In between mixing batches of egg nog the past few days, I got curious about the most popular stories at Biking Bis the past year. I checked my stats and here's what I found:
January: The most popular story of the month reflects the biggest pro cycling story of the year — the return of Lance Armstrong. The story that got the most hits was “Versus TV schedule for 2009 Tour Down Under,”which tells me a lot of folks wanted to know when to tune in to view his first comeback race. Closely following that story was “Lance Armstrong's Tour Down Under bike, by the numbers.”
February: Armstrong's bike was the most popular story the next month too. “Citizen turns in Lance Armstrong's stolen bike to police.” Like a chapter from The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight, it turns out the do-gooder citizen actually had received the bike as stolen property after the heist in Sacramento during the Tour of California. The thief who busted into the Astana trailer to unwittingly take one of the most famous bicycles in the world at the time was sentenced to 3 years in prison. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/26/most-popular-bicycling-stories-of-2009-month-by-month/
“They were more shocked than I was, trying to cover up their bits and pieces with their hands.”
— New Zealand policewoman describing the reactions of two naked men on bicycles she stopped in a coastal resort town one night.
She issued a stern warning for not wearing helmets and sent them home. She …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/26/bike-quote-naked-cycling-brings-helmet-lecture/
Dutchman Frank van Dijk has a bike ride to finish.
Frank visited the US in 1976 to ride his bicycle cross-country that first Bikecentennial summer.
The 23-year-old joined hundreds who streamed from coast-to-coast to celebrate the nation's 200th birthday on routes mapped by what later became the Adventure Cycling Association.
Except Frank didn't finish.
A motorist struck Frank while he pedaled through Kansas. His head smashed through the windshield and his body sprawled across the hood of the car.
He spent several days in a hospital in a coma and suffered various fractures, contussions and lacerations. Then he returned to Holland ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/24/dutchman-to-complete-transamerica-bike-ride-34-years-late/
In case you were wondering, the Tour de Georgia will not roll out in 2010.
In spite of an effort to bring back the bike race next year, the cash-strapped Tour de Georgia Foundation was unable to find the sponsors to pay for the race for the second year in a row.
Tour de Georgia board member Tom Saddlemire told CyclingNews:
“The Board of Directors and our advisors did all we could to tailor a race to fit within the economic realities of today and we are understandably disappointed in this announcement, but we are committed to bringing back the Tour as soon as possible.” …..
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/24/tour-de-georgia-bike-race-canceled-in-2010/
The purchase of a 42-mile railway corridor east of Seattle this week sets in motion an undertaking that could result in a bike trail, or light rail line, or both.
The corridor runs between Renton and Snohomish and serves dense suburban areas on the eastern side of Lake Washington.
Originally envisioned as a bike trail that would link to the regional trail system, it's also being considered as the backbone for a Eastside light rail line.
The corridor passes through woodsy lakeside neighborhoods, above, and over the 975-foot-long Wilburton Trestle (circa 1904) just south of downtown Bellevue, below ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/23/bike-trail-or-light-rail-or-both-port-buys-bnsf-rr-corridor/
Those of you trapped inside your homes by the winter storm back East might enjoy watching this video about the picturesque Moonville Rail Trail that meanders for 10 miles through the scenic hills of southeastern Ohio.
Aside from the pleasant scenery and the sounds of twittering birds and mountain bike wheels crunching over gravel, there's a good lesson here.
Those earnest volunteers who are trying to create trails out of abandoned railway rights-of-way might be interested to know that the Moonville Rail-Trail Association avoided using county money to build the trail that connects the small towns of Zaleski and Mineral.
Founder Neil Shaw says the whole effort was accomplished with volunteers, donations and grant money ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/21/thinking-outside-the-box-to-create-ohio-bike-trail/
The Moonville Rail Trail meanders through picturesque southwestern Ohio for about 10 miles between the small towns of Zaleski and Mineral. See the Our Ohio video production at YouTube.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/21/moonville-rail-trail/
There's a jersey up ahead.
It's being worn by a guy who is riding the greatest invention of all time — the bicycle.
Emblazoned across the back is a message. More like a slogan.
“SHARE THE DAMN ROAD”
The motorist is confused. Is it meant to humor him or taunt him? Is he having a good day or a lousy day? What happens next?
The “Share the Damn Road” jersey and some others, such as “Don't Run Me Over” and “Don't Honk At Me,” are ideas that sprang from the mind of pro cyclist Phil Gaimon ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/21/these-cycling-jerseys-send-a-message-to-drivers/
Pro cyclist Phil Gaimon of Jelly Belly creates jerseys at Sharethedamnroad.com.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/21/cycling-jersey-with-a-message/
The first time I heard about someone making a bicycle out of bamboo — Craig Calfee at Calfee Designs in California — I thought it might be a joke.
But while those Calfee Design bamboo frame bikes might put smiles on their owners' faces, they're no joke. Many bicyclists prefer them because of their ride, but also because they use a sustainable frame material.
Several other bike makers have begun using bamboo for frames, and this weekend National Public Radio reported on a Brooklyn-based Bamboo Bike Studio where interested bikers can build their own bamboo bikes. Basically we're talking do-it-yourself bamboo bikes …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/12/20/bamboo-bikes-take-root-in-the-us-africa-and-diyers-garages/
Adventure Cycling Association Trail biking Rails to Trails Conservancy League of American Bicyclists
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