8 posts tagged “bikes”

The New York Times discusses the rise of bike sharing programs in Europe.

Among the most notable comments:

Copenhagen and Amsterdam have had devoted bicycling commuters for many years. But the new programs have created the greatest transportation revolution in central and southern Europe, where warmer climates allow riders to ride comfortably year-round. The shared bicycles in Barcelona, Lyon and Paris are heavily used, logging about 10 rides a day, according to officials in these cities.

I'm hopeful we'll see a program like this in Vancouver sometime in the next few years.

The Strida folding bicycle has been around for a while, and won an I.D. award a few years ago. I've considered ordering one on a few occasions, but ultimately decided not too. I think if my commute involved a mix of modes it would be ideal, but I cycle the whole distance and traditional touring bikes seem to do the job fairly well.

As a design exercise though, the Strida is phenomenal. The traditional double triangle bicycle shape is so entrenched that it's a tough pattern to break out of. The Strida did that, and also replaced the chain with a teflon belt. The chain is cycling's weakest link (pun intended) and a replacement on all bikes would be more than welcome.

The video below provides an overview of the design process. Well worth watching.

With stories of bike racks being overfull in communities around the continent, it's nice to see someone trying to do something distinctive.

Contest picks best designs for Ballard bike racks
By JENNIFER LANGSTON
P-I REPORTER

Later this year, Ballard cyclists could find themselves parking their bikes between two toes of a giant concrete foot.

Or maybe inside the rusted husk of a car sculpture, meant to symbolize the decay of the automobile and fossil fuel age.

Personally, these racks have long been my favourites, combining function with good visual design. The City of Toronto's are also good, although the locking circle is affixed to the post by two bolts that can be removed which is a problem. I've never seen these ones at the ROM but I like the idea of doing something unique.

Despite (or perhaps as a result of) the pure joy that my newly acquired Eddy Merckx Team Alu Mega bike provides for me, I would dearly love one of these.

New wheels. Next year, finally time to ride the Kettle Valley Rail Trail to Midway.

I pulled up to the corner of Oak and 37th, heading West...away from Toronto and towards home, in a manner of speaking. 37th is a major East/West bike route in Vancouver, although it's a weird one for me to take--I'm not sure why I chose that route home tonight, but I did.

I slid in behind someone and, as I so often do, started examining his bike. It was red...a Vitali frame. Probably a few years old, judging the its construction: there was no carbon fibre at all, and the paint had chipped a bit.

Mostly what I looked at was the components. There were Campagnolo Veloce parts. Campagnolo components are rarer than my Shimano and have the beauty inherent in their Italian pedigree. Say what you want, but the Italians know something about machines that move...they are things of beauty that come from the heart first, and machines of efficiency and reliability second.

They guy on the bike in front of me turned around. He was older than I thought, or expected...probably about 60 or so, although it's hard to judge. He smiled and said:

"You better go ahead. I'm recovering from chemotheraphy."

It was such a pure moment of open disclosure I didn't quite know what to say, but I told him I was admiring his bike and as I rode off I told him to have a nice ride.

It's moments like that that I love about commuting on my bike.

Portland has long had a reputation for being an extremely bike friendly city--perhaps more so than any west coast city. San Francisco's hills, it seems, plague it; Los Angeles' traffic destroys all hope. Seattle and Vancouver have much in common with Portland (including the rain,) although the geography of both is bumpier.

The New York Times has an article on Portland's cycling economy. What other city could have produced the phenomenal Full Wood Fenders from River City Bikes.

The cycling traffic jam I hit on the way home from work tonight was felt good, but they are rare here in Vancouver. Portland's a great town.