Monthly Archives: January 2011

Road Debris and the Panic Factor

One problem with riding a bicycle on roads designed for cars is contending with debris carelessly strewn about. Too often, debris accumulates on the far right-hand side of the road, where cars infrequently travel, but where cyclists find a home. … Continue reading

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Electric Hand Warmers for Frostbite Prevention

Technically, a hand warmer isn’t a bicycling accessory. But the innovative cyclist, to whom weather is no foe, will appreciate its usefulness as part of a well-stocked armory of cold weather accoutrements. Hand warmers come in several varieties – disposable, … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling Reviews, Cycling Health | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

When Locking Bikes in Harvard Square Was a Formality

Years ago, I always locked my bike, a Motobecane Super Mirage, to the rail in front of the now defunct WordsWorth bookstore. The front wheel was either removed and locked with a U-lock or taken with me. Harvard Square had … Continue reading

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Cycling Civil Disobedience and Police Brutality

Whether disobedient groups like Critical Mass (CM) are helping or hindering the progress of cycling as a means of transportation, participants have the same rights as any other members of society. This particular group’s presence has irritated some, outraged others. … Continue reading

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Atypical Reasons to Buy a New Bike

Bike culture, through its subcultures, dictates the meaning of bicycling. Cultural insiders strictly adhere to a set of beliefs. Too often, they mock others for their choices. Many avid cyclists exist outside the formal self-styled bike culture. And, their views … Continue reading

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Should Local Bike Shops Sell Cheap Bikes?

Recently, I read an interesting blog post entitled: How Cheap is Too Cheap? It was about the plight of local bike shops with respect to competing with big box stores (think Walmart, Target, etc). Surprisingly, the author wrote: “If bike … Continue reading

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The Icy Tears of Winter Cycling

Welling eyes involuntarily yield droplets of semi-frozen liquid, cascading down bare cheeks, descending rapidly in a semicircle before dropping into the wind. The flowing wetness brings forth lost emotion as tears of hardship, tears of trial and tribulation, tears of … Continue reading

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Osteoarthritis and the Descent into Granny Gears

Persistent knee pain with stiffness and swelling may be a sign of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes wearing away of the cartilage in a joint. Cartilage is a flexible tissue which allows bones to glide smoothly when moving … Continue reading

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Dynamo Headlight: Providing Visibility But Light On Your Wallet

While browsing through a local electronics store, I stumbled upon an unusual bicycle headlight. Bicycle headlights come in a variety of shapes, sizes, features and prices. Yet, they all share one thing in common: they rely on battery power to … Continue reading

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The Isolate Cyclist

No amount of rationalization can change cycling from what it really is: a solitary pursuit. Cyclists form clubs, groups, coalitions, but when it comes right down to it, each of us mounts a bike alone and rides into the unknown. … Continue reading

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