by editors on April 24, 2024
There are people who capture the mood of an entire subset of the human species. George Christensen (left in the photo above) did that for adventure cyclists. He rode his bike everywhere, all the time, and documented it on his website George The Cyclist. He rode the Americas, Africa, India, and followed the route of the Tour de France 20 times. Sadly, George was killed by a semi truck driver on Monday, April 22, 2024 just outside Ridgeway, South Carolina. It was Earth Day and George was doing what he did most days: riding his bike until the sun went down.
According to a report in The State by Noah Feit, on Monday, April 22, around 7:30 p.m. Christensen was cycling west on Highway 34, about three miles southeast of Ridgeway, near Autumn Drive. The sun would set a little after 8 p.m. that night. . . the driver of a westbound 2022 Mack truck with a trailer hit the back of Christensen’s bike, killing him.
If you have a minute, read the story, and his blog and soak for a minute in thoughts of all the wonderful people who ride bikes. Especially those who are no longer with us.
[Link: StreetsBLOGChicago]
by editors on February 22, 2024
Almsthre, our favorite maker of great bags that we’d never use because we don’t like bags, is now the official bag of the world famous Belgian Waffle Ride series of gravelish events. And if you’d like some good bags that will match your BWR kit on race day, then by all means, click the link.
[Link: Almsthre]
by editors on December 24, 2023
Those soulful Walmart siblings behind the cycling brand Rapha would like to wish you a pouty, hipster, cool kid holiday season and remind you to get out on your bikes and ride 500 km between Christmas and New Years Day. Because the brand is all about “camaraderie and community, motivation and mistakes, and moments of personal effort.” But don’t smile. No. Never smile. No one looks cool showing emotion. And cycling is all about being cool.
And if you can ride 500 km wearing their latest, overpriced oeuvre of black and semi-black clothing, please do. Remember to share all your outings on your socials with the hashtag #buymorerapha.
by editors on December 19, 2023
[Editors Note: The following is an apology letter written by Google Bard to the car that cut me off yesterday.]
To the Dazzling Dazzlemobile that Almost Became My Bicycle Blender,
Greetings, fellow traveler of the asphalt jungle! I write to you not with groveling apologies, but with a symphony of sarcasm so potent it could make a mime faint. Yes, you read that right. Buckle up, buttercup, because this ain’t your grandma’s Hallmark card.
Let’s rewind, shall we? Picture this: me, a humble cyclist, gracefully gliding through the urban undergrowth, spandex shimmering in the midday sun. And then, there you were, a majestic chariot of sheet metal and questionable taste, emerging from a side street like a startled gazelle with GPS issues.
[click to continue…]
by editors on November 16, 2023
Those creative business people at FloSports have been brought to task for their extremely suspect subscription promotion verbiage thanks to a class action lawsuit filed by the law firm of Lucas Young, Daniel O’Malley, and Charles Buckingham of DuPage County, Illinois. And because of this you may be owed a payment (or refund as the case may be).
Here are the official details:
The Class Plaintiffs allege that they were enrolled in automatically renewing subscriptions for FloSports’ content without adequate disclosures and notice regarding renewal charges and cancellation terms. FloSports claims its subscription renewal practices complied with all applicable laws and regulations and that it fairly disclosed all terms associated with its subscriptions. Thus, FloSports denies all allegations of wrongdoing, and the Court has not determined who is right. Rather, the Parties have agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the uncertainties and expenses associated with ongoing litigation.
Having subscribed to FloSport ourselves we know the company was extremely inadequate in their subscription plan descriptions and are glad the company was smart enough to settle the lawsuit to avoid being shown to be the scammers we have suggested they just might be.
If you subscribed to the service please click the link for more info https://fsrenewalsettlement.com/. You may be able to get up to $30 of your money back if you don’t choose to sue them your self.
[Link: FS Renewal Settlement]
by editors on September 27, 2023
We’ve spent most of our cycling lives trying to limit the things we carry. To eliminate baggage and refrain from objects that dangle, bang, and jingle, but we’re probably just getting crusty.
The kids today, they seem to love their bar bags, saddle scrotums, and frame sacks. If you’re one of them, we suggest you check out the amazing bags from Almsthre. We don’t know how to pronounce it, but the company makes really cool, well designed bags that you will love. Click the link to check them out.
[Link: Almsthre]
by editors on March 16, 2023
The new face of user supported international cycling media showed itself today, March 16, 2023 with the launch of Escape Collective: The Home of Independent Cycling Journalism. You will know many of the names behind the new brand (Wade Wallace and Caley Fretz are “mostly in charge”) as they’ve been responsible for creating some of the best cycling media of the last decade. Not to go too deeply into it, but many of them left their (private equity funded) former corporate media employers after experiencing buyouts and “consolidation.” But they’ve rounded up their crew and are already offering up some solid content.
Here’s how Caley Fretz puts it:
This is an incredible moment. We finally have somewhere for you to bookmark and open up every morning and scroll through and, hopefully, find a bit of inspiration or enjoyment or simply some information you didn’t have before. This is the start, the very first day, of a vision we have for what bike media, and outdoor media more broadly, can be. It’s a vision many of you have literally bought into and one we cannot wait to bring to life.
Make sure to checkout the site, bookmark it, and most certainly subscribe, because these are the good guys.
PS: None of this should be confused with the Australian cycling apparel brand Escape. (Wonder how this trademark situation will go?)
[Link: EscapeCollective.CC]
by editors on March 13, 2023
Just a reminder that one of the most fun road races in Southern California is quickly approaching. Sadly, the Tour de Murrieta no longer features their legendary half-gravel TT to kick things off, but the two-day (April 1-2, 2023) event still includes one of our favorite fast, flat road loops and a piping hot six-turn criterium with one of the longest finish straights in the western states.
The Downtown Grand Prix is a fast paced, 6 turn grand prix course. The course has a little bit of everything making it a challenge course even for the most talented and experienced racer. Teamwork is the name of the game as position is everything as you enter the last turn and exit onto a 500 meter, blistering fast straight away to the finish.
The Circuit Race is a challenging 4 mile circuit. On paper this course seems relatively docile. However, with lap speeds in the 25-30 mile per hour range the seemingly “mild” climbs begin to take their toll. Those looking for a break away will most definitely use the climbs as a launch pad while the sprinters’ teams will set a blistering pace in an attempts to discourage attacks. This course is a racer favorite and never disappoints its spectators!
Click the link to get more info and to register.
[Link: Tour de Murrieta]
by editors on January 27, 2023
Monuments of Cycling has partnered with Florida-based Mumu Cycling Apparel to create a new BWR collection for the 2023 BWRs and the Quadrupel Crown of Gravel. The BWR collection features shirts, hats, water bottles, caps, arm warmers, vests, hoodies, jerseys and bib shorts. And, the best part is they look great!
We are so excited about this collaboration! The collection took its inspiration from the Belgian National Team Colors but there are more options than ever before. . . Mumu will fulfill all existing pre-orders including those placed before January 8, 2023, and will reach out with further details. For any questions, please contact bwr@mumuapparel.com.
For for the full line and all the details, please click the link.
[Link: Belgian Waffle Ride]
by editors on November 2, 2022
It’s great to see someone you ride with get the props they deserve from what’s left of the cycling media. And Road Bike Action’s interview with San Diego’s Phil Tinstman is a nice reminder of the kind of quality people cycling brings together.
Currently, Phil is a partner in Monuments of Cycling (the organization that puts on the Belgian Waffle Ride series), and in between planning races for the ever-growing gravel series, he also found the time to be a part of the eight-rider team that set the record for the fastest time in the arduous Race Across America (RAAM). And, as if that wasn’t enough pedaling, shortly after his RAAM effort, Phil flew to New Mexico and won big at the 45+ Master’s Criterium National Championships.
To read the entire interview, please click the link.
[Link: Road Bike Action]
