News:
|| Hilarious article about New York City recumbent riding ||
|| in Recumbent Journal. ||
Recumbent Journal, Sunday January 9, 2011
"Big Apple Traffic, Cobbles Hobble Bentrification" by Chris Malloy
http://www.recumbentjournal.com/views/columns/item/287-big-apple-traffic-cobbles-hobble-bentrification.html
** Studded Winter Tires **
I'm trying to keep studded tires in stock through February. That said, every Schwalbe dealer in the country is backordered. I still have 26" studdeds and 700c studdeds. Get them while it's cold.
__The_Third_Saturday_Grant's_Tomb__bent rides are now joint rides with the Metro Area Recumbent Society and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Cool, eh? New York Cycle Club members will also soon be (officially) joining in. I'm rather pleased about this because it broadens participation in the ride and welcomes the "bent curious" as well as the "simply bent." :-) If you haven't been out for the ride in a while, I hope to see you soon. It's a wonderfully pleasant training ride that is right outside our doors.
^^ Tours ^^
I plan to lead a week-long tour upstate this summer. The route is beautiful with magnificent views (that's bent rider speak for "expect hills"). I'll have more details in the spring, but I tell you now so, if you're interested, you can start training...now. Days will be 60 - 80 hilly miles. I'd be interested in hearing from prospective participants as to whether they'd prefer to rough it with a fully-loaded tour or stay at hotels or B&Bs along the way. Advantages to both.
(For indoor training, I recommend the 1-Up trainer:
http://www.1upusa.com/bike_trainer.html)
## Trikes ##
I still don't know what to make of them for urban riding, but I'll tell you, that new fast-folding Gecko from HP Velotechnik is really something else and it's priced to move (but is still made in Germany). If most your riding is on greenways or country roads, do not overlook them.
HP Velotechnik trike designs continue to be somewhat unique for many reasons, not least of which is that their trikes have a surprisingly high seat height compared to other brands. The Scorpion fs, for example, is the same head height as a Corvette.
Everyone loves trikes on greenways and bike paths. Do we have enough bike lanes in NYC now for trikes to feel safe on the roads? Maybe soon. At any rate, they outsell two-wheeled bents everywhere else in the country so I'll be bringing them in as fast as people want them.
-- Help Stop the Backlash against Cycling --
NYC's boom in cycling has lead to some backlash from a very vocal minority. Some of their complaints are justified (about cyclists violating road rules). But some are dangerously wrong-headed and involve fabrications of fact (there's a group saying the Prospect Park West (Brooklyn) bike lane makes the street more dangerous and they want it removed. Truth: the accident and speed data shows it's made the street dramatically safer).
Last week, the NYC Dept. of Transportation announced at the NY Cycle Club meeting that it is taking the politically necessary route of working with the police to enforce road rules for cyclists at the same time that they remain fully committed to building out hundreds of miles of bike lanes.
Please: Ride according to the road rules. Join Transportation Alternatives (www.transalt.org). And follow TA's lead in taking action to preserve and improve the cycling boom in the city. This is important for improving the quality of life for all city residents.
That's all folks. Have a great winter!
All best,
Robert
----------
Robert Matson
Tel: (646) 233-1219
Hours: M-F, 10am-6pm; Sat-Sun. by appointment.
|| Hilarious article about New York City recumbent riding ||
|| in Recumbent Journal. ||
Recumbent Journal, Sunday January 9, 2011
"Big Apple Traffic, Cobbles Hobble Bentrification" by Chris Malloy
http://www.recumbentjournal.com/views/columns/item/287-big-apple-traffic-cobbles-hobble-bentrification.html
** Studded Winter Tires **
I'm trying to keep studded tires in stock through February. That said, every Schwalbe dealer in the country is backordered. I still have 26" studdeds and 700c studdeds. Get them while it's cold.
__The_Third_Saturday_Grant's_Tomb__bent rides are now joint rides with the Metro Area Recumbent Society and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Cool, eh? New York Cycle Club members will also soon be (officially) joining in. I'm rather pleased about this because it broadens participation in the ride and welcomes the "bent curious" as well as the "simply bent." :-) If you haven't been out for the ride in a while, I hope to see you soon. It's a wonderfully pleasant training ride that is right outside our doors.
^^ Tours ^^
I plan to lead a week-long tour upstate this summer. The route is beautiful with magnificent views (that's bent rider speak for "expect hills"). I'll have more details in the spring, but I tell you now so, if you're interested, you can start training...now. Days will be 60 - 80 hilly miles. I'd be interested in hearing from prospective participants as to whether they'd prefer to rough it with a fully-loaded tour or stay at hotels or B&Bs along the way. Advantages to both.
(For indoor training, I recommend the 1-Up trainer:
http://www.1upusa.com/bike_trainer.html)
## Trikes ##
I still don't know what to make of them for urban riding, but I'll tell you, that new fast-folding Gecko from HP Velotechnik is really something else and it's priced to move (but is still made in Germany). If most your riding is on greenways or country roads, do not overlook them.
HP Velotechnik trike designs continue to be somewhat unique for many reasons, not least of which is that their trikes have a surprisingly high seat height compared to other brands. The Scorpion fs, for example, is the same head height as a Corvette.
Everyone loves trikes on greenways and bike paths. Do we have enough bike lanes in NYC now for trikes to feel safe on the roads? Maybe soon. At any rate, they outsell two-wheeled bents everywhere else in the country so I'll be bringing them in as fast as people want them.
-- Help Stop the Backlash against Cycling --
NYC's boom in cycling has lead to some backlash from a very vocal minority. Some of their complaints are justified (about cyclists violating road rules). But some are dangerously wrong-headed and involve fabrications of fact (there's a group saying the Prospect Park West (Brooklyn) bike lane makes the street more dangerous and they want it removed. Truth: the accident and speed data shows it's made the street dramatically safer).
Last week, the NYC Dept. of Transportation announced at the NY Cycle Club meeting that it is taking the politically necessary route of working with the police to enforce road rules for cyclists at the same time that they remain fully committed to building out hundreds of miles of bike lanes.
Please: Ride according to the road rules. Join Transportation Alternatives (www.transalt.org). And follow TA's lead in taking action to preserve and improve the cycling boom in the city. This is important for improving the quality of life for all city residents.
That's all folks. Have a great winter!
All best,
Robert
----------
Robert Matson
Tel: (646) 233-1219
Hours: M-F, 10am-6pm; Sat-Sun. by appointment.
copyright 2011 Robert Matson
