DiNotte Lighting is recalling about 1,700 lithium-ion batteries used with bicycle lights.
The recall, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has been ordered because a loose wiring connection and improper venting can cause the battery to overheat, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
No incidents or injuries have been reported, however. Consumers are urged to stop using the battery and contact the company for a free replacement.
Manufactured in the US and China by AA Portable Power Corp. of Richmond, California, the batteries are distributed ... more»
Some of you might remember my encounter with "long rider" Mark Ryan last month as I was bicycling along the John Wayne Pioneer Trail in the Cascades.
The Associated Press tracked him down and now his story is spreading across the country. The article says that he reached his destination but is stuck in Wyoming after a truck he bought to get home broke down.
When I ran into Mark in early October, he was nearing the end of his 2,000-mile ride from Kingfisher, Oklahoma, to Ferndale, Washington, to visit a friend. He had set out on June 2, and he had ridden Mister Doodles the entire way. His mule, Festus, carried the supplies. ... more»
As the "trail angel" on Afton Mountain in Virginia's stretch of the TransAmerica Bicycle Route, June "Cookie Lady" Curry is used to visitors.
But she was totally unprepared when 25 members of the Richmond Area Bicycle Association showed up on Sunday to hand over donations they'd collected to help pay back for all the help she's given to traveling bicyclists over the years.
Champe Burnley, who helped direct the fund-raising effort by RABA, said:
"I think June was expecting me to stop by alone and was surprised, to say the least, when nearly 25 people showed up to celebrate the occasion. ... It was a bit chilly this morning, but the warmth of the crowd quickly took the chill out of the air. ... more»
-- Sam Markovich, owner of Peloton Cyclery in St. Charles, Missouri, talking about the unfortunate result of bicycle lovers who open a shop.
Markovich tells a St. Louis area newspaper that he used to log 4,000 miles a year on his bicycle. Now his bicycling is pretty much limited to a Monday night group ride around St. Charles County ... more»
A short-lived attempt to ban nudity in public parks in Seattle raised the issue of the legality of public nudity here.
The city has a tradition of painted bicyclists taking to the streets for the Summer Solstice Parade in the Fremont neighborhood, right, and for World Naked Bike Rides.
Those traditions are safe.
The city doesn't have a law regulating nudity, and Washington state law says that public nudity is not illegal unless it is an affront to someone else or causes alarm ... more»
Sad news from Georgia this morning. Citing tough economic conditions and a need to plan for the future, organizers of the 2009 Tour de Georgia bicycle race say they'll cancel the race in 2009 but return in 2010.
In an announcement posted on the Tour de Georgia website, race chairman Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle says:
"We have ... decided to skip one year so that the Tour de Georgia can once and for all be ahead of the game in the planning process. This is a decision I feel is wise and one that will strengthen the Tour de Georgia for years to come."
Board member Phil Jacobs told the Savannah Morning News, "The rise in the cost of gas and the current "tough" economic picture hurt us."
Meanwhile, a "Lance Armstrong bump" from his possible participation in the race vanished when he announced he would be competing in the European spring classics that are scheduled at about the same time as the Tour de Georgia's slot ... more»
The owner of the Pedaling History Bicycle Museum in Buffalo says he's selling his 400-bicycle collection and shutting down by the end of the year.
Carl F. Burgwardt, 77, says he's tired of waiting to find out whether he can move his collection to the new museum district planned for the city's Erie Canal Harbor project.
A development company says it's interested in launching a museum district in the harbor area, but hasn't chosen the specific museums that would be located there ... more»
Many media outlets reported anecdotes over the summer about how the soaring price of gasoline was putting more people on their bicycles to commute and run errands.
It's good to finally get some meat on that story.
The city of Portland reports a 28% increase in overall bicycle use for 2008; the biggest increase ever recorded. In fact, bicycling in Portland has increased threefold since 2001. .... more»
About a year ago the Seattle city council endorsed a 10-year Bicycle Master Plan. Now three of its neighbors on the east side of Lake Washington are in the midst of reviewing bicycle plans for their communities.
Kirkland and Renton are looking for comments on their plans for active transportation at meetings Wednesday night. Bellevue will be reviewing a comprehensive plan, which will have an effect on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
The Cascade Bicycle Club is asking for citizen cyclists to show up at the those meetings to review the plans and "help them get it right."
These cities appear to be making a good faith effort to provide upgrades for the bicycling on city streets. You can check out their efforts online and offer your suggestions at their meetings .... more»
Last night I was driving down an unlit hill in our subdivision when I briefly glimpsed something cross in front of a line of car headlights that was approaching.
After the traffic passed, I could see it was an at-times invisible bicyclist riding in dark clothes on a bicycle without front or rear lights or reflectors.
It was only 6:45, but completely dark. It occurred to me that riding a bicycle on poorly lit suburban streets is probably more dangerous than bicycling that way in well lit urban areas.
Let's hope I'm preaching to the choir here, but if I'm not, let me stress that bicyclists need lights to be visible at night. You can argue the motorists need to be vigilante when driving at night, but that won't help you when someone isn't ... more»
The completion of a 50,000-mile U.S. Bicycle Route System throughout the lower 48 states may be years away, but for Virginia the future is now.
The state currently has the most miles of designated U.S. Bicycle Routes in the nation -- 838 miles.
The commonwealth got a head start when Bike Routes 1 and 76 were designated for bicycling more than 20 years ago.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently approved a National Corridor Plan that sets guidelines and framework for establishing a nationwide bike route network. ... more»
I always considered pepper spray products such as Halt! to be the ultimate weapon in the battle against bicycle-chasing dogs.
The former mayor of Seven Mile, Ohio, trumps that with a .357 Magnum handgun.
The man was bicycling through the small southwestern Ohio town with his wife when a 10-pound mixed terrier named "Precious" chased down the couple, knocked the mayor from his bicycle and attacked him.
He told police that he feared for his life and shot at the dog five times before killing it ... more»
This must be an exciting time to be a transportation designer. People walk the talk (and bike the talk) when it comes to choosing how to make a trip.
More people are taking up bicycling and walking and using public transportation to commute and make errands. At the same time President-elect Obama and others are calling for reinvestment in roads and bridges as an economic stimulus.
This is the atmosphere in which the Congress for a New Urbanism met in Charlotte last week for its annual Transportation Summit. Instead of focusing on getting folks from Point A to Point B by cars, this group considers "moving people comfortably where they want to go, whether the best choice is walking, biking, riding transit or driving .... more»
You may have seen these Extrawheel bicycle trailers before, but they are new to me.
I use a standard cage-style Yakima bicycle trailer (now made by BOB, see video on jump) for touring. It allows me to keep heavy weight off the back wheel of my bike, and when combined with front panniers, my bike tracks very well.
It also allows me to fulfill my TMS syndrome -- Too Much Stuff.
These Extrawheel trailers also keep heavy weight off the rear wheel, and they're lighter than standard BOB trailers ... more»
A Virginia bicycle club is giving back for the years of motherly hospitality that June "Cookie Lady" Curry has offered to bicyclists on the TransAmerica Trail.
The Richmond Area Bicycle Association collected donations from across the US and is presenting the proceeds to the Cookie Lady at her home in Afton, Virginia, on Nov. 16. A bike ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway will follow.
Says RABA member Champe Burnley:
"We're very excited about the event. June has certainly done a lot for cyclists over the years and we're glad to give a little something back ... more»
It might be the first week of November, but that hasn't stopped cyclo-tourist Steve Moline from touring across the US.
Moline is a retired Marine Corps major who is currently bicycling across country for the Captain Garrett T. Lawton Foundation. He founded the non-profit "to provide support and assistance to the thousands of military families who have lost a loved one in the service of our country."
Moline named the foundation for his friend's son who was killed in Afghanistan in August. Capt. Lawton leaves behind his wife and two young sons.
The bike trip, which he calls a Gyrene's Journey, is expected to take him 56 days from St. Augustine to San Diego ... more»
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is optimistic about improvements that bicyclists and walkers might see in the next four years.
Dissecting Barack Obama's statements and actions in recent months, the group found that the president-elect understands the role of active transportation in making metropolitan areas better places to live.
The Washington, DC-based advocacy group is promoting more federal money for bicycle and pedestrian projects in upcoming transportation funding bills. It says active transportation "has the potential to play an important role in this new administration .... more»
Pro cyclist Tyler Farrar will lead a community bike ride around Wenatchee, Washington, on Sunday in support of his father, Dr. Ed Farrar, left.
Dr. Farrar is hospitalized with a spinal injury after being struck head-on by a car the morning of Oct. 22 while riding his bicycle to work. He's still listed in serious condition.
An orthopedic surgeon and cycling enthusiast, Dr. Farrar helped form Wenatchee Valley Velo and encourage many people to get into cycling as a form of rehabilitation and exercise. People in the community came up with the "Rally for Ed" to show their support ... more»
Cyclists on a tandem (yes, there's stoker behind that guy) ride through fallen leaves on the Cedar River Trail between Renton and Maple Valley earlier this week.
The big leaf maples in the Puget Sound region are bright yellow, but seasonal rains have been knocking down the leaves.
The route is a rail-trail that runs along the Cedar River some 17 miles from Renton to Landsburg. About two-thirds is paved.
It's one of my favorite routes, and I usually incorporate it on at least one ride every week.
What is the root cause of Lance Armstrong's indecision about riding his bicycle in the 2009 Tour de France?
Until I read recently filed stories about his training for next season, I thought he was concerned about the attitude of Tour de France officials and perhaps some members of his own team.
Now I see that the threat of personal violence is also part of it. Many French cycling fans despise him and there's no way to control spectators alongside the roadside; that close relationship makes cycling unique .... more»
Bicycle tourists may think of themselves as an independent lot, but they often must rely on the kindness of strangers.
The Adventure Cycling Association realizes this, and annually awards people or groups that enrich the trips made by cyclo-tourists.
This year's winners include a couple in a Kentucky church, a GPS expert in Vermont, a bicycle shop in Michigan and a tourism group in Ohio. They were chosen from among nominations made during the past few months by members. And the envelope please:
Bob and Violet Hardison and the First Baptist Church of Sebree, Kentucky -- June Curry Trail Angel Award .... more»
Every so often I hear about former pro cyclist Saul Raisin achieving a new goal that amazes me. The 25-year-old from Dalton, Georgia, is truly an inspiration.
Judged one of the rising stars on the pro peloton, Saul crashed in a race in Italy in 2006 and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He fell into a coma that required brain surgery. He underwent months of rehabilitation.
That hasn't stopped him from continuing to ride his bicycle, although now he rides for charity and not profit. This past weekend he added a new pursuit, running, to his resume and completed the New York City Marathon ... more»
There are hectic days when the weather is nice, but I just can't get out for a long bike ride. That's when I jump on my mountain bike to ride some trails and finish up with a stop at a local grocery to pick up something for dinner -- all in under an hour.
Part of the bicycle route is on an unassuming dirt path that veers into a second-growth forest behind some homes in neighboring Newcastle.
I never thought much about this dirt trail that dead-ends at a stairway high above May Creek until recently. That's when I found out that this is no ordinary dirt trail.
Merely 1.7 miles long, the May Creek Trail is the abandoned route of a narrow-gauge railroad of the 1800s that connected the lucrative old coalfields of old Newcastle to docks in Seattle. ... more»
Organizers of a community bicycle ride associated with Australia's Tour Down Under are reporting record interest in the event this year and expect to cut off participation at 5,000 cyclists.
Some 3,500 cyclists already have registered for the Mutual Community Challenge, and tour officials are attributing the greater interest to Lance Armstrong's participation in the 2009 Tour Down Under, which runs from Jan. 20-25.
The community bike race is similar to the Tour de France's popular L'Etape du Tour, in which amateur cyclists ride a stage of that the pros will tackle later ... more»
There's nothing that says something as useful as a bicycle rack has to be ugly.
Ever since New York City's transportation commissioner called them "handcuffs chained to the street," that city has been encouraging artists to create more visually appealing bike racks. One of the first was David Byrne.
But way ahead of the Big Apple is Louisville, Kentucky. If you passed this sculpture at the corner of Fourth and Mohammad Ali in Louisville, would "bike rack" be the first thing to come to mind? ... more»
Surprising no one except a few naysayers, Lance Armstrong launched his comeback career by winning the Tour de Gruene individual time trial on Saturday and a 2-man team time trial on Sunday.
Many were in awe of riding against Armstrong. Here's what 2nd-place finisher, Eric Benz, said about starting right ahead of Armstrong on Saturday:
“There's plenty of times you're out training that you imagine things, like making a shot like Michael Jordan or if you're a cyclist, staying ahead of Lance Armstrong. There were three or four times when I was riding here that I kind of had to pinch myself. Not only was I thinking I had to stay in front of Lance Armstrong, but he truly was behind me chasing me. .... more»
A charity bicycle tour in Australia to support people with multiple sclerosis drew a record number of participants this past weekend, as well as a record number of ambulance calls.
The 2008 Sydney to Gong Bike Ride drew 14,000 riders this weekend, raising an estimated $1.7 million for the MS foundation.
It wasn't without a toll, however. According to news reports, paramedics treated 24 cyclists, half of whom required hospitalization. Further, the St. John Ambulance teams treated 300 people for injuries such as cuts and bruises, as well as conditions like dehydration. ... more»
That's not OUCH as in "owee." That's OUCH as in Occupational Urgent Care and Health Sports Medical Center of Temecula, California.
OUCH is the new primary sponsor of the former HealthNet-Maxxis cycling team. One of its first actions is to hire cyclist Floyd Landis when he becomes eligible to compete on Jan. 30, 2009.
Landis, 33, is currently serving a two-year suspension for doping during the 2006 Tour de France after a contentious and unsuccessful battle for more than a year to clear his name .... more»
One of Seattle's most famous native sons is Jimi Hendrix, but I didn't know until yesterday that he was buried right down the road in Renton.
As the steady drizzle made it dark and gloomy here this Halloween -- there was almost a purple haze in the air -- I thought it would be an interesting experience to take a bicycle ride down there.
There's nothing scary or spooky about the Jimi Hendrix Memorial, but it did make it onto a list of six locations that are considered Haunted Renton on a map created by EarthShod.
The Jimi Hendrix Memorial is located at the Greenwood Memorial Park on busy 3rd Street in Renton.
The memorial is among the largest edifices at the cemetery and easy to find ... more»
A thief who stole a bicycle posted on Craigslist was hooked in an impromptu sting operation when he re-listed the bicycle in another town.
The Tacoma, Washington, man was hoisted by his own petard, as they say.
The drama started when Robert Hill of Bainbridge Island realized that the guy who just pedaled his Cervelo R3 bicycle, valued at $2,700, down the driveway for a test ride was not coming back .... more»
This cycling video is the iconic testamonial to why it's not a good idea to celebrate too early. You've probably seen it dozens of times, but you've never seen this face on the come-from-behind winner until now.
It's such a classic and its message is so clear that the Obama-Biden campaign is using it to encourage supporters not to let up until after they cross the "finish line" on Tuesday.
I spotted it on Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC Wednesday night and got a good laugh. It's very appropriate. Here's what Matthews said about it ... more»
DiNotte Lighting is recalling about 1,700 lithium-ion batteries used with bicycle lights.
Some of you might remember my encounter with "long rider" Mark Ryan last month as I was bicycling along the John Wayne Pioneer Trail in the Cascades.
As the "trail angel" on Afton Mountain in Virginia's stretch of the TransAmerica Bicycle Route, June "Cookie Lady" Curry is used to visitors.
The 2008 Tour of Missouri and the Garmin-Chipotle pro cycling team will be featured on NBC Sports on Saturday.
The owner of the Pedaling History Bicycle Museum in Buffalo says he's selling his 400-bicycle collection and shutting down by the end of the year.
About a year ago the Seattle city council endorsed a 10-year Bicycle Master Plan. Now three of its neighbors on the east side of Lake Washington are in the midst of reviewing bicycle plans for their communities.
Last night I was driving down an unlit hill in our subdivision when I briefly glimpsed something cross in front of a line of car headlights that was approaching.
The completion of a 50,000-mile U.S. Bicycle Route System throughout the lower 48 states may be years away, but for Virginia the future is now.
This must be an exciting time to be a transportation designer. People walk the talk (and bike the talk) when it comes to choosing how to make a trip. 
A Virginia bicycle club is giving back for the years of motherly hospitality that June "Cookie Lady" Curry has offered to bicyclists on the TransAmerica Trail.
It might be the first week of November, but that hasn't stopped cyclo-tourist Steve Moline from touring across the US. 
Pro cyclist Tyler Farrar will lead a community bike ride around Wenatchee, Washington, on Sunday in support of his father, Dr. Ed Farrar, left. 
What is the root cause of Lance Armstrong's indecision about riding his bicycle in the 2009 Tour de France?
Every so often I hear about former pro cyclist Saul Raisin achieving a new goal that amazes me. The 25-year-old from Dalton, Georgia, is truly an inspiration.
Organizers of a community bicycle ride associated with Australia's Tour Down Under are reporting record interest in the event this year and expect to cut off participation at 5,000 cyclists.
That's not OUCH as in "owee." That's OUCH as in Occupational Urgent Care and Health Sports Medical Center of Temecula, California.
One of Seattle's most famous native sons is Jimi Hendrix, but I didn't know until yesterday that he was buried right down the road in Renton.
"When Lance Armstrong comes, it gets amazingly busy. It's kind of like running a golf tournament, and Tiger Woods shows up."
