Go Clipless

Dear Idiot...

Here's Bike Snob NYC with another episode of "Worst of NYC Craigslist Bike Ads":

Dear Idiot: A 'pedal' is the thing your foot goes on, and 'peddle' is what you're trying to do with your crap.

Just telling it like it is...

Chicks on bikes are all the rage

If you've been around the bike blogosphere than you've no doubt seen the already classic blog Cycle Chic Cophenhagen Girls on Bikes. And don't lie and tell me that you don't think that it's the hottest thing going next to porn. Even the straight girls are drooling.

Ahhh, but guess what? It's no longer our little secret here in bike blogo-la-la land. It's been picked up by the mainstream. Celebrities are riding bikes now. Fashion shows are including bikes. And even bike accessory companies are advertising to this new mainstream audience.

Now don't go fretting here, this is a good thing, right? It's what we wanted...everyone to be on bikes. So I don't want to hear anyone complain that bike culture just isn't what it used to be. Yeah, fixies jumped the shark when the stock brokers jumped on board, but you know what, that's what happens when people get a hold of a good thing.

Bike Darlington said it best in reference to the Cycle Chic blog, "this is what cyclists look like when cycling becomes 'normal'".

The secret of Swobo's success

Don't miss Tim Jackson's interview of Tim Parr, Swobo's founder, and Sky Yeager, product manager, if you want to know what makes this newly resurrected brand tick.

But for those of you wondering how Swobo maintains that cult-like following, the secret lies in this one quote from Tim Parr:

The Swobo brand is unique. It’s rare that a name can dissapear for 5 years, then come back stronger than it was when it was originally operating. Why? Because we represent an idea within bike culture, and not STUFF within bike culture. There’s a huge difference there that would take awhile to explain….so I’ll leave it at that. Our strategic advantage is that the bike industry (culturally) is fixated on stuff…and not ideas.

The man's a brilliant marketer, though I'm certain he doesn't see it that way. Brands like Swobo's aren't made, their lived. And that's the difference.

Put down those pork rinds

Gwadzilla's latest rant on discourteous drivers ignoring cyclists:

I was being tailgated by a victim of the obesity epidemic
she was in her native habitat; pinned between the tilt steering wheel and the driver's seat
cell phone in hand pressed to her ear
the pork rinds were out of sight... but I am sure they were within reach

Mountain biking is too broad of a term

Fat Cyclist on why mountain biking is too broad of a term:

So here’s the thing. If someone tells you they went out road biking, you have a good idea of what went on. You may not have an idea of how far, how fast, or how steep, but you know what road biking looks like.

If someone tells you they went mountain biking, on the other hand, you still don’t know anything.

Ain't that the truth?

Lindsay Lohan likes her fiber (carbon, that is)...

Here's DL Byron from BikeHugger looking for some advice on his new carbon brakes:

[A] question on brake pads came up for me this weekend at a hilly race when a set of Kool Stop carbons squealed like Lindsay Lohan at a Hollywood coke party.

I'm a sucker for a good biking simile. Now what exactly is Lindsay Lohan famous for anyway???

New bike 'zine chronicles the Urban Cyclist

Brad Quartuccio and Jeff Guerrero of Dirt Rag fame, have started a new 'zine called Urban Cyclist. The first issue just hit the streets/web and is chock full of gritty city street biking and culture. And culture is what this zine is all about. Here's an excerpt from the editor's statement:

For people of all walks of life the bicycle is the great unifier. Brothers and sisters on two wheels, another cyclist is a friendly face in a crowded sea. Through this a wealth of culture is within reach much of it focused on our shared love of two wheels.

The zine just exudes cool...download it here.

Irate driver chases cyclist

How to Avoid the Bummer Life recounts this story of an irate driver that chased a cyclist onto a sidewalk. I love their assessment and advice.

The motorist fled the scene. Witnesses told officers the SUV might have been a Mercury Mountaineer, that the driver was a heavy-set blond woman in her late 40s and that the vehicle had a blue disabled placard hanging from the rearview mirror.

Poor thing prolly had an important meeting at Curves she was late for. Lets be careful out there, ok?

So true!

How can we sleep when our cranks need turning...

Mattmagic riffs on Midnight Oil's old song 'Beds are Burning.' Hmm...might make a good slogan for an IMBA advocacy campaign.

The time has come
To say fairs fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A facts a fact
It belongs to them
Lets give it back

How can we sleep when our cranks need turning
How do we ride when our quads are burning

Original lyrics here.

Swobo introduces new urban bike collection

Cult favorite cycling apparel company Swobo has entered into the bike building business in a serious way. Last year they hired Sky Yaeger, former brand/product manager at Bianchi to develop their new line of urban bikes.

Swobo's outlook on the cycling industry is both unique and refreshing. Instead of looking at the market in segments like road or mountain, etc., they design bikes that will have a cultural fit for certain groups of people. So, for example, their urban bikes are not just road bikes with tougher components, but instead a whole new breed of bikes that allow a canvas for personalization and can withstand the abuse that a city puts on a bike everyday.

For more insight on the happenings at Swobo check out the most recent Crooked Cog Podcast where, Tim Grahl interviewed founder Tim Parr. Also, Dirt Rag has an interview with Sky Yeager specifically detailing the inspiration of the new line of bikes. I love this quote from Sky on the new Folsom street bike:

I used the coaster brake so you can ride with one hand on the bar and still brake. Say you're coming home from the bar with a 12-pack... you can carry it and still slam on the brakes.