12.26.2008
12.17.2008
12.15.2008
Cop who attacked cyclist indicted...
Cop who attacked cyclist indicted using youtube video. Good for cyclists, good for cops that aren't shit-heads.
12.14.2008
12.11.2008
11.29.2008
Something to think about as you shop for Xmas.
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. ~Mohandas K. Gandhi, quoted in E.F. Schumacher, Small Is Beautiful
Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites. ~William Ruckelshaus, Business Week, 18 June 1990
God forbid that India should ever take to industrialism after the manner of the west... keeping the world in chains. If [our nation] took to similar economic exploitation, it would strip the world bare like locusts. ~Mahatma Gandhi
U.S. consumers and industry dispose of enough aluminum to rebuild the commercial air fleet every three months; enough iron and steel to continuously supply all automakers; enough glass to fill New York's World Trade Center every two weeks. ~Environmental Defense Fund advertisement, Christian Science Monitor, 1990
Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money. ~Author Unknown
Be glad that you're greedy; the national economy would collapse if you weren't. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
After a visit to the beach, it's hard to believe that we live in a material world. ~Pam Shaw
You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy. ~Eric Hoffer
You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need. ~Vernon Howard
The only reason a great many American families don't own an elephant is that they have never been offered an elephant for a dollar down and easy weekly payments. ~Mad Magazine
Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends.... Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts. ~Henry David Thoreau
The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied... but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which a beggar is a reminder of nothing. ~John Berger
Racial injustice, war, urban blight, and environmental rape have a common denominator in our exploitative economic system. ~Channing E. Phillips, speech, Washington, D.C., 22 April 1970
To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year. ~Elwyn Brooks White
I may be a pessimist, but the philosophy of anti-thrift just now coming into being seems to me the greatest danger to the peace of the world. ~Adriano Tilgher
There must be more to life than having everything! ~Maurice Sendak
Mammon, n.: The god of the world's leading religion. ~Ambrose Bierce
Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. ~From the movie Fight Club, based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk
He who buys what he does not need steals from himself. ~Author Unknown
Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice. ~Unknown
Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell. ~Edward Abbey
The hardest thing is to take less when you can get more. ~Kin Hubbard
In the United States Christmas has become the rape of an idea. ~Richard Bach
Forethought and temperance are the virtues which produced thrift, and with thrift the economic progress of society. And those are the virtues which today are gravely compromised. ~Adriano Tilgher
Who covets more, is evermore a slave. ~Robert Herrick
The gap in our economy is between what we have and what we think we ought to have - and that is a moral problem, not an economic one. ~Paul Heyne
Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites. ~William Ruckelshaus, Business Week, 18 June 1990
God forbid that India should ever take to industrialism after the manner of the west... keeping the world in chains. If [our nation] took to similar economic exploitation, it would strip the world bare like locusts. ~Mahatma Gandhi
U.S. consumers and industry dispose of enough aluminum to rebuild the commercial air fleet every three months; enough iron and steel to continuously supply all automakers; enough glass to fill New York's World Trade Center every two weeks. ~Environmental Defense Fund advertisement, Christian Science Monitor, 1990
Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money. ~Author Unknown
Be glad that you're greedy; the national economy would collapse if you weren't. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
After a visit to the beach, it's hard to believe that we live in a material world. ~Pam Shaw
You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy. ~Eric Hoffer
You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need. ~Vernon Howard
The only reason a great many American families don't own an elephant is that they have never been offered an elephant for a dollar down and easy weekly payments. ~Mad Magazine
Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends.... Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts. ~Henry David Thoreau
The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied... but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which a beggar is a reminder of nothing. ~John Berger
Racial injustice, war, urban blight, and environmental rape have a common denominator in our exploitative economic system. ~Channing E. Phillips, speech, Washington, D.C., 22 April 1970
To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year. ~Elwyn Brooks White
I may be a pessimist, but the philosophy of anti-thrift just now coming into being seems to me the greatest danger to the peace of the world. ~Adriano Tilgher
There must be more to life than having everything! ~Maurice Sendak
Mammon, n.: The god of the world's leading religion. ~Ambrose Bierce
Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. ~From the movie Fight Club, based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk
He who buys what he does not need steals from himself. ~Author Unknown
Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice. ~Unknown
Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell. ~Edward Abbey
The hardest thing is to take less when you can get more. ~Kin Hubbard
In the United States Christmas has become the rape of an idea. ~Richard Bach
Forethought and temperance are the virtues which produced thrift, and with thrift the economic progress of society. And those are the virtues which today are gravely compromised. ~Adriano Tilgher
Who covets more, is evermore a slave. ~Robert Herrick
The gap in our economy is between what we have and what we think we ought to have - and that is a moral problem, not an economic one. ~Paul Heyne
11.24.2008
11.21.2008
Obama wants to axe DST!!!
Our pres-elect would like to get rid of daylight savings time and I think that would be amazing!!! Getting out of work at five and riding home in the dark sucks. While he's getting rid of useless, archaic and annoying policies, maybe he can throw out the electoral college!
Sac Bike News
Sac police trying to identify man injured critically in bike/car collision this morning. Another man gets life in prison for killing cyclist while stealing his bike. Depressing much?
11.17.2008
11.11.2008
11.07.2008
Top ten cars to avoid on the road
List here. It's funny 'cause it's true. I'm going to have to add to that list: cabs, rental cars, toyota vans and rental trucks.
11.04.2008
11.03.2008
10.31.2008
10.29.2008
10.24.2008
10.23.2008
Bike Commuter Act
Here's a nifty link to a FAQ list regarding the new Commuter Act that passed as part of the "Bailout".
10.20.2008
Bike stuff that I can't live without.
Full disclosure: I can, technically, live without this stuff. But I wouldn't want to. Don't deprive yourself. I ride every day. I know what I'm talking about.
My favorite bike accessory, and one that I have recommended to all of my friends and family is the Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash 1/2-Watt Blaze LED Plus 2 eXtreme LED Rear Bicycle Light
. It is, without a doubt, the brightest blinkie out there. I have two. Blind people squint at these things. If a car hits you from behind while you're using one of these, it was aiming for you. It's also available in a Planet Bike 3040 Superflash Tail Light and Blaze Headlight Light Set
with a damn decent headlight. You could spend less and get a dim, crappy blinkie but that would make you an idiot.
My next favorite bike item is the Eco Friendly Polar Insulated BLUE 24 oz Water Bottle-Made in the USA-PBA Free
. It keeps your drinks cool WAY better than regular water bottles. If I fill it with ice water, before I leave the house for work, it's still icy cold at lunch time. Ever had a blended margarita after a long ride? You're missing out. Get one.
Next on my list of faves is the Delta Airzound Bike Horn
. It's loud. Like, keep away from children loud. Drivers will pull over for you if you blow this behind them. Dogs will whimper three blocks away. You need it.
This one is an oldie but goodie. Carmex Original Lip Balm Click Stick 0.15 oz / 2 count
. This stuff is saved my life. Twice.
Watches aren't technically bike gear, but they do let you know if you're late for work (and thus, need to ride faster). I love, love, love my Casio Men's Classic Black Digital Watch #F91W-1
. My grandpa had one. I've rocked this watch since I was 9. I bought one for my 4 year old nephew and he likes it too. It's small enough that you barely notice it, but it's easy to read and has retro charm. And it's eleven bucks. Duh. Buy two. Or ten.
The last thing that jumps to mind at the moment is the AeroPress Coffee Maker with Bonus 350 Micro Filters
. Starbucks sucks. Seriously. Honestly, it's aweful. This bad boy makes a damned respectable pseudo espresso and the whole thing only costs as much as two vente quad soy pumpkin spice lattes with no foam. Buy one for yourself and one for your riding buddy, that way you're both good to go.
My favorite bike accessory, and one that I have recommended to all of my friends and family is the Planet Bike Blinky Super Flash 1/2-Watt Blaze LED Plus 2 eXtreme LED Rear Bicycle Light
. It is, without a doubt, the brightest blinkie out there. I have two. Blind people squint at these things. If a car hits you from behind while you're using one of these, it was aiming for you. It's also available in a Planet Bike 3040 Superflash Tail Light and Blaze Headlight Light Set with a damn decent headlight. You could spend less and get a dim, crappy blinkie but that would make you an idiot. My next favorite bike item is the Eco Friendly Polar Insulated BLUE 24 oz Water Bottle-Made in the USA-PBA Free
. It keeps your drinks cool WAY better than regular water bottles. If I fill it with ice water, before I leave the house for work, it's still icy cold at lunch time. Ever had a blended margarita after a long ride? You're missing out. Get one. Next on my list of faves is the Delta Airzound Bike Horn
. It's loud. Like, keep away from children loud. Drivers will pull over for you if you blow this behind them. Dogs will whimper three blocks away. You need it. This one is an oldie but goodie. Carmex Original Lip Balm Click Stick 0.15 oz / 2 count
. This stuff is saved my life. Twice. Watches aren't technically bike gear, but they do let you know if you're late for work (and thus, need to ride faster). I love, love, love my Casio Men's Classic Black Digital Watch #F91W-1
. My grandpa had one. I've rocked this watch since I was 9. I bought one for my 4 year old nephew and he likes it too. It's small enough that you barely notice it, but it's easy to read and has retro charm. And it's eleven bucks. Duh. Buy two. Or ten. The last thing that jumps to mind at the moment is the AeroPress Coffee Maker with Bonus 350 Micro Filters
. Starbucks sucks. Seriously. Honestly, it's aweful. This bad boy makes a damned respectable pseudo espresso and the whole thing only costs as much as two vente quad soy pumpkin spice lattes with no foam. Buy one for yourself and one for your riding buddy, that way you're both good to go.
10.18.2008
10.09.2008
10.04.2008
Words.
Gwadzilla had this to say after reading about a little boy that was hit on his bicycle the other day:
in my travels on the bike the response I get from car drivers is recurring
aside from the aggressive passes too fast and too close
there are also the gestures and the faces
the drivers speak to me with their body language as they pass
not just the body language of their cars
but the body language of their actual bodies behind the wheel
there is obvious intentional non verbal communication going on here
appalled! the drivers are appalled!
the look on their face if a cyclist runs a red light or a stop sign
appalled!
angered and appalled!
when the car driver is breaking the law every time they step on the gas
speeding... always speeding... never averaging anything near the speed limit
and stop signs and red lights?
car drivers are worse than cyclists when they roll through stop signs and blow through yellow lights
yet if the bicycle is not within the limits of the law they are ready to throw the book at them
run them over first... then throw the book at them
why? the cyclists has taken in the variables
accessed things
seen where they fit into the chaos
while the car drivers are the chaos never realizing their contribution to the chaos
the cyclist has also weighed the consequences
while the car drivers move about ignorantly not knowing their contribution to the madness
a bicycle is different than a car
DWI and BWI
the worst case scenario is not the same
so the penalty should not be the same
this goes for all other bicycle related violations
until the laws protect the bicycle
the laws do not apply to the bicycle
I get the same level of disregard when I am within the limits of the law as when I am breaking the law
my right to space and my right to life are ignored
at a four way stop... if I stop I am not factored into the equation
if my turn is not given to me it is up to me to take it
the streets are unsafe
we must know the risks
and we must work to make them more safe to prevent the worst case scenario
it saddens me that this child died
an accident that could have been avoided
had the cars drivers been more alert and driving more respectfully of the world around them this death would have never happened
my heart goes out to the friends and family of this small boy
this did not need to happen
Preach it brother.
in my travels on the bike the response I get from car drivers is recurring
aside from the aggressive passes too fast and too close
there are also the gestures and the faces
the drivers speak to me with their body language as they pass
not just the body language of their cars
but the body language of their actual bodies behind the wheel
there is obvious intentional non verbal communication going on here
appalled! the drivers are appalled!
the look on their face if a cyclist runs a red light or a stop sign
appalled!
angered and appalled!
when the car driver is breaking the law every time they step on the gas
speeding... always speeding... never averaging anything near the speed limit
and stop signs and red lights?
car drivers are worse than cyclists when they roll through stop signs and blow through yellow lights
yet if the bicycle is not within the limits of the law they are ready to throw the book at them
run them over first... then throw the book at them
why? the cyclists has taken in the variables
accessed things
seen where they fit into the chaos
while the car drivers are the chaos never realizing their contribution to the chaos
the cyclist has also weighed the consequences
while the car drivers move about ignorantly not knowing their contribution to the madness
a bicycle is different than a car
DWI and BWI
the worst case scenario is not the same
so the penalty should not be the same
this goes for all other bicycle related violations
until the laws protect the bicycle
the laws do not apply to the bicycle
I get the same level of disregard when I am within the limits of the law as when I am breaking the law
my right to space and my right to life are ignored
at a four way stop... if I stop I am not factored into the equation
if my turn is not given to me it is up to me to take it
the streets are unsafe
we must know the risks
and we must work to make them more safe to prevent the worst case scenario
it saddens me that this child died
an accident that could have been avoided
had the cars drivers been more alert and driving more respectfully of the world around them this death would have never happened
my heart goes out to the friends and family of this small boy
this did not need to happen
Preach it brother.
9.30.2008
9.18.2008
9.12.2008
9.07.2008
Charges against assaulted cyclist dropped.
The cyclist who was assaulted by a NYPD officer during critical mass has had the charges against him dropped. No word on whether the officer will be fired for assaulting a civilian and lying under oath.
9.03.2008
9.01.2008
8.29.2008
Cops leave bicycle-theif to mob's mercy.
And he gets his ass kicked. I wonder how drastically the bike-theft rate would drop if this happened regularly...
Story here.
Story here.
8.17.2008
8.15.2008
8.14.2008
Police knock cyclist's teeth out for running red
In this disturbing video, police tackle a 57 year old man for running a red light and proceed to knock his front teeth out by slamming his face into the ground, then deny it in court. Way to serve and protect guys. From cyclelicio.us
8.13.2008
7.30.2008
Cop attacks cycist at critical mass.
Story here. So now this 22 year old officer is out a job, the cyclist's rights have been violated, and it all could have been avoided. Sigh.
7.29.2008
Ezra
Ezra, flickr star and bike builder extraordinaire found out that he has cancer. It's benign, and everyone is confidant he'll have it whipped in no time, but he could probably use all the positive vibes you care to throw his way, especially because he's not allowed to ride his bike for a while.
7.24.2008
7.20.2008
7.18.2008
regarding Starbucks:
A poster @ boingboing.net left this comment about starbucks which I think is about the most eloquent piece of writing I've ever read:
"I despise Starbucks and their patrons. Starbucks is a fashion botique (sic) that markets burnt water as liquid jewelry, usually to SUV drivers."
"I despise Starbucks and their patrons. Starbucks is a fashion botique (sic) that markets burnt water as liquid jewelry, usually to SUV drivers."
7.16.2008
7.15.2008
7.14.2008
7.10.2008
This smoke is killing my buzz.
Between the 105 degree weather and the pea-soup smoke, I'm over it. Seriously; 1,781 fires in California this season with 322 still active and blowing smoke into my life from every angle, it's oppressive. I've refrained from doing any long or fast riding for the passed two weeks or so and I'm getting cabin fever. Fortunately I'll be in Colorado all next week in the fabulous clean air of Steamboat Springs where I'll be able to breath again.
7.08.2008
Regarding Youtube commenters
The youtube.com commenter as a species has got to be the angriest, least intelligent, most bullying and belligerent collection of souls that ever was. That's all.
7.07.2008
7.06.2008
Thor Hushovd his way to the finish for the win
It's worth noting that the winner of today's TDF stage (the second stage for those without a calculator watch) is none other than Thor Hushovd, a fellow Norwegian and full-time Viking. Proving once again that a full training schedule of raping and pillaging is still the best way to improve your sprinting.
7.02.2008
Cyclist shoots would-be attacker.
A 56 year old man was attacked by a group of young men while riding his bike. One of them knocked him off the bike, so he pulled out a gun and shot the attacker. Perhaps his friends will think twice about attacking strangers in the future. Full story here.
6.30.2008
6.29.2008
Alaskan Bicycle Racer Mauled By Bear
Sad sad sad news. linkOne of the great things about Alaska is how it can humble you. One of the terrible things about Alaska is how it can humble you.
Update: The first person on the scene was Pete Basinger, a well known Alaskan bike racer and friend of Jill Homer's. He stayed with the girl while they waited for medics, despite the danger of the bear returning.
Update: The first person on the scene was Pete Basinger, a well known Alaskan bike racer and friend of Jill Homer's. He stayed with the girl while they waited for medics, despite the danger of the bear returning.
6.28.2008
Weird; bike sales going up.
I would like to take this moment to say, "I told you so" to all of the tens of thousands of new bike commuters. That's all.
6.25.2008
6.24.2008
THE GREAT DIVIDE
For those not in the know, the Great Divide mountain bike race is underway (it started friday). Jill (of Up in Alaska fame) is doing a lovely job of blogging about the event here. You can find a description of the route and event here, listen to podcasts about it here and check out the leaderboard here. From the website, "The Great Divide Race is a self-supported, solo competition following the 2,490-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Traversing Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, the route demands over 200,000 feet of climbing along it's length. Competitors carry all equipment necessary to negotiate the backcountry, restocking on food and other supplies from the small towns along the route." This year, several of the previous favorites have opted to race the Tour Divide instead, but the Great Divide is still quite the spectacle and feature's Jill's boyfriend Geoff who is currently in second place.
6.12.2008
6.11.2008
6.10.2008
6.06.2008
Bike Shortages in NY
This is probably the coolest story I've heard this year. So many people are buying bikes in NY that many shops are experiencing bicycle-shortages. Story here. Seen at cyclelicio.us
The other side of busy bike lanes.
Previously I noted that I'm noticing more conflicts on the bike lanes. I attributed this to the influx of newbie trails users and reluctant bike commuters. But there is also a flip side to the equation: aside from all of the obvious benefits of new bike commuters (cleaner air, happier people, fewer cars!!!), I've also noticed one big change; People are actually acknowledging each-other on the trails again. New bike commuters and recreational cyclists are often baffled by the lack of courtesy amongst riders. Most notably the "roadies" that wizz by everyone else without so much as a nod or 'ello! These days though I routinely get nods and greetings all the way to work. While there's nothing wrong with cyclists being in their own groove, I do enjoy the additional human interaction.
6.04.2008
6.02.2008
Road Rage: Bike On Bike Violence
Recently, I've noticed an alarming trend. Perhaps it's due to the ever-increasing number of resentful bike-commuters, which is to say, angry drivers who are forced out of their cars and onto bikes due to the astronomical price of gasoline. Maybe it's simply because there are more cyclists sharing the bike paths (though I doubt it). It's possible that it's only a coincidence that I've seen several cases of this recently. In any case, the nasty trend I'm noticing is angry and/or spiteful words and actions exchanged between cyclists. While we see this en masse amongst drivers, and often enough between cyclists and drivers, until recently I hadn't seen many cyclists verbally assaulting other cyclists; but both today and yesterday I witnessed just that.
Yesterday as I was riding to work on the bike trail I approached a middle-aged couple taking up both lanes of the bike trail riding in the same direction as me at about 8 miles per hour. When I was about 10 feet back I slowed and said, "Left", a widely used and accepted abbreviation for "On your left" which is bike-speak for "move over and/or stay right so I can pass you." The fellow who was on the left ignored the warning so I cautiously passed between them, saying "pardon me" as I passed. The woman freaked out and yelled "Oh my God", and then, "shit!" The man, possibly feeling his alpha-maledom had been threatened, yelled "hey guy, you need to f***ing watch it!"
As the encounter was relatively benign, I chalked it up to new path users and forgot about it. But then today when I was riding home from work I witnessed two cyclists arguing because the older of the two saw the younger one trackstand at a stop sign before proceeding and didn't feel that this constituted a complete stop because his feet didn't touch the ground. Again, nothing serious, but I hope this isn't an indicator of things to come. Remember people, we're cyclists. We're the level headed ones. Don't turn the bike trails into highways. Be safe, be courteous, be human.
Yesterday as I was riding to work on the bike trail I approached a middle-aged couple taking up both lanes of the bike trail riding in the same direction as me at about 8 miles per hour. When I was about 10 feet back I slowed and said, "Left", a widely used and accepted abbreviation for "On your left" which is bike-speak for "move over and/or stay right so I can pass you." The fellow who was on the left ignored the warning so I cautiously passed between them, saying "pardon me" as I passed. The woman freaked out and yelled "Oh my God", and then, "shit!" The man, possibly feeling his alpha-maledom had been threatened, yelled "hey guy, you need to f***ing watch it!"
As the encounter was relatively benign, I chalked it up to new path users and forgot about it. But then today when I was riding home from work I witnessed two cyclists arguing because the older of the two saw the younger one trackstand at a stop sign before proceeding and didn't feel that this constituted a complete stop because his feet didn't touch the ground. Again, nothing serious, but I hope this isn't an indicator of things to come. Remember people, we're cyclists. We're the level headed ones. Don't turn the bike trails into highways. Be safe, be courteous, be human.
6.01.2008
5.31.2008
5.28.2008
5.25.2008
Sick the Zombies on Tucker Carlson
Tucker Carlson was on Laura Ingram's show talking about how 80% of British parents prohibit their children from riding their bikes to school. Instead of seeing this as a problem, one that encourages obesity, traffic congestion and air pollution, he had this to say:
“I say amen. This will prevent a new generation of road hogging, annoying bicyclists from spreading the disease of bicycle riding.”
This statement is idiotic on so many levels that it's hardly worth mentioning, but there it is. This is the same Tucker Carlson BTW that bragged on air about assaulting a homosexual and got reamed on his own show by Jon Stewart. He also wears a bow-tie and is a general horse's ass.
5.20.2008
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