STUFFE

TIPS FOR CYCLISTS

This is really very funny. I especially like the shouting out the window bit (that it comes out as un-intelligible garbage is entirely true, personally I always imagine it's a compliment about my bottom, or something.)

OUT RAPHA'ED

Moncler Gamme Bleu Spring/Summer 2011 Runway from LAT Videos on Vimeo.

Moncler launched a cycling themed haute couture collection at the Vigorelli velodrome. Whilst I'm not certain the gear will be as good for riding in as Rapha's undoubtedly is, (those bike pattern capes in particular look like a colossal pain in the arse) it's certainly going to be more expensive.

Cycling Weekly has its own take here.

The only problem I have with cycling being fashionable, is that at some point, it inevitably becomes unfashionable once again. Once the trendies ditch it, what happens then? The optimists hope that the majority of people keep pedalling, having seen the convenience of getting about a city by bike. I hope they're right.

COMMUNITY PACE CARS
I love this idea. As noted on the Urban Velo blog;

Basically you get a black and yellow diamond shape car window sticker with Pace Car on it. By having this sticker you agree to abide by the road rules and be courteous to cyclists (and obey the 1.5 meter rule) and pedestrians.

It's simple, and it's done by one of the few road users motor traffic will take notice of, i.e. other motor traffic. It's sad that everyone can't drive in the way the pace car programme suggests (after all, this is how they're taught to drive) but the idea of setting an example with your own driving is an excellent one.

NEW!
There's a new Velocast!

BELGIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

"But the riders make the race, and here's where Belgium is unique. Almost everywhere else the top riders are guarding their form. Only in Belgium can top international stars be planning as much for their home nats as for the Tour -- or more so, in some cases."

A good piece at Podium Café about the Belgian National Championships.

"NONE OF US IS THE FAVOURITE"
There seem to be echoes of last year's "The road will decide" attitude in this year's pronouncements from Mr. Armstrong about the tour.

STUFFE

CYCLING HISTORY
Dave Moulton has another great historical piece on his blog, this time about the Campagnolo Cambio Corsa derailleur system. I really enjoy Dave's pieces on the history of bicycles, and this is another great example - look at the way the system solved the problem of tensioning the chain - fascinating stuff.

VISUALISATION
From Flowing Data, a real time visulaisation of Twitter conversation.

Add another piece to the ever-growing list of twitter visualisations. What makes Moritz Stefaner's Revisit different is that it focuses on the conversational threads between Twitter users over time. Tweets (symbolized by authors' avatars) are stacked vertically and organized by time horizontally. Tweets that have more attention via @mentions are closer to the middle.

It's a lovely piece of work.

MURDER MOST FOUL
Carlton Reid has put a copy of J.S. Dean's 1947 work on road safety, "Murder Most Foul" on Issuu. Dean argued that the responsibility for avoiding road "accidents" should lie largely with the motorist.

".... In the first place this "education" is the worst possible training for the children as the drivers of the future since it teaches them to believe that the driver is the master of the road and that the only role for the other road-users, including the youngest children and the oldest and most infirm persons, is to keep out of his way and that if they are killed or maimed through not doing so this is something they deserve..."

You only need to see the DoT's "Tales of the Road" campaigns to see that we're still following the same path Dean warned us about over 70 years ago.

ELECTION
Are you fed up of it yet?

If you're a cyclist, please consider joining CTC's "Vote Bike" campaign. This urges your political candidates to state clearly where they stand on six key cycling issues. If you're anything like most of us, this won't be the sole basis for awarding your vote, but you can help move cycling up the transport agenda, and hopefully have a clearer view of where your candidates stand.

The CTC "Vote Bike" page will provide a form letter to send/email to your candidates, which you can personalise. The letter asks them to state their position on the six issues. Once your candidate replies, CTC will tabulate their answers to help you, and other cyclists know where they stand on the issues.