Today, 4/15/2017, there was a memorial for Lauren Davis at the Greenpoint Reformed Church who was killed by a motorist one year ago on Classon Avenue in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn while biking to work in the morning.
In attendance were many of her family and friends, including her mother, sister, and a brother who all flew in from California for the anniversary. Although the mood was somber, people spoke about their memories of Lauren, a song written especially for the occasion, was performed live, and someone danced, “as she would have liked it”, followed by a mostly vegan reception. But it was clear that her loss was still fresh in everyone’s hearts and minds.
The spring edition of the NY Bike Jumble swap meet, the largest bicycle flea market in NYC, is coming again to the Old Stone House in Park Slope on Saturday 5/13/2017. Here is your chance to get a great deal on bicycles, accessories and clothing.
At 5th Ave. and 4th Street in Brooklyn, you’ll find vendors representing established bike shops as well as people with new and used bikes to sell.
Plus there will also be advocacy groups and bike mechanics from Time’s Up offering free bike repairs…so come on down!
If you are interested in becoming vendor yourself, you can sign up here
The late Summer edition of Bike Jumble has also been announced as occurring on Saturday 9/9/2017, so there is always a second chance to attend this event if you miss the first one.
According to a 3/31/2017 article in Bicycling Magazine, Seattle shut down its Pronto bike share on that day, which started in 2014, and expanded to 500 bikes and 54 stations.
There are many theories, according to the article, like Seattle hills:
and a mandatory helmet law (although it is legal to ride a bike on the sidewalk):
Meanwhile, in NYC, according to the New York Post (4/5/2017) ‘at least five rogue companies are muscling in on Citi Bike’s turf with service that eliminates the use of docking stations’.
Not sure when the New York Post became an anti-capitalist publication?
Companies like Ofo, Mobike, bluegogo, Spin, and Noa could dump 100,000’s of GPS based bikes on USA streets for as little as pennies for a single ride.
According to the upright sign, to become a member, one either needs to download the free Zagster app, or visit their website. Looks pretty cool, the first 4 hours are free (Citibike could take note), but not sure why the phone number is a 202 area code for a service based in NYC?
While some might view this as another sign of Brooklyn gentrification, at least this seems like a step ahead for city cycling, while only a few short years ago, a bicycle parked in front of a luxury high rise was the scourge of the neighborhood. Let’s see how long those bicycles last?
Here is a brief article on everyone’s favorite fixed gear street race by Nick McManus who took some cool poloriod group shots of the MT scene.
Speed Demons Were Out In Full Force For The Monstertrack Fixie Race
MonsterTrack pre-registration party at Legion Bar in Williamsburg hosted by Le Noize karaoke, 3/16/17. (Photo: Nick McManus)
By: Nick McManus
March 20th, 2017
While everyone else was working off their St. Patty’s hangovers, the city’s fixie fanatics were gearing up for the eighteenth annual Monstertrack bike race. The unsanctioned, fixed-gear-only messenger-style race is a favorite of both local and out-of-town riders from all over the world. (This former messenger took 22nd place in 2009.)
Videos are starting to surface from the race showing a wet and wild time.
Here is one from Pedal Strokes-
And Eastcoast30-
I was looking up some random media on MT and discovered this great interview in a podcast with Domincan Chris, this year’s MT winner. Whaaaaa? A cycling culture podcast I hadn’t heard of? Where have you been all my life?
Check this: A crew of street racing, track bike enthusiasists, consististing of Gabe “Electronica” Diaz and Jason “Buckets” Colon-the hosts, and Cisco “Free Agent Frank” Colon on production-have this amazing podcast often recorded in their favorite bowling alley.
Now heading into their second season, which mean there is this amazing archive of interviews with some of the biggest names in NYC bike culture and some you need to get to know. There stories are really amazing especially Dominican Crihs as he talks about racing, fighting accusations of. cheating, and battling it out on the streets for respect in the world of alley cat races.
Mission Workshop makes really great bags for the urban cycling lifestyle. They’ve been doing it for over 20 years based out of the West Coast messenger bag making hot bed of downtown San Francisco-home to heavy hitters like Chrome Industries and Timbuk2. Whenever I see someone with one of their slick classic Rolltop back packs, I get a little jealous…”Did you get that in SF?”
It’s that time of year again…New York City’s longest running, fixed gear only (no hand brakes) messenger style alley cat race.
Monster Track, now in it’s 18th year. WHAAAAAA???
Who will get bragging rights to being the fastest on the streets and win this awesome prize bag from Reload Bags. As well as Cash and other prizes.
It’s a track bike holiday with urban city racing enthusiasts and speed junkies traveling from all over the world to compete in this one-of-a-kind sporting event.
The weekend offers parties and racing for four days of bicycle lore.
According to CNN (this must be #fakenews?!?!), 78 year old great-grandmother, Ethel MacDonald, (not to be confused with the famous anarchist propagandist) has cycled solo more than 10,000 miles across Europe, and North America since 2003.
She uses both the Warm Showers and Couchsurfing communities on her trips to save on money for lodging and more importantly to meet new people.
According to the CNN article – “MacDonald only began cycling in 1979, when she moved town following her divorce and her bike became her main mode of transport.”
“For anyone who wants to follow in her footsteps, her advice is simple. “Just do it.””
In a different article from 2010, Ethel states some of her reasoning for her lifestyle: “Every person not confined inside metal makes for a better community.”
Marchand’s coach and friend Gerard Mistler told the AP that despite being just 5 feet tall and weighing 115 pounds, his fitness is a result of his daily cycling, diet (lots of fruit and vegetables, a little meat, and not too much coffee) and proper rest.
You can watch a 47 minute video of Robert’s historic record breaking ride below:
