News Cycle: Cycling sexism, Budget slashing, Bike biz hammered & more

BikePortland.org’s Elly Blue reviews “My year as a woman in a city of bikes”: “The resulting discourse focuses primarily on why so few women choose to ride, concluding that the primary factors are safety concerns — read, greater fearfulness — and image consciousness. More astute observers have pointed out that the majority of errands and kid-toting, even in households with two working partners, falls to women, leading to limited transportation choices.”

Jacquie Phelan’s career-long battle against cycling sexism has done nothing to vitiate her love for bikes.

Cyclelicio.us: Cool bike mural.

Today in Budget Slashing: Now word comes that Washington State may close the John Wayne Trail, one of the state’s most popular biking routes.

Bicycle Retailer: Imports were way down in November, and kids’ bikes in particular got hammered. Not a happy Christmas in 2009 for a lot of girls ‘n boys: “Imports of kids’ 20 and 24-inch bikes are off more than 20 percent, and sidewalk bikes are down 10 percent—together suppliers imported 1.96 million fewer juvenile bikes.” Mountain bikes: Down 17 percent in September, 25 percent in November. As we’ve said before, it’s gonna take awhile to dig out of this hole.

Ryan Leech on the joys of yoga.

The first time I saw this headline, I read it wrong…

So what happens when you actually DO ride in the buff? All it took was an administrative change to get a ticket against World Naked Bike Ride organizer Daniel Johnson dismissed. A new mayor, a new city attorney, a new agenda…

Less Gas, More Ass: World Naked Bike Ride Exposed!

Jonathan Maus/BikePortland.org

World Naked Bike Ride goes off without a stitch!

Yet it remains uncovered by the media!

Portland had to take top honors, although curiously unlinked by Google and Bing, which put Chicago, Sydney and other cities ahead in their queues. According to BikePortland.org, some 5,000 semi-clothed and all-naked (hey, they got photos!) riders showed up. What’s more, the cops went along with the ride.

What I like about Portland: They really ride naked down there. Here in Seattle, cyclists body paint in the annual naked bike ride opening the Fremont Solstice Parade (which is coming up this weekend). I have nothing against body painting, but it’s not really naked. The same for bikini shorts, thongs, g-strings and what have you. But somehow the World Partially Clothed Bike Ride doesn’t carry quite the same cachet.

So today’s burning question is: Will riders really get naked for Seattle’s World Naked Bike Ride on July 11? (Early July can be cold, wet and miserable, so other factors impinge as well.) Or will our image as half-assed and wishy-washy simply be reinforced…

More naked rider news:

In Denver, police warned that participation in the ride could mean arrest and registration as a sex offender. Sheesh, who thinks up this stuff anyway? What’re they worried about? Sex with a bicycle?

But riders covered up just enough to avoid the police blotter.

In New York, they made a cause of it: Get commuters out of cars and onto bikes!

Time Out Chicago has actual video (SFW, hee hee) of the ride there.

In Vermont, the message was peace and love…

Upon reflection, good times were had by all. When you bring people and bikes together, only good can happen.

Daily Roundup: Naked Bike Day approaches, Spokane approves master plan, Gary Fisher cancer surgery and more

Oui, bicyclettes sont belles!

Spokane has approved its Master Bike Plan. Hooray!

Gary Fisher, the Legend, just got operated on for a spot of skin cancer. He’s tweeting that everything’s fine. We wish him a full and speedy recovery!

BikePortland.org: Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride, expected to draw 3,000 barebackers, is this Saturday. As is Vancouver’s. Folks from Seattle are expected at both events, since Seattle’s naked ride doesn’t happen till July 11th. Seattle btw is the naked pioneer here, what with the annual Fremont Solstice Parade naked cyclists as well as:

“Seattle was the second city to stage a WNBR event in the world, the first WNBR-affiliated city to organize a day ride, the first city to work with city officials to make the ride a success, the first city to stage its body painting parties in public parks and the first city to have Yoga in the Park stretching sessions in public parks by certified yoga instructors.”

Northstar at Tahoe opens Friday! A month after Whistler. How can that be? Ah, priorities, priorities…

Trek recall: Bikes with JD Fork suspension — 7300, 7300WSD and 7500, all 2009s — are accidents waiting to happen. Take ’em back!

Mountain Bike Action interviews Aaron Gwin, the DH phenom who finished an unheard-of 10th last year in his first World Cup race ever. He’s America’s best current hope in the big rig category, dominated by Brits, Aussies and Kiwis to the point ya can barely unnerstan what da blokes is sayin.

Bike World News: To Astana team leader Alberto Contador as the Tour de France approaches, Lance Armstrong is “just another member of the team.” Ouch! You dunna wanna talk about the King that way, he’ll bite ya!

Pedalpalooza starts Thursday in Portland! Opening night features “Traffic Calming.” Would love to be there for that. If there’s anything I’m in favor of on my bike, it’s calm traffic.

BikeSharing Blog: In Paris, the bike sharing program still brings smiles.