June 22nd, 2008 by Cycle Jockey
I was on a quest a little while ago for a current bicycling related comic which I hoped to be able to incorporate into CycleJockey.com and a print publication I am working on. While I did find a great comic, it does not look like I will be able to incorporate it.
The comic is called “Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery“. It follows the daily exploits of the two main characters, Yehuda Moon and Joe, as both cyclists and shop owners. The comic is published daily by Rick Smith and tackles a wide range of cycling related issues.
Other characters include “The Shakers” who make the bike frames for the Kickstand Cyclery. Then there is “Fred” who is the ghost of a cyclist which was hit and killed by a motorist in a car. The politician “Councilman Turner” who wants the memorial bike removed from the front of the Kickstand Cyclery. There are many other characters that make short appearances for the many topics which are covered in the comic.
Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery comic appears to have been in existence since January 22, 2008 as that is the date of the first comic. The website is very well designed and laid out leaving a neat appearance with a commenting system that can be hidden, as well as great navigation tools for reading them.
It has become one of my very favorite comics which I read the very first thing after getting up each day. I hope to have a question and answer session with Rick Smith completed in the near future. Head on over to the website and check it out for yourself, as I am sure you will also find it a great daily read.
Source: Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery
May 22nd, 2008 by Cycle Jockey
Last night I participated in my first ever Ride of Silence in Coppell, TX. This was one of only many cities around the world that had a Ride of Silence. The Coppell ride was to honor Greg Dean (as well as all other cyclists who have been killed due to bicycle/motorist accidents) who was killed on July 22, 2007 by a motorist that ran a red light. I had only ridden with Greg on a couple occasions and only talked with him briefly, however he seemed to be a wonderful person.
I have only been riding for my 4th year now and somehow I had never heard of these rides. This may be possible because I was in a rural area of Indiana since starting to ride. However, I am now in the not so rural Dallas/Forth Worth area.
The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors, no registration fees and no t-shirt. The ride, which is held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.
During the ride I participated in, what I saw was a beautiful procession of cyclists honoring those who have passed on due to bicycle/motorist accidents. I also witnessed cyclists obeying all laws and riding with proper cycling etiquette which is something that I have rarely seen. I always try to use proper cycling etiquette and do at least 95% of the time.
I reflected on my own riding actions as well as those of others which I have witnessed over the few years I have been riding. I have seen a lot of cyclists riding, especially in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that do not follow proper etiquette when riding. This causes bad relations between cyclists and motorists. We all as both cyclists and motorists need to lead by example to help promote better relations. If we can follow all the rules on one day each year, we can do it on all rides all the time.
I believe the actions of the Ride of Silence as well as those of Yield to Life are the correct way in the effort to raise awareness and change the mindset of both cyclists and motorists.
Read the History and Time Line of the RoS
Source: www.rideofsilence.org
May 4th, 2008 by Cycle Jockey
Today while on a ride with a small group of friends I was reminded about the importance of Cycling Advocacy and Education. However, I was really made aware that education is also needed by a group of people that should already be educated in the specific area I am about to talk about.
I previously wrote a short article about David Zabriskie’s Advocacy foundation “Yield to Life“. I believe that David’s approach is one of the best ideas I have seen as it is about changing the mindset of both Motorists and Cyclists towards each other.
There is one big area which needs addressing that came to light on our ride today. That is that law enforcement personnel (Police Officers) need to be fully educated on the cycling laws in their state. What happened today was totally inexcusable.
We were riding two (2) abreast in the right lane of a six (6) lane road in Grand Prairie, TX. A police officer came up behind us and got on his PA and told us that were were supposed to be riding single file. I knew this to be false and we were, according to Texas law, in the right. I knew this because I wrote an article a while back about State Discriminatory Bicycle Laws quoting an article I read in the American Bicyclist magazine and researched my own state’s (Texas) laws.
I so much wanted to be able to stop the officer and explain his ignorance of the law, however, I am certain that would not have ended well for me. So we single filed up until he passed and went back to riding two abreast.
To quote the Texas Statute as stated in “Transportation Code Chapter 551. Operation of Bicycles, Mopeds, and Play Vehicles“:
(c) Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two
abreast. Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride
in a single lane. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the
normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Persons may
not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a
roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.
Before cycling will be truly as safe as it can be in the United States, there is a big need for education for motorists, cyclists and law enforcement. There is also a need for supporting advocacy for good enforceable cycling laws.
I am a cyclist and a motorist. I have seen motorists that have no concern for the safety of cyclists. I have also seen cyclists performing acts that make motorists mad. Both these are counter productive for cyclists and motorists in sharing the road.
We all need to strive to do the right things and to be patient and courteous to each other. We all need to “Share the Road.”
Source: Texas Statutes
April 29th, 2008 by Cycle Jockey
May is National Bike Month, so make sure to get out on your bike to celebrate it. For ideas on how to celebrate, head on over to the official website.
Another way to celebrate National Bike Month is to show your support for the House Congressional Resolution on Bicycling.
The House Congressional Resolution on Bicycling (H.Con.Res. 305), introduced in February, calls on the United States Congress to adopt a national bicycling strategy to fully realize the incredible benefits of getting more people bicycling, more safely, more often. There is a “sense of Congress” that complete streets policies are essential to ensure wise use of considerable Federal investment in transportation infrastructure, and that expanded funding for bicycling and walking programs is desirable and appropriate.
As we celebrate National Bike Month in May, cities and organizations throughout the country will be hosting events promoting bicycling as a healthy, fun, and viable form of transportation. This is also a perfect opportunity to contact your Congressional Representatives to thank those that have signed onto the Resolution and urge those that have not to so.
A good showing for the Resolution is essential as this would serve as the first ever comprehensive bicycling policy statement and would serve as an important policy statement guide for the next transportation reauthorization which begins next year (2009).
As part of National Bike Month please take a moment to Contact your Congressional Member to urge them to support HCONRES305.
Source: League of American Bicyclists
March 29th, 2008 by Cycle Jockey
Have you ever wondered where your bike was actually made, no matter what the bike manufacturer says?
I ride a 2007 Cannondale Synapse SL2 Carbon Road bike and a 2007 Cannondale Rush 3Z XC Mountain Bike. Cannondale is a USA based company that proudly states their bikes are made in the USA. However, this is only partly true as only aluminum Cannondale bikes are manufactured in the USA. All others are manufactured overseas, usually Taiwan or China and are assembled in the USA.
Cannondale is not the only company that follows this type of practice, as almost all carbon fiber bike frames are manufactured by 2-3 companies in Taiwan and China. Trek, for example only manufactures their top line Madone carbon frame in the USA and all others are manufactured overseas.
I do really enjoy riding my Cannondale Synapse even though it is not made in the USA. What you need to remember is that the bikes are still designed and engineered by their respective companies and they hand over the details of manufacturing to other companies, and usually do final assembly in house.
There is a great resource that is constantly updated that you can read and see where your bike was manufactured. It is the article “Where was my bike made?” over at Allanti Bicycles.
Source: Allanti Bicycles
