Biking Bis - Bicycle Touring

Bicycle lust at Interbike

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:26:00 -0700

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas; but I'm sure lots of visitors to Interbike wish they could carry some stuff home with them. Here are some public pictures at flickr.com from years past with descriptions I've added. ...

Specialized adds new models to bike fork recall

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:42:00 -0800

Specialized Bicycle Components is adding two bicycle brands to its voluntary recall of bikes with a brake that can snap off from the carbon fork.

The new recall involves 460 bikes from the 2012 Tricross Sport and Tricross Comp models. The bikes were sold at authorized Specialized retailers between June and September 2011 for $1,250 to $2,000.

Last September, Specialized ...

Giant problem -- bike maker recalls 900 bicycles

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:54:00 -0800

Giant Bicycle is recalling 900 road bicycles because the carbon fork can crack, creating a dangerous situation for the riders.

The recall involves the Giant Defy Advanced and Avail Advanced model bicycles.

The company and US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends owners stop riding the bikes immediately and contact an authorized Giant bike dealer for inspection and replacement ...

Thule recalls 44,000 Chariot bicycle trailers

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:48:00 -0800

Check your bicycle trailer before you take it out for a spin with your children. It might be part of a massive recall of Chariot Carriers by Thule Child Transport Systems.

The Canada-based company is recalling about 44,000 bicycle trailers and 70,000 trailer conversion kits in conjunction with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The company is urging trailer owners ...

When is it time for a new bicycle? Not now for me

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:03:00 -0800

A tell-tale thumping sound from my bicycle's front wheel whenever I came to a stop this weekend was a clear warning that my front rim was about to come apart.

A similar thumping from my rear wheel last spring preceded the rim peeling apart. Years of road-grit grinding whenever I braked had taken its final toll.

As soon as that happened last year, visions of a new road bike danced in my head. I had the perfect justification -- my bicycle was falling apart.

After I calmed down and took stock, however, I soon realized that I didn't need a new bicycle; a new rear wheel at a fraction of the cost would be just fine. ...

3,000 carbon road bike pedals recalled

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:56:00 -0800

A style of carbon road-bike pedal imported by Performance is the subject of a recall.

The company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the recall for nearly 3,000 Forte Pro Carbon Road Bike Pedals.

Performance says it received three reports of the pedal body cracking or breaking, although no one was injured.

The pedal body is black and it made of carbon injected thermoplastic. The axle ...

Grand Canyon park seeks bicycle rental firm

Gene Bisbee — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 11:11:00 -0700

Opportunity knocks if you want to spend seven months of the year on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon renting bicycles to tourists.

The National Park Service is soliciting proposals for a 10-year contract for a business to provide bike rentals, bike tours, and bike shuttle services from April 1 through Oct. 30.

All you need is an estimated $245,000 to get started.

Bright Angel Bicycle Rentals has provided bike rentals ...

Bad bolt leads to big Trek bicycle recall in US and Canada

Gene Bisbee — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:00:00 -0700

Trek Bicycle is recalling 27,000 bicycles -- such as the 7.2 FX WSD -- in the US and Canada to fix a bolt that clamps the saddle to the seatpost. The bolt can break, causing the bicycle rider to fall.

Trek and consumer protection agencies in the US and Canada are urging consumers to stop riding the bicycles until they can contact a Trek dealer for a free replacement bolt.

The recall affects 16 brands of 2012 model Trek FX and District bikes ...

Two bike recalls -- 14,200 from Specialized and 91,000 from Wal-Mart distributor

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:19:00 -0700

Specialized Bicycle Components is recalling 14,200 bicycles that use a carbon fork that can come apart at the brake attachment.

The carbon forks manufactured by Advanced Group of Taiwan on 10 bike models ranging in price from $700 to $2,000. The company reported two incidents in which the brake mountings failed, left, although no injuries were reported.

The recall is ...

Where old-time cyclists used to find support

Gene Bisbee — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 17:38:00 -0700

A standard -- but usually unseen and unsung -- piece of athletic gear in many sports is the common jock strap.

Although I doubt that any cyclists wrapped up in lycra and chamois these days would consider using one, the jock strap was created to support bicycle riders.

While visiting a museum on Orcas Island this past week, I stumbled across this antique box for a Jockey Strap Suspensory. It was in a collection of early 20th Century items found in a home's private dispensary.

Notice "The Bike" logo and the guy riding his bicycle ....