Contrails - Building Community by Chalkline

Found this over on Bicycle Design. The Contrail - Biking Community Tool encourages bicycling by making a chalk line on the road where a Contrail equipped bike has passed. As more Contrail bikes pass over the area, the chalk lines becomes thicker and brighter. The lines create interest and shows where to ride bikes safely.

Its an interesting idea but it'd be a long stretch for this to work outside of areas where there are lots of bicyclists to create and maintain these chalk pathways.

But it sure is an interesting idea. Until it rains.

Bariani Road Race - Elite 5's

Mark S. and I were the only Rio's in this race.  It started off sunny & warm and the pack stayed together for the first lap.  I was 4th up the KOM and feeling pretty good.  There was actually a slight tailwind along the 505 and County Road section, so that part of the course was super easy.  The real challenge was the long straight away right after the KOM, and of course the rollers getting to the KOM.  One the 2nd lap, a couple of storms rolled through and we were getting soaked with rain, hail and crazy ass wind gusts.   The wind pushed one guy right into my front wheel.  I kept it upright then proceeded to get the hell out of that crazy pack.  It was just crazy windy.  I moved to the left and the pack slowed down a bit.  I felt great so I took a flyer.  Stupid move really (and I knew it), as I burned a lot of energy out there alone in the wind.  As I was out there all alone on County Rd 14 I had to lean my bike hard to the left just to keep it upright. I was getting blown all over the place and being pelted by hail and rain.  They caught up with me in the rollers, then a small group got away.  Then it broke all apart.  I saw the Cat 5 chaperone guy pass me, then I knew I was pretty much off the back.  I dug deep and grabbed onto whatever wheel I could.  I finally got in with a group of about 7 or eight and worked with them all through the final lap.  After the KOM only three of us were left.  As we made the final left hand turn only two of us were left.  I sat on his wheel and zipped past him at the line for 15th place.  I just kept telling myself the epic conditions were like racing in Belgium!  Overall I had a blast and the crazy weather conditions just made it that much more fun. 

Some interesting ride stats:

Distance:  30.1 miles
Average Speed:  22 mph
Max Speed: 45 mph
Elapsed Time: 1 hour 21 minutes
Min Temp: 48 degrees F
Max Temp: 82 degrees F (probably not that hot, more like 62)
Average HR: 165
Max HR: 174
Total Ascent: 800'

This was my last race as a 5, so I'll see y'all soon in the 4's!

A Leather Bike

This is simply beautiful and awesome, Jacques Ferrand Leather Bike. So cool that I'm not sure I'd ever want to ride it and get it dirty or messed up.

One day, when I have a large house and space to have a room dedicated just to bikes, I will have one of these bikes. Or maybe I'll have my Phat Cruiser undergo the same treatment? Yeah, that'd be suhweet!

Gixxer Side Swipes a Pick Up at Deal's Gap with Photos

Ripper road crash captured on film @ Deal’s Gap � The Biker Gene

This biker got off lucky and only mangled his bike. The driver of the pick up did nothing wrong and got his truck beat up, his window smashed and his nerves shattered.

I'm all for speed and fun but when it comes at someone else's expense is where I draw the line. This biker nearly killed himself because he was riding above his skill level. I hope he didn't get too badly hurt but enough so that he had a week or two to think about just how close he came to becoming a cautionary tale.

Nice Write Up of Zero Motorcycles

While their offering lacks a few important things like top speed and distance Zero Motorcycles does have a couple of very cool things going for it. Non-toxic battery packs for one. A reasonable price for two. And a dead silent motorcycle for three.

Once Zero gets the top speed up above 100 or 120 and the potential range up to more than 100 miles, they will sell an insane number of bikes.

I'd love to work for them too which makes the comment in the article that Neal Saiki is looking to add 35 people in the next year or so even better!

Neck Punch

Neck Punch
Originally uploaded by kwc

Great photo of Michael Rogers of Team Columbia setting a "schluge" straight, i.e. get the fuck out of the way asshole! This was at the Amgen Tour of California Stage 9.