Around-the-world bicycle race rolls out of London next year

Any argument over which is the “most epic” bicycle race should end in February 2012.

That's when about 20 cyclists will roll out of London on the 18,000-mile Global Bicycle Race.

They're aiming to beat the time of Englishman Vin Cox, left, who set the current Guinness World Record of 163 days, 6 hours and 58 minutes in 2010.

Cox is organizing this around-the-world bicycle race, set to start on Feb. 18. That date was picked so the winner and new record-holder will be showing up in London just as the 2012 Summer Olympics gets underway.

I don't use the term epic lightly, but this bicycle race certainly qualifies. …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/14/around-the-world-bicycle-race-rolls-out-of-london-next-year/

Cle Elum to Thorp: Bicycling the Upper Yakima River Canyon on John Wayne Pioneer Trail

As the John Wayne Pioneer Trail leaves the high Cascades and heads southeast from Cle Elum, it enters the Upper Yakima River Canyon.

It was an unexpected scenic treasure on my explorations by bicycle between trail heads in the Iron Horse State Park this fall.

I expected a dusty, exposed route across flat prairie on this segment between Cle Elum and Thorp. Instead, the rail-trail follows the meandering Yakima River as it cuts through ancient volcanic rock on its way to the Columbia River.

My 41-mile bicycling loop started at South Cle Elum …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/13/cle-elum-to-thorp-bicycling-the-upper-yakima-river-canyon-on-john-wayne-pioneer-trail/

Six more college campuses are “bicycle friendly”: GM launches counter-move

There are six more colleges in the US where students are finding it easier to ride and store their bicycles.

The League of American Bicyclists expanded its list of Bicycle Friendly Universities to 26 across the US this week.

Meanwhile, the League points out that General Motors has launched a counter-move.

Its “Stop Pedaling — Start Driving” campaign on college …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/12/six-more-college-campuses-are-bicycle-friendly-gm-launches-counter-move/

Trail safety considered for bikers and hikers in Everett

Three months ago, Wendell Hultman was riding his bicycle with a friend on the Interurban Trail near Everett.

Rounding a hairpin turn with a bad sightline, the cyclists dodged two teen-agers then suddenly came upon a couple walking their dog. The meeting ended very badly.

Hultman, 73, either struck the dog or the leash and went over the handlebars. His helmet cracked, and he died about two weeks later of his injuries.

Because the crash didn't occur on city streets, it didn't come to the attention of city officials until weeks later when the dog walkers, whose pooch recovered, contacted their city councilman.

Now, the city staff is making looking for ways to make trails safer…

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/11/trail-safety-considered-for-bikers-and-hikers-in-everett/

Mountain bike racer survives the unexpected

This is probably the last thing this guy expected to happen when he zipped up his jersey and snapped on his helmet for a mountain bike race in South Africa recently.

According to Wikipedia, there are 130,000 Red Hartebeests living in southern Africa. Evan van der Spuy of Team Jeep South Africa met one of them.

Travis Walker caught the collision while filming the action at the …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/11/mountain-bike-racer-survives-the-unexpected/

Outer Banks businesses benefit from bicycle paths and lanes

Occasionally I'll stumble across reports that study whether the costs of building bike paths or bike lanes justify the expenditures of public funds.

In all cases, the bike facilities pay for themselves. And not just for increased health and safety of users, but in cold hard cash for businesses.

For instance, a report entitled “Bikeways to Prosperity” looked at whether $6.7 million worth of state and local spending for an extensive network of bicycle facilities on the Outer Banks of North Carolina was justified.

The study, researched in 2003 and published in 2004, found that a conservative estimate of 40,800 visitors a year vacationed …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/09/outer-banks-businesses-benefit-from-bicycle-paths-and-lanes/

California's Gov. Brown vetoes 3-foot passing law

A years-long battle in California to enact a law requiring that motorists give bicycle riders 3 feet of clearance died Friday when Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed SB 910.

In his veto message, Brown appeared to support the 3-foot buffer but objected to another provision that gave motorists the option to slow to 15 mph to pass instead.

The California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, and AAA all opposed the bill, which received thousands of letters of support in recent weeks by bicyclists and …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/08/californias-gov-brown-vetoes-3-foot-passing-law/

Long distance charity bike rides still going strong this fall

Bicyclists in the Midwest, Southeast and Pacific Northwest are still rolling out on  long-distance cancer charity bicycle fund-raising rides in October.

It's a reminder that in addition to transportation, recreation, and sport, bicycles also have become a major form of philanthropy.

The longest charity ride is Pablove Across America, a 1,425-mile trek from Milwaukee to New Orleans.

Led by Jeff Castelaz, the Milwaukee native hopes the cyclists can raise $500,000 ….

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/07/long-distance-charity-bike-rides-still-going-strong-this-fall/

Cycling dates for six pro cycling races in the US in 2012

Cycling fans in the US will have a six-pack of UCI classified road race events in this country next year as cycling's governing body recently set its 2012 America's Tour calendar.

In all, there are 26 bicycle races on the calendar for North and South America.

It's good to see the Tour of Utah and USA Pro Cycling Challenge, both won by Levi Leipheimer, back on the calendar in 2012. …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/06/cycling-dates-for-six-pro-cycling-races-in-the-us-in-2012/

Still waiting for Ken Burns documentary about the bicycle

Sipping my favorite beverage and watching the latest Ken Burns documentary on PBS — “Prohibition” — I couldn't help thinking about what a compelling piece he could create about the bicycle.

Having seen many of his previous documentaries, such as “The Civil War,” “Baseball,” “Lewis & Clark,” “The National Parks” and “Jazz,” it seems that many of the same themes he examined in those works would be available with the bicycle.

For starters, bicycling erupted into a craze in the U.S. almost as soon as the first velocipedes began arriving on our shores ….

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/06/still-waiting-for-ken-burns-documentary-about-the-bicycle/