In this entry I'll explain the basic options for where one can buy a bicycle in LA, share my opinions as to which are best, and I'll briefly discuss helmets, locks, and lights.

It was a frigid night in late 2004 when the lights went out on a potluck dinner of frustrated bicycle enthusiasts.

There is something about the image (real or imagined) of strength, speed, simplicity, and freedom that highlights the messenger lifestyle and attracts our attention.

I know that is a repeat of some information but... I threw it together for SPOKES magazine and it did not make the cut too much of a narrative not enough information so... since I went through the time I might as well post it here it was a great ride I enjoyed the exercise of revisiting the experience here it is... Earlier this season I got on a plane and flew out to Northern California for a long weekend in late Apr il. No, this was not a trip to race at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey which was being held that same weekend; this was a trip to an old college buddys wedding. Although multi-tasking is not a strength of mine I managed to make this multi-purpose experience; a Santa Cruz wedding and a California mountain bike adventure. When I got the SAVE THE DATE email from an old college friend inviting me to his wedding in Santa Cruz I immediately contacted a mutual friend of the groom to see if he had been invite as well. My old friend Kevin McCarthy who earned the nickname of Snoopy in college said he had gotten the invite. I planted the seed of heading out for the wedding and doing some mountain biking the days before the weekend. It did not take long for this seed to grow... Snoopy was game. It was agreed that we would be heading to Santa Cruz for our friend Michael J.s wedding. This trip would involve more than standing in beautiful old white church to watch a man in a black suit and a woman in a white lace dress say I DO, this trip was going to include a gathering with some old friends and some epic west coast mountain biking!  read more »

I always enjoy hearing from readers, so I dont make a habit of picking on any of you for leaving comments that I dont agree with. In fact, differing opinions make the blog interesting. In this case though, I do feel compelled to take issue with a statement that was recently left in response to an old post : Anonymous said... Top tube pad or not, riding a track bike on the street is dumb While I dont really agree that riding a track bike on the street is dumb, that is not what initially bothered me about the comment.  read more »

Ah yes another article on Bike Couriers. This one is from my old hometown of Seattle. Unfortunately, there's nothing really new here but I like to include all the articles I can, for the archives. Thanks again to Joe Headry of Messmedia.org for his constant diligence in finding articles about couriers. Seattle street racers: Ride along with Seattle bike couriers By Erika Cederlind Daily - University of Washington , February 12, 2008 Driving in Seattle sucks. Its pouring rain and traffic is terrible. Cars speed up to intersections only to slam on brakes, honk horns and wait bumper to bumper. Weather conditions, road construction and commuters only compound the problem. On a bike, these problems disappear.  read more »

Despite the fact that it is officially the start of Bike Month today and as cyclists we should all be cycling around some Maypole somewhere singing songs of happiness, it would appear that a certain segment of the readership feels that there's been an absence of acidity on this blog recently.  read more »

Cyclist-vs.-motorist rage seems to be increasing, but some are trying to devise ways to defuse conflicts.

 read more »

Last evening I had a talk with a frame builder I'm very excited about. His name is David Wages. This year, after years of frame building for other companies, he has decided to go it alone. He started Ellis Cycles.  read more »