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The 2010 Melburn Roobaix is in the books. Race promoter and Urban Velo contributor, Andy White, has coverage on his website, Fyxomatosis.com.
Monthly Archive for May, 2010
Both Brad and I have been running VP 001 pedals for a while now. They’re basically high-end platform pedals that happen to work well with the current crop of new-school straps. With or without straps, they feel great. They’re nice and wide (112 x 97mm) and they have a thin profile that mediates the cornering clearance issues that arise with running a wide pedal in the city. Plus they look good and don’t weigh an awful lot (345g/pair).
While mine have survived commuting and bike polo unscathed, Brad’s knocked a few pins out since he started using them in October—it looks like some of them backed out, while others probably broke loose on impact. No big deal, though—the pins are replaceable. The bearings are holding up well so far, as are the Chromoly axles, and the CNC machined aluminum body only shows cursory signs of wear.
The VP 001 pedals retail for $80. Visit www.vpcomponents.com for more info.
Take a ride through Phnom Penh while listening to this Yos Olarang oldie. Like Ros Serey Sothea, Olarang most likely was executed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975.
Via Cyclelicio.us: Like several other Critical Mass rides around the nation tonight, the theme of tonight’s ride in Los Angeles was a protest against BP, specifically at a BP / Arco station at Robertson & Olympic in Los Angeles. The LAPD apparently knew of the protest ride and planned to disrupt this Critical Mass as the cycling protesters arrived at the gas station. About 1,000 people participated in the CM tonight in Los Angeles.
Don’t be a clown or you’ll get hurt like Johnny. Learn your lesson through video, or the hard way.
PHILADELPHIA, PA (BRAIN)—Patrick Cunnane won Philadelphia’s annual Bike versus Car versus Transit race held Wednesday in Philadelphia, sponsored by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. His bicycle beat a car and a subway by nearly six minutes. He wore a business suit to accentuate the fact that he rides to work nearly every day, and that even “suits” can do it.
Via Bicycle Retailer.
The Seoul Cycle Design Competition is open to anyone throughout the world, with a total prize fund of some $46,000 available for the taking between three categories; cycle design, cycle fashion and accessory design, and cycling infrastructure. The primary goal of the competition is to help create a design oriented city focused on it’s residents, with as green a footprint as possible.
Find the compete details of the contest and categories at designboom.com.
The Sierra Club’s Climatecrossroads is holding a Bike-ku contest , with the ultimate judge determining the winner being Congressman Earl Blumenauer, cycling advocate and author of the Active Community Transportation Act of 2010. All you need is an image and a bike-related haiku, with full rules available at the contest site.
The Thomson Elite seatpost has remained unchanged since its inception. The 100% American-made seatpost is tried and true, not only by me but thousands of elite bike racers and countless enthusiasts. Machined from a solid chunk of 7000 series aluminum, the post is internally ovalized to maximize the fore/aft strength while saving weight.
The saddle clamp is 41mm long, to minimize the effects of clamping on the saddle rails. And the head is designed to flex under extreme loads, helping to protect the seatpost, saddle rails and rider. The entire post is designed to withstand up to 250 foot pounds of torque, and then it will begin to bend rather than catastrophically fail. Thomson claims that most competitors’ posts break at 150 foot pounds.
The micro-adjust clamp is infinitely adjustable within -5° and 29°. The only bad thing about this system is that it’s not fool-proof, as many people over-tighten the clamp, which can lead to broken bolts or even a broken clamp. I have Thomson seatposts on almost all of my bikes, and in over 10 years I’ve never had any problem—not even a single broken bolt.
Most models are available in both black or silver finish. Sizes range from 25.0 to 32.4mm diameter, and lengths of 200 to 410mm. Weights start at just 188g for a 25.4 x 200mm post. Retail price is $99.95. Visit www.lhthomson.com for more info.
As single speed cyclocross racing continues to grow in popularity there are a number of stock frames now on the market, with Traitor Cycles stepping up with the steel frame and fork Crusade for roughly $700. Internal brake cable routing makes shoulder portage that much easier and integrated chain tensioners help prevent the wheel from slipping in high torque situations. Fender mounts make it possible to use a winter commuter or rainy weather trainer as well.
Last week Richard Goldman rode a folding bicycle from his home in Fort Lauderdale, FL to Pittsburgh, PA to attend his 50 year high school reunion.
“It’s a great way to see the country,” said Goldman, 67. “You get to see the best and worst of America at 13 miles an hour.”
The Organic Bikes Dylan 3-speed is a bamboo and aluminum framed bike available for $1100 complete. The frame is constructed of laid-up bamboo tubes and 100% recycled large aluminum lugs and chainstays, using standard bike components throughout. Besides the wood, everything else is as expected for the price with a reasonable and durable if not flashy parts spec. A set of fenders would be nice for true out of the box commuter status, but there are mounts front and rear and even front rack braze-ons in the pictured build. Also available as a single speed build for about $200 less.
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