CrankMyChain! Cycle TV: Recent Episodes
PDXK Productions
Dan Kaufman hosts this Internet televison show by, about, and for cyclists. CrankMyChain! will document psycho bicycle niches, create bike music videos, review parts and accessories, and discuss cycle advocacy. We strive to host an interactive show where others will contribute or respond with their own videos. So go ahead, CrankMyChain!
Here are some video snapshots from last Saturday's track racing (and John Howe's sugar shorts parade/race) at the Alpenrose Velodrome in Portland.
PORTLAND, Ore. - I love collaborating with Clarence Eckerson, Jr. You may remember our Sasquatch video. We have a ton of fun talking shop and rollin' tape. In this video are cool bike wheels, Clarence, Greg Raisman, Elly Blue, and bikey SE people (plus a brief shot of the Disco Trike rollin' slow).
Here's more stuff from Streetfilms.org
The first time you visit Portland, Oregon, the gaggles of cyclists streaming over the Hawthorne Bridge during rush hour is a sight you will never forget. It's something other cities need to see and be inspired by.
On a recent vacation there, I couldn't resist cranking out a Streetfilms shortie, so I naturally hooked up with Crank My Chain's Dan Kaufman to capture the essence of the PM rush and talk to cyclists about what it feels like to be a part of the mass of cyclist humanity in Southeast Portland, Hawthorne corridor. As Greg Raisman from Portland's Bureau of Transportation pointed out: 20% of all traffic on the Hawthorne Bridge is bikes. And, Portland's number of cyclists has risen 600% in the last fifteen years and shows no sign of letting up.
Here is a video tour of the latest listing from BikeRealtor.com. It's in the Colonial Heights neighborhood in Southeast Portland, which is a great location for anyone wanting to drive less and live more.
Find out more at Bike Realtor.com!
Animation by Spencer Boomhower. http://boomhower.com
The Oregon Legislature is considering passage of a law that would allow bicycle riders to treat stop signs as yield signs. These "rolling stops" would allow bike riders to preserve some of the momentum they depend upon for efficient travel, just so long as they don't infringe on the safety and rights of others.
The law is based on one that's been successful in Idaho for the last 27 years, so it's come to be known as the "Idaho Stop" law.
There's some controversy - and whole lot of misunderstanding - surrounding the proposed Idaho Stop law. Spencer Boomhower ( http://boomhower.com ) does a great job helping clear thing up with the magic of animation.
Music: "Celebrated Shoo Fly Galop" by W.L. Hayden, performed by Lucas Gonze (soupgreens.com and gonze.com). Used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license.
Sunday’s Citizen’s Opposition and Alternatives to the Columbia River Crossing rally felt like a sea change. Participants were we greeted by warm spring weather, excellent speeches, and solidarity in opposition to the I-5 CRC crossing as it’s being presented currently.
Several groups and governments from both sides of the river (and aisle) were represented and spoke to the large crowd at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, Oregon.
Find out more at http://SmarterBridge.org
In our third snippet from the Bridge Shopping Network things go “all-CSPAN” as the show is hacked live into the Joe Cortright’s formal testimony at the Jan 29th Portland City Council meeting on the Columbia River Crossing (CRC). It's surely not what the BS Network hosts have in mind, as things become wonky and counter-productive to their sales pitch.
Ride you bike to this Sunday’s Citizen’s Opposition and Alternatives Rally 12-noon at Tom McCall Waterfront Park Near the Morrison Bridge. Semi-Organized Rides to the rally are posted here. Find out more at smarterbridge.org. You can also stay up to date at bikeportland.org.
See you Sunday!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Have We Got a Bridge to Sell You! "The CRC Cures Cancer"
Watch Video & Read StoryTeaser Photo
"Cures Cancer" is the second in a series of spoofs by the Bridge Shopping Network (BSN) made to promote the Citizen's Opposition and Alternatives to the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) rally, which is being held noon Sunday, April 5th at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park (north of the Hawthorne Bridge). To find out more about the Columbia River Crossing and see better alternatives see smarterbridge.org. The video was produced by Dan Kaufman crankmychain.com and Joe 'Metal Cowboy' Kurmaskie metalcowboy.com.
Building Like it's 1959 is the first in a series of spoofs by the Bridge Shopping Network (BSN) made to promote the Citizen's Opposition and Alternatives to the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) rally, which is being held noon Sunday, April 5th at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park (north of the Hawthorne Bridge).
To find out more about the Columbia River Crossing and see better alternatives see http://smarterbridge.org/
PORTLAND, Ore.- This video is about a year old so the information about the National Hand Built Bicycle Show is out of date, everything else is pretty relevant. It features Natalie Ramsland of Sweetpea Bicycles (Portland, OR) and interview with Jonathan Maus of bikeportland.org. Video directed by Daniel Sharp, filmed by David McMurry, edited by Alden Morgan.
I really like the commentary and shots.
What does it mean that Portland, one of the best North American cities for cycling, has virtually no Critical Mass? Is it no longer relevant in the evolution of cyclists or has the police crackdown just been so successful? What are the new goals of cyclists?
Portland, Ore. - Pinky Gets a Powder Coat is a short
documentary/infomercial about how my sister got her tired looking bike repainted. Actually, the frame and fork were powder coated -- a different process than painting -- which involves baking a very durable plastic-like coating onto steel, aluminum, and other metals.
Powder coating has become very popular option for giving new life to motorcycles, bicycles, car parts and other metal items like lawn furniture.
Brooker Enterprises specializes in powder coating. Find out more at BrookerEnterprises.com or drop by 3714 SE Powell in Portland (503-236-2565 ). This video was produced by CrankMyChain.tv in association with BikePortland.org for Brooker Enterprises. Video and music by Dan Kaufman.
Somewhere in Canada - David James recycles bicycles and turns them into objects of art. Enjoy the slide show and music. Want to see more? Check out David's YouTube Channel or the Bikengruvin blog.
Excerpt of Representative John Boehner (R-Ohio) from "Face the Nation" - 1/11/09
See more on the story at BikePortland.org
http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/12/rep-john-boehner-widen-highways-for-american-families/
Yeah it's rusty. It's time to bust out. How about submit a movie to the Filmed By Bike Film Festival.
Also stay tuned to CrankMyChain for live webcasts. Follow twitter.com/pdxktv to see when we are live.
Have a great 2009!
PORTLAND, Ore. - Craftmaster Independent Films is taking their web series the Bicyclist to the big screen with a feature length film called The Bicyclists.
The main characters are the same but the story is slightly different. Here is the blurb from their site:
Conrad Miller came to Portland to live free, to meet people and to make memories...The Bicyclists coming to the big screen in 2009.
Stay tuned. I'll post again when they screen it.
Portland, Ore. – The US Grand Prix of Cyclocross made the last stop of the tour last weekend for the Stanley Portland Cup. Mostly dry ground was found Saturday at the Portland International Raceway but Sunday it poured, especially the hour before the Elite Women’s race.
Katerina Nash took both Sunday’s race and the 2008 USGP Championship Trophy while local heroine Sue Butler was cheered to a third place finish and the Sram “Most Aggressive Female Rider” award.
Ryan Trebon of Bend took that $250 prize home and won the day’s race. Tim Johnson claimed the series trophy.
I took home a pair of very wet and muddy boots, some videotape, and inspiration for the song “Head Down”, which is the score for this video. Eric Todd Keeney provided additional footage.
http://crankmychain.com
http://usgpcyclocross.com
http://erictoddkeeney.com
This post is quite a bit longer than typical but I hope you will take the time hook this up to your TV, get comfortable, and watch the whole thing - especially if you have been thinking about going car free or are an advocate for driving less.
Car-free living is a lifestyle choice that yields abundant rewards: freedom from the economic burdens of personal motorized transportation, improved physical and emotional well-being, reduced noise and pollution, and traffic structures that are gentler on the land and its citizens. Communities are brought closer together as people increasingly interact face-to-face, rather than from within steel shells. Liberation from private motorized transportation makes us a richer, healthier, happier people living in cleaner, quieter, friendlier neighborhoods.
In this multimedia workshop, Obbie and RoZ describe the steps on their trail toward Transportation Liberation, and discuss a multitude of pragmatic ideas on how to make driving optional. The program is punctuated by personal narratives (including sights and sounds) of good and bad transportation methods witnessed during extensive research in North America and Europe.
During ten years as a traveling campaigner for sustainable lifestyles, Obbie learned about transportation by experiencing nearly every major American city as a driver, bicyclist, and transit rider. Since RoZ joined him in 1993, they've sworn off car-dependence and have been car-free since 2003. They are based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where they are outspoken advocates for the rights of bicyclists and pedestrians, and for the types of community design that make car-free living both possible and pleasant.
This is the synopsis of the presentation from the the Zs website purplearth.net. I recorded this audio at their presentation the CarFree Conference at Portland State University last June.
If you would like to book the live presentation please contact purplearth.
Cyclocross Crusade Finale - There Will Be Mud
Hillsboro, Ore. – The final race of the Season for River City Bicycle’s Cyclocross Crusade earned double points for the riders and you could tell by the way they were racing. Both the women’s and men’s category A races were very competitive with several lead changes each.
It was a fast and level course at the Washington County Fairgrounds but water from last weeks rain created a monster-slog section through the rodeo arena. I was able to cover the entire course on my bike and decided to ditch the tripod for the Men’s race and really concentrate on following the leaders as much as possible.
I pieced that footage together to create start-to-finish race video of the Men’s category A race and I’m interested to hear what you think about this type of coverage. Please make a comment on the video.
I want to thank River City Bicycles for sponsoring this video (not to mention being the title sponsor for this series and owner Dave Guettler came up with the title of the song for this video). My eternal gratitude and respect goes out to the Cyclocross Crusade promoters, sponsors, and all the officials from the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association.
Video, Edit, and Music – Dan Kaufman
Here are the results for race 8:
Cat A:
1 Kevin Hulick Vanilla Bicycles
2 Sean Babcock Team S&M
3 Molly Cameron Vanilla Bicycles
Women A:
1 Rhonda Mazza Team S&M
2 Wendy Williams River City Bicycles
3 Emily VanMeter River City Bicycles
And the Cross Crusade/OBRA Cyclocross Championships:
Cat A
1 Jason Sager SagerSports.com
2 Sean Babcock Team S&M
3 Chris Sheppard HPChrio Bike n’ Hike Giant
Women A
1 Wendy Williams River City Bicycles
2 Emily VanMeter River City Bicycles
3 Rhonda Mazza Team S&M
Portland, Oregon - Apparently the Halloween Races in Astoria was not enough insanity for this years Cross Crusaders. After some excellent traditional cyclocross racing at Portland International Raceway the bike-fun crowd went wild for single speed.
Thousands of spectators watched as Sue Butler took away honors for the womens A racers and the prize for unofficial womens single speed world champion. Mens SSCXWC honors were awarded to Drew MacKenzie who hails from the Great White North. Prizes included a Vanilla SpeedVagen, a Pereira Cycles custom frame not to mention gold Speedos and required championship tatoos. Also, Raleigh Rainier frame went to the Sit-Up Champ.
Special mention goes to Ryan Trebon of Bend who won the mens A race, and the regular single speed race. Trebon, a top cyclocross racer, was told he had to win all three races in order to take the SSCXWC. He may have been handicapped on the raceway, as well.
The song Steam Powered was written especially for this race.
Music and Video by Dan Kaufman
for http://crankmychain.com
and http://www.bobsredmill.com
http://crosscrusade.com
http://sscxwc.com
I wrote this song in the darkest days of Republican scorched-earth domination.
Abraham Lincoln's wise words were finally shown true last night with the overwhelming support of the American people for Barack Obama.
I hope I never hear the term "real Americans" or red state/blue state again.
My hope is that our leaders have moved away from the deceptive and divisive politics of the Bush era.
But if they don't, well "you can't fool all the people all the time".
Video and Music by Dan Kaufman
ASTORIA, Ore. – If you didn’t bring a costume to last Sunday’s Cross Crusade race you may have placed better but you also got heckled. The weather was perfect for camping, outrageous outfits and two days of racing at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds.
Video, editing, and original music by Dan Kaufman. Additional Footage by Eric Todd Keeney.
PORTLAND, Ore. – I have three videos for you today. The first by Todd Keeney shot at Cross Crusade Race #2 in Wilsonville. We’ll be heading down to the Halloween races in Astoria this weekend and hope to see you there. Otherwise, stay tuned for another Halloween cross video later next week.
The second video is footage of Sasquatch, regarding the Quest for The Grail and the final video is a ridiculous detour request in Vancouver, Washington.
Music for the Villebois Race is by Todd Keeney and friend. The music at the end is “Whistlestop” by Roger Miller.
PORTLAND, OR - The first ever Freak Bike Fall starts tonight and runs through Sunday. Get the agenda here: http://freakbikefall.blogspot.com/
The video above is a tribute to the Freak Bike Militia by yyzmec at YouTube.
The National Republican Congressional Committee funded this attack ad against 3rd District Pennsylvania Democratic contender, Kathy Dahlkemper - http://kathydahlkemperforcongress.com/
They think she is asking Americans to sacrifice too much by walking and biking more. They call her out for opposing the GOP red herrings of gas tax reduction and offshore drilling.
Informed voters know that neither domestic drilling nor gas tax reduction will have an impact on gas prices or American dependency on foreign dictatorships.
Oil companies are already making record profits and they will be happy to sit on domestic oil reserves until they need them (as they are currently doing). They will also be happy to take the extra profit a reduction in gas taxes would bring.
It seems to me this attack ad will backfire. See the original ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlL1u0YrlGE
Portland, Ore. - As promised, the first race of the Cross Crusade was wet and muddy. There were a record number (1263) participants at Alpenrose Dairy with loads of fans and plenty of wipeouts for them to watch.
I wrote the song Double Crossin Me just for this race and had blast syncing it up to the dirty footage.
Next scheduled CrankMyChain.tv cyclocross video is for the Halloween race. Contact me if you are interested in sponsoring a race/music video dan at- pdxk com.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Jason Turner and Greg Freddette's much anticipated documentary about Portland's cycling scene will soon be making it's debut. In the meantime we can watch the trailer for the movie Veer. Sign up for updates about the movie and screenings here.
Jonathan Maus of BikePortland got to sneak peak of the movie and has some more background at his BikePortland Blog.
Portland, Oregon – River City Bicycles Cyclocross Crusade race #1 is this Sunday at Alpenrose Dairy. Good news race fans, it looks like we may have some mud!
Come on out and say hi if you see me.
Also, you can watch and buy the 2006 and 2007 Race videos at CrankMyChain.com .
So far, this year, we’re covering three races and we’re looking for sponsorship for as many more as possible. If you are interested in sponsoring CrankMyChain.tv please contact me at dan at pdxk d0t c0m.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Today is Carfree Day - Watch Parking Day Video
Watch Video & Read StoryTeaser Photo
NEWSFLASH: TODAY IS WORLD CARFREE DAY
NEW YORK, NY -
From StreetFilms.org
Transportation Alternatives reports during this year's foray into PARKing Day there were over 50 parking spaces temporarily reclaimed throughout the city, nearly doubling last year's total. I'll say this: that's a lot of freaking sod!!
As usual for these things, the fare ran from the wildly creative to the calm & soothing. There was a meditation garden in Williamsburg, origami being folded at The Open Planning Project's spot, and a bevy of spots with an advocacy theme. But the strangest time-continuum alternative-universe event occurred at Peter Frishauf's spot on the Upper West Side where I filmed him following the live blogging on Streetsblog about PARKing Day! And finally, although my work comrades had an amazingly elaborate spot, if I had to vote this year's winner it would be the Lower East Side Girl's Club. Again. You guys rock.
This year my travels took me to four of the five boros: biked 43 miles, filmed 22 spots, spent 11 hours outdoors and had one bike crash - while I was walking my bike through Times Square. Go figure!
BEAVERTON, Ore. - This is a 60-minute cable access program I participated in on Tuesday. I enjoyed and was inspired by the main guests from B.I.K.E. River City Bicycles Cyclisme Team and their coach John Beninati. What's more you can see my five minutes of cable access fame as part of the "Events Corner" (26-minutes into the show).
"Cycology Today" (CYCT) is the new name for "NW Cycling" TV show produced through Washington County Oregon. Host, Executive Producer and Owner of the show Bruce Buffington and co-host Ann Morrow spend an hour to help inform, educate and entertain the Bicycling community. Dennis Gleason is the Associate Producer and Executive Director for this program and Dark Wing Productions provides the Direction and Production services. CYCT is produced using the facilities at TVCTV in Beaverton Oregon. Please provide feed back, both positive and negative, but please be appropriate, so that we can make updates to make the show better. Thank you, Cycology Today Management Team
St. Paul, MN - Watch as the GOP faithful go orgasmic over the prospect of giving away more oil fields to Exxon.
But don't be surprised if they fail to do any drilling any time soon. Oil supply and profits are just about perfect, thank you very much.
Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Sarah Palin will mention that, of course. Nor will they mention that their ticket is bought and paid for by big oil.
This video has obviously been edited for effect. Link below if you would like to see raw footage. It's just as scary, if not more so. http://pdxk.com/media/rnc-giuliani-drill-baby-drill.mov
Download and make your very own "Drill-Baby-Drill" mash up. It's fun AND frightening!
Yes, there is a big difference between republicans and democrats, Barack Obama and John McCain, when it comes to the use of our energy resources.
We must change our dependency on petroleum now on a personal level, locally and nationally. Voting for Barack Obama and the Democratic Party is a move in the right direction. I strongly encourage you to register and vote in the upcoming election.
The Bike Commute Challenge is a friendly competition — workplace against workplace — to see who can get more people biking to work in September.
Any business, non-profit or public agency is eligible to participate — and individual cyclists can also participate on their own.
Businesses and non-profits compete in one category, while public agencies and bike shops each compete in a category of their own. Within those categories, workplaces are divided by number of employees, to keep competition fair.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Helmet Cam Zoobomb
Watch Video & Read StoryTeaser Photo
PORTLAND, Ore.- CrankMyChain! has done a few Zoobomb videos but this on by radiohack really shows main run. Though the footage is sped up a bit, it really gives the feel of the Fairview Blvd. bomb down to the reservoir.
Zoobomb is a Sunday night event enjoyed by the young at heart in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. Find out more about zoobombing at zoobomb.net.
Text from the Crimanimalz:
Mission
The ride's political stance and agenda was neutral, many participants invoked the group's collective motto: "If you rode a bicycle, you'd be home by now!" -- a statement against oil dependency, in support of sustainable living and a collective critique of the Los Angeles transportation infrastructure. The riders are pointing out that in a city like Los Angeles made for cars, bicycle riders are reaching their destinations faster.
Long Term Goals
Members of the CRIMANIMALZ are looking for city officials to make bicycle safety a priority, not only through the creation of safe and easy places to ride, but also as a means of transportation on the city's increasingly busy thoroughfares. With rising gas prices and a government encouraging sustainable practices, more people are expected to turn to bikes as an alternative means of transportation.
Music:
Funderstorm - "Why Didja Duh Eeet"
http://www.myspace.com/thefunderstorm
The Ride Friday, May 9th, 2008
At 5:30pm starting in Santa Monica, 28 bicyclists took surface streets to the 1-10 Fwy at Bundy and rode 0.44 miles to the I-405 N on-ramp and rode another 1.56 miles to the Santa Monica Blvd. exit during rush hour. The ramp to the I-405 N was a steep grade and 0.65 miles in length. Riders spanned a total of 2.0 freeway miles.
The group of riders also hung a 20'x6' banner on the 17th street overpass overlooking the eastbound I-10 Freeway in Santa Monica that read RIDE A BIKE YOU'D BE HOME BY NOW.
The sign remained in place for over 48 hours.
Media Information
____________________
YouTube
CRIMANIMALZ - The Freeway Ride I
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4NLmiuyLa98
Website
http://www.crimanimalz.com
http://www.myspace.com/crimanimalz
Vimeo Channel (Videos)
http://www.vimeo.com/crimanimalz
FLICKR Pool (Photographs)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crimanim...
IBIKEU Wiki (History)
http://www.ibikeu.com/wiki/index.php/...
To view California Highway Patrol Reaction to the Freeway Traffic Jam Ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7...
Zack makes plans for world conquest, while Steve and Lissa hang on the beach. Conrad just hangs on...
PORTLAND, OR - Realtor Kirsten Kaufman has been doing most of her commuting by bicycle this year and she recently started her Tour De Homes.
Tour de Homes takes potential home buyers and interested folks through a Portland neighborhood that is well suited for people who prefer to bike, walk, or take public transport.
They can dig in and see what's on the market and what makes the neighborhood special all at bicycle pace.
In the interest of full disclosure, Kirsten Kaufman is my wife. If you know someone who is looking to buy or sell a home in Portland, please contact her at 503.233.9513 or KirstenKaufman.com.
NEW YORK CITY, NY -
From Streetfilms.org
Feeling remarkably similar to Bogota's Ciclovia, the New York City Department of Transportation held its first Summer Streets event on Saturday by opening 7 miles of city streets to pedestrians and bike traffic only. From 7 AM to 1 PM, roads were car-free from 72nd Street to the Brooklyn Bridge with Park Avenue serving as the backbone of the route. Our Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan is the real deal - she spent the entire day riding a bike around the course (and even said some nice things about me to my mom.)
We'll spare you the 200 adjectives we could list about how transformational it was, for it was beyond anything on the printed page. The general consensus was that the event succeeded beyond even the most hoped for expectations and would pass even the most pessimistic of measuring sticks. A page has been turned, clearly there is no doubt: the future will hold many more large scale street openings for pedestrians, cyclists, runners, children, dog walkers, dancers, and any other reasonable livable space use.
The swarms of people and happy faces made for much positive energy. Around noon, some blocks were getting very crowded, but there was a general courtesy that existed between pedestrians and cyclists. The city built it - and the people came. And they smiled a lot.
VANCOUVER, BC - The B:C:Clettes mini-bike dance team made a great music video that really captures their spirit. I like the song, too. It's Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back".
You catch the The B:C:Clettes live at quality events in and around Cascadia.
This was found at YouTube. Not sure the details of the video since it was posted in a language I can't seem to translate. But check out all the trick bikes, recumbents, and interesting competitions.
I especially like the tandem with trailer races. There are some definatley ideas that could be introduced to the 21st Century.
xtra.newsweek.com linked to a video I posted to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFiwir... .
I didn't shoot the video and am not the only who posted it but it's not gone a bit viral and I am getting a lot of comments. I thought I'd make a response with some comments and a I just wrote song.
Formats available: MPEG4 Video (.mp4)
USA - CBS News Sunday Morning ran a thorough piece on bicycle transportation and covered Portland extensively including a brief segment with yours truly and my boyz rolling the “bike train”. There is also some great coverage of Portland Transportation Commissioner (and mayor elect) Sam Adams, Alta Planning’s Mia Birk, and visit at Clever Cycles.
Sorry the footage is a bit grainy. I pulled from the show from my old VCR and Channel 6 doesn't come in so well at my house.
(CBS) "Pedal Power" is coming into its own these days, as Americans of all ages are coming to realize biking can be practical, economical, and good clean fun - or should we say, good GREEN fun? Our Cover Story takes us from California to Cambridge, and is reported by Serena Altschul:
See the full story at CBSnews.com.
Zack and The Demon SUV play baseball. Steve makes t-shirts to make few bucks and Conrad drinks another beer.
PORTLAND, Ore. - It's taken me way too long to post this great video by Clarence Eckerson, Jr. of Streetfilms.org. There so many bikey friends, from Aaron Tarfman and his transportation trike, Linda, Timo, and Coach Dan with the 411, and Jonathan Maus Channeling Gil Peñalosa and so many smiles from young and old.
Portland's first Sunday Parkways was a huge success with tens of thousands of Portlanders converging on the North Portland streets, parks and sidewalks. Don't be surprised if this kind of event, originally started in Bogotá, becomes a mainstay all over the world.
Here is the write up from Streetsblog:
Despite a very dreary and damp first half of the day, Portland's first Ciclovia-style street closure, Sunday Parkways, was a smashing success with countless thousands of city residents participating. It was like a giant community block party with walkers, bikers, joggers, bladers, families, and pets filling the 6 mile course.
There were plenty of fun activities in four northeast parks that were linked by the circuit, which was opened to bikes and pedestrian traffic only from 8 AM to 2 PM. For cities planning their own Ciclovias, here are some things I liked about Portland's event: knowledgeable volunteers, lots of fun chalk messages on the ground, easy to follow directions, lots of music & entertainment, and a huge number of bike stations for bike repair.
If you want more Sunday Parkways be sure to let people know.
This video is not intended to be viewed by children and the language is foul.
PORTLAND, OR - There have been a lot of bike box videos uploaded to The internets latley. But how are bike boxes being recieved by your average Joes?
Well, I got my hands on some footage a couple jokers shot right down on Hawthorne Blvd. by the liquor store. I think I know who the biker chick is but I won't name names.
Anyway, this once again proves that Portland is much more fun because of bicyclists.
My advice to the bike box curious: get a bike and get busy in the bike box.
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Sprockettes Mini-Bike Dance Team is hosting a "Bicycle Bash" this Saturday and I thought this would be a great opportunity dig through my old tapes and pull out some footage from the Dance Party Ride they hosted last June at Pedalpalooza.
You can see this video and many others on the big screen at the"Bicycle Bash" along with all sorts of other entertainment. Check out the 411 straight from their site:
The Sprockettes Bicycle Bash is just over 2 weeks away.
Save the date: June 28, 2008
Announcing the Sprockettes Invitational Bicycle Bash! Music, DJ Gray, art gallery, silent auction, raffle, and of course….performances by your favorite bicycle dance troupes. Food and drink will be available for sale with “Sprockettes specials”. No outside alcohol please.
Doors open at 8pm. Entertainment starts at 9pm. Party until 2:30am.
Location 606 SE Madison, Portland OR.
Tickets are $5 at the door. Advanced tickets are available online at Brownpapertickets.com and at all of our upcoming shows (see below).
Guaranteed fun with your hometown homegirls!
From Streetfilms.org
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Towards Carfree Cities VIII kicked off Monday in Portland, Oregon with an exciting community event. Hundreds of conference participants helped break and remove asphalt from a 3000 square foot parking lot. Depave.org is the mastermind behind the Fargo Garden Project. They promote the removal of unnecessary concrete and asphalt from urban areas. Depave.org will continue to work with Goldsmith Properties to transform this now asphalt-free site into a community greenspace. Once completed, the site will be used to educate the public about pavement removal and storm water drainage management. Notice an example of Depave's work in this video at founder Arif Khan's house.
Music by Reptet and Dreamtime Stilters.
Plus CrankMyChain! is going to be live webcasting from the conference so check the live feed here or at carfreeportland.org.
Check out the schedule and the feed at stickam.com/carfree.
The Towards Carfree Cities conference series brings together people from around the world who work to promote practical alternatives to car dependence. The conference attracts professionals, advocates, and community leaders who focus on the creation of sustainable transportation systems and on the transformation of cities, towns, and villages into human-scaled environments rich in public space and community life. The fundamental role of the conference is to share knowledge and assist the practical work of conference participants, whether it be organizing community events, promoting urban cycling, or building the carfree cities of the future.To learn more, contact the conference team at http://www.carfreeportland.org
PORTLAND, Ore. - Reverend Phil's Film Fest, Bike Porn 2- "BikeXploitation" is showing next Friday at the Clinton Street Theater. See the trailer at Bikesmut.com.
CrankMyChain! might even have something in the line-up, but either way I'm sure the festival of bicycle pornography will blow your mind and perhaps other things.
What is Bike Porn? It's not just bikes on bikes. I'll say that. Are you offended by graphic sexual images and suggestion? Don't go. It's all very sex positive (at least it was last year) but some flicks even challenged my sensibilities. I occasionally like to have my sensibilities challenged.
If you go, be sure to CrankMyChain!
And then hold onto your shorts or, better yet, take them off - because at Saturday the 14th at 11:59PM Portland goes on the World Naked Bike Ride.
It all starts the the Pedalpalooza Kick Off Dance Party (Track 7, NW 30th Ave and Industrial St) - Watch out for train tracks they love to throw cyclists.
Find out more at Shift2Bikes.org
Attached is my song Going on a Naked Bike Ride.
The cyclists on the final leg of the epic adventure. Heading down South along the coast of Australia. Past kangaroos to finish at the Heart of Sydney.
Bike2Oz was produced by Undercurrents find out more about Bike2Oz here.
I hope you enjoyed this video series as much as I did. This is exactly the type of independent cycling related movie I was hoping to find when I started CrankMyChain.TV almost two years ago. Do you have an adventure in mind? What's stopping you?
After a week on a cargo ship, the epic bicycle journey from England nears and end. Australia looms and with it Lowannas family. Only 2 weeks to cycle down from Brisbane to the finale in Sydney.
From StreetFilms.org
NEW YORK, NY - Transportation Alternatives held its 7th annual Commuter Challenge pitting cyclist, driver, and bus/subway rider in the ultimate showdown of which mode of travel can be quickest (and cheapest!)
In the end, the bike proved swiftest over the 4.5 mile course which began in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene and ended in Manhattan’s Union Square. Jamie Favaro rolled up in just over 16 minutes and took home the gold and a bouquet of flowers for her efforts. Driver, Emmanuel Fuentebella (22 minutes) parked his car and sprinted to a surprise second place finish. Shortly after, disappointed MTA rider April Greene came in last at 29 minutes. But, as Wiley Norvell noted at the finish line, Transportation Alternatives also measured the carbon footprint of all the the riders and Greene came in a close second behind the cyclist.
This is my favorite selection from this years Filmed by Bike festival. The message delivered in this short darma by Oliver Ogden, Jared Staber, Chris Cosler is poignant and well delivered, which is something much more difficult to do than the other types of movies shown at Filmed by Bike (mine included).
Watch the movie and then let's discuss the plot and theme. For me it hits close to home to a decision I made in 2003 that helped put my life on track.
email - dan (at) pdxk (dot) com
PORTLAND, OR - To a crowd of 75,000 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland Oregon, Presidential hopeful Barack Obama called for the nation to get serious about it's energy issues and model Portland's investment in Bicycles and Alternate means of transportation.
Of course this seems an obvious solution to cycling advocates but with all the talk from the candidates there has been little mention of bicycles and specifically investment in bicycle infrastructure.
Here is the full quote:
"If we are going to solve our energy problems we have to think long term. It's time to be serious about investing in alternative energy. It's time to be serious about raising fuel efficiency standards in our cars. It's time for our entire country to learn from what's happening right here in Portland with mass transit and bicycle lanes and funding alternative means of transportation. That's the kind of solution we need for America..." this was greeted by some of the loudest applause of his speech.
CrankMyChain! Cycle TV endorses Barack Obama for President, Sam Adams for Mayor of Portland and Chris Smith for Commissioner.
Today is the last day for Oregonians to drop off their ballots for the Primary election.
USA - So I got called from the StreetFilms folks to help with Friday's National Bike to Work Day video. They wanted video from cities all over the country. Only problem was, Portland was not celebrating National Bike to Work day. Don't know why.
But hey, every day is bike to work day in Portland. So I thought I'd strap and electronic gong to the back of the Disco Trike and ride in to see if I could find any bike commuters who liked to bang gongs and eat donuts.
My contribution to the video above is at the end after SF, Austin, and NYC represent. I feel I did my part in keeping Portland weird. Also, here is the 10-minute rough-cut version from my Friday morning adventure.
More info from StreetFilms
The League of American Bicyclists started Bike-to-Work Day in 1956 as a part of National Bike-to-Work Week, which in some cities has turned into Bike Month.
Bike-to-Work Day is an annual event that promotes and celebrates the bicycle as a viable mode of transportation. On Bike-to-Work Day, national, regional, and local bicycle advocacy groups often organize bicycle-related events.
Today’s Streetfilm features Bike-to-Work Day in Austin, San Francisco, New York City and Portland, Oregon.
If you haven’t already, check out the streetsblog open thread from Friday. And, contact us if you would like to participate in next year’s NBTWD film!
This video was produced by Elizabeth Press for StreetFilms
with help from
John Hamilton -SF
Dan Kaufman (me) - PDX
Brent Perdue - Austin
Carly Clark
Ali Qadeer
Elleinad
From the chaos of Bombay to the Space Age of Singapore by cargo ship. The two cyclists then leave by cargo ship and cross the equator for the first time. Australia here we come.
USA- The Revolution Will Not Be Motorized!
That's the rallying cry for OneMillionBicycles.org, a movment to give away a million bicycles, gain a million new bike commuters nationally and put pressure on congress to double transportation funding for bicycles. The main event is planned for August 9, 2009.
Oregon congressman and Bicycle Caucus member, Earl Blumenauer, helped inspire author and activist Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie to spearhead this movment.
In this video Kurmaskie briefly outlines the project and calls on viewers to join by registering at OneMillionBicycles.org and commiting to give a new or used bicycle and/or bringing in a new or returning rider.
One Million Bicycles is not a militant or anti-car movement but it is pro-bicycle. It's encouraging folks to drive less to help create a nation that is cleaner, healthier, and less dependent on fossil fuels.
Anyone who does not already have a bike is eligible to get one by completing a giveaway application and committing to ride a certain number of times per week to work, school, errands, and document their experiences via a onemiliionbicycles blog, newsletter, press releases, letters, photos, stories, etc.
If you are a supporter of CrankMyChain! Cycle TV be sure to sign up right now for this exciting rally and revolution.
INDIA-SINGAPORE
Cycing down through India via Pushkar to spend Christmas in Mumbai then hopping on a cargo ship to head to Singapore and away from the pollution on India.
PAKISTAN-INDIA
Cycling into the Himaylas to see the Dalai Lama.We find out how the Chinese have forced thousands of Tibetans into exile by violence. Then we jump on the bicycles for a trip to polluted Dehli. We escape to Taj Mahal and eat yummy sweets.
Can Conrad keep Steve, Lissa keep Zack and Zack keep his cool?
The Bicyclist is produced by Craftmaster Independent.
PORTLAND, OR - Local advocates, planners, and politicians have worked hard to get Portland to meet the League of American Bicyclists "Platinum" Designation. Davis California was the first City to meet this designation but Portland is the first large city to win the award.
Of course there is a lot more to do to make Portland a better, safer place to ride but there has been huge strides made in just the last two decades and this award recognizes that dedication and results.
But, the bar to attain Platinum will be continually raised so the City can't rest on it's laurels. Can Portland go double platinum?
This video was Produced by the Oregonian.
NEW YORK CITY, NY -
From the StreetFilms Blog and Clarence Eckerson, Jr.
Nearly five years ago, legendary bike mechanic Hal Ruzal and I walked the streets surrounding Bicycle Habitat and graded the bike locking ability of New Yorkers - producing many humorous and enlightening anecdotes. The resulting video aired frequently on bikeTV and at many festivals, and because of it - Hal is still frequently asked by complete strangers to judge their bike locking.
I always endeavored doing another, but as with most sequels you need a new wrinkle. This time we thought we’d give Hal some company and invited former Recycle a Bicycle mechanic Kerri Martin (and founder of The Bike Church in Asbury Park, NJ) to weigh in with her expertise. Once again, bikes on the streets of SoHo provide lots of fodder for laughs and lessons to learn.
We didn’t plan to but we walked the same loop and even used the same one-hour time frame. The results? The grades were a little better than five years ago. Sure, still some bad locking out there, but many more people are now sporting multiple locks and better strategies! Good news, maybe we made a difference after all…
PORTLAND, OR - If you have Airline ticket either into or out of Portland International Airport (PDX) then be sure to check out Exhibit of Handmade Bicycles showing through October 2008.
The exhibit, local frame builders are highlighted in this Portland Development Commission (PDC) video is by John Cardenas. Alta Planning + Design and BikePortland.org also weigh in on this blossoming industry which is helping earn Portland, Oregon the title of "Detroit of the Bicycle Industry".
It's great to see the PDC get behind this effort that really seems to be paying off.
More information available at BikePortland.org.
OK, so I look like the bad guy from No Country for Old Men.
But the Cohen bros. and Javier Bardem nicked the look from me.
And if you don't ride your bike on Earth Day then my 1958 quarter dollar and I might just have to pay you a visit.
Don't forget, Mother Nature bats last and Earth day is April, 22nd.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Two young women share their love of bicycles in words, song, and pictures.
It's nice to see the bicycle tide is rising all around the nation.
Cycling through Iran, eating honey sweets, getting arrested and escaping into Pakistan. Then Lowanna gets hasseled from Pakistani men everywhere. All this to avoid flying the 12,000km from England to Australia. more on http://www.bike2oz.com
Lowanna and Kevin pedal across hot Pakistan, camping in the woods, eating food from street vendors and ontowards the stage show at the Indian border. http://www.bike2oz.com
Pedaling across Turkey to discover the 'fairy' houses of Goreme made from volcanic rock. Going up in a hot air balloon then planning on how to get to Iran.
OREGON -
This video and text was taken from the Oregon Public Broadcasting Website:
Two thousand people every year take exhausting vacations together to ride hundreds of miles and bring urban and rural Oregon together in the process. Cycle Oregon turns 20!
Producer - Vince Patton; Videographer & Editor - Nick Fisher
This tutorial explains how to fix a flat tire on your bicycle. Find more excellent repair tutorials at BicycleTutor.com.
Take the awareness test and let me know what you think but don't give it away.
This was put together by Transport for London as a part of the look out for cyclists campaign.
Episode 3 -Cycling through France to see all the trees knocked down by storms and onto the Swisss Alps.
Cycling 17,000Km from England to Australia.Catching the Tour D'Giro bicycle race in Italy, heading through polluted Greece to the site of the Olympics and on towards Turkey. We leave Europe and enter Asia and our first puncture!
Follow the adventure
http://www.bike2oz.com
Another from the BikeXploitation promo series shot during Feburary's Midnight Mystery Ride.
Find out more about the Bike Porn East Coast Tour and BikePorn 2.0 at www.bikesmut.com.
Directed and Edited by RevPhil. Camera, Tech, and Theme Music by Dan Kaufman.
CrankMyChain! CycleTV is produced and distrubuted by PDXK.TV and the Disco Trike.
UK - Hooray for the heroic adventure. It's exactly what Kevin and Lowanna have embarked on, a 10,000 mile journey from England to Australia by bicycle.
The best part is that they are video blogging their story from the roads, deserts, and woodlands and mountains of UK, Europe, Pakistan, India, Iran, Malaysia and finally Australia.
Part of the reason for this epic journey is to raise attention to global warming and over dependence on fossil fuels. Find out more at www.bike2oz.com.
You know how they say 'you hurt the ones you love'? It works the same
with bikes. I don't all think bikers are necessarily masochists,
although what do you call people who push their bodies for 18 hours at
a time for fun?
This video is not about strenuous exercise, but it is about putting
ourselves in an uncomfortable position and receiving an unexpected
benefit.
You ask, "what are these videos all about?" RevPhil clarifies, "I see the videos a way to promote the bike porn film fest and the notion cycling as sexy".
Check out BikeSmut.com for more information.
Once again Mike Ambs uses his photography skills to get personal about his project: Project Pedal. Get caught up on the episodes at http://www.CrankMyChain.com .
In this episode we meet the riders and learn of a serious setback. But the project pedals on.
PORTLAND, Ore.- Zoobomb's annual fesitval of glory and fun once again drew great crowds spectators, entertainment, not to mention balmy February weather.
Sunday, spectators as from California to Canada, Seattle and Eugene competed in Olympic Segment of the four-day event. Competitions included bike limbo, bike derby, monkey-chicken, deth race 2000, and the blind race.
The Sprockettes ladies mini-bike dance team entertained the crowd. Cupcake once again threw out his challenge. That is, taking a dip with a bike in the Wilamette River. Is it a toxic bath? Perhaps. It was definitely free fun
PORTLAND, Ore. - A special valentines day surprise from CrankMyChain! CycleTV, Reverend Phil, and some of the riders of the Midnight Mystery Ride.
We asked bikers on this past Friday's MMR about their bike sexual
experiences. Here is the first steamy video which promotes the Bike Porn II "BikeXploitation" film festival. Find out more at www.BikeSmut.com.
We plan to release one such movie every week until the long awaited
premiere of Bike Porn II this June.
People who loved last year's Pornography of the Bicycle will have
their opportunity to get dirty on the big screen at the Clinton Street
Theater June 13th. Behold, the official call for submissions for the
new bike porn theme: BIKEXPLOITATION
BikeXploitation Flier
Artists interested in submitting to Bike Porn II: BIKEXPLOITATION shall
-
send an email to revphil@gmail.com
-
use mini-DV tape or better
-
shoot in 9x16 aspect ratio
-
make it 7 minuets or less
-
copyright-free music is better
-
submit by April 15th, 2008
9 months have passed since The Pornography of the Bicycle premiered at
the Clinton Street Theater as part of Pedalpaloosa and the Portland
Underground Film Festival. That night over 500 sexy bikers lined up to
witness the series of short videos on the theme "bike porn". Since
then the program has played shows in Seattle, Bellingham, Vancouver
BC, Los Angeles, Davis, San Francisco, and Cottage Grove, Oregon.
In March The Pornography of the Bicycle will go on an eastern swing
including Chicago, Columbus, New York, Washington DC and Richmond
Virginia. Supporters are encouraged to contact friends and consulting
adults to help make every screening a success!
Chicago http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/
Richmond VA: http://www.byrdtheatre.com/
This program will never been available on DVD and has only been seen
in theaters.
As a kickoff for the tour a final Portland screening of The
Pornography of the Bicycle will take place March 1st. This time with
more audience interaction. Expect more details soon
The Midnight Myster Ride happens ever second Friday of the month. The bikey fun is well worth staying up for. Find out more about the ride here.
The MMR was also benefit for Leo Westwind
This is a Movie from Sept. 2005. It stands the test of time; only the gas prices have gone up.
There is also a great free-jazz soundtrack which uses Blondie's Heart of Glass for the melody.
This video was lifted from the Make a Difference Blog:
"I believe that it is possible to change the world through the smallest actions. This Blog explores the little things that not only I but others do in order to make a difference."
Here is the text from the post
"As a poor college student booming gas prices are a down right pain in the ass. So what does one poor student do? Or anybody for that matter? Well, there are many routs, but I decided to acquire a bike. I found one that didn't belong to anybody in the basement of the house I am living in. I got it fixed up, and now I am gas free. Sure it cost money to fix it, but in my mind I'm not only getting off my fat ass, and getting some exercise, but I am feeling good about it.
In my opinion the gas price boom is, in large part, due to panic. And I chose not to support it. I think when gas companies can price their gas in relation to the actual supply and demand of the country and stop profiteering than I will decide to support them, but until then I just have to make sure I leave for class a few minutes earlier than I would normaly.
What do you think?"
I think it's terrific! It's short and to the point. It says "fuck big oil. I'll ride my bike and it's more fun anyway."
The camera work is simple and effective. I love the above the head POV and the shadow shots. The music brings it all together.
From the Cycle Jerk's Website:
Trick Track is exactly what it sounds like: Tricks on Track bikes. This months Trick Track was held at Civic Center Park and is organized by Fuck You Phil Carlson and Hot Tony. Besides tricks, we started off the night this time with a beer sweep. Who ever can pick up the most beers and hold them- without a bag- wins. . . the beer.
Sam Turner won this Trick Track with his Superman trick.
To find out more about Trick Track (now called “Track Attack”), check out their Myspace page.
PORTLAND, Ore.- Hey, get ready for the Fifth Mini-Bike Winter Olympics with an interview and footage from last year.
Here is a ride along with Pedal Revolutionary DJ and Hostess, Ifny Lachance, followed by some footage of her competing for the honor or Team Canada and love of Cascadia.
Team Canada is coming back and so is all the free fun you could ever want in a weekend. Mark Feb 13-18 on this years calendar for the Mini-Bike Winter Olympics!
Mini-Bike Winter Theme Music composed by Dan Kaufman. Drums by The Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers.
DENVER, Colo. - Cycle Jerks is a new Internet Television Show about messenger punks from the Mile High City.
Think Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious on fixies with a handycam. You can't to turn away but be sure to hide the bourbon and the silver.
It's been a few months since I've posted anything from Mike Amb's, Project Pedal. He's posted the random clip here and there and then WHAM! here comes a real episode where Mike spills his guts in high definition (HI-DEF HERE http://www.vimeo.com/610377 ). WARNING: there is no bicycle content here. Check out previous episodes at projectpedal.com or in the CrankMyChain archives.
Here is the Amb's text:
64 days was the exact length of Pedal's production, the number of days we were out on the road. It feels really exciting to be releasing episodes again, I've been editing and filming the last few nights till 5 in the morning, and although it's been hell on my cold, I've had a blast doing it.
I'm anxious to get started on part 2 - when Amanda and I originally began writing the production related episodes, we were expecting to fit everything into 3 cuts. But that doesn't look to be the case any longer - we're finding we have a lot more to say, and many different layers of the whole experience to cover.
We'd love to hear your feedback - it will help greatly in deciding what questions to answer in what order. Thanks for watching
BOSTON, Mass. - I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to post a bike video by Acclaimed bike videographer Lucas Brunelle. Perhaps, jealousy? Nah. Just laziness. But, this cold snap we are in here in Portland kept reminding me of this video as I have been walking the kids to school. I don't think the Willamette River is any danger of freezing up like yet but it's fun to imagine.
If you have not seen this video (produced in 2002) it it's a real treat with some kick ass music by the band The Police. I miss the Police. Are they just to old and famous to make music like this anymore? I digress.
Here is the text from Brunelle's site.
In a rare chain of weather patterns the Charles River froze over to form a perfect surface for raging around on bikes - watch us speed down this frozen river in the middle of the city.
CYBERSPACE, WWW - We've got a ton of comments on Aaron Tarfman's Transfomation Trike SEE IT HERE
So I'm putting up this video response on YouTube.
Unfortunately, Aaron's invention did not win Specialized Bike's Innovate or Die contest but the winner also had a great invention and Aaron's Trike has had a ton of exposure and discussion. It seems it's really bringing out the ire of folks who don't think human power is a viable transportation option.
It is.
PORTLAND, Ore - It was cold and snowing but the streets were just wet. It was my first ride on 16" wheels and though I've always loved zoobombing now I finally get it.
NEW YORK CITY, NY - More bike boxes are coming to Portland. Former prize fighter, Clarence Eckerson, of Streetfilms shows us how to use 'em.
From Streetfilms Blog
"The NYC DOT has been quietly rolling out dozens of bike boxes all over Gotham. It’s really quite remarkable. But since the majority of riders seem not to know what they are or how to use them just yet, StreetFilms thought this would be a fun way to educate cyclists to love and cherish the Bike Box."
PORTLAND, OR - Happy new year. Here is a little taste of summer to help you through these grey rainy days. It's the 2007 Night Ride.
The 2008 Night Ride also features the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, fire jugglers and a disco party rest stop just to mention a few of the activities.
Just think... we'll soon be riding around at twilight with and thousands of well lit strangers and friends all dressed in pajamas and costumes.
Mark your calendar for July, 7.
Apparently, the producers of The Bicyclist (Craftmaster Independent) have decided to give a us a bonus episode just in time for Christmas. Enjoy the trip.
Zack shares his dark side, hot tub and a plate of brownies with Conrad.
I'm still partial to the Transformation Trike but here's another entry to Specialized Bicycle's Innovate or Die Contest that caught my eye. I'd love to see the Disco Trike get pimped out like this with ground effects, custom cabinets and especially a power generator. Hey dad, what are you doing after New Years??
The Choprical Fish was created by Bike Rapper Paul "Fossil Fool" Freedman for street parties in San Francisco. Not only does the bike look and sound great it can generate it's own power.
Currently, I use two (AC charged) motorcycle batteries to power the Disco Trike so I love the idea of self-powering the system straight from the disco trike grid.
Find out more info about the Choprical Fish at http://www.rockthebike.com
The Transformation Trike is a submission to Specialized's innovate or die pedal powered machine contest. It is a multi-use human-powered vehicle designed for use as a cargo hauler and people mover. The cargo capacity is 350 lbs and can accommodate one, two, or three drivers working in tandem.
The Transformation Trike is designed to be rugged and use off the shelf components to ensure longevity.
The Trike was invented by Aaron Tarfman http://www.yourbodypower.org , fabricated by Bill Stites http://www.stitesdesign.com , video by Dan Kaufman http://www.crankmychain.com
Black Rock City, Nev. - Astor Place got rebuilt at Burning Man but what if spirit of Burning Man could be rebuilt in New York City?
Streetfilms takes up the important and harrowing task of exploring the subject. Thanks for doing it, guys, but can I come next time?
First the badass challenge now it's the two mile challenge (actually they were first). Anyway, check out this great little animation from Clif Bar.
The challenge: Ride your bike to fight global warming. 40% of U.S. urban travel is 2 miles or less. 90% of those trips are by car. Take The Challenge at 2MileChallenge.com
PORTLAND, OR - Bicycle Boulevards can make your neighborhood street loveable! Watch to find out how you can tap into B2 Power and why you should.
Timo Forsberg hosts this Bicycle Transportation Alliance infomercial about the city of Portland’s is utilization of Bicycle Boulevards as a neighborhood safety enhancement.
This ten-minute video explains what a bicycle boulevard is and how they can be used to increase safety for cyclists and livability for neighbors.
B2 Power co-stars Bruce Buffington and special appearance by Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams. Mark Allen Eaton and Kelly Jo Horton of the Bicyclist also play a dramatic role in this bicycle propaganda film.
Order your free DVD copy (with $2.50 shipping and handling) - Details coming soon -
PS - Please share this video with your friends and family.
A lost episode full of footage that was left on the editing room floor. That's it for the bicyclist for this season. Stay tuned next year for season two.
The Bicyclist is produced by Craftmaster Independent.
PORTLAND, OR - Winner of the Badass Purse for Riding out to Hillsboro on his Unicycle is Max Taint of Portland. He came in 2nd in the unicross heat. Way to go Max hope your taint ain't sore.
Hillsboro, Ore. - THIS IS CYCLOCROSS. Cold, rain, mud, fun, and not fun. Turn up the audio for some bonus commentary.
This video is sponsored by http://RiverCityBicycles.com and http://CrossCrusade.com
PORTLAND, Ore.- Transportation activists gathered Friday to speak at a press conference promoting a Sautrday rally for transportation equality. The event was organized by Eleanor Blue and hosted by Jonathan Maus. Speakers included attorneys Bob Mionske and Ray Thomas, activists Scott Bricker, Jessica Roberts, Ellen Vanderslice, and author Joe Kurmaskie who also hosted the rally Saturday.
Dozens including reporters from OPB, KEX, KPAM, KGW and many other attened the press conference, which in turn drew hundreds to the rally.
My camera and microphone were too far from the speakers at Saturday's rally so I do not have good coverage of that event and the great speeches.
Filmmaker Vincent Caldoni was able to capture some footage of a few of the speeches and posted them as part of a great article at the Portland Mercury and YouTube.
There's got to be a morning after and Conrad, Zack and Jose are worse for the wear. Steve and Lissa have fared better, but the Demon SUV is really cranky.
ESTACADA, OR - Four contenders competed for the "Baddest Badass" purse at Cross Crusade Race #5 Sunday.
Tony Tapay had a strong showing in the single speeds and has been declared Baddest Badass. He was followed closely by Badass Tad Bamfod who rides a fixed gear bike.
Jonathan "Badass" Maus who co-hosted the live feed from Barton Park hit a rock wrecked (see the Barton Quick Edit). He fell back a few spots from his strong showing last week.
Greg Sanders also ran into some issues during the race. He did complete it, though, and can also wear the title of Badass, but he can't wear the purse. At least not this week.
All Badasses rode out to the Cyclocross Crusade and completed their race. It's not easy.
Barton Park Race coverage and the Badass Challenge was sponsored by Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory
ESTACADA, OR - We set up a live feed from the Cyclocross Crusade Race #5 yesterday at Barton Park. Here is just a taste of what we got from our vantage point in the gravel pit. Jonathan Maus kindly wipes out in front of the camera and we get to see Shannon Skerrit and Carl Decker Battle for 2nd. Get your official race results at CrossCrusade.com.
This video and the live feed we're brought to you by Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory.
Watch at CrankMyChain.com Sunday.
We'll be live at this Sunday's CrossCrusade race at Barton Park in Estacada and we're throwing out another badass challenge.
It's all sponsored by Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory.
The Demon SUV is after his flag and a piece of Jose.
The Bicyclist is produced by Craftmaster Independent.
New York, NY - Clarence Eckerson, Jr.has morphed into a traffic calming Wizard.
From the StreetFilms Vlog:
We went back to check in how things were progressing on the NYC DOT’s plans for the 9th Avenue physically separated bike lane. The pleasant surprises continue as lane improvements, ample signage, and cyclist-only bike signals have now appeared making the innovative project even safer. And although driver behavior continues to improve, there are a few problems to highlight.
If you enjoyed this, check out others in the series: Clarence: The Traffic Calming Sasquatch & Clarence: The Traffic Calming Maniac
One viewer rightfully called me on doing a poor job covering the women's costumes at XC4 in Astoria. Here is a fig leaf.
ASTORIA, Ore. - If you are looking for a slick cyclocross racing video, I can't help you here. All sorts of rules have been broken and I suppose that part of the Halloween spirit. So... happy Halloween!
This video was sponsored by River City Bicycles and The Cyclocross Crusade.
ASTORIA, Ore. - It was another amazing Halloween Cross Crusade weekend. Sadly, though, we were missing avid Crusader and cyclist Brett Jarolimek who was run down and killed on a Portland street. Friends such as Kris Schamp and Brad Ross remembered Brett by speaking about him and his passions and then leading a memorial lap.
There is a memorial ride 5PM today in Forest Park starting on Thurman Ave - more details soon.
Story from BikePortland.org:
Wearing white t-shirts emblazoned with the words “No Blind Spots”, Cross Crusade founder Rick Potestio and race director Brad Ross said losing Brett Jarolimek was like losing “a member of the Cross Crusade family.”
Yesterday in Astoria, hundreds of cyclists took part in a silent memorial lap in Brett’s honor. The lap was led out by Brett’s friends and his Team Bike Gallery teammates, many of them weary from the road after driving to Idaho for his funeral yesterday.
Some of Brett’s friends had made copies of his race number (800) and passed them out for all of us to wear in his honor. Below the number was a winged figure on a bike and the words,
“Brett Jarolimek 1976-2007. We love you. We miss you.”
The silent lap was a somber, yet powerful way to say goodbye to Brett and to remember what his life, and his death, mean to our community.
These past two weeks have taken a toll on many of us. And, while some things will never be the same again, especially for the families and friends of those we’ve lost, the undeniable spirit of the Cross Crusade will live on.
Brett, who dressed up as Captain Underpants at the Halloween Cross race last year, would surely have smiled at the abundance of spirit on display yesterday.
See Jonathan Maus' excellent slide show of the event.
More coverage of Cross Crusade IV, Halloween in Astoria coming soon!
Two men, two wheels, and one lady fair. Watch as they train and then compete in the challenge.
It's all set to great music from Audioslave, System of a Down, Beck, the Ramones and more.
This short documentary was produced by B.Brown Pictures in association with Burkey and McDoland Clans. It stars Clay McDonald and Dan Burkey.
Conrad, Zack and Jose find a nice little yurt in the forest, while Steve and Lissa camp out in the backyard with the rest of the margarita mix...
The open road calls Conrad and Zack to keep looking for Jose. Steve and Lissa keep the home fires burning with a fresh batch of margaritas.
The Bicyclist is produced by Craftmaster Independent
PORTLAND, OR - Steven Carper is delivered the Baddest Badass purse for his participation and success in the first Badass Challenge at race two of River City Bicycles Cross Crusade at Horning's Hideout last Sunday.
Do you want to be a badass? Just ride out to the next cyclocross race. You want to win the next Purse? Contact Dan at PDXK/com then ride out and do the best in your normal or better cyclocross category.
Race #2 of the world's most popular cyclecross race series, The Cross Crusade. This week we are outside of North Plains at Hornning's Hideout. Thanks to all the racers and to Show Me The Pink for use of their song, "Me Plus My Friends" more excelent bike content @ http://www.crankmychain.com and http://bikeportland.org
PORTLAND, OR - Cameras on, wheels turning, Now I'm Rollin' with 2007 Cyclocross Crusade music-video coverage. Race number one at Alpenrose Dairy was a battle to the finish line between Shannon Skarritt and Eric Tonkin. Wendy Williams carried away 1st in the women's A-division. But that's not all! We set the race to the original tune Now I'm Rollin' AND strap a 4-lb camber to a hung-over RevPhil.
CrankMyChain! CycleTV coverage is sponsored by River City Bicycles and The Cyclocross Crusade.
Enjoy last years races and support CrankMyChain! Cycle TV by purchasing the XC'06 video at http://www.crankmychain.com
PORTLAND, OR - Of course it waited until after the race to start raining buckets, but once again Alpenrose Dairy proved a great course to kick off the worlds largest cyclocross race series - River City Bicycles Cross Crusade.
This video is just a teaser for the one coming later this week. Stay Tuned and watch Eric Tonkin and Shannon Skerritt battle for first. We strap a camera to RevPhil's helmet and enter him as the first member of Team CrankMyChain! And that's not all... you'll have to wait and watch
Tired of "being embarrassed" and high on energy drinks, Zack builds Conrad a chopper. Steve rebuilds things, too.
Something has already been built between Zack and Lissa, but where does that leave Jose?
In Portland, Oregon and around the world kids walked and bicycled to school today. Even with a little rain it's surely the best way to go.
Here is a little video documentation of our little trip across the highway over the tracks to school.
PORTLAND, OR - They must have pulled this particular afternoon straight out of the pages of Dr. Suess.
FIrst came the Quadem, a bicycle made for four. Then small children where chased by a banana and shark that had somehow grown legs and gotten loose.
A good time was had by all!
Here is a lightly edited version of last Thursday's show. RevPhil couldn't make it because of his Pacific Northwest Bike Porn Tour.
The show is still not ready for prime time but I thought I'd post it anyway and get yer thoughts.
Conrad falls right into Steve's trap - does Steve fall right into Conrad's trap - either way Lissa is an innocent victim.
PORTLAND, OR - Citizen activist Chris Smith spearheaded a strong cycling contingent at the transportation section of yesterday's Project Homeless Connect.
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Legacy Health System handed out and fitted over 600 helmets.
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Jay from Community Cycling Center had 87 referrals to the Create-A-Commuter program.
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Timo Forsberg of Portland Dept. of Transportation and Emily Gardener of BTA had 34 referrals for the Ways to Work program.
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14 bikes plus a stroller and a wheelchair were repaired by Steven Kung (Exchange Cycling Tours), myself, and other volunteer bike mechanics. Community Cycling Center provided the tools.
Transportation issues are a significant stumbling block for many homeless and low income people. Cycling is one low cost and often accessible option that allows people to reconnect to jobs and community. It was our hope that our efforts promoted cycling accessibility and safety.
Steve is like a cat who must first toy with her prey. Conrad is about to be set up and hung out to dry.
Watch for out the hippy in this episode. I got a cameo role as a Naked Bike Ride pimp. Not too much of a stretch, eh?
The Bicyclist is produced by Carl and Sharon Jameson of Craftmaster Independent.
MADISON, WI - You might remember Roger Bindl of HEM Productions. He's the 21st century Renaissance man who has a special fondness for electric bikes.
I decided to give him a ring and find out how he got his camera so steady while riding dirt roads on his show Rural Roads with Roger (you'll have to watch the next Disco Trike Live show to find out how).
Turns out we both are very interested in video telecommunications, cycling, and adventure. He watched live show Monday that I did with Johnny Stardust and used a video capture software called Camtasia to record some of the show.
Here is Roger's description:
This video is a story with three topics in disguise... A question on how to get attention, a demonstration of real time and stored video streaming, a touch on web casting with Stickam, and a case of bicyclist that share their enthusiasm in video and singing.
Thanks for the video, Roger. The answer to your question is... Internet. But, I have not tried cable access yet. I'm certain the two distribution mediums with meld soon and cable access stations create that bridge. I know it is already happening at Portland Community Media.
The cable access stations have the production equipment and volunteers to make independent broadcasts happen connecting it to the web seems a short step.
I'll be exploring this subject much more and I am sure Roger will, too.
Catch CrankMyChain! Live tomorrow from 10-11 AM PDT. The Special Guest tomorrow is our FreeGeek in Residence and bike pornographer, Reverend Phil.
PORTLAND, OR - Johnny Stardust and I rolled out the disco trike for a little live broadcast beta testing and fun in the sun.
I had the camera to take a few seconds of video every minute so you can see just a bit of what you missed.
We're building CrankMyChain! Live and we want you to watch and participate. Check out the show Mondays and Thursdays (so far) at 10 AM PDT and get updates at http://www.twitter.com/crankmychain
No bikes just drama in this episode of the Bicyclist. It seems Jose's life may not be taking the direction he'd like it to.
OREGON CITY, OR - On a recent trip to Clackamas County for another bike video I'm working on I came across Tim Dugan with Classic Cycles and his free green bikes. He and Green Grocer have teamed up to provide the free bikes for residents and visitors to Oregon City's downtown.
It's a great program which should give folks one more reason to explore the historic first city of Oregon.
CASCADIA - RevPhil is packing up his DVDs, video tape, Super 8 reels and taking "The Pornography of the Bicycle" on the road. Watch the explicit trailer at his site bikeporntour.blogspot.com.
Warning: the trailer, and, for that matter, The Pornography of the Bicycle" is not for children and those who might be offended by graphic sex.
For those who'd like to take their chances, you can see the tour as it rolls through Olympia (9/16), Seattle (9/17), Bellingham (9/19), and Vancouver (9/21). More information at bikeporntour.blogspot.com. .
Are you sad it's not coming to your town or would you like to chastise RevPhil? You can email him at revphil(at)g mail. Good luck!
PS RevPhil is my guest tomorrow on the CrankMyChain! Live. Show warms up at 9am and gets going at 10am. Come watch it right here at CrankMyChain.com
Zack helps Conrad choose the right bike for a "reject sales guy". The Lady Divebombers hit their mark.
PORTLAND, OR - Come say hi to me at the Tour De Fat Tomorrow. You can do it in person or in cyberspace because we'll be broadcasting live from the disco trike.
That's 8/18 in waterfront park north of the Hawthorne Bridge. 11a-12p.
Entertainment includes The March Fourth Marching Band and The Sprockettes!
Young love. It warms the cockles of my heart.
PS - THIS GOT LEFT OFF THE PODCAST SOMEHOW. SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN BROADCAST.
Through the streets and boroughs of New York, Jimmy, a bicycle messenger from the Albatross Courier Company is out to deliver a package "on time". Braving the perilous city streets there's nothing Jimmy can't handle...or is there? This 1987 comedy classic short shown worldwide marked the debut of Director/Screenwriter Ari Taub and captured the spirit of low-budget filmmaking in New York City.
By the way, that's not Rev Phil playing the messenger role. It's just supposed to look like him.
BERWYN, IL - I just love the this image and so do Chicago critical mass riders. They rode July's mass from from Daley Plaza to the car Spindel made famous in Wayne's World.
The sculpture is slated to be torn down to make room for a drug store. I reckon it's just another example of art being destroyed by drugs.
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Patrick McHenry argues that promoting bicycles to help solve our energy crisis is naive and ridiculous. To me, he ends up coming across as a foolish tool.
Thanks to Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org for catching this story.
Let your congressperson know how you feel about bicycles as part of our nation's energy plan.
Patrick McHenry is a Republican who serves the 10th district or North Carolina in the United States Congress.
Sorry, the audio is not synchronized well.
LLANWRTYD WELLS, WALES -
You put your MTB in my bog! No, no, You put your bog on my MTB!
Two great sports form one new one and it seems clear as mud that the languishing sport of mountain biking is hopping on the bandwagon of the increasingly popular bog snorkeling.
In this episode Conrad and Steve take a ride. Jose let's Zack know about how he feels. And a new bike gang is introduced.
Madison, WI - What happens when you mix a Renaissance man with an electrical engineer and throw modern telecommunications? Well... in this case you get Rural roads with Roger.
Roger is on a mission to find a decent power assist electric bike. CrankMyChain will follow him and see what we discover. I will tell you this... When it comes to cranking chains, I prefer my own legs to an electric motor. But, different strokes, etc, etc. I fully support Roger in his on going queest!
Find out more about Roger and his many and various exploits at HEM.com.
Episode 12+ of The Bicyclist is an anti-doping campaign. The subject matter, though a warning, may not be suitable for all viewers.
AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - I went looking for the Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles and all I found was some lousy zoobombers practicing for mini-bike summer. Well, I can't say that I didn't have fun spending my afternoon down the drain. And... my camera still works.
NASHVILLE, TN - This video and it's lyrics are a case in point. A warning, if you will, that our youth is completely out of control and that the gateway to all this violence and debauchery is a bicycle.
Bicycle, Bicycle, You are My Bicycle
by Be Your Own Pet
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
We will come to your town
Burn your house down
Turn the sky brown
All because, all because, all because
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
We'll change the eye colour
Of every lady
We're fast, we're fast
We're fast we're having a blast
All because
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
Change the colour of your make up
All the sleepyheads won't wake up
All because all because all because
Because because...
No gears, no brakes
No real, no fake
(repeat x4)
Have fun, and be safe with it
Just kidding, mosh me up
We ride bikes, cars are for idiots
All because, all because
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
We're on two wheels baby
TOUR DE FRANCE - July 27th, Stage 19. A Dog gets hit by riders after being left off leash to crap on the sidewalk. Good thing no one was seriously hurt including the dog. The dog poop was left at the scene and is being examined for suspected doping.
This episode is a chapter torn straight from lore. A re-reenactment if you will. For some background watch Sprockettes Foil Bike Thief
PORTLAND, OR - Live performances and brand new content cap off the most intense evening of cinematic cyclical sex ever. The last time it played 500 sexy bikers tried to fit inside the Clinton St Theater. Half of them didn't make it. 9 PM Friday July 27. $6.
CST Owner Seth Sonstein says: "it is a masterful work of filth"
Below is a sneak preview of what you see at Bike Porn 2.0. Here we have soft-core bike on bike, bike on man, woman on man, porn action in Jef's Steel Framed Lover. For those of you perverts who need more "action" your bike porn - don't worry. Reverend Phil has Bike Porn 2.0 it all cooked up to please and offend.
BRIGHTON, UK - A vision, perhaps, of what happens when Alice in Wonderland breaks up with her Zoobomber boyfriend. Music by Bats for Lashes.
In this short episode Conrad knows how to smooth talk Steve after her bike is stolen. The ice appears to be broken but can he be real?
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM plays host to the 2009 VeloCity bicycle conference. Here is their great promo video which they showed at the recent 2007 VeloCity in Munich, Germany.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - This trailer for the 2003 Film Christmas Comes on a Bicycle is actually a great stand-alone short with excellent photography. I particularly love the movement a cropping during the BMX sequence. If you have seen the film please post your critique. I'll try to get a copy and review the film in the meantime.
PORTLAND, OR - Lately we have been playing some Bike Porn featurettes on CrankMyChain! and there has been a something a backlash against this new form of bikerotic expression.
In this video a noted velo-sociologist Seymour Snorkelburger discusses his concerns with bike porn.
BROOKLYN, NY - In a historic first for New York City, the Department of Transportation has replaced three car parking spaces in Williamsburg with bike racks to accommodate about 30 bicycles.
Conrad and Nick bike joust for attention from the lovely young lasses who watch closely, but there will be losers in the end.
The file has been corrected for this episode. Sorry for the inconvenience.
PORTLAND, OR - Scott Barker whipped up yet another sweet video compilation, featuring some great footage of pro rider Molly Cameron, who made her 2007 MTB debut in grand style, powering away from the rest of the Pro field to take her very first Portland MTB Short Track win ever. Since Molly has been a very consistent finisher in last year's series (2nd overall in the Pro Men, behind "Mr. Short Track" Shannon Skerritt), we hope to see some sparks in the three remaining races. Video by Scott Barker.
NEW WESTMINSTER, BC - This video gives you some insight into first aid and safety through an accident simulation by the crew's at Trailside Physio and Gutz. This is a short movie and is not going give you all the training you need but it reminds us to think ahead about first aid preparedness.
Vancouver, BC - Here's another featurette that played at Rev Phil's Bike Porn. It's from the same producer as You Never Bike Alone.
I really enjoyed the images (fixies, minis, talls, choppers, strippers, stunts) and music ("Yeah She Likes Kinky Things" by Lagos Disco Machine).
Berekely, CA - Long before vlogs and YouTube there were passionate cyclists making low-budget movies to help the cause. Clay Mankin (1955-2005) owner of City Cycle and renowned bike advocate made a video instruction series called The Bicycle Shop with Clay, which are now available on the web. The fashions (bike, clothes, hair) may be out of date but there are some good points about buying a used bicycle.
PORTLAND, OR - Nothing makes my day morning than to get an email about a new cycling video! OK, I can think of something else, butt...
Here is the latest from the first race of the Portland Mountain Bike Short Track Race Series. There is some great helmet cam work and editing by Scott Barker. Video was also shot by Josh Connell. You can find photos at OregonVelo.com.
ROM MAKE MAGAZINE - Learn how to fuse plastic together and then upcycle a bag out of it! All you need is an iron, plastic bags, a sewing machine, and some straps and buckles and a few hours of your time and you're on your way to having a cool durable bag!
Weekend Projects is sponsored by Microchip Technology. Check out their seminars and 16 bit contest.
Make sure to download the pdf and read the article for all the background and step by step instructions at http://makezine.com
PORTLAND, OR - More videos are rolling in from the Multnomah County Bike Fair. This one is from PDXK Pipeline.
PORTLAND, OR - The DA has dropped the charges against Reverend Phil. RevPhil won't get his day in court but he also won't have to face 2 1/2 years in jail either.
Just by coincidence, there will be a naked bike ride Saturday night. It will be originating from free geek. I do not know the time yet but will let you know when I find out.
During the 2006 World Naked Bike Ride, RevPhil was arrested after being hit by a mean spirited and drunk driver (according to witnesses testimony) who's boyfriend happened to be an off-duty cop . Phil was charged with various crimes and misdemeanors while the real criminal was scurried off. Just last week Phil told me "I really want this to go to trial so we can expose what really happened in court."
Click To Play Video Last Weeks Interview with RevPhil
This matter may never fully be exposed in a court of law, but, to celebrate Naked Justice, you can expose yourself tomorrow on a Pedalpalooza BONUS Naked Bike Ride.
See you tomorrow at the Multnomah County Bike Fair where we'll attempt to webcast live.
PORTLAND, OR - Live experiment in process. If you are watching shoot me an email at dan(AT)pdxk(dot)com or AIM me at danKnentac or YahooIM danthebassman2001
PS I am getting lots of good response. For those who witnessed it sorry about the, uh, "incident"...
GOLDENDALE, WA - Watch as zoobombers skate and minibike down Maryhill Loops Road the first paved road in the Paciifc Northwest. The road, built by Samuel Hill, is now a historic site with no auto traffic.
This video was produced by Billy Meiners (aka Billy the Kid) and RevPhil was greeted by many cheers at the Bike Porn Movie Night.
PORTLAND, OR - Here is a quick slice from the Bike Porn Fest and The Midnight Mystery ride from Friday June 8th, 2007. This video is does not include pornography. If you are looking for that the world wide web awaits. RevPhil's Bike Porn, however, did contain pornography. The "pornography of the bicycle" and all the permutations you might think that means, some you wouldn't expect, and some you, perhaps, we're not ready for.
Was it exploitive of bicycles? Yes, but they seemed to enjoy it. Without question, though, the audience was pleased.
In the next few weeks I will play a few selected clips from the showing but you really ought to encourage the bad reverend to re-screen it in Portland or take it on the road to your hometown.
BikePorn and the Midnight Mystery Ride were part of Pedalpalooza; Portland's 2+ weeks of bikey fun which currently runs through June 23rd. Stay tuned to CrankMyChain! for more Pedalpalooza videos!
REPUBLIC, WA - Michaeal Ambs' Project Pedal is underway. Hooray! Get all the latest and some great moving photography at the Project Pedal video blog. I'll be posting some of my favorites clips here at CrankMyChain! like this interview with Jack Denson. He is riding cross the United States in remembrance of wounded US soldiers (Wounded Warrior Project). Denson's site is here. Project Pedal looks it's shaping up to be a great documentary and it's already a great vlog!
PORTLAND, OR - Oregonian's Steve Woodward has hopped aboard today with multi-media coverage
of the WNBR. He's reporting 800 riders.
VIDEO
STORY LINK
Riding cheek to cheek Not for naught nor for naughtiness do 800 cyclists
pedal naked, but rather to do the globe some good
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
STEVE WOODWARD
Naked was the fashion Saturday night, and bikes were the luxury vehicle of
choice.
About midnight, with only the glow of streetlights draping them, an
estimated 800 men and women pedaled madly across the Hawthorne Bridge into
downtown Portland, up Northwest 23rd Avenue, down West Burnside and back
into Southeast Portland in what has become an annual Portland tradition: the
World Naked Bike Ride.
Whooping and honking bicycle horns, the riders drew waves, cheers, laughter,
camera flashes and favorable comparisons to Portland's "other" parade that
very morning. Gawkers abandoned drinks and poured out of bars. Teenagers
leaned out of a white stretch limousine to offer riders high-fives.
According to reports from bikers, some spectators even joined the ragtag
parade, shedding clothes and hopping on their own bikes.
What's the occasion? The bare facts: Since 2004, Portland-area bicyclists
have participated in a global event in which riders showing more skin than
not ride in public to protest oil dependency. Their nakedness demonstrates
bicyclists' vulnerability to cars.
Last year, the Portland event drew about 500 "naked" bikers, the largest
such ride in North America, according to organizers.
"Portland is just a very great place," Erin Downs, a 17-year-old Northeast
Portland high-school student, said at the warehouse party after the ride.
"I want to be part of Portland," she said, dressed in blue hair, a blue
kerchief and two studded leather belts slung low. "This is the life, blood
and veins of Portland. If I didn't show up, how could I be a Portlander?"
"I expected more naked people," said Mick Arrell, a 19-year-old Southeast
Portland man with red, blue and green paint smeared randomly across his
chest and arms.
It's true. Many people stripped only as far as their skivvies.
"I didn't strip down at the request of my roommate," explained Jimmy
Schmierbach, 25, of Northeast Portland. "She said she didn't want to look at
my junk."
His roommate returned the favor, riding in her bra and panties.
Although she was wearing frilly orange underwear with blue trim when
interviewed, April ("like the month") Wiza said she was less modest during
the ride.
"All the good parts were showing," said the 27-year-old Southeast Portland
resident.
Wiza also displayed a poetic message for anyone behind her: "LESS GAS MORE
(rhymes with 'gas')." The hand-painted message included an arrow pointing
readers to her (rhymes with "gas").
On the blocked-off street outside the Organics To You warehouse party after
the ride, several men had added ties to their birthday suits. One woman wore
nothing on her chest but a red Superman logo. "Green power," declared a
man's back. One woman dressed provocatively in cheap black lingerie -- cheap
because it was painted on.
Unlike many riders, friends Eric Miller, Kyle Kelley and Robin Jackson were
fully dressed in something other than facial hair: Miller in natty beret;
Kelley in full-on pink-and-maroon ensemble, complete with pink, feathered
skateboarder's helmet; and Jackson in black fedora, dark pinstripes and
red-and-white checkered vest.
Miller launched his ride with a figurative fig leaf or two to preserve his
modesty.
"I started out not all the way," Miller said, "but I was feeling it." And,
apparently, if one is feeling it, there's naught to do but shed the remains
of one's modesty -- even in the middle of the Hawthorne Bridge.
"It's nice to let go," said Jackson, an erstwhile Naked Bike Rider and a
member, with Miller, of Portland's Marchfourth Marching Band.
Actually, Jackson was dressed during the ride, too.
"I was hanging out with my parents," he said sheepishly.
Steve Woodward: 503-294-5134; stevewoodward@ news.oregonian.com
PORTLAND, OR - For posterity ;) here is Channel Two's video coverage of the World Naked Bike Ride. I like that they got the key talking points in. Unfortunately, they don't show that many riders. There were clearly more than the "dozens" they mentioned based on other reports and videos.
Conrad's life in Portland's been pretty lucky so far: He got the job and maybe the girl. Now Conrad meets Zack. His luck is about to change.
PLANET EARTH - The northern hemisphere World Naked Bike Ride happens Saturday*. Find a ride near you at the WNBR Wiki. There will be a daytime and nighttime ride in Portland. Check out the Pedalpalooza Calendar for more PDX-NBR info.
This promotional music video is a remix of Dan and Kirsten Kaufman's 2006 Goin' On a Naked Bike Ride shot in Portland, Oregon. Check out some newly published shots and a funky take on the song.
See this promo video on the big screen this Friday at Reverend Phil's Pornography of the Bicycle at 26th and SE Clinton (Clinton St Theater)
8:45pm - 10:45pm - the sexiest bicycle culture on earth.
Revphil: revphil at gmail daht comm, Portland Underground Film Festival
*Some northern hemisphere rides will be taking place on Friday 8 and Saturday 30 June 2007. See 2007 ride dates for more information. Spring 2008 ride dates in the southern hemisphere to be announced.
New York, NY - Here is a helmet cam street race video shot by Nick James on February 17th, 2007, during New York's infamous track bike only race. All footage on a Canon Optura 400 rigged to a helmet.
Check out the dude on the hi-wheeler riding on ice. Now that's bad ass!
Song is "Mari in Love" by The Pugs and is half the reason I am posting this video.
Enjoy!
Visit http://CrankMyChain.com
PORTLAND, OR - Watch the Pedalpalooza 2007 promo video by Marc de Giere for Shift to Bikes.
Pedalpalooza starts Thursday and rolls along with two weeks of biketastic events.
We're talking bike tours, family rides, naked rides, womens rides, bombing runs, bridge breakfasts, donut crawls, dancing troupes, love letters, bike porn, tall bikes, small bikes, unicycles and trikes.
On Saturday, June 23rd it's wrapped up with the Multnomah County Bike Fair. Don't miss it because you can't miss it!
One of the main objectives of this podcast is to persuade folks to commute with their bicycles more often. I have posted a video by Nathan Spence of the University of Pennsylvania
PORTLAND, OR - I captured a lot of good footage from The 2007 Eric Kautzky Memorial Track Race last Saturday but didn't have time for editing this week. Here is just one of the many races that happened that day. It's the men's category 1/2 point-a-lap race (35 laps total). The first place finisher for each lap gets one point. The winner of the race and the days events for Men's category 1/2 was Mark Blackwelder.
I hope to circle back around and make a montage piece of the days events when I have more time.
This video runs 12-minutes.
PORTLAND, OR - Agent Chaos and Agent Trouble of The Sprockettes reenact their amazing recovery of a stolen bicycle. FIGHT EVIL CRIME!
Agent Chaos and Agent Trouble also play as Eliza and Shantastic in the awesome-band Show Me the Pink!
Watch this dynamic Track Racing Promo Video produced by Spool.Music by Aural Produce. Re-edited and titled by CrankMyChain! Cycle TV.
PORTLAND, OR - If you are not already signed up or planning to attend the 2007 Eric Kautzky Memorial Track Race then get out your calendar and mark down Saturday, May 12th. Racing begins at 10AM at Alpenrose Dairy. information here. Cancelled in the event of rain.
Report by Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org
PORTLAND, OR - Nearly 200 cyclists, well over twice the usual amount, joined city bike coordinator Roger Geller on his Bike Master Plan Ride last night. Riders of all stripes came out to show support for the embattled Master Plan, which Mayor Potter recently decided to cut from his proposed budget.
As expected, Transportation Commissioner Sam Adams, flanked by his policy analyst Roland Chlapowski and his Chief of Staff Tom Miller, made an appearance. During interviews with the various media outlets he said,
“I just think that this (the Bike Master Plan) is more important than some of the other items proposed in the Mayor’s proposed budget…It’s absolutely critical that we continue to be a leader in bike mobility and that comes by having a good plan…Bikes have never been more important to the mobility of this city. It’s an affordable way to get around; in some cases, it’s the most reliable way to get between two places; it’s good for your health; you burn fat instead of oil; and it’s good for the environment.
The Bike Master Plan allows us to develop a bike system, not just do it piecemeal, but develop a system…As transportation commissioner I have a responsibility to get people around the city safely and bikes are a key part of my strategy. I think you can argue that we don’t spend enough money on bikes, not that we need to cut back on our spending.”
After Adams’ remarks and brief words from Roger Geller, the ride began amid the chaotic cacophony of May Day Parade revelers, which passed by Terry Schrunk Plaza right as we rolled out. After a quick loop around the South Park Blocks, we made our way over the Willamette River (via the Hawthorne Bridge), up the Eastbank Esplanade, and onward through North Portland.
As we made our way to our destination (Kenton Park), we experienced a diverse array of bikeways and environments;
Bike Master Plan Ride #4
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We rode through the innovative, bike-only “scramble” signal near the Rose Garden Arena,
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worked the sometimes tricky connection from Weidler to N. Williams,
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enjoyed the serenity of residential streets near N. Ainsworth,
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got a first-hand look at the new bike/ped refuge medias at N. Portland and Willamette Blvd.,
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shared a narrow bike lane with fast-moving motorists on N. Willamette near the University of Portland,
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basked in the bucolic splendor and spring time aromas of the Peninsula Crossing Trail,
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pedaled over the bike/ped bridge over the Columbia Slough,
Bike Master Plan Ride #4
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rode next to nature along the Columbia Slough Trail while huge packs of lycra-clad racers careened through corners at Portland International Raceway,
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and finally, we passed by Paul Bunyan at the entrance to up-and-coming Kenton.
I talked to several people on the ride (unfortunately I can’t use the audio due to excessive wind noise), and they all expressed a deep concern about the Mayor’s decision to cut funding for the plan.
Dave Sohigian was there with his wife and two kids. They live in Lair Hill, just south of Portland and as a carfree family, the continued improvement of Portland’s bikeway network is very important to them. Another women I spoke to said she moved to Portland (from Ohio) in large part because of it’s bike-friendly reputation and she wants to see that continue.
Shamus Lynskey of St. Johns towed his young daughter along and said he has a vested interest in improving bikeway connections from that area to downtown. BTA volunteer Lee Hoffman lives in Tanasbourne and came out to show his support for the Master Plan.
Once at Kenton Park, we re-assembled, filled out comment forms had a Q and A session with Roger Geller. It was a constructive, informative discussion that brought up a wide range of topics; from the potential of a bike-only lane on the Hawthorne Bridge (Geller said bikes were 16% of the total trips last summer), to problems with the new bike/ped refuge island at N. Willamette and Portland.
It was inspiring to see both the large showing of support for the Bike Master Plan, and the high level of concern and engagement for improving the bikeway network.
New York City - In honor of Bike Month, Clarence Eckerson, Jr. of SteetFilms resurrects this 2003 bikeTV classic. It was his first work to gain worldwide noterity in the alternative transportation world.
They hit the streets of Soho with the help of Bicycle Habitat’s most famous mechanic Hal Ruzal - who humorously grades the bike locking ability of New Yorkers. Sure he’s harsh, but also damn funny while dispensing useful anecdotes from his many decades in the biz. Hopefully you’ll learn how to keep your bike safe and avoid a failing grade.
PORTLAND, OR - As Steve carefully picks out her outfit. Conrad makes the scene at Jose's Space Party in a big way.
Here is another Kraftwerk Tour De France composition and video for all you Euro-techno fans
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - This is the fourth in series from a documentary film project with the working title "Project Pedal". The filmmakers plan to follow a group of cyclists this summer as they trek across the nation. http://www.projectpedal.com
PORTLAND, OR - Just a quick post to let you know about April 14th, Oregon bike day and very special day for me personally.
PORTLAND, OR - Reverend Phil gets a haircut in advance of his trial next Wednesday. He's facing 2 1/2 years for various misdemeanor charges. Reverend Phil alleges and eyewitnesses will testify that an apparently drunken driver stuck him with her vehicle during the 2006 World Naked Bike Ride in Portland, Oregon. She then had her boyfriend, an off duty police officer, attack him.
This will be the fourth attempt at a jury trial. Stay tuned to CrankMyChain! Cycle TV as we follow the proceedings.
PORTLAND, OR - In the fourth episode Steve reluctantly tries to inform Conrad that he has the repair gig. We get a behind on set look at Bike Girls from Mars and the Demon SUV has a message for Conrad.
FRANCE AND GERMANY - Enjoy the vintage moving pictures of Tour de France set to the retro-futuristico sounds of German synth band Kraftwerk.
New York, NY - Transportation Alternatives (T.A.) gathered a gaggle of cyclists on 42nd Street in Manhattan to stage a dramatic visual that shows how much street space is gained if more people rode bicycles or took mass transit instead of driving personal cars.
"Room to Breathe" is borrowed from a poster featuring a dramatic series of photos taken by Portland's Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) in the mid-1990s. There have been numerous permuatations over the years in myriad cities, but this is the first we have documented in NYC.
In this StreetFilm, you'll get a little sneak peak into how this event was staged and hear from volunteers and T.A. staff on why spatial efficency is so important to the livable streets movement. T.A. aims to have the poster available by Summer 2007.
Video hosted and produced by Clarence Eckerson.
Taipei, Taiwan - Video provided by QuickRelease.TV.
This may seem like a typically dry trade show presentation. To cycle advocates though, Trek President, John Burke's, 23-minute video-taped speech is industry shaking.
Burke's inspiring slide show (seen here at the Taipei International Cycle Show) earned him the title of the "Al Gore of the bike trade" from Jonathan Maus at BikePortland.org. He implores the bicycle industry to divert cash from marketing and R&D to help advocates and politicians create a 'bicycle friendly world' as a way to combat obesity, congestion, pollution and, of course, earn profits. Burke clearly shows how increased bicycle commuting has a direct impact on these issues and the bottom line of the cycling industry.
Many thanks go to Carlton Reid ofquickrelease.tv for editing this video and adding graphs, photos and videos to the presentation.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO IS NOT INTENDED FOR ALL VIEWERS. IT'S NOT PORNOGRAPHIC OR ANYTHING (THOUGH THE SPEEDO CLAD CYCLIST HAS A NICE BOD). NO, IT'S JUST A BIT OF DA DA DECONSTRUCTIONIST WARHOL FULLERISM, YOU KNOW "ART" OR MAYBE NOT "ART" BUT CERTAINLY PERFORMANCE AND SOUND or PERHAPS NOISE. OKAY IT'S NOISY AND SIX MINUTES. AND YOU MIGHT JUST WATCH THE WHOLE THING AND ENJOY IT. or not. BUT YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - "My White Bicycle" aka Godspeed 2004 from Seahorse Liberation Army. An ode to duchamp and the provos and futurism rideing a bicycle next to a theremin in san francisco art institiutes studio 9, diego riveas painting studio, new genres.
"THE BICYCLIST" - Episode Three: Test Ride
Steve takes Conrad for a ride. Conrad may have pissed off the wrong SUV driver which confirms her suspicion that he's an idiot. In this episode aspiring si-fi filmmaker Jose Reyes (played by Jose Ortega) is introduced and he's invited Steve and Conrad to his party. Sounds like fun but will Conrad live long enough to enjoy it? Stay tuned. The next act plays in two weeks.
Volcanoes National Park, HA - Here is a five minute cycling movie by Steephill.tv from one of America's finest National Parks and the most active volcano in the world. This is from 2005 and appears to be shot from a small digital camera. It has a great soundtrack and looks like an awesome ride.
BASEL, Switzerland - David Normal's short animation is not a ride. It's a trip, a fanciful depiction of Albert Hofmann's chemical discovery and subsequent commute.
This 3D cartoon was debuted at a LSD Symposium that was held in in honor of Albert Hofmann's 100th Birthday.
Music By Pink Floyd from the Atomheart Mother Suite, 1970.
In episode two of "The Bicyclist" Conrad, takes a short bike ride into a new life in Portland. Applying for a new job can be confusing...if he can catch his breath long enough he may just figure out which way is up...with Steve.
Here is an artistic short bicycle movie by Nathan Spence that appears to have come from a videography class. This video contains footage of traffic, street scenes, and bicyclists in Philadelphia. I enjoyed it.
Here is part 3 in a promosing new blog/documentary that will follow a cross country cycling trip this summer.
North Plains, Ore.- Turns out Carl is right. The Max does go past the Zoo and there are towns on the other side of that hill. So we rode out to Hillsboro and pedaled out past Grandma's farm to the Hind Sight MX Park to witness some Slope Style cycling at the Wham Bam Thank You Jam. This sport combines mountain biking, bmx, and moto-cross. The athletic talent is awesome. I'm sure these guys don't have to worry about getting to the gym but they may have to pay the chiropractor a visit or two.
This is a just a taste of the sport which is usually played on the side of a mountian. From the amount fancy cameras I saw there I bet you can plenty of great video and photos on the internet. You can start at SlopeStyle Promoter Aaron Lutze's Match Videozine.
Portland, Ore.- The Oregonian ran a great front page story this morning about teenagers from my neighborhood high school who have banded together for their morning commute by bicycle. Best of all they are doing it for all the right reasons. Go Grover Cleveland High School "bike" Warriors!
Video by Rob Finch and Noelle Crombie
Read the Oregonian story by Noelle Crombie at http://Oregonlive.com. You can also watch the Flash streaming version at the Oregonian website.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Before Oregon Health Sciences University wrapped up the last of it's free Tram rides in Feburary the Zoobombers decided to run Pill Hill once more. This time the the iPod was jacked into "Dead Letter" Ben's rolling sound system and the sound system jacked into the Tram. Some folks really liked it others were concerned. But the scene eddied and flowed like car wash water rolling on dry pavement until the final pool cascaded down through the west hills neighborhood and somehow found it's way back down through and under the freeways to the tram landing pad.
Anyone for a ride back up? This time you'll need to bring four greenbacks or, better yet, bring your credit card and invite the zoobombers.
Music: Callin' Out by Lyrics Born
By popular demand our Doug Moak runs through the basics of bicycle wheel truing and spoke adjustment. Thanks go to our sponsor River City Bicycles and Carl Jameson of Craftmaster Productions
Do you have any tips or stories on wheel truing? We'd love to hear 'em.
In this first episode of this new internet television series, Conrad Miller leaves Wisconsin to find a new life in beautiful Portland, Oregon but finds life isn't always as ideal as the travel magazines described it.
Find out more about the series at http://TheBicyclist.TV
PORTLAND, OR - Another quickie from Mini-Bike Winter IV. This time it's a chariot battle in an abandoned building. I am going to bring it down to ACME Food and Drink for IT Night. Tonight's theme: Post-Apocalyptic.
PLANET EARTH, - Here is the inspiring adventure of Tim and Cindie Travis, an ordinary American couple who decided to live out our dreams. They saved their money, quit their jobs, sold their possessions, and set off to travel around the world by bicycle.
It's a wind blown and rain soaked comedy series from the hipster streets of counter culture Portland, Oregon.
Alternative transportation, alternative lifestyle, alternative tv.
Come along as Dan visits the cast and crew on set.
PORTLAND, OR - Things got a bit dodgy at Miz Kitty's Parlour last Saturday when the Vanillatown Vaudvillians brought out the super-ultra extended unicycle and juggling clubs.
Let the Games Begin and enjoy just a bit of Friday and Saturday's MBWIV festivities! For more information visit zoobomb.net and stay tuned for more coverage from CrankMyChain! Cycle TV.
We're ready to roll with the new theme music and opening credit sequence for Mini-Bike Winter. Our man-on-the-street interviews show the johnny q is ready too! Shout out to the Last Regiment of Syncopate Drummers for the Rhythm. Visit ZooBomb.net for more details.
PORTLAND, Ore - Notice to all track racers: you have just enough time to prepare for the May 12th Eric Kautsky Memorial race at the Alpenrose Velodrome.
Races are scheduled for women and men in categories one through five and for masters and juniors.
Proceeds benefit the Eric Kautsky Memorial Scholarship Fund at Tigard High School. Eric Kautsky was a dedicated husband, father, teacher, and coach who had his life cut short after being hit by a sleeping driver. Team Rose City, his cycling club, is sponsoring the event along with River City Bicycle, Veloforma Racing Bicycles, Hincapie Sportswear and CrankMyChain! Cycle TV.
Please publicize this video. Get code here http://one.revver.com/watch/171611 or here http://www.blip.tv/file/148276/
Part two in our bicycle maintenance video series sponsored by River City Bicycles covers Brake Pads. Doug Moak takes us step by step as he cleans and adjusts cantilever style brakes on a commuter bicycle.
We hope you find these videos helpful and will let us know what you would like to see next. As usual we are always interested in your video responses.
ANNADEL STATE PARK, CA - This MTB video comes from TedShred. I really enjoy the point of view video of this great single track ride. Also, I like the music, descriptions, nature shots and mapping. Great work! Visit TedShred at his blog http://www.tedmeister.net
Labels: MTB, int'l,
You asked for it, you've got it... Bicycle maintenance videos. This week we discuss and show chain cleaning and lubrication. Please thank Doug Moak and our sponsor, River City Bicycles, for making it possible.
Next week's topic is brake pads. Please let us know if you have any repair or maintenance topics you'd like to discuss. We'd really like to see you questions or contributions in video, too! Email crankmychain at webmail(at)pdxk(dot)com.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Reverend Phil hosts this short promotional piece which shows the anticipation, training, and a just a taste of what is to come at the fourth Mini-Bike Winter. MBW is an Olympic style festival of fun and freaks in Portland, Oregon. For more information go to ZooBomb.net or the MBW forum.
Yo, ho, ho ,ho! Hide the kids.
From the PDXK.TV vault with permission from Captain Bogg and Salty comes a rare live performance of this Buccaneer's Christmas carol live from Miz Kitty’s Parlour. Be merry, be amused, be warned!
PS don't tell Virginia.
PPS This ain't got nuthin' to do with bikes.
Low volume please turn up speakers.
VANCOUVER, B.C. - The North Shore Mountainbike community work together to keep the mountains safe and environment stable for riders from all around the world. There is growing concearn that the Mountain biking is creating environmental degredation of the mountains.
Presented by VFS
Directed by Kevin Michael Martin
Produced by R Huston Tronnes
Labels: advocacy, MTB
PORTLAND, Ore. - Posted by Jonathan Maus at BikePortland.org
Yesterday I got a sneak peak at how bikes mix with the gleaming and futuristic new Portland Aerial Tram. Built by a cooperative effort between PDOT and OHSU, the new tram carries people from a new OHSU health center on the South Waterfront up to OHSU’s Kohler Pavillion.
I was joined by PDOT tram project manager Art Pearce, a rep from ODOT, PDOT bike coordinator Roger Geller, and volunteers from OHSU’s Bike Commuters Group.
Read the rest of the story at http://www.BikePortland.org
Any Town, USA -
Take a driving test. What is your reaction?
Video Produced by Steev Hise ( http://detritus.net/steev ). Thanks for the test, Steev!
Labels: Art, Politics
GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore.- Reverend Phil takes his Camera up the real big hill near Portland. That'd be Mount Hood. Looks like fun, mostly!
Labels: Rev Phil, Zoo Bomb
PORTLAND, Ore.- I invited Reverend Phil down to the CrankMyChain Garage for a chat about his exciting hump-day ahead.
Watch as the legendary Jack Castor wipes out while riding downhill with his legs over the handle bars of his HiWheel bike. Castor has riden accross the US on a HiWheel bike and prefers to ride even the steepest decesents with his legs over the handle bars.
A teenage boy is cycling through a park, when he takes a turn into the woods and finds himself in a surreal mini-adventure.
This film by Leo Bridle utilizes paper cut-out animation, live-action scenes and keltic sounding music by Chien Bizarre.
Here is the US Gran Prix Race Redux I promised. You can see the first one, which combines some other events here. I wanted to concentrate more on cyclocross racing in this video. Thanks again to the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers for the great sound track.
If you like the our Cyclocross movies be sure to get a copy of the DVD. You will really enjoy the higher resolution video and audio.
SAUVIE ISLAND, Ore.- Not much racing on this video just a few shots that caught my eye from Kruger's Farm cyclocross race.
PORTLAND, Ore. - This site usually concerns itself with chains cranked by humans not engines.
But when I heard the clatter of motorbikes roar though the land
I sprang from the house with my camera in hand.
I saw outlaws and lawyers on choppers and trikes
and watched as they filled two city buses with toys for the tykes.
Then, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a chopped up hog, with Mrs. Claus on the rear.
With a white bearded driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
And to know that it was done to help the children at Shriners
Made the noisy spectacle all the more finer.
Yes, thousands of Harleys was a sight that was great
And we can all tip our hat to the folks from A.B.A.T.E.
YAMHILL, Ore. - This is the Redux of the first video I did of 2006 CycloCross Crusade Race #4 at the Flying M. There were so many fun images to work with that I wanted to circle back around and add my new song Halloween Dream.
This and all the other 2006 Cyclocross Videos with be part of the xc'06 DVD. It's $20 (plus $5 s&h in the US). Order now at webmail@pdxk.com.
Check out this crash! Dude is going like 110 MPH down some Japanese lava mountian when he hits a bump and his bicycle breaks in HALF. Talk about road rash. Can anybody translate the text?
What happens when Cyclocross racers have kids? They teach them to love racing bicycles in the mud. Wait a second… you don’t have to teach a kid to like that!
This next video will be part of the Cross Crusade ’06 DVD. If you are interested in ordering shoot a line to webmail@pdxk.com .
PORTLAND, Ore. – When I started doing this bike vlog this summer I was afraid I’d run out of things to cover during the rainy season. Well, I was wrong. This weekend the Sprockettes hosted several bike events starting with a Dance Party Friday night that had bike dance teams (The Sprockettes, The B:C:Clettes, The Brakes) and live music including one of my favorite groups, Show Me the Pink. I missed Saturday’s events because I was working in Miz Kitty’s Parlour. But Reverend Phil has some videotapes from Saturday's events.
Sunday the USGP of Cyclocross came through town with some of the top riders in the world. The Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, rowdy fans, and hottubbers greeted them. Later that night the Cross Crusade held their awards party which was also very entertaining and included the LRS Drummers, along with fire dancers, and acrobats from the A-Wol Dance Collective.
I took me a day just to recover from this rainy weekend version of Burning Man done Pacific Northwest style. “Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart. You just got to poke around.”
This is a quick montage some of the weekends bike events. I plan on doing more with the USGP race footage and the Sprocettes weekend separately.
ESTACADA, Ore. - Watch the first ever World Unicross Championship at the Cross Crusade. Gilbran Chong takes first place and Carl Anton is runner up in this new championship event in cyclocross for Unicycles. Original music Unicross Jams by Dan Kaufman.
ESTACADA, Ore. – Cyclocrossers in strange dream wake up in a rock quarry only to find mud, mayhem, and perhaps a touch of their youth.
Watch race five of the Cross Crusade set to the eerie sounds of the Rebels ( myspace.com/rebelsrocknroll ). Mr. Sandman was composed by CrankMyChain’s international correspondent Johnny Stardust.
Anywhere, USA -- Let's enjoy this victory of democracy and use the momentum to pedal towards to better tomorrow.
ANYWHERE, USA - Tell all your bikey friends to get out and vote. If they need an inspriational song have them watch this video.
CrankMyChain! Voters Guide
Portland Metro
Yes on 26-80
State Ballot Measures
If in Doubt: VOTE NO
Representatives
If in Doubt: VOTE DEMOCRAT
YAMHILL, Ore. - Holy crap I have tons of awesome Halloween footage from the Halloween Edition of Cross Crusade. The costumes were great and the foliage was amazing. I hope I have time to circle-back and re-edit the footage and add some music. But for now, HAPPY CYCLOCROSS HALLOWEEN!
PORTLAND, Ore. - Transportation Diversity, is short news colaboration of CrankMyChain! Cycle TV and Jonathan Maus of BikePortland.org. It covers the dedication of three new pedestrian bridges and has interviews with transportation movers and shakers. Let me know if you are interested in more segments like this.
NORTH PLAINS, Ore. - The name of the song is "Tough Get Goin'" and that's just what the series leaders, Carl Decker and Rhonda Mazza, did at Horning's Hideout Sunday as they put on a cyclocross clinic.
Watch Dan Kaufman's interpretive music video of the Men's and Women's A race brought to you by Cross Crusade title sponsor River City Bicycles.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark-
How do you make a world class cycling city? Join CrankMyChain! video correspondent, Johnny Stardust, as he takes you on a tour of bicycle friendly Copenhagen. We'll find out that it doesn't happen by accident and some of the solutions may make some American's uncomfortable, e.g. hefty taxes on gasoline and automobiles.
Enjoy an original score by Danish Composer, Chris Juris.
HILLSBORO, Ore.- Cyclocross fans finally got the mud and rain they have been craving last Sunday at the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade.
Spectators watched a great battle between Carl Decker and Erik Tonkin in the Men's A race.
Rhonda Mazza dominated the Women's A race with her high energy approach.
See it all play out at Hillsboro Stadium. Here's mud in your eye!
You think you have an excuse not to bike to work. Just check out the story of a bicycle messenger Dexter Benjamin.
PORTLAND, Ore.- Alpenrose Dairy hosted the first race in world's largest cyclocross series known as the Cross Crusade. Learn more about the series of races and this unique cycling sport as Dan Kaufman interviews Race Director Brad Ross.
Burnside Skatepark, Ore. –
Portland BMX riders star in this exclusive bike music video featuring original music by Dan Kaufman for CrankMyChain!
Get inspired to find out more about Portland Carfree Day 2006 by watching the short film "Night Falls" by John Bacone a triumphant struggle against motor vehicles.
I'm not much for contests except when called to enter by great people like Ayleen Crotty with good shows like The Bike Show on important radio stations like KBOO(90.7 FM Portland).(link here for the bikeportland.org contest story)
Here is the "thumbnail" version of my song entry. If I win, I'll re-orchestrate it and stretch it out.
BLACK ROCK CITY, Nev. - Watch this Burning Man bicyles slide show set to a "unique" version of Born to Be Wild. And... IF you DON'T like IT... PDXK Productions will give you a full refund.*
- Due to current restrictions your time can not be recompensed.
Just back from his Burning Man adventure, Dan gives his BMX a bath and talks about the nuts and bolts of bicycles at Burning Man, where people powered vehicles rule the Playa. Stay tuned for exclusive Bikes of Burning Man slide show.
EUGENE, Ore. – Dan deals with the aftermath of riding in the dunes as he readies his steed for Burning Man. A trip to Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life is required.
CrankMyChain! will be off the air for the next few days but subscribe to the video podcast so you can be sure to get the latest once we are back.
FLORENCE, Ore. - Can a BMX bicycle roll down a sand dune? You know the answer already - but go ahead and watch anyway.
See This Video and Much Much More at tonight's Kick Ass Biking redux 7PM at Free Geek (1731 SE 10th Ave, in Portland)
PORTLAND, Ore. - After a recent traffic ruling requiring bike messengers use hand brakes or “a stick” to stop a fixed gear bicycle, messengers and other bike activists gathered near the Vera Katz East Bank Esplanade to learn the braking skill of stick stopping.
For more background:
See the original story at bikeportland.org
And the video: Ayla Brakes at CrankMyChain.com
PORTLAND, Ore. – A revered Portland bicycle activist was injured Sunday while participating in the ZooBomb. The cyclist came upon the wreck of another Zoobomber and was forced to bail out on Fairview Blvd just below Canterbury lane. The wreck he was avoiding was reportedly caused by sabotage. Watch the interview and hear his reaction to the situation just hours after extensive bone surgery. For more infomation see Jonathon Maus' story at BikePortland.org.
Video Coming Soon!
PORTLAND, Ore. – So, some out-of-towners think they can come to Portland and tell us a thing or two about Bikes and Beer. Well, Portland, wisely, rolled out the welcome mat for another great bicycle party hosted by New Belgium Brewing Company. Tom McCall Waterfront Park made a great location for the festivities, which benefited the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Portland United Mountain Pedalers. Watch as bicycle revelers parade through downtown Portland.
Portland, Ore. - Some of the nation's top professional bicycle racers competed for a $10,000 purse last Friday at the 2006 Healthnet Portland Twilight Criterium in the downtown park blocks. Enjoy the thrills of this fast paced inner-city bicycle racing. Music by Six Fingers of Funk.
ALBANY, Ore.- I won't tell you too much about this intriguing 24-hour event taking place down road from Portland this Saturday because maybe YOU should not go. Judging from the video I "stole" from their website daggerattack.com, the Quickening is an underground cycling frenzy shrouded in dark mystery. I do know there will be hard rock bands, freaky bikes, and perhaps even blood sacrifice. Consider yourself warned.
So... if you are too scared of all that you can stick around stumptown and buy me a pint of Fat Tire at Tour de Fat, Saturday (video coming soon).
I received this note from a stranger in disguise
"Your mission, should you and your bike decide to accept it, is to help me move from my current apartment in Nob Hill to my new home in the Woodlawn Vortex."
Is it possible? Can it be done? Yes, and what's more, it was FUN!
We're movin' right along with Deepak, his "bikey" old friends and new, and the CrankMyChain! Battlestar*.
CrankMyChain! Battlestar*:
- Trek Ladies Bike
+Sony FX1
+Burley d'Lite bicycle trailer
+Chuck Taylor's low tops
+Fueled by Voodoo™ Donuts
Organization of the bike move was made possible by SHIFT
Shout out to Magpie Messenger Collective
Portland, Oregon
Tens of thousands of Portlanders and tourists showed up for the 11th Annual Providence Bridge Pedal today. After 20,000 cyclists and pedestrians jammed the bridges last year, organizers promised ten bridges without traffic jams.
"With the assistance of both the City of Portland and the Oregon Department of Transportation, we have revised the start locations as well as portions of the route to minimize the chance of traffic jams during the ride."
Join Dan Kaufman as he takes out the CrankMyChain! "Battlestar*" to find out the truth with live action video and interviews with participants.
Music by Kukuva - www.kukuva.com
*CrankMyChain! Battlestar includes:
-
Trek Multi-Track Ladies Bike with kick stand
-
Sony FX-1 Video Camera
-
Two Strong Legs
-
One Crash Helmet
Enjoy Music by Show Me the Pink and the Llyod Center in this a whole new way shop. Philmed and hosted by Reverend Phil as he rides along with those crazy kids lovingly known as Zoobombers!
Thank you Rev Phil!
Thank you Show Me the Pink!
Thank you Zoobomers!
Portland, Ore.--
Ayla Holland, a professional bike messenger and fixed-gear (aka - fixie) enthusiast was recently cited and convicted for riding a bicycle without a brake. On behalf of herself and fixie riders in Oregon she is appealing the decision. Here she demonstrates how she can be safe and abide by the law in this video exclusive for CrankMyChain!
Zoobomb is a weekly bike event in Portland. Zoobombers take the light rail to the Washington Park Zoo and "bomb" down through the Arlington Heights neighborhood on various types of bicycles - especially mini-bikes. Zoobombers also take on the daring descent of Hwy 26 (a freeway section where bicycles are allowed). After a bomber wiped-out on Hwy 26, aka Hellway, Portland Police felt the need to check up on these bicycling insurgents and here is some of the video they captured set to the Rebel's Original "Rock Rebel Rock".
Portland, Ore. --- Hundreds of cyclists going as bare as they dared swarmed the streets of Portland June 10 for the largest naked bike ride in North America. As many as 500 nude or nearly nude cyclists rode for two and a half hours circling downtown to the cheers and jeers of spectators, motorists, and passersby. This year also marked the debut of Portland's first daytime naked bike ride, which culminated in a group photo shot in the lovely Ladd's Addition rose garden. Warning: This video contains nudity.
Join Dan Kaufman as he straps a camera to his kid's bike and follows these cycling insurgents as they climb to the zoo and descend through the hills of Portland, Oregon.