RIP Sheldon

Sheldon Brown, a legend in the cycling world, died on Sunday, Feb 2, 2008

Sheldon Brown, widely known for his encyclopedic bicycle knowledge, passed away on Sunday night of a massive heart attack. He was 63 years old.At Harris Cyclery in West Newton, Massachusetts, Brown offered his general expertise to the shop while also running its website. But he is best known for his own space on the web, Sheldonbrown.com, which launched in May 1996. There, he cataloged thousands of articles he wrote about bikes both new and old, every kind of specific bike part imaginable, and in-depth maintenance and repair guides. A legend in the world of cycling, Brown’s website attracted millions of visitors.In addition to his website, over the years Brown contributed to cycling publications including Bicycling, Adventure Cyclist, Bike World and American Bicyclist.Brown grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts. His interest in bicycles began as a child when he would gather discarded parts to resell for extra money.

Health problems began to plague Brown in the fall of 2005. By September 2006 he could no longer ride a bike. Doctors, at first stumped, eventually diagnosed him with primary-progressive multiple sclerosis in August 2007. Brown is survived by his wife, Harriet, and their two children, Tova and George.

Hotter’N Hell Hundred - Background

I really haven't had time to post anything lately, but I want to give my impressions about the 2006 Hotter'n Hell Hundred, held in Wichita Fall, Tx.

The Hotter’N Hell Hundred is an annual bicycle ride in Wichita Falls, Texas. It is held each year in August and includes professional as well as amateur riders. The professional racers ride a 100-mile road race, as well as time trials and criterium. For the amateur riders, there are road routes of 100 miles, 100K, 50 miles, 25 miles, and 10K. The amateur routes are also open for roller blading.

The race was first held in 1982 as part of the Wichita Falls Centennial Celebration, thus the description: one hundred miles (i.e., century) in one hundred degree plus (Fahrenheit) weather, high winds, and humidity (the race is held in August, which is usually the hottest month of the year in Texas and especially in Wichita Falls), to celebrate the city's 100th anniversary.

Hotter'N Hell Hundred is the largest sanctioned century bicycle ride in the US.

This year's event was the 25th anniversary. Over 11,100 riders out for a 'BRUTAL' Saturday ride, if they intended to do the full 100miles, as my buddy, Dave & I had planned was an amazing site.

During the early part of the ride the rest stops come approximately every 11 miles. During the latter part of the course, ,very wisely, the stops are about five to eight miles apart. So of course our mantra, and the people not wanting us to collapse at 'their' rest stop, was "Only 11 more miles to go"...

Families, beginners & long time riders joined together to prove their "worth" in their minds or "insanity" in the minds of family and friends, which was the case personally.

Hotter’N Hell Hundred - Background

I really haven't had time to post anything lately, but I want to give my impressions about the 2006 Hotter'n Hell Hundred, held in Wichita Fall, Tx.

The Hotter’N Hell Hundred is an annual bicycle ride in Wichita Falls, Texas. It is held each year in August and includes professional as well as amateur riders. The professional racers ride a 100-mile road race, as well as time trials and criterium. For the amateur riders, there are road routes of 100 miles, 100K, 50 miles, 25 miles, and 10K. The amateur routes are also open for roller blading.

The race was first held in 1982 as part of the Wichita Falls Centennial Celebration, thus the description: one hundred miles (i.e., century) in one hundred degree plus (Fahrenheit) weather, high winds, and humidity (the race is held in August, which is usually the hottest month of the year in Texas and especially in Wichita Falls), to celebrate the city's 100th anniversary.

Hotter'N Hell Hundred (HH100) is the largest sanctioned century bicycle ride in the US.

This year's event was the 25th anniversary. Over 11,100 rides out for a 'BRUTAL' if they intended to do the full 100miles, as my buddy, Dave & I had planned.

During the early part of the ride the rest stops come approximately every ten miles. During the latter part of the course, ,very wisely, the stops are about five miles apart. So of course our mantra, and the people not wanting us to collapse at 'their' rest stop, was "Only 11 more miles to go"...

Let me vent a minute about America's freedoms

• 
  
  Some 'civilians' I know were recently discussing how screwed up our county is because of the U.S. military is following the direction of the President of the United States, so I want to vent a few frustrations.
  
  Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran. We are Americans, and we all bleed the same, regardless of our party affiliation. Our Chain of Command is to include our Commander-In-Chief (CinC). The President (for those who didn't know) is our CinC regardless of political party. We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all those representatives meet. All we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out.
  
  It is the Veteran, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.
  
  It is the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.
  
  It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.
  
  It is the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the 'free speech' protester to burn the flag."

SidewaysBike: First New Bicycle in 200 Years?

Sideways Bike on Vimeo

Now this is downright weird. The SidewaysBike's rider sits either sidesaddle or facing toward the front, manipulating controllers that steer the front and back wheels independently. It looks a lot more maneuverable than a conventional bicycle, but we're not sure if it's stable enough to ride alongside the road in traffic.

This strange bike was invented by Michael Killian, who also created the Sideways Scooter.

There's no indication whether either will be commercially available anytime soon.

Demo Page [SidewaysBike]