Ban motor cars and they shall bike!

I hope that this embedding html works:

Chicago's Bike the Drive 2009 from Dottie White on Vimeo.

I recently saw this film clip on this blog: http://www.palmbeachbiketours.com/2009/05/26/ban-cars-and-the-bikes-will-come/.

Now perhaps it really opens up your eyes to how all these individual cyclists would have otherwise been a single person in a motor car and how the roads would have been clogged up! Perhaps its something of a Utopian pipe-dream, but it shows the reality of what is really possible with some investment in bicycle-oriented infrastructure. Most motorists out there believe that there is no practical alternative to private motor transport and that it is somehow abnormal not to have a motor car. As it stands in my life I can go everywhere I need to by public transport or by bicycle with a bit of planning. In fact, I find it far more convenient than driving, as I never have problems finding parking when I have my bicycle, and often the bicycle parking is in a much more convenient location than any car parking.

Update! Sydney Tweed Ride June 7th, 2009

G'day All!

Its been a while since I have posted on my blog - I am not sure if anyone reads it regularly yet - I have one subscriber that I know of. The reason for the length of time is because I rather unfortunately had two bicycle crashes (don't worry, they were both single-vehicle accidents). My first was when my wheel got caught in a little furrow/rut between the footpath and nature strip, and the second was when a small child stepped in front of me on the street. In both incidents I was the only one injured. However, I have been back in the saddle very quickly after both crashes and I am recovering well, though I am back on pain medication for a while.

One thing which is really cheering my up is the up-coming Sydney Tweed Ride! After reading about similar events in the UK and USA, I wanted to get one happening here in Sydney, Australia. Thankfully, someone else beat me to it and got a ride organised, thought it is an un-supported ride and participants are responsible for their own safety and for obeying all relevant laws.



I must also squeeze in here a little plug for RocketFuel who produce vintage-styled cycle caps and other fashionable cycling items locally in Sydney from a variety of re-cycled and vintage materials. I am really quite pleased with the cap I am now wearing. In fact I have a problem with hair - I'm half-Asian and have very thick and unruly black hair. I find that wearing this cap of a morning on my commute at least flattens it down a little to something manageable and if I put it on straight after I shower and brush my hair it keeps it all nicely set for when I am going out. Not to mention it does prevent the lumpy look of helmet hair.

I have no financial relationship with rocketfuel, other than I won't mind forking over some more cash for more of their stuff! The caps are seriously good-quality, and they fulfil my preferences for buying local and/or recycled where possible. Oh, and a bit of good retail therapy helps you get over not being able to ride for several days after a crash!

Honey, I retro-fied the MTB!

It has been a little while since I posted anything here, and I thought it was time I gave a general update on my cycling.

A while ago this was what my ride looked like:(Click to view larger)


And this is how she looks today:(Click to view larger)


The main changes are:

1.) Removal of front carry rack (I really only use it when touring anyway)
2.) Addition of second bottle cage to front handlebars
3.) Transfer of lights from front rack to handle-bars (Twin LED headlights work wonders)
4.) Addition of stainless steel mudguards
5.) Addition of rear derailer guard (to protect rear derailer)
6.) New (better) pump mounted onto frame (old one's valve gave up the ghost)

This whole process has given my bicycle a rather retro look. It has really become a wonderful all-purpose commuting and touring bicycle. However, it seems a shame really, because I do want to have a vintage Malvern Star or Raleigh instead. I'll have to move out to my own place in order to collect the bicycles I like.

Do I want to modify it further? Most certainly yes! I'd like to put in a taller quill stem, north road handlebars, mud-flaps, 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub, chain-guard, brooks saddle bags... PLENTY TO DO!

Sydney Tweed Run Route Survey

Don't worry, you haven't missed it! Today was a route survey of the Sydney Tweed Run, and I just had to join in to ensure that I could participate, and that I could faithfully tell my friends that it is a really easy route and it'll be a real fun day out.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=66148341220&ref=ts

http://sydney.tweedrun.info/


The Assembled Survey Team, Sydney Town Hall


Me, with my insurance policy.


Sussing out the Route, George Street (I think), near Circular Quay


Hmm... Possible Bottle-Neck Here


Ah... That's Better. Now you can see my Argyle Socks. ULTRA LYCRAM AD ELEGANTIAM