And you thought you knew how to wrench

Everybody's got their own idea of what works best for chain lube. Truth is, different circumstances call for different products. The mechanic at your LBS can tell you what he recommends, but it may take some experimentation to find what works for you.

But there is one product that doesn't belong on your bike chain: WD-40. It is simply not designed as a heavy-duty lubricant for hard working parts such as your chain. Here, Alex from Bicycletutor.com explains why:

Never Use WD40 On A Bicycle Chain - video powered by Metacafe

[via howtofixbikes.com]

And you thought you knew how to ride

Surfed across this video on the Interwebs the other day. It's 21-year-old Phil Feeney from Luton, England. He's riding a trails bike, a form of freestyle riding that evolved from trials motocross. While he makes it look easy here, I can only imagine how long it took to master these tricks.

Should cyclists be licensed?

I stumbled upon an interesting series of articles in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer about who "pays" for the roads: Drivers, or all citizens?

It all began with a guest column in September that lashed out against "demanding" and "hostile" militant-type bicycle advocates:

Self-serving biking activists like to piggyback their gimme-gimme-gimme agendas onto more grandiose popular movements, camouflaging clubby events with patriotic slogans about relieving traffic congestion, reducing gas consumption and combating global warming and pollution. What nonsense.

Luckily, another guest column pointed out the errors in the popular belief that cyclists don't pay for their share of the road:

A 1995 study titled "Whose Roads?" by cycling advocate Todd Litman laid all this out in detail. The study estimated that automobile users pay an average of 2.3 cents per mile in user fees, including fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees, while they actually impose 6.5 cents per mile in road service costs. Who pays the difference? It's picked up by general taxes and property assessments. So while bicyclists pay an equal share of those taxes, they impose costs averaging only 0.2 cents per mile in road service costs.

So who's right? A P-I reporter followed up and discovered that many cities offset the cost of cycling infrastructure (bike lanes, bridges, extra lights) by charging a registration fee for bicycles. The idea popped up in Seattle after the city approved a new $240-million, 10-year cycling plan. But does that make cyclists "vehicles"? Not under Washington law, but in Florida...

...Cyclists can rack up points that jeopardize their driver's licenses and inflate their insurance rates. In fact, Florida establishes a "dummy record" for underage cycling scofflaws. Juveniles must pay any tickets on that record before they can get their first license, said Ann Nucatola, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Not surprisingly, the plan has its share of opposition as well:

"We want as many drivers as possible to give up driving their cars," said Gordon Black, director of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. Required registration would create a "potential barrier" to cycling, he said. "We want we want to make the access to bicycling as easy as possible."

I doubt such a measure will get much of a sympathetic ear among this blog's readers, but how would you react to such a plan here in Tampa Bay?

Bike theif thwarted by fifth-grader

By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN, Times Staff Writer
Published December 21, 2007

---

ST. PETERSBURG - Madison Fernandez is a fifth-grader with a keen sense of observation and a passion for Nancy Drew novels. So when she saw a suspicious looking man in her Snell Isle neighborhood one Sunday morning, she paid attention.

She saw the man steal a bicycle and ride away. When the police arrived, Madison, 10, gave them a description so detailed - down to the type of shoes the man was wearing - that even veteran detectives and administrators were impressed. They said she was better than most adult witnesses.

A few days later, on Nov. 20, Madison saw the same man prowling around the neighborhood. She called her mom. Mom called the cops. A neighbor followed the man, who was eventually arrested.

Roshawn Cromartie, 27, was charged with two counts of residential burglary and has admitted to several other crimes in downtown and the Old Northeast, police said.

On Thursday, Madison was in class at Bay Vista Fundamental Elementary when she got a surprise visitor: St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon.

Surrounded by cameras and department brass, Harmon gave Madison a certificate of recognition and made her an honorary detective.

Madison's mom, Barbara, 50, said her daughter has always had a sharp eye. She thinks it's because Madison got sick as a baby and doesn't hear very well.

"She uses her sight a lot," Barbara Fernandez said.

Without her, Harmon said, the suspect might still be on the loose.

"She has been a good witness for us in a case that could not be solved without her assistance or her help," Harmon told the class. "She did the right thing."

Madison just smiled shyly in front of her classmates. When Harmon asked if she had anything to add, she just smiled and said, "Thank you."

Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.

Critical Mass comes to St. Pete

Perhaps no debate (other than Campy vs. Shimano) divides cyclists quite like Critical Mass rides. Some see it as a celebration of efficiency or a protest against oil while others believe it is an embarrassing display of rudeness that only encourages drivers to hate cyclists more.
Either way, it seems another attempt to organize a CM in St. Pete is underway. On Friday, December 28, meet at 6 p.m. at Williams Park near the Food Not Bombs table. Just try not to get arrested.

Deputies roll out new wheels for children in need

A Palm Harbor couple and their employees donate 97 bikes.

Pinellas County sheriff's personnel load some of 97 bicycles donated by the Bechtels. Deputies delivered clothing, toys and bikes to the High Point Family Center for distribution. Photo by Atoyia Deans | Times

By JOSE CARDENAS, Times Staff Writer
Published December 19, 2007

Things are pretty tough right now for Annette Silvestri, recently separated from her husband and living temporarily with a sister in Clearwater.

But Pinellas County sheriff's deputies did their part Tuesday to make sure her two kids will have presents to open come Christmas morning.

Silvestri walked into a room filled with presents at the High Point Family Center near Largo and walked out with two red bags for her kids, Juliannette, 12, and Shawn, 11.

"This is very significant for me because my children don't have anything for Christmas," said Silvestri, 38, a stay-home mom who now must find a job.

Earlier, deputies had received a donation from husband and wife Kevin and Debbie Bechtel and employees of their company, Life Brokerage Partners of Oldsmar.

The 97 colorful bikes of all sizes and helmets the couple donated were displayed on a grassy yard outside Sheriff's Office headquarters in Largo.

"It's just something we always wanted to do, give back to the community," said Debbie Bechtel, 34, who lives with her husband and two children - Jake, 2, and Baylie, 9 months - in Palm Harbor. "This year, all the stars aligned."

The couple were joined at the outdoor press conference by Kevin Bechtel's father, Hans, a retired deputy, and his mother, Jan. The family made the gift also in the name of Kevin Bechtel's younger brother, Eric.

The bikes became part of the many toys the deputies will deliver to 800 children throughout Pinellas this Christmas.

Earlier this month, deputies also bought gifts with more than $44,000 they raised during the annual Ride and Run With the Stars at Fort De Soto Park.

"What we are doing is helping our community and the victims' families," sheriff's Capt. Teresa Dioquino said.

The Sheriff's Office started its Christmas Sharing Project in 1993 to help needy families, children and victims of crime find a bright spot during the holidays.

Each year, the recipients of the gifts are chosen by deputies from the Patrol Operations and Detention and Corrections bureaus, as well as from Community Policing, Youth Education Services, Victim Advocates, Community Services and the Child Protective Division.

In these positions, many deputies get to know the needs of the families they encounter through the year.

"It's overwhelming, being able to participate in this," said Deputy Mitchell Grissinger, handing out gifts to a few mothers in a small room at High Point Family Center.

As a community policing officer, Grissinger said, he gets to spend time with families.

"You get to help the community, help the kids," said Grissinger, 30. "You talk to them. You talk to their families."

The High Point Family Center provides emergency financial assistance to families facing hardships throughout the year.

The gifts from the deputies fit into that mission during a time of the year that is particularly stressful to some parents.

"We are basically trying to keep them from having to make the choice between paying their bills and buying gifts for their children," said Margo Adams, the center's executive director.

"I'm really appreciative," said Ashley Bumbalough, 24, who lives near the family center and said her husband just lost his job.

Without the gifts the deputies handed her, Bumbalough said, her three boys and a girl, ages 1 to 8, would not get much on Christmas.

"It really helps this time of year," said Bumbalough.

Jose Cardenas can be reached at jcardenas@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4224.

By the numbers

97 bicycles were donated by Life Brokerage Partners of Oldsmar.

$44,000 was raised by deputies during the Ride and Run With the Stars earlier this month to buy gifts for needy families.

800 children throughout Pinellas County will receive gifts.

Reader's letter: 2 stolen bikes in 2 weeks

December 9, 2007

I cannot even describe the way I am feeling now.

My son is a student at Largo High School. His bus stop is 2 miles away, and he rides a bike every morning to the bus stop. About a month ago when he came back from school, one of his wheels had been stolen. We reported it to the police. The wheel was replaced, and he continued to ride his bike for two or three weeks more. Then one day he went to his job (at the movies) and locked his bike. By the end of the day that same bike was stolen.

I was very sad to see his face when he came home and told me. He asked me why would somebody take things that do not belong to them. Finally, we had to get him a new bike so he could get to his bus stop and to work. He rode the new bike to the bus stop for about a week. But when I got a phone call from him the other day, I knew something was wrong.

He asked me to come down to his bus stop. When I came out there, I knew his bike was gone. It had been locked in a public place against a fence. Words cannot describe the moment when I saw his face. It's not often that you see a 17-year-old cry.

To the person who took the bike I want to say: Shame on you! You must be very proud of yourself, and I hope you will not pass this bike to your son as a Christmas present! If you really needed a bike I would help you get one.

In two weeks he had two bikes stolen. Both were new. This time we will look for an old and ugly one.

Zdena Simo, Pinellas Park

Give the gift of cycling

This isn't what you think. This post is not for a gift guide or a cool new gadget, but a reminder that at this time of year we should be thinking about those less fortunate who need our help.
If you're feeling generous, there are plenty of cycling advocacy groups that would gladly take your donation, but this year I'm excited about something I found that allows cycling to go beyond recreation.
This year UNICEF is featuring "Inspired Gifts", a program that allows you to purchase real, lifesaving products like bednets and vaccines to be shipped directly to one of over 150 countries where UNICEF is saving children's lives.
One such product is a bicycle:

Help reach parts of many countries that otherwise could be without regular support from health workers. Your purchase will provide a bicycle to help health workers reach vulnerable children in remote communities. Having access to a bicycle for a health worker or midwife can help increase the health standards of children in remote villages and communities in developing countries.

For the price of a good tire ($40) you can help make a child's life better or even save it.

[Via The Goat]

Grab one of Team Discovery's bikes on eBay

Due to the disbanding of the Discovery Channel cycling team after the 2007 season, their management company, Tailwind Sports has put several of their now-useless bikes on eBay. According to Tailwind, they are race-ridden and are being sold "as-is". Each identifies the name of the rider who rode it and comes with a certificate of authenticity. The Trek Madone 6.9 and TTX time trial models are (obviously) the top-of-the-line models.

I've got my eye on George Hincapie's. We're about the same height:

But if you want one, or want to grab one for that special someone for Christmas, better hurry. The auctions end December 20.

Oh, how much? Bidding starts at $10,200.

If you're looking for something a little more affordable, the bidding on authentic team time trial helmets starts at "only" $250.

Going away party for Lance Riddle

On Saturday night friends and family gathered at O'Houston's in Largo to bid goodbye to one of the Tampa Bay area's most well-liked cyclists, Lance Riddle. For the past several years Lance has organized the Florida cyclocross races in Tampa Bay and has been key to promoting the sport across the state. His hard work has paid off with the popularity of 'cross racing quickly on the rise. Lance has taken a new job in North Carolina, we wish him the best of luck!

Lance, in green, with your humble Spoke N Word author.

Lance with another of Tampa Bay's most charismatic personalities, John Sinibaldi, Jr.

Lance with fitness coach, triathlete and cyclocross racer extraordinaire Hank Campbell of Florida Bicycle Sports.

UF student killed on bicycle tour

A University of Florida student was killed this week in Georgia when a semi struck him while he was bicycling, the Gainesville Sun reported this week.

 

Jeffrey Joseph Popelka Jr., 26, died following the Monday night crash on U.S. 301, about five miles south of Statesboro, near the intersection of Georgia Road 46, said Georgia State Patrol Sgt. Josh Lamb.

Popelka had been bicycling north on the roadway at about 11:30 p.m. when a tractor-trailer, also traveling north, hit him from behind, Lamb said. The wreck remained under investigation Thursday with charges pending the outcome of an officer's review.

Lamb said the roadway is in a rural area of Bulloch County, and he did not believe there was any lighting in the area.

The driver of the semi was listed as Robert Lee, 49, of Millen, Ga.

Popelka was listed as a senior engineering major at UF, a campus spokesman confirmed.

A friend of Popelka said the Okeechobee High School graduate had dreamed of a solo bicycle ride from Gainesville to New York and, after successfully completing another school semester, had set out Sunday on the trip.

[Via the Gainesville Sun and the USF cycling blog]

Oh, the weather outside is... delightful!

But not outside of Florida, as brutal winter storms have wreaked havoc across the country this week. Here we've been enjoying some of the best weather of the year. As a sign of solidarity with our northern neighbors I'd like to share this multimedia message:

Announcing the Tampa BayCycle photo contest

Tampa BayCycle is proud to present the first annual BayCycle Photography Contest to celebrate the relationship between bicycling and everyday life in the Tampa Bay community.

General information: The contest is open to everyone, from the amateur photographer to the casual or experienced cyclist living in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Citrus, Pasco, and Hernando Counties. The contest is designed to offer participants the opportunity to share with our community and the general public their love of bicycling. Winning photographs will be on display at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) in May 2008.

Submission details: Photograph guidelines: 8”x10” print, color or black and white, must include a bicycle or some part of a bicycle and have been taken in the Tampa Bay area. Participants are allowed to submit five photos per entry.  A digital image of the photo or photos on CD must be included with submission.  Label the disc and back of photo with contact information. All submitted photos become property of Tampa BayCycle. All entries must be postmarked no later than March 30, 2008.

Awards: Prizes will be awarded in each category and include a combination of bike gear and gift certificates worth the following amounts: 1st place - $500, 2nd place - $250, 3rd place - $100, Honorable mention - $25. In addition, all winning photographs will be showcased in an exhibition during May 2008 at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. Prizes will be awarded in two categories: General Public and Student. Photos will be evaluated by a panel of three judges.  All decisions are final and at the discretion of Tampa BayCycle.

Fee: General Public, $10 per entry (max. five photos per entry); Student, $5 per entry (max. five photos per entry). Payment must be made by cash or check.

Timeline

3/30/08 Deadline for submissions

4/23/08 Winners contacted and announced

5/1/08 Opening reception

[photo by Ted McLaren/St. Petersburg Times]

9-year-old bicyclist dies following crash

The grieving grandmother of nine shouted from her driveway as the cars zoomed past. One roared. Another flew. The last revved its engine so loud she felt the vibration.

“Stop!” 58-year-old Noemi Gonzalez screamed Monday night, raising her fist at the tail lights.

Five hours earlier, Carlos Ramirez, the chubby-cheeked 9-year-old who loved math, video games and riding his bike, died in a hospital where doctors spent 24 hours trying to keep him alive.

Carlos, “Carlito” to his grandma, was riding his Mongoose bike Sunday afternoon when he was hit by a Mitsubishi at Flora Street and Thatcher Avenue.

Hillsborough sheriff’s deputies are still investigating the accident and have not said whether speed was a factor. No one has been charged.

But those who live on the dimly lit residential streets west of Dale Mabry Highway assume the driver was going too fast — because so many drivers do in their neighborhood.

“That’s what took my brother’s life!” Krystal Bernier, 17, shouts at a car zooming by on a street posted 25 mph.

Sunday’s accident happened about 4:45 p.m. The boy was eastbound on the south shoulder of Flora Street, and the driver of the 1995 Mitsubishi, Kevin Custodio II, 19, was driving west on Flora.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter said Carlos turned across Flora Street. Custodio, she said, hit his brakes and swerved, but Carlos was still injured.

Custodio could not be reached for comment late Monday.

Carlos died at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

A third-grader at Crestwood Elementary, he loved to rub his mother’s tired feet, kiss his grandmother’s cheeks and fish with his uncle. Though colicky as a baby, he grew into a happy child who aspired to be a boxer, said his mother, Jeannie Garrick, 35.

For Christmas, Carlos wanted walkie-talkies, Transformers and the MP3 player he already knew he was getting.

The family didn’t know what they would do with his Christmas gifts.

But on Monday night, they talked about circulating a petition for their own Christmas gift: speed bumps.

As Garrick wiped her eyes to go inside, Gonzalez shooed some of Carlos’ friends from the darkened street. “This is like a bad nightmare,” she said.

-- Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

You ain't seen nothin' yet

The fixed gear crowd in Tampa Bay has been drooling over the release of MASH - San Francisco for a month now. To celebrate it's arrival, 66Fixed in St. Petersburg is hosting a viewing party at Cafe Bohemia at 9 p.m., Thursday with the projector on the outdoor wall. What is MASH you ask? It's a film by Gabe Morford and Mike Martin featuring some of the most amazing fixed gear riding you will ever see:

Spoke N Word's cycling gift guide

It's not hard to find gifts for the cyclists in your life. Bike shops are filled with goodies large and small in any price range. But if you're looking for something extra special this season, I've chosen some of the finest cycling products on the market that any cyclist would be happy to find underneath their tree.

King Cage titanium bottle cage: It doesn't look like much, in fact it looks like any other standard bottle cage, but nothing can compete with the light weight and gripping power of the King Cage. Handmade in Durango, Colo., these cages won't mark your bottles and will probably outlast your frame. $45

The Triplets of Belleville: You've seen American Flyers a thousand times. You've worn out your copy of Breaking Away. How about a new cycling film? Just as in the world of cycling, the French have a special taste in animation. Sylvain Chomet's hand-drawn masterpiece tells the story of a young bicyclist  kidnapped from the Tour de France by mysterious gangsters. His grandmother travels to the city of Belleville where she tracks him down with the help of a musical trio, the Belleville Triplets. $15

Rapha long-sleeve wool jersey: Here in Florida we're blessed with great riding weather year round, but sometimes those early morning rides can be a bit chilly in winter. Modern synthetics have yet to improve on the classic moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabric: fine Merino wool. Rapha's version features three pockets plus a weatherproof zip pocket and a elasticated pull cord waistline gripper. This may be the highest quality jersey on the market. $200

Walz cycling caps: Wearing a cycling cap off the bike no longer means you must be sporting colorful logos of European brands no one has ever heard of. Walz caps come in dozens of styles, colors and patterns and can even be personalized. Available in cotton, wool and fleece, these hats are made by hand in the USA. $12-$30

Park Tools BK-2 tool kit: For the DIY type, piecing together a tool set can be a chore. This kit comes with everything you need to maintain, adjust and repair your bike and keep it on the road. It features hex keys, open end wrenches, a chain tool, a lockring tool, a headset wrench with chain whip, cone wrenches,a  cleaning brush, a multi spoke wrench, a crank puller, a crank bolt wrench, a Shimano compatible bottom bracket cartridge tool, cable cutters, a pin spanner, tire levers, a glueless patch kit, and a headset/pedal wrench. The handy roll-up case keeps things organized and portable for those out-of-town charity rides or races. $150

Garmin Edge 705: For the gadget geek, this is the ultimate bike computer. With a GPS map, heart rate, cadence and power meter compatibility, you'll know exactly what you and your bike are up to. It automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, and records this data for your review. For extra-precise climb and descent data, it also incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation. It features a high-sensitivity receiver that holds a signal under trees and near tall buildings, and comes with a click stick for easy screen navigation. Oh, and now it's in color. $550

None of these strike your fancy? Go for the easy standby: spare tubes.

Spoke N Word gets dirty

(Spoke N Word's exhausted author carries his bike up one of the steep transition areas at the Alabama State cyclocross championships)

Saturday was the second stop on the Florida Cyclocross series calendar in Tallahassee and Spoke N Word was there to get the dirt - and get dirty! I raced my first season of 'cross last year and immediately got hooked.

The course through Jack Mclean Park featured a huge, paved hill (by Florida standards), a fast downhill singletrack section and a sand pit.

On Sunday the Spoke N Word caravan rolled out to Montgomery, Ala., for the final race of the Alabama series. Despite the area's more diverse terrain, the course was mostly flat and fast. But it did feature the first mud of the early 'cross season!

The cyclocross series is slowly circling the Tampa Bay area before closing in for the two final races, including the Florida state championship race, in January. I strongly encourage anyone who has ever considered trying something new and challenging with their bike to check it out. Almost any bike is race legal and the atmosphere is very beginner friendly. The mix of brutal power and finesse (neither of which this author has in spades) makes for challenging racing. The sports' participants are all passionate about the sport and beginners are welcome because once you try it, you can't stop. The New York Times wrote about the sport this week from a riders' perspective. I'll bring you more news as the dates get closer.

12/8/2007 Orlando
12/16/2007 Sarasota
1/6/2008 Hobe Sound
1/13/2008 Sarasota
1/20/2008 Largo
1/27/2008 CycloCross State Championships Largo

Check out some of the pics from the weekend here, here and here:

Photo top and above courtesy of StudioBlu