I finally added Joey Mac to the Team RocBike listing in the navigation bar. Sorry it took so long, man!

As regular readers of RocBike.com know, this site features a daily collection of links from around the world of “cycling as transportation.” As you’ve probably noticed, those links have been a wee bit scant this week. That leads one to the immortal question, which is, in the words of the Bard:

What giveth?

Turns out I’m moving. Yup, I’ve been transferred by my union to the Saratoga Springs office (north of Albany, NY). My first day there was this past Monday, and I’m living out of a suitcase in a hotel until we sell our house and my family can join me there.

As a result of this major change in my life, I may not be quite as attentive to all things cycling as I once was.

HOWEVER: RocBike.com outgrew lil’ ol me a long time ago. This site is now the work of a gang of contributors, and that means that even with my lessened participation, RocBike will be going strong. Folks are still cruisin’ on Wednesdays, playing Photo Tag, reclaiming bikes from the scrap heaps, and generally having fun on two human-powered wheels.

As for me, I brought the Nomade with me to Saratoga and took one 15-mile ride this week. It’s hilly there. Really, really hilly. It’s also gorgeous, and I look forward to reporting from the area. I think I may start a second site for the Albany region and then maybe link them together with some sort of state-wide brand. Who knows?

So, to my fellow Team RocBike members, I say: “Post early and often!” And to all of you, I say: “Keep coming back! And keep pedaling!”

When I started RocBike.com a few months ago, I had no idea that it would take off the way it has. It was just a place for me to post reports from my new cycling life. Within five months, the site has grown from a little hamlet with no access road to a popular destination for cyclists in upstate New York and beyond. First of all, thanks for your support!

Second, the site’s list of contributors has also grown. In addition to me, RocBike.com articles come from Team RocBike members Adam Durand, Jack Spula, Julie White and Shana Lydon, along with several guest contributors. That’s led to a wee bit of confusion about who’s writing which pieces. I tried to make that clear by listing the author below each story, but that wasn’t enough, so now I’ve put their first name in each headline, too. I want folks to get credit for what they’re writing, and I want you to be able to contact the author of the story or look for other writing by that person.

RocBike.com is always looking for contributions, and not just from our geographic area. If you’d like to contribute, drop me a note from the contact page.

Thanks so much for being here and for making RocBike.com a great place for cyclists!

(By the way, did I mention our new podcast, The RocBike Review?)

Many thanks to bike commuter, chicken avenger and Web guy Adam Durand for designing a new look for RocBike.com. Adam did all the work for the impressive sum of $0 because he’s committed to bicycling and bicycle-friendly communities.

As you can see if you’re reading this at RocBike.com, we’ve adopted an argyle pattern for our new look. Why? A few reasons:

1. Argyle is the pattern chosen by the anti-doping Team Slipstream/Chipotle.
2. The argyle pattern is said to have been derived from the tartan of Clan Campbell, of Argyll in western Scotland. It has seen a resurgence in popularity in the last few years, due to its adoption by Stuart Stockdale in collections produced by luxury clothing manufacturer, Pringle of Scotland. (See Wikipedia for more.) (Actually, this had nothing whatsoever to do with the decision.)
3. Argyle is a classic, so-unhip-it’s-hip pattern that makes everything it touches both cool and elderly at the same time. And how many things can claim that? Maybe Phyllis Diller?
4. It’ll look great on the soon-to-be released RocBike.com shirt, sticker and lug wrench collection. Also featuring Phyllis Diller.

In addition to the argyle, Adam also designed the charming crank icon that you’ll find in the navigation bar. And he came up with the logo for the site and for the soon-to-be-launched RocBike Review podcast.

You’ll also notice the new Team RocBike section in the navigation bar. Clicking on any of the names will bring you to a bio of the contributor and a link to all their submissions. This site is a team effort, and my sincere thanks go to Adam, Julie and Jack for their contributions and inspiration.

More changes and upgrades are in store in the near future. Thanks so much for being part of the RocBike community. We’re based in Rochester but open to all. If you’d like to contribute, drop me a line.