• Riding San Francisco’s Sunday streets: San Francisco Chronicle
• 5 Mountain bike trails near Pittsburgh: About.com
• Transportation Department embracing bikes: New York Times
• Fargo Street–one of L.A.’s sharpest grades: Los Angeles Times
• Academic courses in downhill biking? BBC News

In his City Room Blog, David Goodman of The New York Times reports that in 2009 nearly 236,000 New Yorkers were riding a day, “up 28 percent from 185,000 daily riders the year before.”

“‘More and better designed bike lanes, that’s clearly what’s fueling this growth,’ said Wiley Norvell, a spokesman for the bicycling and pedestrian advocacy group, which has conducted an annual cycling estimate for nearly two decades.”

In his City Room Blog, David Goodman of The New York Times writes about New York’s “two-wheeled tribes”: “a collection of finely divided sub-subcultures, each with its own uniform, lingo and attitude toward the bicycle’s place in the urban landscape.”

Emily Kreisa, a 27-year-old former triathlete, bike commuter, and city planner for the Denver Public Works, is hoping to make her city the most bike-friendly in the country.

“Kreisa’s personal tale of ‘love at first bike’ testifies to her belief that a bike can suit different purposes throughout your life, whether it’s to keep up with older siblings, cope with not having a car, fuel a competitive nature or get some low-impact exercise,” reports Sheba R. Wheeler of The Denver Post.

“…Kreisa is spearheading several multi-agency initiatives between Public Works, Parks and Recreation and numerous organizations to help residents shift gears on how they choose to get around town.”

In his City Room Blog, David Goodman of The New York Times explores the subcategories of biking culture–the “utilitarian, the recreational and the competitive”–and how they will continue to coexist in the future on our crowded, urban streets.

“How should cyclists relate to cars and pedestrians? Will protected bike lanes ’segregate’ cyclists? Is Critical Mass a good or a bad form of bike advocacy? What can be done to encourage more women to ride? And, perhaps most importantly, to what extent should cyclists sacrifice style and convenience for safety? This last topic is also known as the great helmet debate.”

photo credit: pamhule

Downhill Freeride

Bicycle enthusiasts from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, known internationally as a top winter sports destination, are hoping in the next few years to begin leveraging the area’s already existing natural resources, in addition to adding “new trails, new terrain and, in turn, new events,” in a collective effort to market the town as a top biking destination.

“Facing a lengthy economic recession and lingering questions about the sustainability of summer tourism, and sitting atop what they swear are some of the nation’s best natural resources — summer or winter — leaders in Steamboat are seeking to add a second nickname: Bike Town USA,” writes Joel Reichenberger of Steamboat Today.

“‘Sounds corny to say synergy, or perfect storm, but it is the perfect storm,’ said Craigen, director of Routt County Riders. ‘…There’s been such a buzz in the positive direction and very little pushback. Maybe we can accelerate what might happen organically in the next 10 to 15 years into a three- to five-year plan.’”

photo credit: sharpneil

Hawgs in the tunnel: Urban carp fishing isn’t for the feint of heart. Russ Miller, Will Rice, and Field & Stream photographer/blogger Tim Romano chase Hoovering lips on a section of Denver’s South Platte River. Black Wooly Buggers, muck boots (sewage effluent protection), mountain bikes, and an open mind required.

Photography by Tim Romano

Designed by bf1systems, the Factor 001 is a $34,000 bike designed with “no respect for rules or restrictions.” Charlie Sorrel of Wired offers his review:

“A bike’s basic two-triangle design is almost perfect, but that hasn’t stopped the bf1 guys from going all high-tech on its ass. Almost the entire bike is made from carbon fiber, but is still strong enough to take out on a real road (although NYC potholes might prove a problem). The bike also has a lot of electronics inside, from power meters to built-in GPS to a handlebar-mounted touch-screen. This bike isn’t meant for racing: it’s all about training.”

Last year English cycler Douglas Whitehead spent nine months riding from Bruges, Belgium to India–and he’s not even sure why.

In The Daily Telegraph Whitehead recounts many wonderful anecdotes from his extended trip, like peddling 48 straight hours through Black Forest rain, sleeping with (and killing) Turkish rats, obtaining Iranian travel visas, “genuinely imminent death” in Azerbaijan, and the moment he knew the journey was finally over:

“I had been toying with the idea of ending my journey at the Taj Mahal, which was only 300 miles away now, but nine months had passed and that was long enough. Instead, I spent my last night in Amritsar, inside the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhism. Guests are allowed to sleep and eat free at the temple, but alcohol is strictly prohibited. There would be no riotous journey’s-end party, but that didn’t matter any more.”