Happy Halloween!

Hipster Cyclist 1894

Everything old is new again.

Small town values.

Bike Commuter Act

Here's a nifty link to a FAQ list regarding the new Commuter Act that passed as part of the "Bailout".

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.

McZombie.

Sacramento Police Department posing with bicycles. 1911

Sacramento Police Department posing with bicycles. 1911, originally uploaded by jwebb202.

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.