Bike Hugger 

With a WTF nearly every minute this week, went for a bike ride in the rain and met a raver without a care in the world. So moved by his calmness, wrote about it in a short story on Medium last night.

I should chill like him, I realized. Then thought about his ride the rest of the way home. Also how well that hat and backpack kept him warm and dry in the rain.

For another take on the state of humanity, see Sal’s post on Paved

Don’t laugh about the goat. Just think what a bunch of spandex-clad guys on mountain bikes must look like to them. Anyway, we are all “them.” We are people who like to play our games in public, just like the runners in the Boston Marathon and the goat smackers in Afghanistan.

Also, bike blogs from Boston like Tour de What You Will and Boston Biker or Boston Cyclists on Twitter.

A time-lapse of Edinburgh’s cycle paths that seems like a timeless project, a movie maker could produce anywhere. The movie was made for the Innertube Map project that promotes usage of the paths.

Edinburgh’s off-street cycle paths run through the city like rabbit warrens - their entrances often difficult to find, taking you down tunnels and paths to unexpected parts of the city. A path that starts at Haymarket might spit you out at Granton, Leith or Cramond, or you may find yourself whizzing down the Union Canal right out of town.

Pedaler’s Fair is this weekend at their new location: 2407 1st Ave in Seattle.

Pedaler’s Fair is an annual marketplace for Washington based, bicycle-inspired small businesses to exhibit their goods. In its first year, Pedaler’s Fair hosted 23 exhibitors and received over 1,000 guests. In addition to exhibitor booths we had live music, workshops and presentations.

In town this weekend and plan on stopping by.

Hardened drivetrain

While media events are carefully constructed to keep journos on topic and the staff on message, there’s the occasional one-of bike or pet project that shows up in the mechanic’s tent. Like this Saxo Bank Classics bike. This wasn’t part of the SRAM 11 + Hydro launch. It was built a few seasons ago. Look closely and notice it’s actually a Tarmac SL4 with Roubaix legs. Sure you can buy what the pros ride, as the industry’s marketing will tell you, but really what they ride is uniquely laid up for them and from the “special” molds.

Downtube as big as a 40

To survive the rigors of the cobbles, the Tarbaix also has a cold-forged derailer hanger, and not one you could bend with your hands. Examining this bike, I said, “wish Spesh would release a bike just like this without the Zertz.”

Call it the Roubaix Elite, whatever, or a Tarbaix.

Not much room there for a tire

We’re already planning another ride on the Strip, a Mobile Social Interbike, with the crew from Tern. This one was in Taipei earlier this year.