When the first diamond frame bicycles became popular in the 1890s they were often called "wheels" - the national cycling association was called the "League of American Wheelmen." We have moved from "wheels" to "bikes," but the bicycles have remained remarkably the same over more than 100 years - elegant in their efficiency and simplicity. And many of the issues that we think are new? They were around then too.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Epic bicycle journeys - books
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Philadelphia Bike Exposition
Interview with Jan Heine of Bicycling Quarterly
"It's not something you thumb through once and throw away—each issue is printed on coated card stock, made to archive and re-read for years to come." (About Bicycle Quarterly)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
"Wheel flop" and other such terminology
What makes a bike handle beautifully does a good job of explaining wheel flop, rake, offset, and other terms.
The Bicycle Quarterly glossary comes at this from a different (and also helpful) direction.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Bike parking at Pike Place Market
Bike parking at Pike Place Market
Originally uploaded by Michael Neubert
I assume this style of parking of bikes at the Pike Place Market in Seattle is intended (to some degree) as a rebellious statement. It certainly doesn't seem very convenient. At any rate, the bikes lined up nicely for the photo.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
2009 Speedvagen Road
2009 Speedvagen Road
Originally uploaded by Vanilla Workshop
Speedvagen bikes are in the "Bespoked" book (really an exhibit catalog) I just bought. Very nice!
Ballard locks & bikes
Ballard locks & bikes
Originally uploaded by Michael Neubert
Since the locks are a federal facility, the federal Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is cited as governing the walking of one's bicycle at the Ballard locks.
Common sense suggests the same thing but it seems reasonable I suppose to make this point more clearly.