The Cannondale Dutchess is a a new concept bike designed by Wytze van Mansum, a design student at the Delft University of Technology. The bike is a working prototype, but the bike is not in commercial production. The bike looks beautiful and has many interesting design features like the adjustable sweep of the handlebars which also serve as a lock. Watch the video and check the links below for more information.
Miranda Devine published an incendiary opinion piece attacking cyclists in the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday. It was in response to an incident involving a cyclist riding a busway. In that incident the cyclist may have been in the wrong, but she used it as a starting to point to launch an all out war of words on cyclists.
Devine has followed up with a slightly more balanced piece today. However, she stills fails to recognise that the root of traffic problems is too many cars. Conflict between cyclists and car drivers arises because of this point.
It seems that rants against cyclists in the Australian media are not uncommon. Last month it was comedian Magda Szubanski who unleashed a verbal tirade against cyclists (link to news article with video) on the TV program Good News Week. She later apologised for what she said. However, the fact that she openly advocated violence against cyclists was absolutely unacceptable. Imagine if homosexuals or Aborigines had been the target of her rant rather than cyclists. It would have certainly meant the end of her career.
Unfortunately there are some cyclists out there who flout road rules and act aggressively. However, there are many more car drivers that also behave similarly. The difference is cars can easily kill, and cyclists are especially vulnerable.
Governments need to not only invest in infrastructure that makes the road safer for cyclists. They need to develop policies that actively reduce the number of cars on the road. Car drivers can also take responsibility by reducing their car use and using public transport, walking or getting on a bike. If more car drivers rode bikes perhaps there would be greater sympathy for the difficult road conditions cyclists face rather than blame shifting, hostility and aggression.
Cadel Evans wore a Free Tibet t-shirt during the Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day classic on 27 April. But according to the IOC he won't be wearing the same t-shirt when he competes in the road race at the Beijing Olympics. The Age reports:
AN AUSTRALIAN Olympic hopeful, the star cyclist Cadel Evans, may come under greater scrutiny from Chinese and Games authorities in Beijing after wearing a "Free Tibet" T-shirt during a race in Belgium.
The International Olympic Committee yesterday toughened the interpretation of its Olympic Charter, adding to the rule that no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted at any Olympic site, venue or other area.
It has said such propaganda can include "the conduct of participants … including but not limited to their look, external appearance, clothing, gestures and written or oral statements".
I should also note Cadel Evans finished seventh overall in the classic which was won by Alejandro Valverde. (Full results at www.cyclingnews.com). Evans is one of the favorites for the Tour de France and the Olympic road race in Beijing. asdf
I saw this mountain bike out in Bali, Taipei County. It had a camera mounted on the handlebars. It is a fairly simple idea and I'm sure you could find the necessary equipment at any good photography shop. It would allow you to create some very cool movies without putting yourself in any danger. The possibilities are endless really.
Well, the Tour de France 2006 edition has been run and won. After being pretty much a one-horse race for the last few years this one definitely departed from the script. Floyd Landis amazing comeback to claim victory is being hailed as one of the greatest ever. Although I think Greg LeMond's victory in 1989 ranks equally with it.
For much of recent history the Tour de France has been dominated by a single rider. Miguel Indurain won five consecutive tours from 1991 to 1995 and Lance Armstrong seven consecutive tours from 1999 to 2005. In most of these tours these two riders were so dominant that everybody else was merely racing for second place.
Thankfully the 2006 Tour saw a big change in the script. It began in dramatic fashion with the two biggest favorites forced to withdraw over doping allegations. That left perhaps a dozen riders who could have realistically had a chance of winning the tour.
After the first major time trial Landis emerged as the favourite, which was later confirmed in the Pyrenees. However, on the second stage in the Alps he blew up and his Tour appeared to be over. The next day he rode like a man possessed to regain most of the time he lost. His daring breakaway confirmed his extraordinary class and talent. He was a deserving winner of the tour.
For me though, the most exciting thing about the Tour was the performance of the Australians. Robbie McEwen won three stages for a career total of eleven and he won his third green jersey. He proved himself as one of the finest sprinters of the modern era, able to win in all sorts of conditions.
Not since Phil Anderson back in the 1980s has an Australian finished in the top five. This year Cadel Evans again confirmed his class, equalling Phil Anderson's best placing and improving on his eighth place last year. Cadel was consistently up with the pace in the toughest mountain stages. He perhaps lacked the power to attack and take the time out of his rivals. He needs to be able to do this if he wants to win the Tour. Also having the support of a stronger team would be a great help.
Michael Rogers was the other big star from Australia. He finished tenth overall. Given that he was riding for T-Mobile team leader Andréas Klöden, who finished third overall. Rogers is a three time world champion in the time-trial and he, too, showed that he may have what it takes to win the Tour de France.
Floyd Landis' victory marks a continuing domination of the Tour by riders from the USA. American riders have now won 11 of the past 21 Tours (Greg LeMond 1986, 1989-990; Lance Armstrong 1999-2005; Floyd Landis 2006). Let's hope Anglophones continue to dominate one of Europe's biggest sporting events, but next year I hope it will be an Australian wearing the yellow jersey in Paris.
The Tour de France started a few days ago. I am a big cycling fan and there is no bigger race than le Tour.
Australian riders have been some of the biggest stars of the race in recent years. Robbie McEwen is one of the world's fastest sprinters and has one the green jersey twice and many stages. He has already claimed another stage victory in the 2006 Tour.
Stuart O'Grady has been another big star. He has won several stages and also worn the yellow jersey. He is a very aggressive rider and although he is not a sprinter in the class of McEwen he is consistently near the front of the bunch in sprint finishes. He is an outside chance for the green jersey.
Among the other big stars of recent years have been Baden Cooke and Bradley McGee. However, while the Aussies may have won many stages and other honours, none has yet been on the podium when the race finishes in Paris. That may change this year. For the first time since Phil Anderson wore the yellow jersey in the 1980s an Australian is finally amongst the favourites for this year's race.
Cadel Evans is a former world mountain bike champion who made a successful transition to road racing. He made a long awaited debut in the Tour last year and finished eighth overall. He was impressive in several mountain stages, holding his own with the best climbers.
Unfortunately this year's Tour seems to be engulfed in controversy with the two favourites, Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, left out over doping allegations. The allegations raise so many questions about drug use in cycling. It is not the first time something like this has happened. The 1998 Tour was similarly controversial and many of the Tour's biggest stars have been guilty of doping.
Still when the Tour reaches the mountain stages I will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Cadel Evans. In the absence of an obvious favourite the race is there to be won by any rider that has the consistency to finish among the leaders in the mountain stages. Cadel Evans has what it takes. Go Aussie, go!!!!
