De-Anodizing Bike Components

I’m generally partial to silvery aluminum bike components.  Aluminum anodized black does have value–it can look great new–but certain components, most notably cranks, are easy to scratch and fade and wear and once there’s sufficient […]

Slot Machines and Bicycles

light up slots

For over a decade, I trekked to Las Vegas for the InterBike trade show. As my reason for being there was to interact with the bike industry, I only needed a room with a bed, […]

Garbage Bags Might or Might Not Save You From Open Water

Racing the Iditasport on Big Lake Alaska

This originally appeared in 1994, after riding the Iditasport in February, 1993.  I’m posting it now to honor the event, set to take place this weekend, but was cancelled due to the pandemic.  It’s expected […]

Sloppy Season

Street after snowstorm, Harlem, New York City.

Looking out the window and seeing roads covered or edged with snow and ice is an increasingly rare phenomenon. The snow we just had was a bigger dump than anything in nearly two years. As […]

The Winter Bike is Ready to Roll.

When I first started working at a bike shop, the more serious racers I toiled alongside had winter bikes.  That is, they had a bicycle they just used in winter months.  It wasn’t as nice […]

Reviewed: Burley Travoy

A trailer for city cyclists.   When the pandemic hit, the goal was to avoid people; and that meant avoiding buses, subways, and private cars. They all appeared, at first blush, to be spreading vehicles. […]

Westchester Riding. Mapped. Ready to share.

I ride. Whether I need to or not. This acute case of ridingitis manifested itself into a book some time ago. Called Where To Bike New York City (the Australian publisher felt that Americans were […]

Bicycle Chain Waxing in the Kitchen (Video)

A great project to do if you want a clean chain, fast, and smooth chain. No grease marks, no mess, and longer chain life. And an old-school hack to boot.   tools needed: Chain tool–either […]

Drivers Know What You Think.

cover image for story

They don’t. WNYC, New York City’s leading public radio station, recently started a series called “We The Commuters.” It looks at how people get around town. Cycling, not surprisingly, is a topic. On the one […]

Too Much Damn Parking

The headline on the Commercial Appeal was a great way to start my trip to Memphis. “Parking study finds too many spaces Downtown, still thousands more to be added.” To make it more poignant, I […]