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Category Archives: bicycle

KATY Trail: Busy Final Prep Day

One day to go, and it will be a busy one. In addition to packing and checking equipment, I’ll also be attending two important functions: The transportation committee for the new city strategic plan meets this afternoon. The Bicycle Friendly Springfield petition rally is this evening at City Hall. After the rally and presentation of [...]

Posted 17 May 2010 † Andy Cline § advocacy § bicycle equipment § ecology ‡ Comments (3) ° Tagged: , ,

Bending To My Will

I’ve been nagging my wife for a couple years now to get a new bicycle — one more suited to utility bicycling around Springfield’s urban core. But, until yesterday, she maintained that her old Giant mountain bike was perfectly good. That is until her dress got snagged in the rear brake. We were meeting for [...]

Posted 17 April 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (9) ° Tagged: ,

Good Sign (And Cycle Chic)

The picture below represents good news, IMO. I had an appointment downtown yesterday afternoon at a coffee shop heretofore untested called Heroes. On my way home at about 4:00 p.m. I ran into these four young women riding on Pickwick Ave. Casual, normal clothes. Check Cruiser bicycles. Check. Smiles. Check. Things are getting better in [...]

Posted 19 January 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged: , , ,

Green Is Good When Green Is Green

The Sanyo Eneloop eclectic bicycle won a Best of Innovations award for eco-design and sustainability at the 2010 International CES sponsored by the Consumer Electronic Association. Let’s be clear about something first: I have nothing against electric bicycles. They serve a purpose for people who want or need them. But, really, giving a green award [...]

Posted 15 January 2010 † Andy Cline § ecology § news ‡ Comments (8) ° Tagged: , , , ,

Way Groovy

So, how soon until we see the Cannondale Dutchess utility / commuter for women show up in Springfield? (Hat tip to Copenhagenize) Wytze’s graduation project for Cannondale from Eelke D. on Vimeo. Here’s the skinny on this design from Bicycle Design. This bicycle appears to meet my rigid (and arbitrary) criteria for a good utility [...]

Posted 01 December 2009 † Andy Cline § bicycle equipment § ecology § news ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged: , , ,

Fenders Be Good

I like fenders. I understand why a sport cyclist doesn’t want fenders on a road bike. But for utility bicycles fenders are nice to have because they keep road gunk off your clothes. Some fenders, however, are better than others. Take a look at these two cruisers parked on the MSU campus this morning. Both [...]

Posted 11 August 2009 † Andy Cline § bicycle equipment ‡ Comments (7) ° Tagged: , ,

Urban Wonder Bicycle To Be Designed

An organization called Oregon Manifest, of Portland, has announced a Constructor’s Design Challenge. Frame builders and designers are challenged to create “an innovative, modern transportation bike—a technical challenge combining engineering dexterity with fabrication mettle.” Here are the requirements: Amazing Solution: Devise a sensational, unique and innovative bike for transportation use. Handling: Bikes must handle equally [...]

Posted 10 July 2009 † Andy Cline § ‡ Comments (9) ° Tagged: , ,

Chick Magnet

OK, so that headline might be over-selling it a bit. But here’s a fact: Ride into downtown Springfield on a Brompton and people notice. And ask questions. I went to the Mudhouse for a muffin and coffee. I hang out there a lot. It’s a great place to read the paper and socialize. I’m something [...]

Posted 24 June 2009 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged: , , ,

Multi-Modal Dreams

My Brompton arrived today. It’s nearly 100 degrees today and humid. So for most of the two hours that it’s been here I’ve been inside getting used to the fold and reading the manual. The fold is very easy and very fast. Two tries and I’m a pro. Anyone would be I took it out [...]

Posted 23 June 2009 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (16) ° Tagged: , ,

Funny But Serious

I bought a new Kryptonite U-lock yesterday. I was using one of their lesser models. I wanted something a bit more beefy. To celebrate my new, more secure lock, here’s a funny but serious video about locking bicycles. It’s big-city oriented, but the lessons are good. I keep a cable lock through my seat. The [...]

Posted 14 May 2009 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged: ,

NIOSH Says Go No-nose

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and health has released a report on the effects of standard bicycle saddles: Workers who ride a bicycle as part of their job may be at risk for genital numbness or more serious sexual and/or reproductive health problems from pressure in the groin (perineum) from the traditional bicycle saddle. [...]

Posted 28 April 2009 † Andy Cline § ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged: ,

Bicycling Downtown

Downtown Springfield is a great bicycling destination. And if you live downtown, or nearby, it’s not that difficult to replace your car with a bicycle for most of your transportation needs. That’s what I did. I live 2.25 miles from my office on the square. Bicycling downtown is easy because most of the roads are [...]

Posted 11 April 2009 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (4) ° Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Done Gone and Did It

Yesterday I placed an order for one of these I have plans. Oh, yes. I have plans. More on that later. And I’ll have a full report when it arrives. Technorati Tags: bicycle, cycling

Posted 07 April 2009 † Andy Cline § ‡ Comments (7) ° Tagged: ,

Kickstand Love

I installed my new Pyramid kickstand this morning. It was love at first park Now my Redline R530 stands upright and steady for loading. I’m thinking the Redline people ought to make this style kickstand standard equipment on this model. Other things I’ve added: Handlebar mirror Front basket mount Hobson seat BMX pedals Technorati Tags: [...]

Posted 26 March 2009 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (5) ° Tagged: ,

The Everyday Bicycle

Check out this examination of what makes a good “everyday bicycle” by David Hembrow. I like the context of this short essay: from the point of view of a person living in a country in which many people use bicycles as basic transportation. In other words, if you want to know what kind of a [...]

Posted 23 January 2009 † Andy Cline § ecology ‡ Comments (6) ° Tagged: , ,