Book Review The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair For Road & Mountain Bikes

自転車の書評

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair For Road & Mountain Bikes

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair For Road & Mountain Bikes is catnip to the cycling geek.

This is the sixth edition of the best-selling guide, and it has been updated and revised.

Whether you own the "latest model or a classic with thousands of miles on it, beginner and experienced cyclists alike need a guide that will help them get their bikes out of the shop faster and keep them on the road longer." And for more than two decades, The Bicycling Guide to Bike Maintenance & Repair has served just that purpose.

There are sections on  troubleshooting to correct common problems, 450 photographs, and 40 drawings to clarify all the step-by-step directions. Even someone with 10 thumbs like me was able to use this guide.


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自転車で京都の清水寺と知恩院へ

自転車で京都の清水寺と知恩院へ

日本語ご希望の方。

This route in east Kyoto goes from Kiyomizu Temple to Chionin Temple. Kiyomizu Temple is a World Heritage Site and one of the most famous places in Kyoto.

Located close to Path of Nene, Kodaiji Temple, Gion, it is one of the premier rides in Kyoto.

For more information, in Japanese (with a link to an English page), here is a page on cycling the Higashiyama hills of eastern Kyoto.

Ride Kiyomizu Temple, ride.


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Worst Bike Lane in the World in Kyoto Update

京都での世界一番最低の自転車専用レーンのアップデート

Last week we reported on a bicycle lane in Kyoto, which we called the "worst bike lane in the world."

Last year, installed a lane in front of the police headquarters. The lane was originally blue with white lettering indicating its purpose.

It was - and is - a disaster.

First, the lane is just one block. Second, on the west side, the lane runs through a taxi parking zone, which means cyclists have to weave out into traffic to go around the parked taxis waiting for cop clients.

Third, other vehicles often park in the lane.

Recently, however, a new development came to our attention. Kyoto, which is blessed with many beautiful buildings but horrific city planning and zoning enforcement, requires many businesses to tone down the colors of the building fronts. The best known example is McDonalds, which uses a warmer and more subtle red in its signage than can be found in other cities.

Thus, the once standard blue bicycle lane (above right) was offensive to the delicate sensibilities and thus was repainted a dull brown (below left).

More money down the drain for a meaningless lane.



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This Week in World Cycling News 4 March 2012

今週のサイクリング２０１２年０３月０４日

Proposal Would Separate Drivers, Cyclists and Walkers on the Prospect Park Loop The New York Times

Alexandr Kolobnev escapes doping ban but fined £1,040 BBC

2012 Tour de France gets longer time trials Cycling News

Les dangers de la piste cyclable Rue89

Si vas en bici, eres listo El Pais

陈光标京城派发2000辆自行车 Caijing

「自転車でイヤホン」ダメ　警視庁が警告カード Asahi Shinbun

UCI prepares financial help for Spanish races Yahoo

Last Week's Cycling News


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Worst Bicycle Lane in the World in Kyoto

京都での世界一番最低の自転車専用レーン

Kyoto has stalled in its work on bicycle infrastructure.

Last year, a lane was installed on the wide Gojo Dori sidewalk.

It runs from the Kamo River to Horikawa dori. It is imperfect, but welcome.

Since then, to our knowledge, there has been no work on bicycle lanes.

The city has ample parking, but getting to those bicycle lots often involves salmoning between cars, taxis, buses, pedestrians - or jumping up onto sidewalks.

The city also built a lane - pictured above and below - in front of the police headquarters and just down the block from the prefectural government building. And, we can say with confidence that it is the worst bicycle lane in the world.

For one block, the lane runs on both the east and west sides of the street. However, it is so meaningless as to be a cruel joke - and a complete waste of money and time.

First, the length of the lane is perhaps 300 meters. It is one block.

Second, on the west side, there is a taxi parking zone - inside the bicycle lane. The picture at bottom left shows the bicycle lane - clearly marked 自転車専用 (bikes only) - with a taxi parked and waiting for a customer.

Third, delivery trucks park on both the east and west lanes.


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Bicycle Insurance Pamphlet Japan

日本自転車保険

NHK is leading the charge to have cyclists in Japan insured.

The quasi-official broadcaster of Japan - a rough equivalent to the BBC or, in the United States, PBS - has been leading the charge for cyclists to purchase insurance.

And we did.

For one thousand yen ($12.27 USD) per year, we got a quick checkup at the cycle shop, and then - once the bike "passed" that test - a cute sticker.

In the event of an accident, the insurance policy will cover up to twenty million yen ($245,000 USD) in punitive damages - if you cause the accident - or one million ($12,270 USD) in medical treatment in the case you are injured in an accident.

Theft and other conditions (such as when the cyclist violates traffic law) are not covered.

The bicycle is a vehicle, and is being treated more and more as such.

Ride safe.

The insurance is available at any local bicycle shop.

The cover of the pamphlet reads:

安心は、セフティちゃんの自転車点で。

Peace of mind can be found at "Safety-chan" [the character]'s bike shop.

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Book Review

自転車の書評

Effective Cycling: 6th Edition

Effective Cycling has become a must-read for serious cyclists. The Sixth Edition continues that tradition.

Author John Forester advocates that bicyclists should behave and in turn be treated as drivers of vehicles.

This assumes the same rights and responsibilities that drivers of automobiles have.

While bikes and equipment have changed dramatically - think back to the 30-pound kid's bike you rode in the 1970s or earlier - in the United States, at any rate, society has not kept pace.

Effective Cycling is filled with "details, strategies, and tips that will be useful both to occasional cyclists and to those who enjoy cycling as a way of life."

An excellent work.


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