Month: May 2008

Too many bicycle shoes

Richard MasonerMay 28, 200810 Comments on Too many bicycle shoes

Here’s the view under my desk at work this morning. That’s three pairs of cycling shoes with clipless pedal cleats under my desk.

3 pair of bike shoes under my desk

I brought my street shoes home Friday before the long weekend and I forgot to bring a replacement pair into the office. I get to pad around in my stocking feet or clomp around in bike shoes today.

It’s not about the bike. I had a nice 22 mile ride to work this morning from San Jose with Dan, who manages a BIOS group in my building. I was wearing in the neighborhood of $400 of cycling gear riding a 17 pound carbon fiber bicyle and carrying only a wallet, while Dan was on his old steel LeMond Buenos Aries wearing worn out discount bike shorts and a ratty t-shirt that flapped in the wind. Dan is a year older than me and had a backpack distended with enough luggage for a weekend trip, but it took just about everything I had for me to keep up with him as he powered down Central Expressway at 25 mph. I have no excuses. Bah.

Posted In Uncategorized

IKEA bicycle

Richard MasonerMay 28, 200810 Comments on IKEA bicycle

After IKEA buyers and managers were seen at recent international bicycle shows, Bike Europe reports that the Dutch furniture retailer IKEA sells bicycles in the Netherlands now. Read more at Bike Europe.

Elsewhere in Europe… French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to cut the European sales tax (VAT) on fuel to reduce fuel prices. Fishermen have blocked French ports for the last week to protest high fuel prices as prices for diesel for fishing boats has doubled over the past six months. More at the BBC.

In Canada, Dorel Industries had their annual stockholders meeting yesterday. They expect bikes to be big business for them as gasoline makes travel more expensive. In spite of the slowing economy, sales were up 54.9 per cent in the first quarter, compared to the same period a year ago. Overall, Dorel revenues rose 22 per cent to $556 million, and earnings went up 25.7 per cent to $35.1 million, or $1.05 a share, from the first quarter in 2007. Shareholders were told that Dorel plans to aggressively develop its bicycle business.

“The purchase of Cannondale and SUGOi immediately establishes huge IBD positioning for Dorel and will help us move toward a dominant worldwide position in the bicycle industry,” Dorel CEO Martin Schwartz told stockholders. “Our intention is to seek further acquisitions in similar high quality, performance bicycle companies and create new innovative products.”

Dorel sells bicycles under the Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, and Cannondale brands through mass merchant and independent bike retail stores.

My friend Tim Grahl has his 15 minutes of fame through a mention in this article at Forbes Magazine. Tim made Forbe’s list of richest bike riders in the world. Or something like that.

Posted In news

Norcal bicycle blogs that you read

Richard MasonerMay 27, 200815 Comments on Norcal bicycle blogs that you read

On the survey, I asked what northern California bicycle blogs you visited. Personally, I think of NorCal is the region north of the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, but in common usage the SF Bay Area and even the Monterey Bay area are included — I see a lot of Nor*Cal logos on trucks and surfboards around Santa Cruz, for instance. For Cyclelicious I’ll use the common usage because, frankly, there aren’t that many people in Chico, Redding, Eureka and Arcata, California.


Here are the blogs you mentioned:

Elsewhere in California

  • Somebody mentioned that Commute By Bike covers cycling as transportation in the South Bay, and that’s because I’m a contributor there.
  • Somebody also mentioned C.I.C.L.E., which is a very good resource that I follow in Los Angeles.

There are, of course, several others in Northern California and elsewhere around the Golden State. Feel free to post links to your favorites and your own blogs in the comments!

Posted In blog | california

Philadelphia: Top city for bicycle theft

Richard MasonerMay 27, 20084 Comments on Philadelphia: Top city for bicycle theft

The city of brotherly love is now the city of bike theft in Kryptonite Lock’s latest ranking of top American bicycle theft cities, beating out New York City for the first time ever. “Our premier line [of bicycle locks] is the “New York” line because we know, in the US, that’s the bike theft capital,” says Kryptonite marketing chieftress Donna Tocci. “But now I’m wondering if we need to change the name of our products,” she jokes.

In the 2007 list released this morning, New York City dropped all the way to third place on the list, while Washington DC dropped off of the top 10 list altogether. Read more at Unbreakable Bonds, the blog of Kryptonite Locks.

Posted In crime

Memorial Day

Richard MasonerMay 26, 20088 Comments on Memorial Day

I’ve actually been far away from any Internet connectivity spending time in the outdoors with my family this last weekend. The posts you’ve seen come to you via the magic computer software that automatically publishes these pre-written posts.

In the United States, Monday is the Memorial Day holiday, a day set aside to remember those who died in military service. Memorial Day began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.

Traditional observations include visiting veterans cemeteries and memorials. These days, most view the three day weekend as a chance for barbeques, car races and family gatherings. The price of gas jumps up as millions of Americans (including myself) drive to get away.

With mounting war deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan, many Americans are again remembering the solemnity of Memorial Day observances. Enjoying the high consumption American way of life requires the sacrifices of young men and women half a world away, and whatever your politics I encourage you to do what you can to minimize the necessity of these sacrifices.

Posted In Uncategorized

Monkey Electric wheel lights (and a coupon code)

Richard MasonerMay 23, 20088 Comments on Monkey Electric wheel lights (and a coupon code)
Susan and Judy look at my Monkey Electric bike lights I’m showing off the Monkey Electric wheel light to my co-workers Susan and Judy. Dudes and dames, flashy bright stuff on your bike work well to attract the opposite sex, drawing them like moths to a porch light or fireflies to each other.

I’m not that great of a photographer and these things are devilishly hard to get good photos of, especially when I’m using a broken camera, so you’ll just have to trust me when I write that I love my Monkey Electric wheel lights!

This gadget attaches to your wheel spokes with zip ties. The set of bright, colorfully flashing LEDs makes cool persistence of vision patterns as you roll. These even work well in shade (like we have in the Santa Cruz Mountains) and overcast skies (like we often have in San Francisco).

These guys do a fantastic job lighting up the ground around you.


These are about twice of the price of comparable Hokey Spokes. Monkey Electric lights do not sync up like Hokey Spokes do, but then you don’t need two or three units to make a decent pattern, and the LEDs on the Monkey Electric lights are much brighter and colorful. Some people like the aesthetics of Hokey Spokes better, and I think Monkey Electric are a little bit less resistant to theft since all you need to do is snip three zip ties to take these things; Hokey Spokes are secured with screws.

For details and online purchase, visit Monkey Electric. Use the coupon code “BIKECULT” for 25% off of your order until July 15, 2008. Order fulfillment is quick, shipping is fast, and installation is no problem at all.

Posted In review