Christmas idea #2 - Treadlie magazine

While we're still a while out, the one month till Christmas-off marks the beginning of stress for many. In an attempt to at least somewhat assuage said stress, I'm making it my duty to provide all the gift ideas you'll need if you happen to be gifting for bike a lover.

If Christmas idea #1 didn't tick the box, then perhaps today's idea will. While still nary more than an ankle-biter in the cutthroat world of bicycle press, Treadlie has already etched itself a place in magazine stands that pre-Treadlie was empty.

"It will level the playing field"

You often hear pro-doping pundits support their belief with something along the lines of, "Well, it will level the playing field if everyone is allowed to dope." That's pretty much what the last French winner of the French Open, Yannick Noah, said in Le Monde (that's a fancy-pants French newspaper) recently. 

Noah. Perhaps he should stick to tennis.

In case you missed it, here's what he said; 

A response to "Bloody, sweaty cyclists"

The purpose of Nick Ryan's article in Adelaide Now is devised expressly to bait cyclists into a foaming rage.

Maybe what Nick Ryan looks like

I am a cyclist and here I am foaming with rage. RRRAAAHHHH!!

So, here is Nick's article with a few of my own annotations in italics:

We live in a place well accustomed to plagues of all kinds.

Yes we do.

Christmas idea #1 - Soft bike porn

If you're anything like me, you won't start thinking about Christmas shopping until it's verging on too late. However, if you're further along the spectrum of being organised, you may get some of your shopping done in time. And if you're really weird, perhaps you've already started thinking about gifts now, a whopping 37 days out from the big day.

If you fit into that latter category, then today's post may be useful. Even if you don't, you could bookmark today's post and then set a reminder on your phone for, say, December 20th or so (and hope that the postage gods are on your side).

Bamboo!

Bamboo is not a widely used frame material and probably never will be. That said, there are some very attractive options out there. Most notably (according to me) is the range of bikes from Craig Calfee. These bikes are beautifully made and while I can't see myself ever buying one (knowing full well I should never say never), I would love to give one a ride. This one for example...

According to Calfee, "There are many good reasons to choose Calfee Bamboo for your next bicycle frame. Calfee Bamboo bicycle frames are very stiff, transferring power efficiently; are durable, resisting damage from stress and impacts; are comfortable, surpassing aluminum, steel, titanium and most carbon frames in smoothness."

Perhaps pledging that I'll never own a bamboo bike is just an example of being old-fashioned and scared of change. Maybe bamboo will be THE material in years to come. If so, fine. I can live with that and I will be the first to eat my words.

Bike Anatomy (and stuff)

Have I got a treat for you today? Yes, yes I do. And with the knowledge that people don't like reading much these days, it's pictures, pictures, pictures! Pictures of bikes of course. Some of them are art, some informative and others funny. They've all got two things in common. Firstly, they're all about bikes which is how they've made it onto these fabled pages. And secondly, they're all labelled or tagged so you can learn all about top tubes, seat stays, head sets and bottom brackets. So fling that Saturday paper aside and get some bike in ya!

There's this one from Aaron Kuehn.

And then this one. I'm not sure who it's by but I came across it on the Two Wheels Better blog. And a note of caution; if you're studying for your bicycle mechanic's certificate, perhaps avoid using this when revising.

Dancing on a bike

This guy is awesome. Shit bike, no worries.

Dutch Cycling Embassy

Fresh from the womb is the Dutch Cycling Embassy, a coalition of private companies, NGOs, universities, research institutions and governments. And as their name would suggest, they're both Dutch and into cycling. Indeed, the goal of the group is to "facilitate cycling worldwide as the most modern, efficient and sustainable means of transportation by sharing [their] expertise and technology as the world’s number one cycling country."

With their launch comes this video;