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!

My oh my – what a crazy-cool week for bicycling! Last week’s news discussed hot topics such as four-wheeled bicycles, cycling insurance, bike videos, a promotion for female cyclists and tips for how to become a “badass” on your bike. Need we say more?! Check out last week’s bicycling stories that made headlines, below!

• January 4, 2010: What good are two tires when you can have four?! Join My Quadracycle Gang (J.S. Holland, LouisvilleMojo.com)
• January 5, 2010: Did you know that bicycle insurance that is similar to auto insurance already exists in England, Australia, and New Zealand? Bicycle insurance: Coming to America in 2010?, nor sleet, nor gloom of night keeps Marshall cyclist from pedaling to 2 jobs (Lindsay Caron, BikePortland.org)
• January 5, 2010: “Empire,” is a yet-unfinished film about everything that is “fun, scary and exciting” about bicycling in the Big Apple without brakes. Cycling on Camera, in New York and Beyond (J. David Goodman, New York Times)
• January 5, 2010: One city looks at the multiple benefits of this investment in years to come by investing in bicycling. ENVIRONMENT: Cycling can boost the area’s riches (Scott Macrae, Rochester City Newspaper)
• January 5, 2010: What’s this season’s first competition on The Biggest Loser? – A bicycling competition where couples have to ride 26.2 miles on stationary bikes, the same distance as the marathon that finalists ran at the end of the previous “Biggest Loser” season. The Biggest Loser Has Even More to Lose (Cynthia B., Gather)
• January 5, 2010: The Social Bike Business program creates jobs through locally manufactured transportation bicycles for disadvantaged people. Led by One Street, a global bicycle advocacy organization, the program is underway in Prague, Budapest and Los Angeles. Brewery Broadens Social Bike Program (Press Release, PPOL: News)
• January 7, 2010: What are the ‘Three Ps’, you ask? – Priority statements, potential policies & potential programs, of course! The ‘Three Ps’ of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Beverly Majors, Oak Ridger)
• January 8, 2010: Great tips for beefing up your bike status! How to Become a Bicycle Badass (Scott Indrisek, Asylum)
• January 8, 2010: One writer’s opinions and ideas toward women and bicycling. COMMENT: Forget blokes, it’s women we want to get on bikes (Carlton Reid, Bike Biz)
• January 9, 2010: One way to combat trends of peak oil, declining material living standards in America (and much of the rest of the Western world), and global environmental stresses? Bicycling! Guest commentary: Bicycling safely into the future (Robert C. Cluster, Daily Camera)

Bell Sports manufactures bicycle helmets designed and adapted specifically to your riding style. Whether it’s mountain biking, racing, road biking or BMX, Bell offers up head safety with some technologically advanced helmets that exceed standards.

But did you know that Bell also makes helmets for skateboarding, auto racing, snowmobiling, off-road motor sports and motorcycle riding?

Well, now you do!

Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about each of these respective sports.

1) Approximately 100,000 people require some sort of medical treatment for skateboard-related injuries, every year. A majority of these injuries are a result of people not wearing or not using proper safety equipment like helmets and pads. (EZineArticles.com)

2) Richard Petty, who won 200 NASCAR races in his career, including seven stock car championships and seven Daytona wins, is credited with inventing the window net to help keep drivers arms inside the car to avoid injuries during a crash. (HubPages.com)

3) There are approximately 1.69 million registered snowmobiles in the US and 601,000 in Canada. Out of all those snowmobiles, more than 85,000 people have full-time jobs generated by the snowmobile industry in North America. (SnowMobile.com)

4) In the 1960s the first All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV ) made came to production. They had six wheels and were amphibious – meaning they could float! These first ATVs were capable of traversing swamps, ponds and streams as well as dry land (ATV.info)

5) At the 2000 Gravity Games in Providence, RI, professional freestyle motocross racer Carey Hart became the first rider to land a back flip on a motorcycle during a competition. (Wikipedia)

We at Bell Sports hold bicycling – and safety – dear to our hearts. We publish these Fast Facts Friday (#FFF) blog posts with the hope of providing you with insightful information, and inspiring you to get out and ride. We also intend to provide you with factual information that encourages you to always wear a helmet when cycling. So, in the spirit of #FFF, today’s installment features some obscure bicycling and helmet facts meant to educate, inspire, and maybe even answer that nagging question that has piqued your curiosity time and again.

1) Despite the requirement for adults to use hand signals when riding in traffic, The American Academy of Pediatrics says Children shouldn’t use hand signals, because signaling may cause them to lose control of their bikes. (AAP.org)

2) Ever wonder why male cyclists shave their legs? Well, according to eHow.com it is it has nothing to do with aerodynamics, and more to do with road rash, massage, hygiene, vanity and tradition. Hairless legs are easier to clean, and it’s less painful to tear bandages off of smooth skin than hairy skin. Plus leg hair gets messy when slathered in massage oils, and it is easier for masseuses to work on bald legs. (eHow.com)

3) In China, bicycles outnumber cars 250 to 1, and in Tokyo, Japan a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips of less than 50 minutes. (Strange-Facts.info)

4) Bell Helmets feature EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam liners. The purpose of the liner is to help prevent or reduce brain injury by absorbing the energy of an impact through its own compression or destruction. (BellSports.com)

5) And our Fast Fact“ee” of honor: At 25 years old Georgia native Fred A. Birchmore circled the globe by bicycle. The entire trip, through Europe, Asia, and the United States, covered forty thousand miles. Over the course of his tour, taken in 1935, he pedaled about 25,000 miles and wore out seven sets of tires. The rest was traveled by boat. And, Fred just celebrated his 98^th birthday this week! Happy belated birthday, Fred! (NationalGeographic.com)

What inspires you? Let us know what type of information gets you out on the road or on the trail spinning those wheels!

The Great Cyclist/Motorist Debate: Over the past few years there seems to have been a brewing debate between motorists and cyclists over who commands control of the roads. We all know that cars and bikes are supposed to “Share The Road” with one another in theory, but it has proven to be harder said than done. Cyclists get mad at motorists for speeding past and driving too closely to them. Motorists get mad at cyclists for riding too slow or coming dangerously close to their lane.

In order to protect cyclists and help ease the tension between the two groups, there have been laws passed in recent years in cities throughout the country. While there may or may not be bicycle/automobile laws in your area, we wanted to share a few examples of what’s happening in cities across the U.S. to both inform and inspire you to do something productive around this issue in your neighborhood. 

1) In Austin, Texas, a new city ordinance recently went into effect requiring motorists to give at least three feet clearance when passing cyclists in the same lane.  Trucks and larger vehicles must allow six feet. (News 8 Austin)

2) Austin might have got the idea from the state of Colorado, which passed a statewide law also allowing bicyclists at least three feet of space when vehicles pass. In turn, motorists enjoy more freedom to safely pass a bicyclist by crossing the center line only when safe to do so. (BicycleColorado.org)

3) Starting on Sept. 29, 2009 and lasting for six weeks, San Francisco closed six blocks of busy Market Street to personal vehicles. Busses, taxis, and delivery vehicles are exempt, and of course pedestrians and bicycles are encouraged. (SFExaminer.com)

4) In New York City the Bicycle Access to Buildings Law goes into effect on December 11, requiring many building owners or managers to provide bicycle access by freight elevator so they can be stored in the employer’s leased space. The law applies only to commercial buildings with at least one freight elevator where tenants have requested access. (NYC.gov) 

5) While all helmets are made according to regulations put forth by safety laws the Bell True Fit Helmets are made not just for safety, but for comfort and ease, too! And Bell offers more than 30 different style True Fit helmets. (Bell Sports)

These are only a few examples of laws and ordinances designed to accommodate bicyclists and make the roads safer for all. To be perfectly clear, the best way to be safe on the road is abide by your state, city, or town’s helmet laws.

Are there any interesting or new bicycle laws in your area? Are there any being proposed? Leave a comment below and let us know if there are! And of course, you can always find us in real time on twitter @BellTrueFit.

Since the invention of the wheel more than 5,000 years ago, humans have been pushing the limits of speed, size, efficiency, and style in regard to their modes of transportation. To this day people take pride in breaking (or attempting to break) world records on wheel. Whether by car, bicycle, motorcycle, float or another mode of transportation, thrill seekers continually work to topple the feats accomplished by their forefathers through Guinness World Records.

 Here are few of the wheel related records we found interesting:

 1) The largest parade of bicycles is 1,901 and was organized by Volvic (Taiwan) in Taipei City, Taiwan on July 21, 2007. (GuinnessWorldRecords.com)

2) The longest true bicycle, that is one with only two wheels and no stabilizers, was 92 feet 2 inches long and was built by members of the mechanical engineering students’ association at Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands. The bicycle was ridden for a distance in excess of 328 feet on December 11, 2002. (GuinnessWorldRecords.com)

3) The largest and longest skateboard measured 36 ft 7 inches long, 8 ft 8 in wide, and 3 ft 7.5 in high; it was designed and produced by Rob Dyrdek and Joe Ciaglia in Los Angeles, CA and unveiled on February 25, 2009 on the MTV series ‘Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory’. (GuinnessWorldRecords.com)

4) More bicycling world champions have worn Bell Helmets than all other helmet brands combined. (BellBikeHelmets.com)

There isn’t much information on helmet-related records, but I’m sure Bell could be considered for one for the spectrum products offered: Apart from bicycle helmets, Bell also sells power sports helmets specifically for use when riding motorcycles, snow mobiles, scooters and off-road vehicles like quads.

Have you heard of any wheel or helmet related records? If so, fire us a tweet or leave a comment.

We’ve revealed that the first bike was made out of wood, which may have surprised some of you, but did you realize just how old and how much history bicycles and helmets actually have? Probably not. That’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to do the digging so that you can just sit back and soak up the knowledge.

1. Helmets for riot police often have flip-down clear visors and thick padding to protect the back of the neck. (Wikipedia)

2. Since inventing the first modern bicycle helmet in 1975 (and motorcycle and racing helmets prior to that), Bell’s presence in the bicycle world has expanded to also include self-sealing tubes and tires, gel-infused seats and seat pads, tire pumps, locks, light systems, child carriers, mirrors, car racks, bags, speedometers, water bottles, hydration packs and a variety of licensed products. (Bell Sports)

3. In 1870 the first all metal machine appeared. This machine was the first one to be called a bicycle or “two wheel”. (Pedaling History Bicycle Museum)

4. Although they were only widely used for 15 years in the late 1800s, high-wheel bicycles have become a tangible piece of Americana. (Bicycling Through The Past)

5. On July 4, 1976, Wheelmen from the United States and abroad converged on Independence Hall at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan to ride to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Covering some 700 miles in 12 days and crossing the Allegheny Mountains, Wheelmen rode antique bicycles commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the High Wheel bicycle and the 200th Anniversary of America. (The Wheelmen)

Remember, we’re always looking for additional bicycle facts and are thirsty to learn more. Help us out and point to a few new ones and we’ll make sure you get due credit!