http://www.hipsternascar.com/2009/03/traktion-aftermath.html
"I’ve news for you, capitalism is corrupting, but it touches everything, and identities must be formed from within its totality. Maybe those identities are not as explicitly revolutionary as we might like them to be, maybe they’re inherently reactionary, but the point is, they don’t start outside the realm of capital and then get co-opted. They are formed inside the realm of capital. But, even though they are formed inside that realm doesn't mean that they won't or can't seek to move beyond it. An identity or a group or a practice is never one or the other, it’s never outside capital and pure, or inside capital and corrupted. It’s always, to some extent, both. For a theorist like deCerteau, even just walking around the city could be an expression of liberty against the tyranny of the scopic gaze, so why not fixed-gear bikes? Maybe even if the riders are wearing Nike? "
Thursday, March 12, 2009
In case you're bored.
Single Track Recumbent riding in Toronto forests.
TRAILS!
Real Alleycat/Time trial
TRAILS!
Real Alleycat/Time trial
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Brokeland Off the Chain
Tradeshow Edit
Broakland Tradeshow Edit from FonsecaFilms on Vimeo.
Chrome Bags Contest Montage
Chrome Bags Contest Montage from FonsecaFilms on Vimeo.
Broakland Tradeshow Edit from FonsecaFilms on Vimeo.
Chrome Bags Contest Montage
Chrome Bags Contest Montage from FonsecaFilms on Vimeo.
A Modest Proposal
Bikers, Take the High Road
"NO. 1: How about we stop at major intersections? Especially where there are school crossing guards, or disabled people crossing, or a lot of people during the morning or evening rush. (I have the law with me on this one.) At minor intersections, on far-from-traffic intersections, let’s at least stop and go.
NO. 2: How about we ride with traffic as opposed to the wrong way on a one-way street? I know the idea of being told which way to go drives many bikers bonkers. That stuff is for cars, they say. I consider one-way streets anathema — they make for faster car traffic and more difficult crossings. But whenever I see something bad happen to a biker, it’s when the biker is riding the wrong way on a one-way street.
There will be caveats. Perhaps your wife is about to go into labor and you take her to the hospital on your bike; then, yes, sure, go the wrong way in the one-way bike lane. We can handle caveats. We are bikers.
NO. 3: How about we stay off the sidewalks? Why are bikers so incensed when the police hand out tickets for this? I’m only guessing, but each sidewalk biker must believe that he or she, out of all New York bikers, is the exception, the one careful biker, which is a very car way of thinking.
NO. 4: How about we signal? Again, I hear the laughter, but the bike gods gave us hands to ring bells and to signal turns. Think of the possible complications: Many of the bikers behind you are wearing headphones, and the family in the minivan has a Disney DVD playing so loudly that it’s rattling your 30-pound Kryptonite chain. Let them know what you are thinking so that you can go on breathing as well as thinking."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another Good Opinion.
It doesn't have to be this way, though. Some measures that could improve things would be:
1) Legalize the "Idaho Stop" for bikes. Bikes would be required to stop at red lights, but could then proceed if everything is clear. It's not practical for cyclists to be stopping every block because it uses too much energy and slows you down to the point where bicycles are no longer practical.
2) Once the Idaho Stop rule is in effect, enforce it ruthlessly. While the NYPD is at it, they could take it upon themselves to actually enforce the speed limit in this city. Automated speed cameras and red light cameras are a must. The city (and by "city" I mean all 5 boroughs) is not a place to ride flat out. It's too dense and congested for that. The roadies should save their watts for the open road and realize that like cars, bicycles are guests in the city. The city is for pedestrians first and foremost.
3) Continue building out the bike lane network. As bikes are increasingly legitimized over time and are no longer seen as fringe, the bike culture will gradually shift. This will take years. It didn't get this way overnight and won't change overnight. Over time, the demographics of cyclists will change away from those prone to take risks toward a more general slice of the population. And that will be good on many levels - health, the environment, congestion, you name it.
"NO. 1: How about we stop at major intersections? Especially where there are school crossing guards, or disabled people crossing, or a lot of people during the morning or evening rush. (I have the law with me on this one.) At minor intersections, on far-from-traffic intersections, let’s at least stop and go.
NO. 2: How about we ride with traffic as opposed to the wrong way on a one-way street? I know the idea of being told which way to go drives many bikers bonkers. That stuff is for cars, they say. I consider one-way streets anathema — they make for faster car traffic and more difficult crossings. But whenever I see something bad happen to a biker, it’s when the biker is riding the wrong way on a one-way street.
There will be caveats. Perhaps your wife is about to go into labor and you take her to the hospital on your bike; then, yes, sure, go the wrong way in the one-way bike lane. We can handle caveats. We are bikers.
NO. 3: How about we stay off the sidewalks? Why are bikers so incensed when the police hand out tickets for this? I’m only guessing, but each sidewalk biker must believe that he or she, out of all New York bikers, is the exception, the one careful biker, which is a very car way of thinking.
NO. 4: How about we signal? Again, I hear the laughter, but the bike gods gave us hands to ring bells and to signal turns. Think of the possible complications: Many of the bikers behind you are wearing headphones, and the family in the minivan has a Disney DVD playing so loudly that it’s rattling your 30-pound Kryptonite chain. Let them know what you are thinking so that you can go on breathing as well as thinking."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another Good Opinion.
It doesn't have to be this way, though. Some measures that could improve things would be:
1) Legalize the "Idaho Stop" for bikes. Bikes would be required to stop at red lights, but could then proceed if everything is clear. It's not practical for cyclists to be stopping every block because it uses too much energy and slows you down to the point where bicycles are no longer practical.
2) Once the Idaho Stop rule is in effect, enforce it ruthlessly. While the NYPD is at it, they could take it upon themselves to actually enforce the speed limit in this city. Automated speed cameras and red light cameras are a must. The city (and by "city" I mean all 5 boroughs) is not a place to ride flat out. It's too dense and congested for that. The roadies should save their watts for the open road and realize that like cars, bicycles are guests in the city. The city is for pedestrians first and foremost.
3) Continue building out the bike lane network. As bikes are increasingly legitimized over time and are no longer seen as fringe, the bike culture will gradually shift. This will take years. It didn't get this way overnight and won't change overnight. Over time, the demographics of cyclists will change away from those prone to take risks toward a more general slice of the population. And that will be good on many levels - health, the environment, congestion, you name it.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
2009 Bicyclke Film Fest Trailer
Had a Beer with Nick G this weekend. They really need submissions. The deadline has been extended to March 17th.
Bicycle Film Festival TOKYO '08 PART 1 from Eli Tokyo Jitensha-Jin on Vimeo.
"The Bicycle Film Festival is a celebration of bicycles through film, art and music.
Look over past programs and watch the trailers below to see what we have screened.
Notice that films shorter than 10 minutes are easier to program for the shorts programs.
We will screen a really good movie no matter how long it is."
BFF 2009
Bicycle Film Festival TOKYO '08 PART 1 from Eli Tokyo Jitensha-Jin on Vimeo.
"The Bicycle Film Festival is a celebration of bicycles through film, art and music.
Look over past programs and watch the trailers below to see what we have screened.
Notice that films shorter than 10 minutes are easier to program for the shorts programs.
We will screen a really good movie no matter how long it is."
BFF 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
MASH SF to ride fixed in Tour of California
By Yokota Fritz
Via Bicycle Blog Cyclelicious
Eight riders from the globetrotting MASH SF crew plan to ride the entire 750 miles of the Amgen Tour of California on fixed gear bikes. The eight-member MASH unit plans to ride seven- to 12-hour days, leaving ahead of or after the peloton. These fixie hipsters even have sponsorship from CLIF BAR, which bills itself as the nutrition sponsor for MASH's Tour of California ride.
“We’ll be using the same bikes we ride every day,” said MASH rider Garrett Chow. “We ride them to get a burrito. We all cycle passionately when we can. It’s kind of like, ‘Why do people climb Everest? Because they can.’ We’re giving it 100 percent and seeing what we can do.”
Three riders from MASH appeared on stage with Garmin-Chipotle at a CLIF sponsored bike talk last night in Berkeley, California. Christian Vande Velde gave the MASH guys some grief about their equipment needs when he quipped, “I break my best stuff and they give me a new one right away. You guys are screwed!”
MASH cyclist Garrett Chow shot back, “We’ve got two spare tires and two spare chains. That out to get us through the nine stages.”
As the Garmin riders talked about preparing for the heavy rain anticipated over the next week, Chow revealed his team's plans for the weather: “Yeah, we brought two pairs of jeans.”
Via Bicycle Blog Cyclelicious
Eight riders from the globetrotting MASH SF crew plan to ride the entire 750 miles of the Amgen Tour of California on fixed gear bikes. The eight-member MASH unit plans to ride seven- to 12-hour days, leaving ahead of or after the peloton. These fixie hipsters even have sponsorship from CLIF BAR, which bills itself as the nutrition sponsor for MASH's Tour of California ride.
“We’ll be using the same bikes we ride every day,” said MASH rider Garrett Chow. “We ride them to get a burrito. We all cycle passionately when we can. It’s kind of like, ‘Why do people climb Everest? Because they can.’ We’re giving it 100 percent and seeing what we can do.”
Three riders from MASH appeared on stage with Garmin-Chipotle at a CLIF sponsored bike talk last night in Berkeley, California. Christian Vande Velde gave the MASH guys some grief about their equipment needs when he quipped, “I break my best stuff and they give me a new one right away. You guys are screwed!”
MASH cyclist Garrett Chow shot back, “We’ve got two spare tires and two spare chains. That out to get us through the nine stages.”
As the Garmin riders talked about preparing for the heavy rain anticipated over the next week, Chow revealed his team's plans for the weather: “Yeah, we brought two pairs of jeans.”
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
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