Porto Alegre CycleChic*

sexta-feira, 9 de outubro de 2009

Yellow Bike, Yellow Top

* stylish, and highly visible in traffic!

Esse modelo foi apresentado recentemente na Eurobike [http://www.eurobike-show.de/] e já conquistou um prêmio!
Infelizmente, só estará disponível a partir de 2010.

Que pena. Seria uma ótima solução para tirar a minha bike da garagem.

Mas vale lembrar que, nos dias de chuvas fortes, tem sido muito perigoso transitar junto aos automóveis, principalmente porque ainda não temos as benditas(!) ciclovias. Não vale o risco!

Para os desavisados: jamais, durante os meses de Setembro e Outubro, em 43 anos, Porto Alegre tinha sido atingida por tormentas tão fortes como as de agora*

Mais informações: http://www.bikesuit.eu/

domingo, 4 de outubro de 2009

Project One - Trek

Através do Project One[ https://www.trekbikes.com/de/de/projectone/ ] é possível desenvolver o design de todas as opções e cores da sua bike!

E aí, como é que é a bike dos teus sonhos?

A minha é totalmente Kitsch:

quinta-feira, 1 de outubro de 2009

Um Show à parte*

--- Nos finais de semana, ele dá aulas pelo Gasômetro(!)

Canções de uma Porto Alegre sem Ciclovias

Há muito tempo que ando nas ruas de um porto não muito alegre...

Já era tempo das ciclovias serem implementadas pela cidade.

O descaso atual não é coerente com o crescente número de ciclistas urbanos.

Outdoor Sport Gasômetro*

Ciclista Torcedor.

Ciclista Jogador.

Ciclista blogueiro+torcedor+jogador: eu também estava lá esperando minha vez!!

Domingo é dia de Grenal!

Harley Davidson!

Essas bikes têm design inspirado nas motos Harley-Davidson! Na verdade, acho que a inspiração se deu ao contrário: a primeira Harley-Davidson foi basicamente uma bicicleta motorizada(!)
Enfim.

Existem versões industrializadas que há alguns anos são encontradas no Brasil. No entanto, alguns fabricantes caseiros também se aventuram no modelo:

Outro usuário:

Esse modelo lowrider abaixo está, inclusive, para a venda (com plaquinha e tudo: demais! Rss).

Vida Urgente in-Cargo

Existe uma iniciativa bastante conhecido no Rio Grande do Sul: o VIDA URGENTE*

http://www.vidaurgente.com.br/

Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina foram tomados por uma verdadeira revoada de borboletas!

A idéia do projeto chamado Borboletas pela Vida é alertar a população em geral sobre a gravidade e abrangência dos acidentes de trânsito, demonstrando que na rua ou avenida por onde as pessoas passam todos os dias, vidas são perdidas.

Em tempos de plena revolução das bicicletas em Porto Alegre, nada mais apropriado do que aderir ao programa e incentivar os ciclistas e motoristas sobre a nossa responsabilidade conjunta ao trafegarmos juntos nas mesmas vias:

Wheels of Love

Oh, Lovely*

Porto Alegre In-Line

Patins também são demais. Quem não se arrisca a usar diariamente pelos sobe-e-desces de Porto Alegre, pelo menos aproveita o ar livre de um lindo sábado de sol. Ah*

domingo, 30 de agosto de 2009

Plano Cicloviário para Porto Alegre!

Boas Notícias, Galera!

LEI COMPLEMENTAR Nº 626, DE 15 DE JULHO DE 2009.
Institui o Plano Diretor Cicloviário Integrado e dá outras providências.

Anexo 2 à Lei Complementar nº 626.
Tabela Descritiva das Vias da Rede Cicloviária Estrutural

1, 2, 3...

Riding in Red

Cargoliciousness

Modelos que ainda são raridade pelo Brasil são o "cargobikes" e os acessórios acopláveis para transporte de objetos, pessoas e crianças. Talvez somente os correios façam uso diários desses modelos.

Há algum tempo encontrei finalmente um família circulando com um desses modelos pela Redenção!

São fáceis, práticos e muito estáveis.

Os modelos mais famosos e utilizados são os dinamarqueses. Também pudera: décadas de tradição!

E tem utilidade para tudo mesmo:

Ou...

Quem sabe?

Em Porto Alegre, o que é mais comum encontrar é a não menos simpática "cadeirinha".

Aliás, tem famílias com muito estilo circulando por aí!

Personal Mobility

Ahhhh isso é que é viver bem, gozando de estilo e praticidade!

Olha só que máximo essa bike dobrável!!

O modelo usado pelo porto-alegrense aqui é uma Dahon Eco, ideal para passeios urbanos!

Depois de dar suas pedaladas, pode-se simplesmente fechá-la e carregá-la no seu carro para qualquer lugar!

Parece até uma simples brincadeira, mas essas bikezinhas, apesar do tamanho, são ajustáveis de forma a ficarem perfeitas para pedalar com qualidade como com qualquer bike.

Há variações diversas, desde a Speed D7, equipada com freios apropriados para altas velocidades, até a Jetstream, que apresenta um desempenho mais refinado, com sistema de suspensão completo!

É muito comum na Europa e EUA de você estar entrando no metrô e dar de cara com alguém abraçado ao seus "pacote" de bicicleta. Depois, na próxima estação, com a maior naturalidade, eles descem e em dois ou três movimentos já estão prontos para sair pedalando.

Basicamente, transporte intermodal....

De Filho para Pai...

É... parecia ser bem sério o assunto.

Bike Tech

Um dos principais cuidados que um ciclista deve ter é contar com uma bike adequada para a modalidade que pretende praticar, seja ela speed, mountain bike, free ride ou até mesmo para um mero passeio na beira da praia.

É importante ter não somente um bom fornecedor, mas um grupo qualificado para auxiliar aos ciclistas na hora de comprar ou montar uma bike e adicionar/trocar acessórios.

Em Porto Alegre, a Bike Tech é um ponto moderno, bem localizado e conta com uma equipe pronta para atender tanto a galera amadora como profissional.

São eles também que organizam o grupo

Night Biker!

Quem é de Porto Alegre com certeza já viu essa galera circulando pela noite com suas lanterninhas traseiras piscando a mil...

Eu, particularmente, gosto bastante do astral da loja e do atendimento. Recomendo!

http://www.biketech-rs.com.br/

Cycle Chic around the World

[BRAZIL] CURITIBA CYCLECHIC
[BRAZIL] PORTO ALEGRE CYCLECHIC
[BRAZIL] SÃO PAULO CYCLECHIC
[CANADA] TORONTO BIKECHIC
[CANADA] VICTORIA CYCLECHIC
[DENMARK] COPENHAGEN CYCLECHIC
[ESTONIA] ESTONIA CYCLECHIC
[HOLLAND] AMSTERDAMIZE
[HOLLAND] THE HAGUE CYCLECHIC
[HUNGARY] CYCLECHIC. HU
[ITALY] CICLOELEGANZA
[KOREA] SEOUL CYCLECHIC
[NEW ZEAL.] AUCKLAND CYCLECHIC
[POLAND] KRAKOW CYCLECHIC
[POLAND] LODZ CYCLECHIC
[POLAND] LUBLIN CYCLECHIC
[POLAND] TORUN CYCLECHIC
[POLAND] WARSAW CYCLECHIC
[POLAND] WROCLAW BICYCLECHIC
[RUSSIA] MOSCOW CYCLECHIC
[SLOVENIA] LJUBLJANA CYCLECHIC
[SLOVENIA] URBANVELO LJUBLJANA
[UK] LONDON CYCLECHIC
[UK] BRISTOL CYCLECHIC
[UK] CYCLECHIC
[UK] URBAN CYCLECHIC
[USA] CHARLESTON CYCLECHIC
[USA] CHIC CYCLIST IN BOSTON
[USA] CYCLE CHIC NY
[USA] SACRAMENTO CYCLECHIC

The Five Cycling Senses [COPENHAGEN CYCLE CHIC - ADAPTED]

[SOUND]
Listen up.

We'll dance happily over the noise that motorized traffic produces by sticking our fingers in our ears and singing, "Lalala, I can't hear the cars!".

Bikes, by the nature of their design, are often quite silent as they roll through town. When you ride with so many other cyclists in Copenhagen, however, your ears are tuned to the sound - or non-sound - of other bikes. Your hearing adapts, dog-like, to the noise of a bike coming up from behind, even next to three lanes of cars.

The soundtrack of urban cycling is composed by the city in which you ride.

I love this symphony of cityness.

One of the few bicycle sounds that irritates me is the sound of gears. The odd Copenhagener with a multi-geared bike may, when accelerating off the light, hop past 5 or 10 or 22 gears to get to the one they want. This dreadful clickclickclickclickclick is the cyclo-equivilant of grinding the clutch.

Fortunately, it's rare. You'll often just hear that one little click when someone gears up. Actually, one of the aspects of Copenhagen bike culture is the complete disregard for gearing up or down. A friend of mine from Norway brought it to my attention. He noticed that most cyclists don't even bother with it and prefer starting in a heavy gear off the lights, even though it requires more muscle-power.

The sounds of cycling in Copenhagen include the obvious sound of human voices. Chatting with your friend or loved one as you ride. Side by side or on a cargo bike.

Nothing beats the human voice engaged in a conversation while cycling. Even if it's a quick mobile phone chat.
Music can also be enjoyed on a bike.

[SMELL]
Studies have shown that the level of polluting particles is higher INSIDE cars than next to them on a bike. So while we have to live with exhaust, we can pity the motorists.

Traffic [meaning pollution and noise] kills ten times more people than traffic accidents, so cycling is a fantastic, safe way to stay healthy.

And as with the cyclist on the lovely, wide bike lane, we can just zip right past the cars anyway.

Meanwhile, back at the poetry...
For me, when considering Smell in relation to urban cycling in Copenhagen, one thing pops instantly into my mind. Perfume.

Not a single day passes without perfume wafting up my nose on the bike lanes, and I'm not exaggerating. Cycling here is a fashionable affair [as if you haven't noticed that already] and perfume or cologne are second nature.

Whether having a fellow Copenhagener overtake me or just following in the slipstream, perfume adds aromatic colour to the urban landscape.

Even waiting at the red light downwind of another cyclist, the scent of their perfume, or even their shampoo, often drifts your way. Nice aromas but it also heightens that sense of being close to your fellow citizens. It's personal, somehow, even if you're strangers.

I can't honestly remember any negative smell experiences involving sweat or body odour.

Certainly during the summer, the scent of suntan lotion is everywhere in the afternoons when people are heading home from the beaches.

I'm quite convinced that I can smell the seasons. The most strikingly aromatic season has to be autumn. The sweet organic smell of fallen leaves, intensified after the rain. The cooler air somehow sharpening the scent.

Surely we can taste sunlight? Whether in high-summer, mid-winter or in the early days of spring?

We can certainly smell the woods and the fields when we take shortcuts to work, and the seasons possess each their own unique combination of odours.

I'm quite sure we can agree that we can smell the rain.

[TASTE]
All manner of snacks or beverages can be enjoyed while cycling through the urban landscape. Nothing like sipping a hot coffee on your way to work or crunching your way through an apple in the afternoon.

Can we taste the weather on our bicycles?

On a below zero morning, the cold winter air catches in our throats and chills our lungs. I love it. Getting to the throat and the lungs, the air has to pass the tongue. I am quite convinced that I can taste the cold air - crisp and sweet all at once.

And what of the morning light? Does it not possess a taste all it's own? I don't think I can HEAR the light, but tasting it... oh yes. What does it taste like to you? A peach? A freshly baked roll from the oven?

Or the low, melancholy light of evening, for that matter?

I was reminded of one sure taste experience. Riding home from the beach on a hot summer's day you may catch yourself licking your lips and tasting the salt of the sea after a swim.

And the sweetest taste of all. A kiss. Can't forget that one.

[SIGHT]
The sense of sight in relation to urban cycling is probably the easiest to document and relate to.

You're out in the open, exposed to elements, but also exposed to your city. In turn, your city exposes itself to you in ways that are unattainable in a motor vehicle, even a bus or train.

You are in constant interaction with everything happening around you, including your fellow citizens. You see so much. You see the buildings, the sky, the clouds, unrestricted by the glass and roof of a car.

In Nordic countries, light is a powerful drug. When you can ride through a winter's morning into the rising sun, even the squinting of your eyes is a feast for the sense of sight.

Your use the city's features on a bike, like zipping along and glancing up at the clock on the City Hall Tower to see if you're late or on time. Or the clock on one of the old churches.
You are up close and personal with the urban landscape. Watching other people interact with the city all while you do the same.

Seeing other people seeing, glancing, observing somehow heightens the sense.

There are very good anthropological advantages to having an unrestricted view.

You get to regard those fellow citizens that you find attractive while they are in motion, moving through the city, using the city. Seeing a gorgeous man or woman in the car next to you is one thing, but seeing him/her in motion is far more aesthetic.

Homo sapiens wouldn't have gotten very far on the evolutionary trail if we had to choose our mates based on how they sat, motionless and sedentary, in their tents. We have always needed to see each other in active settings in order to choose.

A city is far more alive when you are alive in it, on a bicycle. Your fellow citizens are in motion. You see them interacting with each other in the most human way possible.

And they see you.

[TOUCH]
It's a touchy-feely thing, urban cycling. It's physical, organic and a feast for the senses.

THE WEATHER
Feeling the light spring rain, snowflakes, a sudden downpour or the stabbing, painful slivers of ice during a storm on your face and hands are definately appropriate for Touch.

Feeling the four seasons up close and personal is an aesthetic part of urban cycling, even if you get drenched once in a while.

TOGETHERNESS
Touch is riding with friends or loved ones. Sure, you can hold hands while driving but it's not quite the same thing. And this kind of togetherness would be difficult in a motorised vehicle.

HANDLEBARS
Our sense of touch applies to all of our body but it is our hands that most used. Riding with a firm grip up a hill or a loose grip through the city or even just riding with one hand. Fingers reaching for the brake and squeezing it.

It's all about you touching the machine and controlling it.

...Even with one finger.
...And even if it's two sets of handlebars.

There are various postures people use at red lights. Many people just rely on their toes to keep them balanced at the light. Tensed muscles supporting a body and a bike, ready to push off at a moment's notice.

A brief connection with the ground before sailing off on two wheels.

FOOTPOWER
Just after that magical moment when 'lift off' is achieved and the bike is rolling forward of its own accord and the foot that propelled it forward has lost contact with the ground, the next event involves the foot finding the pedal. Seeking it out in a combination of instinct and experience as well as touch. It's second-nature.

We don't have to look for the pedal, we know where it is. But the touch of the foot on the pedal confirms it and we can start pedalling away.

Seeking out the pedal is one thing, but the foot sometimes needs to find purchase on the curb. Placed just right - according to individual taste - until motion is required once again.

Lift off.