“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”

—Andy Warhol

This 1968 pop-culture statement is often misquoted, perhaps conveniently so since Andrew Warhola (AKA Andy Warhol) deliberately tried to confuse reporters by changing it when he was persistently asked about its particular meaning. However, the statement refers to the transitory (short term and disposable) celebrity status that an object has when the media features it...followed by its subsequent loss of recognition as the public’s interests wane.

Even though the bike lanes, routes and paths in Sioux Falls could fall to this cliché, the community’s commuting and recreational cyclists need to maintain the vision for improving the trail and route system. Influential organizations and individuals have made sustentative recommendations to the design, development and alterations of this system and its detours. It is through committed labor, vigilance and expertise that Sioux Falls is emerging as a safe-cycling community. I extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to those organizations and individuals for the privileged opportunity to have such a system available for my use—thank you!

Warhol Sharrows?

“Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world.”

—Grant Peterson

Ice Fetish?

They’re mounted and inflated! No more messing around on this ice…Continental Spike Claw Studded Mountain Bike Tires.

Went for a very short ride today, just before sundown…what a beautiful day! I’m still not convinced that crashin’-n-burnin’ is that impossible with these tires. It just doesn’t seem right—riding on icy roads—but so far so good, not a single slip. Maybe the advertisements are right—“use the 240-stud version for riding around in hockey rinks… and get a grip on your masochistic ice fetish.”

The Mom-in-Law wants me to be safe on the ice so she got me protection for Christmas…check out the helmet. If this isn’t an outtake from either Animal House or Wild Hogs, I’m not sure what it is…but it’s warm and comfy! Ja wohl, dies ist ein guter Helm!

Merry Christmas to All!

Born unto the World was a Savior, Christ the King.
Best of Holiday Wishes to You and Yours!
The Sprockets

Bike-Sharing Simple

"Since the bicycle makes little demand on material or energy resources, contributes little to pollution, makes a positive contribution to health and causes little death or injury, it can be regarded as the most benevolent of machines."--Stuart S. Wilson

Riding the global wave of interest in alternative transportation, the University of Sioux Falls is launching a Bike-Share program for students and employees. Starting this Spring 2009, The USF Bike-Share Program will “pedal off” with 10 Giant Simple Single Cruisers™ —available on a first-come, first-serve basis. These bikes will be equipped with locks and a removable rack/basket and a helmet so that the participant has everything they need for a bicycle commute/ride. The goals are to reduce traffic/parking congestion on and around campus, reduce fuel consumption, and promote fitness and an appreciation for the outdoors.

The faculty and student sponsored program is modeled after similar efforts at other colleges/universities around the world. Bike-share programs are not new creations. They were first developed in Europe in the 1960’s from a need to protect the environment through the use of sustainable transportation; the same purpose as they serve today. However, bike-share programs fulfill a second purpose by contributing to the participant’s well-being by increasing mobility and leisure activity, improving health, as well as offering alternatives for short distance trips.

The concept of Bike-Sharing is quite simple; bikes are loaned, free of charge, to members of the university community. A user applies to become a member, completes a registration form, agrees to the terms and conditions of use, is issued a membership card and can borrow a bike-share bike. It’s that simple and elegant.

The USF campus is uniquely situated between municipal bicycling routes, some of which that have been most recently marked with “Share the Road” sharrows and signage. Bike routes along 22^nd Street and Summit Avenue intersect at the northeast corner of the USF Campus, providing easy access to municipal on-street bike routes (approximately 35 miles) and the bike trail system (approximately 22 miles).

And for those of you that missed it...USF is the NAIA National Football Champions! Congratulations players, coaches, trainers and cheerleaders!

A Bicycle Ride is a Flight from Sadness--James Starr

"I did not ride for pleasure. I rode to get somewhere, and I don’t mean from the house... I mean I rode to get somewhere myself."--William Saroyan

Abridged quotation from The Bicycle Rider in Beverly Hills.

I apologize for being a “recalcitrant blogger”…

It dawned on me last night that the best therapy for the melancholy caused by the dreary weather of past weeks and the escalation of seasonal affective disorder (promoted by the recent time change) remains a bicycle ride—with an old friend. This morning after the better part of a month of cycling-inactivity, I (re)called a dependable friend, of nearly two and a half decades, to go for a “frosty” but spirited bike ride. I knew that neither of us would be in our “prime” for the ride, since it has been a long time since either of us had trained. Delightfully, my friend rolled with the opportunity, and we shared yet another adventure—long overdue.

The chilly morning air reduced our efficiency and gnawed at our joints. Even though we have aged ungracefully, we persisted in acquiring an endorphin rush. It was like the Old Days, when we affirmed our independence on the off-road and mountain trail.

Maybe you’ll meet my special(ized) friend on the trail this winter. I have included a photograph at the top of the article.

Byrne-ing Down the House

“It is no exaggeration to affirm that a journey by bicycle is like none other; it is a thing apart; it has a tempo and a style of its own.”—James E. Starrs

Last Friday was another Soo Foo Coo Campus Community Cycling Wellness Activity.

Joining the group was our own FAB Prez Kirk Wurscher, thanks for riding with us with that new bike--Viva Las Vegas! Check this bike out—it’s really sharp (double click on the picture to enlarge)! Along the way we also picked up Tammy W. on her mountain bike.

On CBS Sunday Morning, Tracy Smith interviewed David Byrne (formerly of the Talking Heads). We should not forget that David Byrne has always been eccentric, shy and self-conscience, but always a creative musician and design artist. Byrne is also a cycling-celebrity, known for his design, purchase and judging of Manhattan’s Bike Rack competition. Hey, maybe we can get him here in Sioux Falls to judge our local competition…after all, when he finished evaluating the competition entries, he purchased nine of them to be distributed about the city.

Byrne could easily be mistaken for any cyclist on the Manhattan streets. When asked about his cycling commutes about Manhattan, the dialog went something like this--

Tracy Smith: “You know, you are a rock star, you could take a car service.”

David Byrne: “Yes I could…I could but I…besides commuting…I also find it’s really liberating!”

David, it’s hard to put into words alright…”And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?" My friends, it’s exactly as DW says... PEACE and BIKE LOVE!