Check out the Fezzari Speedster. Look at this frame…don’t you think it would make a great fixie!
I like the flat bar feel and comfort. Hey my Redline has bull horns because I never liked the drop road bars or even the moustache bars that came with it. But then again, I have a short torso so I need things a bit different as far as geometry than most riders.
So as bike commuters we all seem to be aware of global warming and the impact that driving cars has on it. Most of us seem to be “pro-earth” and concerned about making a difference.
I was forwarded an article a few weeks back on the subject of bicycling vs meat eating. In Nov of 2006 the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization released a study stating that animal agriculture causes more greenhouse gas emissions then all the world’s transportation combined!
Here are a few key points from the study:
-In all, livestock production accounts for 70 percent of all agricultural land and 30 percent of the land surface of the planet. Expansion of livestock production is a key factor in deforestation, especially in Latin America where the greatest amount of deforestation is occurring – 70 percent of previous forested land in the Amazon is occupied by pastures, and feedcrops cover a large part of the remainder.
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The livestock sector is a major player, responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent. This is a higher share than transport.
-The world is moving towards increasing problems of freshwater shortage, scarcity and depletion, with 64 percent of the world’s population expected to live in water-stressed basins by 2025.
The livestock sector is a key player in increasing water use, accounting for over 8 percent of global human water use, mostly for the irrigation of feedcrops. It is probably the largest sectoral source of water pollution, contributing to eutrophication, “dead� zones in coastal areas, degradation of coral reefs, human health problems, emergence of antibiotic resistance and many others. The major sources of pollution are from animal wastes, antibiotics and hormones, chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and pesticides used for feedcrops, and sediments from eroded pastures. Global figures are not available but in the United States, with the world’s fourth largest land area, livestock are responsible for an estimated 55 percent of erosion and sediment, 37 percent of pesticide use, 50 percent of antibiotic use, and a third of the loads of nitrogen and phosphorus into freshwater resources.
So what does this all mean? Well our burgers and steaks are causing quite a demand. To meet this need we tear down forrest to build cattle farms. We pump these cattle with anti-biotics, we spray their food with chemicals, slaughter them and I don’t even want to mention where their poop ends up. This poop is releasing all this gas into the air! And it’s a lot of poop – about 120lbs a day for a well fed cow! This affects the coastal areas, coral reefs, fresh water resources, animal species, and ulitmately us. There is a lot of news lately surrounding the climate changes and global warming – and all of this is connected. This is what is stated by the United Nations report in the Executive Summary:
“The livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global. The findings of this report suggest that it should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
Livestock’s contribution to environmental problems is on a massive scale and its potential contribution to their solution is equally large. The impact is so significant that it needs to be addressed with urgency. Major reductions in impact could be achieved at reasonable cost.â€?
So I found this study to be very interesting. That our demand for meat causes more problems for our earth then our cars. We talk often of doing our part for the environment by riding our bikes, but hardly ever mention our diets as being a factor. Now this may not be everyones motivation for riding their bike. Some of us just love to ride.
Now don’t get me wrong – my husband still loves a good bbq. But this is some real thought provoking info. I am not expecting the world to stop eating it’s steak but we should definitely consider the amount of meat we are consuming and the impact it is having on our earth. Don’t forget also organic alternatives. If you can’t give up your meat organic meats are a better alternative. I definitely encourage you to read through the full report before sending your hate mail! Click here for the full report.
Today I went to Jax Bicycle Center in Fullerton, Ca.
I wanted to see how well the Shimano Coasting stuff works on the Trek Lime.
So I asked Scott Moore, Client Advisor to see if he and I can have a little race to see how well this thing works.
Here we are lined up at the start/finish line.
On your marks, get set….
GO! Check out my lead over Scott!
I knew that wasn’t going to last since Scott is a Sport Class Mountain Bike Racer….Here he is coming in at the finish…
That’s me…coming after him.
I have to tell you, the Trek Lime is awesome. Only problem is, you can’t go that fast. You end up spinning too much at higher revolutions. The shifting worked great, on cue and precise every time!
If you’d like to test ride the Trek Lime, go to Jax Bicycles in Fullerton Ca. or visit any of their locations in LA, OC and San Bernadino counties.
Besides, they carry all the Trek Lime accessories like this pink body kit!
For a while I was self employed. But with my student loans and rent increase on its way next month, I had to get a job.
Not that the job is bad, heck its a great company! But the drive sucks!
Photo courtesy of cubiclecoffee.com
It’s about 20 miles away…yeah I know its ridable. But the thing is my hours are going to change soon to super early hours…the kind where I have to be at work right when the bars close at night.
So I was thinking, if I can’t ride to work, I might as well ride during my lunch breaks. My new job is with this international gym company, so fitness is encouraged.
The city I work in is Irvine,Ca. a beautiful place…nice flat roads with wide bike lanes! So stick around as I document my product testing and adventures in the next few weeks!
On May 16, 2007, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silenceâ„¢ will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn’t aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.
In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.
The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors, no registration fees and no t-shirt. The ride, which is held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.
For more information, please go to: www.rideofsilence.org
