The Bike Geek

I usually meet my co-workers on the weekend to ride to the beach. But what if your co-workers don’t ride? The Internet is a great source to find and meet riding buddies.

For example, last week I posted on www.mtnbikeriders.com how I met RL thru www.SocalMTB.com so I would have someone to ride the Fullerton Loop with. Our buddy Henry Hsieh emailed me about a site where people post rides so they can meet and ride together. The site’s name is http://bike.meetup.com/, the Orange County group is http://bike.meetup.com/41.

If you happen to be in the Lake Elsinore Area, RPM Cyclery also hosts group rides, check out their “rides and events page“. Scott Finch, the owner, is a super cool guy and a very experienced rider.

Also check your local Bike Shops, most of them host rides as well. The trick is to find a group that shares your same physical and experience level.

The Los Angeles Channel 4 News at 11 showed an interesting segment on how bike commuters have to fend off motorists on our way to work.

Click here to see the video.

My two cents:

The two commuters featured are correct in stating that as bike commuters we feel bullied by cars. Towards the end of the segment, a solution for this problem is to build separate bikeways for us to ride in Los Angeles. Feasible??? I don’t think so. How about educating motorists AND cyclists as the primary solution??? Check out the dumb ass statement made by a motorist:

MOTORIST: I just think they should be on the sidewalk. Bikes are for sidewalks, not for streets.

Bikes are for sidewalks???? That shows the ignorance level of most LA motorists about our given right under the following DMV code:

21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division, including, but not limited to, provisions concerning driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, and by Division 10 (commencing with Section 20000), Section 27400, Division 16.7 (commencing with Section 39000), Division 17 (commencing with Section 40000.1), and Division 18 (commencing with Section 42000), except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.

Now, cyclists HAVE to be educated as well. Sidewalks ARE NOT for bikes, traffic laws must be obeyed and riders must ride with traffic, not against it.

Some folks have been asking about my Redline 925, well here it is. It’s gone through a make over.

I’ve replaced the moustache bars with some road drop bars, but cut them to make bull horns. I’ve also removed the fenders and chain guard then I installed some SPD pedals.

Wrapped the bars with Bontrage bar tape.

As you may have already noticed, I did install some Sweetskinz NightWing tires.

In a bike segment that keeps growing, DiamondBack has introduced their commuter bike line on 2007. The DB Transporter is their tough commuter/utilitarian bicycle in their line up. We are lucky to be testing this great multipurpose bike. I have no complaints about the bike, the bike has been reliable on all my rides. It has also become my bike of choice to haul my kids around on their trailer. I like taking the kids to McD’s, to the park and to the store.

I usually get questions about commuter bikes being able to handle offroad trails. The Transporter has seen some dirt paths, the tires are capable of handling mild offroad terrain.

Although the Transporter does not come with any racks, it does come with rack mounts on the rear AND on the front. I don’t do much touring, but the I can bet that the Transporter would make a decent touring bike.

As far as the ride goes, the bike handles well in the turns, it is fast on the flats but a little slow on the uphills. As far as a commuter/utility bike goes, DiamondBack’s Transporter is stellar bike that is well worth considering.

I will have a full review of the bike in a couple of weeks.

For more information visit: www.diamondback.com

Some people take the day off to go play Golf, me, I ride my bike!!! I took the Cannondale Jeckyll out for the first time for a quick 4 mile solo ride. The bike rode very nice, the Fork may need to be serviced, but other than that the bike handles very well.

What’s the ride like without the other fork leg? Well, you can’t really notice until you let go of the handlebars. Other than that, you tend to forget that the fork only has one leg.

I couldn’t help myself buying this helmet in Ebay, its a perfect match!!!

I also test rode the KMX Kart, this thing is blast to ride. It takes a little time to get used to, but man, what a ride!

And what a better way to cap my day off but with a night ride with my buddies!

I would say that my total mileage was only about 12 miles, but they were 12 super fun miles.

Can’t wait for another day off.