Campagnolo Record Pista Crankset

Tomorrow, I will receive my new Pista cranks from QBP. I bought the bottom bracket over a year ago anticipating this purchase. Finally, I'll get them! Big Grin.

Western Conference and Zedneck's Throat

Although Dallas lost to Calgary in last night's game, The Stars are two games ahead of Anaheim in the Pacific Division, 8-2-0 in the last 10, and number two in the West just behind Detroit (who they beat on Network TV Sunday).

Adrian called me at work to ask if I had seen this. This is by far the most gruesome thing I've seen in NHL hockey. Richard Zednik is out of the hospital and doing fine, but this will remain in his head and our minds for a long time to come.

Village Alamo Drafthouse

I went to the Alamo to watch Back to the Future the other night and discovered this kickass dessert.

GUINNESS MILKSHAKE 6.99
GUINNESS AND AMY'S VANILLA-ALCOHOLIC

MMMM.

Bike Boxes and Bodum Coffee Press

I found this website through Commute By Bike:
www.bicyclecoffeesystems.com
The Bodum travel press seems like a nice little upgrade to my Soma Morning Rush set up.



These bike boxes are the shit and spreading.

A bike box renaissance in America?

Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on January 10th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Freshly installed bike lanes
and bike boxes in New York City.
(Photo by Clarence Eckerson)

For years, several U.S. cities have dabbled in an intersection treatment that is ubiquitous in many European cities: the bike box. Unfortunately, most of these boxes, including the one in Southeast Portland, have been more of a forgotten experiment than a clear sign of a new paradigm in how traffic engineers and road users treat bikes at intersections.

The intent of a bike box is to provide a safe-haven for bike riders at intersections. Cars must wait behind the box, thus allowing bikes to come to the front of the intersection. When the light is red, cars are not allowed to turn right. This gives bike riders greater visibility, a head start through the intersection, and eliminates much of the risk of the dreaded “right-hook”.

But there are still many people don’t know what a bike box is because there has never been a coordinated education effort around them. Portlanders that pass by the bike box at SE 39th and Clinton report that only about half of motor vehicles stop behind it (which they should do). Others, like this one in San Francisco, lack the clear marking and necessary upkeep to keep them effective.

But there are signs that this lack of respect for bike boxes is about to change. Yes, 2008 might be America’s year for a bike box renaissance.
By this spring, 14 Portland
intersections will look like this.
(PDOT graphic)

Almost simultaneously, New York City and Portland are embarking on serious bike box campaigns that will change the face of their city streets.

New York City, with its very bike-friendly commissioner of Transportation, Janette Sadik-Khan, has undergone a sea change in its approach to improving bike safety.

Filmmaker and activist Clarence Eckerson of New York City has been covering all the developments. He posted a film on Streetsblog yesterday on how to use a bike-box and earlier this week he snapped photos of a New York City intersection that has been striped with two bike lanes (on each side of the one-way street) and bike boxes.

According to Eckerson, the NYC Department of Transportation has already installed 60 bike boxes around the city.

And closer to home, the New York Times published a story today about Portland’s impending bike box campaign, which calls for PDOT to install fully painted bike boxes and new signage at 14 major intersections by this spring.

The bike box, much more than just bike lanes, will send a clear message to all road users that bikes are not only welcome on city streets, but that real measures are being taken to improve their safety.

Will bike boxes improve safety, increase bike use, and lead to a paradigm shift in traffic engineering in this car-centric country? That might be a tall order for a square, painted box — but I see them as just one of many small steps in a larger revolution that is brewing in Portland, in New York City, and hopefully in many other cities across the country.

From:

Niner Top Cap

I haven't decided how cool this is or not. Whatever the case they put a Guinness cap on it, so I thought it was worth mentioning. Seems you could figure out some way to do this without this setup. Beer and bikes are always cool.

Stars One up Anaheim

Dallas Stars take over control of the Pacific Division. Dallas gains one point lead over the Ducks after 5-2 victory in Dallas.

New Years In Chapel Hill, NC

Arrived in Raleigh on Sunday. Went to a pub called Linda's. They had real cheap Sunday night specials. A pint of Guinness and a Yuengling were both only five bucks. Grabbed a six pack of Hop Devil IPA afterward at a liquor store called TJ's. Really nice not to deal with Texas alcohol restrictions. Not being able to buy beer at a store when you can buy it a bar always seemed stupid to me.

Awoke the next morning to my girlfriend surprising me with the news I would be going to an NHL game. Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders were playing in Raleigh. Very cool. We (Liz, friend Cate,and I) sat next to a media booth. Inside the booth was an inaugural era Dallas Stars home sweater. I felt right at home even though I was amongst a sea of red Canes fans. All the red gave the eerie feeling I was at a Detroit home game. Grabbed a Sierra Nevada Pale and some popcorn. Checked a line-up list. I always look for former Dallas Stars for whom to cheer. The first period was uneventful as neither team scored. The Canes played an undisciplined game and they were penalized for it. The Islanders stung them three time quickly with power play goals. John Grahame was pulled and replaced with Cam Ward in net. I found Billy Guerin's number 13 on the line-up list and mentioned to Liz to look out for him. Seconds later he scored on on Cam. I was happy, although the majority of those in attendance were not.

Left Raleigh to attend a dance party at a basement bar called Hell. What better way to usher in the New Year then in the depths of Hell. Good time, cold Guinness. Stopped by a house party briefly. Grabbed some late night pizza and ventured home.

After a Waffle House breakfast. We spent the day checking out the lovely town of Chapel Hill. Stopped in to a music store called School Kids. Then caught Walk Hard at the Varsity Theater. Later that night we stopped at bar made of some old rail cars. Really cozy place to drink an a cold Carolina night.

I must acknowledge NC looks like an awesome place to ride a bike. All the bicyclist I've seen seem to have really wide smiles. We are gonna check out some bike shops today: The Clean Machine and The Bicycle Chain.

I fly back to Texas tonight.