HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

May This New Year 2014

Not Just Be Another Change Of Year.

Rather May It Be The Year

That You Finally Make That Huge Leap

Forward In Your Life.

Wishing You A Happy New Year 2014!

Merry Christmas!

May the peace and blessings

of Christmas be yours;

And may the coming year

be filled with happiness.

What to Do When your Gear Cable Snap While on the Road

Here's a great tip from "Global Cycling Network" on how to fix a snapped or broken gear cable. You will need to improvise to fix your bike temporarily so that you can pedal home and get your tool kit. Also before you do any fixing on your bike make sure that you are in a safe place.

Copenhagen Wheel Will Change Modern Bikes

 

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — A company from Massachusetts will launch a new bicycle device that will turn ordinary bikes to an electric-hybrid bike through an app on your smartphone. This is probably the biggest  invention in biking industry this decade.


It is called "Copenhagen Wheel" Developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's SENSEable City Lab. it is installed in the rear hub of a bike wheel. It is equipped with a proprietary computer, batteries and sensors which monitor the rider on how hard he pedals, if the rider is having a dificulty pedaling the motor will activate to give support and help you conserve energy.

"The motor integrates itself with the rider's motion very, very seamlessly," said Assaf Biderman, co-inventor of the device. He added, "The combination of power from the Copenhagen Wheel and the cyclist's energy can make an average biker move "almost like a Tour-de-France-level athlete in your daily commute,"

The Copenhagen Wheel can make the bike travel as fast as 37.28 mph. The device is expected to cost at around US$690.

Specification:

Motor US: 350W / EU: 250W  
SIZE:    26" or 700c rim
BATTERY: Removable 48 Volt Lithium  
BATTERY LIFE: 1000 cycles
CHARGE TIME: 4 hours
TOP SPEED: US: 20 mph / EU: 25 km/h
RANGE: Up to 50 km / 31 mi
WEIGHT: 5.9 kg / 13 lbs
CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 4.0
SMARTPHONE OS: iOS, Android
COMPATIBILITY: Single Speed or 9/10 Speed Free Hub
BRAKE TYPE: Rim brake and regenerative braking (downhill and back-pedal)
DROPOUT: 120 mm (single speed) 135 mm (single speed and multi-speed)

Former Napster Executive Killed In Cycling Accident Hit by a Police Car

Milton Everett Olin Jr. former executive of Napster died because of a tragic accident on Sunday after he was hit by a police car while he was biking.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department said that Everett, 65 was cycling in the bike lane when he was hit by the unidentified deputy. The policeman was driving in the same direction that Everett was cycling in when he hit him  on Mulholland Highway. He was hit and ended up on the windshield shatterring the glass of the patrol car.

Biker Filmed Road Rage Against Cyclist

Gareth William, a cyclist from London compiled all the road rage he captured with his helmet cam on his youtube account with the goal to improve cycle safety.

His username is CycleGaz, his video has been viewed by thousands already. They show incidents both of dangerous driving and cycling.

Biking down Water Slide stunt video

Check out this down hill er down water slide stunt video. This is a dangerous obstacle, since the water slides are extra slippery.

Road Bike Party 2 by Martyn Ashton, Danny MacAskill and Chris Akrigg.

Sugoi Firewall Z gloves best Gloves for Biking during Winter

Biking during winter is difficult, you need to protect your body from the freezing cold. Protecting your hands is important since you'll be needing them to squeeze the breaks before you hit something. You'll need a gloves that are water-resistant, lightweight, and can give you warmth. Sugoi Firewall Z gloves is perfect for this climate. It is sold on Amazon for $75.00.

It offers maximum warmth and dexterity. The gloves are mitten-shaped, it combines the three outer fingers in a mitt but have a separated index fingers that make it possible for shifting gears or braking. The gloves are insulated with G100 and G80 Thinsulate. It has a silicone accents to help you with your grip and reflective piping to aid with visibility.

Vancouver Naked Bike Ride 2013

World Naked Bike Ride WNBR June 15, 2013 at Vancouver, British Columbia.

Naked Bike Ride New Orleans 2013

Here's a clip of the New Orleans Naked Bike Ride 2013 on June 8, 2013. The ride was to promote the use of bike and to raise awareness about issues concerning humanity. It was the Fifth Annual World Naked Bike Ride in New Orleans. The ride started and ends at Mickey Markey park.

WNBR World Naked Bike Ride in London 2013

Here's a riders view of the World Naked Bike Ride London (WNBR) 2013 last June 8 in London, United Kingdom. It shows different routes.

WNBR is a world-wide campaign with objectives such as fight against global dependency on oil, reduce car culture, real rights for cyclists, demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets , and celebrate freedom of the body.

How to Keep your Shimano Ball Bearing Hubs in Shape

Here is another maintenance tip from Global Cycling Network. It's good to make sure that your bike's ball bearing hub is in working condition and a regular overhaul is very helpful.

If you have a Shimano wheels, just follow the steps in the video to service your wheels since all Shimano hubs run on cup and cone bearings. Perform this once or twice a year for better results.

Here are the tools that you will need for this job:

Cone spanners (13 and 17mm spanners for the hub)
Degreaser to clean the bearings and races
Grease
A tool to get the bearings out
A container to keep the bearings in whilst you clean the hub

Be careful not to put degreaser in the rear hub, you don't like to degrease the freehub. Do not over tighten the cones when rebuilding the hub this will increase friction if it is overtightened.

Happy Halloween 2013!

From ghoulish and ghost like.. And long-legged beasts… And things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us..!!!

Handmade Wooden Bike

Japanese Ueshiro Sano an skilled artisan who builds wooden ships was born as third son of the SANO SHIPYARD which was established more than 200 years ago and has been lasting for eight generations don't just build wooden ships he also builds bespoke wooden bicycles in his workshop.

It takes about three months to build his bikes and cost about $18,000. He use mahogany for his custom build bikes. Sueshiro said on his webpage the frame is designed to have a slightly higher rigidity and the frame is designed to absorbed the vibration from the road to give the rider a comfortable ride at a high speed.

American River Parkway Rangers Will Expand Where people can Walk their Dogs

SACRAMENTO — CBS13 reports that Park rangers will propose to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to expand the area where people can walk their dogs in their new effort to protect the American River Parkway. But they also said that the strict guidlines on leashes will stay.

“I’ve never had a problem with my dogs, nor have I seen anyone else walking their dog have a problem with bicyclists or walkers,” Mark Gibbons said.

“There’s some secluded areas where I can let her off the leash,” Gibbons said.

Park rangers said that under the current law dogs are not allowed on the trails, since they present a public safety risk, cyclists may run over them causing accidents, or runners might get bitten.

“There have been times where dogs have been on the bike trail, and I’ve had to brake and swerve out of the way,” Daniel Mueller a cyclist said.

Downtown L.A. streets closed to cars for a Car-Free Festival

The CicLAvia festival started at 9 a.m. and the organizers said that the estimated turn out was over 100,000 participants that bike, walk, run and roller-skate. About 7 miles of downtown L.A. streets are closed to cars for the bike fest.

There are no reported major incidents or injuries but organizers reminded participants to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated because of high temperatures low humidity.

The car-free event "Heart of LA" was its third this year and the eighth since CicLAvia began in 2010 in downtown Los Angeles.

Rearview Bike Camera: Is it really helpful?

From time to time I see bikes with a new gadget attached to its back, the Rearview Bike Camera. Its main purpose is to have an eye at your back and avoid being hit by drivers who decides plough into your lane.

I have decided to buy myself one and I think it's a great $179.99 investment specially because it's for my safety. The camera increases your awareness and you can monitor vehicles approaching at your back without turning your head that may cause you to lose control of your bike.

It also increases visibility at night since it is equipt with LEDs that turns on automatically in low light conditions.

Or if you want a cheaper alternative you can also just opt to have a Bike mirror it's just $13.46 on Amazon.com

OWL 360 Rear View Video Camera  Price:     $179.99  
Mirrycle MTB Bar End Mountain Bicycle Mirror $13.46

Deaf Man cycling for charity hit by a semi-truck

ABC News reports that Jacob Landis from Maryland has been riding his bike to all 30 Major League Baseball's stadium this summer for charity. He is raising money for children with hearing loss who are otherwise unable to afford a special implant. On Saturday night, he was stuck by a tractor trailer.

"Yesterday, with less than four miles to go to the hotel, I was struck by a tractor trailer's mirror," said Landis in a statement on Sunday. "I don't remember anything that happened, until I woke up at the hospital."

A witness said that Jacob was hit by the mirror of a semi in rural Florida. The truck failed to stop and investigators believe the driver may not have even known about the accident. Landis suffered a severe concussion, a broken nose, two small cheekbone fractures and a chipped tooth. His cousin has accompanied him on the trip.

Landis was transported to Florida Hospital Heartland in Sebring by ambulance.

The 24-year-old Landis has covered more than 10,000 miles riding his bike since April 3 and has already visited 29 of the 30 MLB stadiums. Landis been advised not to ride his bike following the accident, but he still plans on attending his final scheduled game Tuesday night, when the Phillies visit the Marlins.

"I just want to thank everyone for their kind words through my Facebook account and special thanks to all of my supporters who made this ride possible," added Landis.

Landis was born with normal hearing but was deaf by age 10. He received a special implant that allowed his hearing to be fully functional. His goal was to raise $1 million with the summer-long bike ride.

You can check out Landis' ride and charity work at his Jacob's Ride Facebook page.

Worcester Woman’s Topless Bike Ride Raises Questions About Laws

WORCESTER (CBS) — Stacy Schnee want to ride her bicycle topless and this has raised questions about the clarity of some state and local laws. She is a member of a group called “Topless Equality,” which advocates for women to be able to go topless, like men.

She used to live as a man. Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported that the 38-year-old mother of two had gender reassignment surgery in June 2011 and breast augmentation last year.

Before, Schnee has gone topless at her home but it seems no body cares and didn't pay her any attention, on Thursday however around 4 p.m., she decided to take a bike ride to Leicester.

The ride tied up traffic as people slowed down alongside Schnee.

“She is out there riding around, appearing to be topless and exposing herself for the shock value,” Leicester Police Chief James Hurley said.

At the time, Schnee was wearing “pasties” to cover a portion of her breasts.

Now, police and the district attorney’s office are trying to decide whether charges should be filed.

“Based upon a review of the law, it is unclear whether her partially covering herself up, puts her on the right side of the law,” Hurley said.

Massachusetts General Laws imply if only a small part of the breast is covered, it should be considered nudity. Other sections of the law state a breast is uncovered if there is no covering “below a point immediately above the top of the areolae.”

Other sections of the law mention the intent to shock is to be considered illegal as well.

Schnee says she doesn’t see any problems.

“When I was riding around, I was wearing pasties,” Schnee said. “The police talked to me for like 10 minutes and the whole time I was standing there waving at the people driving by.”

Topless Equality promotes equality for men and women when it comes to exposing their chest area.

The group says it is working toward changing laws but also clarifying the laws already on the books.

Bike Shops are Struggling Due Citi Bike Share Program

Cyclists are happy about the new Citi Bike sharing system, unfortunately however, city bike shop owners say that the program is one of the reason they are struggling to draw in customers and keep business going.

"It has decreased our rentals and our sales of commuter and low-end hybrid bikes, probably by about 50 percent," said Echelon Bikes owner Daniel DeNigris.

"Citi Bike being right down the block this way, really like 500 feet away, and then up in Madison Square Park, it's kind of crushed really a bunch of my business," said Zen Bikes owner Josh Keoshgerian.

Keoshgerian says his shop and others were a big part of pushing the city to build infrastructure like bike lanes to make the city cycling friendly.

However, he's also selling fewer less-expensive bikes, his repair businesses is down 30 percent and his rental business has been decimated.

"People might have come in and rented a bike, see what we were about, rented a bike that we sold, and we often used to sell off of these bikes, because it's a very popular model. People would rent it and then be like, 'How much is this bike?' and, 'It rides so great.' So, that's gone," Keoshgerian said.

Sid's Bikes in Chelsea is having a positive results, according to them the interest in Citi Bike has resulted to an increase in business.

"Showing people that it is kind of safe to ride in the city and then they say, 'I can branch out and get my own bike maybe and ride around," said Sid's Bikes Assistant Manager Jon Tumas.

One aspect of the business that appears to be booming for every bike shop is accessories, particularly helmets.

"We have definitely sold more helmets," DeNigris said.

"Our helmet sales have more than doubled with the Citi Bikes being introduced, especially with the Citi Bike coupon. It's having people, you know, they save a little bit of money, $10 on a helmet," Tumas said.

Shimano 26" Folding Mountain Bicycle

Folding Mountain Bicycle is a thing of beauty, it is easy to store and easy to carry. You can just take it anywhere you go. Check out the new 26" Folding Shimano Mountain Bike which is equipped with a 6 Speed Shimano TZ-50 Rear Derailleur, this bike offers trail-ready features and everyday riding appeal that gives you a smooth, comfortable ride wherever you go.

It is built with tough steel for durability and reliability. It has adjustable handlebar and seat post for comfortable riding styles. It can also be folded easily.

26" Folding Mountain Bicycle, 6 Speed - Black. It can fit in most compact car's rear trunk. Recommended for rider's height 5'3"-6'0". It can support a rider with a max weight up to 200 lbs.

SPECIFICATIONS:
- Color: Black
- Frame: Steel 3 pcs crank, 50.8x28.6x50.8mm, tig, head tube: 30x120mm
- Tire: 26" x 1.95"
- Rear Derailleur: RD:TZ-50 6S (Shimano)
- Derailleur Shift : Right: SL-RS35-6R 6S Index Left: nil (Shimano)
- Freewheel: 1/2"x 3/32"x 14 - 28T, 6 piece index (Shimano)
- Fork: 26" Suspension fork, 1-1/8" WIDE: 102mm - OD: 27mm ID: 22.2x 152mm
- Stem: Folding 3PCS EXT:100 25 degree 22.2x150,with safe line T=1.4
- Rim: Alloy, 14Gx36H, Size: 26"x1.5" AV, T=1.2
- Chain Wheel: 1/2"x3/32", 28x38x48Tx170mm
- Chain: L: 1/2" x 3/32" x 100L
- Handle Bar: 22.2mm, W: 580mm, H:30 straight T=1.2
- Handle Stem: 22.2mm, L: 150 EXT: 100, T=1.4
- Brake: Alloy V brake F: 90 degree , R:110 brake calbe sheath ,brake 55
- Brake Levers: 3 Finger Type
- Brake Cable: F: 460x800mm, R: 480x410x1500mm
- Front Hub: 14G x 36H x 3/8", 100x140mm
- Rear Hub: 14G x 36H x 3/8", 126x165mm
- Pedals: 9/16" with ball
- Saddle: PVC fake leather
- Seat Post: 25.4 x 250mm, T=1.2
- Kickstand: Side kickstand
- Weight: 36 lbs

It is only $184.95 on Amazon. You can check it out HERE

The Basic Bike Tool Kit for Bicycle Maintenance

Check out another great video from Global Cycling Network on the basic bike tool kit that you will need to maintain your bicycle.

Good tool kit is a must for bike owners to be able to repair, maintain, and take care of your bike. In the video Daniel goes through the basic tools you'll need to keep your bike in good working condition.

Here are the full list he covered:

Track pump
Good set of allen keys
Puncture repair kit
Chain tool
Good quality cable cutters
Torque wrench
Screwdriver (normally phillips head)
Spoke key
15mm pedal spanner

Tips On Cycling Up Hill

Global Cycling Network created a short youtube video to give us tips on how to ride up hill a lot easier. GCN uses the skills of former pro cyclist Dan Lloyd to tell us how to ride up hill as easy and efficient as possible.

Dan shows the proper pacing, technique on the bike, climbing in and out of the saddle, and nutrition and hydration. Apply some of these tips and you will undoubtedly see the benefit in your climbing ability.

GCN is a new global cycling channel dedicated to bringing you all the action, essential analysis and unparalleled access from the worlds of road and mountain biking every week, every month, and every year.

Santa Cruz Blur TR

Santa Cruz Blur TR is really fast. The long wheelbase and low-slung bottom bracket translate into high-speed stability. Climbing is easy with this bike, and descending you will feel the stability the bike can handle with speed.

Proprietary carbon fiber construction makes this an extremely light and strong frame. With 125mm of VPP suspension and slack & low geometry this may be the the most enjoyable bike you've ever ridden.

The counter-rotating link design allows flexibility to design and manipulate shock rates for a huge diversity of uses, from razor sharp XC performance to bomber tough and ultra plush 10-inch travel downhill duty.

Short links (Carbon Fiber Upper, Forged Aluminum Lower) and large diameter axles combined with angular contact bearings bring chassis integrity and handling precision to a whole new level.

Check out their prices! pretty expensive huh....

	KITS
FORKS			R TR	SPX TR	XO-1 TR	XX1 TR	XTR TR
32 Float 26 CTD O/C 130			$3,999	$5,813	$6,240	$7,518	$7,723
32 Float 26 CTD Adjust FIT 130 Kashima			$4,625	$5,977	$6,404	$7,682	$7,887

Bike Thief Caught on Camera at RideLondon cycle event

A man riding a stolen bike down the Mall with other cyclists was caught on camera. The bike was  taken from a participant in the Prudential RideLondon cycle event and the thief was photographed by official event photographers while riding the stolen bike.

Photos of the man riding the £2,600 ($4,019 USD) green Trek Madone 4.9 down the road which links Buckingham Palace with Trafalgar Square have been released by London Metropolitan Police.

It was stolen before the cycle event started at 1pm on Saturday 3 August. Police said the bike was taken after thieves cut the lock.

The photo shows a man wearing a helmet while riding the bike which belongs to a 42-year-old man who was hoping to take part in the event.

Pc Charlotte Brierley, of Scotland Yard's Cycle Task Force, said: "The victim was about to take part in the FreeCycle event when his bicycle was stolen.

"The theft took place in the middle of a very busy event and we are urging people who were there who may have seen anything to come forward.

"As a result he could not take part in the event which he was looking forward to participating in."

The man is seen in the photographs wearing a blue cycle helmet, sunglasses, a blue and white striped T-shirt, beige/grey shorts and blue and white shoes.

Walking or Cycling to Work Lessen Diabetes Risk

If you walk or bike to work you cut your risk level in developing Type 2 diabetes by about 40 percent, according to a study published by American Journal of Preventative Medicine on August 6, 2013. It studied different ways people use to get to work and how it impacted their health. Obviously driving to work was not the top way to protect against obesity and chronic disease.

The study surveyed 20,000 people across the U.K. for the study. They found that people who cycled, walked and used public transportation were less likely to be overweight than those who drove.

19% of people surveyed who drive to work were obese, only 15% of those who walk are obese, while only 13% of the people who use their bicycle to work are obese.

Cyclists were about 50 percent less likely to have diabetes compared to drivers. People who walked to work were 40 percent less likely to have diabetes and 17 percent less likely to have high blood pressure compared to those who took their cars.

According to American Diabetes Association 25.8 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes.

Zabel Admintted Doping resigns from advisory group

(Reuters) - A former German sprint cyclist Erik Zabel admitted on Sunday years of doping, has resigned from the Professional Cycling Council (CCP), an advisory body to the UCI, the governing body said on Monday.

He said that he was "no longer the right person" to be a part of the CCP after coming clean about his past in an interview in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Zabel admitted using banned drugs and illegal methods, including EPO, cortisone and blood doping, from 1996 until 2003.

The UCI said in a statement that Zabel had contacted the body's president on Monday to offer his resignation and to express his "deep regret for having lied for so long about taking performance enhancing substances".
Zabel was among the finest sprinters in his sport and topped the points classification of the Tour de France six times until his retirement in 2008.

He was recently named in a French Senate inquiry as a drugs offender.

Zabel featured in the French report along with several other riders including the top two in the 1998 Tour de France - Italian Marco Pantani, who died of a drug overdose in 2004, and German Jan Ullrich.

Another doping scandal it seems that it's everywhere now, NFL, MLB, Olympics, NBA, Boxing, why not just legalize it and even the playing field, just my two cents.

San Francisco Cyclist Guilty for Manslaughter

I thought I've heard it all, check out this bizaare news. A Cyclist from San Francisco named Christopher Bucchere pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter for striking and killing a 71-year-old man last year with his bike. He will avoid jail time.

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon said that the conviction is the first of its kind in the nation involving a cyclist. Christopher Bucchere is 37 years old and once part of the Stanford University's cycling team. He will be sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service and three years’ probation.

“With the conditions of this plea, the defendant will be held accountable for the tragic death of Sutchi Hui and will have an opportunity for redemption,” said Gascon. “We hope this case continues to serve as a reminder that blatant disregard of the traffic laws can have dire consequences.”

Gascon said that the crash was a result of the cyclist’s “need for speed” while attempting to beat his own record and bragging about it.

Evidence presented against Bucchere showed that he was going 32 miles an hour in a 25 mile an hour zone and ran three red lights before striking and killing Hui, who was in a pedestrian crosswalk on Market Street in San Francisco’s Castro district at 8 a.m. with his wife en route to a medical appointment. 

BMW Concept bicycles

BMW is not just a high end car and motorcycle manufacturer they also produce and develops amazing bikes or bicycles.

Their concept bicycles are specially designed for aerodynamics, increased balancing, comfortable seat, and leisure ride.  They also use high density aluminum frames, for durability and steady ride.

Man Bicycling Around the World

Lai Likun, 41, of China have already pedaled 31,000 miles through four continents and nearly 25 countries as part of a five-year solo bicycle tour around the world.

Lai is a factory manager and he is now pedaling his bike in New York City. His next destination is South America and is flying to Beijing on Tuesday to straighten out his visa. Then he will head to the Pacific islands.

“It’s been my dream to bicycle around the world ever since I was 6 years old,” said Mr. Lai. He arrived in New York City in June after completing the North American leg of his tour that took about seven-month which includes Mexico and Cuba.

He started his US tour in December in New York City then Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Texas and into Mexico. From Mexico he proceeded to Cuba then re-enter Mexico to California, Nevada and Utah. He turned back east to Chicago, Detroit, Boston and back to New York.

Check out here for full story.

Tour De France And The Giro Rosa

Check out updates at the bggest race in women's cycling, the Giro Rosa and Tour De France. Also in the clip is a new technology on cycling, like Mark Cavendish's SRAM Hydro R hydraulic brake equipped Specialized Venge, Scott's new HMX-SL, the first frame and forks to weigh in at under 1kg for the two.

Cyclist Lance Armstrong will join ride in Iowa

Lance Armstrong said that he will join a bike ride this month that will trek accross Iowa. He told Des Moines Register last Tuesday that his staff from his Austin, Texas-based bicycle shop will join him in a ride for "three or four days" in RAGBRAI, an annual event sponsored by the newspaper that runs from the Missouri to Mississippi rivers.

Lance Armstrong admitted that he use steroids for all seven of his Tour de France wins from 1999-2005 on an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Are Oversized Pulley more efficient?

Professional road racers use Berner's uniquely oversized rear derailleur cages because they say that it reduce drivetrain friction because of its huge 15-tooth pulleys. Jason Smith of friction-facts.com confirmed that it does reduce friction through an independent testing. However, the advantage is pretty small at just 1.76 watts compared to a standard Shimano Dura-Ace setup.

You can download Jason Smith's detailed report for free: http://www.friction-facts.com/test-results/free-reports

Seattle Marathon Mom Chases Down Bike Thief

A West Seattle marathon mom Sarah Tatterson, 37 refused to be victimized by a bike thief. She saw a man stealing her husband's bicycle from her open garage on June 6, 2013, while she was in a room folding clothes.

Tatterson, is a Long-distance runner and she was ready to catch the bike thief no matter how many miles it takes.

"It was on instinct, a primal instinct of justice really," said Tatterson, who continued to chase the man after he ditched the bike. "I'm running and screaming, 'Call 911. This man's trying to steal my bike,"

Tatterson describes the thief as in his late 40s, looked her straight in the eye and still continued to take off with the bike, which only angered her even more.

“At that point I was determined to get it back,” she explained. ‘I’m like, ‘Sorry buddy.’ He looked me straight in the eye and kept going with the bike which made me angry for thinking he was bigger and stronger.”

Her neighbors heard her and called the cops, and some run with her to catch the thief. About 10 blocks from her house police arrived and arrested the suspect.

During the chase, the man asked Tatterson to back off but she refused.

"My response to him was, 'Look I was going to run six miles today, but I could probably do twelve,'" she said.

Naked Bike Ride LA 2013

Hundreds of cyclists in LA hit the streets in nude on Saturday afternoon. The World Naked Bike Ride are in LA, they rode about 15 miles starting in Elysian Park and went through Echo Park, downtown and Chinatown.

This was the 10th anniversary of the World Naked Bike Ride, that is celebrated annually across the world. They promote cleaner air through use of bicycles and lessen the use of cars.

However, not everyone was happy a man participating in the naked bike ride was punched while riding along the Los Angeles River Greenway Trail in Elysian Valley. There were two suspects one male and one female. A glass bottle was also thrown in the direction of the bikers.

Italian rider Mauro Santambrogio positive for EPO

Mauro Santambrogio, 28 has been suspended by the International Cycling Union (UCI) after testing positive for blood-boosting hormone EPO.

He was tested on the first day of the Giro d'Italia on 4 May before he went on to win stage 14 of the race.

He is the second member from the Vini-Fantini team to test positive for EPO, after Danilo Di Luca.

The UCI says Santambrogio has the right to attend the analysis of his B sample.

UCI statement said: "The decision to provisionally suspend this rider was made in response to a report from the WADA-accredited laboratory in Rome indicating an adverse analytical finding of EPO in his urine sample collected at the Giro d' Italia on 4th May 2013.

"The provisional suspension of Mr. Santambrogio remains in force until a hearing panel convened by the Italian Cycling Federation determines whether he has committed an anti-doping rule violation under Article 21 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules."

Source BBC Sports

NYC launches bike share program, largest in nation

"The privately funded Citi Bike bike-share program will launch with 6,000 bikes at 330 docking stations in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Officials hope to expand to 10,000 bikes and 600 docking stations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Riders now can unlock the three-gear, cruising-style bikes from any station, take them for 45-minute rides and return them to any rack." - AP

That's huge, it will be a great help not only for the people living in those communities but it will also be great for the tourists visiting those areas.

"The nation's biggest bicycle-sharing program got rolling Monday, as thousands of New Yorkers got their first chance to ride a network billed as a new form of public transit in a city known for it.

Suraf Asgedom pedaled along a lower Manhattan street on one of the royal-blue, quick-rental bikes, headed for a gourmet supermarket that's usually a 25-minute walk from his apartment. The medical executive doesn't own a bicycle because it's a hassle to haul one downstairs, find a place to lock it up on the street and worry about it, he said."

Hell no! Suraf would rather walk for 25 minutes than to haul his own bike from his apartment down to the streets! I really can't see his logic, he should just said that I'm a "cheapskate" and I don't want to buy a bike.  

"Some residents are incensed about the bike stations, saying the racks block entrances to their buildings or take up park space for a profit-making program. The city intends to split any proceeds with NYC Bike Share LLC, a company running the program. Citigroup is paying $41 million to sponsor it. MasterCard is paying an additional $6.5 million.

"We're not against the bikes — we're against them in our park," said Lora Tenenbaum, one of the sign-carrying critics who came to Bloomberg's news conference. They want a bike station in Petrosino Square, a small park, to be shifted to a sidewalk across the street.

Some racks have been shortened or moved, including one in front of a Greenwich Village apartment house where owners sued the city over it. Some of the rack was removed last week to create a gap in front of the main door.

Still, resident Deborah Stone worries that the remaining bike rack could make it difficult for emergency vehicles to pull over near the building."

Some people will never be satisfied....

source: http://news.yahoo.com/nyc-launches-bike-share-program-largest-nation-162917845.html

2013 Amgen Tour of California Final Stage 8 Highlights

Check out the highlights of Amgen Tour of California 2013 Final Stage 8. From San Francisco to Santa Rosa.

The Amgen Tour ended Sunday in downtown Santa Rosa and the battle for the green jersey was won by Slovakia's Peter Sagan. However, Tejay van Garderen BMC Racing Team takes home the overall prize.

Peter Sagan sprinted out of the tunnel in the final half-mile to win the 80.7-mile final stage in 3 hours, 4 minutes, 7 seconds.

Amgen Tour Of California Stage Two winner: Janier Acevedo

Stage two was the longest at 199.7kms that stretches from Murrieta to Greater Palm Springs and have no time bonuses for the winner and with a blazing heat of 115-degrees. Janier Acevedo worked his way to win the second stage of the eight-day Amgen Tour of California on Monday.

The 27 year old Acevedo's win is no surprise he already won at San Dimas, and won a stage in the January Tour of the Gila. He has a lot of altitude training in Colombia his hometown.

Pacific Men's Exploit Mountain Bike

If you are looking for a bargain bike that you can use to get you from point A to point B, I would suggest this bike for you. It gives you a comfortable ride and has an acceptable traction.

The bike has a steel mountain tube frame that looks tough, but also feels heavy. The handling was responsive and it has a good stability. The crank also offers a wide gear range. The Vortex front cross-country suspension fork works great specially for bumby roads and rough terrains. The 18-speed Torque drive twist shifters and rear derailleur is really good for changing gears, it is efficient.

I would suggest to change the seat for a more comfortable one. And please take note this is a cheap bike with cheap parts so expect that you will need to fix some parts more often.

If you are interested it's available on Amazon:
Pacific Men's Exploit Mountain Bike, Blue, Medium

Dubai City Bike Friendly

Dubai city will construct cycling tracks to be a brike friendly city. Mattar Al Tayer Chairman of the Board of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has pass a design on the construction of cycling tracks that stretches 52km that includes 11 residential districts in Dubai that is estimated to cost Dh40 million or about 10 million US dollars. Wow, that's really costly.

“The construction of the cycling tracks is part of a master plan developed by the RTA to provide dedicated cycling spanning the entire Dubai Emirate in a bid to encourage the use of bikes as an environment-friendly transit means, as well as for the benefit of cycling enthusiasts. It also comes in implementation of RTA’s vision of safe and smooth transport for all as the advanced countries are focusing on raising the proportion of pedestrian and cyclists since they involve traffic, health and environmental benefits,” said Mattar Al Tayer.

It will cover Al Barsha, Al Khawaneej, Al Warqa, Al Qouz, Al Safouh Road, Al Mamzar Park, Mushrif Park, Hor Al Anz East, and Mirdif. Al Tayer also said that the selection of these districts was based on a number of parameters including the tourist and aesthetic nature of the area and its attraction to cyclists and residents of the neighbourhood.

Now it is more than 100km-long bike tracks, including 25km-long bike lane on Jumeirah Road and about one km-long lane near the Mall of the Emirates station.