Sneakeasy's Joint

The Cycling Dude is Reborn!

On Sept. 1, 2003 I put The Cycling Dude blog on an indefinite hiatus, unsure when it would return, where, or how.

The time has finally come to breath new, invigorated, life into my blog child, and that is why there will no longer be any cycling posts on Sneakeasy's Joint.

The Cycling Dude is an MT blog, but is more than that. It is the 2nd part of the growing website known as SNEAKEASY'S JOINT, and becomes the place where I'll be doing all my Road Bicycling related writing, and linking, from now on.

It is my sincere hope that you, dear reader, will enjoy my writing, and reporting, and make good use of all the various links that will become a part of the fabric of this blog.

You can reach the place through the link on the left of Joint's Main Page, or through here:

The Cycling Dude

Enjoy! :-)

After Xmas Bike Ride on PCH

While most folks with a day off were either watching football, or dashing off to make returns, or shopping for after Xmas deals, I spent the afternoon of the 26th riding my bike along a cool, breezy, partly cloudy Orange County Coastal highway known as Pacific Coast Highway, PCH, or just Highway 1.

I know, I know, How un-patriotic of me not to be a couch potato, or to help fuel the economy, and to top it off I LOVED everything I got for Xmas, but what can I say?

I don't have ESPN, and can't afford to shop until I drop. :-)

Is God A Tandem Cyclist?

...With each of us the other rider on the bike travelling on our own personal journey?

The following was sent to me in an e-mail, by a friend, and I thought I'd just post it, with no comment on my part [ beyond asking if anyone thinks a Bicycling analogy can be applied to the Diety of any of the other Major Religions, or to Atheism, and how? ], and see what any readers may think about it:

Clear Channel Clears Air

Recently I wrote about a controversy involving Radio DJ's urging folks to be less than friendly toward Bicyclists, and the outrage this produced.

This is a most welcome follow-up that I received in an e-mail news update I get periodically from The League of American Bicyclists:

O Canada, Glorious and Annoyed

I wish to thank Todd, of the Canadian weblog, Holycola.net, for his piece called 3 cities, 3 shows, 1 message, which linked to my story, last month, concerning the Clear Channel DJ's who had something against Bicyclists.

The Cycling Challenge From Hell

Every year, in Los Angeles, bicyclists, young and old, sane and mad, gather for a most unusual and challenging event.

It is simply known as the Fargo St. Climb, and is quite the spectacle.

A couple of years ago I attended my first event, and was awed not only by the street itself, but by the guts of the people who dared to try to climb it, and full of admiration for those, including an 8 yr. old boy, who made it to the top.

The view from the top is spectacular to say the least.

Jim Baross Jr. posted a link, on a message board I frequently read, to the story of the record holder for most climbs in one day, as told by the record holder himself.

Look at the pictures, read the story, and then ask yourself this question:

Am I crazy enough to try this?

One of these days I may answer yes to that question, who knows? :-)

The Fargo Street Hill Climb - Fat Tires Take on Steep Pavement

Have You Thrown Something at a Cyclist Today?

If so, shame on you!

The question going around Cycling circles, these days, is:

Is Clear Channel Radio anti-bicycle?

On Oct. 1 the Raleigh News-Observer published a shocking story that brings back memories of my own encounters with angry, misinformed drivers of cars, and idiot pranksters out for a lark (Bicyclist to Car Owners: Can't We All Just Get Along?).

Reporter BRUCE SICELOFF began his piece as follows:

"G105 radio host Bob Dumas told listeners last week that he just hated to see bicycle riders on the road. He laughed at stories about running cyclists down, and he talked up the idea of throwing bottles at bikers. It wasn't funny to cycling enthusiasts across the Triangle. This week they are lobbying government officials and local advertisers in a campaign to punish radio station WDCG and its corporate owner, Clear Channel of San Antonio, and to promote bicycle safety." "One caller said her dad had purposely hit a biker on the road on the way to church one Sunday and kept on going," said G105 listener Holly N. Proctor of Cary on Tuesday of the Sept. 21 and 22 broadcasts. "That got laughs. Bob thought that was funny."

The full story is here: Radio host infuriates cyclists.

Hermosa Beach Bike Path?

There is a Bike Path along most of Los Angeles County's beachs from Malibu, south, to Long Beach.

Cyclists, skaters, walkers, and joggers are the species of athletically minded critters who share the path each day.

Then there is Hermosa Beach.

For at least 30 years a debate has raged in the beach community over whether the sand along the Strand should be disturbed by the addition of a lengthy strip of concrete for the use of bicyclists, and skaters.

Everybody has an opinion, and they aren't afraid to stick up for it.

On hermosawave.net there is the online edition of a community paper called Easy Reader. It covers all the news that's fit to cover in this beach community and surrounding areas.

On 9-11 there appears an excellent, 2 part, cover story by Robb Fulcher that thoroughly goes over the issue and the ongoing debate.

Of Bunnies, Bagpipes, and the Back Bay

One of the things I've discovered this past week that has given me new found energy to start the day, and to get my behind back into gear for more frequent blogging, is the Bike Trail around the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Preserve.

My bike ride, starting from my home, is almost 13 miles round trip, and takes an hour and 15 min. (barring distractions such as stopping to talk with morning exercisers, or grabbing a bagel).

8 of those miles are on a trail that winds its way around the Bay, from the NW to the east, south, and southwest along trail, and bike lanes.

The Bay is beautiful, peaceful, cool, and calm early in the morning ( 7-830am ) with only other cyclists, and some walkers, and joggers as company.

Of course, in addition to us humans, and the dogs some folks take for their walks, creatures of the animal kingdom abound here. In addition to all sorts of birds, I have seen squirrels, and today, bunny rabbits.

Those bunnies are brave souls, let me tell you, to dare to cross the road with all of us cyclists whizzing by at 15 miles an hour.

If one of us ran over one of the little critters, no doubt some lawyer for PETA would haul us into court for reckless driving, or something, and try to wiggle out of explaining why their client didn't stop, and look both ways, before crossing the road.

I thought bunnies were more intelligent than chickens..... :-)

The highlight of this mornings trek, though, had a Scottish tinge to it.

There I am pedalling along when suddenly the haunting sounds of a bagpipe come to me across the Bay.

Thinking I was imagining things I stopped to listen......

Nothing....

I continued on, and stopped when I heard it again.

This time I waited, and was rewarded with the sound coming across the bay along the road I was traveling down.

It was beautiful. The melodies were familiar, but I couldn't put a name to the tunes.

As I pedalled onward, listening as I went, i finally saw the player, walking along the side of the road toward me.

I stopped to watch, and when he came abreast I engaged him in a brief conversation, telling him I enjoyed his playing.

Seems he's a fireman who takes his instrument out for occasional walks along the Bay, to air it out, and give it something to do other than sit unused at home.

I'm sure anyone along the Bay today, and any day he's there, is mighty grateful that he does so. :-)

In Europe, Bicycles REALLY Do Grow On Trees!

I found this phenomenon very interesting indeed.

On the subject of Bike Racks folks in France have come up with a neat idea that can be found all over the Continent these days apparently.

The BIKE TREE is a solar electro-mechanical modular dohicky that lifts a bike up to a height of 4.9 meters ( anyone have a clue how that translates into something civilized like FEET? ) off the ground and under a shelter.

Only the bike owner can fetch the little darling back down thanks to their SMART CARD ID & PIN #...

It's a 24 hr. a day rental system that promotes zero emission urban mobility by the use of private and rented bikes.

Full details, with videos, and pics can be found here: THE BIKE TREE.

The pics and videos tell and show you about the system.

These things can be fixed to buildings or can stand alone in groups big enought to be called a type of pavillion.

The startling thing is that this has been in exisitance since 1996.

Anyone out there caring to share their experiences with this device feel free to post a comment.