April 15, 20141 Comment on Taxing Day
Today is the deadline to file my (and your) U.S. Federal tax returns. I filed some time back. For purposes of full disclosure, I’ll reveal that I netted a whopping $86 from affiliate sales and advertising on this website in 2013. Woo hoo, I’m rich!
Bicycle news, links, etc below the photo of the 70-year-old roleur passing me on the infamous 16% grade on “A” Road into Laguna Seca near Monterey, California last weekend.
April 9, 2014Leave a Comment
Happy Wednesday. Reminder: the next San Jose Bike Train rolls next Wednesday, April 16. More bike goodies below the photo of the kid having fun on his bicycle in Herat, Afghanistan.
April 1, 20142 Comments on Houston police ride bikes to enforce 3 foot passing rule
Houston, Texas has a three foot passing rule, which is apparently not well observed by local drivers. Police officer Stephen Klein bought a bike from a garage sale for $45 and began riding.
“You’ll stay to the right but motorists will come by and rev their engines,” he says. “They’ll honk, or they’ll try to get as close as they can to let you know that you shouldn’t be there.”
March 27, 20144 Comments on Pedestrian killed by cyclist in San Jose, and more bike news
Mercury News journalist Mike Rosenberg tweeted out this letter sent to City Hall the other day regarding pedestrian safety and dangerous sidewalk cyclists in downtown San Jose.
Letter San Jose City Hall received: Guy worried about being sent to his crypt; "meanwhile enjoy" pic.twitter.com/6zrcL7wjfR
— Mike Rosenberg (@RosenbergMerc) March 25, 2014
March 24, 20141 Comment on Video: Pedestrian safety in Alameda, California
Stanley Roberts reports on a pedestrian safety campaign from the East Bay as part of his People Behaving Badly series.
March 20, 2014Leave a Comment
Giant USA says they plan to lure new customers to bike shops by promoting entry-level bicycles under $500, according to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Giant USA Executive Director of Sales JT Thompson says, “We have to do a better job of attracting new customers who want quality, well-built, IBD-serviced, lower-priced bikes.” IBD shops — that is, “Independent Bicycle Dealer” or the local bike shop — continue to lose market share to online and mass retail outlets even as margins climb at the high end.
The new pricing for these entry level bikes comes in the form of lower wholesale prices to retailers, with rebates offered to retailers with existing inventory.
For more, read the BR&IN –> Giant USA targets sub-$500 bike consumers with new campaign.
See also the accompanying survey and survey results in which retailers are asked if they plan to stock more sub-$500 bikes in 2014. As of this writing 28% of responding retailers say they don’t offer bikes under $500, while 56% say they want more bikes in that price range.