I give up.
I’ve been battling low blood sugar for over four hours now, as I’ve struggled to finish today’s post. Despite my best efforts, I’ve finally reached the point where I have to throw in the towel.
Unfortunately, I’ve only gotten about halfway through today’s news, so let’s just call this Morning Links lite.
And we’ll catch up with the rest tomorrow.
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In today’s photo, Patrick Pascal sends proof that DTLA’s Olive Street bike lane is becoming a reality, looking south from 8th Street.
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This may be the most important video you see today.
Or maybe this year.
Tuesday evening, LA’s Velo Club La Grange hosted a two hour online discussion of racism, and what it’s like to be a Black bicyclist in the City of Angels.
This is how they describe it.
On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, Velo Club La Grange hosted a virtual Town Hall where a number of local Black cyclists shared their perspective and experiences and engaged in an interactive question and answer session. We invite you to watch this critically important conversation.
But that doesn’t begin to do it justice.
The panelists — a group of successful Black professionals — didn’t say anything I haven’t heard before from other people.
Yet hearing so many variations of the same hateful story, calmly told by so many people, was absolutely devastating.
Seriously, block out some time, and watch it. It may change the way you view race forever.
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When is a bike lane not a bike lane?
When its a parking lot.
Three cars in a line in the 7th st bike lane. #bikeLA pic.twitter.com/CQiRlwWWST
— Sean Meredith (@seanmeredith) July 9, 2020
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Help BikeSD raise funds for the Climate Ride this weekend.
https://twitter.com/BikeSD/status/1281066125724246016
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Submitted without comment.
All of the organization’s “athletic supporters” are encouraged to ride on their own and raise some money for the cause. For more info and a lot more locker room jokes, please visit their website: https://t.co/7YqlnWUF9U
— Orange County Bicycle Coalition (@OCbike) July 8, 2020
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Barcelona soccer star Gerard Pique is one of us, arriving for an important La Liga match on his ebike.
https://twitter.com/MovistarFutbol/status/1280934558175821824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1280934558175821824%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fheavy.com%2Fsports%2F2020%2F07%2Fgerard-pique-bike%2F
Eddie Redmayne is one of us, too.
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Fascinating convo on the myths and facts of bike production and why a 100% US made bike is practically impossible. https://t.co/w81jHYc8yB
— ThePathLessPedaled (@pathlesspedaled) July 9, 2020
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Photographer Sterling Lorence discusses how to get the perfect mountain bike shots.
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The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.
A New York driver plowed through a group of bike riders blocking an intersection for a Black Lives Matter protest, leaving a string of mangled bicycles in his wake; the driver was arrested two blocks away after being chased down by protesters.
A teenaged Pennsylvania driver faces charges for chasing down a bike rider and intentionally ramming hm with his car, for no apparent reason.
A British bicyclist was pushed into a canal by a group of thieves intent on stealing his bicycle, the latest in a string of similar attacks.
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Local
No news is good news, right?
State
Popular San Francisco nonprofit bike shop Pedal Revolution calls it quits after years of financial loses compounded by Covid-19.
National
Nice piece from Popular Science explaining the differences between cheap bikes and more expensive models. Or to put it another way, between mass market Bicycle Shaped Objects, and bikes you’ll actually want to ride more than one summer.
A writer for The Next Web addresses the age old question of whether you should buy an e-bike or an e-scooter; concluding, both.
Specialized is finally making the jump to e-commerce, allowing its bikes and frames to be sold online.
Louisville KY’s bikeshare system puts its money where its bikes are, posting Black Lives Matter signs at the docking stations.
Once again, a bike rider is a hero, but in a different way, as a Minneapolis bicyclist creates an organization to collect up to 100 pounds of household supplies for people in need and deliver them to community service organizations, all by bicycle.
Incoming Michigan football player RJ Moten is one of us, putting his lockdown time to good use with 50 mile bike rides. Let’s hope he keeps it up, because the chances of actually playing football this fall aren’t looking good.
A Massachusetts town gets creative with its bike racks. Although most bike riders would gladly trade artistic racks for better security.
An Orlando newspaper recommends three outstanding bike trails for your next trip to Florida.
International
The European Court of Justice rules that Brompton’s unique functional shape can be copyrighted.
Bike Biz considers the role bicycles can play during the age of Covid-19.
Streetsblog says US states should copy Scotland’s E-Bike Grant program to replace car and transit trips with bike rides.
A former British firefighter discovers what it’s like to open a new bike shop in the middle of a pandemic, which counterintuitively turned out to be the perfect time.
Competitive Cycling
Cyclist exults over the pending return of bike racing.
VeloNews explains how budding Canadian cycling star Michael Wood made the transition from running to bike racing.
Finally…
At last, a bike you ride sidesaddle. That feeling when your bike ride turns into a cheesy DIY porn shoot.
And yes, you’re actually supposed to sit on this.
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Be safe, and stay healthy. And wear a mask, already.
I have a friend who had reconstruction after mastectomy and went up a couple of cup sizes. I quote,”Yes they’re fake, the real ones tried to kill me!”