Think You’re Good??

Today I was reading about Charles Murphy, better known as “Mile a Minute Murphy“. This guy is a legend because he was the first man to ride a bicycle one mile in under a minute, in 1899, and he did it in just 57.8 seconds.

"That's awkward."

I guess you could call me a 'Starling of the Slipstream'

He’s a kind of know-it-all, but he gets his before he dies, losing a leg to gangrene in Jamaica before he died. I always kind of think of that as God putting your ego in check. Before all that though, he was admitted to the Bicycle Hall of Fame.

Remember the Bicycle Museum

It’s located in Davis, California, which apparently has a history of being an awesome biking town. You can check out a Flickr photo set of some awesome stuff around Davis. Good thing they took the museum out of New Jersey! (No, actually I feel pretty bad Jersey lost this museum to the West Coast.) The museum includes several old and antique bikes, but also has a long list of famous bikers, both in sport and in innovation. Guess I might have a reason to head west!

The Wheelmen

Sometimes, you just miss the mark. With my last post, I would think a link about a map, is really, about the map. I’m obviously not a great reporter because the real story, or should I say wheel story, is about The Wheelmen, who made the map. If you are thinking about questioning this entity, just let the bad ass logo shut you up.

Yeah, our logo is more RAD than your life

They are dedicated to the preservation and restoration of olden bikes. You can have a membership for just a mere 25 dollars, but I’m sure you have to own a sweet bike. If you not convinced, check out the photo galleries. With photo galleries titled, High Wheels, Hard Tired, and Pneumatics, you know there’s a lot to promise here. Here’s a sampling of the wonderment you can find on their site.

Jeremy’s personal favorite:

"Does he have medals? yes. Does he rock gay shorts? yes."

Yes, the black knee highs- next bike trend people.

Wheel Ladies exist too! Do not fret girls.

Photographs of the modern Wheelmen are forthcoming. We will keep you updated.

Ye Old Bike Path

As we all know, Philadelphia’s bike lanes leave a lot to be desired. However, Jeremy sent this cool artifact over. It’s an old map of the best bike routes in and around Philadelphia. Unfortunately, this image only shows the Main Line, and I mean, why would anyone want to go there?

History & Shit!

I bet some of you didn’t know that we do have bicycle maps for Philadelphia. It’s just that they aren’t necessarily very helpful because they show what a serious lack of bike friendly streets we have in Center City Philadelphia. The Bike Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has a goal of connecting existing bike lanes, and they have some great map services accessible online.

Knock West Philly all you want, they have the best bike lanes.

But as always, there are easier (and dumber) solutions to your problems. You could always just buy a contraption to mount a GPS or your iPhone to your bike. Who honestly thinks this could ever be a good idea? I mean, I would love to use the TPain App while riding down the street, but that just sounds like a terrible, terrible idea.

SHAWTY.. Lemme buy you a mount!

Lady is the Ninja Bike Lord

I’ve been watching a larger amount of kung-fu movies than usual. I thought, surely there are tons of pictures of bike ninjas. But, there is a severe absense of bike ninjas on the internet, and possibly in the world(?)!!

Surprisingly, this was the only rad ninja bike photo I found. (logo = nerd love)

Copyright Flickr User scochrancpslo

However, I did finally look on YouTube, to find an awesome movie called Lady is the Boss. Kung Fu bicycle gang headed by an awesome 80s chick.

Lady is the Boss & the Rad

Check this clip, your mind will be blown; mine was.

Friendly Bike Love

So there’s basically two forces in my life that make me want to be a better, more awesome biker. The first is my friend Robby, in Chicago. He’s so rad, he’s all like “I mastered the cool bike riding, and now I’m going to try out BMX’ing.” He makes anything he does awesome. Having a rad ‘stache doesn’t hurt, as well as being an awesome part of Rapid Transit in Chicago. I guess FuelTV stopped by the BMX spot in ChiTown, so keep a look out for the boys.

Voila - 'Stache BMX

In other awesome boys who ride bikes news, looks like ESPN finally realized Bike Polo is a sport. Link courtesy of my friend Brian in ChiTown, who also makes me want to be a more awesome biker. Its awesome cause it means more money will go into the Bike Polo Tournaments around the world, through sponsors, and to the guys and GIRLS who sacrifice their bodies for the sport. (And what fine looking bodies they are might I add!) This means it will be harder to get a good view of the action from the fence for me!

Check out my favorite site to stalk this sport.. League of Bike Polo, to find out where to throw down around you.

Copyright Bruce Carver

❤

Tandem Fashion

So I never got around to taking a romantic tandem ride in France. Maybe I’ll get lucky enough to do so in Philadelphia. However, if I manage to befriend a hot guy (or old man) with a tandem, I’m going to demand we wear matching knee high socks. What says true love more than a tandem bike?? A coordinated outfit that says ‘We got dressed together for this ride!” Oh yeah.

New Tandem Fasion Trend

Will date for ride on your tandem. Please wear sexy hat.

Support the Habit with Your Bike!

So in the rough economic times, you may have found that you no longer have enough cash for you drug habit anymore. Fret no more, it turns out you can accomplish the same effects while simply riding your bike. That is, provided you already haven’t sold your bike to support your habit, perhaps you should consider stealing it back.

I came across the old Six-Day Bike Race. A basic explanation reveals that it started in Europe, but the basic goal is to complete as many laps on a track as possible in six days. The compeititors were allowed to sleep when they wanted, and start racing when they wanted. These only exist mainly in Europe now.However, America hosted its first at Madison Square Garden.

Chasing the Bike Dragon

The most amazing part is the description of what this prolonged riding causes to the body.

“The condition included delusions and hallucinations. Riders wobbled and fell. But they were often well paid, especially since more people came to watch as their condition worsened.” – Courtesy of wikipedia

“The wear and tear upon their nerves and their muscles, and the loss of sleep make them [peevish and fretful]. If their desires are not met with on the moment, they break forth with a stream of abuse. Nothing pleases them.” –  Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Sound like some crack heads I’ve seen.

You can also check a video over at Daily Motion.

You.. the One Who is Biking Now..

RESPOND!!

In my research of flying bikes, I fell into some cool military bikes. My bro is in the 82nd Airborne in Iraq – he rules. I was never a military person, but having my brother, and also my step-brother being in the military will change your mind. So, basically, it gets really boring in Iraq, and check out what this guy did.

I'm gunna weld me a bike!

And when he was all finished welding each link together with eight welds, they asked, what are you going to do now? And he responded, “Well, finish my tour here, then build a bunch of these for my kids!” Whats not to love about a military guy? Anyway, I like the chopper style. Good frame choice my friend.

I also came across this cool fold up bike, which they claim the military uses. My brother has never told me about hopping out a plane, and then having to ride this bike, but here it is none the less.

And you can jump out a plane with it.

And Europe always has the states beat in the bike game, and its no different with military bikes. The Swiss Army is known for their knives, but they should be just as well known for their Swiss Army Bicycle. I mean this bike has everything, and honestly, all bikes should be this well equipped in case of a problem on the biking road.

Oh baby you, you got what I need.

Bicycles of the Future

Back in the day, some people believed instead of engines, bikes would power man’s flying machines. Actually, I have no historical evidence of this, but it sounds good. I’m getting ready to leave France, and my flight is not for a few more days. Most of my friends here have already completed their exodus, including my best friend this past Saturday. So, since I’m ready to leave, I sometimes wish I could Amelia Earhart my way across the Atlantic on one of these bad boys. I also wish I didn’t have a fear of heights, and large open bodies of water with sea monsters who eat girls’ toes.

I would have shaped that balloon differently..

IKANOPIT, the name of my punk band.

Apparently the Wright Bros. really did try it out.

All I can see is the fan, and think, Bike Hovercraft?

Surprisingly not cool or rad, but douchebag & lazy. Seeking improvements.

I Needs This

Like most people, I constantly need to be listening to music. I find that when I’m biking, I get most compelled to stop.. and just start busting moves. Unfortunately, boom boxes aren’t that easy to find in your local pawn shop anymore. They are often swept up by kids cooler than you, with a more analog skill set. Anyway, I’ve found some variations to the boom box-bike combination that I think solve my need of a relocatable and movable dance floor.

Gotta get that.. boom boom boom - box!

BMX break beats on the streets

I think this operates off an iPad...

Now, the party really is wherever I am.