Go Clipless

Cycling participation rates down more than 13 percent

Now this is pathetic - more people fish for sport in this country than cycle. In fact cycling participation rates just took a major nose dive, dropping 13.3 percent from 2005 to 2006, according to a survey conducted by the National Sporting Goods Association. At least cycling still made the top ten activities:

1. Exercise walking - 87.5 million
2. Swimming - 55.2 million
3. Exercising with equipment - 52.4 million
4. Camping - 48.6 million
5. Bowling - 44.8 million
6. Fishing - 40.6 million
7. Work-out at club - 36.4 million
8. Cycling - 35.6 million
9. Aerobic exercising - 33.7 million
10. Weightlifting - 32.9 million

I was surprised to find that running/jogging was only the 14th most popular activity with only 29.2 million Americans participating. So why does cycling seem like such a fringe activity compared to running when there are almost 7 million more people participating?

It seems that scooters, skateboards, and in-line skates are partially responsible for cycling's decline:

“The decline in bicycle riding was the most dramatic change in the Top Ten,” NSGA Vice President of Information & Research Thomas B. Doyle said. “America’s youth appears to be opting for other forms of wheels -- scooters, skateboards and wheeled footwear. Even off-road mountain biking, which had been strong in recent years, declined more than 5%.”

What's really scary is that 6 of the top 10 recreational activities are indoors. Does anybody go outside anymore?

(Via BRaIN)

Learn how to flow off drops properly with this video tutorial

Although I consider myself to be a cross-country mountain biker it is always good to think cross-functionally in nature and keep up with other mountain bike disciplines. To that end, I sometimes pick up Decline Magazine, which is focused on Downhilling and Freeride.

Decline - in partnership with Fluidride - has a couple of nice technique videos on their website that could prove helpful to any rider looking to push themselves beyond their current limits. Of particular note is the video showing the many techniques to flow off of drops. More advanced riders might also want to take a look at ways to improve their jumping skills.

Shyyyt...I'm still working on my log hopping...next up...wall rides!!!

Here's a fun online mountain bike video game

This mountain bike video game is similar to Bike or Die for the Palm platform that I wrote about previously, except you can play it online for free. It uses Flash and is worth a few minute diversion if you're daydreaming about mountain bikes while you're on your lunch break at work.

As for today...what are you doing playing this game? I'm going out for a ride...and you should too!

(Via Pedaleiro)

Get a load of this amphibious-recumbent-tall-couch-bike!

Steer with a beer baby...

(Via Patent Pending Blog)

Amazing before and after trail building pictures

The IMBA Trail Care Crew is at it again, building some crazy sustainable trail out of nothing. Check out the before and after shots and prepare to be amazed.

2007 world cross country mountain bike standings

USA Cycling just announced the world standings for cross country mountain bike racing according to UCI (the world governing body for professional cycling).

Both the American men and women are fairing well overall with a 3rd place ranking for each. Top 10 American riders include, Todd Wells, Mary McConneloug, and Georgia Gould.

The world rankings aren't just for fun either. The better a country ranks the more riders they can send to the 2008 Olympics:

A top-five nation’s ranking in the men’s standings will yield the maximum of three start positions, while a top-four ranking for the women will result in the maximum of two entries.

Current standings highlighting the placement of American cross-country riders below:

Corporate bike blogosphere is growing, however slowly

So I've noticed an up-tick in the number of corporate bike blogs lately. There have been at least three new notable additions to the bike blogosphere in the past couple of months:

• Kryptonite - One could argue that Kryptonite has been blogging for years as its marketing maven, Donna Tocci, has been blogging on her own site Tidbits and More in addition to being a contributor at Shut Up and Drink the Kool Aid. Nonetheless, the new blog Unbreakable Bonds is now Kryptonite's official corporate blog.
• Haro - Jill Hamilton is the brand manager for mountain bikes over at Haro Bikes (sister company to Masi Bicycles). Not content to sit on the side lines while the Masiguy received all of the PR glory, she started blogging at Bike Biz Babe where she'll tell "a collection of stories, thoughts, and random chatter from a chick who works in the bicycle industry."
• PrincetonTec - Hot on the heels of a successful launch of their new Switchback series of lights (see my overview here), PrincetonTec has started a blog called Living on the Dash. Not exactly sure what that means, but it sounds good...oh, and the blog looks good too (via Solo Goat).

While it's great that three more bike companies have decided to join the conversation with their customers, it still feels like the industry has been slower than most to embrace the blogosphere. The interesting thing is that for all the companies that have been blogging, they have enjoyed nothing but success - think Surly, Masi, Swobo, Cannondale, and there are others. I don't think I've seen a single issue that should cause shareholders or executives at a company to worry.

Is there something that makes this industry different than others when it comes to marketing? I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

Sea Otter Classic industry news roundup

For those that don't know, the Sea Otter Classic is a giant cycling festival consisting of mountain and road races of all kinds and an outdoor exhibit area for bike companies to showcase their wares. It's open to the public so it attracts quite a mix of people from regular old cyclists, pro and amateur racers, industry insiders, and the media. Given that the event is really the first major cycling event of the season manufacturer's use the occasion to rollout production ready products revealed at Interbike in the Fall as well as introduce prototypes of new product for the upcoming model year (would you believe companies are already introducing 2008 products?!)

There's so much new stuff being introduced that it's difficult to keep up with all of the news and rumors breaking with each day of the festival. As a result, I thought I'd do a little round up to get you caught up...and...because I'm jealous as hell that I'm not there covering the event for you like I have with Interbike in years past.

The great log jumping smackdown

Seems like I'm regularly stealing stuff from Bikecentric...I can't help it...it's just cool shit. This time it's more entertaining than informative. Although, I'm sure you will feel schooled after you see this video from Rickyd and the gang.

It ain't easy hopping over a 29 inch log - not even with a 29 inch wheel.

So check it out...and tell me you don't feel like a sissy for riding around that last fourteen inch log you came across?

Mountain bike racing on the North Pole

Waaa...Waaa...Waaa...so you're crying that it got a little cold just when things seemed like they were warming up. Well quit you're whining and get off your ass and bike (he says hypocritically), it's not that cold out. At least not when you compare the weather to that of...say...the North Pole!

Yup. We missed it. The first ever bike race at the North Pole. What's that you say? You could have done it? Well good for you...you'll have your shot in 2008, for the low-low price of 12,000 Euros (approx. $16,000). Check out the race description:

You will cycle a 26.2 mile marathon distance in extreme sub-zero temperatures on the high Arctic Ocean while negotiating small hillocks of ice and pressure ridges. You will struggle in this formidable challenge, constantly aware you are on territory where the polar bear is king. Forced to carry your bike in some sections, and with 6 to 12 feet of pack ice separating you from 12,000 feet of Arctic Ocean below, a steely nerve will be required to take part in North Pole Bike Extreme - the coolest bike race on the planet.

Meanwhile, YourMTB.com has one of the first photos from the event and YourCycling.com has a podcast from one of the participants checking in via Satellite phone.

So what do you say to a Go Clipless race team in '08...who's with me?