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Sierra Nevada's Solar Powered Beer Cooler

PRESS RELEASE: Each of the past several years, the Sea Otter Classic has substantially subtracted from its carbon footprint by ratcheting up efforts to make the event more sustainable. Incentives to reduce waste, preferred parking for carpoolers and hybrid or other alternative fuel vehicles, and a recycling program in a league of its own are the bedrock of Sea Otter’s sustainable initiatives. Partnerships with companies that live by their sustainable words, like Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Clif Bar & Co., Pedro’s, and Toyota, have strengthened and expanded Sea Otter’s “green” mission and new this year, if you like beer, then you’ll want to sample some brew at Sierra Nevada’s Solar Draft Trailer.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has developed a refrigerated beer trailer unlike any other 17′ trailer - this one is actually powered by solar energy. When it arrives at Sea Otter, it will have 15 photovoltaic panels that transfer solar energy to 14 batteries. Energy is converted from direct current (DC) into the more easy-to-use alternate current (AC) electricity, and then powers a compressor, which keeps the trailer at 36 degrees Fahrenheit and your beers cold.

“The idea is that, when we do an event that is three or four days long, like the Sea Otter Classic, we can pretty much set up in an open field and operate completely on solar power for the duration of the event,” said Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Eric Silverman.

2010 also marks Sierra Nevada’s third year as Sea Otter’s “Official Recycling Sponsor.” While recycling may be a small step, it is an important one. Since Day 1, Sierra Nevada’s expressed goal for the Sea Otter Classic has been to make recycling easy. The success of the program has earned Sea Otter “best in its class” praise for event recycling from Monterey County.

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NON WORD-SMITHED SUMMARY: Buy this solid looking jersey and support BikePure, a group that’s helping promote and support dope-free racing.

PRESS RELEASE: The 2010 Bike Pure cycling team clothing will be produced by Onimpex UK/Bio Racer, one of the world’s leading cycling garment manufacturers. Bio Racer have a long history within cyclesport and supply several National Federations, including the USA, Netherlands and Belgium.

Bike Pure is the world’s largest independent anti-doping organization and have evolved into a major force within the cycling world. Many professional riders and teams, including several world champions, are supportive of Bike Pure and wear the eye catching blue wristband to show their opposition to doping in sport.

Onimpex UK/Bio Racer will initially produce jerseys and bib shorts for the anti-doping organization, with further items being added as the season progresses. Co-founder of Bike Pure, Andy Layhe said, “We were very impressed with Bio Racer and their support for our organisation. The quality of their garments is second to none and we are proud to be associated with such a superior clothing manufacturer.”

The new design was implemented by Bike Pure with assistance from graphic designer Jamie Leung. Andy Layhe said “The new design is in keeping with Bike Pure’s previous jersey, a clean fresh eye catching garment, although we have now added the World Champions colours to represent the World Champions who form part of our organization. We wanted a line of garments that our members and cyclists alike would be proud to wear and show that they support drug free sport.” The clothing range will also be available in both Men’s and Women’s sizing to provide  superior comfort and fit.

Bibs, links and more info after the break…

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Jonathan Dorey was last seen walking his mountain bike (pictured) from his Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) dorm on March 2, 2010.  The bike is also missing…it’s black with a red stripe down the center of the saddle.  If you see either, call the number in the photo.  More info is in this Facebook Group and this news story.

A view of New York's Lower East Side with Google's new cycling-specific street view. The green lines in the map represent "bike friendly" roads and paths.

As the National Bicycle Summit gets underway in Washington DC this week, Google announced an addition to its Google Maps service, launching an option to get directions optimized for cyclists.

The new option will utilize bike lanes, bike trails, and lighter-traffic roads in determining routes for cyclists. Google says the program will also attempt to avoid hilly terrain whenever possible, a huge plus for cyclists.

The plan means that Google has now integrated bike paths and bike lanes into their gigantic map database, so finding places to ride will be much simpler for cyclists. You can read all about the new features in Google’s blog post about the new service here.

I tried the service on my morning commute, and the program immediately suggested the exact route I take, which took me several months to figure out. It was surprisingly effective in avoiding heavy traffic and even utilized our local bike path for several miles. Hats off to Google on this one.

Norco is encouraging its customers to register their frame’s serial number, offering a chance to bag this stunning Empire frame as a result.

Emphasising that police won’t even write a theft report without a bike’s serial number, the company is hoping to gather a database of its bike owners. To register your bike, simply check under the bottom bracket for the unique number and then visit norco.com/bike-registration/ 

That’s not all either, those who spread the word via Facebook and Twitter will be entered into a draw to win one of two WTB Vigo Carbon SLT saddles, valued at $240.

L.A.’s top cop, Police Chief Charlie Beck, told a group of cycling advocates at a transportation committee meeting this week that help is on the way, and the Los Angeles, California Police Department will be implementing several steps to improve the roads for cyclists in the coming weeks.

Beck called cyclists “our most vulnerable commuters,” admitting that the LAPD had to do a better job to protect and encourage cyclists, marking a positive and major advance for cycling.

Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger gave a better idea of what exactly would be implemented in the coming weeks. The initiative will start with a cycling-specific section in department policy, outlining the rights and responsibilities of cyclists for officers to review. A major policy change would set a protocol for officers to follow when dealing with cyclists, meaning riders and cops alike would have a concrete and clear outline of their rights and responsibilities.

Paysinger also mentioned a computer learning program, mandatory for all officers, to better educate them on how to properly deal with cyclists on the road, which he hopes to implement within 45 days.

The LAPD is one of the first major metro police departments in the country to directly communicate with cyclists, and their promise for better conditions for cyclists has the potential to set prescient for the rest of the country to follow.

The announcement came after several advocacy groups organized a ride prior to the transportation committee meeting meant to highlight the need for tougher punishment and enforcement for drivers involved in hit-and-run accidents with cyclists.

Read the full article from the LA Times here.

This fall, a group of 43 riders will take place in the transcontinental Sears National Kids Cancer Ride across Canada, starting in Vancouver and ending in Halifax, on the other side of the country. The trans-continental ride is designed to raise money for childhood cancer research, and participants are now accepting pledges. Running from September 9-15, organizers say they believe this is one of the largest events in the world raising money for childhood cancer research.

The National Kids Cancer Ride participants are a team selected from a pool of applicants to be the next ambassadors for the cause. Riding in relay style, the selected national riders will each ride approximately 165 km per day joined along the way by thousands of other caring cyclists who will cycle shorter, “stage ride” distances in major cities across Canada. Participants will stop each night in a different city to speak to those affected by childhood cancer, and the 17 day event will act as a launching ground for numerous events across the country.

Each participant is asked to raise $25,000 in pledges in addition to a $4,000 registration fee to cover the logistical cost of putting on an event like this; the registration fee is designed so that 100% of donations can go directly to charities. The Sears National Kids Cancer ride has a $1.5 million fundraising goal for 2010.

The ride’s website has blogs for all the participants, logging their preparation and travel for the trip. Fore more information on the event and to donate or sponsor a rider, visit the website here.

PRESS RELEASE:  KERNERSVILLE, NC. – When fitness instructor, Rick Lyons was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2007, his family and friends were devastated to learn the statistics of the disease. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths and more than 42,400 individuals will be diagnosed and nearly as many will die from it this year alone.

Rick lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on March 16, 2007, only 19 days after being diagnosed. Rick’s Warriors are embarking on a mission to fight the disease that changed their lives forever.

By organizing Rick’s Ride, Rick’s Warriors aim to raise awareness and money to fund research efforts for pancreatic cancer. Rick’s Ride is an indoor and outdoor cycle event which will take place Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 8 am (outdoor) and 1 pm (indoor) at The Sportscenter Athletic Club in Kernersville, NC.

Click ‘more’ to read the rest of the press release and for website and details.

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IMBA is coming to Tsali, NC, Mar. 19-21, and you’re invited to join in the special events. Chris and Leslie Kehmeier of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew are teaming up with SORBA and the Nantahala Outdoor Center for a weekend dedicated to improving local trails and having fun.

The weekend offers participants the opportunity to learn about maintaining trail in the classroom and on the Tsali Trail. Share your experiences in mountain bike advocacy and learn about exciting mountain bike projects in the Southeast. Then, ride and enjoy the spectacular trails of western North Carolina.

Registration fees include cover admission to IMBA Trail Care Crew events, lunch and dinner on Saturday, group rides, on-site transportation and the Saturday night social.

Check out the details below and come join in the fun…

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Mike and Claudia Nix, co-owners of Liberty Bicycles in Asheville, North Carolina, received the 2010 Clay Mankin Award during the Frostbike tradeshow on February 20. QBP presents the annual honor to a bicycle retailer who makes significant contributions to advance the bicycle industry. As leaders in local, state and national advocacy organizations, the Nixes have implemented numerous initiatives including developing a comprehensive bicycle plan for Asheville; founding the North Carolina Bicycle Dealers Association (NCBDA); and helping secure federal funds for Safe Routes to School efforts in North Carolina.

“Their engagement in both bicycle advocacy and the business of helping retailers become better is impressive,” said Gary Sjoquist, QBP Advocacy director. “Their efforts are making North Carolina a safer, more enjoyable place to bike, and creating new opportunities for bike dealers across the state.”

“It is really amazing to have this recognition from a wonderful company like Quality Bicycle Products,” said Claudia Nix. “We have always admired the company and used them as our role model.”

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PRESS RELEASE: 88bikes Foundation, non-profit dedicated to providing bikes to young people in developing countries and a KEEN Hybrid.Care partner, has just completed their fourth project with the gift of 300 bikes to orphans and children rescued from human trafficking in Ghana, India, Nepal and Vietnam.

For Project4, 88bikes traveled to orphanages, ashrams, centers and schools sheltering children rescued from human trafficking, delivering bikes at 12 locations in Ghana, India, Nepal and Vietnam. Overall, 300 children were given basic, one-speed, steel-framed bikes that are common to the region and were purchased from local vendors.

In the following months, 88bikes will be sending volunteers to most of the sites to instruct the kids in bike repair and safety and to conduct workshops in other areas as well, such as organic farming. These volunteers will make sure the bikes are being kept up and will test the feasibility of bike shops at several sites. 88bikes will also be monitoring how the bikes affect the kids three, six and twelve months after an endowment, especially in terms of their overall happiness, which the organization believes is an often overlooked element that may be the most important of all in humanitarian work with children.

“A bike is that magical vessel of freedom and fun, the rare tool that’s as useful as it is enjoyable. For these children–as all children–a bike provides happiness, freedom and autonomy,” said Dan Austin, founder of 88bikes. “Project4 has been a huge success, and the highlights were myriad. I was blown away when 14-year-old Rabina, an orphan in Nepal, began rhapsodizing about the power of bikes to curb global warming, improve health and even help Nepal improve its economy! We are grateful to KEEN for their continued support of our work.”

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PRESS RELEASE: Trips for Kids (TFK) recently received an unexpected donation of $7,500 and bicycle products from CST tire company. This is CST’s first monetary donation to TFK after several years of donating bike tires to TFK’s local chapters.

“We are so grateful that CST approached us with this amazing, unexpected gift, especially since spontaneous donations of this size are so rare,” said Marilyn Price, TFK founder and director. “We are proud of this new partnership and to add the CST logo to the Trips for Kids pro bono ads generously donated by various bike publications.”

TFK will use this funding in 2010 to continue supporting its chapters’ mountain biking rides that take disadvantaged youth outside of their urban environments to participate in fun and healthy recreational activity.

Phil Gaimon, a professional cyclists with the Kenda Pro Cycling p/b Geargrinder cycling team, is tired of being treated poorly by motorists while out riding, and now he is doing something about it.

Gaimon produces and sells the “Share the Damn Road” cycling jersey, which has the message printed on the back with “Thanks!” printed in mirror image on the front for motorists to see in their mirrors. He says the idea came to him after several interactions with drivers showed him the need to spread the message that cyclists were equally entitled to use the road.

His website offers a whole line of jerseys with “friendly” reminders for drivers in a variety of colors, which are all available for $59.95. For another $10, you can have a slogan of your own put on a jersey. The jerseys can be purchased here. Check out the other slogans after the jump.

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Don’t worry, we’ll post more happy, pretty, shiny things from NAHBS in a sec, but here are two rather lame things going on in our favorite industry at the moment.

First, Trek Bicycles sued Trek Winery for trademark infringement.  The suit was filed in the bicycle manufacturer’s home state, and a judge threw it out for jurisdictional reasons, which means Trek Bikes will have to pursue it in California, home of the wine brand.  The contention is that Trek Travel’s most popular trip is a wine touring bicycle trip, and they claim confusion could be likely.  To which Trek Winery’s lawyer, Will Pecau of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, acidly ripostes, “Bikes aren’t wines. Anyone who can’t tell the difference between the two doesn’t need to be buying either one.”  Read the full story here.  (In all honesty, the winery’s logo font is strikingly similar to the bike brand’s)

Second, Bike Intelligencer sent us a link to a customer’s video showing what they claim to be a design flaw in the Thule T2 hitchmount bike rack.  Rather than type a big explanation, we’ll just show you the vid:

UPDATED! My buddy Karl, who just happens to handle PR and marketing for Thule saw this post and his reply is after the break…
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David Daggett, a partner at local law firm Lewis and Daggett and Ironman triathlete, sent over links to their YouTube channel with an abundance of (very) short topical videos pertaining to cycling, the law and insurance.  Here’s a link to see all videos…worth a skim through if for nothing else than to get the ol’ mental gears spinnin’ in the event something bad happens.  It never hurts to have some idea of what to do or how to insure and protect your bikes (hint: homeowners’ insurance should cover it, and uninsured/underinsured coverage on your auto policy should help with medical bills in a hit and run).