Monthly Archives: May 2011

Do you ever find yourself in this situation?

You need to know something pertaining to bicycles, something specific like the proper foot pounds of tension for a freewheel or the proper chain stay length for the use of panniers, but there is just no one you can ask. Sure we can bug the three or four people we know who understand bikes back and forth, but do they really have enough time and energy to field all of these questions?

Well you are in lunch luck; man I’m hungry. Introducing a site called Bicycles.Stackexchange.com! This site is part of a larger collection of sites that I will go into later. Essentially it is a Q&A website dedicated to bicycles where you can ask questions and get meaningful answers. The thing that makes this site different from let’s say Yahoo.Answers is that both questions and answers get up and down voted based on usefulness and compliance  with the rules of StackExchange. This ensures that good questions and answers float to the top of the list while bad ones sink down. Couple this with a community that cares about giving good meaningful information and you have a recipe for a smart knowledge base for bicycle questions and answers ranging from the difference between full and fingerless gloves to how to properly calculate wheel diameter.

Bicycles.Stackexchange.com is just a small part of a much bigger network. In their words:

“Stack Exchange is a fast-growing network of 51 question and answer sites on diverse topics from software programming to cooking to photography and gaming. We are an expert knowledge exchange: a place where physics researchers can ask each other about quantum entanglement, computer programmers can ask about JavaScript date formats, and photographers can share knowledge about taking great pictures in the snow.”

I encourage you guys to log on and share your knowledge with the world. Who knows, maybe you could teach the next Lance Armstrong what clipless pedals are.

Written by Chris Belsole

Our Bicycle Month 2011 community bicycle ride for May 11, 2011 was the “Tour de Parc” planned and led by Claire.

We started from two locations, joining up at the Henry Johnson Memorial at Madison and Willet in Washington Park for a quick ride to Christa’s Community Garden plot in Lincoln Park where Christa showed the developing fruits of her labor in her new plot. John then pointed out Beverwyck Creek as it can be heard flowing beneath a utility cover.

We next used the Holland Ave. Shared Lanes to cruise over to Ridgefield Park to check out the clay courts, the dirt pile, and our lighting as dusk was fast approaching. By the time we got to Westland Hills Park, dusk had arrived as we rode through the peaceful wooded path for another stop at the kiddy pool re-build project. Leaving Westland Hills, we again crossed a now-calm Washington Ave. soon to arrive at Brevator Park for another stop and explanation of the spray pool.

By this time of evening, even Western Ave. was mostly light traffic as we rode on it to Colonial and then down to Buckingham Lake (or Rafts Pond) and Park.

At this point, just after 9:00 PM, John headed off to the ‘burbs while Perry, Claire, Christa, and Lorenz circled the pond, cruised though beautiful Albany neighborhoods, and headed back downtown via New Scotland Ave. Even though there was a spring chill in the air, the well-lighted streets of the city combined with many charming neighborhoods made for a relaxing and pleasant ride.

Our next ride will be on a completing different theme – the National Ride of Silence to commemorate local riders killed on the road.

Written by Lorenz Warden

May 15th – 21st

What: Historic Mansion Tour

When: May 15 Sun. 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Where: Albany Heritage Area Visitor’s Center

 

What: Tune Up Your Bike Night

When: May 17 Tue. 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: 15 Trinity Place, Albany

 

What: Moonlight Ride (Full Moon – 5/17)

When: May 17 Tue. 8:30 PM – 11:00 PM

Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park

 

What: Ride of Silence (National)

When: May 18 Wed. 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Where: Corning Preserve Boat Launch and NYSED

 

What: National Bike to Work Day

When: May 20 Fri.

Where: Everywhere

 

What: ABC Community Bicycle Ride #3

When: May 20 Fri. 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park

 

What: PAL Bike Rodeo

When: May 21 Sat. 10:00 Am – 1:00 PM

Where: Corning Preserve Boat Launch

 

May 22nd – 28th

What: East Greenbush Community Enhancement Workshop

When: May 23 Mon. 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Town Hall, East Greenbush, NY

 

What: Tune Up Your Bike Night

When: May 24 Tue. 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: 15 Trinity Place, Albany

 

What: Moonlight Ride (Full Moon – 5/17)

When: May 17 Tue. 8:30 PM – 11:00 PM

Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park

 

What: Pedaling Toward a Healthier Planet

When: May 25 Wed. 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: 807 Union Street, Schenectady, NY

 

What: ABC Community Bicycle Ride #3

When: May 25 Wed. 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park

 

What: ABC Public Meeting

When: May 26 Thurs. 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Chapel and Cultural Center, LaSalle School, 391 Western Ave, Albany, NY

 

What: Critical Mass (Community Bicycle Ride)

When: May 27 Thurs. 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park

 

What: Troy Bike Rescue FundraiserABC Public Meeting

When: May 28 Sat. 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: The Sanctuary for Independent Media, 3361 6th Avenue in North Troy, New York

Comments: Troy Bike Rescue is having a fundraiser at the Sanctuary for Independent Media and we would love for you to be there.  We would also love for you to take a moment to invite any friends who would like to support our work by forwarding this email or spreading the word.

 

What: Bike Month Alley Cat – Bike to China Charity

When: May 28 Sat. 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Where: Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial – Washington Park

Written by Chris Belsole

Sure, over the months I have been writing for this site, almost exclusively, I have alerted you to a lot of free stuff in hopes that you would read this blog more. Totally self serving? Yes, but I can live with that. After a stop yesterday at Broadway Bicycle Co. to test out some road bikes, and oh man were they sweet, I am happy to announce that I have some free stuff to give away! Introducing the limited edition, biodegradable, recyclable, USA born…

bottle from the Broadway Bicycle Co!

Yes indeedaly doodely, we have legitimate swag to give away. So how do you get your hands on one of these puppies? It’s simple. Just attend any ABC bike month event, and if you see me with a big bag bursting with bottles just shout ALBANY BICYCLE COALITION DOT COM, and I’ll know who to give the bottles to. Just kidding, you get a bottle just for being awesome on a bicycle.

Written by Chris Belsole