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Blog hiatus of sorts
Hey everyone, I just wanted to apologize for the lack of entries recently. I have been steadily recovering from my injuries and have not been able to ride. Being off the bike stinks for several reasons, including the fact that I cannot attend or be a part of the wonderful cycling events and rides around town. I do not want to cheat readers by just re-posting stuff from other sources, so until I am fully capable of doing what I love to do, this blog might not be as complete as in the past. I will keep everyone up to date on my progress and return to the cycling community. Until then, keep riding, enjoy every day and be safe.
Jason Whaley
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Injury prevention seminar this weekend
Take it from someone who had some repetitive motion difficulties well before my accident, this injury prevention seminar at Bicycle Sport Shop is well worth your time. Sometimes getting a little knowledge can make the difference between riding happy or sitting at home with injuries. The details. …
SELF TREATMENT & INJURY PREVENTION SEMINAR
Saturday, February 20th - 11 a.m. - Noon at Bicycle Sport Shop Central - 517 S. Lamar Blvd. (map) The static position and repetitive motion of cycling can lead to overly tightened muscles and fascia (the soft connective tissue that binds muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones). Join us as Dr. Ross Bomben of Austin Performance Health teaches Active Release Techniques® and Trigger Point therapy. Stay happy, healthy and enjoy your bike more with this informative seminar. RSVP FOR THIS EVENT
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Do we really need a new bike design?
Here’s a pretty interesting take on the bicycle from design company Bradford Waugh. It’s called the Nulla Bicycle, and it’s very sleek and would probably earn you plenty of attention on any ride around town. But is there really a need for this? Why waste the effort and money to revamp a machine that is already efficient and popular anyway? The basic design of the bike has been around a while, and it works pretty darn well. What do you think?
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Get involved in the cycling community
There are some great opportunities on the horizon for cyclists to get more involved in their community. Some of these events and openings will afford those who choose to take advantage a way to help make a huge difference. Here is information from the Yellow Bike Project on how to get involved. …
Don’t Call it a Conference! A small team of folks from the League of Bicycling Voters, Austin Cycling Association, YBP, and elsewhere are teaming up to organize a two-day gathering to assess the current state of Austin’s bike community and develop priorities for the future. Emphasis will be put on opportunities for those who want to get more involved, and on building links between existing movements. The gathering will begin on the evening of Friday, April 9, with an opening social event/mixer, continue through Saturday with roughly a dozen workshops (topics ranging from education to advocacy to social rides), and wind down that evening with a summary and conclusions. Attendance is free of charge, but attendees will be encouraged to join a local bike organization (both as payment for the conference and to encourage continued involvement). LOBV is managing logistics, and will have more info on their website as it becomes available. Contact Tom Wald if you’d like to help out, or if you have any ideas for workshops you’d like to see.
APD Q&A Forum. March 1, from 7-9 pm, on the third floor of One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs), Austin Chief of Police Art Acevedo will answer questions posed by the bike community. Last year’s forum marked a real turning point in local police-cyclist relations, and this year’s should be no different. We’re sure to be checking in on the new, as-yet un-enforced, Safe Passing Ordinance, among other things. Get your questions in to Eileen Schaubert ASAP, and show up on the 1st for the answers.
Nueces Bicycle Boulevard. The debate over this planned flagship facility keeps getting hotter, but the plan rolls onward. If you support the project and ride on Nueces Street, let City Council know. The final public meeting is Wednesday, February 24th, at Pease Elementary, 1106 Rio Grande Street. Showing up for this one is very important, because the opposition will not go quietly. Learn more about bicycle boulevards, and this project specifically, by visiting the City of Austin’s website and watching this video about one of Portland’s Bicycle Boulevards.
Give Council Feedback on New Bicycle Facilities. The surge of new bicycle facilities continues. This year the City doubled the miles of bicycle lanes installed compared to last year, which saw more miles installed than any year previous! If you like what you are seeing on the streets, email city council and tell them what these facilities mean to you. (Important: if you have more specific feedback or complaints about bicycle facilities in Austin, it’s more efficient to communicate those directly to the City Bike Program’s staff).
Openings on Austin’s BAC. Austin’s Bicycle Advisory Council is currently looking to fill one alternate spot and one full-time member spot. If you’re interested in getting involved, grab an application here and return it to Nadia Barrera by Wednesday the 17th. February’s meeting falls on the 18th, in the 8th-floor conference room at One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs).
Safe Cycling Film RFI. The City is looking for someone to make a local bike safety film. If you are a moving picture-maker, and care about safety, read the RFI here or email Nadia Barrera for more information.
Austin Comprehensive Plan. Austin has begun the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan, which was originally adopted in 1979 and is very out-of-date. The Comp Plan is the overarching, guiding, and arguably the most important of all City plans. The Bicycle Plan is a subservient plan that further defines the Comp Plan, but must be in harmony with its broader vision. This is the plan that sets our community priorities for the decades to come. If you feel strongly about mobility (walking and bicycling), land use, affordable housing, stable neighborhoods, more local business, better access to countryside and farmland, more or less anything… now is your chance to share your vision. Take the online survey before March 1st, and look here for more ways to get involved.
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Good events this weekend
Here are some interesting events on the way this weekend that cater to women, couples and those who like to push it while training.
FEBRUARY 13, 10 AM - 4 PM FREE TRAINING SESSIONS
30 MINUTE SESSIONS AT 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM
Experience an indoor cycling class at Kevin Livingston’s Pedal Hard Training Center and see what the buzz is all about. Located in the lower level of Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, the center features state-of-the art Computrainer technology and an experienced, full-time coaching staff. Regularly a full hour in length, these complementary sessions are a half hour of focused, quality riding using metrics like heart rate, cadence and power to track your progress and keep you honest!
Bring your bike, shoes, and any other personal gear to the center to give it a try. All levels are welcome, and you can enjoy refreshments and mingle with Kevin and the coaches.
Capacity is limited to eight riders per session, so please reserve your place by emailing training@pedalhard.com or calling (512) 473-2233.
TREK WSD DEMO DAY
Saturday, February 13th - 10 a.m. 2 p.m. at Walnut Creek Park @ 12138 N Lamar Blvd. (map) Ladies, discover the pure joy of riding a bike designed with women specifically in mind. Trek was the first major bicycle company to offer a full line of bikes designed specifically for women, and continues to expand and improve their WSD offerings year after year. Food and drinks will be available and our service staff will be on hand to change out pedals.
A Special Edition Ladies Ride for Valentine’s Day! Bring your sweetie along for a ride to celebrate.
The Highlights:
- 2pm: Get set up on a Trek WSD road bike for the afternoon.
- 3pm: Ride leaves for 20-25 miles at a 14-16 mph pace.
- After the Ride: Enjoy FREE champagne courtesy of Sophia’s plus strawberries and chocolate. Yum!
- Couples massages to relax and rejuvenate prior to the evening’s together time.
- Photo Booth of Love to remember it all.
- You’re out by 6pm so you can enjoy the rest of your evening.
RSVP to erin@mellowjohnnys.com to reserve your spot.
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Be thankful you’re not seeing this right now
One of the many reasons why I love Austin is because I don’t have to ever look out my window and see this scene in the morning. …
And make no mistake, there are several parts of the country where this is what you are getting right now. I know it’s been a little rainy and a tiny bit chilly here, but seriously, be thankful that with the proper clothes, you can comfortably ride every day in Central Texas. I just wish my body was healed enough to take advantage of this nice winter riding weather. Soon, dadgummit, soon.
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Good events for Friday
There are a few interesting and important events happening today. Here are a few that I’m aware of, but there’s probably more. That’s part of why Austin is such a great cycling town, because there are plenty of events and rides check out. I want to thank Austin on Two Wheels for some of the information.
Kids Bike Rodeo
Noon, Bicycle Sport Shop, 517 S. Lamar Blvd
- Here is a great opportunity for you to do something fun and help out with a great biking event for kids. We are going to provide volunteers for the Patsy Sommer Elementary School Bike Rodeo that kicks off a program to promote biking to school. We are going to help over 1000 kids get fitted with helmets, make sure their bikes are in good working order and run a few safety courses to teach the kids how to safely bike to school. The whole event is going down to kick off the Freiker program at the school. It’s a high tech version of the commuter challenge that will track each kid’s trips to school and let them see their results on the internet. More here: http://www.freiker.org/bp/HowItWorks. Meet at Bicycle Sport Shop to carpool to Patsy Sommer Elementary.
Fabulous Fixed First Friday
6 PM, Capitol Grounds
- The first Friday of the month means Fabulous Fixed First Friday alleycat races. Bring $5, a bag and a fixed gear bike to race. This month’s theme is Art Bike Grimes with an art show and after party at Uncle Billy’s starting at 7 PM.
The Benefit Party for Mariel Mentink
7:30 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
Tonight, Social Cycling ATX is putting on an event for hit and run victim Mariel Mentink. She has been in the ICU for a month now, has had numerous operations and is now facing lots of rehab. Her family has a large amount of medical bills. So this Friday night, we are having a special ride/event to raise some money to help Mariel and her family out and do what we do best, ride around and have fun. A nice long cruise around the city ending at Red 7. There we will have bands, a DJ dance party, Mediterranean food and raffles every 30 minutes or so starting at 11 pm. There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door, but feel free to give more as your money will go towards helping Mariel return to good health. For your donation you will get one free raffle ticket. Additional tickets are available for a suggested $2 donation.
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Good points about the bicycle boulevard
I have been out of action for much of the time that the bicycle boulevard debate has been raging. But here are some important points about the project provided by the Bicycle Sport Shop. …
DOWNTOWN BICYCLE BLVD
Are you interested in seeing Austin become a world class city for bicyclists, a city that bicyclist’s of every skill level can navigate safely and comfortably? Then please let Austin Mayor Leffingwell and City Council know how important it is to you that they support the Bicycle Boulevard that is currently proposed for Nueces and/or Rio Grande streets.
Why is a downtown bicycle boulevard on Nueces or Rio Grande important?
The bike boulevard will support the increased use of an already important bicycling corridor connecting UT with downtown, one that hundreds of cyclists already use every day. The bike boulevard’s safer and more convenient facilities will attract new and inexperienced riders, an important addition to making Austin a bicycle friendly community.
Removing time- and energy-wasting stop signs for bicyclists and calming the traffic by discouraging “through” auto traffic will attract scores of new riders.
It’s confirmation that Austin recognizes the importance of maximizing the benefits of bicycling-climate and air protection, healthy activity, reduced traffic congestion and increased mobility for people, not cars.
The bike boulevard will have a negligible impact on accessibility for automobile drivers to businesses and residences on Nueces and Rio Grande.
Both the Downtown Austin Plan and Bicycle Plan list Nueces as a bike boulevard and its implementation is an important demonstration project for future bicycle infrastructure.
Contact the Mayor and City Council to let them know that you support the creation of a downtown bicycle boulevard by emailing them here.
You can learn more about the Bike Boulevard and the facility that will be proposed for implementation by the City Transportation Department at the Bike Boulevard Open House, Wednesday, February 24, 6pm - 8pm at Pease Elementary School, 1106 Rio Grande St., Austin, TX, 78701 (map).
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Fixed in NYC
This whole fixed-gear thing has been interesting to watch develop. A lot of folks are committing to this style of riding, and that’s cool. Whatever gets more people involved in cycling, the better. I’ve tried it, it was fun, but I like having a freewheel instead. The problem for me is that riding fixed is more dangerous and requires more constant focus. Sometimes I just like to fly and not even think about my machine.
I found this video on the Empire blog. It’s a trailer for their feature length debut about riding fixed in New York City. It starts off hard and fast, but there is some riding that degenerates into poor judgment. Take a look. …
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Get your route map
The most recent version of Austin’s Bicycle Route Map can be purchased at local bicycle shops or a copy can be picked up at the Bicycle Program Office at 505 Barton Springs Rd, Suite 900.
Click here for a list of locations that carry the map. *Note - All bike shops may not be listed here.
This is such a fantastic resource for anyone who rides in the city, or anyone who is thinking about taking a few more trips by bike. This really is a useful map that will guide people to the safest ways to get around town. I would recommend picking one up and getting more familiar with the fantastic in-town rides.
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Getting back to good
I awoke to a blinding white light. Pain consumed everything. Then, back to black. Next thing I knew, my family was standing in a hospital room, trying to explain what had happened. A head on collision had wiped away the past two weeks, and I was trying to make sense of it all.
I was told about the concussion. I could easily feel the other physical penalties; rib fractures, broken left forearm, fractured vertebrae, deep cuts in my head, elbow and legs. But despite the damage, all of it would heal. I was lucky and blessed, but most of all, I was thrilled to be given a second chance.
But first, I had to concentrate on the healing. I couldn’t remember the week I was in the hospital, yet I’ve been told a few things that may or may not be based in truth. Apparently, I kept trying to make a break for the exits, so the staff had to use restraints. I then turned to my wife and a buddy to make a case for not being tied down. Thankfully, they said “no way.” I also saw some pretty interesting apparitions while on morphine, and described the creatures to anyone who would listen.
The real stream of consciousness began at the rehab center during the second week after the accident. I was awake and aware, and didn’t have to be told over and over what had happened. The pain was still there, especially in my ribs. Laying in any position other than on my back was excruciating, as was getting up. During the first few days, the nurses had to keep my door shut due to the string of obscenities flying out of my mouth. When mom came to visit, my sailor mouth turned into mush. I wouldn’t curse in front of her. Even great pain could not trump the respect I have for her.
The third week brought true progression. I was handling physical and occupational therapy quite well, I was back to my old self mentally and the pain had subsided to such a degree that I could walk alone. Then, the best news of all, I got released. I could finally spend time with my wonderful wife and get back to the life I knew.
Now the difficult part. I don’t know when I will be able to ride again. It will happen at some point, but my body will have to fully approve. I love being surrounded by my bikes at home, but it is also tough knowing they won’t get to fly for a while. Even during some of the worst bouts of pain, I dreamed of riding. It made me realize that cycling is a lifetime passion for me, and that is very comforting.
It’s also nice to know that because I was in such good shape before the accident, my recovery has been much easier. A doctor told me that my strength from cycling enabled my body to deal with the physical consequences in an extremely efficient way. He said my progression in rehab was incredible.
So now that I’m on the mend, I want to thank all of the nurses, doctors and therapists who took such great care of me. I will never forget their kindness and professionalism. I also want to thank my friends and family for the incredible support. Most of you probably have no idea how much you kept my spirits up during the dark times. I also want to thank the Bicycle Sport Shop for everything. They are wonderful people and a great cycling resource for Austin.
Finally, to my wife, I love you. There is no way I could ever express enough how much you have helped me, how much you have done to make my life easier. I cannot imagine going through something so difficult without you. Even though you’re barely five feet tall, you’re my pillar of strength. Thank you.
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The road to recovery
Just wanted to let everybody know that I’ve been involved in a terrible auto accident and am just beginning to recover.
I will be back to bloging every day on Road Rash very soon. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and concern. The road to recovery is never an easy one, but the outpouring of support has made the transition much easier.
I would like to thank you for your patience, and please check back soon for more of my perspective on the Central Texas cycling scene.
Thank you.
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Some good rides this week
Here are some more rides this week for those who want to burn off that holiday cheer. …
Click here to see the route. It’s got some really good hills and is a definite test if you’re still spinning from New Year’s Eve.
There is also a ride that leaves from Durango Ice House at 29th and Rio Grande on Wednesday night. It’s a pretty regular weekly ride and is open to all levels of riders.
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Helping to get more folks at National Bike Summit
Interesting stuff from the National Bicycle Dealers’ Association. …
The NBDA, National Bicycle Dealers Association, will grant up to $30,000 in scholarships to first-time and returning bike dealers who participate at the 2010 National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. March 9-11. The program is designed to support the cause of cycling in America by making it affordable for NBDA dealers to participate. Applications must be in by January 18th.
The National Bike Summit is produced by the League of American Bicyclists, and is where advocates, industry executives and education experts gather to learn about the issues involving bicycling in America, and to speak up for bicycling on Capitol Hill by meeting with members and staff of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate by prearranged appointment.
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It’s time to get back on track
If you’re like me, then you probably enjoyed the holidays a bit too much. It’s difficult with family in town, leftovers in the fridge and co-workers who bring in all sorts of tasty treats and leave it for those of us with little will power to devour.
The weather has also made it difficult to ride. So with all of the extra poundage and flimsy legs, it’s time to get back to eating right and cycling hard. A good way to start the new year right is the the Bicycle Sport Shop Resolution Ride on Jan. 1. The details. …
Resolution Ride, Jan. 1, 2010, 10 a.m., 53 Mile Loop
Join us in celebrating the New Year on a cruise around the city.
We will be leaving our central Location at 10 a.m. and taking the in-town loop to the north location. We will meet the north crew at 11 and head out Jollyville towards 620 for the dam loop.
Both stores are closed that day and this will be an unsupported ride, so be sure to bring your phones, tubes, pumps/co2, bars, gels, etc. View the Map or Cue Sheet
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Happy Holidays
I just wanted to wish everyone happy holidays. Keep riding, enjoy life and be safe. I’ll post again after Christmas.
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Friendly competition ends badly
It started with a little guff and ended with a hard fall. Two guys I know who are quite competitive and thus should have known better, decided to have a friendly race around the neighborhood. Neither could be considered super fit. Combined, they might pound out 10 or 15 miles per week. But they cannot stand to lose, especially to each other.
They decided to ride bikes of equal crap value (one a partially rusted Schwinn from the late 80s, the other a Raleigh with a busted back brake from the same era). These steeds are not the safest nor the fastest, but neither rider wanted to risk injury to their “good” bikes.
The rules were simple. Three laps around the neighborhood, totaling roughly a half mile per loop. No time limit, no shortcuts and no complaining. It seemed reasonable enough.
The one on the Schwinn (we’ll call him “Jim”) got off to a nice lead. He was talking much trash rounding the first corner. The one on the Raleigh (we’ll call him “Bart”) caught up in the final straightaway of the first lap. His taunting was a little labored, but entertaining all the same.
By the completion of the second lap, mouths were open but no words were coming out, just the pleading sound of lungs gasping for more air. Large blobs of sweat were taking over their shirts. Heads were down, legs were churning. We had ourselves a nice little battle.
The two guys lumbered around the corner to the final straightaway. There was no clear favorite, but it was obvious Jim held a slight advantage. He was beginning to pull away when he looked back at Bart and said something that sparked a wave of rage. Bart pedaled with all the juice he had left, and was making up ground.
And that’s when it happened.
Jim was apparently oxygen deprived, because his action was senseless. He pushed Bart’s handlebar just as he was drawing even. Bart went down hard. His body made that deep thud that only heavy flesh makes when bouncing on pavement. Jim knew immediately he had done a horrible thing. He placed his hands on his head as he cruised to the finish line. Of course he went back to help his buddy off the street, and a slew of apologies came flying out of his mouth. Bart was having none of it.
They didn’t speak for a while, but have since patched things up. I thought about Jim’s deplorable action and how he never really faced a consequence, other than the silent treatment. It reminded me of this video on YouTube and how I wish the guy who doled out punishment would have been there that day.
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Going long, real long
There are those of us who like to burn it up for short distances. Some like a little punishment (steep climbs) with a side order of speed. Others prefer long distances at a pace that won’t break the anaerobic system.
Then, there are the true marathoners of cycling. I’m talking 200 miles or more in a day. And it’s not a dread. They like their punishment long and slow, like the aching rhythm of Chinese water torture. I remember training for my first century ride, and I couldn’t believe how bad I hurt after being in the saddle for five-plus hours. I’ve since become more comfortable at longer distances, and even enjoy spending the better part of a day on my bike (good equipment helps) occasionally.
If you are one of those long distance types, or are interested in trying this type of cycling, there is a local group for you. The Hill Country Randonneurs love to go long, and they would love more folks to join them.
Here’s a little bit about this type of riding from their website. …
Training For Long Distance Cycling
Training for long distance cycling is not as hard as everyone thinks. First, let me recommend the book The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling by Ed Burke and Ed Pavelka. This book has some good insights and will give you a complete picture of what you should be concerned about. I read it before I did my first double century and it made all the difference.
Always keep in mind that these events are not races. If you are just starting out or are concerned about the distance just take your time. The events give you plenty of time to finish. There are a few key tips that I follow.
First, stay off the big chain ring for at least the first hour. Next, keep your heart rate under 80% of your maximum, especially when climbing. If you are in a pace line going faster then you are comfortable with, pull out.
Even more important, when in a pace line only take very short pulls, most of time people will not even expect you to pull; everyone else has been in the spot where the goal is just to finish. Unfortunately, I have violated all of these rules at one time or other and paid the price. Believe me, it is not fun getting dropped by the lead group 48 minutes into a 250 mile ride with your heart rate at 95% of maximum, only to suffer for the next 15 hours trying to finish.
For the riding, I recommend four to five rides a week with at least 1 of them being a long ride. By long, it does not matter how far or even how fast you go, what is most important is time in the saddle. The long ride should be at least 5 hours in the saddle and should include some good climbs.
It works best for me to set a monthly goal for the total number of workouts to 16 in the early months (January through March) working the goal up to 22 workouts a month by July.
I find, with family and work commitments, this works well because if I fall behind 1 week, I can make it up the next. I tried weekly goals, but found if I missed the first few days of the week I would give up because I was so far behind. For your normal workouts, they should be between 1 and 2 hours, averaging about 90 minutes. You can play with heart rate training which will make your workouts more productive, but remember, the most important thing is to ride.
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Accidents rarely fault of cyclists, study finds
Irresponsible cyclists rejoice! You now have scientific proof that breaking laws and riding with no common sense has little to do with causing serious injury or death. Oh happy days.
According to a study by the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport, risky cycling is rarely to blame for bike accidents, it’s almost always the fault of drivers hitting cyclists from behind. So go ahead, keep riding at night with dark clothing and little illumination. Keep running stop lights and weaving in and out of traffic. And by all means surprise drivers by crossing several lanes of traffic without warning.
Here’s an excerpt from the story by the Guardian online. For the full article, click here.
A tiny proportion of accidents involving cyclists are caused by riders jumping red lights or stop signs, or failing to wear high-visibility clothing and use lights, a government-commissioned study has discovered.
The findings appear to contradict a spate of recent reports speculating that risky behaviour by riders, such as listening to music players while cycling, could be behind a near 20% rise in cyclist deaths and serious injuries in the second quarter of this year.
The study, carried out for the Department for Transport, found that in 2% of cases where cyclists were seriously injured in collisions with other road users police said that the rider disobeying a stop sign or traffic light was a likely contributing factor. Wearing dark clothing at night was seen as a potential cause in about 2.5% of cases, and failure to use lights was mentioned 2% of the time.
The figures were slightly higher when the cyclist was killed, but in such cases only the driver’s account is available.
The data, which was analysed by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), showed that more than a quarter of all cycling deaths in 2005-07 happened when a vehicle ran into the rear of a bike. This rose to more than one-third in rural areas and to 40% in collisions that took place away from junctions.
The 64-page analysis found that police attributed responsibility for collisions more or less evenly between drivers and cyclists overall, but this was skewed by the fact that when child riders were involved their behaviour was named as a primary factor more than three-quarters of the time.
With adult cyclists, police found the driver solely responsible in about 60%-75% of all cases, and riders solely at fault 17%-25% of the time.
The cyclists’ lobby group CTC said the report showed that the government needed to focus more on driver behaviour rather than on issues such as cyclists wearing helmets. The TRL published a separate DfT-commissioned report today in which it was estimated that the universal use of helmets could save between 10 and 15 lives a year, a conclusion disputed by the CTC.
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It’s time to go epic
It’s OK if you just want to pedal the same route day after day. That’s admirable. Doing your share to cut carbon emissions, staying in shape, riding with the same group on the weekends, it’s all good.
But sometimes you need to break out of those familiar ruts and take on a challenge.
It’s time to go epic. I mean a big, incredibly difficult, gut-wrenching, back-breaking, butt-stomping ride. The type that flogs you on the journey, but rewards you at the end. None of this riding from one end of Austin to the other stuff, I mean a true test of body and spirit.
Don’t let family obligations, work or other daily drudgery keep you from going on a cycling quest that will stay with you. It’s what keeps things interesting. Setting big goals and finding a way makes life worth while. It’s easy to think you’ll do it at some point. … But that time never arrives if you don’t lay out the plan and follow through.
It’s a big world out there, and there’s not better way to explore it than by bicycle.
I’ve done some big road rides during the past couple of years, and there’s plenty more to do. But I’ve always wanted to give mountain biking a go. A few weeks back, I got up one morning, drove to Bicycle Sport Shop and rented a full-suspension Specialized Stumpjumer and hit the Barton Creek greenbelt. I had no training or plan, but I had to know what this type of cycling was all about.
I fell in love on the spot. Well, actually that spot was a nice little rock garden that I plowed over. It’s a very different world on the big wheels. I’m used to avoiding every little pebble on my skinny slicks. But one of the keys to riding off road is momentum and picking good lines. Fear is not in the roots or rocks, it’s in your ability. And the best part is learning a new skill set. It’s that challenge I crave. Plus, riding both road and trails will keep things fresh.
So here’s the plan. Ride a mountain bike this summer from Telluride, Colo. to Moab, Utah in seven days, spanning 215 miles with over 5,000 feet of climbing. It’s part of the San Juan Hut System ride. You ride anywhere from 15 to 40 miles per day and stay in huts which are fully stocked with water, bunks and food.
Now that’s what I call epic. Of course, I’ll need to hone my mountain bike skills for the next few months, but therein lies the fun.
Click here for more information on this hut-to-hut adventure.
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Cyclocross rider gives it all up
Found this via the Cyclelicious blog. Anyone who has ever raced cyclocross should be able to understand his pain, but this is pretty extreme. The following is a real ebay auction, and there is time left if you want to jump in the game. …
2009 Bend Oregon Cyclocross Nationals Equipment:
I can hardly believe all of this stuff fit in my car. Don’t hate the player…. hate the game. I am looking for a good home for all of my cyclocross gear. You will need a large garage or basement to house my collection. With the 2010 cyclocross season 9 months away just think of all the time you will save if you buy all of my stuff.
My loss is your gain. I am selling everything I own that involves cyclocross. I had the car packed and was headed to Bend for cyclocross nationals. The weather report and course conditions sounded brutal. I searched deep into my soul, and I have become too soft to finish my 2009 CX season. This sport has broken my heart and crushed my dreams for possibly the last time. Everything must go. Everything is included. If you win this auction you will have everything you will ever need to race cyclocross, and look like a complete pro. I have decided that I enjoy buying cyclocross stuff more than racing it. So do me a favor and buy it all. Unfortunately for me I will probably buy most of it back piece by piece on Ebay later this summer when my mental stability and optimism return. My motivation is high…. my spirits are low.
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Pretty interesting site you’ve got here. Thanks for it. I like such topics and everything that is connected to this matter. I definitely want to read more on that blog soon.
Truly yours
... read the full comment by LoveLess | Comment on Social Cycling ATX Read Social Cycling ATX
Great post you got here. I’d like to read something more concerning this theme. Thanks for giving that material.
... read the full comment by StephanJade | Comment on Social Cycling ATX Read Social Cycling ATX
Hope you’re healing up well. I have to confess I have only been on the bike once this year, to ride to the gym. So don’t feel too bad. At least you have a good excuse.
... read the full comment by Tarvin | Comment on Blog hiatus of sorts Read Blog hiatus of sorts
Don’t forgot the Armadillo: www.ridethearmadillo.org. It’s a cool ride with a long tradition of fun for a good cause.”
... read the full comment by PDHILL | Comment on Get involved in the cycling community Read Get involved in the cycling community
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