They really should bring this back....

Sturmey Archer 3 speed fixed hub

I'm sure you all have heard about the 3 speed internal fixed hubs that Sturmey Archer is making. Well, they should be in the states by march, and they are now going to come in colors. Fucking awesome!



I'm sure I will be getting one at some point in time. I'm just not sure when I will be riding fixed again. I'll probably get one for the steam roller.

til next time

OLC

Cemetery Cats Pub Crawl this sunday

So we are riding again. I get off of work at 5pm so I am going to push back the time to 6pm so I can at least get there from after work. Ya'll can definitely show up early, but we'll be leaving the lope around 630 or so....be there!



til next time

OLC

Elm city Scorchers

I know Dan Nicely is wishing he was up there for this. I know I do, looks rad as hell.

ATX BP

So I know that this has been posted elswhere, but I felt it needed mentioning again. Once I am able to be bike on the bike, and have the legs, somewhat used to stop and go, I will be making my way out there once again. I didn't really get a chance to use the bike I built up just before the accident, so I am looking forward to some more polo.




I know I scored a goal somewhere in this video...fun as shit. GO OUT THERE AND PLAY!!!! You just need to bring yourself and a bike.....DO IT!!!



Austin Bike Polo 08/23/08 from kevin on Vimeo.

til next time OLC

just cause some folks want to see it (NSFW)

If you read this blog and are offended by the boobies...then just ignore this post. According to the poll, it is a tie between boobs, and drunk people. So here ya go.
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enjoy

til next time

send your questions in!!

I read this on ATXBS.com and would like to reiterate how important it is for us to send our questions to Eileen for the March ACA meeting.

Police Chief, Art Acevedo will be there addressing cyclists' questions. Apparently, Eileen is putting together a list of questions to send to APD ahead of time - giving them ample time to research and provide sufficient responses for us. There will also be a short segment afterward for open Q&A - you can ask your quesiton here if its not addressed with the others.

I know, I know. You may think your question is dumb or someone else will surely email her with a similar question, so why should you? BECAUSE. Maybe no one else will ask that dumb question (wait... no question is dumb), and then where would the world be? Point being, we've all got a ton of questions for the Chief and APD, so ask them. We have all had different and varying responses from APD and cycling around town. We've all got issues we want discussed, so now is the time to bring them to APDs attention.

EMAIL HER DANG IT!!

.ride safe.

I WON!!!

WOOOHOOOOO

It's offical

This blog is one year old as of today!!!! Hopefully this year will bring more postings, and great riding. Thanks everyone who reads!

fresh paint around town

well well well...

My good 'ol buddy over at APD, Officer Kinley, called me today to say the city had repainted Barton Springs road between South First and Riverside. I was stoked!!! He said they are working on getting new signs up on the road, but that will come later.

Since I'm working from my bed today (damn allergies), I hopped on my bike and rode over there. Turns out, all of the lane marking have been repainted in that entire area - from Congress to past South First - all of the crossroads are painted as well. I was a little disappointed that there were not any new markings (like possibly an arrow splitting into two arrows, indicating the lane is splitting), but all in all, I'm pleased by the city's response. The white stripes are definitely brighter - maybe people will stick to their lanes.

**note to everyone: calling the city and complaining or offering suggestions of how to resolve issues isn't as hard as it seems to be. maybe I just got lucky, but I'm very proud of Austin for listening.


Lets see what happens :)

ride safe.

the cow(s) strike back

Cow Knocks Over Woman On Bike, Steps On Her Legs


A woman escaped serious injury and refused medical treatment after a cow knocked her down and walked on her legs. Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks ranger Pete Taylor said the woman was riding her bicycle along the South Boulder Creek Trail on Monday when she encountered the cow and stopped to let the animal cross.

Instead, the cow knocked the woman over and stepped on her legs.

Taylor said the woman wasn't seriously hurt. Her name was not released.

The cow had left the area by the time rangers arrived, but other people warned fellow bikers and hikers on the trail about the animal.

Boulder Mountain Bike Alliance vice president Jason Vogel called the incident "odd, rare and random."

bike lane follows me where ever I go

I saw this over at Hipster Nascar and think that this is a great idea. The real question is how bright is it and when a car is approaching from behind with headlights a glaring, if the driver of the car would see you.




Either way I still think it is fucking awesome!!!

UPDATE on Barton Springs Intersection

This morning I received a call from Officer Kinley with APD. He called to get more information about the traffic issue on Barton Springs road and asked what I thought would be a good resolution to the problem. I told him signs indicating the lane splitting would help, probably some new paint jobs on the road with arrows for traffic to follow, and of course a patrol car to issue some tickets. Office Kinley said they would put an officer at the intersection to issue tickets. He also instructed me to call 311 to report it there so that city workers could go out to investigate the signage and lack of arrows directing traffic - hopefully within 3 to 8 weeks there will be some improvements.

I'm impressed. I honestly did not expect a call back from the city (much less in less than a weeks time) about the intersection. I told him that I bike that way home from work everyday and it doesn't matter if I'm in my car or on my bike, someone almost always hits me.

Thanks APD for caring.

Hopefully we'll see some improvements!!

Ride safe.

new project under way

So I recently came into a new frame, that I am having Lee over at East side pedal punchers build up for me. It is a late 80's Dave Scott Ironman Centurion. It has the red and white color scheme. All I have is the frame right now, but it looks something like this, when I am done. Although I think I will have a white seat instead of black, and maybe a red bar tape. So if anyone has a white turbo they have lying around hit me up, I may want to snag it from you.





I will be using this bike to get back and fourth to work, when I am able to ride again. I am going to put a basket on the rear with paineers on the side. It will also be equipped with fenders.

I'll post some pics of my actual bike when I get a chance.


til next time


OLC

thanks everyone for a great birthday!

Thanks everyone for coming to dinner!!! That was a really good dinner and I'm glad you all could make it out.Thanks Dan, for letting me come by and par take in some of your birthday festivities. Thanks Stallone and Jessica for the training wheels!!!! One of the best birthday presents ever!!Thanks Casey and Mim's for coming out and buying a round of drinks, and of course the ever so dangerous bottle of baren jager. (that will be left a Jenny's so I don't drink i all in one night)Thanks A1 for the kick ass shirt, I will wear it often. Thanks for all the drinks at yer bar as well. And Thank you Jenny for the kick ass bike tube wallet you made and my cane that I get to poke people with since I am an old man now.


Thanks for all the birthday calls and birthday wishes!!!!!

I love you all, I had a great birthday!!!!! and I didn't even throw up or piss myself!!!

My birthday

So it isn't bike related, but it is my birthday today. I'm 30 years young. I will be having Dinner at Aster's Ethiopian restaurant tonight around 7 pm. Come out if you would like. Get there early if you wanna make sure you get a seat, or call one of us if you know our number's and we'll include you as part of the reservation, or send me a message here.

If you are vegetarian, they have veggie dishes. Here's the menu.....


Meat Dishes Dinner Special



(Each entree will be served with two injera and three vegetarian side dishes.)

• additional side dish for $4.95

• additional injera for $1.25



1. K e y i S i g a - Tender beef cubes stewed with Berbere sauce then flavored with onions,

garlic and ginger root. (Spicy) ………...………….….…………...……….,$12.95



2. A l i c h a S i g a - Tender beef stew, cooked to perfection with onions, garlic, ginger, and

turmeric. (Mild)……………….…………….……..…….…….….…… $12.95



3. D o r o W o t t - Ethiopia’s National dish! Exquisitely flavorful and spicy chicken slow

simmered in Berbere Sauce and authentic Ethiopian spices. Served

with hard boiled egg……..…………………..……….………...…...……. $12.95



4. K i t f o - Ethiopian style steak tartar*, seasoned to a rich flavor with our special blend of

spices, spiced butter and mit'mit'a (a hot blend of dried ground chilies), Prepared

traditionally uncooked or slightly seared………… ………..….…………..$14.25



5. T i b b s - Beef cubed and sautéed in Kibe (Ethiopian clarified butter), and seasoned with

onions, tomatoes, green & black peppers and unique traditional spices.......$13.95



6. K e y i B e g g W o t t - Tender Lamb stew slowly simmered in Berbere sauce, garlic and

authentic Ethiopian spices…………………..…………..……..… $14.25



7. A l i c h a B e g g W o t t - Tender Lamb stew slowly simmered in curried turmeric sauce,

garlic and authentic Ethiopian spices………………….….…… ……. $14.25



8. M e n c h e t A b e s h - Finely ground beef simmered in Berbere sauce, with garlic, ginger,

black pepper and even more authentic Ethiopian spices………….. $12.50



9. A l i c h a M e n c h e t A b e s h - Finely ground beef simmered in a turmeric sauce with

garlic, white pepper and Ethiopian seasonings……...… …………. .$12.50

*Consumption of uncooked meat may increase risk of food born illness

*Rice available upon request…………..………………………… (bowl) $2.00



Vegetarian Dishes Dinner special



(Each entree will be served with injera and three side dishes.)

• additional side dish for $4.95

• additional injera for $1.25



10. F a s o l i a W o t t – Potato, green beans, carrots, onions, tomatoe sauce with garlic cinnamon,

and ginger sauce………..…….…………………………….…………. $10.95



11. G o m e n - Ethiopian style collard greens cooked with onion, garlic, and spices $10.95



12. A l i c h a M i s e r (Mild) - Split lentil cooked to perfection with ginger and garlic $10.95



13. K e y i M i s e r - Split lentil cooked with Berbere, onions, cooked to perfection with other

Ethiopian spices (Spicy)…………………………………………………… $10.95



14. T i m a t i m F i t f i t - Ethiopian mixed salad with diced tomatoes, green peppers, onion,

and diced injera, topped with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and

spices. (served cold)….……………………….…………………….. $10.25



15. A z i f a - This is an Ethiopian lentil salad. Traditionally served cold, these mixed lentils

with onion, green peppers, mit'mit'a, fresh lemon juice and a touch of olive oil and

vinegar will leave your taste buds jumping for joy…………...……..………… ..... $10.25



16. A t a k e l t W o t t - Fresh cabbage, green beans, carrots, onions, garlic, and ginger, in a

zesty turmeric sauce……………….…………..……….....…………… $10.95



17. B e d e r g a n - Eggplant spiced and prepared with tomatoes sauce, garlic, onions, and

special Ethiopian seasoning…….……………..…………………..……......… $10.95



18. A t a k e l t B e y a y n e t u - (Vegetarian. Combination)- samples of the vegetarian

Dishes……….………………………………………..………. $13.95

This shit fucking makes me livid

Nine-year-old carried friend to safety. What the FUCK!!!! I mean who the hell hits a 10 yr old kid and fucking drives away..... apparently these low life pieces of shit.


HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A 10-year-old is recovering in the hospital after he was hit by a driver in east Houston who then fled the scene. That's when the youngster's nine-year-old best friend jumped into action, carried him home, and called 911.


Houston police found the SUV at a nearby home. The front bumper was damaged. Officers took two people in for questioning, a man and a woman. Police are not sure who was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Fuck these people, I hope they fucking rot in a jail cell


til next time


OLC

If you ride your bike on Barton Springs Road

Between South First and Riverside... You know what I'm talking about. That section of road is filled with morons who don't care to follow traffic laws.

So here's how it goes:
If you're riding east on Barton Springs, right after South First st, the right hand lane splits into 2 lanes (one is a straight or turn lane, the other is strictly a turn only lane). Cars in the left hand lane don't care that they have to continue following between their white striped lanes to remain in the same lane of traffic, and to not kill someone or have a fender bender. Hence, I almost get run over at this point in my ride home EVERYDAY.

I'm sure someone has complained about this before, but there is still nothing being done. I've never witnessed anyone getting ticketed for not using a turn signal (signalling that yes, I am going to be cutting you off) or not obeying traffic laws, nothing!!

I called Austin Transportation Services today to let them know of my concern. Not sure what they'll do about it, but I plan to call everyday until something happens. If you know the intersection I'm talking about or have almost been hit there yourself, you should give them a call and complain about it.

512.974.2200

Thanks :)

Ride safe,

Jimmy Carter’s bike stolen

Yeah I know this article doesn't really qualify as something that would normally write about, but jeezzzus, where does it stop. If you see our nation’s 39th president hoofing around the center that bears his name, feel sorry for the guy. Someone snatched his bike.

Police acted quickly when they learned of the Jan. 2 break-in and theft at the center. You can imagine the report: Stolen: two (2) bicycles; one blue in color, other cream in color. Eight-geared. One ridden by a Nobel Peace Prize winner.


“They’ve probably been sold for a $10 rock of crack,” fumed Peter Wicker

That sucks! I hate hearing about bikes being stolen period, but an ex prez? I mean shit at least he's not bush, fuck someone steal his bike please....that fucker needs to have something stolen from him, like he stole my 8 years of dealing with his shitty term in office.





Speaking of bush, it just makes me think of this.....

missing bike

Has anyone not seen it? Please call 425 841 9229





AWESOME!!!!


til next time

OLC

not bike related...but funny as shit

Coming soon......

KILLED BY AUTOMOBILE

Just a warning, this one is a little long....

Today has been a pretty uneventful day at work, resulting in hours of my browsing the web for various things.

My attention was first grabbed by Ghost Bikes around town. I can only name 2 in Austin {on w. 6th, then on 360 @ Bee Caves}, but I pass by both of these memorials on a daily basis and never really knew what they were all about - I didn't know this is a world wide memorial. You can find more information on them at http://www.ghostbikes.org/.

Then I began clicking on different links from the Ghost Bikes website and came along an article published by a group known as Right of Way. They conducted research of automobile accidents in NY between the years of 1994-1997. This article was published in 1999, and it doesn't seem like much has changed since then. this article takes into account pedestrian, bicycle and skater deaths/accidents. I found most of this text appalling (based on the inhumanity of actions and the lack of reactions by our government or consequences for those at fault.)

Everyone knows Les has been seriously injured twice. The 1st time, the driver did not receive a ticket. The 2nd time, the driver was not initially given a ticket, but we were later told by the police office that a ticket would be issued for "failure to yield." We are not certain a ticket was ever issued, but for there to even be a question on the matter is preposterous to me.

Here are some of the things I found quite interesting from this study:

Top 10 findings of the study: (pay special attention to #10)

1 Motor vehicles killed 1,020 pedestrians and bicyclists in New York City during the four-year period 1994-97; this toll was 25 percent greater than the 800 motor vehicle users who died in crashes in the same period.

2 New Yorkers age 65 and older were more than twice as likely to be killed by an automobile as to be murdered during 1994-97.

3 Drivers were largely or strictly culpable in 74 percent of pedestrian fatalities and partly culpable in another 16 percent, meaning that drivers were at least partly culpable in 90 percent of fatalities.

4 The most frequent causes of fatalities were vehicles turning into pedestrians in crosswalks, followed by speeding, and driving through a red light or stop sign.

5 Buses killed 53 persons during 1994-97 — one for every 11.4 million miles, or over 5 times the rate for all vehicles driven in New York City, and triple the rate for heavy trucks.

6 Automobiles were equal-opportunity threats, killing New Yorkers of every income level and ethnic group roughly in proportion to the group’s share of population.

7 Motorists killed 50 pedestrians on sidewalks during 1994-97 (one pedestrian was killed by a bicycle on a sidewalk during the same period, out of a total of five pedestrians killed in collisions with bicycles in New York City during the four years).

8 Neighborhoods where officials clamored for crackdowns on bicyclists to safeguard pedestrians had unusually high rates of pedestrians and cyclists killed by automobile.

9 Drunk driving was known to be present in only 4 percent of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities (less than 3 percent in 1997 alone), suggesting that DWI is now a relatively small subset of a larger class of dangerous and aggressive driving, which is routinely ignored in law enforcement and media campaigns.

10 Drivers were summonsed for moving violations in only 16 percent of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities during 1994-97; police cited only 7 drivers, or less than 1 percent of those who killed pedestrians, for violating laws specific to pedestrian safety.

It is just sickening to hear that only 16% of drivers causing a death were issued a ticket, and that LESS than 1% received citations dealing specifically with pedestrian safety.

a little more on the topic:

Police issued moving violations in only 154 pedestrian or cyclist fatalities during 1994-97, or just 16 percent of the 947 cases studied. Almost all of these summonses were for driving without a valid license (absent, suspended, or revoked), leaving the scene, speeding, or driving while intoxicated. Only 7 drivers who killed were ticketed for violations that specifically endanger pedestrians and cyclists, such as violating right-of-way in crosswalk, unsafe backing, unsafe opening of a car door, and driving on the sidewalk. This pattern strongly suggests a marked lack of interest, on the part
of police officers, in the rights of pedestrians and cyclists.

...more.... not exactly cycling involved, but just as fucked up...

February 20, 1998

Dear Speaker Vallone:

I am writing to you because my family needs your help. Our father was killed in an auto accident 18 months ago, and the NYPD is stonewalling us and ignoring our pleas for justice. Dad was crossing Lafayette Street in front of his auto repair shop in SoHo on Aug. 9, 1996. He was looking in the legal direction of traffic, so he didn’t see a 1985 Chevy Suburban racing toward him in reverse. The impact broke several ribs and threw Dad’s stout 200-lb. body 15-20 feet in the air. He landed on his head. Surgery didn’t help. Dad suffered unimaginably for nine days and died on Sunday, Aug. 18. He was 57.

You would think that someone who drove in reverse that fast would be judged to have been operating at “a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the situation,” and thus meet the criteria to be charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide.

You would think that if the same individual had received two speeding tickets in a 3-month period prior to killing my father (not to mention another three tickets in the ensuing 16 months), that prosecutors would find a pattern of continuing recklessness.

But you would be wrong in each instance. The driver has not even been issued a summons. The police Accident Investigation Squad has yet to call witnesses.

Mr. Speaker, we need you to put pressure on the NYPD and the Manhattan DA to seek an indictment and let a jury decide if the driver who killed my father violated the norms of civilized society and should be held accountable for his actions. We also need the justice system to send the message that pedestrians are not equipped with airbags and heavy metal frames, and cannot defend themselves against lawbreakers like the one who killed Dad.

Excerpted from a letter to New York City Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone, by Mr. Regina’s daughter, Marianna. Speaker Vallone contacted the Manhattan District Attorney, who declined to prosecute.

Six months earlier, on April 2, 30-year-old Jill Solomon was cycling down Second Avenue in Manhattan en route to work. As she was passing the 59th Street approach to the Queensboro Bridge, she came alongside an 80,000-pound tractor trailer.

The police report states:
Witness states vehicle #1 [the truck] was southbound on 2nd Ave. and turning left onto bridge entrance ramp when bicyclist also south bound on 2nd Ave. struck left rear side of vehicle #1. Witness states bicyclist fell under truck …

In this narrative, Jill Solomon gets the only verbs that denote acts rather than states of being. She “struck” the truck and “fell” under its wheels. Behind this surreally twisted language is a clear picture: The truck turned left in front of Ms. Solomon and ran over her with its rear wheels (a “recurring” crash scenario; see sidebar, p. 57).Yet the computer “abstract” of this case compiled by the State Dept. of Motor Vehicles cited “Bike’s Error-Confusion” as the primary “apparent factor” in causing the crash, in effect blaming the lawfully proceeding cyclist. (The same document coded the driver’s “pre-accident action” as “going straight ahead,” contradicting the witness’s account.)

Jill Solomon violated no law, but was nevertheless written off as “confused.” In effect, she was pronounced guilty of her own death.

We take a different view: In these cases, the driver egregiously failed in his duty to exercise caution commensurate with his power to harm. We regard the drivers as fully culpable in the death of Jill Solomon. Under this changed paradigm of responsibility, analysis of our data reveals that in 90% of cases where culpability could be ascertained, the driver was entirely or partially culpable, in the sense of having committed (or omitted) some action without the due care required of a driver, that contributed significantly or partially to the fatal crash.

If you would like to read the entire report (which is very interesting) go here http://rightofway.org/research/kba_text.pdf

All of this is just very very sad. Not much has changed since 1999 regarding pedestrian & bicycle safety. We don't yet have the lawmakers on our side, and this needs to change.

If you find yourself in a similar position one day, please take it upon yourself to demand consequences to at-fault motorists. This isn't saying bash someones car's headlights in, or pass your aggression on to another motorist, just be mindful of your situation and make sure our elected officials are doing what we ask them to.

Ride safely.

Man Who Aided Bicycle Theft Plan Has Bike Stolen

Opps.......


(AP) A former Fort Lauderdale city commissioner who helped create a program to combat bicycle theft had his own bike stolen while trying to help people involved in a vehicle crash.

Tim Smith said he witnessed the traffic accident as he was cycling to the beach on Monday. He said he left his bike on the sidewalk to rush to the cars involved. But after finding both drivers uninjured, he went to retrieve his bike and discovered it was gone.

To add insult to injury, Smith _ as a commissioner _ had successfully pushed for a citywide bike registration program to help police track stolen bikes. But when he contacted police to report his own stolen bike, he had to admit it was not registered.



Maybe he should have followed his own advice. I know that there is the national bike registry, I've thought about this, but never committed to spending the money. I guess I should though considering that it isn't that much money, $10 for ten years, not bad.

what you didn't see me?

cemetery cats pub crawl

So last night was the cats pub crawl. A good time was had by all, and some were more drunk than others......ahem A1. Some pics via Doug






Mason got PITD


A1 looks trashed


Jenny's bike with her new white tyres