tony_farrelly's blog

The growth of cycling is a hot topic in the Pacific North West of the US of A. The proposed solutions to the problems of global warming and falling fuel prices include taxing bicycles and a new fuel tax that manages to combine the worst aspects of socialism - protection of inefficient and failing industries with the worst aspects of free market economics - imposing a tax that doesn't take account of people's ability to pay it and which rewards the rich, and the inefficient. Oh, and it's rather enviormentally short sighted too. Genius.

Trying to keep up with the constant flood of cycling information that flows through road.cc towers is a bit like trying to paint the Forth Bridge (except they are actually going to finish that now apparently). Anyway here's some of the stories, pictures and websites that caught my eye in the last few days that we haven't mentioned on the site…

This may not be the best bike for sale on ebay, but it is certainly the best bike description, in fact it's probably the best product descrption bar none. Worth hitting the link and reading the "Ask the seller" questions and answers too… Sadly though, this item has ended - isn't that just always the way.

Here's a nice bit of custom carbon riding to work kit, It's Levi Leipheimer's 'rain bike' fully kitted out with SRAM Red, disc brakes and mudguards pictured on a a US commuting website. Mind you, it's a rather different sort of commute when your ride to work is your work … anyway check it out

Couple of interesting cycling-related articles from this weekend's papers. Observer Money managed to yoke a mention of Sustrans's new Bicyclebelles scheme to a longer piece on cycle insurance.

Excellent sequence of pics of Lance Armstrong "dealing" with the man from UCI doping control… at least I think that's who he is, he certainly looks like he's got the official uniform and UCI issue sampling equipment.

Bit quiet at road.cc towers today cos we've been out at Madison's inhouse show, iceBike. Madison are the UK biggest distributor of cycling bits 'n' bobs handling major brands like Shimano, Cervelo, Kryptoinite, Profile, Blackburn, Giro, Bell and a load more plus their own bike brands Ridgeback and Genesis and their own clothing and parts brands too.

Forests have already been felled and a zillion innocent pixels, er zapped bringing you the news that Lance Armstrong and Don Catling the UCLA drug-testing expert have agreed to end their independent doping program before it started. So what do a few more matter!

Just in case you've been locked in a cupboard for the last 24 hours I might as well throw my two penn'orth in, and point you at the choicest opinions aired on the matter so far.

What I learnt in the park:

1. 25mm Schawlbe Stelvios surprisingly effective going uphill once you get started, top fun on the downhill, practiced some of the tips re back braking etc etc - they work once you get used to the the back end sliding out… I was on a road with no cars mind.

2. 25mm Schwalve Stelvios are fan-bloody-tastic for off-piste downhill park action.

3. B&NES council recycling bin lids make amazingly effective sleds

4. Snow is fun

 For some snow ball, sledging, trying to ride skinny-tyred bike in snow action…