Firstly, I’ve obtained a brand new column within the Outsides, and it’s about bicycle licensing:
Properly, I’m very dumb, so the headline checks out.
Secondly, I used to be using down the West Aspect Greenway yesterday morning, cursing to myself about all of the GODDAMNED ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES, after I got here throughout this scene on the Henry Hudson Parkway:
I don’t know what occurred, however it was definitely a formidable effort:
It additionally put the mildly annoying conduct of electrical motorcyclists in perspective:
However we people have brief reminiscences, and I used to be quickly again to cursing them once more.
I additionally got here throughout the aftermath of what seemed to be a Citi Biker-on-pedestrian collision. Please word I didn’t cease to interrogate everybody so I don’t know what occurred, however the younger particular person I’m assuming was the Citi Biker was serving to the aged particular person I’m assuming was the pedestrian are likely to some facial wounds. The situation of the obvious collision was a crosswalk in a motorbike lane–one the place I usually watch riders run the sunshine whereas persons are making an attempt to cross.
Now, once more, I don’t know what occurred, so my idle hypothesis is value even lower than my typical bloviations. However, if this Citi Biker did certainly take out this aged pedestrian, it’s hardly shocking–since, as I say, I see near-misses of this selection on a regular basis. And even when the sunshine was within the Citi Biker’s favor, that’s no excuse, because you shouldn’t be using so quick within the metropolis that you would be able to’t keep away from taking out a so-called “jaywalker,” particularly in a crosswalk, and particularly particularly in part of the town that’s completely filled with pedestrians. Certainly, I’ve ridden by this specific neighborhood many, many occasions through the years, each pre-and post-bike lane, and over the course of its transformation I used to be typically dismayed to see bicyclists barking imperiously at pedestrians–typically aged ones who had little question been plowing the identical furrow properly earlier than the offending bicyclists had been born.
Does all of this imply we shouldn’t have bike lanes and that bicyclists needs to be licensed? After all not. Nevertheless it does imply loads of individuals who journey bicycles are idiots who might use a smack within the head. (If the concept of corporal punishment of bicyclists troubles you, it actually shouldn’t. In spite of everything, they’ll be high-quality simply so long as they’re carrying helments, proper?)
Thirdly…properly there isn’t a third factor, however fourthly, additional to yesterday’s submit, I ended up freely giving not one however two pairs of blinky pedals. It’s because I meant to present the pedals to the primary one who responded, however I by accident gave them to somebody who responded later, and I didn’t wish to rescind them, so Redshift had been variety sufficient to cowl my ass and can give me one other pair of pedals. In the meantime, I not too long ago realized that along with pedals Redshift had additionally despatched me a pair of Arclight Gentle Modules awhile again, which I had event to make use of yesterday night:
What’s nice about them is that the brackets mount in like two seconds utilizing the equipped rubber straps, and so they’re the identical lights as those within the pedals, which means they pop proper out and in, gentle up crimson or white relying on place, and activate and off mechanically. Nonetheless, I do surprise if maybe they’re antisocially shiny when mounted on the handlebar, although in fact I’ve no manner of understanding this from my place within the saddle:
I’d have pointed it down out of consideration however my brake cable was in the way in which. Actually, as I used to be using I handed Esteemed Commenter Leroy, and he didn’t appear to note me. This will likely have been as a result of he was distracted, or as a result of I had blinded him with my Arclight.
That apart, they had been extraordinarily handy, and the bracket additionally comes with a spacer, so subsequent time I exploit them I’ll play with that and arrange the entrance gentle so it’s not pointed immediately at oncoming site visitors:
All of that is to say I used to be the second-brightest factor within the firmament after this loopy moon-planet factor that was happening:
And now, fifthly, I’m happy to current you with a quiz. Research the merchandise, assume, and click on in your reply. If you happen to’re proper you’ll obtain validation, and in the event you’re incorrect you’ll see the horrifically dystopian way forward for biking.
Thanks very a lot for studying, journey protected, and should your bike burn with the brightness of a thousand suns.
–Tan Tenovo
1) Lastly! SRAM has revolutionized the hated rear derailleur and glued bikes perpetually by:
2) So…it’s a Softride?
3) Gumby’s sidekick horse was known as:
[Via Anonymous]
4) What bridge is that this?
[Steel is real…but let’s put a bouncy schlong on it anyway.]
5) How a lot for this high-quality specimen?
6) How a lot for this high-quality specimen?
7) This new bike parking facility in Amsterdam is situated:
***Particular Future Of The Drivetrain-Themed Bonus Video***
Love the wind generators. You understand what’s much more power environment friendly? A bicycle drivetrain that requires no charging in any respect.
