Friday, April 10, 2009

making money with bikes

Portland is very progressive. What a bunch of biking profiteers...

stolen bike

Well, after riding a bike in nyc for almost 20 years, I guess it finally had to happen to me. Two weeks ago, my bike, my lovely fifth body part, my means of transport, my source of exercise, was taken from me. And ever so bitterly too might I add. I was upset and in a rush, so I stupidly did not pay close enough attention to how I locked up my bike. I use a chain, and while riding the chain is wrapped around the seat post. Well, I was only going to go inside for 5 minutes and I untwisted the chain but neglected to loop it through the frame.
8 minutes later, my partner for 7 years was taken from me. All that was left was a dangling chain.
MUTHAFUCKERS!!!!

If anybody sees my baby around drop me a line. Black peugeot single speed, with a rack on the back and a yellow bottle holder.

excuse me as I wipe a tear from my eye

japanese bike race

v

oh those crazy japanese

bike parking of the future

kinda kooky, of course it is in Geneva. The music is a mix between porn music and some kind of 80's montage song.

Although I don't think the tree could actually work in nyc. Somebody would just bring a ladder to the thing and throw down the bikes at their leisure. Perhaps there is some locking mechanism at the top?

fresh messenger

Crazy numbers

This nytimes article has some wacky numbers for the average cost annual cost of owning a bike. 390 dollars? Maybe if you know nothing about bikes or buy a new bike every other year. Although the annual price tag of owning a car sounds reasonable to me coming in at 8,758 dollars.

bike to the beach

What felt like the first full day of spring with a slightly warm breeze made for a great climate to ride to the beach. My buddy and I rode from the village to Riis national park. We took a more scenic route on the side roads out there. Going through Flatbush and Midwood, checking out the suburban mansions in Brooklyn. There was a strong headwind from the east, so strong that as we were biking down the bridge to the beach a guy was biking up at the same speed barely pedaling!
It took us about a little more then an hour to get there and less then an hour to get back. A really nice ride, just the right distance with a beautiful destination. I can't wait for it to warm up a bit more so that we can hop in the water and actually hang at the beach a bit.

day of spandex

Riding around the loop of central park on a weekend, and you can get all the latest spandex styles. It can get a lil silly.


Although this guy wasn't around today...maybe next weekend

Awesome bike messenger video

Hilarious!!!

how to patch a tire

Making it simple

Broadway closures

I was wondering what type of lanes bikers were to have in the upcoming closure of broadway to automobile traffic. And from the info given, it doesn't look good for us regular users of bikes. The new pedestrian thoroughfare will not be accommodating for messengers or people traveling by bike, but for tourists on bikes and pedi-cabs. While I am all for more tourists riding bikes and an increase in pedi-cabs, they should certainly delineate a lane for bikers that are going places on a nyc time-schedule, not just those out for a leisurely ride.

Street Vendors on Broadway

This is what I encountered when I locked my bike up on Broadway south of Prince street. Street vendors placing their tables filled with cheap crappy trinkets flush up against the bike posts.

bike shop review- A Bicycle

I had to replace the rear brake on my bike. It was falling apart and constantly loose, being over 20 years old, I figured it was time to invest in a new break. So I went to A Bicycle Shop on 22nd st off of 7th ave. This shop used to be located on 14st east of 9th ave, and before that on bleecker street near Leroy.
While I forgot to bring my TA card, I was able to purchase a new brake without the tax by paying cash. I bought a caliper brake for 35 dollars. The nut that holds the brake onto the frame was too small for my bike. I was a bit worried when I realized this because I was not given a receipt. What if they weren't going to let me exchange my brake for one that fits?
Well my worries were quickly assuaged when I walked through the door. The same guy (black with a stutter) was working. He has been working there for many, many years. And he immediately sent me to the workshop to get a brake that fits properly. Not only did they exchange the brake with no questions, they installed it for me free of charge, on the spot. The Dominican guy in the back quickly went to work, even giving me a new brake cable.
The work was complete in less then 10 minutes and perfectly executed. While this shop is about average price wise, the people there are A+.

White people and Bikes

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/02/10/61-bicycles/

Always good for a laugh...

Really cool bike messenger animation

my buddy josh

Boosting Mass Transit

This article is an enlightening view on the distribution of federal money for transportation projects. The ratio of federal money supporting highways compared to mass transit projects is completely out of proportion and gives us the ensuing environmental issues, foreign oil dependence, rampant obesity, and ugly strip malls that results from a car dominated society.

Great Happenings!!

About time some streets in manhattan become pedestrian thoroughfares. Basically the only thing that I have been happy with mayor mike are his transportation initiatives. Closing down BWAY to cars has been a long time coming. Wack jobs like this NY post writer have halted advances in innovative streetscapes. My only wonder is whether this new street design is going to have a lane for bikes, which it most certainly should.

In other news, the construction of the protected bike lane north of 14st on 8th ave has finally begun!

bikers in san fran

Here is an article about the bay area bicyclists fight for equal rights as cars. It is a never ending battle as bikers are pushed aside again for "safety reasons". Although it is great about the trains upgrading to accommodate more bikes, it's surprising to read about bikers using mass transit with their bikes. After all, how often do you see a biker in nyc riding the train or the bus?

letter to the villager

Here is a letter that I wrote to the Villager awhile back....

Introduction

This is a blog for nyc bicycle riders. I'll be bringing you updates on traffic patterns, bike shops, bike happenings, bikes, and bicycles.
As a full-time bicycle user that lives in downtown manhattan, I strictly use my bike for all trips. The few times a month I don't (due to heavy rain, icy/sleet, drunken laziness), I always regret it. I ride a steel frame Peugeot. It's a black single speed track bike. I've had it for over 5 years and the bike must be at least 20 years old. I recently minimized the bike from a 12 speed to the single speed. The transition has been great. I was resistant, because I'm not a fucking hipster, and well, we all know how hipsters look on the single speed and fixed gear bikes, fucking stupid, but hip.
NYC is definitely a city that is single speed friendly. No hills, lots of bike carrying to get up and down stairs, the need to lock your bike to non-bike friendly street furniture, all good reasons for a single speed in the city.
I didn't do the job myself. My crank fell apart about a month ago near MSG as I was on my to a rehearsal. Thinking about how much it would cost to get it fixed in the city, and knowing that I was going to be spending the night in Queens, I figured, might as well haul it out on the train and take it to a shop out there. So I brought my bike to Astoria bikes on 28th ave and 36st. For 110 dollars, I got a new chain ring, a freewheel cog, new chain, new crank set, and the labor. It took them one day to do the job. I'm not sure there is a shop south of Inwood that would beat that price. My bike lost about 5 pounds of weight without the derailleur, gear shifters, and cables. The ride is so much smoother now, and I now fully sold on the pros of a track bike.