It is that time of year when people start asking me about bicycle, camera, or computer related gifts for friends and relatives. When asked, I am going to suggest any gift from a local business. In this time of economic troubles I believe it is more important than ever to support our communities by shopping and doing business with local establishments.

Your local bike shop is a wealth of information and you can not go wrong shopping there. They make their money on accessories and repeat business. So if you are in the Portland/Vancouver area and decide to purchase a bike or bike related gift, please make your selection from one of the local bike shops listed below. Each of these are small to medium size stores with a knowledgeable staff and offer excellent personal service. I know, I have done business with each of these businesses.

• Bike N Hike
• Bicycle Repair Collective
• City Bikes Coop
• Clever Cycles
• Coventry Cycle Works
• Weir’s Cyclery

And lets not forget two bike parts and accessory suppliers who are local to Portland and do business on the web.

• Bike Tires Direct
• Universal Cycles

I listed them in alphabetical order, but Weir’s is my personal favorite. So do your community and yourself a favor by not shopping at a big box store.

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What does it say about so many Americans when they stampede stores on Black Friday? What does it say when one groups stampede killed a 38 year old man? I for one do not support or participate in this mayhem.

The New York Times is reporting: Wal-Mart Employee Trampled to Death

The shoppers broke the doors off their hinges and surged in, toppling a 34-year-old temporary employee, Jdimypai Damour, 34, of Jamaica, Queens, who had been waiting with other workers in the store’s entryway.

People did not stop to help the employee as he lay on the ground, and they pushed against other Wal-Mart workers who were trying to aid Mr. Damour. The crowd kept running into the store even after the police arrived, jostling and pushing officers who were trying to perform CPR, the police said.

“They were like a stampede,” said Nassau Det. Lt. Michael Fleming. “Hundreds of people walked past him, over him or around him.”

To those shoppers I want to ask, “For you to get your bargain, was it worth a man dying?”

I try to stay on topics which relate somehow to bicycling, but I could not resist commenting on something I find so appalling about our need it now and want it all society. Could it be the American financial machine would not be in the mess it is in if it were not for the greed and need in our culture? Do you really need to have it all? At what cost to the economy, environment, and your mental health?

I need to go for a bike ride.

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Tags: greed, mayhem, shoppers, wal mart

Red at spokesNspin was tagged by his friend RBK and chose to participate without tagging anyone. I enjoy reading some of the unknown facts people put in some of these meme list, so I decided to participate too. The rules are listed below.

1) Link to the person who tagged you.-Check
2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6). Check
3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below). Check but tweaked to require they be regarding bicycling.
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them. Skip
5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog. Skip. See #4
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up. Will do.

Here is my list of six.

1. I have no fear of speed or at least I have not went fast enough to reach it. The fastest downhill speed on my bike was 61mph. That speed made pedaling up that very long and very steep sucker worth it.
2. I have went so slow up a hill I could count the spokes. I have never needed to get off my bike to finish going up a hill by walking. I would collapse before I get off and walk.
3. When I was kid at about 11 or 12 years old I was giving my friend George a ride on the handlebars and we learned what happens when your foot gets into the spokes. We went over the handlebars, hit the street and laughed after we figured out the only injury was to three spokes.
4. All repairs and tune ups to my bikes are done by me.
5. My worst fall was going downhill at 40mph. A car cut out in front of me and to miss the car I made a hard left turn into another street. Bruised my wrist, hip, and put a small tear in my rotator cuff. Most importantly my bike came out unscathed.
6. After adjusting my pedal tension I went for a test ride. At a 4-way stop I learned I had my pedals too tight. You are right to think you know where this is heading. I could not get unclipped from the pedals until I fell over. After I laid on the ground wrestling my bike I finally got unclipped, stood up, smiled, and took a bow. A couple of drivers honk their horns, waved, and smiled.

So there you have six unknown facts about me and bicycling. Anyone interested in participating with their six unknown facts let me know. I’d be interested in reading them.

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Tags: bicycling, daily cycling

The past couple of mornings have brought temperatures in the 30’s. I like it when I am heading out on to the road, just getting my cadence going, can see my breath, and feel the cold on my face. There is just no better way to start my day.

Fall/winter weather looks like it finally has arrived. I am not a person who complains about weather, but the past month has been a bumpy transition from very mild almost early spring like temperatures to fall and winter temps. Attempting to plan what clothing to wear on a long bike ride can be problematic and I can end up carrying along an assortment of clothing for the changing conditions.

Maybe the lack of dependable weather is why my mileage drops a little during the fall. Now that the days of rain and cold are becoming the norm I can get back into consistent riding. I love riding in the winter. Bikes are fun.

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Tags: daily cycling, weather

Last night on the evening news there was story about UPS hiring bicyclists to make their deliveries by bike in the area. Apparently UPS is hiring 28 bike delivery employees to make deliveries during the holiday season rush. The company has purchased a small fleet of mountain bikes equipped with a 200 pound capacity trailer and lights.

Reasoning behind this move to bicycles? UPS stated for every three bikes used during the holiday season the company will save $38,000 in vehicle operation and upkeep costs. When asked why the bikes were not painted brown they did not have an answer, however the bike riding employees will be wearing uniforms.

UPS did not mention anything about having less vehicles on the road or being environmentally friendly. It is nice to see a company turning to bicycles, however it would make me want to support them more if the reasons were more environmental green and not financial green.

A footnote to this is UPS was founded in Seattle where they started by making deliveries by bike over 100 years.

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Red at spokesNspin posted about cigarette butts and him admitting, “I am a butt man myself and can appreciate a nice butt.” Then later in the day I came across this video, so it just seemed appropriate to put this video up and link to his posting, “I Don’t Like These Butts”.

I just wonder what the couple in the car is saying? Anyone want to translate?

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With enough time in the saddle, anyone can get fit enough to hammer up hills and anyone crazy enough can go extremely fast downhill. But there is not enough time in my lifetime to learn how to ride like the person in the video. And I thought BMX riders could do some serious stunts.

If I had skills like that I would be arrested for causing accidents and having way too much fun.

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