IMINUSD, the fixed-gear bicycle shop around the corner posted this video. I didn’t pay very close attention to the tricks themselves but most of the shots are either right outside our house, or on my commute to work or on my burrito-run route.
Sep 042010
Given my experience with the Dr. last week. This cartoon from the current issue of my favorite bicycle magazine, Urban Velo, is qutie timely:
Aug 232010
Rode a bit of the San Jose Bike Party last Friday. The theme was “Hot August Lights” and riders were meant to light up their bikes for both visibility and fun. I didn’t see a huge number of bikes that were dressed up, but most folks had some kind of light. It was the usual very large turn-out and lots of fun. Great collection of bicycles and almost zero carbon fiber & spandex. The shot below is the gathering at San Jose City hall before the start of the ride:
You can see the San Jose Taiko drum group on the stairs entertaining the crowd
Yes, some people are relaxed enough to trailer a couch around in case the want to emphasize the “party” part.
I like the mix of ages, but actually most of the crowd is pretty young. It’s nice to see them outside, exercising and thinking that bikes are cool.
I don’t really know what this sign is supposed to mean. But that trailer is one of the more elaborate music systems you see along the ride.
Lot’s of fixed gear riders. While I am using all of my concentration to simply stay on the bike and not crash into anything else, other more coordinated riders, are able to perform track stands and tricks.
“Spoke Cards” are are a popular decoration. Many companies and individuals give them out. This one is from a Entertainment Media Company.
This shot is taken near the Metro/Airport light rail station on First Street. This ride is supposed to not disrupt traffic (too much), and here’s a good example of a crowd of folks in the right lane, allowing cars to pass on the left.
If I ever learn Aperture better I’ll dim that big light in the middle so it’s not so glaring.
The New York Times has this article on what it calls London’s “latest hip hangouts”. I’m happy to see cycling getting cooler all the time. Antenna Magazine might just be the Vogue of the twenty-tweens and it shows bicycles in its articles on clothing and style.
May 252010
On my commute home, I usually stop at grocery store or restaurant to pick up some dinner. Back in the day, I didn’t worry about leaving a fixed gear bike by itself for a few minutes, because I figured there were not enough people that knew how to ride one fast enough to get away if I ran after them. These days, especially in San Jose, lots of kids are far more adept at riding fixies then I am, so it worries me to leave the bicycle on it’s own. I don’t travel with a lock because there is no place on the bicycle to carry a conventional one and I don’t feel like reaching in to the Chrome bag, digging out the chain, locking the bike and putting the bag back on. Instead, I would usually take the bike home first and then go out to pick up dinner.
I wanted a lock that was small, storable on the bicycle, and quick to lock, unlock and stow. Security isn’t a huge concern because I only leave it alone for a few minutes at a time. I chose the Kryptonite Evolution Mini, 1.6 lbs, not too heavy, and way more secure than I need.
Mounted it this morning and as soon as I went two feet, I hated the rattling. Rode all the way to work, hoping that like other urban noises, I would get used to it, probably not though.
Worked all day and forgot all about it.
As I was getting all of the bicycle stuff on to leave, I noticed the collar (picture below) rotates to cover the key hole (I’m not really sure why), but as I twisted it, low and behold, the lock part no longer had any play and was firm against the “U” part:
The rattling is gone and now I really like this lock!
At the Safeway today, I locked the bike to itself just inside the door, and it protected the bike! The lock is 1 for 1.
May 232010
Friday night was San Jose Bike Party for May 2010. It was unseasonably cool and windy, but it was well attended and well behaved (as far as I could tell). More police “escorts” than I was used to. They were extremely polite and supportive, rode to our left in cars, motorcycles and bicycles, and reminded us to keep a lane clear for cars.
I stayed with the group through two rest stops, but during the second rest I was ready to head home to OlinaGirl so I took off with about six other guys in a break away, we were down to three when we reached downtown San Jose a little after 11:00PM
I walked around the block to see what trouble was going on in the noisy nightclubs, then headed up for the night.
Apr 242010
Jon, the Bikescape audience hasn’t heard from our ambassador of San Francisco bicycle culture in awhile. Your listeners look forward to more podcasts and hope you are doing well. Of course our lives can get in the way of our hobbies, but when you are ready to cast we are ready to listen. Any chance you can come down to San Jose and do a cast on the Bike Party? Have you been yet? It’s like critical mass without the angst. It also has representation from lots of segments of the bike culture, fancy choppers, BMX, home-made commuters, all kinds of interesting things to look at and people to talk to.
For those of you not familiar with Bikescape, get over to it and listen to a few. It’s fantastic even if you don’t get up to the city that much.
Growing up in New York City, some of my favorite times were the bicycle rides through Central Park on the weekends. For New Yorkers this is a staple of fun, exercise and relative peace within a busy city. Central Park has wide, four lane Boulevards that run in a large figure-8 within the park. These roads are major arteries for drivers getting around Manhattan. Ever since I can remember, however, the park would close completely to cars all weekend, allowing the population to come together in all sorts of ways, including riding the bicycle around the 2 mile-or-so loop repeatedly. Whenever you got tired you could always stop and listen to street music, watch roller-skaters dance to the (then-new) sounds of disco., through a Frisbee, eat pretzels and hot-dogs; in short heaven for two brothers and their dad looking to spend the day outside.
I’m happy to see a little bit of that coming right to my front door in downtown San Jose. San Jose ViaVelo seems like it’s taking a small step in that direction. I hope this gets a good turn out and can be continued and expanded over time.
We keep hearing that print media is history. I’ve found a wonderful exception, a great little magazine that focuses on riding in urban environments. Urban Velo started in 20XX and has just sent me their 18th issue. While it started out stapled and black & white, it’s now a full color, perfect-bound delight. How does this little magazine manage to do what Time & Newsweek can’t (grow paid subscriptions)? Besides the cool, hip subject matter (fixed gear riding and sport in cities around the world), they embrace the digital age instead of fight it:
- A Blog that has (almost daily) interesting tidbits.
- Interesting (full-color) photography and creative advertisements that show better in the hand than on-line.
- Lot’s of reader contributions and interaction via “I Love Riding In The City“.
- Most issues available for free download
Even if you aren’t the young/hip/urban fixter, check it out, anybody who rides bikes for fun will find lots to be interested in.
