Sarah Ripplinger's blog

SEATTLE, WA - The friendly faces of the Seattle Bicycle Expo stole the show. It's no surprise, with lots of bikes and accessories for the eyes to feast on, we were all in high spirits.

Here are some of the many people Momentum chatted with March 13-14, 2010.

SEATTLE, WA – Accessories are a cyclist’s best friend. Having the right bag, rack and jacket can mean the difference between a pleasant ride and a rain-soaked, overloaded disaster. So, the Momentum Magazine crew has researched some sweet commuter-friendly bike accessories at the Seattle Bike Expo.

On from March 13-14, the 22nd annual Seattle Bicycle Expo has not only vamped up its venue – a glorious two levels of comfortable exhibition space for the largest consumer bike show in the United States, presented by the Cascade Bicycle Club – it has also welcomed a whopping 170 cycle-specific vendors.

RICHMOND, VA – The conclusion of the Shimano North American Handmade Bicycle Show was bittersweet. On the one hand, it was fantastic to see several exhibitors received well-deserved recognition for their work, on the other hand, it was sad to say goodbye.

Possibly the most notable part of the show for me was the awarding of the “Best City Bike” and “People’s Choice” awards to Renold Yip and his yellow sunflower bike. That’s right, a commuter bike won two awards at the handmade bicycle show. Something’s afoot methinks.

I was not surprised. The bike has a unique frame design, disk brakes, front and rear lights and a seat and handlebars that look like they would make shoulders and rumps happy. The YiPsan bike is also a becoming yellow with whimsical white fenders, front and back rack and seat tube. Perfect for ushering in spring with flair.

RICHMOND, VA – The show is bigger than ever. Two-thousand people pre-registered for the 2010 Shimano North American Handmade Bicycle Show, versus 1,000 for the Portland show in 2008. And the floor is crawling with show goers just itching to see the newest designs and sweetest rides.

Show details: on from February 26-28 in Richmond, VA. Over 120 exhibitors registered!

Eye-catchers

I caught up with Bryant Bainbridge of Specialized Bicycle Components and the DiNucci Cycles bike. The bike is a tongue in cheek interpretation of an urban bike, that took third place at the Oregon Manifest, complete with cigar and credit card holders hanging off the front, three speed readiness, battery-operated lights and hand grenade (with spoke cards warning all of the bicycle’s explosive feature). Designed and built by famed Portland, OR frame builder Mark DiNucci, the rust-orange colored road bike features Prior hubs, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Specialized, a milestone celebrated in 2004.

RICHMOND, VA – Momentum Magazines hit the convention hall table today at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Across the aisle from us at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, two handmade bamboo bicycle companies display their wares: Bamboosero and Calfee Design. The “us” referred to above being Momentum Co-publisher Mia Kohout, Momentum North America Sales Rep Maxine Harvey and me.

Thanks to Ron Richings for the video link.

VICTORIA, BC – Bikes and many bike accessories have previously been exempt from the provincial sales tax in British Columbia. A new harmonized sales tax (HST) would mean cyclists will have to pay seven percent more on bikes and accessories, such as helmets.

The HST, which will take effect in July 2010, will amalgamate the PST and five percent federal goods and services tax, resulting in an overall 12 percent tax punch on all taxable purchases, including bikes.

A group of BC cyclists and politicians will be rallying in front of the BC Legislature starting at 12 p.m. on March 3, 2010 in a bid to move bikes and bike accessories onto the list of HST-exempt products.

There's no question that preparations for the Olympics have created transportation havoc for commuters of all ilk in Vancouver, BC. Bike paths and roads are closed, trucks laden with material trundle down streets belching all sorts of emissions into the air. My usually peaceful commute along the seawall is now closed, and will remain so until the end of the games.

So why am I so pleased about the fact that this international sporting event is coming to town?

Well, the simple reason is that it's brought all kinds of advantages as well - not to mention the excitement of seeing brightly colored Olympic banners on my route over the Burrard Street Bridge and passing the Olympic clock downtown that now reads "18" more days to go and however many minutes and seconds.

For starters, there's the fact that we now have the Canada Line, a light rail system that can carry me and my bike, along with other rapid-transiters, from downtown Vancouver to the Vancouver International Airport in Richmond.

The power of the bumper sticker to educate and inform has reached new heights with the “Bicycle Safe Vehicle" stickers developed by the Pedal Pushers Club.

The bicycle clothing company launched the campaign as a way to passively remind motorists and cyclists alike to “pedal and drive safely to reduce accidents.”

“According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration more than 44,000 cyclists are injured in traffic accidents every year, with more than 700 fatalities,” according to a Pedal Pushers Club release. “We at the Pedal Pushers Club would like to make a small effort to help increase safe cycling and safe driving through our "Bicycle Safe Vehicle" Sticker campaign.”

The stickers cost a mere $2 each, which includes postage, and the Pedal Pushers Club is donating 100 per cent of the profits ($1.50 from each sticker) to the US Open Foundation's mission to teach safe cycling to people of all ages.

Rejection is a painful thing, but when it's your bike that's being rejected...

Well, let's just say that this video captures the heartache and vocal frenzy that can occur when one's bike gets stood up.

A great message for the holidays from Cycling Santa Claus.

It’s a well-kept secret that car free cities are gaining force around the globe. More locales than ever are saying no to the pollution, noise and street-space-monopolizing presence of the automobile. These cities all seem to place a high value on creating safe, walkable and bikeable streets for everyone. Streets that are, consequentially, more kid-friendly and that are better at fostering a shared sense of community.

Because cars are not allowed, people have to live close to where they shop and work. That means that city planning is key. Citizens must have relatively easy access to stores where they can buy groceries and other supplies. Longer journeys by bike are facilitated by way of a network of bike paths traced throughout the architectural grid of the city. Hauling larger items by bike is easier than ever thanks to modern cargo bikes and trailers.

Members of a Toronto bike courier organization are raising funds to go towards funeral costs and to support the children of Darcy Allan Sheppard, 33, who passed away after an altercation with a motorist on Aug. 31.

Here is some useful feedback that I received from a Momentum BC reader in response to an article about electric bikes that was published in the July/Aug Issue (available online) of Momentum Magazine:

Dear Momentum BC,

In the July Aug 09 Issue of Momentum "Taking it E-sy" page 8, I was concerned that there should be a couple of warnings with the article. First there are many kits or bikes on the market with motors. Some from reputable companies with lots of experience and research some without. One should be careful that when using batteries that they have a sufficient circuit breaker or fuse as close to the battery pack as possible should something go wrong.

Having 36 volts with a large battery pack with a dead short can create an arc welder or potential battery explosion.

Insure that the batteries that you are using are meant for severe conditions the bumps and weather conditions they are facing. Insure that your electric bike has a brake cut off switch so that if you apply a brake it will cut the power this is required by law.