That area's getting more and more dangerous with the bears

Another story of a bear attack, what is going on? I know that we are in their home, but come on....

"A teenage girl riding in an all-night mountain bike race was badly injured early Sunday morning when a bear attacked her on a trail in Far North Bicentennial Park."


The bear ripped off the girl's helmet and flung it in the woods, Basinger said. Sinnott said it was pocked with the bear's teeth marks. Hill said it probably saved the girl from further injury.

Bears frequently walk on Rover's Run, Sinnott said. Most likely, Sinnott said, this bear was fishing for salmon in the creek and might not have heard the cyclist coming due to noise from the creek and from strong winds roaring through the forest.



I hope she makes it through. If I am every up in that area, I will be sure to stay away from the trails, and hopefully not run into one.


til next time

OLC

Bike Theft in the ATX

So it seems to be getting more and more rampant. I just received this information from my friend John D. If you have any information about the bikes, please let him know here.


" As some of you may know, 3 bikes went missing from our house last week, 2 of them my own.

They are as follows :
--- large frame (58 cm) yellow Centurion road bike with the Velocity Spartacus wheels and the red acid pedals,
--- 19" red Trek 4500 mountain bike with all the cool components that ive had for 4 years *so many memories...*
---and last, but not, a bike belonging to a friend who had the bike at our place for a cable replacement and a general tune-up was a dark red and silver Giant mountain bike, a smaller frame, maybe 15" or 17"

If you see thes bikes in a pawn shop or wherever, contact me please.

I want to ride again! "


Thanks


OLC

A Jackass, A F-350, A Hit and Run, A Bear, oh my....

So recently, it seems that more and more people are not paying attention to cyclist on the road. Maybe it is the heat, maybe it is the fact that they are inconsiderate assholes.

Jenn was riding south (in the bike lane) on Plesant Valley, and some jackass in their car started honking several times and as they were passing by, they opened their car door and almost hit her. I mean what is the point of that? It is not like she was in their way or taking up the whole road. Really what is the point. I don't get it. People who do this need to be punched in the dick and shot in the face.

It was also brought to my attention, that one of my friends was recently hit by a F-350. F350 one, cyclist zero.

imagine this...you buy a ticket to go to new york and visit some friends everything is going great, you make a good amount of money at work over the weekend, you buy yourself some new cycling shorts and a pimped out jersey and then BAM.....you end up underneath the front end of an F350 with your face breaking the fall on the front of this guys cast iron custom cattle guard.



back wheel of my bike.....destroyed.



my teeth......destroyed.



my pride......well its a little fragmented but its probably gonna fall apart only to be rebuilt later in the future.

Luckily, Cloyd seems to be alright.

im lucky to be alive really.....my helmet saved my life and when i hit the the cattle killer the driver had come almost to a complete stop. the impact with which my head hit the concrete shattered the back of my helmet and aside from a gash on my knee and a couple shattered teeth im fine. sore as shit

It is getting really tough to think that Austin is a "bike friendly" city. It seems that with the rising gas prices people in their cages are more pissed off at cyclist at gas prices then at the oil companies. Instead of maybe trying to find another means of transportation, lets just hit cyclist and be pissed off at the world. A about a week ago a cyclist was hit on South Congress at 8 am.

Police are looking for the driver in a hit-and-run involving a cyclist in South Austin.

Amy McNair was riding her bike south along South Congress Avenue when she was hit from behind near the intersection of Annie Street about 8 a.m. Saturday.

"There was screeching, and I knew that it was too close to me," McNair said. "I just remember hearing a really loud impact, lots of pain."

McNair opened her eyes to see a white car speeding away. Her body is scraped and bruised and so is her cycling gear. The impact with the car split the frame of Amy's back tire in half.

This is just getting ridicules.

Now on a lighter note, this is a little funny, but scary at the same time.Bicyclist Going 45 MPH Hits Bear In Boulder Co. A cyclist in Boulder County was injured after a run-in, literally, with a bear.

Tim Egan, 53, was riding on Old Stage Road Tuesday afternoon when suddenly a bear appeared in front of him. Egan hit the bear and ended up skidding across the road.

"This bear looked at me with a look of terror on his face and sort of made a noise," said Egan. "I looked at him with a look of terror and we went, 'aaaahhhhh.'"

I can't imagine what would be going through my mind if I saw a bear in the road and I was about run into it....It would probably be AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! as well.

The rider seems to be ok, considering running into a bear.

He cracked some ribs, suffered cuts on his head and had road rash. Egan said he and the bike flipped and flew over the bear, hitting the pavement hard.



His bike was okay so he got back on it and pedaled to the hospital.



It seems this area is not safe for cyclist or bears.

The accident was the second involving a bear and cyclist in Left Hand Canyon in the past two years. A woman in the Boulder Triathlon ran into a bear in the same area last year.

Just keep an eye out everyone, because no one is looking for you on the road.

til next time


OLC

You know what really grinds my gears...

So I have started noticing a lot more lately that city employees don't use there signal lights. I mean I have always noticed this, but being a cyclist, it is really frustrating. I mean, police officers will just turn right in front of you without signaling. What the hell is that? I mean, they give out tickets for this. I have even had a friend get a ticket on his bicycle because he didn't signal. Now I understand when an emergency vehicle is on the go or even a squad car with his sirens a blazing, but when they are just driving and not signaling, that just pisses me off. This is partially how I got hit, a no signaling driver. I would just like it if cops would follow the normal laws of signaling when they are turning. Thats all.


til next time

your "gay and stupid" blogger

OLC

Worst of ATX Craigslist #6

So I can't help but look through craigslist list to see if there is something that I wouldn't mind picking up. It always seems there are just a few people out there that are just trying to take you.

First up,

Vintage Pashley - $750 (round rock)
Reply to: sale-712434272@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-06-08, 2:21PM CDT




Very good condition bicycle from England. I have had the bicycle for 10 years, but it is older than that. It has the original tires and rare Mechanical Brakes. Serious only please.

If you want, you can buy one of these for around the same price, but brand new. Not to say that "vintage" is nice, but all of there bikes new or vintage, look about the same.



shwinn lowrider
Reply to: sale-712284057@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-06-08, 12:07PM CDT



"heres a picture 200 obo"

I think I even know this guy, good friend, but come on 200? I watched you take that thing apart....good thing you put "or best offer".


80's PEUGEOT - VITUS 979 - Size 54 --- great shape/ one of a kind - $350 (Nw Austin)
Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-06-08, 10:14AM CDT"



"This bike is in good condition. It has been in my garage for several years and hardly ever ridden. The frame is aluminum and the bike is very very light. Weinmann brakes, stronglight components, shifts and brakes very well. old Handlebar tape coming apart a little and the rubber parts around the top of the brake levers are wearing down. The bike has no rust and tires are in good condition. Rare bike especially in this condition".


I just want to know what makes the bike such a "one of a kind" I mean was the bike built just for you? I have seen several of Puegeot's owned a couple too, but none of them were one of a kind.

Now for my favorite one of the day,


Drum roll please......


Ventage 10 Speed Bike - $200 (RR)
Reply to: sale-712043384@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-06-08, 7:17AM CDT



Spell check ....maybe?



Diamond Back, Mens Bike from the 70'S,lightweight, sells for around $600 Used, My son says it has to go, has custom pedals, great racing bike, call 248-0330

sells for around $600

Are you kidding? Awesome....I'd like to know who would pay six bills for this bike. I would much rather buy this and for the money and get the remaining needed parts. Maybe a little more information might help you sell it also...like size. Just an idea.


That's it for the day, I need to continue working on the old cruiser.


til next time


your "gay and stupid" blogger


OLC

It's Friday

I don't have to much to say, other than I am going to get drunk tonight, and go see a show. Unwed Sailor is playing tonight at Emo's. If you haven't seen these guys before you should go and check them out. I know this is not a bike related post, but I don't feel like talking about anything bike right now. It gets depressing sometimes knowing that I can't ride.

If you care to know I went to the doctor last week and the X-rays are looking good. I have another appointment on the 23rd and if all goes well, then I might be able to take this brace off. If the doc gives me the approval I will be back on the bike, because I am just a few steps away from having the cruiser done. If he does in fact give me the thumbs up I will ride, but I will do it with the brace on, that way I am less likely to injure myself more.

Alright, if you made it this far, here is some bike porn for you.

Something interesting

As some of you may know I am restoring an old Schwinn cruiser. Jenn had found the bike along time ago in a pond and thought it was cool. I ended up taking over the project. I haven't taken any pictures of it yet, and I forgot to take some of it while it was in it's original state before I started the process. Check back later and I will add some pictures (to this post, if you care to see) of how it is coming along. While I was sanding down the bike, I found the serial number and I was curious to what year the bike was made. Jenn went to the Schwinn website and found out when it was "born". Turns out the bike I have was born on April 9th 1953. The bike is now 55 years old, awesome.

So after reading the website, I found what I think some interesting facts.

In 1899, Paced by a locomotive, Mile-a Minute Murphy is the first man to go... you guessed it... 60 mph


1902, Bicycling is an adult-driven market. A racing bike costs $150 ($27,450 in today's dollars). Time payments are still a long way from reality.

Bicycles are where most advances in machining and metallurgy take place.

Keep in mind these were single speed fixed gears. I'd like to see what kind of fixed gear you would get now a days with that kind of money.

1936, Schwinn presents the "Auto Cycle" Deluxe balloon tire bicycle - featuring the Schwinn full floating saddle and seat post, plus twin headlights and speedometer.


1941, Drafting a race car, French racer Alfred Letourner sets the speed record of 108.92 mph on a Paramount bicycle with 255 gear inches. Now that's pushing a BIG gear.




That gear is fucking HUGE!!!. I would not want to do that, and brake less at that. It reminds me of this video I saw awhile back.

I thought it was a little interesting how fast some of these people have gone on a bicycle before most of us were born.


til next time

your "gay and stupid" blogger


OLC

Worst of Craigslist ATX missed connections

This is always a little fun. A little different this time. Enjoy.


Massages for great bike! (south Austin)
Reply to: sale-706963868@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-06-03, 11:58PM CDT



Hello,

I'm a licensed massage therapist who would give 4 massages ($70 value each) in exchange for a bicycle in great shape. First come, first serve pretty much, or best offer. If interested, please email me directly. Thank you.

Peace and love.



Why don't you just do four massages at an office building, and pay for a bike? I mean that is your profession right?


I almost hit you with my car, you on your bike - w4m - 22 (hyde park)


Reply to: pers-699245669@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-05-29, 12:18AM CDT


Not sure what the intersection was, but it was somewhere around 52nd and guadalupe... There was one of those circular medians in the middle of the intersection that you have to go around. I was driving a dark grey yaris, you on your bike, i saw you and hit my brakes, we made eye contact and smiled, I was pretty embarrassed. I had a friend with me. We should go bike riding some time.

So let me get this straight. You almost hit someone on their bike and then you want to go for a ride?


Death of a Blue Peugeot - w4m - 24 (Central)
Reply to: pers-705751605@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-06-03, 1:08AM CDT


To the kind, beautiful guy who laid my bike to rest at the Bicycle Sports Shop- Thank you. It was (almost) a bearable loss because of you.


I like a peugeot's as much as the next guy, but they are quite easy to put down.

If you live in Austin TX and Ride a bicycle you should fill this out.

From Jason at ATXBS.com



I know Critical Mass and the group rides are fun and all, but if you want to ACTUALLY make a difference in City of Austin bike policy, here's an quick way to do it. The City of Austin (specifically the APD) is conducting a 2-week long survey of local residents regarding what we feel are the most pressing driving safety concerns in our community. The question that really popped out at me was the one that asked me to rate the following statement on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree: "Austin drivers are courteous to pedestrians." It also has several comment fields. Though it seems that the survey was written with a very automobile-centric mindset I think it'd be incredible if we could get a few thousand cyclists to fill it out and make known what OUR big worries are. Check out their press release if you want to read the official words about the survey, or just cruise on over to the survey proper to get it over with.




Deadline is June 15th! Don't slack!


I filled this out and and so should you. Thanks for the heads up Jason.

til next time


your "gay and stupid" blogger

OLC

Just goes to show, we are almost never safe

So as I am doing my morning routine, I stumble across this.

"A car plowed into a weekend bike race along a highway near the U.S.-Mexico border, killing one and injuring 10 others, police said.


The 28-year-old driver was apparently drunk and fell asleep when he crashed into the race, said police investigator Jose Alfredo Rodriguez.


A photograph taken by a city official showed bicyclists and equipment being hurled high into the air by the collision.

Rodriguez said Juan Campos was charged with killing Alejandro Alvarez, 37, of Monterrey".




Sometimes it is just baffling to me that people can do this kind of shit. I mean it is obviously early in the day, and it is a group of twenty plus riders and the guy passes out because he is drunk and plows into them. I mean holy fuck.

This guy should get the book thrown at him. These cyclist were doing nothing wrong and have no protection against an onslaught of a drunken driver passing out at the wheel that runs them over.

I feel bad for all of these cyclist to have to go through this. They did however kept the driver from fleeing until the cops got there.



Some people.




til next time





your "gay and stupid" blogger



OLC

Cycling is a not a religion...but maybe it should be?

So Saturday night I went to the YBP(Yellow Bike Project) birthday party. There was a five dollar suggested donation at the door, to help raise money for their new building off of 12th and Webberville. It was the second time I have gotten out and about and mingled with friends and fellow cyclist. I had a few beers talked to some of the bike messengers, told people who didn't know exactly what happened how the wreck happened and what was broken. Overall I was having a great time.

Jenn and I went outside to watch some tall bike jousting. Which is always fun to watch people purposely hurt each other, especially when they are on bikes. As we were watching, a girl was wanting to leave, because people were standing on her car (taking pictures) and folks sitting on it. I would want to move my car as well, I mean I don't want someone standing on it just to get some pictures, especially if I didn't know them. As she was trying to leave (keep in mind this is the back alley way behind spiderhouse and i luv video) people were not moving and getting pissed off at her because she is driving a car. So she gets out of the parking space and proceeds to drive off, only to have one of the tall bikes thrown in front of her car as she was leaving. This in turn pisses off a few of the people there and they start kicking and hitting her car.

I see all of this happen and I said "that is gay and stupid for people to do that" and some chick and dude start to say they are "gay" and I shouldn't say that. I said again that it was gay and stupid for people to get pissed off when they are causing the situation of angry and animosity. I didn't say that those people were fagot's and retarded. I could see someone getting upset about that. I said what I said and I stick to it. Gay and stupid. I keep going back and forth with these two and Jenn gets in the middle because it is starting to get heated. Me with my broken back arguing with two people about something that I said. Some of my closest friends are gay and lesbians. I am not homophobic and I don't condone hurting someone in anyway. Jenn calmed everyone down, along with some of the other people and we went back to watching the tall bikes joust. What really started to aggravate me, is the two that were giving me so much shit started making out, so they obviously were not gay, maybe bi, but not gay. Jason won the tall bike jousting just in case you wanted to know.


So with that being said, it now brings me to my point of this blog. Some people out there think cycling is a religion and they try and force it on others. This has never worked. Just because you are into something you should not try and force it one someone else. I am all for more and more people getting on bikes and riding them. I am also for local bike projects, like YBP. I am not however for people who try and push something on someone else. Getting pissed off because someone was leaving in a car from a bike benefit doesn't justify throwing a bike in front of their car. I fucking came in a car because I have a broken back because of a motorist. Do I blame all motorist? No. I blame the old man that ran me off the road. I drive and ride just like most everyone I know. I also know people who just ride and just drive. Do I force riding on people who just drive? No. They are adults and can make their own decisions.

Recently Critical Mass has started coming under a lot of scrutiny. Some from local forums and some from a other countries. This happened a few days ago. I am not against CM, but this is fucking stupid. Riding with your kids on a freeway? Gay and stupid.



Again not against Mass, I ride in them almost every month. I haven't the most recent one, but the doctors won't let me ride right now. My point is that we cyclist need to be more active in the community, and not turn drivers against us even more by being jackasses when we ride in a mass group. We don't need to take every single lane, we don't need to throw things at the drivers, we need to be respectful of them, if we want to get respect from them. If you want to help change things then pay more attention to whats going on at city council. Start being more pro active and not just going to mass to try and prove a point.

You don't have to force what you believe in on people. Be more active. Enjoy your bike riding. Don't be a jackass about it.



til next time

your "gay and stupid" blogger

OLC