Instructables.com has plans for this bicycle handlebar window box.  If you’re lucky, you may also be able to find instructions for that quality bike light, too…because the parts for that almost certainly cost less than a simple handlebar light.
The best part of the instructions for the box are this:
“Get a crappy old pallet and saw it up something like this.”
It’s a good thing Instructables.com doesn’t have medical training articles.
FROM TAYLOR SULLIVAN:
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Just 3 more weeks for the Cowbell Race Weekend…
Some of you have been asking how far is the black top road section of the marathon race to Fisher Farm Park; it is 6.25 miles to the dirt trails. The course: once inside the park will be about 9.25 miles of a race loop to do 5 times for a total of about 52.5 miles. The new sections will be done in two weeks; after the trails are complete I will be able to give the right about of miles on the race loop. Mark Sullivan of The Cycle Path and The Town of Davidson Park and Rec have worked together to provide more land use to max out the miles for the race loop. www.thecyclepath.net , www.ci.davidson.nc.us
There is a price increase of $10 per class on Monday, June 1st save some cash sign up by Sunday, next price increase is on race day goes up by $20 per class. Please go to the Cowbell Website, Sport Base Online or BikeReg to get preregistered, smile… www.cowbellchallenge.org
Homewood Suites is the Hotel Headquarters for the race, really great deal on a really nice hotel, $89 per night, take advantage of it and the benefits with the hotel stay. Package pick-up on Friday, Saturday night viewing of the Freedom Riders film, if you are staying at the Homewood Suites, you’ll get in for free. This rate can be booked by calling (704) 987-1818 or on-line at www.davidson.homewoodsuites.com , and use promotion code: CBC.ÂÂ
The Viewing of the Film the Freedom Riders will be on Saturday night, June 20, at 7pm. The viewing of the film is a fundraiser for the PASA mtn bike club. $10 per ticket before June 19, $15 on Friday and out at the marathon race, $20 at the door and what does that get you, a beer mug, beer and wine will be served. Mountain Khakis will be there to; they are a sponsor of the movie and will be handed out info about their products to wear outside.
 www.freedomridersthemovie.com, www.bikepasa.com , www.mountainkhakis.com
Caburrus County EMS, will be keeping you safe on the trail and helping you out if by chance you forget how to ride your bike and fall down. These guys and gals will clean you up and send you back out on the bike; the Cabarrus County EMS will have their medic tent set up and be out roaming the course on bikes. www.cabarruscounty.us/ems/
If you are the fastest female or male out on the course, you’ll win a set of super fast rolling tires from KENDA. www.kendausa.com
Hope you got your climbing legs on for the first lap, you’ll be crowned  king or queen of the mtn race, one road climb and 4 or 5 climbs on the main loop, the winners will be awarded the SPECIALIZED kom red dotted helmet. www.specialized.com
Most Mtn Bikers enjoy beer the winners of each group will receive something good to drink with some help from Brawley’s Beverages.www.brawleysbeverage.com
 Inside the racers pick-up bag, Hammer gels, Clif bars and Honey Stinger chews, will keep you going on race day.
Menchov takes win for Overall General Classification after a nasty little wipeout just shy of the finish…he slid about 20 feet on the wet pavement.  He ended up +21 for the stage and won the GC by 41 seconds over Danilo Di Luca.  Full report in a bit.
If you’re getting our Twitter Feed, you’ll see this link immediately, check out UniversalSports.com now for the live video stream.  Danilo Di Luca, currently 2nd in overall standings, is on course now!  He’s yet to hit the first time check, so no update as of this publishing, and Denis Menchov is just rolling down the start ramp!  It’s on!
Ellsworth teased us with these at Sea Otter (check that post for close up detail photos), and as of yesterday, they’re officially available for sale in three configurations: XC, 29er and All-Mountain…and they’re light!
Here’s the PR on these wheels, straight from the source:
CROSS COUNTRY: The optimal wheels for your Truth, Epiphany or other XC ride, Ellsworth’s XC wheels feature 24 spokes with special 2 cross lacing and Ellsworth’s patented Quad Butted Spokes. Our spoke design minimizes windup from breaking and pedaling with the least amount of spoke mass. Compatible with the standard QR and the new 15mm QR, these are the only wheels you’ll need for XC riding or racing.
The XC rims are Ellsworth’s proprietary, 29mm wide, tapered wall rim that is extruded from xxx9 Aluminum. Ellsworth’s 29mm rim weighs the same as other manufacturer’s 23mm wide rims but gives you the extra strength, durability and control of a wider rim.
The XC rim’s higher width to weight ratio also provides a larger contact patch between your tire and the ground for the same amount of weight. And since xxx9 Taper wall aluminum weighs less than rubber, you can save additional rolling weight by running a narrower tire while still getting the traction and control of a wider, heavier tire.
Configurations:
Front Axle-Standard QR and 15mm QR
Rear Axle-Standard QR
Front Rim-24 spokes, 2 cross
Rear Rim-24 spokes, 2 cross
Actual Weight: 1,495 grams
Hit ‘more’ for specs and photos of the 29er and All-Mountain wheelsets…
Stage 20 of the Centennial Giro d’Italia is in the books, with Belgian Phillipe Gilbert (Silence Lotto) taking the stage win with a 1.5km breakaway.  Race leader Denis Menchov retains the maglia rosa after the 203km stage and is well poised to capture the overall win tomorrow.
Menchov finished with the main pack of contenders, including Italian Danilo Di Luca, adding 20 seconds to his lead by taking 2nd in an intermediate sprint to gain a small time bonus.  Menchov credits his likely victory to “…being consistent…not having bad days, or crises, keeping my  concentration high.”
Di Luca seems to be taking it in stride, telling Rai Television “…I’ll come in second but that’s not a problem for me because I’m convinced I’ve raced a great Giro d’Italia.  I’ve no regrets because I always tried to attack. So I’m satisfied.”
Hit ‘more’ for stage results and overall standings, and tune into UniversalSports.com tomorrow (Sunday) morning for live streaming of the final stage individual time trial…anything can happen!
This “How I Roll” interview was conducted by Heidi Volpe, the mountain bike blogger for Outside Magazine’s Blog, with Lynda Wallenfels…mom, rider, coach and 24 hour solo rider / Ironman competitor. Ever wonder what it’s like to do all that? Well, here’s how Lynda rolls…
HEIDI: What team are you riding for right now?
LYNDA: I just signed up with the Siren/World Bicycle Relief I am going to be raising awareness for WBR in addition to racing my butt off on a sweet custom Siren bike!
HEIDI: Wow. A coach, a rider, a racer AND a Mom? Are you superwoman? Some of think so. After OP now we know so. How do you do it?
LYNDA: I love coaching and riding and racing and mommying. It all seems to flow together. I don’t feel like superwoman. I feel spoiled sometimes to be doing so much of what I love.ÂÂ
HEIDI: You raced gears forever now you are a SS, how did it feel to chic DJ birch?
LYNDA: It was a surprise. I didn’t know until after the race he was 1st and he stopped a lap before I did. I didn’t have a pit crew at OP so had no feedback on placing throughout the event. I think it is quite funny cause I know Deejay is super strong. All the guys raced themselves into the ground in the first 12 hours at OP this year and I toodled on by the entire men’s field by dawn doing my own thing. I wasn’t paying any attention to the guys. Rebecca Tomawicki had all of my attention for the first 18 hours.
Rock the Bike has brought their pedal-powered stage to California, kicking off their West Coast presence at the Maker Faire tomorrow, May 30.
Cyclists get valet parking and a $10 discount.  Ride from anywhere, or join the group ride.  They’re meeting at 8:30AM and departing at 9:00, the ride is about 19 miles over mostly flat terrain, and it’ll take a leisurely pace, cruising with great music on party bikes. It’ll arrive at Maker Faire at approximately 11AM, plenty of time to set up their Pedal Powered Stage for the first band of the day.  If you want to join the ride, leave a comment on this page.
Hit ‘more’ for a band schedule and a picture of their BICYCLE POWER BAR that powers the stage for clean, rockin’ energy…
Got this “rumor” from pro endurance rider Pua Sawicki’s hubby/manager/pr rep Ron, and Pua will be attempting to set the first ever record for Females. Her current personal best was set at her first  24 solo race in 2004 when she won her first National 24 Hour title. She rode 281.2 miles and has since won the National title 3 out of the last 4 years.  Here’s the news:
Guinness Book of World Records has agreed to recognize this years 24 hour Solo National Championship Male & Female winners for the first ever record for “Most miles ridden in 24 hours on a Mountain Bike!”
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Japan’s bid to host the most environmentally sustainable Olympic and Paralympic Games ever at the heart of its dynamic capital – today announced its full support for the COP15 Cycling Tour. As part of this effort, Japanese cycling legend and Athens 2004 silver medallist, Tomohiro Nagatsuka, participated in the tour’s kickoff event to demonstrate Tokyo 2016‘s commitment to the goals of this important undertaking.
In association with COP15 – the 15th Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – the series of cycling events will help spread the conference’s message of environmental responsibility through sustainable activities such as cycling. COP15 Cycling Tour events are being hosted across Japan and in Copenhagen (link here for COP15 in Copenhagen) – the Danish capital and the host of the 121st IOC Session, which will elect the host of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Spearheaded by the Embassy of Denmark in Japan under the leadership of His Excellency Ambassador Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, an ardent supporter of Tokyo 2016, the COP15 Cycling Tour – a carbon neutral undertaking – will carry its message to nine major Japanese cities. Having begun in Tokyo on 23 May, the Japan program will end on 31 May in Kyoto – the city in which the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change was signed in 1997.
Bikes Belong is pleased to announce our spring grant awards. Funding in this round will help launch programs, build facilities, and measure success in six U.S. communities – improving conditions for bicycling and putting more people on bicycles more often across the country.
The winners include:
Hit ‘more’ to read about and find links to each of these organizations…
