Bike Hugger

Bettie 2.0 Surly w/Redline Spec Val Edition [Flickr]

2008-05-12T20:22:54-05:00

Built with the Surly Big Dummy, Nuvinci, and lots more details

Well-Worn Jacket

2008-05-12T19:59:18Z

Noticed this Ibex softshell jacket at a cafe in Seattle. With that well-worn patina and mud spray it’s obviously used for more than just looking nice. The owner said he loved it. I’ve got a blue one (on clearance) and it’s perfect for chilly spring days — in a week or so it’ll get too warm for it, but it’s currently my fav. I also took it on my trip to Chicago.

What’s your fav well-worn jacket?

Bird v. Bike

2008-05-12T17:28:42Z

This is the third known instance of a bird flying into a drivetrain. The first was when I saw a crow fly right into a fellow cyclists wheel and out the other side. The crow kept flying. Then one time I rode right over a seagull; don’t think that one made it. Now, this third one happened to another cyclist during a descent down Madrona hill and if you look close at the front derailleur you can see the feathery evidence.

black rider, white horse

2008-05-12T17:09:28Z

still haven’t ridden in san francisco, but it’s on the list …

Uploaded by shaderlab | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Links for 2008-05-11 [del.icio.us]

2008-05-12T00:00:00-05:00

o’reilly’s guide to heinous web design on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Planet Bike visits Seattle

2008-05-11T17:37:25Z

Bob Downs, president of Planet Bike, was in town a little while ago, and he and his group stopped into the bike shop. One of the things on their mind was an item with which I’ve recently become enamored: generator lights. It seems that Planet Bike will be bringing their expertise with LEDs to the generator light market.

As much as battery technology has improved, I just have never trusted any battery system more complex than a set of rechargeable AAs. Honestly, I think this goes back to my humiliation in university courses in circuits. All those diagrams just seemed like Sanskrit to me. Give me Physics 1 or Statics…stuff I can see. I intuitively feel better about relying on a small powerplant built into my hub than the alchemy of li-ion or metal-hydroxide battery packs.

Give me a power supply that is always ready when I ride. Something like the Shimano Alfine dyno-hub, or if you are flush with money you can get the Benz of generator hubs, the Schmidt. Planet Bike is adapting their excellent 1W Blaze LED headlight to the generator application, bringing the high performance and dead-on dependability of modern LED technology to a market that largely still relies on halogen-type systems.

It seems like the light itself is almost ready to go, but Downs’ group was mulling over mounting options. Visually, it’s a 1W Blaze with a wire exiting the rear, and so far the graphics on the casing are the same as the regular version. Look for the generator-powered Blaze next season.

Thanks Mom

2008-05-11T16:11:12Z

This one goes out to all the moms out there with their kids at races, kids on their bikes, riding bikes, giving kids bikes, and just being moms.

When I was young, my mom let me ride my bike all day long, periodically handing me sandwiches, and then riding some more.

Also

Three Generations
Bicycle for Two
1939 - My mother on her bicycle
F-0032.jpg
imperial bicycle

Uploaded by omnia_mutantur | from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Fixed Fantasy

2008-05-10T17:27:47Z

Ah yes, have we all not fantasized that we’d awake to find our fixed-gear, safety bike adorned with flowers and mounted by an erotic victorian girl …

From the Private Collection: A History of Erotic Photography 1850 to 1940. Published by Other Criteria. Related article from the Telegraph.co.uk

Notes:

Suspended seat
Toe clips
Dropbar
Stick holding the bike up

Photo of the day

2008-05-10T03:56:34Z

Day at the Office, posted by Pseudothoughts

The FUTURE! Do we need shades or not?

2008-05-09T20:42:39Z

While I’ve been in the trench warfare of flat tires and greasy chains, I’ve been wondering about the larger picture, keeping a look out for industry, market, and technology trends. I’m not talking about wishful thinking about what I’d like to see happen; I mean, I’d like to wake up to Jessica Alba in a thong cleaning my drivetrain, but that’s not very likely. I’m talking about forecasting what will happen in the next two years.

The first year is rather easy, because all the industry players already know what they’ll be serving up for 2009. The only question is if the manufacturers, particularly component manufacturers, can meet their deadlines and quotas, but if you listen carefully you can get a good picture of what’s coming.

First, I can tell you something that is guaranteed: prices are going up. This has to do with labour cost in China, the continued fall of the once almighty dollar, and transportation costs among many factors. To you the consumer this means a likely 10% increase in retail prices of complete bikes in 2009, and it could be worse for some items, particularly out of Europe.

The 29-er mtb will continue to become a viable alternative within the mtb market. This has to do with the proliferation of manufacturers making products catering to the 29-er segment. Besides the obvious tires, rims, and frames, the introduction of top quality suspension forks with geometry selected to enhance the handling of big wheels (ie increased rake) will validate the 29-ers.

Personally I wonder if the upstart 650B mtb will disappear into the widening chasm between the traditional 26-in and the new 29-er. As the 29-er asserts its presence and gains momentum, I can’t see that there’d be that much of a demand for a stop-gate solution like a knobby 650B. The mtb market has shrunk somewhat in recent years. Striking out into the 650B realm makes sense as a way to create a new market niche, but modern mtb design consists of a large number of manufacturers contributing subsystems to each rideable unit. In other words, it’s gonna take more than 3 guys building knobby 650B frames and another guy to hand-make the tires to get knobby 650B off the ground. The big component manufacturers aren’t going to make tires, rims, and forks for 26, 29, and 650B.

For road bikes, I predict that over the next two years the entry-level and mid-range will be strong. I think that we may see a move to more versatile bikes in that range, as more people feel the teeth of the imminent economic recession and rising fuel costs. Some people are gonna notice that they could save an assload of money by giving up the gym membership and riding a bike to work. By “versatility” I mean rack and fender eyelets will return to performance bikes after two decades of being unstylish.

“Steel will make a comeback.” Up until now, that statement would only come from a retro-grouch in serious denial. But there are some signs. The messenger cult has elevated handmade Japanese frames to holy status and the proliferation of small handmade builders, as well as the media attention they have garnered, hasn’t gone totally unnoticed. Meanwhile, the demand for vintage Italian road frames echoes the rise of vintage motorscooters a few years back. Take a look at other industries. Volkswagon introduced a new Beetle to massive fanfare, and Vespa scoooters both old and new are fashionable as ever. Bianchi already has solid plans to return steel bikes to their US offerings.

“Made in Taiwan” will become a sign of quality. Western Europe and Japan have become too expensive as locations for manufacturing below the premium level, and even then most of the subcomponents likely come from Taiwan. China, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe are the new sources for budget parts. Taiwan has become the place for carbon fibre production and most forged aluminium. Taiwanese quality control is pretty tight nowadays. The reputation of Chinese products has suffered in the media as of late.

The rising fuel costs and (hopefully) improved infrastructure for bicycles should theoretically pave the way for growth in the industry. But hard economic times won’t leave cycling untouched. Of course, there is a feeling in retail that the rich buy their toys and tell the plebes to eat cake, so I don’t really expect much change at the very top level. As long as $9k Colnagos are still cool, there will be buyers. Yet when individuals and families have less disposable income, retailers will see decreases. But if more of the public sees a bicycle as more than just a toy, cycling could rise to greater heights

Green Lane at Greenlake -- SDOT delivers improved facilities

2008-05-09T15:52:48Z

The wheels of progress never stop turning at SDOT, who managed to get some green gravely material down in a couple of locations this week after months of anticipation. We’ve posted about the green lanes before, it’s great to see they’re making their way into the real world. I rode down to take a look this morning, and I can confirm it’s really, really green.

My ride this morning showed that the schematic’s spot on (including the fact that the bike lane ceases to exist for the first half of the next block on Stone Way). The new lane is designed to help cyclists transition from the right hand edge of the road, across a lane of traffic into the proper spot (the new green wedge) to start from if you’re proceeding forward. The wedge serves pretty well here, clearly indicating where you should be.

The approach to the wedge is still a bit paltry. It’s a simple green dashed line crossing the existing lane of traffic. I was really expecting a full green lane that indicates the bike lane crosses traffic here, but that’s not to be apparently. No arrows, or other markings that I saw to indicate this is bike territory (but I could have missed something).

Also, the lane change is quite close to the intersection. Unfortunately this is one of the longest lights in Seattle and traffic tends to get backed up. I couldn’t actually ride the new marked changes because it was already underneath a car. I can imagine markings big and bold enough that cars wouldn’t stop on them.

The green of the wedge is made up of what seems to be tiny, green rocks glued down to the roadway. Think green pop-rocks and you’ve got the size and texture right. Definitely not slippery, which has been a complaint about roadway markings from cyclists in the past. I’m sure it’s very durable, but the top layer wasn’t entirely secured and now there are little green pop-rocks migrating around the intersection.

I’m all for facilities improvements, and good on SDOT for getting this done. I’d much rather see bike boxes and full on ~~blue~~ green lanes that cross intersections. Maybe these will come in the next round of improvements.

Mellow Johnny's Opening

2008-05-08T15:06:49Z

Any of our Austin readers plan on attending Mellow Johnny’s opening and can report?

Links for 2008-05-10 [del.icio.us]

2008-05-11T00:00:00-05:00

Google to launch Friend Connect for the social Web | Outside the Lines - CNET News.com
More on the Social Web or making of it . . .

Links for 2008-05-09 [del.icio.us]

2008-05-10T00:00:00-05:00

VeloNews | Twenty cyclists, including one Olympic hopeful, hurt after conflict with irate driver in Australia. | The Journal of Competitive Cycling
Is Your Consumer Using Social Media? - Advertising Age - Digital
observations on Social Media, 2 years after the same observations on business blogging

Links for 2008-05-07 [del.icio.us]

2008-05-08T00:00:00-05:00

Share the Road Shirts
add your shop or blog to the shirt
For those about to Rock, we salute you
Work in Progress: Toodler on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
The Role of New Web Media at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games | Raincity Studios
Rapha - FIXED. Shorts
nice manpris
Nau: The Thought Kitchen
Nau out!
My Rocket Has not Brakes
from flickr
Carrotmob Makes It Rain on Vimeo
social change via consumers

Links for 2008-05-05 [del.icio.us]

2008-05-06T00:00:00-05:00

AE Bike Tote - American Eagle Outfitters
I heart my bike bag tote

Links for 2008-05-03 [del.icio.us]

2008-05-04T00:00:00-05:00

twistori
how people think on twitter
Textura Design Blog · Question Mark Heads
notes on social media
Nabaztag Internet Rabbit
I'd set up Nabaztag to blink whenever the yellow jersey changed, or the words bike hugger showed up in the media, or urban biking, or the sartorlist posted on a fancy-pants cyclist

Links for 2008-05-01 [del.icio.us]

2008-05-02T00:00:00-05:00

A Surfeit of Passion: Let The HEALING Begin!
Masiguy down!