Jason sez: Look for posts from Ethan very soon! Glad to have you, man!
Ethan Georgi is a 30-nothing web developer living in Albany, NY. He bikes 3 miles to work, just off Pearl St, on a Trek 4500 Alpha he has had since 2001. He loves his “fifty three miles per burrito” sticker.
“People do need to see other people out there on bikes. They need to become accustomed to them so they learn to respect them, and they need to see how practical and effective they can be so they consider riding them themselves. Many cyclists illustrate this day after day, not only by riding their bikes to and from work during rush-hour but also by using them for recreation and even racing on them. A driver who sees you zip past as you ride your bike to work, and then sees you riding your bike to dinner later with a date, and then sees you going for a road ride that weekend doesn’t realize he’s seen only one rider—as far as he knows he’s seen a bunch of riders, and he sees them using their bikes successfully. Effectively, you’re a Critical Mass of one.”
– From today’s Bike Snob NYC essay. Discuss.
From The Bike-O-Sphere
In The News
Jason sez: I asked Dan Lill from R Community Bikes in Rochester to tell us about what they do and why. Thanks, Dan!
What started out as one man’s offer to fix a flat tire in the parking lot of a homeless shelter has developed into an incorporated, not for profit, volunteer army that provides more than five hundred bicycles to Rochester’s neediest citizens every year. Who would have thought!!
Bill Danza was serving lunch at St Joseph’s House of Hospitality when he was asked if he could do some minor bike repair for a guest. Bill willingly responded and soon drew a crowd in St. Joe’s parking lot. Bill promised to return the next week and out of that offer and with the assistance of many new volunteers over the years, has come what is now known as R Community Bikes. While the weekly repair and give away of bikes continues, RCB now has its own rented warehouse in one of Rochester’s poorest and most neglected neighborhoods.
Several times each week volunteers working at the warehouse receive donated bikes, patch tubes, adjust gears, true wheels, sort parts and otherwise ready bikes for distribution to those in need. Most importantly, they also greet recipients and hear their stories of need and then try to match the recipient to his/her new found “Cadillac” as the bikes are often called. Bikes are very frequently the most affordable means of transportation to jobs, schools, church, programs and meals at local social service agencies. These agencies also form an important link between individuals and RCB since referral letters are required before a bike can be obtained. This helps insure that bikes will be given to the most needy and most likely to benefit from them.
The current list of agencies referring clients numbers near thirty and ranges from shelters to community centers to refugee resettlement programs. The need is obvious and is growing as our economy continues to suffer. Those most in need seem to suffer first and most and RCB’s goal is to help level the playing field – if only in a small way.
To date this year, RCB has given out more than 400 bikes between our Wednesday program at St Joseph’s and our main location at the warehouse. This monumental task is possible only because of our volunteer base which numbers nearly one hundred as a list but with 15 -20 coming in each week. They are a varied group bringing bike skills for sure but also so much more. We have, among our group, fund raisers, carpenters, printers, electricians, computer experts, grant writers, clerical staff, teenagers, retirees, educators, students, the under and unemployed, bikers, nonbikers, the rich and the poor. The group is varied for sure but all committed to our mission of service to the community.
R Community Bikes is always looking for new volunteers to help us address our mission. We are also in need of specific bike tools, office supplies and for sure monetary contributions since we are a totally not-for-profit organization. Information can be obtained at rcombikes@yahoo.com; at our website: rcommunitybikes.net; by calling Dan at (585) 865-9872; or by visiting us at 226 Hudson Avenue in Rochester.
I’m working on some fancy new features on this site. Currently I’m doing a roll-out of new post author icons. These are subject to change if the subject doesn’t like their photo:
Please welcome the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle’s new lifestyle site, RocEarth, to the internets:
In the D&C’s style, the site is awkwardly designed and serves as little more than a link farm to the newspaper’s main web site, but, there is a gem: a video currently embedded on the main page, called “Green Riders”:
The video series features a bunch of people who commute in different ways to reduce their carbon footprint, including one bike commuter, but also people who use gas-powered scooters, ride a gas-powered bus, and drive gas-powered cars. Brought to you by Hoselton Auto Mall, currently offering 2 models that get over 30 mpg. But I digress.
Here’s a direct link to the bike commuter profile. The vignette features Rochester resident Emily Lynch discussing her bikes, her bike-friendly community in the South Wedge, and her commute to the Rochester Public Market down busy streets.
As a gas-free purist, I took slightly less interest in the other 3 categories, but it’s good to see people making a difference in all sorts of different ways.
This officer was subsequently stripped of his badge and gun. The rest of story is at the New York Post site. (Thanks to Karen for the tip!)
Remember these days, kids?
The original Team RocBike: Jason Crane, Julie White, honorary member Liz Henderson, Jack Spula, Adam Durand
Belgian Wim Vansevenant (Silence Lotto/Bel) holds the red lantern of last placed competitor, on July 26, 2008, at the end of the 53 km individual time-trial and twentieth stage of the 2008 Tour de France cycling race run between Cerilly and Saint-Amand-Montrond. AFP PHOTO NATHALIE MAGNIEZ (Photo credit should read NATHALIE MAGNIEZ/AFP/Getty Images) (Thanks to Chasing Wheels for the link!)
From The Bike-O-Sphere
In The News
On 19 July 2008, a gang of bicycle riders went from the Daily Grind in Albany to the Daily Grind in Troy. This is their story.
Eighteen riders joined in the annual coffee shop ride sponsored by the Daily Grind Cafés. Our riders were Joe, Soze, Andrew (on a bicycle that actually had brakes), Dennis, Perry, Jennifer, Laura, aero-bar Lisa, Aaron, Gavin, Randy (on a recently reborn and pristine Atlantis), Lacey, and Amy. The locals were joined by a family who came all the way from Minnesota to participate in the ride – Tom as tandem captain, Soren as stoker, August as tail gunner in a Burley, and Mandy as escort.
Throughout the trip, our Metroland cover star was swamped by autograph seekers and adoring fans.
Gavin and Andrew sped us done the hill for our first meet up at the boat launch. We then had a pleasant cruise on a somewhat crowded bike path to sunny Watervliet for a photo op at the I-787 underpass. Led at a blistering pace by Amy, we headed through town, stopping near the arsenal where Soze, Gavin, and Andrew held an impromptu tech workshop on tire repair. After a short hop over the Green Island Bridge, we were welcomed with free coffees by the hospitable staff at the Troy Daily Grind.
While sitting in the sidewalk patio enjoying our brunch, the second wave arrived – Lacey, Randy, and the Minnesotans. Jim Clark, a long-time fixture on the local bike scene who recently returned from a year in Brooklyn, stopped in on his way from the Troy Farmers Market. We were also joined by Doug who seemed to have forgotten his bicycle.
At this point, some riders headed back to Albany (or wherever) and another group followed Amy and Dennis to the Farmers Market where we met up with the TBR crew led by birth parent and filmmaker Andrew. After stocking up, we headed back to Albany. Somewhat later Dennis (complaining about the weight of the two dozen cabbages he bought) and Laura (who stated that she had two bottles of wine) were found by the side of the road but under the attentive care of Wobbly-Wheel-Woodin. After a quick recovery, they zipped up Lark St.
We are all indebted to Lee, Rick, and the staff of the Daily Grinds for an enjoyable day.
– Lorenz Worden
Bicycling Family Weekend at Strong National Museum of Play
(In conjunction with the Rochester Omnium, www.Rochestercrit.com)
Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, August 10, 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Start your Omnium weekend fun at Strong National Museum of Play.
On Saturday, see artist Nancy Goethel create a colorful bicycling scene made entirely of…balloons! (Her completed work will be on view Sunday.)
On both Saturday and Sunday, cruise over to a special display of bike-related photos, toys, and cycles from the museum’s renowned collections including a 1890s bicycle built for four.
Make a sun visor and a sign to cheer on the bicyclists before you head out to the races.
All activities are included with general museum admission fees. For more information and easy directions visit www.museumofplay.org.
Seasonal Exhibit on Bicycling August 1 to September 30.
The museum has tapped into its world-renowned collections to create a special bicycle display in honor of the Rochester Omnium.
See modern and historic cycles including a four-in-hand (a cycle built for four riders from the 1890s); a 1910 safety bicycle with a skirt guard (designed especially for women); several modern racing bikes; and children’s bikes and tricycles of various eras.
Also on view are historical photos, paper dolls, and paper toys that document the popularity of cycling over the past century.
This exhibit will be on display on the museum’s second floor from August 1 to September 30.
