Category: Sidesaddle Blog

UPS eBIKE TRUCKS COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
We can’t help but be biased towards completely human powered bicycles at Terry, but we look on the growth of ebikes as a great thing – it brings the benefits of cycling and bicycles into new realms, and to new populations, meaning more healthful, less polluting transportation in more places.

And, this > Sagan vs. Grandma Joan.

Another great sign of ebikes reaching new levels of acceptance and usefulness is that UPS is rolling out delivery by ebike “trucks” in both test programs and into full service more and more widely.

The company has introduced small electric assist tricycle trucks in about 30 major cities now, mostly in Europe. The programs are intended to increase efficiency in congested areas, where traffic delays, double parked and idle trucks are common problems. The ebikes are nimble, can use bike lanes and park on sidewalks, and of course save a lot of fuel.

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Fun Facts
- UPS began as a bicycle based delivery service in Seattle, in 1907.
- UPS has over 9,000 human powered, electric, hybrid or alternative fueled vehicles worldwide, and are working on electrifying their delivery fleet.
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Two of the latest projects are in the U.S. – Pittsburg, PA, where ebikes have been in operation for about a year, and a new test program in Seattle, WA.

Interesting front wheel drivetrain arrangement – almost looks like an escapee from Velocipedia.

According to UPS, the Seattle pilot is the first test of some new initiatives, including a modular container system. The trike is made to accept an interchangeable container with about 95 cubic feet capacity, holding up to 400 lbs of packages – about the same as a larger mid-size SUV. The containers can be moved by conventional trucks to distribution points where they are transferred to the fleet of ebikes, for deliveries in the congested downtown area of Seattle.

Many of the employees piloting the Seattle ebikes are keen cyclists outside of work – they are referred to as “industrial athletes.” The trikes have a top speed of 20 miles per hour, and can move by battery or leg power alone, with enough charge for up to a 12 hour workday.

Perhaps sometime soon your Terry orders will arrive on your doorstep from the back of a pedal-powered truck, no matter where you live.

Plus, now we have a new entry on our list of “jobs where you get paid to ride a bike around all day.”

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December 5, 2018
MORE GOOD NEWS ABOUT CYCLING & HEALTH.

Add Parkinson’s Disease to the List of Ailments Warded Off by Cycling

As though we didn’t already have more great reasons to keep on cycling than we know what to do with!

Research published on Jama Network shows that physical activity, such as cycling, decreases the risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease. Even moderate exercise helps, though the research found a strong correlation only for males, not so strong for females.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an aging-related neurodegenerative disorder involving progressive motor impairment. It affects more than 1% of people aged 65 years and over.

The researchers set out to quantify the dose-response relationship between exercise and incidence of Parkinson’s, by analyzing data from all available studies on the topic. The pool of subjects included more than half a million people.

Their conclusion is clear – just a few hours a week of moderate to vigorous activity reduces risk of PD by about 17% for men.

They quantified the amount of exercise using MET-hours (metabolic equivalent task values), a way to compare the benefit of different physical activities.

It turns out that about 20 MET-hours of moderate to vigorous exercise is enough to make the difference in PD risk. That translates to about three hours of cycling at 10-12 mph, or as little as one hour if you’re a speedster who averages 16 mph or more.

The researchers call for more study to understand the factors affecting the different dose-response relationships between the genders. Even so, since it’s so well established that exercise reduces risk for many ailments like heart disease, stroke and diabetes, it’s pretty safe to say to guys and gals alike – keep on pedaling!
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More about cycling and health: Cycling – Fountain of Youth?.

November 2, 2018
FALL CYCLING GEAR REVIEW.

Terry Triple with a view. Coolweather Jersey, Hybrid jacket, Signature vest, and Camels Hump

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Perfect For a Fall Cycling Gear Test – A Day of Cool Weather Riding with a Trio of Terry Cycling Tops

Overcast and 44 degrees, a threat of rain showers, followed by increasing sun and a high of 49 degrees. It’s Fall in the North Country and you look at the thermometer and sigh. What to wear that will keep you warm to start, but not overheat later? We all know that layering is important, but choosing the right clothing for those layers can be difficult.

Let’s start with our core.

Terry has designed three colorful pieces of cycling gear that will make our chilly Fall rides more enjoyable. The combination of the Coolweather Jersey, Hybrid Jacket and Signature Vest makes for a comfortable and colorful riding trio.

Fall Cycling Gear Review – A Cozy Base

The Coolweather Jersey serves as a cozy first layer. Warm and toasty against the skin yet doesn’t over heat; the fabric breathes well throughout the ride. A front zipper allows for easy temperature control. A nice detail I appreciated is the small zipper garage at the neck, to keep the zipper pull from flapping around.

The ideal positioning of the two rear pockets — a bit to the side for easy reach — and a handy center zipped rear pocket, makes for a functional jersey that can also be used without additional layering. Coolweather jersey easily fits iPhone and snacks deep in the pockets.

Fall Cycling Gear Test – Protective Outer Layer

Terry’s new Hybrid Jacket adds that much needed second layer of wind protection. For anyone weary of bright yellow and neon orange, this brilliantly colored two-toned jacket makes for a colorful alternative. On a damp four hour ride recently, the Hybrid jacket kept this author dry without overheating. The transfer of moisture remained reliable and comfortable throughout the ride.
This jacket, similar to the jersey, features a couple of well placed rear pockets. They are located along the back side of the garment, making the reach for that Fig Newton or Lindt chocolate so much easier.

Fall Cycling Gear – Testing For The Best Vest

Hanging with the Reflective Signature Vest

The Signature Vest rounds out our core coverage for cool weather riding. Designed specifically to keep our core warm, the vest is a wonderful addition for a multitude of outdoor activities. Having always used either a light or a heavy weight vest, I wasn’t sure about Terry’s midweight option, so I took it for a ride.

The vest provided just enough added warmth to keep my core warm, without the added bulk of fleece. I found the midweight ideal for the changing temperatures of Fall. If you aren’t a fan of stopping over and over to add and remove layers, the vest is the perfect addition. A vest allows a rider to remain toasty warm without feeling bulky and overheated.
Vests generally aren’t equipped with rear pockets, but the stylish Signature Vest comes with 3 sturdy open rear pockets. Outdoor Divas rejoice: you can easily stash cell phone, peanut butter sandwich, credit card, bandana and inner tube into the three handy rear pockets.
While Terry’s design team was mulling over this vest, they added a couple upper and lower reflective strips for visibility, and an elastic band at the base to keep that chilly air from creeping up our backsides.

Fun in the Forest with the Signature Vest

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Terry’s Fall color chart
Many thanks to Terry for making a fun combination to keep us Gals comfortable as we enjoy the chaotic weather of Fall!

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For more help with choosing your ideal cycling tops, check out this helpful post: How To Choose Cycling Tops.

November 2, 2018
TERRY RAVEN SADDLE IN THE WILD.

A view on the Kingdom Trails in Northern Vermont

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Dave Howard, Terry Sales Manager, spotted a Terry Raven saddle in use recently at the Kingdom Trails, a favorite haunt among Northern Vermont mountain bikers. Since it’s a newly introduced model, Dave was interested to find out what the owner’s impressions were. Turned out Mat is an interesting guy with some serious cycling cred, and he loves Terry saddles. Here’s what Mat had to say:

Mat Katz with his bike equipped with the Terry Raven Saddle

Mountain Biking Through Three Generations

Hello, my name is Mat Katz and currently I live in Northfield, Vermont. I was introduced to mountain biking 25 years ago when my father took me to our local trails in Southeastern Massachusetts.

From then on I was hooked, and have raced in pretty much all disciplines of cycling but have always gravitated back to the Mountain Bike. It’s pretty exciting that I get to pass this along to my 5 and 7 year-olds. Vermont has an amazing network of trails for all abilities and it’s a great family activity.[clearfix][vertical-spacer]

Pro Circuit Props

My greatest personal achievement on the bike was being able to have a “pro” Mountain Bike License and racing XC regionally in New England (though I was mostly pack fill). I had a handful of great results, but it was more about pushing myself, and the camaraderie of the cycling community!

My current involvement in the cycling community is focused on event promotion for the Julbo Eastern Grind. This is an event that our cycling team (Bicycle Express Racing), has promoted since its conception as the Millstone Grind, and we have hosted for 10+ years.

The Julbo Eastern Grind is now a UCI and Regional Championship race, providing a world cup level course for professionals, and we’re happy to focus on junior racers by providing free entry to racers 18 and younger. 2019 will be an exciting year for Mountain Biking in North America.

Mat Rides Terry Saddles

I’ve ridden Terry Saddles for years, primarily the FLX on my race bikes. It’s a lightweight and comfortable saddle. The right saddle is the most critical part of the bike. If you’re not comfortable, then you’re never going to have a good ride… and you’ll feel it for days.

Why the Terry Raven?

Recently I put the Terry Raven on my trail bike for those longer days in the saddle, where I need a little more stability and comfort.

I chose the Raven as it has a little larger surface area that is more comfortable when in the saddle longer, and it also allows for easy movement on and off the saddle, as well as usage of the dropper post.

I bought the saddle from Bicycle Express in Northfield, VT. I honestly did not consider any other saddles, I find the fit and functionality of the Terrys to work best for me. I’ve used them for at least 8 years now.

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Read more:

Find out how the Raven saddle was developed.

Check out the full line of Terry Saddles here, or full details on the Raven.

November 2, 2018
DUTCH REACH – DOORED NO MORE.

The Dutch Reach – An Effective Safety Measure For Urban Cyclists.

If you ride in urban areas you already know about the number one threat to cyclists on city streets – dooring: the all too common collision when a driver opens their door without looking, into the path of a cyclist.

Even at relatively low speeds, a suddenly opened car door in your path can be impossible to avoid. Throw in passing traffic and higher speeds, and these crashes become highly dangerous, even fatal.

In fact, not only cyclists are at risk. Doorings also happen when oncoming vehicles hit opened doors, and drivers themselves can incur some hefty costs from repairs and liability.

Constantly monitoring for drivers and movements as you ride past parked cars is just part of the game for urban cyclists, but two problems make it hard for cyclists to avoid these collisions through their own watchfulness: if there is any traffic passing the cyclist, it is unsafe to move further out into the road to avoid an opened door; in most cases they would have to be riding at impractically low speeds to be able stop in time.

The answer of course is for drivers to look before opening the door. Easy to say, obviously doesn’t happen often enough in practice.

The Dutch Reach is a simple solution has proven very effective in places where it is used.

Dutch Reach info graphic from the Boston Globe

This is a small change in how the driver exits their vehicle. Instead of opening the door with the hand closest, the driver reaches the other hand across the body to pull the door handle. This forces them to twist their upper body so that they are in a better position to see, and the move triggers the habit of looking back for oncoming cyclists.

It can be hard for long-time drivers to change their habits, even simple ones like this. One trick is to tie a ribbon on the door handle as a reminder to use the Reach. The greatest impact (no pun) comes from teaching new drivers to use the move from day one, so it becomes automatic.

Thankfully, there’s growing awareness of the problem and the easy solution, thanks to the efforts of people at dutchreach.org and others. Their grass roots advocacy has brought some good media exposure for the message, like this New York Times article.

As cyclists we can start using the Dutch Reach whenever we drive, and teach it to all the drivers we know.

If you’re inclined to be more active, work on convincing your local driver education authorities to include it in the curriculum. It’s already taught and even required widely in Europe, and this is happening in more and more places in the U.S.

Future generations of urban cyclists will thank you, but you may benefit directly yourself!
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November 2, 2018
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT: PSYCHLO WOMEN’S CYCLING TIGHT.

Terry’s New Psychlo Women’s Cycling Tight takes on Vermont Fall colors

With Fall foliage sneaking in on us here at Terry Headquarters, we’re enjoying another dash of color beside the vivid kaleidoscope of colors here in Vermont. Welcome, the new Terry Psychlo Women’s Cycling Tight.

Ready to add a pop of color to your drawer full of black lycra? Just in time to merge with the colors of Autumn, the Psychlo tight has arrived. With a burst of color on the lower legs, this tight is sure to stand out against brilliant fall foliage.

More important, recent research shows that the most effective place for bright and reflective fabrics for cyclists is on the lower legs and feet. The pattern of motion on moving parts of the body grabs motorists’ attention far more effectively than static or bike mounted brights or reflectors.

Terry Psychlo tight makes its debut on State Prison Hollow Road in Starksboro Vermont

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Woolie bystanders observe as the colorful Psychlo tight passes by
Along with a splash of color on the legs, the tight also features our distance Flex Chamois; which keeps cyclists comfortable even while perched on a 3 inch wide platform for rides lasting over 2 hours.

The lightweight, non-fleece-lined material is a good defense against the chill of a late Fall morning, yet the fabric doesn’t overheat a rider as the sun burnishes the hillsides and adds some warmth to the day.

One of the most important benefits with this new tight is its increased visibility. The colorful mosaics created with each pedal stroke serve to capture the eye of drivers and tourists otherwise distracted by Vermont’s foliage, brewery’s, vineyards, and apple orchards.

Standing out on Shaker Mountain Starksboro Vermont

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It’s a joy to at long last have a tight that can go the distance and provide fun colors.

Thank you for the innovation, Terry!
Jeannette Segale
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Interested in shopping more options in women’s cycling tights? Start here with our guide to choosing the best bike tights.
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October 5, 2018
WORLD PACED BICYCLE LAND SPEED RECORD SMASHED BY MOM OF 3.
Move over guys, the fastest cyclist in the world is a woman.

Not many extreme performance records are held by women, but as of Sept 16, 2018, the unofficial title of world’s fastest cyclist belongs to a woman – 45 year old mom of three, Denise Mueller-Koronek.

She went for a bike ride in Utah, and topped out around the take-off speed of a Boeing 747 – setting the Paced Bicycle Land Speed Record at 183.9 mph.

Mueller-Koronek broke her own Women’s Paced Bicycle Land Speed Record of 147.7 mph, set in 2016, and the men’s record of 167 mph, which had stood since 1995.

It was no ordinary ride, as you might imagine, and Mueller-Koronek joined a very exclusive club with this feat. Since “Mile-a-Minute Murphy” set the bar at 60 mph in 1899, riding behind a locomotive, only 11 people have set new marks for the record.

That hints at the difficulties involved: not only the physical effort required, but the organization and infrastructure needed to prepare and stage an attempt.

Murphy had the Long Island Railroad lay two miles of plywood to ride on, and supply a locomotive for his stunt. Later attempts used motorcycles and race cars as pace vehicles, but at the speeds set in the last few decades only drag racing cars have been capable.

The vehicles are always fitted with fairings to block the wind. Early record holders would have started out pedaling from a standing start, but the gear required to pedal at 150 mph+ is so high it’s impossible to turn at low speeds. One revolution of Denise’s cranks propels the bike nearly 130 feet – standing on the pedals wouldn’t help! So the bike is tethered to the pace vehicle and towed up to around 100 mph, then the rider pedals along under their own power, just inches behind the pacing vehicle.

People have died in the attempt, so a lot of preparation goes into reducing the obvious risks.

Denise used no ordinary bicycle for this ride. Her custom built bike is over seven feet long, with a super long fork rake, and small motorbike wheels to withstand the speed stress and keep the center of gravity low. The whole rig is designed to absorb shocks and stay stable, which makes the extreme speeds possible.

Photos of early record attempt bikes show extraordinarily large chainrings, needed for gear ratios high enough to produce the necessary speed at a practical cadence. Mueller-Koronek’s bike is a single speed, featuring two chainrings connected in series. A single chainring would have to be so big it would make the bike unridable.

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World Paced Bicycle Land Speed Record Fun Facts
- For her epic ride, Mueller-Koronek circled a huge track on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
- She was paced by the same custom, 1,000 horsepower dragster used by previous record holder Fred Rompelberg.
- The pace car driver is also a woman, professional race car driver, Shea Holbrook.
- Mueller-Koronek averaged 183.9 mph over the last mile to set the record.
- She turned the cranks just over 41 times in 20 seconds to cover that mile.
- That makes a cadence of about 123 rpm.
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Denise has some great cycling credentials from the first round of her career as a teen. She accumulated 15 national championship titles along with other accolades, before leaving competition to focus on her family’s business.

She trained for the record attempts with John Howard, a three-time Olympic cyclist who was a previous holder of the men’s paced bicycle land speed record himself (152mph set in 1985). On the project’s website he reveals some interesting tidbits – he believes women have a physical advantage for this type of high intensity endurance riding, and perhaps a mental advantage too.

Certainly Denise had an amazing team behind her. It’s clear that the pacing vehicle and its driver are a critical part of any paced bicycle land speed record attempt, along with the rider’s composure, and their ability to mash a ludicrously high gear steadily in the slipstream of a speeding vehicle.

Mueller-Koronek’s achievement is a strong reminder of the often under-appreciated abilities of female cyclists, and female athletes in general.

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If you want to be amazed by what other extreme cyclists do with their spare time, check these 30 world records on bikes.
October 5, 2018
RECOVERY AFTER A BIKE ACCIDENT.

Dealing with Recovery After a Bike Accident

It took just one awful moment for a pleasant Sunday morning spin to turn into a long road to recovery for Tracy Flucke.

She shares her progress and offers some valuable insights into recovering from a bike accident, or getting back on track after any setback that keeps us off our bikes.

As a professional consultant on cycling safety issues, Tracy also offers some thoughts on reducing risk as a cyclist, and dealing with the situation if you end up in an accident despite your best efforts to protect yourself.

By Tracy Flucke, Vice-President, WE BIKE, etc., LLC

Always unexpected – a bike accident out of the blue

My quiet Sunday morning bicycle ride, July 1, 2018, started like any other. My home was busy with company, I needed some me time. I told my husband I was going for a short ride, put on my helmet, bright yellow vest and gloves, checked my bike, and hopped on for a much needed spin.

The roads were quiet and I was thoroughly enjoying myself. Three miles from home, I came to an intersection requiring cross traffic to stop. I could see a car approaching, fast, from my right. I wondered if the driver would stop. I covered my brakes, and moved towards the middle of my lane to be more visible and create more space between me and the car.

Unfortunately, the driver ran the stop sign and turned left directly into me. After bouncing off her car’s hood, I slammed onto the pavement, breaking my helmet. Whiplash, concussion, right leg bruising, and left knee torn meniscus were the result of her “not seeing” me. Really!

I’m not special, but there is some irony here. Peter and I run a national bicycle/pedestrian safety consulting business, WE BIKE, etc., LLC, I help people to bicycle safely. I have over 100,000 crash-free miles on my bicycle, and have successfully completed three self-supported cross-country trips on our tandem. We even wrote a book about our trip across the northern USA.

Sidelined by injuries from the bike accident

I was not cleared to ride, due to my concussion and whiplash, until July 20th. When I got back on the bike I was only able to do short rides of 2-3 miles before my head and neck started to hurt. Then my left knee started to bother me. I went back to the doctor on July 26th. He told me I had a torn meniscus which would require surgery, and would not allow me to bike. I had surgery to repair my knee on August 13, and I have not been on my bike since. I can ride an exercise bike now, slowly, but it will likely be at least a couple more weeks until I can bike outside again. Like any journey my progress has been up and down. I am glad I wasn’t hurt worse and should make a full recovery (minus a bit of meniscus), but I miss being outside, biking, and biking with my husband on our tandem. I am trying to keep a positive attitude throughout. This seems to help me both physically and mentally.

Rebuilding confidence after a bike accident

I am excited to get out on my bike again, but I must admit that the few times I did go out since the accident, I was hyper aware of the cars around me. I hope this will fade with time. Plans are to start out with short rides on familiar streets and trails. Once I feel comfortable on them I will venture out longer and further. Just like others who I have trained to bicycle, I will need to retrain myself. I will also work on the skills I learned when I competed the League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling course several years ago. These things should help me get both my skills and my confidence back.

Ways to maintain a positive mindset while recovering after a bike accident

One of the ways I try to stay positive is acknowledging that it could have been much worse. I really try to celebrate even the smallest improvement and challenge myself to take the next step.The support of friends and family has really helped me maintain a positive attitude. Even someone wishing me luck or encouraging me on social media has a positive effect.

Staying motivated for recovery after a bike accident

My husband and I plan to complete our fourth cross-country tandem bicycle tour in 2019 and I need to be in great shape to do that. Obviously this is a big goal but I stay motivated by breaking it into smaller manageable goals and celebrate completing them (move my leg; strengthen my leg; walk; lose my crutches; ride the exercise bike; ride my bike; ride our tandem; train; complete our longest cross-country ride ever. Rest and repeat!).

The first time I was able to do a full rotation on the stationary bike was a great feeling. Physical therapy can get boring but I look at each exercise as one step closer to getting back on the bicycle and training for our trip.

How to reduce your risk of being in a bike accident

This crash was a direct result of a motorist disobeying a stop sign and failing to yield the right of way. A bicyclist can do several things to avoid this type of crash or at least lessen the severity. When riding, always be aware of your surroundings and scan left /right for any potential conflicts. Be ready to take evasive action. For example, if you see a motorist coming fast on your right and you are not sure they will stop for the stop sign, move your hands over the brakes, begin to soft pedal, move left in the lane to make yourself more visible and get farther away from the car. The bicyclist can also wear bright-colored clothing and use lights, even during the day.

Motorists need to be educated about the importance of following the rules of the road and sharing the road with bicyclists and pedestrians.They need to come to a complete stop and look left-right-left for all road users; motor vehicles, bicyclists, and walkers. If the driver in my crash had done this I would not have been hit.

Education is one of the three E’s of traffic safety and both the motorist and bicyclist need to understand and obey the rules of the road to make it safe for all. Providing education for all road users is one of the reasons we started our business – WE BIKE etc.,LLC and wrote our book, Coast to Coast on a Tandem; Our Adventure Crossing the USA on a Bicycle Built for Two. We are hopeful that we can help create awareness so motorists will actively look for bicyclists and pedestrians.

What to do if you are involved in a bike accident yourself

Always assume if you are a bicyclist and get hit by a car that you are injured – the disparity of size and weight is extreme. Seek medical attention immediately, preferably calling an ambulance, but if not, go directly to the hospital. I should have sought immediate medical attention and gone straight to the hospital. I went to the doctor the next day.

Always report the incident to the police at the time of the crash. Do not leave the scene until an officer arrives and completes an accident report. Get a copy of the report and the name and insurance information from the motorist. Have a plan in case you are involved in a crash, know what you will do, who you will call, etc.

I made the mistake of having the motorist who hit me call my husband, I was not able to do it at the time. The first thing out of her mouth when my husband answered the phone was “I just hit your wife with my car.” I told her to give me the phone and explained to Peter that I was alright and where I was.

Consider hiring an attorney to represent you. It is a difficult time and the last thing you want is to take calls from the motorist’s insurance company. It can be very stressful. After much consideration, we decided to hire an attorney, and are glad we did.

We always say that, despite all the benefits of bicycling, there are two types of cyclists, the ones that have fallen, and ones that are about to fall. It is important to be prepared, if you take a simple fall or are hit by a car, it can make all the difference.

Prepare ahead: sensible precautions to take in case you are seriously hurt in a bike accident

A bicyclist can definitely improve their safety on the road. Before leaving on their ride they should take a few minutes to do the bicycle ABC Quick Check to make sure their bicycle is in good working order. Then, check themselves to make sure they are ready to go, the Head to Toe check is a simple way to do this; do I have my helmet on, is it on properly, bicycle gloves, appropriate shoes, and are the shoe laces secured, etc. It is important to wear bright colors and always have identification with you. It is preferable to have your ID attached to your body, in a crash you may be separated from your bicycle. I always wear my Road ID on my wrist. When I crashed I simply gave the officer my ID and he was able to get all the information he needed, although he suggested I put my birth date on the ID. Finally, take a bicycle safety class, like the League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling course. The course will help you to ride safely in all environments, it is also a great way to allow you to enjoy bicycling more.

On the bright side: looking ahead after my bike accident

I am on the road to recovery. Good medical care, therapy, and a positive attitude are helping me move forward. If all goes as planned, I will be back on my bike by the end of September and bicycling across the country again in the spring of 2019. We only have 20 states to go. I can’t wait!

Motivation is a huge part of recovery. I think I’ll treat myself to some new biking clothes. After the summer I’ve had, I deserve it!

A note about terminology:

What is the difference between crash and accident and who cares? In professional bicycle and pedestrian safety circles we use the term crash to mean a collision that is predictable and therefore preventable, like my crash. Typically, one of the individuals involved in a crash did something wrong. Education of the motorist, pedestrian, and bicyclists can hopefully reduce the number of crashes. In our professional usage an accident is considered not predictable and therefore not preventable.

The term accident is used in this blog in its everyday sense.
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Check out our book “Coast to Coast on a Tandem” to learn more about me and our first big adventure.

September 9, 2018
CONGRATULATIONS, GEORGENA!!

On September 6th, the Friends of Blackwater surprised Georgena Terry with a wonderful honor: a “self help bike station” at the Refuge Visitor Center, complete with honorary plaque. The event occurred on the eve of this year’s Wild Goose Chase, a women-only benefit ride that Georgena conceived of 10 years ago.

Maryland’s Eastern Shore has always been one of her favorite places to ride. She first experienced the beauty of Blackwater during a busy family weekend in 2002. “I needed a break while attending a wedding. I went riding in Blackwater to find some quiet and I was instantly captivated.” (Knowing her as I do, it would not surprise me if she failed to make it to that wedding.)

Blackwater Refuge is a place of extraordinary beauty and a critical habitat for a wide assortment of wildlife in the Mid Atlantic region. It is home to a number of at-risk and endangered species as well as the second largest collection of nesting bald eagles in the eastern United States.

“Habitat conservation and cycling go hand in hand,” says Terry. “Without habitat, there’s no place to ride.”

Since its inception, the Wild Goose Chase has contributed in excess of $170,000 to the Friends of Blackwater in support of the Refuge. What started as a one-day event has now turned into a weekend of outdoor activities and participation by a number of cycling companies. Thousands of women have attended throughout this past decade and have all made a contribution to support numerous Refuge projects, in addition to riding with Georgena and friends.

Congratulations on this wonderful honor and cycling legacy, Georgena!

September 7, 2018
VELOCIPEDIA – A NEW TWIST ON DREAM BIKES.

Velocipedia is a virtual museum of the world’s most unlikely bicycles

It’s amazing to see how many variations are possible on the basic form of the bicycle.

Think how different road, mountain, cruiser, and BMX bikes are for example. Then of course there are all sorts of cargo bikes, multi-seaters, creative home-made and customized machines unlike anything else.

As unique as some of those bikes are, they are outdone by the creations “documented” by the Velocipedia project. It sets the bar for inventive reinterpretation of the humble bike impossibly high, with the emphasis on “impossibly”.

The only thing everyone got right was the number of wheels.

It all started when Gianluca Gimini, a designer based in Bologna, Italy, was intrigued by a friend’s funny story about hopeless attempts to draw a bicycle from memory.

He challenged others to do the same, and soon collected impromptu sketches of bicycles from hundreds of people. A few were quite accurate. Many, many more were comically wrong.

Gianluca gave himself the job of actually rendering the bikes with 3D imaging software, exactly as they had been depicted, and the Velocipedia project was born.

It’s an amusing idea, a very impressive labor of love, and the results are delightful.

Velocipedia bicycles are strange, funny, wonderful creations. At first glance, they look like they would be a hoot to get around on. On closer inspection you realize many would be impossible to ride, even deadly dangerous.

Imagine taking these dream bikes for a spin…

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One Velocipedia exhibit included a contest for children, inviting them to draw the bicycle of their dreams rather than the usual request to draw a bike from memory. The kids produced some amazingly inventive visions of bicycles, and a few won a print of their fully rendered creation as their prize. The dream machines Gianluca brought to virtual life for these kids are among the most interesting of the Velocipedia collection. See more of them here on Gianluca’s Facebook page.

What Velocipedia reveals about people

Gianluca found some interesting psychological phonomena in the sketches he collected. It turns out psychologists use similar experiments to work with memory, and there is a documented tendency for people to fill in the blanks when they think they remember something clearly but in fact do not.

A few “mistakes” showed up in many of the sketches, and interestingly, they split along gender lines. Of the people who connected the chain to the front wheel instead of the rear, more than 90% were female. Their drawings were much simpler than those of males. The guys would get things wrong and realize it, then keep adding details to try and correct it, ending up with complex drawings with lots of mistakes!

Hmmm…

Check out this video for a closer look at the work that went into the Velocipedia creations – Gianluca compressed over 9 hours of painstaking 3D rendering into 4 minutes!

Like bikes and art? This video is a fascinating look at the work of a variety of artists who focus on bicycles – Gianluca is featured in a segment in the middle.

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Discover more Velocipedia

This feature on We Present includes more on the backstory behind Velocipedia.

Gianluca’s Velocipedia prints are available for purchase here on tictail – what a cool trophy for that obsessive cyclist with a quirky sense of humor on your list!

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Images used by kind permission of Gianluca Gimini.

September 7, 2018