Canada Cycling Blog - Greener and Leaner through Cycling

New indoor cycling training aid - first person video and dashboard

2011-11-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

In the cold Canadian winter, there aren't as many chances to get out and peddle as we would like, but keeping the cycling up is key to keeping in shape and hitting the spring in good form. Recently Ride Fit (www.ride-fit.com) has come out with a new series of virtual indoor cycle training videos that provides a more interesting indoor cycling experience. To provide the most realistic virtual cycling experience possible, Ride Fit videos are shot from the first person perspective so that users feel like they are on the road. Shown below, a simple on-screen digital dashboard also provides critical workout information (such as target resistance, cadence and effort level) and a terrain profile with progress indicator shows the user where they are and what’s coming next so rides can be paced appropriately.

Winter Cycling in Sidney BC

2011-09-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

Forget windchill. Leave your fears of black ice behind. Travel to beautiful Sidney-by-the-Sea this winter, and ride your bike every day along nearly 400 kilometers of cycle lanes and bike paths. The Victoria region features two cycle routes intended especially for bike commuters. One of which, Lochside Trail, follows an old tramline right-of-way from downtown Victoria to Sidney, and eventually the Swartz Bay ferry terminal and the marine highway linking the Island to the mainland and Vancouver.

For cyclists, Sidney may be the ultimate place in Canada to spend the winter. Besides easy access to Lochside Trail, there are cafes, art galleries, at least half a dozen bookstores, and Russ Hay's one of Victoria's oldest independent bicycle shops. "Resort" hotels like the Cedarwood also offer winter packages for cyclists and others looking to escape the freezing temperatures and enjoy average winter temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius. Easy access to more than 30 regional parks, 26 18-hole golf courses, and even skiing on slopes enjoying some of the highest annual snowfall in the world. Perhaps the perfect bicycling and skiing vacation!

Sidney BC, often overshadowed by Victoria to the south, is ideal as a beautiful, low-traffic seaside resort that acts as a gateway to Victoria's hundreds of kilometers of bikable surface, as well as Vancouver, the Gulf Islands, and Washington State.

For more information, contact the Cedarwood. Plan a long term stay in Sidney this winter.

Facebook committed to bicycle commuting in expanding its HQ

2011-08-29T07:16:00.000-07:00

Facebook is moving to Stanford Research Park, and expanding to accommodate 9,000 employees from the current 1,500. In doing so, Facebook also aims to encourage bicycle commuting, a more pleasant and environmentally-friendly way to get to work. Buildings will have showers with towels, bike storage and lockers and bike lending services. Most of all, an on-site "Bike Doctor" is there to repair and maintain the commuters' bikes in good order.

More women than men commuting by bike in Netherlands, Japan

2011-08-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

In Netherlands, Denmark and Japan, women comprise more than 50% of the bike commuters. In other countries, such as Australia, Canada and the US a much smaller proportion cycle.

It is believed that women are more sensitive to safety and convenience issues than men when it comes to bicycling. If cycling is made safe and convenient, as in Europe and Japan, then perhaps more women will participate in North America and Australia.

When cycling is encouraged as an everyday transport, with safe bike lanes and more upright bicycles, with a greater carrying capacity, then it seems more accessible for women of all ages. Sport bikes, common in North America and Australia, have a more bent over posture, which encourages young men and women but not older ones. Read more here. Or contact the author.

Velomobiles

2011-08-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

Velomobiles are recumbent bicycles with a fairing out of carbon fiber or fiberglass. The wind-cheating designs are intended to allow the rider to travel a longer distance more efficiently. Riders say it doesn't get hot inside, as there are vents spread out over the fairing to provide cooling breezes.

Velomobiles have been around since 1945 and, for a while, were beating the best bicycle racers. So the French outlawed recumbents in favour of the upright bicycle designs that we see today.

Due to the fairing, velomobiles can cost from $8,000 to $13,000. They may, however, be the future of transit with their high-level of efficiency. Velomobiles are gaining in popularity; recently a number of them descended on Ft. Wayne, TX. Read more here.

Cycling in Tokyo increases since Earthquake

2011-08-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

An increased interest in cycling in Tokyo has manifested itself in the wake of the March 11 Earthquake. It is a great way to see the city while getting fitter.

There are a few clubs for cycling in Tokyo: Half-fast is open to everyone and tries to communicate in both Japanese and English. They have two standard eginner routes, one to the beachfront at Odaiba and one to a park near Haneda airport. Any bike is acceptable but the Half-fast club recommends a road bike with a carbon-fibre frame, for ease of carrying on and off trains.

Read more here.

New underground bicycle parking hits japan

2010-01-18T11:31:00.000-08:00

Now that bicycle commuting has become so much more popular, parking is becoming an issue. We have seen huge bicycle parking lots full of bikes, but this is taking up key space in downtown squares:

The Japanese have found a solution with the Ecocycle underground bicycle storage system. At a cost of around $30 per month, you can park is a safe, dry place, and retrieve the bicycle when required for the trip back!

Bike lane above traffic for cycle commuting in cities

2010-01-18T11:18:00.000-08:00

A new design for a bicycle lane above the traffic comes from Bulgarian architect Martin Angelov. The "bike lane" is actually a steel U-shaped wire that is connected across distances, and the bike's tires fit into the U. There is also a stabilizing wire that connects to the handlebars, or rider, to keep the bike and rider from falling off.

This type of system would provide a safe bicycle lane in congested cities, with a smaller infrastructure and space investment than is required for bike lanes. It would also provide a scenic, traffic-free tourist attraction!

Most obese states also bicycle the least

2009-07-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

Thirty-one U.S. states now have adult obesity rates above 25 percent, and four states have surpassed 30% obesity. Alabama and Mississippi count among the fattest, and only 0.1 percent of the population bicycle-commutes. The most fit state, Massachusetts, has a bicycle commuting rate of 0.5%. Oregon tops the chart for bicycle commuting at 1.7% of the population, and unsurprisingly is also one of the fittest states.

RONA MS Bike Tour in Ontario to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis

2009-07-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

There are five bike tours held in Ontario this year to benefit MS, ranging from 30 to 190 km. They are for all ages, and food and beverages are supplied as well as cyclist support vehicles. Best of all, to reward all that hard work, the finish line has a BBQ and massage for those aching muscles. This year the tours take place between July 25 and September 13. Find out more at the MS Bike Tour Blog.

Global Ride wins with indoor training DVD set

2009-06-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Global Ride has scored a hit for all of us who train indoors on rainy days or in the winter, with its new DVD set for indoor training. Each video is about 50 minutes of warm-up, workout and cool-down, all taking place on various scenic roads throughout Hawaii. The international spin instructors(professional Australian, American and Italian coaches) also help set the pace, encouraging you to give your all but at the same time pacing your performance throughout the 50 minute session. Cool house and trance tracks energize you as you cycle, providing a beat to pedal to.
The screenshots above show the video, always from a cyclist's viewpoint, and moving along at the cyclist's pace. The camera speeds up, for instance, when the road is descending, so it gives a real impression that you are actually there! This DVD set is great for the winter too, as a bit of escape to tropical Hawaii. The next step is to automatically vary the cycle trainer's resistance from the DVD itself, as the virtual cyclist passes along the coastline of Hawaii.

Global Ride's website here.

London bike-sharing locations revealed

2009-04-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

Londoners will enjoy access to about 6,000 bicycles across nine boroughs in a bicycle-sharing scheme similar to Vélib in Paris. Among the planned locations are Spitalfields Market, Edgware Road, Park Lane, Baker Street and Soho Square. The scheme should increase bicycle trips by 400 percent by 2025. Mayor Boris Johnson hopes the system will be operating by next May. He had this to say:

"I pledged to deliver a cycling revolution across the city, and there is now a growing excitement about our cycle hire scheme, which will give all Londoners the opportunity to hop on a bike and experience the joys of cycling. Much like hailing a cab, people will be able to pick up one of 6,000 bikes, and zip around town to their hearts' content - not only a quick, easy, and healthy option, but one that will also make London a more liveable city."

Car-free cycling in San Francisco

2009-04-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, cyclists will be able to cycle car-free in the streets along the Embarcadero in San Francisco, allowing miles of streets dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians. What freedom, owning the streets and not having to worry about cars! There are activities for kids, especially those trying to kick training wheels and get up on two on their own. Many people are also taking the opportunity to see areas of the city that they rarely see.

Awesome Freestyling! Inspired Bicycles rider Danny MacAskill in April 2009

2009-04-22T07:53:00.001-07:00

Check out the moves on Danny! I pronounce MacAskill MacA**kicking instead.

Ireland aiming to be most cyclist-friendly country by 2020

2009-04-21T13:25:00.001-07:00

The National Cycle Policy Framework was launched yesterday with the goal of increasing the people who cycle to work every day fourfold from current numbers by 2020. Plans include retrofitting roads with cycling lanes, introducing traffic-calming measures and bike-friendly road designs. It also allows bikes to be carried on public transit and encompasses public sharing of bikes like the Parisian Vélib scheme.

Cross-Ontario cycling record attempt

2009-04-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

Ross Rader is attempting to beat the cross-Ontario cycling time record of 35 hours and 43 minutes set in 1987. The route starts in Ottawa, and passes through Kingston, Toronto, Brantford and London on the way to conclude in Windsor after approximately 800 kilometers. All proceeds are going to the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation.

For more info visit Ross's website.

New Yorkers getting into Dutch bikes

2009-04-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

With bike trips in New York up 35% between 2007 and 2008, New Yorkers are trying to reconcile biking with style. It seems the Dutch bike is popular, and can be ridden with a suit without fear of grease stains on pant legs. However, with the price of a dutch bike up to $US 2000, how can one ensure that it won't be stolen in a New York minute?

Check out the full article in the New York Times.

Bike sales up 50% in UK

2009-04-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

Bicycle sales are up 50% in the UK due to the recession, according to bicycle retailer Halfords. Over the same period, car purchases are down 30%, as people choose to bike to work instead of driving. The UK government provides a Bike to Work benefit scheme, which offers a tax reduction of up to 45% on a new bicycle. This increase in cycling reverses years of decline; between 1980 and 2007 bicycle trips have gone down 18%, compared with car trips which increased 78%.

Innovative eccentric bottom bracket makes single-speed conversion a breeze

2009-01-06T07:40:00.000-08:00

Forward Components' eccentric bottom bracket allows conversion of any frame to a single speed frame without the need for horizontal dropouts or an unsightly chain tensioner. It doesn't neet an oversized bottom bracket to work - just install Forward Components' eccentric bottom bracket in a normal frame, and rotate the cups to tighten the chain the appropriate amount.

Sanyo's electric hybrid bicycle unveiled at show

2008-12-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

Sanyo has developed an electric hybrid bicycle which helps the human-power out with an electric motor on the front wheel, allowing the bike to travel 1.8 times the distance of normal peddling alone. It permits the rider to triple the pedal power for short distances, and doubles the pedal power for uphill rides. When the bike goes downhill, energy is harnessed and stored in batteries, until it is used for powering the motor on more demanding uphill rides. The bike is scheduled to be available in Japan in February 2009 for around $US 1500.

Trek releases first production belt-driven bicycle

2008-11-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

In a move for easier bicycle maintenance as well as the elimination of torn pant cuffs and grease spots, Trek has released a series of belt-driven bicycles. The bikes, urban commuters, come in at about $1000 and feature a carbon-reinforced belt in place of the chain, which doesn't stretch or require lubricant.

For further information click here.

Derringer motorized bicycle gets 150mpg

2008-11-17T12:00:00.001-08:00

Derringer, based in California, has released a retro motor-assisted bicycle which claims 150 mpg, and a top speed of 35 mph. This bike is designed after a 1920s style motorcycle, but now with a modern, 49cc engine. Although it does not appear to be legal in Ontario without a motorcycle license, in most jurisdictions this bike is unregulated as a type of bicycle.

Bicycle-sharing booms in European cities

2008-11-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

Almost all major cities in Europe currently have or are considering bicycle-sharing programs. Cities developing programs are looking to Velib in Paris as one model. The bikes can be picked up at one location and dropped off at another, and payments are deducted automatically from bank accounts. In addition to the advantage of bicycles beating traffic in most centres, new technology uses smart cards, adding to the riders' convenience.

In North America, the car culture, longer distances, and need for bike helmets have reduced the appeal of these programs, though we may see such programs popping up in some city centres, like Ottawa (see article below).

Ottawa considers Paris-style bike sharing system

2008-10-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

Ottawa and Gatineau are considering a bike-sharing system, like Vélib' used in Paris, to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home. About 400 bikes would be available for pickup, using a swipe-card system. The rider would then drop the bike off at a station close to his or her destination. The bikes would likely be free for a short period, to encourage commuters to take shorter, more frequent trips, rather than have to rent the bikes for a day or more at a time.

Bikengruvin Recycles Bicycles Into Groovy Art

2008-09-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Canadian artist David James McCelvey recycles scrap bicycles into art. There are over 1-million bicycles ending up as scrap every year, which he uses to produce art. Since 1997, David has shown his works in Western Canada and the American Southwest. His art varies from tables, lamps and wall hangings to a giant slice of pepperoni pizza with a squished bicycle as a topping. Also, he has built some bicycle "jukeboxes", bike tables that flash to the beat of the music.

To see more of his art, check out bikengruvin.com.

Cycling is fashionable and chic

2008-09-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

Cycling has always been cool, due to its environmental and health benefits, but now it is also fashionable. The major labels are designing bikes and clothing. The clothing, however, contains no skin-tight lycra, and the bikes are made more for relaxed cruising than speeding along the side of the highway. All we need now are bike lanes to show off our new wheels and threads! Most of the bikes take after the Amsterdam-style bike, with fenders and bells, rather than racing or mountain bikes.

Chanel and Gucci have designed limited edition bicycles, below. Chanel's, below, sold for $12,000.

Several Dutch-style bikes from Electra and Jorg & Olif:

Olympics raise Chinese awareness of cycling as a sport

2008-08-28T06:47:00.001-07:00

The Chinese traditionally have viewed cycling as a familiar mode of transportation. But since seven Chinese riders were entered in the Olympics, and Guo Shuang winning a bronze medal in the women's sprint, Chinese are getting excited about cycling as a sport, according to the Chinese Cycling Association. Previously professional training and advanced cycles were unavailable in China; as a result of grass-roots efforts and the promotion of large cycling brands to China's untapped market, competitive cycling is now taking hold among the people.

Tour de France won on Canadian bike manufacturer Cervelo's cycles

2008-08-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

The Tour de France was won by Carlos Sastre of Team CSC on Sunday, on a Cervelo. Cervelo is a Toronto-based (now headquartered in Switzerland) high-end bicycle manufacturer. Phil White, one of the co-founders, said that it has been one of their dreams in starting the company, which has now come true.

BMX debuting as Olympic sport

2008-07-30T12:15:00.001-07:00

This is BMX's first year on the Olympic program, one of three new sports to be featured in Beijing this summer. It is viewed by some as an effort to build an X-Games type edge into the Olympics. Beijing's track is a supercross track which starts on a 30 foot ramp. The races ride over about 20 jumps during the 40-second race. Samantha Cools of Airdie, Alta., is a strong possibility in BMX for Canada. The US hopefuls are Kyle Bennett and Donny Robinson, and other medal contenders are Michal Prokop of the Czech Republic and Marc Willers of New Zealand.

London Mayor asks Londoners to "dust off dormant bikes"

2008-07-21T11:51:00.001-07:00

London Mayor Boris Johnson is encouraging Londoners to dust off their bikes and ride in London's Summer of Cycling, in the wake of rampant childhood obesity among Brits, as well as an increase in heart-related deaths.

The Mayor was promoting London Freewheel, part of the Summer of Cycling, which encourages Londoners to use their bicycles. Up to 100,000 people are expected to hop on their bikes to ride past the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and other sights.

Only half of Londoners who have access to a bike have used one in the past 12 months.

Ottawa's 20-year bicycle plan given green light!

2008-07-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

The 20-year bicycle plan recently approved by Ottawa city council aims to improve cycling facilities in Ottawa, making commuting easier and making the city more attractive for tourists (who already account for 13% of bicycle trips). Phase I includes:

$8.1 million for 81.6 km of bicycle lanes
$9.1 million for 165.7 km of paved shoulders
$6.2 million for multi-use pathways
$1.6 million for new initiatives and enhancements to existing programs

Phase II includes bike parking and lockers and permits bike paths to be built on an as-needed basis, and has a budget is $60-million.

Recumbent trikes fast, practical

2008-07-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

Recumbent Trikes are the wave of the future: low to the ground, they are fast and aerodynamic. However, with three wheels they also provide a stable platform for carrying larger groceries and bulkier items, tasks that previously meant a trailer if you wanted to use a bicycle. There are two configurations, "tadpole" with two wheels at the front and one at the rear (upper photo), and "delta", the other way around (lower photo).

The seating position in recumbents is more comfortable, with no pressure spots, and no neck strain. The conventional wisdom is that riding low as recumbents do makes it harder for traffic to see them, but those who ride trikes say that the get far more attention as a "different" vehicle, and as a result they are safer than on a bicycle.
A few of the best trike manufacturers:
Catrike
Terratrike
Greenspeed

For more info, please contact the author.

Bicycle trailers are all the latest rage!

2008-07-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

With increased gasoline costs, bicycle trailers are catching on as a way to take the kids to soccer, and even to pick up the groceries! Once parents retro-fit a trailer onto the back of their bicycle, they can wheel around town, and many parents believe it brings them closer to their kids while giving them exercise. “My kids are closer to me on a bike and they talk to me,” said Summer Spinner, from Eugene, Oregon. “We have much better conversations than we do in a car.”

Read the complete article in the Register Guard here.

Rome, Paris offer bicycle-sharing service

2008-06-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Tourists as well as traditionally-car-loving Romans are invited to use a bicycle-sharing program to reduce smog and congestion in central Rome. About 200 red bicycles have been distributed across 19 locations, including the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. The Roman system start with the first 1/2 hour being free, and a 1€ fee for each 1/2 hour thereafter. The bicycles contain a GPS unit, and are not permitted outside Rome itself. A similar system called Velib, photos below, is already in place in Paris, where a rider may use a bicycle with a deposit of €30.

Canadian success story Cervelo featured in Report on Business

2008-06-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

Cervelo, the amazing Canadian success story now providing bicycles to the CSC Team, is featured in a Report on Business magazine article here. The story details Cervelo's beginnings under the guidance of two engineers turned entrepreneurs, Gerard Vroomen and Phil white. Through a focus on technology, the company has been able to produce bicycles that give racers an edge, and has now claimed a position among the highest echelon of European manufacturers like Pinarello and Bianchi. Go Cervelo!

NB: The author just bought the above Cervelo Soloist Team, which truly kicks butt.

BT Blade is Australia's weapon in Beijing

2008-06-12T06:56:00.001-07:00

Weighing 6.4kg and created for "optimal aerodynamic efficiency", the Bike Technologies' (BT) Blade is the bicycle chosen by cycling Australia to make a mark at the Beijing Olympics. BT is a Melbourne-based bicycle company. More in an article in the Australian.

Sex sells when it comes to custom choppers

2008-05-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

Apparently sex sells when it comes to bicycles too! You don't see this very often in bicycle advertising, but I guess we can expect it more and more as bikes appeal to the mainstream... What a cool chopper though! Apparently built by a Barcelona-based company called Make Bicycles.

Also found in some more mainstream advertising...

Walrus Magazine article on cycling in Toronto

2008-05-13T09:32:00.001-07:00

I really enjoyed reading an article in Walrus Magazine on urban cycling. It is really exciting to perceive bike commuting as an exciting sport involving avoiding multifarious dangers while speeding through the city. This article really represents, but reminds us of the dangers in graphic passages. Much needed - thanks Walrus!

Express your unique personality with a Cruiser Bike!

2008-05-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

There are some wicked cruiser bikes around, easily customized to make a statement for each particular owner. They no doubt are inspired by some of the custom Harleys rolling the streets. It's great to see people expressing their unique personality through their bike, like the above Electra Rat Fink.

Leicester UK may be first "Cycling City" in England

2008-05-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

Leicester has been shortlisted for Cycling England’s Cycling Towns and Cities programme, which would result in a grant of around $13-million that may be put towards increasing the cycling facilities in the city and encouraging cycling by that city's residents.

We need such a program in Canada to encourage cycling and keep our residents fit while reducing emissions and traffic/parking issues. The healthy competition between cities for such a grant would surely bring about change in a short time!

Who says kids shouldn't ride in the Tour

2008-05-06T08:49:00.001-07:00

This is one fast kid! Check out the video (with French commentator)...

4th Annual Pedal for Peace bicycle ride underway

2008-05-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

In Damascus, Syria, around 300 women activists from 28 countries are cycling for 12 days to highlight the plight of Arab women. The women will visit the Golan Heights and Palestinian refugee camps in the course of their journey. Many of the women are riding a bicycle for the first time!
Check it out online at http://www.followthewomen.com

African Bicycle Ambulance - Sweet!

2008-04-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

In many African villages, no access to cars and long distances to hospitals can threaten lives. Enter the bicycle ambulance, pictured below. This sweet ride will carry a patient the distance required without the expense of a car, which could blow the hospital's meagre budget.

From an article about the Bicycling Empowerment Network printed in Bikeradar.com:

In a recent assessment of the link between transport and healthcare, the Bicycling Empowerment Network Namibia (BEN Namibia) found that people living with HIV/AIDS are hit hard by the lack of transport. Patients either miss their treatment because no transport is available, or spend most of their income (up to US$8 per month) on paying for lifts in private vehicles, leaving little money to pay for the food that is an essential part of their treatment. The situation worsens in an emergency, when rural dwellers may pay up to US$66 to reach the nearest hospital.

In order to change this picture, in October 2006, BEN Namibia launched a bicycle ambulance manufacturing plant in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. Bicycle ambulances are ‘stretchers on wheels’ that attach to normal bicycles and tow a sick person or pregnant woman to a hospital or clinic where no other transport is available. In other African countries where bicycle ambulances are in use, there have been marked declines in infant and maternal mortality rates.

Five fathers to bike 758 miles for Equal Parenting

2008-04-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Five fathers are biking 758 miles with a chase crew from Lansing MI to Washington DC in support of equal parenting. Check it out here.

Cycle into Manhattan - East Coast Greenway

2008-04-07T09:17:00.000-07:00

Plans are almost complete for a Bike Path that extends from Westchester Avenue into Manhattan. Imagine biking into Manhattan and not having to fight all those stinky cars sharing the road on one of the bridges! The goal of the entire East Coast Greenway is to create a bike path that goes from Canada all the way to Key West Florida, for bicycles.

From an article in the Journal News:

"Greenway organizers hope to create the trail along the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut and the Hutchinson River Parkway in Westchester, then along Westchester Avenue to downtown White Plains. From there, it would join the Bronx River trail. The trail along the river is mostly complete with about 3 3/4 miles in early planning stages in Mount Vernon, Yonkers and the Scarsdale-Hartsdale area, said Mary Kaye Koch, spokeswoman for the Westchester County Parks Department."

Bicycle Maintenance for Beginners - Video!

2008-04-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Bicycle Anatomy for Beginners from Quickrelease.tv on Vimeo.

Bulgaria competes with China for bike manufacturing

2008-03-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

The Bulgarian bicycle industry is expecting a 40% increase in production after receiving official permission to import parts without paying an anti-dumping tax. As long as Chinese elements do not exceed 60 per cent of the bicycle price, Bulgarian makers would not have to pay the 48.5 per cent anti-dumping tariff.

Last year, the Bulgarian bicycle industry produced over 450,000 bicycles, of which 100,000 were sold locally. Bulgaria has six manufacturers, Cross, Leader-96, Maxcom, Robifir Bike, Velomania and Balkanvelo, and it expects rising sales due to the increasing focus on health and environment in Bulgaria and Europe. Bulgaria has a competitive advantage over China due to its location in Europe, which reduces shipping times. Below, the Bulgarian Prime Minister riding a bicycle through Bourgas.

Bikewire goes live!

2008-03-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

Bikewire, a new website dedicated to cycling, is now live. It is a social networking, stat tracking & graphing, honor code leaderboard, blogging, photo, and mapping and classifieds website strictly for cyclists. This should give us a chance to compare times with other cyclists across the country and around the world! Plus, we get the scoop on the latest routes in different areas contributed by other riders. Go Bikewire!

World Naked Bike Ride

2008-02-18T14:44:00.000-08:00

The World Naked Bike Ride is in support of stopping indecent exposure to automobile emissions. Coming to a city near you! (Picture of a recent ride in Vancouver)

Parking shortage? Give away bicycles!

2008-02-18T14:35:00.000-08:00

That's what a small Wisconsin college is offering. If freshmen promise not to bring a car to campus within the first year of school, then they receive, free of charge, a Trek bicycle and helmet to commute to and from school. It helps that the president is an avid cyclist - he saw a clear solution and was not interested in paving over any more of the campus.

Everyone chipped in to make this happen: "Friends, trustees and alumni donated about $60,000 to buy 200 bicycles to give away to an expected 300 incoming freshmen, said Cody Pinkston, a spokesman for the school."

The president hopes to engender a bicycle-conscious society at the school.

Canadian Company Dorel Buys Cannondale in $200-million deal

2008-02-12T05:30:00.000-08:00

On February 5, 2008, Dorel, a Canadian consumer-products company, bought American high-end bike manufacturer Cannondale. Dorel CEO said the deal would add significantly to the bottom line while encouraging healthy lifestyles and helping the environment. Dorel already sells Schwinn and GT bikes through retailers such as Canadian Tire, but this move would enable the company to move into a higher-end market segment.

Bicycles 4 Humanity

2008-01-30T12:29:00.000-08:00

Bicycles for Humanity gathers up your old used bikes and refurbishes them, and sends them in a container, along with tools, to Africa. The Africans, who may not have any other mode of transportation, are now able to see doctors, go to work a little farther from home, and sell their goods in markets in larger cities. B4H will train the Africans on how to repair the bikes, when they eventually break down, and provide them with the spare parts to do it!

Bamboo bicycle! $2400 frame only

2008-01-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Check out the bamboo bicycle made by Calfee Design. It won the people's choice awards at the North American handmade bicycle show! Apparently the bamboo is smoked and oiled, and has extra stiffness and vibration-absorbing qualities. The frame weighs four pounds. Talk about a small environmental footprint - but how the heck does it get to be so expensive??

1.4 billion bicycles in the world make it the most popular form of transportation

2008-01-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

Princeton's International Networks Archive has accounted for transportation means around the world and put the information in a comparative graphic. Fascinating to find out that the bicycle is the world's most popular transportation means or that Armenians are the world's worst drivers!

Tonnes of Bikes!

2007-12-28T15:00:00.001-08:00

In Munich, the city has dedicated bikelanes all over, at the side of the car lanes. You should see all the people riding around on bikes! Then, when they get to where they are going, they lock the bikes up, en masse.

So many bikes that it makes theft negligible - can you imagine targeting a bike here, with all the people coming and going to the parking area?

Germans use bicycles to deliver the mail!

2007-12-20T09:19:00.000-08:00

On a recent trip to Munich, I was pleasantly surprised by how much Germans use bicycles to get around! There were dedicated bicycle paths along all roads, major or minor, and cyclists even had their own signals! Tonnes of bike parking gave everyone the chance to securely store their vehicles, and because there were so many of them theft is not a problem. Most of the bikes were practical, with fenders and bells, not like the sport-geared bikes were see a lot of in Canada.

The mail is delivered by bicycle, which eases parking and lets the mail person get around quicker and more comfortably!
The train system (Deutsche Bahn) rents bikes at each train station, and they are perfect to get around town for the day, and can then be dropped off before you get back on the train! And they are reasonably priced. No worries about transportation in a strange town...

Altogether a really informative trip - it showed me how things could work here with a little effort. It is no wonder that Germany clobbered us in the environmental rankings!

Commuting in Beijing Problematic

2007-12-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

The commute into Beijing (a city of 17 million) can be shortened by adding bicycles into the mix. Check out this article in the Toronto Star, where a neuroradiologist uses his bike to navigate intense inner-city traffic:
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/284051
Apparently there are only 13 million cars for 1.3 billion Chinese - that's one car for every hundred Chinese! Not to worry, the market for cars there is the fastest-growing in the world, at 26% per year. Soon everyone will have a car to zip in to work (or spend hours in traffic)! Count me out!

In India, some computer programmers are spearheading a program to encourage cycling to work to cut down on the intense pollution and traffic problems. Mr. Dasarathi heads the organization Go Cycle to lobby for bicycle lanes and facilities and to encourage bicycle use. He says that India is caught in developing-country syndrome, where the use of the bicycle is discouraged, but bicycling to work is fun, good for the health and for the environment! Check it out in BBC News at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7130418.stm

Best Cycling Video - Criminal Evading Police on Bicycle

2007-11-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

Check out how fast this criminal is going in order to evade police!

First Real Snow Day in Ottawa!

2007-11-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

Today, my daily commute to work was like snowboarding, blasting through snowdrifts on the paths along the Ottawa River, fully armored against ice-patches with my goggles and helmet! What fun!

I am preparing for the worst weather by investing in a Surly Pugsley off-road bike with 3.7" Large Marge tires to float over the snow. I'm being set up by Dave at Phat Moose Cycles on Hawthorne St. in Ottawa.

Dallas looks to bicycles to deal with pollution, congestion

2007-11-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

Dallas, in oil-friendly Texas, is encouraging cycling for commuting to fight the city's air-pollution and traffic-congestion troubles. They are keen on increasing bicycle use for short errands, under a mile, and commutes to public transit. To do so they will expand the bike path network around the city. If Dallas is doing this, why can't more Canadian cities get around to providing facilities?

Notable quote from the article in the Dallas Morning News:
"We have this picture of cycling commuters as being like supermen, and that discourages other people from doing it," said P.M. Summer, transportation alternatives coordinator for the city of Dallas. "When I came into this job, our thinking was we needed to enable cyclists to make 40-mile bike trips. Now my thinking is we need to have development in place that allows a cyclist to make a one-mile bike trip."

London-Paris cycling route planned

2007-11-15T09:33:00.001-08:00

Just in time for the 2012 Olympics in London, a cycling route linking London and Paris by ferry is planned, according to an article in BikeRadar.com: "The Avenue Verte, connected by the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry, will be the first designated bike path between the two cities."

While the route will, for the most part, avoid traffic and use existing cycle paths, incuding the Tour de la Manche on the English side and the Avenue verte on the French side.

Are we looking for a bicycle connection between Canada and the US anytime soon?

Bicycling to work up 18% in Sydney, Australia

2007-11-13T12:40:00.001-08:00

According to the following article in the Sydney Morning Herald, cycling to work in Sydney is on the rise. Cyclists increased from 0.4% of all commuters in Sydney in 2001 to 0.6% in 2006. That is still a long way off from Ottawa's 1.9% cycling to work, which in turn is far off Copenhagen's nearly 30% who cycle to work! The article says that the relatively small number is due to the failure to accomodate cyclists as commuters.

Check it out here.

Tour de Fat

2007-11-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

The New Belgium Brewing Company's "Tour de Fat", which involves cyclists dressed up in fantastic costumes to raise awareness for the two-wheeled lifestyle, doubled its attendance from last year's festival, with more than 12,000 participants.

Notable quotes (from the press release by the New Belgium Brewery:

"Living car-free is great. No insurance, no repair bills, no gas money," said Brendan Halpin, who traded in his car for a bike in Missoula, Montana and has been using a trailer on the back of his bike to help haul groceries, laundry, even camping gear. "It promotes a healthy green lifestyle that is easily achievable by anyone that is willing to put in the extra effort. The monetary and lifestyle benefits are well worth the sacrifice."

Safety in numbers

2007-11-10T14:51:00.000-08:00

See the following study, in which the author compared the risk of mortality of cycling with the benefit to mortality of getting daily exercise that a bicycle commute would provide, and found by a wide margin that cycling is the safer alternative:
http://www.modalshift.org/reports/tandh/print_version.htm

The study was done in Oxfordshire, UK, where the roads are presumably more cycling-friendly than in automobile-centric North America. However, I think many of the conclusions are transferrable. In particular, I have heard the truth again and again that more cyclists on the road means fewer accidents. Safety in numbers!

A notable quote:
"Sedentary lifestyle is a major threat to public health. Walking and cycling for transport are effective ways for people to engage in regular exercise with all its commensurate benefits for health. A modal shift towards these forms of transport should reduce car use, thus further improving road safety, and reducing the environmental damage caused by current travel patterns. There would also be positive social and community effects, with greater social cohesion, higher levels of social capital, and a stronger focus on local communities; all these factors are likely to have a positive influence on health."

One Got Fat

2007-11-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Quote from a New York Times article "Will bicycling to work get you killed?":

"Per kilometer, cyclists are 12 times more likely than car drivers to suffer a fatal accident, according to Rutgers University urban planner John Pucher and Lewis Dijkstra of the European Commission (the same study found traveling by foot to be 23 times more dangerous than driving, per kilometer).

"On the other hand, a Danish study found that people who do not bike to work suffer a 39 percent higher mortality rate than those who do. So, assuming you can avoid a fatal accident on the road, biking to work may actually help you live longer.

"The risks associated with cycling decrease dramatically when more cyclists are on the road, and especially when those cyclists obey traffic laws. This second point is hammered home in this bizarre but brilliant 1963 bike safety film, “One Got Fat”"

A note on the statistics. The harm is greater per kilometer for pedestrians and cyclists because even though accidents may occur at a similar frequency for each mode of transport, a typical commute by car is much farther than one either by foot or bike (possibly 12 to 23 times?)... Food for thought

Queens in NYC going ahead with bike plans

2007-11-08T12:58:00.000-08:00

The Borough of Queens in NYC is going ahead with plans to increase bike paths, increase parking, and put in deidcated bicycle lanes on busier streets, in the interest of improving the daily commute of its residents. Apparently in NYC less than 1% commute by bicycle, and the city is impressed with Portland, Oregon, where 3.5% uses bicycles to get to work.

Check out: http://www.queenstribune.com/news/1194535291.html

Notable quotes:
“We advocate for the lane to reflect what the street is like,” Samponaro said, adding busier streets require protective lanes, whereas calmer streets can make due with shared lanes.
“The more cyclists there are on the streets, the safer they are,” Samponaro said. “There’s safety in numbers.”

Open letter to the Mayors of our cities

2007-11-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

It's time for cities to put in bike paths to make people feel secure using bicycles as transportation, whether it be for commuting, doing the groceries, or visiting friends. To that end, there is a new open letter at www.nyall.ca/cycling.html which asks the Mayors of our cities to increase the existing cycle path network, build dedicated bicycle lanes at the side of the road, and increase the urban bicycle parking. Imagine how greener our cities would be, and how much healthier their residents...

Sign up and suggest your city!

Some pictures of bicycle paths in Amsterdam from About.com, and what ours SHOULD look like.

About Me

2007-11-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

I am an avid cyclist - I commute to work by bike, and I intend to continue to do so even in the worst of the Canadian winter. I just think that cycling, where it is possible, is the best thing that we can do for the environment, for getting around. Plus, it's fun (if the weather is nice) and gives us some much-needed exercise!

I am currently advocating for a tax rebate for the purchase of bicycles and cycling equipment and for dedicated bike lanes at the side of our roads. Sign the open letters to our Prime Minister, the provincial premiers and our Mayors at www.nyall.ca/cycling.html and make a difference!

During the day I am a patent lawyer at the firm of Andrews Robichaud in Ottawa, Canada, an intellectual property law boutique (www.andrewsrobichaud.com). I draft and prosecute patents, and litigate when the need arises.

Supermodels Ride Bikes

2007-11-08T07:27:00.001-08:00

"Local celebrities like the actresses Naomi Watts and Chloë Sevigny and the Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen have all championed living the green life in this most public and only incidentally calorie-burning way. “I go every day to work on my bike,” Ms. Bündchen told the Daily News a couple of years ago. “It’s faster than a car, and cheaper.”"

A quote from the The New York Observer, which can be found at:
http://www.observer.com/2007/spokes-models

The Wealthy Ride More!

2007-11-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

Apparently the wealthy are more likely to ride bikes than the poor - overturning the belief that cycling is a poor person's transport.

The article in the Times can be found here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2500754.ece
The wealthy are more informed about the benefits of bicycles, both environmental and physical.

In particular:

"Studies have shown that regular cyclists typically enjoy a level of fitness equivalent to someone 10 years younger, and those cycling regularly beyond their mid-thirties add two years to their life expectancy."