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Saturday, May 31
Contador still leads Giro; Sella wins 3rd mountain stage
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sat 31 May 2008 09:28 AM PDT
 Challengers attacked Giro d'Italia leader Alberto Contador through the mountains on Saturday. But at the end of the day the Spanish rider for Astana retained his 4-second lead in the three-week race that ends Sunday.
Italian rival Riccardo Riccò and Contador matched each other over the Passo Gavia, Passo del Mortirolo and the Aprica. Neither one gave up a second to the other, although Ricco sprinted in to finish just ahead of Contador.
The lead group attacked each other on the second climb of the day, the Mortirolo, with its average 7.9% gradient. But amazing climber Emanuele Sella attacked at the beginning of the smaller third climb, the Aprica, no one could match him ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 19 - Abe born here, honestly
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sat 31 May 2008 07:40 AM PDT
 We pedaled over to the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site today, just up the road from Joel Ray's Lincoln Jamboree. Yee-haw!
The park ranger giving the tour said, "As far as we know, this is where he was born." Sounding a little cagey? Over in Springfield yesterday we had stopped in the Lincoln Homestead State Park, a woman in the office said, "Older people around here say that Lincoln never would have been born down in Hodgenville in the wintertime, so they believe he was actually born up here in Springfield."
With my keen reporter's instincts, I asked him about the discrepancy. He shrugged his shoulders. "Nobody seemed to care where he was born until 1860 when he was elected president." Makes sense. ... more »
Friday, May 30
Biking the rails; S.L.U.T. bike ride in Seattle on Monday
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 30 May 2008 12:00 PM PDT
 Seattle bicycle riders will be taking to the streets on Monday to call attention to inadequate signs and bike lanes in door zones.
Seattle Likes Bikes is asking interested cyclists to meet at 6 p.m. Monday at Westlake Center, follow their route, and finish up at the College Inn Pub near University of Washington.
The first half of the route loops around the South Lake Union Trolley (S.L.U.T.) tracks and the signed route along 9th Avenue North that the city has suggested as an alternate. The second half of the ride heads up Eastlake along the proposed route of the streetcar expansion.
As you may remember, the original S.L.U.T. ride last fall called attention to the streetcar tracks that were laid out where bicyclists ride, causing some serious accidents when narrow tires got caught in the tracks.... more »
Contador retains pink jersey in Giro, just barely
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 30 May 2008 09:39 AM PDT
 Alberto Contador held onto the slimmest of leads -- by just 4 seconds -- as the Giro d'Italia routed the peloton over three major climbs on Friday, including a mountaintop finish.
The winner of last year's Tour de France faded as challengers attacked on the final climb, and at one point he had lost his overall lead "on the road." But Contador had one last push left for Monte Pora and it gave him the margin he needed to survive.
As the peloton heads over Mortirolo and the legendary Gavia for Saturday's penultimate stage, Ricardo Ricco (Saunier Duval) sits just 4 seconds behind and defending champion Danilo Di Luca sits in third place, 21 seconds behind ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 18 - The fragrance of good home cookin'
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 30 May 2008 06:14 AM PDT
 HODGENVILLE, KY. -- We thought nothing could smell sweeter than the good country air of the Kentucky bluegrass country, until we left Bardstown.
We had just finished an unsatisfying lunch at a shopping center deli in the hometown of composer Stephen Foster (My Old Kentucky Home), when we caught the fragrance of good home cooking in the air. Bruce said, wherever it's coming from, "that's where we should have eaten." We rode on for a half-mile and saw the entrance sign for the Heaven Hills Distillery, the source of that fragrance. If we could have "eaten" there, our trip would have ended, no doubt. What we smelled cooking must have been sour mash. We merely cycled past huge warehouses full of booze... more »
Tour de Georgia's economic impact sees growth
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 30 May 2008 04:00 AM PDT
 The Tour de Georgia that ended last month added an estimated $38.6 million to the state's economy -- a 40% increase over last year.
That's a healthy bump, but why the big jump? It is surprising, especially considering that spectatorship was down to about 400,000 this year, a 20% drop from the previous year's 515,000.
Methodology of data gathering might have something to do with it. So does inflation, the price of gasoline, and an increase in the number of foreign visitors lured by the weak dollar. ... more »
Thursday, May 29
One Million Bicycles -- it's Woodstock on two wheels
by
Gene Bisbee
on Thu 29 May 2008 12:17 PM PDT
 There's a big idea afloat to put 1 million new and returning bicyclists on the road next summer.
One Million Bicycles is a bike rally scheduled for August 9, 2009, in 300 cities across all 50 states. The participants -- cyclists like you and me -- will call for doubling expenditures for bicycling on the national and state levels and give away 1 million new or used bicycles to new or returning riders.
Portland's Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie is driving this effort with the support of Congressman Earl Blumenauer and bike organizations and shops across the country.
Kurmaskie mentioned the nationwide celebration at his talk at the Seattle Bike Expo in March and launched it a couple of weeks ago when OneMillionBicycles.org went online.
Where will those 1 million bicycles come from? Kurmaskie suggests we merely choose one from the collections in our garages. As he says in the YouTube video, a bicycle is not necessary for the structural integrity of a garage ... more »
Solo win for Voigt at Giro; Contador still leads
by
Gene Bisbee
on Thu 29 May 2008 09:34 AM PDT
 Cycling veteran Jens Voigt, left, beat Paolo Bettini (and the rest of the peloton) at his own game on Thursday at the Giro d'Italia on a course that will be used for the 2009 World Championships.
Current world champion Bettini attacked early in the race and drove about a dozen riders in a breakaway on the 91-mile Stage 18 from Mendrisio to Varese.
But it was Team CSC's Voigt, 36, who made a solo attack from the breakaway with about 24 miles left. His move tore apart the group, as different bunches in 3's and 4's tried to catch up. Among those unsuccessful chasers, Bettini. ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 17 - Not everyone welcomes bicycle tourists
by
Gene Bisbee
on Thu 29 May 2008 06:20 AM PDT
 HARRODSBURG, KY. -- What did I say about bicycle touring and the kindness of strangers? Forget it.
Tonight we're at the Parkview Guest House. When we walked in the front door of the two-story men's-only "guest house," a guy told us to wait right there for the manager who would soon be home from work. We sat in a couple of chairs in the hallway. Soon the manager walks in:
"What the hell's going on here? And get that thing off the table."
Bruce removed his helmet from the lamp table. We asked for a room. The old guy said he had one but didn't know whether he'd let us have it. It only had a double bed. "You're not going to get drunk and puke in bed, are you?" more »
Wednesday, May 28
High Road's Cavendish: Did he or didn't he?
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 28 May 2008 08:33 PM PDT
 The sudden controversy concerning UK's Mark Cavendish, left, at the Giro d'Italia doesn't involve tainted urine samples or blood doping allegations.
The issue is whether or not Cavendish let High Road teammate and lead-out man Andre Greipel win the Stage 17 sprint to the finish line in Locarno on Wednesday.
Cavendish has two stage wins of his won at the Giro, and observers noted that he sat on Greipel's wheel through the sprint and never accelerated to win the stage. It would have been his third stage win at the Giro; no Briton has ever won three stages of a major cycling race, laments the Guardian newspaper ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 16 - A good welcome to Berea
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 28 May 2008 07:48 AM PDT
 BEREA, KY. -- We didn't make as big a splash as some people upon entering Berea, but we felt heroic all the same and did receive a warm welcome and invitation.
We arrived in Berea about 10 minutes ahead of the Olympic torch. AT&T was sponsoring the torch run through all 50 states on its way to the Summer Games in Los Angeles. We just happened to ride into Berea at about the same time as the torch. A local woman had raised $3,000 to carry the torch for a mile and people lined the street waiting for her arrival.
While we waited, a woman came up and started a conversation. We were the first bicycle tourists she'd seen this year. She and her husband bicycle. Their house is listed in a national organization's newsletter as an overnight spot for travelling bicyclists. Would we like to stay? Of course we would ... more »
Green River Valley overnight bike tour in western Washington
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 28 May 2008 04:00 AM PDT
 My son has been riding multi-day group bicycle rides with me since he was 11, but here he is a junior in high school and we've never been on an independent overnight bike tour together.
We decided to fix that cycling resume omission over the Memorial Day weekend with an overnighter to a state park located about 40 miles east of Seattle at the base of the Cascades.
It was a great trip. We had a chance to talk without the distractions at home. My son stoked my ego by blurting out on a hill, "Wow dad, you're calves are cut!" When he rocketed past me seconds later, I returned the compliment.
Although there was an element of last-minute preparations involved, it wasn't one of those spur-of-the-moment S24O's (sub-24-hour overnighter) described last year in Adventure Cyclist magazine by Rivendell founder Grant Petersen ... more »
Tuesday, May 27
Small gift bicycles in glass
by
Gene Bisbee
on Tue 27 May 2008 12:09 PM PDT
 The ancient proverb -- "He who rides a glass bicycle shouldn't take the bumpy road" -- doesn't apply to the glass bicycles hand-sculptured by Leo Lyman.
From his home studio in Wildomar, California, Leo makes a wide variety of small glass bicycle gifts in the styles of road bikes, tandems, recumbents, and more. He even makes glass cake tops; I understand the glass tandem is popular for wedding cakes.
Examples of his work are displayed at his Bicycle in Glass website. I recently asked Leo how he got started making glass bicycle-style jewelry.
"I have been doing the bicycle glass since my son Scott was racing BMX, which has been about 22 years ago," he wrote. "He then moved up to cross-country and down hill. I used to sell the bicycle glass at the races to pay for his races and accommodations. ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 15 -- Hill hell
by
Gene Bisbee
on Tue 27 May 2008 06:00 AM PDT
 BOONEVILLE, KY. -- We never stop climbing hills. The route heading west crosses one ridge after another. I can appreciate what Daniel Boone and the pioneers had to endure.
We did go through some wide open bottomland nestled between the hills today, though, generally after passing Buckhorn Lake. We saw some cows in pastures today, something we hadn't seen for many days. Before it's been pigs, hogs, and chickens. Those smaller farm animals must be better suited for small farms on hillsides. These hills are gut-wrenching for me. I start out in medium gears, but soon I'm in my lowest -- the granny gear or stump-puller. I grind away, travelling 27 inches for every pedal stroke; don't try to think about how many pedal strokes in a 4.4-mile climb...
more »
Monday, May 26
Contador survives in pink jersey; Pellizotti wins time trial
by
Gene Bisbee
on Mon 26 May 2008 07:13 PM PDT
Italy's Enrico Pellizotti won the ever-climbing 7.9-mile time trial on Monday, but couldn't dislodge Astana's Alberto Contador from the overall lead.
The Spanish cyclist, who just attained the leader's pink jersey after Sunday's stage, finished Stage 16 in 4th place but widened the margin over his nearest rival -- Riccardo Riccò -- to 41 seconds.
After Tuesday's rest stage, the peloton swings into Switzerland for part of a 90-mile 17th stage from Sondrio to Locarno that has only one climb. Cyclists with a design on a championship will have to look ahead to the mountain stages on Friday or Saturday or Sunday's final stage -- a time trial around Milan... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 14 -- A salute from King Coal
by
Gene Bisbee
on Mon 26 May 2008 05:32 PM PDT
 PIPPA PASSES, KY. -- Last night's fear and loathing about spending the foreseeable future dodging coal trucks turned out to be a waste of time.
Coal is king in these parts, but even the king gives a holiday to his subjects over the Memorial Day weekend. No coal trucks confronted us today. We could see them parked in gravel parking lots behind chainlink fences, their trailer beds tilted up so they wouldn't collect rainwater. It was as if they were saluting our passage.
Although the coal trucks were absent, the grinding terrain still had to be dealt with. As we broke camp in the morning, an old camper who knew the area said our route would be "rough as a cob." We didn't know how rough a cob was, but we soon found out. ... more »
Sunday, May 25
Contador leads Giro; Sella wins back-to-back mountain stages
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sun 25 May 2008 09:38 AM PDT
Surpassing Saturday's winning effort, Emanuele Sella drove a breakaway for all of Stage 15 and survived the six major climbs to cross the finish line with a two-minute gap at Passo Fedaia.
Spain's Alberto Contador, left, fought his own battle among the GC contenders, eventually grabbing a half-minute lead over his nearest rivals for the pink jersey. Five riders sit a minute or less behind Contador, however.
Monday's individual time trial may be the stage that solidifies the lead for an overall champion for the Giro d'Italia, which ends next Sunday. The 7.9-mile race against the clock climbs right to the summit of Plan de Corones, at times taking a 16%, 20% and even 24% gradient to the top ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 13 - That's the Breaks
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sun 25 May 2008 07:36 AM PDT
 BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK, Va. -- There's nothing like a big ol' country-style breakfast to start the day -- if you plan to go right back to bed.
Bruce and I weren't napping, however. Rev. Chuck and his wife served us an extra helping of biscuits 'n' gravy, along with sausage, bacon and eggs this morning. He said we'd need that extra larder to get over "Big A" Mountain up the road. Being used to pop tarts or oatmeal for breakfast, I carried those extra helpings of undigestable grease high in my stomach all the way to the Kentucky border.
We climbed four or five ball-busting passes today. I'm getting discouraged and feel weaker each day ... more »
Saturday, May 24
Snow derails Colorado's Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sat 24 May 2008 10:38 AM PDT
 An overnight snowfall in the mountains around Durango left 2,500 bicyclists all dressed up with no place to go on Saturday morning for the 37th annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.
The Colorado State Patrol cancelled the popular bicycle road race and bike tour from Durango to Silverton after a foot of snow was measured at the finish line in Silverton and daytime temperatures were only expected to reach the high 30s.
Said race director Gaige Sippy: “We can not have 2,500 cyclists and their friends in Silverton with those weather conditions. Hypothermia in these conditions is a high risk."
There is a no refund policy in effect and the rides cannot be rescheduled. Other weekend events were not affected as of Saturday morning ... more »
Bravo Sella! Solo win on mountainous Giro d'Italia Stage 14
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sat 24 May 2008 10:23 AM PDT
 Italy's Emanuele Sella won the mountainous Stage 14 of the Giro d'Italia by more than 4 minutes with a solo breakaway some 30 miles from the mountaintop finish in Alpe di Pampeago.
The high mountain passes on Saturday also served to shake up the overall lead, with Gabriele Bosisio taking the pink jersey, leading Astana's Alberto Contador by just 5 seconds.
On Sunday the real fun begins, though, as Stage 15 features six climbs over 94 miles, including the mountaintop finish at Passo Fedaia. Expect more changes in the overall standings ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 12 - We meet the Rev at Elk Garden
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sat 24 May 2008 09:33 AM PDT
 ELK GARDEN, VA. -- "Bikers. Take a Break. Good Cool Water. Welcome."
After climbing in and out Appalachian hollers all day and seeing a sign like that, we didn't need to be told twice to stop for a while. That's where we met the Rev, another unforgettable person on our TransAmerica Tour. In the morning I discovered that the campground showers did have hot water. Wish I knew that last night. Also met and talked with a group of three cyclists from Connecticut who were riding the same cross-country route as Bruce and me. We hung around together for awhile, but they were getting a late start and said they'd meet us later down the road. We pedaled down to Damascus where we did laundry and talked to a couple who were hiking the Appalachian Trail. They had come to town to shake a "trail leech" who kept bugging them along the trail ... more »
Friday, May 23
Cavendish wins Giro Stage 13 for Team High Road
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 23 May 2008 08:30 AM PDT
Mark Cavendish scored his second win at the 2008 Giro d'Italia of Friday with a commanding two-bike length sprint finish at the walled city of Cittadella.
The 23-year-old passed 3-stage winner Daniele Bennati in the sprint. Teammates on High Road, which is now a US-based team, led out the peloton in the final kilometers.
Although the overall leaders remained unchanged, with Italy's Giovanni Visconti in No. 1, Saturday's stage from Verona to a mountaintop finish at Alpe di Pampeago might shake things up ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 11 - Fellow travellers, different paths
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 23 May 2008 06:06 AM PDT
 GRINDSTONE CAMPGROUND, VA. -- We hit it all today -- headwinds, rain, steep hills, illness and a opposite direction bicycle tourist who told us how great things were. That last was the hardest to take.
We broke camp at the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park, packed our damp gear, and headed to the laundromat in town. I tried to fix my front derailleur while my shoes dried, broke the nut, cursed and threw things, then walked around town until I found an auto parts store where a guy replaced it for free. Back on rolling Route 11 again, we came across a guy who was wrapping up his cross-country trip from San Francisco... more »
Thursday, May 22
Bennati wins his 3rd stage at Giro; same overall leaders
by
Gene Bisbee
on Thu 22 May 2008 05:53 PM PDT
 Italy's Daniele Bennati scored a Giro d'Italia hat trick on Thursday with this third win in 12 stages, with 9 stages remaining in the three-week tour.
The 27-year-old sprinter for Liquigas beat Team High Road's Mark Cavendish in a photo finish, both slightly ahead of Australia's Robbie McEwen of Silence-Lotto.
Bennati's dominance this year is amazing, considering that he's in his 7th year as a pro and he had never before won at the Giro... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 10 - Dickie Boyles, where are you?
by
Gene Bisbee
on Thu 22 May 2008 05:50 AM PDT
 Today, our stupidity almost got the best of us.
After a late start, I had problems with my front derailleur and tried to fix it as a gas station. It was 10 a.m. before we got underway. We stopped for a bite at Newbern, where several log cabins appeared to be under restoration We continued on along a road that had a beautiful sweeping vistas of wide green valleys backed by blue tinted mountain ridges (bottom photo).
This led us to the Draper Country Store, "18 and 90" it said above the door. Inside, a guy cut some longhorn cheese from a huge block he kept under glass. The old store had a pool table, a cast iron stove, some well-worn chairs, and lots of unusual items for sale... more »
For the Seattle cyclist who has everything
by
Gene Bisbee
on Thu 22 May 2008 04:00 AM PDT
 The Hands Free Cockpit Umbrella must have some advantages over a rainjacket and a hood, but I just can't think of any.
The Hammacher Schlemmer website says it "protects your head and shoulders from wind, rain and snow -- and, unlike an umbrella -- leaves both hands free ..."
Well there's the advantage -- the cockpit umbrella is an improvement over using an umbrella while bicycling ... more »
Wednesday, May 21
Bicycle Film Festival begins 7-month tour in May
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 21 May 2008 02:34 PM PDT
On May 28 the curtain goes up on the 8th annual edition of the Bicycle Film Festival with a five-day run in New York City. From there it takes off on a seven-month tour of the US, Europe, Australia and Asia before landing in Portland in December for this year's final show.
There's more to these events than films about people riding their bicycles. We're talking parties, bands, art shows and more parties.
But at its heart this festival is about bicycling films. The New York City program shows sessions that encompass everything from animated shorts, 5-minute films about bike advocates to feature-length documentaries such as Adventures for the Cure(see trailer above). ... more »
It's still Visconti in pink; Bertolini wins Stage 11 at Giro
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 21 May 2008 12:42 PM PDT
 With a little help from his QuickStep team, Giovanni Visconti, left, held onto the pink leader's jersey for another day at the 2008 Giro d'Italia on Wednesday in spite of being dropped twice and crashing once.
But it was Alessandro Bertolini who stole the show, winning the 123-mile mountainous Stage 11 from Urbania to Cesena in a sprint he won after a one of his breakaway companions crashed in the final kilometer.
It marked the first Giro d'Italia win ever for the 36-year-old on the team Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni. Bertolini and another rider attaked earlier in the race and were caught by three other cyclists who all battled for a stage win... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 9 - Tired, tarred and dogged
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 21 May 2008 05:55 AM PDT
 Hills, dogs, tar and lots of miles. What an exhausting day.
We left the campground at 7 a.m. and followed Route 11 -- known locally as the Valley Pike -- right through to the TransAmerica Route in Buchanan and beyond. The roadway is like a trip out of the '50s -- the highway is cement and weathered roadside barns. We turned off 11 and followed some low-country roads along the Norfolk-Western RR. Many dogs here. At one house, two dogs raced out of the yard chasing Bruce's bike. One mean-looking mongrel actually bit into the rear of his pannier and tried to drag him to a stop. ... more »
285 Rides of Silence scheduled for today
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 21 May 2008 04:00 AM PDT
 Today marks the Ride of Silence that honors bicyclists who have died or been injured on public roads. It also raises awareness that we bicycle riders have a right to the road.
At last count, 285 rides are scheduled in 17 countries around the world. The slow, silent processions all start at 7 p.m.
If you want to participate, find a ride by checking the listings in the United States or international.
Tuesday, May 20
San Clemente bike shop owner dies in solo bike crash
by
Gene Bisbee
on Tue 20 May 2008 08:12 PM PDT
Services are scheduled later this week for John Cuchessi, a Southern California bike shop owner remembered for his enthusiasm for bicycling and generosity to customers and others in the community.
Cuchessi, owner of the San Clemente Cyclery since 1974, was riding with the San Clemente Renegades bike club on Sunday when he inexplicably made a sharp right while heading downhill and hit a fence. He died on the way to the hospital.
Anyone with comments or stories about Cuchessi is encouraged to send an e-mail to San Clemente Cyclery at info@sccyclery.com ... more »
Favorites on rise at Giro d'Italia after Stage 10
by
Gene Bisbee
on Tue 20 May 2008 11:08 AM PDT
 Although Giovanni Visconti held onto the overall lead of the Giro d'Italia after Tuesday's individual time trial, you could see the favorites climbing in the standings.
Despite a fractured elbow suffered on Saturday, Alberto Contador finished 2nd overall for the day, climbing from 8th into 4th place, 6:59 behind the leader. Astana's Andreas Kloden and Levi Leipheimer also made big gains, as the German rose from 15th to 6th overall and the US's Leipheimer rose from 22nd to 14th.
More changes are expected in the leader board on Wednesday, after a 123-mile mountainous stage between Urbania and Cesena. There are four mountain passes, including Monte Carpegna which features a 14% section and the short, but not so sweet Sorrivoli... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 8 - Natural Bridge seems so unnatural
by
Gene Bisbee
on Tue 20 May 2008 06:01 AM PDT
 We bolted from the campground without breakfast, and coasted all the way down to the town of Vesuvius. This is one of the hardest climbs on the TransAmerica Route for eastbound riders; but going westbound, we weren't even warmed up. The guidebook says 200 people live here, but we didn't see a soul. Vesuvius is bisected by the Norfolk Western RR, and it looks like both halves were the "wrong side" of town -- everything was boarded up. We ended up at a truck stop on I-81 for breakfast, our bicycles dwarfed by the giant 18-wheelers ...
more »
Lance Armstrong wheelin' around with Kate Hudson?
by
Gene Bisbee
on Tue 20 May 2008 05:00 AM PDT
  The global gossip press launched into fits of speculation after Lance Armstrong was seen taking a couple of dinners this past weekend in Austin with actress Kate Hudson.
Hudson formerly dated actor Owen Wilson, who is one of Armstrong's Hollywood celebrity friends. Wilson also once dated singer Sheryl Crowe. Therefore, spotting Hudson and Armstrong together raised the possibilities for a new Armstrong romance.
The Defamer.com threw cold water on the entire episode, however. The blog notes the "cozy" dinner comprised a group of six people, not including four kids, and Armstrong and Hudson didn't even sit together. ... more »
Monday, May 19
1984 Tour: Day 7 - Climb a mountain, meet the Cookie Lady
by
Gene Bisbee
on Mon 19 May 2008 06:09 AM PDT
 This is by far the most difficult day of the trip. We rode through rolling farmland, struggled up switchbacks to the Cookie Lady's Bike House, then discovered the Blue Ridge Parkway is not level.
This is the part of the trip we should have been training for all spring, but I don't think even that would have prepared us for this. We enjoyed meeting the Cookie Lady and achieving the top of the pass, but became distressed to learn that we had more climbing and farther to ride to reach our campground... more »
Sunday, May 18
Urban Assault storms Seattle by bicycle
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sun 18 May 2008 02:54 PM PDT
 New Belgium Brewery kicked off its 2008 Urban Assault Ride series with a first-ever visit to Seattle on Sunday.
Fifty 2-person teams bicycled the meandering course through Seattle and attempted the bizarre and fun challenges along the way, namely bicycle jousting, human wheel-barrow pushing and a big-wheels racing grand finale.
Seven other cities are lined up for the "contest" later on. They are Portland, Austin, Fort Collins, Denver, Madison, Minneapolis, and Chicago (dates below).
I stumbled across the event while cycling along the Burke Gilman trail down by the waterfront on Sunday ... more »
Ride of Silence is Wednesday (May 21)
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sun 18 May 2008 08:16 AM PDT
The ride to honor bicyclists killed or injured by motor vehicles gets underway at 261 locations beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday in 16 countries.
Ride of Silence is just that, a silent procession. Its purpose is not just to honor those who have been killed, but to remind motorists, police and public officials that bicycle riders have a right to the road.
The ride is free. There is no T-shirt or brochure. Check US Ride Locations or International Ride Locations for Rides of Silence in your area. ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 6 - Rest day; mailing gear back home That year's Top 40
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sun 18 May 2008 07:34 AM PDT
 Six days into our TransAmerica bike tour, and we're already taking our first day off. The first five days have been a shakedown cruise -- the last days of training and the first of our trip. I feel that our journey begins in earnest tomorrow.
After lolling around our hostess' apartment for a while, we boxed up some clothes to send back home. I sent back an extra sweater and other clothes that only filled space and added weight to my panniers. Why did I pack so much crap? Maybe I can cheat gravity a little a we head into the Appalachians... more »
Saturday, May 17
Ricco wins Stage 8; Visconti still holds Giro d'Italia lead
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sat 17 May 2008 10:14 AM PDT
As the Giro d'Italia begins its second week, the Italians remain very much in control of the race in spite of its international cast.
On Saturday's Stage 8, Riccardo Riccò of Saunier Duval won again (also Stage 2) in a bunch sprint in Tivoli, and Quick Step's Giovanni Visconti, left, held on for another day as winner of the overall leader's pink jersey.
Except for Slipstream-Chipotle's initial team time trial win on Stage 1 that put Christian Vande Velde in the lead, Italians Visconti and Franco Pellizoti have held the maglia rosa for 7 of 8 stages ... more »
Record-setting Bike to Work Day in Seattle area
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sat 17 May 2008 04:00 AM PDT
  Twenty-three thousand commuters chose their bicycles on Friday in the Puget Sound region, making this the most popular Bike to Work Day ever.
Discontent with higher gasoline prices and happiness over the nice weather are credited with the 20-plus percent increase in participation this year. Maybe some of them will keep riding throughout the summer.
Ms. Biking Bis headed down to the Seattle City Hall where scores of cyclists met up Friday morning for a spirited Bike to Work Day Rally. She took these pictures of commuters with bike shorts under their skirts, above left, and others dressed for success. (More pictures inside.) more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 5 - Discovering gravity the hard way; And traffic volume then and now
by
Gene Bisbee
on Sat 17 May 2008 12:26 AM PDT
 Our Bikecentennial guidebook calls this the rolling Piedmont of Louisa and Hanover counties. Contemplating the issue of gravity on the porch of Kent's Store, I decided I'm carrying too much stuff.
These might be called rollercoaster hills, but they aren't as much fun as an amusement park. I speed downhill at top speed, cross a creek, then begin the uphill then begin the uphill struggle. All that momentum is lost the moment the slope changes. Even though I had installed a triple chainring, giving me 15 gears, I can't downshift fast enough to sustain any speed. I'm either jamming the chain or dropping down to the lowest gears, spinning the pedals furiously to make any progress.... more »
Friday, May 16
Bike to Work Day in Seattle area; dispelling myths
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 16 May 2008 10:55 AM PDT
 What a great day for a bike ride as thousands of Seattle area commuters pushed off for work Friday morning.
It's too early to get a full count, but folks at the Enatai Commute Station in Bellevue (one of 42 commute stations around the region) reported more than 400 cyclists had passed through -- going both directions -- in the first two hours.
The Cascade Bicycle Club reported about 10,000 last year. With the wonderful weather and skyrocketing gasoline prices, you could only expect more this year... more »
Mercer Island to bicyclists: "Happy Bike to Work Day; here's your ticket"
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 16 May 2008 09:56 AM PDT
All the good bicycling love shown around the Puget Sound for Friday's Bike to Work Day didn't prevent the Mercer Island police from keeping a watchful eye open for cyclists blowing stop signs.
These two riders, I obscured their faces, told me Friday morning that they were being ticketed for not stopping at the stop sign on 84th Avenue SE at SE 26th Street (that's at the lower entrance to Luther Burbank Park).
I was unable to interview them about how flagrant they considered their violation after the patrolman asked me to "Please move along" -- three times -- even though I was off the road in the yard across the street ... more »
1984 Tour: Day 4 - Give me cycling or give me death
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 16 May 2008 06:02 AM PDT
 I jumped out of the sack before 6, but we still didn't leave until 8. Three packets of instant oatmeal for breakfast. It's still friggin' cold (see Bruce in sweater, left).
After pedaling around Ashland, we headed up some narrow roads to Scotchtown, the home of Patrick Henry. We ate an early lunch there and met the groundskeeper, an old guy in beatup overalls. Talking to him about how long ... more »
How to help the Fat Cyclist
by
Gene Bisbee
on Fri 16 May 2008 04:00 AM PDT
If you browse the bicycling blogs -- and if you're here, you must -- then you're probably familiar with FatCyclist.com. Day in and day out, his is the most entertaining blog of them all.
The blogger's name is Elden Nelson, and just a few weeks ago he and his wife Susan learned that the cancer she had been fighting for years had spread to her brain. The doctor has given her months, not years, to live.
Along with dealing with everything else, they have expenses. Lots of them. Some people have come forward to help:
-- A friend named Kenny has set up a PayPal account for Susan's WIN Fund to help the Nelsons.
-- Rob Lucas at UltraRob's Adventures is donating all the commissions for next Monday and Tuesday, May 19 and 20, from his Cycling and Outdoor Gear Search website to the Nelsons.
So you can donate now, or if you're thinking of buying some gear, wait until next week and do it at UltraRob's and all the commissions go to the fund. He has 18,000 product listings from 50 online stores.
Thursday, May 15
Bike tour director reports from China quake zone
by
Gene Bisbee
on Thu 15 May 2008 10:46 AM PDT
 Peter Snow Cao founded Bike China Adventures in 1998 and set up his base of operations in Chengdu, the capital city of the Sichuan province that was rocked by Monday's 7.8 earthquake.
He e-mailed out this report earlier in the week about the state of emergency in this city about 50 miles from the epicenter. Most businesses are closed and many people are camping out for fear of staying inside. I contacted him and he said it was OK to reprint it here at Biking Bis.
While you read this, keep in mind that the Chinese state media reports the death toll could soar to 50,000 people. Some 20,000 are confirmed dead and 25,000 are believed buried in the rubble of towns leveled by the quake.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched a global appeal for $19 million to support the expected 100,000 survivors over the next 12 months (press release).
Emergency relief will form the focus of the first phase of the proposed operation, helping to purchase, amongst other things, 3,000 tents, 100,000 quilts, 100,000 food parcels and 2,000 boxes of water purification tablets. Long term relief will go toward building at least 1,000 homes.
Residents of the US can donate to the relief effort in China through the American Red Cross (tax deductible). If you're from another country, check the list at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Peter's e-mail: ... more »
110-mile breakaway rearranges Giro overall leaders in Stage 6
by
Gene Bisbee
on Thu 15 May 2008 09:41 AM PDT
 For the second day in a row on Thursday, the breakaway arrived first at the finish line at the Giro d'Italia and seriously shook up the overall lead.
The 11-man bunch shattered the standings after this 143-mile stage, dropping the previous leaders by 9 minutes or more down the general classification.
Italy's Matteo Priamo of CSF Group Navigare won the stage in Peschici. Another member of the breakaway, Italian cyclist Giovanni Visconti of Quick Step took the overall lead. ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 3 - Still a shakedown cruise
by
Gene Bisbee
on Thu 15 May 2008 05:40 AM PDT
 After another breakfast of instant coffee, Pop-tarts and juice, we followed the campground owner's directions to the TransAmerica bicycle route via the historical Washington-Rochambeau route.
Today was chilly riding. Bruce wore polypro bottoms and tops, sweats, turtleneck, wool sweater, gloves and a hat under his helmet. Yesterday's warmish 80 degree high makes the weather today seem that much cooler.... more »
Wednesday, May 14
More Bike to Work Week stuff
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 14 May 2008 11:33 AM PDT
  Lots of bike commuting news out there for Bike to Work Week. Just remember: you can commute next week, next month and all year, too.
-- The Seattle Times is offering a live online Q&A with two bike commute specialists beginning at noon on Thursday. Ask Chris Cameron (Cascade Bicycle Club) or Every Day (Bicycle Alliance of Washington) any questions regarding the routes of equipment in advance of Friday's Bike to Work Day.
-- Reuters goes to Taipei to report "Bicycle makers ride high":
"Rising petrol prices, growing awareness of environmental issues and the popularity of cycling as a recreation sport has fuelled a surge in demand for bicycles around the world."
The story goes on to report a 14.6 percent sales increase in European Union in past five years, as the US climbed 9 percent in same period.
-- Rails to Trails Conservancy lists its Top 10 ways to build a bike commuting habit:
1. Functional bike;
2. Helmet ... more »
Broken chain snaps chances for Stage 5 win by Slipstream's Millar
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 14 May 2008 08:22 AM PDT
 A perfectly executed breakaway with four other cyclists put Slipstream's David Millar, left, in the perfect position for a Stage 5 win on Wednesday at the Giro d'Italia.
But with about a kilometer to go on a 9% climb to the finish at Contursi Terme, the Scotsman's chain broke as he strained to keep up with eventual winner Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff). Millar threw his bike over the barrier in disgust and waited for a replacement to finish the race.
The rest of the peloton finished about 30 seconds later, leaving Italian Franco Pellizotti of Liquigas in the overall lead, with Slipstream's Christian Vande Velde 1 second behind. ... more »
1984 Bike Tour: Day 2 - First roadside attraction - Shirley Plantation
by
Gene Bisbee
on Wed 14 May 2008 05:47 AM PDT
 We awoke to roosters crowing Monday morning. They walked down the hill from the house and strutted around our campsite.
Bruce and I climbed out of the tent at 5:45. It took us two hours to get ready, and most of that was just repacking our panniers so that the stuff we'd probably use first was at the top.
After pop tarts and coffee (the water heated on a one-burner Coleman stove), we were back on the road at 8. ... more »
Tuesday, May 13
Low 80s and sunny for Seattle Bike to Work Day
by
Gene Bisbee
on Tue 13 May 2008 12:08 PM PDT
 This is amazing! The clouds will part and a warm sun will come shining through here in the Puget Sound region on Friday just in time for Bike to Work Day.
That's not just wishful thinking; that's what it says on Page B8, the weather page of the Seattle Times.
So you can't use the usual excuse of cold, rainy, dreary weather to beg off of commuting to work by bicycle that day.
Check out the Cascade Bicycle Club website if you need information about Friday's events. First, you'll need to know that it's not the Seattle Bike to Work Day here, it's Starbucks Bike to Work Day... more »
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