USA Today to Cyclists: Get the %$## off the road!

USA Today article: Two-wheel troublemaking: Have motorists let bicyclists' 'rights' go too far?

Its unfortunate when a major news publication lets itself be used for such one-sided journalism. I sent my two cents directly to the editor.

With acknowledgements to Patrick O'Grady/Maddogmedia for the illustration.

Sweepers, anyone?

This picture of a dysfunctional bike lane is not from Los Alamos, but from Tulsa, OK, with acknowledgments to CycleDog and Ed Wagner. When I break out my digital camera, I'll take some local pictures of problems closer to home.

Having said that, I've seen sections of bike lanes here in Bomb Town that have not seen a broom for a long time. Send your pictures here and we can post 'em.

I am sympathetic to the County because we have a lot of new construction going on and it makes it hell on Tom Roach and his Pavement Div, who are stretched pretty thin. But if our bike lanes are to work reasonably well, we need to keep them free of crud, and that language was included in the 2005 Council action that created our Bicycling Transportation System.

I personally had a bad run in with a motorist who got his knickers in a knot after I moved into a travel lane to avoid a smashed beer bottle in a bike lane. We don't need that sort of bad attitude, or that sort of broken glass.

So to the county, please find time to sweep, esp. on Diamond. To our citizens, please don't use the bike lanes as places to leave junk.

Mahalo nui loa!

Frank Zappa, at 22, playing the bicycle on the Steve Allen Show

TGIF!
Actually #1 in a series of four.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e3I0iagWXU

Bicycling politics: Gloom vs. Hope?

Great essay on cycling advocacy and safety by Mighk Wilson here.

Gail Ryba Medical Fund

I'm posting this on behalf of several BCNM Board members.

Many of you know Gail Ryba personally from the many years she served as our Bike Coalition President, Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, League Cycling Instructor.... as well as other do-good non-profit activities. Many of you are aware she has been fighting Cancer, and doing well! Unfortunately, medical co-pays and some non-covered services are making things pretty tight financially.

This email is in part to suggest that we all consider what I will call 'delayed recognition' for all those years of hard work, all those good deeds, and all that inspiration.... and consider donating to a Fund we have set up at Los Alamos Natl Bank. You can mail donations for deposit to

the 'Gail Ryba Medical Fund'
c/o Los Alamos National Bank
301 Griffin St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501
or call 505-954-5400 if you have questions

Air Caddy

This looks like a cool product.

Fast Food Drivethrough Turns Down a Cyclist (initially)

This is my favorite fast food joint in the world, which apparently had a stupid rule about bicyclists using their drivethroughs:

Burgerville and Cyclists.

Commuter/Cross bike for sale

2004 Redline Conquest Pro cyclocross bike, disk and canti compatible frame and fork, never crashed or dented. Used as a daily commuter, not raced.

Selling because it is too tall for me (shoulda researched Redline’s dimensions better).

54 cm (C-T), 31.2 inch standover clearance with 700-23 c tires.

Components are a mix and match since the bike was set up for everyday commuting:

8 speed Shimano (Ultegra bar ends, 105 front /XT rear derailleurs)

Nashbar 13-32 cassette and compact 50-34 crank

32H Sora hubs/Mavic MA 3 rims no-name spokes currently shod with Vittoria Randonneur Pro 700-35 tires.

Avid Shorty 4 cantilever brakes/Dia Compe drop bar levers

Turbo seat, Nashbar micro adjustable seat post

Asking $475 or make offer. Suitable for commuting as is. Will also sell just the frame and fork/headset (make offer) if you are gonna race it or are otherwise not interested in the prosaic parts.

Call Khal Spencer if interested. 665-2418 W 661-8141 H

More info on bike here.