Tag Archive for Chris Klibowitz

Morning Links: New ROAD magazine from Chris K, more on biking to the Emmys, SaMoHi kids bike to school

Chris Klibowitz has long been my favorite wrench, as well as a good friend.

In fact, it was Chris who put my bike back together following the Infamous Beachfront Bee Encounter, and made sure it stayed in top shape ever since.

Now the former manager and bike buyer for the Helen’s Cycles chain is the extremely knowledgeable new editor of ROAD Magazine, which released its latest issue today — free online with registration.

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The LACBC explains how they helped Mad Men writer/producer Tom Smuts and company ride to Monday’s Emmy Awards, while Streetsblog offers a first-person photo essay.

Even Bicycling picks up the story. And Red Kite Prayer’s Padraig goes along for the ride.

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Local

Build it and they will come. Santa Monica students are riding to SaMoHi even though pending bicycling improvements aren’t completed yet.

The Source profiles bike commuter Kasia Bohos as part of their Golden Pedal awards.

Bike Walk Burbank celebrates the popular Chandler Bikeway’s 10th anniversary.

LAist looks at Levi’s Commuter line of clothes for urban cyclists in a sponsored post. Yo, Levi’s, what am I, chopped liver?

Long Beach’s Bicycle Stand Race brings together the city’s cycling community.

 

State

OC cities are leaving bike funding on the table, despite a newfound commitment to bike safety.

A La Mesa cyclist suffers a serious leg injury trying to beat a San Diego trolley, offering yet another reminder to never, ever ride around railroad crossing barriers. Ever.

San Francisco-based Timbuk2 offers a combination chiller and messenger bag, perfect for carrying cold food and drinks on your bike.

A San Francisco cyclist gets his stolen bike back, thanks in part to the city’s voluntary bike registry. I tried to put together a similar free countywide bike registry for the LACBC a few years back, but gave up do to the conflicting demands of too many disparate cities and agencies.

Nice. Pleasantville teachers and staff member build 14 bikes as a team building exercise. Then give them to surprised students.

 

National

Bicycling says we may never see the likes of Jens Voigt again. I’ll second, third and fourth that.

About time, as Scott Sports introduces Lycra bikewear designed to prevent road rash. I just wish they’d had it a few decades back when I hit a puddle while leaning into a hard right at 25 mph, and ended up with road rash from ankle to chin. And was literally two thin spandex threads from being naked from the waist down.

An off-duty Albuquerque firefighter is honored for using a bike inner tube to save a cyclist’s life after a collision with a garbage truck.

What’s good for General Motors really is what’s good for the country, as the massive car manufacturer opens a bike share program on their 330-acre Detroit tech campus.

A Kentucky teen faces assault charges after hitting a cyclist in the face with a cup of ice.

The NYPD cracks down on cyclists, but does nothing about cars blocking bike lanesincluding their own. Not surprisingly, cyclists in Philly face a similar problem.

A North Carolina para-cyclist doesn’t let having one arm stop him. Though it does make it much harder to flip off aggressive drivers.

 

International

A UK rider is back home after being seriously injured while on a charity ride from Seattle to LA; he only made it as far as Shelton WA before he was hit by a pickup.

A Brit writer says bicycling through Detroit just makes too much sense, despite the fearful warnings of his friends.

A Welsh minibus driver was taking a photo with his cell phone through the bus window when he swerved and killed a cyclist.

 

Finally…

No, really, I can understand a local newspaper commenting on a cyclist’s lack of helmet following a serious solo fall. But what difference could it possibly make that he didn’t have headlight on his bike in broad daylight?

Turns out bike commuters have better sex lives; which is probably why we’re happier, too. And even Playboy wants in on the bike boom, with tips from former pro George Hincapie.

 

Morning Links: A local bike shop worker moves up, a cycling triple crown, and a bad break for Phinney

Congratulations are in order for one of my favorite bike people.

Chris Klibowitz of the Santa Monica Helen’s Cycles, and former manager at the Westwood location, is leaving the bike shop after six years for a new job as editor at ROAD Magazine.

You’ll never meet a nicer guy. Or anyone more knowledgeable or passionate about bicycling, or more deserving of the opportunity.

And now that I think about it, maybe it’s ROAD that deserves the congratulations.

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Talk about dominating your sport.

Just two days after winning the national time trial championship, UnitedHealthcare rider Allison Powers takes the road course win to go with her previous national crit title.

SmartStop Pro Cycling rider Eric Marcotte outsprinted teammate Travis McCabe to take the men’s road race title.

Meanwhile, newly crowned national time trial champ Taylor Phinney sees his season come to an unexpected end as he breaks his lower left leg in two places and damages the same knee after apparently crashing into a roadside barrier on a steep descent. Best wishes for a full and fast recovery from what sounds like a very nasty injury.

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Local

Santa Clarita will cap bike month with a Kids Walking and Biking Festival this Saturday.

If you missed it over the weekend, what exactly is the LA County Sheriff’s Department trying to hide by releasing news of the Milt Olin investigation — and not much at that — over a holiday weekend?

 

State

An agreement with state parks officials will allow the Santa Ana River trail to pass through Chino Hills State Park, eventually creating a continuous 110-mile pathway from the Pacific Coast Trail to the beach.

After a Visalia cyclist is killed in a hit-from-behind collision, the driver says he just didn’t see him. Oh, well okay, then.

A San Francisco cyclist is critically injured after allegedly running a stop sign. Meanwhile, a formerly anti-bike Bay Area columnist says local riders deserve better.

 

National

A Wall Street website lists the top six American bicycling cities. For a change, Portland isn’t at the top of the list, and as usual, San Francisco is the only California city on it.

When intersections are designed for cars, bike riders break the law; when they’re designed for everyone, most people follow the rules — cyclists included.

 

International

A Canadian bike rider spots his recently stolen bike going the other way on a bus rack, and steals it back at a red light.

Caught on video: A teenage Aussie cyclist clings to the back of a bus traveling at 50 mph.

Cyclists protesting Australia’s mandatory helmet law won’t be ticketed by police after all.

 

Finally…

A UK cyclist goes out for a ride in the country and ends up in a rave. And no bias here, as a Virginia TV station not only claims a cyclist collided with a car, but that authorities found him “passed out” on the median. Or maybe he was just unconscious because he’s just been in a collision.