---

I got this article out of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. I was thinking it was just me but more and more bikes are coming in that I can not get parts for and then can not fix, very sad for the people buying these bikes.

DENVER

Bikes even, or especially, the cheapest ones should be repairable, according to a petition to the industry being led by a group of nonprofit bike shop mechanics.

The petition calls on manufacturers to "stop producing and selling bikes that fall apart after a few months of use. These products are harmful to the environment, erode public confidence in the usefulness and joy of bicycles, and waste the money of the mostly poor and working class people who buy them."

The campaign's early supporters are bike techs from nonprofit community bicycle shops and similar programs, the groups that often refurbish used bikes to provide affordable transportation to the needy.

One supporter, Mac Liman of Denver's Bikes Together the program, said bikes have gotten increasingly less repairable in recent years. Liman has been a mechanic for nearly 19 years, including 14 at Bikes Together.

"If l get a Huffy from the 90s, chances are l can actually make repairs to it. It will still be heavy, but the steel will hold together," Liman said. the internet have threads that shear off when a mechanic tries to replace or adjust components, she said. They have However, more recent bikes from big box stores frames that crack, and non-standard parts that can't be "I've seen bearing cups that just fall out of hubs, so affordably replaced, she said. start with tips on how to identify bikes that simply can't there's no way you can rebuild them," she said.

At Bikes Together, entry-level bike repair classes now start with tips on how to identify bikes that simply can't be repaired, she said.

The petition resulted from a discussion among mechanics at Bike! Bike!, an annual conference for community bike organizations. The 2021 Bike! Bike! was held on- line in November. The movement is especially timely given the recent surge in bike sales and lack of repair parts.

"Walmart sold out of all its bikes in March 2020, and we're already starting to get those bikes coming in. And we can't fix them," Liman said. The effort has received some support from right to repair advocacy groups, who lobby for legislation.requiring manufacturers to make consumer products, including electronics, repairable. BRAIN

---

I have recently learned something about bike “Disc Brakes” they need a break-in period. So I went out on the internet and found some articles about how to do this.

For optimal results, new disc-brake pads and rotors should be put through a break-in process known as "bed-in", "burnishing", or "burn-in". When properly done the bed-in process improves brake power, reduces brake noises, eliminates vibration, and squeal and prolongs rotor and pad life. Unfortunately, while disc-brake manufacturers all publish recommended bed-in procedures, for the sake of simplicity these procedures are, at best, loose guidelines. If mechanics follow these procedures to the letter, they may waste a great deal of time and effort, the results could fall short of accomplishing bed-in, or the results could be badly overheated brake-system components that are more likely to produce the very symptoms that bed-in should prevent.

Here are some examples of manufacturer's recommended bed-in procedures:

Shimano: Clean the rotor. On pavement, get the bike up to a good speed, then firmly and evenly apply the front brake until the bike comes to almost a complete stop. Repeat 10 times. You should notice the brake becoming more powerful with each braking cycle. Repeat for the rear brake.

Avid/SRAM: Accelerate the bike to a moderate speed (approximately 12 miles per hour), then firmly apply the brakes until you are at walking speed. Repeat approximately 20 times. Accelerate the bike to a faster speed (approximately 20 miles per hour) Then very firmly and suddenly apply the brakes until you are at walking speed. Repeat approximately 10 times. Do not lock the wheels up at any point during the bed-in procedure. Allow the brakes to cool prior to any additional riding.

Hayes: Disc brakes require a special burnish period to achieve maximum braking power. The burnish period lasts for about 30-50 hard stops. During this period some noise may occur. Brake pads are complex structures. At the simplest level, brake pads are a combination of abrasive particles or fibers (of various materials) bonded together by a phenolic resin. Complexity results from the wide variety of abrasive materials and resin compounds that are used. Additionally, variable ratios of the abrasive material to resin material exist for different pads.

The bed-in procedure, therefore, has two purposes. First, if the brake setup has not established perfect parallelism between the pad faces and the rotor faces, then the bed-in process improves this conformity. However, the amount of braking necessary to produces full conformity is a function of the initial degree of severity to which the pad and rotor faces are not parallel.

Below are some guidelines to help you (If you have a new bike you can skip to step 3):

1. Clean your rotors
One of the biggest mistakes riders make is putting new pads into a system where the rotors are dirty with oils or other contaminants. Use disc brake cleaner to remove residue from the rotor before bedding in new pads.

2. Check new pads
Ensure that you use clean and undamaged new pads, as anything else won’t bed in. Pads that have seen any use at all will have been through braking cycles. While they will work to a degree, you won’t get the full benefit.

3. Find a safe place
With your new pads fitted to your caliper, you need to find a long, gradual road descent with a smooth surface. Something that allows a 20mph roll with enough space and safety to perform some hard stops will be ideal.

4. Drag and stop
Everyone has their own method of getting new pads to bite. We build up speed, drag the brake for five or six seconds to build heat and then increase lever pressure until the bike stops. Six or seven runs will have the brakes working perfectly.

5. Ignore early pulls
Early stops will feel poor, but the response should build with each cycle. The heating of the pad causes it to transfer some of the material to the rotor, keying the pad and rotor together and giving your brakes bite and immediacy.

6. Adjust the lever
You might want to tweak your brake lever so that it adapts to the feel of the newly bedded brake pads. Some brakes adjust automatically, but those with lever bite-point adjusters can also be fettled manually.

7. Test
Now that you’ve bedded in your new pads on the road, it’s time to see whether or not they’re allowing you to hit turns harder and more deeply. And remember, it’s brakes that help racers go faster!

---

I found this artical in www.bicycling.com web page by Matt Phillips.

The Jamis Ventura Comp Is the Best Damn $1,079 Bike You Can Buy

The Jamis Ventura is fast and smooth, with modern frame features and surprisingly high-end details for a bike priced just a bit over a thousand dollars. Jamis employs different tube sets—a smaller-diameter one for sizes 54cm and under and a larger-diameter set for sizes 56cm and up—to provide a smoother ride in smaller sizes and to boost frame stiffness for the cyclists who ride a larger size.

More thought than usual was put into the Ventura’s geometry—not just for a $1,079 bike but for almost any bike. The Ventura’s chainstay length, fork offset, and bottom bracket drop change across the bike’s size range. In theory, this lets the tallest and shortest riders experience the same balanced handling as the riders on midsized frames.

This geometry tinkering is what you get with custom bikes, and higher-end models like the Specialized Tarmac, but is rarely found in lower-cost bikes like this. The head tube is elegantly tapered with hidden bearing cups. And on the front of that head tube, the Ventura sports a legit head badge, an increasingly rare detail on any bike. Check out the $15,300 Argonaut—even that bike doesn’t have a head badge.

The Ventura also comes with a full-carbon fork, which Todd Corbitt, Jamis’s road product manager, says provides a better ride than an aluminum fork or a hybrid carbon-and-aluminum version. The fork steerer tapers from 1.5 inches to 1.125 inches, which improves strength and stiffness for better braking and sharper steering.

There’s a surprising number of curves and bends throughout the frame. Jamis’s factory double-butts and shapes the frame tubes, which saves weight and improves ride quality. To make maintenance easier (and your mechanic happier), Jamis added hatches at the entry and exit of the internal cable-routing ports. Individually, these details are not groundbreaking. But to find all of them in one frame is unique. And in a $1,079 bike? That’s almost unheard of.

And I’m still not done telling you about all the cool features. The Ventura also has fender and rear-rack mounts, 28mm-wide Vittoria tires, and tubeless-ready wheels so you can go with tubeless when the stock tires wear out. The Shimano Sora drivetrain shifts crisply and provides a wide gear range via the 9-speed, 11-32 cassette. The group also lets you adjust how far the shift and brake levers sit from the handlebar so you can fine-tune your reach. The Ventura’s Ritchey bar, stem, and seatpost give it a higher-end look, while the replaceable derailleur hanger and flat-mount disc brake calipers are practical features that make it easy to replace parts down the road.

The only part that shows this bike’s price is the square-taper bottom bracket, which is heavier and not as stiff as modern, external-bearing BBs with large-diameter crank axles. Even so, riders won the Tour de France on bikes with square-taper BBs just 20 years ago. The Ventura also has open dropouts with quick-release wheels instead of thru-axles, and cable-actuated disc brakes instead of hydraulic brakes. Thru-axles and hydraulic discs improve a bike’s overall performance, but Jamis made a smart compromise here to keep the price low. Most users won’t have any issues with either sets of components.

Riding the Ventura makes me think about what’s essential on a bike. I also tested the most expensive bike featured in this issue—Argonaut’s fully customized, U.S.-made, carbon road bike. It is gobsmacking, one of the best bikes I’ve ever ridden, and I’ve ridden a lot (in 23 years of testing bikes, I’ve probably been on as many as anyone). It’s the kind of bike that makes me say, “Daaaaamn.” But a $15,300 bike should be—better be—all that.

Road bikes have changed a lot over the past decade: Carbon fiber is ubiquitous, electronic shifting is common, as are disc brakes, tubeless wheels, and aero frames. And while most of the highest-end bikes have all those things, not all those elements are essential to a great ride.

This Jamis offers many of the most essential pieces of bike tech that make a great ride—a great frame that responds to your input and gives the right amount of feedback from the road, a good fork, disc brakes, and attention to detail, but at a fraction of the usual price. So after all those surprises, what’s not surprising is that I had memorable rides on the Ventura Comp. It’s a damn good bike. It’s glassy smooth with balanced handling. It shifts quickly and accurately. The brakes have good power and better control. It feels reactive and quick when climbing hills. At 22.5 pounds (54cm), it’s heavy compared to a very high-end bike, but not at all heavy compared to its similarly priced competition.

With the Ventura, you get a surprising number of features for the money, and a ride that sings. You might like your bike to be something more, but you don’t need anything more than this.

---

I found this artical in Bicycle Retailer's web page by Stephen Frothingham.
Trek, Kent and others look to Cambodia for production.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Cambodia, already the biggest bicycle supplier to the EU, is making up ground in the U.S. market as well due to the recent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

Trek Bicycle plans to move production of at least 200,000 bikes from China to Cambodia next year, according to multiple sources who spoke with BRAIN at the recent Taipei Cycle show and elsewhere. The bikes are opening-price-point models with aluminum frames and will be made at the A&J; (Cambodia) factory. Since opening in Cambodia in 2006, A&J; has made bikes for Bianchi, Scott, Felt, Rocky Mountain, Norco, and Kona there.

A Trek Bicycle spokesman did not reply to multiple inquiries from BRAIN to comment on the move.

The production is being shifted away from Giant Manufacturing's facilities in China. Giant Manufacturing's Irene Chen said she would not comment on Giant's OEM business, but noted that the company is focused on e-bike and high-end traditional bike manufacturing and is seeing growth in those areas.

"The overall global economy and market poses many uncertainties due to the trade war between U.S. and China," Chen said. "Giant will continue to take leverage of its Asia and European production facilities, focusing on short supply lead time and global positioning to maintain its growth opportunities in this challenging market."

Kent International also plans to move a large share of its production from China to Cambodia in the next few months. One of Kent's major Chinese suppliers is building a new, 500,000-square-foot factory in Cambodia. Kent's CEO, Arnold Kamler, said the factory will begin shipping some bikes in September 2019.

"Assuming the 25 percent tariff takes effect, the idea is to move essentially all of our production from China to Cambodia," Kamler told BRAIN. He said that to comply with U.S. Customs rules of origin, the Kent bikes from Cambodia will have at least 35 percent of their value from Cambodian parts or labor and will have Cambodia-made frames and forks.

While most of Cambodia's bike factories are near the Vietnam border in the north, the factory that Kent is working with is in the south, near the nation's capital city of Phnom Penh.

Cambodian bikes are imported in the U.S. duty-free because of the country's Generalized System of Preferences status. Bikes from most other countries (including China and Taiwan) have been historically subject to a U.S. import duty of 11 percent. With the imposition of a 10 percent tariff on Chinese bikes in September, the tariff advantage over Chinese bikes is now 21 percent. Trump's 10 percent tariff is set to increase to 25 percent in January, furthering Cambodia's head start on China.

Manufacturers are also looking to Vietnam and Indonesia as alternatives to China. And production of higher-priced bikes is shifting back to Taiwan, although that country does not have the capacity or available labor to resume supplying all the brands that moved production to China in recent years.

Europe has been ahead of the U.S. in moving bike production to Cambodia, which is now the largest bike supplier to the EU. Most bike imports into the EU are subject to a 14 percent tariff that is waived for Cambodian bikes under the EU's GSP Plus program. Under GSP Plus, the EU even waives a 14 percent tariff on the costs of shipping bikes from Cambodia. The shipping cost tariff is collected on imports from most other countries.

In Europe, there are some concerns that the European Commission could end the GSP Plus status for Cambodia because of human rights concerns. And Taiwan still has the edge on Cambodia in exports of higher-value bikes and e-bikes to Europe.

In the U.S., importers began bringing in significant numbers of bikes from Cambodia in 2011, as shown in the graph at left. The spike in imports in 2013 is likely due to the decision by Specialized to move a significant amount of its adult and kids bike production to Cambodia that year. The following year, Specialized moved most of its adult bike production back to Taiwan, but continues to have kids bikes made in Cambodia.

Last year, Cambodia was a distant third, behind China and Taiwan, in supplying the U.S. with bikes, as shown in the chart at the top of the page.

Despite the tariff advantage and lower labor costs, manufacturing in Cambodia remains a challenge for a number of reasons. The country lacks an industry cluster, so many components must be imported, adding to the cost and lead times. The country also lacks a deep-water port, so exporters need to use smaller feeder vessels to get inventory out of the country, adding to cost and lead times. The country has at times been politically unstable and labor strikes have shut down some factories for weeks at a time. However, companies doing business in Cambodia say those factors are improving each year.

---

A nice couple came in with a request to inflate their pool floats. I will use it as a great reason to keep our local bike shop in business or any of the local business going. It is nice to be that local guy.

---

If you would like to watch or enter a bicycle race in Plainfield NJ

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp is proud to once again host the 2017 New Jersey State Cycling Championships. This is the second year that the City of Plainfield will be the venue for this exciting competition. This event presents a great opportunity to expose our children and residents to the sport of cycling. Race categories include children through Adult Beginner and Amateur, Elite, and Professional groups. There will be a free bike giveaway and races for children on the day of the event. A cycling safety workshop for children and beginners starts at 10am. Additionally, there will be many fun activities for the entire family - For more information call (908) 226-2509.

Renown gold medalists Olympian Bobby Lee will be competing alongside athletes from New Jersey, the U.S., and other countries. We will also have an opportunity to celebrate Plainfield’s diversity and enjoy incredible food from our local businesses at the Taste of Plainfield on 5th Street by Plainfield City Hall.

The New Jersey State Championship bicycle race course will run from the front of Plainfield City Hall (515 Watchung Avenue) proceed northbound, turning left onto 100 block of East Second Street. The riders will then travel westbound and turn left onto Park Avenue. They will continue traveling southbound on Park Avenue, turning left onto the 100 block of East Seventh Street. They then will travel eastbound and make their final turn onto the 600 block of Watchung Avenue, until they reach the finish line in front of Plainfield City Hall.

If you are a Cyclist and would like to enter the race

---

Join my friend avid cyclist and musician, Anthony E. Nelson, Jr. and pianist Brandon McCune as they present a duo live recording at the Shiloh Baptist Church on March 25, 2017, at 4pm.

---

WFSGI program stops sale of $9 million-plus in counterfeit online listings.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — The WFSGI's anti-counterfeiting program for the bike industry has eliminated more than 160,000 online listings for counterfeit bike products in the last three years, the group announced Thursday at the Taipei Cycle Show.

The program, conducted by Convey, an Italian company, monitors about 50 online platforms, including Alibaba, eBay and similar sites. Convey's Michele Provera said the program has stopped sales of counterfeit products worth more than 9 million euro's ($9.8 million). About 85 brands, all WFSGI members, are participating in the program.

"WFSGI members are protected," Provera said. "The counterfeiters have shifted to easier targets ... The war is almost won."

Provera said the program is expanding to better protect more of brands' intellectual property.

"At the beginning we were focused on protecting trademarks, but we are expanding to protecting copyrights, design rights, and utility and design patents," he said.

My take on this is a little harder and a little easy at the same time. The easy part is if it looks too good to be true it probably is. This counterfeiting is a new game to me. For years we had to just battle mail order with real parts now I am battling mail order with fake parts. A friend came in with a carbon Time seat for 18.00 dollars. My cost is way over 100.00 dollars. How can it be this cheep? Yes it is fake. So now we will see how long it last. The hard part is “what is the long term damage to the brand that is counterfeited” and what is the chance that the customer is badly hurt? All I can say is don’t be fooled by the low price just stick with the brand name stuff.

---

As I guessed the list of bikes brands has been growing. I found a web page to help you to see if you have a bike with this problem. It is Quick Release Recall.
Trek has issued a recall notice for all users of Trek bikes that use a Quick Release skewer in conjunction with a disc brake. With disc brakes appearing on road bikes and most CX bikes now that could add up to quite a lot of bikes.

The issue appears to be with a QR lever that opens far enough beyond the 180 degree mark that it could potentially foul the rotor on the front wheel. It’s not difficult to imagine the consequences of that if you happen to have forgotten to close your QR and you are riding along.

Trek does point out that if your QR is done up correctly their is no real risk of being flung over the bars, but who hasn’t set off riding only to have your riding buddies point out the flapping QR lever you forgot to do up.

If you think you might have this problem take it down to the shop you bought it and ask them if it is. Also it is important for everybody to look at their front QR's because as I always say all these bikes are made in the same factories in China if Trek has a problem we all have the same problem. If you can not go down to your Trek dealer call their hot line 800-373-4594.

---

Vox Wednesday, March 25,2015 states "Bicycle face": a 19th-century health problem made up to scare women away from biking.
Once upon a time, the main danger associated with bicycling had nothing to do with being hit by a car.
Instead, some late-19th-century doctors warned that — especially for women — using the newfangled contraption could lead to a terrifying medical condition: bicycle face.
"Over-exertion, the upright position on the wheel, and the unconscious effort to maintain one's balance tend to produce a wearied and exhausted 'bicycle face,'" noted the Literary Digest in 1895. It went on to describe the condition: "usually flushed, but sometimes pale, often with lips more or less drawn, and the beginning of dark shadows under the eyes, and always with an expression of weariness." Elsewhere, others said the condition was "characterized by a hard, clenched jaw and bulging eyes."
It's hard to find the very first mention of this "condition," but in an 1897 article in London's National Review, British doctor A. Shadwell claimed to have first coined the phrase a few years earlier. He went on at length about the dangers of bicycling, especially for women, describing how "cycling as a fashionable craze has been attempted by people unfit for any exertion."
Descriptions of bicycle face varied: some implied it could be a permanent condition, while others maintained that given enough time away from a bicycle, a person's bicycle face would eventually subside.
Explanations of the root cause of bicycle face also varied. Shadwell, for one, argued that the particular difficulty of keeping a bicycle balanced caused it, but that the accompanying overexertion also played a role. Some other publications felt that violating the Sabbath by riding bicycles on a Sunday was ultimately to blame. Most agreed that bicycle face could strike anyone, but women were disproportionately affected.
Obviously, bicycle face isn't a real thing. Which brings up an interesting question.
Why were doctors so worried about bicycle face?
In 1890s Europe and America, bicycles were seen by many as an instrument of feminism: they gave women a measure of increased mobility, began to redefine Victorian ideas about femininity, and were eagerly taken up by many women active in the suffrage movement. Bikes helped stoke dress reform movements, which aimed to reduce Victorian restrictions on clothes and undergarments so women could wear clothes that allowed them to engage in physical activities.
As Munsey’s Magazine put it 1896: "To men, the bicycle in the beginning was merely a new toy, another machine added to the long list of devices they knew in their work and play. To women, it was a steed upon which they rode into a new world."All this triggered a backlash from many (male) doctors and onlookers, who cited all sorts of reasons to dissuade women from riding bikes. In general, they argued, bicycling was an excessively taxing activity, unsuitable for women. It would lead to not only bicycle face, but also exhaustion, insomnia, heart palpitations, headaches, and depression.
The women who did ride faced a huge list of rules. Among the New York World's 41 rules for female cyclists printed in 1895 were "Don't refuse assistance up a hill" and "Don't emulate your brother's attitude if he rides parallel toward the ground."
Toward the end of the 1890s, though, many doctors began to publicly question the idea of bicycle face, noting that people concentrate when riding or driving any sort of vehicle without it causing lasting facial damage.
In 1897, the Phrenological Journal quoted Chicago doctor Sarah Hackett Stevenson putting the issue to rest: "[Cycling] is not injurious to any part of the anatomy, as it improves the general health. I have been conscientiously recommending bicycling for the last five years," she said. "The painfully anxious facial expression is seen only among beginners, and is due to the uncertainty of amateurs. As soon as a rider becomes proficient, can gauge her muscular strength, and acquires perfect confidence in her ability to balance herself and in her power of locomotion, this look passes away."

---

Zipp recalls first-generation 88 front hubs by BRAIN Staff of bicycleretailer.
INDIANAPOLIS (BRAIN) — Zipp is working with the CPSC to recall some first-generation model 88 front hubs because of a concern about a retaining ring that can fail, resulting in "an ejection" of all the wheel's spokes. The relevant hubs were manufactured between 2008 and 2010.

About 12,000 hubs are being recalled. The company said two incidents of collapsed front wheels have been reported. Each resulted in stitches, bruises and lacerations, plus a concussion in one case. Wheels with the hubs were sold in the aftermarket and included as original equipment on bikes from five brands (see list below). .

Zipp says there are some simple visual checks to identify whether a hub is first generation; hubs not affected by this recall have larger clinch nuts that prevent spoke ejection. .

Affected hubs have a retaining ring and clinch nut that look like those shown in the Image. Note the larger colored ring with the "Z" and the smaller, silver-colored clinch nut. Zipp said no other generation of the hub had the Z logo on the retaining rings. .

Zipp is telling owners of wheels with the affected hub to not ride with the wheel until they have taken the wheel to a dealer for an exchange. The company said most consumers can have their hubs rebuilt with new parts at no cost. .

Consumers who cannot reach their dealer or who have additional questions can call SRAM’s Dealer and Customer Service directly during regular business hours at (800) 346-2928 or (800) 231-6755. .

Bikes spec'd with the recalled hubs:
Specialized: 2010 TARMAC SWorks Super Light, 2010 SWorks Transition, 2011 SWorks Tarmac SL3 Limited.

Giant: 2009 TCR Advance SL 0, 2009 Trinity Advance SL 0, 2010 TCR Advance SL 0, 2010 Trinity Advance SL 0.

Felt: 2009 AR Team Issue, 2009 DA, 2009 B2 Pro, 2010 DA, 2010 DA Di2, 2010 B2 Pro.

Orbea: 2010 Orca RED, 2010 Orca Di2, 2011 Orca GRD, 2011 Ordu GDi2, 2011 Ordu GLT.

Cannondale: 2010 Super Six Hi Mod Di2, 2010 Slice Hi Mod Ultimate. .

---

CLOCKING THE FASTEST BICYCLES ON EARTH AS BIKE DESIGN IMPROVES, OLD RECORDS ARE GETTING SHATTERED. By Sophie Bushwick.

Any car can outpace a typical human-powered bike. But within an aerodynamic carbon-composite casing (picture a large bullet with a windshield), even an average cyclist can accelerate to more than 50 miles per hour. “Here’s this teardrop missile going at highway speed, and all you can hear is the sound of air going over the body and tires on the ground,” says Alan Krause, president of the International Human-Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA). The organization has been holding competitions since 1976, tracking the new speed records set as bike designs improve.

1976: The Beginning

The IHPVA’s competitions give teams a chance to test designs, swap ideas—and break lots of records.

1999: Big Money

One-hour record attempts increase as bikers vie to cover 56 miles in an hour and win the $25,000 Dempsey-MacCready prize.

2000: Battle Mountain

An annual competition begins on a straight, flat highway near Battle Mountain, Nevada. One-hour events need a longer track, but with five miles to build up speed, 200-meter records shoot up.
2013: The World's Fastest ... For Now

At 83.13 miles per hour, Sebastiaan Bowier of Human Power Team Delft and his VeloX 3 bike set the world human-power speed record.

This article was originally published in the March 2015 issue of Popular Science.

---

Not even frozen eyeballs can keep Ohio man from biking to work in winter By Caitlin Dickson of Yahoo news.

The first thing Fraser Cunningham does when he gets to work in the morning is de-ice. After biking nearly two hours in the harsh Cincinnati winter, his 16-inch beard — which his wife calls his “chinsulation” — is usually covered in icicles. Last week, on a morning when the temperature was 10 below zero, Cunningham’s eyes froze open midride. He has a car, but it’s going to take a lot more than frozen eyeballs to get Cunningham to drive to work.

“Only in an absolute, dire emergency,” Cunningham told The Cincinnati Enquirer last week.

The local paper spotlighted the 56-year-old General Electric engineer, who has been commuting by bike for the past 10 years and hasn’t missed a day since July 22, 2013. That may seem like some kind of record, but Cunningham is still a few months shy of beating his own record streak of 20 1/2 months of daily bicycle commuting.

Cunningham told The Enquirer that he decided to start biking to work as a means of quelling his growing concerns about aging. Now, a decade later, he says, “It’s a lifestyle.”

Equipped with layers of heavy-duty warming gear and special gloves he has attached to the fat-tired bike he rides in the winter, it’s the espresso machine on his desk that really keeps him going. After a while, not even the most high-tech apparel can withstand the bitter cold of a midwestern winter morning.

“That’s when I start thinking about my espresso,” Cunningham said.

This man is an inspiration to me and I hope it is to many others too. It shows what we can do and maybe what we should be doing more of.

---

Next Bicycles Recalled The chain can break.
Bridgeway International is recalling about 91,000 Next brand bicycles. The bicycle chain can break, causing a rider to lose control and fall.

The firm is aware of 11 reports of incidents, including nine reports of injuries, including lacerations and contusions.

This recall involves “NEXT”-branded men’s 26-inch hybrid bicycles. The bicycles are red or orange. “Power X” and “Suspension” are printed on the frame. Model numbers LBH2611M and LBH2611M2 are included in this recall. The model number is located on the frame between the pedals.

Walmart sold the bicycles from February 2011 through July 2011 for about $100. They were made in China.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycle and contact the company for a free repair.

For additional information, contact Bridgeway International at (877) 934-3228 anytime.

Okay I know this is a few years old but it brings up the point I just never understand. Why would anybody buy these bikes. I understand they are cheapbut how much is the safety of you and your family worth. These bikes are cheaper because they are junk and that is the bottom line.

---

A friend of mine sent me this cool looking tool that lets you fix a flat tire with out taking it off the rim and with out taking the wheel off the bike. here is the video of the tool. Patch-n-Ride.
It may be real cool but I would like to know how it works and how many times it works before I spend that much on that tool.I am also not too pleased with they way they portray how shops charge money to fix your flat. I personally have shown hundreds of people how to fix their own flats it is not really that hard. I am willing to look at any idea that will take some of the difficulty out of a flat in the middle of your ride.
This is what I found on the web about it.
"Patchnride is an ingenious solution that lets you repair all punctured bicycle tires on the go in less than a minute! As the product name suggests Patchnride lets you patch your puncture from the inside, simply push the spike into the tire hole, then pull the slider to load the patch and hit the start button to release the adhesive. Voilá! Pump up your tire and you’re ready to go. Never change a bicycle flat again, enjoy your ride"

 

---

I got this article from http://www.bikeroar.com/ I hope it helps when you make that choice to buy from a Big Box store.

The first picture you can see the wheel is on backwards, the second the cranks are both facing the same way, and last the fork is on backwards.

 

It's Christmas time and for many that means purchasing a new bike. With the massive numbers of bikes being sold, local bike shops are concerned about the safety of many bikes on the market, particularly retailers without professional staff on-hand. Statistics from the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) say that last year in the US 74% of the 16 million bikes sold were bought at big box or supermarket retailers.

 

Local 6 news Orlando, Florida, have brought attention to the reality of buying a bicycle from retailers who may not have the expertise to correctly assemble the bike in the first place. They bought four bikes from supermarket retailers and took them to a Kyle's Bike Shop for a basic safety check with alarming results - Most were not only put together badly but were dangerous to ride.

 

Who built my bike?

Joshua Jiannuzzi, who once assembled bikes at Kmart, is the now professional mechanic who looked over the bikes. "You should really have the confidence and assurance that the bike you're purchasing has been put together correctly. A lot of times the people assembling it are the people assembling your patio furniture, your barbecues, your grills. The same people who sometimes bag your groceries," said Jiannuzzi.

He also pointed out that sometimes the bicycles are assembled by contractors hired by the retailer. Those contractors are often paid for each bike they put together, according to Jiannuzzi, giving them a financial incentive to assemble the bikes quickly.

At the completion of the local bike shop safety check, three of the four bikes failed purely as a result of the way they were assembled in store. 

Some of the biggest safety concerns discovered were loose handlebars and stems which are an accident waiting to happen. Other problem areas were poorly adjusted brakes and loose wheelnuts. Issues like these have already led to serious injury and legal action.

 

What can I do?

While every industry professional would prefer people purchased from a local bike shop, the reality is that these bikes are often double the price to those found in a big box retailer and, as Jiannuzzi's boss, Kyle Markel says "Those bikes do have a place, not everybody can afford $300 and up for a bicycle."

The staff at The Bike Stand have vast bike shop experience and have seen much of the same thing coming through the workshop door. We recommend if you buy from a supermarket retailer, take the bike straight to a bike shop for a professional tune-up and safety check. The extra money may be what prevents a bad accident in the future.

As bike manuals often state: "Improper assembly of this product may result in serious injury or death" 

The other issue consumers should be aware of is that even with a safety check, many big box retailer bicycles are constructed so poorly from the factory that if you get 6 months of reliable riding you may be doing alright - no matter how well adjusted it is. If you can afford a bike from a local bike shop then don't hesitate in walking past the supermarket racks.

 

---

Anthony Nelson

---

Fred Clements: Bike shop survival is in everyone's interest
A blog by NBDA executive director Fred Clements. Published September 16, 2014

When those in the bike world think of cycling infrastructure, they usually think of places to ride. Bike paths, bike friendly roads and off-road trails are all part of the necessary network for riding a bicycle.

But there is more to infrastructure than asphalt, concrete and off-road trails. Many bicycle dealers are becoming increasingly vocal that they are infrastructure too, and that a robust future for cycling in America revolves around bike shops.

The dictionary describes infrastructure as the "underlying base or foundation for an organization or system." By that definition, bike shops can definitely be considered as infrastructure. It's a rare cyclist who hasn't taken advantage of a bike shop sometime in their life for bikes, accessories, test rides, repair, service and advice.

Bike shops as infrastructure is more than mere semantics. If bike shops are infrastructure, the fight for the future of the independent dealer becomes more than a marketplace issue. If bike shops are infrastructure, the continued decline in the number of bike shops across the country is every bicycle advocate's problem.

From a bike dealer in Kansas, "Having a pony in the race does not mean that we aren't telling the truth. The big question for the public is, do you want someone nearby that can help you with this machine? If your shopping habits don't reflect what you say you want, then you work against your own self-interest not to do business with us."

From a California dealer, "I think the big issue here is that we, the LBS (local bike shop), are not regarded as part of the infrastructure. I believe we can make a strong case that we've been an integral part of making cycling accessible, and that our declining numbers are a cause, not an effect, of decreased utilization of the bicycle.

"We are not just businesses making money. We are a business-provided for-profit infrastructure that has enabled cyclists for many decades. We are already amazingly efficient at what we do, because we're already subsidized by owners willing to work for much less than they should. And our competition with each other keeps us efficient in a manner that you will never see in a government project.

"The answer is advocacy for the retail brick & mortar bike shop. We need to get loud about our role in the cycling infrastructure. People should start thinking about what they need to do to support us, as part of the infrastructure, a more efficient part of the infrastructure than any government organization will ever be."

If this all sounds reasonable, should the definition of bicycle advocacy be expanded to include bike shops? Should traditional advocates step up and make the future of the bicycle dealer a cornerstone of their efforts to pave the way for future growth in cycling? Is an "agnostic" view of marketplace dynamics that doesn't favor bike shops a mistake? The answer from here is yes.

The industry and advocates have worked diligently for many years to encourage the government to take bicycles seriously and dedicate a fair proportion of transportation dollars to bicycle facilities. Even tax-averse conservatives can see that the government owns and controls the roads and trails, and has a responsibility to include bicycles in the transportation

mix because no other agency can do so. A good argument can also be made that bicycle facilities have been severely under-funded for years. Despite huge progress in facilities in recent years, participation continues to lag behind the potential.

The basic and troubling truth: cycling is still dangerous in many parts of the country, with a frequently tangled mess of deteriorating roads, rusty bridges, streets with potholes, bike lanes to nowhere, angry and distracted drivers, and arrogant disregard for all human-powered transportation from many policy makers.

The work being done to improve this situation is as difficult as it is important. Progress is being made, but while the prospects remain good, a transformed transportation system that gives cyclists their deserved place in the world will take some time.

For bike dealers, the time is now. The local bike shop is fighting for its collective life versus Internet competition and the various other manifestations of the digital age. This fight is somewhat under-the-radar of many involved in bicycle advocacy because it is in the realm of free enterprise. Advocates are used to allowing the marketplace to determine winners and losers. It may now be time to choose sides.

Not all change is progress. It is all too easy to assume that disruptive technologies always lead to progress, that change is always a good thing, and that in the crucible of competition, the strong survive and things improve. When we hear the complaints of bike shops facing severe internet discounting, many view this as mere whining from an endangered species. But if dealers are infrastructure, their continued existence involves everyone involved in the cycling movement.

So let's not focus only on asphalt, pavement, and responsible off-road trails. It's time for everyone in cycling to consider bike shops as a cornerstone of the solution in addition to traditional infrastructure. It's time for advocates to begin viewing bike shops as part of the infrastructure rather than something separate. It's time for consumers to consider this bigger picture when making a purchase. From a cycling consumer's perspective, would the loss of 1,000 bike shops compare to the loss of 1,000 miles of bike trails? More?

Cycling has been described as a religion by many true converts. To those true believers, it caters not only to physical needs, but psychological and spiritual needs as well. If cycling is compared to a religion, then bike shops are surely the churches, physical places for people to gather, to bond together, to seek counsel, to pursue their faith.

A world without bike shops would be a barren wasteland of missed opportunity to make cycling more visible and important. The health and vitality of the independent bike shop is a key for future growth. The dealer's fight is every bicycle advocate's fight.

My two cents is if you don't keep your local bike shop in business and they go out of business who will help you with your bike? I have people come in all the time and ask me to show them how their quick release works or how to put air into a presta valve. I do it and never charge for it, but it is hard when I see the bike is mail order or a Mega Mark bike. If we loose all the smaller independent bike stores who will help us? The mail order shops? The Mega Mart store? I don’t think so. So when you find a good small independent shop try and buy your bikes and parts from them.

---

Raleigh Just sent me a warning about a few of the entry level 2015 Raleigh bikes. The following are hit with a faulty rear Quick Release. Venture men's /ladies, Talus 1, and Eva 1. I have not got any of these yet but if you think you have run back to your dealer and get a free replacement QR before you hurt your self. It looks like they let the wheel slide in the frame and may then jam up and toss you over board.

---

 

 

British Manufacturing : How A Bicycle Is Made - 1945 Educational Film - S88TV1
The design and manufacture of Raleigh bicycles, as told by a designer to a father and son.

---

 

 

Published on Nov 26, 2013
Family and friend gathered to celebrate the life of Olivia Wise, 16, whose rendition of Katy Perry's 'Roar' drew international attention, as well as from the singer herself.

---

Velo Orange is recalling the upper clamp used on the first few production runs of the VO long-setback seatpost. It has been reported to us that these early clamps may develop cracks or break, causing a hazard to the rider. We advise customers not to use the seatposts until the clamp is replaced with the newer version. Note that this only affects seatposts produced from August 2008 to late 2010, though some shops may have sold the old stock into 2011. The bulk of the older upper clamps were sold as part of item code VOGCSP (2008 - 2010); fewer were sold as part of item code SE-0001 (2011).
The newer and stronger style of clamp has two reinforcing ridges along the top. The old style has a smooth top as shown above.
Should customers report having the older clamp, please e-mail (info@velo-orange.com) or call them (443-949-8115) and they will send out a replacement clamp at no charge. Or they can send back the entire seatpost and they will replace the clamp.
Sincerely.
Scott Gater
Velo Orange LLC
1981 Moreland Parkway, Building 3
Annapolis, MD, 21401 USA
443-949-8115 phone
443-926-0095 fax
www.velo-orange.com

---

As city cycling grows, so does bike tax temptation By JASON KEYSER CHICAGO (AP) - Early blasts of snow, ice and below-zero temperatures haven't stopped a surprising number of Chicago cyclists from spinning through the slush this winter, thanks in part to a city so serious about accommodating them that it deploys mini-snow plows to clear bike lanes.The snow-clearing operation is just the latest attention city leaders have lavished on cycling, from a growing web of bike lanes to the nation's second largest shared network of grab-and-go bicycles stationed all over town. But it also spotlights questions that have been raised here, a city wrestling with deep financial problems, and across the country.
Who is paying for all this bicycle upkeep? And shouldn't bicyclists be kicking in themselves?A city councilwoman's recent proposal to institute a $25 annual cycling tax set off a lively debate that eventually sputtered out after the city responded with a collective "Say what?" A number of gruff voices spoke in favor, feeding off motorists' antagonism toward what they deride as stop sign-running freeloaders. Bike-friendly bloggers retorted that maybe pedestrians ought to be charged a shoe tax to use the sidewalks.
"There'd be special bike cops pulling people over? Or cameras? What do you do (to enforce this)?" asked Mike Salvatore, owner of Heritage Bicycles, a new Chicago hangout that neatly blends a lively cafe with a custom bike-building workshop in a 19th-century building.
Chicago is by no means the only place across the U.S. tempted to see bicyclists as a possible new source of revenue, only to run into questions of fairness and enforceability. That is testing the vision of city leaders who are transforming urban expanses with bike lanes and other amenities in a quest for relevance, vitality and livability — with never enough funds.
Two or three states consider legislation each year for some type of cycling registration and tax — complete with decals or mini-license plates, National Conference of State Legislatures policy specialist Douglas Shinkle said. This year, it was Georgia, Oregon, Washington and Vermont. The Oregon legislation, which failed, would even have applied to children.
"I really think that legislators are just trying to be as creative as possible and as open to any sort of possibilities to fill in any funding gaps. Everything is on the table," he said.
It's not a new idea. The Netherlands, where a cycling lifestyle has long been the norm, had bike taxes from 1924 to 1941, when the Nazis did away with it in a gesture meant to win over the Dutch.
Hawaii has had a statewide bike registration law for decades, as has the normally tax-hating city of Colorado Springs, Colo., though in both cases, they are one-time fees and all proceeds go toward bicycle infrastructure.
In the case of Colorado Springs, the proposal came from the cycling community itself. The $4 tax on the purchase of new bikes has been in place since 1988, and no one seems to mind. It only raises up to $150,000 a year, but it's useful as a local match for federal grants. And it gives cycling advocates leverage when pushing for bike projects. For one thing, it has revealed that 25,000 bikes are sold each year, a big number in a city of 430,000.
"The idea was to legitimize bicycles," explained Al Brody, a cycling enthusiast and retired Air Force officer who once coaxed a city councilwoman on a trek up Pikes Peak to lobby for opening up the mountain roadway to bicyclists. "It's in your face: We're paying taxes, this is how many bikes we're selling."
Portland, Ore., is handing over entire traffic lanes to cyclists downtown, irritating some businesses.Robert Huckaby, who owns a moving company, tried but couldn't raise $1 million to get a measure on Oregon's statewide ballot requiring a bicycle registration fee and licensing. He acted after the city permanently closed a road that was a main entrance for his business because cyclists blowing a stop sign were getting hit by vehicles making turns.
"The unfortunate part is that we want to be known as the bike-friendly city of the United States, but no one's listening to John Public," Huckaby said. "They're just listening to basically the city of Portland and the bicyclists."
In Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has made bike lanes and bike programs a signature issue, believing it makes downtown an attractive place for bright young people and innovative companies. More bikes means less pollution, less traffic congestion, practically zero wear and tear on the city's roads and a healthier population.
Nevertheless, the idea that cyclists aren't paying their fair share has resonated. But many bike riders are also car owners who pay the fuel tax that helps fund highway construction, or home owners who pay property taxes, which go partly toward road construction.
The city councilwoman didn't do herself any favors by trying to sell her bike tax idea as an alternative to a hike in cable TV taxes; opponents accused her of wanting to subsidize coach potatoes at the expense of healthy cyclists.Good or bad policy, some bikers feel the debate heralds cycling's re-emergence into the American mainstream.
"Who would have taken (the councilwoman) seriously 10 years ago?" Salvatore, 32, said. "Seriously, 10 years ago, there was (only) a handful of nutcases who biked around Chicago."
If I can have a word here are these people nuts. Don't they know how much cheaper it is with cyclist on the road. The road will last forever! Very little wear and tear on the street and no pollution to dirty your air and last can you say health benefits!!!!!.

---

I made a what people think what I really do for the bike shop.It got slow at The Bike Stand so I figured I would make one that I felt captured the bike shop. I hope I did.

---

Zipp Wheels and Bars are being sold on line and a lot of them are FAKE.

How to spot counterfeit wheels
We have seen an apparent recent increase in counterfeit wheels purporting to be made by Zipp Speed Weaponry for sale on theInternet. These wheels can be extremely dangerous. They lack the industry-leading safety, quality, durability and performance standards customers can expect when purchasing genuine Zipp products. Zipp analyzed these counterfeit wheels and discovered them to be of dangerously poor quality, including unacceptable rim failures and braking power that was a fraction of genuine Zipp wheels. What's more, customers who buy wheels from unauthorized sellers are not eligible for Zipp's two-year warranty.

Warning signs a wheel may be counterfeit:

• No dimples (Zipp's ABLC™ technology). However, some counterfeit versions do have dimples and at a cursory glance may appear authentic.
• White or other colors of spokes or hubs. Zipp uses black Sapim C X-Ray spokes from Belgium. Zipp's proprietary hubs are embossed with the oval "Z" logo.
• Prices appearing too good to be true. Simply put, they usually are.
• Uneven brake tracks or carbon surface. Sometimes, things just don't look quite right. Watch for logos that look suspicious or contain misspellings.

What to look for in authentic Zipp wheelsets:

• First and foremost, shop for wheels at an authorized Zipp dealer. This is the only way to ensure you are purchasing the quality, service and warranty that come with Zipp Speed Weaponry.
• Current model Zipp wheels have two decal options, Beyond Black and Classic White. Zipp Firecrest wheels have black spokes and hubs.
• Zipp Firecrest rims are embossed with Zipp's oval "Z" logo.
• The carbon on the inner diameter of most all Zipp rims is embossed with "Handmade in Speedway, Indiana" or "Handmade in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA."

How to spot counterfeit bars
Zipp takes absolutely no shortcuts in designing, developing, testing and manufacturing the highest performance carbon and aluminum handlebars available anywhere. These counterfeit bars lack the quality control and rigorous testing of genuine Zipp bars. Quite simply, the quality and safety of these bars is a complete mystery. Genuine Zipp bars surpass stringent European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Safety Standards for bicycles. What's more, customers who buy handlebars from unauthorized sellers are not eligible for Zipp's two-year warranty.

Warning signs handlebars may be counterfeit:

• Buyer beware: Prices that seem too good to be true probably are.
• Odd or uneven logo placement.
• Multiple cable holes for routing instead of precisely placed and molded cable ports used by genuine Zipp bars.
• Bars may be heavier than advertised.

What to look for in authentic Zipp handlebars:

• On the VukaSprint, there is a Zipp band on either side of clamp area wrapping around circumference of bar.
• Precisely placed oval "Z" logs on either side of clamp area.
• Zipp logo on bar drop on right-hand side near bar end.
• Laser engraved serial number (#).

Visit your local bike shop. Authorized Zipp dealers carry genuine Zipp products.

---

Dan Chabanov, The Bike Stands X employee does good again.
This is an article I found on the web written by Dan.
So I’ve been asked to write a column for peloton. It’s going to be more or less about cyclocross racing. But first I have to jam an introduction in here. There are things about me that I want you to know.

Back in 2009, I raced my first season of cyclocross. I was working as a bike messenger in New York City and sort of dabbling in racing. I was one of those guys you might see pedaling around with a huge bag on his back, blasting through a red light in a totally unjustified rush to get someone else’s crap somewhere fast. (In case you’re wondering, I stop at lights now.) But all that experience dodging cabs, car doors, seemingly blind pedestrians, and potholes made me pretty good at turning my bike, and I found early success winning a half-dozen cyclocross races, the MAC B series, and getting my category-one upgrade.

---

We're Excited to share that the Raleigh Cadent FT2 has won the Bicycling magazine Editor's Choice award for "Best Mean's Flat Bar Road Bike"
"This bike exhibited the best combination of our three main criteria: ride quality, parts, and handling". "The geometry was upright, but not so much that you felt disconnected from the bike," said one tester. It also felt smooth, had the sportiest handling, and was fun to take around tight turns on paved lanes or wood-chip paths. The bike was stable whether we were cruising at slow speeds or racing to work. The Shimano Alivio 27-speed drivetrain (with a triple carnk) has enough range to move you along at any pace-and ensures that you conquer any hills you may encounter. Price 799.99, Weight 24.0 lbs for a medium model. Bicycling Magazine.

---

      $20K will buy 40-year-old Tennessee component brand.
      NASHVILLE, TN (BRAIN) — John Meyer is putting all the remaining inventory, parts and prototypes of Hi-E up for sale. His father, Harlan Meyer, launched the brand with an 80-gram front hub in 1971. Harlan died last November at age 89.
      “My main interest is in seeing the business in sympathetic hands. I'm only asking $20,000 for it now so I don't have to move it out of his old house in Nashville, which will probably be sold in a month or so,” Meyer said.
      Meyer and his brother Clyde worked with their father at Hi-E, though John’s full-time job was at Harper’s Schwinn Cyclery in Knoxville, Tennessee.
      Most of the inventory is unassembled hub parts—undrilled flanges, hub bodies and axles. There also are water bottle cages and a variety of other Hi-E components. Harlan is unsure about what to do with two of his father’s Cosmopolitan frames he made in the early ‘70s.
      “They were referenced by Cannondale in their fight with Klein over fat aluminum tube technology. Cosmopolitan frame tubes are made from rolled aluminum sheet riveted together,” he said.
      “And they have oversize press-fit bottom brackets and headsets, low-profile cranks and the low-profile pedals. Remember, this is the early ’70s. My dad was so creative and the Cosmopolitan showcases so many of his innovations,” Meyer said.
      He has fielded some interest from the Smithsonian in adding one or both Cosmopolitans to its collections, but nothing has been finalized. He would like them to end up in a museum rather than in a private collection.
      Interested parties can reach Meyer at (865) 696-4880 or johnharlanmeyer@gmail.com.
      I was sad to hear he died, It was so nice to know there was some one out there making parts that were different and unique. I have one of his hubs and it still rides well 40 years later. A true testament to a great designer.

---

      Why the Bike Industry Is Like the Beer Industry
      In a good way, that is.
      An article by Joe Lindsey, found at bicycling.com.
      This past weekend I had the pleasure of going to the North American Handmade Bike Show, held this year in Denver, Colorado.
      NAHBS, as it’s known by shorthand, is not only the largest handmade bike show in the world; it was essentially the first modern one and deserves a generous share of the credit for reviving attention to the craftsmen (and a few women) who make bikes by hand.
      To be sure, NAHBS can be a bit annoying in some of its pretensions. In awards categories, why do steel and carbon get their own categories, while aluminum is considered an alternate frame material, for instance—on par with bamboo? Since most carbon bike frames are built by hand, why can’t Giant have a booth? And what is up with all the carefully curated facial hair (often paired with a twee metrosexual-lumberjack style of dress)?
      But it’s also a remarkable source of art and innovation. The bike industry is a small and insular universe in some ways, but incredibly broad in others.
      At one end are billion-dollar bicycle companies like Shimano and Giant; massive corporate conglomerates like Michelin, with bicycle divisions; and remote-seeming corporate parents like Dorel or PON Holdings (which owns Cervelo, as well as Derby Cycle Group).
      At the other end is someone like Richard Sachs, who still builds every Sachs bicycle by himself, start to finish (excepting paint). In between are all manner of companies. Even at NAHBS, the range spans from solo builders like Mike DeSalvo to modest-size companies like Moots or Independent Fabrication.
      In fact, one of the few industries I can think of that’s similar to the bike industry is the beer industry (and not just because of the beards). NPR’s Adam Davidson wrote a piece in the New York Times Tuesday wondering if the beer industry was undergoing “a global version of the scale-based consolidation we’ve seen in the United States over the past century.”
      He was writing about the Justice Department suing to block brewing giant InBev’s planned acquisition of Grupo Modelo. But however homogenous the brewing industry is at the top, underneath it is a thriving subculture of small microbrewers, a group that is growing every year, with 174 new microbreweries opening in 2011. (Microbrewing even has its own consumer show of sorts, the Great American Beer Festival, held every year in Denver.)
      Similarly, the bike industry (especially in the U.S.) is dominated in terms of sales volume by a few large companies: Giant, Trek, and Specialized for three. But below them exists an incredible variety of builders, also growing every year. Break it down by type of bike, material, size, geographic distribution, and almost any way you slice, it there is a remarkable amount of “microbrew” choice for cyclists.
      Other similarities: There’s a certain floor for pricing. You can get a 12-pack of Bud Light for about $9 in any convenience store in the country; a sixer of most microbrews costs the same. You can get a decent production bike for under $1,000; most handmade frames start just north of that.
      Brewers and builders love to specialize. Cooperstown, NY-based Ommegang brews only Belgian-style beers. Moots builds only titanium.
      But the biggest similarity is economic. There will never be a monopoly in beer or bicycles because both have very low barriers to entry. Monopolies occur in industries that have high barriers to entry. Telecom, for instance: To become a telecom you not only have to satisfy a number of regulatory hurdles, but there’s the raw cost of the infrastructure—stringing fiber optic cable (and getting the right of way to install said cable) costs about $26,000 per mile.
      By contrast, a small microbrewery could be started with a modest SBA or bank loan. Brewing classes are available across the country.
      A framebuilder could start with a credit card. To braze a frame, you need a torch, a jig to hold the tubes steady, supplies like tubes and silver or brass brazing rod and flux, and a small workshop. You can learn the basics over two weeks at United Bicycle Institute’s framebuilding classes.
      And while the beer and bike industries both benefit from economies of scale (which is why that half case of Bud costs $9), taste in both is broad enough that there’s a viable niche for the small producer who does something out of the ordinary.
      Which points out the final similarity: the small side of both industries is often where you’ll find innovation. Big brewers are finally recognizing the upside of making craft beers, but the downside of economy of scale is that their cautious natures prevent them from being very adventurous, lest they get stuck with lots of unsold beer.
      Same for bikes. Both 29er and 650b got their start with small custom builders before the production industry took note. Oversize aluminum began with Klein back when Gary was a small builder. Today, the gravel road movement and fat bikes both sprung from niche builders meeting a customer demand that the big builders didn’t or couldn’t.
      This year alone, I saw a small carbon builder (Argonaut) with an innovative way to do custom-geometry monocoque carbon frames, something I’ve never seen at any level of the industry; several companies created front or full-suspension fat bikes by modding old Cannondale Headshok forks with custom crowns; and from Steamboat Springs alone I saw a new 650b full-suspension design (Kent Eriksen), and a remarkable trail maintenance bike complete with built-in chainsaw rack and Pulaski mount (Moots).
      Those bikes are the equivalent of Dogfish Head’s 120 Minute IPA, Green Flash’s Le Freak (a Belgian-IPA mashup) or Heretic’s Gramarye rye beer—not for everyone, but for someone specific.
      No, there will never be a monopoly on beer or bikes. Bike lovers and beer lovers alike are simply too varied in their tastes. Individually handmade bikes will never approach the kind of dominance that the big bikemakers have, but they’ll always offer something that the big guys won’t.

---

      Someone sent me this very disturbing article on, NBC.com, about a seat that came loose on a bike that a young boy was riding. It brought to mind the whole problem with Mega Mart type bikes and bikes that are poorly assembled and why I hate them so much. If this could happen to him could it also happen to your child? Think about it next time your loved one gets on their Mega Mart bike and rides out into the street.
      Every cyclist's nightmare comes true as seat post goes up boy's rear
      It's the cyclist's equivalent of waking up from a nightmare in a cold sweat: contemplating the possibility that your seat would somehow come dislodged — and your seat post would go up your rear end. Unfortunately for one rider, it's not just a nightmare anymore. A Chinese student was cycling to his first day of school when the seat bent over, and an exposed cold metal rod penetrated the boy's buttocks. Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to detach most of the bike, and the boy was transported to the hospital to have the rest of the frame removed. The doctors were reportedly able to remove the bicycle from the boy's anus, and he's fine - though we doubt he'll ever want to get on a bike again.

---

Pro-Tour Cycles.

Pro-Tour Cycles
      When I opened my shop in 1982 there were a lot of shops around. It looked like each town had at least one and some even had two shops in them.
      When I fist came here I went around to most the shops to say hi and introduce my self. One shop in particular was very nice to me and wished me well and offered to help me in any way that was Pro-Tour Cycles.
      They were in Westfield at the time and a few years ago he moved to Watchung. Then in 2012 he moved again to Kenllworth NJ. I want to give back the support he gave me by listing that he has moved to 492 Boulevard, Kenllworth, NJ. 908-967-6144.

---

Major Taylor Cycle Club.
      A good customer and friend wanted me to post up a great cycle club that he rides with.
      They are the Major Taylor Club. They have some great rides all over NJ.
      I would recomend you pop over to their web site Major Taylor Club and check them out.
     MTCCNJ is a non profit organization dedicated to promoting all aspects of cycling.
      They cater to a diverse group of cyclists. Their rides range from short leisurely romps to all day tours and even multi day excursions. No matter what distance they travel, they strive to promote fun and fitness through cycling.
      They hold social events throughout the year to help build the camaraderie among their members and other Major Taylor Clubs. They aim to have fun both on and off the bike.
      Be sure to check out our the New Ride Calendar and Gallery of Photos.

---

Dan Chabanov, The Bike Stands X employee does good.
      Dan Chabanov came into my bike shop years ago as a high school kid that liked bikes. I gave him a job and taught him how to assemble bikes the right way and he showed me how to ride a bike the right way. He was and is an amazing rider and I still worry about him and him dropping out of college to do this bike riding thing full time but at least he has made it to a level I could only dream about.
      So here is a resent article I was sent about him and I even got a mention in it. So cool, here is the article I got from The Washington Machine Post.

---

DK to Limit Mail Order, Online Shops.
      SPRINGBORO, OH DK will now limit all mail order and online shops in order to continue to offer the best BMX products and to put the control back in the hands of the IBD. As a result, these few large mail order companies will no longer be carrying the DK brand.
      "Today's BMX market has changed tremendously over the past several years and consumers have more options than ever before, forcing us to rethink about the industry as a whole and our place within it," said DK's Trevor Gay in a press release.
      "It is no secret that a few mail order companies have captured a large percentage of the BMX market and this has put a strain on our relationship with our independent bicycle dealers," he added. "In an effort to protect the DK brand and to continue to build our relationships with the bicycle dealers, we are making some drastic changes."
      Along with DK's renewed efforts to strengthen its relationships with the IBD, DK will also keep an internet presence through DK Bicycles. "Here we will be in a better position to protect MAP pricing and healthier IBD margins," Gay added.
      This is great to hear and I hope it stays in place. I for one will try and pick up some parts to sell now that the big mail order companies are out of the pictures. You just can not believe how many people bring in there bikes and parts all from mail order and want me to fix it only to get mad at me because I have to charge.

---

Saris Raises $95,000 for Local Group.
      MADISON, WI (BRAIN)-The 7th annual Saris Gala, benefiting the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, raised $95,000 and will support a variety of infrastructure and educational programs throughout Wisconsin including Safe Routes to School.
      It was held at the Saris Cycling Group (SCG) headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, October 29, according to a press release.
      "We strongly support bicycling advocacy in Madison and across the country," said SCG president Chris Fortune. "So working with the Bike Fed is really important to us. We're proud to host the Saris Gala, but we did not do this alone. This is a community event that relies heavily on volunteers and the generous support of our industry partners."
      This year's event had a Halloween theme complete with a costume ride and costume contest. Over 600 attendees enjoyed food and drinks, bid on auction items, and listened to special guest, cycling commentator, Phil Liggett talk about his experiences at the Tour de France. Former pro cyclist turned coach Robbie Ventura lead the live auction and got the crowd bidding on high end items like a Cyclesport Travel trip to the Pyrenees, Vision Quest Coaching Camp package, and a high end Trek bike of the winner's choosing.
      It is nice to see someone in the bike industry giving back. It is also one of the reasons I carry the Saris bike racks. Maybe before you run out to Mega Mart and buy that poorly made bike rack that will scratch your bike and car if not dump it out on the highway you will give a company that gives back a shot. You can also be happy to know they make a great rack too.

---

Headset Makers Collaborate on Standard.
      FLETCHER, NC Responding to the chaos unleashed on headsets by tapered steerers, Cane Creek developed a headset identification code that is being adopted by other manufacturers.
      "We don't intend this label to replace model names. But to provide a common language to describe the look of a headset and how it fits," said Jason Grantz, Cane Creeks' director of marketing.
      Called the Standardized Headset Identification System (S.H.I.S.), it is a unique alphanumeric label for the top and bottom cup that identifies bearing location and cup type. The small label can be laser etched into an externally visible part of the cup and the insertion skirt.
      For example, an external cup headset type receives the leading code EC, zero stack is coded ZS and an integrated headset is coded IS. The numbers following this code specify the inner diameter of the headtube it presses into and to the outer diameter of the steerer it fits.
      "Tapered headsets made the situation unmanageable and by sharing this system we hope to help dealers and mechanics out," he added.
      So far Acros, Cane Creek, Hope, Race Face, Reset and Ritchey have agreed to begin labeling headsets and packaging with the new system, and Cane Creek hopes other makers embrace the label. Cane Creek removed its trademark on Zero Stack to allow the name to be used freely.
      "We've been working on this for over a year. Dealers will still have to identify the type of headset they need to service or replace, but we hope manufacturers adopt the system so bikes will come from the factory with SHIS labels. Then all dealers need do is read the headset label to know what type it is," Grantz said.
      Okay I know you are waiting for it. My 2 cents is YAHOO! It is so nice somebody out there tries to do something to make it easier for the lonely old bike mechanic. So what I will do in return is stock Cane Creek headsets!

---

FSA Recalling Cranksets.
      WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Full Speed Ahead, has issued a voluntary recall of about 9,300 Full Speed Ahead BB30 Gossamer cranksets that are used by numerous bicycle manufacturers.
      When the fixing bolt is over-tightened on the non-drive crank arm, the bolt shoulder can crack or break. If this occurs, the non-drive arm can fall off the bicycle causing the rider to crash and suffer injuries.
      Full Speed Ahead has received 11 reports of incidents, including two cases where injuries have been reported.
      The recalled models are either painted black with "Gossamer" printed in white on the arm or white with "Gossamer" printed in black on the arm. There are two drive gears (referred to as "double") on the crankset. The recalled crank arms were assembled as original equipment on the following bicycle models:Bianchi 2010 Sempre Ultegra, Cannondale 2010 CAAD9 5, Cannondale CAAD9 5 Feminine; Cannondale 2010 Six Carbon 5; Cannondale 2010 Slice 4, Cannondale Slice 4 Nytro, Cannondale Slice 5; Cannondale 2010 Synapse Carbon 4, Cannondale Carbon 4 Feminine, Cannondale Carbon 5; Cannondale 2011 CAAD10 5 105, Cannondale CAAD10 5 105 Feminine; Cannondale 2011 Slice 5, Cannondale Slice 5 Womens; Cannondale 2011 SuperSix 5 105, Cannondale SuperSix 5 105 Womens; Cannondale 2011 Synapse Carbon 4 Rival, Cannondale Carbon 4 Rival Womens, Cannondale Carbon 5; Cannondale 2011 CAAD8 5 105; Cannondale 2011 CAADX 105 Cyclocross, Felt 2011 F75, Felt 2011 F75X, Fuji 2010 ACR 1.0, Fuji 2010 ACR 2.0, Fuji 2010 ACR 3.0,Quintana Roo 2010 CD.0.1, Litespeed 2010 C3, Raleigh 2011 RX 1.0, Raleigh 2010 RX 1.0, Scattante 2010 CFR Comp.       Gossamer BB30 non-drive crank arms that are included in the recall have serial numbers beginning with 10B, 10C, and 10D. Serial numbers are located on the backside of the crank arm by pedal threads.
      Note: MegaExo model Gossamer cranksets and Gossamer BB30 cranksets with three drive gears (referred to as "triple" cranksets) are not involved in this recall.
      Assembled as standard original equipment on the bicycles listed. Sold by independent bicycle retailers nationwide from February 2010 through October 2010.
      Consumers should immediately stop using bicycles that have the recalled crank arm sets and return bicycle to the dealer. The dealer will install the new non-drive crank arm free of charge.
      For additional information on obtaining a free replacement non-drive crank arm, contact Full Speed Ahead toll-free at (877) 743-3372 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, via email to recall@fullspeedahead.com, or visit the firm's Web site at FSA.
      I will go out on a limb here, I would say the problem here, is not like most of the junk bikes I report on, but either the bolts were over tighten at the assemble over seas or the bolt supplier had a bad batch of bolts in there. Still bad but not as bad as just building your bike so cheap that it just self destructs.

---

NYC Bike Lanes Bring Backlash.
      NEW YORK, NY It seems not everyone is happy with the 250 miles of NYC traffic lanes dedicated for bicycles that have been added over the last four years, according to a New York Times article.
      Vocal opposition has caused the city to remove one painted bike lane on Staten Island, according to the article, while the bickering continues over others.
      "He's taking away my rights as a driver," Leslie Sicklick, 45, said of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, in the story.
      The Wall Street Journal also had a story on bike lanes in New York City. Author Tom Perrotta wrote: "What the city has discovered, though, is that remodeling its streets and increasing ridership is the easy part of building a bike town. It's a far greater challenge to change the habits of drivers, bikers and pedestrians in a dense urban environment with congested streets."
      To that effect New York City is launching a new ad campaign titled "Don't Be a Jerk," featuring prominent New Yorkers preaching bike etiquette, according to the Wall Street Journal article.
      Now for my two cents. Change is hard we all go through it. We all don't like it but if you sit back and try to look at the greater good bike lanes makes sense to me even if I did not ride bikes. Just sit back and try to see it from another view point and you may see beyond the change you feel at first.

---

Fisher_price Recalls Trikes Due to a Protruding Plastic Ignition Key.
      Fisher-Price and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles are recalling over 7 million Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles and 150,000 in Canada because "A child can strike, sit or fall on the protruding plastic ignition key resulting in serious injury, including genital bleeding." CPSC and Fisher-Price are aware of 10 reports of incidents resulting in injury. Six of the incidents required medical attention after young girls, ages two to three years old, fell against or on the protruding disc-shaped and D-shaped pretend key.
      This recall involves the Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles, some of which feature popular characters like Dora the Explorer and Barbie, with model numbers listed in the chart below and that have either a disc-shaped or D-shaped pretend key. The model numbers are located under the seat in the storage compartment. The trikes are intended for children 2 to 5 years of age. The pretend keys are located about 3 inches in front of the seat and protrude at least 5/8 inches above the trike's body. The trikes manufactured after June 16, 2010 are not included in this recall. These trikes have a modified key in a flattened D shape and a manufacturer run number higher than 1670Q2. The run number indicates the trike was manufactured on the 167th day of 2010 or on June 16, 2010. The run number is found under the seat below the model number. This recall includes trikes sold as far back as January 1997.
      Consumers should immediately place the trikes out of children's reach and contact Fisher-Price 800-432-5437 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or at Service Mattel for a free replacement key
      These trikes were sold at Mass merchandise stores or as I call Big Box Stores nationwide from January 1997 through September 2010 for about $25.
      To add my two cents here I keep wondering why people keep buying the cheapest thing they can get their hands on. When will we all learn that the cost of an item can have a hidden cost that is very hard to see until it is too late.

---

Campus Cruisers Recalls Bicycles Due to Front Fork Failure.
      Campus Cruisers LLC, of Boulder, Colo. announced a voluntary recall of the 2010 Eastside Fix Bicycle Forks. The bicycle's front fork can crack or break, causing a sudden loss of steering control and posing a fall hazard to bicyclists. This is really getting to be a big problem with forks.
      Campus Cruisers has received four reports of lateral cracks beneath the front fork's crown.. This recall involves Campus Cruisers' Eastside Fix model bicycles. The single speed bicycle has an aluminum frame and fork. The bicycles were sold in royal blue with a white leather seat and white gel grips on the handlebars.
      These bikes were sold in Independent bicycle dealers nationwide from March 2010 through May 2010 for about $450.. They were made in China. People should contact their local Campus Cruisers dealer to schedule a free repair. Consumers who are not near an authorized dealer should contact Campus Cruisers for assistance.
      For additional information, contact Campus Cruisers toll-free at (877) 260-2721 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.campuscruisers.com. Consumers can also email the firm at Campus Cruisers.

---

Seattle Bike Supply Recalls Bicycles and Framesets Due to Fall Hazard.
      Seattle Bike Supply, of Kent, Washington announced a voluntary recall of the 2010 Redline Conquest Cyclocross Bicycles and Framesets. The bicycle fork's legs can separate from the fork crown and cause the rider to lose control, posing a fall hazard and risk of injury. This is were I say something cleaver like "really"?
      Seattle Bike Supply has received five reports of cracks near the fork's crown. This recall involves all 2010 Redline Conquest Cyclocross bicycles and framesets. The bicycles and framesets were sold in yellow and black, and have aluminum frames and aluminum forks with aluminum steering tubes. "Redline" is printed on the bicycle frame. The bicycles are equipped with a 700C wheel and frame sizes ranging from 44cm to 60 cm.
      These bikes were sold at specialty stores nationwide between July 2009 through May 2010 for about $1,400 for the bicycle and $400 for the frameset. They were made in Taiwan. People should contact their local Redline bicycle dealer as soon as they can to receive a free fork replacement. I did not sell any of these but I will be happy to help in any way.
      For additional information, contact Redline Bicyles at (800) 283-2453 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at Redline Bicycles.

---

Felt Bicycles Recalls Bicycles Due to Fall Hazard.
      The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
      2009 Felt model B12, B16 and S32 road bicycles.
      About 2,100 bicycles from Felt Bicycles, of Irvine, Calif. Manufactured by ADK Technology Limited of China. I for one was surprised that this level of bike was made in China. I heard most better if not all "Carbon Bikes" were made in Taiwan, who knew. I guess the old saying "you get what you paid for" fits.
      The hazard is the bicycle's fork steer tube can break, causing the rider to lose control, fall and suffer injuries.
      Felt Bicycles has received seven reports of the bicycle forks breaking. Minor injuries, including bumps and bruises were reported in one of the incidents.
      Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycles and contact your local Felt Bicycles dealer to receive a free inspection and repair.
      Consumer Contact information, call Felt Bicycles toll-free at (866) 433-5887 or (866) 4-FELT-US, or visit the firm's website at Felt Bikes.

---

CO2 Bicycle Tire Inflators Sold at Walmart Recalled by Todson Inc. Due to Risk of Injury.
      WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
      This recall involves Zefal CO2 bicycle tire inflators with a small pressurized carbon dioxide cartridge. The metal cartridge is threaded into the inflator head, which allows for the controlled release of carbon dioxide into the bicycle inner tube. The recalled inflators have "Zefal EZ+ CO2 inflator" printed on the front of the package. Model number 5602 and UPC number 798661556020 is printed on the back.
      Consumers should immediately stop using the inflators and return them to Walmart for a full refund.
      For additional information, contact Todson Inc. at 800-213-4561 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at Todson.

---

Moser Enterprises Recalls Schwalbe Brand Bicycle Tires.
      The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recallof the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
      Schwalbe Ultremo R Bicycle Tires. The tire layers could separate causing the inner tube to rupture, posing a fall hazard to consumers.
      This recall includes Schwalbe Ultremo R bicycle tires. "Schwalbe" and "Ultremo R" are printed on the sidewall of the tires. Sold at: Bicycle specialty stores and on the Web from April 2009 through May 2009 for about $75.
      Consumers should immediately stop using bicycles with the recalled tires and contact the place they bought the tire from for a free replacement set of tires.
      For more information, contact Moser Enterprises toll-free at 888-700-5860 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, orvisit the firm's Web site at Schwalbe Tires.

---

Bicycles Recalled by Easton Sports; Stem Failure.
      WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
      The bicycle stem can crack and cause the rider to lose control, posing a risk of serious injury if the rider falls. The company has received a report of a stem breaking, causing a minor injury to the rider.
      This recall involves all Raleigh 2007, XXIX 700c MTN, RX1.0, Diamondback 2007, Mission, and Sortie bicycles with EA30 stems. The EA30 stems are black with white-and-gray graphics and feature a four-bolt stemface cap."EA30" is printed on the stem. EA30 stems sold as aftermarket items are included in this recall.
      Sold through independent bicycle dealers nationwide from August 2007 through August 2009 for about $30.
      Consumers should immediately stop riding the bicycles and contact any authorized Easton Sports for a free replacement stem.
      For more information, contact Eason Sports toll-free at 866-892-6059 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visitthe firm's Web site at Easton Bikes.

---

Ritchey Cranksets Recall Reminder.
      SAN CARLOS, CA In light of some recent breakages, Ritchey Design wanted to remind retailers and the public of the voluntary recall issued earlier this year on certain WCS and Pro level road and 'cross cranksets.
      Ritchey Design has identified a potential safety issue concerning WCS and Pro level non-drive side crank arms (Left Arm Only). In certain cases, it is possible that the non-drive crank arm could fail or break unexpectedly. If this happens during cycling, the cyclist may lose control of the bicycle, which could lead to serious injury. Because Ritchey Design products are designed to meet the highest industry standards, as a preventive action, and in the interests of putting the safety of its consumers first, Ritchey Design has decided to undertake a voluntary recall of all affected non-drive side crank arms.
      The (right-side) drive crank arm is not affected by this issue. The reinforcement from the spiders lend the necessary strength to the design to prevent breakages. Ritchey hasn't received any reports of drive side arm breakages.Models affected:
      All affected cranks are black finished with a silver machined face or are solid black color. (Any Ritchey crank that is silver isn't affected.)
• Pro Road 130 bcd in black only (39/53 chainring combination)
• WCS Road 130 bcd in black w/ silver machined face only (39/53 chainring combination)
• Pro Compact Road 110 bcd in black only (34/50 chainring combination)
• WCS Compact Road (110 bcd in black w/ silver machined face only (34/50 chainring combination)
• WCS Cross 130 bcd in black w/ silver machined face only (38/48 chainring combination)
• Pro Cross 130 bcd in black only (38/48 chainring combination)
Consumers should stop using the bicycle cranks immediately and contact Ritchey to have their crank arms inspected. A free replacement will be provided for any bicycle crank arm found to be substandard.

---

Mavic Recalls R-SYS Front Wheels.
      HAVERHILL, MA (BRAIN)-Mavic has announced a voluntary recall of its R-SYS front wheels as a precautionary safety measure. The carbon tubular spokes of the R-SYS front wheel may break during use in certain circumstances.
      All models of Mavic R-SYS front wheels are included-R-SYS, R-SYS test, R-SYS Premium-whether purchased separately or as part of a bicycle. The wheels must no longer be used.
      Consumers should immediately return their front wheel to a Mavic dealer; and a new upgraded R-SYS front wheel will be delivered free of charge. This exchange will start from March 31. Until this date, and to facilitate the continued use of your bicycle, Mavic will offer a set of Aksium wheel that customers will keep after they have received the replacement R-SYS front wheel.
      Sounds like a great job of getting those wheels off the road.

---

      BETHESDA, MD-The clock is ticking for manufacturers who haven't yet reacted to the new consumer product safety reform legislation.
      The first deadline associated with the law is Nov. 12, when manufacturers must start testing to certify products-including bikes, helmets and accessories-meant for kids 12 and under, meet CPSC standards.
      John Nedeau, president of the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association, said that while some may be a bit behind the ball, the industry is largely ready to comply with the law.
      Some challenges remain, such as whether enough accredited labs will be set up to test by the deadline, how to deal with the potential backlog of manufacturers waiting for their products to be tested, and whether the CPSC will accept testing from labs the industry is already using, but that are awaiting accreditation, Nedeau said. Complicating matters, the bike industry's not the only one in line; the law focuses primarily on the toy industry.
      Along with testing for lead, manufacturers will also need to supply certification for other products the CPSC oversees. For the bike industry, this includes bikes and bike helmets for all ages; however, testing for adult products can be done in-house and doesn't need to be outsourced.
      Personally I think this a great idea as long as it will apply to every body and not just the independent bike dealers. Because we are small, sometimes we seem to get lost by the people in power.

---

      Eddy Merckx Finds Strategic Partner For His Company.
      MEISE, Belgium - Cycling legend Eddy Merckx has entered a strategic partnership with investment company Sobradis. Both parties are convinced that the combination of their experience and competences, combined with a reinforcement of the management structure, offers the company the best perspectives for the future.
      "The partnership between Eddy Merckx and Sobradis guarantees a further profitable growth of the company. Our participation is aimed on the company as a whole and not just the brand name", says Jurgen De Vuyst spokesman of Sobradis.
      Eddy Merckx was one of the first influence I had in cycling. I would read anything I could find about him and in the US back then it was not much. Imagine my surprise that I got to meet him years later after he stopped racing, and yes I got his autograph with a little help from Paul.

---

      Eugene A. Sloane, cycling author, dies at 91. Eugene A. Sloane, the author of the 1970's Bike Boom bestseller The Complete Book of Bicycling, died in Illinois this year. He was 91 and died from complications from pneumonia, according to the Chicago Tribune.
      This is the book I started my love for bikes with. I still have a copy not the one I bought back in the 70's. I still like looking through it but now I see the old stuff and not the new world of cycling I used to.
      If you ever see one of these books kicking around I would give it a try.
          

---

     WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Names of Products: InStep "Pathfinder," Schwinn "Run About," and Mongoose "Alley Cat" Trailer Bicycles
Description: The "Pathfinder," "Run About," and "Alley Cat" are single-wheeled, children's bicycles that connect to an adult's bicycle by a coupler. The recall includes model numbers: 12-PF250, 13-SC250, 13-SC350 and M5101. The model number is located on the lower seat tube of the frame. The affected couplers have welded plates; bicycles that have couplers with cast parts are not included in this recall.
     Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Pacific Cycle toll-free at (877) 564-2261 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.instep.net, www.schwinnbikes.com, or www.mongoose.com
     Not to sound all preachy here but I have been saying all along that these are just too cheap to be well made. I do not nor have I ever sold these in my shop. I have also turned away most, if not all, that have come in for repair. I do not want to get my name on these things. When are we all going to figure out that something can be too cheap to be any good? If my memory is right this is the second or third time this has had a recall on it's coupler. Does that say something? It does to me!

---

     ST. PAUL, MN -The United States Patent and Trademark office has granted federal trademark registrations to Park Tool Company for its iconic blue color.
     Exclusive rights were granted to Park Tool for the use of the color blue in five categories, including bicycle hand tools, measuring equipment, pumps, cleaning equipment and repair stands.
     Park Tool is the only company in the bicycle industry, and one of the few companies in any industry, to receive federal protection for a color. The U.S. Patent and Trademark office has granted 1,329 federal registrations dating back to 1913, of which 967 are currently active. Similar color trademarks have been awarded to Owens Corning for pink insulation, John Deere for green and yellow farm equipment and UPS for its iconic brown.
     "Park Tool is undeniably tied to the color blue. If you show a blue tool to a bicycle mechanic or enthusiast they will tell you it's a Park Tool product," said Eric Hawkins, president and owner of Park Tool. "After building a reputation of quality and innovation over the past 40 years, we want to protect that investment and eliminate confusion in the market. A good number of our competitors started to produce blue bicycle tools intent on capitalizing on our reputation and status. In order to end this confusion it was necessary for us to secure federal registrations to better enforce our famous color brand."
      As I look up at the tool wall in my shop I see a wall of blue.

---

Huffy Recalls Bikes For Crank Failure
      WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)-The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Huffy, yesterday announced a voluntary recall of the 2007 Huffy Howler and Highland Bicycles. Roughly 22,000 of these bicycles were sold. According to the CPSC, the bicycle crank can unexpectedly come off, causing the rider to lose control, fall and suffer serious injuries. Huffy has received two reports of the crank coming off, resulting in one injury. The recall involves multi-speed bicycles with 26-inch, 24-inch or 20-inch wheels. The Howler was sold in black (model K3587, boy's model), blue (model K4587, men's model) and red (model K6587, men's model). The Highland was sold in white (model K4597, women's model) and blue (model K6597, women's model). The name Howler or Highland is printed on the frame of the bicycle, and the name Huffy is on the front of the frame. Model numbers are located on a label on the bottom of the frame where the crank is attached to the bicycle. Sold at Kmart stores nationwide from May 2007 through July 2007 for between $80 and $100. All bikes were manufactured in China. Consumers should stop using the recalled bicycles immediately and contact Huffy to receive instructions on tightening the crank. Visit Huffy's Web site at Huffy Bikes.
      My own thought to this is when are we going to figure out that you just can not get a good, safe bike for that low of money. I also know that I have never had a crank fall off a bike I put together. If they are tightened down correctly the first time, they should not come off. So who put these bikes together?

---

      The old Quick Release is back in the news. Wal-Mart and the importer of Next bikes are being sued because of the Quick Release on the bikes. I believe that this is the most common suit against all bikes. I try and explain the working of the QR to people all the time even if they did not get the bike from me. If you are not sure if you know please come on down and ask we will be glad to help. Other then that a quick rule of thumb is that the QR lever should always curve in to the bike not away from it. Also most modern QR's have the words OPEN and CLOSED right on the little lever. This is a good time to say please wear your helmet. Take a look at a Box Bike and see some of the ways companies can save money on a bike but I think some of this can take away safety too. Comparing the Box Bike with bike shop bikes. Wal-Mart won the case but I think it was never the actual quick release but maybe the QR was not installed correctly or maybe the customer was never shown how to work the QR. I would venture a guess that only one in ten people that work at most box bike stores know how to work a QR. So do you self a favor and look again at your local bike store they may offer more then you think. I am personally uncomfortable with even working on these box bikes but if you own one please ask some one how these QR's work.
     Then to piss me off even more some person talking about this on the news recommended that everybody that bought a bike from Wal-mart run down to your local bike shop and have them explain how to work a quick release. Am I missing something here? Shouldn't these people go down to the place they bought the bike and get told how to work it?Or maybe they should try and buy a bike from a bike store it may be cheaper in the long run.

---

     The cycling industry got a significant boost today when the Wall Street Journal published an article touting the joys and benefits of commuting to work on a bike.
     With a circulation of 2.1 million affluent subscribers, the article-"The Cycling Commute Gets Chic"-struck home with the newspaper's readers noting that "affluent professionals" are leading the charge when it comes to commuting to work on bikes. (Look for it in section D, Personal Journal.)
     The article cites various cities that have improved bikes paths, added bike stations and put more bike racks on buses. All these improvements seem to be encouraging more cyclists to go to work on a bike. And higher gas prices are giving it an extra push.
     Besides data on trends in commuting, the article included a sidebar of six products to help improve the commuting experience. They were Mirrycle's Big Brass Bell; Planet Bike's Freddy Fenders; Metal pants clip; A standard light combo; Suit-bag pannier; and a coffee mug and mug holder.

---

Wald Launches New Web Site
      MAYSVILLE, KY (BRAIN)-Wald's new Web site is designed to inform both consumers and dealers that such a long-standing company continues to produce quality bicycle baskets, training wheels and other accessories.
      Wald's new Web site features full-color photographs, installation instructions and links to some of its favorite people in and around cycling. Consumers and dealers can learn about Wald's heritage, current product offerings and also sign-up to receive quarterly email updates from the company.
      Click on the link to see the new site.

---

     The Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC), PTI Sports and Schwinn recalled about 14,000 Schwinn Deluxe Bicycle child carriers that were made in China. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately.
     PTI Sports has received five reports of the bicycle child carriers falling, including three reports of minor injuries, such as bumps and scratches. If the seat is not fully seated on the rack, the plastic guide tabs on the carrier can break. If these tabs break, it could cause the seat to fall off. This poses a risk of serious injury to a child seated in the carrier.
     About 14,000 of the recalled child carriers were sold through mass-market retailers and military exchanges nationwide from September 2004 through November 2005 for about $50.
     The carrier is gray plastic with a blue rubber back and seat pad, a gray headrest and black straps. Model number SW571T is printed on the carrier's packaging and in the owner's manual. "PTI" is printed on a yellow warning sticker on the back of the carrier seat. For additional information, contact PTI Sports at (800) 515-0074
     The Bike Stand did not sell these seats nor would we install them. But this is a perfect time to ask what are you thinking. An important thing as a baby seat you would even think of buying at a mass-market retailer. We only sell the CoPilot Limo here and if bought here we will install it for free. Come in and look at this baby seat before you go to that box bike store out on the highway.

---

      Cyclist Score Important Victory in Kentucky. In an important victory for cyclists everywhere, the Kentucky Supreme Court struck down a decision blaming a cyclist for being on the road when a passing vehicle hit her. In reaching this decision, the Supreme Court specifically noted that a driver shall not pass a cyclist such as the plaintiff in this case "unless he can do so without interfering with the safe operation of the bicycle, and that if, in fact he did pass the cyclist that he not drive to the right until he was reasonably clear of the cyclist.
      "This decision is important because it reaffirms cyclists" right to the roads. As an appellate decision, it is binding precedent for future cases in all of the courts in Kentucky," said League of American Bicyclists Region 1 director John S. Allen, who has served as an expert witness in bicycling cases. "And we can expect the decision, as it is by a state Supreme Court, to be cited by other courts in future cases throughout the United States."
      The League, with local Kentucky bike clubs, filed an amicus brief in support of the cyclist in March.
      Okay am I crazy here, the defense was a cyclist should not be on the road. Just unbelievable,I wonder if this lawyer really thought this out. As***le.

---

      For all you fixed gear riders The Bike Stand has a new idea for you a double side track cog hub take a look at these track hubs. We do it two ways, one is to take on old road hub that you may already own and cut the left handed treads for the lock ring so you have a real track hub. The second idea is to take a Suzue Track flip flop hub and cut the left hand threads on the side that is meant for a single speed freewheel then you have a two sided track set up. Now ask your self why didn't anybody do this before or did they. Well some one did it and yes we got them now.

---

      My favorite author of bike repair book has passed on to big bike shop in the sky. His name is Tom Cuthbertson and the book I am talking about is Anybody's Bike Book which has sold over a million copies since 1971. The book was written for the average home mechanic. No fancy tools just what most people had at home at the time. One of his articles about how to fix a flat started with sit down and enjoy the moment. I loved that way of looking at it and I will miss his wit and insight.

---

      The web page business has taken off pretty good too I am no way ready to retire but with a few false starts it was fun to see it work. I am learning as I go but all in all it was a fun experience. I got to meet people all over the world by Email that I would never have met any other way. I feel the world is a little smaller with the web.