Intextication
This is chilling stuff: Austin child criticially hurt in suspected 'texting while driving' crash, especially when you look at [what to the child][] and the aftermath of the impact.
This sort of thing makes my blood run cold for two reasons. Firstly, I can see my own family in that picture; and secondly, I can't help thinking what would have happened if it had been a cyclist just like me who'd been struck at 70 mph. [via [How We e][]]
It's a sock thing
Maybe I just have a sock thing, but I reckon these [bright orange shoe s][] are pretty cool. On the other hand, the [bright orange helment r][] is just plain dicky, but it's waterproof which is nice.
Milestone
Lachlan has been back on the bike for two years and he's clearly having a great time.
Important point:
When I first started out commuting I never intended to ride the full 27km commute, figured it was too far. After six months of slowly stepping up the commute I found I could not only ride the full commute, but do so reliably 5 days a week.
You don't need to go gung-ho and plunge in "all-the-way everyday" to start commuting by bike. Go multi-mode and remember the Ride2School message Part Way is OK! applies equally to adult commuters.
Where ya bin
BikeBins=lockable hard-shell panniers. [via Bike Rumor]
Cargo bike
At the 2009 Seattle Bike Expo bicycles functioning as cargo bikes, or in other utilitarian means, caught my attention. Two companies, Madsen and Metrofiets, seemed to have the same vision: move greater masses of cargo with a bicycle while keeping the frame elegant and functional.
I've got a plan
"Peddling priority" in The Age:
When the road builders start riding their bikes to work instead of driving, it's clear something different is happening.
That was confirmed yesterday with the launch of the Victorian Cycling Strategy, a 15 million Brumby Government plan to get more people cycling.
By the way, surely the subbies at The Age meant Pedalling priority?
Wide shoulder required
Sometimes 3 feet may not be enough! (Hmmm, we suspect the use of Photoshop here…)
Boxed bikes in a corner
According to Bike Europe, the [low end bicycle sector is g][]:
The main message of this year's Taipei Cycle Show is that the low end sector is really troubled. After it became clear that Europe's largest sporting goods retail chain, Decathlon, stopped all bike shipments…
Halfords UK, the biggest bike retailer in the UK with a market share of about 30% indicated to its suppliers that because of too high inventory levels shipments should be stopped in the period January up to April, 2009.
Walmart is also overstocked and not buying low end bikes at the moment.
It's pretty grim for the manufacturers, but maybe it's a good time to haggle if you're looking for a cheap-and-cheerful clunker?
You pong
Cyclepong is an update of the classic arcade game Pong to use bikes as the controllers.
Inevitable, really. [twitterer]
Velocast
YarraBUG radio is going podcast. Hooray. Now I'll be able to catch every show, not just the one or two per month when I can tune in! [[via Melbourne Cyclist]
Creepy bike hate
Seriously, who's got time to read every BSNYC post? But this one caught my eye in the feed reader: Anti-Veloism: Weird, Creepy Bike Hate. "Gay" as an insult? Lycra or leather? Hetero or gay? Two-wheels good?
In any case, we all look equally ridiculous, so hopefully we can at least watch out for each-other on the way to our respective "gay and retarded" hangouts.
Backflip
Flash game: BMX Backflips 2 [twitterer]
Supersized Alpine
Nearly forgot to mention today's big news: next year Audax Australia is offering a 250km option at the Alpine Classic. The "Alpine Classic Extreme" will go via Mt Hotham and Falls Creek, and I see that someone has already speculated on the route (not that there's much choice!) [twitterer] (who I didn't believe)
Comments
Welcome back Crowlie (long time no…)
You're right, of course. It's well worth casting a critical (even cynical) eye over an el cheapo bike. And it's true that a reconditioned quality second-hand bike will be your friend for much longer.
All of your anecdotes made me laugh, especially the plastic derailleur! Talk about unsuited to the task. I also worry about plastic brake calipers on cheapie bikes—they are not something you want to fail unexpectedly and catastrophically.
G'day....
Regarding the low end bikes... I've worked on a few of those things and I'm inclined to say it's probably a good thing there's less of them being bought. Some of the parts on the cheap and nasty department store bikes are downright dangerous. I've had at least one really unfortunate nut strip completely while attempting a simple adjustment on brake calipers. The alloy was utter crap. Can't imagine what the rest of the brake components, not to mention the frame, were made from.
And how's about those you-beaut wonderful "mountain bike" lookalikes with front shockers and all, bearing stickers that say "Not designed for off road use"!
Then there was the front deraileur that was made of plastic and would bend rather than shifting gears.
On top of that a friend took a cheap bike back for a bit of attention and was told that if he was going to take his "mountain bike" over gutters they refused to service it. Hmmm.
If you want a real entry level bike get a good second hand one and put the money into parts. Might seem a little heavier to start with, but the jolly thing will be less likely to fall apart.
(IMHO... YMMV) ;-)