DIY Presta Valve Adapter

The "Don'ts" of Bicycling

The Not So Green Bike: Carbon Fiber's Carbon Footprint

"The not so green bike: carbon fiber's carbon footprint

Much is made about the environmental benefits of cycling. Bicycles are almost universally touted as being “good” for the environment, because riding a bike is green due to their small—if any—carbon footprint when compared to automobiles. But—even disregarding their environmentally costly production—what about the carbon fiber footprint that is left when a carbon bike ends up in a landfill?"

Read the full article at Bikeradar.com.

Break the Law - FILM THE POLICE

Found: List of Things to Pack for a Cycling Trip

This so awesome I had to steal it from Chainthug.

It's a list of things to pack for a cycling trip longer than 100 kilometres but less than 300 kilometres. And he found it between an old cycling book "Cykling och Cykelsport" from 1934!

I'm not gonna translate the full list but the point is that while it's old it's also almost completely modern, just all the basic stuff you would pack with you today. Things like basic tools, spare tubes, some clothing, a tooth brush, towel, a clock (which is a MUST according to the list), a drink flask, a map etc.

And according to the list for a trip longer than 300km you may also want to bring along some extras like "a photography machine" and "a spare pedal and axle".

The Truth

Golden Training Tips. Suppleness.

From "Cycling for Triathletes: Endurance" and "Cycling: A Year Round Plan", both by Paul Van Den Bosch.

Listen to Grandma!

Maglia Nera

"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Maglia Nera

The "Maglia Nera" was a black jersey awarded as a symbolic prize in cycling competition at the Giro d'Italia, given to the last man to finish the race. It was allocated between 1946 and 1951.

There was real competition to win this particular jersey. Especially noted are the struggles between Sante Carollo and Luigi Malabrocca, to see whom could waste the most time. Each tried to lose more time than the other by hiding in bars, barns, and behind hedges, or even by puncturing their own wheels. In 1948 the honor was awarded to the Tuscan Aldo Bini, who according to some journalists and fans of the time, stubbornly continued the race until the end, despite a broken right hand suffered in a mass crash, and the suffering that especially in the mountain stages forced him to get off the bike and push it uphill. The special ability of the black jersey was, in addition to not being "discovered", to reach the finish directly within the maximum time.

The term "maglia nera" was later used in other contexts to indicate the bottom club in a league, often giving it a negative connotation.

In 2008 a similar "black number" was introduced, won by Markus Eichler of Team Milram."

Features & Benefits

Spotted at Fixed Gear Athens.

Dropouts

Did You Know This?

"Pursuit bicycle:

bicycle with limited equipment, that is, no brakes, no derailleur (no gears) and no freewheel."

"Track:

Inclined oval course that is 250 m long (short track) or 333.33 m or 400 m long (long tracks) and whose width varies from 7 to 9 m."

From Visual Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

Props to Miglos for discovering these gems.

'Look son, this ....'

And the credits for this go to mr. uao. Thanks.

'Features & Benefits'

Somehow I never though about that 'can escape in handcuffs' thing?

From here, via South-Sea Fixed Gear Club.