Here is a crowd fund campaign for an ultra thin iphone case which also has bike tools.
MYTASK-iPhone Case with Built-In Utility
MyTask, not just a case…
MyTask is not just a case for your iPhone 5/5s, but a revolution in phone protection and utility. Our new myTask case has a built-in sliding tray that seamlessly integrates with your phone to help you carry and store all those items you need everyday. Manufactured from a tough polycarbonate and covered with a luxurious Black OR Red soft-touch coating, myTask will protect your iPhone against drops and scratches all while looking and feeling great.
Last month, February was Black History Month and although it’s a bit shallow in sentiment only to be given a month, it’s a nice way to honor those who we may never have been aware of. It also makes for good times for book reports for the kids. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about Nelson “the Cheetah ” Valis who was the first African American cyclist to win an Olympic medal. He was the key note speaker at the Youth Bike Summit and reflected on his days as a NYC bike messenger.
Now you über bike nerds probable know all this but I just learned about
Alfansia Strada who just had a plaza named after her in Italy’s Piemonte region in the town of San Salvatore Monferrato.
Alfansia was the only woman ever to ride in and complete the Giro d’Italia.
Here is more from: Road.cc
Bicycling magazine has a nice profile of 8 innovators of bicycle advocacy in the US and sure enough, many of them are women.
Including our own Helen Ho of Recycle-a-Bicycle.
While You Were Out Riding, Bike Advocacy Became Cool
Helen Ho
Development Director for Recycle-a-Bicycle, Founder of the Tour de Queens
Queens, NY
“We’re training the next generation of bike mechanics and bike riders,” says Ho. The nonprofit teaches maintenance courses in 20 NYC public schools and takes 1,000 kids on rides with the motto “Have fun, ride safe.” After completing about 30 volunteer hours, kids start their earn-a-bike apprenticeship—10 to 20 hours of wrenching per bicycle—with no limit to the number they can earn for themselves and their families. For Ho, the potential for forming new connections via the bike seems equally boundless—she’s discovered that it’s an ideal vehicle for her talents as a community organizer. In 2008 she created the Tour de Queens, an 18-mile family-friendly ramble around the borough; last year it sold out, drawing 1,250 riders.
We’ll I moved apartments and no it didn’t fit on a cargo bike.
Things have been a little chaotic but we’re back in the South Slope right around the corner form Mayor DeBlasio.
So let’s watch some bike videos:
Title:All-City Frostbike Snowball
Seen on: Urban Velo
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Title: Wolfpack Hustle Unified
Seen on: Urban Velo
Description: The kids at Wolfpack Hustle just released this Unified Title promo video, kicking off the 2014 Marathon Crash Race series with the upcoming race going down on the 9th of March (which is now cancelled.) If it’s too late for you to jump into the crash race, get in on all the future action and still compete for the Unified Title.
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Title: Summer Long
Seen on: Urban Velo
Description: Appropriate for Hinamatsuri …This is a very nice video that features Above Bike Store in Kawasaki. Check out photos from our recent visit.
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Title: One Day Bike Messenger
Seen on: Urban Velo
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Title:Upright Cyclist-Jacob Hashimoto
Seen on: Urban Velo
Description: Brooklyn-based artist Jacob Hashimoto travels the world installing art exhibitions. And when he does he brings a variety of bicycles. See more at uprightcyclist.com
One thing to come out of this year’s National Bike Summit was a twitter campaign to reach out to local politicians and influence cycling transportation policy.
According to Bicycle Retailer Magazine:
At Bike Summit, the League launches a Twitter campaign
By: Brian Staff
March 5th, 2014
WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — As the National Bike Summit is underway in the nation’s capital, the League of American Bicyclists is promoting a Twitter campaign in an effort to gain support in Congress.
“Maybe you’re here in D.C. with us. Maybe you weren’t able to make it, but you still want to be involved. Either way, make sure Congress hears bicyclists’ voices loud and clear today,” the League said in a release Wednesday morning.
The League is asking bicyclists to find their elected officials’ Twitter handles at FearlessRevolution.com and then to direct a Twitter message to them, asking them to co-sponsor legislation that will increase the safety and equity of bicycling.
The League suggests supporters use the following format:
The period at the start of the message makes it public. The link in the message goes to a page on the Bike Summit website that describes five bills: HR 3494- The Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act; HR 2468- The Safe Streets Act; HR 3978- The New Opportunities for Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Financing Act (New Opportunities); S 1708- The Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act; and S 2004- The Safe Streets Act.
Charlie McCorkell was going to Washington to fight for cyclists safety long before there was a National Bike Summit. He was painting his own bike lanes and taking matters into his own hands.
You may know Charlie as the jovial owner of one of the most established bike shops in NYC, Bicycle Habitat, but perhaps you don’t know about his early D.I.Y. activist roots, back in the early 80 ‘s and before things like Time’s Up, Transportation Alternatives and a cycling friendly Department of Transportation.
Charlie and Bicycle Habitat put out a monthly email and I always find it interesting what he has to say:
“Hi friends-
I’m proud of the progress that has been made in recent years by the people of New York to make our streets safer and more open to bikes. As we strive for Vision Zero, there is constant work to be done, and we are the ones to do it.
-If you live and ride in Manhattan, join me tomorrow (Thursday) at NYU (32 Waverly Place) to advocate for updating the Lafayette Street bike lane. One of the first “good” bike lanes in the city, it is now in its 25th year and long overdue for a makeover.
-If you live and ride in Brooklyn, you are familiar with the chaotic Jay Street. Come join the Transportation Alternatives Brooklyn Activist Committee on Monday, March 10 at Metrotech Center to advocate for making this area safer for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Nationally, for the past 13 years, March has meant a trip to DC to join cyclists at the National Bike Summit. We meet with NY members of Congress and lobby for funds for cycling. This year, I will be absent, but I know I can rest easy, as eleven New York woman made the 283-mile trek by bike from NYC to DC last week to take up the charge of lobbying. They will make sure the NYC voice is heard and emphasize the role of women in cycling.
While the need for bike-friendly streets is obvious to us, nearly every bike project in the city is met with opposition from a very vocal minority. I ask you to join us and voice your support for progress. If you can’t make the meetings, write your government reps, tweet at Mayor de Blasio, volunteer for Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) — there are plenty of ways to take action.
Let’s ride!
Charlie McCorkell
Owner, Bicycle Habitat
And for a limited time, Bicycle Habitat is having a big sale. In their Manhattan location.
Friday the 13th of March is pre-registration and gold sprints.
Monster Track 15 Pre-Registration // Goldsprints // Karaoke Party
Front Room:
All Night
Good Luck Karaoke
DJS
Back Room:
Goldsprints
Bands: Shift Pay & Outta Gas
monstertracknyc.us
Time: March 13, 2014 at 7pm to March 14, 2014 at 4am
Location: Brooklyn
Street: 790 Metropolitan
City/Town: Brooklyn, New York 11211
Website or Map: RSVP on Facebook
Event Type: goldsprints
New York City has always had style and those fashion trends are best observed on the streets. Just ask the Godfather of street fashion documentation, 85 year old NY Times photographer Bill Cunningham. He spent a lifetime cruising around on bicycle learning you don’t go to the runways of Paris or Milan, but the sidewalks of Broadway and other streets where the vogue types go to be seen.
The bicycle community is no exception. Always ahead of the curb (pun intended) Messenger bags, rolled up pant legs and office attire made to commute in.
Photographer Sam Polcer, knows what’s up. He’s got a new book coming out which has captured the bike style NYC.
To celebrate the book launch, there will be a get together at Redbeard Bikes in DUMBO.
More details from Sam:
NEW YORK BIKE STYLE
(Prestel Publishing)
Friday, April 4th
7-10pm
at Redbeard Bikes
69 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY
with music by James Mulry
complimentary beer from Sixpoint
and a bike light giveaway by Bike New York
RSVP to the event on FFacebook to stay updated on the party and invite friends (this’ll also help me make sure we have enough beer).
I’ll be selling copies of New York Bike Style at the launch, but it’s also available for pre-order on Amazon here, and will be on sale at bookshops and online retailers like Barnes and Noble around the official release date, which is April 1st.
