We all know that dicing through over 100 road racers on a short criterium track is insane enough at 30+ miles an hour, but one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time was actually a different animal all together. During the historical Roswell crit in Georgia yesterday, there was a fixie race.

If dropping into sharp turns isn’t hard enough at speed, just imagine trying to do so without the aid of a freewheel. These guys were out there killing it on their fixed geared bikes without a single crash that I could see. Blasting through tight turns pedaling all the way through and drafting other riders with the same obstacles is a feat unto itself. Not surprisingly, these talented riders were running at speeds that were on par with some of the other road bike groups.

Just goes to show…it is all about the rider and not the bike. These guys have my utmost respect for getting out there and racing hard when most cyclists won’t even attempt a fixed gear ride. There were even cheers coming from the crowd…”woohoo! No brakes!”

What can you expect from car/drivers?

The way motorists behave around cyclists depends a lot on where you live; drivers in Portland, Oregon will be much more conscientious than those in Los Angeles. This is a measure of how aware people are of bicycles. If you want to confirm this for yourself, go on a drive on a nice day with a friend that who does not ride. At the end ask them how many bicyclists they saw, I suspect your count will differ significantly from theirs. This is because you probably find bikes very salient and they, like most drivers, do not.

Since motorists are not keeping an eye out for bicycles and do not know how to react around them, you can expect a number of behaviors. These include honking, passing very close, cutting off riders while turning, and ignoring your right-of-way. I’m sure you have heard stories of aggressive driving, yelling, and cussing; these happen very rarely and I have never heard of such a situation escalating.

What can you do to stay safe?

The rules of the game are visibility, avoidance, defensive riding, and evasion. Each of these tactics make drivers more aware of you and get you away from those that remain oblivious.

Visibility is key: if drivers see you they are much more likely to give you space. There is a great deal that can be said about light and clothing selection but your best source is probably your local bike shop (LBS). They can set you up with the lights, reflectors, and bright riding gear to get started.

Avoidance involves finding routes with the least amount of traffic or at least good shoulders or bike lanes. The bike route tool in Google Maps is a good way to get started. It will direct you to the easier hills, bike lanes, and side streets so you can gain strength and confidence with a lighter volume of cars. The city, county, or local bike clubs may also have maps that show the low volume streets and bike paths so you can do your own routing if you do not like what Google hands you. If you cannot get around a busy street use the sidewalk and crosswalks if it is legal in your city; your LBS or riding club should know. Other riders in your area are usually a great resource for faster and more challenging routes that will complement your growing skills.

Almost every bike club in America will champion defensive riding. This makes sense, if drivers don’t notice you all the traffic law in the world won’t save you. Remember what you might have learned in a defensive driving class: keep aware of your surroundings and your actions. Make your actions and intentions very clear; pick your line, stick to it, and signal any changes. Here are some concrete examples: I always ride a third of the way into the lane. This clearly signals my intent to be in the lane, puts me into a driver’s visual field, and helps me follow a clear, predicable course. Motorists give me more respect and room when they pass. I also do not ride with headphones since I must be able to hear overtaking cars well before I see them. Knowing that a car is coming keeps me from being surprised and allows me to take appropriate action.

This brings us to evasion. Just like with driving, precautions go a long way but a little skill behind the handlebars never hurts. Keep your options in mind should something go wrong or a car makes an unexpected move. Say a car merges suddenly just in front of you. Can you move left into a turning lane? Can you make a hard right turn onto the street the car pulled out of? Can you dodge around it? The same thinking holds true of debris in the road or mechanical failure. Bike handling skills are key here. Your local riding club may have clinics and the riding skills section at has many relevant articles as well.

The only way to get used to riding with cars is to do it. It is scary at first but very soon you will get more and more comfortable. If you start with the side streets and bike lanes you will gain the confidence to ride in traffic. Keep in mind that if the situation on the road becomes untenable it is fine to pull over and asses your options. After five years of consistent riding, I will still use the sidewalk and crosswalks if traffic makes me really uncomfortable or I can’t get though safely. Remember, make drivers aware of you, ride safe, and wear a helmet. See you on the street.

Lucas Meserve is an undergraduate at the University of Washington in Seattle. He has been commuting by bicycle for the last five wet northwest winters with distances ranging from 2 to 9 miles each way. He does most of his own bike maintenance, including wheel building, and hopes to race cyclocross in the fall.

Photo is from treehugger.com via Bisikletliler Dernegi

That’s right…Google Maps is now offering biking directions with their online version. Now, you have a drop down menu option to select bicycling as your route of choice. Once you put in your two destinations, Google Maps gives you several different route options that would be good to take by bike as you can see in the picture.

This is a great step forward for cyclists looking to plan their routes online, but it is going to have even more power when it becomes available on the mobile platform. Can you imagine having this feature on your iPhone as you ride from location to location in your city?

In the picture above, I picked two local bike shops in our area to get an idea of how this whole system works. As you can see, it picks more “bike friendly” roads in the routing process completely bypassing any highways and four lane roads (at least in this example). If you do not like the roads it picked, you can choose from alternate routes available in the sidebar.

Every now and then I come across a bike that is just too cool not to share. Recently, Chad over at Red Barn Bicycles built up a killer Vassago Fisticuff commuter. This amazing ride is decked out with the latest in wood components to create a one of a kind ride.

From Chad’s blog:

I just finished up Roch’s new Vassago cyclocross/commuter/dirt road /do everything bike…..this was a really fun build and i was able to work with a few new products that I’ve never seen before. For starters, Woody’s wood inlay fenders were a treat……I did have to slightly modify the rear fender so that the front derailleur could swing far enough to work with three front chainrings. I opted to use a small mallet and wood chisel to remove just enough material…..smoothed it back out with a couple of files and then finished it off with dose of varnish. I hated to cut into a $150 set of fenders, but hey….someone had to do it !

Also…since budget was still a priority (complete bike for under 2K), this was also my first experience with the knock off Nitto mustache bars. The Dimension bars were labeled that they were not compatible with Shimano bar end shifters, a small gamble worked out on behalf of price reduction and our set of shifters installed just fine. We also saved a few pennies with the use of the Dimension seatpost. Ironically though…..the budget was blown wide open with the use of the Brooks B17 saddle and matching Brook leather tape (the 8 inches of spare tape was used to wrap the chainstay).

For more information, check out the Red Barn Bikes Blog or contact Chad at Red Barn Bicycles.

Surly Commuter Bike

Fuji Commuter Bike

O.S.C.H. Fixie Commuter Bike

Schwinn Fixie In NYC Bike Shop

Jenn Helping Man Into That Bike Shop

Masi Fixie In NYC Bike Shop

Delivery Bikes Stuck In Snow

Bike Commuters in NYC

Need A Lift?

Frame Graveyard On Street Post

I first saw this video months ago actually. In this short put on by Cinecycle Productions funded by Hutchinson tires, we follow two very unique riders through the city. Other than being a complete sucker for a Masi fixie, this video illustrates how much cycling can mean to two completely different individuals. As a rider that loves just about anything that pedals, this video is a reminder that there is no “right way” to enjoy pedal propelled forward motion. The bicycle has been around for ages and as the sport and lifestyle continue to grow, we are able to enjoy this mode of transportation in ways we never thought possible. There is no “right way” to ride a bike…just the fact that you are riding one is all that matters…

The guy on the Masi fixie has some pretty sick skills to make thing even better. Riding a fixie is a skill unto itself and he makes it look easy…

It also has to be one of the best promotional vids I have ever seen for tires.

Directed by Daniel Leeb of Cinecycle Productions.

This short film features Alfred Bobe Jr. and Fatimah Durkee. The film spins a visual ballad between the two cyclists experiencing the city in their own unique ways. Both cyclists are city dwellers who amidst the chaos of the concrete jungle have created a private and peaceful psychological space as they traverse the streets. They are both alone and yet they are both very much aware of each others presence. The film speaks to the harmony with one’s environment that can be found while riding a bicycle in a city and the synchronistic connection we can have with those we have not even met. The short was commissioned by Hutchinson tires.

Lamstedt, 7-12-2009
7,5 hours cycling, 162 km, arrival 17.00

During the second day the Dutch radio called on my mobile phone. If I would like to participate in a radio programme on the climate summit? Of course I did not mind, for some extra publicity could mean some extra converts for the good cause.

The position that was put forward ran as follows: we are doing already enough for the climate!

The discussion started with questions about my view on the results of the climate summit.

At that moment there were no results as yet but in my opinion it was hopeful that both China and the US had already shown their willingness to go for targets. They were perhaps not high enough but vastly better than the Kyoto conference where Bush stated they would not sign because ‘it would be bad for their economy’. Whatever comes from this conference, for me it is clear that worldleaders and citizens alike cannot ignore anymore the urgency of the climate problem. Then the interviewer told me that 60% of the listeners agreed with the position mentioned above. Big sigh.

I went on telling that one of the main reasons to cycle to Copenhagen was that we have made quite a mess of our environment, used up most of the valuable resources and even disturbed the earth atmosphere. We cannot leave that inheritance to future generations!

“When I held my grandchild in my hands two weeks ago, 2860 grams of human being, it was very clear to me that I could not and cannot let this happen without making an effort.”

My contribution will be small on a global scale but even if I convince one single person to live more sustainable it is worthwhile. A cathedral can also be built using small bricks.

Ahrensböck, 8-12-2009
6,5 hours cycling, 125 km, arrival 16.00

Some parts of the journey were quite boring; almost like the odd day at work, being busy from eight till four without notable incidents. To do something about it I am having fun writing parts of this travel account in my head or by having discussions with my alter ego.
She also helps me rehearsing the interviews that will take place in Copenhagen. Question: “How do you feel?” “Well, some parts are sore and the others not anymore.”
“Right, and how did you do it?” “It is quite simple really. You start cycling and after three minutes you have done one kilometre. After 30 minutes you did 10 km and after one hour …………….” Etc.
Also I do some singing now and then. My usual cycling friends, strangely enough are not enthusiastic when I start singing the Pearl Fishers (Georges Bizet). Here in the middle of the swamps there is no one to appreciative the quality of my performance but ok, such is life.
Luck was with me crossing the river Elbe. At the very last moment before departure they saw the lonely black and yellow cyclist coming and let me aboard. This happened to be the crossing going to Glückstadt (which means Happycity).

The landlord of the inn in Arensböck, which I cannot recommend to anyone, warned me for the road ahead. It is called the Holsteinische Schweiz which means Switzerland of Northern Germany. He was talking about difficult climbs which would make the area hard to cross. When I asked him if my experience in Tibet and Peru would help, he thought it would.
He allowed me to use their computer and its internet connection to send my travel account around. Shortly afterwards his wife told me I had to stop ticking away because it would anoy the other guests. After dinner I wanted to pay but that was impossible; with the same card I have been using for years and all over the world. Next morning I was served coffee without being asked what I would prefer and when I wanted to leave all doors were locked except for the emergency exit. Fortunately this was the only exception to the hospitable receptions during my journey.

Several times signs were to be seen saying: “No highway through our village” or “DEPO-NIE” (rubbish dump – never). Most people are not willing to drive less or to produce less waste, but they are all members of the NIMBY movement. Germany is ahead in the production of sustainable energy but the Germans are very much addicted to their cars and would not want to miss their beefmeal every day. Around every city you will find large areas full of shopping centres, parking lots and car dealers. When oil prices go up in the near future Germans will be in big trouble. It will take them some time to adjust and that goes for every other country/population around the globe when it comes to changing un-sustainable habits.

Guldborg Havn, 9-12-2009
6,5 hours cycling , 132 km, arrival 16.30

It is very comfortable in the Lagunen Grill Café where two Danish girls are serving hot meals. Only one hour before for the first time I asked myself “what am I doing here?” And even half an hour ago on this cold, misty and windless day when there was after 132 km still no bed or hot meal in sight, I was not sure there would be a roof over my head tonight or rather where that roof would be. The camping looked not very promising but when it happend to be open and even had a cabin available, hope glimmered. As I could not very well survive without a proper evening meal I had to find some place where they would want to serve me. And there it was. I put on the little electric heater in the icy six bed cabin, had a hot shower and went for a hearty meal hoping that the temperature in the cabin would be slightly higher on my return.

I had used a route planner which was sold as a device you could also use for a bicycle tour and so far it had shown me the way very well and was also waterproof, which was essential on this journey. However, one day it just stopped working and that was not the only part of my equipment starting to falter. After almost 700 km in five days the gears were giving trouble, as were my overshoes and some parts of my body (hamstring, knee, feet and especially my bottom). They were definitely longing for a few days relaxation.

Well, they had to wait, but 12 hours of sleep in Guldborn certainly helped.

The only other problem I had with the routeplanner was when it sent me onto the highway at Heiligenhafen and could not find the cyclist path crossing the bridge towards Fehmarn.

Fehmarn and the village of Puttgarden are places you pass when you want to catch the ferry (in Puttgarden) towards Danemark.

Køge, 10-12-2009
4,5 hours cycling, 92 km, arrival 13.30

In spite of the icecold rain I could enjoy today the H.C. Andersen landscape with its thatch covered houses, seaside villages, ages old oaktrees and rural estate. It had a sign saying ‘Godkantor’ which could mean Office of God. Well, if I were God I would probably also have chosen this area for my office.

As a human being I was very glad to find a comfortable little hotel in the city centre of Køge just before more of my parts stopped functioning. The hot shower made me cheering because Copenhagen was very close now and my feet were defrosting.

The city was quite nice with its Christmas market, hundreds of little girls in white dresses including candle and wreath. It was impossible to have my clothing washed (before next week) but in the library the second newsletter could be sent away to my ‘fans’ at home.

Copenhagen, 11-12-2009
2,5 hours cycling, 50 km, arrival 12.00

Two months ago I was able to make a reservation for what must have been the last bed in town. And here it was, one of fourteen beds in a dormitory in one of the almost thirty Youth Hostels of Copenhagen. One of the roommates was a grey disabled biologist from Brasil.
He had gathered around him an incredible amount of stuff: books, bags, leaflets, etc. and he immediately started to pinch (not pull) my legs, after I told him I had come from Holland by bike. There were several other nationalities and people (men) of all ages in that room and they had all come (by plane) for the climate conference.

At the European Environment Agency they were glad to hear I made it and told me they had a place for me at the conference centre to do my presentation. That would be on sunday at the old Staerekassen Theatre in the city centre. But today is friday and a perfect time to take some rest and prepare for the demonstration day tomorrow. Almost by itself my bike went straight to the old harbour which the Danes call Nyhavn, which seems strange to me. This harbour is a lovely place; well it was very agreable last summer. Dineke and I went to visit our son Joris who was doing some subsidiary biology subjects at Copenhagen university. We were leisurely sitting in the sun sipping a glas of white wine and enjoying the scenery.

In the middle of December only the incurable smokers were outside on the terras and I enjoyed a good meal in front of a blazing fire. I like to sweat it out but do not mind to enjoy myself if I can grasp the opportunity.

by Pieter Parmentier

First…who is David Byrne?

David Byrne is one of the cofounders of the musical group the Talking Heads and a bike commuter advocate that resides in New York City. His various works in photography and other arts has him published in 5 other books as well. Recently he added some new bike racks of his own design around NYC.

What is Bicycle Diaries About?

From DavidByrne.com:

Since the early 1980s, David has been riding a bike as his principal means of transportation in New York City. Two decades ago, he discovered folding bikes and started taking them with him when travelling around the world. DB’s choice was initially made out of convenience rather than political motivation, but the more cities he saw from his bicycle, the more he became hooked on this mode of transport and the sense of liberation, exhilaration, and connection it provided. This point of view, from his bike seat, became his panoramic window on urban life, a magical way of opening one’s eyes to the inner workings and rhythms of a city’s geography and population.

Bicycle Diaries chronicles David’s observations and insights — what he is seeing, whom he is meeting, what he is thinking about — as he pedals through and engages with some of the world’s major cities. In places like Buenos Aires, Istanbul, San Francisco, and London, the focus is more on the musicians and artists he encounters. Politics comes to the fore in cities like Berlin and Manila, while chapters on New York City, and on the landscaped suburban industrial parks and contemporary ruins of such spots as Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Columbus are more concerned with history in the urban landscape. Along the way, DB has thoughts to share about fashion, architecture, cultural isolation, globalization, and the radical new ways that some cities, like his home town, are becoming more bike-friendly — all conveyed with a highly personal mix of humor, curiosity, and humanity.

What We Thought About Bicycle Diaries

At initial glance, this book sounds great. It is about a guy who travels and brings his bike so he can ride around and soak up all the local scenes…that’s how it seems at first glance. In reality, this book is a history lesson. It is extremely hard to follow and there is not much about what he sees at all, or really even about him riding his bike.

• It is a bunch of rants about the poverty he sees in every city.
• He tells about outings with friends in different cities, art, and what buildings used to be.
• Complains A LOT about government and how they are ruining places, mainly about US government.
• Has the book sectioned into different cities he visited, but then jumps from to different cities in that section.
• It’s very hard to follow.
• Hates the Bush administration, calls them the “evil empire”.
• The book is entries into his journal, but there is no flow with any of them.
• Great book if you want a history lesson, or agree with his opinion.
• Horrible book if you want to read about a guy leisurely riding his bike and sharing what he sees in different cities via bike commuting.
• It made me very angry and aggressive to read it because he didn’t seem to check his facts when talked about politics, and they weren’t all correct.

Bottom line…it was not at all what I was expecting from a book titled Bicycle Diaries. I completely understand there are different political viewpoints out there and I welcome a difference of opinion. What makes this world so great is the ability for each individual to have their own thoughts and beliefs, but using a book and your fame as a rock star does not make for a good book when all you want to do is rant on different subjects.

Those that either agree with his political views or are blinded by the love of his music (The Talking Heads were a great band) are going to give Bicycle Diaries a great review, but…if you are not either of those…you are probably going to hate it.

In all honesty, I really struggled with the idea of posting this review publicly. I do applaud what David Byrne has done to promote cycling advocacy and bike commuting. I also do agree with David’s points he has made outside of this book in other arenas about making cities more bike commuter friendly and decreasing our footprint we are leaving on the world.

One of the risks I take by posting an unfavorable review of his book is the backlash of the assumption that I do not promote bicycling advocacy and related matters. This review of the book is my opinion on the book and the book only.

Click here for the best price on Bicycle Diaries

Sometimes there is nothing better than sitting back and watching other riders achieve the impossible. Trials and urban bikers are some of the best riders in terms of technical ability and overall bike control. They amaze us with tricks and acrobatics around the city, but…in all reality…they are incredibly skilled riders as they take to the streets and show off their abilities. The following is several videos of some of the best in trials riding.

Danny MacAskill

Hans Rey

Other Trials Videos

English summary

Footprint of Eline, two weeks old

Cycling to Copenhagen in December, 700 km in five days and all alone? This seems to be quite an unusual plan and so it is, but for a very good reason.
I explained it like this in one of my mails to friends abroad: “I am going there by bike and will represent my granddaughter who is to be born next week. And I will also bring climate drawings from Dutch children (and the footprint of my granddaughter) to make clear that the climate negotiations are important for us and crucial for future generations.”

Apart from the cycling I wanted to participate in the mass demonstrations expected on saturday the 12th and I had an invitation for the following sunday.

With me, things like this start with a trigger and the intuitive notion: ‘it can be done’.

The trigger was the thought that being a granddad brings certain responsibilities. And as I explained above, climate change is not going to influence our lives much but it certainly will have great effects on generations to come. After this, the plan formed itself. I wanted to participate in the demonstrations as the representative of our granddaughter, whom I hoped would be born in time. If possible I wanted to take part in some of the other events and I wanted to produce as little CO2 as possible while executing the project. The idea to collect climate drawings from children and bring them with me to Copenhagen was the finishing touch, especially if I could also bring our granddaughters footprints (see above).

Apart from the plan I also had some time available to go to Copenhagen, some money, support from my family and quite a lot of experience in cycling. Although a cycling expedition through Germany and Danemark in winter was not to be undertaken lighthearted, I expected that my experience in Tibet and Peru would be sufficient for a proper performance.

However, some circumstances proved to be quite different, as always. Beforehand I knew that cycling in an almost flat area would be easier than crossing mountain chains like the Himalayas or the Andes. But winter in Europe is raher different from the desert/mountain climate. It happened to be very wet. Besides that I was bringing some 25 kg of stuff, cycling an average of 150 km every day and I contracted the Mexican flue the week before departure.

Our granddaughter Eline cooperated very well by being born on the 22nd of November, almost on the day she was due. Two days later my mother died which was expected but still sudden. She had been ill for a long time. Grandfather and orphan in two days time.

Good travel wishes from Jacqueline Cramer

After writing Jacqueline Cramer, Minister for the environment in the Netherlands, about my cycling plan she immediately invited me to meet and have a photosession. This would make it easier to get the publicity I needed for the whole project. You probably ask yourself if this is how easy things normally work out in Holland but no, it is not. But it helps if you have known someone like Jacqueline for some time.

The same goes for the invitation I received from Jacqueline McGlade, director of the European Environment Agency, who has her HQ in Copenhagen and organised several events during COP15.

Werlte, 6-12-2009
7,5 hours cycling, 155 km, arrival 16.00

Just in time I recovered from my illness and at sundaymorning when the alarm clock went off at six there was no chance left to opt out. The weather seemed fair enough and at eight o’clock a crowd had assembled in our backgarden. One of them was granddaughter Eline with her parents Marieke and Marco. This was really a great surprise because when they left our house the evening before they had not given any indication they would return so soon.

Some cyclists were there to accompany me part of the route. And of course Dineke my wife was there to kiss me goodbye. She must have thought after 35 years she knew her husband well enough to predict his exotic inclinations, but alas.

Having fun was part of the plan and there were several opportunities on the way. Cycling to the Dutch – German border I met several men who were also doing their exercise. Our little talks usually started with the question: “where are you headed?” “I am going to Copenhagen”…………… “No, really?” Or I would ask: “Do you know your way around here?” “Yes, I think so”. “Which way do I go to Copenhagen?” “………….. No, really?”

After a fine sunrise it started to rain and it did not stop anymore. Probably I was under the same cloud all afternoon (I had the wind behind me).

Another source of amusement were the names of places in Germany. Cycling through the towns Meppen (smacking), Twist (quarrel) and Vrees (fear) made me look around for happy people. At least they did not look frightened to me. Further on names like Bovenmoor, Hemmoor and Moorausmoor indicated I was riding through swamps (moor) and indeed this part of Germany used to be a huge marshland.

As you might expect such an area is not densely populated and it turned out that finding a meal and bed in winter in the dark is no sinecure. After 155 km of cycling the very first and only hotel that was open and had a room available was called Hotel Cramer (which is also, as you recall, the name of our environment Minister). The owner with the same name looked as if she had some doubts about this guest and right she was for I must have been definitely the dirtiest cyclist or even man she had ever seen.

A few days later the owner of the B&B offered to wash and dry my clothing, probably because it was stinking to high heaven.

On sea

A small one-man but harmless campaign was the sticking (and photographing) a text to the place-name signs saying: aan zee, am Meer or ved haved which means ‘on sea’.

An advantage of having the wind behind you, apart from going faster, is that if you take a wrong turn the wind will be in your face and the same goes for the rain. If the rain stops you are probably heading in the wrong direction.
The weather was however not like that every day. There was some sun on one day and no wind on another and it was raining icewater on the last day. I just had to keep the water in my clothing warm enough to survive and managed to do so just long enough.

Cycling through Germany you will immediately notice the sustainable energy difference with the Netherlands. It is really amazing that the Germans managed to get so far ahead in the generation of solar, wind and other sustainable power. And that when they also had a tough time joining Western and Eastern Germany and the huge investments that took.

by Pieter Parmentier