Monthly Archives: July 2011

Old videos from the fifties are nice in that they reflect a time where things were simpler and everyone was getting along. Forget about the fact that there are no minorities present in any of them, but enjoy them for what they are. Wrap it all up a pleasing British accent and some catchy music and you have the recipe for, as the Flintstones put it, a gay old time.

What’s funny, besides for the British idioms and dry humor, is that it does not look like cycling has changed that much in fifty years. Sure we have become faster and lighter, but take the bikes from the film and put them on the road today and they would not seem out of place.

[from UtilityCycling via Treehugger]

Written by Chris Belsole

I love CommuteByBike. The have some of the most interesting articles you can find on the internet. Recently one cyclist took it upon himself to see if he could make commuting a little more eye catching and EXTREME!

Written by Chris Belsole

After being passed from the senate to the assembly the Complete Streets Bill is finally on the desk of the Governor of New York State for him to sign into law. This bill would provide for each project in NYS that receives state or federal funding to consider the complete streets design which is subject to the Department of Transportation’s oversight.

All in all this bill does not guarantee complete streets in New York. It does however ensure that project managers have to at least consider them which is a step in the right direction.

For those of you not familiar with the concept complete streets are ones which provide for all modes of transportation including but not limited to driving, walking, and bicycling. This is essential to moving towards not a car free future, but a sustainable future in which we do not spend $50 at the pump every week. Imagine filling up every two weeks instead. That’s an average of $1300 a year, and that is for only one car. We are very lucky to live where we do. Albany is very accessible by bicycle and your trips to the grocery store, the pharmacy, pretty much everything under five miles could be done by bicycle.

Lastly please stop buying mountain bikes for road usage. You will be amazed how easy it is to ride a bike when you have the one that is built for the surface you are riding on.

Written by Chris Belsole

I am super excited while writing this so bear with me if I go off on a tangent. I’ll try to keep a cool head on this one.

So last Saturday I rode myself down to CK’s Cycles up on Central Ave. to order the Masi Speciale CX. For those of you who don’t know I’ve been searching for a new bike for a while that I can ride/commute long distances while still being able to carry stuff. The choice came down to two bikes; either the Surly Cross Check or the Masi Speciale CX. I won’t bore you with the details, but you can guess which one I went with. Anyway bike is ordered and on its way here from Asia as we speak.

The sweet thing is that as I was browsing the 350+ articles I missed during my sabbatical I found the perfect fenders to go on this beauty. Introducing MK Fenders, Tell me what you guys think:

(As I was looking for pictures of the fenders I came across someone who apparently had the same idea.)

Written by Chris Belsole

I recieced this e-mail yesterday from PeopleForBikes.org, an organization dedicated to advocating for bicycles and making it easier for people to ride, about bike funding in America.

“This is Urgent!

Federal funding for bicycling and walking is in jeopardy. We need you to send a short email today to your members of Congress.

Today, Congressman John Mica of Florida, Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, outlined his plans for the new transportation bill and called for the elimination of dedicated funding for biking and walking programs, which he suggested, “do not serve a federal purpose.”

In the Senate, James Inhofe of Oklahoma is leading a similar attack. Inhofe, a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said that one of his top-three priorities for the next multi-year federal transportation bill is to eliminate “frivolous spending for bike trails.”

If Representative Mica and Senator Inhofe get their way, dedicated funding for three crucial programs — Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements, and Recreational Trails — will be eliminated. The cost-effective federal investment in bicycling that is making our nation better will shrink dramatically. We can’t allow this to happen.

That’s why we are asking you to reach out to the two U.S. Senators and the U.S. Representative who represent you in Congress. Ask them to support ongoing, dedicated funding for biking and walking in the next transportation bill. (You can find your representatives and send your note directly from our website. Click here to review clear, basic, suggested text for your email. Feel free to customize it and/or add a personal story.)

Your simple messages will make a difference. You can help refute Representative Mica’s and Senator Inhofe’s unreasonable, counterproductive cuts. You can help assure that progress will continue in all 50 states to make bicycling safer and better for people of all ages.

At peopleforbikes.org, our goal is to unify support for bicycling and celebrate all the great things that happen when people ride bikes. Occasionally, we need to stand strong together to keep bicycling on track. This is one of those times!

Thanks for your support and your quick response to this call to action.

Tim Blumenthal
Director, Peopleforbikes.org”

So what can you do to help? It’s really easy. Just click on the link and fill out the form letter to e-mail to your federal government office. It takes about ten seconds in all and will go a long way to getting the word to Capital Hill about this issue. Thanks for being good people.

Written by Chris Belsole