You know that Paris-Roubaix is the one spring classic that George Hincapie would like to win. He's often considered among the favorites, but bad luck always seems to ruin his day.
My son and I were watching the race on TV six years ago when Big George literally disappeared from sight when he slipped off the road and into a ditch.
In 2005 he was passed by Tom Boonen with a half-lap remaining in the velodrome.
In 2006, the steering tube on his Trek 5200 crumbled just 28 miles from the finish, leaving Hincapie sidelined with a seriously injured shoulder.
The American cyclist for the High Road team will get another chance this Sunday when the 161-mile race rolls through northern France and Belgium. The 106th anniversary of the race dubbed Hell of the North features more than 32 miles of cobblestones; if it's wet, that's 32 miles of mud as well…
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/11/could-this-be-hincapies-year-at-paris-roubaix/
Official website for Paris Roubaix 2008
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/11/2008-route-for-paris-roubaix/
Chicago added, two dropped from 2007
The wild and wooly New Belgium Brewing Co. bike festival and freak show known as Tour de Fat is back on the calendar in 11 cities this summer.
Chicago was added to the list, but Flagstaff and Missoula were dropped.
The makers of Fat Tire beer will be visiting Chicago, San Francisco, Truckee, Seattle, Portland, Boise, Fort Collins, Denver, Durango, Tempe and Austin (dates below).
This is the eighth year that the cycling circus is touring the western US. Festival goers often dress in costume and decorate their most fun bikes in an opening parade. There's musical and acrobatic entertainment. There's also plenty of beer…
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/09/new-belgiums-tour-de-fat-bike-festival-dates-for-2008/
Trek Bicycle has filed a lawsuit to get out of its contract to produce bicycles for LeMond Cycling.
Trek president John Burke cites a “troubling pattern of inconsistent business dealings” with Greg LeMond, the three-time Tour de France winner.
That “troubling pattern” includes LeMond's habit of speaking his mind about doping in the sport of cycling. It also probably includes the lawsuit against Trek that LeMond filed on March 20. According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, the lawsuit charges Trek with:
“…failing to adequately market the LeMond-branded bikes and accuses the company of favoring products with the Lance Armstrong brand, at the expense of LeMond's products.” …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/08/trek-trying-to-drop-greg-lemond/
Ten novice bicycle commuters will earn up to $200 a month in reimbursements and incentives this summer simply by riding their bikes to work.
In addition, the 10 bike riders get $100 for a helmet, a lock and a tune-up at their local bike shop, and a free two-day League of American Bicyclist Road 1 training session.
In return, all the cyclists have to do is agree to ride their bikes from, through or to eastern or central Contra Costa County at least twice a week to get to their jobs from June through September.
This brilliant project to demonstrate the benefits of bicycle commuting is the work of 511 Contra Costa…
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/08/bicycle-commuting-pays-in-one-california-county/
511 Contra Costa transportation program reimburses novice cyclists to commute to work.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/08/bicycle-commuter-assistance-program/
Here's another bicycle book, entitled Bicycle, reviewed recently at Bookslut.com.
Most of the books I own about bicycles tell about their history, how to fix them when they're broken, or where and how to travel with one on an extended tour.
In other words, very nuts and bolts. Bicycle by Paul Fattaruso sounds more metaphysical …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/07/bicycle-love-between-the-covers-of-a-book/
Short stories about the bicycle, elevated to idol status.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/07/bicycle-by-paul-fattaruso/
A cold spring delayed the main tulip bloom for the 27th annual Tulip Pedal up in Skagit County on Saturday.
Even so, bicyclists found it convenient to pedal in bunches as a strong wind raked the course all day long.
Cyclists on the 40- and 20-mile routes reported seeing plenty of white and yellow daffodils in roadside fields, but blooming tulips were few and far between.
Now, if it's daffodils you like, check out the Daffodil Classic next Sunday in Orting. Sponsored by the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club, it features loops of 40, 60 and 100 miles …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/06/tulips-missing-from-this-years-tulip-pedal-bike-ride/
Bruce Friedland at bpfphotography
Three dates marked the march toward spring this year along the 150-mile long Great Allegheny Passage:
Feb. 2 — Punxsutawney Phil poked his head out of his groundhog hole to proclaim more winter.
March 20 — The sun passed over the sun's equator, marking the vernal equinox; commonly known as the first day of spring.
April 3 — Crews pried open the doors to the 3,294-foot-long Big Savage Tunnel, which had been closed for the winter.
The final act marks the annual opening day for a continuous 318-mile bicycle path comprising the C&O Canal towpath and Great Allegheny Passage all the way from Washington DC to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. Tradition holds that the Tunnel Troll accompanies the first cyclist to pass through, bringing blue skies and smooth paths …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2008/04/05/spring-comes-to-great-allegheny-passage/
Adventure Cycling Association Trail biking Rails to Trails Conservancy League of American Bicyclists
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