News
Articles: Bicycle Christmas tree
I took time off from work last week to spend with my family, so I didn’t get a chance to post again after Monday. This week will be more of the same, so I want to take a minute to wish all of you a happy holiday season. The seven meter tall Christmas tree pictured here, made from recycled bikes and parts, was installed last year in Sydney, Australia by CMA Recycling. It took eight weeks to design and build and was left in place through the month of November. See more images at Oddity Central (via the Public Bikes Facebook page). To see an even bigger Christmas tree made from bikes, check out this one from Bicycling Colorado (via Bike Shop Girl).
I’ll be back at year’s end with a 2011 wrap up post (similar to this one from last year). Until then, enjoy the holidays and get out on your bike a bit. That’s my plan for the week at least.
... Bicycle Design
Published: Dec 30, 2011 - 09:50 AM
Articles: ‘If we want to win the Olympic road race, we need Dave’: Cavendish wants Millar in Olympics
World champion calls for Scottish rider to be at London 2012
Britain’s top medal hope for the men’s road race at the London Olympic Games, Mark Cavendish, has made a strong appeal for David Millar to be allowed compete in the 2012 competition.
The call comes as the World Anti Doping Agency [WADA] prepares to take the British Olympic Association [BOA] to CAS over the latter’s lifetime ban from the Olympics for drugs cheats.
... Velonation
Published: Dec 30, 2011 - 09:45 AM
Articles: LATEST NEWS: CONTADOR'S FATE SEEMS TO HAVE AN END DATE
Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador will find out "between January 15 and 20" whether he is to be handed a doping ban from cycling, a top official was reported as saying Wednesday.
Contador, the standout stage racer of his generation, was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) earlier this year despite testing positive for clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France, which he won.
... Roadbikenews
Published: Dec 30, 2011 - 09:42 AM
Vid/Story Dangerous Dan - REDUX
We were just out for a ride. Morgan and I were climbing the fire road on Fromme, talking about trails and riders and builders, when we passed the bottom of Dangerous Dan's 'The Flying Circus.' The Circus has begun to succumb to natural forces as the forest slowly pulls down structures, rots logs and consumes the once formidable trail.
... NSMBe.Magazine
Published: Dec 30, 2011 - 09:31 AM
Articles: Your Bike — Your Brain
How Riding your Bike is Good for your Brain -part 1
It’s obvious how fantastic you feel after a long ride or a tough race, quads throbbing as you challenge friends to the top of a climb or sprint against rivals to the finish line. What you may not be aware of is that while your legs and lungs are getting a great workout, your brain is actually growing fitter too!
We’re all familiar with the “feel good hormones” endorphins and dopamine that are secreted by the brain during exercise. These neurotransmitters are responsible for the euphoria we feel whenever we ride our bikes. But riding our bikes affects our brain on a much deeper, much broader scale.
... Women's Cycling
Published: Dec 30, 2011 - 09:26 AM
Articles: Found: Road Rash Guard – Clip On Body Armor for Roadies
Road Rash Guard is the invention of Dr. Rob Wise and is essentially a set of plastic clamshells that clip to your shorts, jersey or arm/knee warmers to provide a buffer between you and the pavement.
With a weight of just 7g each and a flat inner surface, it’s designed to feel seamless on your skin. RRG claims the positions are pretty universal when it comes to suffering road rash, and by putting their guards on in the right place, you’ll minimize the damage to your skin. A set of four retails for $28.95.
... Bikerumor
Published: Dec 29, 2011 - 10:40 AM
Articles: Mark Cavendish craves Olympic gold
Mark Cavendish comes off of 2011 with a new team, the green jersey from the Tour de France AND the World Championship stripes, but that does not mean that the Manx rider is ready to sit on his laurels in 2012. Whether he’ll return to France to defend his sprinter’s jersey is not yet known, but Cav definitely has his sights set on the 2012 Olympic road race in London.
... Bikeworldnews
Published: Dec 29, 2011 - 10:37 AM
Articles: How The Race Was Bought
How The Race Was Won - Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2010 from Cosmo Catalano on Vimeo.
Back in the spring of 2010, when a short bike commute meant I still had time to make videos, I had the distinct pleasure of defending Alexander Vinokourov’s performance in what I thought was a very cannily raced Liege-Bastogne-Liege. While a host of riders may have been stronger, Vino’ leveraged timing and infighting among the favorites to get away for a his second win at the the sport’s oldest currently-running race.
... Cyclocosm
Published: Dec 29, 2011 - 10:34 AM
Articles: The Torqued Wrench: Good ideas gone awry
It is October of 1996, shortly after Bjarne Riis’ Tour de France victory. Cycling is in the midst of a technological revolution; carbon fiber permeates the professional peloton, allowing engineers to cast off the constraints of metallic frame building in favor of radical, wind-cheating designs.
The most refined race machines of the mid-1990s, particularly time trial bikes, are nothing like they were just a few years ago — it has been only seven years since Greg LeMond confirmed the supremacy of his aerobars aboard a steel Botecchia, yet in a mere eight months Riis will hurl his $20,000 monocoque carbon monstrosity into a field. The radical carbon “funny bikes” that have sprouted like weeds in the last few years may still have two wheels and a chain, but are otherwise unidentifiable as relations to their predecessors. They simply don’t look like bikes anymore.
... VeloNews
Published: Dec 29, 2011 - 10:30 AM
Articles: Most Watched Filmmaker Videos of 2011
... click HERE to see more.
Published: Dec 29, 2011 - 10:28 AM
Articles: Cervélo insists possible sale would not damage company
Canadian framebuilder moves to play down uncertainty
Days after announcing that it had entered into a financing arrangement with Dutch company PON Holdings BV, the Cervélo frame company has admitted that a sale is possible but insists that it would have no negative effects.
... VeloNation
Published: Dec 29, 2011 - 10:25 AM
Articles: Riis and the latest Schleck slp-down
The off-season has been open season on Andy Schleck. Nearly everyone has taken shots, offered their critics and generally questioned Andy’s approach to everything on and off the bike.
... Twisted Spoke
Published: Dec 29, 2011 - 10:21 AM
Articles: Bicycle Furniture
... to see something for the bathroom go to Bicycle Chic
Published: Dec 29, 2011 - 10:19 AM
Articles: All You Need is Love - and Bicycles
... for more lovely pictures click HERE
Published: Dec 28, 2011 - 02:19 PM
Articles: Cadel Evans shooting for Olympic gold in London
Australian Tour de France champion will ride time trial and road race
Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) will be going for an impressive triple next summer, as the Australian champion is planning to race the Tour de France, the Olympic road race, and the time trial as well.
The Tour concludes on July 22, and the road race takes place a mere six days later on July 28. The time trial follows on August 1.
... VeloNation
Published: Dec 28, 2011 - 02:17 PM
Articles: WYMTM Photo Competition Underway
I’m also seeing lots of other good photos come through but unfortunately they’re not making it through to the competition because they lack certain elements (eg. low quality, poor composition, not within the theme of competition, etc).
I want you to be as creative as possible so I haven’t put many guidelines on what will be accepted into the competition, but here are a few of the better photos that I’ve hand picked to give you an idea:
... Cycling Tips
Published: Dec 28, 2011 - 02:14 PM
Articles: Why We SHOULDN’T Wear Helmets
Urban Velo previously posted this interview with Mikael-Colville Anderson of Copenhagen Cycle Chic and in this TEDx talk he discusses his opinions (err…stirs the pot?) in the ol’ helmet debate.
To summarize his talk, Anderson feels we live in a culture of fear that scares people away from seeing the bike as a rational and safe means of transportation by relying heavily on promoting helmet usage. He pulls from scientific studies and various polls that reference both the risks and rewards of cycling as well as other activities, such as driving and walking. Ultimately, he feels cycling gets the short end of the stick as an activity that is promoted as far more dangerous than it actually is.
... UrbanVelo
Published: Dec 28, 2011 - 02:09 PM
Articles: The Explainer: Is time running out on the Armstrong case?
Dear Explainer,
I am among those who really wish “the past” would just go away, but it hasn’t yet. Is December 31 the absolute drop-dead date for grand-jury action on the Lance Armstrong case? Is there wiggle room?
― Tim
Dear Tim,
I am not one of those lawyers who has a lot of experience with federal grand juries — either as an attorney or as a defendant — so I checked in with a friend who works as an assistant U.S. attorney in another district.
... Redkiteprayer
Published: Dec 28, 2011 - 02:03 PM
Articles: Mud. Blood. Scrap metal. Glory.
It’s that time! Get your tetanus shots, get your knobbies, and come out for the most unusual cyclocross event in the country.” – Isis Shiffer
For those of you that aren’t familiar with this event, the Bilenky Junkyard Cyclocross Race is just that. Every December we host a cyclocross race in our adjacent junkyard. It started out as a combination holiday party, Bilenky open house, and a fun conclusion to the cross season. Anyone who is brave enough races over junked cars, through hollowed out school buses, around scrap metal and puddles of oil. This year’s race director was the lovely Isis Shiffer with lots of help from the rest of the Bilenky crew (thanks Jake, Naomi and Kasy!), and a handful of hardworking volunteers.
... Embrocation
Published: Dec 26, 2011 - 09:59 AM
Articles: Drew Bezanson is back
Drew Bezanson from Justen Soule on Vimeo.
Finally back on the bike after a head injury kept him off for 5 months, Drew Bezanson seems to be back and better than ever. This clip is filled with bangers, but just wait until the end. Unreal
Published: Dec 26, 2011 - 09:54 AM
Articles: 100 Most Viewed Photos of 2011 - Part 1
Most Viewed Photos 51-100
... PinkBike
Published: Dec 26, 2011 - 09:50 AM
Articles: Thomas Voeckler is no Edith Piaf.
Voekler and his Tour de France regrets
Thomas Voeckler is no Edith Piaf.
Her famous song “Je ne regrette rien” is not the tune that Voeckler is wistfully humming. He just came out in the press and admitted he does have regrets about missing the podium in this year’s Tour de France.
... Twisted Spoke
Published: Dec 26, 2011 - 09:47 AM
Articles: Your Most Important Muscles on the Bike
Think those razor cut quads are responsible for your cycling prowess? Think again.
The legs tend to get all the credit when it comes to spinning your wheels, whether you’re indoors or out. In fact, it’s usually the quads and hamstrings that complain the most when your terrain takes a turn up and up and up. Professional cyclist Jens Voigt is famed for describing the conflict that goes on between the body and the brain during grueling rides. Jens tells his legs to “shut up”!
... Women's Cycling
Published: Dec 26, 2011 - 09:42 AM
Articles: To all of you
Published: Dec 25, 2011 - 10:22 AM
Articles: Things I am Thankful For
Christmas is a great time to look back and be thankful for what you have and what you were able to achieve in the past year. I’m not a very religious person but the Christmas holiday always leaves me feeling very humbled and thankful for my life and loved ones.
... Bikeshopgirl
Published: Dec 24, 2011 - 02:08 AM
Articles: Steve Jobs’ Bicycle
Mona Simpson, a novelist and professor of English at the University of California Los Angeles, was Steve Jobs’ sister. She delivered this eulogy for her brother on October 16. It was a beautiful and moving eulogy. There is one quote of interest to cyclists. Steve Jobs live well below his means. He was an extremely wealthy man but didn’t live excessively. It was important to him that his children were well grounded and not spoiled by the wealth. However it seems that there was one area where he did splurge - on his bicycle. In the eulogy, his sister said
“This is not to say that he didn’t enjoy his success: he enjoyed his success a lot, just minus a few zeros. He told me how much he loved going to the Palo Alto bike store and gleefully realizing he could afford to buy the best bike there.
And he did.”
I don’t know what bike he bought, but I like that this was the area where he decided to splurge. I only wish he had chosen to design a bike rather than buying one. The results might have been very interesting.
... Bicyclespokesman
Published: Dec 24, 2011 - 02:03 AM
Articles: The top ten sprinters of all time
Which of pro cycling's speedsters make the cut?</big
What distinguishes the greatest sprinters in cycling history? Surely, their palmarčs. A massive amount of Grand Tour stages, a handful of points competition jerseys, a few Classic wins and possibly a World Championship victory or two make up the rider profile we were looking for to write this feature. And a few names immediately came to mind: Erik Zabel, Mario Cipollini, Mark Cavendish... So much for the more recent riders that have made history in the cycling sprint (or are still doing so).
... Cycling News
Published: Dec 24, 2011 - 01:57 AM
