As it was a folding bike, I first assumed that the main hinge had sprung open (a fair assumption—a few days earlier I’d ridden several kilometres without closing any of the safety catches!) But no, there was the main tube neatly shorn in two. No bike is supposed to fold that way…

It's not supposed to fold there

Later inspection showed that the fracture just past the end of a reinforcing bracket. And about five minutes of searching on the ‘net turned up a number of other reports of similar failures in the same model, the 2003 Dahon Boardwalk (see Tom Worthington—note very similar photos to here—and dxfyo on Bike Forums). This looks to me like a serious design flaw.

Clean break: note the reinforcing bracket underneath the left-hand (rear) section

I was more than halfway home when this happened, and when I think about where and when that failure could have occurred on that ride alone—descending at speed, in Victoria Pde being tailgated by an impatient white van driver, bumping over bluestone speed humps, rattling along gravel paths—I get the chills. It’s a very scary thought.

Not intended for hard usage—like riding slowly along flat sealed roads…?

I’m sure Dahon makes a quality product but my experience of this failure and my subsequent discovery that other bikes have failed in exactly the same way leads to only one conclusion: the 2003 Dahon Boardwalk is not safe to ride. If you happen to have one, junk it.

As for my fractured bike, it’ll be stripped for parts and unceremoniously dumped.

My Dahon Boardwalk, before it all went wrong

Help me choose a new one

So now the hunt commences for a replacement folding bike. At the moment my criteria are:

• Good riding. It’s going to be a serious commuting machine (the Dahon did over 4000km in the last few years).
• Good fit. See above. In practical terms, this means good adjustability.
• Simple and compact fold. And it would be handy if I could stash it under the desk.
• Standard parts wherever possible. Let’s make tweaking and customising as simple/inexpensive as possible.
• Hub gears. I’m now convinced that the shorter chainstays make derailleur gears pretty ineffective on most folding bikes.
• Rugged. Seriously, I’m not interested in having another bike crumple underneath me!

Got any suggestions for what I should ride now? Any important criteria that I’ve missed?

Well, maybe he didn’t really attempt to kill me but he did intend to intimidate and put me in fear of my safety.

Mr Impatient, behind the wheel. I met him at an intersection. A quiet back street. He was driving in from a quiet side street. Despite the fact that he was supposed to give way to me (and I was already in the intersection), he was off, trying to overtake me as he turned. No way was he going to sit behind a mere bike for a second!

But I could see what he couldn’t because a parked car obscured his view of the oncoming car. Without evasive action, a collision was certain. Self-preservation kicked-in: I lurched for the gutter and signalled that there was a problem.

Now when someone does something silly like this, you normally expect some recognition that they’ve got it wrong, an indication that they accept they made a mistake. Not Mr Impatient. He just floored it and went screaming away through the narrow gap left when the more cautious road users braked heavily around him.

So Mr Impatient sped away, into a school zone, then stopped not a hundred metres away at the door of the local kindergarten. The distance was so short that I was past him again before he had a chance to open his door and get out (that’s assuming he did get out—he was so impatient, I wouldn’t be surprised if he just opened the door and pushed his kid out).

The next thing I know, he’s right behind me as I’m waiting to turn into a busier road. He starts revving his engine and pushing up close behind me. Seriously intimidating stuff. Apparently my “crime” here was that I wasn’t far enough over to the left—presumably so that he could squeeze through and make the turn ahead of me—despite the fact that there was heavy traffic on the road we were turning into. Even if I had bowed and tugged my forelock and let my petrol-powered master go ahead of me, he wouldn’t have made the turn one second faster. But bugger logic, I was In His Way.

And this is what bugs me. This guy was happy to endanger my safety (twice), risk a head-on collision with another car, and to speed through a speed-restricted school zone—and yet he’s a parent himself! Talk about a lack of insight and perspective. Would he like people to go speeding where his kids are walking? Would his kids be happy if his physical safety were needlessly threatened in the street?

Now I can let most of the bad stuff that happens on the road slide. But this idiot really needed some special treatment. I exploded. Informing him in no uncertain terms that I thought he was a homicidal nutcase. Unfortunately, by turning around and engaging like this, I gave him two things that he wanted: a reaction, and enough space to squeeze through. With a squeal of tyres he was gone.

An encounter like this can ruin your whole ride. But I refuse, simply refuse, to let selfish bastards steal my joy. So instead of dwelling on today’s twerp, I deliberately called to mind all of the times that people in cars have done kindly by me. Those who wait their turn and completely change lanes to overtake, give way properly, slow down and generally look out for the more vulnerable road user.

And I called up one particular memory of a recent incident that played against stereotype. On a busy road, I was stuck out in the centre lane making a right turn. Thanks to traffic light sequences and the flow trams, traffic on this road is usually broken up enough that I can make the right turn without stopping. But not on this occasion: with two lines of traffic bearing down on me from behind I also had a line of traffic oncoming, and nowhere to go. Though perfectly legal, this was not a particularly safe or restful place to be. At the head of the oncoming traffic was a taxi, whose driver slowed down a little and blocked the following traffic, signalling me to make my turn. He smiled broadly as I completed my turn to safer ground and I waved my thanks gratefully. It cost the taxi driver less than a second in travel time, made no-one late for work, and filled my morning with sunshine.

I see little acts of courtesy every day. Idiots like Mr Impatient I see much less frequently. I’m glad that I can keep things in perspective.

Road toll: “the price we have to pay”?

Do We Tolerate Too Many Traffic Deaths? [twitterer]

Extreme

Extreme toy racing=extremely funny wipeouts.

Total respect

Pete Heal has cycled around Australia in 48-odd days. That’s an average of more than 300km per day. Respect.

Retribution

Every bicycle theft victim’s dream—methinks this video is more dream than reality, but it still makes pleasant viewing.

Helmet

Anecdote ain’t science, but still…This Helmet Saved My Life!

Park it here

Wall Street Journal reports on the cost of bike parking in New York City:

I’m pleased to report that my local garage is also doing its part to protect my life, by making the price of housing a bike there prohibitive…My garage is charging—no joke—$175 plus 8.875% tax. That’s almost $200 a month to stow a bike! You probably won’t be surprised to hear it has no takers. As one attendant observed, “You can buy a new bike” for that amount.

[via How We Drive]

Local government dickheads: 1

Casino city bans riding bikes through town. Words fail me. [twitterer]

Local government dickheads: 2

The Age reports:

A proposed ”no stopping zone” designed to improve bike safety along a stretch of road in bayside Melbourne will again be knocked back by a local council tomorrow night, despite robust support from the Victorian roads minister.

Bloggage

• Tokyo By Bike: “Once you’ve experienced Tokyo by Bicycle you’ll never ride the train again.”
• Randonneur Apprentice: “Learning something new on each and every brevet”
• Lovely Bicycle!

Perils of winter riding

Cold hands whilst riding – a cautionary tale

Proof

This video would seem to support the argument that you don’t need a mountain bike. [via Sydney Body Art Ride]

Inevitably

Following on from the Warrington Cycle Campaign, we now have out very own crap cycle lanes of Melbourne.

Trying to improve on perfection

10 Brilliant Bike Mods and Designs:

The bicycle is the near-perfect vehicle, but that doesn’t stop people from (brilliantly) messing with the design to increase speed, comfort or desirability to commuters.

DamianM: achiever

DamianM got a gong at the Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards—congratulations.

The problem with Albert

I may have more to say on this shortly, but for now: Albert street bike lane a joke?

Imagine what might happen…

…if all those cyclists gave up riding. [via CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum]

Cross

For some odd reason, I’m very pleased that there’s going to be a cyclocross series in Melbourne this year. Should be heaps of fun.

Fleeting glimpses

• Xtracycle-y Goodness outside the Vic Market
• I love riding in fog

Yessss! Who says girls can’t parallel park? [twitterer]

Cyclist detector

Apparently there is now a cyclist-friendly car:

Subaru has developed new safety technology that can detect and avoid pedestrians, cyclists and other cars on the road.

And in other news, most cars have had this feature for over 100 years. It’s called a careful and attentive driver. But wait…

“This doesn’t replace the driver, it helps the driver if they are not paying attention,” said Derek Ashby, National Manager Engineering and Technical Services for Subaru Australia.

WTF? If you’re not paying attention, you shouldn’t be f—ing driving! What a knob.

[twitterer]

Speed kills, going slow less so

The day I hit a child at 20mph – and realised the speed limit must be cut

Suddenly, a few speeding points on my licence don’t seem quite so innocent. If you have any, you should also feel ashamed. It is easy to exceed the speed limit and, thankfully, on this occasion, I wasn’t. Nor was I fiddling with my mobile phone, sat-nav, or CD player, all of which I have done before.

Paying for the roads

Recommended read of the week: Pay to Pedal? Reflections on an economic cycle

if what a person does imposes no costs or damage on anyone, there is no good reason to charge. We charge users not because of the benefits they derive but because of the costs of providing the relevant items. As a simple first principle, the amount of payment should accord with the costs imposed, not the benefits derived.

And the same applies in the USA, where cyclists ride on roads their taxes pay for:

The amount bicyclists overpay leaps out when you look at the costs of local roads, the roads cyclists use most. Litman found that only a third of the funds for their construction and maintenance comes from vehicle user charges; local property, income and sales taxes pay the rest. Automobile user fees contribute only about 1 cent per mile toward the costs of local roads but simultaneously impose costs more than six times that amount.

Here is the Whose Roads? paper referenced in that article.

Book it

More good reading in Carlton Reid’s Bike to Work Book digi-edition (May 2010), online now. [via road.cc]

Retraction

Another good read: Why I was foolish to mock police bike training.

Getting down your particulates

Toxic cities mock ‘healthy’ cycle riding:

Cycling to work may seem the healthy option, but a study has shown that people riding in cities inhale tens of millions of toxic nanoparticles with every breath, at least five times more than drivers or pedestrians.

I wonder how many of these particles cyclists expel again when breathing out?

Missed it again

Melburn-Roobaix was on last weekend. And I missed it. Again. Damn! Damn! Damn!

Reports from:

• Jack @ Melbourne Cyclist
• wurple.net
• Lawrence
• Cycling Tips

Tips for the road

Some really good ideas on sharing the road by Tanya Bosch. Among them:

The best advice my mother gave me was “treat everyone [as] if they are about to do something stupid”. She was referring to driving a car but it applies even more to bicycle riding.

[via About the bike]

Evaluation of risk

Children’s health suffering because it is ‘too risky’ to walk to school.

Go, Fabian, Go

Cancellara denies bike motor story, others debate the issue. Frankly, the second ‘button-pushing’ example is so blurry I can’t see what’s going on, but he does seem to have an amazing turn of speed. [thanks woowoowoo]

Love cycling in the city?

I Love Riding In the City at Urban Velo.

Bicycle innovation

Dave Moulton righly oberves that we owe a lot to the bicycle.

This is my T-shirt

ASHCAN offers the This Is My Bicycle. This Is My Gun. T-shirt. I’ll put that on my wish list, if anyone’s paying attention.

Check ‘em out

Top 50 cycling blogs 2010. (Oo! I got an ‘honourable mention’—thanks Andreas.)

Build it right and they will come

Bicycle Stations: A New Architectural Typology

With biking booming in many cities around the world, secure storage facilities are becoming essential. In the past decades cities have invested in bicycle paths as a process to increase bike commuting and reduce automobile usage, but little attention has been given to storage systems until recently. Instead of of using the typical bicycle cages and parking slabs cities are turning to a new typology of architecture which can give identity and encourage more bicycle commuters.

The hub

The Internal Gear Hub Review compares Shimano, SRAM, Sturmey Archer, Rohloff, and Fichtel & Sachs hub gears.

Hit the road

At Last – A Bike Lane That Makes Sense: “BIKE LANE WIDER THAN THE ROAD”!!!!

Biking the baby belly

Pedaling Pregnant:

Basically, when it comes to riding while pregnant, ask your doctor for permission. But if you rode your bike before, you will probably be cleared to continue doing so.

Most medical professionals say exercise is beneficial during pregnancy…The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology says healthy pregnant women should exercise at least three times a week and bicycling is one of their approved forms of exercise. The American Pregnancy Association says pregnant women should “avoid riding off the road or when the pavement is wet” because of accident risk. That’s the only warning they give.

[twitterer]

Meanwhile, in Mexico City

Mexico City offers bikes in its clean air campaign:

With its scofflaw drivers, gridlocked traffic and cobblestoned downtown, Mexico City isn’t the most bicycle-friendly place. But residents are being asked to take the risk for Madre Tierra as part of a larger campaign that leaders hope will clean up this 700-year-old metropolis.

[twitterer]

Parking

Says estuarycyclist: “Need somewhere to park your truck sir? No probs. Park it here…”

If I’m not mistaken, in the UK double yellow lines mean no parking. Hmm.

Bloggage

• The Urbane Cyclist Blog
• Cap’n Slow’s Cycling Blog and Revue

Bloody idiot

This guy is a bloody idiot on two counts. First, so drunk he was barely able to stand, “Everton rode on anyway, nearly hitting a child in a crosswalk before losing control of the bike and falling”. Then he later tries to appeal his conviction for DUI by claiming that bicycles are not vehicles. Yes they are, deadshit. [via Chainguard]

R is the best rating

Rated R.

Tour by bike

Cycle-touring: a vision of post-peak holidays?

Vehicular

Interesting critique of Vehicular Cycling but seems incomplete.

By the way, what’s a guaranteed way to get a stream of long, ranty comments? Bagging out the VC movement.

Street skeleton

The Soopa Scoota:

There’s not much to say about this scooter in the way of specific physical details, ironically, but what we do know here is that you lie on it with your hands up by your face controlling your stylish speedfest down the hill, and that you roll so very very fast. Yay!

[via DVICE, thanks tom]

Lacy

Bicycle shoes lacing technique: “Lock Lace & Knot is the best method to help reduce heel slippage by creating a secure tight hold on the foot.”

Style and substance

CycleStyle is “Australia’s first online store purely devoted to providing stylish clothing and accessories for the urban cyclist. You won’t find any scary lycra or flourescent outfits inside!”

[via Melbourne Cyclist]

It carries stuff

According to Retrovelo, their frame bag:

Who says that bicycle bags always have to look like … bicycle bags? Even 100 years ago the rock-solid frame bags for Swiss military bikes proved its worth. We picked up this idea, modified its format and usability for everyday use and designed it with RETROVELO style.

[Thanks tom]

Waxed chins, er, chains

Chain Maintenance for Clean Freaks:

Wax makes an excellent chain lube. It runs extremely clean and it seems to be good for chains.

I can vouch for that! I used to wax my chain way back in the day. Can’t think why I stopped, apart from the hassle of actually applying the wax. [twitterer]

And more good stuff here

Monthly Roundup at London Cyclist.

Found on ibikelondon’s cycling video round-up [twitterer]

Read of the week

The Cycling Lawyer on cycling against the car culture.

The law is an ass

Legal system condemned by public opinion. More at Wheels of Justice.

30 days

Are you doing 30 Days of Biking in April?

Cycling in Melbourne is so good

Nik Dow gets ranty about the current state of cycling in Melbourne.

Beware of Spyclists

Spyclists: how Hitler Youth’s cycling tours caused panic in prewar Britain. Lord Baden-Powell, you old fruit:

“I had a long talk with the ambassador [Ribbentrop] who was very insistent that the true peace between the two nations will depend on the youth being brought up on friendly terms together in forgetfulness of past differences…”

DIY

• Bicycle toe clips: “Most of the clips are upwards of $15-20 for a pair, and most are made of plastic. It’s much cheaper to make your own.” Dude, no it’s not.
• Homemade Energy Gels.

Calculate it

By the Numbers: My Financial and Environmental Impact of Commuting by Bicycle

The bike as economic unit

Here’s an idea: the next time you hear some ridiculously large monetary figure ask “How much is that in bicycles?”

Hmmm… <eyes roll>

Dutch women ‘enjoy’ cycling—I’m sure there was an older video almost identical to this.

Sharing

New Bike Share System in Copenhagen:

The Zurich based architect and designer Rafael Schmidt submitted this new bike sharing system to a competition which was organised within last year’s International Climate Conference in Copenhagen. The system involves a comprehensive architectural intervention into the urban centre.

Neat and tidy, but I can’t see any local authority allowing those little bumps and gooves in public pavement like that—major tripping hazard! [thanks woowoowoo]

Re-inventing the foot

A One of a Kind Walking, Biking School Opens in Canada:

a newly opened elementary school in Ontario is heralded as the nation’s first school that requires nearly all of its students to get to and from school using their own two feet.

[twitterer]

Aware

TfL’s The Bank Job video. As good as the moonwalking bear? [twitterer]

Beat-up

UK Police have been criticised for needing training on using bikes on patrol. I’d have thought it’s normal for police to be trained on all types of equipment that they are expected to use in their duties.

Bike wars!

Bike wars rage in Sydney [twitterer]

Design

Manta Saddle: bike seat, cheese grater or dish rack? So crazy, it just might work. (It was reviewed by citycycling [Thanks @John_the_Monkey])

Random act of violence

A woman was injured recently in Perth by a tripwire strung across a shared path while training for a triathlon. She talked about the incident in a radio interview [Windows Media, 9MB].

I completely fail to comprehend the state of mind of anyone who would commit such a random act of violence.

A ride’s a ride and a bike’s a bike

In Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them? Chris Kostman argues that by taking your road bike off-road “You’ll actually have the nerve to venture down a trail that you discover while out road riding. In fact, you’ll quit even thinking of ‘road rides’ or ‘dirt rides.’ A ride’s a ride and a bike’s a bike. It’s what you make of them that counts.” [via RBR's Newsletter]

A fine tradition continues

New Finds from Sheldon’s Secret Cellar:

For decades, Sheldon’s masterful mechanical skills transformed discarded and disused bicycles and components into splendid examples of artistry and style — and into practical, useful transportation and joyful recreation for him, his family, friends and customers.
NOW it’s your turn!

Unspeakably brilliant. [via Chainguard]

Change here

Change Your Life. Ride A Bike!

Benefits

Top 10 Benefits of Bicycle Commuting Programs for Businesses

Fundamental errors of fact

Chris James Executive Manager – Communications and Public Affairs for the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) reckons he’s got support for bicycle registration. If he thinks that worn out ol’ idea is going to fly, he’s at best badly informed and at worst delusional. And speaking of badly informed, how’s this?

Road users have paid for these roads via fuel taxes and steep registration fees, which also include a component for third-party insurance.

No. They. Don’t. Fuel excise and vehicle registration do not pay for the roads. End of story.

For someone who claims to deal with transport policy, he’s remarkable ill-informed.

[via I Pay Road Tax]

Nutjobs again

Gnarliest Street Race: “Right, now we’re on the church roof…” Fuck yeah. [twitterer]

Sod it

The Osijco moment: A crisis that all cyclists must face.

Getting wood

Xylon Bikes:

Xylon Bikes is a project that revolves around the development and production of wooden bicycles.

Check out the models available. [Thanks tom]

Urban design

• Designing Bicycle Cities [twitterer]
• Are your streets complete? [twitterer]

How’s that saying go again?

A woman needs a fish like a man needs a bicycle or something like that. [twitterer]

Reading matter

London Cyclist’s round-up of cycling magazines.

Getting edgy

Tom Vanderbilt notes some research on driver behaviour that found that “there were more aggressive events recorded at the beginnings and ends of journeys.”

You know where you can stick your bottle

Karl asks Why have just a bottle cage?

Then again, you could just use your budgie smugglers…

Ageless

Dave Moulton’s bike is a time machine to him.

No comment

briancurlee tweets this Bicycle 3-Way, about which I have absolutely nothing to say.

Wacky races, bad consequences

It’s only a matter of time before boy racers on shared pathways cause someone serious injury.