The Des Plaines, Iowa Police Department tolled out four new iForce Bicycles at their downtown police station last week saying that these bikes were the “department’s lated addition to its vehicle fleet,” according to a storying the Journal Online.
Police called attention to the value of using bicycles to enhance “saturation patrols in problem areas of the city” as an enforcement strategy. These require officers to patrol an area on foot, bicycles or in police vehicles. Since the department’s two bicycles were 12 years old, the need to upgrade the department’s bicycles became apparent. . . “Bicycles enhance our officers’ ability to more aggressively patrol targeted areas where it is difficult for a police squad to patrol. The targeted patrol areas will benefit from an enhanced police presence. We’re stepping up our efforts to reduce criminal activity by, as I like to say, ‘getting more boots on the ground,’” said Mayor Moylan.
As we’ve said before, having cops on bikes also lets the officers see how it is out on the roads and makes them much more sympathetic to the needs of cyclists all over the city.
After a week in Las Vegas (September 17-21, 2012) at Interbike 2012 we feel like we were just getting a handle on where everything was. It was a huge show filled with wondrous things of all sizes and shapes. Here is a little of what we saw, people we talked to, and booths we stumbled through during our tour. Enjoy the ride. Click here for the complete photo gallery.
In the era of buckles, and straps, and clicking ratchets seeing a pair of full race cycling shoes with simple laces seems almost absurd at first. But sometimes it takes a step back to remind us all how good the old school can be.
Giro has gone back to the future with their new road cycling shoe the Empire. During the Outdoor Demo at Interbike we spoke with Giro Creative Director Eric Horton to get the idea behind delivering a laced racing shoe in 2012. [click to continue…]
It’s always great to see so many bikes together in one place with so many people who love them. Not even a 98 degree hot blast could melt the smiles off everyone faces at Interbike’s Outdoor Demo in Boulder City, Nevada September 17 – 18, 2012.
With only 8 hours a day and hundreds and hundreds of bikes it’s difficult to even know where to begin. In fact, we were so blown away by all the product that we didn’t even ride today. We attempted to sort things out for tomorrow. We saw a 36er (yes, bozo), some 650b’s, and an electronic suspension system that we’re only beginning to get our heads around. But that could take a while.
Everyone who has ever ridden a mountain bike has at least one reason to thank Tom Ritchey. After watching this great 18 minute clip on ritchey’s illustrious career from Jay Bird Films we’re pretty sure you’ll come up with a couple more. Cycling would not be the same without Tom’s contributions.
The new fall cyclocross season kicks off on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada with CrossVegas and none of us have to travel to party city to watch it live. No, thanks to VeloNews we can all sit in front of our computers with a chip-n-dip and watch the whole think online.
Six-time Emmy award winning producer/director Kent Gordis will direct the broadcast. Dave Towle, billed by promoters as “the voice of American bicycle racing,” will anchor the commentary team. VeloNews.com editor Brian Holcombe will join Towle in the booth, with Simon Burney, author of “Cyclocross: Training and Techniques”, providing course-side insight.
There might be worse ways to spend a Wednesday night, right? Coverage begins at 8 PM Wednesday, September 19, 2012 right here.
Boise, Idaho’s Michael Lawrence had a busy spring, according to a story in the Idaho Statesman. Lawrence reportedly stole “as many as 50 bikes in the Boise area” before the local police matched some fingerprints and nailed him down.
So far, 29 bicycles, including 13 Exergy bikes, have been recovered. The value of the bicycles recovered is an estimated $138,730. Other items recovered including a projector from a Boise elementary school, a bike rack and $9,000 in cash from the sale of stolen bicycles, most of which went to buyers in the Portland, Ore., area.
Lawrence pleaded guilty in June to two counts of grand theft in a plea bargain deal with prosecutors. Hopefully, this will keep him off the streets and away from high-end bicycles for a while.
Josh Patterson, the former editor Dirt Rag Magazine is now a technical writer for BikeRadar US, according to a story on BikeRadar.com.
“Josh understands all the complexities of the bicycle and can clearly explain the pros and cons of any set-up to any level of rider,” said Ben Delaney, editor in chief of BikeRadar US. “He can easily distinguish hype from substance, and his enthusiasm for riding bikes is contagious. We’re lucky to have him.”
Patterson brings one more masters degree to the BikeRadar US staff. It would appear that BikeRadar is getting even more serious about product reviewing.
The Des Plaines, Iowa Police Department tolled out four new iForce Bicycles at their downtown police station last week saying that these bikes were the “department’s lated addition to its vehicle fleet,” according to a storying the Journal Online.
