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Next up: Quick Q&A with custom frame builder; Independent...

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:54:00 -0500

Next up: Quick Q&A with custom frame builder; Independent Fabrication

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Interstingly, today’s...

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:30:00 -0500

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Interstingly, today’s date is 11/11/11. Yesterday, while at Strictly Bicycles Bike Shop in Fort Lee, New Jersey I met Justin Gottlieb, VP of Sales at an enterprising start-up company that makes the latest person-powered vehicle called WingFlyer. While watching shop employees ride the WingFlyer in the parking lot, I became intrigued. Nelson, the shop owner and Justin encouraged me to give it a try. When I hopped on it immediately felt intuitive and easy to control. It needed no explanation to operate. Its winged look reminded me of a dragonfly. Its function was more like a Stairmaster on wheels steered by a handlebar and the rider leaning in the direction of the turn, much like a bike. Each downward push with my feet propelled me forward; when I pumped faster I went faster. Stopping power was provided by a disc brake, which was effective and very smooth. The inflated wheels made for a comfy and enjoyable ride. There was something addicting about the repetitive stepping motion needed to propel the WingFlyer. If you’ve ever ridden a Trikke carving vehicle, you’d know what I mean.

The verdict: Two thumbs up! This cute little vehicle is not only fun, but can actually be useful for practical transportation. Families will ‘fly together’ on pathways, kids will do tricks and get airborne at skate parks and commuters will zip to work on the WingFlyer. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone dared to ride across the country on one of these. Lastly, I like how the handlebar folds down to make the unit compact and easy to transport.

The founders and employees of this company are betting big on this product. You can learn more about WingFlyer here: http://www.mywingflyer.com/

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with...

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:14:00 -0500

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Christophe Jammet, Staten Island Cyclocross Race Promoter

The Staten Island Cyclocross race (SICX 2011) in New York City, which is also the New York State Cyclocross Championships for 2011, is run by race promoter Christophe Jammet. With the increasingly popular race just around the corner, we had some last minute questions for Christophe about the race and he was kind enough to address them. Here’s our Quick Q&A with Christophe.

DailyBicycle: With less than a week to go before your race what are the top 3 challenges you’re experiencing now with executing on that race?

Christophe Jammet:

1) Making sure all the logistics are squared away

2) Ensuring that the parks department and USAC have everything they need

3) Selling out higher categories (there’s overlap with a mac and USGP race this weekend)

DailyBicycle: So you’ve partnered with NYC Velo, a Manhattan bike shop, to provide ‘cross bikes to those who don’t already have one but want to try ‘cross racing. It seems like a low-risk way for a budding ‘cross racer to try the sport. Any plans on getting other shops involved?

Christophe Jammet: No plans at the moment- NYC Velo has been supporting SICX (along with Kona) since it started 4 years ago. It’s something they take pride in, and we’re proud and happy to have them on board.

DailyBicycle: During the late summer and early fall you help organize a ‘cross practice session on Randall’s Island. Having participated in a few of those sessions, I find it a pretty cool and relaxed scene for newbies and experienced racers to learn and hone ‘cross skills. Sprouting from it is a morning practice session in Inwood Hill Park, organized by a local, Chris Clary. Have you found these sessions helpful in funneling new racers to the ‘cross scene?

Christophe Jammet: Absolutely. CX practices are what get people to try it out in the first place, especially roadies. To be honest, those practices are the heart and soul of the CX scene. It’s a breeding ground for enthusiasm in the sport on an amateur level, and it really exhibits how relaxed and fun the scene is.

DailyBicycle: On getting to the Staten Island race, what’s the preferred way for local racers to get there?

Christophe Jammet: Drive and take the Verrazano.

DailyBicycle: Your single speed race is called the “Singlespeed Intergalactic Championship”… sounds impressive. It makes the World Championships sound like a local race. In fact, I signed-up for your race as my 2nd race of the day just so I can tell my friends, “I raced the Singlespeed Intergalactic Championship race”! How’d you come up with that name?

Christophe Jammet: We did that because USA cycling wouldn’t let us call it a world championship, so we had to come up with something beyond their jurisdiction. Also, you’ll note that the Tandem race is the “Werld Shampionship” - not a typo, just trying to get away with calling it a world championship in a funny way!

DailyBicycle: Thanks Christophe!

If you want to know more about what it takes to organize an event like this in a logistically and politically challenging area like New York City, read this interesting ‘conversation’ between Christophe and Daniel McMahon of Bicycling.com: http://www.bicycling.com/cyclocross/you-wanna-put-cyclocross-race-reach-out-have-fun.

Click here for the race website: http://statencx.com/

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Chris...

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:18:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Chris Sugai, co-founder of Niner Bikes

In 2004, Chris Sugai and Steve Domahidy co-founded Niner Bikes, a bike company dedicated soley to the 29 inch wheel format. It was a bold move at the time since no one know for sure whether or not the 29 inch mountain bike would take off. Today, this thriving little company based in Southern California has a 29er line-up that offers a wide range of bikes to suit virtually all riding styles. Here is what Chris had to say about the business.

DailyBicycle: What inspired you to initially build a business soley around the 29” format?

Chris Sugai: After riding a 29er I knew that other riders would see the benefits I
felt. It was an easy decision after that! I never really thought about building a 26 inch bike.

DailyBicycle: At any point in time during Niner Bike’s ‘early days’ did you ever think that the format was a passing fad?

Chris Sugai: It was very frustrating in the beginning and how much resistance we
got from the industry, bike shops and the press on 29’er. I would always ask if they rode one and most would say “they heard… blah blah”. Most would not even try our bike. I know one magazine editor that refused multiple offers from Niner to test our bike. I did worry in early 2006 that if the press and industry did not see the truth that it might take a long time for us to succeed.

DailyBicycle: Niner Bikes recently launched a newly designed One 9 frame. The prior version of that frame is one you see a fair amount of in single speed mountain bike races. How did you make it better?

Chris Sugai: I think the most important aspect can be explained here:
http://ninerbikes.com/hydroforming

We did do a lot of soul searching when we decided to change from Scandium to
this new material. But after riding prototypes and seeing the performance gains it was a decision that had to be made. The tapered headtube is also major improvemente that any rider will feel on their first ride.

DailyBicycle: Many bike manufacturers, including Niner Bikes, are producing bikes
with tapered headtubes and stiffer bottom brackets. Can a bike ever be too stiff in those areas?

Chris Sugai: Tapered headtubes are great. Very little weight gain but huge performance gains. The amount of steering precision you get is easy to feel when you ride a 1 1/8 after riding a tapered headtube bike.

Yes you can get too stiff. You want the bike to be able to transmit trail “feel” back to the rider but not “all” the information if you get what I mean. There is a delicate balance and it depends on what we are designing the bike for. Our steel frames are a good example. I love steel but understand I give up a little on the efficiency side for that magic zing that you get from a boutique steel tube. But for
a long ride it is faster overall since your body remains fresher. Just ask Dejay who rode from Canada to Mexico and had his pick of our stable and chose a s.i.r. 9 (single speed cuz he’s crazy!). But for a 1 hour race you will be faster on an aluminum or carbon frame.

DailyBicycle: Any thoughts about launching road and cyclocross frames?

Chris Sugai: No

DailyBicycle: Thanks Chris!

Chris Sugai: Thanks for this oportunity to speak to your reader!

Take a look at the latest products at Niner Bikes here: www.ninerbikes.com.

Teach Anyone To Ride a Bike For anyone who wants or needs to...

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:05:00 -0400

Teach Anyone To Ride a Bike

For anyone who wants or needs to teach someone to ride a bike, I just posted a suggested step-by-step method here: http://www.dailybicycle.com/howtorideabike

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Kevin...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:29:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Kevin Wolfson of Firefly Bicycles

Learn about a new high-end frame builder called Firefly Bicycles here. The upstart, established in early 2011, is founded by three former Independent Fabrications employees; Jamie Medieros, Tyler Evans and Kevin Wolfson. With a combined 30+ years designing and building handcrafted bike frames, this little start-up is one to watch. The DailyBicycle caught up with Kevin to find out what drives the small company to achieve perfection in their craft.

DailyBicycle: It’s pretty well known that you, Jamie and Tyler were integral to IF’s success as a custom frame designer and builder. Collectively, among the three of you, what are the top 3 lessons you learned at IF that you are able to apply at Firefly?

Kevin Wolfson:

1. We learned that there is no substitute for quality and precision. That quality and precision has to exist from the start of the process through the end. If something is incorrect on the build sheet, it will be incorrect when we build. If a weld isn’t just right, a bike that should be a lifetime bike won’t be. Quality control throughout the process is a crucial way to ensure that everything is correct. Reading the manual is another. For example, if we’re building a bike for a specific tire width and crankset, we need to know all of the specs of those parts to build the frame correctly.

2. Honesty and timeliness is very important too. Buying a custom bike is an exciting process, and customers understandably want to know how long it will take to make their bikes. Part of our job is to provide an accurate an honest timeline for the customer. If we can’t meet a target date, or if something is delayed, we owe it to the customer to be honest and open with them. Similarly, we owe it to the customer to be honest about what we can and can’t do. It’s easy to get excited about special requests, but promising them is no good unless we can make them happen. One of the huge benefits of the smaller scale of Firefly is that we have more time for each build, which means we can make more of those special requests happen.

3. it’s very important to make bike’s personal. When you buy a custom bike, we believe you are buying much more than just the bike. You’re buying the experience of having something made special for you. We try to foster that as much as possible by telling people about the details of frame building, showing them pictures of their bike being made, inviting people to our shop when possible, and always responding to calls and emails in a timely and complete manner.

DailyBicycle: There are growing choices of custom frame designers and builders for riders who appreciate hand-made frames. What makes Firefly different from the other amazing small builders out there?

Kevin Wolfson: There are obviously lots of fantastic builders out there, and every builder offers their own unique experience and product to the customer. A few things set us apart. First, our experience and talent is tough to beat. Jamie and Tyler have been building custom frames for over 13 years each. In their time at Merlin and IF, they’ve build literally tens of thousands of custom frames, and the value of that experience is indispensable. Similarly, I designed over 1000 frames at IF in my 2.5 years there, and have encountered an enormous spectrum of fit requests, design questions, and frame designs. That experience, plus a lifetime of riding and racing, gives me the skill to translate a customer’s requests into a perfect custom frame design. As a team we have a lot of collective knowledge, and we work really well together to use all that knowledge. We also differentiate ourselves with our documentation of each build. As I mentioned above, this helps build the connection between the customer and the bike, and makes owning the bike really special. One unique bit we deliver with each frame is a USB filled with pictures of the bike being made and studio pictures. We also offer a range of metal finish options that is pretty unique. The anodization, polishing, brushing, and bead blasting we do allow customers to explore a huge range of customization while giving our bikes a consistent and identifiable look. And not using paint makes the finish more durable.

DailyBicycle: That sounds like a lot of valuable experience going into Firefly frame builds. Anyone who’s been around business knows that there’s a lot that goes into keeping even a small operation thriving. Currently, who is doing what at Firefly?

Kevin Wolfson: Good question. There isn’t one of us that keep it thriving. We work as a team, talking to customers, designing, building, and documenting bikes, marketing, managing inventory, etc. Of course, each of us has specific roles, but it’s true that the combination of those roles keeps us thriving. We’ve also had a lot of help from some wonderful people in and out of the industry who have volunteered their time and energy to help us succeed. ID29 in Troy, NY, created our logo, developed our brand identity, and made our website. Numerous media contacts have helped spread the word. We’re eternally grateful to all of those people.

DailyBicycle: Why the name Firefly?

Kevin Wolfson: Jamie grew up fascinated with fireflies, taking pictures and watching them light up the night in RI where he grew up. We considered a lot of names, then one day Jamie suggested Firefly. After some thought, we decided to go with it. The connection to fireflies is less literal than it is figurative. It’s about the feeling of wonder you get on a summer night, capturing that feeling and translating it to a custom bike.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Kevin!

Take a look at their beautiful and functional works of art here: www.fireflybicycles.com

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Dave...

Tue, 31 May 2011 02:32:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Dave Thomas of SpeedDream Wheels

We interviewed master wheel designer and builder, Dave Thomas, of SpeedDream wheels to see what he’s been up to lately in the world of bicycle wheels. Read on to learn more.

DailyBicycle: What’s new at SpeedDream wheels?

Dave Thomas: The newest thing in the marketplace is the proliferation of through axles for mountain bikes. I often get a frustrated response when asking a client what the axle configuration of their bike is and they don’t honestly know. With no less than five rear and six front types of axles, it is a challenge for the manufacturers to offer compatibility with all the different bikes, unlike motorcycles where a Yamaha wheel only fits a Yamaha. For bicycles, it seems that a Yamaha wheel must somehow also fit a Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda and KTM!

DailyBicycle: With more wheel manufacturers adding carbon to their offerings, will you also do the same?

Dave Thomas: Back in the ’90s I did a lot of carbon wheels, but have avoided them for a few years due to the nipple alignment issues that result in prematurely broken spokes. I am now building with the Enve rims which have a concave fixture moulded into the spoke holes to allow for a good alignment. They also have a very high compaction of fibers due to the removable pneumatic bladder used in the manufacturing process, resulting in a very light and strong structure. Most of my clients, however, are interested in “everyday race” wheels which are light and inexpensive to repair.

DailyBicycle: When you show up at a mountain bike race these days you see a bunch of riders on 29” format bikes. Are you now building just as many 29” wheels as 26”?

Dave Thomas: So far this year I’ve seen 45% 29ers of overall mountain wheels, which is up from about 35% last year.

DailyBicycle: For the riders seeking a good ‘everyday wheel’ build, which of your builds do you recommend for a mountain bike and for a road bike?

Dave Thomas: Typically I’m building with aluminum rims from Stan’s Notubes, Velocity or Kin-Lin, which I have no problem warrantying for two years. Some of these rims are even lighter than the lightest composite clinchers. “Crash replacement” costs are about $130.00 each wheel. Virtually all the configurations I offer are appropriate for everyday use.

DailyBicycle: What other types of wheels do you build?

Dave Thomas: If I’m not totally swamped, I will tend to build whatever is available in the aftermarket- I’m always on the lookout for new designs that will better serve the needs of the diverse types of riders I encounter. Many times though, the “aftermarket” is a small manufacturer that may not have availability of parts for a while. Some unique niches may have features that are not addressed in the aftermarket and even the bike manufacturer themselves have no options. Such is the way for exotic designs.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Dave!

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Ryan...

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:31:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Ryan McFarland of Strider Sports

I had orginally written about the benefits of a balance bike versus a traditional pedal bike on this blog 4 months ago (scroll down to view that article). Since then, Ryan McFarland, the “Founder and Chief Enthusiast” of Strider Sports, manufacturer’s of the Strider PREbike, has chimed in with his take on the two types of 2 wheeled vehicles. I did a Quick Q&A with Ryan and here is what he had to say.

DailyBicycle: So let’s get right to it. What’s a Strider PREbike?

Ryan McFarland: The Strider PREbike is a no-pedal bike designed specifically for really small riders. Our goal is to educate parents about the Strider while the child is 12-18 months old so the bike can be purchased and introduced while the child is 18-24 months old. Children develop rapidly between 2 and 3 years old and their riding stills will develop just as rapidly. From 3-4 years old, the kids really start exploring the limits of riding; riding obstacles and challenging terrain, starting to use the footrests to ride while standing up, learning to shift weight while riding standing, hop both front and rear wheels while gliding, etc. By 4 years old, kids are usually starting to ride a pedal bike but will likely ride both the Strider and the pedal bike for about a year. The pedal bike is fun for the child when going a distance on a relatively smooth, level surface but little kids don’t have the strength to ride a pedal bike off-road at that young age due to the gearing and weight of the pedal bike. The Strider, however, is under their total command at this point since it is so light and simple. This allows the children a much higher ‘fun factor’ on the Strider. Let’s face it, if we had to ride our mountain bikes around in a flat parking lot, we’d get pretty bored in a short time. The passion for riding comes from the never ending fun and challenge found by riding new and varying terrain. The beautiful thing is that every moment spent on a Strider is building a skill that will eventually be used on a pedal bike or eventually a mountain bike or dirtbike.

DailyBicycle: What are the advantages of a Strider PREbike versus a pedal bike? Can’t people just remove the pedals, training wheels and adjust the saddle height on a regular bike to make it ‘act’ like a PREbike?

Ryan McFarland: An older child that hasn’t learned to ride at age 5+ can use a pedal bike that has been converted. It is by far the best way to quickly, easily, and safely learn to ride. However, for a really small rider that has an inseam of maybe 12”-13” can’t learn by doing this. The lowest saddle height on a 12” pedal bike is typically about 15”-16” off the ground. Put a toddler on that bike and their feet will be dangling in the air. This is the big misconception. The theory is correct but the actual fit makes it an impossibility. The other MAJOR consideration is the weight. The converted 12” bike is about double the weight of a Strider. Striders weigh less than 7 pounds. A 2 year old is only about 25 pounds, some even lighter. A 15 pound converted bike that is too tall will not work and could possibly backfire by intimidating or scaring the child. If you want to get a child a big headstart and really fall in love with riding, you have to give them the bike that truly fits them the best. Super lightweight, really low saddle, super simple design. This is what allows the child to feel in control. Control builds confidence. Confidence encourages exploration of the new found mobility.

DailyBicycle: What compelled you to design and build the first PREbike?

Ryan McFarland: I’ve always loved riding dirtbikes, mountain bikes and street bikes. When I had my son, I was excited to share my passion with him. When he as 2 years old, I had various ride-on toy; a tricycle, a pedal bike with training wheels, even had a Yamaha 50cc with training wheels. What I learned from witnessing his interaction with all of these items is that they were WAY too big for him and WAY too heavy for him to control. I started stripping down his pedal bike and removing every non-essential item. This led me to really consider what is most important. I came to realize that pedaling is not riding a bike. Pedaling is simply a means of propulsion. Balancing, steering, and leaning is the essence of riding. If pedaling was the definition of riding then a bicycle going down a hill would not be riding. We know this is not true. Riding is balancing, steering and leaning a two wheeled vehicle in motion. The propulsion can be gravity, pedals, throttle, striding motion, whatever is most efficient. For a 12”-14” leg of a toddler, the striding motion is actually the most natural and most efficient. Once I came to terms with this, then the ‘stripping’ of the original pedal bike really took off. Stripping the drivetrain and the upper frame tubes allowed the seat to drop and shaved major weight. When I gave this bike to my son, he took to it immediately. He finally had a properly fitting bike and it showed in the way he could ‘man-handle’ it around and ride it off-road. His abilities far surpassed my expectations. A real an eye-opener. Kids are capable of MUCH more than we give them credit for.We’ve just not given them the right tool for the job until now.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Ryan!

Here’s an interesting link that Ryan shared with us. It’s coverage of the first ever National Strider Cup… too cute! http://www.stridercup.com/

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Ellen...

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:52:00 -0500

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Ellen Jaffe of New York Cycling Club

We interviewed newly elected 2011 New York Cycling Club President, Ellen Jaffe. As club president, she’ll face both challenges and opportunities in the coming year. Read in her own words what NYCC is about and some of the challenges and opportunites she and her volunteers face in 2011.

DailyBicycle: First of all, congratulations on winning NYCC’s election for club president for 2011! I’m sure you have your work cut out for you in the year to come. For our readers who aren’t familiar with NYCC, can you explain the club’s mission?

Ellen Jaffe: Thanks Oliver. I’m privileged to be president of New York Cycle Club in 2011….our club’s 75th Birthday year! We are NYC’s largest recreational bike club.

Our commitment is to having as much fun as possible on a bicycle.

We organize weekly rides, weekend trips, training programs and special events for novice and experienced cyclists. Our all-volunteer club is also deeply involved in the community, staging our annual Escape New York Ride and along the way raising significant money for Recycle-A-Bicycle and Transportation Alternatives.

DailyBicycle: What are some of NYCC’s more popular events and when are they held?

Ellen Jaffe: Escape New York is our largest and most visible event.

The 17th Annual ENY will be on September 24, 2011….when 2000 riders will enjoy exuberant NYCC hospitality….not to mention great routes, abundant food, a fabulous festival, and amazing raffle.

Other major rides are our annual Newcomers ride in June, and All-Class ride in July plus club weekends to the Berkshires and to West Point.

DailyBicycle: As the leader of the organization, what do you see as major club challenges for 2011?

Ellen Jaffe: One major goal for 2011 will be to involve a much broader swath of members in club activities….be it rides or our numerous special events.

We’ll do everything we can to encourage broader member participation across all our offerings.

DailyBicycle: Does NYCC partner or work with other organizations?

Ellen Jaffe: Recycle-A-Bicycle is a longtime NYCC partner. Many of our club members work with RAB’s Kid’s Ride Club as volunteer ride leaders….getting disadvantaged kids onto bikes and into lives with more possibility.

DailyBicycle: The Escape New York ride sounds like a fitting event for New Yorkers! After all, who among us New Yorkers with a bike doesn’t want to escape the city once in a while? So where do the riders ‘escape’ to and how does one get to participate in this event?

Ellen Jaffe: Escape New York offers three glorious routes of 50, 66 or 100 miles…..from Manhattan across the GW Bridge and onto the most scenic roads of the West Hudson Highlands, returning in the afternoon to our festival finish in Manhattan…..with food and drink galore.

Riders sign up online in the months preceding the event.

DailyBicycle: Can you tell us a little about your partner Recycle-A-Bicycle? Sounds like they’re doing good things to promoting an expansion of young minds through cycling. What else do they do?

Ellen Jaffe: RAB in a few words……Recycle-A-Bicycle gets kids into healthier lives …..mentally, physically, emotionally, aspirationally.

DailyBicycle: How can people find out more about NYCC?

Ellen Jaffe: To find out more about NYCC…..check out our website! http://www.nycc.org/

Or come to a club meeting! The next one is January 11 and we have a blockbuster guest speaker……the inimitable Commissioner of Transportation for the City of New York, the honorable Janette Sadik-Khan! But come early. We’ll have a packed house. see our website for details.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Ellen… and best of luck as club president in 2011!

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Mike...

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 11:02:00 -0500

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Mike Silverman of the Vermont 50 Bike Race

We interviewed Mike Silverman, Race Director for the popular Vermont 50 mountain bike and trail run event that takes place in early Fall of each year. The event is so popular that he literally has to turn down hundreds of registrants each year! Learn more about the event from his own words.

DailyBicycle: Can you give us some background on the Vermont 50 race?

Mike Silverman: Laura Farrell, who started Vermont Adaptive needed a way to help fundraise. She was one of the original female ultra runners and started the Vermont 100 and then the Vermont 50.

The Vermont 50 started with only runners and then brought on board the bikes. As the bike population took over it was hard to convince runners to participate on the same trails as the bikers. So we limited the bikes and kept the runners unlimited. From Laura there were several other race directors Jim Hutchinson and Bob Gray. I became the RD about 10 years ago when there were 125 runners and 600 mt bikers. There was approximately 75% dirt roads / double track to single track. Since I have been RD we, the race committee, and with many volunteers have added more single track, a 50 mile relay run, 50k run and about 65% single track. Our running population has hit 550 and our bikes just under 800. ( I turn hundreds away each year)

DailyBicycle: How has the program helped Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports? Can you give specific examples on how individuals have benefitted from the program?

Mike Silverman: We help only through fundraising. Our net profit benefits Vermont Adaptive because we are one of there biggest fundraisers. Many non profits are struggling due to cut backs and less grant money available.

To find out who Vermont Adaptive is and about all the Programs they offer to over 400 participants please visit www.vermontadaptive.org.

DailyBicycle: The race sells out in a matter of hours. I know because I’ve missed the online registration start by only a few hours and it filled-up by the time I got around to it! Why is it so popular?

Mike Silverman: I truly believe it sells out due to several factors. We do not approach it as a race but as an event. It is a marketing tool for what Vermont has to offer. Our course has a certain rhythm of double and single track which brings you over 77 private lands that are only open for this one day at a very beautiful time of year; Fall foliage season. We really never hold back on expenses and want our higher entry fee to still feel like a value. Lots of food at the aid stations, great BBQ for post race, and live music.

I love that I have been RD long enough where I have seen couples meet in the parking lot and have gotten married. Now they bring their children. I love that we have had several marriage proposals at the finish line. And this year we had a wedding on the course, so there must be something special.

DailyBicycle: Do you plan on doing anything new for the 2011 race?

Michael Silverman: The areas of improvement I want to deal with is about food at the finish.

We are going to make a section at our post race BBQ for participants only. No race bib, no BBQ. For our spectators we will gave a variety of Vermont Vendors to serve our families and friends. I am excited to start this for many reasons. Our participants can count on there being plenty of food and our spectators will get a taste of Vermont.

From American flatbread pizza to roast pulled pork off the grill. All VT vendors. I am hoping to have a lot more vendors at our packet pick up on Saturday and make that an even more festive atmosphere.

As for the course we are probably going to have a few changes due to landowner issues. Selling of properties. Things we knew were in the works.

We’ll give even better raffle prizes, but that we will be kept as a surprise for now.

DailyBicycle: How can those who are interested in learning more about the Vermont 50 learn more about it?

Mike Silverman: People can visit our site www.vermont50.com. The site has a blog and facebook link.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Mike!

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Should you start those kids...

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 02:14:00 -0500

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Should you start those kids off on a balance bike or a regular bike? As more consumers find out about balance bikes through news articles or at bike shops, I’ve been getting more questions from parents about whether or not they should be starting their kids riding on this style of bike. The other option, typically the obvious choice, is to get a child started on a traditional pedal bike. Let’s talk about the advantages of both and in the process hopefully clear-up any confusion about the choice itself.

Before we go further, let’s define the two types of bikes we’ll be discussing here.

Pedal bike – Refers to the traditional bicycle that most people today learned to ride as kids. It generally consists of a frame, 2 wheels, handlebar, seat, brakes, cranks, pedals, chain and gears. They are propelled by a pedaling motion.

Balance bike – These bikes look like a pedal bike, however, the key differences are they don’t have cranks, pedals, chain and gears. Some have a foot rest that provides the rider a place to rest their feet as they coast. They are propelled by a walking or running motion as the rider is seated on the saddle. As the young rider becomes more comfortable on the balance bike, they often begin to ‘run’ or even coast down hills on them. The are typically for children between the ages of 2 and 5.

Based on my own research and observations, a balance bike is an excellent precursor to a pedal bike. In fact, it’s the way many people are taught to ride a bicycle these days. The popular New York City cycling organization, Bike New York, uses the ‘balance first’ method to teach people of all ages to ride a bike. This method instructs the student to learn to balance a bike first before learning to pedal it. To do so, instructors remove the bike’s pedals and training wheels (if a student’s bike has them) and adjusts the saddle height just enough so the rider can place their feet flat on the ground while seated. What the rider ends up with is something that resembles a balance bike. It’s not exactly a balance bike (as defined above) because the bike will still have its cranks, chain and gears installed. But a student will be able to sit on the bike and just walk with it underneath them, like on a balance bike.

Back to the balance bike. After a child has learned to balance him or herself on a balance bike, learning to ride a pedal bike becomes much easier. Actually, much of the learning can be done on a balance bike because as the rider learns to balance, he or she will also learn to brake and steer the bike too. All the while, the rider will develop the balance, coordination, stamina and confidence necessary to learn to pedal a bike.

There’s another way to think about balance bikes. While they are an excellent start to eventually pedaling a bike, they can also be seen as another type of self-propelled vehicle that can live side by side with any other type of ride-on vehicle. Think of them in terms of bicycles versus tricycles versus pogo sticks versus skateboards versus balance bikes. Each vehicle is different than the others and are appreciated for their own unique traits. Without the cranks, pedals and gears of a pedal bike, there is no pressure on the child to learn to pedal it. The student propels forward by walking and running while seated on the bike. These differences make the experience different than if they were on a pedal bike. Children enjoy the balance bike for what it is. I’ve seen kids on city streets, playgrounds and campsites who looked completely happy and content just getting around on their balance bikes. Some even seek out small hills just for the thrill of the speed they gain while coasting down them. More advanced riders do tricks on them… and these are kids typically under the age of 5! Kids can easily stop or slow the balance bike by placing their feet on the ground or applying brakes (some models include hand brakes).

Now let’s shift our focus to the traditional pedal bike. It’s a beautiful and higly efficient vehicle and most people desire to know how to ride one. While learning to pedal a bike can be a challenging endeavor, once learned, a child can self-propel themselves very efficiently and have a great time while doing it. Riding a bike gives them a sense of freedom and exhiliration that is unmatched by any other type of self-propelled vehicle. Yet they are versatile too. As mentioned earlier, a pedal bike can also be made to function like a balance bike by removing the pedals, training wheels and adjusting the saddle height. While doing this doesn’t turn a pedal bike into an ideal balance bike, it can transform the bike just enough to make it a viable ‘learning tool’ for balance, coordination, stamina and confidence.

This article would be incomplete without considering costs. A balance bike is typically much more expensive than a pedal bike, therefore, the economical route is to go with a pedal bike. If cost is an issue, then the decision is easier as the pedal bike is the likely candidate. However, if cost isn’t an issue, there are a couple of factors to consider. The first is what experience do you want to provide to the child? Remember, a balance bike isn’t necessarily a precursor to a pedal bike, but a vehicle that can stand on its own merits. A child can have as much fun on a balance bike as on a pedal bike. If the intent is to provide the child with the experiences inherent in balance bikes, then this type of bike makes sense. An added benefit is it’s a natural segue to eventually pedaling a bike. Another consideration is how you want your child to learn to ride a bike. If you want them to learn in a no-pressure, gradual yet fun way that builds their balance, coordination, endurance and confidence, then a balance bike again makes sense. But if you want them to learn to ride a pedal bike quickly without the balance bike as a precursor, then a pedal bike might be your choice.

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Mike...

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 17:36:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Mike Ferentino of Santa Cruz Bicycles / Swobo

Have you ever heard of Swobo? The urban bike/clothing brand has actually been around since the early 1990’s and has been brought back to life in recent years with a strong line of clothing and city bikes. It’s an interesting company and I wanted to learn more about it. Mike Ferentino of Swobo was gracious enough to do a Quick Q&A with the DailyBicycle, getting at the heart of what Swobo means, from his insider’s perspective.

DailyBicycle: First of all, for readers who aren’t familiar with the rather hip and growing Swobo brand, give us your elevator pitch on Swobo. What defines the brand?

Mike Ferentino: Probably the easiest way to define Swobo would be “bikes, wool, ethically sound and environmentally conscious thinking, and a sense of humor.” Basically, we make clothes out of merino wool or wool blends from New Zealand, as well as clothes out of organic cotton, have much of it stitched up right here in the SF bay area, and we have a line of bikes aimed squarely at the “sensible urban transportation” target.

DailyBicycle: Living in New York City, I see more and more people commuting to work by bike. The city’s cycling infrastructure continually improves and that’s part of the reason for the boom. On a national scale, are you seeing growth in the city/commuter bike segment?

Mike Ferentino: Yes, but it’s probably premature to say that the velorution is just around the corner. There are hot spot communities, for sure, where bikes have taken hold, and the idea of bike transportation has been embraced and incorporated into a broader cultural context. But much of the country is still auto-dominated and auto-dependent, and it’s gonna be a while before we start seeing big change across the whole country. If we ever do. Of course, spike gas prices up a few bucks a gallon while wages stay where they are and job markets don’t grow, and who knows? We might even see bikes taking over the rust belt cities and the entire population of Atlanta in that case…

DailyBicycle: What did Swobo announce at the recently held Interbike show?

Mike Ferentino: Announce? We plied people with liquor, gave away belt buckles, and had a few really good derbies in the booth. Oh, and we showed off some new clothes, and quietly introduced a couple new bikes which should be starting to show up for sale right about now on our website. But we didn’t really announce anything in a formal sense. That seems kind of a “power tie” thing to do. We don’t have power ties.

DailyBicycle: Wool has made a come back over the past few years… it seems what was old school has come back to become the new cool thing. Talk to us about Swobo’s effort to promote wool.

Mike Ferentino: Wool kicks ass. It always has, with regard to how it performs as a fabric - how it insulates, how it breathes, how it wicks, how it regulates temperature. Even back in the bad old days when wool was itchy and coarse and prone to shrinking the moment you even threatened to wash it, wool could stand toe to toe with the very best synthetic “technical” fabrics and in most criteria outperform them.

Meanwhile, over the past decade or so, there has been a lot of energy quietly
invested in making it better at the textile end of things. So we have access now to
wool fabric that is incredibly fine in its weave, very lightweight, almost silky in
terms of comfort, and it can handle far more abuse in terms of care than wool was
generally acknowledged to be able to handle in the old days. It is a far more
sophisticated fabric now than it was twenty, even ten years ago. AND, it’s a
renewable resource. Sheep keep on growing new crops right on their very backs. There was a company down in New Zealand that made wool bike clothes a few years ago, and their motto was - “Made from sunshine and grass.”

That’s an ethic that comes across almost as a tossaway one liner, but it bears some really deep consideration. Wool is a renewable resource. It isn’t a plastic, it
won’t last forever in a landfill, it didn’t start out as crude oil. More and more,
as we face some pretty heavy changes that will come our way on this planet and with regard to our civilization, these are going to be choices that take on more and more weight. Being stylish is all well and good, and if wool tugs at some retro
heartstrings, fine. But on a deeper level, if and when you pause to consider the
choices you make as a consumer, wool is a sane choice.

We run Swobo with a pretty nonchalant sense of humor, because getting heavy about this - beating people with the environmental doom stick - probably turns people off more than it inspires them, but not far beneath our glib jokester skins, we really care about this shit. How we choose to act during our time on this planet, even if each of us are just one in six and a half billion or so, each of our choices, each of our actions, carries some weight. Pay attention, folks.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Mike!

Check out the goods at www.swobo.com

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Rob...

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Rob Roskopp of Santa Cruz Bicycles

Shortly after Interbike 2010, the DailyBicycle reached out to Rob Roskopp, founder of Santa Cruz Bicycles. Here’s what Rob had to say about SCB.

DailyBicycle: Fresh from this year’s Interbike, what were your general impressions of this year’s show? Any major new themes developing in the industry?

Rob Roskopp: I was only out for the Dirt Demo part, which turned out great for us. We brought 80 demo bikes out and were slammed both days. I only walked the show on the first day briefly because I had to get back for some other business, so I didn’t get a chance to see if there were any new themes. But from what my people said, basically I had seen everything months ago. So no real surprises.

DailyBicycle: 80 bikes is a lot of bikes for a Demo… for our readers who aren’t familiar with Interbike’s demo program can you briefly explain what it is and how you think it ultimately impacts their experience at the local bike shop?

Rob Roskopp: The Dirt Demo part of Interbike is for Dealers only, so it gives dealer’s a chance to come try out any of the new bikes we’re introducing. We only bring that many bikes to Interbike. Our actual Demo Tour takes about 30 bikes around the country to our various dealers and offers the public a try before they buy. This was our first year and it was a huge hit on every stop the Demo Tour made. On the weekend after Interbike there was a new demo event for the public called Outerbike in Moab. We took all 80 bikes straight from Interbike and got a lot of really great feedback. People appreciated us being there and our whole crew made it enjoyable for everyone that attended and the free beer didn’t hurt either!

DailyBicycle: It seems SCB has been busy launching new bikes all year long. Every time I opened a bike mag, there was another model being introduced. It’s a good thing to have so many great options. Any new bikes launched at the show?

Rob Roskopp: Yes, this has been the biggest year for SCB product launches. We’ve been wide open with R&D for the last two years. This year we introduced the new Nomad Carbon, V-10 Carbon and our new APP suspension platform. The Nickel and Butcher are our two new models using the APP system. I think the customer gets a lot of “Bang for there Buck” with these two new bikes. Basically you have the simplicity of the single pivot, coupled with the VPP shock rate which gives a great ride at a really competitive price. And next year we’ll have a few more surprises…..so it should be another exciting year!

DailyBicycle: Sounds like a productive past couple of years for SCB. I’ve ridden the Blur and I have to say that the VPP is my all time fav full suspension platform… such a buttery smooth ride. As for new bikes, sounds like you have an APP for that! ;) Kidding aside, the APP platform sounds interesting. Can’t wait for the reviews to pour in. Among all the bikes SCB manufactures what’s your favorite ride?

Rob Roskopp: I’m in a lucky position……I get to ride a lot of different bikes. My current rides are a Tallboy and a Nomad carbon. I spend most of my time on the Tallboy, mostly because that’s my XC bike and that is the type of riding I do 90% of the time. I spent last weekend up in NorthStar Tahoe riding the new V-10 carbon. We had a demo up there and Steve Peat, Greg Minnaar and Cedric Gracia came out for that and did some BikeSkills clinics. It was a great weekend of riding, especially since I don’t get to do much DH. We spent the last 2 years tweaking the V-10 and I was amazed at how much it has improved over the last generation. It’s a very intuitive ride… loves to be ridden hard.

DailyBicycle: Mountain bikes aren’t exactly an impulse purchase. And when people decide to buy, there are many choices. With all the talk about a slow economic recovery, how’s SCB faring in terms of bike sales?

Rob Roskopp: At the end of 2008 we got hit hard like everyone else. It was a hard time for all of us and we had to make some hard decisions and choices. But, we got through it and 09 ended up being a solid year for us. 2010 is shaping up nicely and it seems a good number of bike brands are doing well.

DailyBicycle: Among the cross country, trail, all mountain and downhill bikes, which segment do you see growing significantly the next couple of years? Do you see any new styles of riding out there that could spawn a new type of mountain bike?

Rob Roskopp: I think the trail bike market is the biggest segment currently and has the most potential for growth. The Mega Avalanche races in Europe are continuing to grow and grow…..so I see that racing style could become the most dominant in time. XC racing will always be where it’s at today because it’s not a spectator sport, it’s a participant sport. DH is growing again and in my opinion is the most fascinating to watch, especially with the competition being so close. The last two years have been very exciting to watch.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Rob!

Click here to check out Santa Cruz Bicycles Interbike 2010 Virtual Tradeshow booth as provided by the amazing folks at mtbr.com: http://bit.ly/dnBLXW

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Jenny...

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 09:56:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Jenny Kallista of the Appalachian Bicycle Institute

Ever hear of bicycle mechanics training schools like United Bicycle Institute and Barnett Bicycle Institute? Bike shop mechanics and cycling enthusiasts can enroll in these schools, located in Oregon and Colorado, respectively, to learn just about all things relating to bicycles and the business of bikes.

While the above mentioned institutions have been around a while and have a good reputation among those in the cycling industry, those of you looking to get trained on bike mechanics now have another option. An enterprising bike shop mechanic by the name of Jenny Kallista has founded the Appalachian Bicycle Institute (ABI), located in the scenic and ride-rich Asheville, NC.

DailyBicycle caught up with Jenny for a Quick Q&A. Here’s what she has to say about her new venture…

DailyBicycle: Tell us a little about your history with bicycles.

Jenny Kallista: I had a dream one morning when I was four, that I was ripping around on my sister’s new Schwinn, and I woke up with a most incredible feeling! I jumped out of bed, ran to my parents and exclaimed that because of this dream, I knew I could ride a bike! Despite the fact that I had not yet ridden a two-wheeler (I loved my tricycle!), I was sure that I could, because my dream was so vivid and felt so real. After breakfast, I went out to my sister’s bike, and began my attempts (contrary to the certainty I had, I could not ride!). By the end of that week (or maybe the next, I don’t remember that well), however, I was indeed riding around. That began my life-long love of bicycles. I always liked tinkering as a kid, and learned to fix a flat from my dad very early (8 years old). I got my first really nice bike-shop bike when I was 13. I rode that bike into college! After that came one after another of new steeds, each one leaps and bounds beyond the last. I started to learn mechanics at 19, and took on some bike-shop jobs in college. After a rather long hiatus (during which I learned and practiced the art of furnace-glass blowing, as well as steel welding/sculpture), I returned to bicycle mechanics in 2003 and have stayed with it ever since.

DailyBicycle: What compelled you to start ABI?

Jenny Kallista: At the bike shop I worked at for 6 1/2 years here in Asheville (Liberty Bicycles), I taught maintenance classes. Every class I taught was a lot of fun, and I started to realize I had a real talent for teaching (from what people told me!). I also enjoyed the experience of demystifying bikes for people… seeing people have those AHA! moments was so satisfying! So then the little synapses in my brain started to rub together, and I had an idea… It probably helped that my best friend was the head instructor at Barnett Bicycle Institute for 14 years, to spark some of those synapses….

DailyBicycle: What classes do you currently offer?

Jenny Kallista: Right now there is a wheel building class coming up, which I expect to be a popular class. Otherwise, there will be basic maintenance classes this fall, with more classes to come in the spring. One of the main classes will be the essential overhaul class, a two-day tear-down and rebuild. Other classes will include hydraulic brake systems, suspension, drivetrain systems, and many, many others. The school will be enjoying a “soft start”, as I work out bugs and firm up curricula. This is a very unique venture!

DailyBicycle: For those of us who aren’t familiar with the Asheville, NC area, tell us a little something about the riding there.

Jenny Kallista: Well, where do I begin? Our area is so fortunate in the wealth of riding venues. If one is a mountain biker, this is heaven. Pisgah National Forest has more trails than you can shake a fist at… you could go out every day for weeks and not hit the same trail twice! From the smooth, buffed singletrack to the gnarliest technical climbs and descents, we have it all out there. Then there’s DuPont State Forest, where the waterfalls, stream crossings, slickrock, and soft forest trails are some of my absolute favorite places to ride. Head a little eastward and we have Black Mountain, home to legendary Heartbreak trail and Kitsuma. Super fun. Go west and you get to Panthertown, a little-travelled but incredible trail system that’s got a little bit of everything in between huge gneiss formations. And right in town, our well-worn trails at Bent Creek Experimental Forest are just minutes away, and have so many fun routes to choose from, you’ll think you’re in bigger woods.
Road riders? Think beautiful, scenic roads through pastoral areas with mountain climbs wherever you want them. Blue Ridge Parkway lovers will find scenic overlooks and satisfying ascents to either Mount Mitchell, highest point east of the rockies, or Mt. Pisgah, a lovely mountain top with overlooks and an Inn to refuel at. We have tons of options, with very challenging riding as well as riverside flats. A mecca for anyone with a bike!

DailyBicycle: The riding there, for roadies and mtb’ers sounds varied and epic! How does anyone interested in your classes get more information?

Jenny Kallista: Visit my website, appalachianbicycleinstitute.com ! I have contact info listed there, I am easy to reach.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Jenny!

Here are links to the bike mechanic schools mentioned in this Quick Q&A:

Jenny Kallista’s Appalachian Bicycle Institute - http://appalachianbicycleinstitute.com/

Barnett Bicycle Institute - http://www.bbinstitute.com/United Bicycle Institute - http://www.bikeschool.com/

United Bicycle Institute - http://www.bikeschool.com/

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Has anyone out there ever...

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 22:23:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Has anyone out there ever had to teach a kid (or anyone of any age for that matter) to learn to ride a bike? I find it’s alot of fun teaching others, especially older adults who think it’s too late for them to learn to ride. When they realize they’re actually riding, the excitement you see in their faces makes it all worth while! Just in case you’re wondering how to teach someone to ride or have been handed that task, here’s a link to step-by-step instructions. Yeah, my eBook is being sold there, but you don’t have to buy it to learn the techniques. I give you the steps right on that page! ;)

http://myfirstbicycle.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=6&chapter=3

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell I was catching up on some...

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 20:08:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

I was catching up on some Yahoo emails and happened to see the August issue of the Niner Bikes newsletter. Although I had read it previously, I read it again simply because I’m always so impressed by their content. I think the folks at Niner Bikes do a great job at combining product updates with noteworthy stories about the cycling community, racing, Niner dealers and events. Among the dozens of e-newsletters I subscribe to, this is the one I look forward to getting in my inbox every month… great job Niner Bikes! If you’re interested in Niner Bikes or are a marketer needing to know how to make your newsletter more engaging, you can sign up for their newsletter via a link from the top left of their home page. The newsletter is worth a look.

http://www.ninerbikes.com/

That photo is pre teeth tooth getting knocked out. But it's getting fixed. Waiting for insurance to approve a crown. But yeah I like my teeth...

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:09:48 -0400

Teeth are good and even better you like the teeth you have. May you have a speedy insurance claim…

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Look for more fresh content...

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:44:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Look for more fresh content coming from the dailybicycle soon! I broke my ankle and shoulder on a mountain bike ride in Vermont during labor day weekend so as I recover, I’ll have plenty of time to interview folks for my “Quick Q&A’s”, actively start marketing my book “Peter Learns to Ride His Bicycle” and even build a new bike. All this while catching up on some college and Pro football! ;) It’s amazing how much time you free-up when not training and travelling for bike races… not complainin’. just sayin’.

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell My ebook “Peter...

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 08:14:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

My ebook “Peter Learns to Ride a Bicycle” has launched! It’s a short story with illustrations + learning guide about a kid who’s parents teach him to ride a bicycle using a proven method that’s very fast and effective. It’s a kids’ story book, but the included quick study guide makes it a book for adults who want to learn or teach others to ride a bike.

While it’s available on Smashwords today, soon it will be available on sites like amazon.com, borders.com, barnesandnoble.com, the apple bookstore, Sony’s ebookstore and few other smaller online book etailers. The physical book will be available by summertime of this year.

If you know of a parent or budding cyclist who wants to learn to ride or teach others to ride, feel free to share the link below to them.

More on what compelled me to write this book coming soon… I just wanted you to know the book is out there. Here is where it can be downloaded in all the major e-book formats: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/11124.

DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Dan...

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:25:00 -0400

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Dan Chabanov, NYC bike messenger, on what it takes to be a big city bike messenger.

DailyBicycle: How did you end up being a bike messenger? And why in NYC?

Dan Chabanov: I was going to school here and I was riding a bike for transportation. I made friends with several couriers who were going to school part time and during my free time I would ride around with them while they made deliveries. Eventually I made it out to some of the courier races (also known as Allycats). I started doing it part time while going to school and went full time after I dropped out for totally unrelated reasons. Why NYC? It’s just where I happened to be.

DailyBicycle: What does it take to be become a bike messenger? Can anyone do it?

Dan Chabanov: It doesn’t take much. The average messenger in NYC is probably in their late thirties, rides a beat to shit mountain bike, and has lots of bills to pay. It’s a job that anyone can do. That’s really the appeal I guess. Many people just pick it up for a few months while they are waiting on something else to work out. For Some that’s long enough and others end up doing it for years.

DailyBicycle: How do you stay safe riding in and around traffic all day? Seems like you need eyes on the back of your head or some sort of sixth sense to survive this work day in and day out!

Dan Chabanov: Experience, experience, experience. Knowing how the traffic patterns work in the city, being able to predict what drivers are trying to do. Calculating risk. It all plays in to staying safe. I wouldn’t call it a sixth sense, it’s really just a matter of knowing your limits and being able to judge the speed of things around you and predict what they are going to do. Things move in very predictable patterns in this city and once you know these patterns you can predict the flow of traffic and pedestrians very accurately 90% of the time. For the other 10% percent quick reflexes and grippy tires help. It also helps if you avoid dumb situations. Never riding between a car and the curb is a good idea since the chances of getting doored there are very high. Things like that. Constantly avoiding high risk situations. Of course it takes experience to know what those are. Like any dangerous job common sense and being able to keep your ego in check will keep your safer then anything else.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Dan!