Oct
31
No, not for your baseball team. Congratulations on having your mayor commit to making Boston a bicycle friendly city. With all of the recent political bashing of the bicycle, it’s refreshing to see the mayor of such a large city get behind bikes and host the Boston Bike Summit to help promote the cause of cycling.
The Bike Summit was held Oct. 22-24 and was sponsored by Bicycling Magazine, the League of American Bicyclists and MassBike. “The Summit was a chance for leaders from the bicycling world to offer advice, information and inspiration to Boston’s mayor, transportation executives and local advocates,” according to an article on BicycleRetailer.com.
I’ve been casually following news from Boston on Mayor Thomas Menino’s newfound positive opinion of bicycles over the last 6 months, or so, that seems to have culminated in this event. He discovered cycling and has been riding his Trek Lime every day.
Kudos also go out to the city for their decision to hire former Olympian and racer Nicole Freedman as their new bike coordinator. I worked briefly with Nicole as a sponsor of one of her teams in a past life and have to say that her enthusiasm for bicycles is genuine. She has a great spirit and always seems to be smiling. And if you’ve ever read any of her writings, she’s got a great sense of humor, too. Good luck in the new job, Nicole!
Read the whole BR&IN article here.
Oct
23
Our San Diego Wildfires
Filed Under Interbike | 2 Comments
Well, the thick smoke settled in today here in our neck of North County San Diego with a shift in the winds. Up until this morning we had escaped both the fire and the smoke with eerily clear sunny blue skies kept that way by the same strong Santa Ana winds that were fanning all the wildfires. We woke up this morning – well, we didn’t really sleep much last night – to brown skies and a layer of ash covering everything outside. Looking at a small pile of ash that had gathered on the hood of one of our cars, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was all that remained from some unlucky family’s house.
Since Interbike’s offices are up north in Orange County about 38 miles away (with their own fire issues), I’ve been staying home with family with eyes glued to the news watching the progression of the fires and waiting to see if we needed to evacuate. We spent a good part of the day Monday packing clothes, irreplaceables like photos and family video tapes, batteries, flashlights, our emergency radio, food and other supplies just in case we got the call to leave. Backed up our Mac’s hard drive and videoed a walk-through of the house in case we needed to make an insurance claim. Luckily finished that before we lost power. That was an ominous moment, but it came back on about an hour later.
I have to say, being originally from the New York/New England area where the biggest natural ‘disasters’ are blizzards and ice storms, the prospect of having to leave our home with only the essentials (yes, the bikes are ready to go on the roof rack), to possibly return to a pile of burnt rubble was pretty scary. A little surreal, but scary.
There was some miscommunication on tv and one of our neighbors panicked and left with the family and started driving north toward LA claiming he heard our town had been issued a mandatory evacuation order.
I read Masiguy Tim Jackson’s post about the Southern California wildfires last night. I recognize all of the sights in his photos since our home is only a couple of miles from Masi world headquarters. I saw that red sun he mentioned today. It would have been beautiful if it weren’t the result of such a horrible disaster.
Monday morning, Matt, one of my co-workers that lives here in SD county about 5 minutes away, called me early in the morning about going in to work. He was worried about being too ‘alarmist’ about not wanting to go to work since he could see the flames from his son’s second floor window in the distant hills to the east. I reassured him that the safety of his family comes first. I finally managed to log onto email today and get a bit of work done.
So far, our area seems to be out of danger and no orders to leave have been given. The next town to the south had some mandatory evacuations, but we are doing good and are staying put. Believe me, though, I don’t plan on being the stubborn guy who refuses to leave and fights the flames with a garden hose if the fire changes course towards us. We’re all packed and ready to go.
Praise needs to go out to the people of San Diego. The same personality traits that Julie and I have loved about the people of Southern California since moving here 6 years ago are proving to be a big part of the success of the evacuations and emergency efforts here. Everyone seems to be relatively calm, patient, generous and good natured during this tough time.
I hope the rest of our biking friends and their families in Southern California are well and safe.
Oct
19
Interbike’s Little Chapel of Love
Filed Under Attendee News, Exhibitor News, Industry News, Interbike, Photos | 1 Comment
Being Vegas, it was bound to happen. I should also not downplay the level of passion us bike people have this industry – this community – that we are a part of. I’ve met some of my best friends through cycling. Heck I even my wife on a training ride!
And being that Interbike is our largest gathering as a group, why not get married there? What better place is there to celebrate your happiest day than among 23,000 of your brothers in wheels?
So here it is, folks. On the night of day two of this past Interbike, Beth Reed and John Walton of Davis Wheel Works in Davis California got married. And not just during Interbike, but right there on the floor of the show in the Cervelo booth.
They wanted to be married in Las Vegas and being in the bike business, the though of being hitched at Interbike seemed an inspired idea. John’s associate at Davis Wheel Works, Kevin Gilley, a recently ordained Minister dressed in an Elvis outfit presided over ceremony.
As Cervélo dealers they requested to exchange their vows in Cervelo’s booth. Notable at the event were the couple’s “bridesmaids” which included: Gerard Vroomen and Phil White co-founders of Cervélo, Anthony McCrossin, on-air host of Cycling.TV, and a bevy of other Cervelo sales “beauties” to give the young couple the proper send-off. Check out the lovely dresses… Looks like they really had some fun with the event.
I heard from Anthony that the minister introduced the new married couple with words to the effect of “in the name of Merckx, Coppi, LeMond and Cipollini, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” How awesome is that?
And, of course, the camera crew from CTV was there to capture the happy moment. Click the image above or here to see the video.
On behalf of Interbike and the entire bike industry in attendance, I would like to wish the two of them all the best in their new life together. And as Greg LeMond signed on my Team Z jersey at the show, “Tailwinds forever!”
Oct
17
Congressman McHenry’s “19th Century Technology”
Filed Under Advocacy, Cycling, Industry News, Interbike | Comments Off
This is old news having happened back in August, but better late than never. I remember hearing about this, but in the lead up to Interbike, I didn’t have time to read more and comment on it. Lance here emailed me a link to a blog post on it and it relates to my previous post on IBTimes.
Preceding Madam Secretary Mary Peters’ statements about the bicycle as a legitimate form of transportation, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina) spent some time on the floor of the Capitol presenting his opinions on the matter. Now, I have to admit that I have a pretty low opinion of all politicians to begin with, but when they go out of their way to make ludicrous statements, like McHenry does here, to promote their points of view, it’s just sad and embarrassing for them. In this case, his disparaging words really are an insult to our entire industry.
DeFeet (who btw made our awesome Interbike socks this year – thanks!), posted a link on their blog to a YouTube clip of McHenry speaking on the floor of Congress about the Democrats’ plans to offer cyclists a tax incentive to commute by bike in one their bills. He’s very dramatic in his presentation, and even has a big poster of an ancient high wheeled bike from, I’m guessing, the 1800’s next to his podium. The riding couple on the bike are Victorian outfits, and clearly he is trying to emphasize and reinforce his statement that the bike is a 19th century technology. How laughable is it, he is in effect saying, that the Democrats are proposing that such an antiquated technology is being promoted as the solution to all our energy problems? (In a funny retort, Paul at DeFeet wrote that the car that he is defending as the ideal mode of transport was invented in the same century.)
I’d just like to know why he, and seemingly so many others like him, feel so much anger towards bikes. I mean, how is a $20 a month tax incentive for people who commute by bike going to so severely and negatively affect his campaign donor special interests? That’s what all politics comes down to, isn’t it? The obvious big oil/car company interests would seem like an obvious foe of bikes, but are we really even on their radar screen enough to motivate McHenry to get so worked up? What’s behind this hatred of bikes as transportation?
What am I missing, here?
Thanks to DeFeet for finding and putting this important clip out there.
Oct
15
Zigmont Response to Transp. Secretary Mary Peters
Filed Under Advocacy, Cycling, Industry News, Interbike | 2 Comments
Chris Zigmont of Pedro’s, copied me on an email that he sent to the Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, in response to something ridiculous that she said recently regarding the value of transportation funds that are spent on bicycle projects and was reported on this morning by Bicycle Retailer. I thought it was a thoughtful and entertaining retort to her comments and contained some useful links to help educate her. Chris managed to fit in a subtle dig at her statement, but it’s buried deep within a constructive attempt to eductate her and those like her – unfortunately, many more than we would like to admit here in the US. Well, done, Chris!
With his permission to reprint it, enjoy:
Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary Peters,
I don’t normally write government officials, especially appointed ones, as it is usually a waste of time and this time is likely no exception. However this time I am compelled. Having just returned from the bicycle industry’s annual national trade meeting and seeing the traction that transportation and utility bicycles have finally made in the US domestic market, I was genuinely disappointed to read some of the comments you’ve made recently regarding the status of walking and cycling in the nation’s transportation scheme (http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/496.html among other places). As a career transportation operative, I am surprised that you aren’t familiar with the successes realized by cities and nations around globe in utilizing bicycles and walking as part of the overall intermodal transportation efforts. You seem out of touch. I understand however that once trapped inside the beltway, it can be difficult to see much past the challenges that governing and administrating such a large operation can bring every day. Don’t worry, I’m here to help.
Below are several links to key sites to bring you up to speed on cycling and transportation. The next time you speak publicly you will appear more informed and in-touch with what is going on with us rank and file citizens that are truly concerned about congestion, air quality and health, and improved efficiencies in transportation.
Some sites to help you see bikes in a new way:
Bikeportland.org
I put this one in so you might see how an entire city cycles for one reason or another. Portland is a great town, I suggest you go if you haven’t been.
Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition
TreeHugger.com One of my favorites, but if you lunch with Secretary Kempthorne, I wouldn’t bring up your surfing here
I also scrapped together Treehugger’s Bicycle archives. Good stuff!
The World’s Embrace
It’s part of life in the Netherlands www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles
… and Denmark members.aol.com/humorme81/citybike.htm
Paris (not Hilton) caught on …
…now US cities consider the idea. Hey, there might be something to these bicycle things!
Don’t worry; you can use these links without getting in trouble with your boss as Al Gore didn’t really invent the internet.
I hope this helps. You can see that literal billions of people use bikes for transportation, and many more Americans want to and can with your help and understanding. I read on your Bio that you and I share a passion for motorcycles. Well, cycling is in many ways the same and twice as enjoyable. You should try it. Let me know if you’d like help finding a bike shop in your neighborhood.
Enjoy the ride,
Christopher Zigmont
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – – - – - – - – - -
Christopher Zigmont, General Manager
PEDRO’S
600 Research Drive
Wilmington, MA 01887
www.pedros.com
Oct
15
I’m Back
Filed Under Interbike | 2 Comments
Sorry about that sudden break in posts after the morning post on Day 2 fo the expo. After all the events, races, parties, dinners, etc. I was getting back to my room at 11:30 each night and writing posts till 12:30am. Then the next morning I would have to be over in the Media Center at 7:30am to get things ready for the Good Morning Interbike program. I just got exhausted and couldn’t stay up that late anymore. My Google Analytics visitor stats kept going through the roof each day, so I was really trying to keep the momentum going. Alas… I’ll have to plan this better for next year and make it a priority while at the show. Lots of people were following along this year. Thanks!
It was an awesome week to experience, but boy does it tire you out. I even had to throw in the towel on doing the Industry Cup because I was just dead tired. Obviously, I was kicking myself on the night of the race as the announcer called each sponsor and VIP racer up to the line. As a sponsor (not a vip, obviously), I would have been called up along with Mario Cipollini. Which would have been cool. Even though I probably would have been pulled from the race a few laps later. I’ll have to content myself with having had the pleasure of being introduced to the Lion King as “il diretore de marketing del Interbike,” by his business partner. Excuse my poor Italian, but that’s what it sounded like over the pumpin’ music on the dance floor of the Sinclair Imports party.
Also felt a bit of remorse for having invited Cipo to race the Industry Cup after he crashed out on the last lap…
The week after Interbike had me traveling to my old home of Connecticut for a best friend’s wedding. He writes an entertaining blog about bikes, too. We were teammates for years and there were a bunch of old teammates and riding friends that Julie and I hadn’t seen since we moved out to California in 2001. Too long. A few of us took him out on a great ride on the Friday before the wedding and Nate and the guys at Stamford Cycle Center set us out-of-towners on bikes for the ride. Good thing Nate is tall, too. I rode a nice Specialized cross bike, but if I had gotten there earlier, I could have snagged the ti/carbon Serotta. Teaches me to be late… If you’re ever in southwestern Conn area, check out this great shop.
It was a great ride with some old friends and the last ride as a bachelor for my friend. Good time. The New England weather was unbelievably and unseasonably warm, so the base layer and arm and knee warmers stayed in the suitcase.
So I’ve got photos from the show still to post. I hope some of you who couldn’t make it out to the show were able to catch some of the live programming from the Media Center this year. Still working to get some of the final footage edited to get it up on out on-demand player. If you haven’t seen our videos yet, check them out here.