New York Surf Film Festival

A three-day event whose stated aim is to “build upon and shape the idea of what a surf movie is.” Last year’s lineup included a Q&A with Rob Machado, a documentary on surfing in Cleveland, and a screening of the 1966 Bruce Brown classic The Endless Summer.

The New York Surf Film Festival returns to New York City from September 24-26. Tickets are available on the festival’s website.

San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition

For people who would rather be under the waves than ride them, the San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition is two nights of (mostly) hi-def original films about sea life and exploration. The 11th edition of the fest will take place on September 17 and 18 at San Diego’s Qualcomm Hall.

Midwest Ski Film Fest

With no serious mountains around, the terrain park is one of the few places in the Midwest where skiers can really push themselves.

That newschool style is the focus of the Midwest Ski Film Fest in Milwaukee, which brings together films from established companies like Level 1 with flicks from local amateurs. Last year’s event included gear giveaways from Jiberish, live music, and an after party.

The Midwest Ski Film Fest will come back to Milwaukee in October.

Boston Bike Film Fest

Besides being home to Harvard, MIT, and a good chunk of America’s hippie population, Cambridge is the spiritual center of Boston’s bike scene. For the fifth year running, the city is hosting the Boston Bike Film Fest, a two-night exhibition of indie cycling flicks.

The festival comes to the Brattle Theatre October 22-23, and will feature films from four categories: shorts, documentaries, features, and animated films. Tickets are available on the fest’s website.

Feature image: Steve Janish

Community Connection

Read about more film festivals on Matador Nights.

Andy Schleck rides last year. Photo: The Wolf

First, Alberto Contador broke the unwritten code of the Tour on Monday when he took advantage of another rider’s breakdown to take the lead. Andy Schleck, the overall leader going into the stage, was fixing his chain when Contador passed him.

Tour riders consider it bad etiquette, even cheating, not to wait for a leader dealing with a mechanical problem. Lance Armstrong did so in 2001, when he slowed down to let leader Jan Ulrich recover from a crash.

Contador said that he didn’t notice that Schleck was dealing with a breakdown, but for many fans, he’s become the villain of this story. As Contador received the yellow leader’s jersey, spectators booed.

From Schleck’s point of view, it was a double-cross by a close friend. After the stage, he was still fuming.

“I would not like to take the yellow like that,” Schleck told the Wall Street Journal. “I will take my revenge.”

“Meanwhile, off the course…”

Greg LeMond created a second controversy over the weekend when he accused Lance Armstrong of conspiring to falsely implicate him in a drug scandal.

LeMond, a three-time Tour champion, told the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung that Armstrong tried to pay an unnamed individual $300,000 to say that LeMond had used the banned substance EPO.

It’s not the first time LeMond has accused Armstrong of conspiring against him. In a 2008 lawsuit against Trek, LeMond alleged that the company, at Armstrong’s request, had neglected to promote its ‘LeMond’ brand of bicycles as punishment for accusing Armstrong of doping.

Armstrong called the allegations “absolutely nonsense,” and told a French television station that LeMond was “obsessed” with attacking him.

“We’re all going to get a chance to sit in front of the authorities and speak the truth,” Armstrong said.

Community Connection

Is Alberto Contador really the bad guy for taking the lead? Tell us what you think in the comments.

Photo: FaceMePLS

So what’s going on at the world’s most popular cycling competition? Here are a few highlights:

As is normally the case, coverage of the tour has focused on Lance Armstrong. This year, the hype started in May, when ex-Tour winner Floyd Landis spoke with the Wall Street Journal about his doping days, implicating his teammates George Hincapie, José Luis Rubiera, and Armstrong as participants as well.

Armstrong denies the claims made by Landis and says he just doesn’t have the time to deal with Landis’ “sensationalism.”

This is Armstrong’s last Tour de France, and though he started out strong the first day, he’s since had a few mishaps. Armstrong managed to avoid at least six major crashes in the first stage of the race, but a crash in the second stage left him with a few bruises and bumps. On Tuesday, he burst a tire on the notoriously bumpy third stage, a 132-mile ride from Belgium to France along cobblestone roads.

Photo: FaceMePLS

Armstrong fared better than American Christian Vande Velde, who crashed on Monday and broke two ribs, forcing him to withdraw from the race altogether.

France’s Sylvain Chavanel did well through the second stage of the Tour de France, but also had bike problems (two flat tires and mechanical issues) during the third stage, which lost him time. Thor Hushovd of Norway made it through the bumpy ride unscathed to win the third stage.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara was wearing the yellow leader’s jersey, with Armstrong in 18th place overall.

After the long, bumpy rides of the last few days, the riders should have an easier time on Wednesday when they reach the fourth stage, a 95-mile ride from Cambrai to Reims with no major difficulties.

Community Connection

Who are you cheering for this year in the Tour de France? Or are you skipping the cycling and focusing on the World Cup instead?

Victorian Celebrations in Oamaru by Samuel Mann

Pedaling several feet above traffic on an old-fashioned bicycle was not what I was looking forward to as I finished up my 1000-plus kilometer bike trip around the South Island of New Zealand.

As I arrived in Oamaru, my thoughts were on sitting down, drinking a beer, and possibly tossing my rented bike into the ocean. After taking on steady headwinds and Andes-like uphills on a diet of peanut butter and Marmite sandwiches, I was ready to set aside cycling for a while.

My plan was to amble through the achingly cute historic section of Oamaru, New Zealand’s Victorian village. Much of the town has facades carved out of Oamaru stone, a type of limestone that is relatively easy to work and hardens to a marble-like consistency. It has loads of faux-Victorian architecture, and even a few city-dwellers who dress in period costume to go about their daily errands.

Victorian Celebrations in Oamaru by Samuel Mann

It’s also home to the Oamaru Ordinary Cycle Club, a group of throwback bicycle hobbyists who have been building, showcasing, and riding antique-style bikes since 1994. Their collection includes a copy of the pedaless Drasine, on display in the shop, and a penny-farthing, that improbable-looking steed with the giant wheel in the front and the wee one in the back.

I had the tremendous luck to happen upon the shop on a day it was open, which is how I found myself stepping onto a small platform and hurling myself up onto the uncushioned leather seat of the penny-farthing while Bruce, the able bike groomsman, stood nearby steadying me.

The steering was strange, like riding a tricycle. Every iota of movement up top translated directly to the wheel, setting me wobbling. I pedaled in long strokes, wishing I had a longer inseam, and kept Bruce in view over my right shoulder as he kept his hand on the bike.

Riding faster was easier. The bike felt much lighter than I had expected, and was surprisingly smooth, especially considering the tires were solid rubber galvanized on. And the view was fantastic, like riding a horse that rolled instead of clippity-clopped. I felt like I was riding in a tilt-shift photo, the giant girl in her tiny city. I was Alice-in-Wonderland on wheels, too tall for my own good, and on a bike of ridiculous proportions.

I tooled out of the parking lot and up a long street. When I noticed that Bruce was no longer touching the bike, I almost choked on my own saliva. It was like riding without training wheels for the first time. A crowd of strangers was cheering me on now. I made a very wide right turn and headed back down the mostly traffic-free street until I reached a lamppost, where I was instructed to dismount. All this without smacking my face on the pavement, many thanks to Bruce.

New Zealand is full of a hundred and one adventure sports of questionable wisdom, from rolling down hills in hamster balls to jumping off bridges. But for NZ$10, I’ll take the tip of the hat to Victorian times, along with the nifty certificate. And then I’ll get back on my multi-speed, normal-sized bike, with its panniers and brakes and things.

Try it for yourself:

To contact the Oamaru Ordinary (High-Wheeler) Cycle Club, write the club captain at heritage.futures@xtra.co.nz, or pop by for a visit on Harbour Street in the Historic District. As it’s run mainly by volunteers, hours can vary, though if you get in touch they’re sure to open up for you.

Community Connection

Learn about three new developments in bicycle tourism.

Tour by bike, by Dainis Matisons

On March 31, 2010, Alan Bate set out on a round-the-world bicycling trip. He hopes to do a full loop around the globe in 99 days, but he’s got a pretty tough record to break: Julian Sayarer was the last person to set a record in 165 days.

His route kicked off in Bangkok, where he traveled through Thailand and then Malaysia and Singapore. Bate’s journey also takes him to Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, South America, Europe and eventually right back to his starting position in Bangkok. Basically, he’s giving a whole new meaning to RTW travel.

The Rules

The rules for setting a world record, however, aren’t all black and white. The Guinness World Records have produced a set of rules for circumnavigation by bicycle, which allow competitors to gauge their success against one another.

Tour by bike, by Dainis Matisons

The rules include:

-The journey must be continuous and in one direction (east to west or west to east).

-The minimum distance should be 28,970 miles.

-Distance traveled refers to the times when the rider is jumping from one landmass to another (e.g. crossing the Atlantic Ocean). Distance ridden, obviously, is the ground that the rider has ridden. Transit time is deducted from the overall time.

-The rider must use the same bike, but repairs and replacement of broken parts are allowed.

Why He’s Doing It

Alan Bate is a huge Thailand lover, and actually set out to break the world record in honor of the king of Thailand. In doing so, Bate wants to draw some positive attention to the country he cares about so much, especially by creating a bond with the United Kingdom. In doing so, Bate feels there is a great opportunity for economic ties and tourism.

He also has a hand in various charitable organizations, like Right to Play, which encourages children to play sports for development, health, and peace. He even intends to draw some attention to the plight of Burmese refugees by the Myanmar border.

Think he can do it? On day 51, Bate reached his halfway point at 9,009 miles.

Community Connection

At Matador Network, we’ve chronicled stories of cycling in places like Vietnam and Ethiopia. Where is the most unusual place you’ve ridden a bike?

Besides a Youtube video with over 17 million views, It seems impossible to find any information on Danny MacAskill. Even his official website is a work in progress.

A 25 year old from Edinburgh, Scotland, MacAskill has been riding for 13 years and now rides professionally. He has a dog called Meg, and his favorite drink is Red Bull. That was the only dirt I could dig up on him.

Some of the tricks he can do include flairs on a tree, bunny-hop tailwhips, drops off of staircases, and riding along thin fences or railings. MacAskill claims not to train or take himself too seriously, saying he still rides his bike just for fun.

Perhaps a reason for his virtual anonymity stems from the fact he doesn’t want to be famous, and has turned down appearances on American and British talk shows and even a performance at the Scottish Cup final.

In an interview by BikeRadar.com, however, MacAskill opens up a little more. While he hopes to travel the world and create more videos, he also loves performing for children at their schools, hoping to inspire more athletes to pick up the sport. He’s a perfect role model: in his younger years, he was unruly and often found himself in trouble with the police. Now, he’s famous without even trying, simply for doing something he loves.

From the mouth of MacAskill himself: “I am not going to degrade what I am doing and act like a clown. I am not too fussed about making money. I just want to ride my bike every day and see a bit more of the world.”

Is it just me, or does his desire to stay out of the spotlight make you want to get to know him even more?

Community Connection

Tour the world’s 15 most bike-friendly cities, or fulfill your bicycling wanderlust with the great American bike trip.

A competitor jumping at Madrid’s Festibike exhibition in 2009 – Photo by DavidHT

This year’s Black Hills Fat Tire Festival is being held from May 28-31 in Rapid City. Cyclists and spectators come together for a few days of sport appreciation and lots of fun on the trails.

The races all take place on M Hill in the center of the city, and cater to different skill levels. Downhill, Super D, x-country, and Sprint hill climb are just some of the options for the participants. Then there’s the two-day ride on the Mickelson Trail, the triathlon (kayaking, running, and mountain biking), and a 10-kilometer trail run.

In other words, there are going to be some serious athletes milling around Rapid City.

There’s also a whole schedule dedicated to off-trail events. Mingle with others at a BBQ followed by a downtown pubcrawl, sell your used bike at the bike swap, and attend a film festival with sport-inspired movies.

For the family, a Hide and Seek Fun Ride and Geocache Event will be taking place on Rapid Creek. Just use the given coordinates and a GPS to locate the stickers and redeem them for prizes at the end of the event.

With last year’s event being such a success, event coordinators are expecting bigger and better prizes and an even higher participation rate. The All-Festival Pass is $65 and comes with a t-shirt.

Community Connection

If you’re looking for more bicycling fun, check out 8 Quirky Bike Rides Across the US Or test-drive the bike that lets you drink beer onboard.

Photo: Arbron

Photo: Pixie Tart

Bicycling recently released a list of America’s top 50 bike-friendly cities, which they chose based on their populations, geographical diversity, and accommodations for cyclists; Minneapolis took the first-place spot. All of the cities have more than 100,000 people and all of them embrace bicyclists.

Here are some of the highlights:

Portland, Oregon:
Probably not a surprise for anyone who knows about the city. Portland earned the second spot on the list for innovative programs that established bike-only areas at traffic signals and gave away free bike lights.

Photo: Tom Andersont

Louisville, Kentucky
The magazine recognized number 21, Louisville, for the planned 100-mile Louisville Loop. A quarter of the route has been completed so far.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
As the home of Dirt Rag, it makes sense that Pittsburgh would make the list. At number 28, it has a citywide master plan for managing bike traffic, as well as a bike-pedestrian coordinator.

Miami, Florida
Miami was notoriously unfriendly to cyclists just a few years ago, but when the former mayor hired a bike-pedestrian coordinator, the city began to change. Today there are new bike lanes and trails being created with cyclists in mind.

Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo has more than 200 miles of bike paths and a shared-use path in its downtown area. It earned the 46th spot on the list.

Check out the full list for information on bike routes and clubs in each city.

Community Connection:

Get beyond the city with these 10 long-distance cycling routes in the United States.

Feature photo: Richard Masoner

After losing his right leg to cancer at age 10, Male got into mountain biking as a way to stay physically active. Instead of using a prosthetic, he rides one-legged using a toe clip.

In this video, Male rides the trails at Carlmont Hills in California. I like the clip because it’s less about him as an amputee and more about him as a straight-up sick rider. My favorite part is his balance as he clears the tabletops – most two-legged riders don’t have that much style.

Patrick Edit at Carlmont from keithdasneak on Vimeo.

Community Connection

Mike Hanson, a blind hiker, is hitting a very different kind of trail. Read more on Matador Sports.

Photo by ex_magician

It’s a great route for viewing the longest chain of volcanoes in the continental US. It’s also dizzyingly long, with a total distance of 2,392 miles.

Starting from it’s northern end in Sumas, Washington, the route curves through North Cascades National Park and on to Mount Rainier, the most heavily glaciated peak in the continental US and one of the first volcanoes on the route. It continues through Yakima, in Washington’s wine country, after an optional spur to Bellingham.

Continuing through Oregon, riders pass the Columbia Gorge and head to Crater Lake National Park in central Oregon, a deep blue volcanic lake with an island peak, Wizard Island, rising from its west end.

Photo by k.steudel

The route passes within view of the white cone of Mt. Shasta in northern California and brings cyclists to Lassen Volcanic National Park. After leaving volcano country, the route crosses through Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park.

Then, it’s on through the desert and sierra of southern California before reaching the Mexican border at Tecate.

Detailed route maps will be available for purchase on Adventure Cycling’s website in mid-April, so you’ll have time to plan a trip on the route before the Northwest thaws. For now, you can find an overview map of the route on Adventure Cycling’s website.

Community Connection

Learn how to set up your bike for touring and what gear to bring with you.

Photo courtesy of stuartpilbrow

In the early 1800s, tens of thousands of slaves made their way from the southern part of the United States up north into Canada via the Underground Railroad. This vast network of people, homes, businesses and passageways allowed slaves to slip from shackles into shadows and finally into freedom.

Much of the route still exists today, though parts are paved and some of the buildings have been destroyed. Like anything that served an important role in history, it stands the chance of being lost altogether. Luckily the Adventure Cycling Association had this in mind when it put together the 2,000-mile path now known as the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, which follows the rough network that the slaves used from Mobile, Alabama, to Owen Sound, Ontario.

If you’re not up for putting in the time or stamina needed to complete the entire route, there are also several day trips that are accessible along the pathway.

To make this a history lesson on two wheels, there are numerous places along the route where people can stop to learn about the slave trade and the intricacies of the Underground Railroad, including churches, museums, battlefields and homes.

The Adventure Cycling Association has put together a four-segment series on the creation of the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route on its YouTube channel, which has received several thousand views, and has sold more than 4,500 maps of the route since they were released in 2007. Hopefully the positive reception of the trail thus far is a sign this American artifact will not be forgotten any time soon.

Community Connection:

Looking for another bike trail to test your skills? Here are 10 long-distance bicycle routes across the United States (including the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route) that are worth checking out.

In 1924, George Leigh Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine attempted to reach the peak of Mt. Everest, but it wasn’t until years later, in 1953, that New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Tenzing Norgay reached the very top of the world’s highest mountain.

Since then, countless others have summited Mt. Everest, and many others have died trying.

But there have been inspiring success stories on the mountain as well. Temba Tsheri reached the peak at 15 years old, just days before Erik Weihenmeyer became the first legally blind person to summit. In 2008, 77-year-old Bahadur Sherchan became the oldest person to reach the top. Some have even hiked from sea level to summit without the aid of oxygen; Australian Tim Macartney-Snape was the first to do so, in 1990.

Now, the beauty of technology makes it possible for all of us to share in the the payoff of climbing Mt. Everest, without having to put in the work. Here’s one person’s footage of the final climb:

A big shout-out to World Hum´s Eva Holland for finding this video.

Community Connection:

Check out MatadorTV to learn more about John Krakauer and the disaster of 1996 and the dark side of Mt. Everest. If you want to tackle something a little more manageable, here are 8 massive mountains that mortals can summit.

If it has two wheels and rolls, it’s probably been on-screen at the Bicycle Film Festival. Now in its ninth year, the festival is an homage to bikes and bikers of all shapes and sizes, from alleycat racers and mountain freeriders to kids still on training wheels.

Each of these highlighted filmmakers draws something different from bicycles, whether it’s the joy of movement, a way to better society, or even a bit of their own souls.

The Third Wheel – Dir. Brian Schoenfelder

Set in New York, this socially-conscious documentary follows two pedicab, or bicycle carriage, owners as they face pressure from government regulators. Besides face to face interviews, the film shuffles footage of the main characters navigating New York City’s frantic traffic with (surprisingly confrontational) hearings with local regulators.

I Love My Bicycle: the Story Of FBM Bikes – Dir. Joe Stakun

The chronicle of Fat Bald Man, a t-shirt-business-turned-bike-company started by teenager Steve Crandall in the early ’90s. The movie itself is pure ’90s skateboarder DIY, its story told through grainy home video footage and talking head-style interviews with a seemingly endless stream of folks in tattoo sleeves.

Anima D’Acciao (Soul of Steel) – Dir. Daniel Leeb

The centerpiece of this year’s festival, Anima D’Acciao, has an introspective feel to it. The film follows legendary Italian bicycle frame-maker Ciocc as he designs and constructs a frame for a modern fixed-gear bike, expounding along the way on subjects such as the relationship between creator and creation.

Where Are You Go – Dir. Benny Zenga and Brian Vernor

Where Are You Go follows a group of riders through the Tour d’Afrique, a 7,000 mile trans-African bike race from Cairo to Cape Town. Though it’s an ambitious concept for a documentary, the film does an impressive job capturing both the vastness of the African terrain and the lives of the people that the racers meet as they navigate it.

Community Connection

Want to visit the festival? Check its tour schedule to see if your town is on the agenda.

Photo: Theodore Scott

Ridge to Rivers

Boise’s Ridge to Rivers trail system covers the Boise Foothills that rise up to the northeast of the city. There are over 125 miles of mixed-use trails through 80,000 acres of desert.

This video is a good example of what trails look like in the Foothills:

Old Fort Boise Military Reserve

Like many of the trail areas, the Military Reserve park is just outside of downtown Boise. Trails fan out in several directions, but all lead into the hills.

This is a good place to get comfortable with the area. You can combine many of the small loops without getting very far out, or follow one of several trails that go high up the ridge.

Camelsback Park

Follow 8th Street north out of downtown to reach Camelsback/Hulls Gulch Reserve, whose numerous trails overlook Boise. One 3-mile trail is pedestrian only, but there are still plenty of choices for cyclists.

More Options

A few miles southeast of downtown, the Old Idaho State Penitentiary area has a number of short 3 to 5-mile loops.

If you exhaust all the trails close to town, head up to Bogus Basin ski resort 16 miles away, where you’ll find a whole new set of paths. Occasionally, the ski lifts will run in the summer for bikers – check the mountain website for dates.

Photo: Theodore Scott

To experience the most exciting biking Boise has to offer, try the Bonzai,a 17-mile downhill from Bogus Basin to the bottom of the foothills.

When To Go

May through October is the time for riding. The higher elevation on the ridge cools you down and takes the edge off the summer heat.

Be careful to avoid muddy trails in the spring – Boise has a serious problem with riders carelessly tearing up paths.

Map Skills

Trails near Boise tend to branch out – many of the routes in the Boise Foothills are pieced together from a number of different trails. It takes a while to get to know the area, so stop by a local shop for a map and advice. If you’re told to try out a popular loop, double-check its location before heading out.

Preparation

Standard biking etiquette applies – stay on the trails and slow down for other users. Check trail conditions before heading out.

If you want local riding partners check out the Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association. For the younger crowd, you can also look into BYRDS – a biking club designed to introduce youth to cycling.

Stop by a local bike shop to gear up, buy Ridge to Rivers map, and ask what trails meet your skill level:
Bob’s Bicycles
George’s Cycles
Reed Cycle

Community Connection

Go around the world with Matador Trips’ article on the world’s 15 most bike-friendly cities.

Photo: Zoo Bomb

Pedalpalooza

It seems appropriate that this massive, two-week celebration of bicycles should take place in Portland, Oregon, the center of quirky bike culture’s universe. Pedalpalooza has 215 events for adults as well as families. Bizarre events include the Jesus Cycle Procession, a bike self-defense class, and the Pretty Panty Ride.

Zoobomb

Now in it’s seventh year, this weekly begins at the Portland Zoo and involves a legion of mini-bike riders speeding downhill at up to 35 miles per hour. Zoobombers follow ‘leave no trace’ practices and encourage participants to take the MAX to the Zoo to cut environmental impact. Riders are encouraged to use safety equipment, such as helmets and lights.

Photo: Rat Race – Photo By: m500

Zoobomb’s organizers put on a number of other events throughout the year, including the Zoobomb Century in June, where participants ride mini bikes on various looped courses for 100 miles, and Mini Bike Winter in February.

Tour de Fat

Organized by New Belgium Brewery, the Tour de Fat is a mobile bike festival that meanders through 11 western cities every summer and fall, bringing live music and costumed bike parades. This year’s route begins in Chicago and winds through Washington, California, and six other states before ending in Austin.

New Belgium donates all profits from beer sales at the event to cycling and environmental non-profits.

Tour de Donut

Illinois’ spoof of the Tour de France, the Tour de Donut is a 30-mile bike race with two optional donut stops along the route. Riders who choose to stop receive a five-minute time deduction for every donut they consume.

Since the original race began in 1989, two others have started, one in Texas and another in Ohio.

Photo: Pedalpalooza – Photo By: Hive

Critical Mass

Part celebration and part protest, Critical Mass began in 1992 in San Francisco as a way to draw attention to the unfavorable cycling conditions of the city’s streets.

Today, some 300 cities around the world host their own version of the ride, in which large groups of cyclists gather informally to promote bikes as an alternative to cars.

Critical Mass riders sometimes employ traffic-blocking tactics, and events have been known to turn violent. In response, some cities have begun to hold more courteous versions of the ride.

World Naked Bike Ride

Mostly self-explanatory. The World Naked Bike Ride is a lighthearted, clothing-optional event with the aim of drawing attention to cycling as a sustainable alternative to car travel. The ride takes place every year in June or March.

Alleycat Races

More a type of event than a ride, alleycat races are DIY urban races with roots in the bicycle messenger community. Alleycat races usually involve traveling to various checkpoints, reflecting the nature of a bike messenger’s work day.

Photo: Big Wheel Finale – Photo By: wablair

Urban Assault Ride

This New Belgium-sponsored race/scavenger hunt takes riders in teams of two to various urban checkpoints, where they must perform ridiculous challenges in order to move on to the next checkpoint.

Checkpoints may be completed in any order, and the first team to hit them all wins a pair of shiny New Belgium cruisers. The event culminates in, of course, a beer garden and festival with more wacky obstacles.

Community Connection

Interested in learning about other organized rides, or training for your first big multi-day ride? Check out more articles on Matador Sports, category Bicycles.

Photo: chuckthephotographer / Feature Photo: faster panda kill kill

If I were Lance Armstrong I can’t imagine why I would want any more publicity. Hordes of cycling fans already know Armstrong for winning the Tour de France a record 7 times and beating cancer in the process. Everyone else knows him and his LIVESTRONG foundation for changing American fashion with their wildly popular bracelets.

Nevertheless, as the 2009 Tour de France kicks off with time trials on Saturday, Lance Armstrong seems to be on a mission to become the world’s most wired athlete. This year, cycling fans will be able to watch Armstrong’s progress not only on TV, but via blog posts and Tweets from Armstrong as well.

While it’s mostly a garden-variety public relations blog, Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG blog has its share of unusual features. Along with a stage-by-stage breakdown of the route, the blog has a dedicated Drug Testing Results
section, where LIVESTRONG has published the results of all of Armstrong’s drug tests since he announced his return to pro cycling.

Photo: Lance Armstrong

Armstrong’s Twitter is a lot more interesting. While other athletes‘ tweets may be more colorful, the 1 million+ users following Armstrong get some fairly entertaining updates. Recent subjects ranged from the routine (“At the official pre-race riders briefing for the TdF.”) to the Internet-weird (“My new socks. http://yfrog.com/44119j“)

Drug testing is a regular subject on Armstrong’s Twitter too. If the LIVESTRONG blog is where Lance shows us the results of his tests, Twitter is where we get to listen to him grumble about how often he has to take them. (“At UCI anti-doping blood control. This is # 34?” he tweeted on Thursday).

The Twitter fever may be spreading to the rest of the Armstrongs too: Lance’s month-old son, Max Armstrong, also has his own account.

Community Connection

Are athlete tweets the next big way to follow sports or an unnecessary distraction? Sound off in the comments below!

Photo: Firepile / Feature Photo: CorrieRosetti

For me, there’s no better way to travel scenic back roads than by bicycle. In particular, I’ve found that multi-day trips –”supported” rides where you pay to have luggage delivered to you on the route–are a great way to test your perseverance and to earn the self-indulgence of the after parties.

With summer under way, these non-competitive rides are popping up across the country. Here’s a look at how to get yourself and your bike ready for your first multi-day.

Training and preparation

• Take plenty of long rides in the months leading up to the event. If you’re doing a multi-day ride, you’ll also want to practice riding long distances two days in a row. This will condition your muscles and allow you to troubleshoot anything from what food to eat to what kind of saddle you’ll require.

• Know the terrain, and be sure you’re prepared for any climbs. Some organizations may post training guides online; find them. The more closely you follow their suggestions, the happier you’ll be.

Photo: Kai Hendry

• Know your bike. Take a fix-a-flat class or learn basic bike maintenance. While many rides have some sort of rider support, you’ll feel more comfortable if you’re able to fend for yourself. Be sure to carry tire levers, a pump and spare tubes in case of a flat, or cash to buy spares on the route if they’ll be available.

• Familiarize yourself with the rules of the road. Know the laws for cycling on roads and your rights as a cyclist. Be sure to learn hand signals and common courtesies for group riding.

Gear

• Rides may have food and water stops, but you’ll want to carry some of your own. Figure out what works best for you by experimenting with water bottles or a hydration pack with a hose. You’ll be burning thousands of calories a day, so fuel up early and often, before you feel hungry or thirsty. Drinks with electrolytes, salty snacks, and carbs are a must.

• Invest in a good bike seat. Finding the right fit comes only from experimenting and trying out different brands, and you should be prepared to drop some cash on the right seat. It’s also a good idea to invest in padded bike shorts.

• Get a bike fit. Bike shops can usually help; fitting your bike will make you comfortable and help prevent injuries.

Expectations

Photo: CorrieRosetti

• Be prepared for boredom. Long practice rides will help ease the toll of those lonely miles on your mind. Better yet, arrange to ride with a buddy.

• If the ride isn’t a loop, figure out in advance how you and your bike will get back to the starting line. Many organizations provide bus service for a fee, but it’s up to you to be organized.

• Don’t forget about sleeping arrangements for overnight rides. Book in advance if you prefer a hotel room, as they’ll fill up quickly on rides through small towns.

Three of the best rides to start with

Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic: 200 miles in 2 days
Tour of the Swan River Valley: 110 or 85 miles each day for two days
Cape Cod Getaway: 150-175 miles in two days

More challenging multi-day rides and one-day rides exist across the US. You can search for US cycling events of all lengths on Bicycling Magazine’s Event Finder.

Community Connection

You can find more tips to get your bike road-ready in Matador Sports’ guide How to Set Up Your Bike for Touring This Summer.

Photo: Dainis Matisons

At Matador, we love bike tours. We’re talking zero fuel costs (well, maybe a few PowerBars), and if you bring camping gear you’ll avoid overpriced chain hotels. A two-wheel tour can also reintroduce you to your own backyard.

Best of all, setting up your bike for touring is easier than you think.

The bike

There are many touring-specific models out there. If you’re set on picking one up, check out this comprehensive guide on how to choose a touring bicycle.

But it makes as much sense to gear up your old mountain bike — even a sturdy roadie will do.

Mountain bikes make great touring steeds. They encourage a more comfortable upright riding posture, accommodate thick tires, come with low gearing for sweating up hills, and can better survive abuse. Suspension’s also handy if you’re touring off-road.

Be more careful when touring on a road bike. Higher-end carbon frames may not be able to support a touring load.

Racks and panniers vs. a trailer

It’s possible to ride with a camping pack on your back, but this raises your center of gravity — it’s awkward and dangerous. Shelling out a little dough for rack(s) and panniers or a trailer is essential. This will be your biggest cost in converting your bike for touring.

Trailers

Photo: dionhinchcliffe

If your bike is missing rack-mounting eyelets and a clamp-on rack won’t work for you, one solution is to pull a trailer. Trailers generally connect via a hitch attached to the rear axle, seatpost, or chainstays.

Pulling a heavy load behind your bike can take some getting used to, but many tourers swear by the trailer. The BOB Yak is one of the most popular.

Racks

If your bike has eyelets (threaded holes) on the rear dropouts, seat stays, and fork, you’re in luck. These represent the easiest way to mount rear and front racks.

But don’t despair if you’re missing these eyelets. Mountain bikes with front suspension, for example, aren’t going to have eyelets in the fork. There are ways to get around this, such as clamp-on racks or those that run a support skewer through the wheel axle.

Tubus racks are considered some of the best; the Cargo rear model can support 90 pounds. On the other end of the spectrum, you might be able to pick up discarded stock racks on the cheap from your local bike shop.

Mounting both rear and front racks gives you the capacity to haul two large rear panniers, a rack-top bag, and two smaller front panniers.

If you’re looking to cut costs and can afford to sacrifice space, forego the front rack. You can pile a lot of gear onto the rear — just be aware that it might affect the bike’s handling to have all the weight in the back.

Panniers

I’ve seen panniers of all price ranges on the road, from the waterproof and ultra-durable Ortlieb models to plastic garbage bags strapped down with bungee cords. Whatever works for you.

Don’t forget the handlebar bag!

Photo: Faster Panda Kill Kill

However you decide to haul your gear, splurge a little more and get yourself a handlebar bag. These mount directly in front of you on the handlebars and give convenient access to items you’ll need frequently while riding.

Bigger isn’t necessarily better in this category, as more weight on the bars can affect steering control.

Tires and fenders

Touring tires should fall somewhere between skinny, treadless road tires and mountain bike knobbies. Widths from 28 to 35 (for 700c wheels) and something around 2.00 (for 26″ wheels) will work well.

Again, there’s more quality to be had if you’re willing to drop the coin. I’ve toured thousands of miles on my Schwalbe Marathon XRs and haven’t had one flat — not one.

Unless you’re in the desert, fenders are important for increasing comfort on the road. We’re talking full-length here, like those made by Planet Bike.

Depending on your bike’s wheel clearance, you might need to step down a tire size to accommodate the fenders.

Tools and spares

It’s important to be self-sufficient on a tour; you never know how far out into the middle of nowhere you’ll be when a problem hits. Create a packing list before you head out, and make sure these are on it:

* hand pump
* computer — essential for following map directions
* lights — if you plan to night ride
* spare inner tubes
* lock(s)
* spare brake/gear cables, spare spokes, spare brake shoes — for longer tours
* a solid multitool, or the following:
* Allen wrench set
* screwdriver(s)
* tire levers
* chain tool
* spoke wrench

Water

Even more important than those PowerBars is an adequate water supply.

Many touring bikes have an extra pair of eyelets on the down tube for a third water bottle cage. If yours doesn’t, stow an extra bottle or two with your gear. A Camelback also works well.

Community Connection

In the market for a touring bike and gear but don’t have time for research? Check out Bicycle Touring: A Solid Setup for our recommendations.

You can also indulge your inner freak by browsing Matador Life’s photo essay of 20 of the Freakiest Custom Bikes on the Road.

And don’t forget to create a profile and join the Matador community to network with other members who are fired up on bikes.