Author: Richard Masoner

Superman planking on a brakeless fixie

Richard MasonerAugust 25, 20164 Comments on Superman planking on a brakeless fixie

Update: Video here on Instagram, which also shows cyclist Michael Guerra slowing his brakeless track bike by rubbing both shoes against the rear wheel before clipping back in.

This GIF of a guy pulling a superman while rolling downhill on a track bike is making the rounds on various social media.

Not sure who I'm more impressed with

I think I counted 140 RPM when he releases his feet from the pedals. After watching this animation a buddy reminded me of our lunch rides in Boulder County, Colorado. I’d show up on my fixed gear, and naturally everyone else picked that day for hill work. I’d unclip on fast downhills because my feet couldn’t keep up. On my 42×14 gearing, I’d hit about 200 RPM at 50 MPH. Unlike the guy in the video, I stayed seated and rested my feet inside the front triangle. Also unlike the guy in the video, I rode with brakes.

I’m very good at clipping in, because I had to learn to do it with pedals on the move at about 80 RPM.

H/T to Leon and John. Filed under Stupid Bike Tricks, where you can find an old video of the famous Lady Fleur planking on her bike.

Posted In stunt

Wikipedia says I coined “Idaho Stop”

Richard MasonerAugust 22, 20163 Comments on Wikipedia says I coined “Idaho Stop”

San Jose Bike Party Summer of Love Ride August 2016

When I attended the Silicon Valley Bicycle Summit the other week, I met local cycling legend Ray Hosler. He and I both were interested in what California Bicycle Coalition Director David Snyder said when somebody asked why CalBike doesn’t support an “Idaho Stop” law for California. You can read what Snyder had to say in Ray’s post on the topic here, where I also learned that I apparently coined the term “Idaho Stop” in 2008.

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Posted In blog

Job: Spanish language bike promotion for Santa Cruz County

Richard MasonerAugust 16, 2016Leave a Comment

Join Ecology Action’s Transportation team and fulfill a key role in delivering school-based bicycle and walking safety education and encouragement efforts at over 50 schools throughout Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. Ecology Action hopes to hire this position in late August with a start in early September. For those of you familiar with their programs, this coordinator will have a heavy presence in South County helping to implement the Active4Me and BikeSmart! programs.

Bike Shack Mural

In addition to their other programs to reduce automotive travel in Santa Cruz County, Ecology Action runs school-based bicycle and walking promotion for Santa Cruz County schools.

For more information and to apply: Spanish / English Bilingual Program Coordinator.

Posted In job | santa cruz | Uncategorized

Why land use matters for cycling advocacy

Richard MasonerAugust 10, 20163 Comments on Why land use matters for cycling advocacy

Stephen and Kate Downing live in Palo Alto, California, where they split the rent with Stephen’s sister and her family. Kate works as an attorney in Santa Clara, while Stephen is a software developer in downtown Palo Alto.

California Avenue Palo Alto mixed use proposal

They probably have a combined income well north of a quarter of million per year, but they cannot afford to live near their Silicon Valley jobs. Kate and her family have decided to move to Santa Cruz, and Ms Downing can no longer serve on Palo Alto’s Planning and Transportation Commission where she has been an outspoken thorn in the side of a city council that refuses even modest increases in higher-density housing development.

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Posted In advocacy