On January 5th, 2003 this blog was born. Aside from that 1st year, no year has been more of a struggle for this blog than 2008. 186,886 visitors have stopped by in that time, and I currently average about a 100 a day. Thank you, each and every one of you, from those who stay a few secods, to those who stay for hours, and take the time to explore all that I have to offer, in posts, and links to resources. Your interest, whether you are regulars, or newcommers, means a lot to me. While there is a link in my sidebar to the best of the 1st 5 years of posts I want to now share links to what I think were the best of my offerings for 2008: Jan. 29 - Advice on Getting Your Message Heard and Being an Advocate for Cycling April 21 - My 1st poem/song of the year! BIKE TRAILS: A Green Acres Theme Song Parody May 16 - REI Invites Cycling Dude to Speak at Bike Commuting Clinic May 26 - The Bicyclist, and Arlington National Cemetary: A Memorial Day Tribute June 8 - Lemons in Orange Lead to Sour Encounter All Around June 26 - Supremes Affirm Cyclists Right to Bear Arms July 16 - The 1000th Post: My Spring Visit to Va. and DC - Pt. 1 (Yes, I WILL continue the story!) July 27 - A Very Disturbing Critical Mass Story out of Seattle Aug. 24 - My 2nd Poem/Song of the year! The Cycling Geek Oct. 11 - Rock and Roll Icon Digs Dude Parody! Alan Merrill compliments The Cycling Dude. Nov. 29 - Catch and Release Not Just an Angler Thing, and Other Cycling Terms Dec. 15 = My 3rd Poem/Song of the year! Merry Christmas! The Jingle Bicycle Song

So there's this former Fort Lauderdale city commissioner, see... Recently he had his bike snatched while trying to help at a car crash!. Tim Smith said he saw the traffic accident while cycling. So he leaves his bike on the sidewalk and rushes to help. After finding no-one to be hurt, he went to retrieve his bike, and noticed something very peculiar...  No bike! To add insult to injury, Smith — as a commissioner — was one of those responsible for a citywide bike registration program that helps the cops track stolen bikes... But, um, when he called the police to report his own stolen bike...he had to admit it was not registered. Can you say OOPS! ? I KNEW you could! ;-D From AP Story = Man who aided bicycle theft plan has bike stolen

I apologizze for the lack of blogging over the last week. I've been fighting a cold, and been busy blogging on my other Blog in between coughing up a storm. ;-D

Anybody can ride a Bicycle...but it takes TALENT to stay on. Discuss. ;-D

  Apparently I was a Good Boy this year! Last night I got a heads-up from the S-Man Himself! He wanted to spread the word about how he's getting in shape for his Big Night, next week, and gave me the OK to use a picture! ;-D Cerro Cabrillo, one of San Luis Obispo County’s famed “Nine Sisters,” is a popular spot for local hikers, mountain bikers and rock climbers because it overlooks Morro Bay and is located between “The Rock” and Hollister Peak – both of which are closed to the public. The peak at Cerro Cabrillo is located more than 900 feet above the estuary below, offering amazing views of the North Coast. I didn’t make it all the way to the top on my mountain bike, but I go far enough up the trail to enjoy the scenery. Over at The San Luis Obispo Tribune's Santa Comes to SLO-Town, Santa is sharing his adventures on vacation in San Luis Obispo County. ;-D The highlights are the Videos, including this one of his bike ride. Check out the full site: Santa Comes to SLO-Town.

Well, this is interesting! The way I compose my Blog has just become more fun than it already was! ;-D  

Founded in 2005, in response to a Tsunami in the Indian ocean that devastated already impoverished nations, the mission of this organization is "to provide access to independence and livelihood through The Power of Bicycles." 2 years after Project Tsunami was born the results speak for themselves:88% of recipients depend on bicycles for livelihood activities. Bicycles can save a household up to 30% of its annual income for transportation costs. The bicycle program provided critical, appropriate transportation enabling households to resume important livelihood, education and service activities.The organization believes simple, sustainable transportation, such as the bicycle, can play an important role in disaster assistance and poverty relief. Bicycles do this by providing access to healthcare, education and economic development, empowering individuals, their families, and their communities, in ways they may never have dreamed possible. And how is this Mission accomplished? By ...Partnering with relief organizations to provide quality bicycles to people who need them Working with bicycle suppliers to improve quality and technology, and enhance distribution with local sourcing and assembly where possible Documenting the impact of bicycles in humanitarian relief situations, communicating results, improving programs and increasing awareness Serving as a resource in support of bicycle-related microlending opportunities Most importantly, through bicycles, we improve the quality of life for men, women and children in developing nations. Through stories, photos, and videos, the website does a powerful job of explaining the importance of the mission, and sharing its many successes. When compared to the lives, and incomes of people in the Developed World, the benefits that folks in the Third World gain may not seem like much, but to them can mean the difference between life, and death, and can lead to far better livelihoods than many could normally have hoped to have. The videos, especially, are short, but informative, and inspiring, glimpses into the lives of some of those impacted by the many projects of World Bicycle Relief. The list of Corporate, and Foundation Sponsors goes beyond just Cycling outfits, as does the list of those helping in the various projects. Speaking of Projects there is an ongoing one featured on the website, called Project Zambia:World Bicycle Relief has partnered with a USAID-funded, World Vision-led coalition of relief organizations to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Zambia. We will provide 23,000 bicycles to community home-based care volunteers, disease prevention educators and vulnerable households. We are also training and equipping more than 400 bicycle mechanics in the field. The program will reach more than 500,000 adults, orphans and vulnerable children.Project Tsunami, the effort that got this Non-Profit Charity going, in 2004...provided 24,300 bicycle to carefully selected men, women and children in greatest need. The selection process included basic economic and commercial needs, distance to work, and distance to schools. Bikes were a catalyst that helped these people rebuild their communities, find work, and in the case of children, stay in school. For Project Tsunami, World Bicycle Relief worked with World Vision Sri Lanka and Lumala Bicycle Company.Reading the details behind this impressive effort, and the much smaller one in suppport of the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) makes for fascinating reading, as do the archived copes of newsletters, and you will come away sure of the value of the similar effort under way with Project Zambia. Interested people can donate money, or Bicycles to the cause, and can pitch in in other ways by joining the team. The Website for World Bicycle Relief is here, and can be found in my sidebar, under International Advocacy. Since 2006 Chris Strout has been writing the Share the Power Blog, of World Bicycle Relief. On Twitter World Bicycle Relief can be found here.On Facebook they can be found here, and here. Speaking of Donations... There is an important effort underway, from Noon (CST) today, through Noon (CST) Friday, called The DOUBLEbikeMATCH Campaign. What is The DOUBLEbikeMATCH Campaign? The following was sent to me by Joe Doyle, of Stalelife, the Agency managing the campaign:Help provide bicycles to AfricaAs you’re gathering gifts for family and loved ones this year, please consider giving to the DOUBLEbikeMATCH campaign.An angel donor will double all funds that WorldBicycle Relief can collected in 48 hours.They hope to raise capital for 100 bikes (200 with the match) – enough to help over 4,000 people.The campaign ends Friday at noon (CST), so head on over and check it out.The site asks for any amount, and no matter what you give it will be matched dollar-for-dollar! The campaign is also on Twitter.Tell your friends.WBR has already placed close to 50,000bikes across the world in just four years!They are hoping to raise $13,400. 

The folks at Specialized Bicycles have produced a really cool video for Christmas. ;-D Plucked Spokes Clicking Shifters Spinning Freewheels The sound of Pedals being clipped into and out of Caliper and disc brakes working Treat your self to the glorious sounds, and images, of The Bicycle Parts Nutcracker Suite!

THE JINGLE BICYCLE SONG ( With Humble Apologies to James Pierpont, 1857 ) Listen to  the Melody while singing along! ;-D Pedaling through the snowOn my trusty Steed,Down the street I go,Hoping Cars pay me heed;Bell on handlebar rings,Headlight making me so bright,What fun it is to ride and singA cycling song tonight. Chorus:Jingle bells, jingle bells,Jingle all the way!O what fun it is to rideMy Bicycle around all day. A day or two ago,I thought I'd take a Tandem ride,And soon Miss Annie BryteWas seated behind my backside;The bike was clean down to the crank;Misfortune was not our lot;We sped past a drifted bank,And did not get upsot. Chorus: A day or two ago,Another story I must tellI went riding in the snowAnd off my bike I fell;A gent was pedaling byIn a recombent,He laughed as there I sprawling lie,And away he quickly went. Chorus: Now the road is clearRide it while you're young,Take the girl you hold dearAnd sing this sleighing song;Just stay out all dayAt a sedate, and comfy speedTraveling a planned and certain wayWith you taking up the lead. Chorus: Coyright Kiril Kundurazieff 12/15/08

Jan Paulsen loves 19th century Bicycles (He's got several, not to mention old Motorcycles.). This past summer he rode a Highwheeler from Northcape to Lindesnes, all of Norway lengthwise, in 31 days. 90 kilometres a day. Some might call this enterprising Norwegian a madman. He certainly looks, and dresses, the part of someone some folks might call eccentric. ;-D I call him marvelous, fun, and brave. ;-D I want to ride one of those contraptions someday! ;-D I hear you say..."Why should I check out his website, and related pages, I can't read, or understand, bloody, freakin' Norwegian! The pictures, dear reader, the pictures! Oh, and this short, but glorious, video (It takes a minute, or so, to load on Windows Media Player.) ;-D The looks on pedestrians faces are priceless. ;-D Go, now, spend some time with the ancestor of your trusty modern steed, and  join Jan on his journey,  ;-D Then explore the rest of what his site has to offer.

One of the first aluminum bicycles ever made.A very cool look at a bike built in 1896. Oh, and it's a Fixie, hee, hee! ;-D 5 wonderful photos of this bike in all its glory. Thanks to Matt, from Des Moines, Iowa, for sharing! I came across this page by accident, and it is part of a website called the Fixed Gear Gallery, a website with what it bills as "An incredible collection of Fixed Gear Bicycles from Around the World." It's a news site, a resource site, and has forums, contests, and a Swapmeet, in addition to the growing Photo Gallery (Over 8600 entries!). The Gallery has been around now for 7 years.

One of the 1st posts I ever wrote on this blog was on January 17, 2003:Before the Bicycle Chain ( pun definitely intended! ) Conglomerates There Were the Family Shops of an Independant Nature. Do you remember your 1st visit to a bicycle shop? Did your family buy their bikes and get them repaired at the same shop, generation after generation? Do you take YOUR kids to the same shop for their cycling needs? Do you consider the owners, and employees to be friends? ARE they family?There are bicycle shops in this country that have been in business since the 1890's, and 1909, and there are also dedicated individuals like Richard Francis Sr. who I wrote about in 2006:For nearly 80 years, he sold, repaired and fixed up bicycles, either in his Philadelphia store or, since 1976, at his backyard bike shop in Holt. Francis, who died Wednesday at the age of 94, truly earned the nickname "The Bicycle Man."I have a Blogroll, and years worth of posts dedicated to honoring these businesses, and individuals, The Elders of the Cycling Business. I've had a standing invitation for people to send me tips for further stories, and links, and sometimes have wondered if anyone but me even cared. I love history...so sue me. ;-D A few folks have responded over the years, and I have thanked them...but it has been a while. ;-D The other day I got an e-mail:Hi, I am a reader of your blog and a fellow Bicycle Blogger.  I am trying to start a campaign among cyclists to get them to support their local bike shops during this holiday season. The current economic crisis is hurting many businesses including local bike shops.  These local businesses will not receive government bailouts like the Wall Street Banks and auto companies. If these small business go under, they may not come back.  You will miss them in the Spring when they are not there, so support them this winter as you do your holiday shopping.  I wrote a post about supporting local bike shops on my blog, The BicycleSpokesman.Please spread the word among your readers about supporting their local bike shops and consider linking to my post.ThanksMikeWell, how DO you do! This was interesting. ;-D Bgun in March 2008, this blog has a particular purpose in mind:I am an avid bicyclist. The BicycleSpokesman is a blog focused on bicycling with an emphasis on bicycle touring.  Posts will discuss tour companies, choosing a tour, types of tours, rides, training, bicycles, new products and other bicycling related topics.This blog had done a good job of providing a steady stream of interesting posts so far, and it is one from late November that prompted the writer to contact me: In the current economic crisis, many small business are suffering.  Most local bike shops are small businesses.  In fact bike shops are one of the few small businesses that have not been crushed by big box retailers and national chains... The current credit crises is hurting many bikes shops.  Due to the seasonality of bike sales, credit is very important to their business.  Inventory is expensive and often the bikes are in the shop for many months before they are sold.  Bike shops also need to place their orders way in advance, so that the manufacturers can fill the orders. What can you do to help?  Support your local shop.Mike shares his thoughts on just how you can do that and, even if, like me, you sometimes find yourself frequenting REI, or some other Chain Store. There are still going to be times when you can make a good case for preferring the local shop instead. Visit The BicycleSpokesman and read the rest of Support Your Local Bike Shop.