Cycling Inquisition

I agree entirely with your premise of safety being...

2012-05-31T15:12:00.755-04:00

I agree entirely with your premise of safety being foremost in the novice cyclist's mind. I remember in my early 20's attempting to ride my sister's Puegot "10-speed" on a busy Vancouver street. I barely managed half a block and gave up, scared to death. It wasn't until years later that a friend lent me his spare road bike and I had a safe stretch of road several kilometres long to learn again as an adult how to ride. Now I ride to work frequently and can negotiate busy streets with confidence. If I had not had that safe stretch of pavement to practice and gain confidence I would never have relearned how to ride. Thank you for this insight, it had never occurred to me.

Great article and very interesting read...I think ...

2012-05-31T13:37:13.113-04:00

Great article and very interesting read...I think you've really nailed it on the head: "Racing, and all that comes with it, has influenced the bike industry too much for far too long." When we're talking and thinking about bike commuting as a widespread and general mode of everyday transportation, suddenly the bike racing crowd becomes a very inaccessible minority, but one that has an overwhelming influence on the entire industry. Racing will always be a critical piece to the larger cycling world, but I'm encouraged by the efforts being made to make this larger cycling world more accessible to riders of all types. Great article!

Some of Gil's comments echo those of the peopl...

2012-05-30T01:32:10.754-04:00

Some of Gil's comments echo those of the people who turned Copenhagen into the cycling haven that it is today. Back in the sixties the Danish city was clogged by cars and was a car centric as any other town, but the councillors decided change was needed and had the courage to make them happen by making difficult, unpopular decisions such as removing car parking spaces to build cycle lanes. They're heroes now but had to live as villains back in the day

It's absolutely amazing to see how much a city...

2012-05-29T23:20:22.554-04:00

It's absolutely amazing to see how much a city can be transformed simply be changing the use of the roads for a day, isn't it? I look at the average downtown area on the weekends, and it is dead. There are thousands of local merchants that have no idea of the changes in traffic, more specifically "people traffic" that happens when cars are taken out of the equation. Everyone has a place to come and gather, to eat, to relax, to socialize, to actually SEE eachother.

Watching the video of the Ciclovia, with a city full of life, of people actually enjoying the activity, the difference is huge. I really hope the idea takes hold in more cities, as it's simply awesome to see.

Bien hecho, senior.

2012-05-29T21:15:15.678-04:00

Bien hecho, senior.

Nice. BTW love your Podcast

2012-05-29T18:01:43.997-04:00

Nice. BTW love your Podcast

Hussein, If you email me your information, I will ...

2012-05-28T19:01:51.574-04:00

Hussein,
If you email me your information, I will happily put you on the list of people who are interested in jerseys. The moment I have enough interest to cover the minimums, I can make an order.

Klaus, any thoughts of doing another run of jerse...

2012-05-28T14:46:44.086-04:00

Klaus,

any thoughts of doing another run of jerseys?

i have always maintained that each day of racing i...

2012-05-28T12:36:34.569-04:00

i have always maintained that each day of racing in Le Tour (or any other bike race, for that matter) is made up of no less than 198 great stories- but we seldom get to hear more than one, the same one, over and over again.
the ancillary players are no less important; there would be no winner without them.

my grandfather was a great storyteller. not unlike the family members in your post, when i was a younger, more impatient man, his stories were not so interesting- especially the ones i had already heard many times before. as i matured, i realized that he found much enjoyment in recounting these special times of his life, and that i also enjoyed hearing of them all over again.
it didn't matter anymore, really. i didn't find them boring, i wanted to hear more. suddenly, there wasn't enough time left.

Cycling IS in fact the gayest "sport" ar...

2012-05-27T11:46:56.628-04:00

Cycling IS in fact the gayest "sport" around. What straight male shaves their legs, wears tight-ass shorts, wears anklets, paints their toenails, let alone chases other males on a bike doing the same shit?

All cyclists are gay and can go fuck themselves, or their gay fuck-buddy cyclists.

Sweetness... I never have enough photos of anythin...

2012-05-26T11:10:56.827-04:00

Sweetness... I never have enough photos of anything - I need to 'cause my memory is so poor LOL! I'll keep an eye out for them. thanks!

YAY!

2012-05-25T19:16:18.128-04:00

YAY!

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of men, ins...

2012-05-25T12:09:54.971-04:00

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of men, instead, seek what they sought.

GO Rigoberto! 5th on GC. Not too shabby for a guy...

2012-05-24T16:31:16.895-04:00

GO Rigoberto! 5th on GC.
Not too shabby for a guy the commentators thought wouldn't last in the mountains. A little rain and cold big deal.
It's the legs and the hair.

4" cuff. Not tooooo tall, but not short. I wi...

2012-05-24T15:50:49.611-04:00

4" cuff. Not tooooo tall, but not short. I will update this page. Thank you for asking.

Klaus, these socks are great. How tall are they?

2012-05-24T13:11:15.790-04:00

Klaus, these socks are great. How tall are they?

This is a brilliantly written post, and such a fan...

2012-05-24T12:13:41.822-04:00

This is a brilliantly written post, and such a fantastic idea. I wonder what the great cyclists of Britain from decades past are up to these days? Maybe I should make it my mission to find them...:)

When you're old and no longer a superstar blog...

2012-05-23T08:09:15.645-04:00

When you're old and no longer a superstar blogger you can look me up, I'll listen to all your stories even if I've heard them before.

I tweeted that Uran is starting to look like a Mex...

2012-05-22T12:49:21.219-04:00

I tweeted that Uran is starting to look like a Mexican hit man in Juarez. Worthy of an ancillary role in any Robert Rodriguez movie.

The ride with Pacho was awesome. At least the 20 miles I was able to keep up. I blew up in the first climb and just rode back with my proverbial tail between my legs. I suck, but it was such an honor to meet a guy who I have admired for 25 years. Klaus is right, every story was awesome.
-"Do you remember Thierry Marie?"
-"Of course!"
-"Well, I was riding next to him... 1988, I think..." And he went on from there. Simply amazing.

Cesar, I'm gonna email you a pic of all of us in group. Not sure you're in it, but I think so.

Cesar, We should have some nice shots up soon. Emi...

2012-05-21T18:42:30.887-04:00

Cesar,
We should have some nice shots up soon. Emiliano (who is one of the two behind Manual For Speed) did some portraits of Pacho.
Anonymous,
It was the Franz Schulze book, though I've recently enjoyed the Johnson Tapes one by Robert AM Stern

Klaus- Your followers here truly appreciate th...

2012-05-21T18:00:35.666-04:00

Klaus-

Your followers here truly appreciate the efforts you make to contact these legends. Your post on Johnson was what first made me bookmark this site.
I was screaming at the t.v. for Atapuma to win the stage to Baldy (even hoping Gesink was going to blow that last turn). It was great to see Duarte do so well. Like a true Colombian legend it seemed like had the mountain been 10 miles longer he might have been the man to win the stage.

which Philip Johnson biography was it?

2012-05-21T16:42:31.916-04:00

which Philip Johnson biography was it?

Would love to see the pics! they posted anywhere.....

2012-05-21T15:37:05.397-04:00

Would love to see the pics! they posted anywhere...?

Duncan, Please email me (contact info is in my pro...

2012-05-21T14:51:20.709-04:00

Duncan,
Please email me (contact info is in my profile). I'd like to ask you a few questions!

Awesome Klaus! I was waiting for the ride update. ...

2012-05-21T12:15:37.236-04:00

Awesome Klaus!
I was waiting for the ride update.
I knew you would have a great time.
That Colombia team jersey looks amazing. The texture of the old jerseys regardless of wool/poly content translates through photos in a way that makes me just want to touch.
This is a great Giro rest day cycling fix.
Thanks!