Back From Austin!

This past weekend was the Livestrong Challenge in Austin, Texas benefitting the Lance Armstrong Foundation. This amazing event had over 3700 riders and 900 volunteers joining together to raise money supporting cancer education and outreach, research, and more. My buddy Steve J and I travelled out to participate in our third ride as members of the Pharma Flier bike club based out of Sanofi Aventis and sponsored by Cycle Craft. Below are videos and photos from the event. The event day video is the one to watch if you're limited for time. Right near the 11 minute mark on the video is one of the most amazing things you will ever see. No more excuses!

Day 1

Livestrong Challenge Austin 2009 Day 1 from Brendan on Vimeo.
Day 2

Livestrong Challenge Day 2 from Brendan on Vimeo.
Day 3-The Event

Livestrong Challenge 2009 from Brendan on Vimeo.

Slide Show

Denville Gets Serious About Bad Driving

I saw this sign coming into town today. I jumped out of my car to capture it. People texting and talking on their cell phones drive erratically and are a danger to everyone around them. I don't care how good you think you are, driving distracted is a bad idea. It's good to see at least one town getting serious about it.

Bad Driver TV Episode 2

Here's a short one. I wish you could see the face of this knuckle head. He looked right at me, knew he should wait, and pulled out anyway. The old "F.U." Although I was not really in danger of hitting this guy, or vice versa, because I was paying attention, the situation could have been much worse had I been another second up the road. This guy's selfish behavior is infuriating. It is bad enough when people do stupid things because they don't know any better (see episode one), but when someone does something they know is wrong but just don't care, it is very frustrating!

Copenhagenize.com - The Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog: Fear of Cycling 05 - Making Cycling Strange

Copenhagenize.com - The Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog: Fear of Cycling 05 - Making Cycling Strange

5th and final part of the series. Many of the points brought buy the author are illustrated in the video below. This video was shot this past Sunday morning and illustrates a virtually daily occurrence for me. After the heated exchange we start to recognize that part of the problem is that drivers by and large have no idea what their responsibilities are and how to properly negotiate traffic when slow moving vehicles are present. The first comment from the belligerent driver is "you don't even belong on the road". After we point out that he is wrong his defense becomes "I had to stop for the person crossing in the sidewalk. Again we point out that the way he handled it is still wrong. His wife finally admits she has no idea what the law is regarding making a right turn when a bicycle, or roller-blader or skate boarder for that matter, are next to them. At the end of the video I have included the exact excerpt from the NJDMV driver manual relating to cars and bikes. I realize that one of the problems is that the state of New Jersey lumps bikes together with skateboards and rollerblades. It seems that bicycles are not getting serious recognition as legitimate transportation in our current inter-modal plan.

If this reality is not to your liking get involved! Join the New Jersey Bike Coalition and make a difference.
http://www.njbike.org/

Copenhagenize.com - The Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog: Fear of Cycling 04 - New Cycling Spaces

Copenhagenize.com - The Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog: Fear of Cycling 04 - New Cycling Spaces

Fourth in the series on the "Fear of Cycling". So, is cycling inherently "unsafe" or have we just been led down this path of fear like so many other things we have been conditioned to fear? Tell me what you think!
Here is a clip shot with my new helmet camera. I am riding on route 46 and I have moved left as to stay out of the exit lane. A car passes very close to me and gives me a nice little honk. No slowing, no moving to the left a little bit. But on the other hand, there was space between us. So while the pass is a little un-nerving, I don't feel like I was in any danger. Cathy feels differently!