SART on the Last Day of 2011

Mike and I decided on a ride down SART to Balboa Island.  It was a good ride sunny in Anahiem Hills, cold and wet in Balboa Island. 

At Balboa Island we had a cup of coffee and shared a cinnamon roll.

On the way home we came up to this dog sled team/group. I am not sure what to call them but the dogs were barking in excited anticipation of the impending ride.

This was the last ride of 2011. It was a good ride, accomplished on my Fixed Gear and with a great ride partner.  I look forward to next year with its epic rides, old and new faces and so much more.  Good-bye 2011, Hello 2012.

Detroit is the 12th most dangerous metro area for pedestrians in the country.  In April 2010, Detroit received a federally funded grant from the MI Dept of Community Health to support "Complete Street" policies. The initiative dictates that pedestrians and cyclists must be able to safely move along and across complete streets.

Read the Full Article at Huffington Post ...

"It seems like a simple idea: Roadways should be safe for all users, whether they drive, ride public transit, bike or walk. But Detroit is the 12th-most dangerous metro area for pedestrians in the country, and the region has a long way to go.

The Detroit Complete Streets Coalition was born, bringing together an all-star team comprising many advocacy groups, including the Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance, Department of Public Works, City Planning Commission, Detroit Department of Transportation, Detroit Police Department, Detroit Food & Fitness Collaborative, Wayne State University, City Connect Detroit, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Transit Riders United and plenty of committed community members. "

Detroit Bicycle Company

Not only Cars come out of Detroit.  Detroit Bicycle Company is producing some nice bikes. Check them out!

How To Cook an Egg with an Indoor Trainer

Meals on wheels, well sort of.  I came across this from BikeHack.com. I can think of many ways to prepare eggs, but with a bike trainer is definitely not one of them.

Support Your LBS!

From Bicycle Retailer and Industry News ...

"Specialized president Mike Sinyard is warning the company’s retailers to beware of Amazon.com’s incursions into the bike market.

Sinyard sent a letter to dealers Tuesday evening to bring their attention to Amazon’s Price Check app, a smart-phone application that allows consumers to scan a bar code from a product in a store and then order it immediately from Amazon. It raises the specter of customers trying on shoes in a bike shop and then buying them, presumably for a lower price, from Amazon."

Riding a Tall Bike is Dangerous

Look out for ...

San Gabriel River Trail to Santa Fe Dam

Yesterday, Mark, Kevin and I rode to Santa Fe Dam.  It was a great ride, sunny and clear. I haven't seen Mark in about 4 - 5 years.  When I heard he was in town, I had to go riding with him.  Timing was perfect, I was off Wednesday so we were able to go for a "chill" ride in the morning.

I'm sporting my New Incycle Kit I won from a small calendar contest.  I almost look legit!

Bicycle Wars: Cycling advocates seek control of Santa Cruz County Sierra Club

Wow, there's a battle in Santa Cruz between the Sierra Club and Cycling Advocates. Looks like there needs to be some alignment and focus between Bicycle Advocacy and the Sierra Club in Santa Cruz.

Read the full article at Indy Bay ...
SC Environment News
Sunday Dec 18th, 2011 2:43 PM

"On December 8th, the California Coastal Commission voted 10-1 to approve the controversial $5 million Arana Gulch Master Plan. The vote was expected to resolve a fifteen year long battle between cycling advocacy groups and environmental groups that oppose the plan. But in a move that has some long time Sierra Club members crying foul, cycling advocacy groups are running a slate of three candidates for the board of the Santa Cruz County Group of the Sierra Club in the December election. This would be the second cyclist-sponsored candidate slate in two years, and is expected to decide control of the Santa Cruz Group Executive Committee."

Frame Building Time Lapse

I can't wait to see more.  Welding is next.


Frame Building time lapse from Adam Sklar on Vimeo.

The Bottom Line: Bike-friendly LB attracts cycling-culture entrepreneurs

From Press - Telegraph Long Beach, Read Entire Article Here ...

In an effort to become "the most bike-friendly city in the nation" within 10 years, Long Beach officials in the past few years have put more than $20 million of state and federal grants into hundreds of miles of bike lanes and bike paths, not to mention dozens of bike boxes, racks and corrals. Funds also have been spent on bicycle education and public safety campaigns. 

Hipsters in crisis

From The DePaulia, Full Article Here...

"To be a hipster is a cruel irony," says Justin Ghofrani, 21, a Columbia College student, amateur indie music producer and self-proclaimed expert on hipsters. "The only way to knock a true hipster's ego is to call him a hipster."

And here is a nice Hipster Fail.

The Christmas Card

Its been a great year, and while searching the net, I came across this cute video. Merry Christmas!

The Story of a Puncture

Neat animation.


The Story Of A Puncture - Episode One from Cycle Oxford on Vimeo.

[VAGX] LUMISAC / OBEY THE BLUE LIGHT

[VAGX] LUMISAC / OBEY THE BLUE LIGHT from David Jongkwon Kim / DKSHOP on Vimeo.

John Tomac

Classic! in the early nineties Tomac ruled cross country and downhill racing!

Revolution

Do you remember your first time on a bike?


Revolution from Zachary Newton on Vimeo.

Knife Man

Need your knives sharpened?


Knife Man (Amolador) from mattquann on Vimeo.

Drew Bezanson

This one is simply amazing.  Again an amazing display of control, power, finesse, grace, skill ...


Drew Bezanson from Justen Soule on Vimeo.

Alley Cats Documentary

Alley Cats Documentary from Cory Downing on Vimeo.

CXLA-Santa Cross (TraClo Cross!)

After my ride I headed to LA for CXLA - Santa Cross.   I watched the First Ever TraClo Cross Fixed Gear Race Ever!  It was epic filled with some GREAT and some NOT SO great cycling skills.  These guys were a motley crew and the crowd... And the crowd was bent on helping to make this race memorable.

I took a number of photos located here ...