A Brief History of the MONOcycle, Humanity's Most Useless Vehicle

A Brief History of the MONOcycle, Humanity's Most Useless Vehicle
Motherboard
By Brian Merchant
Link: http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-monocycle-lives-a-brief-history-of-humanitys-most-useless-vehicle

"This month, the RYNO, a one-wheeled electric motorcycle, is slated to start rolling off the assembly line. Why, one might ask, might human society need a one-wheeled electric motorcycle? Well, we don’t, but that hasn’t stopped us from churning out all kinds of vehicular experiments with dubious utility—today’s prime example being the Segway. But the all-time poster child for claptrap transportation might well be the monocycle, or the monowheel, in all of its myriad forms over the last century."

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Exploring Los Angeles at Night, by Bike

Exploring Los Angeles at Night, by Bike
KCRW
By Avishay Artsy
2013-07-03
Link: http://blogs.kcrw.com/whichwayla/2013/07/exploring-los-angeles-at-night-by-bike

"If you drive on the streets of LA at night, chances are you’ve seen a pack of cyclists pass you by. There’s no shortage of these night riding groups. But of all those rides, there’s one that’s a little more… exotic. It’s called “The Passage of a Few People Through a Rather Brief Moment in Time,” or colloquially known as The Passage Ride. The ride was started four years ago by Nathan Snider and Sean Deyoe.

The ride meets every Wednesday at 8:30pm at California Donuts #21, at the corner of 3rd & New Hampshire, in Koreatown. It leaves at 9 pm.

On a recent Wednesday night, KCRW’s Avishay Artsy strapped on a helmet and went to explore."

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Celebrity Sighting on Glendora Mountain Road

After work I road up GMR to the top of Monroe.  John P gave me a 19t cog for the fixie.  It worked GREAT. Thanks John, riding fixie up GMR was a little less painful today.

On the way down, I spotted a GMR Celebrity, Annette from GlendoraMTNRoad.com.  I wish I had more time to talk.

Good times.

Biker Bicyclist

From Carl B.

Dawn of MUni

From UniGeezer, "This video was quite a departure from what I usually do.

I made it as a tribute to both “The Dawn of Man” opening segment of the film “2001 a Space Odyssey”, and to Kris Holm and George Peck, for pioneering the sport we all love so much! It starts out in the "1970's", which required lots of props from that era, including finding a unicycle at least 40 years old, in new looking condition! THAT would be a tall order!

So I went on a “scavenger hunt” of sorts, to find all the props from the 1970’s that were needed, including rotary dial phone, polyester disco shirt and pants, shag wig, lava lamp and much more, all of which you will see in the video. I was lucky to find some new looking 70's cars to ride by, while looking like an extra from the Brady Bunch!

There are several references to the film, (“2001 a Space Odyssey”) including the opening title, and my take on the "Bone to spaceship" scene. For that scene my 70's era unicycle becomes a modern day MUni. This was the most difficult to get right, and took the most time, but I was very happy with the final result.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did making it! "

Diamond Bar/Pomona to Glendora Mountain Road Then Back to Diamond Bar/Up to the Lifts

Confusing title? Let me explain...

Michael rode to Sierra Madre (SM) and Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) from Diamond Bar.  I rode from my house in Pomona to SM / GMR.  From there we headed up GMR.  At the village, Michael headed back home to Diamond Bar and I decided to continue to the ski lifts.

There were a lot of riders out Saturday.  Adobo Velo, Mr Beans, I am sure Annette/Bill were there too.  I also noticed a lot of triathlon bikes.

I made it!  It is never easy riding to the ski lifts.

My artsy fartsy photo.

Michael heading up to the gate.

Someone making his way to Mt. Baldy.

Croy came flying past me.  We rode together for a few miles and caught up on family life.

Michael at the fire station filling up his water bottles.

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Glendora Mountain Road with John P, on a Tuesday, Riding Fixed Gear

It was a good ride.

Experiments in Speed

This is a follow up to a blog post about Tom Donhou a few weeks ago.  Fascinating ...

Experiments in Speed from SpindleProductions on Vimeo.
Experiments in speed. Inspired by those great men of the salt flats, those men that in the 60s pushed the Land Speed Record from the 300s up towards the 600mph mark in jet-propelled cars built in their sheds. We decided to do what we do: build a bicycle, but this time, in the spirit of those pioneers of speed, build it to see how fast we could go…

donhoubicycles.com
spindleproductions.co.uk

Director | Greg Hackett
Editor | Tim Swaby
Production Company | Spindle Productions
Sound Recordist | Adam Williams
Camera Assistant | Greg Harris
Production Assistant | Dickon Ireland
Aerial Cameras | Ben Kenobe Ben Sturgess Chris Ridley
Photographer | Tristan Conor Holden
Composer | Daniel J. Harvey

Encounter with LA Sheriff who thinks I'm impeding traffic...

Niall Huffman
2013-07-24
Link: http://kneel28.tumblr.com/post/56359217278/wrong-on-so-many-levels



"This video, shot by Wes High on his commute along Fountain Avenue through West Hollywood, has been making the rounds on Facebook and Twitter. The Sheriff’s deputy here is 100% wrong on the law regarding where people on bikes can ride in the street. Here’s why:"

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Find the animal at the Tour - Cannondale Pro Cycling

Adam's New Ride

Adam got a new bike!  This bike is ready for the trails and maybe some CX racing in the fall?  I don't know who is more excited, Adam or me.

Meet Gary - A Ride to Newport

A few weeks ago a high school acquaintance finally signed up for Facebook.  Gary and I went to the same middle and high school.  We shared a few classes together and had a few common friends, so when he popped up as someone I may know on FB, I was compelled to look at his Facebook page.

I do this often, as I am sure many others do.  "Oh, wow! "Insert Name" has signed up for Facebook.  I haven't heard that name in years.  I wonder what he/she has been up to since I last saw him/her."

As I clicked through Gary's page, right on the front was a beautiful Giant Trinity Composite.  Sleek, aero, white with black accents, damn that's sweet.  You guessed right, I'm talking about a bike.  Not any bike but a very specific type of bike, "Tri" Bike or one meant specifically for triathlons.

It turns out Gary is crazy into triathlons; Sprint, Olympic, half and soon to be completed full Ironman distances.  I am always looking for new riders, so naturally, it just made sense for me reaching out to him for a ride. 

After a few back and forth FB messages and phone texts we decided on a beach ride.  A beach ride is perfect for Gary's type of bike and training.  We met early in Diamond Bar and were off to Newport.

John P also joined us for this ride.  John P is one of very few GMR fixie riders and is known for his tunes blasting as he heads up the mountain.  I haven't seen him in a while so it was really nice riding with him to Newport.

The ride to and from Newport went great.  Gary's a strong rider and 60 miles was nothing for him  He's training for an Ironman so he needs to log some crazy distances to prepare him for June 2014. 

Ella Fitzgerald, "Don't Fence Me In"

I love this version. Sing it Ella.

Don't Fence Me In

Come on Trigger lets go ... Enjoy your weekend of riding.



Don't fence me in

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Don't fence me in

Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in

Just turn me loose
Let me straddle my old saddle underneath the Western skies
On my cayuse
Let me wander over yonder 'til I see the mountains rise

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
Gaze about the moon until I lose my senses
Can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in

Just turn me loose
Let me straddle my old saddle underneath the Western skies
On my cayuse
Let me wander over yonder 'til I see the mountains rise

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
Gaze about the moon until I lose my senses
Can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in

Don't fence me in
Don't you fence me in

Wayne and Glendora Mountain Road

On Tuesday, I decided to ride up Glendora Mountain Road via my fixed gear bike.  I was in a real treat, as I was unloading my bike, Wayne passed me bye.

He circled around to say hello before heading up the mountain.  I unloaded and started my pursuit.  I caught up with him and it was nice to have someone to talk to on this late afternoon ride.

Wayne and I go way back.  After high school,  Wayne's son, Chris, and I packed our bikes and headed up to Mammoth Mountain for the 1994 Reebok Eliminator.  Wayne and the rest of his family came up a few days after. 

Wayne's son, Chris, and I were acquaintances in HS and it was by chance I meet him while riding Marshal Canyon. Our common love of bikes brought us to Mammoth Mountain and after that I kept in touch with him and his family throughout the years. 

Chris now lives in France with his lovely wife and two children.  Wayne, still a local of the foothills, can be seen riding up GMR once or twice a week.  Every once in a while, our paths cross.  Either me heading up and Wayne heading down or vice-verse.  But on Tuesday, we were heading in the same direction ... up. 

The Shining

CX Love on Claremont Wilderness Trail

It has been a while but I managed to squeak out a MTB, well CX, ride up Burbank and down Cobal.  It was a good ride but after all the road riding I have been doing, Claremont Wilderness Trail left my arms sore from all the bumps and handfuls of brakes I was grabbing in the way down. 

I took the Kona Major Jake CX and I noticed its time for a tune up.  The bike has been sitting since last season and the pads are worn down.

On the way up ...

On the way home ...

Sights from Glendora Mountain Road

Years ago and some time during the late winter, early springs months, Annette and I were out riding Glendora Mountain road. I was on a mission to reach Mt Baldy.  The weather got the best of us and I would only make it to Fork + MM 6.20 on this day.

These are a few things I saw on the way up.

K-Pop

Scenes from Carpinteria

Guess where we went this past weekend? Good Times!

Yummy Goodness

Tour de France imitation of Cav, Contador, Evans and more

If you keep up with racers and racing, this is pretty funny.

Garry Alderman of Method Bicycles

Garry Alderman of Method Bicycles from Steven Jockisch on Vimeo.

The Tour De France Explained in Animation

Clown Travels the World on Bicycle

Clown Travels the World on Bicycle from Storyhunter on Vimeo.
Alvaro Neil quit his job as a lawyer to travel the world by bicycle, entertaining people as a wandering clown. Ten years, sixty-seven countries, and 75,000 miles later, watch him as he rides into Saltillo, Mexico, to perform his act for Central American migrants en route to the United States.

I Like You Better as a Cyclist

Inspiration for Riding

Rollers and Beyonce

I don't know, maybe she's been on those rollers to long.  It just shows its time to get outside.

Pre-Ride Bicycle Checklist

OGERROCKS - AC/DC Tribute

The Feed Zone: Allen Lim’s Rice Cake

The Feed Zone: Allen Lim’s Rice Cakes
USA Triathlon
Link: http://www.usatriathlon.org/about-multisport/multisport-zone/fuel-station/articles/feedzone-rice-cakes-071712.aspx

I am going to try these for a during ride meal.  Wish me luck.  I will post impressions when done.

 When Dr. Allen Lim left the lab to work with pro athletes, he found that many didn’t understand nutrition. For years, many elite athletes have underperformed on bland fare and processed foods. So Lim set out to make eating real food delicious yet practical, working with pro cyclists to develop easily-made, high-performance recipes that taste great.
Dr. Lim and chef Biju Thomas combine the science and practice of food in The Feed Zone Cookbook, a collection of 160 of their favorite athlete-friendly recipes. With simple recipes requiring just a handful of ingredients, Biju and Lim show how easy it is for athletes to prepare their own food, whether at home or on the go.
On your next ride, try Allen Lim’s famous rice cakes, a delicious portable snack made from real food.
Allen Lim’s Rice Cakes
Servings: 10
Time: 30 minutes
I started making these rice cakes at training camps and races to give riders something savory and fresh to eat while on the bike. They became a huge hit since almost everything the riders ate was pre-packaged and sweet. Not only are these rice cakes delicious, they also provide a consistent energy source that doesn’t upset the stomach.

• 2 cups uncooked calrose or other medium-grain “sticky” rice
• 3 cups water
• 8 ounces bacon
• 4 eggs
• 2 tablespoons liquid amino acids or low-sodium soy sauce
• brown sugar
• salt and grated parmesan (optional)

1. Combine rice and water in a rice cooker.
2. While rice is cooking, chop up bacon before frying, and then fry in a medium sauté pan. When crispy, drain off fat and soak up excess fat with paper towels.
3. Beat the eggs in a small bowl and then scramble on high heat in the sauté pan. Don’t worry about overcooking the eggs as they’ll break up easily when mixed with the rice.
4. In a large bowl or in the rice cooker bowl, combine the cooked rice, bacon, and scrambled eggs. Add liquid amino acids or soy sauce and sugar to taste. After mixing, press into an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan to about 1½-inch thickness. Top with more brown sugar, salt to taste, and grated parmesan, if desired.

Cut and wrap individual cakes. Makes about 10 rice cakes. For an instructional video on how to wrap rice cakes to take on bike rides, please visit FeedZoneCookbook.com.
Tip: We always use calrose rice, a strain of medium-grain rice common in Asian cooking. This variety cooks fast (in 20 minutes or less), retains a nutty flavor, and is just sticky enough to hold our cakes together. If you can’t find it, use another medium-grain rice or any kind marked “sushi rice.”
Nutrition data per serving (1 cake):
Energy 225 cal • Fat 8 g • Sodium 321 mg • Carbs 30 g • Fiber 1 g • Protein 9 g

Some Things to Consider

100+ MPH with Tom Donhou

"What started as just a bit of fun started to get a lot more serious pretty quick and now we're gunning for a 100 mph" run." Tom Donhou

Hiking with the Wife @ Claremont Wilberness Trail

The opportunity for a hike arose when, Grandma Bobbie took Francesca and Adam to the movies while Grandma Tom and Carol hung out with Natalie. 

It was a great few hours spent with Jamie.

The view from the top of Burbank.  Cooler temps but still humid welcomed us as the sun hid between the clouds.  

Post 4th of July BBQ walk.  There were a lot if hikers and cyclists today.

Random things ...