STUFFE

CYCLING REALITY

In September, Belgian TV channel Vitaya is launching a reality TV show about a group of women who are preparing for a cycling race in Italy.

The participants will be getting training help from the Quick-Step team, and ride Eddy Merckx cycles. Sounds better than "X Factor", don't you think? More details here.

MAKES YOU WANT TO RIDE

Spotted by the Epicurean Cyclist, this video featuring Rivendell's Hunqapillar makes me want to go out and ride. Wonder if I can get the afternoon off?

CARGO CONVERSION
From Urban Velo - the "Zaftig" cargo fork allows you to swap out the fork on your old beater to a new one that takes a 20" wheel, with a sturdy porteur rack as part of the fork. Lots of pictures on the manufacturer's site of this thing carrying CRAZY load. Cargo bikes are cool.

BICYCLE HISTORY
My love/hate relationship with Copenhagenize enters a "love" phase once more, as they begin another interesting series of posts (a la Dave Horton's excellent "Fear of Cycling" series).

This is another 5 parter, Iain Boal's "Green Machine" history of the bicycle.

BIKEHUGGER ASKS THE BIG QUESTIONS
"Why Do Women think cycling makes their butts fat?"

CYCLING MAKES THINGS BETTER
Spotted by Urban Velo, these lovely Schwinn ads.

There's some truth in this too. City centres and neighbourhoods that aren't tyrannised by speeding traffic are more pleasant places to be.

LAMBY ASKS THE BIG QUESTIONS
Gimondi or Merckx?

(Merckx, obviously).

STAGE RACE SEASON IS HERE
Pez Cycling news have an interesting preview of this year's Giro D'Italia. Top quote;

"Oh, and if this one doesn't end in a sprint, I'll eat a tubular."

I love the classics, but the Grand Tours will see the strong teams, and different riders come to the fore. I can't wait...

STAGE RACE SEASON IS HERE II - THE BADGER
Cyclocosm has another good piece today, this time looking at an interview M. Hinault has given prior to the Grand Tours. Are Astana a better team than they get credit for?

Also, a top quote from cosmo in the comments;

"Hinault is certainly an acquired taste. But I like that he still swings a frame pump in a sport awash in politics, tact and nuance."

ART
Lines and Colors blog has a lovely piece on the illustration of Virginia Frances Sterrett - beautiful, art nouveau inspired work.

PUNS
Doug at Savagechickens draws wonderful, limited format (each cartoon done on a single post-it note) comics. And he has a great way with a pun. Today's cartoon is one of my favourites so far.

BESTIES
I love steel framed bicycles. It also follows that I love Mercian, who've been making beautiful steel frames in Derby, UK since 1946. I see Mercians occasionally on the train I get, and they draw admiring glances and occasional chat about the bikes and frames from cyclists and non cyclists alike. The frame above (a stock 953 lugged frame) featured on the Mercian Blog recently, and is particularly lovely, a primus inter pares. Something like this will probably form the basis for my dream bike/lotto winners bike. Until I see the next piece of gorgeous metal they come up with, of course.

The Mercian Cycles homepage is here.