Some friends of the Bell True Fit blog recently told us of how much fun they had on a Friday night bike party. Yes, a bike party. Now, are you wondering “what is a bike party, exactly”? So were some of us when we first heard of it. Basically, it’s a group of bicycle riding enthusiasts who get together once a month for a themed bicycle ride. Simple as that. What makes a “bike party” different from a bike ride? For starters, anyone and everyone is welcome. There are no age limits, no timed qualifications, and no expectations. Well, the only expectations are that all participants obey traffic laws and look out for one another. Interestingly enough, based on some quick and dirty research, it seems that these “bike parties” mostly take place in the San Francisco Bay Area. While there are some smaller, more intimate events in cities and towns across the U.S., based on our research it’s San Jose, CA, that takes the cake.

• One-half political party, one-half street party, San Jose Bike Party is all about building community through bicycling. Made up of all types of bicyclists and human-powered transportation advocates, San Jose Bike Party rides include 2,000 – 4,000 riders on a given night! They ride anywhere from 15-30 miles throughout the South Bay from 8pm – midnight on the third Friday of every month. Follow them on twitter @SJBikeParty and find out how to get involved at SJBikeParty.org.
• Just a few miles north-east of San Jose, the East Bay Bike Party is a mobile party for riders of all ages, experience levels, and bike types, to meet, ride, and play together in the streets on the second Friday of the month. “Inspired by the massive number of people who go to the San Jose Bike Party every month, we decided that it was high time the East Bay (the best part of the San Francisco Bay, in our humble opinion) had its own bike part,” their website says.  In July the theme was Space Party, where they encouraged people to come dressed as an alien or an astronaut, sci fi character or planetary body, constellation or Tribble infestation…”  For August the theme is Superhero Ride, and they are expecting to see, “a lot of capes, masks and tights.” We, of course, like their enthusiasm for helmets: “And don’t forget, a truly super hero always wears a helmet and rides with bike lights.” Follow them on twitter @ebbikeparty and stay in the loop at EastBayBikeParty.wordpress.com

• The Midnight Ridazz is a group of bicycle enthusiasts who have been riding together on the second Friday of every month since February of 2004. The rides quickly grew from 8 people to current ride counts of 1300+ “Ridazz,” and they’ve gone nationwide! Their website, MidnightRidazz.com was created to help empower YOU to create your own rides, routes and “good timezz.” Start yourself on a recurring ride or throw a one timer in the daylight … it’s your ride. They offer a five step outline of how to create a ride, as well as some basic “rulezz” that will help anyone organize their own bike party. To find out more about routes, rules, and already scheduled upcoming rides, check out MidnightRidazz.com.
• Want to spice up your kid’s upcoming birthday party? Consider throwing your own bike party! Over at Disney’s Family Fun website, they offer some great suggestions for throwing a fun birthday bike party. “Invite a bunch of pals to bring their cycles, then turn your driveway (or perhaps a nearby school blacktop) into party central. Set up a station where kids can soup up their rides with homemade number plates, noisemakers, and handle-bar decorations. Next, turn them loose on an obstacle course that tests their skills — and lets them be silly too. Add a spoke-tacular cake, prize ribbons, and take-home goody bags that make everyone feel like a champ, and you’ve got the coolest party on two wheels.” (FamilyFun.Go.com)
• The Bicycle Music Festival is an all day, mobile, community music festival – completely bike-powered! A 501(c)3 project of the San Francisco Parks Trust www.sfpt.org, part of the mission of the Bicycle Music Festival is to, “promote sustainable culture in general by physically engaging and immersing our community in the magic of bike culture, and cultivating and nurturing a network of local sustainable musicians, through our free, community participatory, bicycle-based music events.” The Bicycle Music Festival features a 2000 watt pedal-powered PA system, as many as 15 bands, multiple festival stops, outrageous Critical Mass-style bicycle party caravans between festival stops, and zero use of cars or trucks. This year’s event takes place from Noon – 10pm PT on July 31 in San Francisco.  Follow them on twitter @bikemusicfest and visit BicycleMusicFestival.com for more information or to get involved.

As far as we could tell, there aren’t any “bike party” events outside of California … but we could be totally wrong! Do you know of a bike party that we left off today’s Fast Facts Friday list? Are you planning a bike party in your community? If so, leave a comment below or let us know on twitter @BellTrueFit.

Stage 3 of the 2010 Tour of California. San Francisco to Santa Cruz. May 18, 2010
Photo courtesy of bissellcycling – flickr

For the last six years California has played host to one of the most prestigious and largest cycling races in the United States: the AMGEN Tour of California.

The eight-day race covers 650-700 miles of California, winding through dense redwoods, foothills, valleys, and of course alongside some of the state’s most beautiful beaches. This year’s event, which started on May 16 in the old Northern California gold mining town of Nevada City, ends on May 23 in the sunny Southern California town of Thousand Oaks. For complete route and stage info visit the Stages page of the AMGEN Tour of California website.

Here are some interesting (and fast) facts about this year’s tour:

•  Tour of California organizers seek to make the race a preparatory event for the Tour de France, and for 2011 the Tour will officially become an International Cycling Union (UCI) event. (Wikipedia.com)
• This year, Stage 3 of the Tour took cyclists 113.3 miles (mostly along the Pacific Coast) from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. Bell is located in the city of Scotts Valley, which neighbors its old Santa Cruz stomping grounds. A crowd of 20,000 gathered near the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk where the riders completed the third stage. The Boardwalk was one of several major sponsors of this year’s race, providing $185,000 of the total $245,000 it took to put on the event. (CityOnAHillPress.com)
• At kickoff, the 2010 Tour of California was highlighted by the participation of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. However, Armstrong will not complete this year’s Tour. He exited the race yesterday after a nasty spill that left the fan favorite with bruises and a few fresh stitches, but no longstanding or substantial injury or broken bones. For more info and a picture of his eye, click here: (RoadCycling.com)
• Steve Morabito, a rider with Santa Rosa-based BMC Racing (sponsored by Easton Bell Sports), continued his climb up the overall standings yesterday by finishing 12th on Stage 5 while two of his other team riders (Simon Zahner and Chad Beyer) were involved in the crash that knocked a total of five riders, including Armstrong, out of the Amgen Tour of California Thursday. (BMC Racing Team)

(Tim de Waele photo via BMC Team Racing)

Did you attend this year’s Tour of California? Have you attended in the past? If so we’d love to hear your stories!

May is a month of bike mania! Yes, it’s National Bike Month – which includes Bike to Work Day and Week – but it’s also a time for communities to celebrate the people who have shown dedication to cycling and alternative transportation.

Despite bad weather, injury, and long commutes, these pedal pushers keep the wheels turning. And even some communities have done so much to promote cycling that they too have earned prestigious awards.

Here are just a few of the award winning cyclists and communities from around the USA:

1)  Every day during the academic year, math and natural history teacher Ken Hoffman rides his bike two miles from his home on West Street to Hampshire College. And he’s been doing it since the school opened 40 years ago. Hoffman will be recognized for his commitment to alternative transportation during Amherst’s observance of Bike Commute Week next Wednesday. He will be the first recipient of the Arthur Swift Memorial Bicycle Commuter Award, named for the late UMass professor who was a key advocate for the Norwottuck Rail Trail and the connector along University Drive. (AmherstBulletin.com)

2) Alameda County’s 2010 Bike Commuter of the Year totes electric grinders, saws, braces, scissors and the occasional prosthetic limb to work on her bike, rain or shine. T.D. Fisher logs as many as 30 miles a day round trip on her bike commute to and from work. Fisher works for Oakland’s Center for Independent Rehabilitative Services, visiting schools, therapy units and other institutions to fit patients, often children, for braces and other devices. Fisher was awarded Alameda County’s top bicycle commuter for 2010 by the East Bay Bicycle Coalition. (InsideBayArea.com)

3) While not an individual, the city of Rochester, MN as a whole gets a mention on this list for recently winning the Bicycle Friendly Communities Award from the League of American Bicyclists. Not an easy award to win! (PostBulletin.com)

4) Snohomish County, Wash., was among the winners in the 2010 Governor’s Commute Smart Awards, presented recently at the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia, for their Curb the Congestion program that was designed to reduce traffic congestion. For 2010 they also introduced an online, monthly incentive award program where participants can log their alternative trips to qualify for prizes. Nancy Gay was the first monthly incentive award winner for the new program, and she received $250 for her participation and dedication to help “curb the congestion”. Participants who log at least 12 days of trips during April, May and June can qualify for the quarterly incentive award of $1,000 to be drawn in July. Monthly and quarterly incentives will be awarded on an ongoing basis. (SnohomishTimes.com)

5) Congratulations to the South Bay Bicycle Coalition which was recently awarded two grants totaling $246,000 from the county of Los Angeles and the Beach Cities Health District. The grants will create a Master Bicycle Plan for seven supporting South Bay communities – Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Lawndale, Gardena and Torrance. The coalition is organizing the first South Bay CEO/Celebrity Cycle-To-Work Challenge, asking local CEOs and celebrities to join in. Here’s the pledge: Personally ride to work on May 20 or another designated day during Bike-to-Work Week, encourage your employees to ride and host a “Celebration Station” to reward participation at your business. (DailyBreeze.com)

We’d love to hear from anyone participating in the CEO/Celebrity Cycle-To-Work Challenge, and photos from the event are always welcome!

Are there any cycling awards given out, or events hosted, by your community? If so we’d love to hear about them!

For many of our readers any month could be considered bike month, but in honor of National Bike Month we’re urging everyone to up their level of involvement and try something different.

For the rest of May, try to go the extra mile in supporting National Bike Month. Whether you organize a community bike ride or simply ditch the comfort of four wheels for the exhilaration of two while commuting, we’d love to hear about how you celebrate this month.

Not quite sure what National Bike Month is all about? Need some ideas to kick start your cycling endeavor? Consider the following:

If you want to help reduce CO2 emissions, consider biking to work! May 21, 2010 is designated Bike-to-Work Day, which is a part of Bike-to-Work Week running from May 17-21, 2010. Not only will you help ease congestion in the streets and relieve stress on our O-Zone layer, but you’ll also be doing yourself a huge favor: Three hours of riding per week reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%! (ReadyMade.com)

In California, people are being encouraged to participate in the Team Bike Challenge. All you have to do is get a team of 2-5 riders together and compete to commute by bike as often as possible through the month of May. Get the most points in your county to win prizes for everyone on your team. This year they’ve even created an iPhone app iBikeChallenge that is designed to attract even more people and help participants keep track of their points. Sponsors of this year’s challenge include Clear Channel, Adobe, REI, and Clif Bar, among others.

On the Clif Bar blog, appropriately named Clif Blog, there are some great suggestions for fun and eclectic cycling excursions. We’d like to take a bike trip through the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Declared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), May is also the National Bike Safety Month.

The good folks over at Safe Kids USA (who have guest posted here) are taking this opportunity teach a valuable lesson about bike safety: bike helmets are a necessity, not an accessory. To help them illustrate this point they created a short video detailing how to apply the “Eyes, Ears, and Mouth” Test when making sure that a child’s helmet fits properly.

 SafeKids.org

Help us promote bike safety by sharing this video on your blog or via facebook or twitter.

Still can’t decide how to participate in National Bike Month? The League of American Bicyclists has put together a complete list of 2010 Bike Month events taking place in each and every state across the country. They also have a Find It Here search tool that allows you pinpoint events and resources by city, state, and zip code.

Bicycle fashion. These two words evoke images of bright spandex, stiff-soled shoes with pedal clips, Livestrong bracelets, and of course helmets. It is important to note, however, that bicycle fashion has evolved over time and by activity. The outfits we wear today differ greatly from those of 100 years ago. Similarly, differences in geographic region greatly affect the fashion and styles of bicycle riders. No matter what your style, it’s always in vogue to wear a helmet whenever and wherever you’re riding. Bell makes the safest, and in our opinion, most fashionable bike helmets in the world. Here are some fast facts on bicycle fashion from around the world:

1) In Copenhagen 37% of the population ride their bikes every day. Bicycle riding is an inherent feature of Danish culture and reportedly 1.1 MILLION km are bicycled in Copenhagen EVERY DAY! CopenHagenCycleChic.com details the best of Danish bicycle street style. Personalizing your bicycle is all the rage with bouquets of flowers, painted frames, interesting bells and horns, decorated skirt and chain guards and much more. We recommend checking out their multi-part Cycle Chic Guide including #2 Buying Cycling Clothes and #3 Cycling in Skirts and Dresses.  Follow them on twitter: @_Cycle_Chic.  (Wikipedia.com/Copenhagen)

2) Riding a bicycle to work in a suit and tie is the norm for the people of Shanghai, as China is the nation with the largest fleet of bicycles in the world. (ImperialTours.net)

3) In New York City, “beautiful bicycle girls” are good and plenty, according to The New York Observer. Fashion designers, models, graphic designers, and high-profile celebrities like Naomi Watts, Julia Roberts, Gisele Bundchen, and Chloë Sevigny have all “championed the green life in this most public and only incidentally calorie-burning way.” (Observer.com)

Bicycle Helmet slip-on cover. (Photo courtesy RidingPretty.com)

4) In the San Francisco bay area bicycle fashion is also alive and well. Check out Riding Pretty – Cycle Chic California for some great photos of bicycle fashion from the Golden State. Another popular Bay Area fashion blogger is Velo Vogue. It’s “where the bike lane meets the runway” as photoblogger Lilia takes photos of stylish cyclists she sees in San Francisco. For women looking to spice up the look of their helmet, Riding Pretty features helmet slip-on covers, offering a stylish look on top of safety.

5) We think it’s safe to say that women are to thank for the bicycle fashion revolution. In 1878, the first bicycles were manufactured in America. Very quickly, women began to experiment with riding the new personal vehicles. And just as quickly, “fashion and medical experts found that bicycle riding was a bad idea for women.” The voluminous, ankle-covering skirts that were fashionable at that time made it not very safe for women to ride bicycles. Women would not stand by and let so-called “experts” push the myth that “it was not healthy for delicate, fragile womankind to trust herself to a mechanical device.” And so came a bicycle and fashion revolution. By the 1890’s bicycles became a way of life for all Americans, and women wore so-called “bicycle costumes” which allowed them to basically buckle the skirts around their legs while riding! It was a small step for womankind, but an important one to the extension of basic freedoms and women’s suffrage. (About.com)

What kind of bicycle fashion do you find most appealing? Is there something that you wear to set yourself apart from the rest of the cycling crowd? Have you seen a cyclist that caught your eye, positively or negatively? Let us know by leaving a comment here or on twitter @BellTrueFit.

 Photo Courtesy BikerTony.org

Have you ever considered dropping everything, strapping on your helmet and just riding your bicycle into the distance? Well many people have, and in today’s edition of Fast Facts Friday we’re delving into the exciting topic of riding around the world on a bicycle! Two Friday’s ago we discussed a few of the many bike rides and tours taking place across the United States, but today we’re expanding our coverage for a global audience. Below you’ll find interesting personalities who have ridden a bicycle around the world, as well as resources and information on global bicycle travel including some of the biggest bicycle related events in 2010. Let us know your thoughts of travelling the planet by bicycle by leaving a comment below. And you can always weigh in on this or any other helmet or bicycle-related topic on twitter @BellTrueFit!

1. Get started on your bicycle expedition with the help of adventure cyclist Steven D. Williams. Williams has ridden his bicycle around the world, entirely unsupported, across all six inhabited continents. Steve has logged more than 120,000 touring miles in 70 countries bicycling through some of the world’s most remote regions. He is a public speaker willing to share his tips and insights to embarking on such a journey through various speaking and multimedia programs. Check out StevenDWilliams.com/Expeditions for more info. 
2. Tyler Kellen and Tara Allen are also touring the globe on bicycles. The couple started in Glasgow Scotland on April 1, 2009, and hope to reach their final destination of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by 2011. They created the Web site GoingSlowly.com to document their cycling adventure. The site includes an ongoing journal, photos, a route map, a section on accessing the internet in various countries, a section on how they planned and prepared for the trip, and an impressive gear section detailing all of the clothing, electronics, supplies they are carrying and bicycle specifications. If you want to  contribute to their journey you can make a donation via paypal, and you can contact them via email or cell phone here. 
3. Netherlands residents Paul van Roekel and Anja de Graaf have created Cycling Around The World as a source of inspiration and information for “around the world” cyclists.” They have a handy Bike News search feature which includes a blog and photo, a Destinations guide with an detailed map of the world’s biking locales, and a Tips & Advice section with an interactive planning checklist. Oh yeah, be sure to check out their photo slideshow First Impressions for spectacular photos of their bike adventures and a glimpse into the site.
4. Travelling Two is a Web site dedicated to bicycle touring around the world. Andrew & Friedel Grant are two Canadians who set off in 2006 on a bicycle adventure around the world through 30 countries and covering 48,000km, ending in October 2009. They gave notice at work, sold their house, liquidated all their possessions for the sake of making a bicycle trip around the world. Their site is an ongoing project to offer helpful advice on bike touring. Check out their trip-diary for first-hand insight to their travels. Peruse the En-CYCLO-pedia and view a photo gallery of cycle tourists from every walk of like. They also offer a thorough resources section offering info by country, touring basics, bike camping, staying healthy, tools and gear and more.
5. If you do decide to make a bike trip around the world, be sure to make a stop in New York City for the Bicycle Film Festival! Celebrating its 10^th anniversary July 16-20, this five day film festival features of all styles of bikes and biking: Bike Jousting, Track Bikes, BMX, Alleycats, Critical Mass, Bike Polo, Cycling , Recumbent. Film-buff bicyclists fear not! They’ve extended the submission deadline to March 27! The Bicycle Film Festival screens films and videos documenting, depicting, promoting and supporting bike culture in all its forms. Films can be any length, but to be eligible for their shorts programs, films should be less than 10 minutes. (Visit BicycleFilmFestival.com for more information or to submit a film.)

Lately the news has been dominated by politics and the passage of health care reform. There is a lot more news out there however, and some interesting news about bicycles (and government). From Taiwan to Mexico, to Washington D.C. and the Eastern Seaboard, cycling is in the headlines … especially in regard to bike lanes.

• March 23, 2010: To cut pollution and traffic congestion, Mexico City is initiating bike-sharing programs, installing new bike parking, and legally requiring all government workers to ride their bicycles to work once a month. Mexico City makes way for bicycles (Lisa Schroeder, Christian Science Monitor)
• March 22, 2010: United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made an announcement on his blog (FastLane.gov) last week that “People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning.” Some disagree. Read the entire article and join in the conversation here: Should Bikes And Cars Be Treated Equally? (Lisa Caruso, NationalJournal.com)
• March 21, 2010: Although bicycle sales in Taiwan dropped 20 percent to 30 percent in 2009, Chairman of Taiwan Bicycle Exporters’ Association, Yang Ying-ming predicted that bicycles sales will surge in 2010 by 10%. Taiwanese bicycle sales to see more than 10% grown this year (Staff Writer, Taiwan News)
• March 21, 2010: Northeast Illinois’ commuter rail system Metra has seen an explosion in the number of riders bringing bicycles on board. They are planning to increase the number of bikes allowed per train car from 3 to 5. Metra to allow more bicycles on board (Bob Roberts, WBBM780.com)
• March 21, 2010: Should the state of Maryland adopt the “three-foot” rule, like other states have? Simple legislative options that go further than road markings could set Maryland (and the rest of the country) on the path toward being a place where people who want to bicycle can do it when they want; where motorists are not in conflict with bicyclists; and where energy consumption is measured more in miles pedaled than in miles per gallon. Learn more about the three-foot safe-passing distance law here: Give Cyclists Some Room (Gregory T. Simmons, BaltimoreSun.com)
• March 19, 2010: D.C.’s most famous street, Pennsylvania Ave., may soon get bike lanes right along the median. DDOT plans to roll out the new bike lanes later this spring. DC Plans to Expand Bike Lanes (Beth Parker, MyFoxDC.com)
• March 19, 2010: Host of the nationally syndicated radio show “Pardon the Interruption” Tony Kornheiser made some remarks about cyclists taking up too much room on the road, and Lance Armstrong leapt to the defense of all two-wheelers! On his twitter page, Armstorng said Kornheiser was “disgusting, ignorant, foolish” (Kyle Koster, SunTimes.com)
• March 18, 2010: Auto-branded bikes are nothing new, but it seems BMW actually played an active role in designing the two bicycles announced recently. BMW Launches Two New Bicycles Including M Variant (Evan McCausland, AutomobileMag.com)

March is upon us, and while Punxsutawney Phil, the only true weather forecasting groundhog in the business, saw his shadow back in February predicting  another six weeks of winter, we are already looking forward to the green of Spring. Daylight Savings begins on March 14, St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17 and fun bike rides and tours are popping up across the country.

In today’s edition of Fast Facts Friday we’re discussing some of the upcoming bike rides and tours taking place across the country, with a focus on some of the the more interesting and obscure events. If you know of or are participating in any interesting bike rides or tours coming up, let us know! Just leave a comment below, and maybe we’ll feature you in a future Bell True Fit blog post!

1. The Muddy Buddy Ride is coming to a city near you! From California to Virginia, down to Florida and up to Oregon, the Muddy Buddy Ride and Run Series is a must for the adventurous. Muddy Buddy is all about having fun (and getting muddy of course) with a friend, family member, partner or co-worker. Teams of two traverse a 6-7 mile off-road course and five obstacles. “At the start of the race, one team member will run and one will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, and begin running. The runner will arrive, complete the obstacle, find their bike and begin riding. Teams will continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course,” according to the Web site. Funds raised through this meaningful program, benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) and allow people with physical challenges to live an active lifestyle. So go get dirty, challenge yourself, support a great cause, get some exercise and get to know someone really well! Visit Muddy-Buddy.Competitor.com to get the “the dirt” on this awesome event.

2. Maybe getting sweaty and muddy with a boss or new girlfriend isn’t your cup of tea … maybe you’d prefer a glass of wine? Geared towards the novice rider, with an epicurean/vinophile bent Napa Valley Bike Tours offers a variety of scenic bike rides through rustic wine country. Since 1987 they’ve been offering single and multi-day guided bike tours, self-guided bike tours, bike rentals and bicycling vacation packages that include accommodations and dining. Sample and purchase wines, wine and dine at some of the best wineries and restaurants, and enjoy an “invigorating sensory experience” as you roll through scenic Napa Valley past rows of vineyards. Visit Napa Valley Bike Tours or become a fan on Facebook to start planning your trip today.

3. Register’s Annual Great Bike Race Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) always takes place in the summer, during the last full week of July. Sponsored by The Des Moines Register, this annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River, and is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world.  RAGBRAI is heading into its 38th year in 2010. A week-long rider fee is $140 and includes baggage transportation, camping accommodations, emergency medical services, daily route maps, entries into drawings for a free bike, and much more. Meals, concerts, parties and events along the way make this scenic ride all the more worth it at the end of every day (after you’ve ridden 75+ miles!). Hurry though, because the entry postmark deadline is April 1, 2009. Visit RAGBRAI.com for more information and check out their blog for interesting updates.

4. Not interested in being confined to the borders of one state? Cycle America offers Cross-State Tours and a Coast-to-Coast journey from June to August. Go from Seattle, WA to Boston, MA crossing over 13 states and one Canadian Province in 64 days. The ride will take you 4,200 miles, averaging 65-86 miles per day through “the lush mountains and forests of the West, across the grasslands of the Great Plains, to the lakes and farms of the Great Lake states and the quaint towns of New England.” The cost is $6,685, and is all inclusive. If a three month bike ride across the country doesn’t quite fit into your calendar or your bank account, you can opt to ride one of the nine cross-state tours for much cheaper (roughly $800 per event). For more information or to reserve a spot visit CycleAmerica.com.

5. Looking for something closer to home, maybe not as long? Then check out The World Wide Bicycle Tour Directory (BicycleTour.com) – a comprehensive directory of bicycle tours and events for both road cycling and mountain biking. They have an easy-to-use menu to help you find bike tours based on country, state, month, duration, and type.

Whichever tour you participate in, be sure to wear your helmet! And be on the lookout for Bell helmets along the way, as many of our models are considered the best. ConsumerSearch.com says the Bell Vela is the best bike helmet for women, the Bell Citi is the best bike helmet for commuters, the Bell Boomerang is the best bike helmet for toddlers, and the Bell Trigger is the best youth bike helmet.

Bicycle riders are a dedicated bunch. They ride to work and school in the rain and cold – over bridges, through tunnels and down freeways (where legal). Some choose to ride for the health benefit, while other’s ride for the environment’s benefit. Many ride for the sheer pleasure, and others ride out of necessity. At Bell Sports, we are inspired by those who bike long distances to get where they need (or want) to go. Today’s Fast Facts Friday is in honor of those who take their bikes on busses, trains and other transit options. So without further adieu, here are some transit-related bicycle facts from around North America:

1) Bike riders in New Jersey are thankful there is no extra charge for bicycles brought aboard NJ Transit vehicles, and no permit is required. NJ TRANSIT provides free parking capacity for about 2,300 bicycles at stations and park/rides, and bikes are allowed on NJ Transit trains, busses and light rail. Be sure to check the schedule though, because bicycles like BART, bicycles are not allowed at all times. (NJTransit.com)

2) The Seattle and Tacoma, Washington area is conveniently bike friendly, and bicycles and transit are highly encouraged. Bicycles are welcome on all Sound Transit Express buses, Sounder commuter rail, Central Link light rail and Tacoma Link light rail vehicles and stations. Each Central Link Light Rail car has mounting hooks for two bicycles, and the Sounder commuter rail has bike storage areas where riders are encouraged to secure their bikes using tie-downs in the bicycle priority storage area. (SoundTransit.org)

(IndependentStitch.typepad.com)

3) In Washington D.C. the Union Station Bike Transit Station is the first secure bike parking facility of its kind on the East Coast. The station, which  opened on October 2, 2009, was built by Mobis/Bikestation with funding from DDOT and the U.S. Department of Transportation, but local bicycle rental company Bike and Roll is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the transit center. Bike and Roll employees staff the parking area from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, providing rentals, repairs, and retail assistance in addition to the daily parking area. Staffers can also help potential members sign-up online in person at the station. Memberships currently cost $96 for a full year, or $12 per month. Membership cards allow users 24/7 access to the parking area. (DCist.com)

4) Regional Transit of Sacramento, California offers bike racks on buses, bikes on trains and bike lockers at 15 light rail stations. This is similar to BART, or Bay Area Rapid Transit, which offers a dedicated “bike space” to riders … but remember bikes are never allowed on the first train and are not allowed during peak commute times. Folding bikes are welcome at all times, though! (BikesOnBart)

5) The City of Chicago and the Active Transportation Alliance sponsor numerous bicycle related events throughout the year including Bike the Drive, Boulevard Lakefront Tour, Veggie Bike and Dine, Bike to Work Week, Bike Town Bash, and Chicagoland Car-Free Day. Visit  ActiveTrans,org for a full calendar of events. The CTA, or Chicago Transit Authority has indoor, sheltered bike parking at 83 stations providing security and weather protection. The CTA also has options for travelling to O’Hare and Midway airports with your bicycle. (CityOfChicago.org)

6) And for those who drive, but need  a convenient way to transport your bike(s), Bell offers bike racks for your car! The locking, three-bike rack makes it a cinch for three friends (or family) to drive to their favorite biking destination. (Target.com)

Are there any interesting transit-related bike options in your area? If so, tell us about it with a comment below!

Wearing a helmet is the best way to protect your noggin when riding a bicycle, however injuries and accidents are best avoided when the bicycle rider knows his or her surroundings, understands proper bicycle etiquette, and has a finely tuned bike. In today’s edition of Fast Fact’s Friday we’re offering up some nuggets of information on bicycle repair, quality bicycle products and bicycle efficiency.

 1) The most efficient animal on earth in terms of weight transported over distance for energy expended is a human on a bicycle. The most efficient machine on earth in terms of weight transported over distance for energy expended is a human on a bicycle. To keep your bike in efficient condition be sure to give it a tune-up at least once a year, or every few months if you ride every day. (BikeWebsite.com)

2) Long-time cyclist, author and contributor to The New York Times and The New Yorker Robert Sullivan offers four basic, bicycle etiquette tips that every bike rider should adhere to: Stay off the sidewalks, ride in the direction of traffic, use signals and stop at lights. (MotherNatureNetwork.com)

3) An estimated 124 million bicycles were manufactured worldwide in 2007, and the vast majority of all bikes sold worldwide (82 percent) are manufactured in two countries: China (71.8 percent or 89.0 million units) and India (10.0 percent or 12.4 million units). (InterBikeTimes.com)

4) Need a suggestion on purchasing a new mountain bike? According to ConsumerSearch.com the best “entry-level cross country race bike” is the Kona Kula, the best “trail-oriented mountain bike” is the Giant Trance X2, and the best “mountain bike for serious riders” is the Gary Fisher Roscoe 3. (ConsumerSearch.com)

5) Looking for a good bicycle repair shop near you? BicycleRepair.com lets you browse bicycle repair shops by popular cities, by most popular bicycle repair shops, and by the top rated bicycle repair shops. (BicycleRepairUSA.info)

By the way – if you’d like to check out a great video on self-bicycle tuning basics, go to BicycleTutor.com. Do you have a bicycle repair video or tip to share? Post your tip below!