Tag Archives: bikes

NAHBS Update

Posted on February 10, 2008 by Tim K | 4 comments

I spent an amazing Saturday at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. While I’m not the type to drop $5k on a bike anytime soon, it sure is fun to ~~look~~ gawk at these incredible bikes/works of art (and talk to their very friendly builders) in person.

Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in bike lust, bikes, longbikes, PDX

Tagged 2008, art, bicycle show, bikes, cargobikes, framebuilders, NAHBS, portland

NAHBS

Posted on February 8, 2008 by Anne | Leave a comment

We too are headed to the North American Handmade Bike Show this weekend. Looking forward to checking out some cool bikes, visiting with family and friends and of course riding around the lovely city of Portland.

We’ll report back next week.

Cheers — Anne and Tim

Power to the Pedal Design Competition

Posted on February 6, 2008 by Anne | 2 comments

I just read a post on the Dwell Blog about a biking accessory design competition sponsored by DESIGN 21 – (Social design network committed to improving life through social design):

This competition calls for a biking accessory or add-on for existing bikes that would improve the bicycling experience and encourage more people to make biking their primary means of transport – more convenient, more enjoyable, safer and more integrated into daily lifestyles.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, sustainability

Tagged bikes, design, DESIGN 21, Dwell

Sheldon Brown 1944-2008

Posted on February 4, 2008 by Tim K | 10 comments

Sheldon Brown 1944-2008

Cycling has lost a true hero.

Sheldon Brown, beloved in our circles for his massive, freely shared online body of cycling knowledge, passed yesterday.

As someone who has worked in online content and community I can attest that Sheldon’s impact transcends the bike industry. His efforts showed how “user-created content” and open discussion can be useful, respectful, and very relevant — without needing to be beholden to large advertising budgets, publishers, or the whims of industry.

A rare combination of thought leader and leader through action, Sheldon will be truly missed. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

10 Comments

Posted in bigger than here, bikes

Tagged bicycling, bikes, content, hero, obituary, online content, sheldon, sheldon brown, ucc

Green Lanes Mean What?

Posted on February 4, 2008 by Tim K | 6 comments

The Seattle Times this morning published an article on Seattle’s effort to increase cycling safety by installing green lanes — we’re the Emerald City, get it –on four dangerous intersections: Dexter at Denny Way, both ends of the Fremont Bridge, and North 145th where the new Shoreline Interurban Trail meets the city limits.

The article goes on at surprising length about the dangers of the “right hook” accident, about Mayor Nichols’ plan to triple cycling trips, and of course, about how we’re keeping up with Portland on the bike safety front (we’re not) by painting these lines. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in bigger than here, bikes, Human Powered Politics, PDX, seattle, traffic

Tagged bikes, blue lanes, cycling, green lanes, safety, seattle, traffic, university bridge

Was _Your_ Driver’s License Revoked?

Posted on February 4, 2008 by Anne | 6 comments

We were recalling a comment from Patrick, a reader in the Chicago area on some of the remarks he hears when cycling as part of his job:

Anyway, I am a realtor and you should see some of the looks I get pulling up on a bike to show a property! I usually have to explain this is a choice and not due to some court imposed lack of a car…

It got me thinking — I hear some strange stuff, too. Normally, I’m one of those wise ass types who wouldn’t let a mean comment go unpunished, but these days I’m just so busy with our unofficial “cycling rules; join us” PR campaign that I usually don’t let my snarky side out — at least to their faces. Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in bigger than here, bikes, Human Powered Politics, kids, sustainability

Tagged bikes, driving, questions

Neighborhoods and Bikes: Wallingford

Posted on January 31, 2008 by Anne | 5 comments

I had plans to meet my friend at a park in Wallingford the other day. It was a pretty cold day in Seattle – 41 degrees and windy: the weather report said it felt like 28. We were undeterred by the weather, we just bundled up and got ready to go, despite the howling wind. The four-year-old said he felt like a snowman – he could barely move because I put three coats on him.

I had a thermos of hot chocolate and sandwiches for lunch – we were ready to roll. But just as we were walking out the door, my friend called to say they weren’t going to make it. It was too cold and her daughter didn’t want to go (in the CAR!!!). My son doesn’t take well to changes in plans, so we went without them. Our kids are out in the weather all of the time – this is Seattle after all – if you wait for a nice sunny day to go outside, you’ll spend 10 months out of the year indoors. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in bikes, kids, neighborhoods, seattle, traffic, weather

Tagged bikes, cold, doored, kids, neighborhoods, parking, parks, seattle, traffic, wallingford, xtracycle

Wool

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Anne | 7 comments

photo credit: Chronanor (http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=330456640&size=m)

It’s cold in Seattle right now. Not as cold as this, but cold in a windy drizzly Northwest kind of way. The 35-40 degree light rain gets in your bones and leaves you with a chill that won’t quit. We’re still out there riding every day and not suffering too much. We quickly figured out the right layering combo for this weather. We don’t go anywhere without our wool. Not the itchy scratchy irritating kind, but the soft (ahhh), not-at-all itchy Merino variety. Lucky for us, there’s a lot of it on the market right now. Continue reading →

7 Comments

Posted in bikes, shopping, weather

Tagged bikes, cold, cycling, rain, wool

Snow Day

Posted on January 28, 2008 by Anne | 3 comments

We woke to a dusting of snow on the ground and some news that schools were closing because of inclement weather. Unbelievable – I’m sure it was a decision some school administrators felt really silly about less than an hour after they made it – the snow hadn’t even stuck to the street in Seattle! Luckily our school had a scheduled day off so we didn’t have to change our plans for the day. We rode to grandmas house and spent the morning with her. While we were there we got another little dusting – still no big deal but fun nontheless. The three of us rode home through the snow flurries. As we approached the last hill before home, the 7 year old jumped off the bike and decided to run – a break mom always appreciates. It’s amazing what a difference 60 pounds makes. She also gets pretty excited when she beats me up the hill. And this time she got to be the photographer – got some good shots – not bad for a 7 year old.

-Anne

3 Comments

Posted in bikes, kids, seattle, weather, xtracycle

Tagged bikes, kids, seattle, snow, xtracycle

Now That’s a Rack

Posted on January 27, 2008 by Tim K | 4 comments

The Northern European-style lovefest continues here at Car Free Days. This time we’re ga-ga over a lowly bike rack blogged by Cycleliciousness, those Copenhagen Bike Culture bellwethers.

I’ve posted before on our shortage of good racks, and about the Seattle Department of Transportation’s rack request program. And while the program is admirable in scope, the aesthetics (and in some cases, security) of the designs leave something to be desired.

But this 2006 Dutch design winner (either known as the Airago or the Heklucht– feel free to correct me) squashes those issues by bridging urban art, emergency functionality for passing commuters and safe locking space for neighborhood velos.

I’m sure someone else can point out how the racks are cost-prohibitive (though if we are looking at cost per use, then our beloved cars, ferries, SLUT and the Sounder train would be off the table) or how they’ll require much maintenance in our rainy climes; or even how they’d be a liability issue because someone might stick the hose somewhere it doesn’t belong.

But this time I am not the cynic. I love it!

Since we can’t seem to solve all (any?) of our bike infrastructure problems with any speed, I’d be up for some token public spending on some only moderately practical, but very nice looking bike racks. Personally, I think they’d look mighty swell as the official rack for Paul Allen’s South Lake Union pet project (and as an added bonus: I could use them on my daily commute).

So, how about it Mr. Mayor?

-Tim