June 2006 Archive
Jun 30, 2006 · 12:11 PM
In what’s being called Black Friday by cycling fans, the news continues with a full update and background report from Velonews, including how the “eve of the tour” massacre went down. What we know now is that, according to the ProTour rules, any rider implicated in a doping investigation will not be allowed to start and the list of those not starting continues to grow. The NYTimes and Cyclingnews have updated coverage.
Remember to follow the TDF Blog for more tour news and reports.
Jun 30, 2006 · 08:31 AM
This week Pam and I were out on an early evening ride and met Justin, a fixed gear commuter, and talked at length about his bike, his 40 mile commute, single speeds, and the culture. I also talked with colleagues in the bike industry about single speeds and they observed that it’s like mtn biking in the 80s with lots of camaraderie, socializing, and not being so competitive (also noting mtn biking was originally about getting stoned, drinking beer, and riding trails) . Call it old school, minimalism or simplicity, Justin said it best when I asked why he rode with one gear and he replied, “It clears my head to not shift. I just ride.”
Earlier this year, at Swan Island, they had a Fixed Gear category with about 30 racers and I noticed all the back slapping and “wow, nice work, spinning up that gear.” All of them were just happy to have completed the race and rode together.
Responding to the “fixie” sub culture, Redline, Novara, Surly are all offering bikes. Also check Steinworks that manufactures “sculpture in motion,” the fixedgear blog, fixedgeargallery and in the Fall, bike hugger is going to build up a single-speed rain bike from the parts bin and blog all about it.
Jun 30, 2006 · 07:58 AM
Howard sent us a link to his personal account of Ride the Rockies. “419 miles later… and now we’ve spent the entire weekend recovering. It hasn’t been enough. And there’s not enough Advil in the world to make us all better.”
Good work Howard. The first thing I always tell anyone that asks me about preparing for an epic ride is to use chamois creme (tip, Noxema works really well).
Jun 30, 2006 · 07:33 AM
July is the time of year when the world pays more attention to cycling, the tour starts, the STPs are out riding everywhere, the days are long, it’s not raining, and more. It’s usually a good time to be a bike hugger, but this year, what started as a drug scandal with wild speculation, confusing facts, declaration of innocence and guilt by association in the European media, has resulted in riders not being allowed to start the race. Those riders including the two favorites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso.
As the news about the scandal and suspensions pour in, it’s chaotic and confusing and I’m stunned. I’m following the news on the Tour de France blog, our partner in cycling. More reports from
Later when the Tour starts, we’ll offer some insight here and explanation (besides the scandal) of how the race works.
Jun 29, 2006 · 02:05 PM
MAKE: Blog: Bicycle blenders
Over at the weblog for Make: magazine, they run down a variety of non-Starbuck options for blending delicious drinks via human power, including the Xtracycle-based Byerley Bicycle Blender, Tyler Durden's favorite soap blender, and a homebrew margarita mixer from Vancouver.
Jun 28, 2006 · 02:53 PM
It what could be the worst use of pedal power ever, Starbucks has been getting press for their Fender Blender that whips up drinks full of fat and sugar. I saw it on MSNBC, found a related news story online, and images. Now if that had been to power the lights in the store with pedals, or a lean drink, or something healthy.
Update
Several clicks and related links later, I found the Bike Blender blog where they are doing good things with their bikes and blenders. We need a beer brewing bike.
Jun 28, 2006 · 07:54 AM
We met Elizabeth racing monday nights in Portland. She graduated from college in the 80s, worked for Bill Davidson, got the 2nd Impulse ever made and after racing her ass off, hung the bike up for 20 years. She recently rediscovered the bike and is racing it today!
She noted that the wheels are new but everything else is just as it was. Old school.
Davidson Impulses are legendary. Google and find them being sold as collectables, people riding them 20 years later, racing and loving them.
Bill is building today. I ride a custom ti rain bike built by Bill and Pam’s custom racing bike is ti. Last year Bill built ti/carbon frames and expect to see more advanced frames from him later this year.
Jun 27, 2006 · 06:11 PM
The Surgeon General affirmed today what many already knew about smoking. Second-hand smoke kills and there’s no debate. The Surgeon General also testified that smoking sections do no good and said that, “Smoke-free environments are the only approach that protects nonsmokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke.”
I hope this means that some day soon, all states will ban smoking in public and the world will be a better place for cyclists and everybody.
Jun 27, 2006 · 09:11 AM
I was dismissive of the minicard when it came with my new credit card. Like, “huh, what’s this lame thing.” But then I started carrying it in my Timbuk2 pouch and it’s very useful. I attached to my key ring, can get water and snacks on the go, have it for an emergency, and it’s my ID.
Jun 27, 2006 · 07:57 AM
The Bike Hugger Photostream has been updated with a new album that include recent shots from Portland
To use the photocast, simply subscribe in iPhoto or your newsreader. Learn more about photocasting from Apple’s iLife and start your own.
Jun 26, 2006 · 08:43 AM
France's Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli, the winningest female bicycle racer of all time, extended her legend over the weekend, taking both the French elite women's road championship and women's time trial championship, at 47!
They're her 50th and 51st national titles. Can't find any stories about it in English, but the French blogosphere took notice: La Flamme Rouge: Absolument incroyable. Le Blog de Sohra: ...au fait, bravo à Jeannie Longo qui a 47 ans a signé le doublé (course - contre la montre) au championnat de France de Cyclisme. Belle preuve de longévité!
Above is Longo taking time trial gold at the Atlanta Olympics, where she also took silver in the women's road race.
Jun 26, 2006 · 07:18 AM
We rode the nearly complete Sweetwater bike trail in Portland on Sunday. We were almost lost until we met a local that showed us the way back to town and rode with us through the Hawthorne district, Mt Tabor neighborhood, and more.
When it’s complete, the Sweetwater corridor will offer a 40 mile loop to a town that’s already as bike friendly as you can get.
Jun 25, 2006 · 08:55 AM
Yesterday marked the first ride without arm and leg warmers or a vest! Summer arrived with an absolutely beautiful day in Seattle. A breeze kept the temps in the low 80s and we rode a relaxed ride around Lake Washington.
Today it’s going to be even hotter and we’re headed to Portland to ride, meet with clients, and race on Monday night.
Jun 25, 2006 · 08:07 AM
Check the photos from a recent Chinook Cycle Club race for the best roads you’ll ever see or ride. I grew up in the Tri-Cities, learned how to ride with the team on those roads, and enjoy returning in the Spring and Fall when it’s colorful and cool.
If you’re in town and looking for a group ride, that’s the one. They’ll ride hard, wait for you on the rollers, and 3 of them will eventually ride everyone else off their wheels. Earlier in the year, I posted on my blog about the Inland Empire Century Ride and riding those roads again.
Jun 21, 2006 · 09:33 AM
Popular Science | Build a Backyard Theater
Popular Science built a rolling outdoor projector, capable of projecting movies onto the side of a building. They built theirs on a beefy stainless steel chassis and used what appear to be fixed 16" lawnmower wheels, but you could probably build the same equipment onto a CycleTote bare trailer if you built some vibration isolation into the mount.
LumenLab offers do-it-yourself kits and replacement parts for the projector.
Jun 19, 2006 · 07:35 PM
bicycle race, by beta karel.
Jun 19, 2006 · 07:20 PM
VeloNews | Sustaining Sanity in Iraq: The Chow Race
VeloNews has been printing a series of diary entries by Maj. Jason Bryan, a serviceman in Iraq who is keeping his sanity through daily “perimeter rides” around his base, 18.5 kilometers (about 11 miles) to a lap.
He's doing a lap in the morning and a lap in the evening, and has been averaging about 100 kilometers/week. For June, he's set a goal of 1000 kilometers, and says his VeloNews celebrity has motivated him: He's through 800 kilometers with almost 2 weeks to go. He's thinking about whether he could do 1600 kms, or 1000 miles. He set a new personal best this week of 36:04, and discusses the big advantage his bike gives him when it's time for chow hall.
Some things never change: He's got to contend with dogs on his rides, and the desert is hard on components, so he's learning how to do maintenance. On the other hand, I've never come across two cobras on a ride.
Despite the trying conditions, Maj. Bryan is clearly One Of Us.
Maj. Bryan's diary entries:
June 5: Letter from Iraq: Not your usual road hazards
June 7: Sustaining Sanity in Iraq: A Soldier's Bicycle Journal
June 12: Sustaining Sanity in Iraq: What a long, strange trip it's been
Jun 19, 2006 · 09:58 AM
In what some were calling, “the best transition ever,” the Podium Girls Gone Bad can be seen in this video (QuickTime 200K) dominating the Marymoor Little 100 on Saturday. A few laps later and they won for the 3rd year in a row. The video is also available for your iPod.
For some background, see my earlier post. The Marymoor Little 100 is a sort of urban/punk rock homage to Breaking Away (one of two American films on cycling), where cyclists dress up in silly outfits and ride around the track on cruiser bikes. Breaking Away’s plot centers on the Indiana Little 500, a relay bike race that is taken very seriously by the groups that participate and is still ran today. The Marymoor Little 100 is taken very seriously as well, but by guys wearing nothing but tidy whities and girls dressed up like 80s Madonna.
Jun 19, 2006 · 09:41 AM
The Ditty Bops are blogging a bicycle tour across America in support of cycling, clean air, and their new album Moon Over the Freeway.
The cycling Betties just started their journey for good music and good riding and are being helped by the Adventure Cycling Association. I couldn’t find their route, but they should include Portland where they could get the key to the city during Pedalpalooza!
For more on the Ditty Bops, check their Myspace and of note is how the music industry is tapping into cycling culture.
Jun 18, 2006 · 10:21 AM
Added a photocast (rss reader, or iPhoto required) to Bike Hugger today with photos from a ride around Lake Washington, Flying Wheels Century, and the Marymoor Little 100. Favs include
Jun 17, 2006 · 08:22 AM
The Flying Wheels Summer Century is on today. Right after the wheels stop flying, you can cheer on your favorite Cutter at the Marymoor Little 100. Best part about the Little 100 is that you can drink beer, while subjective voting occurs on categories like, “best team costume concept, smoothest switch out, most aggressive prime lap, best shaven legs …”
Bike Huggers will be there, in effect, taking photos and dunking someone in the dunk tank.
Jun 16, 2006 · 01:19 PM
Kryptonite Announces Top 10 Worst Cities for Bicycle Theft
Kryptonite, makers of the ubiquitous U-Lock, named New York its worst city for bike theft (no surprise, there).
They don't explain their methodology, just “its own proprietary data,” but here's the full list:
Kryptonite's Top 10 Worst Cities for Bike Theft:
- New York, NY
- San Francisco, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Washington, DC
- Boston, MA
- Eugene, OR
- Philadephia, PA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Miami, FL
They also suggest a number of fairly common-sense tips (lock to a secure object, lock in a visible, well-lit area), and at least one I've never done: “Always lock your bike, especially when at home.” Couldn't hurt; I may start.
And what city sticks out like a sore thumb from that list? That's right -- Eugene. All the others are big population centers. I guess that's the downside to being one of the best cities for cycling: If you can get anywhere by bicycle, everybody's gonna want one.
(Via Cycle-Licious.)
Jun 16, 2006 · 12:13 PM
2006 Denver Post Ride The Rockies
Good luck to the 2000 lucky lottery winners kicking off “Ride the Rockies” on Sunday in Cortez.
This year's route travels through Durango, then down into New Mexico, before turning almost straight north to Salida and Cañon City. We'll be linking to weblog entries and photos from along the ride next week. If you find any, please send them along; our suggestions e-mail is “huggable” at this domain name.
Jun 16, 2006 · 11:37 AM
Bicicle2, by valpopando.
Jun 16, 2006 · 09:14 AM
Last year, just about this time of year, I was riding in Colorado, up to Lizard Head Pass and just as my head started to clear from work stress, I was focusing on surviving the hail, cold, wet and precipitous drops off and thought, “this is it.” This is what I want to do and blog about. This is my lifestyle. It is about the bike and I’m lucky enough to work with designers and clients that made this blog happen.
We’ve still got some work to do. Get a blog roll up, photos, affiliates and mostly post about riding, commuting, and cycling.
Jun 14, 2006 · 01:43 PM
Bike Hugger is a blog for the cycling enthusiast, for the commuter, and people getting into the cycling lifestyle. We’ve also got product reviews in the works, ride reports, and more. Bike Hugger is about riding your bike and we’re glad you visited. Today we’re soft launching, in the coming weeks, we’ll post more features, and later today we’re going out for a long ride.
Jun 05, 2006 · 02:35 PM
BusinessWeek | A Commuter's Secret Weapon
BusinessWeek offers a look at folding bikes, including a comparison of a Brompton, a Birdy, Xootr's Swift, and two Dahons, the Speed Pro TT and and Speed D7.
The author test rides each around Washington, DC, and rates the Brompton smallest folding and cleverest, the Birdy, with its front suspension system, the smoothest, the Xootr as “most like a real bike,” the Dahon Speed Pro the fastest, and the Speed D7 the best value ($330 list).
