28 February 2010
25 February 2010
House Bill 91 passed!
Not too long ago, I posted that HB 91 had been shot down.
Today, I hear that it has passed. This article on KSL.com says that Lawmakers voted 49-20 to approve House Bill 91 on Thursday.
HB 91, if you remember will allow cyclists to treat stop signs like yield signs, and to go through stop lights after stopping and making sure that the intersection is clear. It is commonly called the "Idaho Stop Law" because it is similar to a law in Idaho that allows cyclists to do the same thing.
Great news for Utah cyclists!
Today, I hear that it has passed. This article on KSL.com says that Lawmakers voted 49-20 to approve House Bill 91 on Thursday.
HB 91, if you remember will allow cyclists to treat stop signs like yield signs, and to go through stop lights after stopping and making sure that the intersection is clear. It is commonly called the "Idaho Stop Law" because it is similar to a law in Idaho that allows cyclists to do the same thing.
Great news for Utah cyclists!
Yesterday was like Christmas
I come home from work yesterday, and Kelly tells me that a package had come for me. Thinking that it was the shirt I ordered, I grabbed the package. The padded mailer was far too large and bulky for a single t-shirt, and the shipping label said it was from Icebreaker, not the company I expected it to be from. Opening it up, I found this inside.
Can you say, Holy Christmas, Batman! I got a goodie box from Icebreaker. A lightweight Merino jersey, a pair of Merino socks, a tube of Nuun, and some Honey Stinger. I was in bike geek heaven!
I am wearing the socks as I type this (as you can see from the picture below), and my first impressions are good, very comfortable. I hope to have a full review of the socks and the jersey up soon, I need to do some on-bike product testing first.
me likey!
Thanks again to Molly from Icebreaker for sending this my way.
21 February 2010
20 February 2010
19 February 2010
Floyd Landis on Larry King
Floyd Landis appeared on Larry King last night and responded to the allegations about his supposed computer hacking at the French doping laboratory.
Make your own energy gel.
I found this on the Brett's Zen and the art of Triathlon website, who found it on Marc's website. It's a great idea. I'll have to try this soon.
On an economical point, Marc figures this is about 1/5th the cost of commercially available gels, plus it's healthier too, because there it's all natural, and doesn't have any addatives or chemicals. Marc mentions this on his website, but not in the video - but if you have an aversion to honey, either vegan or allergy - you can substitute agave nectar for the honey.
On an economical point, Marc figures this is about 1/5th the cost of commercially available gels, plus it's healthier too, because there it's all natural, and doesn't have any addatives or chemicals. Marc mentions this on his website, but not in the video - but if you have an aversion to honey, either vegan or allergy - you can substitute agave nectar for the honey.
15 February 2010
Arrest Warrent Issued for Floyd Landis
One of these two men is wanted by the French government. They both look pretty shady to me.The story broke today that The French government has issued an arrest warrent for Floyd Landis. He is accused of hacking into a French drug testing laboratory computer. Landis was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title after failing a doping test. A subsequent court case where Landis tried to prove that the lab that tested his samples had made errors in testing failed in redeeming the cyclist.
Landis has continued to proclaim that he is innocent of doping. He finished his two year probation last year and rode with Team OUCH, powered by Maxxis. He has not turned up on any team rosters yet for the 2010 season.
More of the story can be read here.
Landis has continued to proclaim that he is innocent of doping. He finished his two year probation last year and rode with Team OUCH, powered by Maxxis. He has not turned up on any team rosters yet for the 2010 season.
More of the story can be read here.
14 February 2010
13 February 2010
Caption this - Special Valentine's day edition!
And, because I love you all so much, here are two downloadable Valentine's day cards that you can give to that special someone in your life. Just click on the pictures to open up the cards. Thanks to Carlton Reid who posted the link on his twitter feed.
Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!
10 February 2010
Product Review: ChicoBag
ChicoBag is another one of the companies I came across at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market show.
To give a little history of the company, ChicoBag was started in early 2004 when Andy Keller, president of ChicoBag, visited his local landfill. The dominant article of the landfill was single-use grocery bags. They were everywhere! On the way home, he noticed bags stuck in trees, collecting along the bottoms of fences, in puddles, and blowing along the streets.
Andy decided that what was needed was a reusable bag that people would actually use. With a used sewing machine, he created lightweight, reusable grocery bag that stuffs into it's own little integrated pouch.
The Bag Monster. Made up of 500 single-use grocery bags (the average number of bags one shopper uses in a year).
Since that time, ChicoBag's line has evolved from the original bag into a whole line of bags in several sizes and colors, including a sling bag, their rePETe line of bags made out of recycled PET bottles, and recently a messenger bag and daypack.
I talked to the people at ChicoBag at their booth at the Outdoor Retailer Show in January, and they gave me one of their messenger12 bags from the rePETe line to try out.
The main flap is held in place by a couple of fairly strong magnets. Aside from the stuff sack (which when the bag is unstuffed is in the back of the main compartment, and becomes a perfect pocket for your keys or cell phone) there is a large zipper pouch on the front of the bag, and a pocket on each side of the bag to hold a water bottle - or similarly sized object.
The other day, I had to stop by the grocery store on the way home. Since I had my ChicoBag with me, I decided to put it through the paces. A couple bunches of broccoli, zucchini, garlic, and two boxes of Valentines day cards for my boys to take to school all went into the bag with no problem.
yours truly modeling the messenger12, after a trip to the grocery store - and lookin' good doing so ;-)
a couple bunches of broccoli, zucchini, garlic, and Valentine's day cards for my boys to take to school
I love messenger bags. I have a couple of bags that I use almost constantly. Unless I have to take my laptop with me, I will be using my ChicoBag from now on. It's the perfect size for my normal usage. I haven't had a chance to use it on my bike, but come spring I'll try it out to run some errands around home, and on days that I commute to work by bike.
The messenger12 rePETe sells for $17.99. There is also a stabilizing strap that is available that attaches to the back of the bag so it won't shift while you are on the bike. You can order it directly from http://www.chicobag.com/ or use their store locator to find a store in your area that carries them.
To give a little history of the company, ChicoBag was started in early 2004 when Andy Keller, president of ChicoBag, visited his local landfill. The dominant article of the landfill was single-use grocery bags. They were everywhere! On the way home, he noticed bags stuck in trees, collecting along the bottoms of fences, in puddles, and blowing along the streets.
Andy decided that what was needed was a reusable bag that people would actually use. With a used sewing machine, he created lightweight, reusable grocery bag that stuffs into it's own little integrated pouch.
The Bag Monster. Made up of 500 single-use grocery bags (the average number of bags one shopper uses in a year).Since that time, ChicoBag's line has evolved from the original bag into a whole line of bags in several sizes and colors, including a sling bag, their rePETe line of bags made out of recycled PET bottles, and recently a messenger bag and daypack.
I talked to the people at ChicoBag at their booth at the Outdoor Retailer Show in January, and they gave me one of their messenger12 bags from the rePETe line to try out.
Like all of the bags that ChicoBag makes, the messenger stuffs down into it's own small integrated pouch, and comes in a couple of different colors. All of the rePETe bags are made out of at least 80% recycled materials, from the bag to the harware. In fact, on outside of the stuff pouch, and on the inside of the main flap, there is a listing of exactly what percent of the bag is recycled (mine says 85%), and what recycled materials the bag is made from.
I have been using my bag for a couple of weeks now, taking it to work and back as my lunch bag. I throw my lunch (a sandwich, bag of sun chips, and a couple pieces of fruit), my moeben buff, a couple of magazines, and a diet coke in it and I'm ready to go. The strap is wide and comfortable. It isn't padded, but then it's a small bag, and not meant to carry large, heavy items (plus, a padded strap would negate it's stuffability) If I don't have anything to bring back home, I can stuff it away, and throw it into my jacket pocket.
I have been using my bag for a couple of weeks now, taking it to work and back as my lunch bag. I throw my lunch (a sandwich, bag of sun chips, and a couple pieces of fruit), my moeben buff, a couple of magazines, and a diet coke in it and I'm ready to go. The strap is wide and comfortable. It isn't padded, but then it's a small bag, and not meant to carry large, heavy items (plus, a padded strap would negate it's stuffability) If I don't have anything to bring back home, I can stuff it away, and throw it into my jacket pocket.
from a small, compact pouch to a full-sized bag
The main flap is held in place by a couple of fairly strong magnets. Aside from the stuff sack (which when the bag is unstuffed is in the back of the main compartment, and becomes a perfect pocket for your keys or cell phone) there is a large zipper pouch on the front of the bag, and a pocket on each side of the bag to hold a water bottle - or similarly sized object.
The other day, I had to stop by the grocery store on the way home. Since I had my ChicoBag with me, I decided to put it through the paces. A couple bunches of broccoli, zucchini, garlic, and two boxes of Valentines day cards for my boys to take to school all went into the bag with no problem.
yours truly modeling the messenger12, after a trip to the grocery store - and lookin' good doing so ;-)
a couple bunches of broccoli, zucchini, garlic, and Valentine's day cards for my boys to take to school I love messenger bags. I have a couple of bags that I use almost constantly. Unless I have to take my laptop with me, I will be using my ChicoBag from now on. It's the perfect size for my normal usage. I haven't had a chance to use it on my bike, but come spring I'll try it out to run some errands around home, and on days that I commute to work by bike.
The messenger12 rePETe sells for $17.99. There is also a stabilizing strap that is available that attaches to the back of the bag so it won't shift while you are on the bike. You can order it directly from http://www.chicobag.com/ or use their store locator to find a store in your area that carries them.
07 February 2010
04 February 2010
Legos
I love Legos. So, imagine how cool it was when I found this on the interweb. (I don't remember which blog I saw this on, unfortunately)
For those of you who don't know, this custom painted figure is from the movie "Breaking Away"
This bike shop must be in the bad part of Lego city. Note the survelance camera on the roof.
A bike shop, and public transportation. very progressive!
This set is currently available. Go and get it for your kids (or yourself).
For those of you who don't know, this custom painted figure is from the movie "Breaking Away" Additional searching came across this set from the Lego "City" collection. A city corner with a pizzaria and a bike shop. Too cool!
This bike shop must be in the bad part of Lego city. Note the survelance camera on the roof.
A bike shop, and public transportation. very progressive!This set is currently available. Go and get it for your kids (or yourself).Then I found this. I wish this was still available. These sets were from a promotion released in 2000 to commemerate the Tour de France. I don't know if they were only available in Europe, or everywhere. Time to check ebay!
Again, for those of you who don't know. team Telekom was a pro cycling team from Germany. They later became T-mobile, and are now known as HTC-Columbia.
03 February 2010
HB 91 gets a flat
Utah HB 91 - which would have allowed cyclists to ride through stop signs was voted down yesterday. The vote came to a tie, with 6 for and 6 against.
The full story can be seen here.
Rep Carol Moss says that the bill is not dead. She says that she will continue to talk to the cycling community, which had mixed support of the bill.
The full story can be seen here.
Rep Carol Moss says that the bill is not dead. She says that she will continue to talk to the cycling community, which had mixed support of the bill.
02 February 2010
The Sufferfest
Yesterday morning I suffered.
I woke at my usual time (way too early) and headed downstairs to the torture chamber to spend some time on the bike. Today, however, was going to be different. Instead of watching an episode of Lost, I was going to try my new Sufferfest video "The Downward Spiral"
The Sufferfest's slogan is "I will beat my ass today to kick yours tomorrow" and they live up to this promise. It was possibly the most tiring, grueling, painful hour I've spent on the bike. It was also the fastest and most rewarding. Before I knew it, the hour was up.
"The Downward Spiral" is the first video offered by The Sufferfest. It takes you through an aggressive interval training program; starting with a easy warmup, you quickly ramp up your effort to near-maximum for 2:00, then back to an easy spin for 2:00. Before you know it, you are back up for another 1:45 all out, then down again for 1:45. It repeats like this until you get down to 0:15 and rewards you for your efforts with a 5 minute rest at easy intensity. That's not it, however, it then takes on a second downward spiral from 2:00 down to 0:15 before it releases you from it's clutches.
All of this is done to the beat of some high-intensity techno music and videos ranging from a downhill mountain bike race seen through the perspective of a helmet-cam to mid-pack riding from such classics as Paris-Roubaix and Fleche-Wallone. Through an agreement with ASO, David at the Sufferefest was able to get the rights to the race footage taken from the media cycles along some of the more famous European classics. Words of encouragement (and sometimes taunts) are flashed across the screen to help motivate you.
at a cost of $9.49 for the video, it's well worth it. I can't say you won't be sorry if you get it - I was certainly feeling sorry as I was crawling out of the torture chamber this morning - but you will be glad that you did. Go to http://www.thesufferfest.com/ for more information.
I woke at my usual time (way too early) and headed downstairs to the torture chamber to spend some time on the bike. Today, however, was going to be different. Instead of watching an episode of Lost, I was going to try my new Sufferfest video "The Downward Spiral"
The Sufferfest's slogan is "I will beat my ass today to kick yours tomorrow" and they live up to this promise. It was possibly the most tiring, grueling, painful hour I've spent on the bike. It was also the fastest and most rewarding. Before I knew it, the hour was up.
"The Downward Spiral" is the first video offered by The Sufferfest. It takes you through an aggressive interval training program; starting with a easy warmup, you quickly ramp up your effort to near-maximum for 2:00, then back to an easy spin for 2:00. Before you know it, you are back up for another 1:45 all out, then down again for 1:45. It repeats like this until you get down to 0:15 and rewards you for your efforts with a 5 minute rest at easy intensity. That's not it, however, it then takes on a second downward spiral from 2:00 down to 0:15 before it releases you from it's clutches.
All of this is done to the beat of some high-intensity techno music and videos ranging from a downhill mountain bike race seen through the perspective of a helmet-cam to mid-pack riding from such classics as Paris-Roubaix and Fleche-Wallone. Through an agreement with ASO, David at the Sufferefest was able to get the rights to the race footage taken from the media cycles along some of the more famous European classics. Words of encouragement (and sometimes taunts) are flashed across the screen to help motivate you.
at a cost of $9.49 for the video, it's well worth it. I can't say you won't be sorry if you get it - I was certainly feeling sorry as I was crawling out of the torture chamber this morning - but you will be glad that you did. Go to http://www.thesufferfest.com/ for more information.
01 February 2010
Idaho-style stop law under review for Utah
I found this on the Daily Herald website:
This is very similar to the "Idaho stop law" that has been debated recently. This is what the Idaho law says...
Idaho Statutes Title 49 is the motor vehicle code. Chapter 7 deals with pedestrians and bicycles; section 720 regulates stopping and is where Idaho permits cyclists' 'rolling stop' at stop signs. This section also allows cyclists to treat red lights like stop signs.
We can only hope that the law passes here in Utah.
(thanks to Fritz at Cyclelicio.us for posting the Idaho stop law on his site)
A House panel will consider a bill that would create rules for bicyclists pulling up at stop signs and red lights.
House Bill 91 would allow bicyclists to go through a red light after yielding to all traffic.At a stop sign a biker would have to yield the right of way to any vehicle at the intersection before continuing.
A committee will meet to debate the proposal this week.
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, a Democrat from Holladay, is sponsoring the bill.
This is very similar to the "Idaho stop law" that has been debated recently. This is what the Idaho law says...
Idaho Statutes Title 49 is the motor vehicle code. Chapter 7 deals with pedestrians and bicycles; section 720 regulates stopping and is where Idaho permits cyclists' 'rolling stop' at stop signs. This section also allows cyclists to treat red lights like stop signs.
49-720. STOPPING -- TURN AND STOP SIGNALS.
(1) A person operating abicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and,if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the person is moving across or within the intersection or junction of highways, except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping.
(2) A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a steady red traffic control light shall stop before entering the intersection and shall yield to all other traffic. Once the person has yielded, he may proceed through the steady red light with caution. Provided however, that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn. A left-hand turn onto a one-way highway may be made on a red light after stopping and yielding to other traffic.
(3) A person riding a bicycle shall comply with the provisions of section49-643, Idaho Code.
(4) A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given during not less than the last one hundred (100) feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, provided that a signal by hand and arm need not be given if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.
We can only hope that the law passes here in Utah.
(thanks to Fritz at Cyclelicio.us for posting the Idaho stop law on his site)
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