With all the protesting at this year's Giro d'Italia, I feel like I've been transported back to the 1960s.
First Astana faded out most of the sponsors on their jerseys to protest not getting paid. Then on Sunday the entire peloton decided to ride en masse to protest the dangerousness of the circuit race around Milan.
The whole world was watching as the cyclists pedaled along at a leisurely 21-23 mph for lap after lap. In fact, the entire peloton stopped before completing the 4th lap, and race leader Danilo Di Luca took the microphone:
“We are going on. We wanted to stop and say thanks for your presence, but we don't feel the need to risk it anymore. The circuit is not adapted to our security.”
Some cyclists, including Lance Armstrong, had been critical of the routes earlier in the week. Friday's 25-mile dangerous descent to the finish into the rain, for instance, drew criticism from Armstrong, among others …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/17/giro-cyclists-protest-course-in-milan-cavendish-wins-stage-9/
Bicyclists who want to use the interim Hood Canal ferry during the 6-week replacement project won't have to mess around with shuttle buses anymore.
Bicyclists can now ride directly to the water shuttle docks at South Point or Lofall.
Earlier, bicycle riders had to board a shuttle bus in Port Gamble on the east side, or take a transit bus from the Olympic Gateway Visitor's Center on the west side.
The only catch is that bicyclists have to dismount and walk their bicyclists in the vicinity of the shuttle docks; a minor inconvenience compared to the hassles of taking the buses. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/17/bicyclists-can-now-ride-directly-to-hood-canal-ferry/
One of the most important factors in the success of Bike to Work Day in Seattle on Friday was the forecast: No rain; just partly cloudy skies with highs reaching 67 in the afternoon.
I bicycled down to the Bellevue Commute Station Friday morning. The kiosk at the base of the I-90 bike path across Lake Washington was one of 44 set up around the Seattle area by the Cascade Bicycle Club.
More than 300 folks had stopped by in the first 1 1/2 hours, slightly ahead of last year at this time. Just eyeballing the cyclists, I'd say eastbound and westbound cyclists were split nearly 50-50, with a slight edge going to those heading to Seattle ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/15/bike-to-work-day-details-for-seattle-nice-weather/
Interactive Starbucks Bike to Work Day map at Cascade Bicycle Club website. Shows Commute Stations stocked with drinks, snacks, and schwag, as well as staffed by bicycle mechanics. Friday, May 15, 2009
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/15/detail-of-bike-to-work-map-for-seattle-region/
Team Roaring Mouse from
Edson Carvalho on Vimeo.
The Sheriff's deputy who killed two bicyclists in California when he fell asleep at the wheel in March 2008 will be sentenced to four months of “house arrest.”
The deaths of competitive cyclists Matt Peterson and Kristy Gough on a winding stretch of Santa Clara County highway on March 9, 2008, brought out more than 1,000 bicycle riders on a memorial ride to the site of the collision a week later.
(Peterson was a member of Team Roaring Mouse; the video at left ends with a memorial for the cyclist. Gough rode for the Third Pillar Racing Team.)
On-duty Deputy James Council drifted over the double yellow line and ran into the pair head-on while they were on a training ride with others. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/14/4-months-house-arrest-for-sleepy-deputy-who-killed-2-cyclists/
It was a long day in the saddle for the 194 cyclists who pedaled 155 miles through the mountains in northern Italy and Austria on Thursday, but Michele Scarponi is probably feeling no pain.
The Diquigiovanni cycling team member broke from the peloton with a small group early in Stage 6 and survived in the front all the way to Mayrhofen.
All the pain was felt by his breakaway companion Vasili Kiryenka, who suffered a mechanical near the finish then cramped up as he tried to catch Scarponi.
Italy's Danilo Di Luca retained the pink jersey ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/14/scarponi-takes-solo-win-at-giro-armstrong-loses-more-time/
No one could match Russian cyclist Denis Menchov's burst of speed inside the last mile on the way to winning Stage 5's mountaintop finish at the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday.
Tuesday's stage winner Danilo Di Luca finished right behind Menchov, but an important three seconds ahead of race leader Thomas Lövkvist of Team Columbia, thereby taking over the race lead and the pink jersey.
Americans Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner finished just 9 seconds behind Menchov, solidifying their status in top 10. The Astana teammates are 4th for Leipheimer and 8th for Horner.
The most well-known Astana team member, comeback cyclist Lance Armstrong, failed to hang on …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/13/di-luca-in-pink-menchov-wins-grueling-stage-5-at-giro/
Washington tops off the list of Bicycle Friendly States published by the League of American Bicyclists for the second year in a row.
Wisconsin remained at No. 2 for the second year, but Maine climbed three places to be ranked No. 3 for 2009. Oregon and Minnesota round out the top 5.
The biggest success story from the list has to be Mississippi, which climbed 23 places to be ranked at No. 24. The biggest disappointment is Florida, which dropped 12 places to No. 32.
The bottom five states are New Mexico, 46; Alaska, 47; Oklahoma, 48; Montana, 49; and Alabama, 50. (Click 'more' for full list) ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/13/2009-bicycle-friendly-states-washington-is-no-1/
The possibility of hinges cracking on folding bike handleposts has prompted Dahon and REI to recall 11,500 folding bicycles in conjunction with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The agency said there had been 25 reports of the handlepost hinge on these bicycles cracking, including one minor injury involving scrapes and bruises.
The 2008 model year folding bicycles were distributed by Dahon and REI between March 2008 and April 2009 and sold by Dahon dealers and REI stores for between $430 to $1,300. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/12/dahon-and-rei-recall-11500-folding-bicycles/
Dahon and REI Novara folding bicycles are being recalled because of a fall hazard regarding the handlebar post. Details at Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/12/folding-bicycle-recall/
Adventure Cycling Association Trail biking Rails to Trails Conservancy League of American Bicyclists
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