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Weekend Music: Critical Mass Edition

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On August 1, 2008

In Cycling, DC, Music, Ride Report

Just back from my semi-annual check-up on the DC Critical Mass crowd.  Unsuprisingly, DC did not live up/down to the examples recently set in Seattle or NYC.  It was a mostly positive affair that I’ll write more about later.  I’ll say now, tho’, that the hipster simply didn’t represent like I expected them to (in fact, the only clearly ID’able one I saw didn’t take part in the ride at all – he was busy loading his Pista into the back of his . . . SUV! at 14th & R St.).  Anyway, in honor of the evening –

We start with the setting – Dupont Circle at 6pm.  Lily Allen’s LDN is apropos, no?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORosVxIg8Tg[/youtube]

As we get rolling on the ride, I look around to see who’s with us.  All sorts, really, but one stands out.  She may well be proof of time travel, looking like she’d been snatched out of Ready for the World’s Oh Sheila video:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SX-vZk5DUY[/youtube]

Props to her, though – could you pedal with 4 inch heels?  No, you could not.  So up and around Thomas Circle, swing across U, and back down to the Capitol.  We crash the party that the local DC skate/rollerblade club had going on.  Much fun, sometimes towing the skaters, sometimes getting pushed.  The guys on the tall bikes (triple stacked!) wanted to try something with the tour buses, but they ran away.  So we were left to:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQVM7jsUlJc[/youtube]

Shortly after, I and a couple of other guys parted ways with the pack, and headed home.  An excellent start to the evening.

Do You Walk or Ride Trails in Maryland?

By

On July 30, 2008

In Cycling, DC, Policy, Virginia

If so, take a few minutes to respond to the solicitation for feedback from the MDOT Office of Planning and Capital Programs below, please.  Thanks.

Dear Friends and Supporters of Trails in Maryland,

I am very excited to let you know that MDOT is leading a strategic planning effort to guide development of a bicycle and pedestrian trail network that connects people to the places in which they live, work, and play. The plan will chart a course for Maryland’s state and local agencies to implement a seamless, multi-use trail system that can be used for transportation by bicyclists, pedestrians, runners and others. MDOT is committed to continue working with our local and state partners in this effort and we want your input in the plan development process to ensure that your plans, perspectives, needs and visions are included.
We have created two easy ways for you to provide input:

First, I invite you to complete a simple online survey. Click on the following link, which will take you to directly to the survey at the SurveyMonkey website. It will take just a few minutes to fill out.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=aFsezUukX8MtDQEpOXS3_2fQ_3d_3d

Second, through our project website, we provide an opportunity to use Google Maps to give us geographic information about where trail improvements and linkages are needed. Go to the website using the link below. You will find instructions there and a link to the Maryland Trails Google Map.
http://www.mdot.state.md.us/Planning/TSIP/trails.html

In addition to completing the survey yourself (and giving us ideas on a map), I want to encourage you to forward this invitation (by email or in newsletters) to your friends, colleagues and fellow members of bicycle, pedestrian or trail interest groups in which you are involved. The survey and map will remain open from now through September 30, 2008.
For more information about the project, I have attached a project announcement flyer that explains this exciting effort. You can also visit our project homepage at http://www.mdot.state.md.us/Planning/TSIP/index.html.

Sincerely,
Sylvia Ramsey
Manager Community Enhancements Programs
Office of Planning and Capital Programs
Maryland Department of Transportation
Sramsey1@mdot.state.md.us

Another Point In Favor of Helmets

By

On July 28, 2008

In Cycling

You never know when a cop is going to assault you:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUkiyBVytRQ[/youtube]

Background here, where you can learn nifty little things like:

A representative for TIMES UP! tells us that the cyclist in this video was arrested, held for 26 hours, and charged with attempted assault and resisting arrest.

Update: NYT covers the story.

MPD Stonewalling on Alice Swanson’s Death?

By

On July 28, 2008

In Cycling, DC

In the weeks since cyclist Alice Swanson was killed by a driver who came into her lane and crushed her, I’d been expecting to hear that the driver had been charged with – at least – reckless driving.  But I’d not seen anything about it, and had hoped that maybe it had just gone unreported.  Well, it seems that the MPD isn’t answering any questions about it.  From today’s Washington Post live chat with Eric Gilliand, executive director of the Washington Area Bicycle Association:

Eric Gilliland: We are watching the Alice Swanson case very closely, but in spite of our repeated efforts to get more information about the case calls to the Major Crash unit have not been returned. We are in the process of setting up a meeting with MPD to discuss this, but have nothing solid yet. We have been pretty disappointed with the reaction to the tragedy by the city as a whole.

If you live in the District, please call the Mayor and your council member, and ask them why the MPD doesn’t seem to be taking the death of one of its residents very seriously.

Paul Kimmage: Back from the Abyss

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On July 26, 2008

In Cycling

Paul Kimmage, knowledgeable (and frequent) critic of pro cycling, wrote a column that’s a must-read for any pro cycling/Tour de France fan.  It starts with:

If there’s one thing professional cyclists have always been more proficient at than racing bikes, it’s telling lies. From Richard Virenque to Bjarne Riis to Tyler Hamilton, the angel-faced maestro of deceit, the sport has fostered some of the finest liars in history. So a year ago, when Jonathan Vaughters began making headlines for his innovative plans at Slipstream, the new antidoping team hoping to ride the Tour de France, it was hard not to snigger. Did he seriously expect us to believe him?

And then he takes us through his efforts to answer that question.  Well worth reading.

Buying a New Bike? Consider a Scott

By

On July 23, 2008

In Cycling

So yeah, another Tour, another doping scandal (or three).  Saunier Duval has elected to drop its sponsorship in light of the recently uncovered doping habits of Ricardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli.  Which is, on many levels, understandable enough.  But as anyone who saw the photos of the Saunier Duval team mechanics – sitting on the side of the road, crying their eyes out, heads in their hands – knows, there’s more to any given team than a couple of riders.  And with a view to that, Scott is going to carry the team through the end of the season:

Scott, second sponsor of the Saunier Duval-Scott cycling team, will continue to support the squad managed by Mauro Gianetti.

Scott think that the situation the team coped with during the Tour de France resulted from individual choices and that the team and their managers did everything they could to avoid this kind of situations.

“To leave the team and seek for other sponsorship opportunities would be the easiest thing for us to do. However, we trust the team´s young riders and staff. They do not have to pay for the mistakes made by individual riders, and this is why we´ve decided to stand by the team. We´ll continue to support Mauro Gianetti´s men so that they can go on competing this season. We consider this tough situation as a chance to struggle against doping and we´ll ask for anti-doping tests to be stricter in the future. All the riders in the team have signed the so-called biological passport, and we believe this is great a step forward to eliminate doping from cycling. We´ll not leave the team, as all the people in it have done an excellent job in the past years. We want the young riders of the team to be given a chance.” Pascal Ducrot, Vice-President of Scott Sports, S.A.

Scott.  They make nice bikes.

(h/t to Cycleto.com for the release.)

Join BikeArlington for Tour de France Highlights (Stage 18)

By

On July 23, 2008

In Cycling, Virginia

From BikeArlington:

What: Join BikeArlington to cheer on the Tour de France at Summers Restaurant!

When: Thursday, July 24th, 5 -7pm

Where: Summers Restaurant, at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and Courthouse Road, just one block from the Court House Metro (http://www.summers-restaurant.com/)

Why: To enjoy the camaraderie of fellow cyclists as we watch the pros climb through the hills of the Monts du Forez on their way to Saint-Etienne in the 18th stage of the 21-stage Tour.

We’ll have the TVs tuned to catch the highlights of the day’s 197 kilometers.  Summers has happy hour specials in place for us to enjoy, such as $2.50 for selected domestic beers, and $1-off wine and other beers.  We’ll order up some appetizers and enjoy the company of other bikers as we take in the Tour.

RSVPs to mesposito@arlingtonva.us are welcome, but not necessary.

On behalf of BikeArlington, we can’t wait to see you there!

Getting there:
Metro’s Orange line to the Court House Metro is one block away;
Metrobus routes 38B, 4BE; ART route 41, 62;
and of course by bike: there is plenty of bike parking at the Court House Metro, at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and Uhle Street.

I’m going to do my best to make it.  Say hi if you see a guy in a CSC Invitational shirt (or one of these).

Can we at least take his column away?

By

On July 23, 2008

In Cycling, DC

Why is Robert Novak still driving?

Bono said the pedestrian, who was crossing the street on a “Walk” signal and was in the crosswalk, rolled off the windshield and then Novak made a right into the service lane of K Street. “The car is speeding away. What’s going through my mind is, you just can’t hit a pedestrian and drive away,” Bono said.

That right, Robert Novak hit someone who rolled across his windshield, and he didn’t even notice it.  If he’s that unaware of things, why does he still have a national column, nevermind his car keys?

Update: The more I read about this, the more I’m pretty sure that Novak just plain fled the scene:

He said he chased Novak half a block down K Street., finally caught up with him and then put his bike in front of the car to block it and called 911. Traffic immediately backed up, horns blared and commuters finally went into reverse to allow Novak to pull over.

Bono said that throughout, Novak “keeps trying to get away. He keeps trying to go.” He said he vaguely recognized the longtime political reporter and columnist as a Washington celebrity but could not precisely place him.

Finally, Bono said, Novak put his head out the window of his car and motioned him over. Bono said he told him that you can’t hit a pedestrian and just drive away. He quoted Novak as responding: “I didn’t see him there.”

I used to have an office right on that corner (1776 K St.), and while I was glad to get out of there, I sure would have loved to have had it today.  (Also, this Bono fellow is running for the board of the Washington Area Bicycle Association.  I think he just cinched my vote.)

Weekend Music: Édition de L’Tour

By

On July 18, 2008

In Cycling, Music

Okay, we start with an obvious choice, but despite my harping on cycling topics, I’m pretty comfortable in assuming that my audience isn’t the type that would consider leading off with Kraftwerk unforgivable:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=sQz-CZvkY8k[/youtube]

Draft Siouxsie and her Banshees in the flats:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=7C0OOM7gaSk[/youtube]

Climb up the Hautacam with The Ark:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=5oIfWME713c[/youtube]

And get some Bad Religion for the final sprints:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=h-VyWe0sm0I[/youtube]

Big ups to Manxman (!) Mark Cavendish, winner of  four Tour de France stages, and only 24 years old.

Friday Notes: Remember That? Edition

By

On July 18, 2008

In Cycling, DC, Law, Politics, Virginia

Yesterday was the first day you could register a handgun in DC.  How many people were in line, clamoring to exercise this new right?  Two.  And one forgot his gun.

~

I was never a fan of comics as a kid, but after being introduced to a few really impressive “graphic novels” as an adult (i.e., Maus, Blankets, and Palestine), I’m a little more open to the artform.   So I found myself sucked into the webcomic Yehuda Moon the other day.  Not as serious as those graphic novels, but a bit of light – if occasionally pointed – fun.  If you’re a cyclist, check it out.

~

Perhaps the most entertaining session I attended at the first YearlyKos convention was the one where Dave “Mudcat” Saunders threatened to punch Whistling Past Dixie author Tom Schaller for speaking frankly about some of the uglier sides of the South.   As I’ve previously noted, Tom’s probably not the best messenger, but he’s got an important message.  Vivian Paige just started posting a multi-part review of the book, and I’m looking forward to her take on it.

~

And that post about pettiness, earlier this week?  The Washington Post decided to prove that they can be just as petty as the rest of us.

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