Home > Road Rash > Archives > 2008 > September
September 2008
Bike lanes for bikes only
16-1-13 DRIVING VEHICLES UPON, IN OR ACROSS BICYCLE LANES
(A) A person may not drive a motor-propelled vehicle in, upon, or across a bicycle lane, except to enter a driveway, building, or alley, or to park the vehicle, or to leave a parking space.
(B) Subsection (A) does not apply to a bicycle, a scooter, or other similar vehicle that is equipped with an electric motor that is capable of propelling the bicycle, scooter, or vehicle at a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour.
(C) A person may not drive onto or cross a bicycle lane as permitted by this section without first yielding the right-of way, if necessary, to avoid collision or interference with bicycle traffic.
How many drivers know this rule as it pertains to the city of Austin? Raise your hands. Of course you do, it makes common sense. Don’t drive your car into a bike lane, especially when there’s a cyclist in that lane. I saw seven or eight cars veering into the bike lane on Barton Springs just before entering Zilker Park during the ACL Fest.
What gives? There were cyclists in the area. Lots of them. It’s unbelievable nobody was injured. But worse yet, there were police officers at the intersection of Barton Springs and Robert E. Lee who did nothing. Maybe they didn’t see what was going on. Or maybe they were more concerned with hippies smoking shrub, dogs not on leashes or some other mundane infraction.
People who swerve into a bike lane should get fined at the very least. You can stop the internal dialogue. I know cyclists get into tight spaces in the road which is annoying to motorists and dangerous. But people in cars are surrounded by steel and plastics. Cyclists have a thin layer of spandex for protection.
Look, I’m not trying to start a war here, but cyclists should at least feel somewhat secure in there own lane. Just pay attention please, and that goes for the men in blue, too.
ACL brings out more than just music
What a great scene at the ACL Fest this weekend. So much eye candy. So many people having fun and flying around. And all of it before you even entered the front gate.
The bikes outnumbered cars, by necessity of course, but it was a beautiful thing to witness. The racks must have held a few thousand bikes, and everybody I saw had a big grin on their face. Bikes are such an important tool, and most people know the reasons why. So it was nice to see Barton Springs filled with such a display of of diverse people and their machines.
Here’s what I saw on Friday leading into the festival. …
Divine intervention
Sometimes God doesn’t want you to have another bike.
And He will let you know in a not-so-subtle way.
I thought I was doing pretty good. I went from owning five bikes to two, and for a bicycle-obsessed guy like me, that takes a lot of will power.
Commuting is an almost daily occurrence, and I didn’t want to make the trip on broken pavement and pot holes on a full carbon bike. It just takes a beating. So I thought I needed a good, solid steel frame with lesser components that would handle the daily grind.
So I went to a local bike shop today and did something I’ve done hundreds of times, test-ride a bike in the parking lot. I had every intention of buying, until the bike took a bite out of my leg.
I still couldn’t tell you how it happened. I didn’t lay the bike down. There were no scrapes or dings on it. But somehow as I was making a sharp, slow turn, that beautiful machine took a nice chomp on my right calf.
The guys in the shop were baffled. I was baffled. It must have been divine intervention. And the message was clear. … DON’T PURCHASE A BIKE TODAY.
Welcome back, sort of
So you’re coming back to the Tour, are ya?
THOSE WITH A BIG THANK YOU FOR LANCE ARMSTRONG
Trek bicycles. We REALLY need a pick-me-up with the failing economy and our little legal spat with Greg LeMond. With the return of your famous rear on our bikes, Trek can still be the the company of champions.
Astana’s current leader Alberto Contador. The 2007 Tour de France winner would love nothing more than be left in the dark while the spotlight glares on his new teammate. Lance you now have an overqualified domestique at your disposal.
Armstrong’s dwindling attention. Riding in the Leadville 100 doesn’t conjure up the same headlines and worldwide TV exposure as the Tour, and the rightful amount of attention has not been up to par in the past three years. I have had no idea which Subaru to buy since his retirement.
The French cycling fans. With his career dogged by doping allegations, Armstrong will undergo a testing program headed by U.S. anti-doping expert Don Catlin when he returns to cycling. If he doesn’t win next year’s Tour and he remains clean, then all of those silly French fans could say “But of course, with dope he wins seven, with no dope he wins none. I shall taunt you a second time.”
Armstrong’s pocket book. I know he’s got millions, but a little more gravy on the boat never hurt anybody.
Mellow Johnny’s bike shop. Why would anybody not want to kick back with a fancy coffee drink and watch Lance work his magic from the comfort of the master’s own shop? While you’re in there, you might as well buy a shirt, a jersey, some tubes, some new shoes, a helmet, a new bike, etc.
Versus. The channel that brought Americans all that wonderful Tour coverage since Lance has been away. Boooooooooooring. With Lance back next year, maybe the ratings will soar above those early-morning infomercials and Versus can justify spending millons on exclusive rights to the Tour that only Americans with special cable packages can view.
Thanks again Lance, good to have you back.
Starter kit for a starter road bike
A friend/co-worker asked me for some suggestions on buying a road bike in the $1,000 or less range. Since I have this weird obsession with frames and components and have tested just about everything out there, here are some thoughts that could also help others in their search for an inexpensive but reliable road bike.
First of all, pinpoint what type of riding you are going to do; commuting, long rides, noodling, hilly rides, flat rides, group rides, road and path, etc.
Once you have that figured out, it’s time to narrow it down by brand. Most of the big players of the bicycle world have solid, well-built bikes in the $1,000 range. They will be comparable in components, wheels, saddles and such. But they will ride differently and will fit differently despite all the frame sizes being equal. So to get a bike that fits your needs and your body, test ride as many different models as you can.
Another thing new buyers don’t realize is that when you purchase a bike, you are also purchasing a bike shop. Unless you are pretty handy with a wrench, the shop will handle most of your maintenance and extra equipment needs. Look for employees who are friendly, helpful and not pushy. There are some shops in town that are more interested in the sale than the individual. Having a shop that is cooperative and reliable will make your life much easier and extend the life of your new baby.
One other note. … Now is a great time to buy a bike, as the new 2009’s are in or are on the way. You can get a great deal on 2008 stuff bike shops are trying to get rid of.
If you are looking for a solid all-around bike, here’s a few to think about. …
2008 Specialized Allez Double
This bike features Specialized’s A1 Premium aluminum and a carbon fork for a balance of comfort and quickness. The drivetrain is Shimano’s 18-speed Sora/Tiagra. Although aluminum can transmit some harshness from the road, the carbon fork and seatpost help with overall comfort. Specialized makes a great product, and this is a fantastic introduction into road riding.
PRICE RANGE: $800-$850.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Bicycle Sport Shop Central Austin (512) 477-3472 or North Austin (512) 345-7460
2008 Trek 1.5 Triple
This bike is comfortable enough for centuries and geared for hills. Trek’s 1.5 has an Alpha Black aluminum frame and carbon fork, and comes with a 27-speed Shimano drivetrain. The triple chain ring ensures that you can climb almost any hill without suffering.
PRICE RANGE: $1,039.99
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Bicycle Sport Shop Central Austin (512) 477-3472 or North Austin (512) 345-7460
2008 Jamis Ventura Sport
This bike is also an aluminum frame, or Kinesis 7005 taper-guage aluminum to be specific. Jamis, in its current incarnation, is a fairly new player on the scene (1979). But many of its models have won awards. This bike has an assortment of Shimano components and, as the other bikes, also comes with a carbon fork. (Are you seeing a trend with materials and components?) But trust me, all of these bike ride very differently.
PRICE RANGE: Call for information
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Southwest Cycle Sport (512) 263-5107; University Cyclery (512) 474-6696
2008 Bianchi Bravo Sora Triple
If you want what to experience some old school feel, look no further than a solid steel frame from Italian brand Bianchi. This is a classic set up, from geometry to material to history. This machine has tons of pedigree. But none of that really matters, until you ride one. Steel is real, and so is the comfort level. Plus it has that deep-green racing color. This is definitely a bike worth taking out for a test drive.
PRICE RANGE: $1,049.00
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Ozone Bike Department (512) 302-1164; Southwest Cycle Sport (512) 263-5107
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Going purple
Yahoo has launched a pretty cool idea with Purple Pedals. The basic premise is Yahoo custom built some purple bikes with a GPS-enabled camera that takes a photo every 60 seconds, geotags it and places it on a map. So basically you can track the life of the bike and see what it sees. You can go here to track the bikes all over the world, plus watch a video to see how it all came together.
Really interesting stuff and worth checking out.
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Magical mystery tour
I’ve got a friend who is new in town and he’s a big cycling freak like me. I figured the best way for him to discover new things and get a good understanding of Austin’s streets would be a long ride. We would be starting at the veloway and working our way through south Austin and into downtown. From there, any direction is possible.
I need some suggestions on what to show him, things that are very Austin. … landmarks, buildings, restaurants, funky shops, etc. I want this ride to be like a magical mystery tour of Austin. And seeing everything by bike will let the goodness sink in.
I’m pretty proud of this town, and I’ve already got some places in mind:
The veloway. It’s a good way to ease him in, no traffic, hill country setting and such.
After a few twists and turns, I thought we might wind up heading down South First. There’s lots of good places to eat and this guy needs to understand what real Tex-Mex tastes like.
Zilker Park should probably be a stop as well. I’m going to suggest that he brings his cyclo-cross bike so we can make a quick loop on the hike and bike trail.
Then it’s on to Barton Springs, maybe a visit to my favorite place, Bicycle Sport Shop.
There are infinite cool places in downtown.
That’s what I’ve got so far. I need your help. I want to know what your favorite rides and places are in Austin. I want my buddy to get the Austin experience.
More fun on the road
So here’s the scene: Two guys in the back of a truck, yelling various incoherent nouns in my general direction.
Sure I can deal with it. That is until the driver gets so distracted by the idiot party in the flatbed that he begins to swerve into my bike lane. I have a temper, but usually it stays in check until somebody does something completely outlandish. And this was getting outlandish.
At this point I had nowhere to go except to bail over the curb into a cement skid. Not a great option. So I did what I had to do. I slapped the side of the truck with my left hand as hard as I could. Repeatedly.
The steak heads were shocked. Surely they weren’t expecting a spandex-clad cyclist to take on several tons of steel. It apparently woke up the driver who finally realized he had gotten too close. He maneuvered back into his lane.
Part 2: We both came to a stop at the red light. I kept looking ahead, fully aware that derelicts would have come less-than-clever commentary.
That’s when I heard it. “What are you looking at @#$%@^^!”
I waited until the light was yellow and said something even the most unflappable person could not ignore. He was trying to stand up with a rebuttal just as the light was turning green. The acceleration forced him into a face plant against the tailgate.
I saw his buddy helping him up from the floor of the truck bed as they drove away, and I laughed to myself. In this life you get what you get.
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There’s life after pro cycling
First it was Lance Armstrong who couldn’t fight the feeling.
Now it’s Floyd Landis getting the itch.
These feelings and itches all have one giant thing in common, attention. Athletes who have accomplished as much as these two (OK Landis was stripped of his one Tour title and Lance won seven) just cannot seem to let it go.
And by “it” I mean attention, adulation, adoration, etc. All the things these guys might have taken for granted while storming up the mountains of France. It’s got to be tough to go from loud cheers and magazine covers to sitting in your home trying to decide which room looks best in yellow.
I also know competition fuels these guys to achieve incredible goals. Life becomes pretty dull when you’re not getting mind and body ready to whip the best cyclists in the world.
But like so many athletes before them who have quickly reversed field after retirement, Landis and Armstrong could be in for a rude awakening. And while Landis’ sabbatical was forced, that time off from competition has got to take a toll.
The older you get, the tougher is it to maintain a high level of performance. But at 36, Armstrong has been finding ways to stay fit. Between running marathons and torturing himself in the Leadville 100, he’s probably about ready for more French disdain.
But will he be good enough to dominate like before? During Armstrong’s run of seven victories, many of the Tour’s biggest stars were caught doping. Some people questioned how he could own cycling’s greatest race without cheating. Is his motivation to come back and prove that he is simply physically and mentally superior? Nobody knows for sure, but next year’s Tour de France will be a ton more interesting.
And as for you Floyd, I really hope you regain your old form. But just so you know, there will always be collective suspicions.
Good luck to you both. I just hope you guys can look past your own reason and find that reality doesn’t have to include racing bikes anymore.
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For stress relief, try the veloway
Since I ride on the city streets most days, I’m used to being focused.
I mean REALLY focused. You have to be, or you could become a greasy spot on the road.
But the other day I was cruising around in south Austin with lots of traffic, and I just needed a break. The simple solution was the Veloway. It’s a 3.2 mile paved loop that’s just for those on wheels and it’s a prefect reprieve for the auto-annoyed.
The setting is gorgeous. It’s a paved 23-foot wide lane that carves through oaks and yuccas, and in its short span, offers cyclists a chance to work on sharp cornering and some climbing. It’s open from dusk until dawn and there’s a water fountain for the unprepared.
But the best part is riding without worry. There’s no sucking in exhaust fumes, no weaving teenagers with learner’s permits, no drunken truckers and no stop signs.
Stress just melts away as you ride among the roadrunners and squirrels. I highly recommend it. Especially if you need to relax. That’s part of what makes cycling so good.
Olympic cyclists deserve better
The four American cyclists who were ordered to apologize for wearing masks upon arriving in Beijing are wanting their own apology. I cannot blame them. Under pressure from an overly-sensitive Chinese government, the U.S. Olympic Committee ordered the cyclists to apologize for their “offensive” action.
Do what?
Didn’t the USOC provide these athletes with the masks to help reduce the inhalation of some pretty horrific pollution? So why put the onus on the cyclists? Because those in charge of our Olympic athletes would rather someone else take the blame. It’s a classic case of letting the individual take the fall for a wrong turn by the big corporation.
Image is everything, and the USOC didn’t want to lose face by supporting their athletes in the shadow of the oppressive Chinese spin control. The U.S. cyclists didn’t do so well, and say the adversity from the mask flap caused them to perform poorly.
While it’s true cyclists had to deal with some unwarranted stuff, they still should have been focused on winning a medal. Afterall, they had been training for these Games for several years.
But maybe, just maybe, the USOC could at least own up to letting these athletes take the fall for their own ideas.
Bike art
I present the bicycling art piece of the week. …
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Cars vs. bikes, part 2
The issue just won’t die.
Cars vs. Bikes.
And it’s not just Austin. Portland is supposed to be the best city in the United States for cycling, yet they continue to have big problems between motorists and cyclists. It has taken on a “we” vs. “them” theme in every town where sharing the road means an increase in those who choose to ride. And the problem isn’t just limited to commuters. It extends to any usage of a bike on city streets.
In an older post from the Wired Blog Network, the blogger writes: “it’s easy to have a biased perspective on this issue. If you bike, you want protection from cars, and if you are driving, you want cyclists out of your way, but don’t want to increase taxes or restrict traffic for the small number of people who bike. But bikes take cars off the road and reduce traffic, and since most people believe that fewer cars is a good thing, additional measures must be taken.”
The trouble is that no matter where you might stand on the issue of getting more cars and pollution off the earth, increasing people on bikes will only lead to more problems. Almost every city in the U.S., including the most bicycle friendly, are not prepared for even a modest increase in the number of cyclists on the road. There are not enough bike lanes, there are not enough education programs and there darn sure is not enough communication to handle the situation.
Things are only going to get worse before they get better. I believe it’s going to take a true effort for people to understand that one way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and clean up the environment is to increase alternate forms of transportation.
The more bike lanes and the more responsible cyclists out there could go a long way to changing the perception of cyclists as a nuisance. City governments need to get involved and have a visionary approach to making cycling a viable option for people.
It’s only a matter of time before the gasoline car culture bonks.
