^Definitely bent top tube and down tube, and the fork may be sprung back a little bit, too. It looks like the front wheel encountered an immovable oject like a curb. It's probably still safe to ride for its intended purpose, so long as there are no visible cracks where the tubes are brazed into the lugs. The wheels may run a little out of line, but that's something you learn to compensate without really thinking about it.

 

I would just assume let a bent frame lie, but is there any wisdom whatsoever in attempting to straighten it? It's steel.

Trying to straighten it would only make it more unsafe. The tubes, lugs, and joints already were stressed when it got bent, and applying enough force to straighten the tubes would stress everything again, possibly causing hidden or invisible cracks that might result in the frame completely breaking apart while you're riding it, most likely when you're in a tight spot and either trying to stop or accelerate quickly. That could be a very unpleasant experience.

 

The only way to fix it properly and safely is to replace the fork and bent tubes. It can be done, but it would cost far more than the frame is worth. You could buy a better frame for less money than repairing that one, and the frame that mkeller234 has is a nice one. Go with it.

 

 

 

 

^Figured as much. Just needed to hear it from an actual smart person.

 

^Probably not, even on a high end frame.  You could probably ride it the way it is, but it will probably handle funny.  You could always build it up with cheap cables from walmart, the bell set costs around 5 dollars.  I think the Fuji will work out well and I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it since it's too small for me.

 

Maybe I can talk my wife into visiting Columbus in the next week or so.  I'll let you know when and we can arrange to get the frame in your hands.  She lives over in Victorian Village, so we could probably meet in Goodale park.

 

Certainly! I'm across the street in Italian Village. Just PM me here and we can schedule a rendezvous.

States give cyclists room to ride

By Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

 

As more riders take to the roads on bicycles, more states are giving them a bigger chunk of pavement — 3 feet to be precise — so they won't get swiped by cars.

 

Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-08-03-insidebikes_N.htm 

 

"My opinion, and this is just my opinion, is that it's another privileged group of people, an influx of population to the state," he said.

 

NO SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR GAYS CYCLISTS!

A large part of the contention results from the fact that for a hundred years or so, our traffic infrastructure has been auto-centric and has failed to accomodate both bikes and cars as serious, viable transport modes. It will take time and money to remedy that and defuse some of the hostility.

 

That said, both groups - motorists and cyclists - have among their numbers some arrogant pricks who need to get over themselves. No amount of infrastructure can fix an a$$hole with an attitude; some of them might benefit from hormone therapy to counteract their excess testosterone.

Do you guys have bike racks on your busses?

 

Yes, all of them I believe.  Bikes are also also allowed on the Rapid.

That's a huge step in the right direction already taken. It drastically expands access to transit and leads perception of bikes being a legitimate part of the transportation mix. Good job!

Got hit by a car again. But who am I to ask that most streets in this city be (re)designed for 25MPH traffic? You all have a Walmart, err, Trader Joe's to get to: and fast!

Where, how, and how are you doing?

Uh, please do tell!! Hope you are okay.

I'm fine and my bike only had a slight bend in the rear tire. Taxi driver was pulling out onto High from Nationwide. He started pulling out then paused, which kept me from changing lanes and then of course he starts to pull right out into me. Due to the guy being Somali I figured I'd let him go since I believed he would indeed lose his job if the cops came and it's not like a Somali immigrant fresh off the boat has many opportunities here. I was OK, I told him to watch out next time, that was that.

Now Huntington has critical mass!

 

Bicyclists take to the road to prove point

By Amanda White, The Tribune, July 27, 2009

 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A group of bicyclists took the road Friday evening to prove an important point ­ they have the right to use the road, too.

 

The ride, spanning about six miles, was a part of a national movement called Critical Mass, a movement to bring bicycle awareness around the country that began in San Francisco.

Posted another article above.

 

They're safer than before, but Louisville roads still scare cyclists

By Derek Poore, Courier-Journal, August 9, 2009

 

 

Marty Bearden was riding his bike through the intersection of Seneca Park and Pee Wee Reese roads when he was hit head-on by a motorist in 1993. He flew up over the car and landed about 20 feet away in the middle of the road, but remarkably wasn't severely hurt.

^^There was a huge Friday evening group ride in Austin when I was there a month ago--a group of riders three city blocks long, made even more impressive by the 104° temperature.

If Louisville's demographic is anything like Southern Indiana's, I can understand the peril. Except for the civilized enclave around Bloomington, a lot of the southern third of the state is populated by mean rednecks who will bully a more-vulnerable individual just because they can, and that includes using cars and pickups to terrorize cyclists. I've been yelled at, had stuff thrown at me, and near Charlestown on a two-lane road some white trash in a farm truck going the opposite direction came across the center line at me and ran me off the road.

 

It'd be nice if police departments could spare the resources to run some stings. Put a couple of plain-clothes cops on regular bikes, and shadow them not too far away with an unmarked cruiser. When they're overtly threatened by a motorist, they get the license number and call for backup, and Bingo! The act has been witnessed by a cop, an arrest can be made, and one more driver gets educated.

But that would be...ENTRAPMENT!

Boston Tries to Shed Longtime Reputation as Cyclists’ Minefield

By KATIE ZEZIMA, New York Times, August 8, 2009

 

BOSTON — In a city known for its aggressive drivers, flummoxing street layout, confusing rotaries and overall rudeness on the road, what is a cyclist to do?

 

Start pedaling, some say.

I was pretty disappointed in the 3 feet to pass website.  It seemed like they were more interested in selling jerseys than discussing the cause.  Oh well.

I bought a helmet cam, here are my first two videos.

 

First, breaking spokes on Monastery St.:

http://www.vholdr.com/node/41303

 

There was already one broken spoke on the rear wheel but this run destroyed the rear wheel and you can hear the spokes break and tangle with the rear frame.  They actually broke before you can hear it, at the point where I sensed it and started slowing down.  I currently have a new rear wheel on order.

 

Here's me exchanging profanities with someone in a car -- I still have no clue as to why they felt a need to tell me how to ride, I obviously didn't do anything outrageous (like riding the wrong way down a one-way a minute later):

http://www.vholdr.com/video/exchanging-profanities-hillbilly-then-bolting-down-vine-st-hill

 

 

^A while back when we were talking about the prospect of meeting up at the end of your bike ride to Columbus I'd mentioned some awful noises coming from the bottom bracket. Turns out it was my rear hub; at the end of a 15 mile return commute the creaking and squeaking I'd grown accustom to culminated in an almost merry pinging and bonging as the left hand bearings seized up and extruded the super-heated aluminum cage like toothpaste out from between the cones and hub.

 

After several denial-filled days (and finally accepting that the hub was trashed and the spokes had seen their better days and that there were kinks in the 15 year-old rim that would never, ever go away), I broke down and bought a new wheel. Best investment I've made in a long time.

Well obviously I now have the camera and so the ride will be happening in the next few weeks, weather permitting, and after I get a handlebar bracket (it will be a lot less shaky) and some batteries.  There was a big delay because the release of the camera to the public was pushed back from mid-may to the first week of August, and it was worth waiting for, because it's a lot better than the previous generation of helmet cams. 

 

Mounting the camera on a helmet doesn't really work for biking because you have to look around a lot and about 7 hours into a long ride your neck gets tired and you start looking down a lot.

Good luck with that. I have a hard time watching helmet cam footage--the tunnel-vision aspect is disturbing and the jitters give me, well, the jitters. Are there decent ultra-wide angle cams? Something that approximates a +/-180° field of vision?

 

In other news, after riding into work today I discovered a live bee in my shirt. I was unstung, but unfortunately several (female) co-workers had to see me whip off my helmet and shirt and dance around like a scared little girl.

 

The bee passed away at 9:01AM EST. He is survived my one queen and 27,000 siblings.

I love teh camera film.  It's very bourne ultimatum!

 

Watch out for those Hillbillies!!

Jake, what model cam are you using? I'm thinking of purchasing one for the Shakertown ride in September.

It's the vholdr HD.  It just came out this month.  I still haven't played with it too much because I've been out of town and because my bike is out of commission. 

They are building bicycle superhighways in Copenhagen:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/copenhagen-bicycle-superhighways.php

 

Cyclists cause less than 10% of bike-car accidents:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/cyclists-cause-10-percent-of-accidents.php

 

It looks like you were cruising along pretty quickly in those videos.  What exactly did the hilljack say to you anyway, I couldn't quite make it out.  I was surprised at the road noise in the video, when you first passed the gas station I thought you were shifting like a madman.

 

Last time I swore at a driver he stopped his truck in front of me.  I reached for my frame pump but it didn't escalate from there thankfully.

He said something like "you're not supposed to ride a bike in the road".

 

Since the camera is mounted at handlebar level, it looks faster than it was.  I've seen other videos where they mount it on the forks close to the hub and it looks a lot faster. Also, it's a steady downhill but that might not be obvious if you're not familiar with the city.

 

I'm going to work on putting together some nice videos of the various fun downhills in Cincinnati.  Also, it might look like I'm insanely blowing through those red lights, but in real life you can see a lot more than the camera can and I'm used to the traffic patterns.  I figured out pretty quickly that riding the wrong way on one-ways and intentionally coming close to stuff makes for a more entertaining video. 

They are building bicycle superhighways in Copenhagen:

Great links, Gildone.  I noticed that www.treehugger.com is part of the Discovery Channel cable tv network(s).

They Are Building Bicycle Superhighways in Copenhagen

By Lloyd Alter, Treehugger, 08.21.09

 

 

I learned the hard way recently about a terrific website that promotes "Copenhagenizing," noting that "Each and every day 500,000 people ride their bicycle to work or school in Copenhagen."

 

Whereas in North America we are, as one writer puts it, "fighting for infrastructure a few hundred metres at a time", Copenhagenizing tells us that they are now installing "bicycle superhighways" stretching far into the suburbs.

 

What does it take to be a bicycle superhighway?

 

    - Smooth, even surfaces free of leaves, ice and snow.

    - As direct as possible with no detours.

    - Homogenous visual expression, for example, with signage and the trademark blue bike lanes through larger intersections.

    - 'Service stations' with air and tools along the routes.

    - Possibility to maintain a high speed and with sufficient width to overtake other cyclists.

    - Safe and quick crossing priority for cyclists when they approach cross streets.

    - Green Wave for cyclists through sections with frequent stop lights. [The Green Wave is in place on three main routes into Copenhagen already. Cycle 20 km/h and you hit green lights all the way.]

 

They are spending $47 million to do it. No chance of that happening in North America, even with all that stimulus money sloshing around.

 

See also --

http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/08/bicycle-commuter-superhighways-in.html

Posted another new article above.

 

This would be nice. I remember getting a denied greeting at one fast-food restaurant on my bike in Cincinnati, although they said that it would be okay "just this one time."

 

Bike-riding mom denied at drive-through turns to Twitter

By Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY, August 19, 2009

 

Sarah Gilbert stepped off her bicycle long enough to send one angry tweet via Twitter— and it's changed the way one fast-growing burger chain treats bike riders.

 

The 35-year-old blogger, freelance writer and mother of three doesn't own a car. She gets around usually bike-friendly Portland, Ore., on a custom-made stretch bike that fits all three of her boys, ages 2, 4 and 7. A bumper sticker boasts: "One less minivan."

She gets around usually bike-friendly Portland, Ore., on a custom-made stretch bike that fits all three of her boys, ages 2, 4 and 7. A bumper sticker boasts: "One less minivan."

 

Hopefully they all have matching t-shirts, or else those boys aren't quite humiliated enough. 

Such a contraption would be the bomb-diggity to kids of those ages. In a few years though (for the 7 year-old), not so much.

I don't even bother trying the drive-through windows in Canton... I think I am batting something like 0 for 6.

 

Anyway, I just sold my Schwinns and used the cash to build up a new work commuter.  This is in a very large way inspired by Rob's Schwinn Letour Luxe conversion.  I tried my best to get a french look out of a Japanese bike on a budget.  I went with modern mountain bike levers, not the prettiest but man do they feel great.  I used bar end shifters instead of thumbies because I thought they were more fun.  I can't count how many people have focused straight to the shifters with curiosity.  I like the expressions I get when I explain that they are the shift levers, good fun.  Total cost was around 75 dollars.

 

 

 

I moved the nose of the saddle down a bit after I took this photo:

 

 

 

Very cool. Thanks for that Fuji frame, by the way. I've degreased the hardware and tried my wheels on for fit (they fit). I feel like I can get it all set up in one free Saturday afternoon, if only there were such a thing with kids.

Yes, sorry about the greasy mess.  I wanted to repack that before I gave it to you but I kept putting it off to work on my Lotus.

 

If any of the steel bits are rusty you can soak them in straight vinegar.  Give it a few hours, wash the vinegar off and presto, no more rust.  Adjusting the bearings is pretty simple, you could check out Sheldonbrown.com for some great instructions or just ask here.

The wheels, seat post and drive train on my lotus were stolen from that Fuji by the way....

Walkers in Beachwood park complain about speeding bicyclists; police set up radar signs

 

Posted by Patrick O’Donnell / Plain Dealer Reporter

August 25, 2009 19:45PM

 

BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- 17, 18, 17, 16 . . .

The numbers on the radar sign barely drop as the bicycle zips past Tuesday on a trail in Beachwood City Park. Though the speed falls, it's almost always faster than 10 mph, the speed limit the city imposed last fall for bikes in the park.

 

More at cleveland.com:

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/08/walkers_in_beachwood_park_comp.html

I can't totally disagree with the point of view of the walkers (there are some real speed demons out there, and sometimes I'm one of them), but to the gal who says we (cyclists) should have bells I say please respond to my bell when you hear it; I always signal my presence--along with a polite announcement of "bike passing on your left"--and quite often I get absolutely no reaction from walkers (and sub 10mph cyclists). In fact, some actually slow down and turn into my path to face me. Everybody needs to be more alert. There's a general lack of one's surroundings in people on bike/walk paths that is disturbing. I blame 60 years of television.

Bicyclists and pedestrians are inherently incompatible.  There are no "rules of the road" for pedestrians.  I avoid such paths whenever possible.  On the occasion  I do have to take a short section of one.  Based on that experience I removed my bell.  I found it is easier to sneak by a pedestrian (slowly) rather than ring the bell which 50% of the time results in the pedestrian jumping to the left into my path.  It is just better to use a parallel road when possible. 

From the sound of it, too, the trail in question is very narrow--6 feet wide by the article's estimate. Aren't mixed-use paths usually wider?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.  The heralded Burke Gilman trail in Seattle is a classic example.  Former RR right of way.  Not much wider with heavy traffic in both directions and multiple street and driveway crossings with blind approaches.  Talk about a suicide ride and this is it.  Lots of accidents (many with serious injuries) yet still very popular.  I believe that there have been fatalities.  Fortunately I live on the opposite side of town but when I lived closer I avoided it like the plague. 

I used to walk on the Burke Gilman nearly every day when I lived in Seattle.  I never had or noticed any problems.  It wouldn't have been my first choice for riding for flat out speed, though.  It isn't a bicycle race track, nor is it meant to be.  If a bicyclist approached it with that mentality, and with the expectation that they could take those crossings at full speed with out slowing down to see what was coming, then it would indeed be a suicide ride.  I suppose many do just that.

There are some real twerps on the Olentangy Trail. Little riding costumes. Exotic bikes. Full-on aerobar action. I'm fast, but I'm not doing time trials like those guys.

At the risk of getting censored or suspended I will say that there are some bicyclists who actively defend their right to cycle on these types of trails as speeds up to or exceeding 20 mph!  What do you think of that?

Censored or suspended? No.

 

I'll defend my right to ride 20mph on these trails, but I will also do everything in my power to keep pedestrians and other cyclists from being injured, including, but not limited to, signaling, slowing down, and avoiding the trail altogether during times of peak usage.

Really, 20 mph? Does that seem inherently dangerous to you?  Maybe we should take this to PM?

I don't consider it a hot button issue. As I said, I remain vigilant, signal often, and am always prepared to reduce my speed and leave the trail when it's too crowded.

I don't even bother trying the drive-through windows in Canton... I think I am batting something like 0 for 6.

 

Anyway, I just sold my Schwinns and used the cash to build up a new work commuter.  This is in a very large way inspired by Rob's Schwinn Letour Luxe conversion.  I tried my best to get a french look out of a Japanese bike on a budget.  I went with modern mountain bike levers, not the prettiest but man do they feel great.  I used bar end shifters instead of thumbies because I thought they were more fun.  I can't count how many people have focused straight to the shifters with curiosity.  I like the expressions I get when I explain that they are the shift levers, good fun.  Total cost was around 75 dollars.

 

Very sharp! The black-and-silver with a splash of red is elegant yet sporty.

 

What are those handlebars? They'd work much better for me than the ones I have now, as I'm long-legged for my height (just a bit more than 5'10" but easily ride a 25" frame), That creates a problem for me with the length of the top tube; those bars would be a lot easier for me to reach without having to lean so far and then having to crane my neck to see ahead.

 

I'm pretty sure I have a set of those Shimano bar-tip shifters, unless I've given them away.

Hey Rob, thank you... as I said your Letour luxe was what got me motivated.  The bars I am using a a cheap pair of steelies I borrowed from a Huffy!  They do allow for a very comfortable riding position.  The other key was that the steel bars have an interior diameter that permit the use of par ends, most alloy bars do not.

 

Wald makes a very nice bar that is really similar in shap.  It's the Wald 8095 touring bar, it sells for about $9.10 from most online retailers.  I have some other Wald bars and the chrome on them surprised me, they actually look really nice.  If you are after lighter alloy bars, niagaracycle.com carries some alloy pyramid north road bars for around 15 dollars.