Black Friday redux

It's usually not even the busiest dollar volume day, but Black Friday has its placed etched in consumer's minds. While they're shopping I'll be riding my bike. I have more where this came from, but I have to get ready to do a group ride. I'll stop by later today to add a few more, but for now enjoy these.

Mayor calls for update to sidewalk and bikeways plan
Here's one government study I can support. In case you didn't realize it we've got a new mayor here in Nashville, Karl Dean. It sounds like Dean is focused on the task, but let's keep on eye on him to ensure he capitalizes on the momentum. Hopefully he'll demonstrate just how progressive he can be, but us cyclists should participate in those public hearings when they're held in early 2008.

Cycling in the news: Still riding after all these years
Velonews does a good job at scouring the Internet for articles related to cycling in some general fashion. There are many to choose from, but I'll touch on these.....

USOC's price to stay in city: free space
With as much sponsorship money the USOC goes through one would think they could afford to invest in themselves. I don't like it when for-profit companies try to hold a city or state hostage, so I am not too thrilled the USOC is making the same attempt (albeit in a toned down manner). I am a huge believer in that when people or entities get something for nothing they do not cherish it as they should. Free items get taken for granted and appreciation goes out the window over time. Individuals must be willing to sacrifice and invest in themselves and put something on the line. Otherwise they'll start sliding down the slope of mediocrity, or worse get overtaken by their competition.

Why Sports Scandals Don't Hurt Sports
Forbes magazine touches on how fans turn the page and root for the next guy. After allowing their knee-jerk responses tone down a bit I believe you'll find cycling sponsors coming back in droves. Why? That's where the customers have been and will continue to be.

Their point is even made using the Tour de France as an example. Ratings of the Tour had already dropped prior to Floyd Landis testing positive (due to Lance's retirement), but in 2007 ratings went up in Europe. I have read elsewhere that ratings on Versus here in the US were up as well. Now, that isn't to say that ratings and attendance wouldn't be higher had their been no scandals. In other words, sure it's not sinking, but what could have been?

Children of doping athletes deformed
This study looked at the offspring of 52 athletes on the East German Olympic Team from the '70s to '80s. It will be interesting to see what the offspring of American athletes will look in another decade after our disastrous '90s and '00s. The worst part is that the athletes didn't even know they were being subjected to steroids, but instead were told it was vitamins.

Man admits to sex with bike
Bicycles in Scotland beware! This man is now on the sex offenders register list for getting caught doing the deed in his own hotel room. Can't anybody knock anymore?!

Honestly, I stumbled across something a few weeks ago that made my jaw drop. I resisted sharing it here because it was simply too graphic, but I'll simply say it was a woman getting her joys from the frame of a bike. Use your imagination, but no, the handlebars were not involved!

Bike furniture
I want one of these chairs.

Commute cost and emissions calculator
In keeping with the theme that Nashvillians are "auto-centric" here is a method to find out just how much that commute is costing you. The moral of the story is if you want to save a few thousand dollars per year then either ride your bicycle more or carpool.