WINTER BREAK

The Bike Library is closed for Winter Break until January 21, 2008.  

If you are a patron who needs to return a bike during that time, please e-mail iowacitybikelibrary@gmail.com to make arrangements.

Home Made Studded Tires

Looking for something to do this week? How about creating your own set of studded tires. My dad made a set about 10 years ago. I stuck one on the front of my mountain bike. It worked great. I skipped the back tire just because the tires are so heavy, but I'm sure it would be even better with a rear tire.

I don't remember where my dad got the instructions for the studded tires. I think someone at the bikeshop might have helped him. Anyway, the icebike site has a section on home made studded tires:
http://www.icebike.org/Equipment/tires.htm (you will need to scroll a bit)

Just be careful mounting the tires. Those screws are sharp.

Winter riding tips

Well, looks like winter is here. I thought it would be a good idea to publish some tips for riding in the winter. Here are a few winter biking links:

http://www.icebike.org/

http://www.allweathersports.com/winter/winter.html

http://bikewinter.org/tipsAndResources/ginstips.php

What we really need is a list of Iowa City winter riding tips. You know, good routes, places to avoid, and any other general winter riding tips. So, go ahead and reply to this post with some winter riding tips.

bike vs car

A fellow commuter was hit by a car on Monday evening. Luckily he escaped with minor injuries. Read about it here.

Jingle Cross is taking place at the Johnson County Fairgrounds next weekend (Nov 24th and 25th). Come on out and ring your cowbells for the racers participating in this UCI cyclo-cross race. Maybe if we all bug G-Pickle enough he'll race :-)

European-style bike-sharing programs head to US

"American cities, eager for greener solutions to urban congestion, are rushing to set up bicycle-sharing programs similar to those launched in Europe in recent years."
...
Link to full story

3000 mpg!!!

From Adventure Cycling's Bike Bits available at http://www.adventurecycling.org comes:

"The bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting
calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand
miles per gallon."
-- Bill Strickland, bicycling writer and editor of Bicycling Magazine

Mark Wyatt and Jen Bedet of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition will bring their special brand of advocacy and rabble rousing to November Bike Lunch Talk. Mark will share the Coalition's advocacy and legislative agenda for 2008. And Jen will discuss her work with the Coalition's Safe Routes to Schools program.

The format will be informal, so bring a bag lunch and join us.

Bike Library T-Shirts - $10

We have more t-shirts for sale. They're made in USA and all cotton with the original Cody G designed logo!

XL (brown)
L (grey)
M (lt. blue)

ROADSIDE BREAKFAST

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2nd
FREE BREAKFAST & COFFEE
FOR CYCLING COMMUTERS!!!

7:30-9:30 at the Bike Library