Someone's Bin Thinkin'

Saw a reference to this new bike pannier concept and had to share it because it is great! One more thing that will make commuting and shopping by bike a little bit easier this year. Get all the details at http://www.bikebins.com/ And, when you do start to use your bike more regularly for transport, don't forget your Kryptonite lock. (shameless commercial) :-)

Message to Thieves...Fahgettaboudit!!!

Pardon me while I brag for a moment...Kryptonite's New York Faghettaboudit U-Lock just received expert's pick (no pun intended) in Commuter Conversion article in latest issue of Men's Journal Magazine. The lock was put through its paces by world-champion safecracker Dave LaFarge and passed with flying colors.

Think Pink!

In the spirit of don't let tough economic times get you down, I'm happy to report another bike share program is being organized by a bunch of very enterprising students at Rhode Island School of Design (or RISD as it is more affectionately called by all the "Doids")...the Pink Bike program is in its infancy, but soon we hope to see pink bikes sprouting up all over Providence like so many tulips in spring. The fact that they are concerned about bike security, even for loaner bikes strikes the right chord in my ole' heart. Check 'em out at http://risdbiketown.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/hello-world/ and look for the bikes when you're in the Providence area. Other programs out there? Give us a shout and we'll tell the world for you, as well.

Very Cool Last Minute Gift Idea

Over the weekend, my hubby stumbled onto a very cool gift idea in December issue of Wired Magazine. If you haven't seen it yet, check out this bicycle helmet design, perfect for the commuting or recreational cyclist who doesn't want to look like a velo club refugee. You can find more information on them at http://www.coolhunting.com/.

Bike2Work

Three cheers for the latest UK/US collaboration! Two cycling mavens written about before in our blog, Carlton Reid and Tim Grahl, have completed their book, Bike to Work, and to borrow their words, it is a page-flippin' beauty! To download a free 50 page sampler , go to http://tinyurl.com/Bike2Work. Once you do, I bet you won't be able to wait for the full 250 page version due out at the end of December.

Can You Say Road Trip??

Back from my desert vacation (which was wonderful, thank you!) just in time to learn that the US Bicycle Route System project, which has been not much more than a vision for the past four years has become a reality! For more information about this advocacy triumph check out www.adventurecycling.org/usbrs . (Nice to read about something uplifting for a change...) Just think, if this project is fully executed we could have as many as 50,000 miles of an interstate cycling route network. How's that for a road trip?!?

Alternative Transportation Day at Ingersoll Rand

by Holly Emerson, Ingersoll Rand


Wednesday, October 22nd 2008 proved to be a beautiful day here at the Davidson campus of Ingersoll Rand for our inaugural Alternative Transportation Day and a great opportunity for employees to learn more about greener ways of getting to work and how we can reduce traffic congestion and help clean the air.

The day started off at a crisp 37degF and dark. Four of us, that would be Elizabeth Newidomy (a true greeney), me and my assistants, Ryan (9) and Kayla (7), froze for about 90 minutes handing out lunch vouchers and Starbucks gift cards to alert carpoolers and some very dedicated bicyclists. One woman rode in at about 7am on her beach cruzer. How cool is that? I think she gets the prize for most creative alternative transportation method, whenever I decide what that is.

Several carpoolers sped right past us, apparently we looked like some crazy family waiting for a ride. Lesson learned: wear the Progress is greener gear so people can spot you. We were soon joined by Gabe Workman from Clean Air Works! and Michael Gart, an energenic young grad. All in all we recorded almost 100 carpoolers, three bike commuters and one vanpool group.

As the day warmed up so did the activities. Chris Vasiloff, Arleigh Jenkins, Steve Doolittle, John Wilcox and Sarah Matchett from Cool Breeze Cyclery were on hand to inspect bikes and lead a lunch ride through Davidson. Their large yellow and black tent was a good draw for the avid cyclists on campus. Also joining them was Lauren Blackburn, Davidson town planner. The town of Davidson recently approved a bicycle transportation plan which will improve bicycling conditions on many roads and eventually link a Mooresville to Charlotte route, encouraging more to commute by bike.

Elizabeth Lintner, also from Clean Air Works!, and Gabe had a table with lots of information about reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. And Dan McGuinness and Michael were on hand to answer any questions about carpooling and recruit new Green Team members.

Folks from Industrial Technologies, led by Dipen Shah, dedicated their time to help with a jam-packed Nitrogen fill day. They filled the tires of 31 cars with Nitrogen! With an increase of approximately 3.3% in fuel efficiency gained from properly inflated tires, this could potentially prevent 50 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere in just one week! The Nitrogen fill is always a big draw. It's great to see people taking advantage of it.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Air Quality gave free gas cap checks and gas cap replacements for those getting Nitrogen in their tires. Up to 30 gallons of gasoline can be released from a leaking gas cap, in just one year.

And saving the best for last, many thanks to Kryptonite for the donation of four KryptoLok ®s for our raffle.

We wanted to educate people about greener commuting options, encourage commuting by bike, and tell employees about all the good things the transportation committee is doing. I think we accomplished our goals. It was a good day.

(Pictures by roaming photographer Harry Owanesian.)

Bike Friendly or Not?

The League of American Bicyclists announced its first annual report on the most bicycle friendly places in the US. Want to know if you're living in the right place? Go to http://www.bikeleague.org/news/090508bfs.php to find out.

Happy World Carfree Day!

http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/

Cool organization! Check out their list of projects. Visit the site often. Think about having a carfree hour...then a carfree day...then a carfree weekend...then.....

Roby's Ruminations on Life, Etc.

by Roby Holland, National Sales

Heavy title, I know, but really just some random thoughts, observations and comments about the last couple days.

R & B...Ridin' and Bondin'
Last Friday Kryptonite participated in a Bike to Work Day event in Boston, put on by the Mayor's office in an effort to get people to ride their bikes to work. The morning was awesome and made me think about how I wanted to get on my bike and go out for a morning ride after I was done with this event. The event was well attended by many teams and individuals who rode from different locations around the area. The organizers had coffee, bagels and fruit for the people who rode in and a radio station playing some good tunes for us to pass the time. I had a chance to speak with some people I had not seen in a while and catch up on what they were up to. I had a great time at this event and I look forward to the next time Kryptonite is asked to participate.

The Fishin' Blues
Last year was the first time I was able to take the Regional Managers out fishing after our annual sales meeting. This year I was only able to take one of the guys out because our other RM had a presentation to do in Canada. The morning was cool, much cooler then I had expected. I set out earlier to catch some bait for us to use. After a while of casting with little success, I tucked in my pride and went over to our local bait boat to purchase $20 worth of pogies. We would use these to catch The Monster Bass that I had promised Craig. After getting the fish into the bait well I made my way back to the dock to pick up Craig. We motored out to Gurnet Point, the area where I had several successful hook-ups with large linesiders. I gave Craig the lowdown on the fishing equipment. We each hooked a pogie and let them go. No luck...Well, after a few hours we decided to try several other locations with similar luck. Finally the tide began to turn and started to come back in. We headed out to a rip that I had luck with and knew would yield a fish, but not sure what. Once again I baited a hook for Craig, he cast and we let it swim out several yards. It didn’t take long for Blue Fish to get a hold of the bait. Craig had a fish finally. As he brought the fish along side, the Blue’s teeth cut through the leader and was gone. After several hook-ups and several bite offs, I decided that it was time to go across the bay and try our luck near Providence Town. I wanted Craig to get a hoagie, on a pogie and thought it was the place for that to happen. The trip took us twenty minutes to and it was just perfect. We threw our bait out and let the games begin. Wouldn’t you know it, not more then fifteen minutes later Craig had another fish onthe line, but it was a Blue Fish. Fortunately, I took the time to build some wire leaders in case these guys showed up again. We were able to get this one into the boat and released with minimal damage. Over the course of the next few hours we had several looks but no takers and ended up leaving with no Stripers. I had a blast and really enjoyed the time just hanging out with Craig, not doing much but fishing. I hope to get him on the boat again next year with better results.

What Time Is It?
Uniforms, foliage, double sessions and drop off are a few of the words we are beginning to hear in daily conversations. Summer is almost over and I have not ridden as much as I was planning.. It just seems that life is moving faster then I want or like. It was only a few weeks ago I was laying out my plans to go on a ride every morning I was home this summer. We’ll that did not work out so well. So, I have laid out my plan for the remainder of the summer and into the fall. If I learned anything this summer, it was that time does not slow down, it only speeds up. How was your summer?

Bond Broken

Be forewarned that this is one of those stories that will really crank off many of our readers... its a story about an occurrence that's just wrong, wrong, wrong....but it does highlight the importance of being sure you're careful to use the right type of security for your bike or motorcycle, considering the value of your stuff that may need to be replaced, not to mention the vehicle when its stolen. I do have to say, these two have a much more generous attitude toward the thief than I would have had!

http://www.registerguard.com/rg/Home/story.csp?cid=126107&sid=1&fid=1

I'd love to see more retailers of all kinds take a page from IKEA's book...It could actually work to live in an urban location and do without a gas-powered vehicle...imagine that as a solution to combat the high cost of fuel! Check this out! http://spheretrending.blogspot.com/2008/07/ikea-in-bike-lane.html

How Not To Get Hit By Cars!

I thought that title would get your attention....so you're thinking about dusting off the bike and using it to help stem the $4.50+/gallon bleeding?? Well its probably time for a refresher course in bike safety....no, not one of those cheesy movies or videos you saw in health class in school....here's a great guide (from which I shamelessly took the title of today's post) for you to bookmark, read and pay attention to! http://bicyclesafe.com/

Thank you, Michael Bluejay.

Bike to School Week Kicks off in UK!

Most of you know that we've donated Kryptonite branded bike racks to cities and towns in the US over the last year - and we will be again this year. It's been quite a successful program with lots of interest in the racks.

At the end of last year, our friend Carlton Reid put in a request that we just couldn't refuse. We donated 20 bike racks to St. Catherine’s RC Primary School in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The head master is very pro-cycling for the kids. And then, of course, there are pro-cycling parents. It's a great recipe for more kids getting on bikes throughout their tenure at the school. It doesn't get better than that.

Check them out - they were in place last week (yes, it took a little longer that I'd hoped to get them overseas.....but it's all good)

This area will eventually have a covering over it so the kids are sheltered when properly locking and unlocking their bikes, of course.

Look - there are some kids already using the racks! But, the big kick off to the "Kryptonite Korner" was today. The start of Bike to School Week in the UK.

Not only did the kids all ride to school and fill up the racks, but Kevin Brennan, Minister for Children & Schools visited St. Cats and cut the tape on the new bike safety area! How cool is that?! We have Carlton to thank for that, too. Nicely done!

These are some great photos courtesy of Carlton, with more here. Check them out. It looks like everyone had a great time.

Bravo to all! Encouraging kids to be on their bikes is healthy and fun. Bravo, bravo!!!

UPDATE (5/7): Some great coverage on this event can be found at:

The Journal

The Journal cover shot (photo Carlton Reid)

BikeBiz

Quickrelease.tv

Bike For All

Bicycling Has Minneapolis Bike Commuter Story

Bicycling Magazine has a section of their website where they highlight people's bike adventures and stories. This week they have a doozie - one very worth reading. Bicycle commuter Dan Schueller was at the base of the I-35W bridge that collapsed last month in Minneapolis. His story and photos are riveting. He was a perfect person to be there since he didn't think of his own well-being, he just jumped in to help.

Amazing. Bravo, Dan, Bravo.