Race of Truth – 114 years old today

From Wired Mag.

http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2009/10/1005first-time-trials

Brewing the Perfect Cup of Coffee from AoM

Great article on brewing coffee compliments of ‘Art of Manliness”.  I am interested in the siphon coffee brewing method mentioned at the bottom of the post.

http://artofmanliness.com/2009/08/03/brewing-the-perfect-cup-of-coffee/

List of car-free places

Thanks to Carlton Reid @carltonreid for the following link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_car-free_places

Getting mojo back w/ commuting

I commuted yesterday, first time in awhile. I saw a fox within the 285 perimeter of Atlanta, only 5 yards from me. Good start to regaining lost mojo.

Would you like some bikini with your cappuccino?

This could only be thought of in Georgia?

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_15980/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=hZwTRY41

Bike Mechanic Summer Interns

Everyone needs an intern or two.

LED Wheels

Interesting product? Anyone ever seen them?

http://www.toxel.com/tech/2009/07/10/led-bike-wheel-video-display-system/

Car Free Weekend

Tonight begins a car-free weekend challenge (bikes only) for my family. Obstacles include our three children (youngest is 7 weeks old), traveling to Velodrome, and possible Tour De France party. Join us in our challenge.

Riding Fixed from Canada to NM

Inspiring story of willpower.

http://deannadares.blogspot.com/

Priorities

Enjoying my morning cup of Joe and a driver with his priorities straight pulls in. An average economy Saturn with a Merlin Ti road bike on top. Who else has a bike that costs more than their car? Good for you.

Atlanta is crushing my cycling mojo

I used to commute on a daily basis between Durham & Raleigh, NC.
I have moved to Atlanta, GA and things are pretty different (for the worse).
I tried to keep up the commuting, however the shit infrastructure, even worse drivers and long work schedule have killed my mojo.
I need my mojo back! Do I need to move? Or just some kind of mind zen revamp? Your comments are welcome.

Riding your favorite trail w/ a newbie

There is something magical about riding at Tsali..maybe the speeds, the riding companions, or the many memories (snow covered epic rides or nearly loosing my best riding bud Woody to heat exhaustion). Whatever it is, the riding is always special.
This past weekend, my bro-in-law (Sean) would be joining me. Sean likes to skydive, however has the biking skills of a wounded chicken.
I wanted Sean to experience Tsali, so we headed for the Thompson loop. We took it easy so he could get his legs under him. He kept falling over on the straight, easy sections and mastering the semi-technical challenges.
Part of me was frustrated with the crawling speed, however I thought about it, and realized it was about Sean’s ride, not mine. I slowed my pace and tried to make Tsali the best it could be.
At the end of the ride, several of us were waiting to take Sean’s photo of his fast descent. Instead, we saw him fly over his handlebars and distrube a sleeping tree. Poor newbie.
Aftetword, Sean concluded the descents he loved, the climbing he hated.
Sean maybe you should stick to skydiving.

Bike of the Future?

So a colleague from Italy shared this photo.

This is some interesting engineering removing the standard chain drivetrain and allowing a direct connection to the wheel.  One engineering hurdle is the strength of the wheels without spokes.  Anyone seen anything similar?

http://www.tgcom.mediaset.it/fotogallery/fotogallery3836.shtml

Pedicabs – Small Business Opportunity?

Defying Convention, Denver Pedicabs Seek a Leg Up

By STEPHANIE SIMON
August 26, 2008; Page A3

DENVER — Owners of bicycle rickshaws, already a popular way of getting about downtown Denver, are seizing on the Democratic National Convention as a chance to showcase their human-powered taxis as more than just a novelty.

Steve Meyer, owner of one of Denver’s largest fleets of pedicabs and a manufacturer of the vehicles, wants the convention’s national audience to see bike taxis as a dynamic part of the urban fabric and the ultimate in green transportation.

The WSJ has written a great article on the small business opportunities of pedicabs.

Read More

Moving via bicycles

Below is the most inspirational video proving “If there is a will, there is a way!”

The other benefit of moving via a bicycle is eliminating excess clutter.

Bike Move NYC from Nicholas Whitaker on Vimeo.