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	Bike-O-Vision Cycling DVD #4 California

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Two speed Strida

By Yokota Fritz

Areaware will introduce three new STiDA models at Interbike next week, including this Mark A. Sanders (MAS) Special Edition folding bike with the Schlumpf two speed crank. Strida MAS special edition with Schlumpf two speed crank

Strida MAS special edition with Schlumpf two speed crank

Like the existing STRiDA folding bicycles, these MAS Special, XT, and Sport Duo bikes feature lightweight aluminum construction, fold in just 5 seconds (yes, I regularly fold the Strida in that time), and utilizes a clean and quiet Kevlar belt instead of the traditional greasy and noisy metal chain.

According to Areaware, the new MAS Special is the fastest, most advanced STRiDA to date. Inventor Mark Sanders has stripped the bike down to its simplest and most elegant form while adding high performance technology. At the heart of MAS’s speed and agility is the Schlumpf 2 speed drive – a sophisticated Swiss engineered drive system that allows the rider to shift seamlessly between high and low gears with a simple tap of the heel. A custom black anodized finish on frame and parts, an ergonomic racing saddle, and alloy cranks, chain ring, and pedals top out the MAS’s list of high performance features. Retail $1400.

Learn more at Strida.US; outside of the USA go to Strida.com.

Federal bailout of U.S. auto industry

By Yokota Fritz

Executives from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler met with congressional leaders this week to get government handouts to keep their businesses afloat. McCain and Obama both have voiced their support for a proposed $25 billion corporate welfare plan. This bailout seems likely to pass in light of other investor bailouts this week as Republican and Democratic lawmakers practically tripped over each other to extol the virtues of American automotive innovation.

Some conservative lawmakers criticized the proposed automotive bailout. Arizona Representative Jeff Flake, for example, said, "Federal bailouts may stave off short-term economic damage, but the long-term economic outlook will be much worse if the market is not allowed to make its own adjustments."

The American automakers claim they need the money to "go green" and invest in alternative fuel research, but market demand is already pushing automakers to design fuel efficient vehicles. In reality, they're losing billions dollars because of their huge inventories of large vehicles they can't sell. Oil production peaked in the United States over 30 years ago and they've had since then to invest in that research.

The market should be incentive enough for the auto industry to do what it takes to get competitive. In the meantime, transit systems around the nation are at capacity and beyond as more Americans discover they can get to work without the single occupant motor vehicle, in spite of service cutbacks because of high fuel prices. Bike shops are closing not because of lack of business, but because there is no inventory.

Contact your Senator and Representative and let them know how you feel about taxpayer support of a shrinking industry.

On bailouts: Read this fascinating alternative history of the 1979 Chrysler bailout.

If Chrysler had collapsed, argues [economist and author Barry Ritholtz], vulture investors might have swooped in and reconstituted the company as a smaller automaker less tied to the failed strategies of Detroit’s Big Three and their unions. “If Chrysler goes belly up,” he says, “it also might have forced some deep introspection at Ford and G.M. and might have changed their attitude toward fuel efficiency and manufacturing quality.” Some of the bailout’s opponents — from free-market conservatives to Senator Gary Hart, then a rising Democrat — were making similar arguments three decades ago.

Ritholtz blogs at The Big Picture.

Chris's poem

By Yokota Fritz

Carl lives in Colorado. His son wrote this poem:

My dad is like lightning.
He rides to work and back.
Going up down up down
To pick up my sister.

Carl writes, "When I read this the first time I choked up."

Airline bicycle fees

By Yokota Fritz

Cyclelicious: Airline bicycle rules and fees.

This is important if you travel by air and want to bring a bicycle. Bike Hugger says many airlines are not accepting bike boxes greater than 80 linear inches in size at all. You must get it under 80 inches, and they'll still sock you with an oversized luggage fee if the box is larger than 62 linear inches. As Bike Hugger shows in this photo, most standard bike boxes are well over 80 linear inches. The linear dimensions of the box is the sum of the box dimensions, i.e. length + width + height.

Here are fees charged by airlines for travel within the United States as of September 18, 2008. Fees listed are for each way; double the fee for round trip travel. Bicycles must generally have pedals removed and handlebars turned sideways and put in a box less than 80 linear inches. If you can fit your bike in a box less than 62 linear inches, you can generally check your bike as regular checked luggage. Some airlines recommend pre-registration, and some also restrict bikes from flights because of equipment or space limitations.

Some of the fees listed below are specifically for bicycles, while many airlines charge a fee for any oversized luggage. According to the airline websites, several still accept luggage greater than 80 inches, but they'll charge you even more money. Click through to the airline websites for specific checked baggage bicycle rules and fees.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Keep the loonies on the path, Part 2

By Yokota Fritz

Joel suggested alternate wording on those Dark Side of the Moon cycling shorts. My image editing skills are sorry, but I think it gets the idea across.

Keep the loonies on the path

By Yokota Fritz

All of you Rick Wright fans: Would you wear these "Dark Side of the Moon" bike shorts? Cool, or brain damaged?

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon bicycle shorts

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon bicycle shorts

Okay, then, how about the Dark Side of the Moon jersey?
Pink Floy Dark Side of the moon bicycle jersey

There's also a Dark Side women's jersey.

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the moon women's bicycle jersey

All of these are available through Amazon.com:

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Two speed Strida Federal bailout of U.S. auto industry Chris's poem Airline bicycle fees Keep the loonies on the path, Part 2 Thanks for that, made my morning. Keep the loonies on the path Brain-damaged. Joel, do you mean something like this?