Life's Little Instructions...

Show Respect For Military Personnel Everyday!

24K Gold-Plated Bike for Uber-Rich Eco-Lover...

Nothing less then a gold-plated bike for the uber-rich bike-lover with a conscience! A UK based insurance company, ETA, is offering a custom-made 24K gold-plated Charge Plug bicycle complete with customized seat, handlebars and chain to mark the Green Transport Week.

The Midas ride comes with its own security guard. But, there are certain restrictions in case you want to buy this hell of a pimped ride like you must be eighteen years old, live in the UK, and get a free quote online for cycle insurance in order to enter the contest. One person will be randomly drawn after the contest ends on October 21st.

This amazing two-wheeled ride is approximately worth $18,750, treehugging sure comes for a price!

via Luxist / Productpage

Roasting in Virginia (Charlottesville), who would have thought of it....

Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters - Tried a few cups of the local roaster's Blue Light Blend, Gotta Have More! Heard of them on the radio, but never tried their cofffee until now... I recommend you try them out...

In addition to regular varietals and blends, they also offer a wide variety of organic (shade-grown and fair-trade), and decaffeinated coffees (both chemically decaffeinated and water processed). They roast on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; they will roast and grind your coffee to order, and ship it out to you within 24 hours.

Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters

Life's Little Instructions...

It takes a lifetime to build a good name for yourself, but you can ruin it in a matter of moments...

*** Life's Little Instructions - Introduction ***

As I am sure you may know, common sense knowledge can take you a long way in life....

One great collection is The Complete 'Life's Little Instruction Book'; written by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Published in 1997

It reminded me of what I learned from my elders when I was young, so from time to time I will do a little post with these age-old bits of wisdom. I doubt if I can post anything not already mentioned or printed elsewhere, but these will be the list that I remember or intend to pass on to my children...

Bicycle Tire Wall Clock....

For your 'geeky' bicycle enthusiast...



Bicycle Tire Wall Clock - 20``



NewDaVincis.com

The Bicycle Tutor Explains Just About Every Kind of Bike Fix...

Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done: If your two-wheeled transport is in need of a seasonal tuneup or any kind of fix, The Bicycle Tutor can clearly explain what you'll need to get it done. Run by a photography enthusiast and serious bike geek, the site offers plain-English tutorials in both hi-res video and full text. The streaming videos are free to watch on the site, but you can buy QuickTime videos for a buck or two to load on your iPod and bring out to where the work is. It's a good bookmark for everything from changing a flat to replacing your chain rings.

The Bicycle Tutor [via Get Rich Slowly]

Cardboard Bicycle Costs Just $30, Don't Leave It Out in the Rain...

A 21-year-old student from the UK has designed a cardboard bicycle that he has dubbed "the ultimate green machine." Supporting anyone up to 168 pounds, the frame, which costs around $6 to make, is made from the cardboard used in industrial packaging, whilst the wheels and chain are standard bike issue, and will cost around $24.

Phil Bridge, who is studying Industrial Design, came up with the idea as he was researching reasons why people don't use pedal power to get around town. "A typical round town bike can cost several hundred pounds," says Mr Bridge. "That's a large investment for people who aren't sure whether they will use it. The idea of cardboard is to completely devalue the bike".

The bike is still at prototype stage, and Mr Bridge says he still needs to finalize the design. "The prototype does work but it is still quite limited and there are a few problems," he says. Rain, however, is not one of them, he claims.

Via Gizmodo

Signal Jacket for Cyclists Gets Instructable: Your Arms Will be Happy

Back in March I published a post about Leah Buechley's neat signaling jacket for cyclists, the one that has LED turn-indicators on the back. Not much info was available on it at the time, save for the fact it used an Arduino Lilypad controller.

But now Leah's posted a detailed Instructable for the jacket, including handy things like a shopping list for materials and tools, so you could easily make your own.

One thing we didn't know: there's a single LED on each cuff, confirming your turn signs are showing on the back. Good idea — saving you from veering into the path of a juggernaut that didn't know what you were up to.

[Instructables via Talk2myshirt]

Way to Go George! US Pro cyclist George Hincapie announces birth of son

Pro cyclist George Hincapie will have to add another seat to his bicycle.

Hincapie announced on his Web site that he and wife Melanie welcomed son Enzo Hincapie this past Friday. Enzo was born in Girona, Spain, and weighed almost 7 1/2 pounds.

Hincapie said mother and son are healthy and resting comfortably. Hincapie lives in Greenville, SC.

He gained fame as part of the cycling team that helped Lance Armstrong to seven straight Tour de France titles.

Bike of the future proposed as China's last hope against smog...

In the run-up to the Beijing Olympics the chief concern for many athletes has been the poor air quality, prompting the government to enact a myriad of odd new measures to decrease pollution.

Perhaps a look at Jamie Tomkins 2020 hybrid bicycle might have helped. Mocked up as a concept vehicle a couple of years ago for a GE Plastics Automotive competition, the bike was designed specifically to address China's pollutions problems. The vehicle would be constructed from cheap metals and plastics sporting a design that would be sure woo a significant portion of Chinese motorists into picking up the futuristic two-wheeler.

Now if they could just design a robust breathing mask that would allow cyclists to use the bike without getting black lung during their commute they might have a winner.

Via Tuvie

George Carlin - The Reining King of Comedy Has Died...

Today is a very sad day for the comedy world, George Carlin, the reining king of comedy has died.

Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, died of heart failure Sunday in Los Angeles, according to publicist Jeff Abraham. Carlin went into St. John's Health Center on Sunday afternoon, complaining of chest pain, and died at 5:55 p.m. PT. He was 71. I personally will miss his genius...

I'm aware some stare at my hair.

In fact, to be fair,

Some really despair of my hair.

But I don't care,

Cause they're not aware,

Nor are they debonair.

In fact, they're just square.

They see hair down to there,

Say, "Beware" and go off on a tear!

I say, "No fair!

"A head that's bare is really nowhere.

So be like a bear, be fair with your hair!

Show it you care.

Wear it to there.

Or to there.

Or to there, if you dare!

My wife bought some hair at a fair, to use as a spare.
Did I care?Au contraire!
Spare hair is fair!
In fact, hair can be rare.
Fred Astaire got no hair,
Nor does a chair,
Nor a chocolate eclair,
And where is the hair on a pear?
Nowhere, mon frere!

So now that I've shared this affair of the hair,

I'm going to repair to my lair and use Nair,

do you care?

Visit The Official George Carlin Website

Chinese + bicycle + Olympic

Bicycle with the emblem of Olympic Games (Image courtesy of Xinhuanet)

Meng Jie, a Chinese citizen from Mudanjiang, has modified his bicycle to assemble the emblem of the Olympic Games - five interlocking rings of blue, yellow, black, green, and red.

The next Summer Olympic will held in Beijing, China next year (2008). Mr Meng has plan to travel a few places with his modified bicycle to spread the Olympic love.

Be a Patriot, Ride a Bike ...

I came across this YouTube video of a Miller High Life commercial via the Commute By Bike blog.

Sadly I have a daily round-trip comute to work of 143 miles a day so I doubt that I can ever commute to work, but I have a 'beverage commute' of 1.3 miles that I easily handle with the touring bike given to me by a neighbor, so I am doing some small part to help...

Enjoy. And stop on over at Commute By Bike; it's a great cycling site.

Special Thanks to 'GeekCyclist' for directing me to the website...

Two-Wheeled Wonder in Errandsville

via: GeekCyclist
Two-Wheeled Wonder in Errandsville
Eric Sorensen had an excerpt of his book Seven Wonders for a Cool Planet published in a recent edition of Sierra Magazine under the title Two-Wheeled Wonder. I highly recommend you go read it before it disappears into the nether-net, even if you are not a cyclist.

Here are a couple of excerpts:
The bicycle is a masterpiece of physics. It harnesses human muscle power directly to that old-time marvel--the wheel--and yields a vehicle more energy efficient than any other devised, ever, by anyone. A human on a bicycle is more efficient (in calories expended per pound and per mile) than a train, truck, airplane, boat, automobile, motorcycle, skateboard, canoe, or jet pack. Cycling is more efficient than walking, which takes three times as many calories per mile.

This introduction reminds me of one of the UTA Blue Bikes you can see around downtown Salt Lake City every May.

You can see more blue bike pictures here.

Create a Mural for your Cycling Boudoir (or whatever)...

I was surfing around the "Instructables" website tonight and found an idea I thought I might pass along.

This instructable will teach you how to make a wall mural fast and easy with an overhead projector. It does not look very difficult. You probably can to do this over a period of two days, but not too many hours are involved.

You need some stuff:1) Some art - your own original or a poster perhaps2) An overhead transparency projector - or a modern PC projector3) Some paint (latex house paint is fine), you can scrounge from your paint stash or buy small inexpensive samples at the hardware store.

Something like this will soon be gracing the walls of my garage, at least it gives me a reason to get started on that one specific 'honey-do' that my wife keeps 'asking' me to start.

Something Special For All of Us Coffee and Carbon Fiber Whores

Well it was bound to happen, someone else has finally had the same fanatsies as I have....

Schmolke Carbon (Germany) has created some sweet carbon-fiber gifts for those of us who desire carbon...

They have created a capuccino-cup with saucer and coffee spoon, cup, beermug, Bavarian beermug, tea- or coffee-cup with saucer and coffee spoon, vases and other cool stuff...

With the current exchanges rates, these items are very pricey for Americans (unless you have a stash of Euros hidden away) right now, but Christmas IS coming!

€ 99.-249.

Cyclist killed running red light...

Cyclist killed running red light Herald Sun: "A Cyclist was killed in a car crash on the Gold Coast after running a red light, police say.

The 33-year-old Miami man died at the intersection of the Gold Coast Highway and Dawn Parade, Miami, about 1am (AEST) today.

Police said initial investigations suggested the cyclist turned against a red arrow signal and into the path of a car."

Never, ever ignore posted traffic signals, especially a red light! Is your life worth the few seconds?

A Caffeine Boost for Smucker?

Smucker announced the largest acquisition in its history earlier this month. It will acquire the Folgers coffee business from Procter & Gamble

Coffee will move from zilch to account for 42% of Smucker's sales, thus eclipsing the legacy jam, baking, peanut butter, and milk businesses...

With a name like Smucker, will the coffee be any good?

Cycling's Tour of Pennsylvania starts Tuesday in Philadelphia

Cycling's Tour of Pennsylvania starts Tuesday in Philadelphia Philadelphia Inquirer 06/22/2008

Billed as the world's richest cycling race for elite international cyclists younger than 25, the Tour of Pennsylvania is a six-day, 450-mile stage race that takes place from Tuesday to next Sunday.

Starting with a 2-mile time trial at 10 a.m. and a 30-mile criterium at 6 p.m., both starting at Memorial Hall in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park on Tuesday, the tour ends Sunday in Pittsburgh. Wednesday's 91-mile Stage 2 begins in Downingtown and ends in Carlisle.

The tour, featuring 20 teams of six riders each - ages 18 to 24 - from around the world, is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union and offers a total purse of $150,000. It will be televised on the Versus cable network.

Boonen won't be riding in the year's Tour de France

Tom Boonen has been barred from competing in next month's Tour de France in the wake of his positive test for cocaine.

The Belgian, winner of last year's green jersey for the race's points competition, tested positive in an out of competition control by the ministry of the Flemish Community on May 26th.

It would seem that he was inhaling more than air...

The Associated Press: Chavez mocks critics with 'atomic bicycle'

The Associated Press: Chavez mocks critics with 'atomic bicycle': Chavez mocks critics with 'atomic bicycle'
2 days ago
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is mocking critics who question his close relationship with Iran by showing off what he calls an 'atomic bicycle.'
The bicycles are produced in Venezuela under a joint venture with an Iranian company.
Chavez rode one of the bikes during his Sunday TV program and joked about what he called the bicycle's 'radioactivity' and offered one to U.S. President George W. Bush.
U.S. officials say Chavez is a destabilizing influence in Latin America and also express concern that Iran's nuclear research program could be aimed at weapons production.
Chavez says there is no cause for concern and says the new bicycle factory will eventually be able to manufacture 100,000 bikes a year"

Folding handlebars solve two bike-riding problems...

DVICE: Sometimes living with a bicycle is just too inconvenient. If you want to lean it against the wall in a hallway, for instance, it sticks out too much. And unless you're interested in a radical folding bike design, some tight spaces aren’t quite big enough to fit your chosen conveyance, because the handlebars stick out a bit too much. There must be a design concept that can come to the rescue here.
Indeed there is — designer Joe Wentworth has the answer: These folding handlebars can replace your existing set, making your gas-saving bike-riding campaign just a little bit easier. Quickly collapse them for compact storage, and lock them in that position so no one will be tempted to steal your wheels.

Coffee Joke, A Clean One -The 23rd Cup- by Coffee Sage

Coffee Joke, A Clean One -The 23rd Cup- by Coffee Sage: "
I hope you get a kick from it. I did.

"Caffeine is my shepherd;
I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures;
It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz.
It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,
I’ll fear no Equal for thou art with me;
Thy cream and thy flavorings they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of Juan Valdez.
Thou anointest my days with vigor; my mug runneth over.
Surely flavor and aroma shall follow me all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the House of Maxwell forever.
Amen!"

Pedal-Powered Blimp Attempts to Cross English Channel

Via TreeHugger:

A 16-metre long airship will hopefully be pedalled across the 55 kilometre wide English Channel later today, UK time. French sports enthusiast and pilot Stephane Rousson hopes to complete the journey in about five hours. He’ll be slung under the blimp in a semi-recumbent style bicycle frame, 30 metres above the water, and navigate by adjusting two large propellers on each side of his rather airy ‘cockpit.’

Apparently he has been preparing for this trip for the past four years.

Probably the most famous pedal-powered airborne crossing of the channel took place back in 1979. That’s when Brian Allen took just less than three hours to fly the late Paul McCready designed 25kg Gossamer Albatross from England to France, scooping the Kremer Prize from the Human Powered Aircraft Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

::Stephane Rousson, via ABC.

The Obama family joins neighbors for a lake shore bicycle ride

The Associated Press: Obama family joins neighbors for a lake shore bicycle ride: "Obama family joins neighbors for a lake shore bicycle ride

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama joined family and neighbors for a bicycle ride along the shores of Lake Michigan on Sunday. Obama, who last week claimed the Democratic presidential nomination, capped his victory with a quiet, long weekend at home in Chicago. The Illinois senator and his wife, Michelle, rode to a neighbor's house with their daughters, Malia and Sasha, on Sunday and the group then headed out for the ride along the scenic lake shore. But the outing was cut short by a downpour."

"Looks like he is not sure what a bike helmet is for..." I wonder how long the confusion last, and the ride was 'cut short by a downpour'? You mean you are not supposed to ride in the rain? :-)

Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle

Uncrate The Buyer's Guide For Men:
I know, I know... This is not pedal powered, so why create a post about a motorcycle? I think it looks cool....

Just because you like to ride on two wheels instead of four doesn't mean you can't go green. Meant to be an urban cruiser, the Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle ($12,000 and up) uses six Lithium Phosphate battery modules to propel you from zero to 30 mph in just 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 50mph and a range of 45 miles from a single 3-hour charge.

The fact that it looks fantastic is just icing on the cake.

Coffeetime Coffeemaker Satisfies Anal Retentive Coffee Chemists

Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide: When I want a perfect cup of coffee, a trip to my local Dunkin' Donuts generally does the trick. But when you attempt to make the perfect cup at home using a precise blend of coffee, cream and sugar, the results can be hit or miss.

A new concept called 'Coffeetime' hopes to change all that with a system that allows users to choose precise amounts of the three elements at the push of a button. The controls are color coordinated, so if you want a darker cup of coffee, it is a simple matter of choosing the right shade.

I think the color system is a bit off and the design could use three nozzles instead of one—but the concept has some potential.

[Product Design Forums via The Design Blog]

Cannondale Bicycles May Get iPod Dock Upgrade + Stat Tracking

Cannondale bikes hired a design firm to render up some possible future features on their rides, one of which is a very interesting one called MetroPolite that has an iPod connector.

An iPod seems like the last thing you want to be shoving into your ears when you're riding in a Metro area, seeing as bikes lose to cars when the latter accidentally hit the former

Million Dollar Olympic Bicycle So Specialized "No Ordinary Person Could Ride It"

Cycle maker Koga Miyata is hoping that the new million dollar bike he designed for Dutch cyclist Theo Bos will give him the edge in the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

According to reports, it has the lowest air resistance of any bike in the world, but it has no brakes and only one speed. That, combined with a super stiff frame makes it one of the most "difficult bikes to ride."

So, it is a superfast bike that is damn near impossible to use. Sounds like a sure-fire bet for gold, if you ask me.

[Follow this link for the video from Reuters]

Rail riding: Traveling on train tracks, minus the train

Rail riding looks like an activity that would get old quickly. It involves modifying a bicycle (or building a kind of go-kart) so it can ride along train tracks. Once you get past the novelty of motoring along rails meant for trains, I imagine it gets old pretty quickly, not to mention limiting, since you'd be lamenting not being able to go off the rails and travel on the land around like a regular bike can.

But for those fascinated with rail travel, the rail-riding bike might be just the thing to nurture your hobby. If you want a Rail Runner (the go-kart thing), it'll goes for about two grand, and the bikes look easy enough to modify (some video after the jump). Just be sure to stay off the Q line in Brooklyn.

Railriders, via Notcot

Car crashes into bike race; one dead

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) -- A car plowed into a weekend bike race along a highway near the U.S.-Mexico border, killing one and injuring 10 others, police said.

The 28-year-old driver was apparently drunk and fell asleep when he crashed into the race, said police investigator Jose Alfredo Rodriguez.

A photograph taken by a city official showed bicyclists and equipment being hurled high into the air by the collision.

Rodriguez said Juan Campos was charged with killing Alejandro Alvarez, 37, of Monterrey.

Authorities said the wreck happened 15 minutes into the 34-kilometer (21 mile) race Sunday along a highway between Playa Bagdad and Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas.

Campos said he is an American citizen living in Brownsville. The U.S. Consulate could not immediately confirm that.

"We are looking into the incident in terms of whether American citizens were involved," consulate spokesman Todd Huizinga said.

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I know a how a little thing like a good cup of coffee can make a big difference on any day.

Trailcart: World's First Pedal-Powered 4WD Off-Road Vehicle

Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide: "It seems like something that would have been invented before, and by red-blooded Americans for whom off-roading is a way of life, but the Trailcart, according to TreeHugger, is the world's 'first pedal-powered four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle,' and it was invented by a clever German fellow named Frank Fraune."