Solar Parking Lots in Setagaya, Tokyo”

Jobst Brandt interview series

2010-03-16T16:46:00Z

I see cycling tech legend Jobst Brandt on his steel yellow bicycle on Highway 9 in Santa Cruz County from time to time, and the couple of times we’ve talked he’s very willing to share his strong opinions on just about any topic, whether it’s logo design, cog railroads, or bicycle jersey fabrics.

This old dude is a monster — he’s 75 years old and still rides his bike regularly from his Palo Alto home through the redwood stands of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Brandt doesn’t carry water or snacks on his epic rides, so he stops at the Fosters Freeze in Boulder Creek, CA for an ice cream cone before heading back home.

Ron @ Cozy Beehive had an in depth interview with Mr Brandt and is posting them up to his website in a series of posts, in which Brandt talks about his hobbies, his career with Porsche, why nobody needs to own more than one bike at a time, and even why his bike is yellow (it’s easier to examine the frame for cracks, he says). He also reminiscences about his visits with Sheldon Brown shortly before the Brown’s passing in 2008.

Cozy Beehive Jobst Brandt interview series:

Santa Cruz Metro considers Highway 17 fare increase

2010-03-15T23:50:48Z

The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District board voted in favor of a fare increase on the popular Highway 17 service to “maintain an optimal farebox recovery ratio.” Most fares will increase 25%. A public hearing and second vote is required before the fare increase, scheduled for June 10, takes place.

The current fares and proposed increases for the 30 mile trip between San Jose and Santa Cruz, California.

One Way: $4.00 to $5.00
Day Pass: $8.00 to $10.00
Discount Fare (for elderly and disabled): $2.00 to $2.50
Monthly Pass: $90 to $113

What you can do

Attend the public hearing at 9 AM on Friday, March 26, 2010 at the Santa Cruz City Council Chambers, 809 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA.
Submit written comments to the Santa Cruz Metro board by addressing a letter to the Metro Board of Supervisors and mailing it to Santa Cruz METRO, 110 Vernon Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Contact your Metro Board representative directly. Board members are appointed by the various stakeholders in the Metro service area. If you live in Santa Cruz, contact one of the city of Santa Cruz appointees. Watsonville residents should contact one of the two Watsonville board members; Capitola is represented by Ron Graves; Scotts Valley by Dene Bustichi; USCS by Donna Blizter. County residents outside of these municipalities can contact a county representative. See SCMTD Board page to identify the board members, then look up their names to find contact information. I have Dene Bustichi’s email address, for example, and I’ve found he’s really good at responding to my concerns and questions. Many email addresses and phone numbers are available at the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission roster page.

Talking points

If you are opposed to the fare increases, here are some talking points to consider.

The proposed 25% increases are more than double the 10% change in the Consumer Price Index since 2005, when the current fares were established. This fare increase is more than double the inflation rate for the same five year period.
The stated aim of the fare increase is to “maintain an optimal farebox recovery ratio.” Santa Cruz Metro staff describe the 80% farebox recovery on Hwy 17 as “staggering” in their reports to SC Metro board. TThis is roughly three times the fare recovery for the entire Metro system, and nearly seven times the VTA farebox recovery of 12%. BART and Caltrain, which are acknowledged to have among the highest farebox recovery rates in the nation, are at 40% to 45%. Farebox recovery is already optimal.
Increasing the fare will reduce the number of passengers on the Hwy 17 bus. If this 25% increase reduces the number of passengers by 10%, that’s 500 more trips on Highway 17 each week, resulting in an additional 100 tons of CO2 emissions generated by those trips. Fare increase = fewer passengers = more single driver trips on Highway 17 = more congestion, more accidents and more pollution.

Counterpoints?

I ride the Highway 17 service daily, but I’m actually of two minds about this proposed increase! I list the reasons to favor this fare increase below, but I’m really interested in why these reasons aren’t as important.

The service is very popular. Between 900 and 1000 people ride this bus each weekday. It can be argued that raising the price is a natural, market response to the high demand on this service.
VTA and Santa Cruz Metro each contribute about $13,000 per month to the Highway 17 operating expenses. If fares are raised, this subsidy can be cut or maybe even eliminated, freeing the funds for other uses. $13K is probably VTA’s monthly paperclip budget, but the much smaller Santa Cruz transit agency seems better able to make a little cash go a long way.

One legged man to cycle around the world

2010-03-15T03:44:57Z

Romanian Paralympic athlete Ionut Preda begins his around-the-world bicycle ride at Obradoiro square in Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, 13 March 2010.

Preda, 30, pedaled to Catalonia from Romania three years ago, where he began competing in Paralympic track and field events. He says he’s doing this tour to highlight that the physically disabled are capable of active lifestyles.

He plans to travel through the major world capitals over the next ten years. Preda, who now has a prosthetic leg, lost his right leg22 years ago as he was playing with a mechanical crane as a child.

See Ionut Preda Facebook page and his personal website [in Spanish].

Bicycle for my daughter

2010-03-15T03:27:28Z

My daughter grew out of her old 20″ wheel bike a while ago. It’s a real stretch for her to ride any bike with 26″ tires (including my son’s old 13″ Gary Fisher frame), so I need something with 24″ wheels.

She definitely wants a step through frame, which eliminates Specialized’s and Raleigh’s entire line of 24″ kids bikes. We live in a mountain town so gears and a reasonably lightweight bike are good — no clunky hi ten balloon tire cruisers, please. The only two candidates I’ve found so far that fit the bill are Trek’s “Zara” girls’ bike and the Electra Townie 21D with 24″ wheels.

I think overall I like the Zara over the Townie 21D. First of all, it’s $100 less expensive, which always appeals to the cheapskate in me. There’s no front derailleur on the Trek and I like the chainguard. I’m not a fan of Electra’s flat footed frame geometry (though if my daughter prefers it that’s what will be important), and the Townie handlebars look uncomfortably high. I’m a sucker for the sportier look of the Trek.

On the other hand, the Local Bike Shop I almost always use carries Electra, but not Trek. Trek dealers are few and far between in my part of California (I’m a mere 40 miles from the International Domination Headquarters for Specialized Bicycles). Trek calls the color of the bike “Coral,” but it’s clearly pink, and my daughter is all done with pink and Disney princesses in her life. Finally, the bike shop owner is my neighbor and a super nice kid so I can maybe get a bro deal from him.

We’ll look for a Trek dealer this week that carries the Zara, I think, to try the bike out.

Do you know of other bikes that meet our qualifications?

24″ wheels.
Step through frame.
Reasonably light weight (no gas pipe tubing, please)
Gears, but not too many gears.
Price is a factor, so custom built is probably out.

Thanks!