The day has arrived readers when your FEARLESS BLOGGER is at a loss for words. I do not know if this loss for words comes because of...well...I don't know what to say
Article Courtesy of Wheelman.org
This organization is a descendant of the professional racing league that Major Taylor was a member of: The League of American Wheelman
The Wheelmen is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to keeping alive the heritage of American cycling, promoting the restoration and riding of early cycles (1918 or earlier), and encouraging cycling as part of modern living. Members are intent on learning lost skills, retelling lost stories, researching and writing of the golden era of cycling.
The Wheelmen embrace a broad range of bicycle-related activities, centered on the historical aspects of cycling. Such activities include riding in parades, tours and demonstrations, holding rides, participating in events to promote modern cycling, displaying bikes and memorabilia, research, writing and publishing cycle history, collecting bicycle literature and memorabilia, restoring cycles, restoring and recreating uniforms and costumes, recreating grand dance balls, picnics, developing buglers, show and tell meets, swap meets, auctions, slide shows, visiting historic sites and museums, and learning trick riding.
The Wheelmen embrace a broad range of bicycle-related activities, centered on the historical aspects of cycling. Such activities include riding in parades, tours and demonstrations, holding rides, participating in events to promote modern cycling, displaying bikes and memorabilia, research, writing and publishing cycle history, collecting bicycle literature and memorabilia, restoring cycles, restoring and recreating uniforms and costumes, recreating grand dance balls, picnics, developing buglers, show and tell meets, swap meets, auctions, slide shows, visiting historic sites and museums, and learning trick riding. 
Collectors and restorers have salvaged thousands of antique bicycles and preserved large quantities of bicycle memorabilia, literature and other valuable materials of the golden era of cycling. Many Wheelmen have built outstanding collections of cycles that rival the best of museums.
The club was founded in 1967 at Hoopes Park, Wilmington, DE, at it’s first Official High Wheel Tour by 12 men mainly from the Philadelphia area. Today the club has over one thousand members across the U.S., Canada and overseas. In the 30 plus years of its existence, the club has participated in major events such as the 1976 Bicentennial in Philadelphia, the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN, and grand parades in New York, Detroit, Washington, Milwaukee and Indianapolis. Each year the club has an Annual Meet.The Annual Meet is an activity where many Wheelmen worldwide join together in one spot for a four-day celebration of antique cycling. Annual Meets have been held in such historic places as Mystic Seaport, CT; Newport, RI; Auburn, IN; Niagara Falls, NY; Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI; White River Junction, VT; and Williamsburg, VA, with hundreds of members in attendance. Ten-mile tours on 1918 or earlier bicycles area also held in conjunction with Annual Meets as well as twenty-five and one-hundred-mile (century) rides, bicycle games, uniform and costume judging, and bicycle judging. Ribbons, certificates and medals are presented at most meets for distance rides, games, races, uniform judging, and judging of bicycles for original or restored condition. The club has established a constitution and by-laws, elected National Officers and State Captains, and appointed Committee Chairmen.
In addition to the Annual Meet, there are many Wheelmen gatherings and activities throughout the year sponsored by the various State Divisions that include many of the fore mentioned activities and rides. Periodically, international tours are organized for Wheelmen to attend other gatherings sponsored by the International Veteran's Cycle Association (IVCA).
The club caters to the needs of all aspects of cycle history, collectors, non-riders, and riders of high wheels, tricycles, tandems and safety bicycles. Men, women and children of all ages are welcome to participate in events throughout the year. Wheelmen membership is open to everyone worldwide whether you own an antique bicycle or just enjoy the early days of our history when cycling was being born.Cycling history is an important part of our American heritage. We invite you to join us in reviving and reliving the memories of the 1880’s and 1890’s – the great cycling era in America.
As I move a little further down the road to bringing my vision of Marshall Taylor being a household name, I decided to redo the look of my blog a bit. Unfortunately, web design ain't my thing and when it comes to paying the proper respect to Major Taylor and his legacy through web design, this is as far as I take it folks! I am a firm believer that people should stick to their core skill set and this sure ain't mine as you can see.
Nevertheless, I have been SUPER BUSY working on the long range strategy to make this blog a worldwide success and what I can tell you is I am moving away from my 'Urban Design' ONLY thought process. I came to this conclusion because what I have come to understand about Major Taylor is that he was a man that had a vision, and eventually accomplished it. It was, as was the title of his autobiography, 'The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World.' Yes, he was an urbanite in many respects but he was a World Sprint Bicycle Champion who happened to be black instead of a Black Bicycle Sprint Champion. His race didn't define him and living in a time when Jim Crow was the law of the land here in America, he succeeded in spite of his race
He overcame to become a champion between 1899-1901 even though the racing circuit at that time was determined at seasons end from a total point placement system and Taylor wasn't allowed to race on tracks in the south and was banned in his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana because he was black. Had he been able to race in the south and Indianapolis AND not banned from a cycling organization (Racers had to be a member to be recognized as Champion) because of his race, I guarantee he would have been World Champion from the years 1897 to at least 1905!
Anyhow...as the Terminator said in the 1984 movie "I'll be back."
Bike stunt turns out to be marketing stunt.
By Mike Smith
By Mike Smith
An impressive, real-life Guitar Hero short is making waves on movie sharing sites, but it's not everything it seems to be. You can check it out here, courtesy of Yahoo! Video, and it's well worth watching. The video is shot from the point of view of a cyclist riding around to the strains of The Living End's Prisoner of Society, only the ground he's riding over is marked with chalk circles mirroring the note charts on Guitar Hero. As he pedals, he holds up sheets of paper that mimic the score pop-ups in the game.
In other words, it looks exactly like the cyclist is riding through a Guitar Hero session. Not only is it jaw-dropping, it's creative, personal, and leaves you wondering , "Just how did he do that?" It's everything a good Internet movie hit should be. Except it isn't real. Contrary to its lo-fi appearances, the video was actually produced by a prestigious New York ad agency called Droga5 as a "viral marketing" stunt, and published on Youtube as if it was the work of one solitary fan. But does knowing the video's origins make it any less impressive?
Click on the link to see this video!
As promised, this posting will deal strictly with designs I have come across from a sampling of 67 Bicycle Distributors and Manufacturers. After looking at not less than 1,327 designs, these are the ones I have picked out as the closest thing to what I think ‘Funk’ is. Even though I think these designs are good, I still want to point out that there is a whole other level of design that can be achieved. I do not yet know how these designs fit into my vision of Urban Cycling but I do know they look good to me. Not one that defines great design with the # of gadgets and accessories on a bicycle, but I am designing strictly from an aesthetic standpoint. Remember, it all about the look baby! Let’s get this party started! Criteria for entrance are as follows
Criteria
1) When I see it, do I ask this question: "Why didn't I think of that?"
2) Would I personally pull the bike off the shelf in a store, say 'I gotta have this', and then look at the price (This means it's hot) or would I decide whether to buy it based on how much it costs?
3) Does it emotionally move me?
4) Does it look unique and does it appear alot of thought went into it, or can it be grouped into the 99% of all other bikes that basically look the same and the only difference being the company who produced it?
4) Does it look unique and does it appear alot of thought went into it, or can it be grouped into the 99% of all other bikes that basically look the same and the only difference being the company who produced it?
Nuvinci by Ellsworth
I never thought the day would come when ANY design would take the place of my all-time favorite for the past 23 years, but...as always, records are MADE to be broken! This design is called 'Nuvinci'. I love the name and the design is, well, a FUNK BALL. Not only that, it is now my #1 favorite of all time people. I posted an article some months back which, in my opinion sums up my feelings on this design; MVP!MVP!MVP!
I never thought the day would come when ANY design would take the place of my all-time favorite for the past 23 years, but...as always, records are MADE to be broken! This design is called 'Nuvinci'. I love the name and the design is, well, a FUNK BALL. Not only that, it is now my #1 favorite of all time people. I posted an article some months back which, in my opinion sums up my feelings on this design; MVP!MVP!MVP!
The Legendary Pee-Wee Herman
As I have said on numerous occasions, the Pee-Wee Herman is my favorite design of all-time. This is the design that made me fall in love with bicycles! This bicycle 1st appeared in 1985 in the movie by the same name. I made a replica of this as a kid for a little over $75. It was Ghetto Style, but a tribute non-the-less. If there was a hotter bike in the 1980’s, please send me a picture of it and make your case.Schwinn’s Next Generation Sting-Ray
Please don’t email me and say “I saw a hotter chopper style bicycle than that Brian!" This bicycle was sold through Wal-Mart (that’s where I 1st saw it around 2003) and stands held and shoulder above anything I have seen in a big box retailer before or since. Keeping my criteria in mind, I am forced to say that this is the hottest, affordable bicycle built in the last 20 years! The only challenge I have with this particular design is I would've made a larger version, maybe limited edition for teenagers and kids at heart. I saw an average size and built 13 year old riding this and it looked super small! I am 6'5 255 pounds and is a bigger version were available, I definitely would purchase it! Wild Buffalo- Taiwanese Design Competition 2005
Wow! What is not to like about this bomb freak show of a design?! I found this a few years back during research and this bicycle definitely produces an emotional reaction in me. This was a proto-type design for an annual design competition held in Taiwan in 2005. I am not crazy about the name because I don’t think ‘Wild Buffalo’ is a HOOTTT enough name for such funk as this. There is nowhere in this country where this bicycle will be ridden that won’t take notice and be like ‘Dang, that is’ hoottt’. Since this bicycle isn’t for sale and just a proto-type, I couldn’t get a price on it, so it makes my list even though I have a hunch it would cost more than $300.00. Since I can’t prove that, it makes the list!
Wow! What is not to like about this bomb freak show of a design?! I found this a few years back during research and this bicycle definitely produces an emotional reaction in me. This was a proto-type design for an annual design competition held in Taiwan in 2005. I am not crazy about the name because I don’t think ‘Wild Buffalo’ is a HOOTTT enough name for such funk as this. There is nowhere in this country where this bicycle will be ridden that won’t take notice and be like ‘Dang, that is’ hoottt’. Since this bicycle isn’t for sale and just a proto-type, I couldn’t get a price on it, so it makes my list even though I have a hunch it would cost more than $300.00. Since I can’t prove that, it makes the list!
Glam Rock by ‘Cube’
I found this design not long ago and it is distributed by a company called ‘Cube’ out of Denmark. I am not able to provide a high resolution picture of this bicycle which is necessary for anyone to appreciate the aesthetic appeal going on here. I am not a fan of Tour Bikes which we used to call ’10 Speeds’ back in the day. Over the last 2 decades I haven’t come across any Tour Bike that stands out from any of the others. That was until I saw this bad mamma jamma! This bicycle screams ‘Ghetto Fabolus’ with pearl colored paint, pearl colored tires and rims and the kicker is, ‘Snake Scales’ are folded into the paint and the seat cover. WATCH THIS- The snake skin look is also folded into the handle bars, the dark gray accents in the fork break up the pearl and snake! As Wayne on Wayne’s World used to say “I’m not worthy-I’m not worthy!” I challenge any of you to send me a Tour Bike more ‘Urban’ and ghetto fabolus than this funk ball.Unknown Designer-Unknown Company
Although I was unable to find much information on this bicycle, what I know is that this was one of the very 1st Safety Bicycle Designs ever made. It hales from the late 1880’s at a time when the bicycle industry was making the migration from the old ‘High Wheel’ bicycle to the Safety Bicycle whose design basics survive to this day. This bicycle appears to have no suspension system to absorb impact during riding which would put it in what was called the ‘Bone Rattlers’ category of old. However, this rendering demonstrates what I have been telling you all along. Gadgets are great, but simplicity should be the goal. This features a Powder Blue Frame, golden yellow rims (probably wooden), banana style seat with hook nose that sits on a VERY high cross bar! This design is original, creative, aesthetically pleasing and for all of you designers, take note that this design, with modifications, could be viable in today’s market place. That Glam Rock will make it to the Major Taylor Velodrome, yes, I see this..and it is goog.Holla if ya hear me!
Although I was unable to find much information on this bicycle, what I know is that this was one of the very 1st Safety Bicycle Designs ever made. It hales from the late 1880’s at a time when the bicycle industry was making the migration from the old ‘High Wheel’ bicycle to the Safety Bicycle whose design basics survive to this day. This bicycle appears to have no suspension system to absorb impact during riding which would put it in what was called the ‘Bone Rattlers’ category of old. However, this rendering demonstrates what I have been telling you all along. Gadgets are great, but simplicity should be the goal. This features a Powder Blue Frame, golden yellow rims (probably wooden), banana style seat with hook nose that sits on a VERY high cross bar! This design is original, creative, aesthetically pleasing and for all of you designers, take note that this design, with modifications, could be viable in today’s market place. That Glam Rock will make it to the Major Taylor Velodrome, yes, I see this..and it is goog.Holla if ya hear me!
A VERY interesting Read! Click on link;
West Virginia Honors African-American Athletes!
http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/news/page/6175/
Where do I begin? Over the last several years, I have looked at, and scoured many types of Electric Bicycles to simply educate myself on WHY someone would pay $700 OR MORE for a conversion kit that would turn a regular bicycle into an electric or gas type of bicycle….Back in the day, we didn’t call them Motorized or Electric Bicycles, we simply called them Mopeds! I will preface the rest of this article by pointing out…..once again…that a Bicycle that is somehow motorized is not a new thing. In fact, ‘Motorized Bicycles’ are arguably a direct result of the early Track Bicycle Racers such as Marshall Taylor, who despite having tandem pace teams of up to 5 men, couldn’t get their pacers to go fast enough for them to break world records for speed (late 1890s).
What is interesting is that in breaking those world records on the Sprint Tracks and demanding more speed from their 3-5 man tandem pace teams and then from the motorized bicycles, inadvertently Taylor and the rest ushered in the demise of the very sport they loved, Track Bicycle Racing. Before the time of the automobile and shortly before the Engine on motorized bicycles (later called motorcycles) were developed enough to feed the public’s need for speed, these bicycle racers were the fastest men on Earth! The founder of the ‘Indian Motorcycle Company’ was an old rival of Taylor’s mentor and manager, Louis ‘Birdie’ Munger from the Old High Wheel Bicycle racing days!
Anyhow, back to the point of this article, Electric’s Bicycles. I was fascinated that ANYONE would pay as much as $9,000 for and Electric Bicycle, I mean, it made no sense to me. A term that I have used for the enthusiast for this product is ‘Tweeners’. Half-way between bicycles and motorcycles! This term doesn’t only apply to 12 years olds yall! I have viewed products in this category from China, Taiwan, European capitals, Thailand, etc. and as far as this search goes, I AM WORLDWIDE! I do not know if any of yall have noticed, but I am VERY opinionated about design, and once again I will tell you that that all of the Electric Bicycle I saw over the last several years I can describe in 2 words ‘CRAP BOMB!’ Crappy and cheap looking and for the $$$ they are asking, they should do better. I can see a Buffalo Soldier from the Iron Riders Brigade roling on this hear!
Then on yesterday, my whole world changed…If you love Electric Bicycles and want something that I call an ‘Electric Funkin’ Lesson’, you really need to check out a company here in Colorado named OptiBike. I just love the look and feel of this funk ball. The frame is thick and nasty with WILD GRAPHICS. Not only that folks, I am adverse to using black tires on ANY design I produce, but with the wild graphics on this design, I have never seen black tires look so PERFECT on a frame. I don’t know how much it costs and neither do I care because I have just created a new category in my ‘Design Funk Hall of Fame’ called ‘Electric Funkin’ Lesson. Enjoy!
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