How to Build an Electric Motorcycle

The never boring and always interesting Popular Science brings us a cool DIY project conversion article called Riding Clean.

It is a step by step instruction manual to taking a Yamaha R1 motorcycle and converting it from gas power to electrical.

If I had the time and a spare $10k, I'd convert my Suzuki V-Strom even the resulting bike will be a bit of an eyesore, never having to suck it up and pay $4.50+ per gallon would kick ass and outweigh a little ugliness.

Oh yeah, also being able to accelerate to 100 mph in near silence (the bike's top speed is supposedly around 150!) would be super sweet too! The only downside to the quiet of the bike would be that I'd have to listen to the nimrods in their chopped Honda's listening to their crappy Mexican music too loud.

Fork Him, He's Done

Cyclist Floyd Landis loses appeal of doping ban.

Can we move on now, pretty please?

“I am saddened by today’s decision,” Landis said in a statement. “I am looking into my legal options and deciding on the best way to proceed.”

Apparently not. Floyd, the best way to proceed is to stop this ridiculous charade, own up to the FACT that you cheated and go do something else with your life and time.

Landis to get appeal verdict on Tour title Monday

The Floyd Landis case will finally be over on Monday. Do you think they waited until the week before the Tour de France started on purpose?

Landis to get appeal verdict on Tour title Monday

Today in History

This Day in History: June 26

1819 - The bicycle is patented by W.K. Clarkson.

Electric Moped

the ErockIT – 50 mph pedal electric hybrid motorcycle which is what we used to call a moped, motorized pedal, when I was growing up. Of course, ours weren't all new-age electrics and goodness. Nor did ours have the rather shocking (and punny) electric motor's acceleration.

Or the rather insane $39,000 price tag for this little bike. I do not expect they'll see very many for that much as that's a damned insane amount of gas to offset.

But it is a step in the right direction.

If I were going to go electric with my motorcycle, I'd probably go with the fine (and local) folks at Zero Motorcycles though I'd prefer a road bike to a dirt bike but I'm sure they have one in the works. Or they should.

Go Here, Watch This, Enjoy, You're Welcome

Dougie Lampkin - Festival of Speed trailer.

A highly entertaining video of a guy named Dougie riding his trials motorcycle through an English manor including tight stairways, hallways and doorways too narrow for his bars.

Are you still here?

The Cardboard Bike

Design student produces $30 cardboard bike. Enough said. Go read it and enjoy.

Another Public Bike System Doomed by Tards

Montreal's high-tech public bicycle system is another in a long line of, sadly, doomed attempts to create a usable alternative to people driving cars everywhere.

The system has some enhancements to try and defray the vandalism and outright theft that these systems have had to deal with in the past. But the reality of these systems is that some people will abuse the bikes solely because they can. The RFID chip will help as will the registration and rental fees by credit card but the idiot patrols will inevitably ruin this good idea because they have nothing better to do with their time.

I'd love for a public bike system to be sustainable. The concept of it is awesome, environmentally friendly and a think globally, act locally paradigm. But the reality is that people are assholes and they'll ruin anything.

A public bike system could work in a gated community or in a community where all the members are known and can he held accountable. A public bike system let loose in a city will just get eaten alive.

Combine a Trike with a Sailboat for Sick Speed!

The ::whike:: is a combination of a trike and a sailboat. When there's no wind, you can pedal it like a normal trike. But if there is wind than you can capture it and tear along at more than 30 miles an hour.

I can see some concerns about control at speed and on a crowded bike path. But just think how fun it would be tear it up on this thing!

I wonder how it does off path or road? Like on a big field?

And yeah, I hate the name too.

Excellent Bike Repair Site

I just came across Bicycle Tutor and am quite impressed with it as a repair guide to keeping your bike in top shape. I haven't dug into the site too much yet but they appear to have a good number of tutorials ready and able to help you keep your machine rolling.

I'll be adding it to the links just after posting this.

DZ Nutz - Protect Your Junk

Dave Zabriskie is one of the quietest but funniest guys in the professional peloton. He's been know for playing jokes and having hilarious on bike interviews. But this one takes the cake. I give you "DZ NUTZ Chamois Creme". Watch the video too!

Pescadero Road Race 2008

Here's a picture of me at the Pescadero Road Race. It was a great course, unfotunately I didn't have great results... They haven't published the official results yet. All I can say is I didn't come in first and I didn't come in last! Now that I know the course I'll be much more confident on the descents. I took it a bit too easy and let a gap open up on the main field. I should have put in a harder effort to try and catch back on going up Highway 84. Oh well, I still had a blast and learned another new lesson. That's what Cat 5 racing is all about, learning from your mistakes.

Fight Cancer, Win an Ibis SilkSL!

Fat Cyclist: Fight Cancer, Win a Dream Bike where a $5 donation to help the Fat Cyclist's wife fight her cancer also buys you a raffle ticket entry to win a super sweet and fully tricked out Ibis SilkSL.

I'm not a roadie but I am an Ibis guy and I have every confidence that the Silk is a fantastic bike.

Plus, you'd be doing a good deed and that's never a bad thing. Also, Fat Cyclist is a pretty good website.

Expert Advice From Jonathan Vaughters - The Climb - Play Magazine - Tour de France - New York Times Blog

This is a fun article with great climbing advice from Jonathan Vaughters. It's so true how kids like to climb anything and everything. Same holds true for my son. When he was less than 1 year old he managed to climb out of his crib. I always used to climb trees as a kid too. It hasn't been until recently that I enjoy suffering up climbs on my bike. As one reader said in the comments, the climbs are hell, but the feeling you get when you reach the top is unreal!

Expert Advice From Jonathan Vaughters - The Climb - Play Magazine - Tour de France - New York Times Blog

Pescadero Road Race On Saturday

Wish me luck. I'll be doing 2 laps for a total of ~47 miles. Here is a map of the course. Should be beautiful scenery if nothing else.

Thursday Night BMX

We took the boys out for their first time to the BMX track in Roseville. They had a fun time for sure and can't wait to go back. There was only one really steep step up that they had trouble with but the rest of the track they rode quite well. It was only $5 for a 2 hour practice session. All the bigger kids were really cool with the little groms being out there, gave them plenty of space and pretty much stayed out of their way. Good stuff! Check out a few photos I snapped before our camera started acting up again.

BMX June 2008