urban photogallery
Inspiration on page 38

74$#0 VELO
BicycleBicycle Culture
Culture onon thethe Skids
Skids

Issue #3 • September 2007

ABOUT

YES

BIKE

START YOUR OWN
see58
NON-PROFIT page

THE TRUTH

TRACK

YOU CAN

GEOMETRY

TOOL-FREE TIRE REMOVAL... See how on page 68 • Download this issue for free online URBAN VELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Issue #3 September 2007

74$#0 VELO
Urban Velo PO Box 9040 Pittsburgh, PA 15224“Employee Parking.” Photo by Tread, www.gotreadgo.com

Brad Quartuccio

Jeff Guerrero

Editorbrad@urbanvelo.org

Publisher
jeff@urbanvelo.org

Co-conspirators: Tread, Joshua Siebert, Damarak the Destroyer, Chris Thomas, Dat Nguyen, Mike Pfaltzgraff, Mona Abouissa,
Ted King-Smith, Erok Boerer, Ezra Caldwell, Seth Werkheiser, Julian Birch, Dan Barham, Leonard Basobas, Dave Gingrich, Chipps Chippendale,
Ian Adams, Don Walker, Kelly McCord, Johnny Cumlately, David Hoffman, Andy White, Joe McManus, Kurt Morrison and Andy Singer
Printed by Copies@Carson, Pittsburgh, PA - www.copiesatcarson.com

URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

3Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Contents

4

URBANVELO.ORG

ON THE COVER: Photo montage by Jeff Guerrero

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

6

Editor’s Statement
Brad Quartuccio

8

Publisher’s Statement
Jeff Guerrero

10

I Love Riding in the City
Readers share their tales of urban cycling.

28

24 Hours of Bike!Bike!
Ted King-Smith

A participant’s report from the conference.

30

Click, Click, Clique
Seth Werkheiser

Manhattan’s Ezra Caldwell shares his love of
bicycling and photography.

34

Into the Arena
Julian Birch

Can our mate talk himself into the gladiatorial arena that is London’s city streets?

38

Gallery
Reader-submitted photography.

44

The Truth About Track Bike
Geometry
Don Walker

An opinionated framebuilder spouts off.

50

The Organic Urban Cyclist
Kelly McCord

There are many types of riders in the city,which one are you?

52

Don’t Kiss an Elephant on
the Lips TodayJohnny Cumlately

The highs and lows of boozin’ and cruisin’.

58

Starting a Local Advocacy
Organization Part IIDavid Hoffman

What it means to operate as a non-profit.

62

Love Affairs
Andy White

Like the love of a good woman, cycling is
impossible for the author to leave behind.

64

Technical Gubbins
Brad Quartuccio, Joe McManus& Kurt Morrison

How to tension a singlespeed chain, whybells are cool, a cheap theft deterrent andtool-free tire removal made easy.

70

No Exit
Andy Singer

CONTENTS: Music and merrymaking in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by Joshua Siebert

URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

5Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Editor ’s Statement
By Brad Quartuccio

I

ssue #3 has pulled together, and with it a hare-brained project involving thepictured three-speed hub stamped more than a decade prior to my birth.
What goes around comes around, or something like that.
We hope it is clear that advocacy is close to our heart. More bicycle transportation solutions mean more cyclists, and more friends. Luckily for the bicycle
community at large, our ace advocacy contributor David Hoffman was run off theroad during his commute a few years back. Not so lucky for him, but we all gained
a fired up and dedicated soul that is speeding up the slow march of progress. With
our numbers growing by the day, we are a group worth pandering to. In Part 2 of“Starting a Local Advocacy Organization” we hope to shed some light on the rulesof non-profit engagement. Between this and the track bike geometry lesson, one
could think we’re sporting pocket protectors these days. Maybe so, but we canspice it up after hours—just read our fictionalized tale “Don’t Kiss an Elephant on
the Lips Today.”But back to the three-speed. Ultimate commuter or ultimate headache? Quite
possibly both.
We want your words. Send your editorial contributions to brad@urbanvelo.org

6

URBANVELO.ORG

Photo by Brad Quartuccio

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Publisher’s Statement
By Jeff Guerrero

Nothing knocks a wheel out of true like a 2000 pound death machine. Remember, it never hurts to wear your helmet. Photo by Jeff Guerrero

Rolling effortlessly
Pedals push against my feet
Death rides on my left.

Urban Velo issue #3, September 2007. First edition print run: 1000 copies. Issue #2 online readership: 20,000+

8URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

GOOD
vs.

EVIL
It’s no secret the forces of light and dark conspire against the citizens ofEarth. While you may never actually choose sides, most of us unwittingly
have. You know what? That’s ok.
Wald offers products matching your path.

The Wald 3114 Bicycle Basket
Available in puritanical white and impudent black at your local shop.
www.waldsports.com

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I L ve Ridingin theCity

We’re looking for participants from around the world!
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
Why do you love riding in the city?
Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city... Poetry anyone?
Send words & photos to Urban Velo, PO Box 9040, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 or email jeff@urbanvelo.org

10 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Illustration by Damarak the Destroyer - www.damarakthedestroyer.com

URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

11Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I L ve Riding in the City

Photo by Jeff Guerrero

NAME: Chris Moore
LOCATION: Anywhere I can work, and the slow places twice.
OCCUPATION: Talk show hostOn riding in the city: The older I get the more I dislike
riding from my home because I live on top of a hill. Leaving isgreat fun but after a long ride it is a bear to get back up thathill. The only problem with riding in Western Pennsylvania is
the narrow roads without much shoulder for a bike. Automobile drivers don’t respect you as another vehicle and that is aproblem. There are still a lot of great rides though, and beautiful scenery.
Favorite or most exotic city to ride: Exotic doesn’t
count in my riding locations unless you count St. Louis. My

12 URBANVELO.ORG

favorite place to ride is to the Jersey shore. Nice wide roads,
and in some places enough shoulder room to stay out of
traffic, ride two abreast, and have a decent conversation.
Why I love riding in the city: Pittsburgh is one of the
few places that you can take your life into your own hands
and get a workout too by simply riding in the streets, dodging
potholes and angry motorists. It is great sport!
I don’t like bike snobs who ride very expensive bikes andrefuse to speak to you when they see you because you don’t
have the kind of gear they have.
Check out www.wqed.org

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I L ve Riding in the City

Photo by Chris Thomas - www.flickr.com/photos/professorchrisgo

NAME: Jessica “Tiny” Rieck
LOCATION: Kansas City, MO
OCCUPATION: Student
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in Kansas City, MO. Riding here was difficult in thepast years, but nowadays people seem to be more accepting ofcyclists on the road.
What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
Hmm, it’d have to be right outside of Corvalis, OR. In anhour ride we saw city, farm, mountain, valley and had our fairshare of logging trucks to keep us awake.
Why do you love riding in the city?
The excitement. There’s always something to look at,
especially downtown. Actually, one of the main reasons I rideis to take pictures of what I see on the way. Not to mention
the new-found alleycat community, you guys are like a second(cooler) family.
Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city...
Poetry anyone?
Well, I’m no poet, but there’s a zen-like quality to riding ina city. I wouldn’t leave it for the world. And there is no greater
joy than riding the streets with a camera strapped to yourback.

Check out flickr.com/photos/newporter

14 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I L ve Riding in the City
there aren’t many people who use the bicycle in the city to go
to work etc. But in the last 2 years there are more and more
people who use a bike. Moreover there are no bicycle-roads. I
use my bike every day to go to work. I ride 10 km a day. After
work or on weekends I also go for cycling with my friends.
When I am on my bicycle I meet different reactions from thepeople: There are some who laugh at you and think cycling isonly for kids; there are others who just don’t pay attention to
you with their cars or motorbikes (or the busses) who overtake you passing really close to you blowing their stinky gas
fumes in your face; there are others who shout at you as you
drive by “You are cool! Keep riding!”; there are others whom
you just annoy with your (slow - for them!) speed and they
just wanna overtake you. In general you have to be very carefulwhen riding in Athens!!!! You can’t cycle and relax. But I still
prefer it from having to use busses, cars etc.! I love it!
What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
Munich, Germany. I lived there one year. Although I didnt
like so much the city, it was perfect for cycling (as Germany ingeneral): flat roads, bicycle roads, and many parks where you
can go with your bicycle, drive around and then lie on the gras
and enjoy!
Why do you love riding in the city?
Cause I am fast (faster than any buss or tram etc), I am free
to leave from where I am whenever I want without depending
on bus schedules or paying expensive taxis. I love it when thecars are (constantly in this city) stuck and I pass them by witha smile on my face! Haha. I am indeed faster than any fuckin
BMW in that case! I love it when the sun shines on my face andthe air blows into my face (even with gas fumes sometimes)!
Cycling is also a way to contribute to the protection of theenvironment and stand-up against the mainstream “car-culture”.
And after all it is also good exercise for your body!
NAME: Evridiki
LOCATION: Athens, Greece
OCCUPATION: Translator, editor
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in the capital of Greece, Athens. If anyone has evervisited this town, he may know that the traffic is extremely
chaotic. Most roads are narrow, drivers (and especially taxidrivers) stop everywhere and all the time on the road without
paying attention to the others. Most drivers are impatient, anddon’t pay the proper respect to the ones who are more indanger like motorcyclists or people wtih bicycles. In Athens

Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city…
Poetry anyone?
Maybe this song from the band ZEGOTA, it is called “BikeSong.” NO! Pedal away from global decay. Every pedal strikes a
blow for freedom. Every pedal strikes a blow against global decay
What will we sacrifice? What will we sacrifice for life and land?
When will we understand that we’re responsible for the environment? What will we justify? Making way for you... It’s not yourfault. Don’t know what else to do...Taking the prescribed path,you’ll have to wreck your life. It’s not our fault, we had to wreck
our lives.We wreck our lives.

16 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I L ve Riding in the City

Photo by Dat Nguyen

NAME: BenLOCATION: Portland, OR
OCCUPATION: Computer Nerd
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
Portland Oregon, mecca of USA bike culture and rideability.
It’s better here than almost anywhere else, which means (as myfriend Karl put it) that it sucks, but less than other places. The
US is fully and irrevocably embroiled in car culture since we/Standard Oil/GMC decided that cars were the ideal form oftransportation for our country. All streets, streetscapes, signs,
signals, speeds, you name it, are designed for the speedy flow of
personal auto traffic. Anything else is a tough fit.
On the other hand, Portland tries really hard, with bikelanes and signals, off-street paths, signs, and encouragement.
Plus, it never gets cold here (maybe three or for days) so you
can ride year-round.

What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
Tokyo, Japan! Bicycles were part of the normal flow there,
and many many people ride them. Most memorable was probably people riding bikes while holding umbrellas and talking oncell phones, all at the same time.
Why do you love riding in the city?
It brings home that cities are bike-sized entities, if they’rereasonably planned. It’s the easiest, fastest way to get aroundin town, and you see the most stuff on a bike.You can go fromwalking speed to super-runner easily, slow down and check out
a cool new store or garden, or haul ass down the arterial.
Check out www.ridemybike.org

18 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Salsa.Casseroll.Drops.UV

6/12/07

12:49 PM

Page 1The Casseroll is the most versatile Salsa road bike ever. Its Classico Cromoly
frameset takes wide road tires, fenders, and a rear rack.
But the recipe also includes our investment cast, partially polished, stainlesssteel, forward-entry horizontal Casseroll dropouts. Phew...that's a mouthfull!
These little beauties offer one inch of wheel adjustment forno hassle chain tensioning. How do you want your baby toroll? Singlespeed? Fixed? Or full-on gears? The choice is yours.
Build Casseroll to be your perfect commuter. Or go for a daylong
adventure down that road you've seen, but never ridden. Run itwith flat bars or drops...hmmm, maybe a mustache bar? Add arear rack and fenders. Or just throw on a 40 x 16 and call it
good. Celebrate versatility.

©2007 Salsa Cycles

Casseroll. Truly one hot dish.

1-877-MOTO-ACE • www.salsacycles.com
Distributed in North America by
Quality Bicycle Products > www.qbp.com • Spaso Sports > www.spaso.com

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I L ve Riding in the City

NAME: Kristin Butcher
LOCATION: Everywhere
OCCUPATION: Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew
Why I Love Riding in the CityOne of the hardest questions for me to answer these days is, “Where do you
live?”
I’ve realized that there is no way to accurately answer this question without asquirrelly look and 15 minutes of follow-up discussion. So, I just answer with thetruth.
“Everywhere.”
I’m professionally homeless. I’m in a new city every weekend. My husband and
I are one of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews. We travel across the country in abrightly colored Subaru with four bikes on top and our worldly possessions inside.

We teach people, everywhere, how tobuild trails. We show volunteers how togrow their cycling community. But, mostly,
we whisper in ears about how bikes cansave the world.
Besides being asked where I live, oneof the next hardest questions was posedby Jeff the other day.
“What’s riding like in your city?”
My city is every city. It’s Asheville andMinneapolis and Akron, Ohio. Riding in mycity du jour is an exercise in exploration.
It’s being the new kid in the neighborhood,armed with only a bike and a cat-load of
curiosity. Sometimes, it’s being lost andasking for directions in Chillicothe, Missouri only to hear, “Yeah, whatchyer gonna
do is turn ‘bout a mile before Ol’ Man
Johnson’s barn…” A week ago, it was getting groceries in Bozeman, Montana andlocking my bike between a Magna cruiser
and a Playschool Big Wheel. Later that day,it was racing the mountain storm back to
the hotel.
I won, by the way.
But there are times when riding in
my city is more than just a pedal powered errand or a lost excursion. The best
times are when I am not alone. Instead offollowing the whims of my instinct, I am
blindly guided by the flapping shirttail of a
new friend. Back roads and hidden paths
are revealed with every pedal stroke. The
sound of my heart pumping is accompanied by tales of old trails and stories ofderbies and the occasional reference to an
absent friend, now remembered by a rusty
white bike affixed to a guardrail. We passmoms with kids in tow, a pack of roadies
pedaling at full tilt, and a Colonel Sanders
look-a-like who whistles as he rides. We
finally arrive at a basement pub. There arebikes stacked outside.
And that’s what I love most about riding in my city. Here, in Everywhere, USA,
I’m not the only one enjoying the ride.
Check out www.imba.com/tcc

20 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I L ve Riding in the City
NAME: Anthony Robson
LOCATION: Edinburgh, Scotland
OCCUPATION: Lawyer/Editor
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in Edinburgh and for the most part riding here ispretty relaxed (though we have more than our fair share of
SUVs). The one thing you can guarantee here is a hill or seven– you’ll not go more than a mile on a perfectly flat road. Oh,
and the potholes, no problem if I’m on the MTB, hell if I’m on
the fixed or road bike.
What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
Not really a city, but riding round Rarotonga (the largestof the Cook Islands) almost killed me in the heat. No matter
what city I ride in I think there’s always somewhere fun you
can find to play.

NAME: Ana Pereira
LOCATION: Oeiras, Portugal
OCCUPATION: ‘bikepreneur’ wannabe
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in Oeiras, a suburban area a couple of miles from thecountry’s capital city, Lisboa. I like cycling around here because
it’s still a small city atmosphere. It’s near the big city but there’s
lots of open space, fields, an occasional flock of sheeps roaming
through the pastures... There are no cycle paths so I just rideon the road, along with traffic. There are no parking facilities forbikes around here, either. That’s a major deterrent to cycling tomore places, the biggest one, actually... There’s no such thing asa bike culture here. But I plan on helping change that.

Why do you love riding in the city?
Could be any number of things. I hate taking buses, so
the bike keeps me out of them. I hate sitting in traffic jams, so
the bike keeps me out of the car. Above all else? I love getting
places quicker than any other transport (except maybe motorbikes) and that look of bemusement concealing a slight fear
when you tell people you ride to work in all conditions.
Check out www.citycycling.co.uk

What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
Friedrichshafen, in Germany, where Eurobike takes place.
It’s an absolutely idyllic place, the streets, the people, the beautiful paths by the lake... A must!
Why do you love riding in the city?
Because it makes me feel more like a part of it, insteadof just a passer by. I can hear the people, look at them, notice
the details of the places I ride through. I can hop off and hop
on again whenever I feel like it or need to. Riding my bike getsme where I need to go and makes me feel good, the exercise
improves my humor, and relaxes me. I don’t get traffic stresslike when I drive my car.

22 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I L ve Riding in the City

NAME: Nicewrench
LOCATION: Grrreenbay, WI
OCCUPATION: Bike Mechanic
I love riding in the city cause its a good way to get from point “A” to point “B”. It doesn’t cost much, and I don’t have to cut
down on Big Macs. It keeps me feeling good about doing my little part, and I don’t have to feel guilty about my bros getting theirlegs blown off. Here’s my poem:
Rain, sun, snow
One day fast, One day slow
Sometimes it’s shitty
Sometimes it’s pretty
But check it motherfuckers
I love ridin’ in the city.

24 URBANVELO.ORG

Illustration by Mike Pfaltzgraff – www.analogforest.com

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I L ve Riding in the City

Photo by Mona Abouissa

NAME: John Perkins
LOCATION: Cairo, Egypt
OCCUPATION: Photographer

is tired from constant evasive maneuvers, and you just want tosleep. Another of the downsides is lack of spare parts, finding a
Presta valve or the right allen key here just isn’t realistic.

Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
Cairo is one of the craziest cities to cycle in. Cars neverindicate, always honk, and frequently belch fumes that would
choke a camel. And there are a lot of them. And potholes
everywhere. Curbs are a foot high, and people meander on andoff them at random. On a day where you’re in tune with it, you
hop the curbs, glide through traffic, avoid pedestrians, trackstand at the lights, and wave at the gawping cops. Everyone
wants to check out your exotic foreign bike, and maybe seesome tricks. Here, bikes are mainly used to deliver food. To usea bike to commute or for fun is considered very eccentric. But
maybe it will catch on. On a bad day, traffic ignores the lights,
your head spins from the noise or the heat or the fumes, taxis
screech to a halt in front of you every 30 seconds, your bodyWhat’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
My favorite city to ride in is probably London. There areso many bike cultures there, messengers, commuters, roadies,
BMX/trials tricksters. And I miss the days when I could wander
into a bike shop and gape at the shiny parts.
Why do you love riding in the city?
Whether you’re going from A-B or working on a fancy
trials line, cycling in the third world isn’t just about staying fit
or enjoying yourself.You become a kind of ambassador, not thekind who rolls around in an armored Hummer, but one who’s
always stopping to chat. I’ve met a lot of people through riding
here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Check out ripserve.com/perkins

26 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Hours of

Bike!Bike!

Project has made it a priority to supply American bikes andbike materials—much of which get thrown on the scrapheap—
to those in Ghana who could use them most.
In a similar vein, “Bike Projects in Africa” showcased
Philadelphia’s The Power Exchange and Neighborhood
Bike Works joint efforts to provide bicycles, tools and skills
to people in Tanzania, a place where bicycle transportation canbe the difference between making a living or not. PresenterDavid Cicero Bevacqua utilized a split-screen video to visualize
the economic discrepancies between his home of Philadelphia,
and urban Tanzania, juxtaposing American wastefulness with
African resourcefulness. David’s presentation focused on his
attempts to share bicycle skills and materials with community
groups in Tanzania and an assessment of his successes andfailures with the project. To those of us who think they knowa good deal about the bike trade, it’s refreshing to find ways inwhich every piece of material can be utilized from deliveringsomeone to distant employment to ingenious labor-saving
devices. In reality, nothing needs to be wasted.

By Ted King-SmithThe familiar sight of Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Institute has become mutated into a giant bike rack
bedecked with road bikes, tour bikes, mountain bikes,
track bikes and tall bikes. The typically calm café has takenon the air of bus station with sleepy punks and their packs
jammed into every corner commiserating on their night ofspandex debauchery while drinking coffee and trading flyers.
I’m excited to partake of Sunday’s round of workshops now
that I have an elusive day off.
First up is a presentation by Guatemala’s MayaPedala group utilizing imported bicycles in the construction of
BiciMaquinas (pedal powered machines) to aid local farmers.
Machines such as grain mills, corn shellers, coffee depulpers,
water pumps, washing machines, tilemakers and blenders are
all fashioned from familiar bicycle components. Mad genius,
Carlos Marroquin, showed slides of his designs, as well as
demonstrated, in person, the action of his pedal-powered cornsheller which could shell and grind an ear of corn in seconds
and could be adjusted for a wide range of users. Carlos
attested to MayaPedal’s openness to visitors from the northso consider yourself invited to spend time in Guatemala with
their fantastic machines!
Next up on my hit parade was “Bike repair in the AfricanBush” with David Peckham of Village Bicycle Project.
David also used slides to demonstrate the resourcefulness ofcyclists in Ghana who could utilize any means to keep theirbicycles, a valuable commodity, on the road. Some novel repairs
include spoke nipple washers, machete-fashioned from a tincan, and brake shoes replaced with mutilated flip flops. Bicycle

28 URBANVELO.ORG

Photo by Erok Boerer

The last hurrah of the Bike!Bike! conference, a moonlit
bike ride to watch the Pleiades meteor shower, meandered off
around midnight. The ride was highlighted by anarchist history
lessons courtesy of Erok Boerer, Mister Bike Pittsburgh
himself.
Overcast skies nearly kyboshed our meteor-shower
viewing, but a courageous crew set forth for a night of pooljumping and fast riding through the north side of the city,
eventually ending up at Jo-Jo’s diner where piles of homefries and coffee were sacrificed to the newly formed Lucky 7gang (featuring members of Free Ride, LA’s Bike Kitchen,
NYC’s Time’s Up!, and more Chicago bicycle projects than
I can name). After an impromptu workshop on cycling, genderand politics, we sallied forth to our respective lodgings where
I bid my out of town guests a fond farewell at 6:00 am on
Melwood Avenue, provisional bike center of the universe.
Visit www.urbanvelo.org/bikebike for links, photos & more!

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Whether you’re a 24-hour racer ora supercommuter, we make lights,
fenders, pumps, and a wide assortment of other bicycle accessories
to help you enjoy the ride. Check‘em out: www.planetbike.com

better bicycle products
for a better world
We believe in the positive power ofthe bicycle. That’s why, by the endof 2007 we will have donated$500,000 to the grassroots
bicycle advocacy movement.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

30 URBANVELO.ORG

Self-portrait by Ezra Caldwell - www.flickr.com/photos/fastboy

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Click
Click

CliqueBy Seth Werkheiserwww.buzzgrinder.com

On the upper west side of Manhattan lives Ezra Caldwell. A wiry little guy witha stable of bikes, an inviting smile and a wrench. He’ll adjust your brakes overcoffee, then tweak your chain line and take you around the block. This is what
Ezra does.
“When I was in college I had just one bike. I used to ride road bikes.You know,
with tights on. I worked as a messenger in Philly for a while, like 12 or 13 years ago,and couldn’t really see using my Carbon Fiber road bike as a work machine, so I built
up a Raleigh Technium fixie conversion. It’s sort of been a slippery slope since then.”
Now with eight bikes of his own, plus bikes he’s building up for friends, a spareroom near the front door has become a stable for his two wheel creations. Withan Xtracycle and an assortment of fixed gear and single speeds rides it’s like a showroom enticing any friends who stop by and haven’t ridden a bike in years.

URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

31Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com“I try not to be a bike zealot,” says Ezra, looking at his feet.
“I really really try. But in my experience, anyone that has a bikethat they really like—and that’s an important part—will end
up riding it, and love doing so.”He’ll find a frame for his friend, throw together someparts and hook them up with a ride just for them.
“I think it really improves your quality of life to ride a bike.
It improves everyone else’s quality of life too when you ride abike. I guess I’m just trying to spread that around.”I met Ezra from the combination of bicycles and cameras.
He’ll post photos online (www.flickr.com/photos/fastboy) of
his new builds or latest finds. There’s a budding community ofbike nerds posting pictures of their bikes, their routes, theirlives with bicycles.
“The internet in general has madewild things possible,” says Ezra. “I’d say
most of my friends at this point arepeople I’ve met on Flickr.”
Maybe he’s half joking, though he says,“I don’t get out much. Well... to be honest
I go to bed pretty early most nights.”
Though not quite “plugged in” locally(Ezra admits, “I’m pretty shamefully unconnected to the NY cycling scene.”) the
online connection between so many whoshare a love of lugged steel, fixed gears,
and classy paint jobs runs deep.
“There’s a culture of people out therethat really get into the entire aesthetic
experience of being involved with a bike. How the thing looks,
of course, but I think a little more profound than that too.
People who really have a relationship with their bikes.”
Couple this relationship with cheaper digital cameras andyou have an explosion of bicycle photographers sharing theirbike porn for everyone.
“With the digital revolution in photography, it turns out allthese bike lovers are photographers. I’m not being snarky, by
the way. And the result is this amazing gallery of bikes and thelifestyle that surrounds them.”That lifestyle extends beyond some nice photos and hip
cycling caps, of course. Skipping the subway and riding to workcounts, too.
“I live in Harlem,” says Ezra. “Work in Tribeca. I take thewest side bike path just about the whole way down. Not muchtraffic at all, though I still get a kick out of riding in the city,
mixing it up with cars. It’s about an 18-mile round trip, but I
only work down there three or four days a week.”
As if cycling isn’t enough, Ezra’s day job burns a few calories as well.

“Yeah, I teach dance. Kind of a weird job,” smirks Ezra. “I
don’t even really like dance. I’m a pretty good teacher, though.
Modern dance.You know, the arty-farty stuff that no one reallyever goes to see. I train pros mostly. I’m the guy that people
go to when they want to get strong. It’s a hard class.”
It may be hard, but the allure of bicycles seems to havecrept into the studio.
“A lot of my regular students are riding around on bikes
that I built now. I guess that’s an up side.”His girlfriend works at the same place, but works six daysa week.
“She never takes the train,” says a proud Ezra. “A little
over a year ago, before she was my girlfriend, I put her on asingle speed Rob Roy (the IRO psychocross bike) and she looked funny as hell
starting and stopping—you know, a realrookie. A year later now, and she commutes over a hundred miles most weeks.”
So many miles, so many bikes.
Surely things break down. Over theyears, though, Ezra has kept things rollingsmoothly.
“I always took care of my own bikes
in the past. I would tinker, and makechanges. It’s really been in the last two
years, though, that my disease has entered
this new phase. The bike gang bought me areally nice two-headed Park repair stand.
My Grandmother got me a massive collection of tools. Pretty soon I had a bike shop in my house. I’ve
put something like 20 people on bikes in the last year and theyalmost all maintain their bikes in my shop. It’s like a completely
disorganized bike co-op.”
Besides putting together some nice bikes and putting
smiles on friends faces, Ezra has started building and selling
wooden fenders. What good is a sexy bike if you’re just goingto throw some cheap plastic fenders on it?
“I grew up in Vermont. Worked on construction crews as akid. I built furniture,” says Ezra.
“At some point someone mentioned wanting wood fenders on their bike, and I thought “Shit... I could make those.”
Started out just doing it ‘cause I could. Giving them away tofriends. But enough people asked about buying them that I
finally buckled and decided to put them out there. Business ispretty good.”
If it’s building bikes, getting friends on the road, or justentertaining cyclists online Ezra Caldwell is one of those standup characters within the bicycle community that will keep you
smiling.

It’s like ashowroom
enticing any
friends whostop by andhaven’t riddena bike in years.

32 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

34 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Into
the
Arena
Words & Photos by Julian BirchThere are at least a hundred reasons to commute bybike and there’s no need for me to preach to theconverted by exploring them all here. There arecommon reasons that we can all relate to but everyone
has their own personal motivation too.
I’ve been commuting from the boundaries of East London into the City itself for a couple of years now, although
I’ve been working in ‘The Smoke’ for longer than that andriding a bike for much longer still. It makes a lot of sense
to commute by bike but (and it’s embarrassing to admit)
I’d talked myself out of it for a long time. There was always
a raft of excuses but when it boiled right down to it I wasjust scared.
However, the arrival of our first child made me situp and reconsider a few things I thought I knew. It also
had the happy effect of recalibrating my fear and anxiety
settings. Besides it would’ve been irresponsible to keep
wasting £1,200 a year on the dubious pleasure of travellingby London Underground in conditions illegal for transporting livestock. Which was scarier: Mixing it up with all
those predatory black cabs, red buses and white vans with
abstract interpretations of the rules of the road or being
faced with that first meconium filled nappy staring back at
me like living black tar? There was no contest; a tonne ofred metal paled into insignificance beside a few ounces ofbaby’s first pooh.
So the clarion call was getting louder and louder.
However, jumping on the bike and riding to work seemed
far too simple. A little preparation was needed first. For
starters skinny tyres were required; part of the logic being
new kit always helps get me on my bike – no, motivational
Guru I am not. Then I had to research, choose and memorize a likely route before doing a dry run and putting all
the theory into practice.
URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

35Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

A sunny Sunday morning was chosen for the obligatory reconnaissance trip. The intended route (nicely
folded) together with a mini A to Z (emergency backup) were both stuffed in a jersey pocket before I cautiously set off for the City. Despite all the meticulous‘planning’ my clumsy route finding, bad memory andhesitation didn’t mix well with mouthy, impatient Sunday
drivers seen at uncomfortably close quarters. The
experience bore little resemblance to the freedom of
the open road or flying down dusty singletrack. Wherewas ‘The Joy of Bike’? With little time and even lessroom for dithering two-wheelers on the city streets I
wondered how I’d deal with the cut and thrust of the
Monday morning rush hour.
An insistent beep ushered in Monday morning, waking me at an ungodly hour. Clumsily I fumbled for theclock but, remembering why I’d set the alarm so early,
I pushed myself out of bed. It was my last heroic act ofthat day. I’d laid out kit and packed lunch the night before but, bleary eyed, I fumbled around for too long. My
lack of urgency meant the last thing I did was to wheel
the bike out only to find a flat tyre (a self-tapping screw
had burrowed deep into the heart of new rubber).
Instantly my spirits deflated too, intentions crumpled, I
checked my watch and capitulated disappointingly fast.
Deciding to jump into work clothes and march to thestation I shamefully locked the bike away again.
Wednesday followed Tuesday and still my timid soulprovided excuses for not riding in like having to buy
shoes, then a suit for a family wedding. I told myself
perhaps it wasn’t such a good week to start commuting by bike, maybe next week. But the eyes of this guilty
pedestrian were constantly drawn toward those brave,‘ordinary’ souls riding their bikes through the Capital’s
streets. So what was my problem? Was I really such alightweight? I’d been a (laughably) serious cyclist on andoff-road for nearly twenty years, surely I was up to it?
Cycle couriers may be a breed apart but if those other‘ordinary Joes’ could do it, day in day out, then so could
I. No more lame excuses or tired apologies to my bike.
The next day I’d be prepared, the next day I’d ride.
Thursday morning I rode; finally possessing my twosquare yards of tarmac.
Thousands of miles have rolled under my wheels
since and nowadays it feels like I kind of own thejourney. Who said, “Do something that scares you
everyday”? Well commuting frequently fits that bill yet
that’s part of the buzz; every trip presents a new setof challenges. When the day is done there are morehighs than lows and yet another tale to tell by anotherordinary cyclist.

36 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

DESIGNS
Extreme Messenger Bags
& Other Gear

The best-designed
and constructed bagsin the world

BUILT FOR ABUSE
ENGINEERED FOR RIDING

100% hand-madein Canada since 1989

866 PAC BAGS

www.pacdesigns.com

Ask about custom flap
designs & options

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Gallery

Presented
Presented by
by

IronCityBikes.com

The Pacific Northwest sees its share of rain, but that
doesn’t stop the hardcore cyclists of British Columbia
from participating in or spectating at Vancouver’s TourDe Gastown (www.tourdegastown.com).
Photo by Dan Barhamwww.danbarham.com

38 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

331 SOUTH BOUQUET STREETPITTSBURGH, PA

KHS Brentwood

Cayne Uno

This steel beast can be set up single speed or ﬁxed. Perfect forgetting through town with speed and simplicity. Exclusively built
for J&B importers, the Uno won’t be around long. What are you
waiting for?
sale
price

$450 $500

khs flight 300
Whether your looking for a quick way to and from work, orjust putting on some weekend miles, the Flight 300 is an agile
road machine at an entry level price.
sale
price

$619 $659

ICB_Urbanvelo_ad3.indd 1

On your way to class, or to the market, the Brentwood will get
you there in style and comfort. Versatile gearing and posture
will make even a novice rider feel at home on the street.

sale
price

$219 $239

Redline monocog 29’er
At home on killer single track, or your daily commute throughrush-hour, the Redline 29’er will get you over anything. Enjoy
the simple life without sacriﬁcing your ability to upgrade.
sale
price

$419 $469

8/19/07 11:15:58 AM

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Gallery

Chicago’s CoolGlobes public art exhibit, which includes more than 100
sculpted globes, aims to draw attention to the problem of global warming, and encourages enviromentally friendly practices. Check out
www.coolglobes.org for more information..
Photos by Leonard Basobas

40 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Presented
Presented by
by

IronCityBikes.com

Oscar Swan and the Pittsburgh Masters Velo Club
(www.pittsburghmastersveloclub.com) keep track racing
alive in a town without a velodrome. Swan instructs racers
in the different track events such as the Madison, Keirin,
Match Sprint and Snowball races. Here we see Nick ready torace his wooden-wheeled six-day bike.
Photo by Dave Gingrichwww.ndanger.org

URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

41Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Gallery

London’s Paddington Station connects commuters with the London
Underground, Heathrow International Airport and a host of railway
destinations. It features bicycle storage racks on platforms 8, 9, 10 and
11. Apparently, the U.K.’s legions of bicycle commuters could make use ofeven more ammenities.
Photo by Chipps Chippendalewww.singletrackworld.com

42 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Presented
Presented by
by

IronCityBikes.com

Coley was photographedwith a Mamiya 645 AFD,
Provia 100 120mm slide
film and 120mm macrolens. I'm a photgraphy
student and I love my bike.
I don't profess to know
as much about bikes as I
do about cameras, but I
wouldn't want to live without either.
Photo by Ian Adams

www.ianadamsphoto.com

URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

43Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

The Truth About

Track Bike
Geometry
By Don Walker

W

hat makes a track bike ride, handle and be a track bike?

In hindsight, I really wish that I hadn’t agreed on the subject
matter. I have a set way of doing things. I’m opinionated. Very. I
don’t always play well with others.
Now, please bear in mind that I am a former Cat. 2 track
racer from California’s “good ol’ days”. In the 1980’s, I competed
as a Junior against the likes of Knickman, Oravetz and Schommer.
I’ve ridden and constructed many steeds in my time, and haveset opinions on how track bikes should ride.

44 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Road Neutral

FramesVocabulary

Mass Start Frames
A “Mass Start” frame is one in which the frame isused for all mass start races, i.e. Points Races, Scratch
Races and even Madisons. The general handling characteristics of these types of frames is stable and smooth,with just a touch of twitchiness.

Headtube Angle
The angle of the headtube in degrees, from parallel withthe ground.

Sprint Frames
A “Sprint” frame is one in which the frame is used
for Match Sprints or Keirin racing. The general handlingcharacteristics of these types of frames is twitchy andfast.
Pursuit Frames
A “Pursuit” frame is one in which the frame is used
for timed events only on the track, usually solo oragainst one other rider. The general handling characteristics of these types of frames is a bit slower than thoseof Mass Start frames.

Front Center
The distance from the center of the bottom bracket tothe center of the front axle
Rake
The offset of the fork
Trail
The measurement on the ground between the straightline of the fork and the imaginary line dropping down fromthe front axle center. The distance between those twopoints is what affects bicycle handling.
Fork Length
Exactly what it says, measured center of axle to top ofcrown.
URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

45Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Track Neutral

While you can race pretty much all events, including
pursuits, on a mass start frame, you might not have exactly
the handling you would need in other events. The same could
be said for a sprint frame. Here’s why.
Mass start racing is usually done at more constant speeds
than match sprints or keirins. The handling of the bikedoesn’t need to be as twitchy as a sprinters bike. For example: if you are going 30 mph around the track with few accelerations, the only steering you really need is to be able tonot hit the riders around you (which would be an issue of bad
bike handling, not necessarily a bad handling bike) with the
exception of a crash. On the other hand, a match sprinterneeds a fast handling bike to maneuver his way around his opponent while at slow speeds and avoid a quick hook or elbow
from his adversary at high speeds.
Steering on bicycles is comprised by a set of variablemeasurements. Among these measurements are the following: headtube angle, fork rake and trail. The constant factors
for handling are the wheel diameter and fork length.
The headtube angle and fork rake produce the trail mea-

surement. There is no real formula for making a track bikehandle the way you want it to, yet I know where my comfort
zone is for design. Below I am going to create what I feel myideal mass start bike, which could be used in just about every
event, including sprints, keirins and even pursuits.
Let’s start off with a standard for all intents and purposes. The most common size bike ridden, at least in myexperience as a framebuilder, is a 55cm. So our theoreticalbike is comprised of a 55cm seattube and toptube with 700 x
21c tires (a standard on most racing track bikes) and standard
diameter tubing, which is 1.125” down tube and seat tube and
1” toptube.
The baseline for handling is called neutral steering. This
is where the bicycle will handle neither twitchy nor sluggish;
it will handle the most stable. This is when the end result of
the combination of rake and headtube angle yield 60mm trail.
This primarily works for road bikes with the combination of
73.2 headtube angle and 40mm of fork rake (See Illustration
Road Neutral). For track bikes it is a headtube angle of 75 degrees and 29mm of fork rake (See Illustration Track Neutral).

46 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Just Twitchy

So, what’s the difference you may ask? For starters, a slack
headtube is more inclined to absorbing road shock whereasa steeper headtube is more apt to making a rider feel every
bump.
This is one of the reasons why you see most road bikes
with slack headtubes and most track bikes with slightly
steeper headtube angles. The variables here are wheelbase
and front center. When you steepen a headtube angle andshorten the rake, you have effectively shortened the wheelbase in the front of the bike. This may affect the balance ofthe rider on the bike as well, because one of the handlingcharacteristics is how the rider’s body sits between thewheels. Balance between the wheels is almost as important as the geometry and wheelbase in the handling of thebicycle. Having too much weight for or aft of the bike will
most certainly make the bike handle either twitchy or sluggish. For example, if you take a sprint frame and attach aerobars to it and put a rider in the aero position, the bike willcertainly be all over the place because there is too muchweight forward.

Now, let’s visit the twitchiness ideology. Some twitch isactually a good thing. Why?
If you are in a bunch and someone inevitably crashes infront of you, what do you do? Natural instincts and good
handling skills will tell you to go up track (I feel for you if
you chose option “B” which is to go down track to avoid
impending carnage). You will need a bike that is just twitchy
enough to pull this off without becoming too unstable andgoing down yourself. Now, what I have found works forsteering in this situation, and is applied to our 55cm model,
is a 74.5 headtube angle and 35mm of rake. This works out
to be 57mm of trail, just shy of neutral steering. While it
isn’t the prescribed 60mm of trail, it’s just that little bit of
twitchiness that is needed for such escapes (see the “JustTwitchy” illustration).
Using the sample above, we have made the wheelbase
just 11mm longer than in the track neutral example, which
actually adds to the stability of the bike. It may not seem
like much, but all things considered the co-relation between
steering geometry and wheelbase, at least to me, makes the
URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

47Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

75 Parallel
most difference in the handling of the bike. Now, I feel thatthe increased wheelbase in this frame doesn’t affect the bikein a negative way, but enhances the comfort in a long event,or even a road ride.
Lately I’ve noticed the trend for some framebuilders toutilize the 75° parallel geometry. This geometry isn’t reallysuited to everyone’s body and the events they might ride, nor
for road riding. The wheelbase on this bike is now at a short
949mm, the equivalent of a bit more than 37 inches! (See the75 Parallel illustration.) If you don’t ride your track bike on
the track, this is probably why your body is sore after a longride. The combination of added rake and a slightly slackened
headtube would make all the difference in the world, increasing the wheelbase therefore creating a more forgiving ride.
Something we all seem to forget is that riding a bike is supposed to be fun, not painful.
One thing that sprint and mass start frames have in common is a higher bottom bracket height. The typical road bikehas a BB height of 265mm or the English equivalent of 10.45
inches. Due to the track having a steep banking in the turns,
if you rode a regular road bike on the track you have a muchhigher possibility of scraping a pedal in a turn at low speed.
Therefore on both mass start and sprint bikes, the BB is
raised to 11 inches or a bit higher to eliminate the threat of ascraped pedal, although it still happens on occasion. This raising of the BB contributes to a bit of instability in the bicycle,
which can be corrected with proper geometry. Pursuit bikes
are kind of the exception to the rule, since they are rarely
going slow during competition. They can have a lower bottom bracket, which also lowers the center of gravity making
the bike more stable when using aero bars.
In closing, I would like to say that not all track bikes are
created equal. I hope this handling lesson helps you understand modern track bike geometries and the differences
between them.
Don Walker would like to thank Brent Curry at Bikeforest.com
for the ability to use his program to illustrate this article.
Don Walker is a framebuilder and the founder of the North
American Handmade Bicycle Show, which takes place in Portland
Oregon this year, February 8-10, 2008.

48 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Organic I
Urban
CyclistThe

By Kelly McCord

50 URBANVELO.ORG

Illustration by Mike Pfaltzgraff - www.analogforest.com

n his book “The Art of Urban Cycling” Robert
Hurst tells us there are three major schools ofthought when riding in the city. First there’s therider who thinks, “I am a vehicle and therefore shallact like one.” Usually you see these riders geared up
in helmet, spandex and cycling shoes. They wait on
every red light and hand signal even when there areno cars behind them. This person will never ride on
the sidewalk even when the prospect seems morelogical than riding in the street. This thought process
is pretty old school, and most of these riders started
commuting during the boom of the 80’s. Riding likea car does have its advantages. Cars in traffic haverules, and if everyone follows those rules, we will all
get home safe. And if a driver sees a cyclist consistently acting like a car they can anticipate your movements. Seems like a great plan, one would think…
The next discipline is that of the stealth rider.
They slip and dip sliding effortlessly through traffic.
Cars don’t even notice them as they go between
rows with grace and agility. Neither a car nor a bike,they’re on their own plane of existence. As you canimagine this type of rider has a lot of skill and yearsof experience riding in the city. Mostly you see messengers and people who just don’t give a damn ride inthis manner. No helmet or brakes, maybe a headlightand a blinky affixed to their messenger bag. Theseriders are usually felled by the unexpected. Meeting
their end when a driver doesn’t turn like their signal
said they would. This type of rider usually avoids
sidewalks, but more for the fact that it slows themdown than any adherence city ordinance. This styleof riding is risky and takes set of titanium ovaries tomaster. I’ve also seen a lot of drivers get angry when
they see you pass them unexpectedly.
Finally we have the third type of rider—theorganic urban cyclist. This style is a compromise
between stealthy and vehicular cycling. As an organic
cyclist, you ride in traffic and use pedestrian thoroughfares when its convenient. I’m not trying to becontradictory but know that jumping from sidewalk
to traffic and back again will seriously get you hurt.
We must always remain vigilant and think two steps
ahead of cars and pedestrians. Remember drivers
feel most at ease when they know what to expect.
An organic urban cyclist will flow in traffic when its
not too thick and ride the sidewalk when its clear ofpedestrians. I opt for this style of riding and obviously it works for me.
Whichever type of rider you choose to bedoesn’t matter, just ride.
Read “The Art of Urban Cycling” by Robert Hurst

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

6hfgb`[TaWUh\_gYeT`Xff\aVX$,,)?djheZkY_d]j^[J\fX6eTV^Xe
8ejjb[Ef[d[hjjj!T[eXafU\VlV_Xf!Vb`

Don’t Kiss an Elephanton the Lips Today“Frankly, I was horrified by life,at what a man had to do simply
in order to eat, sleep, and keep
himself clothed. So I stayed in
bed and drank. When you drank
the world was still out there, but
for the moment it didn’t haveyou by the throat.”– Charles Bukowski

Words & Art by Johnny Cumlately

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

I

t’s a good thing cycling is such a healthy lifestyle. If it weren’t I’d be dead already. I knowthat sounds melodramatic, but guys like Kerouac,
Thompson and Bukowski had “the cockroachgene”. That is, the unique ability to thrive on
poison. Or they lied for effect. What you’re
about to read is no lie.

1.

She calls me by name though I’ve never met her before.
I’ve been known to forget a name, but I never forget a face
like that. She’s a natural beauty, with features sharp enough to
cut glass and no need for makeup. I’ve got a thing for girls who
shave their legs and wear dresses—especially ones who ridebikes—and her shining eyes more than make up for the bushy
armpit hair.
Fourteen hours later it’s her turn to be critical, gleefully
pointing out the fact that my waterbottle full of merlot has
stained the inside of my lips. Suddenly a gesticulating gangbanger’s fist nearly clips the back of her head, and it’s morethan obvious that we should get out of the late-night diner
before something goes horribly wrong. It’s too bad—I could
have gone for another plate of bacon.
I let her lead the ride across town. While it’s true I’ve
got a propensity for the female hind quarters, I’m really moreconcerned with making sure I don’t lead her through any red
lights she’s not ready to run. She runs them all. Given the
choice between dissecting the ghetto and climbing one motherof a hill, she picks the hillclimb. We lumber up Tange Street andI swear I taste mint juleps and mojitos at the same time.
Ever since I lost my health insurance, I’ve been making dowithout my lithium. Though I’ve had as many drinks as I’ve got
digits, without my anti-anxiety medication it’s impossible tosilence the little voice in my head saying, “Forget it, loser.”
We wind our way to her street and nearly topple overeach other rounding the last bend, going shoulder to shoulder
like a pair of race rivals. With a throat full of chalk, I manage tobetray my failing nerves and ask for her phone number. I don’teven try to follow her inside, but the memory of her bodypressed against mine keeps me warm for the entire ride home.
That, and the sun coming up…

2.

They say you can pick your friends but you can’t pick yourrelatives. True as that may be, I can’t help but think fate plays
a role in certain friendships. Left to my own devices, I’ll gladly
stay in bed with a hangover, fighting to fall asleep again until
the sun goes back down or my guts drive me to the bathroom.
The latter usually prevails, but it’s still a damn good thing I’ve
Buddy to call me mid-afternoon to go mountain biking. Afterprocrastinating as long as possible, I begrudgingly pull on mycycling shorts, shove a handful of leftovers in my mouth, andpedal off towards some of the best trail-riding in the country.
Oh, of course everyone’s got a thing for their home trails, but I
can say one thing with authority—you don’t need mountains tohave great mountain biking. I’ve been to Moab and I’ve been to
the Alps…I’ve ridden in swamps, beaches and on all manner ofmanmade obstacles. Still, despite my travels I’m always happiest
when I’m back home riding our rolling, green, tree-covered hills.
A ride is a ride, and that’s what we do until the sun starts
to set. As we round the corner near the cemetery I remember that the local high school kids like to party just off thetrail. Today’s no different, but out of the corner of my eye I
notice there’s not just a run-of-the-mill trash fire. They’ve got
tiki torches—a brazen move considering the relative chancesof getting busted by any number of authorities. I’m about toshoot down the hillside when the kids call out to us, “Hey biker
dudes, you want a beer?”“Does a fish want water?” I think to myself. As I turnaround, Buddy is already laying down his singlespeed. Afterall, we’re no authority figures. We’re handed big foamy cupsof Miller Lite and I survey the scene—two kegs, six torches,
one makeshift beer pong table and a “happy birthday” banner
stretched between two trees. I’m a bit nervous about being two
thirty-something’s in a sea of 17-year olds, but I suppose I would
be even more nervous if I were one of the three girls in thegroup of nearly fourty high-school boys…
Three beers in and we’re having our photo taken with the
girls, showing off our bikes to genuinely interested kids and I’mwearing glow-stick jewelry on both wrists. Rather than push
our luck with Johnny Law, we saddle up and ride one last technical descent—buzzed and in the dark with no lights. Later thatevening we go to work on a case of beer, and around 5:00am
we consider strapping on some lights and heading back out tothe park. Instead we polish off a bottle of bourbon and laughabout drinking with the Class of ‘08 until the wee hours of themorning.

URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

53Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

3.

Mountain biking is like chicken soup for the urban cyclist.
You might hit a tree, but the trees seldom hit you. Nor do theyhonk, scream, gesture wildly or cut you off. They sure as hell
never drive up on the sidewalk after you.
Another appealing thing about mountain biking—especiallywithin the city limits—is that you never know who or what
you’ll find in the woods. Sure, the streets are filled with far
more opportunities for road swag, but there’s something about
the cover of foliage that causes people to get clumsy and reckless. Concomitantly, you could find a pair of sunglasses, or run
across a bum shitting on a tree stump. Latent homosexuals
leave behind remnants of their first encounters, and of course
drug addicts make regular use of every city park in the nation.
And you know what they say—only users lose drugs.
Buddy hits the beginning of the trail like a man possessed,
gliding over the root section in anticipation of the impending
drop. Stone cold sober, he’s suddenly pitched into the classic “yard sale” position, with his chin taking a divot out of theloamy trail surface and his bike splayed out to his left. I containmy laughter and roll down to help him up when I see his nose isjust inches away from the end of a rainbow—so to speak. The
plastic sandwich bag’s tightly knotted around a golf ball sizedlump of plant matter, and the discarded cigar wrapper leaves noquestion as to the schwag’s authenticity. Though neither oneof us cares a whole lot for the stuff these days, it’s decided that
I’m more likely to put it to good use and I shove it in my pocket
before taking the lead down the trail.
Buddy and I are pounding a few cold post-ride beers when
my old roommate calls from the bar. It’s not everyday that I
hear from old Wild Bill, and it doesn’t make me the least bit sadthat he’s just calling to see if I can find him some fresh oregano.
“You’re in luck,” I inform him, and we settle on meeting fora beer after having one for the road. After another tough day
on the trail, the slow, fuzzy road ride across town is like massage therapy for my throbbing legs. Against my better judgment
I help Wild Bill test the herb’s quality out on his front porch.
Buddy just looks on, contentedly knocking back another can of
PBR.
We hatch a plan to take a joyride through Henry Park andthen through the cemetery. I stuff our last three beers in mymessenger bag and inform Wild Bill that he’s leading—him
being the former professional cyclist and all. Unfortunately hetakes his riding a little too seriously sometimes, and within ten
minutes of entering the park I’ve lost sight of his blinking light.
I keep looking back to see Buddy grimacing up the climbs, and I
regret not taking the lead myself, if only to slow things down alittle.

t , I d o n ’t
n
e
m
e
it
c
x
e
e
h
t
ll
“In a
a s ix - t o n
’s
e
r
e
h
t
e
z
li
a
e
r
even
shadows.”
e
th
in
g
in
k
r
lu
t
n
a
eleph
We reach the very top of the park, and with our fearlessleader nowhere to be seen we bomb the hill at mach speed,
hoping to regroup for a beer break. We reach the bottom andthere’s still no sign of Wild Bill. Calling his cell phone ends up
being a waste of time, so we turn around and climb back up to
the top of the park. Unsuccessful, we turn tail near the very top
and decide to go for pizza and beer. Thank God there’s a placein Sunnyside that serves both until 4:00am, because I’ve got a
serious case of the munchies.

4.

I get a text message shortly after noon, “I wrecked pretty
bad last night.”
I suddenly feel like the world’s biggest asshole—I was cursing Wild Bill up and down last night for ditching us on the ride.
I’d assumed he got tired of waiting for our slow, half-drunken
asses and headed off to chase skirts at some Sunnyside wateringhole. As it turns out, one of those rare vindictive trees steppedout of the dark and clocked Wild Bill right in the nose. I stop at
the store on the way to his house and cram as much comfort
food as I can fit into my messenger bag. He comes to the door
and it’s all I can do to keep my jaw from hitting the porch. A
jumble of butterfly bandages, stitches, cuts and bruises runs
from his hairline to his chin.
In the interest of kindness I tell a ball face lie, “You don’t
really look that bad.”It’s hard to look him in the eye. Thankfully we’re both morethan happy to keep our eyes on the television while we replay
the previous night’s events. I apologize profusely with each subsequent beer I pull from his fridge, and when I ride home after
midnight, I do so very, very slowly.

5.
…

54 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

6.

I regain consciousness as the first rays of sunshine fall on
my cheek. The cool grass invites me to stay down for a standing eight-count, but what little sense I have tells me it’s time to
get up. My surroundings are unfamiliar at first, but as I lift myhead off my arms I realize this well manicured lawn is my own.
I see my bike lying to my left, and as I turn to my other side,
the unbolted wheel tells me something really went wrong. Thatnotion is confirmed momentarily, as I become aware of a dull
pain that starts above my left cheekbone and courses down to
my chin.
I reach for the strap of my messenger bag, and while I’mrelieved to find it attached to my person, the movement makes
me aware of another flesh wound—this one on my shoulder. I
slap myself on the ass to check for my wallet, and I’m relieved
to find everything I left home with. Except for my helmet…andmy pride.
I hastily install my front wheel and circle the block looking
for my helmet. The old man down the street snickers as hebids me good morning. I wonder how many people saw me insuch a compromised state? I check my phone for the time andfind a voicemail waiting for me. It’s my friend Neil.
“Don’t forget to tighten your front wheel before you ride,”
he cautions me. Unfortunately, at 6:00 am it’s a few hours toolate. I rationalize that if the only things I’ve lost are a bit of skinand a cheap bike helmet, I must have someone looking out forme upstairs.
I call Neil back and the story comes together—eventhough I still have zero recollection. The long and short of it iswhiskey. Whiskey makes me do stupid things, and apparently
one of them is insist on riding my bike home when I shouldn’t.
The rest of the day is wasted, and early in the evening I am,
too. With safety on my mind, I remind every cyclist at the bar
to be careful not to drink and ride. My words have little effectgiven that they’re coming from a drunk with fresh facial injuries.
Maybe they need to see Wild Bill…

7.

I’m awake before noon, but I don’t bother moving forthree more hours. My neighbor catches me stumbling out
onto the porch en route to the coffee shop and offers to buy
me breakfast—well, lunch—at the Chinese buffet. I look like I
could use some solid food, and his Eastern European upbringing won’t allow him to see a friend go hungry. I wolf down plateafter plate of unrecognizable fried rice and noodles, then I get

the most unusual message in my fortune cookie…
“Don’t kiss an elephant on the lips today,” it reads. I’m
perplexed. After all, what could be dumber than laying a liplockon a 12,000-pound wild animal?
The party at The Bicycle Junkyard is nothing shy of abarnburner. The kegs are arranged in grand fashion behindthe service counter, and the beer line starts way back outsideof the warehouse. The entire crowd is decked out in cycling
gear—half in streetwise cutoffs and t-shirts, the rest in gaudy
Lycra and spandex. It’s no secret that bike activists like todance, and the crowd doesn’t miss a beat, even when the
speakers blow out.
I’m content sipping on a waterbottle full of some good darkbeer, mingling with the out-of-towners and catching up witha few old friends. Unfortunately “catching up” with some of
my old friends means taking their car keys or turning them on
their side so they won’t choke on their own vomit. But I’m notpassing judgment.
In all the excitement, I don’t even realize there’s a six-ton
elephant lurking in the shadows. Just fifty feet from the end of
the beer line sits an innocuous table with handmade placards
that read, “Whiskey, $2.00.”
I take it as a sign, and I relinquish my spot in the beer line. I
don’t put a whole lot of stock in organized religion or soothsayers, but I trust in fortune cookies. I make a beeline for mybike, down half a bottle of water and saddle up for anotherslow ride home. As I pedal through the parking lot a shooting
star rips a shimmering swath across the night sky.

8.

I wake up early to a clear head and the sound of birds
chirping. It’s the first time this has happened in months, and fora moment I wonder if I’ve died and gone to heaven.
No such luck.
Some people drink for inspiration. Some people drink because their friends drink. Most just drink for something to do.
While I seldom need an excuse, the truth is I mostly drink toforget. I’ve got problems and I’ve got issues. I’ve even got issues
with my problems, and problems with my issues. But I won’t
get into that here.
Still, this past week’s brought about a certain amount ofclarity. I can only hope the small lessons I’ve learned stay withme long enough to keep me from joining the ranks of some of
my less fortunate friends. I can’t say I’ll ever stop drinking, but
I do know Wild Bill and I were lucky—just ask Toothless Tom,
Brokeback Jim or One Eyed Pete. And that’s to say nothing of
the people who aren’t just dealing with lifelong injuries, but
who’ve lost out on life itself.

56 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.



 0-

WORDS: BRAD@URBANVELO.ORG
IMAGES: JEFF@URBANVELO.ORG

SPECIALIZING IN MOUNTAIN BIKE SUSPENSION
AND HYDRAULIC BRAKE SERVICE AND REPAIRS6SCBO.JMFT
%JGGFSFOU$JUJFT
4NPLFZ5SFBUT
8JQFPVUT
7JTJUTUP.BTIPVTF

Ride Li ke a Lunat ic.
3BZ8SPCMFXTLJ BLB-VOBUJD#JLFS
3FBE3BZTCMPHBUIUUQMVOBUJDCJLFSCMPHTQPUDPN*/4"/&-:506()"/%"''03%"#-&(&"3'0363#"/$:$-*454
$PNNVUFS#BDLQBDLT .FTTFOHFS#BHT(SPDFSZ1BOOJFSTBOENPSF
XXXCBOKPCSPUIFSTDPN

1IPUPHSBQIZCZKFGG!CJLFKFSLTDPN$VCJD*ODI.FTTFOHFS#BHXJUIQBEEFEMBQUPQTMFFWFGVMMZMPBEFEm/P

D?+PDFGet stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Starting A Local

Advocacy

Organization Part 2
By David Hoffman

In this multi-part series on bicycle advocacy, Urban Velo gives you the tools to
make a change in your community. This is the second installment, focusing onsome aspects of what it means to be and operate as a “non-profit.”
58 URBANVELO.ORG

Photo by Brad Quartuccio

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

What is a Non-Profit
Organization?
Strictly speaking, a non-profit organization is one whose
goals are not financially (profit) driven. Non-profits can takemany forms, however, within bicycle advocacy the 501(c)3variety is by far the most common. The advantage of obtaining formal non-profit status is two-fold: 1) non-profit statusprovides an exemption to the organization from certain
taxes, thus allowing more money to be applied towards theorganization’s cause, as well as providing a tax advantage forindividuals who make charitable contributions, and 2) provides
an additional layer of credibility as a “bona fide” organization
when dealing with decision makers and bureaucrats.
Most non-profits have some common elements,
regardless of the structure:
Purpose: To provide services, generally of a charitable nature
to people or the community. These are often found in Mission,
Vision,Value, and Goals statements. Bicycle non-profits arealmost always focused on education, outreach, access, anddesign issues (or some combination thereof).
Outreach and Education: Most non-profits reach out tothe community to involve, engage, and educate those that they
are serving. For example, a bicycle non-profit may engage inactivities such as teaching safe road riding skills, soliciting input
on upcoming road projects, or finding out where it would be
most advantageous to install bike racks.
Governance: If you’re going for 501(c)3 status, you’ll needa governing body, such as a Board of Directors. This governing body often doubles as non-paid staff in the early stages oforganizational development, and should eventually transition in
to a policy and visioning group once your organization begins
to grow and mature.

Assembling the Pieces
Filing for non-profit status is one of the most daunting
tasks that any new organization will face. The application form
(Form 1023) is currently 28 pages long – and this does notinclude all of the various attachments and additional forms
that you’ll need. However, taken step-by-step the filing process
is actually not that complicated. Think of it this way: the IRS
wants to make sure that you’re serious about what you want
to do; if the form to file as a 501(c)3 were too easy (think
Form 1040EZ for your taxes), everyone would be filing. So
without further delay, here is a simple list of the things thatyou should (generally) have in order before you attempt to fillout Form 1023:

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) – you need
one as an organization even if you don’t plan to have any employees in the near future, or at any time for that matter – andit’s free – perhaps the easiest thing to get on this list!
Articles of Incorporation
Board of Directors
BylawsBudget (estimated)
A rough idea of what you plan to accomplish in yourfirst couple of years.
As we’ve mentioned in the previous article, there is agreat resource for getting information and sample documents
for many of the items listed above: The Thunderhead Alliance –www.thunderheadalliance.org.
Getting your EIN – go out to www.irs.gov and do asearch for “EIN” – it should come up as the top search result.
You can apply online for free.
Downloading Form 1023 – go out to www.irs.gov anddo a search for “Form 1023” – you’ll find a link to download
the Form. Also head out to: www.irs.gov/publications/p557/index.html for a good overview of the form.

Getting Professional Help
Confused? Put off on the idea of starting a local organization? Ready to move on to the next article? Wait! Help is on
the way! If you’re not interested in getting your hands dirty
with all of the steps and paperwork necessary to form a nonprofit, here are some suggestions on ways that you can findsomebody who is:
Find a local lawyer or law firm to help you. Many law firms
have a public outreach component as part of the firm charter,
and as such, may be committed to providing free or very
greatly reduced legal help to charitable causes. One of theeasiest ways to get this information is to simply find a lawyer.
Any lawyer. Find out if their firm would help you form a nonprofit on a pro-bono (free) basis. If they can’t help you, they’ll
likely know another firm that does do this type of work.
Post an ad on Craig’s List or in your free local weekly.
Be sure to indicate that you’re looking for someone who has
already had experience setting up a non-profit. This will help
to weed out the folks who are only mildly curious. Remember,the difference between a really good Form 1023 applicationand one that was done “on the quick” could be months of
URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

59Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

back-and-forth with the IRS before they grant you provisional
501(c)3 status!
Get students or a class to help. Reach out to your local
university and find the professor who is teaching classes on
non-profit policy or management (graduate level preferred).
See if any of their students would like to take on helping you
to form your non-profit as a real project. This is a good option,
as students are both motivated (by their grade) and you canput a set of time boundaries on the project (must be completed by end of term or semester).

Communications...
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
While we would never advocate ripping off any other organization’s materials, we can recommend closely imitating someof the best.You’ll need two important ways to communicate
with everyone: 1) a web site, and 2) a newsletter.
Good websites tend to be friendly, accessible, and easy tonavigate. Although the urge may be great to bash the local decision makers, avoid negative or accusatory language. Rememberthat everyone will be going to your website – your constituents, policy makers and politicians, the media, etc! Here aresome examples of some particularly good websites:
Bike Pittsburgh (Local - Pittsburgh, PA) – www.bikepgh.org
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (Local – San Francisco,CA) – www.sfbike.org
Bicycle Colorado (Statewide, CO) - bicyclecolo.org
Washington Area Bicyclist Association (Local – Washington, D.C.) - www.waba.org
Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (Local - Chicago, IL) www.biketraffic.org
Transportation Alternatives (Local - New York, NY) –www.transalt.org

Well, What Are You
Waiting For?
Once the IRS acknowledges your application (Form 1023),
you can begin soliciting for charitable contributions. It isextremely important to note that these contributions become
retroactively charitable when you receive provisional 501(c)3
status.You’ll need to say something like, “We are currently inthe application process for 501(c)3 charitable status. Money
donated to us during this time will become a charitable contribution once we have been granted 501(c)3 status.” Keep arecord of everyone that donates to you, including their contact
information, date of contribution, and amount! You’ll needthis information in the future – the IRS will want to review
your organization’s records especially during the “provisional”
period of your 501(c)3 status.

Newsletters should be kept short and to the point. We’drecommend signing up to receive samples of the newslettersfrom any of the organizations above. They all feature timely
articles that keep people up-to-date on the local issues anddevelopments. As a general rule, try to keep between threeand six newsletter items in each issue. More than that and it
becomes hard to quickly digest the information. If you have lotsof information to give, write a short summary, and then direct
the reader to your website for more information.

In the Next Issue
Show Me the Money! Get started
on the path of organization stability
by learning where and how you
can find funding to keep yourorganization healthy.

60 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

PROJECT ZAMBIAWorld Bicycle Relief’s newest
project involves providing 26,000
bicycles to trained HIV/AIDS
healthcare workers and educators in Zambia. The objective is tobring healthcare to patients, patients to clinics, and preventative
care education to communities.
The program will reach 520,000
adults, orphans, and vulnerable
children.

Support World Bicycle Relief
by visiting our website at:www.worldbicyclerelief.org

IMPACT OF WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF
Simple sustainable mobility in the form of bicycles multiplies people’s efforts andefficiencies in areas of healthcare by bringing healthcare to patients and patientsto healthcare; education by transporting educators to the field and students toschools; and economic development by sustaining mobility, a fundamental requirement in all economic systems.

LEAD SPONSORS:WBR_3.25x4ad.indd 1

6/20/07 8:53:53 AM

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Love
Affairs
by

Andy
White

Photo courtesy of www.fyxomatosis.com

The heart is a funny thing. Like Billy Bragg said, “She cut
her hair, and I stopped loving her.” True love isn’t sofickle.
I’ve tried to stop riding bikes. To see if it was really love.
Just like coffee, a week down the road, I’m grumpy, anxious,and distracted.
In the year 2000, I traveled South America for nearly 5
months. Argentina to Colombia. Had a cumulative week on
the bike in that time. I hung out with Alastair (Gravity Assisted MTB) in La Paz, Bolivia, and not content with riding theworld’s deadliest road, I wanted a real challenge.
Alastair didn’t want to take a mtb ‘muppet’ out of his
depth, so I had to prove I could ride the type of terrain we’d befacing. At the time I WAS out of my depth, but didn’t show it.
His guide would take us to the top of the mountain pass in
his rickety Toyota 4WD. Mountains of some 4000+ metres. Fucking spectacular. I don’t say ‘fuck’ lightly. We’d finda trail head, which was a lama track cut into the steep sideof these monoliths. I held on, grimaced, leaned back, let go.
YEHAAAAAAAR!
This was primitive mountain biking, at least by todays

standards. V-brakes, short travel forks, hardtails, flat pedals,
flat out for three hours of descent into the valley below, wherea steak bigger than your plate and a bowl of mash awaited you.
The exhilaration of being limited by your equipment andusing your skill to compensate for the terrain is the same
reason I love riding track bikes. As I split trams on Collins st
I’m taken back to the narrow ledges you’d be forced to ridealong, and massive trees you’d squeeze between. Skipping
metal tracks on the road, like finding the jagged line through arock garden. Or when it’s turn two and you’re bumping elbows
with thighs on the bank at 60kph at the end of a motor pace,it’s the same ‘shit scared’ feeling of launching a gap and hoping
to you land it.
Beyond all the fun that bikes provide, the people I’ve met
through bikes far exceed any piece of glorious single track.
Bikes even introduced me to my wife.
It is perhaps why even if I wanted to quit, it’d be like cutting off my arm to feed myself. Stupid.
In the recent population census, as my religion I put “cycling”. I pray every day. My love grows.
Amen.

62 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

BICYCLE MESSENGER
EMERGENCY FUND
The Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund isa non profit organization that provides
emergency compensation to bicycle messengers who are hurt on the job. Currently the BMEF allocates a $300 (USD, Euro,
Can, Lbs, etc.) emergency cheque to help
messengers anywhere in the world during
the first week of injury. This provides aboost, to both the financial and the mental/emotional state of the injured messenger. The goal is to help the injured
cope and recover.

bicyclemessenger.org

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Technical Gubbins
How to tension your singlespeed Chain

step onestep twoS

inglespeed drivetrains are a beautiful thing. Simple,
efficient and durable. Unlike a geared system that hasa derailleur to keep the chain taught, a singlespeed
drivetrain relies on the wheel position within the dropouts to tension the chain. Easy to understand, not so easy
to get right.
With the chain fully over the chainring and cog,pull the rear wheel all the way back in the dropouts. Hold the wheel in place, ever so slightly pushing
the tire towards the driveside chainstay. This forces theleading edge of the axlenut to bite into the dropout just a
hair further back than otherwise possible. Tighten down
the driveside axle nut, allowing the wheel to straighten
itself as you go.
The wheel will be off center to the driveside, notso much that the tire is touching the chainstay however.
Center the tire between the chainstays and tighten
the non-driveside axle nut down, resulting in atensioned chain. You can vary the final chain tension
based on how far towards the driveside you push the tirein step one.
Gently spin the cranks around and check that the
chain is tight enough to not throw, but is also not bindingat any point. If the drivetrain feels notched at a given
location it is too tight and requires adjustment to prevent
premature bottom bracket or hub bearing wear. At
the tightest point, loosen the axle nuts and repeat theabove steps. If there is excessive variation in chain tension when all is said and done, something is likely out ofround – could be the cog, chainring or chainring spiderof the crankarm. Or the chainring may not be centeredon the spider. With the chain at its tightest point, loosen
the chainring bolts and tap around the outside of thechainring with a mallet in an attempt to better center itupon the spider. If that still doesn’t do the trick, something is out of round and needs replaced - I’d swap out the
chainring first and move on from there. –Brad Quartuccio

Technical Gubbins
64 URBANVELO.ORG

Photos by Brad Quartuccio

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

RONNIE
THOMSON���������

Appreciation Day

Jan 18-20, 2008 Macon, Georgia
Camping, bonfires, live music, factory tours,a 4 hour and 20 minute long race, and all
kinds of bike events.

��������������������������������
�������������������������������������
������������������ �������!���
��������������
�"�#�$�%�&%'�(�������)*��%���+�&%'�������� ����������������������� ����������������������
,���-��� �...!�������/�+��.!���0����!���

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Technical Gubbins
Use A BellI commute through a city park and acollege campus.
There are people on the trails, people
with cell phones, dogs and iPods. So theold, “Hey mind if I pass” doesn’t always
work. Actually it almost never works.
Instead, I’ve been using a bell. Most of
the time the bell is met with suprise and asmile. They think its a 6-year-old girl coming at them when it’s actually a grown ass
man ringing a bell... And it cuts through cell
phones and iPods nicely.
But one in every 20 rings it’s met withanger. They yell or make some smart ass
comment. Its weird. It’s just an example of
how you can never please everybody. And
some people are just bitter motherfuckers.
I think I’ll keep using the bell, though.
Most people smile.
–Joe McManus, Pittsburgh, PA
Photo by Brad Quartuccio

Check out robonza.blogspot.com

Cheap Locking
Skewers
Here’s a quick and cheap solution to prevent wheels/seat fromgetting ripped off by opportunistic
passer-by thieves – hose clamps.
The trick is getting them as tight asabsolutely possible. You could stillget ‘em with off with a ratchet anda screwdriver head, but who wants
to do that? It’s easier to just steal
from the bike next to it. Safety innumbers. Hose-clamps cost about
25 cents each at any given hardware
store, and are a proven deterrent
to wheel theft. At least as effective
as bolt-on hubs.
–Kurt Morrison, Edmonton AB
Photo by Kurt Morrison

Technical Gubbins
66 URBANVELO.ORG

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

G[\eW!AbgY\efgbefXVbaW!5ebamX!CbW\h`fVeTc\aZ!G[TgT_`bfg
Uhg abg dh\gX YXX_\aZ! 4 Z_TaVX TaW T ZXfgheX g[Tg fhZZXfgf
cTeTW\fX TaW WX_\iXef ]hfg Ye\XaWf! Be ]hfg X`cgl jTa^! Fb`X^XeU fVeTc\aZ gTfgX bY i\Vgbel Uhg `\kXW j\g[ W\XfX_ TaW VTeYh`XfTaWV[XTcYbbWYeb`WhU\bhffbheVXf!4gTfgXbYfjXTg
TaW gXTef j\g[bhg g[X X_Tg\ba! <g»f gjb ZeXXa _\Z[gf ba lbhe
YTibhe\gXfgeXgV[fhZZXfg\aZf`bbg[_XZfgbTZ_be\bhfUXXeba_l
YbeT`UXeTaWeXWTaWTfb_\Wj[\gX_\aX!4aWg[TgYhV^ bYYgehV^Vb`\aZ_XYgW\fVbhagfg[X]h`c!7ba»g]h`c!JT\glbheghea!Lbhe
ZeXXa _\Z[g TaW lbhe gbc fgXc! 4 aXkg fgXc! G[X fha WeXaV[XW
cTe^UXaV[YbeT_haV[g\`XUeXT^!4VbYYXXTaWcTff\aZWX_\Z[gf
XaiX_bcXW\aYTUe\Vj\g[VbagbhefUXaXTg[!6bagbhe_\aXf!6[Tghc _\aXf! ETaWb` cTVX _\aXf! 6baib_hgXW Vb``hg\aZ! 6[TaZXf
bY cTVX! 4 c_TVX TaW g\`X! G[\eW UTfX fghggXef ba T [b`X eha
U_Tfg! 4aW g[X Y\aT_ cbf\g\ba \f Tf XiXelbaX X_fX! FgeXXgf TaWcXbc_X TaW ]hfg VlV_\aZ g[ebhZ[ \g! 4__ gb T iXel f\`\_Te c_TVX! 4
W\YYXeXag cTVX cXe[Tcf Uhg g[X fT`X flag[Xg\V eTVX! Lbh VTa
^XXc g[\eW fXVbaW Y\efg TaW T__ fhV[ bU]XVg\iXf! <g»f XabhZ[gb cXef\fg j\g[ fb`X fhUg_X eXf\fgTaVX! 7TaVX ba lbhe bja
cbW\h` TaW UTf^ \a lbhe Z_bel! J[b_Xfb`X! Lbh j\a! Fb`X
lbh _bfX! ?Xg \g Zb! E\WX lbhe U\^X! Lbh»eX T VlV_\fg! 4eXa»g lbh2

jjj!lXfjXTeXbag[XjXU!Vb`
W  L  S  R  O  ]  S  R  I  W  T  I  I  H  F  S  P  P  S  G  O  WGet stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

Technical Gubbins
Tool-Free Tire Removal
Removing a tire from the rim can be a bear. Make it easier on yourself.
Firstly, make sure all of the air is out of the tube. Then work aroundthe tire and push the bead of the tire towards the center of the rim. Notice in the inset photo that the inside of the rim is concave – pushing thebead to the center creates some slack in the tire to work with. Starting at
the valve stem, go around the tire in opposite directions forcing any slackin the tire towards each other. Once opposite the valve stem, roll one
side of the tire bead off the rim between thumb and forefinger. If it’s reallyon there you may need a tire lever to help pry it off. Not a screwdriver oranything else with a sharp edge. Once one section of the bead is off therim, the rest is easy. Seating a tire on the rim is done in much the same
fashion, simply in reverse. –Brad Quartuccio

Technical Gubbins
68 URBANVELO.ORG

Photos by Brad Quartuccio

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

We’re not just friendly...

We’re bicycle friendly!
ENRICO’S TAZZA D’ORO

European Café & Espresso Bar
1125 N. Highland Ave. Pittsburgh, PA

www.tazzadoro.net

Get stickers, shirts, hats and printed zines @ www.UrbanVeloStore.com

70 URBANVELO.ORG

Check out www.andysinger.com

Please, share this printed copy with a friend. Reuse before you recycle.

One On One Bicycle Studio

Bikes + Coffee + Stuff
Fall-Winter Hours
7:30-7 M - F (Coffee Shop)
11-7 M - F (Bike Shop)
10-5 Saturday

117 N. Washington Ave. Minneapolis, MN

612.371.9565

www.OneOnOneBike.com