The Dallas Ride of Silence will occur this Wednesday at 7pm.  We’re meeting about 6:45 and then at 7pm we’ll begin the 9 mile ride around White Rock Lake.  Meet at 4200 W. Lawther (between Fisher and Branchfield roads), click here for a map.

See you there.

Robert Cherry

A short while back my friend Robert Cherry told me that a magazine was going to publish his comments in an upcoming issue and asked if I’d take a photo or two that they could use.  Well of course.  So we met in Deep Ellum where I took a handful  of shots of him with his bike and some of his family.  I asked him to send me a note when the magazine came out.  Well he did and I think this could be the best cycling magazine I’ve ever read.  I just bought a subscription.

I'm now a subscriber...

So meet Momentum Magazine – smart living by bike.   Here’s their own description:

Momentum Mag is an independent media company that promotes, encourages & inspires Smart Living by Bike.

Our goal is to influence a shift in the transportation culture in North America from car-centricity to a balance of public transportation, appropriate car use, walking and bicycling, by showcasing riding a bike as a fun, smart, stylish way to get around.

Published five times a year, Momentum Magazine focuses on transportation cycling and bike culture in North America. Momentum’s positive and solutions-based editorial coverage includes arts & culture, city and people profiles, style, food, current events and gear.

June 2012 issue

I don’t know how much more I can add to that other than to say if you’re into leisure cycling, if bikes represent a part of your life and lifestyle, chances are you’ll enjoy the great articles and assorted tidbits on their site.

Finally, what put Robert on the map was he wrote the editor to compliment them on including people of color in their magazine.  He also pointed out that at least one cycle related publication has not included a person of color in at least two years, which mistakenly suggests, as Robert pointed out, that they don’t ride bikes.  The timing was perfect, or possibly it’s no coincidence that Momentum included a feature in the same issue titled “Barriers Facing Minority Groups, Diversity and Cycling” where they drill down into the theme of diversity and minority cyclists.

It’s a worthwhile magazine, check it out. And if you do don’t thank me, thank Robert.

- Chris

Dave Patterson wearing the Solo Classique Cycle Jersey

I recently got my hands on a Solo cycle jersey for review.  Solo Cycle Clothing (“race-bred cyclewear) is based in New Zealand and only entered the USA market recently.  I don’t typically get excited about sport cycle wear but the classic styles made by Solo grabbed my attention.

Their retro (“classique”) jerseys made in a style reminiscent of what you might see between 1950-1970. Each is made with Nuovotech polyester which they claim provides superb moisture-wicking. It also allows them to use colors (screen printed)  and such in a way not possible with wool.  They utilize an 8″ front zip with a nice sized (large) zipper pull, which makes using it a snap, or rather a zip.  You’ll find four rear pockets, and an elastic waistband and knitted arm and neck bands.  Even the stitching is strong.

I’m 5’11″ and weigh in a about 180.  I usually wear a large and Solo seem to be sized slightly snug, so if you wear a medium you might consider a large, etc.  I was struck by the quality of construction, the knit collar and sleeves were a nice touch.   The elastic band along the bottom hem helped keep it from rolling up on itself.  And there is plenty of pockets to hold most anything.  I also really liked the styling, if I’m going to wear a sport jersey I’d rather wear one that calls to the glory days of cycling versus the modern carbon-fiber age. Color me old fashioned, or savvy, whatever you wish.

There will be those who debate the wisdom of not having a full length zip, and in the brutal Texas summers that could be an issue for the folks who want to unzip their jersey the whole way.  And there’s the whole wool versus synthetic materials argument as well.  That gets down to personal taste. Fortunately blistering hot summers only last a few months in North Texas.

Solo also offers bib shorts, vests (“gilets”), and I highly recommend you checking out their Urban Cyclewear line where you’ll find every day shorts (knicker style), shirts and a very cool black denim trench jacket that I have my eye on.  Solo is not cheap, but quality seldom is and based on the jersey I’ve been wearing the Solo line will find good acceptance from consumers who value quality construction in a classic style.

Thanks to Dave Patterson for helping with this review!

- Chris

“Be safe”, you hear folks tell you as you cycle away. We hear it everywhere in cycling circles. But what exactly does that mean? Wear brighter clothes? Be more vigilant for rogue motorists? Wear 1500 watt blinking lights to out shine the sun? Wear the most expensive helmet money can buy? Pick low-traffic roads? Don’t text and cycle?

Eliot cycling in Amsterdam

I probably never gave all of these questions much thought a few years ago when I was blissfully loading my bike onto my car rack, driving down to Valley View Park, cycling down White Rock Creek Trail and doing a few laps around the lake. I also probably didn’t think about any of those questions when I was doing Hotter ‘n Hell, Collin Creek Classic, or any of the other numerous rallies I have participated in over the years. Rallies like those clear the roads of other road users and allows free access through most intersections–something that we simply don’t see in normal everyday, urban riding. So safety in those situations does just mean helmet, hydration, and a good bike.

A few years ago I moved within 2 miles of the lake since I was basically living at the lake in the summer anyway. Safely getting to and from the lake still seemed like a challenge. There are some great local shops that I wanted to get to via bike, but Garland Road, Buckner and Gaston seemed to kill my ambitions.

At the same time as my move into the city, I was taking some business trips to Amsterdam. Several times my co-workers and I would rent bikes instead of our typical rental car. It was fantastic riding to work, to the pub, to a restaurant…all without conflict and all feeling so normal. The itch to start riding for transportation rather than just for exercise was slowly growing on me…

But I never felt safe in Dallas. American bike culture constantly tells us that it is dangerous to ride in our cities (remember the “be safe” fairwell?). All the motorists seemed hateful and angry all the time. The people who rode wherever they wanted to go seemed to either be hippies or speed demons who didn’t mind getting hit. I decided to try the white-knuckle approach for awhile and be the speed demon. It was stressful, frustrating, and exhausting. That wasn’t the relaxed, natural, everyday cycling that I was remembering from Amsterdam!

So, like anyone my age, I started googling. Surely other people have figured out ways to bring safe, relaxing cycling to their cities! It didn’t take me long to come across the videos and little animations that fill the pages of Commute Orlando. These folks seemed to be Average Joe and Jane, and were sharing strategies that they had learned and discovered. I’ll admit, a lot of what I was seeing, though, seemed really out there. But, I figured, the proof will be evident pretty quickly once I start trying some of the techniques. Either these Commute Orlando folks are full of B.S. or they are on to something good.

a Cycle Savvy DFW student

Little by little, I started trying some of the tricks I was seeing in the videos and animations. I didn’t have the whole picture, but I was starting to see some significant improvements. Motorists around me suddenly started being more friendly and courteous. I was able to venture out on to bigger, faster roads to cut my trip times (and avoid those pesky stop signs). I kept going back for more and pretty soon I had watched every video on the site and replayed every animation they had. Surprisingly… East Dallas was slowly turning into my very own Amsterdam.

Not long after I had started practicing some of the techniques from Commute Orlando, a new bicycle education program was born from the material on the website. The key folks behind Commute Orlando put their brains together and recognized that by putting together the “best of” of the website, filling in some missing links, and adding a hands-on bike tour, they could have a world-class bicycle education program. That program is now called CyclingSavvy.

Another cyclist here in town, Waco Moore, was a few steps ahead of me. He was also going through a similar experience but decided pretty quickly to take advantage of this new program. He flew over to Orlando, took the program as a student, loved it so much that he flew back a few months later to take the Instructor training course. It didn’t take long before Waco was holding the very first CyclingSavvy workshop in Dallas… and I was one of the first to sign up.

The weekend course was truly a game changer for me. I had read a lot, watched a lot, and practiced a lot up until this point… but I still felt like all of this was for really experienced cyclists. However, I was fortunate enough to have a brand-new cyclist in my class as a fellow student. She had just bought her bike a week before taking the workshop. As I watched her maneuver the exercises, and then genuinely smile at the accomplishment and empowerment she was gaining through the day…. I knew I had to become an instructor too.

So nearly a year later, here we are. I have now co-taught weekend workshops all spring with Waco and Richard Wharton (who went to become an instructor at the same time as me), and have a couple more in the next few weeks (before it gets too hot!). We’ve seen all types of cyclists: roadies with thousands of miles under their tires, moms who want to bike to their neighborhood coffee shop, new cyclists who want to start commuting to work, and everyone in between.

Every one of them rides away with a smile and amazement at what is accomplished in a weekend. They are discovering that Dallas is actually a fantastic place to ride and it has many great streets to enjoy. They are discovering that the roads aren’t filled with hate, instead, they’re filled with our neighbors and our friends who just want more communication and predictability from cyclists. They are discovering that the friction, the stress, the anger on the roads… all of that.. can be mitigated with simple tools and problem solving.  They are discovering that being fast has nothing to do with being safe after all.

They are discovering that their options on a bicycle are endless.

CyclingSavvy DFW has two upcoming workshops that you can sign up for. The three-part clinic has a Friday evening classroom component, a Saturday morning parking lot skills training, and a Saturday afternoon experiential road tour. The entire weekend is $75 and can be taken May 11-12 in Dallas. A fall schedule will be coming out soon and will be announced on CyclingSavvyDFW.org and the Facebook page.

CyclingSavvy DFW operates beneath Florida Bicycle Association, which is a 501(c)3 non-profit. For more information about CyclingSavvy, visit its website at http://CyclingSavvy.org. CyclingSavvy DFW’s local site is http://CyclingSavvyDFW.org and has reviews of the course, more details about the workshop, area maps, and much more. Feel free to email Eliot at eliot@cyclingsavvydfw.org.

The first annual Dallas Cycle Style night was a hit and I think everyone will be looking forward to the next one.

As far as the awards go, Timmy and Christa took 1st place for the Face of Biking in Dallas (the city not this website), Susan took 2nd and Sabrina garnered the 3rd highest number of votes.  Justin Clemons was awarded first place for his awesome cycle census photos, Chris Arrant and myself were the runners up.

Dallas Cycle Style Night 2012

Sponsors included Railean Distillers, our spirit sponsor.  Kelly Railean brought a selection of her made in Texas rums and blue agaves, which were all a hit. Transit Bikes and Rozik EveryWear for sponsoring the Deep Ellum and Franconia kegs, and Richardson Bike Mart, Oak Cliff Bicycle Co, Linus, Repotted, CocoAndre Chocolatier and Light Tec.

Kelly Railean from Railean Distillers

Pedal Power was on hand to handle the bike valet duties.

Many people helped out and contributed in some way, I won’t being to try and name them all but a big thanks to everyone who participated  and contributed.  Oh, and Amanda Popken is simply amazing.

Read more and see the winning photos, and all the photos taken, over here.

- Chris

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Dallas Cycle Style has posted the photos taken for the 2012 Cyclist Census poll.  You can see and vote here.  I was flattered to see several of the photos I took made the cut.  Susan Reeves (my amazing assistant, logistics captain and art director) and I shot around 35 people or so and everyone we met was very nice and fun to spend time with.   Later that day I shot a few others at the Deep Ellum Co-Op fund raiser.

Dallas Cycle Style

Here is the run down on the photographers who contributed to the effort:

Main Street Garden, downtown Dallas – Chris Curnutt

Bishop Arts District – Chris Arrant

Fair Park DART Station, Dallas Earth Day Festival – David Wilson

Deep Ellum Station/Traveling Man – Justin Clemons

Bicycle Cafe, near White Rock Lake – with Jen Hammack

DCS will be posting ALL of the photos submitted shortly, follow this link for those. Until then drop by Dallas Cycle Style and vote on which image you feel bests represents the face of Biking in Dallas (not the website, but the city).

See you this Saturday night at the Dallas Cycle Style Fashion and Awards Show.

Switching Gears Cyclery hosted a fun raiser to help the Deep Ellum Bike Co-op.  There was a group ride and then party where beer and BBQ was served mixed with sunshine, Frisbee, and some of us played in the on-site photography studio.  This occurred after the Dallas Cycle Style Cyclist Census (say that 10 times really fast) event, and more activities followed this one.  Here are some of the sites seen in Deep Ellum that day.

Switching Gears Cyclery

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These are some of the images we saw on Saturday when we were shooting photos from Main Street Garden.  None of the images you see her are the ones submitted to the project, those will be up for viewing soon at Dallas Cycle Style. Once again a big thanks to Susan Reeves for spending much of her Saturday helping me at the shoot.

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Dallas Cycle Style has two important events for the month of April.  On the 21st from 10am-2pm photographers are taking to the streets to photograph YOU on your bike to be included in the 2012 Cyclist Census.  Get more scoop on the photo sessions from their website here or on the Facebook event.  Note the current locations and photographers:
Bishop Arts District – Chris Arrant
Fair Park, Dallas Earth Day Festival – David Wilson
Main Street Garden, downtown Dallas - Chris Curnutt
Katy Trail Ice House – Stevan Koye

Yes, I will be taking photos at Main Street Garden and I’ll be assisted by Extreme Susan, please drop by if you’re in the neighborhood that day.

click for larger image

Dallas Cycle Style Night

Saturday April 28th 9pm-Midnite -  Continental Lofts Gallery 3311 Elm.

Fashion party and announcing the winners of the people’s choice 2012 Face of Biking in Dallas and judge’s choice Favorite Cyclist Photographer. Arriving by bicycle is encouraged -  the party’s just east of the Baylor DART Station in Deep Ellum, free Bicycle Valet available.

$10 entry includes Rum and Blue Agave tasting with Railean Distillery (Blue Agave would be called tequila if it were made in Tequila, Mexico – but it’s MADE IN TEXAS!) and Deep Ellum Brewery beer.

See all the Cyclist Census photos on display and be inspired by runway-ready fashion that you might never have thought you’d see on a cyclist!

Whether you like to bike to the grocery store in dresses or spandex shorts is your call – we want to see all of you flaunting your personal cycle style because, simply put, the more of us bicycling on the road the safer we all are. So get dolled-up, pump your bike, and bring a friend to be counted in the April 21st census. Then come celebrate and feast your eyes on fancy bikes and runway fashion.

Keep updated with emails from the Cycle Style blog or join the Dallas Cycle Style Facebook Group to get the latest updates on the winners’ prizes and event info.

Thanks to everyone who voted in the 2011 Census. We’re looking forward to capturing photos of even more Dallas cyclists this year and seeing who steals the show!

From the press release:

Public Information Office www.dallascityhall.com City of Dallas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2012

Public invited to Urban Bike Systems presentation at City Hall

What: Gil Penalosa, an internationally renowned leader in creating great cities and communities through active public spaces will give a presentation on urban bike systems and pedestrianism as the City prepares to implement Dallas’ Bike Plan. The presentation is free and open to the public and will include information about public spaces and urban planning issues, concluding with a Q & A session.

Penalosa is executive director of the Canadian non-profit organization 8-80 Cities and former Commissioner of Parks, Sports and Recreation in Bogota, Colombia. He is also Senior Consultant for the Danish firm Gehl Architects and serves on the Boards of Directors of American Trails, Ciclovias of the Americas and City Parks Alliance.
Where: Dallas City Hall, Council Chambers, 1500 Marilla Street
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 11