Infection kills Team Sky masseur
Team Sky masseur Txema Gonzalez dies after contracting an infection as a virus takes atoll on the team's riders in the Tour of Spain.
Washington state bike traveler loses bicycle, gear on cross-country trek
A cross-country bike traveler from North Bend, Washington, is stuck in Missouri after his bicycle and gear was stolen earlier this week.
Ty Robinson, 29, arrived in Hannibal on Monday and stopped to look around because he had always enjoyed the writings of Mark Twain, who grew up there.
Twain famously wrote: "Get a bicycle. You will not regret it. If you live." That's true for Robinson as well, except the punchline should be: "If you can hang onto it."
Robinson and two friends started their journey from North Bend back in July. They were headed to Virginia Beach by bicycle ...
Blast from the past returns to podium at Vuelta
Italian cyclist Alessandro Petacchi dug deep to stay ahead of Mark Cavendish and other challengers in the final sprint to win Stage 7 on Friday at the Vuelta a Espana.
Petacchi's Lampre teammates controlled the front of the peloton over the last few miles into Orihuela, and 36-year-old sprinter paid off their efforts by winning by a bike-length over Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) ...
McLaughlin smashes trial record
James McLaughlin smashes the Guernsey Velo Club's five mile time trial record by 20 seconds.
Millar replaces Thomas in GB team
David Millar replaces Geraint Thomas in Britain's three-man team for the road cycling World Championships in Melbourne.
Capital Bikeshare in metro DC-Arlington rolls out this month; more to come
The nation's biggest bike-sharing system yet is scheduled for launch in late September with more than 1,000 bicycles at 114 stations spread across Washington DC and Arlington.
It's the third major bike-sharing system roll-out in 2010. Denver's B-cycle system launched in April with 500 bikes and Nice Ride Minnesota launched in June with 700 bicycles at 65 kiosks around Minneapolis.
Other cities with bike-sharing in the pipeline include Boston and Philadelphia. Even Boulder, a platinum-level bicycle-friendly city, is considering a bike-sharing system.
In 2008, Washington DC became the first city in the US to offer high-tech bike-sharing ....
Hushovd wins Stage 6; Gilbert still leads Vuelta
With some of the hot-shot sprinters dropped on an earlier climb, Norway's Thor Hushovd won Stage 6 against a reduced field in Murcia on Thursday.
It was the third career Vuelta victory for the 32-year-old, who rides for Cervelo. Belgian cyclist Phillipe Gilbert of Omega Pharma-Lotto ....
Black Hawk says 'no' to bicycles but solicits bicycle convention
Just because Black Hawk, Colorado, banned bicycling on nearly every street through town doesn't mean that they wouldn't welcome a bunch of conventioneering bicycle-types.
That's what Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, learned when he opened an e-mail solicitation from a Black Hawk casino asking him to steer some business its way. His description of Black Hawk sums up his reaction:
"... an unlikely destination for a national bicycling organization to choose for a meeting, unless perhaps we are planning some civil disobedience, or a field trip to see what life would be like ...
Tripping a traffic light on your bike -- some improvements due
When it comes to tripping a traffic signal with your bicycle, many of us get the feeling -- "Does anybody know I'm here?"
Those loops in the pavement don't always pick up your bike, especially if it's shy on steel or other metal parts.
Depending on where you live, sometimes pavement markings show where to line up. Placing your front tire on the "T" is supposed to work in Seattle, while "X" marks the spot in Bellevue.
Neighboring Redmond, Washington, has produced a video that gives some guidance on how a cyclist can trigger a stop light if there aren't any pavement markings.
Since July 2009, Washington state law requires that intersections with traffic sensor devices be able to detect bicycles .....
Cavendish beaten again in Spain
Mark Cavendish is beaten in a sprint finish for the second time in three days in the Tour of Spain.
Tyler Farrar notches 1st win at 2010 Vuelta
Tyler Farrar certainly looked like he's over whatever has been ailing him as he beat Mark Cavendish in a man-to-man bike sprint to the finish on Stage 5 of the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old sprinter from Wenatchee, Washington, won the stage without benefit of a lead-out from teammates on his Garmin-Transitions cycling team.
In the closing kilometer of the race, he sat near the front behind ...
Laurent Fignon -- 1960 - 2010
French pro cyclist Laurent Fignon died at age 50 on Tuesday after battling cancer for the past year.
Although he won the Tour de France in 1983 and 1984, he was best known to Americans as the cyclist who lost the Tour to Greg LeMond by 8 seconds in 1989 on the final day of the race.
On a visit to France during the early 1990s, I had the opportunity to grab a photo of Fignon riding at the head of the peloton with Miguel Indurain (in yellow, of course) and Claudio Chiappucci (in the polka dot jersey). He was easy to recognize with his receding hairline and long blond hair.
Talking to my French brother-in-law later....
America, Australia, Asia: Myrtle the Turtle Trike Tour, by Sylvia Halpern
My plan is simple: ride as long as it is fun! In July 2007 I closed the door behind me to start my first trike tour. I had no idea how far I would get and this tour took me from Canada to Guatemala. I had such a good time I continued on spending 9 months cycling New Zealand and Australia. In 2009 I cycled through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.
US cyclist Van Garderen solidly in Top 10 at Vuelta
One of the freshest faces at the Vuelta a Espana this year is US pro cyclist Tejay van Garderen, who is making a mark at his first Grand Tour.
In Tuesday's hard-fought Stage 4 with its steep climb at the finish, for instance, Van Garderen finished just 8 seconds behind the day's winner, Igor Anton (Spain) of Euskaltel Euskadi.
That helped preserve the 22-year-old cyclist's position in the Top 10 for the fourth day. He's currently sitting in 6th place, 29 seconds behind overall leader Phillipe Gilbert ..
Austria, Switzerland, Italy: Lana 2010 Tour, by Iris Mueck
Lana has become our standard fall tour. This time, we have convinced some guys from our bicycle gang to follow us... Climbing the Mendel pass (Menapaces training pass...) as well as the passo Pallade (with a rather long downhill to Lana = 18 kilometers). And a car free day at Stelvio rounded our efforts... Enjoy the picture! Good luck to all the followers!
New bike bridge in Albuquerque dedicated to bicycle advocate Gail Ryba
Albuquerque officially opened a new bicycle bridge over the Rio Grande River on Monday that helps link the city's 400-some miles of bicycle paths and trails.
The $6.9 million bridge just north of I-40 is named for Gail Ryba, the founder of Bike ABQ, the city's first bicycle advocacy group. She died of cancer earlier in May.
The Gail Ryba Memorial Bridge, together with the approaches, is about a mile long. It was built with $5.3 million in federal stimulus funds, along with $1.3 million kicked in by the city.
It provides a central link for the the north-south Paseo Del Bosque Trail ...
Europe: Baarn - Barcelona with 2 kids (nl), by Family de Ruijter
Dutch family cycling on a Hase Pino tandem from Baarn - Barcelona. The kids are 6 and 8 years old.
Tour legend Fignon dies aged 50
Two-time Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon dies of cancer at the age of 50.
Australia, NewZealand: Through the lands of Kiwis & Kangaroos by bike., by Federico and Claudia
In October 2007 we started pedalling across Australia. The point of departure was Darwin, and from there on the first week of December, almost 5,600 kms later we reached Sydney. From Sydney we flew to Christchurch to cross the South Island of New Zealand. We changed our initial route and pedaled the whole South Island. This took us a lot more time as we thought (so beautiful landscapes and so tough mountains to climb on wheels...) therefore the plan to pedal on the North Island had to be changed...:(we rented a car in Wellington and reached Auckland almost 2000 kms later at the end of January 2008). On our trip across the Kangaroos territory we crossed several Aboriginals' territories and national parks. Kakadu, Uluru and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)... fantastic sacred places to bike!!. Before reaching Katherine we received rewards from Life and help to survive a 5 months old Joey... we pulled him out from his dead Wallaby mother's pouch. On wheels we carried a message of freedom, peace, love, and the joy of life.
Ill Team Sky riders abandon Tour
Two Team Sky riders quit the Tour of Spain during the third stage having been left sick by a mystery illness that has swept through the team.
Cavendish loses in sprint finish
Mark Cavendish retains the leader's red jersey in the Tour of Spain, despite being edged out by Yauheni Hutarovich in a sprint finish to the second stage.
New iPhone nav app is for towns but brilliant for bike tours, too
DISCLOSURE: The app I am about to extol the virtues of is published by BikeHub.co.uk, of which I’m the editor. I commissioned the app, but it’s the Bike Hub levy which pays for it. While most of the features were requested by yours truly, some were put in place by Tinderhouse, the design company which [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "New iPhone nav app is for towns but brilliant for bike tours, too", url: "http://quickrelease.tv/?p=1285" });
Team hands Cavendish Spain lead
Mark Cavendish takes the leader's red jersey in the Tour of Spain after his HTC-Columbia squad win the floodlit opening team time trial in Seville.
Fancy clubbing together to buy a Caterpillar 797 monster mining truck?
It bugs me when drivers buzz me with their cars, buses and trucks. But when these unthinking (or deliberately malicious) motorists buzz my little kids when they’re riding I wonder what turns a motorist into something so uncaring. How can a fellow human aim a heavy, fast projectile at a child, knowing they will be [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Fancy clubbing together to buy a Caterpillar 797 monster mining truck?", url: "http://quickrelease.tv/?p=1277" });
Storey included in England team
Multiple Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Storey is named in England's cycling team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
GB duo join Cavendish at Worlds
Geraint Thomas and Jeremy Hunt are named as support riders for Mark Cavendish's bid to win the World Championships road race in Melbourne in September.
Canada, USA: East by Northwest - 2008 solo cycle tour across North America, by Alex Grove
From mid-March until late October of 2008 I cycled some 13,000 kilometres (8100 miles) across North America. I started from Victoria, British Columbia, slowly making my way north by bike and ferry to Anchor Point, Alaska, the most westerly point in North America reachable by continuous road from elsewhere on the continent. From Anchor Point I headed more or less south east, but not in a straight line, taking my time to explore and to visit, letting the wind and my whim dictate my route, eventually arriving at Cape Spear, Newfoundland, the most easterly place in North America.
Hoy and Pendleton set for Poland
British Olympic champions Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton will head to Poland in November for the European Track Cycling Championships.
Italy, France, Spain: De Roma a Santiago en BTT (Francigena-Domitia-Tolosana-C. Francés). (es), by Zinaztli
Itinerario en bicicleta de montaña con alforjas que recorre el Camino de Santiago desde Roma. Para ello he seguido: En Italia, desde Roma hasta Montgenevro, siguiendo la Vía Francigena. Itinerario señalizado por la Confraternita di San Jacopo. Realizado del 12 al 26 de Junio. El itinerario pasa por las regiones: Lazio, Toscana, Emilia-Romagna, Liguria y Piemonte. En Francia, la antigua Vía Domitia, en la actualidad Sendero de Gran Recorrido GR 653D, comienza en el Puerto de Montgenevro para conectar en Arles con la Vía Tolosana-Chemin de Arles. Itinerario señalizado por la Federation Française de la Randonnee Pedestre FFRP. Realizado del 26 de Junio al 4 de Julio. El itinerario transcurre por la Provence-Cote d´Azur (Hautes Alpes, Alpes de Haute Provence, Vaucluse y Bouche du Rhone). [...] En España, sigue el Camino Francés en España comenzando en Puente la Reina. Realizado del 20 al 29 de Julio. El itinerario transcurre por Navarra, La Rioja, Castilla y León y Galicia. Desde Santiago continua hasta Muxía pasando por Fisterra (30 y 31 de Julio) finalizando a orillas del Atlántico en la Costa da Morte. Visitar Roma; recorrer Italia cruzando la Toscana; cruzar los Alpes; volver a pedalear por los Ecrins; cruzar Francia conociendo el Languedoc y la Provenza; seguir los Pirineos por su vertiente norte para cruzarlos por el Puerto de Somport; hacer el Camino Aragonés (Somport-Puente la Reina), inédito para mi; y llegar a Santiago en Año Santo uniendo dos lugares históricos de peregrinación. Que más se puede pedir.
Greipel edges out Boasson Hagen
HTC Columbia rider Andre Greipel outsprints Team Sky rider Edvald Boasson Hagen to win the sixth stage of the Eneco Tour.
Wiggins returns in Brittany race
Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins finishes in the third group to cross the line as he makes his return to competitive action in the Ouest France-Plouay race on Sunday.
Car tour, anyone?
Back in the Golden Years of motoring – the 1930s, the 40s, perhaps even into the 50s – driving was a pleasure, the road was a destination in its own right.
Motoring holidays were just as much about the car and the open road as the eventual goal.
From the 1930s on, this started to change.
Author G.K. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Car tour, anyone?", url: "http://quickrelease.tv/?p=1272" });
“Ride my bike until I get home…”
Transport for London spends its bicycle-promoting cash on more than just bank-subsidised bike hire schemes and pots of blue paint. Wonderfully, it also commissions films and songs like this:
The song is by producer and DJ, Mark Ronson.
And here’s one starring Dermot O’Leary on a folding bike talking about ‘head space’:
Of the five riders in the [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "“Ride my bike until I get home…”", url: "http://quickrelease.tv/?p=1266" });
Bangladesh: New Year in Bangladesh, by Sudipta Chowdhury
Quest for the celebration of 31 December and the New Year in the village. This trip was as usual in the India-Bangladesh border of Sylhet Division. But this time the mission was to see how people celebrate 31 December and New Year in the village. Unfortunately I couldn't find any exception in their life then any other day of the year!! For them; every day starts with a fixed schedule. (laces visited: Jaintapur, Kanaighat, Jakiganaj, Biyanibazar, Boroleka, Kulawara, Komolganj, Srimongar, Shyastaganj, Chunarughat, Madhabpur.
Europe: By bike through north-eastern Europe, by Juuk Slager
I made a trip by bicycle, starting in Gdansk (Poland), and then through Kaliningrad (Russia), Lithuania, Belarus, Latvia, many days in Estonia, Russia (with a stay of 2 weeks in St-Petersburg). My bike needed some maintenance and repair, and I needed to learn some more Russian. From there I cycled along the coast to Vyborg (still Russia) and took a ferry to Finland. From east to west through Finland, and as a final the really nice Aland-islands. By ferry to Stockholm, a few days in Stockholm. By train from Stockholm to Goteborg, and then the last part by bike from Goteborg to Kopenhagen. By train back to the Netherlands. Many experiences in altogether 103 days of cycling. Main accommodation in hotels, guesthouses, B&B's and at many people's homes (thanks to Hospitality Club). A lot of practical information for people who think about cycling in these countries. I can really recommend you to cycle there.
