2008 Golden State Criterium

Yesterday I volunteered as a course marshal for my local racing team's (Rio Strada Racing) annual Golden State Criterium. I worked at turn #6 which was the safest turn of the day. Only one rider went down and she got back up without incident. I think she just slipped on the wet roads as she was all by herself. It was a great event and we had a great turnout. Thanks to everyone who showed up and raced as well as all of the excellent work done by the volunteers.

Here are my photos from turn #6.

2008 Golden State Criterium

This is Hooliganism

And it looks like a great time.

Sunday Morning Rides

Ever need to find another ride to tear up on the weekend? Check out SundayMorningRides.com and you should be able to find a whole bunch of new motorcycle routes to explore and enjoy.

You can even download route maps to your GPS unit and they've just recently added a top notch mobile/iPhone interface too.

Shame they don't have something like this for bikes. But I'm sure someone out there has something similar.

David Millar Chucks His Bike Over a Fence

Here is a classic video of David Millar of Team Slipstream Chipotle throwing his bike over a barricade after breaking his chain while sprinting for the finish line in the Giro d'Italia last week.

Toasty 34 Mile Road Ride

Just got back from a toasty 34 mile road ride with Erik. We left at 7:30AM and it was already quite warm. Average speed was 17.7, total ascent was just under 2000' and average temp was 88.

Bike to Work Day accident claims life of bicyclist

Bike to Work Day accident claims life of bicyclist when he collided with a barrier early in the morning on his way to SFO where he worked as a mechanic.

I'm glad he didn't get run over like most of the other cycling accidents lately but it doesn't change the fact that he's still dead.

Motorcycles for Paraplegics

Just read about the Dreamfit: the motorcycle for paraplegics and am amazed, impressed and pleased that someone's figured out a way to give some paralyzed people a degree of mobility, speed and fun that they previously had no chance of doing on their own.

Sure, you can strap a paraplegic on the back of a bike and whip them all over tarnation but it is far, far more fun to give them the controls and let them have at it.

Good on Darren Lomman for putting it together. I hope he gets these bikes into production and more paralyzed folks get out on the road.

Bicycling for the Pub Set

bierbike-koeln.de - Uber das BierBike which, translated means Beer bike of Cologne - Over the Beer bike.

What is it? A pub on wheels that patrons pedal from place to place while the bartender keeps the frothy refreshments coming. Seating for sixteen, a wood bar, quality beer on tap and lights for night time booze cruises.

Why yes, the awesome is strong with this one. Especially because you know its kickass beer too, not Miller Lite or Bud or any of the pisswater big brand beers.

I love auto-translations because they uncover linguistic gems like this one at the bottom of the page, "The use of cycle paths is not compelling, if this is unreasonable" which is an odd way of saying don't even think about taking this monster off-road.

Outside Magazine Names Ibis Mojo Bike of the Year!

Major props to Ibis Cycles' Mojo for being named the Mountain Bike of the Year by Outside Magazine. I read the news on the Chuck Spew blog which includes a bitchin' two page GORGEOUS image of the Mojo in all its ass-kicking glory.

Ibis also recently signed Brian Lopes to race the Mojo and he's been ripping everyone he races a nice big freshie. As well as launching serious air.

People that know me know that I've been an Ibis rider since the mid 80's when I was lucky enough to buy an Avion SS. I rode that bike all over the US and a good portion of southern Africa. It killed me when I had to sell it before coming home.

My old school Mojo still kicks ass but man, oh man do the new ones look and ride like the dreams they are.

Ibis is back, Ibis is dominant and the world is starting to sit up and take notice.

Congrats to Scot and the rest of the Ibis crew. I predict ever greater accolades and I am looking forward to the day when I can add a new Mojo to my little stable of Ibis bikes. Then I'll convert my old Mojo into a single and still shred!

Ghost Bikes Mark Cycling Deaths

Ghost Bike: A Ghostbike is a junker bike that has been painted stark white and affixed to the site where a cyclist has been hit or killed by a car driver. Ghostbikes are intended to be memorials for the fallen and reminders to everyone to SHARE THE ROAD with one another. Ride safe and give cyclists a break. Reckless riding and driving kills.

How terribly sad that a site like has come to exist out of a need to highlight the deaths of cyclists.

And this just on the heels of the news that a 16 year old girl ran over a 12 year old on his bicycle here in the Bay Area just the other day.