May 2009 archive

Denis Menchov

Takes over lead of 2009 Giro d'Italia on Stage 12 ..individual time trial

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/21/denis-menchov-2/

2009 Ride of Silence begins at 7:00 tonight

“There's still carnage going on out there on the road… Someone's going to ride around the lake with us tonight, and they won't be here next year.”

Bicyclists killed in traffic collisions will be memorialized in at least 275 Ride of Silence events beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday in 16 countries worldwide.

Check the list for rides in the US or other countries.

The Ride of Silence dates back to only 2003, when cyclists gathered at White Rock Lake in Dallas to remember Larry Schwartz, a local bicycle enthusiast killed in a traffic crash. Considered to be a one-time event, interest in the event swept across the US and other nations. As of last year, an estimated 22,500 bicyclists participated in some 300 rides. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/20/2009-ride-of-silence-begins-at-700-tonight/

Cavendish wins again; Leipheimer loses critical support at Giro

You know it ain't easy, but Mark Cavendish made it look that way again as he won a bunch sprint for Stage 11 at the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday.

US-based Team Columbia set up the Brit in textbook fashion as the peloton raced into Arenzano.  Cavendish rewarded their efforts by powering across the finish line first; it was his second stage win of this year's Giro.

Danilo Di Luca remained in the pink jersey as the overall leader of the Giro after the stage, but faces a major challenge from US cyclist Levi Leipheimer in Thursday's individual time trial.

Leipheimer is an expert time trialist and is expected to do well enough in the 37-mile ITT from Sestri Levante to Riomaggiore to close the 1:40 gap to Di Luca….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/20/cavendish-wins-again-leipheimer-loses-critical-support-at-giro/

Di Luca wins again; widens margin over Leipheimer and other rivals

Italian cyclist Danilo Di Luca gained valuable time on his rivals at the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday as he attacked in the closing miles of the mountainous 200-mile stage 10.

The advantage that Di Luca gained over Denis Menchov, Michael Rogers and Levi Leipheimer may be the margin he needs to survive Thursday's time trial in the pink jersey.

This was Di Luca's second stage victory at the Giro. He won Stage 4 a week ago when he rocketed past Maurice Soler in the final 100 yards and has held the pink jersey ever since.

In Tuesday's victory, Di Luca attacked an elite chase group to close the gap to Franco Pellizotti on the final descent with less than 6 miles to the finish. He maintained his lead and crossed the finish line about 10 seconds ahead of  Pellizotti and Menchov …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/19/di-luca-wins-again-widens-margin-over-leipheimer-and-other-rivals/

New book — “Bike Touring: the Sierra Club Guide to Travel on Two Wheels”

Until I read the newly revised Sierra Club “how-to” guide for bicycle touring, I would have argued that bike touring hasn't changed much over the past 30 years.

In fact, it has changed a lot. Just consider the new brands and types of bicycles that we now ride, the new components that are now available, and the different styles of touring that we can choose.

Acclaimed bicycling author Raymond Bridge covers it all in 450-some pages in the second edition of “Bike Touring: The Sierra Club Guide to Travel on Two Wheels.”

Some things haven't changed so much.  Padded shorts are still preferred for long distances in the saddle, longer chainstays allow more stable load-carrying, and traveling under your own power is still the best way to experience new places.

Changes

But consider some of the changes since 1979, all covered in detail by Bridge in the guide:

— Mountain bikes were just a blip on the radar; recumbents, trikes, and folding bikes were unheard of. Now they're all considered viable for different styles of bike touring …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/18/new-book-bike-touring-the-sierra-club-guide-to-travel-on-two-wheels/

A bicycle lane for recumbents?

I'm always a little oxygen-deprived when I reach this figure on the way up Cougar Mountain in Bellevue, Washington, and not sure what I'm actually seeinig.

When I rode up on Saturday, I thought I'd take a picture to confirm if I were seeing things or not.

Sure enough, it looks all the world to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/18/a-bicycle-lane-for-recumbents/

Giro cyclists protest course in Milan; Cavendish wins Stage 9

With all the protesting at this year's Giro d'Italia, I feel like I've been transported back to the 1960s.

First Astana faded out most of the sponsors on their jerseys to protest not getting paid. Then on Sunday the entire peloton decided to ride en masse to protest the dangerousness of the circuit race around Milan.

The whole world was watching as the cyclists pedaled along at a leisurely 21-23 mph for lap after lap. In fact, the entire peloton stopped before completing the 4th lap, and race leader Danilo Di Luca took the microphone:

“We are going on. We wanted to stop and say thanks for your presence, but we don't feel the need to risk it anymore. The circuit is not adapted to our security.”

Some cyclists, including Lance Armstrong, had been critical of the routes earlier in the week. Friday's 25-mile dangerous descent to the finish into the rain, for instance, drew criticism from Armstrong, among others …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/17/giro-cyclists-protest-course-in-milan-cavendish-wins-stage-9/

Bicyclists can now ride directly to Hood Canal ferry

Bicyclists who want to use the interim Hood Canal ferry during the 6-week replacement project won't have to mess around with shuttle buses anymore.

Bicyclists can now ride directly to the water shuttle docks at South Point or Lofall.

Earlier, bicycle riders had to board a shuttle bus in Port Gamble on the east side, or take a transit bus from the Olympic Gateway Visitor's Center on the west side.

The only catch is that bicyclists have to dismount and walk their bicyclists in the vicinity of the shuttle docks; a minor inconvenience compared to the hassles of taking the buses. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/17/bicyclists-can-now-ride-directly-to-hood-canal-ferry/

Bike to Work Day details for Seattle; nice weather

Bellevue commute station

One of the most important factors in the success of Bike to Work Day in Seattle on Friday was the forecast: No rain; just partly cloudy skies with highs reaching 67 in the afternoon.

I bicycled down to the Bellevue Commute Station Friday morning. The kiosk at the base of the I-90 bike path across Lake Washington was one of 44 set up around the Seattle area by the Cascade Bicycle Club.

More than 300 folks had stopped by in the first 1 1/2 hours, slightly ahead of last year at this time. Just eyeballing the cyclists, I'd say eastbound and westbound cyclists were split nearly 50-50, with a slight edge going to those heading to Seattle ….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/15/bike-to-work-day-details-for-seattle-nice-weather/

Detail of Bike to Work map for Seattle region

Interactive Starbucks Bike to Work Day map at Cascade Bicycle Club website. Shows Commute Stations stocked with drinks, snacks, and schwag, as well as staffed by bicycle mechanics. Friday, May 15, 2009

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/05/15/detail-of-bike-to-work-map-for-seattle-region/