It’s that time of year where the bikes are out, the wheels are spinning, and it’s time to watch some sweet films on bikes and party down.
SO. How about a Bike Film Festival? How about the 10th Anniversary of the Bicycle Film Festival?
It’s fast approaching to the time of it’s appearance here in Montreal and with a capacity of only 140 at the NFB, I’d strongly strongly recommend getting those tickets in advance. Individual tickets are available through the BFF site and full festival passes will also be available ( limited quantities )
NATIONAL FILM BOARD CINEROBOTHEQUE 1564 St. Denis Street
P.3 Bike Shorts BUY TICKETS P.4 The Cyclocross MeetingBUY TICKETS P.5 Urban Bike Shorts BUY TICKETS
All the rest of the events..like parties, alley cats, bike polo, gold sprints..will be posted very very shortly.
GET. PUMPED. This is going to be a weekend not to miss.
I don’t know how many of you have a car..BUT, if you do and happen to be a member of CAA, check this out! Their little blurb (which i’ve inserted, please try to forgive me for putting their little marketers jargon) states stuff about Ontarians. So I’m a bit unsure about how it affects Quebecers, but it’s worth a call to find out next time you’re stranded on your 600 km ride?
As Ontarians make a shift towards a greener lifestyle and with more and more commuters using their bikes as their main vehicle for transportation during the summer months, we’re introducing CAA Bike Assist, roadside assistance for your bike. If you run into a problem that cannot be fixed on the spot, CAA will tow you and your bike to wherever* you need to go. It’s available as part of your membership 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Members will not have to pay extra to be eligible for Bike Assist as it will now be a new permanent benefit for existing Members!
typing the word bicycle into the all-so-addictive arts and crafts online store Etsy can be a dangerous balance between need and want.
Recently referred to us by Julia, Walnut Studiolo’s hand stitched leather bike accessories has tapped heavily into our love for leather on bikes. Made in Portland, Oregon(obviously). These folks deliver some mighty beautiful leather accessories.
Over a year ago I, Marissa, attempted to finish a touring frame in 8 weeks when we had our first go through of our frame building class. In that time I decided it would be a great idea to put two water bottle bosses on the top tube and seat tube and screw in an old piece of leather as to attempt to create one of these portage straps. Still haven’t finished the almost finished touring frame..but once installed. if it works…I am determined to market it. Look out world!
a lot of people are out there pimping their bikes by buying flashy parts, colourful rims, custom frame paint jobs. The fine folk down in Oakland started their own scene. The Scraper Bike scene. In 2008, a simple Youtube video about these tricked out bikes posted by some teenagers in Oakland, Calif., had attracted a cult following, with nearly 3 million views.
With the increase in deaths and accidents happening in this city and it’s surrounding areas. What is there to do?
Should you always stay to the right? I don’t know. With the parked cars ready to open their doors on you, the pot holes, the people cutting right, the pedestrians stepping much too far….here’s a quick bike safe vid that can maybe start a new movement towards cyclists taking the space they deserve for cars to modify the way they are driving because of them and not the other way around.
The Tour de France started today with an epic display of falling and crashing all over the place. What a beautiful display of colourful movement. This is a going to be a good one folks! For those of you who don’t know where to watch it in Canada, it’s being broadcasted on the Outdoor Line Network. Here’s their schedule for the tour. If anyone also doesn’t know yet, this will be Lance Armstrong’s last. As much as everyone likes to be all hating on this little ego maniac, I like him there in the peloton. Makes me excited..so quit hating on Lance!
it seems that the bike block G-20 critical mass yesterday seemed the best received by the cops. Their need to beat anything moving or opposing authority seemed tamed, or perhaps just distracted by the attacking of those standing in solidarity with people in the detention center. The need to police the bikes with their very own Rocky Mountain police bikes is very cute. so very very charming. At the memorial ride last year for killed bike messenger Darcy Allan Sheppard, the cops used theirs and our bikes to push us back onto the sidewalk. The sidewalk? We’re on bikes!, last time I checked you can’t ride on the sidewalk. This was a memorial ride too…nothing violent or confrontational about it.
Anyways. In trying to find coverage of yesterdays ride. Stumbled upon a photo of two of our very own children out on the ride. It’s always nice to know that our bikes can be apart of people’s organizing and speaking out….it makes this place worth it!
Just a piece of advice. If you do decide to go to a demonstration with your bike. Be prepared to lose it and for it never to be able to be recovered. They will also deem it a weapon if you decide to hold onto it whilst they are trying to mobilize you into giant sardines. A giant gathering of people on bikes can be super powerful. It’s just so large and so mobile. But it does limit it to a critical mass kind of feel. All demonstrating was important this weekend and hopefully the documentation of the blatant arbitrary arrests and injustice on peaceful protesters will be brought to more of the public sphere and that change will happen.
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