Ride Like a Gentleman, the Video
I had the distinct pleasure of being the subject of a new short video from the fine folks at Streetfilms in NYC.
I had the distinct pleasure of being the subject of a new short video from the fine folks at Streetfilms in NYC.
I’ll be part of a five-person panel for a special event this coming Wednesday (June 15th) at Rapha in partnership with Design Within Reach. The evening is titled “5×5: INTERVALS ON DESIGN – A design talk for cyclists by designers obsessed with cycling.”
In this episode, I talk about Jessica Jones, a great new original Netflix series that is also part of the Marvel universe. Like its terrific “brother” show Daredevil, it takes place mostly in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC, in the wake of the alien invasion incident from The Avengers.
Speaking of Hell’s Kitchen, I was recently sentenced to a day of community service after being stopped on Ninth Avenue by NYPD for making a rolling stop through a red light on my bicycle. In the interest of safer streets in the city, NYC has implemented an initiative called “Vision Zero,” which I wholly support with its interest in safer streets for everyone. However, ticketing bicyclists is an exertion of energy and resources toward the wrong target, in my opinion.
I’m also putting the finishing touches on my December 2015 Spotify playlist for your enjoyment.
Thanks for listening!
As a bicycle rider, I’m a fan and a practitioner of the “Idaho Stop,” a practice in which a bicyclist makes a rolling stop or a pause at a stop sign and a full stop at a red light, then proceeding if the coast is clear. Essentially, for bicyclists, a stop sign is treated like a yield sign, and a red light is treated like a stop sign. For the operator of a 30 pound bicycle with no blind spots as opposed to a 4 ton SUV with plenty of them, it’s reasonable and logical.
For years, Clarence Eckerson from Streetfilms and Hal Ruzal from Bicycle Habitat in NYC have been collaborating on a short (and very helpful) web video series called “Hal Grades Your Bike Locking.” Clarence asked me to come along for the newest installment so Hal could grade my bike locking. I won’t reveal my grade until the full video comes out on May 5, but I will say that it was pretty consistent with my GPA.
In this teaser/outtake, Hal and I each share a brief story about having a bike (or part of it) stolen.
As an avid city bicycle rider, I’ve learned a lot, observed quite a bit and grown to appreciate specific things about bicycles over the years. The standards of a great looking bicycle are like the standards of a great looking…
The way I see it, smart city men see the bicycle like other men might see a hot little convertible coupe. It gets you where you need to go with style, ease, open air and flair. And like the convertible, the smart city bike is a serious investment when you consider the essential components of craftsmanship and style. And unlike the car, the bike doesn’t require continual lifetime expenses like insurance, gas and parking*. Of course there are accessories you will want to purchase, such as helmets, bike locks, and various items of clothing. To make purchasing the right products easier, you could check out this comparison site of bike gear – Fahrrad Vergleiche. That important difference can justify spending more on a fabulous bike since it’s a one-time investment with minimal subsequent expenses for maintenance. Aside from blown tires, cable adjustments and other minor touch-ups over the years, the only real required accessory is a good lock. (Go Kryptonite on that one.)
Below are five bikes available as of this writing that offer a lifetime of timeless, classic and stylish city bicycling. They come in a range of prices, from just under $600 to over $3,500. The higher-ticket bikes may seem over-the-top, but when you consider that the bike is a one-time investment and that some specialized racing bikes cost much more for very limited usability, a $3,500 bicycle that you will have forever and can ride virtually anytime might seem more reasonable.
In this fantastic short film from Streetfilms, filmmaker Clarence Eckerson brings us to the city of Groningen in the Netherlands. The effectiveness and efficiency of the bicycling mode in Groningen speaks for itself. Cars are not banned; they're just strongly…
Director David Phu and producer Chris Bruntlett (@cbruntlett) have created a fantastic, four-part series of mini films of real urban bicyclists in their respective elements in Vancouver. The series is called Vancouver Cycle Chic. The short films range from two…