Welcome to this week’s roundup! I considered skipping the week because I’m in a funk over the recent violence in Portland and around the world. Perhaps a diversion would be nice. If not, skip this, I understand.
Our first video (above) is a promo from Travel Oregon. They made about six short promotional videos, this one has a bike in it.
Comedian Maddox has rants on Youtube. This rant explains why road users should like cyclists. It’s a great primer on why some of us choose to ride. (warning: lots of colorful language)
This lad quit his London job, built a cargo bike, and then rode it from Romania to China. Here’s a snappy video describing his trip. He built the bike in the month before leaving- I wonder how many mechanical issues he had.
Single Speed Cyclocross is basically the catnip of cycling videos. This video is from our weird island neighbors to the north and is a good introduction to the SSCX scene, including the chaos, acceptable cheating, and mandatory tattoo requirement.
Regressions in traffic engineering happens. Here’s an example in Assen (Netherlands) where bicyclists are used as a traffic calming measure. I’d rather not be used as a target for vehicles. Here’s another one where even a ‘beg button’ was removed.
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The news loves a good novelty story. Here’s a penny farthing race in Tasmania.
Carlton Reid pointed this interview out- it’s a cyclist (and bike shop employee!) who explains that using roads is a privilege, as they belong to cars. So wrong.
This week’s Brumotti is short and sweet:
The new SRAM office is really cool. I like the track in the office- it’s like a fancier version of the River City test track. I also like all the bike storage. That’s one thing most places seem to get wrong- having sufficient first-class bike storage.
Finally (cringe warning), this video comes from Southern California. It shows a driver who, according to the rider, believed the shoulder was a lane- and missed the rider. That’s both stupid and scary. Using a camera gives such a great legal defense.
This week’s honorable mentions: follow-me drone demo, video biography of Peter Sagan, Russ from PathLessPedaled reviewing the Nemo Bikepacking Kit, strangely clunky promo for Milan-San Remo, entertaining breakdown of ‘How the Race Was Won’ at Milan-San Remo, the emotions from finishing Dirty Kanza, and ‘park ragers’ in California (some nice adventure riding, warning: language).
Inclusion criteria: If I’ve missed something, post it in the comments! I prefer videos published in the last week or so. Note if there’s a specific point in a long video that is worth highlighting. Also note if there is colorful language. I will delay videos containing pro racing spoilers by 7 days.
– Ted Timmons, @tedder42
I’m sure a few of the regular vehicular cyclists that comment here think that infrastructure change in Assen is a huge improvement. Looks safer, right?
Diversion sorely needed, and always appreciated. Thanks.
I really enjoyed the London guy’s video of his journey. Thanks. I needed a smile.
“…believed the shoulder was a lane- and missed the rider.”
“‘You didn’t exactly miss,’ said Pooh, ‘But you missed the balloon.'”
Thx for the diversion!
Driver should also be cited for failing to signal ‘lane change’…
I ride full lane obstructively on the designated bike roads quite often. Love being the traffic calming target.
Love the Alvord Desert footage. Have done that ride myself: biked across the playa (doesn’t look far, but is actually 6-7 miles) and camped in the vast dune field on the far side.
As often in the Oregon desert, I experienced awe-inspiring weather. As I was setting up my tent I heard a rumbling behind me, and beheld a wall of dust bearing down on me as a storm swept across the lakebed. I propped the bike upright on top of a nearby dune as a lightning rod, dove in the tent, and rode out maybe 20 minutes of one of the most intense thunderstorms I’ve experienced (and I grew up camping in Minnesota). Another 20 minutes after it ended, the desert floor was bone dry, as if nothing had happened.
Curious whether that bike shop employee still has a job.
There are self-hating Freds all over this country. They only ride for recreation and drive for everything else. My guess is this guy is a singletrack Fred, so he doesn’t understand the plight of the roadie Fred or lifestyle cyclist.
Where did the bus of the van on Portland street go ?