Category: Main Page

Bike theft as bad as bank robbery in Michigan community

Anyone who complains that local police officers don't take bicycle theft seriously would be envious of the situation in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale.

That's where two policemen cracked an hour-long string of three bike thefts earlier this month. It all started with a routine “traffic stop.” As a Ferndale police lieutenant explained it to the Detroit Free Press:

“We think going after a bike thief is just as important as nailing a bank robber, in terms of our residents’ feeling of security in their homes…..

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/27/bike-theft-as-bad-as-bank-robbery-in-michigan-community/

Seattle bicyclist awarded $8 million in bridge crash

Three years of legal wrangling has ended after the Washington state Department of Transportation agreed to pay $8 million to a bicyclist who became paralyzed after his bike tire got caught between two steel grates and he fell.

The state, which operates the Montlake Bridge south of the University of Washington campus in Seattle, did not admit fault for the crash.

The $8 million will pay for medical and therapy costs of Mickey Gendler, a once active environmental attorney for a firm in Seattle. His battle to rehabilitate to the point where he struggles to use a walker ….

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/26/seattle-bicyclist-awarded-8-million-in-bridge-crash/

Rob Ford is Toronto's newly elected bicycle-unfriendly mayor

Toronto bicyclists awoke to the unpleasant news this morning that city councillor Rob Ford has been elected mayor of that Canadian city.

Aside from his notable physique, you may recognize him from his notorious comments regarding bicycling:

“Roads are built for buses, cars and trucks… Not for people on bikes. … My heart bleeds for them when I hear someone gets killed, but it's their own fault at the end of the day.”

Much to Ford chagrin, I'm sure, Toronto already has about 117 miles of bike lanes …..

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/26/rob-ford-is-torontos-newly-elected-bicycle-unfriendly-mayor/

“Standing bicyclist” completes GAP – C&O Canal bike tour

Frank Cavaluzzi stands up for what he believes, especially when he's bicycling.

While riding in a group charity bicycle ride is enough for most people, Cavaluzzi rides to raise money or awareness on a bicycle with no saddle.

Cavaluzzi discovered a few years ago that bicycling out of the saddle helps open up his diaphragm for breathing to combat the asthma he was suffering. It also allows him to make a statement.

You can imagine that a fully loaded bicyclist pedaling into town on a bike with no saddle can spark some conversations….

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/25/standing-bicyclist-completes-gap-co-canal-bike-tour/

Armstrong returns to Australia for last non-US bike race

Lance Armstrong will return to Adelaide in January to compete in the Tour Down Under bicycle race, which he says will be his last outside the US.

The 39-year-old Texan launched his comeback at that race in 2009 after a 3-1/2 year hiatus from pro cycling.

In a statement, Armstrong said:

“I’m excited to be competing in my last professional ride outside the U.S. at the Tour Down Under. It will be my third time …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/25/armstrong-returns-to-australia-for-last-non-us-bike-race/

Re: Thursday night Cascade membership meeting

The Seattle-based Cascade Bicycle Club has suspended the election for the board of directors until March due to bylaws violations.

Board member Jim Oswald made the announcement at, by all reports, a highly contentious membership meeting Thursday night. He said the board will expand to 15 members from its current 11 members, and nominations are welcome.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend because of long-standing commitments so I can't contribute any first-hand observations. Tom Fucoloro has a story over at Seattle Bike Blog: “Cascade Director: If I get fired for protecting my staff, then so be it.” Publicola also has a running account of the meeting at its Twitter feed, PublicolaNews.

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/22/re-thursday-night-cascade-membership-meeting/

Tour de France wannabes fulfill their dreams at 2011 L'Etape du Tour

L'Etape du Tour is the Tour de France for the common man. The mass participation event enables weekend warriors on bicycles to test their performance against the stars of cycling.

Because of the growing popularity of the cycling event, bike race organizer ASO is expanding the event to two stages. Explaining at the l'Etape website:

“It became very difficult to refuse riders because of our 10,000 limit. In organising 2 races, we would like to offer all riders the possibility to ride the Champions routes, on the historic Tour de France stages. … These 2 races, with very different profiles and landscapes ….

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/21/tour-de-france-wannabes-fulfill-their-dreams-at-2011-letape-du-tour/

Cascade Bicycle Club meets Thursday; board election on agenda

If you're interested in the future direction of the Seattle-based Cascade Bicycle Club, you might want to attend the Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday.

Board members of the 13,000-member club have been on the hot seat since the firing, and subsequent rehiring on an interim basis, of executive director Chuck Ayers.

A petition to recall the board has been put forward …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/21/cascade-bicycle-club-meets-thursday-board-election-on-agenda/

Annual Indiana bike tour changes format to bicycle rally

Pitch your tent. Sleep. Strike your tent. Ride. Pitch your tent. Sleep. Strike your tent. Ride. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

This is the routine on most week-long across-state mass bicycle tours. It's a common drill as the community of cyclists moves from one host location to the next.

After using that method to visit state parks around Indiana for 28 years, the Touring Ride in Rural Indiana (TRIRI) is experimenting with a bicycle touring concept used elsewhere and based on a bicycle rally.

The 2011 TRIRI organizers are choosing a single state park …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/20/annual-indiana-bike-tour-changes-format-to-bicycle-rally/

A bicycle ride to honor the Issaquah Alps

With Tuesday's news from Paris that the Tour de France would pay homage to the Alps in 2011, it occurred to me that I should pay a visit to our very own second cousin to that famous European mountain chain.

As soon as the fog lifted, I saddled up and headed out for a bike ride up Tiger Mountain, the centerpiece of the Issaquah Alps.

These “Alps” are a chain of foothills west of the Cascades that overlook the sprawling suburbs on the eastside of Seattle. From West to East, they're comprised of Cougar Mountain, Squak Mountain, the various summits of Tiger Mountain and Rattlesnake Ridge. You can also throw in ….

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2010/10/20/a-bicycle-ride-to-honor-the-issaquah-alps/